Entries from 04:41 PM ↓

Last April an unknown Scottish woman by the name of Susan Boyle became an overnight sensation when she performed on the Britain’s Got Talent show. The less-than-glamorous 48-year-old defied expectations when she performed a stunning rendition of ‘I Dreamed a Dream’ from Les Miserables. Fifty million YouTube hits later, and she became a worldwide celebrity. Joining the ranks of Tom Cruise, Naomi Campbell and Michael Jackson, she was even invited to the Oprah Winfrey show – with one caveat. Despite being a fellow English speaker, American television bosses decided to run her interview with subtitles because they feared many of their viewers would not understand her heavy Scottish accent. Continue reading →

We are all looking forward to our summer breaks. It’s a great moment to relax, disconnect from work, and spend more time with the family and friends – not to mention hit the beaches and the cultural circuit. But this summer break, when you are stepping away from your daily routines, why not take some time to reflect on them and think of some little changes that could make a positive impact on how you work and organise your time? Summer breaks don’t just have to be time away from the office. They can also be an opportunity to come back to the office fresh with new ideas and improvements to our routines. Continue reading →

You may remember last month’s buzzword ‘staycation’ – a vacation spent at home or very near home. Why not use your staycation as an opportunity to keep your English in shape? But wait, you say, I’m living in Spain and Portugal … how can I possibly practise my English when at home, and why would I want to study English on my holidays?

Who said anything about studying? (In fact, we won’t even mention learning.) Time off is for enjoying oneself and having fun, so why not try doing it in English?

Here are 3 simple ideas for keeping your English in shape while on holidays: Continue reading →