🎄 In this episode of the Learn English Podcast, you’ll hear the surprising story of how Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol helped create the modern Christmas traditions we know today. We talk about Dickens’ life, why he wrote the book, and how the story changed the way people thought about generosity, family, and the “spirit of the season.”

You’ll also learn useful English vocabulary connected to the story, like “Scrooge,” “bah humbug,” and “Merry Christmas,” plus hear about different movie adaptations you can watch to practice your listening skills. This episode is perfect for B2 English learners who want to improve their vocabulary and understand more about Christmas culture in the English-speaking world.

🎬 Best Adaptations to Improve Your English

• A Christmas Carol (1984, George C. Scott) – Most faithful to the book
• A Christmas Carol (1999, Patrick Stewart) – Intense, emotional performance
• Mickey’s Christmas Carol (1983) – Perfect for kids
• The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) – Great mix of humor + classic story
• Spirited (2022, Apple TV+) – Modern musical version
• The Man Who Invented Christmas (2017) – Behind-the-scenes story of Dickens

🔔 Follow us on social media @LearnEnglishPod and visit our website:

Podcast website: https://learnenglishpod.com/

Follow us on social Media: https://linktr.ee/learnenglishpod

Take lessons with me: https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/8531387

📚Affiliate link for italki: https://www.italki.com/en/i/ref/GBBdbb

Affiliate link for Lingq: https://www.lingq.com/?referral=msusc

📝 Vocabulary list:

1) Modern-day – describing something as it exists in the present time.

2) Debtors’ prison – a jail where people were once sent when they could not pay their debts.

3) Child labor – the use of children to work, often in bad or unsafe conditions.

4) Social criticism – writing or art that shows problems in society and calls for change.

5) Pamphlet – a small booklet or paper that gives information or expresses an opinion.

6) Rebrand – to change the image or identity of something, often to make it more appealing.

7) Grumpy – easily annoyed, complaining, or in a bad mood.

8) Preachy - Used to describe someone or something that tries too hard to teach people what is right and wrong in a moral way

9) Scrooge - A person who hates spending money or refuses to share or give to others.

10) Undeterred - Still continuing to do something or still determined to do something even after experiencing difficulties.

11) Groundbreaking – very new and different, introducing important changes or ideas.

🎄 In this holiday episode of the Learn English Podcast, we explore some of the most common phrasal verbs with the word “give” that you will hear in the United States during the month of December. Christmas in American culture is strongly connected to gift-giving, charity, and community traditions, and those traditions bring many English expressions into everyday conversations. This episode teaches you real examples of “give to,” “give out,” “give back,” and “give away” so you can understand them clearly and hear how native speakers use them in daily life.

This episode is perfect for English learners around the world who want to improve their vocabulary and listening skills through natural, contextual examples. You will hear how these phrasal verbs show up in Christmas stories, family traditions, charity events, workplace conversations, and even funny situations that happen at home. Each explanation includes useful examples that make the meanings easier to understand, even if phrasal verbs usually feel confusing.

🔔 Follow us on social media @LearnEnglishPod and visit our website:

Podcast website: https://learnenglishpod.com/

Follow us on social Media: https://linktr.ee/learnenglishpod

Take lessons with me: https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/8531387

📚Affiliate link for italki: https://www.italki.com/en/i/ref/GBBdbb

Affiliate link for Lingq: https://www.lingq.com/?referral=msusc

🎧Previous Christmas Episodes:

https://youtu.be/tlE-XTTzVvM

https://youtu.be/aaRFFWMOP9o

📝 Vocabulary list:

1) Give to (someone) – to give a gift, money, or help to a specific person or organization

2) Give out (something) – to distribute something to many people

3) Give out – to stop working or functioning

4) Give back – to help your community or show gratitude

5) Give back (something) – to return something to its rightful owner

6) Give away (something) – to give something to someone for free

7) Give away (a secret) – to reveal hidden or secret information

8) Give someone away – to formally accompany and present a bride in a wedding ceremony

9) Mythical – Related to stories, legends, or imaginary beings that are not real, such as Santa Claus.

10) Gratitude – A feeling of thankfulness or appreciation for something good that someone has done for you.

11) Rightful owner – The person who truly owns or should possess something.

🗺️In this episode of the Learn English Podcast, you will learn the meaning of the strange names Americans use for different regions of the United States, including the Rust Belt, Sun Belt, Bible Belt, Stroke Belt, Diabetes Belt, and Tornado Alley.

You will learn: • Where these regions are located • Why they have these names • What life is like in each area • How they are connected to American history, jobs, religion, health, and weather

This episode is designed for B1–B2 English learners who want to improve listening skills while learning real information about American culture and geography.

Listen and follow along with the vocabulary list in the show notes to strengthen your real-life English and understand these terms when you hear them in the news or conversations.

🔔 Follow us on social media @LearnEnglishPod and visit our website:

Podcast website: https://learnenglishpod.com/

Follow us on social Media: https://linktr.ee/learnenglishpod

Take lessons with me: https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/8531387

📚Affiliate link for italki: https://www.italki.com/en/i/ref/GBBdbb

Affiliate link for Lingq: https://www.lingq.com/?referral=msusc

📝 Vocabulary list:

1) Rust Belt – A region in the U.S. that was once famous for factories and manufacturing but later experienced economic decline

2) Sun Belt – The southern part of the U.S. known for warm weather and population growth

3) Bible Belt – A region with a strong Christian religious influence

4) Tornado Alley – An area in the central U.S. where tornadoes happen often

5) Stroke Belt – A region of the U.S. with unusually high rates of strokes

6) Belt – A large area that shares similar features or traits

7) Manufacturing – The process of producing goods in factories

8) Steel mill – A factory that produces steel

9) Economy – The system of jobs, businesses, and money in an area

10) Decay – To become worse or weaker over time.

11) Revitalize – To improve or bring new life to something

12) Deep fried – Cooked by immersing food in hot oil.

🦃 Want to talk about Thanksgiving like a native speaker?

In this episode of the Learn English Podcast, you’ll learn the most common Thanksgiving vocabulary used in American English. We explain real English phrases you will hear during the holiday, including how Americans talk about food, hosting a meal, inviting guests, and expressing gratitude.

You will learn useful Thanksgiving words such as host, guest, set the table, potluck, catered, seconds, stuffed, indulge, food coma, heartfelt, and many more. Each word is explained clearly in context so you can understand native speakers and use these phrases naturally in real conversations.

We also talk about how Americans actually celebrate Thanksgiving — what people eat, how they invite friends and family (“come by my place”), how they talk about traffic, and how they describe eating too much food. You’ll also learn the difference between thankful, grateful, and blessings, and hear examples of how these words are used in daily life.

This episode is ideal for B1–B2 English learners who want to improve listening, expand vocabulary, and understand American culture.

🎧 Follow the Learn English Podcast to get weekly episodes that teach real-life English in context.

Previous Thanksgiving Episodes:

https://youtu.be/ssI-S4lOr0Q

https://youtu.be/vwddjlylk88

🔔 Follow us on social media @LearnEnglishPod:

Podcast website: https://learnenglishpod.com/

Follow us on social Media: https://linktr.ee/learnenglishpod

Take lessons with me: https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/8531387

📚Affiliate link for italki: https://www.italki.com/en/i/ref/GBBdbb

Affiliate link for Lingq: https://www.lingq.com/?referral=msusc

📝 Vocabulary list:

1) Host – The person who invites others and holds an event at their home.

2) Guest – A person invited to someone else’s home or event.

3) Catered – Food prepared by a restaurant or company and brought to an event.

4) Potluck – A meal where each guest brings a dish to share with everyone.

5) Set the table – To prepare a table for a meal by putting out plates, glasses, and cutlery.

6) Cutlery – Knives, forks, and spoons used for eating.

7) Seconds – Another serving of food; when you go back for more.

8) Stuffed – Very full after eating too much food.

9) Indulge – To allow yourself to enjoy something you usually avoid (like too much food).

10) Leftovers – Food that remains after the main meal

11) Food coma – The sleepy, tired feeling after eating a large meal.

12) Heartfelt – Sincere and full of real emotion.

🤕 In this episode of the Learn English Podcast, I share a personal update about my serious back injury, the surgeries I needed, and what the recovery process has been like.

As you follow my real story, you will learn clear, practical medical English vocabulary used when talking about injuries, pain, doctor visits, and recovery. I explain what a herniated disc is, what happens during a pre-op appointment, the difference between general and local anesthesia, and what it means to be on “restrictions” or be “cleared” by a doctor.

I also describe different types of pain — such as shooting, sharp, and electric pain — so you can confidently use these expressions in real-life situations.

This episode is perfect for B1–B2 English learners who want to improve listening comprehension and learn real-life English through true stories.

👉 If you enjoy the episode, follow the podcast, leave a rating, and share it with another English learner.

📌 Links

Podcast website: https://learnenglishpod.com/

Follow us on social Media: https://linktr.ee/learnenglishpod

Take lessons with me: https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/8531387

📚Affiliate link for italki: https://www.italki.com/en/i/ref/GBBdbb

Affiliate link for Lingq: https://www.lingq.com/?referral=msusc

📝 Vocabulary list:

1) Deal with – To manage or handle a difficult situation.

2) Recap – A short summary of what has already been said or done.

3) Ruptured – Broken or torn open suddenly.

4) Numbness – The lack of feeling or sensation in part of the body.

5) MRI – A medical scan that uses magnets and radio waves to make pictures of the inside of the body.

