The Lingu Blog
Tips, stories & ideas for your language journey.
34 articles in Blog
BlogBlack Friday English: 12 expressions every smart shopper should know
Black Friday is now a global event, and it’s not just for in-store crowds anymore. Whether you’re shopping in London, Lagos or Lima, chances are your inbox and social media feeds are full of flash sales, discount codes and “limited-time offers.” For many people, this time of year is all about saving money
BlogE learning and its role in English Language Teaching
With predictions of growth to a total spend of $250bn by 2020, EdTech is clearly a global phenomenon and has growing implications for the future of English Language Teaching (ELT) But what is E-Learning and Ed Tech? EdTech stands for Educational Technology. Sometimes referred to as EduTech or e-learning. In general terms, it covers any
BlogWhy It’s OK to Ask People to Speak Slowly or Repeat Something in a Business Meeting
When you are learning English for business there will come a time when you are using your new skill in a business meeting. The meeting could be online via Skype, on the phone or in person, it could be a presentation and it can be tough! But do not worry, the challenges are something a
BlogSing Your Way to Better English
It may seem silly but music can help when learning English just as much as movies can. Singing can also help make you happy and singing is very healthy even if you don’t think you are very good at it. Singing and Vocab Most popular songs are sung with a wide range of both good
BlogSpring in the UK
British people love talking about the weather; in person or online, face to face or in an email conversation! For many people Spring is their favourite season. Here are some essential facts and useful vocabulary that will help you participate in everyday conversations not only about Spring and the four seasons in the UK but
Blog3 Foods that British people love and American people don’t
When you are learning English you will probably be watching a lot of movies with American actors and listening to a lot of American music. It is very common for people learning English to actually learn American English rather than the more traditional BBC style British English. English people certainly have a lot in common
Blog3 Easy Ways to Make Friends in the UK
If you are planning on coming the UK to work or to study then making friends is going to be really important. Being away from your friends at home and your family can be tough and building a range of new people to speak to and hang out with is really good for your happiness
BlogTop 5 Christmas TV Shows to Help You Learn English
If you are living in the UK and learning English or if you have access to UK TV online then these Christmas TV shows are great for learning English. TV and Movies are a brilliant way to help support your online English lessons and this Christmas there are some really useful ones. Strictly Come Dancing
BlogWhere Can I Learn English Online?
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
BlogNorthern Ireland – A Useful Guide
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
BlogScotland – A Useful Guide
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.
BlogWales – A Useful Guide
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
BlogWhat is Pancake Day?
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
BlogWord of the Day – January
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
Blog4 Top Tips – How to Study When Learning English Online
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
BlogWork Language – Idioms and Sayings
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
Blog3 British Sayings You Can Use Anywhere
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
BlogNew Years Resolutions – What Are They All About?
A New Year’s resolution is simply a choice someone makes at the start of the new year to change the things they do, or perhaps to do things they have not done yet. These resolutions are common in most of the Western Hemisphere and also in the East but what the resolutions are can vary
BlogIs Learning English Good for My Career?
The answer to this question is yes, it really is. Learning English is useful for many reasons but if you want to work in different countries to likelihood is that knowing English will mean you can communicate with most people. Getting Ahead Before you even start thinking about working and speaking English as part of
Blog7 Top Business English Vocabulary Terms
Learning English has many different parts and much of the basic learning is all about day-to-day life. However, as students get more advanced they may start wanting to learn more specific terms aspects of the language. For many students learning English for work and business purposes is a big factor so below we have got
BlogHow Learning Better English Can Help With Linkedin
LinkedIn is a powerful tool and one that is used right across the business world. It is great for people looking for new jobs, people learning more about their own careers and much more. However, how people communicate on LinkedIn can have a very big impact on if they are successful. Approaching people with badly
BlogThe British Christmas Dinner
Christmas is celebrated in a number of countries and often in different ways. In the UK it is celebrated over 3 days – Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day. Christmas Eve is the 24th of December, Christmas Day which is the main day of celebration is the 25th and Boxing Day is the 26th.
BlogBlack can mean many things
The word black is not simply a description sued when talking about the colour of something. It is a word that carries lots of meanings and uses from describing someone’s mood to the biggest online sales day of the year. Knowing how and when to use this word is important as it is easy to
Blog3 Common English Expressions or Slang
Every language is full of terms that are not something you learn in lessons but make up an important part of understanding and communicating with people. Using these expressions properly can make a big difference when it comes to doing business, making friends and even ordering food and dealing with people on a daily basis.
Blog3 Traditional British Meals People Actually Eat
As with many local delicacies and national dishes not that many people actually still eat them. Things like Hakarl which is the national dish of Iceland is more of a rite of passage (1) than a tasty meal enjoyed by everyone. However, in the UK there are just a few traditional dishes that are still
BlogA Quick Guide to Seasons in the UK
People across the UK love to talk about the weather so knowing a little bit about the different weather to expect at different times of year could be helpful. This could help when visiting the UK but also if you are doing business with someone in the UK and you have an understanding of the
BlogA Rather Odd Way to Say “Why”
There are many reasons why you might need to say the word why…just like this sentence. Why can be used to question something you do not understand; “why is this happening?” or “why are you doing that?” It is certainly a very useful word when learning a language or even starting a new job. Trying
BlogA Short Guide to the Work Christmas Party
If you work or are planning to work in the UK you will be invited to a Christmas party at work. It is a very big tradition in the UK and can be a very fun evening. It is, however, useful to understand what the party is all about and be aware of some of
BlogNovember – Words of The Day
Below is a list of all of our Facebook “words of the day” we had in November. These words are often chosen because they relate to one of our live Facebook lessons or something else seasonal that is going on during the month. Each word is also chosen because it is commonly used and can
BlogPhrases and Sayings – November
Here is a list of all of the sayings and phrases we have looked at and discussed on our Facebook page this month. This are all commonly used and are useful to know and understand. If you are learning English these sayings and phrases can really help you add more feeling and personality to your
BlogWhy English is so important in Business
How Many People Use English? OK so here are a few facts that show how widely used English is. The British council states English is the first language for around 373 million people. But it is a second language for another 500 million on top of that number so nearly 900 million people can speak
BlogWhy Learning English Can Help Close the Deal
Pitching To successfully pitch anything be it yourself in a job interview or a new phone app to a tech giant communication is critical. But communication is formed of two parts and regardless of how well you may understand the person you are selling too, if they do not understand you then the deal may
BlogWinter In The UK
People in the UK love to talk about the weather and there are two main seasons they like to talk about the most; Summer and Winter. Right now it’s winter in the UK and we thought it would be useful for everyone working with people in the UK to know a little more about the
BlogTop Growth Sectors for Jobs in the UK
If you are planning on coming to the UK for work, or you are working in the UK and would like a change of career there are some areas of work that are doing very well at the moment. These sectors are important to look it if you are thinking about what training or university