Speaking English on the phone can be difficult. Sometimes, you plan what you’re going to say, then, when the moment comes, the words just won’t come out. If you have difficulty speaking on the phone in English, the five tips below might be just what you need to help you get your point across. 1. [...] → Continue Reading Five tips for speaking on the phone in English
Many people have difficulty remembering idioms in a second language. Here’s a fun way to remember idioms in English or any other language. If you are already good at using image association to remember new vocabulary, this may be similar to the techniques you use. All you need for this is a notepad and a [...] → Continue Reading A fun way to remember English idioms
Why do learning English and drinking coffee go so well together? Lots of my students and friends on Twitter love learning English while drinking a hot cup of coffee. I also like to have a cup of coffee while I’m teaching my morning classes. I find it’s a great way to start the day. I’m [...] → Continue Reading 5 ways to improve your English in your coffee break
A while ago on the World of Words, I mentioned studying before you go to sleep so you can dream in English. What about if you prefer to study during the day, though? Why not take a nap after you study? Just a short nap of 20 minutes can leave you feeling refreshed and make [...] → Continue Reading English nap: Practise in your sleep
One of the most common things people ask me about every day is how to practise English. My opinion is that there’s no single best way to practise English. How you should practise English depends on your personality, what kind of learner you are, and how much time you have available. When you are choosing [...] → Continue Reading How to practise English – The big list!
If you’re like me and read a lot of blogs, sometimes, following all of them can get a little confusing. It’s difficult to know when they are updated and can be a chore having to open lots of different windows in your web browser. I’ve found the best way to avoid this is to use [...] → Continue Reading How to use RSS to organise your English reading material
Reading is a great way to build your vocabulary by seeing new words and phrases in context. It’s fun, too. Sometimes, though, reading alone in another language can be a little lonely. One of the most fun things about reading is discussing what you’ve read with your friends afterwards. If your friends can speak English, [...] → Continue Reading How to start an English book club