The English Experiment

A South African in Russia tries to understand why Victory Day feels so huge here. From tanks and parades to family stories and grief, this episode looks at 9 May through foreign eyes. I talk about growing up with almost no emotional connection to World War II, what changed when I met Victory Day in Moscow, and how symbols like the Immortal Regiment, St. George ribbons, and the Tomb of the Unknown...

Sometimes, you just need one small adventure to shake up your usual routine. In this episode, I’m heading to a snow tubing park just outside Moscow with my friend Natalie – my first time ever on a tubing hill. On the way, Natalie talks about the winters of her childhood, sliding down makeshift hills on plastic bags and pieces of old furniture instead of tubes. We compare those memories with the or...

In this episode, I sit down with Anya – my music teacher, and also my English student – to talk about singing in English, learning through real-life content, and what it feels like to speak a “beautiful, singing language” when you don’t use it every day. You’ll hear her thinking slowly, searching for words, and sometimes getting a bit confused… and that’s exactly the point. We chat about: - Why go...

This episode is a little different. I’d planned to release an interview with my music tutor, but something in the process made me stop and rethink how I’m creating this podcast. Instead of the “perfect” video I imagined, I’m talking about tech experiments, time limits, and what happens when a side project starts to feel heavier than it should. I come back to the KISS idea—keeping things simple eno...

When I share my podcast idea with a real friend, what actually happens? In this follow‑up conversation, Olga tells me what she thought about The English Experiment, what worked for her, and what she’d change. We talk about time, attention, and why so many podcasts feel way too long, and she shares a big list of future topics – from mentality and life in another country to AI, influence, and whethe...

What happens when you test a brand‑new podcast idea on someone who actually has to use it? In this episode, I invite you into a real conversation with my language‑exchange partner, Olga, where I explain the concept for The English Experiment and ask for her honest feedback. We talk about what makes speaking courses helpful or frustrating, why listening can feel harder than reading, and how correct...

In this episode, I take you behind the scenes of how The English Experiment podcast actually came to life.​ I talk about where the idea came from, the first test recordings I shared with a student, and the moment this stopped being “just a thought” and turned into a real project. There were plenty of rookie mistakes along the way: a microphone set too low, a teaser recorded while I was ill, and se...

Are you learning English and feeling tired of old‑school textbook stuff? This short intro episode is for you.​ I’m a South African living in Moscow, and I’m also learning Russian. My biggest challenge is finding speaking practice that actually feels interesting, not just grammar drills and exercises. That experience is what sparked The English Experiment – a podcast where you learn through English...

Teaser – The English Experiment with Chantelle Hello, I’m Chantelle, an English teacher in Moscow who’s obsessed with real, unscripted conversation. This podcast isn’t a grammar lesson — it’s an experiment. In each episode, I’ll explore stories, ideas, and conversations that matter to curious people who happen to be using English. You’ll hear natural speech, hesitation, softening language, and all...