American English Podcast Sonoro | Shana Thompson

The whole world has bad drivers. No country or city in the world is immune. What’s funny is that most of us don’t consider ourselves bad drivers! We tend to judge others.
In this 5-Minute English lesson, I’m going to tell a fictional story about the worst driver in the world. You’ll hear:


Vocabulary related to bad driving 

Actions that people take against bad driving

How bad drivers are punished


This lesson will be intense in terms of vocabulary, it’s a more advanced listening exercise.  If you regularly learn with this podcast, I highly recommend signing up to Premium Content, so you can get the full lesson that goes along with this audio. You’ll have the chance to master this vocabulary with my help, work on your pronunciation and more.
Premium Content

All Premium Content

5-Minute English Courses (also included in All Premium Content)


Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome back to the second part of episode 166. In today’s episode, we’re going to talk about Irregular Verbs and McDonald’s. You guys know McDonald’s, right.? Big Macs, Filet-o-Fish, Happy Meals?
In this lesson, you'll hear a short story about the founding and expansion of the world-famous fast food restaurant. In it, you'll hear 10 Irregular Verbs in the Simple Past Tense. Here they are:
1. To begin (began)
2. To make (made)
3. To speed (sped)
4. To eat (ate)
5. To leave (left)
6. To see (saw)
7. To buy (bought)
8. To take (took)
9. To rise (rose)
10. To grow (grew)
The story is shorter than my typical cultural lesson and that’s because the real focus here is mastering verbs. For those of you who have a high intermediate level or higher, you may already know most of these; this lesson will help reinforce the correct past tense forms (they'll be presented in many new contexts!).
Watch the corresponding video here.
Premium Content: 


Season 4 (Episodes 150 - 200) = Each episode includes a quiz, the PDF transcript (the text of the audio) with definitions of challenging words and the mp3 file.

All Premium Content for Seasons 1, 2 and 3 (Episodes 001 - 150)

My Favorite English Resources


Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In today's episode, we'll begin by going through the commentary you guys made on Culture Shock in the United States. Afterwards, I'll tell you a joke, we'll go over the expression "to take it with a grain of salt," and we'll do a pronunciation exercise.
Premium Content for this episode is available with both of these:


Season 4 (Episodes 150 - 200) = Each episode includes a quiz, the PDF transcript (the text of the audio) with definitions of challenging words and the mp3 file.

All Premium Content for Seasons 1, 2 and 3 (Episodes 001 - 150)

Support the show
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Chats with Shana episode, I'm going to reflect on various aspects of US culture. Although I talk about culture all the time on here, it's not often we talk about some basic things, like everyday life things that can cause culture shock. The truth is, I don't often think about the topics I'm going to discuss today; they're pretty random! We'll cover eggs, air conditioning, driving, beauty, flags, portion sizes and the one thing nobody can stand: U.S. bathroom stalls.
We all form our own opinions based off of our own experiences in life. This episode is full of opinions and thoughts, but I'd love if it weren't a one-sided conversation. Did you experience culture shock in the U.S.? Please share your thoughts on what you find strange or different in the United States! I'd love to hear from you. :)
Disclaimer: My third point in the audio WILL make some of you angry, I can feel it already. Please don't hate me, though! I like you soo much. Just think of the points I made here as conversation starters for your next English class; sometimes more controversial ideas lead to more in-depth language practice! :)
Premium Content for this episode is available with both of these:


Season 4 (Episodes 150 - 200) = Each episode includes a quiz, the PDF transcript (the text of the audio) with definitions of challenging words and the mp3 file.

All Premium Content for Seasons 1, 2 and 3 (Episodes 001 - 150)


Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

One of the most popular films of 1997 was by far “ Titanic.” It won 11 Academy Awards! If you saw the film, or even just previews of it, you know the plot. There’s a love story between Rose (Kate Winslet) and Jack (Leonardo DiCaprio) that develops while aboard a huge ship called Titanic. The Titanic was a real ship that set off on its first transatlantic trip from England to the United States in 1912. I know you know what happens; the ship hits an iceberg and sinks.
I thought about retelling this story and I know English speakers would tell me: Oh no, Shana, really? That ship has sailed, literally.
That ship has sailed is an expression that means that the opportunity has passed; this topic is no longer new or very exciting. It’s been talked about way too many times! That ship has sailed. So instead of doing my long, cultural lesson, I’ve decided to change it up! I’ll tell you a brief summary of the Titanic and in the story, you’ll hear 10 irregular verbs in the simple past tense.
This lesson also includes an explanation of the terms and a quiz.
*****
Transcript and Video
Sign up to Season 4 for the downloadable PDF of this lesson, as well as the PDF transcript, mp3 and more.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Life can't possibly get worse! You've lost your job, you have no money, and then to top it off, your dog dies. You've hit rock bottom; you've reached the lowest possible point in your life.
To hit rock bottom is a common expression in American English, and in today's lesson you'll learn exactly how to use it. In addition to learning how to use this idiom, you'll hear a joke, we'll hear comments from the audience, and we'll go through a pronunciation exercise!
Premium Content: 


Season 4 (Episodes 150 - 200) = Each episode includes a quiz, the PDF transcript (the text of the audio) with definitions of challenging words and the mp3 file.

All Premium Content for Seasons 1, 2 and 3 (Episodes 001 - 150)


Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices