Learn English Podcast

🏋️‍♀️ Today we explore useful English vocabulary for talking about exercise, health, and fitness. You’ll hear how native speakers use everyday phrases like working out, getting winded, and going to the gym, as well as fitness slang like ripped, cut, buff, and shredded.

We explain real examples, teach natural expressions, and help you talk about workouts confidently in English. This episode is ideal for learners who want practical vocabulary they can use immediately in conversation.

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Podcast website: https://learnenglishpod.com/

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📝 Vocabulary list:

1) Resistance training - Exercise that improves muscle strength by working against resistance.

2) Cardiovascular exercise (cardio) - Exercise that increases heart and lung activity.

3) Calisthenics - Exercises consisting of a variety of body-weight training.

4) Weightlifting - The activity of lifting heavy objects for exercise.

5) Exercise class - A group session led by an instructor for physical exercise.

6) Trainer (personal trainer): A professional who helps individuals create and implement an exercise routine. They provide guidance, motivation, and ensure proper form to avoid injury.

7) Jacked / Ripped / Swole / Buff / Yolked: These are all informal terms for someone who is very muscular. They are often used to describe men.

8) Trim / Tone: These terms describe a lean, fit physique, often used for women. "Trim" suggests a healthy weight and lack of excess fat. "Toned" implies well-defined muscles without being bulky.

9) Gym rat: This is a playful term for someone who goes to the gym very frequently and enjoys spending time there.

10) Soreness / Muscle soreness: This is the pain or discomfort you feel in your muscles after exercise, especially when you haven't been working out regularly.

11) In shape - Physically fit.

12) Out of shape - Not physically fit.

13) Huffing and puffing / Can't catch your breath / Out of breath / Winded: This idiom describes someone who is breathing heavily and with exertion, often because they are working out hard.

📜 SOURCES

https://www.youtube.com/@RenaissancePeriodization

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YrF4VLbcko

⚾ Today we’re learning some of the most common baseball-based idioms in American English. From ballpark figure to hit it out of the park, these phrases appear all the time in everyday conversation — even if you're not talking about sports. We’ll break down what each one means, where it comes from, and how you can start using them to sound more natural when speaking English.

Baseball has shaped American language for over a century, so understanding these idioms will help you connect culturally and linguistically with native speakers. Listen in, learn the expressions, and practice using them to build confidence and fluency.

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📝 Vocabulary list:

1) Idioms - A group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words.

2) Baseball - A game played with a bat and ball between two teams of nine players, each taking turns to field and bat.

3) Ballpark figure - A rough numerical estimate or approximation.

4) Rough estimate - An approximate calculation or judgment of the value, number, quantity, or extent of something

5) Stadium - A large, typically open-air, structure with tiers of seats for spectators at sports events.

6) Not even in the ballpark - Way off from the estimation; completely different.

7) Hit it out of the park / Knocked it out of the park - To do something extremely well or successfully.

8) Hit a homerun: to do something very well; to succeed completely

9) Major League Baseball (MLB) - The highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada.

10) Minor League - A baseball league of a level below that of Major League Baseball.

11) Elite - A select part of a group that is superior to the rest in terms of ability or qualities.

12) Prestigious: having a reputation for being very good or important

13) Playing hardball : to adopt a tough, aggressive, and unyielding approach to negotiations, discussions, or dealings

🎓 It’s graduation season in the United States, which makes it the perfect time to learn how American colleges work. In this episode, we explore community colleges, state universities, and private institutions, how long degrees take, and why the cost of education can vary so much.

You’ll learn useful academic vocabulary while understanding admissions, tuition, student housing, and financial aid — all explained clearly for English learners. Listen and discover how the U.S. system compares to your own.

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

Podcast website: https://learnenglishpod.com/

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🔗Sources:

https://www.lacc.edu/cost-tuition/costs-college

https://www.calstatela.edu/financialaid/2023-2024-cost-attendance

https://admission.ucla.edu/tuition-aid/tuition-fees

https://financialaid.usc.edu/undergraduate-financial-aid/cost-of-attendance/

https://educationdata.org/average-cost-of-community-college

📝 Vocabulary list:

1) Graduation season: The time period when colleges and universities hold commencement ceremonies for graduating students.

2) Higher education: Education that takes place after high school, typically at a college or university. This includes undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

3) Chaotic: Disorderly or confused.

4) Public institution: A college or university that is funded by the government, generally resulting in lower tuition fees compared to private institutions.

5) Private institution: A college or university that is not funded by the government and relies on private funding sources, leading to higher tuition fees.

6) Senior year: The final year of high school.

7) Tuition: The cost of attending a college or university for the academic instruction itself.

8) Associate's degree: A two-year degree awarded by community colleges.

9) Bachelor's degree: A four-year degree awarded by colleges and universities.

10) Semester: One half of an academic year, typically lasting around 15-18 weeks.

