Hi, everyone! Thanks for joining me for another episode. I'm Georgiana, your English teacher and founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com To get the transcript visit: SpeakEnglishPodcast.com/podcast You can subscribe to my newsletter on my website and get the 5 secrets to learn to speak English for free. Have you ever spent a whole weekend just relaxing and doing nothing? Just playing games or binging shows? It's a nice break, right? But what if you did that for months or even years? Today, I've got a story that might shock you. Think about someone who stays in their room all day and night, not seeing friends or family, not working or studying. Odd, right? Well, there's a Japanese word for this -"Hikikomori," which means "being confined." It's about people who choose to stay away from society completely. This is common in Japan, but other cultures have similar ideas. People call them loners or "modern-day hermits." Around half a million young people in Japan, and about the same number of middle-aged people, live like this. It's not just in Japan. Often, young people, especially guys, are really into the online world of games and social media. However, they are not afraid of going outside like people with agoraphobia. They simply prefer not to be involved in the world. You might wonder why. I did too. Some people believe that pressure from society to do well can lead to this. Others have experienced difficult situations, such as bullying or family problems. Also, technology allows them to easily stay alone, as everything is accessible online. Let's continue! Now, think about their health. Being inside constantly isn't healthy. They might get weak or face sleep problems. Emotionally, they might feel down, unsure, or guilty. In any case, many don't see this as a big problem, since these people don't often seek help. They're content in their isolation. But there are ways to help. In Japan, there are online communities for them. When they're ready for help, they get therapy, medication, and social activities. Even taking a short step outside can significantly impact you if you feel confined. The sun and fresh air can be invigorating. Great! That's all for now! I hope you found this topic helpful. Let's continue with a Point of View Lesson. To get the transcript visit: SpeakEnglishPodcast.com/podcast

Hi, everyone! Thanks for joining me for another episode. I'm Georgiana, your English teacher and founder of <a href="http://SpeakEnglishPodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a> To get the transcript visit: <a href="http://speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com/podcast</a> You can subscribe to my newsletter on <a href="https://speakenglishpodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">my website</a> and get the 5 secrets to learn to speak English for free. Have you ever spent a whole weekend just relaxing and doing nothing? Just playing games or binging shows? It's a nice break, right? But what if you did that for months or even years? Today, I've got a story that might shock you. Think about someone who stays in their room all day and night, not seeing friends or family, not working or studying. Odd, right? Well, there's a Japanese word for this -"Hikikomori," which means "being confined." It's about people who choose to stay away from society completely. This is common in Japan, but other cultures have similar ideas. People call them loners or "modern-day hermits." Around half a million young people in Japan, and about the same number of middle-aged people, live like this. It's not just in Japan. Often, young people, especially guys, are really into the online world of games and social media. However, they are not afraid of going outside like people with agoraphobia. They simply prefer not to be involved in the world. You might wonder why. I did too. Some people believe that pressure from society to do well can lead to this. Others have experienced difficult situations, such as bullying or family problems. Also, technology allows them to easily stay alone, as everything is accessible online. Let's continue! Now, think about their health. Being inside constantly isn't healthy. They might get weak or face sleep problems. Emotionally, they might feel down, unsure, or guilty. In any case, many don't see this as a big problem, since these people don't often seek help. They're content in their isolation. But there are ways to help. In Japan, there are online communities for them. When they're ready for help, they get therapy, medication, and social activities. Even taking a short step outside can significantly impact you if you feel confined. The sun and fresh air can be invigorating. Great! That's all for now! I hope you found this topic helpful. Let's continue with a Point of View Lesson. To get the transcript visit: <a href="http://speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com/podcast</a>

#263 Social Isolation - The Hikikomori Phenomenon

Transcript: I'd like to include some food and cooking vocabulary in this episode. Get the transcript on my website:  Speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast/ And with a mini-story, you will improve your English fluency. You’ll see, it’s like having a conversation with another person. You know, when I enter the kitchen, my first thought is… Why am I here? Yeah. I'm hungry. That's why. Now I remember. :) I open the refrigerator and start scanning for some delicious food. Since I don't buy ready-made food, I usually stare at the fridge for some minutes until it starts beeping. Then I close it and open it again to continue scanning. And I'm not saying my refrigerator isn't well organized; it's just that I'm looking for something I can prepare in 1 minute, preferably even less. Many times, I end up making a green smoothie. That's a fast and easy way of getting all the needed nutrients. And plus, smoothies are delicious. By the way, a smoothie is a thick drink that you can make using fruits, vegetables, greens, seeds, milk, ice, etc. As I said earlier, I typically end up making a green smoothie. Don't panic. It's green but really yummy. I add some water or milk, one avocado, 1/2 cup of pineapple, 1/2 frozen banana, 2 cups of spinach, and 1/2 cup of ice cubes. I put it at speed 10 for 45 seconds, and the smoothie is ready. Delicious! In case you were wondering, I use a Vitamix blender to prepare my smoothies. And I don't use it only for that.  I also make frozen desserts with it, soups, I can make flours with it, almond milk, batters, dough, nut butter, juices, dips, etc. It's very versatile. [END OF THE EXTRACT] Get the transcript on my website:  Speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast/

Transcript: I'd like to include some food and cooking vocabulary in this episode. Get the transcript on my website:  <a href="https://speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast/</a> And with a mini-story, you will improve your English fluency. You’ll see, it’s like having a conversation with another person. You know, when I enter the kitchen, my first thought is… Why am I here? Yeah. I'm hungry. That's why. Now I remember. :) I open the refrigerator and start scanning for some delicious food. Since I don't buy ready-made food, I usually stare at the fridge for some minutes until it starts beeping. Then I close it and open it again to continue scanning. And I'm not saying my refrigerator isn't well organized; it's just that I'm looking for something I can prepare in 1 minute, preferably even less. Many times, I end up making a green smoothie. That's a fast and easy way of getting all the needed nutrients. And plus, smoothies are delicious. By the way, a smoothie is a thick drink that you can make using fruits, vegetables, greens, seeds, milk, ice, etc. As I said earlier, I typically end up making a green smoothie. Don't panic. It's green but really yummy. I add some water or milk, one avocado, 1/2 cup of pineapple, 1/2 frozen banana, 2 cups of spinach, and 1/2 cup of ice cubes. I put it at speed 10 for 45 seconds, and the smoothie is ready. Delicious! In case you were wondering, I use a Vitamix blender to prepare my smoothies. And I don't use it only for that.  I also make frozen desserts with it, soups, I can make flours with it, almond milk, batters, dough, nut butter, juices, dips, etc. It's very versatile. [END OF THE EXTRACT] Get the transcript on my website:  <a href="https://speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast/</a>

#262 Food vocabulary - How to Prepare a Smoothie?

Today we are going to talk about phrasal verbs with the verb give. Many of you have asked for a new  phrasal verbs episode, so I am sure that you are excited about it. Apparently, everyone wants to learn new phrasal verbs.  Get the transcript on my website: SpeakEnglishPodcast.com  And with mini-story, you will improve your fluency. I will ask you many questions that you will need to answer right away. It's like speaking English with another person. But before I get started, I wanted to thank you for listening to my podcast. It's been over four years since I released the first episode, and since then, I've received a lot of support. #1 To give something away It means to give something for free as a gift or donation. Examples: "They give away a free chocolate bar for every $100 you spend in the supermarket." "Tina gave her old clothes away when she lost weight." #2 To give oneself or somebody else away It means to show where somebody is or what they are doing when they are trying to keep this a secret. Or to unintentionally reveal something about yourself that you don't want anyone to know. In short, to give somebody away means to betray them. Examples: “Mia smiled, but her voice gave her away."  "Tom gave away classified information to the competition." #3 To give in  It means to accept that you are defeated, to surrender. Or, in some cases, to give in means to finally agree to what someone wants after refusing for some time. Examples: "After being surrounded, the enemy gave in." "My son insisted so much that I buy a cell phone, I finally gave in." #4 To give out  We use this phrasal verb to say that something stops working correctly or becomes weak. Examples: "After running for 30 minutes, my legs finally gave out." "The students wouldn't listen, so his patience finally gave out."   Get the transcript on my website: SpeakEnglishPodcast.com

Today we are going to talk about <a href="https://speakenglishpodcast.com/phrasal-verbs-with-get-in-english-rep-esl/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">phrasal verbs </a>with the verb give. Many of you have asked for a new <a href="https://speakenglishpodcast.com/english-common-phrasal-verbs-with-take/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> phrasal verbs</a> episode, so I am sure that you are excited about it. Apparently, everyone wants to learn new phrasal verbs. Get the transcript on my website: <a href="http://speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a> And with mini-story, you will improve your fluency. I will ask you many questions that you will need to answer right away. It's like speaking English with another person. But before I get started, I wanted to thank you for listening to my podcast. It's been over four years since I released the first episode, and since then, I've received a lot of support. #1 To give something away It means to give something for free as a gift or donation. Examples: "They give away a free chocolate bar for every $100 you spend in the supermarket." "Tina gave her old clothes away when she lost weight." #2 To give oneself or somebody else away It means to show where somebody is or what they are doing when they are trying to keep this a secret. Or to unintentionally reveal something about yourself that you don't want anyone to know. In short, to give somebody away means to betray them. Examples: “Mia smiled, but her voice gave her away." "Tom gave away classified information to the competition." #3 To give in  It means to accept that you are defeated, to surrender. Or, in some cases, to give in means to finally agree to what someone wants after refusing for some time. Examples: "After being surrounded, the enemy gave in." "My son insisted so much that I buy a cell phone, I finally gave in." #4 To give out  We use this phrasal verb to say that something stops working correctly or becomes weak. Examples: "After running for 30 minutes, my legs finally gave out." "The students wouldn't listen, so his patience finally gave out." Get the transcript on my website: <a href="http://speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a>

#261 Phrasal verbs with GIVE

In today's lesson, we're going to explore the fascinating world of homophones. These are words that sound the same but have different meanings, and sometimes can be tricky for English learners. Don't worry, though! By the end of this episode, you'll have a solid understanding of homophones and be able to use them confidently in your everyday conversations. Before you start listening, make sure to get the transcript on my website: SpeakEnglishPodcast.com It's free! So, let's dive in! Homophones are words that are pronounced the same but have different meanings and may be spelled differently. They can often cause confusion, as they sound identical, but their meanings can vary. Let's explore some common examples of homophones to help clarify their usage. Example 1: "Two," "Too," and "To" Although they sound exactly alike, they have different meanings and uses. "Two" refers to the number 2, such as "I have two cats." "Too" means also or in addition, for example, "I want to go too." "To" is a preposition used to express direction, purpose, or recipient, as in "I'm going to the park." Example 2: "There," "Their," "They're" Let's break them down: "There" is used to indicate a location or a point being discussed, like "The keys are over there." "Their" is a possessive pronoun that shows ownership, such as "They brought their books." "They're" is a contraction of "they are," as in "They're going to the movies." Example 3: "Write" and "Right" Our final example focuses on two words that sound identical but have distinct meanings: "Write" means to put words on paper or create text, like "Please write your name." "Right" can refer to correctness, direction, or the opposite of left, such as "The answer is right" or "Turn right at the intersection." [END OF THE EXTRACT]   Get the transcript on my website: SpeakEnglishPodcast.com

In today's lesson, we're going to explore the fascinating world of homophones. These are words that sound the same but have different meanings, and sometimes can be tricky for English learners. Don't worry, though! By the end of this episode, you'll have a solid understanding of homophones and be able to use them confidently in your everyday conversations. Before you start listening, make sure to get the transcript on my website: <a href="https://speakenglishpodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a> It's free! So, let's dive in! Homophones are words that are pronounced the same but have different meanings and may be spelled differently. They can often cause confusion, as they sound identical, but their meanings can vary. Let's explore some common examples of homophones to help clarify their usage. Example 1: "Two," "Too," and "To" Although they sound exactly alike, they have different meanings and uses. "Two" refers to the number 2, such as "I have two cats." "Too" means also or in addition, for example, "I want to go too." "To" is a preposition used to express direction, purpose, or recipient, as in "I'm going to the park." Example 2: "There," "Their," "They're" Let's break them down: "There" is used to indicate a location or a point being discussed, like "The keys are over there." "Their" is a possessive pronoun that shows ownership, such as "They brought their books." "They're" is a contraction of "they are," as in "They're going to the movies." Example 3: "Write" and "Right" Our final example focuses on two words that sound identical but have distinct meanings: "Write" means to put words on paper or create text, like "Please write your name." "Right" can refer to correctness, direction, or the opposite of left, such as "The answer is right" or "Turn right at the intersection." [END OF THE EXTRACT] Get the transcript on my website: <a href="https://speakenglishpodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a>

