Speak English podcast with teacher Georgiana

Listen to episode 229 on my website: https://speakenglishpodcast.com/229-halloween-origins-meaning-and-traditions/

Hello everyone. In this video, I answer some frequently asked questions about the podcast and my premium courses. Get some free samples here: https://SpeakEnglishpodcast.com/samples

Get some free samples: https://SpeakEnglishpodcast.com/samples

228 How to stop making mistakes when speaking English? And how to improve your writing? Get the transcript here: https://SpeakEnglishpodcast.com/podcast Listen to a new episode of Speak English Now Podcast, your favorite material for practicing your spoken and heard English. You will also learn about lifestyle and culture, language, vocabulary, and how to improve your English more effectively. Transcript: Hi! I’m Georgiana, and here to help you speak English fluently. Thanks for joining me for another episode of the Speak English Now podcast. Today, I talk about how to stop making mistakes when speaking English. And how to improve writing. – Next, we’ll practice fluency with a question-and-answer exercise. If you want the complete courses with hours of audio designed to develop your fluency, don’t hesitate. Visit SpeakEnglishPodcast.com/courses There are several levels. Ok, let’s start! Many students asked me over the years how to avoid making mistakes when speaking English. And that’s an excellent question. As you know, the best way to become fluent in English is by listening to plenty of content that’s easy for you to understand. You should comprehend 90% of the content. Otherwise, it is too difficult for you. And even if you like novelty, the truth is that repeated listening to the same content helps you to automate your speech. For example, listening to a story allows you to intuitively understand how sentences are constructed without having to learn grammar rules. This way, you will be less insecure when speaking because you will not have to constantly think about whether you are making mistakes. To speak fluently, you have to do it without worrying whether you speak perfectly. So as I was saying, it is very important to listen to understandable content. That is, depending on your English level, it is necessary to select the content that is not difficult to understand. A typical mistake is to listen to content that is too complex with the idea of trying to force progress. It is always better to lower the level until it is easy to understand most of the words. This way, the brain is in “comprehension” mode. If it is too difficult, your brain eventually switches off and stops paying attention. Students have also asked me if it’s a bad idea to consult the grammar rules. And how can you improve your English writing? The typical student using my courses has already studied some English with some formal grammar and is frustrated because he or she cannot speak. That is why I insist that to improve fluency, it is necessary to listen a lot and not rely on formal rules to produce the language. Having this clear, there is nothing wrong with consulting a grammar book. Regarding writing well, it is very important to read a lot and, above all, to read text similar to what you want to write. For example, if you want to write a text that describes things that happen nowadays, reading many newspaper articles may be a good idea. That’s the basis: read a lot. Of course, practicing is also essential, but I would spend the time this way: 90% reading and 10% writing. If you are really motivated, a good exercise is to read an article a couple of times and then try to write a summary without looking at the article, if possible, using expressions and vocabulary specific to the article. Then consult the article and analyze what you could have done better. On the other hand, we have to keep in mind that the process of learning a language involves making many mistakes, both spoken and written. This is normal. As you progress, you make fewer and fewer mistakes. Over time you start speaking intuitively, just like a native speaker. Most of them speak fluently without knowing the specific grammar rule; they just know when a sentence “sounds wrong.” This is the ability that we want to develop. We can observe, for example, how children make quite a few mistakes, but after many hours of listening and reading, those diminish over time. Many teachers try as much as possible to prevent the learner from making mistakes from the beginning. But this ends up damaging spontaneous speaking, which is strongly linked to the development of fluency. It also generates unnecessary anxiety. If you have questions like this, you can send me a message through my website SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. I try to answer all messages. Maybe I will make an episode to answer your question 🙂

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Hi! This is a short spoiler for episode 228. I’ll let you know when I will publish the new episode.

227 Improve your English Pronunciation with tongue twisters Get the transcript here: https://SpeakEnglishpodcast.com/podcast Listen to a new episode of Speak English Now Podcast, your favorite material for practicing your spoken and heard English. You will also learn about lifestyle and culture, language, vocabulary, and how to improve your English more effectively. Transcript: I thought I thought of thinking of thanking you. I thought I thought of thinking of thanking you. Hi, everybody! I am Georgiana, your English teacher and founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. Speaking English is way easier than it seems! You just have to use the right material and techniques. In this episode, you’ll learn some new tongue twisters in English to help you with your English pronunciation. And with a mini-story, you will improve your fluency. A mini-story is very simple but very powerful. I ask easy questions on purpose so that you can simulate a conversation. It’s like talking with another person in English. Before we get started, go to my website SpeakEnglishPodcast.com to get the transcript. It’s free! Ok. Let’s start! So, do you remember what a tongue twister is? It can be a difficult phrase that we say quickly, usually because of a sequence of almost similar sounds. For example, “Peter Piper picked a pickle of pickled peppers.” Many people use tongue twisters to speak clearly, including actors, politicians, etc. These allow you to practice pronunciation and agility when it comes to producing sounds in English. So today, we are going to practice English pronunciation with new tongue twisters. Are you ready? Let’s go! I will start saying each tongue twister slowly, and then I’ll go faster. At first, they may seem very difficult, so make sure you have the text in front of you to be able to follow it better. Ok. So, I will say it very slowly: 1. I saw a kitten eating chicken in the kitchen. Are you ready to speed it up? (Say it faster.) I saw a kitten eating chicken in the kitchen. Ok. Even faster! I saw a kitten eating chicken in the kitchen. I hope you’re having fun. Let’s continue! 2) I thought I thought of thinking of thanking you. Ok. Now I’m gonna speed it up! (say it faster.) I thought I thought of thinking of thanking you. Ok. Even faster! I thought I thought of thinking of thanking you. 3) A big black bug snoozed on a big black rug. Ok. Say it faster! A big black bug snoozed on a big black rug. Even faster! A big black bug snoozed on a big black rug. 4) Thin sticks, thick bricks. Ok. Say it faster! Thin sticks, thick bricks. Even faster! Thin sticks, thick bricks. 5) Fred fed Ted bread, and Ted fed Fred bread. Say it faster! Fred fed Ted bread, and Ted fed Fred bread. Even faster! Fred fed Ted bread, and Ted fed Fred bread. Ok, that’s it for now; I really hope you’re having fun practicing your English pronunciation, but before we continue… I want you to learn English 3 times faster, and that’s why I created a video course. Visit: SpeakEnglishPodcast.com and get my video course for FREE!

