False Cognates (aka False Friends)

False cognates (or "false friends") are words that look or sound similar in English and Spanish but have completely different meanings. They can easily trip you up, but learning them helps you avoid embarrassing mix-ups.

Explore the most common deceptive ones below:

For a deeper dive into hundreds of other confusing terms, you can review the full Berlitz Guide on False Cognates or test your skills with the SpanishDict False Cognates Guide.

Types of Fish (most of them translated)

Traditionally, the English (and the British in general) use cod and haddock for fish and chips. These are white, flaky fish with a mild flavour that work very well with batter rebozado and deep frying. 

• Cod bacalao is the most common choice in many parts of England. It has a mild taste and a firm, flaky texture. 
• Haddock eglefino is especially popular in Scotland and parts of northern England. It has a slightly sweeter flavour than cod. 

Other fish sometimes used include: Plaice platija Pollock abadejo o colín de Alaska Whiting pescadilla o merlán Hoki hoki o merluza azul.

If you order fish and chips in a traditional British "chippy", the server will often ask:"Cod or haddock?" because these are the two classic options. 

La Región de Murcia se queda fuera del programa de auxiliares de conversación de Inglés nativos en los colegios (y EEOOII)

El Ministerio ha llegado a un acuerdo con otras 14 comunidades para salvar el plan, que la Comunidad descarta

Today in La Verdad

Auxiliares extranjeros, en una foto de archivo durante la recepción en el Romea. Guillermo Carrión/AGM

What we are missing next academic year:

• Authentic language exposure: Language Assistants provide students with direct contact with native or near-native language, helping them improve pronunciation, listening comprehension, and natural expressions.

• Cultural enrichment: They bring first-hand knowledge of their countries and cultures, fostering intercultural awareness and making language learning more meaningful and engaging.

• Increased oral interaction: They encourage students to speak more in the target language through conversation, debates, role-plays, and other communicative activities.

• Greater motivation and confidence: Their presence creates a dynamic classroom environment, helping learners gain confidence in using the language in real-life situations.

The English We Speak (from BBC Learning English)

The English We Speak is your chance to catch up on the very latest English words and phrases. In under 3 minutes, we help you stay ahead of the pack by giving you 'must have' phrases that you can use in your everyday conversation.

Sure you will learn more than 3 or 4  new expressions or words!

Swearing and taboo expressions (from Cambridge Dictionary)

 

Swear words and taboo words can intensify what is said, but they can shock or give offence.

Expletives

Sports Vocabulary

 The World of Sport

Matrícula Curso 26-27 EOI Cartagena

Alumnos Oficiales (que promo-cionan o repiten)

Alumnos Nuevos

Types of Talkers

Out of the blue? How the colour of light could be used to treat mental illness

Read the article. (Key next Sat.)

Amazed and Grateful: Celebrating Our Blog’s Incredible Growth

I’m absolutely delighted—and, to be honest, still a little amazed—by the incredible growth this blog has experienced over the past months.

What began as a space to share ideas and resources has blossomed into something far bigger than I ever imagined, and it’s all thanks to you.

Looking back at our milestones fills me with pride and gratitude:

- First blog entry: 1st November 2007

- First 100,000 hits on 30th April 2013

- We made half a million visits on 29th October 2019

- Later, we reached 1 million visits on 7th March 2025

- Then 1.5 million visits on 8th April 2026

- And, incredibly, 2 million visits on 4th June 2026

Seeing these numbers climb so quickly has been both astonishing and inspiring.

The recent traffic has been simply extraordinary. Last month alone brought 326,939 visits, and this June we’ve surpassed half a million visits (554,167). We're about to reach 2.5M visits... These figures are not just numbers—they represent readers, educators, learners, and a vibrant community that continues to grow every single day.

I feel deeply grateful for every visit, every comment, every shared post. Your support keeps this space alive and motivates me to continue creating, sharing, and improving.

Thank you for being part of this 🚀 journey!

