Issue #123

English Tips for:

Business English Language Learners (B.E.L.L.)

True Crime

Each week, I will send out some handy tips and useful exercises for adults learning to navigate and use the English language. Please feel free to share this newsletter with friends and colleagues.

Americans have become obsessed with true crime. From television shows to podcasts, people just cannot get enough of true crime. The true crime genre is a storytelling form that explores real-life crimes, usually serious offenses like murder, abduction, fraud, or serial offenses, and presents them in a narrative style across various media formats like books, documentaries, TV shows, podcasts, and even social media. It is grounded in real events. The people, locations, and crimes are factual, often supported by police records, court transcripts, and interviews. However, it uses a storytelling structure to reveal the characters and events like a good mystery-thriller novel. It taps into our desire to understand danger from a safe distance and, depending on the framing, it can also raise awareness of justice system flaws, victim advocacy, or forensic advancements.

If you like true crime, it could be a fantastic way to learn English. There are approximately 23,000 true crime podcasts available globally, and American networks such as Netflix are always coming up with new and intriguing stories.

Vocabulary

Language Level - B2

We continue to add to our vocabulary words from the Oxford 3000.

A list of 3000 words someone should know if they are taking the CEFR (Common European Framework Reference) language tests.

Phenomenon (n)
Philosophy (n)
Pick (n)
Picture (v)
Pile (n, v)
Pitch (n)
Plain (adj)
Plot (v)
Plus (adj, n, conj)
Pointed (adj)

Study this set of vocabulary words with this Quizlet.

Grammar Tip

Language Level - B1

Past Simple vs. Present Perfect

We use the past simple (e.g. I visited) for actions that:

Happened at a specific time in the past
→ I visited Paris in 2019.

We use the present perfect (e.g. I have visited) for actions that:

Happened at an unspecified time in the past
→ I have visited Paris.
Have a connection to the present moment
→ I have lost my keys (and still don’t have them).

Form:

Past simple: Subject + verb in past form (worked, went, ate)
Present perfect: Subject + have/has + past participle (have worked, has gone)

Let's Practice!

Complete the sentences with either the past simple or the present perfect form of the verb in parentheses.

I ______ (meet) my best friend in high school.
She ______ (never/be) to New York before.
We ______ (finish) our homework already.
They ______ (go) to the beach last Saturday.
I ______ (not/see) that movie yet.
He ______ (lose) his phone yesterday.
Have you ever ______ (try) sushi?
My brother ______ (live) in London for three years now.

Listening and Reading Tip

Language Level - B2

Here is a video to practice English with a true crime story. The storyteller speaks with a slow, even pace and uses great enunciation, so he is easy to follow along to practice your listening skills. Use the CC to read along as well.