There's no reason to buy English course level 2 from Speak English with Georgiana. It's terrible and she won't refund my payment against the terms.

Transcript: Today, we will talk about&nbsp;how to negotiate when buying something while traveling. With a mini-story, you can improve your fluency by engaging in a conversation. It's like talking to another person in English. Hi there! I'm Georgiana, your English teacher. Thanks for joining me for a new episode. My mission is to help you speak English fluently with no grammar and no textbooks. And, if you want to help me, it's very simple, just&nbsp;share the podcast with your friends. That would mean a lot. Thanks! Before we start, get the transcript on my website:  To get the most out of the podcast and improve your fluency, I strongly suggest listening to each episode several times, if possible, on different days to better understand the material. Okay! Let's start! When you travel to a foreign country, knowing how to negotiate the price when shopping is essential. Here are some tips to help you get the best deal: 1.&nbsp;Do your research&nbsp; Before you start bargaining, do your research. If haggling is a custom in the country you're visiting, look up the item you want to buy to know what a good deal is. 2.&nbsp;Start low and work your way up&nbsp;- Make an offer lower than what you're willing to pay, then work your way up to a price you're both comfortable with.&nbsp; This strategy may help you to get the best possible deal, as the seller may be more likely to negotiate with you if you start low. 3.&nbsp;Make a counteroffer&nbsp; Making a counteroffer means making a different offer than the one you initially presented. 4.&nbsp;Know when to walk away&nbsp;- Don't feel pressured to buy something if it's more than you are willing to pay.  5.&nbsp;Pay cash&nbsp;- To get the greatest discount, it's best to pay cash. &nbsp; Get the full transcript on my website:

#247 How to Negotiate in English When Traveling?

Are you interested in becoming a&nbsp;permanent resident&nbsp;of the U.S.? Today I will discuss&nbsp;how to obtain a Permanent Resident Card, commonly called a&nbsp;green card.&nbsp;This&nbsp;document&nbsp;allows you to&nbsp;live and work in the U.S. indefinitely. And with a mini-story, you will practice your speaking skills. Hi there! I'm Georgiana, your English teacher. Thanks for joining me for a new episode. My mission is to help you speak English fluently with no grammar and no textbooks. And, if you want to help me, it's very simple, just&nbsp;share&nbsp;the podcast with your friends. That would mean a lot. Thanks! Before we begin, I suggest you get the transcript from my website.  Okay! Let’s start! A "green card" is a plastic card with the individual's biographic information, photo, fingerprint, and expiration date issued by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The card once called the "green card" has kept its nickname, even though it is now yellowish and has a barcode on the back. The Permanent Resident Card is&nbsp;valid for ten years and must be renewed. However, the cardholder's status as a "permanent resident" remains valid unless the status is abandoned or revoked by the U.S. government. Becoming a permanent resident gives you the right to live in the U.S. permanently, work in any legal job you are qualified for, be protected by all U.S., state, and local laws, and vote in local elections that don't require U.S. citizenship. There are several other ways of obtaining it, but the most common way to get the Permanent Resident Card is through&nbsp;family sponsorship. If you have a U.S. citizen relative, they can submit a petition to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) on your behalf. The petition must be accepted before you can apply for the card. Another common way to get a green card is through&nbsp;a job offer. An American employer can file a petition to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in your favor if they can prove that no other qualified American workers can fulfill the role and that you are the best fit for the job. As you can see, obtaining a green card can be a long and complex process. That’s why it’s important to consult an&nbsp;immigration lawyer to understand the steps and see if you are eligible. With the proper guidance, you can make your dream of living and working in the U.S. a reality. &nbsp; Get the full text on my website:

#248 Obtaining a Green Card: Becoming a U.S. Permanent Resident

Do you get nervous when you need to speak English over Zoom? Don't worry because in this episode you'll discover how to engage in a business meeting over Zoom. In the second part of this episode, you’ll learn grammar in context with a point-of-view story. Okay! Let’s start! I'm not sure if you're good with technology, but as you know, over the past few years, many companies have adopted Zoom for work purposes. Therefore, you're probably already familiar with this app. And you may have noticed that whenever we connect to Zoom, technical problems tend to arise. Sometimes it's you, and other times a team member. However, today, let's focus on some useful phrases that can make our work-related Zoom conversations more effective. To help you feel more confident and prepared, I have put together an example conversation on Zoom. Participants: John (the host), Mary, Sarah, and Mark. John: Good morning, everyone. Can you hear and see me okay? Mary: Yes, John, we can hear and see you clearly. John: Great! Then let's get started. So, the first point on our agenda is the new marketing campaign. Sarah, would you like to start? Sarah:&nbsp;Sure, John.&nbsp;I want to add something before we begin, though. We should also discuss our target audience and their preferences. John: That's a good point, Sarah. Let's add that to our discussion. Mary: Sorry, Sarah, I didn't catch that. Could you repeat what you just said? Sarah: Of course, Mary. I mentioned that we should also discuss our target audience and their preferences. Mary: Thanks, Sarah. John:&nbsp;Alright,&nbsp;let's move on to the next point. Mark, please update us on the sales figures. Mark: Sure, John. Our sales figures have been improving steadily, but we need to focus on our marketing strategies to reach our targets. John: That's clear, Mark. Thanks for the update. Let's discuss the next point on our agenda. Mary, please summarize the progress on the new project. Mary: Sure, John. To sum up, we have completed the initial design phase and are now moving onto the development stage. John: Great work, Mary. Thank you. Does anyone have any questions or comments before we wrap up? (Everyone remains silent.) John: Okay, I’ll see you next week then! Bye! Bye! Mary: Thank you, John. See you next week! Mark: See you soon! Sarah: Bye! Bye! (Zoom call ends) &nbsp; Get the full transcript on my website:

#249 Zoom Business Meetings in English

Do you need help with&nbsp;technical problems during Zoom&nbsp;calls? In this episode, we'll cover&nbsp;common tech problems in Zoom meetings&nbsp;and how to handle them using&nbsp;helpful phrases. And you'll practice your&nbsp;speaking with a fun mini-story. Get the transcript on my website:  Zoom&nbsp;has become a crucial tool for remote work and communication. But, as you may have experienced,&nbsp;technical problems&nbsp;can pop up during a&nbsp;Zoom call. As an English learner, it's important to feel comfortable using the app and handling any problems that may come up. Don't worry if you're not a tech expert.&nbsp;Learning the basics of Zoom&nbsp;will help you communicate better with your coworkers and clients. It's a good idea to&nbsp;practice using Zoom's simple features, like sharing your screen, using the chat, and muting your microphone. These features can make your&nbsp;Zoom meetings run more smoothly. To help you tackle these issues, I've prepared an&nbsp;example conversation on Zoom&nbsp;addressing common technical problems. Participants: John from the United States; Maria from Brazil, and Yuna from South Korea John: Hello, everyone. Can you hear me clearly? Maria: Yes, I can hear you, John.&nbsp; Yuna:&nbsp;Sorry, I'm having trouble hearing you.&nbsp;I may have a problem with the connection. John: No problem, Yuna. Can you check your internet connection or try refreshing your browser? Yuna: Sorry to interrupt, but my&nbsp;screen&nbsp;is blank. Is anyone else having this issue? Maria: No, my screen is working fine. John: Yuna, can you try exiting and then rejoining the meeting? Yuna: Okay, let me try that. Maria: John,&nbsp;I think you're frozen. I mean, your&nbsp;screen is frozen. Can you hear me?&nbsp; John: Oh, sorry about that, Maria. I need to figure out what's going on. Let me turn off my camera and then turn it back on. Maria: I'm also having some issues.&nbsp;The image and sound are out of sync on my end. Yuna: I agree, Maria; I noticed the same thing. John: Hmm, that's strange. Let me check my internet connection to see if that's the issue.&nbsp; Maria:&nbsp;You're breaking up a little&nbsp;bit, Yuna. Can you repeat what you just said? Yuna: Sorry about that. I said we needed to discuss the marketing strategy for the new product launch. Maria:&nbsp;There's an echo on the line. Can someone please mute themselves if they're not speaking? John: That's a good point, Maria.&nbsp;I am having trouble hearing you, Yuna.&nbsp;I think you're on mute.&nbsp; Yuna: Oh, sorry about that.&nbsp;Can you hear me now? John: Yes, we can hear you now, Yuna. Let's continue with the meeting. &nbsp; Get the transcript on my website:

#251 Technical problems on Zoom

Today, we'll talk about words and phrases that can help you express the amount or quantity of something&nbsp;and when to use them effectively. Get the text on my website:  Let's start by discussing&nbsp;small quantities. If you only have a little bit of something, you might say "a few" or "some." A few means three to five of something, while some are a bit more vague and can mean any small amount. For example, if you're discussing job opportunities, you might say: I've applied for a few positions, but I haven't heard back from any of them yet. If you're talking about your progress in learning English, you could say: Even though I've been learning English for quite some time, I still face difficulties in speaking fluently. When you have&nbsp;a bit more of something but not a lot, you could say "several." Several usually means more than three but less than ten. For example, if you're talking about books you bought from a bookstore, you could say: She bought several books from the store, including a mystery novel and a travel guide. Or maybe you need a "handful" or a "bunch" of something. A&nbsp;handful&nbsp;represents the amount that can be held in your hand, while a bunch refers to a group of things that are tied or held together. For example, if you're at the beach collecting seashells, you could say: I picked up a handful of shells at the beach. If you're asking for a snack from a bag of chips, you might say: Can you pass me the bag? I just want a small bunch. Ok, let's continue! If you have a collection of items, you could say "a group" or "a cluster." A group typically refers to a small number of things, while a cluster denotes a small group of things that are close together. For example, if you're discussing a meeting you attended with indecisive people, you could say: I attended a meeting with a group of people who struggle to make decisions, but we couldn't come to an agreement on what to discuss. Get the text on my website:

#252 Words and Phrases to Describe Small Quantities in English

Today, we will keep exploring and learning more about expressing&nbsp;larger amounts. When we want to talk about more significant quantities, we can use different words and expressions. These terms can indicate having more of something or a significant amount. When referring to small amounts, we use words like: "a little" or "a few." And when it comes to large quantities we can use words like "a lot," "many," or "plenty." Let's practice with a few examples. For example, instead of saying, "I have&nbsp;a few&nbsp;books," you can say:&nbsp; I have&nbsp;a lot&nbsp;of books. I have&nbsp;many&nbsp;books. Let's imagine we want to express&nbsp;a large quantity without specifying an exact number.&nbsp; Here, we can use words like "numerous," "countless," or "a great number of." These terms indicate a large quantity, even if an exact number is not specified. For example, instead of saying, "There are&nbsp;a few&nbsp;birds in the sky," you can say: There are&nbsp;numerous&nbsp;birds in the sky.&nbsp; There are&nbsp;countless&nbsp;birds in the sky. There are&nbsp;a great number of&nbsp;birds in the sky. Great! Let's continue! "If you have&nbsp;a lot of something, you might use the word 'multiple.' For example, if you're discussing an online shopping order, you might say:&nbsp; I ordered multiple items on Amazon, but they all arrived separately. (It's like having a relationship with a delivery driver who just can't commit.) If you're sharing a funny story about a doctor's visit, you could say:&nbsp; According to my doctor, I have multiple personalities. Now, I can finally put the blame on someone else for my mistakes! Ok! Let's continue!&nbsp; When we want to highlight a very large amount, we can use phrases like "a huge amount of," "a significant number of," or "a vast quantity of."&nbsp; So, you can say:&nbsp; The company invested&nbsp;a huge amount of&nbsp;money in research and development to create a groundbreaking new product. According to a recent survey, a significant number of students prefer learning through the internet. The library had a vast quantity of books, with rows upon rows of shelves filled from top to bottom. If you have more than you need of something, you could use words like 'plenty,' 'lavish,' 'overflowing,' 'teeming,' 'replete,' 'brimming,' 'packed,' or 'jam-packed.' 'Plenty' means more than enough. For example:&nbsp; There was&nbsp;plenty of food at the picnic. There were sandwiches, fruits, cookies, and more. Read the transcript on my website:

#253 Words and Phrases to Describe Large Quantities in English

Hey everyone, welcome back to another episode of the podcast. I'm Georgiana, your English teacher, and my mission is to help you speak English fluently.&nbsp; And if you want to help me, share the podcast. That would mean a lot. Thanks. &nbsp; Ok! We'll start with a brief conversation that includes the top 10 business expressions. And to make learning more fun, I've taken inspiration from '' TV show. And you'll learn grammar in context with a point of view story. &nbsp; Before you start listening, make sure to get the transcript on my website:&nbsp; It's free! Let's get started! &nbsp; Jack walked into the office and said... &nbsp; Jack: "Wow, this place looks familiar. It's like I'm in 'The Office' TV show." Pam: "Yeah, Jack, we get that a lot. We like to&nbsp;think outside the box&nbsp;here." Jim: "You're right, Pam! We're always&nbsp;brainstorming&nbsp;new ideas to stay ahead of the competition." Jack: "That's great to hear. I'm ready to&nbsp;get the ball rolling&nbsp;and&nbsp;take it to the next level." Pam: "Good to hear. But make sure to&nbsp;touch base&nbsp;with your boss consistently. It's important to stay&nbsp;in the loop&nbsp;and keep him updated on your progress. Jack: "Definitely. I want to make sure we're all&nbsp;on the same page&nbsp;following&nbsp;best practices for team collaboration." Michael: "And we need people like you to keep an eye on the details." Jack: "Thanks for the advice.&nbsp;At the end of the day, it's all about producing high-quality work and making a difference." Pam: "Absolutely. This may feel like a TV set, but it's a real community of people. Welcome aboard!" Let's listen to the used expressions: #1 "Thinking outside the box" - This phrase means to think creatively or in a non-traditional way. #2 "In the loop" - This means to be informed or included in a particular situation or discussion. #3 "Get the ball rolling" - This phrase means to start a process or get something started. #4 "At the end of the day" - This phrase summarizes or emphasizes a point. #5 "Brainstorm" means generating ideas or solutions through group discussions or sessions. #6 "Touch base" means making contact or following up with someone. #7 "Get on the same page" - This phrase means to make sure everyone understands and agrees on a particular plan or idea. #8 "Keep an eye on" means monitoring or watching closely. #9 "Take it to the next level" - This phrase means improving or advancing to the next stage. #10 "Best practice" - An officially accepted and detailed method or set of methods for use in a specific business or industry. Get the transcript here:

254 Business Expressions - The Office TV show

Georgiana: Today, we will discuss the meaning of the phrase "butter up"... Student: "How interesting, Georgiana! You know I am on a diet, but this morning I had some toast with butter, and let me tell you, it was delicious..." Georgiana: Sorry to interrupt, but the expression "butter up" has nothing to do with food. :) Let me explain it to you. Hey everyone, welcome back to another episode of the podcast. I'm Georgiana, your English teacher, and my mission is to help you speak English fluently.&nbsp; And if you want to help me,&nbsp;share the podcast. That would mean a lot. Thanks. Before you start listening to the episode, make sure to get the transcript on my website:&nbsp; It's free! Great! Let's start! Let's take a closer look at the expression "butter up" and how it is commonly used. When someone tries hard to please others to gain their favor or personal benefits in the workplace, it's known as 'buttering up.'"&nbsp; This behavior can be observed in various professional settings such as offices, schools, and even politics, where individuals go to great lengths to please their superiors or influential colleagues. A classic example of 'buttering up' is an employee who frequently praises their boss, hoping to gain favor or secure a promotion. Another example is a student who compliments their teacher, aiming to receive better grades or special privileges. So, how is "buttering up" viewed in Western society? Opinions can differ. On one hand, some people consider it a negative behavior, often associated with insincerity or manipulation. On the other hand, in certain situations like the business world, some people see it as a useful social skill. They believe that being good at giving compliments and networking can help you progress in your career or create new opportunities. Whether "buttering up" is accepted or not depends on the particular workplace culture and what individuals think. Here are some other expressions that are similar to "buttering up": #1&nbsp;Sucking up to someone:&nbsp;Excessively praising or pleasing someone, especially someone in authority, to gain favor. #2&nbsp;Kissing up&nbsp;or&nbsp;Kissing someone's boots:&nbsp;Acting overly flattering toward someone in authority. #3&nbsp;Playing up to someone: Behaving in a way intended to please or show respect to someone. #4&nbsp;Apple-polishing:&nbsp;Currying favor through flattery or servile behavior. #5&nbsp;Flattering: Complimenting someone excessively to win their favor or approval. #6&nbsp;Brown-nosing: Similar to "sucking up," it involves ingratiating oneself to gain favor, often through excessive praise or flattery. &nbsp;#7&nbsp;Playing the game:&nbsp;Engaging in strategic behavior or actions to gain advantages or achieve success, often involving flattery or pleasing others. #8&nbsp;Bending over backward:&nbsp;Going to great lengths or making excessive efforts to please or accommodate someone. Now, what are your thoughts? Do you believe "buttering up" can be useful? Are you comfortable engaging in such behavior or receiving it from others? I'm not a big fan of it, but I won't deny that receiving a compliment can feel good from time to time. :) Get the transcript on my website:

255 Phrasal Verb - To Butter Up

The pessimist says, 'the glass is half empty.' The optimist says, 'The glass is half full,' and the journalist says, 'You won't believe what's in the glass!' Hi! I'm Georgiana, and I'm glad you're here with me for a new podcast episode.&nbsp; Today, we will discuss the&nbsp;different types of journalism we can find in the media. Before you start listening to the episode, make sure to get the transcript on my website:&nbsp; It's free! Are you ready? Let's start with the first one: The news News is a crucial and representative category of informative journalism. It covers recent and intriguing political, sports, cultural, and social events. Objectivity&nbsp;is a vital but often lacking aspect of news. Ideally, a news story should be impartial and unbiased, but this isn't always true. Brevity is another key aspect of news. A news story should be concise and include only essential data. It should only focus on giving information about the event. A typical news story consists of several parts:  Firstly, we have&nbsp;the headline.&nbsp;It has a larger font and expresses the main idea of the news story. It is a short sentence. For example,  "Georgiana launches a new course." That would be a good headline.  Moving on to the&nbsp;lead, it is a kind of summary where the fundamentals of the news story are discussed. It serves as a summary introducing the main aspects of the news story, answering essential questions like what, how, who, where, when, and why. Lastly, we have&nbsp;the body&nbsp;of the news story, where further details and information are provided beyond what's covered in the headline and lead.  Let's uncover another element of journalism: The report A&nbsp;report&nbsp;is a more detailed news story that provides various data, background information, and opinions from those involved. Unlike news stories, reports can include the writer's opinion, making them somewhat subjective. Traditionally, reporters often went to the story's scene and prepared reports that helped readers understand what was happening. However, in today's technologically-driven world, this practice isn't always followed. Some reports are created from the newsroom, relying heavily on internet research. While it reduces costs, it can compromise the report's quality since journalists aren't physically present at the events. I really like this expression: "You have to hit the streets." It emphasizes the importance of journalists leaving the newsroom, immersing themselves in events, conducting interviews, observing firsthand, and gathering relevant information. Get the transcript on my website:

#257 Different Types of Journalism

&nbsp; This time, I'll share more types of writing in journalism. In an earlier episode, I talked about different types of newswriting, such as news, report, and interviews. And with a fun mini-story you will practice your English speaking. We will explore opinion genres, where writing is done from a subjective perspective. This perspective can be the author's or the media's opinion.  Let's see what they are.  #1 Editorial Imagine a newspaper reporting on an event and publishing various news articles, reports, and maybe interviews. This newspaper may publish an "editorial," which expresses the newspaper's opinion or position on the topic covered in the news. It usually reflects the media's ideological stance. An editorial generally doesn't mention the author and is not too long. Typically, it can be found on the first few pages. #2 Opinion Article An opinion article is a text that presents the viewpoint of a specific person, like a journalist, politician, or public figure. These articles don't necessarily align with the media's editorial stance. Ideally, diverse media outlets would have different opinion articles, enriching the content and allowing readers to compare different perspectives.  #3 Column Yes, a column supports buildings, but in journalism, columns are something different, of course :) They are similar to opinion articles but are usually shorter. Additionally, these have specific authors who write regularly, and usually focuses on topics like politics, sports, or lifestyle. The term "column" comes from arranging narrow vertical sections in old newspapers to save space on printed pages. #4 Letter to the Editor This is a common section in many newspapers and magazines where readers can send letters with their opinions, comments, and suggestions about the published articles and topics. The letter to the editor is a way for people to share their thoughts with the newspaper's editors. Many times, these letters are written about a specific article in the newspaper or a topic that is currently important to the reader. I think this practice is becoming less popular because social media has changed how readers share their opinions on news and current topics. Get the transcript on my website:

