Happy English Podcast

Here's a question. Have you ever heard someone say ain't in a song or a movie? Like, or “I ain't got no time for that”? Maybe you wondered… is ain't actually English? Well, it sure ain't in the textbooks, but it is in real life! And I ain't kidding. Today we're diving into a word that confuses a lot of English learners - ain't. It's not considered “standard” grammar, but that doesn't mean it's wrong. In fact, native speakers use ain't all the time in casual, spoken English, and especially in music, movies, and everyday conversation. So, if you've ever asked yourself, “What does ain't even mean?” - today's episode is for you.Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/My AI English Tutor is HERE

You know, I started this podcast in 2014 so I can help people speak English better. And now, there are so many podcast episodes, It's almost near a thousand. So, check this one out. Today, we're talking about so. Just two letters - S-O. But this little word works overtime in English. We use so to show a result, to give a reason, to add emphasis, and yeah, we even use it when we're not sure what to say next. So let's break it down. I'll show you four ways we use so, with lots of examples to help you sound more natural when you speak English. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/My AI English Tutor is HERE 

Hey there! It's Michael here — and welcome back to another Happy English Sunday Speak. I'm here every Sunday with a quick one-point tip to help you speak English more naturally.Sometimes, you need to ask someone to wait. In situations like this, you could say “Please wait a moment.” And sure, that's correct English — but it sounds a bit formal and not something we usually say to friends or coworkers. In everyday conversation, we have a more natural and friendly way to ask someone to wait: “Hang on.”Like, when you're on the phone and need to check something. You can say, “Hang on, let me grab my notes.”Or, if you're in the middle of doing something, and your friend says, “Hey, can you look at this?” You can say, “Hang on a second.”Even if someone's talking too fast, you can say, “Whoa, hang on! Say that again?”It's short, casual, and super natural. So next time instead of “Please wait a moment,” just say “Hang on.”And remember to like, follow, and subscribe so you won't miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week's Sunday Speak. Thanks for listening — and until next time, keep learning and keep it cool.Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/My AI English Tutor is HERE 

Hey there! It's Michael here — and welcome back to another Happy English Saturday Short, your quick tip for speaking English better.Today, let's look at three really natural phrases: kind of, sort of, and a bit. We use these to soften what we're saying. They make a statement sound less strong, less direct — and that makes your English sound more natural in everyday conversation.For example, let's say you're tired after work. Instead of just saying, “I'm tired,” you can soften it by saying: “I'm kind of tired today.”  Or: “I'm a bit tired after work.” Here's another one. Imagine you saw a movie, but you didn't really love a it, but you don't want to sound too negative. You could say:  “That movie was sort of boring.”  It's not as harsh as, “That movie was boring.”So remember — kind of, sort of, and a bit are like little cushions for your sentences. They soften your opinion and make it sound friendlier and more natural. So, are you kind of ready to try these out in your own conversations? I bet you are! Oh, and don't forget to follow or subscribe so you don't miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week's Saturday Short. Thanks for listening — and until next time, keep learning and keep it cool.Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/My AI English Tutor is HERE 

Hey there! It's Michael here — and welcome back to another Happy English, Phrasal Verb Friday. I'm here every Friday, with a quick, one-point English lesson to help you learn one new phrasal verb and sound more natural when you speak. Today's phrasal verb is jazz up.When you jazz something up, it means you make it more interesting, exciting, or attractive. It's like giving something a little extra style or energy. Like, my friend Lisa was hosting a party last weekend. She jazzed up her living room with some cool lights and a new playlist. At work, Tony jazzed up his presentation by adding some funny memes. And me? Well, I jazzed up my dinner the other night by adding some hot chili sauce.So how about you? Do you like to jazz up your cooking, your house, or maybe even your social media posts? Leave a comment below, and remember to follow or subscribe so you don't miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week's Phrasal Verb Friday. Thanks for listening — and until next time, keep learning and keep it cool.Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/My AI English Tutor is HERE 

They didn't even say thank you.  Not “they didn't say thank you.” They didn't even say thank you. So… what's the deal with even in negative sentences?In Episode 880, we looked at how to use even in general - like for comparisons and emphasis. But today, we're going to zoom in on something more specific… and honestly, something really common - using even in negative sentences.Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/My AI English Tutor is HERE 

