Learn the best way to start phone calls with family, friends and colleagues. Includes casual, informal and formal examples.

Learn 8 quick steps to proofread business emails on mobile, tablet or desktop. Get more efficient with proofreading, write better and sound more professional.

Learn how to decline giving out your email address, phone number and zip code at retail stores. Cashiers are trained to aggressively mine your information to extend the company's marketing reach, but you have the right to decline.

Read my story about getting lost in Thailand and trying to find Kanchanaburi –– the hilly Myanmar border town where tourists come to learn about the construction of the Burma Railway during WW II.

These are 16 perennial favorite Christmas movies that you can watch during the holiday season. From Miracle on 34th Street to Elf –– these are the holiday essentials. Get my free Ultimate Christmas Movie Checklist, too!

These are 14 movies about 14 different families in the days preceding, including or following Thanksgiving. From A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving to Planes, Trains and Automobiles –– these are the holiday essentials. Get my free Ultimate Thanksgiving Movie Checklist, too!

These are my 6 favorite dictionary apps for English language learners. Expand your vocabulary and write/speak more effectively with quick definitions, synonyms, examples and more.

Learn how to add the American English dictionary and look up definitions and translations on iPhone and iPad (iOS 11).

Learn why T-Mobile is the best wireless carrier for international visitors to the US and find out if the T-Mobile Tourist Plan is right for you.

Learn how much you should you tip (gratuities) in the United States. From restaurants and hotels to salons and transportation. Get my free Guide to Tipping, too!

Learn 4 types of English greetings that you can use every day in the US. From general greetings and time of day greetings to "how..." greetings and "what..." greetings. A friendlier you awaits!

Learn 6 ways to start a conversation. From stating the obvious and asking relevant questions to stating interesting facts and giving compliments. Become a better conversationalist in American culture.

Learn 10 tips for using the English greeting – "How are you?" From using "How are you?" like "Hi" or "Hello" to being respectful and curious.

Learn 53 phrases for apologizing in English. From admitting fault and asking for clarity to interjecting and expressing regret. Expand your vocabulary and know how to apologize correctly in the right situation.

Listen to my Independence Day playlist –– Songs about America. Listen for free on Apple Music.

Learn about the 4 stages of culture shock. From the Honeymoon Stage and Crisis Stage to the Recovery Stage and Adjustment Stage. Challenge yourself to integrate into the host culture by searching inward, outward and expanding your ideology.

Learn how to sign up for the USPS' Informed Delivery service. Imagine knowing what's arriving in your mailbox before it's arrived. That's what Informed Delivery from the USPS does. Start receiving your email notifications today.

Learn how to prepare, address and send international mail from the United States. From country-specific restrictions to writing the delivery address and sending –– everything you need to send international mail is here.

Learn how to address mail (postcards, envelopes & packages) in the United States. Learn the correct way to write the delivery address and return address.

Learn the difference between accept and except. Be able to pronounce and use each word correctly. For extra practice, take the quiz –– "Accept or Except?"

Learn the 12 steps for writing effective business emails in English. From tone and salutations to the reason for emailing and signing off –– it's all here. Get my free guide too –– "The 12 Steps to Writing Effective Business Emails."

Learn all about AMBER Alerts, including the steps to follow if your child's missing.

Learn how to spell your name, email and address over the phone with the NATO and Western Union Phonetic Alphabets. Be prepared and sound more professional on the phone.