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Regardless of where you’re travelling, it‘s definitely worth learning some basic English, and you won’t be alone: (20% of the world). Of course, if you’re visiting an English-speaking country like the United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia or New Zealand, it’s especially useful to brush up on your English.

Here are six simple things you need to know when travelling to English-speaking countries:

Technology is one of our favorite topics at the moment. This is because the use of technology can enrich the experiences of both learning and teaching English.��

Inspired by this, we set about putting together a list of the best technology and futuristic novels for English learners. Reading novels is one of the most fun and effective ways of improving your English language skills. It can expand your vocabulary and expose you to different sentence structures, as well as give you the chance enjoy some wonderful stories.

E-readers and tablets make learning English even easier because if you don’t know a word, you can simply click on it to read its definition. On a Kindle, you can even add new words you’ve learned to its Vocabulary Builder feature. Others recommend listening to and reading text at the same time as an excellent way of enhancing the learning process. Kindle’s Whispersync for Voice is designed for just this purpose and includes audio with selected books, meaning you can listen and follow the text as you read.

Here is our selection of seven great technology books to help improve your English:

1. Spider-Man comic books

Marvel’s superheroes are no strangers to technology and the comic book experts have recently released a set of comics concentrating on science, technology, engineering, art and maths. The combination of drawings and limited texts make these comic books the perfect place for English learners to start.��

2. Poptropica English Space Island Adventure

����app English Kids Readers are stories that have been specially rewritten for English language learners aged 5-12. The great thing about using a book designed for children is that they can enjoy and learn at the appropriate level. Children's books also often have exciting plots and fun dialogue – and that is definitely the case with this story, from the Poptropica English universe, about Peter, Pepper and Captain Cloud meeting aliens on their tour around Space Island.

Many of you will be familiar with the major movie starring Will Smith, but I, Robot actually started off as a collection of nine short stories by Issac Asimov. Written in the 1940s and 1950s, they tell a tale of humans, robots and morality. Each of the short stories can be read separately and they contain simple, descriptive language, making them perfect for English learners.

Regarded as one of the greatest science-fiction/technology novels written in the English language, Brave New World anticipates advancements in technology that combine to affect society. Author Aldous Huxley’s unique writing style combines narrative and descriptive language, resulting in a witty and engaging read. You’ll want to keep learning and reading to find out what happens next.

This clever novel, written by Douglas Coupland, tells its story through the use of letters and diary entries. Originally a short story, it was expanded to a full-length novel that follows the adventures of six code-crunching computer whizzes, seen through the eyes of one of the characters, Daniel. The diary entries are written in a straightforward and entertaining style, making it a fast-paced read.

This novel explores the wonders of the universe, but the underlying theme contemplates the repercussions of powerful machines for humanity in the past, present and future. The content of the story is rich and it often feels like you are listening to a great aunt or uncle telling stories. Better still is the fact that the technology written about in the book is not described in confusing language – in fact, anyone can understand it, making it perfect for those wishing to expand their English vocabulary.

When a powerful computer virus called Snow Crash gets loose and somehow starts infecting humans, computer hacker Hiro teams up with a sassy skateboard messenger to save both the real world and cyberspace. The characters are quirky, as is the writing style. But it is well thought out and means you can really get to know the characters. You’ll need to concentrate closely on the plot – but the slower pace will give you time to look up any English words you’re not sure of.

We all use phrases to express our emotions and feelings. These are known as idioms – an expression with a figurative meaning that differs from its literal meaning. Sometimes they don’t appear to make any sense at all and this is because they have evolved to mean different things.

We’ve previously looked at some of the strangest English phrases – where they came from and what they mean. But these quirks of speech exist in many different languages. Here, we take a closer look at some common phrases and you’ll see that translating your favorite sayings into English can produce some amusing results.

Not my circus, not my monkey

This idiom, “nie mój cyrk, nie moje malpy”, is used by Polish speakers to state that something is not their responsibility or “not my problem”.

An English phrase with a similar meaning is: “Tell it to the hand.”��

Not all doughnuts come with a hole

This English translation of the Italian phrase “non tutte le ciambelle riescono col buco”, is a reminder that things do not always turn out the way we expect. A “ciambelle” is a round cake that is popular as a treat in Italy.

An English phrase with a similar meaning is: “You win some, you lose some.”

The raisin at the end of a hot dog

This Icelandic saying, “rúsínan í pylsuendanum”, acknowledges that it’s not usual to find a raisin at the end of a hot dog – so sometimes you might find an unexpected surprise at the end of something.

An English phrase with a similar meaning is: “Out of the blue.”

I’m not hanging noodles on your ears

This Russian saying, “вешать лапшу на уши”, means you’re not trying to fool someone, emphasising that what you’re saying is true – even if it appears to be a surprise.

An English phrase with a similar meaning is: “I’m not pulling your leg.”��

As clear as dumpling broth

A sarcastic saying from Germany, “klar wie Kloßbrühe”, means that something is not at all clear – because dumpling soup is not at all clear or easy to see through.

An English phrase with a similar meaning is: “Clear as mud.”��

Pay the duck

This Portuguese phrase, “pagar o pato”, is used when someone takes the blame for something they didn’t do.

An English phrase with a similar meaning is: “Be the fall guy.”

Give pumpkins to someone

We’re not sure why giving pumpkins to someone became such a bad thing in Spanish-speaking countries, but this idiom, “Dar calabazas a alguien”, means that you reject someone.

An English phrase with a similar meaning is: “Show them the door.”��

To let a frog out of your mouth

This Finnish saying, “päästää sammakko suusta”, is uttered when someone accidentally says something they shouldn’t have. There’s an animal-related English phrase that is similar, but it involves cats...

An English phrase with a similar meaning: “To let the cat out the bag.”

Not the yellow from the egg

The German idiom “nicht das Gelbe vom Ei” literally translates to "not the yellow from the egg," and it is used to express that something is not particularly good. This phrase often implies that while something may be acceptable, it falls short of being excellent or ideal.

An English phrase with a similar meaning: “It's less than perfect.”