Speak English Now Podcast: Learn English | Speak English Without Grammar.

Hi, everyone! Thanks for joining me for another episode. I'm Georgiana, your English teacher and founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com To get the transcript visit: SpeakEnglishPodcast.com/podcast You can subscribe to my newsletter on my website and get the 5 secrets to learn to speak English for free. Have you ever spent a whole weekend just relaxing and doing nothing? Just playing games or binging shows? It's a nice break, right? But what if you did that for months or even years? Today, I've got a story that might shock you. Think about someone who stays in their room all day and night, not seeing friends or family, not working or studying. Odd, right? Well, there's a Japanese word for this -"Hikikomori," which means "being confined." It's about people who choose to stay away from society completely. This is common in Japan, but other cultures have similar ideas. People call them loners or "modern-day hermits." Around half a million young people in Japan, and about the same number of middle-aged people, live li

Transcript: I'd like to include some food and cooking vocabulary in this episode. Get the transcript on my website:  Speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast/ And with a mini-story, you will improve your English fluency. You’ll see, it’s like having a conversation with another person. You know, when I enter the kitchen, my first thought is… Why am I here? Yeah. I'm hungry. That's why. Now I remember. :) I open the refrigerator and start scanning for some delicious food. Since I don't buy ready-made food, I usually stare at the fridge for some minutes until it starts beeping. Then I close it and open it again to continue scanning. And I'm not saying my refrigerator isn't well organized; it's just that I'm looking for something I can prepare in 1 minute, preferably even less. Many times, I end up making a green smoothie. That's a fast and easy way of getting all the needed nutrients. And plus, smoothies are delicious. By the way, a smoothie is a thick drink that you can make using fruits, vegetables, greens, seeds, milk

Today we are going to talk about phrasal verbs with the verb give. Many of you have asked for a new phrasal verbs episode, so I am sure that you are excited about it. Apparently, everyone wants to learn new phrasal verbs. Get the transcript on my website: SpeakEnglishPodcast.com And with mini-story, you will improve your fluency. I will ask you many questions that you will need to answer right away. It's like speaking English with another person. But before I get started, I wanted to thank you for listening to my podcast. It's been over four years since I released the first episode, and since then, I've received a lot of support. #1 To give something away It means to give something for free as a gift or donation. Examples: "They give away a free chocolate bar for every $100 you spend in the supermarket." "Tina gave her old clothes away when she lost weight." #2 To give oneself or somebody else away It means to show where somebody is or what they are doing when they are trying to keep this a secret. Or to

In today's lesson, we're going to explore the fascinating world of homophones. These are words that sound the same but have different meanings, and sometimes can be tricky for English learners. Don't worry, though! By the end of this episode, you'll have a solid understanding of homophones and be able to use them confidently in your everyday conversations. Before you start listening, make sure to get the transcript on my website: SpeakEnglishPodcast.com It's free! So, let's dive in! Homophones are words that are pronounced the same but have different meanings and may be spelled differently. They can often cause confusion, as they sound identical, but their meanings can vary. Let's explore some common examples of homophones to help clarify their usage. Example 1: "Two," "Too," and "To" Although they sound exactly alike, they have different meanings and uses. "Two" refers to the number 2, such as "I have two cats." "Too" means also or in addition, for example, "I want to go too." "To" is a preposition used to e

Hi, everyone! Thanks for joining me for a new episode. I'm Georgiana, your English teacher. And I'm here to help you speak English fluently. Today, let's explore the incredible American experiences you can only find in the USA! And with a fun mini-story, you will improve your English fluency. It's almost like having a conversation with someone in English. Before we start, get the transcript on my website: SpeakEnglishPodcast.com Ok, let's get started! The United States is known for its diverse culture, innovation, and unique things to do. In this episode, we'll discover American experiences exclusive to this country. The breathtaking national parks. The USA is home to stunning natural wonders like the Grand Canyon and Yellowstone. These parks offer magnificent beauty and outdoor adventures that you can only find in the USA. You will have another special experience when you visit the well-known Las Vegas Strip. It's filled with glamour and excitement, featuring iconic hotels, casinos, and incredible shows. Las

