Episode 44 – The Quest for the Holy Grail of English Grammar | An Interview with Christopher Walker
In this chat with Christopher Walker, author of English is a Simple Language, we try to get to the bottom of ALL the English grammar.
But do we succeed...?
Episode 43 - Some, Any, Metal Bands and Why You’re Not Talking To Someone’s Leg
Episode 42 – When is a Mistake a Mistake? Errors Innovations And Angloversals
In this episode, I check out a fascinating paper by Elina Ranta on student mistakes, innovations and Angloversals.
Whatever they are...
Episode 41 - ’90s Slang vs ’40s Slang | A Chat With My Dad in the Garden
In this episode, my dad and I exchange slang terms from when we were young.
Episode 40 - 2 English teachers, 10 phrasal verbs. English with Rob Interview
A very phrasal verby chat with Rob from English with Rob.
Episode 39 - The Cat and the Cornflakes – 5 English Pronunciation Hacks
Improve your pronunciation AND your listening skills with these 5 English pronunciation tips.
Episode 38 - Tithead! Swearing with Emma from the Procrastination Podcast
Join us for a fascinating conversation about swearing in English.
Episode 37 - Three Hot Takes About English (And Why We Use “Some”)
Let’s take a look at some features of English that are, when you think about it, actually pretty weird.
Episode 36 - 10 English Proverbs
Join me to take a dive into 10 common English proverbs you can use to give advice or share some wisdom.
Episode 35 - A chat with Zdenek from Zdenek's English Podcast | DELTA, Native Speakerism & Dogme
An interview with an ESL teacher, by an ESL teacher for ESL teachers.
Episode 34 - Amy Winehouse, Britney Spears and Pattern Grammar
Join me as I explore how songs can help us correct the same mistakes we've been making FOREVER.
Episode 33 - Reported Speech, True Love and Why Lawyers Speak Trashy English
In this podcast episode, we look at more common, more natural alternatives to reported speech.
Episode 32 - Schrödinger’s Adjective and Three Other Pieces of Grammar Philosophy
Let’s take a look at the world of philosophical grammar and discover imposters, impossibilities and Schrödinger’s adjective, whatever that is …
… or isn’t.
Episode 31 - Cooking Verbs in English
Listen to cooking vocabulary in context as I talk about the three main stages of making something yummy: preparation, cooking and serving.
Episode 30 - Do You Need Grammar to Understand What People Are Saying?
Join me on this deep dive into how we really understand language. (Clue: it’s not all about the grammar.)
Episode 29 - I’ll have a beer and a wife, please.
In this NSFW episode, Martin from Rock 'n' Roll English talks about that time he went to Thailand without doing ANY research about the place.
Episode 28 - Talking about Comedy with Luke from Luke’s English Podcast
I chat with Luke from Luke’s English Podcast about comedy, our favourite British sitcoms and comedians, and how you can improve your communication skills by “keeping things light.”
Episode 27 - Why Pragmatics Gives You Superpowers – An Interview with Andreas Grundtvig
A discussion about pragmatics and pragmatic competence with Andreas Grundtvig, author of English is Context, a new book for teachers and learners about English pragmatics.
Episode 26 - The Beatles and Your English Learning Journey
A look at how the Beatles changed during their ten-year career, how those changes are just like the changes you experience when learning English, and what you need to do to sound mature and wise in English.
Episode 25 - Actionable English Mindset Advice with Krisia Justesen
In this episode, Krisia will talk you through the steps you need to take to start thinking in a way that'll get you learning English more comfortably and more naturally.
Episode 24 - International Communication in English with Chia Suan Chong
I chat with Chia Suan Chong, an expert in international communication, about how speaking a language isn't just about getting the words right.
Episode 23 - Why You’re Not Free in English (and How This Can Help You)
When we speak English, we’re not completely free to choose what we say. However, this lack of freedom can actually make it easier to communicate. Find out how in this episode.
Episode 22 - Grammar, Perception and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
If you’re learning or teaching English, this episode will give you a new perspective on how language works.
Episode 21 - Watch Movies and Improve Your Listening in English - An Interview with Cara Leopold
In this episode, I talk to Cara Leopold, an expert on listening skills and using movies and TV series to improve listening skills, share ideas in English and make sense of the world.
Episode 20 - What Should I Read in English?
In this episode, I talk about why you’re not finishing your English books, the difference between intensive and extensive reading, and I recommend eight books that you will (probably) finish.
Episode 19 - The Back of 2020: A New Year’s Ramble
Listen to ungraded, natural English (and my weird innermost thoughts) before I talk you through 10 natural English phrases, idioms, pronunciation strategies and communication strategies.
Episode 18 - Grammar for a Full Life - A Weird and Wonderful Interview with Professor Lawrence Weinstein
In his book, Grammar for a Full Life, Lawrence shows us the power of grammar and how it can make us better and happier people. Join us for a truly wonderful conversation full of insights and new ideas about language.
Episode 17 - Don’t destroy the universe! Word order in English
Check out this episode to find out how you might be unintentionally emphasising words with word order (and destroying the universe in the process).
Episode 16 - Does Business English really exist? - An interview with Shanthi Cumaraswamy Streat
A conversation with the incredible Shanthi Cumaraswamy Streat from English with a Twist about Business English and communicating in a business setting.
Episode 15 - English Articles and the Stock Market Dance
Join me on my “hot take” on English articles (a, an, the) and how we use them to invite people into our world and build relationships.
Episode 14 - Teaching English Through Storytelling - An Interview With Ariel Goodbody
A fascinating conversation with the wonderfully engaging Ariel Goodbody about Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling and the role of storytelling in language teaching.
Episode 13 - Tips From A Polyglot - Interview With Lindsay From Lindsay Does Languages
An interview with the amazing polyglot Lindsay from Lindsay Does Languages.
Episode 12 - How Not to Die in an English Conversation
In this episode, I take a look at strategies to start, finish and keep alive a conversation in English.
Episode 11 - Three Things That Surprised Me About the UK
Pick up some advanced English phrases while you listen to my story about experiencing a little culture shock when returning to the UK.
Episode 10 - Interview with Christian from Canguro English - "The paint is still wet"
In this episode, I chat with Christian Saunders from Canguro English about language teaching methods.
Episode 9 - Enjoy studying again with the Self-Study Menu
In this podcast episode, I give you some basic first steps to create your own self-study menu and get you enjoying it all again.
Episode 8 - Grice’s Maxims: An interview with Ali Uygur Erol
A chat with Ali Uygur Erol, French teacher and PhD student in musicology, about how we "break the communication rules" in order to communicate better.
Episode 7 - How to sound smart (and witty) in English
In this episode, we explore the world of auxiliary verbs and how high-level English speakers use them all the time.
Episode 6 - The English verb
It’s time to look at English verbs in a different way.
Episode 5 - Cambridge Cambridge Cambridge
In this podcast I describe my experience going to Cambridge for the first time and why it was such a strange place.
Episode 4 - Interview with Hugh Dellar - "One phrase at a time"
In this episode, I have a very involved chat with Hugh Dellar, coursebook writer, teacher trainer, teacher and all-round nice guy.
Episode 3 - What on Earth is an ergative verb?
What on Earth is an ergative verb?
Episode 2 - Buffalo buffalo
Impress your friends at parties with these three WEIRD but totally grammatically correct sentences.
Episode 1 - Say vs tell ... What's the difference?
"Say" and "Tell" are not all they seem to be!
Join Gabriel with an interesting look at the very different personalities behind these two simple, everyday words.