Without a doubt, my favourite thing about Leonardo English is our amazing members.

We now have members from 29 different countries, from university students to doctors, entrepreneurs to lawyers, English teachers to retirees.

The thing that unites them is a curious mind, and a desire to improve their English in a more interesting way.

So when we manage to get together, it's a really special time for me.

Last Wednesday, we had our third member-only session, where I gave a little lesson on how to really understand British people.

If you have ever been to the UK, you'll know that British people often say one thing but mean another.

For example, what does "Not too bad" really mean?

Does it mean "bad", "average", or "good"?

How does the meaning of a word or phrase change based on the way that you say it?

It was a lot of fun, and it was a great opportunity to chat, ask questions, and talk about British people and culture in a friendly and welcoming environment.

Here's a little screen shot of some curious minds saying 'hi':

I'll continue to do little write-ups of all of our future sessions.

So far we've had "What British People Say (And What They Really Mean)" (July 2020), "Accents in English" (June 2020), "How to Effectively Use Podcasts to Improve Your English" (May 2020).

I've received quite a few questions about the Members-only Q&A sessions, so here are some common responses to questions that you might have:

How can I attend?

The sessions are open (and free) to all members of Leonardo English. If you are a member, you'll be invited to every one. If you're not a member, then you'll need to become a member.

I'm not very confident speaking in English. Do I have to speak?

No. If you would like to speak, you are most welcome to speak. But there is no pressure at all, and you can just listen without speaking if you like. Everyone is an English learner, and it is a very friendly environment.

What are the topics?

They are very varied! We'll cover a wide range of subjects. They won't all be about language learning, but will give you a chance to understand more about British culture, the English language, and more. So far we've had "What British People Say (And What They Really Mean)" (July 2020), "Accents in English" (June 2020), "How to Effectively Use Podcasts to Improve Your English" (May 2020).

I've heard that sometimes there are quizzes. Is this a test?

Excellent question! To make the sessions more interactive, I've included a quiz in some of them. But this is only multiple choice, it's fun, and nobody keeps the scores. Everyone is a winner.

When do the sessions take place?

So far, the sessions have taken place at 7pm CEST (Paris/Rome time), on a Wednesday. They last for 1 hour.

Approximately 60% of our members are based +/- 2 hours from CEST (Paris/Rome), so I have chosen that time to allow as many people as possible to attend. We will add more times in the future to make it easier for members from the Americas and Asia to attend.

I have another question

Great. Feel free to get in touch.