The ESLPod Blog (page 165)
- Business
Hiring Americans to Head Universities in Other Countries
I recently read something surprising: In the past few years, many universities in other countries have hired Americans for top-level jobs. For example, in 2009, a provost (senior administrator) at…
- Language & Terms
It Has Nothing To Do With Me!
QUESTION: A listener, Ali, wants to know what it means when someone says, “It has nothing to do with me.”
- Karaoke English
A Unique Shopping Mall Experience
Guido in Rome, a listener and friend of the podcast, sent us this amusing (funny) video. This is a musical performance by a group called “Improv Everywhere.” Improv is short for improvisation, which…
- Life in the United States
Could I Be Related to Ben Franklin?
One of the United States’ most important cities in its early history was Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, located in the northeast part of the US. Philadelphia was the site (location) of the first…
- Language & Terms
Doing a Polite Tap Dance
QUESTION: Nikolay in Russia wants to know what it means when someone does a polite “tap dance”.
- Language & Terms
Please Don’t Overshare
Ted Landphair of Voice of America had an interesting story recently about a contest that is held (takes place) each year by the publishers of Webster’s New World Dictionary to pick a new word or term…
- Life in the United States
A Paperboy Looks Back on a Disappearing Job
Today I want to look back (think or talk about something from my past, my personal history). Back in the mid-1970s, at the age of 11 or 12, I worked as a paperboy for the evening newspaper in St.…
- Language & Terms
To Dole Out and To Be on the Dole
QUESTION: Jorge from Peru wants to know what this sentence means: “Germany and Spain doled out incentives to consumers.”
- Life in the United States
Bestsellers – March, 2009
I thought it would be fun to take a look at some of the bestselling books in the United States now to give you an idea of what Americans are reading. The New York Times has a bestseller (most books…
- Television and Movies
Poll: The Worst Reality Shows
Reality shows (shows about real people or real events) have become very popular in the U.S. and worldwide. There are competition shows, shows that follow celebrities around in their daily life, and…
