English as a Second Language Podcast Podcasts

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English as a Second Language Podcast is for anyone who wants to learn or improve their English listening and speaking. This daily (Monday through Friday) 15-20 minute podcast covers a new topic each podcast. The ESL Podcast is brought to you by Dr. Lucy Tse and Dr. Jeff McQuillan, former professors of applied linguistics and education. If you are an English as a Second Language (ESL) or English as a Foreign Language (EFL) speaker, then this podcast is for you! Primary Format : Ethnic Language : Unknown Also Listed as: City : Unknown State/Province : Unknown Country : Unknown Region : XX User Tags: User Votes: RSS Feed Website People found this Podcast Searching for: View this Podcast on a Google Map. Podcast iTunes Link Text Only listing of English as a Second Language Podcast Podcasts Methings.com listings of English as a Second Language Podcast Podcasts If you like this podcast, you might also like:

533 - Making Funeral and Burial Arrangements Slow dialogue: 1:24 Explanations: 3:02 Fast dialogue: 15:44 Reiko: When I die, I want a big funeral. The more mourners the better! Lucas: Not me. I’m just the opposite. I don’t want any kind of funeral or wake. I just want to be cremated and have my ashes scattered. Reiko: What? You don’t want to be buried in a beautiful casket with a big headstone? Better yet, how about being interred in a mausoleum? Lucas: You’ve got to be kidding me! Why would I all want all of t ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #217 Topics: Ask an American: sleep and weight gain; to slip through (one's) fingers; drink versus beverage; individually versus separately versus independently Words: pretty much anecdotally largely half-eaten buffet to shift to graze shift worker disruption metabolic change to slip through (one's) fingers drink beverage individually separately independently Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 532 - Using an Online Email Program Slow dialogue: 1:29 Explanations: 3:35 Fast dialogue: 15:58 Luigi: What do you think of this new email program? Selma: I don’t know yet. I just started using it. The interface is pretty intuitive, but I haven’t figured out how to sort my inbox by date. Luigi: That’s easy. Let me show you. All you have to do is hit one of these buttons and it’ll sort automatically. Selma: Oh, I see. Let me try to compose a message. I’ll cc: myself and I’ll bcc: you to make sur ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 531 - Describing Fabric Patterns Slow dialogue: 1:20 Explanations: 2:48 Fast dialogue: 13:59 Ruth: Now that we’ve picked out a new couch, we need to pick out an upholstery fabric. What do you think of this checkered one? Gerry: That’s an eyesore. I prefer something a little more subtle. Ruth: Subtle? What’s fun about subtle? I want something bold and that’ll make a statement. How about this one with the polka dots? Gerry: You’ve got to be kidding! That pattern is so busy, if I had to look at that ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #216 Topics: Steroid use and other doping in professional sports; The Juilliard School; shell-shocked; way to go; be good Words: performance-enhancing drug steroid bodybuilder dose acne to cheat to dope prestigious audition humanities to rehearse composer shell-shocked way to go be good Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 530 - Exterior Parts of a Car Slow dialogue: 1:14 Explanations: 3:05 Fast dialogue: 14:10 Ethan: You missed a spot. Marie: Hold on. When we made our bet for the loser to wash the winner’s car, it didn’t include the other person being there and being a pain in the neck. Ethan: I’m just here to make sure everything gets washed properly, from the hood to the taillights. Marie: Don’t you worry. See how carefully I’m washing the windshield, side mirrors, and headlights? I bet they’ve never been clean ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 529 - Insulting Other People Slow dialogue: 1:16 Explanations: 3:08 Fast dialogue: 14:49 Lourdes: Do you see those teenagers over there? They’re making trouble again. Nick: Those kids are just messing around. When they get bored, they’ll pipe down and go home. Lourdes: They’re really getting on my nerves, playing loud music and making all that noise. They’re a disgrace. Nick: Get away from that window before they see you. If they see that they can’t get a rise out of us, they’ll move along. ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #215 Topics: American Cities: Houston; how to become a police officer; incredible versus unbelievable; to rule the roost; to sort out Words: to be named after oilfield cultural offering urban sprawl lot size low/high urban density forensics ride-along endurance drug test background check police academy incredible unbelievable to rule the roost to sort out Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 528 - Negotiating Salary Slow dialogue: 1:25 Explanations: 4:19 Fast dialogue: 16:09 Renaldo: Hello, may I speak to Simone Otto? Simone: This is Simone. May I ask who’s calling? Renaldo: This is Renaldo Garcia at Cinetect. You interviewed for a position with me last week. Simone: Oh, yes, of course. How are you? Renaldo: I’m doing well. The reason I’m calling is that I was very impressed with you last week, and I’d like to offer you the job. Simone: Thank you very much. I’m deli ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 527 - Describing Men's Bodies Slow dialogue: 1:13 Explanations: 2:32 Fast dialogue: 16:11 Justin: What are you ogling at? Katrina: I’m watching those guys working across the street. Justin: Those construction workers? Katrina: Yeah, those prime examples of manhood. There’s not a flabby gut in the bunch. Justin: I’m pretty sure they wouldn’t appreciate you watching them as though they were pieces of meat. Hasn’t anyone ever told you not to objectify the opposite sex? Katrina: What? I’ ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #214 Topics: Psychological pricing; daytime soap operas; target versus objective versus purpose; the silent “b”: slumber versus plumber; there, there Words: whole number to make change to round up/down chain soap opera longest-running bizarre plot twist clone to come back from the dead of all time coma target objective purpose slumber plumber there, there Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 526 - Talking About Age Slow dialogue: 1:17 Explanations: 3:18 Fast dialogue: 13:12 Gabby: Another birthday! I’m going to stop celebrating. What’s there to celebrate – getting old and decrepit? Cherif: Are you kidding me? We’re in the prime of our lives. Who’s decrepit? I’m not. Gabby: If I’m in my prime, then why do I feel so middle age? Cherif: It’s a matter of perspective. It’s true that we’re not spring chickens anymore, but who wants all of the angst of youth? Not me. ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 525 - Falling in Love Slow dialogue: 1:12 Explanations: 2:52 Fast dialogue: 14:02 Maya: What are those? Jorge: They’re pictures from our ski trip last weekend. Maya: Is there any reason you’re staring at the ones with Jessica in them? I think you’ve got a crush on her. Jorge: I’m not 10 years old. I don’t get crushes. Maya: Then, I think you’re falling head over heels for her. Jorge: Don’t be ridiculous. I’ve only just met her. Maya: I knew it was love at first sight when ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #213 Topics: Famous Americans: Janis Joplin; compulsory education and truancy laws; to bask; to brace; to palm off; to follow one’s hunch(es) Words: blues to catch the attention of lead singer solo artist to struggle with to relapse compulsory to play hooky to skip school truancy detention mandate to bask to palm off to follow one’s hunch(es) Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 524 - Talking About Failure Slow dialogue: 1:22 Explanations: 3:04 Fast dialogue: 15:06 Akiko: How did your presentation go over this morning at the meeting? Gerry: It was a complete flop! Akiko: I don’t believe it. You spent weeks working on that presentation. Gerry: It wasn’t the presentation that bombed. It was my big idea. Leona called it a retread of what I presented last year, and she was not in the least impressed. Akiko: Ouch, that’s pretty harsh. What did the others say? Gerry: O ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 523 - Having Trouble Making a Decision Slow dialogue: 1:21 Explanations: 3:33 Fast dialogue: 13:44 Lorenzo: Have you bought a new television yet? Katia: No, I’m still looking at consumer reviews and weighing my options. I’m not sure yet what size I want or what features I need. I’m keeping my options open for now. Lorenzo: I thought your old TV stopped working three weeks ago. You still haven’t made up your mind about buying a new one? Katia: Oh, I’ve decided to buy a new one. It’s which one I’m goin ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #212 Topics: Ask an American: Bartering; waiting versus awaiting; use of the infinitive; answering “yes” to a negative question Words: marketing produce to establish brand in turn down agriculture to barter quaint charming initiative to wait to await Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 522 - Developing a Healthy Mind Slow dialogue: 1:21 Explanations: 2:59 Fast dialogue: 15:01 Lorelai: I just finished reading a book about how to get the most out of life. Starting today, I’m going to live life to its fullest. Luke: Oh no, not another one of your fads. Weren’t you eating only blue- and red-colored foods a couple of months ago? Lorelai: This is not a fad! I’m changing my lifestyle so I’ll be able to live a happier and more fulfilling life. Luke: And didn’t you go through a phase w ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 521 - Describing Speech and Language Ability Slow dialogue: 1:34 Explanations: 3:32 Fast dialogue: 16:31 Blaire: Do you have any idea what he’s saying? Antonio: It’s Greek to me. You’re supposed to be the one who’s fluent. Can’t you make out what he’s saying? Blaire: I never said I was fluent. I said I could get by in the language. There’s a big difference. Antonio: Why don’t you try saying something to him? Blaire: What should I say? Antonio: How about, “I don’t have a good command of the lang ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #211 Topics: U.S. government reparations; TV home shopping networks/shows; neither do I versus so do I versus either I; to talk with versus to talk to; to put the cart before the horse (to put the horse before the cart) Words: reparations to make up for (something) descent to disburse heir slave host testimonial interactive voice response impulse buy to regret to flip through the channels neither do I so do I either I to talk with to talk to to put the cart before the horse (to put the horse b ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 520 - Getting Directions and Parking Instructions Slow dialogue: 1:29 Explanations: 3:32 Fast dialogue: 15:09 Receptionist: So the meeting is set for 2:00 on Thursday. Do you know how to get to our offices? Asha: No, I don’t. Could you give me directions? Receptionist: Certainly. We’re located on Main Street. The cross street is Udall. If you’re taking the freeway, the best exit to take is Udall East. Once you’re on Udall, head east for about two miles and when you reach the bend, veer right. If you veer left, you’ ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 519 - Descibing Family Relations Slow dialogue: 1:24 Explanations: 3:28 Fast dialogue: 15:29 Eri: What’s that? James: It’s an invitation to a family reunion. Once every five years or so, someone in the family organizes one. Eri: Are you going? James: I’m not sure. It’s always a little awkward seeing extended family. Did you know that there used to be a big feud between my father and his brother? Eri: No, what happened? James: I’m not sure, but it was something that happened before they got marrie ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #210 Topics: American Cities (Territories): Puerto Rico; People Who Work for Celebrities; cooperation versus collaboration; instance versus instantaneous versus instant; pronouncing won’t and want Words: appointed resident mainland diaspora celebrity in the spotlight to work behind the scenes agent publicist stylist personal assistant entourage cooperation collaboration instance instantaneous instant Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 518 - Learning Self-Defense Slow dialogue: 1:14 Explanations: 3:10 Fast dialogue: 13:55 Teacher: Welcome, everybody, to this self-defense class. Today, you’ll learn how to size up a situation and how to tell the difference between a harmless situation and a threatening one. You’ll also begin to learn some hand-to-hand combat moves to defend yourselves. Amy: Oh, good. I can’t wait to learn some martial arts so I can beat up anyone who tries anything. Teacher: Well, the best thing we can do in a danger ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 517 - Watching Competitive Sports Slow dialogue: 1:25 Explanations: 3:14 Fast dialogue: 14:20 Bruno: Hey, what are you doing? Give me back that remote! Tamara: The movie I want to watch is on right now. Do you mind? Bruno: Of course I mind! I’m watching the playoffs. Can’t you see that? Tamara: The playoffs? Oh, I’ll watch with you. Bruno: You? You don’t know anything about sports. Tamara: It doesn’t matter. I always root for the underdog. Our team will be victorious! Go team! Bruno: F ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #209 Topics: The Golden Age of Hollywood and the studio system; the busing controversy of the 1970s; as well versus also versus too; to take into account; “why” as an interjection Words: cinema silent movie of all time classic studio to have (someone) on salary controversy desegregated predominantly inconvenient white flight suburbs as well to take into account why Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 516 - Naming and Appointing Officials Slow dialogue: 1:25 Explanations: 3:02 Fast dialogue: 15:21 Goran: Who do you think will be appointed to succeed Ramon on the board? Anne: I don’t know whom they’ll pick to fill the position, but I know who the candidates are. The higher ups have been quietly vetting three people to make sure they don’t have any skeletons in their closets. Goran: Really? Who are they? Anne: I’m not at liberty to say, but I think at least two of the candidates are people outside of the ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 515 - Starting a Blog Slow dialogue: 1:25 Explanations: 3:01 Fast dialogue: 13:06 I’ve been thinking about starting a blog for a long time now, and after talking to my friend Traver, a popular blogger, I’ve decided to take the leap. Traver got me started with a basic template, but I wanted to customize the blog to give it my own flavor before launching it. I already have my first few posts ready to go, and I plan to update it a few times a week. Traver told me that it may take a little time for my ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #208 Topics: Beauty pageants and controversies; the National Weather Service; like versus same as; how do you do?; what’s up; have a good one Words: beauty pageant to be judged contestant articulate talent poise crown sash demeaning forecast warning to disseminate like same as How do you do? what’s up? have a good one Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 514 - Describing Old and New Clothes Slow dialogue: 1:33 Explanations: 3:09 Fast dialogue: 14:27 Ellen: What are you wearing to the party? Hiro: Your guess is as good as mine. Ellen: Let’s look through your closet and I’ll help you pick something out. Hiro: Okay, but I have to warn you. I have a pretty limited wardrobe. Ellen: Let’s see, these black pants are nice, but they’re frayed on the bottom. How about these jeans? Hiro: You don’t think they’re too faded? There’s also a rip in the back. E ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 513 - Snooping and Eavesdropping Slow dialogue: 1:31 Explanations: 2:58 Fast dialogue: 12:38 Enrique: I don’t know how you talked me into coming with you to Dan’s apartment to rifle through his papers. This snooping is stupid! If you have suspicions, you should just talk to him. Stella: Confront him without any evidence? That would be the height of stupidity. Enrique: Instead, we’re holed up in this closet until he leaves. I thought you said he wouldn’t be home until 6:00. Stella: That’s what I ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #207 Topics: Ask an American: Nursing; responsible versus accountable; -wise; to double back Words: handmaiden keystone interaction consistently to give care to pull (someone) through to come up to (someone) to proceed to measure to specialize out in acute-care responsible accountable -wise to double back Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 512 - Changing the Subject in Conversation Slow dialogue: 1:25 Explanations: 3:46 Fast dialogue: 15:50 Laura: I think that’s all we need to talk about regarding last month’s report. Let’s turn to this month’s report, shall we? I didn’t get a copy of it. Could someone hand me one? Gaius: By the way, I have just one last comment before we shift our focus to this month’s report. It seems to me that we need more information on how the Duluth office is doing. Could we ask for more info to be included in next mont ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 511 - Getting Plastic Surgery Slow dialogue: 1:24 Explanations: 3:43 Fast dialogue: 15:51 George: What are you doing? Joan: I’m looking through these magazines to try and decide which plastic surgery procedures I should have next year. George: You’re not thinking of going under the knife. Joan: Yes, I am. I’ve always wanted to improve on the way I look, and I’m tired of these wrinkles and sagging skin. I want to look 25 again! George: That’s ridiculous. Nobody who is 45 can look 25. People wh ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #206 Topics: NASA; Famous Americans: Jackie Robinson; conference versus meeting versus session; second to none; narrative versus story Words: outer space to spur on space race advocate to orbit height of (something) league segregated fan racial slur to unify prestigious meeting conference session second to none narrative story Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 510 - Taking a Shower or a Bath Slow dialogue: 1:19 Explanations: 3:12 Fast dialogue: 14:44 I spent the day helping my friend, Babbit, on his farm. When I got home, my wife said, “You stink!” I headed straight for the shower. I ran the water, closed the shower curtain, and adjusted the showerhead. I worked the soap into a lather and scrubbed from head to toe. I rinsed off the soap and toweled off. When I went back into the living room, my wife said, “You still stink! You need to soak in a bath!” I wen ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 509 - Going on a Cruise Slow dialogue: 1:19 Explanations: 2:59 Fast dialogue: 13:07 Connie: I’m so excited! We’re finally taking a cruise. Are you sure this is the embarkation area? Robert: Yes, I’m sure. We go on board right here, see? Come on, let’s find our cabin. Connie: Okay, but I want to go up on deck as soon as possible and look around the entire ship. Do you think they’ll let us go on the bridge and meet the captain? Robert: I don’t think so. You know, I think we’re going th ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #205 Topics: Alcatraz; The Simpsons; using negation with an infinitive; heaven versus heavens; kind of versus sort of versus type of Words: to escape guard jailbreak cover-up cell haunted animated dysfunctional family troublemaker pacifier merchandise lexicon heaven heavens kind of sort of type of Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 508 - Regretting Past Actions Slow dialogue: 1:14Explanations: 2:50Fast dialogue: 12:43Dennis: Oh, why did I let my temper get the best of me? I never should have said those things to the new client!Nora: Don’t freak out. I’m sure you didn’t do any damage that can’t be rectified. It’s true that, in retrospect, you probably shouldn’t have called Nathan, the head of the project, a twerp. Dennis: Don’t remind me of what I said! Hindsight is 20/20. Now they’re going to think we’re running a dog ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 507 - Guarding One's Privacy Slow dialogue: 1:19 Explanations: 3:51 Fast dialogue: 15:33 I went to visit my old friend, Mina, whom I hadn’t seen in several years. It was one of the strangest afternoons of my life! Dan: Hi, Mina, it’s really good to see you. Mina: Dan, come in. Hurry! Dan: Uh, okay. Why do you have four locks on your door, and