Author: Xela

How to Say Happy Christmas in the UK

Posted on by Xela

Christmas is coming and for people in the UK and other English speaking countries, it is a very important festival or holiday. It is worth noting that for a lot of people it is less about the religious significance and often more about seeing family and friends, taking time off work and sharing presents. There is still a strong Christian theme for some people but not everyone will consider it like that. It is a month away but many people in the UK will be putting up decorations on the 1st of December and the shopping and planning have certainly started.

We thought it might be useful to look at some key phrases that are useful to know around this time of year.

How to Say Happy Christmas

First of all, just saying Happy Christmas is a very common phrase and a very simple and easy way to be polite and to give someone your best wishes. But there are other ways to express this.

Season’s Greetings – This is a simple phrase and is often used as a welcoming phrase. You will see it written on signs above shops or as you enter a restaurant or bar. It is not something you would say while saying goodbye to someone, but it could work well if you are welcoming someone to your home or place of work. It is often used in greetings cards too.

Merry Christmas – This is a very common and very friendly thing to say. It is simply saying “I hope you have a happy Christmas”. Merry is another word for happy.

Happy Holidays – This is a very American term and really not used in the UK at all. You may hear it on movies and TV shows, but it is worth remembering it is a very American phrase. It still means happy Christmas but in America they say Holidays.

…and a Happy New year

It is very common for people to say Happy Christmas and also Happy New Year at the same time. This becomes more common as Christmas gets closer. It is not very common to say earlier in the month. New Year’s Eve is a very important part of the Christmas season and it is polite to say “Happy New Year” to people around that time.

There are a number of other ways to say happy Christmas as you may be saying goodbye to people as you leave work.

Enjoy Your Christmas – this is a good example of how to express good wishes for Christmas as you may be leaving work or someone else is leaving. You can also say Enjoy Your Christmas Break. The word break is used to describe a period of not working over Christmas which can be very important.

It is very polite to say Happy Christmas in whatever way you prefer and can be a very positive and happy way to greet or to say goodbye to someone in the UK.

Why Learning English Isn’t Just for Working in English Speaking Countries

Posted on by Xela

One of the main reasons people learn English is for work. For thousands of people, the desire to travel and to work and build a career in an English-speaking country is a big reason to learn English online. But there are other benefits to learning English when it comes to work even in countries that do not use English as the main language.

Colleagues

As a lot of people from non-English-speaking countries want to travel and work in other places, so do people from English speaking countries like the UK and the USA. But a lot of people in English speaking countries also want to work in other places too. Many of them learn Spanish, Portuguese, German or other languages, so they can travel and work away from home. Why does this mean learning English can help? Well, if you are from Spain, for example, and you are working abroad you may be working with someone who speaks English, and this can help build better relationships. They may enjoy speaking their native language with you and it also shows you know another language.

International Business

You may be working in a country that doesn’t use English but the company you work for may deal with companies from countries that do. Being able to speak English may be very helpful to the company and could be useful in getting a promotion! A lot of large companies use English as the international language, so it is a very useful one to learn. It means you could speak easily with clients overseas as well as colleagues that may be based in English speaking countries.

International Business Events

Once again, while you may not wish to work in a country that uses English as the main language. However, you may have the chance to go to a conference or a large business event in a country that does. Being able to speak English may be very useful in making new connections and interacting with other people in your industry. It may also mean you understand some more of the keynote speakers and more.

Learning English is Very Useful

Even if you are not speaking English every day in the company you work for knowing English is very useful for international business in all forms. Perfectly Spoken offer a range of specific business courses for those who want to invest more in business English.

 

Some of the Hardest English Words to Learn and Spell

Posted on by Xela

We know learning English can be hard work and we love helping people get batter through our videos and courses. However, we thought it might be useful to share some of the words students tell us are some of the hardest to learn in the English language.

Whom

This is a really confusing word and for such a small word it causes big problems. It is a word used in the same way as “who” but there are subtle and important differences. One easy tip to know if you should use Who or Whom is to answer the question yourself and see if the answer is “him” or “he”. “Who/Whom are you going to the cinema with?” – “I am going with him”  – Him means you should use “whom” in the question. “Who/Whom said the film was really good?” “He did” – The answer is He then use “who”. In reality, many English people fail to use “whom” but if you want to get it right then try to learn how to use it properly.

Colleague

This is an important word if you are planning on working in the UK or another English speaking country. The word refers to someone you work with. It is a more formal word for “workmate” because you would not use such a casual term unless you were talking with friends. In a business and work situation colleague is the correct term. It is a hard word to say but even harder to spell. It uses “ea” in the middle rather than “ee” and it also confuses students with the use of “ue” at the end. It is a very useful and important word, it is just a shame it is such a hard one!

Business

This is another very important word for people who want to work in English speaking countries. While it is easy to say, when you look at the spelling it can get confusing. It is spelt like “bus-i-ness” which would sound like “busyness” but it is said “buzness” which makes it a very hard one to learn how to spell and say. It is a very very common word so it is really important to try to learn it.

Country and Countries

Both of these words are spelt differently to how they sound. Going just by spelling they should be said like the word “count”. Without being rude it is very important to get this right as there is a very rude and very offensive word that can get used by accident here. The best way to make sure you have got this right is to ask a teacher or an English speaking friend to help.

Our online English courses are designed to help you learn these words and so much more. Learning English following a full course structure like Perfectly Spoken you will find these harder words much easier to learn.

 

 

 

Why is learning English through a course is so beneficial?

Posted on by Xela

As the world becomes more and more connected, learning a second language is increasingly valuable. There are various ways to learn another language, from immersing yourself in the country where it’s widely spoken to using text books, but there are several benefits from choosing a structured course that make it the preferred method for so many people. Here are just some of the reasons why opting for a structured online English course will help you learn more effectively.

You’ll learn the rules of the language

English can be a tricky language to learn as it has a lot of contradictory rules and guidelines that can be confusing. Using a structured course will help to provide you with a better understanding of how these rules work in practice, as well as providing context for when and where certain words and phrases might be used.

It helps to keep your learning in order

When you’re picking up random phrases here and there, often you’ll learn something without the background of how it works which can make it confusing. Do you learn plurals first or adjectives? How about tenses? With a structured course, you’ll learn these things in the correct order, making your learning more seamless and efficient.

It’s faster and more convenient

Having structure to your learning means you’ll keep up with it and, as with anything, repetition is the best way to learn a new skill. Instead of reading a textbook and then not picking it up again for two months, by which time you’ve forgotten much of what you’d learnt, you’ll have regular interaction with the language which will help to speed up your learning and help you to pick up English more quickly.

Studying becomes more accessible

Courses provide multiple resources to help your learning, from online downloads to help you study wherever you are to people you can get in touch with if you’re struggling, all of which helps to ensure you learn the language more easily. The accessibility and help you receive with a course helps you to feel more supported throughout your learning.

 

Odd words in the English language

Posted on by Xela

As languages go, English is arguably one of the strangest out there with its confusing idioms, bizarre words and contradictory rules. If you are learning English online then it can be quite hard to understand a lot of the more unusual words. From Shakespeare’s inventions to the blend of influences from other languages, English has developed a reputation for having something of a unique vocabulary compared to other languages in the world. These are some of the oddest words you’re likely to come across in the dictionary.

Bruxism

If you’re someone who has a habit of grinding their teeth without noticing, often when you’re asleep, then there’s a word for that – bruxism! This is the technical term for teeth grinding and jaw clenching and was first coined in 1931.

Chad

The small rounds of paper produced by punching a hole, such as for putting documents into a ring binder, are called chads.

Fipple

Those who play a lot of music may be familiar with this part of a wind instrument, but many won’t know what it’s called. The mouthpiece of a recorder or a similar instrument is actually called a fipple.

Kerfuffle

This word has been in existence since the early 1800s and is believed to have come either from Scottish dialect or Celtic Irish. The noun kerfuffle means to make a fuss or have a disagreement over something – if two speakers have different points of view and are making a bit of a noise about it, then they’ll be said to be making a kerfuffle.

Cloying

If you eat something that’s overwhelmingly sweet, it can be described as cloying. For example, if you put too much sugar into a dessert, the result will be cloying to anyone who eats it.

Woebegone

This fantastic adjective was first used in the Middle Ages and comes from two words– woe, which means sad, and begone, which means surrounded by something. Together, they describe someone who looks miserable.

Flummoxed

If you’re confusing someone you’re speaking to, they’ll wind up flummoxed. This word came into the English language in the 19th century and was formed from different dialects in the UK.

 

Watch More Movies – and improve your spoken English

Posted on by Xela

There are not man times in school where a teacher will say “you should watch more movies” but when it comes to learning English movies (or films as many English people call them) can be a brilliant way to improve your English learning both in terms of listening and understanding English conversations and improving your spoken English.

Movie or Film?

There are many things in the English language that have more than one word to describe it and movies are one of them. The word movie is something that has come from the USA and is certainly a term that is not traditionally used in the UK. British people tend to use the word film instead. However, ironically due to American movies being watched more and more across the world the word film is now less common and movies are used a lot. Both words are fine to use in the UK but the movie is probably better in other English speaking countries.

How Do Movies Help You Improve Your English?

Quite simply a movie in English is 1.5-2 hours of solid English speaking and if you are trying to learn English this is a great way to hear new words, understand new ways of saying things and also improve your spoken English because you get to hear how people say words you may have learned in a lesson. While full online English courses are the best way to learn English watching movies will help further improve and broaden your knowledge. It is like being in a room with people speaking English without having to find a group of people to be in a room with.

Accents

One of the hard things but also very useful things about watching movies is the different ways people speak. While the teacher in your online video lessons may be easy to understand, in the real world people speak with a huge range of accents. By watching a range of movies you can pick up and understand some of these accents and this will help you understand people in the real world. However, it is worth being careful to choose movies with mainstream accents and initially avoid rural accents in places you are not likely to visit. For example, if you are planning on working in Australia then watching a movie about rural Scotland may not be very useful and may be very hard to understand.

How to Watch a Movie?

Depending on how advanced you are in English you can watch a movie in different ways. If you are a beginner then use English subtitles while listening to your native language. This will help you associate words. If you are more advanced then try watching in English and using native subtitles. If you are even more advanced then aim to watch the whole movie in English. If you have to pause the film to think about some words or rewind to hear again then do but the best way to get better is to try to watch it all in English.

If you can you should watch at least one movie a month but once a week would be better. Try getting a group of people together so you can talk about what is happening and learn from each other. Quite often one person will hear something another person may have missed so it is useful to share the learning. If you cannot do this then find some people on our Facebook page who may wish to watch the same movie and then talk about it afterwards on WhatsApp or messenger.

Movies can be a really fun way to help improve your understanding of spoken English and improve your own ability to speak English. TV shows are also useful and seasons on platforms like Netflix can be good if not better than movies because there are hours of watching time with the same accents and people to listen too.

English Speaking Practice

Posted on by Xela

Learning English isn’t easy but with the right online English courses, it is certainly something anyone can do. An important part of learning English is getting time to practice speaking English as well as watching online video lessons and learning written English. However, finding people to help with English speaking practice can be hard.

Friends and Family

One of the best sources of English speaking practice is, of course, friends and family. If other people you know are learning English too or have already learnt and are more advanced than you then getting time with them as often as you can is a brilliant way to get some English speaking practice. This can be done on the phone, in person or even with skype or WhatsApp video calls. Even just 5 minutes of practice once a week can be helpful. If you are living with other English learners then having “English only” days in the house can be a brilliant way to improve your spoken English skills.

Work

The reason many people learn English is for work. They may want to work in an English speaking country, or they may already live there but want to get a better job where English is needed. This kind of environment is perfect for practising spoken English. Colleagues who speak English are great to chat to and ask questions too if there is a word you need help with. Listening to others speak around you is also great for improving your spoken English. Do remember that colleagues may be busy so it is useful to be aware they may not always have time to explain a phrase, idiom or word.

Other Learners

One way of practising spoken English that a lot of people don’t think about is linking up with other learners. There are 1000s of people learning English online with Perfectly Spoken and often these people connect on the Facebook page and then organise their own video chat groups to practice speaking English together. They may not be friends or family and you do not work with them, but they can be the perfect people to practice with especially if they are the same level as you or more advanced.  Perfectly Spoken is a rapidly growing global English learning platform with full online English courses. By signing up and joining in the extra live lessons on Facebook you will not only learn English from our amazing teachers and the high-quality video lessons but you may find some new friends to practice your spoken English with too.

What are or is a MOOC?

Posted on by Xela

MOOC simply means – Massive Open Online Course or Courses

But what does it all mean?

Well a massive open online course is a course that anyone can join, log into and start learning anytime, anywhere and at any speed they want too. We have a number of MOOCs and we are very proud to be part of this exciting new way to learn English online. Of course MOOC is not a term exclusive to learning English, there are online courses for every kind of subject but the popularity of learning English online is so big it is often used as an example of a common MOOC.

What Are The Benefits of an MOOC?

To put it simply the benefits are mostly based around flexibility and convenience:

  • Anyone can sign up and learn so there is no need for entrance exams and most are free.
  • Courses and lessons can be viewed on any kind of digital device from phones and tablets to laptops and PCs.
  • Lessons can be taken at any time of the day or night.
  • Lessons can be taken anywhere with an internet connection, 3G, 4G or WiFi.
  • Courses can be taken over hours, days, weeks, months or even years.
  • Courses and Lessons can be taken at any speed. So pupils can do 10 lessons in one week and then no lessons for a month and still be able to complete them.

These advantages make signing up for an MOOC the perfect way to learn English for people busy at work, studying or even travelling. People can take a lesson before work on the train or bus, or maybe even at work in a lunch break. Lessons can be taken in the middle of the night or the day and can fit in with any lifestyle and working life.

What Else Makes Up an MOOC?

As well as the lessons and courses massive open online courses are often supported by forums or social media groups. These allow pupils and students to compare notes and share things they are finding hard or easy. This can be very helpful, especially when it comes to parts of the course learners are finding hard. Perfectly Spoken has a large Facebook community and offers extra Facebook live lessons that run alongside the main online courses.

Join Us and Start Your MOOC Journey Today!

If you are looking into the world of MOOC English learning then you are in the right place. Join thousands of other people learning English with us all over the world! Good Luck!

The Best Way To Learn and Practice English Online

Posted on by Xela

Learning English Online is not easy, it is challenging but very rewarding thing to do. Learning to speak English can help with getting a job in an English speaking country, studying and travelling too. But with so many ways to learn English online what are the best ways to do it and what are the best ways to practice? In the post we look at some of the best ways you can learn English online to get the best results possible!

Online English Courses

There are a lot of online videos that can teach you English but the best way to learn English properly is to take a full English course. Just doing one video every few days from different teachers that are not connected can confuse you and may slow down your learning. The best thing to do is choose an online English school like Perfectly Spoken and sign up for an online English course at the correct level for you.

Practice Your English Online

One of the hardest parts of learning English online is finding ways to practice. If you were in a classroom you might have other students to practice with but online you may not have anyone you know who is learning English with you. But do not be disheartened there are ways you can practice online. Facebook is a great place to start, there are lots of people who will also be learning English but it can be hard to find them. Look for groups of other English learners and message some members to see if they would be happy to swap messages or even have a video chat with you. There is a perfectly Spoken Facebook page where 1000s of other people are learning English and many of them will be very happy to find new people to practice with. There are also Whatsapp groups and many websites with forums where you could also meet people to practice with. The great thing about Whatsapp is you can use it as a video call system as well as a way of finding other people learning English.

If you would like to find out more about our online English courses then have a look at our courses page and join other people on our Facebook group. The key is to learn in a structured way and to practice as much as you can even if you don’t have anyone at home to speak English with.

Where Can I Learn English Online?

Posted on by Xela

There are many reasons you may want to learn English or improve your English spoken and written skills. The question “where can I learn English online” is a very common one and the answer can be quite complicated. There are a lot of different websites offering online English lessons, but they are not all right for everyone. For a lot of people, the question is actually more basic “Can I learn English online” and the answer to this is certainly, yes you can but choosing the right websites and courses is really important.

Online English Lesson Choices

There are lots of different places to learn English online.

YouTube

The most basic form of online English lesson is on YouTube. If you search there, you will find 1000s of English lessons. There is certainly a lot of choices but most lessons are not part of a course or learning structure. While this may be OK if you just want some help with a certain word of set of vocabulary examples. But if you are looking to improve your English properly YouTube may not be the place for you.

Paying for Lessons

At the other end of the range, there are a number of websites that offer online English courses for money. This may be suitable for some people but for others, the cost is too much. The lessons and courses are likely to be better than many on YouTube but the cost can be quite high and often if you stop paying at the end of a course you can never go back and look at the videos again.

Where Can I Learn English Online?

The answer is here at Perfectly Spoken. You can join thousands of other people learning right now! Of course, you can use YouTube videos alongside our courses to help with extra practice but you do not need to pay to learn.