Author: Xela

3 Things You Hear About the UK That are Not True

Posted on by Xela

As with every country there are a lot of stereotypes and things that people believe are true that are simply not. Because British actors often feature on huge movies and many TV shows are exported around the world the UK perhaps suffers this problem more than some other countries. Here are just 3 things you may have heard about British people and the UK that are just not true.

Every British Person Loves the Royal Family

This is simply not true. Whilst many Brits (1) are proud of the royal family and some do have pictures up in their homes the majority of British people are really not that interested. The royal family, for a large number of British people is a rather old fashioned and expensive thing that they feel should be made smaller or given less money. For many others it is something that is a tradition but not something they love. It is quite common for people from other countries to ask if a British person has actually met the Queen. Very few people in the UK actually get to meet or see the Queen and a large number would not really want too. The Brits do not all have large pictures of the Queen in their homes and do not all follow the news about them. In fact, people in the USA are often more interested in the royal family than British people.

British People all Wear Hats

Sadly, this is not true at all. The traditional image of a business man wearing a hat to work on the underground or a lady dressing like the Queen in a hat is very old fashioned (2) and really stopped around the 1960s. Whilst many people wear baseball caps and woolly hats in the cold this is nothing you would not see in many other countries.

It Rains All the Time

This is a very common idea that it rains almost every day in the UK and the weather is very bad. It is simply not true. However, the West Coast of Scotland does get the most rain per year for any country in Europe that is just a small part of the UK. Southern England often has droughts (3) in the summer and gets far less rainfall than places like Norway or the Alps. Perhaps it is the fact that Brits talk about the weather all the time and like to moan (4)  about the rain that gives other countries this idea.

Knowing these stereotypes and ideas are not true will help you if you are learning English to work or study in the UK. It is important to understand the people of the UK if you are hoping to interact with them. If you would like to learn English or improve your existing skills then join Perfectly Spoken and take one of our online English courses.

VOCABULARY:

  1. Brit: informal way for British.
  2. Old fashioned: opposite to modern, not contemporary.
  3. A drought is long period of little or no rain
  4. To moan: to complain (often about something that isn’t important)

4 Top Tips – How to Study When Learning English Online

Posted on by Xela

Studying and learning is never easy, and we know learning a language can be very tough sometimes. This can be really hard if you are working at the same time. A lot of people study and work because they would like to get a better job or move to another country for work. Read this blog for some simple and easy to understand tips to help you study better and learn faster.

Plan

Planning is very important, it is even more important if you do not have much time. If you have a busy job and study around this then planning is critical. See how many lessons there are in your course and then plan a time to take them. This time can be in the morning, evening, on a lunch break at work or any other time. But whenever you like to study it should be planned. This way you can stick to your plan and finish the course by a date you would like.

Targets and Goals

Setting yourself target and goals can be very useful. For many people a target might be to finish a video lesson and learn 5 new words by the end of the week. For other people it may be to watch 4 videos and learn 20 new words. What the target is will depend on your level and how fast you learn. When you reach your target why not reward yourself with something you like or perhaps visit some friends.

Go Outside

Going outside may not seem like a very good way to learn but it is very good for your mind. If you work very hard and do not go outside and get some air you may not learn as much. Take time out and take a break, doing this outside can really help you remember things and learn more.

Get Support

We have already said learning is hard but it can be easier when you have the support of friends and family. Tell people you are taking an online English course and when things are hard you can talk to them. Friends and family can support you and help you keep going when you are tired or maybe when you are finding learning really difficult.

If you are not already learning English with us then take a look at our courses. By joining Perfectly Spoken for just 9.99 Euro each month you can choose any English course and change anytime. Our video lessons are used by thousands of people to learn English every day.

We hope these tips help you with your English lessons and perhaps you can move on to a more advanced level very soon.

Word of the Day – January

Posted on by Xela

If you follow us on Facebook, you will know we have a number of posts called Word of the Day. This is a fun look at a single word to see if people know what it means, and then we look at the definition and how it might be used. These are all common words in English and are all useful to know if you are learning English.

