English Class

What do you like to do on the weekend?
Here are both cases where you can use British or American dialect.

US: on the afternoon
UK: at the weekend

If an email starts with DEAR SIR/MADAM, I immediately delete it.

DEAR SIR/MADAM tells me that the email is not important (probably spam or a scam).

If an email is written for me and is from someone important, it will have my name in it.
(Not because I am important, but because the person writing it is professional)

DEAR SIR/MADAM is both VERY old fashioned and VERY lazy.

If you aren't sure what someone's name is, you should do some simple research and find their name, especially if you are applying for a job.

If you are unable to find their name or are sending an email to many people, you can use their position/relationship.

Dear Employees✅
Dear Loyal Customer✅
Dear Sales (sales team)✅
Dear Parents (parents of a student)✅

However, if you are really lazy or are sending one email to many people (and you don't know who they are), I recommend using TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.✅

I would still usually avoid using TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN, but it is a better option than DEAR SIR/MADAM because it includes people who do not want to be called SIR or MADAM, and it doesn't sound like it was written 100 years ago.

*Also, when emailing a coworker, we usually just use HI + FIRST NAME.

10 Easy Ways to Practice Speaking English

1. Sing English songs.
2. Speak to your mirror every morning about what you are going to do and how you feel.
3. Speak to your mirror in the evening about what you did and how you felt.
4. Speak to yourself all day every day about what you are doing, what you need to do, how you feel, etc.
5. Speak to your children/pets/plants.
6. Start a club with your friends where you only speak English.
7. Repeat after me when you watch my videos.
8. Repeat after the people on TV when you watch TV.
9. Make flashcards with full sentences and practice reading them out loud (speak the words) every day.
10. Read out loud (speak the words) when you are reading. Read the same thing again and again so that you are more confident each time you say it.

Also, it doesn't matter whether or not your speaking partners are native English speakers.

You practice speaking to improve YOUR ABILITY to produce language and become more confident. The important thing is that YOU SPEAK, not who the other person is.

The main differences between "each" and "every"

We use each with 2 or more things.
She has a bracelet on each arm.✅
She has a bracelet on every arm.❌

We use every with 3 or more things. So when talking about 3 or more things, they are basically the same.
Each voter received a sticker.✅
Every voter received a sticker.✅

Although they are basically the same, when talking about 3 or more things, "each" focuses more on the INDIVIDUAL things (each one is separate), whereas "every" focuses more on the GROUP (they are all together). However, this is a very small difference that rarely affects the meaning of the sentence.

And finally, we can use "each of" but not "every of".
Each of them was invited.✅
Every of them was invited.❌

However, we can say "every one of".
Every one of them was invited.✅

And we sometimes use them together like this.⬇️
Each and every one of them received a gift.✅

One of my student asked me to explain the difference between TROUBLE, PROBLEM, and ISSUE, so here we go.

TROUBLE is an uncountable noun. It can also be a verb.
ISSUE and PROBLEM are both countable nouns.

Because TROUBLE is uncountable, it sounds less specific.

Because ISSUE and PROBLEM are countable, they can sound more specific/focused on one thing.

Also, each word has a slightly different feeling.

TROUBLE sounds like something that we should worry/be concerned about/something difficult that we will have to manage. It can also be used many different ways (as explained in today's video).

✦Please leave me alone. I don't want any trouble.
✦I'm worried that she will cause trouble with the other dogs.
✦We had a lot of trouble finding the hotel.

PROBLEM is very similar to TROUBLE, but again, it sounds more specific/focused on one thing because it is countable. And whereas TROUBLE is associated with difficulty, PROBLEMS are not always difficult to fix. Sometimes problems are very easy to fix.

✦This is a very big problem.
✦There was a problem with the software.
✦We had several problems yesterday.

ISSUE sounds more neutral (not clearly good or bad) than the other two. It’s basically just a less scary-sounding way to say PROBLEM.

✦I have an issue that I would like to discuss with you.
✦Does anyone have an issue with this plan?
✦We will try to resolve this issue as soon as possible.

ISSUE also has other meanings that are not related to the theme of this post, and it can also be used as a verb that is not related to the theme of this post.

✦Food and supplies were issued (given) to the soldiers.
✦Have you received the latest issue of the magazine?

Six Expressions with CUT

1. Cut it out. 🛑
Meaning: Stop doing that.

2. Who​ cut the cheese? 💨
Meaning: Who farted?

3. That won't cut it.🙅
Meaning: That's not good enough. That's not acceptable.

4. Cut me some slack. 😬
Meaning: I know it's not perfect, but I am trying, so please stop making me feel bad.

5. Cut to the chase. ✋
Meaning: You're explaining too much. Just hurry up and tell me what happened.

6. I'm not cut out for this. 🤷🏽‍♀️
Meaning: This type of activity doesn't suit me. I am not good at this.

Examples:
That's annoying. Please cut it out.
That stinks! Who cut the cheese?
That won't cut it. It has to be better quality.
Cut me some slack. It's my first time.
Cut to the chase and tell me what happened.
I'm not cut out for basketball. I'm too short.

I'M USED TO and I USED TO
What's the difference?

I'M USED TO + VERBING
I'M USED TO + NOUN
This means I have experienced it before, so now I am comfortable with it. It feels normal to me.

-I'm used to spicy food.
-I'm used to teaching.
-I'm used to hot weather.
-I'm used to driving on the right.
-I'm used to exercising regularly.

I USED TO + VERB
I USED TO BE + ADJECTIVE/NOUN
This means I did something a lot/for a long time in the past, but now I don't do it anymore. / I was something in the past, but I'm not anymore.

-I used to live in Afghanistan.
-I used to work in a language center.
-I used to wear a tie every day.
-I used to be a communication coach.
-I used to be 70 kilos.

👩🏾Hey. I really like your shoes!
👩🏼‍🦰Thanks! I just got them yesterday!
👩🏾Where did you get them?
👩🏼‍🦰I got them online.
👩🏾Do you mind if I ask how much they were?
👩🏼‍🦰Actually, they were only 40 dollars.
👩🏾Really?! Were they on sale?
👩🏼‍🦰Yeah. They were actually 50% off.
👩🏾They're so cute! Are they comfortable?
👩🏼‍🦰Yes. They're really comfortable.
👩🏾Wow! Maybe I'll order a pair for myself!