Plain English | Improve your English with current events artwork

Plain English | Improve your English with current events

694 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 days ago - ★★★★★ - 62 ratings

Plain English is the podcast for learners everywhere who want to improve their English in a fun and modern way.

Every Monday and Thursday, we explore the events and trends that shape the world in clear, understandable English. We also take a close look at one English expression or phrasal verb in each episode.

Best of all, we go at a slower speed so you can understand every word.

By listening to current events and trending topics, you will expand your vocabulary, improve your English listening, and learn about the world.

No wonder learners from 160+ countries have made Plain English part of their routine.

Read full transcripts and unlock free extras at PlainEnglish.com

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Episodes

Massive bridge falls after collision with ship (Fire up)

April 22, 2024 11:00 - 20 minutes - 47.2 MB

" A massive bridge over a river in Baltimore, Maryland, fell into the water last month, after a container ship veered off course and crashed into one of the support columns. The ship lost power and had mechanical problems in the moments before impact. All port activity was halted in the aftermath of the disaster. Six construction workers died. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found a...

The growing popularity of Turkish television (Open to)

April 18, 2024 11:00 - 18 minutes - 42.9 MB

" Britain and the United States are the two biggest exporters of television. But the third-biggest may surprise you: Turkey. Long-running Turkish dramas have become among the most popular television shows around the world, from Chile to Bulgaria. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/667 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are abo...

Cracks are showing in America's real-estate racket (In the best possible light)

April 15, 2024 11:00 - 19 minutes - 45.3 MB

" Americans buy and sell millions of homes per year, and about 90 percent of transactions use a real estate agent. But agents in the U.S. charge among the highest rates in the world, thanks to their stranglehold on the listing databases. But recent court cases are challenging the agents' control of the market. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/666 ...

Will new dry 'tiles' be the future of laundry detergent? (Morph into)

April 11, 2024 11:00 - 21 minutes - 48.5 MB

" First there was powder. Then there was liquid laundry detergent. And then there were laundry ""pods,"" small capsules of pre-measured detergent. But now Proctor & Gamble, the maker of Tide, has a new way of getting laundry detergent into the machine. It's a dry tile, which is lighter, easier to pack, and contains less plastic. The company spent ten years developing the product. Will this be the future of laundry detergent? -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern w...

Gabriel García Márquez sons publish last book against author's wishes (Cloud your judgment)

April 08, 2024 11:00 - 24 minutes - 56.6 MB

" The Nobel prize-winning author Gabriel García Márquez worked on a slim novel called ""Until August"" on and off for decades. In his final years, the author determined the book was not fit for publication and ordered the drafts destroyed. Now, ten years after his death, the writer's sons have published the book against his wishes. Did they do the right thing? -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcrip...

Podcasting turns 20 years old (Come to mind)

April 04, 2024 11:00 - 22 minutes - 50.8 MB

" Twenty years ago, a new computer program let consumers download a feed of audio clips onto their iPod music players. Today, ""podcasting"" serves millions of listeners of all interests. Here's how podcasting has grown over the years. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/663 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current ...

Like it or not, it's Biden vs. Trump again (Pass the torch)

April 01, 2024 11:00 - 21 minutes - 49.7 MB

" Three years ago, it seemed that neither Biden nor Trump would be on the American presidential ballot in 2024. But now both are, setting up a rematch from four years earlier. Too bad it's a rematch most voters don't want. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/662 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current events and tr...

Four questions about weight-loss drugs (Press up against)

March 28, 2024 11:00 - 19 minutes - 45.3 MB

" Weight-loss drugs look to figure prominently in the business and health landscape of the future. So today, we take a look at four questions about these drugs: How do patients' take them? Are they covered by insurance? How much do they cost? And why are they so hard to find? -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/661 -- Learning English should be fun! ...

The perils of going off weight-loss drugs (Slow down)

March 25, 2024 11:00 - 18 minutes - 42.9 MB

" Weight-loss drugs like Wegovy have become extremely popular in recent years. Recent studies confirm that patients regain much of the weight they lose if they ever stop treatment. But not everyone can afford to take these drugs for life. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/660 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about curre...

