English as a Second Language (ESL) Podcast - Learn English Online

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Topics: Movies – The King and I; nation versus sovereign versus kingdom; to obstruct versus to hinder; fire and brimstone Words: musical governess arrogant stubborn to respect role autobiography court to exaggerate to ban to colonize classic nation sovereign kingdom to obstruct to hinder fire and brimstone

All power corrupts, but can social media corrupt absolutely? Find out in this episode. Slow dialog: 1:25 Explanations: 3:37 Fast dialog: 16:25 Ann: I don’t like our son watching those films and reading those books. They’re corrupting his mind. Elio: I don’t like it either, but he’s old enough to read and watch what he likes without our interference. Ann: But they’re brainwashing him! Those books and films are full of evil, perverted ideas. Elio: They’re certainly blasphemous and profane. I agree with you. But what can we do? Maybe his interest in them will be short-lived. Ann: Even if he loses interest, we’ll have to find a way to reverse the damage that’s been done. He’ll need to be deprogramed. Elio: Maybe their effect will be short-lived, too. Deep down he’s a good kid. We both know that. Ann: Yes, but those ideas are dangerous. I hope he doesn’t act on them. Elio: Don’t even think it. That would spell disaster. Ann: All right, I’ll only think good thoughts. Elio: Good. Ann: Where are you going? Elio: I’m hoping for the best, but just in case, it doesn’t hurt to monitor what he’s saying on social media. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Get where you want to go without using your own car, a bike, a bus, or a taxi. Is it magic? Find out in this episode. Slow dialog: 1:25 Explanations: 4:04 Fast dialog: 19:58 Carl: Let’s get a taxi. Doris: There’s no need. I’ve already ordered a car. Carl: A limo? That’s too expensive. Doris: No, I’m using a ridesharing service. It’s cheaper than a taxi. There’s no meter and we pay a set price. Carl: But how do we know it’s safe? How do we know the driver isn’t a criminal or an unsafe driver? Is he going to have car insurance? Do they do background checks? Doris: Even though it’s a peer-to-peer service, the drivers are carefully screened and the cars are tracked. Trust me. This ride will be safe. Carl: We don’t have much cash on us. Doris: I have a credit card on file. No cash will change hands. Look, here’s our driver. Hello, Michael. Carl: You know our driver? Doris: He’s my son. Carl: But why are you paying for a ride if your son is available to pick us up? Doris: He has his pride. He won’t take any money from me so we came up with a compromise: I hire his car whenever I need a ride to or from the airport. It works for us and there’s a bonus. Carl: What’s that? Doris: I get to see my son every time I travel. Carl: That seems like a strange arrangement. Doris: That may be so, but if you can’t get your son to visit more often, what’s a mother to do? Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Famous Americans – Stephen F. Austin; Classic TV – M*A*S*H; disability versus handicap versus impairment; recourse versus resort; to fly in the face of (something) Words: frontier economy land grant colony to negotiate contract revolution to annex mobile surgical comedy syndication disability handicap impairment recourse to resort to to fly in the face of (something)

I promise you that you will learn all about how to break a promise on this episode. Slow dialog: 1:23 Explanations: 3:43 Fast dialog: 17:56 Jean-Paul: What’s going on? I thought it was a done deal. Charlene: I think you misunderstood. The last time we talked, I said I would think about partnering up, but now that I have, I’m going to beg off. Jean-Paul: What you said was that you were agreeable to the idea and that we would work out the details later. Now you’re backtracking? Charlene: I would never renege on a promise. If I gave my word, I would follow through. In this case, I didn’t. Jean-Paul: I’m really surprised by your denial. I didn’t have you pegged as someone who backs out of deals. Charlene: All I can say is that we don’t see eye to eye. Let’s agree to disagree and leave it at that. Jean-Paul: That’s easy for you to say. Your failure to honor your promise is going to put me in a very awkward position. Charlene: How’s that? We only spoke yesterday. Jean-Paul: I may have made some promises of my own and now I’ll have to get out of them somehow. Charlene: May I make a suggestion? Jean-Paul: What? Deny, deny, deny? Charlene: Well, it’s worked for me. Jean-Paul: Oh, the nerve of some people! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

