It's my birthday this week, and to celebrate I'm offering a 50% discount on all my advanced English courses. The promotion is for you if you're at an intermediate level and want to progress to advanced level - without spending lots of time or money! You can get all these courses at just 50% of their normal price: Advanced English Pronunciation In 30 Days Advanced English Speaking In 100 Steps Advanced English Vocabulary In 30 Days 10 Steps For Advanced English (Grammar) English For Your...

You've got an English interview soon. How can you prepare for it so that you can be confident? Careers and interview expert Kristine Knutter shares her best tips! - How to be less nervous in an English interview - The biggest interview mistake to avoid - How to prepare for a group interview and a Zoom interview - Mindset tips for enjoying the interview more Follow her tips to stand out at your next English interview! Links in this episode Express to Impress (Kristine's website where you...

If you want to feel fluent when you speak English, the quickest way is to use 'fluency phrases' - the 'blocks' of English that help you to build sentences almost without thinking. Two types of fluency phrases we've looked at are collocations and signalling phrases. (See links below.) But the third type is 'fixed phrases' - phrases that you don't need to add anything else to. They're complete, automatic phrases which help you sound natural when you speak. In this episode, find out - three...

What do the phrases "I'd like to ...". "You wouldn't .... would you?" and "Can I just say..?" have in common? Answer: They're all examples of 'signalling' phrases that we can use to show the other person what we're going to say. Signalling phrases are a type of 'fluency phrase' (a block of language) that helps us speak more easily and automatically. In this podcast episode, find out: - the three types of fluency phrase - four reasons why they help you speak more fluently - how to learn...

My #1 tip for English fluency is to use 'fluency phrases' when you speak. Fluency phrases are the 'building blocks' of conversation, because very often, all you need to do is just fill in the details to create sentences easily and quickly. In this episode, I look at one type of fluency phrase: collocations. - six common types of collocations that help you with fluency - the two main reasons why they're so useful Subscribe to the podcast Never miss an episode! Get free weekly coaching tips...

If you say things to yourself like "I should be better at English by now", or if you're always searching for more grammar or vocabulary courses, then this episode is for you! Mindset coach Rhiannon Carter helps you feel more positive about your English. She can help you overcome negative thoughts so that you reduce anxiety and become  more confident. This is a truly eye-opening episode! In it you'll learn: - how to trust your English - how to go beyond the intermediate plateau - the...

We're often better at one area of a language than another. So maybe your speaking skills are better than your writing, or your grammar knowledge is better than your listening ability. But when one area of English is less strong than another, it makes sense to focus on that area. One reason is that it gives you a great opportunity to see progress - which is motivating! (It's often harder to see progress at advanced levels.) In this episode: - two reasons why upgrading all your skills is...

What happened when a British English teacher and an American English teacher got together to talk about games? We didn't always understand each other - and those weren't the only differences! But, American teacher Vickie Kelty showed how playing games can help you develop your English and reduce speaking anxiety. Of course, games are also fun, and they allow you to explore the English you know in new and challenging ways! Episode highlights - Three types of games to play in English - Some...

One of the biggest fears about speaking English is that people won’t understand you. This could be because of your pronunciation, or because you use English that other people don't understand. "Intelligibility" -  how easy it is for people to understand you - is really important, obviously. In this podcast, I show you two ways to be more easily understood, through pronunciation and "rescue" English. There are lots of suggestions for you - as well as an invitation to join the English Fluency...

It's no secret. Repeated practice helps you get better at most things - including English! But the 'secret' is in how you use repetition. In this episode I show you how you can use it for vocabulary, speaking and pronunciation. Try out some of the activities to improve your fluency, accuracy and confidence. Even choosing just one or two can make a big difference. Links in this episode How to remember new vocabulary (episode 4, with Paul) Invitation to the Fluency Workshop (May...

You don't need lots and lots of practice to get more fluent in English. You don't even need a speaking partner, either! In this episode, I show you four activities that will help you become more fluent. These activities are all quite quick, and - best of all - they get you almost immediate results! When you do them, you'll hear yourself speaking more fluently, and this will give you extra confidence in your English. Link in this episode 4-3-2 Speaking Activity Subscribe to the podcast Never...

When you feel powerful speaking English, you feel more in control of what you say. You can avoid panic and minimise anxiety about speaking - even if you make mistakes. In this episode I show you ways that you can become more powerful, through physical and mindset tips. Find out how - breathing, standing and using your voice can make you feel stronger - making mistakes helps you get to the next level in English Link How to stop worrying about mistakes Subscribe to the podcast Never miss an...

