American English Podcast

Two years ago, I started Season 3 (Episodes 101 - 150) and it's been a journey. In this episode, you'll hear about the many cultural topics we covered in the past 50 episodes. You'll hear which episodes were the most popular among listeners, which stories left me speechless and which ones I found incredibly useful.

Get your notebook! Be ready to write down the episode number for the stories that interest you most.

THANK YOU to all of the supporters who bought me coffee, those who left reviews on your podcast app (very few people take the time to do this, but I really appreciate it!), purchased Premium Content and sent me nice messages over Instagram. You make me want to keep going. Please know that I appreciate you!! :)

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Interesting biographies of figures you should know about but probably don't.

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Today you'll hear a short story our recent trip to Brazil, during which I ended up going to the hospital and getting stitches. Throughout this story you'll hear 20+ words related to injuries and getting hurt. Although I hope you don't get hurt anytime soon, I hope this lesson prepares you to talk about the times when you did in English.

We all have a getting hurt story, whether it's our own or someone else's. Give this a listen and see if you can use what you learned to tell your story!

You will hear the audio twice.

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Interesting biographies of figures you should know about but probably don't.

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Today we have a special guest named Ben Whatley. Maybe you know him! He's the Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Memrise, one of the most celebrated language apps there is. 

Ben received his master's in experimental psychology from Oxford University and has since been working with language acquisition. In fact, he's a pioneer in the field; Ben helped create the first AI language partner using GPT3 technology. It's called the MemBot. If you're interested in trying it out, you can do so here:

In any case, today I had the pleasure of tapping into his knowledge with the goal of finding out how we can learn better. In our chat, Ben and I talk about common misconceptions in language, learning, the genius of mnemonic devices and how to acquire new vocabulary effectively.

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Interesting biographies of figures you should know about but probably don't.

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This is part two of a very special story about my dear friend, Nina, who is from Germany. In the story of our friendship, which I'll wrap up in the this episode, you'll learn 10+ German loanwords in English. A loanword is a words borrowed from a foreign language.

American English has many German words; how do we pronounce them? Well, I know a lot of you are saying we butcher them, that's okay (I don't disagree with you!) In general, the pronunciation of a words depends on how popular / common a word is. If a German word is common in American English, naturally, there's an expected way to pronounce it, even if it's not how it is pronounced normally in German. 

The goal of this episode is to teach you how we pronounce the common ones and what to do when you come across uncommon loanwords. Here is a sample of some of the words in today's episode. 

kitschybeer gardenschnitzelbratwurst sauerkrautstrudelrucksackschmear lox delicatessenschlep 

Other words mentioned: Bauhausarchitecture,hefeweizen, liverwurst, wienerand some Yiddish terms such as schmuckand schmooze.

Note:German loanwords in English follow English rules! While nouns are capitalized in German, in English, they are lowercase UNLESS they are proper nouns like Volkswagen OR if they derive from a proper noun, such as Rottweiler. Diacritical marks, such as the umlaut, are optional! 

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Premium Content:This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download  and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation.  

Interesting biographies of figures you should know about but probably don't.

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It's story time! Welcome to a true story about my friend, Nina, who is from Berlin, Germany. In the story of our friendship you'll learn 10+ German loanwords in English. A loanword is a words borrowed from a foreign language.

American English has many German words; how do we pronounce them? Well, I know a lot of you are saying we butcher them, that's okay (I don't disagree with you!) In general, the pronunciation of a words depends on how popular / common a word is. If a German word is common in American English, naturally, there's an expected way to pronounce it, even if it's not how it is pronounced normally in German. 

The goal of this episode is to teach you how we pronounce the common ones and what to do when you come across uncommon loanwords. Here is a sample of some of the words in today's episode. 

doppelgängerwanderlustschadenfreudeVolkswagenkindergartenRottweilergesundheit!fest angst or angstywaltzüberkaput

Note:German loanwords in English follow English rules! While nouns are capitalized in German, in English, they are lowercase UNLESS they are proper nouns like Volkswagen OR if they derive from a proper noun, such as Rottweiler. Diacritical marks, such as the umlaut, are optional! 

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Premium Content:This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download  and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation.  

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Interesting biographies of figures you should know about but probably don't.

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In today's episode, you’ll hear the incredible story of a man named Larry Walters, or "Lawn Chair" Larry, who bought over 40 weather balloons, attached them to a lawn chair in his backyard and flew 16,000 feet up in the air.

The story is weird and funny, and it gives way to a larger discussion about “Cluster Ballooning.” I’ll explain challenging words and phrases as I go along!

In Part 1 of this episode, you'll learn all about the common English expression "up in the air." You'll learn the expression's origin, how to use it in a multitude of situations and you'll do pronunciation exercises with it.

Big shoutout to Guilherme Krause and Christian for supporting the podcast this month, I really appreciate it!

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Premium Content:This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download  and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation.  

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Interesting biographies of figures you should know about but probably don't.

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In today's episode, you'll learn all about the common English expression "up in the air." You'll learn the expression's origin, how to use it in a multitude of situations and you'll do pronunciation exercises with it.

The second part of this episode, is all about Larry "Lawnchair," a man who gave birth to cluster ballooning as an activity. Stay tuned, that episode will be posted shortly.

Big shoutout to Guilherme Krause for supporting the podcast this month, I really appreciate it!

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Premium Content:This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download  and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation.  

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The for this episode was recorded on March 22, so keep that in mind when listening to our discussion about the weather and daylight hours.

***ABOUT***

Maine is the easternmost and northernmost state in the contiguous United States, and it’s known for its expansive forests, breathtaking coastlines, and its unique New England culture.

Today, we're going to talk to Brent (Speak English with This Guy), who is a middle school English teacher from Maine. You'll hear from a local all about the food culture, lifestyle and accent of Mainers (or Maniacs!), as well as a crazy story about moose. Hear why our only one-syllable state is such a wonderful place all while getting to know a local. 

***OUR GUEST***

If you want to hear Brent more often, why not check out his podcast? It's called: Speak English with This Guy! 

***PREMIUM CONTENT***

Interesting biographies of figures you should know about but probably don't.

