ESL Podcast - Previous Episodes

A special announcement about our new Select English Membership!

If you’re a hot child in the city, running wild and looking pretty, then you need to cool down by listening to this episode. Slow dialogue: 1:09 Explanations: 2:43 Fast dialogue: 14:15 Jolene: I’m sweating like a pig. When is this heat wave going to end? Eric: I’ve no idea, but I’m not moving a muscle until it does. Hand me that pitcher of iced tea, would you? Jolene: Get it yourself. I’m not moving until it drops below 80 degrees. Eric: It’s not the temperature. It’s the humidity. It’s not even the dog days of summer yet and it’s scorching outside. Jolene: It’s scorching inside, too. Why can’t that fan move any faster? Remind me why we moved into an apartment with no air conditioner? Eric: We couldn’t afford an apartment with an air conditioner. We were lucky to get this place. Jolene: I don’t feel so lucky right now. My legs are stuck to this chair and I’ve sweated through my clothes. Eric: We could buy a portable air conditioner. Jolene: We can? Eric: Yeah, but you’d have to get up. Jolene: Ugh, let’s do it tomorrow. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Famous Americans: Thelonious Monk; the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (food stamps); pen name; tingling versus stabbing versus burning; gringo Words: giant self-taught to compose to get credit unorthodox record company nutritious food stamp strict abuse poverty line to trickle down pen name tingling stabbing burning gringo

Do you like taking risks, or playing it safe? Learn how to find your opposite in this episode. Slow dialogue: 1:15 Explanations: 2:57 Fast dialogue: 16:50 Paula: Did you get an invitation to Kip and Sheri’s wedding? Robert: Yeah, I did. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the two of them getting married. Never in my wildest dreams would I put those two together. It boggles my mind that they’re in the least compatible. Paula: What do you mean? Robert: Sheri is really adventurous and definitely a thrill-seeker. Paula: Maybe she’s mellowed over the years. Robert: I don’t think so, and Kip is the opposite. He’s always toed the line and I don’t think he has an adventurous bone in his body. Paula: I’ve never thought of Kip as being uptight. Robert: No, he’s not uptight. He’s just very cautious. You’d never find him looking for an adrenaline rush or even a little novelty. Paula: You know what they say: opposites attract. Robert: If that’s true, then in their case, polar opposites attract! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

No more teachers, no more books! School’s out for summer, but not forever. Learn about the difficult job of managing a classroom in this episode. Slow dialogue: 1:04 Explanations: 2:57 Fast dialogue: 14:07 After three months of summer vacation, I was looking forward to the start of a new school year. ... Okay, everybody, settle down. Take your seats and get out your textbook. Charlie, eyes on your own book. And Kathy, do you have something to share with the rest of the class? No? Then put that away until recess. Now, does anyone know the answer to this question I’ve written on the board? Don’t everybody speak at once. Raise your hand if you have an answer. Patrick, wait your turn. Therese raised her hand first. Michael and Stephen, no talking in the back of the classroom. Tim, sit still and eyes forward. Pay attention. Mark, are you paying attention? I just called on you. Duane and Frank, I don’t see you two jotting down the assignment for tomorrow. Okay, everybody, read silently at your desks for the next 10 minutes. ... I always forget how exhausting it is to manage a classroom full of students. How many months is it before our next summer vacation? Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Migrant Farming in the U.S.; American Cities: Palm Springs, CA; patronizing versus condescending; to right every wrong; to belong to versus to belong with Words: migrant worker manual labor slave plantation to deport tactic boycott toxic playground Hollywood types high-end boutique patronizing condescending to right every wrong to belong

Why travel to a meeting when you can have a videoconference? Find out how to do it in English on this episode. Slow dialogue: 1:13 Explanations: 3:44 Fast dialogue: 16:46 Ewan: Who’s running the videoconference next week? Petra: I am. Desmond put me in charge of it last week. Ewan: Oh, somebody’s moving up in the world. It’s nice that he’s giving you more responsibility. Petra: Yeah, but I’m not sure I’m ready. Ewan: I’ve set up conference calls and videoconferences before. Maybe you can tell me what you’ve already done and I can see if you’ve missed anything. Petra: That would be great. Okay, I’ve scheduled the meeting for 3:00... Ewan: Stop right there. If the videoconference is at 3:00 here, it’s already 6:00 on the East Coast. That’s too late to start the meeting, don’t you think? Petra: Oh, I didn’t factor in time zones! But I still have time to reschedule, I think, so it’s not a total catastrophe. Ewan: Good. Be sure to initiate the call or the connection at least 10 minutes before the time of the meeting, and make sure you know how to reconnect someone if they get disconnected during the meeting. Petra: I still need to figure that out. Ewan: Are you facilitating the meeting, too? Petra: I don’t know. I guess so. Ewan: In that case, make sure you identify each person by greeting them by name. Petra: I was hoping to lurk in the background in case something went wrong. I’d be ready to troubleshoot. Ewan: If Desmond put you in charge of setting up the meeting, he’ll want you to take a more active part. [Petra breathing heavily] Ewan: What are you doing? Petra: Hyperventilating. I don’t think I’m ready for this. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Learn how to order a cup of coffee or tea in English in this episode. Slow dialogue: 1:27 Explanations: 2:53 Fast dialogue: 16:00 Jermaine: I’d like a decaf drip, to go. Drew: Would you like our light or dark roast? Jermaine: I'll just have whatever's freshly brewed. Drew: Are you sure you don’t want to try an espresso, an Americano, or a latte? Jermaine: No, just a decaf coffee. Drew: Sure, no problem. Would you like it hot or cold? Jermaine: Hot, please. Drew: Would you like any room for cream? Jermaine: No, thanks. Drew: Would you like some sweetener? A couple of pumps of syrup maybe? Jermaine: No, I’ll add a couple of packets of sugar myself. Drew: Oh, I’m sorry. I added some foam from another drink to your coffee by accident. I’ll have to start over. Did you say you wanted the light or dark roast? Jermaine: Forget it. Let’s keep it simple. Give me a cup of tea. Drew: Would you like that hot or cold, sweetened or unsweetened, loose leaf or in a tea bag? Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: American Presidents: Ulysses S. Grant; James Beard and the James Beard Foundation Awards; limit versus border versus confine; sound; life-affirming Words: particularly civilian to surrender Reconstruction amnesty to mar to annex destitute memoir catering company cuisine foundation limit border confine sound life-affirming

