Member Profile: Kristian, from The Netherlands

Name

Kristian de Groot

Mother tongue

Dutch

Lives in

Prague, the Czech Republic.

Can you tell me a bit about yourself?

I am a language coach who helps learners of English to become the best learner they can possibly be. When I was teaching English to adults in Prague, many of my students told me they found it hard to study at home, outside of the regular classes. That's why I made the decision to become an (online) language coach.

Other than coaching, I’m interested in blogging and podcasting. Recently I’ve started a blog myself, and there’s much to discover and to learn. It’s a very exciting new development in my life.

Last but not least, I’m a keen learner of Czech. I want to stay in Prague for many more years, so I need to learn the language. At first it wasn’t easy, but now that I’ve taught myself how to practise every day for an hour, it’s actually quite fun!

How long have you been learning English?

Apart from the subject of English at school, back when I was a child and teenager, I did the CPE exam in 2011. And even though I’m an English language coach, I’m still learning English every day by myself. There’s so much to learn, especially when it comes to writing and speaking. 

What have you found to be the hardest thing about learning English?

Learning how to write properly in English. I haven’t done much writing in the past -  compared to reading, listening and speaking - so that’s what I’m working on right now (with the blog).

What's your main goal for improving your English?

That’s simple for me: I want to become the best English language coach that I can possibly be. They say that teaching is a great way to learn, but it’s also the other way around. To be a great teacher, you have to keep learning.  

Why did you decide to become a member of Leonardo English?

Here's a video that explains it, and shows how I use the subtitles and transcript to practise speaking.

What's your favourite English Learning for Curious Minds episode (and why)?

To be honest, there are many. But if I have to choose one, I’ll go for The Great Exhibition.

I love learning about the Victorian age. I’m a big fan of the famous books that were written in the 19th century: Jane Eyre, Wuthering Heights, Sherlock Holmes, David Copperfield, and many more…

Alastair from Leonardo English says

Kristian is a force of nature, and his approach towards lifelong learning is an inspiration. It's amazing to see how he uses the subtitles and transcript, and it's an honour that someone with as much experience and knowledge when it comes to learning languages has chosen to keep on working on his English with Leonardo English.

His new project, Learners of English, looks very exciting, and I'm sure will be valuable to anyone who has struggled with learning English on their own. Great work, Kristian.