Are you looking for a new and fun way to learn American English? Come hang out with Lindsay and Michelle from Boston and New York City and have fun while you improve your English listening skills! All Ears English is an English as a Second Language (ESL) podcast for intermediate to advanced learners around the world. We will show you how to use everyday vocabulary and natural idioms, expressions, and phrasal verbs and how to make small talk in American English. We will also give you special tips on American culture, customs, etiquette, and how to speak with Americans as well as conversation and commentary on study tips, life in America and Boston, how to apply to university in the US, dating, travel, food and more. You'll get TOEFL, IELTS, and TOEIC help also from our IELTS and test expert Jessica Beck. This podcast is for adult students who are professionals and university students as well as ESL teachers. Join our community to learn to speak American English like a native! Connection NOT Perfection!
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AEE 286: 3 Ways that Setting Intentions Can Make Your Life Abroad More Fulfilling
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 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
AEE 285: Why You Should Count Your Blessings in English
Today get some strategies for how to cultivate more gratitude in your life in English! Today’s quote: “When I started counting my blessings, my whole life turned around.” - Willie Nelson Vocabulary from the quote: To count your blessings: To pay attention to the good things in your life My whole life turned around: My whole life got better, changed direction How can you cultivate more gratitude in your life? Keep a gratitude journal every day, write down your “blessings” and what you are grateful for Focus on the good things that you have in your life, not the bad things Set an alarm on your phone. When the alarm goes off you can think about what you are grateful in that moment.
AEE 284: How to Tell a Knock- Knock Joke in English
Come back to allearsenglish.com/284 to tell us your knock-knock joke in English. Knock-kock jokes are super common in American culture. Today you’ll find out how to tell a joke like this and make people laugh to build great connections with English speakers in your life. These kinds of jokes are often told by kids. They are fun, innocent and clever. They are a play on words. Joke #1: “knock knock” “Who’s there?” “Canoe” “Canoe who?” Can-oe (can you) help me me with my homework?” Joke #2: “Knock knock” “Who’s there?” “Orange” “Orange who?” “Orange-ya (aren’t you) gonna let me in?” Joke #3: “Knock knock” “Who’s there?” “Harry” “Harry who?” “Harry up (hurry up) it’s cold out here” What knock-knock jokes do you know in English? Tell us your joke in the comment section below!
AEE 283: How to Get Out of Trouble in an English Conversation
Leave a comment and have a conversation with us! Come back to http://www.allearsenglish.com/283 How can you quickly change the subject in English and get out of trouble when someone seems uncomfortable? It’s important to know how to do this if you want to be able to make great connections with people. How do we know when someone’s uncomfortable in American culture? Their shoulders tense up They don’t make eye contact Their tone of voice changes They hesitate They use “um,” “ya know” and other filler words Today let’s find out how to save the interaction when you have brought up a topic that makes someone uncomfortable? What questions can you ask to change the topic? “So how’s work going?” (ask about the person’s job or work projects) “How are your parents doing?” (ask about the person’s family) “It’s freezing today, isn’t it?” (or another weather comment) “Do you have any vacations coming up?’ “Have you seen any good movies lately?” What questions do you use in your culture to change the topic if someone is uncomfortable? Share your ideas in the comments below!
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AEE 282: How to Jump Into a Conversation in English with the Confidence of a Cool Cat
Come back to www.allearsenglish.com/282 Do you have difficulty jumping into conversations in English? Today, learn 6 phrases to help you enter into conversations with confidence! Entering into a conversation with native English speakers can be difficult. They often speak fast and might not seem to offer you a chance to speak. Instead, they will expect that you are going to jump in and speak if you have something to say. This means that you need to show confidence if you want to get into a conversation. You need to be able to assert yourself and use the phrases that signal to them that you have something to say. Here are six phrases to help you do that: “I see what you mean.”: This shows that you agree with the other speaker. It also gives you the opportunity to follow it up with something extra that comes from you. You could also say, “Yeah, I totally agree.” “Actually, I think…”: If you want to disagree, this is a polite way to do it. You don’t want to show too much disagreement if you’re trying to get into a conversation with a stranger, but polite disagreement might make for a deeper conversation. “Hey, I have an idea.”: As it suggests, this phrase would help you express a new thought. You could also say: “What about this?” “Me too!”: This can help show commonality and is a good way to start telling a story. It’s also a very relaxed phrase that sounds natural to Americans. Do you find it intimidating to jump into conversations with English speakers? Tell us what you think in the comments section below!
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AEE 281: 3 Easy Ways to Connect with a Local Canadian in English
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.
AEE 280: Spark the Conversation! 4 Topics to Use on a First Date in English
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
AEE 279 Part 1: Listen to a Real, Spontaneous First-time Meeting in English
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!
AEE 279 Part 3: BE in English to Develop Bulletproof Confidence with Mo Riddiford
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!
AEE 279 Part 2: Learn How to Meet Someone New in English in a Confident and Easy Way
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!
AEE 278: Are You Committing One of these Four American Workplace Taboos?
Are you avoiding taboos in the American workplace? Today, Lindsay and Michelle discuss the top taboos to look out for in American workplace culture! A taboo is something that is improper or unacceptable based on culture or region. Different companies might have their own taboos, but most American workplaces probably have many of the same ones. An article by Barbara Mason outlines the biggest of these taboos. Here are a few of them, and how to avoid them: Spreading rumors: To spread a rumor is to make up an untrue story about somebody, and tell it to others. Americans tend to look down on people who do this. If you want to be trusted and have positive relationships, avoid gossip! Taking credit for another’s work: This means telling others that you did the work or achieved a success when, in fact, somebody else did. Again, Americans won’t trust anybody suspected of doing this, so don’t do it. Falling asleep at work: It may not be natural to be completely energized for 8 straight hours, but at minimum your boss will expect you to be awake. Try taking a break from your desk, going for a short walk or stepping outside to refresh yourself. Lying about an academic background: Honesty is very important to American bosses. If you lie about your academic background, you’re likely to be fired when you get caught. The best thing to do is to present the academic background that you do have in the best possible way. What are the top workplace taboos where you live? Tell us all about them in the comments section below!
AEE 277: 3 Strategies to Remember Someone's Name in English with Alan Headbloom
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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