Hello. My name is Khamis Maiouf, and I run this site to help people learn and practise English.
I Learned English the Way You Are Learning It Now
English is not my first language. I learned it as an adult, in the United Kingdom, the slow way — one word at a time, making mistakes in front of people, and starting again the next day.
I know what it feels like to read a grammar page and understand none of it. I know the feeling of looking up the same word for the fifth time. I know what it is like to have something to say and not have the words to say it.
That is why this site exists, and it is why the lessons are written the way they are. Every one of them is written for the person I used to be.
What I Have Done
- Functional Skills Level 2 in English — the UK qualification in reading, writing and speaking. I sat it as a learner, not as a teacher.
- Level 3 Hairdressing — a full vocational qualification, studied and examined entirely in English.
- Currently studying Health and Social Care, in English.
- Over five years teaching and tutoring English — ESOL classes in my local community, and one-to-one work helping students pass GCSE English.
Let me be straight with you about what that means. I am not a university linguist and I do not have a PhD in English. What I have is the experience of learning this language myself, passing exams in it, working in it, studying in it, and then spending five years sitting beside other learners while they did the same thing.
Teaching ESOL in the community taught me something no textbook did: most learners do not fail because the grammar is too hard. They fail because it was explained to them in language they could not understand yet. So on this site I explain things in the simplest words that still tell the truth.
How I Write the Lessons
- One main idea at a time. We aim to keep explanations focused and break larger topics into manageable steps.
- Clear answers. We aim to introduce the main point early, then explain it with examples.
- Examples and rules. We aim to connect grammar explanations with sentences that show how the language is used.
- Learning from mistakes. We aim to explain common mistakes alongside corrected examples.
- Many lessons include quizzes and practice activities to help you check your understanding.
- Our reading section offers stories for English practice, with vocabulary support and comprehension activities.
Lessons are organised from A1 to C2 to help you choose material. These levels are a guide; difficulty can vary by topic.
Our Lessons
The lessons are organised into the six CEFR levels: A1 Beginner, A2 Elementary, B1 Intermediate, B2 Upper Intermediate, C1 Advanced, and C2 Proficiency. Each level teaches grammar and vocabulary in a clear order, one small step at a time, with interactive quizzes and flashcards to practise what you learn.
Try our 12-question grammar check for a suggested starting point. It is not a complete CEFR assessment.
Where I Am Going With This
I am steadily rewriting and improving the lessons on this site, level by level, and adding original reading stories so that learners have something real to read at their own level — not just rules to memorise.
If a lesson here helped you, or if something on it is wrong or unclear, I would genuinely like to know. I read every message, and corrections from readers have improved these pages more than once.
You can reach me through the contact page.
— Khamis Maiouf, English Teacher Site