Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Top 10 Business English words and phrases

In any language, the words that people use when they are working are very different to the words they use with their friends or family. English is no exception to this rule.

Knowing the correct words to use can be the difference between getting fired or promoted! Here are the top 10 words and phrases that you need to know when you are working in the UK or any other English speaking country.

  • Colleague – Someone who works in the same company as you.
  • Co-worker – This is another popular word which means the same as colleague.
  • Product – Something which a business sells in order to make money.
  • Report – A collection of information that has been gathered in one document.
  • Profit – The money that a business makes from selling its products or services.

  • Employee – Someone who works for a business or company.
  • Department – Each company has many departments doing different things, for example sales and marketing are two different departments because they achieve different results for the company.
  • Marketing – Marketing is promoting the products or services of a business to people who might want to buy them.
  • Customers- These are the people who buy the products or services from your company!

How many did you know? Tell us your favourite Business English words in the comments below or check out the Business English lessons from Twin to learn even more

Friday, October 26, 2012

English Punctuation!


You probably use simple punctuation, such as full stops, commas and question marks, on a daily basis, both when writing and when speaking. However, here is some sophisticated punctuation that, if used in your writing, makes it very professional and of a high standard.



Name
Form
Purpose
Example
Colon
:
used before starting a list
The meal was good: they ate salad, roast chicken, cake and fruit.

;
separates the items in a list of longer clauses

I have been to Newcastle, Carlisle and York in the North; Bristol, London and
Portsmouth in the South; and Cromer, Norwich and Lincoln in the East.

Exclamation mark
!
used to express surprise, horror or an amplified feeling

Please don’t hurt me!

Brackets
()
can add extra information
George Washington (the first president of the United States) gave his farewell address in 1796.

Slash
/
indicates an alternative
Actress/model Elizabeth Hurley was at the awards show.

Ellipsis
indicate the passing of time
Many years passed… still she remained ill.

We hope this was useful and that you are able to use some of these forms of punctuation in your writing. We’d love to hear from you, so leave us a comment to tell us whether you found this useful. You can even show us an example of your punctuation practice! 

If you're interested in learning English in the UK, please visit our website to find out more about Twin English Centres.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Top 10 Quirky Museums in London

There are many fantastic museums in London, hosting worldclass exhibitions that attract thousands of visitors each year. Everyone has heard of the Natural History Museum and the Victoria and Albert, but many people don't realise that there are many smaller, quirkier museums in London. Here is our top ten:

1. Cartoon Museum - Holborn
This museum boasts an impressive collection of British cartoons and caricatures dating back from the 18th century to the present day. See originial Billy the Whiz and Dennis the Menace here.

2. Old Operating theatre - London bridge
Ever wondered how surgery was conducted in the 1800's? The Old Operating Theatre room tells a grim tale of how limbs were amputated without an anaesthetic, often times involving hours of hacking and chiselling by less skilled surgeons.

3. Museum of Brands and Packaging - Notting Hill
An interesting museum that holds over 12,000 brands of products and aims to educate people on how we form a relationship with a brand over a life-time. A trip down memory lane!

4. Pollocks Toy Museum - Fitzrovia
This museum is one for the adults wishing to take a trip down memory lane, with the shelves stacked high with old toys from years gone by.

5.The Crime Museum - Scotland Yard
Not usually open to the general public, and for good reason. The crime museum houses weapons that were used to commit murders, including Jack the Rippers weapons of choice.

6. The Geffrye Museum - Hackney
Is the museum of the home, and has eight main rooms where visitors can experience how people of generations past lived in their homes. From a typical middle-class living room to traditional 17th century spaces.



7. The Magic Circle Museum
Possibly one of the most interesting museums on the list - it is home to resident magicians and aims to educate people about the magic industry.

8.Sherlock Holmes Museum - Baker Street
The fictional character Sherlock Holmes was said to live at number 22 Baker Street and this is where the Sherlock Holmes museum is located. It gives people an idea about what kind of a place Mr Holmes would have lived in and brings the story to life.

