The English for Change Podcast

Come join this advanced English discussion where I discuss the recent death of the Queen of England.In this episode, you will:learn 7 English expressions to talk about the Queen hear about the Queen's legacy and the history of Ireland and the UK.hear my opinion on the death of the Queen of England and what I think of the British royal familyYou can watch the video version of this podcast on Youtube hereThis podcast is completely free. Show your appreciation for this podcast a...

This week I explore the topic of education and ask the question: What would the world be like if everyone had access to a good education?In the episode I discuss:3 useful English expressions used in an infographic on educationa video on one of the world’s best education systemsa video on how schools kill children’s creativityYou can download this free pdf with a summary of all the expressions and resources mentioned in the episode hereYou may also be interested in downloading my free self-stu...

Working as a podcaster in human rights, living in Brussels, learning English abroad…Just some of the topics I discussed with this week’s guest, the wonderful Amélie Tagu, a Communications Officer based in Brussels, Belgium.Amélie is originally from Rennes, in France. Like most French children, she learnt English at school. But she really discovered the language by traveling, during a linguistic immersion in New Jersey, and more recently through a voluntary service in Czech Republic. She ...

This week, I am sharing my top tips and strategies to achieve greater English fluency through self-study.In the episode I discuss:how to make progress with your English even when you are feeling stuck and demotivatedtechniques you can use to learn English efficiently and effectively2 authentic sources to practise your English skills on: 1. the topic of health including an article dealing with how to increase serotonin levels; 2. the topic of travel including a video talking about sustainable ...

Working in English as a coach, wellbeing and perfectionism…Just some of the topics I discussed with this week’s guest, the wonderful Sandra Lindholm, a Health and Wellbeing Strategist based in beautiful Finland (the happiest country in the world 5 years in a row).Sandra is married and together with her husband has 3 children under 12. She is a nurse and a trained coach, but decided in 2015 to follow her passion and start her coaching business to create more freedom of time and flexibility in ...

This week I explore the topic of travel and the controversial billion dollar form of travel called ‘volunteer tourism’ which raises questions in relation to racism, colonialism and even narcissism.This topic was discussed in a group discussion class last month in my membership for English learners, the English Changemaker Club and the members enjoyed exploring this popular type of tourism that has been criticised as making a spectacle of poverty and reinforcing damaging racial stereotypes.In ...

Mastering a language, academic English and living in Belgium...Just some of the topics I discussed with this week’s guest, the wonderful Katrien Schiepers, a language teacher based in Leuven, Belgium.Even though we live in the same country of Belgium - Katrien in the Flemish Dutch part and me in the French speaking part, we actually met online. We are both Patreon supporters of Youtuber Leena Norms and connected over a shared interest in books, feminism and ethical consumption.Katrien was bor...

This week, I explore the topic of food, one of my favourite topics of conversation that works in every social situation. From my experience, working with hundreds of English students around the world, food is a topic we can all talk about and we all have something different to share, whether it is an unusual food we have tasted, a family recipe or cultural practice around food. Food was the discussion theme for the English Changemaker Club in May and we really went into detail and l...

Online business, parenting, empathetic communication...Just some of the topics I discussed with this week’s guest, the wonderful Katharina Dello. Katharina is from Ukraine, has lived in Russia and currently lives in Germany. She trained as an economist and journalist and has recently published an online course "Master the secrets of effective communication with your kids" in English.Interviewing Katharina was such a great pleasure and I really think you will enjoy our conversation as she open...

What are your passions and interests? Do you know how to talk about them in English?In this episode, I give you 10 common English expressions to talk about your passions in English.Knowing how to talk about your interests and passions is really important when we talk about ourselves as it helps people to understand who we are as people.I love hearing about my students' passions as it helps me to adapt the English lessons to the things that interest them.Listen to the end of the episode to hea...

Recently in the group English discussion classes I run, we spoke about challenging situations in relation to war, inequality and human rights. In this episode, I wanted to share with you 4 phrasal verbs that we learned in these discussions.In this episode, I will discuss:how to identify phrasal verbs and how to use them when speaking English4 phrasal verbs to talk about challenging situations that cause anxiety and fear4 questions for you to reflect on so you can practise using these phrasal ...

When reading the news in English, you will probably have come across the following terms: refugeeasylum seekermigrantBut what do they mean exactly? As I record this episode in April 2022, we are seeing the invasion of Ukraine and the fastest growing refugee situation since World War 2. So far, 4 million Ukrainian people have left their country to find safety in other countries and they are being referred to as 'refugees'. In this episode, I will clarify the difference betw...

With the invasion of Ukraine in recent weeks, many ordinary Ukranians have become refugees as they are forced to leave their home to find safety in other countries. In this episode, I will discuss some vocabulary associated with the topic of refugees, while referring to recent events.Grab a pen and paper because this episode is packed full of vocabulary and questions for you to reflect on, so you can use this vocabulary to better understand the news in English and speak about current ev...

“We don't know where we're going, we don't know what's going to happen, but no one can take away from you what you put in your own mind.” As we face uncertain times, this quote from Holocaust survivor Edith Eger demonstrates the power we have in how we respond to life's challenges. Writing in a journal is one tool I have found helpful to process my thoughts and feelings and deal with stress and uncertainty.In this episode, I discuss my experience with journalling and keeping ...

To celebrate reaching Episode 15 of this podcast, I reflect on my mission and values as an English teacher and the impact I want to make in the world.In this short episode, I willl speak about:reconnecting to the mission of English for Changemy feelings about current world events my upcoming plans to support more English learners in my online businessSubscribe to my newsletter here to be the first to hear about about my upcoming free series The Confident English Voice ChallengeChec...

