Discover English Teaching

Today I'd like to talk about one rather curious phenomenon in the English language which makes you sound less opinionated and blatant, turning out-and-out sentences into more gentle versions.

Negations 😁 Surprised? Let me show you how native speakers choose to express themselves to sound milder!

1. Let me tell you about some "terrible/awful/bad things about this place"

💥 turns into

"The-not-so-great things"

2. I like it, it's okay, it's alright

💥 turns into

I don't hate it.

3. It's a good idea.

💥 turns into

It's not a bad idea.

4. You're right about that.

turns into

💥 You're not wrong about it.

5. I don't mind it.

💥 turns into

I'm not opposed to it

6. I agree.

💥 turns into

I don't disagree.

Do you notice how the connotation of such sentences changes? 🙄

Can you come up with more examples such as these?

Today, on my 31st birthday, I’d like to say thank you, but not to anybody else, 😎 to myself, actually.

1. 🙏 for having the guts to live my life like I want to, despite numerous fears, insecurities and doubts. There’s no courage without fear.

2. 🙏 for welcoming incredible people into my life by being open, approachable and genuine.

3. 🙏 for not succumbing to everything society constantly imposes on me and sticking to my own values and priorities.

4. 🙏 for learning how to decipher my inner voice, tell it apart from desires and inhibitions, and eventually trusting it. Now making the most crucial decisions comes natural to me.

5. 🙏 for being insane enough to presume that I could change the ESL world of education for the better. We’re currently on the way.

6. 🙏 for quieting down my trust issues and building the most trustworthy, reliable and inspirational team ever. Girls, you’re everything.

7. 🙏 for being a great listener. I’ve gotten to hear the most riveting stories of people from all walks of life. This also has helped me create a special bond with those who I really care about.

8. 🙏 for retaining a sliver of hope and optimism even in dire straights, for pulling myself out of the darkest places when it’s necessary.

9. 🙏 for finally finding a healthier balance between loving my job to bits and allocating time and energy to other aspects of my life.

10. 🙏 for being humble enough to apologize when needed, own up to my mistakes and wrongdoings, listen to different points of view and admit that some of mine don’t serve me well anymore.

11. 🙏 for putting myself first. For embracing that no other person is as important as me. I cannot be of help to anybody else without my own inner harmony.

12. 🙏 at the same time for harnessing my ego that likes getting out of hand and wreaking havoc in my life.

Thank you for the person I’ve become in 31 year.

I'm gonna be slightly naughty today and raise the topic that was banned in the Soviet Union. You guessed it correctly: s*x. 😈 I'm happy these days we can freely talk about it without feeling ashamed or embarrassed.

Nevertheless, I want to explore other ways we can call "s*x" just for funsies and 😬 for educational purposes, of course. Also, so that you don't get into an awkward situation if you hear these words. Check if you know all of them:

Let's start with some more official ones:

🛌 Engage in (Sexual) in*******se

🛌 Fornication (both people are not married to each other)

🛌 Copulation (zoology), also mating

🛌 Coitus /ˈkɔɪ.təs/

Now on to more fun ones:

🛌 Getting laid

🛌 Doing it

🛌 Boning

🛌 Sh****ng (UK)

🛌 Funny business

🛌 Hanky panky

🛌 Banging

🛌 Screwing

🛌 Rolling in the hay (old-fashioned)

🛌 Hot yoga

🛌 Get it on with sb

🛌 Hook up with (doesn’t always refer to having s*x)

🛌 Hit a home run (US, baseball related)

🛌 Fool around (doesn’t always mean in*******se)

and let's finish with something more romantic: MAKE LOVE 😍

Anything you could add to this list? Which ones were new to you?

After a few weeks of vacationing and roaming around Latin America (Argentina, Chile and Brazil), I've found myself in Mexico City and I'm loving it here. 🥳 I'm also back to writing for you, our dear subscribers. Language interference is on our today's agenda.

Though this time the tables have turned and I'd like to explore how English infiltrates our native languages, more specifically Russian.

While living with my dear friend Alex in Buenos Aires, 🇦🇷 I was noting down our little linguistic mishaps that had us in stitches and would like to share them with you in hopes that you find them entertaining and could probably relate to such a phenomenon.

