English, baby! Daily Podcasts

It may seem hard to believe, but one day you might be a parent. And it will probably be harder and much more different than you expected it to be. Everything has changed since you were little, even what a typical family looks like. And there are hundreds of books out there that can teach you what you’re doing right and wrong. Most people don’t need a book, though. If you decide you want to become a mom or dad, you already like kids and want to care for them. With the internet, you can ask millions of people questions about what to do when you’re confused. Or you can walk to the house next door, like your parents did when you were little, and ask your neighbor for help. Did Amanda have her baby, or is someone else talking about parenting? Read on to find out in today’s English lesson about having kids. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Have you ever gone to sleep feeling strongly about something, and then woken up the next day with a totally different feeling? Sometimes we know why, and sometimes we don’t, but it’s normal to change your mind or your opinion. It’s called having a change of heart. We say it’s a change of heart because a lot of us make decisions by listening to our hearts. You don’t have to feel differently about a boyfriend or girlfriend to call it a change of heart, though. You might wake up knowing that you don’t want to take a job, or move to a new city, or even go to the gym. It’s still a change of heart. When talking about love, though, the expression is perfect! Either Marni or Lily is having a change of heart about someone. Who do you think it is? If you keep reading, you’ll learn the truth. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Where do you go when you want to buy new clothes, or new electronics, or new dishes, or new books? In most big cities, you’ll head to the nearest shopping mall. Shopping malls are very convenient because there are many different kinds of stores all in one building. Whether you need clothes or shoes, dresses or dishes, games or gifts, you’ll probably be able to find what you want at the mall. Since there are so many stores, there are also lots of people at the mall. It’s usually a crowded, busy place. For some people, this kind of sensory overload makes them feel overwhelmed. Other people thrive on excitement and energy. Malls with a parking garage, a movie theater, and some restaurants are also popular. Not only can people shop until they drop, they can also relax, and eat. The entertainment factor is also good when you’re at the mall with someone who’s not really interested in shopping, such as your boyfriend or your kids. Find out who’s actually afraid of malls in this English lesson about shopping. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“I’m very conscious of how important it is for us to shatter that glass ceiling in my country, a country that has done so much for so many women, and really has set the standard for women’s rights and responsibilities.” Politician Hillary Clinton, talking about women’s rights in the US (Huffington Post) -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

When we’re young, we expect that our parents will be together forever. Unfortunately, this isn’t always what happens in life. Divorce affects children and teenagers in challenging ways. Sometimes kids blame themselves for their parents’ break up even though it’s not their fault. Even adult children of divorcing parents have a hard time understanding what’s going on, but it’s most difficult for the people going through the divorce themselves. Parents fight over custody of their children. Couples fight over things, or over who will live in the apartment or house. People who are divorced are often wary of making another commitment. Lily and Rafael discuss their experiences with divorce in today’s English lesson about families. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

