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Since 2013 — grammar, vocabulary, idioms, pronunciation, phrasal verbs, and thoughts on learning English in the real world.
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2017
5 Tips about How to Study English when you don’t have Time
Does this sound like you? “I want to learn English, but I just don’t have the time! I have too much to do.” Or, “I have too many people to take care of, and not
Common English Vocabulary you Hear Online, Especially with English Teachers
Since you’re learning online with me, I know you’re learning English online with other teachers too. How many times have you heard us online teachers use words,
How to Use the Present Perfect and Present Perfect Progressive Naturally in English
If you feel confused by the present perfect tense, then don’t worry you’re not alone! This time tense and the present perfect progressive are the grammar points
American English Pronunciation: -TION, The SCHWA, & Accents
Do you struggle with understanding American English pronunciation? Do you ever feel like you think you understand how a word sounds, but then you hear a native
8 Ways to Practice and Improve Writing in English
A lot of English learners don’t realize the importance of writing in English. If you are one of these learners, you might think that you don’t need to practice
8 Ways to Improve Listening Skills in English
A new Everyday English Lesson is ready for you with tips to improve listening skills in English. These Everyday English lessons focus on the skills you need to
7 Ways to Learn Vocabulary in English
What’s the key to English fluency and success? You must understand that English fluency is like a big 100000 piece puzzle that takes dedication, hard work, lots
Adverbs of Frequency
There are several types of adverbs and different places that adverbs can go within a sentence. While this can make them confusing, they don’t need to be! This l
Airport Vocabulary in English
Do you have an upcoming vacation? Have you ever felt lost in an airport trying to use your English? Today’s lesson will give you the most important airport voca
Travel [related] Expressions with TAKE
I am taking a road trip this weekend! This road trip has inspired this week’s 60 Second Saturday English lesson, and today you’re going to learn about travel ex
Other meanings of HAVE in English [Vocabulary Lesson]
Today’s ‘Everyday English’ lesson was inspired by a question a student of mine had. We’re going to talk about other meanings of HAVE in English, because I reali
How to say “I’m pregnant” in English
It’s a cliché to say that time has flown by, especially when talking about how fast children grow up. However, I can’t think of anything more appropriate to say
American English Pronunciation: Negative Contractions and the ending -T
The letter “T” in American English is a tricky (*challenging*) sound to master and perfect because of the variations it has when being used in conversations. Di
Common Verb + Preposition (TO) Combinations in English (& Mistakes)
Some verbs need prepositions while others don’t. Do you know what some of these verbs are? Learn some common verb + preposition combinations and mistakes to avo
3 Tips for Successful Studying in English for Fluency
In order to be successful in English and to reach fluency, you need to be studying more successfully right? We’re continuing this theme of English success (last
60 Second Saturday: 2 Tips for English Success
What’s the secret to learning English? Are there ways that you can learn easier, faster, and with more enjoyment? YES! And this is what we’re going to focus on
Faux Pas: Vocabulary Lesson + American Culture Tips
If you want to travel, or move and live in the United States, there are some things you need to know. The language, of course, is helpful which is why you’re le
Have not VERSUS Do not Have: What’s the Difference?
Have you ever wondered what the difference between HAVE NOT and DO NOT HAVE was? Do you think you’ve ever confused the two and made a mistake while using Englis
English Phrasal Verbs for Sickness
English for your every day life, or everyday English is what I focus on teaching you each and every week right here at and on English Outside the Box! As you’ll
7 New Ways to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY in English
Someone very special to me is celebrating a birthday today! While it is very (very) common to simply say, “Happy Birthday” to someone on their special day, toda
Consonant Blends with L + R
Accurate pronunciation. Everyone needs it that wants to be fluent in any language. Because we focus on mastering your everyday English skills on this blog, skil
Best of 60 Second Saturday
60 Second Saturday was born on my Instagram, with the exciting addition of extended 60-second video lengths last year. I was on a mission to teach mini-lessons
Important Computer and Technical English Vocabulary
I’ve been hacked! The great news is that I can now use this as an opportunity to teach you important and incredibly useful English vocabulary. I realized, while
How to Have Small Talk in English
Small talk is often referred to as an “art” (and many books are sold about it) because it requires a skill to create and maintain an engaging conversation with
Object VS Subject Questions in English
If you’ve been following English Outside the Box the past couple of weeks, you have been reviewing a lot of information about questions. We’ve talked about the
Using Indirect Questions in English
Is there a difference between sentences and questions that you need to know when changing direct speech into indirect/reported speech? Although we’ve already re
How to Use Embedded Questions in English
I am not sure if you’ve studied embedded questions in English before. Can you tell me in the comments what confusions you have about embedded questions? I am wo
3 Questions to Start a Conversation
Have you been in a situation where you needed to start a conversation, but you didn’t know what to say? Perhaps you were with new friends, at a work party, or w
How to Ask Questions in English: Question Structure
There are many different types of questions in English, various ways to ask them, and questions are necessary for starting and maintaining English Conversations
How to Learn English Prepositions
A quick search on Google will tell you that there are about 150 English prepositions. Add that to the other vocabulary you need to learn, grammar you need to ma
The Best of “5 Minute English” for English Fluency
In order to be fluent in English you need to be able to “express yourself easily”. Although many learners only think of speaking skills when it comes to fluency
Past Perfect Practice: How to use the Past Perfect
The foundation of your English relies on your understanding of the time tenses in English. In order to effectively talk about the present, past, and future, you
How to talk about Moving in English [naturally]!
