Hi, everybody! I am Georgiana, your English teacher and founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. Today I’m going to talk about William Shakespeare and with a funny mini-story, you will practice your English speaking. Before I get started, let me thank you for listening to the podcast and for all your amazing comments on iTunes, Facebook, YouTube, and on my website. I also want to say hi to the Speak English Now community. OK. Now let’s get started! So, who was William Shakespeare, and why is he famous? You know, I find it very hard to believe that you've never heard of William Shakespeare, but just in case I'll give you a brief introduction. Although most people believe that William Shakespeare is the most celebrated British writer of all time, only a few know that he was also an actor. And even though it's been over 400 years since he died, people still celebrate his work all over the world.  His plays were the most popular at the time, and I'm sure you've already heard of Macbeth, Romeo and Juliet, and Hamlet. Well, I guess now you know who I'm talking about.  That's great! Let's continue!  So what else do we know about Shakespeare? William Shakespeare was born in Stratford, England, in 1564. We're not really sure the exact day he was born, but we do know he was baptized on April 26 that same year. Did he get married? In 1582, he married Anne Hathaway, and the couple went on to have three children. Wait a second. Anne Hathaway? Yes, Shakespeare's wife's name was Anne Hathaway. But obviously, I don't mean the beautiful contemporary American actress.   So, what else do we know about Shakespeare? We know he was a writer and wrote 37 plays. Shakespeare wrote histories about the lives of kings and famous figures from history. He also wrote comedies that end with a marriage and tragedies which end with the death of the main character. Shakespeare also wrote plenty of poetry and, published a book of 154 sonnets.   Read the transcript here: speakenglishpodcast.com

Speak English Now Podcast: Learn English | Speak English without grammar.

#127 Who was William Shakespeare? esl

Hi, everybody! I am Georgiana, your English teacher and founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. In today's episode, I will talk about an issue that is of great concern to language students. It is the much-feared plateau.  What is a plateau? A plateau happens when you stop your progress despite continuing to do "all the right things."  An interesting expression for this situation is: to hit a plateau.  For example: "It seems I hit a plateau because I can't see any progress with my English, and I'm still studying really hard!" More literally, a plateau is a large flat area of land. This definition makes total sense because if you are walking on a plateau, you are not going up or down. You stay at the same height.   Plateaus are very common not only in learning a new language but in other areas—for example, a very common one is losing weight.  Imagine that you've been on a diet and have lost some weight. But then, after two months, you stop losing weight. You're still on a diet, but you're not losing weight anymore.  The main problem here is not the diet. It's just that the body needs some time before it starts losing weight again. It has to adapt to the new situation. This type of situation is very tough because when we experience it for a while, we can easily lose motivation, and may end up giving up. It is essential to understand better why this happens so that we do not lose motivation and will to continue. I'm sure many of you have experienced this.  When you started learning English, you were very motivated. You have spent a lot of time listening and answering questions, but now apparently, you are not experiencing any improvement. Usually, when we start listening or reading in the language we are studying, we notice a constant improvement in our level.  Every day we learn new words, expressions, and structures. We are happy and pleased and want to keep learning more and more. This is a wonderful stage. After some time, we no longer notice a considerable improvement, although we still see small improvements. So we don't worry too much and move on. But a bit later, our progress stagnates, and well, it's when we start worrying. This situation makes us lose our motivation, and possibly, we are tempted to give up or at least postpone it, promising ourselves that we will continue to study with enthusiasm and motivation, but this seldom happens. The main reason this happens to us is simple. Our brain needs time to consolidate, structure, order, polish, and finally automate all this new knowledge.  Learning a new language is not only about learning new words but also thinking differently. That's why I always insist that you have to learn in context. This way, you can observe how words are used in a sentence, and that takes time.  Think of it this way: when we learn math, we are using the conscious part of our brain to do calculations. To do this, we need to concentrate very hard. However, when we speak in our mother tongue, we can do this almost without attention and without effort. We can even do other kinds of activities while having a conversation.    Read the text here: www.SpeakEnglishPodcast.com    

#126 Did you stop improving your English?  Here’s why.