Let me start with something that most of us say on regular basis:

👉🏻 Это зависит.

От чего? 😅 I mean it sounds so incomplete in Russian though in English it's perfectly clear. It depends. Nothing else needed.

👉🏻 Ты сделал мой день. I think this one is already widely acceptable but still makes me shudder every time I hear it. "You made my day" is way more elegant.

Now on to our own gems:

👉🏻 И он никогда мне не ответил. - And he never answered me.

👉🏻 Делать усилия (прилагать would be correct, right?) - Make effort

👉🏻 Ты же сама находишься в майке. - You are in a tank top yourself!

👉🏻 Ты мне подержишь компанию? - Will you keep me company?

👉🏻 Это место прямо ресторан-ресторан. Он прям дорогой-дорогой. - That place is really a restaurant-restaurant. (meaning in all its entirety) It's actually expensive-expensive.

👉🏻 Я последние дни только и делаю что ем вне. - Lately I've been eating out a lot.

I hope our failures have cracked you up! 😜 And I'm dying to dine out if you've noticed something similar in your speech! Let me know in the comments below!

To expand on Nina’s great topic choice: 5 ways to substitute spouse/boyfriends/husband/wife 😍

👫 1. Significant Other

- She lives with her significant other in London.

- It's a good place for buying something special for your significant other.

- He and his significant other are going on holiday to Peru.

👫 2. Other/Better half

- Allow me to introduce you to my better half, Joan.

- Best to choose your journeys carefully before inviting your better half along for the ride.

- Bring your other half next time you come.

👫 3. Partner - either member of a married couple or of an established unmarried couple. A very common substitute in English as marriage is not a prerequisite anymore.

- Make sure that you or your partner are using an effective method of contraception.

- I've invited David and his partner over for dinner.

- Evan and his partner are going on a Caribbean cruise.

👫 4. Bea /beɪ/ - (US) is a term of endearment that is either short for “baby” or an acronym for “before anyone else, comes from African-American Vernacular English.

- It's bad when bae doesn't reply to your texts.

- Perhaps she was there to support her bae.

- If you're in a relationship, you've probably already begun frantically searching the web for the perfect gift for your bae, but don't fret—I have you covered.

👫 5. Hubby /ˈhʌb.i/ - informal for husband (be careful with this one, some natives believe it has a negative connotation)

- My hubby's been gone on a trip all week, and I really miss him.

- Laura thought Jack was the most wonderful hubby in the world.

- There's this really great hotel where hubby and I had our honeymoon.

Let's take a look at 5 different ways how you can say "Repeat, please" or "What?" more elaborately! 🙃

♻ 1. Come again?

- Come again? I didn't hear what you said.

♻ 2. Say what (now)?

- I'm bored with this job. I think I'll quit. - Say what now? Are you serious? You just started yesterday!

♻ 3. Pardon (me)?/ I beg your pardon (the latter sounds much more formal)

- "The train leaves at 2:15." "Pardon?"

♻ 4. Run that by me again.

- “I’m sorry, could you run that by me again?” asked Harper. “I couldn’t hear you over the music.”

♻ 5. Huh? /hʌ/ - this one is obviously more colloquial but is usually overlooked. Just "huh" with rising intonation is enough for the other person to repeat whatever they just said.

- "We need like an hour more." "Huh? I thought you said you were done!"

Anything else you could add to this list? 🤗 Which ones do you usually use?

6 more words/phrases that we need to review! ✨

📌 7. Clue sb in - to give someone information that is necessary or new

- Why is everyone mad at Bruce this morning? Clue me in.

- It's time someone clued us in on what's happening.

📌 8. In my wheelhouse - within one's area of expertise or interest

- I'm very flattered you thought of me for this amazing opportunity, but I don't really know if this gig is in my wheelhouse.

- Unfortunately, for most of the time I had been working outside my wheelhouse.

📌 9. Leeway - the freedom that someone has to take the action they want to or to change their plans

- How much leeway should parents give their children?

- This itinerary leaves us plenty of leeway.

📌 10. Bling - flashy jewelry

- Mariah Carey loves bling, so all over jewelry is drenched with diamonds and crystals.

- The rapper was loaded with bling.

