691 episodes

The best podcast for learning English if you like current events and trending topics. Improve your English listening, learn new words, and build your confidence with the #1 English-learning podcast focused on stories and English expressions.

Join Jeff and JR every Monday and Thursday for a short English lesson. In the first half, you'll enjoy a story about something happening in the world. In the second half, you'll learn how to use a common English expression or phrasal verb.

Best of all, the lessons go a little slower than native speed so you can understand every word and improve your English listening little by little.

Your host is Jeff. He's a native English speaker from the United States and he's committed to helping you improve your English skills with real-life stories—not textbook exercises.

==> Want more? If you like listening to our episodes and want to do more with us, then join us at PlainEnglish.com, where you can take quizzes, do interactive exercises, watch step-by-step video lessons, get expert feedback on your writing, practice speaking in English on live Zoom calls…and much more!

👉 Visit PlainEnglish.com/join to pick your plan today (one plan is FREE!)

Plain English Plain English

    • Education
    • 4.7 • 87 Ratings

The best podcast for learning English if you like current events and trending topics. Improve your English listening, learn new words, and build your confidence with the #1 English-learning podcast focused on stories and English expressions.

Join Jeff and JR every Monday and Thursday for a short English lesson. In the first half, you'll enjoy a story about something happening in the world. In the second half, you'll learn how to use a common English expression or phrasal verb.

Best of all, the lessons go a little slower than native speed so you can understand every word and improve your English listening little by little.

Your host is Jeff. He's a native English speaker from the United States and he's committed to helping you improve your English skills with real-life stories—not textbook exercises.

==> Want more? If you like listening to our episodes and want to do more with us, then join us at PlainEnglish.com, where you can take quizzes, do interactive exercises, watch step-by-step video lessons, get expert feedback on your writing, practice speaking in English on live Zoom calls…and much more!

👉 Visit PlainEnglish.com/join to pick your plan today (one plan is FREE!)

    Daniel Kahneman and behavioral economics (Pass away)

    Daniel Kahneman and behavioral economics (Pass away)

    Today's story: Daniel Kahneman was a trained psychologist who became the ""grandfather of behavioral economics"" with his experiments on human behavior and decision-making. Though he never took an economics class as a student, he won the 2002 Nobel Prize for Economic Sciences for his work on how humans make decisions. He died in March at age 90.
    Learn this English expression: 'Pass away' is a gentle way of saying someone has died
    Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/677
    --
    Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.
    You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies, connect with family abroad, or even prepare for an international move. Whatever your reason, we'll help you achieve your goals in English.
    How it works: Listen to a new story every Monday and Thursday. They're all about current events, trending topics, and what's going on in the world. Get exposure to new words and ideas that you otherwise might not have heard in English.
    The audio moves at a speed that's right for intermediate English learners: just a little slower than full native speed. You'll improve your English listening, learn new words, and have fun thinking in English.
    Then, in the second half of each episode, listen up for a discussion on common English expressions and phrasal verbs. Try to use them in your daily life!
    Plain English is more than a podcast: Do you like listening to Plain English? If so, you'll love being a member at PlainEnglish.com. Joining is easy and one membership level is free.
    Join today and unlock great member benefits that will help you improve your listening, boost your confidence in conversation, learn new words, and improve your English skills.
    https://plainenglish.com/join
    Take a quiz, do interactive exercises, join a live conversation call, watch a step-by-step video lesson, get feedback on your writing, and more. 👉 Pick a plan and join today.
    --
    Did you like this episode? Take a screenshot and upload it to your Instagram stories. Then, tag us @plainenglishpod. We'll say hi back!
    Here's where else you can find us: Instagram | YouTube | WhatsApp | Email
    Mentioned in this episode:
    Try out the full Plain English experience
    Curious what the full Plain English experience is like? With our free sample lessons, you can try out the fast audio, built-in translations, workshops, quizzes, exercises, and more.
    This page explains it all:
    https://plainenglish.com/free-sample/
    Check it out and see exactly how you can upgrade your English with Plain English!

