** Enjoy this fast version of Episode #700. Listen to the fast audio of our lessons by signing up for a free trial at PlainEnglish.com

Today's story: America's national parks are an important part of the country's natural landscape and they attract millions of visitors per year. Some parks preserve wilderness areas. Others have pristine beaches. Two parks include networks of caves. All are preserved for future generations and open to visitors.

Also in this episode: Learn English expression 'one of a kind'

Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/700

Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/700

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Plain English helps you improve your English:

• Learn about the world and improve your English
• Clear, natural English at a speed you can understand
• New stories every week
• Learn even more at PlainEnglish.com

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Today's story: America's national parks are an important part of the country's natural landscape and they attract millions of visitors per year. Some parks preserve wilderness areas. Others have pristine beaches. Two parks include networks of caves. All are preserved for future generations and open to visitors.

Learn this English expression: Something is 'one of a kind' if it's unique

Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/700

--

Plain English helps you improve your English:

• Learn about the world and improve your English
• Clear, natural English at a speed you can understand
• New stories every week
• Learn even more at PlainEnglish.com

--

Mentioned in this episode:

Ready to improve your listening?

Ready to listen fast? Improve your listening with the fast version of this and every episode. The full-speed version is a fresh recording and it sounds just like someone speaking to a native speaker (with no AI or computer manipulation!) You can even listen on a podcast app

🥳 Happy Episode 700!

Plain English is celebrating episode #700 on August 12!

And to celebrate, we are opening up our full, premium program, Plain English Plus+, to all Plain English listeners -- absolutely free for an entire week.

Join us from August 12 to 18, 2024 and you can:

• Practice listening with the fast episode and interactive listening exercises
• Learn to express complex ideas with step-by-step video workshops
• Build your confidence speaking on live Zoom calls with Jeff and JR
• Learn new words with built-in translations and vocabulary exercises
• Perfect your pronunciation with voice-recording tools
• Get personal feedback on your own writing, as you practice using the expressions you learn in Plain English
• ...and much more!

Do this now:

Sign up for a free membership at PlainEnglish.com/join

If you already have a membership, just log in now. All our premium features have been unlocked for you!

Log in every day during the week of August 12-18, 2024.

Make plans to join us for a live call. See the full schedule at PlainEnglish.com/live

Today's story: You fold it in New York. You put caviar on it in California. You make in a pan for car-parts in Detroit. And you eat it with a knife and fork in Chicago. Pizza is a perfect dish for sharing at parties and around a family dinner table. But pizza is not the same everywhere. Here are four regional varieties in the United States.

Learn this English expression: Use 'made of' to describe the fundamental ingredients of a thing

Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/699

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Plain English helps you improve your English:

• Learn about the world and improve your English
• Clear, natural English at a speed you can understand
• New stories every week
• Learn even more at PlainEnglish.com

--

Mentioned in this episode:

Ready to improve your listening?

Ready to listen fast? Improve your listening with the fast version of this and every episode. The full-speed version is a fresh recording and it sounds just like someone speaking to a native speaker (with no AI or computer manipulation!) You can even listen on a podcast app

Today's story: School is about learning. But for many students, school is about so much more: sports teams, after-school clubs, drama, and free time during the school day. Learn what social and after-school life is like at a typical American school.

Learn this English expression: To 'try out' is to compete for a role in a play or on a team

Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/698

--

Plain English helps you improve your English:

• Learn about the world and improve your English
• Clear, natural English at a speed you can understand
• New stories every week
• Learn even more at PlainEnglish.com

--

Mentioned in this episode:

Ready to improve your listening?

Ready to listen fast? Improve your listening with the fast version of this and every episode. The full-speed version is a fresh recording and it sounds just like someone speaking to a native speaker (with no AI or computer manipulation!) You can even listen on a podcast app

🥳 Happy Episode 700!

Plain English is about to release its 700th episode on August 12!

And to celebrate, we are opening up our full, premium program, Plain English Plus+, to all Plain English listeners -- absolutely free for an entire week.

Join us from August 12 to 18, 2024 and you can:

• Practice listening with the fast episode and interactive listening exercises
• Learn to express complex ideas with step-by-step video workshops
• Build your confidence speaking on live Zoom calls with Jeff and JR
• Learn new words with built-in translations and vocabulary exercises
• Perfect your pronunciation with voice-recording tools
• Get personal feedback on your own writing, as you practice using the expressions you learn in Plain English
• ...and much more!

Do this now:

Sign up for a free membership at PlainEnglish.com/join

If you already have a membership, practice logging in now so you have your login details ready.

Make plans to join us during the week of August 12-18, 2024.

Jeff and JR can't wait to see you then!

Today's story: Math, science, history, reading. Learning these things in school is, now, almost a universal experience. But the specifics of the school day differ from country to country. Here, learn what a typical school day is like in the United States.

Learn this English expression: To be 'spread out' is to have a lot of space between each one

Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/697

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Plain English helps you improve your English:

• Learn about the world and improve your English
• Clear, natural English at a speed you can understand
• New stories every week
• Learn even more at PlainEnglish.com

--

Mentioned in this episode:

Ready to improve your listening?

Ready to listen fast? Improve your listening with the fast version of this and every episode. The full-speed version is a fresh recording and it sounds just like someone speaking to a native speaker (with no AI or computer manipulation!) You can even listen on a podcast app

Today's story: America's west is its most visually stunning region, with Rocky Mountain peaks and the bright lights of Las Vegas. The mountain west has beautiful national parks and forests. The southwest is characterized by bigger (and newer cities) and the desert.

Learn this English expression: To 'take cover' is to seek protection from danger (often weather)

Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/696

--

Plain English helps you improve your English:

• Learn about the world and improve your English
• Clear, natural English at a speed you can understand
• New stories every week
• Learn even more at PlainEnglish.com

--

Mentioned in this episode:

Ready to improve your listening?

Ready to listen fast? Improve your listening with the fast version of this and every episode. The full-speed version is a fresh recording and it sounds just like someone speaking to a native speaker (with no AI or computer manipulation!) You can even listen on a podcast app

Today's story: The American South used to be an agricultural region, which lagged behind the rest of the country in education, income, and modernization. But that is no more, as the South is now the destination of choice for families moving within the United States.

Learn this English expression: A 'safety net' is all the things that protect you from financial misfortune

Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/695

--

Plain English helps you improve your English:

• Learn about the world and improve your English
• Clear, natural English at a speed you can understand
• New stories every week
• Learn even more at PlainEnglish.com

--

Mentioned in this episode:

Ready to improve your listening?

Ready to listen fast? Improve your listening with the fast version of this and every episode. The full-speed version is a fresh recording and it sounds just like someone speaking to a native speaker (with no AI or computer manipulation!) You can even listen on a podcast app

Today's story: The Midwest may not have the diversity of the east or the spectacular outdoors of the west coast. But it offers a good quality of life at reasonable cost, with a diversified economy and plenty to do inside and outside.

Learn this English expression: To 'fall on hard times' is to experience financial hardship

Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/694

--

Plain English helps you improve your English:

• Learn about the world and improve your English
• Clear, natural English at a speed you can understand
• New stories every week
• Learn even more at PlainEnglish.com

--

Mentioned in this episode:

Ready to improve your listening?

Ready to listen fast? Improve your listening with the fast version of this and every episode. The full-speed version is a fresh recording and it sounds just like someone speaking to a native speaker (with no AI or computer manipulation!) You can even listen on a podcast app