These posts are written for learners of English themselves. Find learning tips and ideas for learning English.

For Students

<blockquote>
<h2>When does a joke become a &quot;dad&quot; joke?</h2>

<p>When it becomes apparent.</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>What&rsquo;s a &ldquo;dad joke&rdquo;?</h2>

<p>A &quot;dad joke&quot;&nbsp;is a simple joke that is easy to deliver and understand. It is usually a one-liner/pun or a simple joke with one question and an easy answer that is often a play on words. It is called a &quot;dad joke&quot; because it will&nbsp;make a child groan. (<em>So bad, Dad!</em>)&nbsp;Dad jokes are also&nbsp;usually clean for all ages.</p>

<p>You won&#39;t get any <em>belly laughs </em>with a dad joke,&nbsp;but hopefully someone at least <em>cracks a smile</em>.</p>

<h3>12 &quot;dad jokes&quot; to tell this Father&#39;s Day</h3>

<p>Are you a dad? Choose your favorite joke and share it with your child(ren) this Father&#39;s Day. You can also write one of these jokes inside a Father&#39;s Day card or tell it at a Father&#39;s Day gathering.</p>

<p><strong>1. What do you call a priest that becomes a lawyer?</strong></p>

<p><em>a father-in-law</em></p>

<hr />
<p><strong>2. What did the buffalo say to his son when he left for college?</strong></p>

<p><em>bison</em></p>

<hr />
<p><strong>3. Why did your&nbsp;old man fall in a well?</strong></p>

<p><em>Because he couldn&rsquo;t see that well.</em></p>

<hr />
<p><strong>4. What do you call a fish with no eyes?</strong></p>

<p><em>a fsh</em></p>

<hr />
<p><strong>5. What do you call a sad strawberry?</strong></p>

<p><em>a blueberry</em></p>

<hr />
<p><strong>6. What did the paper say to the pencil?</strong></p>

<p><em>Write on!</em></p>

<hr />
<p><strong>7. Why can&rsquo;t your nose be 12 inches long?</strong></p>

<p><em>Because then it would be a foot.</em></p>

<hr />
<p><strong>9. The past, the present, and the future walked into a bar. It was tense.</strong></p>

<hr />
<p><strong>10. Why was six afraid of seven?</strong></p>

<p><em>Because seven ate nine.</em></p>

<hr />
<p><strong>11. What do Alexander the Great and Winnie the Pooh have in common?</strong></p>

<p><em>They have the same middle name.</em></p>

<hr />
<p><strong>12. Did you hear about the two people who stole a calendar?&nbsp;They each got six months.</strong></p>

<h2>What to say after hearing a joke</h2>

<p>No matter how bad a joke is, the person telling the joke&nbsp;expects a response. Laughing is the best way to respond, but here are some things you can say:&nbsp;</p>

<ul>
	<li>I like that one.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>That&#39;s hilarious!</li>
	<li><em>My dad</em> would love that joke.</li>
	<li>I will tell that one to <em>my dad</em>.</li>
	<li>I have to remember that one.</li>
	<li>That was&nbsp;terrible.</li>
	<li>That was so bad.</li>
	<li>I&#39;m going to pretend I didn&#39;t hear that.</li>
</ul>

<h2>What to say if you don&#39;t understand a joke</h2>

<p>We hope you understand the simple dad jokes above, but it&#39;s not always easy to follow or understand longer or narrative jokes, especially in a new language! If you don&#39;t understand a joke, you can say the following:</p>

<ul>
	<li>I don&#39;t get it.&nbsp;</li>
	<li>Give me a minute.</li>
	<li>Say that again?&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
	<li>That went above my head.</li>
</ul>

<blockquote>
<p>Do you have a good &quot;dad joke&quot; to share? Make sure it has all the qualities of a dad joke. Then share it in the comments! Practice responding to jokes too!</p>
</blockquote>


12 "Dad Jokes" for Father's Day

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<p>Listen and read along.</p>

<div class="ckeditor-html5-audio" style="text-align: center;">
<audio controls="controls" controlslist="nodownload" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/attachments/3257/camping-post.mp3">&nbsp;</audio>
</div>

<p>When summer arrives and the weather gets warm, people all around the world&nbsp;eagerly pack&nbsp;their bags, hop in the car or on a bus or train, and head into nature for some quality camping time. But not all camping experiences are alike! Here are a few questions to consider before you venture outdoors&nbsp;so that you can have the best possible experience,&nbsp;whether you prefer <strong>glamping</strong> or <strong>roughing it</strong>.</p>

<h2>How &ldquo;outdoorsy&rdquo; are you really?</h2>

<p>Some people love sleeping under the stars. Others prefer spending time outside without forsaking the&nbsp;<strong>creature comforts</strong> of modern amenities. The good news is that both perspectives are valid. If the thought of sleeping outside among the <strong>critters</strong> <strong>makes your skin crawl</strong>, consider renting a yurt with electricity, heating, and air-conditioning&nbsp;or maybe a trailer with its own cooking facilities. On the other hand, you might be someone who thrives on reconnecting with the wilderness. For you, a single <strong>pup tent</strong> or hammock might be enough!</p>

<h2>Who&rsquo;s invited?</h2>

<p>When you imagine yourself camping, who are you with? Since camping is<strong>n&rsquo;t</strong> <strong>everyone&rsquo;s cup of tea</strong>, it&rsquo;s a good idea to invite people who will enjoy the experience. Your <strong>high-maintenance</strong> cousin might not be the best person to pitch a tent with, no matter how well you get along.</p>

<h2>What&rsquo;s your ideal setting?</h2>

<p>Maybe you live in a rural area with plenty of great camping spots around. If you&rsquo;re more of a <strong>city slicker</strong>, however, you might have to drive a couple of hours to get to your location of choice. Decide how far you&rsquo;re willing to go&nbsp;and what sort of environment you&rsquo;d prefer. Do you want a lake or river to swim in, or are you more focused on finding great hiking trails? Do dense forests make you nervous&nbsp;or are you a fan of the shade they provide?</p>

<p>Considering these questions&nbsp;before you set out will help you have a better overall camping experience. If you have any camping stories to share, go ahead and post them in the comments. We&rsquo;d love to hear them!</p>

