POPULARITY
Categories
Learning English use a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts. Previously known as Special English.
Learning English uses a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts. Previously known as Special English.
Sometimes, in the middle of a conversation, you need to change the topic. Maybe something that was said suddenly reminds you of something else that you want to say. Well, if that's happened to you, then you've come to the right podcast. In situations like these, we have a few short, natural phrases that gently guide the conversation in a new direction - and that's what this podcast English lesson is all about.Happy English Podcast – Speak English Naturally I'm Michael from Happy English, and I help people speak English more naturally, confidently, and clearly.
Learning English use a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts. Previously known as Special English.
Hey there! It's Michael here - and welcome back to Speak Naturally in a Minute from Happy English. I'm here every week with a quick one-point lesson to help you improve your pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation.Today, let's practice liaison - how sounds link together in natural American English. Our focus today is the phrase “whaddaya.” I everyday English conversation, what do you and what are you often sound exactly the same: whaddaya.So instead of saying: “What do you think?” Americans usually say: “Whaddaya think?”And instead of: “What are you doing?” We say: “Whaddaya doing?”Now, let's do some shadowing practice. I'll say a phrase twice. First, just listen. Then, say it together with me. Ready?Whaddaya think? (Again - shadow me) Whaddaya think?Whaddaya like? (Again - shadow me) Whaddaya like? Whaddaya want? (Again - shadow me) Whaddaya want? Whaddaya doing? (Again - shadow me) Whaddaya doing?Whaddaya thinking? (Again - shadow me) Whaddaya thinking?Whaddaya getting? (Again - shadow me) Whaddaya getting?This kind of liaison makes your English sound faster, smoother, and more natural. So next time you ask a question, try it the natural way: Whaddaya think?Hey, thanks for practicing with me! And remember to follow and subscribe so you won't miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week's Speak Naturally in a Minute. Until next time, keep learning and keep it cool.Happy English Podcast – Speak English Naturally I'm Michael from Happy English, and I help people speak English more naturally, confidently, and clearly.
Ever wonder why your English feels "off" even though your grammar is perfect? This episode reveals the hidden layer of American communication that textbooks never teach—the unspoken rules, rhythms, and cultural codes that native speakers use automatically.We explore five game-changing awareness shifts that explain why conversations feel awkward, why Americans seem indirect, and why waiting politely for your turn actually makes you seem disengaged. You'll discover how the same word can mean twelve different things depending on rhythm, why "We should get coffee!" isn't actually an invitation, and how Americans build connection through interruption rather than silence.This isn't about memorizing more vocabulary or perfecting your accent—it's about recognizing that you've been playing a completely different game than the one Americans are actually playing. Once you see these patterns, you can't unsee them, and that's when real fluency begins.Perfect for: Advanced English learners who are technically fluent but still feel like they're missing something in real American conversations.Enroll Now: https://speakenglishwithtiffani.com/365System/
Learning English use a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts. Previously known as Special English.
Hey there! It's Michael here - and welcome back to English Tips in a Minute from Happy English. I'm here every week with a short, simple tip to help you speak English more naturally and confidently. Today, let's look at another really common conversational phrase - “at the end of the day.” We use at the end of the day to sum things up or to focus on the final point or conclusion. You'll hear this a lot in business meetings, but people also use it in everyday conversation.Like, in a meeting, someone might say: “These are all good idea, but at the end of the day, we need to meet the deadline.”Or in a more personal situation: “The car salesman offered a really good car, for a great price, but at the end of the day it was just too far out of my budget.”Or about language learning: “There are a lot of apps out there to learn English, but at the end of the day, having English conversation with others is the best way to improve.”Remember, you can use at the end of the day to focus on the final point or conclusion. It helps your English sound clear, confident, and natural - especially when giving opinions. Practice using at the end of the day in your english conversations this week.Try leaving an example in the comments, and remember to follow or subscribe so you don't miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week's English Tips in a Minute. Hey, thanks for listening - and until next time, keep learning and keep it cool.Happy English Podcast – Speak English Naturally I'm Michael from Happy English, and I help people speak English more naturally, confidently, and clearly.
Learning English use a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts. Previously known as Special English.