  This time, I'll share more types of writing in journalism. In an earlier episode, I talked about different types of newswriting, such as news, report, and interviews. And with a fun mini-story you will practice your English speaking. We will explore opinion genres, where writing is done from a subjective perspective. This perspective can be the author's or the media's opinion. Let's see what they are. #1 Editorial Imagine a newspaper reporting on an event and publishing various news articles, reports, and maybe interviews. This newspaper may publish an "editorial," which expresses the newspaper's opinion or position on the topic covered in the news. It usually reflects the media's ideological stance. An editorial generally doesn't mention the author and is not too long. Typically, it can be found on the first few pages. #2 Opinion Article An opinion article is a text that presents the viewpoint of a specific person, like a journalist, politician, or public figure. These articles don't necessarily align wi

The pessimist says, 'the glass is half empty.' The optimist says, 'The glass is half full,' and the journalist says, 'You won't believe what's in the glass!' Hi! I'm Georgiana, and I'm glad you're here with me for a new podcast episode.  Today, we will discuss the different types of journalism we can find in the media. Before you start listening to the episode, make sure to get the transcript on my website: SpeakEnglishPodcast.com It's free! Are you ready? Let's start with the first one: The news News is a crucial and representative category of informative journalism. It covers recent and intriguing political, sports, cultural, and social events. Objectivity is a vital but often lacking aspect of news. Ideally, a news story should be impartial and unbiased, but this isn't always true. Brevity is another key aspect of news. A news story should be concise and include only essential data. It should only focus on giving information about the event. A typical news story consists of several parts: Firstly, we have

Today, we're going to discuss a newspaper article. It talks about five signs that indicate the need to find a new job. Let's take a look! #1 You hate it when they ask you about your job. According to the article, if you hate when people ask you about your job, it may be time to consider a change. I believe it makes a lot of sense. If every time someone asks you, "How are you doing at work?" you feel bad, maybe there's a problem. Who wants to feel that way? Nobody, right? But maybe, when you're not at work, you simply want to disconnect. That is, to stop thinking about work. So, in this case, you might hate being asked about your work because you want to talk about other things. So, this sign is perhaps not so clear. #2 You have a lousy time on Sundays. Yes, it happens a lot. The weekend is short; as they say, it goes by quickly. So it's normal to feel sad because the next day is Monday and you have to work. According to the article, if you have a lousy time on Sundays, which means you are very sad or negativ

Georgiana: Today, we will discuss the meaning of the phrase "butter up"... Student: "How interesting, Georgiana! You know I am on a diet, but this morning I had some toast with butter, and let me tell you, it was delicious..." Georgiana: Sorry to interrupt, but the expression "butter up" has nothing to do with food. :) Let me explain it to you. Hey everyone, welcome back to another episode of the podcast. I'm Georgiana, your English teacher, and my mission is to help you speak English fluently.  And if you want to help me, share the podcast. That would mean a lot. Thanks. Before you start listening to the episode, make sure to get the transcript on my website: SpeakEnglishPodcast.com It's free! Great! Let's start! Let's take a closer look at the expression "butter up" and how it is commonly used. When someone tries hard to please others to gain their favor or personal benefits in the workplace, it's known as 'buttering up.'"  This behavior can be observed in various professional settings such as offices, scho

Hey everyone, welcome back to another episode of the podcast. I'm Georgiana, your English teacher, and my mission is to help you speak English fluently.  And if you want to help me, share the podcast. That would mean a lot. Thanks.   Ok! We'll start with a brief conversation that includes the top 10 business expressions. And to make learning more fun, I've taken inspiration from 'The Office' TV show. And you'll learn grammar in context with a point of view story.   Before you start listening, make sure to get the transcript on my website: SpeakEnglishPodcast.com It's free! Let's get started!   Jack walked into the office and said...   Jack: "Wow, this place looks familiar. It's like I'm in 'The Office' TV show." Pam: "Yeah, Jack, we get that a lot. We like to think outside the box here." Jim: "You're right, Pam! We're always brainstorming new ideas to stay ahead of the competition." Jack: "That's great to hear. I'm ready to get the ball rolling and take it to the next level." Pam: "Good to hear. But make sure

