English As A Second Language (esl) Podcast - Learn English Online

Topics: American Presidents – Barack Obama; Famous Songs – “Anchors Aweigh”; diffidence versus timidity versus shyness; receipt versus reception; no problem versus not at all versus no big deal Words: community organizer healthcare candidate rising star biracial campaign slogan grassroots polarized affordable anchor ashore foam diffidence timidity shyness receipt reception no problem not at all no big deal

Let’s not talk about the topic of today’s episode right now. So, how’s your day going? Slow dialog: 1:25 Explanations: 4:00 Fast dialog: 18:29 Lila: Why aren’t you dating? I have so many friends who would love to go out with you. George: Let’s change the subject. Talking about my love life isn’t very interesting. Lila: But really, you’re not getting any younger and… George: Moving on! Have you seen any good movies lately? Lila: Listen, all of your friends are settling down and you don’t want to go through life alone and lonely… George: That reminds me, didn’t you say that you were going to get another dog so that Rover isn’t lonely when you’re not home? Lila: Forget about my dog. You remember Rachel, don’t you? She just broke up with her boyfriend and she’d be perfect for you. George: Speaking of Rachel, how is her mother? Wasn’t she in the hospital? Lila: If Rachel isn’t your type, how about Amina? She has great legs and I know you’re a leg man. George: And now for something comp

Topics: Movies – Die Hard; American Authors – Emma Lazarus; in front of versus ahead of versus before; as if versus as though versus as for; to take stock Words: to be separated to give (something) another try to freshen up hostage safe cowboy to be descend from to be well received to dedicate to persecute to huddle to yearn in front of ahead of before as if as though as for to take stock

Topics: Famous Americans – Muhammad Ali; The Golden Gate Bridge; valuable versus invaluable; north/south versus northern/southern; common ground and universal experience Words: to take up professionally agile to reign nationalist social activist to be drafted to indict bridge strait fog precaution dizziness valuable invaluable north / south northern / southern common ground universal

Topics: Famous Americans – Charles Schultz and Peanuts; The Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve; to be pleased to versus to be happy to versus it’s (one’s) pleasure to; to sit versus to seat; willy-nilly Words: cartoon freelance folks memoir tomboy national park national preserve glacier mine to designate volcano to be pleased to to be happy to It’s (one’s) pleasure to to sit to seat willy-nilly

Do you ever go to the supermarket without finding what you’re looking for? Learn more about it in this episode. Slow dialog: 1:11 Explanations: 3:17 Fast dialog: 16:18 Stocker: Can I help you find something? Meg: Yes, I’m looking for coffee. Stocker: That’s on aisle 3. Let me show you where it is. Meg: Thanks. Hmm, I don’t see the Jitters brand that I normally buy. Stocker: It looks like we’re out of stock. We should get another shipment next week. Meg: Okay, I’ll check back. I’m also looking for the Fructose brand soda, but I didn’t see it in the soda aisle. Stocker: I’m afraid that’s been discontinued. Their parent company no longer makes soda. Meg: Really? I love Fructose soda. How about the Mushy brand bread? I didn’t see it when I checked the bread aisle. Stocker: We no longer stock the Mushy brand. There were so quality control issues at the company, so we’ve pulled all of their products from the shelves. Can I help you find anything else? Meg: No, I guess I’ll just

Take a look in the mirror and see if you recognize yourself in these descriptions of the beautiful people. Slow dialog: 1:30 Explanations: 3:18 Fast dialog: 17:55 Pamela: You know that your tongue is hanging out of your mouth, right? David: That’s because I’ve never seen so many beautiful women in one place before. Why have I never been to this beach before? Look at her! She’s a hottie! Pamela: Isn’t that what you said about that woman over there? David: No, I said she’s a babe. Look at the way she sways when she walks. Pamela: Stop ogling her or her boyfriend or husband is going to come over here. David: I’m not ogling. I’m admiring the perfection of the female body. Pamela: You’re undressing her with your eyes. Avert your gaze before you regret it. Oh, wow! David: What? Pamela: Check out that guy over there. Hello, Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome! David: That pretty boy over there? He’s too into himself. Look at the way he’s posing so every woman on this beach can get a l

