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If elephants could write down their memories, they'd use their trunks. The Trunk is a collection of articles with advice on learning languages, writing, and communicating better in English.

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Still thinking about trying flash cards, but not keen on making paper cards?

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Category: Language Learning Tips

Do you find picking up new words and phrases is easy but remembering them is hard?

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Category: Language Learning Tips

Has this happened to you, too?

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Category: Language Learning Tips

Finally finished writing your email and checked that it all makes sense? Don’t hit send before you’ve proofread it.

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Category: Language Learning TipsWriting in English

You’ve psyched yourself up to write that blog post or email in English.

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Category: Language Learning TipsWriting in English

Pronouncing individual sounds correctly is important when speaking, right?

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Category: Common English ConfusionsLanguage Learning Tips

Here’s some more insight into what people say about writing in English when it’s not their first language.

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Category: Language Learning TipsWriting in English

One reason why people don’t sound as good as they could when speaking is that they haven't warmed up first, especially before saying something important.

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Category: Language Learning Tips

For many people, the idea of sitting down and working through a grammar book from start to finish makes them want to do housework instead. But there’s a better way.

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Category: Language Learning Tips

The first step is to identify your regular mistakes in English and then defeat them one by one.

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Category: Language Learning Tips

This week another insight into what people say about writing in English when it’s not their first language.

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Category: Language Learning TipsWriting in English

Having lost so many ideas and quotes, I’ve gone back to using a writing notebook.

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Category: Language Learning TipsWriting in English

Sometimes the words just won’t flow. Here are 3 suggestions for when that happens.

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Category: Language Learning TipsWriting in English

While translating when writing is not a good idea, multilingual brainstorming is definitely worth doing.

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Category: Language Learning TipsWriting in English

Saying what you mean so that it sounds natural is one of the challenges of writing in English for your business.

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Category: Language Learning TipsWriting in English

What do people say about writing in English when it’s not their first language?

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Category: Language Learning TipsWriting in English

Feeling fearful, anxious or hesitant about writing in English?

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Category: Language Learning TipsWriting in English

Another quick and easy way to keep the writing wheels oiled is to create a one-sentence summary of something you’ve recently read or written.

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Category: Language Learning TipsWriting in English

Sorry, this doesn’t mean not doing anything – although sometimes that’s exactly what you should do. Rather it’s to encourage you to make some time for relaxed reading in English.

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Category: Language Learning Tips

While active copying concentrates on getting it right, speedwriting focuses on getting something down on paper.

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Category: Language Learning TipsWriting in English