Espresso English Podcast
Episodes
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
Daily English Phrases - Out of the blue, Out of nowhere
15 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Daily English Phrases - Look on the bright side, A blessing in disguise
14 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Daily English Phrases - Get a head start, Get the ball rolling
13 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Daily English Phrases - Set the record straight, Have a great track record
12 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Daily English Phrases - It's a long story, To make a long story short
11 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Daily English Phrases - I have no clue, Totally clueless
10 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Daily English Phrases - On the right track, Get back on track
09 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Daily English Phrases - Have the time of your life, Have a blast
08 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Daily English Phrases - Out of shape, In good/bad shape
07 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Daily English Phrases - I give you my word, I'll take your word for it
06 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Daily English Phrases - Having second thoughts, On second thought
05 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Daily English Phrases - Make yourself at home, Suit yourself, Help yourself
04 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Daily English Phrases - Could I have a word with you?
03 Jun 2018
Contributed by Lukas
172 - Don't mix up these English homophones!
28 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The English language has many homophones – words that have the same pronunciation, but different spellings and meanings. A lot of English learners ...
171 - Here are 10 "cold" English idioms
21 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
You know the basic meaning of the word "cold," but do you know these 10 idioms with "cold"? Today I'll teach you the expressions "out cold," "pour ...
170 - Make sure, ensure, and make it a point
14 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Are you wondering if there's a difference between make sure and ensure? We also have the expression make it a point. I'll teach you how to use ea...
169 - Depend or depending?
07 May 2018
Contributed by Lukas
We use depend and depending when one thing is strongly affected by another thing. However, a lot of students are confused about when to use depen...
168 - Learn 10 idioms with the word JUMP
30 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Do you know what it means to jump ship, jump the gun, or jump down someone's throat? You will learn these idioms and more in today's lesson about...
167 - English words with surprising pronunciation
23 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
English spelling and pronunciation can be complicated – and these 10 words are especially confusing! Even native English speakers sometimes make mis...
166 - Business English expressions quiz
16 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Do you know these 10 expressions related to business and companies? Take the quiz to find out! Lesson text: https://www.espressoenglish.net/business...
165 - English collocations with the word THINK
09 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today I'd like to teach you some common expressions with the word "think." You'll learn: inclined to think shudder to think can't think straight th...
164 - English words with disappearing syllables
02 Apr 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Some English words have what we can call "disappearing or dropped syllables" – reductions or eliminations of sounds in the middle of the word. One e...
163 - Learn 10 expressions with the word KNOW
26 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
"Know" is one of the most common verbs in English, and I know that you know what it means! But what you might not know is that we use this word in man...
162 - 10 interesting verbs to expand your vocabulary
19 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
The English language has a lot of colorful words, which are great for improving your vocabulary. You'll learn 10 interesting verbs in today's lesson...
161 - "Have had" and "had had"
12 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Are you confused about how to use HAVE HAD and HAD HAD in English? Today's lesson will help you! First, we need to understand the present perfect ten...
160 - How to speak faster in English
05 Mar 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In today's lesson I'm going to give you four important tips for speaking English faster. A lot of English learners notice that native English speakers...
159 - What to say if you're not 100% certain
26 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In today's lesson, I want to teach you some phrases that you can use in a specific situation – that is when you want to say something but you're not...
158 - Can you say "according to me" in English?
22 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today I want to talk to you about a phrase that's I've seen some students use – and that phrase is "According to me" – to express their opinion. C...
157 - Common error: I LIKE vs. I'D LIKE
19 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
I want to teach you about a mistake that I often hear students making when speaking. It has to do with the difference between "I like …" and "I'd ...
156 - English phrases for mistakes
15 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
In today's lesson, I want to teach you some phrases that native English speakers use when talking about making mistakes. Because you don't just want t...
155 - How to use "it can't hurt" and other phrases
12 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
I want to teach you about a phrase that one of my students asked me about. That phrase is, "It can't hurt." This is an interesting expression. Lesso...
154 - I'm afraid vs. I'm scared
08 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today I want to answer a student question about the phrases I'm afraid and I'm scared. Is there any difference between them? How do we use these in...
153 - English phrases with KIDDING
05 Feb 2018
Contributed by Lukas
This month, I want to focus our lessons on phrases, some kind of informal phrases that you might hear in every day spoken English. You might not be su...
152 - How to pronounce ALLOW, LOW, and other words ending in -OW
31 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today we're going to practice pronunciation of words ending in -ow. Make sure to check out my Pronunciation and Shadowing Courses for a lot more pro...
151 - Difference between criticize, criticism, critique, critic, and critical
24 Jan 2018
Contributed by Lukas
Today I want to teach you about the confusing words criticize, criticism, critique, critic, and critical. These are all similar and they come from the...
150 - Vocabulary words for joking and humor
04 Oct 2017
Contributed by Lukas
A "joke" is a funny comment or short story that is supposed to make people laugh. Do you know any good jokes? Today's lesson will teach you some use...