    • 21 min
    Updates on Iceland, Trump, and recent stories (Nod off)

    Updates on Iceland, Trump, and recent stories (Nod off)

    Today's story: A corridor of magma below the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland burst to the surface through a series of volcanic eruptions. The Golden Bachelor couple is getting a divorce. Trump is nodding off at his first criminal trial. You'll hear the latest on these stories and more in our semi-annual update episode.
    Learn this English expression: To 'nod off' is to fall asleep momentarily
    Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/676
    --
    Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.
    You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies, connect with family abroad, or even prepare for an international move. Whatever your reason, we'll help you achieve your goals in English.
    How it works: Listen to a new story every Monday and Thursday. They're all about current events, trending topics, and what's going on in the world. Get exposure to new words and ideas that you otherwise might not have heard in English.
    The audio moves at a speed that's right for intermediate English learners: just a little slower than full native speed. You'll improve your English listening, learn new words, and have fun thinking in English.
    Then, in the second half of each episode, listen up for a discussion on common English expressions and phrasal verbs. Try to use them in your daily life!
    Plain English is more than a podcast: Do you like listening to Plain English? If so, you'll love being a member at PlainEnglish.com. Joining is easy and one membership level is free.
    Join today and unlock great member benefits that will help you improve your listening, boost your confidence in conversation, learn new words, and improve your English skills.
    https://plainenglish.com/join
    Take a quiz, do interactive exercises, join a live conversation call, watch a step-by-step video lesson, get feedback on your writing, and more. 👉 Pick a plan and join today.
    --
    Did you like this episode? Take a screenshot and upload it to your Instagram stories. Then, tag us @plainenglishpod. We'll say hi back!
    Here's where else you can find us: Instagram | YouTube | WhatsApp | Email
    Mentioned in this episode:
    Try out the full Plain English experience
    Curious what the full Plain English experience is like? With our free sample lessons, you can try out the fast audio, built-in translations, workshops, quizzes, exercises, and more.
    This page explains it all:
    https://plainenglish.com/free-sample/
    Check it out and see exactly how you can upgrade your English with Plain English!

    • 21 min
    Quebec is squeezing Montreal's English speakers (Squeezed out)

    Quebec is squeezing Montreal's English speakers (Squeezed out)

    Today's story: Quebec, Canada's only French-speaking province, has long protected its language. But now, some English speakers say the province has gone too far. New policies by the provincial government restrict the use of English in certain circumstances. And Quebec recently raised tuition for out-of-province students by 33%, a direct hit at Montreal's two biggest international universities.
    Learn this English expression: To be squeezed out is to be forced out by the actions of others
    Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/675
    --
    Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.
    You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies, connect with family abroad, or even prepare for an international move. Whatever your reason, we'll help you achieve your goals in English.
    How it works: Listen to a new story every Monday and Thursday. They're all about current events, trending topics, and what's going on in the world. Get exposure to new words and ideas that you otherwise might not have heard in English.
    The audio moves at a speed that's right for intermediate English learners: just a little slower than full native speed. You'll improve your English listening, learn new words, and have fun thinking in English.
    Then, in the second half of each episode, listen up for a discussion on common English expressions and phrasal verbs. Try to use them in your daily life!
    Plain English is more than a podcast: Do you like listening to Plain English? If so, you'll love being a member at PlainEnglish.com. Joining is easy and one membership level is free.
    Join today and unlock great member benefits that will help you improve your listening, boost your confidence in conversation, learn new words, and improve your English skills.
    https://plainenglish.com/join
    Take a quiz, do interactive exercises, join a live conversation call, watch a step-by-step video lesson, get feedback on your writing, and more. 👉 Pick a plan and join today.
    --
    Did you like this episode? Take a screenshot and upload it to your Instagram stories. Then, tag us @plainenglishpod. We'll say hi back!
    Here's where else you can find us: Instagram | YouTube | WhatsApp | Email
    Mentioned in this episode:
    Try out the full Plain English experience
    Curious what the full Plain English experience is like? With our free sample lessons, you can try out the fast audio, built-in translations, workshops, quizzes, exercises, and more.
    This page explains it all:
    https://plainenglish.com/free-sample/
    Check it out and see exactly how you can upgrade your English with Plain English!

