The Fluent Mind ESL Podcast

In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Jack is joined by guest hosts May and Salimeh. Together, they answer the following Would you rather question: Would you rather have a roommate who constantly cleans but never speaks, or a roommate who constantly speaks but never cleans? Transcript: 00:00:00 Jack You're listening to the A-Z English podcast. 00:00:14 Jack Welcome to the A to Z Engli...

Dear Jack, I've got a bit of a noise issue in my place, and I'm not sure how to handle it. My roommate loves to sing all over the house – in the shower, while doing dishes, you name it. The tricky part is, they're not the best singer, and it's starting to drive me a little crazy. How can I ask them to keep the singing down without making things awkward between us? Thanks, Seeking Q...

Here are some historical events that happened on December 14: 1287: St. Lucia's flood, a tidal surge in the North Sea, struck the Netherlands, Belgium, and England, leading to the death of tens of thousands of people. 1799: The first president of the United States, George Washington, died at Mount Vernon, Virginia. 1911: Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen became the first person to reach the So...

Dear Jack, I'm in a strange situation and need advice. My roommate has a quirky hobby - collecting potato chips that look like famous people. Our place is filled with crunchy versions of past presidents and music stars. One night, I got really hungry and, well, I ate the potato chip versions of Michael Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, and Justin Bieber. Now, I'm scared my roommate will find out a...

Here are some major historical events that happened on December 13: 1642: Abel Tasman becomes the first European to reach the island of Van Diemen's Land (now Tasmania). 1937: The Nanjing Massacre begins during the Second Sino-Japanese War. Japanese forces captured the city of Nanjing, leading to mass killings, rapes, and other atrocities against Chinese civilians and disarmed soldiers. 2000:...

Here are some historical events that happened on or around December 12: 2000: The United States Supreme Court releases its decision in Bush v. Gore, effectively ending the recount of presidential votes in Florida and settling the disputed 2000 U.S. presidential election in favor of George W. Bush. 1917: Father Edward J. Flanagan founded Boys Town in Omaha, Nebraska, as a home for orphans and other...

Dear Jack, I've been learning English for a while, and while I understand the grammar rules, I still find it challenging to comprehend native speakers due to their fast pace and colloquial expressions. Any advice on how I can improve my listening skills and better understand spoken English? Sincerely, Struggling Listener Podcast Website: https://atozenglishpodcast.com/a-to-z-dear-jack-24-strug...

Here are a few significant events that happened on December 11: 1936: King Edward VIII of the United Kingdom abdicated the throne in order to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcée. 1941: The United States entered World War II following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. On December 11, Germany and Italy declared war on the United States. 1972: Apollo 17, the final missio...

Dear Jack, I'm an ESL student facing difficulty in improving my speaking skills. Despite practicing regularly, I feel hesitant to speak in class. How can I overcome this fear and become more confident in expressing myself in English? Thank you, Shy Speaker Podcast Website: https://atozenglishpodcast.com/a-to-z-dear-jack-23-shy-speaker/ Social Media: WeChat account ID: atozenglishpodcast Facebo...

In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Jack tells the story about how everything went wrong for him in 2001, the year he sold his car and moved to Asia to become a teacher. Podcast Website: https://atozenglishpodcast.com/the-a-to-z-english-podcast-jacks-terrible-car-story/ Social Media: WeChat: atozenglishpodcast Facebook Group:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/671098974684413/ Tik Tok: @a...

Here are some historical events that occurred on December 10: 1948: The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in Paris. 1901: The first Nobel Prizes were awarded in Stockholm, Sweden, in the fields of physics, chemistry, medicine, literature, and peace. 1898: The Treaty of Paris was signed, officially ending the Spanish-American War and ceding Pue...

Here are some historical events that happened on December 9: 536 - The Byzantine general Belisarius enters Rome while the Ostrogothic garrison peacefully leaves the city, returning the city to the Eastern Roman Empire. 1851 - The first YMCA (Young Men's Christian Association) in the United States is founded in Boston, Massachusetts. 1905 - In France, the law separating church and state is pass...

