English Skiing Vocabulary
Crystal Fisher2020-01-30T09:43:12+00:00For a lot of people, winter means skiing time! Many people take vacations each winter to get out on the slopes and enjoy the snow. Are you planning on going skiing this year? Then this list of skiing vocabulary might come in handy (be useful). Learn all the ins and outs (details) of skiing vocabulary so that you can enjoy your winter vacation! Powder There are a few different ways that avid (serious, regular) skiers talk about the snow that's already on the ground. Because the quality of the snow can have an impact on skiing conditions, it's important to know what the snow is like [...]
Arabic Loan Words in English
Crystal Fisher2020-01-23T14:14:20+00:00One of my favorite things about English is how it's a wonderful hodge-podge (a big mix) of many different languages. The words we use every day have all different origins: some from Latin, some from Yiddish, some from French, and some from Spanish. One language that may not come to mind immediately when thinking about the origins of English words is Arabic, but many of our most common words come from this language. With this in mind, we decided to look at Arabic loan words in English. If you're as interested in loan words as we are, check out [...]
Job Titles in English
Crystal Fisher2020-01-16T10:34:35+00:00When you're addressing (talking to) someone, particularly in the workplace, job titles are important. Being respectful is very helpful at work, and can take you far (bring you success). When talking to someone, it's helpful to know whether they're a CEO or an intern. But what do all of these different job titles mean? You may have heard of different job titles before, but what exactly do they mean? If you aren't sure what the difference between a CEO and CFO are, then this blog may just be for you. CEO - Chief Executive Officer The CEO, [...]
Travel Phrases for Beginners – Easy English
Crystal Fisher2020-01-02T06:56:08+00:00Being able to travel is a great thing. When you travel, you can see new places. You can experience (do, see) new things and meet (know someone for the first time) new people. But how do you get around (travel, talk to people) if you don't speak English well? You can use some travel phrases for beginners! Knowing some travel phrases for beginners is great. They'll help you find your way if you don't know where to go. They'll help you find what you need. If you want to travel this year, use some of these travel phrases for beginners! "I don't speak English very well." [...]
Happy Holidays in Different Languages
Crystal Fisher2019-12-26T06:00:19+00:00The holidays are upon us (here)! I love this time of year, because I get to see my family, eat lots of Christmas cookies, and enjoy different holiday traditions throughout the month of December. To help spread the holiday cheer this year, we thought we would teach you how to say happy holidays in different languages. Consider it a holiday treat from us at Bespeaking! Learning how to say happy holidays in different languages is a great way to help spread Christmas traditions around the world, and if you're traveling over the holidays, knowing how to wish people well in a different language may [...]
5 Words That are Actually Acronyms
Crystal Fisher2019-12-19T10:44:10+00:00Did you know that there are some words that are actually acronyms? Some extremely common words that we use every day are acronyms, or words that take the first letter of several words to form a type of abbreviation (a shorter form of a word). Acronyms are typically written in all uppercase (big) letters to indicate that they are an acronym, rather than a typical word. However, these words that are actually acronyms are commonly written in lowercase (small) letters like a normal word. This is why many people don't know that they are acronyms. If you want to expand your knowledge base, even as a native [...]
Vocabulary for the Hairdresser
Crystal Fisher2019-12-12T09:24:35+00:00There's something so satisfying about getting your hair cut. Going to visit the hairdresser (someone who cuts hair) can give you a completely new look if you decide to try a new cut, or can help make you feel like yourself again. But what vocabulary for the hairdresser do you need? I remember when I first moved to Germany, I didn't get a haircut for a long time. I was worried that I wouldn't be able to talk about what I wanted or needed and would end up with a bad haircut. I would have loved to have had some vocabulary for [...]
Transportation Collocations in English
Crystal Fisher2019-12-05T09:32:07+00:00Everyone has to get around somehow. Some people drive, some walk, and some take the bus. This is why it's good to know some transportation collocations in English. If you've ever wondered how to talk about transportation, this is the blog for you. Learn some of these transportation collocations and try them out (use them) in your everyday life! Take a bus/train When you travel by bus or train, you don't "ride with" or "drive" it. You take the bus and you take the train. I take the bus everyday to work, and I take the train to visit friends in Berlin. When do you take [...]
Texting Acronyms in English
Crystal Fisher2019-11-28T11:22:31+00:00It seems like every week there are new texting acronyms to be aware of. New texting acronyms come up online or are passed from friend to friend, so they're important to be aware of. In July 2017, we published our first blog on text speak, in case you're curious about a few more! Whether you're a big texter or prefer to call, here are some common texting acronyms to know. BTW BTW, or by the way, turns up online and in texts quite frequently. It's one of those great texting acronyms to know and use because it can help you quickly add new information [...]
Food Idioms
Crystal Fisher2019-11-21T09:23:56+00:00Learning idioms is a great way to learn a language. Here at Bespeaking, we love teaching you new idioms and their origins, and this week we decided to focus on some food idioms. Food is a part of everyday life, so it's no wonder that food idioms are common in language. Here are some of our favorite food idioms in English. Cool as a Cucumber Someone who is cool as a cucumber does very well under pressure. They're able to keep their head on straight (stay calm) and think clearly, rather than getting flustered (worked up, nervous, spazzy) and confused in high pressure situations. There are [...]
Dutch Loan Words
Crystal Fisher2019-11-14T09:02:02+00:00When you think of the Netherlands, what do you picture? Do you think of tulips, windmills, bicycles, and canals? Or do you think of the Dutch masters and van Gogh? Did you know that about 1% of English words come from Dutch, and that there are many Dutch loan words in English? A couple of them may surprise you. Check out the most popular Dutch loan words below! Aloof Aloof comes to English from the Middle Dutch word lof, which means a windward direction. Nowadays, we use the word aloof to talk about someone who is cold or distant and may not seem very friendly. [...]