External motivation Discussing external motivators is more appropriate for older children and teenagers. As your children grow up, you can have a conversation about the practical advantages of learning English in life. Share your experience You can tell them about your own experience of learning English. If you are a good English speaker, you can tell them about the experiences and opportunities this has given you: making friends in different countries, travel, a higher-paid job or more interesting job… If you struggle with English, communicate what you feel you have missed out on or situatio ..read more

5 Common problems with school English classes In the right environment, children can learn English as a foreign language quickly and with relative ease. However, they must be given enough attention by the teacher, have opportunities to regularly use the language and develop a personal interest in English. Unfortunately, most school systems do not have the resources to provide this type of English tuition. The following problems may be familiar to you from your own experience of learning English at school: 1. Classes are too big The number of children in a class limits the amount of speaking t ..read more

Quick links: Is the UK right for you? Working as a UK doctor Working as a UK nurse English language requirements Adapting to local language & etiquette   Is the UK the right place for you to work as a medical professional? The values of the NHS (National Health Service) are: community, respect, dignity, teamwork, compassion, inclusion and life improvement. Even if you want to work in the private sector, medical professionals across the UK aspire to these core values. Working in the UK health sector can be challenging; you will be under pressure, work long hours and experience some ..read more

The Life in the UK Test is not the only exam you need to take to apply for British citizenship – most people will also have to pass an English language test. Therefore, this guide also contains some information about the English level you need to apply for British citizenship and some of the exams on offer. But first, let’s look at some answers to a few frequently asked questions: Life in the UK Test: FAQs  What is the Life in the UK Test? The Life in the UK Test is an exam on British history, laws, values and culture that people need to pass in order to obtain British citizenship. How l ..read more

How do I greet someone in English? When choosing an appropriate greeting, we need to consider whom we are speaking to and whether the situation is formal or informal. For example, when meeting your new boss for the first time, you will probably choose a more formal greeting, but when meeting someone at a party, you will want to be more casual and friendly. Formal  Good morning / afternoon / evening, (sir [for a man] / madam [for a woman]).  Example: Good afternoon, madam. You only need to use sir or madam if you want to show a lot of respect to someone – e.g. to a superior at work ..read more

The past continuous refers to an action (or event) that started before now and was ongoing when something else happened – e.g. I was reading when you called. The formula is: subject + was/were + verb with ‘-ing’. Signal words for this tense include when and while. When do we use the Past Continuous? 1. Actions in the past that were interrupted We can use the past continuous tense to mention an action that was happening in the past, but was then interrupted by something. Usually, the action that was happening was longer than the interrupting event. This could be a real event or just a time int ..read more

1. Shop at Borough Market Borough Market has existed in some form for over 1,000 years, but has been in its current location only since 1756. These days, it is a lively market that promotes sustainable food, creative cooking and community spirit.  Have a butcher’s at Borough market’s melting pot of food choices – ranging from traditional bread, cheese and meat to Spanish, Arabic and Venezuelan dishes. Practise your English in markets by writing a shopping list and asking for the ingredients to make a meal. Ask questions like: How much do 10 tomatoes weigh? Can I ask where you source your ..read more

Prep guide: OET preparation tips Here are some general exam preparation tips to follow before you book a test date and start your prep for OET. 1) Understand how much preparation you need to do For many medical professions, you need a grade B to pass – the equivalent of C1 on the CEFR (Central European Framework). C1 means you have an advanced or proficient English level. The amount of preparation you need to do will depend on your current level of English.  In this previous article on OET FAQs, you can find more detailed information on the OET grades and CEFR level comparisons. There is ..read more

The past simple is the base form of the past tense in English. We use it to refer to an action or event that was completed before now – e.g. I played tennis yesterday. The formula is: subject + verb with ‘–ed’. Some signal words for this tense are: before, ago, yesterday, last year. When do we use of the Past Simple? 1. Completed actions in the past We can use the past simple tense to describe actions that took place in the past. They started and finished in the past, without necessarily a specific time in mind. However, time expressions can still be used when giving more detail about the pas ..read more

How do I choose the right English tutor for my child? Below we will provide you with a set of criteria for selecting the best English teacher for your son or daughter. We will assume that you have already considered your preferred tutor gender and approximate age range (if you have one). Important points to consider: 1. Teaching qualifications (and what they mean) When searching for an online English teacher, you want someone who can provide evidence that they are proficient in the language and have had some observed teaching practice. This way, you know that your child is receiving a quality ..read more