227 Improve your English Pronunciation with tongue twisters Get the transcript here: https://SpeakEnglishpodcast.com/podcast I thought I thought of thinking of thanking you. I thought I thought of thinking of thanking you. Hi, everybody! I am Georgiana, your English teacher and founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. Speaking English is way easier than it seems! You just have to use the right material and techniques. In this episode, you’ll learn some new tongue twisters in English to help you with your English pronunciation. And with a mini-story, you will improve your fluency. A mini-story is very simple but very powerful. I ask easy questions on purpose so that you can simulate a conversation. It’s like talking with another person in English. Before we get started, go to my website SpeakEnglishPodcast.com to get the transcript. It’s free! Ok. Let’s start! So, do you remember what a tongue twister is? It can be a difficult phrase that we say quickly, usually because of a sequence of almost similar sounds. For example, “Peter Piper picked a pickle of pickled peppers.” Many people use tongue twisters to speak clearly, including actors, politicians, etc. These allow you to practice pronunciation and agility when it comes to producing sounds in English. So today, we are going to practice English pronunciation with new tongue twisters. Are you ready? Let’s go! I will start saying each tongue twister slowly, and then I’ll go faster. At first, they may seem very difficult, so make sure you have the text in front of you to be able to follow it better. Ok. So, I will say it very slowly: 1. I saw a kitten eating chicken in the kitchen. Are you ready to speed it up? (Say it faster.) I saw a kitten eating chicken in the kitchen. Ok. Even faster! I saw a kitten eating chicken in the kitchen. I hope you’re having fun. Let’s continue! 2) I thought I thought of thinking of thanking you. Ok. Now I’m gonna speed it up! (say it faster.) I thought I thought of thinking of thanking you. Ok. Even faster! I thought I thought of thinking of thanking you. 3) A big black bug snoozed on a big black rug. Ok. Say it faster! A big black bug snoozed on a big black rug. Even faster! A big black bug snoozed on a big black rug. 4) Thin sticks, thick bricks. Ok. Say it faster! Thin sticks, thick bricks. Even faster! Thin sticks, thick bricks. 5) Fred fed Ted bread, and Ted fed Fred bread. Say it faster! Fred fed Ted bread, and Ted fed Fred bread. Even faster! Fred fed Ted bread, and Ted fed Fred bread. Ok, that’s it for now; I really hope you’re having fun practicing your English pronunciation, but before we continue… I want you to learn English 3 times faster, and that’s why I created a video course. Visit: SpeakEnglishPodcast.com and get my video course for FREE! 227 Improve your English Pronunciation with tongue twisters Get the transcript here: https://SpeakEnglishpodcast.com/podcast

226 English Accent Reduction—Tongue Twisters—The S sound part2 Get the transcript here: https://SpeakEnglishpodcast.com/podcast Today we will continue the accent reduction exercise with some funtongue twisters in English. And with the help of a point-of-view story, you will learn grammar in context without memorizing any boring rules. Hi, everybody! I am Georgiana, your English teacher and founder ofSpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. Do you know how you can help me? You can share the podcast with your friends and family. Tell them to go toSpeakEnglishPodcast.comand get my free mini-course. That would mean a lot to me. Thanks. Oh, by the way, remember that you can check out the transcript on my website: speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast Ok, let's start! Last week we started this accent reduction exercise by focusing on the S sound with the help of some fun tongue twisters. So, let's remember the tongue twisters we used last week to help you improve your English pronunciation. I will go fast, but if you want to practice them, you can do so by listening to the previous episode on my website. Listen and repeat: #1 I saw Esau kissing Kate. I saw Esau, he saw me, and she saw I saw Esau. #2 Santa's Short Suit Shrunk. #3 You cuss, I cuss, we all cuss for asparagus. #4 Thin sticks, thick bricks.#5 Systematically assisting Sisyphus's stealthy cyst-susceptible sister. I hope you’re having fun. Let’s practicewith newtongue twisters. Are you ready? Let's go! I will start saying eachtongue twisterslowly, and then I will go faster. At first, they may seem very difficult, so make sure you have the text in front of you to be able to follow it better. Ok. So, I will say it very slowly: 1. She saw Sharif's shoes on the sofa. But was she so sure those were Sharif's shoes she saw? Now I will say it faster. She saw Sharif's shoes on the sofa. But was she so sure those were Sharif's shoes she saw? Ok. Even faster! She saw Sharif's shoes on the sofa. But was she so sure those were Sharif's shoes she saw? Let's continue! 2) The chic Sikh's sixty-sixth sheep is sick. Let’s say it faster! The chic Sikh's sixty-sixth sheep is sick. Even faster! The chic Sikh's sixty-sixth sheep is sick. 3) There’s a pessimistic pest amidst us. Ok. Say it faster! There’s a pessimistic pest amidst us. Even faster! There’s a pessimistic pest amidst us. 4) Which witch switched the Swiss wristwatches? Say it faster! Which witch switched the Swiss wristwatches? Can you say it faster? Which witch switched the Swiss wristwatches? 5) She sells seashells by the seashore. Let’s say it faster! She sells seashells by the seashore. Even faster! She sells seashells by the seashore. Well, that's all for now; I hope you had fun practicing your English pronunciation and you didn't get tongue-tied like Smith. We’ll see what happened to him and why he was crowned king. But before we continue... If you want to know how tospeak Englishusing the proper techniques, visit SpeakEnglishPodcast.com andsubscribeto my mailing list. I will send you myvideo course for free.So you canlearn how to speak English fluently once and for all!

