It’s been a whirlwind 2018. We’ve made so many amazing memories – from our twentieth-anniversary party to some entertaining intercambio nights, and of course lots of great classes. And we wouldn’t change it for the world!

So let’s take a look back at some of our most popular blog posts from last year and get ready for an action packed 2019 full of learning.

10 English words you need for 2018

Dictionaries are always being updated. Old words are thrown out and new words – often related to technology, trends and culture – are added in. This article highlighted some of the words we thought you would come across in 2018.

Did you learn or use any of them? From ‘POTUS’ (President of the United States) to ‘Youthquake’? Check out the others in this fun article: Our top 10 English words in 2018.

Writing an effective essay: Cambridge B2 First

Essay writing in English is a top skill and essential if you are taking the Cambridge First exam. Lots of you read this article and told us you found it useful – so here are our expert tips to help you practise and improve your essay writing. Check them out if you are thinking of taking a Cambridge B2 First exam this year: How to write an effective essay.

Cambridge English Exams or IELTS?

There are so many different English qualifications and exams available to you. This article breaks down the differences between IELTS and the Cambridge examinations. Read this article if you’re not sure which is right for you: What’s the difference between Cambridge examinations and IELTS?

5 Powerful Tools to Perfect Your Pronunciation

You understand everything, you have perfect grammar, but when it comes to speaking, you feel like you’re practising tongue twisters! Pronunciation in English can be tough – so here are some helpful tools to practice and start speaking perfectly: 5 tools to help you improve your pronunciation.

IELTS: Writing Part 1 – How to Write a Descriptive Report

If you’re taking IELTS, you’ll need to get good at report writing in English. This practical article goes into how to get started, so you can take on the exam and pass part one of the writing paper with flying colours!

Read more here: IELTS writing part one.

Guide to getting top marks in your Cambridge First (FCE) and Advanced (CAE) speaking exam

Do speaking exams make you break out in a cold sweat? Don’t worry, we’re here to help! Many of our students feel very nervous about their speaking exams too. Thankfully our experienced teachers are excellent at preparing them for the task in class.

This article sums up some of our tip tips and exam strategies to help you pass your FCE and CAE speaking exams.

The 10 Characteristics Of A ‘Good Language Learner’

Barcelona is a very international city. You’ll find lots of bilingual and trilingual speakers wherever you go. But are YOU a good language learner? We hope so. But really – there’s only one way to find out: read the article and see what it takes to be good at learning English.

Improving Your Pronunciation With A Phonemic Chart

Try these tongue twisters and see how you do:

She sells sea shells on the seashore…

Red lorry, yellow lorry, red lorry, yellow lorry…

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper…

They’re hard, right?! But don’t worry. If you struggled with those, you can check out our article on improving your pronunciation with the phonemic chart. It’ll help you sound more natural when you are speaking English.

How To Improve Your English Using Netflix

Kick back, relax, switch on Netflix, and learn some English.

Wait…what?

That’s right. Netflix can be an excellent tool to help you learn English. Here we outline some ways to give your English a boost, while enjoying yourself and watching movies and TV series at the same time: How to use Netflix to improve your English.

How to Improve your English with YouTube

Like Netflix, YouTube is a fun place to watch videos and learn English. See how you can use the popular online platform to improve your English, learn new words, learn song lyrics and even make your own videos! See more here.

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What were your favourite blog posts this year? Do you have any requests for 2019? Let us know!

Glossary for Language Learners

Find the following words in the article and then write down any new ones you didn’t know.

Throw out (pv): to discard something; to throw something away.

Breaks down (pv): to outline or summarise something.

Tongue twisters (n): a special phrase in English that tests pronunciation of a difficult combination of sounds.

Pass with flying colours (exp.): to pass something with a high score.

Break out in a cold sweat (exp.): to feel very nervous or scared about something.

Kick back (pv): lie on the sofa and put your feet up.

Boost (n): a big improvement.

Key

pv = phrasal verb

n = noun

exp = expression

Study English at Oxford House Barcelona

Interested in taking an English course at Oxford House Barcelona? Check all the different English classes we can offer you, or contact us for more information.