• E56 Speak Like a Native: Elevate Your English With These 6 Advanced Words
    Nov 18 2024

    🎯Are you looking to take your English to the next level? Tired of the same old words in conversations? Do you wish you could sound more sophisticated and articulate when you speak? Then you won't want to miss this episode of the Learn English Podcast!

    🎧This week's episode is a delightful journey into six advanced English words that are not only fun to say, but can also add richness and depth to your conversations. We’ll explore six exciting words, giving you their meanings, pronunciations, and real-life examples to help you enrich your vocabulary with ease and confidence. But it's not just about the vocabulary - we'll also explore the nuances between similar terms so you can use them like a native speaker.

    🗣️Discover the playful side of language with bamboozled and hoodwinked, curmudgeon and cantankerous, and plethora and abundance. By the end of this episode, you'll have a whole new arsenal of sophisticated vocabulary to draw from. With engaging examples, clear pronunciation tips, and practical usage advice, this episode is perfect for anyone eager to elevate their English. No more feeling tongue-tied or struggling to find the right words - these terms will have you speaking English like a true pro.

    🔔 Follow us on social media @LearnEnglishPod and visit our website:

    Podcast website: https://learnenglishpod.com/

    Follow us on social Media: https://linktr.ee/learnenglishpod

    📝 Vocabulary List:

    1) bamboozled: tricked or deceived

    2) hoodwinked: tricked or deceived, often in a clever or cunning way

    3) con artist: a person who tricks others into giving them money

    4) richness: the quality of being rich, especially in quantity or quality

    5) syllable: a unit of pronunciation having one vowel sound

    6) curmudgeon: a bad-tempered person, especially an old one

    7) cantankerous: bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative

    8) hangry: hungry and angry

    9) plethora: a large or excessive amount of something

    10) abundance: a great quantity of something

    📜 SOURCES

    https://www.npr.org/2023/05/17/1176597061/elizabeth-holmes-loses-her-latest-bid-to-avoid-prison

    https://movies.disney.com/up

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    17 mins
  • E55 American English Vocabulary: Exploring the History of ‘Go For Broke’ and How to Use the Idiom
    Nov 11 2024

    🎖️Today is Veterans Day here in the United States, and it is a holiday to celebrate those who have served in the military. To help celebrate the day, we have a special episode of the Learn English podcast. On this episode, we're diving into the fascinating history of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team and the cultural impact they had with their slogan "go for broke".

    🇺🇸 The 442nd was a segregated unit made up of Japanese-American soldiers who fought bravely for their country. These soldiers faced discrimination at home, yet they risked everything to prove their loyalty and bravery on the battlefield. You'll hear how these soldiers went on to become one of the most decorated units in US military history. From breaking through the Gothic Line in Italy to rescuing the "Lost Battalion" in France, their courageous actions and willingness to "go for broke" in battle helped win WWII.

    ✨Their courage and sacrifice made “go for broke” a phrase that means risking it all in battle. In this episode, you’ll also discover how the phrase “go for broke” is still used in American English today. We’ll share clear examples of when and how to use this phrase in conversation, whether you’re talking about chasing a dream, taking a big risk, or giving it your best effort. By understanding the background of this expression, you’ll be able to use it naturally in your English. Join us as we explore this important chapter of American history and unpack the lasting impact of the 442nd's motto, which has become a widely-used English idiom.

    🔔 Follow us on social media @LearnEnglishPod and visit our website:

    Podcast website: https://learnenglishpod.com/

    Follow us on social Media: https://linktr.ee/learnenglishpod

    📜 SOURCES

    https://www.nationalww2museum.org/war/articles/442nd-regimental-combat-team

    https://www.nvlchawaii.org/442nd-regimental-combat-team/

    https://www.armytimes.com/news/your-army/2019/04/05/this-japanese-american-army-unit-is-the-reason-we-celebrate-national-go-for-broke-day/

    https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Go_for_Broke!_(1951_film)

    📝 Vocabulary List:

    1) Veterans Day – A holiday in the United States to honor people who have served in the military.

    2) Isolationist: Someone who believes their country should avoid foreign wars and conflicts.

    3) Internment camp: A camp where people are detained during wartime, often based on ethnicity.

    4) Segregation: The practice of keeping people in separate groups, usually based on race or religion.

    5) Decorated: Awarded with medals or honors, often in the military.

    6) Patriotic: Having or showing love for one's country.

    7) Casualties: People who are killed or injured in a war or accident.

    8) Fortifications: Strong buildings or walls that protect an area during war.

    9) Liberate: To free or release someone or something.

