How and When to Use Formal and Informal English
Working out when to use formal language and when to be informal is a big part of mastering a language. In English, formal language is used in situations that are more serious, for example when you’re...
View ArticleEnglish Learners: Watch Out for False Friends!
One of the great things about learning any European language is that there are so many similarities with other European languages. This means that, if you’re learning English and you already speak a...
View ArticleThe Number One Secret to Sounding Like a Native Speaker
What separates someone who is learning a language from someone who is fluent? It’s simple: understanding how to use idioms. Every language has its own unique “flavour” – the words, jokes and turns of...
View ArticleWhen to Use ‘In’‘Under’ and ‘On’
Prepositions can be very confusing. Why do English-speaking people say that they are “in the car” but “on the train”? Why do we distinguish between being “in time” (I.e. We’ll arrive before it’s too...
View Article4 Songs to Teach You Some Great New English Vocabulary
Singing along at the top of your voice to your favourite American, British or other English-speaking band is one of the most enjoyable ways to practise your English skills and learn some new words...
View ArticleVideo lessons – regular vs irregular verbs
You probably already know that verbs can be in regular or irregular forms – but do you really know what these terms actually mean? Simply put – it’s a way of describing the way different groups of...
View ArticleThe Number One Reason English Speakers Think You Are Being Rude
Do you sometimes have the feeling that native English speakers think you are being impolite – and you don’t know why? Perhaps you are trying your best to use formal language. You remember to say...
View ArticleWanna Improve Your Fluency? Use Reductions!
What’s the biggest difference between a native speaker and an advanced level speaker of English? Often, the advanced level student uses better grammar when they speak. Of course, no one wants to make...
View Article5 Phrases to Help You Survive the Corporate World
If you’re learning English to help you get a good job with a company in a country like the US or the UK, just make sure you’re prepared. You might have to get used to an entirely new language, too – a...
View ArticleOne Simple Way to Make Your Sentences Much More Interesting
Here’s a quick and easy way to make your stories and descriptions more exciting, straightaway: use adverbs! In case you need a reminder, adverbs describe an action. They tell you the way someone is...
View ArticleHow a “Language Swap” Can Help You Improve Your English for Free
Having a conversation with a native speaker is probably the best and fastest ways to improve your language skills. The problem is, where do you find one? If you’re studying English in an...
View ArticleWhen to Say “Hope” and When to Say “Wish”
It’s not surprising that many English learners confuse the words “hope” and “wish”. After all, they can both be used to describe something that hasn’t happened yet, but that you want to happen....
View ArticleHow to Pronounce “The”
“The” is probably the word you will use the most of any in the English language. After all I used it four times in the first sentence! But you might have noticed that English speakers don’t always...
View ArticleThe Most Common Spelling Mistakes for English Language Learners
The English language doesn’t always seem completely logical and some spellings aren’t obvious, even to native speakers. These are words that you just have to learn. This is especially confusing when it...
View Article6 Tips for Learning English from TV and Movies
Watching English language films/movies and television programmes is an excellent way to practise your listening skills and pick up new words and phrases. It means you can expose yourself to different...
View ArticleHow to Use Complicated Sentences Without Getting in a Mess
As you become better and better at English, you will probably want to describe more complicated ideas and tell stories with more detail. Using very short, simple sentences in your writing doesn’t...
View ArticleEssential Phrases for Formal Phone Calls
Have you ever made a dialled a number and then, when the other person picks up the phone, completely forgotten what you were going to say? In English we say that our mind ‘goes blank’ at moments like...
View ArticleThe Hardest Words to Pronounce for English Learners
The English language isn’t always logical and many words don’t sound the way the spelling suggests they should. Here are some of the trickiest words for non-native speakers to pronounce: Successful...
View Article4 Songs to Teach You Some Great New English Vocabulary
Singing along at the top of your voice to your favourite American, British or other English-speaking band is one of the most enjoyable ways to practise your English skills and learn some new words...
View ArticleVideo lessons – regular vs irregular verbs
You probably already know that verbs can be in regular or irregular forms – but do you really know what these terms actually mean? Simply put – it’s a way of describing the way different groups of...
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