Speak English Now – Mini-Stories with Georgiana

How to choose English listening level?

Listening is powerful… but it must be comprehensible

You already know that I insist on one thing again and again: you need to listen a lot.
You need to listen every day, and you need to repeat the same lessons many times, because repetition help...

Have You Ever Had This Moment?

You start speaking English. At the beginning, it's okay. And then suddenly… your brain stops. You know the idea. You know the meaning. But the word doesn't come.

So what do you do? You speak faster. You try to push the words out. And then you feel frustrated.

Sometimes you even feel ashamed, like: "Why can't I say something so simple?"

Get the transcript here: https://speakenglishpodcast.com/373-why-...

Today we're going to talk about Valentine's Day.
But don't worry — this is not going to be a boring episode about chocolates, roses, and red hearts everywhere.
Let me ask you something.
Is Valentine's Day really about love?
Or is it about pressure?
Pressure to buy a gift.
Pressure to be romantic.
Pressure to post something on Instagram.
Pressure to prove that your relationship is perfect.

Get the transcript on my website: https://...

In the previous episode, we talked about how dogs understand our emotions and how they communicate without words.
Today, I want to continue that conversation, but from a different angle.
Instead of focusing on emotions, we're going to look at how dogs experience the world, how they gather information, and why they naturally look to humans for guidance.
Because dogs don't just feel with us.
They observe, analyze, and cooperate with ...

Welcome back! This is the final episode in our 4-part series about going to the doctor.
So far, we learned how to make an appointment, how to check in at the clinic, and how to answer the nurse's questions. In this lesson, we will focus on the conversation with the doctor.
This part can feel intimidating, but with a few simple expressions and some practice, you'll feel much more confident.

Get the transcript on my website: https://...

Welcome back! This is the third episode in our 4-part series about going to the doctor.
So far, we practiced how to make an appointment and how to check in at the clinic. Today, we'll continue with the next step: talking with the nurse.
Usually, before you see the doctor, a nurse will ask you a few questions about your health. The nurse may also take your temperature, check your blood pressure, and write notes for the doctor.

Get t...

Merry Christmas, everyone! 

Hey there!
Welcome back to the podcast. I'm really happy you're here today.

Christmas is a special time in the United States. But here's something interesting:
people don't celebrate Christmas the same way everywhere.

In today's episode, let's look at some fun and unusual Christmas traditions
from different parts of the USA.

Get the transcript on my website: h...

Hi! I'm Georgiana, and I'm back with a new episode of the Speak English Now podcast—the podcast that helps you speak English fluently, with no grammar and no textbooks.

This is the second episode in our 4-part series on going to the doctor.

In the last episode, we practiced how to make an appointment on the phone. Today, we will look at what happens when you actually arrive at the clinic.

Get the transcript on my website: https://...

Today we're beginning a new series—four episodes designed to prepare you for going to the doctor.

Why this topic? Well, the truth is simple. At some point, whether you live abroad, travel, or study in another country, you will need medical care. And the very first step is usually the same: booking an appointment.

Making that call can feel stressful, especially if you're not confident speaking English on the phone. Don't worry. I'll...

Tom (Being serious): Hey, do we have to send thank you notes to everyone we've ever met for Thanksgiving?

James (Laughing): Oh no, it's not like that! Thanksgiving is more about enjoying turkey and pie with family and friends, not writing thank you notes to everyone! 

Hi! Welcome to a special podcast about Thanksgiving! I'm Georgiana, your English teacher, and I want to tell you about Than...

This is the fourth and final episode in our pronunciation series. In the first episode, we practiced R and L. In the second, we worked on the TH sound. In the third, we practiced V and B. And today, we will practice the difference between SH and CH.

These sounds look similar, but they are not the same. For example: ship and chip.

So let's practice with some minimal pairs, some fun tongue twisters, and finally a mini-story.

Get the ...

This is the third episode in our pronunciation series. In the first episode, we practiced R and L. In the second one, we worked on the TH sound. And today, we'll practice the difference between V and B.

These sounds can be very tricky, because in some languages there isn't much difference between them. But in English, they are very different.

So today, we'll warm up with some minimal pairs, then practice with simple sentences, and ...

Today, we'll practice one of the trickiest sounds in English: the TH sound.

Actually, English has two TH sounds:

• The voiceless /θ/, like in think, thank, thirty.
• The voiced /ð/, like in this, that, brother.

Many students replace them with t, d, s, or z. For example:

• They say tank you instead of thank you.
• Or zis instead of this.
  

Get the transcript on my website: https://speakenglishpodcast.com/360-english-pro...

This is the first episode in a special pronunciation series. We'll do four episodes in a row, each one focused on different sounds.

In this first episode, we'll work on R and L.
Next time, we'll practice the TH sound.
Then, we'll look at V and B.
And finally, we'll practice SH and CH.

So, step by step, you'll train your pronunciation with word pairs, tongue twisters, and fun mini-stories.

Get the transcript here: https://speakengl...

Welcome back, travelers! One last time, pack your bags — we're heading west.

Today, we'll visit the Southwest and the West.

In the Southwest, we have: Arizona, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas.
And in the West, we have: Alaska, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

That's fifteen states in total! Today, we'll take a closer look at Texas, Arizona, Colorado, California, Oregon, an...

This is the third episode of our state names series. This time, we're traveling to the Midwest.

Let's quickly list all the states in the Midwest:
They are: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

That's twelve states in total! I'll just focus on a few of the most representative ones: Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota.

Get the text he...

Hi! This is part two of our series about US state names.
Today, we'll explore the Northeast: Connecticut, Delaware, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.

That's eleven states in total! And today I'll focus on: New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island. You'll hear stories of English kings, Dutch settlers, and Native American words that...