Hi, I'm Joanne Rudling, and it's great you're here. I'm a lecturer and teacher-trainer with 25 years' experience teaching spelling, writing and English. Before I go into that stuff, let me tell you a bit about why I have this How to Spell website and why I love teaching spelling.
My background: I didn't like school, didn't like the teachers. I get angry now at the things they didn't teach us. This was in the 70s at a comprehensive in Derbyshire.
I dropped out at 17 with a few qualifications. DIdn’t know what I wanted to be or do. I lived in Paris for a year then moved to London and did a series of jobs including waitressing, acting and all kinds of temp jobs.
I wanted to write, especially scriptwriting. I also wrote a few articles for magazines (I didn’t know my grammar and spelling were not great, no wonder I didn’t get anything published.)
I went back to university at 30 to do a degree in TV & Film Scriptwriting at Bournemouth University. I still didn’t know my spelling, punctuation and grammar were a bit dodgy — didn’t think it made any difference. Not until I got snotty notes on my manuscripts. from my lecturers.
When other people know how to spell and use grammar correctly, they think others do too. They know how to use there/their/they’re, to/too, I’d and I’ll but some of us need to learn these.
After university, I continued writing. One day I walked past the local adult education centre and a little voice said to go and help people read and write there.
So, I became a volunteer and trainee teacher and learned all about literacy — reading, writing and spelling.
The spelling courses were an eye opener. I loved learning all about spelling rules, spelling strategies, memory tricks, the history of English spelling, homophones, silent letters, etc. and wondered why we weren’t taught this in school. Now 25 years later I want to teach you all the things I learnt (or learned — American English).
I overcame my own spelling problems and became a lecturer, a writer and owning my own business. But, I also had to learn all about grammar and punctuation. *Punctuation — what a tricky, difficult thing that is. I had to write a book and make an online course to fully understand how it works and how important it is. I’m forever learning. I love reading and learning things. I hope you become a lifelong learner too.
My Experience: I've taught all aspects of literacy and writing in various organisations including City of Westminster College, Dorset and Poole Adult Education, Bournemouth College, and Bournemouth Film School.
I've developed and taught on literacy projects for the Pre-Volunteer Programme for the Olympics, and the RNIB.
I've delivered seminars, training courses and CPD (Continued Profession Development) sessions for teachers and lecturers on literacy and spelling.
I've also worked with Amazon.com (TV division) changing American spellings to British on their closed captions/subtitles.
Qualifications
2006 — Certificate in Education (Cert Ed) & Level 4 Subject Spec (ESOL) - London South Bank University
1998 — Developing Good Practice in Teaching Basic Skills - OCN
1998 — Initial Certificate in Teaching Basic Skills - ESOL C&G 9284
1997 — Initial Certificate in Teaching Basic Skills - Literacy C&G 9282
1997 — Further and Adult Education Teaching Certificate C&G 7306
June 96 — BA (Hons) Scriptwriting for TV and Film. Bournemouth University
If you have any questions, comments, or tell me your spelling journey then contact me on info@howtospell.co.uk or click here and use the contact form.
You can learn to spell and write well, too. I overcame my own spelling, grammar and punctuation problems by learning all about spelling. And I now want to teach everyone how to spell and write well.
I want you to be so confident in your spelling you can become a better writer and can get your point across and to empower yourself.
Everyone deserves to spell and write well so they can express themselves, and get the training and job they want.
Check out Your Spelling Stories about people's schooling and spelling experiences.
To spell well you need to study spelling:
Feedback
I get so many lovely emails from people from all over the world, which gives me such a boost and a good feeling. Here are some recent comments about How to Spell. I’ve not altered the grammar, punctuation, or spelling.
Just wanted to say a huge thank you for your spelling and punctuation books, they have been great, and helped me massively in improving both my spelling and grammar. I was able to pass the literacy test first time, to enter the PGCE course that I wanted to! Thank you once again. Best wishes, Nicole, UK
Great! Where were you when I was learning this stuff? Of course, I was born in 46! Please keep the email lessons coming. I home school so they are great for me. I'm so sorry you weren't around when I started with my first grandchild. God bless you. Joyce, USA
"The information in this email was very helpful to me. Never pondered to think about the silent letters in words. Didn't know it had history to do with it. I have been a science student and languages have not come easy to me. I have been brought up in an English speaking home but spellings has been a nightmare and still is." K. L., India
"I'm finding your spelling course very valuable and extremely helpful, and to be honest with you I would be completely lost without the knowledge and the tips shown in the course so far. The memory test helps and the repeat and copy task I find very helpful too. I even have a list of difficult words that i memorise and use frequently and it's really great and rewarding feeling." C.M UK
I really appreciate all the effort and concern for Joanne, which really assisted me a lot in developing my spelling, with a quick simple tricks that is easy to remember and simple to practice. I really want to thank you Joanne, as I wish you best of luck. God bless, Abdel Rahman
I think Joanne’s website How to spell is the best way to learn the art of spelling. After leaving school in year 8 I have always struggled with spelling, even the most simple words. I’m now 39 years old and I recently sat an exam for year twelve and passed with a mark of 95% for my spelling. I hope she always has these resources available so others can benefit from her knowledge. Brendan H
It has been a pleasure to receive your emails and it has truly made a difference. Thank you for taking the time to create these lessons and I would enjoy it very much if you could continue sending emails. Pauline
First of all you know I love you and what you are doing. Not everyone would have the patience to help those that aren’t all that bright, especially in spelling. I believe even for those that can spell, spelling at times, even for them, raises its ugly head and aggravates them also. Your Program has only not only strengthened my resolve as to learning to spell better, but also in other areas of my life. I now believe that, in time, I will catch on, but I will also be able to handle, “my prideful self”, better when a word has me stumped in public. Keep up the good work. H.K.
Thank you, I only wished I had seen your site a few years ago it would have made such a difference. Never mind I am here now. I used to watch people write and wished I could spell and write like that without looking the word up. Well now I can, not as quick as they can but I will get there with your help and your site . Kind Regards A. W.
I am very thankful to you for sending me these lessons. I've learned a lot from them. I don’t have words to thank you I really appreciate your effort. Please keep it up. Actually, once I receive your mail I want to open it first and then my work emails! I like your method of teaching and making lessons. Again thank you so much, Asad.
Hi Joanne, thank you very much for your email. My name is Elena and I come from Bulgaria so English is my second language. My son is year 5 now. When he was in class R, I started to look for books for spelling rules. I ask the teachers and friends but nobody helped. Last week I discovered your Spelling Rules Workbook and I bought it from Amazon and it is exactly what I need. I am so happy to have it and I started to learn step by step spelling rules. Now I am able to support my son I feel more confident when I explain to him why sometimes there are words which are spelled differently. Thank you very much that you create this type of book.
Regards Elena, Bulgaria.
I have just read all your wonderful testimonials (after doing my lesson today) they nearly brought me to tears. What an amazing person you are helping all of us unfortunate people most of us suffering in silence with our spelling, sharing your passion of spelling with us all is like having a private tutor who we can hear but not see. You deserve a medal. Thank you for your emails. Christine
First, I want to tell you how much I enjoy learning from you. You are delightful to watch, you have a unique, gentle teaching delivery. Thank you, Nicholas
Thanks Joanne you have helped me tremendously over the years. I look forward to your new updated How to spell web site. I will definitely check out your newer site as well. I retired two years ago so I have time to journal now and my journaling is slowly getting better. Thanks again I will be in touch. J Black, North Carolina, USA