How far can you get with 100 words of English?

March 30, 2011 by · Leave a Comment 

NHS (the UK health service) guidelines suggest that by two years old, toddlers can say around 100 words and start putting them into short sentences. And England’s Italian football manager Fabio Capello claims he can manage his players with just 100 words.

But according to Peter Howarth, deputy director of Leeds University’s language centre, “a hundred words wouldn’t get you beyond some very familiar situations in a phrase book – a weekend in London, how to get a hotel room or order a meal”. Read more

Celebrate May Day Around The Maypole

April 28, 2009 by · 1 Comment 

This Friday 1st May is May Day. There are many traditional May Day celebrations around the world.   The first day of May is observed in Canada, United States and in some parts of Western Europe as a celebration of the coming of spring.   In the UK, May Day is observed on the first Monday of May (also known as Bank Holiday Monday). Read more

Celebrate All That Is English On St George’s Day!

April 23, 2009 by · Leave a Comment 

St George’s Day falls on Thursday 23rd April 2009 and is England’s national day, with St George being the patron saint of England, even though he wasn’t even English!   St George was a Roman soldier and is infamous for slaying a dragon.

In reality, St George’s Day is not fully celebrated in England, but merely acknowledged – Read more