Life talk. An Innovative language teaching method focused on emotional intelligence and real-life communication

Nelli Chentsova is a certified language educator, methodologist, and founder of two private language schools in Moscow. She graduated from Moscow State Linguistic University (MGLU) and holds international teaching credentials, including Cambridge TKT and TESOL certifications.

With over a decade of teaching experience, she has developed conversation-based programs for adult learners and designed training materials for teachers working with CEFR levels A1–C1. Her work focuses on communicative competence, emotional engagement, and learner autonomy.

Nelli is the author of the LIFE TALK™ methodology – an approach that integrates language learning with real-life dialogue, emotional intelligence, and personal growth. Her goal is to make language learning not only effective, but also meaningful, flexible, and human-centered.

LIFE TALK™ is an original methodology for language and personal development, built on live communication, a flexible lesson structure, and a deep understanding of how people learn. It is designed to develop strong communicative skills and lasting speaking confidence in both adults and teenagers, at any level – from beginner to advanced.

The core idea behind LIFE TALK™ is that language is not an academic subject – it is a tool for living. This is not just a grammar course; it is a method that helps learners speak, feel, express themselves, and connect with others. From the very first session, students are engaged in real conversation – without isolated drills, artificial dialogues, or fear of making mistakes.

What makes LIFE TALK™ unique is its ability to combine:

• authentic, human interaction in place of memorized phrases,

• the development of emotional intelligence – including self-awareness, empathy, and confidence,

• a clear five-stage lesson structure, reflecting natural stages of cognitive processing – from warm-up to reflection,

• a multi-sensory approach, using visual, auditory, and kinesthetic elements,

• and a solid scientific foundation grounded in cognitive psychology, neurolinguistics, and communicative language teaching.

The methodology is highly adaptable: it works in traditional classrooms, online settings, corporate programs, and continuing education environments. Its effectiveness has been proven in practice – students begin to speak freely, with enjoyment, and experience language as a natural part of life.

In this way, LIFE TALK™ is not simply a path to language proficiency. It is a new learning paradigm in which the focus is not on rules, but on people. The true outcome is not just knowledge – but the freedom to express oneself in a new language.

The LIFE TALK™ methodology is flexible and can be adapted to a wide range of age, social, and professional groups. Its structure and content allow for effective teaching of both teenagers and adults – from beginners to confident speakers. The key target audiences include:

• School and university students: LIFE TALK™ helps improve speaking skills, build confidence, and prepare for exams, academic travel, and interviews.

• Adult professionals: Those who use English for work – in meetings, negotiations, and presentations – will benefit from the real-life topics and scenarios aligned with their daily communication needs.