226 English Accent Reduction—Tongue Twisters part2 Get the transcript here: https://SpeakEnglishpodcast.com/podcast Speak English Now Podcast with Georgiana

225 Accent Reduction with Tongue Twisters Get the transcript here: https://SpeakEnglishpodcast.com/podcast Speak English Now Podcast with Georgiana

224 How to ask for clarification in English Get the transcript here: https://SpeakEnglishpodcast.com/podcast Speak English Now Podcast with Georgiana

#225 Accent Reduction with Tongue Twisters – The S sound Get the transcript here: https://SpeakEnglishpodcast.com/podcast Transcript: Today we are going to do an accent reduction exercise with some fun tongue twisters in English. To be specific, we will practice the S sound. And with the help of a mini-story, you will improve your English fluency. A mini-story is very simple but very powerful. Here’s how it works: I ask easy questions deliberately so that you can simulate a conversation. It’s almost like talking to another person in English. Hi, everybody! I am Georgiana, your English teacher and founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. Do you know how you can help me? You can share the podcast with your friends and family. Tell them to go to SpeakEnglishPodcast.com and get my free mini-course. That would mean a lot to me. Thanks. Oh, by the way, remember that you can check out the transcript on my website: speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast Ok, let’s start! Do you remember what a tongue twister is? It can be a difficult phrase that we say quickly, usually because of a sequence of almost similar sounds. For example, “Peter Piper picked a pickle of pickled peppers.” Many people use tongue twisters to speak clearly, including actors, politicians, etc. These allow you to practice pronunciation and agility when it comes to producing sounds in English. And for language learners, tongue twisters are very useful to use as accent reduction exercises. So today, we are going to practice English pronunciation with new tongue twisters. Are you ready? Let’s go! I will start saying each tongue twister slowly, and then I will go faster. At first, they may seem very difficult, so make sure you have the text in front of you to be able to follow it better. Ok. So, I will say it very slowly: 1. I saw Esau kissing Kate. I saw Esau, he saw me, and she saw I saw Esau. Are you ready to speed it up? (Say it faster.) I saw Esau kissing Kate. I saw Esau, he saw me, and she saw I saw Esau. Ok. Even faster! I saw Esau kissing Kate. I saw Esau, he saw me, and she saw I saw Esau. I hope you’re having fun. Let’s continue! 2) Santa’s Short Suit Shrunk. Ok. Now I’m gonna speed it up! (say it faster.) Santa’s Short Suit Shrunk. Ok. Even faster! Santa’s Short Suit Shrunk. 3) You cuss, I cuss, we all cuss for asparagus. Ok. Say it faster! You cuss, I cuss, we all cuss for asparagus. Even faster! You cuss, I cuss, we all cuss for asparagus. 4) Thin sticks, thick bricks. Ok. Say it faster! Thin sticks, thick bricks. Can you say it faster? Thin sticks, thick bricks. 5) Systematically assisting Sisyphus’s stealthy cyst-susceptible sister. Can you say it faster? Systematically assisting Sisyphus’s stealthy cyst-susceptible sister. Even faster! Systematically assisting Sisyphus’s stealthy cyst-susceptible sister. Ok, I know that was hard. But that’s it for now; I really hope you’re having fun practicing your English pronunciation, but before we continue… If you want to know how to speak English using the proper techniques, visit SpeakEnglishPodcast.com and subscribe to my mailing list. I will send you my video course for free. So you can learn how to speak English fluently once and for all!

#225 Accent Reduction with Tongue Twisters – The S sound Get the transcript here: https://SpeakEnglishpodcast.com/podcast Transcript: Today we are going to do an accent reduction exercise with some fun tongue twisters in English. To be specific, we will practice the S sound. And with the help of a mini-story, you will improve your English fluency. A mini-story is very simple but very powerful. Here’s how it works: I ask easy questions deliberately so that you can simulate a conversation. It’s almost like talking to another person in English. Hi, everybody! I am Georgiana, your English teacher and founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. Do you know how you can help me? You can share the podcast with your friends and family. Tell them to go to SpeakEnglishPodcast.com and get my free mini-course. That would mean a lot to me. Thanks. Oh, by the way, remember that you can check out the transcript on my website: speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast Ok, let’s start! Do you remember what a tongue twister is? It can be a difficult phrase that we say quickly, usually because of a sequence of almost similar sounds. For example, “Peter Piper picked a pickle of pickled peppers.” Many people use tongue twisters to speak clearly, including actors, politicians, etc. These allow you to practice pronunciation and agility when it comes to producing sounds in English. And for language learners, tongue twisters are very useful to use as accent reduction exercises. So today, we are going to practice English pronunciation with new tongue twisters. Are you ready? Let’s go! I will start saying each tongue twister slowly, and then I will go faster. At first, they may seem very difficult, so make sure you have the text in front of you to be able to follow it better. Ok. So, I will say it very slowly: 1. I saw Esau kissing Kate. I saw Esau, he saw me, and she saw I saw Esau. Are you ready to speed it up? (Say it faster.) I saw Esau kissing Kate. I saw Esau, he saw me, and she saw I saw Esau. Ok. Even faster! I saw Esau kissing Kate. I saw Esau, he saw me, and she saw I saw Esau. I hope you’re having fun. Let’s continue! 2) Santa’s Short Suit Shrunk. Ok. Now I’m gonna speed it up! (say it faster.) Santa’s Short Suit Shrunk. Ok. Even faster! Santa’s Short Suit Shrunk. 3) You cuss, I cuss, we all cuss for asparagus. Ok. Say it faster! You cuss, I cuss, we all cuss for asparagus. Even faster! You cuss, I cuss, we all cuss for asparagus. 4) Thin sticks, thick bricks. Ok. Say it faster! Thin sticks, thick bricks. Can you say it faster? Thin sticks, thick bricks. 5) Systematically assisting Sisyphus’s stealthy cyst-susceptible sister. Can you say it faster? Systematically assisting Sisyphus’s stealthy cyst-susceptible sister. Even faster! Systematically assisting Sisyphus’s stealthy cyst-susceptible sister. Ok, I know that was hard. But that’s it for now; I really hope you’re having fun practicing your English pronunciation, but before we continue… If you want to know how to speak English using the proper techniques, visit SpeakEnglishPodcast.com and subscribe to my mailing list. I will send you my video course for free. So you can learn how to speak English fluently once and for all!

