Smart English Coach

If you feel that your English isn't good enough, or that you can't do your job as well as an English native speaker, this episode is for you! I show you why you might have 'Imposter Syndrome', why it can stop your progress in English - and four things you can do to deal with it. Link in this episode Episode 66 of the Smart English Coach podcast - How to beat imposter syndrome to speak confidently Subscribe to the podcast Never miss an episode! Get free weekly coaching tips here.

Is English more difficult to understand than other languages? This was one of the questions I asked Tree Blackmore. We talked about: - the reasons why listening is difficult - particularly in English - why English vocabulary makes listening difficult - some activities and ideas for improving listening and understanding (including one related to pronunciation) This podcast was recorded on Zoom, so the audio quality isn't as high as usual. But if you find listening difficult, the ideas in this episode will be really helpful for you! Link The Advanced English Summit - the world's first online event especially for people who want to get to advanced English level. It runs from Wednesday 17th April to Friday 19th April, with 10 talks by different teachers. Subscribe to the podcast Never miss an episode! Get free weekly coaching tips here.

In this episode, listen to Luke Thompson (host of Luke's English Podcast) talk about how to really learn vocabulary - and not just stare at word lists. We talk about the importance of learning vocabulary for advanced level, the mistakes to avoid when you try to learn vocabulary, and the tools and resources you can use to make it easier. We're both great fans of dictionaries, and Luke also suggests some really useful ones which will increase your synonyms and phrases. Luke is going to speak at the Advanced English Summit, and you can go to his talk - for free! Get your invitation from the link below: Advanced English Summit Make sure you listen to Luke's podcast. It's probably the biggest and most popular podcast for English learners - and you'll learn a lot of new vocabulary there. Here's the link: Luke's English Podcast Subscribe to the podcast Never miss an episode! Get free weekly coaching tips here.

If you use English for your work, "disfluencies" in English are something you should avoid. In this episode, I interview Craig Wealand, an English teacher and podcaster, who specialises in fluency, disfluency and advanced communication skills. Craig explains how disfluencies stop you from sounding professional, and gives several examples of what they are. If you want to find out how to avoid making them, come along to Craig's session at the Advanced English Summit. The link to join (it's free!) is here: Advanced English Summit What is the Advanced English Summit? It's a 3-day event especially for intermediate level English learners who want to get to advanced English level. Come along to 10 different sessions (on speaking, listening, grammar, writing, vocabulary AND exam skills.) All the speakers are professional English teachers, coaches and podcasters. It's completely free and live on Zoom. Advanced English Summit Subscribe to the podcast Never miss an episode! Get free weekly coaching tips here.

A simple, but very powerful thing when you learn English is finding happiness from it - because this will help you get quicker results. It isn't just because feeling happy gives you more motivation. There are other benefits that you get when you enjoy speaking or using English. In this episode, discover: - the three extra benefits of feeling happy when you learn English - three practical ways you can find this happiness I also share my story of feeling happy when I speak Italian - the inspiration for this episode! Links in this episode The English Fluency Club - a place to meet and speak to other professionals from around the world My contact page - let me know how I can help you! Subscribe to the podcast Never miss an episode! Get free weekly coaching tips here.

To choose the right English learning activities, there's one question you need to ask yourself first. Your answer will help you to avoid spending hours on the wrong activities, and not making the progress you want. Your answer will also help you to create the best learning plan for you, and to develop the right habits which will get you to your goals more quickly. So, what is this question? Listen to the podcast to find out! (And to get some example strategies that you can follow.) Link in this episode The English Fluency Club helps you to become more confident in English. Try it out and you WILL see and feel a difference in your English! Subscribe to the podcast Never miss an episode! Get free weekly coaching tips here.

If I told you that there are an estimated 25,000 idioms in English, would you want to learn them? It seems an impossible task, but idioms are a fantastic and imaginative way to explain your feelings and thoughts in a concise - and often funny - way. They aren't just for speaking, either. You'll see them everywhere: in articles, news stories - and on the sides of UK buses! In this episode, I talk about the reasons why you should (and shouldn't) learn English idioms. I hope you agree with my conclusion! Link in this episode English Idioms Workshop Subscribe to the podcast Never miss an episode! Get free weekly coaching tips here.

Getting to an advanced English level can change your life. It's a really useful goal to have - but what does it mean? In this episode, find out: - how you can define 'advanced English' - three ways to improve your English when you already know a lot - why English development is personal development My students are achieving amazing career and life goals - and confident English plays a big part in this. Link in episode If you'd like a way to get to advanced English (without wasting time or energy), check out my Advanced English Membership. With short, practical exercises, you can increase your vocabulary, reduce grammar and pronunciation mistakes, and power up your speaking! Subscribe to the podcast Never miss an episode! Get free weekly coaching tips here.

How can you sound professional and confident when you speak English? What makes your sentences beautiful, powerful and impressive? In this episode (inspired by one of my students), I share three tips for making beautiful English sentences! I've also got some more advanced tips for you to try. Say 'bye-bye' to boring, 'adios' to uninspiring, and 'au revoir' to unimaginative! Check out the episode to find out how to make a great impact with your English. Subscribe to the podcast Never miss an episode! Get free weekly coaching tips here.

There are obvious advantages for learning languages - particularly for your brain. And of course, learning English has lots of other benefits too. A better-paying job, greater study opportunities, international networking are all examples. But then there are the life-changing advantages of learning English. These are things that I'm seeing more and more with my students. In this episode, I share five of these advantages. They're all linked to personal development, and they have the potential to completely change your life - for the better! Link in this episode Advanced English Membership Subscribe to the podcast Never miss an episode! Get free weekly coaching tips here.

In this conversation with Michael Lavers, from the Level Up English Podcast, discover some of the secrets for successful English learning: - how to be more confident (even if you think you're too 'old' to learn English well) - the importance of your body and posture for successful learning - if the 'fake it til you make it' approach is useful - the 1% sports coaching method for English learning We also talk about how living in different countries has shaped the way we teach English. Michael shares examples from his background of learning languages, and it's a truly fascinating conversation! Learn more from Michael here: Level Up English Podcast Michael's website and school Michael's Instagram Subscribe to the podcast Never miss an episode! Get free weekly coaching tips here.

Learning English can be very "up and down". When it goes well, you feel confident and motivated, but sometimes it's hard to see your progress. Other times, something doesn't go well, and you lose confidence. At times like this, it really helps to have an 'achievement diary'. In this episode, I share why an achievement diary helps you see progress in your English, and how it can help you go even further with your English. I also show you how to create a simple achievement diary so that you can start straightaway, and ideas for what to include in your diary. Subscribe to the podcast Never miss an episode! Get free weekly coaching tips here.

It isn't 'perfect English' that will get you the dream job in an international company. Being able to communicate in English is obviously important, but there are other things that an interviewer wants to see or hear. In this podcast episode, I share three 'truths' about interviews which will help you to be more confident. I also share details about my new speaking program, Confident Interviews. It's perfect for you if you want a job in an English-speaking organisation, or in a company where you'll need to speak English. Subscribe to the podcast Never miss an episode! Get free weekly coaching tips here.

If working in an international company is your ambition, this episode is for you! An essential part of getting a high-paid role (with the career development opportunities you want) is the job interview. The good news is that you don't have to memorise "perfect answers" to hundreds of possible interview questions. In fact, there are only a few types of interview questions that you'll need to answer - and when you have a 'structure' for answering them, it becomes much, much easier! You can use these 'structures' time and time again to 'ace' your interview! In the episode, I also share details of my new (short) speaking program that helps you answer English interview questions confidently and convincingly. Join before December 10th for a special 'early bird' price! Confident Interviews Subscribe to the podcast Never miss an episode! Get free weekly coaching tips here.

This episode is for you if you're worried about sounding too simple when you use English. For example, if you always use basic grammar or vocabulary, or if your everyday phrases seem too elementary. In this episode, I have a few ideas about basic English! You'll discover: - a problem with making basic mistakes in English (it's all about other people's perceptions) - why being clear is the best 'test' of your English - what's best for everyday English Enjoy the episode! Subscribe to the podcast Never miss an episode! Get free weekly coaching tips here.

Estefania, who's from Spain, now trains Spanish people to work in the UK aviation industry. In this episode, she gives her advice for passing an English interview for aviation roles, and also shares some of the ways she immersed herself in English while living in a non-English speaking country. If you also aspire to work in aviation, you can follow Estefania here: @auxiliardelenguas (Instagram) Get Estefania's course and ebook here: Flight Mode (course) Smash Your Cabin Crew Interview (ebook) Subscribe to the podcast Never miss an episode! Get free weekly coaching tips here.

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to learn English with other people? What could you expect from the experience? How would it help you with your English goals? In this episode, I take you 'behind the scenes' of the English Fluency Club - the club that I've been running for the last four years. It's been the most satisfying and rewarding thing I've done as a teacher, and I share with you the six things that I've learnt! If you're interested in the English Fluency Club, the page to join is here: The English Fluency Club If you'd like more details and want to talk to me about it, email me here and I'll organise a quick Zoom call with you! Contact Me form Subscribe to the podcast Never miss an episode! Get free weekly coaching tips here.

This episode is for you if you don't feel confident about your English. We talk about 'Imposter Syndrome' especially with work - that feeling that you aren't good enough, or that you don't deserve a high position. But if you've had a bad experience with English in the past, you might also not be very self-confident - and this can lead to slower progress in English. In this episode, I talk about the '3 P's' - and how they effect your English. I also share 5 ways to overcome them so that you can reach your full potential in English! Next week - on October 11th - I'm giving a live workshop on how to become a confident speaker of English. You get 7 strategies for confidence, and we'll look at ways that you can change your ideas about English so that you can get to fluency faster. Get the link to the workshop here: Become A Confident English Speaker Subscribe to the podcast Never miss an episode! Get free weekly coaching tips here.

Is it possible to be a really advanced speaker of English - but still not feel very confident about your English? The answer, unfortunately, is yes. In this podcast, I look at both the visible and the invisible parts of learning a language, and how a lack of confidence can make you feel blocked and anxious. If this is something that you have experienced, come along to my new workshop on October 11th. We'll identify the situations which are difficult in English, and explore practical strategies to help you increase your confidence - and get fluent more quickly. Become A Confident English Speaker is free for members of the English Fluency Club (email me to get the link) or $10 for non-members of the Fluency Club. Go here to sign up! Subscribe to the podcast Never miss an episode! Get free weekly coaching tips here.

Don't feel guilty if you've stopped studying English for a while. In fact, the research shows us that taking breaks can benefit learning. In this podcast, find out - the three main reasons why taking breaks is so useful, and - how different lengths of breaks can be helpful. Subscribe to the podcast Never miss an episode! Get free weekly coaching tips here.