It's story time! Welcome to a French coffee shop and fancy restaurant where you'll be introduced to a number of common French loanwords in English. A loanword is a words borrowed from a foreign language. American English is packed with French words; how do we pronounce them? Well, I know a lot of you are saying we butcher them, that's okay (I don't disagree with you!) In general, the pronunciation of a words depends on how popular / common a word is. If a French word is common in American Englis...
Jan 09, 2023•30 min•Season 3Ep. 137
In today's episode, we're talking to Camille Hanson, an ESL teacher and social media influencer who grew up in the U.P. - the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Buckle up! You're about to be immersed in an adventure; one that includes snow, lake life, deer flies, girls hunting with bows and arrows and so much more. Learn from a local how you can take advantage of "The Mitten State." Want to take your learning further? ⭐ Visit the website for more learning materials. You’ll also find the Academy ther...
Dec 27, 2022•29 min•Season 3Ep. 136
In today’s lesson, you’re going to hear the story of the creator of Jingle Bells, his hear about questionable character. We’ll also go through the lyrics of the song so if you want to sing it in English, you can. Want to take your learning further? ⭐ Visit the website for more learning materials. You’ll also find the Academy there, where you can access bonus content for this episode (formerly “The Classroom”). ***** In December of 1965, a spacecraft called Gemini 6 was flying in outer space,...
Dec 15, 2022•35 min•Season 3Ep. 135
The holiday season is here and I bet some of you are skimming the internet for new gadgets. Do you like gadgets with a bunch of bells and whistles (fancy features), or do you prefer simplicity? In this episode, you'll learn how to use the common expression bells and whistles, you'll hear a joke and you'll practice your pronunciation! This is Part 1. Stay tuned for Part 2, where we'll talk about the popular Christmas song Jingle Bells . Want to take your learning further? ⭐ Visit the website fo...
Dec 12, 2022•18 min•Season 3Ep. 135
You know Starbucks, right? The coffee company? Born in Seattle, Washington and brewed around the world? I bet you do; they have over 33 thousand stores in over 80 countries. In today's episode, we're going to talk about those guys, the beans and more! Why is it called Starbucks? Who's that woman on their cups? There are a lot of Starbucks haters and a lot of lovers out there, but all of you will find this episode fascinating because 1. it’s an absurdly successful business, how did they do it?! 2...
Nov 29, 2022•35 min•Season 3Ep. 134
The expression To Blow Off Steam is a common one in the United States. In today's episode, you'll learn how to use it in everyday contexts, you'll hear a joke and also practice your pronunciation! :) Thanks again to my amazing supporters who have contributed to this podcast either by purchasing Premium Content (available in " the Academy ") or buying me coffee !Thank you to Paulo, Picante, Stefan, Ortiz and the other anonymous contributors from this month. SO exciting! Want to take your learning...
Nov 28, 2022•16 min•Season 3Ep. 134
A simile, according to Oxford Languages is “a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid.” A similes comparison that the words like or as to compare things. In today’s lesson, Liz and I will be going through 15 common similes that you’ll hear in everyday conversation. Some are literal, so they’ll sound normal, others are quite random so you may want to write these down in your notebook. If you would the full list o...
Nov 19, 2022•41 min•Season 3Ep. 133
A simile, according to Oxford Languages is “a figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid.” In today’s lesson, Liz and I will be going through 15 common similes that you’ll hear in everyday conversation. Some are literal, so they’ll sound normal, others are quite random so you may want to write these down in your notebook. If you would the full list of words, with examples and a quiz to make sure you’ve understood t...
Nov 18, 2022•38 min•Season 3Ep. 133
In today's episode, Lindsay, host of the All Ears English Podcast, will take us on a journey to Colorado, one of the most stunning mountainous states in the western United States. On our 3-day trip to Colorado, via audio, we'll not only get a taste of what it's like to be a tourist there, but hear from a local's standpoint what culture, beauty and adventures awaits us. Be sure to check out the episode webpage for links to the places we talked about in this episode! :) ***** Buy Me a Coffee *****...
Oct 28, 2022•44 min•Season 3Ep. 132
We live in a day and age that is driven by science and technology, yet people are still superstitious. According to a study I read by YouGov, 9% of Americans claim to be superstitious, while another 35% admit to not being very superstitious, but somewhat. That makes over 40% of individuals in the United States somewhat superstitious. So what does it mean to be superstitious? According to Cambridge Dictionary, it is to have beliefs that are not based on human reason or scientific knowledge, but a...
Oct 14, 2022•38 min•Season 3Ep. 131
"Sunday Toasted" is a song that was recently released by a new artist named Zinn, and it's jam-packed with American slang and vocabulary which we'll go through in this episode. This song is also full of cultural references about working and partying :). All in all, I can't think of a more fitting song to be the first "music" episode on this podcast. By the end, you'll have a beautiful picture in your mind of a typical summer's day in the South and understand why lake culture is so big there! "Yo...
Sep 28, 2022•32 min•Season 3Ep. 130
The Monster Study (aka Tudor Study) is an unethical psychology experiment that was conducted in 1939 on 22 orphans in Davenport, Iowa. The goal was to a test the theory that by deeply worrying about starting to stutter, one may develop the speech disorder. Mary Tudor, a graduate student, attempted to induce stuttering - to create the behavior - in fluent speakers with the assistance of her advisor Wendell Johnson. The study was dubbed "The Monster Study" for the cruelty and misconduct of it. Lea...
Sep 15, 2022•36 min•Season 3Ep. 129
In this episode, there are two parts. In Part 1, you'll hear a joke, practice your pronunciation and learn the expression "Off the Record". In Part 2 of today's lesson, we’re going to talk about The Monster Study, a wildly unethical study (by today's standards) that is about orphans and language development, specifically stuttering. To amp up the learning experience in episode 129, I explain challenging words and phrases as I go along. Want to take your learning further? ⭐ Visit the website fo...
Sep 12, 2022•17 min•Season 3Ep. 129
In today’s episode, you’ll learn vocabulary, phrasal verbs, and expressions related to birthday parties. From planning the celebration to describing the cake, decorations, and fun moments with friends and family, this lesson will give you the language you need to talk about birthdays in natural English. This episode was created with a goal in mind: to help you think about the birthday parties in your own life. By the end of the lesson, you should feel more confident describing your special days—...
Aug 31, 2022•28 min•Season 3Ep. 128
Philip Clem s a talented singer and songwriter from Seattle, Washington who has lived in San Francisco, Spain and now Los Angeles, California. Today, Philip is going to tell us about what it's like to be a local from Seattle. In this episode, you'll learn about the state, its stereotypes (and whether or not they're true!), you’ll learn about the culture, food, weather and, of course, about our special guest. Want to take your learning further? ⭐ Visit the website for more learning materials. Y...
Aug 12, 2022•30 min•Season 3Ep. 127
In today’s 5-Minute English episode, you’ll learn the vocabulary, phrasal verbs, and collocations you need to talk about a day at the beach. From describing the weather and the waves to explaining what people do by the ocean, this lesson will give you the language you need to discuss a classic beach day in natural English. 🌊🏖️ Want to take your learning further? ⭐ Visit the website for more learning materials. You’ll also find the Academy there, where you can access bonus content for this ...
Aug 04, 2022•18 min•Season 3Ep. 126
Today we're going to be talking about doughnuts (or donuts; both spellings are acceptable in American English). You'll learn the history, the stories behind the most famous doughnut brands and all about the most popular doughnuts in the display case. After all, if you're going to be the one who brings doughnuts to the office, you got to do it right. Want to take your learning further? ⭐ Visit the website for more learning materials. You’ll also find the Academy there, where you can access bonu...
Jul 23, 2022•30 min•Season 3Ep. 125
In this episode, there are two parts. In Part 1, you’ll hear a joke, practice your pronunciation, and learn the expression “to sugarcoat something.” In Part 2 of today’s lesson, we’re going to talk about donuts. You’ll learn the history, the stories behind the most famous brands, and all about the most popular donuts in the display case. After all, if you’re going to be the one who brings donuts, you’ve got to do it right! To amp up the learning experience, I’ve packed a ton of fun vocabulary an...
Jul 22, 2022•15 min•Season 3Ep. 125
The decision to move overseas is a big one and it requires preparation. The first step for non-native English speakers who want to live, study or work in the U.S. is taking an English exam as proof of English ability. The IELTS exam is one of the most popular. Today, I had the pleasure of speaking with Aubrey Carter, who shared three expressions that you can use on the IELTS exam and in daily life. These expressions can be squeezed into almost any conversation! Want to take your learning further...
Jul 12, 2022•39 min
Goldilocks and the Three Bears is one of the most popular children’s stories ever written in English, and it’s my daughter’s favorite. Today, you’ll hear a modern-ish American English version of the classic tale. I’ve carefully selected a number of phrasal verbs, expressions, and collocations and woven them into the story to amp up (improve, increase) the listening experience. If you’re trying to improve your use of more challenging tenses in English, listening to stories is a natural way to sta...
