American English Podcast

Boston is situated in present-day Massachusetts, right on the northern Atlantic coastline. It’s picturesque, it’s lively and it’s steeped in stories of how the United States gained its independence from Britain. Today you’ll hear those tales of organization, patriotism and madness: This is the Boston Tea Party. I've also put together a page to Prepare for the U.S. Citizenship test. Premium Content: Season 4 (Episodes 150 - 200)All Premium Content for Seasons 1, 2 and 3 (Episodes 001 - 150)Support the show

This lesson has two parts. In part one, you'll learn the common English expression "my cup of tea" you'll hear a joke and you'll do some pronunciation exercises. In part two (which will be posted shortly), you'll learn about one of the most iconic events in U.S. history, the Boston Tea Party. It's one of the major events that fueled our fight for independence from Britain, and the story is just nuts. It's not your average tea party! If you're interested in learning about the beginning of the U.S., or you're taking the U.S. Citizenship test soon, listen to this episode! I've also put together a page to Prepare for the U.S. Citizenship test. Premium Content: Season 4 (Episodes 150 - 200)All Premium Content for Seasons 1, 2 and 3 (Episodes 001 - 150)Support the show

Every year, more and more people buy clothes online, but today, you are heading to the mall with your stylish friend, Katrina. Your mission is to buy a new wardrobe (a whole new set of clothes). Listen and learn the vocabulary, phrases and collocations we use when talking about clothing in English! You'll learn adjectives to describe the good, the bad and the ugly, expressions to comment on style and so much more. If you ever intend to buy clothes in the United States, you can't miss this episode. Premium Content Season 45-Minute English BundleALL PREMIUM CONTENT FOR SEASONS 1 - 3 Support the show

Sleepy Hollow is a quaint village nestled in the Hudson Valley, in New York. There, many many years ago a peculiar schoolteacher named Ichabod Crane gets wrapped up in the spooky legend of the Headless Horseman. Today you’ll hear “the Legend of Sleepy Hollow” and learn about the heart-pounding events that took place on one fateful Halloween night. It’s a story of love, rivalry, and the supernatural and I’ve simplified it for intermediate and advanced English learners. Get ready for some excitement and some suspense, you're about to hear a story that has been passed down from generation to generation for over 200 years. Cheat Sheet eerie = unsettling; haunting vengeful = eager to take revenge peculiar = strange stout = plump; robust jovial = happy lanky = skinny smitten = infatuated brawny = muscular spine-chilling = frightening For the full list, quiz and other bonus content, be sure to sign up to Season 4 . Popular Content ALL PREMIUM CONTENT FOR SEASONS 1 - 3 Support the show

Moose are majestic creatures and an iconic symbol of wilderness in North America. They inhabit many northern states in the U.S.; the state with the biggest population is Alaska. In this episode, you'll learn many English words related to nature and animals, but it's much more than a National Geographic style lesson. You're about to step into the funny, wild and sometimes tragic tales that emerge as humans and moose try to live harmoniously. In this lesson, we'll answer questions like: Take time to appreciate moose! :) (yes, moose is the plural form) Premium Content Season 4ALL PREMIUM CONTENT FOR SEASONS 1 - 3 Support the show

This lesson has two parts. In part one, you'll learn the common English expression "to steer clear," you'll hear a joke and you'll do some pronunciation exercises. In part two (which will be posted shortly), we'll be talking about moose in the US. You know what a moose is, right? It's a large mammal in the deer family. It has big antlers — these sort of long, pokey branch-like things that stick out of their heads — and they live in many northern states in the United States. Often these massive creatures and humans interact with each other, which can be funny, scary and very real. So I want to share some of those stories with you, as well as a lot of information about these incredible creatures! Be sure to stay tuned for part two in order to hear that. This lesson has a FREE PDF with the transcript and a listening comprehension quiz. INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Scroll to Premium Content 2. Click on Episode 151: "Preview" If you're interested in purchasing Season 4, it's currently $34 OFF + an additional $5 OFF if you use the code "FIVEOFF" at checkout. Support the show

Two years ago, I started Season 3 (Episodes 101 - 150) and it's been a journey. In this episode, you'll hear about the many cultural topics we covered in the past 50 episodes. You'll hear which episodes were the most popular among listeners, which stories left me speechless and which ones I found incredibly useful. Get your notebook! Be ready to write down the episode number for the stories that interest you most. THANK YOU to all of the supporters who bought me coffee, those who left reviews on your podcast app (very few people take the time to do this, but I really appreciate it!), purchased Premium Content and sent me nice messages over Instagram. You make me want to keep going. Please know that I appreciate you!! :) Links: SEASON 3 ALL PREMIUM CONTENT FOR SEASONS 1 - 3 (with 5 in-depth courses to improve your English, includes all transcripts + mp3s)Record here Support the show

