Language Rules

‘For’ meanings: The Bad News for Bear »

What can I use this for?

‘For’ can be used lots of different ways in English. Look out for the different ‘for’ meanings in the text and then read the explanations below.   For those of you who don’t…

Mar 20 2012 / No Comment / Read More »

Though Although Grammar: Interactive ads for women »

Although it's for women, men can donate to charity too.

Though Although Despite In spite of...how do you use these words in English? Look at the text examples & then learn with the grammar section…

Feb 24 2012 / 1 Comment / Read More »

Basic English – Past Simple: Whitney Houston’s funeral »

Past Simple verbs. Affirmative, Negative, Interrogative. Elementary English

Irregular Verbs in Past Simple are difficult in English. You must learn the verbs because there are no rules. Included here is also a reference table of Preterite Irregular Verbs.…

Feb 20 2012 / No Comment / Read More »

Grammar: ‘As’ – Rules of Date Club »

Do NOT add an 's'!!!

How do you use 'as' in English? Lots of different uses of 'as' in the text and then the grammar explained...plus a video of 'As' …

Feb 13 2012 / No Comment / Read More »
Headlines

English Conversation – English guys discuss clothes »

English Conversation: Real & Relevant - Clothes

Podcasts | Welcome to the first of our new podcast series:   English Conversation – Real and Relevant   These discussions…

May 15 2012 / 2 Comments / Read More »

Comeback vocabulary: Man City zeros to heroes »

Man City with an unbelievable comeback story to end all stories

Vocabulary | Even if you’re not interested in football, this post is full of grammar and vocabulary that just reading it…

May 15 2012 / No Comment / Read More »

Royalty Vocabulary: The Queen opens parliament »

The Queen opens parliament and misses her dogs who have to stay at home. Royalty Vocabulary

Vocabulary | Most people have an opinion on Royal families, either good or bad. If the subject comes up in conversation…

May 11 2012 / No Comment / Read More »

Weather Forecast Vocabulary: Prince Charles the weatherman »

prince-charles

Vocabulary | It sounds like just the same, normal weather forecast vocabulary that you would expect to hear at the end…

May 10 2012 / 1 Comment / Read More »

Ways of saying ‘often’: Why do we always buy things? »

These guys often look around and think, "I've seen that face time and time again"

Vocabulary | This text is about why we buy products. Different ways of saying often are highlighted and explained at the…

May 9 2012 / No Comment / Read More »

Computer Vocabulary: Microsoft’s HomeOS »

In the future, you will be able to burn your toast using your computer

Vocabulary | Here is a text with computer vocabulary about the new Microsoft HomeOS. Useful language is highlighted and explained below.…

May 3 2012 / No Comment / Read More »

IELTS speaking test part 1 sample: Tips to improve »

Improve your IELTS Speaking band score

IELTS | As you are interested in IELTS, please have a go in our “Win free IELTS textbooks” competition this month.…

May 1 2012 / No Comment / Read More »

Charity Vocabulary: Donations for tragic runner go viral »

Claire Squires supporters dig deep for charity

Vocabulary | Words to do with ‘charity’ are highlighted throughout and then explained below the text. The London Marathon last Sunday…

Apr 25 2012 / No Comment / Read More »
University Foundation Course - September Entry

ENGLISH COURSES

  1. Business English (Mini-Group)
    Tues Apr 3rd, Tues May 1st, Tues June 12th, Tues July 10th
  2. Business English Writing (Mini-Group)
    Mon Apr 2nd, Wed May 2nd, Mon June 11th, Mon July 9th
  3. IELTS Evening (Mini-Group)
    Mon Apr 2nd, Wed May 2nd, Mon June 11th, Mon July 9th
  4. English Pronunciation (Mini-Group)
    Tues May 1st, Tues July 3rd, Tues Sept 4th
  5. General English Evening (Mini-Group)
    Mon Apr 2nd, Wed May 2nd, Mon June 11th, Mon July 9th
  6. Cambridge First Certificate
    Tues Jun 19th
  7. CAE Exam Preparation
    Mon Jun 25th
  8. Academic Writing and Study Skills
    Tues Apr 3rd, Tues May 1st, Tues June 12th, Tues July 10th
  1. Standard English Courses
  2. Intensive English Courses (Mini-Group)
  3. English Combination Courses
  1. Business English: 20 lessons (15 hours) (Mini-Group)
  2. Business English Plus: 30 lessons (22.5 hours)
  3. Business English Combination: Morning group tuition & afternoon 1-1 tuition

MOST RECENT

  1. Heart-breaking vocabulary: Farewell video
  2. English Conversation – English guys discuss clothes
  3. Comeback vocabulary: Man City zeros to heroes
  4. Royalty Vocabulary: The Queen opens parliament
  5. Weather Forecast Vocabulary: Prince Charles the weatherman
  6. Ways of saying ‘often’: Why do we always buy things?
  7. Welcome Drinks, Tate Britain, Sweeney Todd and a Walk.
  1. Bren Brennan: Glad you got something out of it…..even with your exacting standards, Mrs Fussy. :) Level: Anyone...
  2. Mrs Fussy: I liked it a lot. Even though I wasn’t listening for a purpose (=answering questions about it, etc)...
  3. Jessica Aceste: It’s my dream of a lifetime..
  4. nadia: Thanks for the transcript and the vocabulary, very useful!
  5. Shivang jaiswal: Thanxx..