224 How to ask for clarification in English Get the transcript here: https://SpeakEnglishpodcast.com/podcast Are you having a hard time following conversations in English? Don’t worry. Today, I’ll show you some expressions you can use confidently in situations where it isn’t easy to follow a conversation. Welcome to Speak English Now podcast, with your host, Georgiana. The podcast that will help you speak English fluently with no grammar and no textbooks. Hi, I am Georgiana, your English teacher and founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. Do you know how you can help me? You can share the podcast with your friends and family. Tell them to go to SpeakEnglishPodcast.com and get my free mini-course. That would mean a lot to me. Thanks. Okay, let’s start! When we learn a new language, we are eager to practice speaking with another person. But what happens when the conversation is difficult for some reason? Maybe it’s hard to keep up or follow what they tell us. Or if you are in a conversation with people who speak very fast, and you can’t hear those words at all, or you don’t recognize them, you feel uncomfortable. Although you may be embarrassed to interrupt in these situations, you can politely say that you don’t understand what they have said. So today, I will show you some expressions you can use confidently in situations where it isn’t easy to follow a conversation. Let’s get started! #1. Asking for clarification: Sorry, I’m afraid I don’t follow (you.) By using this expression, you are suggesting that you must have it re-explained or explained differently. Examples: “Sorry, I don’t follow (you)—what exactly do you want me to do next?” “Do you understand? No, I’m afraid I don’t follow.” Here are some more phrases to ask for clarification: “I’m not entirely sure what you mean; could you explain it again? Or…” “Could you please say that a little slower?” “Sorry! That went straight over my head. Could you explain it differently?” #2. When someone asks for your opinion: If someone asks for your opinion on a topic for which you feel unprepared, you can use the following phrases: “It’s hard to express my ideas about this topic in English, but I’ll try my best. “It’s really fascinating listening to you talk, but to be honest, I don’t know much about this topic.” #3. How to end the conversation: This is a little beyond me. By using this expression, you are ending the conversation. You are not asking for clarification; you are saying that the conversation is too difficult for you. Examples: “I’m sure it’s fascinating what you’re saying, but I have to admit that it’s beyond me.” I hope you are enjoying yourself. These expressions can be very useful when we find ourselves in difficult situations and have to ask for clarification. If you want to know how to speak English using the proper techniques, visit SpeakEnglishPodcast.com and subscribe to my mailing list. I will send you my 5-day video course, so you can learn how to speak English fluently once and for all! And it’s completely free.

Get the mini-course here: https://SpeakEnglishpodcast.com In the next 5 days, you will learn: #1 How to accumulate vocabulary. #2 How to learn grammar. #3 How to learn deeply and not forget. #4 How to speak automatically. #5 How to stay motivated. Visit my website https://SpeakEnglishPodcast.com and get started! Hi! I’m Georgiana, founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com, and since 2011, I’ve helped many students SPEAK English fluently with no grammar and no textbooks. I emphasize SPEAK because I believe that you don’t really know a language until you can speak it. Knowing how hard it is for others to learn English, I’ve decided to help students from all over the world to speak English fluently without any grammar rules or textbooks. In less than six months, students speak English fluently! And the reason many students find it so hard to learn English is due to the method they are using. So let me show you the techniques you can use to improve your English! Get the mini-course here: https://SpeakEnglishpodcast.com

223 How to avoid frustration while learning English Get the transcript here: https://SpeakEnglishpodcast.com/podcast Today: I’m going to reflect on the frustration that some English learners may experience. In part 2, you’ll practice with a point-of-view story: you’ll meet James and Jane and their adventures! Welcome to Speak English Now podcast, with your host, Georgiana. The podcast that will help you speak English fluently with no grammar and no textbooks. Hi, I am Georgiana, your English teacher and founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. Do you know how you can help me? You can share the podcast with your friends and family. Tell them to go to SpeakEnglishPodcast.com and get my free mini-course. That would mean a lot to me. Thanks. Oh, by the way, remember that you can check out the transcript, on my website: speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast Okay, let’s get started! Learning to speak English is not as simple as studying for a couple of days. Can you imagine? In one month, we could learn 15 new languages, or 14 if we are lazy 🙂 If your goal is to become fluent, it takes some time. For example, my Fluency course has 20 units. And you have to dedicate a minimum of one week per unit. However, I assure you that if you follow the instructions, your fluency will improve dramatically by the end of the course. During the learning process, some students lose patience and become frustrated. They all have an initial phase of high motivation due to the novelty and transition to a plateau phase that leads to frustration when they do not see steady improvement. It is common for frustrated learners to blame themselves, saying things like: “I am not good at learning languages”, “As an adult, it is almost impossible to learn”, “I don’t have the memory to remember all this vocabulary”, “I make a fool of myself when I speak.” This kind of mindset is dangerous because it affects motivation, and the chances of giving up are very high. Other students blame the method. For example, they say to themselves, “This method is useless”, or “I am wasting my time”, “This is pointless”, etc. They buy many courses in the hope that the latest one will be the definitive one, the one that works. And I am not against discontinuing an English course if the method is not effective. I don’t want to give away names, but large companies are more concerned about perceived value than real value, and some of these systems are very superficial. In other words, they do not allow you to learn in an effective and lasting way. You may already know this, but my system is specifically focused on speech development. My premium courses are based on repeated listening to audios. To give the brain time to assimilate and consolidate the lessons, you must repeat the audios on different days. In addition, the courses feature question-and-answer exercises that help the student to speak from day one. So, I believe the key to avoiding frustration is not to focus on results but on learning time. Imagine you are in Unit 8 of the Fluency Course. Instead of evaluating your progress because you haven’t finished yet, which is also very subjective, simply keep track of the number of hours you spend. You can, for example, use a spreadsheet and write down the time you are listening on a weekly basis. This way, you take the pressure off yourself and focus on what really matters and what you can control: the time spent. And if you are not convinced of your progress, you can listen to an earlier lesson, for example, unit 2 or 3. You’ll find that they seem easier than before. This means you are making progress, but as I said, the most important thing is to accumulate hours of listening. Also, keep in mind that our brain needs quite a few days to assimilate new patterns, sounds, words and expressions. Think about how you learned your native language. Studies indicate that when we are young, we spend about two years listening to our parents before we can articulate sentences. This is called the “silent period” because the brain is learning and assimilating. Imagine a young child thinking, “Wow, I can’t articulate words, so I will cover my ears so I won’t listen.” And finally, don’t forget to enjoy yourself! Take listening to the lessons more as a game than an obligation. I try to make the content fun, entertaining, and a bit absurd in the course lessons. I do this so that it won’t be boring and you can remember better. In short, focus more on what you can control: the time you spend listening to the lessons, and try to enjoy the stories with slightly crazy characters. I hope this helps you on your way to fluency in English. If you want to know how to speak English using the proper techniques, visit SpeakEnglishPodcast.com and subscribe to my mailing list. I will send you my 5-day video course, so you can learn how to speak English fluently once and for all! And it’s completely free.