6) Restrictions – Rules that say you cannot do certain things.

7) Cleared – Officially approved or told by a doctor that it’s safe to do something again.

8) Invasive – Describing a medical procedure that involves cutting into the body.

9) Put under – A phrasal verb meaning to make someone sleep with anesthesia during surgery.

10) Shooting pain – A sudden, sharp pain that travels quickly through part of the body.

11) According to plan – When something happens the way it was supposed or expected to.

12) Take time off – To stop working for a period of time.

🪖 Learn English through the incredible true story of the Navajo Code Talkers, the Native American Marines who created an unbreakable communication system during World War II. This episode explains how the Navajo language became a secret military code, why it could not be cracked, and how these men helped win major battles in the Pacific. You’ll hear about Navajo Nation, the history of the language, and the intense secrecy surrounding the Code Talkers’ work after the war. This lesson is designed for B1–B2 English learners who want to improve listening comprehension while exploring real American history and culture. Follow along with the vocabulary list to review key words and expressions after listening.

📝 Vocabulary List:

1) Tribe – A group of people who share the same culture and traditions

2) Native American – Indigenous peoples of North America

3) Indigenous – The original people of a place

4) Secretive – Keeping information hidden

5) Boarding school – A school where students live

6) Revitalize – To bring new life or energy to something

7) Crack a code – To figure out a hidden message

8) Decipher – To translate or understand coded language

9) Layered – Having more than one level of meaning

10) Declassified – No longer kept secret by the government

🔗 Links:

Website: https://learnenglishpod.com

All Social Media: https://linktr.ee/learnenglishpod

Take English lessons with me: https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/8531387

📜 Sources:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WSzOQXmlMrCqczp8B_cdt7X9jeMtj015XVkVe2en-MY/edit?usp=sharing

🎧 In this episode, you will learn essential Medical English vocabulary for doctor visits, checkups, and routine healthcare in the United States. You’ll hear how Americans talk about primary care physicians, specialists, annual exams, blood draws, lab tests, and follow-up appointments.

The episode also explains common U.S. healthcare terms that confuse many English learners, including copay, referral, and authorization. You’ll understand how these terms are used in real conversations at clinics, hospitals, and doctor’s offices.

This lesson is ideal for B1–B2 English learners who want to communicate more confidently in medical situations. Whether you live in the U.S. or simply want to expand your vocabulary, this episode will help you understand and use practical English connected to health and medical care.

🔔 Follow us on social media @LearnEnglishPod and visit our website:

Podcast website: https://learnenglishpod.com/

Follow us on social Media: https://linktr.ee/learnenglishpod

Take lessons with me: https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/8531387

📚Affiliate link for italki: https://www.italki.com/en/i/ref/GBBdbb

Affiliate link for Lingq: https://www.lingq.com/?referral=msusc

📝 Vocabulary list:

1) Physician – A formal term for a doctor, especially in a medical context.

2) Primary care physician (PCP) – A doctor you see regularly for general health checkups.

3) Specialist – A doctor who focuses on a specific area of medicine.

4) Checkup – A routine visit to a doctor to make sure you are healthy.

5) Blood draw – When blood is taken for medical tests.

6) Labs – Short for laboratory tests, often involving blood, urine, or other samples.

7) Family medicine doctor – A primary care doctor who treats patients of all ages.

8) Internal medicine doctor – A primary care doctor who treats only adult.

9) Pediatrician – A doctor who treats children and teenagers under 18.

10) Follow up – To return to a doctor for continued care after an appointment or treatment.

11) Copay – The money a patient pays for a medical service in addition to what insurance covers.

12) Chronic condition – A long-term health problem, like diabetes or high blood pressure.

🎧 In this episode, we learn English through one of the most dramatic and frightening true stories in American history: the Donner Party. This Halloween-themed lesson tells the story of a group of settlers who traveled west in 1846, became trapped in the Sierra Nevada mountains, and faced extreme hardships during the winter.

Throughout the episode, you will learn useful vocabulary connected to survival, danger, tragedy, weather, and historical events. Words like crucial, desperate, perish, and frail will help you understand documentaries, news stories, and conversations about difficult situations. The story is told clearly and naturally so B1–B2 learners can follow along easily.

This episode is ideal for anyone who enjoys dark stories, American history, or learning English through real events. By listening, you will improve your comprehension, expand your vocabulary, and understand why the Donner Party remains one of the most well-known tragedies in U.S. history.

🔔 Follow us on social media @LearnEnglishPod and visit our website:

Podcast website: https://learnenglishpod.com/

Follow us on social Media: https://linktr.ee/learnenglishpod

Phrasal Verb episode: https://youtu.be/vxZnA20kX2U

📚Affiliate link for italki: https://www.italki.com/en/i/ref/GBBdbb

Affiliate link for Lingq: https://www.lingq.com/?referral=msusc

Source🔗:

The Donner Party

California Trail Center

PBS documentary

📝 Vocabulary list:

1) Set the stage – To explain background information so the listener understands what happens next.

