Real-World English Practice: A Better Way to Learn as an Adult

Real-world English Practice | Podcast Interview

This Friday, I’m being interviewed for the podcast Smart English Coach by Clare Whitmell — and it’s making me reflect on the work I do, the 3 Word Story campaign I just ran, and why I teach English the way I do.

I don’t know exactly what questions I’ll be asked, but if I get to share one thing loudly and clearly, it’s this:

English doesn’t have to be hard, boring, or something you dread.

It can feel joyful, generous, creative — even healing.

A Brief Introduction

I’m Ruth Pringle, and I run English language holidays in Scotland that don’t feel like English class.

My clients don’t need more grammar. They need confidence — and that comes from joyful, real-world practice.

I’ve given Claire this Biography…

I trained to a high level in fine art, but like many creatives, I needed a steady income. I fell into English teaching (largely thanks to 1st language privilege – but that’s a different story) and quickly realised I was good at it.

Not because I had all the answers, but because I could absorb the frustration so many learners were carrying.

7 Years in a Corporate Language School (Not the Real World!)

I met endless corporate clients who had given up on English. Who found it a chore. Who felt ashamed about their level.

And yet, in our lessons, something shifted. They began to look forward to using English with me. They requested me. 

It didn’t happen during the grammar drills or following the programme. 

It happened in the first and last five minutes of class — when the textbook was closed, and we were being real people in a real room.

That shift — from dread to joy — is where my teaching really lives.

I’m not anti-textbook.

But I realised that if everyone else is doing textbook work, I can amplify the first and last five-minute feeling — and turn it into a full-week experience.

That’s what my holidays are:

A full week of real, joyful, confidence-building English.

You know how lots of people say, “Do five minutes of English a day”?

I say — do the part you enjoy, for a whole week!

I’m not saying my way works better for everyone — but real world English practice is powerful for confidence.

And confidence changes everything.

Ruth, Blue Noun Language Hub, 2025

Taking from Team Teaching

I taught as a member of a teaching team for 7 years before I began working independently.

There was a lot I didn’t support about team teaching — from clashing work ethics to inconsistent learner experiences. However, if you reimagined team teaching — not as splitting up a course, but as sharing the responsibility for someone’s lifetime of English learning.

There’s a time when you need grammar drills. A time when you need pronunciation coaching. A time when you need to build confidence or prepare for a job interview.

No one teacher should try to do it all. (And learners shouldn’t be expected to get everything from a single course).

Many teachers and language systems have the assumption they need to do everything — grammar, pronunciation, business English, confidence, culture — all in one.

But that’s not how learning works.
We’re only ever one part of someone’s language journey.

I can specialise in creating enjoyable real world English holidays. 

Bringing You the Best English Help

I regularly collaborate with other language coaches to bring my learners the best experience possible during their stay — the best pronunciation workshop, the best presentation coaching — rather than trying to do everything myself.

That’s part of respecting the learner: knowing when to step back and bring someone else’s energy in. 

English Guidance for Online Learners

If you’re not joining a holiday but still want support, I also offer a one-to-one Review and Revive session. It’s designed to help you figure out what kind of English support will move you forward — whether that’s a teacher, a coach, or a specific course. It’s ideal for adults who feel stuck or overwhelmed and want a clear next step.

→ Review and Revive English Consultancy Sessions

The 3 Word Story Competition

Why I Ran the 3-Word Story Challenge

So much of social media is about selling.

I wanted to make something about sharing authentic moments — reliving travel memories and feeling good.

I launched the challenge because, as a small language school owner, I constantly fight for visibility against giant service providers. These companies dominate search engines and social media with huge marketing budgets and generic language services.

I fight every day to get the alternatives seen — not just my holidays, but the work of thousands of trustworthy, caring, independent teachers all over the world.

The 3-word story challenge was designed to spark engagement and visibility. To show that English doesn’t have to be serious, academic, or anxiety-inducing. It can be fun.

A ‘Look Under the Hood’ of our Language School

The challenge had a financial cost to run. But I’d rather pay a local artist than pay Meta.

We gave away original handmade Scottish art by HooperHart — chosen daily by professional comedian and storyteller Lolie Ware — to celebrate creativity and connection.

At the end of the week, a final prize winner won a gorgeous diorama artwork of a cosy little cottage in the hillside.
For me, this artwork represents the feeling of our homestays.

I believe learning English should feel generous, abundant, and joyful.

I’ll share the link to the podcast here once it’s live, and you can hear for yourself how I did. 

Let me know in the comments! 

Ruth

HooperHart

Smart English Coach Podcast

Related Posts

• Celebrating Our Homestay Hosts with the 3-Word English Story Competition
• The Power of Words: Say Lots with a Little Language

•  What is Language Immersion & Does it Work?