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  • Montreal: A Tapestry of Language, Culture, and History

    In today’s English listening episode (B2/C1 English), we explore one of my favourite Canadian cities. Montreal.

    This city, the largest in Quebec, is an extraordinary blend of history, language, and culture in North America. After a recent trip to Montreal, I asked if you’d like to learn more about it, and your answer was a resounding “yes!”

    So for your advanced English listening practice, we’ll take a dive into:

    Montreal’s roots, from the indigenous Haudenosaunee to the French settlers, to the multilingual, world-class

    city it is today

    Its unique, plurilingual landscape, with French, English, and many other languages shaping everyday lifeA few personal highlights and must-visit spots for any future visit

    Hear You Go English language listening podcasts aim to give you, the intermediate English language learner and advanced English language learner, a space to practice your English listening so that you can think, learn, and connect in English.

    Sit back and relax, or go out for a walk, and join me as I share some of what I know regarding the language, history, and “come as you are” attitude of Montreal—a city that welcomes everyone and hopes you have a blast exploring this world-class destination. Let’s go
allons-y!

    Links to go further:

    Manasie Akpaliapik | IAQ Profiles | Inuit Art FoundationQuebec City fine arts museum highlights work of Inuk sculptor in new exhibit | CBC NewsManasie Akpaliapik. Univers inuit | Mille regards | La Presse

    The MEM museum: Celebrating Montreal and its untold stories at the MEM Centre

    Montréal: City of diversity and inclusivity

    Montreal code-switching | Educational Sociolinguistics

    Thanks for listening!

    To get in touch with me:

    For more: English with Catherine website

    Instagram: catherineangus_hearyougo

    Thanks to Amos the Transparent for our theme music.

  • In this intermediate English Conversation, TamĂĄs "Tommy" Bradford joins me on Hear You Go podcast for part 1 of our two-part collaboration. We dive into his top English picks for books, films, and music that can help you explore and learn English independently. We have a chat about everything from Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy to Benjamin Zephaniah’s poetry.

    Tommy shares his insights on John le Carré’s spy novel and its film adaptation, perfect for advanced English learners intrigued by British espionage. We also explore the playful, accessible poetry of the late British-Jamaican poet Benjamin Zephaniah, whose collections Talking Turkeys and Funky Chickens offer both humor and cultural awareness.

    We touch on a wide range of art forms—from rock and roll to reggae-inspired poetry, giving you, the English language learner, a chance to practice your listening skills as Tommy offers up this top 5. Get ready for laughter, stories, and language learning tips from the two of us.

    To hear my top 5 picks, head over to The English Podcast with Tommy for part two!

    Thanks for listening!

    If you're keen to explore more:

    Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carré:

    Book reviewMovie trailer

    Benjamin Zephaniah and his poetry.

    The Commitments (Film trailer)

    The music of Wilson Pickett and The Rolling Stones.

    Where to find TamĂĄs Bradford:

    Instagram: @tommybradfordsenglishschool

    The English Podcast with Tommy

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  • For today’s English listening practice, we'll explore "third places": what they are, why they’ve disappeared, and why we all need one.

    With modern life becoming more isolated and fast-paced, the absence of these social gathering spots, where we speak to each other in real life, is contributing to an epidemic of loneliness. But what exactly is a third place?

    Join me as I dive into its history and meaning, inspired by a thoughtful offline discussion with Brazilian English language teacher Bruna Passos.

    Boost your listening skills, test your ability to follow a narrative in intermediate English, pick out key vocabulary and expressions, and reflect on third places and consider how they’ve evolved over time—from cozy coffee shops and neighborhood pubs to bowling alleys and community gyms. As you practice your English listening skills, you’ll learn what third places are and their unique qualities.

    Hear You Go podcasts aim to give you, the intermediate English learner and advanced English learner, a space to practice your English listening so that you can think, learn, and connect in English.

    Join me and let’s explore how third places can help make life a little less lonely.

    If you'd like to learn more, click on the links below.

    There are more links included in my newsletter.

    Links to go further:

    The Happiness Lab: Where Everybody Knows Your Name.The Happiness Lab: Make American Happy Again.

    Do Yourself a Favor and Go Find a 'Third Place'

    Bowling Alone, by Robert D. Putnam.

    What's Curling?

    Two Minute Guide to the Sport of Curling

    Thanks for listening!

    For more: English with Catherine website

    Instagram: catherineangus_hearyougo

    Thanks to Amos the Transparent for our theme music.

