💬 Show Notes Dive into the crafty world of crochet and the imaginative realms of tabletop gaming in this cozy episode of American Slang with our returning favorite, Helen. From the comforting click of a crochet hook to the roll of dice in Dungeons and Dragons, Helen takes us through her top hobbies which are stitching together communities and sparking creativity off-screen. Whether she’s unraveling yarn on the train or conjuring characters in Dungeons & Dragons, Helen's passions are a...

Welcome to today’s podcast where we will talk to Paige Poole about Alabama’s culture, history, and language.  I met Paige through work since we are both Virtual Educators for the Department of State’s English language programs.  I had heard her being interviewed in a podcast in Spanish and really wanted to have her on the podcast after hearing her fascinating stories.  In this episode she shares about her hometown, and some anecdotes about growing up in Alabama and how living abroad changed...

In this episode, I interview Ivan Crespo, an ESL pronunciation and communication teacher and Ph.D. student in Curriculum & Instruction at the University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign. In this episode, Ivan shares some differences he has noticed between American culture and Brazilian culture.  He also shares the most common idioms and expressions he hears Americans using on campus and we discuss the academic lifestyle and some fascinating aspects of American culture and language in the...

In this episode, I interview Misha Sanborn, a potter from Maine. She tells us about her passion for clay, for making pots, and the satisfaction that comes from making everyday art. Check out the transcript for idioms!

In this episode, we hear about the lively culture in New Orleans, Louisiana from Elena Mutonono. Share the episode with your friends! In this episode, we hear about the lively culture in New Orleans, Louisiana from Elena Mutonono.  Elena goes into the overall vibe of New Orleans and tells us about what it is like to live there.  She explains how the city “gets into you” and it is difficult to leave because there are so many advantages to living in such a diverse place in the United States. ...

In this episode, Cami S. talks about Seattle culture, slang, lifestyle, and fashion. She brings so much insight to the episode and shows us how Seattle weather is related to the language and style. Also, she mentions the varied terms that Seattle residents use to describe the rain, which reminded me of anthropological linguistics. Cami also shows us how the music scene shapes the language, fashion, and culture in Seattle. If you want to find Cami, here is her...

In this podcast episode, we explore the slang and local jargon used in Iowa. Symon and Anne share some unique Iowa expressions and what they mean. They discuss the use of "bro" and how it has made a comeback, but in the classroom, Symon prefers to be addressed by his formal name, Mr. Sanborn. They also talk about "Kaipo" which is the name of the company that provides Porta Potties in Iowa, and how people use it as a substitute for the term "Porta Potty." The highlight of the conversations is...

Today, I interview Hanna, an online English teacher who is a ball of positive energy.  She specializes in teaching natural English as it is spoken in everyday life in the United States.  She also speaks Spanish and has been studying Chinese for the last 1.5 years.  I think you are going to love the unique expressions she teaches us today and we’ll also hear a little about her lifestyle in Houston, Texas. You can read the podcast transcript on my website. In this episode, Hanna and I have a...

The latest podcast episode will be particularly fascinating for those who are forever entranced by American culture and language. My guest, Angie talks about language as a living, and breathing phenomenon that is constantly evolving. She mentions how humans are deliberately creating new words, playing with language, and changing the meaning and shape of words. The postmodern theme of rupturing the status quo by creating words that capture the moment of that particular time-space reality also...

In this episode, Helen and I talk about slang words that are circulating the internet, viral memes, and funny acronyms that are spoken.  Online spaces have truly changed the way people are speaking English. Even dating apps have created some new phrases and ways of expressing ideas in American English.  Listen to this episode and give us your opinion about whether or not you think we are dumbing down American English by shortening many words and expressions into acronyms.  Read the...

In this episode, I interview Danié, a Mexican artist who uses braiding as a call for human unification in times of social transformation.  She is the co-founder of “The Bazaar for good,” a foundation to help create better conditions for children around the world. She is fluent in Spanish, English, and French and was born in Mexico City and currently lives in the United States, in Dallas, but spent years living in Miami as well. Quite a global citizen, Danié has also resided in Toronto,...

In this episode, I interview Helen, a native Californian who currently lives in the Bay Area and works with equity and human rights issues, working to provide housing for people in her community to find stability and to thrive.  Helen majored in Ethnic Studies at the University of California-Berkley and then went on to get a Master’s in Education in Curriculum & Instruction with a focus in trauma and resilience studies.  In this episode, Helen tells us about a number of slang words that...

This is an episode about NYC slang and the words that you can commonly hear spoken in the Big Apple.  I interview Allison, a fellow English teacher in Spain who is bilingual and is a native New Yorker.  We talk about the lifestyle and cultural differences between Spain and New York City and also about the kind of culture shock she experienced when she arrived.Then, she tells about typical slang words that are an integral part of her vocabulary.  She tells many stories about using the words in...