English, baby! Daily Podcasts

When someone asks you if you want to head somewhere, they are asking you if you want to go somewhere. It’s kind of a weird thing about our language, one of our idioms. I am so happy that we happened to have this conversation during Head Week because it fits perfectly into our theme! Let’s attack this lesson, head on! -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“Today, I decided to soak up the sun instead of swimming.” —Ebaby!’s Kat, speaking about relaxing in the sunshine -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Last weekend was the Fourth of July, and what better way is there to celebrate the birth of the U.S.A. than going on a picnic? Whether it’s at the beach or in the park, Americans love to combine soaking up some sun with eating some grub. Since the weather is usually nice on the Fourth, a lot of families begin their celebrations with an outdoor barbecue, potluck, or picnic. A picnic can be a family affair, with food and games for the kids. Or you can have a classy, romantic picnic with a bottle of wine and tasty treats in a fancy basket. A picnic can also mean hanging out at the park with your friends, tossing a football around and munching on some snacks. Find out what kind of picnics Jeff and Devan like to have. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Most people have a slight desire to get rid of all of their possessions and hit the road. Christopher McCandless gave in to that idea. Shortly after graduating from college, he gave everything he had away and traveled for two years. He came to Alaska where he hunted to survive. Eventually, he accidentally ate some poisoned seeds and his adventures came to an end. He was found dead in an abandoned bus. In 1996, Jon Krakauer turned McCandless’ story into a book called Into the Wild. The book was recently made into a movie with a soundtrack by Pearl Jam vocalist Eddie Vedder. Listen to Marni and Amanda talk about it. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

A relaxing beach vacation may sound perfect to some, but for the more adventurous, it just isn’t exciting enough. Unless getting to the beach meant hiking through the jungle or parachuting out of an airplane. Then it might be OK. Adventure travelers aren’t interested in plain old sightseeing or a typical beach holiday. They prefer to spend their vacations doing active, exciting, and possibly even slightly dangerous activities. They like to go to remote places that most tourists never visit. Find out if Marni and Ella are thrill seekers when it comes to travel. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

These days, it’s hard to find time to spend in the great outdoors. Most people have to work or go to school inside of a building. But sometimes, one needs to leave the city and breathe some fresh air. Camping is a great way to get away from all the noise of daily life. One of the best things about camping is that one can do it anywhere. For people who like the beach, one can simply set up a tent right on the sand. Some people like the mountains more and might even camp in the snow. Many people like camping because it is easier to see the stars away from city lights. Camping lets people take a break from normal life. Jessica is excited to camp with her friends this summer. But does Julie like camping? Find out more in today’s English lesson about sleeping outside. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“Good morning, everybody. Andy here, and I’m experiencing a breath of fresh air.” —Ebaby!’s Andy, speaking about a beautiful, new experience -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

When the temperature starts going up, you might go crazy trying to stay cool. Turning on a fan might help for awhile. However, when it really gets hot, the only way to monitor the temperature is with air conditioning. Although running an AC isn’t as efficient as using a fan, it’s much more comfortable. With a push of a button, your house feels as cool as you want it. It’s the perfect climate, no matter how hot it is outside. Why doesn’t Gary want to turn on his AC? Find out in today’s English lesson about being frugal. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Sometimes one of the stars of a movie is the place it’s filmed. Think about a movie like Amélie. Could it have been filmed anywhere but Paris? Mason and Marni are at the mall and being there reminds Mason how boring life in your hometown can be. He really wants to travel somewhere, but sometimes it’s hard to get away. So Marni recommends The Darjeeling Limited, a movie about three brothers who ride a train together across India. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