#260 Homophones in English – There, their, they're

Hi, everyone! Thanks for joining me for a new episode. I'm Georgiana, your English teacher. And I'm here to help you speak English fluently. Today, let's explore the incredible American experiences you can only find in the USA! And with a fun mini-story, you will improve your English fluency. It's almost like having a conversation with someone in English. Before we start, get the transcript on my website: SpeakEnglishPodcast.com Ok, let's get started! The United States is known for its diverse culture, innovation, and unique things to do. In this episode, we'll discover American experiences exclusive to this country. The breathtaking national parks. The USA is home to stunning natural wonders like the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone. These parks offer magnificent beauty and outdoor adventures that you can only find in the USA. You will have another special experience when you visit the well-known Las Vegas Strip. It's filled with glamour and excitement, featuring iconic hotels, casinos, and incredible shows. Las Vegas combines luxury and entertainment in a way that is uniquely American. Let's not forget about Broadway shows. Broadway is considered the heart of live theater, and the USA is the home of this artistic treasure. With amazing productions and talented performers, Broadway offers an unforgettable theater experience that attracts people worldwide. Moving on to American music, the USA is recognized for being the origin of diverse musical styles. American music has had a significant impact, from jazz and blues to rock and hip-hop. Therefore, seeing live performances in the US is a real treat for music lovers. Next, we have American sports culture. Sports play a big role in American culture, whether attending a baseball game, experiencing the excitement of a basketball match, or feeling the community spirit of a college football game. Finally, let's talk about the iconic landmarks. The US is filled with many remarkable landmarks that represent American heritage and pride. From the Statue of Liberty in New York to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, these landmarks tell the story of the United States' rich history and accomplishments. Get the transcript on my website: SpeakEnglishPodcast.com

Hi, everyone! Thanks for joining me for a new episode. I'm Georgiana, your English teacher. And I'm here to help you speak English fluently. Today, let's explore the incredible American experiences you can only find in the USA! And with a fun mini-story, you will improve your English fluency. It's almost like having a conversation with someone in English. Before we start, get the transcript on my website: <a href="http://SpeakEnglishPodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a> Ok, let's get started! The United States is known for its diverse culture, innovation, and unique things to do. In this episode, we'll discover American experiences exclusive to this country. The breathtaking national parks. The USA is home to stunning natural wonders like the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone. These parks offer magnificent beauty and outdoor adventures that you can only find in the USA. You will have another special experience when you visit the well-known Las Vegas Strip. It's filled with glamour and excitement, featuring iconic hotels, casinos, and incredible shows. Las Vegas combines luxury and entertainment in a way that is uniquely American. Let's not forget about Broadway shows. Broadway is considered the heart of live theater, and the USA is the home of this artistic treasure. With amazing productions and talented performers, Broadway offers an unforgettable theater experience that attracts people worldwide. Moving on to American music, the USA is recognized for being the origin of diverse musical styles. American music has had a significant impact, from jazz and blues to rock and hip-hop. Therefore, seeing live performances in the US is a real treat for music lovers. Next, we have American sports culture. Sports play a big role in American culture, whether attending a baseball game, experiencing the excitement of a basketball match, or feeling the community spirit of a college football game. Finally, let's talk about the iconic landmarks. The US is filled with many remarkable landmarks that represent American heritage and pride. From the Statue of Liberty in New York to the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, these landmarks tell the story of the United States' rich history and accomplishments. Get the transcript on my website: <a href="http://SpeakEnglishPodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a>

#259 Discovering Unique American Adventures

This time, I'll share more types of writing in journalism. In an earlier episode, I talked about different types of newswriting, such as news, report, and interviews. And with a fun mini-story you will practice your English speaking. We will explore opinion genres, where writing is done from a subjective perspective. This perspective can be the author's or the media's opinion.  Let's see what they are.  #1 Editorial Imagine a newspaper reporting on an event and publishing various news articles, reports, and maybe interviews. This newspaper may publish an "editorial," which expresses the newspaper's opinion or position on the topic covered in the news. It usually reflects the media's ideological stance. An editorial generally doesn't mention the author and is not too long. Typically, it can be found on the first few pages. #2 Opinion Article An opinion article is a text that presents the viewpoint of a specific person, like a journalist, politician, or public figure. These articles don't necessarily align with the media's editorial stance. Ideally, diverse media outlets would have different opinion articles, enriching the content and allowing readers to compare different perspectives.  #3 Column Yes, a column supports buildings, but in journalism, columns are something different, of course :) They are similar to opinion articles but are usually shorter. Additionally, these have specific authors who write regularly, and usually focuses on topics like politics, sports, or lifestyle. The term "column" comes from arranging narrow vertical sections in old newspapers to save space on printed pages. #4 Letter to the Editor This is a common section in many newspapers and magazines where readers can send letters with their opinions, comments, and suggestions about the published articles and topics. The letter to the editor is a way for people to share their thoughts with the newspaper's editors. Many times, these letters are written about a specific article in the newspaper or a topic that is currently important to the reader. I think this practice is becoming less popular because social media has changed how readers share their opinions on news and current topics. Get the transcript on my website: https://speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast/

This time, I'll share more types of writing in journalism. In an earlier episode, I talked about different types of newswriting, such as news, report, and interviews. And with a fun mini-story you will practice your English speaking. We will explore opinion genres, where writing is done from a subjective perspective. This perspective can be the author's or the media's opinion. Let's see what they are. #1 Editorial Imagine a newspaper reporting on an event and publishing various news articles, reports, and maybe interviews. This newspaper may publish an "editorial," which expresses the newspaper's opinion or position on the topic covered in the news. It usually reflects the media's ideological stance. An editorial generally doesn't mention the author and is not too long. Typically, it can be found on the first few pages. #2 Opinion Article An opinion article is a text that presents the viewpoint of a specific person, like a journalist, politician, or public figure. These articles don't necessarily align with the media's editorial stance. Ideally, diverse media outlets would have different opinion articles, enriching the content and allowing readers to compare different perspectives. #3 Column Yes, a column supports buildings, but in journalism, columns are something different, of course :) They are similar to opinion articles but are usually shorter. Additionally, these have specific authors who write regularly, and usually focuses on topics like politics, sports, or lifestyle. The term "column" comes from arranging narrow vertical sections in old newspapers to save space on printed pages. #4 Letter to the Editor This is a common section in many newspapers and magazines where readers can send letters with their opinions, comments, and suggestions about the published articles and topics. The letter to the editor is a way for people to share their thoughts with the newspaper's editors. Many times, these letters are written about a specific article in the newspaper or a topic that is currently important to the reader. I think this practice is becoming less popular because social media has changed how readers share their opinions on news and current topics. Get the transcript on my website: <a href="https://speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast/</a>

#258 Different types of journalism part2

The pessimist says, 'the glass is half empty.' The optimist says, 'The glass is half full,' and the journalist says, 'You won't believe what's in the glass!' Hi! I'm Georgiana, and I'm glad you're here with me for a new podcast episode.  Today, we will discuss the different types of journalism we can find in the media. Before you start listening to the episode, make sure to get the transcript on my website: SpeakEnglishPodcast.com It's free! Are you ready? Let's start with the first one: The news News is a crucial and representative category of informative journalism. It covers recent and intriguing political, sports, cultural, and social events. Objectivity is a vital but often lacking aspect of news. Ideally, a news story should be impartial and unbiased, but this isn't always true. Brevity is another key aspect of news. A news story should be concise and include only essential data. It should only focus on giving information about the event. A typical news story consists of several parts:  Firstly, we have the headline. It has a larger font and expresses the main idea of the news story. It is a short sentence. For example,  "Georgiana launches a new course." That would be a good headline.  Moving on to the lead, it is a kind of summary where the fundamentals of the news story are discussed. It serves as a summary introducing the main aspects of the news story, answering essential questions like what, how, who, where, when, and why. Lastly, we have the body of the news story, where further details and information are provided beyond what's covered in the headline and lead.  Let's uncover another element of journalism: The report A report is a more detailed news story that provides various data, background information, and opinions from those involved. Unlike news stories, reports can include the writer's opinion, making them somewhat subjective. Traditionally, reporters often went to the story's scene and prepared reports that helped readers understand what was happening. However, in today's technologically-driven world, this practice isn't always followed. Some reports are created from the newsroom, relying heavily on internet research. While it reduces costs, it can compromise the report's quality since journalists aren't physically present at the events. I really like this expression: "You have to hit the streets." It emphasizes the importance of journalists leaving the newsroom, immersing themselves in events, conducting interviews, observing firsthand, and gathering relevant information. Get the transcript on my website: speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast/

The pessimist says, 'the glass is half empty.' The optimist says, 'The glass is half full,' and the journalist says, 'You won't believe what's in the glass!' Hi! I'm Georgiana, and I'm glad you're here with me for a new podcast episode.  Today, we will discuss the different types of journalism we can find in the media. Before you start listening to the episode, make sure to get the transcript on my website: <a href="http://speakenglishpodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a> It's free! Are you ready? Let's start with the first one: The news News is a crucial and representative category of informative journalism. It covers recent and intriguing political, sports, cultural, and social events. Objectivity is a vital but often lacking aspect of news. Ideally, a news story should be impartial and unbiased, but this isn't always true. Brevity is another key aspect of news. A news story should be concise and include only essential data. It should only focus on giving information about the event. A typical news story consists of several parts: <ul> <li>Firstly, we have the headline. It has a larger font and expresses the main idea of the news story. It is a short sentence. For example,</li> </ul> "Georgiana launches a new course." That would be a good headline. <ul> <li>Moving on to the lead, it is a kind of summary where the fundamentals of the news story are discussed. It serves as a summary introducing the main aspects of the news story, answering essential questions like what, how, who, where, when, and why.</li> <li>Lastly, we have the body of the news story, where further details and information are provided beyond what's covered in the headline and lead.</li> </ul> Let's uncover another element of journalism: The report A report is a more detailed news story that provides various data, background information, and opinions from those involved. Unlike news stories, reports can include the writer's opinion, making them somewhat subjective. Traditionally, reporters often went to the story's scene and prepared reports that helped readers understand what was happening. However, in today's technologically-driven world, this practice isn't always followed. Some reports are created from the newsroom, relying heavily on internet research. While it reduces costs, it can compromise the report's quality since journalists aren't physically present at the events. I really like this expression: "You have to hit the streets." It emphasizes the importance of journalists leaving the newsroom, immersing themselves in events, conducting interviews, observing firsthand, and gathering relevant information. Get the transcript on my website: <a href="https://speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast/</a>

#257 Different Types of Journalism

Today, we're going to discuss a newspaper article. It talks about five signs that indicate the need to find a new job. Let's take a look! #1 You hate it when they ask you about your job. According to the article, if you hate when people ask you about your job, it may be time to consider a change. I believe it makes a lot of sense. If every time someone asks you, "How are you doing at work?" you feel bad, maybe there's a problem. Who wants to feel that way? Nobody, right? But maybe, when you're not at work, you simply want to disconnect. That is, to stop thinking about work. So, in this case, you might hate being asked about your work because you want to talk about other things. So, this sign is perhaps not so clear.  #2 You have a lousy time on Sundays. Yes, it happens a lot. The weekend is short; as they say, it goes by quickly. So it's normal to feel sad because the next day is Monday and you have to work. According to the article, if you have a lousy time on Sundays, which means you are very sad or negative, it indicates that the next day, you have to work on something you don't like at all. And I completely agree. I think that, to a certain extent, this sign is reasonable. It is not normal to have a bad time every Sunday. Maybe you need a change, look for a new job. #3 It affects your self-esteem. If your job makes you feel bad about yourself, it affects your self-esteem. I have my reservations. It's true that a toxic work environment is not the best thing for your self-esteem, but our worth goes beyond our work. #4 You hate logging into LinkedIn. The fourth sign was a bit unexpected. According to the article, considering a job change is advised if you hate logging into LinkedIn. This point, I don't see it clearly. LinkedIn is simply a platform that helps connect people and companies. To say that hating LinkedIn is a sign that you need to change jobs, I'm not so sure. #5 Poor Sleep Quality. And the last sign the article gives us is if your job stresses you out so much that you can't get a good night's rest. In part, I agree with this. If you wake up at night thinking about work or have nightmares about it, that's not okay. However,  it's important to keep in mind that factors beyond work can also affect our ability to sleep well. As you can see, several signs could indicate it is time to look for another job. But remember, there is no magic list that will tell you when is the perfect time to do it. Everyone is different. So, what do you think these signs mean? Do they indicate that it's time for you to start looking for a new job? Get the transcript on my website: Speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast/

