Hello!!

I am planning on posting a new phrasal verb every few days. Each post will have a definition, a little example of how it is used and some questions to help you practise using it yourself.

Regardless of how good your English is, when non-native speakers arrive in an English-speaking country they usually find the local accent difficult to understand. This can be frustrating and very disheartening. After years of study and practice to achieve greater skill in the language, you expect to be able to understand what is going on around you. You expect to be able to understand someone when you ask them a simple question. You expect to be able to have a conversation where you can keep up. ​

When non-native speakers come to Ireland (my home country), they are keen to practise their English language skills. They make an honest effort to integrate with the people. What happens many people, however, is that they start to lose confidence bit by bit. Being continuously unable to understand the locals and being continuously misunderstood can lead them to feel insecure. Click here to read more.

David McGrath - English For Better Living © 2016

As an English language learner, would you prefer to practise with a native speaker or a fellow second-language learner? A native speaker, right? To reach this end, many people take part in language exchanges, which because of the internet and global travel, have become easier and easier. ​

However, it isn’t all plain sailing. You can meet all sorts of people; some you may not have a lot in common with; and others who aren’t as determined to progress as you are. Another problem can be, in spite of having found the perfect language-exchange partner or having a group of friends you can practise with, you don’t feel like you’re getting any better. All your chatting in English isn’t actually getting you anywhere. In fact, at times it seems you are actually getting worse.

To experience success in anything, we need to be clear on what we want. It is very easy to say, you want to practise your English or you want to get better at speaking. But ask yourself, what does that actually mean? And what do you have to do to achieve it? It is only by being specific about the results we want that we can measure if we are moving closer to achieving them or not. 

Perhaps it is time to change your approach. Click here to read more...

David McGrath - English For Better Living © 2016