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  • 164.2 - English Story: Irregular Verbs with the Titanic
    May 2 2024
    One of the most popular films of 1997 was by far “ Titanic.” It won 11 Academy Awards! If you saw the film, or even just previews of it, you know the plot. There’s a love story between Rose (Kate Winslet) and Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) that develops while aboard a huge ship called Titanic. The Titanic was a real ship that set off on its first transatlantic trip from England to the United States in 1912. I know you know what happens; the ship hits an iceberg and sinks. I thought about retelling this story and I know English speakers would tell me: Oh no, Shana, really? That ship has sailed, literally. That ship has sailed is an expression that means that the opportunity has passed; this topic is no longer new or very exciting. It’s been talked about way too many times! That ship has sailed. So instead of doing my long, cultural lesson, I’ve decided to change it up! I’ll tell you a brief summary of the Titanic and in the story, you’ll hear 10 irregular verbs in the simple past tense. This lesson also includes an explanation of the terms and a quiz. ***** Transcript and Video Sign up to Season 4 for the downloadable PDF of this lesson, as well as the PDF transcript, mp3 and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    28 Min.
  • 164 - Expression: To Hit Rock Bottom
    Apr 25 2024
    Life can't possibly get worse! You've lost your job, you have no money, and then to top it off, your dog dies. You've hit rock bottom; you've reached the lowest possible point in your life. To hit rock bottom is a common expression in American English, and in today's lesson you'll learn exactly how to use it. In addition to learning how to use this idiom, you'll hear a joke, we'll hear comments from the audience, and we'll go through a pronunciation exercise! Premium Content: Season 4 (Episodes 150 - 200) = Each episode includes a quiz, the PDF transcript (the text of the audio) with definitions of challenging words and the mp3 file. All Premium Content for Seasons 1, 2 and 3 (Episodes 001 - 150) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    21 Min.
  • 163 - 5-Minute English: The Post Office and Mail
    Apr 13 2024
    My grandma permanently moved to the United States from Spain in the 1950s and the only way she could afford to keep in contact with friends and family was through writing letters; flying and international calls back then were not in her family’s budget. Email didn’t exist yet. She sent postcards and letters, pictures of her kids and eventually her grandkids. In her lifetime, the United States Postal Service (USPS) was her lifeline to the people she’d left overseas. Today, I'll tell you a bittersweet and very informative story about my grandma and her relationship with the post office and mail. Through it, you'll learn over 20+ words in context! Can you relate to this story? Let me know what you think. You can write to me on Instagram @americanenglishpodcast, or on Spotify in the comments. If you would like to help me decorate my office, please send me a real postcard! Shana Thompson P.O. Box 9074 Asheville, NC 28815 I create this podcast because of YOU. You have no idea how excited I would be to see you're not just a figment of my imagination (haha). Plus, your card will end up on my wall! :) Premium Content for this episode is available with both of these: Season 4 (Episodes 150 - 200) = Each episode includes a quiz, the PDF transcript (the text of the audio) with definitions of challenging words and the mp3 file. All Premium Content for Seasons 1, 2 and 3 (Episodes 001 - 150) Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    29 Min.
  • 162 - Discover Illinois with Jackie (from "Ask Jackie")
    Mar 30 2024
    Illinois is situated in the heart of the American Midwest, and it's known as the "Prairie State" because over 60% of it is covered in farmland. Despite the number of natural wonders found in Illinois, what attracts most visitors is the vibrant city of Chicago ("The Windy City").Situated on the scenic shore of Lake Michigan, Chicago is a hot spot for music lovers and art enthusiasts. It's not only home to world-class museums and iconic architecture, it's where today's guest, Jackie Katsis, is from! Jackie is an ESL teacher and a well-known YouTuber from the channel "Ask Jackie."We'll begin today's episode by getting to know this wonderful Chicagoan, and then we'll discover her state with her. You'll hear about Jackie's experience with tornadoes, learn the nuances of the Chicago accent and we'll take a deep dive into the culture she grew up in (we cover mouth-watering food, music, lifestyle and more). Let's get a local's perspective on how to make the most out of our next trip to the beautiful state of Illinois! :) Jackie's Chicago Recommendations Portillo's - Italian Beefs + Chicago-Style Hot Dogs Kingston Mines - Listen to Jazz / Blues Do an architecture tour on the Chicago River Take a walk in Millenium Park and see "The Bean" (Cloud Gate) Go shopping on Michigan Avenue Walk a lot and enjoy the art and architecture! Learn with JackieJackie Katsis is a well-known ESL teacher from Chicago. You can find her content here! Website - https://www.askjackie.com.br/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/c/AskJackie Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/askjackiebr/ Premium Content: Season 4 (Episodes 150 - 200) = Each episode includes a quiz, the PDF transcript (the text of the audio) with definitions of challenging words and the mp3 file. All Premium Content for Seasons 1, 2 and 3 (Episodes 001 - 150) Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    45 Min.
