Blog
Advice, resources and recommendations to improve your English skills
5 ways mindfulness can improve your English
Everyone's talking about mindfulness these days but can it help you to learn English? Here are 5 ways it can help.
3 reasons you forget words in conversation…and what to do about it
Do you forget words in conversation? Here are 3 reasons why ....and what you can do about it.
5 beliefs that can stop you from becoming a confident speaker
Are your English skills stopping you from achieving your goals? Here are 5 beliefs that may be stopping you from achieving the success you deserve.
How to correct your ‘fossilised’ mistakes…
Do you make mistakes that you know are incorrect? These are fossilised mistakes. Here's how to correct them.
Is English coaching the right solution for you?
Are you considering investing in English coaching? Here are 5 reasons why hiring an English coach would be an effective solution for you.
How can you support your EAL staff by unlocking your English?
Do you manage a multilingual team? Do your EAL employees struggle to understand you? This week Shelley Purchon from English Unlocked, tells us about her innovative training, helping native speakers to modify their English so everyone feels included.
Indirect Language: why your British colleagues don’t always say what they mean
Do you understand what your colleagues say but you still misunderstand each other? The answer could be indirect language.
Why your message is more important than your mistakes
Do you worry about making mistakes? Does this stop you from saying what you really want to say? Here's why focusing on your message will help you to build better relationships.
3 reasons why you haven’t achieved your English goals
80% of people give up on their New Year's resolutions by the second week of February. Here are three reasons that may stop you from achieving your English learning goals this year.
11 Creative ways to practise your speaking skills (for free!)
One of the most common questions I'm asked by clients is, "How can I improve my speaking skills?" My first answer is always to practise, but it is not always easy to find people to practise with. So here are 11 creative ways to practise your speaking skills, for free.
7 Essential Features of a Professional Email
Do you have to write emails for work? If you're working or doing business in the UK, it's essential that you are able to communicate professionally by email. A clear structure is essential to make sure you communicate your message clearly and concisely.
The 3 Essential Characteristics of a Powerful Presentation
Presentation skills are essential at work and in business. But there is more to presenting than simply speaking confidently in front of people. If you want to deliver a presentation with impact, it needs to have these 3 essential ingredients.
English Sounds that are Difficult to Pronounce
The English sounds you find most difficult to learn will depend on your first language. However, here are the most common areas learners need help with. Focus on these and your pronunciation will become much clearer.
3 Steps to Clearer Pronunciation
Do you worry that people won't understand you because of your accent? Do people often misunderstand what you say? It's probably not your accent causing misunderstanding. Embrace your accent and follow these 3 steps to clearer pronunciation.
Business Etiquette in the UK
If you want to be successful in business in the UK, you need to do more than simply improve your business English. You need to understand the business culture in the UK
Storytelling in English: using narrative tenses
Telling stories and anecdotes in English is an essential skill for doing business successfully in the UK. This article outlines 5 ways you can use narrative tenses to create a clear and engaging story.
Phrasal Verbs Related to Meetings
Are you confused when your colleagues use phrasal verbs in meetings? Here are the most common phrasal verbs related to business and work-place meetings.
Your guide to British humour in business
Are you confused by British humour? Are you unsure whether your colleagues or clients are being serious or joking? Here is a guide to British humour: what it means and how to use it.
How to make English fun again (and actually improve your skills)
Are you bored of always trying to improve your English skills? If you only use English for studying or work, it can be difficult to motivate yourself to practise in your free time. Make English fun again by following these tips.
How to self-assess your speaking skills
In order to improve any skill quickly, it is important to first understand where your strengths and weaknesses lie. Here are 5 questions to ask yourself to self-assess your speaking skills.
5 Steps to Increase your Vocabulary …and actually use it!
Increasing your vocabulary is important if you want to be an effective communicator. Here are 5 simple steps you can take to increase your vocabulary and then actually use it!
Level up your English in 2021
It's a new year: the perfect time to set new language learning goals and level up your English skills. So how can you set goals that you will actually achieve to level up your skills in 2021?
Christmas in the UK Quiz
How much do you know about Christmas in the UK? Even for those who are not religious, Christmas is an important time for many British people to spend time with family, exchange gifts and be merry!
New Online Business English Course for 2021: Essential English for Business in the UK
Introducing my new group coaching programme for 2021: Essential English for Business in the UK. Based on feedback from previous groups it will be the most effective group coaching programme yet!
English in Isolation: 5 tips to improve your speaking skills under lockdown
During lockdown keeping on top of and practising your English speaking skills may seem impossible. But fear not! Here are 5 ways to keep practising your speaking skills, even when in isolation.
Top 5 ways to listen to real English
No matter how many times you practise listening exercises, it won't prepare you for the 'real' English you will hear when you're in the UK. Here are 5 ways to practise listening to real English.
5 proven steps to help you write like a local
Do you struggle to write like your native-English colleagues? Well, here are 5 proven steps that will not only help you to write like a local but will help you to find your own personal writing style.
How to move from intermediate to advanced level
It can be difficult to keep improving your speaking skills once you’ve reached an intermediate level. You have reached a comfort zone. So how can you move out of this zone and keep perfecting your skills?
Why are native-English speakers so difficult to understand?
Do you speak a good level of English? But then you arrive in the UK and you can hardly understand anyone. You are not alone! Here are 3 reasons why native-English speakers can be difficult to understand.