Today's story: Wine has been part of daily human life for centuries, and today it's produced in 70 countries. But winemakers and vineyards are facing their biggest challenges in a generation. Droughts, fires, and rising temperatures threaten crops. And younger consumers drink less alcohol (and less wine specifically). Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/829

Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/829

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Learn how to use the expression “keep your options open,” a phrase people use when they haven’t yet made a decision.

Explore the full lesson & practice using today's expression: https://plainenglish.com/expressions/keep-your-options-open

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Plain English helps you improve your English:

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Mentioned in this episode:

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Today's story: Labubu is a mischievous, rabbit-eared character created by illustrator Kasing Lung. Chinese toymaker Pop Mart has turned Labubu into a global toy craze, using gamified sales tactics and regularly releasing new collectible sets. Fans can’t get enough. They film themselves opening the famous “blind boxes,” take photos with their Labubus, and bid up the value of their favorites online. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/827

Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/827

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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
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Mentioned in this episode:

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We're starting the new year right at Plain English, with a new learning path to help you learn the best English expressions.

At PlainEnglish.com, we have a library of hundreds of lessons about common English expressions, from "figure out" to "make a difference" to "cater to."

And now, it's easier than ever for you to learn the expressions that are best for you.

If you're not yet a member, you can create an account now (it's free) at PlainEnglish.com/join

If you are a member, the new learning paths have been activated on your dashboard. Check it out!

Revisit this classic lesson on cognitive switching from the Plain English archives: What is cognitive switching? It’s when you switch your attention from one task, or one type of task, to another. Cognitive switching could be robbing you of up to 40 percent of your daily productivity, and it may be increasing your potential to make mistakes.

Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/lessons/cognitive-switching

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Plain English helps you improve your English:

• Learn about the world and improve your English
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• New stories every week
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Mentioned in this episode:

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Enjoy this episode from the Plain English archives (with a recent update for 2025): The San José, a Spanish treasure ship carrying gold, silver, and valuable jewelry, sank off the coast of Colombia in 1708. The shipwreck, and its treasure, have been untouched for over 300 years. Now, the government of Colombia is working to bring the treasure to the surface. But who is its rightful owner?

Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/lessons/san-jose-treasure/

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Plain English helps you improve your English:

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• New stories every week
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Today's story: Classic stories are an important part of Christmas traditions for both kids and adults. They teach values of generosity, family, love, wonder, and belief. Here are five that stand the test of time: The Snowman, The Polar Express, The Legend of the Poinsettia, A Christmas Carol, and How the Grinch Stole Christmas!

Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/826

Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/826

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Plain English helps you improve your English:

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Today's story: Ted Danson stars in *Man on the Inside*, a warm, thoughtful comedy about a retired professor who becomes a private investigator. The show gently explores themes of aging, intergenerational relationships, and finding purpose later in life, all wrapped in a light mystery and comedic tone.

Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/825

Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/825

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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
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Mentioned in this episode:

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Today's story: Though most Christmas trees are plastic, millions of families like to get live Christmas trees every year. Real trees are grown at special Christmas tree farms and they take many years (and twice-a-year trimming) to mature into the picture-perfect trees you see in family photos.

Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/824

Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/824

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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
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Mentioned in this episode:

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Today's story: Scientists used to rely on stickers to track monarch butterfly migration—but that only showed where a butterfly started and ended. Now, a solar-powered device called the BluMorpho is helping researchers track each step of the journey, offering new insight into one of nature’s most complex migrations.

Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/823

Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/823

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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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Mentioned in this episode:

Hard words? No problem

Never be confused by difficult words in Plain English again!