Category Archives: Language Guide

The Connection Between Sound, Language and Emotion

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Connection Between Sound, Language and Emotion - headphones listeningSound, language and emotion have strong links. Over 130 years ago, Darwin suggested that speech and melody have the same ancestor. Now two academics have returned to the idea and are currently researching the connection between sound and emotion in relation to language.

It seems that the tone of someone’s voice can affect our emotions in the same way that other sounds in the natural world can, such as running water or barking dogs.

We can feel calm, anxious, excited or happy and can even have our perceptions altered by the tones we hear.

Read on to explore the connection between sounds and emotions as we think about what this means for language. Continue reading →

Remember, Remember, the Fifth of November!

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Remember, remember, the 5th of November! Bonfire Night is the time people in the UK light bonfires, eat toffee apples and set off fireworks, as we remember the night that Guy Fawkes nearly blew up the Houses of Parliament. Although the celebrations have been tempered in recent years due to the pandemic, we’ve still enjoyed the exciting atmosphere, food and stories of Bonfire Night. But in 2023, group celebrations are back!

This annual celebration is always an exciting time of year, giving students a great opportunity to learn some more vocabulary in another seasonal EFL class. Check out our Bonfire Night lesson plans for poems, pronunciation practice, discussions and gap fill exercises all about the Gun Powder Plot – a lesson plan to thrill Guy Fawkes fans! Continue reading →

Is the Scottish Accent Dying Out?

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Linguistics experts at Glasgow University and Edinburgh’s Queen Margaret University believe that a natural change is happening in the Scottish accent. It seems that the distinctive Scottish rolled ‘R’ is slowly disappearing as young people soften the letter so much that it has become almost inaudible. The rhotic or tremulant consonants have always been a distinctive part of the Scottish accent but are they going to vanish for good? Continue reading →

It’s a Scorcher! Hot Weather Vocabulary and Phrases

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Phew – a heatwave is currently blazing across the UK! We’re experiencing a sizzling week as the air pressure rises and hot air blasts over from the continent. There is a balmy Mediterranean vibe with temperatures soaring and the UK has now hit its highest ever temperature with 40.2C recorded at Heathrow in London this week. As the mercury tips the scale, join us for some language fun – we’re diving into a cool pool of hot weather vocabulary! Continue reading →

Voting Vocabulary for Political EFL Lessons

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Palace of Westminster - Parliament - Political EFL LessonsAs Boris Johnson is declared the new Prime Minister of the UK, politics is a popular topic of conversation everywhere. This controversial appointment has given us all the perfect excuse to slip some political vocabulary into our EFL lessons. There is currently much discussion about political issues affecting the UK, especially with Brexit on the horizon, so read on for some vocabulary ideas to add to your next politics EFL lesson. Continue reading →

It’s the Grand National – And They’re Off!

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Congratulations to I Am Maximus and jockey Paul Townsend, winners of the 2024 Grand National!

The Grand National Festival opens on Thursday 11th April 2024 in the build up to the most famous event in the horse racing calendar! Sponsored by Randox, the Grand National 2023 steeplechase takes place at Aintree in Liverpool on Saturday 13th April at 4pm.

This is the UK’s most popular race meeting and people all over the world will be placing their bets on the big race, watching their favourite horses and jockeys take on The Chair and Becher’s Brook!

This famous sporting event has found its way into many EFL classrooms with horse racing themed lessons and vocabulary now the order of the week. Join us for a few horsey ideas that you can take into the winner’s enclosure (aka. the EFL classroom)! Continue reading →

Easter Vocabulary: From Bunnies to Hot Cross Buns

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Easter Bunny - Easter Vocabulary EFL Lesson Easter is a special time across the world where people commemorate the crucifixion and celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. This spring time festival has many traditions associated with it in the UK, from the sharing of chocolate Easter Eggs to attending church services, taking part in street parades and eating hot cross buns. Find out more about the Easter holiday and explore some of our Easter vocabulary with a gap fill in our Easter EFL lesson idea for beginners. Continue reading →

The Worm Moon and EFL Space Vocabulary

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Astronomers are excited about the worm moon set to light up the skies this month. This event will also be classed as a super moon, due to the proximity of this moon to the earth. The full moon in March is known as a worm moon due to this being when the grounds traditionally thaw at the end of winter, allowing sightings of worm trails. Stargazers in the UK should be able to see the worm moon at 7.48pm on Sunday 28th 2021 and this should last for the next couple of days. This exciting celestial event also makes the perfect time to explore some EFL space vocabulary!

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Movember Brings Moustaches to the EFL Classroom

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Movember EFL LessonHappy Movember everyone! Movember is the annual moustache-growing charity event that takes place every November. The Movember Foundation raises funds to support the fight against men’s cancers, while raising awareness for men’s health.

Although many of us are in lockdown right now due to the Coronavirus pandemic, we hope you can still enjoy this famous November event and wear your ‘taches with pride.

Many universities and colleges are joining in the event this month with students either growing their own moustache or wearing a false one. As English language teachers, we can get in on the act by raising awareness for the charity event in our lessons. Now where is my stick-on curly ‘Poirot’?
Continue reading →

Halloween EFL Lesson Plans: Ghostly Games and Eerie Ideas

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Halloween EFL Lesson PlansHalloween EFL lesson plans at the ready – it’s that spooky time of year again! The ghosts and ghouls come out to play on 31st October and pumpkins with scary faces will adorn many a doorstep. Halloween is that one night a year when it’s OK to frighten your neighbours. You might even get sweets!

Halloween is about to be unleashed and this is one of those celebrations that has its own vocabulary. This is therefore the perfect time to think about Halloween EFL lesson plans and inject some fun Halloween vocabulary games into your EFL class. Continue reading →