2022 is upon us! Something that we find immensely helpful is to sit down at the end or beginning of the year and review our progress from the last 12 months, and determine where we want to go over the next year. This can be incredibly powerful to achieve things you never thought possible, so we are excited to share this conversation that will help you take your English and your life to the next level in 2022. Show notes here. .......... We’re super excited to announce that we have publicly launc...
Jan 06, 2022•37 min
Gabriele Oettingen is a Professor of Psychology and author originally from Germany. She has been teaching at New York University and the University of Hamburg for more than 20 years. Her research focuses on the Science of Motivation and explains why positive thinking alone is not enough to achieve our goals. Upon more than 25 years of research, she developed a goal-achievement strategy called WOOP. WOOP stands for WISH, OUTCOME, OBSTACLE, and PLAN. This empirically based approach focuses on help...
Jan 03, 2022•2 hr 31 min
Did you know that words in English can be different depending on the country you’re visiting? Ethan and I have often spoken about these differences on the podcast, but today’s episode is extra special. Not only will you learn about vocabulary differences between American and British English, but you’ll also learn about different words in South African English with our special guest and new RealLife English member, Cassé. Show notes here. .......... We’re super excited to announce that we have pu...
Dec 30, 2021•40 min
Ruri Ohama is a Turkish-Japanese Youtuber, med student, and polyglot. She has a Youtube channel completely in English, which was able to grow from 1,000 to more than 250k subscribers in only 9 months. On her channel, she shares what it's like to grow up multicultural, interesting cultural tidbits about Japan and Turkey, and also tips on learning English and other languages. This was such a cool interview with Ruri, and I hope you will take some inspiration for what your English can bring for you...
Dec 27, 2021•1 hr 17 min
It’s Christmas week and we couldn't let this season pass without sharing some of our all-time favorite Christmas movies that you can watch this holiday season! You’ll find such good classics in this list and we’ll also be sharing why they’re so great for learning English. Show notes here. .......... We’re super excited to announce that we have publicly launched much anticipated RealLife English Podcast and Speaking App , which will give dedicated learners, just like you, the opportunity to liste...
Dec 23, 2021•20 min
You asked for it, and you got it! You want to continue making progress with your English, and you understand that you need to dedicate some studying time for it. However, it can be easy to fall into a repetitive routine, and to that we say… DO NOT let a boring study routine KILL your MOTIVATION! In this podcast episode, we’ll be sharing 7 different ways in which you can make studying English a whole lot more fun! Show notes here. .......... We’re super excited to announce that we have publicly l...
Dec 16, 2021•32 min
Charlie Baxter, is a creator, English teacher and podcast host from the UK. He has always been passionate about the neuroscience of learning and graduated from university with a BSc in Psychology. After studying neuro-linguistic programming in England, he started his teaching journey out in Chile more than 7 years ago. As a world traveler, he has lived in the USA, Germany, and most recently in Australia. Along with his friend Harry, he started the Youtube channel Real English with Real Teachers....
Dec 13, 2021•1 hr 19 min
We’re often asked which series are the best for learners to watch. This year’s list is especially tough because there were so many incredible shows on TV during 2021. In today’s podcast episodes we’ll go through our list of the must-watch shows that you can use to learn English in 2022. Show notes here. .......... We’re super excited to announce that we have publicly launched much anticipated RealLife English Podcast and Speaking App , which will give dedicated learners, just like you, the oppor...
Dec 09, 2021•38 min
Feeling the need to improve ourselves is a positive thing! You don’t want to just spend your life lazing about on the couch. Whether intentional or not, we, as humans, are always learning. If you have ever been in a competitive environment, you probably also noticed that it gave you a drive that helped you reach objectives that you thought were impossible. However, this competitive spirit is not always a positive thing. And in this episode, we dive deep into why it'd be a good idea to re-think y...
Dec 06, 2021•10 min
What are some of the most common mistakes in English, and do you make them? In this episode we go through a list of common mistakes that include many areas, like vocabulary, grammar and pronunciation. Most importantly, we give you tips on how to avoid making these mistakes and in so doing improve your confidence. Show notes here. .......... We’re super excited to announce that we have publicly launched much anticipated RealLife English Podcast and Speaking App , which will give dedicated learner...
