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Practice your reading, listening and writing skills in English while you improve your vocabulary, increase your knowledge about Canadian culture, and find new resources for further language study.

We post a new blog entry every Wednesday.

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Happy Holidays!
Brandon Douglas Brandon Douglas

Happy Holidays!

—| B2-C1 (intermediate to advanced) |—
In Canada, “happy holidays!” is a common expression that is used to say…

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Final Exam Season
Brandon Douglas Brandon Douglas

Final Exam Season

—| B1-B2 (intermediate) |—

In Canada, university students end their first semester either at the end of November or…

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blurb
Brandon Douglas Brandon Douglas

blurb

—| B2-C1 (intermediate to advanced) |—

In North American and British English, this word typically means…

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SONG: “Stay”
Brandon Douglas Brandon Douglas

SONG: “Stay”

—| B1-C1 (intermediate to advanced) |—

“Stay” by The Kid LAROI, featuring Justin Bieber is a catchy and extremely popular song that…

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to break down
Brandon Douglas Brandon Douglas

to break down

—| B2-C1 (upper-intermediate to advanced) |—

In North American English, this phrasal verb typically means…

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BACK TO SCHOOL

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school
school

– A2-C1 (beginner to advanced) –

“School” in Canadian English does not necessarily mean the same thing as it does in British English…

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The Multiculturalism of Canadian Education
The Multiculturalism of Canadian Education

– B2-C1 (intermediate to advanced) –

Are you curious about Canada’s education system? Learn how Canada’s teaching methodology includes cultural perspectives from around the world…

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to prepare vs. to prepare yourself
to prepare vs. to prepare yourself

– B2 (intermediate) –

“To prepare yourself” does not mean the same thing as “to prepare.” Do you know the difference? Learn here…

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to hand out
to hand out

– B1-C1 (intermediate to advanced) –

In Canadian English, this phrasal verb typically means…

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International Literacy Day In Canada
International Literacy Day In Canada

– B2-C1 (intermediate to advanced) –

September 8th is a holiday in Canada, which celebrates…

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Canadian vs. American English: School Vocabulary, Part 1
Canadian vs. American English: School Vocabulary, Part 1

– C1 (advanced) –

Canadian English does not always share the same vocabulary as American English. This becomes quite evident in conversations about…

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back to school
back to school

– B2-C1 (intermediate to advanced) –

In Canadian and American English, this phrase typically means…

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SHOW: “Son Of A Critch”
SHOW: “Son Of A Critch”

– B2-C2 (intermediate to advanced) –

By watching this show there are a variety of English-language elements that a person can practice and learn, including…

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to get back into the swing of things
to get back into the swing of things

– C1 (advanced) –

In North American English, this idiom typically means…

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Most Popular Posts

COMMON MISTAKE: to present yourself vs. to introduce yourself

— B1-C1 (intermediate to advanced) —

A common mistake that can make a social or professional situation quickly awkward is saying, “let me present myself to you” instead of “let me introduce myself to you.” Learn why these phrases do not mean the same thing…

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melting pot vs. cultural mosaic

— C1-C2 (advanced) —

Many people have heard Americans refer to the United States as a melting pot of cultures due to its diverse population. While Canada is also diverse it is a cultural mosaic, not a melting pot. Learn the difference between these two societal structures here…

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COMMON MISTAKE: sea vs. ocean

— B2-C1 (intermediate to advanced) —

A common mistake that many language learners make in English is only using the word, “sea.” “Sea” and “ocean” are not synonyms in English. Using them as such can cause confusion, particularly in Canada and the USA. Learn the differences between these words…

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Are you looking for blog posts on phrasal verbs, idioms, or other elements of the English language? Click on the tag below that interests you. You will be provided with all the blog posts that feature that element.

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