<h2>Vocabulary</h2>

<ul>
	<li><em>glamping</em>: a luxurious version of camping&nbsp;(&quot;glamour&quot; + &quot;camping&quot;)</li>
	<li><em>rough&nbsp;it</em>: to live without the usual comforts of everyday life</li>
	<li><em>creature comforts:</em> small luxuries that make you comfortable</li>
	<li><em>critters</em>: small animals that live outside</li>
	<li><em>make your skin crawl</em>: to give you a creepy, uncomfortable feeling</li>
	<li><em>pup tent</em>: a small tent for one&nbsp;person</li>
	<li><em>not one&#39;s&nbsp;cup of tea</em>: something one doesn&#39;t enjoy</li>
	<li><em>high-maintenance</em>: needing a lot of special attention</li>
	<li><em>city slicker:</em> someone who lives in an urban enviroment</li>
</ul>


Camping: Getting the Most Out of an Outdoor Adventure

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<p>Do you know the expression &quot;one in a million&quot;? It means someone or something is rare or special. Ali is one of these people.</p>

<p>We learned about Ali from her father, an English language teacher named Harry Waters. He shared this video of Ali on his LinkedIn page. One in a million, right?</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/opRvOjhliRc" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>

<p><a href="https://www.kidsagainstplastic.co.uk/1millionlitterpick" target="_blank">Ali has a huge goal</a>. She wants to pick up one million pieces of litter before her next birthday. She also wants to raise awareness about plastic consumption.</p>

<p>How can you help Ali? Here are two simple ways:</p>

<h3>1. Learn about the dangers of plastic consumption</h3>

<p>Watch Ali&#39;s video above and discuss it with your class. Then read about Ali&#39;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.kidsagainstplastic.co.uk/1millionlitterpick">campaign</a>. Why would you describe Ali as one in a million?<br />
<br />
Ellii has a few lessons you can use to learn more about this environmental issue. You can ask your teacher to share one of these lessons with you.</p>

<ul>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/1285-ocean-garbage">Ocean Garbage</a>&nbsp;</li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/4031-un-plastics-treaty">UN Plastics Treaty</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/4380-trashion-show" target="_blank">Trashion Show</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/1212-garbage-solutions" target="_blank">Garbage Solutions</a></li>
</ul>

<p>In our <strong>Famous Things</strong> section, we also have a lesson on <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/1462-plastic">Plastic</a>. In this lesson, you can learn about the history of this material and find out when&nbsp;<em>the plastic craze</em>&nbsp;began. At the end of the lesson, you can share a personal response using the speaking task.</p>

<p><br />
<a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/1462-plastic"><img alt="speaking task, plastic consumption" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/3252/content_content_Screen_Shot_2023-06-08_at_11.33.20_AM.png" /></a></p>

<p>Ali also cares about the <a href="https://ellii.com/collections/global-issues/sustainable-development-goals">Sustainable Development Goals</a>. You can watch <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4Wdt37YWyU&amp;list=PLuqJWaXJtKo_kd5lJk0yb2GRd1GKR3Faf" target="_blank">Ali&#39;s videos and tips </a>about these goals on&nbsp;YouTube.</p>

<h3>2. Pick up litter (&amp; log it)</h3>

<p>Ali needs your help to carefully dispose of litter (especially dangerous plastics) in your area. Your class can join this challenge together, or you can do your part individually.</p>

<ol>
	<li><a href="https://www.kidsagainstplastic.co.uk/apphelp">Download the Litter Logging App</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.kidsagainstplastic.co.uk/alismap">Log your litter clean-up and get on Ali&#39;s&nbsp;Map</a></li>
</ol>

<h2>Glossary</h2>

<ul>
	<li><strong>one in a million</strong>: <em>a very special person or thing</em></li>
	<li><strong>campaign</strong>:<i> an organized plan to complete a goal</i></li>
	<li><strong>consumption</strong>: <em>the usage of a resource</em></li>
	<li><strong>dispose</strong>:<em> to throw out</em></li>
	<li><strong>litter</strong>: <em>garbage</em></li>
	<li><strong>log</strong>: <em>to record (write down) an action or item on a form</em></li>
</ul>

<blockquote>
<p>Do you know someone who could be described as &quot;one in a million&quot;? Tell us about this special person in the comments!&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>


One in a Million: Plastic Litter Challenge

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<p><em>Tina Turner was a music legend who touched the hearts of so many, including three young girls who&#39;ve grown into strong women here at&nbsp;Ellii.</em></p>

<hr />
<p>When I was a little girl, my parents played Tina Turner tapes in the car all the time (yes, cassette tapes, haha!), so, of course, I became a fan of&nbsp;hers too.</p>

<p>When I was about seven or eight&nbsp;years old, she was playing a concert in my city and I really wanted to go, but it <strong>sold out</strong> fast and I was so disappointed.</p>

<p>One day my mother and I were shopping at The Bay, and I was complaining because we couldn&rsquo;t get tickets to the concert. Luckily for us, the store clerk <strong>overheard</strong> us and he just happened to be a ticket <strong>scalper</strong>. He quietly approached us and sold us four tickets to see Tina Turner. And not just tickets, but floor seats in the third or fourth row!</p>

<p>My parents, my friend, and I went, and I was totally <strong>mesmerized</strong> by her. She was amazing, but I was too young to appreciate what a legend she was. That was the first concert I ever went to, and it&rsquo;s such a special memory that I will never forget!</p>

<p>I was so sad to hear about her <strong>passing</strong>.</p>

<p>&mdash;Alison from Ellii</p>

<hr />
<p>I loved Tina Turner. One of my high school friends, who just recently died of cancer, used to <strong>crank</strong> Tina <strong>up</strong> in the car and sing along <strong>at the top of her lungs</strong> as she <strong>careened</strong> around mountain curves.</p>

<p>It&#39;s a great memory because my friend was very quiet, but Tina brought out the animal in her.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&mdash;Ann from Ellii</p>

