How do you like to learn? Most people have a learning style that they like best. Some people like talking about topics, others like to read a textbook, some enjoy having a teacher give them instruction, and others prefer to play games. This last style of learning is becoming more popular nowadays because of modern technology. People are mixing education with gaming. This is called gamification.

With gamification, education becomes more immersive. Students often think about topics very deeply when they play games. Some people are skeptical about this type of learning because it is not traditional, and it doesn’t need to happen in a classroom. However, most millennials enjoy learning this way. It feels natural to them.

Andy thinks that educators may be onto something with gamification. Listen as he tells Kelsey his thoughts in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“All of a sudden, he stopped replying to my text messages. I mean, he’s not replying to emails, not picking up the phone when I call him. I’m just, like, did he ghost me? Have I been ghosted?”

—Ebaby!’s Dominique, speaking about being ignored -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Are you a busy person who likes to learn new things? If you are, you might enjoy listening to podcasts. You can find these audio programs on the internet and listen to them on your phone or on your computer. Instead of listening to a radio DJ blabbering about silly things, try a science or history podcast. Be inspired by an interview with a famous person. Learn about the day-to-day of life in another country in a travel podcast.

Serial is a very popular documentary podcast that started in 2014. Serial makes content about the lives of different people. Over 5 million people have downloaded this podcast! You can listen to it online for free to improve your English. A great place to look for other engaging podcasts is NPR, or National Public Radio. NPR has many podcasts about money, politics, books, and music. One of NPR’s most popular podcasts is Car Talk, a funny program about car problems. And, of course, you can always do a Google search to find a podcast about other topics you like.

Jessica is a new listener. Listen as she and Andy talk about their favorite kinds of podcasts. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

People can get an education in many different ways. Some simply read and study at home while others get an internship. Going to a university is a very popular way to further your education. Many people have undergrad degrees. These degrees, also called bachelor’s degrees, help many people find jobs. However, some people want more education. Going to grad school is a popular option.

In grad school, you can get a master’s degree. It’s a great way to home in on new job skills. But before you can go to grad school, you might need to get specific qualifications. This means that you might need to take extra classes and spend more money. You’ll need to decide if this is worth the investment. Going to grad school can teach you many great things, but it can also be expensive!

Jessica is trying to work up the courage to apply for grad school. Listen to Brian give her advice in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

You probably know someone who likes to collect things. You may even be a person who enjoys collecting. Some people collect stamps and photographs while others collect vintage antiques and heirlooms. In many families, it is traditional for these special mementos to be passed down from parents to their children. It helps to keep family memories alive.

It can be fun to collect many different things, but you have to be careful not to go overboard. A beautiful collection can quickly grow into messy clutter. If you can’t find your everyday things because of your collection, it might be time to sell something! The great news is that antiques are usually very valuable, and you might make good money by selling a few of them.

Gary and Jessica are talking about their antique collections. Listen to today’s English lesson to learn about some of the special things they own. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

When you were a child, you probably had a fantasy of being someone else. Maybe, you fantasized about being your favorite comic-book character, like Wonder Woman or The Tick. Do you still dream about being a super hero? Many people share this dream. In fact, so many people like to dress up in comic-book costumes that there is a large network of comic-book fans. These fan can go to Comic-Con.

People share the hobby of cosplay at Comic-Con. Cosplayers study their favorite characters and then spend time sewing costumes. Some people think that cosplay is juvenile, but many love this escape from their day-to-day lives. They can meet friends at Comic-Con and forget about their worries for a short time. And they get to share their creativity with others.

Gary is confused because there are many people wearing costumes in town. Listen as he and Jessica talk about cosplay in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“The higher I keep going, the spookier it gets.”

—Ebaby!’s Andy, speaking about hiking into a scary forest -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

We all know that exercise is good for us, but sometimes, it is difficult to begin. Exercising with friends is a great socialization technique that can also make exercise a regular habit. Mall walking is a good example. This simple hobby is becoming very popular. People put on their tennis shoes and workout attire and then go to their local mall.

Before the stores open, these people meet and begin to walk laps around the mall. It’s a simple way to get fit while talking to friends and also window shopping. Because the stores are closed, no one can buy anything. But they can look at the new items in the windows and make a shopping plan while they break a sweat.

Jessica recently tried mall walking and loves it. Listen as she tells Andy about her new hobby in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

How old are you? In your country, is there a special name for your generation? In the United States, every generation has a special name. Parents and grandparents are Gen Xers and Baby Boomers. People born between 1982 and 2000 are called Millennials. People born after the year 2000 are called Generation Z.

It’s very common to talk about Millennials, since most Millennials are now 20-30 years old and starting families, finding jobs, and buying homes. This generation has challenges like paying back student loans and fixing race relations. Some people think Millennials are cynical slackers. Other people think Millennials are idealists and have a lot of big problems to deal with.

Andy and Jessica are talking about the Millennial generation. Listen to today’s English lesson to find out what they think. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Each of us has a special food that brings back good memories. Maybe, you love the smell of your mom’s favorite soup, or perhaps, the smell of your dad’s grilled steaks reminds you of happy summer memories. For many people in the United States, one of these special foods is apple pie. In fact, it’s a summer tradition to eat apple pie a la mode, or with ice cream.

Many US grandmothers have secret apple pie recipes that they only share with their families. People may have different ideas about how to make an apple pie, but most recipes have a buttery crust, Granny Smith apples, and lots of cinnamon and sugar. The most satisfying slice of home-baked apple pie is fresh from the oven and served with a cold scoop of ice cream.

Romeo is telling Dominique about his grandmother’s apple pie. Listen to today’s English lesson to hear why he loves it so much. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com