How to Improve IELTS | IELTS Learning Tips

6 Tips to Tackling the Writing Section of IELTS

I have had many students over the years tell me that the writing portion of the IELTS is very intimidating. Well I am here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be! In fact, the writing section can be a section of the IELTS that you feel very confident in, and yes, even enjoy! […]

Alternative Ways to Improve Your English!

In a previous post, we looked at blogging, which is a great place to practise and improve writing skills, gain some confidence, and attract comments. These can be supportive and constructive, but they can also be very critical and even hurtful – this is the risk you take. There are, however, gentler and more modest ways […]

10 Ways to be a Terrific Language Student

I have spent decades teaching students English. Over the years, I have learned just as much from them as they have from me. One thing that has always fascinated me is how they approach the process of language learning. I was recently thinking of a group of students that I was privileged to work with […]

Are Some People Better at Learning Languages than Others?

I’m sure there is a lot of scientific and linguistic research about this topic and this is not a scholarly post. It is something I have thought about often in the years that I have been teaching and learning languages and I simply wanted to share my thoughts with you. I hope that they strike […]

Write a Blog – Improve Your English

It will soon be a New Year! This is a perfect time to pursue new projects and rekindle commitments to long held goals. Perhaps this year will be the year that you achieve the band you desire on the IELTS. Perhaps you have always secretly wanted to start a blog. Well I am here to […]

New Year, New Ultimate IELTS Workshop

Soon the calendar will roll over onto a New Year! This is a time of celebrating, reflecting on the year we are leaving behind, and, of course, setting new goals and resolutions for the year ahead. If your New Year includes a resolution to finally get the band you need in the IELTS and make […]

Thinking in English

At this point in your life you may be totally focused on just passing the IELTS that you will say, “Berni! How can I even think about thinking in English! It is too much!” But I wanted to tell you some of my experiences with learning a foreign language and give you something to aim […]

Practical Pronunciation Practices

Pronunciation is one of those things that always seems to be left out in the cold, so to speak, when learning English. We all want to speak fluently and accurately, have good listening and writing skills and improve our reading and vocabulary; but unless there are any real issues, pronunciation can wait. When working to […]

Over-Confident Yet Under Prepared – IELTS Case Study

This IELTS student was a doctor. Salim was from Syria. He had been living in the UK for some time and was very fluent in spoken English. He had spent some time at school in the UK so his English skills were quite polished. When I first met Salim he was about to take the […]

Learning English Requires Strength

Strength and growth come through only through continuous effort and struggle. ~Napoleon Hill Anything worth mastering takes work. We grow through applying ourselves with a ferocity of purpose that keeps us going, and going, and going no matter how hard the task before us. We have all had experiences where we had to fight to […]

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