I share some of my opinions on debate questions provided to me by Chat GPT, ranging from general opinions to deeper more philosophical ones. While doing so, I share some useful vocabulary as well as phrases you can use to express your own opinions when debating or arguing. Why not respond to this podcast directly? Leave a common on the shownotes pa…

UC Riverside's Matt Gunkel at Next '24 by StateScoopBy StateScoop

Covered CA's Karen Johnson at Next '24 by StateScoopBy StateScoop

Fabio Cerpelloni chats with me on the podcast today around the topic of his new book: 'Any Language You Want: 18 Conflicting Lessons for a New Kind of Language Learner'. A collection of contradictory true personal stories in answer to "What's the best way to learn a language?" In each of the 18 chapters, Fabio -- a language learner and teacher -- s…

NJ CISO Michael Geraghty at Google Cloud Next '24 by StateScoopBy StateScoop

Rich Lavers at Google Cloud Next '24By StateScoop

Amanda Stange at Google Cloud Next '24 by StateScoopBy StateScoop

Abdullah Hammoud at Google Cloud Next '24 by StateScoopBy StateScoop

Is English more difficult to understand than other languages? This was one of the questions I asked Tree Blackmore. We talked about: - the reasons why listening is difficult - particularly in English - why English vocabulary makes listening difficult - some activities and ideas for improving listening and understanding (including one related to pro…

A listener asked me how they can teach English to their friend, so I decided to give some tips and advice in this podcast episode. I cover some tips you can do to help a friend, partner, or family member learn English - whether this is in a casual setting or a more structured lesson setting. I also cover some mistakes that many beginner teachers ma…

In this episode, listen to Luke Thompson (host of Luke's English Podcast) talk about how to really learn vocabulary - and not just stare at word lists. We talk about the importance of learning vocabulary for advanced level, the mistakes to avoid when you try to learn vocabulary, and the tools and resources you can use to make it easier. We're both …

In Episode 255, we spoke about Linking. In Episode 262, we spoke about Elision. Now, in Episode 266, we're talking all about Assimilation. This is the 3rd and final part in our connected speech series, where I look at how spoken English can change the pronunciation of certain words. If you want to speak with a natural British accent, then this is e…

If you use English for your work, "disfluencies" in English are something you should avoid. In this episode, I interview Craig Wealand, an English teacher and podcaster, who specialises in fluency, disfluency and advanced communication skills. Craig explains how disfluencies stop you from sounding professional, and gives several examples of what th…

Acronyms are words that use the first letter of each word in a phrase. NASA and LOL are two common examples from very different areas. In the age of the internet, acronyms are now a part of everyday writing and reading, but did you know some are also used in speech? In this episode, I go through some really common everyday acronyms that you need to…

A simple, but very powerful thing when you learn English is finding happiness from it - because this will help you get quicker results. It isn't just because feeling happy gives you more motivation. There are other benefits that you get when you enjoy speaking or using English. In this episode, discover: - the three extra benefits of feeling happy …

In this episode, Clare from the Smart English Coach podcast joins us for a fun chat about confidence, limiting beliefs, and language learning. We explore how confidence is so important in language learning and the steps you can take to improve this skill. We also cover interesting stories from our own language-learning experiences and answer the qu…

Do you love the rambling episodes? Well this might be for you! Today, I go over my recent trip to Japan and discuss some of the things I did, but mostly reflect on the language experience I had there. Learning Japanese, it was great to go back and practice. In this episode, I share the positives and the negatives and tie it up into some takeaways t…

On this week’s Priorities podcast, two election experts — Ted Allen, a professor at Ohio State University, and Victoria Bassetti, senior adviser at States United Democracy Center — join us to discuss voting as we head into the 2024 election season. With the U.S. 2024 presidential election 8 months away, this episode addresses how state and local go…

To choose the right English learning activities, there's one question you need to ask yourself first. Your answer will help you to avoid spending hours on the wrong activities, and not making the progress you want. Your answer will also help you to create the best learning plan for you, and to develop the right habits which will get you to your goa…

