EFL PodBlog travel: Recent Episodes
EFL PodBlog travel
Listen as Sue tells Chris about her holiday in Fes, Morocco. Did she visit all the 9, 000 streets? What did she think of the Medina? How does Fes compare to other cities in Morocco? Did she buy a fes hat? What does she say about gold? What do you think surprised her? What wasn't she keen on? How many times did she eat a Tagine? Have you been to Morocco ? Let us know, we'd love to hear about your experiences.
We all have future plans, whether it’s organizing the week ahead, planning a holiday, or considering a career change. As a language learner, it can be challenging to know which structure fits best to express your ideas clearly. In this podcast, we break down the different future tenses and provide helpful examples to help you express yourself.
In this podcast, Chris helps Sue book a holiday aboard in real time, you'll hear clicks, and some mis-clicks, as they decide where to go. Sue has a budget, but not much of an idea, whereas Chris loves to surf the web to find lots of options. As a language learner, you can practice understanding flight times, dates, times, costs and destinations.
In this podcast, we are on holiday in New York! Listen as Sue chats to Laura about their holiday in The Big Apple. Not only will you hear about some of the top places to visit but also you'll hear great grammar; the Present Perfect, the Present Continuous used to describe future plans as well as current situations.... in short everything you need to talk about your trips wherever you go.
In this podcast, we take on a bet.... a travel bet! We test out which is the fastest, most reliable and cheapest way to get from Toulouse to Paris. Chris takes the car and Sue takes the plane. Which means of transport do you think comes out on top ? As a language learner you can check your comprehension with a quiz. Listen up carefully because there are lots of numbers in this podcast to test you!
In this podcast, Sue, as a European, listens in amazement to Cindy, an American from North Carolina, as she describes her everyday life living with guns in the USA. Cindy recounts why she needs to own a gun, how she practices shooting and how the constitution allows American citizens to carry an arm (and shoot) for their own protection. Whatever your view of guns, this podcast will fascinate you.
In this podcast, we proudly present our adopted city of Toulouse following the announcement that the reputed travel guide series Lonely Planet has nominated Toulouse as THE city to visit in 2025.Listen in as we run through our 20 top "must do" in the Pink City.
In this podcast we discuss an upcoming trip to the UK. What is the best thing to eat, to drink and where to go? Where's the best place for a pub quiz? Listen up and you'll find out. Lots of grammar in this podcast too. The video has pictures and questions to help you.
13, May, 2024Episode 215: Using Music to work on grammarOne way of working on grammar in English, and a great way to memorise some grammar patterns and rules is to use popular songs.Welcome to our latest episode of the English podcasts! In this captivating installment, we'll be exploring a unique approach to language learning: using music to work on grammar.NotesJoin us as we delve into the fascinating world of music and its powerful impact on grammar acquisition. From catchy tunes to rhythmic patterns, music has long been recognized as a valuable tool for enhancing language skills.In this episode, we'll uncover the science behind why music is such an effective teaching aid for grammar. We'll explore how musical elements such as melody, rhythm, and repetition can help learners internalize grammatical structures and concepts in a fun and engaging way.Recap & TakeawaysWhether you're a teacher looking to spice up your grammar lessons or a learner seeking new strategies to master language skills, this podcast is for you. Tune in as we harmonize grammar and music to create an unforgettable learning experience.So, grab your headphones, turn up the volume, and join us on this melodic journey through the world of language learning. Don't forget to subscribe and share your thoughts in the comments below. Let's explore the power of music to transform grammar learning together!Stay Tuned For Our Latest EpisodesSubscribe to our Facebook group and page, our Youtube channel and to our Instagram to get all the latest podcasts, quizzes and blog posts.Start Listening Today!View EpisodesContact Ushello@english-podcasts.comFollowFollowFollowFollow
