How did an eccentric English scientist who had a talking dog invent the British Bank Holiday? How did this holiday unite the working classes with the wealthier classes? What do British people like to do when they have a Bank Holiday? This podcast uncovers the strange history behind the UK's public holiday system and explains what we love most about them...

Learn British Culture with Pip

Learn more about the British Bank Holiday

On a Monday morning or after a night out with friends, staying focused in class can feel impossible. You yawn, your eyes feel tired and the desk starts to look increasingly attractive as a temporary bed of sorts. It’s time to reach out for some of your brain’s favourite attention and memory boosters and wake up again.

So before next Monday’s class – whether back home or in an EF school somewhere on the other side of the world – whip up a blueberry shake, drink a cup of coffee, eat some nuts or go nuts and eat a baked potato for lunch. Your brain and your teacher will thank you, trust us.

Our top 5 brain foods:

1. A strong cup of coffee

Every student knows that the local barista that makes that daily morning cup is their best friend. Coffee is really good for waking you up and keeping you focused for a short amount of time, but drink too much and you’ll feel jittery and ill.

2. A fruit shake

Preferably with super healthy blueberries and with natural sugars in the form of glucose, a fruit shake can provide a short-term memory boost in addition to vitamins and minerals that your whole body needs. Overdo it and you’re likely to feel tired soon after.

3. A handful of dark chocolate pieces and nuts

They’re as brain-boosting as anything (dark chocolate even has some caffeine) and they’re anti-ageing too.

4. Fish and baked potatoes for lunch

We know, we know – they’re not the most attractive items on the menu, but your brain loves both. Salmon and other fatty fish have loads of Omega-3 fats that boost memory and slow your brain’s decline as you age, while potatoes provide steady energy that your brain really needs (it takes up 20% of your body’s energy!)

5. Pumpkin seeds
They’re full of zinc, iron and minerals that help transport oxygen to the brain, and nerve cells to communicate and boost your brain power. A great cheap and healthy snack.

Engine English

5 brain foods to keep you awake (and make you smarter)

Strop. Codswallop. Knackered. Just like the picture of a chair in the street above (no, we don’t get it either), we Brits do say some strange things sometimes – usually because they evolved from the many, many (many) vastly different regional dialects that exist across the UK (or the strange and very long history of the English language.) Unfortunately, that doesn’t help if you’re learning English in Britain and can’t understand half of what people are saying!

6 British English phrases that make no sense

There are many different ways to learn a second language, from taking classes to reading books or even using an app. But one way has been proven more effective than the others; language immersion. 

Have you used language immersion to learn a new language? Let me know in the comment section.

The importance of immersion: Why you should learn a language the same way you’ll use it

Thinking of studying, working or just living in London? My advice: go for it. London has so many fantastic things to offer, from breathtaking cityscapes to its rich culture, music and art (not to mention the British accent).

There’s nothing quite like the excitement and variety that this buzzing city offers. Here are just five of the many reasons why you should study English in London.

👉 Book a lesson with me today: www.italki.com/teacher/8719362

Why study English in London

English is a broad and beautiful language which is always evolving. Over time, people assign different meanings to the same word or they create new words which can be known as slang. Slang is informal and used in speech rather than writing. Here, I have put together some words you might hear when speaking with native British English speakers.

TOP 10 British Slang Words You Must Know! 

If you’re learning English in order to better your job prospects, the chances are that at some point you’re going to need to understand and employ a more specialised vocabulary.

Working in a business environment will expose you to a raft of new words that don’t tend to be covered by standard English as a Foreign Language courses. In this episode, I will explain some of the words and phrases you can expect to hear in an office, including both official terms and the so-called “office jargon” that has crept into use in the 21st-century workplace.

Episode 10: 35 Terms to Enhance Your Business English Vocabulary Part 1

Hello and welcome to another episode of Engine English. Ever since the might of the British Empire was expelled from the United States, ordinary folk from both sides of the pond have chuckled at each other's use of the English language and pronunciation. 

This has also led to a few interesting conversations where things often get lost in translation.

The two might share the English language but it can seem like you're speaking an entirely different language if you're unaware of the way certain words are used.

👉 Book a lesson with me today: www.italki.com/teacher/8719362

20 English words that mean very different things in Britain and America

Hello and welcome to another episode of Engine English! Every language has its own idioms and expressions and the English language has plenty of phrases that are useful to learn. Idioms are words or phrases that aren’t meant to be taken literally and usually have a cultural meaning behind them. Most of the English idioms you hear are offering advice but also contain some underlying principles and values. You have probably heard some of them, especially in TV shows and movies, and wondered why you can’t understand these idioms even though you fully understand the words. Learning English idioms and expressions can take some time but there are some of them that are more popular than others that will come in handy if you know them. When you learn English idioms and phrases you will sound more confident especially when you speak with native English speakers. If you can’t understand idioms you will not be able to understand the context. That is why I have gathered some of the most common English idioms and phrases so you will understand their true meaning of them.

👉 Book a class with me today: www.italki.com/teacher/8719362