All Ears English Podcast

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Mother’s Day was yesterday in the United States.

When is Mother’s Day in your culture?

Today you’ll find out how we celebrate Mother’s Day and you’ll find out what you should say to your mom today.

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Today we have a quote!

“Holding back is so close to stealing.” – Neil Young

To hold back means to withhold or to not do something or to not give something.

This episode is about taking chances in our lives.

You may feel like you can’t be yourself in English.

Maybe you are funny in your native language but you don’t know how to be funny in English so you hold back.

But if you do that then you are “stealing” from the moment as this quote says.

What do you think?

When have you erred on the side of perfection and protection by protecting yourself and when have you erred on the side of connection by taking a chance?

Let us know in the comments below.

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Do you think it’s important to obsess over something to become successful at it?

Another way to say it is ” to have tunnel vision.”

Another word for obsession could be “focus” but it has more of a positive connotation.

When we get really focused we have to be careful of burnout.

We could get exhausted.

When it comes to learning English you should chunk down the learning into bite-sized pieces and be sure that you are learning in a way that is fun for you.

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Do you know how to leave a great voicemail in English?

Today you’ll get the 5 steps that you need to follow to leave a great voicemail. Listen to the sample role plays in today’s episode to hear what your message should sound like.

Here are the steps:

1) Greeting: “Hi it’s Lindsay” or “Hey it’s Michelle”

2) Why are you calling: “I just wanted to talk with you about tomorrow’s meeting” or “I’m calling to catch up.”

3) What they should do next: “Would you get back to me when you can” or “Give me a call whenever you’re free”

4) Your phone number: “My number is 359-284-9856″ or “You can reach me at 617-593-0952

5) Say goodbye: “Hope you’re having a good day” or “Take care” or “Have a great one”

Here are a few other tips:

1) Make sure they know how to get back to you

2) Don't ramble, don't go on and on, don't leave a long message, make it concise and tight and to the point

3) Do leave a message- don't call and hang up, it's better to leave a message with some grammar mistakes than it is to not leave a message and not connect with the person

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Do you know how to naturally talk about what you want in English?

Native speakers use the verb “to want” in the past tense when we are making a request in the present tense.

For example, you might call a colleague and say ” I wanted to confirm our lunch appointment for today.”

This makes the message a bit more polite and more indirect.

We think it’s also used more commonly for women.

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What makes you come alive?

To “come alive” means to become energized and excited about something.

Here is the question:

“Each day wake up and ask yourself, what will make you feel most alive that day.”

What makes you feel happier?

What makes you feel smaller or less alive?

We all owe it to ourselves to think about this every day.

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English acronyms are fun and easy when it comes text messaging and emailing but you need to know what impression you give the person when you use them!

Today we’ll show you some common English acronyms and what impression they create. We’ll also give you some alternatives.

Here are some common acronyms in English when we send text messages:

• LOL (“Laughing out loud”)- A lot of people get annoyed by this one. This could be used in a text message. A good alternative is “haha”

• TTYL (“Talk to you later”)- This one also sounds really young. A more mature alternative is “talk soon” or “talk to you soon” or actually writing out “talk to you later”
• SMH (“Shaking My Head”)- This is a newer acronym. You can use this when you disapprove of something that someone has done.
• OMG: (“Oh my gosh”)- This can also be annoying. Other options are: “Oh wow” or “I can’t believe it.”

Which acronyms have you used?

Let us know in the comments below.

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Do you know what to say to someone after a good or a bad date in English?

Today you will find out from our favorite dating consultant, Jessica Coyle.

You’ll also get some new English dating vocabulary and terms that you can use in the real world!

What should we do if we have just had a good date:

(1) Send a text message that evening and say:

• “I had a really nice time.”
• “Had a great time tonight. (I) Would like to see you again.”
• “It was really nice meeting you, let’s hit up (go to) the MOMA.”
• “Thanks so much for a great time.”
• “I enjoyed meeting you.”

(2) Jessica likes to research the person online after a good first date to find out more about the person.

If you had a bad date you can say:

• “I didn’t feel any chemistry but best of luck.”
• “I got more of a friend vibe.”

