Author name: David Buckley

Let’s Talk About Gardening — talking about hobbies and interests in English

Leave a Comment / Let's Talk About... /

This is the second lesson in the new ManWrites series — The Hobbies & Free Time Series – “Let’s Talk About…” Each lesson in this series explores a popular hobby or interest through an easy-to-read short story, followed by practical classroom activities. Learners can read, discuss, and share their own experiences while improving their English […]

Let’s Talk About Gardening — talking about hobbies and interests in English Read More »

A Day in the Life of a Taxi Driver — Talking About Jobs in English for Reading and Speaking

Leave a Comment / A Day in the Life... /

Welcome to the second lesson in my new A Day in the Life… series. This is a growing collection of short, story-based lessons all about different jobs and working lives. Each lesson takes you inside a typical day at work, showing what people really do, how they talk, and what challenges or rewards their job

A Day in the Life of a Taxi Driver — Talking About Jobs in English for Reading and Speaking Read More »

Breaking the Ice: Effective Strategies for ESL Learners in Social Settings

Leave a Comment / common English, everyday English, Study English Speaking, Teach English Speaking /

Introduction Meeting new people and starting conversations can feel daunting—especially when English isn’t your first language. Many ESL learners feel shy, anxious, or unsure how to begin. But often, it’s not just about confidence—sometimes you simply don’t know what to say. Your mind goes blank, your tongue feels tied, and the right words just won’t

Breaking the Ice: Effective Strategies for ESL Learners in Social Settings Read More »

The Myth of the One-Hour English Class — Why Your Child Isn’t Improving in English (And It’s Not the Teacher’s Fault)

Leave a Comment / Learning English, Studying English /

“How much progress is my child making in English?” It’s a question I used to hear all the time. And let’s be very clear, it is a fair question to ask. Parents want to know, and have the right to know, whether the money, time, and effort they’re investing in their child’s (often expensive) English

The Myth of the One-Hour English Class — Why Your Child Isn’t Improving in English (And It’s Not the Teacher’s Fault) Read More »

The Radio — a short story for English reading and speaking

8 Comments / Short Stories for Reading Comprehension /

The Radio – ESL Short Story Lesson Plan (B1–B2) When Nate begins hearing strange noises from a broken radio in his garage, he thinks it’s just faulty wiring — until the voice on the radio says his name. The Radio is a suspenseful short story lesson that combines mystery, fear, and imagination to keep students

The Radio — a short story for English reading and speaking Read More »

25 Ways to Ask for Help in English (with Real-Life Examples)

Leave a Comment / common English, everyday English, Lists, Study English Speaking, Teach English Speaking /

Introduction Asking for help might sound simple, but in English the way you ask can completely change how polite, friendly, or confident you sound. In this guide, I want to show you 25 different ways to ask for help, grouped by tone — formal, casual, and urgent — each with a short, natural dialogue so you

25 Ways to Ask for Help in English (with Real-Life Examples) Read More »

Talking About Experiences in English: Present Perfect and Past Simple Made Easy

Leave a Comment / How to talk about topics in English, Study English Speaking, Teach English Speaking /

Why This Matters Sharing experiences is one of the quickest ways to build connection and confidence in English. Learners often know the forms but freeze when deciding whether to say I’ve been or I went. This article explains the difference in plain language, gives memorable patterns, and includes practice tasks you can use in class

Talking About Experiences in English: Present Perfect and Past Simple Made Easy Read More »

What Reading Aloud Can Do for Your Confidence in English

Leave a Comment / Study English Reading, Teach English Reading /

Introduction Reading aloud might seem like a simple activity — something we do as children or in school — but in my opinion it’s one of the most effective and overlooked ways to become a confident English speaker. Whether you’re a learner studying on your own or a teacher guiding students through stories, reading aloud

What Reading Aloud Can Do for Your Confidence in English Read More »

Let’s Talk About Cycling — talking about hobbies and interests in English

Leave a Comment / Let's Talk About... /

This is the first lesson in a brand new ManWrites series — The Hobbies & Free Time Series – “Let’s Talk About…” Each lesson in this series explores a popular hobby or interest through an easy-to-read short story, followed by practical classroom activities. Learners can read, discuss, and share their own experiences while improving their

Let’s Talk About Cycling — talking about hobbies and interests in English Read More »

Scroll to Top