Textbook English is different from spoken English, and a big part of this comes down to pronunciation and how things are said in real conversations. This is Part 2 in my series on pronunciation, where we first looked at Linking in Episode 255, and now we're looking at Elision. These are both features of connected speech that share some similarities…

I get a few requests to continue my series on Phrasal Verbs, and specifically, I had one recently to cover phrasal verbs that use the verb 'turn'. I thought of as many common ones as I could and made a list, and then I went through my memories to recount some memorable travel stories from my life. While doing so, I used these 'turn' phrasal verbs i…

If I told you that there are an estimated 25,000 idioms in English, would you want to learn them? It seems an impossible task, but idioms are a fantastic and imaginative way to explain your feelings and thoughts in a concise - and often funny - way. They aren't just for speaking, either. You'll see them everywhere: in articles, news stories - and o…

Dylan (from the YouTube channel British Education) joined me for a fun games session today. We're using games to have a conversation and practice English, and we encourage you to play along too. If you have a teacher or language partner, we also encourage you to try these games for yourself. We actually recorded for about 2 hours together, but I cu…

Since this episode falls on Valentine's Day, let's discuss the topic of Love and Relationships. I'll be basing this episode around a group class I taught before where we discuss some questions related to relationships, such as having a long and happy marriage, and how to break up with someone. I also have the help of Chat GPT who gives some brillia…

Getting to an advanced English level can change your life. It's a really useful goal to have - but what does it mean? In this episode, find out: - how you can define 'advanced English' - three ways to improve your English when you already know a lot - why English development is personal development My students are achieving amazing career and life …

Just a few days into 2024, I already made 2 very big and expensive mistakes. In this episode, I share what happened and exactly why I made these mistakes, and then I talk about some possible lessons that I should learn from these mistakes. I also spend a bit more time discussing the importance of making mistakes and the right mindset to have when i…

In this episode, we're taking a deep dive into Blue Zones - 5 areas around the world where people live a long time with great health. I'll be sharing my uneducated views on why this might be, but also looking at the Power 9 - 9 reasons why researchers believe life expectancy is so long in these places. For those of you who want to learn some new En…

How can you sound professional and confident when you speak English? What makes your sentences beautiful, powerful and impressive? In this episode (inspired by one of my students), I share three tips for making beautiful English sentences! I've also got some more advanced tips for you to try. Say 'bye-bye' to boring, 'adios' to uninspiring, and 'au…

Bree Aesie from Into The Stories Podcast joins us today for a conversation about meditation and stories. This was one of my favourite conversations yet, packed with lots of life lessons as well as English learning tips and motivation. Since Bree's podcast is all about looking at stories, we start by turning the tables on Bree and I ask her to share…

Textbook English is different from spoken English, and a big part of this comes down to pronunciation and how things are said in real conversations. You may understand English learner material easily, but then really struggle when it comes to watching TV or movies. What I discuss in this episode may be the reason why. This is the first part of a se…

There are obvious advantages for learning languages - particularly for your brain. And of course, learning English has lots of other benefits too. A better-paying job, greater study opportunities, international networking are all examples. But then there are the life-changing advantages of learning English. These are things that I'm seeing more and…

I answer listener questions on all sorts of topics - ranging from British culture to the fairness of life! And of course, English language questions too. It was a fun episode and you all gave great questions. I always enjoy these episodes because they feel a bit more casual and laid-back compared to the usual ones. If you want to ask a question for…

In this conversation with Michael Lavers, from the Level Up English Podcast, discover some of the secrets for successful English learning: - how to be more confident (even if you think you're too 'old' to learn English well) - the importance of your body and posture for successful learning - if the 'fake it til you make it' approach is useful - the…

Let's look at some conjunctions (also known as connectives) to help improve your conversation and debating skills in English. Conjunctions are an effective way to make your sentences more complex and sound much more natural - rather than simply using a string of short, simple sentences. We'll also be looking at more phrases, such as adverbs. In thi…

Welcome back to one of my favourite episodes of the year - one filled with reflections and goal-setting at the end of the year. I love this time of year because it's a natural rest point for thinking about how the previous year has gone, and what we'd like to change going forward. It's a great time to think about your goals and progress with your E…