28, April, 2024Episode 214: Mega Europe Trivia QuizThink you know about Europe? Maybe you do, maybe you don't. Test your general knowledge with some off the wall questions about culture, history and knowledge of countries, customs and cities in Europe.If you love quizing and increasing your knowledge of fun facts and trivia about Europe - this quiz will really stretch your knowledge and help get those neurons bouncing.NotesWelcome to the Mega Europe Trivia Quiz, where we embark on a journey through the diverse and fascinating continent of Europe! From the sun-kissed shores of the Mediterranean to the snow-capped peaks of the Alps, Europe is a treasure trove of history, culture, and innovation.Recap & TakeawaysIn this quiz, we'll test your knowledge on everything from famous landmarks and historical events to culinary delights and pop culture phenomena. So, gather your wits, sharpen your pencils, and get ready to uncover the secrets and surprises of Europe in this ultimate trivia challenge!Are you ready to prove your expertise and discover new tidbits about this remarkable continent? Let's dive in and see how well you know Europe!Stay Tuned For Our Latest EpisodesSubscribe to our Facebook group and page, our Youtube channel and to our Instagram to get all the latest podcasts, quizzes and blog posts.Start Listening Today!View EpisodesContact Ushello@english-podcasts.comFollowFollowFollowFollow
As part of the Australian series, this podcast takes you into the world of real Ozzie slang.... in other words, Australian informal language. Do you know what an ambo is ? Or what about "sunnies".... you shouldn't leave home without them in Australia ! Listen as Laura tests Sue on her knowledge (or rather lack of knowledge !) about Ozzie slang. See if you can find the Ozzie slang word for these words. For an extra challenge they are not in the order mentioned in the podcast :).
Following the series of podcasts about Australia, this one is devoted to the best holiday things to do and to expect. Is Australia on your bucket list ? Over 5 million people visit Australia every year. It's certainly a long way from everywhere, but is it worth making the effort to fly for hours to get there? This podcast will outline the recommendations and some of the things to avoid. But first get in the mood with this quiz, there are general knowledge questions and for language learners some comprehension questions to help with the podcast.
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Australia Holiday Podcast Quiz This quiz comprises of 10 general knowledge questions and 10 podcast comprehension questions.
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Have a good day Mate !
Recently a marketing company carried out a survey to find out which city people perceived as being the best in the world..... and Sydney came out on top !While on holiday there Sue caught up with Laura, who's been living there for the past three and a half years, to see if the city really does live up to the hype.
Desert Island Discs is a radio programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4. It was first broadcast on the BBC Forces Programme on 29 January 1942.Each week a guest, called a "castaway" during the programme, is asked to choose eight recordings, a book and a luxury item that they would take if they were to be cast away on a desert island, whilst discussing their life and the reasons for their choices.Here, it's Chris' turn to talk about his eight favourite tracks and what they mean to him, so there is a lot of reminiscing about the past and fond memories evoked by music.
Desert Island Discs is a radio programme broadcast on BBC Radio 4. It was first broadcast on the BBC Forces Programme on 29 January 1942.Each week a guest, called a "castaway" during the programme, is asked to choose eight recordings, a book and a luxury item that they would take if they were to be cast away on a desert island, whilst discussing their life and the reasons for their choices.Here, Susan talks about her eight favourite tracks and what they mean to her, so there is a lot of reminiscing about the past and fond memories evoked by music.
Listen to Bastien talk about his bucket list with Chris.
Listen to more bucket list podcasts by searching the term 'bucket list' in the search bar.
Have you ever heard of the term, "Vanlife?" or rather the hashtag #Vanlife ?
It is a growing trend where people convert vans to a fully contained living area that enables them to travel and work virtually anywhere in the world whilst pursuing their dream of travel, discovery and adventure.
Listen to Chris telling Sue about a project that he has to buy and convert a van for a future tour that will include every European capital city, whilst working at distance, making cinematic travel videos, podcasts and a blog alongside the discovery of grassroots ecological projects throughout Europe that seek to protect the environment.
Ahead of the Climate crisis meeting with world leaders, COP26 in Glasgow in October 2021, Chris talks to Renu, who lives in India, about how India is going green.
Air pollution in India is a serious health issue, of the 30 most polluted cities in the world, 21 were in India in 2019, but are things getting better?
The Indian government has pledged to eliminate all single use plastics by 2022 - they have one year to go - but just how are they doing?
India generates 25,940 tonnes of plastic waste every day - that sounds a lot, right? But, just what does that figure mean?
