Sara Tyler, ESL Teacher

Helping A2-B1 ESL learners reach fluency 🗣️ Specializing in Business & American English. 🇺🇸 DM for trial lessons | Preply tutor | ESL Curriculum Writer 💡

[Sara Tyler, ESL Teacher @saratyleresl]

🗣️✨ Want to speak natural, confident American English?

Hi, I’m Sara Tyler 🇺🇸 — a native speaker from the US with an M.A. in Educational Technology, a B.A. in ESL, TEFL Diploma, and over 15 years of full-time experience teaching adults who need real-world American English.

I specialize in American English for people living in the USA 🇺🇸 or doing business in English 💼. Whether you’re preparing to move to the States, already living there, or working with American companies and clients — I’ll help you sound natural, professional, and 100% confident! 🎯

My lessons are 100% practical and fun:
✅ Real American pronunciation & intonation 🗣️
✅ Everyday conversations + cultural tips 🇺🇸
✅ Business meetings, emails, presentations & negotiations 💼
✅ Natural idioms, slang & expressions Americans actually use 😊
✅ Job interviews, promotions & workplace success 🚀

No boring textbooks — just speaking from minute one with personalized role-plays, instant feedback, and materials made for your life and goals! 📚

➡️🚀 Perfect for A2-B1+ adults who want fast, noticeable progress.

I’m based in Mexico 🇲🇽 (bilingual in Spanish), so I totally understand the challenges Spanish speakers face and how to overcome them quickly. Super flexible timings for students in the US, Latin America, and worldwide ⏰🌍

Ready to level up your American English with a highly qualified native teacher? Let’s do this together! 💪❤️

Book your trial lesson here 👇

👉 https://t.co/Fbi8ix4Sgq

DM me anytime with questions — I’m happy to help you take that next step! 💬✨

#esl #english #tefl

[Sara Tyler, ESL Teacher @saratyleresl]

As an ESL teacher, here are a few extra examples to help my students:

• Bullshit → “That story is total bullshit.” (meaning: completely false or nonsense)

• Holy shit! → “Holy shit, you won the lottery?!” (surprise/shock)

• The shit → “This new phone is the shit!” (meaning: excellent/amazing)

• Shit happens → “I missed the bus, but shit happens.” (life is unpredictable)

• No shit! → “No shit, Sherlock!” (sarcastic way to say “obviously!”)

Pro tip: In professional or polite settings, replace with “stuff”, “crap”, or nothing at all. 😊

[Sara Tyler, ESL Teacher @saratyleresl]

Here are a few extra examples to help you remember:

• Shut – Close completely: “Please shut the door, it’s noisy outside.”
• Seal – Close tightly (often for freshness): “Don’t forget to seal the envelope.” or “Seal the jar after opening the jam.”
• Snap – Close with a quick sound: “She snapped her purse shut.”
• Lock – Secure with a key or code: “Make sure you lock the car.”
• Zip – Use a zipper: “Zip up your jacket, it’s cold today!”
• Latch – Close with a small catch: “The gate latches automatically.”
• Fold – Close by bending: “Fold the laptop screen gently.”
• Slide shut – Move sideways: “Please slide the patio door shut.”
• Clamp – Press tightly to hold: “Clamp the lid on the box so it doesn’t open.”

Practice by describing objects around you: “I need to zip my bag and lock the front door.”

[Sara Tyler, ESL Teacher @saratyleresl]

@Microlearningen I love these comprehensive images you post!

[Sara Tyler, ESL Teacher @saratyleresl]

⬇️ Negative personality adjectives can be tricky, but they’re so useful in real conversations.

Here’s a quick teacher breakdown with examples to help you remember them better:

✨ Henpecked → A man who is controlled by his wife/partner.
Ex: “After marriage, he became totally henpecked and stopped going out with his friends.” 😅

🔪 Backstabber → Someone who betrays friends behind their back.
Ex: “Don’t trust him — he’s a real backstabber who spreads rumors about his own team.”

🗣️ Nagging → Constantly complaining in an annoying way.
Ex: “My roommate is always nagging me about leaving dishes in the sink.”

😠 Bad-tempered → Someone who gets angry very easily.
Ex: “Our boss is so bad-tempered that everyone walks on eggshells around him.”

🦥 Slacker → A lazy person who avoids work.
Ex: “He’s such a slacker — he never finishes his tasks on time.”

Which of these negative adjectives do you hear most often in English? Or which one describes a character from your favorite movie/series?

👀 Drop your answers below — I’ll reply with more examples or corrections!

Save this for later and practice using them in sentences! 📌

#ESL #LearnEnglish

[English grammar @Englishgr4u]

Negative personality vocabulary

[Sara Tyler, ESL Teacher @saratyleresl]

Great visual as always @englishgr4u! 🙌 These negative personality adjectives are super useful for intermediate+ students.

My favorites to teach:
🔹 Henpecked – a man who is constantly bossed around by his wife/partner. Example: “He used to go out with friends every weekend, but now he’s completely henpecked.”

🔹 Backstabber – someone who pretends to be your friend but betrays you behind your back. Example: “Never tell your secrets to a backstabber.”