📌 11. A spring in your step - walk energetically in a way that shows you are feeling happy and confident

- Joe's been walking with a spring in his step ever since he found out he was getting a promotion.

- A well-meant compliment from a stranger can put a spring in your step.

📌 12. Not sit well with sb - to be difficult for someone to agree with or accept

- The principal's decision did not sit well with many parents.

- The idea that some children have to go hungry in this country just doesn't sit well with me.

I hope you're looking forward to my next compilation! 😇

New Advanced Vocabulary Post 😃Reviewing the words I’ve talked about in stories. This time I've collected 12 items so I'm dividing it into two posts!

Btw, did you guys know I'm in Buenos Aires, Argentina now? 🇦🇷 My biggest travel dream!

📌 1. Wishy-washy - lacking in firm ideas, principles, or the ability to make a decision

- The wishy-washy woman couldn’t decide on an outfit and went back and forth between choices for several hours.

- Right before their wedding, the wishy-washy groom-to-be started to get cold feet and change his mind.

📌 2. By the same token - in the same way or for the same reason

- You have to show respect for your colleagues, and by the same token they have to respect you.

- He has a good ear for music, and by the same token he finds it easy to pronounce foreign words.

📌 3. Iridescent /ˌɪr.əˈdes.ənt/ - showing many bright colours that change with movement

- The iridescent gems in my ring seem to change colors in the sunlight.

- The bubbles we blew looked iridescent as they floated through the air.

📌 4. Temerity - a willingness to do or say something that shocks or upsets other people; excessive confidence or boldness; audacity

- We were shocked Ann Marie had the temerity to challenge our teacher’s authority in class.

- No one could believe Jake had the temerity to steal his mother’s cash.

📌 5. Trailblazer - a person who is the first to do something that other people do later

- Marie Curie was a trailblazer and led the way for other female scientists to win the Nobel Prize.

- The doctor’s goal is to be a medical trailblazer and discover a universal cure for cancer.

📌 6. Cabin fever - the feeling of being angry and bored because you have been inside for too long

- She suffered from cabin fever during the long winter.

- We've been snowed in for a week and everyone has cabin fever.

To be continued! 😃

🤨 Are you embarrassed of speaking English in your blog?

❗Disclaimer: I'm not roping you into that, if you don't feel like it, it's totally fine to speak Russian in your blog. This post is for those who badly want to start but whose inhibitions hold them back.

I'm here to change your mindset. You can thank me later! 😉

🗣 1. You know how they say we see ourselves differently through a mirror? How we basically see a distorted version of ourselves meanwhile only fixating solely on our alleged "flaws"?

We are in the grip of our own self-esteem playing tricks on our minds: fractionating our looks into teeny details like uneven teeth or differently-sized ears.👂🏻Whereas others see us as a whole image coupled with charisma, social skills and intelligence.

Same goes for listening to ourselves though a camera/audio recorder/etc. We hear our voices through the prism of our own perception warped by devices. More often than not we are more judgmental and cruel to ourselves than others. We scrutinise our accents, 🙊 pitch, fluency, the simplicity of the word choice and what have you.

When in fact other people couldn't care less.

🗣 2. Are you waiting for that magical moment when you are finally fully satisfied with yourself? Well, let me give you some tough love. It's not coming. Ever.

You will always find something to get better at. Besides, with time your perception of levels and accents will change. ♻ When I first started blogging here, I was showered with compliments on my English, particularly on my pronunciation. Now looking back on the videos I made 5 years ago, I cringe. Mind you, back then I thought I was quite decent.

Blogging was one of the major factors in my language journey that enhanced all my skills.

If you keep delaying blogging in English, 💁‍♀ the only thing you're accomplishing this way is wasting your time, because:

Swipe left to read further! 👈

By .sng:

We talk about what we like at all times, don’t we? So, having an extensive vocabulary to talk about your likes and dislikes sure comes in handy.