In this episode, I show you three ways that will help you speak more naturally and more fluently in English. They will help you to: - avoid using the 'wrong' word - speak more concisely (so you can show your meaning quickly and simply) - add interest when you speak so that other people want to talk with you When you start using these techniques, you'll feel more confident in how you speak English, and I think you'll have more fun speaking! Link in this episode If there's something you'd...

If you're interested in learning more about a country and its culture - but don't have the opportunity to visit - watching movies can help you get an insider's view. In this episode, Cara Leopold (from Movie Club) talks about how to connect with English-speaking culture through movies. Highlights of this episode: - why it's a mistake to only consider "high-level" movies - how movies can help with English listening skills - how to choose the right movies to learn about culture And - the...

My guest in this episode is Fabienne, an English and French teacher. She talks about her own journey to advanced English level and her work as a teacher. Some highlights in this episode - the importance of mindset in learning a language - how English pronunciation can be difficult - the methods that worked for her in English - her best advice for making progress in English Subscribe to the podcast Never miss an episode! Get free weekly coaching tips here.

This episode is for you if you write English for work. In theory we have more time when we write to plan and to check - but this doesn't automatically happen. But even if you have limited time for writing and editing, there are many things you can do to make sure you avoid the three main problem areas. Highlights - the 3 things you need to get right for better communication - some simple ways to make sure your messages are effective Subscribe to the podcast Never miss an episode! Get...

Homestays can offer you so much more than a traditional English course in the UK. In this episode, Lucy Tilney from Bristol Homestay Tuition talks about some of the benefits of staying in the teacher's home while studying English. Highlights in this episode - the differences between a homestay and a traditional course - a typical day during a homestay - some unexpected benefits of homestay courses - why a homestay might be the best choice for you! Links in this episode Bristol Homestay...

Imagine you have to give a business presentation in English, or make an important speech. How do you start? In this episode, I share some ideas for making an impact when you speak (or write) English so that people pay attention to you! Highlights: - 3 types of 'hook' to make an impact when you speak - How to write a summary section in your CV / resume so that people keep reading - How to get help writing your English CV with 'English For Your Career' Subscribe to the podcast Never miss an...

When you read your CV, does it make you feel proud of your strengths and achievements? Do you use words and phrases that are inspiring - or is your CV full of 'generic' words like "Responsible for..." or "Duties included..."? You only get one chance to impress an employer with your CV, so if you need to refresh and revitalise it, this episode is for you! I've got 10 verbs that you can use to make your English CV more interesting. All these verbs are quite simple, but they are very...

Not everybody knows how to write a CV in English.  It isn't a skill where we often get training, so it's difficult to know where to start. In this podcast episode, I share some things you should do in your CV and some things you should avoid. Highlights include: - the details that can discriminate against you on your CV - the three questions you should ask yourself to 'think like an employer' - how to decide what you should include in your CV What next? There's a lot more to say about CVs....

This episode is for you if you want to get a job in an English-speaking country, or a job where you'll need English to communicate. I share my top 5 tips to prepare you to get your 'dream' job.  The best part? You can start on all of these tips now, so that when you find the job you want, you can apply easily. To help you even more, you're invited to my free workshop on writing a CV. It's on March 8, 2023. I'll show you 5 ways to write the perfect CV! Click the link below to get your place...

Lisa Jayne Wood, the founder of the  'Your English Self' program, explains why it's so important to learn English with other people. In this episode, find out: - why traditional learning isn't enough to give you confidence in another language - how the 'CALM' model helps Lisa's students - some unexpected benefits of learning in a group of other people Episode links Find out more about Lisa's English program: Your English Self Subscribe to the podcast Never miss an episode! Get free weekly...

Do you have 'sensible' or 'sensitive' skin? Do you enjoy reading 'romances' or novels in general? Is the price 'convenient' or cheap? These are just three common false friends in English. Being aware of them is important for lots of different reasons, and not just to avoid mistakes when you speak. In this podcast, find out: - why they're important - how you can deal with them Subscribe to the podcast Never miss an episode! Get free weekly coaching tips here.

If you've ever been unsure about your English grammar when you're speaking, this episode is for you! One of the most effective ways to learn English is to find patterns, rather than trying to learn each thing separately. In this episode, I show you how learning the pattern of (all) perfect tenses  will help you avoid common mistakes with the Present Perfect tense. Episode link 10 Steps To Advanced English - my grammar course that shows you the patterns in English grammar for accurate...

Many English words have more than one meaning, and they can also combine with other words to make natural English phrases. For example, we can say "just about", "just enough" and "just in time" - and in each of these phrases, the word "just" means something different. In this podcast episode, I show you how you can work on one simple word at a time, to get some common English expressions. When you use these expressions, you'll sound more natural. Episode highlights - 3 ways to do a "deep...