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Description
Welcome to English with Ally!
I'll take you on a journey of language learning and cultural discovery! Each episode is designed to help you improve your English while exploring the traditions, culture and everyday life that make English-speaking countries unique.
From festive fun to fascinating customs, you’ll learn the language and discover the culture – one story at a time.
In season 1, we'll take a look at Christmas customs over 24 episodes exploring the secular and religious traditions of this Christian celebration.
So sit back and enjoy a backstage pass to English culture and language!
24 Episodes
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Hello and welcome to English with Ally! I'm Ally and this is the grand finale of our Christmas series! Over the past episodes, we’ve explored everything from cherished religious traditions to the more quirky, secular customs that many English-speaking communities follow during the festive season. As well as over-eating (unavoidable!), carol singing (absolutely!) and wearing those infamous ugly jumpers (why not!), we saw how Christmas pops up in the pop culture of movies and TV shows and...
Hello and welcome back to English with Ally! I’m Ally, and this is episode 23, the second-to-last episode in special Christmas series. Today we’re diving into what happens on the 24th, 25th, and 26th of December—as these days can look different depending on where you are and what traditions you follow. Listen out for these words: Eve - the evening (or time) before a special event e.g. New Year's EveCatholic – related to the Roman Catholic ChurchFeast – a large, special mealProtestant – ...
Hello and welcome back to English with Ally! I’m Ally and you are listening to one of 24 episodes I'm making this December to explain different Christmas customs and give English language learners a little culture and a little listening practice. Today, it's time for some Culture with capital "C": poetry and song that retell the story of the birth of Christ. Not everyone is a fan of poetry, I know, but poets have a way of making the familiar feel new, and I want to share one of my favourite p...
Hello and welcome back to English with Ally! I’m Ally and you are listening to one of 24 episodes I'm making this December to explain different Christmas customs and give English language learners a little culture and a little listening practice. This is part two retelling the story of the birth of Christ. In the first part, we talked about Mary, Joseph, their journey to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus. Today, we’ll meet some very special visitors. Listen out for these words: shepherds...
Hello and welcome back to English with Ally! I’m Ally, you are listening to one of 24 episodes I'm making this December to explain different Christmas customs and give English language learners a little culture and a little listening practice. This is part one of a special two-part episode. We’ve been talking about secular Christmas customs—sending cards, buying presents, decorating your home, and of course spending time with friends and family. We've seen how Christmas has inspir...
Hello and welcome back to English with Ally! I’m Ally, and you’re listening to one of 24 episodes I’m making this December to explain different Christmas customs and give English language learners a little culture and a little listening practice. Today we’re talking about something that makes Christmas truly special: lending a helping hand to people in need. For many people the holiday season is not just a time to celebrate, but to consider others—through charity, volunteering, and acts...
Hello and welcome back to English with Ally! I'm Ally, and you are listening to one of 24 episodes I'm making this December to explain different Christmas customs and give English language learners a little culture and a little listening practice. Today we’re heading Down Under to explore how Christmas is celebrated in Australia and New Zealand. Santa in shades? You bet as the Southern hemisphere is full on summer for Christmas - completely different from my Northern experience. Listen ...
Hello and welcome back to English with Ally! I’m Ally, and you’re listening to one of 24 episodes I’m making this December to explain different Christmas customs and give English language learners a little culture and a little listening practice. Today we’re talking about something creative and increasingly popular: Christmas crafts! Making your own decorations or gifts is really on trend, and it’s a wonderful way to add a personal touch to the holiday season. Here are some words you'll...
Hello everyone, and welcome back to English with Ally! I'm Ally, and you are listening to one of 24 episodes I'm making this December to explain different Christmas customs. Like an advent calendar, I'm releasing one episode a day to offer English language learners a little culture and a little listening practice over the holiday season - you're welcome!. Christmas is the season of joy and one of the ways we make it feel special is by decorating our homes, workplaces and of course, shop...
Hello and welcome back to English with Ally! I’m Ally, and you’re listening to one of 24 episodes I’m making this December to explain different Christmas customs and give English language learners a little culture and a little listening practice. Today I'm talking about something that brings laughter and fun to Christmas celebrations: Christmas games! These are activities families and friends play together during the holidays, and they’re a great way to make memories. Vocabulary for Tod...