Today you'll hear a short story our recent trip to Brazil, during which I ended up going to the hospital and getting stitches. Throughout this story you'll hear 20+ words related to injuries and getting hurt. Although I hope you don't get hurt anytime soon, I hope this lesson prepares you to talk about the times when you did in English. We all have a getting hurt story, whether it's our own or someone else's. Give this a listen and see if you can use what you learned to tell your story! You will hear the audio twice. ***** THIS IS AN ADVANCED ENGLISH EPISODE! Don't stress out of you don't understand everything. If you want to understand everything be sure to sign up to Premium Content! How to Get Premium Content for this episode: Season 3Season 35-Minute English Course - Part 2Get ALL PREMIUM CONTENT FOR SEASONS 1 - 3 (with 5 in-depth courses to improve your English, includes all transcripts + mp3s, quizzes + more)Get ONLY the Transcripts for Episodes 001 - 150Get the Free E-Book: 101 American English Slang Words***** Support the show

Today we have a special guest named Ben Whatley. Maybe you know him! He's the Co-founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Memrise, one of the most celebrated language apps there is. Ben received his master's in experimental psychology from Oxford University and has since been working with language acquisition. In fact, he's a pioneer in the field; Ben helped create the first AI language partner using GPT3 technology. It's called the MemBot. If you're interested in trying it out, you can do so here: Try out Memrise + THE FIRST AI Language Partner, the MemBot.In any case, today I had the pleasure of tapping into his knowledge with the goal of finding out how we can learn better. In our chat, Ben and I talk about common misconceptions in language, learning, the genius of mnemonic devices and how to acquire new vocabulary effectively. Other Links: Steven Krashen: Explorations in Language Acquisition and UseALL PREMIUM CONTENT FOR SEASONS 1 - 3 (with 5 in-depth courses to improve your English, includes all transcripts + mp3s)Support the show

This is part two of a very special story about my dear friend, Nina, who is from Germany. In the story of our friendship, which I'll wrap up in the this episode, you'll learn 10+ German loanwords in English. A loanword is a words borrowed from a foreign language. American English has many German words; how do we pronounce them? Well, I know a lot of you are saying we butcher them, that's okay (I don't disagree with you!) In general, the pronunciation of a words depends on how popular / common a word is. If a German word is common in American English, naturally, there's an expected way to pronounce it, even if it's not how it is pronounced normally in German. The goal of this episode is to teach you how we pronounce the common ones and what to do when you come across uncommon loanwords. Here is a sample of some of the words in today's episode. kitschybeer gardenschnitzelbratwurst sauerkrautstrudelrucksackschmear lox delicatessenschlep Other words mentioned: Bauhaus architecture, hefeweizen, liverwurst, wiener and some Yiddish terms such as schmuck and schmooze. Note: German loanwords in English follow English rules! While nouns are capitalized in German, in English, they are lowercase UNLESS they are proper nouns like Volkswagen OR if they derive from a proper noun, such as Rottweiler. Diacritical marks, such as the umlaut, are optional! ***** Premium Content: This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation. Get ALL PREMIUM CONTENT FOR SEASONS 1 - 3 (with 5 in-depth courses to improve your English, includes all transcripts + mp3s)Get ONLY the Transcripts for Episodes 001 - 150Get the Free E-Book: 101 American English Slang WordsSupport the show

It's story time! Welcome to a true story about my friend, Nina, who is from Berlin, Germany. In the story of our friendship you'll learn 10+ German loanwords in English. A loanword is a words borrowed from a foreign language. American English has many German words; how do we pronounce them? Well, I know a lot of you are saying we butcher them, that's okay (I don't disagree with you!) In general, the pronunciation of a words depends on how popular / common a word is. If a German word is common in American English, naturally, there's an expected way to pronounce it, even if it's not how it is pronounced normally in German. The goal of this episode is to teach you how we pronounce the common ones and what to do when you come across uncommon loanwords. Here is a sample of some of the words in today's episode. doppelgängerwanderlustschadenfreudeVolkswagenkindergartenRottweilergesundheit!fest angst or angstywaltzüberkaputNote: German loanwords in English follow English rules! While nouns are capitalized in German, in English, they are lowercase UNLESS they are proper nouns like Volkswagen OR if they derive from a proper noun, such as Rottweiler. Diacritical marks, such as the umlaut, are optional! ***** Premium Content: This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation. Get ALL PREMIUM CONTENT FOR SEASONS 1 - 3 (with 5 in-depth courses to improve your English, includes all transcripts + mp3s)Get ONLY the Transcripts for Episodes 001 - 150Get the Free E-Book: 101 American English Slang Words***** Support the show Support the show

