Thank you so much for tuning in to Emma's ESL English for three years and 246 episodes! I really appreciate all your time, clicks and the occasional daring comment.
Unfortunately I have run out of time. I need to evolve my business, and this just doesn't fit in anymore, literally, not enough hours in the day. I will continue to teach English as part of my business, and you're very welcome to take English classes with me.
In addition, I'm hoping to incorporate my cultural knowledge into the business, so hopefully working with people in international teams or working with colleagues from other countries and helping them work more effectively.
If you would like to stay in touch feel free to find me on:
The podcast will stay live on Spotify and Apple and all the other places, and for now these videos will stay here on YouTube.
Thank you so much for being so supportive while I learned how to do podcasts, how to speak to the camera, how to edit videos, how to understand YouTube, how to write scripts and plan episodes, how to use Canva to make nice pictures.
I have learned so many things through doing this podcast. (Those that have seen the first episodes know how much I've learned!😳) Things that I'm now using for the next stage of my business. I have two areas of business I'm working on. The first is already up and running.
And I am now developing the second part which I'm hoping will be a focus on culture with some coaching, peer-to-peer support and maybe courses, based in my years of teaching English and cultural understanding, helping people connect more effectively across cultures.
Thank you so much for being here for this journey. I hope to see you again in the future. Best wishes, Emma
📚 In this special episode of Emma’s ESL English, we’re celebrating the life and legacy of beloved British writer and illustrator Beatrix Potter—whose birthday was just yesterday!Join me in the garden (two garden's! My Grandma's and mine) as we explore:- Who Beatrix Potter was and why she’s one of my favorite British women- How she created The Tale of Peter Rabbit and revolutionized children’s books- Her love for the Lake District and lasting impact on nature conservation🌿 Plus: I’ll be reading a short passage from Peter Rabbit—perfect for English learners who want to hear natural language from a real British classic.🎥 If you think you'd like to watch the movie, Miss Potter, check out the trailer here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PqF25DJk-fo💬 Have you read Beatrix Potter’s books before? What’s your favorite character or memory? Let me know in the comments!📖 If you want to read the full story, check out your local library or bookstore—it’s a short and charming read!#BeatrixPotter, #PeterRabbit, #LearnEnglish, #ESLListening, #EnglishStories, #LakeDistrict, #BritishAuthors, #EmmaESLEnglish
🌼 Welcome back to Emma’s ESL English, still recording in my grandma’s garden—complete with sunshine, thunderbugs, and roses.Today we’re talking about metasyntactic variables—a fancy way of saying “words we use when we forget the word!” These are common in English, used by native speakers every day, and they’re surprisingly useful for language learners too.In this video, you’ll learn:- Popular “filler” words like thingy, whatchamacallit, doohickey, and more- How native speakers deal with memory blanks in everyday conversation- Why it’s OK to make up words when you’re stuck (and how people will still understand you)🗨️ Tell me in the comments: What do YOU say when you forget a word in your language? Share your favourite filler words and let’s compare across cultures.💬 Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and share—especially if this helped make English feel a bit easier.#LearnEnglish, #ESLFun, #EnglishTips, #Whatchamacallit, #RealEnglish, #EnglishSpeaking, #SpeakNaturally, #EnglishFillerWords, #EmmaESLEnglish
✏️ Struggling with writing in English? Whether you’re writing emails, essays, or presentations, I’ve got you covered. In this episode of Emma’s ESL English, filmed in my grandma’s sunny garden 🌹, I’ll show you 10 free tools that will help you write better English today—even if you’re not confident in your grammar or vocabulary yet.These tools include:- Translation apps (like Google Translate and Deepl)- Grammar checkers (Grammarly, Ginger, Write & Improve)- Vocabulary helpers (dictionaries, thesauruses, and Visuwords)- AI-powered tools (Hemingway, Deepl Write)- Simple tips like journaling to improve fluency💡 You’ll learn how to:- Avoid panic when writing at work- Write more naturally in English- Use vocabulary like a native speaker📌 All the tools I mention are FREE, and I explain when and why to use each one.
