Mindfulness Reflections

  Language is so much more than an exchange of words.  Words carry meaning but we also derive a great deal of meaning from aspects of language that are rarely talked about - even by English language teachers and experts. Watch this week's video , which revolves around a natural, authentic conversation between Teens (that's her name!) and I, chatting about VERY British things and traditions, including how Christmas is celebrated in the UK, and learn about the SECRET language system that underlies and is at the very foundation of every communication. The video is filled with useful vocabulary and information about British culture, together with discussions regarding contextual nuance and subtlety in natural conversations.  I hope you find it useful and fun to watch! Has the time come for you to go deeper with English? The answer to your question about how to make real progress, especially if you've already taken lessons for years and want a different, more holistic approach...

  I was recently asked again whether I record any guided meditations for my YouTube channel, and I said no because I had not uploaded any guided meditations up to now, for two main reasons. The first is that I'm an English language teacher to adults whose program incorporates mindfulness practices, and so the YouTube channel is focused on English skills development, although many are indeed imbued with mindfulness-inspired content. The second is that there are long periods of stillness and silence when we practise! The purpose of mindfulness is to withdraw our attention from where we tend to send it by default, that is, to the outside world, and invite it to observe our inner world: How are we doing within ourselves in the present moment? Having said this, guided meditations are what you are requesting, and so, by popular demand, this week's video is a short guided meditation on mental health. It can get quite stressful and hectic at this time of year, so I hope this video help...

  Does using English make you feel clumsy, uncomfortable, self-conscious, mortified, frustrated, distraught or even humbled? I hear you, because this is how I feel sometimes when I use Portuguese. It's natural to feel discomfort when we're interacting in a second or third language, so in this week's video, I've put together my top 6 tips for a practical approach to English grammar. Watch it here Ultimately, it's the message, the idea in our head, that counts. Gaining clarity on this is exactly what we focus on in my English training program. We cultivate understanding and patience, not only towards English but towards each other, and we've created a safe and welcoming space for everyone to interact, ask questions, and give each other feedback. Are you ready to give it a go ( to make the effort and try )? Here's the calendar for you to pick a day and time that suits you to speak about how to realise your personal English aspirations. Now is the time. Now i...

  In a classroom, when the teacher asks, "What kind of word is this?", it is not uncommon for there to be a gap, a moment of silence, before learners are able to stop their thoughts, take a closer look and recognise language form. An analogy: imagine walking past or being within a beautiful building. You admire its beauty, but you might also wonder what its different parts are made of and how it was put together. When it comes to language, if we want to become more fluent and confident, we must also stop, examine and ask ourselves: what is this made of and how is it put together?  The part of speech we call nouns are like the bricks, stones, wood or steel of construction. They are commonly the subject or the object of the communication, so in  this week's video , we're reviewing nouns: what they are, how they work in English and why it is important to know. The question of looking deeply isn't for everyone, but for those of you looking for mo...

  In this week's video I've put together some of the most common English sayings we'd use at home when I was growing up. Here's one thing you can do after watching: go to the comments section on YouTube, post a public comment and I'll answer you there! I'd love to hear from you, and taking just a few minutes to write and upload your thoughts is only one way of using English in your day-to-day, busy life for a purpose that is practical and particular to you. There are countless other ways. Using creative and personalised ideas to practise and expand your English skills can be so enjoyable, especially when you have a step by step roadmap to guide and teach you exactly how to proceed to bring clarity and deeper understanding to the way you learn . Now is the time to find out more, by deciding to schedule a call to speak about your needs and goals: what are your English aspirations? Let's make them happen together. See you on Zoom! #usefulenglishproverbs #lear...

  You might remember I recently sent out an invitation for you to "Ask Me Anything!"? It has been great fun reading all your enquiries and wonderful to know you'd like to learn more about me and what I do. So, as promised, here's this week's video with all the answers. I really hope you like it and if you do, give me a thumbs up on YouTube, subscribe to the channel and if you have any further questions, comments, suggestions, ideas, or you'd just like to say hello, do get in touch, I'd love to hear from you!

Good things come to those who wait. Have you heard this expression? In today's day and age, with technology, AI and the illusion of instant gratification, we might be misled into thinking that we can achieve great things quickly if we just try harder, work longer hours, and do more. The fact is that our long-term objectives cannot be realised in the short-term, but this does not mean we shouldn't have long-term objectives! In  this week's video , I speak with Karina, who joined my Confident English Training program well over a year ago, and has recently been offered to teach a postgraduate course in Sociology of Law  in English  to international students at a prestigious European institute later this year. Karina shares her reflections on how the many elements within the program, especially the mindfulness practices, support her as she continues to develop her English skills and what this exciting opportunity means to her, personally and prof...