11) Financial aid: Money provided by the government, colleges, or organizations to help students pay for tuition.

12) Competitive: A college or university that is difficult to get into due to a high number of applicants.

13) Elite: A highly prestigious university.

⏳ Are you confused about how to talk about time in English? Maybe you’re not sure when to use “ago,” “last week,” “in the next year,” or “three weeks from now.” This episode explains the phrases native speakers use when they describe events in the past or the future.

We walk through everyday examples so you can understand when to say last summer, this Friday, or within the next month. By the end of this episode, you’ll feel more confident expressing time clearly and naturally in conversation. A great listening practice episode for ESL and EFL learners who want to sound fluent and accurate when talking about life events.

🔔 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) Demarcate: To set the boundaries or limits of; separate or distinguish.

2) Clarify: To make (a statement or situation) less confused and more comprehensible.

3) Decade: A period of ten years.

4) Century: A period of one hundred years.

5) Millennium: A period of one thousand years.

Talking about the Past

• yesterday - the day before today
• a go - used with numbers of days, weeks, months, etc. to indicate how long ago something happened (e.g., three weeks ago)
• this past - refers to a recent time period (e.g., this past week)
• last - used with specific days of the week, months, seasons, holidays, or years (e.g., last Friday, last month)
• in the last - used for longer periods in the past, often when something started in the past and continues to the present (e.g., In the last 20 years, technology has changed rapidly)

Talking about the Future

• this - refers to the current week, month, season, or year (e.g., This Friday, I'm going to the movies)
• next - refers to the following week, month, or year (e.g., Next summer, we're planning a trip to Europe)
• in/within - used with "the next" for a general timeframe in the future (e.g., In the next few days, I'll call my mom)
• from now - used with a number and a unit of time (e.g., Three weeks from now, we're moving)

🌍 In this episode, we explore the history behind Earth Day, how it became an international event, and the environmental movement that shaped it. You’ll learn key vocabulary for speaking about the environment, activism, laws, and sustainability—all while improving your listening skills in real context.

We look at the first Earth Day in 1970, the creation of the EPA, the Clean Air and Water Acts, and how the day is celebrated around the world today. This episode blends English learning with history, culture, and environmental awareness, giving you language you can use in real conversation.

Listen, learn, and grow your English naturally—one real topic at a time.

🔔 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

📝 Vocabulary list:

1) raise awareness (v): to make people more conscious or knowledgeable about something

2) environmental issues (n): problems that harm the environment

3) turbulent (adj): characterized by a lot of change or conflict

4) grassroots (adj): involving ordinary people rather than those in positions of authority

5) resounding success (n): a very successful event

6) rally (n): a public meeting at which people express their opinions or support for a cause

7) demonstration (n): a public expression of protest or support

8) cleanup effort (n): an activity in which people clean up a dirty or untidy place

9) beautify (v): to make something look more attractive

10) emissions (n): harmful gases or particles that are released into the atmosphere

📜 SOURCES

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/feb/09/trump-epa-plan-environment

https://www.eenews.net/articles/conservatives-gear-up-for-epa-revamp-in-2025/

https://www.npr.org/2023/08/08/1192634090/if-republicans-win-the-white-house-in-2024-climate-policy-will-likely-change

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jul/27/project-2025-dismantle-us-climate-policy-next-republican-president

https://apnews.com/article/supreme-court-epa-good-neighbor-air-pollution-rules-9d29c120d276f4bad5b3ea2c75d107ff

📅 This episode teaches you how Americans really talk about dates, days of the week, and time. You’ll learn the difference between 12/1/24 vs December 1st, how ordinal dates work, when we use o’clock, and why most Americans do not use 24-hour time. These patterns help you speak naturally and understand native speakers more easily.

We also compare American and British usage, explain why month-day-year is standard in the US, and walk through real examples you will hear in everyday conversation, school, travel, and work. By the end, you’ll feel confident writing and saying dates, reading calendars, and using time expressions like a native English speaker.

Use this episode to strengthen your listening comprehension, vocabulary, and fluency — and check the episode notes for a vocabulary list you can review afterward.

🔔 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) slash: a diagonal line (/) used in writing to separate things

2) ordinal form: a number used to indicate position in a sequence (e.g., first, second, third)

3) imply: to suggest something without saying it directly

4) military time: a 24-hour clock system

5) incorporate: to include something as a part of something else

6) Capitalized: Written with the first letter as a capital letter.

7) figure out: to understand something

8) Rigid: Firm or inflexible.

9) hurry: to cause someone to move or act more quickly

10) invitation: a formal request for someone to come to an event

🗣 Feeling ignored is frustrating, but knowing the right English phrases helps you express it clearly. In this episode, we explore 10 different ways to talk about being ignored in English, including synonyms like disregard, dismiss, brush off, and tune out. You’ll learn how to use each phrase naturally and understand the subtle differences between them.

