Plain English

QR codes have exploded in popularity in recent years. The codes are integrated in ordering at restaurants, getting vaccines at COVID testing centers, purchasing bus tickets, and more. But have you ever stopped to think about exactly how the little black a Mentioned in this episode: Ready to improve your listening? Ready to listen fast? Improve your listening with the fast version of this and every...

" A weaker maple syrup harvest this year put Canada in a bit of a sticky situation. As the world leader in maple syrup production, Canada had to tap into its maple syrup reserves to avoid a global shortage. Pancake enthusiasts: keep calm, there will still be syrup! Plus, learn “tap into.” -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a...

" Angela Merkel has been the German chancellor since 2005. Since then, the world and Europe have endured the global financial crisis of 2008, Britain leaving the European Union, COVID-19, and others. Merkel was often the driving force and glue that held Europe together through crisis after crisis. Plus, learn “step aside.” -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today...

" Germany is preparing to say goodbye to Angela Merkel, its center-right Chancellor of the past sixteen years. Her upbringing and academic studies seemed to guide her approach to governing. Merkel was widely popular and Germany progressed under her leadership, but not everything went well. Plus, learn “preside over.” -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s ful...

" Portugal’s parliament passed a new law that gives employees a “right to rest.” In practice, this means that bosses are no longer legally permitted to text or email their employees outside of working hours. The law also requires additional financial assistance for remote workers. Sounds great, right? Well, not so fast… Plus, learn “stick to.” -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the m...

" Big companies like Johnson & Johnson, Toshiba, and General Electric are breaking into smaller companies. In many cases, the smaller companies focused on just one business line are valued higher separately than combined as one conglomerate. But one industry is consolidating as these product-focused companies are breaking up. Plus, learn “at first glance.” -- At Plain English, we make English less...

" Leaving a five-star review has become customary for any experience that is excellent, good, average, or even acceptable, and anything below five-stars means terrible in the world of online reviews. As consumers, this system isn’t helpful in identifying the true high performers, and it makes it difficult for people or businesses to stand out from the crowd. Plus, learn “rave about.” -- At Plain E...

" Merck and Pfizer have developed antiviral pills that are effective at reducing COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths. Pfizer also pledged to make the pills accessible to lower-income countries. The new drugs are certainly providing reason for optimism and should be available soon, but there’s a catch. Plus, learn “a step forward.” -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world....

" Vertical farming is a new way to farm that is done all indoors and – get this – doesn’t require any soil. There are many advantages to vertical farming, and the new technique has already shown a lot of promise for feeding the future. But it’s still in its early stages and has a few limitations. Plus, learn “take up space.” -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Tod...

" Scientists temporarily attached a pig kidney to a human, and it worked for 54 days. This has the medical world excited and optimistic about the possibilities for future animal-to-human transplants, especially as an increasing number of people are needing kidney transplants. But the groundbreaking procedure also had several limitations. Plus, learn “hook up.” -- At Plain English, we make English...

" Bogota launched an anti-machismo “Calm Line” hotline to help men manage feelings that can lead to abuse. The pilot program launched last December, and 2,000 men have already taken advantage of the program. Bogota’s city government has a long tradition of using creative initiatives to solve societal problems. Plus, learn “root cause.” -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern wo...

" The global supply chain has had a rough couple of years. First, of course, there was the pandemic. Then, the container ship got stuck in the Suez Canal. To top it off, there have been several natural disasters that have added to the delays. This has led to shortages felt everywhere, and it doesn’t seem like things will be sorted out anytime soon. Plus, learn “stay afloat.” -- At Plain English, w...

" The Cumbre Vieja volcano on the island of La Palma in Spain has been erupting for a month, and unfortunately, it shows no signs of stopping. The full island still has not been evacuated, and some residents plan to wait it out in the toxic gas and ash. Plus, learn “at risk of.” -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free tran...

" The U.S., China, and Canada came to an agreement to release three high-profile international prisoners. Last week’s lesson #411 covered how Meng Wanzhou and two Canadians named Michael were detained for over 1,000 days. The three countries came to a deal, but the U.S. and Canada are attempting to make it look like this wasn’t a hostage exchange. Plus, learn “out of your way.” -- At Plain English...

" Meng Wanzhou, Michael Spavor, and Michael Kovrig are three people that got tangled up in the American-Chinese rivalry. They all have something in common: they were detained by a foreign government and held for over 1,000 days. They also have this in common: they all went home on September 24, 2021. Plus, learn “against your will.” -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world...

" Earlier this month, Facebook and its entire portfolio of apps went dark for six hours. For most people, it was a minor inconvenience to not be able to get and give likes and text friends. But the outage got many people thinking about how interwoven Facebook is in our lives and businesses. Plus, learn “cut off.” -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full En...

" Flu season was a breeze last year, largely because everyone stayed home and wore masks. But that is putting experts in a tricky and unpredictable situation this year. Some are warning that it could be a more severe flu season than usual. Time to get your flu shot! Plus, learn “come to pass.” -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, includ...

" Flu season was a breeze last year, largely because everyone stayed home and wore masks. But that is putting experts in a tricky and unpredictable situation this year. Some are warning that it could be a more severe flu season than usual. Time to get your flu shot! Plus, learn “come to pass.” -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, includ...

" This lesson reviews the latest updates on previous Plain English topics: Britney Spears’ conservatorship legal battle with her father; Havana syndrome in American diplomats; progress on the Notre Dame cathedral restoration after the 2019 fire; the verdict on Impossible Foods and other meatless alternatives; cashless shops, and more. Plus, learn “stack up.” -- At Plain English, we make English le...

" Earlier this summer, El Salvador’s president, Nayib Bukele, announced that El Salvador would be the first country to adopt Bitcoin as a legal currency – without consulting the country’s key business leaders. Some think that the move might help the cash-based economy, but many others think he is placing a risky bet on El Salvador’s already fragile economy. Plus, learn “stretched thin.” -- At Plai...

" Are you thinking about taking an international trip? I just got back from a vacation to five European countries. Each country had different and constantly changing COVID-related rules to follow, which added an extra layer of complication to international travel. I almost messed a couple of things up. Plus, learn “in order.” -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- To...

" Do you need to be vaccinated, get tested, or quarantine to travel internationally? Short answer: it depends. Each country has its own set of rules that are subject to change at any time. This can make international travel even more stressful than it already is. This lesson covers what you need to know before packing your bags. Plus, learn “to get back on your feet.” -- At Plain English, we make...

" Walt Disney World, the most-visited theme park in the world, is turning 50 years old. To celebrate, the park has planned the “World’s Most Magical Celebration,” which is expected to last for 18 months. Disney is planning new attractions, specialty food items, merchandise, and more that is still being kept a secret. Plus, learn “come to fruition.” -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for...

" We all know what a bad apology sounds and feels like, the non-apologetic apologies. It’s easy for apologies to miss the mark, so how do we craft sincere ones? Turns out, psychologists have identified six key elements of a good apology. That’s coming up today on Plain English. Plus, learn “put your money where your mouth is.” -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- T...

" If you walk down the candy aisle in a grocery store, there are endless chocolate bar options: dark, milk, white, salted, fruity, you name it. Today’s lesson reveals four professional chocolate pairings that enhance chocolate’s natural flavor, so you’ll know exactly what to look for the next time you need to satisfy your sweet tooth. Some of the combinations might surprise you. Plus, learn “hear...