  • I’m joined in today’s advanced English episode of Hear You Go, by Felicio Dias, a Brazilian English language teacher and language enthusiast.

    Felicio shares his passion for music, literature, and his interest in the diverse ways English is spoken across the world. Together, we dive into a thought-provoking discussion on how accents shape identity, the evolving nature of language, and the importance of embracing diverse voices in English.

    Red alert: Catherine checks her privilege and vows to approach more novels from outside her perspective.

    Whether you’re an intermediate English or advanced English language learner, teacher, or book lover, this episode offers profound insights into the complexities of English, identity, and the stories that connect us all.

    Tune in and get ready to broaden your perspective on the global nature of English and appreciate its many voices.

    Felicio's contact info:Substackfeliciodias.substack

    Instagram: felicioenglishteacher

    Books we discussed:

    Twenty Fragments of a Ravenous Youth, Xiaolo Guo.Rosewater, Liv Little.Scarborough, Catherine HernandezAutumn, Ali SmithAnything is Possible, Elizabeth Strout

    Thanks for listening to episode 54 to practice your English listening skills.

  • In this English listening practice episode of Hear You Go, we’ll explore "Come From Away," a musical that resonates deeply with me. After seeing it again recently, I was inspired to revisit the topic of English accents.

    Too often, we think of English has having only two accents: the UK accent or British accent (also called received pronunciation), and the American accent.

    But so many people around the world speak English, and they speak English with different accents and a multitude of gorgeous dialects, all of which shape our identity.

    I need to emphasize this: accents are not a measure of fluency or intelligence, but a testament to the global diversity of how people speak English.

    Join me as I share how "Come From Away" beautifully showcases this diversity, why embracing different English accents is important, and how you can navigate and celebrate the richness of the world’s many English dialects.

    Plus, I’ll talk a bit about my upcoming courses that help you appreciate and master the nuances of global English. Ready to dive in? Let’s get started!

    Thanks for listening!

    Follow me on Instagram.

    Get my newsletter.

    Theme music: Amos the Transparent.

    Links to go further:

    Come From Away: Come From AwayNewfoundland accent: The English spoken in the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) exhibits perhaps the greatest regional diversity to be found anywhere in North America. The settlement history of NL, along with its geographical setting, has proved ideal for the preservation of many older speech features which have declined more rapidly elsewhere. However, such factors as socioeconomic change, population loss and out-migration.The Miami English phenomenon: A New English Dialect Is Emerging in South Florida, Linguists Say | Scientific AmericanMiami English Recognized as Dialect - Language Magazine

    Teaching Pronunciation Must-Have New Book:

    Teaching English Pronunciation for a Global World: Walker Robin: 9780194088985

  • Ever wish you could redo an English conversation, say things differently, or finally remember that perfect word for your advanced English class? I know I do!

    Life might not allow for a reset button, but what if it did? For years, I dismissed video games as a waste of time, until I read Tomorrow, And Tomorrow, And Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. This novel changed my perspective, showing me how video games can be rich stories, and offer do-overs when real life can’t.

    For your English listening practice this week, we’ll explore this novel and its themes of friendship, creativity, and the power of stories in books and video games. I’ll also touch on how English language learning is a form of play, where we should risk making mistakes in English.

    And if you want to practice writing in English, you can tune in for tips on how to write a book review.

    Ready to rethink your ideas about video games and storytelling?

    Remember that you can sign up to get my transcript in my newsletter to practice reading advanced English and to check your listening.

    Thanks for listening to Hear You Go podcast, a podcast to support your English listening practice and engage your curious mind.

    To work with me, learn more about my courses and private lesson on my website.

    You can also find me on Instagram.

    Theme music by Amos the Transparent.

  • đŸ—žïž News flash: we're ALL daydreamers!

    đŸŽ™ïž In this episode, you might be surprised to learn that there's real power in daydreaming. It's not a waste of time.

    Daydream about speaking English the way you want.

    It can work - trust me!

    ✅ It can have an enormous impact on your English language learning and creativity, if used wisely.

    🎧 Have a listen, and discover how letting your mind wander can help motivate you, solve problems, and spark new ideas.

    We'll explore the science behind daydreaming, its benefits, and how to harness it for personal growth and learning more English.

    ⭐ There's hidden potential in your daydreams, really!

    ❗ Don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter for more insights, resources, news about how to be my student, and of course, the color-coded transcript that draws your attention to advanced English words, expressions, and pronunciation. Reading the newsletter and transcript can give you English reading practice too!

