The Level Up English Podcast

With my experience of learning multiple languages at the same time, I revisit my thoughts and advice on this popular question.What are the best ways to approach learning two languages? How do you best manage your time? I do my best to answer these questions in today's episode while sharing some different examples and methods that suit different people.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast324Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

Do you look at the past through rose-tinted glasses? Do you feel a sense of nostalgia when looking into the past?In this episode, I explore the meaning and use behind this common expression with examples from my own life and a little bit at the end on the deeper meaning behind this phrase.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast323Second Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@EnglishWithMichaelSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

Small Talk is something many of us struggle with, and it's a really important part of socialising and using language.In this episode, I share some of my own awkward experiences with small talk, and then go through time tips on how we can all get better at it to improve our conversations and relationships.I then share a few phrases that English learners can use to sound more natural when making Small Talk.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast322Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

Abigail Fulbrook (weareenglishteachers.com) joins me for a fascinating chat about a few different topics, including moving to Japan from the UK, what we miss about the UK, learning using AI teachers, other uses of AI, and much more!Abigail Fulbrook has been teaching English for over 15 years. She's worked in the UK, Japan and online. As well as teaching she loves crafting and eating chocolate. She lives in Japan at the moment with her husband and two daughters, and far too many crafting supplies.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast321Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

We first spoke about this in Episode 218, and now we're returning for a part 2. Cognitive Biases are ways our brains can trick us into certain beliefs and behaviours without realising, and in this episode, I'll cover a few of them such as the IKEA Effect, the Recency Effect, and the Negativity Bias.They're fascinating to learn, but will also give you some insight to make you a better language learner.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast320Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

In today's episode, I share an issue I've been thinking about for a while - finding the balance between speaking up and letting things go.In other words, when things annoy us or seem unjust, should we speak up and say something? Or should we prioritise our mental health and let it go? I share some of my own views with this and encourage you to get in touch with yours too. I also share lots of expressions related to this topic.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast319Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

This is an episode that I've been meaning to make for a while. Let's talk about 'trump' today.In fact, there are many phrases in English that originate from cards and gambling, so this episode looks at some of the common ones and how you can use them in your daily life.As always, I give examples from my own life to help put these phrases in a natural context for you.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast318Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

There are many differences in vocabulary between British and American English. Some of these are quite well-known and easy to understand (biscuit and cookie, maybe), but others are a bit more complex.In today's episode, I'm not simply listing these differences. I'm looking at 8 terms that are different in both British and American English, but aren't quite the same in meaning. Each term reveals something special about the culture of each country.Hopefully, this episode will highlight some of the subtle cultural differences in each country, while teaching you new words and ideas.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast317Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

Alastair Budge from Leonardo English joined me for a casual chat about a variety of different topics.Alastair has his own podcast called "English Learning for Curious Minds". In it, he covers all sorts of topics from space mining to population decline, while making content that helps English learners improve.I found this concept so interesting, so I picked a few topics at random to chat about in our conversation today. We also talk about the importance of curiosity.Today, you'll hear about fascinating inventors, admirable people, population decline, Ozempic, the shadow side, and much more.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast316Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

We've now done quite a few episodes on Phrasal Verbs, but this is an important one. Today, I'll be looking at the differences between separable and inseparable phrasal verbs. This is a very important part of English if you want to sound natural and fluent.As always, I'm not just listing off words in a boring way. I'll be sharing examples of both types while talking about my recent trip to Cambodia, and I also encourage you to make your own examples.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast315This free video series will take you through a few lessons to Level Up your English quickly. Join me!Click here to sign up = https://courses.levelupenglish.school/fp/miniseriesSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

In this episode, I'll be talking about driving culture in the UK. There are a lot of interesting laws and unwritten rules that are reflective of British culture. So whether you will be driving in the UK or not, I think this will be interesting for you.I share some of the big differences between driving culture in the UK and in Thailand, as well as my own experience taking my driving test when I was a teenager and how it might compare to your country.Of course, I also make sure to share loads of new vocabulary related to driving, so don't miss it!Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast314This free video series will take you through a few lessons to Level Up your English quickly. Join me!Click here to sign up = https://courses.levelupenglish.school/fp/miniseriesSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

