English, baby! Daily Podcasts

The boy band One Direction is an English-Irish group of singers who met at the singing competition “The X Factor.” They began performing together in 2010, and have released three CDs that were all at the top of the charts. The members of One Direction are Harry, Zayn, Louis, Liam and Niall, all aged 19-22. What is it about boy bands that makes them so popular? Some people like that the members of One Direction are clean-cut and good-looking. Their music is fun and full of life, which makes people want to dance. The guys all spend time on Twitter and Facebook, too, so that makes One Direction’s fan club feel like they’re all friends. Who do you think likes One Direction? You might be surprised! Read more to find out in this English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

There are many options when it comes to traveling cross country. With an airplane, you can fly at the speed of light and arrive anywhere within hours of take off. With a car, you can stop anywhere you want along the way. With a train, you have the pleasure of seeing the scenery pass by and enjoying the long ride. Depending on where you live, trains have a different status in the transportation network. In Europe, for example, trains are definitely an integral part of the transportation system. In the US, however, travel by train is far less common. Taking a train is different than flying or driving because you can get up and walk around during the trip. Maybe you’re hungry, so you go to the dining car to buy a snack. Maybe your train has an observation deck, and you’d like some fresh air. Train travel does take longer than flying, though, so make sure you have a lot of patience before starting a trip. If you’ve never ridden a train, maybe now’s the time for you to have an adventure! Head to the station, book a ticket, and listen for the conductor to call, “All aboard!” Learn who wants to take a train trip in this English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“I think this industry can be tough on everyone.You have to surround yourself with supportive people and know when to put your foot down and do what’s best for you and your family.” Singer Rebecca Ferguson, talking about how women are treated in the music industry (Marie Claire) -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

If you’re on your game, everything’s going well for you. You’re making the right decisions, opportunities are coming your way, and you just feel good. If you’re on your game while playing a sport, you’re winning or maybe even setting world records! But if you’re off your game, things aren’t going so well. You might not feel that great, or you could be making a lot of mistakes. It’s possible that you might be saying the wrong things, or hurting someone’s feelings without trying. You might be forgetting important tasks or events. If you’re off your game while playing sports, you’re definitely not winning. Who’s been off her game lately? Read more to find out in this English lesson about not feeling one’s best. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

If you have any brothers or sisters, you probably spent time competing when you were little. It’s likely that you would argue over who got the bigger cookie, or who got to sit in the best seat in the car. It’s not unusual for children to try to outdo each other. It’s all part of growing up. This doesn’t change for many people once they’re adults. Workers try to one up each other at the office. Athletes work hard to win games or be best in the world. It’s not necessary to have a sibling, either. You can be an only child and enjoy the challenge of doing your best, and the benefit of everyone’s attention. Did Lily and Rafael experience sibling rivalry? Find out in the following English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“I really give my all while I’m working, I make a lot of sacrifices. But I also need time to wind down. And to do things in my time off, things I’d like to do now, while I can.” Sebastian Vettel, Formula 1 world champion race car driver, talking about what’s important to him when making contract agreements (Reader’s Digest) -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Did you know there’s one trick that can make you happier almost instantly? It’s called gratitude, and it’s pretty simple: just start saying thank you. Being thankful for the things you have, the people in your life, and even the food you eat and the clothes you wear, can give you a more positive outlook on life. You don’t have to have the most money or the nicest possessions to be happy. You only need to appreciate what you already have. An easy way to practice gratitude is by making an on-going list of things you’re thankful for. Some people use a special book, a gratitude journal, to keep a running tally of the blessings in their lives. If you don’t want to write it down, try to take a few minutes every day to think about the good things you have experienced that day. Even if you’re dealing with a difficult situation, focusing on the positives will help you improve your attitude. Learn who needs an attitude adjustment in this English lesson about being thankful. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

