To listen to these and other Daily English and Cultural English lessons, become a Select English Member!

………

ON MONDAY
Daily English 1268 – Conducting Employee Background Checks

In the Learning Guide: Get a full transcript (written version of every word you hear), vocabulary list and sample sentences, and comprehension questions.
In “What Else Does it Mean,” learn the other meanings of “to be burned” and “character reference.”
In the “Culture Note,” learn about “Ban the Box Laws.”
“Many companies require that ‘job applicants’ (people who are asking for a job)…” – READ MORE in the Learning Guide
…

ON WEDNESDAY
Cultural English 585
Topics: American Authors – Truman Capote; to be understaffed versus to be stretched thin versus to be on the brink of; don’t mention it versus you’re welcome versus my pleasure; bees knees

In the Learning Guide:  Get a full transcript (written version of every word you hear).
In “What Insiders Know,” you will read about “The O. Henry Award.”
“Almost every year since 1918, the O. Henry Award has been ‘bestowed’ (given with a lot of honor)…” – READ MORE in the Learning Guide
…

ON FRIDAY
Daily English 1269 – Problems with the Heating System

In the Learning Guide: Get a full transcript (written version of every word you hear), vocabulary list and sample sentences, and comprehension questions.
In “What Else Does it Mean,” learn the other meanings of “to heat” and “fan.”
In the “Culture Note,” learn about “Energy-saving Tips for Heating the Home.”
“Heating expenses ‘account for’ (makes up; totals) a ‘significant’ (worth noting; not small) percentage of a typical household’s ‘budget’…” – READ MORE in the Learning Guide

To listen to these and other Daily English and Cultural English lessons, become a Select English Member!

………

ON MONDAY
Daily English 1266 – Being a Refugee

In the Learning Guide: Get a full transcript (written version of every word you hear), vocabulary list and sample sentences, and comprehension questions.
In “What Else Does it Mean,” learn the other meanings of “possession” and “to be damned.”
In the “Culture Note,” learn about “The Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program.”
“The Unaccompanied Refugee Minors Program, administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, is designed to help…” – READ MORE in the Learning Guide
…

ON WEDNESDAY
Cultural English 584
Topics: Famous Americans – Bob Hope; severe versus serious; bill versus check; pronouncing words with the silent “b”

In the Learning Guide:  Get a full transcript (written version of every word you hear).
In “What Insiders Know,” you will read about “Spongebob Squarepants.”
“SpongeBob SquarePants is an ‘animated’ (cartoon; with moving drawings) American television show and a ‘highly rated’…” – READ MORE in the Learning Guide
…

ON FRIDAY
Daily English 1267 – Types of Nurses

In the Learning Guide: Get a full transcript (written version of every word you hear), vocabulary list and sample sentences, and comprehension questions.
In “What Else Does it Mean,” learn the other meanings of “bedside manner” and “to hack it.”
In the “Culture Note,” learn about “Where Nursing Professionals Work.”
“Most nursing professionals work in hospitals and in doctor’s offices, but there are other ‘workplaces’…” – READ MORE in the Learning Guide

We want to let you know of some big changes to ESLPod.com. We have completely redesigned (changed the look and function of) our website. We have also changed how you can listen and read our lessons.

WHAT ARE THE CHANGES?

We are very excited to be launching (starting) our new Select English Membership. We designed the new Select English Membership to be an even better way for you to listen and learn.

As a Select English Member:

• You can choose any of our 1800+ lessons.
• Each lesson you choose comes with MP3 audio and PDF Learning Guide files you can download to listen and read anywhere.
• You can choose from regular podcasts (now called “Daily English” lessons) and English Café episodes (now called “Cultural English” lessons).
• The choice is yours: You pick only the lessons you want and only on the topics you need.

Get more information about the Select English Membership.

