“Alfajores de dulce de leche” and other untranslatable words
Somewhere in Western India, I bought some fried food from a man on the street. He spoke enough English to have a basic conversation. As I was going to pay him, he said...
Category: English resources
Spring around the world
In Chaco, in the North of Argentina, Spring has arrived with force. On the very first day of Spring, the temperature reached 40’C. In most places in the world, the jump from Winter...
Subtle differences in meaning
Some differences in word-choice are very small and subtle. Why do we say that we use an ‘electric oven‘, but power comes from an ‘electrical power station‘? Why do we say that London...
Specially or Especially? No or not?
Even advanced English learners sometimes put ‘not’ or ‘no’ in the wrong place. And just what is the difference between ‘Specially’ and ‘Especially’? Here are explanations of two common mistakes that advanced...
Should I learn British or American English?
As an English teacher, one question I often hear is “Should I learn British English or American English?” This question is very common, despite there being many other types of English that exist...
Quick test of football terms!
When you watch a football match in English do you understand all the commentary? As the World Cup progresses this is the perfect time to brush up on your football lingo. Here’s a little...
World Cup Trivia Questions!
Whether you like it or not, the next month is going to be full of one thing: football. For British people it will be nice to hear about something other than Brexit...
Is it possible to speak a new language in only two months?
Perhaps you’ve seen a language school, website or learning-method that claims that you can learn a new language very fast. Is it possible? The short answer is yes. And I will explain how...
False friends for advanced English or Spanish learners
‘False friends’ are words that appear to be the same as a word in another language, but actually have a different meaning. For Hispanophone English learners and Anglophone Spanish learners, it is...
Why aren’t I progressing?
Does learning a second language make you feel like you are stuck in a traffic jam? Do you feel like you have been making the same mistakes for years? Do you think that your...
