English Bite — English for Parents: Talking to Your Child’s School
A teacher says "Your child is making good progress." What does this mean?
Tag: functional language
English Bite — The Art of Disagreeing Politely in English
Independent project; not affiliated with, endorsed by, or accredited by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Confers no qualification.
English Bite — How to Sound Polite in English
Independent project; not affiliated with, endorsed by, or accredited by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Confers no qualification.
English Bite — Small Talk That Works: Starting a Conversation
Independent project; not affiliated with, endorsed by, or accredited by Cambridge University Press & Assessment. Confers no qualification.
English Bite — Travel English: At the Airport
You give this to the person at the gate before you get on the plane:
Giving Your Opinion in English — Phrases Beyond ‘I Think’
💬 Cambridge speaking exams test this: Simply saying "I think..." every time makes your language sound flat. Examiners — and real people — want variety. Here are the phrases that move you from B1 to…
How to Agree and Disagree Politely in English
💬 The politeness problem: In a staff meeting in Sydney, someone proposed an idea I thought was terrible. I said: "That's wrong." Silence. Frowns. I was right about the idea. I was wrong about how…
Asking for Help: Polite English When You Don’t Understand
For the first two years in Sydney I nodded at things I didn't understand. I was ashamed to ask. I would nod, walk away, and then try to figure it out alone. One day my…
At the Airport: Survival English for New Arrivals
When I landed in Sydney in 2005, I sat on a kerb outside the terminal for three hours. I had the address of someone I knew but no phone, no idea how to get a…
Dealing with Complaints: Staying Calm in English
A customer once threw a menu at me in a busy Sydney restaurant. He was angry. Not at me — his food was cold. But I was the nearest person. My manager came over and…