English language | Languages, communication and travel at their best

Don’t be hangry! The importance of slang words and portmanteaus

10-January-2021 · by Verbalist

The nice thing about language is that it changes to reflect the times. The Internet has spawned lots of funny English words. Sometimes we also coin our own words and phrases for new things. Most of these new words are portmanteaus, which is the term that describes a word that’s constructed by taking some parts of two words, and making a new one. This is also known as a blend in linguistics.

Probably the best known portmanteau words are READ MORE

Free English teacher training courses

30-November-2020 · by Verbalist

The Verbalists Education & Language Network invites to complete a British Council Teaching for Success MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) on the FutureLearn platform. There are three FREE courses available and if you are an English Teacher and working in the following countries: Algeria, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia, and Yemen – the British Council will even cover the cost of your certificate! Read More →

Try this superior English language learning method!

06-October-2020 · by Verbalist

If you want to improve your pronunciation and speaking skills, then try the shadowing practice.

What is shadowing?

Shadowing is a language learning technique where you repeat an audio just after you hear it. You’re acting like an “echo” or a “shadow” (hence the name “shadowing). You listen to the words and then say them back out loud. READ MORE

Avoid making these most common English language mistakes

03-October-2020 · by Verbalist

Even after years of education or learning English, there are still some things in grammar that can be messed up. It’s easy for grammar mistakes to slip by.

Based on our extensive experience in teaching English, we have prepared one of the most comprehensive lists of common mistakes made when writing or speaking English. The Verbalists Language Network brings you the 200 grammatical errors we all need to stop making. Once you see which mistakes resonate with you most, make a mental note to avoid them in the future, or just bookmark this page to remind yourself of them again and again. READ MORE

Learn English by listening to great stories – Sherlock Holmes stories read by actor Benedict Cumberbatch

22-September-2020 · by Verbalist

An English audio book is the perfect solution when you are learning the English language. Not only will you be able to practice your comprehension, but you will also learn the correct pronunciation of many everyday words. When you listen to books you are able to follow along with the text and hear how an English speaker will pronounce different words you are unfamiliar with. This is the best way to learn new vocabulary and how to use specific grammar skills when speaking, reading and writing. Today, Verbalists Education brings you one of the best and most exciting audio books.

Did you know that Benedict Cumberbatch is not only a great actor but an amazing narrator as well! Benedict Cumberbatch reads these four new Sherlock Holmes stories by John Taylor: ‘An Inscrutable Masquerade’, ‘The Conundrum of Coach 13’, ‘The Trinity Vicarage Larceny’ and ‘The 10.59 Assassin’. READ MORE

Meet the famous Oxford Comma

13-April-2020 · by Verbalist

There has been a long and heated debate among linguists and publishers about this popular comma. A song was even written about it. ! It has also earned many names – Oxford Comma, Harvard Comma, Serial Comma…however, in this brief intro, we will stick to “Oxford Comma.” It is interesting that the Oxford Comma originated from British English, but is more used in American English. There are many debates and views about the Oxford Comma, yet we Verbalists like the best the article made by Oxford Royal Academy. So, let’s meet this “serial offender” up close. READ MORE

Best books to improve your English skills

30-January-2017 · by Verbalist

Get cozy this winter with some tea or coffee and a good book to help you improve your English skills. While it may seem intimidating to read an entire book in English, it is great for mastering fluency. You can even keep a notebook full of words you may not understand to help you with your vocabulary! Here are the top picks from the readers of Goodreads, a site which allows book fans to choose their top picks from each genre.

Best Fiction

Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty

A couple who share what seems to be a dream life with their two daughters have their lives turned upside down when they attend a neighbour’s barbecue. Two months later, they regret what happened that day and can’t stop wondering what would’ve happened if they had never gone.
READ MORE