    Thanks for listening!

    Catherine đŸ€—

    Watch how one group of friends turned a daydream into a really cool adventure:

    https://youtu.be/R_vrWySEv9Q?si=uQLbuv4gj6DNRONZ

    Contact me:

    Instagram.

    Website/Newsletter: English with Catherine

    Theme music: Amos The Transparent

  • Hey English learners and listeners!

    đŸŽ™ïž This is it: episode 50 of Hear You Go podcast—"We have to be less afraid of judgment and more open to learning", Agnes Rubinho.

    âŁïžEpisode 50 marks the end of Season 2, and to close this fabulous season of podcasts, this intermediate English conversation offers you an amazing chat with a Brazilian English language teacher, Agnes Rubinho.

    Teachers: did you know Agnes has written a book for freelance English language teachers? You’ll hear us discuss a few things from her book, and afterward, I know you'll want to buy it. I did! It’s full of information I wish I’d known when I was first branching out to become a freelance, independent teacher.

    You’re not a teacher?

    If you're an English language learner, this episode will give you tips on what to look for in an English language teacher, and the benefits you get when you find the right teacher for you.

    English Listening Challenge:

    ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ The episode provides a good lesson in word stress and intonation.

    🎧 Listen to the way Agnes pauses and adds emphasis to the words she wants you to hold on to. She has a manner of speaking English that draws you in and keeps you hooked.

    🙌 That’s what good speaking is all about: engagement and connection.

    So, that’s your assignment: listen for all this delicious, engaging, messy, and wonderfully spontaneous messy English that both Agnes and I offer you in our chat.

    *****************************

    To follow Agnes and to buy her book, follow these links:

    ▶ Barry Schwartz: The paradox of choice | TED Talk

    📘 To order the book in Brazil:

    Freelance Teaching – The Language Teacher's Guide

    📘 Amazon:

    https://www.amazon.ca/Freelance-Teaching-Language-Teachers-business-ebook/dp/B0D45X98F5/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.W4SnHUM0ti5PqVYDUI1Hsg.oM4TtyaKZBUZAEdDTO1lnI1SJNUFK_-5m-UKFzFVeck&qid=1721077647&sr=8-1

    Instagram:

    For teachers: https://www.instagram.com/agnes_freelanceteaching/

    For learners: https://www.instagram.com/agnesrubinhoteacher/

    LinkedIn:

    https://www.linkedin.com/in/agnesrubinhoteacher/

    Contact me:

    Instagram.

    Website/Newsletter: English with Catherine

    Theme music: Amos The Transparent

  • Why bother?

    I don’t often ask myself that question, but every once in a while, it crops up. Why bother making an English language learning podcast if I don’t get a thousand downloads?

    In today’s English listening episode, number 49 🙌, I remind you of the value of listening to podcasts for English language learning, in addition to their psychological and social benefits. For example:

    learning new pronunciation, expressions and advanced English vocabularygetting exposure to different English accents and "messy" Englishimproving active listening skillssharing personal stories that build connectionfostering our imaginationbolstering our cognitive abilities

    While Hear You Go will never be the most famous podcast in the world (and that’s OK!), it's my way of offering you authenticity, interesting topics, and this year, it was a vehicle to highlight and elevate the voices and work of women in the English language teaching community.

    As season two starts to wrap up, I encourage you to reflect on the topics shared and my wonderful guests who offered tips and guidance, and moving stories about their love of learning English.

    đŸ’« Listen right to the end to learn more about my upcoming courses.

    I’ll be offering two starting in September: WILDE and TIDES are courses that focus on listening skills, language development, and pronunciation.

    Click on the links for more info:1ïžâƒŁ Are you WILDE: A Woman Interested in Listening to & Discovering English through podcasts?

    2ïžâƒŁ TIDES: Teachers Into Decoding English Sounds.

    Thanks for listening, and stay tuned!

    You can find me on Instagram.Be sure to get my newsletter on my website.You can access the colour-coded transcript in my newsletter.

    Thanks to Amos the Transparent for the theme music.

  • Witness the art of conversation in action in today's intermediate English conversation episode of Hear You Go.

    The delightful Anastasia Sakarova, who you might know on Instagram as @heart_to_heart_english, joins me to share stories, teaching methods, and some thoughts about what makes a conversation a conversation.

    You'll hear her talk about her early love of the English language, how she learns new vocabulary so that she uses it, and how active listening is really a key ingredient to having meaningful conversations.