Jun 29, 2022•29 min•Season 3Ep. 123
In honor of Juneteenth, we’ll be talking about “the Mother of the Freedom Movement,” Rosa Parks. Rosa made history when she politely refused to give her seat to a white passenger on a public bus in Alabama at a time when racial segregation was enforced in the South under the Jim Crow laws. Her story is one of courage, and it may inspire you to stand up for what’s right. Note: Juneteenth is on June 19, and it has been a federal holiday in the United States since 2021. However, it has been a day o...
Jun 14, 2022•34 min•Season 3Ep. 122
In this episode, you’ll learn how to use the common expression “once in a blue moon.” In Part 2, which will be posted shortly, you’ll hear the story of Rosa Parks and learn about the Civil Rights Movement. Want to take your learning further? ⭐ Visit the website for more learning materials. You’ll also find the Academy there, where you can access bonus content for this episode (formerly “The Classroom”). Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Jun 11, 2022•13 min•Season 3Ep. 122
We've lived in Los Angeles for about 5 months and spend a lot of time exploring. I'm happy to say that the city is growing on us - we LOVE the restaurant scene here and checking out the stunning mansions, beautiful beaches and fun neighborhoods. There are a few stereotypes about Los Angeles that you may have been exposed to if you watch films made in Hollywood. Up until this point, I've been pleasantly surprised to disagree with most of them. What do you think about these stereotypes? Had you he...
May 28, 2022•31 min•Season 3Ep. 21
Today you’re going to learn lots of fun facts about the U.S., all related to geography. You’ll hear about the topography—the physical features of the land that make it visually unique. You’ll also learn about the population, meaning where residents are distributed throughout the country. By the end of this episode, you should have a solid geographical overview of the United States and be able to talk about geography in English. Note: The goal of 5-Minute English episodes is to pack all the must-...
May 12, 2022•22 min•Season 3Ep. 120
The Tale of Peter Rabbit was published in 1902 by the British author and illustrator Beatrix Potter. Over a century later, it remains one of the most beloved children’s stories in the English-speaking world. In today’s episode, I’m going to read this classic story to you. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the mischievous adventure of a little rabbit who learns an important lesson after sneaking into Mr. McGregor’s garden. 🐇🥕 What's the moral of this story? Let us know via Instagram ! Want to take ...
Apr 25, 2022•14 min•Season 3Ep. 119
In this episode of the American English Podcast , you’ll learn how to use the common English expression “out of the blue.” First, we’ll start with a joke, then we’ll break down what the expression means and go through a few real-life examples so you can hear how it’s used naturally in everyday English. At the end, we’ll do a short pronunciation exercise to help you say the phrase smoothly and confidently. In Part 2 (Episode 118.2) , you’ll hear the fascinating story of the Blue People of Kentuck...
Apr 07, 2022•14 min•Season 3Ep. 118
Martin eventually fell in love with a redheaded American woman named Elizabeth Smith, and the couple decided to start a family. But something very unusual happened—something they never could have imagined. Four of their seven children were born with blue skin. In this episode of the American English Podcast, you’ll hear the fascinating story of the Blue People of Kentucky. In the first part of the episode, you’ll also learn how to use the common English expression “out of the blue.” Want to take...
Apr 07, 2022•22 min•Season 3Ep. 118
We all love survival stories, don’t we? Watching men and women find food and water, seeing them build shelters out of sticks, stones, and leaves—it’s a common theme on reality television. But every now and then, real life gives us an even more unbelievable story. Stories of people who come face to face with death… and somehow survive. Today, you’ll hear the incredible story of Aron Ralston . You might already know it if you’ve seen the movie 127 Hours . If you haven’t, you’re in for quite a ride...
Mar 24, 2022•20 min•Season 3Ep. 117
In today’s episode, you’ll learn how to use the common English expression “between a rock and a hard place.” First, you’ll hear a joke to get things started. Then we’ll break down what this expression means and how to use it naturally in everyday English with a few real-life examples. At the end, we’ll slow things down with a short pronunciation exercise so you can practice saying the phrase confidently. By the end of the episode, you’ll know exactly how to use this expression when you’re stuck ...
Mar 22, 2022•15 min•Season 3Ep. 117
In this 5-Minute English episode, you'll hear a lot of vocabulary and phrases related to Cold, Flus, and Sickness. ⚠️ Like most 5-Minute Episodes, this episode type is extra challenging, but short. Listen to it multiple times and consider transcribing the audio as a listening exercise. You can also dive deeper into this lesson by joining the Academy. Want to take your learning further? ⭐ Visit the website for more learning materials. You’ll also find the Academy there, where you can access bon...
Mar 06, 2022•19 min•Season 3Ep. 116
