Inkblots on the mind

Do the Rorschach inkblots reveal anything about our minds or is it just a load of mumbo jumbo? Level: higher •  Category: listening, reading, writing, discussion  • • • • • • • • • • • • “The experiment is very simple, so simple that at first it provokes interest and head-shaking everywhere.” Hermann […]

Hey Joe!

Who’s the greatest guitarist of all time? It’s Jimi Hendrix, isn’t it? Listen to his music, follow the lyrics and learn about the man. Level: medium •  Category: listening; reading; pronunciation  • • • • • • • • • • • • If English isn’t your first language, you probably know lots of music […]

Daily Rituals – How Artists Work

Real-life 5-part conversation about the book “Daily Rituals” by Mason Currey complete with transcript and language highlights. Level: higher •  Category: listening, reading, vocabluary  • • • • • • • • • • • • Listening to genuine conversations can be a more difficult task than listening to something that’s scripted. In real life, […]

The Real History of GoT

Everyone’s talking about Game of Thrones again! But where did they get the ideas for this world of bloodthirsty, warmongering, backstabbing kings and queens? Level: higher •  Category: reading; listening  • • • • • • • • • • • • If you’ve been following even a little of the Game of Thrones saga, […]

Real Business Emails

Emailing in a second language can be demanding: how you approach your contacts can have a huge effect on how they feel about receiving your email and how they respond. Level: higher •  Category: writing; vocabulary; reading  • • • • • • • • • • • • The vast majority of business correspondence […]

A night at the ballet

Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker has become part of US tradition and is the introduction to the world of ballet for many Americans. Level: medium •  Category: reading  • • • • • • • • • • • • The Nutcracker is perhaps best known for the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy, which you can […]

The World of Dreams

What do you dream about when you dream? And what could it possibly mean? Level: basic •  Category: reading; vocabulary  • • • • • • • • • • • • Over the centuries, people have thought about what dreams are. Are they random thoughts or do they contain messages that we can learn […]

Before Banksy there was…

Dive into the world of Jean-Michel Basquiat through this TED Ed introduction to his life and art. Level: higher •  Category: listening, reading, writing, discussion  • • • • • • • • • • • • “I like kids’ work more than work by real artists any day.” Jean-Michel Basquiat was the first street […]

I need some cash!

If you go to the UK, you may need some money. Here’s how to deal with cash machines. Level:  basic • Category: reading; vocabulary  • • • • • • • • • • • • Watch the video above. 1. What are three other ways of saying “cash machine”? 2. Write down the sentences […]

Would I Lie To You?

Can you tell when someone’s lying? That’s the idea of this comedy TV show. Level: basic • medium • higher •  Category: listening, vocabulary, grammar, reading  • • • • • • • • • all levels  • • • • • • • • • “Would I Lie To You?” is a popular TV panel show where comedians tell each […]