<hr />
<p>My first concert was the Private Dancer <strong>tour</strong> when I was 10 years old. My dad took me, and I remember her <strong>prancing</strong> around the stage in her white <strong>tank</strong> and jeans. She was incredible! My dad just <strong>passed</strong> last July, so it warms my heart to know he now has a front row seat.&nbsp;</p>

<p>&mdash;Michelle M. from Ellii</p>

<hr />
<blockquote><em>Add your own special Tina Turner memory in the comments and help us build a special tribute to the Queen of Rock &amp; Roll.</em></blockquote>

<h2>Glossary</h2>

<ul>
	<li>sell out: <em>to sell all of the tickets to a show</em></li>
	<li>overhear: <em>to hear other people talking in a conversation you are not involved in</em></li>
	<li>mesmerized: <em>to be unable to stop looking at something amazing</em></li>
	<li>scalper<em>: a person who resells tickets for more than the original cost</em></li>
	<li>crank up: <em>to turn the sound up high</em></li>
	<li>at the top of one&#39;s lungs: <em>very loudly</em></li>
	<li>careen: <em>to move quickly and almost uncontrollably</em></li>
	<li>tour: <em>a series of performances in different locations</em></li>
	<li>prance: <em>to walk around with a dance in one&#39;s step</em></li>
	<li>tank (top): <em>a sleeveless shirt</em></li>
	<li>passing / pass (away): <em>death, to die</em></li>
</ul>

<div class="whiteBox">
<h2><span class="label hangingLabel">Related Lesson</span></h2>

<h2 class="circleThumb"><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/4571-tina-turner-simply-the-best"><img alt="Tina Turner" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/3215/content_133_Tina-Turner-Simply-the-Best.png" /></a></h2>

<h2><a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/4571-tina-turner-simply-the-best">Tina Turner: Simply the Best</a></h2>
</div>

<h2>Listen to Tina Turner</h2>

<p>This playlist features all of the music mentioned in the <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/4570-tina-turner-simply-the-best">advanced</a> version of Ellii&#39;s Tina Turner lesson.<br />
<iframe allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; fullscreen; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="352" loading="lazy" src="https://open.spotify.com/embed/playlist/1KjnpM0cGZHvQgMM2eNAoe?utm_source=generator" style="border-radius:12px" width="100%"></iframe></p>


Our Heartfelt Tina Turner Memories

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<p>Listen and read along.</p>

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<audio controls="controls" controlslist="nodownload" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/attachments/3205/Cockney-Slang.mp3">&nbsp;</audio>
</div>

<p>Unless you grew up in the UK, you&rsquo;ve likely never heard of cockney rhyming slang. This unique way of speaking can be confusing to those unfamiliar with it. However, if you ever find yourself in&nbsp;London, you&rsquo;ll have a great time piecing conversations together&mdash;that is, once you crack the code!</p>

<h2>What does &quot;cockney&quot; mean?</h2>

<p>&quot;Cockney&quot; refers to a person who is from&nbsp;the East End of London, England. According to popular tradition, a true cockney is someone who lives close enough to hear the bells of the Church of St. Mary-Le-Bow&nbsp;in an area known as Cheapside.</p>

<p>Stereotypical cockneys are working-class people, and the term was originally meant as an insult. However, nowadays cockneys use the title with pride.</p>

<p>The cockney accent is very different from what people call &ldquo;the Queen&rsquo;s English,&rdquo; which is considered an upper-class way of speaking. But what truly separates cockney English from typical London English is the slang. According to <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Cockney">Britannica.com</a>, &ldquo;There are as many as 150 terms that are recognized instantly by any rhyming slang user.&rdquo; Below are just a few&nbsp;commonly used phrases and their meanings.</p>

<h2>Common phrases</h2>

<ul>
	<li>apples and pears = stairs</li>
	<li>army and navy = gravy</li>
	<li>bees and honey = money</li>
	<li>bottle and stopper = copper (policeman)</li>
	<li>box of toys =&nbsp;noise</li>
	<li>brown bread =&nbsp;dead</li>
	<li>bubble bath =&nbsp;laugh</li>
	<li>borrow and beg =&nbsp;egg</li>
	<li>currant bun =&nbsp;sun</li>
	<li>cut and carried =&nbsp;married</li>
	<li>dog and bone =&nbsp;phone</li>
	<li>early hours =&nbsp;flowers</li>
	<li>light and dark =&nbsp;park</li>
	<li>loaf of bread =&nbsp;head</li>
	<li>lump of ice =&nbsp;advice</li>
	<li>mince pies =&nbsp;eyes</li>
	<li>on the floor =&nbsp;poor</li>
	<li>pleasure and pain =&nbsp;rain</li>
	<li>china plate =&nbsp;mate (friend)</li>
</ul>

<h2>Give it a try!</h2>

<p>Now that you&rsquo;ve had a taste of it, try translating this paragraph:</p>

<p>Oi,*&nbsp;china plate! Let me give you a lump of ice. When talking to a pretty girl, look her in the mince pies and make her bubble bath. On the floor? No problem! Pick her a nice bunch of early hours. Calling her up on the dog and bone and taking her on a nice walk in the light and dark doesn&rsquo;t cost any bees and honey either&mdash;but make sure the currant bun is shining! There&rsquo;s nothing like pleasure and pain to ruin a good date. Lastly, just use your loaf of bread and&nbsp;you&rsquo;ll be cut and carried in no time!</p>

<p>*&quot;Oi&quot; is a typical&nbsp;cockney exclamation.</p>

<h2>What do you think?</h2>

<p>Could you ever get used to speaking in cockney rhyming slang? Does your first language have anything similar? Let us know in the comments!</p>


What Is Cockney Rhyming Slang?