#258 Different types of journalism part2

Hi, everyone! Thanks for joining me for a new episode. I'm Georgiana, your English teacher. And I'm here to help you speak English fluently. Today, let's explore the incredible American experiences&nbsp;you can only find&nbsp;in the USA! And with a fun mini-story, you will improve your English fluency. It's almost like having a conversation with someone in English. Before we start, get the transcript on my website:  Ok, let's get started! The&nbsp;United States&nbsp;is known for its diverse culture, innovation, and unique things to do. In this episode, we'll discover&nbsp;American experiences&nbsp;exclusive to this country. The breathtaking&nbsp;national parks. The&nbsp;USA&nbsp;is home to stunning natural wonders like the&nbsp;Grand Canyon&nbsp;and&nbsp;Yellowstone. These parks offer magnificent beauty and outdoor adventures that you can only find in the&nbsp;USA. You will have another special experience when you visit the well-known Las Vegas Strip. It's filled with glamour and excitement, featuring iconic hotels, casinos, and incredible shows. Las Vegas&nbsp;combines luxury and entertainment in a way that is uniquely&nbsp;American. Let's not forget about&nbsp;Broadway shows. Broadway&nbsp;is considered the heart of live theater, and the&nbsp;USA&nbsp;is the home of this artistic treasure. With amazing productions and talented performers,&nbsp;Broadway&nbsp;offers an unforgettable theater experience that attracts people worldwide. Moving on to American music, the USA is recognized for being the origin of diverse musical styles.&nbsp;American&nbsp;music has had a significant impact, from jazz and blues to rock and hip-hop. Therefore, seeing live performances in the&nbsp;US&nbsp;is a real treat for music lovers. Next, we have&nbsp;American sports culture. Sports play a big role in&nbsp;American&nbsp;culture, whether attending a baseball game, experiencing the excitement of a basketball match, or feeling the community spirit of a college football game. Finally, let's talk about the iconic&nbsp;landmarks. The US is filled with many remarkable landmarks that represent&nbsp;American&nbsp;heritage and pride. From the&nbsp;Statue of Liberty&nbsp;in&nbsp;New York&nbsp;to the&nbsp;Golden Gate Bridge&nbsp;in&nbsp;San Francisco, these landmarks tell the story of the&nbsp;United States'&nbsp;rich history and accomplishments. Get the transcript on my website:

#259 Discovering Unique American Adventures

Hi, I am Georgiana, founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. And I've been helping you speak English since 2011. 

My mission is to help you speak English fluently.

I help people develop their fluency in English using effective and proven techniques, such as mini-story and point-of-view techniques. I am also the creator of several programs used by thousands of students and host The Speak English Podcast, with millions of downloads worldwide.

Why is this podcast so different from any other programs?

With the Speak English Now Podcast:
- you'll master English by listening and speaking without memorizing grammar rules. 

- You will acquire knowledge about the English culture and the language itself. 

- And most importantly, you'll discover valuable tips and tricks on how to speak English fluently.

If there's something you can't understand, don't worry about it! Listen to each episode as many times as you need. You can read the TEXT at SpeakEnglishPodcast.com 

Take advantage of all of my Speak English Now Podcast episodes. Every week there's a new episode.

Start practicing your English listening and speaking skills with the Speak English Now podcast.

#249 Zoom Business Meetings in English

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