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Happy English Podcast

Happy English Podcast

Author: Michael Digiacomo Happy English

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Learn American English with your host Michael DiGiacomo from Happy English in New York City. Michael has been teaching English since 1994. This is an English as a Second Language (ESL) and English as a Foreign Language (EFL) podcast that brings you fun, practical, and useful English lessons which are ideal for intermediate and advanced level English learners everywhere. This podcast is perfect for university students, business professionals, homemakers, retirees and anyone who is interested in learning and improving their English skills. Every week, you are going to learn American English idioms, conversational expressions and phrasal verbs. As your American English teacher, I will help you learn real and natural American English  pronunciation and conversational style. You will get the chance to improve your vocabulary and have a clear understanding of practical English grammar. I also help you have a deeper understanding of  American Culture through language learning. Join my podcast learner's study group to practice these lessons with me each week on zoom. Get Happy, Get English. Happy English!
809 Episodes
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In the middle of recording this podcast, I realized that the microphone wasn’t plugged in. Aye yai yai! So I had to go back to the top and start again. That’s what happens with modern technology, sometimes things go smooth and sometimes, well, it’s back to the drawing board. For today's podcast English lesson, let's look at some idioms and phrases that we use to talk about doing something again from the beginning. We'll start from scratch! Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/
I just got the idea that just is just one of those words that has a number of difference uses in everyday English. Just a sec, let me think about that. So, let's check out all of the different ways you can use just, plus set phrases like just about, just as well, just a minute, and just the same. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/
Maybe you've been wondering how to start a sentence. Like, is it better to say, eating pizza makes me happy, or to eat pizza makes me happy. At first glance, these seem to mean the same thing. After all, both "Eating pizza" and "To eat pizza" are subjects, right? But here’s the twist: gerunds and infinitives aren't always interchangeable! Let’s break it down so you can use them confidently. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/
So how is your memory? Do you have a memory like a sieve or maybe your memory is more like an elephant. Some people have a short memory and some people have a photographic memory.The word memory in English is interesting because it has a number of meanings and uses. For today's podcast English lesson we're going to take the word memory to the next level, and talk about five idioms and phrases that use the word memory.Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/
Is it , I can do that...or,  I’m able to do that. I could do that...or, I was able to do that. And what about, I’ll be able to do that? Today, it’s all about ability and possibility. Can and be able to are similar in meaning, but the way we use them is different. And that’s what we’re gonna run through today.Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/
804 - 6 Ways To Wait

804 - 6 Ways To Wait

2025-03-0807:181

You don’t need to wait around anymore. I know that you were waiting on me to help you figure out if you should use wait for or wait to or wait up and so on. Wait is an interesting verb because it can be used alone or with a variety of prepositions, with each combination having its own unique usage. Let's check it out today!Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/
I think this is really going to be a helpful lesson for you today. Very and really are two very basic words in English, but I do know that they can be really confusing for a lot of English learners. So if you sometimes use one of them in the wrong situation, you’re going to want to listen to this podcast English lesson till the end. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/
802 - Knock, Knock

802 - Knock, Knock

2025-02-2009:07

Did you know that you can knock back, knock down, knock around, and knock up? You can even knock someone out or tell someone to knock it off. For today’s English lesson podcast, you’re gonna build your vocabulary and sound more natural using knock. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com
Why don’t we go somewhere. A lot of people learn English because they love to travel. How about you? Whether it’s taking trip through the countryside, a voyage across the sea, or an exotic journey to a foreign land, I think most people just like to go somewhere. Travel, trip, journey and voyage. These four words can take you from your living room to the ends of the earth and beyond. If you’re wondering how you can use this vocabulary, then you’ve landed in the right podcast. So, just return to your seat and fasten your seatbelt as we take an adventure into this vocabulary.Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/
Deadlines, we all have them, and so we need to talk about them. Finish your homework by Friday. Work hard until the weekend. And you can’t have any fun unless you’re done doing what you have to do. By, until, and unless.We use the words by, until and unless to talk about a deadline, but the way we use these words can be a pain in the neck for a lot of English learners. Fear not, my friends. For today’s English lesson podcast, we’re going to do a deep dive into these similar, but tricky, common vocabulary wordsJoin my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/
Even though I have my own business don’t like doing bookkeeping. I use some software to help me with that, but I haven’t had any real training in anything like accounting. Actually I don’t understand that stuff too much. Don’t or haven’t. Did you notice what I did there? In some sentences I used don’t and in others I used haven’t. A lot of English learners get stuck deciding whether to use don’t or haven’t, so I thought I would take some time today to look at these two helping verbs. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/
798 - Ache vs Pain

