Easy English: Learn English with everyday conversations

Get to know and learn English with Isi & Mitch; a bi-national couple in the UK. We talk all things British including pubs, small talk, music, food, the stiff upper lip and the bloody weather! We love to hear from our listeners and answer your questions on the English language or British life and culture. This is the authentic way to learn the language with day-to-day conversations and getting to know Isi & Mitch a little bit better. Become a member and we’ll give you interactive transcripts and bonus content for each episode at www.easyenglish.fm/membership!

  1. 6D AGO

    85: EU to the UK – Why You MUST Travel by Boat!

    Mitch and Isi will give you their honest pros & cons list, advice & knowledge. And overall, try to convince you to travel to the UK by boat. Our new, Asia-friendly, conversation call - 10:15 GMT (15:45 in India / 18:15 in China & 19:15 in Japan & Korea) every Tuesday will start if 10 people email me - mitch@easyenglish.video with the phrase "I'm in". Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Intro Mitch: [0:22] Hello, everybody. Isi: [0:24] Hello. Mitch: [0:24] Long time no hear. Usually you say long time no see, but you don't see us. So long time no hear. Isi: [0:32] Sometimes you see us. Mitch: [0:33] Sometimes. So today, as you can see from the title of this podcast, Isi and I are proficient travellers by boat, when it comes to going between the UK and the EU, as it is now. - Yes, by ferry. - By ferry, which is the name of the big ship. And so we wanted to convince you and give you a bit of a pros, mostly prose, but some cons, list of why it is better to travel to the UK by ferry and give you some hints, tips, advice, because I think, when you're thinking of travelling to the UK the main thing you're always thinking of is Calais to Dover. But there's a huge extensive network of connections, all around Europe that can bring you to the UK by boat. Isi: [1:26] I think most people think about flying here, probably. Mitch: [1:29] Exactly. But I want, or we would like to give you a rundown of why it's actually better to travel by ferry. Isi: [1:35] Is that true? Mitch: [1:36] I think so. Isi: [1:38] Environmentally. Well, I've not compared the emissions of a ferry to a plane. Mitch: [1:45] Yeah, there will be a pros and cons list. Isi: [1:49] Don't... uh yeah, sorry. Mitch: [1:51] But before we go into that, I want to go into our section, our regular section of Unhelpful Advice, because we have a message. - Oh Unhelpful Advice Message: [2:11] Hello, I wanted to talk English, but I'm shy. And I want you to help me, so I can speak English, for a long time, because I need to. Mitch: [2:29] Thank you for your message. So it sounds like you are someone who is very actively trying to learn English, but you're quite shy, which is understandable. I'm also trying to learn German, and I'm very nervous and shy about speaking German to people. Isi: [2:44] Even with me. Mitch: [2:45] Even to my wife. So the best way to learn English, one, is to watch our YouTube videos, to listen to our podcasts, to surround yourself in the English world. Isi: [2:59] Watch English films, series, listen to news, radio. Mitch: [3:05] Mm-hmm. - Podcasts. - Yeah. Isi: [3:08] And when you have that level of comprehension... listening comprehension, reading comprehension. Mitch: [3:14] Then speaking is your next level. Isi: [3:17] Or at the same time, but it's easier when you already have a... have a certain level of understanding I guess. Mitch: [3:23] Another way that we can help you, alongside our videos and podcasts is through our membership.This message gives me a good reason to mention that we also have something called the Conversation Membership which is great for any of you that want to improve your speaking and listening skills. Mitch: [3:38] And currently, we have a conversation call which starts at 18:15 in British time. And it happens every Tuesday night, 18:15. One thing that we realised is that we have lots of people from Asia listening and watching our videos. And we want to support your English speaking and listening skills. And so we're thinking about opening a conversation membership time for the Asian world. So, we would have our conversation calls at 10.15 in the UK, which in Japan and Korea would be 19:15, in China would be 18:15, and in India would be 15:45, I believe. The reason it's at 18:15, 19:15 is to allow for you to finish work, drive home and you have 15 minutes between that to sit down prepare yourself and jump in the call, join Isi, and I and other members who are all trying to improve their English speaking & listening skills. If you are interested in joining our Asia-friendly conversation call at 18:15, 19: 15 time, then what we'd like to ask you to do is to write to me on my email address, which is mitch@easyenglish.video and just write the words, "I'm in". Once we get 10 people who are interested in doing this call, this Asia-friendly call, then we will start it and it will be a regular thing, every Tuesday night for you. Mitch: [5:07] And maybe you can join. We even offer a seven-day free trial of our Conversation Membership. So if you're a bit nervous or you don't know, am I B1, am I B2, am I even C1? Come give it a go with our seven-day free trial. See how you fit in. You'll be welcomed by myself, by Isi, and by loads of our other lovely conversation members, who are there and ready to welcome you. To become a Conversation Member or to check out our membership, you just have to go to easyenglish.video/membership. Okay, back to the episode. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

