It's become very popular and trendy to combine words in English in recent years, but this can leave learners feeling pretty confused and conversations, or when watching TV series movies and listening to podcasts. These combinations of words happen when one or both of the words is shortened in a clever way, and this is what you'll be learning about today. So get ready to test your knowledge on some trending words in 2022. Show notes here. .......... We’re super excited to announce that we have pu...
Feb 03, 2022•38 min
As language learners, we often strive for perfect pronunciation, because how we sound is the first thing people hear when we speak. We’re afraid that if we make a mistake, especially when it comes to pronunciation, our value will diminish and others will realize that we’re not as good as we say we are. But let’s be honest, in many cases, English pronunciation makes no sense! In English, spelling and sound don’t always correspond (in fact, they rarely do!). Worry no more! In today’s lesson, our B...
Jan 31, 2022•13 min
How much wood would a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood? Did you try to read that out loud? Did you find it hard? That’s a tongue twister. They usually have the same sounding consonants, so when you try to say each word the pronunciation comes out all wrong. Tongue twisters are a fun and great way to practice your articulation and your pronunciation. They challenge your capacity to enunciate the individual sounds in each word, so you don’t trip up and forces you to pay careful atte...
Jan 27, 2022•28 min
According to a study published by the Journal of Behavioral Science, approximately 70% of people suffer from imposter syndrome. People of all ages, from a variety of careers and jobs, struggle with it every single day of their lives. You’ve probably experienced it on some level yourself: Not believing in your ability to do something and fearing that people will find out. Judging your capability to the point of calling yourself a fraud, and believing that everyone is better than you. Listen to wh...
Jan 24, 2022•11 min
In today's episode, we have a treat for you with not one, but two special guests. I'll be joined by two members of the RealLife English team to share with us some of the most common mistakes that Spanish and Portuguese learners make. Some of these common mistakes might even be common in other languages, so whether your native language is Spanish, Portuguese or another one, this is a must-listen episode for you! In today's episode, we have a treat for you with not one, but two special guests. I'l...
Jan 20, 2022•43 min
Have you been studying English for a long time but are still frustrated that you can’t speak it naturally and fluently? Then today’s episode is for you. We all know that speaking another language is not something you can do overnight. It requires hard work and dedication, but that doesn’t mean it needs to be something boring or painful. You can make language learning a simple and fun adventure. Today you are in for a treat because you’re going to hear from 24 amazing experts, teachers, and langu...
Jan 17, 2022•24 min
There's no doubt that there are many New Year's traditions followed by different cultures, but were you aware that there are also some interesting superstitions? Well, in today's episode, we're being helped by members of our team and community to share some very interesting New Year's superstitions from their countries. 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 ...
Jan 13, 2022•30 min
Mark Hancock is an English Language Teacher, Teacher Trainer, and Materials Writer. He has more than 30 years of experience teaching English and presenting at conferences all around the world. Mark believes that teaching and learning a language can and should be an enjoyable experience. He's a specialist in English pronunciation and has published an award-winning series of books to help teachers make pronunciation a fun and memorable part of the classroom. What a fascinating interview! You're go...
Jan 10, 2022•1 hr 14 min
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•1 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
