Plain English

" When we think of scams, we usually think of vulnerable elderly people falling for a classic email or phone scam. But recently, the fastest growing segment of victims is ages 20-29, which is largely because of a rise in sophisticated dating app scams. Plus, learn what it means to “raise a red flag.” -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson,...

" Tourism was put on hold for 2020. As the world recovers from the pandemic-induced recession, cooped-up consumers are ready to spend money on travel again. But the global hospitality industry is struggling to fill jobs in preparation for the return of the busy summer tourist season. Companies are offering incentives to compete for workers. Plus, learn what it means to “have a hard time.” -- At Pl...

" “Long Covid” refers to the approximately ten percent of Covid sufferers whose symptoms do not go away within a few weeks. For some, the lingering effects of the disease has impacted every aspect of their lives. This lesson dives into the mysterious long-term side effects of the disease. Plus, learn “for a living.” -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full...

" A Ryanair flight from Greece bound for Lithuania was hijacked by the government of Belarus. The flight received a message that there was a bomb threat against the plane, so it had to be diverted for inspection in Minsk, Belarus. The bomb threat turned out to be a ploy, because shortly after landing, 26-year-old opposition activist and his girlfriend were arrested. Plus, learn “cover up.” -- At P...

" The current Chilean constitution is a controversial document, and many people don’t consider it legitimate. The group in charge of drafting the new constitution hopes to address long-held and deep-rooted issues of inequality in Chile. Even though the drafters are all primarily left-leaning candidates, there are still expected to be many challenges along the way. Plus, learn “hold out hope.” -- A...

" Check-writing is a low-tech, burdensome, and time-consuming form of payment. Some countries, like China, South Korea, and Japan, completely skipped personal checks and went straight from cash-based systems to electronic payments. So why are some of the world’s most advanced nations still writing personal checks? Plus, learn what it means to “reverse course.” -- At Plain English, we make English...

" Every 11 seconds, a company is a victim of a ransomware attack. Often, companies discreetly pay the ransom to avoid embarrassment. But recently, a ransomware attack unintentionally shut down the Colonial Pipeline, which supplies 11 states in the U.S. with their gasoline. Apparently, the hackers didn’t intend for the massive disruption, they just wanted the ransom money. Plus, learn “lock out.” -...

" China is the world’s most populous country, and according to the recent 2020 census, China now has 1.41 billion people. But over the last ten years, China only added 72 million people – the country’s slowest population growth rate since the 1960s. So, what’s the big deal? We’re diving into it on today’s lesson. Plus, learn “make up.” -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern wo...

" What is cognitive switching? It’s when you switch your attention from one task, or one type of task, to another. Cognitive switching could be robbing you of up to 40 percent of your daily productivity, and it may be increasing your potential to make mistakes. Plus, learn what it means to “leave off.” -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesso...

" A metro overpass collapsed in Mexico City as a train was traveling over it. Before the deadly accident, it was obvious there were structural problems with the line. There were cracks in the concrete, and the whole structure shook when trains went by. But little was done to repair it, and riders kept riding. Plus, learn “in charge of.” -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern w...

" This lesson reviews the latest news on previous Plain English topics: justice for George Floyd in the Derek Chauvin case; Volkswagen’s all-electric passenger van is coming soon; Tokyo is still planning on hosting the Olympics this summer; WeWork is hoping for a smoother second initial public offering, and more. Plus, learn “hold firm.” -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern...

" Cicadas are one of nature’s strangest mysteries. Trillions of insects live underground for 17 years and all emerge at the same time for a few weeks, mate, and die shortly after. Then, the 17-year cycle repeats. The biggest cohort of them all – Brood X – is about to emerge in the US. Plus, learn “live on.” -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English...

" European soccer fans erupted in protests across the continent after the Super League announcement on April 12, and it didn’t take long for teams to start backing out of the league. This lesson pulls back the curtain on the greed-driven Super League model that flopped. Plus, learn “at the mercy of.” -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson,...

" On April 12, twelve of Europe’s most elite soccer clubs announced they would withdraw from the UEFA Champions League and form their own “Super League.” They promised excitement and drama for fans and more money for club owners. They certainly delivered on their promise for excitement and drama, but not in the way they expected. Plus, learn “shell out.” -- At Plain English, we make English lesson...

With more than a year of work from home experience under our belts, we have some specific ideas to upgrade work from home tools and technology. We’re ready for video calls to be less awkward and exhausting. Attention product designers and developers, this one is for you! Plus, learn “filter out.” Get this full English lesson, including transcripts, fast audio, and more, at https://plainenglish.com...

" With more than a year of work from home experience under our belts, we have some specific ideas to upgrade work from home tools and technology. We’re ready for video calls to be less awkward and exhausting. Attention product designers and developers, this one is for you! Plus, learn “filter out.” -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, i...

" In an exciting final day of competition, Hideki Matsuyama held off last-minute comeback attempts from two challengers to win the 85th Masters golf tournament. His win made him the first Japanese player to win a major golf tournament. Plus, the backstory on why Matsuyama is a Japanese hometown hero, and learn what it means to “let loose.” -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the moder...

" 40 percent of Americans were able to work remotely during the worst parts of the pandemic. Some of those people are still fully working from home, some are part-time at home and part-time in the office, and others have fully returned to their office work environments. This lesson dives into the great remote work debate of 2021. Plus, learn “hand-in-hand.” -- At Plain English, we make English les...

" Many American and Canadian border towns operate as one big town. The border is simply an invisible boundary that residents cross several times each day. But during the pandemic, the border was closed to non-essential traffic. This divided towns, families, lovers, and even left some towns completely isolated. Plus, learn “closely-knit.” -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern...

" Which vaccine should I get? How many doses do I need? Will there be side effects? Allergic reactions? What about protection from all of the new variants? As the world launches its vaccination efforts, we are answering five frequently asked COVID vaccine questions. Plus, learn “a feature, not a bug.” -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson...

" How would you like to work from the beaches of Barbados? Or perhaps you’d rather experience the shopping and architecture of Dubai? A growing list of countries are now offering extended-stay visas to attract remote workers. The trend started several years ago, but has accelerated since the pandemic sent most white-collar workers home from the office last year. Plus, learn “get around.” -- At Pla...

" In the early 2000s, Blockbuster Video was a thriving business. It had 9000 locations in 14 countries around the world. But their dominance in the video rental market did not last forever. Today, just one store remains, and it’s in a mountain town in central Oregon. Plus, learn “at its peak.” -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, includ...

" In March, a massive cargo ship called the Ever Given got stuck in the Suez Canal for six days. The canal is one of the most important routes in global trade, and just six days without it revealed just how fragile the global supply chain is. The effects will likely be felt worldwide for months. Plus, learn “back up.” -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s fu...

" Volvo’s recent announcement to be fully electric by 2030 and move sales online is a huge stray from the car dealership model, which has been around almost as long as cars have. The age-old model is ripe for disruption, and this may be the start of something transformational. Plus, learn what it means to “stay on top of” something. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world...

" Non-fungible tokens, or NFT’s, are the latest craze in the online world. NFT’s offer a way for digital artists to sell their artwork, and recently, a digital piece sold for a record $69.3 million. How it all works is a little confusing, but this lesson breaks it down. Plus, learn what “bragging rights” are. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full Englis...