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Hey, English language learners! Practice your listening skills. Learn about new people, places and things, and explore new vocabulary and expressions. All this will help you improve your speaking skills too. Listening and speaking are my passion. Hear You Go is a podcast for you, high beginner & intermediate English language students who want to take their English listening skills to the next level.
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Tuesday Dec 26, 2023
Tuesday Dec 26, 2023
Tuesday Dec 26, 2023
Sleep. It seems so simple, and yet it's something many of us are struggling to get, or to get enough of.
In today’s episode of Hear You Go, we’re going to dig deeper into sleep and why so many of us seem to suffer from a lack of it. The topic is vast, so we won’t address everything. For today, we’ll explore, as I often do, the science of what sleep is, why it’s important, and how much we need. Then we’ll look at common sleep problems and the dangers of not getting enough sleep, and finally, because we want solutions, I’ll share some recommendations that might allow those of us who are sleep-deprived to sleep a little easier and better.
For more information on the way we sleep over the course of our lives, here is the article I mention in the podcast episode: Sleep Better at Every Age.
Challenge: E35 is full of phrasal verbs, quite a few in fact. How many can you hear? Can you hear how the final consonant in the first word (the verb) is often linked in sound to the following preposition? Repeat them aloud and practice using them this week.
Thank you for listening! If you would like access to the transcript and to join the members' only private community for extra materials and a monthly Zoom meeting where we discuss the podcast, join us here: Hear WE Go.
Find me here:
Instagram
English with Catherine
Thank you as always to Amos the Transparent for the theme music.
Tuesday Dec 12, 2023
Tuesday Dec 12, 2023
Tuesday Dec 12, 2023
Are you a perfectionist?
In my experience with the English language teachers and learners I know, perfectionism is something a lot of us suffer from. Is it always a bad thing? Are there benefits? What should we do when being perfect is actually causing us harm or stopping us from trying new things?
In Episode 34 of Hear You Go, my guest, Michelle Daniel of the Heart of English, helps us understand what perfectionism is and how to make sure it doesn't get in the way of learning. And of course, she offers us some great tips on how to overcome perfectionism when it gets in our way.
Be sure to listen to the end to learn about Michelle's gratitude journaling program for English language learners. Her contact details are below in blue font.
Thanks for listening, and be sure to join the Hear WE Go podcast community on Patreon to receive the transcript and extra materials to take your English further and deeper. You can also talk to me there at our monthly meetings and ask a question or comment on our message forum.
You can follow me here too:
Instagram: catherineangus_hearyougo
LinkedIn: Catherine Angus
Visit my webpage and sign up for my newsletter and to learn more about my lessons and courses in 2024: English with Catherine
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You can find Michelle here:
On Instagram: @heartofenglish
On LinkedIn: The Heart of English
Website: The Heart of English
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And, as always, thanks to Amos the Transparent for the theme music.
Tuesday Nov 28, 2023
Tuesday Nov 28, 2023
Tuesday Nov 28, 2023
I've been mulling over, pondering over, thinking about three different topics and how I could possibly bring them together in one podcast episode.
Episode 33 is my attempt to do so.
Today, you'll hear about the concept of a doppelgänger, a look-alike of sorts, followed by a short exploration of extreme sports and the motivations that drive athletes to do these dangerous sports. To conclude, we'll learn about one of these athletes, the ocean marathon swimmer, Diana Nyad.
How are all three of these connected? Well, you'll just have to listen to find out!
Keep in mind that there's also a connection to E32 of Hear You Go: A conversation with Fernanda.
Join me and other listeners this Saturday, December 2nd at 9 a.m. EST to talk about these two November podcast episodes.
Sign up to join the Hear We Go podcast community on Patreon and take your English listening and learning to a whole 'nother level. You'll find the transcript, more learning materials, and a community of listeners just like you.
Thanks for listening!
Catherine
P.S. Thanks, as always, to Amos the Transparent, for the theme music to Hear You Go.