Today, we're going to discuss a newspaper article. It talks about five signs that indicate the need to find a new job. Let's take a look! #1 You hate it when they ask you about your job. According to the article, if you hate when people ask you about your job, it may be time to consider a change. I believe it makes a lot of sense. If every time someone asks you, "How are you doing at work?" you feel bad, maybe there's a problem. Who wants to feel that way? Nobody, right? But maybe, when you're not at work, you simply want to disconnect. That is, to stop thinking about work. So, in this case, you might hate being asked about your work because you want to talk about other things. So, this sign is perhaps not so clear. #2 You have a lousy time on Sundays. Yes, it happens a lot. The weekend is short; as they say, it goes by quickly. So it's normal to feel sad because the next day is Monday and you have to work. According to the article, if you have a lousy time on Sundays, which means you are very sad or negative, it indicates that the next day, you have to work on something you don't like at all. And I completely agree. I think that, to a certain extent, this sign is reasonable. It is not normal to have a bad time every Sunday. Maybe you need a change, look for a new job. #3 It affects your self-esteem. If your job makes you feel bad about yourself, it affects your self-esteem. I have my reservations. It's true that a toxic work environment is not the best thing for your self-esteem, but our worth goes beyond our work. #4 You hate logging into LinkedIn. The fourth sign was a bit unexpected. According to the article, considering a job change is advised if you hate logging into LinkedIn. This point, I don't see it clearly. LinkedIn is simply a platform that helps connect people and companies. To say that hating LinkedIn is a sign that you need to change jobs, I'm not so sure. #5 Poor Sleep Quality. And the last sign the article gives us is if your job stresses you out so much that you can't get a good night's rest. In part, I agree with this. If you wake up at night thinking about work or have nightmares about it, that's not okay. However,  it's important to keep in mind that factors beyond work can also affect our ability to sleep well. As you can see, several signs could indicate it is time to look for another job. But remember, there is no magic list that will tell you when is the perfect time to do it. Everyone is different. So, what do you think these signs mean? Do they indicate that it's time for you to start looking for a new job? Get the transcript on my website: <a href="https://speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast/</a>

#256 - 5 Signs You Should Consider Finding a New Job

Georgiana: Today, we will discuss the meaning of the phrase "butter up"... Student: "How interesting, Georgiana! You know I am on a diet, but this morning I had some toast with butter, and let me tell you, it was delicious..." Georgiana: Sorry to interrupt, but the expression "butter up" has nothing to do with food. :) Let me explain it to you. Hey everyone, welcome back to another episode of the podcast. I'm Georgiana, your English teacher, and my mission is to help you speak English fluently.  And if you want to help me, share the podcast. That would mean a lot. Thanks. Before you start listening to the episode, make sure to get the transcript on my website: SpeakEnglishPodcast.com It's free! Great! Let's start! Let's take a closer look at the expression "butter up" and how it is commonly used. When someone tries hard to please others to gain their favor or personal benefits in the workplace, it's known as 'buttering up.'"  This behavior can be observed in various professional settings such as offices, schools, and even politics, where individuals go to great lengths to please their superiors or influential colleagues. A classic example of 'buttering up' is an employee who frequently praises their boss, hoping to gain favor or secure a promotion. Another example is a student who compliments their teacher, aiming to receive better grades or special privileges. So, how is "buttering up" viewed in Western society? Opinions can differ. On one hand, some people consider it a negative behavior, often associated with insincerity or manipulation. On the other hand, in certain situations like the business world, some people see it as a useful social skill. They believe that being good at giving compliments and networking can help you progress in your career or create new opportunities. Whether "buttering up" is accepted or not depends on the particular workplace culture and what individuals think. Here are some other expressions that are similar to "buttering up": #1 Sucking up to someone: Excessively praising or pleasing someone, especially someone in authority, to gain favor. #2 Kissing up or Kissing someone's boots: Acting overly flattering toward someone in authority. #3 Playing up to someone: Behaving in a way intended to please or show respect to someone. #4 Apple-polishing: Currying favor through flattery or servile behavior. #5 Flattering: Complimenting someone excessively to win their favor or approval. #6 Brown-nosing: Similar to "sucking up," it involves ingratiating oneself to gain favor, often through excessive praise or flattery.  #7 Playing the game: Engaging in strategic behavior or actions to gain advantages or achieve success, often involving flattery or pleasing others. #8 Bending over backward: Going to great lengths or making excessive efforts to please or accommodate someone. Now, what are your thoughts? Do you believe "buttering up" can be useful? Are you comfortable engaging in such behavior or receiving it from others? I'm not a big fan of it, but I won't deny that receiving a compliment can feel good from time to time. :) Get the transcript on my website: speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast/

Georgiana: Today, we will discuss the meaning of the phrase "butter up"... Student: "How interesting, Georgiana! You know I am on a diet, but this morning I had some toast with butter, and let me tell you, it was delicious..." Georgiana: Sorry to interrupt, but the expression "butter up" has nothing to do with food. :) Let me explain it to you. Hey everyone, welcome back to another episode of the podcast. I'm Georgiana, your English teacher, and my mission is to help you speak English fluently.  And if you want to help me, share the podcast. That would mean a lot. Thanks. Before you start listening to the episode, make sure to get the transcript on my website: <a href="http://speakenglishpodcast.com/" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a> It's free! Great! Let's start! Let's take a closer look at the expression "butter up" and how it is commonly used. When someone tries hard to please others to gain their favor or personal benefits in the workplace, it's known as 'buttering up.'"  This behavior can be observed in various professional settings such as offices, schools, and even politics, where individuals go to great lengths to please their superiors or influential colleagues. A classic example of 'buttering up' is an employee who frequently praises their boss, hoping to gain favor or secure a promotion. Another example is a student who compliments their teacher, aiming to receive better grades or special privileges. So, how is "buttering up" viewed in Western society? Opinions can differ. On one hand, some people consider it a negative behavior, often associated with insincerity or manipulation. On the other hand, in certain situations like the business world, some people see it as a useful social skill. They believe that being good at giving compliments and networking can help you progress in your career or create new opportunities. Whether "buttering up" is accepted or not depends on the particular workplace culture and what individuals think. Here are some other expressions that are similar to "buttering up": #1 Sucking up to someone: Excessively praising or pleasing someone, especially someone in authority, to gain favor. #2 Kissing up or Kissing someone's boots: Acting overly flattering toward someone in authority. #3 Playing up to someone: Behaving in a way intended to please or show respect to someone. #4 Apple-polishing: Currying favor through flattery or servile behavior. #5 Flattering: Complimenting someone excessively to win their favor or approval. #6 Brown-nosing: Similar to "sucking up," it involves ingratiating oneself to gain favor, often through excessive praise or flattery.  #7 Playing the game: Engaging in strategic behavior or actions to gain advantages or achieve success, often involving flattery or pleasing others. #8 Bending over backward: Going to great lengths or making excessive efforts to please or accommodate someone. Now, what are your thoughts? Do you believe "buttering up" can be useful? Are you comfortable engaging in such behavior or receiving it from others? I'm not a big fan of it, but I won't deny that receiving a compliment can feel good from time to time. :) Get the transcript on my website: <a href="https://speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast/</a>

255 Phrasal Verb - To Butter Up

Hey everyone, welcome back to another episode of the podcast. I'm Georgiana, your English teacher, and my mission is to help you speak English fluently.  And if you want to help me, share the podcast. That would mean a lot. Thanks.   Ok! We'll start with a brief conversation that includes the top 10 business expressions. And to make learning more fun, I've taken inspiration from 'The Office' TV show. And you'll learn grammar in context with a point of view story.   Before you start listening, make sure to get the transcript on my website: SpeakEnglishPodcast.com It's free! Let's get started!   Jack walked into the office and said...   Jack: "Wow, this place looks familiar. It's like I'm in 'The Office' TV show." Pam: "Yeah, Jack, we get that a lot. We like to think outside the box here." Jim: "You're right, Pam! We're always brainstorming new ideas to stay ahead of the competition." Jack: "That's great to hear. I'm ready to get the ball rolling and take it to the next level." Pam: "Good to hear. But make sure to touch base with your boss consistently. It's important to stay in the loop and keep him updated on your progress. Jack: "Definitely. I want to make sure we're all on the same page following best practices for team collaboration." Michael: "And we need people like you to keep an eye on the details." Jack: "Thanks for the advice. At the end of the day, it's all about producing high-quality work and making a difference." Pam: "Absolutely. This may feel like a TV set, but it's a real community of people. Welcome aboard!" Let's listen to the used expressions: #1 "Thinking outside the box" - This phrase means to think creatively or in a non-traditional way. #2 "In the loop" - This means to be informed or included in a particular situation or discussion. #3 "Get the ball rolling" - This phrase means to start a process or get something started. #4 "At the end of the day" - This phrase summarizes or emphasizes a point. #5 "Brainstorm" means generating ideas or solutions through group discussions or sessions. #6 "Touch base" means making contact or following up with someone. #7 "Get on the same page" - This phrase means to make sure everyone understands and agrees on a particular plan or idea. #8 "Keep an eye on" means monitoring or watching closely. #9 "Take it to the next level" - This phrase means improving or advancing to the next stage. #10 "Best practice" - An officially accepted and detailed method or set of methods for use in a specific business or industry. Get the transcript here: https://speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast/

Hey everyone, welcome back to another episode of the podcast. I'm Georgiana, your English teacher, and my mission is to help you speak English fluently.  And if you want to help me, share the podcast. That would mean a lot. Thanks. Ok! We'll start with a brief conversation that includes the top 10 business expressions. And to make learning more fun, I've taken inspiration from '<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Office_(American_TV_series)" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">The Office</a>' TV show. And you'll learn grammar in context with a point of view story. Before you start listening, make sure to get the transcript on my website: <a href="http://speakenglishpodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a> It's free! Let's get started! Jack walked into the office and said... Jack: "Wow, this place looks familiar. It's like I'm in 'The Office' TV show." Pam: "Yeah, Jack, we get that a lot. We like to think outside the box here." Jim: "You're right, Pam! We're always brainstorming new ideas to stay ahead of the competition." Jack: "That's great to hear. I'm ready to get the ball rolling and take it to the next level." Pam: "Good to hear. But make sure to touch base with your boss consistently. It's important to stay in the loop and keep him updated on your progress. Jack: "Definitely. I want to make sure we're all on the same page following best practices for team collaboration." Michael: "And we need people like you to keep an eye on the details." Jack: "Thanks for the advice. At the end of the day, it's all about producing high-quality work and making a difference." Pam: "Absolutely. This may feel like a TV set, but it's a real community of people. Welcome aboard!" Let's listen to the used expressions: #1 "Thinking outside the box" - This phrase means to think creatively or in a non-traditional way. #2 "In the loop" - This means to be informed or included in a particular situation or discussion. #3 "Get the ball rolling" - This phrase means to start a process or get something started. #4 "At the end of the day" - This phrase summarizes or emphasizes a point. #5 "Brainstorm" means generating ideas or solutions through group discussions or sessions. #6 "Touch base" means making contact or following up with someone. #7 "Get on the same page" - This phrase means to make sure everyone understands and agrees on a particular plan or idea. #8 "Keep an eye on" means monitoring or watching closely. #9 "Take it to the next level" - This phrase means improving or advancing to the next stage. #10 "Best practice" - An officially accepted and detailed method or set of methods for use in a specific business or industry. Get the transcript here: <a href="https://speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">https://speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast/</a>

254 Business Expressions - The Office TV show

The Speak English Now Podcast is your resource for practicing your English speaking and listening. You will learn English with the Question and Answer (TPRS) and Point of View techniques. You won’t need any grammar nor boring exercises. You will also learn about the English culture and the language itself. Finally, you will get valuable advice on learning English. All the audio is in English and you can get the text at SpeakEnglishPodcast.com

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The Speak English Now Podcast is your resource for practicing your English speaking and listening. You will learn English with the Question and Answer (TPRS) and Point of View techniques. You won’t need any grammar nor boring exercises. You will also learn about the English culture and the language itself. Finally, you will get valuable advice on learning English. All the audio is in English and you can get the text at <a href="http://SpeakEnglishPodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a>

Speak English Now Podcast: Learn English | Speak English without grammar.