Key vocab from today:

• To ghost someone: To disappear and stop communicating after you have been on a date
• To do the fade-away: Similar to ghosting (see above)
• A vibe: A general feeling or impression
• To go Dutch: To split the bill

Jessica’s Bio:

Jessica Coyle has been teaching English since 2007.

She received her Master’s in TESOL in 2013, finishing with a professional project researching the use of improvisational comedy teaching techniques to teach English as a second language.

She has studied and performed improv comedy all over Korea, China, Canada and the United States.

She writes a dating blog called Hopeful Disasters.

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Today you’ll find out why staying in the same place will never get you to where you want to go and how to make an effective change quickly and easily.

Here it today’s quote:

“To get something you never had you have to do something you never did.”

-Unknown

“If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.”

-Tony Robbins

It’s so easy to get into a habit but we have to step back and ask ourselves if our habits are creating the results that we want.

Time goes by fast.

We often realize that we have been doing the same thing for years and we haven’t achieved our goals.

Here are some examples of our goals:

• Michelle’s new goal: She wants to build upper body strength. How is she working towards the goal? She is using resistance bands at her home a few times every week.
• Lindsay’s new goal: She wants to deepen her meditation practice. She has started going to her meditation center every morning.

What about you?

What are you going to change after listening to today’s episode?

What change do you want to create in your life?

Tell us in the comments below

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Today we have our dating consultant, Jessica Coyle, back on the show!

Today Jessica is back to talk about the concept of chemistry in dating in urban US culture.

Jessica is going to tell us how to know if we actually have chemistry with someone.

Chemistry: A magnetic pull between two people where you seem to understand the other person and something is different about that person to you.

 Two different types of chemistry:

• Slow burn chemistry: You start out as friends and then chemistry and attraction gradually builds over time. Features of the other person that seemed strange or unattractive initially start to become endearing and attractive.
• Quick chemistry/limerance: This is more of an infatuation. Jessica thinks that online dating and set ups reward this type of attraction. These connections can be really intense at first and then can fizzle out and not end well. At the same time, sometimes these attractions can work in the long run.

What about in your culture?

What are your deal breakers when it comes to dating?

In your culture, how much influence do your parents and family have when it comes to your choice of a partner?

Here are some dating vocabulary words that we talked about today:

• Limerance
• Lukewarm feelings
• Slow burn chemistry
• Quirks (personality and physical)
• Deal breakers
• Red Flag

Jessica Coyle has been teaching English since 2007.

She received her Master’s in TESOL in 2013, finishing with a professional project researching the use of improvisational comedy teaching techniques to teach English as a second language.

She has studied and performed improv comedy all over Korea, China, Canada and the United States.

How to find Jessica Online:

Her dating blog: https://hopefuldisasters.wordpress.com/

Let us know your thoughts on this topic.

What are your deal breakers?

How important is chemistry when it comes to dating in your home culture?

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Today we have a special guest on the show!

Our guest will challenge your assumption that SPEAKING is the most important part of learning English.

Julian sees learning languages as a simple, two-step process:

Step 1: Learn the language that we need for our specific situation

Step 1: Apply the language and use it

Julian’s 3 Tips- How to Keep it Practical:

• Try to do many different kinds of things in the language: English is a process. Spend time with it. You can’t HAVE it. You can’t GET it. You need to constantly maintain it. Julian says that there is no difference between “experiencing” the language and “learning” the language, as far as your brain is concerned. By experiencing the language in many different ways, we can acquire chunks of English which will help us to sound more native-like. You should try to encounter the language through reading, speaking, listening, writing, etc. Get a more well-rounded experience of the language instead of just focusing on speaking.

• Try to get a balance between intensive activity and relaxed exposure: Some of your work should be deliberate, focused, practical, intensive study. At the same time, some of your work should be a more relaxed encounter with the language. You need to take it in in a way that is enjoyable and easy. You could try listening to music in the language or watching TV. The key is getting a balance between the two forms of learning.

• Focus on things which are useful to YOU: Exclude things that aren’t useful to you. Don’t bother to learn things that you won’t need to use. According to Julian, we don’t become fluent in English. We become fluent in specific topics such as cooking, law, politics, art, etc. Choose your focus and pursue English in that area. Drop the idea of becoming “fluent” in English in general.

