Plain English | Learn English | Vocabulary, News, And Culture At The Right Speed For English Language Learners

Today's story: Paris's Notre Dame Cathedral was nearly destroyed in a devastating fire in 2019. In the years since, thousands of artisans and specialists worked to restore the 850-year-old cathedral. The roof was rebuilt using oak from French forests. The massive pipe organ was disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled. The limestone exterior was preserved and, where necessary, stones were replaced. New lighting and safety systems were installed. And in December 2024, the cathedral opened to the world once again.Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/749--Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies, connect with family abroad, or even prepare for an international move. Whatever your reason, we'll help you achieve your goals in English.How it works: Listen to a new story every Monday and Thursday. They're all about current events, trending topics, and what's goin

Today's story: Saturday Night Live, or SNL, is a late-night comedy show that mixes short sketches, parodies, and music. The sketches poke fun at everyday situations, celebrities, products, and current events. What makes it special is that it's written quickly each week and performed live before a studio audience. This year, it celebrates its fiftieth anniversary on the air, always in the same time slot (11:30 p.m. on Saturdays).Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/748--Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies, connect with family abroad, or even prepare for an international move. Whatever your reason, we'll help you achieve your goals in English.How it works: Listen to a new story every Monday and Thursday. They're all about current events, trending topics, and what's going on in the world. Get exposure to new words and ideas that you otherwise might not

Today's story: English isn’t descended from Latin, but some Latin phrases have made their way into everyday use. This lesson explores eight Latin phrases, such as ""circa,"" ""quid pro quo,"" and ""status quo,"" that are still used in English today, plus some fun facts about Latin's influence on other fields.Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/747Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/747 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies, connect with family abroad, or even prepare for an international move. Whatever your reason, we'll help you achieve your goals in English.How it works: Listen to a new story every Monday and Thursday. They're all about current events, trending topics, and what's going on in the world. Get exposure to new words and ideas that you otherwise might not have heard in English.The audio moves at a speed that's right for intermediate

Today's story: Neon signs have lit up city streets for about a century. But building owners are increasingly swapping hand-blown neon tubes for sleek LED bulbs. The new bulbs are cheaper, easier to maintain, and more energy-efficient. But the old neon signs are a nostalgic part of urban history. What will cities be like without them?Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/746Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/746 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies, connect with family abroad, or even prepare for an international move. Whatever your reason, we'll help you achieve your goals in English.How it works: Listen to a new story every Monday and Thursday. They're all about current events, trending topics, and what's going on in the world. Get exposure to new words and ideas that you otherwise might not have heard in English.The audio moves at a speed that'

Today's story: The British Parliament recently voted to advance a bill that would legalize medically-assisted dying in England and Wales. Supporters argue that those with terminal illnesses should have the right to avoid suffering at the very end of their lives. Opponents are concerned about social pressure, a slippery slope, and the role of doctors in ending life. If the bill passes, parts of the U.K. would join several other countries in legalizing the practice.Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/745Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/745 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies, connect with family abroad, or even prepare for an international move. Whatever your reason, we'll help you achieve your goals in English.How it works: Listen to a new story every Monday and Thursday. They're all about current events, trending topics, and what's going on

"Today's story: Nightclubs around the world are closing their doors earlier than ever before, and some of the world's biggest party hotspots are hosting fewer all-night parties. Club owners and party organizers face tighter regulations and higher costs. But the real culprit is simply that this generation of young people is less interested in club culture than previous generations were.Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/744"Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/744 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies, connect with family abroad, or even prepare for an international move. Whatever your reason, we'll help you achieve your goals in English.How it works: Listen to a new story every Monday and Thursday. They're all about current events, trending topics, and what's going on in the world. Get exposure to new words and ideas that you otherwise might not

Today's story: Every winter, Girl Scouts and their parents fan out across schools, offices, and community events, soliciting orders for cookies. Customers have just one chance per year to satisfy their cravings for Thin Mints, Do-Si-Dos, and Samoas. But it’s not just the customers who benefit—the girls learn skills like sales, planning, and customer service, and cookie sales contribute millions to their Girl Scout troops and regional councils.Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/743--Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies, connect with family abroad, or even prepare for an international move. Whatever your reason, we'll help you achieve your goals in English.How it works: Listen to a new story every Monday and Thursday. They're all about current events, trending topics, and what's going on in the world. Get exposure to new words and ideas that you othe

