Conversation & Pronunciation: Learn English with The Rachel's English Podcast

Episodes

1. 025: New Year's Resolutions

   27 Dec 2017 · 28 min

   Do you make New Year's Resolutions? Today we discuss the kinds of resolutions we make, and discuss tips on how to keep them. Learn what a SMART goal is, and learn the idioms and interesting vocabulary words we use when…

2. 024: The Best Present You've Ever Gotten

   20 Dec 2017 · 24 min

   Today we talk about the best present we've ever gotten, and define interesting words, terms, and phrases that come up in natural conversation. Learn the phrases 'freaking out', 'big deal', 'to be up to it', 'nailed…

3. 023: Conversations: Describe a Recent Situation that Made you Crack Up

   13 Dec 2017 · 28 min

   David and I ask each other questions to get the conversation going – then we stop when we use an idiom, phrasal verb, or challenging vocabulary word and explain it. You'll learn and these words and phrases because you…

4. 022: Phrases for being Polite in American English

   6 Dec 2017 · 27 min

   When we were in Italy recently, we often struggled with knowing the polite way to phrase a request or ask for something. We could get the point across, but we lacked nuance with the language. Today we discuss phrases…

5. 021: Our Experience Being Non-Native Speakers

   29 Nov 2017 · 27 min

   Today we reflect on our trip to Italy and what is was like being non-native speakers. We discuss how we picked up language there, and how it felt not being able to fully communicate. We talk about becoming comfortable…

6. 020: Letting Go of Inhibitions and Embodying a New Language

   22 Nov 2017 · 29 min

   Today we listen to a conversation that we recorded in Italy with my sister- and brother-in-law as we discuss what it means to be in another country, trying to speak a new language. We talk about leaving your whole self…

7. 019: Conversations: What are some of the Great Things about Living in Philadelphia?

   15 Nov 2017 · 30 min

   Today we study casual English conversation as David and I ask each other questions like: Think back 10 years. What's something that has changed about your personality? As we speak, we pick out the phrasal verbs,…

8. 018: Taking the IELTS Speaking Test - Interview with Eliot Friesen of Magoosh

   8 Nov 2017 · 52 min

   The IELTS exam tests your proficiency in English, and today we sit down with IELTS expert Eliot Fresien of Magoosh. He has created a training program to help students prepare, and today we discuss in-depth the speaking…

9. 017: Conversations: What's the Most Challenging Job you've Ever Had?

   1 Nov 2017 · 27 min

   Today David and I ask each other a series of questions to get the conversation going. Then we stop ourselves as idioms, phrasal verbs, or interesting vocabulary words come up in conversation. A sample of what is…

10. 016: Friendships in America

    25 Oct 2017 · 33 min

    Today we answer questions about making with Americans—and growing friendships with Americans. Is it normal to have good friends of both sexes? Do Americans avoid talking about the difficulties in life? How to meet…

11. 015: Diphthongs

    18 Oct 2017 · 32 min

    Today we do a deep-dive into the American English diphthongs. How many are there, and why doesn't everyone agree with the number? We discuss the different spellings of the diphthongs, as well as the benefits of…

12. 014: Conversations: Name an Embarrassing Moment you've had as an Adult

    11 Oct 2017 · 31 min

    Today David and I ask each other a series of questions to get the conversation going, then we stop ourselves as idioms, phrasal verbs, or interesting vocabulary words come up in conversation. A sample of what is…

13. 013: Interview with Brooke Kandel-Cisco on Teaching ESL Teachers

    4 Oct 2017 · 31 min

    David and I sit down with Butler University professor Brooke Kandel-Cisco to discuss teaching English as a Second Language. We talk about the standards for teaching non-native students in the US and how to dig beneath…

14. 012: Family Relationships and Idioms

    27 Sep 2017 · 27 min

    This week's episode is a companion to the vocabulary builder video published on YouTube and the website. We discuss more complicated family relationships as well as lots of idioms that use family relationship words…

15. 011: Vowels, Part 2

    20 Sep 2017 · 31 min

    In Part 2 of the Vowels series, we discuss the remaining vowels in English: EH [ɛ], UR [ɜ], OO [u], UH [ʊ], another UH [ʌ], and the Schwa [ə]. We discuss one of the main differences between British and American English…

16. 010: Vowels, Part 1

    13 Sep 2017 · 31 min

    David and I discuss five of the 11 vowels of American English, and go over the various ways each sound can be spelled. This leads to discussions of the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) and spelling bees (David won…

17. 009: Rural Juror - Your Pronunciation Questions Answered

    6 Sep 2017 · 26 min

    David and I answer your questions from YouTube. How is ACTUAL actually pronounced? Is it okay to use American idioms and slang during the IELTS speaking test? How do you pronounce 'goal' vs. 'go'? And, a question even…

18. 008: Food Idioms! Small Peanuts, White on Rice and so much more!

    30 Aug 2017 · 36 min

    David and I cover just some of the MANY idioms that are in use in daily English conversation -- some of those relating to food: Icing on the cake, have your cake and eat it too, not my cup of tea, and more. Learn what…

19. 007: Interview with an American Adult Learning English AGAIN - Dave Valiulis

    23 Aug 2017 · 37 min

    In this episode, I interview stroke survivor Dave Valiulis. There's a lot to learn about mastering an accent from someone who had to relearn a language as an adult. Dave gives great tips for retraining the muscle…

20. 006: Pig vs. Pick, How to Understand People from all over the World, and more

    16 Aug 2017 · 30 min

    I answer your pressing questions on English pronunciation, how to understand people from all over the world, the Flap T, and more, with the help of my amazing sidekick (and husband!) David.

21. 005: Interview with Vicki Hollett

    9 Aug 2017 · 31 min

    Author and English teacher Vicki Hollett gives grammar tips, talks about British vs. American English, moving to America as an adult, and how to get through a voice-recognition system as a non-native speaker.

22. 004: T Pronunciations (Flap T, Stop T, True T)

    2 Aug 2017 · 50 min

    The letter T is not always what we think of as a T. In fact, MOST of the time it's not. So then what is it? What are the rules for how to pronounce T? Today you'll get rules and examples to help you figure out what…

23. 003: COLLAR vs. COLOR, The T in DEFINITELY, and more

    26 Jul 2017 · 26 min

    This week's show answers questions from you, the students. Rachel and David will discuss the difference between COLLAR and COLOR (AH [ɑ] and UH [ʌ]), the word 'liberty', the Light and Dark L, and more. Oh, and we'll…

24. 002: American English Slang - Fly, Throw Shade, and More!

    17 Jul 2017 · 22 min

    American slang is used a lot by young people in the US. If you don't know the terms, it can be very hard to join in the conversation, even for native speakers. In today's episode, Rachel and David discuss when to use…

25. 001: Who is Rachel?

    15 Jul 2017 · 37 min

    Learn more about how Rachel's English was started, and how I got the skills I need to help my students understand and speak natural American English. My husband David leads the interview, and asks questions like "What…