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

" As the world flips the calendar to 2023, we discuss four stories that will have an impact in the next twelve months. How long will the war in Ukraine last? Will China experience a nasty wave of COVID? Can central banks avoid causing a recession? And how bad is the damage to crypto? Plus, learn the English expression ""be intent on."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/535 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current events and trending topics you care about: business, travel, technology, health, science, politics, the environment, and so much more. Our free English lessons always include English expressions and phrasal verbs, too. -- Learn even more English at PlainEnglish.com, where we have fast and slow audio, translations, videos, online English courses, and a supportive community of English learners like you. Sign up free at PlainEnglish.co

" Our current calendar is the Gregorian calendar and it's over 400 years old. But the basics (12 months, 365 days, leap years) have been in place for over two thousand years. A small change brought it closer into alignment with the astronomical year, but it's still not perfect. Plus, learn the English expression ""seek to."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/534 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current events and trending topics you care about: business, travel, technology, health, science, politics, the environment, and so much more. Our free English lessons always include English expressions and phrasal verbs, too. -- Learn even more English at PlainEnglish.com, where we have fast and slow audio, translations, videos, online English courses, and a supportive community of English learners like you. Sign up free at PlainEnglish.com/Join -- A

" ""Peanuts"" characters Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Peppermint Patty, and more, entertained millions of readers for half a century. Charles Schulz, the creator, drew every one of his 17,000-plus comics by hand. Plus, learn the English term ""comic relief."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/533 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current events and trending topics you care about: business, travel, technology, health, science, politics, the environment, and so much more. Our free English lessons always include English expressions and phrasal verbs, too. -- Learn even more English at PlainEnglish.com, where we have fast and slow audio, translations, videos, online English courses, and a supportive community of English learners like you. Sign up free at PlainEnglish.com/Join -- Aprende inglés gratis en línea con nuestro curso de inglés. Se habla

" 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."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/532 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current events and trending topics you care about: business, travel, technology, health, science, politics, the environment, and so much more. Our free English lessons always include English expressions and phrasal verbs, too. -- Learn even more English at PlainEnglish.com, where we have fast and slow audio, translations, videos, online English courses, and a supportive community of English learners like you. Sign up free at PlainEnglish.com/Join -- Aprende inglés gratis en línea con nuestro curso de inglés. Se habla a una vel

" In this first of our four holiday specials, we talk about a snowmobiling, a cold-weather activity that's only possible in parts of the world that get a lot of snow. A snowmobile is like a jet-ski, only for snow. Plus, learn the English expression ""familiar with."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/531 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current events and trending topics you care about: business, travel, technology, health, science, politics, the environment, and so much more. Our free English lessons always include English expressions and phrasal verbs, too. -- Learn even more English at PlainEnglish.com, where we have fast and slow audio, translations, videos, online English courses, and a supportive community of English learners like you. Sign up free at PlainEnglish.com/Join -- Aprende inglés gratis en línea con nuestro curso de inglés.

" Forget pushy salesmen and rows of mattresses to try in a store: the new way to buy a mattress is online. New direct-to-consumer companies are upending the industry, focusing on quality, value, and the customer experience. Even better: the mattresses are comfortable. Plus, learn the English expression ""fine-tune."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/530 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current events and trending topics you care about: business, travel, technology, health, science, politics, the environment, and so much more. Our free English lessons always include English expressions and phrasal verbs, too. -- Learn even more English at PlainEnglish.com, where we have fast and slow audio, translations, videos, online English courses, and a supportive community of English learners like you. Sign up free at PlainEnglish.com/Join -- Aprende i

" A pair of Venezuelan immigrants to Miami pulled off a bold scheme to defraud members of their country's elite. These individuals were under sanctions, so they couldn't visit their luxury properties. So the Venezuelan couple took out loans on those properties, and used the money to live large. Plus, learn what it means to be ""in the dark."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/529 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current events and trending topics you care about: business, travel, technology, health, science, politics, the environment, and so much more. Our free English lessons always include English expressions and phrasal verbs, too. -- Learn even more English at PlainEnglish.com, where we have fast and slow audio, translations, videos, online English courses, and a supportive community of English learners like you. Sign up free at PlainEng

