What can I listen to to learn English

What can I listen to to learn English

20 October, 2023

Episode 101: What can I listen to to learn English?

Welcome, English enthusiasts, language learners, and word wizards from around the globe! You’re tuning in to the one and only English-Podcasts.com, your go-to source for leveling up your English skills, no matter where you are on your language journey. We are here to help you with ideas and tips and today, we’re going to be looking at what you can listen to to level-up and improve your English listening skills.

What can I listen to to learn English

by English-Podcasts.com | Episode 101: What can I listen to to learn English

Are you struggling with phrasal verbs? Puzzled by pronunciation? Fumbling with grammar? Lost in the maze of what is out there to listen to?Or simply looking to finesse your fluency and sound like a native?

Whether you’re an absolute beginner or an advanced learner looking to sharpen your listening skills, we are talking about YOU and what you can do to keep your listening skills as sharp as a pin!

If you are feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the content that is available on the web, on streaming services or on the radio, it can be difficult to find out what is the best way to improve your listening skills.

 Fear not! We’ve got a little something for everyone. You can pick and choose, mix and match, and discover the English that suits you best.

Notes

So, no matter where you are, whether you’re commuting, sipping tea  or coffee at home, listening on the go, or chilling at the beach, let us help give you some ideas and to navigate all of the material and resources out there. We promise to motivate, inspire, and keep you coming back for more.

Recap & Takeaways

We give you some tips on what you should be listening to along with some ideas of links that you can visit to help improve your listening.

Remember that you can suggest topics, subjects or specific learning points that you would like us to explore – and we will mention you on our podcasts, so get involved, drop us a line and let’s help you to improve your English learning!

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How to talk “footy” to football fans.

How to talk “footy” to football fans.

 Football will be in the news for a month during the World Cup 2022.

Are you able to talk “footy”? Do you know the football jargon that we hear around us in the bars? Take the opportunity this month to go to bars and start up a conversation with other people about the football matches, it’s a great way to improve your English!

In this podcast Sue puts Chris on the spot when she asks him to explain frequent football words and expressions. You’ll hear that they’re not big fans of football but they’ll make the effort for language learning 🙂 

Give yourself a pat on the back when you understand what these words mean;

To kick off  / The coin toss  / 

A goalie / to save a goal / to mark a player

To score a hattrick

A foul / a tackle / to get booked / to be sent off/ to get a red card

A peno / a penalty shootout

To park the bus

Extra time vs Injury time

…. and the language of TV football commentators

It’s a game of 2 halves

To put the game to bed

What a beauty !

They’re on the back foot

He’s bottled it

It’s an open goal / It’s an own goal

That’s a blatant handball !

“Football’s coming home” 🙂

 

Then test your memory with this Flash Quiz.

For those of you who want more, try this World Cup Football Quiz full of great vocabulary and amazing facts to entertain even the most football skeptic.

https://english-podcasts.com/the-curious-off-side-football-world-cup-quiz/

 

Listen to the podcast here.

 

Where should you go on holiday in France?

Where should you go on holiday in France?

Let us give you a helping hand in choosing your French holiday destination.

We have devised 12 questions to help you decide from all the fantastic places in France where you should spend your holidays/vacation.

Of course it’s only a guide, you may have other ideas !

It should come as no surprise to know that France is the world’s most popular tourist destination. With 89 million visitors every year, France is a head and shoulders above Spain, which comes in second, receiving 82 million visitors per year. The number 3 spot goes to the USA with 78 million. These statistics confirm that France  has been the world’s first choice holiday destination for many years.

Why? 

Well, you have a choice of mouthwatering food, medieval history, beaches, mountains, stunning landscapes, vineyards, wine, festivals and 44 UNESCO world heritage sites. 

So, how to choose where to go ? Try is fun quiz to give you some ideas.

Your holiday in France

Did you know that your personal tastes and interests reveal a lot about where you should holiday. Try this fun quiz about taking a vacation in France.  
Ozzie slang

Ozzie slang

Oz lingo PDFAs part of the Australian series, this podcast takes you into the world of real Ozzie slang…. in other words, Australian informal language.

The Ozzies are well known for shortening words, it’s part of their charm !

Even leading politicans have their names shortened; Scott Morison, the Prime Minister from 2018 to 2022 was known as Sco Mo, and the current PM, Anthony Albanese is known as Albo!

Listen as Laura tests Sue on her knowledge (or rather lack of knowledge !) about Ozzie slang.

See if you can find the Ozzie slang word for these words. For an extra challenge they are not in the order mentioned in the podcast :).

A petrol service station – A barbecue  – breakfast – a swimming costume – sunglasses –

a sandwich – the middle of nowhere- the afternoon – a biscuit – an ambulance – the plural of you

– a beer – definitely – a chicken – a department store called Woolworth – a dangerous jellyfish

a place to buy alcoholic drinks – to be devastated – a well known white wine – a sausage.

Download this Resource Sheet to help you remember the vocabulary: Ozzie slang PDF.

As a language learner, listen to how Sue asks questions when asking for clarification.

 

 

5 minute Grammar: Present Perfect Simple

5 minute Grammar: Present Perfect Simple

Welcome to 5 minute grammar

Most learners find the concept of the Present Perfect difficult to grasp. It is a particularly of the English language which takes a bit of time to get used to.

It is formed by the the auxiliary “have” plus the past participle of the verb you want to use.

Listen as we explain the main principles of how to use this tense and the examples we cite.

Before listening, take the time to think about these examples which you’ll hear in the podcast:

I have lived in Toulouse for 30 years (I still live here). Write your own example……………..

I have worked for the company for 30 years (I still work for the same company ). Write your own example…………

For a question: Have you ever been to China? (We are asking about your life experiences up to the present time). Write your own example…..

A possible answer: I have never been to China (I’m talking about my experiences up to the present time).  Write your own example …………

The weather has been warm recently (this is a recent action). Write your own example of a recent action……..

Language is What Makes Humans Unique Now take a moment to think about this example before listening:

I have learned a lot (present perfect simple) since I started (past simple) studying Spanish. Why is this ?

 

 

Go one step further and check your understanding with this quick quiz

Present Perfect Simple Quiz

 

 

How to make your English colorful – use expressions and idioms!

How to make your English colorful – use expressions and idioms!

How colorful is your language ? Do you want to sound like a native speaker ? Well in that case, you better start using expressions and idioms to make your English come alive !

Idioms are a fun part of language learning and apart from giving colour and interest to your conversation they also add humour and flair to your language skills. 

So tune in to this podcast and listen as we test each other with 15 expressions, you’ll hear that some we know well and some we don’t know at all. 

We all have specific expressions to where we live, what are your favorite idioms in your language? Let us know we’d love to hear them.

You can check your comprehension of the podcast with this great quiz.

Expressions Comprehension Quiz

 

You can also build your stock of idioms with this quiz about sporting idioms.

 Go the extra mile and listen to this podcast about expressions which William Shakespeare coined back in the 17th century and we still use today.

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