Monthly Archives: April 2008

A TV Show You Can Understand

Many of you know that Voice of America has a “Special English” program that helps you improve your English by using a more limited vocabulary and slowing down the rate of speech (how fast someone talks). It is similar to … Continue reading

Posted in Language & Terms | 10 Comments

“Good Riddance (Time of Your Life)” by Green Day

This song by Green Day is, I think, about saying good-bye. The title, Good Riddance, is something we say when we are glad that something or someone is no longer here. I think the title is facetious (joking; being funny). … Continue reading

Posted in Karaoke English | 12 Comments

Quotation of the Day

Instead of forwarding this to all of you via (by) email, here is your quotation of the day: “What is a committee? A group of the unwilling, picked from the unfit, to do the unnecessary.” — (Richard Harkness, New York … Continue reading

Posted in Jokes and Humor | 8 Comments

Remove Me From Your List (Please!)

If you’re like me, you have friends, family, and co-workers who forward (send to other people messages that were sent to them) email jokes, chain letters, and other messages that you probably don’t want. Chain letters are letters that tell … Continue reading

Posted in Life in the United States, Technology | 11 Comments

Fun Puns

Puns are jokes that use different meanings of the same or similar sounding words. English spelling allows different words with the same sound to be spelled differently, so there is more opportunity in English for puns. Puns are very difficult … Continue reading

Posted in Jokes and Humor | 12 Comments

Googleganger, Part II

Last October, Lucy posted a note about the concept of a “Googleganger,” who is a person who has your name and whom you discover while searching on Google. For example, I would search for “Jeff McQuillan” and find other people … Continue reading

Posted in Technology | 4 Comments

Meet Actor Carin Chea (English Cafe 132)

In today’s English Cafe 132, Jeff interviewed Carin Chea, an actor as part of our “Ask an American” segment. Carin gave us a behind the scenes (secret or hidden information that most people don’t know) look at what it’s like … Continue reading

Posted in Discussing the Episodes | 7 Comments

Jokes: An Irish Toast

I thought I would comment on a joke I found, since everyone enjoys a good laugh now and then (occasionally). I put a general explanation on the left side of the page which you can read to give you some … Continue reading

Posted in Jokes and Humor | 8 Comments

“Crazy” by Patsy Cline

Country music is very popular in the U.S., especially in the southern states. One of the queens (important and respected women) of country music is Patsy Cline. Like many other great country singers, many of her songs were crossover hits. … Continue reading

Posted in Karaoke English | 9 Comments

Using English at Work: ESLPod’s New Business English Course

There is now a new business English course in our ESL Podcast Store called Using English at Work. This course is designed to teach you basic business English vocabulary related to everyday activities at work, from arriving in the morning … Continue reading

Posted in About ESL Podcast | 8 Comments