Charm English Pod

Interested in taking a class with me? Group classes available at www.charmenglish.cl

Today's class was all about conditionals — specifically the part everyone gets stuck on, the if + past tense bit. I had students answer questions like "what would make you quit your job on the spot" and "in what situation would you eat a spider," and got some genuinely great answers!
We also got into was vs. were and practiced so many examples that I hope you can write down a few! Good episode if conditionals have always felt confusing to you.

In this live class, we go through several zodiac signs and read their personality descriptions: strengths, weaknesses, likes, and dislikes. Along the way we stop on vocabulary that comes up: bucolic, insatiable, aloof, condescending, martyr, altruistic, and more, plus a few idioms like "to a T," "my way or the highway," and the phrasal verb "come across as."Adjectives covered for each sign:Aries — courageous, confident, passionate / impatient, moody, aggressiveTaurus — reliable, patient, practical / stubborn, possessive, uncompromisingScorpio — resourceful, brave, loyal / distrusting, jealous, manipulativeGemini — affectionate, curious, adaptable / nervous, inconsistent, indecisivePisces — compassionate, intuitive, wise / fearful, overly trusting, escapistCapricorn — responsible, disciplined, self-controlled / know-it-all, unforgiving, condescendingAquarius — progressive, independent, humanitarian / temperamental, uncompromising, aloofSagittarius — generous, idealistic, funny / over-promising, impatient, undiplomaticVirgo — loyal, analytical, hardworking / shy, overly critical, all work no playWe also talk about pronunciation (20th, realm, dull) and go off on a few tangents (as per usual) like Jesus' birthday, the difference between the Western and Chinese zodiac, and whether people actually identify with their sign.Good for intermediate/advanced learners who want to build descriptive vocabulary for talking about personality in English.Comment your zodiac sign and let me know if the description matches you.#LearnEnglish #ESL #EnglishVocabulary #Zodiac

In this episode, I talk about life milestones and the language we use to describe the big steps and changes in our lives, from getting into university and landing your first job to falling in love, getting married, moving out, and becoming independent.
We’ll look at useful expressions like get your foot in the door, learn the ropes, find your feet, work your way up, hit it off, ask someone out, turn someone down, pop the question, tie the knot, settle down, and put down roots.
We also talk about the idea that a milestone doesn't have to be something traditionally "big." Sometimes learning a language, passing an exam, starting over somewhere new, or simply becoming happier with your life can be a milestone too.

This one started with a leak in my apartment and a new vocab word (caulking gun, if you're curious) before we got into the actual lesson — phrasal verbs about trends: catch on, sell out, opt out, fit in, stand out, water down. Real examples, live chat questions, the usual tangents.
Also covered: podcast recs by level, fluency vs. precision, why grammar clicks once you've had enough exposure to it, plus a detour into 2000s eyebrows, Y2K fashion, and why I don't pick up unknown calls anymore.
For intermediate/advanced learners trying to sound less like a textbook.

Even if you don't follow sports, you've probably used a sports idiom without realizing it. In this episode, I break down common English idioms that come from soccer, boxing, baseball, American football, and horse racing — and show how they're used way beyond the field, court, or ring.
We cover:
Move the goalposts – changing the rules or expectations after something's already started
Drop the ball – making a careless mistake or forgetting something important
The ball is in your court – it's someone's turn to act or respond
Throw in the towel – to give up (and why it's "throw in the towel," not "throw the towel")
Saved by the bell – escaping a difficult situation at the last moment
Touch base – checking in briefly with someone
Cover all the bases – making sure every possibility is considered
Neck and neck – a very close competition
Front runner – the clear leader in a competition
Kick off – to start something
Plus a couple of British English bonus phrases: score an own goal and crack on

We also talk through real-life examples — from immigration paperwork to forgetting a friend's birthday — so you can hear exactly how English speakers drop these phrases into everyday conversation, not just sports talk.
Great episode if you want to sound more natural in work meetings, casual conversations, or just understand what's going on when your English-speaking friend says the candidates are "neck and neck".
🎧 Listen now, and let me know your favorite idiom from the episode!
Keep in mind this was recorded last week so the World Cup conversation is not up-to-date :)