💬 Which of these tools have you tried? Do you have another favourite that helps you write in English? Tell me in the comments!#EnglishWritingTips, #ESLLearners, #LearnEnglishOnline, #EnglishGrammarHelp, #WriteBetterEnglish, #EmmaESLEnglish, #EnglishStudyTools, #FreeEnglishResources, #WritingInEnglish, #LanguageLearnerSupport
English is full of bizarre idioms that make little sense—yet we use them all the time! Remember, most British people don't study idioms at school, we just learn them by...osmosis? So we're not thinking about where they come from or how weird they sound, we just use them. Unfortunately for you as an English learner, you might need to remember them and maybe you even want to try and use them. In my podcast I try to make it easier to remember idioms by giving them stories, learning about the history, or just making them funny. I hope you find it helpful. In this episode of Emma’s ESL English, we explore four common but strange expressions:- More ideas than you can shake a stick at – Why are we shaking sticks?- Water off a duck’s back – What does a duck have to do with ignoring criticism?- There’s more than one way to skin a cat – A phrase with unsettling origins.- Miss the boat – A simple but widely used metaphor.Also, find out which ones might be used in Business English.Let me know in the comments if there's any of these you'd feel comfortable using yourself.#EnglishIdioms #WeirdEnglish #ESLEnglish #IdiomsExplained #LearnEnglish #EnglishGrammar #ESLPodcast #BritishEnglish #EnglishTips #EnglishFun#CommonIdioms #EnglishLessons #SpeakingEnglish #EnglishVocabulary #PodcastEpisode #EnglishCulture #IdiomsAndSayings #EnglishLearners #EnglishTeaching #LanguageTips
In this episode of Emma’s ESL English, we take a thoughtful look at Tom Cruise’s career and his most memorable movie quotes. From Top Gun’s iconic “I feel the need, the need for speed” to Jerry Maguire’s “Help me help you,” Cruise’s films have shaped modern cinema.
We examine his rise to fame, his ability to carry a film, and the impact of his performances—from Risky Business to Mission Impossible. We also discuss the courtroom drama A Few Good Men, where Cruise delivers one of the most famous exchanges in film history, and Vanilla Sky, a film that divided audiences but left a lasting impression.
What's your favourite Tom Cruise movie or quote? let me know in the comments.
Join the conversation in the comments, share your thoughts, and don’t forget to like and subscribe.
#TomCruise #MovieQuotes #ESLEnglish #Podcast #TopGun #MissionImpossible #JerryMaguire #AFewGoodMen #VanillaSky #ActorSpotlight #EnglishLearning #LearnEnglish #ESLPodcast
Tomorrow is the birth date of famous dystopian British writer George Orwell. In this episode find out more about his interesting and unusual life and his passion for writing, freedom and raising awareness about life in poverty. I'll also be reading a little from the book.
George Orwell’s 1984 isn’t just a novel—it’s a warning about historical erasure, surveillance, and authoritarian control. Orwell’s writing has never been more relevant, especially in a world where truth is constantly being rewritten.
🌍 In this video, we discuss:
Today's video is great for practicing your English listening skills, and has some interesting vocabulary such as:
Homage - something done in honour of someone.
Tramp - someone who is usually living on the street
Pen name - also known as nom de plume or pseudonym, is a fake name created by an author to hide their identity
#emmaseslenglish #learnenglish #englishreading #GeorgeOrwell #1984 #DystopianFiction #HistoricalErasure #Totalitarianism #TruthAndLies #Surveillance #FreedomOfSpeech #Literature #SocialIssues
English is full of strange idioms, and today we’re diving into some bizarre British expressions you might hear! Some of these are quite common, especially the 2nd and 3rd, and you might hear them in the office or out and about. The others are less common, and just for you to be aware of, rather than need to try and use. Hopefully they're fun and interesting!
💬 Examples:
📌 You won’t need to use these—just understand them if you hear them!
💬 Have you heard any weird idioms before? Drop them in the comments!
#EnglishIdioms #LearnEnglish #BritishEnglish #WeirdIdioms #ESL #LanguageLearning #EnglishTips #SpeakingEnglish #EnglishExpressions
🗣️ Struggling with L & R sounds in English? You're not alone! Many ESL learners, especially those from Asian language backgrounds, find it tricky to pronounce these sounds correctly.
🔍 In this lesson, Emma explains:- Why L & R pronunciation is challenging
Today's Practice Words:*Alive - Arrive*Light - Right*Calendar*Curly*Relax*April *Religious*Little*Rule*Rollercoaster
💡 Improving your pronunciation makes speaking clearer & easier! Let’s break it down step by step.
