Members-only Icebreaker (November Edition)
Leonardo English
Curious minds from a wide range of countries and backgrounds joined for an enjoyable "Icebreaker" session. Someone even stayed up until 4am their time (Japanese time) to make it! You can read about it here.
Reflections on The Phrasal Verb Challenge
Leonardo English
Our first ever "Phrasal Verb Challenge" finished yesterday. It was a huge amount of fun. Here's what it involved, and a sample of one of the "challenges"
Any Language You Want by Fabio Cerpelloni
Language learning
Fabio Cerpelloni, a former learner of English from Italy who became a highly qualified English teacher, answers this question eighteen times in āAny Language You Wantā, an inspiring book he wrote for you.
Members-only Session: Countries of The World (Oct 2023)
Leonardo English
On a cold October evening, curious minds from a wide range of countries gathered for our second "Countries of The World" session. Here's what happened, and what we learned.
š Announcingā¦The Phrasal Verb Challenge
Leonardo English
A 21-day challenge to conquer phrasal verbs in English. Get set, donāt hold back, your efforts will pay off. Ready to go ahead? Donāt back out now. You can see it through.
August Book Club | The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Leonardo English
Learn all about our most challenging "book club" to date, when we read the award winning novel about a 15-year-old boy.
š¬š§Ā Announcing The British English Challenge
Leonardo English
Oi oi guv'nr. Ready to learn some real British English? Our inaugural British English challenge starts on July 31st. Here's what you need to know.
Announcing: Improved Study Packs
Leonardo English
Over the past few months we have āsecretlyā been trialling a new format of learning resource. Itās now here. Take a look and see the latest development.
Preorder "The Mules"
Language learning
Weāve spent months making a new story-based course, and the result is the most exciting project we have worked on so far. Hereās whatās in it, why you might like it, and how you can pre-order it.
š Announcingā¦Pioneers Of The Continuum
Podcasts
Iām thrilled to announce our latest project, a new audio-drama series starring your favourite ESL podcasters.
š Announcingā¦translations in 12 languages
Leonardo English
Exciting news. We have just launched live translations in 12 languages. Great news if you speak EspaƱol, Deutsch, Polski, Italiano, FranƧais, TürkƧe, PortuguĆŖs, ę„ę¬, äøę, ÄeÅ”tina, Š ŃŃŃŠŗŠøŠ¹ or Ų¹Ų±ŲØŁ!
Members-only Session: Artificial Intelligence (and how to use it to learn English)
Leonardo English
One evening in April, curious minds from a wide variety of different countries got together to have a discussion about a pressing topic: Artificial Intelligence. Is it a friend or is it a foe, and how can English learners take full advantage of this technology.
Member Profile: Fran from Spain [video]
Members
Meet Fran, a curious mind from Spain. Learn more about Fran's "journey" with English, why he has rejected traditional "textbook" methods, and why he believes in independent language learning.
Member Profile: Halenur, from Turkey
Leonardo English
Meet Halenur, a curious mind from Turkey. Learn about her English-learning experience, her view on how to develop your vocabulary, and how listening to podcasts helped her get a high score on the IELTS.
Members-only Session: Countries of The World
Leonardo English
On the last Wednesday of March, curious minds from a wide range of countries gathered for an interesting "countries of the world" session. Here's the low-down on what happened.
š¤Ā Announcing The April Vocabulary Builder Challenge [powered by OpenAI]
Leonardo English
A 30-day challenge to master 100 advanced words and phrases. Learn vocabulary, practise your writing with a group of like-minded students, and get instant feedback from Da Vinci, our OpenAI-powered English teacher.
Reflections on The Creative Writing Challlenge
Leonardo English
Our first "Creative Writing Challenge" finished this week. Here's an insider look into how it went, including the tasks our wonderful challengers undertook.
Members-only Session: Story Time
Leonardo English
Telling stories is a fundamental part of being a human. But telling a story in a foreign language is not always easy. Here's how we practised this (and had a lot of fun) during a members-only session.
Announcingā¦The Creative Writing Challenge!
Leonardo English
Write stories. Connect with other curious minds. Have fun. Improve your English at the same time. Itās time for a new challengeā¦
Member Profile: Marianne, from France
Members
Meet Marianne, a curious mind from France who now calls Bristol "home". Learn what she finds the hardest about learning English, and her "podcast learning routine".
English Learning for Curious Minds now available on LingQ
Leonardo English
Great news - you can now listen to selected episodes of English Learning for Curious Minds on LingQ!