    10) Go for broke: to risk everything in pursuit of a high reward

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    18 mins
  • E54 How Do Presidential Elections Work in the United States?
    Nov 4 2024

    🗓️ It's the first week of November, and here in the United States that means it is almost Election Day. The US presidential election is one of the most closely watched events in the world with a lot of people waiting to see who will win. However, presidential elections in the United States can be confusing because a key part of the process is the Electoral College system. But how does this system work, and why was it created in the first place? And why doesn't the United States just elect the person who gets the most votes?

    🗳️ In this episode, we explain the history and controversy surrounding the Electoral College, and why the popular vote doesn't always determine the winner. You'll learn about the original intentions behind this unique voting system, the role of electors, and the ongoing debates around its fairness and relevance in modern times. We’ll explore how the system still impacts elections today, giving extra influence to rural states and, at times, allowing candidates to win without the majority of vote. You'll also learn about the concept of "swing states" and which states will determine the next president of the United States.

    🇺🇸 Whether you're a US citizen or just fascinated by American politics, understanding the Electoral College is crucial to making sense of presidential elections. By the end of the episode, you'll have a much clearer picture of this complex and sometimes confusing aspect of the US democratic process. Tune in and take a step closer to mastering English while staying informed about U.S. culture!

    🔔 Follow us on social media @LearnEnglishPod and visit our website:

    Podcast website: https://learnenglishpod.com/

    Follow us on social Media: https://linktr.ee/learnenglishpod

    📜 SOURCES

    https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/nebraskas-blue-dot-prove-pivotal-electoral-college/story?id=115274378

    https://www.npr.org/2023/09/22/1201183160/taylor-swift-instagram-voter-registration

    https://x.com/tbonier/status/1828457890228629534

    https://www.vox.com/politics/23848897/florida-red-trump-desantis-republican-2024-election

    📝 Vocabulary List:

    1) Electoral College - the system in the US where electors from each state vote to elect the president, rather than a direct popular vote

    2) Discretion - the freedom to make decisions or choices

    3) Literacy - the ability to read and write

    4) Fraction - a small part of something

    5) Diverse - including people of many different races, cultures, etc.

    6) Rural - relating to the countryside rather than the town

    7) Swing state - a state where voters are fairly evenly divided between the two main political parties, so it could go either way in an election

    8) Voter registration - the process of signing up to be eligible to vote in an election

    9) Upset - a surprising defeat of the expected winner

    10) It pains me - an expression used to convey emotional distress or sadness about a particular situation

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    22 mins
  • E53 Learn English Through American History: The Salem Witch Trials Explained
    Oct 28 2024

    🎃Halloween is nearly here and we are getting ready for it with this special episode of the Learn English Podcast. Halloween usually involves scary things such as witchcraft, ghosts, and magic. There's one cultural event in American history that has all of these elements that frequently gets mentioned at Halloween, and that is the Salem Witch Trials. But what were the trials and why did they occur?

    🧙‍♀️Join us as we discuss this dark chapter of American history. From the trials themselves to the cultural impact, we'll uncover the truth behind this haunting period. In the late 1600's, people believed in witches, and in one small town, fear took control. In this episode, you’ll discover the details of the Salem Witch Trials, including what life was like in Puritan Massachusetts. The Puritan's strict religious beliefs and culture helped create the atmosphere that led panic that occurred in Salem.

    🕯️We’ll also explore different theories about why these accusations of witchcraft began. We'll analyze the evidence, question the motivations behind the accusations, and discuss the lasting legacy of the Salem Witch Trials. And finally, we'll recommend resources you can use to learn more about the trials while also improving your English.

    🔔 Follow us on social media @LearnEnglishPod and visit our website:

    Podcast website: https://learnenglishpod.com/

    Follow us on social Media: https://linktr.ee/learnenglishpod

    Streaming guide: https://www.justwatch.com/ and https://watchany.stream/

    📜 SOURCES

    https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/09/07/the-witches-of-salem

    https://www.travelandleisure.com/salem-massachusetts-halloween-season-7871591

    📝 Vocabulary List:

    1) Accused - Blamed or charged with a crime or wrongdoing.

    2) Colonized - Settled and established control over an area.

    3) Puritan - a member of a Protestant group in the 16th and 17th centuries that sought to purify the Church of England

    4) Bewitched - to influence or affect as if by witchcraft

    5) Submissive - Willing to obey or follow others.

    6) Pious - Deeply religious and following religious rules

    7) Shunned - Deliberately ignored or avoided.

    8) Contorting - Twisting or bending out of shape.

