The English language is infinitely fascinating. I am privileged to teach it to both people who have another first language as well as to students who have been learning English since they were a few months old.
English to Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL)
The questions of what to learn and how to learn it are things teachers think about constantly. As a result there are many theories and many fashions.
I compare how I learnt language when I was a student with how it is taught today and can see many changes, most of them for the better. I also look at the potential we have to use technology to improve the efficiency of language learning. I think that things could sometimes be done better. On this web-site I aim to explore some of these ways.
One of the best web-sites I know of for the non-native student of English is Antimoon. You will find a lot of good advice there from people who have learnt to speak English very well indeed. They are strong advocates of English to English dictionaries and the use of example sentences, both ideas I agree with strongly.
English to Native Speakers
People who have learned English know things that ESOL students have to learn painstakingly. They have absorbed, by some sort of magical process, the grammar of English. Also they have a huge advantage in vocabulary, the result of learning words day in and day out. It is estimated that native speakers learn between 1000 and 2000 words each year, or 3 to 7 words each day! (And my ESOL students sometimes grumble when I suggest that 5 words is the minimum they should be aiming for!)
Because so many native speakers know so many words and because they have (mostly) learnt the grammar, a result the emphasis in teaching English to native speakers is on the use of the language in a wide variety of situations.
However it often happens that one sees first language students who have surprising gaps in their vocabulary and grammar. I believe that these might benefit from a more systematic approach to learning English vocabulary and grammar.
Note
For New Zealand senior students studying for their exams check out Studyit. Here the requirements for many subjects along with tips and resources are provided. You can even post questions and get answers from experienced teachers.