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PODCAST

5 минут английского с Лорой Пикенс | 5 Minutes of English with Laura Pickens

Laura Pickens | Лора (Лаура) Пикенс

Мини-уроки английского от носителя — Laura Pickens (Лора / Лаура Пикенс). В каждом выпуске я объясняю самые частые ошибки русскоязычных учеников, разбираю культурные нюансы и показываю, как звучит настоящий американский английский — живой, естественный и интуитивный. Никакой зубрёжки, никаких скучных правил — только реальный язык, как будто вы разговариваете с другом-американцем, который наконец объясняет, почему что-то звучит «не так».Хочешь больше? Присоединяйся к моему бесплатному

education language learning

All Episodes

4:55

60. You Didn’t Misunderstand — “Friend” Just Means...

5 минут английского с Лорой Пикенс | 5 Minutes of... ·

2026/02/06

EVERYONE IS YOUR FRIEND — AND THAT’S CONFUSINGIn this episode, we talk about the word “friend” — and why it causes so much misunderstanding for advanced English learners. This isn’t a translation problem. It’s a cultural one. Americans use “friend” very loosely, and if you take it literally, you’ll constantly feel confused, uncomfortable, or even misled. I explain what “friend” actually means in everyday English, why we avoid more precise words, and what this tells you about American politeness and

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5:28

59. The Grammar Mistake Advanced Speakers Can’t Hear

5 минут английского с Лорой Пикенс | 5 Minutes of... ·

2026/01/31

“You was” and “we was” are not beginner mistakes — they’re advanced ones. If you understand everything I’m saying right now but still catch yourself using the wrong form of “be” in the past, this episode is for you. In this episode, we talk about why this mistake happens, why your ear doesn’t catch it, and why fluency actually makes it harder to fix. This isn’t about not knowing grammar — it’s about where your attention goes when you speak. If you like how I teach and want deeper explanations,

en-US

5:06

58. You Know the Words. Why Don’t You Sound Real?

5 минут английского с Лорой Пикенс | 5 Minutes of... ·

2026/01/23

PODCAST DESCRIPTION (REDCIRCLE)It’s not what you say — it’s how you say it.Most advanced English learners focus on vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation… and still don’t sound natural. In this episode, Laura explains why intonation — the music, rhythm, and emotional movement of speech — matters more than perfect sounds. Learn how meaning lives in tone, why babies copy melody before words, and how exaggeration and imitation can instantly make your English sound real.If you like the way Laura

en-US

5:56

57. When English Stops Being Correct and Starts Being...

5 минут английского с Лорой Пикенс | 5 Minutes of... ·

2026/01/16

You know the rules. You know the tenses. But do you actually understand how English works?In this episode, we take one deceptively simple sentence — “My parents met in Paris” — and use it to question everything you think you know about grammar, time phrases, and correctness. This isn’t about memorizing rules. It’s about logic, meaning, and whether a sentence can work in real life — even if it makes your textbook uncomfortable.If you’ve ever felt like your English is “good” but still fragile, this

en-US

4:35

56. How One Word Changes Whether You're Done with...

5 минут английского с Лорой Пикенс | 5 Minutes of... ·

2026/01/09

When "last" means two opposite things—and why grammar won't save youA friend asked me a brilliant question: when you say "my last marriage," do you mean your previous one or your final one? The answer is... you can't tell. This episode breaks down why "last" is genuinely ambiguous with life events like marriage, jobs, and relationships—and why even native speakers get confused. We'll look at real examples where the same phrase means completely different things,

en-US

5:25

55. Your Doctor Isn’t Giving You a Recipe

5 минут английского с Лорой Пикенс | 5 Minutes of... ·

2025/12/26

Most doctors don’t give recipes — and if you use this word in English, native speakers notice immediately. In this episode, we break down the Russian word “рецепт” and why translating it directly causes confusion. You’ll learn the real difference between recipe, prescription, and receipt, where these words come from, and how English actually works in real life — not textbooks. If you like how I explain English through meaning, culture, and real communication, you can learn more at

en-US

6:25

54. The Hidden Reason Numbers Derail Your English

5 минут английского с Лорой Пикенс | 5 Minutes of... ·

2025/12/19

Numbers Are Hard — and it’s not because your English is bad.You can speak fluently, tell stories, express opinions… and then one number shows up and everything falls apart. In this episode, Laura explains why numbers cause breakdowns for even advanced speakers, what’s actually happening in your brain, and why this has nothing to do with intelligence or language level. This is about biology, not failure — and understanding it changes how you speak.If you like how I teach, you can learn more at

en-US

5:59

53. Why “Private” Breaks in Russian

5 минут английского с Лорой Пикенс | 5 Minutes of... ·

2025/12/12

There Is No Privacy in Russian — And This Is Why It MattersPrivacy isn’t just a word in English. It’s a boundary. In this episode, I explain why the concept of privacy doesn’t exist in Russian as one clear idea — and how this affects language, culture, personal space, medicine, and everyday conversations. If you’ve ever felt uncomfortable, exposed, or confused by questions that seem “too personal,” this episode will finally give you the missing framework.Privacy — это не просто слово в английском

en-US

5:15

52. Why ‘Inadequate’ Isn’t the Word You Think It Is

5 минут английского с Лорой Пикенс | 5 Minutes of... ·

2025/12/05

THE WORD RUSSIANS CAN’T TRANSLATEIn this episode, we talk about one of the most confusing and overused words Russians try to translate — “неадекватный.” Spoiler: it does *not* mean “inadequate.” We’ll look at what it really means in English — from “crazy” to “inappropriate” — and why translation isn’t just about words, but about context, feeling, and behavior. If you like how I teach, you can learn more at laurapickens.ru/podcast СЛОВО, КОТОРОЕ СЛОЖНЕЕ ВСЕГО ПЕРЕВЕСТИ В этом выпуске мы обсуждаем

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6:00

51. Are You a Student or a Guest? The Visit/Go...

5 минут английского с Лорой Пикенс | 5 Minutes of... ·

2025/11/28

Stop “Visiting” School — Why This Tiny Verb Mix-Up MattersIn this episode, we dive into a mistake advanced Russian speakers make all the time: using “visit” when you actually mean “go.” It’s small, but it completely changes how your sentence feels to a native speaker — from responsible adult to “I just stopped by because I felt like it.” I break down what “visit” really means, when it works beautifully, and when it absolutely does not.If you like the way I teach, you can learn more at

en-US

4:35

50. Why I ‘enjoy learning’ but ‘want to learn’: The...

5 минут английского с Лорой Пикенс | 5 Minutes of... ·

2025/11/21

FEEL IT, DON’T MEMORIZE IT When do you use “to” and when do you use “-ing”? You can memorize endless lists—or you can finally *feel* the difference. In this episode, I’ll show you how to sense when a verb wants the infinitive and when it wants the gerund. It’s not grammar—it’s about time, intention, and vibe. If you like how I teach, you can learn more at laurapickens.ru/podcast ПОНЯТЬ, А НЕ ЗАПОМНИТЬ Когда использовать “to”, а когда “-ing”? Можно выучить кучу списков — а можно наконец-то

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5:47

How to cook in English

5 минут английского с Лорой Пикенс | 5 Minutes of... ·

2025/11/14

🔥 WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY "FRY"?What’s the difference between frying, baking, roasting, sautéing, and searing? A lot, actually. Especially if you're cooking American fried chicken for a Russian friend and they expect rotisserie.This episode dives into how *one* Russian verb can mean *ten* different things in English — and how it can completely change your recipe.🍗 Want more cooking verbs, real-life examples, and practical exercises?Join our private Telegram club at

en-US

6:18

Of Course It's Rude!

5 минут английского с Лорой Пикенс | 5 Minutes of... ·

2025/10/31

💥 Is “of course” rude?It can be. This episode breaks down why “of course” sometimes sounds warm and other times sounds like a slap in the face. Spoiler: it’s not about grammar — it’s about empathy. Learn how to sound confident without sounding dismissive.🔍 Want to go deeper and practice these ideas?Join our private telegram club at laurapickens.ru/podcast💥 “Of course” — грубо?Иногда — да. В этом эпизоде объясняю, почему “of course” иногда звучит дружелюбно, а иногда как пощёчина. Спойлер: дело не

en-US

7:51

What American Students Learn

5 минут английского с Лорой Пикенс | 5 Minutes of... ·

2025/10/17

WHAT AMERICAN STUDENTS LEARN 📚 What’s actually in American English classes? No verb tables. No Present Perfect drills. Just fragments, pronouns, and the stuff your Russian teacher probably never mentioned. In this episode, I’ll break down 6 core things *native speakers* learn in school — and why they matter for *you* as a learner.Wanna go deeper or get some follow-up practice? Join our private telegram club at t.me/joinlaurachatЧЕМУ УЧАТСЯ АМЕРИКАНЦЫ НА УРОКАХ АНГЛИЙСКОГО? 📚 Таблиц времён

en-US

5:13

A Compliment Sandwich

5 минут английского с Лорой Пикенс | 5 Minutes of... ·

2025/10/10

How Americans Give Feedback (Without Sounding Mean)Ever heard of a compliment sandwich? It’s how Americans give criticism without sounding rude—by hiding it between two positives. In this episode, Laura shares why direct feedback can feel like an attack in the U.S., and how learning these communication styles can help you sound more natural—and build better relationships—at work and beyond.Want more real-life communication tips, practice, and follow-ups from this episode?Join our private Telegram

en-US

6:46

You know when you are president...

5 минут английского с Лорой Пикенс | 5 Minutes of... ·

2025/10/03

🎙️ Speak Honestly. Connect Deeply.In this episode, we look at why people say “you” when they really mean “I.” It’s not a mistake — it’s a habit. One that keeps us a little too safe, and a little too far from each other. Learn how switching to “I” can make your English more powerful, and your stories more real. Want to practice and go deeper? Join our private Telegram club at t.me/joinlaurachat 🎙️ Говори честно. Будь ближе.В этом выпуске — как и почему мы говорим “you”, когда хотим сказать “I”

en-US

5:29

How to Say Bad Words

5 минут английского с Лорой Пикенс | 5 Minutes of... ·

2025/09/26

HOW TO SAY BAD WORDS (without actually saying them)We’re not swearing (yet) — but we ARE learning how English speakers talk *about* swear words. From “four-letter words” to “explicit language” and “profanity,” this episode gives you the clean, clever, and sometimes hilarious vocabulary you need to talk dirty… without saying anything dirty at all.Want to know what the F-word, S-word, and P-word actually are? Join our private telegram club at laurapickens.ru/podcastКАК ГОВОРИТЬ ПРО МАТ ПО-АНГЛИЙСКИ

en-US

6:09

And on that day

5 минут английского с Лорой Пикенс | 5 Minutes of... ·

2025/09/19

🌀 That day... or today?This episode is about something you probably never learned clearly — how time words like *today, yesterday,* and *tomorrow* change in reported speech. We’ll go deep into why “He said he’d do it tomorrow” turns into “He said he’d do it the next day” — and how to sound more natural (and less robotic) when you tell stories in English.Want more examples and speaking practice? Join our private Telegram club for live sessions and extra materials: laurapickens.ru/podcast🌀 Вчера —

en-US

4:29

Make Your Stories Come Alive

5 минут английского с Лорой Пикенс | 5 Minutes of... ·

2025/09/05

🎭 MAKE YOUR STORIES COME ALIVE Want to sound like a great storyteller in English? Start with the grammar. In this episode, Laura explains how to use the past continuous not just to tell a story, but to *set the stage* and hook your listener from the start. If you want more examples, more storytelling tricks, and a look at what happened next in Laura’s story—join our private Telegram club at t.me/joinlaurachat🎭 ЗАСТАВЬ СВОИ ИСТОРИИ ЗАИГРАТЬ Хочешь научиться рассказывать истории по-английски, как

en-US

5:09

Past Forms

5 минут английского с Лорой Пикенс | 5 Minutes of... ·

2025/08/29

🎨 Grammar as a Storytelling ToolDon’t just memorize the past tenses — *see* them in action. This episode breaks down Past Simple, Past Continuous, and Past Perfect with one simple question: What did you see when you walked in the door?If you want more exercises and deeper explanations like this, join our private Telegram club at t.me/joinlaurachat🎨 Грамматика как инструмент сторителлингаНе просто заучивай времена — *представь* их в действии. В этом выпуске разбираем Past Simple, Past Continuous и

en-US

64 results

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