Hot English Language & Culture How-Tos


How To: Put on a convincing Irish accent
Accents are not only fun but attractive too, when done properly, at least. Work on your Irish accent, practicing the inflection and sound of consonants and vowels. Impress your friends with your new accent.

How To: Talk about high tech gadgets in the English language
In this episode learn how to describe high tech gadgets in the English language. In this case the order of adjectives are discussed. This video is great for advanced, intermediate, and beginner learning to speak the English as a second language (ESL).

How To: Ask and reply to questions in English
The world of English is a fun and exciting place to be. Learn English with Mr. Duncan as he provides basic grammar instruction and speaks in basic English phrases. Check out this English language tutorial to learn how to ask and reply to questions in English. This language lesson is perfect for ESL students or anyone looking to improve their English skills. So watch this instructional English language video and practice asking and answering questions using English words.

How To: Understand present, past and future tenses in English
This tutorial tells us about using helping verbs with the simple form. It also gives us information on the differences between the present, past and future tenses.

How To: Use "It's + adjective + infinitive" in English
In this video, we learn how to use "It's + adjective + infinitive" in English. To form these sentences, you will use the pattern that is stated above. This is very common in the English language, and you can put whatever you want into the sentence as the infinitive. You can change this from "it's hard to do" to It's not hard to do" to "it's easy to do". You can also make something negative, by giving it the prefix "im", which would change "possible" to "impossible". You can also ad in "un" to...

How To: Understand English phrasal verbs & compound words
The presenter, Ms. Jennifer explains how compound words are formed from phrasal verbs. With examples she explains how the meaning and pronunciation differs when compound words are formed from phrasal verbs. She explains the difference between 'show' and 'show off' by showing her collection of fans, and showing off with one of her beautiful fan from Japan. Then she explains the difference between 'show off' and 'show-off', giving examples and makes the listeners clear about compound nouns also...

How To: Use the passive voice "supposed to" in English
In English, "supposed to" expresses obligation. Someone expects you to do something. It's an unusual form of the passive voice, but it's very important to learn. This ESL tutorial teaches you how to use "supposed to" in English. Watch this grammar how to video and you will be speaking English in no time.

How To: Pronounce the soft "i" and a hard "e" in English
Many of my students have problems pronouncing the soft i. This ESL how to video explains how your mouth should move for the soft i and the hard e. You'll never say beach when you mean bitch again. Watch this how to video and you'll be speaking proper English in no time.

How To: Use the word "being" correctly in English
Being is a word that can be hard to master for English as a Second Language speakers. It can be used as a gerund, or in present or past continuous tenses.

How To: Use "live" as a verb & adjective in English
Paul, an English teacher, gives a lesson on the difference between the word "live" as a verb and as an adjective. To make to "v" sound when saying the word, the lower lip has to touch the teeth. "Live" as verb is an action, so you say "I live in Minneapolis". The singular form is "live," and the plural form is "lives". Live" as an adjective is a describing word, so you say "Live TV is fun". "Live"" as an adjective describes the subject of a sentence. "Live" as an adjective can mean something ...

How To: Use "we're" & "were" properly
Learning American English is often difficult when faced with two words of similar spelling or sound. This is certainly true in the case of "we're" and "were".

How To: Describe the feeling of fear in English
In this English language tutorial we look at fear and being afraid. There are many words to convey the emotion of fear and anxiety. This ESL lesson teaches you how to talk about your fear and the names of some common phobias.

How To: Use the 'stop' verb in the English language
The verb "stop" in the English language can be used with a gerund and an infinitive. The word "stop" has different meanings depending on how it's used. Look at the sentence, "I stopped eating fast food." Stopped is used in the past tense and eating is a gerund, or a word that describes an activity and functions as a noun. Look at the sentence, "I stopped to eat some fast food." In that sentence, there is an infinitive. The first sentence means I no longer eat fast food. The second sentence me...

How To: Describe a famous person in English
In this English tutorial we look at fame and words connected with it. There are many words to describe a person who is famous or a "star." This ESL video lesson teaches you how to talk about well known people in the English language.

How To: Make the AA sound in American English
Learn how to pronounce the AA sound in American English with this ESL lesson.

How To: Use count and mass nouns correctly
Mrthoth will show you how to use, count, and mass nouns correctly. Listen to a sample sentence and try to find the grammatical errors in the sentence. A mass noun ca refers to a whole group of objects, for example you would not say a lot of butter you say a lot of butter. A count noun is basically a noun you can count. You can make it plural and you can put a number in front of it. Like you say it was a lot of pencils.

How To: Pronounce the English word "fervor"
Today's word is "fervor". This is a noun which means great enthusiasm.

How To: Parse a sentence in English
It's time for another great grammar lesson with the Grammarian, Yossarian! In this tutorial, you'll actually be attempting to test your abilities and have to parse a sentence.