Lights! Camera! Action! We’re off to the movies. Learn how to talk about seeing a good film in this episode. Slow dialogue: 0:57 Explanations: 2:37 Fast dialogue: 15:35 Martin: What did you think of that movie? Joanna: It was okay, but I’m not really into big-budget movies with a lot of special effects and big-name stars. Martin: Oh, you’re a film snob. I bet you only watch indie films made on a shoestring budget with low production values. Joanna: No, that’s not true. I just don’t like crowd-pleasers that are predictable. I like movies that stretch the imagination and have some artistic value. Martin: You mean you like those weird movies with no plot and a lot of strange characters. They’re artsy, but leave you totally confused. Joanna: I don’t mind some ambiguity, if that’s what you mean. Martin: Well, I’m going to see the new Spiderboy movie next week. I don’t suppose you want to come? Joanna: Spiderboy? I’ve been looking forward to seeing that movie. Martin: But it’s a big-b

If you can’t read this, then put on your glasses and listen to this episode on having bad eyes. Slow dialogue: 1:07 Explanations: 2:45 Fast dialogue: 15:19 Sue: This medication I’m taking is messing with my vision. Everything is blurry. Hamed: That’s a good reason for you to stay home from work today. Sue: I can’t. I have to give a presentation this afternoon and I can’t flake out on my coworkers. Hamed: What good are you to them if you’re blind as a bat? Sue: Everybody else will have crystal clear vision, so all I have to do is to put in an appearance. Things may not be as sharp as I’d like them to be, but I can still make out people and objects – as long as they’re really big. Hamed: I don’t think your coworkers are going to want you to blindside them today with your strange behavior. You’re going to do more harm than good. Sue: I can see well enough. I only see double if I move my head like this. Whoa… Hamed: At this point, I don’t care if you have X-ray vision. That medicatio

Learn how to take and leave phone messages in this podcast. Slow dialog: 0:57 Explanations: 3:42 Fast dialog: 21:10 I was looking forward to a quiet evening at home. As soon as I walked in the door, though, the phone rang. Paolo: Hello. Evelyn: Hi, could I speak to Tony? Paolo: He’s not here right now. Can I take a message? Evelyn: Do you know when he’ll be back? Paolo: No, I don’t. Evelyn: Okay. I’ll call back later. Thanks. …… Ten minutes later, the phone rang again. Paolo: Hello. Pam: Hi, is Tony there? Paolo: No, he’s out. Pam: Could I leave a message? Paolo: Sure. Give me a second to get something to write with…Okay, I’m ready. Pam: Could you tell him that Pam called and ask him to call me back as soon as he can. Paolo: Does he have your number? Pam: He should, but I’d better give it to you. It’s 279-555-6347. Paolo: Okay, I’ll tell him. Pam: Thanks. ….. As soon as I put down the receiver, the phone rang again. I couldn’t believe it. Paolo: Hello. Susa

Learn how to ask for clarification in English in this podcast. Slow dialog: 0:54 Explanations: 2:29 Fast dialog: 12:46 I was negotiating a contract with a new business partner, and we had a meeting to clarify the terms. Bill: If I understand the terms correctly, the length of the contract would be one year with a one-year option. Is that correct? Ms. Samuels: Do you mean the contract for equipment rental or the one for training? Bill: I was under the impression that both contracts had the same terms. Ms. Samuels: Yes and no. Let me see if I can clarify that. The terms are the same except that the contract for training has a clause that allows for the cancellation after the first six months. Bill: Could you elaborate on that? Ms. Samuels: Sure. What I mean is that either side could cancel the training contract after the six months as long as it’s in writing. Bill: Let me see if I have that right. This contract is for six months of training, but if it isn’t cancelled, continues for anoth