🔹 Nagging – complaining or criticizing all the time in an annoying way. Example: “My mom is always nagging me about cleaning my room.”

[Sara Tyler, ESL Teacher @saratyleresl]

Great post, Merriam-Webster! 😊 As an ESL teacher, I love breaking these down for my students using the Latin roots — it makes them so much easier to remember!

• Ultimate → from Latin ultimus = “last” or “farthest.”
Example: “This is the ultimate episode of the season.” (= the final one)

• Penultimate → paene (almost/nearly) + ultimus → “almost last” = second-to-last.
Example: “Tuesday is the penultimate day of our trip.”

• Antepenultimate → ante (before) + penultimate → third-to-last.
Example: “The antepenultimate syllable in ‘beautiful’ is ‘beau’.”

• Preantepenultimate → fourth-to-last

• Propreantepenultimate → fifth-to-last
(yes, it keeps going! 😂)

Knowing these prefixes (paene, ante, pre, propre) helps learners unlock tons of academic and formal words. Great way to sound more precise in English!

[Sara Tyler, ESL Teacher @saratyleresl]

✅ The correct answer is ARE! 👓

“His glasses are broken!”

Quick explanation:

“Glasses” (meaning eyeglasses) is a plural noun in English, even when we’re talking about just one pair. It doesn’t have a singular form like “glass” for this meaning, so we always use a plural verb (are, were, have, etc.).

More examples:
• My glasses are new.
• Where are your glasses?
• These glasses were expensive!
• Her reading glasses have a scratch.

Similar plural-only nouns:
✅ scissors, pants, jeans, shorts, binoculars, headphones

[Sara Tyler, ESL Teacher @saratyleresl]

✅ Correct answer: snapped!

This is a snapped rope. 🪢

Why “snapped”?
“Snapped” is perfect for something that breaks suddenly and cleanly (often with a loud sound) because of too much tension or force. The image shows the rope breaking apart under stress — classic “snap”!

Quick comparisons (great for ESL learners):

• Snapped → sudden break under pressure (ropes, twigs, patience 😅)

• Broken → general damage (a broken rope could be frayed or in pieces)

• Torn → usually for fabric/paper pulled apart (not ideal for thick rope)

• Cut → done with a tool/knife (clean edge)

Examples:

• “The elastic band snapped when I pulled it too hard.”
• “The rope snapped during the tug-of-war game.”
• “Her patience finally snapped after hours of waiting.”

[Sara Tyler, ESL Teacher @saratyleresl]

✅ The correct answer is B) stopped!

“I wish it stopped raining.”

Quick explanation:
We use past simple (stopped) after “I wish” to talk about things we want to be different in the present (even though it’s not true right now). This is the subjunctive mood for unreal situations.

More examples:
• I wish I had more time. (but I don’t)
• She wishes she spoke Spanish fluently. (but she doesn’t)
• We wish the weather was better today. (but it isn’t)

❌ Wrong options:
• “stops” = real future possibility
• “stop” = incorrect form
• “stopping” = not used after wish

Mastering “wish” + past tenses is a game-changer for sounding natural in English! 💪

[Sara Tyler, ESL Teacher @saratyleresl]

🚙 Here are some natural examples you can use right away:

• “The sun visor ☀️ is really useful when I’m driving into the sunset.”

• “I always put my coffee in the cup holder ☕ so I don’t spill it.”

• “Can you check the dashboard? 📊 I think the fuel light just came on.”

• “Don’t forget to fasten your seatbelt 🔒 before we leave.”

• “I love the steering wheel controls 🛞 — I can change songs without taking my hands off the wheel.”

Classroom idea 💡: Show the image and ask students to describe their own car in 4–5 sentences using at least 6 new words from the picture. Great speaking practice! 🗣️

What about you? Reply with one sentence using a word from this infographic! 👇 Tag a friend who’s learning English too! 🙋‍♀️🚘

#ESL #EnglishVocabulary #LearnEnglish

[Evil English 😈 @RealEvilEnglish]

Car Interior Items

[Sara Tyler, ESL Teacher @saratyleresl]

Here are a few useful examples in context:

• “I accidentally left my phone in the cup holder and it fell out when I turned the corner.”
• “Can you adjust the rearview mirror? The sun is blinding me.”
• “Make sure everyone fastens their seatbelt before we drive off.”
• “The dashboard is showing a warning light – we should check the engine.”
• “I prefer using the steering wheel controls instead of touching my phone while driving.”

Students can practice by describing their own car: “In my car, the gear shift is on the center console…”

Highly recommend using this image for a quick speaking activity – have students label 5 more items they see in their own vehicle! 🚗💡

[Sara Tyler, ESL Teacher @saratyleresl]

✅ The correct answer is B) came 👍
Explanation:

After “would rather” + a different subject (he/she/they, etc.), we use the past simple to talk about present or future preferences. It’s a special subjunctive-style structure in English.

Full sentence:
“I would rather he came tomorrow.”

More examples:
• I would rather you stayed home tonight. (not stay)
• She’d rather we didn’t tell anyone. (not don’t)
• They’d rather she didn’t go alone.

