Hub Talk
News & Support to Help Your English Flow
Not Another Language School Blog
Don’t worry, this blog is not just English language school news.
Artist & educator, Ruth Pringle brings Scotland – and English learning – right to you in powerful, interesting ways.
So, why not make a cup of something lovely and pop over (virtually) to Scotland for a unique cultural immersion into our landscapes, culture, art, and ideas – the Blue Noun way!
English learners, you’ll also find free English lessons and practice questions.
There are some whole ELT class plans in there too!
Enjoy!
Browse the Archive
Take English Outdoors | Explore Scotland Walking Holiday
Our English language holidays offer:
1,000 micro-moments of you being you, in English.
This blog is about just one.
It shares a walk along the Muthill (pronounced MYOO-thil /mjuːθɪl/) to Crieff cycle path in Perthshire.
How to Choose an Immersion Course for English
Finding the right immersion course for English can be overwhelming with so many options available.
The links and tips in this blog will help you simplify the process and choose the course that meets your needs.
Practice Exercise for 2nd Conditional | Scottish Fishing
This blog offers you practice exercises for the 2nd Conditional.
It also gives an example of conversations you would have on a Blue Noun English Language Holidays (with us, you practice them in REAL contexts by having conversations exploring Scotland).
How to Speak English on Holiday
It is typical to overestimate how much English practice you will get on holiday.
There are people who have lived here for years and still don’t speak it.
Language doesn’t just osmose into you, it takes active learning and guidance.
Our good news is that active learning can be fabulous and pleasurable.
Even when it doesn’t feel like a classroom!
Even when it feels like a holiday!
Tips for When Your Language Skills Fade
Sadly, for most people, unused language skills fade.
This blog is to help to back to English learning – whenever you stopped.
It’s full of good news.
Yes, languages fade, but it needn’t be hard work (or a horrible ordeal) to save them!
How to Get Better At English | Slow Travel is the Only Fix You Need
The only problem with aiming to ‘get better at English‘ is it’s a moving goal.
I’ve met people with incredibly high levels of English, who are waiting until they ‘are good‘ to talk.
What are you not saying or doing in the meantime?
At Blue Noun, our approach is to get you talking, and build a solid identity as an English speaker.
Everything else follows.
5 Funny Small Talk Tips | Learn English with British Culture
Small Talk. It’s a Big Deal!
British Small talk can be a tricky skill for second-language English speakers to master – especially if the concept is absent in your first language.
However daft it first seems, small talk is an art.
Like many arts, some excel at it almost naturally – and others are only dimly aware of its parameters.
English Learning Holiday for Art and Design
September is Art Month.
This means that instead of sharing art and culture with general English learners, we lean into our art skills to offer English learning immersion holidays built just for artists, designers, makers and creative thinkers, targeting English for Creative Careers in a unique practice-led holiday.
Choose Real Language Practice To Be Ready for Anything
Why Choose REAL Language Practice Last night I got rescued. My canoe capsised in a fast fast-flowing river and I was...
You Can Give Blue Noun Language Hub a Helping Hand!
Our English language school tried to help as many people as we can (see our Social Action Policy).
Help Us to Help Others!
If you read something in our blog that changes how you feel about your English, we’d love you to share it with your community!
English teachers, L2 learners and curious visitors – please share our blogs on your website or socials.
If you want, you can tag Ruth on LinkedIn for a bit of extra love and appreciation 🙌.