Staying healthy can be difficult for many people. Adults working in the U.S. don’t have a lot of time. Young people in college struggle, too. When you are studying all the time, it is difficult to exercise and stay fit. A while ago, people started using “step trackers.” Step trackers clipped onto your belt and counted your steps. People could keep track of physical activity while doing their day-to-day routine!

Fitbit is very similar to a step tracker but it does more. It counts your steps, tracks your heart rate, sleep patterns, and helps you stay hydrated. Many busy people love their Fitbit! Fitbit has a very big fan base now. But some people are undecided. They call the fans of Fitbit devotees of a “cult.” A lot of people think the Fitbit is silly and doesn’t do anything.

Brian might get a Fitbit as a bonus incentive at work. Listen as Marni and Brian talk about it in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Sometimes, life just isn’t fair. You might work very hard, and do your best, and then still fail. This can happen at school, work, or even a sporting event. You could wait patiently for your turn to win, and you might still lose. This can be really awkward and make you feel bad. But don’t get depressed! Everyone gets the short end of the stick at times.

To get the short end of the stick is to have the worst result. Often, when you get the short end of the stick, it isn’t your fault. Maybe, you were too plum tuckered to do your work correctly. Or perhaps, you wanted to do it in a minute, but your boss wanted you to do it right now. Imagine two people pulling on the same stick. The person who holds the long end, or most of the stick, will probably win this game. The person with the short end, unfortunately, loses.

The ladies are talking about how Andy got the short end of the stick. Watch today’s English soap opera to hear their thoughts. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“Look your best, feel your best” is a controversial expression. Sometimes, we want to wear nice clothes, style our hair, and look really good. Other times, we feel our best in our most comfy clothes. But some people can’t focus or feel good if they are not “dressed to impress.” They look at people who wear sweatpants and flipflops and think, “They have really given up!”

Wearing PJs in public is a new trend and fashion statement. Sometimes, people even wear onesies! This shocks many people. They think, “We have sunk to a whole new low!” Other people think it’s funny. The movie the Big Lebowski is a famous example of someone who pulled this fashion trend off. The main character wore a bathrobe in public!

Jordin is wearing her PJs to class. Listen as Marni and Jordin discuss this new trend in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Every generation has its popular trendsetters. Some of these people are only a little famous, but others are so popular that they change people’s consumer habits. The Kardashians are in this second group. When they buy something, everyone knows. It is impossible to count the number of people who are inspired by the Kardashians. This consumer trend has been called The Kardashian Effect.

Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney have motivated people to wear specific clothes and use specific makeup. They even have TV shows that give people ideas for positive lifestyle changes. Of course, not everyone is blown away by these famous sisters. Some people think they have too much power. They also don’t like all the plastic surgery that the Kardashians get.

Jessica is becoming a Kardashian fan, and Dominique doesn’t understand. Listen to them talk about the best and worst of the Kardashians in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“I think that everything in the series that has been ramped up or heightened from the book is like a direct response to the world that we’re living in today.”—Actress Samira Wiley, speaking about her role in the new series, “The Handmaid’s Tale” (Vox.com) -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Tropical fruits are colorful, healthy fruits grown in warm areas of the world. In the United States, we can import these fruits from places like Mexico and South America. People can buy fruits like papaya, guava, and dragon fruit in their local grocery stores.

Sometimes, it’s hard to know how to eat these exotic fruits. For example, many people in the US think dragon fruit is unusual. Have you ever seen a dragon fruit? It is red with green scales. These scales look like the scales you would see on a dragon. The dragon fruit is very sweet. You can add dragon fruit to smoothies. The dragon fruit will add nutrients to your smoothie. It will also make it taste very sweet and not so bland.

Romeo loves traveling to warm countries and eating these exotic fruits. He also loves smoothies! Listen as he tells Marni about his search for tropical fruits. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

It’s easy to get super excited about something that might happen. But before you get too stoked, you should ask if this thing is really possible. You don’t want to become so excited that you also get nervous. Then, you might not be able to sleep. You might stay awake all night, thinking about future possibilities. But what will you do if this great thing doesn’t happen at all? It’s probably best not to hold your breath.

When you hold your breath, you wait for something. But think about this in real life. What happens if you actually hold your breath? Most of us can only hold our breath for a minute or so. If we hold it longer, we might zonk out and become unconscious. This isn’t a good thing. So, if we see a person who is waiting for something that probably won’t happen, we say, “Don’t hold your breath.”

Kelsey is planning to take a good, long nap. Find out why Jordin doesn’t think she should hold her breath in today’s English soap opera. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Getting fired is very stressful. It is one of the most embarrassing things that can happen to people. Just ask FBI Director James Comey. He was recently fired by the President of the United States. He was a passionate FBI Director. Many people were very surprised that President Trump decided to let him go. James Comey found out he was fired when he saw it on television.

It might take awhile for the pain of getting fired to go away. Even though getting fired is hard, it is important to think about the good things. One good part about getting fired is that it gives people a chance to do something new and exciting with their lives. Maybe, James Comey always wanted to be an astronaut. Now, he has the chance to follow his dream of going into space.

Listen as Jordin tells Marni about how she was fired in this English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Horror movies can be a lot of different things. Some people think they are too gory, terrifying, and violent. But horror movies can also be funny, intelligent, and interesting. They can be a mash up of everything! Sometimes, they have a lot of social commentary. Sometimes, you need to watch the movie twice to pick up on all the details, symbols, and themes.

Get Out is a new, controversial, and interesting horror movie. It explores the topic of racism and class in the suburban areas of the U.S. Jordan Peele, a comedian and actor, wrote and directed the film. He made the film scary but tempered it with humor. Some people say that the film is more suspenseful than horrifying.

Marni loved the film Get Out. Listen as she tells Jordin about it in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“I’m a godfather to quite a few of my friends’ [kids] .... I think the key to that is to grow up, but also to be able to stay in touch with your childhood side.”—Prince Harry, speaking about growing up (The Telegraph) -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com