Today's story: Jimmy Carter, who died at the end of 2024, was America's 39th president. His term in office was marked by challenges, and he suffered a lopsided loss in the 1980 election. But after he left office, he founded one of the most influential global nonprofits. The Carter Center has had an extraordinary positive impact on humanity in areas ranging from peace to health to democracy.Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/742--Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies, connect with family abroad, or even prepare for an international move. Whatever your reason, we'll help you achieve your goals in English.How it works: Listen to a new story every Monday and Thursday. They're all about current events, trending topics, and what's going on in the world. Get exposure to new words and ideas that you otherwise might not have heard in English.The audio moves

Today's story: Australia’s new law bans children under 16 from social media, but two key questions remain: how will platforms verify user ages, and what exactly counts as a social media platform? So much of the online world has at least some social component: will teen book nerds be kicked off Goodreads?Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/741Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/741 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies, connect with family abroad, or even prepare for an international move. Whatever your reason, we'll help you achieve your goals in English.How it works: Listen to a new story every Monday and Thursday. They're all about current events, trending topics, and what's going on in the world. Get exposure to new words and ideas that you otherwise might not have heard in English.The audio moves at a speed that's right for intermediate Engli

Today's story: Australia has passed a law that will prohibit children under 16 from accessing social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram. The law aims to protect kids from cyberbullying and mental health issues, but critics say it's an unfair restriction on kids' freedom to connect online.Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/740--Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies, connect with family abroad, or even prepare for an international move. Whatever your reason, we'll help you achieve your goals in English.How it works: Listen to a new story every Monday and Thursday. They're all about current events, trending topics, and what's going on in the world. Get exposure to new words and ideas that you otherwise might not have heard in English.The audio moves at a speed that's right for intermediate English learners: just a little slower than full native

Today's story: Processed foods are widely considered unhealthy and are associated with obesity and cardiovascular disease. But what, exactly, is unhealthy about them? New research attempts to tease out which processed foods are most associated with bad health.Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/739Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/739 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies, connect with family abroad, or even prepare for an international move. Whatever your reason, we'll help you achieve your goals in English.How it works: Listen to a new story every Monday and Thursday. They're all about current events, trending topics, and what's going on in the world. Get exposure to new words and ideas that you otherwise might not have heard in English.The audio moves at a speed that's right for intermediate English learners: just a little slower than full n

Today's story: Here are three major stories to follow in 2025: Donald Trump’s return and its impact on global trade, the potential endgame for the Ukraine-Russia war, and the evolving role of artificial intelligence in business and society.Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/738Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/738 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies, connect with family abroad, or even prepare for an international move. Whatever your reason, we'll help you achieve your goals in English.How it works: Listen to a new story every Monday and Thursday. They're all about current events, trending topics, and what's going on in the world. Get exposure to new words and ideas that you otherwise might not have heard in English.The audio moves at a speed that's right for intermediate English learners: just a little slower than full native speed. You'll

Over the course of 31 years and over 900 half-hour episodes, Fred Rogers was a friendly television neighbor and mentor to generations of American children, who knew him as simply "Mr. Rogers." A new movie, starring Tom Hanks as Mr. Rogers, explores the impact he had on children. He wasn't afraid to confront topics big and small and always spoke to children on their level. Plus, learn the English phrase "get down to business."Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/216 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies, connect with family abroad, or even prepare for an international move. Whatever your reason, we'll help you achieve your goals in English.How it works: Listen to a new story every Monday and Thursday. They're all about current events, trending topics, and what's going on in the world. Get exposure to new words and ideas that you otherwise might not have heard in En