BASIC AND PREMIUM MEMBERS:  Don’t worry!  If you like your membership, you can keep it! The main difference will be a new way of downloading your audio and PDF files. To get detail instructions, go to “How to Log In and Download Basic and Premium Learning Guides.”

Have more questions? See our new Frequently Asked Questions page for more details, including questions and answers in 11 different languages. Get help with:

How to Sign Up for a Select English Membership
How to Find and Download Select English Lessons
How to Download Files for English Collections + Special Courses
How to Log In and Download Basic and Premium Learning Guides

WHY DID WE MAKE CHANGES?

We made these changes so that we can still make our lessons available to everyone at a low price.

Please keep in mind that:

• ESLPod.com began over 11 years ago. Since we began offering Basic and Premium Memberships, we have never raised (increased) our prices. At the same time, the number of lessons Premium Members have access to has gone from a few dozen to over 1800. During the same period, our production costs (cost of making podcasts/lessons) have gone up 670%.
• ESLPod.com does not have any advertising on its website, audio lessons, or blog so that you can listen and read without being bothered by ads.
• ESLPod.com does not receive any money from the government or from any other source. We are supported solely (only; completely) through your memberships and donations.
• Neither ESLPod.com nor Jeff (nor Lucy) have ever been paid for endorsements (getting a fee for saying they like or use a product or service) or promotions (activities to increase sales).
• ESLPod.com has never accepted money by partnering with larger companies or organizations that wanted access to our listeners and users. We have never sold our email lists.

We have kept our independence because we wanted the freedom to create the best lessons we could for our listeners. If we had advertisers, sponsors, or partnerships, we would not have complete freedom to do what we know is right and best for the English learners who visit our website and listen to our lessons.

This is why we need listeners like you to become Select English Members. With your membership and your support, we can continue to make our lessons available to everyone at a low price.

Thank you for your understanding and your support. ESLPod.com would not exist (be here; be alive) without your generous help.

~ Jeff McQuillan + Lucy Tse

(1) If you are a Basic or Premium Member, you should have received an email from us already explaining our changes, with a limited time special offer that will give you a low price on our new Select English Membership. If you did not get that email, please email us at eslpod@eslpod.com.
(2) We will not be using our iTunes or podcast feed for the audio files for Basic and Premium Memberships. We will still have sample lessons on our iTunes podcast, however.
(3) The new Select English Membership gives you the most for your money, but you can also buy lessons without becoming a member – see our English Collections option.

Is your limited English standing in your way? Do you want to improve your English now?

Learn English even faster with the help of the Learning Guide. In it, you’ll get more vocabulary, language explanations, sample sentences, comprehension questions, cultural notes, and more.

Get the Learning Guide and support ESL Podcast today by becoming a Basic or Premium Member!

………

ON MONDAY
ESL Podcast 1264 – Customer Loyalty Programs

In the Learning Guide: Get a full transcript (written version of every word you hear), vocabulary list and sample sentences, and comprehension questions.
In “What Else Does it Mean,” learn the other meanings of “reward” and “to adopt.”
In the “Culture Note,” learn about “S&H Green Stamps.”
“S&H Green Stamps were ‘stamps’ (pieces of paper with a printed image and text on one side, and a glue that becomes…” – READ MORE in the Learning Guide
…

ON WEDNESDAY
English Cafe 583
Topics: Andersonville Prison; garbage versus litter versus trash versus rubbish; downtime; pronouncing eight, height, and weight

In the Learning Guide:  Get a full transcript (written version of every word you hear).
In “What Insiders Know,” you will read about “The Dix-Hill Cartel.”
“During the American Civil War, ‘Major’ (a military leader) Dix of the Union and Major Hill of the Confederacy signed an agreement…” – READ MORE in the Learning Guide
…

ON FRIDAY
ESL Podcast 1265 – Watching a Fight

In the Learning Guide: Get a full transcript (written version of every word you hear), vocabulary list and sample sentences, and comprehension questions.
In “What Else Does it Mean,” learn the other meanings of “blow” and “round.”
In the “Culture Note,” learn about “Mixed Martial Arts and the UFC.”
“‘Mixed martial arts’ is a sport that uses ‘techniques’ (ways of doing things) from many other types of ‘combat sports’…” – READ MORE in the Learning Guide

Get the full benefits of ESL Podcast by getting the Learning Guide. We designed the Learning Guide to help you learn English better and faster. Get more vocabulary, language explanations, sample sentences, comprehension questions, cultural notes, and more.

