When it comes to different parts of the sentence in English, adverbs are probably the hardest class to understand and get used to. This is because they can be placed in different positions within the sentence, and they also have different functions. Below we will look at how adverbs are formed and what kinds of […]
The sound of your voice
Back in the days when I worked in Journalism and had to interview people, I would record the interviews and then listen to them again before writing an article. This was easier for me than taking notes because it allowed me to just listen and be fully present while the interviewee was speaking. But when […]
The power of feedback and how it can help you
A couple of weeks ago, I received an email from Luca Lampariello, a polyglot I follow on social media, about receiving feedback when learning a foreign language. He argues that it is indeed very beneficial for learners to receive feedback, but it depends on the student’s level and the way the feedback is given. In other […]
Confusing English pronunciation: R vs. L
A couple of years ago, I worked closely with one of the pronunciation coaches in a local college. My job was to listen to students and correct the sounds they were confusing. Each week we practiced a different sound so I noticed how people had their own challenges depending on their native language. One day, […]
Four stages of learning
Recently I was doing some research about learning and came across a term that I hadn’t heard before – the hierarchy of competence. It piqued my curiosity and I kept reading. The hierarchy of competence is often visualized as a pyramid with four stages of learning and the goal of the learner is to climb […]
Learning English with comprehensible input
“When the rubber meets the road” and other idioms
I’ve heard from some nonnative speakers that they are reluctant to use idioms at work as they think that such phrases are unprofessional. But the truth is that Americans use them everywhere, so don’t be afraid. Of course, if you are not sure if the situation is appropriate, you can always stay more on the formal […]
“To run out of steam” and other idioms
What to do when others comment on your accent
Confusing English pronunciation: voiceless stops
The other day I was watching an Instagram live of a well-known guy in the marketing field. He was sharing his business strategy and talking about how he pitched to clients. The only thing is, instead of “pitching” he was saying “bitching.” Now, pitching to clients and bitching to clients are two very different things […]