Hey there! It's Michael here, and welcome back to Phrasal Verbs in a Minute from Happy English. I'm here every Friday with a quick one-point lesson to help you learn a new phrasal verb and sound more natural when you speak.Today's phrasal verb is follow through on.When you follow through on something, it means you finish what you promised or planned - you don't quit halfway.Like the problem with Jack is, he has lots of good ideas, but he never follows through on any of them.My friend Emily followed through on her goal to read 20 books last year - pretty impressive.These days, I'm trying to follow through on the study plan I set up.So how about you? What's something you're trying to follow through on these days?Let me know in the comments, and remember to follow or subscribe so you don't miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week's Phrasal Verbs in a Minute. Hey, thanks for listening - and until next time, keep learning and keep it cool.Happy English Podcast – Speak English Naturally I'm Michael from Happy English, and I help people speak English more naturally, confidently, and clearly.
Learning English use a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts. Previously known as Special English.
Do you need to recharge? No, I'm not talking about your phone. I'm referring to you! Maybe you need to slow down a bit or take a break. If any of those are relatable, you've come to the right place. Today, we're gonna talk about slowing down, taking care of ourselves, and getting back our energy.This English lesson is all about some natural phrases native speakers use when they need to rest, slow down, or recharge - especially after being busy or feeling stressed. Happy English Podcast – Speak English Naturally I'm Michael from Happy English, and I help people speak English more naturally, confidently, and clearly.
Learning English use a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts. Previously known as Special English.
In this transformative episode, we explore why your English feels stuck — and it's not what you think. The problem isn't your vocabulary, grammar, or practice time. It's the invisible prison of perfectionism, rehearsal, and the exhausting attempt to translate your entire personality into a second language.Discover the five powerful mindset shifts that separate lifelong students from confident speakers:Stop Rehearsing: Learn why mental preparation actually blocks fluency and how speaking without a script builds real confidenceGive Yourself Permission to Be Approximately Right: Understand why "close enough" vocabulary creates connection while perfectionism creates silenceSpeak Before You're Ready: Master the art of trusting yourself to figure it out as you go — the secret of true fluencyStop Translating Your Personality: Release the impossible burden of being exactly the same person in English and discover a new dimension of yourselfEmbrace the Mess: Recognize that mistakes aren't obstacles to fluency — they ARE the pathPacked with real-world examples from team meetings, job interviews, networking events, and everyday conversations, this lesson shows you exactly how each principle plays out in actual situations. You'll see how professionals just like you transformed their English by changing not what they say, but how they relate to the act of speaking itself.If you've been waiting to feel "ready" before you speak with confidence, this episode will show you why readiness doesn't come before speaking — it comes from speaking. Your English is already better than you allow it to be. It's time to set it free.Enroll Now: https://speakenglishwithtiffani.com/365System/
Learning English use a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts. Previously known as Special English.
In this episode, I introduce a new format Anna Reports, where I reveal takeaways from real business conversations I've heard and break them down the natural English phrases so you feel more confident with them in the workplace. You'll learn:Common British business expressions you're likely to hear in real conversationsThe difference between 4 very common nouns for time managementWhat it really means to broach a sensitive topicPLEASE NOTE I've deliberately recorded this episode to be even more conversational to challenge you more. It's normal if you find it harder than usual. Read along with the transcript if that helps. Enjoy! GET MY FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - Become a free member and get my weekly round up of tips in the newsletter and extra bonus content INTERESTED IN COACHING WITH ME? Register interest to be informed of future places on my 3-month programme WANT TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST? Donate a coffee TRANSCRIPTS - do an in-depth review of the episode content LinkedIn @AnnaConnellyInstagram @annabusinessenglishYouTube @annabusinessenglish
Learning English uses a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts. Previously known as Special English.
Seems like these days a lot of folks are busy, and even stressed. How about you? Have you ever wanted to describe your situation or feeling with something more conversational than “I'm very busy,” or “I'm stressed.” I'm glad you said yes. In fact, native English speakers usually have a few other ways to talk about stress and being busy that sound more natural and more conversational. We often explain why we're busy, or we soften what we say so we don't sound dramatic. And that's what I want to help you with today - talking about stress and being busy naturally in English.Happy English Podcast – Speak English Naturally I'm Michael from Happy English, and I help people speak English more naturally, confidently, and clearly.
Learning English use a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts. Previously known as Special English.