P.P.S Follow me on Instagram and get my newsletter to keep in touch with me.
Tuesday Nov 14, 2023
Tuesday Nov 14, 2023
Tuesday Nov 14, 2023
Are you ready to be inspired?
My guest on episode 32 is a colleague I greatly admire. Fernanda, a non-native English language teacher based in Brazil, joins me in a conversation where we learn about what drew her to English, and then what propelled her on the path to helping people attain C2 proficiency. It's an amazing story, and you'll hear us talk about the role of discipline, the importance of consistency, and when to ask for help or to take a break.
And just as my previous guest Bistra asks learners to notice and ask "why", so does Fernanda. Curiosity and motivation are part and parcel of this practice that can lead to greater proficiency.
Remember that conversations on Hear You Go are longer than regular episodes, so relax, settle in, and take your time listening.
There is a lot to digest here:
good ideas and suggestions for learning
lots of advanced vocabulary
a wealth of idioms, collocations, and phrasal verbs
pronunciation to notice, and of course, lots of messy, imperfect, ungrammatical and totally normal fast, spoken English!
To dig deeper into the language and content, please join me in my community of listeners, Hear WE Go. Read about the benefits and join us for our next monthly meeting on December 2nd.
To explore all that Fernanda is doing:
Find her here on Instagram.
Her webpage: Fernanda English Teacher.
I'm currently her student, studying advanced grammar in a way I've never done before, which is actually not that unusual for someone who's first language is English. We didn't learn grammar like this in school! I wholeheartedly recommend this course to you. It's been transformative for me, truly.
You can find me on Instagram @catherineangus_hearyougo.
You can also find out all about me and my courses at English with Catherine.
And once again, I'm ever grateful to Amos the Transparent for the theme music.
Happy Listening! Catherine
Tuesday Oct 31, 2023
Tuesday Oct 31, 2023
Tuesday Oct 31, 2023
We're gonna need a bigger boat. - Jaws.
Here's Johnny! - The Shining.
Be afraid. Be very afraid. - The Fly.
Do you like watching horror movies?
I don't really like them, but I know that millions of people do, so I thought Halloween would be a good opportunity to look at the genre.
In today's episode, you'll learn about:
the vocabulary we use when talking about horror movies (and the way they make us feel!);
the reasons why people like them and the reported benefits of watching these types of movies & TV shows, or reading horror books;
the most popular and enduring horror movies of all time - be afraid!
Horror is a genre we see in movies, TV shows, video games, and books, and Halloween is often the occasion when fans rewatch their favourite scary movie, or perhaps dress up as their favourite character. Are you a fan? Do you have a favourite?
I hope you enjoy the episode and that you learn a new thing or two. With this episode, I challenge you to listen for the most common sound in English, the schwa /ə/. Make a list of words you hear that have this reduced sound. It's not easy, but I'm sure you can notice a couple, and maybe even a few.
If you'd like to dig deeper into the sounds of spoken English, the advanced vocabulary in the episode, and join the monthly live discussion, remember to become a member of HEAR WE GO, a podcast community over on Patreon. I'd love to see you there!
Our next Zoom meeting is this Saturday, November 4th at 9 AM EST (that's Toronto/New York time zone).
Thanks for listening,
Catherine
P.S. The Harvard Business Review article: The Psychology Behind Why We Love (or Hate) Horror.
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I'm always over on Instagram, and you can also learn more about me and my work at English With Catherine.
Stay tuned for E32, another conversation with an English Language Teacher, coming on November 14th.
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As always, special thanks to Amos the Transparent for the theme music.
Tuesday Oct 17, 2023
Tuesday Oct 17, 2023
Tuesday Oct 17, 2023
Autumn in North America is a time when Canada and the USA celebrate Thanksgiving. It's complicated.
On the one hand, it's important to celebrate the harvest, but on the other hand, there's a dark and cruel history to confront.