C1 & C2 Reading and Vocabulary Activities for July

Next week and the first two weeks of July (on Mondays) I'll be posting an article by The Guardian / onestopenglish for you to read and do the activities.

Keys will be available on Saturdays. Enjoy them —they deal with interesting topics.

A Language of Pride: Understand the Terms Around LGBTQ+ Identity

June is Pride Month in the US and around the world. Pride is a recognition of LGBTQ identity, affirmation of equal rights, and celebration of visibility, dignity, and diversity in the LGBTQ community. 

Understand the Terms Around LGBTQ

EL PAÍS (News in English)

Rise of the communists?

Dear readers,

With less than five months to go until the midterms the old dilemma tearing the Democratic Party apart has resurfaced. The victory on Tuesday of the three candidates backed by New York’s left-wing mayor Zohran Mamdani has raised alarm in the party’s centrist wing, which fears heading into November 3 with candidates seen as too radical and therefore easy targets for Republican attacks. Trump has already posted that “America The Beautiful will NEVER be a communist country!!!”

Meanwhile, Colombia has joined the growing list of nations under a far-right administration after Abelardo de la Espriella won the presidential election by a very small margin, forecasting a difficult term at the helm of a highly divided country.

Our interviewees this week include Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood, World Cup star player Lamine Yamal and the creative director of Chanel, Thomas du Pré de Saint Maur.

We hope you enjoy this selection of articles from EL PAÍS USA Edition.

You can also read:

• Two shallow quakes in 39 seconds: Why Venezuela’s earthquakes have been so destructive
• Aid trickles in, survivors sleep outside, and looting breaks out in La Guaira, the Venezuelan city hardest hit by the earthquake
• Spain’s Supreme Court sentences former Socialist minister Ábalos to 24 years behind bars
• Africa’s lucrative, nutritious grasshopper business runs into Western prejudice against eating insects
• It’s not just hot, it’s climate change: the heatwave scorching Europe would have been impossible just 50 years ago
• Spanish gains ground in Africa
• ‘Mom, do you love your phone more than me?’: Children of screen‑absorbed parents are more insecure
• Chameleons spread across Spain as experts urge people not to take them home

Cartagena & Murcia EOIs in La Verdad Today

Read the news and info.

Las escuelas de idiomas refuerzan las plazas en los niveles altos por la mejora de la competencia de los murcianos

Documentaries BBC World Services

You can listen to these pieces of news on The Documentary Podcast. 

You can listen to them anytime on the right side bar BBC World Service. [between AAEOICT and Summer's here]

Vocabulary for Money

Vocabulary

for

Money

Gen Z slang glossary

Review of Contemporary Conflicts in the Middle East and Eastern Europe

You can read a Review about Contemporary Wars and then focus on the vocabulary they use in the Glossary at the end.

Phonological Rules

Do Aliens Exist? Steven Spielberg Believes They Do

Director Steven Spielberg joins Rachel Abrams on “The Daily” to talk about his return to alien movies with “Disclo-sure Day.”

Camping Equipment & Tools

A Heartfelt Goodbye to Onestopenglish

Today, I want to say a deeply emotional goodbye to a learning companion that has been part of my journey for many, many years.

Since 1999, Onestopenglish has been there for my students and me—a constant source of inspiration, creativity, and support. Through its ideas, activities, and resources, it has shaped countless lessons and enriched our classes in ways that are difficult to put into words.

As they bid farewell, they leave us with one final gift: The Little Book of Onestopenglish. A small treasure, filled with memories and the spirit of everything they’ve given us over the years. Do take a moment to enjoy it.

In their own words:
“Thank you for the journey. To everyone who taught, learned, wrote, shared and supported Onestopenglish over the years—thank you.”

And from all of us who have been part of that journey—we thank you in return. For everything.

You will be missed, but never forgotten.

Body Postures

Pet Peeves

pet peeve noun /ˌpet ˈpiːv/ something that especially annoys you. e.g.: Weak coffee is one of my pet peeves.