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<p><em>Note to students: This&nbsp;article uses Canadian spelling.&nbsp;Listen and follow along with the article. Then&nbsp;take the student challenge. A glossary of keywords is available at the end.</em></p>

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<p>Red Dress Day, observed annually in Canada on May 5, raises&nbsp;awareness about missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and&nbsp;<strong>two-spirit people</strong>.&nbsp;This date serves as a reminder of the ongoing violence and <strong>systemic</strong> issues faced by Indigenous communities.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>The origin of Red Dress Day</h2>

<p>In 2010, Jaime Black, a M&eacute;tis artist from Canada, created a powerful&nbsp;installation of hanging empty&nbsp;red dresses.&nbsp;She called the installation the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.jaimeblackartist.com/exhibitions/">REDress Project</a>. It was first shown at the University of Winnipeg&nbsp;in 2011 and has travelled throughout Canada and to Washington, DC, since then.&nbsp;This exhibition inspired the observance of Red Dress Day.</p>

<p>The US also commemorates this day,&nbsp;sharing the objective of raising awareness about the <strong>alarming</strong> rates of violence faced by Indigenous women and girls in America.</p>

<h2>Why a <em>red</em> dress?</h2>

<p>The colour red was chosen because it represents the bloodshed and violence endured by Indigenous women throughout history&nbsp;while also drawing attention to the need for justice and action.&nbsp;By wearing red on this day, people across the country show their <strong>solidarity</strong> and support for the families affected by these tragedies.</p>

<h2>Increasing awareness and advocacy</h2>

<p>The primary goal of Red Dress Day is to raise public awareness about the high rates of violence faced by Indigenous women through organized events, including marches and educational campaigns. The hope is that increased awareness will lead to <strong>policy</strong> <strong>changes</strong>, improved support services, and <strong>prevention initiatives</strong>.<br />
<br />
Red Dress Day, like <a href="https://ellii.com/blog/orange-shirt-day">Orange Shirt Day</a>, serves as a platform for healing, remembrance, and support for the families who continue to <strong>mourn</strong> the loss of their loved ones. Through shared grief and <strong>resilience</strong>, communities can find <strong>solace</strong> and strength while also demanding justice.</p>

<p><strong>Glossary</strong></p>

<ul>
	<li><strong>systemic: </strong>relating to a system</li>
	<li><strong>alarming: </strong>surprising (in a negative way)</li>
	<li><strong>solidarity: </strong>support that shows you are in something together</li>
	<li><strong>policy change: </strong>a change to a rule or law</li>
	<li><strong>prevention initiative:&nbsp;</strong>a new idea with a goal of stopping something from happening again&nbsp;</li>
	<li><strong>mourn: </strong>to feel and express sadness over a loss or death</li>
	<li><strong>two-spirit person: </strong>an individual who embodies a blend of male and female spirits</li>
	<li><strong>resilience: </strong>strength during difficult times</li>
	<li><strong>solace: </strong>comfort during times of sadness</li>
</ul>

<h2>Learn more</h2>

<p>Are you a newcomer honouring a commitment to learn more about the treatment of Indigenous people? Ask your teacher to share Ellii&#39;s True Grammar Stories lesson&nbsp;<a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/3363-indigenous-people-simple-present-past">Indigenous People: Simple Present &amp; Past</a>, which&nbsp;includes the true story of&nbsp;Chantel Moore,&nbsp;an Indigenous woman from the Tla‑o‑qui‑aht First Nation, who&nbsp;died at the hands of police in New Brunswick, Canada. Ellii also has a Holidays &amp; Events lesson where you&nbsp;can learn about <a href="https://app.ellii.com/lesson/3783-national-day-for-truth-and-reconciliation">National Day for Truth and Reconciliation</a> (Orange Shirt Day).&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>Challenge: Wear red on May 5. Then ask a friend this question: <em>Do you know why I&#39;m wearing red today? </em>How will you answer? Leave a comment summarizing what you will say.</p>
</blockquote>


Red Dress Day: Honouring Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIWG)

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<p>Spring is back in the Northern Hemisphere and the world is coming alive again. It&rsquo;s a time for blooming flowers, nice weather, and renewed energy.&nbsp;What better time to clean your house? It&#39;s common knowledge that spending time in clean, organized spaces is good for mental health. Here are some spring cleaning tips to bring freshness to your living space, no matter where you live! And, to <strong>kill two birds with one stone</strong>, why not learn some idioms at the same time?</p>

<h2><strong>Make a donation</strong></h2>

<p><strong>Take a page out of </strong>organizing consultant&nbsp;Marie Kondo&rsquo;s <strong>book </strong>and clear your clutter&nbsp;by donating or giving away items that do not &ldquo;spark joy.&rdquo;&nbsp;This might include clothes you haven&rsquo;t worn in a while, books you&rsquo;ve already read, or knickknacks&nbsp;you just don&rsquo;t love anymore.</p>

<h2><strong>Pop open a Coke</strong></h2>

<p>Nobody likes scrubbing the toilet, but here&#39;s a trick that won&#39;t require you to use too much <strong>elbow grease</strong>. If you have rust rings&nbsp;in your toilet bowl, pouring a full can of cola over them can help get rid of them! Pour the soda around the rim so it covers the entire bowl, wait for an hour, and then scrub and flush. The result should be <strong>clean as a whistle</strong>!</p>

<h2><strong>Have a freezer feast</strong></h2>

<p>If you&rsquo;re the kind of person who throws everything in the freezer until there&rsquo;s no room left, invite some friends over and have a party. After you&#39;ve prepared the food&nbsp;that&rsquo;s been stashed away over the last few months, you and your pals can enjoy <strong>pigging out</strong>.</p>

<h2><strong>Get that hair out of there</strong></h2>

<p>We love our pets, but they sure do shed. Hair-removing rollers <strong>don&rsquo;t</strong> always <strong>cut it</strong>, and they can be expensive. Luckily, you can remove pet hair from furniture with something you probably already have in your home&mdash;a pair of rubber gloves! Just slip them on and run your hand over those hairy surfaces.</p>

<h2><strong>Get rid of sink stink</strong></h2>

<p>If your kitchen has a garbage disposal, then you know those things can get awfully smelly.&nbsp;Toss a few lemon rinds in there and turn the disposal on for 30 seconds. Add some cold water&nbsp;and inhale the freshness!</p>

<p>Do you have any favorite cleaning tips? If so, we&rsquo;d love to hear them. Leave us a comment and share the knowledge. Happy cleaning!</p>

