Author Archives: mhardy3222

Sensational, Skilful Semicolons!

What the ….. !!    Not another SEMICOLON !! What is a  Semicolon? Let’s have a look. ; a) Spiderman is my favourite Super Hero; he’s my favourite person! b) Spiderman is my favourite Super Hero; actually, I still really like Superman.   What … Continue reading

Posted in Advanced (Level 6+), Cambridge, Grammar, IELTS, Intermediate (Level 4), TOEFL, TOEIC, Upper Intermediate (Level 5), Writing | 1 Comment

Silent English Letters

Greetings English Learners! It’s time for some silliness! The English Language does seem to have an unfair number of silent letters. How can you remember them all? Well, it takes time and familiarity, and a generous dose of humour helps! … Continue reading

Posted in Advanced (Level 6+), Cambridge, ESL Teachers, IELTS, Intermediate (Level 4), Listening, Pre-Intermediate (Level 3), Pronunciation Videos, Speaking & Pronunciation, Upper Intermediate (Level 5), Vocabulary | 2 Comments

A Song with “Don’t Have To”

Have you heard the song ‘Bloodline‘ by Alex Warren and Jelly Roll? The song is a message of hope and encouragement to *break the cycle of past pain and struggles.  *break the cycle = end a repetitive, negative pattern, often … Continue reading

Posted in Elementary (Level 2), Grammar, Intermediate (Level 4), Listening, Pre-Intermediate (Level 3), Songs | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Advanced Reading – Improve your English & your Knowledge!

Is it possible to become a successful English writer when English is your second language?                  Imagine being taught English at school but not hearing it spoken outside of  the classroom. This is an … Continue reading

Posted in Advanced (Level 6+), Cambridge, IELTS, Reading, Upper Intermediate (Level 5), Writing | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Crocodile and The Monkey : a Poem by Vikram Seth

Greetings English Students! It’s Story Time! Who doesn’t love a great story? Today, I’m going to share a fabulous story with you: The Crocodile and The Monkey by Vikram Seth. It may look like a children’s story, but it has … Continue reading

Posted in Advanced (Level 6+), Cambridge, Listening, Reading, Speaking & Pronunciation, Upper Intermediate (Level 5), Videos, Vocabulary | Tagged , | 2 Comments

How AI Can Help You Learn English Faster and Smarter

Since starting this blog in 2013, I’ve been passionate about helping learners of English around the world—especially those learning it as a second or third language. One of my favourite methods is using songs to teach grammar, and many of … Continue reading

Posted in Advanced (Level 6+), Cambridge, Elementary (Level 2), ESL Teachers, Grammar, Intermediate (Level 4), Pre-Intermediate (Level 3), Writing | Tagged | 1 Comment

Easter 2025

Happy Easter English Learners! I hope you enjoy a well-earned break from your daily routine. However, there’s no need to have a break from English! Have you ever wondered why bunnies, chickens, and eggs are everywhere at Easter time? Well, … Continue reading

Posted in Beginner (Level 1), Children, Easter Holidays, Elementary (Level 2), ESL Teachers, Intermediate (Level 4), Listening, Pre-Intermediate (Level 3), Reading, Videos, Vocabulary | Leave a comment

Spelling Mistakes that Ruin your Writing

English spelling is not easy for anyone learning English as a second language. It may surprise you to learn that many native English speakers are not good at spelling in their native language. They know that spelling is very important … Continue reading

Posted in Advanced (Level 6+), IELTS, Intermediate (Level 4), Pre-Intermediate (Level 3), Upper Intermediate (Level 5), Writing | Tagged , | 3 Comments

A Song with Present Simple & Past Simple

Did you know that the Present Simple is the most commonly used tense in spoken and written English? It accounts for between *50-60% of English communication. The second most commonly used tense is the Past Simple with nearly *20% usage.  … Continue reading

Posted in Beginner (Level 1), Elementary (Level 2), Grammar, Intermediate (Level 4), Listening, Pre-Intermediate (Level 3), Songs, Upper Intermediate (Level 5), Vocabulary | Tagged | 1 Comment

Difficult Pronunciation & How to Remember It #2

Photo by Mimi Thian, Unsplash Today, I will continue to focus on common English words that many of you find difficult to pronounce. (See my previous post: Difficult Pronunciation & How to Remember It) Here is a quick reminder: My … Continue reading

Posted in Elementary (Level 2), IELTS, Intermediate (Level 4), Pre-Intermediate (Level 3), Speaking & Pronunciation, Upper Intermediate (Level 5), Vocabulary | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments