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10 MOST FAMOUS ENGLISH SONG LYRICS EVER – AND THEIR MEANING

Lyric writing is a tricky business. Finding words that convey exactly what the songwriter feels, while fitting into a certain melody and tempo, the sound of the words has to be pleasing to the ear too. Lyrics can be the starting block of a song – the words coming first, suggesting a certain feel or mood, and inspiring a melody. This is the power of words. Great song lyrics have the power to move you – whether it’s a tear of happiness or sadness, this is the songwriter’s gift.

Others are simply catchy – sing-a-long lyrics they stick in your head, even if they’re completely meaningless – naaa na na na-na-na-naaaaaa aren’t exactly the most inspiring lyrics ever, but thanks to The Beatles’ ‘Hey Jude’ they’re among some of the most-sung in the world!

The best lyrics read like the finest poetry, and many would argue that the likes of Neil Young and Bob Dylan are indeed poets as well as songwriters. To prove just how tricky and rare it is to craft exquisite lyrics like theirs, it pays to look at the other end of the scale:

“I don’t want to see a ghost/It’s the sight that I fear most/I’d rather have a piece of toast…”

There are plenty more bad lyrical attempts out there than good – and that’s why we cherish those great lyrics all the more. Here are some of the finest ever recorded, and a little explanation about each one. We’d love to hear your favourites too, and what they mean to you, and why.

The Beach Boys – Surf’s Up

“Columnated ruins domino…”

Quite simply one of the most beautiful lyrics ever written – and one of the strangest too. Full of layers of surreal symbolism, it’s the product of the truly unique imagination of the lyrical genius Van Dyke Parks (with the help of some very illegal substances).

Creating image upon image, the words flowing, perfectly fitting Brian Wilson’s incredible ode to the sea. The song’s lyrics were so unusual that they actually caused friction within the band, with Beach Boy Mike Love complaining that they were nonsensical, and would alienate their fans. The song was shelved for a few years as a result, but thankfully couldn’t be hidden away for too long!

Bob Dylan – Masters of War

“I think you will find/When your death takes its toll/All the money you made/Will never buy back your soul…”

The protest song to end all protest songs, Dylan voiced the concerns of a generation when he penned this anti-war lyric. With Vietnam raging, and conscription forcing young Americans to fight in a war they didn’t understand, the lyrics captured all of their rage, fear and disgust perfectly. Sung in the first person, from the point of view of a young man who doesn’t want to be forced to join the army, makes the song all the more personal. The melody here is so simple, and yet this song has been covered by more artists than you can count – it’s all thanks to those incredibly powerful lyrics.

The Beatles – Hey Jude

“Take a sad song, and make it better…”

While John Lennon initially believed that this song was written for him, at the start of his relationship with Yoko Ono, in fact Paul McCartney penned this Beatles classic for Lennon’s son Julian. Originally titled ‘Hey Jules’, the song was written to comfort a young Julian as his parents divorced – and its lyrics have since brought comfort to countless others.

Also written around the time of McCartney’s new relationship with Linda Eastman, it’s a song that offers encouragement, advice, and a strong belief in love – yet another famous lyric about love – it seems we can’t escape it! But Hey Jude is almost as well known for its ending – over four minutes of those famous ‘na na na’s stretch the song out to over seven minutes long, at the time making it the longest single ever to top the UK charts, giving the Beatles their biggest hit in America too.

Johnny Cash – I Still Miss Someone

“There’s someone for me somewhere/And I still miss someone…”

Another simple melody that’s transformed by its painfully heartfelt lyrics, this is one of Johnny Cash’s most famous songs, and one of his most-covered. There have surely been more lyrics written about love than anything else, and the ones that stay with us are often about lost love.

Here, the lyrics hit home because they are so honest and truthful – every one who’s ever lost someone can relate. One of Bob Dylan’s own favourites, Joni Mitchell, Emmylou Harris, Dolly Parton, Gram Parson and Stevie Nicks are just some of the artists who have covered this country classic.

Johnny Mandel and Mike Altman – Suicide is Painless (Theme from M*A*S*H)

“The game of life is hard to play/I’m going to lose it anyway…”

One of the most famous TV and movie themes in history, the theme from M*A*S*H also has one very unexpected lyricist. When director Robert Altman was looking for a song for one of the movie’s characters to sing in one scene he told Songwriter Mandel that it had to be called “Suicide is Painless”, secondly, it had to be the “stupidest song ever written”.

Altman tried to write the lyrics himself, but found that it was too difficult for his 45-year-old brain to write “stupid enough”. Instead he gave the task to his 14-year-old-son, Michael, who quite to the contrary, produced some of the most profound lyrics ever to come out of a 14-year old! The famously morose song is written from the point of view of someone considering suicide. Reflecting the pointlessness of war, and the meaninglessness of life, this theme to the darkly comic story of soldiers facing the hardships of Vietnam is made all the more poignant by that fact that it was written by someone so young.

The Smiths – There Is a Light That Never Goes Out

“Take me out, tonight…“

It’s rare to find a band that are as critically acclaimed for their lyrics as much as their music – but thanks to Morrissey the magical wordsmith, The Smiths have managed just that. An avid reader, a big poetry fan, and a romantic at heart, Morrissey has written some of the most famous lyrics to emerge from the British music scene in the past 30 years. Their song titles alone contain more poetry than most lyric sheets – Shoplifters of the World Unite, Last Night I Dreamt That Somebody Loved Me, There Is a Light That Never Goes Out – they’ve even inspired countless tattoos.

There Is a Light is one of their most-covered songs, with lyrics that were apparently inspired by one of Morrissey’s heroes, James Dean in Rebel Without a Cause. Appealing to teenagers everywhere, the lyrics talk about teenage alienation – a need to run away, experience the first excesses and excitements of life, when you no longer feel at home in the family home.

REM – It’s the End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

“That’s great, it starts with an earthquake, birds and snakes…”

REM have written some of the most successful songs of the past few decades, and it’s in no small part thanks to Michael Stipe’s (often misheard) lyrics. Stipe seems to pride himself on writing lyrics that are a little opaque – very symbolic, with meanings hidden. It’s the End of the World is no exception, and as one of their most upbeat and popular songs, it’s crammed with lyrics that test even the biggest REM fans.

Apparently a sort of tribute to Bob Dylan’s famously over-lyrical Subterranean Homesick Blues, you’ll soon get out of breath singing along to this! What does it all mean? As with many REM lyrics, no one really knows for sure. There are many little snippets of stories, some complaining about capitalism, others, and some words included simply because they sound so great when strung together in song: “The ladder starts to clatter with fear fight down height”.

Neil Young – Old Man

“Old man look at my life, I’m a lot like you…”

Often ranked up there with Bob Dylan in terms of his profound lyric writing, Neil has a knack for tugging at those heartstrings. Never afraid to let his emotions show, that is what helps to make his words so powerful – that they are truthful, and from the heart.

Old Man was a song written for the old caretaker who looked after Neil’s Broken Arrow ranch, which he purchased in 1970 and still lives on today. It compares the life of an old man with that of a young man, and finds that they are more alike in their needs than they realize.

Joni Mitchell – Big Yellow Taxi

“They paved paradise, and put up a parking lot…”

One of Neil’s fellow Canadian musicians, and a good friend of his from the folk scene, Joni Mitchell has written her fair share of famous lyrics. Perhaps the best know are the ones she penned for Big Yellow Taxi. Written about her concerns with pollution and the environment, Joni explains: ““I wrote ‘Big Yellow Taxi’ on my first trip to Hawaii. I took a taxi to the hotel and when I woke up the next morning, I threw back the curtains and saw these beautiful green mountains in the distance. Then, I looked down and there was a parking lot as far as the eye could see, and it broke my heart… this blight on paradise.”

The lines “you don’t know what you’ve got til it’s gone” apply to a whole range of circumstances besides the destruction of the earth – helping the song become a universal favourite.

The Muppets – Mah Nà Mah Nà

“Mah Nà Mah Nà…!”

The Muppets are here to prove that lyrics don’t have to about love, heartache, loss or be in any way profound to be popular. Mah Nà Mah Nà is one of The Muppets most famous ditties, beloved around the world, and it means…absolutely nothing.

Actually a song written by Piero Umiliani for an Italian movie, it contains nothing both nonsense words and scat singing. It just goes to show that sometimes successful lyrics simply need to sound good, becoming musical instruments in their own right, rather than holding any special meaning. It’s pretty impossible not to sing along!

Enjoyed that article? We’ve got a whole lot more for you, have a look at our English blog section.

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Writing Great Business Letters In English

In a world of digital communication, we don’t write letters often. Most of our daily communication is by email or phone. Because we write fewer letters in business nowadays, we tend to only use them for more important messages, which means it’s more important than ever to be able to write an effective professional English letter. Follow our tips below to make your next business letter a great business letter.

Use the correct format and salutation

Create a good first impression with the start of the letter by making sure it is laid out correctly and uses the correct salutation. Most company paper will already have your company address in the top-right corner as part of the letterhead. If its not there already, add it and add the address of the person you are writing to below it on the left-hand side. Put the date below that on the right, then start your letter. Make sure the person’s name and title are correct e.g. Dear Ms. Jones. Use Dear Sir or Madam or To whom it may concern if you don’t know their name.

State your purpose

You should state the purpose of your letter in the first paragraph, for example: As per our phone conversation, I am writing to provide the information you requested.

Use the reason for writing to choose your tone

Business letters are usually formal in style – we use email instead of letters for informal communication. While the style of English is formal for most business letters, the tone may vary depending on the reason for writing.

Letters of request often use modal verbs to make the request more polite. For example, it would be impolite to write: I want you to come to our office on Thursday. Instead, use ‘would’ to make the request more polite: Would you be able to come to our office on Thursday?

If you are giving bad news or apologizing, you should be polite and tactful and state the reason for the problem. You can use an expression such as I regret to inform you, I’m afraid that, or unfortunately to introduce the bad news. For example: I regret to inform you that your application has been unsuccessful.

Letters of complaint need to be firm but polite. State the facts and don’t get too emotional. For example, if a late delivery had a bad effect on your project,and appropriate way to write it in a business letter would be:The delivery was five days late and that caused severe disruption to our project. An inappropriate way to write it would be: I’m really angry because your staff messed up!

Ending the letter

In the last paragraph, you can include some closing remarks like Please contact us if you have any further questions. If you are enclosing documents, you can add Please find enclosed… or I am enclosing… at the end of the letter. You should also refer to future contact at the end of the letter e.g. I look forward to seeing you next Thursday.

Closing the letter

The close or ending of your letter depends on your relationship with the reader. Use Yours faithfully when you don’t know the name of the person to whom you are writing. Use Yours sincerely for formal letters to people whose name you know. For slightly less formal letters, you can use Best regards or Kind regards. You should add your signature (sign your name by hand) after the close, and then type your name and position underneath.

Check for errors

The most important step! You should always proofread the letter carefully before you send it, by checking for errors in grammar, spelling and punctuation. As a final check, ask yourself if the letter is clear, concise, correct, courteous, convincing and complete.

Next time you are writing a business letter in English, check through these steps before you start to ensure your letter is effective and appropriate.

Want to be a student with is? Try the business English course by requesting a free trial lesson.

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10 TOP TIPS FOR LEARNING ENGLISH AT HOME

You don’t need to live in an English-speaking country to become fluent in English. If you are smart about the way you learn English, you don’t even need to leave your home town. Use these 10 top tips for to improve your English without even leaving your city.

Surround yourself with English

You don’t need to be in an English-speaking country to surround yourself with English. Find ways to make English part of your everyday life at home, like writing your shopping list, reading the newspaper, listening to the radio, writing a diary in English, or listening to English on your cellphone while traveling to work.

Make English friends

Even if you don’t live in an English-speaking country, there are probably many foreigners living nearby. Find ways to meet native English-speakers: going to foreign bars and restaurants, joining sport and social clubs, or arranging language exchanges. You could even volunteer as a guide at a local tourist attraction to meet English-speakers from all over the world.

Find study partners

You don’t need native speakers to practice your English. Find a study partner, or form an English club and meet regularly to speak English. You can motivate each other, and you will learn by helping others with their problems.

Use authentic materials

Just reading English in textbooks can get boring. Try reading English texts written for and by native speakers. It will be a challenge at first but a lot more interesting once you can do it. If you can’t find English books or magazines, use the Internet to read the news in English every day. 

Get online

Get online and you can be in contact with people from all over the world. Join chat rooms or forums, take an online English course, or find a penpal to practice your English while learning about different cultures. With social media, it’s easier than ever to stay in touch with friends from all over the world.

Set yourself realistic goals

Give yourself a reason for studying: do you want to get a promotion, be able to talk to your foreign colleagues, study abroad, or spend your next holiday in an English-speaking country? Set short-term as well as long-term goals, and keep track of your progress.

Listen to real English

Train your ear by listening to English spoken at normal speed, even if you don’t understand everything. Also practice listening without seeing things written down and don’t be afraid to listen to things several times to catch any interesting or unusual vocabulary in there. It’s easy to find free English podcasts online and news agencies from most English-speaking countries have audio and video news available for free online.

Find fun ways to learn new words

If you like singing, then look up the words for your favorite English songs. Or if you remember what you see, write new words on ‘Post-it’ notes and stick them up around your house. Make funny example sentences or draw little pictures next to new vocabulary to help you remember it.

Learn about the culture

Find out about the people and the culture of English-speaking countries. Learning a language is not just about grammar and vocabulary: it’s about communicating with people who have different ways of thinking as well as speaking!

Whatever you do, have fun!

Learning a language does take work, but you’ll be more likely to stick to it if you are enjoying yourself. Play games, do crossword puzzles, sing songs, read comics, and don’t worry too much about making mistakes – making mistakes is often the way to learn best!

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How To Write A Perfect Professional Email In English In Five Steps

For most of us, email is the most common form of business communication so it’s important to get it right. Although emails usually aren’t as formal as letters, they still need to be professional to present a good image of you and your company.

How to write a formal email

Follow these five simple steps to make sure your English emails are perfectly professional.

Begin with a greeting

Thank the recipient

State your purpose

Add your closing remarks

End with a closing

Always open your email with a greeting, such as “Dear Lillian”. If your relationship with the reader is formal, use their family name (eg. “Dear Mrs. Price”). If the relationship is more casual, you can simply say, “Hi Kelly”. If you don’t know the name of the person you are writing to, use: “To whom it may concern” or “Dear Sir/Madam”.

If you are replying to a client’s inquiry, you should begin with a line of thanks. For example, if someone has a question about your company, you can say, “Thank you for contacting ABC Company”. If someone has replied to one of your emails, be sure to say, “Thank you for your prompt reply” or “Thanks for getting back to me”. Thanking the reader puts him or her at ease, and it will make you appear more polite.

If you are starting the email communication, it may be impossible to include a line of thanks. Instead, begin by stating your purpose. For example, “I am writing to enquire about …” or “I am writing in reference to …”.

Make your purpose clear early on in the email, and then move into the main text of your email. Remember, people want to read emails quickly, so keep your sentences short and clear. You’ll also need to pay careful attention to grammar, spelling and punctuation so that you present a professional image of yourself and your company.

Add your closing remarks

Before you end your email, it’s polite to thank your reader one more time and add some polite closing remarks. You might start with “Thank you for your patience and cooperation” or “Thank you for your consideration” and then follow up with, “If you have any questions or concerns, don’t hesitate to let me know” and “I look forward to hearing from you”.

The last step is to include an appropriate closing with your name. “Best regards”, “Sincerely”, and “Thank you” are all professional. Avoid closings such as “Best wishes” or “Cheers” unless you are good friends with the reader. Finally, before you hit the send button, review and spell check your email one more time to make sure it’s truly perfect!

Want to learn more? See the general and business English course in action by requesting a free trial. Find more information about essential professional English tips here.

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5 INTERESTING LINKS BETWEEN MUSIC AND LANGUAGE

Whether it’s spoken, signed or written, language is a human universal. Did you know the music is not far behind? There are very few cultures (if any) in the world that do not have music of some sort. Music and language have closer links than just being something we all do, though. Let’s take a look at five interesting things you might not know music and language had in common.

Both are forms of social bonding

Music has traditionally been associated with bringing people together. Whether it’s through a shared emotional experience, appreciation of an art form, or as part of a ceremony or ritual, music is usually a group activity. Language is the same — most people don’t speak to themselves, it takes two or more people to communicate.

Musicians process music as language

Studies have shown the same area of the brain is active with musicians listening to music and listening to language. The area is called the left planum temporale and is generally thought to be where we process language. Interestingly, when non-musicians listen to music, they do not process it in the same area as language. This suggests that while we can all process language in a similar way, it takes practice to process music on a deeper level.

People remember music in the same way as speech

Think about a memorable voice, someone close to you. You tell that voice apart from someone else even if they were saying the same words, right? The same is the case for music. Even without words, we can tell the difference between different people playing the same piece of music. The way our brain processes language and music is more than simply recognizing words or notes, it’s highly complex and uses similar areas of the brain again.

Music helps your grammar and vocabulary

In a study in 2010, it was shown that people who studied music before the age of seven developed larger vocabularies and a better understanding of grammar than those who didn’t. It’s also commonly thought that those who learn a musical instrument at a young age find it easier to learn second languages later in life.

Music and language keep your brain fit

There have been many studies into the links between learning music or a second language and a lower risk of dementia in old age. So, if you want to keep your brain healthy, learning music or a second language might help.

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HOW LEARNING ENGLISH CAN HELP YOU EXPAND YOUR SOCIAL REACH

In an age where there is more competition than ever before for top jobs, your social network can be a powerful asset. Learning English can help you expand your social reach and make yourself more competitive at work. It’s also great fun to have a large circle of social contacts. Here’s five interesting ways that learning English can help you expand your social reach.

Reach more people

English is the most common language on the internet and by speaking it, you can share your ideas and opinions with all the English speakers out there.

Connect with a wider range of niche communities

There’s a community for anything you can imagine online and many of them speak English. Finding a community of people interested in similar things to you is a great way to practice, and being able to speak English opens up communities  that may not have been accessible otherwise.

Meet interesting people along the way

Many people learn English for different reasons and the English classroom is typically a very diverse place. In one room, you might have a judge sitting next to a university student and working with a group of nuns. By learning English, you get to talk to people outside your usual social sphere.

Become a trusted advisor

Being able to speak English and another language puts you in the great position of being able to advise others on things that depend on language knowledge. For example, you could explain technical information documented in English to non English-speaking colleagues. Likewise, you could advise English speakers on topics that require knowledge of your mother tongue.

Practice social and language skills together

In any communicative English class, you’ll be practicing more than just words and grammar. You’ll be developing important social skills that you can use in a wide range of situations. From small-talk to business meetings, learning English is a great opportunity to develop those skills that we usually just take for granted.

So, those are five ways learning English can help you expand your social reach, why not give it a try yourself by making your voice heard in English today.

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COMMON ENGLISH MISTAKES: CHECK YOUR KNOWLEDGE WITH THIS SIMPLE EXERCISE

A lot of English words are easy to confuse. Some sound the similar but are spelled differently. Some sound different but are spelled the same. Some use punctuation in the middle but still sound similar to another word.

These words rarely cause problems when people are speaking but in writing, getting the wrong spelling can give a sentence a completely different meaning and will make the text look badly written.

So, what are these confusing words? In the text below, there are nine pairs of similar-sounding words. For each pair, choose the correct word and check your answers and the pronunciation (British) below.

Last week I lost my car keys. I always loose/lose things. In the past/passed I have lost keys, phones, jewelry and even my dog. I found my dog eventually, although by then he was to/too tired to walk and I had to carry him home. When your/you’re like me and you keep losing things, it’s/its often the reason that you are late for something. I don’t know the cause of this clumsiness. I like to think that my brain is very full and that other people have fewer thoughts in their/there head than I do. If I didn’t have so much to think about, I wouldn’t be so careless with my possessions. I hear/here that this is a problem for many people, not just me. So the next time you make an arrangement with someone who’s/whose often late, don’t try to give them advise/advice, just understand that maybe they are very intelligent.

[Answers (correct answers in bold):

lose /luːz/ (loose /luːs/ = not tight)

past /pɑːst/ (passed /pɑːst/ = past tense of to pass/go by/not fail a test or exam)

too /tuː/ (to /tuː/ = part of the infinitive verb/preposition)

you’re /jɔː,jʊə/ (your /jɔː,jʊə/= it belongs to you)

it’s /ɪts/ (its /ɪts/= it belongs to something gender neutral)

their /ðɛː/ (there /ðɛː/ = in that position/place)

hear /hɪə/ (here /hɪə/ = in this position/place)

who’s /huːz/ (whose /huːz/ = possessive question)

advice /ədˈvaɪs/ (advise /ədˈvaɪz/ = verb of the noun advice)]

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ENGLISH WORDS WITH DIFFERENT PRONUNCIATIONS

The word ‘live’ is an interesting one, because it can be pronounced in different ways with different meanings. You might go to watch a ‘live’ /laɪv/ (adj.) concert. That means the musicians are actually there and performing for you. The other way to use this words is as a verb, for example, to ‘live’ /lɪv/ (verb) your life to the fullest.

There are some other English words that sound different depending on whether they are in the verb or adjective form. For example, you might ‘close’ /kləʊz/ (verb) a door but sit ‘close’ /kləʊs/  (adjective/adverb) to the window.

Other English words vary their pronunciation depending on whether they are a verb or a noun. So, after performing in a concert, you would ‘bow’ /baʊ/ (verb) when the audience applauds but when someone gives you a gift, it might be wrapped up and tied with a ribbon with a ‘bow’ /boʊ/ (noun) in it.

There are some words that work in similar ways, too. For example, you might ‘use’ /juːz/ (verb) chopsticks to eat in some countries but their ‘use’ /juːs/ (noun) might be uncommon in others. Likewise, you might ‘excuse’ /ɪkˈskjuːz/ (verb) a friend for being late, but only if they have a good ‘excuse’ /ɪkˈskjuːs/ (noun).

If you work hard school or university, you will ‘graduate’ /ˈɡrædʒ.u.eɪt/ (verb), which will make you a ‘graduate’ /ˈɡrædʒ.u.ət/ (noun).

One simple way to make sure you are clear on the differences in the way these words sound is to write a few paragraphs of text using all of them and practice saying it aloud. Give it a go and see if you can master these English words with different pronunciations.

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3 DIFFERENT WAYS TO EXPRESS HAPPINESS USING ENGLISH IDIOMS

When was the last time you were really happy? How did you show that happiness? In English, there are loads of different ways to express happiness. Many of these are interesting idioms or expressions. So, if you want to sow people how happy you are in English, read on.

Metaphors

A metaphor is a type of idiom where we replace what we are talking about with another for dramatic emphasis. To show you are really happy with a metaphor, you could say something like ‘I’m on cloud nine‘ or ‘I’m over the moon!‘ Even if, like most of us, you haven’t been to the moon, you can still use that idiom.

Similes

In a simile we compare one thing to another using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’ to make our language more expressive. So, if you’re really happy, you could say something like ‘I’m as happy as a pig in mud‘ or ‘I’m as happy as Larry‘. I’m not sure who Larry is, the name is just part of the idiom, now. I guess he must have been a pretty happy guy, though.

Action idioms

Other ways to describe happiness in English are more general idioms related to the actions a person might take when happy. For example, when a big smile comes onto your face, you might say you are ‘grinning from ear to ear‘ or if you are very excited, you might be ‘jumping up and down with excitement‘.

So we’ve found out three ways of showing happiness using the English language, how about in other languages? Share any other fun ways you know to express happiness through language in the comments section below.

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FIVE REASONS WHY IT’S BETTER TO LEARN ENGLISH WITH FRIENDS

Learning English can be a great way to meet new people but learning with friends can also increase your chances of success. Here are five ways in which learning English as part of a group will help you reach your goals.

Momentum

When you learn something alone, it’s easy to take a break. After you take that break, though, it’s tempting just to quit. When you learn as part of a group, the energy of the other members will help you keep going when you feel like you are losing momentum.

Accountability

Stating your goals in front of a group of people is a great way to help you commit to achieving them. It’s a lot more difficult to quit studying when you feel like that would be letting a group of people down than if you can quit quietly with nobody knowing about it.

Fun

Learning as part of a group is fun! You get to share ideas with other people, find out new ways of looking at things, and undoubtedly share a few jokes along the way.

An extra pair of ears

Practicing alone is great, but when it comes to conversation you really need two or more people. It’s also useful when you are practicing pronunciation to have someone who can check how you sound.

Share resources

Even though you don’t need expensive textbooks to learn English, it can sometimes be difficult to find the best resources to learn from. Being part of a group means you can share these resources and spend more time on actually practicing English.

So, those are my five reasons why it’s better to learn English with friends. Do you have a friend learning English are the moment? If so, share this article with them to let them know how important they are.

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HOW TO SPEAK CONFIDENTLY IN ENGLISH

Want to speak more confidently when you’re learning English? There are lots of simple tricks that you can use to talk with more confidence – even if you don’t feel truly confident on the inside.

Don’t worry

Everybody makes mistakes when they’re talking in English – even native English speakers. It’s common to feel nervous about talking in English while you’re learning the language, but don’t be scared. No one’s going to laugh at you – in fact, they’ll be happy to help. It’s important to realize that the best way to learn to speak fluently in English is to get plenty of daily practice – and this means you can’t be afraid; you have to accept the fact that you’re going to make mistakes and open your mouth and talk anyway!

Be positive

Confidence is an attitude. You need to adopt an ‘I can’ mindset and try not to focus on the negatives.

When you’re listening to English conversations concentrate on the words you can understand, rather than focusing on and worrying about the words you don’t understand yet.

Instead of taking criticism to heart, turn it into a positive. When someone points out your mistakes, don’t take it personally – it’s a chance for you to improve your English. Ask them to explain where you’re going wrong, and offer you some advice as to how to improve.

Say yes. Don’t turn down opportunities to practice your English – even if it takes you out of your comfort zone. Whether it’s meeting someone’s English-speaking family or friends, talking to someone in English online, or joining your friends on a holiday to an English-speaking country, accept the challenge, say yes, and you won’t regret it.

Practice, practice, practice

The more you speak out loud the more confident you’ll become. Get into the habit of speaking in and listening to English every day and it will soon become second nature. There are lots of ways that you can fit daily English speaking into your everyday life:

Talking to English-speaking friends and family face-to-face, over the phone, or online – talking with someone supportive can give you the confidence you need to later reach out and start conversations with people you don’t know

Using Skype to talk to an online study buddy – even if it’s just a little every day, getting used to speaking in English will boost your confidence and help your English fluency too

Join conversation classes – English Classes by Skypes conversation classes allow you to speak with a native English language teacher who will help you correct mistakes. You’ll learn from listening to and talking to each other in a supportive online environment – and the more you speak up in class the more you’ll see your progress grow and the more confident you’ll become

Travel – travelling is a lot of fun, and it forces us to speak English too. Being completely immersed in English, and surrounded by native English speakers, you’ll learn fast. You’ll get used to a range of accents and dialects, and meet new people along the way

Read out loud

As babies we learn our native language by listening to and mimicking the language we hear around us from our parents and family. Only later do we learn to read and write the language. When we learn a new language at school or as adults we often learn by reading and writing first, and by listening and speaking second.

The reason many people learning English can read and listen is because that’s all they practice. But in order to speak English confidently, you need to practice speaking. Don’t stop at the listening portion, and when you study, don’t just listen. Whether you’re reading, writing or listening, speak the material out loud and practice what you hear.

By practicing speaking out loud your mouth and brain will become used to working together and making the shapes and facial expressions needed to pronounce things correctly. Soon they’ll work together without you having to think about it, and your English conversation will become more fluent.