Hi everyone! I’m your English teacher Georgiana, founder of speakenglishpodcast.com. My mission is to help you to speak English fluently. In this episode, I’ll talk about the Christmas holidays. And after that, you’ll practice your English speaking with an exciting mini-story about a man dressed in red. Alright! Let’s start! Ah! It's Christmas at last! I don't know about you, but I love this time of year. I start to think about what presents to give to my family and friends. Normally I make a list, so I don't forget anyone. Can you imagine forgetting someone? That would be terrible! That's why I start very early to plan what presents to give to everyone. Finding the right gift for someone can be difficult, so what I usually do is search online for gift ideas. And buying online helps me avoid the holiday crowds. To really feel the Christmas spirit, I like preparing a pot with a delightful scent using orange, cinnamon, apple cider, and clove. I let everything boil throughout the day so that the fragrance spreads throughout the house. At this time of year, I also love to listen to Christmas songs. I can recommend some popular Christmas songs:  “All I want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey. "Last Christmas" by Wham! "Let It, Snow! Let It, Snow! Let It Snow!” by Frank Sinatra. "Jingle Bell Rock" by Bobby Helms. and something from Michael Bublé’s Christmas album.  Plus, I enjoy placing Christmas lights and decorations. I sometimes use social media to find unique decorations. Did you know that some Americans use popcorn threaded on a string to help decorate their Christmas Tree? Or that in New England, you can find some shops called "Christmas Shops." There they sell Christmas decorations and toys throughout the entire year! There are many classic Christmas movies that you can watch on TV at this time of year. Here are some examples:  It's A Wonderful Life (1946) Holiday Inn (1942) A Christmas Story (1983) A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) Elf (2003) Bad Santa (2003) Love Actually (2003) The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)  And it wouldn't be Christmas without a tree! Christmas trees are the symbol of the season. I love having a real tree and decorate it along with my family and friends. The Christmas trees tradition started in Germany in the 16th century. Protestant reformer Martin Luther first added lighted candles to a tree to remind his children of the wonders of God's creation.  Nowadays, many Americans buy a fresh evergreen tree or a plastic model and decorate it with lights and ornaments.   READ the TRANSCRIPT here: SpeakEnglishPodcast.com 

Hi everyone! I’m your English teacher Georgiana, founder of <a href="http://speakenglishpod.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">speakenglishpodcast.com</a>. My mission is to help you to speak English fluently. In this episode, I’ll talk about the Christmas holidays. And after that, you’ll practice your English speaking with an exciting mini-story about a man dressed in red. Alright! Let’s start! Ah! It's Christmas at last! I don't know about you, but I love this time of year. I start to think about what presents to give to my family and friends. Normally I make a list, so I don't forget anyone. Can you imagine forgetting someone? That would be terrible! That's why I start very early to plan what presents to give to everyone. Finding the right gift for someone can be difficult, so what I usually do is search online for gift ideas. And buying online helps me avoid the holiday crowds. To really feel the Christmas spirit, I like preparing a pot with a delightful scent using orange, cinnamon, apple cider, and clove. I let everything boil throughout the day so that the fragrance spreads throughout the house. At this time of year, I also love to listen to Christmas songs. I can recommend some popular Christmas songs: <ul> <li>“All I want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey.</li> <li>"Last Christmas" by Wham!</li> <li>"Let It, Snow! Let It, Snow! Let It Snow!” by Frank Sinatra. "Jingle Bell Rock" by Bobby Helms.</li> <li>and something from Michael Bublé’s Christmas album.</li> </ul> Plus, I enjoy placing Christmas lights and decorations. I sometimes use social media to find unique decorations. Did you know that some Americans use popcorn threaded on a string to help decorate their Christmas Tree? Or that in New England, you can find some shops called "Christmas Shops." There they sell Christmas decorations and toys throughout the entire year! There are many classic Christmas movies that you can watch on TV at this time of year. Here are some examples: <ul> <li>It's A Wonderful Life (1946)</li> <li>Holiday Inn (1942)</li> <li>A Christmas Story (1983)</li> <li>A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)</li> <li>Elf (2003)</li> <li>Bad Santa (2003)</li> <li>Love Actually (2003)</li> <li>The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017)</li> </ul> And it wouldn't be Christmas without a tree! Christmas trees are the symbol of the season. I love having a real tree and decorate it along with my family and friends. The Christmas trees tradition started in Germany in the 16th century. Protestant reformer Martin Luther first added lighted candles to a tree to remind his children of the wonders of God's creation.  Nowadays, many Americans buy a fresh evergreen tree or a plastic model and decorate it with lights and ornaments. READ the TRANSCRIPT here: <a href="https://SpeakEnglishPodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com </a>

#113 Christmas Holidays 2019 (rep)

Hi everyone! I am Georgiana, founder of speakenglishpodcast.com. My mission is to help you to speak English fluently. Do you want to sound more like an English native speaker? Well, this is the perfect lesson for you. Today I’ll teach you ten idioms that will make you sound more like a native speaker. And with a Point of view story you will improve your grammar, and at the same time, you’ll practice the expressions in context. Ok. Let’s start! 1) GET OUT OF HAND: to become difficult to control. When you lose control of things, they get out of hand. Examples: “There was an argument that got out of hand,and the police came.” “Your aggressive nature has gotten a bit out of hand.” “The demonstration is getting out of hand.” “It was only a joke but sadly got a little out of hand.” 2) GET YOUR HEAD AROUND IT: to understand something. Examples:  “I just can’t get my head around the fact that she just broke up with me.” “I just can’t get my head aroundthe fact that I’m not getting promoted this year.” “Have you got your head aroundyour new situation?”  3) POUND THE PAVEMENT: to walk the streets looking for a job. Examples:  “You’ll be pounding the pavementfor months before you find another job.” “I’ll need to pound the pavementto get a new job.” “Last year I spent three months pounding the pavement after I lost my job.”  READ the TEXT here: speakenglishpodcast.com

Hi everyone! I am Georgiana, founder of <a href="http://speakenglishpod.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">speakenglishpodcast.com</a>. My mission is to help you to speak English fluently. Do you want to sound more like an English native speaker? Well, this is the perfect lesson for you. Today I’ll teach you ten idioms that will make you sound more like a native speaker. And with a Point of view story you will improve your grammar, and at the same time, you’ll practice the expressions in context. Ok. Let’s start! 1) GET OUT OF HAND: to become difficult to control. When you lose control of things, they get out of hand. Examples: “There was an argument that got out of hand,and the police came.” “Your aggressive nature has gotten a bit out of hand.” “The demonstration is getting out of hand.” “It was only a joke but sadly got a little out of hand.” 2) GET YOUR HEAD AROUND IT: to understand something. Examples: <ul> <li>“I just can’t get my head around the fact that she just broke up with me.”</li> <li>“I just can’t get my head aroundthe fact that I’m not getting promoted this year.”</li> <li>“Have you got your head aroundyour new situation?”</li> </ul> 3) POUND THE PAVEMENT: to walk the streets looking for a job. Examples: <ul> <li>“You’ll be pounding the pavementfor months before you find another job.”</li> <li>“I’ll need to pound the pavementto get a new job.”</li> <li>“Last year I spent three months pounding the pavement after I lost my job.”</li> </ul> READ the TEXT here: <a href="https://speakenglishpodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">speakenglishpodcast.com</a>

#075 Ten advanced English Idioms (to sound more like a native speaker)

-I’m hooked on the Thunder Game series. -It’s Game of Thrones. -Ah, yes, that. The fire of Thrones. -Game. -Game of Thorns. Right? Hi, everybody! I am Georgiana, your English teacher and founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. Have you ever wondered if you spend too many hours looking at your  cell phone? Or maybe the computer. There is an expression in English that I quite like, called being hooked. It means to be excessively attracted to something and almost unable to resist it. For example: - I’m hooked on doing sports. - But I've never seen you exercise. - I have a lot of willpower, and I’m able to resist it. I have to admit that sometimes I spend too much time checking my cell phone. Sometimes it's almost impossible not to. My intentions are good. For example, I start watching the daily news and end up without knowing how, watching videos on Youtube. Maybe it's all a conspiracy of the whole Internet to distract me from doing the podcast episode of the week. Everything is designed to capture your attention. As I'm sure you know, everything you do on the Internet leaves a trace, so a lot of content is matched to your interests. For example, on Facebook, there is a video section. These videos are customized to your interests, and some of them really capture your attention. This creates all kinds of problems, both for teens and adults. Many kids find it difficult concentrating and studying. Every few minutes, they pick up the phone to see if they have new notifications or messages. Many specialists point out that this type of behavior can be classified as an addiction. And it affects everyone, regardless of age. Children imitate their parents, thus normalizing this behavior. Here is a small list of some typical symptoms of being hooked on a cell phone: You check it every two or three minutes. When you wake up, the first thing you do is looking at your cell phone, and the last thing when you go to sleep too. The truth is that it's very common to check your phone just when you wake up. I like doing that. At night, I prefer to read a bit. You check your phone when you're with friends or family. It's sad, but in many family gatherings, we all check our cell phones at some point. You eat while looking at your cell phone. If you are alone, you unlock your phone and start moving your finger vertically while disconnecting completely from real life. If you leave your phone at home, it feels like it's the end of the world. And, you cannot know for sure if it’s the end of the world because you can't check it on your phone. After making this list, it seems to me that I'm a little bit hooked, but only a little bit :) Read the transcript here: speakEnglishpodcast.com

-I’m hooked on the Thunder Game series. -It’s Game of Thrones. -Ah, yes, that. The fire of Thrones. -Game. -Game of Thorns. Right? Hi, everybody! I am Georgiana, your English teacher and founder of <a href="http://speakenglishpodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a>. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. Have you ever wondered if you spend too many hours looking at your <a href="https://speakenglishpodcast.com/the-evolution-of-cell-phones-esl/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> cell phone</a>? Or maybe the computer. There is an expression in English that I quite like, called being hooked. It means to be excessively attracted to something and almost unable to resist it. For example: - I’m hooked on doing sports. - But I've never seen you exercise. - I have a lot of willpower, and I’m able to resist it. I have to admit that sometimes I spend too much time checking my cell phone. Sometimes it's almost impossible not to. My intentions are good. For example, I start watching the daily news and end up without knowing how, watching videos on Youtube. Maybe it's all a conspiracy of the whole Internet to distract me from doing the podcast episode of the week. Everything is designed to capture your attention. As I'm sure you know, everything you do on the Internet leaves a trace, so a lot of content is matched to your interests. For example, on Facebook, there is a video section. These videos are customized to your interests, and some of them really capture your attention. This creates all kinds of problems, both for teens and adults. Many kids find it difficult concentrating and studying. Every few minutes, they pick up the phone to see if they have new notifications or messages. Many specialists point out that this type of behavior can be classified as an addiction. And it affects everyone, regardless of age. Children imitate their parents, thus normalizing this behavior. Here is a small list of some typical symptoms of being hooked on a cell phone: You check it every two or three minutes. When you wake up, the first thing you do is looking at your cell phone, and the last thing when you go to sleep too. The truth is that it's very common to check your phone just when you wake up. I like doing that. At night, I prefer to read a bit. You check your phone when you're with friends or family. It's sad, but in many family gatherings, we all check our cell phones at some point. You eat while looking at your cell phone. If you are alone, you unlock your phone and start moving your finger vertically while disconnecting completely from real life. If you leave your phone at home, it feels like it's the end of the world. And, you cannot know for sure if it’s the end of the world because you can't check it on your phone. After making this list, it seems to me that I'm a little bit hooked, but only a little bit :) Read the transcript here: <a href="https://SpeakEnglishPodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">speakEnglishpodcast.com</a>

#144 Are you hooked on your cell phone? ESL

Hi, everybody! I am Georgiana, your English teacher and founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. Today you'll learn some more cooking vocabulary in English. And with a mini-story, you will improve your speaking. You'll see, it's like having a conversation with another person. Do you remember that I talked about my kitchen appliances in a previous episode and explained some techniques I use when cooking? I talked about using my blender to make a green smoothie, almond milk, soups, flours, batters, dough, nut butter, juices, and dips. I also mentioned how I loved using my instant pot to pressure-cook, steam, boil, and even make yogurt with it. I explained what a pressure cooker was, and how steaming works. Today I'll continue talking about my cooking habits and my favorite appliances and kitchen tools. I must say that I love buying a new kitchen appliance, and during the lockdown, I've purchased a lot of them. For some reason, everyone started baking, so I really felt that it was the best moment to purchase a KitchenAid stand mixer. If you don't know what this is, let me explain. It's a stand mixer; therefore, it's so much more convenient than a hand mixer. One of the reasons why I prefer using a stand mixer is because it allows me to multitask.   Read the transcript here: SpeakEnglishPodcast.com

Hi, everybody! I am Georgiana, your English teacher and founder of <a href="http://speakenglishpodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a>. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. Today you'll learn some more cooking vocabulary in English. And with a mini-story, you will improve your speaking. You'll see, it's like having a conversation with another person. Do you remember that I talked about my kitchen appliances in a previous episode and explained some techniques I use when cooking? I talked about using my blender to make a green smoothie, almond milk, soups, flours, batters, dough, nut butter, juices, and dips. I also mentioned how I loved using my instant pot to pressure-cook, steam, boil, and even make yogurt with it. I explained what a pressure cooker was, and how steaming works. Today I'll continue talking about my cooking habits and my favorite appliances and kitchen tools. I must say that I love buying a new kitchen appliance, and during the lockdown, I've purchased a lot of them. For some reason, everyone started baking, so I really felt that it was the best moment to purchase a KitchenAid stand mixer. If you don't know what this is, let me explain. It's a stand mixer; therefore, it's so much more convenient than a hand mixer. One of the reasons why I prefer using a stand mixer is because it allows me to multitask. Read the transcript here: <a href="https://SpeakEnglishPodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a>

#143 Learn new Food Vocabulary in English part #2 ESL

I'm Georgiana, founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. And I’m here to help YOU to speak English fluently and with confidence. In this episode, I'll talk about going out at night. I’ll point out the most emblematic places where you can hang out in New York City at night, and I’ll teach you how to order a drink! I’ve also prepared a Point of View story so you can practice your grammar and vocabulary. I’m not sure if you have noticed, but today you’re listening to episode 50 of the Speak English Now Podcast. It may not sound like a big deal to you, but in approximately one year I’ve posted 680 minutes of free material!! And it’s available on iTunes, Spotify, SoundCloud, Youtube, etc Thank you so much for helping me share the podcast with your friends and family. Remember to leave a comment on iTunes about the show. It would mean a lot to me! Let's start the lesson. Today's gonna be fun! It's Friday night, you call your friends and ask them: What are we doing tonight? And they say: Let’s go party! Or Let's go clubbing! The expression “Let’s go party” doesn't mean going to a specific "party", but simply going out. Usually, it means going to clubs or music pubs. People in their 20s and 30s usually have a drink in a bar first and then go to a club. Clubs are often pricey, and you don't just have to pay for the drinks. You’ll also need to pay for the club admission which is also expensive. Now let me tell you where to go out at night in New York. I’ll suggest different locations: For instance, if you wanna party in Manhattan surrounded by fashion models, celebrities, professional athletes and musicians, visit one of the city's exclusive nightclubs. It can be difficult to get into these places, but it's definitely not impossible.   READ the TEXT here: SpeakEnglishPodcast.com

