The English Breakfast ☕
Hi there,
Welcome back to The English Breakfast — the newsletter for Italian professionals who want to feel more confident in English at work.
And just like that, we’re officially one week into August. Hopefully, you already have your out-of-office reply turned on because today we’re leaving work behind and heading off on holiday.
What’s in today’s edition:
Vocabulary 🔠 — Natural phrasal verbs for travel, holidays, and taking time off.
Reading 📖 — What happens after a trip?
Teacher’s Tip ☕ — How to Read in English (Without Wanting to Throw the Book Across the Room)
Fantastic phrasal verbs
Whether you’re heading to the beach, exploring a new city, or simply mastering the art of doing absolutely nothing for two weeks, you need the right vocabulary to talk about it.
Here are 6 natural phrasal verbs to describe your travel and time off like a native speaker.
So, will you make a splash with your holiday English or get washed up? Let's take a look.
📖 What happens after a trip?
Before you dive into today’s article, spend just 60 seconds skimming the text to grasp the main idea.
Don't worry about understanding every single word. Just answer this one core question:
What is the article mainly about?
A) Why people love buying expensive souvenirs when travelling abroad.
B) Why some travellers start adopting the accent, clothes, or habits of the places they visit.
C) How to learn a foreign language quickly during a short summer holiday.
Let’s take a closer look
Now that you know the main idea of the article, read the text again and answer these 4 questions.
You’ll find the answers at the end 👀
The Author's Experience: What two main things did the author change about their appearance/speech after living in Prague for three years?
The "Quiet" Reason: According to psychologist Dr. Charlotte Russell, why do some people adopt "subtle" foreign customs (like using a foreign word politely)?
"Prestige Bias": Why are American tourists more likely to copy local habits in places like the UK, France, or Italy rather than other destinations?
"Covert Prestige": How do some travellers use social media to show they are different from conventional tourists?
💡 Vocabulary Spotlight
Here are 4 key words and expressions from today's text that will make your English sound more precise and sophisticated.
1. Mimicry (noun)
Definition: The act of copying or imitating the way someone speaks, moves, or behaves.
Italian Translation: Imitazione
Example from Text: "When an American tourist adopts an English accent in London... they are using mimicry as a shortcut to 'borrow' some of the destination's social capital."
2. In hindsight (idiom)
Definition: Looking back at a situation after it happened, often with better understanding than you had at the time.
Italian Translation: Col senno di poi
Example from Text: "In hindsight, this fleeting act may have been more for me than others..."
3. Hold onto (phrasal verb)
Definition: To keep something or maintain a feeling, memory, or connection rather than losing or forgetting it.
Italian Translation: Trattenere, tenersi stretto / non lasciarsi sfuggire
Example from Text: "Someone has really connected with a part of their experience... and wants to 'hold' onto their experiences..."
4. Turn out (phrasal verb)
Definition: To happen in a particular way.
Italian Translation: Rivelarsi, risultare (alla fine)
Example from Text: "But it turns out that she and other travellers may not be able to help themselves."
☕ Teacher’s Tip: How to Read in English (Without Wanting to Throw the Book Across the Room)
I get asked for book recommendations all the time, but especially before the summer holidays as people are thinking about what to pack in their beach bag. And my answer usually surprises people:
Don't read what you think you should read. Read what you would genuinely pick up in Italian.
If you love thrillers, read a thriller. If you read business strategy, grab a business book. Reading shouldn't feel like a heavy language exercise or a chore on your to-do list—it should just be an enjoyable way to invite English into your daily life.
That said, reading in a second language can feel overwhelming if you don't have the right strategy. So, here is my playbook for getting the absolute most out of a book without losing your mind:
1. Relax and focus on the gist (il concetto essenziale)
Don't try to understand every single word! Let your reading flow. If you reach the end of a chapter and can summarise what happened in one simple sentence, congratulations—you’ve understood enough. Keep going!
2. The "5-Word Max" Rule
As you read, underline or make a note of a maximum of 5 new words or phrases per session. Not 50! Stop there. At the end of your reading session, spend just 5 minutes looking those 5 words up in a dictionary. The key trick? Write a personalised example sentence using each word about your own life or work. That’s how vocabulary actually sticks.
3. The "Two-Page Test" (Before you buy)
Before committing to a book, open it to a random page in the middle and read two pages. If you see more than 10 unknown words per page, put it back for now—it’ll feel like hard labour. You’re looking for that sweet spot of 3 to 6 new words per page: challenging enough to learn, but smooth enough to enjoy.
4. Read in short "sprints"
Don't force yourself into hour-long reading sessions. Take it 15 minutes at a time and take a quick break before continuing. This helps you build momentum with way less brain fatigue.
(Bonus tip: Try pairing the paperback with the audiobook! Hearing the words while reading them is a game-changer for your pronunciation and listening comprehension.)
Happy reading!
✅ Answers
What is the article mainly about?
Correct Answer: B
The article explores why people often return from holiday acting, speaking, or dressing like locals—from using foreign gestures to adopting a new accent.
Let’s take a closer look
Answer: The author changed their hairstyle/clothing style (got cropped bleach-blonde hair and an androgynous fashion style) and adopted a new accent (a mix of central Bohemian and pretentious).
Answer: They want to "hold onto" their positive memories and feel a deep, personal connection to the place and its culture (not to show off).
Answer: Because of "prestige bias"—these countries carry high social status and history ("the classical canon of Western culture"), so travellers copy habits to borrow some of that status and look "well-travelled."
Answer: By visiting less-developed, rural, or indigenous communities and sharing content (like making traditional food or wearing local clothing) to show they are more "authentic" than standard tourists.
All right, that’s it for this week’s edition. I need to go and catch a ferry. The Greek island of Lipsi awaits!
Let me know if you enjoyed it and I’ll see you next time.
Have a great week.
All the best,
Dan
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