A teacher teaches students.
A student learns from their teacher.
INCORRECT: the teacher learns the student.
Jul 16
Learn British English Free (video lesson): more useful objects at home
Chris presents another free lesson about vocabulary for useful objects at home:
Coat hanger
Clothes peg or peg
Toilet roll and toilet paper
Ruler
Calculator
Highlighter pen
Stationery
Kettle
Alarm clock
(Computer) mouse
Mobile (phone) [British English; not cell phone]
Smart phone
Jul 02
Learn British English Free (video lesson): stand up / sit down
Learn British English Free: stand up; sit down
Stand / stand up
I stand up.
I am standing (up).
She stands up.
They all stood up when the judge entered the room.
Sit / sit down
I sit down on my chair to work.
I am sitting down.
*Stands up* I was sitting down.
Can I sit down? I’ve been standing up for ages.
I sat down to wait for the doctor.
Common mistakes:
INCORRECT: I am sat down. CORRECT: I am sitting down.
INCORRECT: we were stood quietly. CORRECT: we were standing quietly.
Jun 25
Eid Mubarak 2017 / Learn British English on Instagram
Happy Eid Mubarak!
Eid is the celebration at the end of the month of Ramadan.
Please follow Learn British English on Instagram.
Jun 18
English Homophones Part 4 (free video lesson)
Via the BBC (click).
Please watch the video below with captions and read the text below it.
Affect / effect
The verb ‘to affect’ means ‘to have an influence on’; ‘to effect’ means ‘to cause, accomplish’.
In most cases affect will be the verb, effect the noun.
Bail / bale
Use bail for the temporary release of someone awaiting trial.
To bail out is to help a company or person with financial problems (noun: bailout).
Use bale out for removing water from a boat, or jumping out of a plane.
Complement / compliment
To complement means to make complete or supply what is lacking.
Whether as a noun or verb, compliment means (to) praise.
Defuse / diffuse
defuse is to make safe an explosive;
diffuse is something that’s widespread.
Discreet / discrete
discreet means ‘careful’ or ‘tactful’;
discrete means ‘distinct and separate’.
Fazed / phased
someone who is disorientated or disconcerted can be described as fazed,
whereas phased means ‘introduced in stages’.
Formerly / formally
formerly means previously;
formally according to convention.
Gate / gait
gate is an entry; gait is a manner of walking.
Hangar / hanger
a hangar is where aircraft are kept.
A hanger is for putting clothes on.
Hyperthermia / Hypothermia
Hyperthermia is where the body temperature is greatly above normal.
Hypothermia is where the body temperature is markedly below normal.
Illicit / elicit
illicit means illegal;
elicit is to extract something, usually information.
Licence / license
The noun is licence with a ‘c’ (eg: driving licence);
the verb has an ‘s’ (eg: licensed to kill).
Practice / practise
the noun has a ‘c’; the verb has an ‘s’.
He’s a practising lawyer running his own practice.
Principal / principle
principal means ‘first in order of importance’ or a school head;
principle means ‘a rule or belief governing one’s personal behaviour’.
Rein / reign
reins are used on horses; reign is what monarchs do.
So you would rein in spending or take over the reins.
Jun 17
English Homophones Part 3 (free video lesson)
This free lesson is about English homophones. Homophones are words that are pronounced the same way. Please see the list below and use English captions to read the vocabulary.
List of Homophones
Cell / sell
Complement / compliment
Fair / fare
Fir / fur
Flower / flour
Hour / our
Know / no
Pair / pear
Principal / principle
Profit / prophet
Right / write
Root / route
Sail / sale
Sew / so
Scent / cent
Serial / cereal
Stationary / stationery
Suite / sweet
Wait / weight
Wear / where
Jun 01
British Politics (video lesson): UK General Election 2017
Please watch the video and use the vocabulary notes underneath it:
Vocabulary
Party (noun): (e.g. Conservatives; Labour; Liberal Democrats)
Constituency (noun): an official area of land which chooses one MP.
Constituent (noun): person who lives in constituency.
Policy (noun): a party’s idea or plan about a subject.
Manifesto (noun): a document that includes the various policies of a political party.
Conservative party (Tory party / the Tories); leader Theresa May, Prime Minister.
Labour party; leader Jeremy Corbyn; opposition.
Liberal Democrats; leader Tim Farron.
Scottish National Party (SNP); leader Nicola Sturgeon; Scotland only.
Each party has a colour associated with them:
Conservatives: blue.
Labour: red.
Liberal Democrats: gold.
The UK general election: Thursday 8 June 2017.
Labour manifesto:
http://www.labour.org.uk/page/-/Images/manifesto-2017/Labour%20Manifesto%202017.pdf
Liberal Democrats manifesto:
http://www.libdems.org.uk/manifesto
Conservative manifesto:
May 23
Learn English Grammar: Remember or Remind
Remember or remind?
Tom remembers something (by himself)
Jane reminds Tom to do something and Tom then remembers
May 21
Emmanuel Macron Speech in a British Accent (video lesson)
Emmanuel Macron is the new President of France. He speaks English very well, but he makes some pronunciation errors.
Chris has recorded the speech in a British accent and pronunciation. Please watch Macron’s video using the link below and use the PDF document as well to see where the main errors are:
Watch Free on Youtube!
Free British Accent Podcasts!