" American real estate is considered a safe asset for wealthy people in unstable economies. They like to buy luxury homes in the U.S. because real estate is considered a guard against inflation. Plus, the legal rights are strong and their home governments can't (usually) access that wealth. Today, you'll also learn the English expression ""cook up."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/528 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current events and trending topics you care about: business, travel, technology, health, science, politics, the environment, and so much more. Our free English lessons always include English expressions and phrasal verbs, too. -- Learn even more English at PlainEnglish.com, where we have fast and slow audio, translations, videos, online English courses, and a supportive community of English learners like you. Sign up free at

" As fighting continues, Ukraine's railways have adapted to move refugees, supply the front lines, and keep exports flowing. The rail network has proved critical to Ukraine's war effort and its morale. Employees work long hours and comfort passengers in distress. Plus, learn the English phrase ""work around the clock."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/527 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current events and trending topics you care about: business, travel, technology, health, science, politics, the environment, and so much more. Our free English lessons always include English expressions and phrasal verbs, too. -- Learn even more English at PlainEnglish.com, where we have fast and slow audio, translations, videos, online English courses, and a supportive community of English learners like you. Sign up free at PlainEnglish.com/Join -- Aprend

" A new law in New York City requires all job postings to include a ""good faith"" range of base pay. The purpose is to help jobseekers negotiate fairer compensation. The law's authors hope the new rules reduce the pay disparity between men and women. But there are ways around the law. Plus, learn the English expression ""push the envelope."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/526 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current events and trending topics you care about: business, travel, technology, health, science, politics, the environment, and so much more. Our free English lessons always include English expressions and phrasal verbs, too. -- Learn even more English at PlainEnglish.com, where we have fast and slow audio, translations, videos, online English courses, and a supportive community of English learners like you. Sign up free at PlainEng

" The texts seem innocent at first: a case of mistaken identity or a request for advice. But for many victims, these random messages were the first step in an elaborate scam that cheated them out of all their savings. ""Pig butchering"" scams build confidence with their victims over weeks months; then, they trick victims into ""investing"" in fake cryptocurrency accounts. Plus, learn what it means to ""show your true colors."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/525 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current events and trending topics you care about: business, travel, technology, health, science, politics, the environment, and so much more. Our free English lessons always include English expressions and phrasal verbs, too. -- Learn even more English at PlainEnglish.com, where we have fast and slow audio, translations, videos, online English cour

" From ""Monster"" to ""Making of a Murderer,"" true crime has never been as popular as it is now. Many of these, though, are fictionalized, meaning the dialogue and details are invented to fit the overall story. Producers of these have a responsibility to the truth, but so do the viewers. Plus, learn the English phrase ""go about your business."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/524 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current events and trending topics you care about: business, travel, technology, health, science, politics, the environment, and so much more. Our free English lessons always include English expressions and phrasal verbs, too. -- Learn even more English at PlainEnglish.com, where we have fast and slow audio, translations, videos, online English courses, and a supportive community of English learners like you. Sign up free at Pla

" In the ultra-competitive world of streaming, Netflix has found a worldwide hit: its series called ""Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story."" In ten parts, the series tells the story of one of America's most notorious serial killers. While the facts of the story have been known for some time, the series tells the story from a new perspective. Plus, learn the English expression ""take liberties."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/523 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current events and trending topics you care about: business, travel, technology, health, science, politics, the environment, and so much more. Our free English lessons always include English expressions and phrasal verbs, too. -- Learn even more English at PlainEnglish.com, where we have fast and slow audio, translations, videos, online English courses, and a supportive community of

" Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, known as Lula, will return to presidency in Brazil, after defeating incumbent Jair Bolsonaro by 50.9% to 49.1%. The election marks a stunning comeback for Lula, who held the presidency from 2003 to 2010, but later served 18 months in jail for corruption. His third win, however, was his narrowest and he will preside over a divided country. Plus, learn the English expression ""on a technicality."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/522 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current events and trending topics you care about: business, travel, technology, health, science, politics, the environment, and so much more. Our free English lessons always include English expressions and phrasal verbs, too. -- Learn even more English at PlainEnglish.com, where we have fast and slow audio, translations, videos, online English courses

" The World Cup is the most-watched sports tournament in the world, and the 2022 edition starts Monday in the desert nation of Qatar. Here are some facts to get you ready for the big tournament. Plus, learn what it means to ""risk it."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/521 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current events and trending topics you care about: business, travel, technology, health, science, politics, the environment, and so much more. Our free English lessons always include English expressions and phrasal verbs, too. -- Learn even more English at PlainEnglish.com, where we have fast and slow audio, translations, videos, online English courses, and a supportive community of English learners like you. Sign up free at PlainEnglish.com/Join -- Aprende inglés gratis en línea con nuestro curso de inglés. Se habla a una velocidad lenta

" Elon Musk, the world's richest man by some measures, has purchased Twitter, a social media network, for $44 billion, using a mixture of his own money and loans. Like many things with Musk, this was hardly straightforward. Plus, learn the English expression ""stand to."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/520 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current events and trending topics you care about: business, travel, technology, health, science, politics, the environment, and so much more. Our free English lessons always include English expressions and phrasal verbs, too. -- Learn even more English at PlainEnglish.com, where we have fast and slow audio, translations, videos, online English courses, and a supportive community of English learners like you. Sign up free at PlainEnglish.com/Join -- Aprende inglés gratis en línea con nuestro curso de ing

We all know that different countries call things differently (lift vs. elevator, for example). But even within the U.S., there are surprising differences in vocabulary. And these differences persist, even though much of the media is national. So grab a soMentioned in this episode:Ready to improve your listening?Ready to listen fast? Improve your listening with the fast version of this and every episode. The full-speed version is a fresh recording and it sounds just like someone speaking to a native speaker (with no AI or computer manipulation!) You can even listen on a podcast app Sign up for a free 14-day trial at PlainEnglish.com

" Today's lesson is a look back at some recent lesson topics. Just months after the exit of Boris Johnson, British politics was plunged into tumult. Just one result: a recent prime minister was compared to a head of lettuce. Plus, learn the English expression ""distance yourself."" -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/518 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current events and trending topics you care about: business, travel, technology, health, science, politics, the environment, and so much more. Our free English lessons always include English expressions and phrasal verbs, too. -- Learn even more English at PlainEnglish.com, where we have fast and slow audio, translations, videos, online English courses, and a supportive community of English learners like you. Sign up free at PlainEnglish.com/Join -- Aprende inglés gratis en línea con nuestro cu

"America's national immigration policy has been broken for decades. Now, border state governors and big-city mayors are locked in a fight, with newly-arrived immigrants caught in between. It's a summary America's political and cultural dysfunction, all in one depressing story. Plus, learn the English expression ""find your way.""--At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world.-- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/517-- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current events and trending topics you care about: business, travel, technology, health, science, politics, the environment, and so much more. Our free English lessons always include English expressions and phrasal verbs, too.-- Learn even more English at PlainEnglish.com, where we have fast and slow audio, translations, videos, online English courses, and a supportive community of English learners like you. Sign up free at PlainEnglish.com/Join-- Ap

" The British Broadcasting Corporation turns 100 years old this month. The BBC started as a way for radio makers to convince people to buy a ""wireless."" Today, it supplies news, entertainment, and education to hundreds of millions of people every week. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/516 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current events and trending topics you care about: business, travel, technology, health, science, politics, the environment, and so much more. Our free English lessons always include English expressions and phrasal verbs, too. -- Learn even more English at PlainEnglish.com, where we have fast and slow audio, translations, videos, online English courses, and a supportive community of English learners like you. Sign up free at PlainEnglish.com/Join -- Aprende inglés gratis en línea con nuestro curso de inglés. Se habla a un