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Do you like classic Hollywood? In this iconic image from the 1950 film “Sunset Boulevard,” an ageing actress is not ready to retire. It’s all about her beautiful close-ups. But how good are your close-ups?
Zoom, Google Hangouts, Skype… what do you feel when you hear these words? Excited? Scared? All of the above? Are you a “rabbit in the headlights” (so scared you cannot move) or a diva who loves to be the center of attention? Whichever type describes you best, many of us are facing the camera every day, conferencing everything from work to school to Friday night happy hour. And while some of us have taken to it like “ducks to water” (with great ease) – other folks are not so handy.
What are some of the universal DOs and DON’TS of video conferencing? How do you look great in virtual meetings? In this article, we will focus on the visual, low-tech side of virtual meetings.
To begin mastering the visual art of video conferencing, launch a “test” meeting with a friend. Using the setup that you will choose for most meetings, see yourself – really see yourself – in the screen and make an initial self assessment. Ask your friend for feedback. Then with that feedback in mind, read our ten tips.
1. Do I look OK?
Plan to look your best, just like you would for any meeting. And remember that what is mostly seen is your head and shoulders. But most importantly, people will focus on your face. Avoid wild hair and wild clothing, and if you normally wear makeup, put it on!
2. Is that a pimple?
Be aware that the camera can make things like a shiny nose, pimples or chapped lips look more pronounced than in real life. If you do not normally think about such things, this is the time to start. A little vanity can be a plus.
3. OMG is my boss in his pajama pants?
And while you can, in theory, wear sweatpants or pajama pants (or no pants at all ;-)), be aware that if you have to excuse yourself to go to the WC or to feed the cat, your colleagues may see the rest of your costume (or lack of), so being completely “put together” is preferred. Plus it makes you feel better, and that confidence will help you perform better.
4. Shady lady: What is she hiding?
Light your face with a direct or bounced (reflected) light placed behind your webcam. It is not enough to turn on your overhead office light. This will result in a shaded face and that means other participants cannot see you very well. From a psychological point of view, your “face in the shadows” can send a social signal that you are hiding something. As they say, “I will show you mine if you show me yours.” There is a sort of intimacy to video conferencing, so turn on your camera, light your face and SMILE!
5. Do I look good in this light?
Avoid side lights (like windows). Unless you are under 21, side lights accentuate all the lines and creases while a bounced or direct light will fill your lines with light and make your eyes sparkle.
Backlight (light from a window behind you) will fool the camera into thinking there is a lot of light in the room and under- illuminate your face. If you have a window to your side or behind you, draw the curtains.
If you want to make the window light your friend, set up your camera so that you can face the window. Soft natural light can be a great choice. Northern windows are great for that.
Avoid strong overhead light as it can result in deep shadows under your eyes and people will wonder if you are getting enough sleep.
6. Please LED me see you.
LED ring lights are highly recommended for video conferencing and start at about 35 euro. They are easily found at Amazon. The bigger the ring light, the farther the light can extend, but for most of us, a small light is enough. I like a light with a clamp so I can put it on my desk, behind my computer monitor. That means my face is nicely illuminated. Special tip: clamp a small ring light to a hard back book and you have a light that is stable but easily moved… and naturally at about the right height. Be sure the light you buy has adjustable intensity.
7. Ew, is that the cat's litter box in the corner?
Become aware of your space, especially your background. Be sure your home office or workspace is reasonably tidy and pleasant. Test your camera’s angle width to see if that messy pile of personal stuff in the corner is really hidden from view. Note: In some programs (like Zoom) you can use a virtual background provided by Zoom or you can upload a photo that you want to appear in front of.
8. Back off, Jack!
The relative position of your face to the camera is very important. Do not sit too close to your camera. No matter how good looking you are, it looks bad when your face fills the screen. Plus the wide angle camera lens will distort your face when you get too close. A little under a meter is often fine. When you do your preliminary test with a friend, you will immediately see when you get too close and become the scary giant face!
9. What’s your level?
Camera height matters a lot. Never conference with the webcam below your face. No one wants to look up into your nostrils. That camera angle adds kilos and is used by filmmakers to make people look scary. It's what director James Whale used in the original 1931 "Frankenstein" movie to make the monster look even more menacing.
Most people have their computer lower than eye level, so to move your camera up, just stack a bunch of books under your laptop or desktop until you see the webcam eye to eye, or it is slightly above you. If you are using a phone, find a place to lean the phone that puts it at eye level.
10. Dude, do you know we can see you?
Irritating behaviors are amplified on the screen and when people forget they are on camera we become witness to things we may not want to see. Participants who are in “listen mode” may zone out, start scrolling through phone messages or actually fall asleep. Conversely, people who feel anxious on camera may engage in repetitive nervous behaviors that are truly distracting to others. Remember, we can see you!
More...
At The English Center, we use Zoom for all our video conferencing. Do you want to read some Zoom video conferencing blog posts?
Do you want to see the most famous "close up" scene in the classic "Sunset Boulevard?" This actress was a diva till the end!
Do you want to improve your English? Request a free consultation.
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Shall we chat on the phone? Call us at +31 20 823 0569. We are happy to speak with you in English or Dutch.