If you do not follow us on Facebook, then come and join in the fun and see what you can learn – https://www.facebook.com/spokenperfectly

We also have a range of online English courses available.

Resolution

This word has two or more meanings. One very common one is about how clear and image is or the size of a digital image. It is important because we use technology so much. So a high resolution image would be a very high quality image.

The second meaning is about settling an argument. When people are fighting they might be looking for a resolution or looking to resolve a disagreement. A resolution is a very good thing if people are fighting as it means they have agreed and can stop fighting.

Pouring

It is winter in the UK and as everyone knows, we do like to talk about the weather. So in January we had 3 weather words. The first was “pouring”. This word actually has different uses but essentially one meaning. You can pour water from a jug, or pour a glass of wine. So it describes moving liquid or even solids like sand from one place to another. However, it is very common in the UK to say “it’s pouring outside” or “it’s pouring with rain”. This means it is raining very heavily and is a useful term to know.

Blizzard

The second weather word is blizzard. This is related to snow, you can only have a blizzard in snow. This is when it snows so much that you cannot see very well, driving is dangerous and even walking can be hard. In fact, people often use the word when it is snowing heavily and actually not a blizzard.

Gust

Our last weather word is gust. A gust is a single blast of wind that is very strong that then goes away. During storms, there are often gusts of faster wind and times when it is slower. A gust can be very strong and even cause damage in some storms. Some people call a windy day “gusty”; “it’s very gusty outside”.

Prompt

This is a very important word. It is a word used to describe being somewhere at the time you said you would. If a job interview is at 09:00 then a prompt arrival would be 08.55. Prompt means on time or early. In business, it is very important, if someone asks you to be at a meeting promptly then you must not be late.

Colleague

Another work term this word means a person you work with. A colleague can be anyone in the company you work for; they may be in the office with you or in another office in another country. If they work for the same company they are a colleague. It is a nice word and is often used when two companies work together as a way of saying everyone is working together.

Assume

This is a very useful and important word that can have 2 meanings. To assume something is to think you know what is going to happen before it does. It can be rude if you do not have the information to make that choice. It can also be used by managers and bosses to say “I assume you will be at work on time” by this they mean they want you to be at work on time and if you are not it will not be good.

However, you can also “assume” responsibility for something or someone. This is where you can take control or take charge of looking after a project or job.

 

What is Pancake Day?

Posted on by Xela

If you are living in the UK or working with people that do then you may have heard about Pancake Day. It is basically a day when people in the UK cook and enjoy thin flat cakes made in a pan But, there is a lot more to the day than enjoyable food.

If you are learning English and not sure what Pancake Day is then read this!

Shrove Tuesday

The day is actually celebrating in a number of English speaking countries including Canada, Ireland and the USA. It is also celebrated in France and Australia. In Spain, Italy and Brazil it falls at the end of Carnival.  It is called different things in different countries and the proper name in the UK is Shrove Tuesday. In other countries, it is called Mardi Gras and even “fat day”.

Why Is It Celebrated?

Like many traditional festival days, it is based on religion. But as much of the UK is no longer religious the meaning is sometimes lost. The day is always just before ash Wednesday at the start of lent. Lent marks the start of a 40 day period before Easter. During lent it is common to give up things that you enjoy as part of a Christian tradition. Butter, sugar, eggs and milk were often given up and so there was a reason to use them all up before lent started.

The Pancake

With these ingredients needing to be used the pancake was invented. It is a very simple recipe where eggs and milk are mixed together and fried in a hot pan in butter. The pancake is a very thin soft cake that is then eaten with some lemon juice and sugar.

The Cooking

Cooking pancakes is actually quite hard. When one side is ready, you need to turn it over. This is very hard and the only way to do it without tearing the pancake is to “toss” or flip the pancake in the air and catch it again in the pan. Pancake tossing is a very traditional part of Shrove Tuesday.

Racing?

In some parts of Britain they have pancake races. This is where people run through the streets with a pancake in a frying pan, often in costumes.

Pancake day is considered a fun day and not one you need to totally understand. If you get a chance, why not try a pancake with a friend or go to a café to have one made for you.