Gregory Diehl is an English teacher and author of the new book: Our Global Lingua Franca: An Educator’s Guide to Spreading English Where EFL Doesn’t Work. It's a fascinating book looking at Gregory's experience teaching in many countries all around the world from Thailand to Iran, and we talk about this extensively in this episode. We talk about wh…

Let's learn to use hypothetical situations with confidence in this episode on Mixed Conditionals. It's been a long-time suggestion from listeners, and I've finally decided to get to it. I cover some different types of conditional structures in a casual way, and ask you questions to think about making your own sentences. I hope you find this episode…

In this week's episode of the Level Up English podcast, we dive into the fascinating world of statistics. Prepare to be amazed by some truly unbelievable facts! I'll start by covering a few random statistics, ranging from sleeping with a teddy bear and not washing your hands. You'll be shocked at some of these! We'll then talk about the UK specific…

Learning English can be very "up and down". When it goes well, you feel confident and motivated, but sometimes it's hard to see your progress. Other times, something doesn't go well, and you lose confidence. At times like this, it really helps to have an 'achievement diary'. In this episode, I share why an achievement diary helps you see progress i…

Over the past few months, I've been meticulously tracking my language learning process for Japanese, Thai, and Chinese Mandarin on a Google Sheets doc. In this episode, I discuss the results of this data and we look together at the graphs that represent my study time. There are some really interesting patterns and trends that I can learn from, and …

It isn't 'perfect English' that will get you the dream job in an international company. Being able to communicate in English is obviously important, but there are other things that an interviewer wants to see or hear. In this podcast episode, I share three 'truths' about interviews which will help you to be more confident. I also share details abou…

If working in an international company is your ambition, this episode is for you! An essential part of getting a high-paid role (with the career development opportunities you want) is the job interview. The good news is that you don't have to memorise "perfect answers" to hundreds of possible interview questions. In fact, there are only a few types…

Paul Creane joined me today to talk about his exciting lifestyle of being a Digital Nomad. We talk about what this means in the episode as well as lots of other useful terms related to this topic. We also cover what it's like to live in a van, travel in Asia, Housesitting, and all the apps and platforms Paul uses to help him live the life he does. …

I am a big fan of reading for the purpose of learning a language as well, of course as listening, which is why I make podcasts. If you want to improve both of your listening and reading as well as your vocabulary, then this should be a good resource for you today. In today’s episode, Ariel Goodbody will tell you a story, but pre-teach some of the h…

This episode is for you if you're worried about sounding too simple when you use English. For example, if you always use basic grammar or vocabulary, or if your everyday phrases seem too elementary. In this episode, I have a few ideas about basic English! You'll discover: - a problem with making basic mistakes in English (it's all about other peopl…

In this episode, I will be talking about the IELTS Speaking exam. I know the IELTS exam isn't going to be relevant for everyone, although I always like to mention that preparing for the exam can also be great practice for English in a general sense. I'm sure those who have taken the exam before will agree that their English improved during the proc…

Estefania, who's from Spain, now trains Spanish people to work in the UK aviation industry. In this episode, she gives her advice for passing an English interview for aviation roles, and also shares some of the ways she immersed herself in English while living in a non-English speaking country. If you also aspire to work in aviation, you can follow…

Over the years doing this podcast, the topic of exercise seems to have come up a lot when making comparisons to language learning, so I thought it was about time I made an episode where I talk all about it. In this episode, I talk about exercise and some of the benefits, teach you some useful expressions, and make some links on how exercise and lan…

I get comments occasionally from people who say “I want to be like a native speaker” and “I don’t want to learn from non-native speakers. In this episode, I'll argue the benefits of learning from non-native speakers as well as natives, and not closing yourself off from learning. The main thesis here is to stay open-minded in language learning and I…

In this episode, I have a great and casual chat with Zhifei from​ Xiaogua Chinese about language learning, using flashcards, the best mindset for learners, getting a good English accent, and much more! We also talk about my own Chinese learning methods and share ideas on the best way to learn two languages at once. There's a lot of useful informati…