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The Use of “When” with the Present Perfect Simple

If you're ever told by your English teacher you can't use when with the present perfect simple, then read this - because you can and here's when. 1) Reflective Questions: Asking About Life Experiences One of the most natural ways to use “when” with the present perfect simple is to ask reflective questions. These questions are not about specific moments but rather about patterns or significant life experiences. When have you felt most welcome in the UK?  This question invites someone to think about general moments or situations in their life, not one specific day or event. The focus is on their overall experience. When have you most enjoyed a British tradition?  Again, this is asking about a recurring or general feeling rather than pinpointing a single instance. Reflective questions like these align with the present perfect because they explore broad experiences rather than exact times. 2) General Situations or Recurring Moments “When” can also be used with the present perfe...
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The Phenomenology of EFL Learning: Identity, Vulnerability, and the Cognitive-Emotional Nexus

Have we ever critically interrogated what it means to embark on the intricate journey of learning a new language?  Beyond the ostensible mastery of syntactic structures or the expansion of one’s lexical repertoire, lies a process imbued with profound emotional, cognitive, and existential complexity. For EFL learners, this journey is not merely an academic exercise but an ontological shift, implicating their very sense of self and their mode of engaging with the world. What does it signify to articulate oneself in a language wherein fluency remains elusive?  The learner, in such a state, is perpetually poised between expression and silence, between intention and actualisation. This liminal existence is deeply precarious, akin to navigating an uncharted terrain with tools that feel inadequate, yet indispensable.  Does this not foreground the paradox of linguistic vulnerability: the simultaneous exposure of one's limitations and the potential for unparalleled growth? Mistake...