How our lives are different after the pandemic (Stick with)

March 21, 2024 11:00 - 19 minutes - 45.7 MB

" Four years ago, our lives changed in an instant. As the immediate danger of the pandemic subsided, we went back to our old habits of eating indoors, gathering with friends and family, and traveling. But there are some changes that persisted, even after the pandemic ended. Here are a few of them. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/659 -- Learning E...

COVID predictions that never came true (Come true)

March 18, 2024 11:00 - 21 minutes - 50 MB

" People would never go on cruises again. They'd probably wear paper face masks in public, even after the pandemic receded. These are just two examples of predictions that did not come true. Four years after the ""novel coronavirus"" swept the world, these habits are no more. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/658 -- Learning English should be fun! ...

Meet me at the 'zombie mall' (Put off)

March 14, 2024 11:00 - 18 minutes - 43.1 MB

" What happens to a large shopping mall after the biggest stores close? The mall often stays open in a zombie state: fewer customers, lower quality, and a depressing vibe. But they can still be profitable under the right circumstances. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/657 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current ...

The rise and slow fall of the indoor mall (Wander around)

March 11, 2024 11:00 - 19 minutes - 43.9 MB

" The enclosed shopping mall was once the epicenter of suburban social life. But now, the age of the indoor mall is ending. E-commerce and shifting consumer preferences have left some malls struggling. Here's how malls rose to prominence...and how many are fighting for their survival. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/656 -- Learning English should...

The fate of the penny in 7 currencies (More trouble than it's worth)

March 07, 2024 12:00 - 20 minutes - 46.7 MB

" Swiss francs, British pounds, euros, and various kinds of dollars are divided into hundredths. But not all currencies have 1/100th coins. Today, we look at how Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Switzerland, euro-area countries, the U.S., and the U.K. handle their lowest-value coins. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/655 -- Learning English should b...

‘Nearshoring’ in Mexico and eastern Europe (Carve out)

March 04, 2024 12:00 - 19 minutes - 45.3 MB

" If the 1990s and 2000s were about globalization and offshoring, then the 2020s are about ""nearshoring."" Large companies in the U.S. and western Europe want to bring manufacturing and services closer to home. But they still want lower-cost labor that globalization has provided them. Mexico and eastern Europe are using the ""nearshoring"" trend to their advantage. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free tra...

The winners and losers of Leap Years (Fall on)

February 29, 2024 12:00 - 18 minutes - 41.4 MB

" Leap Years come (about!) once every four years. The unusual day can cause havoc for some people, least of all the approximately 5 million who were born on February 29. In this lighthearted story, we take a look at how the day affects different people ... and who benefits from the extra day. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/653 -- Learning Englis...

AM radio goes missing in electric cars (Have something going)

February 26, 2024 12:00 - 22 minutes - 51.7 MB

" AM radio has been around for over a hundred years and one of the most popular places to listen is in the car. Now, though, some carmakers have decided not to include AM antennas in their new electric cars. The electric components in the car interfere with the AM signal. But some people are worried that this may spell the end of the AM band. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at...

British Post Office scandal: a 'miscarriage of justice' (Drop off)

February 22, 2024 12:00 - 18 minutes - 43.2 MB

" Thousands of post office workers in the U.K. were falsely accused of accounting fraud--all because of a faulty computer system. Hundreds were falsely convicted, while many more lost their savings. Four committed suicide. Now, a new drama on the British channel ITV exposed the scandal and prompted the U.K. government to try to make amends. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: ...

Correcting bias in academic research (Give in)

February 19, 2024 12:00 - 20 minutes - 47.7 MB

" The world of academic publishing has been shaken by a series of scandals of late. But one idea aims to correct the biases in research. A ""registered report"" brings greater transparency and controls to the research process. And some journals pledge to publish any research finding, whether a hypothesis is confirmed or not. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plaineng...

The dark side of 'publish or perish' (Cross a line)

February 15, 2024 12:00 - 21 minutes - 50.1 MB

" Academic researchers are under intense career pressure to publish their findings, a pressure known as ""publish or perish."" While that pressure means that researchers stay productive, it can also lead to unethical research practices or data manipulation. Data from several recent studies, including one about dishonesty, have been questioned by critics and investigators. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a fr...