Julian’s Bio:

Our guest today is an English teacher from England, living in Japan. He is the father of three bilingual children, is halfway through a PhD program in Psycholinguistics and used his insight about language learning to go from speaking poor Japanese in 2008 to being a translator in 2010. Our guest today is Julian from DoingEnglish.com

What do you think?

Have you focused down on one specific area of English learning?

What area are you focusing on?

Let us know in the comments!

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Most people think that forgiveness is weakness but today we’ll challenge your perspective with an awesome quote!

Do you have any enemies?

Do you have any “frenemies”?

Here is today’s quote for a Deep Thoughts Thursday: “Always forgive your enemies. Nothing annoys them so much.”

– Oscar Wilde

What does this quote mean?

This quote is somewhat “cheeky” and it says that if we want to annoy our enemies even more, we can forgive them.

Also, the quote is telling us that it’s better for us to forgive.

It helps us lead healthier lives.

When you have an enemy you carry a lot of negative energy around and it takes up space in your body and in your brain.

According to Mayoclinic.org, the benefits of forgiveness include:

• Stronger immune system
• Less anxiety
• Lower blood pressure

A few great vocabulary words from today’s episode:

• Frenemy: “Friend” + “enemy”= someone that you care about and you are there for them but you can’t get along with them on an everyday basis and many things about that person bother you.
• To hold a grudge: You keep thinking about something that someone did to you, you hold on to your anger. You don’t move on.

Do you have someone to forgive?

What is holding you back from forgiving that person?

Share your experience in the comments.

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Jessica is the author of Hopeful Disasters where she explores dating in New York City.

She is also an ESL teacher in New York City.

Check out her blog here!

When you meet someone for the first time in English, whether it’s a date or just a first-time meeting with a friend or colleague, there are certain topics that you should NEVER discuss.

Today you’ll find out what they are with our favorite AEE dating consultant, Jessica Coyle.

A few weeks ago we talked about what four things you SHOULD talk about on a first date in English or at a first meeting but today we’ll show you what you should avoid.

4 Topics to AVOID on a first date or first meeting in English:

• Politics: You can casually mention your political interests but don’t get drawn into a political debate or discussion. Jessica calls this “quicksand” because you can start to sink and you’ll get stuck and you won’t be able to get out of it. It’s better to bring up this topic once you already know someone well and after you know their triggers well.
• Age: You should definitely avoid asking the person their exact age. Also, this means that you should not ask people about their timeline in terms of when they want to get married or have kids. It’s too direct and too intense for a first date or first conversation. You might terrify the person if start asking these questions too early.
• Religion: You probably have a rough idea of your date’s religion and it will be important later but it’s too personal to get into during a first date. It’s ok to share your own religion if you want to but don’t ask the person directly what their religion is.
•  Education: This is tricky. Jessica says that the goal in not asking this question is to avoid coming off as arrogant or judgmental. If you ask the person where they went to school or how many degrees they have, it will be clear that you are fishing for information regarding their intelligence or social status. You might make the other person feel bad if you ask this question. Try to figure out if there is an intellectual connection instead.

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What is the difference between being original and imitating?

What will get you further in life?

Today is a Deep Thoughts Thursday so we have a quote:

“It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.”

-Herman Melville

What does this mean for English learners?

Don’t follow a formula.

Be creative with your words.

Don’t focus too much on being perfect.

Get creative with your tone of voice.

Learn different ways to say different things.

Check out this episode about the Zone of Genius.

Where does this quote resonate with you?

Let us know in the comments.

We want to hear from you!

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Do you feel like you never get a chance to speak English?

Even when you attend an English class or work with an English tutor do you leave the class feeling like you haven’t spoken at all?

If so, then you are not alone.

A lot of students feels this way.

Today we have a guest, Jason Newnum, who is an American English teacher.

He teaches on the italki platform and he is available for lessons now!

Jason has a special class called “Student Speaks, Teacher Listens.”

Why did Jason create this class?

Jason created this class because when he took Spanish classes he noticed that he was not getting much speaking practice at all.

He felt discouraged and didn’t get much better.

He realized that the same problem was happening with English students.

Jason wants to solve this problem.

Why is Jason’s class different?