Brenda de Jong-Pauley, November 2020
Level: Intermediate and Advanced (B1–C2)
Have you noticed that most people love to be just a bit scared when they know they are not really in danger? That’s why everyone loves Halloween – a holiday when we can enjoy all the “things that go bump in the night,” because we know that everything is really OK.
Centuries ago, however, our northern European ancestors had more to be afraid of, and this holiday marked the end of the growing season and harvest and the approach of winter. It was a time to consider life and death, and especially, to remember the dead.
1. Apparition
(noun) A scary, transparent, ghostly figure.
2. All Hallow’s Eve or Halloween
(noun) A contraction (shortening) of "All Hallows’ Evening." The holiday is observed in many countries on October 31. The -een suffix (word ending) = evening. "Halloween" is the evening before the Christian "All Hallows' Day." More commonly called "All Saints Day", this is the day when we remember the dead, including saints (hallows), martyrs, and all of our dear departed. In modern English, "hallow" is a verb, meaning to honor as holy. In old English, it was also a noun. A "hallow" was a holy person.
3. Black cat
(noun) Black cats were believed to be witches' familiars (powerful assistants). People also believed that black cats could bring bad luck. This old superstition is still well known today!
4. Bloodcurdling
(adjective) A sound that is so frightening that it might “curdle your blood” This is a reference to when milk spoils or “curdles” (the curd and the whey separate).
5. Bogeyman
(noun) An imaginary evil spirit used to scare children.
6. Broom and broomstick
(noun) Witches were believed to ride through the night sky on broomsticks.
7. Casket or coffin
(noun) The rectangular box in which a corpse is placed for burial.
8. Cape or cloak
(noun) A loose, draping garment worn around the shoulders and hanging down around the body.
9. Corpse
(noun) A dead body.
10. Creepy
(adjective) scary, nasty, disgusting.
11. Disguise
(noun or verb) anything worn or done to conceal your identity. Wigs, masks and makeup are common parts of a disguise.
12. “Double double toil and trouble…”
From Shakespeare’s Macbeth. In this scene the 3 witches are stirring their cauldron (like a big soup pot), over the fire, chanting magical words.
13. Familiar
(noun) Usually a cat who assists a witch in her tasks. In European folklore and folk-belief of the Medieval and Early Modern periods, familiars were believed to be supernatural entities who could assist witches and other cunning people in their practice of magic. Cunning people could achieve their goals in dishonest or evil ways.
14. Frighten or frightening
(verb/adjective) To scare or to be scary; to invoke fear.
15. Ghostly
(adjective) To look white and transparent and indistinct, like a ghost.
16. Ghastly
(adjective) In common use, this word means terrible, as in a "ghastly situation." But the meaning associated with Halloween is to look like you are near death; very shocked, ill or pale.
17. Ghoul or ghoulish
(noun/adjective) To be or look like a demon-like being or monstrous humanoid originating in pre-Islamic Arabian religion, In modern fiction, this term is often been used for a certain kind of undead monster. See undead below.
18. Gory
(Adjective) Associated with violence, bloodshed and serious injuries.
19. Grave and a graveyard
(noun) Also called a cemetery, where bodies are buried. Slang: boneyard.
20. Grim reaper
(noun) The mythical figure who carries a scythe (an agricultural tool with a long handle and a crescent-shaped blade). He collects the dead.
21. Horror
(noun) A feeling of terror; extreme fear. Also a genre of films, books and stories.
22. Howl
(verb/noun) An animal-like sound, such as when a wolf howls at the moon; associated with pain, grief and madness.
23. Jack o’lantern
(noun) In modern times, a jack o'lantern is a pumpkin carved at Halloween, with a candle inside. But the term "jack-o'-lantern" was first applied to people, not pumpkins. As far back as 1663, the term meant a man with a lantern, or a night watchman. A decade or so later, it began to be used to refer to the mysterious lights sometimes seen at night over bogs and marshes. A lantern is a light with a transparent case. The first vegetable jack o'lanterns were turnips, carved and carried for protection at Samhain, the Celtic festival now known as Halloween. But when the tradition came to America with Irish and Scottish immigrants, pumpkins were more common, and that is why we associate the pumpkin so strongly with jack o'lanterns.
The name Jack o'lantern is also related to the Irish legend of Stingy Jack, a drunkard who bargains with Satan and is doomed to roam the Earth with only a hollowed turnip to light his way.
24. Magic
(noun) The supernatural ability to bend or change reality and events. Often associated with witches.
25. Phantom
(noun) A ghost or apparition. Something seen, heard, or sensed, but having no physical reality; an image that appears only in the mind; an illusion or delusion.
26. Skeleton
(noun) All the bones, from skull to toe, all in their proper relative position.
27. Spooky and spooks
(adjective/noun) Scary or frightening. Spooks are ghosts.
28. Trick or treat
What children say when they knock on your door on Halloween night. This is a playful threat: “give us candy or we will do something naughty” such as “soaping” (putting soap on your windows) or TP’ing (toilet papering) your house or trees.
29. Undead
(noun/adjective) "Undead" beings are technically dead, but are still animate. Because "animate" means alive or having life, this word presents a contradiction that stimulates morbid curiosity, fear and unease.
30. Wand
(noun) A slender piece of wood, held in the hand, that witches use to cast spells and direct power.
31. Wicca
(noun) Wicca is a modern earth-based neopagan religion. Scholars of religion consider it both a new religious movement and part of an occultist stream of Western esotericism. Wicca draws upon a diverse set of ancient pagan and 20th-century hermetic motifs for its theological structure and ritual practices.