More problems for Boeing's 737-MAX (Turn around)

February 12, 2024 12:00 - 17 minutes - 39.1 MB

" A key part blew off the body of a Boeing 737-MAX plane shortly after takeoff, ripping the shirt of a passenger and causing a drop in cabin air pressure. The plane landed safely, but America's FAA has opened an investigation into the plane's safety. It was the latest setback for Boeing, one of the two biggest global plane manufacturers. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: htt...

Should London's pedicabs be regulated? (Draw the line)

February 08, 2024 12:00 - 18 minutes - 42.8 MB

" Pedicabs -- bicycles with fancy carriages on the back -- are popular in London's West End and SoHo. Due to a quirk in London's taxi law, they operate without any type of regulation. But they're widely seen as a rip-off for tourists and a nuisance for those who live nearby. But should they be regulated like taxis or are they just harmless fun? -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found ...

Ecuador is living a drug-fueled nightmare (Fill a vacuum)

February 05, 2024 12:00 - 18 minutes - 43.4 MB

" Ecuador, nestled between Peru and Colombia on South America's Pacific coast, was once one of the safest countries in the Americas. But now, the it's suffering a spiral of violence, fueled by foreign drug gangs. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/646 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current events and trending top...

The new six-figure job: prompt engineer (Scratch the surface)

February 01, 2024 12:00 - 19 minutes - 45.9 MB

" If you have a knack for writing the perfect prompt in ChatGPT, then you might want to become a ""prompt engineer."" That's the new job title for people who help companies use GPT and other AI models to achieve their goals. But it's a lot more than just typing into a chat window. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/645 -- Learning English should be ...

Meet the new neighbor: he's a grizzly bear (Pass down)

January 29, 2024 12:00 - 18 minutes - 41.3 MB

" The grizzly bear population has grown in the western United States, after successful conservation efforts. But that means the bears, which can weigh 400 kilograms, are coming into conflict with humans who live in the area. Here's how the people are coping with their new neighbors. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/644 -- Learning English should b...

Ikea is heading to the city center (Pick out)

January 25, 2024 12:00 - 16 minutes - 37.7 MB

" Ikea stores are known for being very big and far from the city center. For many shoppers, a trip to Ikea is a full-day event. But now the Swedish furniture store is opening smaller stores in city centers, hoping to appeal to apartment-dwellers who can't make it to the huge stores far away. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/643 -- Learning English...

The southern accent is fading away (Fade away)

January 22, 2024 12:00 - 20 minutes - 46.1 MB

" One of the most distinctive English accents is the ""southern accent,"" popular in American states from Texas to Virginia. But younger people are losing the accent. Researchers suspect it's due to internal migration within the U.S. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/642 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current ev...

'Golden Bachelor' shows a new kind of reality: dating over 60 (Angle for)

January 18, 2024 12:00 - 19 minutes - 45.2 MB

" ""The Golden Bachelor"" is a spinoff of the popular ""Bachelor"" reality dating franchise. The show features 72-year-old Gerry Turner and 22 women over 60 looking for love. It became a surprising hit among all generations, and sparked conversations about love and aging. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/641 -- Learning English should be fun! That...

The backlash against too much tipping (Once in a while)

January 15, 2024 12:00 - 20 minutes - 46.1 MB

" It can be hard to know when to tip in any culture. But tipping has increased in the United States since the pandemic. New touch-screen payment systems often encourage a minimum tip of 20%. But now, consumers are increasingly frustrated with requests to leave tips and are starting to cut back on the habit. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/640 -- ...

Theft at the British Museum (Go missing)

January 11, 2024 12:00 - 18 minutes - 43.5 MB

" When a private dealer of gems and jewels noticed a great bargain on eBay, he had no idea that it would eventually lead him to uncover a major scandal at the British Museum, one of the world's pre-eminent cultural institutions. But that's exactly what happened. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/639 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our...

