English: Chuchelka Language School

24/08/2026

Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?

21/08/2026

The TOEIC Vocabulary Secret: Learn Phrases, Not Just Words

Many learners spend hours memorizing vocabulary lists.

But knowing a word alone is often not enough.

English works through collocations — words that naturally go together.

meet a deadline

place an order

file a complaint

make a decision

These combinations are much closer to the English used in real workplaces — and they appear frequently in TOEIC contexts.

So how can students build stronger vocabulary?

Read authentic materials:
emails, articles, advertisements, reports

Listen regularly:
news, podcasts, business videos

Keep a vocabulary notebook:
write down phrases, not isolated words

Review regularly:
short daily practice is more effective than last-minute cramming

The goal is not only to pass TOEIC.

The goal is to develop the confidence to communicate in English at work.

What vocabulary learning strategy works best for your students?

20/08/2026

19/08/2026

The Most Common TOEIC Vocabulary Topics

If your students are preparing for TOEIC, these are the vocabulary areas they should know well.

1. Workplace & Office Life

Meetings, presentations, schedules, company policies, HR, office communication

2. Employment & Recruitment

Job advertisements, interviews, salaries, benefits, training, career development

3. Finance

Invoices, payments, budgets, expenses, banking, refunds, taxes

4. Sales & Marketing

Products, advertising, pricing, orders, customer service, loyalty programs

5. Industry & Logistics

Manufacturing, delivery, inventory, shipping, deadlines, production

6. Technology

Software, online meetings, cloud services, updates, technical support

7. Travel

Flights, hotels, reservations, transportation, business trips

8. Weather

Forecasts, temperatures, delays, changing conditions

9. Business Communication

Emails, notices, reports, announcements

Remember:

You don't need to memorize thousands of random words.

You need to understand the language used in common professional situations.

In the next post:
Why learning "words" is not enough — and what to learn instead!

19/08/2026

ONE WORD, THREE COMPLETELY DIFFERENT MEANINGS!

Have you ever noticed how many meanings the word SCALE has?

SCALE = to climb
They scaled the mountain in just two days.
From Latin scala, meaning ladder.

SCALE = a device used to measure weight
I stepped on the scale this morning.
This meaning comes from an old word referring to a drinking vessel that was used as a unit of weight.

SCALE = the small, flat covering on the skin of fish and reptiles
The fish has shiny silver scales.
From Old French escale, meaning shell or husk.

One word. Three meanings. Three different origins!

Which meaning of SCALE did you learn first?

17/08/2026

TOEIC Vocabulary: Is There a Magic Word List?

One of the most common questions students ask:

Can I find a TOEIC vocabulary list and just memorize it?

The answer is: not really.

There is no official list of words that will guarantee a high TOEIC score.

Why?

Because TOEIC does not test isolated vocabulary. It tests your ability to understand real-life professional situations:

workplace conversations
emails and messages
reports and announcements
travel situations
customer interactions

However, some vocabulary areas appear much more frequently than others.

So, if you want to prepare efficiently, don't try to learn everything. Focus on the topics that are most relevant to the exam.

In the next posts, we will look at:
the most common TOEIC vocabulary topics
the best way to learn vocabulary
why learning phrases is more effective than memorizing words

What is the biggest challenge your students face with TOEIC vocabulary?

11/08/2026

"Family: A social unit where the father is concerned with parking space, the children with outer space, and the mother with closet space." Evan Esar

This funny quote is based on the word space, which has several meanings in English!

parking space = a place where you park your car
outer space = the universe beyond Earth
closet space = room in a closet for clothes

Match the words to the definitions.

A. parking space
B. outer space
C. closet space

___ The area beyond Earth's atmosphere.
___ A place to keep your clothes.
___ A place to leave your car.

Fill in the blanks.

a) I can't find a __________ near the supermarket.
b) Many children dream of becoming astronauts and exploring __________.
c) I need more __________ because I bought too many jackets!

Discussion Question

Which kind of space do you always need more of?

React with an emoji and tell us why in the comments!

@подписчики

08/08/2026

William du Bois: “The return from your work must be the satisfaction that work brings you and the world’s need of that work.
With this, life is as near heaven as you can get.” (1958)

04/08/2026

Voltaire: “Work spares us from
three great evils: boredom, vice, and need.” (1759)