I just wanted to tell you about three new features you may have noticed in the last couple of days

Subscribe: Click this when you contribute to a post or when you see a topic or post you like. You will get automatic emails once a day if someone replies or if more is added.  It's easier than searching. (For some reason, the number does not show correctly, but don't worry the subscribe works. You can unsubscribe easily as well - just check your profile preferences).

Private Messages: You can send a private message to someone. For example, if someone wants to do Speaking practice, you can send them a message saying you'd like to join them. It's safer than putting your Skype or email online. They won't see your email address, and nobody else can see your messages to each other. Be nice!

Related Topics: You know the tags that I spend hours adding, because nobody else adds them?   🙂  If you add a new topic, there is a box at the bottom that says Tags. Add about four or five common tags related to your topic, like this

science, technology, computers, internet, internet addiction,

just commas, no quotes, no long phrases (just one or two words)  - and spell them right! 

If you enter good tags, people will be able to find related essays by clicking on the Related Topics button. Cool, or at least as cool as IELTS essays can be...