COMMON ERROR FROM OUR SKYPE ENGLISH CLASSES: PROBLEMS TRANSLATING 'BAR'

Most of our Skype English students translate 'bar' with 'pub'. Most of the time this is wrong since a 'bar' in a non-English speaking country is rarely similar to a 'pub' in appearance and ambience. So you want to translate the word 'bar' with 'bar' unless the establishment in question is actually an 'Irish/Scottish/Australian/English... pub', in which case you can use the word 'pub' as a translation of 'bar'. To help understanding, the first image in this post is a 'pub', the second would be typical of a 'bar'.

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COMMON ERROR BY STUDENTS IN OUR SKYPE ENGLISH CLASSES: WHEN YOU WANT TO SAY 'PUEDE SER' DON'T SAY 'CAN/COULD BE'

Our Skype English students at Clasesinglesonline.com in Spain make this error a lot. If you just want to say 'puede ser' by itself in response to an affirmation, it is much better to say 'perhaps', 'maybe' or 'possibly'.

For example, if I say 'creo que la economia esta creciendo' and my partner says 'puede ser', it is much better to 'perhaps', 'maybe' or 'possibly' since we are expressing doubt. 'can/could be' are OK and while you will be understood, it is not very natural. Hope this helps!

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COMMON ERROR FROM OUR SKYPE ENGLISH CLASSES: PREPOSITION OF TIME 'ON' USED WITH INDIVUDUAL DAYS SUCH AS HALLOWEEN

Many students in our Skype English classes say 'in Halloween' but we must use the preposition of time 'on' for single days such as Halloween, all saints day, Easter Monday, New Year's Eve or individual days such as the 13th of March or Friday. So for instance we could say 'many children knock on my door on Halloween' or 'on Friday I will go to a fireworks display'. Remember, 'on' is for single or individual days. Please do not use 'in' for individual days. As a time preposition 'in' is used with months (e.g. March), seasons (winter...) and years (1978...). Please feel free to ask about this if you have any doubts. Thanks!

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ARE YOU DOING YOUR BEST TO INCREASE YOUR ENGLISH LEVEL?

Learning a language such as English to your desired level doesn't have to be as hard as you may think. Like most significant goals discipline, patience and determination is required. What also assists enormously, what makes it a whole lot easier... is 'having fun'. If you are enjoying the learning experience then it becomes far easier to maintain the upward process. Have fun learning by going to language exchanges, watching your favourite films or documentaries in English, playing video games in English, reading articles of your interest in English, taking Skype classes etc. When I started studying Spanish whilst unemployed in the south of France, I bought the same 400 page book in Spanish that I had already read several times in French. I was fluent in French at the time. The subject of this book was one of my passions. So with my low level of Spanish at that time (A2), it didn't matter if it took me 20 minutes to read each page initially. I stayed motivated because I was having fun. So making progress was really quite easy despite my low level at that time.

Also, remember before it was much more difficult to learn a language compared to nowadays. You know, a generation ago people learning languages did not have all these technological resources at their fingertips like you do! I'm talking about resources online. There are so many options and free options to make learning English such an enjoyable past time online... So come on! Make learning English as fun as it possibly can be and the inevitable significant advance will happen!


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COMMON MISTAKE: TRANSLATING 'TENER GANAS'

'Tener ganas' is complicated to translate for our Spanish speaking students in our Skype English classes. The important thing is to use phrases or words that demonstrate enthusiasm. For example, 'I want to go on holiday' or 'I wish to see you' or 'he can't wait to finish these exams' or 'We feel like eating chocolate' or 'She is looking forward to the meal' or 'they fancy eating fish and chips'. In summary, the key is to use a phrase portraying enthusiasm. Hope that helps.

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