What if…..the moon vanished?

What if…..the moon vanished?

14, February, 2025

Episode 248: What if… the moon simply disappeared?

This podcast is another episode in our “The Curious Case of…” series. Don’t be put off it’s not just for scientists, but for anyone with a curious mind.

Welcome back to English-Podcasts In this episode we go on a thought experiement when we ask ourselves, what would happen if the moon didn’t exist, if it just dispeared one day. You’ll see that we cover many suprising factors.

Notes

You don’t need to be an astrophysicist to wonder about the moon. Does it do anything, except for shining a light at night ? Well, yes it does ! Is it made of cheese? The answer to that is definately no !  Listen in as we delve into quite a few good reasons to be thankful it does! In the video you can see pictures and guide words to help you follow the conversation.

Without the moon, life on earth would be very different. Just think about the tides, the earth’s tilt and the length of the day.

Intrigued? Just listen in… what if…

 

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Recap & Takeaways

In this podcast you’ll hear lots of vocabulary to talk about the moon, the tides, the earth’s tilt and the length of the day.

This is above all a “What if..” thought exercise, so expect to hear a lot of grammar using the conditionals (1st, 2nd and 3rd).

Also listen out for the pronunciation of these words:

Skeptical

Implausible

Unlikely

Inconceivable

 

 

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A Few Days in New York

A Few Days in New York

14, February, 2025

Episode 234: A Few Days in New York

In this podcast, Sue chats to Laura halfway through their holiday in New York. Can you guess some of the grammar you’ll hear?

Buying and selling on-line

Welcome back to English-Podcasts In this episode we travel to New York to visit the sites and talk grammar. Listen carefully to the things we love about the Big Apple and some of the things which we couldn’t get used to!

Notes

Have you ever been to New York ? Is it on your list of things to do ? Do you like big cites ? Do you live in the USA? What do you think of tourists to your country?

Listen to this podcast in which Laura, a French-British young women talks to Sue about her holiday, or vacation as they say in American English.

In this podcast Laura talks about these famous sites:

The Empire State Building

The Rockerfeller Center

The Statue of Liberty

The Met Musuem

China Town

Central Park

The Subway

Can you think of any other places that you’d like to visit?

Learn more about the New York Skyline with our quiz, full of fun fact and great vocabulary.

https://english-podcasts.com/the-new-york-skyline-quiz/

Recap & Takeaways

If you are learning English, listen very carefully to how Laura talks about her trip. She is half way through her holiday so notice how she describes actions/events in the past and then actions/events in the recent past and then actions/ events in the future. This podcast is a great way to see all these grammatical structures.

Notice the use of the Simple Past tense to indicate something that Laura did in the past. 

I booked the hotel on line. I bought a Tourist pass before I came 

Sue asks Laura; How did you cope with the jet leg when you arrived?

Notice the use of the Present Perfect tense which Laura uses to describe something she has done recently, within the last few days but without mentioning the exact day.

I have been to see the Statue of Liberty. I‘ve done so many things.  I have taken a cab. I’ve been to wrong places. I have been to Five Guys. I’ve spoken to quite a few people from new York.

Notice the use of the Present Continuous tense to describe a current situation.

Sue asks Laura: How are you getting around ?

People in the street are all carrying a cup of soda or coffee.

Notice the use of the future tenses.

Sue asks Laura: What are you doing after this diner? When are you heading back ?

I’m going to visit Brooklyn Bridge and the Highline later this afternoon.

 

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The Past Tenses for Advanced Learners

The Past Tenses for Advanced Learners

14, February, 2025

Episode 227: Master the Past Tenses (Advanced level)

In this podcast, you can test your understanding of the Past Simple, the Past Continuous, the Past Perfect, the Past Perfect Continuous and Modals.

Welcome back to English-Podcasts In this episode we talk about using past tenses and modals to accurately express ideas in the past.

Notes

Past tenses are essential in English because they allow us to clearly communicate events and experiences that have already occurred, providing context and sequencing to narratives. By distinguishing actions that happened at specific times, ongoing events in the past, or completed actions, past tenses enable speakers and writers to tell stories, share history, and describe prior conditions or states. For instance, the simple past tense lets us mention a particular event (“She traveled to Italy last year”), while the past continuous emphasizes an action in progress at a past time (“She was traveling when she heard the news”). Similarly, the past perfect helps establish an order of events by indicating actions that were completed before another past moment (“She had finished her work before the meeting began”). Together, these variations create clarity and depth in descriptions, ensuring listeners or readers understand not just what happened, but also how events relate to each other in time.

Listen to the podcast we all this will become clearer and you can test your knowledge with a quiz.

Recap & Takeaways

This podcast dives deep into advanced uses of the past in English, focusing on the past perfect tense and modals in the past. Through engaging discussions and practical examples, designed for advanced learners, you’ll learn how to express regret, speculate about past events, and analyze hypothetical situations with precision and confidence. Perfect for those looking to refine their fluency and elevate their storytelling and professional communication skills.

In the podcast we ask 10 final questions to check your knowledge of past tenses, click on this link to see the answers to the quiz questions.Answers for Quiz Questions

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Do you understand the conditionals in English?

Do you understand the conditionals in English?

14, February, 2025

Episode 226: It’s time to master the conditionals in English

In this podcast, we dive into the different types of conditional tenses in English..

