Grammar: don’t let it be a big problem
Lower intermediate to advanced level (B1-C1)
Learning English outside the UK, the US, Australia etc can often be about learning ‘grammar’. This makes people think you need to know ‘rules’ before you can speak or write. However, in my experience, a heavy focus on a grammar problem can stop people learning and communicating. Continue reading
Speaking: Effective presentations: the magic of three
Intermediate to higher level (B1-C1)
Have you ever stopped and wondered why some presentations and talks feel much better than others? Continue reading
Cambridge First (FCE) writing tips
Upper intermediate level (B2)
Many people will be taking the Cambridge First exam this summer. To get ready you will probably need to write a lot of essays. An important tip is to keep a list of your most common FCE writing mistakes and check this list before you write. Continue reading
Writing: keeping it simple and clear
Intermediate to advanced level (B1-C2)
Have you ever read a piece of writing and then asked yourself ‘What did that mean?’? I certainly have. I’m not talking about short emails from friends but rather longer, more complicated essays or reports. Continue reading
Pronunciation: does a word have a long or short vowel?
Elementary to Intermediate (A1-B1)
One way to find out is to see if it has doubled consonants after it. Continue reading
IELTS: about the Academic version
Upper-intermediate to advanced level (B2-C2)
There are two IELTS exams: the General and the Academic version. Continue reading
Writing: email guidance
Elementary to advanced level English (A2-C1)
Writing emails to good friends isn’t usually a problem but how should you write more formal emails? Continue reading
Speaking and writing: giving a presentation
Intermediate to higher level (B1-C1)
Have you ever listened to a presentation and thought: ‘Why are they just reading what’s on the slide?’? Not only can this quickly send the listener to sleep but it’s also a waste of a great opportunity. Here are some tips for giving a presentation: Continue reading
Punctuation
Intermediate to advanced (B1-C1)
If you want to have really clear writing don’t forget to use hyphens (-). In English we can use them to show more clearly what we are trying to communicate. Continue reading
IELTS: Writing
Yesterday I was grading some IELTS writing (academic module second task, 250 words). Here are some tips to help you with this question in the exam. Continue reading
Grammar: punctuation
Intermediate level (B2)
Commas, colons, full stops … It’s probably true to say that less punctuation is used today than in the past but this doesn’t mean punctuation isn’t needed. Punctuation is really important when it can change the meaning of a sentence. I found this example in Wikipedia: Continue reading
Writing: organising
Intermediate to higher level (B1-C1)
What is most important when you write? Is it grammar or vocabulary? In my opinion it is the organisation of sentences and paragraphs. Without a logical organisation, a piece of writing is often very difficult to read and understand. Continue reading