Seeing double!
Does English really have two ways of saying everything? In short, yes. But don’t blame us, blame the French! Level: higher • Category: vocabulary; listening • • • • • • • • • • • • Picking up new words and idioms isn’t always straightforward. I’m not sure I follow you! Acquiring new vocabulary […]
The Art of Spelling
The sound of English words does not correspond directly with how we write them but you can learn to see the patterns. Level: medium • Category: writing; vocabulary • • • • • • • • • • • • When you’re learning English, the difference between what we say and what we write can […]
The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe
Before Harry Potter and the big-screen adaptations of Lord of The Rings, there was another fantasy world, a world in a wardrobe. Level: medium • Category: reading; listening; vocabulary • • • • • • • • • • • • If you have children who are also learning English, why not read a book […]
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 […]
Hear your own words!
Get help with your pronunciation from native speakers! And help them with theirs. Level: basic • Category: pronunciation; writing; listening • • • • • • • • • • • • The idea behind RhinoSpike is very clever. Write a word list, sentence or paragraph in English which you would like to hear pronounced […]
IELTS course with free crocodiles
What’s the difference between the pronouns, «which», «that» and «who», and what do they have to do with crocodiles? Level: higher • Category: exams, listening, grammar • • • • • • • • • • • • IELTS is a great choice for an exam that prepares you for life at a university in […]
How we really say «have»
Contraction is a key part of speaking English with natural pronunciation. But does it matter if you contract? Level: higher • Category: pronunciation, speaking • • • • • • • • • • • • Spanish speakers like to speak with clear vowel sounds because that’s how Spanish works. If I try to persuade […]
Interesting!
One thing that I hear Spanish speakers say a lot is «it’s curious». But English speakers are far more likely to find things interesting! Level: medium • Category: pronunciation; speaking; vocabulary, grammar • • • • • • • • • • • • «Interesting» is a word we use a lot so you’d better […]
Wrapping It Up!
When I see my students’ presentations, it’s often the end that lets them down. Make yourself look professional by knowing exactly how to finish strongly. Level: medium • Category: vocabulary; speaking • • • • • • • • • • • • The Business of English is a series of fifteen 10-minute videos introducing […]
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 […]