Blog - English

Make Sense of Heteronyms, Homonyms, Homographs and Homophones in English

01 February 2022

As you develop your skills – and your vocabulary – in English, you may start to notice that English has many words that look or sound exactly the same but mean something different, which can be pretty confusing. (This tricky quality of English trips up many native speakers too!). In this article, we untangle these similar-seeming words so you can boost your English vocabulary with confidence, whether you are learning the language or want to polish your English language skills.

Training Your Hotel Staff in English: The Recipe for Customer Service Success

16 August 2021

English-speaking countries have always been popular as work destinations for people from around the globe. Decent pay, fair working practices and good living conditions in places such as Australia, New Zealand, America and the UK mean that these countries attract talented workers from all different parts of the world. Popular careers include jobs in hospitality, where excellent customer service is a must.

The 8 Benefits of Improving Staff English Communication Skills

18 May 2021

Providing English communication skills can have a plethora of benefits for businesses whose employees may not speak English as their primary language, especially if they have departments such as distribution, hospitality or warehousing.

In this article we’ll emphasise the benefits for businesses considering improving their staff English communication skills.

Exploring Words that Only Exist in English

27 April 2021

In a recent article, we wrote about words that were becoming obsolete in the English language, and many of them would be near-impossible to translate (especially the Shakespearian insults!). But what about some of the more commonly used English words that are almost impossible to translate directly to other languages without losing some of their nuance along the way?

In this article, we explore a few examples of words that you will only find in their intended form in the English language – and a couple of potentially familiar examples from Japanese too, with English doing its best to assimilate them!

In with the New! How and Why English Changes Over Time

16 March 2021

Languages are always changing, and English is no exception. With every year, new words are created and perhaps even added to the dictionary, giving them a sense of permanence in a changing world.
In this article, the first of two on how English has changed and continues to evolve, we explore how and why new words enter our lives. We also take a look at a few of the more unusual business terms that have appeared in recent times.

10 Facts About English Language and Culture You Didn’t Know

05 May 2020

English is the global language of business, the most widely spoken language in the world, and the native language of some of the most inventive scientists and engineers the world has ever seen – but it can also be tricky to learn until you master some of its golden rules and irregularities.

In this article, we explore English language and culture via cups of tea, irregular verbs and a trip to the seaside.