Let's explore the expression "The Grass is Greener on the Other Side".In English, this is used when we view other situations as better than our own. In fact, no matter what we have, we tend to value what we don't have more.I explore the meaning of this expression in some detail, examples from my own life, and also some common ways we all experience this along with some ideas on how to overcome the negative sides of this idea.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast313This free video series will take you through a few lessons to Level Up your English quickly. Join me!Click here to sign up = https://courses.levelupenglish.school/fp/miniseriesSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

Today I'm doing a rare in-person discussion with Teacher Zdenek. Zdenek has more than 12 years of experience in various settings, primarily teaching English learners of levels B2-C2. He's taught English in the Czech Republic, UK, Ireland and most recently Vietnam.  Zdenek has also moved to Vietnam, and that's why we were able to meet up nearby in Bangkok for a casual discussion. We speak about moving abroad, learning the local language, habit-building, teaching English, naughty tourists, and much more!I hope you enjoy this one.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast312This free video series will take you through a few lessons to Level Up your English quickly. Join me!Click here to sign up = https://courses.levelupenglish.school/fp/miniseriesSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

This is a big habit masterclass episode! We'll be diving into the basics of creating habits, how to keep them going without giving up on your goals, and also how to kick some bad habits that are holding you back.I also give examples of successes and failures based on a lot of my own habit-building experiences.   As you can tell by the length of this episode, this is a topic I'm truly passionate about and something I've been focusing on for my whole adult life.I really do believe that creating good habits can be one of the key things you can do to start seeing big, positive changes in life and reach your greatest goals. You can use these tips to help achieve your English learning goals,  or something else like career goals or financial goals.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast311This free video series will take you through a few lessons to Level Up your English quickly. Join me!Click here to sign up = https://courses.levelupenglish.school/fp/miniseriesSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

The goal of this episode is to share as many useful healthcare vocabulary as I can think of.I first begin by comparing my medical experiences in the UK and in Thailand, and then go through some of my specific medical problems and injuries in each country where I go through my symptoms and share my views.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast310This free video series will take you through a few lessons to Level Up your English quickly. Join me!Click here to sign up = https://courses.levelupenglish.school/fp/miniseriesSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

Cleft Sentences are an area of English grammar that is used in daily conversation, but isn't often taught. I don't know many things, but what I am knowledgable about is English! (There's an example!)In this episode, I first explain two of these grammar patterns that you can follow, and then I go through some questions about travel, life experience, and work while answering using this grammar. And of course, I encourage you to do the same. Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast309This free video series will take you through a few lessons to Level Up your English quickly. Join me!Click here to sign up = https://courses.levelupenglish.school/fp/miniseriesSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

Ben Gill from To The Point English joins us today for a great, detailed overview of the Cambridge English exams. Ben covers all sorts of topics and questions related to these exams on his YouTube channel (particularly B2, C1, and C2 levels). The exams are huge and we could talk about them for days, so in today's episode, I try to ask Ben a couple of common questions for each paper of the exam.We talk about tips for the listening exam, what accents to prepare for in the speaking exam, how much advanced grammar to use in your writing, and strategies for making the reading sections easier.Exam Format:B2 FirstC1 AdvancedC2 ProficiencyShow notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast308Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

For the past 6 months, I've been noting down the most common mistakes I see English learners make in preparation for this episode.I go through them one by one and give examples from my own life to give you some context for each one and show you how they're used.Some of these are simple mistakes, and others look at the subtle differences between two similar phrases.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast307Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

I've been tracking my own language learning for over a year and it's amazing to see my progress and time invested over that period. In this episode, I share with you the lessons from tracking all this data every day for one year, the benefits of doing so, and why doing something similar might be beneficial to you.Don't forget to join the discussion by leaving a comment in the shownotes or wherever you listen to this podcast.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast306Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

As an annual tradition here on the podcast, let's talk about New Year Resolutions! I'll be talking about how 2024 went for me - looking at work goals, personal goals, and bucket list goals.I then move onto looking ahead to 2025 and plan for the year ahead. A lot can change, but I'm discussing some goals I have for the upcoming year with the goal of enjoying the year and learning more.Head to the comments below and join in with the conversation by sharing your own reviews and goals.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast305Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

