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From the staff room

/stɑːf ruːm/ — noun: where the honest opinions live

Method · 24 Aug 2026 · 4 min

Stop studying English. Start speaking it.

The intermediate plateau isn't a knowledge problem — it's a practice problem. Here's how our B1 course is built around that idea.

Elena Marsh

Exams · 10 Aug 2026

What IELTS examiners actually reward

After four years as an examiner, I can tell you the band descriptors mean exactly what they say — and almost nobody reads them.

James Okafor · 5 min read

Method · 23 Jul 2026

Why small groups beat private lessons (for most people)

One-to-one feels premium. But for speaking confidence, a good group of six is a better machine than any private lesson.

Elena Marsh · 4 min read

School life · 4 Jul 2026

A week at Speak American

Monday grammar, Thursday debates, Saturday essays, and the Conversation Club in between — what a normal week here looks like.

Speak American · 3 min read

SpeakAmerican

An independent English school in Laguna Beach.

Small groups, CEFR-aligned courses, and teachers who make you talk.

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