Tag Archives: English speaking

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?

English coaching – why I won’t correct all your mistakes

How do you feel when you are told you have made a mistake? Bad, sorry, ashamed, guilty, unconfident? I’m guessing that ‘good’ is not a feeling that goes with making a mistake. How do you feel when you are told you have made a mistake in English (or another language you are learning)? Bad, sorry,Continue reading “English coaching – why I won’t correct all your mistakes”