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At the beginning of May every year, horse racing season begins. In the U.S., it starts off with The Kentucky Derby, a horse race that is often referred to as “the most exciting two minutes of sports.” 🐎 

Since 1875, eager spectators have been pouring into Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky to watch the ca. 20 racers make their way to the finish line.  Just given how long the event has been around, you can probably imagine how many traditions there are at the event. In today’s episode, you’ll learn about those traditions and the culture and history that makes the event what it is today.

Would you want to visit? 

Disclaimer:This episode discusses drugs, alcohol and gambling, and therefore it’s listed as explicit! 

Be sure to sign up to Season 3 or All Premium Content if you want the English learning material that goes along with this episode. 

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Premium Content:This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download  and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation.  

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Interesting biographies of figures you should know about but probably don't.

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In this episode, you'll learn how to use the common English expression "To Jump the Gun." Be sure to stay tuned until part 2 to learn all about the Kentucky Derby, "the most exciting two minutes of sports."

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Premium Content:This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download  and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation.  

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Today you’ll hear about a trip to the grocery store. Imagine yourself as the main character of this story; visualize the interior of the store and that you are walking down the aisles. Picture everything from the moment you grab your cart or basket at the entrance, to the moment you check out at the register and head home.

As usual with 5-Minute English episodes, I try to keep the audio part of this lesson to 5 minutes. This lesson went a little over but for good reason! :)

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Interesting biographies of figures you should know about but probably don't.

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In today's episode, we're talking to Natalie Sawicki, a songwriter from Los Angeles, who spent most of her life in Connecticut! She shares so much about this charming small state; you’ll hear about the fall foliage, New England fashion, local delicacies and much more!

Let's Discover “The Nutmeg State" with a local!

Follow Natalie's work on Instagram@natsawicki.

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Connecticut is a small state. In fact, it's the third smallest state in the United States after Rhode Island and Delaware. For comparison, it's 5,543mi², making it just a tad bit bigger than Montenegro and about 14% bigger than Jamaica.

Yet, where it lacks in size, it makes up for in population. 3.6 million people call Connecticut home, making it a state with one of the highest population densities in the country.

Geographically, you'll find Connecticut surrounded by three other states: New York, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. From the Connecticut panhandle in the southwest corner, you can reach New York City by train in a matter of minutes.

So what does it look like? Well, grab your camera! As a tourist in Connecticut, you're surrounded by lush greenery in the spring, warm oranges, reds and yellows in the fall and snow in the winter. Connecticut has four very distinct seasons. 

While the north is mountainous, part of the Appalachian Mountains are in the northwest corner, the entire state is covered in rolling hills and trees, making it picture-worthy year-round. Not to mention all of the rivers! The Connecticut River is one of the most famous. It's actually the reason Connecticut is called Connecticut, it comes from a local indigenous language, Mohegan-Pequot, and Connecticut means long tidal river.

So whether you want to visit one of the many New England coastal communities, the impressive architecture of Yale University in New Haven, or the hustle and bustle of the capital, Hartford, you're in for a treat!

Pick some local berries and apples while you're there, meet some locals and make the most of  "The Nutmeg State."

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Premium Content:This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download  and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation.  

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Interesting biographies of figures you should know about but probably don't.

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In this 3-part episode, you'll hear a casual discussion about one of life's most mundane topics: peeing and pooping. It's taboo to talk about, which is strange given how it's one of the most common things in the world. 

I hope you’ll find them funny and they’ll help you recall some crazy stories you’ve heard. Just wanted to let you know what to expect! Hope you enjoy this. I think I’m going to go hide now.

This lesson, like other Chats with Shana episodes, are LESS structured. If you prefer more formal lessons, check out any of the other ones. 

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Interesting biographies of figures you should know about but probably don't.

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If you don't know who Dr. Seuss is, you should!

He was a cartoonist and author that brought us The Cat in the Hat, The Grinch, Green Eggs and Ham and over 40 other incredible books for children and adults around the world. He's been called "the father of contemporary children's literature." One out of four children in the US receive a Dr. Seuss book as their first book in life, and there's a good reason for it: they're playful and clever, with quirky images and rhymes, and there's a lot of repetition, so it's ideal for beginner readers. Over 650 million copies of his books have been sold, so I'd say it's worth learning about this inspiration.

Hear his story in this Culture and History lesson.

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Beginner Books Recommendations

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Premium Content:This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download  and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation.  

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Interesting biographies of figures you should know about but probably don't.

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It's a ridiculous visual, is it not?! If the cat's got your tongue, you can't talk, you're speechless! And that's pretty much how we use it in English conversation. We often ask someone "Cat got your tongue?" in situations when they can't respond, or they don't respond.

Listen to this episode to hear a joke, learn this expression and practice your pronunciation.

This is Part 1. Stay tuned for Part 2, where we'll talk about Dr. Seuss, one of the most beloved cartoonists and authors in American history.

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Premium Content:This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download  and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation.  

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Every year in New Orleans, Louisiana, a million visitors come to experience the biggest Mardi Gras party in the United States. Learn about the history of this event and the traditions and culture surrounding it.

If you plan on visiting, be sure to stay tuned until the very end; you'll learn how to make the most of it as a tourist!

This is Part 2. In Part 1 of this episode, Episode 139, you'll learn how to use the very common expression up one's alley, you'll heard a joke and practice your pronunciation! 

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Premium Content:This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download  and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation.  

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Interesting biographies of figures you should know about but probably don't.

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Isn't it nice when you learn an English expression that you can use a million times a day, every single day that you speak English? Well, listen to this episode. In today's episode, you'll learn how to use the very common expression up one's alley, you'll hear a joke and you'll practice your pronunciation!

This is Part 1. Stay tuned for Part 2, where we'll talk about the massive Mardi Gras celebration in New Orleans, Louisiana, and how you can take part in it!

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Premium Content:This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download  and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation.  

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You walk into a restaurant and head towards the bar. Behind it, a lighted mosaic of colorful liquors spread from the ceiling to the floor. It's fancy on another level. Some people may describe it as resplendent; it feels like you're looking into a Queen's jewelry box.

A long counter separates you from the skilled bartender behind it, who shakes, stirs and strains with ease. As you approach, you consider how you'll place your order in English and suddenly you feel out of your element. In other words, you don't feel comfortable. You feel out of your element.

How do you order a drink at a cocktail bar like a native? Well, in today's lesson, you'll learn just that.

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THIS IS AN ADVANCED ENGLISH EPISODE! Don't stress out of you don't understand everything. If you want to understand everything be sure to sign up to Premium Content!