In today's episode, you’ll hear the incredible story of a man named Larry Walters, or "Lawn Chair" Larry, who bought over 40 weather balloons, attached them to a lawn chair in his backyard and flew 16,000 feet up in the air. The story is weird and funny, and it gives way to a larger discussion about “Cluster Ballooning.” I’ll explain challenging words and phrases as I go along! In Part 1 of this episode, you'll learn all about the common English expression "up in the air." You'll learn the expression's origin, how to use it in a multitude of situations and you'll do pronunciation exercises with it. Big shoutout to Guilherme Krause and Christian for supporting the podcast this month, I really appreciate it! ***** Premium Content: This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation. Get ALL PREMIUM CONTENT FOR SEASONS 1 - 3 (with 5 in-depth courses to improve your English, includes all transcripts + mp3s)Get ONLY the Transcripts for Episodes 001 - 150Get the Free E-Book: 101 American English Slang WordsAmerican English Accent Course***** Support the show

In today's episode, you'll learn all about the common English expression "up in the air." You'll learn the expression's origin, how to use it in a multitude of situations and you'll do pronunciation exercises with it. The second part of this episode, is all about Larry "Lawnchair," a man who gave birth to cluster ballooning as an activity. Stay tuned, that episode will be posted shortly. Big shoutout to Guilherme Krause for supporting the podcast this month, I really appreciate it! ***** Premium Content: This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation. Get ALL PREMIUM CONTENT FOR SEASONS 1 - 3 (with 5 in-depth courses to improve your English, includes all transcripts + mp3s)Get ONLY the Transcripts for Episodes 001 - 150Get the Free E-Book: 101 American English Slang WordsAmerican English Accent Course***** Support the show

The for this episode was recorded on March 22, so keep that in mind when listening to our discussion about the weather and daylight hours. ***ABOUT*** Maine is the easternmost and northernmost state in the contiguous United States, and it’s known for its expansive forests, breathtaking coastlines, and its unique New England culture. Today, we're going to talk to Brent (Speak English with This Guy), who is a middle school English teacher from Maine. You'll hear from a local all about the food culture, lifestyle and accent of Mainers (or Maniacs!), as well as a crazy story about moose. Hear why our only one-syllable state is such a wonderful place all while getting to know a local. ***OUR GUEST*** If you want to hear Brent more often, why not check out his podcast? It's called: Speak English with This Guy! ***PREMIUM CONTENT*** Season 3Season 35-Minute English Course - Part 2Get ALL PREMIUM CONTENT FOR SEASONS 1 - 3 (with 5 in-depth courses to improve your English, includes all transcripts + mp3s, quizzes + more)Get ONLY the Transcripts for Episodes 001 - 150Get the Free E-Book: 101 American English Slang WordsSupport the show

At the beginning of May every year, horse racing season begins. In the U.S., it starts off with The Kentucky Derby, a horse race that is often referred to as “the most exciting two minutes of sports.” 🐎 Since 1875, eager spectators have been pouring into Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky to watch the ca. 20 racers make their way to the finish line. Just given how long the event has been around, you can probably imagine how many traditions there are at the event. In today’s episode, you’ll learn about those traditions and the culture and history that makes the event what it is today. Would you want to visit? Disclaimer: This episode discusses drugs, alcohol and gambling, and therefore it’s listed as explicit! Be sure to sign up to Season 3 or All Premium Content if you want the English learning material that goes along with this episode. ***** Premium Content: This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation. Get ALL PREMIUM CONTENT FOR SEASONS 1 - 3 (with 5 in-depth courses to improve your English, includes all transcripts + mp3s)Get ONLY the Transcripts for Episodes 001 - 150Get the Free E-Book: 101 American English Slang WordsAmerican English Accent Course***** Support the show

In this episode, you'll learn how to use the common English expression "To Jump the Gun." Be sure to stay tuned until part 2 to learn all about the Kentucky Derby, "the most exciting two minutes of sports." ***** Premium Content: This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation. Get ALL PREMIUM CONTENT FOR SEASONS 1 - 3 (with 5 in-depth courses to improve your English, includes all transcripts + mp3s)Get ONLY the Transcripts for Episodes 001 - 150Get the Free E-Book: 101 American English Slang WordsAmerican English Accent Course***** Support the show

