Lori’s Language Lab Podcast

Walking into your first English consultation can feel like stepping onto a stage without knowing the script. Julie Schwenzer sits down with Lori Baker, founder of Lori’s Language Lab, to explain what actually happens in that first meeting and why it’s designed to reduce fear, not create it. We start with the question that shapes everything: what do you want to do differently in English, whether that means shopping on your own, connecting with neighbors, talking with teachers, or leading a meeting at work.

From there, we get practical. Lori shares how we listen during the consultation for patterns that affect clear communication, like pronunciation pain points, tricky prepositions, and the sounds that often get mixed up depending on your first language. We also talk about lesson options, why many international professionals prefer one-on-one English tutoring, and when a small group can help, especially for presentation practice and real-time feedback.

Confidence is a major theme, and we keep it grounded in real life. Lori offers a simple, low risk habit to practice speaking in public and explains our approach to accent refinement: focus on being understood, not erasing who you are. We wrap with what happens after you book, including tutor matching, a full 60-minute trial lesson, why video calls help, and how we also support companies relocating employees through corporate English training.

If you’re ready to feel more at home in English, listen now, share this with a friend who needs it, and subscribe, rate, and leave a review so more learners can find us.

To learn more about Lori’s Language Lab visit:
https://www.LorisLanguageLab.net
Lori’s Language Lab  

You can be smart, experienced, and successful, then move to the United States and suddenly feel unsure of your own voice. We talk with Lori Baker, founder of Lori’s Language Lab, about why that happens and how international professionals and families can build confident English that actually works in real situations, not just in a classroom.

Lori shares her unusual route from mechanical engineering and construction project management into ESL tutoring, plus the moment she realized many adult learners are taught the wrong things. If you need engineering vocabulary for work, “train schedules” won’t help. Her approach is problem-solving driven: we figure out what you need to do at work, at home, and in your community, then we build the language around that. Along the way, we dig into business English, workplace communication, and the cultural context that decides whether your message lands.

We also talk about the emotional side of communication, like the dread of getting the look when someone doesn’t understand you. Lori offers a calmer reframe and practical next steps, then we explore American indirect language, including how “maybe I’ll think about that” can quietly mean no. Finally, you’ll hear how safe, one-on-one coaching opens the door to harder topics like culture, stereotypes, money, and politics, plus a lighter note on mom’s pool day and why cookies sometimes show up at Lori’s Language Lab in the Dallas area.

If you care about English fluency, cultural competence, and feeling like you belong, listen now, then subscribe, share with a friend who’s new to the US, and leave a review so more listeners can find us.

To learn more about Lori’s Language Lab visit:
https://www.LorisLanguageLab.net
Lori’s Language Lab