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Learning English? These are the most useful phrasal verbs!

Learning English can be difficult, especially with so many rules and exceptions that you have to learn in terms of grammar and word order! Phrasal verbs are very common in everyday English conversation - mostly when talking informally, so it's a good idea to learn as many as possible so that you can understand what people are saying around you. We have made a list of the most popular phrasal verbs below, some of which you may already know but some may be new to you!

Phrasal verbs:

1: Bring up

To mention something in conversation which has happened in the past.Eg. "Why are you bringing that up again? You never stop talking about it!"

2: Fill out/fill in

To complete a form or application. These two phrases can be used for the same meaning - English speakers tend to alternate between the two.Eg. "I need to fill in this form to apply for the job" or "I should fill out this form to receive payment".

3: Put on

To dress yourself with an item of clothing.Eg. "This morning I put on my jacket because I was cold".

4: Set up

To arrange something or begin something. To get something ready.Eg. "I set up the stand this morning" or "I will have to set it up when I come home".

5: Try on

To put on clothing to see if it fits.Eg. "I will have to try it on before I buy it" or "He has already tried it on but it doesn't fit".

6: Turn up

This can mean; turn up the volume (on a speaker) or it can mean to arrive at a place or event.Eg. "This isn't loud enough, please can you turn it up?" or "I may be late, but at least I turned up".

7: Use up

To use something until there is nothing left. To use it completely.Eg. "There is none left, I have used it up".

8: Throw away

To discard something. To get rid of something that you don't need.Eg. "I have thrown it away because it has stopped working". 

If you practice these common phrasal verbs, you will find it much easier to understand English when you're speaking with friends or in other social situations. Try using them in different types of sentences and in different situations and you'll improve your English skills massively! With our mobile app, you'll be able to instantly chat with native speakers across the world via live video calls in your spare time, for free! It's the most effective way to learn another language because you're able to practice another language directly with native speakers from your phone. For more tips on language learning, follow us on social media: 

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Going Travelling? Here’s 5 Essential Things You Need To Pack…

Travelling can be addictive; especially if you have a wondering mind and you’re always thinking about the next place you’re going to visit.

As summer approaches, we’ve come up with the five essential items that we feel every traveller needs before they leave home! Just remember to add these to your checklist before you set off…

1: Backpack

This goes without saying - if you plan to explore different cultures and roam outside, you won’t want to drag your suitcase with you so bringing a backpack is the first essential item!

Having a backpack also means that your money and other valuables stay safe when hiking, climbing or doing any other outdoor activities.

You can also make use of separate compartments on the outside of your backpack for quick access when you need it for practicality!

2: Waterproof clothing

Depending on where you’re travelling to, this is essential especially if you’re exploring the outdoors on a daily basis. If you’re going to a tropical country, the weather can change rapidly; so if you already have waterproof clothing with you, you’re sorted!

Many waterproof jackets and trousers nowadays have small compartments too, so this helps keep your regular items safe, and provides quick access so you don’t have to search in your backpack.

3: Toiletry bag

Whether you’re staying in a hotel or a shared hostel with other travellers, keeping track of your toiletries and making sure nothing goes missing can be tricky!

Having a toiletry bag means that you can keep everything in one place, and avoids you having to keep buying new items every time you pack when it’s time to move to another place!

4: Language app on your phone

One aspect of travelling involves having a taste of different cultures and the language of each country you visit. This is never a bad thing until you have an emergency or struggle to get your point across to a native speaker.

If you have your phone on you, and you know you’ll be able to get an internet connection in the place you are visiting; then it’s a great idea to download a language app to help you on a daily basis with foreign languages that you’re likely to face. Live language learning is the best way to practice another language, especially when you’re out of your comfort zone!

Dictionaries and phrase books only go so far, because when it comes to a situation where you don’t know how to speak the language, you’ll have difficulty finding the phrase you need immediately unless you have access to a form of live language learning where you can get help from native speakers.

The best way to overcome this, is to download a free language app such as Lingo Online, which will instantly connect you with a native speaker from the country you’re in and they’ll be able to help you via a live video call when you need it the most!