You find the perfect coffee shop. It sells amazing coffee and baked goods. If you want to ask your friends to come check it out at the same time, ask them if they want to meet up. Hang out, get together, go out, join up, meet up… it’s all the same. They’re all used for bringing people together. That said, meet up is mostly used for social events with friends or family. You might meet up with friends to see a movie, or meet up with your sister to buy a birthday present for your mom. You would not, however, meet up with your teacher to talk about your grade in class, or meet up with your dentist to have your teeth cleaned! To meet up is to do something casual and relaxed. Who does Rafael want to meet up with? You can find out by reading this English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

People have been getting and giving nicknames for as long as people have had names. Nicknames are sometimes used because a person’s name is long or hard to say, so we call them something shorter. We might use Alex for Alexander, or Liz instead of Elizabeth. Nicknames can be used in an affectionate way, to show a person that we love them. Those nicknames are often common within a family or between a couple. Nicknames can be used to shun people as well. If you were picked on or made fun of as a child, you might have had a nickname that made you feel terrible. Children and adults will bully each other by using rude nicknames, and unfortunately, it can be hard to get people to stop using them. Is Marni giving Amanda an affectionate or a mean nickname? Read more in this English lesson about friendship. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“There’s a spin on every single celebrity out there… I know that one of my spins is: ‘Oh, Taylor’s heartbroken. Oh, Taylor fell in love and the guy broke her heart. She’s sad all the time, and lonely.” Singer/songwriter Taylor Swift, talking about what people think about her (New York Magazine) -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

When you can get all of your produce in one place, like at a grocery store, it can be easy to forget where the fruit is actually grown. But have you ever visited an orchard? In the fall, lots of fruit and vegetables are in season. That means they’re ripe and ready to be picked. If you’re interested in understanding how your food grows, you can visit a local orchard and maybe even pick your own apples. Many farms let people harvest berries, apples, pumpkins, and even trees by themselves. It’s a process known as “u-pick.” The farmers save time. The people picking fruit save money. Of course, nothing tastes better than a freshly picked apple! If you pick a lot, you can also use fresh fruit for baking, making juices and jams, and freezing for later. Learn about Marni’s apple-picking adventure in this English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

If you’ve ever moved to a new neighborhood, you might know how it feels. All of the neighbors are wondering about the new family down the street. They might stop at your house to welcome you. All of the kids living nearby are curious if the family includes children they can play with, like you. It’s exciting and scary at the same time. You’re the new kid on the block. Being the new kid on the block simply means that you have just moved to a new home. It’s usually used when talking about the place where someone lives. However, it can also be used to describe a person in their new job or school. It’s understood that if you’re the new kid on the block at work or school, you’re still learning how everything is done. It’s OK to make mistakes when you’re still new, so being the new kid isn’t so bad. It might even be great! Meet Lily’s new roommate, Rafael, in this English lesson about New Year’s Eve. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

In songs and movies, the holidays are often called the most wonderful time of the year. Spending time with family and friends, creating traditions, and going to parties all make the season special. However, the holidays could also be named the most expensive time of year. Buying presents can strain your budget. When your expenses exceed your income, you might be worried about how to pay your bills. One way people make ends meet is by temping. Adding a part-time or seasonal job might make your life busier for a time, but it will definitely help you make more money. It’s also a good way to take a sneak peak at another job. Maybe you’ll even end up getting hired permanently! Learn what advice Rafael gives Jeff about seasonal work in this English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

It’s not uncommon to find superstitions in cultures around the world. In the United States, some people believe that you should carry a good luck charm and you should avoid black cats. In China, the number 8 (eight) is lucky, and the number 4 (four) is unlucky. In Russia, you should never hand money directly to another person, and you should only use your right hand. It’s hard to know how or why any superstitions were created, but millions of people are dependent on them and believe they are powerful. It can be comforting to feel that there’s a reason that a bad event has happened in your life, and also comforting to feel that you can stop more bad events from happening if you pay attention to superstitions. Are Lily and Marni superstitious? Find out in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“We get so hung up on success that we can easily forget about being of service to others.”Journalist Lisa Ling talking about her sense of responsibility to the world -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com