Relax

When you speak English, take it slowly, don’t rush it. Talking too fast can stress you out and make you seem nervous. Breathe, relax, and give yourself time. This will reduce the pressure you feel, and help you to speak more clearly and with confidence.

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11 TIPS FOR PERFECT ENGLISH PRONUNCIATION

Accurate pronunciation is an important part of learning any language. The way your speech sounds can have a big impact on whether or not people understand what you are saying and their initial impression of you. The tricky thing about pronunciation is that it not just a question of acquiring knowledge, it’s a physical skill that you need to practice regularly.

How to improve English pronunciation

There are no shortcuts to perfect pronunciation, however there are some ways you can practice more effectively and improve your skills faster. Follow our ten top tips, start improving your pronunciation today and take a step closer towards your goal of perfect English pronunciation.

Listen to yourself

Slow down!

Picture it…

Get physical!

Watch yourself

Copy the experts

Practice English alone

Find a language buddy

Pay attention to intonation and stress

Sing a song!

Use a Native English Teacher

It’s often difficult to hear pronunciation errors in your own speech because you are concentrating actually communicating rather than the sound you are making. If you can’t hear your pronunciation problems, it’s tough to correct them. Try recording your speech with your smartphone or PC and making a note of specific areas you need to improve on.                                                                                                      

Many English learners think that speaking fluently means they need to speak fast. This is wrong. Speaking too fast reinforces bad habits and makes the speaker sound nervous and indecisive. Speaking slowly will give you time to breathe properly and think about what you want to say next. Because it gives you time to think while you are speaking, you’ll feel more relaxed and be able to concentrate on making your English sound fantastic.                                                                                           

Close your eyes and think about how to make a sound before saying it. Visualize the positioning of your mouth and face. If you have studied with the phonemic chart, think about the sound you are making and how it relates to other English phonemes. If you have used diagrams of the mouth and tongue, think about the shape you need to make inside your mouth if you want to make the sound correctly.                                             

Pronunciation is a physical skill. You’re teaching your mouth a new way to move and using different muscles. Focus on difficult sounds each day. Having trouble with ‘th’? Put your tongue between your teeth (don’t bite down) and blow air out of your mouth. Feel the air move over the top of your tongue.                                                                                                                 

Stand in front of a mirror to see the placement of your tongue, lips, and shape of your mouth when you make certain sounds. Compare what you see with a video of a native-speaker saying the same thing.                               

There’s no replacement for learning pronunciation from the experts – native-speakers. So listen! Listen to English radio programs and watch television and movies in English. Imitate what you’re hearing – even if you’re not sure what they’re saying yet.                                                            

Pronunciation problems persist because we’re afraid to make mistakes. Create scenarios – meeting someone for the first time, ordering at a restaurant, asking for directions – then act out the dialogue by yourself. Don’t be shy.                                                                                                         

Getting feedback from an outside observer is crucial. Find a friend who’s also interested in improving their English. Try exchanging recorded messages so you can listen closely to each other’s pronunciation.                     

Good pronunciation is more than just mastering individual sounds. It’s also understanding intonation (the rise and fall of the voice) and stress (some sounds in words and some words in sentences are louder or clearer than others). Read poems, speeches and songs aloud, concentrating on the word stress and intonation.                                                     

Learn the words to popular English songs and sing along. Singing helps you relax and just get those words out, as well as helping your rhythm and intonation. Because you don’t need to concentrate on constructing sentences for yourself, you can concentrate on making your pronunciation sound great!                                                                                      

Give each of these tips a try next time you have a chance and find out which of them works best for you. Remember, none of them is an instant fix but they will all help you reach your goals as part of regular practice.              

At www.englishclassesbyskype.net Our teachers are all qualified native English speakers ready to help you in any area of English learning you need. All classes are private on any day and time you choose from the comfort of your home. Whether you are an experienced speaker looking for conversation classes or a beginner looking to advance and gain English Certificates we have a teacher for you. You can even take a free trial lesson to see if you like it.

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15 COMMON ENGLISH IDIOMS AND PHRASES WITH THEIR MEANING

Here are 15 common English idioms and phrases that will enrich your English vocabulary and make you sound like a native speaker in no time.

1. ‘The best of both worlds’ – means you can enjoy two different opportunities at the same time.

“By working part-time and looking after her kids two days a week she managed to get the best of both worlds.”

2. ‘Speak of the devil’ – this means that the person you’re just talking about actually turns up at that moment.

“Hi Tom, speak of the devil, I was just telling Sara about your new car.”

3. ‘See eye to eye’ – this means agreeing with someone.

“They finally saw eye to eye on the business deal.”

4. ‘Once in a blue moon’ – an event that happens infrequently.

“I only go to the cinema once in a blue moon.”

5. ‘When pigs fly’ – something that will never happen.

“When pigs fly she’ll tidy up her room.”

6. ‘To cost an arm and a leg’– something is very expensive.

“Fuel these days costs and arm and a leg.”

7. ‘A piece of cake’– something is very easy.

“The English test was a piece of cake.”

8. ‘Let the cat out of the bag’ – to accidentally reveal a secret.

“I let the cat out of the bag about their wedding plans.”

9. ‘To feel under the weather’ – to not feel well.

“I’m really feeling under the weather today; I have a terrible cold.”

10. ‘To kill two birds with one stone’ – to solve two problems at once.

“By taking my dad on holiday, I killed two birds with one stone. I got to go away but also spend time with him.”

11. ‘To cut corners’ – to do something badly or cheaply.

“They really cut corners when they built this bathroom; the shower is leaking.”

12. ‘To add insult to injury’ – to make a situation worse.

“To add insult to injury the car drove off without stopping after knocking me off my bike.”

13. ‘You can’t judge a book by its cover’ – to not judge someone or something based solely on appearance.