Read more: A Brief History of Halloween from the New York Public Library
Halloween History Videos
National Geographic's The History of Halloween
"Bet You Didn't Know" Halloween History
Vintage Scary Film Recommendations
BBC Macbeth opening scenes, 5 adaptations
Mel Brooks "Young Frankenstein"
Do you want to improve your English? Request a free consultation.
Or call us at +31 20 823 0569. We are happy to speak with you in English or Dutch.
Happy Halloween!
Brenda de Jong-Pauley, October 2020
Scary header photo by NeONBRAND at Unsplash
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Brenda de Jong-Pauley, The English Center of Amsterdam
First published September 2020
Updated January 2021
Please speak the questions below aloud to try to hear rhoticity at work. Ready?
1. Why does a hungry American woman want “bread and butter” while a hungry British woman wants "bread and buttah."
2. Why does an American love her "father," while a Brit loves her "fathah."
The answer is – rhoticity. Rhoticity refers to the pronunciation of Rs. The presence or absence of rhoticity in an accent is one of the most prominent distinctions by which varieties of English can be classified.
In a word, yes! Americans and Canadians clearly pronounce the R at the end of a syllable or a word – barking, sorting, morning; and mother, father, weather. The R is also clearly expressed before a consonant, as in card, shark, burn, turn.
By contrast, a British English speaker omits those Rs altogether. The Rs become silent.
Please note that English rhoticity does not differ in initial Rs, so whether you are a Brit or a Yank, you will speak the R in "Ruby’s red roses" the same way. But the treatment of the other Rs – at the middle and the end of a word – is one of the clearest ways we hear differences in varieties of English.
According to the Pronunciation Studio, “The vast majority of native English speakers worldwide pronounce every written < r >, including most speakers in America, Canada, Ireland, Scotland, India and Pakistan. These are known as ‘rhotic’ speakers. English accents that follow the silent < r > rule are known as ‘non-rhotic’, and these include most accents in England, Wales, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. Not all accents in England, however, are non-rhotic, in the West Country a large number of speakers pronounce their ‘r’s, and this is true of pockets in the North too, though the rhoticity seems to be gradually disappearing in these areas.”
Rhoticity has changed across time and continents, and If you guessed that American English with its rhotic R must be the newer or more modern way of speaking English, you would be mistaken. In fact, the dialects of Scotland, Ireland, and most of the United States and Canada have retained this hard or historical R and are thus termed the rhotic varieties of English. American English is (with exceptions) in this category.
If you want to speak with a standard British English accent, aka “received pronunciation” or “the Queen’s English,” you need to omit mid and final position Rs (except in the case of linking Rs), and you will need to practice with a British English teacher who specializes in pronunciation training. But if your goal is to speak with a standard American English accent or to speak international English – and since rhotic English is most common worldwide –it is often best to stick with American English rhotic Rs. That will also require some practice.
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Personalized accent training (also called pronunciation training, accent reduction and accent neutralization): Would you like to take a British English accent training course? An American English accent training course?
Would you like to meet a native-speaker teacher for a free consultation appointment about accent reduction, pronunciation training and the R sound? We offer these appointment online and in person, with American and British English teachers. Call us at +31 20 823 0569. Or use the contact form below. We look forward to speaking with you!
Go to our Pronunciation Training Course page now.
Video: The English Center, "Secrets of English Pronunciation: Rhoticity"
Are you interested in the history of the rhotic R? Video with Ben Crystal
Video: What Shakespeare’s English Sounded Like
Videos: Do you want to sound more American? Go to Rachel’s English. 300+ spoken English videos.
Do you want to have a non-rhotic R? Check out The Pronunciation Studio. “The Silent R”to
Take the Business English Test now and get instant results and course advice. This test is free and with no obligation.
Request a free intake appointment
Are you looking for the right English test? Is a good score important for you? There are lots of ESL tests, and it can be hard to know to know which test is best. On this page, we give you a brief overview of a few of our favorites. Plus links to our free tests. Please contact us to learn more. +31 20 823 0569.
Take these tests now and get instant results and English course advice.
Cost? 90 euro.
Location? Online at your home or office.
Modular? This test has one module covering “use of English” and listening.
All four skills? No, just 2: listening and speaking.
Read more
Cost? 90 euro.
Location? Online at your home or office.
Read more about this English writing test
Take the Oxford Online Placement Test, English Center Test of Spoken English and English Center test of Written English.
Cost: 210 euro
Read more.
This test is very convenient, reliable and well-priced test. It does not test speaking and writing, but we really like this test a lot. The Oxford Online Placement Test helps place test takers in an appropriate level language course and is used as a quick measure of a test taker’s general language ability. Trainers can use this test to decide what level of course is needed, and human resources departments can use it to check the English level of employees.
Oxford Online Placement Test
Cost? 30 euro.
Location? Online at your home or office.
Modular? This test has one module covering use of English and listening.
This test evaluates: reading/use of English and listening.
Adaptive? Yes, the test gets easier or harder based on your answers.
Get the Oxford test
The TOEIC® has a 40 year international history of assessing English-language proficiency in the workplace. It is an industry leader and is used by 14,000+ organizations in more than 160 countries. The parent company, ETS, is the world's largest testing organization and is the top brand in the USA; well known for its SAT and GRE tests.