<h1>Glossary</h1>

<ul>
	<li>kill two birds with one stone: <em>to&nbsp;achieve two things at once</em></li>
	<li>elbow grease:<i>&nbsp;physical effort</i></li>
	<li>clean as a whistle<i>: very clean</i></li>
	<li>take a page out of someone&#39;s book: <em>to follow someone&#39;s example</em></li>
	<li>pig out: <em>to eat a lot of food at one time</em></li>
	<li>not cut it<em>: to not be good enough to do something</em></li>
</ul>


Make a Clean Sweep: Learn Some Tips (& Idioms) for Spring Cleaning

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<p class="caption">This post is in the <strong>For Students</strong> area of our blog. If you are a teacher, you can share it with your students for extra reading practice. The audio features an Irish accent.</p>

<div class="ckeditor-html5-audio" style="text-align: center;">
<audio controls="controls" controlslist="nodownload" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/attachments/3087/St-Patricks-Day-popular.mp3">&nbsp;</audio>
</div>

<p>St. Patrick&rsquo;s Day may have originated in Ireland, but it is incredibly popular in the United States and Canada. Why? Because many North Americans are of Irish descent, which means that their <strong>ancestors</strong> came from Ireland.</p>

<h2>What brought the first Irish people to North America?</h2>

<p>Before the US gained independence, it was a collection of 13 British colonies. Many Irish people left their homeland because of religious conflict and poverty. Some of them came to the colonies as part of the British army, and some were <strong>indentured servants</strong>.</p>

<p>There were so many Irish people in the colonies by 1762 that New York City held its first St. Patrick&rsquo;s Day parade!</p>

<h2>A second wave</h2>

<p>In the early 19th century, the potato had become&nbsp;a staple of the Irish diet. However, in 1845, the potato crops in Ireland began to fail, leading to starvation. This period was known as the Irish Potato <strong>Famine,</strong>&nbsp;and it brought another wave of Irish immigrants to North America.</p>

<p>Because Ireland and Canada were both part of Britain at the time, tickets to Canada were less expensive than fares to the US. While&nbsp;many Irish chose to call Canada home,&nbsp;others&nbsp;found the financial resources to make their way to the US.&nbsp;The transatlantic journey was difficult. In the mid-1800s, it took 12 weeks&nbsp;to cross the ocean by boat.</p>

<h2>What&#39;s it like now?</h2>

<p>Nowadays in the US, approximately 26% of the population has&nbsp;Irish ancestors or relatives, and&nbsp;more than 13% of Canadians&nbsp;are of Irish <strong>heritage</strong>. It&rsquo;s no wonder St. Patrick&rsquo;s Day is so popular in these places!</p>

<blockquote>
<p>Writing challenge: Write a comment using the words &quot;ancestors&quot; and &quot;heritage&quot; to describe something interesting about your family or culture.</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>Glossary</h2>

<ul>
	<li>ancestors: <i>family members from the past</i></li>
	<li>indentured servants: <em>people who had to work without a salary for seven years to pay for their travel to America</em></li>
	<li>famine: <em>an extreme shortage of food that leads to widespread hunger</em></li>
	<li>heritage: <em>the culture&nbsp;and traditions of a person&rsquo;s parents and grandparents</em></li>
</ul>


Why Do North Americans Love St. Patrick's Day?

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<p class="caption">This post is in our For Students category and was written for English learners. If you are an English teacher, you can share a link and invite students to take Ellii&#39;s Grammar Day challenge.</p>

<div class="ckeditor-html5-audio" style="text-align: center;">
<audio controls="controls" controlslist="nodownload" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/attachments/3077/grammar-day-2023-T.mp3">&nbsp;</audio>
</div>

<p>National Grammar Day is on March 4 (pronounced <em>March fourth</em>). Ellii&#39;s (formerly ESL Library&#39;s) writers and editors have been celebrating <strong>National</strong>&nbsp;<strong>Grammar Day</strong> for several years!&nbsp;</p>

<p>On Grammar Day, we&nbsp;honor English learners like you who work hard to improve your communication skills, one grammar target at a time!&nbsp;Understanding the rules of grammar will help you speak and write more clearly and effectively.</p>

<blockquote>
<p>&ldquo;Language is something to be celebrated, and March 4 is the perfect day to do it. It&rsquo;s not only a date, it&rsquo;s an imperative: March <strong>forth</strong> on March 4 to speak well, write well, and help others do the same!&rdquo;</p>

<p>&mdash;National Grammar Day website</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>6 Common English Errors</h2>

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<p>March 4* was chosen for National Grammar Day because the words &quot;forth&quot; (<em>forward</em>) and &quot;fourth&quot; (<em>the number four in a series</em>) are often confused.</p>

<p><strong>March forth on the fourth (4th) of March.</strong></p>

<p>*When using <strong>ordinal numbers</strong> (e.g., 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th) as part of a&nbsp;date in a&nbsp;sentence, most grammar gurus&nbsp;recommend leaving the short forms out and just <strong>writing</strong> the number after the calendar month. For example: <em>March 4, National Grammar Day, is on&nbsp;Saturday</em>.&nbsp;</p>

<p>To celebrate National Grammar Day this year, we&#39;ve collected six more sets of words&nbsp;that are often confused (even&nbsp;writers and speakers whose first language is English confuse&nbsp;these). Do you know the difference between the words in this list? Click on the links for Tanya&#39;s&nbsp;tips on getting these right.</p>

<ul class="resources">
	<li class="correct"><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/so-vs-too">So Vs. Too</a></li>
	<li class="correct"><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/look-like-vs-like">Look Like Vs. Like</a></li>
	<li class="correct"><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/affect-vs-effect">Affect Vs. Effect</a></li>
	<li class="correct"><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/make-vs-do">Make Vs. Do</a></li>
	<li class="correct"><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/aw-vs-awe">Aw Vs. Awe</a></li>
	<li class="correct"><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/teaching-tips-on-its-and-its">Its Vs. It&#39;s</a></li>
</ul>

<p>Speaking of grammar...Did you know that <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@ellii">Ellii&#39;s YouTube</a> channel has free grammar videos for English learners to review the most common grammar targets? Here is just one example of a video from this playlist.&nbsp;</p>

<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-s1gu725tA4" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p>

