Espresso English Podcast
Episodes
258 - How to pronounce English words ending in -ILE
25 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Today I want to answer a question from a student who asked how to pronounce words ending in -ILE, like the word "mobile." Words with this ending are ...
257 - 16 common collocations with "time"
18 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
"Time" is one of the most common words in English - but do you know all the different ways you can use the word time? In today's lesson, you'll learn...
256 - 20 phrasal verbs with GET
11 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
This lesson is on one of the topics that's most requested by my students – it's all about phrasal verbs with the word "get." We have get off, get by...
255 - 10 idioms for extreme emotion
04 Mar 2020
Contributed by Lukas
If you want to speak fluent English, it's important to learn phrases and expressions - NOT just individual words. This is especially important wh...
254: Quiz - 10 Common English spelling mistakes
26 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Today's lesson is a quiz to help you practice some English words that are frequently spelled wrong. These spelling mistakes are made by both English l...
253: English phrases for talking about the weather
19 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Today you'll learn 14 conversational English phrases about the weather. If you want to know how to talk about the weather in English, beyond the basi...
252 - Pronunciation Practice: Difficult words with "R"
12 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Today we're going to practice pronouncing some difficult English words that feature the letter R, like choir, drawer, rural, library, temperature, an...
251 - 10 vocabulary words starting with "F"
05 Feb 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We've just started the month of February, and I realized it's been a long time since I did an English vocabulary lesson with pictures – so in today'...
250: English phrase - Hindsight is 20/20
29 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Today I'm going to explain the expression "hindsight is 20/20." It's now the year 2020, so I thought this would be an interesting phrase to learn! I...
249 - How it feels to be fluent - My language-learning story
27 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When you're learning a language, it's common to feel sad about your progress. You want to become fluent... but it seems like that goal is so far away...
248: How to speak English confidently!
22 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Do you often feel nervous when speaking English? Today I'm going to tell you my top tips for improving your confidence when speaking English. First...
247: 10 new words added to the dictionary in 2019
15 Jan 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Every year I like to teach a lesson on new words that have been added to the dictionary recently. The English language is always changing and evolving...
246 - Holiday or vacation?
23 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
It's just a couple days away from Christmas, which is a major holiday in the United States. So in today's lesson I'm going to teach you about the diff...
245 - Correct your English errors FAST!
18 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today's lesson is about common mistakes, but first I want to say one thing: Please don't let the fear of errors stop you from speaking English! It...
244 - How to improve your English listening
11 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you have difficulties in listening to and understanding English, you're not alone. This is one of the most common problems for English learners. I...
243 - Later vs. Latter
04 Dec 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today I'm going to explain the difference between LATER and LATTER. These words are only different by one letter, but they have different meanings a...
242 - Learn 7 MORE everyday English phrases!
27 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
After last week's lesson on common informal phrases, a lot of students e-mailed me saying, "please make more lessons like this!" So today I'll teach ...
241 - Learn 8 everyday English phrases and expressions
20 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
There are lots of little phrases that native English speakers use in daily life. But if you don't live in an English-speaking country, then you don't ...
240 - How to use going to, gonna, gonna go
13 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today's lesson is all about the expression "gonna" and when you CAN and CAN'T use it. I'll also tell you about "gonna go" - is this correct? Listen ...
239 - English Pronunciation Tip: Say, Says, Said
06 Nov 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today's quick pronunciation tip involves a very common verb: the word "say." You might be surprised that there's slightly different pronunciation in...
238 - 15 English idioms and phrasal verbs you CAN use at work
30 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Students often ask me if we can use idioms and slang in professional situations - and the answer is "it depends." Some expressions are not appropria...
237 - Confusing English Words: Experiment and Experience
23 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The words experience and experiment might be the same in some languages... but in English they are different, and I often see students confuse them...
236 - How can I use grammar correctly when speaking English?
16 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today I want to answer a question that is important for everyone who is studying English. Many of my students say, "I study grammar a lot and I under...