223 How to avoid frustration while learning English Get the transcript here: https://SpeakEnglishpodcast.com/podcast Welcome to the Speak English Now Podcast, your resource for practicing your English speaking and listening. You will also learn about lifestyle and culture, language, vocabulary, and how to learn English more effectively. Transcript: Today: I’m going to reflect on the frustration that some English learners may experience. In part 2, you’ll practice with a point-of-view story: you’ll meet James and Jane and their adventures! Welcome to Speak English Now podcast, with your host, Georgiana. The podcast that will help you speak English fluently with no grammar and no textbooks. Hi, I am Georgiana, your English teacher and founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. Do you know how you can help me? You can share the podcast with your friends and family. Tell them to go to SpeakEnglishPodcast.com and get my free mini-course. That would mean a lot to me. Thanks. Oh, by the way, remember that you can check out the transcript, on my website: speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast Okay, let’s get started! Learning to speak English is not as simple as studying for a couple of days. Can you imagine? In one month, we could learn 15 new languages, or 14 if we are lazy 🙂 If your goal is to become fluent, it takes some time. For example, my Fluency course has 20 units. And you have to dedicate a minimum of one week per unit. However, I assure you that if you follow the instructions, your fluency will improve dramatically by the end of the course. During the learning process, some students lose patience and become frustrated. They all have an initial phase of high motivation due to the novelty and transition to a plateau phase that leads to frustration when they do not see steady improvement. It is common for frustrated learners to blame themselves, saying things like: “I am not good at learning languages”, “As an adult, it is almost impossible to learn”, “I don’t have the memory to remember all this vocabulary”, “I make a fool of myself when I speak.” This kind of mindset is dangerous because it affects motivation, and the chances of giving up are very high. Other students blame the method. For example, they say to themselves, “This method is useless”, or “I am wasting my time”, “This is pointless”, etc. They buy many courses in the hope that the latest one will be the definitive one, the one that works. And I am not against discontinuing an English course if the method is not effective. I don’t want to give away names, but large companies are more concerned about perceived value than real value, and some of these systems are very superficial. In other words, they do not allow you to learn in an effective and lasting way. You may already know this, but my system is specifically focused on speech development. My premium courses are based on repeated listening to audios. To give the brain time to assimilate and consolidate the lessons, you must repeat the audios on different days. In addition, the courses feature question-and-answer exercises that help the student to speak from day one. So, I believe the key to avoiding frustration is not to focus on results but on learning time. Imagine you are in Unit 8 of the Fluency Course. Instead of evaluating your progress because you haven’t finished yet, which is also very subjective, simply keep track of the number of hours you spend. You can, for example, use a spreadsheet and write down the time you are listening on a weekly basis. This way, you take the pressure off yourself and focus on what really matters and what you can control: the time spent. And if you are not convinced of your progress, you can listen to an earlier lesson, for example, unit 2 or 3. You’ll find that they seem easier than before. This means you are making progress, but as I said, the most important thing is to accumulate hours of listening. Also, keep in mind that our brain needs quite a few days to assimilate new patterns, sounds, words and expressions. Think about how you learned your native language. Studies indicate that when we are young, we spend about two years listening to our parents before we can articulate sentences. This is called the “silent period” because the brain is learning and assimilating. Imagine a young child thinking, “Wow, I can’t articulate words, so I will cover my ears so I won’t listen.” And finally, don’t forget to enjoy yourself! Take listening to the lessons more as a game than an obligation. I try to make the content fun, entertaining, and a bit absurd in the course lessons. I do this so that it won’t be boring and you can remember better. In short, focus more on what you can control: the time you spend listening to the lessons, and try to enjoy the stories with slightly crazy characters. I hope this helps you on your way to fluency in English.