<blockquote>
<p>Grammar Day Challenge: Choose one of the word pairs above and write an example sentence that contains both words. Or, if you really want a challenge, write a paragraph or dialogue using all 12 words! As a bonus, try using &quot;forth&quot; and &quot;fourth&quot; too.</p>
</blockquote>


6 Common English Errors to Review for National Grammar Day

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</div>

<p class="caption">Listen &amp; Read</p>

<p>With Valentine&rsquo;s Day coming up on February 14th, there&rsquo;s no better time to get into a romantic mood. Is there someone you have your eye on? Or maybe you want to show your long-term partner some <strong>appreciation</strong>&nbsp;or even send some warm <strong>vibes</strong> to your friends and family? If so, I&rsquo;ve got you covered.</p>

<p>In this post, you&rsquo;ll find three ways to celebrate&nbsp;Valentine&rsquo;s Day.</p>

<h2>A classic card</h2>

<p>Offering your loved one a card on Valentine&rsquo;s Day, along with a box of chocolates, is never a bad idea. Include a few lines of <strong>verse</strong> to get your message across. This&nbsp;<strong>timeless</strong> Valentine&rsquo;s Day poem can do the trick:</p>

<blockquote>
<p><em>Roses are red.</em></p>

<p><em>Violets are blue.</em></p>

<p><em>Sugar is sweet,</em></p>

<p><em>And so are you!</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>But why not make your own <strong>variation</strong>? Notice how the second and fourth line rhyme. It is easy to <strong>substitute</strong> these two lines with your own rhyming lines, like this:</p>

<blockquote>
<p><em>Roses are red.</em></p>

<p><em>Your eyes are brown.</em></p>

<p><em>You are the cutest&nbsp;</em></p>

<p><em>Girl in this town!</em></p>
</blockquote>

<p>Of course, Valentine&rsquo;s Day cards don&rsquo;t have to follow a <strong>formula</strong>. Any personal <strong>sentiment </strong>is sure to make your loved one <strong>swoon</strong>! And if you want to get things just right, check out this post on <a href="https://ellii.com/blog/valentines-day-capitalization-and-punctuation-rules">Valentine&#39;s Day Capitalization &amp; Punctuation Rules</a>.</p>

<h2>A home-cooked meal</h2>

<p>It&rsquo;s no secret that restaurants <strong>tend to</strong> be very busy on Valentine&rsquo;s Day. So why not re-create the restaurant experience at home? Bring out your best tablecloth and light some candles.&nbsp;Then serve your loved one their favorite home-cooked meal.&nbsp;Or, even better, cook the meal together!</p>

<h2>A treasure hunt</h2>

<p>If you&rsquo;re looking for something a little more unique, you might want to try a treasure hunt. Grab a stack of notecards&nbsp;and number them from 1 to 10. On each card, write a clue about where to find the next card. Hide all the cards in your house, except the first one, which should be somewhere <strong>obvious</strong>. Your loved one will <strong>have a blast</strong> searching for each clue! And if you&rsquo;re feeling especially romantic, why not hide a gift along with the last card?</p>

<h3><strong>Glossary</strong></h3>

<ul>
	<li>appreciation:&nbsp;<em>a feeling of thankfulness</em></li>
	<li>vibes:<em> feelings</em></li>
	<li>verse:&nbsp;<em>poetry</em></li>
	<li>timeless:&nbsp;<em>always relevant</em></li>
	<li>variation: <em>version</em></li>
	<li>substitute: to put one thing in the place of another</li>
	<li>formula:&nbsp;<em>a standard plan&nbsp;</em></li>
	<li>sentiment:&nbsp;<em>expressed emotion</em></li>
	<li>swoon:<em>&nbsp;to feel an emotion, such as romantic love, so strongly that you almost faint</em></li>
	<li>tend to:<em>&nbsp;to usually do or have</em></li>
	<li>obvious:&nbsp;<em>clear, not hard to figure out</em></li>
	<li>have a blast: <em>to</em>&nbsp;<em>have fun</em></li>
</ul>

<blockquote>
<p>Do you have any fun Valentine&rsquo;s Day tips or stories? Spread the love in the comments below! (Try to use a word or phrase from the glossary.)</p>
</blockquote>

<ul>
</ul>


Share the Love with These Valentine's Day Ideas

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<audio controls="controls" controlslist="nodownload" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/attachments/2999/poetry-1.mp3">&nbsp;</audio>
</div>

<p>Do you like poetry? Personally, I have never had much interest in it. But as a writer and lover of words, I knew that one day I would need to give poetry a chance. And that day has arrived!</p>

<p>Every year, instead of making a New Year&#39;s resolution, I choose one word to focus on for the entire year.&nbsp;I encourage friends and family (and Ellii staff) to choose a <a href="https://ellii.com/blog/word-of-the-year-2022">Word of the Year</a> too. This year, my Word of the Year is <em>poetry</em>.&nbsp;</p>

<p><img alt="word of the year 2023 on Tara's office wall" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/2996/content_Tara-Benwell-poetry-words-2023_Ellii.jpg" /></p>

<p class="caption">Tara&#39;s Word of the Year wall for 2023, featuring her word (<em>poetry</em>) as well as words chosen by&nbsp;those who accepted her challenge. In case you&#39;re wondering if the word <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/five-life-affirming-words-we-should-bring-back-into-use-174848" target="_blank">respair</a></em>&nbsp;is a mistake, it&#39;s not!&nbsp;</p>

<div class="ckeditor-html5-audio" style="text-align: center;">
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</div>

<p>Though we&#39;re&nbsp;only a few weeks into 2023,&nbsp;I&rsquo;m embracing poetry like I never thought I would!&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<blockquote>
<p>Did you know? The word <em>poetry</em>&nbsp;comes from the Greek word <em>poiein</em>,&nbsp;meaning &quot;to make.&quot;</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>4 delicious reasons poetry is good for language learning</h2>

<p>As the head of the Publishing team here at Ellii, one thing I&#39;ve been thinking about a lot&nbsp;is how poetry could&nbsp;be used for language learning.<br />
<br />
As a teacher, it would be&nbsp;easy for me to try to convince you that when you study poetry, you use the four&nbsp;<strong>macro</strong> skills (Reading, Writing, Listening, and Speaking) as well as the three&nbsp;<strong>micro</strong> skills (Vocabulary, Grammar, and Pronunciation), but that&rsquo;s not very poetic! Instead, let&#39;s think about the deliciousness of a poem.</p>