798 - Ache vs Pain

2025-02-1009:07

I visited my 97-year-old aunt in the nursing home the other day.  I haven't seen her in a while and it was a bit of a pain in the neck to get there but it was totally worth it. She said that aside from a few aches and pains she's doing pretty good.  Aches and pains  -  those are two words that tend to be a royal pain for a lot of English learners. Ache and pain are two words that can make your brain hurt when you try to remember how to use them, so for today’s English lesson, let’s check out how we use these two words. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/
The first thing I do every morning when I get up is I put on the coffee maker. Then I put on a podcast and get dressed. It's been pretty cold lately so I always need to put on something warm.I know that learning phrasal verbs can be tricky, but they are such an essential part of English. And like I’ve mentioned before, using phrasal verbs will definitely make your English conversation sound more natural. So to help you with that, today, we’re going focus on the phrasal verb put on, which has five different meanings and uses. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/
Yesterday I go to the pizza place down the block and I find out they have new owners. And I look behind the counter and they have all of these weird kinds of pizza. They even have one with pineapple and tuna. I don’t think that’s really pizza. Hey, are you wondering why my story about yesterday uses all present verbs? You may be surprised to know that the simple present tense has seven different uses in everyday English conversation and that's what we're going to do a deep dive into today so, let's get the ball rolling. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/
pet can result in having a headache. My dog Max is having a birthday in a few months, and I was thinking of having a birthday party for him. Did you notice all the ways I just used have? Have is a wonderful verb that has a huge repertoire of meanings and uses. Without further delay, I present to you, our special verb of the evening, have.  Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/
I’m so glad I called up my buddy Ed the other day. He’s a buddy of mine from high school and last week, out of the blue,  he hit me up in a text message. I’ve been meaning to get in touch with him for a while, and it was so great to have the chance to catch up with him. Using phrasal verbs is a great way to make your English conversation sound more natural.  That's why today I want to introduce a couple of phrasal verbs and other expressions that you can use, when you talk about communicating with other people. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/
The word tired is one of those words in English that has a number of different uses and while you may be familiar with the basic meaning of tired, which is sleepy, did you know that tired can also be used to mean that something is not fresh or that a machine is not in working condition? For today’s English lesson, we’re going to look at those uses of tired and the phrases tired of and tired from. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/
Always is a commonly used word, and probably one that you learned when you first started studying English. I’m sure everyone listening today  knows that we use always when we talk about something that happens consistently.  Like,  I always drink coffee in the morning.  But what you might not know is that always can be used in five different ways in every day English conversation.Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/
It’s time to kick off another podcast English lesson. Boot up your ipod, and fire up your headphones. We’re about to dive into a bunch of phrasal verbs that talk about starting something. It’s been a while since we looked at phrasal verbs, and since the start of the year, I’ve been thinking about kicking off a lesson with them. For today’s podcast English lesson, let’s have a look at a group of phrasal verbs related to starting something. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/
790 - Using How

790 - Using How

2025-01-1707:09

How about this? Let’s look at the word how and see all the ways you can use how to make your English sound more natural. How come? I’m glad you asked that. Because you depend on me to tell you these things. And how!There are a lot of basic words in English that have multiple meanings and uses in everyday conversation. One good example of this is the question word how. There are a whole bunch of conversational phrases with how that we use in American English these days, and that's what we're going to talk about in today's podcast. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/transcriptVisit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/
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Comments (218)

marius

Like

Mar 23rd
Reply

Amir Vatan

good

Mar 18th
Reply

Mohamad Ahmadabadi

Great lesson, thank you Michael

Feb 14th
Reply

Bahare

take lunch (using meal period or lunch break at work)

Jan 16th
Reply

Mhr Amr

tnx

Jan 5th
Reply

Bahare

👍

Jan 4th
Reply

Jvad

Incredible! Perfectly depicted whys and how to use past perfect. Highly recommend to Teachers and students alike.

Dec 30th
Reply

ALENA

🤍🤍🤍

Dec 18th
Reply

Maryam Zia

👍👍👍

Dec 12th
Reply

Jamileh B

that was really good.

Dec 9th
Reply

Mahshid Ebtekar

🙏❤️

Nov 22nd
Reply

monir_safari

Thank you for teaching English, I really appreciate your help

Nov 20th
Reply

Bahare

Nov 14th
Reply

Somayeh Mohamadi

thanks

Nov 14th
Reply

Bahare

❤❤

Nov 3rd
Reply

Amir Esmaeili

باز نمیشه

Oct 30th
Reply

Naser Kashani

excellent

Oct 9th
Reply

Farzaneh Zare

you are the best in teaching.

Sep 9th
Reply

ID77621713

❤️❤️

Aug 31st
Reply

Mahshid Ebtekar

👍

Aug 23rd
Reply