5 ideas to help you practise English every day

It's always challenging to start learning a language, and what helps most is to practise it as much as possible, but many people struggle to find things they can do on their own. Here are a few ideas that can easily be introduced into our daily routine.

1. Watch TV shows and films in English

Although it may take some time for you to get used to this, it can really help. Start by watching a TV show that is short (20-30 minutes) that you have watched before, with the subtitles in English (having subtitles in your own language will not help very much).Once you are used to this, try to watch longer shows and films, and when you are comfortable doing this, start removing subtitles altogether.

2. Change the language on your mobile phone and/or computer

While this may confuse you for the first few days, you will soon get used to the new words, and this will get you to learn many words and expressions. As these are devices most people use every day, it will make sure that you at least see some English vocabulary while you are making a call or checking your e-mails.


3. Watch BBC's One-Minute World News

This literally takes one minute of your time every day. The easiest way to do this is to find a specific time of every day to do this, such as while you are having breakfast, or perhaps in the evening when you get home. This exercise is recommended once you are more comfortable with English, as they speak quickly and offer no subtitles. 

4. Follow an English-speaking blog

Look for a blog on a topic you are interested in, and take your time to find one that you will really like and will be happy to follow regularly. You might choose one that offers a new recipe every week that you can try to make at home, or perhaps one that talks about a specific sport, or one that tells you what is happening in the world of fashion. The more you like the content, the more you will want to keep reading!

5. Keep an English diary

This simple exercise requires you to write down a few things you have done during your day. You can keep a notebook and a pen by your bed and use the just 5 minutes in the evening writing down some things in English. The idea is that you will produce ideas of your own and can use new words or expressions you are picking up from watching series or following a blog.


We hope these ideas help you to practise a little every day, and with perseverance and patience, you will see the results. 

Lyrics Training

Hello again!

This week we discovered the website LyricsTraning through a recommendation from one of our lovely TeaTimers. The idea of this website is for you to watch a music video and fill the gaps of different words the singer is saying. There are 4 different levels, and it is truly fun.

Our experience with this website has been fantastic, and they also tell you where the singer is from, which means you can listen to different accents and see what they say. This tool is great for everybody because you can choose the video according to the genre you prefer, or the language you would like to practise (there are also songs in other languages), and you can enjoy every second of the learning experience. 

So, what are you waiting for? 


TED Talks

Happy Friday TeaTimers!

We have started using TED Talks as part of our classroom support material. For everybody who is preparing a B2, C1 or C2 level, as well as those who want to prepare their IELTS or TOEFL, this is a fantastic tool. 

The idea of TED Talks is that an expert on a specific subject gives a 17-minute talk (approximately), and it is prepared so that it is easy to understand for the general public, and entertaining too. The subjects dealt with are science, politics, sociology, etc. 

There is an app available that is tremendously easy to use and includes subtitles, and is updated with new material on a regular basis. Students can also visit the Youtube channel TED Talks, where they will find many other videos (again, subtitules are available).

We are very happy to recommend TED Talks to every student who would like to learn some academic language, and see how it is used to discuss a specific subject. What is more, as they are about 17 minutes in length, it is perfect for all those students who struggle to find the time to practise their English. However, we warn you that it's highly addictive and it can quickly change from 17 minutes per day to endless hours!

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¿Qué es #CityCamp 2014?

Este verano os traemos #CityCamp 2014, el cual hemos diseñado para que los niños entre los 5 y 12 años practiquen el inglés que han aprendido ya, aprendan mucho más, y se diviertan mientras tanto. Los peques de la casa pasan las mañanas entre juegos, experimentos, manualidades, conversación, y muchísimo más.

Podrán disfrutar de aprender sin estudiar y sin aburrirse, puesto que harán cosas que les divertirán y les fascinarán, pero siempre in English (of course!). Los profesores nativos trabajarán con ellos la pronunciación, la conversación a su nivel, la lectura, y sobre todo los juegos. 

Todo esto os lo ofrecemos por sólo 70€ por semana, porque estamos deseando que los peques por fin se enamoren del inglés, y que estén siempre deseando venir a Tea Time Idiomas a aprender más English. 

summer camp 2014.jpeg

What is wonderful weather?