I'm Georgiana, founder of <a href="http://SpeakEnglishPodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a>. And I’m here to help YOU to speak English fluently and with confidence. In this episode, I'll talk about going out at night. I’ll point out the most emblematic places where you can hang out in New York City at night, and I’ll teach you how to order a drink! I’ve also prepared a Point of View story so you can practice your grammar and vocabulary. I’m not sure if you have noticed, but today you’re listening to episode 50 of the Speak English Now Podcast. It may not sound like a big deal to you, but in approximately one year I’ve posted 680 minutes of free material!! And it’s available on iTunes, Spotify, SoundCloud, Youtube, etc Thank you so much for helping me share the podcast with your friends and family. Remember to leave a comment on iTunes about the show. It would mean a lot to me! Let's start the lesson. Today's gonna be fun! It's Friday night, you call your friends and ask them: What are we doing tonight? And they say: Let’s go party! Or Let's go clubbing! The expression “Let’s go party” doesn't mean going to a specific "party", but simply going out. Usually, it means going to clubs or music pubs. People in their 20s and 30s usually have a drink in a bar first and then go to a club. Clubs are often pricey, and you don't just have to pay for the drinks. You’ll also need to pay for the club admission which is also expensive. Now let me tell you where to go out at night in New York. I’ll suggest different locations: For instance, if you wanna party in Manhattan surrounded by fashion models, celebrities, professional athletes and musicians, visit one of the city's exclusive nightclubs. It can be difficult to get into these places, but it's definitely not impossible. READ the TEXT here: <a href="http://SpeakEnglishPodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a>

#100 Going out in NYC - How to order a drink in English (rep)

Hi, dear students! I'm Georgiana, founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you to speak English fluently. Speaking English is way easier when you use the right material and techniques. Although we don't celebrate Valentine's Day this time of the year, I think that as Christmas approaches, many of us spend more time with our partners. So today, I want to introduce some funny but useful compliments that will make your significant other, feel special.  There are all kinds of compliments: good, bad, original, ordinary, or funny ones. If you still don't know what they are, don't worry because I'll explain it to you. Next, we will practice fluency with a mini-story on a very special competition related to today's topic. Remember that you can get the text of the episode at SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. As I said, today I'm going to talk about compliments, but first, let's define what they are. A compliment is basically a brief comment on an attribute or quality of a person. There are many types, and perhaps it is more common to say a compliment to a woman, although I think nowadays there are more and more women who compliment men. I have to say some compliments are tasteless. That is to say, they are rude and instead create the opposite sense of what is intended. My intention in this episode is to analyze some compliments I find to be especially witty or funny. Well, let's see the first one:  #1 "I don't have a favorite color. It's pretty much whatever you are wearing." This is beautiful, and you can use it to congratulate a woman you're already dating. Let her know that you have noticed the color of her dress. Many women love it when our partners pay attention to what we're wearing.  #2 "I can't take my eyes off of you. Unless you notice me, then I'll quickly look away and act like it never happened." Sometimes at the beginning of a relationship, you start doing silly things you've never done before. Although it may sound silly, it would be super cool if you would compliment someone like that. #3 "I'd be so happy to spend every minute of every day with you, but some days I have to do things."  The reality is that as much as we would like to spend all our time with our loved one, it's practically impossible. At least it's not feasible in the long term since someone has to pay the bills. #4 "If you knew how much I think about you, I would be very embarrassed."  If there is one person in your life who is always on your mind, don't be afraid to let them know with this honest compliment.  #5 "It's not easy to be me. Which is why I need you."  I know, this one's a bit silly, but I think it's genuine and sweet. Whoever you tell this to, no matter if it's a man or a woman, will appreciate your honesty or at least make them smile.   READ the TEXT here: speakenglishpodcast.com

Hi, dear students! I'm Georgiana, founder of <a href="http://SpeakEnglishPodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a>. My mission is to help you to speak English fluently. Speaking English is way easier when you use the right material and techniques. Although we don't celebrate Valentine's Day this time of the year, I think that as Christmas approaches, many of us spend more time with our partners. So today, I want to introduce some funny but useful compliments that will make your significant other, feel special.  There are all kinds of compliments: good, bad, original, ordinary, or funny ones. If you still don't know what they are, don't worry because I'll explain it to you. Next, we will practice fluency with a mini-story on a very special competition related to today's topic. Remember that you can get the text of the episode at <a href="http://SpeakEnglishPodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a>. As I said, today I'm going to talk about compliments, but first, let's define what they are. A compliment is basically a brief comment on an attribute or quality of a person. There are many types, and perhaps it is more common to say a compliment to a woman, although I think nowadays there are more and more women who compliment men. I have to say some compliments are tasteless. That is to say, they are rude and instead create the opposite sense of what is intended. My intention in this episode is to analyze some compliments I find to be especially witty or funny. Well, let's see the first one: #1 "I don't have a favorite color. It's pretty much whatever you are wearing." This is beautiful, and you can use it to congratulate a woman you're already dating. Let her know that you have noticed the color of her dress. Many women love it when our partners pay attention to what we're wearing. #2 "I can't take my eyes off of you. Unless you notice me, then I'll quickly look away and act like it never happened." Sometimes at the beginning of a relationship, you start doing silly things you've never done before. Although it may sound silly, it would be super cool if you would compliment someone like that. #3 "I'd be so happy to spend every minute of every day with you, but some days I have to do things."  The reality is that as much as we would like to spend all our time with our loved one, it's practically impossible. At least it's not feasible in the long term since someone has to pay the bills. #4 "If you knew how much I think about you, I would be very embarrassed."  If there is one person in your life who is always on your mind, don't be afraid to let them know with this honest compliment. #5 "It's not easy to be me. Which is why I need you."  I know, this one's a bit silly, but I think it's genuine and sweet. Whoever you tell this to, no matter if it's a man or a woman, will appreciate your honesty or at least make them smile. READ the TEXT here: <a href="https://speakenglishpodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">speakenglishpodcast.com</a>

#111 How to compliment your partner in English

In this episode, I’ll recommend you some of my favorite TV shows that will help you with your English. I’ll give you some useful tips on how to use Netflix to improve your English. And later, you’ll practice your English speaking with an exciting mini-story. Alright! Let’s start! Netflix has  changed the way we spend our free time. We spend a lot more time watching our favorite shows, so why not use all this time to speed up the way we learn English too? English-language TV shows can quickly introduce you to authentic English and can help keep you motivated and entertained as you learn. In today's episode, I'll let you know how watching TV can help you improve your language skills. You’ll stop feeling guilty about watching TV! The next time your friends ask you what you did all weekend, you can proudly say that you spent all weekend watching TV.   READ THE TEXT HERE: SpeakEnglishPodcast.com

In this episode, I’ll recommend you some of my favorite TV shows that will help you with your English. I’ll give you some useful tips on how to use Netflix to improve your English. And later, you’ll practice your English speaking with an exciting mini-story. Alright! Let’s start! Netflix has  changed the way we spend our free time. We spend a lot more time watching our favorite shows, so why not use all this time to speed up the way we learn English too? English-language TV shows can quickly introduce you to authentic English and can help keep you motivated and entertained as you learn. In today's episode, I'll let you know how watching TV can help you improve your language skills. You’ll stop feeling guilty about watching TV! The next time your friends ask you what you did all weekend, you can proudly say that you spent all weekend watching TV. READ THE TEXT HERE: <a href="https://SpeakEnglishPodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a>

#073 Learn English by watching TV series (with NETFLIX)

Hi, everybody! I am Georgiana, your English teacher and founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. In today's episode, I will talk about an issue that is of great concern to language students. It is the much-feared plateau.  What is a plateau? A plateau happens when you stop your progress despite continuing to do "all the right things."  An interesting expression for this situation is: to hit a plateau.  For example: "It seems I hit a plateau because I can't see any progress with my English, and I'm still studying really hard!" More literally, a plateau is a large flat area of land. This definition makes total sense because if you are walking on a plateau, you are not going up or down. You stay at the same height.   Plateaus are very common not only in learning a new language but in other areas—for example, a very common one is losing weight.  Imagine that you've been on a diet and have lost some weight. But then, after two months, you stop losing weight. You're still on a diet, but you're not losing weight anymore.  The main problem here is not the diet. It's just that the body needs some time before it starts losing weight again. It has to adapt to the new situation. This type of situation is very tough because when we experience it for a while, we can easily lose motivation, and may end up giving up. It is essential to understand better why this happens so that we do not lose motivation and will to continue. I'm sure many of you have experienced this.  When you started learning English, you were very motivated. You have spent a lot of time listening and answering questions, but now apparently, you are not experiencing any improvement. Usually, when we start listening or reading in the language we are studying, we notice a constant improvement in our level.  Every day we learn new words, expressions, and structures. We are happy and pleased and want to keep learning more and more. This is a wonderful stage. After some time, we no longer notice a considerable improvement, although we still see small improvements. So we don't worry too much and move on. But a bit later, our progress stagnates, and well, it's when we start worrying. This situation makes us lose our motivation, and possibly, we are tempted to give up or at least postpone it, promising ourselves that we will continue to study with enthusiasm and motivation, but this seldom happens. The main reason this happens to us is simple. Our brain needs time to consolidate, structure, order, polish, and finally automate all this new knowledge.  Learning a new language is not only about learning new words but also thinking differently. That's why I always insist that you have to learn in context. This way, you can observe how words are used in a sentence, and that takes time.  Think of it this way: when we learn math, we are using the conscious part of our brain to do calculations. To do this, we need to concentrate very hard. However, when we speak in our mother tongue, we can do this almost without attention and without effort. We can even do other kinds of activities while having a conversation.    Read the text here: www.SpeakEnglishPodcast.com

Hi, everybody! I am Georgiana, your English teacher and founder of <a href="http://SpeakEnglishPodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a>. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. In today's episode, I will talk about an issue that is of great concern to language students. It is the much-feared plateau.  What is a plateau? A plateau happens when you stop your progress despite continuing to do "all the right things."  An interesting expression for this situation is: to hit a plateau.  For example: "It seems I hit a plateau because I can't see any progress with my English, and I'm still studying really hard!" More literally, a plateau is a large flat area of land. This definition makes total sense because if you are walking on a plateau, you are not going up or down. You stay at the same height. Plateaus are very common not only in learning a new language but in other areas—for example, a very common one is losing weight.  Imagine that you've been on a diet and have lost some weight. But then, after two months, you stop losing weight. You're still on a diet, but you're not losing weight anymore.  The main problem here is not the diet. It's just that the body needs some time before it starts losing weight again. It has to adapt to the new situation. This type of situation is very tough because when we experience it for a while, we can easily lose motivation, and may end up giving up. It is essential to understand better why this happens so that we do not lose motivation and will to continue. I'm sure many of you have experienced this.  When you started learning English, you were very motivated. You have spent a lot of time listening and answering questions, but now apparently, you are not experiencing any improvement. Usually, when we start listening or reading in the language we are studying, we notice a constant improvement in our level.  Every day we learn new words, expressions, and structures. We are happy and pleased and want to keep learning more and more. This is a wonderful stage. After some time, we no longer notice a considerable improvement, although we still see small improvements. So we don't worry too much and move on. But a bit later, our progress stagnates, and well, it's when we start worrying. This situation makes us lose our motivation, and possibly, we are tempted to give up or at least postpone it, promising ourselves that we will continue to study with enthusiasm and motivation, but this seldom happens. The main reason this happens to us is simple. Our brain needs time to consolidate, structure, order, polish, and finally automate all this new knowledge.  Learning a new language is not only about learning new words but also thinking differently. That's why I always insist that you have to learn in context. This way, you can observe how words are used in a sentence, and that takes time.  Think of it this way: when we learn math, we are using the conscious part of our brain to do calculations. To do this, we need to concentrate very hard. However, when we speak in our mother tongue, we can do this almost without attention and without effort. We can even do other kinds of activities while having a conversation.  Read the text here: <a href="http://www.SpeakEnglishPodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a>

#126 Did you stop improving your English?  Here’s why.