Gender inequality and the climate crisis are two of the most urgent challenges of today.In this week's episode, we explore the link between gender equality and the environment, which was also the theme of this year's International Women's Day.In this episode, I talk about:7 useful English expressions and vocabulary you can use to speak about gender equality and the environment a UN article, an expert video and a podcast interview on the topic of sustainability, ecofeminism and clim...

To celebrate this month's International Women's Day, I bring you an episode exploring my country Ireland's treatment of women.In the episode I talk about:the female role models I admired growing up in IrelandIreland's shameful past of shunning unmarried women and their childrenIreland's recent vote to legalise abortion for womengender based violence in Ireland and abroadHere is the vocabulary mentioned:a microagression = indirect, subtle, or unintentional discrimination against members ...

Most of us learn a foreign language so we can communicate with other people but if we are an introvert, it can feel really challenging to socialise with new people, make mistakes and express our big ideas in another languageAs an introvert and language learner myself, I know what it's like to feel shy and afraid to speak English in public. In this episode, I will share some personal stories about my own journey as an introvert while living abroad and speaking a foreign language. I...

Language immersion, living abroad, letting go & self-acceptance...Just some of the topics I discussed with this week’s guest, the wonderful Camille. Camille is from the south of France and currently lives in Azores, Portugal. She is a holistic life coach helping people manage stresss to live a more serene and fulfilled life.Interviewing Camille was such a great pleasure and I really think you will enjoy our conversation as she opens up about:how she has learned English to an advanced leve...

This episode explores today's fashion industry, in particular fast fashion, looking at an article from the Guardian:The truth about fast fashion: can you tell how ethical your clothing is by its price? (29 July 2021)I read and comment on some extracts in the article, then explain some key vocabulary that you can use to talk about this topic.Here are the 7 useful phrases & vocabulary I mention:greenwashing = process of conveying a false impression or providing misleading information that a...

Do you struggle to find the right words to express yourself? Well this episode is for you! I give you 7 common English phrases to talk about language learning that came from the native resources we covered in the English Changemaker Club in January.I know that you might not be able to take notes when listening to this podcast. That is why I have prepared a free pdf vocabulary list with everything mentioned which you can download hereI also talk about my favourite video and article on the topi...

Listen to my 4 tips on how to stay motivated to learn a foreign language. I share stories about my own journey of learning French. I refer back to the previous podcast episode, Episode 7, and my interview with Irish based lawyer Ioanna Negrello who offers some tips on how she got to an advanced level in English.In the episode, I speak about:connecting to your why and motivation for learning a languagewhy comparing yourself to others is unhelpful and what you should do insteadhow following you...

Career, feminism, mental health, language learning & yoga... Just some of the topics I discussed with my very first guest to this podcast, my wonderful friend Ioanna Negrello. Ioanna is from Marseille in France and currently works as a judicial assistant in the High Court in Dublin, Ireland. Interviewing Ioanna was such a great pleasure and I really think you will enjoy our conversation as she opens up about: how she has learned English to an advanced levelher legal c...

Is it possible to learn a language alone? Do I recommend it?In this episode, I will talk about the pros and cons of learning English alone. I will answer the questions that are often on our minds as adult language learners:Is it worth spending money on improving your English? How can you learn English online?What things do you miss out on when you study English alone?I will also share some vocabulary to talk about being alone. You can access the list of vocabulary mentioned here.And a r...

We all share the same planet so this week, let's talk about a topic that concerns us all: the environment.Grab a pen and paper because this episode is packed full of vocabulary and recommendations to discuss the impact of climate change and the challenges and solutions we face.As well known activist Greta Thunberg says 'We have all the facts and solutions. All we need to do is wake up and change'. By listening to this episode in English, I hope it will provide you with some knowled...

Ready for a successful and confident 2022?In this episode, I'll help you to set your English language goals for the New Year or any new month. As the quote goes 'A goal without a plan is just a wish' so taking time to write our goals down and make a plan is so important! For me, 2021 has been an amazing year in business and regular goal setting was a big thing that helped me achieve so much. So whether or not it is the New Year as you listen to this, you can set goals for the ...

Afraid to speak English in public? Well this episode is for you!Let me guide you through what you can do to beat your fear and feel confident in your next meeting, discussion or presentation in English. I speak about some useful strategies from psychology to better prepare you and to stop you from overthinking when you need to speak in English. I also tell you a story from my own experience as a shy public speaker.And finally, I share an idea of how you can use your fear for good: using ...

Interested in speaking about feminism in English?This episode is packed full of good stuff: phrasal verbs and expressions that you can use to talk about a woman’s role in society and some books, videos and podcasts that you can listen to on this topic.Feminism was our monthly theme in the English Changemaker Club in November 2021 so there is plenty to discuss. I share the ideas from one of our members who spoke about the feminist message behind the movie Legally Blonde. Want more? I have...

In this first episode, I get personal and share more about me, Ruth Whittle, the host and founder of English for Change. I’ll tell you about my first penpal experience as a child and how I came to start my online teaching business.I explain the format of each podcast episode. In each one we explore 2 things: firstly, an individual change you can make to improve your English and your life and secondly, a way you can use your voice in English to make positive change in the world.I also explain ...

I'm so excited to bring you the English for Change podcast helping English learners everywhere build a confident voice in English. Listen to this trailer, subscribe to the podcast and get ready for lots of amazing content to inspire, motivate and empower you in upcoming episodes.