<h3>1. Poetry is <strong>digestible</strong></h3>

<p>Unlike an article, a short story, or a novel, most poems can be read in a minute or two. You can enjoy the <strong>surface level</strong> of a poem or you can choose to go deeper and study it more fully.&nbsp;Think of a poem as just a moment in time. After you read or listen to a poem (and I hope you do both), try to have just one <strong>takeaway</strong>.</p>

<blockquote>
<p>Challenge: How did the poem make you feel?</p>
</blockquote>

<h3>2. Poetry is full of <strong>delectable</strong> words</h3>

<p>Poets are word lovers! They find the best words to describe exactly how they are thinking or feeling in a moment. When you start studying poetry, you&rsquo;ll recognize many words, but you&rsquo;ll also find delicious words you don&rsquo;t know.</p>

<blockquote>
<p>Challenge: Try to learn at least one new word from every poem you read. Make a list. (I do this myself!)</p>
</blockquote>

<h3>3. Poetry comes in every flavor</h3>

<p>You might think you don&rsquo;t like poetry because you associate poems with love. But there&rsquo;s so much more to poetry than <strong>sappy</strong> sonnets! There are poems about growing up, being in nature, leaving home, and getting a new job. Poems come in all shapes and sizes and can be about anything&nbsp;and everything (including AI).</p>

<p><img alt="Chat GPT Limerick" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/2997/content_Blog-ChatGPTLimerick.jpg" /></p>

<p class="caption">Screenshot from <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chatgpt-bot-passes-law-school-exam/" target="_blank">CBC video ChatGPT Bot Passes Law Exam</a></p>

<blockquote>
<p>Challenge: Search the internet for &ldquo;a poem about&nbsp;(<em>word of your choice</em>).&quot; You could also search for&nbsp;<strong>lyrics</strong>, which can be a form of poetry.&nbsp;</p>
</blockquote>

<h3>4. Poetry can make you hungry for more</h3>

<p>When you&rsquo;re learning a new language (or anything new), it is easy to get sidetracked (in other words, you&nbsp;fall off the wagon). At times, language&nbsp;learning feels&nbsp;like just another thing on your to-do list. But what if you felt a hunger for learning English? If you give it a chance, poetry can actually entice you to keep learning.&nbsp;Instead of feeling like a chore, you&#39;ll start to&nbsp;<strong>crave</strong> a new poem!</p>

<blockquote>
<p>Challenge: Try reading a poem a day for a week. I hope you&nbsp;find 365 poems you love this year! (That&#39;s my goal.)</p>
</blockquote>

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<audio controls="controls" controlslist="nodownload" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/attachments/3001/poetry-3.mp3">&nbsp;</audio>
</div>

<h2>4 things to do with a poem</h2>

<p>If you aren&#39;t sure what to do with a poem, here are four things to try:</p>

<ol>
	<li>Listen to the poem. (This is my favorite part of studying poetry so far.)</li>
	<li>Read the poem silently to your self. (Circle words you don&rsquo;t know and add at least one to your notebook.)</li>
	<li>Write a few lines in a notebook. (How was the poet feeling in this moment? How does the poem make me feel?)</li>
	<li><strong>Recite</strong> the poem. (Look up words you don&rsquo;t know how to pronounce.)</li>
</ol>

<p>Did you notice&nbsp;all the skills you used?</p>

<h2>4 places to find poetry</h2>

<p>Here are some places I&#39;ve been going to find poetry.&nbsp;</p>

<ol>
	<li><a href="https://onbeing.org/series/poetry-unbound/">Poetry Unbound</a> (a delicious podcast hosted by Irish poet P&aacute;draig &Oacute; Tuama)</li>
	<li><a href="https://poets.org/">Poets.org</a></li>
	<li><a href="https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/poem-of-the-day">Poetry Foundation&#39;s Poem of the Day</a></li>
	<li>The Poetry section of my local library and&nbsp;bookstore</li>
</ol>

<p>Please share a tip if you have some suggestions of your own!</p>

<h3>Glossary</h3>

<ul>
	<li>macro: <em>large, main</em></li>
	<li>micro: <em>small, minor</em></li>
	<li>digestable<em>: easy to consume</em></li>
	<li>surface level: <em>just the basics</em></li>
	<li>takeaway: <em>an important thing or detail&nbsp;that you liked or learned</em></li>
	<li>delectable: <em>delicious, attractive</em></li>
	<li>sappy: <em>overly emotional&nbsp;</em></li>
	<li>lyrics: <em>words in songs</em></li>
	<li>crave: <em>to feel like you really want to eat (or have)</em></li>
	<li>recite: <em>to&nbsp;say out loud, especially from memory</em></li>
</ul>

<blockquote>
<p>Will you give poetry a chance? Share your thoughts in the comments.</p>
</blockquote>

<h2>Related tips for English learners</h2>

<ul class="resources">
	<li class="blog-post"><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/4-goals-to-help-you-focus" target="_blank">Struggling to Focus? 4 Types of Goals to Get Your Language Learning Back on Track</a></li>
	<li class="blog-post"><a href="https://ellii.com/blog/improve-your-listening-with-true-stories" target="_blank">Improve Your Listening Skills with True Stories</a></li>
</ul>

<div class="whiteBox">
<p class="circleThumb"><img src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/2907/content_lightbulb.png" /></p>

<h2>Looking for more language learning fun?</h2>

<p>Subscribe to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Ellii">Ellii&#39;s YouTube channel</a>&nbsp;and enjoy free video content, including grammar videos and more!</p>
</div>


4 Delicious Reasons to Learn English with Poetry

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<p>It&#39;s that time of year again!</p>

<p>People around the world are celebrating a variety of holidays, including <a href="https://ellii.com/courses/93/lessons/1853" target="_blank">Christmas</a>, <a href="https://www.ellii.com/courses/93/lessons/1857" target="_blank">Chanukah</a>, <a href="https://www.ellii.com/courses/93/lessons/1856" target="_blank">Kwanzaa</a>, and even <a href="https://www.ellii.com/courses/93/lessons/1913" target="_blank">Festivus</a>.</p>

