Emma sat in her living room with her friends Clara, Jack, and Luca. A map of the world was spread out on the table, surrounded by notebooks, a laptop, and a pile of travel brochures. The air buzzed with excitement as they shared their travel dreams.

“I’ve always wanted to visit Japan,” Jack said, tapping on the small island nation on the map. “The culture, the food, the technology—it’s so fascinating!”

Clara nodded, her eyes sparkling. “I’d love to see the Northern Lights. Imagine standing under the stars, watching the sky come alive with colors. Norway would be incredible.”

“What about a tropical paradise?” Luca suggested, holding up his phone to show a picture of the Maldives. “Crystal-clear water, white sand beaches, and palm trees. It looks like heaven on Earth.”

Emma smiled, listening to their ideas. “I think I’d like to visit South America,” she said thoughtfully. “Learning Spanish, exploring the Amazon, and seeing Machu Picchu—it’s been on my bucket list forever.”

Their conversation shifted to practicalities. Clara pointed out, “We’ll need to know basic phrases wherever we go. In Japan, we should learn how to say ‘Can I have the menu?’ or ‘Where is the train station?’”

Luca added, “And we’ll need to book tickets and make reservations. It’ll be easier if we prepare ahead of time.” As they talked, the idea of traveling together took shape. “Why don’t we plan a trip that combines all of our interests?” Clara suggested.
Emma nodded. “Let’s start small—maybe a weeklong adventure. We can visit two places and see how it goes.” Excitement grew as they began researching flights, hotels, and activities. Luca took notes on transportation options, while Clara compiled a list of phrases they’d need in airports and restaurants.

By the end of the evening, their plan was coming together. The room buzzed with anticipation as Clara declared, “This is going to be the trip of a lifetime.” Everyone cheered, already imagining the incredible experiences that awaited them.


Chapter 15 - Around the World

The summer sun streamed through the dusty windows of the old attic, where Emma found herself on a quiet afternoon. She had always been curious about this room, rarely visited and filled with forgotten relics of the past.
The air was thick with the scent of aged wood and yellowed paper. Boxes, trunks, and old furniture were scattered around, each piece carrying untold stories.
Emma’s attention was drawn to a small wooden chest with intricate carvings. She knelt before it and gently opened the lid. Inside, she found letters tied together with a faded ribbon and a leather-bound journal. The pages were fragile, but curiosity compelled her to open them.
The journal belonged to a woman named Isabella, and as Emma skimmed through the first few pages, she realized it was a record of a love story. Isabella wrote about meeting a man named Jonathan during a summer festival in the 1940s. Their love blossomed quickly but was fraught with obstacles, including disapproving families and a sudden misunderstanding that drove them apart.
Among the letters, Emma found one addressed to Jonathan but never sent. The ink was smudged, and the words carried a weight of longing and regret. “If only you knew the truth,” it read. “I wanted to explain, but fear silenced me.”
Emma felt a pang of emotion as she held the letter. What was the truth Isabella never shared? And why had this letter remained unsent?
As the afternoon wore on, Emma read more, piecing together fragments of their story. It was as though the attic had become a time capsule, preserving the echoes of Isabella and Jonathan’s forbidden love. Emma felt an inexplicable pull to uncover the full story, as though it were her duty to give these words the voice they had been denied.
With trembling hands, she carefully packed the letters and journal into a bag. "This story isn’t over," she thought. "And maybe, through understanding their past, I’ll learn something about myself."

Suspended Words

A flashlight emits a steady beam of light. So what's the flash part of that word about? The earliest flashlights lit up only briefly before the batteries gave out. Also, if you're a Nervous Nellie, you're skittish and indecisive--both characteristics of an American politician who earned that nickname in the 1920s. And, rhinestone: The name of this sparkly fake gem has a history that involves a famous river in Europe. Plus, the many names for toilet paper rolls, pull a seam, a puzzle all about the word it, a blessing and a curse, hitten vs. hit, idea vs. ideal, shaving yak hair vs. shaving gnat hair, Daylo, knocking something galley-west, the evolving meaning of dab, and the role of cultural context in learning languages. All of which you should listen to right smack now. http://waywordradio.org

Smack Dab (Full Episode)