How to Use Artificial Intelligence to Improve Your English
Language learning
Did you know that you can use artificial intelligence to help you learn English? No, itās not science fiction! Itās real, itās free and you can begin using it today with our guide! Teachers, we have tips for you, too!
What Is the Pareto Principle and How Can You Use It to Learn English More Effectively?
Language learning
Some people say that 20% of your effort produces 80% of your results. Is this true for language learning? If it is, how can you use this knowledge to learn more effectively?
10 Ways to Learn English with the BBC
Language learning
The BBC - the British Broadcasting Corporation - has been producing videos, radio programmes, articles and even English practice materials for over 100 years. Let us guide you through our choices of the very best content for English learners.
The Best British English Podcasts [2023]
Podcasts
I say, old chap, are you looking for podcasts from Old Blighty? Letās take a look at the very best British English podcasts for language learners and how you can use them to improve your proficiency. God save the King!
The Leonardo English Christmas Quiz
Leonardo English
One cold December night, curious minds from a wide range of countries gathered for our first ever āChristmas Pub Quizā. There wasnāt a pub, but there were questions and merriment. Hereās how it went, and how you can take the quiz yourself and test your knowledge.
The Best Podcasts To Prepare For IELTS [2022]
Podcasts
Listening is a tough part of the IELTS test and speaking is even harder. Hereās the good news; we can show you how to use podcasts to prepare for the listening AND speaking parts of the IELTS test. And youāll even have fun while doing it.
Can A Robot Write A Podcast?
Leonardo English
A startup called OpenAI released an Artificial Intelligence Chatbot called ChatGPT a few days ago. I tested it out to see whether it could write an episode of English Learning for Curious Minds
The Guide To Transcription: A Powerful Technique for English Learners
Language learning
Transcription is a simple study activity that you can do on your own, anytime you choose. Our guide will explain different transcription techniques and help you choose the one that works best for you.
Members-only Session: The Great British Quiz
Leonardo English
For the first time even, we held a "quiz". It was a great experience, there was a healthy sense of competition, and we all learned a lot of weird and wonderful facts about the United Kingdom.
10 Activities to Improve Your English Pronunciation [Self-Study Guide #7]
Language learning
Pronunciation is more than just getting different sounds correct. Itās speaking clearly with the correct pace, tone and stress. These ten simple activities will help you practise all these things.
10 Activities to Improve Your English Vocabulary [Self-Study Guide #6]
Language learning
A wide range of vocabulary is the very foundation of good English language skills. Itās important to learn vocabulary efficiently and effectively, so that itās not easily forgotten. These ten simple activities will help you do just that.
10 Activities to Improve Your English Grammar [Self-Study Guide #5]
Language learning
For many learners, grammar is the hardest aspect of English. Others enjoy learning grammar as a way to better analyse English sentences. Whatever your feelings on grammar, you know itās important. Thatās why weāve put together this guide with ten great ideas for grammar activities that you can do on your own!
10 Activities to Improve Your English Speaking [Self-Study Guide #4]
Language learning
Speaking isnāt something you can practise on your own; you need a teacher for that, right? Wrong! There are plenty of ways to practise speaking on your own and our guide will start you off with ten great activities!
10 Activities to Improve Your English Reading [Self-Study Guide #3]
Language learning
Thanks to the Internet, itās easy to find things to read in English. But what is the best way to approach reading? What methods and activities can you try? This guide will give you ten great ideas for reading activities that you can do on your own⦠today!
10 Activities to Improve Your English Writing [Self-Study Guide #2]
Language learning
Are you looking for ways to practise your writing, but you have no teacher and no idea where to start? This guide will give you ten great ideas for writing activities that you can do on your own⦠today!
10 Activities to Improve Your English Listening [Self-Study Guide #1]
Language learning
Listening materials in coursebooks are not authentic, but ārealā listening materials can be too difficult. So, what is the best way to practise real listening? This guide will help you out with ten great ideas for listening activities that you can do on your own!
My Favourite Episodes of English Learning for Curious Minds of 2022
Podcasts
Hereās a list of my favourite 12 episodes from 2022 (so far). How many have you managed to listen to?
October Members-only Session: āThe Great Mouse Plotā
Leonardo English
For our October members-only session we read an extract from Roald Dahlās memoirs, Boy: Tales of Childhood. It was an amazing session where we talked about childhood, evil adults, and the experiences that shaped this iconic childrenās writer.
šæ Announcing the Films & TV Challenge
Leonardo English
Our next challenge will start on November 7th. Here's everything you need to know about it, and how you can take part.
Synonym Practice | How Smart English Learners Improve Their Vocabulary
Language learning
English is a language known for its large and varied vocabulary. Does this mean it will be harder to become fluent? Not if you build our synonym activity into your learning routine!
Ten Great Books for English Learners
Language learning
Reading is a great habit for many reasons, and one of them is learning English! With a good book, you can escape into a whole new world and improve your vocabulary at the same time. Here are our ten top recommended books for English learners.
Using Translation to Enhance Your English Study
Language learning
You might have heard people telling you not to translate between languages if you want to become fluent. However, there is one theory that suggests that translation is good! What is this theory and how can it help you?
10 Greek Words in English (And Their Fascinating Original Meanings)
Language learning
By some calculations, one third of English words have Greek origins. In this article, we explain the impact of Ancient Greek on English, and look at 10 Ancient Greek words and their fascinating original meanings.
How To Teach English Listening (So Your Students Will Love It)
Language learning
Textbook listening clips can be unrealistic, boring, outdated and strange. Itās 2022 and time to explore new ways of teaching listening.
What Is the 4-3-2 Exercise and How Can It Help Your English Speaking?
Language learning
Everyone likes a challenge! Here is a language challenge that you can either do with a partner or by yourself - itās the 4-3-2 exercise! It can help you speak more fluently and even help you prepare for the IELTS speaking test.
Our First Book Club | Discussing George Orwellās āAnimal Farmā
Leonardo English
On the last day of August we hosted our first ever ābook clubā, where we discussed George Orwellās classic novel, Animal Farm. Hereās how it went, and why we will be doing another one very soon.
10 English Listening Exercises That You Can Do Today (For Free)
Language learning
There are plenty of resources out there for you to practise listening. In fact, there are so many that most learners donāt know where to start! Thatās where our guide will help you. Let us recommend the best free listening techniques and resources - and how to use them.
Pre-order āDemystifying Business Englishā
Language learning
Weāve spent months working on a course English language schools will *hate*. Itās called āDemystifying Business Englishā. Hereās whatās in it, why you might like it, and how you can get early access to it.
What Is Signposting in English and Why Does It Matter?
Language learning
Signposting is a simple and easy-to-learn technique that can improve your listening, writing and even presentation skills. In fact, once you know this technique, you will see it everywhere! Let us explain it to you with this step-by-step guide.
What is The Monitor Hypothesis and Why Does it Matter?
Language learning
The Monitor Hypothesis is one of many ideas developed by Professor Stephen Krashen to help people learn a second language more effectively. What is this powerful idea about self-correction and how can it help you in your speaking?
Intensive Listening vs. Extensive Listening in English
Language learning
Many English learners use ineffective strategies in their independent listening practice. Avoid this problem with our guide to intensive and extensive listening. We will show you how and why it is important to practise both of these techniques.
June Conversation Session: Films, Books & TV Series
Leonardo English
Curious about what happened at our June Conversation Session? It was a wonderful evening full of discussions about interesting films, books & TV series. Here's what happened.
Linking Words in English: What Are They and Why Do They Matter?
Language learning
Without linking words, your writing will be harder for readers to understand. This article explains linking words and their importance, gives plenty of examples and provides extra guidance on the most confusing ones.
The Best Exercises to Improve Your Pronunciation
Language learning
This guide for English learners will help you identify your weak areas of pronunciation, understand what you need to improve and give practical tips on how to strengthen your vocal skills.
The Best Podcasts To Improve English Pronunciation
Podcasts
Used correctly, podcasts are a powerful tool to improve your English speaking. In this article weāll share the best podcasts to improve your English pronunciation, and give you effective strategies to make the best of them.
Our First Ever Murder Mystery Game
Leonardo English
Learn about our first ever "Murder Mystery" game for members, and guess who the guilty party might have been...
Translating Business English: A Guide to Corporate Jargon (for non-native Speakers)
Language learning
The business world is full of confusing phrases, acronyms and buzzwords. If you are entering an English-speaking workplace, donāt worry; we can help. We have prepared a handy guide to ātranslatingā Business English.
How To Better Understand Native English Speakers [Advice from an English teacher]
Language learning
It can feel frustrating when you have been learning English for many years, but you still struggle to understand native speakers. Our guide to better understanding native speakers explains the problems you may face and gives practical strategies to help you.