148 - Don't make this pronunciation mistake with U
20 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
English pronunciation and spelling are very tricky - the same letter can be pronounced in different ways, and the same sound can be spelled with diffe...
147 - It's my birthday! Here are 30 collocations with PARTY
13 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Today is my birthday! I'm now 33 years old :-) That's why today's new English lesson will teach you 30 expressions with "party." This word actual...
146: Learn 21 words and expressions for the bar
06 Sep 2017
Contributed by Lukas
In American culture, people go to bars to socialize, flirt, and even to get to know business colleagues. In today's lesson, you'll learn 21 expressio...
145 - Regular verbs vs phrasal verbs
30 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
A phrasal verb is a combination of a verb + preposition that has a specific meaning. Sometimes the meaning of the phrasal verb is quite different f...
144 - Students asked me about these confusing English words
23 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
There are a lot of words in English that seem to be the same – and in fact they are very similar – but we use them in different ways. In today's ...
143 - 10 English expressions with "business"
16 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
The English language has some interesting expressions with the word "business" - and not all of them have to do with companies or work. Let's learn 1...
142 - How to pronounce English words starting with CON-
09 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
A student recently asked me how to pronounce English words starting with CON- such as content, contest, and conduct. My answer was - "It depends!"...
141: How many of these vocabulary words do you know?
02 Aug 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Do you think you have a good understanding of English vocabulary? Today I'm sending you a challenging quiz to test your knowledge! Click here to take...
140: What to say in embarrassing situations
26 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
If you're embarrassed, it can be almost impossible to think of the right thing to say... especially in English! In today's lesson, you'll learn usefu...
139: Do you have a "question" or a "doubt"?
19 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Students often say "I have a doubt" and then ask me something about the English language. However, native English speakers don't usually say it this ...
138: 8 grammar mistakes that even advanced students make
12 Jul 2017
Contributed by Lukas
I see this problem in a lot of more experienced English learners: Their written English might be 90% fine, but there are still some small errors. The...
136: Learn 10 vocabulary words starting with "J"
21 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
We're in the middle of the month of June, and next month is July... so today let's learn 10 vocabulary words that begin with the letter "J." Don't ju...
135 - 10 interesting expressions for progress and speed
14 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Today's lesson is inspired by a student question – he asked what the expression "we're spinning our wheels" means. Take the lesson to find out! You...
134 - Eight more formal business English phrases
07 Jun 2017
Contributed by Lukas
When writing a business letter or when e-mailing a business contact who we don't know well, we use slightly more formal words and expressions. Today ...
133: Learn 30 collocations with "country"
31 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Let's learn some collocations - words that often go together! In today's lesson, you'll learn 30 different collocations with the word "country." At t...
132: How to use "at all" in English
17 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
What does it mean when someone asks, "Do you drive at all?" In today's lesson, you'll learn how to use the expression "at all" in negative statements ...
131: Do we use "the" with "police"?
10 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
One student said she sometimes sees "police" and sometimes "the police" - which is correct? What's the difference? Today you'll learn the answer to th...
130: Difference between embarrassed and ashamed
03 May 2017
Contributed by Lukas
What situations would make you feel embarrassed? What situations would make you feel ashamed? Learn the difference between these confusing English...
129: Meet, meet with, or meet up with?
26 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
What's the difference between meet, meet with, and meet up with? You'll learn (with examples) in today's podcast! Lesson text: http://www.espressoe...
Free Sample - Business English Idioms
19 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Today's episode is another free sample from the Business English Course. You'll learn 12 common business idioms by figuring them out from the context...
Free Sample - Business English - Phrases for Meetings
12 Apr 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Have you ever been shy about participating in a meeting in English? It can be really hard to think of the right phrases in a professional situation,...
128 - When NOT to use the word "to"
29 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
It can be hard for English learners to know when to use the word "to." In today's lesson, you'll see 6 common mistakes with "to" - and learn the corr...
127: Common English Pronunciation Mistakes
22 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Sometimes students ask me about the "rules" of English pronunciation - but it's impossible to teach "rules," because there are so many exceptions. A l...
126: 10 Common Mistakes with Prepositions
15 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Prepositions can be very challenging, even for advanced English learners! Today I'll teach you 10 of the most common mistakes students make with prepo...
125: Common English Mistakes with Direct and Indirect Objects
08 Mar 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Can you find the mistakes in these sentences? They are all incorrect. They don't sound natural. "I bought yesterday a new t-shirt." "Please finish qu...
124: 20 Powerful Adjectives in English
01 Feb 2017
Contributed by Lukas
If you're tired of using the same basic and boring English words all the time, today's lesson will teach you some new vocabulary. You'll learn 20 ver...
123: Learn 10 Useful Phrasal Verbs With "With"
25 Jan 2017
Contributed by Lukas
Do you know the difference between get away with and get along with ? Do you know what sleep with really means? Can you use deal with, stick with, a...