Plain English

By Jeff at Plain English

Improve your English and learn about the world at the same time. Plain English brings you short, modern stories about culture, science, travel, business, and everyday life, all told in clear, natural ... more

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The podcast currently has 1,033 episodes available.

Best of Plain English

The most played episodes among Podcast App listeners.

Number 1: America is united in opposition to data centers
Today's story: As artificial intelligence drives demand for more computing power, huge new data centers are being proposed across the United States. But local communities are pushing back over higher electricity costs, noise, and blight that go along with data centers. Opposition has brought together voters across political parties and led some towns to block or delay new projects. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/898 Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/898 -- Plain English helps you improve your English:Learn about the world and improve your EnglishClear, natural English at a speed you can understandNew stories every weekLearn even more at PlainEnglish.com Mentioned in this episode: Hard words? No problem Never be confused by difficult words in Plain English again! See translations of the hardest words and phrases from English to your language. Each episode transcript includes built-in translations into Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Polish, and Turkish. Sign up for a free 14-day trial at PlainEnglish.com
September 14, 202617min
Number 2: Expression: Eat away at
Learn the English expression, "eat away at" Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/expressions/eat-away-at -- Plain English helps you improve your English:Learn about the world and improve your EnglishClear, natural English at a speed you can understandNew stories every weekLearn even more at PlainEnglish.com Mentioned in this episode: Hard words? No problem Never be confused by difficult words in Plain English again! See translations of the hardest words and phrases from English to your language. Each episode transcript includes built-in translations into Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Polish, and Turkish. Sign up for a free 14-day trial at PlainEnglish.com
September 03, 202613min
Number 3: Dolly Parton was a great singer and a better person
Today's story: Dolly Parton, the country music singer, died at age 80. She rose from rural poverty to become one of the most celebrated musical artists of her generation. While she was famous for her music, she was beloved for her personality. Generous, authentic, and accepting, she united fans from many different worlds. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/897 Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/897 -- Plain English helps you improve your English:Learn about the world and improve your EnglishClear, natural English at a speed you can understandNew stories every weekLearn even more at PlainEnglish.com Mentioned in this episode: Hard words? No problem Never be confused by difficult words in Plain English again! See translations of the hardest words and phrases from English to your language. Each episode transcript includes built-in translations into Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Polish, and Turkish. Sign up for a free 14-day trial at PlainEnglish.com
September 07, 202616min
Number 4: Postcards are fading into the past
Today's story: The first postcards were sold in the late 1800s and quickly became a popular way to communicate. In the days before social media (and even consumer photography), they were a fast and cheap way to communicate. But across the world, postcard usage is falling sharply (except one specific type of postcard). Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/895 Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/895 -- Plain English helps you improve your English:Learn about the world and improve your EnglishClear, natural English at a speed you can understandNew stories every weekLearn even more at PlainEnglish.com Mentioned in this episode: Hard words? No problem Never be confused by difficult words in Plain English again! See translations of the hardest words and phrases from English to your language. Each episode transcript includes built-in translations into Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Polish, and Turkish. Sign up for a free 14-day trial at PlainEnglish.com
August 31, 202615min
Number 5: E-bikes: just like bicycles, but a bit less effort
Today's story: E-bikes combine traditional cycling with battery-powered assistance, helping riders travel faster, climb hills, and cover longer distances with less effort. They are popular for commuting, school drop-offs, deliveries, and light exercise. But they're more expensive and weigh more than traditional bicycles. Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/887 Get the full story and learning resources: https://plainenglish.com/887 -- Plain English helps you improve your English:Learn about the world and improve your EnglishClear, natural English at a speed you can understandNew stories every weekLearn even more at PlainEnglish.com Mentioned in this episode: Hard words? No problem Never be confused by difficult words in Plain English again! See translations of the hardest words and phrases from English to your language. Each episode transcript includes built-in translations into Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, German, French, Italian, Japanese, Polish, and Turkish. Sign up for a free 14-day trial at PlainEnglish.com
August 03, 202617min