Hear You Go

Chocolate is a 2-syllable word | English Listening Practice

With Saint Valentine's Day around the corner, I thought we'd explore chocolate because every supermarket and pharmacy I go to these days has boxes of chocolates on display, front and center. Do you like chocolate? Silly question: who doesn't?
 
In today's short English listening episode, I'll share:
a brief history of chocolate (what it is and its origins),
then we'll explore whether it's good for us and if it's an aphrodisiac, and
we'll wrap up by looking at the ugly side of the chocolate business 
You'll also learn how to pronounce chocolate in English.
Additionally, you'll hear a fair number of idiomatic expressions, some advanced English vocabulary, and a conscious effort on my part to stress certain words for effect.
Take note of all this as part of your English listening practice, and think about why I chose to emphasize these words. 
 
Here are some of the links I mention in the episode:
History of chocolate - Wikipedia.
The history of chocolate video: https://youtu.be/ibjUpk9Iagk?si=iOvj7zk5XvswGbXE
How chocolate is made: https://youtu.be/7XaTay21-Ag?si=txl-keUgWV0_U0Wl
 
Don't forget to follow me on Instagram and to sign up for my monthly newsletter, where you'll get a link to the colour-coded transcript that draws your attention to all kinds of useful advanced English.
Finally, give a listen to Amos the Transparent, the band that provides my theme music. They're a talented group. 
Thanks for listening!
P.S. Have you reviewed Hear You Go podcast on Apple or Spotify? I'd appreciate it if you did and shared with the world how much you love it :) 
 

Journaling to Connect to Your English with Sarah Morgan | Intermediate English Conversations

Do you journal? 
Do you know that journaling can be a written and/or spoken practice?
Did you know that journaling in English (or another language you're learning) can be one of the most useful tools in exploring language and transforming your mindset vis-à-vis learning?
Journaling is a good way to learn English and to practice your English writing. 
Join me in conversation with a very special guest, English language teacher Sarah Morgan of Meaningful English.
You'll hear us talk about Sarah's experiences learning languages in the past and in the present.
You'll also learn about journaling: what it is, how it can help  you learn English (and more!), and some incredibly easy and useful tips to help you begin this practice (or stay motivated if you already journal). 
 
It's an intermediate English level conversation full of heartfelt and inspiring content, and terrific language for you to explore as well.
 
Please share the podcast and spread the knowledge! 
 
Thank you for listening! 
Find Sarah here:
Instagram
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahmorgan-meaningfulenglish/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MeaningfulEnglishOnline
Website: https://meaningful-english.com/
Find me here:
Instagram
English with Catherine
 
Thank you as always to Amos the Transparent for the theme music. 
 

Go ahead, laugh! | English Listening Practice

Charles Dickens wrote in A Christmas Carol that “There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humor.”
 
Lord Byron said of laughter: “Always laugh when you can, it is cheap medicine.”
Pablo Neruda shared that: "Laughter is the language of the soul."
 
And Maya Angelou declared: “I don't trust anyone who doesn't laugh.”
Let's start 2024 with a dose of laughter, or at least an English listening episode that invites us all to find more laughter in our lives.
 
Laughter can help you speak English better - really!
 
We’re going to explore the science of laughter (that is, what happens in our bodies when we laugh), as well as the physical and psychological benefits of laughing, and conclude with why laughter is important when learning English, or really any language. I laugh a lot as I make mistake after mistake in French and Italian. 
 
Here are the links I mentioned in the episode:
The science of laughter.
Test Yourself: Psychologists Created a Quiz to Define Your Sense of Humor
 
Practice your reading when you receive my weekly newsletter.
Thanks for listening!
You can find me here:
Website: English with Catherine
Instagram: catherineangus_hearyougo
 
Thanks, as always, to Amos the Transparent for the theme music. 

I just wanna get a good night’s sleep! | English Listening Practice

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 English Listening 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.
 
English Listening Challenge: this episode 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, sign up to get my weekly newsletter.
Find me here:
Instagram
English with Catherine
 
Thank you as always to Amos the Transparent for the theme music. 
 
 
 

How to Overcome Perfectionism in English with Michelle Daniel | Intermediate English Conversations

Are you a perfectionist?
Does your perfectionism get in the way of speaking English?
Perfectionism is something a lot of English language learners and teachers suffer from. 
But is it always a bad thing?
Are there benefits to being a perfectionist?
What should we do when being perfect is actually stopping us from making progress in English?
In today's conversation with Michelle Daniel of the Heart of English, she helps us understand how to overcome perfectionism when learning English.
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!
You can follow me here too:
Instagram: catherineangus_hearyougo
LinkedIn: Catherine Angus
Visit my website 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. 
 

Doppelgängers and Danger | English Listening Practice

I've been mulling over, pondering over, thinking about three different topics and how I could possibly bring them together in one English listening podcast episode.
This 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!
What does all this have to do with learning English? 
Discipline! Courage! We could all use more of it.
Keep in mind that there's also a connection to E32 of Hear You Go: A conversation with Fernanda.
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.
 

”If I can do it, they can do it", with Fernanda English Teacher | Intermediate English Conversations

Are you ready to be inspired in your English learning? 
My guest on today's intermediate English conversation is a clleague 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 advanced 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 English practice that can lead to greater English 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 English
lots of advanced English vocabulary
a wealth of English idioms, collocations, and phrasal verbs
pronunciation to notice, and of course, lots of messy, imperfect, ungrammatical and totally normal fast, spoken English
To learn more about what Fernanda does:
Find her here on Instagram.
Her webpage: Fernanda English Teacher.
I'm currently her student!!!
It's true. I'm studying advanced English 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 advanced English course to you. It's been transformative for me, truly.
 
You can find me on Instagram. 
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 
 

Why Do People Like Scary Movies? | English Listening Practice

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 as you practice your English listening.
 
In today's episode, you'll learn about:
the English 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 scary movie?
I hope you enjoy the episode and that you learn a new thing or two.
For your listening practice, 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, work with me! Find out how here. 
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.
As always, special thanks to Amos the Transparent for the theme music. 
 

When Giving Thanks is Complicated | English Listening Practice

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 English Listening 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. 
Practice your English writing by make some notes on this episode.
Practice your English reading by getting the transcript in my weekly newsletter. 
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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.
 
I'm always over on Instagram, and you can also learn more about me and my work at English With Catherine.
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As always, special thanks to Amos the Transparent for the theme music. 
 
 

Coffee: Drink Up Before It Disappears | English Listening Practice

Jackie Chan once said that "coffee is a language in itself". Hmm...
Do you speak coffee?
Well, if coffee is a language, what English 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.
I know it helps you to speak English better because every advanced English teacher I follow on Instagram drinks lots of coffee :) 
In today's English listening episode, you'll hear about:
the benefits of drinking coffee
the threat that the climate crisis poses for coffee and coffee growers, and
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
Since coffee helps us learn English, lol, we really should make sure we safeguard this special bean.
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Thanks for listening! There are links below to resources I mentioned in the episode.
I'm always over on Instagram, and you can also learn more about me and my work at English With Catherine.
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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.