• Teaching methods

• Teaching methods

My name is York Fern, and I have been teaching English for more than 12 years. I hold an international TEFL/TESOL certificate and have taught over 200 students of all ages. During this time, I’ve watched how modern teaching materials have changed right before my eyes. In this article, I’ll share the latest trends and some of my own secrets on how to make lesson materials more engaging, effective, and memorable for students.

• Teaching methods

• Tips for teachers

How to Move from B1 to B2 in English: Defeating the Intermediate Plateau

You’ve reached an Intermediate level, yet progress seems to have stalled. I’ve been there, and as a teacher I’ve watched many learners hit the same wall. In language learning, this is the well-known “B1 plateau”—you can manage familiar topics, catch the gist of films and articles, but moving forward feels painfully slow. How do you avoid getting stuck at B1 and step confidently toward Upper-Intermediate? Let’s unpack how to move from B1 to B2 in English and finally break through that barrier 🚀.

• Teaching methods

Assessing Speaking in English Lessons: Objective Criteria and Feedback

Hello, colleagues! My name is York Fern. I’m a TEFL/TESOL certified English teacher with 12+ years of teaching experience. I still remember how uncertain I felt in my early lessons when I tried to evaluate students’ speaking skills. Assessing speaking in English comes with so many nuances: different levels, different tasks, different personalities. How do we stay fair and still keep learners motivated? Over time I learned that speaking assessment can be transparent and encouraging when we rely on clear criteria and give constructive feedback that guides next steps. In this article I’ll share ELT-friendly approaches to speaking assessment, practical criteria, ready-to-use rubrics for speaking, and feedback techniques that help students grow without discouragement.