Accent Modification – the /ʊ/ sound The /ʊ/ sound is a short vowel in English, commonly heard in words like “book,” “foot,” and “good.” Although it may seem simple, many learners of English find this sound surprisingly difficult to master. This is because the /ʊ/ sound does not exist in many languages, and it requires a …
The /ʌ/ sound—often heard in words like cup, bus, and luck—is one of the most important vowel sounds in North American English. At the same time, it is also one of the most challenging for many learners. One key reason is that this sound does not exist in many languages. As a result, students often substitute …
In today’s blog, let’s try something different and explore the topic of integration into Canadian society, which often comes up in the IELTS or CELPIP exams. Sometimes, it is difficult to feel comfortable in a new country, especially if you miss your home. If you feel homesick, sometimes it may help to discover new cultures and …
Collocations to Expand Your Vocabulary be drawn into an argument If a person is ‘drawn into an argument’ he or she becomes involved in an argument, when this person doesn’t want to be. Somehow, this person got pulled into an argument. Sometimes a person is ‘drawn into an argument’ when he or she is asked a …
Multiple Choice Questions for IELTS and CELPIP Listening Why Recognizing Distractors Is Essential If you’ve ever felt confident about an answer in a listening or reading test—only to discover it was wrong—you’ve probably fallen for a distractor. These are carefully designed incorrect options that look or sound very similar to the correct answer. Test makers don’t …
