English, baby! Daily Podcasts

Have you seen little kids splashing through puddles in the middle of a rainstorm? They jump into one puddle, then into the next. They’re having fun, but they’re getting really wet! When you’re an adult, it’s not as fun to be outside during a deluge. You’d rather be inside where it’s warm and dry. If you do have to go somewhere when it’s nasty outside, you probably have a sturdy pair of rubber boots to get you where you want to go. Although rubber boots might not look very fashionable, they’re definitely not a fashion faux pas when you’re outside in the rain. They’re waterproof, and that’s all that matters. Learn who loves rubber boots in this English lesson about footwear. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Lions are very good at hunting. They choose the animal they want to eat, work together to bring the animal closer, and then they kill it. Lions don’t sit and think about how to do this, and they don’t talk things over. They know when it’s time. And when it’s time, they make their move. People don’t act the same way that lions do, of course. They are much more subtle when it comes to getting close to what they want. When trying to start a relationship, most of us try to choose the best time to make a move. Making a move could mean asking someone out, kissing someone for the first time, or letting someone know that we’re interested. People can also make a move at work, at school and in sports. When someone makes a move, they are taking a risk or making a big change. It may not work out, but it’s important to try. Who is thinking about making a move? It’s either Amanda, Lily or Marni. Find out in this English lesson about feelings. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

With the astronomical cost of going to a college or university, more and more people ask for financial aid. Although having debt is no fun, many families choose to accept loans so their children can have a good education. Many adults who go back to school are also taking loans so that they can get degrees that will get them better jobs. A big student loan can be daunting, but it’s not much different from a loan for a house or a car. It’s a lot of money, but banks give you a long time to pay it back. If you’re lucky, interest rates will be low when you need to apply for financial aid. The rates can go up and down from year to year. Do Jeff and Marni have loans to repay? Find out in this English lesson about the cost of education. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

In some countries, you cannot find clean drinking water easily. But in the US, it’s everywhere! It’s easy to buy a water bottle wherever you are: at the store, at the gas station, or even at school. There’s no reason to be thirsty! However, buying water bottles isn’t always the best choice. If you buy one water bottle every day, that’s seven bottles in a week, thirty in a month, and over 500 in a year! And all of that plastic gets thrown into landfills. What a waste! Instead, many people choose to get a reusable water bottle. It’s easy to fill up, and you won’t be throwing away so much plastic. It’s a little thing, but it makes a big difference for the environment. Learn who doesn’t like buying water bottles (and who does) in this English lesson about drinking water. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“So obviously, I have a deep compassion for the idea that it’s okay to be myself. The idea that anything ‘other’ is bad and wrong and broken is so wildly off base.”Actress Natasha Lyonne, talking about a new acting role (Huffington Post) -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Have you ever seen the movies “Batman,” “Spiderman,” or “Iron Man”? Each of these superheroes started as a story in a comic book. Comics can be found on the shelves of bookstores, in newspapers, and of course, on the internet. They are read by millions of people around the world. And they’re not just for kids… adults like comics, too. What makes a comic book good? You might like a comic book because you enjoy the author’s sense of humor. It’s possible that you choose your comics because of their illustrations. Some people read comics as an escape when their lives are stressful. Whether you prefer dark comics or the goofier kind, you can always find one that will make you happy. Jeff and Mason are discussing how they feel about comic books. Read more to learn what they like and don’t like in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Before 1928, if you wanted to use bread for a sandwich, you had to cut it yourself. But that year, a machine was created to cut bread into slices. Sliced bread was sold in stores for the first time, and it soon became extremely popular. It became so common, that in today’s grocery stores, you have to look carefully for bread that isn’t already sliced. Because sliced bread was an incredible new food that everyone loved, people started using the expression the best thing since sliced bread. If a person calls a new toy, or a tool, or even an idea the best thing since sliced bread, that means that the toy, tool or idea is something that everyone will love. It means that it is amazing and original, just like bread that doesn’t need to be cut with a knife. Jeff tells Lily and Rafael about his new girlfriend Alexis. He shares all of the things that make Alexis special to him and an amazing person that he enjoys spending time with. Put together, these things make her the best thing since sliced bread to Jeff. Will Lily and Rafael also think that Alexis is the best thing since sliced bread, or will they think that Jeff is crazy? Find out in this English lesson about falling in love. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Everyone’s attention is on this week’s contestant. Does she know the answer? Will she win the big prize? Each person in the audience is nervous for her, sitting on the edge of their seats. They’re caught up in the moment, hoping that she says the words that will give her a new car. And… she does! It’s hard to deny that game shows are extremely exciting. But what are a person’s chances for winning? With some shows, the chances are good, and for others, the chances seem slim. Sometimes, contestants need to know a lot of facts, and sometimes they just need a lot of luck. No matter how it happens, it’s fun to watch someone win. Are Jeff and Marni interested in game shows? Find out in this English lesson about a popular type of TV show. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“I feel like I’m an example of the fact that you just can’t put those old gals out to pasture. We’ve got a lot of stuff still to say.”Actress Meryl Streep, talking about winning an award in Hollywood (Huffington Post) -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Do you ever wonder what it’s like under the ocean? There would be water above, underneath, and all around you, fish swimming by, and maybe you’d even see a shark! In fact, you can have a deep sea adventure in a submarine. It’s a vessel that’s made to go underwater, so you can check out what’s really in the ocean. And you won’t get wet! Although hanging out in a small space might make some people feel pretty claustrophobic, they can see out through the portholes and the periscope. Mason wants to take Amanda to see a submarine, but she isn’t interested. Find out why in this English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Have you ever seen a family of ducks? When ducklings follow their mother, they often walk behind her in a line. This way, the mother duck can turn around and see each of her children. She knows that her babies are safe when she can see them all together. She can also tell her ducklings what’s happening and where they’re going. Humans like to feel the same way. We want to know that our families are close and safe. We want to know that we will have our jobs every morning, that we’ll have enough money to buy food and clothing, and that we can come home to a dry, warm house. Just like mother ducks, we humans want to feel like we know everything that’s going on and that everything’s OK. If someone tells you that she wants to get her ducks in a row, she’s saying that she wants to figure out what’s happening in her life and where her life is going. She wants to be able to look at the people and activities in her life and know that they’re all going to the same place together, much like a line of ducklings. Amanda really hopes to get her ducks in a row with Marni’s help. Learn more about her plans in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Lots of people have a special trick that only they know how to do. Maybe they can touch their noses with their tongues or maybe they can sing the alphabet backwards. Talent shows are a chance for people to unveil a hidden talent. Usually these shows have a variety of acts because everybody is different and has something different to do. It’s a chance to get up on stage, ham it up, and make people laugh. There’s nothing to lose. It’s all for fun! Sometimes talent shows are more serious. For example, the singers who won on the TV talent show American Idol became famous. If you have good showmanship, who knows? Maybe you’ll become a star, too! Learn what talents Lily and Rafael have in this English lesson about entertainment. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

If you love exercise, you probably love riding your bike. It’s the perfect way to travel and work out at the same time. Riding in a city can be scary sometimes. You definitely have to pay attention to the rules of the road and, for safety, wear a helmet. When there are bike lanes, it’s easier to know where you should ride. You don’t want to fight for a spot with a car when you’re on a bike! Some people ride bicycles just for fun. Other people use them for everyday transportation. Either way, bicycling saves money and reduces your carbon footprint. Find out who loves to bike in this English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“School was rough for me. I was a good student in middle school, but high school wasn’t so fun. I still pulled through, though! I excelled in art, fashion, history and English literature, anything creative. Math and science I struggled a bit more in.” Actress India de Beaufort, talking about her high school days (Seventeen) -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

When it’s time to make a difficult choice, there are many ways to do it. You can close your eyes and pick something. You can ask a friend or parents for help. You can write down all of the reasons that one thing is better than another. Or you can stop and pay attention to what your body is telling you. That’s called following one’s heart. When you follow your heart, you are paying attention to your strongest feelings about something. The choice you make might not make sense to the people who know you, and it might even surprise you, but you are doing what feels right. When you follow your heart, you feel peaceful and good about yourself. It’s important to follow one’s heart when thinking about work, because we spend many hours every day at our jobs. If Rafael follows his heart, what job will he have? Keep reading to find out in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com