Time to register for the next TOEIC Speaking & Writing test date? We recommend it; space is limited. Plus if you know for sure that you'll be testing soon you'll make more focused effort to prepare. Start now and there's still time to do it well. Sign up for Saturday, March 24, 2012 testing.

Overwhelmed by idioms? There are thousands of these expressions that don't translate literally in the English language, and they are one of the hardest things to learn. Focus in on the ones key to careers in any English-speaking country (and that you are most likely to see on TOEIC tests), using the Idioms modules of the ETS English Skills Series. Get lots of interactive practice and achieve mastery; order now.

Don't be discouraged when test scores don't jump as fast as you'd like. Slower improvement as your skills increase is normal, and the brain needs "plateau periods" to absorb new information. Research in Australia using TOEIC tests shows some interesting patterns in scores over long-term training.

Business English Site of the Month. EnglishClub.com provides lots of free resources. Of particular interest may be the English at Work section, which includes lessons focused on specialized vocabulary for varied types of workers: cashiers, housekeepers, health professionals, tour guides, and many others. 

Speaking English with children: Saudi family decisions. Arab News recently reported on the opposing positions that different groups of parents hold regarding this issue.

Reading builds the brain. As reported in The Guardian, a new study of brain waves found that readers build new neural pathways by "simulating" narrative situations found in the book they are reading. Results: better empathetic understanding of others and more creativity in responding to new real-life situations.

 Our  Facebook page provides great tips for language learners. Be sure to check out our page and "like" us!

Follow @English4Success  on Twitter for daily tweets on teaching English!  In HR? Follow @BizEnglish4HR.