  One of the key features of my English training program is the way it invites you to go deeper and explore abstraction and contemplation in English, instead of just functional language. When we think of function, it's our intellectual, thinking mind that tells us how to express the idea in English. This is of course very useful. But our intellectual mind is also critical and judgemental, so if we want to truly become confident and fluent in English, it's helpful to go deeper and ground ourselves in practices that bring calm and relaxation to our agitated lifestyles that prevent us from focusing and concentrating with ease and joy. Regardless of our religion, most of us here in the West are familiar with common Christian prayers, and engaging with familiar material is another very useful way of gaining confidence in English. For these and other reasons, we look at one of the most iconic Christian prayers in English in this week's video . Have you ever prayed in English? Hav...

Do you wish you had more opportunities to develop your English skills for the purposes of socialising and feeling more at ease whenever you need to interact in English? If you don't live in an English-speaking country, where should you look for English-speaking people to become friends with? In this week's video , I share the top 5 places where English speakers are probably hanging out and looking forward to meeting you, the local expert, to exchange ideas, advice, tips and suggestions. Who do you practise English with? Let us know in the comments section on YouTube! I help professionals at advanced English levels to become truly confident and fluent through my English training program that teaches independent learning skills and focuses on wholesome topics such as self-development, psychology, science, art and culture. To find out more, apply to see if you qualify for a place and we can discuss your current and future English needs, goals and aspirations. Let's chat on Zo...

There is a right way and there is a wrong way, but this isn't about judgement, it's about reality. You can test it for yourself. The right way leads to wholesome, happy, healthy results. That is, the right way leads to well-being. What does well-being involve? It involves understanding and compassion, clarity, space, and freedom. Freedom from worry and anxiety, freedom from stress, from being in a hurry all day, every day. In other words, when we are calm and relaxed, when we are free from worries and concerns, when there is confidence in ourselves, we are much more likely to engage in actions that help us realise our full potential. That is the right way. Conversely, the wrong way leads to unwholesome, unhappy, unhealthy results. The wrong way leads to ill-being: confusion, frustration, anger, violence, stress, and a lack of time and space to do the things we want to do. The wrong way leads to toxicity, both within and around us. The seeds or potential for both the right way a...

  When you know exactly what to do and how to do it, the accomplishment and success of any task, plan or project is practically guaranteed even before taking the first step. Let me give you a real-life example: over the last couple of years, I've gained a few stubborn pounds around the waist. It has taken a lot of effort and discipline to keep the weight gain in check, but the scales continue to show a number above the ideal mark, no matter how much I exercise and consume mainly healthy, wholesome food. In the meantime, I've heard of fasting (that is, abstaining from consuming food) as a way of losing weight, particularly intermittent fasting for women my age, and many spiritual teachings also talk about the benefits of this practice, but for me, up until now, it simply hasn't been an option. I don't enjoy feeling hungry. Can you relate? The problem is that I didn't understand what "intermittent fasting" means. I had the idea that it means not eating at al...

  Speaking with one of my clients the other day, we discussed some of the advantages of being part of a lifetime access English training program that includes (but is not limited to) the three key ingredients to successful language skills development, especially if you have a busy lifestyle, or if you cannot attend or do not enjoy regular lessons, and would like guidance on how to make progress on your own, while continuing to count on the support you need at any time. These ingredients are: 1. A teacher that promotes autonomy by guiding you towards becoming a more effective learner 2. Materials that (a) help you achieve this purpose and (b) are interesting and suited to your needs 3. A friendly and supportive community you can reach out to day or night for personalised feedback and inspiring conversations. Here are a few of Perla's reflections If you would also like to learn how to develop your English language skills more effectively by bringing more awareness and understanding t...

  Many people who want to improve their English skills report that they have no one to practise with, which prevents them from making progress. Others say that they cannot attend regular English lessons because of their busy lifestyle, and that they need something different, versatile and flexible. When I created my English training program aimed at helping professionals who have already reached an independent user level (B2 - C1), I took this incredibly important feedback into account and suddenly had a vision of how it would work. Earlier this week we were joined by a program member who hadn't attended the live calls in over a year. When she joined, her idea was to apply for a teaching and research position at a university in the US, and we worked together for some time in attaining that goal, but then she stopped attending. In this week's session, she explained that she had decided not to follow up on (phrasal verb - to pursue or investigate something further) that intenti...

  Let's talk about money today. Let's look at the difference between an expense and an investment. Imagine you want to buy a product or a service. You might think of it in terms of its price. You might think: "How much does it cost? Can I afford it? Is it cheap or expensive?" All of these questions refer to the product or service as an expense. An expense is something that gives no return, it's a liability. Examples of expenses are things like rent, maintenance, insurance, electricity, groceries and clothes. An investment, on the other hand, involves putting capital (but also effort and/or time) into something today in order to increase its value over time. If we're speaking about money, an investment produces wealth through compound interest, which enables it to grow exponentially. This is where cost or price needs to be distinguished from value. We talk about the cost or the price of goods (products) and services, but we rarely talk about their value, becaus...