If you are learning English online and would like to take a full online English course then have a look at the Perfectly Spoken plans and find out more!

 

Wales – A Useful Guide

Posted on by Xela

If you are planning on visiting the United Kingdom for work or you are working with people from the UK then this Guide to Wales will be very useful. When learning English it can be important to understand the different countries in the UK and how the people can be different.

General Information

Wales is 1 of the 4 countries that make up the United Kingdom. Like Scotland and England it shares the main island while Northern Ireland is across a small stretch of sea called the Irish Sea.

Wales is a small but very proud country. There is around 3 million people living in Wales which is around 5% of the total UK population. The capital city is called Cardiff which is a vibrant and busy place to visit and work. Wales is, as with other parts of the UK, famous for it’s amazing beaches and beautiful mountainous scenery. The coastline of Wales has around 1300 km of beach, some of these are the most beautiful in the UK.  It is also famous for the amount of rain it gets and this is often a point of humour among people form the UK.

The Welsh flag shows a large red dragon and this is a very important symbol for the country along with a yellow flower called a Daffodil.

Language

While both Northern Ireland and Scotland do have a traditional language Wales has more people that speak theirs. The language is used on road signs and many other things although it is almost always written next to English. In certain areas of Wales, Welsh is still spoken but most people will also speak English. Around 20% of the population can speak Welsh.

Food

Lamb is a very traditional food in Wales. This is because sheep farming is very common rather like New Zealand. There is also a cheese and toasted bread meal called Welsh Rarebit which was created in Wales. It is delicious and eaten across the UK.

Sport

Football is very popular in Wales but Rugby is the sport most people watch and play. The Welsh are very passionate about it and the streets can be empty when there is a large international game being played, especially if they are playing England.

In some parts of Wales the feelings towards the English are not very positive or happy. As with Northern Ireland and Scotland England is seen as the larger country that invaded them historically. It is useful to remember not to call anyone from Wales English.

Perfectly Spoken offers a range of different online English courses where lessons can be taken any time and on any device.

 

 

Scotland – A Useful Guide

Posted on by Xela

If you are planning to move to the UK for work, visit or if you work with people from the UK then this guide to Scotland will be very useful. If you are learning English it can be very useful to understand a little more about how the UK is made up of different countries. This can be very important if you are going to be working with people from the UK.

Scotland is one of 4 countries that make up the parts of the United Kingdom. Unlike Northern Ireland, Scotland is part of the same island as England and Wales. It is well known for its mountains, forests, beaches and Lochs.

General Information

Scotland is north of the top of England. It is the very top part of the United Kingdom. Because it is so far north it often gets a lot of snow and you can even see the Northern Lights from some parts and has sunlight until 11:30pm in the summer. It can also rain a lot and be very cold!

Scotland has its own parliament which is in the capital city of Edinburgh. Around 5 million people live in Scotland which is around 8.5% of the total UK population. Glasgow is another famous Scottish city. Most people tend to live further South and the more mountainous and cold country is further north. This northern part of the country is called the Highlands.

Lochs

A loch is a Scottish word for a large lake. There is a very famous Loch called Loch Ness where a famous monster called the Loch Ness Monster is said to live. Over many years there have been photographs of this monster but most are hard to see and the monster is considered a myth; it is often called Nessy!

Music

Like other parts of the UK modern music is very popular but Scotland also has a very traditional type of music and a very famous instrument called the bagpipes. This instrument is made up of an airbag and a number of pipes. It creates a very unique and beautiful sound.

Language

In Scotland there are actually 3 languages; English, Scots and Scottish Gaelic. Around 30% of the population are able to speak Scots but everyone in Scotland will understand and be able to speak English. Scots actually has a lot of words that are the same in English but it would be very hard to understand.

Sport

Football is very popular in Scotland. They have their own large football league called the Scottish Premier League. Huge matches are played between Celtic and Rangers and it is worth remembering some fans of these teams do not like each other. Scotland also hosts a more traditional collection of sports called the Highland Games. These events include dancing, music and games involving huge tree trunks being thrown.