Get the Learning Guide and support ESL Podcast today by becoming a Basic or Premium Member!

………

ON MONDAY
ESL Podcast 1262 – Failing a Driving Test

In the Learning Guide: Get a full transcript (written version of every word you hear), vocabulary list and sample sentences, and comprehension questions.
In “What Else Does it Mean,” learn the other meanings of “to change lanes” and “to cry uncle.”
In the “Culture Note,” learn about “A Car’s Title.”
“The ‘certificate of title,’ also known as a ‘vehicle title’ or a ‘car title’ is a document that officially identifies who…” – READ MORE in the Learning Guide
…

ON WEDNESDAY
English Cafe 582
Topics: Traditional Gospel Music and Thomas A. Dorsey; cliché versus stereotype; chicken versus hen; to nail it

In the Learning Guide:  Get a full transcript (written version of every word you hear).
In “What Insiders Know,” you will read about “The Ozark Folk Center.”
“The Ozark Folk Center is a state park that ‘showcases’ (features; shares with people in a public way)…” – READ MORE in the Learning Guide
…

ON FRIDAY
ESL Podcast 1263 – Bragging About Success With Men

In the Learning Guide: Get a full transcript (written version of every word you hear), vocabulary list and sample sentences, and comprehension questions.
In “What Else Does it Mean,” learn the other meanings of “to wait around” and “to toy with.”
In the “Culture Note,” learn about “Puffery and Puff Pieces.”
“In ‘advertising’ (promotions; materials that encourage people to buy one’s products), companies often ‘overstate’…” – READ MORE in the Learning Guide

We are grateful to our members and donors, because we are only able to produce this podcast with the generous help of our listeners.

If you enjoy our podcasts, please consider supporting ESL Podcast by becoming a Basic or Premium Member today!

………

ON MONDAY
ESL Podcast 1260 – Transport and Shipping Mishaps

In the Learning Guide: Get a full transcript (written version of every word you hear), vocabulary list and sample sentences, and comprehension questions.
In “What Else Does it Mean,” learn the other meanings of “delivery” and “port.”
In the “Culture Note,” learn about “Nautical Terms used in Daily Conversation.”
“Many ‘nautical’ (related to boats, sailing, and the ocean) ‘terms’ (words) have ‘worked their way into’ (become a part of)…” – READ MORE in the Learning Guide
…

ON WEDNESDAY
English Cafe 581
Topics: The John Peter Zenger Trial; tone versus hue versus tint versus shade; wherewithal; pronouncing saw, sew, sow, and sue

In the Learning Guide:  Get a full transcript (written version of every word you hear).
In “What Insiders Know,” you will read about “All-points Bulletins.”
“An ‘all-points bulletin,’ also known as an ‘APB,’ is an announcement sent to all the ‘personnel’ (employees; staff members)…” – READ MORE in the Learning Guide
…

ON FRIDAY
ESL Podcast 1261 – Reading About Research on Health

In the Learning Guide: Get a full transcript (written version of every word you hear), vocabulary list and sample sentences, and comprehension questions.
In “What Else Does it Mean,” learn the other meanings of “to put (someone) on” and “ray.”
In the “Culture Note,” learn about “Junk Science.”
“The ‘term’ (word or phrase) ‘junk science’ is used to show ‘criticism’ (dislike or anger with someone or something)…” – READ MORE in the Learning Guide