Hi everyone! I am Georgiana, founder of speakenglishpodcast.com. My mission is to help you to speak English fluently. Do you want to sound more like an English native speaker?  Well, today you’ll learn 6 new popular expressions in English related to food. After that, I’ll practice your speaking with a funny mini-story. Ok. Let’s learn some new idioms: There's a type of food that always makes us feel better because it reminds us of our childhood. That kind of food is called COMFORT FOOD. We eat comfort food because it comforts us. Although we tend to feel better after eating this type of food, it is not necessarily healthy food.  Example:  “After a tiring day, it’s so wonderful to cook some comfort food and read a good book.” And who doesn’t like eating cake? I just can’t say no to a piece of cake. And when something is extremely easy to do we say it’s a PIECE OF CAKE.  However, this expression doesn’t have anything to do with food. There’s another similar expression. Instead of “piece of cake” you could say “AS EASY AS PIE.” Examples: “I thought the test would be difficult, but it was a piece of cake.” “Compared to learning Japanese, learning English was as easy as pie.” But you know what? Sadly, there are times when YOU CAN’T HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO. Yeah! You guessed right! This is another expression :) When someone says “you can’t have your cake and eat it too” they mean that you can't have two incompatible things at the same time. In other words, the cake cannot be eaten and saved for later. Example: “James works too hard to pay for that luxurious house. The irony here is that he never has any time to stay at home and enjoy it. I guess he can't have his cake and eat it too.”   READ THE TEXT HERE: speakenglishpodcast.com

Hi everyone! I am Georgiana, founder of <a href="http://speakenglishpod.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">speakenglishpodcast.com</a>. My mission is to help you to speak English fluently. Do you want to sound more like an English native speaker?  Well, today you’ll learn 6 new popular expressions in English related to food. After that, I’ll practice your speaking with a funny mini-story. Ok. Let’s learn some new idioms: There's a type of food that always makes us feel better because it reminds us of our childhood. That kind of food is called COMFORT FOOD. We eat comfort food because it comforts us. Although we tend to feel better after eating this type of food, it is not necessarily healthy food.  Example:  “After a tiring day, it’s so wonderful to cook some comfort food and read a good book.” And who doesn’t like eating cake? I just can’t say no to a piece of cake. And when something is extremely easy to do we say it’s a PIECE OF CAKE.  However, this expression doesn’t have anything to do with food. There’s another similar expression. Instead of “piece of cake” you could say “AS EASY AS PIE.” Examples: “I thought the test would be difficult, but it was a piece of cake.” “Compared to learning Japanese, learning English was as easy as pie.” But you know what? Sadly, there are times when YOU CAN’T HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT TOO. Yeah! You guessed right! This is another expression :) When someone says “you can’t have your cake and eat it too” they mean that you can't have two incompatible things at the same time. In other words, the cake cannot be eaten and saved for later. Example: “James works too hard to pay for that luxurious house. The irony here is that he never has any time to stay at home and enjoy it. I guess he can't have his cake and eat it too.” READ THE TEXT HERE: <a href="https://speakenglishpodcast.com" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">speakenglishpodcast.com</a>

#085 Food Idioms in English to sound like an English native speaker

Hi, dear students! I'm Georgiana, founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you to speak English fluently. Speaking English is way easier when you use the right material and techniques.   Let’s talk again about the repetitive use of the word "look." Seriously, you gotta stop using the word "look" all the time. There are many more words that you can use instead. I will help you to choose the right one depending on the context.  Therefore, today, I will continue to enrich your vocabulary and help you to sound more like a native English speaker.  And with a point of view story, you will practice your English speaking and you will learn grammar without memorizing any rules.   By the way, you can find my podcast everywhere on the internet.  If you need to read the transcript, I recommend you to listen to the podcast on my website SpeakEnglishPodcast.com   But you can also find it on Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Soundcloud, etc. Just look for "Speak English Now with Georgiana," and start learning English with me!"  Ok! Let's learn some new words that replace the word "look."   #1) To watch We’ll start with the word "to watch."  Many students confuse "watch" with "see," so I will take a closer look at the difference between these two terms. Two weeks ago, in episode #108, we saw that we use "see" to express the ability to discern visually. You are aware of your surroundings by using your eyes.  We use the term "watch" when we observe something happening in front of us or on television, for example.    However, we don’t need to participate in what we see actively. Examples: "Last night, I watched TV until 2 am."  "As a kid, I always liked to watch a plane take off.  "My friend Rachel and I watched a movie last night."  #2) To view We continue now with "view." For instance, you can view a presentation or a movie. But if we want to be specific, we'll use "view" mostly when we're looking at something up close and examining it. Examples: "Before you buy a property, make sure to view it a few times."    "We’re excited to view your summer collection."     "I normally view situations objectively, especially when it comes to business."    #3) To Spot We can use the word to spot literally or figuratively.  And what happens when you find something? When you find something you are looking for, we can say that you have spotted it. For example, you may spot a stain on a shirt.  Examples: "I know him so well that I could spot him even among a large crowd." "I’m not sure if it’s easy to spot a cheap imitation." "Unfortunately, you failed to spot the error. "   #4) To Stare  Another word you could use in order to replace "look" is "stare."  "Stare" is similar to "glare," but we don’t necessarily use it in a negative situation. For example, when you have a crush on someone, you might spend all day staring at them.  And if you have a pet, you might have already noticed how they stare at you whenever they are hungry. Examples: "Stop staring at me like that! You're making me uncomfortable." "We all stared at the beautiful girl next door." "If you want to stare at him, at least don't make it so self-evident."   #5) To inspect When you "inspect" something, you take an active role in examining something. Let's say that you inspect a house before you buy it. You can also inspect your friend's house, to get some decorating ideas.  Example: "You must inspect the vehicle before you purchase it."   #6) To gaze This is another word you can use to replace the word "look." We use the word "gaze" when we are admiring something or someone. When you "gaze," you usually look at someone/something for a long time. Examples: "Rachel gazed at Tom with admiration as he spoke." "Bobby spends hours gazing out the window, waiting for his dad to come home."  READ the TEXT here: www.SpeakEnglishpodcast.com

Hi, dear students! I'm Georgiana, founder of <a href="http://SpeakEnglishPodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a>. My mission is to help you to speak English fluently. Speaking English is way easier when you use the right material and techniques.  Let’s talk again about the repetitive use of the word "look." Seriously, you gotta stop using the word "look" all the time. There are many more words that you can use instead. I will help you to choose the right one depending on the context.  Therefore, today, I will continue to enrich your vocabulary and help you to sound more like a native English speaker.  And with a point of view story, you will practice your English speaking and you will learn grammar without memorizing any rules.   By the way, you can find my podcast everywhere on the internet.  If you need to read the transcript, I recommend you to listen to the podcast on my website <a href="http://SpeakEnglishPodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a>   But you can also find it on Spotify, iTunes, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/speakenglishpodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, Soundcloud, etc. Just look for "Speak English Now with Georgiana," and start learning English with me!"  Ok! Let's learn some new words that replace the word "look."   #1) To watch We’ll start with the word "to watch."  Many students confuse "watch" with "see," so I will take a closer look at the difference between these two terms. Two weeks ago, in episode #108, we saw that we use "see" to express the ability to discern visually. You are aware of your surroundings by using your eyes.  We use the term "watch" when we observe something happening in front of us or on television, for example.    However, we don’t need to participate in what we see actively. Examples: "Last night, I watched TV until 2 am."  "As a kid, I always liked to watch a plane take off.  "My friend Rachel and I watched a movie last night."  #2) To view We continue now with "view." For instance, you can view a presentation or a movie. But if we want to be specific, we'll use "view" mostly when we're looking at something up close and examining it. Examples: "Before you buy a property, make sure to view it a few times."    "We’re excited to view your summer collection."     "I normally view situations objectively, especially when it comes to business."    #3) To Spot We can use the word to spot literally or figuratively.  And what happens when you find something? When you find something you are looking for, we can say that you have spotted it. For example, you may spot a stain on a shirt. Examples: "I know him so well that I could spot him even among a large crowd." "I’m not sure if it’s easy to spot a cheap imitation." "Unfortunately, you failed to spot the error. "   #4) To Stare  Another word you could use in order to replace "look" is "stare."  "Stare" is similar to "glare," but we don’t necessarily use it in a negative situation. For example, when you have a crush on someone, you might spend all day staring at them.  And if you have a pet, you might have already noticed how they stare at you whenever they are hungry. Examples: "Stop staring at me like that! You're making me uncomfortable." "We all stared at the beautiful girl next door." "If you want to stare at him, at least don't make it so self-evident."   #5) To inspect When you "inspect" something, you take an active role in examining something. Let's say that you inspect a house before you buy it. You can also inspect your friend's house, to get some decorating ideas.  Example: "You must inspect the vehicle before you purchase it."   #6) To gaze This is another word you can use to replace the word "look." We use the word "gaze" when we are admiring something or someone. When you "gaze," you usually look at someone/something for a long time. Examples: "Rachel gazed at Tom with admiration as he spoke." "Bobby spends hours gazing out the window, waiting for his dad to come home." READ the TEXT here: <a href="https://speakenglishpodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">www.SpeakEnglishpodcast.com</a>

#110 Stop using the word LOOK in English part#2

Welcome to Speak English Now Podcast. With your host Georgiana. The podcast that will help you to speak English fluently with no grammar and no textbooks. Hi, everybody! I'm Georgiana, your online English teacher, and founder of speakenglishpodcast.com My mission is to help you to speak English fluently. Today I'd like to introduce you to American history. After all, if you really want to consolidate your English, you'll have to learn more about American culture and society. And what better way to start than with George Washington the first president of the United States? George Washington was the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental First Army that fought the British when the country was not yet established. During the American Revolution, Washington led the colonial forces to victory over the British and was considered a national hero. He became the first president of the United States in 1789 in the first American elections. He was also elected for a second term in 1793. Therefore, he was the only president to win 100 percent of the electoral votes. In the United States, people celebrate George Washington's birthday on the third Monday in February. Like that people always have a day off even if his birthday falls during the weekend. Many people want the holiday to celebrate the birthday of another president, Abraham Lincoln, who was also born in February. Therefore, different U.S. states have renamed the day Presidents Day.   READ THE TEXT HERE: SpeakEnglishPodcast.com

Welcome to Speak English Now Podcast. With your host Georgiana. The podcast that will help you to speak English fluently with no grammar and no textbooks. Hi, everybody! I'm Georgiana, your online English teacher, and founder of <a href="http://speakenglishpodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">speakenglishpodcast.com</a> My mission is to help you to speak English fluently. Today I'd like to introduce you to American history. After all, if you really want to consolidate your English, you'll have to learn more about American culture and society. And what better way to start than with George Washington the first president of the United States? George Washington was the Commander-in-Chief of the Continental First Army that fought the British when the country was not yet established. During the American Revolution, Washington led the colonial forces to victory over the British and was considered a national hero. He became the first president of the United States in 1789 in the first American elections. He was also elected for a second term in 1793. Therefore, he was the only president to win 100 percent of the electoral votes. In the United States, people celebrate George Washington's birthday on the third Monday in February. Like that people always have a day off even if his birthday falls during the weekend. Many people want the holiday to celebrate the birthday of another president, Abraham Lincoln, who was also born in February. Therefore, different U.S. states have renamed the day Presidents Day. READ THE TEXT HERE: <a href="http://SpeakEnglishPodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a>

#089 - History of the USA- George Washington - ESL

Hi everyone! I am Georgiana, founder of speakenglishpodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. Today I’ll talk about the most famous band in the world. The Beatles! And you’ll practice your speaking with a funny mini-story. Have you ever listened to The Beatles? Actually, let me rephrase that. When was the first time you listened to a Beatles song? The Beatles are probably the most popular band in the history of music. They are considered by many to be the best band on Earth. The band was undoubtedly the most successful, with global sales exceeding 1.1 billion records. They were initially famous for their light pop music, although their later works achieved a combination of popular and critical acclaim perhaps unprecedented in the 20th century. Beatlemania began in the UK and exploded after The Beatles appeared on a popular TV show in the US in 1964. The band became a worldwide phenomenon with adoring fans and hysterical adulation. The members of the group were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, all from England.  John Lennon was a singer-songwriter and peace activist who co-founded The Beatles. Paul McCartney is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer. He has gained worldwide fame as a bassist and singer. George Harrison was a musician, singer-songwriter, music and film producer who achieved international fame as The Beatles’ lead guitarist. He was often referred to as “The Quiet Beatle.” Ringo Starr is a musician, singer-songwriter, and actor who gained worldwide fame as a Beatles drummer.    Read the transcript here: speakEnglishpodcast.com

Hi everyone! I am Georgiana, founder of <a href="https://www.speakenglishpodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">speakenglishpodcast.com</a>. My mission is to help you <a href="https://www.speakenglishpodcast.com/the-relationship-among-reading-writing-speaking-listening/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">speak English fluently</a>. Today I’ll talk about the most famous band in the world. <a href="https://www.thebeatles.com/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">The Beatles</a>! And you’ll practice your speaking with a funny mini-story. Have you ever listened to<a href="https://speakenglishpodcast.com/the-beatles-esl/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> The Beatles</a>? Actually, let me rephrase that. When was the first time you listened to a Beatles song? The Beatles are probably the most popular band in the history of music. They are considered by many to be the best band on Earth. The band was undoubtedly the most successful, with global sales exceeding 1.1 billion records. They were initially famous for their light pop music, although their later works achieved a combination of popular and critical acclaim perhaps unprecedented in the 20th century. Beatlemania began in the UK and exploded after The Beatles appeared on a popular <a href="https://www.speakenglishpodcast.com/073-learn-english-by-watching-tv-series-with-netflix/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">TV show</a> in the US in 1964. The band became a worldwide phenomenon with adoring fans and hysterical adulation. The members of the group were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, all from England.  John Lennon was a singer-songwriter and peace activist who co-founded The Beatles. Paul McCartney is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer. He has gained worldwide fame as a bassist and singer. George Harrison was a musician, singer-songwriter, music and film producer who achieved international fame as The Beatles’ lead guitarist. He was often referred to as “The Quiet Beatle.” Ringo Starr is a musician, singer-songwriter, and actor who gained worldwide fame as a Beatles drummer.  Read the transcript here: <a href="https://speakenglishpodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">speakEnglishpodcast.com</a>

