Emma's ESL English

Thank you so much for tuning in to Emma's ESL English for three years and 246 episodes! I really appreciate all your time, clicks and the occasional daring comment.

Unfortunately I have run out of time. I need to evolve my business, and this just doesn't fit in anymore, literally, not enough hours in the day. I will continue to teach English as part of my business, and you're very welcome to take English classes with me.

In addition, I'm hoping to incorporate my cultural knowledge into the business, so hopefully working with people in international teams or working with colleagues from other countries and helping them work more effectively.

• 🗨️ Please do comment and let me know if you can think of a need in this area that might fit me.

If you would like to stay in touch feel free to find me on:

• LinkedIn (just send me a message with 'Emma's ESL Podcast Listener' in the message so I know who you are!): https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmaethompson/

• XiaoHong Shu (Red Note) look for: Emma 爱人間 ID 26207781890

The podcast will stay live on Spotify and Apple and all the other places, and for now these videos will stay here on YouTube.

• If you'd like to give me a tip for the podcast you can do that through Ko-Fi here: https://ko-fi.com/emmaseslenglish

Thank you so much for being so supportive while I learned how to do podcasts, how to speak to the camera, how to edit videos, how to understand YouTube, how to write scripts and plan episodes, how to use Canva to make nice pictures.

I have learned so many things through doing this podcast. (Those that have seen the first episodes know how much I've learned!😳) Things that I'm now using for the next stage of my business. I have two areas of business I'm working on. The first is already up and running.

• You can find my other YouTube channel 'Somewhere on the Spectrum', where I focus on neurodiversity, specifically late diagnosed Autistic and ADHD adults here: https://www.youtube.com/@SomewhereOnTheSpectrum

And I am now developing the second part which I'm hoping will be a focus on culture with some coaching, peer-to-peer support and maybe courses, based in my years of teaching English and cultural understanding, helping people connect more effectively across cultures.

Thank you so much for being here for this journey. I hope to see you again in the future. Best wishes, Emma

📚 In this special episode of Emma’s ESL English, we’re celebrating the life and legacy of beloved British writer and illustrator Beatrix Potter—whose birthday was just yesterday!Join me in the garden (two garden's! My Grandma's and mine) as we explore:- Who Beatrix Potter was and why she’s one of my favorite British women- How she created The Tale of Peter Rabbit and revolutionized children’s books- Her love for the Lake District and lasting impact on nature conservation🌿 Plus: I’ll be reading a short passage from Peter Rabbit—perfect for English learners who want to hear natural language from a real British classic.🎥 If you think you'd like to watch the movie, Miss Potter, check out the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqF25DJk-fo💬 Have you read Beatrix Potter’s books before? What’s your favorite character or memory? Let me know in the comments!📖 If you want to read the full story, check out your local library or bookstore—it’s a short and charming read!#BeatrixPotter, #PeterRabbit, #LearnEnglish, #ESLListening, #EnglishStories, #LakeDistrict, #BritishAuthors, #EmmaESLEnglish

🌼 Welcome back to Emma’s ESL English, still recording in my grandma’s garden—complete with sunshine, thunderbugs, and roses.Today we’re talking about metasyntactic variables—a fancy way of saying “words we use when we forget the word!” These are common in English, used by native speakers every day, and they’re surprisingly useful for language learners too.In this video, you’ll learn:- Popular “filler” words like thingy, whatchamacallit, doohickey, and more- How native speakers deal with memory blanks in everyday conversation- Why it’s OK to make up words when you’re stuck (and how people will still understand you)🗨️ Tell me in the comments: What do YOU say when you forget a word in your language? Share your favourite filler words and let’s compare across cultures.💬 Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share—especially if this helped make English feel a bit easier.#LearnEnglish, #ESLFun, #EnglishTips, #Whatchamacallit, #RealEnglish, #EnglishSpeaking, #SpeakNaturally, #EnglishFillerWords, #EmmaESLEnglish

✏️ Struggling with writing in English? Whether you’re writing emails, essays, or presentations, I’ve got you covered. In this episode of Emma’s ESL English, filmed in my grandma’s sunny garden 🌹, I’ll show you 10 free tools that will help you write better English today—even if you’re not confident in your grammar or vocabulary yet.These tools include:- Translation apps (like Google Translate and Deepl)- Grammar checkers (Grammarly, Ginger, Write & Improve)- Vocabulary helpers (dictionaries, thesauruses, and Visuwords)- AI-powered tools (Hemingway, Deepl Write)- Simple tips like journaling to improve fluency💡 You’ll learn how to:- Avoid panic when writing at work- Write more naturally in English- Use vocabulary like a native speaker📌 All the tools I mention are FREE, and I explain when and why to use each one.

