ALC English

Why learn English – 7 reasons to start investing in your skills

We see you over there, wondering if studying English is a good use of your time. You already speak one language and it’s served you well until now, right? Well, sure. Unless you want to travel, study abroad, work in an international setting, learn about other cultures, and make more friends. If that sounds good to you, speaking and learning English is pretty much essential.

It’s the official language in 55 countries, and widely spoken in more than 100

Of course, that includes the “inner circle” countries you automatically think of (such as Australia, New Zealand, the UK, US, Canada and South Africa). But the list doesn’t end there. English is an official language in many African, Caribbean and Asian countries. Set your compass to Kenya, Nigeria, The Philippines, Jamaica, The Bahamas, India, Singapore, Fiji and Vanuatu – and many more where you could be conversing with locals in English.

There are nearly two billion speakers worldwide

Because it’s so widely-spoken, English has been dubbed the modern-day “world language” or “lingua franca”. While over 360 million people count English as their first language, making them the third-largest cohort of native speakers for any language after Mandarin and Spanish, nearly two billion in total speak it as their first, second, third or even fourth language. In Europe alone, 38% say they speak it at a conversational level. If you’re only going to study one foreign language and want to get good value for the time you invest, English is a must-speak.

#1 language in international communication

From traditional print materials to the internet and international relations, English eclipses other languages. It’s a major player in academia, the language of aeronautical and maritime communications, and an official language of the International Olympic Committee, the United Nations, the International Space Station, NATO, Interpol, and the European Union. If learning English for an international or diplomatic career is your goal, don’t worry about becoming fluent at once though. After developing a solid base, work to accelerate your progress, improve your writing, and gain greater speaking confidence, and consider living and studying in an English-speaking country to make the fastest progress.

It dominates in international arts, culture, entertainment…

There are a number of reasons English leads – among them its flexibility, ability to evolve, connections to other languages, and large native speaker base. Just look at the command of English-language films at the box office (particularly American entertainment and media, which generated almost 30% of the industry’s revenue in 2012), as well as the music industry, and the variety of English-language series on services such as Netflix.

…and business

English is a major tool in banking and in the business world, where some of the biggest companies – among them Sodexo, Yokohama, Honda, and Siemens – have already implemented English as their corporate lingua franca, or are taking steps to do so. World trade is also largely conducted in English as global deals need to be concluded on the basis of a language that is most likely shared by all parties (usually English). In science, English is the go-to language when coining terms or publishing theories, and as a result, in much of higher education too.

By 2050, half the world will speak English

Even now, a quarter of the global population speaks it and millions more are actively learning it. It is even estimated that by 2050 half of the world will speak it at some level. This sort of language dominance is historically unheard of – and the diminishing of English as a global language is extremely unlikely, say many experts including Manhattan Institute linguist John McWhorter, even as other languages like French, Spanish and Chinese grow and become more popular. “It is vastly unclear to me what actual mechanism could uproot English given conditions as they are,” he says.

You need English to communicate with the world

Whether your aim is to travel widely, learn about other cultures, socialize more easily with native speakers and other students, become an entrepreneur, work internationally or study abroad, building strong English skills will help you achieve these goals. And remember: as English spreads and gathers more speakers, it no longer “belongs” to native speakers. It belongs to the world – including you.

10 most difficult words in English

English can be a real pest, and even native speakers find themselves stumbling over some stubbornly tricky words. Sometimes they’re difficult to understand, other times they’ve been misused so often that their original meaning has gotten lost. Pronunciation can also be a problem. As a follow up to our article on confusing words, here are ten of the most difficult words in English.

1. Literally

If you know a language purist, watch out. Misuse of this word has been known to raise people’s blood pressure. ‘Literally’ means, “in a literal sense”, or “what I’m saying is not imagined, but truly happened as I’m saying it.” Therefore, popular uses like “I literally died laughing,” or “He was so embarrassed his cheeks literally burned up,” are not correct.

