American Slang

Welcome to today's podcast where we will talk to Paige Poole about Alabama's culture, history, and language.  I met Paige through work since we are both Virtual Educators for the Department of State's English language programs.  I had heard her being interviewed in a podcast in Spanish and really wanted to have her on the podcast after hearing her fascinating stories.  In this episode she shares about her hometown, and some anecdotes about growing up in Alabama and how living abroad changed her perspective.  She also talks about what it was like to be a lesbian growing up in such a religious part of the USA. If you are interested in culture, diversity, and language, this is a great episode for you to listen to.  Check out the transcript and supplementary materials.

In this episode, I interview Ivan Crespo, an ESL pronunciation and communication teacher and Ph.D. student in Curriculum & Instruction at the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign. In this episode, Ivan shares some differences he has noticed between American culture and Brazilian culture.  He also shares the most common idioms and expressions he hears Americans using on campus and we discuss the academic lifestyle and some fascinating aspects of American culture and language in the Midwest.  https://movingenglishlessons.com/culture-and-idioms-in-illinois/

In this episode, I interview Misha Sanborn, a potter from Maine. She tells us about her passion for clay, for making pots, and the satisfaction that comes from making everyday art. Check out the transcript for idioms!

In this episode, we hear about the lively culture in New Orleans, Louisiana from Elena Mutonono. Share the episode with your friends! In this episode, we hear about the lively culture in New Orleans, Louisiana from Elena Mutonono.  Elena goes into the overall vibe of New Orleans and tells us about what it is like to live there.  She explains how the city “gets into you” and it is difficult to leave because there are so many advantages to living in such a diverse place in the United States.  However, she explains that New Orleans isn't a typical “American” city and stands out as a more laid-back and creative place.  We delve into some of the colonial history, and the French influence that is evident in the architecture, cuisine, language, and street names.  Elena also shares some of the difficult aspects of living in New Orleans like the history of slavery and how plantations are still used for weddings and celebrations and how she copes with all of the hurricanes.   Elena is launching the Smart Teacher's Library for online teachers who want to work harder, not smarter, and you can ⁠find read about it here⁠. Find out more about Elena Mutonono's podcast, blog, YouTube channel and amazing courses on her website: https://www.elenamutonono.com/

In this episode, Cami S. talks about Seattle culture, slang, lifestyle, and fashion. She brings so much insight to the episode and shows us how Seattle weather is related to the language and style. Also, she mentions the varied terms that Seattle residents use to describe the rain, which reminded me of anthropological linguistics. Cami also shows us how the music scene shapes the language, fashion, and culture in Seattle. If you want to find Cami, here is her website: https://www.camisenglishcorner.com/ her instagram handle is: @camistheenglishcoach and her Youtube channel is: https://www.youtube.com/@camistheenglishcoach The transcript of this episode can be found on my website: https://movingenglishlessons.com/seattle-slang/

In this podcast episode, we explore the slang and local jargon used in Iowa. Symon and Anne share some unique Iowa expressions and what they mean. They discuss the use of "bro" and how it has made a comeback, but in the classroom, Symon prefers to be addressed by his formal name, Mr. Sanborn. They also talk about "Kaipo" which is the name of the company that provides Porta Potties in Iowa, and how people use it as a substitute for the term "Porta Potty." The highlight of the conversations is when they explain the concept of "going gravel" which means taking a dirt road instead of the main highway. They also share some personal experiences of how friendly and helpful Iowans are to each other, regardless of where they live in the state. Additionally, the hosts touch on the pastime of driving around on gravel roads, which some Iowans enjoy. The episode offers a glimpse into the unique language and culture of Iowa.

Today, I interview Hanna, an online English teacher who is a ball of positive energy. She specializes in teaching natural English as it is spoken in everyday life in the United States. She also speaks Spanish and has been studying Chinese for the last 1.5 years. I think you are going to love the unique expressions she teaches us today and we'll also hear a little about her lifestyle in Houston, Texas. You can read the podcast transcript on my website. In this episode, Hanna and I have a natural conversation about the lifestyle and language in Houston, Texas. She shares some of her hobbies and pastimes and a little about the cultural atmosphere in Houston, Texas. Here are some words that she covers in the episode: “Y'all”= a way of addressing a group of people and an alternative to “you guys” “Y'all wanna go out tonight?” “Fixin' to”=I'm going to do something “I'm fixin' to go get some food.” “Come in clutch”=to help someone out at just the right time. “By brother came in clutch when I got a flat tire.” “Tight”=very close friends “We're tight. We've been friends for 10 years.” Hanna also shares the importance of learning slang to build relationships with Americans and to fit in culturally. She talks about ways of asking her friends to clarify what certain slang words mean since it can be tricky for people to understand all of the nuanced meanings. We also talk about Chat GPT and how she uses it in her own English classes. She uses Chat GPT to write the closing of our podcast episode. Take classes with Hanna and find her on social media: Amazing Talker link to take private or group classes with me Hanna's Instagram Hanna's YouTube Channel Viral “Y'all” TIKTOK video

