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The Primavera English Blog

Sensitive or Sensible?

Jeanette Bazeley, February 1, 2023

In English, there are many words that sound similar to words in Spanish but cannot be directly translated. These words are known as false cognates or false friends. It’s important to learn these words because you could save yourself some embarrassment in the future!...

Private Class or Group Class: Which Is Best for You?

Shana Goodwin, November 22, 2022

If you are thinking about starting to take English classes, one important choice to make is whether to take private classes or group classes. Here at Primavera English, we offer both, and in this post I’ll outline some of the benefits of each...

How to Improve Your English for the Duolingo English Test

Shana Goodwin, October 24, 2022

An increasing number of international ESL learners are taking the Duolingo English Test (DET) in preparation for studying in universities in North America, Europe, or Australia. Below we have outlined the most important language skills to master before you take the Duolingo English Test, as well as where to find resources so you can improve those skills...

Improve English Pronunciation with Tongue Twisters, Part 3

Shana Goodwin, August 15, 2022

As I have written in previous posts in this series, one great way to practice pronunciation is to learn tongue twisters – they are fun, challenging to the brain, and can show you which sounds you have a hard time pronouncing. Two sounds that can be especially difficult for native Spanish speakers who are learning English are “b” and “v,” because in Spanish, the two letters are pronounced almost identically...

Bored or Boring: What’s the Difference?

Shana Goodwin, July 12, 2022

Fortunately, there’s a pretty simple explanation: -ed adjectives usually describe emotions, or the way someone or something is feeling. And -ing adjectives usually describe the thing that is causing that emotion or feeling...

New at Primavera: Duolingo English Test Prep Classes!

Shana Goodwin, May 16, 2022

Primavera English is now offering classes to help our students prepare for the Duolingo English Test! Accepted by thousands of universities in North America, Europe, and Australia, this is an English proficiency test that can be taken online, on demand, and takes only about an hour to complete. We have designed our personalized course to help you reach your goals as you prepare to take the test...

What Is the TOEFL, and When Should I Take It?

Shana Goodwin, February 19, 2022

If you’re planning to study or live abroad, you may need to consider preparing for and taking the TOEFL iBT test. This test is the most widely used English language proficiency test in the world, and is known to be extremely rigorous. It is important to give yourself plenty of time to prepare for this test: it’s not easy!

“Be” or “Have”?

Shana Goodwin, January 17, 2022

Which one is correct: “I have twenty-four years” or “I am twenty-four”? Native Spanish speakers who are learning English often confuse the verbs “be” and “have” when talking about age. This is because in Spanish, the verb “tener” (to have) is used (“tengo veinticuatro años”), so it’s natural to simply translate this into “I have twenty-four years.” Unfortunately, however, this is incorrect. In English, the verb “be” (ser/estar) is used when talking about age: “I am twenty-four.”

The Difference between “For” and “To”

Shana Goodwin, November 18, 2021

The simplest explanation for knowing when to use “to” or “for” when talking about a reason or function is that “for” is followed by a noun or gerund, and “to” is followed by a verb. Examples: The ciclovía is a great place for walking and biking. The ciclovía is a great place to walk and bike...

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