🔔 Subscribe for more English pronunciation tips!
#LearnEnglish #ESL #EnglishPronunciation #SpeakingEnglish #ImproveEnglish #LanguageLearning #EnglishTips #PronunciationPractice #FluentEnglish #StudyEnglish #AccentTraining
🚀 Take your English reading skills to the next level! Don’t let descriptive writing slow you down—learn how to tackle novels with confidence.📚 Learning English through books can be a challenge! In this video, we explore the difference between creative writing and daily spoken English, breaking down how novels use descriptive language that might not be useful for everyday conversation. We dive into four books, including Rogue Herries (Hugh Walpole), The Island of Missing Trees (Elif Shafak), Gorillas in the Mist (Dian Fossey), and Not Another Happy Ending (David Solomons), analyzing how their writing styles differ from spoken English.🌍 Topics covered:- Why reading in English sometimes feels harder than speaking- How descriptive writing can paint vivid pictures in your mind- Tips for choosing the right books to read - How local idioms and unique phrases can appear in novelsHead over to Episode 120 to hear a reading from Elif Shafak's Island of Missing Trees: https://youtu.be/OZEtmTp5hCs For more English listening practice, check out the playlist here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6eu7BlE1AJSZA5GgMrFMmskXWE099AWL 👉 Want to improve your English reading skills? Watch now!🔔 Subscribe for more English learning tips#emmaseslenglish #EnglishLearning #LearnEnglish #ESL #DailyEnglish #CreativeWriting #ReadingEnglish #EnglishBooks #LanguageLearning #ImproveEnglish #StudyEnglish #EnglishTips #ESLStudents #ReadingSkills #SpeakEnglish
British idioms can be totally baffling—what on earth does “she’s absolutely cream crackered” mean? 🤯 In this episode, we unpack some of the UK’s weirdest and most illogical idioms, from Cockney rhyming slang to century-old phrases like “a different kettle of fish.”
These expressions are commonly used but rarely understood—so let’s figure them out together!
Listen in to discover:
Why "cream crackered" means "tired"
What kettles and fish have to do with trouble
How idioms evolve and spread (even when no one knows their origin)
No need to memorize these—just know them when you hear them!
#BritishIdioms #UKSlang #LearnEnglish #ESL #BritishEnglish #EnglishIdioms #CockneySlang #RealEnglish #WeirdEnglish #EnglishVocabulary #emmaseslenglish
Hello and welcome back to Emma’s ESL English! This week, we’re diving into some brilliant and bizarre British dialect words — from sea fog called fret or sea roke, to mountains named bens, fells, and bryns.
We’ll also explore how bread rolls have a dozen different names across the UK (seriously — baps, cobs, barms, and more!), plus Scottish weather words like driech and hoolie that perfectly describe grey, rainy days.
British English is full of regional quirks, and understanding them can really help if you're moving here or just trying to follow what people are saying.
I’ve also included tips on how to get used to different global English accents, like Australian and South African — remember, it's totally okay to ask someone to slow down!
Hit follow and leave a comment if you enjoy learning real-life English — and feel free to share any weird words you’ve heard in the UK below!
#BritishEnglish #UKSlang #EnglishDialect #LearnEnglish #ESL #EnglishLanguage #RealEnglish #BritishCulture #ScottishWords #EnglishTips #ESLLesson #EnglishVocabulary #emmaseslenglish
Welcome to Emma's ESL English! This week we’re diving into the quirky regional terms of endearment for strangers you might hear across the UK — from "alright, hen?" in Glasgow to "how you doing, chuck?" in the Midlands.
These words like "love," "pet," "duck," and "mate" may seem strange or even inappropriate to outsiders, but they’re part of the UK’s rich linguistic culture. Whether you're traveling to the UK, learning English, or just curious about real British English, this episode will give you insight into the warm — and sometimes weird — ways Brits speak to strangers.
💬 Have you ever been called duck or love in the UK? Comment below and share your experience!
I mentioned a video by Sir Ian McKellen, here it is: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ebb272kjmWQ
🔔 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more real-world English tips!
