“Somewhere behind the athlete you’ve become and the hours of practice… is a little girl who fell in love with the game and never looked back.”

Athlete Mia Hamm, talking about how she became successful playing soccer (Goodreads.com) -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

If you have any brothers or sisters, you probably spent time competing when you were little. It’s likely that you would argue over who got the bigger cookie, or who got to sit in the best seat in the car. It’s not unusual for children to try to outdo each other. It’s all part of growing up.

This doesn’t change for many people once they’re adults. Workers try to one up each other at the office. Athletes work hard to win games or be best in the world. It’s not necessary to have a sibling, either. You can be an only child and enjoy the challenge of doing your best, and the benefit of everyone’s attention.

Did Lily and Rafael experience sibling rivalry? Find out in the following English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Lots of people have a special trick that only they know how to do. Maybe they can touch their noses with their tongues or maybe they can sing the alphabet backwards.

Talent shows are a chance for people to unveil a hidden talent. Usually these shows have a variety of acts because everybody is different and has something different to do. It’s a chance to get up on stage, ham it up, and make people laugh. There’s nothing to lose. It’s all for fun!

Sometimes talent shows are more serious. For example, the singers who won on the TV talent show American Idol became famous. If you have good showmanship, who knows? Maybe you’ll become a star, too!

Learn what talents Lily and Rafael have in this English lesson about entertainment. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“This weekend, I am pet-sitting. My friends went out of town, and I get to watch their doggy!”

—Ebaby!’s Dominique, speaking about caring for her friends’ dog -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Many students can agree that one of the times that they look forward to the most is the summer! The sun is out, the weather is great, there’s no homework, and you can do whatever you want! Unless, of course, you have summer school or a summer job.

But some students like having a summer job. It’s a great opportunity to earn their own money and gain valuable work experience.

Brian and Marni talk about taking on seasonal work. Find out more in today’s English lesson about how some students spend their summer vacations. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“When I was growing up in New York, whenever I turned on the television, I never saw a face that looked like me… It was unheard of back then.”

Actress Yunjin Kim, talking about who was famous when she was a child (Lifehack.org) -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Everyone’s attention is on this week’s contestant. Does she know the answer? Will she win the big prize? Each person in the audience is nervous for her, sitting on the edge of their seats. They’re caught up in the moment, hoping that she says the words that will give her a new car. And… she does!

It’s hard to deny that game shows are extremely exciting. But what are a person’s chances for winning? With some shows, the chances are good, and for others, the chances seem slim. Sometimes, contestants need to know a lot of facts, and sometimes they just need a lot of luck. No matter how it happens, it’s fun to watch someone win.

Are Jeff and Marni interested in game shows? Find out in this English lesson about a popular type of TV show. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Have you ever had to wait for something that you really wanted? Maybe it was a new game, or the sequel to an exciting book, or even dinner after a long day. A lot of times, we’d rather have instant gratification than wait for what we want, but waiting teaches us patience.

In the end, those things we wait patiently for are those things we appreciate the most. For example, think about how a cake would taste if you tried to eat it before it finished baking! Some things just take time. They won’t happen immediately, so we have to wait.

Learning to have a patient mentality will help you when times are tough. The old adage, “patience is a virtue” is a good truth to live by. It might not be fun to delay your desires, but in the end, you’ll appreciate things more.

Find out who needs to learn patience in this English lesson about waiting. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“Today, I have a test, and I didn’t prepare for it! So, what this means is that I’m going to have to wing it.”

—Ebaby!’s Kat, speaking about using creative thinking because she is unprepared -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

There is nothing like having a friend who has been with you through all of the stages of your life. Some people are lucky enough to have made a best friend when they were in primary school, and then continue to be friends with them for the rest of their lives.

But as we grow older, it can be difficult to keep in contact as we move away and begin different lives. Even so, even best friends who have not spoken in many years might be able to maintain a relationship just because of their shared history.

Kellie and Brian talk about the best friends of their lives. Learn more in today’s English lesson about staying in touch. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com