The Simple Guide to Word Order in English
Language learning
Word order in English seems at first to be straightforward. However, if you take a closer look with our guide, you can avoid many common mistakes made by upper-intermediate English learners. These are practical tips that you can use in both speaking and writing.
New Feature || Search Podcasts by Tag
Leonardo English
We've just launched an even easier way of finding an interesting podcast episode to listen to. Here's how to use the "Search by Tag" functionality to find an interesting episode to listen to.
How to Prepare for a Job Interview in English
Language learning
Job interviews are already stressful, but what if your interview is in English, and you speak English as a second language? Donāt panic! We have some great tips to help you ace your English job interview, even if itās online.
8 Confusing English Grammar Rules and How to Deal With Them
Language learning
English grammar is not only hard, but itās also confusing and sometimes it doesnāt even make sense! From adjective order to whom and who, here are my top tips on how to deal with difficult grammar situations.
Love Them Or Hate Them, You Need Phrasal Verbs
Language learning
Phrasal verbs are confusing, and there are so many of them. Sometimes, they donāt seem to make any sense. But can you ignore them? And, if not, what are some techniques to master them?
Members-only āShow & Tellā Icebreaker Session
Leonardo English
We had a special edition of our Members-only Icebreaker session on Wednesday, bringing curious minds together with curious objects in a āshow & tellā session. Hereās how it went, and some of the unusual objects that were "showed and told".
How Can Specific Action Verbs and Strong Action Verbs Boost Your English?
Language learning
If you want to express yourself powerfully in English, you need the right verb. Weāll show you where, when and why this is important and give you tips for learning new action verbs.
Reflections on The 21 Days of Idioms Challenge
Leonardo English
Our inaugural 21 Days of Idioms Challenge is now over. Hereās how it went, everything we learned, and a full list of all of the idioms in the challenge.
How to Use Minimal Pairs to Improve Your English Pronunciation
Language learning
Minimal pairs are a simple tool to identify and correct pronunciation issues. Here is how you can practise them and use them as a tool to speak more naturally.
The Definitive Guide to British Regional Accents
Language learning
People often talk about āthe British accentā. The reality is that there are many British accents and they can sound very different indeed! We will guide you through the main types of British accents and explain what all this means for an English learner.
The Teacherās Guide to Improving Your English Vocabulary
Language learning
A wide range of vocabulary is the very foundation of good English language skills. In this article you'll learn practical tips and simple strategies for improving your vocabulary from an experienced English teacher.
Filler Words in English - What Are They and How Do You Use Them?
Language learning
Is your goal to speak fluently with no hesitation? Perhaps that shouldnāt be your goal at all. This article shows how filler words can actually help you to express yourself more clearly.
ā”ļø Announcing the 21 Days of Idioms Challenge
Leonardo English
Our next challenge will start on March 28th. Here's everything you need to know about it, and how you can take part.
10 Ways to Speak More Naturally in English
Language learning
Every English learner wants to speak English more naturally. Here are our top ten tips to sounding more natural in English, and the practical methods you can start using today.
Idioms in English: Do They Really Matter?
Language learning
Many English learners become obsessed with idioms and see them as a way to become a natural speaker of English. Letās explore just how important idioms are⦠and the dangers of using them.
10 Ways to Start a Sentence in English
Language learning
Using sentence starters is an easy way to lift your English to the next level. We will give you ten categories of sentence starters that are simple to use, explain each one, and provide you with plenty of examples. You can use them straight away!
Special Offer: 1⬠Private English Lessons from British Council approved Tutors
Language learning
Weāve teamed up with British Council EnglishScore to offer 1⬠private lessons with British Council approved English tutors. Read on to see how you can get a private English lesson for less than the cost of a cup of coffee.
Members-only January 2022 Icebreaker Sessions
Leonardo English
This week some amazing curious minds came together for not one but two different Icebreaker meetings. Here's how they went, and a sneak peek into some of the "icebreaker" questions we answered...
How to Make Learning English Grammar Great Again
Language learning
Do you avoid learning grammar? Do you feel that itās boring and unhelpful? Read our guide for independent learners and let us change your mind. Weāll show you how to make grammar a āgreatā part of your English practice.
A Guide to Business Writing in English: How to Write in a Professional and Modern Style
Language learning
Business English isnāt as complicated as you might think it is. Here are a the most important steps that you can take to make sure your business writing impresses your clients and co-workers.