New York gets serious about its trash (Get rid of)

January 08, 2024 12:00 - 19 minutes - 44.4 MB

" It's an all-too-common sight on the streets of New York City: piles of black garbage bags on the sidewalks, waiting to be collected. America's largest city has no alleys, so its apartments and businesses leave trash in heaps right on the street. But the mayor has plans to eliminate this 'all-night buffet' for rats. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com...

McDonald's is making changes to its burgers (Fall behind)

January 04, 2024 12:00 - 18 minutes - 43.4 MB

" McDonald's is preparing to roll out big changes to its number-one menu item: burgers. The world's biggest burger chain says it will adjust how its patties are grilled and how its burgers are assembled in a bid to make them more palatable to consumers. The changes will apply to the Big Mac and to its other burgers. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/...

The hard work after a snowstorm (Buy in bulk)

January 01, 2024 12:00 - 20 minutes - 47.6 MB

" A few inches of snow can be beautiful. But for local governments, it's hard work to clear it and keep everyone moving. Today, we look at everything that has to get done to get back to normal after a snowstorm. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/636 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current events and trending topi...

Six ways to fail (Root cause)

December 21, 2023 12:00 - 20 minutes - 46 MB

" Failure is part of life. But not everything that goes wrong is the same. Sometimes, we should assign blame. Other times, failure is a good thing. A Harvard professor put failure into six categories. Knowing them can help you understand the things that go wrong in your own life. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/635 -- Learning English should be f...

Drought in Panama complicates canal traffic (In place)

December 18, 2023 12:00 - 18 minutes - 42.7 MB

" The Panama Canal connects Asia and the east coasts of North and South America. Manufactured goods, energy, food, cars, and more all pass through the canal. On a normal day, 38 to 40 ships can cross. But drought in Panama means the canal can accommodate many fewer ships. That means higher costs for shippers--and for consumers. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plain...

Iceland braces for a volcanic eruption (Up close)

December 14, 2023 12:00 - 20 minutes - 47.3 MB

" A 15-kilometer-long corridor of magma (melted rock) has accumulated just below the Earth's surface in the Reykjanes Peninsula in Iceland. The accumulation has caused thousands of earthquakes in just a few days. It may cause a large eruption or it may break to the surface in unexpected places--including underwater. A fishing town has been completely evacuated as a precaution. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including...

Battle for sunken treasure off Colombia's coast (Destined for)

December 11, 2023 12:00 - 19 minutes - 45.8 MB

The San José, a Spanish treasure ship carrying gold, silver, and valuable jewelry, sank off the coast of Colombia in 1708. The shipwreck, and its treasure, have been untouched for over 300 years. Now, the government of Colombia is working to bring the tr

The new attraction in Las Vegas is a giant ball (Get going)

December 07, 2023 12:00 - 17 minutes - 41 MB

" The 'Sphere' is the newest entertainment complex in Las Vegas. It boasts an immersive, wraparound 16K LED screen, haptic seating, and thousands of speakers. But the most striking part is this: the exterior is covered in screens, so it can look like a basketball or the surface of Mars to onlookers. The venue will be best for concerts and films but can host other events, including e-sports. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English les...

Can’t sleep 8 hours? There’s still hope (Catch up)

December 04, 2023 12:00 - 19 minutes - 44.9 MB

" Most sleep advice focuses on how much sleep you get. And while that's important, a new study also shows that consistency is also important. People who get irregular sleep perform worse in tests and suffer physically. Today, learn what ""regular sleep"" means and what its benefits are. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/630 -- Learning English shou...

SBF: Villain or a careless founder in over his head? | Learn English expression 'in tatters'

November 30, 2023 12:00 - 21 minutes - 50.3 MB

" The trial of Sam Bankman-Fried lasted over a month. During that time, the prosecution called several witnesses that detailed fraud against customers and lenders of Bankman-Fried's businesses. But the defense argued that this was a terrible mistake, but not a fraud. The jury found him guilty. After a monthlong trial, jurors needed just five hours to decide. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript,...

