I share some memories of a fantastic two week tour we did in Japan in 2010. I’m reminded of our trip because this year the World Expo is held in Osaka. Listen and read a full transcript here: www.speakwithnick.it podcast
In this podcast I remember my Dad and the canoeing adventures that we had together in England. I recount some of the history and fascinating aspects of the canals in England. You can listen to this podcast and practice your speaking while reading a complete transcript on my website: https://www.speakwithnick.it/go-with-the-flow/
Small talk is warm and spontaneous conversation about light topics. It’s simple informal chat exchanged with a smile. However, the act of ‘striking up a conversation’ can produce a magic ‘social glue’! Listen to my voice and follow a full transcript on my website. There’s also a language focus to help you with some of the more unusual phrases I’ve used. www.speakwithnick.it/podcast/
It’s Valentine’s week. Are you feeling the love? No? If you’re not head over heels in love don’t worry, there’s something for everyone! Love isn’t just about romance, it’s about friendship, family, and most importantly, self-love. For a full transcript of this podcast visit my website: https://www.speakwithnick.it/category/podcast/
A happiness jar is a great way to combat the tendency that we have to look on the bad side of life. On my website you can listen to my voice as you read the transcript and there’s a 'language focus' to help you with some of the more unusual phrases I’ve used. Go to www.speakwithnick.it podcast Ciao for now!
Here are a few great ideas to take the consumerism out of Christmas and spread the joy of giving a little further. On my website you can listen to my voice as you read the transcript and there’s a 'language focus' to help you with some of the more unusual phrases I’ve used. Go to www.speakwithnick.it podcast Happy Christmas and Ciao for now!
Autumn should feel like a warm cosy Sunday. Nothing should be rushed. In this podcast I talk about walking in nature, food, harvest festivals and relaxing at home. Listen to this podcast and read a full transcritpt on my website here: https://www.speakwithnick.it/category/podcast/
In this podcast I take you to the UK and give you the lowdown on how to navigate the pub and beer! On my website you can read the transcript as you listen. There’s also a language focus to help you with some of the more unusual phrases I use. https://www.speakwithnick.it/category/podcast/
In this podcast I give you three simple tips and 1 super hack to integrate English into your life , start today! On my website you can listen and read the transcript at the same time. There is also a language focus to help you with some of the more unusual phrases I use. https://www.speakwithnick.it/category/podcast/
In this podcast I talk about the benefits of handwriting. As an English learner, the physical act of putting pen to paper will strengthen the neural connections in your brain. Call it a diary, a journal or simply my notes, writing can also bring great calming clarity to your life. Listen to this podcast on my website and read a full transcript. There’s also a language focus to help you with some of the more unusual phrases. Here is the link: https://www.speakwithnick.it/improve-your-english-and-...
My favourite memories from our two week Fly and Drive to California back in 2007. You can listen to this podcast and read a full transcript on my website. / Puoi ascoltare questo podcast e leggere contemporaneamente una trascrizione completa sul mio sito: www.speakwithnick.it/fly-drive-california
This year, my family and I decided to take a road trip to England from our home in northern Italy. It was a trip that took us to five different countries: Switzerland, Germany, France, Belgium and England. Listen to this podcast with a full transcript and a language focus to help you on my website here: https://www.speakwithnick.it/category/podcast/
Probably the best thing about reading for pleasure is when you become lost in a story and its characters. You can easily forget you are reading in a different language! It’s in these magic moments that we naturally acquire new vocabulary without even trying to learn! Listen and read a full transcript of this podcast here: https://www.speakwithnick.it/podcast
English is the most common form of communication in business, travel, leisure and entertainment. So, if you want to broaden your horizons or improve your position in the world it’s a no brainer; learn English. But if it’s such a good idea to learn English and many people want English as their second language, why do so many people struggle? Listen to this podcast and read a full transcript at the same time on my website: speakwithnick.it...
I decided to speak with my American friend Liz Jackson from Boston about the famous American holiday Thanksgiving. I’m from England and I have never experienced a Thanksgiving, so I was keen to talk to Liz about it. And I learned some interesting things that I didn’t know about the origins and how it compares to Christmas. Listen, read a full transcript and use my Language focus to help you here: www.speakwithnick.it
This podcast is the spoken, chatty version of an article I wrote about tea. Yes, I’ve got a lovely … mmm, cup of tea with me right now. And so I wrote this article and a lot of you have asked for the audio version. So the article starts with a ‘did you know’. Did you know? Tea is considered the quintessential drink of the English people, but ... You can listen to this podcast and read a full transcript at the same time on my website: speakwithnick.it...
Hi, I’m Nick Simcock, an English Language coach. I help Italians to unlock their English. Memories of Bonfire Night in England Well, in my last podcast about Halloween I mentioned Bonfire Night. What is Bonfire Night? Well, it’s also known as Fireworks Night, or more precisely Guy Fawkes Night. It’s an annual commemoration observed on the 5th of November in Great Britain, involving bonfires and fireworks displays. And to understand the history we need to go back, back to London in 1605 and to th...