• He makes sure that students talk more, about 80% of the time
• He feels comfortable being quiet, he doesn’t get nervous like other teachers do sometimes when they are nervous so he doesn’t fill that space with meaningless chatter

A typical class with Jason:

• He asks you what’s new with you
• He gives you a short article or video clip and asks for your opinion
• He asks great follow-up questions- directly related to YOU and YOUR experiences
• He writes out your mistakes in the Skype chat box so that you have a record of your mistakes

Jason’s Bio:

Jason Newnum teaches English as a second language, in Bariloche, Argentina, and lives there with his family. Although he received his university degree in Spanish and now lives in a Spanish speaking country, his Argentine wife speaks English and Spanish equally. So it’s difficult to force himself to practice Spanish, when it’s easier to speak English with his wife. So he understands the frustrations of having to force ourselves to practice a foreign language everyday.

Do you have this problem with your English class?

Are you planning to try Jason’s class?

If so, let us know when you are going to get started with Jason.

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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 when you want to check on someone’s progress?

Let us know in the comments below.

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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 on you?

Don’t take it too seriously.

Laugh at it.

Have a good time.

Leave a message in the comments.

How do you celebrate April Fool’s Day?

Let us know.

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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 plate.

What if you are with a large party? (A group of 6 or more people):

In this case gratuity (tip) is usually included.

It’s added into the bill before you get the bill.

Make sure you ask if you don’t know if it has already been included.

In other episodes we will talk about tipping in a bar, a cafe, the hair salon, a taxi, etc.

What is your opinion when it comes to leaving tips in the US?

Have you ever made a mistake with this?

Do you have any additional questions? Please ask us in the comments below.

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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 pretend to understand when you don’t.

Use one of our strategies above to save your English conversations on the phone.

What other tactics have you tried to rescue your English conversations?

Share them with us in the comments!

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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 friendships you want while you are abroad.
• What are your areas of interest? Do you like desserts? Sports? Do you like history? What kind of focus will you have during your time abroad? Will you create a theme for your life abroad?
• What about your work? What professional goals do you want to accomplish while you are abroad?
• Consider how your life will look after your time abroad:
• What do you want your life to look like after you return from abroad?
• What about retirement? If you are going abroad in your 40’s or 50’s then it’s a good idea to think about the future after your time abroad.

The key to a happy life abroad is being intentional!

Let us know in the comments below if you have been intentional in your life abroad and how it has affected your experience abroad.

Norman Viss put down roots in Nigeria (10 years) and the Netherlands (22 years).

He has worked for mission organizations, churches and in the public sector for the City of Amsterdam.

He holds B.A. and Master’s degrees, with majors in cross-cultural and urban studies and theology; he is also an ICF- credentialed coach.

Currently he runs an online business coaching expats around the world (Expat Everyday Support Center) and serves part-time as a clergyman in the Philadelphia area in the USA. Norman is a thankful husband, father and grandfather.

Visit Norman’s coaching website at expateverydaysupportcenter.com

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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 Canadian might say “Let’s go out and about,” or “I was out and about.”
• Eh?: Often, this word is used the way an American might use the words “right?” or “huh?” It shows agreement or clarification with other people. You might hear someone say, “That was a great show, eh?”

Are you going to Ottawa, or Canada?

Have you ever been there?

Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

Kathleen is a native English speaker from Ottawa, Canada. She has been teaching and tutoring students in English and beginner French for over three years in Asia, Latin America and Canada. She also speaks French and Spanish, and so understands the challenges and joys of learning a new language. In her experience, conversation is the best way to improve language skills.

Kathleen has worked and continues to work in the areas of community development, and is currently completing her Bachelor of Education. This summer she will be teaching in Ulaanbataar, Mongolia. She loves meeting people from different cultures and learning new languages.

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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 you do if you had a billion dollars?”

People love talking about themselves, so being interested in others is what might make you more interesting to them. When starting a conversation, don’t just ask a list disconnected questions. Follow-up with the other person’s answers to show that you are listening to what they are saying.

Are you dating in English?

What are your experiences?

Tell us how it’s going in the comments section below!

Jessica Coyle has been teaching English since 2007. She received her Master’s in TESOL in 2013, finishing with a professional project researching the use of improvisational comedy teaching techniques to teach English as a second language. She has studied and performed improv comedy all over Korea, China, Canada and the United States.

How to find Jessica Online:

Her dating blog: https://hopefuldisasters.wordpress.com/

Her comedy podcast: NY Pacific

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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!