Matricúlate en la EOI de Cartagena

Insuperable relación Calidad - Precio

Certificación / Formación Oficial

Mejora tu nivel de idioma /empieza uno nuevo

Alemán / Árabe / Francés / Inglés / Italiano

C2 📰Spanish Political & Corruption Terminology (2)

In view of the strong response and number of readers to my first post on this topic, I decided to delve into this area of vocabulary in a bit more depth—specifically, how different newspapers headline the same story and shape meaning through language.

In addition, I asked Copilot to prepare a piece entitled “The Zapatero Case” in Spanish Newspapers: A C1–C2 Lexical & Discourse Review for Advanced Learners.

As usual, the sole aim of these materials is to analyse and reflect on language use, rather than the events themselves.

Summer is here!

Dear students

As we are  leaving behind the exam period, well, only one left, I encourage you to indulge in topics that genuinely captivate your interest. It's an ideal opportunity to revive your interest for the English language by engaging with content that resonates with you.
A current topic we would not like to deal wth, will be looked into tomorrow to start with.
You might consider allocating time to listen to thought-provoking TED Talks or BBC podcasts, which can provide a wealth of knowledge and stimulate engaging discussions. Alternatively, you could channel your creativity into writing reviews of books, TV series, restaurants, or concerts that have left a lasting impression on you.

Revisiting previous posts on pronunciation, grammar or practising shadowing exercises using texts from your textbooks can also be a valuable way to hone your linguistic skills. Moreover, organizing an English Hour with classmates or friends can be a delightful way to maintain momentum, whether you choose to debate current events, share personal anecdotes, or discuss future plans.

If you've been meaning to start reading a book that's been recommended to you, now is the perfect time to embark on that literary journey. Or you might read national, international or local news. The key takeaway is to ensure that your engagement with the language remains consistent, leveraging your interests and hobbies to fuel your reading, viewing, and listening habits.

In the event that you require some extra inspiration, I will resume to provide ideas and suggestions in the remaining days of June and throughout July.

Happy beginning of summer for you all!

Fun

Sorry for this, but I find them really funny!  

Vocabulary for Travel

Vocabulary

for

Travel  

EL PAÍS (News in English)

Specter of unrest in Colombia

Dear readers,

The countdown for the Colombia election has been underway for a few weeks. On June 21, depending on who wins, people are preparing a response in the streets. From a Bogotá prison, one of those jailed for the social uprising of 2021 reaffirmed to EL PAÍS a message that has been circulating for days: “If the right wins power, the people will take to the streets.”

Meanwhile, the impact of the Trump administration’s immigration policy on the World Cup continues to spark controversy. The debate has even reached the U.S. Congress in Washington, D.C.

In other news, we covered the story of the jailed banker in Brazil whose secrets — and his willingness to disclose them in exchange for a deal — are making the elites nervous.

We hope you enjoy this selection of stories from EL PAÍS USA Edition.

You can also read:

• Wealthy Latin Americans pack their bags for Madrid’s most exclusive neighborhood
• Could Ozempic reduce violent crime? ‘It weakens the leap from impulse to action’
• Javier Bardem, first Spaniard to make his mark in Hollywood’s Walk of Fame: ‘Even in difficult times, people want to keep being part of the film community’
• Cannabis increases the risk of psychotic episodes, but legalization does not always have the same consequences
• Who will win the World Cup? Here are our predictions

Most Interesting Facts

Had I Known ...

Vocabulary for C2

Silent "T's" in British English (By Lucy)

Personality Traits

Chunks for Fluency

Exception

Suffixes in English – Definition, Types, and Examples

 Learn more about Suffixes HERE and Do the Quiz at the end of the document!

Vocabulary for Sports

Vocabulary

for

Sports

· Extra advanced football vocabulary

· Activity

 

Tables

Is there any of these you've never been sitting at?
 

Advice for C1 Oral Exam

This is in response to one of my students’ email asking for advice about the oral exam.

I also recommend having a look at the assessment tables used for both Oral Expression (Monologue & Interaction) and Oral Mediation. They are extremely useful tools to help you understand exactly what you are being assessed on.