I am excited to announce that we’ve officially moved out of our house, and have moved away from the desert! Today’s English lesson is being taught a little clos
4 (Noun) Idioms with Cat
If you know me, you know I love cats! Who can be surprised that I’d dedicate a whole lesson to them? There are a lot of idioms related to “cats” in English; how
Pronunciation: The “L” in American English
Even though the “L” sound in American English may seem like a basic consonant and a simple sound to produce, I actually come across a lot of English learners wh
3 New Ways to Say “I’m going to sleep” in English
Expanding your vocabulary, and learning how to say the same thing in different ways is incredibly important when working on your English fluency. This is not on
How to Learn Vocabulary
Vocabulary: the words that a person knows and uses. This is how Merriam-Webster Learner’s Dictionary defines the word vocabulary. So if you need to use English,
English Expressions with Baby + Kid
I hope you feel like a kid in a candy store when you read this English lesson! Today you’re going to learn English expressions with baby, and you’ve already sta
Using English Naturally: Bring Up
Sounding more natural in English, and using English more naturally is easier than you think when you have the right tools and resources. It shouldn’t be a surpr
60 Second Saturday: Music Idioms in English
Is it necessary for English fluency to learn and use idioms? I’ve been asked some variation of this question quite often, and the answer is… yes! Native speaker
English Pronunciation Tips: 3 Difficult Words & How to Pronounce Them
Although many English learners find linking and word reductions quite difficult, it actually makes pronunciation much easier! You aren’t required to put so much
How to Laugh in English: English Onomatopoeia
Have you ever wondered how to laugh in English? Perhaps you’ve wondered how you can express admiration or awe, or show surprise (in English) when you’re writing
Setting English Goals: What is English Fluency?
You are studying English because you want to be fluent. You want to be able to speak fluently. So, in order to have English fluency, you read this blog (and pro
10 Ways to Ask Someone to Repeat Something in English
It’s important to know how to ask someone to repeat something in English whether you’re a native speaker or an English learner. In both cases, there are going t
The 4 Things you NEED to Change in Reported Speech
Welcome back to part 2 of your ‘Everyday English’ lesson on reported speech. This lesson should be reviewed after part 1 (read part 1 here), where we talked abo
3 Ways to Use Tag Questions in English
You’re a busy English learner, aren’t you? Videos that are short but informative help you a lot, don’t they? You’ve been learning English with me for a while, h
Direct and Indirect Speech: 4 Rules for Tense Changes in Reported Speech
If you need English for your daily life, and you are often using English at work, in school, or with friends, then you need to know about direct and indirect sp
English Pronunciation of Through, Though, Thought
Do you confuse the English pronunciation of through, though, and thought? Don’t worry, you’re not alone! English pronunciation can be tricky, especially when th
Everyday English LIVE Lesson: When a T sounds like a D
“Progress is impossible without change….” George Bernard Shaw Change is necessary for a lot of things, like progress and moving forward. It’s important for grow
Everyday English: Dictation Practice to Learn Phrasal Verbs & Pronunciation
Every Saturday, I have been giving a live “Everyday English” lesson on my YouTube channel to teach more everyday English skills. These (everyday) English skills
Regrets and How to Use the 3rd Conditional in English
When you read this blog, you improve your English. In fact, if you read this blog every week, you will improve even more! Do you recognize a pattern with the ab
Everyday English: 5 Tips for Learning Phrasal Verbs
Phrasal verbs are the never-ending English grammar and vocabulary topic that every English learner needs. Phrasal verbs are necessary for English fluency; they’
TOEFL Speaking: Question 1
I’ve been getting a lot of requests for more test preparation materials, especially to help students with the speaking section of the TOEFL. I’ve helped many st
Everyday English Pronunciation: The Schwa in American English
How comfortable are you pronouncing the most common sound in American English? Do you know what the most common sound is? If you answered the schwa sound, then
English Idioms with TOWN
I am out of town this week; however, I still want you guys to learn helpful everyday English skills which is why you have this short (but very sweet) video teac
Improve English Fluency with Breaking Bad and Bloodline
Have you ever watched a TV show that you just couldn’t get enough of? If you can’t get enough of something, that means you really like it and want a lot of it o
4 Ways to Improve English Vocabulary
If you’re like most of my students, you struggle with learning new vocabulary words and applying them (using them) in your English conversations. In order to su
Everyday English: Idioms about Sickness
It’s cold season here in the States, and I am not talking about the weather. “Cold” can also be a noun, and it’s a common illness that can affect your eyes, nos
Everyday English: Travel Phrasal Verbs
The topic of phrasal verbs can provide endless lesson opportunities because as you know, they are a very important part of English conversation and fluency. Nat
Understand English Modals
If you want to learn English you must be studying every day. To increase fluency, you have to surround yourself in as much English as possible. You should have
How to Speak English like a Native Speaker
Learning how to speak English like a native English speaker just got easier with these 3 tips from my recent (and second) “Everyday English” YouTube Live lesson
English Success Story: 3 Tips to Overcome Fear when Speaking English
I am happy to share another student success story with you this week; however, this time I am sharing the story of a personal student of mine. My goal with thes
4 English Phrases with COMPLIMENT
Hey, you. Yes, you! The person reading this blog lesson. Your motivation is an inspiration to those around you, including me! I hope you know that today, and ev
Understanding the English Perfect Tenses
From time to time I ask my Instagram students what they need and want to learn. Sometimes I’ll ask which specific questions they have, or ask them to share whic
15 English Idioms with FEET
As you (now) know, everything I teach on this blog, Instagram, YouTube, and other teaching platforms is #REALenglish. I use this hashtag to let my learners, to
5 Tips to Make English Studying a Habit
“I should study more.” “I need to improve my vocabulary.” I want to speak better.” When I asked my students about what they wanted to achieve in 2017 these were
2016
English Success Story: Nicola at Berlin and Other Stories
As this year comes to an end and a new year is quickly approaching, you may be one of the people making New Year’s resolutions. Resolutions are the promises you
12 English Lessons for the Holidays
On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me…… the gift of LANGUAGE! Welcome to one of the final English lessons of 2016, and a holiday-inspired post f
English Expressions and Mistakes with DO and MAKE
Did you know that do is one of the most commonly used verbs in the English language?* Also making the top 10 most commonly used verbs in English is make, so it’
Shopping Vocabulary in English: Phrasal Verbs & Expressions
Did you know that over 55% of shoppers started buying their holiday gifts in November? Yes, according to the National Retail Federation, about 137.4 million peo
Giving Tuesday: A Vocabulary, Listening, & Speaking Lesson
“Unexpected kindness is the most powerful, least costly, and most underrated agent of human change.” – Bob Kerrey Do you agree with this quote, that unexpected
/ɪ/ and /i:/ American English Pronunciation of I and EE
Pronunciation is an important part of your English fluency puzzle, because you need the people around you to understand what you are saying in order to communic
Understand English Tag Questions