    English listening challenge:

    This episode, while full of good stories and great ideas for learning, is also chock-full of idiomatic expressions that you can listen for. Keep those ears open!

    If you'd like some guidance on what to notice in terms of language like phrasal verbs, advanced English vocabulary, or collocations, be sure to get the transcript when you receive my newsletter.

    These resources will also help you practice your English reading.

    Thanks for listening! Catherine

    You can find Anastasia in these two ways:

    1. Instagram: @heart_to_heart_english

    2. Website: www.hearttoheartenglish.com

    And you can find me:

    1. Instagram: @catherineangus_hearyougo.

    2. Website: www.englishwithcatherine.com

    3. LinkedIn: Catherine Angus

    Theme music from the team of talented Canadian musicians in the band: Amos the Transparent.

  • Are you a sun worshipper or a seeker of the shade?

    Me, I'm often found under a tree or an umbrella, never baking in the sun. I'm confused though because I recently read a news story that suggested I might need to get a bit more sun on my skin. How much to get is the million-dollar question!

    In this English listening episode, we're going to try to understand the sometimes confusing messages we receive about sun exposure and health. The sun is often vilified for its role in causing skin cancer, yet new research indicates that there are surprising benefits. We need to rethink things.

    So, today we'll explore in advanced English:

    the real dangers of too much sun,the unexpected health advantages of sunlight, andhow different countries are updating their guidelines to help us enjoy the sun safely.

    Whether you're a sun worshipper or someone like me who's covered up in the shade, this episode will encourage you to reflect on the messages you've received about soaking up the sun, and how to balance the pros and cons of catching some rays.

    Thanks for listening!

    **********************

    đŸ“„ You can practice your English reading when you receive a copy of the transcript .Sign up to receive my newsletter. It's colour-coded to highlight all kinds of things to explore like advanced English vocabulary, pronunciation, and a ton of collocations and idioms.

    🔗 The transcript also includes links to articles and videos used in my research. You might want to explore these too!

    ⏰ I work with curious and ambitious English language teachers and professionals who want to maintain and build their advanced English through engaging materials and challenging audios. Messy, fast, connected, spoken language is where we get into the meat of listening. I'll be accepting new clients and offering new courses, in September.

    You'll get all that news in my newsletter too, and if you follow me on Instagram.

    đŸŽ¶ Amos the Transparent provides my theme song. They're an awesome group of talented musicians. Give them some love and check out their music.

  • English Pronunciation. 👏👏👏

    I am over the moon excited to bring you my English conversation with pronunciation expert and fluency coach, Yasna LĂĄrtiga, who you might know as Pronunciation with Miss Oh.

    You'll hear about the challenges of teaching and learning English pronunciation: from the importance of individual sounds to the frustrations of connected speech patterns, NOT rules!

    Yasna shares insights from her experience teaching English learners and overcoming her own pronunciation challenges: mindset matters! As does having crystal clear expectations.

    Find out how Shakira and a certain American president pushed us onwards in our learning and teaching practices. You might be surprised!

    As always, Hear You Go English conversation and listening podcast episodes offer something for everyone, from teachers to learners. You'll hear some good stories, gather useful recommendations, and you'll hear lots of messy, ungrammatical spoken English, otherwise known as normal, conversational English: imperfect, but full of connection and communication.

    ✅ Please follow Yasna on Instagram, where you can then link to her YouTube and TikTok channels: Pronunciation with Miss Oh.

    đŸŽ¶ Thanks always to Amos the Transparent for the theme music.

    🙏 And thank YOU for listening.

    🙂 Learn more about me and my services by signing up for my newsletter (which also includes a colour-coded transcript of each episode).

    You can follow me on Instagram too.

  • Tulips everywhere, in yellow, red, pink, white, orange, and even purple and black. They line the streets and the canal. They attract hundreds and hundreds of people to admire them and post their beauty on Instagram. Where? Right here, in Ottawa, Canada, every May.

    It’s the annual Tulip Festival, and it’s a sight to behold. The Tulip Festival in Ottawa has historical significance, and I’d like to share that with you in today's English listening episode, to share some pride in my city and my country.

    We’ll:

    take a brief look at what tulips are and where they originate (it’s not Holland)we’ll explore the importance of tulips in Ottawa and its special tulip history (it involves a princess), and we’ll wrap up by looking at flower festivals and their pros and cons in today’s social media landscape

    English listening challenge:

    🛑In this English listening episode, I draw your attention to connected speech specifically. Listen carefully for where words are dramatically reduced and/or connected.

    Sign up for my newsletter to receive the colour-coded transcript of each episode. It includes links to other resources and highlights language to notice, such as:

    advanced English vocabulary collocations and phrasal verbs idiomsinteresting pronunciation features

    Transcripts are available in my newsletter. Sign up here: English With Catherine.

    Thanks always to Amos the Transparent for the theme music.

    Don't forget to follow me on Instagram.

    Please share the podcast and spread the knowledge!

    Catherine

  • Who was Julia Child? Why is she important?

    If you like to eat, cook, and enjoy cooking shows, join me on a journey into the world of Julia Child, the iconic figure who revolutionized American food culture.

    In this episode, we learn about Julia's exciting life story, from her privileged childhood to her adventurous spirit that led her to fall in love with French cuisine in post-war Europe.

    We'll explore how Julia's passion for cooking turned into a career that challenged societal norms and inspired millions through her bestselling cookbook, "Mastering the Art of French Cooking," and groundbreaking television show, "The French Chef."

    You know, lots of people underestimated her.

    They didn't think she had the right to teach cooking.

    Don't let anyone ever tell you that you can't learn English.

    Don't let anyone discourage you from speaking English your way.

    Be like Julia - break barriers!

    We'll see that her life and legacy changed the world of food and cooking, and helped advance feminist goals (to a degree). She's had a lasting impact on future generations of cooks and food enthusiasts that I hope to champion today. Bon appétit!

    ***********

    For those of you inspired to watch the TV series, you can learn more about it here.

    Sign up for my newsletter to receive the colour-coded transcript of each episode. It includes links to other resources and highlights language to notice such as:

    advanced English vocabularycollocations and phrasal verbs idiomsinteresting pronunciation features

    Thanks for listening, and thanks always to Amos the Transparent for the theme music.

  • The elegance of English.

    I'd never thought of English that way, but my guest, Maria

    Glazunova, explains why English has such an emotional hold her on. It's a beautiful English conversation we have for you today.

    Maria and I talk about:

    her history with English: learning and teaching itburnout and how that led her to adopt a dogme approach to teaching Englishhow her book literally saved her lifehow she uses a reactive teaching approach with tech professionalshow my English pronunciation course helped her better diagnose her clients' problems, and empowered her to teach pronunciation

    Whether you're learning English or you're an English language teacher, or both, this episode is going to offer you plenty to think about, in addition, as usual, to lots of interesting language and messy, delightful, imperfect spoken conversational English.

    And if what you hear from Mary about my Pronunciation for Teachers course makes you curious, be sure to contact me ASAP. The course is offered twice a year. Learn more about it here: Pronunciation for Teachers.

    Transcripts are available in my newsletter. Sign up here:

    English With Catherine.

    Be sure to follow Maria on LinkedIn:

    linkedin.com/in/maria-glazunova

    You can buy her book here: "How to reduce your time preparing for online classes and prevent emotional burnout."

    Thanks for listening!

    Follow me on Instagram

    Follow me on LinkedIn.

    Website: www.englishwithcatherine.com

    Thanks always to Amos the Transparent for the theme music. They have a few new songs coming out soon, so follow them on Instagram for details about that. I'm excited!

  • In about a week, I'm going to celebrate my 55th birthday. I remember when I once thought that was old. Hahaha!!!In honour of my 55th birthday, I want to share some thoughts on aging, specifically aging as a woman:

    what it means to get old and look old (smashing the beauty myth!)the very real possibility of losing mental agilityresearch that suggests age is a mindset, not a number

    I believe to my core that getting older is not something we should take for granted: it’s a privilege and should be welcomed and celebrated.

    So come celebrate with me as I step through the door on my way to 60. I'm not rushing to get there, but I AM hoping to get there!

    Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on all this :)

    English listening challenge:

    This episode is chock-full of idioms and common collocations - listen for them. How many can you find? Which do you know? Which ones can you use this week in your language practice?

    Thanks for listening,

    Catherine xoxo

    Transcripts are available in my newsletter. Sign up here:

    English With Catherine.

    Thanks always to Amos the Transparent for the theme music. They have a few new songs coming out soon, so follow them on Instagram for details about that. I'm excited!

  • Welcome to Episode 41 of Hear You Go!

    I'm joined in an intermediate English conversation this week with Urmi Hossain, an inspiring polyglot who shares with us her experiences learning languages, the importance of getting out of your comfort zone and speaking your languages, and how language influences and shapes our identity.