The Best Activities To Improve Your English With TED Talks
Language learning
TED.com is an amazing resource for English learners. This guide shows you how to get the maximum benefit from the site by applying active listening techniques.
The Most Common Mistakes in English For Spanish Speakers
Language learning
Spanish is a beautiful language with many things in common with English. However, you just canāt speak English in the same way you speak Spanish! Use our guide to discover the common mistakes that Spanish speakers make in English and how to avoid them.
IELTS vs. TOEFL vs CAEā¦Which English Certificate Is the Best for You?
Podcasts
English learners have a lot of options when it comes to choosing an English certificate. Learn the differences and find out which one is best to achieve your goals in English.
Does My Foreign Accent Really Matter? The Guide for English Learners
Language learning
Are you afraid that your accent is holding you back from speaking better English? This article will help you understand the role of accent in pronunciation, and weāll give you tips to speak more clearly.
Why Learning In Context Is The Most Important Way Of Improving Your Vocabulary
Language learning
Do you hate vocabulary lists? Do you feel that new words disappear from your memory soon after you learn them? It's time to learn about a much more effective way.
Member Profile: Isabella, from Germany [AUDIO]
Members
Meet (and listen to!) Isabella, a curious mind from Germany. Learn about how she has developed a wonderful English accent despite having spent very little time in an English-speaking country.
The 10 Best English Listening Activities for Independent Learners
Language learning
Listening is a powerful way to increase your fluency in English, but you need good strategies to become an active and independent listener. Here are our favourite 10 activities that will help you improve faster and more effectively.
What Is Active Listening and How Can It Help You Learn Faster? A Guide For English Learners
Language learning
Thereās a lot more to improving your listening skills than just listening. This guide shows you how switching to active listening can help you learn faster and more effectively.
Happy 2nd Birthday To English Learning for Curious Minds
Leonardo English
Itās now 2 years since we released the first episode of English Learning for Curious Minds. Hereās everything that happened this year, and some fun statistics about who was listening.
Member Profile: Aminah, from Thailand
Members
Meet Aminah, a curious mind from Thailand who moved to the UK last year. Learn about her English goals, and how she is planning to get her IELTS test to get her license to practise dentistry in the UK, all while taking care of her young baby.
Improving Your Writing Will Help You Speak English Better - Hereās How.
Language learning
Writing is an incredibly powerful skill for English learners that will help you improve your vocabulary, stop making the same mistakes, and become a more confident and eloquent speaker of English. In this guide, English teacher Emile explains why, and how you can make the most of this technique.
How to Find The Perfect Private English Tutor
Language learning
There are hundreds of thousands of English teachers to choose from. Here are our top tips on how to find the perfect one for you.
English Teachers: Here Is How Podcasts Can Help Your Students
Language learning
Used correctly, podcasts are a fun and effective way for your ESL students to improve listening skills. Your students will thank you for introducing them.
Black Friday Deals for English Learners [2021]
Language learning
Looking for a bargain on your next English course? Here are some of the best deals for English learners this Black Friday, including italki, Preply, Mosalingua and Linguix.
Speak Up! How to Improve Your Confidence in English
Language learning
Do you feel embarrassed and shy when using English? It doesnāt need to be this way. Hereās how you can become a more confident speaker of English and take your English to the next level.
How To Learn A New Word Every Day With Google (for free)
Language learning
Did you know that there was a way to use Google to learn a new word in English every day? Google launched this feature at the end of October, and it is available for free to anyone with an Android or iPhone device. Here's how it works (and why you should use it).
Member profile: Nadia, from Russia
Members
Meet Nadia, a curious mind from Russia who is keen to improve her pronunciation in English. Learn about her English-learning routine, and how she uses podcasts to improve her speaking skills.
italki vs. Preply vs. Cambly vs. Verbling: The Battle Of The English Tutoring Websites
Reviews
What are the differences between the big four English tutoring platforms and how can you find out which is best for you? We asked English teacher Emile to review each website and report back with the good, the bad and the ugly.
Finding an English Teacher Online with Cambly: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Reviews
Cambly is one of the biggest tutoring websites, offering English lessons online since 2012. How it is different to all the other English-tutoring websites, and what are some smart ways to use Cambly to learn English?
Finding an English Teacher Online with Verbling: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Reviews
Verbling is one of the most popular tutoring websites, offering thousands of tutors for English and other languages. Can you use Verbling to learn English quickly and easily?