The TOEIC® offers a complete, accurate picture of proficiency in all four language skills. And with scores mapped to Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for languages, the comprehensive and comparable data received helps companies make better-informed decisions.
The TOEIC® promises to help companies hire, train and promote the most proficient candidates to build a stronger team, and to cultivate stronger talent for the international marketplace.
Testing sessions are arranged through local ETS Preferred Network (EPN) members, such as The English Center.
TOEIC® – Details
Cost? Ask us.
Location? Official test centers, such as Amsterdam World Trade Center + many locations worldwide.
Modular? Yes, choose 1,2 or 3 modules.
All four skills? Yes.
Adaptive? Yes, the test gets easier or harder based on your answers.
Online? Paper & pencil and online.
Cambridge is, of course, the most recognized name in the European ESL (English as a Second Language) testing market. We are very enthusiastic about the new Linguaskill test for business clients. Linguaskill is a quick and convenient online test to help organizations check the English levels of individuals and groups of candidates. The Cambridge Linguaskill test evaluates all four language skills: speaking, writing, reading and listening.
The test provides accurate results within 48 hours, and can be easily administered and invigilated (supervised) at your own venue at a time that suits you. Results are aligned to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), the international standard for describing language ability.
Linguaskill – Details
Cost? Ask us.
Location? Your office.
Modular? Yes, choose 1, 2 or 3 modules.
All four skills? Yes
Adaptive? Yes, the test gets easier or harder based on your answers.
Online? Yes, 100% online.
This exam suite includes the B1 Business Preliminary, the B2 Business Vantage and the C1 Business Higher. These leveled exams are internationally accepted and provide a top-notch lifetime certificate. An exam prep course is strongly recommended. The exams take place at an approved test center. These are highly respected tests, but these exams do not deliver convenience for busy people and companies.
This test is very popular as a university entrance exam test. We offer private IELTS training. Read more about the IELTS test here.
Individual: Test preparation is always recommended to achieve the needed score. A private test prep course provides motivation, support and a strong path to success with lots of support and guidance. Contact us to learn more or arrange a free consultation.
Corporate: Many companies want a preparation course to precede the test. This approach provides motivation, support and a better track to success with clear performance results. Contact us to discuss testing and test prep training for your company.
The English Center provides university test proctoring services for distance learning students. Contact us to learn more.
Take the Business English Test now and get instant results and course advice. This test is free and with no obligation.
Reference for this blogpost: Common European Frame of Reference
Call The English Center. We are happy to speak with you! +31 20 823 0569.
Brenda de Jong-Pauley, MA
The English Center 2020
As you get better at English, you may want to focus a bit less on grammar and more on your sound. After all, your voice is an instrument that can be developed. Grammar is quite cognitive and is all about remembering the rules, but your sound (your accent, pace, volume, articulation and fluency) are more in the creative and physical realms.
Here are 7 tips to help you sound better in English.
1. Imitate native speakers. Netflix and YouTube are great language acquisition tools because you can pause them. Pick a movie or series you like and try to reproduce the speech you hear – just as you heard it spoken. Mimic your favorite actor and develop your "chops." (= your ability to make a series of difficult sounds). Have fun and see how close you can get to the actor's accent and style. Even when you sound bad, you are developing your listening skills and your vocal muscles. It's great language exercise.
2. Do not believe what you see!
Spelling should tell you how words sound, right? But unfortunately, English spelling is quite disconnected from English pronunciation. Consider, for example, this series of words: through, crew, blue, shoe, too and two. What do they have in common? Not much, except that these words all rhyme. Spoken English must be learned with your ears. And if you can read and listen at the same time, you will get maximum value. So turn on captions and subtitles and enjoy learning!
3. Go up and down.
Listen carefully to native speech with special attention to the ups and downs. The peaks and valleys, fast and slow & loud and soft patterns of language are called intonation; and those differences add essential meaning to our words. Compare "I didn't say he stole the money." with "I didn't say he stole the money." Same words, very different meanings.
4. Discover the schwa.
The schwa sound is the most common sound in English. It is a rather primitive little sound, but it appears everywhere and with all kinds of spelling patterns.
Just to name a few examples, The Schwa is
the A in – a/bout and both the A and O in a/bove.
the E in – ta/ken, spo/ken.
the ION in – fas/ci/na/tion, ex/plor/a/tion (Extra note: the T sounds like SH)
the U in – su/pply... and many more.
Practice the schwa sound by repeating, "Up the bluff, Bud runs with the cup of love."
5. Relax.
Relax your throat and face. In general. English is a deep, relaxed language with a nice underlying hum. Again, if you are Dutch you have an advantage here. But if your L1 ( = language 1) is a relatively tense or high pitched language, try to drop your voice down into your chest to sound better in English.
6. Slow down.
I cannot tell you how often we have to remind people to slow down. I suspect that some folks unconsciously believe that if they speak fast, others will not notice their errors. Or that people will think they are smart. But in truth, if your sound is poor, going fast will just make you unintelligible (= impossible to understand.) Now, that does not mean that is is good to ugh... pause....uhm... too much. The best manner of speaking is with a moderate pace that you can manage. It's just like driving. Going too fast is dangerous.
