Blog
Tips, insights, and updates about English learning
Why does running have an extra 'n'? 3 spelling transformation rules for adding -ing / -ed
run plus -ing becomes running, make becomes making, and study becomes studied—these spelling changes all follow a clear pattern. Master the three rules of doubling, dropping the silent-e, and changing consonant + y to i, and you will never misspell verb tenses again.
Reading Too Fast or Too Slow Is All Wrong: The Ideal Speaking Rate and Phrasing for Reading English Aloud
If your reading aloud sounds choppy, it is mostly because your speaking rate is out of control and you don't know where to pause. This article gives you a concrete standard of 'how many words per second,' a 'slow first, fast later' practice method, and breathing tips using slashes to mark sense groups, making your English sound natural and rhythmic.
Why Do You Always Forget the Words You Memorize? Use the Memory Curve to Commit Them to Long-Term Memory
Forgetting the words you memorized after just a few days is completely normal—it's just how the brain naturally works. This article uses the science of memory to help you understand the forgetting curve and learn three methods—'spaced repetition,' 'active recall,' and 'memorizing words in sentences'—so that vocabulary truly sticks in your long-term memory.
Why is the k in know Silent? A List of Silent English Letters and How to Memorize Them in Groups
The k in know, the w in write, and the b in thumb are written out but not pronounced, which often makes people anxious when spelling. In fact, these 'silent letters' almost always appear in clusters, and there is a history behind them. This article organizes six groups—kn-, wr-, -mb, -ght, ps-, and gn-—into a list, teaching you how to memorize them all at once using grouped visual memory so you can spell with more confidence.
Stop Spelling Letter by Letter: Recognize High-Frequency Words at a Glance
The most common words like the, was, and said actually slow down your reading when sounded out letter by letter. They should be treated like a picture and recognized at a glance. This article teaches you how to replace "letter-by-letter decoding" with "whole-word recognition." Combined with flashcard and timed-test training methods, you will turn high-frequency words into a reflex and instantly boost your sentence reading speed.
Which 50 Words to Learn First? The Best Learning Order for the 5-Level Sight Words List
English has 250 sight words that make up the majority of most texts. Learning them in 5 levels based on frequency is the most effortless approach. This article gives you the learning goals for each level, actionable recognition tips, and a self-assessment checklist to serve as your complete roadmap to mastering sight words.
bit or bet? Ear Training with Minimal Pairs for Five Short Vowel Groups
Struggling to hear the difference between the short vowels /ɪ/ /ɛ/ /æ/ /ʌ/? This article uses one simple trick—'jaw height'—to guide you through breaking down five minimal pairs like sit/set, bad/bed, hot/hut, and cap/cup. Complete with clear mouth positions and three testing methods, even A1–B1 learners can train their ears to tell them apart.
Stop Misusing senior/junior: How to Say 'School Senior,' 'Senior,' and 'Senior Colleague' in English
The Chinese concepts of 'school senior,' 'predecessor,' and 'senior colleague' do not map directly to the single word senior. When Taiwanese people use it directly to address classmates or colleagues, native speakers often find it confusing or mistake it to mean 'elderly person.' This article uses a side-by-side comparison of ✗ Chinglish → ✓ Idiomatic Phrasing to help you learn the correct terms to use on campus and in the workplace.
see, look, watch, hear, listen: Are you using these 'eye' and 'ear' English words correctly?
In Chinese, a single word for 'looking' or 'hearing' does it all, but English distinguishes between 'accidental' and 'intentional.' Group these five words into two rows and compare them with the sentences Taiwanese learners make mistakes on most often to memorize them once and for all. Easily master these high-frequency A2 basic words.