Poly's Notes

Short, practical tips for learning languages by speaking: overcoming the fear, preparing for an interview, passing an exam and more.

• How to Adapt Your Resume in English for Jobs Abroad

  Your resume in English can open doors abroad. Learn to adapt it to what international employers expect, and to talk about it with confidence in the interview.

• How to Adapt Your CV in Portuguese for Brazil or Portugal

  A Portuguese CV is a lovely way to introduce yourself. Adapt it to employers in Brazil or Portugal and walk into the interview with confidence.

• How many hours a week to learn a language?

  How much time per week do you need to see real progress in a language? Honest guidance, plus how to get more out of every hour.

• English Job Interview: Key Phrases and Tips

  Get ready for your job interview in English with useful phrases and three practical tips to speak with confidence and calm.

• Job Interview in Portuguese: Key Phrases and Tips

  Prepare for your job interview in Portuguese with real phrases and three practical tips to speak confidently from the very first minute.

• Common Spanish Mistakes English Speakers Make

  The most common mistakes English speakers make in Spanish, from ser vs. estar to false friends, and friendly ways to turn them into progress.

• Spain vs. Latin American Spanish: Choosing a Tutor

  The real differences between Spanish from Spain and Latin America, from vosotros to vocabulary, and how to pick the right tutor for your goals.

• English Proficiency Exams: TOEFL, IELTS or Cambridge

  How to choose and prepare for an English proficiency exam: how TOEFL, IELTS and Cambridge differ and how to train all four skills.

• Portuguese Proficiency Exam: A Guide to CELPE-Bras

  What the CELPE-Bras is, what other options exist to certify your Portuguese, and how to prepare so you can take it with confidence.

• Spanish Idioms Your Textbook Never Taught You

  Real Spanish idioms and slang from Spain, Mexico, Argentina and beyond, what they mean, and how to start using them naturally.

• The most in-demand languages for remote work

  Which language should you learn for remote work? English, Portuguese, German and French: what doors each one opens and how to prepare.

• 10 Spanish Movies and Shows to Train Your Ear

  Ten Spanish-language movies and TV series from Spain, Mexico, Argentina and Colombia to improve your listening, plus how to watch them so it works.

• How to Stop Being Afraid to Speak English From Day One

  You understand English but freeze when it's time to talk? Three practical tips to break the emotional barrier and start speaking from your first class.

• How to Stop Being Afraid to Speak Portuguese From Day One

  Portuguese can feel close to Spanish or English, but it hides traps. Three practical tips to start speaking Portuguese with confidence from your first class.

• How to prepare your brain for a conversation class

  Practical tips to warm up before your 55-minute conversation class so you spend every minute actually speaking the language.

• 5 signs you're ready to move to an advanced level

  Feel stuck at the intermediate level? These 5 signs show you're ready to make the jump to advanced, and how to actually get there.

• How to retain vocabulary without endless word lists

  Ditch the endless lists: practical techniques to retain vocabulary in any language and actually use it when you speak.

• Native vs. Non-Native English Tutor: Which Fits Your Level?

  Should you learn English with a native or non-native tutor? Here's which one suits your level, and what matters more than an accent.

• Native vs. Non-Native Portuguese Tutor: Which Fits You?

  Native or non-native Portuguese tutor? Brazil or Portugal, your level and your goal shape the best choice. Here's how to decide.

• Essential English Vocabulary for Travel

  The English phrases you'll actually need at the airport, the hotel and at work. Learn them and travel with confidence.

• Essential Portuguese Vocabulary for Travel

  Portuguese phrases for the airport, the hotel and work, plus a few Brazil vs. Portugal differences. Travel without getting stuck.