Where would humans be without their pets? From cats to horses, people have had animal companions for thousands of years. Pets have been a part of our lives, big or small, living indoors or outdoors, for as long as we can remember.

In the city, many pets are kept indoors because it may be too dangerous for them to run around outside. But how is it for the pets to be kept inside all day? Does the animal get sad or bored? It’s hard to know since they can’t talk to us.

Gary and Marni talk about their pets and where they’re allowed to go. Learn more in today’s English lesson about indoor and outdoor pets. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“This is my boyfriend, Benjamin. And Benjamin here has a lot of nicknames.”

—Ebaby!’s Kat, speaking about her boyfriend’s many cute names -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Famous chefs know how to cook food perfectly. They know how long to bake chicken, how long to keep vegetables in the pan, and, perhaps most importantly, which spices to use when. In fact, the secret to cooking well doesn’t start in the kitchen but in the garden.

Growing herbs is the best way to add freshness and flavor to foods. It might help to have a green thumb, but you can learn some tricks if you want a prolific herb garden. Use natural fertilizers to keep your plants healthy, and make sure they get plenty of water. When you’re ready to start cooking, you can just go outside, pick some fresh herbs, and all of a sudden, your food will taste much better.

Rafael and Marni are talking about plants. Learn who has a green thumb in today’s English lesson about gardening. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Do you think life is good? Do you feel bad about life? If you answered yes to the first question, you might be an optimist. If you answered yes to the second question, you could be a pessimist. Maybe you answered yes to both! Like many people, you feel optimistic sometimes and pessimistic sometimes.

It can be hard to keep a positive outlook when bad things happen. You might feel sad and discouraged. Maybe you need to boost your spirits by doing your favorite hobby. Maybe you need to spend some time with your family. You could also talk to a friend.

Marni is feeling pessimistic today. Listen to Marni and Gary talk about optimism versus pessimism. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“I really like how my face feels after I do a facial. It’s really smooth, and glowy, and just soft.”

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

Traveling can be so much fun! Many people look for cheap accommodations to save money. Youth hostels are a great way to meet people from different countries and are more affordable than hotels.Youth hostels offer kitchens, showers, and a friendly atmosphere for relaxing with other travelers. Guests stay in dormitory-style rooms, but some travelers may think it’s a nuisance to share their accommodations with others.Sara_R is going on a trip with her friend, and they are planning to stay in a youth hostel. Find out what Julie thinks about dormitory style accommodations in today’s lesson about youth hostels. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“I’m a bookworm. Are you a bookworm?

—Ebaby!’s Sheila, speaking about loving to read -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Many people enjoy different types of communal living. Sometimes, communal living means sharing everything with the other people in your area. For example, people who live in an intentional community often agree to share almost all of their things. They help each other, and they usually believe in the same ideas. They must trust each other a lot and have strong peer-to-peer relationships.

On the other hand, other types of communal living are more relaxed. Sometimes, people might create a tool library in their area. Then, they can borrow any yard tool, such as lawnmowers, when they need these things. People don’t need to worry about a business transaction at a tool library. They just ask for the things they need, and the tool library lends these things to them.

Gary and Marni are talking about different types of communal living. Find out more in today’s English lesson about the share economy. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Imagine you are in an accident. You probably feel scared. Maybe you even have injuries. You need to be seen by a doctor. In the US, you would need to go to the emergency room, or ER.The ER is a special part of the hospital. It is used by people who have an emergency situation. In the ER, doctors and nurses clean and bandage your injuries. You might get stitches or you might only need some ice. The ER is very useful, but sometimes you have to wait a long time to be helped.Jessica was in an accident and had to go to the ER. Listen to Jessica tell Marni about her trip to the emergency room. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“I’m about to study because I just came back into the school year, and I will be hitting the ground running.”

—Ebaby!’s Kat, speaking about starting her homework right away -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com