    9) Mass Panic - A widespread and intense fear among many people.

    10) Convulsions - Sudden, involuntary movements of the body.

    11) Hallucinations - Experiences of seeing or hearing things that aren’t real.

    12) Remorse - Regret or sorrow for a wrongdoing.

    13) Convicted - Found guilty of a crime in a court of law.

    14) Haunted - Believed to be inhabited by ghosts.

    15) Psychic - A person who claims to have abilities to perceive beyond the physical senses.

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    23 mins
  • E52 Six Podcast Recommendations to Improve Your English Listening Comprehension This Halloween
    Oct 21 2024

    👻Do you struggle with understanding native English speakers when they talk? Are you looking for a way to increase your English input? Want a way to get into the Halloween spirit while also improving your English skills? Join us in this special episode as we recommend some of the best spooky podcasts to help you learn English in a fun and engaging way.

    🎃 In this episode of Learn English, we're helping you get in the Halloween spirit with some spooky podcast recommendations! If you enjoy scary stories, paranormal mysteries, and Halloween-themed content, this episode is perfect for you. We’ll talk about how listening to podcasts can help you improve your English while getting you excited for one of the biggest holidays in the United States.

    🎧The focus of these recommendations is to help you gain language input, which is essential for improving your English. Podcasts are a fantastic way to gain input, which is crucial for language learning. By listening to native speakers, you can absorb vocabulary, grammar structures, pronunciation, and the natural flow of the language. With these podcasts, you can combine language learning with Halloween fun by listening to native speakers tell stories about ghosts, monsters, and the unknown. Don't forget to like, subscribe, and hit the notification bell to join us for more language-learning!

    🔔 Follow us on social media @LearnEnglishPod and visit our website:

    Podcast website: https://learnenglishpod.com/

    Follow us on social Media: https://linktr.ee/learnenglishpod

    📚Affiliate link for Lingq: https://www.lingq.com/?referral=msusc

    🎙️Recommended Podcasts:

    https://www.thenosleeppodcast.com/new-to-the-nosleep-podcast

    https://rustyquill.com/show/the-magnus-archives/

    https://www.reallifeghoststoriespodcast.com/

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/brand/m0010x7c

    https://youcanseemeinthedark.com/

    https://spookedpodcast.org/

    📝 Vocabulary List:

    1) Mood - a temporary state of mind or feeling.

    2) Paranormal - relating to phenomena that are beyond the normal scientific understanding of the world.

    3) Horror - a genre of fiction that is intended to scare, unsettle, or horrify the reader.

    4) Anthology series - a collection of independent stories or episodes that are connected by a common theme or setting.

    5) Dramatized - to present (a story, for example) in a vivid and exciting way, as if it were a dramatic performance.

    6) Production value - the overall quality and technical aspects of a media production.

    7) Fiction - literature that describes imaginary events and people; not based on real events.

    8) Psychic - A person who is believed to have powers to predict the future or receive information from unseen sources.

    9) Bigfoot - A legendary hairy, ape-like creature said to live in forests.

    10) Shapeshifter - A mythical creature that can change its form.

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    20 mins
  • E51 Use These Six Idioms About the Mind to Elevate Your English!
    Oct 14 2024

    🧠Are you ready to improve your English vocabulary with some fun and useful idioms? Ever heard someone say they're "losing their mind"? Or perhaps you've been told to "put your mind to something"? Do you want to understand the hidden meanings behind these common idioms? Then get ready for this mind-blowing episode!

    🎧In the latest episode of the Learn English podcast, we’re focusing on common English expressions that use the word "mind." You may already know that your mind is where you keep your thoughts and ideas, but when we use it in idioms, it can take on all kinds of meanings. These idioms can be tricky for English learners, so we’ll break them down in a way that makes sense and show you how to use them naturally.

    🗣️These phrases are used all the time in English, so learning them will help you sound more like a native speaker. By the end of this episode, you’ll not only understand these idioms, but you’ll be ready to start using them in your own conversations. That way you can practice using these idioms in everyday situations! Make sure to follow along and see how many of these idioms you can start using today!

    🔔 Follow us on social media @LearnEnglishPod and visit our website:

    Podcast website: https://learnenglishpod.com/

    Follow us on social Media: https://linktr.ee/learnenglishpod

    📝 Vocabulary List:

    1) Idiom - a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words.

    2) Lose your mind - to act irrationally or go crazy.

    3) Mind over matter - the power of the mind to overcome physical limitations or difficulties.

    4) Put your mind to something - to be determined to achieve a goal.

    5) Bear in mind - to remember or keep a thought in the forefront of your mind.

    6) Read someone's mind - to understand what someone is thinking without them saying it out loud.

    7) Blow someone's mind - to experience something amazing, unexpected, or astonishing.

    8) Willpower – the ability to control oneself and make decisions, especially when facing challenges.

    9) Psychic – a person who claims to have supernatural powers to read minds or predict the future.

    10) Telepathy – the ability to communicate through thoughts, without speaking.

    11) Paranormal - relating to things that are beyond the normal range of human experience

    12) Illegal substances – drugs that are against the law.

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    17 mins
  • E50 Seven Banned Book Recommendations to Celebrate the Week and Help Improve Your English!
    Oct 7 2024

    📚Are you looking to improve your English skills through reading? Wondering what Banned Book Week and looking to celebrate it? Then this episode of the Learn English Podcast is perfect for you! Whether you’re an intermediate learner or an advanced speaker, this episode will provide you with a diverse reading list to boost your language skills.

    📖This week, we're celebrating Banned Book Week by talking about into some of the most controversial literature that can help take your English learning to the next level. We all know how important input is for language learning. It’s essential to immerse yourself in English through stories to help build your vocabulary and improve your understanding of the language. Reading is a fantastic way to get input and enhance your fluency naturally.

    📕🚫In honor of Banned Book Week, we’ll discuss why some of the most iconic books were banned and how reading them can improve your language skills. From children’s classics like Charlotte’s Web to modern series like Harry Potter, we’ll cover books at various difficulty levels to suit your current English proficiency. We’ll talk about why these books were controversial and how their stories can be powerful tools for learning new vocabulary and grammar structures. Plus, you’ll discover how some of these banned books can help you expand your knowledge of English culture and history.

    🔔 Follow us on social media @LearnEnglishPod and visit our website:

    Podcast website: https://learnenglishpod.com/

    Follow us on social Media: https://linktr.ee/learnenglishpod

    📝 Vocabulary list:

    1) Banned Book Week - A week-long event in the United States that celebrates books that have been banned or prevented from being in libraries.

    2) Controversial - Causing disagreement or debate.

    3) Rebellious - showing a desire to resist authority or control

    4) Bittersweet - a mixture of sadness and happiness.

    5) Utopia - an imagined place or state where everything is perfect.

    6) Satire - a literary work that uses humor or irony to criticize something.

    7) Explicit - often refers to content that is not suitable for younger audiences.

    8) Colloquial - (of language) used in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal

    9) Disillusioned - disappointed because something is not as good as one believed it to be.

    10) Censorship -the practice of controlling what people can read or see

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    24 mins
  • E49 Learn California Slang to Sound Like a Native English Speaker!
    Sep 30 2024

    🗣Are you ready to speak like a true Californian? Have you ever wondered what words like "legit" or "stoked" really mean? Maybe you've heard them in movies or on social media but aren’t sure how to use them? It's ok because we'll help you practice your listening comprehension and expand your vocabulary with an epic slang episode!

    🏄On this episode of the Learn English Podcast, we’re helping you uncover the slang phrases that will make you sound like a true Californian. Many people think Californians talk like surfers—especially because of how we’re shown in movies. While that may be true for a small group, most of us don’t speak like that. Still, surfing and skateboarding culture has had a big influence on the slang we use here. It's all pretty gnarly.

    🎧Today we'll discuss popular slang words and explain how they change depending on context. You’ll learn the difference between terms like “Cali,” “SoCal,” and “NorCal” and how to use words like “legit,” “sick,” and “gnarly” in different situations. By the end of this episode, you'll feel confident using these California expressions and understanding them in casual conversations or on your favorite TV shows. So tune in and get ready to expand your vocabulary in a fun, natural way!

    🔔 Follow us on social media @LearnEnglishPod and visit our website:

    Podcast website: https://learnenglishpod.com/

    Follow us on social Media: https://linktr.ee/learnenglishpod

    📝 Vocabulary list:

    1) Cali: Shortened version of California

    2) Cadence: The rhythm or flow of sounds, particularly in speech.

    3) Legit: Authentic, real, credible (can also mean very good or very bad)

    4) Sick: Can mean ill, but also used to describe something very good or impressive, or something gross.

    5) Epic: Grand or monumental, often describing an experience or event.

    6) Broke: Slang for having no money.

    7) Gnarly: Extremely good or bad, challenging, dangerous

    8) Stoked/Amped: Very excited, enthusiastic

    9) Conman: A person who deceives others for money.

    10) Crossover: When something from one area (like culture or language) is adopted into another.

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    25 mins