Today you’ll hear about a trip to the grocery store. Imagine yourself as the main character of this story; visualize the interior of the store and that you are walking down the aisles. Picture everything from the moment you grab your cart or basket at the entrance, to the moment you check out at the register and head home. As usual with 5-Minute English episodes, I try to keep the audio part of this lesson to 5 minutes. This lesson went a little over but for good reason! :) ***** THIS IS AN ADVANCED ENGLISH EPISODE! Don't stress out of you don't understand everything. If you want to understand everything be sure to sign up to Premium Content! How to Get Premium Content for this episode: Season 3Season 35-Minute English Course - Part 2Get ALL PREMIUM CONTENT FOR SEASONS 1 - 3 (with 5 in-depth courses to improve your English, includes all transcripts + mp3s, quizzes + more)Get ONLY the Transcripts for Episodes 001 - 150Get the Free E-Book: 101 American English Slang Words***** Support the show

In today's episode, we're talking to Natalie Sawicki, a songwriter from Los Angeles, who spent most of her life in Connecticut! She shares so much about this charming small state; you’ll hear about the fall foliage, New England fashion, local delicacies and much more! Let's Discover “The Nutmeg State" with a local! Follow Natalie's work on Instagram @natsawicki. ***** Connecticut is a small state. In fact, it's the third smallest state in the United States after Rhode Island and Delaware. For comparison, it's 5,543mi², making it just a tad bit bigger than Montenegro and about 14% bigger than Jamaica. Yet, where it lacks in size, it makes up for in population. 3.6 million people call Connecticut home, making it a state with one of the highest population densities in the country. Geographically, you'll find Connecticut surrounded by three other states: New York, Rhode Island and Massachusetts. From the Connecticut panhandle in the southwest corner, you can reach New York City by train in a matter of minutes. So what does it look like? Well, grab your camera! As a tourist in Connecticut, you're surrounded by lush greenery in the spring, warm oranges, reds and yellows in the fall and snow in the winter. Connecticut has four very distinct seasons. While the north is mountainous, part of the Appalachian Mountains are in the northwest corner, the entire state is covered in rolling hills and trees, making it picture-worthy year-round. Not to mention all of the rivers! The Connecticut River is one of the most famous. It's actually the reason Connecticut is called Connecticut, it comes from a local indigenous language, Mohegan-Pequot, and Connecticut means long tidal river. So whether you want to visit one of the many New England coastal communities, the impressive architecture of Yale University in New Haven, or the hustle and bustle of the capital, Hartford, you're in for a treat! Pick some local berries and apples while you're there, meet some locals and make the most of "The Nutmeg State." ***** Premium Content: This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation. Get ALL PREMIUM CONTENT FOR SEASONS 1 - 3 (with 5 in-depth courses to improve your English, includes all transcripts + mp3s)Get ONLY the Transcripts for Episodes 001 - 150Get the Free E-Book: 101 American English Slang Words***** Support the show Support the show

In this 3-part episode, you'll hear a casual discussion about one of life's most mundane topics: peeing and pooping. It's taboo to talk about, which is strange given how it's one of the most common things in the world. In part 1Potty Training bookIn part 2In part 3I hope you’ll find them funny and they’ll help you recall some crazy stories you’ve heard. Just wanted to let you know what to expect! Hope you enjoy this. I think I’m going to go hide now. This lesson, like other Chats with Shana episodes, are LESS structured. If you prefer more formal lessons, check out any of the other ones. How to Get Premium Content for this episode: Season 3Season 35-Minute English Course - Part 2Get ALL PREMIUM CONTENT FOR SEASONS 1 - 3 (with 5 in-depth courses to improve your English, includes all transcripts + mp3s, quizzes + moreGet ONLY the Transcripts for Episodes 001 - 150Get the Free E-Book: 101 American English Slang WordsSupport the show

If you don't know who Dr. Seuss is, you should! He was a cartoonist and author that brought us The Cat in the Hat, The Grinch, Green Eggs and Ham and over 40 other incredible books for children and adults around the world. He's been called "the father of contemporary children's literature." One out of four children in the US receive a Dr. Seuss book as their first book in life, and there's a good reason for it: they're playful and clever, with quirky images and rhymes, and there's a lot of repetition, so it's ideal for beginner readers. Over 650 million copies of his books have been sold, so I'd say it's worth learning about this inspiration. Hear his story in this Culture and History lesson. ***** Beginner Books Recommendations ***** Premium Content: This episode is part of Season 3. By purchasing Season 3 transcripts, you'll be able to access the full episodes, the full PDF transcripts for episodes 101 - 150, an Mp3 download and the premium podcast player to work on your pronunciation. Get ALL PREMIUM CONTENT FOR SEASONS 1 - 3 (with 5 in-depth courses to improve your English, includes all transcripts + mp3s)Get ONLY the Transcripts for Episodes 001 - 150Get the Free E-Book: 101 American English Slang Words ***** Support the show