Stop trying to ‘think in English’

If you search for ‘think in English’ you’ll get almost 3 billion results (3,000,000,000 – that’s a lot!) Everyone thinks you must think in English in order to speak English better. But I say no. I think this is the most useless and unhelpful advice in the world.

English everyday – do up

We want to do up the kitchen next year, it’s quite old, and the cupboards are all broken. They’ve just had their house done up, it’s all glass and blank white walls now. The shop’s been done up and it’s got a cafe now. The phrasal verb ‘do up’ has a few different meanings butContinue reading “English everyday – do up”

English for parents – Phrase books!

So they’re finally done. I’ve written a book! In fact I’ve written two books, with the help of my awesome husband. So if you’re a Japanese parent and you’re going to live in an English speaking country, you need this phrase book to help you talk to doctors, teachers, shop assistants, other parents and otherContinue reading “English for parents – Phrase books!”

English everyday – congratulations

It’s my birthday! (It’s not, but stick with me)… What will you say to me? Happy Birthday? Congratulations? Something else? It is a bit strange that in English we have one special word to express best wishes, greetings and compliments; Congratulations, but we don’t use that word for birthdays! What do we say?