It is the weight of 9,000 Asian elephants - every day!
88 Boeing 747 jets - every day!
Of this 10,746 tonnes is uncollected plastic waste and 66% of this waste is generated by 60 cities and 50% of this waste comes from 5 cities :Kolkata, Bengaluru, Chennai, Mumbai, Delhi.
This all sounds alarming, and it is, but India is the 15th biggest polluter in the world
Listen to Chris and Renu talking about Renu's project, empowering women in India.
Renu was born in UK and practiced as a UK Lawyer for 10 years. She qualified with an MSc in Ayurveda in 2006 from London and has been an Ayurveda Practitioner and Teacher since then. Renu offers Ayurveda wellness consultations and classes online.
Renu is a writer, blogger and podcaster covering both Ayurveda, Yoga, Wellness and other areas of social interest.
She is the founder and visionary of a sustainability and womens empowerment initiative ‘Stree’ in Rishikesh at the foothills of the Himalayas. Stree has a store in Rishikesh which holds ethically made products from garments to bags to home use products
To receive Ayurveda Consultations and Classes or to purchase Stree products please vist www.streewellness.com
A few days in New York.
Have you ever been to New York ? Is it on your list of things to do ? Do you like big cites ? Do you live in the USA? What do you think of tourists to your country?
Listen to this podcast in which Laura, a French-British young women talks to Sue about her holiday, or vacation as they say in American English.
If you are learning English listen very carefully to how Laura talks about her trip. She is half way through her holiday so notice how she describes actions/events in the past and then actions/events in the recent past and then actions/ events in the future. This podcast is a great way to see all these grammatical structures.
Notice the use of the Simple Past tense to indicate something that Laura did in the past.
I booked the hotel on line. I bought a Tourist pass before I came
Sue asks Laura; How did you cope with the jet leg when you arrived?
Notice the use of the Present Perfect tense which Laura uses to describe something she has done recently, within the last few days but without mentioning the exact day.
I have been to see the Statue of Liberty. I've done so many things. I have taken a cab. I've been to wrong places. I have been to Five Guys. I've spoken to quite a few people from new York.
Notice the use of the Present Continuous tense to describe a current situation.
Sue asks Laura: How are you getting around ?
People in the street are all carrying a cup of soda or coffee.
Notice the use of the future tenses.
Sue asks Laura: What are you doing after this diner? When are you heading back ?
I'm going to visit Brooklyn Bridge and the Highline later this afternoon.
To learn more vocabulary don't forget to do the New York Skyline Quiz... it's awesome !
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The New York Skyline Quiz The New York skyline is world famous, but how well do you really know it ?
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Rishikesh has been a part of the legendary "Kedarkhand" - Legends state that Lord Rama did penance here for killing Ravana, the asura king of Lanka; and Lakshmana, his younger brother, crossed the river Ganges, using two jute ropes at the point where the present 'Lakshman Jhula' stands today.
Dehra Dun said about Rishikesh, " A village or town beautifully situated on the right bank of the Ganges, on a high cliff overlooking the river. The place is developing very rapidly, especially since the construction of the new bridge over the Song river, the realignment of the pilgrim road from Raiwala to Rishikesh."
The Ganges, one of the most sacred rivers to Hindus, flows through Rishikesh. Here the river leaves the Shivalik Hills in the Himalayas and flows into the plains of northern India.
Several temples, ancient and new, are along the banks of the Ganges in Rishikesh. Shatrughna Mandir, Bharat Mandir (Lord Vishnu's avatar), Lakshman Mandir are the ancient temples established by Adi Shankaracharya. Shatrughna Temple is near Ram Jhula and Lakshman Mandir is situated near Lakshman Jhula.
The historical records mention that some pilgrims used to stay at Rishikesh as a resting place before moving onwards to the higher mountains for the pilgrimage while a larger number used to visit Rishikesh as the original destination and visited various sites between Rishikesh and Lakshman Jhula before returning.
