Non-fiction writing in English encompasses a tapestry of genres, each with its own distinctive features and purposes. For high-level, intelligent non-native speakers of English, understanding these genres is essential for navigating the vast landscape of non-fiction literature effectively. In this blog post, we will embark on an enlightening journey through five prominent non-fiction genres: essays, summaries, reviews, literature reviews, and proposals. Through comprehensive explanations and illustrative examples, we aim to provide a deeper understanding of each genre's unique characteristics ..read more

Here at FoL English, we recognise that there are many different ways to learn a new language. We offer a variety of courses to suit your needs and interests, and our conversation classes are a popular option for students who want to improve their speaking skills and gain confidence in using the language in everyday situations. Open Conversation Classes Our Open Conversation Classes are designed to provide a dynamic and engaging environment where students can discuss a wide range of topics with their peers and teacher. The focus of this class is on improving speaking skills, developing vocabula ..read more

The Grand Theft Auto series is no stranger to controversy. Back in the day some people thought that one of the main parts of the game was beating prostitutes to death with baseball bats to get a refund for services performed. Clearly they weren’t aware that although that was something people could do, it was an option that players chose for themselves, never once explained as part of the rules, or even given as a mission. This time around though, the controversy has come from a game section that is mandatory. Beware SPOILERS AHEAD. In a mission called ‘By the Book’, player character Trevor h ..read more

The ability to debate is central to philosophy. It’s important to be able to understand both sides of an argument before you reach a conclusion. You need to be able to articulate your beliefs and be open to criticism of your ideas. Focus on Learning is proud to offer a Philosophy course, led by mindful teachers. Here, take a look at one of gaming’s most debated subjects. In Skyrim’s civil war, which side should you join? You may also be interested in our creative writing course, or even our history course. One of the biggest debates among gamers is the question: Who should I join? The Empire ..read more

Focus on Learning provides a great Creative Writing course. We help you with forming stories, hitting beats, set ups and pay offs, and generally forming an engaging story. Mass Effect is a hugely successful franchise that let a lot of people down. See what you can learn from their failures. This article contains SPOILERS. If you wish, you can skip them when you see the warnings. Barely two weeks after the game’s release ‘Mass Effect 3’ had already caused three separate outrages among the gaming community. Good going? Not to say that the game is bad. In fact, overall it's fantastic. We give it ..read more

It is fascinating that etiquette and unspoken rules are so different across cultures. When people from different countries try to mix, sometimes there can be awkward and hilarious consequences. Have a look at these examples. Watch the videos and answer the questions. · What cross-cultural differences/misunderstandings were in the movie clip? · How did the characters react to these issues? · Why did these misunderstandings happen? · What would you do in this situation? · What cross-cultural differences/misunderstandings were in the movie clip? · How did the characters react to th ..read more

Focus on… Scotland   Tales from Scotland: The Angel’s Share Our story begins in September 2021 in the town of Coldstream, Scotland, home of the Coldstream Guards regiment. Formed in 1650, it is the oldest continuously serving regular regiment in the British Army and its members often serve as royal guards at Buckingham Palace or Beefeaters at the Tower of London, and are involved in many ceremonial occasions. “I think we are in Scotland!” I said as we peered out the windows of our hire car. Blue Scottish flags with white crosses fluttered in the wind. They hung down from rooftops and fl ..read more

Loch Leven, a sea loch next to Glencoe village. This is the view of Loch Leven from the top of the Pap of Glencoe. Focus on… Scotland Scotland is a country to the north of England that is part of the United Kingdom where the recognised languages are English, Scots, Scottish Gaelic, and British Sign Language. Scotland is a fine and fascinating travel destination, so here is our Focus on Learning Guide to Scotland. Our guide includes advice and information on meeting Scottish people, whisky tasting, and the language of the landscape. Focus on… Meeting Scottish people Even though most people in ..read more

What makes a film good? What draws an audience? How can you make great cinema? Here at Focus on Learning, we offer exciting English Plus courses with Film and Creative Writing. If you have an appetite for imagination, film is a powerful medium for education. A visual and often visceral medium, the expression of thoughts and concepts in film are not restricted to verbal communication. From Hitchcock to Herzog, from Star Wars to Interstellar, no art permeates our consciousness quite the way film does. It goes straight to our feelings, deep down into the very heart of our being. Whether you’re a ..read more

I’ve been involved in English language teaching now for over a decade. In that time I’ve met some students who made quick progress and others who didn’t seem to learn at all. What makes the difference between a good and not-so-good learner? Of course, there are some obvious things: you need a good teacher, you need a course that’s at the right level (not too hard, but not too comfortable), you need to attend the lessons and join in with the activities. Those are the basics! There are also some habits and mindsets which really make a difference to how effective you can be as a language learner ..read more