These are the key phrases to speak about language learning. 

The best way to learn them is to put them into practical examples that you can use in various contexts. 

#RESOURCES

For example = GET ACROSS 

What I want to get across is... 

I sometimes find it difficult to get my point across when I speak in English.

Get one’s point/ideas across: communicate (sth) to (sb)

It can be quite difficult to get your point across when speaking a foreign language.

Brush up on: improve at something when you need practice

I had better brush up on my German before the business trip to Neuenrade.

Be rusty: be out of practice

The problem is that I am really rusty and it is taking quite a long time to improve my fluency.

Have a good/bad grasp of: have an understanding of, know how + infinitive

I have quite a good grasp of German, but I ought to practice every day.

Take in: internalize/assimilate something

Do you find it difficult to take in new vocabulary? Why don't you try to put them into practical examples?

Struggle + infinitive: find something difficult + infinitive

I struggle to understand you when you speak French as you speak really quickly.

Pay attention to: focus on (something) 

In your shoes, I would pay attention to my pronunciation in order to perfect it.

Be worth + gerund: be a good use of one’s time

Is it worth learning Italian in this day and age?

Deal/cope with: handle/have everything under control

It can be a tough task to deal with exam pressure.

Get used to + gerund/noun: develop as a habit

I am getting used to using separable phrasal verbs.

Monitor one’s own performance: keep track of

If I were you, I would monitor your student‘s progress a little more and ensure that they are advancing.

Encourage (somebody) + infinitive: motivate (sb) + infinitive

I encourage everyone to learn a language as it opens your mind.

Be no point in + ing: not be worth + ing

There is no point in learning some languages.

Get one’s teeth into (sth): Dedicate time to + gerund

If I could, I would like to get my teeth into a new language.

Pick up: learn little by little

When I was in Tokyo last year, I picked up quite a lot of Japanese.

Be fluent in: be able to speak a language well

How many languages are you fluent in?

Master a language: perfect a language

Mastering a language can be one of the most fulfilling achievements in your life.

Knuckle down: start working a lot

It is well worth knuckling down as soon as possible.

Figure out: work out/solve

I can’t figure out the meaning of this phrase

Get by: survive in a language

I can get by in 4 languages. Can you get by in English?

Cram: revise for an exam at the last minute

I am sleepy because I was cramming all night for today’s test.

Puzzle out: to solve a confusing situation

I am just trying to puzzle out what you meant by “fluent”.

Stick to (something): follow

Is it essential to stick to a strict routine?

These phrases are essential for all the language skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening

1. In my opinion

• Traducción: En mi opinión

• Uso: Ideal para empezar tus respuestas en el Speaking (Partes 1 y 4) o dar tu punto de vista en el artículo del Writing.

• Ejemplo: In my opinion, cycling is the best way to travel around a big city.

2. To be honest

• Traducción: Para ser honesto / Sinceramente

• Uso: Te da mucha naturalidad en el Speaking cuando quieres expresar algo que realmente piensas (positivo o negativo).

• Ejemplo: To be honest, I don't really enjoy watching horror movies because they terrify me.

3. What I mean is

• Traducción: Lo que quiero decir es...

• Uso: Sirve para corregirte o aclarar tu idea si te encallas o te das cuenta de que no te has explicado bien en el examen oral.

• Ejemplo: I love active holidays. What I mean is, I prefer hiking in nature rather than lying on a beach.

4. It looks like

• Traducción: Parece que... / Tiene aspecto de...

• Uso: Frase obligatoria en el Speaking (Parte 2) para especular sobre lo que ves en la fotografía cuando no estás 100% seguro.

• Ejemplo: In the foreground of the photo, it looks like they are having a birthday party.

5. Perhaps / Maybe

• Traducción: Quizás / Tal vez

• Uso: Otra herramienta indispensable de especulación para la descripción de fotos (Speaking Parte 2) o debates (Speaking Parte 3).

• Ejemplo: Perhaps they are classmates because they are carrying similar school bags.