However, Rishikesh has in recent decades shifted from a pilgrim to a tourist town. The International Yoga Festival introduced in 2000 has brought a new influx of tourists. Local markets have evolved from commercialising goods such as "local and religious handicrafts" to a more service-oriented tourist industry with "provision stores, cafes, hotels and yoga and meditation" as well as rafting
Listen to Chris talking to Renu, who has lived in Rishikesh for a number of years, about the town, the region and things of interest, but also of being an expat in India. In later podcasts we will be looking at being an expat in India and France, ayuverda and lots of information about India.
A bucket list is a list of activities or things that people really want to do before they die, as depicted by Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman in the 2007 film of the same name, where two people realise their wildest dreams.
In this podcast Sue and Chris talk about a Bucket lists.
Before listening, do you know what bucket lists are?
While listening.
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Does Sue want to swim with dolphins?
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Where does Chris want to go for his bucket list?
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Where does Sue say she thinks the Northern Lights are?
Listen to the podcast and try the following :
First relax, sit down, close your eyes then listen to the podcast all the way through. Note down some ideas of what you expect the Podcast will be about. If needed have a look on the Internet for the keyword, 'Bucket Lists' to prepare yourself for the listening. Listen to JUST Sue, ignoring Chris and try to work out globally what her questions and comments are. (you won't understand everything, so there is no point trying at this point.) Listen to just Chris as above. Now go back and listen to Sue - take a sheet of paper, draw a line down the middle, on the left of the paper, write any ideas that you have of what Sue was talking about. Now do the same for Chris. Now listen to the podcast all the way through THEN write down any more ideas that you have about the podcast. Leave the podcast for a day or two, then come back and listen. Do you understand any more than from the first session of listening you did? How do you rate the difficulty level for you? (Too difficult at the moment / A challenge / I understand enough). When will you return to this podcast to check your listening progress?
Remember :
You won't understand everything you hear. There is a lot of regular work to do to tune your ear into Real English - you need to work on listening regularly. NEVER write notes at the same time that you are listening. ALWAYS - try to set yourself realistic objectives. REMEMBER - this is just a part of your learning and you need to be able to connect this work with your other work. This is REAL English - we don't believe that slow, over-articulated speech prepares learners for the real world - you may be able to understand an audio extract that is spoken slowly, but what good is that if you don't understand real people in real situations. At english-podcasts.com we want to help you to be ready for the real world - it will be difficult at first, but later you will feel the benefit - it is just pure, common sense.
Why not try this quiz to give you ideas as to what to put on your Bucket list.
The travel bet The travel bet - which is quicker, public transport or the car?
have you ever wondered if you should give up your car journey in favour of using public transport?
Which is the cheapest way to travel?
Follow Chris and Sue as they bet on the quickest way to get from a city in Southern France to the capital, Paris.
Listen to the podcast, The travel bet first, then try the quiz.
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The travel bet
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Listen to Jean-François talk about his bucket list for travel - places he has been, where he wants to go and why he wants to so there.
If you could travel anywhere, where would you go and why?
If you would like to be featured for your bucket list or your travel bucket list, get in contact we would love to talk to you.
Sue talks to Chris about some of his experiences in India, including a bucket-list experience seeing wild elephants in the jungle, but what else did he do?
Here are some explanations of some of the vocabulary used in the podcast.
Return to the podcast Experience off the beaten track India
Sue talks to Chris about some of his experiences in India, including a bucket-list experience seeing wild elephants in the jungle, but what else did he do?
Some of the vocabulary used in the podcast explained
The symbols of Australia The symbols of Australia include the flag, national colours, the coat of arms and the national anthem, but there are many other things that make up the symbols of Australia - listen to Sue interview an Australian about the symbols of Australia. The Australian Flag
The stars of the Southern Cross represent Australia's geographic position in the Southern Hemisphere. The large Commonwealth star symbolises the federation of the states and territories, and the Union Jack reflects Australia's early ties to Great Britain. The National Colours Australia's national colours are green and gold, the colours of its national floral emblem, the Golden Wattle. The Coat of Arms The Australian coat of arms consists of a shield containing the badges of the six Australian states symbolising federation, and the national symbols of the Golden Wattle, the kangaroo and the emu. By popular tradition, the kangaroo is accepted as the national animal emblem. The Golden Wattle was proclaimed the national floral emblem in August 1988. National Anthem Advance Australia Fair has been Australia's official national anthem since 19 April 1984. National Day Australia Day is celebrated each year on 26 January. The date is the anniversary of the unfurling of the British flag at Sydney Cove in 1788. National Holidays Australia has 12 public holidays a year, including New Year's Day, Australia Day and Anzac Day. An Australian soldier carries a wounded comrade near North Beach, Gallipoli (AWM H10363)
DID YOU KNOW? Anzac Day, 25 April, is a national day of commemoration for all Australians who have fought in wars. It is the day the Australia and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) landed at Gallipoli in Turkey in 1915 during World War I. To mark Anzac Day, Australians and New Zealanders attend ceremonies at home and around the world, including in Gallipoli. In 2015, Australia marked the centenary of the Anzac landing with a ceremony at Gallipoli.