In this episode, we'll be going around the world to 5 different countries and looking at their different Christmas traditions. While doing this, I'll be sharing one expression with each one that you can use in daily conversations at any time of the year.I also talk a little bit about the differences in my experience between Christmas in Thailand and the UK.Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast304Take FivePractice your English with friends Worldwide! TakeFive makes English Speaking easy and fun Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

Today I'm joined by Emma (Adventure into English) for a conversation about group vs solo activities. Emma has been helping with the group classes at Level Up English for some time now, so it's an appropriate topic for today. We start by discussing some Would You Rather questions for activities that can be done as a group or on your own.We then move onto some English expressions around the topic of groups and working together. These are expressions you can use in your daily life, and I quiz Emma on using these in her replies. See if you can join in the game too!Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast303Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

Mental Health is something we should all take seriously and I believe there's a lot of crossover between language learning and having a healthy mindset. This was a request from a listener to cover this topic. Although I am of course, not a professional, I do love the topic, so I share 18 different methods that I used to improve my own mental health and bring happiness into my life. I hope you find some of them useful too.Of course, as always, I mention loads of fantastic English words and phrases related to this topic that you can use in your daily life too. Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast302Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

You may know that British people are famous for using the word 'sorry' all the time.In this episode, I talk about this habit and how much truth is behind it, but I also share the different situations in which we would say 'sorry' in the UK - and maybe more generally in the English-speaking world too.Sorry is so much more than a word used when you make a mistake and it can have many different meanings. There are also many different ways to apologise and say you're sorry depending on how serious the situation is, so in the second half of this episode, I cover these different phrases.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast301Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

In Episode 300 of the podcast, Akari from the Nihongo For You podcast joins me today for a chat about teaching languages, moving abroad, and learning English.In the second half of the episode, we talk about life experiences where I ask Akari questions using the present perfect tense about things she has done before. It's a great opportunity to practice the grammar and see it used in the context of a regular conversation.Perhaps you could also answer along at home and practice for yourself?If you're learning or thinking about learning Japanese, don't forget to check out Akari's website and podcast too.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast300Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

In my last episode, I spoke about my cycling trip to Taiwan. While there, I had a lot of time alone to think to myself with no distractions. In this episode today, I'm going to share some of the things I was thinking about.One of these was the idea of Hedonic Adaptation (also known as the Hedonic Treadmill). This is something that we all face as humans and might just be the key to understanding how to be happy and content.It's a really useful topic when it comes to being happy with what you have and not always feeling bad about what you don't - such as feeling bad for not being good enough at English. Let's find out more.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast299Modem FuturaModem Futura is your guide to the bold frontiers of tomorrow, where technology,...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

I took 2 weeks off in October to ride a bicycle around the whole of Taiwan. It was over 1000km and took about 2 weeks to complete. Along the way, I had both good and bad experiences and there's a lot I'd love to share!I also filmed a lot of videos of my cycle, so if you'd like to see, you can watch this episode on YouTube - The Level Up English Podcast.This is perhaps the longest solo episode I've ever recorded, but throughout the episode, I talk about the good and the bad, what I did day by day, how I prepared for the trip, and my experience talking in Chinese with people there. Along the way, I also mention a lot of useful vocabulary which will be useful for you as English learners. Hope you enjoy!Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast298Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

The Comparison Trap is when we get stuck comparing our lives to other people and feeling worse as a result.It's a common problem in language learning, and this is something that I often experience too since I was inspired to make this episode after a moment of comparison made me feel worse.We often compare ourselves to others in many ways, such as income, appearance, skills, and on social media. In this episode, I cover all of these topics while sharing some useful comparative grammar structures to improve your spoken English.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast297Blue Grit Podcast: The Voice of Texas Law EnforcementHost: Clint McNear and Tyler Owen discussing topics, issues, and stories within the...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

