Do you find it difficult to speak English fluently and confidently, even after many months or years of study? If so, this post may help you understand your situation a little more clearly, and offer some helpful tips. Let’s begin by looking at a few numbers: According to research, most native English speakers know 3,000–4,000 words by the time they begin attending school (at age 5–6), and 15,000–20,000 words by the time they reach university. 1 In comparison, many non-native speakers know only 2,000 words in English, even after many years of study. One group of researchers found th ..read more

To earn a high score on the IELTS Speaking Test, it’s important to understand what types of topics to expect, what kinds of questions you’ll be asked, and what sorts of answers you should give in Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. Below are some genuinegenuine: real, honest; exactly what people say it is; not fake or artificial questions that IELTS Examiners have used in previous years, as well as videos of high-scoring answers by real students. I’ve also included strategies for how to develop strong answers for each section, based on the guidelines published by the creators of the exam. Before ..read more

There are many ways to write a business email or professional-style message in English, and many reasons why you may need to write one. In some cases, you may not need to worry too much about the style or format of your email, because these aspects of writing in English have become more informal since the invention of the Internet. In other cases, it can be important and very helpful to write in a formal style. For example: You are writing a message to a person you have never met or talked to. You need this person (who works perhaps at a government agency or a big company) to do somethi ..read more

I love to listen to podcasts. Especially when I am going to work, or when my eyes are tired after a long day of looking at a computer screen. Like books and videos, they can offer both educational information and entertainment, and they tend to be shorter than audiobooks and more useful (in terms of vocabulary) than listening to music. Equally important, the best podcasts (like the ones I’ve recommended below) are highly entertaining, so you can enjoy listening to one episode several times (with or without reading the transcript) and greatly improve your English comprehension skills. Best B ..read more

Although there are many ways to learn English, the best place to begin is with a few high-quality textbooks. In my own experience as an autodidactautodidact: a person who teaches himself / herself, rather than being taught by a teacher, no other method offers so much information for so little money. Not apps, not podcasts, not YouTube. Even free learning materials cost something: your time. The more time you spend on a poorly designed learning program, the less time you have for other goals and interests. I also find that my students who are the fastest English learners are par ..read more

If you have difficulty when it comes to introducing yourself to someone for the first time, you shouldn’t feel embarrassed. A lot of native speakers also become tongue-tiedtongue-tied: not able to speak because you feel shy or nervous when talking about themselves! Even so, if your goal is to speak English more fluently, it’s a good idea to develop a clear and brief introduction for yourself. That way, you’ll be ready to answer the most common questions that people ask each other – particularly in professional situations and business contexts: Where are you from? What do you do? What ar ..read more

It’s not easy to write well, and writing well can sometimes seem unimportant. After all, we live in an era of smartphones, and voicemail, and Instagram. If you don’t enjoy writing, there are many other ways to communicate, ways that don’t even require words. Videos, photos, and emojis can express quite a lot. However, if your goal is to graduate university, become a successful entrepreneur, or get a better job, writing is still an essential skill to learn. It shows your ability to think clearly, and can persuade people—to buy your product, to fund your research, to consider you for a position ..read more

To expand your vocabulary, books of any kind are good to read. For adults, however, it can be difficult to find books that are both easy and interesting. Harry Potter may be fun to read — but at 4,224 pages it requires a lot of time without offering a lot of useful vocabulary (unless you plan to attend wizarding school). The same can be said for a lot of other famously easy books in English. Best Books for Learning English at Home You can learn English fast with a few good books. Here are the best ones for improving your vocabulary, grammar, and speaking skills. Speaking of E ..read more

Speaking English can be difficult and scary – even for native speakers. However, there are many phrases you can use again and again in your daily life. If you learn these phrases and practice them, you will start to feel more comfortable speaking English with friends, colleagues, or strangers. Useful Phrases for Daily Life What do you do? It’s a nice day, isn’t it? Do you mind (if I open the window)? Would you like (some coffee)? Shall we (watch a film)? Best Books for Learning English at Home You can learn English fast with a few good books. Here are the best ones for improving ..read more

The Blind Men and the Elephant by James Baldwin 415 words • Intermediate (B1) One morning an elephant was driven down the road where six blind men stood. The first one put his hand on the elephant’s side. “Well, well!” he said, “now I know all about this beast...” There are many versions of this classic fable, but this one by the famous American writer James Baldwin is both the shortest and the simplest. English learners of all ages and skill levels can appreciate it — and also practice their listening skills with this audio recording from LibriVox. A Very Short Story by Ern ..read more