All Ears English Podcast | Real English Vocabulary | Conversation | American Culture

Come have a conversation with Lindsay and Michelle in the comments section of our blog! Come back to: http://www.allearsenglish.com/295 Get your free IELTS Cheat Sheet: http://www.allearsenglish.com/evaluation   Today you’ll get six ways to check on someone’s progress in a non-pushy way in English! Do you ever want to get the status of someone’s progress on a project or an assignment but do you get confused about how to ask without making the person feel pressured? Today you’ll find out how to do it successfully in English.   Ways to check on progress: “How’s it going? I look forward to receiving the files.” “Any updates? ” How are things progressing?” “How are things moving forward?” “How are things going?” “Do you need any feedback on anything?” “Do you want me to check your work?” Slightly more direct ways to check on progress: “What’s your timeline?” “How’s your timeline looking?” “I just wanted to check in. When do you think you’ll be able to get that done?”   What other phrases do you use wh

Come back to our blog and have a conversation with us! Go to http://www.allearsenglish.com/294 Get your FREE IELTS Cheat Sheet: http://www.allearsenglish.com/evaluation   April Fool’s Day is coming up later this week. Are you ready for it? How do you celebrate April Fool’s Day in your culture? Today you’ll learn what many Americans do on April Fool’s Day and you’ll get a few new vocabulary words for this day. It’s common to play jokes on friends and colleagues at work or at college in the United States. It’s especially common in colleges because students live together with their friends in dormitories.   Vocabulary for April Fool’s Day: Gullible: To trust people and believe things that people say, even if those things are not true. Practical Joke: A joke that you play on someone (not a spoken joke). You act out this kind of joke. A prank: A practical joke, a joke that is acted out Gag gift: A silly gift that is not meant to be serious but is meant to be a joke   What should you do if someone plays a joke

Come back to our site and let's have a conversation about this episode in the comments section: http://allearsenglish.com/aee-293-how-to-learn-english-the-way-a-child-learns-to-walk/   Today is a Deep Thoughts Thursday and we have an inspiring quote for you!   Let’s talk about success.       Here is the quote:   “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.”   -Winston Churchill     We can apply this quote to a lot of different aspects of our lives like learning English, dating, and our career paths.   We have to keep going and take on new challenges with a positive attitude even if we have failed many times in the past.   Try to avoid feeling bitter when you take on a challenge and try again.       What do you think about this quote?   Do you keep your heart open and stay enthusiastic when you try again with something?   Leave us a comment below and let’s discuss it! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Come back to our site and talk about fashion with us! http://allearsenglish.com/how-to-talk-about-fashion-in-english   What is your fashion style?   Would you like to be able to talk about fashion in English in a more sophisticated way?   Today you’ll get to expand your English fashion vocabulary in this episode with Lindsay and Michelle.   Fashion Vocabulary:       1) Umbrella term= Bag   Purse Backpack Satchel Handbag Pocketbook Evening bag Clutch Wristlet 2) Umbrella term= Shoes   Sneakers Tennis shoes Walking shoes Boots Hiking boots Heels Flats Sandals Birkenstocks   3) Umbrella term= Shirt   T-shirt Blouse Tank Top (Spaghetti straps, sleeveless) Sweater Sweatshirt Hoodie (hooded sweatshirt) 4) Umbrella term= Jacket   Coat (heavier than a jacket) Ski jacket Leather jacket Peacoat     What do you think? How do you know when someone is fashionable? What is your fashion style? Share it with us in the comments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoice

Do you use a lot of English slang in your everyday conversations with natives? In today’s episode you’ll find out how to use the words “crazy” and “insane” as slang words in conversations. How to use the word “crazy” in a slang form:   “I know someone who’s totally crazy because he still hitchhikes.” It was crazy for us to hitchhike. Those were my crazy days.” “Are you crazy about your boyfriend?” “What is the craziest thing you have ever done?”   The slang words “crazy” and “insane” mean wild and out of control. They could also mean unexpected or out of control. The words are also used a lot in song lyrics, especially love songs. If you use these words in a literal way to describe someone who is mentally ill it is rude. Instead you could say that they are “mentally disabled” or “mentally handicapped” or “mentally challenged.”   Have you ever tried using these slang words in your English conversations? Share your questions with us in the comments below. Let’s talk! Come back to allearsenglish.com/291 Lea