We discuss real-life examples, context, tone, and situations where native speakers use these expressions. This episode will strengthen your vocabulary and give you multiple new ways to describe being ignored in everyday conversation. Listen now and level up your English.

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

Podcast website: https://learnenglishpod.com/

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📝 Vocabulary list:

1) ignore: general term for not listening or paying attention

2) nuance: subtle difference

3) precise: exact

4) disregard: formal, not considering something important

5) dismissive/dismissing: formal, treating something as unimportant

6) brush off : casual, ignoring someone or something unimportant

7) not paying attention: neutral, simply not focused on something

8) tune out: gradually stop paying attention, can be intentional or unintentional

9) pretend: act as if something is true although it is not

📖 In this episode, we explore how reading helps you learn English naturally through input, vocabulary exposure, and real sentence patterns. You’ll learn the difference between intensive reading and extensive reading, when to use each method, and how to build reading habits that help your English improve over time.

We also talk about how to choose reading materials based on your level — from beginner-friendly graded readers to native-level books and articles. With the right approach, reading becomes one of the most effective ways to grow your vocabulary, increase comprehension, and move closer to fluency. Tune in and learn how to make reading work for you.

🔔 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

📜 SOURCES

Steve Kaufmann: https://youtube.com/@Thelinguist

Stephen Krashen: https://www.sdkrashen.com/

📝 Vocabulary list:

1) Intensive reading: reading a text closely and carefully, often with the goal of understanding every word (learning)

2) Extensive reading: reading a large amount of text, often without stopping to look up every unknown word (exposure)

3) Mimic: to copy someone's behavior or style (action)

4) Graded readers: books that are written at a specific level of difficulty for language learners (resource)

5) Aggregate sites: websites that collect information from other websites (source)

6) Intonation: the way that your voice rises and falls when you speak (pronunciation)

7) Rhythm: a regular pattern of stressed and unstressed sounds (pronunciation)

8) Fiction: stories that are not based on real events (genre)

9) Youth literature: books written for teenagers or young adults (genre)

10) Summer reading list: a list of books recommended for reading during the summer vacation (resource)

11) Opinion pieces: articles that express the writer's personal opinion on a particular topic (genre)

12) Persuasive language: language that is used to try to convince someone to do something (communication)

💡 English has challenges, but it also has many features that make it easier than people think. In this episode, we explore why English is simpler than Germanic and Romance languages in areas like nouns, articles, adjectives, verb forms, and the huge number of learning resources available.

If you are losing motivation, this episode is your reminder that English can be learned step by step. The more input you get, the faster you grow. Stay consistent, stay curious, and trust your progress.

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

Podcast website: https://learnenglishpod.com/

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

📜 SOURCES Steve Kaufmann: https://youtube.com/@Thelinguist

Stephen Krashen: https://www.sdkrashen.com/

📝 Vocabulary list:

1) conjugate (verb): to change the form of a verb depending on tense (past, present, future) or person (I, you, he/she/it, we, they)

2) declension (noun): the system of changing the form of a noun to show its grammatical role in a sentence (subject, object, etc.)

3) gender (noun): the grammatical classification of nouns as masculine, feminine, or neuter (not applicable in English for nouns)

4) subjunctive tense (noun): a verb mood used to express a wish, possibility, or hypothetical situation

5) cognate (noun): a word in one language that is related to a word in another language due to a common origin

6) boost (verb): to increase or improve something

7) discouraged (adjective): feeling a lack of hope or confidence

8) advantage (noun): a benefit or something helpful

9) straightforward (adjective): simple and easy to understand

10) informality (noun): the lack of formality or strictness

11) rigid (adjective): following strict rules, unwilling to change.

12) barrier (noun): something that hinders progress or communication.

13) grateful (adjective): appreciative or thankful

🗣️ English is full of phrasal verbs, and “blow” is one of the trickiest. In this lesson, we break down how to use blow up, blow out, blow through, blow on, blow down, and the noun “blowout” with clear explanations and real examples. You’ll learn how the same word can describe wind, anger, money, sports, and even getting your hair done.

If you’re an intermediate English learner who wants to understand native speakers more easily, this episode will give you the context and repetition you need. Listen, repeat, and notice how these phrasal verbs show up in your favorite shows, podcasts, and conversations so you can start using them yourself.

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

Podcast website: https://learnenglishpod.com/

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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) Phrasal Verbs:

• blow down (fall over due to wind)
• blow on (push air onto something)
• blow up (explode)
• blow up (get angry) (informal)
• blow up (increase rapidly)
• blow through (air moving through something)
• blow through (be reckless and not stop)
• blow through (move through something quickly)
• blow out (push air out)
• blow out (rupture due to pressure)
• blow out (win/lose by a large margin)

2) Nouns:

• blow (hit with force)
• blowout (tire bursting)
• blowout (argument) (informal)
• blowout (decisive victory) (sports)

3) Idioms:

• don't blow this (don't mess this up) (informal)