Hi everyone! I am Georgiana, founder of speakenglishpodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. Today I’ll talk about the most famous band in the world. The Beatles! And you’ll practice your speaking with a funny mini-story. Have you ever listened to The Beatles? Actually, let me rephrase that. When was the first time you listened to a Beatles song? The Beatles are probably the most popular band in the history of music. They are considered by many to be the best band on Earth. The band was undoubtedly the most successful, with global sales exceeding 1.1 billion records. They were initially famous for their light pop music, although their later works achieved a combination of popular and critical acclaim perhaps unprecedented in the 20th century. Beatlemania began in the UK and exploded after The Beatles appeared on a popular TV show in the US in 1964. The band became a worldwide phenomenon with adoring fans and hysterical adulation. The members of the group were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr, all from England.  John Lennon was a singer-songwriter and peace activist who co-founded The Beatles. Paul McCartney is a singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and composer. He has gained worldwide fame as a bassist and singer. George Harrison was a musician, singer-songwriter, music and film producer who achieved international fame as The Beatles’ lead guitarist. He was often referred to as “The Quiet Beatle.” Ringo Starr is a musician, singer-songwriter, and actor who gained worldwide fame as a Beatles drummer.    Read the transcript here: speakEnglishpodcast.com

#125 Learn English with The Beatles (rep)

Transcript: Hi, everyone! I’m Georgiana, founder of speakenglishpodcast.com. My mission is to help you to speak English fluently. In this episode, I’ll recommend some of my favorite TV shows that will help you with your English. I’ll give you some useful tips on how to use Netflix to improve your English. And later, you’ll practice your English speaking with an exciting mini-story. Alright! Let’s start! Netflix has changed the way we spend our free time. We spend a lot more time watching our favorite shows, so why not use all this time to speed up the way we learn English too? English-language TV shows can quickly introduce you to authentic English and can help keep you motivated and entertained as you learn. In today's episode, I'll let you know how watching TV can help you improve your language skills. You’ll stop feeling guilty about watching TV! The next time your friends ask you what you did all weekend, you can proudly say that you spent all weekend watching TV. Here’s what you can do while you’re watching a TV show in English: 1)Always choose an English show which you are interested in watching. And always use subtitles in English. 2) To make it easier for you to start watching TV series which you’ve already watched in your own language. Since you already know the plot, you’ll spend more time focusing on the language. 3)Practice listening to different accents.  The more you listen to different accents, the easier you’ll understand them. Remember to use subtitles in English. Here are some of my favorite TV shows in English:Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Discovery, Mad Men, Ozark, Suits, House of Cards, Outlander, The Good Place, Mozart in the Jungle, Silicon Valley, The Marvelous Miss Maisel.   READ transcript here: https://speakenglishpodcast.com

#124 How to Learn English with Netflix (rep)

Hello, everybody! I am Georgiana your English teacher and founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. Today we'll talk about something festive. Have you noticed that in springtime you go to your local supermarket and you see chocolate bunnies and colorful eggs everywhere? Well, today I'll talk about Easter and how Americans celebrate this holiday. And with a funny mini-story, you’ll practice your speaking while learning new things about the Easter holiday. What exactly are we celebrating at Easter? Each spring, people all over the world, celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ. This year we celebrate Easter on Sunday, April 21. Whenever Easter comes, everywhere you go, you'll see from colorful eggs to Easter bunny cakes. Also, most people have a week off for Easter, so parties are organized to enjoy the occasion with family and friends. Certainly,  Easter is one of the most celebrated holidays in the United States. And how else do Americans celebrate Easter? Apart from spending this holiday with friends and family, some people attend special services which are held in churches on Easter. And what's with the eggs and the rabbits? Why are they a symbol of this holiday? Eggs and rabbits symbolize the rebirth and return to the fertility of nature in spring. The eggs are hard-boiled and decorated or made of plastic, candy, and of course, chocolate.   Read the full transcript here: speakenglishpodcast.com

#123 How Americans celebrate Easter in the USA (rep)