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Interesting biographies of figures you should know about but probably don't.

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It's story time! Welcome to a French coffee shop and fancy restaurant where you'll be introduced to a number of common French loanwords in English. A loanword is a words borrowed from a foreign language.

American English is packed with French words; how do we pronounce them? Well, I know a lot of you are saying we butcher them, that's okay (I don't disagree with you!) In general, the pronunciation of a words depends on how popular / common a word is. If a French word is common in American English, naturally, there's an expected way to pronounce it, even if it's not how it is pronounced normally in French. 

The goal of this episode is to teach you how we pronounce the common ones and what to do when you come across uncommon loanwords. Here is a sample of some of the words in today's episode. 

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Premium Content:This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download  and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation.  

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Interesting biographies of figures you should know about but probably don't.

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In today's episode, we're talking to Camille Hanson, an ESL teacher and social media influencer who grew up in the U.P. - the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Buckle up! You're about to be immersed in an adventure; one that includes snow, lake life, deer flies, girls hunting with bows and arrows and so much more. Learn from a local how you can take advantage of "The Mitten State."

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Michigan is the 10th largest state in the US by population, and there’s quite a bit you should know about it. 

Michigan is located up in the Midwest, near Canada, and it has two main parts: The Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula. Most people recognize the shape of the Lower Peninsula; it looks like a mitten. That’s why Michigan is sometimes referred to as "The Mitten State." 

College life in Michigan is a big thing. And like most states in the Midwest and South, they’re crazy about American football. 

The state is also home to the automobile industry with General Motors, Ford Motor Company and Chrysler headquartered there. 

Some famous names from Michigan include: Madonna (the singer), Francis Ford Coppola (the director and screenwriter of "The Godfather"), and William Boeing, a pioneer in aviation and creator of the Boeing Company. Yep, they’re all Michiganders.

If you like fishing, hiking and greenery, Michigan is where it’s at. 50% of the state is covered in forest, so it’s lush and green. It’s also home to over 10,000 lakes and 40,000 miles of rivers. Did I mention it touches all five of the Great Lakes? That’s a lot of water, a lot of shore and a lot of trees. 

As a tourist, you might want to try the world-famous cherries from there, try a pasty – not a pastie – and a beer from one of the many local breweries. Your senses will be overwhelmed!

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Find Camille!You can check out Camille's work by visiting her website at Learn English With Camille.

- Yooper English(mentioned in audio)

Premium Content:This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download  and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation.  

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Interesting biographies of figures you should know about but probably don't.

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In today’s lesson you’re going to hear the story of the creator of Jingle Bells, his questionable character and we’ll  go through the lyrics of the song so if you want to sing it in English, you can.

This is Part 2. In Part 1, we spoke about  the common English expression Bells and Whistles.

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In December of 1965, a spacecraft called Gemini 6 was flying in outer space, looking back down at earth. The crew members on board were on call with Mission Control when they announced the following alarming message: “We have an object, looks like a satellite going from north to south, up in a polar orbit. He’s in a very low trajectory traveling from north to south and has a very high climbing ratio. It looks like it might even be a … Very low….” 

After a few more details, sleigh bells started to jingle and the familiar tune Jingle Bells  passed from Gemini 6 to Mission Control. With a harmonica and sleigh bells, Wally Shirra (Walter M. Shirra Jr.) and Tom Stafford, played the first live song from space: Jingle Bells. 

You heard me. The popular Christmas song, Jingle Bells was the first song ever played live from space.

And yes, the astronauts were playing a joke on Mission Control;  they were in fact pretending to see Santa. 

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Premium Content:This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download  and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation.  

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Interesting biographies of figures you should know about but probably don't.

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The holiday season is here and I bet some of you are skimming the internet for new gadgets. Do you like gadgets with a bunch of bells and whistles (fancy features) or do you prefer simplicity? In this episode, you'll learn how to use the common expression bells and whistles, you'll hear a joke and you'll practice your pronunciation!

This is Part 1. Stay tuned for Part 2, where we'll talk about the popular Christmas songJingle Bells.

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Premium Content:This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download  and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation.  

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You know Starbucks, right? The coffee company? Born in Seattle, Washington and brewed around the world? I bet you do; they have over 33 thousand stores in over 80 countries. 

In today's episode, we're going to talk about those guys, the beans and more! Why is it called Starbucks? Who's that woman on their cups?

There are a lot of Starbucks haters and a lot of lovers out there, but all of you will find this episode fascinating because 1. it’s an absurdly successful business, how did they do it?! 2. it’s about coffee (who doesn’t love coffee!?) and 3. you’ll learn a bucketload of new vocabulary as we go. 

Thanks again to my amazing supporters who have contributed to this podcast either by purchasingPremium Contentorbuying me coffee! Thank you to Paulo and the few other anonymous contributors from this month :) SO exciting!

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Premium Content:This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download  and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation.  

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Interesting biographies of figures you should know about but probably don't.

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The expression To Blow Off Steam is a common one in the United States. In today's episode, you'll learn how to use it in everyday contexts, you'll hear a joke and also practice your pronunciation! :)

Thanks again to my amazing supporters who have contributed to this podcast either by purchasingPremium Contentorbuying me coffee!Thank you to Paulo, Picante, Stefan, Ortiz and the other anonymous contributors from this month. SO exciting!

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Premium Content:This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download  and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation.  

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This is PART 2 of episode 133.

In today’s lesson, Liz and I will be going through 15 common similes that you’ll hear in everyday conversation. Some are literal, so they’ll sound normal, others are quite random so you may want to write these down in your notebook. If you would the full list of words, with examples and a quiz to make sure you’ve understood them, be sure to sign up to Premium Content at americanenglishpodcast.com. See link below. 

A simile, according to Oxford Languages is “a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid.” 

A similes comparison that the words like oras to compare things. 

For example, you may hear someone say that you looklike a deer in the headlights if you look confused. This is a common simile and it’s a vivid visual, it evokes the image of a deer standing in front of the headlights of a car. While in a coffee shop in Italy, I had no idea how to order a coffee, I just looked at the barista like a deer in the headlights.

In addition to the word like, you’ll recognize a simile in speech when you hear a comparison made with as, as used twice. In today’s audio, for example, you’ll hear Liz say she feels as old as dirt. Dirt is the brown stuff you use in your garden, you dig a hole in dirt to plant seeds. When something is described as being as old as dirt it means it is very old. Liz feels as old as dirt.