“I thought this no-brand bread would be horrible; turns out you can’t judge a book by its cover.”

14. ‘Break a leg’ – means ‘good luck’ (often said to actors before they go on stage).

“Break a leg Sam, I’m sure your performance will be great.”

15. ‘To hit the nail on the head’ – to describe exactly what is causing a situation or problem.

“He hit the nail on the head when he said this company needs more HR support.”

To test your new-found knowledge here are some sentences to practice with. Fill in the blank!

A) I can’t afford this purse! It _______. I won’t be able to pay my rent!

B) His birthday was supposed to be a surprise! I can’t believe you _____. Now he knows!

C) Ha! John has been promising to paint the house for five years…. Maybe when _______.

D) Yeah, it’ll _______. I need to sign some papers at Jenny’s school anyway so i’ll pick her up for you too.

E) I don’t really like going out to bars anymore. I only go _______.

F) I’m sorry I can’t come into work today. I’m ________. I have a sore throat and runny nose.

G) They tried ________ when installing the pipes for the house and now we have leaks only one month after purchasing it!

H) We missed our flight to Paris because the connecting flight was late and to ______ they made us pay for a new ticket as if it was our fault!

I) I can’t wait to see you perform on stage tonight! ______!

J) Jane is just never on time to work, it’s really annoying. O wow, ______ here she comes…

K) So we’re going to London, then Munich, then we will fly out of Athens, right? Great. I’m so glad to be traveling with someone I _______ with.

L) Wow, she found her dream man and has now landed an amazing job. She really does have ______.

M) OK, she might not be the most attractive but _________. I’m sure she is a sweetheart.

N) I have been trying to figure this out for ages. Thanks so much, you’re right. You _______.

O) I can’t believe that was our test. I think it was easier than some of our homework! It was a ______.

So how did you do? Don’t forget to try and use these idioms and phrases when practicing your English. And do let us know if you need further clarification on commonly used idioms by leaving a comment below.

Want to learn more? Visit our website to start learning English online and try your free trial lesson today!

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HOW TO SPEAK ENGLISH LIKE A NATIVE SPEAKER

Nobody wants to speak ‘textbook English’. The dated expressions and formal phrases you may remember from school can be entirely different from the real-world English used by native speakers. While achieving native-level fluency is a lofty goal, there are many small steps you can take to sound like a native speaker yourself.

Listen more carefully

Speaking more fluently actually starts with improving your listening skills.  Listening to a range of accents and different speakers will help you to mimic their speech patterns and sound more fluent in your own speech.

Watching a film or listening to the radio is a great place to hear real-world English. You’ll pick up new vocabulary and also get more comfortable with the natural intonation of natively-spoken English.

Of course, our online English school is also full of listening exercises and mini movies to help improve your listening.

Use idioms

By listening to native speakers, you’ll undoubtedly pick up a few funny phrases known as idioms. While these may not make sense when taken literally, they are used all the time in casual spoken English.

Colorful phrases like in the blink of an eye [very fast] or  it’s a piece of cake [it’s easy] can add a level of sophistication to your English and make you sound more like a native speaker.

Get to grips with slang

Like idioms, slang is regularly used by native speakers, almost unconsciously. You’ll find that English slang has regional differences, so using distinctive words like the locals is key sounding more like a native. For instance, a Brit may say that they’re “knackered” while an American from the south use “tuckered out”. They both mean that they’re very tired.

Tip: Remember, slang is generally considered informal. Be aware when using it in professional situations.

Improve your pace and clarity

If you’re trying to sound more like a native English speaker, what you say is as important as how you say it. Improving the pace and clarity of your speaking will go a long way to improving your fluency and help native speakers to better understand you.

Reading aloud in English is a great way to work on the clarity of your pronunciation. If you’ve spent enough time listening to native speakers, try to mimic the way they talk. Allow your voice to rise and fall with the natural flow of the language.

Talk with a native speaker

This is the most important step you can take to sound more like a native English speaker.

Whether it’s at the airport or in a live online English class with one of our English teachers, simply having a chat with a native speaker is the fastest way to improve your own English fluency. Many non-native speakers are nervous to talk at first, but the more you do it, the more confident you’ll become.

Ready to give it a try without leaving home?

Learn more about our online English course or take a trial now to start talking with one of our native-speaking teachers today.

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HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO LEARN ENGLISH?

Setting realistic goals is the key to success for many things in life. Whether it’s committing to a fitness regime or learning a new language, the beginning can be exciting but overwhelming. Seeing real progress and hitting targets along the way is often what keeps you motivated to continue.

How long will it take me to learn English?

This is one of the most common questions new learners have. Because everyone learns at a slightly different pace, there is often no easy answer. To attain complete, native-level fluency could take a lifetime of dedication and practice. But the good news is, learning to communicate effectively in English—for travel, work or studies abroad—may not take as long as you think.

At English Classes by Skype, we’re proud to be the experts in helping busy professionals and students to learn quickly and flexibly. Learning English online with us allows you to set your own study schedule and rate of progression. So if you’re wondering how long it takes to become fluent, the answer is really up to you.

How does an online English school work?

This is another common question. To better understand how long it takes to learn English with us, it helps to better understand how our course is structured.

English Classes by Skype general English curriculum spans 16 fluency levels. These levels map to the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference) standards of English in the following way:

Levels 1 – 3 = CEFR Level A1 (Beginner)

Levels 4 – 6 = CEFR Level A2 (Elementary)

Levels 7 – 9 = CEFR Level B1 (Intermediate)

Levels 10 -12 = CEFR Level B2 (Upper Intermediate)

Levels 13 – 15 = CEFR Level C1 (Advanced)

Level 16 = CEFR Level C2 (Mastery)

According to the CEFR framework , individuals who have attained a B2 level of English proficiency, “Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party”. For many learners, this level of functional fluency is a great goal.