Hi everyone! I am Georgiana, founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. Hi! How are you? Given the circumstances, I'm fine. I hope it's the same with you too. As you know, there is currently a pandemic affecting us globally. And in the previous episode, I talked about the recommendations of the authorities. Today I want to make some personal suggestions on how to spend time during confinement. And with a fun mini-story, you can practice your spoken English. You'll see. It's very effective. By answering many questions, you can practice and improve your speech, just like in a real conversation. If you haven't listened to the last week's episode yet, visit my website speakenglishpodcast.com and search for episode #121. Let's start! How to cope with this situation? What to do during the confinement? While staying informed is very important, it is better to take a break from time to time. It's not a good idea to always be watching the news, and especially on social media. In any case, hearing about the pandemic repeatedly can be disturbing. Take care of your body. Although you can't go for a walk like you used to, I suggest you at least stretch a bit. If you're like me and you like pilates or yoga, this would be an excellent time to do some exercises. Also, if you have a stationary bike or a stepper, they will become your best friends. In general, make sure you take care of your body. Eating healthy and doing some exercise will help you think clearly and thus, cope much better with this situation. Communication is more important than ever Call your friends and family, and spend some time talking to them and not just about the pandemic. In the last few weeks, I'm spending more time than ever talking to my friends, even the ones I only talk to at Christmas.  Everybody feels like talking lately. Yesterday I went to take the dog for a short walk, and all my neighbors said hello, and I'm sure some of them weren't even my neighbors, which doesn't usually happen. I'm used to seeing people checking their cell phones, but lately, everyone wants to walk and talk.  Remain positive When faced with significant challenges, especially if they are unexpected, it's very easy to become discouraged.  But I don't recommend it because it will only make you feel overwhelmed.  Whenever there is an obstacle, try to see it as an opportunity to grow. It's a chance to become a stronger human being, to be resilient. Yes. Resilient. It's when you need to recover quickly from difficult conditions.  Avoid any stimulants. In these situations, avoid taking any stimulants. And coffee is one of them. You'll have to drink infusions or water for a while. Keeping yourself hydrated will always help you feel better.  Make jokes and laugh.  Something happens to me when I get nervous. I start giggling, but unintentionally. I know it seems weird, but it's not just because I have a great sense of humor. It turns out that laughter releases hormones that calm you down and allow you to be in control.   Get some rest Take all the time you need to relax and stop thinking about the problems.  I try to get some extra sleep in these circumstances. After I rest, I get my strength back, and I can see things from another perspective. I see things more clearly. Not getting enough sleep will not only damage your health, but you won't be able to think clearly. And it's tough to stay calm when you can't think clearly. If you can't sit still, you can stretch a bit, read a book or watch a movie. Whatever you choose. I hope this lesson will be useful for learning English, above all. I also wanted to help you get through the confinement. Read the transcript here: www.speakenglishpodcast.com