    • 26 min
    Canada's complicated bilingualism (In a pinch)

    Canada's complicated bilingualism (In a pinch)

    Today's story: Canada is a bilingual country, offering government services in both English and French. But the balance isn't 50-50. French is the dominant language in just one province, Quebec. Only 20 percent of Canadians speak French natively. And francophones are more likely to be bilingual than anglophones. Here's how French and English coexist in Canada and Quebec.
    Learn this English expression: To be in a pinch is to have a problem that needs a quick solution
    Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/674
    --
    Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.
    You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies, connect with family abroad, or even prepare for an international move. Whatever your reason, we'll help you achieve your goals in English.
    How it works: Listen to a new story every Monday and Thursday. They're all about current events, trending topics, and what's going on in the world. Get exposure to new words and ideas that you otherwise might not have heard in English.
    The audio moves at a speed that's right for intermediate English learners: just a little slower than full native speed. You'll improve your English listening, learn new words, and have fun thinking in English.
    Then, in the second half of each episode, listen up for a discussion on common English expressions and phrasal verbs. Try to use them in your daily life!
    Plain English is more than a podcast: Do you like listening to Plain English? If so, you'll love being a member at PlainEnglish.com. Joining is easy and one membership level is free.
    Join today and unlock great member benefits that will help you improve your listening, boost your confidence in conversation, learn new words, and improve your English skills.
    https://plainenglish.com/join
    Take a quiz, do interactive exercises, join a live conversation call, watch a step-by-step video lesson, get feedback on your writing, and more. 👉 Pick a plan and join today.
    --
    Did you like this episode? Take a screenshot and upload it to your Instagram stories. Then, tag us @plainenglishpod. We'll say hi back!
    Here's where else you can find us: Instagram | YouTube | WhatsApp | Email
    Mentioned in this episode:
    Try out the full Plain English experience
    Curious what the full Plain English experience is like? With our free sample lessons, you can try out the fast audio, built-in translations, workshops, quizzes, exercises, and more.
    This page explains it all:
    https://plainenglish.com/free-sample/
    Check it out and see exactly how you can upgrade your English with Plain English!

    • 22 min
    The translator at the center of a sports betting scandal (Caught up in)

    The translator at the center of a sports betting scandal (Caught up in)

    Today's story: Shohei Ohtani is a superstar baseball player in Los Angeles. Since his arrival in the U.S., he has used a Japanese translator. But the translator stands accused of stealing money from Ohtani and using the money to pay off sports gambling debts. Ohtani himself is considered the victim.
    Learn this English expression: To be 'caught up in something' is to be involved in something (usually bad), often unintentionally
    Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/673
    --
    Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.
    You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies, connect with family abroad, or even prepare for an international move. Whatever your reason, we'll help you achieve your goals in English.
    How it works: Listen to a new story every Monday and Thursday. They're all about current events, trending topics, and what's going on in the world. Get exposure to new words and ideas that you otherwise might not have heard in English.
    The audio moves at a speed that's right for intermediate English learners: just a little slower than full native speed. You'll improve your English listening, learn new words, and have fun thinking in English.
    Then, in the second half of each episode, listen up for a discussion on common English expressions and phrasal verbs. Try to use them in your daily life!
    Plain English is more than a podcast: Do you like listening to Plain English? If so, you'll love being a member at PlainEnglish.com. Joining is easy and one membership level is free.
    Join today and unlock great member benefits that will help you improve your listening, boost your confidence in conversation, learn new words, and improve your English skills.
    https://plainenglish.com/join
    Take a quiz, do interactive exercises, join a live conversation call, watch a step-by-step video lesson, get feedback on your writing, and more. 👉 Pick a plan and join today.
    --
    Did you like this episode? Take a screenshot and upload it to your Instagram stories. Then, tag us @plainenglishpod. We'll say hi back!
    Here's where else you can find us: Instagram | YouTube | WhatsApp | Email
    Mentioned in this episode:
    Try out the full Plain English experience
    Curious what the full Plain English experience is like? With our free sample lessons, you can try out the fast audio, built-in translations, workshops, quizzes, exercises, and more.
    This page explains it all:
    https://plainenglish.com/free-sample/
    Check it out and see exactly how you can upgrade your English with Plain English!

