The traditional teaching model involves mostly reading and writing. Students are expected to read and write to improve on their essay writing and comprehension. Lessons are targeted at preparing students for O Level Examinations.

Of course, there is nothing with preparing students for upcoming exams. However, some may argue that the current teaching methodologies in schools leave a lot to be desired.

Language learning is unlike most subjects. Students face difficulties because they attempt to study for English in a way that is similar to other subjects such as Math or Physics. Unfortunately, language acquisition and learning does not work that way.

There are four key areas when it comes to language learning.

1. Listening
2. Speaking
3. Reading
4. Writing

The educational system in Singapore is placing more and more emphasis on holistic language learning. In other words, there is more equal emphasis on all four areas. Students are not just expected to be proficient in composition and comprehension. Oral itself takes up to 20% weightage! That is quite a heavy weightage and oral can no longer be ignored. Knowing how to write well is no longer enough.

"As a full-time private tutor, I was surprised to learn from my students that they were not taught basic grammar rules in school," said Darren, a private tutor at EnglishTuition.org. "Either that, or the rules are not explained very well. No wonder students are weak in the subject."

Foundation building is becoming more and more important. Students who form bad habits when they are in primary school will continue to fight an uphill battle when they reach secondary school. Typically, those who are weak in English struggle with grammar, spelling and sentence construction issues.

For secondary school students, knowing how to write well is no longer sufficient. Students are expected to know how to write a well-balanced descriptive, narrative or argumentative essay. Critical and creative thinking becomes highly valued. Such skills cannot be taught in a week or two. They have to be developed over time.

For this reason, EnglishTuition.org highly recommends students to start building a strong foundation early (preferably starting from Primary level). This is to prevent bad learning habits from forming and impeding language learning at a later stage.

Primary school students usually attend private tuition sessions that last for about 1.5 hours (once or twice a week). Secondary school students are able to concentrate better. Hence they are able to cope better with 2 hour sessions (once a week).

EnglishTuition.org offers both 1 to 1 and group tuition.

For more information on rates and schedule, please visit http://englishtuition.org