ESL Podcast: Here we talk about using skype to call people through the Internet. Learn about technology and great phrases for daily conversation in English. Also, we have just teamed up with justvocabulary.com and we can offer you a $5 discount on their study tools for iPods, cellphones and blackberries. They have an ESL podcast introducing 2 GRE words per show and are offering you this deal as a way of celebrating their 500th episode. Go to justvocabulary.com and type in the discount code 52e03f426e to get the discount.
Discussion forum
skype:
ESL Reading
| A: Check out this new Skype phone I just bought. I made an overseas call to mom last night and the quality was much better than using the landline. There was no delay and the voices were really clear.
B: How much does it cost to use skype? A: It’s free if you make a call through the computer to another person using skype. It costs about 2 US cents per minute to call pretty much anywhere in the world if you want to call a landline or a cell. Some places are a bit more expensive but you can check on the website. There is no monthly fee either. B: That’s way cheaper than I pay. I pay 8 cents a minute for overseas calls on my current plan, in addition to my month fee. A: That’s brutal. You should definitely switch. B: I will. It’s amazing that these phone companies are still in business.A: I think a lot of people are simply ignorant about the cheaper options. Some people aren’t Internet savvy enough to set up skype either, which is pretty pathetic in the 21st century. |
Phrases and Vocabulary used:
Skype phone: A “skype phone” is a special type of phone that you plug into your computer and use with skype. It is very similar to a regular phone.
Land line: A landline refers to a regular home or office telephone. Many people have both a landline and a cell phone.
Delay: Sometimes when there is a poor connection, there is a delay between when you speak and when the other person hears what you are saying. This happens more often during overseas calls. If the delay is long enough, it is very annoying and difficult to carry on a normal conversation.
Plan: A phone plan is a payment option. There are many different types of phone plans. Some plans offer unlimited free long distance if you pay a relatively large monthly fee. There are also different internet plans and insurance plans.
Brutal: This means “very bad”. Sometimes we use the term brutal to describe overpaying for something. “I can’t believe you paid so much for that. That was a brutal deal”
Ignorant: Ignorant means unaware. If someone doesn’t have the knowledge about something, they are said to be ignorant about this topic.
Savvy: Being savvy means being good at something. We often say “consumer savvy” or “internet savvy”. Consumer savvy means you are a good shopper and know how much to pay for things. Internet savvy means you are really good at using the Internet.
Pathetic: Pathetic means really weak or bad.
He only knows how to cook eggs. That’s pretty pathetic.
He sleeps in until noon every day and doesn’t accomplish anything. That’s so pathetic.
March 2nd, 2009 at 10:36 am
Dear Teacher
I am very apprecated with both of you that you mentioned my country \"Thailand\"
We always welcome you to visit our country…we have many attractive places for your holiday.
I am very love your website,and also try to improve my english every day.
thank you for being my online teacher.
Jamme—-Thailand
March 3rd, 2009 at 7:12 am
“Three months for sure” - Yeah! That’s the attitude.
Good choice of subject.
March 3rd, 2009 at 9:17 pm
hello every one iam abdallah from egypt i’d like to thank you very much you realy do a good jop ….go on …….i’d also like to make friends with other lister by email ..faild_man@yahoo.com
March 5th, 2009 at 10:57 am
hey guys
this is not only about this broadcast, in particular but also about the others . this is the whole idea i’ve got about your broadcast. and the interesting thing is that i’ve found this either in English teaching books (published by State)that i’ve been tought. the idea is you guys are trying to teach people some of life skills beside language and give them ideas how to do improve their life how to change their personality for a better one for example. on the contrary the books has been published by Uk publishers imply that people from other countries are not human being! and live under bruttle circumstances which is totally is a ridiculous idea. they teach language while they sneering people! as an example i can point to one of units in a book for IELTS(unfortunately i forgot the name) published in Uk, there is a list of most horrible thing which contains “marrying with a foreigner” !! gosh! i have another example that omit for brevity.
Thx you guys
on the behalf of Andrew “thx ad for keeping me alive!, or i’d like killing myself by junk food and beer”
lol
March 5th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Dear my teacher,
There is no doublt,you two are the fantastic teacher out of the schools but it is even better,beacuse you teach with using in the real life when we need to use or speak it,like your business english lessons,you know when I listen to cable tv in my country,CNBC,before I did not know what the meaning of chapter 11 but when I listen to your lessons, I completely know what they talk about the company where will be bankruptcy or went down on business,went under.