Curiosity is an important thing to practice to be better English language learners and enjoy your life more. When we start learning a language, we're naturally very open and curious to learning new things. It can be an amazing feeling when you're really into something and you're looking up every little detail.However, along the way, we naturally get more complacent and we begin to take things for granted. This curiosity fades into daily habits and routines. Curiosity makes language learning so much more enjoyable more also helps you progress faster. That's the idea behind today's episode.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast296Blue Grit Podcast: The Voice of Texas Law EnforcementHost: Clint McNear and Tyler Owen discussing topics, issues, and stories within the...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

Megan is a teacher from Manchester, UK who has been teaching for 10 years and recently made the move to online classes. Megan specialises in Business English for professionals and improving spoken fluency, so in this episode, we talk all about jobs.We start out discussing dream jobs and finding the right job for you.I then quiz Megan on some really useful English business expressions that you can use both in and out of the workplace.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast295Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

Let's look at 3 ways we can use 'used to' in English. We'll look at the different grammar and way we structure these terms while answering fun and interesting questions on these topics.I encourage you to answer these questions either in your personal studies or by leaving a comment in the shownotes below.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast294Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

This is a really fun episode all about the recent progress of AI (Artificial Intelligence) - specifically in the area of audio and music.I share a few songs that were made by AI about this podcast that I think will blow your mind. I had a lot of fun with it. I also share my thoughts on the future changes that AI will bring to the world, some jobs that will be lost and others that will be safe from AI and automation, and much more. Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast293Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

I'm exploring a topic I truly love today and looking at the most unusual and strange places on our planet.I'll be talking about the highest cities, hottest places, coldest places, and much more in today's episode. This is a great opportunity to practice your knowledge of superlatives (using EST to talk about the most of something).Check the shownotes page below for more information on the words, and join as a member to access bonus learning materials to help you remember the language in today's episode.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast292Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

In today's episode, we're exploring the topics of optimism, pessimism, and realism. These are different attitudes towards life and the future and can have a massive impact on your happiness and mental health.I go over the definitions and words, discuss some possible benefits of being pessimistic, and give many tips on how and why you can be more optimistic in life.A really fun episode filled with English vocabulary, and hopefully quite motivational too.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast291Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

Paola from the Talaera Talks podcast and I are doing a cross-post episode today. You can also find this episode and many more over on their podcast. The topic is all about jobs, careers, and business English expression. We start by asking questions to each other, using our own work experience to give examples of when to use these expressions.We then talk about advice on how to get a job when English isn't your first language, and a bit on work-life balance.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast290Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

One of the listeners suggested I talk about the topic of work-life balance. This is something I've been working on in my own life for many years, and I feel like I might have something useful to share on this topic.So in this episode, I talk about a few tips that you can implement to have a better sense of work-life balance and enjoy your life more, regardless of how many hours you have to work each day.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast289Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

I recently went back to my home country - the UK - for the first time in a quite a while and was fascinated by how the UK appeared to me after being away for a while.There was a lot that I found strange, unusual, and interesting that I wasn't really aware of while I was still living in England. In this episode, I discuss some of my feelings and culture shock experiences, and perhaps some of you can relate to these experiences when you visit the UK for the first time. Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast288Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

I just came back from a trip in Europe and I thought I'd get on the microphone today and review some of the good and bad experiences I had there.I made the adventurous decision to travel from London all the way to Istanbul by train (listen to the episode to see why I didn't make it all the way!) In this episode, I talk about my experience sleeping on trains, my time in each country, and why I suddenly changed my travel plans. There are also some useful expressions and vocabulary to help improve your English throughout.This is a very casual, chatty episode, so hopefully you don't mind. You're always welcome to comment your feedback on the shownotes page (link below)Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast287Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

Fran from Step Up Japanese and I discuss a few different topics in today's episode, including:The Shikoku 88 Pilgrimage (walking around the Japanese island of Shikoku)The Tadoku reading method for languagesAn embarrassing language mistake on TVAnd more!If you're a fan of hearing casual British English conversations, and also finding out something new about language learning, then this should be a good episode for you.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast286Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

This is the fifth episode in the AMA series (Ask Me Anything) where the listeners of the podcast ask me questions about English learning, British culture, or maybe something totally unrelated.They're also fun, relaxed, and more casual than regular episodes. Hopefully, you'll learn something new in this one while enjoying the topics. If you want to submit questions for future episodes, the best place is on my Instagram page: @englishwithmichaelShow notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast285Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

