Breaking the Ice – Conversational English with Strangers

Attending any kind of gathering where we will be mixing with strangers causes a pang of anxiety in most of us, and when English is not our first language, such worries can be greater. One of the advantages we have when we learn English online [https://englishlive.ef.com/en-gb/]

How to Go Shopping in English

SHOPPING IN ENGLISH When we go abroad to a country where a different language is spoken, there’s that little a bit of fun going shopping, of trying to make ourselves understood whether it is for the piece of local jewellery that has caught our eye, or as we look in the supermark

Unique Regional US Expressions

In general, those learning American English learn grammatically correct English. This makes understanding documents such as directions, books, and email easy. However American conversational English poses a number of problems for those who learn English online [https://englishliv

English Around Britain

The normal language we learn when we study English online [https://englishlive.ef.com/en-us/] is known by a number of names. It is called standard English, or the Queen’s English, although this term is now seen as being a little old fashioned. This standard English is sometimes c

Understanding British Humour

BRITISH HUMOUR Most countries have a particular sense of humour, finding some things much funnier than their national neighbours. That is certainly the case with the British, for whom a sense of irony and enjoyment of sarcasm – often known as ‘banter’ is a common and often hard

Is text messaging ruining the English language?

The speed and shorthand of SMS has irreversibly changed our use of English, but is this a good or bad thing? A UN poll in 2012 found that at the time of polling just over a year ago, there were as many mobile phones as people in the world: over six billion. When you consider tha

7 famous English love quotes to put you in the mood for love

Love is a complex emotion and can be difficult to talk about in any language, let alone your second language. If you are learning English [https://englishlive.ef.com/en-gb/] and want to impress the person you love, borrow some of these expressions from the masters of the English

4 simple steps to cancel plans in English

Canceling plans can be awkward in any language. Maybe you have to break them for a good reason – like you got sick. Or maybe it’s for something less truthful – like you just feel lazy. Either way, when you cancel, you don’t want to offend the other person. Here’s how to cancel pl

Best English films for learning English fast

Britain has given us movie heroes like James Bond, actors like Laurence Olivier and Tilda Swinton, and fantastic film directors like Alfred Hitchcock and Stanley Kubrick. Watching their films is always a pleasure – but as an English language learner it can also be a valuable way

5 interesting links between music and language

Whether it’s spoken, signed or written, language is a human universal. Did you know the music is not far behind? There are very few cultures (if any) in the world that do not have music of some sort. Music and language have closer links than just being something we all do, though