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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 every sound. Practicing this will change your orientation to listening.

You can find and work with Mo Riddiford and his Be in English system on italki.

What do you think about the Be in English system?

Share your thoughts in the comments section below!

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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!

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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 use that to help you remember. This is a way to bridge your language and English.

Alan suggests you also learn common names in the English-speaking world, and that you try asking others if their names have any special meanings or significances.

How do you deal with learning new names?

Share your experiences in the comments section below!

Alan Headbloom is an intercultural trainer, a professional English teacher and a talk show host. He frequently appears as a speaker on topics such as cultural diversity and workplace inclusion. He lives in Michigan, USA where he and his wife produce the show Feel Like You Belong, a show about immigrants creating a new life in the United States.

Visit Alan’s Website: Feel Like You Belong and Alan Headbloom- Cross Cultural Communication

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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.

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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!

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Why is dating in a big American city so difficult?

Today, returning guest Jessica Coyle talks about some of the obstacles, and shares 3 tips to improve your odds of success!

Come back to our site for more

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What is the IELTS English exam?

Who takes it, and why?

Today, Lindsay and Jessica discuss all the basics of the IELTS exam!

Taking IELTS?

Get our free IELTS video course now

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How can you achieve English fluency where you live?

Today, find out why you don’t have to live in an English-speaking country to become fluent in English!

Come back to our site for more

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Do you know the difference between “by” and “until”?

Today, learn how they’re not the same, and how to use them like a native speaker!

Come back to our site for more

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Do you want to impress the examiner in the IELTS speaking section?

Today, find out why exaggerating will give you a better score!

Taking IELTS?

Get our free IELTS video training now

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Are you in danger of making a cultural mistake in writing?

Today, learn the biggest cultural mistake people make in Writing Task 2 of the IELTS!

Taking IELTS?

Get our free IELTS video course

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Can the arts take your English to a higher level?

Today, Lindsay talks with TEDx speaker and ESL expert Mindy Young about how to use music, painting and poetry in learning English!

Come back to our site to learn more

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How do you address people in English?

Today, Lindsay and Michelle tell you what you should call people, and when!

Come back to our site to learn more

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What should you bring to your IELTS exam?

When should you go, and what should you watch out for?

Today, Lindsay and Jessica discuss how you can be prepared to succeed on your IELTS test day!

Taking IELTS?

Get our free IELTS video training now

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Should you speak American English or British English on the IELTS?

Today, Jessica and Lindsay talk about accents, and what you can expect on the exam!

Taking IELTS?

Get our free IELTS video training course now

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Why does the IELTS examiner stop you in the speaking test?

Today, Jessica and Lindsay talk about why this happens, and why you shouldn’t worry about it!

Taking IELTS?

Get our free IELTS video training now

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How can you motivate yourself for English learning?

Today, Lindsay and Michelle discuss a tip to help you be a better self-guided learner!

Come back to our site for more

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How do you talk about love in English?

Today, Lindsay and Michelle give you 8 English prepositions to use when discussing romance and finding the right person!

Come back to our site for more

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Did the IELTS examiner ask you a difficult question?

Did your mind just go blank?

Today, Lindsay and Jessica share 6 phrases to help you fill that time void!

Taking IELTS?

Get our free IELTS video training course now

If you get asked a question that you can’t immediately answer during your IELTS exam, you don’t want to go silent. It’s important to keep speaking even if you need a moment to decide how to answer the actual question.

Native English speakers use many different phrases to help them do this. It’s important to understand that using a time-filling phrase won’t hurt your score.  In fact, it’s likely to improve it!

Here are a few phrases to use if you need a moment to think about how to answer a question during your IELTS exam:

• “Honestly, I am a little bit nervous right now and my mind just went blank.” This says that you’re being honest, and trying. “My mind went blank” is also an idiom.
• “Frankly, this isn’t something I’m used to talking about.” Again, this is honest, and sounds like something a native speaker would say.
• “That’s a good question.” This welcomes good intonation, and that will help your pronunciation score.

Other simple and common English time-fillers:

• “Wow, let me think about that.” 
• “I’ve never thought about that before.” 
• “Let’s see.”

Which phrases do you plan to use, and why?

Tell us what you think in the comments section below!

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