#125 Learn English with The Beatles (rep) 

Welcome to Speak English Now Podcast. With your host Georgiana. The podcast that will help you to speak English fluently with no grammar and no textbooks. Hi, everybody! I'm Georgiana, your online English teacher, and founder of speakenglishpodcast.com My mission is to help you to speak English fluently. You're probably wondering why it took me so long to publish a new episode. Well, I have a good excuse. Do you know what happened to me? I've been redecorating some rooms in my house. I've been planning this for over a year, and I must confess that I've been too optimistic. I really thought that changing the decor of the house would be as easy as buying new furniture, a new couch and painting the walls. However, as you can imagine, things were not that simple. I must confess that I love decorating, but this time I had too many options, I just couldn't make up my mind, and I was postponing because I had too many ideas. One of the quickest ways to refresh a room's appearance is to paint the walls. In theory, you should choose a color that complements your personality and fits your space. Although first I had to find out the color of the furniture to match the color of the walls. In general, I want the room to look clean but also modern and a little sophisticated. I also had to keep in mind that if I buy too much furniture, it will look too crowded, but if I didn't buy enough furniture, it would look empty and poor. So I had to find a balance. Size is also important because you could buy furniture that is too big or too small. Small furniture in a large room can look ridiculous though it's not a good idea to add big furniture in a room either. You can imagine how terrible it would look. And, of course, you have to stick to one style, as there are several options.   READ THE TEXT HERE: SpeakEnglishPodcast.com

Welcome to Speak English Now Podcast. With your host Georgiana. The podcast that will help you to speak English fluently with no grammar and no textbooks. Hi, everybody! I'm Georgiana, your online English teacher, and founder of <a href="http://speakenglishpodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">speakenglishpodcast.com</a> My mission is to help you to speak English fluently. You're probably wondering why it took me so long to publish a new episode. Well, I have a good excuse. Do you know what happened to me? I've been redecorating some rooms in my house. I've been planning this for over a year, and I must confess that I've been too optimistic. I really thought that changing the decor of the house would be as easy as buying new furniture, a new couch and painting the walls. However, as you can imagine, things were not that simple. I must confess that I love decorating, but this time I had too many options, I just couldn't make up my mind, and I was postponing because I had too many ideas. One of the quickest ways to refresh a room's appearance is to paint the walls. In theory, you should choose a color that complements your personality and fits your space. Although first I had to find out the color of the furniture to match the color of the walls. In general, I want the room to look clean but also modern and a little sophisticated. I also had to keep in mind that if I buy too much furniture, it will look too crowded, but if I didn't buy enough furniture, it would look empty and poor. So I had to find a balance. Size is also important because you could buy furniture that is too big or too small. Small furniture in a large room can look ridiculous though it's not a good idea to add big furniture in a room either. You can imagine how terrible it would look. And, of course, you have to stick to one style, as there are several options. READ THE TEXT HERE: <a href="http://SpeakEnglishPodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a>

#088 How to Decorate your Home

Hello, everybody! I am Georgiana your English teacher and founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently.  In this episode, I will be talking about how many times we have to repeat an audio material in English. After that, you practice your conversation skills with a new mini-story.  Ok, let’s get started! As you may know, I always recommend you to listen to improve your English speaking. There are many studies, which suggest that there is a correlation between our level of the language and the hours we have been listening. In other words, the more you listen, the better. The more hours you spend listening, the quicker you improve. Here’s an interesting question you might ask: “How many times do I have to listen to every piece of content?” Do I have to listen just one time? Or more than that? What most students do is listen to certain content once or twice and then change to another material. The typical student thinks that the more variety, the better. Well, variety is useful, but what you want is to consolidate what you listen, and the most effective way to achieve this is through repetition. So, let’s say you are starting with English. You're a beginner. This is the situation where you need a lot of repetition. The reason is that you need to create the most common patterns in your head. That’s why you need to repeat many times. For example, let’s say you have a 5 minutes audio adapted to your level. Then, you can repeat the audio twenty, thirty, or even more times. Yes! You heard me well! Twenty, thirty, or more times! I’m not saying that you have to do it in one day. For example, you can repeat the audio three times every day for one week. This is only 15 minutes a day for seven days, which is 21 times. You can read and listen if you need to. Yes, it seems crazy, but I can assure you that this is very effective. You can learn a lot! And the most important thing is that you’re consolidating the phrases, the vocabulary, the pronunciation, and it becomes easier to use all of this in a conversation. READ the TEXT here: SpeakEnglishPodcast.com

Hello, everybody! I am Georgiana your English teacher and founder of <a href="http://SpeakEnglishPodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a>. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. In this episode, I will be talking about how many times we have to repeat an audio material in English. After that, you practice your conversation skills with a new mini-story. Ok, let’s get started! As you may know, I always recommend you to listen to improve your English speaking. There are many studies, which suggest that there is a correlation between our level of the language and the hours we have been listening. In other words, the more you listen, the better. The more hours you spend listening, the quicker you improve. Here’s an interesting question you might ask: “How many times do I have to listen to every piece of content?” Do I have to listen just one time? Or more than that? What most students do is listen to certain content once or twice and then change to another material. The typical student thinks that the more variety, the better. Well, variety is useful, but what you want is to consolidate what you listen, and the most effective way to achieve this is through repetition. So, let’s say you are starting with English. You're a beginner. This is the situation where you need a lot of repetition. The reason is that you need to create the most common patterns in your head. That’s why you need to repeat many times. For example, let’s say you have a 5 minutes audio adapted to your level. Then, you can repeat the audio twenty, thirty, or even more times. Yes! You heard me well! Twenty, thirty, or more times! I’m not saying that you have to do it in one day. For example, you can repeat the audio three times every day for one week. This is only 15 minutes a day for seven days, which is 21 times. You can read and listen if you need to. Yes, it seems crazy, but I can assure you that this is very effective. You can learn a lot! And the most important thing is that you’re consolidating the phrases, the vocabulary, the pronunciation, and it becomes easier to use all of this in a conversation. READ the TEXT here: <a href="http://SpeakEnglishPodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a>

#098 How many times do you  need to listen in English? (rep)

Transcript: Hi everyone! I am Georgiana, founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. In today's lesson, I'll talk about baking. I'll teach you how to bake my favorite blueberry muffins. So if you want to enrich your English vocabulary and try out my favorite muffin recipe, I suggest that you continue listening. And with a point of view lesson, you will improve your English grammar intuitively without memorizing any rules.  Unbelievable! Today is episode 120. That means you get over 120 free English lessons. If my podcast helps you, be sure to share it with your friends. That would mean a lot to me. Thank you. Remember! You can get the transcript at speakenglishpodcast.com. Ok, let's start!  I don't know about you, but I love baking. And the easiest recipe I know, and the one my friends like best, is blueberry muffins. People are very used to eating all sorts of pastries that contain an incredible amount of sugar, yet one of the things they love most about my cakes is the fact that I add very little sugar.  That's why I started baking. I'm not too fond of pies with a lot of sugar either. So today, I'm going to share with you my blueberry muffin recipe. Are you excited? Oh, I'm sure that if you try these muffins, you're gonna love them. If you've never heard the word muffin, then you probably know the term cupcake. A cupcake is very similar to a muffin, but it is always sweet and often covered with frosting.  Wait a minute, what's frosting? It's a sweet mixture that we use to decorate and fill cakes. Muffins, on the other hand, are generally considered healthier than cupcakes. They are usually made with whole wheat flour and loaded with fruit.  It is not easy to describe how a muffin looks, but the only real difference between a slice of cake and a muffin is the shape. But just to give you an idea, a muffin looks like an oversized mushroom. It's very easy to make them. It doesn't matter if you're a master chef or if you never set foot in the kitchen.  And all you need is 30 minutes, 10 minutes of preparation, and cook for 20 minutes.  And don't worry because you won't even need a food processor. A food processor is an electric machine that cuts, slices, and mixes food quickly.   But in this case, you will only need a mixing bowl. Before we start cooking, let's take a look at the ingredients we need for the muffins.  This is an essential step. You have to make sure you have all the ingredients ready before you start baking. This will speed up the preparation and ensure that no ingredients are missing. This has happened to me more than once. The other day I wanted to make a carrot cake, and I was pretty sure I had some carrots in the refrigerator. It turns out that there weren't any carrots in the fridge, so I had to shop for groceries, and that ruined the moment.   Before we go any further, let's get a little better understanding of how we measure the ingredients.   In the US, we use cups, tablespoons, and teaspoons in our recipes.   To follow this recipe, you'll need some measuring cups and spoons. You can get them online or in your local store. [END of EXTRACT] Read the full transcript here: speakenglishpodcast.com

Transcript: Hi everyone! I am Georgiana, founder of <a href="http://speakenglishpodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a>. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. In today's lesson, I'll talk about baking. I'll teach you how to bake my favorite blueberry muffins. So if you want to enrich your English vocabulary and try out my favorite muffin recipe, I suggest that you continue listening. And with a point of view lesson, you will improve your English grammar intuitively without memorizing any rules.  Unbelievable! Today is episode 120. That means you get over 120 free English lessons. If my podcast helps you, be sure to share it with your friends. That would mean a lot to me. Thank you. Remember! You can get the transcript at <a href="http://speakenglishpodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">speakenglishpodcast.com</a>. Ok, let's start!  I don't know about you, but I love baking. And the easiest recipe I know, and the one my friends like best, is blueberry muffins. People are very used to eating all sorts of pastries that contain an incredible amount of sugar, yet one of the things they love most about my cakes is the fact that I add very little sugar.  That's why I started baking. I'm not too fond of pies with a lot of sugar either. So today, I'm going to share with you my blueberry muffin recipe. Are you excited? Oh, I'm sure that if you try these muffins, you're gonna love them. If you've never heard the word muffin, then you probably know the term cupcake. A cupcake is very similar to a muffin, but it is always sweet and often covered with frosting.  Wait a minute, what's frosting? It's a sweet mixture that we use to decorate and fill cakes. Muffins, on the other hand, are generally considered healthier than cupcakes. They are usually made with whole wheat flour and loaded with fruit.  It is not easy to describe how a muffin looks, but the only real difference between a slice of cake and a muffin is the shape. But just to give you an idea, a muffin looks like an oversized mushroom. It's very easy to make them. It doesn't matter if you're a master chef or if you never set foot in the kitchen.  And all you need is 30 minutes, 10 minutes of preparation, and cook for 20 minutes.  And don't worry because you won't even need a food processor. A food processor is an electric machine that cuts, slices, and mixes food quickly.   But in this case, you will only need a mixing bowl. Before we start cooking, let's take a look at the ingredients we need for the muffins.  This is an essential step. You have to make sure you have all the ingredients ready before you start baking. This will speed up the preparation and ensure that no ingredients are missing. This has happened to me more than once. The other day I wanted to make a carrot cake, and I was pretty sure I had some carrots in the refrigerator. It turns out that there weren't any carrots in the fridge, so I had to shop for groceries, and that ruined the moment.   Before we go any further, let's get a little better understanding of how we measure the ingredients.   In the US, we use cups, tablespoons, and teaspoons in our recipes.   To follow this recipe, you'll need some measuring cups and spoons. You can get them online or in your local store. [END of EXTRACT] Read the full transcript here: <a href="https://speakenglishpodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">speakenglishpodcast.com</a>

#120 Baking cooking vocabulary in English

Color

Hello, everybody! I am Georgiana your English teacher and founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. Speaking English is easier than it seems! You just have to use the right material and techniques. In today’s episode, you will learn new expressions in English with the help of the color white. In fact, with the help of colors, you can say many different things. You'll see. And with an exclusive mini-story, you will be able to practice your fluency in English along with today's expressions. I'm going to start talking about the English idiomatic expressions with the color white. In the following episodes, I will use more expressions with different colors. As I was preparing this episode, I realized that these expressions are used a lot in everyday life. It would be great if you could at least understand their meaning. And don't worry if you don't remember all of them. 1. As white as a sheet We use this expression to say that someone is in a state of great fear or anxiety. Let me tell you a story about a friend who had long distance relationship before the internet era. During the first month, he spoke on the phone for about 12 hours every day. However, things changed after he saw the phone bill! I’m sure that he became as white as a sheet. :) Another example:  “Bill, you’re as white as a sheet! Are you alright?” 2. Raise a white flag The white flag is a widely known symbol used to symbolize surrender.  People carrying or waving a white flag should not be attacked or allowed to open fire.  And as you have already guessed by now, this expression indicates that someone admitted defeat. Examples: “After studying English for 28 years and eight months, Marta was about to raise a white flag. Luckily before throwing in the towel, she found out about the Speak English Now podcast!!” Here I used the expression “to throw in the towel” which has the same meaning as “raise a white flag.”   READ the TEXT here: speakenglishpodcast.com

