Di's blog

Reasoning helps people understand your ideas better. It shows them why you think the way you do. Learn more about reasoning.

"Say" and "Talk" are often confused, but they mean different things, and we use different grammar for each one. If you want to know how to use them correctly every time, check out this blog!

"Speak", "say", "talk" and "tell" all mean giving voice to words, but each is used differently. In this blog, find out how and when to use the verb "speak" correctly.

The best learning takes place when you dig into something until you know it inside and out. 

Non-native speakers often confuse the words rent and borrow when speaking English. On the surface, these words seem very similar, but actually, they are quite different. Discover the difference in this blog post.

The Law of Triviality describes how people often waste time focusing on small things instead of the important ones. We might be meeting to approve plans for a nuclear power plant, but we spend most of the time arguing about what color to paint the bike shed.

First, let me say that learning the difference between “first” and “at first” is easy. At first, you may think it’s complicated, but after reading this blog, you’ll see just how easy it is.

What happens if you make a mistake with bored and boring? Both words are adjective forms of the base form bore, but that’s where the similarity ends.

We all have big passive vocabularies with words we recognize but can't use. To increase fluency, we don't need to learn a lot of new words—we just have to move the ones we already know into our active vocabulary. And you can do that without having to cram another thing into your already busy day.

A great way to prepare for your GBC or other speaking test is to predict the questions you might be asked. That way you can build your vocabulary and have ideas ready for common topics. Learn how with our latest blog post!

Try as a noun or a verb both means to attempt something, but the nuance can change in unexpected ways. Find out how.

A mistake that English language learners often make is to misuse the word “challenge.” As a noun it means a difficult task, but as a verb the meaning is quite different. 

"Would" is a modal auxiliary verb that has lots of different uses in English. We'll look at 10 of them in this blog post.

The verbs "say" and "tell" are commonly confused. Just remember that you say something, but you tell someone something.

To learn new words, most people look them up in the dictionary or translator. This is a good start. But the definition is only one aspect of a word that you need to know. To use the word correctly, you need to think about two other things: connotations, and collocations.

Think about when you started learning English. How many years have you been learning? Now, find out how long it should take you to reach fluency.

Many English learners have trouble using the word “generation.” Does it mean what you think it means?

"Uptalk" is when you say everything with a rising tone like it's a question. It makes you sound weak and underconfident. Here's how to solve it. 

Formal meetings have a special vocabulary. Many of the words seem simple, but the meanings may be different than what you expect.

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

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

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"!

Can you be yourself in a second language?

Learning happens in four stages. Knowing which stage you are on means you know where to go next—or if you are finished!

The English word “budget” is complex. There are many ways to use it, and it is often misused by non-native speakers.

There are a lot of idioms in English that use the word "nose". Apparently, we like to talk about our noses a lot! Here are just 10 to add to your phrasebook (plus a bonus one to amaze your friends and colleagues with).

Some of our teachers' favorite songs to learn natural Enligh and sing at karaoke night!

Singing karaoke is a great way to learn English vocabulary and pronunciation—listen to a song, learn the lyrics, and sing!