222 Going to the gym in the summer Get the transcript here: https://SpeakEnglishpodcast.com/podcast Welcome to the Speak English Now Podcast, your resource for practicing your English speaking and listening. You will also learn about lifestyle and culture, language, vocabulary, and how to learn English more effectively. Transcript: Today’s episode is going to be a little different than usual. In the first part, you will improve your grammar with a point-of-view story based on actual events. And in the second part, you’ll practice your English speaking with a mini-story. Welcome to Speak English Now podcast, with your host, Georgiana. The podcast that will help you speak English fluently with no grammar and no textbooks. Hi, I am Georgiana, your English teacher and founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. Ok, let’s get started! How was your summer vacation? Mine was quite uneventful, and since it was hot, I didn’t travel anywhere. I just wanted to stay at home, chilling by the AC (air conditioner). As I was saying, this episode will be a bit different. I’ll start with a point of view based on actual facts. I’ll talk about Jim, who wants to join the gym in the summer. Ok. Let’s start! POV-Story (Learn grammar in context) I’ll tell you a short story more than one time. Every time, I’ll change a grammar point. I can change the tense or the person. This way, you’ll notice the changes in context. First, I will tell the story from my point of view: After a long time of making excuses not to go to the gym, Jim finally dragged his feet and walked into the gym building to sign up. The clerk handed him the sign-up form. With tears in his eyes, Jim filled out the registration form and paid the first installment. “Now I have no excuses!” said Jim. So, the next day, he packed the gym bag, which included workout clothes, a towel, shower gel… And a pack of donuts to refuel. By the way, Jim always eats diet donuts, the ones with a hole in the center, like that you eat less quantity. On the first day at the gym, he took it very easy. But even so, he felt stiff for the next two days; he could barely move. After a few sessions and several boxes of donuts, Jim began feeling better about exercising. However, one day, after finishing his workout at the gym, he felt a little under the weather. It turns out that Jim came down with a cold, so he had to rest for the next few days. Jim also developed back pain during those days of rest. So, he took it easy for a couple of weeks and didn’t go to the gym. Finally, after recovering, Jim tried going back to the gym; although, with the terrible heat waves, he ended up going to the beach. Now, I will tell the same story from Jim’s point of view: After a long time of making excuses not to go to the gym, I finally dragged my feet and walked into the gym building to sign up. The clerk handed me the sign-up form. With tears in my eyes, I filled out the registration form and paid the first installment. “Now I have no excuses!” I said to myself. So, the next day, I packed the gym bag, which included workout clothes, a towel, shower gel… And a pack of donuts to refuel. By the way, I always eat diet donuts, the ones with a hole in the center, like that I eat less quantity. On the first day at the gym, I took it very easy. But even so, I felt stiff for the next two days; I could barely move. After a few sessions and several boxes of donuts, I began feeling better about exercising. However, one day, after finishing my workout at the gym, I felt a little under the weather. It turns out that I came down with a cold, so I had to rest for the next few days. Strangely enough, I also developed back pain during those days of rest. So, I took it easy for a couple of weeks and didn’t go to the gym. Finally, after recovering, I tried going back to the gym; although, with the terrible heat waves, I ended up going to the beach. Ok! That’s the end of this short exercise. Notice that the changes between grammar points are subtle but important. My suggestion is that you avoid memorizing grammar rules. It’s better to see the changes in the proper context. And with a story, it is much easier to remember all this. If you want to know how to speak English using the proper techniques, visit SpeakEnglishPodcast.com and subscribe to my mailing list. I will send you my 5-day video course, so you can learn how to speak English fluently once and for all! And it’s completely free.

#222 Going to the gym in the summer Get the transcript here: https://SpeakEnglishpodcast.com/podcast Today’s episode is going to be a little different than usual. In the first part, you will improve your grammar with a point-of-view story based on actual events. And in the second part, you'll practice your English speaking with a mini-story. Welcome to Speak English Now podcast, with your host, Georgiana. The podcast that will help you speak English fluently with no grammar and no textbooks. Hi, I am Georgiana, your English teacher and founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. Ok, let's get started! How was your summer vacation? Mine was quite uneventful, and since it was hot, I didn't travel anywhere. I just wanted to stay at home chilling by the AC (air conditioner). As I was saying, this episode will be a bit different. I'll start with a point of view based on actual facts. I'll talk about Jim, who wants to join the gym in the summer. Ok. Let’s start! POV-Story (Learn grammar in context) I'll tell you a short story more than one time. Every time, I'll change a grammar point. I can change the tense or the person. This way, you'll notice the changes in context. First, I will tell the story from my point of view: After a long time of making excuses not to go to the gym, Jim finally dragged his feet and walked into the gym building to sign up. The clerk handed him the sign-up form. With tears in his eyes, Jim filled out the registration form and paid the first installment. "Now I have no excuses!" said Jim. So, the next day, he packed the gym bag, which included workout clothes, a towel, shower gel... And a pack of donuts to refuel. By the way, Jim always eats diet donuts, the ones with a hole in the center, like that you eat less quantity. On the first day at the gym, he took it very easy. But even so, he felt stiff for the next two days; he could barely move. After a few sessions and several boxes of donuts, Jim began feeling better about exercising. However, one day, after finishing his workout at the gym, he felt a little under the weather. It turns out that Jim came down with a cold, so he had to rest for the next few days. Jim also developed back pain during those days of rest. So, he took it easy for a couple of weeks and didn't go to the gym. Finally, after recovering, Jim tried going back to the gym; although, with the terrible heat waves, he ended up going to the beach. Now, I will tell the same story from Jim's point of view: After a long time of making excuses not to go to the gym, I finally dragged my feet and walked into the gym building to sign up. The clerk handed me the sign-up form. With tears in my eyes, I filled out the registration form and paid the first installment. "Now I have no excuses!" I said to myself. So, the next day, I packed the gym bag, which included workout clothes, a towel, shower gel... And a pack of donuts to refuel. By the way, I always eat diet donuts, the ones with a hole in the center, like that I eat less quantity. On the first day at the gym, I took it very easy. But even so, I felt stiff for the next two days; I could barely move. After a few sessions and several boxes of donuts, I began feeling better about exercising. However, one day, after finishing my workout at the gym, I felt a little under the weather. It turns out that I came down with a cold, so I had to rest for the next few days. Strangely enough, I also developed back pain during those days of rest. So, I took it easy for a couple of weeks and didn't go to the gym. Finally, after recovering, I tried going back to the gym; although, with the terrible heat waves, I ended up going to the beach. Ok! That's the end of this short exercise. Notice that the changes between grammar points are subtle but important. My suggestion is that you avoid memorizing grammar rules. It's better to see the changes in the proper context. And with a story, it is much easier to remember all this. If you want to know how to speak English using the proper techniques, visit SpeakEnglishPodcast.com and subscribe to my mailing list. I will send you my 5-day video course, so you can learn how to speak English fluently once and for all! And it's completely free. Speak English Now Podcast with Georgiana