Hello, everybody! I am Georgiana your English teacher and founder of <a href="http://SpeakEnglishPodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a>. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. Speaking English is easier than it seems! You just have to use the right material and techniques. In today’s episode, you will learn new expressions in English with the help of the color white. In fact, with the help of colors, you can say many different things. You'll see. And with an exclusive mini-story, you will be able to practice your fluency in English along with today's expressions. I'm going to start talking about the English idiomatic expressions with the color white. In the following episodes, I will use more expressions with different colors. As I was preparing this episode, I realized that these expressions are used a lot in everyday life. It would be great if you could at least understand their meaning. And don't worry if you don't remember all of them. 1. As white as a sheet We use this expression to say that someone is in a state of great fear or anxiety. Let me tell you a story about a friend who had long distance relationship before the internet era. During the first month, he spoke on the phone for about 12 hours every day. However, things changed after he saw the phone bill! I’m sure that he became as white as a sheet. :) Another example:  “Bill, you’re as white as a sheet! Are you alright?” 2. Raise a white flag The white flag is a widely known symbol used to symbolize surrender.  People carrying or waving a white flag should not be attacked or allowed to open fire.  And as you have already guessed by now, this expression indicates that someone admitted defeat. Examples: “After studying English for 28 years and eight months, Marta was about to raise a white flag. Luckily before throwing in the towel, she found out about the Speak English Now podcast!!” Here I used the expression “to throw in the towel” which has the same meaning as “raise a white flag.” READ the TEXT here: <a href="https://speakenglishpodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">speakenglishpodcast.com</a>

#079 Color idioms expressions in English (white)

Hi everyone! I’m Georgiana; founder of SpeakEnglishPod.com. My mission is to help YOU speak English fluently.  Today I’ll be teaching you how to rent a car in English. The lesson is simple and to the point, so it’ll save you a lot of time when you really need to rent a vehicle. And in the next section, you’ll practice your English speaking with a funny mini-story. Today’s story is about Brian, a middle-aged man who wants to go out with hot chicks. 🙂  It’s summer again, and many of you are seeking a holiday getaway. So today I’ll be teaching you how to rent a car. First of all, you should start by comparing prices online. Consider doing your research by checking travel websites like Expedia, Kayak, or Hotwire. Some of the most popular car hire agencies are Alamo, Avis, and Hertz. Before deciding on an agency, ask about the additional charges because these charges will help you figure out which is the best deal. Some common rates include: Underage-driver fees: it means that the agency charges an additional fee for a driver under 25. Airport surcharges: This charge will make a big difference in the total amount. Basically, the agency will charge you a supplement for picking up a rental car at the airport. Additional charges per driver: You’ll need to pay extra for having more than one person driving the rental.   READ the TEXT here: SpeakEnglishPodcast.com

Hi everyone! I’m Georgiana; founder of <a href="http://SpeakEnglishPod.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPod.com</a>. My mission is to help YOU speak English fluently. <ul> <li>Today I’ll be teaching you how to<a href="https://www.speakenglishpod.com/rent-a-car-in-english/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> rent a car in English</a>. The lesson is simple and to the point, so it’ll save you a lot of time when you really need to rent a vehicle.</li> <li>And in the next section, you’ll practice your English speaking with a funny mini-story. Today’s story is about Brian, a middle-aged man who wants to go out with hot chicks. 🙂</li> </ul> It’s <a href="https://www.speakenglishpod.com/summer-vacation-esl-what-to-do/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">summer</a> again, and many of you are seeking a holiday getaway. So today I’ll be teaching you how to rent a car. First of all, you should start by comparing prices online. Consider doing your research by checking travel websites like Expedia, Kayak, or Hotwire. Some of the most popular car hire agencies are Alamo, Avis, and Hertz. Before deciding on an agency, ask about the additional charges because these charges will help you figure out which is the best deal. Some common rates include: Underage-driver fees: it means that the agency charges an additional fee for a driver under 25. <a href="https://www.speakenglishpod.com/english-airport-travel-vocabulary/" rel="noopener noreferrer nofollow" target="_blank">Airport</a> surcharges: This charge will make a big difference in the total amount. Basically, the agency will charge you a supplement for picking up a rental car at the airport. Additional charges per driver: You’ll need to pay extra for having more than one person driving the rental. READ the TEXT here: <a href="http://SpeakEnglishPodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a>

#099 Renting a car in English – ESL (rep)

Speaking English is easier than it seems! You just have to use the right material and techniques. Today we are going to be a bit nostalgic, and talk about some communication devices and gadgets that still exist nowadays, but are obsolete.  Let’s start! Fax machine How did we share documents and letters before the email existed? Although many people sent a telegram or a letter, there was another device that we used, particularly in the professional field. Yes. I'm talking about the fax machine.  While some companies still use fax machines, no one has one of those machines at home. I guess we prefer to use an email because it's faster, takes up no space and it's free.  Nowadays, you can still send a fax without a fax machine. You only need to use your computer or a smartphone, because there are websites that offer this service. Telegram And by the way, you'll be surprised to know that people still send telegrams.  No. I'm not referring to the Telegram Messenger app. You can send a telegram the old fashioned way or even online.   Landlines How about landline phones? Do you still have one of those at home? I can’t even remember when was the last time I had one of those. It was definitely a long time ago.  The landlines had no high-definition color display, no camera, and no Internet connection. They had a long cord so people could move it around the house. But that was inconvenient. I remember my landline phone was wireless and had a small black and white screen. I was happy to move around the house without a cord, but it was a bulky phone, and the battery didn't last long. I just know that I’m grateful to have a smartphone now. :)   READ the TEXT here: SpeakEnglishPodcast.com

Speaking English is easier than it seems! You just have to use the right material and techniques. Today we are going to be a bit nostalgic, and talk about some communication devices and gadgets that still exist nowadays, but are obsolete.  Let’s start! Fax machine How did we share documents and letters before the email existed? Although many people sent a telegram or a letter, there was another device that we used, particularly in the professional field. Yes. I'm talking about the fax machine. While some companies still use fax machines, no one has one of those machines at home. I guess we prefer to use an email because it's faster, takes up no space and it's free. Nowadays, you can still send a fax without a fax machine. You only need to use your computer or a smartphone, because there are websites that offer this service. Telegram And by the way, you'll be surprised to know that people still send telegrams. No. I'm not referring to the Telegram Messenger app. You can send a telegram the old fashioned way or even online.  Landlines How about landline phones? Do you still have one of those at home? I can’t even remember when was the last time I had one of those. It was definitely a long time ago. The landlines had no high-definition color display, no camera, and no Internet connection. They had a long cord so people could move it around the house. But that was inconvenient. I remember my landline phone was wireless and had a small black and white screen. I was happy to move around the house without a cord, but it was a bulky phone, and the battery didn't last long. I just know that I’m grateful to have a smartphone now. :) READ the TEXT here: <a href="http://SpeakEnglishPodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a>

#096 Obsolete Communication  Devices and Gadgets

Hi, dear student! I'm Georgiana, founder of the Speak English Now podcast. My mission is to help you to speak English fluently. Speaking English is way easier when you use the right material and techniques. I'm here to tell you to stop using the word "look" repeatedly. There are many more alternatives, and depending on the context, I will help you to choose the right one. This lesson is intended to help you enrich your vocabulary and sound more like a native English speaker.  And with a mini-story, you will practice your English speaking. But first, I would like to share with you a comment on Facebook from one of my students called Fernando Romero:  "Hello Georgiana, I'm fascinated by your method. I have improved my spoken English. Your podcasts are incredible... congratulations. Thank you!"  By the way, if you are new here, visit my website to get the transcript of today's episode. Go to: speakenglishpodcast.com If you're already familiar with this show, please share it with your friends and family. That would make me very happy! Tell your friends that my podcast is available everywhere on the internet. You can find it on my website and many podcast apps like Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Facebook, Soundcloud, etc. Just look for "Speak English Now with Georgiana," and start learning English with me!" Do you know the difference between "glare" and "glance"? What about the difference between "looking" and "seeing"? For a native English speaker, these words are different, although I know this is complicated for an English learner. Ok! Let's learn some new words that replace the word "look." #1) To glare If we glare at someone, we usually show them that we are angry because we often frown, and have a dark look on our faces. People may glare at us when we do something they disagree with. Examples: "Georgie glared at her dad every time he asked her to tidy up her room." "She gave me such an icy glare I almost froze." "Don't glare at me like that; you deserved to be scolded." #2) To glance However, when we glance, we take a quick look at something, but we don't concentrate on it for too long. Usually, that happens when we don't want people to know we're seeing something or someone, so we "look" at it, in a natural way, but without making it self-evident. Examples:   "During a meeting, Jim glanced at the clock on the wall."   "We fell in love at first glance."  "He could tell at a glance something was wrong with her. #3) To catch a glimpse When we "catch a glimpse," we barely see something, we see it for a brief time, as it goes by quickly. Examples: "Millions of people had gathered to catch a glimpse of her Royal Majesty. "Did you catch a glimpse of that beautiful woman who just walked by?" "We were hoping to catch a glimpse of the superstar."   READ the TEXT here: speakenglishpodcast.com

Hi, dear student! I'm Georgiana, founder of the Speak English Now podcast. My mission is to help you to speak English fluently. Speaking English is way easier when you use the right material and techniques. I'm here to tell you to stop using the word "look" repeatedly. There are many more alternatives, and depending on the context, I will help you to choose the right one. This lesson is intended to help you enrich your vocabulary and sound more like a native English speaker.  And with a mini-story, you will practice your English speaking. But first, I would like to share with you a comment on Facebook from one of my students called Fernando Romero:  "Hello Georgiana, I'm fascinated by your method. I have improved my spoken English. Your podcasts are incredible... congratulations. Thank you!"  By the way, if you are new here, visit my website to get the transcript of today's episode. Go to: <a href="http://speakenglishpodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">speakenglishpodcast.com</a> If you're already familiar with this show, please share it with your friends and family. That would make me very happy! Tell your friends that my podcast is available everywhere on the internet. You can find it on my website and many podcast apps like <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/3BdVI2jDY4FRY4QKKbY1GM" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Spotify</a>, <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/speak-english-now-podcast-learn-english-speak-english/id1216879060?mt=2" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">iTunes</a>, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/c/speakenglishpodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SpeakEnglishPodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Facebook</a>, <a href="https://soundcloud.com/speakenglishpodcast" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Soundcloud</a>, etc. Just look for "Speak English Now with Georgiana," and start learning English with me!" Do you know the difference between "glare" and "glance"? What about the difference between "looking" and "seeing"? For a native English speaker, these words are different, although I know this is complicated for an English learner. Ok! Let's learn some new words that replace the word "look." #1) To glare If we glare at someone, we usually show them that we are angry because we often frown, and have a dark look on our faces. People may glare at us when we do something they disagree with. Examples: "Georgie glared at her dad every time he asked her to tidy up her room." "She gave me such an icy glare I almost froze." "Don't glare at me like that; you deserved to be scolded." #2) To glance However, when we glance, we take a quick look at something, but we don't concentrate on it for too long. Usually, that happens when we don't want people to know we're seeing something or someone, so we "look" at it, in a natural way, but without making it self-evident. Examples:   "During a meeting, Jim glanced at the clock on the wall."   "We fell in love at first glance."  "He could tell at a glance something was wrong with her. #3) To catch a glimpse When we "catch a glimpse," we barely see something, we see it for a brief time, as it goes by quickly. Examples: "Millions of people had gathered to catch a glimpse of her Royal Majesty. "Did you catch a glimpse of that beautiful woman who just walked by?" "We were hoping to catch a glimpse of the superstar." READ the TEXT here: <a href="https://speakenglishpodcast.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">speakenglishpodcast.com</a>

#108 Stop using the word Look - part#1

Hi everyone! I am Georgiana, founder of speakenglishpodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently.  In today’s lesson, you’ll learn about the words and expressions used to show cause and effect. For example, "Because of the course, I can now speak English.” And with a point of view story you’ll intuitively learn grammar - without memorizing.  Remember that you can get the text of this episode at SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. Okay, let's get to it! Phrase connectors improve writing adding variety and sophistication to your writing style. Today we are going to see some very useful words and phrases to express cause and effect. You don't have to learn all of these variations, although it's helpful to be familiar with them. I'll also give you examples to make it easier to understand.

Hi everyone! I am Georgiana, founder of <a href="http://speakenglishpod.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">speakenglishpodcast.com</a>. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. <ul> <li>In today’s lesson, you’ll learn about the words and expressions used to show cause and effect. For example, "Because of the course, I can now speak English.”</li> <li>And with a point of view story you’ll intuitively learn grammar - without memorizing.</li> </ul> Remember that you can get the text of this episode at <a href="http://SpeakEnglishPodcast.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">SpeakEnglishPodcast.com</a>. Okay, let's get to it! Phrase connectors improve writing adding variety and sophistication to your writing style. Today we are going to see some very useful words and phrases to express cause and effect. You don't have to learn all of these variations, although it's helpful to be familiar with them. I'll also give you examples to make it easier to understand.

#078 Cause and Effect in English (Because, As, Due to, As a result)

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