It was very cool this morning. Like around 11 degrees celsius. When I took Max for a walk I was actually surprised it was so cool. Like, there's a nip in the air kinda cool. Boy, I'm hoping this coming winter isn't too cold. Let's see how it goes.These three little words - too, very, and so - all come before adjectives, and they all talk about how much of something there is. Like, how hot, how tall, how tired… but the feeling and intention behind each word is a little different. So today, we're going to break it all down with real examples, and I'll show you exactly how to use them naturally. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/My AI English Tutor is HERE 

I'm so hungry. No time for lunch today. No wonder my stomach is grumbling. That's why i decided to order a double cheeseburger and some fries...at the diner. Because is a great word - and it's totally correct. But when it comes to speaking naturally, we often don't use because directly. Instead, we give the reason in a more casual, fluent way. So today, I'll show you how native English speakers give reasons in conversation - without actually saying because. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/My AI English Tutor is HERE 

Now, when you want to ask why in English, sure, you can just say “why.” But in everyday conversation, native speakers often use a more casual phrase: “How come?” “How come” means the same as “why,” but it sounds softer, friendlier, and very conversational. And, it's easy to use. You can use it by itself!  Like, your friend says, “I'm skipping lunch today.” You can ask, “How come?” Or your coworker says, “I can't make it to the meeting.” You can ask, “Oh really? How come?”You can also put how come in front of any sentence to make a casual question. Like, if your friend never comes to the karaoke party, you can ask, How come you don't like karaoke? Or if a coworker comes to the office late, you can ask, How come you came late this morning. How come. It's short, casual, and super natural. So next time, instead of just “why,” try saying “How come?”Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/My AI English Tutor is HERE 

We often use a negative question like “Isn't this…?” or “Aren't you…?” in conversation. Technically, these are not questions for asking something. They are a casual and friendly way to confirm something or make a suggestion.For example, if you and your friend are at the peir on a sunny day, you might say:   “Isn't this a perfect day for fishing?”  You're not really asking for information — you're confirming what you already think. OR "Aren't these donuts delicious!”Or if you're making a suggestion, you can use the same pattern. Like:  “It's almost 5pm. Isn't it better to take the subway?”  Here, you're giving your suggestion in the form of a question. Here's another one. “The exam is a week away. Shouldn't you start studying?”So remember, negative questions like “Isn't it…?” and “Aren't you…?” are great for confirming ideas or suggesting something in a very natural, conversational way. “Isn't that interesting!” So, aren't you gonna try to use this kind of English in your conversations?Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/My AI English Tutor is HERE

Today's phrasal verb is slack off.  When you slack off, it means you become lazy about your work, your studies, or your responsibilities. You don't try as hard as you should.Like, my friend Eddie started going to the gym in in July, but by the middle of this month, he really started to slack off. And in the office, Jenny was slacking off all week, so now she has to stay late to finish her project.  And me? Honestly speaking, I've been slacking off on studying Japanese reading and writing. But now that I have Sayaka-sensei's new book, Japanese Kanji from scratch, I'm a lot more motivated. By the way, notice the pronunciation: slack off…slack-koff (2x). We connect the K at the end of slack with off: slack-koff.So how about you? Do you ever slack off — maybe at work, school, or even with your hobbies? Leave a comment below, and remember to follow or subscribe so you don't miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week's Friday Phrasal Verb. Thanks for listening — and until next time, keep learning and keep it cool.Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/My AI English Tutor is HERE 

Hey, let me ask you a question - You've studied English grammar, haven't you?  And you've probably heard tag questions or negative questions before, right? Well, isn't this going to be an interesting lesson for you!It's a nice day, isn't it? That's a Tag Question, and today, I'll show you how these work - and how you can use them to sound more like a native speaker. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/My AI English Tutor is HERE 

Unless you have something else to do right now, You should listen to this whole podcast episode. And as long as you're listening, why not take notes...In case you want to use the phrases from this lesson in your daily English. These three little phrases - unless, as long as, and in case - all help us talk about situations that might happen. But they each have a different nuance, and getting them right can make your English sound much more natural. Let's dive in!Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/My AI English Tutor is HERE 