why are all of the curtains drawn? Mina: I like my privacy. And anyway, I think there’s a peeping Tom around this apartment building and I don’t want him ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #204 Topics: Fraternities and sororities; the foster care and adoption system; scholarship versus grant; commie Words: fraternity sorority rush to pledge initiation ceremony service organization hazing exclusionary to take (someone) in foster care to adopt to get stuck in scholarship grant commie Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 506 - Being Generous and Stingy Slow dialogue: 1:12 Explanations: 2:56 Fast dialogue: 13:32 Britney: I was thinking of hitting up Jane for a little loan. You know her better than I do. What are the chances she’ll spot me a couple hundred dollars until next month? Salvador: I think that’s a pipe dream. I wouldn’t exactly call her a cheapskate, but she’s not known for her generosity. Britney: What about Frank? He’s rolling in it. He could easily part with a couple hundred bucks without giving it a sec ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 505 - Teaching Children About Safety Slow dialogue: 1:05 Explanations: 2:44 Fast dialogue: 13:30 Ms. Sanchez: Okay, kids. I’m Ms. Sanchez, your substitute for this week. I’m taking all of you on the field trip tomorrow. Listen up. There are some ground rules we need to go over. First, each of you will have a partner and you will hold hands while we cross the streets. Student: Ms. Sanchez...? Ms. Sanchez: I’ll take questions later. Let me get through all of my instructions first. Remember, don’t talk t ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #203 Topics: The Red Cross; Casablanca; to estimate versus to evaluate versus to appreciate; to let (someone/something) be; aim versus goal Words: cross crescent humanitarian victim natural disaster blood drive first aid shelter to be set in to be wanted by to admit plot to estimate to evaluate to appreciate to let (someone/something) be aim goal Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 504 - Training Inexperienced Employees Slow dialogue: 1:14 Explanations: 2:42 Fast dialogue: 12:26 Kazuko: I really appreciate you helping with the training of the newbies. I couldn’t have done it without you. Martin: Don’t mention it. I remember when I was still wet behind the ears and the veterans in the company gave me the benefit of their time and expertise. They propped me up until I could stand on my own two feet. Kazuko: I can’t imagine you as a novice. Everybody here thinks of you as the cornerstone of ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 503 - Seeing a Dentist Slow dialogue: 1:20 Explanations: 3:01 Fast dialogue: 14:13 Dr. Chung: Hello, Luis, I’m Dr. Chung. You’re here for a check-up and a cleaning, is that right? Luis: Yes, that’s right. Dr. Chung: Okay, let’s take a look. Have you had your wisdom teeth taken out? Luis: No, I haven’t. Dr. Chung: Hmm…You may need to do that soon. You’ve had a root canal? Luis: Yes, about three years ago. Dr. Chung: Does that hurt? Luis: Ow! Dr. Chung: I guess I hit a ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #202 Topics: Ask an American: civility; sour versus tart; (something) is king; thorough versus comprehensive Words: to get out in front tone of voice on the go slower-paced courtesy detrimental put off by captive audience to take up to give way to analogue sour tart (something) is king thorough comprehensive Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 502 - Storing Luggage on an Airplane Slow dialogue: 1:08 Explanations: 3:05 Fast dialogue: 16:12 Yoshi: Can you hold my jacket while I try to get my roller bag down the aisle? Tatiana: All right, but I have to roll my own bag down the aisle, you know. Yoshi: Fine, give it back to me. All of these overhead bins are full. Where are we supposed to store them? Tatiana: Look, there are two spaces in the back of the plane. You put our big bags in those bins, and I’ll put our carry-ons under the seats in front of us. ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 501 - Buying Glasses Slow dialogue: 1:15 Explanations: 3:25 Fast dialogue: 16:48 Alice: Ooh, look at these! Don’t I look great? I’ve always wanted sunglasses like these. Pierre: You’re supposed to be here helping me pick out frames for my new bifocals. Alice: I don’t know why you won’t get progressives. That’s what everybody is getting these days. Pierre: I’ve always had bifocals and that’s what I’m going to get. Alice: Are you going to get metal, plastic, or rimless frames ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #201 Topics: Famous Americans: Flannery O’Connor; 60 Minutes; well-(something); red and blue states Words: misfit fanatic devout grotesque posthumous on the air prime time investigative journalism to catch (someone) off guard to go too far libel theme music red state blue state Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 500 - Taking Minutes of a Meeting Slow dialogue: 1:23 Explanations: 3:50 Fast dialogue: 15:59 I was absent at last month’s meeting, so imagine my surprise when I found out that I had been elected the committee’s secretary! As part of my duties, I have to take minutes at each meeting. Taking minutes means I have to pay attention and try my best to transcribe what each person says, or at least do my best to summarize. At yesterday’s meeting, the chair called the meeting to order and I conducted a roll call. Then, t ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 499 - Marrying a Gold Digger Slow dialogue: 1:29 Explanations: 3:30 Fast dialogue: 16:48 Liza: Isn’t Jesse wonderful? I’m so glad you got to meet him last night. Sinobu: Uh, he’s a little young for you, don’t you think? I know you’ve had boy toys in the past, but he takes the cake. Liza: He’s no boy toy! It’s true that there’s a 30-year age difference, but who cares about age when you’re talking about love? Sinobu: Well, he’s certainly dressed for the part, with all of that bling. That w ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast Special Edition Fourth Anniversary Video Podcast The World Tour ESL Podcast's Fourth Anniversary Video Podcast: The World Tour! See a complete transcript at ESLPod.com Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #200 Topics: The White House; noises made by animals, humans, and machines; document versus documentation; to have to do with; gawd-awfully (god-awfully) Words: renovation wing head of state press briefing room china set to bark pow bam thud splat clank ding document documentation to have to do with (something) god-awfully (gawd-awfully) Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 498 - Joking and Making Fun of People Slow dialogue: 1:15 Explanations: 2:48 Fast dialogue: 13:49 Dmitry: Stan is really miffed at you. All of that teasing at lunch really upset him. Charlene: What? I was just poking fun at him for trying to hit on the new, young receptionist. Dmitry: You called him an old goat. Charlene: I said that tongue in cheek. If he didn’t find that funny, then he can’t take a joke. Dmitry: What about last week when you told that joke about fat people trying to dance and you made him ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 497 - Shopping for Bedding Slow dialogue: 1:27 Explanations: 3:03 Fast dialogue: 15:33 Xavier: Thanks for helping me decorate my new apartment. Hey, where are you going? Crystal: I’m going to the bedding department. Now that you have a new bed, you’ll need new bedding. Xavier: Right, okay, but can’t I just get some sheets, a couple of pillows, and a blanket? Crystal: That’s only the beginning. Oh, feel these sheets. No wonder they’re so soft. They have a very high thread count. Xavier: Thr ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #199 Topics: The Rocky Horror Picture Show; civil disobedience; night versus evening; starring; force versus enforce versus reinforce Words: musical parody cult film costume squirt gun fraudulent demonstration march crack nonviolent repression civil disobedience evening night starring to force to enforce to reinforce Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 496 - Driving a Company Car Slow dialogue: 1:11 Explanations: 3:12 Fast dialogue: 15:26 Michael: Shall we? Robin: Oh, this is nice. Did you get a new car? Michael: No, this is a company car. Getting to drive one is one of the perks of my new job. Robin: Does your new position call for a lot of driving? Michael: It does. As the regional supervisor, I have to cover a large territory. I’ll be visiting all of the affiliates across the state. Robin: Does that mean you can drive the company car anytime, an ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 495 - Describing Winds and Storms Slow dialogue: 1:27 Explanations: 3:11 Fast dialogue: 13:37 Ali: It’s just our luck that as soon as we arrive here for our island vacation, there’s a hurricane warning! Mariela: It’s uncanny, isn’t it? On last year’s vacation, we crossed paths with a tornado and now this. Ali: Yeah, that tornado was something. I had experienced windstorms before with really strong gusts of wind, but it was nothing like that tornado. Do you remember the way all of the windows, doors, and ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #198 Topics: The Secret Service; tween culture; on versus upon; exclamations “My God” and “Jesus Christ”; evidence versus proof Words: currency to counterfeit agent to shield assassination bravery to lay (one's) life on the line tween buying power controversial distinct clothing line upon “My God” “Jesus Christ” evidence proof Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 494 - Types of Story Endings Slow dialogue: 1:40 Explanations: 3:46 Fast dialogue: 15:07 Hamid: I just finished a really good book. I thought the characters were headed toward a tragic ending, but there was a twist near the end, and everything turned out well. It was so satisfying! Rachel: It sounds sappy to me. Hamid: It wasn’t sappy at all. It was just a happy ending. I know what you like. You like those disaster movies with catastrophic endings where everyone dies. Rachel: At least that would be more ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 493- Ordering at a Sandwich Shop Slow dialogue: 1:20 Explanations: 3:51 Fast dialogue: 15:55 Employee: Welcome to Grubway. What can I get for you? Jared: I’m still deciding. I’m trying to lose weight and I hear that eating a sandwich for lunch every day will help me do that. Do you guys have a BLT or a club? Employee: We don’t have a BLT, but we do have a ham or turkey club. Jared: Okay, I’ll take the club. Employee: Ham or turkey? Jared: Can I get half and half, or better yet, can I get double ham a ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #197 Topics: Ask an American: segregation; paradise lost; to go off; trip versus journey versus voyage versus travel Words: to come in standard to acclimate captain representation apparent to work against to evolve to defy paradise lost to go off trip journey voyage to travel Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 492 - Importing and Exporting Goods Slow dialogue: 1:23 Explanations: 3:37 Fast dialogue: 14:58 Giselle: Good morning, Brian. This is Giselle calling from Intergroup in Kansas City. Brian: Hi, Giselle. How are you? Giselle: I’m great, thanks. Listen, the reason I’m calling is that I wanted to touch base with you about the new proposed regulations. Have you had a chance to review them? Brian: We’ve only had time to give them a cursory look, but I think we have a grasp on what the changes will be. I don’t t ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 491 - Having a Temper Tantrum Slow dialogue: 1:20 Explanations: 3:22 Fast dialogue: 14:03 Alberto: What was that ear-splitting scream?! Melissa: That little girl over there is having a temper tantrum. Alberto: Oh, great! The movie hasn’t even started and that kid is already acting up. Melissa: I hope she’s okay. She looks miserable. Maybe her parents can distract her somehow. Alberto: She’s fine. She’s just looking for attention or frustrated she didn’t get what she wanted. If parents didn� ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #196 Topics: American Cities: Indianapolis; Malcolm Gladwell and his books; to brush up on versus to polish up; to come off; a matter of Words: to observe spectacle to count (something) as (something) racetrack lap canal second only to based in implication fake outlier influential to brush up on to polish up to come off a matter of Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 490 - Eating Spoiled Food Slow dialogue: 1:19 Explanations: 3:55 Fast dialogue: 15:25 Ryan: It’s really nice of you to make dinner for me. It’s been a long time since I’ve had a home-cooked meal. Corrie: I’m happy to do it. First, though, let’s see what you have in your fridge. Ryan: I have tons of food in there. Corrie: What is that? It looks moldy. Ryan: Oh, that’s cheese. I’m sure it’s still good, if we just cut off the moldy parts. Corrie: Okay, but look at the “best if us ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 489 - Talking About Wealth Slow dialogue: 1:17 Explanations: 3:07 Fast dialogue: 14:01 Anton: Look at that guy. He’s been in town two weeks and he’s already throwing his money around. Vanessa: You know as well as I do that money talks. He’s just trying to make a splash in the business community. Anton: If that were all he was doing then I wouldn’t say anything, but he’s a social climber of the worst kind. Who does he think he is? Vanessa: He’s someone who’s used to getting his way, that’s ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #195 Topics: Famous Americans: Orville and Wilbur Wright; Rock and Roll Hall of Fame; each day versus every day versus everyday; split infinitives; to spare (someone) (something) Words: to credited (someone) with (something) to spark aviation glider kite hall of fame to induct controversial criticism big-name exhibit to reflect each day every day everyday to spare (someone) (something) Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 488 - Getting Around Regulations Slow dialogue: 1:11 Explanations: 3:05 Fast dialogue: 15:49 Michael: I have some qualms about how we’re handling these accounts. Leona: What do you mean? Michael: There are strict regulations governing what we can and cannot do, and I think we’re violating those regulations. Leona: Listen, it’s a matter of interpretation. We’re not flouting any regulations. We’re just not following the letter of the law. Michael: I, for one, think that we’ve crossed the line. I� ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 487 - Watching Videos on the Internet Slow dialogue: 1:08 Explanations: 2:55 Fast dialogue: 15:15 Sheila: Where are you going? Rudy: I’m going to the video store to rent a movie for tonight. Do you want to come? Sheila: You don’t need to do that. We can watch nearly any movie you want online. Rudy: Oh, you mean we can pay to download it? Sheila: Yeah, we can download it, but we don’t have to pay for it. Rudy: What do you mean? You’re not using a file-sharing site, are you? Sheila: Of course, I am. Ev ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #194 Topics: Author/artist royalties & ASCAP; house swapping; hop in versus pop in versus drop in; compound nouns Words: royalties intellectual property copyright cause estate to enforce to swap stranger to match up arrangement housing market desperate to hop in to pop in to drop in Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 486 - Having Limited Mobility Slow dialogue: 1:28 Explanations: 3:07 Fast dialogue: 14:41 Gail: Oh! Mike: Are you okay? Gail: Yeah, I’m just not used to these crutches yet. The doctor said I should start using them if I ever want to get out of this wheelchair, but I don’t have the strength to stand up. Mike: You’ll get the hang of it. Don’t lose heart. Gail: It should be easy now that my arm is out of the cast, but it just seems impossible. I feel I’m going to lose my balance each time I try to st ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 485 - Being Clumsy Slow dialogue: 1:28 Explanations: 3:10 Fast dialogue: 12:23 Edward: Would you dance with me? Bella: Me? I’d like to, but I don’t dance. Edward: Why? Bella: I have two left feet. I’m so clumsy, first I’d step all over your feet, and then I’d stumble all over the dance floor. Edward: I don’t believe that. I bet you’re very graceful on the dance floor. You wouldn’t stumble; you’d glide across that floor. Bella: I’m the most uncoordinated person alive. When ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #193 Topics: Classic comic strips with a political/social commentary bent; child protection laws; uncalled for; state versus status; as though Words: comic strip bent commentary wry editorial pages registry sex-offender parental consent abused neglected suspicion uncalled for status state as though Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 484 - Getting a Performance Evaluation Slow dialogue: 1:13 Explanations: 3:27 Fast dialogue: 14:21 Emil: Have a seat. As you know, we need to talk about your annual performance evaluation. Is there anything you’d like to say before we get started? Sandra: Yes, there is. I’ve tried really hard this year to improve on some of the shortcomings identified in my evaluation last year. Emil: Hmm, I’m afraid that’s not reflected in this year’s evaluation. Your supervisor noted on the report that you’ve been perfo ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 483 – Using Hair Products and Accessories Slow dialogue: 1:29 Explanations: 2:55 Fast dialogue: 14:58 Danny: You’re going to the prom. How exciting! How should we style you hair? Clarissa: I’m really not sure. I was hoping you would have some ideas. Danny: I do, but first we need to see if we have the right tools. Let’s look in your bathroom. Here’s some shampoo and conditioner, but where are the gel, mousse, and hairspray? Clarissa: Here, they’re on this shelf. Here’s a hairdryer and some rollers, too. ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #192 Topics: Ask an American: private gun ownership; north of; compulsory versus mandatory versus obligatory; mayday Words: semiautomatic round to ban outlawed to arm social issue law-abiding hunting high heels part of the equation north of compulsory mandatory obligatory mayday Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 482 – Talking About Architecture Slow dialogue: 1:27 Explanations: 3:27 Fast dialogue: 16:09 Iktinos: I can’t believe we’re in one of the world’s most famous structures. Look at this architecture! Pinda: Yeah, great, another old building. I’m going to sit in that bay window and rest my feet while you walk around. Iktinos: Come on, come with me. Just look at these columns and beams. They’re over 2,000 years old! Pinda: Right, they’re old. Everything we’ve seen these past two weeks has been old. W ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 481 – Listening to Music Slow dialogue: 1:22 Explanations: 3:02 Fast dialogue: 13:29 Victoria: I see that you have a really extensive music collection. J.D.: Yeah, I like a lot of different genres of music. Victoria: Do you have the new J.McQ album? He’s my favorite artist. I just got it and I like all of the tracks on it. J.D.: No, I haven’t heard it yet. Do you have it on your MP3 player? Victoria: Yeah, here, I’ve cued up the first track. J.D.: Hmm…I like the beat of the first song, ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #191 Topics: American Cities: Dallas; conservative Christian/fundamentalist universities; to wear (someone) out; shrink; already Words: convention center trade show barbeque Bible Belt evangelicalism vocal fundamentalist conservative Christian right strict code of conduct dress code to wear (someone) out shrink already Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 480 – Riding in a Carpool Slow dialogue: 0:57 Explanations: 2:47 Fast dialogue: 15:02 Roberto: Hey, Loreto. Got a minute? Loreto: I’m going to a meeting off-site, but we can talk if you don’t mind walking me to my car. Roberto: Sure, okay. I just wanted to ask if you’re interested in carpooling to work. We only live a few blocks from each other. Loreto: Thanks for asking, but I’m not sure carpooling would work for me. Sometimes I run late in the morning and I wouldn’t want to hold you up. R ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 479 – Using Frequent Flyer Miles Slow dialogue: 1:32 Explanations: 4:08 Fast dialogue: 17:59 Anne: Where were you this past weekend? I tried calling you on Friday to see if you wanted to go to the movies with me. Jurgen: I was in Chicago for a long weekend. Anne: Chicago? I didn’t know you were planning a trip. I thought you were pretty strapped this month. A ticket to Chicago would set you back at least $300. Jurgen: I am pretty strapped, but I wanted to go to my friend Rachel’s wedding. I was able to use ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #190 Topics: The U.S. Supreme Court; microloans/microcredit; less than (X) days versus up to (X) days; mainstream account; words ending in –ic versus –ical Words: to appeal Supreme Court Supreme Court Justices to take (one’s) place to appoint to bork credit borrower collateral to pioneer entrepreneur to alleviate less than 30 days up to 30 days mainstream account Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 478 – Having Plumbing Problems Slow dialogue: 1:06 Explanations: 3:16 Fast dialogue: 14:57 Mickey: Hello, McQuillan Plumbing. Colleen: Hi, I’m having a lot of plumbing problems. Can you send a plumber out to my house right away? Mickey: Yes, we can. But first, let’s find out what the problems are. Colleen: Well, to start, my toilet won’t flush and it’s overflowing. Mickey: An overflowing toilet – check. What else? Colleen: The sink in the bathroom is stopped up and the pipes underneath the sink a ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 477– Planning a Gourmet Meal Slow dialogue: 1:16 Explanations: 3:29 Fast dialogue: 14:00 Hung: I can’t believe that the famous food critic, Julia Schilds, will be eating in my restaurant tomorrow night. I need to prepare a gourmet menu that’s going to be mind-blowing. Padma: She wouldn’t be coming here if she didn’t already know that your cuisine is considered some of the best food in the city. Hung: That may be so, but you’re only as good as your last meal. I need to think of some delicacies that ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #189 Topics: Famous Americans: Helen Keller; The Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Racing; opposable thumbs; due to versus because of; the prefix “Mc” Words: deaf blind sign language palm Braille magna cum laude companion advocate thoroughbred rare derby to sponsor opposable thumb due to because of Mc Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 476 – Taking Chances in Business Slow dialogue: 1:10 Explanations: 2:46 Fast dialogue: 14:48 I’ve always been a pretty cautious investor. I like my investments to be conservative and I usually invest only in sure things. Recently, though, I’ve been tempted to take more risk. My friend, Bernie, is a very successful fund manager and he is willing to let me get in on one of his schemes. According to Bernie, he has a way to take advantage of the current economic climate so that he and his investors aren’t susceptib ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 475 – Hiring a Hitman Slow dialogue: 1:10 Explanations: 3:00 Fast dialogue: 15:16 Gus: Are you Shirley? Shirley: Yeah, thanks for agreeing to meet me here. I’m told you’re the best sniper in the business and you can be discreet. I need a hitman who can do a job, then make himself scarce. Gus: I’m your man. Tell me about it. Shirley: There’s someone who’s been a thorn in my side, keeping me up at night, and it’s time to take him out. Gus: Taking care of problems is my specialty. I’ll ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #188 Topics: Regulating monopolies and antitrust laws; American songs: Happy Birthday; whilst versus while; to blow away (something); using “do” for emphasis Words: monopoly competitor antitrust law sanctioned to break up to appeal lyrics kindergarten to catch on copyrighted royalties commonplace while whilst to blow away Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 474 - Having Trouble Sleeping Slow dialogue: 1:30 Explanations: 3:14 Fast dialogue: 13:57 Luis: So, how are the newlyweds doing? Stevie: Oh, we’re great. I’m just a little tired. Luis: Well, that goes with the territory, right? Stevie: No, that’s not what I mean. Patrick has been keeping me up with his snoring. Luis: Oh, that’s a bummer. Stevie: Yeah, it really is. I’m usually awakened soon after I fall asleep, and then I toss and turn all night. That’s not all. Patrick also talks in ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 473 - Showing Respect and Disrespect Slow dialogue: 1:24 Explanations: 3:07 Fast dialogue: 12:41 Kadir: Stop that! Stop snickering! Gabriel Voltaire is an author of great acclaim. You should show a little reverence. Melissa: Yes, but he seems to have a bad case of stage fright. I know it’s an honor to hear him speak, but it’s hard to show reverence when the man is sweating like a pig! Kadir: He’s not sweating like a pig. He’s just talking passionately about his writing. I, for one, appreciate his level o ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #187 Topics: Ask an American: student exchange programs; begs the question; face value; at the time versus then Words: to test (one's) limits TV production wrestling choir to come down here to host (someone) famine drought to take (one’s) place unity begs the question face value at the time then Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 472– Feeling Nervous About Public Speaking Slow dialogue: 1:26 Explanations: 2:53 Fast dialogue: 11:49 Simone: They’re about to introduce you. You’re on next. Are you ready? Gabriel: No...yes...no! Simone: You don’t look so well. Are you all right? Gabriel: I don’t know. My palms are clammy, I’m breaking out into a cold sweat, and my legs feel like jelly. Simone: It sounds like a bad case of stage fright, that’s all. Just take a deep breath. You’ll be fine. Gabriel: I have butterflies in my stom ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 471 – Trying to Get Off the Phone Slow dialogue: 1:23 Explanations: 3:26 Fast dialogue: 14:37 Erin: So I told Joey that I had no intention of letting him use my car again. Can you believe the nerve of that guy, after what he did? Curran: That’s terrible, but I’m going to have to let you go. I have an appointment... Erin: But I didn’t tell you what else he said. He said that running over my cat was just an accident. That’s bull. He said I should be thankful that he took Fifi to a veterinarian! Curran: ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #186 Topics: American Cities: San Diego; tabloid press and U.S. libel/slander laws; under (someone’s) thumb; precision versus accuracy; coming to you from Words: moderate climate urban renewal defense pharmaceutical press tabloids headlines shocking slander libel to sue to go over the line under (someone’s) thumb precision accuracy coming to you from Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 470 – Avoiding Show and Movie Spoilers Slow dialogue: 1:27 Explanations: 2:57 Fast dialogue: 13:41 Lee: I’m reading this article about the new season of our favorite show. It’s premiering next week. Kira: Don’t tell me anything about it, especially spoilers. Lee: But don't you want to know which guest stars will be making appearances and the plot twists that are coming up? Kira: No, I don’t! I don’t watch movie trailers and I don’t read reviews. It spoils the fun when you already know what’s going to h ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 469 – Rearranging Living Room Furniture Slow dialogue: 1:42 Explanations: 3:35 Fast dialogue: 14:35 Amy: I think rearranging the furniture will make the living room look more spacious. Don’t you? Jacob: Uh, sure. Amy: Can you help me move this couch against this wall? Jacob: Okay, but are you sure you want it over there? Because it’s really heavy and a pain to move. Amy: I’m sure. Let’s move the loveseat across from it. Now, can you move the recliner into the corner? Jacob: Uh! Here? Amy: Umm... ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #185 Topics: Taxes Americans pay; wedding/baby showers and gift registries; leverage, to dig, to guess versus to think versus to believe Words: property tax appraised value due utility sales tax income tax to throw (someone) a party wedding/bridal shower baby shower gift registry scanner bar code leverage to dig to guess to think to believe Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 468 – Organizing Your Office Slow dialogue: 1:17 Explanations: 3:36 Fast dialogue: 14:10 I have a very disorganized office. My co-workers have been making jokes about my office for a long time, and my boss finally cracked down on me. He told me: “Get the office organized by Friday – no excuses!” What choice did I have? I’ve always been a pack rat. I hate to throw anything out, but I was determined to turn over a new leaf. It’s true I’ve worked in the same office for four years and have accumulated ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 467 – Buying Men’s Shirts Slow dialogue: 1:20 Explanations: 3:18 Fast dialogue: 13:04 Francesca: Hurry up! Come out of that fitting room so I can see how the dress shirt fits. Eddie: The first one didn’t fit at all. The sleeves were too short and it was too form fitting. I like my shirts to be on the roomy side. I’m trying on the second one. Francesca: Come on, let me see. Okay, I think this one fits you pretty well. The collar is the right size, not too loose or tight. The cuffs on this one fall ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #184 Topics: Native American casinos; YouTube; impact versus influence, created in/on/by; so far versus to date Words: to gamble casino autonomy reservation income heritage to upload excerpt to be copyrighted to sue offensive content to flag impact influence created by created in created on so far to date Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 466 – Having a Good or Bad Bedside Manner Slow dialogue: 1:30 Explanations: 3:12 Fast dialogue: 14:35 Cho: I’m not sure I’m cut out to be a doctor. Joy: I think you’ll be great. I’ve seen you with patients and you have a great bedside manner – not like Gregory. Cho: Why? What’s wrong with his bedside manner? Joy: I’ve seen him with patients and he can be really callous. For instance, I was in the room last week when he was telling one of his patients that she was taking a turn for the worse. Cho: What ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 465 – Describing Boring and Exciting Things Slow dialogue: 1:15 Explanations: 2:58 Fast dialogue: 12:32 Ina: It was a great idea to split up to go see different movies. I really liked The McQuillanator! Paco: I’m glad to hear it. You made a better choice than I did. The biopic I saw was mind-numbing. I was bored to death! Ina: Really? My movie was great. It was action-packed and fast-paced. I was on the edge of my seat from beginning to end. Paco: I wish I had been. My movie moved at a snail’s pace and what was su ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #183 Topics: Famous Americans: Langston Hughes; childcare options in the U.S.; to totally own(ed) (someone); bad news Words: collectively to be offended ancient soul homemaker dual-income childcare mobile nanny daycare stimulation babysitter totally to own (someone) to owned (someone) bad news Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 464– Talking About Inventory Slow dialogue: 1:27 Explanations: 3:45 Fast dialogue: 15:50 Foreman: Okay, people. Listen up. This is your first day on the job in this warehouse and you need to know what we do here. This warehouse keeps all of the stock for the 10 stores in this region. We get merchandise from the supplier and it’s our job to organize it and store it until it goes to the retail outlets. One of the reasons our stores can offer such low prices is that they operate on the principles of economies ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 463– Washing the Car Slow dialogue: 1:17 Explanations: 3:15 Fast dialogue: 13:44 I was driving down the road when I saw a group of teenagers holding up signs for a fundraising car wash for their school. My car was very dirty, so I pulled over and paid for a car wash and a wax. I think that the students had more enthusiasm than car washing skills. Yes, they had hoses, buckets filled with soapy water, and sponges, but they seemed more interested in getting each other wet than in getting the dirt off the car. ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #182 Topics: Ask an American: corruption in U.S. politics; have to versus must; what about versus how about; worthy versus necessary Words: public service wheeling and dealing to trade campaign contribution in exchange bribe extortion conflict of interest to pursue public interest to shape to distort have to must what about how about worthy necessary Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 462 – Having Doubts About Getting Married Slow dialogue: 1:27 Explanations: 3:15 Fast dialogue: 3:14 Charlotte: What are you doing in here? The entire wedding party is looking for you. Chris: Yeah, I know. Charlotte: Well, what’s the matter? You’re not getting cold feet, are you? Chris: That’s just it. I’m really having doubts about getting married. What am I doing here? I think I’m about to make the biggest mistake of my life! Charlotte: Whoa, slow down. You’re just a little freaked out right now. Th ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 461 – Using a Guidebook Slow dialogue: 1:17 Explanations: 3:19 Fast dialogue: 13:48 Nicki: Wow, did you buy out the bookstore?! Tony: Very funny. I just got a few guidebooks for our trip to Vancouver. I want to study up on what the must-see sights are, and then decide whether we can do some self-guided tours or need to book guided tours. Nicki: That’s very conscientious of you. The trip isn’t for three months. Tony: I know, but I want to start sketching out an itinerary now. I’m going to st ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #181 Topics: American Cities (Territories): American Samoa; how to become a pilot in the U.S.; objective versus subjective, to be flanked by, power versus empowerment; to delegate versus to defer Words: territory southern hemisphere indigenous to occupy remote cannery solo maneuvers endorsement flying hours commercial pilot military objective subjective to be flanked by power empowerment to delegate to defer Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 460 – Working in a Bad Economy Slow dialogue: 1:10 Explanations: 2:48 Fast dialogue: 13:35 Shivon: This bad economy is really taking its toll. Lex: Tell me about it! My company has already laid off 20% of its workforce, and now the management is talking about cutting salaries. It goes without saying that there won’t be any bonuses this year. Shivon: What are you complaining about? At least you still have a job. Try working as a freelancer. I’ve had to cut my hourly rate to compete with all of the people f ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 459 – Watching Political Commentary Shows Slow dialogue: 1:41 Explanations: 3:30 Fast dialogue: 12:44 Laura: I really don’t like these political commentary shows. They purportedly present both sides of an issue, but the commentator is always biased. Joon: Oh, I don’t think so. Each show invites pundits on each side of the political spectrum. In this show, for instance, the pundits each take turns presenting their arguments. Laura: You mean they each present the party line, right? I find it so predictable what each ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #180 Topics: Medical/dental tourism; warehouse club stores; yell versus shout; to be depended on; to last; kind versus kindly Words: health insurance to give rise to to be treated regulated inferior warehouse to pass the savings on to afford to carry in bulk unit price pantry to to yell to be depended on to last kind kindly Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 458 – Going to the Playground Slow dialogue: 1:24 Explanations: 3:40 Fast dialogue: 17:57 My wife was out of town on business and our nanny was sick, so I took the day off from work to take care of our two kids: Livia, who is two, and Augustus, who is three and a half. I thought that going to the playground would be a good thing to do, but it turned out to be an accident waiting to happen. When we got to the playground, the kids jumped out of the car. Livia got onto the merry-go-round, pushing it as hard as she coul ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 457– Apologizing for a Bad Date Slow dialogue: 1:20 Explanations: 4:44 Fast dialogue: 17:21 I really blew it last night. I finally asked my neighbor, Fatima, out on a date and she walked out on me in the middle of it. I didn’t blame her. I wanted to make a good impression on her, but I felt I was floundering a half an hour into the date. I decided to liven things up a bit with a few drinks. I got carried away and got stinking drunk. What an idiot! I had to call her to apologize. Fatima: Hello. Rob: Uh, h ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #179 Topics: Anti-miscegenation laws; Silicon Valley and the Research Triangle; freeway, highway, and expressway; to sport; dosey doe Words: miscegenation to frown upon interracial marriage slavery to abolish to repeal high-tech headquarters venture capitalist triangle to recruit affordable housing to advance (one’s) career freeway / highway / expressway to sport dosey doe Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 456– Sending Business Packages Slow dialogue: 1:29 Explanations: 3:46 Fast dialogue: 14:16 Maria: I need this package to arrive in Tulsa by next Wednesday. Sam: Sure, I’ll send it UPS or FedEx using their ground service. It’ll be cheaper than sending it using their overnight service and we can still track it. Is it going to a business? Maria: Yes, it is. Sam: Okay, I’ll mark that it’s going to a commercial address. Maria: That’s fine. I’ll also need these contracts to get to Tokyo by Friday ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 455 - Ending a Bad Date Slow dialogue: 1:18 Explanations: 3:40 Fast dialogue: 16:09 I was on a date from hell. I agreed to go out with this guy who lives in the same apartment building as I do, but he’s turned out to be a real creep. He was nice enough at the start of the date, but then he started drinking. Now he’s drunk and I’m miserable. I wanted to let him down gently since I’d be seeing him around the apartment building, but I didn’t want to spend another minute with him. Fatima: Listen, ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #178 Topics: Famous Americans: Sacagawea; NASCAR racing; to take its toll (on someone); you are/is; whatever versus whatsoever Words: to leave your mark on (something) expedition uncharted territory trapper to negotiate racetrack ratings to sanction series prize money trophy collision to take its toll (on someone) whatever whatsoever Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 454– Hailing and Taking a Taxi Slow dialogue: 1:32 Explanations: 4:06 Fast dialogue: 16:49 My company sent me on my first business trip, and I was supposed to travel around the city in taxis. Having never ridden in a taxi before, I had problems from start to finish. First, I had trouble hailing a cab. I didn’t realize that when the taxi’s light is off that the cabbie is off duty. No wonder they took no notice of me. Then, a cab did pull over and I told him where I wanted to go. He said, though, that he wo ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 453 - Making an Emergency Medical Call Slow dialogue: 1:29 Explanations: 3:09 Fast dialogue: 14:12 Operator: Emergency operator. State your emergency. Dirk: We need an ambulance right away. Operator: What is your name? Dirk: Dirk, Dirk Omora. Operator: Can you tell me what happened? Dirk: There was a car accident. Operator: Where are you? Dirk: I’m not sure. I was driving in my car when I saw the pileup. I’m somewhere on Blossom Road. Can you trace my location? Operator: Yes, we’ll try to do that. C ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #177 Topics: Ask an American: living in a tiny home; volume versus issue versus version Words: first and foremost to free up housework to come in to speak to (something) to wonder excess to shift to downsize china thought process global warming fluorescent rethinking volume issue version Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 452 – Dealing with Unhappy Employees Slow dialogue: 1:20 Explanations: 3:25 Fast dialogue: 13:48 Asa: I don’t know how we got stuck with reviewing employee complaints. This has got to be the worst job ever. Samantha: This is important work, and somebody has to do it. Come on, let’s get started. Asa: I think it’s bad for morale to allow employees to file complaints. We’re all overworked and underpaid, and most of us are burned out. Samantha: How else are disgruntled employees going to voice their grievanc ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 451 – Buying Car Insurance Slow dialogue: 1:25 Explanations: 4:04 Fast dialogue: 16:26 Agent: Hello, Krashit Insurance. Jackie: Hi, I wanted to