#122 Global Pandemic What to do during the confinement

Listen to a new episode of Speak English Now Podcast, your favorite material for practicing your spoken and heard English. You will also learn about lifestyle and culture, language, vocabulary and how to improve your English more effectively. Transcript: Hi everyone! I am Georgiana, founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. Hello, dear students, I hope you're well. I am alright, and I have prepared a special episode for you. - We will practice expressions and vocabulary related to the recommendations of health authorities on how to limit the spread of this global pandemic. We will also practice fluency with a new mini-story by using the term "should," among other structures. As I'm sure you know, a global pandemic is affecting the health of many people and also our daily lives. I had planned to do another topic this week, but I think it's worth talking about this instead so that we can learn and practice relevant vocabulary. I thought it would be a good idea to review the indications and recommendations that health authorities give us to prevent the spread of the virus. So in today's episode, we're going to learn some useful and relevant stuff. Before continuing, and as a disclaimer, the only purpose of the episode is to learn English, not give medical advice. Today's episode is not intended as medical instruction or guidance. For any questions or concerns, please contact a doctor or the health authorities in your country. Okay, now we continue :) Wash your hands I'm sure you've heard many times how important it is to wash your hands patiently. Apparently, you have to spend at least 20 seconds washing your hands. Yeah, I know 20 seconds seems like a lot, but you should do it just in case. We have to wash every single finger and not forget the fingertips. It is especially important to wash regularly and particularly after coughing and sneezing. Soap and water are the most effective. Alcohol-based disinfectant gels can also be used, but it is preferable to use soap instead. Avoid touching your face. I often touch my face without realizing it, and this is not good. We can become infected if we touch our face, especially when we have previously touched a contaminated surface. In particular, try not to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth. Some people have a habit of biting their nails. Please try not to do that. In any case, wash your hands. Cover your mouth. An important aspect when we sneeze or cough is to cover our mouth. A tissue is enough, but if we don't have one, we can cough or sneeze into our sleeve. If we do this in the air, we will be releasing the virus into the same space the others are breathing. Therefore, we have to be cautious. Keep your distance from other people. Maintain a distance of at least 3 feet (0.91 m) from other people. If you or someone else is sneezing or coughing, you should keep even more distance. As a matter of common sense, the less contact we have with other people, the better. Every country is taking similar measures, so we have to respect what the authorities say. Wearing a mask I think wearing a mask is important, but I've seen people walking down the street practically alone and wearing masks. You only need to wear a mask if you are caring for an infected person and if you have a cough or sneeze often. Remember that we have to combine this with the above measures. Ah! And remember to wash your hands before touching the mask. When traveling With everything that is happening, I recommend not to travel. Besides, there are so many controls, and some countries are even closing their borders. If you really need to travel, take some masks and gloves with you in case you need them. And try to cooperate with the police and all the airport staff. These people are probably more tired than you are, so it is best to try to help by following their instructions. When you cook When we handle food, for example, when we prepare it before cooking, it is important to disinfect the surfaces where we put it. Also, clean all utensils, such as knives. And although it is obvious to remember... wash your hands before doing anything. When should you seek medical attention? Finally, if you have a fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, it is best to seek medical attention. Call as soon as possible. Also, if you are over 60 years old and have cardiovascular disease, diabetes, or a respiratory condition, you should take the precautions described above and try to avoid spaces with other people. I hope this lesson has been useful, especially for learning English. Hopefully, all this will pass soon, and we can get back to normality. Let’s continue with a mini-story. [END of EXTRACT] Get the Transcript here: https://SpeakEnglishPodcast.com

#121 Global Pandemic - About the Recommendations

Transcript: Hi everyone! I am Georgiana, founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. In today's lesson, I'll talk about baking. I'll teach you how to bake my favorite blueberry muffins. So if you want to enrich your English vocabulary and try out my favorite muffin recipe, I suggest that you continue listening. And with a point of view lesson, you will improve your English grammar intuitively without memorizing any rules.  Unbelievable! Today is episode 120. That means you get over 120 free English lessons. If my podcast helps you, be sure to share it with your friends. That would mean a lot to me. Thank you. Remember! You can get the transcript at speakenglishpodcast.com. Ok, let's start!  I don't know about you, but I love baking. And the easiest recipe I know, and the one my friends like best, is blueberry muffins. People are very used to eating all sorts of pastries that contain an incredible amount of sugar, yet one of the things they love most about my cakes is the fact that I add very little sugar.  That's why I started baking. I'm not too fond of pies with a lot of sugar either. So today, I'm going to share with you my blueberry muffin recipe. Are you excited? Oh, I'm sure that if you try these muffins, you're gonna love them. If you've never heard the word muffin, then you probably know the term cupcake. A cupcake is very similar to a muffin, but it is always sweet and often covered with frosting.  Wait a minute, what's frosting? It's a sweet mixture that we use to decorate and fill cakes. Muffins, on the other hand, are generally considered healthier than cupcakes. They are usually made with whole wheat flour and loaded with fruit.  It is not easy to describe how a muffin looks, but the only real difference between a slice of cake and a muffin is the shape. But just to give you an idea, a muffin looks like an oversized mushroom. It's very easy to make them. It doesn't matter if you're a master chef or if you never set foot in the kitchen.  And all you need is 30 minutes, 10 minutes of preparation, and cook for 20 minutes.  And don't worry because you won't even need a food processor. A food processor is an electric machine that cuts, slices, and mixes food quickly.   But in this case, you will only need a mixing bowl. Before we start cooking, let's take a look at the ingredients we need for the muffins.  This is an essential step. You have to make sure you have all the ingredients ready before you start baking. This will speed up the preparation and ensure that no ingredients are missing. This has happened to me more than once. The other day I wanted to make a carrot cake, and I was pretty sure I had some carrots in the refrigerator. It turns out that there weren't any carrots in the fridge, so I had to shop for groceries, and that ruined the moment.   Before we go any further, let's get a little better understanding of how we measure the ingredients.   In the US, we use cups, tablespoons, and teaspoons in our recipes.   To follow this recipe, you'll need some measuring cups and spoons. You can get them online or in your local store. [END of EXTRACT] Read the full transcript here: speakenglishpodcast.com