Today, we will keep exploring and learning more about expressing larger amounts. When we want to talk about more significant quantities, we can use different words and expressions. These terms can indicate having more of something or a significant amount. When referring to small amounts, we use words like: "a little" or "a few." And when it comes to large quantities we can use words like "a lot," "many," or "plenty." Let's practice with a few examples. For example, instead of saying, "I have a few books," you can say:  I have a lot of books. I have many books. Let's imagine we want to express a large quantity without specifying an exact number.  Here, we can use words like "numerous," "countless," or "a great number of." These terms indicate a large quantity, even if an exact number is not specified. For example, instead of saying, "There are a few birds in the sky," you can say: There are numerous birds in the sky.  There are countless birds in the sky. There are a great number of birds in the sky. Great! Le

Today, we'll talk about words and phrases that can help you express the amount or quantity of something and when to use them effectively. Get the text on my website: Speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast/ Let's start by discussing small quantities. If you only have a little bit of something, you might say "a few" or "some." A few means three to five of something, while some are a bit more vague and can mean any small amount. For example, if you're discussing job opportunities, you might say: I've applied for a few positions, but I haven't heard back from any of them yet. If you're talking about your progress in learning English, you could say: Even though I've been learning English for quite some time, I still face difficulties in speaking fluently. When you have a bit more of something but not a lot, you could say "several." Several usually means more than three but less than ten. For example, if you're talking about books you bought from a bookstore, you could say: She bought several books from the store, includi

Do you need help with technical problems during Zoom calls? In this episode, we'll cover common tech problems in Zoom meetings and how to handle them using helpful phrases. And you'll practice your speaking with a fun mini-story. Get the transcript on my website: Speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast/ Zoom has become a crucial tool for remote work and communication. But, as you may have experienced, technical problems can pop up during a Zoom call. As an English learner, it's important to feel comfortable using the app and handling any problems that may come up. Don't worry if you're not a tech expert. Learning the basics of Zoom will help you communicate better with your coworkers and clients. It's a good idea to practice using Zoom's simple features, like sharing your screen, using the chat, and muting your microphone. These features can make your Zoom meetings run more smoothly. To help you tackle these issues, I've prepared an example conversation on Zoom addressing common technical problems. Participants: John

Today we will talk about one of my favorite movies: "Gone with the Wind." It's a romantic drama set during the American Civil War and its aftermath. The movie takes place in the southern United States, during the Civil War. The South is known for its elegance and charm, and the attention to detail in the movie is amazing. You'll see beautiful dresses, sprawling plantations, and stunning landscapes. But also the dark side of war and destruction, as the Civil War brings devastation and loss to the region. The main characters in the movie are Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler. Scarlett is a young woman who is used to getting her way. That means she always got what she wanted in spite of opposition. She's in love with Ashley Wilkes, who is engaged to her cousin, Melanie Hamilton. Scarlett is determined to win Ashley's heart, but her world is turned upside down when the war breaks out. The other main character, named Rhett, is a charming man who acts carelessly and recklessly. But he becomes enamored with Scarlett'

Do you get nervous when you need to speak English over Zoom? Don't worry because in this episode you'll discover how to engage in a business meeting over Zoom. In the second part of this episode, you’ll learn grammar in context with a point-of-view story. Okay! Let’s start! I'm not sure if you're good with technology, but as you know, over the past few years, many companies have adopted Zoom for work purposes. Therefore, you're probably already familiar with this app. And you may have noticed that whenever we connect to Zoom, technical problems tend to arise. Sometimes it's you, and other times a team member. However, today, let's focus on some useful phrases that can make our work-related Zoom conversations more effective. To help you feel more confident and prepared, I have put together an example conversation on Zoom. Participants: John (the host), Mary, Sarah, and Mark. John: Good morning, everyone. Can you hear and see me okay? Mary: Yes, John, we can hear and see you clearly. John: Great! Then let's get

