Hear You Go

Happy 158th Birthday, Canada! You’d have to be living with your head in the sand not to know that Canada’s very identity has been called into question these past six months.   On this Canada Day, July 1st, 2025, we reflect on what makes Canada Canada—not just to the world, but to me, personally. In this timely episode, we’ll:  🇨🇦 go on a whirlwind tour through Canadian history, from Viking visitor...

In this new advanced English language conversation (E72), I talk to English language coach and pronunciation pro Jessica Dias to discuss one of the most underrated language skills: listening. But not just listening for meaning — listening as a speaking strategy. Jessy shares how tuning your ear to real English conversations helps you sound more natural, confident, and fluent. We explore why so man...

Episode 71: A Beginner Goes to Italy and Wonders: Why Learn a Language?    In this episode of Hear You Go for intermediate and advanced English language learners, I take you with me as I connect the TED Talk by linguist John McWhorter to my 2½-week language experiment in Italy. Can I tell you how often I felt like my head was going to explode?!  In this three-part episode, I: unpack McWhorter’s fo...

Obasan and the Silence of History (E70) In this episode of Hear You Go, we honour Asian Heritage Month in Canada by exploring the groundbreaking novel Obasan by Joy Kogawa—a powerful and emotional story that reveals the experiences of Japanese Canadians during and after WWII.  In this two-part episode, we: examine the historical context of Japanese immigration to Canada and the discrimination they...

Phrasal verbs: the ultimate headache for English learners—or are they? In this episode, I talk with Nathaly Rodriguez , an English language teacher and self-proclaimed "language detective," to uncover the secrets behind these tricky verb + particle combinations. Nathaly shares her personal journey with English, from struggling with phrasal verbs as an instructor to discovering a cognitive linguist...

Graduation is a milestone that marks both an ending and a beginning—not just for our children, but for us as parents too. As my youngest prepares to finish university, I find myself reflecting on the bittersweet reality of watching our kids step into their own lives. In this episode of Hear You Go, I explore: the process of letting go the evolving parent-child relationship in adulthood, and  how t...

In this episode of Hear You Go (E67), I sit down with the exceptional Brazilian English teacher Bruna Passos for a conversation that started with a book and led us to so many interesting places. We talk about the power of fiction—not just for enjoyment but for expanding our perspectives, building empathy, and even challenging the status quo. Bruna shares how literature has transported her to diffe...

For your advanced English listening practice, we're blasting off to where everyone had a translator thingamajig on their t-shirt and could talk to any alien out there in the galaxy 🤣.   As a child, I dreamed of becoming an astronaut, exploring the final frontier aboard the Starship Enterprise. While my math grades grounded that dream, my fascination with space never waned. In this episode of Hear...

In this English language listening practice episode (E65), I talk to English language teacher Eidiane Rufino , who shares her experiences as a teacher from Brazil, now living in Canada.  Eidiane opens up about how she went from hating English to seeing it as a key to opening up a whole new world. She knew from a young age that she wanted to be a teacher, and today, she can clearly see her strength...

Hats - Quaint Artifacts? Harmless Fashion Accessory? Political Statement?  Ontario’s premier has a new baseball cap that makes a bold political statement—but it got me thinking about hats in general. When did they go out of fashion? Why were they once essential, and why do they still hold power today? In this Ideas in English listening practice (intermediate and advanced B2/C1 level) episode of He...

How would you describe a dictionary? Have you ever thought about how dictionaries are made? Or who decides what goes in them?  This week on Hear You Go, in an English listening practice Book Talk, episode 63, I’m diving into these questions, inspired by the Japanese novel I recently read called The Great Passage by Shion Miura. It’s a beautiful story about a quirky group of people working to creat...

Try saying that tongue-twister of a title out loud 3 times fast!!! Let’s kick off the year with an English pronunciation challenge 😂, and then take a deep dive into wellness—a word that might have you (like me) rolling your eyes, or perhaps you’re reaching for a $30 melatonin-infused chocolate. From the latest wellness trends to Instagram "healthfluencers," I'm sharing my frustration about the ex...

It’s December 17th, and my home is filling up with of cookies, Christmas aromas, and eager anticipation of family coming home. In this special holiday episode, created for your Advanced English listening practice, you'll hear about a heartwarming Canadian short story—Carmichael’s Dog by David Adams Richards. Humour, nostalgia, a puppy, and a snowy New Brunswick Christmas set the stage for this com...

Slow down. Breathe. Pause. Reflect. Create a gap. React or respond? What do we do about the teacher's ego? About learners' anxieties?  Episode 60 of Hear You Go covers a lot of ground as my special guest, Toronto-based English language teacher Danny McGee, joins me to discuss the importance and benefits of mindfulness for both teachers AND learners. It's tremendously difficult to summarize this ex...

🎵 What is it about music? 🎶 Why does the music of our youth stay with us?   In this English listening practice episode (E59) of Hear You Go, we’re turning up the volume to take a walk down memory lane and hear the playlist of my childhood—mostly English songs from artists like Kris Kristofferson and Bruce Springsteen that shaped my childhood, and probably influenced my bleeding heart.   What is...

Reimagining ELT with Teacher Kay Honest Talk about Equity in English Language Teaching & Learning   In today’s English language conversation, Teacher Kay of Sincerely Teaching joins me to discuss reimagining English Language Teaching (ELT) so that it's inclusive and just for English language teachers AND learners. Kay shares her journey into teaching English and unpacks the deep-rooted issues...

Montreal: A Tapestry of Language, Culture, and History In today’s English listening episode (B2/C1 English), we explore one of my favourite Canadian cities. Montreal. This city, the largest in Quebec, is an extraordinary blend of history, language, and culture in North America. After a recent trip to Montreal, I asked if you’d like to learn more about it, and your answer was a resounding “yes!”  S...

In this intermediate English Conversation, Tamás "Tommy" Bradford joins me on Hear You Go podcast for part 1 of our two-part collaboration. We dive into his top English picks for books, films, and music that can help you explore and learn English independently. We have a chat about everything from Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy to Benjamin Zephaniah’s poetry. Tommy shares his insights on John le Carré’...

For today’s English listening practice, we'll explore "third places": what they are, why they’ve disappeared, and why we all need one.   With modern life becoming more isolated and fast-paced, the absence of these social gathering spots, where we speak to each other in real life, is contributing to an epidemic of loneliness. But what exactly is a third place? Join me as I dive into its history and...

I’m joined in today’s advanced English episode of Hear You Go, by Felicio Dias, a Brazilian English language teacher and language enthusiast. Felicio shares his passion for music, literature, and his interest in the diverse ways English is spoken across the world. Together, we dive into a thought-provoking discussion on how accents shape identity, the evolving nature of language, and the importanc...

In this English listening practice episode of Hear You Go, we’ll explore  "Come From Away," a musical that resonates deeply with me. After seeing it again recently, I was inspired to revisit the topic of English accents. Too often, we think of English has having only two accents: the UK accent or British accent (also called received pronunciation), and the American accent. But so many people aroun...

Ever wish you could redo an English conversation, say things differently, or finally remember that perfect word for your advanced English class? I know I do!    Life might not allow for a reset button, but what if it did? For years, I dismissed video games as a waste of time, until I read Tomorrow, And Tomorrow, And Tomorrow by Gabrielle Zevin. This novel changed my perspective, showing me how vid...

🗞️ News flash: we're ALL daydreamers!   🎙️ In this episode, you might be surprised to learn that there's real power in daydreaming. It's not a waste of time. Daydream about speaking English the way you want.  It can work - trust me! ✅ It can have an enormous impact on your English language learning and creativity, if used wisely. 🎧 Have a listen, and discover how letting your mind wander can hel...

Hey English learners and listeners! 🎙️ This is it: episode 50 of Hear You Go podcast—"We have to be less afraid of judgment and more open to learning", Agnes Rubinho.   ❣️Episode 50 marks the end of Season 2, and to close this fabulous season of podcasts, this intermediate English conversation offers you an amazing chat with a Brazilian English language teacher, Agnes Rubinho.   Teachers: did you...

Why bother?  I don’t often ask myself that question, but every once in a while, it crops up. Why bother making an English language learning podcast if I don’t get a thousand downloads? In today’s English listening episode, number 49 🙌, I remind you of the value of listening to podcasts for English language learning, in addition to their psychological and social benefits. For example: learning new...