#120 Baking cooking vocabulary in English

Transcript: Hi everyone! I am Georgiana, founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. In today's lesson, I'll talk about makeup. I've decided to introduce some basic vocabulary related to makeup products. So if you want to enrich your English vocabulary, I suggest that you continue listening. Make sure you don't miss the mini-story. It will help you improve your English speaking, and you will have a great time. Remember! You can get the transcript at speakenglishpodcast.com. Let's see what beauty products we need for a basic look. Most women want to be ready in 5 minutes and depending on the time that I have, or the occasion, I spend between 5 and 30 minutes doing my makeup. If you are a makeup lover, you know that there are countless makeup products. So, remember that in this episode, I will focus on the basics. OK, so, what's the first step? Before I start, I'd like to mention some essential points like, how do we apply makeup? What makeup tools do we need for that? There are so many options, but don't worry; I promise to keep it simple. There are at least two makeup tools that you need to have in you collection: makeup brushes, and at least one makeup sponge, (also called a blender.) Depending on the product you want to apply, you'll choose the right makeup tool.  Just keep in mind that many of the beauty items that I will mention come in a variety of textures. The most common ones are powder, liquid, cream, and gel. So, let's start our makeup routine. Remember, you only have 5 minutes! The foundation, as its name indicates, is where we apply the rest of the beauty products. It's a makeup product very similar to a cream, except that it should have the same color as your skin. We apply it all over the face or only on the spots where we choose to hide imperfections. Concealer is a very similar product, but we use it to hide the dark circles under the eyes that make us look tired.  After applying foundation, we need to add some products on the cheeks: Bronzer is a product that gives the impression that we've been in the sun the whole weekend. I would say that nowadays, it's the most loved makeup product together with the highlighter. Wait a minute!  What’s a highlighter? It’s a cosmetic product that reflects light. It gives a youthful glow to the face and body. Another thing that I like to apply is blush. This beauty product adds redness to the cheeks. It comes in a variety of colors like pink, peach, red, that imitate a natural flush.  [END of EXTRACT]   READ the transcript here: speakenglishpodcast.com

#119 Beauty and Makeup vocabulary in English

"Do you love me?" “I love you more than the cookie monster loves cookies.” Happy Valentine's Day, everybody! I am Georgiana, founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. In today’s episode, I will talk about Valentine’s Day in the United States. And with a mini-story you will improve your English speaking. Remember! You can get the transcript at speakenglishpodcast.com. Ok. Let’s get started! Although it is a very commercial holiday, Valentine's Day has a fascinating history that goes back to ancient Rome! In the United States and other parts of the world, people celebrate February 14 by giving away candy hearts and red roses. Historians believe that Valentine's Day originated in ancient Rome as a pagan fertility festival. But despite its origins, in 1300, it officially became a holiday associated with love and romance.   The Roman Pope officially declared February 14, "Valentine's Day." It was then associated with love because many believed that birds began their mating season on February 14.   There was more than one St. Valentine. There have been multiple St. Valentines throughout history, like a bishop and a pope. But the most common one was the one who challenged Emperor Claudius II. Back then, Claudius had forbidden marriage because he thought it would distract young soldiers. However, Valentine disapproved, so he illegally married couples until he was captured. After he was convicted, young couples would visit his cell and give him flowers and cards. It’s said that he died on February 14.   Let’s see how Americans celebrate Valentine’s Day nowadays.   Since 1840 sending cards became a tradition and Americans send out 145 million Valentines' Day cards every year. Americans spend a lot of money on Valentine’s Day About 50% of Americans celebrate Valentine's Day and spend about $19 billion a year, and over $2 billion on candy alone. That’s a lot of money, right? But do you know where most of the money goes? Americans spend almost 5 billion dollars on jewelry on Valentine's Day! They also spend more than $3.7 billion on going out at night, followed by flowers, clothes, and candy. Ok. Now let’s get a bit romantic. Nearly 6 million couples get engaged on Valentine's Day. As it turns out, Valentine's Day was voted the best day of the year to get engaged. Because what better day to propose than a day devoted to love and romance? For me, Valentine's Day is an opportunity to tell others how important they are in my life. And what does Valentine's Day mean to you? Ok! Let’s continue with a mini-story. READ the TRANSCRIPT HERE: www.speakenglishpodcast.com