5: Tissues

You never know when you need these, whether you have a cold or you’ve spilt yogurt on your clothes! Sometimes in public toilets they can run out of toilet roll, in which case you’re covered.

If you’re exploring the countryside, having tissues with you can be very handy, so don’t forget to pack them next time you go travelling!

At Lingo Online, we’re supporting people who enjoy roaming and exploring different cultures. Especially as the world is getting increasingly connected, and more opportunities to travel are appearing.

That’s why we’re making a free mobile app which allows you to instantly connect with a native speaker via LIVE video calls so you can learn another language!

To learn more about our progress with the mobile app, follow us on our website and social media pages below:

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3 Mistakes to avoid when learning a new language

Many people who have already learned foreign languages tend to find it much easier to learn another one because they’re already learnt a lot from their previous mistakes. 

We know exactly what to avoid for the next time round. While everyone takes their own approach to language learning, here at Lingo Online we’ve chosen to give a few tips on common mistakes people make when learning another language. 

These tips will help you in the process, no matter what language you’re choosing to learn! The most important thing to consider before you do anything of course is to have a real purpose for why you want to learn another language so that when times get tough, you can remember why you started! 

1: Don’t rely on books

This may seem counter productive, but it’s true! Books are very useful when it comes to learning grammar and vocabulary, but when you’re faced with holding an actual conversation in real life; you’re likely to struggle if you focus entirely on learning from books.

In reality, language learning is all about forcing yourself to think on your feet and translate what you’re hearing into something you can actually understand!

Reading books is a great way to learn the absolute basics of a new language, but make sure you’re speaking with native speakers as well! This way, you’ll learn much faster and someone else will be able to correct any mistakes you’re making straight away. 

2: Don’t forget to set goals to mark your progress

Language learning is a large, long-term goal that you’re ultimately aiming for but you need smaller goals along the way to help you keep moving. 

Setting smaller goals allows you to track your progress and gives you encouragement along the way. These goals could be things such as “I want to be able to introduce myself confidently in 2 weeks time” or “I want to be able to describe what I do for my job, in one months time”. 

If your mini goal is related to family or friends, for example you want to have a basic understand of Spanish before you go on holiday with a friend to Spain, then this is a good target to aim for! 

3: Don’t try to avoid the culture when you’re learning a new language

Language is made up so many expressions of culture, which books and courses never adequately cover. 

This relates to the way in which the average person interacts with other people in his or her community — gestures, intonation, slang, proximity, interjections and cuss words, fillers, etc.

These things take years to pick up even for the best learners but it’s important to realise that they’re part of the whole package. If you take an interest in the culture whilst you’re learning the language, more of the slang, informal phrases will make sense to you and this will make it easier overall. 

It’ll also mean than if you visit the foreign country in the future, you’ll already know the background and fit in with the locals! 

A good way to learn about the culture of another country is to speak with native speakers, as you’ll learn exactly how certain words and phrases are spoken without sounding too formal or out of place. 

Here at Lingo Online, that’s exactly our aim. To connect anyone who wants to learn another language with a native speaker of that language, instantly via a phone app. Live video calling is the best way to do that, as its informal and you’ll be surprised how much you can learn!

To find out more about our live video calling app, and see how you can use it to learn another language for free, visit our website and social media pages below:

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3 Ways To Make Language Learning Part Of Your Lifestyle

Learning a new language can be difficult sometimes, especially when you have a busy life! The best way to improve your language skills in the shortest amount of time is to practice often, on a regular basis. 

Whether that’s half an hour every day or every other day, its important to keep involved in the process in order to see improvements. 

Here at Lingo Online, we feel that incorporating language learning into your everyday lifestyle is the easier way to improve on that language you’ve always wanted to become fluent at! 

We’ve come up with three methods you can use to make language learning a regular part of your day to day life: 

1: Watch TV shows in the language you’re learning

This can be really fun if its a TV show that you already enjoy watching, as you’ll be more interested in what’s happening! If you find a version of the TV show in the language you’re learning, but have subtitles in your native language, this will help you a lot. 