You know what? I've got a question for you. Or… should I say, I have a question for you? Hmm. Which one sounds better? Or… are they both OK?  For many English learners, “have got” can be a little confusing. I mean, we've got “I have a dog,” and “I've got a dog”… and both are correct? What's going on here? Well today, we're going to break it all down — grammar, style, and real-world usage — so you'll know exactly how and when to use “have” and “have got.” Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/My AI English Tutor is HERE 

Hey there! It's Michael here — and welcome back to another Happy English Sunday Speak. Every Sunday, I'll be here with a quick one-point tip to help you speak English more naturally.One thing you need to know how to do in English is to communicate that you understood what someone said. Like if someone gives you directions on the street. You could say, Oh ok, I understand. And sure, that's correct English — but it can sound a little formal or stiff in everyday conversation. In everyday, English conversation, we use the compact form of I understand, gotcha. Gotcha is the short and quick version of “I got what you said.” “I gah-twa-cha-said” “gotcha!Like, your friend says, “Let's meet at 7 instead of 6.” You can just reply, “Gotcha.”Or your coworker says, “Don't forget to send that email before lunch.” You can answer, “Gotcha.”Or if someone gives you directions — “Turn left at the bank and then right at the station.” — you can simply say, “turn left, and then right. Gotcha.”It's short, it's casual, and it sounds super natural. So next time instead of “I understand,” try saying “Gotcha.”So what do you think of these Sunday Speak podcasts? Leave a comment below!Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/My AI English Tutor is HERE 

Hey there! It's Michael here — and welcome back to another Happy English Saturday Short, your quick tip for speaking English better. Today, let's look at a commonly used conversational phrase is “by the way.”We use by the way when we want to add something to the conversation, kind of like when we need to change the topic, or bringing up an extra point. It's casual, friendly, and super common in everyday English.Like of you're at a party, catching up with a friend. You can say something like, “It's great seeing you tonight. Oh, and by the way, how's your brother doing?” OR if you're talking to a coworker about something and you want to bring up another point. The conversation can go like this. “Yea, I finally finished that coding project this morning. Oh, by the way, did you get a chance to check your email?”Using by the way is like saying, “Oh, there's one more thing…” but in a natural, conversational way.Oh, and by the way? What do you think of these Saturday short podcasts? Leave a comment belowJoin my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/My AI English Tutor is HERE

Hey there! It's Michael here — and welcome back to another Happy English, Friday Phrasal Verb. Every Friday, I'll be here with a quick, one-point English lesson to help you learn one new phrasal verb and sound more natural when you speak.Last week we looked at toy with, which means to consider something not so seriously. Today's phrasal verb is the opposite of that:  mull over. When you mull something over, it means you think about it carefully before making a decision. You're not rushing. You're taking your time to consider the options. Like, my buddy David got a job offer in another city. He said he needs to mull it over before he gives them his  answer. Last week, Emily was thinking about buying a new car, but she told me she wanted to mull it over for a few days first.  And me? I've been mulling over the idea of starting a new project for my students — but I want to be sure it's the right time. By the way, notice the pronunciation: mull over...muh-lover. We link the L at the end of mull with over: muh-lover. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/My AI English Tutor is HERE

Fall is right around the corner. Soon there will be a nip in the air as you look at the harvest moon, while sipping your pumpkin spice latte. When the season changes, so does the way we talk. So today, before Indian Summer comes, let's dive into some seasonal vocabulary and phrases that'll help you talk about fall just like a native speaker.Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/My AI English Tutor is englishpodcast, learnenglish, englishconversation, englishvocab, englishidioms, eslpodcast, speakenglish, englishteacher, ingilizce, ingilizcekonuş, ingilizcedersleri, английский, английскийязык, изучитьанглийский, englishlistening, englishgrammar, canadianenglish, americanenglish, adultlearners, languagelearning

Let me say right now, this ain't gonna be your average English lesson. And even considering that I've been teaching English for over 30 years, I ain't got no problem sharing this information with you. What I'm trying to say is, would you mind if I break some grammar rules today?In this lesson, I want to show you how native speakers break grammar rules — and why that's actually a part of sounding more natural when you speak.Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/My AI English Tutor is HERE: 