Dec 02, 2021•41 min
Learning English is about sharing ideas, connecting with others, and improving your life! This is what so many schools get so wrong. In this podcast episode, you'll discover a new way of learning a foreign language that will make you feel empowered and in control of your learning experience. You can finally actually be successful in gaining natural, confident fluency in English (or in something else you want to learn!). Download the App .......... Sign up for the RealLife Native Immersion Course...
Nov 29, 2021•15 min
Moving to a new country can be an exciting and equally nerve-wracking experience, but there are lots of ways that you can prepare for this! That's why in today's podcast episode, we're talking all about how to adapt to living in an English-speaking country. The tips in this episode will also be useful if you’re planning to stay in another country for a shorter period of time. Whatever your plan is, get ready for an episode packed with tips and vocab! Show notes here. .......... We’re super excit...
Nov 25, 2021•43 min
You've probably been through a situation where you either needed to say a word, but you couldn't remember it, or that you had to speak in English but simply didn't know how to say something even though you know it perfectly in your own language. I totally know how you feel. When I was learning Hebrew, I found it so complicated because virtually every word was completely different from the equivalent in English. I had to think so hard to put together a sentence because the vocabulary did not come...
Nov 22, 2021•14 min
Today we're talking all about abbreviations in English. In case you're not familiar with this term, an abbreviation is a shortened form of a word or phrase. For example, we might say FYI instead of "for your information" or ASAP instead of "As soon as possible." You'll come across abbreviations in your work, studies, and general daily life. They're a huge part of communication, especially when texting or sending online messages or emails. In this podcast, we'll clarify the various types of abbre...
Nov 18, 2021•44 min
"My weakness? Well, I'd say I'm a bit of a perfectionist." How many times have you heard someone saying that or have even said that yourself? It's quite common to repeat this over and over as an excuse to not take the next step towards a goal or a dream that you have. Now, you may be thinking "But Ethan, I am proud of myself for being a perfectionist because it means that I care deeply about the things I do." I understand why you might believe that calling yourself a perfectionist makes you feel...
Nov 15, 2021•10 min
There's no doubt that English is the most widely spoken language in the world. So, by learning it, it will unlock a huge range of opportunities, no matter what your goals are, and some of them may be quite surprising. In today's podcast, we'll discuss four amazing ways that English will change your life. If you're looking for some motivation for continuing with your learning, then you don't want to miss out on this episode. Show notes here. .......... We’re super excited to announce that we have...
Nov 11, 2021•32 min
Josh MacPherson is an English language instructor and curriculum developer currently based in Japan. With over 15 years of experience teaching English, Josh has specialized in teaching English learners how to better prepare for and increase their chances of achieving a higher score on the TOEFL exam and the new Duolingo English Test. At TST Prep, he helps future test takers get the English test score they need as quickly and easily as possible. I hope you're ready because Josh has some major ins...
Nov 08, 2021•1 hr 18 min
Have you ever wondered what type of English learner you are? The idea is that we learn best according to the archetype of language learners we are. Knowing which type of learner you are can be useful to work out which tips work best for you. Are you an Academic learner? A Jedi Master? Find out in today's episode! Show notes here. .......... We’re super excited to announce that we have publicly launched much anticipated RealLife English Podcast and Speaking App , which will give dedicated learner...
Nov 04, 2021•38 min
Gabriel Wyner is an American polyglot, book author, and founder of Fluent Forever. He fell in love with language learning while training to be an opera singer at school. After feeling pressured by a deadline to achieve proficiency in French, he worked his way to fluency studying on his own. Noticing that there was valuable advice online that was not put together, Gabe decided to share his journey in the book Fluent Forever: How to Learn Any Language Fast and Never Forget It, which since has beco...
Nov 01, 2021•1 hr 25 min
Today we'll be talking about the topic you’ve voted for: how to give compliments in English. If you compliment a person, you praise them or say good things about them. It's not just the words that you say that are important, but also the tone. We'll also explore a variety of sentence structures that you can use to give compliments. Show notes here. .......... We’re super excited to announce that we have publicly launched much anticipated RealLife English Podcast and Speaking App , which will giv...