    22 min
  2. JAN 26

    84: What Brits Say vs What They REALLY Mean

    Isi and Mitch give you 10 everyday sayings that British people use - and what they really mean... Go to https://go.italki.com/english2026 to get 5€ off your first italki lesson with our code ENGLISH when you spend at least 10 €. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Intro Mitch [0:22]Hi everybody, welcome to the Easy English Podcast. Long time, no see. It's been a while. Isi [0:29]I think we said we leave this welcome. Mitch [0:34]I'm still petitioning for it. Isi [0:37]Okay, hello. Mitch [0:40]So, today we're back in Brighton, from Münster. And as we've come over, I've already started noticing certain things, that us Brits do quite differently to the rest of Europe. And, one thing that we do, which is probably useful for you guys, whether you are coming to the UK as a tourist, whether you want to move to the UK, or maybe you're just working for a company and there are certain Brits there, maybe your boss is a British person, or your colleagues. Or maybe you just want to... - Your boss. - Your a boss. Isi [1:18]Your boss is a British person. That sounded a bit like, intimidating. Mitch [1:20]Yeah exactly Isi [1:22]But don't be. British bosses, hopefully, are all nice. Mitch [1:25]Well, funny you say that. Because, maybe your boss says certain things and the reaction or action, afterwards, is very different from what they're saying. Isi, you bring this up quite a lot, that Brits like to say things, which don't exactly reflect what they mean. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

    21 min
  3. JAN 5

    83: American English vs British English

    In our Easy English Updates, we announce our 'Kick-Off 2026 Challenge' on Monday to improve your English, every day for 14 days. Isi and Mitch then give you 10 everyday word pronunciations that reveal if you're speaking either American or British English, but for we answer a question from Hanan and then Mitch tells a very British joke. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Intro Isi: [0:22] Hello. Mitch: [0:23] Hi, welcome to the Easy English Podcast. The winter version. Winter has come. We're currently in your parents' basement and it's freezing cold. Isi: [0:35] Hence the jackets. It's cold down here. Mitch: [0:37] Yeah. So, today we're going to show you some of the differences between the British English and American English pronunciation. We're giving you 10 words which you'll be using every day, that you'll need every day. Depending on how you pronounce these, we can sort of figure out, whether you are, or whether you are speaking with American English pronunciation or British English pronunciation. - Oh dear. - Yeah. But, before we get into that, we have quite a nice surprise, that we've already revealed a bit about in some videos and earlier podcasts, don't we Isi? We have a kickstart to our 2026 Easy English year. Easy English Updates Isi: [1:23] Yeah, we have, well, you said it already, the 'Kick-Off 2026 Challenge', which means we give you challenges to improve your English, every day, for a continuous 14 days. So every morning, get a challenge. You have to write something. Maybe make an audio message if you can. You don't need to. You can also write everything, share something, maybe write a letter to your boss, complain about something, apply for a job. It will be like personal, reflective things, but also business English to have you, basically, every day improve your English. We know from past experiences, that if you do those challenges, really every day, that this really boosts your language learning experience. So we are excited. 5th of January, we start for 14 days, come join us. If you become a member, on easyenglish.video/membership you can join us with any membership you're in, it all happens on our Discord server. What else do we need to say Mitch: [2:25] That's it you did explain it very well. It's an intensive, every day, for 14 days, English challenge to level up and improve your English. Get going where you left off and yeah, like Isi said, join any one of our membership levels, we have three different types and all of those gets you access to our Discord server, where Isi and I will be posting each and every day, the challenges for you. Let's go to our Topic of the Week. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

