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PODCAST

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

17:01

More problems for Boeing's 737-MAX (Turn around)

Plain English ·

2024/02/12

" A key part blew off the body of a Boeing 737-MAX plane shortly after takeoff, ripping the shirt of a passenger and causing a drop in cabin air pressure. The plane landed safely, but America's FAA has opened an investigation into the plane's safety. It was the latest setback for Boeing, one of the two biggest global plane manufacturers. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at:

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18:40

Should London's pedicabs be regulated? (Draw the line)

Plain English ·

2024/02/08

" Pedicabs -- bicycles with fancy carriages on the back -- are popular in London's West End and SoHo. Due to a quirk in London's taxi law, they operate without any type of regulation. But they're widely seen as a rip-off for tourists and a nuisance for those who live nearby. But should they be regulated like taxis or are they just harmless fun? -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at:

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18:55

Ecuador is living a drug-fueled nightmare (Fill a...

Plain English ·

2024/02/05

" Ecuador, nestled between Peru and Colombia on South America's Pacific coast, was once one of the safest countries in the Americas. But now, the it's suffering a spiral of violence, fueled by foreign drug gangs. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/646 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current events and trending topics you care

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19:59

The new six-figure job: prompt engineer (Scratch the...

Plain English ·

2024/02/01

" If you have a knack for writing the perfect prompt in ChatGPT, then you might want to become a ""prompt engineer."" That's the new job title for people who help companies use GPT and other AI models to achieve their goals. But it's a lot more than just typing into a chat window. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/645 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why

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18:00

Meet the new neighbor: he's a grizzly bear (Pass down)

Plain English ·

2024/01/29

" The grizzly bear population has grown in the western United States, after successful conservation efforts. But that means the bears, which can weigh 400 kilograms, are coming into conflict with humans who live in the area. Here's how the people are coping with their new neighbors. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/644 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why

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16:26

Ikea is heading to the city center (Pick out)

Plain English ·

2024/01/25

" Ikea stores are known for being very big and far from the city center. For many shoppers, a trip to Ikea is a full-day event. But now the Swedish furniture store is opening smaller stores in city centers, hoping to appeal to apartment-dwellers who can't make it to the huge stores far away. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/643 -- Learning English should be fun

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20:04

The southern accent is fading away (Fade away)

Plain English ·

2024/01/22

" One of the most distinctive English accents is the ""southern accent,"" popular in American states from Texas to Virginia. But younger people are losing the accent. Researchers suspect it's due to internal migration within the U.S. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/642 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current events and trending

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19:43

'Golden Bachelor' shows a new kind of reality: dating...

Plain English ·

2024/01/18

" ""The Golden Bachelor"" is a spinoff of the popular ""Bachelor"" reality dating franchise. The show features 72-year-old Gerry Turner and 22 women over 60 looking for love. It became a surprising hit among all generations, and sparked conversations about love and aging. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/641 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons

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20:05

The backlash against too much tipping (Once in a while)

Plain English ·

2024/01/15

" It can be hard to know when to tip in any culture. But tipping has increased in the United States since the pandemic. New touch-screen payment systems often encourage a minimum tip of 20%. But now, consumers are increasingly frustrated with requests to leave tips and are starting to cut back on the habit. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/640 -- Learning English

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18:56

Theft at the British Museum (Go missing)

Plain English ·

2024/01/11

" When a private dealer of gems and jewels noticed a great bargain on eBay, he had no idea that it would eventually lead him to uncover a major scandal at the British Museum, one of the world's pre-eminent cultural institutions. But that's exactly what happened. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/639 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about

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19:22

New York gets serious about its trash (Get rid of)

Plain English ·

2024/01/08

" It's an all-too-common sight on the streets of New York City: piles of black garbage bags on the sidewalks, waiting to be collected. America's largest city has no alleys, so its apartments and businesses leave trash in heaps right on the street. But the mayor has plans to eliminate this 'all-night buffet' for rats. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/638 -- Learning

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18:55

McDonald's is making changes to its burgers (Fall...

Plain English ·

2024/01/04

" McDonald's is preparing to roll out big changes to its number-one menu item: burgers. The world's biggest burger chain says it will adjust how its patties are grilled and how its burgers are assembled in a bid to make them more palatable to consumers. The changes will apply to the Big Mac and to its other burgers. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/637 -- Learning

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20:44

The hard work after a snowstorm (Buy in bulk)

Plain English ·

2024/01/01

" A few inches of snow can be beautiful. But for local governments, it's hard work to clear it and keep everyone moving. Today, we look at everything that has to get done to get back to normal after a snowstorm. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/636 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current events and trending topics you care about:

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20:03

Six ways to fail (Root cause)

Plain English ·

2023/12/21

" Failure is part of life. But not everything that goes wrong is the same. Sometimes, we should assign blame. Other times, failure is a good thing. A Harvard professor put failure into six categories. Knowing them can help you understand the things that go wrong in your own life. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/635 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our

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18:36

Drought in Panama complicates canal traffic (In place)

Plain English ·

2023/12/18

" The Panama Canal connects Asia and the east coasts of North and South America. Manufactured goods, energy, food, cars, and more all pass through the canal. On a normal day, 38 to 40 ships can cross. But drought in Panama means the canal can accommodate many fewer ships. That means higher costs for shippers--and for consumers. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/634

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20:38

Iceland braces for a volcanic eruption (Up close)

Plain English ·

2023/12/14

" A 15-kilometer-long corridor of magma (melted rock) has accumulated just below the Earth's surface in the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland. The accumulation has caused thousands of earthquakes in just a few days. It may cause a large eruption or it may break to the surface in unexpected places--including underwater. A fishing town has been completely evacuated as a precaution. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free

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19:58

Battle for sunken treasure off Colombia's coast...

Plain English ·

2023/12/11

The San José, a Spanish treasure ship carrying gold, silver, and valuable jewelry, sank off the coast of Colombia in 1708. The shipwreck, and its treasure, have been untouched for over 300 years. Now, the government of Colombia is working to bring the tr

en

17:52

The new attraction in Las Vegas is a giant ball (Get...

Plain English ·

2023/12/07

" The 'Sphere' is the newest entertainment complex in Las Vegas. It boasts an immersive, wraparound 16K LED screen, haptic seating, and thousands of speakers. But the most striking part is this: the exterior is covered in screens, so it can look like a basketball or the surface of Mars to onlookers. The venue will be best for concerts and films but can host other events, including e-sports. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a

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19:33

Can’t sleep 8 hours? There’s still hope (Catch up)

Plain English ·

2023/12/04

" Most sleep advice focuses on how much sleep you get. And while that's important, a new study also shows that consistency is also important. People who get irregular sleep perform worse in tests and suffer physically. Today, learn what ""regular sleep"" means and what its benefits are. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/630 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s

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21:55

SBF: Villain or a careless founder in over his head?...

Plain English ·

2023/11/30

" The trial of Sam Bankman-Fried lasted over a month. During that time, the prosecution called several witnesses that detailed fraud against customers and lenders of Bankman-Fried's businesses. But the defense argued that this was a terrible mistake, but not a fraud. The jury found him guilty. After a monthlong trial, jurors needed just five hours to decide. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found

en

909 results

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