Listening is one of the most difficult skills in English. Sometimes English is difficult to understand because people use words and phrases you don’t know, and other times it can be difficult because people speak fast and change the sounds of the words. But listening is also an area which you can improve in just… Read More
When you’re applying for a new job in an English-speaking company or country, you’re likely to need three things. All of these things can be prepared in advance, and they will help you in different ways so that you can get your dream job! Your CV A lot of people wait until they are applying… Read More
If you have a big English goal like “become a fluent English speaker”, write down all your successes and achievements.When you do this, you can see that you’re making progress. It’s motivating to see where you started, the challenges you faced, and the successes that made you feel good. Here’s how you can keep an… Read More
AI (Artificial Intelligence) is a fantastic way to improve your English quickly and easily. The advantage of AI is that it can get you information immediately, so you don’t need to spend a lot of time searching through the internet or books. Find out how you can get started with a popular AI tool, and… Read More
It’s difficult to understand discussions where there are lots of people (often from different countries) and where there’s a lot of background noise. Here are some things that can help you understand more of what you hear – so that you can take part in discussions more easily. Understanding fast English In faster discussions, words… Read More
In April 2022 I started my podcast SmartEnglishCoach especially for people at an advanced level of English. The podcast episodes are about 10 minutes long, and they’re short coaching sessions to help with English fluency and confidence. There’s a new episode every week. So far, we’ve looked at mindset, strategy and learning tips. But what… Read More
One thing that’s changed our work lives for ever is online meetings. They have some advantages (you can work from home) but also some disadvantages. It’s sometimes difficult to find the right time to speak when you can’t see everyone in the room, for example. In this post, there are a few techniques to help… Read More
If you haven’t studied English for a while, it can be difficult to start studying again. Maybe you’ve forgotten things, or it takes you longer to do something in English, because you’re “out of practice”. So here are some ways that you can activate your brain, so that you can study effectively and productively! All… Read More
If you want to improve your English – but you don’t have lots of time – check out my English learning plans. With 20 minutes a day, you CAN move up an English level, but make sure you dedicate at least 20 minutes a day, every day. These 20 minutes need to be focussed as… Read More
Being confident is essential if you want to be successful in English. You need confidence for fluency, to try new things in English, and you need it to take part in important events. But there are lots of things that can stop you from being confident. I believe that you can teach yourself ways to… Read More
