Ellick remembered another time when they were out shopping in Islamabad, having fun and hunting for English language books and DVDs.

CNN: Pakistan's Malala: Global symbol, but still just a kid

The content is breezy and fun, though the brief, au courant English introductions from a young American woman in Paris can be silly.

WSJ: Mobile Apps for Foreign Languages

However you come down on these questions, the Encarta World English Dictionary is a lot of fun to browse.

FORBES: Turn right at the robot

"I loved the film, getting to know David O Russell has been great, but as a novelist and as a former English teacher who loves literature, part of the fun of reading a novel is creating that world in your mind, " says Quick.

BBC: Oscars: Silver Linings Playbook from page to screen

She says English-speakers who feel uncomfortable at the notion of bargaining should open their minds and have fun with it.

BBC: The art of haggling