You can pass a vocabulary quiz. You can memorize grammar rules. But when you’re in the middle of a STANAG listening test, faced with rapid-fire English that sounds nothing like your textbook, most people freeze. And on the field? That’s not just an exam problem—it’s a performance problem. Here’s the shift: STANAG listening is not about understanding every word. It’s about extracting mission-critical meaning under pressure. Many officers fail not because their English is weak

Imagine a moment from your past that is crystal clear in your mind. Maybe it's a special event, a cherished conversation, or a significant milestone. Now, shift your focus and try to recall what you had for lunch exactly three weeks ago. If that second memory is elusive, you're not alone. But why is it that some memories stand the test of time while others fade away so quickly? What mechanisms dictate what we remember and what we forget? And how does the passage of time affec

Did you know you can actually create words in English? The easiest way to do so, particularly when you're lacking terminology but need to express yourself, is to focus on the function of the word you're looking for. English is, as a matter of fact, quite a descriptive language, allowing you to easily access concepts by their simple descprition. The word dishwasher, for example, clearly indicates what item (dish) and which action (wash) we are talking about. Things of course

Adapting to a new language system is undoubtedly complicated at first, but as we familiarize with an unknown language we discover its beauty and the advantages which come with thinking and communicating in another language. English is fast becoming the world's universal language , it is now a must-have skill to enroll in any university and to access any job position. Moreover, English is the language that grants access to the world, to unlimited information, via internation

Why You Should Learn with English Podcasts Here are 4 great reasons to do so: 1. They are an excellent way to learn English quickly 2. They can help you quickly improve your listening skills and level 3. You can listen to them anytime and anywhere 4. They often have transcripts , so you can listen and read at the same time, or look at a transcript if one part of a podcast confuses you. How to Use English Podcasts to Improve Your Listening Skills

English can be a perplexing language, especially when it comes to plurals . Most of the time, we simply add an "s" to indicate more than one of something. However, there are exceptions to this rule. For instance, when referring to multiple men or women, the word changes entirely. Similarly, we say "geese" instead of "mooses" and "books" instead of "beek." These irregularities in English can be traced back to Old English, where inanimate objects had gender and numerous irregul

Why do we argue? To out-reason our opponents, prove them wrong, and, most of all, to win! Right ? Maybe.. Philosopher Daniel H. Cohen shows how our most common form of argument -- a war in which one person must win and the other must lose -- misses out on the real benefits of engaging in active disagreement . Now just how relevant is that for Professional disagreement? Practice your Listening skill as you Watch this intriguing video: https://www.ted.com/talks/daniel_h_cohen_f

Thousands of languages thrive across the globe, yet modern speech technology -- with all of its benefits -- supports just over a hundred. Computational linguist Kalika Bali dreams of a day when technology acts as a bridge instead of a barrier, working passionately to build new and inclusive systems for the millions who speak low-resource languages. In this perspective-shifting talk, she outlines what happens when a language is omitted from the digital landscape -- and what c

When we talk about 'English', we often think of it as a single language. But what do the dialects spoken in dozens of countries around the world have in common with each other, or with the writings of Chaucer? Claire Bowern traces the language from the present day back to its ancient roots, showing how English has evolved through generations of speakers. Click to practice your English Listening while you Watch the Video! Happy Listening! Stay sharp, train with purpose, and l

Lera Boroditsky's TED Talk, "How Language Shapes the Way We Think," is a fascinating exploration into the power of language and its influence on the way humans think and perceive the world . In her talk, she argues that language shapes our cognition and influences how we think about and interact with the world. Boroditsky starts off by exploring the idea of linguistic relativity, which suggests that the language we speak affects the way we think about the world. She cites ex

Atul Gawande's TED Talk on the significance of having a coach or mentor is an electrifying and thought-provoking speech that is sure to inspire anyone striving for greatness. He passionately emphasizes the importance of practice, feedback, and the right coach or mentor to help you reach your full potential . Gawande explains that even the most talented individuals have coaches and mentors to help them reach their highest level of success. He outlines the three steps of the co

Elizabeth Cox's TED Talk on the surprising link between stress and memory reveals a complex but fascinating relationship between these two concepts. Recent research has shown that stress can have a powerful effect on memory . Stress hormones, such as cortisol, can interfere with the normal functioning of the hippocampus, the region of the brain responsible for memory formation and storage. This can result in impaired memory, making it difficult to form and recall memories. On

The internet is abuzz with TED Talks lately, and the latest one from Chris Bliss is no exception. In his talk, Bliss explores the idea that comedy is a form of translation . Understanding Humor and being humorous in a foreign language is a particularly difficult area for language leaners, as it implies knowledge of cultural aspects, rather than just of the language. His premise is that comedy is an art form that takes a concept from one language and translates it into another

It's a well-known fact that having a good time is an integral part of life, but what if it were also the secret to a healthier life? That's the premise put forth by award-winning health journalist, Catherine Price, in her TED Talk, "Why Having Fun is the Secret to a Healthy Life". Ms. Price argues that having fun is key to physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing, as it can reduce stress, enhance creativity, and boost the immune system. Plus, it's what motivates us to make h

Anne Morris, a leadership consultant and executive coach, has recently given a TED Talk about her five steps for solving any problem at work . Morris believes that with the right approach, any problem can be solved. Her first step is to define the problem. Many people go straight to trying to solve the problem without actually understanding what the problem is. Morris recommends that you take the time to thoroughly understand the issue and come up with a detailed, clear defi

As a linguist and a fan of hip hop , I’ve found this Ted Talk extremely intriguing and fun! I’m sure you’ll understand once you listen to this speaker show off how “articulate” she actually is. I love how Ms Lyiscott highlighted how we linguistically approach different contexts in distinct ways, and how this displays the various identities our language conceals. As an early-stage coordinate bilingual (well, trilingual actually), I’ve always wondered why it felt so different w

English podcasts can help you improve your English language skills for a series of reasons and in a variety of ways, which I will illustrate at the end of this post. At some point, just like every English learner, you must face the fact that to improve your English listening comprehension, your need to go beyond textbooks and start hearing how the language sounds. To help you with this, here is a list of English Podcasts For Every Level with related links. Have fun testin

A 32-hour work week has the potential to tackle burnout and job fatigue , while also addressing pressing issues like depression, income and racial disparities, and the urgent need to mitigate the climate crisis. Economist Juliet Schor makes the case for shifting to a 4-day work week : Watch the video and come back to post your comments on this: What's your opinion or experience on a shorter working week? Happy Watching! Stay sharp, train with purpose, and let your performance

Patricia Kuhl shares astonishing findings about how babies learn one language over another -- by listening to the humans around them and "taking statistics" on the sounds they need to know. Clever lab experiments (and brain scans) show how 6-month-old babies use sophisticated reasoning to understand their world. Watch the video to discover just how they do it, beating us adults at listening comprehension! What's your experience with babies learning a language? Wouldn't it b

HOW TO improve your English by watching movies