7. Finally, say goodbye to old habits.
We all have habituated ways of speaking. These are based on our "mother tongue" and on what linguists call fossilized errors (= mistakes we learned in our L2 acquisition). These habits take time and attention to correct. Trust your ear and your teacher and let go of your old ways so that you can achieve a more native, accurate sound.
Do you want to read more about our English language training? Read more about private courses. Start anytime!
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Six Ways to Write Better Business English Emails
©The English Center 2020
3 minute read
Business writing is an art. Take the time to do it well!
1. Choose a good email subject line. The subject line orients the recipient to your content. It tells them what to expect, and that enhances readability. A good subject line may even be the reason that the busy recipient chooses to open (or not open) your email!
2. In general, use active sentences when writing business English. Let me explain. An active sentence begins with the subject, as in the sentence,"Brenda wrote the report." That (active) structure is prefered to this sentence, "This report was written by Brenda." (passive structure).In Dutch, passive sentences are more acceptable and common. But in English, active sentences inform us "who and what" at the beginning of the sentence, and that is the way we like it!
3. Avoid overlong sentences with too many phrases. Tame unruly, run-on sentences with periods. And remember, short sentences have their place. It is pleasant to read a text that has a variety of sentence lengths. When you vary length, the short sentences "pop" and will receive extra attention. Get it?
4. Use correct punctuation. If you do not know the difference between a colon, semicolon, a hyphen, and a dash – find out. Remember, simple comma placement is the difference between “No, more margaritas!” And “No more margaritas!” Punctuation matters!
5. Use paragraphing to keep related ideas together and to break up big blocks of text. Big blocks do not make you look smart, they just make you hard to read. Make it easy for your reader to see where one idea ends and another begins. In a high value communication, be sure to use "hook" sentences at the beginning and end of each paragraph to create smooth, connected transitions.
6. Finally, review your email before you send it. You will nearly always find typos and other imperfections. My personal trick is to read once or twice from the top down and then from the bottom up. The backwards flow will often reveal problems that your brain does not identify when reading in the normal top down way. And of course for important emails, blog posts, reports etc., just "save" and walk away! Work on something else and then come back to your text. New opportunities for improvements will almost always be visible after a break.
Do you have to write a lot of business emails? Read this article next!
Would you like to take a focused private course to polish up your English? You can request a free consultation. Or just call us! We are happy to speak with you in English or Dutch.
+31 20 823 0569.
Brenda de Jong-Pauley, MA
Director, The English Center
Article updated April 2022
Using the common little verb “send” can actually be quite tricky, both because it is an irregular verb and because of the D and T endings. In English, final Ds are often pronounced with a T sound, such as in the words watched, cooked, liked. Thus, the pronunciation of these words actually makes them harder to spell. Plus, this sound shift creates confusion about tense and when to use which form.
This English grammar rules for Emails blog post is dedicated to our business English client Dennis T., who asked about the verb “send.” Thank you, Dennis!
The infinitive form is send, the past and perfect forms are sent. Be sure to pronounce these words correctly.
Practice saying send, sent, sent and exaggerate the D and T sounds. The T is plosive and produces a pop of air. The D does not pop. It is a heavier, darker sound. If the difference is not clear to you, try practicing these words:
send: dad, did, dude
sent: tote, tart, toot
1. Present simple (used for habits, facts, customs and repeated behaviors)
I send many emails every day.
2. Present continuous (used for what's happening NOW. Actions that are temporary.
I am sending you an email right now, while we are on the phone.
3. Present simple for the future with will and going to
I will (I’ll) send the email in a second / in one minute / this afternoon / tomorrow.
I will (I’ll) send the package next week.
I am going to send (I’m going to send) the package on Tuesday.
4. Past (completed action in the past)
I just sent the email.
I sent you an email this morning / 5 minutes ago / yesterday / last week.
5. Past continuous (a continuous/progressive action, completed in the past)
I was sending an important email when the Internet went down.
6. Present perfect (an action in a time period connecting to now, such as today, this week, this month)
I have sent hundreds of emails this week.
7. Present perfect continuous (a continuous/progressive action in a time period connecting to now, such as recently, lately, the last few days)
Recently, I have been sending so many emails that I can write them really quickly.
8. Past perfect (an action in the past before another action in the past: the relationship of those two actions)
I had just sent her a long email when she rang me.
9. Past perfect continuous (continuous/progressive action in the past before something else happened in the past: the relationship of those two actions)
I had been sending so many emails that I decided to create a template to make it go faster.
OK! But in order to truly master the simple little word SEND, we have to dive into more English grammar. Let’s begin with the present simple tense.
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Use present simple to talk about schedules, habits, customs, repeated behaviors and scientific facts. We use this form to talk about things that are stable and NOT temporary. Things that were true in the past, are true now, and will probably be true in the future. We often use always or never with present simple sentences.
Schedules
The train leaves at 6:00. The team meets at 9:00 on Mondays. The presentation begins at 11:00. The train departs at 4:05.
What time does the meeting begin?
We leave for the US tomorrow.
Repeated actions
I send my boss a report every day. I never eat lunch at my desk.
He never sends attachments with his emails.
Customs
We celebrate New Year’s Eve with fireworks. How do you celebrate New Year’s? I send holiday greeting cards (Christmas cards) every December.
Scientific facts
Water boils at 100 degrees. The earth orbits around the sun.
