Verb up

    In 2026, the way we communicate at work is faster than ever, but professional etiquette still matters. An email is often the first impression you make on a client or a hiring manager. If it’s messy or too casual, you lose credibility.   Here are the 10 essential rules for professional email etiquette today.   1. Use a Clear Subject Line Your subject line should tell the reader exactly what is inside. •         Bad: "Hi" or "Question" •         Good: "Meeting Request: Project X Update" or "Inquiry regarding IELTS Coaching"   2. Use a Professional Salutation Even if you know the person, start with a professional greeting. •         Formal: "Dear Mr. Smith," •         Neutral: "Hi [Name]," •         Avoid: "Hey guys" or "Yo" in a first interaction. ...

In my 17 years of teaching, I’ve noticed that the biggest hurdle for advanced English learners isn't big words—it's phrasal verbs . Native speakers use them constantly in meetings. If you only use formal verbs like "discuss" or "summarize," you might sound a bit like a textbook.   Here are 12 phrasal verbs that will help you sound more like a leader in your next meeting.   1. Kick off Meaning: To start the meeting. Example: "Let's kick off by reviewing last week's sales figures."   2. Bring up Meaning: To mention a topic or introduce a point. Example: "I’d like to bring up the issue of the budget for next quarter."   3. Go over Meaning: To review or examine something in detail. Example: "Could we go over the main points of the contract one more time?"   4. Run through Meaning: To quickly explain or summarize something. Example: "Let me just run through the agenda before we sta...

  Today's the day we all got our report cards—well, 91 countries and economies did anyway. The OECD released its latest PISA 2025 results, testing more than 760,000 15-year-old students representing around 33 million teenagers across the world. And honestly? The results are a mixed bag that'll probably make educators lose sleep while keeping policymakers up at night for completely different reasons. The Winners: Asia's Education Dominance Is Real Let's start with the obvious: Asia is crushing it. The highest performers in PISA 2025 were the Chinese jurisdictions of Beijing, Shanghai, Jiangsu and Zhejiang, and Singapore. If you're sensing a pattern here, you're not wrong. Additionally, Estonia, Japan, Korea, Macao (China), Chinese Taipei and the United Kingdom were among the top 10 performing education systems. So basically, if your country is in East or Southeast Asia, you're probably doing something right. The question is: what exactly? These aren't cou...

Traveling to an English-speaking country can be stressful if you don't have the right words. Whether you're heading to London, New York, or Sydney in 2026, these 30 phrases will help you navigate every part of your journey.   At the Airport 1        "Where is the check-in desk for [Airline]?" 2        "I have a bag to check." 3        "Is the flight on time?" 4        "Which gate is for flight [Number]?" 5        "I’d like a window/aisle seat, please." 6        "Where is the baggage claim area?"   At the Hotel 7        "I have a reservation under the name [Name]." 8        "What time is check-out?" 9        "Is breakfast included?" 10     "Could I have an extra towe...

  When you apply for a job in the US or UK, your resume likely isn't read by a human first. Instead, it’s scanned by an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) —a software program that filters candidates based on specific keywords.   If your resume doesn't have the right keywords, it will be rejected before a recruiter even sees it. Here is how to optimize your CV to beat the bots.   What are Resume Keywords? Keywords are specific words or phrases that employers look for. They usually fall into three categories: 1        Hard Skills: e.g., "Python," "Project Management," "SEO," "Financial Analysis." 2        Soft Skills: e.g., "Leadership," "Communication," "Problem Solving." 3        Job Titles & Industry Terms: e.g., "Content Creator," "B2B Sales," "Agile Methodology."   Step 1: Analyze the Job Description The job description is your cheat sheet. Loo...

In the professional world, fluency isn't just about grammar; it's about understanding the "hidden" language of business. Idioms—expressions where the meaning isn't obvious from the individual words—are used constantly in offices from New York to London.   If you want to sound like a leader, you need to master these 15 idioms.   1. "Ahead of the curve" Meaning: To be more advanced or successful than your competitors. Example: "By investing in AI early, our company stayed ahead of the curve."   2. "In a nutshell" Meaning: To summarize something briefly. Example: "In a nutshell, the project was a success but we need more budget for phase two."   3. "Game plan" Meaning: A strategy or plan for reaching a goal. Example: "What’s our game plan for the client meeting tomorrow?"   4. "Corner the market" Meaning: To dominate a particular area of business. Example: ...

The TOEFL Speaking section is a race against the clock. You have seconds to prepare and less than a minute to speak. For many learners, this pressure leads to "umms," "ahhs," and long silences that kill their score. In my classroom, we focus on three specific strategies to eliminate hesitation and keep the speech flowing.   1. Use "Fillers" Wisely. Native speakers hesitate too, but they use professional fillers to buy time. Instead of silence, use phrases like: •         "That's an interesting question..." •         "To be more specific..." •         "Another point worth mentioning is..." These buy your brain 2–3 seconds to plan the next sentence without the examiner marking you down for "fluency gaps."   2 . The "Point-Reason-Example" (PRE) Template. Don't try to be creative. Use a rigid structure for every answer: •         Point: "...