Oct 28, 2021•42 min
Natasha Broodie is an American communication specialist and founder of Life with the big E. She's a diplomat who previously worked with the United Nations. She is also a travel and language enthusiast and has lived in Russia and France where she taught Business English and noticed how non-native speakers interacted in multicultural business contexts. This experience led her to write her new book "Give Me Tea, Please" to help students politely navigate formal and informal conversations in English...
Oct 25, 2021•1 hr 23 min
In today's podcast episode, you'll get some more practice with your English idiomatic vocabulary by learning some animal idioms. Idioms are a type of figurative language which can be very confusing for English language learners. Now, there are tons of expressions that use animals and we use them all the time. If you stick around until the end, you won't be so confused when English speaking friends use them, or when you hear them when watching TV and movies. Plus, you'll have a fun new way of exp...
Oct 21, 2021•38 min
Luke Thompson is an ESL Teacher, Podcaster, and Stand-up Comedian. He's originally from England and currently lives in Paris. Luke has been helping learners practice their listening skills for over 10 years through his podcast. His webpage and podcast were voted #1 in the Best Blog category for the Macmillan Dictionaries Awards four times in a row. His goals are to engage the learners with authentic conversations that explore all different aspects of everyday life and bits of British culture. Lu...
Oct 18, 2021•1 hr 24 min
Do you often find yourself shying away from new experiences or opportunities because you lack confidence? Have you had that feeling of your heart racing, your palms sweating just thinking about the new challenge that faced you such as speaking English? We're here today to help you do better in those moments of self-doubt and we are with you six tips and hacks to boost your confidence, especially when speaking English. Show notes here. .......... We’re super excited to announce that we have publi...
Oct 14, 2021•40 min
Jennifer Kumar is an English conversation and cross-cultural coach. She lived in India for more than 10 years and even studied her masters degree there. Through her business Authentic Journeys, she helps Americans and Indians strengthen their business relationships through the development of mutual understanding of cultural and linguistic aspects. Get ready for a really unique episode of Beyond Borders. You know, learning English is only partly about the actual language. The other huge part is l...
Oct 11, 2021•1 hr 22 min
If you're like most English learners, you've probably heard the word 'ass' used very frequently in English speaking in songs, movies, and TV series. But did you know that this word has a multitude of uses that mean completely different things? Although you should definitely be very careful with all uses of this word, often the use can in fact, be neutral or even positive. While it's important to emphasize that we do need to be careful with this word, this does not mean we should ignore it. If yo...
Oct 07, 2021•36 min
Ladies and gentlemen. English learners, teachers, and world changers. My next guest is Tiffani. Tiffani, from speakenglishwithtiffani.com, is a teacher and artist from Maryland, US. One day, she left her job as a web designer at NASA to embark on an adventure to South Korea. She lived there for almost 10 years and fell in love with teaching English as a Second Language. Since founding the Speak English with Tiffani Academy, she's dedicated her time and energy to help learners from all around the...
Oct 04, 2021•2 hr 32 min
All the time our students tell us that their biggest frustration is that they understand English well, but that they don't have any opportunities to speak. That is exactly why we launched the RealLife English app this year to give you an opportunity to practice both your speaking and listening in a fun and meaningful way. If you ever worry about not knowing what to talk about while using the app, listen to this episode because we will give you ideas on which topics to talk about when using the a...
Sep 30, 2021•37 min
For those of you in Brazil, you will be no stranger to today's guest, but if you don't know him, you are in for a treat! Gavin Roy is from Ohio in the USA. He learned Portuguese to go to Brazil for the FIFA Soccer World Cup. On his YouTube channels: SmallAdvantages (with 2.7 million subscribers) and TadyGavin he teaches English through his own journey of learning Portuguese and Czech respectively. I thoroughly enjoyed our conversation. I'm absolutely amazed by Gavin's motivation to accomplish so...
Sep 27, 2021•1 hr 2 min
Isn't it awesome that English allows you to discover the world and meet people from different countries and learn about other cultures? That's exactly what we mean when we encourage you to go beyond the classroom and become a global citizen! In fact, our company vision is to create a world beyond borders. So in today's episode, we're excited to join you on your English learning journey, and help you to unleash your English's highest potential. Show notes here. .......... We’re super excited to a...
Sep 23, 2021•34 min
