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High School Grammar and SAT Preparatory Writing Intensive Class

This course introduces high school students to powerful academic writing skills. A strong emphasis is placed on using phrases and clauses with a stronger comprehension of sentence patterns. The course textbook is "English Fundamentals". The material in the textbook is mastered through intensive practice. Students, after completing this course, are more able to flexibly craft an essay by connecting ideas using effective grammatical application. Students also study essay pre-writing, brainstorming, organization, and revision. This course focuses on thesis essays, descriptive essays, definition, and comparison and contrast. Additionally, cause and effect essays, classification and division essays, and argumentative essays are also analyzed and practiced. Toward the end of the course, students begin to practice writing timed essays, in preparation for the 25-minute essay required on the new SAT. Students explore various pre-writing techniques and, while preparing for the English usage section of the SAT, develop a stronger ability to accurately link ideas to develop a clear thesis. All common grammar mistakes are analyzed carefully, and students, upon finishing this course, have a much greater understanding of English grammar and composition.

There is a strict limit of 10 students for this intensive course.

Tuition price is $25 per hour for the grammar and writing class. For more information about price and availability or to register for classes, please contact Sean Savoie.

Other Courses Taught by Sean Savoie

Although Sean Savoie has developed curricula for various types of English language courses, the list and descriptions below represent the courses that he is either teaching now or has taught most often over the past 16 years. To inquire about a specific course that is not listed below, please contact Sean Savoie directly so that he can recommend an existing course or design a specific curriculum for you, your business, or your school. Prices of classes vary depending on class size and content. Please refer to the Calendar section of the website to see the current pricing of courses that are now available or opening soon. Please click here to view a list of course tuition prices.

Beginning English I

This course provides an excellent foundation for beginning level students of English. The material is the first half of the textbook "Boot Camp" by Sean Savoie. An audio CD is included. Adults and teenagers are welcome. The class develops the ability to more correctly pronounce vocabulary and short sentences and focuses on the forming of fundamental questions and answers in everyday conversation. This class utilizes the RELT system, which uses visual images to expedite language learning.

Beginning English II

This course, a continuation from Beginning English I, provides more solid foundation for beginning level students of English. The material is the second half of the textbook "Boot Camp" by Sean Savoie. An audio CD is included. Adults and teenagers are welcome. The class develops the ability to more correctly pronounce vocabulary and slightly longer sentences and focuses on the forming of various phrases and clauses in everyday conversation. This class utilizes the RELT system, which uses visual images to expedite language learning.

Intermediate English I

This course helps students to more confidently use grammar to develop ideas. The emphasis is on the American style of everyday conversation, verb tense, phrasal verbs, natural pronunciation, and vocabulary building. The most often used text is entitled "What'll We Speak about". Students are encouraged to listen to their CD and converse with classmates in English only. This course is normally held for adults.

Intermediate English II

This course, a continuation from Intermediate English I, helps students to more naturally use grammar to develop ideas. The emphasis is on the American style of everyday conversation, disagreement an argument, verb tense, phrasal verbs, natural pronunciation, and vocabulary building. The most often used text is the second half of the book entitled "What'll We Speak about". Students are encouraged to listen to their CD and converse with classmates in English only. This course is normally held for adults.

Advanced English Conversation

This course is primarily an opportunity for more advanced speakers to perfect their expression in English. Students practice polite disagreement, situations-specific conversations, argumentation, persuasion, concession, idiomatic language, sarcasm, and advanced grammar with a goal toward precise expression. The material consists of photocopies and current events found in the news.

Argumentative Techniques in English

This course is most often suitable for high school and college level students who need to perfect the art of argumentation. Students are required to write argumentative essays, debate effectively in class, and recognize logical fallacies in arguments that occur in the news and in the classroom. This is an excellent course for college students and business people. Many different types of supplemental material are analyzed during the course.

Junior High School Writing and Grammar I

This course introduces junior high school students to the fundamental concepts used when developing a cohesive, complete, and well-organized essay. Students are encouraged to develop their creative abilities by focusing on writing description and narration. The students are also introduced to the various sentence patterns in the English language and begin to explore the ways in which these patterns can be used to express ideas and opinions. This class is typically most suited to higher-level junior high school students, but there is no minimum age limit. It is best to interview for this class.

