Author Archives: Dr. Jeff McQuillan

Your Typical American: Grocery Shopping

Posted on Thursday - December 10, 2009 by Dr. Jeff McQuillan

I recently found a book called What Americans Really Want…Really: The Truth About Our Hopes, Dreams and Fears. It’s a review of polls (surveys, questions asked to some group) and focus groups (small groups of people who come together to … Continue reading →

Posted in Life in the United States | 31 Comments

An Easier Way for Internet Reading

Posted on Thursday - December 3, 2009 by Dr. Jeff McQuillan

I hate reading things online. I don’t mind (am not bothered by) reading short articles and emails, or a paragraph here and there from a blog post, but if the article is more than one or two pages long, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Recommendations, Technology | 42 Comments

Giving Thanks

Posted on Tuesday - November 24, 2009 by Dr. Jeff McQuillan

Thursday is the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States. We’ve already talked a lot about Thanksgiving in the podcast and on the blog.  Listen to ESL Podcast #91 and English Cafe #60 for more details about how Americans celebrate this … Continue reading →

Posted in Life in the United States | 21 Comments

What Does Swine Flu Have to Do with Neckties?

Posted on Thursday - November 19, 2009 by Dr. Jeff McQuillan

You probably already know about the H1N1 virus, also called the swine flu virus. The word swine refers to pigs, which scientists believe are the origin of this particular influenza or flu virus. Although pharmaceutical (drug-making) companies have developed a … Continue reading →

Posted in News and Current Events | 42 Comments

Mexican Coke

Posted on Thursday - November 12, 2009 by Dr. Jeff McQuillan

As some of you may already know, I spent some time in Mexico during the late 1980s (it’s scary (frightening, surprising) for me to think that that was more than 20 years ago!). As a young man in my 20s, … Continue reading →

Posted in Life in the United States | 30 Comments

50 Questions

Posted on Thursday - November 5, 2009 by Dr. Jeff McQuillan

A teacher, Robert, just sent me a link to something called 50 Questions, which is a website where you are asked to answer 50 questions about yourself and what you are doing (or have done recently).  I’m not sure what … Continue reading →

Posted in Language & Terms | 38 Comments

Is Columbus Day Here to Stay?

Posted on Monday - October 12, 2009 by Dr. Jeff McQuillan

Today we celebrate in the United States Columbus Day, remembering the day that the Italian explorer (someone who looks for “new” or undiscovered places) Christopher Columbus first “discovered” the Americas. Of course, when we say “discover,” we mean for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Life in the United States | 21 Comments

Potpourri

Posted on Thursday - October 1, 2009 by Dr. Jeff McQuillan

First, I want to thank everyone who wished me a happy birthday last week. I appreciate all the kind comments.  Some people asked if I was “really” 29.  The answer is yes.  I am 29 mentally, but 46 physically.   Actually, … Continue reading →

Posted in Life in the United States, News and Current Events | 24 Comments

Dude, You are so Obama!

Posted on Thursday - September 10, 2009 by Dr. Jeff McQuillan

An article last month in the New York Times discussed American slang and how quickly it has been changing.  With the Internet, people are able to communicate instantaneously (immediately), sharing new expressions and words much faster than in the past.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Language & Terms | 29 Comments

Sprechen Sie Deutsch? – ESL Podcast on German Radio

Posted on Friday - September 4, 2009 by Dr. Jeff McQuillan

We have often said that we both have faces for radio. Here is further proof (evidence) of this. For our German-speaking listeners, there was a radio story about ESL Podcast on Deutschlandfunk.  You can listen to the story here. Look … Continue reading →

Posted in About ESL Podcast | 32 Comments