Every winter, people all around the world go to the nearest mountain to ski. Some people even travel to different countries to find the best powder. Skiing is so popular that new skis are made and sold every year. It’s hard to believe that people have been skiing for more than 2,500 years.

The best part about skiing is that there are so many different types. For example, you can downhill, cross-country, or telemark. One event in the Winter Olympics, called the biathlon, even puts skiing together with guns. There are styles of skiing for everyone. All you need are skis, friends, and snow!

Marni and Gary are talking about skiing. Do they like going to the mountain? Find out more in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

We celebrate birthdays and weddings with big, beautiful, delicious cakes. But what if you want the sweet treat and there isn’t a holiday to celebrate? Or what if you don’t want a whole cake just for yourself? A cupcake is the perfect size for when you want to bite into some sugary frosting and soft cake any day of the year.

Cupcakes have become so popular that in some cities there are bakeries that only sell the small cakes. You can walk into a bakery and see many different kinds of cupcake flavors for customers to choose from. But even if there are many choices, cupcakes aren’t for everyone. Some people think that they’re too sweet.

Marni tells Brian about how much she loves these small cakes. Find out more in today’s English lesson about this popular dessert. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Life can feel like a mystery. Some experiences might feel like bad luck, and others like good fortune. It may rain on the day you forgot to bring your umbrella with you. Or you might get all green lights when you’re late to school. We say that it’s fate when we feel like we can’t control what is happening.

But not everyone believes in fate. Some people feel that they can control the way things turn out and nothing is left to destiny. For people who believe in fate, they may just go with the flow and not worry too much about making things happen.

Brian and Rafael talk about if they believe in destiny. Find out more in today’s English lesson about fate. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“I’m going to be Mrs. Martinez in a couple months, which seems to roll off the tongue pretty nicely.”

—Ebaby!’s Kat, speaking about the sound of her new name -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Have you seen little kids splashing through puddles in the middle of a rainstorm? They jump into one puddle, then into the next. They’re having fun, but they’re getting really wet!

When you’re an adult, it’s not as fun to be outside during a deluge. You’d rather be inside where it’s warm and dry. If you do have to go somewhere when it’s nasty outside, you probably have a sturdy pair of rubber boots to get you where you want to go.

Although rubber boots might not look very fashionable, they’re definitely not a fashion faux pas when you’re outside in the rain. They’re waterproof, and that’s all that matters.

Learn who loves rubber boots in this English lesson about footwear. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

We all love to wine and dine. Whether it is at a cafe or a fancy restaurant, it is nice to go out to different places. It is exciting and fun. But sometimes, don’t you feel like there is something missing? Do you maybe wish you had a cuddly or fluffy friend to join you for your night out?

There are now pet restaurants where there are animals hanging out inside. You can eat your meal or sip on your coffee while you pet a furry friend! Some are called cat cafes, where there are a bunch of cats lying around. Some people think the idea is not sanitary or civilized, though. Is it disgusting to eat or drink with litter boxes around?

Marni is curious about a cat cafe in the neighborhood. Listen as she and Dominique talk it out in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

When you were a kid, did you ever get so excited the night before your birthday or a holiday that you were unable to sleep? Did you lie in bed, full of anticipation because you were so eager for the next day to arrive?

As we grow older, we wait excitedly for different things. You might wait in anticipation for a phone call about a job you really want, or an e-mail saying you were accepted to your first choice university. No matter our age, there will always be something that makes us wait nervously.

Brian tells Gary about how he’s waiting for a call from somebody he likes. Find out more in today’s English lesson about looking forward to something. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

For many people who work a regular weekday job, the weekend is their time to relax and catch up with friends. Sunday brunch is the perfect time to get together to enjoy each other’s company. And there’s great food, too!

Brunch is so popular in some cities that there can be very long waits just to get a table at a restaurant. It might be more relaxing to have brunch at home with some friends, who can bring over delicious breakfast and lunch food to share. What a great way to start your weekend!

Marni loves to have a leisurely brunch with friends and great food, but Brian doesn’t feel the same way. Find out more in today’s English lesson about how to start a lazy day. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“Do you get bad allergies?”

—Ebaby!’s Sheila, speaking about having an allergic reaction -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Are you the kind of person who likes to understand how something works? Do you spend your free time putting objects, liquids or foods together to find out what will happen? Maybe you tried building a robot or rocket. Or perhaps you tried turning your little brother into a frog. Science is fun for you, and you enjoy learning through experiments.

In movies, science experiments make monsters or terrible things happen. We have Frankenstein and Godzilla because of science. But good things come from science, too, and not just in movies. Because people use science to study the world, we can treat sick people and clean dirty water. People who build robots as children sometimes grow up to be great scientists.

Do Jeff and Rafael conduct science experiments? Find out in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com