“I wanted to do something that was in the spirit of Miles Davis as a creative artist. Not as much as trying to do something that would either be some kind of a love letter to him or the Cliff Notes of his life….”Actor Don Cheadle, talking about portraying musician Miles Davis in the film “Miles Ahead” (Salon.com) -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Most people are a little superstitious about something. Maybe, you have a lucky number or believe that a certain color is bad luck. Maybe, you avoid walking under ladders. Maybe, you even get nervous when you encounter a black cat.People have believed that black cats are unlucky for a very long time. It is an old superstition that if a black cat crosses your path, something bad will happen to you. In fact, so many people fear black cats that these animals sometimes cannot find homes. They are left behind at shelters or have to live on the street. However, other people believe that black cats are just as sweet and amazing as any other cat. Black cats’ color makes them unique, not scary. Fans of black cats may even love them more because these kitties are one of a kind!A black cat just crossed Jessica’s path. Listen to the dialog to find out what happens. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Do you ever wish you had expert knowledge of something? Think how easy it would be to buy a house if you were a realtor, to travel if you were a travel agent, or to publish a novel if you were an editor. Maybe, if you had insider tips from a Hollywood agent, you could even become a movie star! Life would be a lot easier if you knew all the tricks of the trade.We use the expression “trick of the trade” to talk about a special way that experts do something. For example, a travel agent might know a trick of the trade about how to get a discount on airplane tickets. A baker might know a trick of the trade to make cakes and pies taste extra delicious. How can you get access to all this secret knowledge? Well, if you make friends with an expert, they might share some tricks of the trade with you!Andy is an expert about movies. Watch the video to see what tricks of the trade he has to share with Kelsey. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

When was the last time you visited the dentist? Did it make you feel really anxious? Going to the dentist isn’t fun for most people. First, you have to fill out pages of forms. Then, you have to wait for a while. When the dentist is ready to see you, you need to sit in the dentist’s chair and open your mouth wide as he looks at your teeth. If the dentist finds a problem, he might want to start drilling! Yikes!

On the other hand, maybe you like going to the dentist. You might listen to music when filling out the forms. You might read a magazine when waiting. If you take very good care of your teeth, brushing them and flossing them every day, maybe the dentist won’t want to start drilling holes in your teeth. You probably think the dentist is helpful, not sadistic.

Learn what Andy and Dominique think about going to the dentist in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

In today’s world, many people are changing the conversation about personal identity. In the past, there was a lot of intolerance toward those who did not live typical lives. However, people have been raising awareness about different types of identities. Many want the world to become a more tolerant place for all people.

Recently, Caitlyn Jenner came out to the world as transgender. In the past, she was the male athlete, Bruce Jenner. However, she never felt comfortable in her male body. She was famous for winning a gold medal at the 1976 Olympic games. Then, in 2015, she decided to face the world as Caitlyn. She had a spread in Vanity Fair magazine that explained her choice. She wanted to live the life she dreamed of while helping other transgender individuals.

Listen to today’s English lesson to hear Gary and Andy talk about Caitlyn Jenner’s courage. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“A big lesson I’ve learned is not to care what others think…. In this business, you get a thicker skin.”

Actress Eva Longoria, talking about staying strong in Hollywood (US Weekly) -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

It’s common to have anxiety over your education. After all, it takes a lot of time and effort to be a student! A good student needs to attend classes, do homework, study for tests, and shouldn’t forget about hobbies and friends.

While education can improve life, it is a huge expense for many people. Some students get financial help from their family or government. Other students may work a job and study at the same time. However, if a student still doesn’t have enough money to pay for school, they might have to borrow money from a bank. This allows the student to get an education, but it also means they will need to repay the loan at a future date.

Kelsey and Andy are talking about the necessary evil of student loans. Find out what they think in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Imagine this: You want to travel to other country to study English, but you are not sure where to go. You get your friends together to ask them for advice. You want them to brainstorm fun countries where people speak English. How can you let your friends know that you are listening carefully to their suggestions? You could smile, of course, or nod. You could also tell them that you are listening by saying, “I’m all ears!”We use the expression “all ears” to let someone know that we are ready to listen carefully to what they are about to say. For example, if your mom is about to tell you a story, you might let her know, “I’m all ears!” If your friend is trying to figure out what to wear to dinner, he might ask you, “What do you think? I’m all ears.” Saying “all ears” is like telling someone, “I’m listening. Go ahead!”Dominique is taking suggestions from the team on how to expand Travel Bug. Watch the video to find out what ideas they come up with. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

When you’re learning a new language, it can be difficult to speak with correct pronunciation. The sounds may not feel natural to you. The good news is that there are many fun ways to practice clear articulation. One very popular way is to repeat tongue twisters. Tongue twisters are short expressions that use the same sound or sounds many times.

Although tongue twisters might sound ridiculous, they are actually a great way to exercise your tongue muscle. If you have trouble with the English ‘p’ sound, try the famous tongue twister about Peter Piper who picked a peck of pickled peppers. If you want to work on the English ‘b’ and ‘t’ sounds, you can repeat the story of Betty Botter who bought some bitter butter. You’ll be an expert in no time!

Andy is practicing tongue twisters as speech therapy. Listen to today’s English lesson to hear him explain his love of tongue twisters to Kelsey. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Recently, people around the world were talking about Beyoncé’s performance at the Superbowl. Halftime performances are always a big deal, but this year, Beyoncé’s performance started a big controversy. Why? Because of the song she performed, “Formation,” and because of the costumes of her backup dancers.Beyoncé’s “Formation” music video shows scenes from the American South. The song talks about being proud of being an African-American. Many people thought the song had a positive message. However, other people did not like that the choreography in the video referenced the Black Panther movement. They also did not like that Beyoncé’s backup dancers wore Black Panther uniforms during the Superbowl performance. This is because the Black Panther movement was sometimes violent. There is still disagreement in the media about whether the performance encouraged violence or whether it was a positive celebration of African-American culture.Gary is telling Kelsey about the Superbowl performance. Find out what they think in this lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com