It’s better to forgive and forget after you’ve had a fight or argument with someone. Learn how to do it in this episode. Slow dialogue: 1:08 Explanations: 2:44 Fast dialogue: 15:30 Alisa: Don’t be mad. Sabir: I’m not mad. Alisa: Yes, you are. I’m sorry. I admit it was my fault. Will you stop moping now? Sabir: I’m not moping. I’m giving you the silent treatment. Alisa: I knew it! You’re still peeved at me. What can I do to make it up to you? Sabir: You can leave me alone. Alisa: If I leave you alone to stew, you’ll replay the whole incident in your head and the next thing I know, you’ll hold a grudge against me. Won’t you just forgive me so we can move on? Sabir: What you said wasn’t just a slight. It was an out-and-out insult. Alisa: I know it was and I’m truly sorry. I’ll buy you lunch at your favorite restaurant to show you how contrite I am. Sabir: And you won’t say it again? Alisa: I promise I’ll never tell you again in front of your friends how much you look like Elvis – in his later years. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Professional athletes make a lot of money. Find out how to get one on your team in this episode. Slow dialogue: 1:24 Explanations: 2:51 Fast dialogue: 16:11 Nick: I don’t care what it takes. I want Robinson on my team next year. Jamie: He’ll be a free agent and he’ll be fielding a lot of offers. I don’t know if we can make him an attractive enough deal. Nick: We’ll offer him a signing bonus. That should sweeten the deal. Jamie: I’m afraid that may not be enough. Don’t forget that he was a first-round pick in the draft. Nick: Then we’ll give him a no-trade clause. With that, he’ll be calling the shots and won’t have to worry about being traded to a team he doesn’t want to be on. He should be happy with that. Jamie: I don’t know. His agent expects a lot of competing offers. We’ll have to pull out all the stops if we want to land him. Nick: Then we’ll do it. We won’t be bested by any other team. Jamie: Like last year. Nick: Last year? Don’t remind me of last year! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: American Authors: Erle Stanley Gardner and the Perry Mason TV Series; Boys & Girls Clubs of America; who versus which versus that; It ain’t over till the fat lady sings; to go/be all in Words: detective self-taught pseudonym pulp magazine case retainer adaptation last resort verdict to enable full potential affordable who which that It ain’t over till the fat lady sings to go/be all in

Trying to start a new business but don’t know where to put your store or office? Learn all about zoning laws in this episode. Slow dialogue: 1:03 Explanations: 3:21 Fast dialogue: 17:47 Sybil: Oh, this is it! This is the perfect location for our new store! Leo: Sorry, but this space isn’t zoned for retail. It’s zoned for offices. Sybil: But couldn’t we get the zoning commission to re-zone it? Leo: That’s not an easy process. The city’s urban planners decided that this space would be best suited for offices. Changing their minds won't be easy. Sybil: I’ve heard that a lot of new developments are being zoned for mixed-use. That’s all we need to do. We just need this building to be re-zoned for mixed-use. Then, we can use the space downstairs for commercial purposes and use the upstairs space for offices or even housing. Leo: This area was zoned for industrial purposes over 30 years ago. It took 10 years for it to be re-zoned for offices. It may take another 10 years to get it re-zoned for commercial purposes. Do you think you can wait 10 years to open your store? Sybil: No, I guess not. What if I rented this space for an office and then ran my store out of it? Leo: You’ll never get a business license for your store if you do that. Each type of zoning has different ordinances and the inspector won’t be fooled. Sybil: All right. I’ll look for another space, but nothing will live up to this one. Leo: That’s the spirit! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Learn how to take your pictures in English in this episode. Slow dialogue: 1:03 Explanations: 2:47 Fast dialogue: 13:49 Ryan: Stop mugging for the camera and stand still! Katrina: I’ve been standing still for 10 minutes, while you’ve been setting up the shot. I have to do something. This is boring! Ryan: I almost have the settings right. Okay, let’s try a shot. Say “cheese.” Katrina: Cheese. Ryan: Oh, you look washed out in that shot and it’s blurry. I think the flash came on when I didn’t want it to. You have red-eye, too. I’ll have to adjust the settings again. Katrina: Hurry up! Ryan: Okay, I think I’ve got it now. Get back into your pose. Lift your head a little to the side and face the sun… Katrina: Take the picture! Ryan: I just need to focus. There! Say “cheese” again. Katrina: Cheese. Ryan: Um, it’s still not perfect. Let me put the camera on a tripod. Try to stay still while I do that. Katrina: I thought you wanted this shot to look like a candid. Ryan: I do, but how am I supposed to make it look like a perfect candid if you keep moving out of your pose? Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Ask an American: Innovation; pain versus sorrow versus woe; manhood; to be over someone versus to be all over someone Words: show and tell to stumble across to trigger association unpredictable to kill creativity to undermine to stimulate autonomy mindset mechanism inevitable pain sorrow woe manhood to be over (someone) to be all over (someone)