#222 Going to the gym in the summer Get the transcript here: https://SpeakEnglishpodcast.com/podcast Today’s episode is going to be a little different than usual. In the first part, you will improve your grammar with a point-of-view story based on actual events. And in the second part, you'll practice your English speaking with a mini-story. Welcome to Speak English Now podcast, with your host, Georgiana. The podcast that will help you speak English fluently with no grammar and no textbooks. Hi, I am Georgiana, your English teacher and founder ofSpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. Ok, let's get started! How was your summer vacation? Mine was quite uneventful, and since it was hot, I didn't travel anywhere. I just wanted to stay at home chilling by the AC (air conditioner). As I was saying, this episode will be a bit different. I'll start with a point of view based on actual facts. I'll talk about Jim, who wants to join the gym in the summer. Ok. Let’s start! POV-Story (Learn grammar in context) I'll tell you a short story more than one time. Every time, I'll change a grammar point. I can change the tense or the person. This way, you'll notice the changes in context. First, I will tell the story from my point of view: After a long time of making excuses not to go to the gym, Jim finally dragged his feet and walked into the gym building to sign up. The clerk handed him the sign-up form. With tears in his eyes, Jim filled out the registration form and paid the first installment. "Now I have no excuses!" said Jim. So, the next day, he packed the gym bag, which included workout clothes, a towel, shower gel... And a pack of donuts to refuel. By the way, Jim always eats diet donuts, the ones with a hole in the center, like that you eat less quantity. On the first day at the gym, he took it very easy. But even so, he felt stiff for the next two days; he could barely move. After a few sessions and several boxes of donuts, Jim began feeling better about exercising. However, one day, after finishing his workout at the gym, he felt a little under the weather. It turns out that Jim came down with a cold, so he had to rest for the next few days. Jim also developed back pain during those days of rest. So, he took it easy for a couple of weeks and didn't go to the gym. Finally, after recovering, Jim tried going back to the gym; although, with the terrible heat waves, he ended up going to the beach. Now, I will tell the same story from Jim's point of view: After a long time of making excuses not to go to the gym, I finally dragged my feet and walked into the gym building to sign up. The clerk handed me the sign-up form. With tears in my eyes, I filled out the registration form and paid the first installment. "Now I have no excuses!" I said to myself. So, the next day, I packed the gym bag, which included workout clothes, a towel, shower gel... And a pack of donuts to refuel. By the way, I always eat diet donuts, the ones with a hole in the center, like that I eat less quantity. On the first day at the gym, I took it very easy. But even so, I felt stiff for the next two days; I could barely move. After a few sessions and several boxes of donuts, I began feeling better about exercising. However, one day, after finishing my workout at the gym, I felt a little under the weather. It turns out that I came down with a cold, so I had to rest for the next few days. Strangely enough, I also developed back pain during those days of rest. So, I took it easy for a couple of weeks and didn't go to the gym. Finally, after recovering, I tried going back to the gym; although, with the terrible heat waves, I ended up going to the beach. Ok! That's the end of this short exercise. Notice that the changes between grammar points are subtle but important. My suggestion is that you avoid memorizing grammar rules. It's better to see the changes in the proper context. And with a story, it is much easier to remember all this. If you want to know how tospeak Englishusing the proper techniques, visit SpeakEnglishPodcast.com andsubscribeto my mailing list. I will send you my5-day video course,so you canlearn how to speak English fluently once and for all!And it's completely free. Speak English Now Podcast with Georgiana

#221 Understanding someone with a strong English accent Get the transcript here: https://SpeakEnglishpodcast.com/podcast Welcome to the Speak English Now Podcast, your resource for practicing your English speaking and listening. You will also learn about lifestyle and culture, language, vocabulary, and how to learn English more effectively. Transcript: In today’s episode, I will discuss how to understand people with strong English accents. And with a point-of-view lesson, you’ll practice vocabulary and improve your grammar without memorizing boring rules. Hi, everyone! I’m Georgiana, founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. Do you know how you can help me? You can share the podcast with your friends and family. Tell them to go to SpeakEnglishPodcast.com and get my free mini-course. That would mean a lot to me. Thanks. Awesome! Let’s get started! Very often, I hear people speaking English with a strong accent. That’s because their native language sometimes has a strong influence on the way they speak English. Have you ever traveled to another country and tried to speak their language? Then you’re probably aware that some locals experienced difficulties understanding you and that not everybody was patient. Some people got very impatient and sometimes even rude. That’s why you should be patient and encouraging whenever you talk to people with a strong accent because they are usually aware that you may have difficulty understanding them. Therefore, be honest with your conversation partner. Don’t pretend you understand the person if you can’t comprehend what they are saying. And don’t be afraid to hurt the other person’s feelings. Being honest doesn’t necessarily make you rude. Instead, use a polite phrase to say that you have some difficulty understanding. Ask the other person to speak more slowly. Say something like this: “I’m sorry, but I’m having some difficulties understanding you.” or “Can you please speak a bit more slowly?” Don’t try to understand every single word. Instead, make an effort to grasp the overall meaning. This way, you will be able to participate in the conversation. You’ll need to relax, listen to meaningful words, and observe as a listener. Use as many contextual clues as possible. Listen very carefully to give all the feedback you can to the speaker. Use your facial expressions to give feedback. Nod when you get the meaning. Smile when the topic is engaging. Frown when the content is about some problem. Learn how to listen without interrupting: If you can understand the main point but are unsure about some words that don’t seem relevant, ignore them and don’t interrupt. However, when you don’t seem to understand keywords or relevant ideas, you’ll need to interrupt by using a phrase like this one: “Excuse me; I don’t quite understand.” “Could you please say that again?” Ask questions: Help the speaker by asking questions like: “Do you mean that…?” or “Are you trying to say that….” Like this, the speaker will feel that you’re genuinely interested in the conversation. And keep smiling, show respect, and have fun communicating with people from all around the world. By the way, if you want to know how to speak English using the right techniques, visit SpeakEnglishPodcast.com and subscribe to my mailing list. I will send you my 5-day video course so you can learn how to speak English fluently. And it’s completely free. (END OF THE EXTRACT). Get the transcript here: https://SpeakEnglishpodcast.com/podcast

