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Plain English

Jeff at Plain English

Improve your English and learn about the world at the same time. Plain English brings you short, modern stories about culture, science, travel, business, and everyday life, all told in clear, natural English designed for learners. You’ll grow your vocabulary, improve your listening skills, and build your confidence one episode at a time. Like the show? Sign up free at PlainEnglish.com and get a personalized learning path.

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All Episodes

20:51

Regional varieties of American pizza (Made of)

Plain English ·

2024/08/08

Today's story: You fold it in New York. You put caviar on it in California. You make in a pan for car-parts in Detroit. And you eat it with a knife and fork in Chicago. Pizza is a perfect dish for sharing at parties and around a family dinner table. But pizza is not the same everywhere. Here are four regional varieties in the United States.Learn this English expression: Use 'made of' to describe the fundamental ingredients of a thingFull lesson: https://plainenglish.com/699 --Upgrade all your skills

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20:18

School life outside the classroom (Try out)

Plain English ·

2024/08/05

Today's story: School is about learning. But for many students, school is about so much more: sports teams, after-school clubs, drama, and free time during the school day. Learn what social and after-school life is like at a typical American school.Learn this English expression: To 'try out' is to compete for a role in a play or on a teamFull lesson: https://plainenglish.com/698 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.You might be

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03:23

Celebrate #700 with a free week of Plain English Plus+!

Plain English ·

2024/08/02

🥳 Happy Episode 700!Plain English is about to release its 700th episode on August 12!And to celebrate, we are opening up our full, premium program, Plain English Plus+, to all Plain English listeners -- absolutely free for an entire week.Join us from August 12 to 18, 2024 and you can:Practice listening with the fast episode and interactive listening exercisesLearn to express complex ideas with step-by-step video workshopsBuild your confidence speaking on live Zoom calls with Jeff and JRLearn new

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21:06

The typical American school day (Spread out)

Plain English ·

2024/08/01

Today's story: Math, science, history, reading. Learning these things in school is, now, almost a universal experience. But the specifics of the school day differ from country to country. Here, learn what a typical school day is like in the United States.Learn this English expression: To be 'spread out' is to have a lot of space between each oneFull lesson: https://plainenglish.com/697 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.You

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19:57

America's west: mountains, plains, and desert (Take...

Plain English ·

2024/07/29

Today's story: America's west is its most visually stunning region, with Rocky Mountain peaks and the bright lights of Las Vegas. The mountain west has beautiful national parks and forests. The southwest is characterized by bigger (and newer cities) and the desert.Learn this English expression: To 'take cover' is to seek protection from danger (often weather)Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/696 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning

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20:00

America's South is booming (Safety net)

Plain English ·

2024/07/25

Today's story: The American South used to be an agricultural region, which lagged behind the rest of the country in education, income, and modernization. But that is no more, as the South is now the destination of choice for families moving within the United States.Learn this English expression: A 'safety net' is all the things that protect you from financial misfortuneFull lesson: https://plainenglish.com/695 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for

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21:14

What it's like to live in the Midwest (Fall on hard...

Plain English ·

2024/07/22

Today's story: The Midwest may not have the diversity of the east or the spectacular outdoors of the west coast. But it offers a good quality of life at reasonable cost, with a diversified economy and plenty to do inside and outside.Learn this English expression: To 'fall on hard times' is to experience financial hardshipFull lesson: https://plainenglish.com/694 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.You might be learning English

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19:55

A typical American household budget (All in)

Plain English ·

2024/07/18

Today's story: Have you ever wondered what a typical American family budget is like? Today, you'll learn about the spending habits of the average household. You'll learn how much typical American families spend on housing, transportation, health care, entertainment, and more.Learn this English expression: 'All in' describes the total cost of an activityFull lesson: https://plainenglish.com/693 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning

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21:26

Typical U.S. salaries by profession (Take out)

Plain English ·

2024/07/15

Today's story: Have you ever wondered about the typical salary for American workers? If so, this episode is for you. Learn what people in different professions make, from lawyers and doctors to journalists and teachers.Learn this English expression: Use 'take out' to describe obtaining a loan or insurance policyFull lesson: https://plainenglish.com/692 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.You might be learning English to improve

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19:18

America's best small museums (Pop culture)

Plain English ·

2024/07/11

Today's story: We've all heard of the largest museums. But the United States has many smaller museums, too, often focused on just one subject. From the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh to the National World War II museum in New Orleans, learn about some of the nation's best smaller museums.Learn this English expression: 'Pop culture' is the collection of images, people, and ideas that are popular and well-knownFull lesson: https://plainenglish.com/691 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain

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18:59

The best big museums in America (Make a difference)

Plain English ·

2024/07/08

Today's story: In this lesson, you'll learn about the nation's great art museums: the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Getty Center. You'll also explore air and space, the history of the automobile, the 9/11 attacks, and the world's biggest children's museum.Learn this English expression: To 'make a difference' is to have a positive impactFull lesson: https://plainenglish.com/690 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast

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21:40

Is west-coast living really better? (Year-round)

Plain English ·

2024/07/04

Today's story: Life on the west coast really is different. The weather is pleasant, people are healthy, and Western states are often at the forefront of cultural change. It's home to Hollywood and high-tech and has some great public universities. But car culture dominates west-coast cities.Learn this English expression: Something happens 'year-round' if it's not seasonalFull lesson: https://plainenglish.com/689 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast

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20:10

East-coast living: the pros and cons (Focus on)

Plain English ·

2024/07/01

Today's story: The east coast of the U.S., between Washington, D.C., and Boston, is home to about 50 million people. It has rich history, great cultural treasures, top-notch universities, and four distinct seasons. But the winters are harsh, costs can be high, and the pace of life is fast.Learn this English expression: To focus on something is to dedicate time and attention to a specific projectFull lesson: https://plainenglish.com/688 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best

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20:45

Dollar stores dominate rural America (Fall out of...

Plain English ·

2024/06/27

Today's story: Dollar stores started as a novelty, a place where consumers could hunt for amusing bargains. But now, they're a big business. Customers can buy cleaning supplies, hardware, clothes, and some food there, all for rock-bottom prices. But not everyone loves dollar stores. Learn this English expression: If something 'falls out of fashion,' it is no longer popularFull lesson: https://plainenglish.com/687 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast

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21:35

Bad harvests are pushing up orange juice prices...

Plain English ·

2024/06/24

Today's story: Orange juice is the world's favorite fruit juice. But a series of bad harvests in Brazil and Florida is threatening the global supply. Now, producers are wondering whether to use lower-quality juice blends or add other citrus fruits to their orange juice. And farmers are asking whether it's worthwhile to plant new trees.Learn this English expression: Something is 'worthwhile' if it's worth the time and effortFull lesson: https://plainenglish.com/686 --Upgrade all your skills in

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20:21

Lost luggage: What happens to it? (Track down)

Plain English ·

2024/06/20

Today's story: Have you ever wondered what airlines do with all the lost luggage? If they can't find owners after three months, they go to auction. Here's what happens to all the lost clothes, jewelry, and electronics (and how you might get in on the action).Learn this English expression: To track something down is to find it after a long searchFull lesson: https://plainenglish.com/685 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.You

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20:23

Flying cars: are they finally here? (Creep closer)

Plain English ·

2024/06/17

Today's story: Almost since the invention of the car, people have fantasized about flying cars. But it has always been a dream. Now, though, new startups are ready to start transporting passengers in drone-like flying vehicles. The biggest hurdle now is not the technology, but permission from the government.Learn this English expression: A date can 'creep closer' as it approachesFull lesson: https://plainenglish.com/684 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events

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18:54

Beethoven's hair provides clues to his hearing loss...

Plain English ·

2024/06/13

Today's story: A new analysis of Beethoven's hair has found elevated levels of lead, mercury, and arsenic. And while these don't explain the famous composer's death, they may explain some of his many ailments, including gastrointestinal issues, kidney disease, and, yes, hearing loss.Learn this English expression: Use 'suffer from' when someone experiences a specific, negative conditionFull lesson: https://plainenglish.com/683 --Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best

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20:05

Heat pumps: the green way to heat a home (Heat up)

Plain English ·

2024/06/10

Today's story: Most homes in cold-weather places have furnaces or boilers to provide heat indoors. These are effective and are relatively cheap to install, but they run on fossil fuels. A greener option is heat pumps. But like electric cars, heat pumps face barriers to wider adoption. In this lesson, learn how a heat pump works and why it might be the future of heat in cold-weather climates.Learn this English expression: To 'heat up' is to get hotterFull lesson: https://plainenglish.com/682

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20:27

Mona Lisa background: mystery solved? (Stand up to...

Plain English ·

2024/06/06

Today's story: The Mona Lisa is the most famous portrait in the world, but much is not known about it. The background shows a lake, rock formations, and a stone arch bridge, but the location has never been known definitively. Now, a geologist and art historian says she has identified the background: Lecco, near Lake Colmo in Italy.Learn this English expression: To 'stand up to scrutiny' is to be valid even after close analysisFull lesson: https://plainenglish.com/681 --Upgrade all your skills in

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