    19 min
  4. 12/01/2025

    81: 10 Useful Idioms for English Conversations

    Isi guesses and explains 10 commonly used idioms in conversations, while Mitch explains where they came from. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Show Notes Watch the episode on YouTube: 10 Useful Idioms for English Conversations (Easy English 216) Transcript Mitch: [0:22] So, today, we want to bring you an episode introducing everyday English idioms. And, what I've done is I've compiled some images for isi to look at and we're going to describe them for you audio listeners. And for you YouTube watchers/viewers, we're going to look at these images, and try to distinguish what the idiom is and what it means. Make sense? Isi: [0:52] Yeah, let's start. Mitch: [0:53] Let's start. Isi: [0:54] I have questions. Mitch: [0:55] Okay, so here is number one, everyday English idiom. What are you thinking? Isi: [1:03] Instead of a head, that person has a bowl of baked beans, as a head. Mitch: [1:09] Baked beans, very English. So? Isi: [1:13] Do you have a bean head? Mitch: [1:15] No. Isi: [1:15] You're a bean hat. Mitch: [1:16] A bean head, no. A bean head. Isi: [1:19] Could that mean that you're like, an idiot? Yeah, no? Mitch: [1:23] A bean head. Yeah, like a tiny brain. But no, that's not the idiom. this is an.. - Stew... you are... stew? - No, you know this idiom you use it a lot, actually. Or I use it a lot... - His head is farting? - Yeah, that's the correct idiom. Isi: [1:38] They're all in his body Mitch: [1:39] Imagine that the beans are filling up from his... up through his legs. - Full of beans! - He is... Isi: [1:46] That's a weird picture for it, though. Did you find that, for 'full of beans'? Did chat ChatGPT do this for you Mitch: [1:51] I made all these images on an AI image generator. Isi: [1:55] That's 'full of beans' Mitch: [1:57] That is the best way I could describe 'full of beans'. Okay, tell me then, what does 'full of beans' mean, and when would you use it? Isi: [2:05] Um... you would describe a person or yourself. Mitch: [2:10] Yeah. Isi: [2:11] I think you don't really say it about yourself. Mitch: [2:13] No. Isi: [2:14] More about others. - Yeah. - If someone is in a very good mood, very active, busy, maybe a bit like, dancing around. Mitch: [2:24] Exactly. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

    16 min
  5. 11/19/2025

    80: Scottish Facts, Slang and Phrases.

    Mitch and Isi find out facts, slang and phrases from Scotland. The duo then answer Marianne's question about British TV shows before Mitch reads out a few classic British jokes. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Show Notes Mitch & Janusz's jokes video: British Jokes (Easy English 168) Transcript Intro Mitch: [0:23] We've hit a milestone as well. I just... I didn't even notice. We're on episode 80. Isi: [0:30] When is 100? Mitch: [0:32] Next year sometime. Well, as it's the milestone, we'd like to say welcome to the Easy English Podcast, episode 80. Isi: [0:42] Whoop, whoop. Mitch: [0:43] Wow. 80 episodes. Crazy. And welcome to any new people who have just discovered us. Isi: [0:50] Hello. Mitch: [0:51] Today, we've got a few topics and a brand new topic, which I'd like to make a continuous topic, that appears in every episode. But our main 'Topic of the Week' is a subject which was requested, in the last podcast by Marcel, from the Swiss-German border. Isi: [1:14] Scotland. - What? Mitch: [1:17] Oh yeah! - Scotland's not on the Swiss-German border. Isi: [1:21] But, wasn't that the topic. Mitch: [1:22] Yeah, so Marcel asked for us to talk about Scotland. And, one issue we have with that is... we have been to Scotland right? - We have been... - But we don't know that much. - several times. - Yeah, several times, but we still didn't really know that much. - No. - So I did a bit of research and I’m gonna sort of, enlighten all of us, because a lot of these things I was like, what? Wow, that's amazing. There's so much interesting stuff about Scotland. And we also have an 'Unhelpful Advice' question, from another listener, who sent in a voice message. And then at the end, we have our new brand new section, 'British Jokes'. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