    What language feels like home to you?What languages can you say "belong" to you?How about speaking in public: is this something you do or do you avoid it at all costs?

    There's lots to take away from this conversation - enjoy it and let me know your thoughts.

    As always, thanks for listening.

    Catherine

    *** Colour-coded transcripts are included in my twice monthly newsletter. Be sure to receive it by signing up here: Newsletter

    --> And follow me on Instagram.

    Follow Urmi here:

    InstagramBlog: My WaysHer book: Discovering Your Identity : A Rebirth From Interracial Struggle Kindle EditionYouTube
  • Will you be surprised to learn that creative activities that occupy our hands are crucial for positive mental health, and that these activities contribute to happiness and fulfillment?

    The focus of today’s English Listening episode is on creativity, crafts, and connection.

    We’ll look at:

    the Arts and Crafts movement and define arts and crafts – what are they?we’ll explore this new Maker Movement and the physical and mental benefits of making things with our handswe'll conclude by sharing my personal history of being “creative”, and I’ll share some ideas about how you too can add creative activities to your weekly schedule.

    It's important to do things with our hands, don't you agree?

    Would you believe me if I told you that doing things with your hands, while you think in English might help you learn English in a relaxed but effective way?

    Listen and find out more.

    *******************************************

    Important information:

    1. To access the colour-coded transcript, links to articles and videos about this topic, and tons of extra materials (a mini-lesson really), get my weekly newsletter.

    2. Don't forget to follow me on Instagram.

    3. Finally, give a listen to Amos the Transparent, the band that provides my theme music. They're a talented group.

    Thanks for listening!

    Catherine

    P.S. Have you reviewed Hear You Go podcast on Apple or Spotify? I'd appreciate it if you did and shared with the world how much you love it :)

  • It was -16 degrees Celsius yesterday, but the sun was shining. It's on days like these when it's easy to stay inside, under a blanket, sipping cups and cups of hot tea or hot chocolate.

    It's for this very reason that I not only asked Joanna Radomska of Walking Languages to join me in an English conversation, but I also joined her 3-week Doable Walks course to get me outside, walking each day, AND practicing my target languages---French and Italian---no matter the weather.

    We know that moving our bodies is good for us. We humans are made for walking. What we also know is that we learn better when we move.

    Walking and practicing English are a winning combination.

    So, if you too need a kick in the behind, a little motivation to move your legs and incorporate some English language practice at the same time, take a half hour walk and listen to our conversation.

    You'll hear about Joanna's language journey, as well as all the benefits of walking, talking, listening and learning: a perfect combination, if you ask me!

    You can follow Joanna here:

    1. Join her mailing list and see her courses here.

    2. Instagram: walkinglanguages

    You can contact me these ways:

    1. English with Catherine

    2. Instagram: catherineangus_hearyougo

    3. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/catherine-angus12/

    Thanks as always to Amos the Transparent for the theme music.

    And thank YOU for listening!

  • With Saint Valentine's Day around the corner, I thought we'd explore chocolate because every supermarket and pharmacy I go to these days has boxes of chocolates on display, front and center. Do you like chocolate? Silly question: who doesn't?

    In today's short English listening episode, I'll share:

    a brief history of chocolate (what it is and its origins),then we'll explore whether it's good for us and if it's an aphrodisiac, andwe'll wrap up by looking at the ugly side of the chocolate business

    You'll also learn how to pronounce chocolate in English.

    Additionally, you'll hear a fair number of idiomatic expressions, some advanced English vocabulary, and a conscious effort on my part to stress certain words for effect.

    Take note of all this as part of your English listening practice, and think about why I chose to emphasize these words.

    Here are some of the links I mention in the episode:

    History of chocolate - Wikipedia.

    The history of chocolate video: https://youtu.be/ibjUpk9Iagk?si=iOvj7zk5XvswGbXE

    How chocolate is made: https://youtu.be/7XaTay21-Ag?si=txl-keUgWV0_U0Wl

    Don't forget to follow me on Instagram and to sign up for my monthly newsletter, where you'll get a link to the colour-coded transcript that draws your attention to all kinds of useful advanced English.

    Finally, give a listen to Amos the Transparent, the band that provides my theme music. They're a talented group.

    Thanks for listening!

    P.S. Have you reviewed Hear You Go podcast on Apple or Spotify? I'd appreciate it if you did and shared with the world how much you love it :)