English, baby! Daily Podcasts

We all have them: those people in our family who are incredibly picky. It doesn’t matter how much time you spend looking for the perfect gift, they will never be happy with what you select. The shirt is the wrong color. The candle smells funny. Whatever you give them, it’s the wrong thing. So what do you do? One way to avoid stress when shopping for picky people is to give them a gift card. That way they can shop for themselves and find something that suits their taste. With a gift card, Mom can never criticize the flowers you buy her, and Aunt Shelby can’t complain about the box of chocolate. Problem solved. Of course, some people think gift cards are too easy. For them, it’s a cop out. They’d rather spend hours searching for the perfect gift, even if it turns out to be the wrong thing. Rafael is looking for a present. Find out why he chooses a gift card in this English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

No matter where you live, there are probably some things that the government does that you don’t agree with. Often it’s easiest and best to simply follow the rules, but what if the problem is something really important? When people are sick of a government making bad decisions, they can protest with a march, a mob, or even picket signs that talk about what they don’t agree with. Protestors do take a risk when they stand up for their beliefs. In extreme cases, they might get put in prison or worse. Somebody is upset with the government. Read this week’s English lesson to find out who wants to protest. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“I just came back from a jog and, man, am I feeling the burn.” —Ebaby!’s Kat, speaking about exercising a lot -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Many people enjoy collecting antique things. People collect old-timey photos, old-fashioned hats, old tools, paintings, dishes, and farm equipment. Many collectors are also fond of handmade rocking chairs. Rocking chairs are sometimes quite ornate and beautiful. They are carved from wood, and rocking away in a squeaky rocking chair can be very soothing. It’s fun to imagine who else sat in those antique rocking chairs. A new mother may have knitted little stockings for her baby while sitting in that chair. An old farmer might have smoked his pipe while rocking and relaxing on his porch. Maybe, that’s the rocking chair that U.S. President John F. Kennedy used on Air Force One? Maybe, that rocking chair is where Thomas Edison got the idea for the light bulb? You never know. Romeo thinks rocking chairs might be making a comeback. Listen as he discusses rocking chairs with Andy in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“I went to school, and I have an acting coach, but a lot of people don’t like to talk about that stuff. I feel like you need to carry the torch a little bit before you play Hamlet.” —Actor Sam Rockwell, speaking about his acting career after Three Billboards Outside of Ebbing, Missouri (52 Insights) -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Right. Right. It’s the same word, isn’t it? The answer is yes… and no. In English, not only do we pay attention to what words we say, but also how we say them. Your tone makes a big difference in what other people understand. Some people are always serious. What they say is what they mean. Others like to kid around. Their personality might be more sarcastic. You might not realize that they’re joking if they have a very dry humor. It’s not always easy to understand. Something as simple as, “I read the book” can be a joke if the right person says it! Being sarcastic isn’t always bad, but it can offend people if you’re not careful. People, especially your friends, like to know you care about them. If you’re always answering them with biting comments, don’t be surprised if your friends start disappearing. Lily and Brian are discussing sarcasm. Learn who’s taking things too far in this English lesson about personalities. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

When you were a kid, where did you spend sunny afternoons? Did you climb into tall trees? Or build a fort in the yard? Or go to the local playground to run around with the neighbor kids? Playgrounds are a great place for kids to learn how to play with others. The swings, slide, and other play equipment are great for learning motor skills and building imagination, but kids will likely have to take turns. After all, it’s pretty hard to swing with five people at a time. In the US, neighborhood parks are often funded by tax dollars. It’s a way that the government can support healthy families and communities. Volunteers might spend time keeping the park nice or doing needed maintenance. Sometimes, schools and apartment complexes have privately funded playgrounds as well. In the end, it’s not really about having the newest, shiniest play equipment, it’s about letting kids be kids and enjoy childhood. Jeff and Gary are discussing playgrounds and parenting. Learn who thinks what in this English lesson about childhood. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“I came back kinda rusty just being hurt a whole year, so I had to get back into the flow of things. I just feel like my best football is ahead of me.” —US Football Player Derwin James, speaking about playing even better in the future (USA Today) -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Everyone has one. Maybe it’s eating ice cream when no one is looking. Perhaps it’s watching a soap opera when you get home from work. It could be playing video games after school. Whatever your guilty pleasure is, you’re not alone. We all have something in our lives that we like to see, do, eat or drink when we’re alone. You might see your guilty pleasure as a weakness, but there’s no need to play it down. What’s wrong with eating a little chocolate or drinking an extra glass of wine? If doing it will put you in heaven after a tough day at work or in school, do it. The only person who is really paying attention is you. Find out if Rafael and Marni share the same guilty pleasures in this English lesson about our private lives. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

There are so many things that you can do with your life. You could be a teacher. You could become a ping-pong champion. You might even want to be a dessert chef. You could even make a list of all the possibilities and try different things. No matter what you do, the bottom line is that you want to do something you enjoy. When someone tells you the bottom line, they are telling you what they think is most important. The bottom line is the point or the main idea. Sometimes, the bottom line is how much money a company can make. At other times, the bottom line is the conclusion of an argument. It is always the most important idea. So, while you figure out your life, remember the bottom line… happiness is the most important thing. The bottom line for Andy and Kelsey is to find something special that they enjoy. Find out if they can figure it out in today’s English soap opera. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“Because I’m a university student, I tend to hit the books pretty often.” —Ebaby!’s Kat, speaking about doing her homework -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Do you know someone who is preparing for the next life? As if thinking of death wasn’t hard already, there are a lot of things people want to take care of before they die. One thing is that we usually have a lot of stuff by the time we’re older. We have knick knacks, furniture, books, and all these things that we can’t take with us. That’s why it’s a good idea to do some prepping and clean things up. Maybe, there is a couch your nephew wants. Maybe, there are some sentimental things you want to make sure go into the right hands. Either way, simplifying is the best way to prepare for the afterlife. That way, you can focus on the things that matter. Dominique’s grandma is passing away. Listen and she and Romeo discuss death cleaning in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“If you’re at my karaoke bar, and you know my choreo, I will probably sing with you.” —Singer-Songwriter Lana Del Rey, speaking about singing and dancing with her fans at a local karaoke bar (Cosmopolitan) -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Have you ever been to a really fancy dinner party at an expensive restaurant? There are more utensils than you can count! It seems like you’re outnumbered by cutlery, cups, and plates. It can be a dining disaster if you’ve never learned culinary etiquette. There is some good news, though. Fortunately, the basics of proper dining aren’t hard to manage. Always start with the utensil that’s farthest away from your plate and move one item in with each course. Other tips include being polite, talking softly, and, of course, never chewing with your mouth open. Jeff and Rafael are getting ready for a big dinner party. Who needs to learn some dining do’s and don’t’s quickly? Find out in this English lesson about etiquette. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Painting is a way we bring color into our lives. We paint houses and walls cheerful colors to make us smile. And we paint pictures that remind us of beautiful places or people to hang on our walls. Museums are full of paintings that were done by famous artists. But does that mean everybody is artistic? Can everybody paint? Or do you need a special kind of talent to take a blank canvas and turn it into a masterpiece? People use different colors for different feelings. Warm colors, like red and yellow, show love and passion. Cold colors, like blue and green, can either show sadness or quiet. Sometimes it’s therapeutic to paint your feelings. But if you don’t like painting, all the colors might be overwhelming. Amanda and Marni both paint, but one of them doesn’t like painting at all. Learn about their experiences in this English lesson about art. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com