I came up with this podcast yesterday. I even wrote some of it in the car. And even though I touched on this topic in a podcast like 10 years ago, this lesson is ever better. Have you ever heard someone say something like, “It's even colder today than yesterday,” or “He even brought his cat to the party,” and thought… what's going on with that little word even? It's just four letters, but even does a lot of work in English. Native speakers use it all the time — in comparisons, for contrast, for emphasis — and in a few fixed phrases, too. So today, let's break it down.Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/My AI English Tutor is HERE

Hey there! It's Michael here — and welcome back to another Happy English Sunday Speak. Every Sunday, I'll be here with a quick one-point tip to help you speak English more naturally. Now, sometimes in English we need to say “no,” but just saying no can sound too direct or even a little rude. So let's look at some casual, yet polite, natural ways to say no.If someone invites you to do something and you don't want to, you can say:“I'll pass.” Like, Want to come out for karaoke tonight? → Thanks, I'll pass.“Not really my thing.” Like, do you want to go bouldering? → Nah, That's not really my thing.And one that I like to use all the time is “It's not my cup of tea.” Like, Everyone's watching that new horror movie, but scary films are not my cup of tea.So, I'll pass,  It's not really my thing, and It's not my cult of tea. When you need to refuse or decline something, these all sound softer, more polite, and very natural. So how about you? What's something that's Not your cup of tea? Leave a comment belowJoin my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/My AI English Tutor is HERE

Hey there! It's Michael here — and welcome back to another Happy English Saturday Short, your quick tip for speaking English better. Today's point is one that even native speakers sometimes get mixed up:

Hey there! It's Michael here — and welcome to the very first Happy English, Friday Phrasal Verb.Starting today, I'll be here every Friday with a quick, one-point English lesson to help you learn one new phrasal verb and sound more natural when you speak. Today's phrasal verb is toy with. When you toy with something, it means you're considering it, but not very seriously. It's like you're playing with the idea — maybe yes, maybe no, but you're not 100% committed. And we usually use the phrase “Toy with the idea of” followed by a gerund. Like, my friend Alex has been toying with the idea of moving to Chicago, but he hasn't started packing boxes yet.And last week, Jessica said she was toying with the idea of starting her own bakery, but right now it's just an idea.And me? I've been toying with the idea of getting a new guitar, although I should probably sell one of the old ones first.So how about you? Are you toying with any ideas these days? Leave a comment below, at myhappyenglishy.com, or come tell me on Instagram @happyenglishny. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/My AI English Tutor is HERE

I saw one of my old students the other day. I was like, how's it going, and he goes, I finally found a new job. And I go, that's awesome. And he was like, I finally got a job using English. And I was like, that's really fabulous!Have you ever gotten stuck trying to figure out when to use say and when to use tell? These words seem really similar, but they're used in different ways. So today, let's break it down, nice and easy, with some everyday examples. And then, I'm gonna show you two other, more natural ways to talk about what someone said, that are not found in most textbooks.Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/My AI English Tutor is HERE: 

Hey! I see you're right on time for this lesson. Take your time, get comfortable. I'm not gonna kill too much time here because as you know, time flies!So today, I'm going to cover six of the most common time expressions: kill time, run out of time, take your time, right on time, about time, and time flies. Then, I'll also tell you about some proverbs with “time” and the funny little paradox that goes along with them. You're gonna want to listen all the way through to learn about that.Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/My AI English Tutor is HERE

Would you mind checking out this English lesson? Maybe you could try using some of the phrase here in your conversations this week? Do you think you could even tell a friend about this podcast? That would be great!In everyday conversation, we often like to soften our requests — we make them indirect. It feels more polite, more friendly, and honestly, it just sounds more natural.So today, I want to show you some of these indirect phrases that we use all the time. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/My AI English Tutor is HERE

Hey there! It's Michael here — and welcome to the very first Happy English Sunday Speak.Starting today, every Sunday I'll be here with one quick phrase to make your English sound more natural. Today's phrase is “You bet!”  “You bet” is a super casual, American-English phrase. You can use it in a few different ways:

Hey there, it's Michael here from the Happy English Podcast — and welcome to another Saturday Short, your quick tip for speaking English naturally. Did you know that when you are interested in doing something you can say “I'm down for that.” And — you can also invite someone to do something with a slightly different phrase “Are you up for that?” Listen to this podcast to learn more!Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/My AI English Tutor is here.

