Was there a teacher who made a real difference to you when you were young? What did they do?

A natural way to answer

There was an English teacher who genuinely believed in me. She'd leave little encouraging notes in the margins of my essays, and she pushed me to read more widely. She had a quiet way of bringing out the best in her students that I've never forgotten.

Key phrases to use

• write someone off — to decide someone is a failure or not worth bothering with“Don't write him off just yet.”
• take someone under your wing — to look after and guide someone less experienced“A senior colleague took me under her wing.”
• bring out the best in someone — to help someone show their finest qualities“Good teachers bring out the best in you.”
• throw in the towel — to give up, admitting you cannot succeed“Don't throw in the towel now — you're so close.”
• see the potential in someone — to recognise the abilities someone could develop“She saw the potential in me before I did.”
• pay dividends — to produce benefits or good results later on“Practising every day really pays dividends.”