Verbs of state
--- such as like, love, smell, want, need, prefer, know, suppose, mean, understand, remember, belong, fit, contain, consist, seem, realize.
Read more about our Business English Writing course
Please note that in spoken English, people sometimes break the rule about verbs of state, but you should not do that in written business communication. Thus, in casual conversation over dinner, you may say, “I am loving this fish! It’s delicious.” This is technically incorrect, but it’s becoming more common in informal spoken English and in advertising. Do you remember McDonalds, “I’m lovin' it!” campaign?
But in a business email, please do not write, “We are liking your proposal.” ☹ Instead, write, “We like your proposal.”
I like our new office.
I prefer Apples to PCs.
I remember you from the last conference.
This report looks messy.
I recommend the café on the corner.
I realize now that I will never like my boss.
I'm really loving our new office.
Oh yeah, I'm remembering that grammar rule now.
This report is looking pretty messy to me.
I'm recommending the café on the corner a lot these days. It is so good!
I'm realizing now that I will never like my boss. 🙁
Use the present simple form of the verb with “to.”
I want to send the report before noon.
I need to send it right now.
I like to send emails with lots of emojis.
I have to send this to my colleague for review.
We must send the complete report today if we want to keep the client happy.
They can send everything to my address and I will share it.
They could complete and send the review this week if they had more help.
We should send all the info before 17:00.
If I were you, I would send that to the entire team.
Would you send me a link to that article?
Do you send a report every week?
Does she send good meeting notes every week?
Did you send the notes last week?
Be sure to add S when you use present simple in declarative sentences with third person nouns & pronouns.
Stephanie always sends emails with perfect grammar.
He sends greeting cards to top clients on their birthdays.
Tom sends out lots of email with mistakes.
1. I sends it now.
2. I sending it now.
3. I send it to your colleague now.
4. We send the final report this afternoon. (It is morning now.)
5. I send it while we are speaking.
6. I send it while we were speaking.
7. I send it just now / 5 minutes ago / two hours ago / yesterday / last week.
8. We sends it tomorrow to the entire team.
9. I am sending it every week on Friday.
10. Do you sent it now?
11. Did you sends it?
12. Can you sent it?
13. Were you senting it digitally or by post?
14. To sent it with DSL will be too expensive.
15. She send almost 100 emails every day!
Let us customize a Business Writing course to focus exactly on the grammar rules, diplomatic language, phrasal verbs and more to help you communicate clearly and effectively in English.
Would you like personal help with your Business English? With writing and grammar? Or speaking and presentations? We offer private and in-company courses in:
Prefer online? Schedule a free intake to get started from anywhere.
This article was written and edited by English Center Teachers: Brenda de Jong-Pauley and Kerry Finlayson. Updated: May 2025
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Take the English Center free business English test right now.
Use this business English test quick scan to get a business English test overview. Questions? Call +31 20 823 0569.
Are you curious about your business English level? Take these tests now and get instant results and English course advice. You can share these tests with colleagues, too.
FREE general English level test
Location? Online at your home or office.
Modular? This test has one module.
What skills? Listening comprehension and speaking: conversational fluency, accent, diplomacy etc.
The ECTSE English Center Test of Spoken Center is a unique telephone based test that provides individuals and companies with an inexpensive, quick and accurate evaluation of spoken English. The test, conducted by an English Center trainer who specializes in spoken English, takes just about ten minutes to complete.
Reporting includes descriptive commentary and CEFR indexed scoring. Reports with CEFR rubric follow within 5 business days. This English Center test evaluates–
• listening and comprehension
• pronunciation and understandability
• fluency (flow)
• accuracy
• spoken vocabulary
• sentence structure and grammar
• ease of delivery
Read more about The English Center Test of Spoken English
While this test is not designed exclusively for Business English Communication evaluation, it is a very convenient, reliable and well-priced test. We like this test a lot. It can be done by anyone, anywhere.
The Oxford Online Placement Test helps place test takers in an appropriate level language course and is used as a quick measure of a test taker’s general language ability. Corporate training companies use this test to decide what level of training employees need, and human resources departments use it to check the English level of employees. It is also used by schools and universities.
Oxford Online Placement Test – Details
Location? Online
Modular? This test has one module covering “use of English” and listening.
What skills? Reading/use of English and listening.
Adaptive? Yes, the test gets easier or harder based on your answers.
Read more about the Oxford English test
The English Center Complete English Profile tests
• Reading
• Listening
• Grammar and use of English
• Speaking
• Writing
The test components include–
• Oxford Online Placement Test (online)
• The English Center Test of Spoken English (via Zoom)
• The English Center Writing Test (via Zoom)
Note: For proper test proctoring (test supervision) the 3 test modules can be conducted by English Center trainers during a zoom interview for proper supervision.
Reporting includes descriptive commentary and CEFR indexed scoring. Reports with CEFR rubric follow within 5 business days. This profile provides insight about–
• reading comprehension
• attention to instructions
• grammar and punctuation accuracy
• organization and readability
• vocabulary
• sentence structure
• use of register
• pronunciation
• spoken fluency
Read more about the English Center Complete English Profile.
The TOEIC® has a 40 year international history of assessing English-language proficiency in the workplace. It is an industry leader and is used by 14,000+ organizations in more than 160 countries. The parent company, ETS, is the world's largest testing organization and is the top brand in the USA; well known for its SAT and GRE tests.
