Marlon de Souza
Certified English Teacher | Wall Street Trainer | Communications Coach
I'm a native English teacher. I'm also a non-native speaker - Czech (basic), French (intermediate), Hindi (intermediate).
I know it's often difficult to sound like a native speaker. Sometimes I completely don't understand native speakers of Czech, French and Hindi because they sound different from the textbook!
I don't want to feel like an idiot when native speakers laugh at me for basic mistakes! Or sound like a robot! So...umm, I try to have fun and laugh at myself. And I use these experiences to help my own English students.
What did you do before teaching English?
I worked on Wall Street in New York City in corporate and business communications. Part of my job involved training employees in communications on four continents. And for many of them, English wasn't their first language.
Eventually, I decided I wanted to work full time with non-native speakers to help them build confidence and fluency in English, in speaking, writing, everyday conversation, business communications and in storytelling.
What are your lessons like?
Everyone knows theoretical exercises are NOT how real life works. That's why I focus on practical conversation and everyday communication.
If you're not having fun, you won't enjoy learning a different language. So, I use word games, role-play and storytelling to learn the tricky details of English pronunciation and vocabulary and the sometimes complicated grammar.
Do I need to sound American or British?
I encourage all my students to speak in their own voice. You can speak more effectively in another language when you don't feel pressure to sound like someone else. If you're stressed all the time from trying to sound like someone else, you'll never relax nor be able to discover that English is a really beautiful language.