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Premium Content:This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download  and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation.  

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Interesting biographies of figures you should know about but probably don't.

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In today’s lesson, Liz and I will be going through 15 common similes that you’ll hear in everyday conversation. Some are literal, so they’ll sound normal, others are quite random so you may want to write these down in your notebook. If you would the full list of words, with examples and a quiz to make sure you’ve understood them, be sure to sign up to Premium Content at americanenglishpodcast.com. 

A simile, according to Oxford Languages is “a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid.” 

A similes comparison that the words like oras to compare things.

For example, you may hear someone say that you looklike a deer in the headlights if you look confused. This is a common simile and it’s a vivid visual, it evokes the image of a deer standing in front of the headlights of a car. While in a coffee shop in Italy, I had no idea how to order a coffee, I just looked at the barista like a deer in the headlights. 

In addition to the word like, you’ll recognize a simile in speech when you hear a comparison made with as, asused twice. In today’s audio, for example, you’ll hear Liz say she feels as old as dirt. Dirt is the brown stuff you use in your garden, you dig a hole in dirt to plant seeds. When something is described as being as old as dirt it means it is very old. Liz feels as old as dirt.

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Premium Content:This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download  and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation.  

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Interesting biographies of figures you should know about but probably don't.

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In today's episode, Lindsay, host of the All Ears English Podcast, will take us on a journey to Colorado, one of the most stunning mountainous states in the western United States.

On our 3-day trip to Colorado, via audio, we'll not only get a taste of what it's like to be a tourist there, but hear from a local's standpoint what culture, beauty and adventures awaits us.

Be sure to check out the episode webpage for links to the places we talked about in this episode! :)

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Buy Me a Coffee

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Premium Content:This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download  and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation.  

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Interesting biographies of figures you should know about but probably don't.

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We live in a day and age that is driven by science and technology, yet people are still superstitious. According to a study I read by YouGov, 9% of Americans claim to be superstitious, while another 35% admit to not being very superstitious, but somewhat. That makes over 40% of individuals in the United States somewhat superstitious.

So what does it mean to be superstitious? According to Cambridge Dictionary, it is to have beliefs that are not based on human reason or scientific knowledge, but are connected with old ideas about magic. Many times, superstitious people believe in irrational, unproven signs of good and bad luck.

In today’s episode, we’re going to go through 13 common superstitions in the United States and their origins. By the end of this audio lesson, you’ll walk away with more knowledge about American culture and some new vocabulary and phrases. I’ll teach those as we go along.

Find a penny, pick it up, all day long you'll have good luck!

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Buy Me a Coffee

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Premium Content:This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download  and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation.  

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Interesting biographies of figures you should know about but probably don't.

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"Sunday Toasted" is a song that was recently released by a new artist named Zinn, and it's jam-packed with American slang and vocabulary which we'll go through in this episode. This song is also full of cultural references about working and partying :).

 All in all, I can't think of a more fitting song to be the first "music" episode on this podcast. By the end, you'll have a beautiful picture in your mind of a typical summer's day in the South and understand why lake culture is so big there! "You just don't know what you're missing!"

This song was written by Zinn, my husband (Lucas) and Stefan.

"Sunday Toasted"- by Zinn

Clocked out, now I’men route
It’s about summertime
Been waitin' all damn week
There’s one thing on my mind

Yeah I'm thinking abouttan lines
Andmoonshine, it goes down easily
Night rides, in the moonlight
Acozyon my knee

Cold beer in theYeti
Beckieson deck
In thedirty water
We'll be speeding
Falling off jets
No sir, no blue collar

Out of touch,ain't no service
Soak it up
Sunday Toasted
Lake house, party down South
You just don't know what you're missing

Chorus*

Pull out from the dock,three deep,
three boats heading out your way
Light it up, letthe speakers bleed
Got the girls choosing what to play

Yeah we bumpin' Nelly, Aldean, Country, R & B
Waiting all week, tokick back and release

Chorus*

Meet me on the table, cuz I’mheating up
We can run it back, wanna test your luck
Shoot behind the back it’s a double cup
One more shotI’m on fire

Rerack that I’m a gentleman
Who’s going next you can send them in
Better get ready cuzI’m running it
Let’s get f***

Listen to the song on Spotify

For those of you who have been following our story in Los Angeles, you may know that my husband Lucas is a Brazilian songwriter and music producer trying to get a song on the radio in English in the U.S..  A few of you have asked to listen to his songs in the past and I'm happy to announce that this is his first release in English - many more are coming out this year (from artists in Japan, Spain and Britain).

*****

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Interesting biographies of figures you should know about but probably don't.

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The Monster Study (aka Tudor Study) is an unethical psychology experiment that was conducted in 1939 on 22 orphans in Davenport, Iowa.  The goal was to a test the theory that by deeply worrying about starting to stutter, one may develop the speech disorder. Mary Tudor, a graduate student, attempted to induce stuttering - to create the behavior - in fluent speakers with the assistance of her advisor Wendell Johnson.

The study was dubbed "The Monster Study" for the cruelty and misconduct of it. Learn more about the creators, the experiment and what can be deduced from its results.

This study was kept OFF THE RECORD for many years; now the official documentation can be found online for anyone to view.

*****
I'm not a speech pathologist, but I do know one thing. Don't let anyone ever make you feel like you are not worth being heard. What you say has value, and it doesn't matter how fast you speak or how perfectly you speak, what you say matters. Try to be patient with others as well.

*****

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In this episode, there are two parts. In Part 1, you'll hear a joke, practice your pronunciation and learn the expression "Off the Record". 

In Part 2 of today's lesson, we’re going to talk about The Monster Study, a wildly unethical study (by today's standards) that is about orphans and language development, specifically stuttering.

To amp up the learning experience in episode 129, I explain challenging words and phrases as I go along.

The American English Accent Course

As mentioned in the audio, if you're interested in improving your pronunciation and overall accent in English, check out this course. Hours of videos and transcripts will help you hone the nuances of American English, from word stress, syllable stress and connected speech to reductions, vowel sounds and so much more. Check it out.

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In today's episode, you'll learn vocabulary, phrasal verbs and expressions related to Birthday Parties. This episode was created with a goal in mind: to help you think about the birthday parties in your life. I hope that by the end of this lesson you feel like you can describe your special days with more detail in English.

