If you’ve been studying English for a while, you know the positive feelings that come with expanding your knowledge and improving your skills. You probably felt overjoyed the first time you read something in English and understood it. You might have found yourself trying to eavesdrop on native speakers as your listening skills got better. And I’m willing to bet you felt a little bit proud of yourself after having your first English-language conversation.  At this stage in your learning journey, memorizing more advanced English words is going to boost your confidence even further and provide you with a more comprehensive vocabulary base.  In this article, we’ll introduce and show examples of advanced-level English words in the... Show more

You recently moved to the United States. Unfortunately, you get an incredibly painful toothache within your first week of residence. What should you do? Hello. Thank you for calling Bright Smile Dental Clinic. This is Jenny. How may I help you? *silence* Hello? Hello? Language barriers, especially on the phone, can be so inconvenient. Today, you will learn how to overcome such situations with common English phone call phrases. Placing phone calls in English is easier than you think. For starters, phone call phrases are often routine. Therefore, learning the common ones in English will make calls easier to understand and respond to. In this article, you’ll learn how to handle a phone call in English in both professional and... Show more

https://youtu.be/NR5Edonf38U?si=BhuXz7FJLsVha9qV A: "Have you seen Clara today?"B: "Yeah! She was at the...uhm...the...the community center." Have you ever had this happen to you during a conversation?  Forgetting the word for something is common enough in one’s native language, but it can become a real struggle when speaking a foreign language.  Vocabulary is the most essential element in being able to communicate with others. Knowing just a couple hundred words can help you express your needs and wants and allow you to talk with others. In this article, we’ll introduce 245 basic English words for beginners. These are words that you should know at the beginner level (levels A1 and A2 of the CEFR scale). You will... Show more

The professor walks into the lecture hall. “Okay, class. Umm, clear your desks. It is time for your pop quiz. So basically, it’s not as hard as the last test. Well… It could be depending on how hard you studied. Now let’s get started. We, like, don’t have all day.” If you were a student in that lecture hall, could you take the professor seriously? The professor used almost every English filler word on the planet. How often do you listen to your speech? Whether in professional or casual settings, do you pay attention to your spoken words? Or the ones you’re hearing? Chances are that you routinely use filler words too. We all do. You may naturally be aware of filler words in daily conversations, especially if you are the epitome... Show more

The need for companionship runs deep. The desire for a hand to hold even as we grow old alters the way we lead our daily lives. The longing to find a person who embraces us completely—and whom we can embrace completely—burns within our hearts like an illuminated candle…until we meet that person and everything becomes so clear in the light of a roaring fire. But then we find ourselves tongue-tied! What do we say to win this person’s heart? And what about in English? What you need, in this case, are some quick and easy-to-use love phrases in English. Proper communication is key in any relationship. And this can be difficult in an unfamiliar country, speaking a language that’s not your own! If you struggle to find love or keep... Show more

Your friend is offering you cake, but you’re on a strict diet. There’s some creepy guy at the bar trying to ask you out, and you’re a little scared. Your new coworker wants to know about your likes and dislikes, but you don’t know what to say… The world is full of situations that require us to say "no," turn down offers, or negate a response altogether.  In this article, I’ll show you how to properly use negation in English. Learning how to make negative sentences in English will empower you to stick to your goals, keep yourself safe, and express yourself effectively!  → Before you start, you might want to read my article on English Sentence Patterns or look over our vocabulary list of the Top 10 Sentence Patterns for Beginners.... Show more

https://youtu.be/d0wV9EC3t14?si=xtke0ouTYUCi-DWn Does this title make you feel a bit...tense? (Yeah, me too.) Jokes aside, tenses are an important part of English grammar. They allow speakers to clarify the timing of an action so that there’s no confusion.  In this article, I’ll briefly explain each English tense and show you how it affects verb conjugation.  Let’s get started. Table of Contents What are Tenses? Present Tense Past Tense Future Tense Irregular Verbs Time to Practice! Final Thoughts Answers 1. What are Tenses? A tense indicates the timing of an action. There are three basic tenses in English: present, past, and future. Verb tense is formed based on a... Show more

Learning a language can feel like climbing a huge mountain. It’s not so bad when you start, but the higher up you get, the more difficult the terrain becomes. You’re tired, you’re out of breath, and you don’t know if it’s worth it to keep going. Things aren’t going well, and you’re getting discouraged. When this happens, it can really help to have a more realistic sense of the work involved and the direction you must take. This way, you can prepare yourself for the road ahead and regain your energy. And I have some good news: If you’re reading this article, you’re almost there! You just need to keep pressing forward.  In this article, I’ll talk about how long it takes most people to learn English and give you some advice on how to... Show more

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that "every cloud has a silver lining" when I was sad. Or that "curiosity killed the cat" when I asked too many questions. Or, my least favorite as a child, that I should "never put off until tomorrow what I can do today" when I wanted to play video games instead of finishing my homework.  These are only three of the most commonly used proverbs in English, but I swear I’ve heard these hundreds of times!  I’m sure that you’ve heard similar proverbs and sayings over and over again in your native language. These words of wisdom can give us a new perspective, reinforce good habits, and give us something to say when we’re at a loss for words. And for you, as the avid language-learner you are,... Show more

As an individualistic country that’s home to people of numerous cultures, the United States has not one cultural identity, but many.  Learning about American culture, values, and lifestyle is a great way to immerse yourself in the English language. Whether you’re just curious about what life in the United States looks like, or you plan on moving to the country soon, the information in this article will help you better understand what to expect.  You’ll learn about a variety of topics, from religion to food, and walk away with a clearer image of the American culture basics.  Let’s get started. Table of Contents Values and Beliefs Religion in the United States What is an American Family? American Work Culture Art:... Show more