As fun as it is to travel and see new places, it can also be stressful. Finding the perfect hotel is one way to cut down on the stress. It’s nice to have a comfortable room to come home to at the end of a long day of sightseeing. But the perfect hotel often doesn’t come at the perfect price. In fact, paying for a place to sleep can destroy your travel budget if you aren’t careful. Find out what Mason and Jason look for in a hotel. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Just a couple of weeks ago Jennifer Lopez finally announced that she’s pregnant. But the tabloids have already been talking about it for months. It seems like they might have known before the father! But you sure wouldn’t have been able to tell that everyone’s favorite acting, singing and dancing Latina star is pregnant from looking at her tour schedule. Listen to Devan and Amanda talk about how being with child hasn’t slowed J.Lo down at all. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“He’s slowly dipping his feet in the water a little bit. He’s testing it out to see what it’s about, and what it means, and if it feels right for him. He’s 16 and figuring out his world.” —Actor James Marsden, speaking about his son’s first fashion show in Milan, Italy (People) -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

During the summer, there are lots of fun ways to beat the heat. You can cool off with a popsicle or ice cream cone, visit the beach, or swim in a pool. But the most fun of all may be going to a water park. At water parks, you can soar down water slides, swim in wave pools, or just hang out and catch some rays. In the hot summer months, water parks are usually crowded with families and children. Jason recently went to a water park. Hear him tell Amy about his experience. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

When movies first came out, they didn’t have sound. So stars like Charlie Chaplin became famous by using their hands and eyes to act. Over the last 17 years, Rowan Atkinson has become famous with a similar technique. Although his movies have sound, his character, a child-like man named Mr. Bean, speaks very rarely. Since so many of Mr. Bean’s jokes are non-verbal, the movies are just as funny when translated into other languages. Listen to Kevin tell Beren about Mr. Bean’s success abroad. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

When the weather starts to warm up, you might begin to hear the sound of waves and feel warm sand between your toes. The beach is calling. You should grab your swimsuit, your sunscreen, a beach towel and head out! Not everyone is lucky enough to live near a beach. That’s why islands and other spots near the ocean are such popular places to vacation. The idea of lying in the sun and splashing in the sea is pretty attractive to most people. Find out if Ella and Jason like going to the beach. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Every year in Portland on Fourth of July weekend, there is a Blues Festival where all sorts of local and national acts perform their material. John went to the Blues Festival last week. Listen in to his conversation with Steph to find out what it was like… -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“I’m here at an airport farmers market.” —Ebaby!’s Sheila, speaking about being able to buy fresh fruit at a market stand -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

When life gets really stressful, sometimes you just want to get away. You start dreaming about your perfect vacation. Maybe it’s a tropical beach with chairs lined up along the clear blue ocean. Maybe it’s a mountain cabin, cozy with a blazing fire and lots of blankets. Maybe it’s a big city with skyscrapers and lots of shopping. Wherever your dreams take you, you have to make a plan to get there. It’s not only the flight, though. You have to book hotels, reserve a rental care, find good restaurants, and plan activities for your trip. Sometimes putting everything together can be just as stressful as your everyday life! One way to skip the stress is to buy an all-inclusive package for your vacation. You pay one price, and all the details are taken care of. It’s easy, and you won’t have to worry about where to stay, what to eat, or what to do. Amanda and Marni are having problems planning their vacation. Find out why in this English lesson. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

In a very American intersection of cultures, a loud, wild, young, black detective played by Chris Tucker was paired with master of martial arts cinema, Jackie Chan, in 1998’s Rush Hour. Now, in the third installment of the series, Tucker’s character has become a beat cop and Chan’s a bodyguard for an ambassador. They meet up again and fight organized crime in Paris. But Mason and Beren aren’t too interested in the specifics of the movie. Listen to Mason tell Beren about how he thinks Rush Hour 3 represents American cinema abroad rather poorly. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Hi Friends! Miguel’s birthday is coming up… in fact, he was born on the Fourth of July, which gives us all even more reason to celebrate! In the conversation below, Miguel and I talk about his plans for the upcoming holiday. I also learn a little bit from him about what it is like to have a birthday on a Summer holiday like July 4th! -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com