Language

Feb 5, 2019 By Mike Feerick, Alison CEO & Founder Just a few short months after launching Alison in April 2007, I received a curious email from China. It was from a professor at Tsinghua University, one of China’s most prestigious universities (Xi Jinping, the current Chinese leader, went there). The professor was excited by…

English is one of the world’s most widely spoken languages, with the second-highest number of native speakers and the highest number of total speakers when accounting for second language use. With such an enormous scope, it should come as no surprise that there’s an endless amount to know about this fascinating language. We’ve put together…

Mar 20, 2019 When it comes to language, it’s easy to make English grammar mistakes, even as native speakers. Here are the 8 most commonly made errors to watch out for. 1. The Missing Comma A comma is used after an introductory word, phrase, or clause. This gives a pause after the introductory element and…

Dec 1, 2018 By Aminata O. – We all have to spend some of our time doing something that’s just a little boring. Sitting on a bus, writing data into a spreadsheet, cleaning the house: this is not what life is supposed to be about! Life routine is important. There are certain things we just have…

Students in U.S. high schools can get free digital access to The New York Times until Sept. 1, 2021.How often do you encounter racist, sexist or otherwise discriminatory language online in posts or comments? Do you think abusive language is a serious problem that social media companies, like Twitter and Facebook, should do a better…

Everyone learns differently. I suppose being motivated to learn is the most important thing. Some learn visually, others by doing, and some by just listening or in mixed ways. I personally like listening, combined with some visual aspects. Of course for languages, practice in real life situations is super important! I design my courses using…

The Alison English Vertical is a series of courses designed to be taken in order, with topics ranging from beginner to proficient.  Each course was designed with English language learners in mind and focused on specific grammar and vocabulary points while building on the information from previous courses.  This structure allows the learner to take…

Have you ever studied a foreign language? Do you think it’s still necessary to do so? Isn’t it easy to find people who speak English in other countries if you really need to communicate with someone? And aren’t there translation apps for your phone you can download anyway? What is the value of knowing more…

Not entirely happy with the path your life is taking? It’s never too late to shake things up and change the direction your life is going in. Here are our top 5 tips to getting the life you really want. 1. Change Your Thinking – Change Your Life It’s easy to see life’s challenges as…

Jan 20, 2019 By Philip S. Travel: there really is nothing like it. Just around the corner, a few hours in a car or a plane, something new and exciting is waiting to be discovered. Everyone has their own reason for travelling, whether it’s experiencing a new culture, taking in some beautiful views, or just…