Hey everyone, welcome back to The Just Start Talking Podcast — the show that helps you build confidence and fluency in real-world English conversations. I’m your host, Jody, and in today’s episode — “Ordering in a Café: Making Requests” — we’re diving into one of the most useful everyday English skills: how to order politely and naturally in a café. Whether you’re traveling abroad, studying English in Europe, or just want to sound more confident when ordering your favorite drink, this episode will help you master the language of café culture. You’ll pick up five practical phrases, five key vocabulary words, and a quick grammar tip on how to make polite requests — so you can sound friendly and fluent when you order. Grab your coffee, settle in, and get ready to practice the kind of authentic English you can actually use in daily life. Let’s start talking!

Today’s episode is all about something super practical — how to go through airport security in English.
Whether you’re traveling for the first time or the fiftieth, airport security can be stressful — and even more so if English isn’t your first language. But don’t worry — by the end of this episode, you’ll know exactly what to say, how to understand the officers, and how to make polite requests in English. So grab your passport — let’s get you through security smoothly and confidently!

Ready to travel confidently in English? In this episode, we break down everything you need to know about how to check in at the airport in English — from the right travel vocabulary to useful phrases and grammar for making polite requests. If you’ve ever felt nervous speaking to an airline agent or confused at the check-in counter, this episode will help you sound natural and feel prepared. You’ll learn how to: Use common airport English phrases Ask questions and make polite requests clearly Understand key check-in vocabulary Practice with a short real-life role play Whether you’re a beginner or an intermediate English learner, this episode gives you the confidence to handle airport check-in like a pro.

Feeling tired, unmotivated, or stuck in your English learning journey? You’re not alone — burnout happens to every language learner at some point. In this episode, we share four practical ways to fight burnout, stay motivated, and make learning English fun again. Discover how to change your study routine, set realistic goals, connect with others, and celebrate your progress — all while keeping your confidence and consistency strong. Tune in to learn how to stay inspired, avoid burnout, and just start talking!  

Today, we’re diving into a super practical topic: traveling on a bus. Whether you’re hopping on a city bus to get to work or taking a long-distance bus to explore a new place, knowing the right words and phrases can make your journey so much easier. In this episode, we’ll cover five key vocabulary words related to bus travel, three common phrases you’ll use when buying a ticket or riding a bus, and we’ll do a short role-play conversation to practice. Plus, I’ll share some tips to help you feel confident when you’re out there on the road. So, grab your headphones, get comfortable, and let’s start talking!

n this episode of The Just Start Talking Podcast, we break down the building blocks of clear English sentences — from Subject + Verb, to Verb + Object, to Place + Time. Using cozy autumn examples, you’ll learn how to form sentences that sound natural and confident. Whether you’re describing crisp air, raking leaves, or sipping hot chocolate, we show how structure helps your English flow.  Ideal for beginners and intermediate learners seeking to speak with ease and accuracy.  Listen now and Just Start Talking! #JustStartTalkingPodcast #LearnEnglishNaturally #AutumnInEnglish #EnglishMadeSimple #ESL Podcast #LearnEnglish #EnglishGrammar

Today, we’re diving into something everybody deals with… introducing yourself. Whether it’s at work, in class, at a networking event, or even just meeting someone new in your neighborhood, introductions can feel awkward. Sometimes you don’t know what to say. Sometimes you say too much. And sometimes, the nerves just take over, and your brain decides to hit the pause button. Sound familiar? Yeah. We’ve all been there. But here’s the good news: introductions don’t have to be weird. In fact, they can be your best opportunity to make a strong impression — one that’s friendly, confident, and memorable for the right reasons. #LearnEnglish #SpeakConfidently #EnglishTips #LanguageLearning #PodcastLife #EnglishSpeaking #CommunicationSkills #ConfidenceInEnglish #HowToIntroduceYourself

Today’s episode is all about How to Practice Speaking Skills Using AI. Speaking can feel like the toughest part of learning English, but with the right tools and strategies, it’s totally doable—and even fun! We’re diving into five sections today to make this super actionable: First, we’ll explore how AI voice assistants can help you practice speaking. Then, we’ll look at speech-practice apps for instant feedback. Next, we’ll talk about using AI voice mode for real conversations. After that, we’ll cover language exchange platforms to connect with real people. And finally, we’ll dive into the shadowing technique to boost your fluency. So, grab a glass of water to keep those vocal cords happy, and let’s get talking!