get a quote for car insurance. Agent: Sure, I can help you with that. I assume you want liability insurance, but what other coverage would you like to get? Jackie: Umm…I’m not sure. This is my first car. Agent: In that case, let me make a few suggestions. You’ll definitely want collision insurance. It pays to fix your car if you hit another car or run ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #176 Topics: The Innocence Project; Craigslist; percent versus percentage; the “in” crowd/place; to swear in Words: innocence criminal convicted to exonerate DNA testing evidence classified ad personals carpool resource to swear by “in” to swear in Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 450 – Getting a Bad Reputation Slow dialogue: 1:19 Explanations: 3:20 Fast dialogue: 13:27 Lance: Did you see Kim at the party last Saturday? Paulina: Yeah, I saw her. Why? Lance: She was wearing a skimpy dress and all of the men were leering at her all night. I used to think she was a nice girl. Isn’t she worried that she’ll get a reputation? Paulina: A reputation for what? Lance: For being…you know. Paulina: No, I don’t know. Lance: For being easy! It doesn’t take much for people to jum ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 449 – Using an Instruction Manual Slow dialogue: 1:23 Explanations: 2:57 Fast dialogue: 14:21 Aretha: Oh, here’s the instruction manual. I’ll read you the section on “getting started.” Carl: No, you don’t need to do that. I know how to do the installation. Aretha: But don’t you want to hear about the different functions and specifications? Carl: There’ll be time for that after everything is hooked up and we program the machine. Aretha: Okay, but the manual says that you shouldn’t plug in the ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #175 Topics: Appalachia; family arrangements in the U.S.; pain, ache, and sore; diehard; fruitcake Words: folk music coal mine isolated poverty hillbilly family arrangement nuclear family extended family generation empty-nester DINK label pain ache sore diehard (or die-hard) fruitcake Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 448 – Making Business Contacts Slow dialogue: 1:38 Explanations: 4:13 Fast dialogue: 16:34 Phan: Hi, Montel. Thanks for agreeing to meet with me. Montel: It’s my pleasure. Phan: Since I’m new here, I was hoping you might be willing to give me some pointers on how to get new clients. To be honest, I’ve never been on this side of the fence before and I’m a little out of my comfort zone. Montel: Oh, sure, I’m glad to give you as much help as I can. Getting clients is a bit of an art, but the key ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 447 – Heating and Cooling a Home Slow dialogue: 1:22 Explanations: 3:08 Fast dialogue: 13:20 Carla: It’s freezing in here! Why is the air conditioner on? Trent: I just finished exercising and I’m sweating like a pig. Carla: That’s no reason to turn the A/C on full blast! I’m cold. I’m turning on the heat for a little while. Trent: Are you crazy? It’s 70 degrees outside! Carla: I’m no crazier than you are. How come you can turn on the A/C and I can’t turn on the heat? Trent: I only ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #174 Topics: The song Amazing Grace; specialty cable/satellite channels; to slay, to kill, to murder, to slaughter; I love it versus I’m loving it; dollar versus buck Words: amazing grace sin verse wretch channel cable satellite specialty cartoon package to slay to kill to murder to slaughter I love it I’m loving it buck Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 446 – Going to a Home Improvement Store Slow dialogue: 1:27 Explanations: 3:27 Fast dialogue: 14:08 Paige: I think we can get everything we need to fix up the house in one trip. What do you think? Vern: We can try. It seems like everybody had the same thought when they woke up this morning: Go to the home improvement store! Paige: Yeah, it’s a little crowded, but I still think we can get all we need today. Vern: To do that, I think we need to split up. Let’s look at our list and divvy it up. Paige: Okay, w ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 445– Problems with Drugs and Medical Devices Slow dialogue: 1:31 Explanations: 4:03 Fast dialogue: 14:37 Suzanne: Don’t take that! I’m reading an article in the newspaper about all of the drugs and medical devices that have been recalled in the past year and you wouldn’t believe how long this list is. Abdul: I’m just taking something for my headache. I’m sure this medicine is fine. Suzanne: Don’t be so sure. I’m just reading about this drug that was contaminated and before it was recalled, it caused 13 deaths. ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #173 Topics: Famous Americans: Barack Obama; presidential inaugurations; common versus ordinary versus normal; darling and dear; full-fledged Words: president-elect prestigious achievement remarkable race relations public speaker campaign optimistic inauguration oath address parade common ordinary normal darling dear full-fledged Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 444 – Planning for Retirement Slow dialogue: 1:12 Explanations: 3:11 Fast dialogue: 15:30 Paulina: Did you get your Social Security statement? I just got mine in the mail. If I keep working at this rate for the next 20 years, between Social Security and my savings, I should be sitting pretty for retirement. Carlos: Yeah, I should be okay when I retire, too. I’ve been contributing to a 401(k) through my work for years, and my company gives a matching contribution. Paulina: Really? I never bothered with a 4 ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 443– Having a Slumber Party Slow dialogue: 1:17 Explanations: 3:19 Fast dialogue: 15:35 Russ: Mom says you’re having a slumber party next Saturday. Irene: I’m just having a few friends over for a sleepover and it’s none of your business. Russ: Don’t be like that. How many people did you invite? Irene: I’m not telling you anything. I know what you’re thinking. You want to pull pranks on us. Russ: No, I don’t. I just want to know how many giggling girls in sleeping bags I’ll have to step ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Special Announcement: Introduction to the United States Course Now Available ESLPod.com and the Center for Educational Development present to you, Introduction to the United States, a 100 episode course that will teach you about life in the United States, including its government and history. This course is based upon the 100 questions used by the U.S. government in its citizenship examination, and includes basic information about the U.S. and its people. Each episode of the course begins with a basic question about the U.S., followed by a short answer, and the ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #172 Topics: Ask an American: forecasting the future; offhand; off the top of one’s head; out with the old, in with the new; using “more” versus “-er” to form the comparative Words: desalination shortage nanotechnology to associate (something) with (something) water-stressed to thrive ideally leisure ironic perceived roughly bright spot informed to fit with (something) offhand off the top of one’s head out with the old, in with the new Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 442 – Flying on Low-Cost Airlines Slow dialogue: 1:26 Explanations: 3:17 Fast dialogue: 14:51 Sue: I just made airline reservations for our trip. Do you want to look over the itinerary before I purchase the tickets? Alex: Which airline is it? Sue: It’s McTse Air. Alex: Oh, no, I don’t want to fly on that low-cost airline! We don’t get assigned seats and all of the passengers rush the gate when boarding begins. I hate that! Sue: Not having assigned seats is a small price to pay for low fares. The service ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 441 – Preparing Food for Cooking Slow dialogue: 1:15 Explanations: 3:05 Fast dialogue: 16:02 Marissa: How can I help? Juan Carlos: Um...why don’t you iron the tablecloth and set the table? Marissa: I already did that. I want to help with the cooking. Juan Carlos: Okay, you can scrub these potatoes, peel the carrots, and rinse these grapes. Marissa: All right, I’ll do that, but I think you’re just giving me the scut work. I want to do some real cooking. Juan Carlos: Well okay, I guess you could cut ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #171 Topics: America's Most Wanted; buying a first home; similar to but distinct from; on the side; a fair extent Words: wanted criminals to reenact tip resources grants down payment mortgage tax credits to shop around for real estate agent to make an offer similar distinct on the side a fair extent Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 440– Being a Self-Made Man/Woman Slow dialogue: 1:25 Explanations: 3:30 Fast dialogue: 15:43 Edgar: What a crock! Ann: What is it? Edgar: I’m reading an article about successful business people who were self-made men and women. I don’t believe a word of it. Ann: What don’t you believe? Edgar: These people didn’t pull themselves up by their bootstraps. They were all born with silver spoons in their mouths. Ann: Not all successful people were born into money and privilege. Edgar: That’s true, ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 439 – Talking about Censorship Slow dialogue: 1:37 Explanations: 3:53 Fast dialogue: 14:00 The school that my daughter attends is trying to decide whether or not to ban certain books, which some parents think are inappropriate. The school called a parents meeting to talk over the issue. At the meeting, one woman said: “The books on this list are obscene! I don’t want my children reading that filth!” Another parent responded: “That’s absurd! Haven’t you ever heard of free speech? Banning books violat ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #170 Topics: Famous Americans: Weird Al Yankovic; Alcoholics Anonymous; figure out versus realize; kind of; noun + --ee and --er Words: weird parody to make light of relevant alcoholic addicted anonymous to break an addiction sober support group to abstain mentor to figure out kind of Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 438 – Renting an Apartment Slow dialogue: 1:17 Explanations: 3:37 Fast dialogue: 15:22 Heather: Hi, are you the apartment manager? I saw the vacancy sign outside and I’m looking for an apartment. Sam: Yes, I’m Sam. We have one unit available right now. When are you looking to move in? Heather: The lease on my apartment is up soon, so I’d like to move in the first of the month. Sam: Okay, follow me and let me show you the unit. Each unit gets one parking space in the garage, and there are laundry ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 437 – Having a Best Friend Slow dialogue: 1:08 Explanations: 3:24 Fast dialogue: 15:59 Lucy: I’m so excited! My friend, Marlene, is coming to town for a visit. Buddy: Have I met Marlene? Lucy: No, I don’t think so. We grew up together and we were always joined at the hip. Buddy: When I was little, I had a friend like that. We were blood brothers. Lucy: Yeah, Marlene and I did everything together and she was my confidant about everything. Buddy: She sounds like a great friend. Lucy: Yeah, sh ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #169 Topics: Alternative energy; Monticello; criticize versus chastise versus chasten; please inform versus please be informed; to denominate Words: alternative nonrenewable resources environmentally friendly documentary political spectrum to advocate for estate on display to waste plantation slaves to inherit to criticize to chastise to chasten please inform please be informed denomination Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 436 – Dealing With an Angry Client Slow dialogue: 1:38 Explanations: 3:52 Fast dialogue: 12:49 Shawna: Hello, Shawna Davis. Monty: Hello, Shawna. This is Monty Lofti at BMC. I need to talk to you about our ad that ran in your newspaper yesterday. Shawna: Sure, Monty. Was there a problem? Monty: Yes, there certainly was a problem. Instead of the picture of our model, there was a picture of a dog! Shawna: That’s awful! I wasn’t aware of the substitution. On behalf of the newspaper, I sincerely apologi ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 435 – Describing Aches and Pains Slow dialogue: 1:16 Explanations: 3:22 Fast dialogue: 15:04 Nivia: Why are you walking funny? Michael: Oh, I pulled a muscle in my right leg while playing with my kids last weekend. It’s hard to walk without feeling a twinge of pain. Nivia: I’m sorry to hear that. Why are you sitting in that awkward position? Michael: I strained my back while exercising. Initially, I felt a sharp pain and I thought it was something serious, but it doesn’t hurt much now. There’s just a ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #168 Topics: American Cities: Detroit; wills, living wills, and advance healthcare directives; solution and solve vs. resolution and resolve; family vs. household Words: waterfront property synonymous unemployment rate to cross racial lines last will and testament beneficiaries minor trust assets estate artificial life support organ donor solution to solve resolution to resolve family household Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 434 – Using Coupons and Rebates Slow dialogue: 1:12 Explanations: 3:51 Fast dialogue: 17:00 Torsten: What are you doing, clipping coupons? That’s a waste of time. Cindy: You can think what you like, but these days, we have to cut corners wherever we can. Torsten: No one actually saves much money using coupons. Cindy: That’s what you think. The last time I went to the grocery store, I saved over $20 just by using coupons. Torsten: How can you keep track of all of the expiration dates and the terms and ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 433 – Describing People’s Voices Slow dialogue: 1:31 Explanations: 3:12 Fast dialogue: 13:20 Adriana: Shhh, I’m trying to listen to the radio. Ralph: How can you listen to that radio station? All of their deejays have such funny voices. Adriana: That’s precisely why I like it. Take this guy, Kevin. He has a deep, husky voice that I find really sexy. Ralph: This guy? His voice is so monotone that it lulls me to sleep every time I hear it. Adriana: Well, if you don’t like his voice, how about his sidek ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #167 Topics: Ask an American: underage drinking; to chalk (something) up to; fluke; quite; ain�t; domino effect and chain reaction Words: access consistency rebellious binge drinking DUI DWI assault date rape to model sexually transmitted disease unintended addiction go ahead to lower to chalk up to fluke quite ain�t domino effect chain reaction Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 432 � Using the Copier Slow dialogue: 1:25 Explanations: 3:00 Fast dialogue: 14:23 Tim: Damn it! Pam: What�s the matter? Tim: It�s this copier. My original didn�t come out of the feeder and there�s a paper jam. Pam: Let me see if I can clear it. This machine is really temperamental. Tim: Tell me about it. Pam: Okay, I found your original, but it�s stuck. I�m afraid if I pull too hard, it�ll tear. Tim: Let me try. I got it! Okay, I need to shrink the first page and adjust the contra ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 431 � Health in Developing Countries Slow dialogue: 1:26 Explanations: 3:13 Fast dialogue: 10:54 Silvia: What are you watching? Hermann: I�m watching a show about the health problems in developing countries. Silvia: Don�t we have enough healthcare problems here, in this country? Hermann: We do, but there are countries that have a lot more acute problems than we do. Silvia: Oh, those kids are so cute. Hermann: Yeah, but a lot of them are going to die of malnutrition and infectious diseases, things that are prev ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #166 Topics: Brown v. Board of Education; yearbooks in American schools; indeed; none of them is/are; down to the wire Words: case party landmark decision inferior to rule to enroll to desegregate yearbook keepsake peers hairdos autograph indeed none of them is/are down to the wire Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 430 � Talking About Books Slow dialogue: 1:10 Explanations: 2:39 Fast dialogue: 14:12 Maggie: What did you think of the book you started last week? Kurt: Oh, I liked it well enough. Maggie: Wow, that�s a glowing recommendation. Kurt: Well, it started off with a bang and the suspense in the first half was great. I couldn�t put it down. Then, the pace changed in the second half and it was an effort to finish it. Maggie: Really? I read it a few months ago and I loved it. I thought the characterization ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 429 � Giving Awards and Congratulations Slow dialogue: 1:14 Explanations: 3:07 Fast dialogue: 12:35 Part of my job as school principal is to hand out awards and scholarships to students. We recently had a ceremony to do just that. _________ Principal: Miguel, I want to commend you for your work this year and congratulate you for winning the science award. It is well deserved. The recipient of this year�s community service award is Monique for her outstanding achievements. My heartiest congratulations to you, Monique. I ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #165 Topics: U.S. Mint; how auctions work; cache versus cash; listen to versus listen for Words: mint coins circulation worn out to melt down to deface pennies auction high-end antique bid cash cache cachet to listen to to listen for Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 428 � Getting a Dream Job Slow dialogue: 1:30 Explanations: 3:17 Fast dialogue: 12:11 Tandia: Do you want these want ads after I�m finished with them? Hank: No, I�m not going to find my dream job in the classifieds. I�m going to have to get more creative with my job search. Tandia: What are you looking for? Hank: I want a job that�s rewarding and fast-paced, and with good growth potential, but all I see are dead-end jobs. Tandia: I know what you mean. I�m looking for something that�s challenging, bu ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 427 � Planning a Protest Slow dialogue: 1:35 Explanations: 3:42 Fast dialogue: 14:04 Becky: I want to thank all of you for coming today. I think we all agree that we need to organize a protest... Pedro: Hold on, Becky. We all want to voice our opinion that we oppose what is going on here, but I�m not sure a protest is the answer. Becky: With all due respect, Pedro, I think a rally is the best way to do that. Pedro: That may be, but I think we need to consider a few things first. Taking to the streets ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #164 Topics: Naming Rights; Famous Americans: Cesar Chavez; Why Americans have middle names; future perfect tense; American versus U.S. as an adjective Words: naming rights donation connotations deal civil rights leaders migrant farm worker charismatic to protest pesticide boycott to fast legacy middle name Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 426 - Talking About Product Quality Slow dialogue: 1:17 Explanations: 2:53 Fast dialogue: 13:54 Brenda: It�s fun shopping for a new cell phone, don�t you think? Yoji: Sure, but I just need one with the bare basics. Brenda: Not me. I want one that�s top-of-the-line. My old phone was cheap and flimsy, and it started acting up after only a few months. Yoji: I want something that�s good quality, but I don�t think I should have to pay top dollar for it, especially since I don�t need the bells and whistles. Brenda: T ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 425 � Serving Drinks and Cocktails Slow dialogue: 1:19 Explanations: 3:32 Fast dialogue: 14:27 Spencer: I�m practicing making drinks for the party tonight. Do you want to try one? Heidi: You�re the bartender? I didn�t know you knew how to mix drinks. Spencer: I can hold my own. Okay, name it and I�ll make it � any mixed drink or cocktail. Heidi: Okay, I�ll have a Screwdriver. Spencer: A Screwdriver? Hmm...what�s in that? Heidi: Aren�t you supposed to know, Mr. Bartender? Spencer: I�ve never made on ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #163 Topics: Make-a-Wish Foundation; American Cities: Key West and the Florida Keys; must versus ought to versus need to; nuts and bolts; to buy Words: foundation wish to come true to grant to be (something) when one grows up honorary archipelago hurricane ecotourism scuba diving cruise ships seashell southernmost point must have to ought to need to nuts and bolts to buy Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 424 - Being in Debt Slow dialogue: 1:25 Explanations: 4:18 Fast dialogue: 15:50 Chang: I don�t mean to be nosey, but all of those bills are red or pink. Are you behind on all of those bills? Ilya: I am, but it�s no big deal. I can catch up on them next month. Chang: You know that being late on bills is bad for your credit score, right? You also have to pay exorbitant interest if you have credit card debt. Ilya: Don�t worry about it. Everything will be fine. Chang: I�m only speaking from experi ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 423 - Reading Food Labels Slow dialogue: 1:36 Explanations: 3:40 Fast dialogue: 15:02 I never read food labels until I started going out with Wendy. She�s studying to be a nutritionist. When we go grocery shopping, she reads every label. _____________ Wendy: You�re not buying that, are you? Ichirou: Well, I was thinking about it. Why? Wendy: Each serving size has 30 grams of fat, and 10 of those are trans fat. The sodium level is through the roof, and it�s full of carbohydrates. Do you really want t ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #162 Topics: Ask an American: cults; can versus could; will versus would; freedom versus liberty Words: cult imaginary satanic to spread to brainwash megalomaniacal deluded to impose connotation sect at a crossroads structure unpaid bill mainstream predominant wide open constraint innovation freedom liberty Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 422 - Shopping for Underwear Slow dialogue: 1:35 Explanations: 3:53 Fast dialogue: 19:19 Kerry: We�re almost done with the shopping. We just need some underwear for you and some unmentionables for me. Russell: It�s perfectly acceptable for women to buy men�s underwear, but do I have to go into the lingerie store? All of the women in the store laugh at me. Kerry: No, they don�t. I just need a few things. Here we are. Okay, I need a new bra with underwire, and I need a strapless one, too. Do you see any in ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 421 - Internet Dating Slow dialogue: 1:24 Explanations: 3:33 Fast dialogue: 16:59 Kevin: I know a lot of people are doing it, but I�m not so sure about trying an Internet dating service. Eun: What do you have to lose? This website says that it screens all of its members. Let�s look at some of the profiles. Kevin: All right. We have to select the criteria for a search. Let�s see...gender � �female�; location � �Los Angeles�; age range � �26 to 35.