Come back to http://allearsenglish.com/288 Do you ever get confused about whether or not you should tip in an American restaurant?   Do you wonder how much to leave?   When to leave it?   Today you’ll get insider information from Michelle, who used to be a waitress at an American restaurant.   In the United States you MUST tip in a restaurant. Servers only make a few dollars per hour.   They rely on your tips.   How much should you tip?   You should tip 18-20%. However, you do have a choice when it comes to leaving a tip. If you have bad service then you can tip less.   If the waitress is slow or has a bad attitude then you don’t have to leave a lot of money as a tip.   It’s up to you.   When should you leave the tip?   If you pay with a credit card they take your card and come back with a receipt and the receipt has a place to write in the tip and the total and then you need to sign the receipt before you leave.   If you are paying in cash it’s ok to leave the cash on the table but put it under a cup or a pl

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Come back to http://www.allearsenglish.com/287 Do you ever get into trouble during English phone conversations? This is one of the biggest challenge for English students, especially at work. Today we will show you how to get out of trouble if you aren’t understanding someone on the phone. We’ll give you 8 things to do before or during the call to get the help you need.   How to Rescue Your Phone Call:  Practice to listening to natives as much as possible in your daily life (podcasts, sitcoms, the news on TV) Ask the person to help you: “I’m sorry. I’m having trouble understanding you. Would you (be able to ) say that again?” “Could you repeat that (for me) please?” “Would you mind slowing down a bit? It’s hard to hear you.” Ask the person to follow up with a summary of the conversation by email See if it’s ok to record the conversation Breathe deeply before you get on the call with a native speaker   It’s important not to be ashamed if you can’t understand someone in English on the phone. Don’t prete

Come back to http://www.allearsenglish.com/286 Are you going abroad sometime soon? Have you set an intention for your time abroad? In today’s episode Lindsay talks with Norman Viss, an expat coach who helps his clients make the most of their time abroad by setting intentions. How can setting intentions make your life abroad more fulfilling? Think about what kind of expat you are and decide how that will shape your expat life: Are you a foreign assignee? Has your company moved you abroad to work? Are you an international student or former international student? Are you a “love-pat”? (someone who has gone abroad because they have met a partner, are you a traveling spouse? Are you a “greener pastures expat”? This is someone who has gone abroad to find a better place to live including retirees. Set goals and don’t just “go with the flow” Do you want to learn a language? Be realistic about what will be possible based on the amount of time that you will be abroad. Be intentional about what kinds of friendsh

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Will you be visiting Ottawa someday? Today, meet Kathleen from Canada, and get 3 phrases to connect with locals in the capital city, Ottawa!   Canada is a multicultural and diverse country, and Ottawa is a micro version of that. It’s a city of one million inhabitants and numerous languages. It is also a city in touch with nature. With four distinct seasons, Ottawa has something for everyone. Though Canada and the United States have some similarities, they also have many differences. Among these are some subtle differences in using the English language. This includes pronunciation and some commonly used phrases.   Here are Kathleen’s top Canadian phrases to help you blend in when you’re in Ottawa! I’m sorry: Canadians are known for being very polite. In fact, the culture can be so polite it becomes apologetic. Sometimes Canadians will begin a sentence, “I’m sorry,” even if they did nothing wrong and aren’t apologizing for anything. Out and About: This means to go exploring or to check something out. A Canadi

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Are you dating in English? Today, we welcome back dating expert Jessica Coyle to give you four easy topics for conversation when dating!   Conversation can be tricky on a first date. You might be nervous, and it can be hard to know what’s safe to talk about. Jessica has a great acronym to help you with simple, safe discussion topics. It’s FORD, and it stands for: Friends: If you have mutual friends, ask how your date met them. Or, if you don’t have mutual friends, ask if your date knows anybody in the area where you’re meeting. Occupation: Asking about another person’s job is usually a good conversation starter. You might say, “What do you do with your time?” That way, if your date happens to be unemployed, they are still able to give an answer. Recreation: Ask about what somebody likes to do for fun. You might follow up by asking, “How often do you get to do that?” Dreams: This is good for asking hypothetical questions. You could ask things like “Where do you see yourself in ten years?” or “What would yo

Are you looking for an authentic English conversation? In Part 2 of today’s episode, Lindsay and Mo break down their unrehearsed, first time meeting from Part 1, and talk about what it means to you learning English!   In Part 1 of this episode, Lindsay met Mo.  They hadn’t met before and didn’t know what was going to come up in their spontaneous conversation. Now, in Part 2, the two of them discuss what worked, and what didn’t.   Some of the discussion points in Part 2: How can you feel confident in English conversations? How can you be respectful about gender and other differences when meeting someone new? How can you allow your true curiosity about the other person come out even though your English isn’t perfect?   What did you get out of this conversation? Share your thoughts in the comments section below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you looking for an authentic English conversation? In Part 3 of today’s episode, Mo will show you three ways to develop authentic, bulletproof confidence when you speak English with his unique method!   In Part 1 and 2 of this episode, Lindsay and Mo had an authentic English conversation and analyzed what worked, and what didn’t.  Now, in Part 3, Mo discusses Be in English, his method for learning how to have the best conversations possible in English.   Here are the main principles of the Be in English system: 1. If you know enough English to listen to this podcast, you can discuss anything in English! By using creativity, you are capable of joining a conversation and having a voice. 2. Be aware of your self-consciousness and shame about not speaking perfect English. Accept it, realize that your English will never be “perfect,” but don’t get too close to the idea. 3. Work with “naked listening.” That is, listen closely to a recording of English. Listen several times if necessary until you can distinguish

Are you looking for an authentic English conversation? Today, listen to Part 1 of a real, authentic example of two people using English to get to know each other!    In Part 1 of this episode, Lindsay meets Mo.  Mo is from New Zealand but has lived all over the world. He currently lives in Germany and teaches English. The two of them talk about this, and about learning a language and living in a different culture. Some of the discussion points in Part 1: Why do people want to learn English? How can they be relaxed enough to learn it? Is it okay to accept that you’ll never be a native speaker?   What did you get out of this conversation? Share your thoughts in the comments section below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How can you remember other people’s names? Today, learn three tactics to remember names in English, and why it’s important to do so! A name is a person’s most basic possession and part of their identity. It’s the sweetest sound to their ears. For this reason, Alan Headbloom believes it’s important to get a person’s name right, and to show an interest in it. But it’s not always easy to do that, especially with names you are unfamiliar with.   Here are Alan’s tips for remembering new names: If a name is unfamiliar, ask them to repeat it. This helps you learn their name and also shows a respectful commitment to learning it. Simply say, “Your name is a little difficult for me, but I’d really like to get it right. Could you say it again?” Ask for their business card. This works best in a business context, though students may also have business cards. Reading the name might make it easier to remember. Make up a pneumonic, or memory aid. Think of what the unfamiliar name sounds like in your native language and us

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Do you use reading to advance your English? Today, learn 3 ways to do it with italki teacher Arianne!   Come back to our site for more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Do you know how to interrupt others in English? Today, learn how interruption is a part of American speaking culture, and how you can participate!   Americans often interrupt each other. It can appear rude, and can cause frustration, but it happens. Don’t take it personally. Instead, learn how it works so you can take part in this aspect of spoken American English culture. There are many phrases you can use when being interrupted, or when interrupting others. Some of them include: Sorry or Oops: These might be said not only by the person doing the interrupting, but also by the person who is interrupted. Go ‘head (ahead) and No, you go: These phrases permit the other person to interrupt you. No problem: This indicates that you are okay with the interruption that just occurred.   Other common interruption phrases include: What was that? Uh huh. Oh?   What other ways have you heard Lindsay and Michelle interrupt each other on past episodes of All Ears English? Tell us in the comments section below! Learn