About Paul

I'm an English teacher, online writing tutor & coach, podcast and livestream host, and video creator from Vancouver, Canada.

I help people develop and improve their English writing, speaking, and grammar skills.

The Youtube channel THE GRAMMAR DETECTIVE, is the home of my media content. It features the web series ENGLISH WEIRDNESS, and the weekly livestreaming grammar show, HARD-BOILED ENGLISH LIVE, seen around the world.

I'm a passionate lover of arts & culture. I devour cinema, music, design, and literature. When I'm not doing this, I'm usually writing.

The Hard-Boiled English Club is my online home.

Weekly Livestream

Every Friday at 4pm Pacific, Paul, AKA, The Grammar Detective, hosts this live and interactive investigation into the mysteries of English grammar.

Education

I studied Inter-Disciplinary Studies & Cognitive Linguistics at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, and at the Ritsumeikan University Graduate School of Language Education and Information Science in Kyoto, Japan.

I also hold a TESOL certificate from Greystone College, and am certified by TESL Canada.

Work

Work

For 10 years, I taught at the ELS Language Centers Vancouver. There, I developed the Masters-level Reading & Writing and Research Paper Writing programs.

In 2014, I was awarded the Award For Teaching Excellence.

In 2019, I moved my teaching online and started my tutoring & coaching business, Hard-Boiled English Media.

What My Students Say

One of the things that makes Paul such an amazing and thoughtful teacher is the fact that he always encourages you to be better, to exceed your expectations of yourself, but also challenges you with new and exciting goals.

Jorge Jaen Q.

Linkedin

Paul is one of the most dedicated teachers I have ever met. He is always open to students who struggle, have questions and concerns, and want to learn.

Aya Hioki

Linkedin

After two classes, I noticed the improvement in my grammar and logic. By taking two classes per week, I was surprised to find out that I could reach my English target a month later and reach the next level.

Chang Liu

Meeting Paul was super epic. I was able to win the first prize of the global youth conference at the United Nations Headquarters in N.Y. Without his heartwarming support, I couldn’t have achieved this goal.

Tadayuki Hohyama

When I started learning English, I wasn’t able to write a short paragraph in English but after studying with Paul I was confident to write an essay and even a research paper.

Anna Goeun Choi

Paul recognizes the difficulties of his students and respects them and does everything possible to help. One of the best teachers I ever had.

Rhaiza Fontes

Linkedin

Get in Touch

Contact me if you'd like to work together or collaborate

You'll also receive newsletters from The Hard-Boiled English Club

My Stuff

Available here in the Hard-Boiled English Club.

Credentials

I studied Inter-Disciplinary Studies & Cognitive Linguistics at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, and at the Ritsumeikan University Graduate School of Language Education and Information Science in Kyoto, Japan.

I also hold a TESOL certificate from Greystone College, and am certified by TESL Canada.

Workshops

I host regular Zoom workshops and webinars, discussing writing techniques, concepts , and tips. Included only with Lieutenant, Captain, and Detective memberships.

Podcasting

Along with fellow writing coaches Philip Charter and Pete Pozner, I am a co-host of THE TROUBLE WITH WRITING podcast.

And, with Andrea Heald-Miller, I co-host THE STAFF MEETING PODCAST.

Both are available on Spotify and Youtube.

Tutoring & Coaching

Whether for ongoing tutoring or goal-focused coaching, I love working privately with clients to develop their skills.

Video

My first love was cinema, so I enjoy making video content, such as my web series ENGLISH WEIRDNESS, or my weekly livestream, HARD-BOILED ENGLISH LIVE.

Licensed for institutions through McIntyre Media Inc.

Frequently asked questions

You’ve got questions. I’ve got answers.

Is Hard-Boiled English free?

Yes, the Junior Inspector community plan is free. The other levels, which include increasingly more services and products, are available for a monthly fee.

Who, or what, is The Grammar Detective?

The Grammar Detective is me!

Well, he is sort of me, sort of a character. On my Youtube channel's livestream show, Hard-Boiled English Live, I answer grammar questions using the inductive method (Sherlock Holmes used this method, not the 'deductive' one, as is popularly believed )of analysis and instruction.

This character is also a playful poke at my previous profession as a Private Investigator in theSecurity industry.

Why did you become an English teacher??

I wanted to help learners improve their proficiency, develop their skills and knowledge, and to allow them the ability to express themselves and communicate in their own unique voice. And, I believed I could help them.

What kind of training did you need?

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