Browsing on the internet is a fun way to relax. However, if you see ads on every web page, this activity becomes very frustrating. Internet advertisements are now very smart. Companies can learn about your personal interests, and then they can begin targeting you with ads for your favorite products. How creepy!

You don’t need to be inundated with clickbait every time you get on the internet. Why not try an ad blocker? These little pieces of computer software work with your web browser. They stop ads from popping up so that you just see the information you want to see. Then, you can enjoy browsing the internet in peace again.

Kelsey is frustrated with all of the ads on her social media newsfeed. Listen as Gary helps her to find a good ad blocker in today’s English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Imagine you’re out in the country. You decide to go for a walk. Maybe, you see chickens, a bale of hay, or a horse. The road you’re walking on might be a dirt road, and it’s probably not a straight road. You walk and walk. Then, you walk some more. Finally, you see a place to sit down and rest. Congratulations, you’ve walked a country mile!

A country mile means very far, a great distance. Why is this? Think about life in the city. Everything is nearby. If you live in the city, there’s a grocery store, a park, and a school near your home. But if you live in the country, things are different. The grocery store, the park, and the school are not nearby. Instead, you need to travel longer to get to those places. You must travel a country mile.

Kate thinks that something is missing from Kelsey’s country music video. Cowboy Andy, perhaps? Watch today’s English soap opera to see how Kelsey reacts. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Sometimes, we buy food and forget to eat it. A banana, for example, will turn black and gross in about a week. Then, we must throw it away. We waste a lot of good food doing this, and so do restaurants and stores. But what if there were a way to still use food after its sell-by date?

Now, there’s a new idea for recycling food. A food-waste restaurant makes old food into something tasty. This special restaurant gets expired food from other places and quickly cooks it before it can rot. These restaurants want to turn food waste into gourmet meals. This idea won’t feed every starving person in the world, but it might be a good first step.

Can Andy get Kelsey to try a food-waste restaurant? Listen to this English lesson to find out! -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

For many children in the US, going to see a three-ring circus is an exciting thing. There are clowns who do tricks, elephants who dance, and even trapeze artists. For almost 150 years, the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Baily Circus was the most popular circus in the US. However, this famous show is now ending forever.

Many people have mixed feelings about this news. Seeing a circus is always exciting. However, circus animals don’t have very good homes. They must live in small spaces, almost like prison. Many people are happy that Ringling Bros. is closing because these animals can have better lives. They probably can’t be reintroduced into the wild, but they can live in nice animal sanctuaries. They will be more comfortable and happier.

Gary didn’t know that Ringling Bros. was closing. Listen to today’s English lesson to hear Andy tell him the news. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“We are all part of many communities. The strength of these local communities is what makes up our social fabric, and that’s what enables us to come together as a global community as well.”

—Founder of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, speaking about finding community during a road trip across the US (Daily Mail) -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

What kind of traveler are you? Do you like big, swanky hotel rooms? Do you need lots of fancy amenities? Or are you the type of person who likes to see the city and save money on the hotel room? If all you need is a bed, try sleeping at a capsule hotel.

Capsule hotels first started in Japan and are now all over the world. These hotels are extremely convenient for exhausted travelers. The traveler can crawl into a hibernation pod, get a good night’s sleep and then go see the city. Some people even think capsule hotels are fun enough to put on their bucket list.

Marni is claustrophobic. To her, staying in a capsule hotel sounds like a terrible idea. Can Andy change her mind? Listen to today’s English lesson to find out! -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

It’s easy to get excited about a project. You might even want to begin right away. However, it’s best to have a plan first. For example, if you are making a video, you might get excited and roll camera before everyone is ready. Or you might put a friend on speakerphone before telling them that everyone can hear them… that could be embarrassing! In situations like these, you might need to calm down and hold your horses.

Hold your horses means to wait and be patient before doing something. For example, if you hold your horses when making the video, you won’t begin recording until the director says, “Action!” And if you hold your horses with your friend on the phone, you can tell them before you put them on speakerphone. Yet, life is sometimes so exciting that you might split the difference. You might be excited but still calm enough to hold your horses for a short time.

The director needs Kelsey to hold her horses before they record the music video. See how they position the video stars in today’s English soap opera. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Are you busy, busy, busy? Do you spend your days studying, working, and running errands? Does it feel like your life is full of interruptions? When you start feeling stressed out, it’s time to chillax. Forget the to-do list. Instead, do some self care. Your mind and body will thank you.

What is self care? Self care is spending time on yourself. Some people enjoying pampering, like getting a manicure or a massage. Other people like to indulge in a good meal or a great book. An hour of yoga or meditation can also help you chillax. A little self care can make you feel a lot better.

Jessica has no time to treat herself. Can Dominique convince her to have a Self-Care day? Find out in today’s English lesson! -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Benedict Cumberbatch is everywhere. This famous actor has been in many popular movies. He is tall and handsome, and he has a British accent. He does a good job at playing an evil man, like he did in a Star Trek movie. His acting career is so prolific, that some people think he has taken over Hollywood.

Maybe, you saw Cumberbatch on TV as Sherlock Holmes. As this famous crime stopper, he and his assistant Watson detect evil criminals together. Or perhaps, you became a fan after watching Doctor Strange. In this movie, he had to portray a depressed doctor who saves the world. Cumberbatch has many female fans. A Cumberbabe is a babe who loves Cumberbatch. But sorry, ladies! He’s a married man.

Romeo is not exactly in awe of Benedict Cumberbatch. In fact, he’s not totally sure who this actor is. Listen to this English lesson as Marni tells Romeo why she’s a Cumberbabe. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“There’s always a stigma with ginger people, and I was definitely considered unattractive when I was younger, but now I’m on the… cover of GQ!”—Singer Ed Sheeran, speaking about having red hair (GQ) -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com