🔸HAVE A SOFT SPOT FOR
I have a soft spot for cats and cat videos. Let's face it. Who doesn't? 😺

🔸HAVE A THING FOR
I have a thing for American accent. I can't get enough of it! 🇺🇸

🔸BE PARTIAL TO
I'm partial to contemporary fiction. Okaay, chick lit. 😝

🔸BE A SUCKER FOR
I'm a sucker for muted colors. Pink beige and taupe are my faves! 🌈

🔸HAVE AN AFFINITY FOR
I have an affinity for Georgian cuisine. I could stuff my face with khinkali every single day. 😋

🔸BE OBSESSED WITH
I'm obsessed with podcasts. They have long been ingrained in my daily routine. 🎧

🔸NOTHING BEATS
Nothing beats a good old cinnamon roll with a cup of freshly brewed black tea. ☕

🔸BE INTO
Yeah, I'm really into procrastibaking. Hit me up if you need a recipe for how to never get things done. 🥐

🔸BE BIG ON
I'm not big on video games but I can sure kick your ass at Mortal Kombat. 🎮

🔸NOT MY THING
Taking selfies is just not my thing. I bet 💯 rubles you're not going to find one online.

🔸KEEN ON
My friends and I are super keen on board games like Codenames or Dixit. They're a boatload of fun! 🎲

🔸CAN'T STOMACH
I can't stomach waking up in the wee hours of the morning. Thank goodness I don't have to! 😅

🔸CAN'T STAND
I can't stand dirty dishes piling up in the sink, so my motto is "Keep up with the washing up". 🍽

❓What are you go-to ways to express what you love or loathe? Feel free to share in the comments below.

More intricate ways to say simple stuff 😊

♻ 1. Important or crucial = ____ is of the essence

For instance, time is of the essence (the most common one) or speed is of the essence here.

- In chess, cool nerves are of the essence.

P.S. did you guys know I started playing chess a month ago? And I have to admit I'm quite obsessed with it now. 🙈

♻ 2. Truly can be substituted by "legit". It can also mean "actually" or "for real".

- I legit don't know.

- He was legit driving the car with all the doors open.

- All I want is a legit chance to succeed.

♻ 3. From my side = on my end

"This phrase, which is common in American English, is used when talking about your side of things."

- There's no problem on my end.

- Well, on my end, there are plenty of issues.

♻ 4. Reliable/useful - solid

- You want a partner who is solid and stable.

- All I am looking for is a good solid performance.

Also, if you do something for a SOLID period of time, you do it without any pause or interruption throughout that time.

- We had worked together for two solid years.

♻ 5. Beautiful can turn into a simple but tasteful "a thing of beauty"

P.S. ⚠ Something for which one feels deep-seated appreciation or affinity, not necessarily just at an aesthetic level.

- Have you been to the botanical garden in the spring before? Their collection of tulips is a thing of beauty.

- Taking a sip of hot, freshly brewed coffee as the sun rises—I tell you, it's a thing of beauty.

I have a few more up my sleeve, let me know if I should post them soon by liking/sharing/commenting this one! 🤗

Written by the most voracious reader I've ever known 😊

Reading is an incredible way to learn new things, experience different perspectives, and improve your language skills. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to develop a consistent reading practice, for a variety of reasons.

✅ Here are some tips for improving your reading practice:

1. Reading you WILL do is better than reading you won’t. Don’t force yourself to read things you find uninteresting because they are impressive or famous. Don’t feel compelled to fight with writing that you don’t enjoy or understand; it’s the responsibility of the author 🤨 to write in a way that audiences find relatable.

2. Give up on specific pieces of writing freely. Some things start well and tail off. Some things simply aren’t for you, or for this moment in your life. Prioritize things that speak to you in a way that makes them 📖 hard to put down.

3. Don’t underestimate writing that doesn’t come in books. The right kinds of magazines, newsletters, blogs, and even social media can contain writing that is worth reading. 👍🏻 All these mediums contain writing that is excellent and writing that is awful and everything in between. Learning to separate the two is a skill in and of itself.

4. Read different books at the same time. One of the beauties of books is that they come in all kinds of flavors: serious, funny, sad, happy, chaotic, organized. ♻ Have different books going at the same time so that you always have one to match your mood.

5. Cultivate different sources for reading recommendations. Find people, blogs, or newsletters that share your taste and keep an eye 👁 out for what they are reading.

6. Be proud of your reading habits. Some people are suspicious or scornful of people who read widely. F**k them. Being well read is a mark of distinction and a path toward a broader perspective on life. 🎉 That is something to celebrate.