This is an advanced listening exercise so it's ok if you don't understand everything! To access to material and worksheets that correspond to this episode, check out Premium Content below.

A birthday is just another day, but it's also a new beginning. It's a time to reflect on life, on how far you've come, how you've changed, and where you're going. So live it up and take lots of videos and pictures. You won't regret it!

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About

Philip Clem is a talented singer and songwriter from Seattle, Washington who has lived in San Francisco, Spain and now Los Angeles, California. Today, Philip is going to tell us about what it's like to be a local from Seattle. 

In this episode, you'll learn about the state, its stereotypes (and whether or not they're true!), you’ll learn about the culture, food, weather and, of course, about our special guest!

I hope that after you’re done listening to this episode, you feel like you know a local!

Interested in Philip, or his music?Find Philip on Instagram here(@philipjohnclem)

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In today's 5-Minute English episode, you'll learn vocabulary, phrasal verbs and collocations needed to describe A Day At The Beach.

Beach Recommendations

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Today we're going to be talking about doughnuts (or donuts; both spellings are acceptable in American English). You'll learn the history, the stories behind the most famous doughnut brands and all about the most popular doughnuts in the display case. After all, if you're going to be the one who brings doughnuts to the office, you got to do it right.

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In this episode, there are two parts. In Part 1, you'll hear a joke, practice your pronunciation and learn the expression "To Sugarcoat Something". 

In Part 2 of today's lesson (available on Saturday, July 23), we’re going to talk about donuts. You’ll learn the history, the stories behind the most famous brands and all about the most popular donuts in the display case. Afterall, if you’re going to be the one who brings donuts, you gotta do it right! 

To amp up the learning experience, I’ve packed a ton of fun vocab and phrases into this episode. By the end, you will be able to describe a perfect donut and a bad one in English! You can reuse the descriptive adjectives for other baked goods - anything made with dough or batter. 

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Hi! My name is Shana and I'm a native English speaker  from California. Over the past 10 years, I've been teaching American English to learners like you.

On this show, I teach intermediate to advanced English through stories. You'll dive into the lives of fascinating Americans like Walt Disney and Stan Lee, you'll hear about big events and holidays, the birth of businesses and tech and even wild stories like the Discovery of Bigfoot or the Blue People of Kentucky.  I want you walk away from this podcast with a pocketful of topics and stories to retell at a U.S. dinner party. 

So, let's learn and most importantly, let's have fun! Premium Content includes transcripts, quizzes, the transcript reader to practice pronunciation and so much more.

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The decision to move overseas is a big one and it requires preparation. The first step for non-native English speakers who want to live, study or work in the U.S. is taking an English exam as proof of English ability. The IELTS exam is one of the most popular.

Today, I had the pleasure of speaking with Aubrey Carter, who shared three expressions that you can use on the IELTS exam and in daily life. These expressions can be squeezed into almost any conversation!

If you'd like to learn all about the IELTS exam and hear some tricks for getting a higher score and dealing with the  anxiety of speaking in English in an interview setting be sure to check out episode 104 with Jessica Beck! Jessica is a former IELTS examiner of 14 years and creator of the 3 KEYS IELTS course.

Get a $50 DISCOUNT on the 3 KEYS IELTS course now.

I am an affiliate of this course for a few reasons: 

Even if you decide you want to take the IELTS 6 months from now, plan ahead! Start working on your general English knowledge and learn more about the test format.

Get a $50 DISCOUNT on the 3 KEYS IELTS course now.

Interesting biographies of figures you should know about but probably don't.

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Goldilocks and The Three Bears is one of the most popular children's books ever written in English and it is my daughter's favorite. Today, you'll hear a modernISH American English version of the classic tale and I've carefully selected a number of phrasal verbs, expressions and collocations and inserted them seamlessly into the story to amp up (improve, increase) the listening experience.

If you're trying to improve your use of more challenging tenses in English, listening to stories is a natural way to start mastering them! Goldilocks and The Three Bears is packed with the past perfect and  present perfect continuous. This lesson is not focused on these tenses - grammar lessons are coming, I promise - however, you will be exposed in a very natural way to these challenging tenses.

This story has been altered many times over the years - especially now that it's in the public domain! One of the original versions of this story is weird and morbid and I had to share it with you, so be sure to stay tuned until the very end to learn how that tale ended.

Hope you're having a nice day! :)

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In honor of Juneteenth, we will be talking about "The Mother of the Freedom Movement" - Rosa Parks. Rosa made history when she politely refused to give her seat to a white passenger on a public bus in Alabama when institutionalized racial segregation existed in the South (Jim Crow Laws).

Her story is one of courage; she'll make you want to stand up for what's right.

Note:Juneteenth is on June 19th, and it's been a federal holiday in the United States since 2021. However, it's been a day of celebration for African Americans since 1865, when Texas, the last state with institutionalized slavery, abolished it.  It's a day to celebrate freedom and liberty, as well as to remember those who fought for it, like Rosa Parks.

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In this episode, you'll learn how to use the common expression Once in a Blue Moon. In Part 2,  which will be posted shortly, you'll learn all about Rosa Parks and The Freedom Movement.

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We've lived in Los Angeles for about 5 months and spend a lot of time exploring. I'm happy to say that the city is growing on us - we LOVE the restaurant scene here and checking out the stunning mansions, beautiful beaches and fun neighborhoods.

There are a few stereotypes about Los Angeles that you may have been exposed to if you watch films made in Hollywood. Up until this point, I've been pleasantly surprised to disagree with most of them. What do you think about these stereotypes? Had you heard them before?

Do you have thoughts about the content in this episode? Ever been here? Practice your English by posting a comment via Instagram!

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Today you're going to learn so many fun facts about the US, all of which have to do with geography. You'll hear about the topography, so the physical features of the land that make it visually unique. And you'll also learn about the population - so where residents are distributed throughout the country.

By the end of this episode, you should have a solid geographical overview of the United States and be able to talk about geography in English.

Note: The goal of 5-Minute English episodes is to smash all of the must-know terms about a topic into 5 minutes. Geography required a bit more, but in my opinion that extra bit was really enjoyable! I hope you feel the same. :)

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The Tale of Peter Rabbit was published in 1902 by the British author and illustrator Beatrix Potter. Today I'll read the story to you.

What's the moral of this story? Let us know via Instagram!

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Martin ended up falling in love with a redheaded American woman named Elizabeth Smith, and eventually the couple decided to have a family. Never in their wildest dreams could they have imagined what would come next: Four out of their seven children were born with blue skin.

In this episode of the American English Podcast, you'll learn about THE BLUE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY. In the first part of the episode, you'll learn how to use the common English expression OUT OF THE BLUE.

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In this episode of the American English Podcast, you'll learn how to use the common English expression OUT OF THE BLUE. In Part 2 (Episode 118.2), you'll hear the story of the BLUE PEOPLE OF KENTUCKY.

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We all love survival stories, do we not? Watching men and women  find food and water, seeing them build shelters out of sticks, stones and leaves. It’s a common theme on reality television. Occasionally though, in real life, we hear real survival stories. People who were confronted with death and managed to escape it. Today you’ll hear the incredible story ofAron Ralston. You may know his story already if you’ve seen the movie 127 hours. If you haven’t, you’re in for a ride. 

Take a deep breath though. Aron is going to live. If you are eating, you might want to pause this episode and wait until you’ve digested your food. Don’t say I didn’t warn you! Let’s get to it.

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In today's episode you'll learn how to use the common English expression BETWEEN A ROCK AND A HARD PLACE.

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In this 5-Minute English episode, you'll hear a lot of vocabulary and phrases related to Cold, Flus and Sickness.

This episode type is extra challenging, but short. Listen to it multiple times and consider transcribing the audio as a listening exercise. You can also dive deeper into this lesson by purchasing Premium Content.

*****
IF YOU WANT TO SUPPORT REFUGEES IN EUROPE - CHECK BACK SOON! I WILL BE POSTING LINKS FOR HOW YOU CAN HELP (IF YOU WANT :)).

*****

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In this 5-Minute English episode, you'll hear a lot of vocabulary and phrases related to winter and the cold. You'll also learn about the typical experience at a Colorado ski resort.

This episode type is extra challenging, but short. Listen to it multiple times and consider transcribing the audio as a listening exercise. You can also dive deeper into this lesson by purchasing Premium Content.

*****

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After my last conversation with Pete about his "Dream House" in Australia (Ep. 109), I decided to ask my friends and family members about their dream home. My mom was the first to respond and this episode is her response.

My mom's dream house would be in Napa Valley in California, which is wine country here. As you can tell, she loves this topic - she uses all of the right terminology for stuff, some of it might be challenging to understand and that's ok. She's got a degree in Interior Design and spends her time decorating and redecorating, painting and changing every corner of her house, so her knowledge in the topic is on another level. She also regularly watches  design / housing / real estate shows on HGTV (Home and Garden Television).

Would you like to live in a castle in France, a spacious apartment in New York or a cottage in the English countryside? All three? Me too! Speaking about dreams and wishes in English it forces you to use conditionals.

Check out how my mom uses the second conditional in her description. Listen carefully to the audio and try to envision her dream house, then visit instagram to see the photos that inspired her audio.

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We're moving to Los Angeles, L.A. - the City of Angels. This is a Chats with Shana episode, what I'm thinking comes out of my mouth.

Hear about the big adventure we're about to embark on. I'm going to take you on this journey with us, WISH US LUCK!

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In this episode, Charlie and I discuss all things embarrassing. This is your chance to hear some funny embarrassing stories, practice listening to British and American English and learn some amazing vocabulary (hear how we compare terms like " your fly is down," "to let one slide" and "to eat shit"!)

Charlie also teaches us how to act appropriately if the Queen rips one (farts) at a fancy feast.

Has there been a more amusing episode? I'm not sure. If you don't laugh out loud at least once, I'll be floored (shocked). It sounds like a big promise, right? Listen in, I hope that we don't let you down. 

Be sure to share your story via Instagram on this week's post! :)

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The preposition in and on can be a nightmare, but in this short recording I hope to clarify some of the confusion when it comes to speaking about islands.

Yes, there will be a few exceptions to the rules here, but honestly this topic can get so convoluted, simplifying it the way I have will enable you to speak correctly about islands 99% of the time.

The one exception probably worth mentioning is Rhode Island - Rhode Island is a state and when I visit, I'm IN Rhode Island.

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Want to go on a vacation to Hawaii? In this episode, I speak about our recent trip to Oahu - the most visited and populous island in the archipelago. Hawaii was the 50th state to join the union and in this episode I give you a general overview of the islands and what you can do as a tourist there.

Why do people from other states go there so often? Find out why.

*****

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Interesting biographies of figures you should know about but probably don't.

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In this 5-Minute English episode, you'll hear a lot of vocabulary and phrases related to skincare and makeup. This episode type is extra challenging, but short. Listen to it multiple times and consider transcribing the audio as a listening exercise. You can also dive deeper into this lesson by purchasing Premium Content.

*****

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I've always loved talking about Dream Houses. It's sort of a magical topic that everyone can relate to and yet for every person the response is going to be different. How we answer / describe our space largely depends on our life experience to date and perception of places we've been and have not been to. In this conversation I talk to Pete  (my Australian friend and host of the Aussie English Podcast)  about his dream home and we compare our previous living environments to where we'd like to be.

Would you like to live in a castle in France, a spacious apartment in New York or a cottage in the English countryside? All three? Me too!

Speaking about dreams and wishes in English it forces you to use conditionals. Check out how Pete and I switch from thefirst and second conditional in this conversation.

*****

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Interesting biographies of figures you should know about but probably don't.

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In today's episode, you'll learn about Sharks and Shark Attacks in U.S. waters and how to avoid a shark if you're visiting the U.S. coast!

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In today's episode, you'll learn how to use the common expression: To Rock the Boat. You'll get to practice pronunciation and hear a joke as well. 

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In today's episode, you'll learn how to use the common expression: The Coast Is Clear. You'll get to practice pronunciation and hear a joke as well. The fun fact in this episode is all about Alcatraz, an island or prison, I should say - former prison - off the coast of San Francisco, which housed some of the United States's most infamous criminals from 1934 until 1963.

One former resident you may know of is Al Capone, the American gangster / mobster, you can say, also known by the nicknames Public Enemy #1 and, of course, Scarface.