<p>At this time, you might be thinking about writing<strong> holiday greeting cards</strong> to friends or coworkers. But as an English learner, finding the right words for a holiday card or an <a href="https://ellii.com/lessons/writing-in-english/1829-how-to-write-an-email" target="_blank">email</a> can be a challenge.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In this post, we&rsquo;ve compiled a list of our favorite English holiday greetings and some useful writing tips to help you add a personal touch to your holiday messages.&nbsp;</p>

<h2>English holiday greetings for everyone on your list</h2>

<p>Whether you want heart-warming messages for friends and family or more formal messages to share with your team at work, these holiday greetings are the perfect way to spread the joy this holiday season.</p>

<h3>Holiday greetings for family or friends</h3>

<p>The holidays are a great time to reconnect with family and friends.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Here are some ideas for English holiday-inspired messages you can send to friends or loved ones:</p>

<ul>
	<li>&ldquo;So thankful to have a friend like you at Christmas and all year long.&rdquo;</li>
	<li>&ldquo;Happy Chanukah! Wishing you love and joy during the Festival of Lights.&rdquo;</li>
	<li>&ldquo;Happy holidays to you and your loved&nbsp;ones!&rdquo;</li>
	<li>&ldquo;Knowing people like you makes this wonderful time of year even more&nbsp;meaningful.&rdquo;</li>
	<li>&ldquo;Our family is so lucky to have you in our lives. Hope you have a fabulous holiday&nbsp;season!&rdquo;</li>
	<li>&ldquo;Hoping you have a lovely holiday season filled with moments you&rsquo;ll always&nbsp;remember.&rdquo;</li>
	<li>&ldquo;May the magic and the wonder of the holiday season stay with you throughout the coming&nbsp;year.&rdquo;</li>
</ul>

<h3>Holiday greetings for colleagues or clients</h3>

<p>As the year winds down, the holidays are the perfect time to thank your colleagues or clients for making your work a success.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Here is a list of festive greetings you could use for your coworkers or customers:</p>

<ul>
	<li>&ldquo;Hoping that 2023&nbsp;brings you many wonderful&nbsp;opportunities!&rdquo;</li>
	<li>&ldquo;Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a successful new&nbsp;year!&rdquo;</li>
	<li>&ldquo;Best wishes for a new year filled with joy and spectacular&nbsp;success.&rdquo;</li>
	<li>&ldquo;Doing business with you is a pleasure! Hope you have a lovely&nbsp;Christmas.&rdquo;</li>
	<li>&ldquo;We truly appreciate your business and wish you the best in the coming&nbsp;year.&rdquo;</li>
	<li>&ldquo;Thanks for a great year, and we wish you all the best as you embark on&nbsp;2023.&rdquo;</li>
	<li>&ldquo;Thank you for being a part of the [company name] family. Hope you have a joyous holiday and new&nbsp;year!&rdquo;</li>
</ul>

<p><a href="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/post/blog_printable/Printable-Holiday-Cards_Ellii.pdf" target="_blank"><img alt="Four holiday greeting cards to print." src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/2889/content_Printable-Holiday-Cards_Ellii.jpg" /></a></p>

<div class="white-box">
<p>Do you teach young learners? Here are <a href="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/attachments/3538/Printable-BW-Holiday-Cards_Ellii.pdf" target="_blank">black-and-white versions</a> you can print out for your students to color! Adults might appreciate adding their own flair to these cards as well.</p>
</div>

<p>Write your holiday-inspired messages in these <a href="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/post/blog_printable/Printable-Holiday-Cards_Ellii.pdf" target="_blank">printable holiday greeting cards</a>.</p>

<h2>5 tips for writing holiday greeting cards in English</h2>

<p>These five writing tips are all you need to write a memorable holiday message in English.</p>

<h3>1. Find a writing buddy</h3>

<p>Writing holiday greetings is always more enjoyable with a friend. You can bounce ideas off each other and proofread each other&rsquo;s drafts before writing the final message in your card.&nbsp;</p>

<h3>2. Remember to be sensitive to people&#39;s beliefs</h3>

<p>People might be celebrating a variety of holidays during this season. So, if you&rsquo;re not certain if a colleague or acquaintance celebrates Christmas, choose a neutral greeting such as &ldquo;Happy Holidays,&rdquo; &ldquo;Season&rsquo;s Greetings,&rdquo; or &ldquo;Festive Wishes.&rdquo; You can also ask if they have a holiday preference.</p>

<h3>3. Keep it brief</h3>

<p>This is especially true when writing to clients or coworkers. Try to avoid adding personal details, and keep the message short and professional.</p>

<h3>4. Consider adding an adjective</h3>

<p>Even if your message is short, you can make it more personable by choosing an <a href="https://ellii.com/blog/adjectives" target="_blank">adjective</a> that expresses your friend&rsquo;s taste or style.</p>

<p>For example, if your friend is a lover of food, you could say, &ldquo;Wishing you a <strong>delicious</strong> holiday&nbsp;season!&rdquo;</p>

<h3>5. Choose an appropriate closing</h3>

<p>Ending your message with &ldquo;Love,&rdquo; or &ldquo;With love,&rdquo; should be kept for friends and family. For colleagues and clients, &ldquo;Best wishes,&rdquo; or&nbsp;&ldquo;Warm regards,&rdquo; might be a better alternative.</p>

<h2><a href="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/post/blog_printable/Tips-for-Writing-Holiday-Greeting-Cards-in-English_Ellii.pdf" target="_blank"><img alt="" src="https://esllibrary.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/ckeditor/pictures/2888/content_Tips-for-Writing-Holiday-Greeting-Cards-in-English_Ellii.jpg" /></a></h2>

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<h5>Share your thoughts</h5>

<p>Do you have any ideas you&rsquo;d like to add to this list? Share them with us in the comments. Thanks for reading, and happy holidays!</p>
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<p><em>Editor&#39;s note:&nbsp;This post was originally published in December 2019&nbsp;and has been updated for comprehensiveness.</em></p>
