We’ll meet us for Christmas lunch

“WE’LL MEET US FOR CHRISTMAS LUNCH“.

I often hear students saying something like this when making plans, not just for Christmas of course but even for after school or the weekend. I’m sorry to tell you that the example sentence above is incorrect. True, there cannot be any misunderstanding and maybe it’s also the way you say it in your language; not in English, though.

My question to you today – how would a native speaker say the sentence above?

Email me your answers for my correction / feedback: sandro.tefl@gmail.com.

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Interested in learning
and practising English online
but not sure how it works?

For a free trial lesson,
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Please include your first name
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Riddle: 88 keys

Do you know what a riddle is? A riddle  is a puzzle or joke in which you ask a question that seems to be nonsense but which has a clever or amusing answer. I’m sure you have them in your language. Well, now is the time to try one in English.

Put your answers in the comments box at the bottom of this page.

If you found this interesting or useful, please like and share. Thanks!


Interested in learning
and practising English online
but not sure how it works?

For a free trial lesson,
message me on WhatsApp: 0035679664664
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Please include your first name
and your time zone.

A favourite word of mine – CODDLE

Not cuddle but coddle. That’s one of my favourite words in English. I do this with other languages, too. It might not be an important word but I just like the sound of it. Coddle is such a word. If you’re learning English, you can live without it. Even if you’re a native speaker, you might never use it.

As a motivational teacher, I should encourage you to look the word up in an English dictionary (not a translator!). Today, though, I am feeling the Christmas spirit so I will go right ahead and show you the meaning.

Have you got a favourite word in English? And in your language? Please share using the comments box at the end of the page.

If you found this interesting or useful, please like and share. Thanks!


Interested in learning
and practising English online
but not sure how it works?

For a free trial lesson,
message me on WhatsApp: 0035679664664
or email: sandro.tefl@gmail.com.

Please include your first name
and your time zone.

Check your spelling

Choose the correct spelling (and no cheating!):

1 [the place where one lives or stays while on holiday]

A. accomodation

B. accommodation

2 [a period of 1000 years]

A. millennium

B. milennium

3 [the paper you get after paying for something]

A. receipt

B. reciept

4 [a type of school for very young children]

A. kindergarden

B. kindergarten

5 [how heavy someone or something is]

A. weight

B. weigth

Email me your answers for my correction / feedback: sandro.tefl@gmail.com.

If you found this interesting or useful, please like and share. Thanks!


Interested in learning
and practising English online
but not sure how it works?

For a free trial lesson,
message me on WhatsApp: 0035679664664
or email: sandro.tefl@gmail.com.

Please include your first name
and your time zone.

Give me a minute

Give me a minute or Give me a sec (short for Give me a second).

These two expressions are used when you need to finish a task before answering someone’s question or helping them in some way.

For example: you’re texting someone when a friend interrupts you. You can tell them, “Give me a sec” so that you have time to finish off your message before speaking to them.

Another example: you’re on the phone with a client and they ask you a question. You need to look up the information so you tell them, “Give me a minute and I’ll check.”

As you can see from these situations, Give me a minute or Give me a sec (short for Give me a second) are another way of saying “wait”, but a short wait; or, “I’ll be with you soon”.

If you found this interesting or useful, please like and share. Thanks!


Interested in learning
and practising English online
but not sure how it works?

For a free trial lesson,
message me on WhatsApp: 0035679664664
or email: sandro.tefl@gmail.com.

Please include your first name
and your time zone.

Try something new for 30 days

Learning a language is not only about studying grammar rules. It’s also about listening and this short video is just perfect for:

  • pronunciation
  • vocabulary
  • general understanding

Go on. Sit back, watch and enjoy!

If you found this interesting or useful, please like and share. Thanks!


Interested in learning
and practising English online
but not sure how it works?

For a free trial lesson,
message me on WhatsApp: 0035679664664
or email: sandro.tefl@gmail.com.

Please include your first name
and your time zone.

You don’t need a teacher!

Just by looking at the photo you should understand what placemats and coatsers are. If you are still unsure of yourself, do NOT use a translator but look the words up in an English dixtionary. Some time ago I gave a few suggestions: English dictionaries.

If you found this interesting or useful, please like and share. Thanks!


Interested in learning
and practising English online
but not sure how it works?

For a free trial lesson,
message me on WhatsApp: 0035679664664
or email: sandro.tefl@gmail.com.

Please include your first name
and your time zone.

1000 or 1000s

Some (not all!) of the sentences have a mistake. Which ones? Can you correct them?

  1. Two thousands guests were invited to the party.
  2. Thousands of people have suffered the effects of  Covid-19.
  3. I have  a thousands of photos on my smartphone.
  4. The new cruise liner can carry four thousands of passengers.

Email me your answers for my correction / feedback: sandro.tefl@gmail.com.

If you found this interesting or useful, please like and share. Thanks!


Interested in learning
and practising English online
but not sure how it works?

For a free trial lesson,
message me on WhatsApp: 0035679664664
or email: sandro.tefl@gmail.com.

Please include your first name
and your time zone.

PRESENTLY / AT PRESENT

This is the holiday season – Christmas and New Year. This is a time for giving. Not Covid-19, of course, but best wishes and gifts. Another word for gift is present, the word you can see in the title of this post. However, the meaning of PRESENTLY and AT PRESENT has nothing to do with the holiday season or birthdays or anniversaries. Instead, they are used as time expressions. Let me show you how.

[On the phone]

A: Can I speak to Ms Brown, please?

B: I’m sorry but she’s in a meeting at present. Would you like to leave a message?

A: Can you ask her to call me back immediately after the meeting? It’s rather urgent.

What is the meaning of at present?

[In the classroom]

Student: Is it OK if I leave the room for a few minutes? I need to make a call.

Teacher: We’ll be taking a break presently. Can you wait a few minutes?

Student: Oh. Sure. It’s not that important.

What is the meaning of presently?

Email me your answers for my correction / feedback: sandro.tefl@gmail.com.

If you found this interesting or useful, please like and share. Thanks!


Interested in learning
and practising English online
but not sure how it works?

For a free trial lesson,
message me on WhatsApp: 0035679664664
or email: sandro.tefl@gmail.com.

Please include your first name
and your time zone.