Eulexia Tutoring Blog
The Surprising Reason Mandarin is Easier to Speak Than Spanish
Want to become conversational in a new language in weeks, not years? Learn to speak Mandarin Chinese. We explore why its simple grammar and lack of verb conjugations make it much easier to start speaking than a language like Spanish.
"My Sister Has a Yellow Pencil": Why Most Language Classes Teach Useless Vocabulary
Ever finished a language class able to label every object in the room, but unable to form a real sentence? This common frustration comes from a flawed focus on useless nouns. Discover why a 'structure-first' approach is a more logical and effective path to fluency.
The Accidental Method: How Nativist Policies and Profit Crippled Modern Language Learning
Ever wonder why modern language classes often fail? The dominant method of a native speaker teaching only in the target language wasn't born from research, but from a historical accident rooted in early 20th-century nativist policies and later cemented by commercial interests. Discover the surprising history and a better path forward.
"Dysteachia": Are Reading Problems Inborn or Taught?
When a child struggles to read, we often ask what is wrong with the child? But what if the problem lies in the instruction? We explore the provocative concept of 'dysteachia'—reading failure caused by poor teaching—and how a child's susceptibility can be turned into a full-blown reading disability by the wrong methods.
The Nostalgia Trap: How Dick, Jane, and Dr. Seuss Can Inadvertently Cause Reading Failure
Many remember Dick and Jane, and Dr. Seuss fondly. But what if these beloved books, when used as first readers, implicitly teach habits that can lead to reading failure? We explore the how Dick and Jane and Dr. Seuss books, created as instructional products, were ineffective or even destructive to their purpose of helping kids learn to read.
A Hidden Hurdle: How Dr. Orton Warned Sight-Word Methods Could Cause Reading Disabilities
Dr. Orton warned in 1929 that sight-word teaching could be a "source of reading disability." Learn why this method fails and why systematic phonics is essential for all children.
Are We Teaching English Like It's Chinese? Rudolph Flesch's Timeless Warning for Parents
Rudolph Flesch's 1955 book, 'Why Johnny Can't Read,' ignited a debate by observing that many reading methods treated English words like Chinese characters—pictures to be memorized. We explore why this fundamental misunderstanding of our alphabetic language persists and why systematic phonics is the true key to reading.
Could It Be the Teaching? Siegfried Engelmann's Provocative Concept of "Dys-teach-ia"
Explore 'dys-teach-ia,' Siegfried Engelmann's provocative idea that challenges common views on learning difficulties. Could ineffective teaching methods, not the student, be the issue?