In today's episode, you'll hear about:
The history of Thanksgiving and how it's a little different between Canada and the US,
Why it's necessary to revisit this history in light of the lived experiences of the First Nations, and
The benefits of gratitude and giving thanks.
There are only a handful of countries in the world that officially celebrate a "Thanksgiving". I wonder why others don't.
Join me to learn a little more about this fall celebration and why it requires some reflection.
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Thanks for listening!
To learn more about the history of Canada's indigenous people, please explore the free online course offered by the University of Alberta. Click on this link to learn more.
The Hear WE Go private member community is accepting new members every week! You get the transcript to every episode, extra materials and resources to explore the topic and language in each episode further, and don't forget that you can join the monthly Zoom meeting to talk about these episodes. Our next meeting is Saturday, November 4th. Click on the link and join us today!
I'm always over on Instagram, and you can also learn more about me and my work at English With Catherine.
Stay tuned for E31 coming on October 31st.
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As always, special thanks to Amos the Transparent for the theme music.
Tuesday Oct 03, 2023
Tuesday Oct 03, 2023
Tuesday Oct 03, 2023
Jackie Chan once said that "coffee is a language in itself". Hmm...
Well, if it is, what words would you use to describe coffee?
For me, it's easy: hot, black and strong. No milk. No sugar. Unless it's a cappuccino, and then I want whole milk frothed to perfection, with a dash of cinnamon.
Ah coffee, I DO love you.
Every October 1st is International Coffee Day, and so in homage to this little bean that makes so many of us happy, let me offer this episode to you. You'll hear about the benefits of drinking coffee, the threat that the climate crisis poses for coffee and coffee growers, and then some recommendations to help make sure that all of us who love a cup of coffee can continue to enjoy it for many more years.
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Thanks for listening! There are links below to resources I mentioned in the episode.
The Hear WE Go private member community is accepting new members every week! You get the transcript to every episode, extra materials and resources to explore the topic and language in each episode further, and don't forget that you can join the monthly Zoom meeting to talk about these episodes. Click on the link and join us today!
I'm always over on Instagram, and you can also learn more about me and my work at English With Catherine.
Stay tuned for E30, coming on October 17th.
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Links referenced in the episode:
Podcast Without: Coffee https://open.spotify.com/episode/5j8vO4JgSn7W8JFmuvsrp9?si=TrLpWy9YSL2H5nM6gFlT7g
Video about a new coffee plant: https://youtu.be/rOeLz9pXoXI
Ethical Coffee Company: https://www.ethicalbean.com/
As always, special thanks to Amos the Transparent for the theme music.
Tuesday Sep 19, 2023
Tuesday Sep 19, 2023
What do you notice when you listen to a podcast or when you read a book? Do you actively notice language, and what do you do once you notice something?
In this episode, I talk with my friend and colleague, Bistra of English with Bistra, about the importance of noticing. We'll define some terms, then explain how people notice or can notice, and finally, what to do next so that you remember what it is that's caught your attention.
Plus, you'll hear Bistra quiz me a couple of times, and learn about why The Beatles were so important in Bistra's language development in English.
This episode will help both English language students and teachers learn how to notice better, and grow your English.
Be curious! You'll hear Bistra share this quote: "If you don’t want to learn, no one can make you, but if you want to learn, no one can stop you.” Don't let anything stop you!
You can find Bistra on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/english_with_bistra/
You can also learn about her courses on her webpage:
https://www.englishwithbistra.net/
To register for her webinar on noticing, on September 26th, click on the link.
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Did you hear the news?!
Hear WE Go podcast community on Patreon is open for registration. I really hope you'll join me in this new community for Hear You Go podcast listeners.
Please check out the membership benefits, and sign up by October 1st to be entered to win 6 months free membership.
The community is a space to communicate with me and other listeners, to access the transcript, in addition to more listening resources that will take your listening and learning further.
The membership includes a monthly Zoom meeting. Our next meeting is Saturday, October 7th at 9 a.m. EST (Toronto, Canada). Join us!
