Ever caught yourself wondering which past to use when narrating an event in English? “I made or I had made a phone call before I went to the meeting?” If this is you, consecutio temporum is probably not your best friend (yet) and you’re absolutely in the right place to start putting the pieces of the puzzle together. The Past Perfect might seem like a tricky puzzle, but admittedly even advanced learners can sometimes stumble over it. Don’t worry at all, I’m here to help! Whet

‘I visited London’ or ‘I have visited London’ last year? If you have ever caught yourself wondering about this, be sure you're among the many who have doubts (about the tense, not visiting London) and this is the right post for you. The difference between the Past Simple and Present Perfect can be tricky even for advanced learners, and Italians in particular seem to struggle with it, for a very good reason I'll illustrate below. But no worries, I’ve got you covered! Whether

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

Your English doesn’t just communicate your message—it communicates your level . In international business, language isn’t neutral. The words you choose shape how others perceive your authority, competence, and even trustworthiness. A colleague who says “I don’t agree” sounds very different from one who says “That’s a valid point—here’s another perspective.” The shift in mindset here is simple but powerful: Business English is not just about correctness. It is about positionin

Most candidates fail the STANAG 6001 (JFLT) exam not because of their English level, but because they fall into predictable traps. When professionals approach the STANAG, many assume it is simply a test of their grammar and vocabulary. In reality, it is designed to measure how effectively you can operate under real conditions —clear, structured communication, under time pressure, in an international environment. This shift in mindset is critical: STANAG is not just about “how

"On Monday we’ve had  a technical issue but this week we resolved  it and everything is running smoothly now. " This phrase is so wrong it gives me a headache. And if you are among those who don’t see an issue here, this is the right post for you.   You seem confused about when to say what (did vs have done, had vs have had, went vs have gone), and that’s simply because you’ve never been taught the Difference in Use & Purpose   of the various types of Past!   Although spoke

Successful people often hire coaches to help them reach the next level of success, whether it's in the business world, in the military, athletics, or in their personal lives. For instance, executives may hire an executive coach to help them increase their productivity, athletes may hire a strength coach to improve their performance, and entrepreneurs may hire a business coach to help them grow their business. What is business coaching? Business Coaching is an incredibly powe

Modern Leaders are being challenged in unprecedented ways amid personal, professional and company growth objectives to reach, and new skills to acquire. Effective Communication in English is just one of them. Though, is Leadership Art or Science ? Today I'd love to propose two longer Good Reads in English on this topic, which I've found particularly interesting, also thanks to the interview format available: 1) How Leading From The ‘Inside Out’ Transforms Lives, Work Cultu