Today, we’re diving into a super practical topic: How to Learn Vocabulary Effectively. Whether you’re just starting or brushing up on your skills, this episode is packed with tips to help you grow your word bank in a smart, sustainable way.  So, grab a notebook, a cup of tea—or coffee, no judgment here—and let’s get started! We have four sections today to break it all down: First, we’ll discuss why context is king when learning vocabulary. Then, we’ll explore spaced repetition and how it can supercharge your memory. Next, we’ll dive into using AI tools, such as flashcards and ChatGPT, to make learning more interactive. And finally, we’ll cover the 80/20 rule and why focusing on the right words saves you time. Ready? Let’s do this! 

If you speak a language like Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or Turkish, you might notice something interesting: those languages don’t really use articles. You can talk perfectly fine without them. Today’s episode is about a topic that seems small but is actually a huge part of speaking English clearly: articles. You know them—a, an, and the. By the end of this episode, you’ll know: Why articles exist in English. What purpose do they serve in communication? Why they’re important for fluency and clarity. The rules for using “a” versus “an.” And the key grammar rules for when to use a, an, or the. #EnglishLanguage #GrammarRules #LanguageLearning #EnglishLesson #PodcastForLearners

Today’s topic is one I’m frequently asked about: Past Simple vs. Past Continuous in Business Communications. We’re going to break it down so you can understand not just the grammar rules, but also the why—why we choose one tense over the other, and how that choice changes the way people hear your message in a business setting. In professional communication, small details make a big difference. The tense you choose affects clarity, credibility, and how your message is understood. Think about it: when you write an email, give a presentation, or share an update with your team, you’re not just sharing information. You’re also shaping how people perceive you—your reliability, professionalism, and leadership. That’s why using the right tense isn’t just about grammar; it’s also about strategy. #JustStartTalkingPodcast #BusinessEnglish #EnglishForWork #PastSimple #PastContinuous #ProfessionalCommunication #EnglishGrammar #CareerGrowth #ClearCommunication #EnglishLearning

Today we’re focusing on a really useful topic: pairs of phrases that look similar, sound similar, but actually mean different things. These are the kinds of small details that can confuse learners. And when you mix them up, sometimes people still understand you — but it doesn’t sound quite right. So, in this episode, we’re going to look at: On time versus In time At the end versus In the end By the end of this episode, you’ll know exactly how to use these four phrases in conversations, at work, and in everyday life.

Today we will discuss 5 polite ways to say Hello and 5 polite ways to say Goodbye in English. By the end of this episode you will be able to greet people warmly and politely, and you will be able to leave the conversation on a positive note.

Now, many of you are learning English because you want to use it in everyday life. And what’s more everyday than ordering food? Especially pizza! Ordering a pizza might sound simple, but when you’re on the phone—without seeing the person—it can feel stressful. Don’t worry. By the end of today’s episode, you’ll feel confident making a pizza order in English over the phone for delivery. I’ll teach you five important vocabulary words, five key phrases, and we’ll even practice a short role-play together. Ready? Let’s get started.

Our topic today? How to know what to say when you need to make small talk in social situations. Now, I know for some of you, hearing the words “small talk” makes you want to run the other way. You might think: Ugh, it feels fake. Or maybe you freeze and have no idea what to say. Or you’re just not a fan of talking to strangers. But here’s the truth: small talk isn’t magic. It’s not something you’re born knowing how to do. It’s a skill. And like any skill, you can learn it, you can practice it, and you can get better at it. Today, we’re going to break down this topic step-by-step. I’ll explain what “small talk” means in American English, some easy topics to use, and a few fun vocabulary words to try out.

What does the past continuous even mean? Today’s episode breaks it all down with tips and tricks to help you understand and use the past continuous more often in your daily conversations.

Whether you are visiting a new place or need a convenient way to get around, knowing how to communicate with ride share drivers in English can make your travels so much smoother. In this episode we will discuss essential phrases and vocabulary that you can use when ordering and riding in a ride share. #English for travel #ESL #LearnEnglish

Today we’re going to talk about idioms in English— what they are and how to use them. Idioms make conversations more colorful, more natural, and often more fun!

In this episode, we’re talking about how to keep the conversation going after you’ve introduced yourself in a business setting in English. We will discuss practical phrases, vocabulary, and strategies to help you keep talking.

The Present Simple is one of the building blocks of English. Today we will talk about how we use it, why it matters and how you can start using it better right away.