Junior High School Writing and Grammar II

This course, a continuation of Junior High School Writing and Grammar I, furthers junior high school students’ understanding of the fundamental concepts used when developing a cohesive, complete, and well-organized essay. Students become comfortable with writing a five paragraph thesis essay. These students increase their understanding of the various sentence patterns in the English language and continue to explore the ways in which these patterns can be used to express ideas and opinions, especially as regards disagreement. Students must complete the first level class (above), but there is no minimum age limit. A student must interview for this class if he or she has not taken Junior High School Writing and Grammar I.

New York State English Regents Test Course

This course focuses exclusively on preparation for the English Regents Test. Students utilize the textbook called "Barron’s Regents Exams and Answers" and also practice listening, interpreting, reading for key information, and organizing facts to score better on each of the four sections of the English Regents Test. Student take many mock tests and discuss the ways to improve test scores.

Understanding Literary Techniques and Elements in Literature

This class reads classic novels and discusses and imitates the use of literary techniques (irony, sarcasm, simile, metaphor, personification, etc...) and literary techniques (plot, setting, theme, conflict, character development, climax, etc...). The class helps students to prepare for college reading and composition, and it also gives the students more confidence when taking the NYS English Regents Test. There is no age minimum, but students must interview for the class and have a relatively high level of English. The novels vary, but students always get exposed to various styles of writing and evaluate fiction in the same way that they will in college.

Intermediate Adult Grammar I

This course is for adults who believe that improved grammar will enable them to speak and read more effectively. The Azar grammar book, along with various handouts, gives adults the opportunity to actively make use of grammar. Level I of this intermediate course focuses on verb tense, use of pronouns, noun clauses, adjective clauses, and adverb clauses. The textbook is subject to change, but the general material and goals stay the same. Students are encouraged to use grammar more effectively and speak often in class. The primary goal of this class is effective and confident conversation.

Intermediate Adult Grammar II

This course is for adults who are continuing from Intermediate Adult Grammar I, or students who have a strong fundamental understanding of English grammar. The Azar grammar book, along with various handouts, gives adults the opportunity to actively make use of grammar. Level II of this intermediate course focuses on more advanced verb tenses, phrases and clauses, use of pronoun agreement, noun clauses, a higher level of adjective clauses, reported speech, conditional forms and parallelism. The textbook is subject to change, but the general material and goals stay the same. Students are encouraged to use grammar more effectively and speak often in class. The primary goal of this class is effective and confident conversation.

Resume Development and Interview Course

This course has been developed for adults who wish to practice interview techniques in order to get employment. A small amount of grammar is reviewed; however, the main emphasis of the course is on clear speech, interview techniques, body language, resume preparation, follow-up letters, job searching, and American culture and psychology. The class functions more like a workshop, and students are encouraged to actively participate.

USA Citizenship Course

This course caters to immigrants who will take the naturalization interview required by the US government for citizenship in the United States. The many different types of questions regarding American civics and history are discussed. Mock interviews make up a large part of this class. Students learn how to better understand quickly spoken English. The goal is to be confident at the interview required to become a US citizen.

Adult Public Speaking Class

This often entertaining course focuses on the many aspects of public speaking. The course covers the effective use of the English language, body language, use of visuals, development of material, and many other useful techniques for public speaking. The content of this course comes from many different textbooks, but the primary textbook is called "Speak Now or Forever Fall to Pieces", which is unfortunately out-of-print. Any person who needs or desires to speak publicly will benefit greatly from this course.

English through Music in American Culture

This informal class creates an opportunity for immigrants to better understand American culture and attitudes by studying the lyrics of many famous songs that are, or have been, popular in America. This class presents an opportunity for students to discuss the experiences they have had in the United States and learn more about American thinking. People who do not understand enough about the strong influence of music and the words to this music on the American way of thinking are not getting exposed to an important aspect of American culture. Adults are encouraged to take this class.

Reflexive English Language Training