The Good Conversationalist FAQ

If you’re new to TGC, this guide answers the most common questions about the service.

What is The Good Conversationalist?

The Good Conversationalist is a personalized coaching service that exists to help professionals in high-pressure occupations master all their English communication skills and improve their professional and personal lives.

What’s the difference between “normal” English classes and “English Communication Coaching”? Is TGC right for me?

Well, “normal” English classes focus mainly on the language and they’re great when you’re starting out. From the beginner to intermediate level is always better to focus on the basics. And if that’s what you need, I’m definitely not for you. 

However, if you have a good foundation in English but want to take your communication skills to the next level, you’re in the right place. While I can certainly work on perfecting your language skills like grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary, my real focus is on helping you become more confident, fluent, and eloquent in your overall communication out there in the real world. This is especially important if you work in a highly educated, competitive, and international market where strong interpersonal skills are a must.

For example, have you ever watched a TED talk and been impressed by the speaker's confidence and eloquence? They seem to have the perfect word for every moment, and they speak with fluency and clarity, making it look easy. Well, you can be one of those speakers too! With specialized training in eloquence, presentations, negotiations, intercultural communication, and overall interpersonal skills, you can acquire the tools you need to deliver your message effectively and compete with the very best in the world.

Think of it like getting in shape. Most people think that all they need to do is go to the gym to be in great shape, but that's not true at all. To really succeed, you need a well-rounded approach that includes both exercise and nutrition. In professional English communication, it's the same - you need a complete set of English language skills and interpersonal communication strategies to really succeed. With me, it’s like getting a personal trainer who helps you with the workout and nutritional plans, and even coaching and tracking your progress at the gym — you can get everything in one place.

Isn’t it better to do this in person instead of via webcams? Isn’t it too “impersonal”?

Yeah, I totally get that. I was actually a traditional “real-life” teacher and coach for 20 years before this. But after 8 years of doing it this way, I’ve realized that online coaching is just better. The level of focus and efficiency that you can achieve is amazing. That’s not even counting other factors like being able to share the screen for watching media together and keeping all notes and exercises synced while I am literally creating them right in front of you. Being able to cancel or reschedule easily, not having to drive to class after a long working day. Schedule your sessions to any time slot that works for you, sitting back and just enjoying your session while you’re improving your skills — that just can’t be beaten.

What if I’m too shy and feel insecure about speaking English on a webcam to a stranger?

Again, I completely understand that. One thing that most people don’t know about me, and something that even my close friends and clients have a hard time believing, is that I used to be super shy growing up! And it’s totally okay and normal to be shy and to feel a bit insecure in the beginning. But remember that I’m here to help you, not judge you. 

Just like riding a bike, you just need to start slow, with someone that will definitely challenge you, but in a caring and patient way. Before you know it, you’ll see how comfortable and rewarding it is to have someone by your side cheering and guiding you as you make fast progress and start seeing results. You'll start to feel truly confident in your English communication skills on a webcam and, more importantly, out in the real world. You'll be riding that bike like a pro!

Okay, so how much is it? And how do I know which program is best for me?

The programs are 100% personalized. And they’re all based on your current skill level, your chosen schedule, and how fast you want to advance. Regarding the skill level needed, as long as you’re an upper-intermediate to advanced English speaker, any personal program will work for you. It all depends on how fast you need to progress and, of course, your budget.

So how do I get started?

Easy. We have a 30-min free coaching consultation where we get to know each other a bit, I give you a preliminary assessment of your current linguistic and interpersonal communication skills level, and we talk about your specific Interpersonal English communication goals. Then, I tell you what we would need to work on to achieve those goals, we actually do some activities and exercises to kick-start your progress, give you some tips, and I answer any additional questions you might have. If we see that we get along, and more importantly, I can truly help you achieve your specific goals, then we can talk about the next steps. To schedule a session, go here.