People think about relationships in different ways. There are people who are always unhappy if they’re not dating or married, and others who enjoy being alone. If you’re one of the latter, then you like to fly solo. To you, spending time by yourself is a positive thing, and you’re not all that interested in finding a boyfriend or girlfriend. There are many benefits to being single. You get to make all of the decisions about your life without asking anyone’s opinion. You choose what you’re cooking for dinner, what movies to see, where to travel, and how to spend all of your time after work. You don’t have to compromise with anyone about what you’re going to do, ever! Is Jeff ready to fly solo? Find out in today’s English lesson about dating. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Jumping into a car and driving away down the open road is a dream straight out of Hollywood. Who knows where the road will lead? Maybe you’ll end up on a beautiful beach or on a rugged mountain or in a hot, dry dessert. Anything could happen on a road trip! It’s these unexpected options that make traveling by car so exciting. You can definitely map out a route that will take you to all the major tourist attractions, but if you change your mind along the way, there’s nothing to stop you from going somewhere else. You’re not stuck in a plane or on a train. You’re free to go wherever you want, even if it’s off the beaten path! Sometimes it’s smart to book hotels ahead of time. That way, you can make sure you have a place to sleep. But if you forget, you can always sleep in your car. It might not be very comfortable, but it’s free. Having the right music, food, and friends along for the ride is also important. You’ll be in a small space for a long time, so choose who’s invited wisely! Find out who’s planning a road trip in this English lesson about travel. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Are you the kind of person who likes to understand how something works? Do you spend your free time putting objects, liquids or foods together to find out what will happen? Maybe you tried building a robot or rocket. Or perhaps you tried turning your little brother into a frog. Science is fun for you, and you enjoy learning through experiments. In movies, science experiments make monsters or terrible things happen. We have Frankenstein and Godzilla because of science. But good things come from science, too, and not just in movies. Because people use science to study the world, we can treat sick people and clean dirty water. People who build robots as children sometimes grow up to be great scientists. Do Jeff and Rafael conduct science experiments? Find out in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Do you believe in fate? Do you think that your future is already planned for you, or that you have the power to make things happen yourself? Some people believe that psychics can use palm readings or read a tarot card and know what will happen to you. Do you agree that another person can be so in tune with your life? One reason that people talk to psychics is because they don’t like surprises. They want to feel like they know what’s going to happen to them. Others like to think of the possibilities ahead, whether or not they come true. Of course some people simply believe that psychics can see into the future and give them relevant information to help them with their lives. Are Lily and Marni believers? Read more in this English lesson about seeing into the future. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“We’ve both always been really good at leaving our baggage at the door, and when we step on set it’s about having a good time. I feel like we let our…whatever is going on with us outside of work just stay there and we come in and have a lot of respect for the work.”Actor James Roday, talking about filming the popular American TV show Psych (Examiner) -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Do you remember the worst mistake you ever made? Did you lie to your parents? Cheat on a test? Break something expensive? What happened? Chances are, if you were caught doing something wrong, you had to apologize for your mistake. Maybe you felt so guilty after it happened that you decided to confess even though nobody saw you do it. The truth is, we all screw up sometimes. It’s part of being human. Whenever you make a mistake, the best thing to do is to say that you’re sorry. It might not be fun to take responsibility for what went wrong, but at least you’ll clear the air. Hopefully, the other person will accept your apology, and everything will be OK in the end. Lily is apologizing to Jeff a lot. Learn why she’s saying sorry in this English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

When a sailor is learning his or her job, one responsibility that person must learn is how to adjust the sails on the ship. The sails are large pieces of cloth that use wind to move the ship along, and the sails are made taller or shorter, and moved from side to side with ropes. If a sailor doesn’t understand how the ropes work, bad things can happen. A ship can crash, or worse, become lost in the ocean. If someone is going to show you the ropes, it means that they are going to show you how to do something. It’s common that a person new on a job will need to learn new tasks and skills, or even where to find things in the office. That’s all part of learning the ropes of a new position. You have to be aware of what’s expected of you and know how to handle your new responsibilities. Find out who’s all ears and ready to be shown the ropes in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Although they can be hard to find now, once upon a time, circuses were the main event of the summer. Posters of tigers and clowns would tell a town about the arrival of the annual circus months before it arrived. As soon as the circus truck or train rolled in, children would come by to stare at the large tents going up. They couldn’t wait for their turn to buy tickets and see the show. In the olden days, animals had a large role in the circus program. Lions, tigers, elephants, horses, and bears were all part of the show. The modern circus looks a little different, though. Today, humans do most of the entertaining. There are trapeze artists, clowns, and other performers who try to make the audience happy. The circus has adapted to fit the times, and it’s still an extravaganza! Find out what Jeff is looking forward to this summer in this English lesson about live entertainment. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Traveling by airplane is fast and convenient, but going to the airport can be terrible. You usually have to arrive at least two hours before your flight departs, and even earlier if you’re taking a cross-continental trip. Airports can be a fun place to watch people. At arrivals, there are people from all over the world! However, it’s definitely not fun for passengers to go through security. There are so many regulations about what you can and can’t bring with you on the plane. It’s hard to remember everything! Marni is taking a trip soon. Does she like airports or hate them? Read this English lesson to find out! -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“There are some things that I understand, certain things that I don’t understand, certain things that I like to get off my chest in interviews, certain things that I want to talk about.” Pop star Kanye West, discussing his family (MTV) -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com