    • 25 min
    How zoo animals behaved during the eclipse (Quiet down)

    How zoo animals behaved during the eclipse (Quiet down)

    Today's Story: How do animals behave during a total solar eclipse? It's a difficult question to answer because eclipses are so rare and they don't often pass over zoos or areas where animals can be observed. But the path of totality of this year's eclipse passed directly over six zoos, allowing animal researchers to study their reactions.
    Also in today's episode: Learn English expression 'in a pinch'
    Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/672
    --
    Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.
    You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies, connect with family abroad, or even prepare for an international move. Whatever your reason, we'll help you achieve your goals in English.
    How it works: Listen to a new story every Monday and Thursday. They're all about current events, trending topics, and what's going on in the world. Get exposure to new words and ideas that you otherwise might not have heard in English.
    The audio moves at a speed that's right for intermediate English learners: just a little slower than full native speed. You'll improve your English listening, learn new words, and have fun thinking in English.
    Then, in the second half of each episode, listen up for a discussion on common English expressions and phrasal verbs. Try to use them in your daily life!
    Plain English is more than a podcast: Do you like listening to Plain English? If so, you'll love being a member at PlainEnglish.com. Joining is easy and one membership level is free.
    Join today and unlock great member benefits that will help you improve your listening, boost your confidence in conversation, learn new words, and improve your English skills.
    https://plainenglish.com/join
    Take a quiz, do interactive exercises, join a live conversation call, watch a step-by-step video lesson, get feedback on your writing, and more. 👉 Pick a plan and join today.
    --
    Did you like this episode? Take a screenshot and upload it to your Instagram stories. Then, tag us @plainenglishpod. We'll say hi back!
    Here's where else you can find us: Instagram | YouTube | WhatsApp | Email
    Mentioned in this episode:
    Try out the full Plain English experience
    Curious what the full Plain English experience is like? With our free sample lessons, you can try out the fast audio, built-in translations, workshops, quizzes, exercises, and more.
    This page explains it all:
    https://plainenglish.com/free-sample/
    Check it out and see exactly how you can upgrade your English with Plain English!

    • 20 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
87 Ratings

87 Ratings

unknown1521764iuy ,

Love this podcast!!

I follow a couple of podcasters for learning English (audience from Taiwan!) and this is the only one that I keep following until now!!!
Love the fact that they use trending news to help me learn English, and more importantly a true “oral expression” NOT a book-style English!! It’s also good to have a slow speaking pace that I can easily do 1.5x play for listening practice and tune back to 1x if needed.
Keep going Jeff and JR haha! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

exit1942 ,

适合中级英语水平的听力学习播客

这个听力学习播客的特点是语速较慢,高难词汇较少,让我这种中级英语水平的人可以轻松听懂90%以上的内容。实际上我通常用1.25倍的速度来播放,完全可以跟得上。遇到第一次没听懂的部分,可以仔细听第二遍或第三遍,这样往往就会听懂了。总之听不懂时不要急于看文字稿,试着多听几遍。播客的内容也很有趣,都是一些热点事件和话题,不会感到乏味。每集介绍的短语也非常实用,可以立刻用于日常对话。总之如果你属于中级水平,平时听力练习较少,这个播客就非常适合你。可以极大地矫正你的发音 从而提升你的口语能力。

TillichA ,

Nice Podcast!

Began listening to the podcast in December 2021. I started from the first episode and just got to the most current!!! Looking forward to more episodes.

I am from Nigeria but studying in Chicago.

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