You wanna sound more natural in English? I'm on it. You want me to teach that kind of lesson? Yeah, will do. You need my help to speak better? Gotcha. Today, that's what we're all about here!In real conversation, we use more relaxed, casual phrases — and they're often shorter and more natural-sounding.  So today, I want to show you some of those everyday expressions that native speakers use instead of formal grammar. You'll sound more fluent — and you'll feel more confident, too.Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/My AI English Tutor is here

Don't worry, I'm not gonna rain on your parade today, even thought it's pouring outside here. Nope, come rain or shine, I'm always excited to bring you these podcast English lessons.Today, I thought we'd take a look at some natural rain vocabulary, along with some really common idioms and phrases that native speakers use when the skies open up. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/My AI English Tutor is HERE

Thanks for making time to listen to this podcast English lesson. I'm so happy that you've made up your mind to improve your English. And yeah, everyone's really busy these days, but somehow, you make it work. That's awesome!Today, we're gonna break down five super useful and natural phrases: Make it work, Make time, Make up your mind, Make a mess, and Make do And I'll give you a few examples for each — all woven into real-life situations so you can see how native speakers actually use them. My AI English Tutor is hereJoin my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/

Welcome to another Saturday Short, your quick tip for speaking English naturally. Today, let's clear up something tricky: stop doing vs. stop to do. These two sound similar, but they mean totally different things. Here's how we use them. My AI English Tutor is hereJoin my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com

I saw Halloween decorations at the store yesterday. What a reality check. I guess summer is almost over and we need to get back into the swing of things!Today, I want to talk about two big things that happen at the end of the American summer: Getting ready to go back to school and Labor Day weekend — the last big hurrah before fall kicks in. And along the way, I'll toss in a few idioms that you'll hear Americans using during this season. My AI English Tutor is hereJoin my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/

I'm glad you're still studying English. I'm gonna guess that you have already heard my last podcast about linking sounds. What did you say? Not yet? You're not going to do that anymore, are you?Today, I want to talk about four small — but powerful — words that can totally change the feeling of your sentence. I'm talking about Already, Still, Yet, and AnymoreMy AI English Tutor is hereJoin my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/

Wha-cha do-win right now? It's time to tur-nup the volume and lih-seh-up to this lesson about link-in' sounds in English. Today, we're continuing our series on how to speak more naturally in English, and this time we're talking about something that really helps you sound more fluent — and that's linking sounds. My AI English Tutor is HERE: Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsgVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/

Today, let's talk about nostalgia. You know, you hear an old song on the radio and it brings you back to your high school days. Or you find some old photos in your phone from 15 years ago and suddenly, you are transported back to that time. Well, in English, when you experience something that gives you nostalgic or sentimental feelings you can say it's a blast from the past.My AI English Tutor is HEREJoin my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/

Lemme tell you something. An outdoor concert is a great way to have a blast and get into the grove. That's where a lot of people enjoy the vibe and have a great time. Ah, live music in the summer. Nothing beats it!Today, we're diving into one of the best parts of American summer culture — music and festivals. There's just something about summer in the U.S. that makes people want to be outside, especially with good food, good friends… and good music.  My AI English Tutor is hereJoin my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/

I used to drink a lot of coffee all day, but these days, I tend to just have a cup or two in the morning, so I'm drinking less coffee. Sure, it was hard to get used to, but now that I'm used to it, it's all good!Today, we're check out something that looks simple… but I've seen it trip up a lot of English learners. I'm talking about used to, be used to, and get used to. Yeah, they all kinda look the same — but they mean totally different things My AI English Tutor is hereJoin my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/

Today, I want to talk about something that might seem small, but it actually plays a big role in everyday English — and that's small talk. Small talk is one of those things that isn't really taught in textbooks… but it's something people do all the time in English-speaking countries. And if you've ever found yourself in an awkward elevator ride or sitting next to someone on a train and didn't know what to say… this episode is for you. My AI English Tutor is HEREJoin my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/Crickets Sound Effect by felix_quinol from Pixabay

Welcome to another Saturday Short, your quick tip for speaking English naturally. Today, let's talk about three super common words in spoken English: 