Drawn from the collection of the National Museum of Australia, the Symbols of Australia exhibition explored some of the symbols Australians have chosen to represent themselves and their nation.
Australia — both ancient continent and recent nation — is represented by many symbols. National symbols are often used to represent a distinctive national identity. Some symbols endure, others fade away and new symbols develop as attitudes and values change. Often a source of unity and pride, symbols can also divide and exclude.
The Australian flag is legislated as an official symbol. Others, like the kangaroo and wattle, have changed from popular to official symbols over time. The boomerang was a symbol of the continent long before the nation came into being. In the 20th century, the Sydney Harbour Bridge came to symbolise Australia’s spectacular attractions, while the Holden car became an emblem of the everyday.
Text courtesy of Australian Government department of foreign affairs & Trade
Planning a holiday getaway Planning a holiday getaway - have you ever tried to book a holiday on line?
It's pretty confusing, isn't it?
Listen to Chris and Sue go through the different options, flights and prices, while they are planning a holiday getaway.
There's a lot of detailed information in this podcast, so you may need to listen several times.
This podcast is a great way to practice number comprehension; listen out for the times of flights, the dates of the holiday, the holiday budget, and the times of the stopovers.
There's plenty of work do with this one.
Planning a holiday getaway is a great way to boost your morale in these cold winter months.
Where would you prefer to go on holiday?
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Canada - The second largest country in the world Did you know that Canada - is the second largest country in the world?
Did you know that the name 'Canada' comes from the Huron-Iroquois word 'Kanata', meaning 'village' or 'settlement'?
Did you know that there are 6 different time zones across Canada?
The Canadian Royal Mint created a coin with the face value of $1 Million. The coin itself is made of 99.99% gold and weighs over 220 lbs (100 kgs).
About 30% of Canada's total landmass is occupied by forest.
Canada's flag became official on February 15, 1965, almost 100 years after it became a country in 1867. Canada has used approximately 13 different flag designs since 1497 before the Maple Leaf.
The Canada / USA border is the longest international border in the world without any military defences.
After Paris, Montreal is the largest French speaking city in the world.
Basketball was invented by Canadian James Naismith in 1891.
Canada has more lakes than any other country in the world.
60% of the world's polar bear population live in Canada.
Canadians use British English spelling and not American spelling.
Queen Elizabeth II is the Canadian Head of State.
For more facts about Canada, have a listen to this podcast where Sue interviews Judy and Barbara, two proud Canadian ladies, over for a stay in France.
Sébastien asks Meyer about her job and life in South Africa Sébastien, a French doctor from Paris interviews a South African about her life and work in South Africa, where she teaches English in a Zulu school.
Sébastien met Meyer, whilst on holiday and he clearly had EFL PodBlog foremost in his mind when he interviewed her - well done Sébastien.
We are grateful for this Guest Podcast - Sébastien asks Meyer about her job and life in South Africa and welcome others to do something like this.
Meyer comes from Piet Retief, in South Africa, near Swaziland - here is what Wiki has to say about it :
Piet Retief is a town situated in a timber growing region in Mpumalanga province, South Africa.
It is the seat of the Mkhondo Local Municipality, located not far from the Swaziland border.
The town was founded by the Voortrekkers in 1883 and named it after the Voortrekker leader, Piet Retief, who was killed by the Zulus under their King Dingane's orders after he tried to settle on their land.
