What is a simple way to explain the various verb tenses?

I teach English as a second language. In general, I do pretty well, but I have one student with a degree in Arabic, and he’s all about grammar and verb tense.

I have never been able to wrap my mind around the various verb tenses such as simple perfect, progressive, progressive perfect, etc. I suppose the names are part of my problem, but there’s NOTHING simple or perfect about English. It’s just a difficult language. Nevertheless, those are the names, and I have to deal with it. I can’t help my students if I don’t know the material. Do you have a way to explain it to me so I can finally “get it”?

Suggestions?