Food

Like other parts of the UK, the food is very similar but each part has some of its own traditional food types. Haggis is something eaten at certain celebrations in Scotland. It is a kind of round sausage made using a sheep stomach, oats and meat. Scotland is also famous for amazing seafood because of its rich coastline.

Scottish people are often very friendly but also very proud of their country. As the film Braveheart shows, the Scottish and English have not always got on well so be aware of that if talking to Scottish people.

If you are learning English online then Perfectly Spoken has a number of different options to allow you to take full English courses online.

Northern Ireland – A Useful Guide

Posted on by Xela

If you are hoping to move to the UK for work or visit, or even work with people from the UK it is important to understand the countries that make up the United Kingdom. Learning English is very useful but knowing a little about the countries is important too. Here is our very useful guide to Northern Ireland.

Northern Ireland is one of the 4 countries in the United Kingdom, the others are England, Scotland and Wales. Ireland is important to understand for a few reasons but one is that it is different from the Republic of Ireland even though it is on the same island next to the mainland. Northern Ireland is north of the Republic which is not part of the UK.

General Information

There are around 1.8 million people in Northern Ireland which is only around 3% of the population of the UK. The capitol city is call Belfast. It is a country filled with rolling green hills, mountains and beautiful beaches. A number of big movies have been filmed there as well as Game of Thrones. It is also the home of the world famous Giant’s Causeway which is an amazing bit of coastline made up of columns of rocks that look like they have been created by man.

History

Northern Ireland was once a place of conflict. The disagreement was between people who wanted to be part of the UK and people who wanted to be part of the Republic of Ireland. For many years there were bombings and violence in and outside of the country. But in the 1990s there was a peace agreement which still stands today. It is important to be aware that people from Northern Ireland still have different feelings about the UK and could be offended by discussing these things.

Language

English is the most common language in Northern Ireland and almost everyone will and can speak it. Irish Gaelic is a traditional language that is known by a lot of people but not spoken very widely.

Music, Food and Sport

Traditional Irish music is common right across Northern Ireland and it is often very similar to the music from the Republic. This folk style music is still enjoyed by all ages even though modern popular music is available.

Much of the food is similar across both parts of Ireland and a lot of it is very common across the UK. However, Northern Ireland has a special type of breakfast called an Ulster Fry. This is very similar to a traditional English breakfast with sausages, eggs and bacon. However, in Northern Ireland, it is served with soda bread.

Gaelic football is very popular in Northern Ireland. This is very similar to Rugby. Most other sports are common in the country including football, rugby and even pastimes like mountain climbing. For most major events both Northern Ireland and the Republic join together, but they do have separate teams for football.

Northern Ireland is a beautiful country to visit. If you work with or speak to people from this country remember not to assume Ireland is all one country as this could offend someone.

If you are looking for an online English course Perfectly Spoken offers a wide range of options and allows you to study when and where you like.

 

Work Language – Idioms and Sayings

Posted on by Xela

It is very common for people to use different words and sayings around friends and family to when they are a work or School. This is something that is very natural when speaking your native language but it can be very hard if you are learning English at any level.

Bad Taste

Using the wrong word or phrase at work can be very bad. It can be rude if the terms is simply something you would only use with close friends or for humour. But if the timing is wrong it can also be in what is called “bad taste”. This describes something that is not rude but is also not very nice. It is not the same as simply insulting someone, it is more subtle. Think of a food that doesn’t taste very good and then image a phrase or word being just like that.

Swearing

It is certainly common in English to swear among friends, or in anger. A lot of British humour uses rude words and many jobs will be filled with people who use swear words. It is VERY important to understand when swearing is OK and when it can be so rude it could mean losing your job. The best thing to do is simply not to use swear words. This is the only way to be sure you will not offend someone. But, in some cases swearing a small amount can help with working relationships. Until you are very confident at speaking English, avoid swearing. If you need help, ask a friend. If you have heard a word you should test it out with someone who knows the language and ask when it is OK to use. Using the wrong word with the boss could be a very big problem.

