English Across The Pond

If you’re superstitious and believe in good and bad luck then you may be spending today hiding in bed because it’s … Friday 13th! If you’ve never heard of it, many people in the western world consider today to be an unlucky day. But what do your 2 podcast hosts think? Do they think Friday the 13th is an unlucky day? Do they believe that you can have good and bad luck? Listen along to our fun chat and find out (and improve your English at the same time, of course!). Enjoy! https://www.englishacrossthepond.com/membership

Are you ready to laugh along with your hosts as they go through and review various words in American and British English pronunciation? This week we're sharing a special pronunciation bonus episode, often limited to premium members only, because we had so much fun recording this episode. We talk about the different words, their pronunciation differences, why they might differ, and how to use them naturally. You'll get so much out of this episode, including our usual vocabulary language focus, too. Enjoy! https://www.englishacrossthepond.com/membership

In a world full of CCTV cameras and internet cookies, is privacy something that is important to you? Do you try to keep your real identity a secret on social media? Or do you just accept that a lack of (online) privacy is something we just have to accept these days? Whatever your ideas, join your 2 hosts Dan and Jennifer for a fun chat all about this hot topic! And don’t forget, after the conversation there is an extra vocabulary focus. Enjoy! https://www.englishacrossthepond.com/membership

Would you want to be in the limelight? ...In the public eye? Or are you a bit too shy to be uber famous? Tune in this week as we talk about being famous and the price that comes with the world knowing who you are. What would we, Jennifer and Dan, like to be famous for? All that and more this week! Enjoy!

Everyone needs a lazy day right? A personal day? Tune in this week as we talk about what it means to be lazy and what we, your hosts, think about it. What animal comes to mind? Hint - it’s in the title’s image! And don’t miss the American and British English differences we stumble upon in our conversation. Enjoy!

Magazines, commercials, billboards and more, we all have experience with different forms of advertising in our lives. How has advertising changed? How is it different in the US and UK? And who is a famous jingle writer that Dan has never heard of? Find that all out and more this week. Stick around for a deeper look into the vocabulary from this episode. Enjoy! https://www.englishacrossthepond.com/membership

Do you find it difficult to say no? It’s never easy but from time to time we all have to say it and this week we’re talking all about it ... NO! Improve your listening and vocabulary and have fun as you join 2 native speaker English teachers discussing their experiences with this difficult word. After the chat there is a language focus where we discuss some of the key words from the conversation - oh yes! Enjoy! https://www.englishacrossthepond.com/community

We all have one. Sometimes they are the same and other times they can be very different. Yes, this week we’re talking about opinions. Should we always give our opinion or is it sometimes better to bite our lip (stay silent)? When you need a second opinion and who do you turn to (ask)? All this and much more in today’s chat and remember to stay to the end for the language focus. After you’ve listened sign up to our free Telegram community and let us know what you think - we’d love to hear your opinion :-D https://www.englishacrossthepond.com/community   Enjoy!

5 years? 5 years! We find it hard to believe that our podcast is 5 years old this week. In that time we’ve recorded over 250 episodes which contain  over 100 hours of chat, fun and language improvement. Wow! Join us as we celebrate, look back at what we have achieved so far and forward to what the future might hold. And! Keep listening as halfway through the conversation there is a VERY special announcement with details about how you can become a member for a week - for free! Let’s get this party started! https://www.englishacrossthepond.com/5years

Quiet, tranquil, chill, peaceful: these are some of the synonyms to the title of this week’s episode. What does it mean to be “calm”? How do we achieve this tranquil state? Tune in to find out Jennifer and Dan’s favorite ways, the apps they use, and whether or not they think everyone should be calm. You’ll walk away from this episode with not only English vocabulary, expressions and natural language but your own strategies for calming your mind and body. Enjoy!

To fail; to be unsuccessful in achieving one's goal.  We all fail at some point or other in our lives and this week we’re taking a look at what it is to fail - Dan talks about his driving test while Jennifer mentions her school grades. We also talk about the phenomenon of internet fail videos as well as considering what we can maybe learn from our failures. As always, the chat is followed by a look at some of this week’s key vocabulary.  Enjoy!

This week we’re all about pictures. Pictures as in photos (Do you like having your picture taken? Do you like taking pictures?) and pictures as in paintings (who’s your favourite artist?) We answer these questions and much more in today’s chat. After our conversation, the language focus takes a closer look at some of the vocabulary from today’s podcast. Smile, say cheese! Your transcript & vocabulary for this episode: www.englishacrossthepond.com/membership   

Better than an article in a National Geographic magazine, this week will take a walk on the wild side and review a list of the top 10 most well-known Endangered Species. What are these animals, why are they endangered and what do your hosts think of some of these cuddly and not so cuddly creatures? Tune in to find out + learn 2 new expressions in our language focus. Rawr!

Hey there dear Ponders and welcome to another week of chat, fun and language improvement. This week we’re talking about wildflowers - what is a wildflower, anyway? Is it the same as a weed? What’s Jennifer’s favorite wildflower? And which wildflower is currently terrorising the UK? Find out all the answers and improve your English by listening in. Don’t forget, after the conversation, the language focus takes a closer look at some of the key vocab from this week’s episode. Enjoy!

In many parts of the world, a very special day is just around the corner. A day to celebrate, to honor, and to love mothers. It’s Mother’s Day on May 9th. Tune in this week to hear about your hosts mothers, a bit about Jennifer’s motherhood journey and tons of natural vocabulary. Continue the conversation in Telegram and tell us if or how you’re celebrating this special day. Enjoy!

Do you play ‘never have I ever’ in your country? Join your 2 podcast hosts as they share their experiences by playing the game together. Has Dan Jennifer ever fallen asleep on public transport? Has Dan ever been on a blind date? Find out all about your 2 hosts’ experiences, and improve your English at the same time Have you ever had some much fun listening to an English language podcast before?!

In honor of Earth Day, we’re talking about gardens in this episode and you’ll learn about the American and British English differences with this word + many other words throughout this episode. Tune in to find out about garden beds, Jennifer’s ideal garden and our idea for celebrating Earth day as a team. Our language focus will highlight some of the American and British English vocabulary differences as well.  Enjoy!

At some point or other (sadly!) we all have to pay them … taxes. But what about taxes in the US and the UK? While we aren’t financial experts (we’re English teachers!) in today’s episode we tell you a little about what you can expect when you’re paying your taxes in our 2 countries. And, as you’ll discover, we have 2 very different systems! So relax, sit back, educate yourself and have fun listening to our natural conversation. Enjoy!

English loves turning nouns into verbs, and in this episode you’ll hear a very common phrase, once even nominated ‘word of the year’. What are some common activities of ‘adulting’? What do your hosts think about it, and can you spot the pronunciation differences? Stick around and listen to this week’s language focus to get American and British English pronunciation tips and practice! Enjoy!

Episode 250! Wow, can you believe it?! Today we are celebrating reaching 250 episodes, taking a look back and seeing what we’ve achieved over the years and also looking forward to one or two changes we have planned. Come and celebrate with us!