Sourov DEB

Author: Sourov

  • Connected Speech — Why Native Speakers Are Hard to Understand

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    B2 · 5 min Connected Speech — Why Native Speakers Are Hard to Understand Natural English is not four separate words — it is one flowing sound From Sourov’s world: When I first arrived in Sydney, I said everything in four clean, separate words: I-want-to-go. Every syllable perfect. People understood me, but something sounded stiff.…

  • MAKE vs DO — Which One Do You Use? (A2)

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    A2 · 5 min MAKE vs DO Two verbs, one big confusion — solved today From Sourov’s world: On my very first shift at The Ivy in Sydney, I went up to the floor manager and told him confidently: “I did an effort to arrive early today.” He looked at me for a moment and…

  • Comparatives and Superlatives — From Busy Nights to Beautiful Islands (A2)

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    A2 · 5 min Comparatives and Superlatives Compare two things or find the extreme — the essential tools of everyday English From Sourov’s world: The busiest shift I ever worked was New Year’s Eve at the Star Casino in Sydney. It was busier than any regular Saturday night — more chaotic, louder, more demanding, and…

  • False Friends — English and French Words That Lie (B1)

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    B1 · 5 min False Friends: English & French Words that look the same — but mean something completely different From Sourov’s world: When I first arrived in La Réunion and began working on my French, my French wife Vanessa and I would laugh at my mistakes. But the funniest ones happened in English. I…

  • Intonation — Questions That Sound Like Questions

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    A2 · 5 min Intonation — Questions That Sound Like Questions Rising and falling tones carry meaning your words alone cannot From Sourov’s world: Working at Establishment in Sydney, a guest approached me and said something. I heard the words. I said yes. She looked horrified. I had misheard a falling intonation as a rising…

  • Reported Speech — Saying What Someone Said (B2)

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    B2 · 5 min Reported Speech Pass on what someone said — accurately, naturally, and without quoting word-for-word From Sourov’s world: Working at Establishment in Sydney, I was often the bridge between French-speaking guests and English-speaking colleagues. A French guest would say: “Je veux changer ma table — il y a trop de bruit ici.”…

  • Idioms with COME — The Journey Word (B2)

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    B2 · 5 min Idioms with COME The word COME takes you further than you think From Sourov’s world: When I first came across English idioms in Australia, they didn’t come naturally at all. I remember sitting in the break room at Star Casino and my colleagues speaking — I could understand individual words, but…

  • Word Stress — The Secret Pattern

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    B1 · 5 min Word Stress — The Secret Pattern Why photograph, photography, and photographer sound so different From Sourov’s world: Preparing for IELTS, I kept stumbling on the same group of words: photograph, photography, photographer. I knew all three words. I had used them for years. But I had been stressing them all the…

  • Passive Voice (Present and Past) — The Language of Professional Settings (B1)

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    B1 · 5 min Passive Voice — Present and Past Shift focus from who does it to what gets done — a key skill for professional English From Sourov’s world: In 18 years of hospitality, I noticed something: the language of professional service is full of passive voice. In a pre-shift briefing, you’d never hear…