235 - English phrases explained: Good grief & For goodness' sake
09 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
When you're studying English, I recommend focusing on learning phrases and not just individual words. When you only study individual words, it's hard ...
234 - Important: 4 major English-learning problems
02 Oct 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today I'll teach you about some common English-learning mistakes that I've observed among the hundreds of students whom I've worked with. This less...
233 - Watch out for these spelling mistakes!
25 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today's lesson is all about spelling mistakes involving adding an extra letter to a word, or accidentally removing a letter from a word. There are ...
232 - These errors were made by real students like you
18 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Remember that mistakes are an opportunity to learn - and today you'll learn from the mistakes of other students like you. Today's lesson focuses on...
231 - Avoid these 7 pronunciation problems
11 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In this lesson we're going to look at 7 common pronunciation mistakes in words with confusing combinations of letters.. A lot of students ask me ab...
230 - Common Errors with Adjectives and Adverbs
04 Sep 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This month I'm going to teach you about some common errors in English. These are mistakes that I've observed and corrected frequently during my years ...
229: English Vocabulary for Summer
28 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Here in the U.S., we're in the middle of summer - the hottest part of the year! Today you'll learn some English vocabulary related to summer and hot w...
228: English Grammar - Gerunds
21 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A gerund is a word that looks like a verb, but functions as a noun in the sentence. Gerunds are formed by using the -ING form of the verb - reading, s...
227 - Learn 24 collocations with SPOT
14 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
The word spot has a few different meanings in English.The word spot has a few different meanings in English. Here are the three most common: as a nou...
226: Pronunciation Practice: Where, Were, We're
07 Aug 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Are you ready to practice your pronunciation? Today we're going to work on three very common words in English: where, were, and we're - individually a...
225 - Ten English idioms with "easy" and "hard"
31 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today I'll teach you 10 English expressions with the words "easy" and "hard." These individual words have simple definitions, but when they are used...
224 - Prepositions: OF vs. FROM
24 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Do you know when to use "of" vs. "from" in English? Using the wrong preposition is a very common mistake. Many other languages have just one word...
223 - More answers to your questions about phrasal verbs
17 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Phrasal verbs are combinations of a verb + preposition, like get up and find out. Phrasal verbs often have specific meanings that may not be obvio...
222 - Peace of mind vs. Give someone a piece of your mind
10 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Spoken English has a lot of little expressions that are used frequently by native speakers - and some of these expressions are so similar that you mig...
221 - Food, meal, dish, or cuisine?
03 Jul 2019
Contributed by Lukas
A lot of English learners get confused about the words food, dish, meal, and cuisine. These all refer to the general topic of eating, but there ar...
220 - How to pronounce words starting with DR-
26 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Are you ready for some pronunciation practice? In today's lesson we're going to work on pronouncing English words starting with DR-. There are two ...
219 - Learn 10 idioms and informal expressions with GET
19 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today's question comes from a student who was watching a movie. In this movie, one character said to another, "Get lost," so the student is asking w...
218 - IETLS exam tips - with Ben Worthington
12 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today I have a special guest - his name is Ben, and he's an expert in IELTS test preparation. He'll share some top strategies for each section of the ...
217 - How to use the words invaluable, infamous, inflammable
05 Jun 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today I'm going to teach you three pairs of confusing words that have the prefix IN-. In many words, IN- means the opposite or "not": independent = ...
216 - Finish vs. finish up and other verbs vs. phrasal verbs
29 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Someone asked me if there's a difference between finish and finish up. The answer is no - there's no difference in meaning. Finish up is just mo...
215 – Practice with me to avoid these common pronunciation mistakes!
22 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I've heard a lot of students' speaking samples in my courses, and today I'd like to address a few of the pronunciation mistakes that I've been corr...
214 - What do these TV and movie phrases mean?
15 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
If you watch TV and movies in English, you'll probably see a lot of new words and expressions that might not come up in your regular English study. S...
213 - 33 collocations and expressions for decisions
08 May 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today's lesson will teach you 33 collocations and expressions about decisions. Collocations are combinations of words that native English speakers u...
