Podcast Episode 51 – The Rosie Project

The other day I was looking at Bill Gates’s blog gatesnotes.com and I came across his article about the book “The Rosie Project“. He has given away 50 copies of this book to friends, so I thought it would be worth checking out. I listened to the audiobook and finished it in only 2 days. I found […] Read more »

Podcast Episode 49 – 10 Language Learning Tips

Language learning is a life-long process and many people use a variety of methods and strategies to continuously improve their skills. In this podcast episode, I am giving you my thoughts related to 10 language learning tips from a panel of multilingual experts. I read about these suggestions in a recent article online at TheGuardian.com entitled Learning a […] Read more »

All About that Bass – Explained

Earlier this evening I went to pick up my daughter from her dance class and I heard the song “All About that Bass” by singer Meghan Trainor on the radio. It’s quite popular and lots of people have been making videos for it and spoofs of it (a spoof is when you make fun of it in […] Read more »

Podcast Episode 48 – Renting an Apartment

Lately, I have been working with several private students who are either living and working here in the U.S. already or planning to move here to work in the near future (thus the inspiration for this latest podcast episode topic). One of the first things a person has to do when they move to a new […] Read more »

Podcast Episode 46 – Preparing for a Job Interview

I work with a lot of people who are trying to improve their English and build their confidence so that they can do well in a job interview, in English. In this episode, I talk about how to prepare yourself so that you can do well and get the job you want. To listen to […] Read more »

Veterans Day 2014

Today we celebrate the holiday known as Veterans Day. Last year, I did a podcast about Veterans Day. To learn about the history of this holiday and how it is celebrated, click here. A veteran is a person who has served in the armed forces (e.g. Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and others). Veterans Day is […] Read more »

Podcast Episode 38 – Entrepreneurship

Today, May 1,  people throughout the world are celebrating May Day or International Worker’s Day. Many protests and rallies have taken place in the larger cities of most countries. Workers have marched to show their support for social justice and work-related issues such as better pay and better working conditions, shorter workdays, and respect in […] Read more »

Relax, Energize and Learn Better

Before you read this, I want you to practice getting into the proper mindset for learning. Take a deep breath and relax your body. Now, energize yourself. Sit up straight, stick out your chest and acknowledge that because you want to improve your English, you choose to read or listen to this article. Now breathe […] Read more »

Podcast Episode 37 – Toastmasters

In episode #37 of the English Fluency Now podcast, I am discussing Toastmasters International. Nicole and I attended our first Toastmasters meeting this week. Our town has a rather new local chapter of Toastmasters International. They call themselves PT Smooth Talkers. PT stands for Port Townsend (our town) and a smooth talker is a person […] Read more »

Teaching Children to Have a Growth Mindset with Stories

If you have listened to my free email course “7 Strategies for English Fluency” then you are already familiar with the importance of having a growth mindset. In Strategy #3, I give you a short introduction to the work of Carol Dweck (Stanford University) and her book “Mindset“. I explain the difference between having a […] Read more »