2) Manifest Destiny – A belief in the 1800s that Americans were chosen by God to expand across the continent.

3) Manifest (something) – To make something real by believing strongly that it will happen.

4) Optimistic – Believing that good things will happen; positive about the future.

5) Settlers – People who move to a new place to live and build a community.

6) Wagon train – A group of wagons traveling together across long distances in the past.

7) Crucial – Extremely important; necessary for success.

8) Desperate – Feeling hopeless or ready to do anything to survive or solve a problem.

9) Perish – To die, especially in a tragic or natural way.

10) Weep – To cry because you are sad or emotional.

11) Frail – Weak or easily broken, often used to describe someone who is very thin or sick.

🎃 Get ready for Halloween AND improve your English at the same time! In this episode, you’ll learn English naturally through fun, spooky, and scary TV show and movie recommendations set in high school. These stories range from light and campy to suspenseful and full horror, giving you different levels of difficulty and excitement.

You’ll hear about classics like Sabrina the Teenage Witch and Buffy the Vampire Slayer, modern hits like Wednesday and Riverdale, and horror favorites like Carrie, The Faculty, and Freakish. Each recommendation is explained clearly so B1–B2 learners can follow along easily.

This episode is perfect for anyone who wants to improve listening comprehension, expand vocabulary, and learn real English in context—while enjoying Halloween stories from American culture.

🔔 Follow us on social media @LearnEnglishPod and visit our website:

Podcast website: https://learnenglishpod.com/

Follow us on social Media: https://linktr.ee/learnenglishpod

Take lessons with me: https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/8531387

🔗Streaming site: https://www.streamwithvpn.com/

Previous Episode Halloween

📚Affiliate link for italki: https://www.italki.com/en/i/ref/GBBdbb

Affiliate link for Lingq: https://www.lingq.com/?referral=msusc

📝 Vocabulary list:

1) Spooky – a little bit scary, often in a fun or mysterious way.

2) Input hypothesis – the idea that language improves through listening and reading a lot in that language.

3) Campy – funny or exaggerated in a silly or over-the-top way.

4) Paranormal – related to things that cannot be explained by science, like ghosts or magic.

5) Supernatural – something beyond the natural world, like magic or monsters.

6) Suspenseful – making you feel nervous or excited because you don’t know what will happen next.

7) Creepy – making you feel uncomfortable or afraid in a strange way.

8) Unnerving – making you feel nervous, uncomfortable, or a little scared.

9) Cliffhanger – an ending that leaves you in suspense, wanting to know what happens next.

10) Witchcraft – the practice of magic, often connected with witches

11) Post-apocalyptic – describing a world after a major disaster or the end of civilization.

12) Binge-watch – to watch many episodes of a show one after another without stopping.

🗣️ In this episode of the Learn English Podcast, we explore one of the most confusing pronunciation differences in American English: the Dark L vs. the Light L

– Learn why many English learners struggle with the Dark L sound – Understand the difference between Light L (love, light) and Dark L (ball, full) – Hear how to correctly place your tongue, lips, and jaw for natural pronunciation – Practice real examples like: ball, full, milk, world, people, subtle, bottle, and little – Learn the rules for when the Dark L appears in words – Improve your listening comprehension and accent clarity in real-life English

This episode is perfect for B1–B2 English learners who want to improve pronunciation, reduce their accent, and sound more natural when speaking American English.

🔔 Follow us @LearnEnglishPod:

Podcast website: https://learnenglishpod.com/

Follow us on social Media: https://linktr.ee/learnenglishpod

📚Affiliate link for italki: https://www.italki.com/en/i/ref/GBBdbb

Affiliate link for Lingq: https://www.lingq.com/?referral=msusc

🔗Pronunciation Playlist: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFdt-dHCmwVht9nDH7vgD9F_Cgmijpp48

📝 Vocabulary list:

1) Unique – One of a kind; unlike anything else.

2) Stress – The emphasis placed on a certain part of a word or sentence.

3) Syllable – A unit of sound in a word, often containing a vowel.

4) Hard palate – The hard area on the roof of your mouth just behind your front teeth.

5) Clear (or light) L sound – The “L” sound made at the beginning of words, such as light or love.

6) Dark L sound – The “L” sound made at the end of words, such as ball or full, where the tongue curls back.

7) Opposite – Completely different from something else.

8) Unstressed – A syllable or part of a word that is not emphasized when spoken.

9) Accent reduction - The process of changing one's pronunciation to sound closer to a specific, desired accent.

10) To aim for - To intend or try to achieve something.