#118 Valentine's Day in the USA

Hi, everybody! I am Georgiana, your English teacher and founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. Speaking English is way easier than it seems! You just have to use the right material and techniques. Do you often find yourself saying "I think" in a conversation? Well, today I'll teach you some new expressions that will enrich your English vocabulary and make you sound smarter.    Remember! You can get the transcript of this episode at speakenglishpodcast.com. Ok. Let’s get started! Hey, everybody! I'm back with a new episode. Unfortunately, I couldn't record a new episode last week because I had a cold. So, how are you? I hope you're okay. Leave some comments on Facebook, on my YouTube channel, or on my website to let me know how you're doing. Let's start with today's topic.  When we learn a new language, and we don't yet master much vocabulary, so we tend to repeat the same expressions over and over again.  And even if people understand what you say, if you want to sound more like a native speaker, you need to expand your English vocabulary. For example, as an English teacher, I have noticed that some English students tend to abuse the phrase "I think". Don't get me wrong, there's nothing terrible about starting a conversation like that, but it's always better to learn new expressions. So, instead of repeating, "I think," just give your opinion and say: "In my opinion." For example:  1)"In my opinion, you should stop memorizing grammar rules and listen to easy English audios." "Tom likes you too much, in my opinion."As you can see, we can either place the expression at the beginning of a sentence or at the end.  Another way to start a conversation is by using the expression "If you ask me."   2) "If you ask me Don't take this sentence literally. You can use this expression even though no one's asked you your opinion. It's just another way of saying what you think without using the word "think." Example:  "If you ask me, he doesn't seem like a reliable worker." "She’s just a bit crazy if you ask me."  3) Instead of saying, "I think," just say, "The way I see it." As you probably guessed, we don't use this expression literally. It has nothing to do with someone's ability to see something. We use it to give our opinion.  Example "The way I see it, you should get a job as soon as possible." "It’s the best thing that could ever happen to you, the way I see it."   4) Another great expression would be, "As far as I can see / As far as I’m concerned."   Example:  “As far as I can see, he has done nothing wrong yet.” "That’s your own problem, as far as I can see." "He can leave anywhere he wants as far as I’m concerned." 5) And if you want to be really honest about something, start your sentence by saying: "I honestly believe." Examples:  "I honestly believe that she’s not the right candidate for this position."  "I honestly believe the worst is over." "Do you honestly believe he’s gonna quit his job?" Tell things from your point of view: 6) From my point of view "From my point of view, you already have enough money." "He has already done enough damage, from my point of view." "It’s a great idea, from my point of view, to go on vacation next summer." 7) I assume When you assume something, you accept something to be true without question or proof. Examples:  "I assume David’s not coming to the meeting." "You already invited him to the wedding, I assume." 8) I consider "Although no progress has been made, I consider the outcome is positive." "I consider she helped her family to overcome their financial difficulties." 9)It seems to me Examples: "It seems to me that he’s not an honest guy." "It seems to me that things are gonna change very soon." 10) As far as I can tell. We use this expression to tell someone what you believe to be true, based on what you've learned so far. Examples:As far as I can tell, you’re not in a position to ask for explanations. "He’s a good father, as far as I can tell." Let's listen to the expressions one more time: In my opinion If you ask me The way I see it As far as I can see/as I’m concerned I honestly believe From my point of view I assume I consider It seems to me 10.As far as I can tell Now we've come to the most exciting moment of the episode. Yes, I got a mini story for you so you can practice your speaking. Read the Transcript here: www.speakenglishpodcast.com