#BritishAccents #LearnEnglish #ESL #UKEnglish #BritishCulture #emmaseslenglish
Welcome to Emma’s ESL English! This episode kicks off a three-part series on real British English—and today, we’re diving into British accents. Think there's just one “British” accent? Think again! From RP (Received Pronunciation) to Cockney, Geordie, Welsh, Scottish, and Liverpudlian, the UK is full of unique, regional voices that may surprise international learners.Learn how history, geography, and class shape how we speak—and why the RP accent you hear on the BBC or in The Crown isn’t what most Brits actually sound like. Whether you're traveling to the UK, planning to live here, or just fascinated by accents, this episode will help you decode the real sounds of Britain.👉 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for the next episode, where we’ll explore weird ways Brits might talk to you!#BritishAccents #LearnEnglish #ESL #UKEnglish #BritishCulture #RPAccent #Cockney #ScottishAccent #WelshAccent
Today I'm reading a section from the very famous Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy, written by Douglas Adams. So often, when I'm teaching, I say 'Don't Panic!' This originally was a pop culture reference, from this book.
This book was originally made as a BBC radio show. It might be worth checking it out just for the sound effects, which were the most expensive in the BBC at the time! You can listen to it here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnOdAqe8beU
Our section starts at 12:31, it's not exactly the same as the book though. Mostly just listen for the sounds effects. There are a lot of less used adjectives today, as well as some words related to aliens, so I'll write those here:Squalid - very dirty and disgustingGrubby - not very cleanCramped - small and uncomfortableRummaged - to dig around in a bag to find somethingSnatched - to grab quickly'was still holding it as if it was a two-week-dead lark' - lark is a British bird, so he's holding the book away from himself and touching it as little as possible, like he's holding a dead birdBureaucratic - love paperwork, or requires a lot of paperworkOfficious - does everything in a bossy, official kind of wayCallous - unkind and meanLoophole - a gap in an otherwise tightly planned contract or plan that gives you a way around or forward.Impoverished Hitchhiker - someone trying to get a free ride, who has no moneyUnsuspecting soul - someone who is just minding their own business, not expecting anything strange to happenAntenna - the things on the top of the heads of snails...and aliensDemolished - destroyedCornflakes - common British breakfast cerealGargle - the noise you make when you swill your mouth with mouthwashTannoy - loudspeakerLightning movement - very fastSlithering - the way a snake moves...but wet!Scrabbled - when you're moving your hands trying to catch somethingGoggle- eyed - making your eyes big, usually in surprise or amazementSemblance - appearanceAlien language (you'll never need to know again!)Dentrassi - a species of alien that is known to be a good chef and drinks mixerVogon - a species of alien that is very mean, rude and obnoxious and won't help anyone - very bad poetsSqornshellous Zeta - a planet that has swamps where the mattresses are grownVogon Constructor Fleet - the ships that demolished Earth, they build and destroy planets.Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal - a space monsterAltairian Dollar - international common currencyTeaser - rich kid who plays tricks on planets that haven't travelled to space yet (only works for this book...well all this vocabulary only works for this book!)Betelgeuse - the planet where Ford Prefect is from (Ford Prefect is the name he took when he came to Earth because he thought it was the most common name...he didn't realise cars weren't the sentient creatures on the planet.)Babel Fish - the fish Ford puts in Arthur's ear is a Babel Fish. This fish is able to allow the user to understand any language in the universe. #emmaseslenglish #booktok #englishlisteningpractice #englishreading #hitchhikersguidetothegalaxy #douglasadams #dontpanic
I went to look for weather idioms last month, and discovered none of them were about the weather! So today we're reviewing weather idioms that you can use in Business English. Actually you can use them in any situation, but our sample sentences are focusing on business scenarios today. We'll cover:
Let me know in the comments if you have any questions. #emmaseslenglish #english #englishidiomsandphrases #englishidiom #businessenglish
Today we're covering a common question from students:
It it OK to just answer 'how are you?' with 'I'm fine'.
Yes! We'll also cover it's cultural purpose.