Imagine the following situation: You’re in an elevator at work, and a coworker, who’s a native English speaker, walks in and smiles at you. After you push the b
Confusing Words in English
We’ve been talking a lot about improving your English fluency on this blog the past couple of weeks, and if you’ve been active in participation, you have alread
How You Can Be Prepared for Any Speaking Situation in English
Welcome back to another special blog + video lesson! [Or, if it’s your first time, welcome to learning outside the box!] As you know, the last few weeks have be
October Learning Plan: 31 Daily English Lessons – Week 4 Speaking
If you had to rate your speaking skills on a scale of 1 (not confident/poor) to 10 (extremely confident/fluent), how would you rate yours? Are you happy with yo
October Learning Plan: 31 Daily English Lessons – Week 3 Writing
Writing skills are incredibly important when learning English, because you’ll use these skills to communicate both formally and informally. You’ll need writing
October Learning Plan: 31 Daily English Lessons – Week 2 Listening
Take a minute to think about all of the situations you need listening skills [in English] in your life. You need these skills for entertainment, like listening
October Learning Plan: 31 Daily English Lessons – Week 1 Vocabulary
Hello October and hello new month of learning! I am over the moon (*so excited*) to be sharing a very special learning plan with you today, which I’ve created t
How to Talk about Pregnancy in English
There is a very good chance that you or someone you know is pregnant, or has been pregnant at some point in your life. Pregnancy is an exciting time, welcoming
English Idioms with FALL
Oh, fall. That colorful season that brings cooler weather, bright leaves, pumpkin everything, and the start of a busy holiday season here in the United States.
English Prepositions: Expressions with IN and ON
Welcome back to my preposition series! If you’re a regular follower, you know that I posted about English Prepositions of Time last month, and promised that I’d
My Top 10 Apps to Learn English
Learning and studying English should never be boring, and at English Outside the Box that is one of my top goals for you and all of my students. I want you to e
English Podcast: English Across the Pond
There are so many English learning opportunities that many students aren’t taking advantage of (*aren’t using*), are you one of these students? I want you to th
English Prepositions of TIME
Let me begin this post by asking you a question. How often do you feel confused with prepositions? Have you ever used the words IN or ON incorrectly? Do you fee
Grammar Review: English Gerunds and Infinitives
If you stop to read this post, I promise you will stop being confused with English gerunds and infinitives. I know that it can be confusing to decide whether to
5 English Phrasal Verbs with Hand
As an English learner, phrasal verbs are something you can assume you will be learning indefinitely (*a period of time that won’t end*) because there are so man
American English Pronunciation: Heteronyms
I was inspired for this post today after realizing the difficulty that many students have with the pronunciation of heteronyms (words that are spelled the same
Understand English Possessives
As I think about the topics to write on my blog for you, I often consider what your biggest difficulties may be. Yours may differ from another English learner,
5 Tips to Improve English Fluency from an English Learner
Every week I provide English lessons and some of my favorite tips and recommendations for building your English skills. I am confident in my advice, because not
Learn English Idioms with Blue
My last post with a 5 Minute English video about idioms with throat was such a hit (*very popular*) that people were commenting and e-mailing me for more idioms
Using Podcasts to Learn English
We are so lucky to have what seems like unlimited amounts of technology and resources to learn languages. There are various websites, apps, of course online tut
Learn English Idioms with Throat
Idioms! Idioms! Idioms! English idioms are so much fun to teach because they are so common, are so interesting, and really help English learners become more flu
Learn English in 60 Seconds
Technology and the convenience of smartphones, wifi, and various apps have been continuing to make learning so much easier, especially for people “on the go” (*
American English Pronunciation: P vs B
There is a lot of work needed to improve and perfect your pronunciation skills as an English learner. There are the basic steps of understanding sounds in the a
Learn and Improve your English with TV: Bloodline
If you are like most students, you are looking for the most effective, and the most entertaining (FUN) way to learn English. This is a smart thing to do as well
How to Talk about Styling your Hair in English
Let’s face it (*let’s be honest*), there are a lot of things you need to study to reach fluency in English. It is easy to focus on the things that seem the most
Contractions in English
Good morning, good afternoon, good evening to you where ever you are in the world! Today we are combining English grammar with English pronunciation because we
So, Too, Neither, Either: Additions and Agreeing in English
Hello and welcome to English Outside the Box’s official new look. What do you think? It’s been a little quiet around here (sincerest apologies) because I’ve bee
Earth Day Idioms & English Expressions + video
This blog post is an updated article from a few years ago. I’ve added a 5 minute English video, and a new idiom for your learning pleasure! The post is inspired
The “ER” Sound in American English
I’ve been noticing consistent pronunciation difficulties in my private lessons lately, specifically with students having difficulty with the “ER” sound in Engli
5 English Phrasal Verbs with LAY
Today’s lesson was inspired by Instagram, specifically by a post I did last week about the verbs LIE and LAY. LIE versus LAY. I hear this mistake happen all the
Understand REAL conditionals in English
(EXAMPLE 1)This post is helpful if you want to improve your English. If you are reading this post, you are probably studying English. If you are not studying En
Technologies in the Classroom: 7 Educational Trends Teachers Can Use in 2016
Today is a guest post that has been written for not only teachers wanting to incorporate more technology into their class environments, but also students lookin
Idioms, Phrasal Verbs + more with PEEL
As you have learned along your English journey, words in English can have multiple meanings, be used in different contexts, and have completely different meanin
How to Use the Perfect Tense (s) in English
Ah, the perfect tenses. Many people would disagree that these tenses are not”perfect” because they actually cause a lot of confusion and difficulty with learnin
5 Ways to Speak English more Fluently without a Private Tutor
There is a common pattern among my students when talking about their English skills, and which of their skills are stronger and weaker. Most students want to im
TOEFL Writing Tips for the Independent Essay
Oh, the TOEFL test. If you are not familiar with the TOEFL, then let me give you a little information. It stands for “Test of English as a Foreign Language,” an
How to Talk about Love and Dating in English for Valentine’s Day + 25 helpful verbs and expressions
Did you know that the official day of love and romance is right around the corner? Okay, Valentine’s Day might just be a “Hallmark holiday” (which means it was
Speak Better: Really Learn English Grammar
So you want to speak better English, right? You want people to understand you when you try and communicate with them, and you want to understand what other peop
Stress-free Stresses in English Pronunciation
Today I am delighted (*happy*) to share a guest post from the talented pronunciation coach, Elena Mutonono, who also happens to be my co-host for the upcoming B
Learning Outside the Box with Instagram: Better English & English Expressions + Video Interview
We’re continuing on with Learning Outside the Box with Instagram series and featuring an Instagram star, Dan aka (*also known as*) @ betterenglish. I think I fi
Learn English and 5 Trends with your Bitmoji Keyboard.
Before you start, or I should say continue reading, I want you to look around the area you are: your desk, couch, table, or wherever you may be. How close is yo
3 Free English Webinars to Improve your Language Skills
3 Free English Training Sessions *As of 2017, these training sessions have now passed— Click “learn English” on my website for current courses and training oppo
Understanding Causative Verbs in English: make, have, let, help, get
Hello 2016! WELCOME regular followers of English Outside the Box and WELCOME to English Outside the Box if you are just joining. 2016 is going to be a great yea
2015
Why you Should NOT Make an English New Year’s Resolution
It’s that time of the year, folks. 2015 is winding down (*coming to an end*), and we are all eagerly (*excitedly*) waiting for 2016 to arrive. What will happen
5 Minute English | Christmas Vocabulary with Pictures and Video!
Ho, Ho, Ho! Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, Seasons Greetings to you, wherever you are in the world and to whatever you may or may not be celebrating today. Ev
Learning Outside the Box with Instagram: Inglês Feito à Mão
Today’s post fills me with excitement because it combines a few things that I love: teaching English outside the box, utilizing Instagram for learning, and Ingl
What is a Stative Verb in English?
Today we’re going to talk about 2 kinds of verbs These 2 English verbs are: action verbs and non-action verbs, otherwise known as stative verbs. Action verbs ar
How to Talk about AGE in English
AGE Sure age is just a number, but it’s just a number that you have talked about in the past, a number you’ve probably talked about this week, and a number you’
#givingTuesday
I dropped the ball (wasn’t prepared) for #givingTuesday this year. There are no excuses though, I’ll start by spreading the word. Knowledge is power, and togeth…
English Expressions, Vocabulary, and Idioms for Shopping
Today seems like the perfect day to share with you some English expressions and English idioms related to shopping, since this weekend marks the busiest shoppin
Which quote is meaningful to you during this special week?
It’s a great day to show our appreciation, to reflect on what we are thankful for, and a time to express this gratefulness to others. If you are celebrating Tha…
Describing Scenery with Adjectives and Descriptive Language
The first photo I shared in week 3 of #nostalgicnovember was taken in New Zealand. Spread across a bright green, rolling hillside were thousands of off-white do
SO versus TOO: What’s the same? What’s different?
Welcome to the beginning of clarity on a topic that confuses many, many people. so and too You are definitely not alone if this is what you look like when try
Let’s Talk Culinary Experiences + #nostalgicnovember
You read the title, so you know what we’re about to do! But first, I’d like you to close your eyes and imagine the most delicious dish (meal) you’ve ever had. W
Creativity Tuesday: Mariah
Let’s dive right into (begin) Creativity Tuesday today by exploring the idea of CONTRASTS (things that differ from one another in an obvious way): Black | White
#NostalgicNovember Instagram Challenge + Ways to Improve your English Participating!
Ahhh… November. A time to start bundling up in sweaters and scarves. A month to really kick off (start) the holiday season, to celebrate thankfulness, and come
Improve your English with a personal Bitmoji Avatar
Here I am again, telling you to close those textbooks! Pause that English lecture! Step outside the normal way that you have been learning! Here I am again, tel
Travel with Me, Part 4: Tag Questions + HEY
I haven’t finished my travel series yet, have I? You traveled with me to Austin and Sydney, didn’t you? It’s kind of weird I am still writing these questions, h
Travel with Me, Part 3: Australia
G’day mates! I am onto the next part of my journey, to the land down under! Australia holds such a special place in my heart; a place that I moved to with 3 of
Travel with Me, Part 2b: Of Monsters and Men
Happy Sunday! It’s the last day of the music festival here at Austin City Limits, and it’s been an amazing time! If you are just visiting the blog, WELCOME, and
Travel with Me, Part 2a: The Foo Fighters at ACL + 5 ways to learn with them
“I’ve got another confession to make….” I’ll be using music, again, to teach you some English today! The song, the lesson, and the reason is far from random, th
Travel with Me, Part 1: Packing
When is it too soon to pack for a trip? I’ve been checking the weather, daydreaming our daily itineraries, and thinking about what I’ll need to pick up at the s
Creativity Tuesday: Monsoons
#tucsonsunset Search that hashtag and you are bound to see (you’ll definitely see) some of the beauty that monsoon season brings to Tucson, Arizona. This is of
Phrasal Verb Friday: Fall
Did you know that September 23 was the first day of fall? Maybe you know it as the first day of autumn? Calling this season that takes place between summer and
Gerund Vs Infinitive- Part 2
Hey guys, I’m back!! As promised we are going to continue the part 1 post to discuss more about Gerunds vs Infinitives. I hope you understood everything on the
Creativity Tuesday: Burn Baby Burn + a Piano
What is a “burner”? It’s that time again, Creativity Tuesday! I know it is way overdue (apologies for that, it’s been crazy after #ALP). If you aren’t familiar
Active VS Passive Listening
It’s another day and another new skill to review and improve! Welcome to the 2nd activity in the final week of my August Learning Plan! I cannot believe we are
Creativity Tuesday: Love Unites
Love is in the air, can you feel it? Welcome back to Creativity Tuesday, a new recurring post that I hope inspires your creative side through beautiful photogra
Gerund vs Infinitive – Part 1
Hiii everyone!! I got this amazing invitation from Jennifer to be here contributing to the blog and your learning and I am sooo excited for it. Why? Because I w
Writing Stylistics
Hello! Happy Hump Day, Writing Stylistics Day and Writing Week! There is so much to celebrate! ♥ It’s crazy to think that we’re already mid-week of the third w
Creativity Tuesday: The Livegram Project
Welcome to English Outside the Box’s newest theme post, Creativity Tuesday! Creativity Tuesday is going to be a recurring theme that will give you opportunities
Common Pronunciation Issues…Eliminated!
Happy Thursday to you! We are nearly finished with Week 2 of our August Learning Plan, and our focus all week has been on improving our speaking skills! If thi
August Learning Plan: Week 2 Speaking Challenge!
Happy Hump Day English learners and lovers! Welcome to week 2 of the August Learning Plan, 7 days dedicated to SPEAKING! This is something that the majority of
August Learning Plan’s Week 1 Review: Reading
Congratulations on finishing week number one of the August Learning Plan! Last week you discovered your reading level and reviewed some helpful tips to improve
August Learning Plan: Improve your English skills in 4 weeks
Hey…Hey! Happy August! ♥ But, ummm…. where did July go?! This summer has just flown by, and I can’t believe we’re entering the second half of the year. Before w
Word Reductions in English: American Pronunciation + 5 minute English video
John can watch them today with her, and Paulo can go with him tomorrow. Before we begin, take a second and read that above sentence aloud. If you really want to
Phrasal Verb Friday: Work Out
Happy Friday! This week’s phrasal verb Friday post is inspired by the phrasal verb(pv): work out As you probably know, in English sometimes words have more than
Reading & Listening Comprehension with Bree Elizabeth | Part 2
Happy Friday! Yes, technically, I can still say that because here on the West Coast we still have 47 minutes left. So TGIF! Today we are finally posting Part 2
Learn and Improve English with Instagram
Hello my “out of the box” readers! I hope this day finds you feeling happy and magical! Today’s post is to share with you yet another way I am connecting you wi
Phrasal Verb Friday: Summertime!
Happy Friday! ♥ It already feels like summertime here in Tucson, 106° today, and even hotter earlier this week; however, the first official day of summer is thi
Phrasal Verb Friday: Paulo and Jennifer’s Love Story
Happy Friday! Today is an extra special day for me, not only is it phrasal verb Friday (wooo!), and Valentine’s Day in Brazil (feliz dia dos namorados gente! –
Past Perfect Progressive to Draw Conclusions
Although the title may seem a little daunting (seemingly difficult, overwhelming), you draw conclusions, or say why things happen all the time. You are probably
Phrasal Verb Friday: Actions around the House
Happy Friday! Before sitting down to write this wonderful Phrasal Verb Friday post, I was busy tidying up the house. I had to take out the trash, put away the d
Simple Past vs Present Perfect vs Present Perfect Progressive
Hey! Happy Hump Day! I haven’t written much this week (or should I say, “I didn’t write much this week.” ?) but be prepared for some exciting stuff coming your
8 Benefits of English (Language) Exchange
As you read the title, you may be thinking that the benefits of a language exchange partner are obvious, right? You get to practice speaking, which leads to imp
Free Friday & Phrasal Verb Friday Presents: EOTB’s Video Learning Series
Happy Friday to you all! Phrasal Verb Friday is back, and I’ve combined it with Free Friday (remember those lesson plans I had been posting a while back: Breaki
Phrasal Verb Friday | Phrasal Verbs VS Verb + Prepositions
The past few Fridays have been spent reviewing a variety of phrasal verbs and how to learn them, but what exactly is a phrasal verb? What is the difference betw
Reading Comprehension with Bree-Elizabeth | Part 1
Just as the title suggested, today’s post is brought to you by guest-blogger, Bree-Elizabeth. To keep things interesting, we’re changing up (doing things differ
Flashback|Phrasal Verb Friday: Coachella
Ah, Coachella. Frolicking (playing and moving about happily) in the California desert with my best friends, listening to endless music for 3 days, I only wish I
The ABC’s of Phrasal Verb Friday
TGIF! Happy Friday! Wherever you are in the world, I hope you have/are having/had a glorious day! Phrasal Verb Friday is back, teaching you the ABC’s and bringi
English Exchange
Want to connect with other English learners and speakers to practice your language skills? Send me an e-mail through this blog’s contact form with the following
Phrasal Verb Friday
Happy Friday! Phrasal verbs are an important part of everyday English, and help you understand more natives, and sound like one too! Check out Phrasal Verb Frid…
How to Effectively Express Your Opinion in an Argument
Today I am excited to share another guest post, which fits perfectly into this month’s theme of March Modal Madness. Guest posts provide an excellent opportunit
Poetry with Bree-Elizabeth
I am extremely delighted for today’s post, as it’s not only a breath of fresh air (something new and refreshing), but an introduction and the first of what I ho
Mardi Gras
Before you say, “HAPPY MARDI GRAS” or celebrate ‘Carnaval’ ‘Fat Tuesday’ ‘Karneval’, etc.. Learn a little about what it is! There are heaps of resources out the
Real Language Learning Advice, from Real Learners
To show my love today, I wanted to share some extra special resources that will help you take your English skills to the next level! Sharing is caring after all
Learn something NEW, every day in February!
HAPPY FEBRUARY February, although a shorter month, is filled with so much excitement, love, and things to do! Not only is a groundhog going to tell us about our
Happy New Year!
Firstly, I’d like to say a big.. Happy New Year!!! .. to everyone. It’s been too long. Sincerest apologies for my hiatus (noun: a pause or gap in process), the
2014
100th Post Free Class Giveaway!
It’s been about a year since I’ve begun this blog, and have been encouraging the use of it in my classroom. I fell in love with the idea of connecting the varie
Free Friday: Turkey Day & Black Friday!
With Thanksgiving right around the corner, and the craziness of Black Friday soon thereafter, I wanted to share some opportunities to learn just want these days
Free Friday: Learn English with Breaking Bad
When it comes to Breaking Bad, you may be one of 3 groups of people: 1. “I’ve never seen it.” 2. “Eh, whatever…didn’t care for it.” 3. “AMAZING, re-watching…[fo
Free Friday: Happy Halloween!
Happy Halloween! Today’s lesson will be full of FUN & FRIGHT. You’ll learn some vocabulary, idioms, and have some fun with puns. What is a pun? A pun is a joke
Free Friday: Confusing Words + Spelling Help!
TGIF! Thanks God? or Thank God? The correct answer is Thank God, with no “s.” “Thanks” is used singularly, as a short way to show your appreciation. It is neve
Free Friday: Writing Part 1
HAMBURGER WRITING I know you’ve probably always heard, “don’t play with your food” but today we are going to have a bit of fun with it. Okay, so we’re not reall
Free Friday: Cultural Differences
Since this blog is viewed all over the world, I think discussing cultural differences is a great way to get people involved and connected with one another. This
The Benefits of Studying English Online
“I want to study a language, I just don’t know where I can find the time.” “My schedule changes too much to commit to a class schedule.” “I am already trying to
Free Friday: Share your Secrets
What is your deepest, darkest secret? Is there anything you haven’t told anyone? If you had the opportunity to tell your secret anonymously, do you think you wo
Free Friday: #FBF
Still not familiar with the hashtag #FBF? Time to get in the know! Hashtags are everywhere on social media, and referenced daily throughout TV shows, and even n
Free Friday: American VS Australian Vocabulary Differences
So you’ve been hitting the books hard [studying a lot] and now you’re ready to take all this English to a native speaking country. The problem is….where are you
Free Friday: Grammar with MODAL review
Modals Modals Modals! Wait. First, what are they? Modals are auxiliary verbs, also known as “helping” verbs. These aux. verbs help change the meaning of main ve
Word of the weekend: Vicarious
Word of the weekend: Vicarious I’ve been living vicariously through others’ photos and stories during these past few weeks as the summer is ending, and it can b
Free Friday: Listening Comprehension with TED
Practice Listening Comprehension & Vocabulary with TEDtalks Well, today is an excellent day to not only provide you with my Free Friday lesson…err, umm..Saturda
Free Friday: Excellent English Learning Resources
Well, I guess I jinxed myself last week by saying I have too much on my plate for a weekly post. However, I wouldn’t want to let any of you faithful followers,
Word of the weekend: forte
Why is it useful? Use this word to explain what you like and what you’re good at! Or, just the opposite.. Let someone know you’re not up to something, because i…
Free Friday: Vocabulary Lesson
As if I don’t have enough on my plate as it is, I’ve decided to re-introduce a weekly component of the blog and add “Free Friday,” in which I will be uploading
Word of the Weekend: productive
Why is it important? This word can be used personally and professionally, and productivity is important for both areas. I am utilizing my surgery downtime to be…
Understanding Parts of Speech: Word Crimes [Part 2]
Hopefully by now you have heard, seen, read, or been exposed somehow to Weird Al’s new ‘hit’, “Word Crimes.” It’s fun, catchy, and even…educational! If you’re n
Word Crimes Part 1: Vocabulary
Weird Al Yankovic is back! Who is Weird Al? Do a quick Google search, and you may recognize his iconic look, or perhaps his song parodies. My memory of his musi
Phrasal Verbs! Ways to learn and some examples + video!
Understanding phrasal verbs can help you avoid situations like the cartoon above. Knowing them can make you sound more like a native speaker, and definitely hel
Words 1 & 2 of the Weekend: Independence Day & patriotism
Oh yeah, words of the weekend have come early! Happy 4th of July! Why are these words useful? It’s an important holiday here in the States. So whether you’re li
Never Travel.
Never Travel. Said no one…ever. How the travel bug is not a world-wide infectious disease baffles me. (baffle=completely confuse) However, I must keep my open-m
Words 1 & 2 of the Weekend: narrow-minded & bigotry
Why are they useful? These words will be featured in an upcoming blog post for you to practice reading, reflection and writing. They are both ugly words, that c
Minimal Pairs: Pronunciation Problems with TH
There are many parts that are equally important to speaking English fluently. Some of the things we’ve reviewed recently on English Outside the Box have been vo
Words 1 & 2 of the Weekend: Pack & Rearrange
Why are they useful? Packing is something you will definitely do in your life, if you haven’t already. You’ll pack for a vacation, when you move to a new place,
Understanding the Future Tense (+ practice)
Think about the amount of times you speak in the future tense: talking about personal plans, work goals, vacations, schedules, predictions, etc… Learning and un
Words 1 & 2 of the Weekend: Anxious & Relieved
Why are they useful? They’re common feelings, especially around the current World Cup events… Or of course, anything you can feel nervous about. ? They’re oppos
Are you in love? Express yourself with these English idioms!
To be in love with someone is certainly a special feeling. I am feeling extra, extra in love today because Paulo and I are celebrating our 1 year wedding annive
What is the World Cup?
Tomorrow marks a pretty important day, as some may call it…the start of their religion! Finally, FIFA’s World Cup is here, are you ready? There is always a lo
Word 2 of the Weekend: yada yada
Why is it useful? The interjection is quite common and you’ll hear it informally often, especially when talking about routines or day-to-day actions. Courtesy o…
Word 1 of the Weekend: mesmerize
Why is it useful? Be mesmerized by the beauty around you. Find things to give your full attention and be in the moment. What was the last thing that mesmerized …
Everyday English Expressions to Help Conversations
English fluency is the ability to speak English easily and smoothly, and part of this is being able to move through a conversation, redirect something when need
June Word & Photo Challenge
Join me on Instagram and/or Facebook to connect through the power of words. Make June more exciting, find the beauty in words and how many interpretations there
Word 2 of the weekend: pop-up store
Why is it useful? It’s a trend you’ll see around the States, Canada, the UK, and Australia so it’s helpful to know what you’re seeing. 🙂 Have you been to a pop-…
Word 1 of the weekend: acronym
Why is it useful? They’re used in slang, academic text for names or titles, and other common contexts. They make language shorter, which is sometimes necessary.…
Words you may be saying incorrectly…
Does a word ever sound “funny” to you? Have you ever second-guessed yourself while speaking? Whether you’re learning English, or have been speaking since birth,
Help me…Help you…
Hello my beautiful blog readers. As a baby blog, still within the first few months of active posting, I am still experimenting, and finding out what works best
Word 2 of the Weekend: Memorial Day
Why is it useful? It’s an important US holiday honoring the men and women who have lost their lives serving the country, and those serving now. It’s celebrated
Word 1 of the Weekend: gist
Why is it useful ? It’s a type of TOEFL (academic English test) question, and sometimes, especially while learning, understanding the basic idea of something is
Cartoon Friday ~Body Idioms
♥ ¡ Happy Friday! ♥ Enjoy this week’s cartoons Sharing is caring. Share with a friend. 🙂
Let your hair down with these English body idioms
A great way to learn English idioms, and avoid the overwhelming feeling of their abundance, is to separate the idioms by category. I will help you with that by
Improve your English skills with Music
Love music as much as I do? If the answer is yes, then I really hope you are using music to improve your language skills. If you’re not, or you’re not quite sur
Word 2 of the weekend: imperfection
Why is it useful? It’s our imperfections that can make us unique. It’ll also be featured in a song for this week’s suggestion. What imperfection makes you beaut…
Cartoon Friday~ All about Family
W. I. F. F. !!! Wooooooo It’s Finally Friday !!! This week’s Cartoon Friday is all about family in honor of yesterday’s Idioms of the…
Word 1 of the Weekend: karma
Why is it useful? I’m a firm believer in karma, and that people should treat each other kindly, especially how they would want to be treated. Another expression…
English Idioms ~ Keeping it in the family
In honor of International Day of Families, and my own family in from out of town this weekend, I’ve decided to dedicate this week’s idioms to family. So what
Literally, the most, like, overused words, like…ever, you know?
“There are like, literally a million words that like so many people overuse and misuse, you know. I mean, like,I literally die every time I hear them!” Have yo
Word 2 of the Weekend: nauseous
Why is it useful? It’s a very common symptom of many illnesses, both serious and not. Courtesy: Merriam-Webster Learner’s
Word 1 of the Weekend: ripple effect
Why is it useful? The ripple effect can be a positively powerful influence, and can lead to so much beauty and happiness. ?☀️✌️? What ripple effect of positivit…
Cartoon Friday ~ Humor with Mood Idioms
Hey! T.G.I.F!!! This is an extension to this week’s idiom post: Be on Cloud Nine with these Idioms for Feelings and Moods I thought it would be a fabulous oppo
Be on Cloud Nine with these English Idioms for Feelings and Moods
Think about your daily routine, conversations, and interactions. How often do you answer the questions, “How are you?” or “How are you doing?” Have you ever bee
Happy Teacher Appreciation Day (& Week)
You are reading this post because someone wants you to know that you are appreciated. or you clicked a link because you are interested in teachers, teaching, ed
“Talk the talk and walk the walk” Idiom exercise ANSWERS
“Talk the talk and walk the walk” Idiom exercise ANSWERS See my Instagram for the answers to the conversation idioms exercise posted on Wednesday! Be sure to fo…
Don’t be that guy from Malta, Pronunciation of /ɪ/ and /i:/
If you haven’t seen this video about the Italian man who went to Malta, here it is. It’s a video showing a common ‘stereotype’ of the way Italians talk. Does ev
Word 2 of the Weekend: amusement
Why is it useful? All of us must find something that brings us amusement to feel happiness and satisfaction in our lives. Has anyone been to an amusement park? …
Word 1 of the Weekend: look forward to
Why is it useful? Well it’s a phrasal verb, which are SUPER common & useful in English. It’s a great way to start conversations about the future! ? I know what …
Cartoon Friday~ Language & Communication (+ find the mistakes)
HAPPY FRIDAY! I hope you make today…. AWESOME! ♥ Keeping the conversation theme going, check out this week’s ‘Cartoon Friday,’ which are all about language, com
“Talk the Talk & Walk the Walk” with these Conversation English Idioms (+ exercise)
So, do you think you can talk the talk and walk the walk? Well, after learning these useful idioms related to conversation, language, and speaking, you definite
News in Levels: Animal Week
Practice your reading and writing comprehension with newsinlevels.com There are a few articles related to animals this week, so I want you to choose one of the
Learning for your Style (+ Vocabulary)
Happy Sunday! I’m excited for today’s post because it’s going to help everyone, and allow all of you to find out your individual learning style, and hopefully i
Word 2 of the weekend: wanderlust
Word 2 of the weekend: wanderlust Why is it useful? It’s a word you can use to describe your passion. Traveling is another way to learn and experience what you…
Word 1 of the Weekend: Marvelous
Why is it useful? A variety of adjectives to explain how wonderful something is will always come in handy. I hope everyone has a marvelous weekend! courtesy: Me…
Cartoon Friday ~ Technology and Education: Does it mix?
Is it Friday already?! Is it just me, or has this week has flown by!? Happy Friday my favorite English lovers! This week let’s take humor to the classroom, and
Liebster Award
Many thanks to Seikaiha for the nomination of the Liebster Award. What a honor 🙂 To check out beautiful photos and thoughtful posts, be sure to check her out!
Earth Day English Idioms
Learning is a ray of sunshine (something that brings happiness) to me! The opportunity to teach others is like heaven on earth (a very enjoyable situation, thin
Pronouncing Heterophones in English
Hopefully you’re not thinking… hetero-what? But just in case, let’s clear that up! Have you ever noticed words in English that are spelled the same way, but pro
Word 2 of the Weekend: festivity
Why is it useful? Who doesn’t love to celebrate and enjoy something? Today is a holiday, so do you have any special festivities planned? Courtesy: Merriam-Webst…
Word 1 of the Weekend: mishap
Why is it useful? Unfortunately, accidents happen! Bad luck may be around us, so this word is handy to have. In fact, a mishap just happened to me: I dropped al…
Cartoon Friday ~ English Rules!
Happy Friday English lovers! Cartoon Friday is here, and to keep things interesting, I’ve included some fun information about English. What do you think?
Onomatowhatta? Understanding Onomatopoeia in English
Onomatopoeia is the creation of a word from the natural sound or association with it. These are incredibly important to know in English, because it will allow y
English Idioms are Music to my Ears
This week’s English idioms are music to my ears, because the theme is something that I really love: music. I don’t want to toot my own horn, but they are even b
10 Famous People Who Overcame Substantial Challenges
Obstacles and challenges are a part of life. When we are going through life trying to achieve our goals, it is inevitable that something will get in our way, so
Improving Speaking Fluency
So, here you are. You’ve finished your study abroad program, maybe you haven’t gone yet, or perhaps there could be no near possibility of even traveling to the
Word 2 of the Weekend: foster
Why is it useful? Helping others grow is a beautiful thing, and can benefit the world. It can be used for people, animals, or some things. Courtesy: Merriam-Web…
Improving Speaking Fluency: Sneak Peek of Sunday’s Suggestion.
I just got too excited writing this post, that I had to share some of it now. Hey, it is already Sunday in some parts of the world, right? Tomorrow is the 2nd e
Word 1 of the Weekend: indulge.
Word 1 of the Weekend: indulge. Why is it useful? It’s the weekend, and you deserve to ‘treat yourself’ and do something nice for you! Be sure to check out the …
Cartoon Friday ~ Get in My Belly!
T.G.I.F !! Another Friday is here, and another long-awaited Cartoon Friday follows! I’ve decided to link up my Idioms of the Week post again and make these car
News in Levels: Finding your appropriate reading level
Reading comprehension practice anyone? Luckily, I’ve come across this great news website created specifically for English learners. Click here to go to the web
Spilling the Beans on Exciting Food Idioms
Okay, so maybe this information about idioms is not secret, which means technically, I am not spilling the beans (revealing secret information). However, I am g
My favorite Websites to Study English
Hello! This is just a quick post to share some of my favorite online learning links for studying English online. Has anyone had the unfortunate experience of re
5 Fun Apps to Improve Language Skills: Learn Outside the Box
What does it mean to learn outside the box? Well, it could be interpreted in different ways: learning in ways different than the “norm,” creatively, or outside
Word 2 of the Weekend: brunch
Why is it useful? It’s one of the best Sunday activities, ever, to spend time with friends and family! 🙂 In my opinion anyways. I just caught up with some famil…
Word 1 of the Weekend: checkup
Why is it useful? Everyone has to visit the doctor once and a while, even our pets have vet checkups. Since a lot of people drive, it’s helpful in car maintenan…
Cartoon Friday ~ LuLu Bear
Because this week’s Idiom of the Week theme is all about my kitten, LuLu Bear, the first official cartoon Friday post will continue her honor. Remember: each ca
Sayings About Revenge
Wonderful addition to idioms and to this week’s vocabulary word: retaliatory
Around the world….
Traveling around the world is a dream for so many people. Some people are fortunate enough to achieve this dream, while some of us dream through films, TV shows
National Find a Rainbow Day ! ?
What a beautiful day to take pictures ! Do you have any magical rainbow shots? Upload on any media and hashtag #findarainbow
What pranks did you pull today? Or, were any pranks pulled on you?
In honor of this fun day, and utilizing the first day of a new curricular week, I decided to pull a prank on my students with new rules. They were greeted with,
LuLu’s favorite idioms: CATS!
What are LuLu’s favorite idioms? Anything related to cats, of course! Below you will find some common cat related idioms and their definitions. *remember, to pr
Undocumented immigrant can practice law in California
Sergio Garcia’s story Watch the video above, and read the article at this link: http://www.breitbart.com/Big-Government/2014/01/08/America-s-First-Illegal-Immig…
Are you addicted to technology?
Do you think you’re addicted to technology? What were your quiz results? Do you agree? Write about your main technology use.
2013
Using Quotes to Practice and Improve English
“The value of a man resides in what he gives and not in what he is capable of receiving.” -Albert Einstein Not only are quotes inspirational and motivational, t
Out in the Real World: Practical Language Learning
Hi all! Tell me about some of your recent activities out in the real world. Have you tried something new? Some things you can try: movies (English with English
#givingTuesday
Did you give back today? Did you experience a random act of kindness? Share your experience!
Which quote is meaningful to you during this special week?
1) “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” -Oprah Winfrey 2) “A
How will you use the “real world” to improve your English this weekend?
Around the World…
What was the most interesting or surprising thing you learned about your partner’s country? (Jennifer’s classroom activity) Blog readers and followers, what is …
Living abroad can be (is?) the best way to learn a language…
What activities have you done while living abroad? How have you felt about them? What advice would you give to someone thinking of learning a language abroad? W…