Fresh on the blog

You’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?

False 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.

Can't find the answer? Then get creative—think outside the box!

A 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.

There is a good chance you've said or heard someone say, "Sorry to be late!" But that's a mistake. Using sorry to + verb is not for an apology. It's used to express sympathy for an action you will do or are doing. 

Head coach Firas Zahabi recently shared a fresh take on how to meet your goals. He talked about physical exercise—see the picture above, but his advice is useful to meet study goals as well.

Many of my students talk about motivation, but discipline can be more powerful.

When we have a tight deadline, most of us can finish a lot of work quickly. But if the deadline is far away, that same work takes much longer. Why is that?

There are so many English proficiency tests that are available. Some are offered in one specific country, others are offered and used globally. The table below will help you to figure out which test best fits your needs!

Collocations are key to communicating in English. So what are they, and where do you find them?

Let’s look at a personal question today. In the G.B.C. test, there are often questions about travel, and it’s a good idea to think about potential places you would like to visit (or places you have been) and the reasons why you are attracted to the place.

Thinking of taking the IELTS? So am I. Remember to study for it—even if you're a native speaker! 

Have you ever seen comedy from another culture and wondered, why is this considered funny? Believe it or not, this even happens to English speakers from different countries.

Giving negative feedback is hard. This post will make it a little easier by introducing three phrases you can use to give feedback while still showing respect for their effort.

A lot of people misuse in and later. Are you one of them?

Some pronunciation strategies are ineffective. But, by using the right strategy, you can sound much more like a native speaker.

The words enough and too are easy to understand, but many students fail to use them correctly. Or, even if they are correct, they may be unnatural. I've heard too many mistakes, and I've had enough! It's time to master too and enough.

Prick up your ears for these 10 idioms using the word "ear"!

When you speak, how much does the audience remember, and which parts do they remember? The answer may help you re-think how to be an impressive communicator.

Can you be yourself in a second language?