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Never miss my news! Sign up for my newsletter here.
Follow me on Instagram.
And as always, special thanks to Amos the Transparent for the theme music.
Tuesday Sep 05, 2023
Tuesday Sep 05, 2023
Tuesday Sep 05, 2023
Hello lovely listeners!
In a world where everything seems to happen quickly, we often measure our progress by how many "things" we do. We're busy, busy, busy.
What if we slowed down and measured our progress by how deeply we understood what we read and listened to instead?
In Episode 27 of Hear You Go, I'd like to encourage you to take some time listening to podcasts, Hear You Go specifically and all the other ones that you love. I'll share a 5-step process that will ask you to slow down, listen a few times, and listen for more than just the main ideas or new vocabulary.
Think of the podcast like a puzzle that you build or solve, piece by piece. And at the end, you have a beautiful, full picture, and a better understanding of how the pieces fit together.
I'd like you to feel better about listening in general, and specifically, I'd like you to feel more confident listening to the sounds of spoken English. Spoken language is very different from the words on the page.
Like any new skill, this will take some time...
Today, I'll walk you through the 5 main steps I recommend you use when listening to podcasts, and if you'd like to dig deeper and explore these 5 steps with me, you can join me for The Podcast Puzzle workshop on Saturday, September 16th at 9 a.m. EST (Toronto/New York time).
Click here to register: The Podcast Puzzle.
Thank you for listening!
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You can follow me on Instagram and see my webpage to receive my newsletter.
Thanks to Amos the Transparent for our theme music.
Tuesday Aug 15, 2023
Tuesday Aug 15, 2023
Tuesday Aug 15, 2023
Why do we swim?
I know why I swim, but I wanted to learn more about why so many people swim, and I did what I often do: I read a book titled "Why We Swim", by Bonnie Tsui.
I learned a lot from this book, and in today's episode, anchored in the middle of August with summer coming to a close far too soon, we'll explore a few of the reasons people swim: well-being, flow, and awe.
You don't have to be a swimmer to connect with this episode. Perhaps you can reflect on what gives you well-being, puts you in a flow, and leaves you in awe. It might be swimming or something else.
Dive in and explore the topic.
Listen for idioms connected to water and swimming.
Listen carefully for how consonants connect to vowels, which is an important feature of connected speech.
Have fun and enjoy!
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Hear You Go podcast returns to its regular schedule of every two weeks on September 5th, and I have lots of new stuff for you, including more conversations.
Are you interested in learning about a 5-step strategy for listening to podcasts?
Do you want more listening resources and a chance to meet once a month to talk about the podcast?
If you said YES to either of these questions, sign up for my newsletter and get all the news about a listening workshop on September 16th, and a new community for Hear You Go listeners that will include monthly meetings and so much more!
Thanks for listening, and stay tuned for E27 coming to you on September 5th.
Happy listening, Catherine xoxo
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Special thanks, as always, to Amos the Transparent for permission to use their song, Change My Mind, as my theme music.
A podcast community for enthusiastic and busy English language students learning on the go.
In each podcast, I will share something I’ve been thinking about or my ideas about something I’ve read or watched, or listened to. I will ask you to think about it too, and continue the conversation with me in my learning community. The idea is to give you something to listen to that you might not know about, something that will be interesting and make you excited to keep listening. “Hear You Go” podcasts will also help you with new words or expressions in English that you can use in your daily life. Learning to listen better to English can help you be a better speaker of English, giving you the confidence you need to live, work and grow in English.
Join the learning community on Patreon and continue your language learning with other students.
Webpage: //www.englishwithcatherine.com/
Instagram: //www.instagram.com/catherineangus_hearyougo/
Patreon: //www.patreon.com/hearyougo
Amos the Transparent: //www.amosthetransparent.com/
//www.englishwithcatherine.com/
//www.instagram.com/catherineangus_hearyougo/
//www.patreon.com/hearyougo
//www.amosthetransparent.com/