The sad story of Sam Bankman-Fried | Learn English phrasal verb 'pay off'

November 27, 2023 12:00 - 21 minutes - 49.2 MB

" After making a fortune trading cryptocurrencies, Sam Bankman-Fried started an exchange called FTX. That, he promised, would be the safest place to trade crypto assets. But just a few years after he started it, it all collapsed. Here is part one of the story. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/628 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our l...

Celine Dion is keeping New Zealanders up all night | Learn English expression 'rig together'

November 23, 2023 12:00 - 20 minutes - 47.3 MB

" A subculture of Pasifika people in New Zealand has a strange tradition: playing music through megaphones and loudspeakers. They try to play music as loud and as clearly as possible. And because their speakers don't produce bass, they play songs from artists like Celine Dion. Not everyone in this town is happy about it. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish...

Why are movies getting longer? | Learn English expression 'upper hand'

November 20, 2023 12:00 - 20 minutes - 48.1 MB

" Oppenheimer. Killers of the Flower Moon. Babylon. What do they have in common? They're all box office hits. And they're all over three hours long. Consumers, producers, and theaters all like short movies. But hit movies are getting longer. Today, we take a look at why. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/626 -- Learning English should be fun! That’...

The Twinkie refuses to die | Learn English expression 'try your hand at'

November 16, 2023 12:00 - 19 minutes - 45.8 MB

" The Twinkie is a submarine-shaped yellow cake with a vanilla filling. Invented in 1930, it became one of America's favorite indulgences. After losing money for years, its parent company shut down and stopped making Twinkies. But then, a group of investors revived the classic cake--and now the Twinkie is stronger than ever. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plaineng...

Super-shoes help propel runners to marathon records | Learn English phrasal verb 'lace up'

November 13, 2023 12:00 - 21 minutes - 49.7 MB

" Kelvin Kiptum and Tigst Assefa, respectively, set records for the men’s and women’s marathon this year. But Nike and adidas are also winners. The runners were wearing a new generation of their shoes, aimed at helping marathoners go faster. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/624 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about cu...

American football is smitten with Taylor Swift | Learn English expression 'lean into'

November 09, 2023 12:00 - 20 minutes - 47.6 MB

" Just when you thought nothing could make American football more popular, Taylor Swift comes onto the scene. She is reportedly dating a football star, Travis Kelce of the Kansas City Chiefs. The union brings together separate worlds of fandom, as Swifties tune in to football games for the first time. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/623 -- Learni...

Biden's uphill battle for re-election | Learn English expression 'play into someone's hands'

November 06, 2023 12:00 - 19 minutes - 44.9 MB

" About a year from now, Americans will go to the polls--and they're likely to get a rematch between sitting President Joe Biden and his immediate predecessor, Donald Trump. Though Biden won last time, he faces some serious challenges in his re-election effort. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/622 -- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our ...

Fernando Botero, Colombia’s artist of over-sized subjects | Learn English expression 'call attention to'

November 02, 2023 11:00 - 20 minutes - 47.8 MB

" Fernando Botero was Colombia's most famous artist--and his whimsical, rotund figures are famous around the world. By painting everything in exaggerated dimensions, he called attention to features and expressions. ""What I paint is volume,"" he said, in a nod to Italian and Greek artistic tradition. Botero died in September at age 91. -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https...

The Great Paris Bedbug Battle of 2023 | Learn English phrasal verb 'creep out'

October 30, 2023 11:00 - 19 minutes - 43.7 MB

" A bedbug infestation is spreading across Paris, even affecting the Métro, trains, hospitals and schools--according to social media. But many reported cases turn out not to be bedbugs at all. So what should a Parisian (or a traveler) think, as the Summer Olympics draw near? -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/620 -- Learning English should be fun! T...

Surge pricing comes to the pub | Learn English phrasal verb 'cut short'

October 26, 2023 11:00 - 21 minutes - 49.6 MB

" ""Dynamic pricing"": it's when businesses constantly change the price of a product, based on the current demand. We're used to it when booking airline tickets, hotel rooms, or even Uber rides. But now an upscale chain of pubs in London will increase the price of a pint of beer by 20p, or 5%, when there's a surge of customers. Is that fair? -- At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world. -- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at:...

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