Vocabulary: 8 Common English Phrases with Surprisingly Dark Origins - What do criminals, horse-drawn carriages, and hats have in common? They all helped shape the way we speak English today! English is full of strange and colorful expressions that don’t always make...
Vocabulary: Using Normal, Typical and Regular Correctly - English has many words that seem similar but carry important differences in meaning and usage. Three such words—normal, typical, and regular—are often confused by English learners. While these words can...
Four Common Thesis Statement Mistakes in Academic Essays - A thesis statement is a clearly-worded summary of your opinion about a topic. In my teaching, I encourage students to think of a thesis statement as the 'heart' of their essays: just as a human body needs a...
Great Leaders for Racial Equity in America - The history of racial equity in the U.S. has been shaped by the hard work of both men and women who spent their lives fighting for fairness and equal opportunity. These leaders challenged unjust systems and inspired change...
7 Helpful Tips for Being a Good Houseguest - The rules and expectations for what it means to be a good houseguest have a lot of variety from culture to culture. If you have been invited by an American friend to have an overnight stay, you might be wondering what to...
The History of New Year’s Resolutions: Each year as the calendar turns from December to January, people around the world take time to celebrate the beginning of a new chapter and the promise of a fresh start. One of the oldest traditions of welcoming the new year is...
Christmas Traditions: 5 Lessons from A Charlie Brown Christmas For many Americans, watching A Charlie Brown Christmas in the month of December is a beloved holiday tradition. Though it was released nearly 50 years ago, this animated television show (called a...
Build Active Vocabulary: Mental Strategies and Quick Tips for English Learners For English language learners, continuing to build vocabulary can feel very challenging. In the middle of a busy daily schedule, it is hard to focus on making new words an active part of...
Academic Writing: The 4 Basic Parts of an Essay - Writing a clear, convincing essay is an important English skill, whether it's for school, college, online articles, or many other purposes. Because every culture and language family has its preferred ways of organizing...
Book Recommendations: American Immigrant Stories - Crossing between cultures is an experience of deep, lasting change. Life in a new country (or sometimes, even in a new part of the same country) can bring all kinds of differences and opportunities, both expected and...
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Helping Your Child Have a Great Start to the New School Year in the US - For families that have recently moved to the U.S., the start of a new school year can bring a lot of questions. The school system, classroom culture, and even daily routines may feel quite...
4 Steps to Confident Conversations - It happens quickly: At a small gathering of people, you suddenly find yourself face-to-face with someone you've never met. You smile awkwardly for a moment, wondering if you should try to start a conversation or simply move on....
40 Amazing Experiences Around Seattle - The city of Seattle and surrounding areas—often called the Puget Sound region—is a beautiful and exciting place to live or visit. Whether you like being outdoors, meeting new people, or exploring a new city, there’s something...