Everybody ESL

Episode 35 of the Everybody ESL podcast is a mini episode about an interesting English expression: with flying colors. What does it mean, when can you use it, and where does it come from? Send your questions about English expressions (or anything else) and your suggestions for future episodes to [email protected]!

Episode 34 of the Everybody ESL podcast has some New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day vocabulary, a quick discussion about good ways to say no, Part 2 in the series of lessons about the word “would,” the Joke of the Week, a quiz about opposites, and more. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, send them to [email protected]! Episode 34’s rundown: Intro: 0:00, Vocabulary (New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day): 1:15, Grammar (Part 2 of our series about “would”): 7:40, Small talk (how to say no): 11:29, The Joke of the Week: 14:17, Opposites quiz: 17:20

Episode 33 of the Everybody ESL podcast is a mini episode all about the hidden meaning of a single common English word: breakfast. Send your questions about English vocabulary (or anything else) and your suggestions for future episodes to [email protected]!

Episode 32 of the Everybody ESL podcast has some good party vocabulary, a quick discussion about buying tickets at a movie theater, Part 1 in the series of lessons about the word “would,” the Joke of the Week, a funny story, and more. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, send them to [email protected]! Episode 32’s rundown: Intro: 0:00, Vocabulary (parties): 1:39, Grammar (Part 1 of our series about “would”): 6:38, Small talk (buying tickets at a movie theater): 10:38, The Joke of the Week: 12:26, Listening practice: 14:39

Episode 31 of the Everybody ESL podcast is a mini episode that teaches you the meaning of the colorful idiom “Hold your horses.” Send your questions about English idioms (or anything else) and your suggestions for future episodes to [email protected]!

Episode 30 of the Everybody ESL podcast is a mini episode that teaches you the meaning and the uses of the old expression “the Midas touch.” (It comes from an ancient legend with a sad ending.) Send your questions about English and your suggestions for future episodes to [email protected]!

Episode 29 of the Everybody ESL podcast has some good snow vocabulary, a discussion about a few common phrases you’ll encounter in an office, a grammar lesson about here and there, the Joke of the Week, a listening quiz, and more. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, send them to [email protected]! Episode 29’s rundown: Intro: 0:00, Grammar (here and there): 2:21, Vocabulary (snow-cabulary!): 6:51, Small talk (the weekend): 11:42, The Joke of the Week: 13:45, Listening quiz: 16:26

Episode 28 of the Everybody ESL podcast is a mini episode that teaches you the meaning and the uses of the colorful expression “wild goose chase.” Send your questions about English and suggestions for future episodes to [email protected]!

Episode 27 of the Everybody ESL podcast has a grammar lesson about a special kind of question, a gym and exercise vocabulary list, a discussion about asking whether a seat is available, the Joke of the Week, a listening quiz, and more. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, send them to [email protected]! Episode 27’s rundown: Intro: 0:00, Vocabulary (the gym): 1:45, Small talk (asking if a seat is available): 5:51, Grammar topic (echo questions): 8:12, The Joke of the Week: 12:12, Listening quiz: 14:23

Episode 26 of the Everybody ESL podcast is a mini episode about misunderstood lyrics and one of the most famous songs of the 1960s. You might never hear this song the same way again. Send your questions about English and suggestions for future episodes to [email protected]!

Episode 25 of the Everybody ESL podcast has a grammar segment about two similar words you can learn to use correctly, money vocabulary ($$$), a discussion about expressing sympathy, the Joke of the Week, a listening quiz, and more. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, send them to [email protected]! Episode 25’s rundown: Intro: 0:00, Vocabulary (money): 1:13, Small talk (expressing sympathy): 5:55, Grammar topic (so and such): 8:26, The Joke of the Week: 13:38, Listening quiz: 15:13

Episode 24 of the Everybody ESL podcast is a mini episode that teaches you the useful English idiom in the nick of time. Send your questions about English idioms (or any other English topic) to [email protected]!

Episode 23 of the Everybody ESL podcast has a list of dog vocabulary, information about some common restaurant situations, a lesson about special adverbs, the Joke of the Week, a listening quiz, and more. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, send them to [email protected]! Episode 23’s rundown: Intro: 0:00, Grammar topic (special adverbs): 1:53, Vocabulary (dogs): 4:57, Small talk (restaurants): 11:43, Joke of the Week: 16:00, Listening quiz: 18:36

Episode 22 of the Everybody ESL podcast is a mini episode that explores an interesting English idiom: to steal someone’s thunder. Send your questions about English idioms (or any other English topic) to [email protected]!

Episode 21 of the Everybody ESL podcast has an in-depth discussion of contractions, some good vocabulary about rainy weather, the Joke of the Week, a super-important small talk topic, and more. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions, send them to [email protected]! Episode 21’s rundown: Intro: 0:00, Small talk lesson: 1:53, Grammar topic: 4:30, Vocabulary: 12:00, Joke of the Week: 15:36, Listening quiz: 18:18

Episode 20 of the Everybody ESL podcast is another mini “What’s the Difference?” episode. In this one, we talk about see, look at, and watch. They’re very similar, but they have some important differences. Don’t forget: I want your questions, comments, and suggestions. Send them to [email protected]!

Episode 19 of the Everybody ESL podcast discusses one type of irregular verb, introduces a lesson on small talk (how to ask a bus driver some simple questions), gives you a wedding vocabulary list, shares the Joke of the Week, tests you with a listening quiz, and more. And remember: I want your questions, comments, and suggestions. Send them to [email protected]!