If the police arrest you, don’t tell them anything. Call a lawyer and then listen to this episode. Slow dialog: 1:21 Explanations: 3:10 Fast dialog: 17:44 Andy: I got it! I got a confession. Diane: You got a confession out of that suspect? How did you do it? We’ve been after that guy for days. Andy: I put the pressure on and he buckled. Diane: Did you make threats? Andy: Of course I made threats. It’s an interrogation, not a tea party. Diane: The confession is no good if it’s coerced. Andy: I may have gone over the line a little, but who’s to know? Diane: He knows and any half-decent lawyer will make mincemeat out of that confession. He’ll get it thrown out of court in a heartbeat. Andy: I leaned on him a little hard, but it’s not like I put the screws on him. Diane: You have a lot to learn. Andy: Do you think I should go back in there and talk to him? Diane: Stay out of there. You’ve done enough damage. Rookies! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: American Authors – James Baldwin; Famous Songs – "High Hopes"; homeless versus destitute; odd versus odds; "I'm not a has-been. I am a will-be." Words: preacher strict to base something on sexual orientation civil rights high hopes discouraged ant campaign song to be on the right track to back opposition homeless destitute odds has-been

Learn how to handle people who always want to tell you what to do in this episode. Slow dialog: 1:32 Explanations: 3:40 Fast dialog: 16:40 Rachel: What you need to do is… Logan: Stop bossing me around! I know what I’m doing so back off. Rachel: What’s gotten into you? I’m not bossing you around. I’m trying to help you. Some people are so ungrateful. Logan: It’s true that I’ve made my share of mistakes, but I don’t need you here to push me around calling all the shots. Rachel: Here’s a reality check: Without me keeping an eye on you and steering you away from bad decisions, you’d be back in trouble again. Logan: When I asked for your help, I’d forgotten how pushy and controlling you are. I’m not going to let you walk all over me like you did when we were kids. Rachel: Who is trying to walk all over you? If you think I’m being high-handed then I’m out of here. Logan: Good. I don’t know what possessed me to ask you for help in the first place. Rachel: Well, things never change, do they? Logan: Apparently not! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Sometimes you don’t need to fix things perfectly to get them to work. Learn more in this episode. Slow dialog: 1:36 Explanations: 3:48 Fast dialog: 18:45 Desiree: Hey, what happened to the lights? Chris: I think you have a short or maybe a loose wire. Desiree: My guests are going to arrive any minute. What am I going to do? Chris: Don’t worry. In an emergency, I’m your man. Whatever the problem is, I can probably find a stopgap solution. Desiree: Are you sure? I don’t want you to get electrocuted. Chris: When I was growing up, we lived in the middle of nowhere and my parents had to make do. They improvised all the time, using what was on hand to make repairs. Desiree: They both sound very handy. Chris: They did what they had to do. Whatever the problem was, they were able to cobble together something, even if it was a little makeshift. I like to think I learned a thing or two from them. Desiree: So do you think you can fix this? Chris: Well, it’s not going to be done properly, but I’ll jury-rig something so the lights will work temporarily until you can get it repaired professionally. Desiree: That’s great, but just in case, I think I’ll run to the store for some candles. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: The Pennsylvania Mutiny of 1783 and the creation of the District of Columbia; The Hollywood Sign; next versus upcoming versus future; critical situation versus critical position; steaming Words: finances mutiny militia permanent residence to represent to erect luxury eyesore chamber of commerce to restore prank to trespass next upcoming future critical situation critical position steam

