The Language Wizard!

Welcome to the Language Wizard 'blog! This is a humble corner of the Internet for exploring grammar, good English, language learning and the art of composition. I am an Oxford University postgraduate with a first degree in Modern Languages (French, Italian and Spanish). My education has centred on the riches of language and its proper and effective use. These are not taught very well in many schools and so this is my small effort to teach the glories of the English tongue. This 'blog is designed to help all those who wish to improve their English. I offer very high quality tutoring in the best surroundings in Oxford for very competitive rates. Please do contact me if you would like to use my services. So, where do we begin? Perhaps with a word on resources. In private tutoring work, I have always used Walter D. Wright's A Basic Course in English, an excellent textbook that gives a very thorough grounding in the grammar, punctuation and essential structures of Standard English. It is a useful and memorable workbook that will stretch the most able while catering for all abilities too. An ideal companion is A First English Companion, by the same author, which provides the most comprehensive collection of essential terms and idiomatic terms the English student will ever find. Both books can be obtained inexpensively from Amazon, Abebooks or Waterstones. They are far better value than other, more modern books that are invariably more expensive and less useful. Now let us speak about method. The preoccupation with method in education has been a blight for almost two hundred years. More important is the content that is imparted to pupils. Cutting and pasting does not make for fine writers! An understanding of English and capacity in communication and writing are imparted and honed by knowledge and reading. This is an enjoyable process. Belles lettres make for good writers! The role of the teacher is to impart knowledge, to correct, guide and encourage and the student must be ready to listen to him. As we all know, English is the language of world diplomacy and commerce, the Latin of the modern era. Our studies will benefit from a broader historical and scholarly perspective. You will find your understanding of English and also of our civilisation greatly deepened. So, please do follow this blog and contribute!