Memories of Halloween in England Hi I'm Nick Simcock. I'm an English language coach. I help Italians to unlock their English. In this podcast today I want to talk about my memories of Halloween. From all the different festivities in England that I remember, Christmas, Bonfire Night, birthdays, Easter, I think the most magical was Halloween and I have some great memories. They're divided up into three main things, choosing a costume to wear to go trick or treating in, making a Jack-o’-lantern, ma...
Hi, I’m Nick Simcock, an English Language coach. I help Italians to unlock their English. Houses in England - with my wife, Laura There isn’t enough space here to include a full transcript of this chat, but if you want a copy of the transcript or you have any questions for me or Laura then send me an email to ask@speakwithnick.it Per avere il meglio da questo podcast segui i miei consigli. * Non sentirti deluso se non capisci tutto, è normale non capire tutto! Non giudicarti negativamente, ma si...
The Power of Decluttering Everyone has some stress in their lives when they are confronted by their “to do" list. A little stress can be a positive reaction, it helps you to get things done with energy, but it can become overwhelming if it continues for too long with no breaks. What can we do to alleviate stress in our lives? There are many different and valid approaches we can adopt to combat stress, such as keeping a diary, learning to say no to people without guilt, meditating, yoga. Many thi...
If you’re learning English, then first listen to my advice in Italian on how to get the most from this podcast. Back to school - Interview with Maya So thanks Maya for agreeing to this interview. Um, what year are you going to be in this year when you go back to school? In the fourth year. Mm-hmm. And, and, so now, how old are you? I’m nine. Nine years old, right. And um, are you happy to go back to school? Do you think it’s a good thing? Yeah, because I need to see my friends, I really need to ...
Hi, I’m Nick Simcock, an English Language coach. I help Italians to unlock their English. A transcript of this podcast can be found in the description. Why I go tent camping! Camping is something I first experienced as a young boy scout in England. Those first times under canvas with my friends were exciting and fun, but they weren’t without some hardships, like hiking for miles and miles under the rain, then sleeping in a cold, wet draughty tent feeling hungry, more like military training than ...
Hi, I’m Nick Simcock, an English Language coach. I help Italians to unlock their English. A transcript of this podcast can be found in the description. In my house when we were kids and we started to get a rumble in our tummies as hunger kicked in, we would say to Mum “What’s for dinner?”, or “What are we having for lunch?”, or “Can I have a biscuit?” We always asked Mum because Dad was at work. And even if he had been at home his culinary skills were severely lacking. Partly due to the fact tha...
Hi, I’m Nick Simcock, an English Language coach. I help Italians to unlock their English. A transcript of this podcast can be found in the description. Experience is the best teacher My 9 year old daughter has just left on a week’s camping trip with her scout group. It’s the first time she has gone away from home for a week without us. And it’s made me think about the importance of experience. I’m pleased to say that when we left her she was full of enthusiasm and in good spirits, thanks to the ...
Hi, I’m Nick Simcock, an English Language coach. I help Italians to unlock their English. A transcript of this podcast can be found in the description. Why we want to look good We spend so much of our time in the bathroom, cleaning and shaving, cutting our nails, doing our hair and applying creams and makeup. People can spend even more time carefully choosing what to wear. Never ending titivating, trying to make ourselves at least presentable and at best drop dead gorgeous. So why do we do it Th...
Hi, I’m Nick Simcock, an English Language coach. I help Italians to unlock their English. A transcript of this podcast can be found in the description. Emigrating - Is the grass greener? Many people around the world are forced to emigrate for unpleasant reasons like war or famine. I’m fortunate, I emigrated for love, curiosity and adventure. About twenty years ago my wife and I packed up our life in the UK and moved to Italy. Our move came mainly from my desire to get to know my wife's home coun...
Hi, I’m Nick Simcock, an English Language coach. I help Italians to unlock their English. This podcast is an extract from my free email entitled “The Importance of REAL English Practice”, July 2023. A full transcript can be found in the description. Nick here from Speak with Nick. I hope you're well and practising your English! I want to share something really important with you, which will save you a lot of time with your English learning! You know, you can't learn anything in life unless you a...
Hi, I’m Nick Simcock, an English Language coach. I help Italians to unlock their English. A transcript of this podcast can be found in the description. The Magic of Music. The very first sounds we hear from the womb, when we are only about 20 weeks old, are the sounds of our mother’s body and the constant beat of her heart, the rhythm of life. At around 25 weeks we can hear the reverberation of our mother’s voice and other noises coming from the outside world. Even before we are born we are list...
Hi, I’m Nick Simcock, an English Language coach. I help Italians to unlock their English. A transcript of this podcast can be found in the description. For dog lovers Are you a dog owner, do you have a four legged friend? When I was a kid we had a miniature smooth-haired dachshund called Sam. I remember coming home from school knowing that our new family member was going to be waiting for us. I remember my Mum telling me that it was a ‘big responsibility having a dog, like having a baby that nev...
Hi, I’m Nick Simcock, an English Language coach. I help Italians to unlock their English. A transcript of this podcast can be found in the description. English Summer Holiday Memories Here in Italy the schools have closed for Summer and it’s holiday time again. If you are lucky enough to be able to take time off now to avoid the august crowds, then maybe you’re already on holiday, listening to this podcast on a beach, in the mountains or in a bustling city. But what memories do you have of your ...