Are you interested in becoming a permanent resident of the U.S.? Today I will discuss how to obtain a Permanent Resident Card, commonly called a green card. This document allows you to live and work in the U.S. indefinitely. And with a mini-story, you will practice your speaking skills. Hi there! I'm Georgiana, your English teacher. Thanks for joining me for a new episode. My mission is to help you speak English fluently with no grammar and no textbooks. And, if you want to help me, it's very simple, just share the podcast with your friends. That would mean a lot. Thanks! Before we begin, I suggest you get the transcript from my website. SpeakEnglishPodcast.com Okay! Let’s start! A "green card" is a plastic card with the individual's biographic information, photo, fingerprint, and expiration date issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The card once called the "green card" has kept its nickname, even though it is now yellowish and has a barcode on the back. The Permanent Resident Card is valid fo

Transcript: Today, we will talk about how to negotiate when buying something while traveling. With a mini-story, you can improve your fluency by engaging in a conversation. It's like talking to another person in English. Hi there! I'm Georgiana, your English teacher. Thanks for joining me for a new episode. My mission is to help you speak English fluently with no grammar and no textbooks. And, if you want to help me, it's very simple, just share the podcast with your friends. That would mean a lot. Thanks! Before we start, get the transcript on my website: https://SpeakEnglishPodcast.com To get the most out of the podcast and improve your fluency, I strongly suggest listening to each episode several times, if possible, on different days to better understand the material. Okay! Let's start! When you travel to a foreign country, knowing how to negotiate the price when shopping is essential. Here are some tips to help you get the best deal: 1. Do your research  Before you start bargaining, do your research. If h

Today we will learn how Easter is celebrated in the United States and Australia. We will hear Tom and Sarah's conversation about their plans for Easter this year. And with a point-of-view story, you will learn grammar in context without memorizing boring rules. Hi! Thanks for joining me for another episode of the podcast. I'm Georgiana, and my mission is to help you improve your fluency. If you want to support me, please share the podcast with your friends and family. It would mean a great deal to me. Thank you! Okay! Let’s start! Tom, from the United States, and Sarah, from Australia, were catching up on a video call before the Easter holiday. As they started chatting, they quickly realized they had different traditions and plans for celebrating the holiday. Let's listen to their conversation: Tom: Hey, Sarah! Happy Easter! Sarah: Happy Easter to you too, Tom! I hope you're doing well. Tom: Yes, I'm doing great. So, what are your plans for Easter this year? Sarah: I plan to attend church and celebrate Easter

Today, let's keep talking about words related to trials. And to help you improve your English fluency, I have created a fun mini-story. As usual, I will ask you many simple questions you must answer quickly. It's just like having a conversation with someone in real life. Okay! Let's start! #1 Expert witness An expert witness is someone who, in a trial, gives their professional and impartial opinion on a specific topic related to the trial. Sometimes they may prepare a report or testify. Example: The expert witness gave his professional opinion on the box. It was indeed an empty box of chocolate chip cookies. #2 Witness A witness is someone who has direct knowledge of the facts on trial. Witnesses are essential because they can help determine a defendant's guilt. For example, a witness can provide key information about the crime's circumstances and help confirm whether the defendant was present at the crime scene. Example: The witness testified with horror that he saw the defendant eating and tasting the last

"Now that I’m all by myself, I’m going to indulge in this last cookie. I don’t think anyone will notice!” Today I’ll explain some words related to trials. While I’m hoping you’ll never have to use these words in real life, becoming familiar with this language will help you better grasp the subject and engage in conversation on the topic. Come on, let’s start! #1 The Accused or Defendant The person who is accused of breaking the law is called the accused or defendant. They have the right to tell their side of the story and present evidence to the judge.  For example: The police arrested the defendant. He is accused of having eaten the last cookie in the box. #2 Courtroom A courtroom is a place where legal cases are heard and decided. People go there when they are accused of doing something illegal or have a disagreement that needs to be settled by a judge or jury. Example: The trial of the defendant will take place in the courtroom. Okay, next word: #3 Crime A crime is an act or omission against the law punish