In 1886, the inhabitants of the town declared the Klein Vrystaat (Little Free State), which contained a population of only 72. This republic existed until 1891, when it was incorporated into the South African Republic.
The town became a municipality in 1932, with its main tourist attraction is the Dutch Reformed Church that was designed by the architect Gerard Moerdijk and built in 1921.
Some more information on Piet Retief.
If, you would like to make a podcast and have it published here on EFL PodBlog and on iTunes, then go here.
We will edit, add an intro and end to the podcast - you don't have to worry about that.
If you would like us to add music or sound effects, we can do that too.
Very Bad Trip - Stephen Ever had one of those trips where everything seems to be going wrong?
When even as you get into the airport, you just know that it's not going to be your day?
If you think about for a moment, it's probably quite a common thing.
I mean, we are herded through corridors, security and passport checks, set off our luggage, trusting that we will ever see it again, without a care in the world.
Then we join a shuffling queue, before being ushered up a shaky metal staircase or along something that resembles a metal caterpillar, and willing enter a metal tube that propels us at many hundreds of kilometers an hour through the sky at alarming heights.
Sometimes we are closer to snoring strangers than we would care to be, as well as microbes and bacteria that are sneezed and coughed into the confined airspace that would challenge even the mightiest antibiotics.
We then suck sweets to reduce the pressure in our ears, drink something and maybe eat something that we aren't always sure of, before bumping along a specially-made tarmac road and then making our way along endless corridors, up and down steps to a carousel, where our luggage (if we are lucky) has amazingly arrived before us.
And we generally love all of this - all in the name of travel or holidays...
Listen to Susan talking to Stephen, whom she caught up with at the airport as he was preparing to take another flight.
Stephen talks about one particularly bad trip that he went on to a Greek island. Before listening:
Think about the possible problems that could occur on a flight.
On this very bad trip - Stephen mentions some of the problems that he encountered.
After listening:
What was the main cause of the ordeals that they went though?
If you have had a very bad trip, why not tell others about it in the comments or send us a podcast and we'll share it with our listeners.
Travelling in Burma - Nicola Listen to the podcast - Travelling in Burma - Nicola - where she talks about the time that she entered, Myanmar, when it was closed off to the outside world and her meeting with a tribe, the Kachin, in the middle of the jungle. Myanmar, also known as Burma, was long considered a pariah state, isolated from the rest of the world with an appalling human rights record. From 1962 to 2011, the country was ruled by a military junta that suppressed almost all dissent and wielded absolute power in the face of international condemnation and sanctions.
The generals who ran the country stood accused of gross human rights abuses, including the forcible relocation of civilians and the widespread use of forced labour, including children.
The first general election in 20 years was held in 2010. This was hailed by the junta as an important step in the transition from military rule to a civilian democracy, though opposition groups alleged widespread fraud and condemned the election as a sham.
The largest ethnic group is the Burman or Bamar people, distantly related to the Tibetans and Chinese. Burman dominance over Karen, Shan, Rakhine, Mon, Rohingya, Chin, Kachin and other minorities has been the source of considerable ethnic tension and has fuelled intermittent protests and separatist rebellions.
Military offensives against insurgents have uprooted many thousands of civilians. Ceasefire deals signed in late 2011 and early 2012 with rebels of the Karen and Shan ethnic groups suggested a new determination to end the long-running conflicts, as did a draft ceasefire agreement signed between the government and all 16 rebel groups in March 2015.
Myanmar's wealth of Buddhist temples has boosted the increasingly important tourism industry, which is the most obvious area for any future foreign investment.
Source : BBC News
Living Abroad - Phoebe Listen to Phoebe, who has travelled and lived abroad for a number of years, as she talks about some of her experiences of living in different countries and getting to know the cultures.
After listening, try and answer the following questions :
Where was the second country Phoebe lived in? What job did she do in Moscow? Has she returned to live back in England? Did she live in a low-rise apartment in Dubai?
A Columbian Living in France Listen to Mauricio, a Columbian, who has been living in France for the last 8 years, where he talks about adapting to a new culture and language, plus all what he misses from back home.
