Sunday, 19 April 2026
Saturday, 18 April 2026
EL PAÍS (News in English)
Dear readers,
This week, EL PAÍS sat down for an exclusive interview with the president of Brazil, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The former metalworker discussed the current global turmoil, running for a fourth term against another Bolsonaro, and his relationship with Trump. “I told him, verbatim, that two countries governed by two 80-year-old men should converse with maturity,” he said.
In another special interview, we spoke to Amanda Ungaro, a former model who went from attending Trump parties to being deported. She described the hellish three months she spent in a detention center before she was flown to Brazil, with nothing, not even a cell phone.
We also explored the Pet Shop Boys’ 40-year-long career, looked at why hippos are being euthanized in Colombia, and spoke to the woman behind the Spanish translation of ‘Hamnet.’
You can also read:
- Spain approves granting legal status to around 500,000 undocumented migrants
- Frida Kahlo’s work in the hands of a Spanish bank: The controversy shaking Mexico’s art world
- Artemis 3 and beyond: To set foot on the Moon, NASA needs Musk and Bezos, but their spacecraft aren’t ready
- Toxic relationships (especially in the family or at work) accelerate aging
- Only 13% of emails are written by people, and more than half end up in the spam folder: ‘This isn’t a technical detail; it’s a structural change’
- ‘Chess Mates,’ the documentary about the world champion who defamed a rival — and won’t apologize
Friday, 17 April 2026
Thursday, 16 April 2026
Change this conversation into Reported Speech
Daniel: Honestly, I’m a bit nervous, but I think consistent practice has helped. Have you revised the listening tasks yet?
L.: Yes, I reviewed them yesterday. Why don’t we practise a speaking task together this afternoon?
D.: That’s a great idea. Let’s meet in the library at four. Could you bring your vocabulary notes?
L.: Of course. And don’t forget to review the phrasal verbs; they often appear in the exam.
D.: Thanks for the reminder. By the way, would you like me to quiz you on idioms?
L.: That would be very helpful. Also, make sure you get enough rest tonight; being alert is essential.
D.: You’re right. Shall we set a goal to speak only English during our practice session?
L.: Absolutely! It will boost our confidence. If you feel uncertain about any topic, just ask for clarification.
D.: Deal. I’m sure that with this preparation, we’ll both perform well.
L.: I agree. Let’s stay positive and do our best!
Key next Monday!
You may revise reporting suggestions HERE. "Colour" the answers after the examples!
Wednesday, 15 April 2026
How to Write a Haiku: Tips and Examples (From Dictionary.com)
can be as simple as just
crafting a haiku
Many find the poetic form intimidating, but haiku is a great starting point for learning to both read and write poetry. As you can see from our short introductory haiku, these poems are short and to-the-point. In this article, you will learn about the haiku form, how to write your own haiku, and get inspiration from some examples of this kind of poetry, both traditional and modern.
Tuesday, 14 April 2026
“First and Final Word” Poetry & Lyrics Challenge
Monday, 13 April 2026
National Poetry Month
Launched by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996, National Poetry Month has grown into the world’s largest literary celebration. It is a special occasion to honor the vital role poets play in our culture and to invite readers of all ages to engage with poetry in classrooms, libraries, bookstores, and communities worldwide.
Saturday, 11 April 2026
The Tell-tale Heart: Part 1 | Onestopenglish
EL PAÍS (News in English)
Dear readers,
With all eyes on the Middle East, we looked at the mixed messages Donald Trump has given over the conflict: from declaring Iran has no navy to announcing that the U.S. had destroyed its naval forces.
In other news, we spoke to Cubans who have been deported from the U.S. to Mexico. "We’re all old, what are we going to do here?” asked Lázaro Ballesteros, who spent 47 of his 53 years in Miami.
We also took a look at the Obamas' multi-million dollar media portfolio and examined the prized pieces of the Gunzburg collection set to go under the hammer this month.
We hope you enjoy this selection of stories from EL PAÍS USA Edition.
You can also read:
- Iran’s Strait of Hormuz toll: Modern piracy contrary to international law
- In Spain, a request to move Picasso’s famous ‘Guernica’ to the Basque Country sparks national row
- The Moon: The new stage for the space race between the United States and China
- How the loneliness of working from home can affect mental health: ‘The pajamas mentality is dangerous’
- Juan Verde: ‘The next president of the United States will be a Democrat and an unknown’
- The debate over Trump’s mental health: ‘Malignant narcissist ’ or ‘superhuman president’?
Friday, 10 April 2026
C2 Step into the Global Teachers’ Festival Collection 2026 (By MACMILLAN EDUCATION)
Thursday, 9 April 2026
if + should / if + will / if + would
If + should
We can use if with should to refer to
events which might happen by chance or by accident:
If you should bump
into Carol, can you tell her I’m looking for her? (If by chance you bump into
Carol.)
If the government should ever find itself in this situation again, it is to be hoped it would act more quickly.
Conditional clauses with will or would
Will and would can be used in
conditional clauses, either with the meaning of ‘being willing to do
something’, or to refer to later results:
If Clare will meet
us at the airport, it will save us a lot of time. (if Clare is willing to
meet us)
If you would all stop shouting,
I will try and explain the situation!
If it will make
you happy, I’ll stay at home tonight. (If it is true that you will be happy as a
result, I’ll stay at home tonight.)
We sometimes stress the will or would,
especially if we doubt that the result will be the one mentioned:
If it really would save the
planet, I’d stop using my car tomorrow. (If it really is true that the planet would
be saved as a result, I would stop using my car, but I doubt it is true.)
Conditionals in speaking
In speaking, we often use if-clauses without main clauses, especially when asking people politely to do things. If is usually followed by will, would, can or could when it is used to be polite:
[Shop assistant to customer]
If you would just
sign here, please. (a
more polite way of saying Just sign here, please.)
[A is writing something for B and having difficulty]
A: If I could have a better pen …
B: Here, use this one.
A: Thanks.
(from https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/conditionals-if)
Wednesday, 8 April 2026
+1,500,000 visits!!!
Today I’m incredibly grateful to all of you
—this blog has reached 1.5 million visits! 🎉
Thank you for being part of this learning community and for trusting this space to support your English journey. Your dedication and consistency are what make this possible.
Keep using this blog as a tool in your learning process—practice a little every day, stay curious, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. That’s how real progress happens!
And if you’re not sure where to focus, remember to revisit the most popular sections:
• Vocabulary & Grammar
They’re there to help you revise, improve, and gain confidence step by step.
Let’s keep learning together—your next milestone is closer than you think! 🚀
Tuesday, 7 April 2026
Monday, 6 April 2026
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