Are you learning English alone? In this podcast, I’ll share some tips and advice so that you can improve your English by yourself. Not only during the summer break but at any time during the year.

We’ve also received some lovely stories from you by voice message, so we’ll be listening to those too, and I’ll try and help you improve them.

https://inglespodcast.com/418 A Children’s Story

Alex PerDel: http://www.crecereningles.com/podcast/

Voice message from Rafa

Once upon a time, there was a girl named Rafa who really liked dogs.
One day when she was coming back from school, she found a puppy in the street. Then she gave him a piece of bread and the dog followed her.

When they got home, she went in with the dog who hid it under the bed. When his mother came home, Rafa did not know how to tell him (her) that they had a dog.
So when he was about to tell him, they knocked on the door, but also (then) the dog ran out. When his mother saw the dog his mother got upset.
She opened the door and to the (her) surprise (it) was the owner of the dog. We (She) thanked Rafa for taking care of her dog. So Rafa was sad without the dog.

“One day when she was coming back from school, she found a puppy in the street.” – Good use of past continuous with past simple.

Confusion of pronouns. Is Rafa a male or female? His/her.

pronunciation
puppy (not poppy – amapola)
know
knocked
thanked

Voice message from Jose from Ecuador
My house is near (to) a river – no ‘to’
play on the river BANK, not shore
It was very dangerous but it was very funny (a lot of fun)
they came out (came UP with) with the idea
every child in my GANG (not crew)

Voice message from Erika about a kidnapping
Dan’s Story

Well, his name is Dan, and Xit’sX (he’s) a very happy six years old boy (six-year-old boy) with a well-formed family, dad, mum and sister.

Everything seems perfect so far. However, Xshe’sX (it’s) going to change soon.

His family decides to go to the circus. Everything is XlouderX (lovely). However, close to them, there is a parade right a mother is heard saying that she loves her son.

Then, Dan’s mum neglects herself. Consequently, she neglects Dan (doesn’t pay attention/stops paying attention).

Meanwhile, someone grabs Dan and takes him away. And Xit’s supposedX (supposedly) Dan was kidnapped.

Dan was kidnapped, on the other hand Dan’s mum doesn’t find him. XStart hard searchX (They search intensively/high and low/everywhere) and in the same way Dan’s father does.

(Dan’s mum and dad both search everywhere for him, but they don’t find him so they decide to call the police)

Then they decided to call the police…..??

a happy six-year-old boy
a well-formed family – a lovely family, a really nice family
to grab – to take by force

pronunciation of ‘kidnapped’

Voice message from Wilder from Ecuador
His vacation story

Voice message from Christian
Hi guys, this is the story about me and my twin brother.

When we were babies, my parents confused (us) all the time. So one day my mother bathed one, because (it) is very complicated to bathe both at the same time.

After that, my father bathed another twin. However, Xhe confused itX (he got confused) and he bathed the same twin Xinside ofX (instead of) the dirty twin.

Consequently, when they had to leave the house with the twins, they realized that one of them smells bad, and Xwithout timeX (although short of time), they bathed another twin.

XWhere toX (Because of this / due to this / Consequntly / As a result my parents arrive late for the meeting.

Pronunciation of bathe, dirty, bathed,
story and history

So, here in the Northern hemisphere, we’re fast approaching the summer, which means a break from regular study. Don’t let your English go rusty during the summer break, keep in touch with your English. Here are some ideas for how to do that.

How to study English by yourself

Spend time studying all four language skills, or focus on your weakest areas.
Reading – books, comics, blog posts
Listening – podcasts, TV series, music, films
Writing – a learner diary, emails, start a blog, comment in Facebook groups, on Reddit, answer questions on Quora etc.
Speaking – online group or language partner, language exchange group in your area

Make a plan in your schedule and block off time in your week to study the four skills. Be deliberate.

List your strengths and weaknesses and ‘level up’ your English.

Set SMART goals
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic
Time-focused

Example: X My goal is to expand my vocabulary X – this is not a goal, it’s more of a dream. “I want to speak better!” – Again, this is too general.

An example of a SMART goal: “I will be able to remember and correctly use 20 new phrasal verbs in written and spoken English by July 31st this year. I will have used them naturally, and in context, in emails and messages to friends and in my weekly English conversation group at least once.”

Use Apps on your phone
Anki, Memrise, Duolingo. Google ‘apps for learning English’

…and now it’s your turn to practise your English.
Send us a voice message. https://www.speakpipe.com/inglespodcast
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In next week’s episode: Pilots, Flying and Aviation Vocabulary

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The music in this podcast is by Pitx. The track is called ‘See You Later’