Hello everyone, and welcome to English with Ally! In previous episodes, I've looked at different secular, or non-religious, customs around Christmas, but this episode will focus on religious traditions from Roman Catholic, Orthodox, and Protestant communities. But first, let’s look at some key words you’ll hear in the episode: Mass: A special church ceremony in the Catholic tradition.Hymns: religious songsManger: A wooden trough for feeding animals, where baby Jesus was placed ac...
Hi everyone, welcome back to English with Ally! Today, we’re exploring one of the most famous Christmas stories ever written: Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol. We’ll look at the story, its symbols and moral lessons and why this short book still matters today. But first let's look at some vocabulary you can listen out for Grumpy - bad-temperedSymbolism – The use of symbols or images to communicate ideasRegret - a feeling of sadness or disappointment for a past actionEmpathy - affinity...
Hi there listener, welcome back to English with Ally! I'm Ally. Today, we’re going back in time—to Victorian England—to understand why Charles Dickens has been called “the man who invented Christmas.” Sounds dramatic, right? And while that is an exaggeration, Dickens did shape the way we celebrate Christmas today. Some vocabulary to listen out for: Factories - big buildings where many people worked To be in full swing - to be in progress Cramped - too small Poverty - the state of ...
Hello and welcome back to English with Ally! Today we’re talking about one of the best parts of the festive season: Christmas food. From savoury dishes to sweet treats, food is at the heart of Christmas celebrations. And if you are a foodie or have a sweet tooth—meaning you love sugary things—this episode is just for you! Some words to listen out for in this episode are: Foodie - someone who loves or is knowledgeable about foodSweet tooth – a love for sweet foods.Stuffing – a mixture of bread...
Hello and welcome back to English with Ally! This episode is about possibly the quirkiest festive tradition of them all: Ugly Christmas Jumpers. These colourful, sometimes ridiculous sweaters have become a regular part of holiday celebrations. But where did this trend come from? Let’s find out! Here's some key vocabulary to listen out for: Ugly – not prettyJoke - something to make people laughSnowflake – a small piece of snow that falls from the sky, often used as a design on jump...
Hello and welcome back to English with Ally! Today we’re talking about a lovely festive tradition - and one of my favourites - Christmas cards. Where did they come from? Why do we send them? And how has this tradition changed over time? Let’s find out! First, some words to listen out for: Victorian England - England during the time of Queen VictoriaGreeting – a message to say hello or express good wishes.Affordable - cheap enough to buyGoodwill – kindness and friendly feelings tow...
Hello and welcome back to English with Ally! It's me, Ally! Today's episode is on Christmas shopping but I also want to share a note on why today is important for Roman Catholics. Let's look at some vocabulary first: Words to listen out for are: Feast – a special day of celebration, often with food or religious meaning.Holy - sacred, connected to God or religionPickled walnuts - a kind of nut in vinegarWindow display - what is in a shop window for customers to seeSustainable – something that ...
Hello and welcome back to English with Ally! Today we’re talking about a really fun tradition called Secret Santa. You may have seen this played on some TV shows. What is it? Where does it come from? Who plays it? Do you know? Before I begin, a listener has suggested I introduce new vocabulary at the start of the topic, so here are some words I'll use and their definitions. Gifts - another word for presentsAnonymous – without a name or identity.To Reveal – to make something known.Chari...
Hello and welcome back to English with Ally! Today we’re exploring two festive figures that many people think are the same: Santa Claus and Father Christmas. Are they really identical? Let’s find out! Santa Claus, as we know him today, comes from the Dutch figure Sinterklaas, which is based on Saint Nicholas, a 4th-century Greek bishop famous for his generosity and gift-giving. Dutch people brought this tradition to America in the 17th century, and over time, Santa Claus evolved into the joll...
Hello and welcome back to English with Ally! Today I'll be talking about Christmas movies – do you want to guess which films I shall talk about? Naturally at Christmas, some people may watch films about the life of Christ such as The Nativity Story – a film about Mary and Joseph and the journey to Bethlehem. orThe Greatest Story Ever Told – a classic retelling of the life of Jesus But there are other classics shown on TV that we watch year after year. More modern Christmas films can a...
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