Welcome back to English-Podcasts. This is a great podcast to learn about the 4 conditionals in English. Conditionals are a crucial part of English grammar, and they help us talk about possibilities, hypotheses, and outcomes.. There are four main types of conditionals: Zero, First, Second, and Third. Ready to dive in? And stick around until the end of this podcast for a quiz, where you can test your knowledge of conditionals.

Notes

Join us as we explore why learning conditionals in English is like unlocking a special key to richer conversations and clearer communication. Imagine trying to explain what could happen if you study for a test, or what might have happened if you’d left home earlier—conditionals help with all that! They allow you to talk about possibilities, dreams, regrets, and even scientific facts, all with a few specific structures. Whether you’re imagining a future plan, talking about a past “what-if,” or explaining a rule, conditionals make you sound more fluent and expressive. Plus, they’re everywhere in English! From daily chats to storytelling, movies, and even music, knowing conditionals means you’re equipped to understand and join in so many more conversations. At the end of the podcast there is a test for you to check your knowledge, but the best way to learn is to make a note of useful expressions which you can use in your personal context…. and then use them. It’ll open up a whole new world!  

Recap & Takeaways

Conditionals are sentences that describe situations that could happen or might have happened under certain conditions. They often use the words if and would. In English, there are four main types of conditionals:

1. Zero Conditional

The zero conditional is used for general truths or things that are always true. We use it when one thing always leads to another.

  • Structure: If + present simple, present simple
  • Example: “If you heat water to 100°C, it boils.”

2. First Conditional

The first conditional talks about possible future events. It shows situations that can happen if a certain condition is met.

  • Structure: If + present simple, will + base verb
  • Example: “If it rains tomorrow, we will stay inside.”

3. Second Conditional

The second conditional is for imaginary or unlikely situations. It expresses what you would do if things were different.

  • Structure: If + past simple, would + base verb
  • Example: “If I had a million dollars, I would travel the world.”

4. Third Conditional

The third conditional talks about things that could have happened in the past but didn’t. It often expresses regret or hypothetical past situations.

  • Structure: If + past perfect, would have + past participle
  • Example: “If I had studied harder, I would have passed the exam.”

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The Missing Earrings; a detective story using the past tense

The Missing Earrings; a detective story using the past tense

14, February, 2025

Episode 222: The case of the missing earrings

In this podcast, you’ll hear how the past tense is used in the context of a detective story. You’ll hear questions, negatives and affirmative statements.

Welcome back to English-Podcasts In this episode we dive into grammar and in particular the past tense. Listen out as “the detective” asks Sue questions about the missing earrings. Prick up your ears for the negatives and the affirmatives phrases.

Notes

Some learners find the Past Tense quite tricky to learn but in reality  it’s just a question of practice, and learning in context is the best way. So just sit back, relax and enjoy our detective story where the detective asks Sue some uncomfortable questions.

Listen out for the pronunciation of the regular verbs ending in “ed”. These appear easy on paper but can be challenging in spoken English because the verb ending is not always clearly heard.

What are the best ways to become comfortable with the past tense ? Well, reading stories, or preferably listening to stories, is a great way. You could also practice writing a daily journal which would naturally use the past tense.

If you don’t like reading, try a quiz…… we have many, many quizzes on our site which talk about history…. and the past tense.

Try the quiz below. Enjoy !

Recap & Takeaways

This episode not only provides a humorous and engaging story but also allows listeners to practice various ways of expressing the past in English in many different ways. The mix of comedy and thought-provoking elements makes it both entertaining and educational. Look out for the questions at the end to test what you have learned

https://english-podcasts.com/paris-olympic-games-then-and-now/

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Does being bilingual make you more intelligent?

Does being bilingual make you more intelligent?

14, February, 2025

Episode 193: Does being bilingual make you more intelligent?

This podcast we take a lighthearted look at speaking more than one language; what are the advantages (pretty obvious…), but what are the drawbacks?

Does being bilingual make you more intelligent?

by English Podcasts formally known as the EFL PodBlog | Podcasts in English

Welcome back to English-Podcasts. Do you dream of speaking English? Keeping working at it and you will !! But what about those lucky people who have grown up speaking 2 languages? Listen in as Laura tell Sue about her real life experience.

Notes

Most people in the world speak more than one language, suggesting the human brain evolved to work in multiple tongues.

Around the world, more than half of people – estimates vary from 60 to 75 per cent – speak at least two languages. Many countries have more than one official national language – South Africa has 11. People are increasingly expected to speak, read and write at least one of a handful of “super” languages, such as English, Chinese, Hindi, Spanish or Arabic, as well. So to be monolingual, as many native English speakers are, is to be in the minority, and perhaps to be missing out.

Multilingualism has been shown to have many social, psychological and lifestyle advantages. Moreover, researchers are finding a swathe of health benefits from speaking more than one language, including faster stroke recovery and delayed onset of dementia.

Could it be that the human brain evolved to be multilingual – that those who speak only one language are not exploiting their full potential?

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Recap & Takeaways

This podcast is acessible for many langiage learners; it’s not complicated and there are pictures and written cues to help with comprehension.

Listen out for these words:

traumatise

benefits

toddler

average

mutlitasking

brain surgeon

juggle

 

 

 

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