Dear Jack, I'm in a committed relationship, and we've been talking about taking the next step and moving in together. However, when it comes to finances, we have different approaches. I'm more frugal and believe in saving for the future, while my partner tends to spend more freely. This has become a point of contention, and I'm worried about how we'll manage finances when we sh...

Dear Abby, I've always dreamed of becoming fluent in a second language, but I find myself struggling to stay motivated and disciplined in my language learning journey. Whether it's Spanish, French, or any other language, I start with enthusiasm, but after a while, life gets busy, and I lose focus. Do you have any tips or advice on how to stay committed to language learning and make it a mo...

Here are some significant historical events that happened on December 8: 1941: The United States enters World War II. The day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor (December 7, 1941), the U.S. Congress declares war on Japan. 1980: Former Beatle John Lennon is shot and killed outside his apartment building in New York City by Mark David Chapman. 1987: U.S. President Ronald Reagan and Soviet lea...

Here are some historical events that occurred on December 7: 1732: The Royal Opera House opened at Covent Garden, London. 1787: Delaware became the first state to ratify the United States Constitution. 1941: The attack on Pearl Harbor occurred, leading to the United States' entry into World War II. 1972: Apollo 17, the final Apollo moon mission, was launched. 1988: An earthquake measuring 6.9...

In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Xochitl and Jack explain the meanings of several idioms related to travel. On the road : Traveling or in the process of traveling. Example: I'm on the road for business this week; we can catch up when I'm back. Off the beaten path : Going to a less popular or explored destination. Example: We decided to go off the beaten path and explore the c...

Dear Jack, I'm a college student from another country trying to improve my English, and I'm facing a challenge that's making me feel a bit overwhelmed. I often struggle with the correct use of prepositions in sentences. It's confusing when to use "in," "on," or "at." I don't want to sound awkward or make mistakes when speaking or writing, but I'm fin...

Here are some historical events that occurred on December 6: 1790: The United States Congress moved from New York City to Philadelphia. 1865: The Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution was ratified, abolishing slavery. 1877: Thomas Edison demonstrated the first sound recording, reciting "Mary Had a Little Lamb" at his Menlo Park laboratory. 1921: The Anglo-Irish Treaty was...

In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Xochitl and Jack discuss whether they would rather receive a really expensive gift that someone bought for them or receive a really thoughtful gift that someone made for them?  Transcript: 00:00:00 Jack You're listening to the A-Z English podcast. 00:00:14 Jack Welcome to the A-Z English podcast. My name is Jack and I'm here with my co-host so...

Here are some historical events that occurred on December 5: 1776: The Phi Beta Kappa Society, one of the oldest academic honor societies in the United States, was founded at the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. 1831: Former U.S. President John Quincy Adams took his seat in the House of Representatives, becoming the only former president to serve in the U.S. House. 1933: The...

In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Xochitl and Jack discuss the worst flights they have ever taken. Transcript: 00:00:00 Jack You're listening to the A-Z English podcast. 00:00:13 Jack Welcome to the A-Z English podcast. My name is Jack and I'm here with my co-host social. And today we're going to do a quick talk episode where we just chat about a a random topic and today&#...

Here are some historical events that occurred on December 4: 1110: The Kingdom of Jerusalem captured Sidon during the Crusades. 1783: General George Washington bid farewell to his officers at Fraunces Tavern in New York City after the American Revolution. 1829: The first well-recorded game of baseball was played in Beachville, Ontario, Canada. 1918: U.S. President Woodrow Wilson sailed for the Ver...

Dear Xochitl and Jack, I recently found myself in an awkward situation on a flight. The passenger next to me seemed to have no qualms about invading my personal space. Not only did they let their arm spill into my seat area, but they also seemed completely oblivious to the discomfort they were causing. How can I address this issue without turning a cramped flight into a confrontation at 30,000 fee...

Here are some historical events that happened on December 3: 1775: The USS Alfred becomes the first vessel to fly the Grand Union Flag, considered the first national flag of the United States, during the American Revolutionary War. 1818: Illinois becomes the 21st U.S. state. 1833: Oberlin College in Ohio becomes the first coeducational institution of higher learning in the United States. 1967: The...