Alcatraz is a fascinating place for its complex history and twisted stories. And today you're going to hear one of them; the story of how three men managed to escape what was considered the most secure prison at the time. This story baffles historians even today, and the U.S. government still has no idea what happened to the three men. In fact, it is the longest manhunt in U.S. history.

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Charlie, our good friend from The British English Podcast, came up with an incredibly entertaining podcast format: "Off the Beaten Track." In short, it's all about asking someone detailed questions about their ideal itinerary for a DREAM vacation. I emphasize DREAM because this episode is packed with HYPOTHETICALS! You've hit the hypothetical jackpot... and it's real! 

In today's episode, we heard all about his crazy trip up to space and then to the Maldives; he would go skydiving and scuba-diving with sharks among some other legit (very cool) activities. Tune in to learn a great deal about Charlie - you'll hear plenty of conditionals in natural English conversation.

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This episode is part of Season 3. In this episode of the podcast, you'll hear about our recent month-long stay in Brazil. Other than spending time with family and friends, the highlights of the trip were with animals and nature. Tune in and hear learn a lot of animal vocabulary! 

In this story, you'll also be exposed to the 10 most common collective nouns for animals. A collective noun is a word used to describe a group. For example, a group of fish is called a school of fish. A group of birds that hang out / fly together is called a flock. 

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The decision to move overseas is a big one and it requires preparation. The first step for non-native English speakers who want to live, study or work in the U.S. is taking an English exam as proof of English ability. The IELTS exam is one of the most popular.

Today, I had the pleasure of speaking with Jessica Beck all about IELTS.  She shared many reasons why you should consider taking this exam over the TOEFL or TOEIC, she gave some tricks on how to get a higher score, how to deal with anxiety of speaking in English in an interview setting and much much more.

Jessica is an expert in IELTS. She worked for 14 years as an IELTS examiner, so she knows what students go through and what examiners are looking for! To share her knowledge she created a test prep course called the 3 KEYS IELTS  (IELTS KEYS for short).

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This episode is part of Season 3. In this episode of the podcast, you'll learn how to use the common expression TO PUSH SOMEONE'S BUTTONS. For the fun fact about American History and Culture, you'll learn about THE MILGRAM EXPERIMENT.

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The term "toddler" is typically used to describe a child that is between the ages of one and three, although some people consider a three-year-old up until four, also a toddler. It's the stage in a human's life when they're no longer a newborn, they're no longer an infant, so a baby, but they're also not really a kid.

The term toddler comes from the verb toddle, which means to walk with short and unsteady steps, according to Oxford Languages. For most of us, when we learn to walk well, we no longer toddle. We actually don't use the term toddle very often in English, although it does exist. 

There is much to be said about toddlers, and that's why today's 5-minute English lesson will be about this stage of development in a human's life.

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Welcome to Season 3!!In this episode, I share some news going on here in California and then we talk about what you can expect from Season 3. 

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After 5 years of teaching intermediate to advanced level English online, I found trends in the words that my students mispronounced. In today's episode, I consolidated the common mispronounced words in my language classes into one episode with example sentences so that you can work on your pronunciation.

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The American English Accent course teaches the foundations and structure of a good accent. From word and syllable stress, to linking, glottal stops, reductions and minimal pairs, you'll be taught exactly how to mimic the sounds of native speakers.

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In this episode of the American English Podcast, you'll gain maximum exposure to 10 common verbs. You'll hear a story, get the definitions and new example sentences to better your pronunciation and amp up your vocabulary!The 10 words are:

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In this episode of the American English Podcast, you'll gain maximum exposure to 10 common verbs that produce sound. You'll hear a story, get the definitions and new example sentences to better your pronunciation and amp up your vocabulary! 

The 10 words are:

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In this episode of the American English Podcast, you'll learn how to use the expression BOTTOMS UP! and all about CINCO DE MAYO.

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In this episode of the American English Podcast, you'll learn how to use the expression BENT OUT OF SHAPE and all about TORNADOES IN THE U.S..

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In this Chats with Shana episode, you'll hear about some of the language mistakes I've made in foreign languages. You'll learn how to get yourself out of awkward situations in English by using common expressions!

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In this episode of the American English Podcast, you'll learn how to use the expression TO RING A BELL and all about the LIBERTY BELL, a symbol of freedom in the United States.

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In Episode #93, you'll hear my adventure starting a business in NYC and traveling overseas as a digital nomad. You'll also hear the lessons learned from this experience using the third conditional.

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In this episode of the American English Podcast, you'll learn how to use the expression TO PULL SOME STRINGS and all about the GREAT IDITAROD RACE, the largest annual sporting event in Alaska. Spoiler alert: It's all about dogsledding!

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How many vocabulary words, phrases and collocations can you think of within the topic of Babies? I bet a lot. Now, do you know the translations for them in English?

This episode introduces everything you'll need to know about the topic in order to navigate a conversation with a native speaker, other than the two obvious terms I've left out "crying" and "baby bottle," but you know these already ;)This episode is long overdue and I hope you enjoy it.

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This is the first of many (hopefully) yearly reviews. There's nothing better than reflecting on the highlights in one's year, especially with the help of images. I've done this partially for myself and also to help you listeners. I've talked about some of the events I've spoken about the podcast to "jog your memory" (episode #1) and used a number of other expressions from the expression episodes to talk about my 2020. This is very personal.

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Hi Everyone! Christmas is just a few days away and what better way to prepare than by learning how to describe desserts in English. Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, the holiday season tends to be a time of indulgence; if you're not diving into calorie-filled desserts with your family members (even just on Zoom this year), what are you doing?!? In English the four tastes are sweet, salty, sour and bitter (some also mention umami). Today, we'll talk about other adjectives to describe your favorite desserts so that you can get more creative when talking about them.

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Hi Everyone! Welcome back to Episode #088. 

Today we will be talking about a poem, a very famous poem. In fact it may be one of the most read and referenced poems in English. Don't quote me on that, but it's a poem that you'll hear on the radio in the U.S. as December 25th approaches, you'll see lines from it on Christmas cards, in advertisements and in many many movies. It's called A Visit from Santa Claus, but you may know it as The Night Before Christmas. If you don't celebrate Christmas, or you don't believe in Santa Clause, but you are interested in American Culture, listen to this episode.

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For today we're back with another 5-Minute English episode and it's all about Strengths and Weaknesses, one of the most challenging questions you'll run into at a job interview. In the 5-Minute discussion we'll dive into an individual's head on the day of a job interview and see how they decide on their strength.

