“One of the first deals I signed, the guy wanted my name to be Minaj. I fought him tooth and nail, but he convinced me.”

Rapper Nicki Minaj, talking about changing her name when she became famous (BrainyQuote) -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Have you ever had a friend ask for advice? What did you tell them? How did you handle the situation? It can be very difficult to know the right thing to say, but it’s also flattering that a friend would value your opinion.

When giving advice, it’s important to remember to be impartial and objective. Sometimes, depending on the situation, it can be a struggle to tell your friend the truth. But if you are truly a worthy friend, you must be honest with your advice.

Gary and Marni are talking about the best way to give advice. Find out more in today’s lesson about helping friends. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Are you a thrill seeker? You don’t have to jump from an airplane to get a rush of endorphins. Zip-lining is a popular activity around the world. Unless you are afraid of heights, you will probably find it an exhilarating experience.

It might look crazy, but zip-lining is very safe. In fact, people have used zip-lines for hundreds of years. In some places they were used to get across rivers, or to send supplies to a place that was far away. Today they are used mostly for fun, especially by tourists. If you travel somewhere new, a zip-line ride will be something you’ll never forget!

Jessica and Lily have very different opinions about zip-lining. Who do you agree with? Learn more in today’s English lesson about adventure. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“I’m about to take an arctic plunge.”

—Ebaby!’s Andy, speaking about jumping into cold water -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

There are so many ways to travel in the world. Some people like to ride a bike. Others drive or take the subway. We can even fly through the sky in an airplane! But there aren’t many cooler ways to get around than on a skateboard.

It takes a lot of practice to get the hang of skateboarding, but people with good balance and coordination can learn pretty quickly. However, you have to be careful. Skateboarding can be intimidating when you see how dangerous doing tricks is.

Kellie tells Brian she wants to learn how to skateboard. Find out who will teach her in today’s lesson about a different mode of transportation. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“My message is you can do anything if you just put your mind to it.”

Singer Justin Bieber, on how he thinks about life (J-14) -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Li Na started playing tennis when she was 8 years old. By the time she turned 14, she was sponsored by Nike. Two years later, at the age of 16, Li Na became a professional tennis player. She was a natural. She started earning a lot of money at an age when most kids are still in high school! She is known as a child prodigy.

Child prodigies don’t have to be tennis players. They can be actors, scientists, musicians, etc. To be a child prodigy, one must simply be young and talented. Sadly, many child prodigies do not have a very normal childhood, because they have to grow up so fast.

Sara is telling Kellie about her friend’s younger brother. Find out why in today’s English lesson about a whiz kid. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

People have always done strange things to their bodies to fit their society’s idea of what it is to be beautiful. And from long necks to small feet, those ideas seem to be pretty random.

In some places it’s considered beautiful to have pale skin, but in the US, everyone wants to be tan (probably so people will think they’re a movie star from California). And there are easier ways to get tan than sitting in the sun. There’s a whole industry of artificial tanning.

Amanda is thinking of going to a tanning salon. Listen to her talk about it with Marni. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“People don’t normally go glamping outdoors. Sometimes, they like to go in traditional resorts, or they like to bring along their big trucks.”

—Ebaby!’s Kat, speaking about camping with extra comfort -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Do you ever throw caution to the wind and do something crazy? What ways do you like to get an adrenaline rush? For many people, rafting can be a fun way to get outside and get one’s heart rate up, too.

The scenery is often very beautiful when rafting. You can take a guided tour, or go by yourself for a more intense experience. Most of the time you can just relax and enjoy the ride. Just make sure you don’t go overboard during the rapids!

Jessica and Gary are talking about rafting. Find out why Gary is scared in today’s English lesson about going down the river. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com