Have you ever been to the county fair? Those events have the whole nine yars, including the food. Yeah, that fair food is a total gut-buster, but it sure does taste good! Today, I want to give you a little behind-the-scenes tour of what an American fair is like, and at the same time, we'll learn a few really natural, fun expressions that go along with the fair experience.My AI English Tutor is hereJoin my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com

Somebody asked me the other day how many phrasal verbs there are in English. That's a tough question. So I said, beats me. And then she said, but you're an English teacher. I dunno. I have no clue. How many phrasal verbs are there? Who knows!Native English speakers have a lot of ways to say at they don't know. Today, I want to share some fun and natural ways to say “I don't know” — the way native speakers really talk.Use my free AI English TutorJoin my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/

I'm so excited to bring you my chat with Lindsay McMahon, the founder and cohost of the All Ears English Podcast. In this podcast English Lesson, you'll hear a natural English conversation between two native English speakers. We're talking about life in Japan, cultural differences and similarities, how things have changed in 25 years and how things have stayed the same. Use my AI English Tutor HEREJoin my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/

Hey there! It's Michael here — and welcome to the very first Happy English Saturday Short.Every Saturday, I'll be here with a quick, one-point English lesson to help you build your vocabulary, fix common grammar issues, and to help you sound more natural when you speak. These lessons are short — just a minute or two — but packed with practical English you can start using right away.So let's kick things off with a useful phrasal verb:  

Sentence stress. It's not the kind of stress, that keeps you up at night. And in fact, it's not anything bad at all. It's an essential part of English!And when I say sentence stress, I'm not talking about being stressed out about learning grammar. I'm talking about how we say certain words louder, longer, or more clearly — and how that changes the feeling, and sometimes even the meaning, of what we're saying.Use m free AI English Tutor HEREJoin my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/

Are you ready to pack a picnic and have some fun in the sun? Before calling it a day, check out today's English lesson podcast all about beach life, part of our summer series on American Culture. We're gonna talk about beach life, which could be the beach at the ocean or a lake, and to some degree even the neighborhood swimming poll. Along the way, I'll show you five idioms and phrases that match the sunscreen, beach umbrellas, and beach snacks theme: fun in the sun, catch some rays, pack a picnic, chill out, and call it a day.Use My AI English TutorJoin my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/

Just because you're speaking fast, doesn't mean you're speaking fluently. Fluency is not about speed. Fluency is about rhythm.  It's about sounding natural — with the right pauses, the right tone, and the right feeling. Today, I want to help you speak more naturally by focusing on something that native speakers do all the time — even if they don't realize it. And that is: Thought Groups.Use FREE: My AI English TutorJoin my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/

Wow! It's really heating up out there today. In fact, I was totally burning up when I was walking the dogs. Thankfully I can cool down with the A/C. Today, I've got some phrasal verbs for you that we use to talk about hot weather. Phrasal verbs are such an integral part of English. I mean, native speakers not only use them all the time, but prefer to use them in conversation. And you should to. Using this kind of language will make your spoken English sound much more natural. My AI English Tutor is HEREJoin my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/

Someone recently asked me if teaching English was a side hustle. Really? I hustle, that's for sure, but this is my only job. And I got my foot in the door in 1994 in Japan. Wow time flies!Today, we have another episode in our summer series about American culture. It's Week 7, and today we're talking about something that's kind of a rite of passage in the U.S.—summer jobs.My AI English Tutor is HEREJoin my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/

Just in case you were wondering, this is another podcast English lesson. And in case you like what I'm gonna teach here, I'll give you some tips to help you remember it. Today, I want to help you out with a handful of phrases that all use the words “in” and “case.” In this lesson, we're going over expressions like “in case,” “in case of,” “just in case,” “in any case,” “in that case,” and  “whatever the case.” These are super common in daily English, and they each have their own little twist when it comes to grammar and meaning.My AI English Tutor is HEREJoin my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/

I'm glad you popped in today. Now this lesson may not make your eyes pop out, but before you pop out or pop the question, you're gonna want to learn these phrases and idioms with pop. You know, the word “pop” is such a fun little word in English. It's short, quick, kind of energetic… and actually, that's exactly how we use it — to describe things that happen quickly or suddenly. Today we're going to check out some of the most common and useful “pop” expressions that native English speakers use all the time. My AI English Tutor: Get it hereJoin my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/Cork Pop Sound Effect by freesound_community from Pixabay