The TOEIC® offers a complete, accurate picture of proficiency in all four language skills. And with scores mapped to Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) for languages, the comprehensive and comparable data received helps companies make better-informed decisions.
The TOEIC® promises to help companies hire, train and promote the most proficient candidates to build a stronger team, and to cultivate stronger talent for the international marketplace.
Testing sessions are arranged through local ETS Preferred Network (EPN) members, such as The English Center.
TOEIC® – Details
Location? Official test centers, such as Amsterdam World Trade Center + many locations worldwide.
Modular? Yes, choose 1,2 or 3 modules.
All four skills? Yes.
Adaptive? Yes, the test gets easier or harder based on your answers.
Online? Paper & pencil and online.
Cambridge is, of course, the most recognized name in the European ESL (English as a Second Language) testing market. We are very enthusiastic about the new Linguaskill test for business clients. Linguaskill is a quick and convenient online test to help organizations check the English levels of individuals and groups of candidates. The Cambridge Linguaskill test evaluates all four language skills: speaking, writing, reading and listening.
The test provides accurate results within 48 hours, and can be easily administered and invigilated (supervised) at your own venue at a time that suits you. Results are aligned to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR), the international standard for describing language ability.
Linguaskill – Details
Location? Your office.
Modular? Yes, choose 1, 2 or 3 modules.
All four skills? Yes
Adaptive? Yes, the test gets easier or harder based on your answers.
Online? Yes, 100% online.
This exam suite includes the B1 Business Preliminary, the B2 Business Vantage and the C1 Business Higher. These leveled exams are internationally accepted and provide a top-notch lifetime certificate. An exam prep course is strongly recommended. The exams take place at an approved test center. These are highly respected tests, but these exams do not deliver convenience for busy people and companies.
The English Center Test of Written English© provides individuals and companies with an inexpensive, quick and accurate evaluation of written English. The test, conducted by an English Center trainer takes about 20 minutes to complete.
This test is conducted during a zoom interview for proper supervision.
Reporting includes descriptive commentary and CEFR indexed scoring. Reports with CEFR rubric follow within 5 business days. This English Center test evaluates–
• reading comprehension
• attention to instructions
• grammar and punctuation accuracy
• organization and readability
• vocabulary
• sentence structure
• use of register
Many companies want a preparation course to precede the test. This approach provides motivation, support and a better track to success with clear performance results. Contact us to discuss testing and test prep training for your company.
Are you in HR or a manager/owner? Please see our in-company training page.
Would you like a free, no-obligation English Center intake? Online, of course! Combine the intake with our free tests and begin improving your English right away!
Reference: Common European Frame of Reference
Contributors: Isabelle Tomlow and Brenda de Jong-Pauley
Updated 2-2021
+31 20 823 0569
Idioms are important to many languages – and especially to English. Idioms are commonly defined as phrases that have a cultural meaning different than the literal combination of words would suggest. Because idioms are so important to truly knowing the English language, we have set up a list of eleven amazing English idioms that will make you sound more like a native speaker. These idioms are common in social English and also appear often in business English conversations.
1. It’s not rocket science.
This is a way of saying that something really is not hard to understand. Generally, rocket science can be rather hard to understand, so if something is easy to understand, “it’s not rocket science.” Therefore, anyone can understand it. Warning: this can sound a bit insulting!
Example: “Come on Jerry, this cooking lesson isn’t rocket science. The chef has explained it three times. Just look it up if you still don’t get it.”
2. Keep one’s eye on the ball.
This means to stay fully focused on one thing and give it your full attention. This idiom comes from ball games, such as baseball, golf and tennis. In these games, you are more likely to succeed if you keep your attention and visual focus on the ball and don’t get distracted.
Example: “If I want to get that promotion, I need to keep my eye on the ball and do an excellent job on my current project.”
3. Put all one’s eggs in one basket.
This idiom is used to warn someone that relying too much on one thing can be unwise. Saying that “you shouldn’t put all your eggs in one basket” is a way of telling someone that counting on just one thing– or person – to produce happiness or success can be a mistake.
Example: “Wow, Sam really put all his eggs in one basket when he married his boss!”
4. Take the bull by the horns.
“Taking the bull by the horns” means to directly confront a difficult situation in a brave and determined way. The idiom comes from bullfights in which the matador would bravely take the bull by the horns before killing it. It is a way of strongly and directly facing a problem.
Example: “My friend took the bull by the horns and confronted her colleague’s inappropriate behavior.”
5. The elephant in the room.
“The elephant is the room” is the obvious problem or controversial issue that no one wants to discuss. This often refers to highly sensitive topics that everyone is aware of, but afraid or reluctant to talk about. In situations like that, the topic is the “elephant in the room” because everyone sees (is aware of) the problem, but no one talks about it.
Example: “Are we ever going to talk about the sexual harassment culture in our company? That’s the elephant in the room!”
6. Don't count your chickens before they hatch.
This means that you shouldn’t count on something good happening until it's happened. In some situations it seems like something good is bound to happen, but things do not always go as well as we hope. This idiom comes from the fact (as every farmer knows) that not every egg produces a chick. The only way to know for sure is to wait for the eggs to hatch.
Example: “If you buy a new car now, you are counting your chickens before they hatch. You cannot be sure that you are going to get a raise.”