But I have some request for you to add how to spell some words or terms when you are talking in each episode,because mostly we listen to it while going to work on subway,skytrain in Thailand, so when you spell,we probalbly rememer it instanatly if we listen to it many times that I think it make your lesson be perfect due to what you have done is very fantastic way already.
Lastly, if you do not mind,please comment on my writing skills.
Your faithfully
March 9th, 2009 at 6:51 am
Hi guys! Well-done as usual !
I found you about 2 month ago and have nearly listened to all your podcasts. I do admire your amazing lessons and your lifestyle. Although there are a lot of ESL podcasts in Internet now, many of them make me feel tired. Your ones don’t !
Recently I have published my own russian website http://www.t-english.ru
It is based on my English learning experience: I’m trying to show the best way
to learn english and to give some tips to russian learners and to put best links.
In the article “Listening” I have put you, guys at 2-d place!
http://www.t-english.ru/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=54&Itemid=59#Links
But among free resources you are the best ! Congratulation !
Regards,
Taras, English learner,
your “20% group” listener
March 11th, 2009 at 5:28 am
You guys have every reason about those companies still running because most people don\’t know about the power of internet related to comunications. I think there are going to pass several years more so most of people realize the benefits of using internet. Of course it also depends of the country and its technology development. In my case, I\’ve just connected at internet four months ago and I\’ve discovered and learned a lot of things that I\’d never thought before….including this website you are running….My native language is Spanish and for me it\’s easier read english so I was trapped in english books. When I first realized that there were english spoken podcasts at internet and heard them, I understood nothing, because I never had the oportunity of listening english native speakers to practice my english skills, then I bought my mp4 player and downloaded your podcasts and I have noticed how much I\’ve improved thanks to your website.
March 12th, 2009 at 11:38 am
Hey guys, i am enjoying listening to two of you speaking in the podcast. As you brothers repeated like thounds of times, i finally leave a comment so please keep your voices up!
March 13th, 2009 at 8:58 am
Hello Big Bros
My name is Kiatichai. I love to lern from your lesson facinating. You know? I addicted your lesson pretty much and I wait for the new one like I wait for the sequel of some series.
Not only me in my country, Thailand, that love your lesson crezy, I belived that.
My listening and speaking skill are improved pretty much. My freind asked me that how could you speak english that way, yes……mans I immediately suggest them about your websits…..www.china232.com.
Maybe this comment will encourage and make you energetic to do the great lesson like this for us……..
Cheers
March 13th, 2009 at 11:29 am
Hi Two Brothers
I love your podcasts,I downlod all of them and l listen every day. Thank you very much.
March 13th, 2009 at 6:34 pm
Hi,guys
great show .Ireally appreciate your hard work
regards from egypt.
March 14th, 2009 at 10:09 am
Hi guys, you never know how enjoyable is lounging on sofa, drinking coffee or tea and to top it off listening to your great voice, very useful lessens.
March 14th, 2009 at 11:49 am
Hi.
I can\’t subscribe your podcast. Why? It appears on iTunes that your podcast is not available for brazilian people. Why. Help me with this matter, because I like you podcast very much!
Thank you very much. Both of you are amazing.
March 15th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Thank you guys for your lovely podcasts! Some of my groupmates in Uni often wonder what I’m smiling about during absolutely boring classes?! It’s all about you guys! You make my lectures more useful than ever and exciting at the same time. Wish you good luck and new achievements in your essential work!
March 25th, 2009 at 3:53 pm
hi Guys
u guys are doing a great job. thank u very much for ur great and interesting podcast. i love to listen it .
April 1st, 2009 at 6:09 am
hi guys i have a question. could you please explain me what tha means
“gonna wind up there” i heard it form a song called i wanna be a rock star.
changing the topic i am agree with you about holidays or vacation, i try every year to take six weeks at leats, now i can pay for it, some i enjoy the most i can : but you never know, how the future will be.
thank you.
April 3rd, 2009 at 8:00 pm
Hi guys,
I wanted to thank you for all your lessons. It’s been a year since i started to listen to your podcasts and I can’t describe how useful and helpful are your lessons. You make it in such a fun way. Thank you for making your podcasts exist.
All the best,
Agne
April 10th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
hii guys
thank you soooooooooooooo much you are really great the lessons are so amazing
go ahead
god bless you
bye
anna
April 14th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
The more I study with you the more I realize that you are my golden gate to English mastering. Egyptophile the romantic barbarian.