Interestingly, because of the sheer reach of its incorrect use, the Oxford English Dictionary has included an informal use for ‘literally’ allowing it as a tool to give emphasis, like in the above examples. Just don’t tell the Grammar Police!

2. Ironic

Here is a word that has confused almost all English speakers – native or otherwise. (No, really – we could write a whole course on using irony correctly!) While irony is often understood to mean a coincidence or strange turn of events, that in itself doesn’t cover its full meaning. (In fact, as Alanis Morissette’s famous song, Ironic – with around 10 poor examples of irony – shows us, coincidences and unfortunate events aren’t enough.)

While the concept of irony is extremely multi-layered, at its most simple it’s a way to use words to express the opposite of their literal meaning. However, unlike sarcasm (which also does this), irony is not intended to hurt. But wait! There’s also dramatic irony, situational irony, historical irony and others. Oh man!

So what should you do in the face of such confusion? One option is to…let it go. Truthfully, irony is not an essential ingredient to a regular day and no one will think badly of you if you don’t use the word at all!

3. Irregardless (instead of regardless)

You might have heard people use ‘irregardless’ when they mean to say ‘regardless’. ‘Regardless’ means “without regard” or “despite something” (“He maxed out his credit card regardless of the consequences,”) and is perfectly acceptable.

But despite what you might think, ‘irregardless’ isn’t a synonym! Because of it’s double negative (the prefix -ir means “not” and suffix -less means “without”) it means “not without regard”, which is actually the opposite of what its users intend. What a headache!

So remember: While ‘irregardless’ appears in dictionaries, it’s listed as a nonstandard word. This means that although it technically exists, it shouldn’t be thrown about by people who’d like to learn and use English well.

4. Whom

Who knew such a little word could be so confusing! In English, we use ‘who’ to refer to a sentence’s subject and ‘whom’ to its object. But how can you tell which one you need? Try answering your own question with ‘him’ or ‘he’. If ‘him’ could be the answer, ‘whom’ is your word. (Handy trick: both words end in m.)

For example: “Who/whom are you going to Brazil with?” Would you answer “With him,” or “With he”? You’d choose him – so whom is correct!

5. Colonel

This is a pronunciation bungle for many students! When you look at this word (meaning a rank of officer in the army), you might think it’s pronounced co-lo-nel. And who could blame you? It’s not so simple, however, as it’s pronounced kernel (like a corn kernel!). But how did ‘colonel’ end up being spelled like that?

Well, it’s an old tale of word-borrowing across history. ‘Colonel’ came from the French, who had originally borrowed it from Italian, after which they changed a letter (coronel). Then, English pinched the word for itself, before finally both the French and the English switched back to its original borrowed spelling (and the English to a whole new pronunciation). *Whew!*

6. Nonplussed

Feeling a bit nonplussed after our brief trip through linguistic history? It’s certainly possible. We’ve arrived at our sixth difficult word, another where a sneaky prefix is the culprit. Because the prefix -non means “not”, some people misuse ‘nonplussed’ as ‘unfazed’ or ‘uninterested’. In reality, ‘nonplussed’ means “bewildered” or “at a loss of what to think”. Unfortunately, there word is so often used in both ways that, at least in written English, it’s often difficult to understand which meaning the writer intended.

7. Disinterested

Imagine you’re in court. What kind of judge would you like on your case? A disinterested or uninterested judge? I hope you chose the former! While an uninterested judge would be yawning and flicking through their phone, a disinterested judge would be far more likely to hear all sides of your case and rule objectively. Remember: Someone who is disinterested is not biased and doesn’t take sides, whereas an uninterested person is not interested in something in the first place.

8. Enormity

This one’s a biggie! It seems simple enough. ‘Enormity’ is so close to ‘enormous’ that they must be synonyms. Right? Wrong! ‘Enormity’ means ‘extreme evil’ of the toe-curling, medieval history or ruthless dictator kind. Therefore, the exceptionally commonly used expression “the enormity of the situation…” is incorrect. (Unless, in fact, you’re actually talking about an act of evil. Which we hope you aren’t!)

9. Lieutenant

Another military term to confuse us! This one is an example of different pronunciations “across the pond” or between the US and UK. In British English, the word is pronounced leftenant, whereas in the United States, you’ll hear loo-tenant. While both locations have kept the same spelling – you know, just to make it interesting! – the US pronunciation is heard increasingly often in other English-speaking countries.

10. Unabashed

What’s that prefix doing on an unfamiliar word like “abash”? Well, while “abash” does exist (it means to embarrass or perplex), it hasn’t been widely used for centuries. The negative version, unabashed, on the other hand, is used today and means “not embarrassed”. So next time you’re practicing your English, speak with unabashed enthusiasm!

15 English abbreviations you need to know

Everyone loves a bit of code, and acronyms and abbreviations are great little tools that make communication faster and more fun, especially when trying to type fast on a slippery smartphone. And in English, you really can’t get away from them.

Here are 15 that you’ll encounter often and that every English speaker should know.

1. RSVP – Please reply

As with so much of English, this comes from French. RSVP stands for “Répondez s’il vous plait”. You’ll see this request on invitations to weddings and other parties. And yes, please do reply – that way, the bride or host knows exactly how many salmon fillets to order.

2. ASAP – As soon as possible

“Can you get this in ASAP?” reads the email from your boss. Depending on the project, this may or may not cause panic – but in any case, you don’t have much time to think!

3. AM/PM – Before midday (morning) and after midday (afternoon)

There’s a huge difference between 5 in the morning and 5 in the afternoon – and these little terms have it covered. Remember, don’t use them if you use 24-hour time (6 PM is the same as 18:00) and be careful to set your alarm correctly. A “morning” alarm that goes off at 7 PM doesn’t help anyone!

4. LMK – Let me know

Casual, friendly – perfect for the end of a text. LMK shows that your are expecting confirmation or more information.

5. BRB – Be right back

Sometimes when chatting, something demands our attention: be it the doorbell, a cat wanting to be let out or an irresistible caffeine​ craving. Don’t sweat it – just let your friend know you’ll BRB.

6. DOB – Date of birth

“What is my DOB?” you might have wondered the first time you saw this. After all, it does sound like a poorly chosen item of clothing or foul type of medicine. Well, rest assured you do have a DOB – we all do. You probably celebrate yours each year with far too much cake, ice cream and requisite silly hats.

7. CC/BCC – Carbon copy/blind carbon copy

Although they refer to the age of email, these terms take their names from the analogue years, when copies were made using carbon paper. Quick etiquette tip: when adding people to the CC email field, remember they “can clearly” see who else has received the email . (And don’t “reply all” unless you REALLY want to!)

8. TBA/TBC- To be announced/To be confirmed

Remember your friend whose wedding invitation you need to RSVP ASAP to? Be careful if it says venue TBA or groom TBC. It means she doesn’t have everything organized just yet!

9. ETA – Estimated time of arrival

“See you on Tuesday, ETA 9 PM.” You might see this when someone is traveling but is unsure of when their flight gets in.

10. TGIF – Thank God it’s Friday

Sung by workers worldwide each Friday afternoon – the weekend is here!

11. FOMO – Fear of missing out

And with the weekend can come a some pretty serious FOMO. Imagine: You’ve been invited out but don’t feel like going. But, at the same time, you know it’ll be fun fun and that you may regret not going. So you agonize over what to do.

12. IMO – in my opinion (or IMHO – in my humble opinion)

We’ve all got a few opinions. This is how you can express them.

13. n/a – not available, not applicable

Use this when filling out a form to show that particular section doesn’t apply to you.

14. aka – Also known as

This little beauty is used to refer to someone or something by another name – often a nickname, such as how your bro (might) refer to his newborn baby (“This is Eddie, aka ‘The p**p machine'”), or how Chile refers to a much-loved footballer, Alexis Sanchez, aka ‘El Niño Maravilla’.

15. DIY – Do it yourself

People who are interested in completing tasks themselves rather than hiring professionals (aka DIY-ers) exist in all walks of life. From fixing electronics and upholstering furniture to completely renovating their homes, as you can imagine, DIY projects can result in as many great successes as horrible messes!

10 festive English idioms everyone should know

To truly perfect your English, you need to know your idioms. Idioms are phrases used to describe a feeling or situation, and often mean something entirely different from the literal words used. For example, when someone says “let’s kill two birds with one stone”, they are referring to completing two things at the same time with one action (so you and the birds can breathe a sigh of relief.)

Although idioms can be hard to grasp at first, they’re well worth learning because native speakers throw them into conversation all the time. In fact, there’s such a wide range of them used in the English language, that you can create a whole category of idioms that are perfectly suited to the festive season.

So, with the holiday period on the horizon, here are 10 English idioms with a festive twist that everyone should learn ahead of the celebrations.

1. Christmas came early this year

What does it mean?
When something good but surprising happens.

How do you use it?
If you experience something unexpected that you’re grateful for, you can use this expression to show your delight. Perhaps you received an unexpected gift from your friend, or got some really good news about a job you applied for — it looks like Christmas came early this year! You can use this idiom all year round — in fact, the further away Christmas is, the more joy you express.

Example: “I got a surprise promotion at work today. Looks like Christmas came early this year!”

2. Good things come in small packages

What does it mean?
Don't judge something by how big it is.

How do you use it?
Use this idiom when you want to suggest something small has positive qualities, attributes, or values that exceed your expectations. It's an optimistic way of expressing that physical size has little to do with worth. You can easily use this idiom to describe actual gifts at Christmas time (especially when your sibling complains about the size of your present), giving this idiom a festive twist.

Example: "I know the box is small, but remember, good things come in small packages!"

3. Lit up like a Christmas tree

What does it mean?
To display visible joy.

How do you use it?
Use this phrase when talking about a person’s involuntary but positive physical reaction, like a gleam in a person's eyes or a huge grin. This idiom describes when someone’s joy or happiness is so visible, their facial expression “lights up”. This expression draws comparison to a traditional Christmas tree, which is usually decorated with bright lights and shiny ornaments.

Example: “Her face lit up like a Christmas tree when she realized it was a surprise party!”

4. The more the merrier

What does it mean? The more people in attendance, the better it will be.

How do you use it? Use this phrase to tell someone that the more people invited, the more fun it will be. This is appropriate for any gathering of people, such as parties, dinners, or trips. The term “merry” — meaning happy or jolly — is often used at Christmas, such as in the common festive greeting “Merry Christmas”. With more people around, there’s more room for fun, diverse conversations, and general enjoyment.

Example: "I’m organizing a games night tonight. Invite as many people as you want — the more, the merrier!"

5. To go on a wild goose chase

What does it mean? To complete a hopeless task.

How do you use it? Have you ever found yourself looking for something and ended up convincing yourself that it just didn’t exist in the first place? Well, then you might describe yourself as being on a wild goose chase. Your searching was pointless, aimless, and tiresome! This idiom has a festive twist because goose is a very traditional dish to enjoy over Christmas.

Example: “I've looked everywhere for my house keys and I can’t find them! I feel like I’m going on a wild goose chase here.”

6. The proof is in the pudding

What does it mean? You only know if something is good by trying it.

How do you use it? Use this phrase when you want to try out something new, but are not sure how it will go. After all, you won’t know if something is good until you try it. Remember — despite its pudding-based phrasing, it doesn’t have to be about food specifically and could refer to anything from trying a new restaurant to testing some new shoes. The festive twist comes from Christmas pudding being a famous cake made with dried fruits soaked in rum eaten around Christmas time in some parts of the world.

Example: “He told me doing yoga every week would change my life. I’m skeptical but I guess the proof is in the pudding.”

7. Like turkeys voting for Christmas

What does it mean? To make a decision that is harmful to yourself.

How do you use it? This idiom is used to describe actions that go against your own well-being and personal interests. The phrase compares your bad decision to turkeys choosing to have Christmas – turkeys are usually eaten as traditional dishes in England and America. Therefore Christmas would not be in their best interest.

Example: "Choosing the most complicated board game with my very competitive friends – feels like turkeys voting for Christmas."

8. Be there with bells on

What does it mean? To be excited and enthusiastic.

How do you use it? If you are particularly excited about an event, like a party, you might use this phrase to exaggerate just how pumped you are. If you arrive somewhere with “bells on” you are sending out a very eager and happy attitude. In the UK, bells are traditionally rung at midnight to celebrate the start of Christmas.

Example: "Karaoke night tonight? Count me in, I'll be there with bells on, ready to hit the high notes!"

9. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth

What does it mean? To be ungrateful.

How do you use it? The idea is that when you receive a gift or something for free, you shouldn’t question it or judge its value. It’s considered rude to look a gift horse in the mouth as it means you’re examining the worth of something you received as a gift. People use this idiom when someone is ungrateful for a gift given out of goodwill, for example during Christmas.

Example: "Complaining about a free meal is like looking a gift horse in the mouth."

10. A Christmas miracle

What does it mean? Something highly unlikely but wonderful.

How do you use it? “It’s a Christmas miracle!” is an expression used to describe something unexpected and highly improbable. This could be something great, almost magical, that you can’t quite believe has happened. Or it can be said somewhat sarcastically to describe a situation that, though not quite a miracle, is extremely rare (as per the example below). This idiom, although decidedly festive, can be used at any time of year.

Example: "Wow — the whole family has agreed on a movie to watch together. It’s a Christmas miracle!"

We hope these idioms help decorate your conversations over the festive period. Happy holidays!

How to Improve Spelling: 10 Techniques to Guide Your Learning

There are a lot of strategies to improve spelling skills, but not all of them are equally effective. The best way is to use strategies that work for you as an individual. And while there is no one magic solution that will work for everyone, some methods are more likely to be helpful than others. Below, you will find the different approaches you can take to learning and improving your skills. We will also share some tips on how to make studying more enjoyable and less like a chore.

Tip 1: Read as Much as Possible

One of the best ways to become a better speller is to read English as much as possible. The more exposure you have to correct spelling, the easier it will be for you to learn new words and spell them correctly. You can read books, magazines, newspapers – anything that interests you. If you come across a word that you don’t know how to spell, look it up in a dictionary or online so that you can remember it for next time.
Also, when reading for pleasure, pay attention to the words that you find difficult to spell and look them up later. You can even keep a list of these “problem words” so that you can focus on them specifically during your practice sessions.

Tip 2: Listen Attentively

One of the ways to improve spelling is listening attentively when someone else is speaking English (or even watching TV or movies). When we hear words spoken out loud over and over again, they become easier for us to remember how they are spelled. Pay attention not just to the general sound of the word but also to its individual letters. This will help “imprint” the correct spelling into your mind.

Tip 3: Use Mnemonic Devices

One popular technique for spelling improving is to use mnemonic devices. This means creating a sentence or phrase in which each word starts with the letter of the word you are trying to spell. For example, the word “because” could be memorized using the phrase “Big Elephants Can Always Understand Small Elephants.” Of course, you can also come up with your own mnemonic devices that are more personal to you and meaningful to you. This will make them easier to remember.

Tip 4: Write It Out

A simple but effective way is by writing them out over and over again. The act of physically writing out the letters helps our brains process information better and makes it more likely that we will remember how to spell correctly the next time we see or hear the word. You can also try using different colored pens or highlighters so that each time you write a word, it looks slightly different, which may help your brain pay closer attention.

Tip 5: Play Spelling Games

Learning doesn’t always have to be boring! There are lots of fun improving spelling games. Scrabble, Boggle, Hangman, and Wordsearch are all great options. You can even make up your own games – get creative! If you enjoy playing computer/video games, several online options are specifically designed to strengthen your English spelling ability. Therefore, mastering spelling is not necessarily boring as there are many games.

Tip 6: Take Practice Tests

If you want to know exactly where your strengths and weaknesses lie when it comes to English spelling, take some practice tests! Many websites offer free quizzes on various topics; choose one that sounds interesting and give it a try. After taking the test, review any words you misspelled and ensure you know how they should be spelled before moving on to the next test.

Tip 7: Use Spelling Aids

There are different aids available online and in bookstores that help learn how to spell better. These include dictionaries, thesauruses, and word lists organized by topic or level of difficulty, so you can choose the one that suits you. If you find yourself repeatedly misspelling a particular type of word, consider investing in a resource that specifically addresses that issue.
In addition, some great online resources and mobile apps can help you strengthen your skills. Take advantage of these by using them regularly in your studies, and this will help you a lot.

Tip 8: Establish Good Study Habits

If you want to improve your spelling, it is important to establish good study habits from the start. This means setting aside a regular time each day or week to focus on your English skills and sticking to it even when you don’t feel like it! You should also create a system for organizing new information so that you can easily review it later on. For example, you might keep a notebook dedicated solely to English vocabulary words, with each page including the word, its definition, and an example sentence using the word correctly.

Tip 9: Seek Help When Needed

There is no shame in admitting that you need help in spelling improvement – we all need assistance at some point during our language-learning journey! There are many courses and platforms available online. For example, you can sign up for an online course on the Promova platform. Tutors on this site can help you with anything from grammar to pronunciation to spelling, so learning English with Promova will be as simple as possible.
If you know someone who is a native English speaker or has strong skills, see if they would be willing to help you study or practice words. You could also join an English-language club or group in your city, which would give you the opportunity to practice with other learners in a relaxed and fun environment.

Tip 10: Be Patient with Yourself

Learning how to spell correctly takes time and effort, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t see results immediately. But as long as you keep at it and use some of the spelling tips tricks above, we are confident that you will make great progress over time. Just like with anything else worth learning in life, mastering English spelling requires patience and perseverance. So, keep at it and don’t give up – your efforts will eventually pay off!

Conclusion
Learning how to get better at spelling is important for anyone who wants to improve their English skills. However, it can be a daunting task for many people. The good news is that there are things you can do to make the process easier and less painful. By following the tips above, you can learn how to spell without resorting to memorization or drills. For example, you can play games, use mnemonic devices, or just read what you like.

Of course, there are many other ways to enhance your skills. However, the tips and strategies above are some of the most effective and least painful ways to do so. So, if you want to get better at this aspect, start with these tips! Just be patient, establish study habits, and you will eventually see great results.

Speaking English with Confidence

How can you build your confidence?

Listen:
The more English you hear, the easier it will be for you to copy what you hear.

Practice:
The more you speak, the more comfortable you will feel about speaking. Start with easy things. Ask questions at a store.
Ask where you can find something, even if you already know. Say hello to the bus driver. Just open your mouth and talk whenever you can.

Stop worrying about making mistakes:
We all make mistakes. Your message is most important. If the other person understands you, it’s not important how many mistakes you make.

Practicing and improving your English skills at ALC English will give you the courage and confidence you need when you are speaking English to other people.

To speak confidently you need knowledge of vocabulary, sentence structure, pronunciation, and finally listening comprehension to understand the other person so you can reply. At ALC English you will be practicing all of this in our activities while you are practicing speaking English.

How long Does It Take to Speak English Fluently?

This is a difficult question to answer, as it depends on many factors, such as your prior knowledge of English, how much time you’re willing to dedicate to study, and which methods you use.

If you already have a basic understanding of the language you can get by in simple conversations becoming fluent will probably take several months to a year of consistent effort. However, if English is entirely new to you or you only studied it briefly in the past, it could take significantly longer.

In any case, don’t be discouraged – even if it takes years to reach your goals, data suggests that most people continue improving their fluency indefinitely, regardless of how long they’ve been studying the language.