Colin Lee MacLeod · The Four Finger Rule

Real English.A bigger world.

Prepare for the conversations life puts in front of you. At the airport. At work. At the bank. Start with a simple language plan—and words you can actually use.

Try a free lesson Explore the Master Edition

Colin Lee MacLeod in a black leather jacket holding up four fingers at the airport. Real English for a bigger world. — YOUR NEXT CONVERSATION STARTS HERE.

REAL PLACES · REAL PEOPLE · REAL SITUATIONSPREPARE. PRACTISE. USE IT.

01 / The conversation engine

Start with the English you need.

You don’t have to memorize thousands of separate sentences. Learn useful patterns, then change the verb, the noun and the location. Give your English a real job.

“You do not need every sentence. You need enough language to complete the task.”THE FOUR FINGER RULE · MASTER EDITION

FINGER 01

WANT TO

What do I want to do?

“I want to check in.”

FINGER 02

HAVE TO

What am I required to do?

“I have to show my passport.”

FINGER 03

NEED TO

What do I need to do?

“I need to find my gate.”

FINGER 04

MIGHT

What might happen?

“My flight might be delayed.”

LOCATIONVERBSNOUNSPROBLEMSSOLUTIONSEVENTS

When life changes the plan

Problem. Need. Request.

Real-life English includes the moments when something goes wrong. Explain what happened, say what you need, then ask for the next action.

01 / EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM

What happened?

“I lost my debit card.”

02 / STATE THE NEED

What do you need?

“I need to order a new one.”

03 / MAKE THE REQUEST

Ask for the action.

“Could you cancel it, please?”

Swap the situation: a missing bag, a cold hotel room, a changed appointment. Keep the useful structure.

02 / Choose your world

Where will you use English?

A location gives you a starting point. Build the words, questions and requests around the place you are actually going.

Travel & getting around

Airports, hotels, transport and the conversations that keep you moving.

12 LOCATION CHAPTERS

Everyday life & services

Food, appointments, daily tasks and asking for the help you need.

14 LOCATION CHAPTERS

Work & learning

Prepare for practical interactions in the workplace and classroom.

5 LOCATION CHAPTERS

Health, finance & support

Explain a problem, understand the next step and make a clear request.

9 LOCATION CHAPTERS

Home, retail & community

Shopping, home life, fitness and the services around you.

5 LOCATION CHAPTERS

Your next conversation

Choose one task. Prepare before you arrive. Practise it, use it and review what happened.

START WITH A FREE LESSON →

The Four Finger Rule Master Edition cover with Colin, airport signage and practical English templates.

03 / The flagship field guide

The Master Edition.

One repeatable conversation engine, carried into the places where real life happens. Start with the foundation, then follow the world that matches your next conversation.

58chapters

45location chapters

52weekly missions

13 foundation chapters to build your preparation system.
Location vocabulary, reusable requests and problem-solving frames.
Before, during and after preparation for the whole interaction.
Four-round role-plays, field sheets and an after-action review.
A reference vault and a 52-week progress passport.

Ask about the Master Edition

Contact Colin for availability and purchasing details.

04 / Free lessons · Start now

A small pattern.
A useful conversation.

Open a lesson, read the example aloud, then change one detail. You can begin right here.

Mission 01 · Travel

At the airport

Prepare to check in, find your gate and handle a delay.

Open the airport lesson

WANT TO: I want to check in.
HAVE TO: I have to show my passport.
NEED TO: I need to find my gate.
MIGHT: My flight might be delayed.
MAKE THE REQUEST: Could you show me where Gate 24 is, please?

Change one detail: replace “Gate 24” with “the check-in desk” or “baggage claim.”

Before you go: practise “Could you repeat that, please?” and keep your flight information ready.

Mission 02 · Everyday life

At the coffee shop

Use a simple noun pattern to ask for something you want.

Open the coffee shop lesson

THE TEMPLATE: Could I have a/an/some + NOUN + please?
ONE ORDER: Could I have a coffee, please?
CHANGE THE NOUN: Could I have some water, please?
ADD A QUESTION: How much is it?
IF YOU NEED HELP: Could you repeat that slowly, please?

Your turn: choose a drink or snack and make your own request.

Finish the interaction: “Thank you. Have a good day.”

Mission 03 · Problem solving

At the hotel

Turn a problem into a clear need and a polite request.

Open the hotel lesson

PROBLEM: My room is cold.
NEED: I need a heater.
REQUEST: Could you help me, please?
CONFIRM THE NEXT STEP: When will it be ready?

Change one detail: “My key doesn’t work. I need a new key. Could you help me, please?”

Field mission: practise with a partner. Switch roles and try a different problem.

Your five-minute field mission

Choose a place you will visit soon. Write one WANT TO, HAVE TO, NEED TO and MIGHT sentence. Add one question and one polite request. Read them aloud, then try the conversation without looking.

05 / The 52-week journey

One week.
One real-world mission.

Build momentum with a practical rhythm you can repeat. The Master Edition includes weekly missions and a passport to track your progress.

01 / PREPARE

Choose the conversation.

Pick a location and task. Ask the four questions before you get there.

02 / BUILD

Make your language plan.

Gather useful verbs and nouns. Prepare questions, requests and one possible problem.

03 / PRACTISE

Run the four rounds.

Read the model. Create your answers. Perform from memory. Change one detail.

04 / USE & REVIEW

Take it into the world.

Try a real or realistic interaction. Record one sentence you would use again.

The 52-week email course is in development. Ask Colin about program updates and launch availability.

Ask about program updates

06 / One-on-one English

Your goal.
Your conversation.

Preparing for a trip, a workplace conversation or an everyday task? Work with Colin on the English you expect to use, using the same Four Finger Rule preparation system.

Choose a real situation that matters to you.
Build reusable questions and requests.
Practise the conversation and the unexpected moments.

Colin’s Four Finger Rule one-on-one English lessons banner: travel, work, shopping and everyday life, $45 a session.

07 / Meet the creator

Colin Lee MacLeod.
Built in the real world.

From coastal British Columbia to northern Honshu, Colin’s path led to a practical question: what if learners started with the English they were actually going to use?

BRITISH COLUMBIA → JAPAN → REAL CONVERSATIONS

In a children’s English classroom, he focused on small, usable patterns and repeated exposure in everyday situations. The approach travelled from kindergarten and schools into professional training, including preparation for Japanese engineers working toward overseas positions.

“I didn’t set out to build a language system. I set out to help people actually use the language.”COLIN LEE MACLEOD

Community. Communication. Service.

While living in Kashimadai, Osaki City, Colin joined the Osaki City Fire Brigade, Kashimadai Branch. Training, fire prevention and community service became another real-world lesson in preparation and communication.

The same idea runs through the Four Finger Rule: prepare for what life asks you to do.

A few useful answers

Before you begin.

Do I have to study everything in order?

Start with the foundation to understand the engine, then choose a location that matches your next task. The book’s repeatable layout helps you move between situations.

Is this only for travelling?

Travel is one part of it. The Master Edition also covers everyday services, work and learning, health and finance, home, retail and community conversations.

Can I try the method before asking about the book?

Yes. The three free lessons on this page are ready to use. Open one, practise it aloud, then change a verb, noun or detail to make it yours.

Can I purchase or book directly on this site?

Start with an inquiry to Colin. He can confirm Master Edition availability and session details. This site does not take payments or make an automatic booking.

08 / Your next step

Let’s prepare for your next conversation.

Tell Colin where you want to use English. Ask about the Master Edition, a one-on-one session or the upcoming 52-week email program.

Real situations. Practical English. Your goals.