Why Interaction Beats Rote Learning (Yes, Even in Games).

Over my 30+ years working with teens, one truth has stayed with me: language happens when we interact—not when we drill grammar or memorize vocabulary. Even the best games lose their power if there's no real communication behind them. Yup, even Kahoot or Quizziz. You wanna know why? Ever heard of Stephen Krashen?

Krashen’s five-part Monitor Model revolutionized language learning in the 1970s:

1. Acquisition vs. learning: subconscious absorption through meaningful use trumps conscious rule learning.
2. Input Hypothesis (i+1): we progress best when exposed to language just beyond our comfort zone.
3. Affective Filter: anxiety blocks input—only a relaxed, motivated learner experiences language growth.

Stephen Krashen reminded us teachers that grammar awareness plays a supportive role. It’s great for polishing your language, but not helpful for building fluency in either speaking or writing.

Yeah, yeah, but the 1970’s is ancient times, right? Well, more recently, former Michigan State University professor of linguistics, Bill VanPatten, has reinforced Krashen’s insights. He urges us to overcome the “Atlas Complex”—the belief that the teacher alone is responsible and must carry the entire weight of learning.

He puts it simply:

1. Call them learners, not students. This shifts everyone’s mindset.
2. Accept that you cannot control their internal language-building process. Who’s in control? YOU! The learner!
3. Become an active interlocutor, not just an instructor. You interact, they acquire.

Krashen and VanPatten agree: it’s through genuine, meaningful interaction that language takes root, and not rote learning, drills, or isolated games to make learning “fun” once in a while.

🚀 What does this mean for you as you’re searching for a tutor?

In my online sessions, we:

1. Build conversations that feel real, not scripted.
2. Bring in appropriate challenges so you can push yourself further in your language development without frustration.
3. Remove stress: you'll never be corrected mid-sentence. Mistakes are just feedback, not failures.
4. Focus on how your brain learns, so you learn how to monitor your own thinking and refine learning along the way.

Rather than teach rules, I engage with you. I ask. I listen. I respond. We explore language through:

✅ Real conversation
✅ Problem-solving together
✅ Reflective pauses to figure out why something works
✅ Fun tasks that replicate real-world use

This method aligns directly with Krashen’s model—rich input, low stress—and with VanPatten’s call for interaction.

In short: with me, it’s never been about grammar drills or flashy games. It’s always been about meaningful interaction. That’s how fluency grows, how confidence builds, and how you, teenage learners, unlock their voice. In my online sessions you learn English interactively, build essential 21st-century skills like creativity, critical thinking, and self-awareness, and boost your language fluency.

If you're ready to speak, explore, and actually use language, I’d love to welcome you.
– Mrs. M