One Super Conversational Way to Talk About Your Plans in English

Need some help talking about your plans in English?
On today-s Tear Up Your Textbook Tuesday, Lindsay and Michelle tell you how to talk about the future the way native speakers do!
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Usually English textbooks tell you to talk about the future using -will- and -going to-.-These work, but native English speakers also do it-by using the progressive tense.-To native ears, this is a more natural and conversational way to talk.
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Here are some examples of conversation about the future using the progressive tense:

-What are you having for dinner?-

-Tonight I-m having chicken.-

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-Are you bringing anything?-

-I-m bringing wine.-

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-What are you doing tomorrow?-

-I-m going to see a movie.-

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Note that all of these conversations are talking about the future, not the immediate moment.
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What are you doing tomorrow?
What are you doing next week?
Let us know in the comments section below!
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What You MUST Know About Interviews in the United States

Do you want to get a job in the US?
Today, Lindsay and Michelle discuss what you need to know-to excel at-an American job interview!
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Job interviews everywhere focus on skills and training.-But in the US, employers are usually interested in character as well.-They want to know whether you-re a team player, what your potential is to be a leader, and how you will grow in your job.
As such, they might ask some questions focused more on your behaviors than your skills.-It would help to think about these questions ahead of time, so you can be prepared.
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Some American job interview questions might include:

-Tell us about the most difficult/frustrating individual you ever had to work with, and how you managed to work with them.--By asking this, they-re seeing whether you can rise above a problem and keep it from affecting the company.

-Give an example of how you-ve broken out of a routine or when you-ve successfully developed a new approach.--Here they-re asking you to show flexibility.

-How do you schedule your time/prioritize time when you have a tight turnaround?--With this, you might want to explain how you ask others for help or delegate your work.

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In answering all of these questions, try to tell a story from conflict to resolution, and keep it under three minutes if possible.
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Do employers ask questions like these during job interviews in your country?
Tell us about it in the comments section below!
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Brad-received-his undergraduate degree at New York University in 1984, and spent the next 15 years in the business world focused on sales and marketing.-After spending a year testing the English teaching waters in Korea,-he returned to the USA and got-a Masters degree in TESOL from Seattle University in March 2001.
Since then-Brad has-worked in London for a summer, spent a few years in Ireland writing TEFL materials for the Wall Street Institute and other companies, and-has worked in Germany and Austria as an in-house Business English trainer for companies like Siemens, Deutsche Post/DHL and EADS.
He has also taught many seminars and workshops for various companies on skills like presentations and business correspondence,-as well as-a business course for two years at the University of Ulm, Germany.
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How to Work with Brad on italki:
Step 1- Go to italki to get $10 off your second lesson. You must use this link to get the special deal.
Step 2- Search for -Brad C- in the teacher search bar after you have registered with the above link for our special promotion.
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How NOT to Be a Play-It-Safer When It Comes to Your English

Do you ever take-a risk-when learning-English?
Or would you rather be ordinary and routine?
Today, Lindsay and Michelle discuss how not being a play-it-safer can help your English grow!
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Going to San Francisco? Learn How to "Get Local" with italki Teacher Sarah Honour

Do you want some help with the local English in-San Francisco?
Today, San Francisco native Sarah Honour talks about how you can go local with your English in the City by the Bay!
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San Francisco is one of the most unique and amazing cities in the United States.-It-s residents are technology-centric due to their proximity to Silicon Valley, as well as health-centric and nature-centric due to the progressive philosophy that has long been part of the spirit of the city.
Sarah believes that these traits are found in some of the language that San Franciscans use, and that knowing this terminology can help you fit in just a little better.
Here are Sarah-s three top terms for your visit to San Francisco:

-Is there an app for that?-:-App is short for application, as in for your phone.-Because the Bay Area is near the center of a major technological development region, there are apps for almost everything in the city - from calling a taxi to getting your groceries delivered.

Organic, Local, Sustainable and Seasonal: Food quality is really important to San Franciscans.-Organic means that no pesticides have been used, local means the food was grown nearby, and sustainable means the environment was not harmed to produce it.-Seasonal simply means that it is the-natural time of year for the food to grow.

-Where-s the wiggle?-: San Francisco is a great city for biking, but it is also a city with lots of hills.-The -wiggle- is the route for biking with the least amount of hills to go up.

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Have you ever been to San Francisco?
Would you like to go?
Tell us why in the comments section below!
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Sarah-is-a 31 year old American who was born and raised in Denver, Colorado, studied Communications in Seattle, Washington, and worked for almost 10 years as a nanny (or babysitter) in San Francisco, California.--She now-splits her time between San Francisco and Sardinia, Italy where-her boyfriend lives.-She is an-English teacher on italki, and is learning Italian and sampling as much of the amazing food and wine from Italy as-she can.
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Tag! You're It! How to Get Your Facts Straight in English

How do you clarify-information in English?
Have you ever met someone on the phone or the internet before you met them in person?
Today, Lindsay and Michelle discuss tag questions, and how they can help you confirm what you think you know, but aren-t sure about!
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A tag question helps you to confirm a piece of information that you think is true, but that you want to clarify.-Though they are used as a tool for clarity, they-can-also be a great way to create conversations.
Tag questions tend to begin with the statement to be clarified, and then end with the question.-There are many possible combinations.
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Some common examples of tag questions include:

-You-re from Washington, aren-t you?-

-You used to live in New York, didn-t you?-

-He can play the piano, can-t he?-

-Her birthday is in July, right?-

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Are You Ready to Practice? Get a Private, Native English Teacher Now!
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You-ll get your English mistakes corrected immediately!
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Do you ever use tag questions?
What kinds of things do you need to confirm or clarify-in others?
Let us know in the comments section below!
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Meet Michelle, The New York Radio Girl

Do you want to start a conversation in English?
Today, Lindsay introduces and-talks about-conversations with Michelle Kaplan, the new All Ears English co-host!
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4 Rules to Master the "Poetics of English Conversation" with Travis Wolven

How can you improve your English conversations?
Is conversation a science?
Find out today as Lindsay talks with Travis Wolven about the poetics of conversation!
Come back to our site for more info and tips
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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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Taking IELTS? Get our free IELTS video training course now
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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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