Some of the things that he misses is the food from Columbia, such as; Bandeja Paisa, Ajiaco and Empanadas.
Here is a link to some Columbian Food for those who are curious to see what it is all about.
Photo AP Running The New York Marathon The New York City Marathon (branded TCS New York City Marathon and formerly branded ING New York City Marathon for sponsorshipreasons) is an annual marathon (42.195 km or 26.219 miles) that courses through the five boroughs of New York City.
It is the largest marathon in the world, with 50,304 finishers in 2013.
Along with the Boston Marathon and Chicago Marathon, it is among the pre-eminent long-distance annual running events in the United States and is one of the World Marathon Majors.
The race is organized by New York Road Runners Club and has been run every year since 1970, with the exception of 2012, due to landfall of Hurricane Sandy.
In past years, it has been sponsored by the financial group ING.
In 2014, Tata Consultancy Services, a multinationalinformation technology (IT) service, consulting, and business solutions company headquartered in India, began an eight-year term as the title sponsor.
It is held on the first Sunday of November and attracts professional competitors and amateurs from all over the world.
Because of the popularity of the race, participation is chosen largely by a lottery system.
Runners who are members of NYRR can gain entry by meeting the qualifications for guaranteed entry or via nomination from an official running club.
Olivier ran the NY Marathon with his running mate Pierre - listen to him speak to Susan about his experiences in Running The New York Marathon.
For more on the NYC Marathon have a look here.
Travel - Charles Couchsurfing Listen to Charles talk about his experiences of travelling and couchsurfing.
Couchsurfing International Inc. is a hospitality exchange and social networking website.
The website provides a platform for members to "surf" on couches by staying as a guest at a host's home, host travelers, or join an event.
J'irai dormir à Hollywood - A French documentary, in English, where the main 'star' spontaneously asks people to put him up in their homes.
Helen - Friendship Force Listen to Helen, a Canadian, talk about her travel experiences throughout the world with Friendship Force and other ways that she has travelled, including driving around The UK in a VW Combi.
Friendship Force International provides opportunities to explore new countries and cultures from the inside by bringing people together at the personal level. Through the signature program of home hospitality, local hosts welcome international visitors into their culture, sharing with them meals, conversation, and the best sights and experiences of their region.
Listen to Jon talk about his bucket list and one thing that he has already ticked-off of his previous bucket list.
This is particularly accessible for low-level or beginners.
Have you ever lived in a foreign country?
Have you ever had experiences of living or working in a different culture?
Listen to the Rebecca, an Australian, talking about her experiences of living in several countries and the cultural and linguistic hurdles she had to over come.
Surprising Incredible India Listen to Sue interview Chris about his recent trip to India and especially about what surprised him.
During his travels in India, Chris went to Bangalore in the south and then to Rajasthan in the north, to The Taj Mahal in Agra, Fatihpur Sikri, Bundi, Udaipur, Jodhpur, Delhi and Jaipur, to name but a few of the fabulous places he visited.
What do you think would be the most surprising aspects of travelling in India?
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See some photos of Incredible India here
Serge on holiday in the west of The USA Serge on holiday in the west of The USA - a podcast with a French person who spent 3 weeks travelling around the National Parks in the west of The USA.
Serge flew from Toulouse, France to Denver, Colorado via Paris, Heathrow and Chicago.
Would this type of holiday / trip appeal to you?
Are there any surprises for you, about a holiday in North America?
Ahmed - my country Today we podcasted Ahmed, who now lives in France, about life in his country, how he left his country and what he misses from back home.
This is a podcast for English learners and is non-political, non-religious and has no views on any issues that may be raised by listeners and speakers on the site.
10 surprising things about Cape Town
Do you sometimes go on holiday and are surprised by what you find there? Away from the usual tourist attractions everyday life can be so different from your home town.
What do you know about Cape Town ?
Politics ? Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years first in Robben Island and then in other prisons around Cape Town. Since the end of Apartheid Cape Town has become a vibrant melting pot.
Geography ? The landscape is dramatic thanks to the imposing sight of Table Mountain.
Wine ? The land around Cape Town is home to many vineyards producing first class wine.