6. On the one hand / On the other hand

• Traducción: Por un lado / Por otro lado

• Uso: Se usan juntas para contrastar dos puntos de vista diferentes en un debate o texto.

• Ejemplo: On the one hand, living in a city is exciting. On the other hand, it can be very noisy and stressful.

7. In spite of

• Traducción: A pesar de

• Uso: Conector de contraste avanzado para nivel B1. Recuerda que va seguido de un sustantivo o de un verbo acabado en -ing.

• Ejemplo: We had a wonderful time at the beach in spite of the rainy weather.

8. What is more

• Traducción: Lo que es más / Además

• Uso: Añade información con un extra de énfasis en textos escritos o discursos largos.

• Ejemplo: Learning English helps you travel easily. What is more, it opens up great job opportunities.

9. As well as

• Traducción: Así como / Además de

• Uso: Une dos elementos de la misma categoría en una sola frase.

• Ejemplo: She plays the piano beautifully as well as the acoustic guitar.

10. At least

• Traducción: Al menos / Por lo menos

• Uso: Sirve para limitar algo, rescatar un punto positivo dentro de una situación, o dar una cantidad mínima.

• Ejemplo: The train ticket was expensive, but at least the journey was short and comfortable.

11. Such as

• Traducción: Tales como / Como por ejemplo

• Uso: Introduce ejemplos rápidos en medio de una frase (no lleva coma justo después).

• Ejemplo: In my free time, I enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, running and playing tennis.

12. For instance

• Traducción: Por ejemplo

• Uso: Es el sinónimo perfecto de "For example". Se suele colocar al principio de una frase seguido de una coma.

• Ejemplo: I love eating international food. For instance, I usually order sushi or Italian pasta at weekends.

13. In other words

• Traducción: En otras palabras

• Uso: Muy útil para explicar el mismo concepto de una manera más sencilla si se te olvida una palabra específica.

• Ejemplo: He is a vegan. In other words, he doesn't eat any meat, fish, or dairy products.

14. Due to / Because of

• Traducción: Debido a / A causa de

• Uso: Ambas significan lo mismo y van seguidas directamente de un sustantivo o sintagma nominal (nunca de una frase con verbo conjugado).

• Ejemplo: The football match was cancelled due to / because of the heavy rain.

15. As a result

• Traducción: Como resultado / Por consiguiente

• Uso: Conector para indicar la consecuencia de una acción previa. Suele ir al inicio de la segunda frase.

• Ejemplo: She didn't study for the grammar exam. As a result, she failed it.

16. So that

• Traducción: Para que / De manera que

• Uso: Conector de propósito. Une dos partes de una frase y casi siempre va seguido de verbos modales como can, could, will o would.

• Ejemplo: I bought a new smartphone so that I could take better photos on my holidays.

17. In conclusion / To conclude

• Traducción: En conclusión / Para concluir

• Uso: La frase perfecta para abrir el último párrafo de un artículo o un ensayo en el Writing.

• Ejemplo: In conclusion, public transport is much better for the environment than driving personal cars.

18. Let me know

• Traducción: Cuéntame / Avísame / Hazme saber

• Uso: Frase fija imprescindible para cerrar el email informal del Writing (Parte 1). Demuestra que esperas respuesta.

• Ejemplo: Let me know if you can come to my party next Saturday!

19. That's a good question

• Traducción: Esa es una buena pregunta.

• Uso: Una frase excelente para el Speaking (especialmente en la Parte 4). Te da naturalidad y te regala 2 o 3 segundos para pensar qué vas a decir sin quedarte en silencio.

• Ejemplo: That's a good question. Let me think... Personally, I believe that teenagers spend too much time on their phones nowadays.

20. First of all

• Traducción: En primer lugar / Antes de nada.

• Uso: Ideal para empezar a ordenar tus argumentos cuando te hacen una pregunta larga en el Speaking o para estructurar el primer párrafo del cuerpo en el Writing.

• Ejemplo: First of all, we need to consider how much money the project will cost before making a final decision.