� Eun: Wow, you got 243 hits. I think you�d better n ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Special Announcement - New Children's English Course Special Announcement from ESL Podcast: A New Course - Simple English Stories for Kids (and Adults). See our ESL Podcast Store for more details on this exiting new course to help you and your children learn English faster. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #161 Topics: Registering to vote and efforts to get out the vote; the G.I. Bill; growl, groan, and mutter; personnel and other collective nouns; to be fond of Words: election mandatory to register to vote to fill out democracy to get out the vote voter drives soldier veteran benefits economy social legislation growl groan mutter personnel to be fond of Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 420 - Workplace Safety Slow dialogue: 1:27 Explanations: 3:25 Fast dialogue: 14:20 Lon: What�s this? Abigail: It�s a memo about a safety inspection scheduled for next week. Lon: A safety inspection? How are we ever going to pass a safety inspection? Abigail: What do you mean? This isn�t an unsafe workplace. We�ve had a good record. None of our employees have had on-the-job injuries this year and we�ve never had a fatality. I don�t understand why you�re so worried. Lon: From what I�ve heard, the i ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 419 � Planting a Garden Slow dialogue: 1:14 Explanations: 3:03 Fast dialogue : 12:52 Joni: Smell that! Giuseppe: Smell what? Joni: Smell that fresh air. Aren�t you glad I got you to help me plant this garden? We�re going to have so much fun today. Giuseppe: Uh huh. I�m glad to help, but I don�t exactly have a green thumb. Joni: That�s okay. As long as you can tell a shovel from a lawn mower, you�ll be fine. Let�s start by moving these pots next to the bushes. Giuseppe: Okay, your wish i ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #160 Topics: Cook-offs and bake-offs; public health codes; a software evangelist; to look forward to; sandwich versus hamburger Words: to grill competition judge chili recipe to sample sponsor code sanitary inspection grade to revoke evangelist to look forward to sandwich hamburger Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 418 � Getting Bad Service Slow dialogue: 1:23 Explanations: 4:20 Fast dialogue: 16:33 Buck: I�m never going to that coffee house again! Star: Why? What happened? Buck: It�s the third time in a week that I�ve had lousy service. I don�t expect five-star treatment, but I do expect service industry employees to be at least civil. Star: What happened this time? Buck: I walked in and went up to the counter to place my order. The woman working there was talking to her friend, another customer. I stood the ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 417 � Getting Travel Documents Slow dialogue: 1:29 Explanations: 3:27 Fast dialogue: 16:18 Joyce: We need to apply for our passports now if we want to have them in time for our trip to McQuillanland. Steven: I have a passport. Joyce: Yes, but it expired last year. You need to renew it before you can get a visa. McQuillanland requires a visa and vaccinations before they�ll allow entry into the country. Steven: Okay, okay, where is the application? I thought U.S. citizens could travel freely in McQuillanland. ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #159 Topics: Famous Americans: William Randolph Hearst; what to call people from the top five cities/states in the U.S.; please as the magic word; using an apostrophe (�) for possessive cases, remember versus remind Words: magnate publisher to put a lot of something into something municipal corruption circulation yellow journalism influence population to drop to learn by heart to leave it at that please to remind to remember Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 416 � Finding a Niche in Business Slow dialogue: 1:18 Explanations: 3:25 Fast dialogue: 14:20 Hello, business students. I�m here today at your professor�s request to talk to you about the importance of finding your own niche in business. Conventional wisdom says that people in business need to diversify their skill sets so that they can be the most flexible in whatever field they decide to enter. While there is some truth to this, that�s only half of the picture. Those who diversify too much run the risk of being ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 415 � Being Clean and Dirty Slow dialogue: 1:26 Explanations: 2:58 Fast dialogue: 15:09 Ray: My mother is coming for a visit, which means we need to do some spring cleaning this weekend. Debra: I�ll get the duster, if you�ll get the broom. Ray: I�m serious. You know how nit-picky my mother is and I want our house to be neat and tidy. Debra: Fine, fine, I understand. You don�t want her to know we live in a pigsty. Ray: I�m not saying we live in a pigsty, but the house is a little messy and dusty. It wou ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #158 Topics: American Cities: Salt Lake City; university admissions; within versus inside versus interior; so much for; to want out Words: to persecute temple canyon to be home to admissions to get a feel for due rank top-tier school back-up school to enroll deferred admission interior so much for to want out Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 414 � Common Traffic Signs Slow dialogue: 1:27 Explanations: 3:20 Fast dialogue: 17:04 Ben: Why are you squinting like that? Lauren: I left my glasses at the office. Ben: You mean you can�t see?! Lauren: I can see pretty well. What was that yellow sign we just passed? Ben: It said, �Dead End.� Stop! Turn around. Lauren: I can�t. That sign says, �No U-turn.� Ben: Okay, but we can�t keep going. Those signs say, �Do Not Enter� and �One Way.� Lauren: Okay, fine. I�ll just pull off the roa ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 413 - Talking About Intelligence Slow dialogue: 1:17 Explanations: 3:15 Fast dialogue: 13:55 Andre: Mom, I can�t believe I got stuck with Matt as my lab partner in school. Josephine: Matt? Do I know Matt? Andre: He lives down the street. He�s Mr. and Mrs. Kemp�s son. He�s a total airhead. Josephine: Oh, I remember him. He was at your birthday party. Andre: Yeah, when I was nine years old! That guy is so dense! Josephine: Matt was always considered a gifted child. He seemed bright and perceptive, and ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #157 Topics: Ask an American: childhood obesity; besides vs. furthermore vs. moreover; wink-wink; thrill Words: to be doing veggie grass-fed organic salad bar to line up to segue processed food refined high fructose corn syrup whole food with an eye in the long run toward... furthermore moreover besides to give the wink-wink thrill Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 412 - Corporate Spying Slow dialogue: 1:40 Explanations: 3:55 Fast dialogue: 17:38 Joachim: I�m really having second thoughts about hiring a firm to do corporate spying for us. I don�t want to do anything that�s ethically questionable. Dawn: We have no choice but to do it. All of our competitors conduct corporate espionage. Joachim: I can understand spying on our competitors, but I draw the line at having us snoop on our own employees. Dawn: We wouldn�t unless our backs were against the wall. I kn ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 411 - Eating Junk Food Slow dialogue: 1:31 Explanations: 3:03 Fast dialogue: 13:36 Frank: Hand me that bag of potato chips. Katie: Here. You mean you�re still hungry after two burgers and French fries? Frank: Yeah, I am. I�m a growing boy. Where�s the popcorn? Katie: I can�t believe we�re eating all of this junk food. I�m supposed to be watching what I eat. Frank: Forget about it. Who can watch a football game without stuffing their faces? It�s an American tradition. Katie: Where did you get ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #156 Topics: The Chinese Exclusion Act; Library of Congress and the public library system; I thought versus I think; anyway versus however; to make (someone) earn (something) Words: Immigration to resent act to exclude citizen ethnic to repeal library to check out books Congress collection significant anyway however to make (someone) earn (something) Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast Special Edition - VIdeo Podcast for 3rd Anniversary Jeff: Hello and welcome to ESL Podcast�s third anniversary video podcast. We are now three years old, and as we do every year we are recording a short video podcast for you. This year, we asked you to send us some questions to answer, and in this podcast I and Lucy will be answering some of your questions. So, the first question is: �How did the podcast get started?� Well, back in the spring of 2005, three years ago, I read about podcasting in the newspaper and I decided to investigate ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 410 - Being Evasive Slow dialogue: 1:21 Explanations: 3:18 Fast dialogue: 14:53 Olivia: Dad, can I ask you a question? Dad: You just did. Olivia: I mean, can I ask you another question? Dad: Ask away. Olivia: Where do babies come from? Dad: What? Where did you come up with that one? Olivia: I don�t know. Dad: Let me tell you. That�s for grown-ups to know. You�re just a pipsqueak. You mind your own business and I�ll tell you when you�re a little older. Olivia: Why can�t you tell me now? ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 409 - Describing a Musical Performance Slow dialogue: 1:46 Explanations: 3:55 Fast dialogue: 15:28 Janine: Okay, we need to find one more act for this year�s show. How many more people are waiting to audition? Calvin: There are two more. Should I call in the first one? Janine: Yup. Let�s get this over with. ... Calvin: What did you think of that performance? Janine: I thought she was flawless. She plays with a lot of passion. Calvin: Yeah, that�s true, but I wouldn�t call her a virtuoso. The piece she playe ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #155 Topics: The CIA; how to become a court interpreter and/or an interpreter for the U.N.; haunting versus haunted; completion versus completeness; to take (somebody) on Words: intelligence foreign advisor clandestine to tap a phone to bug to infiltrate espionage implication interpreter court to polish haunting haunted completion completeness to take on Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 408 - Calling Someone You Haven�t Met About a Job Slow dialogue: 1:38 Explanations: 3:47 Fast dialogue: 15.25 Candace: Hello. Mehdi: Hello, may I speak to Candace Cho, please? Candace: Speaking. Mehdi: Oh, hello Ms. Cho. My name is Mehdi and I�m interested in applying for the job as assistant manager. Your name was listed as the contact person. Am I calling at a bad time? Candace: No, not at all. I�m the administrative assistant and I�m fielding calls for the person doing the hiring. What can I do for you? Mehdi: Well, ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 407 - Waiting for a Man or Woman to Call Slow dialogue: 1:27 Explanations: 3:43 Fast dialogue: 15:06 Lyla: Okay, here�s a hypothetical. You ask a girl for her number, but wait two weeks to call her. What gives? George: Well, that depends. Why? Lyla: Well, I met this guy two weeks ago at a party. We spent the entire evening talking and I thought we really hit it off. We had a lot of chemistry and we had a ton of things in common. He asked for my number and he said he�d call me the next day. And then, I didn�t hear ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #154 Topics: Famous Americans: Amy Tan; Americans with Disabilities Act; to take convincing, full-fledged, dude Words: descent to fight to give (someone) the silent treatment promise life-changing event expectation act disability to enact discrimination accessibility wheelchair elevator ramp exception to the rule bars to take convincing full-fledged dude Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 406 - Participating in Internet Discussion Groups Slow dialogue: 1:32 Explanations: 3:29 Fast dialogue: 15:00 Dale: I didn�t know you read that forum. What�s your screen name? Jessie: It�s �jessiegirl,� but I don�t post very often. I like to lurk and follow the different threads, but I prefer to keep a low profile. Dale: Really? I post all the time. I just put my new web address on my profile, and check this out. It�s my new avatar. Jessie: That�s cool. I�ve been trying to figure out how to upload a picture for my ava ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 405 - Buying Computer Accessories Slow dialogue: 1:37 Explanations: 3:51 Fast dialogue: 14:19 Ginger: It�s really nice of you to come with me to buy my computer. This is the desktop I�m thinking about. Kevin: This is okay, but if I were you, I�d buy a laptop. It�s more versatile. You can travel with it. Ginger: I�m not sure about getting a laptop. The screen is so small. Kevin: No problem. You can get a separate monitor. This is a good one. You just need a connector and a cable to hook it up to your laptop ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #153 Topics: American Cities: Chicago; The Star-Spangled Banner; just versus only versus mere; to kick butt Words: windy magnificent skyscraper public transportation system gangster Prohibition league anthem dawn twilight patriotic mere to kick butt Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 404 � Delegating Work Slow dialogue: 1:13 Explanations: 3:03 Fast dialogue: 12:58 Anya: I don�t know how I�m going to get all of this work done before I go on vacation. Estevan: What you need to do is to delegate. Stop being a control freak and get other people to help you with your work. Anya: I�ve tried to delegate before, but I ended up having to redo the work myself. It was no timesaver at all. It definitely wasn�t worth the trouble. Estevan: That�s because you have to delegate in the right way. ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 403 � Understanding Drug Labels Slow dialogue: 1:30 Explanations: 3:35 Fast dialogue: 15:23 Bernie: Oh, I�m in so much pain! Where is the medication we got from the pharmacy? Gloria: It�s right here, but we need to read the label first. Okay, these are the active ingredients and they seem okay. This warning says that we need to watch out for any allergic reactions. It also says to ask your doctor before using it if you have heart problems. Bernie: I don�t. Can you just give me the medication? Gloria: I ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #152 Topics: Ask an American: Tattoos; to cover up, talk versus say versus speak, pronouncing certain consonants in the middle of words Words: buzz tattoo parlor tough guys broken heart to commemorate new born angst to put out there to hop in/into intricate to cover up to speak to say to talk Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 402 � Buying Back-to-School Supplies Slow dialogue: 1:21 Explanations: 3:11 Fast dialogue: 15:48 Svetlana: Tomorrow is the first day of junior high. Are you ready? Quinn: Sure, it�s not that big a deal. I already put some supplies in my new backpack. Svetlana: Let�s see. You have some folders, a three-ring binder, and a pen. Is that all you�re bringing to school? Quinn: I don�t have my books yet. I�ll get those tomorrow morning. What else do I need? I�m not in the second grade. I don�t need things like glue, ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 401 - Giving Warnings and Cautions Slow dialogue: 1:44 Explanations: 4:34 Fast dialogue: 16:25 Brett: Hi, Mom. Come in. Welcome to my new place. My roommates aren�t here right now or I�d introduce you. Mom: Hi, dear. This is...uh...nice. Brett: It is, isn�t it? I know you were a little worried about me moving out and into a house with five roommates. But as you can see, this is a nice place. Let me give you a tour. Mom: Oh, okay. Isn�t it a little cramped in the house with six people? Brett: No way! C ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #151 Topics: D.B. Cooper; the Underground Railroad; extend versus expand; God forbid; brown-bag lunch Words: to hijack threat unsolved mystery flight attendant bomb parachute in exchange for frayed unconvinced slave to escape to be sympathetic toward to extend to expand God forbid brown-bag lunch Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 400 - Working in a Dead End Job Slow dialogue: 1:13 Explanations: 3:19 Fast dialogue: 14:01 Agency employee: Tell me why you�d like to sign up with our employment agency. Kurt: Well, right now I�m working in a dead end job. There are no opportunities for advancement. I�m already at the top of the pay scale, so there�s no chance of another pay raise. Agency employee: Okay, I�d like to find out a little more about your employment history. Tell me about your last job. Kurt: Oh, that was a mind-numbing position. ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 399 - A Bachelor Party Slow dialogue: 1:11 Explanations: 3:04 Fast dialogue: 16:15 My best friend, Saul, is getting married. As the best man, it was up to me to plan a bachelor party he�d never forget. All of the groomsmen were chipping in, so we went all out. I invited everybody over to my apartment. Instead of going to a strip club, we hired a stripper. Before the stripper arrived, we played some drinking games and we gave Saul some gag gifts. We all started to get pretty bombed, but we weren�t thin ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #150 Topics: Famous Americans: Great Jazz Artists Josephine Baker and Ella Fitzgerald; the Amish; to be honest versus as a matter of fact; why don�t you versus let�s Words: jazz pearl world-famous to drop out civil rights movement first lady improv postage stamp buggy suspenders strict to pray to be honest as a matter of fact let�s Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 398 - Parts of a City Slow dialogue: 1:23 Explanations: 3:08 Fast dialogue: 15:15 Tanya: We�ve been here for three days and I�m still getting lost. Darren: Here�s a map. These are the residential neighborhoods. See? This is where we�re staying. Tanya: I know, I know. But where were we today? The tour bus went down so many alleys that I lost my bearings after 10 minutes. I thought we were going in circles. Darren: Look, we drove through downtown first, past the financial district. Next, we dro ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 397 - Being a Divorced Parent Slow dialogue: 2:00 Explanations: 3:53 Fast dialogue: 16:00 Oscar: How are you adjusting to being a single parent? Penny: It hasn�t been easy, but Paul and I are trying to be as civil as possible. We worked out joint custody so that Mina will get quality time with both of us. Still, it�s been an adjustment for her. Oscar: I�m sure, and for you and Paul, too. Will you get to see Mina when she�s with her father? Penny: We each have visitation rights. Fortunately, Paul and I bot ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #149 Topics: U.S. zoning laws; how to become a TV or movie screenwriter; unless versus if, in versus at for locations, persecute versus prosecute Words: zoning law urban sprawl mixed-use zoning high-density neighborhood exclusionary affordable housing strip club adult shop screenwriter show business blindly agent unless to persecute to prosecute Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 396 - Dealing in the Black Market Slow dialogue: 1:23 Explanations: 3:08 Fast dialogue: 14:41 Jasinda: Was that your friend Mitch? Thomas: Yeah, he and I had lunch today to talk about some business opportunities. Jasinda: What line of work is he in? Thomas: Well, I guess you could say he�s in the import/export business. Jasinda: Hmm�Why are you being so shifty? Isn�t his business on the up and up? He doesn�t deal in the black market, does he? Thomas: Let�s just say that he takes full advantage of a free mar ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 395 - Watching the Olympic Games Slow dialogue: 1:35 Explanations: 3:15 Fast dialogue: 14:27 Mary Lou: Am I too late for the opening ceremony? Jesse: No, it�s just starting. The runner is just coming into Olympic Village with the torch. Mary Lou: Oh, this is so exciting! I love the summer Olympics. Track and field, gymnastics, swimming � I can�t wait! Jesse: Oh, here come the athletes from each country, with their flag bearer in front. Look at all those gold, silver, and bronze medalists. Mary Lou: Isn� ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #148 Topics: American Cities: San Francisco/Bay Area; the ACLU; using �back� to refer to the past; failure versus error versus mistake Words: image strait bay living expenses steep cable car liberal costume civil liberties litigation to lobby to infringe upon back failure error mistake Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 394 - Describing Hatred and Anger Slow dialogue: 1:24 Explanations: 3:22 Fast dialogue: 15:04 Danica: Calm down! Stop throwing things! Have you gone berserk? Neil: Calm down?! Calm down?! You don�t know what just happened. Danica: I�ve never seen you lose your temper like this before. Take a deep breath and tell me what happened. Neil: Okay, you know that I like Samantha, right? Well, I told Malik last week. I just found out today that he�s dating her. Danica: Malik? But he�s your best friend. H ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 393 - Trash and Recycling Slow dialogue: 1:34 Explanations: 3:43 Fast dialogue: 15:24 Rajid: What are you doing? Nicole: I�m putting my garbage into the garbage can. Why? Rajid: Don�t you recycle? You�re supposed to separate out your recyclables and put them in a separate bin. Nicole: I know, I know, but who has the time? I don�t have that much trash anyway. Rajid: Oh, yeah? The dump is full of food containers that aren�t biodegradable from people who didn�t have the time. Nicole: Come on. Do ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #147 Topics: Ask an American: Drive-in Theaters to wind someone up, you don�t say, how about you versus what about you Words: to wedge talkative to block someone�s view to be in the comfort of sprawling cranky to disrupt passion family fare second-rate tinny concession stand fattening risqu� to wind someone up You don�t say! Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 392 - An Untrustworthy Co-Worker Slow dialogue: 1:08 Explanations: 2:54 Fast dialogue: 12:31 Vicky: Did I imagine it or did you just give Gavin the cold shoulder? Gerard: You didn�t imagine it. I�m not too happy with him. Vicky: Why? What did he do? Gerard: He�s two-faced, that�s why. Last week, he told me he was going to put in a good word for me with the manager for a promotion. Vicky: So that sounds like a nice thing to do. Gerard: I thought so, too. But as it turns out, I heard from Elanda that he ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 391 - Traveling and Medical Needs Slow dialogue: 1:08 Explanations: 2:46 Fast dialogue: 14:27 Delia: Oh, my feet hurt! We must have walked for four hours straight today. I have blisters on my heels and bruises on my toes. Where are my band-aids? Yoshi: Yeah, your feet look bad. I told you not to wear new shoes on vacation, but you wouldn�t listen. Delia: Oh, yeah? Look at you! I told you to put on sunscreen, and did you? Your face and neck are sunburned. Your skin is going to be red and peeling tomorrow. ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #146 Topics: Famous Americans: Annie Leibovitz; home shopping cable channels and celebrity product lines; come versus go; via versus through Words: portrait the arts big break to be named chief celebrity channel cable host product line affiliated with name recognition via through Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 390 - Dietary Restrictions and Preferences Slow dialogue: 1:23 Explanations: 3:32 Fast dialogue: 15:33 Tony: Who did you invite over for dinner Saturday? Carmela: I invited Keith, Sung, Stephanie, and Luis. Tony: You didn�t! Carmela: I did. Why? Tony: You�re going to have a hard time cooking for them. Keith is a vegan and only eats food that�s organic. Sung is lactose intolerant and his doctor put him on a low-salt diet. Carmela: Really? I didn�t know. How do you know so much about their diets? Tony: I went ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 389 - Getting a Cold Slow dialogue: 1:27 Explanations: 3:02 Fast dialogue: 14:26 Walt: What�s the matter with you? Irene: I have a bad cold. Walt: Why didn�t you stay home from work? You�re probably contagious! Irene: I had no choice. I have an important presentation this afternoon and I can�t play hooky. Walt: You can�t give a presentation in your condition. Your nose is running, your eyes are red and puffy, your voice is hoarse, and you look like you�re running a fever. Irene: Gee, thank ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #145 Topics: Advanced Placement courses and tests; Legos/Legoland and Hot Wheels; might versus maybe; judgment call; no-brainer Words: placement college-level subject area to gear up financial aid college credit interlocking kit theme park replicate track to collect maybe might judgment call no-brainer Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 388 - Investing Your Money Slow dialogue: 1:31 Explanations: 3:00 Fast dialogue: 14:13 Ladies and Gentlemen, Thank you for coming to today�s seminar. We�re going to talk about how to invest your money and how to maximize those holdings. First, we�ll talk about market trends and where to find the best opportunities right now. Getting in on the ground floor and getting the highest appreciation is what we all want. A good investor also knows when to divest, and we�ll talk about how to read the warning signs. M ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 387 - Describing Talent and Ability Slow dialogue: 1:23 Explanations: 3:07 Fast dialogue: 13:22 Kathy: Thanks for inviting me to see your team. Who�s your best player? Brad: That would be Sarah. She�s a natural. No one comes close to her speed and dexterity. She has good instincts and a flair for getting out of difficult situations. Kathy: She sounds promising. Anyone else I should be keeping an eye on? Brad: Mollie is a good player, too. In terms of scoring points, she can almost do it in her sleep. She�s ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #144 Topics: Saturday Night Live; Howard Stern and shock jocks; using �to� in who, what, where, when, why questions; state of the art; ways to say �good job!� Words: live cast celebrity sketch news anchor current events big break controversial shock jock offend fine on the air state of the art Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 386 - Learning How to Drive Slow dialogue: 1:21 Explanations: 2:58 Fast dialogue: 15:56 Xavier: Look out! Put your foot on the brake! Brandy: I am braking. Xavier: No, your foot is on the gas pedal! Brandy: Oh. There�s the brake. Xavier: You just took 10 years off my life. I was sure you were going to hit the median or the railing. I didn�t know what I was getting into when I agreed to teach you how to drive. Brandy: Relax. I�m really getting the hang of this. Shifting gears isn�t as hard as I ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 385 - Exercising at the Gym Slow dialogue: 1:06 Explanations: 2:50 Fast dialogue: 12:38 Jae: Hi, are you done with this weight machine? Sally: Yeah, I am. I was just trying it out. I think I must be doing something wrong. My muscles are aching already. Jae: Maybe I can help. I�ve been working out on these machines for a few months, so I�m pretty used to them. Sally: I just joined the gym this week. I usually do a cardio workout on a treadmill or stationary bike, and I�ve used free weights at home be ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #143 Topics: Harley Davidson; Famous Americans: Jesse Jackson; because versus since, yikes, speaking of which Words: loyal logo engine reputation pejorative mid-life crisis reverend civil rights activist segregated march shadow senator because since yikes speaking of which Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 384 - Accepting Credit Cards Slow dialogue: 1:25 Explanations: 4:03 Fast dialogue: 15:30 Danny: Are you sure we should start accepting credit cards from our customers? We�ve always been a cash-only business. Katy: I think we need to for the convenience of our customers. It won�t be as big a nuisance as you think, with this new cash register. Danny: The instructions say the merchant has to swipe the cardholder�s card at the POS. What�s that? Katy: That stands for point of sale. For us, that�s the cash ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 383 - Mending a Broken Heart Slow dialogue: 1:30 Explanations: 3:20 Fast dialogue: 12:44 David: Why has Joyce been moping around all week? What�s wrong with her? Victoria: She�s suffering from a broken heart. Her boyfriend broke up with her over the weekend. They had been together for two years. David: Did she tell you the gruesome details? Victoria: Not really. She just said that she�s feeling depressed and she didn�t want to talk about it, but you can see the grief all over her face. David: I can ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #142 Topics: Ask an American: Getting Old brethren versus brothers, would versus used to, I can�t wait anymore versus I can�t wait any longer Words: hip fracture balance to stub to go flying to fall flat incompetent nursing home to keep something to oneself emergency room acute care rehab to be discharged brethren anymore Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 382 - Types of Hotels and Accommodations Slow dialogue: 1:45 Explanations: 3:32 Fast dialogue: 15:35 Jamal: Have you found a place for us to stay in Chicago? Erin: I�m still exploring the options. Instead of a run-of-the-mill chain hotel, I thought we could do something different. Jamal: How different? Erin: I thought we might stay in a cabin near the lake. Jamal: A cabin? That sounds a little too rustic for me. My days of roughing it in hostels or fleabag motels are over. A cabin sounds like it would be in the ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 381 - Watching the TV News Slow dialogue: 1:45 Explanations: 3:32 Fast dialogue: 15:35 Jamal: Have you found a place for us to stay in Chicago? Erin: I�m still exploring the options. Instead of a run-of-the-mill chain hotel, I thought we could do something different. Jamal: How different? Erin: I thought we might stay in a cabin near the lake. Jamal: A cabin? That sounds a little too rustic for me. My days of roughing it in hostels or fleabag motels are over. A cabin sounds like it would be in the ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #141 Topics: Classic children�s television: Sesame Street and Mr. Rogers� Neighborhood; American Cities: Washington, D.C.; mix, combine, stir, and beat; stock photography Words: series episode animation puppet make-believe values founding fathers Congress free and open to the public monument memorial bike path to mix to combine to stir to beat stock photography Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 380 - Hiring Temp Workers Slow dialogue: 1:08 Explanations: 3:51 Fast dialogue: 15:17 Bethany: I just talked to Steve about hiring replacements for Cyril, who quit last month and for Megan, who is leaving at the end of this week. Do you know what he told me? He doesn�t want to hire permanent replacements. He wants to make do with temps! Enrique: I can see it from Steve�s perspective. The economy isn�t so good right now and maybe he�s not sure if we can afford full-time replacements. Bethany: But how am ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 379 - A Routine Procedure Slow dialogue: 1:26 Explanations: 3:07 Fast dialogue: 13:24 Julia: Aren�t you nervous about your surgery next week? Hugh: No, it�s a routine procedure. I don�t even need to be admitted overnight. Julia: But aren�t you going under general anesthesia? It�s not the same as local anesthesia, you know. Hugh: Yes, I know. This is an out-patient procedure. If the doctors don�t think I can go home the same day, they�ll just keep me under observation. Julia: All the same, there ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #140 Topics: New York Theater District/Broadway shows; Barbie dolls/G.I. Joe; I don�t have versus I have no, in the street versus on the street, identifying yourself on the phone Words: district mainstream controversial cutting-edge lucrative figurine infant voluptuous to distort accessory action figure armed force I have no Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 378 - Talking About Time Slow dialogue: 1:15 Explanations: 3:05 Fast dialogue: 12:38 Juanita: What time is it? Chuck: It�s a quarter to 12. Why? Juanita: At noon, on the dot, I�m supposed to meet James. Chuck: On the dot? What if you don�t get there until a few minutes past four? Will you turn into a pumpkin? Juanita: Knock it off. I have good reason to be on time. I was supposed to meet him at the movies at 8:30 last Saturday and I didn�t turn up until 10 �til 9:00. We missed the first 10 minute ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 377 - Reporting a Stolen Car Slow dialogue: 1:15 Explanations: 2:58 Fast dialogue: 12:35 Kenji: Hello, my car was stolen and I want to report it. Officer: Where was it when it was stolen? Kenji: It was parked outside of my apartment building. I went outside this morning to drive to work, and it was gone. Officer: Okay, you need to fill out this form. Put down the make and model of the vehicle, the year, and the color. You�ll also need the license plate number. Do you know the vehicle�s VIN number? Kenj ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #139 Topics: Native American reservations/Trail of Tears; retirement communities, the possessive �s,� to be subject to, to be subjected to, hedge trimming Words: ancestor settler reservation forced relocation trail tribe retirement Social Security benefits retirement community clubhouse to deteriorate to cherish to be subject to to be subjected to hedge trimming Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 376 - Asking about Business Hours Slow dialogue: 1:34 Explanations: 3:45 Fast dialogue: 12:04 Store owner: Hello. Karin: Hello, is this Joe�s Shoe Repair? Store owner: Yes, how can I help you? Karin: I�m calling to find out your business hours. Store owner: We�re open 24/7. Karin: Really? You�re open 24 hours a day, seven days a week? Store owner: Yes, we are, more often than not. Of course we close for major holidays. Karin: Is that all? Store owner: We also close the first and third Monday and every ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 375 - A Call from a Telemarketer Slow dialogue: 1:07 Explanations: 3:11 Fast dialogue: 12:08 Doris: Hello. Telemarketer: Hello, may I speak to the lady of the house? Doris: What is this regarding? Telemarketer: I�m calling from Cheetam Cable Company and we have a very special offer. This month only, you can get a bundle of services for the low, low price of $69.99! This offer... Doris: Thank you, but I�m not interested. Telemarketer: But that�s because you haven�t heard the rest of the offer yet. If you s ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #138 Topics: Monster truck shows and races; blue jeans and Levi Strauss, to be up against the wall, liability versus responsibility, pronouncing �either� Words: monster pickup truck destructive to crush track obstacle freestyle to root blue jeans (or jeans) denim ranch Gold Rush miner durable to be up against the wall responsibility liability Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 374 - A Graduation Ceremony Slow dialogue: 1:27 Explanations: 3:30 Fast dialogue: 15:43 Rafael: They�re playing Pomp and Circumstance and the graduates are filing in. Do you see your daughter? I don�t see my son. April: No, we�re too far from the field and everybody is wearing a cap and gown. It�s hard to see who�s who. Rafael: Oh, there�s the dean and I think that�s the commencement speaker behind her. You must be really proud of your daughter. I know I would be if my son were valedictorian. April: ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 373 - Ordering Food Delivery Slow dialogue: 1:16 Explanations: 3:17 Fast dialogue: 12:03 Order clerk: Hello, Torino�s Restaurant. Nancy: Hello, I�d like to place a delivery order. Order clerk: Can I have your address and the major cross streets, please? Nancy: It�s 1212 Main Street, and the nearest cross streets are Speedway and Highland. Order clerk: Okay, it looks like you�re in our delivery area. What would you like to order? Nancy: I�d like an order of spaghetti. Does that come with any sides? O ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #137 Topics: Ask an American: Bluegrass music; r�sum� versus curriculum vitae, the number 0 versus the letter O, one over the other Words: to bring over to pass down something to flatten bridge basically roots origins melody acoustic fiddle banjo bass r�sum� curriculum vitae Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 372 - A Bully at Work Slow dialogue: 1:20 Explanations: 4:28 Fast dialogue: 15:36 Wanda: I can�t take it anymore. I try to put up with Robert, but I�ve had enough! Dana: I�m not surprised. That guy is a big bully and it�s time somebody stood up to him. What has he done now? Wanda: This was the last straw. We�re both managers and we�re supposed to work together, but Robert looks for every opportunity to put me down in front of our employees. This morning, I presented an idea about upgrading our comp ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 371 - A Scandal Slow dialogue: 1:34 Explanations: 3:23 Fast dialogue: 13:31 Caridad: Look at this! The president of McQuillan University is stepping down. He submitted his resignation this morning after an undergraduate student made allegations that they had an affair and that she�s pregnant with his baby. Nate: That�s terrible. Maybe they were in love. Caridad: In love? He�s married and has four kids, and when she first went public about the affair, he denied it and said that she had made ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #136 Topics: The Betty Ford Center; poker; to be short on time versus time is running out, past year versus last year, supervisor versus manager Words: addiction rehab painkiller intervention residential counselor hand tournament champion endorsement to show (one�s) hand poker face to raise the stakes to be short on time time is running short past year last year supervisor manager Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 370 - Describing a Bad Experience Not everything can go perfectly. Find out about how to describe bad experiences in English in this episode.Slow dialogue: 1:14 Explanations: 3:12 Fast dialogue: 15:36 Caterina: I can�t believe I let you rope me into seeing this performance. It was so lame! Oliver: Okay, you�re right, it was the pits. I had no idea it was going to be amateur hour. When I saw the ad in the paper describing this as an experimental play, I thought it might be interesting. Was I wrong! Caterina: I ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 369 - Going to Happy Hour Working 9 to 5? What a way to make a living! Relax after a long day at work at your local bar�s happy hour in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #135 Topics: Types of vocational education in the U.S.; American Cities: Miami; to have a monkey on (one�s) back; to administer; to execute; to be off Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 368 - A Corporate Takeover You never know when someone may decide to buy your company. Be prepared to talk about it in English by listening to this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 367 - Going into the Military Find out about how to talk about the military services in this episode.Slow dialog: 1:23 Explanations: 2:52 Fast dialog: 14:30 Chantelle: Attention! Aren�t you supposed to salute? Robert: You�re not my superior officer. Stop goofing around. I�m busy. Chantelle: You�re packing already? You don�t need to report to duty for two days. Are you afraid they�ll think you went AWOL? Robert: I just want to be prepared. Now, leave me alone so I can finish packing. Chantelle: Am I di ... Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #134 Topics: American Author: F. Scott Fitzgerald; cigarette and alcohol advertising; pronouncing -ed, someone�s John Hancock Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 366 - Talking About Prices When the economy is bad, everyone complains. Learn to talk about prices in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 365 - Putting the Children to Bed If you have young children, you know how difficult it is to get them to go to bed. Learn about one way to do it in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #133 Topics: dishonest political strategies; the Black Dahlia; treatment versus therapy; ending intimate letters and emails; you�re entitled to your opinion Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 364 - Filing Taxes Benjamin Franklin said the only things certain in life are death and taxes. Learn some vocabulary related to paying your taxes in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 363 - Using the Telephone Learn how to talk about telephones in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #132 Topics: Ask an American: Working as an actor in Los Angeles nevertheless versus despite versus even though, to screw up Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 362 - Getting In-Flight Service Learn how to ask for things on an airplane in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 361 - Feeling Lonely Make some new friends in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #131 Topics: FBI history, structure, and duties; Reader�s Digest contents, history and readership; consent versus assent, concord versus accord, the long and the short of it Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 360 - A Management Dispute Try not to get involved in any disagreements at work. Learn how in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 359 - A Fist Fight Fighting is not a good way to solve your problems. Learn more in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #130 Topics: Becoming a lawyer in the U.S., famous lines from American movies, proper versus appropriate Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 358 - Surfing the Internet Learn how to talk about using the Internet at work in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 357 - Describing Facial Expressions Learn how to describe the expressions on people�s faces in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #129 Topics: Norman Vincent Peale, Japanese internment camps, straightforward, to tap into, made by versus made of versus made in Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 356 - Starting a Franchise Business Get rich while learning some business English in this episode about franchises. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 355 - Finding a Bargain Learn how to describe getting a good price at the store in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #128 Topics: American cities: Portland, Oregon; Take Me Out to the Ballgame; ocean versus sea, ability versus capability Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 354 - Being Scared Are you afraid of the dark? Learn how to talk about being scared in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 353 - Describing the Taste of Food Cooking can show another person you love them, even when it tastes bad. Learn how to describe the taste of food in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #127 Topics: Ask an American: Starving Artists as a matter of fact, process versus procedure, to haggle Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 352 - Understanding Interest Rates If you need borrow, you may want to get a loan from the bank. Find out how to talk about interest rates in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 351 - Asking for a First Date Ah, true love! See the beginnings of a beautiful relationship as you learn how to ask the woman of your dreams on a date. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #126 Topics: Famous Americans: Grandma Moses GED Tests, since versus from, is to do (something), calligraphy versus penmanship Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 350 - A Movie Review Learn how to talk about movies in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 349 - Taking Vitamins and Supplements An apple a day keeps the doctor away, but what about just taking a pill? Learn more in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #125 Topics: Celebrity chefs, Americans and personal space, generic versus general, expressing height in feet and meters, prophecy versus prediction Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 348 - Showing Disapproval and Sympathy If there is something that you don�t like or you feel sorry for someone and you want to express yourself in a polite way in English, listen to this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 347 - Writing a Postcard Tell everyone about your great vacation by sending them a postcard in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #124 Topics: Cities: New Orleans 9-1-1 emergency services, his or her, you don�t need to know versus you need not know, incident versus accident Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 346 - Using the Restroom Learn how to talk about what�s inside a restroom in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 345 - The Seven-Year Itch Some men think women are like cars: When you get tired of the one you have, you go get a new one. Find out why that may not be a good idea in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #123 Topics: Charles Schultz and Peanuts, how to become a police officer, you and I versus you and me, yippikaiye, to call dibs Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 344 - At the Convention Center Learn about going to conferences and conventions in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 343 - Being Alike and Different Learn to describe differences and similarities in personality in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #122 Topics: Ask an American: Endangered languages rednecks, dictionary versus thesaurus Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 342 - At the Butcher's Learn how to buy meat at a butcher�s shop in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 341 - An Annoying Cell Phone User Welcome to the annoying world of public cell phone use! Find out why how not to use your mobile phone in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #121 Topics: Convenience stores, eating and drinking noises, colleague versus associate versus fellow, to sign in versus to sign off versus to sign on versus to sign up Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 340 - Office Competition A contest can sometimes motivate employees to work harder. Learn more in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 339 - Star-crossed Lovers Forget about Shakespeare. Read all about the love between Romeo and Juliette in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #120 Topics: Men and �dumb blondes,� the Rotary Club, grade versus score, how do I get to versus where do I find, my friend versus a friend of mine Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 338 - Refusing an Invitation Learn how to say no to an invitation politely in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 337 - Reading Comic Books They�re not just for kids anymore. Learn all about graphic novels and comic books in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #119 Topics: Cities: Anchorage, Alaska John Henry, you might as well, to hit the ground running, the �caf� in English Caf�, what goes around comes around, breaking news Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 336 - Going Out of Business When a business is doing poorly, sometimes it has to close. Find out more in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 335 - Getting a Car Serviced Take a trip to the mechanic to have your car looked at in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #118 Topics: How to become the president of the United States, tailgating parties, seize versus arrest versus detain, pronouncing �the,� expressions for showing sympathy Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 334 - Hiding from the Police If you fought the law and the law won, then listen to this episode where you�ll learn all about crime vocabulary in English. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 333 - Quitting Smoking Smoke, anyone? Learn about how to end your addiction on this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #117 Topics: Ask an American: Business travel in the U.S. bang for your buck, original versus initial, the longest word in English Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 332 - Profit and Loss Find out how to read a profit and loss statement in English on this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 331 - Washing Clothes Learn about how to talk about washing your clothes in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #116 Topics: Tooth Fairy, Easter Bunny, progress versus process, would in the past tense, to be on the chunky side Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 330 - Traveling by Bus Going somewhere? Learn how to take a bus in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 329 - Being Persuasive Want to date my sister? Let me persuade you in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #115 Topics: Professional wrestling, National Geographic, would-be versus wannabe, be my guest, why not? Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 328 - Dishonesty at Work Honesty is the best policy, as we learn in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 327 - Getting Caught in the Rain Learn expressions related to the rain in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #114 Topics: Cities: Boston Vanity license plates, to make a difference versus to make the difference, lame, devil�s advocate Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 326 - Finding the Right Wine In wine there is truth, the Romans said. Find out how to select a good one in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 325 - Describing People's Moods Whether you are happy or sad, you�ll enjoy learning about describing people�s moods in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #113 Topics: Gallaudet University, U.S. call signs for radio and TV stations, outfit versus gear versus equipment, pronouncing law and low, so versus very Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 324 - Corporate Sponsorship Learn about companies that pay for sponsorships in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 323 - Rooms in a House Don�t get lost in your own house! Learn the names of the different rooms of a house in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #112 Topics: Ask an American: Roswell, New Mexico holiday versus vacation, arbitrator versus referee versus umpire, Ay, caramba! Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 322 - Picking up a Rental Car Learn how to rent a car in the US in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 321 - Buying a Jacket or Coat When it gets cold, you need to get a warm coat. Go shopping for one in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #111 Topics: Famous Americans: Yo Yo Ma Popular books in the US, pronouncing contractions, to figure out versus it figures, there will be no versus there will not be, if you will Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 320 - Micromanaging the Staff Every boss has a different style of managing. Learn how to talk about these styles in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 319 - Being Under Stress Having a bad day? Learn how to talk about being overworked in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #110 Topics: How to become a teacher in the US, steps in ordering food in a restaurant, to walk the walk and talk the talk, constraint versus restraint, monkey business, on a regular basis Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 318 - Writing a Love Song Music is the language of the heart, so find out about writing a love song in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 317 - Setting the Table Get your table ready for dinner in this episode, where you�ll learn the names for common items used in eating. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #109 Topics: Cities: Tucscon, Arizona (Interview with Dr. Lucy Tse) Harper�s Index, to get a kick out of something, to commute, to not stand for something, �Early to bed, early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise� Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 316 - Business Emails and Abbreviations Learn about common English abbreviations used in emails and letters in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 315 - Going to the Park Take a pleasant walk in the park and make new friends in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #108 Topics: Route 66, playground games for children, on time versus in time, counting seconds using Mississippi, to knock yourself out Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 314 - Buying a Digital Audio (MP3) Player Confused about which portable MP3 player to buy? Learn what questions to ask in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 313 - A Suspicious Neighbor What do you really know about your neighbor? Find out more in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #107 Topics: Ask an American: Socially Responsible Companies case study, to be at sea, to knock someone�s socks off, to take one�s time Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 312 - Different Work Styles What kind of employee are you at your job? Find out how to describe different work styles in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 311 - A Mid-life Crisis Getting older is not always the same as getting wiser. Learn about a man�s mid-life crisis. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #106 Topics: American folklore: Bigfoot Who�s on First?, to tear apart, Cliff Notes, to fall out of love Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 310 - Shopping for Furniture Learn the names of different types of furniture for your house in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 309 - Describing Distances and Giving Directions Feeling a little lost? Learn how to ask for directions in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #105 Topics: Why Americans don�t use the metric system, how to dress in Los Angeles versus New York, yutz, to go back to square one, what to call your cousin�s son, I�m done with you Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 308 - Formatting a Document Learn how to make your documents look the way you want in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website Special Announcement - New Blog, New Memberships, and New Premium Course Special Announcement: New Blog, Memberships, and Premium Course Now Available on ESLPod.com! Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 307 - Cable and Satellite TV Do you like watching TV? You�ll find out about cable and satellite television in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #104 Topics: American cities: Nashville Grand Ole Opry, school fund-raisers, to hold on to your hat, to be put inside, a blow-by-blow account Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 306 - Giving First Aid Help! You�ll find out how to describe common medical emergencies in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 305 - Describing People�s Body Types Learn how to describe people�s physical shape in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #103 Topics: Ask an American: Raising children one of those, reply versus answer, customer versus purchaser Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 304 - A Potential Partnership Meeting Working with another company can be difficult. Learn about forming a business partnership in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 303 - A Traditional Wedding Here comes the bride! Find out what the happy couple says when they get married in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #102 Topics: the Pledge of Allegiance, tomato as fruit versus vegetable, to be raised versus to grow up, buy versus purchase, to take the bull by the horns, can versus may versus could when asking for permission Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 302 - A Problem with a Restaurant Check Learn how to talk about problems with your restaurant bill in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 301 - Buying a Men's Suit Buying a formal business suit requires knowing some special terms in English. Learn more in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #101 Topics: American cities: Honolulu fantasy sports camps, to freeze a bra, coupon versus voucher, illicit versus illegal Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 300 - Arriving for an Appointment What should you say when you arrive for a business appointment? Find out in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 299 - An Old Love What do you do when an old love calls you? Find out in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #100 Topics: Traveling in the US, gimmick versus trick, to call �em like you see �em, spite versus respite, in demand versus on demand Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 298 - Visiting a Museum See great art at the museum in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 297 - Being Rich and Poor Learn about how to talk about being rich and poor in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #99 Topics: Ask an American: Losing weight in America 99 Bottles of Beer on the Wall, to be someone�s man through and through, doggone, to see one�s share of something, to say something ten times fast Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 296 - Bad Manners at a Business Lunch Learn how not to act at a business meeting in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 295 - Playing Video Games Learn about how to talk about videogames in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #98 Topics: McJobs; Robert�s Rules of Order; in for a dime, in for a dollar; a police officer�s beat, could versus would, center versus centre Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 294 - Living in a Condo or Co-op Learn how to talk about living in a condominium or co-op in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 293 - Being Affectionate in Public Everyone has a different idea about how people in love should act in public. Learn more in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #97 Topics: Atlanta, Famous Americans: Michael Moore, to have versus to have got, singular versus plural verbs with percentages, sort of versus kind of Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 292 - Business Insurance Protect yourself against problems by getting insurance. Find out more in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 291 - Going on a Diet Get ready to loose a few pounds (and kilos) in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast Special Edition - Video Podcast for 2nd Anniversary ESL Podcast's 2nd Anniversary: The Rock Video. Special thanks to our members, donors, and listeners! Enjoy this musical "thank you" from ESL Podcast. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #96 Topics: How to become a doctor, how much Americans earn, using from, between, and during, fire versus arson, town hall meetings Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 290 - Riding the Subway Learn how to take the subway in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 289 - Communication Problems What we have here is a failure to communicate. Learn about talking to your spouse in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #95 Topics: Ask an American: Getting into an MBA program to spell out something, about to break, breakdown, conscience versus conscious Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 288 - A Business Contract Find out how to discuss contracts in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 287 - A Traffic Jam Nobody likes a traffic jam. Find out how to describe getting stuck on the freeway in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #94 Topics: Famous Americans: Katie Couric Payday loans, pronouncing listen, stepbrother versus half-brother, godmothers and godfathers Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 286 - Describing Facial Features Learn how to describe people�s faces in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 285 - A Movie Collection Learn how to talk about DVD movies in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #93 Topics: American cities: Las Vegas, Google and privacy on the Internet, red tape, to catch lightening in a bottle, pronouncing ordinal numbers Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 284 - A Friendly Rivalry Some men are very competitive. Find out about how they compete in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 283 - A Restaurant Drive-Thru Feeling hungry but don�t have a lot of time? Find out how to order at a fast-food restaurant in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #92 Topics: Fourth of July, Preamble to the US Constitution, Schoolhouse Rock, will versus shall, to come off Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 282 - Offending Someone You have to be careful about telling certain kinds of jokes at work. Learn more in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 281 - All-Inclusive Vacations It�s time to relax and enjoy your vacation in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #91 Topics: Ask an American: Interpreters, pronouncing years and punctuation marks, school leavers and drop outs Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 280 - Viral Marketing Learn how to talk about selling in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 279 - Saying Goodbye Learn how to say goodbye in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #90 Topics: State and county fairs, Stan Lee and Spider-Man, Miss versus Mrs. versu Ms., to be in bloom, in order to Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 278 - Meeting the Future In-Laws Worried about meeting your future in-laws? Find out what to do in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 277 - Garage Sales Looking for a good price on something? Go to a garage sale in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #89 Topics: Airport X-ray machines, Guinness Book of World Records, to be under siege, to run like butter, girlfriends, to trade up Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 276 - The Stock Market Learn how not to get rich in the US stock market in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #88 Topics: Yellowstone National Park, summer jobs for teenagers, I�ll be in later versus I�ll be in late, loudly versus aloud versus loud, pronouncing lounge, lunch, and launch Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 275 - A Soccer Match Goal! Score points at a soccer game in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 274 - Buying Stamps at the Post Office Need to mail a letter? Find out how to order stamps in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 273 - Telling Secrets to Parents Keeping secrets from your parents can sometimes get you in trouble. Find out how in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 272 - Time Management So much to do, so little time! Learn how to manage your time better in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 271 - Using an ATM An ATM is supposed to save you time in getting money from your bank. Learn how to use one in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #86 Topics: Famous Americans: Frank Gehry, Memorial Day, odd one out, as good as it gets. film versus movie Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 270 - Airport Announcements Learn about airport announcements in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 269 - Health Insurance Plans Learn how to get better service from your doctor in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #85 Topics: US Census, Driving While Texting, as well as versus as long as, change versus alter versus modify versus transform Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 268 - Get-Rich-Quick Schemes Getting rich quickly is the dream of many people. Find out more in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 267 - Getting a Traffic Ticket Be careful when you drive or you may get a ticket. Find out how to talk about it in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #84 Topics: Homelessness in the US; prenups and postnups; �Smith�s the name, oil�s the game�; to weep versus to cry, to see someone smile Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 266 - Making a Move on Someone She loves me, she loves me not. Who knows? Find out in the episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 265 - Listening to the Radio Radio is old technology, but it can still be good to listen to. Find out more in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #83 Topics: Ask an American: International students in the US; don�t versus doesn�t; ain�t; you singular versus you plural Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 264 � Preparing for a Video Conference Save time and money by using video conference. Learn more in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 263 - Getting Older Not everything changes when you get older. Find out about aging in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 262 - Missing the Tour Group Bus Taking a tour can be fun and relaxing, except when you miss your tour bus! Find out more in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #82 Topics: US advertising in other countries; Habitat for Humanity; bad-tempered vs. short-tempered; no pun intended; to be raining cats and dogs Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 261 - Describing People's Personalities Learn how to describe different personalities in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #81 Topics: Earth Day, Dr. Seuss books, pronouncing sin, sing, hit, heat, and hate; about six o�clock vs. around six o�clock; What I wouldn�t give vs. What I would give; I couldn�t care less vs. I could care less Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 260 - Business Trends What will happen to your business in the future? Find out how to talk about it in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 259 - Making a Restaurant Reservation Learn how to make a restaurant reservation in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 258 - Moving In Together Sometimes couples don�t agree on how to continue their romantic relationship. Find out more in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #80 Topics: Google Book Search, Clint Eastwood, village vs. neighborhood, to retrieve vs. to recover, cooking vs. cuisine Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 257 - Finding a Book at a Bookstore Learn how to ask for the book you want at a bookstore in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #79 Topics: Ask an American: Working, quote vs. offer, Something�s Gotta Give Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 256 - Looking for Ideas Need a new idea at work? Listen to this episode for some helpful advice. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 255 - Questions about a Product Learn how to ask questions in English about something you want to buy in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 254 - Good Hygiene Being clean can prevent you from getting sick. Learn more in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #78 Topics: Daylight Saving Time, March Madness, to solve vs. to resolve, She smells good vs. She smells well Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 253 - Traveling by Train All aboard! Find out how to take a train in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #77 Topics: American houses, what Americans think they need, using �the� before a country�s name, either vs. neither Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 252 - A Workers' Strike Not happy at your work? Maybe you should go on a strike. Find out more in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 251 - Stranger on a Plane Airplanes can sometimes be a good place to meet new people. Find out if romance is in the air in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #76 Topics: Scientology, Wikipedia, establishment figures, to not have a clue, at that time, Pardon my French!, Right on! Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #76 Topics: Scientology, Wikipedia, establishment figures, to not have a clue, at that time, Pardon my French!, Right on! Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #75 Topics: American Songs: Sound of Silence, Good for you! and Good for him!, realize vs. recognize vs. notice, farther vs. further Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 249 - At a Casino Feeling lucky? Try your luck at the casino in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 248 - Business Websites Setting up a website is hard work. Learn how to do it in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 247 - Asking for Recommendations Learn how to ask for recommendations in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #74 Topics: Ask an American: Being a single woman in the US, obviously vs. apparently, sorrow, to delay vs. to postpone vs. to defer Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 250 - Cheating on a Test It�s a bad idea to cheat on a test. Find out why in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website 246 - Understanding Addresses Sending a letter to the US? Learn about American addresses in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #73 Topics: Philadelphia, jury duty, canary in a coal mine, rule of thumb Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #245 - Characteristics of an Ideal Mate Who is your perfect mate? Find out how to describe him or her in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #244 - Critiquing Someone's Work Criticizing other people�s work is never easy. Find out how to do it in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #243 - Speaking to a Store Clerk on the Phone Find out how to call the store before you go shopping in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #72 Topics: In the News: The Nobel Effect, dangerous bicycle helmets; to talk someone out of something vs. to have it out with someone; I�ll wait for you vs. I�ll be waiting for you; mixture Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #242 - The Comedy Club Laugh out loud at the comedy club in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #241 - At the Bakery Feeling hungry? Learn how to order desserts from a bakery in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #71 Topics: How to ruin your computer, how much things cost in the US, secretvs. confidential vs. private, clich� vs. touch� Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #240 - Working Overtime Working too much can cause problems in the family. Find out more in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #239 - A Birthday Party Planning a party is hard work. Planning a party for children is even harder. Find out more in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #70 Topics: Current Movies: Stomp the Yard and Dreamgirls, vibe, sick vs. ill. vs. cold, to hold someone�s hand vs. to hold onto someone Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #238 - Traveling Off-Season Need a vacation? Find out how to travel for cheap in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #237 - Getting Revenge Women don�t like men who play with their romantic emotions. Find out what will happen to you if you do in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #69 Topics: Studying abroad in college, Americans and gun control, come and eat vs. come to eat, in spite of vs. despite Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #236 - An On-Site Estimate Learn how to fix or change your house or office in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #235 - Parking Instructions Understanding directions can be difficult. Learn about parking instructions in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #234 - Seeing an Eye Doctor Can�t see very well? Learn how to visit the eye doctor in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #68 Topics: Ask an American: Raising a large family, criteria vs. standard, through vs. throughout, to call it quits Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast Special Announcement - New ESL Podcast Store Now Open! The ESL Podcast Store is now open! Check our our new courses at http://www.eslpod.com. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #233 - Asking for a Date Looking for love in all the wrong places? Learn how to ask someone out on a date in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #67 Topics: In the News: pretexting, �stay the course,� The Colbert Report, �if that�s anything to go by,� color vs. hue, contribute vs. attribute, �the die is cast� Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #231 - The Supermarket Checkout Learn how to pay for your food at a grocery store in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #66 Topics: Ask an American: College Life in the US, all but, specialty vs. speciality, to cut someone off, Don�t be a�, moonshine Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #230 - A New Year's Cruise Nothing is better than a little cruise on thewater on a holiday. Find out more in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #229 - Irratating Co-workers The French philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre once said: �Hell is other people.� Find out why on this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #65 Topics: Native rate of speech, to preach to the choir, common sense, �though� at the end of a sentence, possess vs. own, allow you to vs. allows you to, pronouncing �twenty� and �ninety,� picking a suitor, a make-out scene Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #228 - A Christmas Feast Christmas is a time for a big meal. Eat up inthis podcast! Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #227 - Describing Symtoms to a Doctor Feeling sick? Find out how to talk to your doctor in English in this podcast. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #64 Topics: �There you go!� vs. �There you are!�, estimate vs. determine, bump vs. dip, opposite vs. in front of, mudslinging, shade vs. shadow, assure vs. ensure vs. insure, definitely vs. exactly Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #226 - Holiday Decorating Get your house ready for the holidays in this podcast. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #63 Topics: Dates for dogs, �Me, too!�, Something 101, I�m game, to hover over, travel vs. trip vs. journey, up to vs. until, �Word up!� Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #225 - Feeling Homesick Moving to a new city can be difficult. Learn more about how to adjust in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #224 - Holiday Promotions The great holiday shopping season is here! Learn about getting a good deal in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #223 - A Mistake in the Hotel Bill Hotels sometimes make mistakes. Find out how to get better service in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #62 Topics: New York City, abbreviations after a name (Ph.D., MD, RN, DDS, Esq.), say vs. talk vs. speak vs. tell, towel vs. napkin,what to say when you�re shopping Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #222 - Alternative Medicine Some people want to try different types of medicine. Learn more about it in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #221 - Long Distance Relationships Ah, long distance love! Find out about the problems of having a girlfriend on the other side of the country. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #61 Topics: How to work in the United States, interracial dating and marriage, to lean on someone�s shoulder, pronouncing math expressions, rather Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #220 - Giving Opinions at a Meeting Tell others what you think at your next business meeting. Find out how on this podcast. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #60 Topics: Bestselling books in the U.S., Thanksgiving traditions, to figure out, pronouncing can vs. can�t Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #218 - Getting a Driver's License To drive a car, you have to get a driver�s license. Find out how in this podcast. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #217 - Lost and Found Losing things always causes problems. Learn about the Lost and Found in this podcast. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #216 - Outsourcing Operations Outsourcing is popular with many US businesses. Learn more about it in this podcast. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #215 - Getting a Men's Haircut Do you want to get your haircut? Find out how to do it in English in this episode. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #58 Topics: Table manners in the U.S., Washington, D.C., easygoing, down to earth, to put someone in harm�s way, to take a shot at someone, inquiry Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #214 - A Jealous Girlfriend Learn about the problems of having a jealous girlfriend on this podcast. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #213 - Buying a Bicycle Get some exercise by going biking in this podcast. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #57 Topics: Woodstock Music Festival, Affirmative Action, hands-on vs. hand-off, to struggle, how to ask for a taxi, May I vs. Can I, to carpool Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #212 - Asking for a Raise You can�t get a raise unless you ask for it. Find out how in this podcast. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #211 - Giving Bad News and Condolences In this podcast, learn what to say when someone you know dies. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #210 - A Family Road Trip It�s always fun to take a vacation, but this podcast is an exception. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #55 Topics: Genealogy, Bill Cosby, to get down on your knees vs. to get down on one knee Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #208 - Corporate Image Image is everything in business. Find out about corporate image in this podcast. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #207 - Giving Birth in a Hospital She�s having my baby! Give birth in this podcast. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #54 Topics: Houston, who Americans trust, to get off one�s soapbox, layover vs. transfer, blond vs. blonde Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #206 - A Generation Gap Kids often don�t understand their parents. Learn more in this podcast. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #205 - Shopping for Shoes Need a new pair of shoes? Learn how to buy them in English in this podcast. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #53 Topics: Elections in the U.S., to prove someone wrong, effect vs. affect, to wait on someone vs. to wait for someone, big vs. large, I�m fine vs. I�m good vs. I�m well Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website English Cafe #52 Topics: Wills and estates, �No big!�, primordial soup, trouble vs. problem vs. issue vs. situation, answer vs. response vs. reply, though, device vs. gadget vs. gizmo vs. contraption Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #202 - At the Gas Station Get some gas for that weekend trip on this podcast. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #199 - A Love Letter Love can make you crazy. Learn how to talk about being in love in English in this podcast. Listen | Listen in your iPhone | Download | View full cache | Visit Website ESL Podcast #197 - An Apology What happens when a friend doesn�t keep your secret? Find out in this podcast. Listen | Listen in your iPhone |