Shopping ? The shops in the Waterfront centre are some of the best in the world.
The sea ? The dramatic coast line is home to penguins, sharks and whales.
But in this podcast Sue talks about what surprised her about her trip to Cape Town in South Africa. These photos may help with some of the vocabulary.
This is a photo of the Hen Party which surprised Sue. Can you imagine what a Hen Party is and why it was surprising ? Why was the guide cross with these girls?
This is the weather down at the Cape of Good Hope. How does Sue describe it?
What surprised Sue about the statues in Cape Town ?
This is a poster about the water issue. How many liters of water are people supposed to use a day in order to cut down on water consumption? What exactly is Day Zero ?
This is a car guard, what were Sue's impressions about crime in Cape Town ?
Can you guess the city? From the description, can you guess the city?
Answers in the comments please and do tell us how you arrived at your answer.
Three items on my Bucket List - Merry Three items on my Bucket List - Merry came in today to tell us a little about what three things are at the very top of her bucket list.
She is just starting out with learning English and we are both very pleased and grateful to welcome her along to record a podcast at EFL PodBlog.
"Some people die at 25 years old and aren't buried until they are 75 years old." Benjamin Franklin
“Every man dies — Not every man really lives.” ~ William Ross What is a Bucket List? If you haven’t heard about the term “bucket list”, it is a list of all the goals you want to achieve, dreams you want to fulfill and life experiences you desire to experience before you die, or kick the bucket - hence the name "Bucket List."
Here is a podcast asking just that question, "What is a bucket list?" Why Create a Bucket List? If you don’t live your days by personal goals and plans, the chances are that you will spend most of your time caught up in a the humdrum routine or the rat-race of everyday life.
Have you ever had the feeling that your days and your life is just passing you by in such a rate of knots, without any tangible results to speak about?
What did you accomplish in the past 3 months / 6 months, 12 months, 3 years?
What are your upcoming goals for the next 3 months / 6 months, 12 months, 3 years?
Look at the things you did and the things you’re planning to do next — Do they mean anything to you if you were to die today?
Having a bucket list reminds you of what’s really important in life so you can act on them.
A bucket list helps hone your goals and ambitions into a set of achievable, 'I-really-want-to-do-this' steps - now how exciting is that!
It’s just like planning ahead all the highlights that you want to be featured in the rest of your life.
The objective of creating this list isn’t to instill some kind of a race against time or to create aversion toward death. I don’t see our existence to be limited to just our physical years on earth — I don’t see our existence to be limited to just our physical years on earth — our physical lifespan is but a short speck of our existence in the universe.
The whole point of creating your list is to maximize every moment of our existence and live your life to the fullest.
It is a reminder of all the things we want to achieve in our time here on this planet, so that instead of wasting away our time on pointless activities, we are directing our lives fully towards what really matters to us.
Have a look for some ideas on Bucket Lists Here
My bucket list - Mylène Listen to Mylène talking about what she has on her bucket list.
She also says that her bucket list changes through time, as she achieves some of the things on her bucket list, other things are added, so it becomes a lifelong journey.
A list of activities someone wants to do before he or she dies is often called a bucket list, because it is a list of things a person wants to do before they "kick the bucket" - which is a slang term for to die'.
From kick the bucket (“to die”) + list, hence a “list of things to do before you die”.
The term was coined by American and British screenwriter Justin Zackham in his screenplay for the 2007 film The Bucket List.
Zackham had created his own list called “Justin’s List of Things to Do Before I Kick the Bucket” which he then shortened to “Justin’s Bucket List”.
The first item on his list was to have a screenplay produced at a major Hollywood studio.
After a time, it occurred to him that the notion of a “bucket list” could itself be fodder for a film, so he wrote a screenplay about two dying men racing to complete their own bucket lists with the time they had left. Articles about the movie are the earliest known uses.
A bucket list is a great way to stay focused on the things that you really want to achieve in your life and is a way of setting goals for all those things that we really want to do or aim for - before it is too late.
To find out more, listen to this podcast about what a bucket list really is, and if you are looking for inspiration for your own bucket list, have a listen to this podcast with 20 Unusual Bucket List Ideas. More ideas for your Bucket List.