    25 min
  6. 10/28/2025

    79: Brighton to France: 5 Culture Shocks

    The pace of life, food habits, market days and more... Mitch and Isi talk about the culture shocks they discovered during their time in the south west of France Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Mitch: [0:23] Did you see this? They think they have a video now of... did you see that the Louvre was robbed? Isi: [0:29] Yeah, I didn't hear much about it. I saw this video as well. Mitch: [0:31] And they didn't have any... oh, you saw it? They think someone filmed two people escaping down a mechanical ladder, with the jewels, because they have no video footage from inside the Louvre. Sounds like such a... Isi: [0:43] Why don't they have videos in the Louvre? Mitch: [0:45] They do, but they said that there's the one place where they didn't have footage was exactly the place where they came in and stole it, which is like... Isi: [0:52] Which they probably knew. Mitch: [0:53] Inside job, maybe. Isi: [0:55] I mean, they can research that. Mitch: [0:56] I guess they scouted out for a while. But, funny that we speak about the Louvre being burgled because... Isi: [1:04] Did you say already we started this podcast? Oh, you don't anymore. Did we just... went in like this, now? Mitch: [1:11] We just start cas... casually. Isi: [1:13] Oh, our talk about the Louvre was already on podcast? Mitch: [1:17] Not you blowing your nose, though. I'll cut that bit out. Isi: [1:20] Good. Mitch: [1:22] This is a soft entry, we call it. Isi: [1:25] Okay, cool. Mitch: [1:28] But today, that links in with our topic today, because, we just returned back from France, and I thought we could talk about some key differences, between not, the UK and France, but very specific, I thought we could bring up differences between our two lives we have just been living, between Brighton and the south of France, specifically the Dordogne region, where we were living for some time. Isi: [1:58] Yes. Mitch: [1:58] And I've got five points, that I sort of, have realised are very different, between our lifestyle here and our lifestyle back then, when we were living in the south of France. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

    18 min
  7. 10/20/2025

    78: The Secret Rules of British Life Nobody Tells You

    Crossing on a red light? Table service in a pub? Bus, supermarket and London Underground ettiquette? Mitch tests Isi with 5 very British scenarios to see if she knows the unwritten rules of British life. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Intro Isi: [0:22] Hello! Mitch: [0:24] Hello! Welcome to the Easy English Podcast. Isi: [0:28] I'm pro-leaving this out next time. We should... please leave your comment on Spotify, or your other favourite apps. On Spotify you can leave a comment and say, stop telling us which podcast we are listening to. Mitch: [0:43] What did I say at the beginning now? Hello! Isi: [0:46] How are you? Without an answer, but that's very English. Mitch: [0:51] It is very English. Isi: [0:52] Alright. - Alright, mate. - Alright. Mitch: [0:54] Alright. So today, we're going to be playing a little scenario game with you. - As usual. - As usual, putting you to the test. And proposing five situations, that will happen to you, in the UK and will happen to you in the UK, if you come. Let's call them 'unwritten rules of the UK'. Isi: [1:15] The first one is already an odd one then. There's no should or shouldn't in that one. well basically there's a should. Mitch: [1:21] Hold your horses. we'll get on to that in a minute. I just want to quickly say, that if you're listening to this podcast, on your podcast app, you should be made aware, that this podcast is also available as a video on YouTube and we're going to be showing some pictures, in-between Isi and I, of these sort of proposed scenarios. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

    19 min

Ratings & Reviews

4.3
out of 5
13 Ratings

About

Get to know and learn English with Isi & Mitch; a bi-national couple in the UK. We talk all things British including pubs, small talk, music, food, the stiff upper lip and the bloody weather! We love to hear from our listeners and answer your questions on the English language or British life and culture. This is the authentic way to learn the language with day-to-day conversations and getting to know Isi & Mitch a little bit better. Become a member and we’ll give you interactive transcripts and bonus content for each episode at www.easyenglish.fm/membership!

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