  • 161 - 10 Words a Day: Handy-Dandy Reduplications
    Mar 17 2024
    I know, I know, 99% of you are saying what in the world is that? What in the world is a reduplication? Well I just told you one: Handy-dandy. Handy by itself means useful or practical, in American English you can add dandy for emphasis, intensification and to give it a playful and poetic effect. Handy-dandy is a reduplication. In English, you’ll hear reduplications in songs and casual conversation! Many times it just involves repeating the first word and changing one consonant or one vowel, like handy dandy, flip flop or chit chat. Sometimes you’ll actually hear the exact same word repeated, like boo-boo or yo-yo. Sometimes reduplications rhyme, but not always. Yet, there is always a certain rhythmic nature to them.And let’s be honest, who doesn’t like rhythm!? If you want to add some spice and flavor to the way you talk in English, keep listening! Today, we’ll go through 10 Common Reduplications and how to use them in everyday contexts. Premium Content: Season 4 (Episodes 150 - 200) = Each episode includes a quiz, the PDF transcript (the text of the audio) with definitions of challenging words and the mp3 file. All Premium Content for Seasons 1, 2 and 3 (Episodes 001 - 150) My Favorite English Resources Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    26 Min.
  • 160.2 - How Cereal Became The Number One Breakfast Food in the U.S.
    Mar 3 2024
    You've seen it, right? The long cereal aisles in a U.S. supermarket? Crammed from top to bottom with colorful boxes? I bet you have. Cereal arouses a sense of nostalgia in a lot of the Americans that I know; it brings about memories of childhood, simpler times, family breakfasts. It's a wonderful topic of conversation that you can have with native speakers. Ask them: What was your favorite cereal when you were a child? You'll see their eyes light up. Then maybe you can share something that you learned in today's lesson!Premium Content: Season 4 (Episodes 150 - 200) = Each episode includes a quiz, the PDF transcript (the text of the audio) with definitions of challenging words and the mp3 file. All Premium Content for Seasons 1, 2 and 3 (Episodes 001 - 150) Raisin Bran Muffins: 1/2 cup vegetable oil (or canola) 2 cups buttermilk (I use low-fat) 2 eggs 2 cups flour 4 cups Raisin Bran cereal 1 cup sugar 1.5 teaspoons baking soda 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup raisins 2 teaspoons cinnamon 1 teaspoon all spice Optional Topping: 1/2 cup chopped pecans (small) Heat oven to 400 degrees. Mix all of the muffin ingredients in order. Let mixture sit for 10 minutes, so that the cereal softens. Bake in a muffin tin at 400 degrees for 14-18 minutes (depending on the color and size of your muffin tin.) I like the pecans to develop a very toasty flavor, so I generally cook them closer to 18 minutes. Let cool at least 10 minutes. Top with butter and/or honey. Each batch makes about 18 muffins. My family doubles it and it makes 36 at a time! We freeze them. Then, in the morning, we microwave each muffin for 40 seconds, slice in half and spread a bit of butter on each side. :) Enjoy! Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    30 Min.
  • 160 - Expression: Gimme Some Sugar!
    Feb 22 2024
    You're sitting on the couch and your significant other is too far from you. Want them to cuddle up next to you? Say: "Gimme some sugar!" "Gimme some sugar" is a common American English expression used to express desire for physical affection, whether that be some cuddles, a hug, a kiss or even a fist pump! It's a playful idiom, and today, you'll learn its origin and hear a number of examples so that you can hear how native speakers would use it in various contexts. The second part of this lesson will answer the questions: "How cereal became a popular breakfast food in the U.S." Stay tuned, the story is short, sweet and relevant!Premium Content: Season 4 (Episodes 150 - 200) = Each episode includes a quiz, the PDF transcript (the text of the audio) with definitions of challenging words and the mp3 file. All Premium Content for Seasons 1, 2 and 3 (Episodes 001 - 150) Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    18 Min.
  • 159 - 5-Minute English: Home Renovation
    Feb 8 2024
    Last month, my family and I moved into a new home. In English, it's what we'd call a fixer upper; it's a home that needs updates, it needs renovation, it needs to be remodeled in various ways. We are in the process of fixing our house up, and today you'll hear a true story about the process. In this 5-minute English episode, you'll learn how to talk about home renovations and repairs in English. This is a topic-specific lesson, so it's jam-packed with vocabulary you will need if this topic arises in conversation.If you sign up to premium content, or just the 5-minute English courses, you will receive an image sheet with pictures of all of the key vocabulary discussed, you'll see a video with those images and shadowing exercises to work on your pronunciation, as well as many exercises and quizzes to help you retain the words you hear. You also have an annotated transcript! Believe me, as a language learner myself, this is incredibly helpful for understanding a text.Premium Content + Courses Season 4 (Premium Content for Episodes 151-200) 5-Minute English Bundle (5-Minute English Course 1 + 2) Mentioned in Episode Magnolia Table by Joanna Gaines (this book is fantastic if you want to give someone a gift!) Support the show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    25 Min.