Crosby's 9

Hundreds of thousands of people affected by the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl left their homes in search of a better life, and Route 66 promised to take them to a land of opportunity and prosperity. Learn about the Mother Road that runs from Chicago to LA, as you practice -and improve- your English.

What are the top 10 must-see movies? Well, that’s very subjective, but Drew gives you Roger Ebert’s version right here. Check it out. Are you a big Breaking Bad fan? What are some of the series’ iconic sites in Albuquerque? You’ll find out…

Are you ready to put your listening comprehension into high gear?  If so, tune in to hear more about Drew’s Route 66 adventure.  Lafayette Square in St. Louis, the Cherokee Nation in Vinita, coffee beans in Clinton, barbecue in Amarillo, biscuits and gravy in Tucumcari…The story continues. 

Stops along Drew’s Route 66 trip included: Chicago, St. Louis, Joplin, Clinton, Tucumcari, Albuquerque, Flagstaff, Kingman, Las Vegas and Santa Monica. In this episode, he shares highlights from his road trip from beginning to end. So, get your kicks with this, the first “chapter” of his experiences on what John Steinbeck dubbed the “Mother Road.”

Your English will get much better if you listen to Crosby’s 9. Let that sink in. Wait! What does “let that sink in” mean? Tune in and find out. By the way, what is “sync” short for? What is “decaf” short for? And “info”? What does NASA stand for? And GPS? Short for vs. stand for…check it out in this episode. 

Here’s a phrasal verb you need to start using: to cut out. Question: What would happen if you cut out sugar? What would the consequences be? Tune in and find out! Drew also explains the expression, “no shirt, no shoes, no service,” among others. 

By now, you’re surely good at recognizing all the “difficult” letters in English. Listen to this podcast and test yourself. Also, tune in for a simple tip on how to sound more like a native English speaker by using the interrogative structure for emphasis. And there’s practice on the conditional.

How well can you master the most important verb in the English language, to be? Drew offers a quick reminder and exercise. He also takes you through a quick review of the conditionals and teaches several useful expressions that you can start using…right now!

Quick question: what’s a “pet peeve”? Do you have any? Drew mentions a couple of his in this episode. Also, how familiar are you with the structure “there + to be” in English? Drew reminds you how important it is so…don’t forget to practice it!

Is increased crime driving away local investment? Are higher taxes driving away local residents? Learn how to use this key phrasal verb in this episode. And for the umpteenth time, Drew reminds you: imitate him and you’ll improve your speaking!