#117 Stop saying "I Think" in English

Hi, everybody! I am Georgiana, your English teacher and founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. Speaking English is way easier than it seems! You just have to use the right material and techniques. Today, I’ll teach you some English proverbs. If you don’t know what proverbs are, continue listening. And with a story, you will improve your grammar intuitively but without memorizing any rules! Remember! You can get the transcript of this episode at speakenglishpodcast.com. Ok. Let’s get started! First of all, what’s a proverb? A proverb is a popular saying that highlights the basic facts of life.  Some of them are quite serious, although others are very funny. Just like idioms, proverbs often have a greater meaning. It’s not just individual words put together. Great. So, what's the difference between an expression and a proverb? Many English learners find it hard to learn idioms, and that's because they don't usually make literal sense. Proverbs, on the other hand, are easier to guess, although their significance is greater, usually more philosophical. Let’s learn some proverbs: 1) Growing old is mandatory. Growing up? Definitely optional. Oh, yeah! This first one is quite philosophical, and especially those who are growing old understand the meaning of this proverb. While our body inevitably ages, our behavior doesn’t need to change. We can be young forever :) 2) Wise men don't need advice. Fools won't take it. Usually foolish people don’t take any advice, otherwise they wouldn’t be foolish. Right? 3) Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself. Another wise proverb. Our lives are short, so it’s best to observe how other’s make mistakes and learn from them. That's why we don't need to try everything ourselves. For example, we have been told that fire burns, so we don’t stick our hands in the oven when it is at a high temperature. Right? Read the transcript here: SpeakEnglishpodcast.com

#116 Learn English proverbs

Hello, everybody! I am Georgiana, your English teacher and founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. Speaking English is way easier than it seems! You just have to use the right material and techniques. In this episode, I’ll introduce you to some new tongue twisters. It's not the first time I'm talking about tongue twisters. I've done two episodes in the past, so if you want to listen to them, look for episodes #083 and #087. And with a mini-story, you will improve your fluency in English by answering questions, like in a real conversation. Remember that you can get the text of this episode at speakenglishpodcast.com. Before I start talking about tongue twisters, let me thank you for listening to my podcast. I would like to start 2020 by thanking everyone for listening and for supporting my program by sharing it on social media with your friends and families. Thank you, everyone! Ok. Let’s get started! So, do you remember what a tongue twister is?  It can be a difficult phrase or sentence that we say quickly, usually because of a sequence of almost similar sounds.  For example, "Peter Piper picked a pickle of pickled peppers." By the way, if you want to learn Peter Piper's tongue twister, be sure to listen to episode #083. Although children find them entertaining, tongue twisters are used by people who want to speak clearly, including actors, politicians, etc. Tongue twisters allow us to practice pronunciation and agility when producing sounds in the language, and that’s why I’ve decided to share some more examples with you. Are you ready? Let’s go! I'll start saying each tongue twister slowly, and then I'll go faster.  You will see that at first, they can seem very difficult. But don’t worry about it. Just make sure to have the text in front of you so that you can follow it better. Let’s start! Ok. So, I will say it very slowly: 1) I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.  Again. I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.  Are you ready to speed it up? I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.  Again. I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream.   READ THE TRANSCRIPT HERE: speakenglishpodcast.com