211 - Free sample lesson from the new Current Events English Course
25 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Here's a free sample lesson from my NEW Current Events English Course! Today I'll teach you 20 words and expressions from a recent news article abo...
210 - New Course! Current Events English: 2019 Edition
23 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Join the course: https://www.espressoenglish.net/current-events-english-course One common suggestion given to English learners is to read or watch t...
209 – Can you use -ING after "to" in English?
10 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
I received a great question from a student: Is it possible to use 'to' followed by the 'ing' form? For example, "I'm looking forward to seeing you." N...
208 - How to use the word "fool" in English
01 Apr 2019
Contributed by Lukas
April 1 is an informal holiday known as April Fools' Day! People celebrate by playing jokes and trying to trick people in funny and harmless ways. Yo...
207 - Emergency English Vocabulary
27 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Do you know what to say in English in case of an emergency? In the moment, you might panic and not be able to think of the words – so it's good to...
206 - A tricky little grammar mistake with SEE and HEAR
20 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Today I want to teach you about a tricky little grammar mistake that I see a lot of students making when using the verbs see, watch, and hear. You'l...
205 - 30 phrases for business letters and e-mails
13 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Do you have a hard time finding the right phrase to use in your business letters and e-mails? Today you'll learn 30 phrases for business corresponden...
204 - Difference between clean, wash, clean up, and wash up
06 Mar 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Are you wondering about the differences between clean, wash, clean up, and wash up? I'll teach you how to use them in today's lesson... along with a ...
203 - Daily phrases: hit it out of the park, making the rounds, out of line, and more
27 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In the month of February I'm going to do a special series of "phrase of the day" videos - so I'll take a phrase I've heard recently on TV or in daily ...
202 - Daily phrases: bear the brunt, move the goalposts, fall by the wayside, and more
20 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In the month of February I'm going to do a special series of "phrase of the day" videos - so I'll take a phrase I've heard recently on TV or in daily ...
201 - Daily phrases: rough around the edges, turn a blind eye, do the trick, and more
13 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In the month of February I'm going to do a special series of "phrase of the day" videos - so I'll take a phrase I've heard recently on TV or in daily ...
200 - Daily phrases: have a leg up, cut to the chase, up for grabs, and more
06 Feb 2019
Contributed by Lukas
In the month of February I'm going to do a special series of "phrase of the day" videos - so I'll take a phrase I've heard recently on TV or in daily ...
199 - Five motivational quotes and how they apply to learning English
30 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes you might get discouraged when studying English. Becoming fluent takes a really long time and lots of effort and practice, so it's easy to l...
198 - Learn and practice these 5 tiny pronunciation differences
23 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
We have a saying in English that "the devil is in the details" - this means that you need to be careful, because the small parts of a situation/task c...
197 - Learn 50 collocations with PLAN and HOPE
16 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
Many of us have hopes and plans for what we would like to accomplish in the new year! Today I'll teach you 50 common collocations with these word...
196 - New English words added to the dictionary in 2018
09 Jan 2019
Contributed by Lukas
This is one of my FAVORITE lessons of the year :-) Did you know that the dictionary is updated all the time? The publishers add words that have com...
195 - Learn 8 English idioms with END
31 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
It's December 31st - we're at the tail end of the year! (= the very last part) In today's lesson, you'll learn 8 English idioms with the word end...
194 - Answers to your questions about phrasal verbs
19 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Phrasal verbs are very common in everyday spoken English - and many students ask me about the definitions of phrasal verbs they've heard in conversati...
193 - Three different ways to pronounce CC in English
12 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
I've noticed a pronunciation mistake that many students make when they say words like "succeed" and "successful." There are actually 3 different way...
192 - Business English Vocabulary Quiz
05 Dec 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today you can test your knowledge of 10 common business English terms. This quiz only taught you 10 words and expressions... but you can learn hundre...
191 - Learn English from the News: The growing tradition of Friendsgiving
28 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We recently had the holiday of Thanksgiving in the United States. Most people celebrate it with their families, but there's a growing tradition of als...
