English Life with Benjamin

6 different expressions, but they all share 1 word in common: ENOUGH 🤔 oddly enough = surprisingly (e.g. Oddly enough, it worked) ✅ sure enough = just as expected (e.g. Sure enough, he was late) 👌 good enough = acceptable, not perfect (e.g. Not perfect, but good enough for today) 😤 enough is enough = stop now, too much (e.g. Enough is enough! Stop it) 😮 strangely enough = surprisingly/unexpectedly (e.g. Strangely enough, she said yes) ⚠️ can’t be careful enough – you should be very, very careful (e.g. With money, you can’t be careful enough) Tell me everyone, how many friends is good enough for you?

Learning English works just like building muscle. It takes repetition and consistency. Even a few days off can make you feel rusty, so keep your “English muscles” active every day 😉 What’s your favourite way to practise English regularly?

Native speakers use phrasal verbs aaaallll the time… but here’s the thing about them… they can be quite tricky, as the meaning can vary depending on the situation 🫣 Frustrating... I know! Let’s take ‘sleep on’ as an example. It can mean delaying a decision until later (usually the next day). But it can also mean to ignore or overlook something (especially something valuable or important) - this meaning is more informal Don’t sleep on phrasal verbs 😉

British English has a funny way of expressing opinions… especially when we really don't like something 😂 Instead of simply saying “I don't like it”, there are plenty of more natural expressions you can use to make your opinion sound a little more nuanced: 🫒 It just isn't my thing = I don't really like it 🎬 It didn't do it for me = I didn't enjoy it / it didn't appeal to me 😵 It does my head in = it really annoys me ☕ It's not my cup of tea = it's not something I particularly like or enjoy 🙅🏼‍♂️ I can't be doing with... = I really don't like / don't have the patience for something And yes, we can absolutely just say “I don't like it” 😂 These expressions simply give you more natural ways to express your opinions and add a little more personality to what you're saying So... what's one food that you absolutely can't stand?

One of the biggest challenges with British pronunciation isn’t always learning new sounds… it’s hearing the difference between words that sound almost identical 😅 Check out the video below to see how I pronounce these words: warrior, worrier, courier and barrier https://www.instagram.com/reel/DaildZlsR9b/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Have you ever noticed that some of the most natural English expressions don’t make much sense if you translate them literally? 😅 Take this one: take it or leave it It means: 1. accept the offer exactly as it is... 2. or refuse it completely There’s no negotiation 😆 e.g. That’s my final offer. Take it or leave it. e.g. The tickets are this price. Take it or leave it. And one more useful (bonus) word for today: 🙄 fussy = to be difficult to please because you only like very particular things (e.g. He’s really fussy about his coffee OR My brother is a very fussy eater) It’s a really common adjective in everyday British English and much more natural than simply saying someone is “difficult” 😉 Be honest... are you fussy when it comes to coffee or will you drink pretty much anything? ☕😂

Some English words look like perfect synonyms... until you hear how native speakers actually use them 😅 Take these three: ‼️ mandatory 🫡 compulsory ⚠️ obligatory They all suggest that something is required, but there are subtle differences. ‼️mandatory = the most common and neutral. It’s used for rules, laws, company policies and official requirements (e.g. Helmets are mandatory when cycling on the road) 🫡 compulsory = very similar, but often sounds a little stronger and more formal. It suggests there’s no choice (e.g. Education is compulsory until a certain age) ⚠️ obligatory = the least common in everyday English and the most formal. But there’s one meaning you’ll hear quite often... 😂 “the obligatory...” This doesn’t mean something is legally required. It means it’s socially expected or has become a bit of a tradition (e.g. the obligatory holiday photo / the obligatory handshake) These small differences are exactly what make advanced English so interesting. It’s often not about learning a new word... it’s about learning when native speakers choose one word over another 😉 Does your language have several words for “required” or just one?

One of the funniest things about British English is that sometimes the words sound incredibly polite… while the meaning is anything but 😂 Brits are masters of saying things indirectly, so it’s not just about understanding the words… it’s about understanding WHAT is really being implied. Here are a few classics: 😅 That’s an interesting take = I completely disagree 🙃 With all due respect... = I’m about to say something you probably won’t like 👀 You’re very brave wearing that = This isn’t the compliment you think it is... 😬 Bless your heart = Depending on the situation, this can mean “you poor thing” or even “you’re a bit clueless” (it’s much more common in some English-speaking countries than others!) 😳 I suppose that’s one way of doing it = I definitely wouldn’t have done it like that This is why learning English isn’t just about vocabulary and grammar... It’s also about understanding the culture, the humour and what people really mean 😉 Have you ever heard one of these in real life? Or do people in your country have polite ways of being rude too? 😅

Just a quick reminder that today is the last day to lock in the 25% discount for your first two months at The English Life Academy 😎 If you’ve been thinking about it for a while, this is your chance to start! Message me if you want more info 😊 Join through this link using the discount code SUMMERDEAL https://www.englishlifewithbenjamin.com/pricing

Hey there, and happy Saturday! 😁 If you're here, you're probably trying to improve your English, and I know how overwhelming it can feel trying to find the right online English classes 🤯 The reality is that online classes can be incredibly effective when they're well-structured and designed to get you speaking consistently. Think small groups (max. 4–5 students), experienced native teachers, structured lessons, flexible schedules, plenty of speaking practice, and a wide range of class topics. That's how you make real progress! The good news? That's exactly how we run things at The English Life Academy 😊 If you'd like to find out more, you can sign up here: https://www.englishlifewithbenjamin.com/pricing Use the discount code SUMMERDEAL by tomorrow to get 25% off your first two months! If you have any questions, just send me a meessage!

Do you know what to say in English when someone scares you? No? Then check out this Instagram Reel I posted 😎 https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbEVVn5saBE/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

If there’s one thing that makes phrasal verbs easier, it’s learning them in groups 😌 Instead of memorising random expressions, try grouping them by the particle. Today, we’re focusing on OFF 👕 to take off = to remove clothes 📅 to put off = to postpone / delay something 💊 to wear off = to gradually stop having an effect 💸 to pay off = to repay a debt / loan ❌ to call off = to cancel an event / meeting / plan You’ll notice that “off” often gives the idea of something ending, being removed, separated or stopped… which is why it appears in so many phrasal verbs

Football is full of expressions that go far beyond the game itself ⚽ Many of them are now used in everyday English too, which is why they’re worth learning! Here are some examples: 🏆 a glory hunter = someone who only supports a team because they’re successful 🌦️ a fair-weather fan = someone who only supports a team when it’s winning 🤝 through thick and thin = during both the good times and the bad 😬 bottle it / bottle jobs = to fail under pressure when it really matters 🥊 to punch above your weight = to do much better than people expect Even if you’re not a football fan, you’ll hear these expressions surprisingly often in conversations because they’ve become part of everyday English 😉 And before anyone asks... no, I’m definitely not a glory hunter 😂 Which football team do you support? Or, if you’re not into football, what’s another sport you love?

I know how tricky English pronunciation can be... especially when you need to remember which words have a silent letter... 🫢 I posted a video on IG yesterday where I show you how to pronounce some of them 😎 You can check it out here: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DblmBy9MWCb/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

Just a reminder that this promo is still active 🤩 but the discount code will run out soon 😬 Feel free to message me if you have any questions! (my IG is @englishlifewithbenjamin)

Simple ways to order food - here are some expressions or things I would say when ordering food: 🙆🏼‍♂️ that’s all = this is an excellent and very simple way of saying that you don’t want to order anything else 💳 pay by card = probably my most used payment option, you could also pay in cash 👋🏻 take care = if you don’t know what to say when leaving, a simple ‘take care’ always does the job 🙏🏻 could I take = you can also change the ‘take’ to ‘have’ when asking for a specific thing ✅ that does the job = just like ‘that’s all’ - a great way to convey that you are done ordering 🤳🏻 should I tap it? = if you are using a contactless payment option (card, phone or smartwatch), you can ‘tap’ it on the device 💰 how much is/are = use this if you want to know the price of something I hope this helps you next time you’re ordering something!

Pronunciation isn’t always about difficult sounds… sometimes it’s simply about long words that seem impossible to say at first glance 😅 If you click on the link below, you'll learn how to pronounce these words correctly: regrettably, interchangeably, psychologically and hypothetically https://www.instagram.com/reel/DbGoUGEt-ck/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

This is how Brits really talk about food: ⚠️ These are informal words and expressions! ⚠️ 🥡 grab a bite to eat = quickly get something to eat 🌮 grub = food 🍕 nosh = food 🤤 banging = very good / excellent 🫃🏼 I’m stuffed = I’m very full 🫣 I’m about to burst = I’m very full What was the last thing you ate? Maybe it will give us some food inspo 😋

A tiny mistake in English can completely change the meaning of what you’re trying to say… sometimes with very different consequences 🫣 Take these two: ❌ to pass away = to die ✅ to pass out = to lose consciousness / faint Very different situations 😅 And while we’re talking about OUT, here are a few more useful phrasal verbs: 😱 to freak out = to panic / lose control (because of fear / stress / excitement) 🧘 to chill out = to relax 🛠️ to iron out = to solve small problems / difficulties 🔮 to pan out = to develop / turn out in a particular way Phrasal verbs can be frustrating because the meaning often isn’t obvious from the individual words… but once you learn them in context, they become much easier to remember 😉 Tell me… how do you think your day is going to pan out?

Summer is the perfect time to invest in yourself 🌞 With a bit more free time, why not finally start working towards the English confidence you've been wanting for so long? 😉 The hardest part is usually taking that first step... Once you get started, you'll quickly realise your goals are much closer than you think, and with every class, speaking English becomes a little easier 💪 So, for a VERY limited time, anyone who joins The English Life Academy will get 25% off their first 2 months 🥳 If you've been thinking about improving your English, this is the perfect time to start! As always, if you have any questions, just send me a message 😊 Join through this link using the discount code: SUMMERDEAL https://www.englishlifewithbenjamin.com/pricing