To find out how long it will take you to achieve your goal, it will help to understand how each level within our school works. Each of our 16 levels is divided into 6 study units. These 6 units are further broken down into 4 practical lessons. Within each lesson, you’ll complete a number of quick language-learning activities called steps.

It may sound complicated, but by breaking down your course into achievable modules, you can learn something new in each study session. Our academic team estimates that each unit should take around 3 to 4 dedicated study hours to complete, meaning a full level should take between 18 and 24 study hours.

While everyone learns differently, our most successful students find that they can retain what they’ve learned better by studying consistently in short bursts, rather than in long “cram” sessions. They also find taking online English lessons with live classes with our online English teachers really supports—and accelerates—their progress.

We offer a free trial lesson to see if our classes can be right for you. Try your today!!

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THE GUARANTEED WAY TO IMPROVE YOUR ENGLISH WITH ONLINE ENGLISH CLASSES

The reality is, gaining English fluency isn’t something that can happen overnight. Truly mastering a new language takes time and dedication. Choosing an English course is a real investment, and we know that new students want results they can count on. That’s why we developed the English classes by Skype English Live Guarantee.

For some, the promise of “guaranteed results” makes something sound too good to be true. However, we’re confident that with the help of our online teachers and interactive lessons, learning English is achievable for everyone. But is there really a guaranteed way to improve your English level online? If you learn English online with us, the answer is YES!

How it works

When you join English Classes by Skype we’ll ask you a couple questions about your current English level, lifestyle and motivation for learning. From there, we’ll create a personalized Study Plan to help you progress through your course.

If you complete all of the lessons in your Study Plan sequence and at least one live conversation class each week, we guarantee you’ll progress a minimum of one full ECBS English Live level in 6 months or less. This is our promise, whatever your current English level.

Ready to put our guarantee to the test?

Try our course today and start learning English in minutes

What’s an English Classes by Skype English Live level?

Our general online English course is divided into 16 learning levels aligned with the 6 Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) levels A1 through C2. To complete a full ECBS English Live level, you must successfully complete each online English lesson and pass the End of Level test.

Added bonus: for each End of Level test passed, you’ll be able to download a certified course diploma proving your English proficiency. These results can also be added to your LinkedIn profile in just a few clicks.

Will it really take 6 months?

This depends on your learning style and the amount of study time you can commit to each week. Many students will complete a level much faster, but everyone learns at a slightly different speed. Our online English course is available 24/7, meaning you can study as often as you’d like and progress at your own pace.

Your Study Plan sequence will help to guide you, but to give you an idea of what to expect, each level within our online English school  is divided into 6 units made up of short lessons. We estimate that each unit should take around 3 to 4 study hours, meaning a full level should take between 18 and 24 study hours.

Remember, to be eligible for the ECBS English Live Guarantee, you must also participate in at least one live online class each week. We believe that these live classes—led by our expert English teachers—are essential to your progress. You can either take a 45-minute Group Conversation Class or a 40-minute Private Class to meet this requirement.

What happens if you don’t progress by a level?

In the unlikely event that you complete all of the lessons in your Study Plan sequence and at least one live class each week, but don’t progress a full ECBS English Live Level within 6 months, we’ll provide you will free unlimited access to our online course lessons for an additional 6 months to help you reach your goal.

With a trusted online English learning method and the ECBS English Live Guarantee, you can be confident that there really is a guaranteed way to improve your English level online.

Ready to put our promise to the test? Join EF English Live today.

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8 PHRASES TO MAKE A GREAT IMPRESSION ON YOUR ENGLISH WORKMATES

When you start a new job, it’s vital to make a great impression on your new colleagues. After all, that are the people you will be spending most of your time with while you are at work. So, how do you make a good impression on your colleagues in your new English-speaking workplace? Being friendly is a good start and these English expressions will help you go further in making a great impression on your new English-speaking colleagues.

Would you like a hand with that? Helping people put is always a good way to impress. Offer to help by saying “Would you like a hand with that” if it looks like a colleague is struggling with too much work.

Could I have your advice on this? People are always flattered when they are treated as experts. Don’t be afraid to ask for advice and make sure you let people know that you value their opinions?

I’ll get right on it If you can start working on a task immediately, let your colleagues know by saying “I’ll get right on it.” Make sure to only use this phrase if you do actually intend to do the task right away – nobody likes to be kept waiting.

It’s great to meet you / It’s a pleasure to meet you If you meet a new colleague working at a similar level in the company to you, say “It’s great to meet you!” the first time you meet him or her. If you meet someone more senior than you, use the more formal “It’s a pleasure to meet you!”

I’m looking forward to working together This is a particularly useful expression for emails and letters. When you start a project with a new colleague or clients, adding “I’m looking forward to working with you on this project” near the end of your email shows respect and that you are keen to get on well together.

That sounds like a plan A nice informal expression to use when one of your colleagues has a good idea about how to do something. If you want to sound even more enthusiastic, you could say “That sounds like a great plan!”

Let’s put our heads/minds together If you think it would be a good idea to work closely with a colleague to solve a problem, you can say “Let’s put our heads/minds together to solve this.” Sometimes, people also say “Two heads are better than one.” This means that it’s better to work together than alone.

Let’s get this done When you are ready to start working on something, you can use a casual expression like “Let’s do this!” or “Let’s get this done!” to encourage your team and colleagues to get started.

Try using these phrases with your English-speaking colleagues and make a note of the expressions they use and you will make a great impression in your next English-speaking workplace.

Aren’t you an EF English Live student yet? Try the business English course by requesting a one month for only one dollar trial