Leaving a five-star review has become customary for any experience that is excellent, good, average, or even acceptable, and anything below five-stars means terrible in the world of online reviews. As consumers, this system isn’t helpful in identifying the true high performers, and it makes it difficult for people or businesses to stand out from the crowd. Plus, learn “rave about.”Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/419 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies, connect with family abroad, or even prepare for an international move. Whatever your reason, we'll help you achieve your goals in English.How it works: Listen to a new story every Monday and Thursday. They're all about current events, trending topics, and what's going on in the world. Get exposure to new words and ideas that you otherwise might not have heard in English.The audio moves at a speed that's right

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to take a Tesla out for a spin? It has all the ordinary features of a luxury car, plus all of the benefits – and thrills – of an electric car, like instant acceleration. Plus, Teslas have a feature that might make you less stressed in traffic, and you’ll learn “check the boxes.” On Monday, the lesson will focus on the Tesla technology.Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/435 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies, connect with family abroad, or even prepare for an international move. Whatever your reason, we'll help you achieve your goals in English.How it works: Listen to a new story every Monday and Thursday. They're all about current events, trending topics, and what's going on in the world. Get exposure to new words and ideas that you otherwise might not have heard in English.The audio moves at a speed that's right for inte

Christmas-themed movies are almost as old as the movies themselves. In today's lesson, you'll hear about four classic Christmas movies from four different decades (and two movies that don't count!). Plus, learn the English expression "fend off."Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/532 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies, connect with family abroad, or even prepare for an international move. Whatever your reason, we'll help you achieve your goals in English.How it works: Listen to a new story every Monday and Thursday. They're all about current events, trending topics, and what's going on in the world. Get exposure to new words and ideas that you otherwise might not have heard in English.The audio moves at a speed that's right for intermediate English learners: just a little slower than full native speed. You'll improve your English listening, learn new words, an

Today's story: Giving gifts is a waste of money. That's the conclusion of economic studies that show the ""deadweight loss"" that occurs when givers buy gifts the receivers don't want very much. But even with this loss, a good gift can still be worth it...if done right.Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/737 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies, connect with family abroad, or even prepare for an international move. Whatever your reason, we'll help you achieve your goals in English.How it works: Listen to a new story every Monday and Thursday. They're all about current events, trending topics, and what's going on in the world. Get exposure to new words and ideas that you otherwise might not have heard in English.The audio moves at a speed that's right for intermediate English learners: just a little slower than full native speed. You'll improve your English liste

Today's story: Romance novels are the bestselling genre in publishing, outselling thrillers, mysteries, and self-help books. This story explores what makes a book a romance, the genre’s rich history, its subgenres, and how e-readers and self-publishing have fueled its success.Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/736 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies, connect with family abroad, or even prepare for an international move. Whatever your reason, we'll help you achieve your goals in English.How it works: Listen to a new story every Monday and Thursday. They're all about current events, trending topics, and what's going on in the world. Get exposure to new words and ideas that you otherwise might not have heard in English.The audio moves at a speed that's right for intermediate English learners: just a little slower than full native speed. You'll improve your Englis

Today's story: Colm Tóibín's novel ""Brooklyn"" introduced readers to Eilis Lacey, a young woman from Ireland who emigrated to America in the 1950's. The story won wide praise and found commercial success; it was adapted into a movie in 2015. Now, the Irish author is back with a sequel, titled ""Long Island"" and set in the 1970s.Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/735Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/735 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies, connect with family abroad, or even prepare for an international move. Whatever your reason, we'll help you achieve your goals in English.How it works: Listen to a new story every Monday and Thursday. They're all about current events, trending topics, and what's going on in the world. Get exposure to new words and ideas that you otherwise might not have heard in English.The audio moves at a speed that's r

Today's story: Plasma is a light-yellow liquid that makes up about half the volume of our blood. It plays an important role carrying substances from one part of the body to another. It's also a critical ingredient in life-saving treatments. It's easy and safe to donate plasma, but the world still faces a shortage. Is it time for more countries to allow patients to be paid to donate plasma?Transcript & Exercises: https://plainenglish.com/734Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/734 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies, connect with family abroad, or even prepare for an international move. Whatever your reason, we'll help you achieve your goals in English.How it works: Listen to a new story every Monday and Thursday. They're all about current events, trending topics, and what's going on in the world. Get exposure to new words and ideas that you otherwise might n