Hey there! It's Michael here - and welcome back to Speak Naturally in a Minute from Happy English. I'm here every week with a quick one-point lesson to help you improve your pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation.Today, let's talk about something fun in American English: Stretching words to show emotion or emphasis. In natural spoken English, we often lengthen the vowel sound in a stressed word. We do this to show feeling - like surprise, excitement, or strong emotion.Like, That movie was sooooo good.OR I'm not gooing out because I'm reeeeeally tired."Hey Michael! Did you hear? Jenny broke up with her boyfriend." “She diiiid? nooo waaaay”So the words don't change - only the length of the vowel changes. Stretching the vowel sounds gives emphasis and emotion to that word. This is part of the melody and rhythm of American English. Try that, and leave me a comment to let me know how it goes.Hey, thanks for listening! And remember to follow and subscribe so you won't miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week's Speak Naturally in a Minute. Until next time, keep learning and keep it cool.Happy English Podcast – Speak English Naturally I'm Michael from Happy English, and I help people speak English more naturally, confidently, and clearly.
Learning English use a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts. Previously known as Special English.
Hey there! It's Michael here - and welcome back to English Tips in a Minute from Happy English. I'm here every week with a short, simple tip to help you speak English more naturally and confidently.Today, let's look at another natural conversational phrase - “long story short.”We use long story short when we want to summarize a situation and skip all the details. It's like saying, “I'm just gonna tell you the main point.”Like, “What a morning! Long story short, I missed the train and got to work late.”Or when talking about a problem: “Long story short, the project took longer than we expected.”You can also use it when explaining how something ended: “Yeah, we were going to go hiking, but, long story short, we decided not to go.”You'll hear long story short a lot in casual conversation, especially when people don't want to or don't need to give a full explanation. It helps your English sound more relaxed and natural - just like everyday spoken English.So remember, the next time you want to summarize a situation quickly, try using “long story short.”Lemme know in the comments how it goes, and remember to follow or subscribe so you don't miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week's English Tips in a Minute. Hey, thanks for listening - and until next time, keep learning and keep it cool.Happy English Podcast – Speak English Naturally I'm Michael from Happy English, and I help people speak English more naturally, confidently, and clearly.
Learning English use a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts. Previously known as Special English.
Hey there! It's Michael here, and welcome back to Phrasal Verbs in a Minute from Happy English.I'm here every Friday with a quick one-point lesson to help you learn a new phrasal verb and sound more natural when you speak.Today's phrasal verb is stick to. When you stick to something, it means you continue doing it and you don't give up - even when it's difficult.You know, a lot of people make New Year's resolutions but have trouble sticking to them.My friend Jake wants to stick to his new workout plan… we'll see how long that lasts.And I'm trying to stick to my goal of studying Japanese for at least 20 minutes every day.So how about you? What's something you are sticking to this year? Let me know in the comments, and remember to follow or subscribe so you don't miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week's Phrasal Verbs in a Minute. Hey, thanks for listening - and until next time, keep learning and keep it cool.Happy English Podcast – Speak English Naturally I'm Michael from Happy English, and I help people speak English more naturally, confidently, and clearly.
Learning English use a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts. Previously known as Special English.
Here's a fun fact. In 2010, I started Happy English. In 2010. That sounds pretty accurate, right? And saying the date or the year is certainly correct - but that's not always how native speakers talk. In everyday conversation, we're often much more casual and even imprecise when we talk about the past. And that's what I want to introduce you to today - some very informal ways native speakers talk about the past casually in English.Happy English Podcast – Speak English Naturally I'm Michael from Happy English, and I help people speak English more naturally, confidently, and clearly.
Learning English use a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts. Previously known as Special English.
In this episode, you will hear Business English questions from senior managers like you. If you want to choose the right word with confidence and sound more precise at work, this episode is for you. Enjoy! AnnaDo you want to record a 30-second question for the episode? Send me an email at info@confidentbusinessenglish and I'll give you the information. 01:40 — Question 1: Luis06:10 — How to choose the right word when working with teams, partners, and authorities08:10 — Question 2: Petra12:40 — How these words fit together (the “Russian doll” model)17:40 — Practical summary + how to submit your own question GET MY FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - Become a free member and get my weekly round up of tips in the newsletter and extra bonus content INTERESTED IN COACHING WITH ME? Register interest to be informed of future places on my 3-month programme WANT TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST? Donate a coffee TRANSCRIPTS - do an in-depth review of the episode content LinkedIn @AnnaConnellyInstagram @annabusinessenglishYouTube @annabusinessenglish
Learning English use a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts. Previously known as Special English.
Learning English uses a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts. Previously known as Special English.
Let's go to the beach? Yeah, sounds like a plan. Do you ever notice that when someone makes a suggestion in English, native speakers often answer with very short phrases? Things like: “Sounds good.” “That works.” “No problem.” “Sounds like a plan.”These responses are everywhere in spoken English — at work, with friends, on the phone, and in text messages.Today, let's look at these very common response phrases native speakers use to respond to ideas, plans, and requests — and how each one sounds just a little different.Happy English Podcast – Speak English Naturally I'm Michael from Happy English, and I help people speak English more naturally, confidently, and clearly.
Learning English use a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts. Previously known as Special English.
Hey there! It's Michael here - and welcome back to Speak Naturally in a Minute from Happy English. I'm here every Sunday with a quick one-point lesson to help you improve your pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation.Today, let's look at a pair of words that sound very similar, but mean very different things: wonder and wander.First, wonder. The vowel sound here is a short, relaxed uh sound - also known as the schwa. The one in wonder is like the number one. One wonder. It's a short vowel sound. One wonder “I wonder what time it is.” “I wonder if she's coming.” One wonder - same short sound.Next is wander, wander. The vowel sound here is longer AH sound, like want. I want to Wander. Your mouth opens more and the sound lasts longer - I want to Wander. “We like to wander around the city.” “He wandered into the wrong room.” I want to Wander. So listen to the difference: wonder - wander / wonder - wander / wonder - wander The vowel sounds are different lengths: wonder, short. Wander, long. Remember, pronunciation is half listening and half doing, so practice every day!Hey, thanks for listening! And remember to follow and subscribe so you won't miss the next Happy English Podcast and next Sunday's Speak Naturally in a Minute. Until next time, keep learning and keep it cool.Happy English Podcast – Speak English Naturally I'm Michael from Happy English, and I help people speak English more naturally, confidently, and clearly.
Struggling to remember new English words? In this lesson, you'll discover five powerful methods that help you remember vocabulary permanently—not just for a test, but for real-life conversations. These strategies connect words to your memory in meaningful ways, making learning natural and effective.What You'll Learn:Spaced Repetition Method – Review words at specific intervals to move them into long-term memoryImage Association Method – Connect vocabulary to vivid images for stronger recallWord Relation Method – Expand your vocabulary by linking words with their synonymsSentence About Your Day Method – Make vocabulary personal by using new words to describe your daily lifeTopic Relation Method – Learn vocabulary through topics you're passionate aboutEach method includes clear examples and practical steps you can apply immediately. Whether you're preparing for an exam, improving your professional English, or working toward fluency, these techniques will transform how you learn and retain new words.Plus, stick around for a fun story about a Saturday afternoon hike that turned into an unforgettable adventure!If you want to sign up for the free English email newsletter, go to https://speakenglishwithtiffani.com/newsletter
Learning English use a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts. Previously known as Special English.
Hey there! It's Michael here - and welcome back to English Tips in a Minute from Happy English. I'm here every week with a short, simple tip to help you speak English more naturally and confidently. Today, let's look at a really useful conversational phrase - “that reminds me.” We use that reminds me when something in the conversation makes us remember something else. It's a natural way to change the topic or add new information without sounding abrupt.Like, if your friend says, “I finally finished that book I was reading.” you can say, “Oh! That reminds me, I still have a book I need to return to the library.”Or, your roommate says, “I'm thinking of making pasta for dinner tonight” you can say, “Oh, that reminds me, we're out of olive oil.”“That reminds me” is like saying, “Your comment just made me think of something related.” It's a very natural way to shift topics in English. Try using it in your English conversations this week.Lemme know in the comments how it goes, and remember to follow or subscribe so you don't miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week's English Tips in a Minute. Hey, thanks for listening - and until next time, keep learning and keep it cool.Happy English Podcast – Speak English Naturally I'm Michael from Happy English, and I help people speak English more naturally, confidently, and clearly.
Learning English use a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts. Previously known as Special English.
Learning English use a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts. Previously known as Special English.
Do you ever feel a little uncomfortable giving advice in English? Maybe you want to help someone - but you don't want to sound pushy, bossy, or rude. So you're not sure what to say. The good news is, native speakers rarely give advice in a very direct way. Instead of saying things like, “You should do this,” we usually soften our advice and make it sound more friendly and conversational. So today, let's look at some very common, very natural ways native speakers give advice in everyday English.Happy English Podcast – Speak English Naturally I'm Michael from Happy English, and I help people speak English more naturally, confidently, and clearly.
Is it find or find out? A lot of English learners have this question.Hey there! It's Michael here, and welcome back to Phrasal Verbs in a Minute from Happy English. I'm here every Friday with a quick one-point lesson to help you learn a new phrasal verb and sound more natural when you speak.So yeah, find or find out? Find means to locate a thing.I just moved here last year and I'm still trying to find a good pizza shop.I found my wallet. It fell behind my desk.Find out means discover information. I found out that my grandfather was a pastry chef.Janna found out her boss is gonna quit the company.So remember, you find a thing, but you find out information.How about you? What are you trying to find? What have you found out recently? Let me know in the comments, and remember to follow or subscribe so you don't miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week's Phrasal Verbs in a Minute. Hey, thanks for listening - and until next time, keep learning and keep it cool.Happy English Podcast – Speak English Naturally I'm Michael from Happy English, and I help people speak English more naturally, confidently, and clearly.
Learning English use a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts. Previously known as Special English.
As a senior manager, at times you will need to be direct and at times, diplomatic. However, you feel your vocabulary is limited and you tend to speak too directly. In this episode, I show you how to say the same message in different ways, so you can choose the right tone for meetings, feedback, and difficult conversations. Enjoy! Anna01:40 — Direct vs diplomatic: the core communication problem03:20 — Scenario 1: Managing time in meetings06:40 — Scenario 2: Giving negative feedback11:20 — Scenario 3: Rejecting an idea14:40 — Key takeaways + how to practice15:30 — Final action step GET MY FREE WEEKLY NEWSLETTER - Become a free member and get my weekly round up of tips in the newsletter and extra bonus content INTERESTED IN COACHING WITH ME? Register interest to be informed of future places on my 3-month programme WANT TO SUPPORT THE PODCAST? Donate a coffee TRANSCRIPTS - do an in-depth review of the episode content LinkedIn @AnnaConnellyInstagram @annabusinessenglishYouTube @annabusinessenglish
Learning English use a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts. Previously known as Special English.
Hey there! It's Michael here - and welcome back to Speak Naturally in a Minute from Happy English. I'm here every week with a quick one-point lesson to help you improve your pronunciation, rhythm, and intonation. And if you want to watch this lesson, just look for Happy English Podcast on YouTube.Today, let's talk about something fun in American English: Why “winter” and “winner” often sound exactly the same.This happens because of a sound change called the N-flap. When N + T comes between two vowel sounds, the T often disappears or becomes a soft flap - something like a quick D sound.winter sounds like winnertwenty sounds like twennyplenty sounds like plennyFor example:“I don't like winter weather.” sounds like “I don't like winner weather.”“We invited twenty people.” sounds like “We invited twenny people.”This isn't slang - it's just the natural rhythm of American English.Hey, thanks for listening! And remember to follow and subscribe so you won't miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week's Speak Naturally in a Minute. Until next time, keep learning and keep it cool.Happy English Podcast – Speak English Naturally I'm Michael from Happy English, and I help people speak English more naturally, confidently, and clearly.
Learning English uses a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts. Previously known as Special English.
Learning English use a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts. Previously known as Special English.
Do you ever notice that when you talk about your plans in English, you use the same phrase again and again?Maybe you say things like: “I'm gonna do this.” “I'm gonna go there.” “I'm gonna improve my English.” Those sentences are totally fine. No problem at all.But native speakers don't only use “be going to” when they talk about future plans. We also use phrases like want to, plan to, hope to, and even intend to - and each one sounds a little different. So today, let's look at five very common ways to talk about plans and intentions in English, and how native speakers really use them in everyday conversation.Watch video versions of the Happy English Podcast on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@HappyEnglishNY/podcastsBuild Vocabulary With My Free Vocabulary Workshop: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/vocabulary-workshop-signupHappy English Podcast – Speak English Naturally I'm Michael from Happy English, and I help people speak English more naturally, confidently, and clearly.
Learning English use a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts. Previously known as Special English.
Learning English use a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts. Previously known as Special English.
Learning English use a limited vocabulary and are read at a slower pace than VOA's other English broadcasts. Previously known as Special English.