Adverbs of degree help us to express ‘how much’ (or to what extent) we do something. They can either intensify the meaning (I am extremely hungry) or make it weaker (I’m fairly certain I locked the door). Common adverbs of degree include: very, slightly, quite, totally, fairly, absolutely and extremely. Continue reading
Reading in English is one of the best ways to build your child’s vocabulary. It can also be a good family activity to do together. The websites below will give you free resources to help make reading with your child fun, as well as educational. Let’s take a look! Continue reading
Passed your exams? Great! Got a place at an overseas university? Fantastic! But is your English really up to the task? To get the most out of your education in the UK or US, your academic English needs to be solid. In this study guide, our experienced EAP tutor Holly N. will give you her best tips to make sure your English is good enough for life at university. Let’s take a look! Continue reading
Want to improve your vocabulary for accounting? In this study guide, our experienced UK accountant and English teacher Kevin Simmons will walk you through the most useful vocabulary. We’ve included a list of 45 terms with clear definitions and examples in context to help you feel confident when doing accountancy in English. Ready? Let’s jump right in! Continue reading
Ever wanted a certificate that proves you are a B2 level English speaker? If so, the FCE speaking exam could be the IELTS alternative you are looking for. The First Certificate in English is a B2 level Cambridge exam. In this study guide, I am going to explain how the speaking exam works and give you my secret tips on how to pass it! Continue reading
Playing games in English is a great way to help your children develop confidence and fluency, while having fun with the language! As a parent, you are in the perfect position to encourage your children to love English from an early age. You can do this at home through interesting games and activities, even if your own English isn’t 100% perfect. We’ve written this guide to help you! Continue reading
This is the second guide in our blog series on IELTS Speaking. Here we will look at a detailed list of topics that commonly appear in part 2 of the exam. We will give you model questions with band 7+ answers, and top tips to improve your score. Don’t forget to download your free pdf copy of this guide to use offline. Ready? Let’s jump right in Continue reading
How many phrasal verbs with ‘look’ do you know? In this study guide, you can read about 20 different phrasal verbs, many of them with more than one meaning. You will find a definition and a clear example for each one. Read the example sentences and learn what it means to ‘look up to someone’, to ‘look in on someone’ and to ‘look after someone’! Remember to test your understanding with the exercises at the end. Continue reading
Do you live for the weekend or do you like living it up in a 5-star hotel? In this study guide, you will learn 11 phrasal verbs with ‘live’. Several of the phrasal verbs have more than one meaning, so look carefully at the different explanations! You will find a definition and a clear example for each one. Continue reading
Are you an international student at an English-speaking university or college? Looking for ways to improve your academic English and boost your confidence when speaking? At OTUK, we provide specialised online English courses to help you improve your English for higher education, cultural integration and settlement. Continue reading
In this 3-part blog series, we will show you the most common topics that appear on IELTS Speaking exams. We will list the topics in full and give you examiner questions and candidate answers to demonstrate how you can score band 7+. In this guide to IELTS Speaking Part 1, don’t forget to check out our “Hot Tips” to get your exam technique just right! Continue reading
Have you ever made up a story or made up with a friend after an argument? In this study guide, you can read about 13 different phrasal verbs with ‘make’. You will find a definition and a clear example for each one. Pay special attention to phrasal verbs in the list where the verb and particle can be separated, for example make out! Continue reading
If you are an international student at college or university and you need help with your essay writing in English, you are in the right place! We have created this simple 6-step guide to help you achieve the best results in the shortest possible time. This guide includes essay writing tips, examples, templates, and links to helpful resources. Let’s jump right in… Continue reading
Adverbs of frequency tell us how often we do things or how often things happen. They can either describe definite frequency (daily, every week, annually) or indefinite frequency (always, usually, never). For example: I go swimming every week vs. I never go swimming. Continue reading
In this detailed guide, we will share simple strategies and resources to bring more English into your home! This will help your children to speak English daily and make progress with their spoken fluency. We will show you how to build vocabulary, improve pronunciation and help your kids to gain confidence with their English speaking skills. This guide is for parents of children between 5-12 years old and all of the recommended resources are available online (and mostly free of charge). Continue reading
Want to score 7+ on your IELTS Speaking exam? We’ve written this guide for you! Read on to find out everything you need to know about the structure of the exam, possible topics, example answers, test tips and more. We will explain exactly what you need to do on parts 1, 2 and 3 so you can go into your Speaking exam with confidence. Ready? Let’s take a look! Continue reading
Confused by comparative and superlative forms in English? No problem! Check out our list of the 35 most common adjectives with examples to see exactly how these words are used in context. Use the exercises at the end to practise and don’t forget to download your copy of this free study guide! Continue reading
There’s so much written online about the IELTS test that it can be hard to know where to start! In this guide, we will walk you through the best online resources to help you prepare for your IELTS test at home. We have divided this up by section (Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing) and each of these provides links to the best tips, advice, YouTube videos, preparation material and practice tests. Continue reading