How To: Use the word 'got' in the English language
In this video it is explained how to use the words "got" "got to" and "gotta'". "Got" is the past tense of the word " get". Sometimes Americans say "have got" in place of "have" or "got" in place of "have". For example there is a sentence "I've got my wallet". Some Americans say "I have my wallet" and some may say "I got my wallet". All of them are correct. "Gotta'" is used in place of "have got to". For example there is a sentence" I have got to go". Some Americans may say

How To: Pronounce the word "lyrics" in English
Today's word is "lyrics". This is a noun in its plural form which means words to a song.

How To: Use imperatives or reporting verbs in English speech
In this tutorial, we learn how to speak English: Imperatives or reporting verbs. Imperative sentences are sentences like "open it!", where you are asking someone to perform an action. You can also say this in a nice fashion, asking "please open it". There are many different forms of imperative sentences, which include: commands/orders, directions, instructions, requests, and warnings. All of these different types of sentences are asking someone to do something, just changing up the way they d...

How To: Use "there", "their", & "they're" properly
There, their and they're all sound the same. There is for location and information. Their is possessive adjective for they. They're is a contraction for they are. The bathroom is over there give the location of the bathroom. Their is used to show ownership. You can show possession through proper names or by use of the word their. Their house is over there shows the possessive "their" and location "there." They're=they are. They're over there. They're at their house. The words and the meanings...

How To: Pronounce similar vowel sounds in English
Watch to learn how to pronounce some English words that have similar vowel sounds but different meanings like stuff - staff, hair - her, cut - caught.

How To: Ask questions in the present perfect tense in English
An English teacher shows how to make the present perfect tense in the form of a question.

How To: Say the days of the week in English
Learn how to say the days of the week in English. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday are the days of the week.

How To: Pronounce the English word "obesity"
Today's word is "obesity". This is a noun which means excessive fatness.

How To: Pronounce the English word "alumni"
Today's word is "alumni". This is a noun and the plural form of "alumnus" which means a graduate of a specific school.

How To: Pronounce the English word "usher"
Today's word is "usher". This is both a noun and a verb. As a verb, it means to escort.

How To: Pronounce the English word "cadence"
Today's word is "cadence". This is a noun which means the rhythmic flow of words or sounds.

How To: Pronounce the English word "reminisce"
Today's word is "reminisce". This is a verb which means to go over past experiences in one's mind, or to remember.

How To: Speak English smoothly using the marble technique
Destroy filler words, overcome stuttering, speak smoothly, improve enunciation, and get better at public speaking all around with just marbles and your mouth! This video is best for people learning to reduce stuttering or students learning English as a second language (ESL).

How To: Pronounce the " rl " in the English language
In this two part episode, Jennifer goes over the pronunciation of the letters "rl" in the English language. This is great for all levels of students learning English as a second language (ESL).

How To: Speak English better by always speaking slower
Instantly improve your American English pronunciation by following these invaluable tips on how to speak more slowly. You'll be amazed at the difference in your speech!

How To: Write a discussion essay outline
This two part video is a short lesson outlining the basics of writing a discussion essay. It is about 13 minutes long in total.

How To: Use the verb "have" for eating and drinking
In this tutorial, we learn how to use the verb "have" for eating and drinking. When someone asks you what you are eating or what you did eat, you will have to use the word "have" to answer or even if you want to ask the question you have. An example of asking something a question like this would be, "what do you usually have for breakfast, lunch or dinner?" Any question with meals will have the word "have" mixed into it, because it's asking what you are going to or have eating in a different ...

How To: Describe situations that didn't happen in the past
This video shows us how to describe the situations that are opposite of the future perfect tense. Here it is shown how to describe the situations that did or did not happen in the past using would, have and past participle. He gives us 3 very good examples that are describing such situations. In these examples he describes a situation which happened in the past which is actually a negative and uses a fact that is described in the present tense to give the reason why that situation ended in a ...

How To: Use the modal verb and continuous form in English
Some modal verbs can be put in front of the continuous form to express some present action that is or isn't happening. To make the past tense for each, use "have been" instead of "be."

How To: Use past tense regular verb pronunciation
In this ESL lesson, learn how to correctly pronounce past tense regular verbs in English.

How To: Speak English smoothly without using filler words
Filler words like "um" and "you know" can make speech choppy and disconnected if used too much. Learn how to improve your English pronunciation and reduce your accent using these simple speaking techniques. You'll be glad you did! This video is best for people learning to reduce their accent or students learning English as a second language (ESL).

How To: Develop a natural rhythm when speaking English
In this two part episode, Jennifer shows you how to develop your awareness of the natural rhythm in English. Learn to pause naturally by grouping your words into thoughts, also called thought groups. This is great for all levels of students learning English as a second language (ESL).