1. Word or Google Docs
2. Online Dictionaries and Thesaurus (I would recommend big name companies like merriam-webster.com for American English and https://dictionary.cambridge.org/ for British English)
3. Google Translate
4. Grammarly: https://www.grammarly.com/
5. Visuwords: https://visuwords.com/
6. Write and Improve: https://writeandimprove.com/
7. Hemmingway App: https://hemingwayapp.com/ (also a desktop version)
8. Ginger: https://www.gingersoftware.com/
9. Deepl Write: https://www.deepl.com/en/write (and translate: https://www.deepl.com/en/translator)
10. A Journal

💬 Which of these tools have you tried? Do you have another favourite that helps you write in English? Tell me in the comments!#EnglishWritingTips, #ESLLearners, #LearnEnglishOnline, #EnglishGrammarHelp, #WriteBetterEnglish, #EmmaESLEnglish, #EnglishStudyTools, #FreeEnglishResources, #WritingInEnglish, #LanguageLearnerSupport

English is full of bizarre idioms that make little sense—yet we use them all the time! Remember, most British people don't study idioms at school, we just learn them by...osmosis? So we're not thinking about where they come from or how weird they sound, we just use them. Unfortunately for you as an English learner, you might need to remember them and maybe you even want to try and use them. In my podcast I try to make it easier to remember idioms by giving them stories, learning about the history, or just making them funny. I hope you find it helpful. In this episode of Emma’s ESL English, we explore four common but strange expressions:- More ideas than you can shake a stick at – Why are we shaking sticks?- Water off a duck’s back – What does a duck have to do with ignoring criticism?- There’s more than one way to skin a cat – A phrase with unsettling origins.- Miss the boat – A simple but widely used metaphor.Also, find out which ones might be used in Business English.Let me know in the comments if there's any of these you'd feel comfortable using yourself.#EnglishIdioms #WeirdEnglish #ESLEnglish #IdiomsExplained #LearnEnglish #EnglishGrammar #ESLPodcast #BritishEnglish #EnglishTips #EnglishFun#CommonIdioms #EnglishLessons #SpeakingEnglish #EnglishVocabulary #PodcastEpisode #EnglishCulture #IdiomsAndSayings #EnglishLearners #EnglishTeaching #LanguageTips

In this episode of Emma’s ESL English, we take a thoughtful look at Tom Cruise’s career and his most memorable movie quotes. From Top Gun’s iconic “I feel the need, the need for speed” to Jerry Maguire’s “Help me help you,” Cruise’s films have shaped modern cinema.

We examine his rise to fame, his ability to carry a film, and the impact of his performances—from Risky Business to Mission Impossible. We also discuss the courtroom drama A Few Good Men, where Cruise delivers one of the most famous exchanges in film history, and Vanilla Sky, a film that divided audiences but left a lasting impression.

What's your favourite Tom Cruise movie or quote? let me know in the comments.

Join the conversation in the comments, share your thoughts, and don’t forget to like and subscribe.

#TomCruise #MovieQuotes #ESLEnglish #Podcast #TopGun #MissionImpossible #JerryMaguire #AFewGoodMen #VanillaSky #ActorSpotlight #EnglishLearning #LearnEnglish #ESLPodcast

Tomorrow is the birth date of famous dystopian British writer George Orwell. In this episode find out more about his interesting and unusual life and his passion for writing, freedom and raising awareness about life in poverty. I'll also be reading a little from the book.

George Orwell’s 1984 isn’t just a novel—it’s a warning about historical erasure, surveillance, and authoritarian control. Orwell’s writing has never been more relevant, especially in a world where truth is constantly being rewritten.

🌍 In this video, we discuss:

• Orwell’s life & why his experiences shaped his writing
• How totalitarian regimes manipulate history
• The eerie parallels between 1984 and today
• What Orwell’s work teaches us about freedom & truth

Today's video is great for practicing your English listening skills, and has some interesting vocabulary such as:

Homage - something done in honour of someone.

Tramp - someone who is usually living on the street

Pen name - also known as nom de plume or pseudonym, is a fake name created by an author to hide their identity

#emmaseslenglish #learnenglish #englishreading #GeorgeOrwell #1984 #DystopianFiction #HistoricalErasure #Totalitarianism #TruthAndLies #Surveillance #FreedomOfSpeech #Literature #SocialIssues

English is full of strange idioms, and today we’re diving into some bizarre British expressions you might hear! Some of these are quite common, especially the 2nd and 3rd, and you might hear them in the office or out and about. The others are less common, and just for you to be aware of, rather than need to try and use. Hopefully they're fun and interesting!

💬 Examples:

• "I don't think I had the brass neck to bunk off." → Brass neck = extreme confidence (or foolishness). Bunk off = skipping school!
• "You'll get it in the neck!" → Means you’re going to be in trouble!
• "We've got other fish to fry." → We have more important things to do!
• "You’ll be smiling on the other side of your face." → Not good news! You’ll regret something soon.

📌 You won’t need to use these—just understand them if you hear them!
💬 Have you heard any weird idioms before? Drop them in the comments!

#EnglishIdioms #LearnEnglish #BritishEnglish #WeirdIdioms #ESL #LanguageLearning #EnglishTips #SpeakingEnglish #EnglishExpressions

🗣️ Struggling with L & R sounds in English? You're not alone! Many ESL learners, especially those from Asian language backgrounds, find it tricky to pronounce these sounds correctly.

🔍 In this lesson, Emma explains:- Why L & R pronunciation is challenging

• How to position your tongue correctly
• Common mistakes & how to fix them
• And whether this is even worth you spending your time on

Today's Practice Words:*Alive - Arrive*Light - Right*Calendar*Curly*Relax*April *Religious*Little*Rule*Rollercoaster

• For the 'F' Sound Episode 213: https://youtu.be/N2BZg718a-8
• For all the common sounds Episode 87: https://youtu.be/7kKfQzcWEQg

💡 Improving your pronunciation makes speaking clearer & easier! Let’s break it down step by step.

🔔 Subscribe for more English pronunciation tips!

#LearnEnglish #ESL #EnglishPronunciation #SpeakingEnglish #ImproveEnglish #LanguageLearning #EnglishTips #PronunciationPractice #FluentEnglish #StudyEnglish #AccentTraining

🚀 Take your English reading skills to the next level! Don’t let descriptive writing slow you down—learn how to tackle novels with confidence.📚 Learning English through books can be a challenge! In this video, we explore the difference between creative writing and daily spoken English, breaking down how novels use descriptive language that might not be useful for everyday conversation. We dive into four books, including Rogue Herries (Hugh Walpole), The Island of Missing Trees (Elif Shafak), Gorillas in the Mist (Dian Fossey), and Not Another Happy Ending (David Solomons), analyzing how their writing styles differ from spoken English.🌍 Topics covered:- Why reading in English sometimes feels harder than speaking- How descriptive writing can paint vivid pictures in your mind- Tips for choosing the right books to read - How local idioms and unique phrases can appear in novelsHead over to Episode 120 to hear a reading from Elif Shafak's Island of Missing Trees: https://youtu.be/OZEtmTp5hCs For more English listening practice, check out the playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6eu7BlE1AJSZA5GgMrFMmskXWE099AWL 👉 Want to improve your English reading skills? Watch now!🔔 Subscribe for more English learning tips#emmaseslenglish #EnglishLearning #LearnEnglish #ESL #DailyEnglish #CreativeWriting #ReadingEnglish #EnglishBooks #LanguageLearning #ImproveEnglish #StudyEnglish #EnglishTips #ESLStudents #ReadingSkills #SpeakEnglish