190 - Learn English from the News: Social Media and Depression
21 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today's article is about social media and mental health. This one is written in a more casual style, so it has some informal expressions we can learn...
189 - English in the News: A problem with the cute baby bear video
14 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
You might have seen a video on social media about a bear cub (that's a baby bear) trying very hard to scale (climb) a snow-covered mountain and ev...
188 - Learn English from the News: Google Employees Protest Sexual Harassment Policies
09 Nov 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This month, I'm bringing you a very special series of videos in which you can learn English from the news. Every week, I'll choose a current news top...
187 - 10 English words with alternative pronunciation
17 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The English language has a lot of regional variations and different accents - and there are some words with two different (but correct) ways to pronou...
186 - Wait or await? Sleep or asleep? Wake or awake?
10 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Do you know the difference between wait and await, sleep and asleep, and wake and awake? These words seem simple, but there are some small grammatical...
185 - 5 phrasal verbs with BREAK
03 Oct 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today you're going to learn the difference between break in, break out, break down, break up, and break through. Some of these phrasal verbs have mult...
184 - Sometimes, sometime, or some time?
26 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today I want to clear up some confusion around the words sometime, sometimes, and some time. Are they all the same? No! These words have differen...
183 - Four English expressions that don't seem to make sense
19 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Some informal and idiomatic expressions in English just don't seem to make sense. In today's lesson, I'll explain four phrases that my students have ...
182 - Three spelling/pronunciation changes that completely change the word
12 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
There are many English words that have similar spellings and pronunciations, and it's common for English learners to use the wrong one. Today I'm goi...
181 - English vocabulary for a road trip
05 Sep 2018
Contributed by Lukas
I've just gotten back from a road trip with my family, and I'm going to use this opportunity to teach you some vocabulary for driving and traveling b...
180 - Six grammar mistakes you might be making
29 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In today's lesson I'm going to show you six mistakes that real students of mine have made – and you might be making, too! The purpose of this less...
179 - Eight English idioms from Shakespeare
22 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
William Shakespeare was a poet and playwright who lived in the 16th century. He is regarded as one of the greatest writers in the history of the Engli...
178 - How to pronounce recipe, receipt, debt, and debit
15 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today I want to teach you the correct way to say four words that I often hear students mispronouncing or confusing: recipe, receipt, debt, and debit....
177 - 30 English collocations with TEST
08 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today we're going to take a closer look at the word TEST – specifically the collocations (common combinations of words) that are often used with "...
176 - Three casual conversational expressions
01 Aug 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Have you noticed that when you listen to informal English conversations, you hear some expressions that you can't understand? Today I'm going to teac...
175 - Careless or carefree?
25 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In today's lesson I want to clarify the difference between the confusing words careless and carefree. It's easy to mix them up, but they have quit...
174 - How to use the word "lack" correctly
18 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today I want to teach you how to use the word "lack" correctly. I've noticed some of my students making a little mistake with this word, so this les...
173 - How to pronounce OUGH in English
11 Jul 2018
Contributed by Lukas
OUGH is pronounced at least 5 different ways in English! In today's lesson, I'm going to teach you how to pronounce OUGH in some common words and e...
Daily English Phrases - A last resort, See the last of something
30 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Daily English Phrases - It's an acquired taste, It grew on me
29 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Daily English Phrases - Deep down, A deep dark secret
28 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Daily English Phrases - None of your business, Mind your own business
27 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Daily English Phrases - Have (got) what it takes
26 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Daily English Phrases - Steer clear of something
25 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Daily English Phrases - Get it over with, Get over it
24 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Daily English Phrases - Have your heart set on something
23 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Daily English Phrases - I couldn't care less, Who cares?
22 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Daily English Phrases - Keep an eye on, Keep an eye out for
21 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Daily English Phrases - Off the beaten path, In the middle of nowhere
20 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Daily English Phrases - A game plan, Ahead of the game
19 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Daily English Phrases - In over my head, Bite off more than you can chew
18 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Daily English Phrases - Put your foot down, The last straw
17 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Daily English Phrases - Play it by ear, Play it safe
16 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas