Studying in Liverpool and Manchester: the universities, and where ‘red brick’ began
The first post in my new series, In and around Liverpool: the universities of Liverpool and Manchester, from the original red brick to the discovery of graphene.
Why do English people say ‘You OK?’ instead of ‘Hello’?
'You OK?' and 'Alright?' are greetings, not questions about your health. Here is what they mean and how to answer them.
The Celebrity Traitors series two: who is in the castle?
A spoiler-free guide to the 21 famous faces in series two of The Celebrity Traitors, so you know who everyone is talking about.
Why The Celebrity Traitors is a brilliant way to practise your English
Series two of The Celebrity Traitors is on BBC One. Here is how the game works, the words you need, and why it is great listening practice.
Remembrance Day: why people in the UK wear red poppies
From late October, you will see red poppies on coats across Britain. What they mean, what happens on 11 November, and how to show respect.
Halloween in the UK: what to expect on 31 October
Pumpkins on doorsteps, children in costumes and a few unwritten rules. What Halloween looks like in Britain, and the words you will hear.
I passed IELTS. Why can’t I follow my lectures?
Your IELTS score was not a mistake. It measured your English, not the English of a British lecture theatre. Here is where to start closing the gap.
What does a British lecturer mean when they say ‘interesting’?
British feedback is often so polite that it stops sounding like criticism. Here is what some of the most confusing phrases usually mean.
How do I speak up in a UK seminar?
Staying silent in a UK seminar is not seen as polite. Here are the phrases I give my students for joining in, disagreeing and buying time.
Why did I lose marks when my grammar was fine?
In IELTS Writing, grammar is only one of four criteria. Here is where the other marks go, with a paragraph that has perfect grammar and still loses them.