#220 Urban Gardens in English Get the transcript here: https://SpeakEnglishpodcast.com/podcast Welcome to the Speak English Now Podcast, your resource for practicing your English speaking and listening. You will also learn about lifestyle and culture, language, vocabulary, and how to learn English more effectively. Transcript: Hi, everybody! I am Georgiana, your English teacher and founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. In today’s episode – I’m going to tell you how you can get vegetables without going to the supermarket. And I’m not talking about magic 🙂 – In the second part, you will learn grammar without memorizing any boring rules. Are you a new listener? I recommend that you get my free video course at speakenglishpodcast.com. You will learn how to acquire more vocabulary, how to learn grammar but without memorizing anything, how to learn deeply, how to speak automatically and how to maintain yourself motivated in the long run. Very well. Let’s start! Some things only happen in cities. Interesting things. One of them is urban gardens, If you have an urban garden, you can grow your own veggies if you live in a city. I’m talking about tomatoes, celery, broccoli, etc. It is an exciting option if you do not want to buy them directly from the supermarket or if you want to make sure that the vegetables are pesticides free. Urban gardens appeared as a fad, but the truth is that they are consolidating in many cities. A good phrase to use in this case is: “they are here to stay”. That is, it is not just a fad. Where can we find these gardens? Locations vary. For example, there are large gardens in the suburbs of many cities. These are family gardens that produce all kinds of veggies. We can also find urban garden projects in schools, where they have an educational function. I find it very helpful for children to understand that tomatoes are not “manufactured” in the supermarket but rather grown in the soil. On the other hand, many apartments have a terrace, and people have some vegetables in small earthen containers. Some take advantage of the rooftop. There is usually quite a lot of space available. I guess in general you can save money, but it’s easy to overspend. You need tools, fertilizers, seeds, substrates… and a lot of patience. In any case, it’s an outdoor hobby that is usually rewarding. However, there are some disadvantages. The most important is that the contamination affects the plants. All contaminating particles fall on the surfaces. Many of them are metals such as lead, mercury, or cadmium. And I don’t believe anyone likes the idea of eating a tomato with these kinds of metals in it. Then there is the expense of the water, which can be significant. Nowadays, the water bill can go up quite a bit because there are more and more taxes. So… Would you like to have an urban garden? If you already have one, you can tell me about it in the comments section. Before I move on to the next section, go and get the transcript of this episode at SpeakEnglishPodcast.com/podcast Do you know how you can help me? You can share the podcast with your friends and family. That would mean a lot to me. Thanks. (END OF THE EXTRACT). Speak English Now Podcast with Georgiana

#219 Cooking in English Get the transcript here: https://SpeakEnglishpodcast.com/podcast Transcript: Hi, everybody! I am Georgiana, your English teacher and founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently. In this episode, I’d like to include some food and cooking vocabulary. And with a mini-story, you will improve your English fluency. You’ll see, it’s like having a conversation with another person. You know, when I enter the kitchen, the first thought that I have is… Why am I here? Yeah. I’m hungry. That’s why. Now I remember. 🙂 I open the refrigerator and start scanning for some delicious food. Since I don’t buy ready-made food, I usually stare at the fridge for some minutes until it starts beeping. Then I close it and open it again to continue scanning. And I’m not saying my refrigerator isn’t well organized; it’s just that I’m looking for something that I can prepare in 1 minute, or preferably even less. Many times, I end up making a green smoothie. That’s a fast and easy way of getting all the needed nutrients. And plus, smoothies are delicious. By the way, a smoothie is a thick drink that you can make using fruits, vegetables, greens, seeds, milk, ice, etc. Like I said earlier, I usually end up making a green smoothie. Don’t panic. It’s green but really yummy. I add some water or milk, one avocado, 1/2 cup of pineapple, 1/2 frozen banana, 2 cups of spinach, and 1/2 cup of ice cubes. I put it at speed 10 for 45 seconds, and the smoothie is ready. Delicious! By the way, in case you were wondering, I use a Vitamix blender to prepare my smoothies. And I don’t use it only for that. I also make frozen desserts with it, soups, I can make flours with it, almond milk, batters, dough, nut butter, juices, dips, etc. It’s very versatile. Whenever I’m not in the mood for a smoothie, and I want to eat healthy and fast, I use a pressure cooker or a frying pan. A frying pan is simply a metal pan with a handle that we use for frying foods. A pressure cooker is an airtight pot where the food is cooked quickly under steam pressure. I love using a pressure cooker because whatever I throw into the pot comes out delicious. I’m not here to promote any brands, but I’m really happy with my Instant pot cooker. The Instant Pot is not only a pressure cooker. It’s multi-functional, and I use it all the time. I even bought one for my mom, and she loves it! And you know what I like using it for? For making yogurt. Yes! I started making yogurt, and it was super simple and just delightful. I also use this machine for cooking rice, pasta, potatoes; you can steam with it, and keep food warm after cooking. I usually steam vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, etc. So, how do I steam with the Instant Pot? I place some water in the pot, then add a basket where I put the veggies. Make sure you don’t add any salt into the water while you are steaming, because it delays the evaporation. I just add the salt once it’s cooked.