Back in 2002, Eminem released “Cleaning Out My Closet,” where he talked about his mom, Debbie Mathers, in a really harsh way, painting her as a toxic and harmful person in his life.

Then in 2013, he showed a different side of himself with “Headlights,” apologizing for what he said before and thanking her for the good things she did, even though she wasn’t perfect. The music video for “Headlights” always hits me hard—it’s so emotional every time I watch it.

A few hours ago, Eminem’s mom, Debbie Mathers (now Debbie Nelson), passed away after fighting lung cancer.

https://youtu.be/7bDLIV96LD4?si=hF-Uxy5RgyQ76YOr

#WordOfTheDay: FAMILY

The word family can be both one of the easiest and most challenging words in English depending on how it is used.

1. Family (noun)

Definition: A group consisting of parents and their children, or all the descendants of a common ancestor.

Examples:
• She comes from a large family with five siblings.
• The royal family is often in the news.

Common collocations:
• Immediate family (parents, siblings)
E.g., Only my immediate family attended the small wedding.

• Extended family (grandparents, cousins, etc.)
E.g., I love family gatherings with my extended family.

• Nuclear family (parents and children)
E.g., The nuclear family is becoming more common in urban areas.

• Family reunion
E.g., We’re planning a big family reunion next summer.

• Close-knit family
E.g., We’re a close-knit family and support each other through tough times.

2. Family (adjective)

Definition: Related to or suitable for a family or its members.

Examples:
• We watched a family-friendly movie last night.
• This park is perfect for a family day out.

Common collocations:
• Family car
E.g., They bought a new family car with extra seating.

• Family values
E.g., Respect and kindness are core family values in our household.

• Family tradition
E.g., It’s a family tradition to bake cookies together during the holidays.

• Family business
E.g., He runs a small family business inherited from his father.

3. Family (biological classification)

Definition: A rank in the classification of organisms, between order and genus.

Examples:
• Cats belong to the family Felidae, which includes lions and tigers.
• The rose is part of the family Rosaceae.

Common collocations:
• Animal family
E.g., The dolphin belongs to the whale family.

• Plant family
E.g., Basil and mint are part of the same plant family.

Phrases with “family”

• Start a family: To have children.
E.g., They’re planning to start a family soon.

• Family ties: Emotional connections between family members.
E.g., Despite the distance, our family ties remain strong.

• Family resemblance: Similarities in appearance or behavior.
E.g., There’s a strong family resemblance between the brothers.

Idiom: Run in the family

Definition: A trait, quality, or skill that is shared by several members of a family, often passed down through generations.

Examples:
• Musical talent seems to run in the family—both of her parents are professional musicians.

• Twins definitely run in the family; my grandmother and aunt both had twins.

• Kindness and generosity run in the family; it’s just who we are.

The mark of an advanced language user is their ability to use common words in a less common and nuanced way, rather than relying on rare or uncommon vocabulary.

Make it a habit to expose yourself to useful content in English. This way, you’ll not only learn something new but also improve your English in the process.

https://youtu.be/JAyuHIthHco?si=jYGUGAjAcUg0AegU

#WritingQuestions

Here is an authentic IELTS Writing Task 2 question somewhat related to the video.

#WordOfTheDay

Every single IELTS student already knows this word and maybe even overuses it in their essays. 😊

But do me a favour and don’t use it in your speech.

A new feature from telegram! Now anybody can proofread and polish their telegram messages.

I’m not sure if this feature is only accessible to premium users, but I noticed it on the official Telegram app on my iPhone.

Here’s a screencast video showing how you can access it, in case you have this feature available.

Oops! Someone rightly pointed out that it’s actually an Apple feature called Apple Intelligence. It also works with basic texting. My bad!

Preparing slides for my upcoming IELTS workshop!

For the very first time, it’s happening outside of Uzbekistan.

Any guesses which country it’ll be?

Do we have anyone from Dushanbe?

Any sightseeing places you recommend I visit there?

#Travel #Dushanbe

My first impressions of the city:

There’s a lot of construction going on, kind of like Tashkent 4-5 years ago (or maybe even now). (This can count as a positive thing considering the modernization of the city).

There’s a great mix of car brands, and most taxis seem to be BYD cars. (totally positive; I am not a huge fan of GM monopoly in Uzb).

People don’t really follow road rules—jaywalking (crossing the street outside designated crosswalks or against traffic signals) is even more common here than in Tashkent. (This may be the only negative thing, but I was just worried for my own safety)

But the quality of roads seems to be in a better condition with fewer potholes. Maybe I will change my mind after seeing some more roads. So far so good. (HUGE POSITIVE)

The language difference really stands out and makes it feel like a completely foreign country. When I was in Almaty about 12 years ago, I felt more at home mainly because of the language. (Language thing is neither positive nor negative; it is just different experience. I almost feel the same way when I visit Samarkand or Bukhara, so it is no big deal).

I haven’t met the teachers I’ll be training yet, so I have no idea about their language level.

P.S. since some people thought I was only listing the negative aspects, I added some commentary to clarify my train of thought.

I had the pleasure of delivering a 4-hour IELTS workshop with an amazing group of teachers at Oxford Learning Center in Dushanbe.

I’m genuinely impressed by their level of English. While they may not have much experience with IELTS, I hope today’s session was both informative and helpful.

With a bit of effort, I’m confident we’ll start seeing some potential niners here as well!

#Dushanbe #Travel
I really liked the city and its beauty at night is simply breathtaking.

#WordOfTheDay: Demolish

Definition: To completely destroy a building or structure, often to make space for something new.

In Task 1 map descriptions, you often need to describe changes to buildings or infrastructure. “Demolish” is a precise and formal word to describe how structures are removed during development.

Examples in IELTS Task 1 Maps:

The factory was demolished to make way for a shopping mall.

Several houses were demolished and replaced with a parking lot.

In 2010, the old school building was demolished, and a park was built in its place.

P.S. I know it is a day late, but had to share this one because of its relevance to IELTS Writing Task 1.

#WordOfTheDay: Seemingly

Definition: Based on appearances or what seems to be true, though it may not actually be the case.

How to Use “Seemingly” in a Sentence:
1. To describe appearances:
• The task was seemingly simple, but it turned out to be quite complex.
2. To express doubt or surprise:
• He was seemingly uninterested, but he remembered every detail later.
3. In academic or formal writing:
• The policy had seemingly positive effects at first, but further analysis revealed flaws.

Common Collocations with “Seemingly”
• Seemingly endless
E.g., The road stretched into the distance, a seemingly endless journey.
• Seemingly harmless
E.g., The dog was seemingly harmless, but it growled at strangers.
• Seemingly perfect
E.g., They lived a seemingly perfect life, but they faced many challenges in private.