Episode 18 of the Everybody ESL podcast is another mini episode. This one introduces and discusses an interesting English idiom: “to pull a fast one.” It’s a mysterious but useful expression that comes in handy when someone is trying to fool you. Don’t forget: I want your questions, comments, and suggestions. Send them to [email protected]!

Episode 17 of the Everybody ESL podcast introduces a short discussion about articles (one of the trickiest features of English), a lesson on small talk (how to call a store or restaurant and ask how late they’re open), Halloween vocabulary, the Joke of the Week, a listening quiz, and more. Don’t forget: I want your questions, comments, and suggestions. Send them to [email protected]!

Episode 16 of the Everybody ESL podcast is another mini episode that introduces and discusses an interesting English idiom. In this episode, it’s “for the birds,” a useful expression with a colorful origin. Don’t forget: I want your questions, comments, and suggestions. Send them to [email protected]!

Episode 15 of the Everybody ESL podcast is a mini “What’s the Difference?” episode, where I explain two similar words so you can easily use them correctly. Special announcement: Myeongja from Daegu, Korea, is the official Champion of Episode 14 for the English joke she submitted!

Episode 14 of the Everybody ESL podcast has lots of good information for you about phrasal verbs, those common (but tricky!) compound verbs. There’s also a small talk topic about people calling you on the phone by mistake, a listening quiz, the Joke of the Week, and more. And if you’re the first person to send me an English joke, you will be the Champion of Episode 14! Speaking of champions, Daniel from Russia is the official Champion of Episode 13 for his sentence about the idiom "on the back burner."

Episode 13 of the Everybody ESL podcast is a mini episode about the English expression “on the back burner.” You can find a back burner (usually more than one) in every kitchen, but what does it mean if something is “on the back burner”? Special announcement: Amy from Korea is the official Champion of Episode 12 because she was the first person to send in the correct answer to question #5 from last episode’s listening quiz!

Episode 12 of the Everybody ESL podcast introduces good vocabulary about being or getting sick (even some fun sickness vocab!), a short comparison of the simple past and the present perfect, the proper way to tell someone that they dropped something, the Joke of the Week, and a listening quiz. And if you’re the first person to email me the answer to question #5 of the listening quiz (send it to [email protected]), I will announce your name as the Champion of Episode 12!

Episode 11 of the Everybody ESL podcast is a mini “What’s the Difference?” episode, a quick look at two words that are often mixed up: fun and funny. They look similar, they sound similar, and they mean similar things. So what’s the difference?

Episode 10 of the Everybody ESL podcast introduces a lesson on the confusing propositions in, into, on, and onto; a small talk discussion to help you deal with forgetting someone’s name; useful clichés (standard comparisons you are likely to hear in conversation); a listening quiz; the Joke of the Week; and more. The Everybody ESL podcast is an easy way to keep learning and practicing your English.

Episode 9 of the Everybody ESL podcast is another mini episode, a quick look at “fast friends,” an interesting expression that many people—even native English speakers!—misunderstand.

Episode 8 of the Everybody ESL podcast has lots of stuff to help keep you learning and practicing your English: a tip about small talk, a listening quiz, vocabulary about cars and driving, a grammar topic, the Joke of the Week, and more. (Bonus! See if you can find my mistake in this episode!) Tuba sound by JewelBeat. Download your free music and free sound effects at www.jewelbeat.com.

Episode 7 of the Everybody ESL podcast is another mini episode, a quick look at “going through the motions,” a useful expression for describing yourself or people you know. This expression always makes me think of robots, and after you listen to this episode, you’ll see why.

Episode 6 of the Everybody ESL podcast has a grammar topic for you (I’ve been thinking about this one for more than 45 years), a quick lesson in small talk, vocabulary about airplanes, the Joke of the Week, a listening quiz, and more. The Everybody ESL podcast is the perfect way to keep your English studies going.

Episode 5 of the Everybody ESL podcast is a mini episode, a quick look at “birthday suit,” a fun expression you can easily add to your English vocabulary and use in casual conversations. Can you guess what your birthday suit is? Can you guess where the expression comes from? Listen to this short episode, and you won’t need to guess.

Episode 4 of the Everybody ESL podcast brings you a useful lesson about asking for help at the grocery story, some good cat vocabulary, a tip about small talk, another listening quiz, a joke about crocodiles, and a lot more. The Everybody ESL podcast is an easy way to keep learning more English and practice what you already know. (Exciting bonus: I’m still experimenting with the new microphone!)

Episode 3 of the Everybody ESL podcast is a mini episode, a quick look at “in one fell swoop,” a mysterious English phrase with an interesting origin. It contains a language fossil, and you can easily add it to your conversation. (I’m still experimenting with the right way to use the new microphone. Please be patient while I work on improving the sound quality!)

Episode 2 of the Everybody ESL podcast introduces vocabulary about cleaning (including slob and neat freak!), some basic American English small talk, a grammar topic that will get you thinking about airplanes and flight attendants, a listening quiz, and more. (Don’t forget the Joke of the Week!) The Everybody ESL podcast is a great way to follow along with clear English and practice as you go. (Mini episodes are on the way! Some of you said shorter episodes work better for you, so stay tuned for mini episodes that cover only one or two topics.)

The first episode of the Everybody ESL podcast introduces some basic American English small talk, a grammar topic about adjectives, vocabulary related to eclipses, a listening quiz, and more. (There's even a joke about snakes!) The Everybody ESL podcast is a great way to learn English words and grammar as you gain confidence in your English skills.