Student Life in London

  • pub 30..4.12

    Welcome Drinks, Tate Britain, Sweeney Todd and a Walk.

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  • museum of london 18.4.12

    Welcome Drinks, Madame Tussauds, Museums and a Walk.

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  • Pub 2.4.12

    Royal Walk, Thriller, Bowling and Welcome Drinks

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  • Class 27.3.12

    Under The Bridges, Welcome Drinks, National Portrait Gallery and 39 Steps.

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  • soho walk 20.3.12

    Natural History Museum, Welcome Drinks, Soho Walk and the Theatre

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  • pub 12.3.12

    Welcome Drinks, Walk, Bowling, English Tea and the Theatre!

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  • boat trip 6.3.12

    London Aquarium, Drinks and a Boat Trip

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  • football 1.3.12

    Meet and Greet, Madame Tussauds, Museum of London, Sightseeing AND Football!

    Read More

  • Afternoon tea 21.2.12

    Welcome to London, Afternoon Tea and Ten Pin Bowling

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  • pub 13.2.12

    Drinks, Sightseeing, The Science Museum and The London Dungeons

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  • Afternoon-Tea J

    Football, Tate Modern, Drinks, Afternoon Tea and Bowling!

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  • Imp War Mus 26.2.12

    Royal Garden Walk, Jersey Boys, Imperial War Museum and Welcome Drinks

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  • Nat Hist mus 25.1.12

    Natural History Museum, Welcome Drinks, Soho Walk and We Will Rock You

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  • Julia and some of the many students that came with us to the pub for a chat

    La Soiree, Chat in the Local, Soho Walk and The National Portrait Gallery

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SGI Student

Welcome Drinks, Tate Britain, Sweeney Todd and a Walk. »

Monday was off to the usual start in The Adam and Eve. There were less students than usual but just as much fun. I had a long discussion on celebrity spotting in London, especially around Hampstead, where Noel Gallagher and Madonna have been spotted by students. It was also nice to catch up with some old faces…

May 4 2012 / No Comment / Read More »
pub 30..4.12

Student Testimonial: Sara de Maio from Geneva »

Student Testimonial Two-time SGI student, Sara gives her opinion about the school and London life.…

Dec 5 2011 / No Comment / Read More »
Sara at the SGI Summer Party (and teacher, Sean)

SGI IELTS Results 2010 »

IELTS results 2010 are now available on the IELTS Courses page. We are proud of our students’ achievements at SGI. Here are some of our former students and their progression into Higher Education in the UK and around the World.…

Oct 7 2011 / No Comment / Read More »
IELTS Results 2010

IELTS

Improve your IELTS Speaking band score

IELTS speaking test part 1 sample: Tips to improve »

As you are interested in IELTS, please have a go in our “Win free IELTS textbooks” competition this month. You can win IELTS Speaking and IELTS Listening self-study textbooks from…

May 1 2012 / No Comment / Read More »

IELTS Tips: Language choices to improve IELTS Band Score »

Improve IELTS Speaking Band Score

Do you need to improve your IELTS band score? When studying for your IELTS Speaking test, it’s really important to improve your…

Apr 23 2012 / No Comment / Read More »

IELTS speaking vocabulary: Extending your vocabulary – Art »

IELTS Speaking - Talk 'til your teeth fall out!

Getting to IELTS band 7+ is tough and most students never manage it but why? Well, people at that level are similar…

Mar 28 2012 / 2 Comments / Read More »
IELTS Speaking: Sport idioms & phrasal verbs » IELTS Speaking: Two-Way Discussion sample answers » IELTS speaking test part 2-Describing a friend you spend time with » IELTS Two Way Discussion: Sample Questions and Answers » IELTS Speaking Tips: Two Way Discussion »

English Tips

Often in Received Pronunciation: Queen’s Xmas Message »

all dressed in red and white hair...it must be Father Christmas

how do you say 'often'? With a 't', without a 't', or like The Queen? Video, of received pronunciation speaking, mp3 of English…

Dec 27 2011 / No Comment / Read More »

Steve Jobs talks about life and death »

Apple boss, Steve Jobs R.I.P.

An inspirational speech on video plus the entire transcript from the Apple legend. Use as an English listening exercise.…

Oct 7 2011 / 2 Comments / Read More »
Lose your accent » Received Pronunciation: Speak like the Queen » What makes you happy? » Twitter Time » Watching is Wonderful »
English pronunciation can sometimes be a b!&?h

English Pronunciation »

Lots of English words that are difficult to pronounce because of their strange spelling patterns...with a video of a native speaking English teacher trying to say all the words correctly…

Jan 10 2012 / 9 Comments / Read More »

Business English

News