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English lessons that feel like a real conversation, not a textbook.

For adults who understand more English than they feel comfortable speaking.

Personalized 1-on-1 online English lessons for adults who want to sound like themselves — fluent, confident, and natural.

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5.0 ★Student rating
1,100+Lessons taught
10+Years tutoring
14Student reviews
1-on-1 English lessons ✦ Speaking fluency ✦ Pronunciation ✦ Grammar in context ✦ Real conversation practice ✦ TEFL certified tutor ✦ Linguistics background ✦ Lessons in English only ✦ 1-on-1 English lessons ✦ Speaking fluency ✦ Pronunciation ✦ Grammar in context ✦ Real conversation practice ✦ TEFL certified tutor ✦ Linguistics background ✦ Lessons in English only ✦

You understand English. So why is speaking still so hard?

If that sounds familiar, you're not bad at English. You probably just haven't had enough opportunities to use the English you know in real conversation.

You can study English for years and still struggle to speak. That's because knowing vocabulary and grammar isn't the same as being able to retrieve them quickly, pronounce them clearly, and use them naturally when someone is waiting for you to answer. That's the Word Gap. My lessons are designed to help you close it through real conversation, targeted feedback, and practice using the things you learn.

About Caitlyn

A thoughtful place to practise English.

Lessons are built around your real goals, your pace, and the moments where English needs to feel natural: conversations, meetings, travel, study, and everyday life.

Caitlyn, English tutor at The Word Gap
"
I believe confidence grows when lessons feel safe, specific, and genuinely useful.
— Caitlyn, English tutor

Hi — I'm Caitlyn. I help English learners become more comfortable speaking in the situations that actually matter to them. My background is in psychology, which is how I think about learning: what makes it stick, what makes it feel safe, and why we freeze even when we know the words.

I took several linguistics courses and loved them — so I can tell you why a sentence sounds off, not just that it does. I also studied adult language acquisition, which means I understand the specific challenges of learning a language after childhood — and why the usual classroom methods often fall short for adults.

I actually want you to make mistakes in our lessons. That's not a soft consolation — it's the strategy. Mistakes are data. They show us exactly which patterns are standing between you and fluency, so we can work on those specifically rather than guessing.

I don't just hear that something is wrong. I listen for why.

My background in psychology and linguistics shapes the way I teach. When you hesitate, mispronounce a word, use an unusual phrase, or struggle to find the right expression, I don't just correct you and move on. I look for the pattern behind it.

Because mistakes are data. They show us what your English needs next.

10 years teaching  ·  200+ students  ·  5.0 average rating

Free resource

25 Small Talk Questions

Not sure what to say when someone asks how your weekend was? Download 25 real small talk questions with natural English responses — practice them before your next conversation.

What we work on

Four quiet focuses, one calm hour at a time.

Every student is different — we'll shape lessons around the two or three of these that matter most for you right now.

i.

Speaking fluency

Long-form conversation built around topics you actually care about — work, news, ideas, your weekend.

  • Hesitation & filler work
  • Thinking in English
  • Long-turn structure
ii.

Pronunciation

Targeted work on the sounds, stress, and rhythm that make you understandable on the first try.

  • Vowel & consonant pairs
  • Word & sentence stress
  • Connected speech
iii.

Grammar in context

We notice patterns inside real sentences you want to say — and quietly fix the ones that keep tripping you up.

  • Articles & prepositions
  • Tense & aspect choices
  • Natural word order
iv.

Real-world English

Job interviews, emails, small talk, travel — we rehearse the situation before you live it.

  • Professional English
  • Academic English
  • Everyday Canadian
How it works

What happens in a lesson?

We talk.

You bring your English into a real conversation — your life, your work, your interests, your opinions.

I listen.

While we talk, I'm paying attention to the things getting in your way: hesitation, pronunciation, word-finding, grammar, unnatural phrasing.

We work with what happened.

After our conversation, we look at the language that actually came up. We learn it, practise it, and figure out why it works.

Then you use it.

The goal isn't to collect more English. It's to become more comfortable using it.

The goal isn't perfect English. It's being able to say what you actually mean. To tell someone how you're feeling. To explain your opinion. To make a joke. To tell a story. To keep a conversation going when you don't have the perfect word. To leave a conversation thinking: "I actually did that in English."

Prefer to learn independently? My 10-week Fluency Program is coming soon. Join the waitlist →

03 · 1-on-1 lessons

Live lessons, built around you — not a syllabus.

Every lesson balances pronunciation, grammar, and real conversation — weighted to what you actually need this week. Start with a Pronunciation Discovery Session, then book ongoing lessons from there.

Launch pricing — next 10 students only
Start here

Pronunciation Discovery Session

$20
/ 25 minutes

A focused diagnostic session. I listen to how you speak, identify the patterns holding you back, and give you a clear picture of what to work on.

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Most flexible

Single Session

$55 $85
/ 50 minutes

One full lesson tailored entirely to your goals — speaking confidence, grammar, pronunciation, or all three.

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Best value

Session Packs

$195 $300
/ 4 sessions · or $375 for 8

Commit to a package and build real, lasting progress. The 8-session pack is the sweet spot for fluency gains.

See details →

Launch pricing for first 10 students. Regular pricing: $85 single · $300 for 4 · $550 for 8.

Students

Real students. Real progress.

5.0
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14 verified student reviews
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Frequently Asked

Sensible answers, in plain English.

I work with learners from A2 up to C2. Because all lessons are taught entirely in English, you'll need at least some basic English to follow along and get real value from the lesson. Not sure where you fall? The Pronunciation Discovery Session is a great way to find out together.

Yes, but not the way most classes do. We notice grammar inside real sentences you want to say — and fix the patterns that keep tripping you up, rather than drilling rules in the abstract.

Standard lessons are 50 minutes. They can also be split into two 25-minute sessions if you prefer shorter, more frequent practice. Most students do one lesson a week — some do two. We'll find what works for you.

Zoom or Google Meet — whichever you prefer. All you need is a stable internet connection and a device with a camera and microphone.

No problem at all if you give at least 24 hours' notice — we'll reschedule through Calendly and find a time that works. Cancellations within 24 hours of the lesson will be considered attended, as I'm unable to fill the spot on short notice. Thank you for understanding!

Both. Single sessions are $100 for 50 minutes. Session packs are $360 for 4 sessions ($90 each) or $640 for 8 sessions ($80 each) — packs are the best value if you're ready to build real momentum. Your Pronunciation Discovery Session ($20) is credited toward any pack booked within 48 hours.

Say hi

Questions before you book? Let's talk.

Email
caitlyn@thewordgap.ca
Instagram
@the.word.gap
TikTok
@thewordgap
YouTube
@thewordgap
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