Many people believe that a proficient level of English is only achievable once they have learned a large amount and variety of advanced vocabulary , but, in my many years of experience as an advanced English teacher, I have found that this is only half of the journey to achieving that goal. Many times I have had students who have dedicated themselves, in one way or another, to learn the vocabulary that they feel that they need to know, especially ESP , with many of them neglecting the more important, basic words that are imperative for connecting the more advanced vocabulary together. If you imagine vocabulary as being like a brick wall , with the most advanced vocabulary being the layers and layers of individual bricks. Then look at the thousands of basic words and imagine them as the cement that holds and connects all of the more advanced words together. Without this basic vocabulary , the brick wall will simply be unable to sustain itself, it will fail and fall over....
David White is an Australian English teacher who has been living in Peru since 2001. In partnership with his wife Claudia, they are the owners of ¨English For You Language Institute´, an institute that specializes in the teaching of all levels of English from Basic (A1) to Advanced (C2) including international exam preparation. They are also the owners of ELT Educational Services and David is also the Headmaster of the American School, a respected bilingual ib school in Northern Peru.