As usual, 5-minute episodes are intensive listening exercises so it should be a challenge! If you're struggling to understand and feel overwhelmed by the complexity of advanced vocab words, I highly recommend signing up to Season 2 or the 5 Minute-English Course.

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In today's episode you'll learn how to use the expression IN THE RED and we'll talk about how BLACK FRIDAY got started, how it grew in popularity and what it's like in case you want to take advantage of sales on your next trip to the US.

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In this episode, we have a special guest. His name is Charlie Baxter and he's the host of the British English Podcast. We talk about the British Bake Off and he helps me understand the terminology used in it.

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Listen to Jessica (my college roomie) and I talk about our college experiences at UC Santa Barbara!

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In this episode, you'll hear about what my family has been doing in the month of October. You'll hear the Present Perfect Continuous tense used over and over again.

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In this episode, you'll hear a lower intermediate story for Halloween called the Red Spot. It's disgusting. Don't say I didn't warn you, so either skip it or listen all the way to the end because you'll be less disturbed if you make it to the last few minutes!

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In this episode, you'll hear a 5-Minute English episode about FALL (AKA AUTUMN) in the United States. By the end, you'll learn vocabulary, phrasal verbs and collocations needed to talk about this topic with a native speaker.

Like most 5-Minute Episodes, the listening is short and more challenging. You might need to listen to an episode at least three times in order to fully comprehend it. There are 40+ vocabulary words and phrases in this lesson.

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Hi Everyone! In today's episode, you'll learn how to use the expression HIT THE SPOT like a native speaker. You'll also learn about Ben and Jerry's, one of the most socially and environmentally conscious companies in the U.S..

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Hi everyone! In today's episode we'll be talking about THE FACES ON OUR MONEY. By money, I'm referring to the United States Dollar, which is commonly written as USD. The faces I'm referring to are the portraits of influential Americans you'll see if you look at the front of our bills and coins. According to the U.S. treasury, these portraits are "of deceased persons whose places in history the American people know well."

Deceased is a fancy way of saying dead. So an individual needs to have died in order to appear on our currency.

It goes without saying, it is an utmost honor to be chosen as one of these prominent figures and today is like to share with you what these makes each one deserving of such an honor.

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In this episode, you'll hear a 5-Minute English episode about ELECTIONS AND VOTING in the United States. By the end, you'll learn vocabulary, phrasal verbs and collocations needed to talk about this topic with a native speaker.Like most 5-Minute Episodes, the listening is short and more challenging. You might need to listen to an episode at least three times in order to fully comprehend it. There are 40+ vocabulary words and phrases in this lesson.

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In this episode, you'll hear a 5-Minute English episode about LABOR AND DELIVERY, as well as facts and statistics about GIVING BIRTH in the United States. By the end, you'll learn vocabulary, phrasal verbs and collocations needed to talk about this topic with a native speaker.Like most 5-Minute Episodes, the listening is short and more challenging. You might need to listen to an episode at least three times in order to fully comprehend it. There are 40+ vocabulary words and phrases in this lesson.

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Hi Everyone! In today's episode, Liz is back on the show! We have a very fun / funny episode for you which is about Portmanteaus. Don't be afraid of the word, I don't think most Americans know what a portmanteau is.

What's important is we USE them ALL THE TIME! For example, instead of saying "I'm going out to grab some frozen yogurt," we might say "I'm going out to get some froyo." Froyo is a portmanteau; it's a blend of two words to make one word that has one meaning. Get ready to laugh and immerse yourself in American Culture! Enjoy :)

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Hi Everyone! In today's episode, I talk about WILDFIRES, which is a devastating issue many Americans face every summer (including myself!). Since this is a 5-Minute Episode it's topic-specific and MORE CHALLENGING than regular episodes. In it, you'll learn vocabulary, phrasal verbs, and collocations needed to talk about this topic in depth in English.

Like most 5-Minute Episodes, the listening is short and more challenging. You might need to listen to an episode at least three times in order to fully comprehend it. There are 40+ vocabulary words and phrases in this lesson.

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Hi Everyone! In this week's episode, I retell the very famous Brothers' Grimm fairy tale, Hansel and Gretel. I've made a few changes to the original text.

First of all, I've intentionally added phrasal verbs and prepositional phrases throughout the text so that you can learn them in a context.

Secondly, I've modernized some of the language a bit, since the original texts were written in German in the 1800s. I want you to be able to use the language that you hear in conversation.

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Hi Everyone! In today's episode, you'll learn how to use the expression ON THE EDGE OF ONE'S SEAT like a native speaker. You'll also learn about the life of STAN LEE, the brain behind some of the world's most beloved and despised superheroes and villains. You'll also get some insight into comic book history! :)

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Hi Everyone! In today's episode, I talk about CLEANING, which is an activity that most of us dread. The thing is, the topic often pops up in conversation so the vocabulary, phrasal verbs, collocations and expressions in this episode are very useful!

Like most 5-Minute Episodes, the listening is short and more challenging. You might need to listen to an episode at least three times in order to fully comprehend it. There are 40+ vocabulary words and phrases in this lesson.

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Hi Everyone! In today's episode, you'll learn how to use the expression THROUGH THICK AND THIN like a native speaker. You'll also learn about MATERNITY LEAVE / PARENTAL LEAVE IN THE US.

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Hi Everyone! In today's episode, you'll learn how to use the expression MUSIC TO ONE'S EARS like a native speaker. You'll also learn about the fascinating life of ELVIS PRESLEY.

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Hi Everyone! In today's episode, I talk about Summer in the US. For many Americans, summertime brings back a sense of nostalgia. Today, we'll talk about the common activities kids do outdoors during the summer months, how families spend summer break (road trips!) and about temperature.

Like most 5-Minute Episodes, the listening is short and more challenging. You might need to listen to an episode at least three times in order to fully comprehend it. There are 40+ vocabulary words and phrases in this lesson.

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In this episode of the American English Podcast, we will talk about initialisms which are a type of abbreviation. The initialisms discussed are used in PRE-PARTY and PARTY situations. In the first part of the discussion I explain the difference between initialism and acronym. I also explain a list of party initialisms (such as RSVP, BYOB, etc.). In the second part, you will hear a conversation with my mom using them all in a discussion about PARTY CULTURE IN THE U.S..

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