And we'll cover the nuances of these common phrases and greetings:
And, what do people even mean when they say:
And are they different to:
I hope you find it useful.#emmaseslenglish #englishlisteningpractice #english #englishconversation #englishconversationpractice #englishgreetings
Today it's my birthday! So we're covering some common idioms and phrases you might hear people use when talking about birthdays. Today's VocabularyOver the moon - to be very happy about somethingBig day - another way to refer to a birthdayThe icing on the cake - the best thing about this event/day/situationTo have a blast - to have a great timeAge is just a number - said to make people feel better about aging, just means age is not important.Full of beans - to have a lot of energy or excitementMake my day - the best part of the dayCrown jewel - the best thing or best bit about somethingPaint the town red - to have a party, usually a wild party with alcohol*It turns out, it wasn't Arnold or Sean who said 'Make my day', it was from a much older movie, in the 1983 film Sudden Impact, Clint Eastwood says, "Go ahead, make my day".Let me know in the comments, what sorts of things would make your big day special?#emmaseslenglish #english #englishspeaking #englishvocabulary #englishlearning #englishidiomsandphrases
Last month I went to Scotland with my Mum. We went first to Helensburgh, the town where I went to high school, then to visit my piano teacher and finally to Glasgow.
While I was visiting I took some pictures to show you all. Come along with me and take a look at the architecture and views in Scotland.
While in Helensburgh I visited #thehillhouse designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh a famous Scottish designer and architect and his brilliant wife Margaret, who was a great designer and interior decorator. You will definitely recognise their famous rose motif.
The only vocabulary was 'spring up' which is a phrasal verb for when things arrive or start suddenly.
#emmaseslenglish #english #englishlisteningpractice #glasgow #scotland #helensburgh
In this episode I will read a short excerpt from Terry Pratchett's Raising Steam. In this section we are in a dwarf meeting. We hear the king and his direct rival having a conversation.
Unfortunately this book is set in difficult/exciting times in Discworld, some dwarves have become terrorists and they think they are fighting for all dwarfdom, but in fact most people recognise that the future has come, and are happy about it.
Perhaps this sounds a bit familiar. There is a section where the rival discusses the importance of discussion and compromise, even when we directly disagree with each other. I wish we could hear modern leaders calling for this.
I will include the vocabulary below, but in the video I take the time to explain each section. Let me know in the comments if this works, if it helps you to understand or if you'd rather I just give you the vocabulary in the description.
Vocabulary
Unreconstructed elements - I had to look this one up because it didn't quite make sense to me. In fact the meaning is quite different to what I expected. Taking it's part it should mean 'things that haven't been made again' - which doesn't quite make sense, how can we have something that hasn't been made again🤔. But actually this whole word, with these specific prefixes has another meaning:
not reconciled to political, economic, or social change; and holding stubbornly to a particular belief, view, place, or style.
So, 'unreconstructed elements of dwarfdom' means dwarves who disagree with the change and refuse to change their beliefs.
'keep the grags auditing all that's dwarfish' - the grags are the dwarf priests. So this means that the priests are allowed to decide what is dwarfish.
'inculcated their flocks' - 'flock' is a common term used for people who follow a religion and sit in a church listening to sermons. 'inculcate' means to instill an idea.
blasphemy - speaking badly against a god or religion
diminished - reduced
grump - to be angry and frustrated and make everyone else feel uncomfortable because you're unhappy
sapient creatures - act wisely
'the floor is yours' a common phrase used to introduce or recognise another speaker in a debate
courteously - politely
headstrong - willful, determined
orchestrating attacks - if we 'orchestrate' something then we are organising it.
Clacks - this is a Discworld term and is a kind of technology, similar to the telegraph, for sending messages long distance
Nugganites - again, this is a Discworld term and refers to a Discworld religion whose god is Nuggan. This religion is dying and has gone bad. You can find out more in the book Monstrous Regiment. In the end everything Nuggan asked his followers to do was quite insane.
Benison - a blessing - I had to look up this word! Even though it's short I had never heard it before! (Terry likes to introduce rare or unusual vocabulary in his books)
'makes me ashamed to call myself a dwarf' - this is a common construction in English whenever someone finds the people they relate to are doing something they strongly disagree with.
Discourse - the process of discussion
Compromise - finding a way to meet in the middle, we each give up something so we can both gain something
cornerstone - The cornerstone of a building is one of the most important parts of it's foundation. This word has come to mean 'the foundation' of whatever we're discussing
unequivocal - without question or challenge
murrain - I think this is perhaps a play on words from Terry. There are two homonyms in English 'moraine' is a mass of rocks moved by a glacier and 'murrain' is a plague or epidemic. In the dwarf world rocks are very important. Either way, the meaning is 'I curse them! I wish something terrible for them!'
#emmaseslenglish #englishreading #englishlistening