We all need to go away sometimes. And when we do, we leave behind our lives! We may have pets and need a pet sitter. We may need to leave the kids with a nanny. Sometimes, we may even need a house-sitter to look after our house. This protects your house from burglars and other possible intrusions. But… what if your house-sitter decides to throw a rager?

There are actually many funny movies about this: Someone leaves their mansion for the weekend, and the house-sitter tries to take advantage and throws a huge party for their friends. They use all their amenities. They may have a pool table, jacuzzi, foosball, or massage chairs. But usually, these movies end with someone breaking something. Having a party at someone’s house that is not yours can be very irresponsible… but fun.

Jordin wants to throw a party at the mansion she is house-sitting. Listen to what Dominique has to say in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

It’s 1872, and you’re riding horses with your posse in the American West. It’s hot and dusty. You feel like you need a bath. There’s a sudden noise. Weird. Maybe, it’s a gunshot? Your posse decides to run from the noise. Your horse starts bucking, and you go flying through the air. You land on the ground with a crack. The running horses create a huge cloud of dust, and you are left behind. You have been left in the dust. You know you will never catch up with them, and your happiness starts sinking.

Perhaps you recognize this scene from American western movies. When you are left in the dust, this means that you have been left far behind. The people you were traveling with are very far ahead of you. They are so far ahead of you, you will never catch up! This can happen when you are bike riding, running, or floating down the river on a flotation device.

Andy had plans to spend the day with his friends, but it looks like they left him in the dust! Watch as Andy tries to catch up. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

These days we are surrounded by diet and exercise advice. Every day we hear about a hundred new and alternative ways to get healthy. Every time you turn on the television, some kooky celebrity is telling you about a new exercise routine. Or how to stay hydrated by drinking a new super-water with energy-boosting powers! The health industry is huge, and many people want to profit from it. It’s easy to feel skeptical about all the health foods and fads.

One healthy practice that is not a fad is drinking herbal teas. People have been drinking herbal teas for hundreds of years. Herbal teas can relieve stress, headaches, nausea, sore throats, and can help you sleep. In many cultures, drinking tea is also a way to be social and spend time with family and friends. Spending time with friends also has great health benefits.

Listen as Jordin tells Andy about why she loves drinking herbal teas. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

The Handmaid’s Tale is a very scary story. The popular TV show is based on a dystopian novel written by Margaret Atwood. The writer imagined a future where most women are not fertile. The women who are fertile are called handmaids. After a revolution, the totalitarian government controls the handmaids’ lives just like Big Brother.

Some might say it is an unrealistic story. Others might say it is very realistic. The story discusses themes like public health, religion, control, independence, and environmental pollution. Some would say these issues are close to home. The TV show is also intense and got pretty real. Many think it is based on our reality in the world right now.

Andy is feeling kind of off after watching an episode. Listen as he and Dominique discuss in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“He’s certainly not without blame. He knew what he was getting into, as you see in the flashback. He is responsible for cutting a corner.”

—Actor Jason Bateman, talking about his character in the new TV show, Ozark (Collider) -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

In the past, having a lawn was a symbol of wealth. People played games and relaxed on their grassy lawns. Now, many people have grass in their front yard because of this tradition. But why? You can’t eat grass, and it isn’t as pretty as flowers! These days, many people have decided to swap their grass for edible plants instead. They are foodscaping.

Foodscaping is like landscaping with food plants. For example, you might put broccoli, and kale, and artichoke plants in your front yard. Then, when you want to eat these delicious plants, you just go out your front door and pick them. It’s very convenient to have a vegetable garden in your front yard! You may never need to go to the grocery store again.

Dominique and Jordin both like this idea. Listen to hear their thoughts in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

When is the last time that you really, really enjoyed yourself? Was it at your birthday party? Maybe, you love listening to your great uncle’s tales? Or perhaps you just went on an incredible journey to another country. Maybe, you prefer to stay home and read a good book. If staying at home isn’t your thing, did you get crazy going out with your friends the other night? You might have a blast staying out late and dancing with your friends!

When you have a blast, that means that you are having a wonderful time. You are really enjoying yourself! Having a blast probably means that you are laughing a lot. It can also mean that you are seeing something amazing that you have never seen before. Maybe, you are someone who is busy all the time with a stressful job. You might think that curling up under a blanket with a bowl of ice cream is a total blast.

Kelsey, Dominique, Jordan, and Andy are about to watch the fireworks celebration. Listen as they have a total blast! -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Migraines are the worst. These really bad headaches are usually extremely painful and exhausting. They can bring your life to a screeching halt. Migraines can make people nauseous, confused, and dizzy. Doctors don’t know exactly what causes them, but one trigger might be certain foods. Stress and alcohol might also be exacerbating the problem for people who suffer from migraines.

Some things that ease migraine pain include daily exercise and a scalp massage. Even if you don’t have a migraine, a scalp massage can feel pretty nice. Using an essential oil, like lavender or rosemary, can help relieve migraine pain as well. Essential oils like rose and chamomile can ease stress, which might prevent the migraine from starting in the first place.

Dominique suffers from very bad migraines. She has some medicine that was prescribed by her doctor, but she doesn’t want to take it. Listen as she asks Jordin for some advice. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Service animals help many people every day. These gentle animals can help a person who has a disability. Or they can give other services to people, such as emotional support. The classic image of a service animal is the seeing eye dog. These dogs are trained to help people who cannot see. They can help them to cross a busy intersection and walk wherever they need to go.

However, in recent years, many doctors began recommending emotional support animals. These animals help people who have emotional difficulty. Recently, many people on the internet were talking about an emotional support duck. This duck was able to fly on an airplane with its owner. Some people thought this was great, but others thought that a duck should not be allowed on a plane.

Jordin doesn’t understand why an emotional support duck might be important. Listen to today’s English lesson to hear her ask Romeo about this. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“It’s ‘living the dream,’ but you fear that once you have it, you could easily lose it. So that’s what stopped us giving ourselves time to breathe.”

—Singer and songwriter Alex Trimble talking about taking a break from his band, Two Door Cinema Club (NMI) -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com