7. Every cloud has a silver lining.
This is a common way of reminding people that even a bad situation can have some positive aspects or results. This idiom comes from the fact that when the sun is behind a (rain) cloud, the cloud appears to have a silver lining (edge or border).
Example: “You know, it’s true that every cloud has a silver lining. I lost my job, but I ended at a much better company, and with better pay!
8. Get a taste of your own medicine.
This is most often used as a negative idiom, meaning to get treated the way you've been treating others. This is linked to the idea that, in the past, medicine often tasted bad. It was easy to give it to someone else, but not nice to take yourself! When someone “gets a taste of their own medicine” they realize how bad it actually is. Example: “One of my colleagues was always trash-talking other people on the team. He did not understand how hurtful it was until the team started saying terrible things about him. Then he really got a taste of his own medicine.”
9. Play devil's advocate.
To “play devil’s advocate” is to argue the opposite, just for the sake of argument. This means that people will argue a point they don’t believe in, either to make a point, or to make sure people don't get too “set in their ways.” (opinionated) In this case, the devil represents the opinion you don’t personally believe in.
Example: “My role on the team is to play devil's advocate, even when I really agree with my colleagues. My strong opposition helps them find the flaws in their arguments.”
10. Calm before the storm.
In most cases, this idiom is used to explain the time right before something bad is going to happen or before it’s going to get really busy. The idiom comes from the moments before a big storm hits, when you can feel that really bad weather is coming but everything is still quiet.
Example: “This week has been pretty slow, but next week is going to be crazy. It feels like the calm before the storm.”
11. Ballpark estimate/figure.
Generally this means to give someone a rough estimate. This term is used solely for speculation before the actual numbers are known. This is useful because discussions and negotiations can then continue without the exact number being known.
Example: “If I had to give you a ballpark estimate, I would say there are roughly 20 million bikes in the Netherlands.”
Idioms can be hard to understand at first. But over time, the patterns of meaning start to become clearer. If these were easy or you already knew them, try looking up some more. The English language is filled with interesting idioms.
Would you like to improve your English? Call us at +31 20 823 0569 to learn about our many English study options. We look forward to speaking with you.
We offer quality private training online and on location in the Netherlands.
July 2019, Updated October 2024
By Isabelle Tomlow
PR and Communications Intern
The English Center
"Slavery is theft – theft of a life, theft of work, theft of any property or produce." – Kevin Bales, Professor of Contemporary Slavery at the University of Nottingham.
Across the globe, more than 40 million people are living in some form of modern day slavery. The most common example of this is human trafficking. Human trafficking is the trade, recruitment and transportation of people through coercion, abduction and/or deception. Human trafficking survivors are robbed of their life, work, property and produce.
Today, there is a worldwide push to stop human trafficking and free people living in adversity. But even after people are free, they face many obstacles reintegrating into society. Many survivors lack the basic skills and resources needed to support themselves and function in their communities.
The Netherlands is working to give the survivors of human trafficking opportunities to better their situations and reclaim power over their own lives.
At the English Center, we are proud to partner with the City of Amsterdam in teaching trafficked women English communication skills. The course is led by teacher, Marike. Her training makes her the perfect fit for the job.
Marike grew up in Northern California. The daughter of a Japanese-American mom and a Dutch dad, she holds a master’s degree in sociology with a concentration in gender, sexuality and society from the University of Amsterdam. Marike is a certified ESL (English as a Second Language) teacher and a valued member of The English Center team.
“When I started my master's program, I decided to volunteer with a City of Amsterdam shelter serving women and children who were trafficked into the Netherlands. I joined the shelter’s buddy program where you get paired with a survivor and help them integrate into society. The program was simple: meet with a buddy once a week and show her around the city.
My buddy was from Cameroon, Africa. She was quite young, and had grown up completely differently than most people I know. She had never been to a zoo, a movie theater or even a public library. We took full advantage of the program and tried to do something new every time we met up.
After a few months, my buddy confided in me that she was illiterate but that she had a passion to learn. At this point, I did not have any formal teaching experience but I knew that knowledge was power. I knew that learning how to read and write in English would help her in the long run. We started meeting at the public library. Together, we worked our way through hundreds of grammar books and children's stories. In a few months, my buddy was able to read Shel Silverstein's "The Giving Tree". It was such a proud moment.
Around this time, I graduated from my master's program. I was trying to figure out what the next step was going to be in my career. I loved volunteering at the shelter, mainly because I was empowering women through education. A friend of mine knew that I loved teaching women how to read and write and introduced me to the English Center. That was five years ago.
My story came full circle when the City of Amsterdam contacted the English Center. They wanted to create a weekly English program that would give women the opportunity to learn English and build on their future. The English Center asked me to teach the classes and I happily accepted.
Every week, I am reminded of my love of teaching. My courses are filled with women from all over the world, who have a deep desire to learn English and better themselves. My classroom is an open and fun space where these women can forget about their troubles ( at least for a little while) and focus on learning English.
Many survivors of human trafficking continue to be vulnerable to exploitation and profiteering. Through education, they regain control and become empowered to live a better life.
"Working with these women has been such a rewarding and eye-opening experience. Their lives have shaped my own personal journey. In a way, I have gone full circle: from a volunteer to a certified English teacher.”
This article was written by ESL Teacher Marike and edited by Isabelle Tomlow.
