Mums' learning English blog
Learning tips, advice, grammar points and more to help you feel more confident with English
What I’ve learnt from teaching online
Teaching online lessons in the past two years has been a big learning curve for me, like the rest of the world. I've been running Mums' English Circle for more than two years and had members from 9 different countries. Here are five qualities MEC members have brought...
Things your (British) parents might say to you
I don't know if it's just British parents that have a set phrase book, but these saying are well known in British homes up and down the UK. They mix a sense of humour and sarcasm to tell children to do things, things that parents around the world often have to say and...
Stop wasting time on ‘th’ pronunciation
Did you use to spend hours in English lessons trying to get the pronunciation of 'th' correct? Did you get it right? Do you still get it right every time? These two small letters cause a lot of headaches for English learners. What's more, there are two ways to...
The story of Mums’ English Circle
Why did I start Mums' English Circle, and where did the idea come from? Read on for the full story... Before... I've been an English teacher for over 12 years now. I used to work in London in public relations, and while I enjoyed that it was not something I wanted to...
5 top tips to get fluent at speaking English
The number one question I am always asked is, how do I get fluent in speaking English? Here are my 5 top tips for getting fluent in speaking English. 1. Read out loud. Especially good if you have no idea what to say. Grab an English book near you, open it up and start...
Should I learn British or American pronunciation ?
Many learners worry that they, or their children, should focus on learning a certain type of English pronunciation - British or American. But I want to reassure you that it is not necessary to learn and change your accent so that you sound British, American,...
Reading to your children aloud in English
Do you read English books to your children? Reading is a hugely beneficial way to improve your language, both in your native language and in subsequent languages you learn. And reading to children exposes them to a lot of words in a short amount of time, and...
All about love and hate
One of the most common questions I get with English grammar is this: Is there any difference between I love eating cake and I love to eat cake? The 2 verb combinations are something that English learners have to learn and remember. For example with these sentences: We...
Stop worrying about ‘thinking in English’
Many teachers tell you to think in English and to stop translating in your head. This causes concern for many learners when they find they are still translating. They worry that they're not really fluent in English because they can't 'think in English.' If this is you...
How to learn English – 4 dos and 4 don’ts
How do you learn English - here are four things you should, and four things you shouldn't do if you want to improve your English 1. Don't study We have this image that English learning must be in a classroom, with books with a teacher, or at your desk, with books or...