about me – Luke Basham

I was born and raised in London, UK and have a deep love for English literature, English music, English cinema and English television. Before I began teaching English, I worked in bookshops, music clubs and video post-production. Working abroad as an English teacher is often the choice for English speakers seeking adventure in foreign countries. I knew I was fascinated by the English language but I had no idea how important the teacher-student relationship would become for me. I wouldn’t give it up for anything.

With more than 20 years of teaching English in Italy, it’s clear why students struggle with English: they’ve never been taught how English pronunciation actually works and how different it is from Italian. I’ve dedicated years to studying English pronunciation and perfecting the best way to teach it to EFL students. Unfortunately, publications are either academic and impenetrable for regular EFL students, or they’re conversation or phrase-based instruction without ever addressing the system beneath.

My teaching style is much more on the side of the student than the professor as I search for pedagogic explanations rather than academic ones. No fluff, no abstract linguistics. Just a step-by-step system that explains why English sounds the way it does and how to sound natural when you speak it.

Over the years, I’ve taught adults, teenagers, and children in schools, language centres, and some of the biggest packaging and automotive companies in Emilia-Romagna. That range of experience has helped me fine-tune my method so it works just as well in the boardroom as it does in the classroom.

I love studying the English language as much as I love teaching. Videos and books are wonderful tools but nothing beats working directly with students in person. The soundsEnglish pronunciation course is the result of years of discovery and astonishment. It’s an energy I share with my class. Once you understand the system, English stops being a guessing game — and starts becoming a voice you recognise as your own.