Uptalk brings you down
June 22, 2019"Uptalk" is when you say everything with rising tone like it's a question, whether it is one or not.
Fresh on the blog
Cool, eh? Show culture with question tags
June 15, 2019A question tag turns a simple word, phrase or sentence into a question. Simple, right?
While some question tags are universal, other tags are specific to cultures around the world. Here's a quick list of common tags:
The danger of false friends
June 8, 2019False friends are words from different languages that seem similar but are, in fact, not. The French president Emmanuel Macron made a famous mistake in 2017.
Showing sympathy in English—3 dos and 3 don'ts
June 1, 2019Showing sympathy is important. Here are three things not to do, and three good ideas of what to do.
English advice from a senior vice president who learned on the job
May 25, 2019I recently had the opportunity to interview a Japanese business person who has worked in 11 different countries including Singapore, Malaysia, America, Thailand, the Philippines, and the Congo over about 40 years.
GBC sample answers: Inductive reasoning
May 18, 2019Last week's blog post was a guide to inductive reasoning. This post builds on it, so take a minute to read or re-read it.
Logic in spoken English: Inductive
May 11, 2019This post looks at simple inductive logic. We start with a specific example and work out a conclusion based on it.
GBC sample answers: Deductive reasoning
May 4, 2019This week's focus is using deductive logic in a couple of G.B.C. sample answers.
Logic in spoken English: Deductive
April 27, 2019This is a quick guide to deductive logic. It will help you convince people of your opinion, as well as score more highly in speaking tests—like the G.B.C.—that require a logical answer.
Worth it or deserve it?
April 20, 2019You’ve probably heard your teachers say, “Keep studying, it will be worth it in the long run!” Or, “Congratulations, you deserve it!” But what do these expressions really mean, and how can you use them in your own life?
Student writing for G.B.C. Why are non-native speakers silent in meetings?
April 13, 2019Students at the English Farm write some amazing G.B.C. answers, and we like to share the best of the best.
This piece has had minor corrections by a teacher, but the logic, structure, and word choice are the student's.
Today's question:
Which should you use, GOING TO or WILL?
April 6, 2019We sometimes use going to to speak about the future, and other times we use will. Do you know why? The difference in usage is important. Consider this dialogue:
