Sam Savage

— ESL Tutor

Sam Savage is a TEFL-qualified English tutor and writer from England. After gaining his TEFL qualification, he started teaching English in Spain in 2009. During this time, he also worked as an editor/translator for art organisations and publications in Madrid. He later returned home and graduated from the University of Gloucestershire with a MA in Critical and Creative Writing. In his free time, he enjoys all things cultural, especially writing fiction. Sam is also a published author.

Posts by Sam Savage

Motivating Your Child To Learn English: Tips & Strategies

Is your child disinterested in English and lacking motivation to learn the language? Let’s change that! In this guide, we will give you strategies and activities to help your child develop a real love of English. A motivated young learner often becomes a fluent English speaker as an adult so it is important to start early. Let’s get started…

How To Help Your Child Succeed With English At School

Fluent English can give children a better future, but many struggle to develop their language skills at school. But why? In this guide, we discuss the problems with how English is taught at school and give you strategies to help your child get better grades, build confidence and gain fluency. Let’s jump in!

How To Work In UK Medicine: A Practical Guide

In this practical guide, we walk you through the medical and English language qualifications you need to work in the UK healthcare system. We also give you advice on how to register as a UK doctor or nurse upon arrival, expected salaries vs. cost of living in the UK and some cultural pointers to consider when working here. Let’s dive in!

How To Pass The Life In The UK Test: Essential Tips & Vocabulary

In this guide, we will help you to prepare for the Life in the UK Test and to make sure that your English level is good enough. We will look at FAQs, essential test vocabulary, question types and examples from the exam. You will also find useful links to free resources to maximise your score on exam day.

How To Start A Conversation In English: Useful Tips & Phrases

Everyone loves a good chat, but how do we get the ball rolling when starting a conversation in English? We need to go beyond the usual ‘How are you? Fine, thanks!’. In this guide to English small talk, we will give you useful tips, vocabulary and examples to demonstrate how native speakers use conversation starters. Ready for a ‘chinwag’ (chat)? Let’s jump in…

60 Must-Know Words To Pass Your English Driving Test

As of 2014, you must take the UK driving theory test in English. You cannot take the theory test with a foreign language voiceover or use an interpreter during the exam. In this post, we will give you some useful study links and provide you with essential vocabulary and phrases that will get you on the road to passing your theory test first time. Let’s take a look!

10 Fun Ways To Learn English In London

Whether you are living in London or just visiting as a tourist, London is a fantastic place to improve your English. In this guide, we give you 10 fun ways to practise your English while exploring the city and its vibrant culture. Check out the vocabulary for each activity so you can use it during your time in the capital. Welcome to London!

How To Pass The OET Exam: Practical Tips & Tricks

In this study guide, we examine some of the best tips and strategies to pass your OET exam first time. We consider general prep tips, before digging into specific approaches for each sub-test to maximise your score. You can also download a free pdf copy of this guide to use offline. Ready? Let’s get started!

How To Find The Best Online English Tutor For Your Child

Online English tutoring is more popular than ever. It is convenient, cost-effective and gives parents a greater choice of teachers. However, there are so many online schools and tutors out there now that it can be hard to choose the right one for your child. In this guide, we discuss the key points to consider when selecting the best English tutor for your son or daughter.

OET (Occupational English Test): What You Need To Know

The Occupational English Test (or OET) is an alternative exam to IELTS for healthcare students and medical professionals who need to demonstrate their English language proficiency. This exam is becoming more popular because it focuses more on the practical language you will need in the workplace. In this guide, we will answer the most frequently asked questions about the test. Let’s take a look!

14 Most Commonly Confused Words in English (List & Examples)

In this study guide, we take a look at the most commonly confused words in English. Even native speakers make mistakes with these words because they sound the same, but have different spellings! There are also some differences between British and American English. Click on the links to see full articles on each word pair. You can also download this guide as a free pdf to study offline. Let’s jump right in…

Easter In The UK: Bunnies, Eggs & Hot Cross Buns

Easter is a popular festive day in the UK with many traditions. In this guide, we explore its history and explain how it is celebrated today. Find out all about the Easter Bunny, chocolate eggs, hot cross buns and more while learning some new vocabulary along the way (see glossary at the end)! Let’s not rabbit on, but instead hop over to the post…

English For Marketing & Sales: Essential Vocabulary (With Examples)

As in many areas of business English, marketing and sales has its own jargon (technical language). Not only are there many abbreviations (SEO, ROI, KPI), but there are also a lot of usual English words that have a different meaning in this professional niche – e.g. lead, conversion, pitch and pipeline. Knowing these industry terms prevents misunderstandings and shows your colleagues and clients that you ‘mean business’! Let’s take a look…

Valentine’s Day In The UK: Could English Become Your Language Of love?

In this series, we talk about different cultural traditions in the UK. Many of them may be similar to traditions in your own country. What differences and similarities can you find? In this article, we discuss Valentine’s Day. We have highlighted some of the trickier words. See whether you can guess their meaning from the context of the sentences and compare your answers to the definitions in the glossary below.

Difference Between: While vs. Whilst

In British English, while (hwaɪl) and whilst (hwaɪlst) mean the same thing when they are conjunctions (words that connect two ideas). As conjunctions, they can both mean ‘at the same time’ (e.g. Never do your homework while/whilst you watch TV) or ‘although/whereas’ (e.g. While/whilst it’s good to be out in the sun, we need to protect ourselves with sun cream). American English speakers never use whilst, and British English speakers only use it to be formal. In both British and American English, we can also use while as a verb or noun.

Difference Between: Just vs. Only

Just (dʒʌs) and only (oʊnli) are adverbs (words that change the meaning of a word or phrase). We can use just and only interchangeably when they mean ‘not more than or a small quantity of something’ – e.g. I just have 2 meals a day or I only have 2 meals a day. However, there are some situations where we have to use one word and not the other. Let’s take a look!

Difference Between: Too vs. Also

Too (tuː) and also (ɔːlsoʊ) are both adverbs that mean ‘in addition’. The difference is their position in the sentence. Adding extra information – e.g. Jamie bought some milk. He bought some bread too. Or Jamie bought some milk. He also bought some bread. Adding emphasis – e.g. Emma can play the guitar. She can play the piano too. Or Emma can play the guitar. She can also play the piano.

Difference Between: Further vs. Farther

Further (fɜːʳðəʳ) and Farther (fɑːðəʳ) are both adverbs (words that describe actions) and adjectives (words that describe things). They are also the comparative form of far, which means ‘to be at a distance’. As a result, further and farther mean: ‘to a greater distance or degree’ – e.g. The hikers were so tired, they couldn’t walk any farther or James decided that if he had further problems with the car, he would sell it.