9. Bank of England Museum - City of London
Ever wanted to know more about finance and banking? This museum definitely fits the bill. (pun intended).

10.World Rugby Museum - Twickenham
For the sports lover and rugby enthusiast, this comprehensive collection of memorabilia is sure to drag the supporter out of all of us.

Friday, October 19, 2012

My Top Ten Places in London


Although I am here to learn English in London with Twin English Centres, I have learnt as much from my travels around this amazing city.

When I was asked to write about my favourite places it was really difficult. There are so many brilliant London attractions! But here are my top ten... I think!

1. The Tower of London 


















One of the world's most famous buildings. Discover its 900-year history as a royal palace, prison and place of execution, arsenal, jewel house and zoo! Gaze up at the White Tower, tiptoe through a medieval king's bedchamber and marvel at the Crown Jewels.

2. The Royal Museums in Greenwich 

Visit the world's largest maritime museum, the historic Queen's House, and the Royal Observatory Greenwich: all now part of the Royal Museums Greenwich. Stand astride the Prime Meridian, touch a meteorite, and see the stars in the planetarium.

3. Camden Town

Camden Market is one of London's most popular weekend tourist attractions, offering fashion and crafts; a mix of people and foods from every corner of the world. The area has been made famous by films such as 'Withnail & I', pop icons 'Madness' & Oasis, and historic writers such as George Orwell, Mary Shelley and Charles Dickens.

4. The Tate Modern

Sitting grandly on the banks of the Thames is the Tate Modern, Britain's national museum of modern and contemporary art. Its unique shape is due to it previously being a power station. Inside you'll find temporary exhibitions by top artists from Damien Hirst to Gauguin. The gallery's restaurants offer fabulous views across the city. Entry is free.

5. Buckingham Palace Changing of the Guards

The Changing of the Guard is the process involving a new guard exchanging duty with the old guard.

The Guard which mounts at Buckingham Palace is called The Queen’s Guard and is divided into two detachments: the Buckingham Palace Detachment (which is responsible for guarding Buckingham Palace), and the St. James’s Palace Detachment (which guards St. James’s Palace). These guard duties are normally provided by a battalion of the Household Division and occasionally by other infantry battalions or other units.

When Guardsmen are on duty, the soldiers are drawn from one of the five regiments of Foot Guards in the British Army: the Scots Guards, the Irish Guards, the Welsh Guards, the Grenadier Guards and the Coldstream Guards.

6. The Houses of Parliament

The Palace of Westminster, home to Big Ben is a neo-Gothic wonder from the mid-19th century and it’s full of houses: namely the House of Commons and the House of Lords. Reserve ahead to watch the antics during Parliament sessions.

7. The Imperial War Museum

Aside from the obvious historical importance of some of the documents (like Hitler's signed order authorising the march on Poland) the museum has a couple of interactive sections that bring the reality of war to life in a way that exhibits in glass cases cannot do. The WWI section wants the visitor to experience what trench warfare was actually like (and you do) and the WWII interactive exhibit attempts to replicate (with great success) what life was like during an air raid for Londoners during the Blitz. I hesitate to say more in case I spoil the experience. Take the Elephant & Castle Line on the Tube and you will be there in a short walk.

8. The Royal Air Force Museum

Opened in 1972 by Her Majesty the Queen and situated on the historic site of Hendon's London Aerodrome in Colindale, this North London Museum is London’s only attraction to house over 100 aircraft from around the world including some very early aircraft designs through to the latest modern day jets and military aircraft.

With free admission plus free interactive and fun activities, including our 3D Cinema (located in Milestones of Flight) and our emotive and uplifting sound and light show Our Finest Hour (located in our Battle of Britain Hall), our London museum offers an entertaining and educational day out for all the family - just 30 minutes from central London.

9. The Royal Observatory in Greenwich 

The Royal Observatory, Greenwich, in London played a major role in the history of astronomy and navigation, and is best known as the location of the prime meridian. It is situated on a hill in Greenwich Park, overlooking the River Thames. The views are magnificent from up there.

The prime meridian, zero degrees longitude, runs through the courtyard of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, England, which was founded in 1675 by King Charles II.

10. The Cutty Sark 

The Cutty Sark is the last surviving tea clipper and the fastest and greatest of her time. Venture aboard and beneath one of the world’s most famous ships; walk along the decks in the footsteps of the merchant seamen who sailed her over a century ago, then marvel as you balance a 963-tonne national treasure on just one hand.

Amine Green
Twin English Student

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Adjectives and Adverbs


Adjectives are used to describe nouns and adverbs are used to describe verbs. Adjectives and adverbs should be used to develop your speech or writing, so the receiver is able to understand, in greater detail, what the situation is.

A mug displaying the text: "Adverbs, they exist. Use them."
There are many adjectives in the English language, and here are a few challenging ones that you should try adding to your sentences.

Adjectives
Humongous (Big)
Rapid (Fast)
Vibrant (Bright)
Filthy (Dirty)
Famished (Hungry)
Splendid (Great)
Brittle (Weak)
Wealthy (Rich)
Terrified (Scared)



For example: I was terrified about walking down the alleyway because of the humongous dog.

Adverbs
Lovingly
Warmly
Anxiously
Violently
Thankfully
Smoothly
Mysteriously
Fortunately
Eventually

For example: The English lesson in London went smoothly despite the fact that the English teacher had mysteriously disappeared.

We’d love to hear if you found this useful and where you were able to develop your English vocabulary using these words, or other adjectives and adverbs.

To practice your writing, form some sentences with each of the words listed above and post them in the comments section for us and other visitors to see!

Thursday, October 04, 2012

Use the best of what London have to offer you

London is maybe one of the most well connected cities in the world.

Whether by taxi, train, bus, tram or boats you can get nearly anywhere you want in London and it's divided into four main areas of transport, the London Over-ground/Under-ground, London Buses, London Tram- link, and the DLR (Docklands Light Railway).So that means that you can go from one place to another using different kind of transports to get to your wanted destination.


A really good example of a great day out with your friends is first of all to go from Lewicham where Twin English School is located to Greenwich by bus (take the bus n180) and get off at Cutty Sark, then take a boat from Greenwich Pier to Westminster and enjoy the wonderful view of London through the Thames river side.
At Westminster you can take some pictures of the heart of London with the majestic Big Ben, and then you can visit Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral one of the oldest buildings in the world, also you can go to the other side of Westminster to pose in front of the London Eye along the River Thames before continuing your journey.

Take the underground from Westminster station to Tower Hill Station via the District or Circle line, when you get off from the station you can admire the Tower of London as well as the Tower Bridge opening gates to the massive boats that goes underneath it.

Also you have to remember to take your tube/underground map which can be found in any underground station or if you have a smart phone you can download it for free from the Transport for London website so you can know the station that you need to get to/off and just in case you’re a bit lost you can ask any TFL staff member present in the underground for assistance.

Tuesday, October 02, 2012

Study English in London

The only question you may ask yourself is: “why should I come to study English in London?
Well it is widely known that the best and most effective way to learn any language is to immerse yourself in its country of origin. London is the perfect city for English learners that want not only to become confident in the use of the English but also in making it a daily habit.
According to TripAdvisor.com, a free travel guide and research website that assists people in gathering travel information, travellers’ world wildly rank London in the No.1 position in front of New York and Rome (which share the second and third position in 2012). The reason is simply because London has a lot to offer its visitors in terms of historical monuments, art, music, theatre, fashion, shopping and lots more.
Also, as a student, you can find several benefits including discounts on public transport and shopping at popular retail stores, along with discounts at cinemas and theatres. Add to that, most of the public galleries and museums entrance are for free like the British Museum and the Imperial War Museum.
Last but not least studying English in London will give you a great cultural experience with the ability to speak, listen, write and read fluently in English. In turn, that means being confident in any social situations for example with your friends, in interviews, at work, at university, in fact, this confidence is the difference between success and failure in whatever you want to achieve in your future.
Amine Green
English student at Twin English Centre London