#115 English Pronunciation Training with Tongue Twisters

Transcript: Hi, everybody! I’m Georgiana, founder of speakenglishpodcast.com. My mission is to help you to speak English fluently. Speaking English is way easier when you use the right material and techniques. In this episode, let's take a look at the most common New Year's resolutions. Then you will practice your English fluency with a mini-story. Alright! Let’s start! By the way, if you are new here, visit my website to get the transcript of today's episode. Go to: speakenglishpodcast.com If you're already familiar with this show, please share it with your friends and family. That would make me very happy! Tell your friends that my podcast is available everywhere on the internet. You can find it on my website and many podcast apps like Spotify, iTunes, YouTube, Facebook, SoundCloud, etc. Just look for "Speak English Now with Georgiana," and start learning English with me!" Well, first of all... Happy New Year! How time flies! A new year has just begun. It’s curious how the passage of time is perceived according to age. Young people don't think much about it. Middle-aged people think about the things they still want to achieve and realize that they have less and less time. Older people, on the other hand, remember the old days. Don't worry; I won't get too philosophical in this lesson.  :) I’ll go ahead and talk about New Year's resolutions. As you know, when a new year comes, we all feel like doing many things. Also, we feel a bit guilty for having celebrated a little too much at Christmas. Therefore in this episode, we will take a look at the most popular New Year's resolutions and practice new vocabulary. And what’s a resolution? A resolution is a firm decision to do something.   My new’s year resolution is to use high proven techniques, based on the natural learning of a second language, to help my students to speak English automatically.  Losing weight or going on a diet. This resolution is a classic. After all the meals and alcoholic beverages, we decide to lose weight. Usually, this decision is made after a very generous meal. We are on a full stomach and solemnly decide that we are going to lose weight and that we are going on a diet. Going to the gym Another classic. It's funny how many people are paying their gym fee every month but never go. Sounds familiar?  Then now it's the perfect excuse to start exercising. A friend of mine told me in October that he wasn't going to the gym, but that he would certainly start going in January. :) [END of EXTRACT]   READ the TRANSCRIPT here: www.speakenglishpodcast.com

#114 New Year's Resolution 2020 (rep)

Hi everyone! I’m your English teacher Georgiana, founder of speakenglishpodcast.com. My mission is to help you to speak English fluently. In this episode, I’ll talk about the Christmas holidays. And after that, you’ll practice your English speaking with an exciting mini-story about a man dressed in red. Alright! Let’s start! Ah! It's Christmas at last! I don't know about you, but I love this time of year. I start to think about what presents to give to my family and friends. Normally I make a list, so I don't forget anyone. Can you imagine forgetting someone? That would be terrible! That's why I start very early to plan what presents to give to everyone. Finding the right gift for someone can be difficult, so what I usually do is search online for gift ideas. And buying online helps me avoid the holiday crowds. To really feel the Christmas spirit, I like preparing a pot with a delightful scent using orange, cinnamon, apple cider, and clove. I let everything boil throughout the day so that the fragrance spreads throughout the house. At this time of year, I also love to listen to Christmas songs. I can recommend some popular Christmas songs: “All I want for Christmas is You” by Mariah Carey. "Last Christmas" by Wham! "Let It, Snow! Let It, Snow! Let It Snow!” by Frank Sinatra. "Jingle Bell Rock" by Bobby Helms. and something from Michael Bublé’s Christmas album. Plus, I enjoy placing Christmas lights and decorations. I sometimes use social media to find unique decorations. Did you know that some Americans use popcorn threaded on a string to help decorate their Christmas Tree? Or that in New England, you can find some shops called "Christmas Shops." There they sell Christmas decorations and toys throughout the entire year! There are many classic Christmas movies that you can watch on TV at this time of year. Here are some examples: It's A Wonderful Life (1946) Holiday Inn (1942) A Christmas Story (1983) A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) Elf (2003) Bad Santa (2003) Love Actually (2003) The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017) And it wouldn't be Christmas without a tree! Christmas trees are the symbol of the season. I love having a real tree and decorate it along with my family and friends. The Christmas trees tradition started in Germany in the 16th century. Protestant reformer Martin Luther first added lighted candles to a tree to remind his children of the wonders of God's creation.  Nowadays, many Americans buy a fresh evergreen tree or a plastic model and decorate it with lights and ornaments.   READ the TRANSCRIPT here: SpeakEnglishPodcast.com 

#113 Christmas Holidays 2019 (rep)

The Speak English Now Podcast is your resource for practicing your English speaking and listening. You will learn English with the Question and Answer (TPRS) and Point of View techniques. You won’t need any grammar nor boring exercises. You will also learn about the English culture and the language itself. Finally, you will get valuable advice on learning English. All the audio is in English and you can get the text at SpeakEnglishPodcast.com

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