The latest podcast episode will be particularly fascinating for those who are forever entranced by American culture and language. My guest, Angie talks about language as a living, and breathing phenomenon that is constantly evolving. She mentions how humans are deliberately creating new words, playing with language, and changing the meaning and shape of words. The postmodern theme of rupturing the status quo by creating words that capture the moment of that particular time-space reality also pops up through our dialogue, especially when Angie tells us how she often makes up her own definitions of slang words based on how they sound to her when she hears them for the first time. We discuss how language is nuanced and how slang has multiple meanings depending on the context and the kind of message the person wants to convey through the word. There are so many levels and ways words can be used and it is intriguing how words gain traction, lose popularity, and resurface with slightly different meanings. These words could then reemerge with different connotations or they could be taken on by different groups or subgroups in society. Angie also explores how words are shared and then spread around both in neighborhoods and on the internet. From this conversation, I really got the impression that Angie sees slang as infinitely playful and dynamic and how language is an important part of her cultural and linguistic identity and the connection she has with her home and birthplace in Los Angeles, California. Here is the link to the transcript: https://movingenglishlessons.com/podcast/

In this episode, Helen and I talk about slang words that are circulating the internet, viral memes, and funny acronyms that are spoken. Online spaces have truly changed the way people are speaking English. Even dating apps have created some new phrases and ways of expressing ideas in American English. Listen to this episode and give us your opinion about whether or not you think we are dumbing down American English by shortening many words and expressions into acronyms. Read the transcript on my website: https://movingenglishlessons.com/internet-slang/

In this episode, I interview Danié, a Mexican artist who uses braiding as a call for human unification in times of social transformation. She is the co-founder of “The Bazaar for good,” a foundation to help create better conditions for children around the world. She is fluent in Spanish, English, and French and was born in Mexico City and currently lives in the United States, in Dallas, but spent years living in Miami as well. Quite a global citizen, Danié has also resided in Toronto, Stockholm, and Madrid. In our conversation, we talk about language, identity, and slang words that are spoken in the multicultural and diverse communities where she lives. Danié shares much more than a handful of fascinating slang words typically spoken in Miami, she also talks to us about the importance of art as a visual language that resonates with people based on their culture and how art helps people connect with the human experience and with their roots. In addition, Danié explains that when you speak one language, you connect with one side of your brain and with certain emotions and stories. She shares how language matters and how the words we use are powerful. We also go into raising bilingual children and how language and culture are so valuable to children. Also, we hear how certain cultural traditions manifest through particular words in society. She mentions how violence and masculinity are often derogatory and engrained in language and how we need to redefine how we express ourselves. We discuss words in Swedish, English, and Spanish and how they reflect culture, colonization, and identity. She uses braiding as a way to deconstruct and reconstruct her identity and find authenticity, creativity, and voice. You can find Danié on her website: https://journeyofabraid.com/ Danié's Instagram handle is: @journeyofabraid Her Youtube channel is: https://www.youtube.com/c/journeyofabraid The transcript for this podcast can be found on my website

In this episode, I interview Helen, a native Californian who currently lives in the Bay Area and works with equity and human rights issues, working to provide housing for people in her community to find stability and to thrive. Helen majored in Ethnic Studies at the University of California-Berkley and then went on to get a Master's in Education in Curriculum & Instruction with a focus in trauma and resilience studies. In this episode, Helen tells us about a number of slang words that are commonly spoken and heard in the Bay Area. She helps us think about the importance of becoming more aware and conscious of inclusive language that takes into account people of diverse genders, races, and ability levels and that isn't derogatory and that doesn't reinforce structures of oppression. In this interview, we get insight into how powerful and creative language is and how it is constantly transforming and changing based on the dynamic surroundings. Here is the link to the transcript Find Helen on LinkedIn

This is an episode about NYC slang and the words that you can commonly hear spoken in the Big Apple. I interview Allison, a fellow English teacher in Spain who is bilingual and is a native New Yorker. We talk about the lifestyle and cultural differences between Spain and New York City and also about the kind of culture shock she experienced when she arrived.Then, she tells about typical slang words that are an integral part of her vocabulary. She tells many stories about using the words in different contexts and she gives tons of examples of how you could use them when you go to New York City. Check out my website Download my TOEFL IBT 25+ Speaking Guide