The first thing that is taught in typical English classes is almost always the formal version of the language. I learned the same kind of formal Japanese in my first Japanese language classes before going to Japan. But do you know what happened when I made some real Japanese friends? I didn’t understand them! I had to learn to speak casual Japanese, as opposed to the formal version. The good thing was that my friends and co-workers were really kind and helped me learn how to speak casually. The thing about English is that even in “formal” situations, English speakers use pretty casual spoken English. Casual and normal spoken English is important to know for U.S. business if you want to build working relationships. RELATED: Making Small Talk in English Part 1: Starting the Conversation Today I want to give you better, friendlier and more casual options for the commonly taught (but RARELY used) phrase, “Thank you very much.” I will be your patient American friend and teach you some other more common phrases you can use instead of "Thank you very much." Read on to learn more commonly used ways to say “thank you very much,” so that you don’t sound like a formal old business man who never smiles:
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When we begin to learn a new language, we usually focus on memorizing grammar rules and lists of vocabulary. But if we don't focus on pronunciation as well (by learning how to make the correct sounds and putting stress in the right places), we might not be understood when talking to native English speakers.
Besides knowing grammar and a good amount of vocabulary, of course you want to be understood by native English speakers when you speak. That's why it is just as important to focus on developing native sounding pronunciation. "But English pronunciation is so hard, Sabrina!," my students tell me. Yes, English pronunciation can be difficult, but I want to share with you a few resources and tips that can help you start improving your pronunciation today: There are so many expressions in English that use the word ‘hand’- definitely more than a handful! (Waah waaah, sorry for the pun!).
Instead of writing a big long list, I want to focus on a few hand idioms that generally mean “being a help” or “helping out.” When you learn new vocabulary or phrases, it is always a good idea to connect or group new words into themes or categories to help you make lasting connections in your memory. Read on to practice 6 common ways to use the word ‘hand’ in English when talking about helping out. It's true: learning English (or any new language) will change you life!
It's so easy to learn a new language these days: we don't even have to leave our home countries to access native teachers and tutors. The internet is incredible; it helps us connect with other people from all over the world and create an immersion environment if we take the chance. We can learn and perfect our language skills through language exchanges, Facebook pages (here's the Calm English page) and groups, online courses, Skype classes, reading blogs, and more! And don't forget, so much of the world's information is in English. Is it time for YOU to become an English eLearner? Maybe you are asking, "What's an English eLearner?" YOU ARE AN ENGLISH ELEARNER IF YOU: We usually only learn very formal phrases like "Yes, please" and "No, I do not" in grammar books. But when we go out into the real world and speak with REAL ENGLISH SPEAKERS, we hear (and need to learn) a whole different version of English. Spoken English can be very casual. Even basic words have some casual alternatives. Did you know there are even casual alternatives for the words 'yes' and 'no'? These two words are VERY commonly used. Being able to understand and use these words will help you sound more fluent. Read and listen to my video to learn how to use these words: Uh-huh (Yes)
and Uh-uh (No) Watch my YouTube video to hear and practice the pronunciation!: How do you know whether a phrase is an idiom or a proverb? The answer is a little more complicated than you might think! It can be even more confusing when you are just learning these new-to-you phrases. Let's look at some examples of proverbs and idioms to get an idea. Enjoy! Make sure to comment below if you have any questions! Proverbs
Let's look at the meaning of 'proverb' first. A proverb is a saying that gives advice. In the Bible, there is a whole book called Proverbs. This entire chapter in the Bible is all about giving advice about family, friends, relationships, money, health, morals and more. Here is an example: |
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