Personalised English Tuition for Every Learner

1) Once in a blue moon - Not very often

e.g. The man with bad teeth visits his dentist once in a blue moon.

2) Break a leg - Good luck!

e.g. Break a leg! I hope you pass your exam.

3) Hit the sack - Go to sleep

e.g. Work was so tiring today, I'm going to hit the sack.

4) On the ball - Doing a good job

e.g. This student is really on the ball, she got 10/10 in her test.

5) Under the weather - Sick

e.g. I feel under the weather today, I hope I won't have to self-isolate.

Learn them, use them, impress!

An acronym to improve your GCSE poetry analysis

Suitable for vegans!

Mood - How does the poem make you feel?

Emotions - How do the characters in the poem feel?

Aim - Why was the poem written?

Techniques - Enjambment, caesura, assonance...

Language - Metaphors, rule of three, rhetorical question...

Imagery - What picture does this poem paint in your mind?

Structure - How is the poem built? Stanzas, lines, rhyme patterns...

Theme - What's it all about?

Use MEATLIST and get poetry strong!

Add some variety to your English.

1) Something that started and hasn't yet finished: -

e.g. He has slept for 10 hours and he still hasn't woken up (lazy person!).

We have been friends for ages (and I still like you).

2) Describing an experience that happened: -

e.g. He has kissed The Queen (now that would be an experience!).

I have never eaten snails (yuk!).

3) Something that happened in the past and has an effect now: -

e.g. I have brushed my teeth (and now my breath is minty fresh).

Dad has lost his wallet again (now mum will have to pay again). 

An Inspector Calls has only 6 main characters. That's great for social distance rules... and for learning quotes!

(N.B. Eva is dead and Edna represents the invisible working class)

Here are 5 useful quotes for Mr. Birling: -

1) 'Unsinkable, absolutely unsinkable' - dramatic irony referring to the Titanic, makes Mr. Birling look daft, conceited and immodest.

2) 'Community and all that nonsense' - he's sneering in an arrogant, contemptuous tone showing that he has a narrow view of collective responsibility.

3) 'not the kind of father a chap could go to when he’s in trouble' - Eric expresses the kind of relationship they have: uncaring, unsympathetic and without affection.

4) 'I like a good cigar' - a status symbol at that time; power, success and wealth.

5) 'There’ll be a public scandal’ - he demonstrates no guilt. Even in Act 3 he conveys more concern over covering up the embarrassing revelations which could affect his business and knighthood than taking any responsibility for Eva's death.

Learn them, use them and improve your grades!

1) Myriad (noun) - A very large number of something

e.g. If you're having girl problems I feel bad for you son, I've got a myriad of problems but homework ain't one (alternative Jay Z lyrics)

2) Insatiable (adj) - a desire too great to be satisfied

e.g. Like so many teachers, he had an insatiable hunger for power.

3) Clandestine (adj) - in secret 

e.g. The obese operation controller arranged a clandestine meeting with his undernourished informer.

4) Serendipity (noun) - Finding something interesting/ valuable by chance

e.g. Through serendipity, I stumbled into the hidden stash of snacks; I binged on chocolate!

5) Alacrity (noun) - Speed and eagerness

e.g. They clicked 'like' with alacrity!

Learn them, use them and impress!

1) Been or Bin?

Bob: Where have you been?

Bert: It's outside full of rubbish. 😂

2) Bare or Bear?

Dave: Don't look now, I'm bare.

John: You're not a bear you're a person and...naked. 😲

3) Allowed or aloud?

No drinking aloud 🤔 (Slurp!!!)

4) Feel?

Jean: How do you feel?

Betty: With my hands. 🤣

5) Farther or father? (American English)

Luke: Leia is much farther than you.

Dad: Luke, I am your father. 😛

Bonus mistake: Kick the bucket

Donna: My parrot kicked the bucket.

Britney: Wow that's amazing! My dog tripped over the mop. 🤪