To grok something means "to understand it completely." The word grok comes from a language spoken on the planet Mars -- well, at least according to the science fiction writer who coined the term! Also, we know the meaning of the word trauma, but is there a word that denotes "the opposite of trauma"? Plus, if someone describes something as "wicked good," they mean it's extremely good, especially if they're from New England. All that, plus cut to the chase, super-short town names,  a puzzle that involves lopping off letters, an Ethiopian proverb, hell strip vs. devil strip, words from the Norn language, corny, This wicked good show's as cool as 4-55 air conditioning! http://waywordradio.org

Wicked Good (Full Episode)

So many books and so little time--it's a challenge to choose what to read next! It helps to remember that so-called "reading mortality" is a fact of life--you'll never get to them all, but you can curate your own to-read list that speaks specifically to you. Plus, the sneaky story behind the expression slip someone a mickey, and a new word for walking your dog: Let's go on a sniffari! And: favorite first lines of books, Bohemian, a brain teaser about song titles, how to pronounce aioli, jo-jo potatoes, a cool million, and more. http://waywordradio.org

A Cool Million (Full Episode)

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A Dangerous Discovery | English Speaking Practice | Daily Lessons | Learn English

A baby's first word is often a cherished milestone, but some cultures pay more attention to other firsts, like a baby's first laugh. A fascinating new book by a linguist examines language at the beginning and the end of life. Plus, the expression "Murphy's Law" reflects the idea that "anything that can go wrong will go wrong. But is this term a slur against the Irish? And an old word for new life: the verb to whicken involves daylight hours growing longer in springtime. Also, breard, honour bright and honour bright, the long history of groceries, a brain teaser about Pig Latin, sea painter, give someone down the road, give someone down the banks, a different way to write AI, plurale tantem, and how to pronounce rhetoric. http://waywordradio.org

Honor Bright (Full Episode)

So you think you can spell? Youngsters in modern spelling bees are expected to memorize a wide range of words, from chemical processes to names of rare animals. Also: In many languages, the word for "mother" begins with the letter M—but not in all of them. And where are you from, eh? If you phrase a question that way, it's pretty clear where YOU'RE from. Plus, saltigrade and tardigrade, bite the dust and buy the farm, Hoofddorp, a family euphemism, pilkunviilaaja, a letter-lopping brain teaser, and sacar la garra. http://waywordradio.org

The Other Shoe (Full Episode)

Total listening time: under 15 minutes - perfect for daily learning in small, manageable steps. Level A2-C1.

A1 - A2 Introduction (Beginner English): Episode 1 - How Breathing Helps You Learn English
In this first episode, you will learn how your breathing can help you feel calm. When you feel calm, it is easier to learn English.

First, I speak in easy English for A1-A2 learners. After that, I speak more for higher levels. You can listen to the first part and stop, or listen to all the episode to practise your listening.

A small, simple way to help you feel good and ready to learn.

B1-C1 Introduction (More Advanced English): Episode 1 - How Mindfulness and Breathing Help You Learn English
In this first episode of MindfulFluency, we explore how breathing and mindfulness can help you stay calm, focused, and ready to learn.

When we feel stressed, our brain makes it harder to understand and remember English. When we feel calm, we learn better.

The first few minutes are for A1-A2 learners. After that, I use B1 level English and gradually make it more advanced, up to C1 level, to help you practise your listening.

A simple, science-based way to help your confidence and your English fluency grow.

FREE transcript and vocab sheet: https://tinyurl.com/yxdrredy

Episode 1 - Breathe. Learn. Speak. - Why Mindfulness Helps Your English

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Why Learn With Me - Audio Only

A Way with Words is a fun and funny public radio program about language examined through history, culture, and family. Its mission is to change the way you think about language. The program is heard by broadcast and podcast across the United States and around the world by more than a quarter-million listeners each week. It's produced by Wayword, Inc., a nonprofit whose mission is to promote lifelong learning, better human communication, and the value of a thing well-said or well-written. Call or write with your language questions at any time: (877) 929-9673 (toll-free in the US and Canada) or just email us: words@waywordradio.org.

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Milena is an online English coach and is passionate about simplifying English learning for learners who struggle to make conversation. She breaks it down in an easy way for you so you can learn how to make fluent conversations in English without constantly worrying if you're making mistakes.

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New tracks tagged #learn English