How to "80/20" Your English to Make More Friends with italki Teacher Nick Vance

What should-be your-focus when-learning English?
How can you make the most of the time you invest in studying?
Today Lindsay talks with Nick Vance about the 80/20 principle, and how it can improve your English conversations!
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Nick believes that 80% of the positive benefits-of something-come from-20% of the input.-In business, some customers are more valuable than others.-With friends, though you may have many, only a few are truly close.
In learning English, most of the grammar mistakes a new learner makes are really the same mistake over and over.-Correcting these most common 20% of mistakes would eliminate 80% of all grammar mistakes.-The best way to identify these is by working with a teacher-who can-help point out your mistakes.
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Another way to work with the 80/20 principle is to prepare answers to the most common questions you might get from native English speakers.-This will help you comfortably get conversations started - which is probably 80% of the work!
You might prepare answers to questions like:

Where are you from?

How long have you lived here?

What do you do for a living?

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Do you see the 80/20 principle working in your life?
How so?
Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!
-Nick Vance is-originally from Kentucky and-has lived in North Carolina, Washington DC, San Diego and Portland.-He has-been living in Berlin, Germany for 2.5 years.--Nick-s degree is in math but he left that field when-he realized how much-he enjoyed-helping others-learn English.--Nick has-been helping people improve their English for 4 years and have been teaching online via Italki for about one year.
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3 Secrets to Getting a Job in the United States

How do you get a job in the United States?
What do employers want and expect?
Today, Lindsay and Kristy talk about 3 things an employer in the U.S. might look for in a job candidate!
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If you-re-applying for a job, it-s important to know what your potential employer-is looking for.-Like any other country, the U.S. has a professional culture which places more value on some individual qualities than others.-These qualities may be very different from what employers look for in your home country!
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Some qualities American employers-seek in employees:

Proactive attitude: Show that you are autonomous and energetic - the opposite of passive.-It means to show up early, confirm the time you will meet, and say thank you.

Positive attitude: Americans like smiles.-But it-s also important that you get along with others and not be pessimistic.

Communication:-When you-actively communicate it shows you are engaged.-A big part of this is simply that you let the boss know what is going on.

Be a -Giver-: Show that you believe in the vision of the company and are personally invested in its success.-In other words, it-s more than a job to you.

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Are these the same traits that employers look for in your country?
Do you have them?
Let us know in the comments section below!
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Ask a Tennis Pro! How to Get the Ball in Your Court with Your English Conversation Skills

Want to improve your English conversation? Learn from a tennis pro!
What can it teach us?
Today, Lindsay and Kristy talk about-what they-ve learned about language learning from-tennis lessons!
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In tennis,-as in many other sports, it-s critical that you persist.-You have to keep trying.-You have to show up for practice, and be consistent.-Mental toughness is also important.-You want to have the upper hand and be offensive, rather than defensive.
When learning a new language, sometimes we get stuck on a negative thought or an embarrassment.-This can lead us to lose the upper hand, and our confidence.-But when we sound good, we feel more in control.-The point is to practice, and to try to keep the ball in your court.-Stay in the game and take a deep breath!
Do you think tennis (or any other sports) offer lessons to language learning?
What are some examples?
Let us know what you think in the comments section below?
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When to Use "The" at Thanksgiving Dinner

When should you use the word -the- in English?
Today, in #1 of the Top 15 Fixes series, we discuss the most common article in the English language, -the-!
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Use if-the word -the- can be a confusing.-But there are some rules that can help you get it right most of the time.
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The first requires that you consider whether the focus is on something specific, or something more general.
When focused on specific items, use -the-.-If you-re sitting at a table, talking about the food that is actually in front of you, you might say:

-Do you like the turkey?-

-Yes, the turkey is great!-

-Could you please pass the salt?-

When focused on more general terms, you don-t use -the-.-If you-re discussing food in general, you might say:

-Do you like turkey?-

-Have you tried pumpkin pie?-

-Cranberries are too tart for me.-

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Geographical terms can also be tricky for -the-.-In most cases, large, well-known geographic places will have -the-: the content, the Pacific Ocean, the moon.
With specific countries, a country-s formal name might require -the,- while a less formal name might not: the United States, the Russian Federation; America, Russia.
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Other Entries in the 15 Fixes Series:


Episode 165: Listen or Hear?


Episode 169: Speak, Talk, Tell and Say?


Episode 173:-Wish vs. Hope


Episode 177: Talking About Age in English


Episode 181: Future Tense in English


Episode 185: Interested or Interesting?


Episode 189: Talking About the Past


Episode 193: How to Borrow Money


Episode 197: Who Pays for Lunch?


Episode 201: Will vs. Going To


Episode 205: Talking about People


Episode 209: How much versus How many


Episode 213: Make vs. Do


Episode 217: By Yourself vs. On Your Own

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What have you found difficult about -the-?
Tell us all about it in the comments section below!
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How to Truly Be Free with Your English Goals and Your Life

Are you free to follow your goals-in life?
Or are you afraid?
Today, learn how freedom comes with fearlessness!
Come back to allearsenglish.com/219 for more!
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Go here to read the full episode summary
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There are so many things to be afraid of: loneliness, lack of money, professional failure or meaninglessness. Fears can overwhelm you.-But what if you have a vision that-s bigger than fear?
To accomplish anything, you have to get out of your head and into your body.-Action means letting-go of your thoughts.-But to do that, you need the freedom to be fearless.
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Freedom to be fearless means:

Questioning everything

Avoiding -perfectionist paralysis-

Having goals, but knowing that goals are not always the most important thing

Being able to-communicate effectively-with others when the stakes are high


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Are you free and fearless?
How does it come out in your life?
Tell us your story in the comments section below!
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Learn 3 Ways to Write Like a Pro in American English from AEE Insider Jay Bethke

You need to be able to write in English in a concise way.
Today meet AEE blogger and writer Jay Bethke and get his top tips to write like a pro in American English.
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Find Out Why Americans Don't Want to Live at Home

Are you an adult living at home with your parents?
Did you know that American culture discourages this?
Today, find out why Americans feel compelled to move out of their family home at age 18 - even if they don-t have enough money to do so!
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How to Surround Yourself with the Doers When It Comes to English and Life

Do you surround yourself with doers?
Is it important to spend time with others who appreciate your dreams?
Today, we talk about why it-s a good idea to hang out with people who can do and dream, and one action you can take to build a supportive social circle!
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Come back to our site for more tips
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Taking IELTS?
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How to Stop Being Afraid of Your Own Dreams and Maximize Your Impact in Life

Do you dream without fear?
Do you-link your English studies to your big goals?
Today, learn about one All Ears English listener who has an incredible goal and dream for his English - and why it-s making all the difference in his life!
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Sergin is an All Ears English listener in Turkey. He-listens to English conversations 4-8 hours every day!-His goal is to become an actor and move to Hollywood.-That may sound like-an ambitious dream, but-it is-possible.
Dreaming big is-the only way to-achieve-big things.-And it-s important to have a goal that you care about. What you-re doing must inspire you and hold your attention.-Find what you want to do in life, not just-what you should do!
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Do you have any big dreams or goals connected to learning English?
Tell us all about-them in the comments section below!
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Do Yourself a Favor - Learn Make vs. Do in English

Go here to read the full episode summary
What-s the difference between do and make in English?
Do you make something, or do you do it?
Today, in #3 of our Top 15 Fixes, we talk about the difficulty of distinguishing when to use these two verbs!
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Many English learners have-difficulty-using do and make, often because they are directly translating from their own language. But native English speakers make it even more difficult.-Even though there are some basic rules for using these verbs, native speakers tend to break them.
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Make usually means to create something, from the ground up. Some examples include:

Making food, a drink, or anything requiring ingredients

Making friends (creating friendships)

Making the bed or table (putting things together)

Making a phone call, or making mistakes

Do usually relates more to a responsibility, an action or a job. Some examples include:

Doing dinner, coffee or drinks (something you do together, with others)

Doing homework, or doing the dishes (doing a job or work)

Doing someone a favor

Doing your best

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Other Entries in the 15 Fixes Series:


Episode 165: Listen or Hear?


Episode 169: Speak, Talk, Tell and Say?


Episode 173:-Wish vs. Hope


Episode 177: Talking About Age in English


Episode 181: Future Tense in English


Episode 185: Interested or Interesting?


Episode 189: Talking About the Past


Episode 193: How to Borrow Money


Episode 197: Who Pays for Lunch?


Episode 201: Will vs. Going To


Episode 205: Talking about People


Episode 209: How much versus How many

What do you make?
What do you do?
Let us know in the comments section
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