English as a Second Language Podcast

Special thanks to Dr. Lucy Tse for her help on this podcast. Today's topics: Coretta Scott King, Super Bowls and Pizza, "We will rock you" by Queen, You bet versus I bet, Gonna, woulda, coulda, Speaking of ...

Topics: Route 66, playground games for children, on time versus in time, counting using Mississippi, to knock yourself out Words allergies a frog in your throat route interstate prosperous to get your kicks to celebrate to be “it” playground to ...

Slow dialog: 1:28 Explanations: 3:39 Fast dialog: 14:36 Clerk: Can I help you? Sandy: I’m looking for an MP3 player, but I don’t know a lot about them. Clerk: We have a large selection, as you can see. Sandy: Wow, I really don’t know where to ...

Slow dialog: 1:14 Explanations: 3:26 Fast dialog: 15:21 Patricia: What do you think of our new neighbor? Ray: I don’t know. I haven’t met him yet. Patricia: Me neither, but I think he’s a shady character. Ray: Why do you think that? Patricia: ...

Topics: Ask an American: Socially Responsible Companies case study, to be at sea, to knock someone’s socks off, to take one’s time Words: bottom line impact sustainable shareholder stakeholder to inch up behind the ...

Slow dialogue: 1:42 Explanations: 4:36 Fast dialogue: 17:05 Before I started my new job, I didn’t know that I would be working so closely with another employee of the company. I was used to a lot of autonomy in my last job, and I have always been ...

ESL Podcast 311 – A Mid-life Crisis Slow dialog: 1:21 Explanations: 3:38 Fast dialog: 14:08 Bella: I think my husband is going through a mid-life crisis. Russell: What makes you think that? Bella: He just traded in his car for a very expensive ...

Topics: American folklore: Bigfoot Who’s on First?, to tear apart, Cliff Notes, to fall out of love Words: UFO folklore Pacific Northwest hoax sighting creature comedy routine duo nickname play on words to tear apart (someone) Cliff Notes to fall out ...

Slow dialog: 1:20 Explanations: 3:34 Fast dialog: 14:10 Tobias: I really don’t understand why we need new furniture. After we’re married, we’ll just take the things from each of our two apartments and that should do the trick. Renee: We each have ...

Slow dialog: 1:26 Explanations: 3:28 Fast dialog: 15:00 Daniella: Could you tell where I can find a drugstore? Hotel clerk: Sure. There’s one up the street near the corner of Selma and Main. If you get to Abreu Avenue, you’ve gone too far. It’s ...

Topics: Why Americans don’t use the metric system, how to dress in Los Angeles versus New York, yutz, to go back to square one, what to call your cousin’s son, I’m done with you Words: signatory to establish commission competitive dress code to ...

Slow dialog: 1:20 Explanations: 3:56 Fast dialog: 15:11 Franz: I’ve just switched over to this program and I can’t figure out how to format my document. Can you help me? Helen: I can try. Let’s take a look. What do you want to do? Franz: I want ...

Special Announcement Hello, this is Jeff McQuillan from the Center for Educational Development in beautiful Los Angeles, California, with a special announcement about ESL Podcast. First, I want to thank all of you for listening and supporting our ...

Slow dialog: 1:33 Explanations: 4:11 Fast dialog: 14:14 Marion: I’m trying to decide whether to get cable or satellite TV. Which one do you have at your apartment? Cesar: I have satellite, but I used to have cable. Marion: What’s the ...

Topics: American cities: Nashville Grand Ole Opry, school fund-raisers, to hold on to your hat, to be put inside, a blow-by-blow account Words Hall of Fame to be inducted into dialect fund-raiser funds raffle to grow weary to do away with to get rid ...

Slow dialog: 1:29 Explanations: 3:17 Fast dialog: 17:45 Jeng: What did you do this summer? Cynthia: I worked at a summer camp as a nurse’s aide. I thought we would be giving simple first aid, but you wouldn’t believe the kinds of injuries the kids ...

Slow dialog: 1:38 Explanations: 3:54 Fast dialog: 15:19 Remi: We need to get these costumes sorted out. I’m not sure we have ones that will fit each person in this play. Bryan: Let’s see. We need a shirt for Hector. He’s broad-shouldered, so this ...

Topics: Ask an American: Raising children one of those, reply versus answer, customer versus purchaser Words: to be in competition stressed out to get someone into something to pause to build self-esteem competent capable it’s all about the ...

Slow dialog: 1:27 Explanations: 3:40 Fast dialog: 15:08 Flavio: Thanks for meeting with me. Marcia: It’s my pleasure. We’re eager to hear your ideas about our companies doing business together in the future. Flavio: Well, I wanted us to meet ...