We've done a few episodes on phrasal verbs now, including the verbs Turn and Set, and this is a continuation of that series, except today we're looking at a preposition: Out. I'll be covering 8 different phrasal verbs that are commonly used while sharing my own stories about them from my own life, and I'll encourage you do to the same.#13 What are phrasal verbs?#261 Phrasal Verbs with 'Turn'#272 Phrasal Verbs with 'Set'Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast284Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

I've always been interested in body language, and today I'd like to share that interest with you all.I'm going to be reviewing and reacting to some amazing body language facts from some articles while sharing my opinions, experiences, and a lot of new vocabulary and expressions.I hope you learn something new today - whether it's about how you can position your body to change how people see you, or simply just some new English words.Source 1: factretriever.com Source 2: forbes.com Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast283Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

Stephen from the SEND7 podcast joins me today for a talk about the news. We cover a wide range of topics, such as learning English with the news, avoiding bias and fake news, how to deal with news anxiety, and some positive stories you may have missed.  Stephen also shares reasons why he's feeling optimistic for the future despite all the terrible things we see in the news today. Stick around until the end to find out why.I really hope you enjoy our discussion. Don't forget to check out Stephen's podcast, and also consider supporting Level Up English on the links below.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast282Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

I'm so excited for this topic, because today we're looking at Cognitive Biases.This is how our brains can trick us into certain beliefs and behaviours. Learn about things like the Sunk Cost Fallacy, Loss Aversion,  Confirmation Bias, and more!We'll be talking about examples of how these things can affect our views and beliefs, as well as how you can use these to become better English learners.Share your views and comments on the show notes page below! If I get good feedback, I'd love to make a Part 2 in the future. Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast281Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

I first covered this topic back in Episode 215, but it's such a huge one, I think it's time for a Part 2.Today, I'm sharing 6 idioms related to animals that we use in daily conversations in British English. While I share each one, I give you some examples from my own life to connect them with and make them more memorable and invite you to do the same. How many did you know?Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast280Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

Each generation has its own name in English, as well as distinct characteristics, differences, good points and bad points.In this episode, I review each one and share a little bit about them while hopefully sharing some new and useful vocabulary as well. Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast279Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

This is a fun episode where I cover the topic of dreaming in English. I start by sharing some strange and unbelievable facts about dreams, and then share some of my own wacky dreams and nightmares.I also go through a couple common dreams that many of us have had and the possible meanings behind each one, while doing so, I make sure to share a new word so hopefully, you'll be able to end this episode having learnt something new.   Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast278Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

Natasha Broodie (lifewiththebige.com) first joined us on Episode 135. Today, Natasha is back to discuss her new book: "Swaggart: The Art of Professional Schmoozing at Job Interviews".We cover many topics around job interviews, including how to answer hard questions, discrimination and racism, and the biggest mistakes that interviewees make.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast277Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

The 80/20 Rule, also known as the Pareto Principle, suggests that 20% of actions cause 80% of the outcomes.  There are so many ways in which this shows up in life, so I'm going to be discussing it and talking about some ways we can think about this rule to improve our language progress, make our lives more efficient, and increase our level of happiness.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast276Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

This is a very special episode because we're doing something a little bit different. Today I'm bringing you to the centre of Bangkok for an outdoor episode.▶️ Click here to watch this episode on YouTube - https://youtu.be/vNBOT3nBxBgI talk about relocating and moving away from your home while walking around one of the central parks in Bangkok, Thailand. I discuss the difficulties, my personal experiences, and I share lots of useful and relevant English phrases that you can use connected to this topic.  Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast275My old YouTube channel - http://youtube.com/c/englishwithmichaelSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

Are you too old to learn English? Maybe you should have started when you were a child, or still in school?Well, in this episode I'm responding to this common concern or excuse by giving my opinion on learning a language at an older age, the benefits of learning as a child, and whether you should still make the same effort now.Don't forget to share your own views and experiences in the comments on the shownotes page below.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast274Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.