Idioms and Sayings

Idioms are a big part of the English language, but they must be used properly. Using them at the wrong time can simply be funny, and if other people know you are learning English they will not be offended. But in some cases, they can cause problems.

Below are some examples of idioms that are fine to use at work

  • Bark up the wrong tree
  • The straw the broke the camel’s back
  • Sitting on the fence
  • A night owl
  • An early bird

These all describe things that are not offensive and could easily fit into a work conversation.

Below are some idioms that may not work so well at work

  • To cost a bomb
  • Up the creek without a paddle
  • Has the cat got your tongue?
  • Too big for your boots

These idioms are all potentially a little rude or are related to rude words. To cost a bomb is very casual and not appropriate for work. The last two are normally used when telling someone they have done something wrong and also not very common at work and certainly not good to use when speaking to the boss.

Word of the Day – December

Posted on by Xela

If you follow us on Facebook, you will know we often have a word of the day. This is a fun post that highlights and teaches followers a single useful word. We normally do this right through the month but because of all our Christmas fun posts, we did less than normal in December. Below is a list of the words we did look at. Following us on Facebook can be a great way to get extra help with learning and to have some fun.

If you are not following us on Facebook then click this link to join in – https://www.facebook.com/spokenperfectly

 

 Overcast

We often talk about how British people like to talk about the weather. Overcast is a very commonly used weather term describing a cloudy day. The cloud is low and grey and there is no sun on an overcast day. The weather person may say the day is going to be overcast which means you will probably not see the sun at all that day. It is important not to think a day is overcast if there are clouds in the sky because there are different sorts of clouds. An overcast day is dull, grey and the sky is all one colour.

Sibling

In one of our free Facebook live lessons our teacher talked about vocabulary used to describe family. The word sibling is used to describe a brother or sister. This word is not used when talking about other relatives like mother, father, aunty or uncle. An example of how this could be used is if you were asked “Do you have any siblings?” You could answer “yes I have 2 sisters”. This word could be very useful if you are filling out forms or being interviewed for any reason.

Predict

This word is used as a way to describe what you think will happen in the future. It is normally used when you are sure something will happen. For example “I predict my team will win the football match”. If you did not think they will win, you could say “I hope my team will win”. Predict is a stronger word used when you are confident something will happen.

If you would like to learn English with us then visit THIS PAGE for more information

3 British Sayings You Can Use Anywhere

Posted on by Xela

Just like every other language, there are sayings in English that are used to say things differently. These sayings are often called idioms. They are common across all countries and are often funny, or they are a simple way of describing something complicated. Nearly all sayings come from history, many were created a long time ago and some use historic language too.

Understanding Sayings

Being able to understand saying is an important part of learning English. Using them at the right time can make people laugh, it can also really show you understand English and it can help build relationships with friends, new family and people at work.

Below are just 3 English sayings that may be useful at work, home or school.

Open a can of worms

This is a very common saying. It is quite a complicated saying. A can of worms is a very messy subject that once started may end up being a lot of work, trouble, effort or time. For example; you may suggest at work that someone tidies the office cupboard. But people who have worked there a long time know that if you start trying to do that you will find more and more things to tidy and it could take all day. They might say “do not do that, it’s a can of worms” or “do not open that can of worms”. It can also be used when talking about people who may get upset or want to talk a lot about something. You may think it is best not to mention a certain subject as it is a can of worms.

Don’t Shoot the Messenger

Again, this is a very common saying and one that it can be very useful to understand. It is quite a simple one to understand. It is something a person may say if they tell you something bad and you are angry with them. However, they were not the person that did anything wrong; just the person that told you. They may say “hey, don’t shoot the messenger”. By this they mean do not be angry at the person who told you the bad news as they are just the messenger.

Skeleton Staff

This is a very useful saying for word. A skeleton staff is a way of describing having very few people working. In fact, it means having the least amount of people working somewhere while still keeping it going. So this might be used over a holiday period perhaps. When no customers are coming in, the manager may suggest running a skeleton staff of just 2 people to make sure the shop is OK. Normally there maybe 10 people working but a skeleton staff is enough when it is not busy.