Is there anything better than cooling off in the sea on a hot summer’s day? Well, if you live in Barcelona you have lots of opportunities to do just that! Whether you go up the coast to a little beachside town or you brave the crowds on the city bea... Read More
New words spring up each year! They often come from popular culture, social and political issues, and innovations in technology from around the world. Last year we introduced you to the . Now, we’re bringing you the ones making it to the dictionary ... Read More
A lot of our global business is conducted in English. So, there’s a strong chance you may have to learn how to negotiate using it. Fortunately, there are a number of key phrases, expressions and words that can help you effectively communicate when d... Read More
Learning a new language is hard, but fun. If you are learning English but need some help, our monthly course is what you need. It is for people who are learning English for the first time. You will learn all the basic skills including reading, writi... Read More
There are roughly 170,000 words in use in the English language. Thankfully, most native English speakers only have a vocabulary of . Still, that’s a lot of language for you to study! The good news is, with the right app in your pocket, it has never bee... Read More
Business idioms are used throughout the workplace. In meetings, conversations and even whilst making at the coffee machine - you’ll be sure to hear them wherever you go. Knowing business will help you understand native speakers better. You’ll b... Read More
Back in December 2019, we sat down and attempted to make a list of . No one could have predicted the year that was about to unfold. Nor, could we imagine the vortex of new words needed to make sense of the pandemic. For the , it was a year for unpreced... Read More
Like it or not, small talk is an important part of business. Whether it’s in a lift, at a conference, in a meeting room or even over the phone, it might seem inconsequential, but it actually has several functions. Small talk is there to break the ice... Read More
It’s time for that famous celebration of love and romance - Valentine’s Day! It is inspired by the sad story of Saint Valentine of Rome. According to legend, he performed weddings for Roman soldiers who were forbidden to marry under Roman law. He was ... Read More
Each year new words enter the English language. Some are added to dictionaries like . Others are old words that are given new meanings. These new words show the evolution of language and the issues affecting the world today. And the most popular words of ... Read More
2019 went by in a flash - and what a year it’s been! We’re just as excited to be looking back on the past 12 months as we are for the New Year. If you’re like us and you’re ready to get cosy with a hot chocolate in hand, we’re sure you’ll ... Read More
Black Friday is the day after Thanksgiving. Traditionally, it signals the start of the Christmas shopping period. Expect to get lots of your favourite products at discount prices and to see lots of shops bustling with people! What once began as a day of ... Read More
“The problem with the French is that they have no word for entrepreneur.” This phrase was attributed to George W. Bush, evidence of his famed stupidity. ‘Entrepreneur’ is a French word, duh! In fairness, he never said this, but it’s still a fu... Read More
It’s nearly Valentine’s day and love is in the air at Oxford House. We’ll soon be surrounded by heart-shaped balloons, boxes of chocolates and Valentine’s day cards from our secret crushes (at least, we hope so!). We thought we would join in the ... Read More
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 ... Read More
Football, football, football: the whole world is going crazy for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar! The beautiful game is also the most popular sport in the world and is played everywhere, from streets to stadiums. People love the game because it’s fast... Read More
Have you ever wondered where English words come from? There are a whopping 171,476 words in the . From aardvark to zyzzyva, words come in all shapes and sizes. In this post we’ll explore some of the mechanisms through which words are born and we’ll ... Read More
Are you a ski-fanatic that spends all week dreaming about white-capped peaks, fluffy snow and hearty mountain food? this doesn’t just have to be a dream! If you are thinking about going with family and friends, check out our essential ski voc... Read More
Languages are constantly on the move and English is no exception! As technology, culture and politics evolve, we’re faced with the challenge of trying to find new words to describe all these changes. So, every few months, dictionaries like the have to ... Read More