You’ll be hearing the language you’re learning, whilst still being able to understand what everyone is saying by reading the subtitles. Do this on a regular basis (eg. one 20 minute TV show per day) and you’ll quickly notice that your language skills are improving because you’re getting regular exposure to the new language. 

2: Listen to radio stations in the language you want to learn

Radio stations tend to have presenters who speak at a normal pace, so at first you might find it difficult to understand everything at such as fast pace. 

However, if you’re driving to work or to class, or travelling on a train with your headphones with you, this is an effective way to listen to and learn another language on a daily basis. Plus, it’s free to listen to Radio stations, so take advantage of it!

3: Download a language app on your phone

Currently, there are hundreds of language apps available to download and use, for both Android and iOS phones. 

Making use of something you have with you all the time, in order to practice your language skills is a great way of improving! At Lingo Online, we’ve found that the best way to practice another language is to chat with native speakers by voice or video rather than by texting them. 

This allows you to understand the different accents and common informal phrases which are spoken by native speakers. It also represents the reality of how you’ll be talking with the locals if you visit a country that speakers the language you’re learning; you’ll be chatting face to face rather than by text!

 That’s why we’re creating a mobile app which allows you to instantly chat with native speakers across the world via live video and voice calls! It will mean that if you have a spare 10 minutes while waiting for a bus or walking to class, you’ll be able to open the app on your phone and instantly connect with a native speaker to practice the language you’re learning. 

It’s that simple, plus it will be free! Find out more about our app here. 

Have a quick question or feedback? Let us know on our social media platforms below:

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3 Reasons Why You’ll Get Fluent In Another Language By Moving Abroad

Living abroad is many people’s dream. It means you get to experience a change in culture, try new foods and make international friends who you’ll probably keep in touch with for the rest of your life.

However, if you’re currently learning a new language, then moving abroad is the best thing you can do to speed up the process and make language learning enjoyable at the same time!

Here’s the top 3 reasons why we believe you’ll get fluent in the language you’re learning, just by moving abroad:

1: You’ll be surrounded by the language.

On a daily basis, whether you’re walking to the shop or going to class, you’ll be bombarded with the language you’re practising. This is never a bad thing; as it means that during those moments when you’re struggling to understand something, you’ll still have to speak the language and keep improving.

It’s during the difficult times when new concepts become hard to understand, that many people give up on trying to learn another language. However, when you’re surrounded by it on a regular basis you have no choice but to push through the barriers and keep at it! Eventually, you’ll be improving your skills even if it takes time!

2: You’ll make friends who speak in the language you’re learning.

Language learning is always more fun when it involves chatting with friends and improving your language skills at the same time!

Living in another country means that naturally you’ll make friends who are native in that language. You can ask them any questions you like about anything which you find difficult to understand and they’ll help you out.

Even when you go for dinner or for a day out with them, you’ll learn new words and phrases every day. These words and phrases spoken by native speakers will be informal ways of saying certain things; so if you learn them, you’ll be able to literally speak like a local!

The mobile app which we’re building here at Lingo Online allows you to do exactly that; practice another language by directly learning from native speakers. It’s very informal and you’ll learn a lot about their culture and slang words just by chatting with them via live video calls on your phone.

3: Your confidence in speaking another language will massively improve.

It takes time and effort to learn another language and there will be times when you feel too shy to pronounce a word or new phrase that you’ve learnt.

If you’re living in another country, you’ll be speaking the language every day and therefore you’ll have regular opportunities to practice everything you’ve learnt in books and from other people. You’ll soon realise that your accent will improve and you’ll feel more relaxed when speaking the language that you’re learning.

As with learning any new skill, language learning takes time and persistence. However, if you’re thinking about moving to another country to help yourself learn the language, then hopefully these reasons will help you decide!

Here at Lingo Online, we’re always thinking of new ways to make language learning easier, quicker and more fun! That’s why we’re making an app which is free, and allows you to instantly connect with a native speaker from anywhere in the world. That means that even if you can’t move to another country yet, you can still practice the language by having an actual conversation with a native speaker; the best way the learn a language!