Tip for students: Think of it as “I wish he came” – same past form for unreal/hypothetical situations!

[Sara Tyler, ESL Teacher @saratyleresl]

Here are 3 quick examples to help you start using them right away:

• Analyze (يحلل): “Researchers must analyze the data carefully before drawing conclusions.”
• Evidence (دليل): “There is strong evidence to support the hypothesis.”
• Synthesize (يُركّب / يدمج): “Students should synthesize information from multiple sources in their literature review.”

Tip: Try using 5–7 of these words in your next writing task. Read them aloud daily with the Arabic translations — this really helps with pronunciation and retention!

[Sara Tyler, ESL Teacher @saratyleresl]

✅ Great point! As an ESL teacher with 10+ years helping Spanish speakers, I completely agree: mastering these 400 high-frequency adverbs will boost your fluency way faster than learning rare vocabulary.

Natives use adverbs constantly to add precision, emotion, and natural flow to sentences. Without them, your English sounds flat or “textbook.”

Quick examples:
• Instead of: “I go to the gym.”
Say: “I usually go to the gym early in the morning.” 🔥
• Instead of: “She speaks English.”
Say: “She actually speaks English quite well and surprisingly fast!”
• Instead of: “I don’t understand.”
Say: “I barely understand when people speak quickly.”

Pro tip: Print that chart and practice 10 adverbs a day in real sentences. Record yourself using them in short stories — you’ll sound much more natural in just a few weeks!

[Sara Tyler, ESL Teacher @saratyleresl]

Here are a few extra practical phrases that go perfectly with your list:

• “Excuse me, where is gate 45?”
• “I’d like a window/aisle seat, please.”
• “How long is the layover?”
• “My suitcase is missing. What should I do?”
• “Can I have a luggage cart, please?”

Students, practice saying these out loud — pronunciation makes a big difference! ✈️

[Sara Tyler, ESL Teacher @saratyleresl]

✅ Correct answer: D) dilapidated 🏚️

Why?

“Dilapidated” is the most precise word here. It means a building that has fallen into a state of disrepair because of age and neglect — exactly what we see in the photo (peeling paint, broken parts, overgrown, etc.).

Quick comparison:
• A) old → Too general. An old house can still be beautiful and well-maintained.
• B) ruined → Usually implies total destruction (like after a fire or disaster).
• C) abandoned → Focuses on no one living there, but doesn’t describe the physical condition.
• D) dilapidated → Perfect for the visible decay and poor condition.

Examples in sentences:
• “They bought a dilapidated old farmhouse and spent years restoring it.”
• “The dilapidated building was declared unsafe by the city.”
• “Avoid walking near those dilapidated houses — they might collapse.”

[Sara Tyler, ESL Teacher @saratyleresl]

Here are a few more common ones with quick examples:

• On hold = 保留中 (e.g., “The meeting is on hold until next week.”)
• On track = 予定通り (e.g., “You’re on track to pass the TOEIC!” 👍)
• On a budget = 予算内で (e.g., “We’re traveling on a budget this summer.”)
• On the way = 途中 (e.g., “Dinner is on the way — it’ll be here in 20 minutes.”)
• On duty / Off duty = 勤務中 / 勤務外

Pro tip: Try making your own sentences with 2–3 of these every day. That’s how they really stick!

[Sara Tyler, ESL Teacher @saratyleresl]

Why it matters: Basic phrases get the message across, but the “better” versions add warmth, fluency, and cultural smoothness that native speakers use instinctively.

A few more useful upgrades I teach my students:

• Basic: “I don’t know” → Better: “I’m not sure” or “I’m not entirely sure”
• Basic: “Can you repeat?” → Better: “Sorry, could you say that again?”
• Basic: “It’s expensive” → Better: “It’s a bit pricey” (softer and more conversational)

[Sara Tyler, ESL Teacher @saratyleresl]

Here’s some extra practice to make these stick:

Set up (/set áp/) - Preparar/Montar
Ex: “I need to set up my new tent before the camping trip.”

Break (/bréik/) - Romper
Ex: “Be careful! Don’t break the glass.”

Fix (/fiks/) - Arreglar
Ex: “Can you fix my bike? The wheel is broken.”

Tie (/tái/) - Atar
Ex: “Remember to tie your shoelaces!”

Untie (/antái/) - Desatar
Ex: “She quickly untied the rope.”

Pack (/pak/) - Empacar
Ex: “I have to pack my suitcase tonight.”

Unpack (/anpák/) - Desempacar
Ex: “As soon as I get home, I’ll unpack my clothes.”

Mend (/mend/) - Remendar/Reparar
Ex: “My grandma knows how to mend socks perfectly.”

Fold (/fóuld/) - Doblar
Ex: “Please fold the laundry and put it away.”

Tip for students: Many of these verbs change meaning with prepositions (phrasal verbs).

For example, “set up” can also mean “organize” or “prepare something” like a meeting: “Let’s set up a call for tomorrow.”

[Sara Tyler, ESL Teacher @saratyleresl]

@GrammarUpdates It’s stronger than just “being mean” — it means attacking someone’s vulnerabilities unfairly.