Get the latest, best machine in this episode - and learn how to talk about it to your friends! Slow dialog: 1:36 Explanations: 3:23 Fast dialog: 18:47 Oleg: Geez, look at that dinosaur. Raquel: This is not a dinosaur. It’s a classic. It will never go out of style and it’s built to last. Oleg: It’s an antique and belongs in a museum. You’ve got to get with it and get one of these. Raquel: What’s that? Oleg: It’s the latest model, with cutting edge design. It’s brand spanking new. Raquel: That’s all right. This machine is tried-and-true and it never lets me down. Oleg: Why don’t you take this for a test drive? It’ll be an eye-opening experience for you. Raquel: No, thanks. Oleg: You don’t know what you’re missing. Raquel: That’s true, but I’m happy with my machine. Oleg: Fine. I’m just trying to help you move with the times. Raquel: Thanks, but no thanks. I’ll stick with what I know and love. Oleg: It just goes to show there’s no accounting for taste. Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Make a grocery list and check it twice! Learn how to shop for food in this episode. Slow dialog: 1:21 Explanations: 4:02 Fast dialog: 15:35 Donny: Have you ever heard of something called a “meal plan”? Helene: Sure, I make one each week before I go grocery shopping. It saves time and money. Donny: My mother suggested I make one now that I’m staying home with the kids and Sydney is going back to work. Helene: See this? This is my meal plan. I map out the dinners I’ll be making each day. It helps me a lot. Donny: How? It seems like a lot of work. Helene: Well, for one thing, I only have to go grocery shopping once a week. I buy a week’s worth of groceries in one fell swoop. Donny: I guess that’s helpful, but it still seems like too much work. Helene: Here’s what I do. I look at each week’s store circular to see what’s seasonal and on sale. I pull out my recipes that include those items and I see if I have any coupons I can use. Donny: I still don’t see how I can save much money. Helene: I also use the sale items for more than one meal and make enough to have leftovers for lunch the next day. It works like a charm. Donny: I think I’ll stick to my original plan. Helene: Which is? Donny: To plead ignorance and ask my mother over to our house to give me cooking lessons. By the time I cook well enough on my own, the children will be nearly full-grown! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse

Topics: Classic TV & Movies – Mission: Impossible; Famous Americans – Alfred Stieglitz; satisfactory versus satisfying; damaged goods and majorly unfair Words: mission trained agent force high-tech disguise to disavow to self-destruct special effects editor secession pictorialism satisfactory satisfying damaged goods majorly unfair to kill (someone) with kindness

Learn about how to talk about common women’s health issues in English in this episode. Slow dialog: 1:20 Explanations: 4:17 Fast dialog: 19:34 Matt: Hello, viewers! On our show today, we have Dr. Rodriguez, who is here to tell us about women’s health. Welcome, Dr. Rodriguez. Dr. Rodriguez: Thanks for having me. Matt: Tell us. As a gynecologist, what one piece of advice would you give to women to help them stay healthy? Dr. Rodriguez: Well, as part of their regular checkups, they should be getting a gynecological exam. Matt: This may surprise you, but I’ve never had one. Ha, ha! Dr. Rodriguez: When women come in for an exam, I check several things. I do a breast exam to check for lumps to detect breast cancer. I also show women how to do this at home on their own. Matt: Is that all? Dr. Rodriguez: No, I do a pelvic exam and a Pap smear to rule out cervical cancer. I also look for anything problematic, such as unusual discharge or signs of STDs. Matt: That sounds painful. Ouch! Dr. Rodriguez: It’s not painful and it’s very important. I also discuss with women their menstrual cycles, issues related to being sexually active, birth control methods, fertility issues, and menopause. Matt: I didn’t know what I was missing! Dr. Rodriguez: My point is that it’s important for women to talk to their doctor about any medical issues they may have. Matt: And my point is: I’m glad I’m not a woman! Dr. Rodriguez: That’s not the message… Matt: Thanks for coming in, doctor. And now, let’s talk about something really important – celebrity news! Script by Dr. Lucy Tse