Throughout history, there have been incredible survival stories that demonstrate what people have inside them to stay alive under the absolute worst circumstances. From being stranded in the middle of the ocean and surrounded by sharks to resorting to cannibalism in the freezing mountains, these tragic stories remind us not only of the fragility of life but also the willpower and tenacity it takes to survive when it seems that all hope is lost. Join us for this episode as we discuss...

A pun is a joke that exploits or ties in the different possible meanings of a word or that there are words that sound alike but have different meanings. These are typically pretty cheesy and are most usually seen in the form of “dad jokes” which make us reluctantly chuckle and roll our eyes. Join us for this episode of the podcast as we discuss some of the most clever, cheesy and downright lamest puns that exist. Read the full transcript here:...

Folk tales are basically stories that have both elements of truth and myth that are passed down from generation to generation and they end up becoming a really important part of history in some cases. They usually have multiple authors and so the story is changed as it is passed down from generation to generation. Join us for this episode as we discuss some commonly know North American folktales such as Johnny Appleseed, John Henry, and more. Read the full transcript here:...

California is the most populous state in the United States and is synonymous with sunshine, Hollywood stars, and laid-back vibes. From major cities like Los Angeles and San Francisco to its beautiful beaches, mountains, and redwood forests, this iconic state has a little bit of something for everyone to enjoy. In today’s episode, we sit down and chat with our special guest and California native, Maggie Gallagher, as she tells us the good, the bad, and the tasty of California. Read the...

Would you rather have all traffic lights you approach be green or never have to stand in line again? Would you rather travel the world for a year on a shoestring budget or stay only in one country for a year but live in complete luxury? These are just a couple of examples of “would you rather” questions that are intended to represent hypothetical situations in which you have to choose between two decisions that can be strange, difficult, or just downright crazy. There are no wrong...

Despite COVID vaccinations continuing to roll out worldwide, we are continuing to see more breakthrough cases of people becoming infected with new variants such as Delta and hospitals are once again filling up with mostly unvaccinated or unhealthy patients. Unfortunately, one of these breakthrough cases includes our very own Paige who got infected a few weeks ago and thankfully recovered quickly due to being vaccinated and healthy. Join us for today’s episode as we talk about Paige’s...

In recent weeks, the Islamic-militant group known as the Taliban has seized power in Afghanistan as the United States military continues its complete withdrawal from the country after almost twenty years of a devastating and costly war. Thousands of Afghans and others have rushed to the airport hoping to escape the country in fear of what the return of the Taliban will bring, with some so desperate that they have fallen to their deaths while clinging to US military planes as they leave...

In today’s episode we’ll continue talking about. more common idioms in English. Expressions such as “hit the nail on the head”, “cut to the chase” and “up in the air”. Tune in to find out what these idioms mean and how to use them. As always, read the transcript as you listen here: https://www.dynamicenglish.cl/coffee-with-gringos-podcast-clases-particulares-de-ingles/episode-150-common-idioms-2

Business buzzwords are terms that are regularly used in business to gain attention, boost morale, and describe situations within an industry or corporate culture. While they can be unknown and confusing at first, understanding and correctly using buzzwords can help you engage with coworkers and clients and add variety to your professional lexicon. Tune in to this week’s episode as we go through some commonly used business buzzwords and how they can help you elevate your workplace...

What do Silly Putty, Furbies, and “Goosebumps” books all have in common? Being incredibly popular and successful fads in the 1990s that came and went with the decade. These short-lived trends are just a few of many that live forever in the minds of those who are old enough to remember them and in many cases, also collecting dust somewhere in the attic (looking at you, Beanie Babies…). Tune in to this week’s episode as we are joined by special guest, Cat Flynn, in discussing some of our...

Following its biggest anti-government protests in more than thirty years, the people of the tiny island nation of Cuba have been taking to the streets demanding aid from the government as the country suffers from food and medicine shortages, rising inflation, lack of vaccines, and a sixty-year embargo with the US that has crippled the lives of its people. Will President Miguel Díaz Canel and the Cuban government provide what the people are asking for or will they continue to ignore them...

After being postponed for a year due to COVID-19, the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics are officially underway with thousands of athletes, officials, and journalists pouring into the Japanese capital for the most anticipated international multi-sport event in the world. However, with rising positive COVID-19 cases, social distancing protocols, and no spectators allowed at the events, this year’s historic games will be different than any before. Join us for today’s episode as we talk all...

Hawaii is the world’s largest island chain, located in the Pacific Ocean about 2,000 miles off the coast from the United States mainland which became the US’s newest and 50th state in 1959. With its tropical climate, beautiful beaches, rainforests, volcanoes, seafood, etc., Hawaii has long been a popular destination for honeymooners, surfers, families, and retirees trying to escape the boredom and craziness of mainland life. Join us for today's episode as we discuss Ian’s recent trip...

Thirteen years ago, the incredibly famous and successful pop star Britney Spears suffered from a mental breakdown which led her to be admitted into a psych ward and placed under a conservatorship. Under this conservatorship, her father has the legal right to control essentially every decision of her life—from her finances to visiting her own children and even preventing her from getting off of her birth control in order to have more children. Recently, Britney has expressed her desire...

An alter ego is a person’s secondary or alternative identity, that happens to be different from a person's normal or true personality. We see many people take on the role of an alter ego from actors and musicians to superheroes as a way to express themselves in ways that they feel that they can’t with their true identities. They can help one’s career take off to great success or see themselves get pigeon-holed into one character. Join us for today’s episode as we discuss some commonly...

One of the most challenging parts of the English language is that it’s filled with verbs that essentially have the same meaning, but are used in different situations or contexts. Some common examples include “know” and “meet”, “watch” and “look” and “win” and “earn”, among many others. While it can be confusing to know how to choose the right verb, doing so will help you feel more confident and take your fluency to the next level. Join us for today’s episode as we discuss some of the...

Have you ever wondered what your ancestors were like? Did they immigrate from a foreign country to where you live now? What was life like for them in the past? These are common questions that get mentioned when talking about genealogy—your family’s history. With advanced genealogy and DNA testing more readily available than ever, it is now easy and affordable to find out more about one’s family history, genetic makeup, and even one’s own identity. Join us for today’s episode as we...

A tongue twister is a phrase that is designed to be difficult to articulate properly and can be used as a type of spoken word game or even a voice warm-up for performers, politicians, and other speakers. Specifically for language learners, they can be used as exercises to improve pronunciation, fluency, and speaking speed. Join us for today’s episode as we explain some classic English-language tongue twisters from Peter Piper to woodchuck chucks and many more. Read the full transcript...

For those who think that United States traditional foods only include hamburgers, hot dogs, and apple pie—you’re wrong (although we do eat a lot of those). In the US, almost every city or state can be associated with its unique kind of food. From New England clam chowder and Kansas City barbecue to New Orleans jambalaya and Wisconsin cheese curds, the nation’s wide variety of dishes welcome eaters to the flavor and culture of the place they are experiencing. Join us for today’s...

Since the beginning of journalism, news and media outlets have published damaging, embarrassing, and even racially biased stories to provide readers with interesting and attractive articles—whether they are true or not—and have left these stories uncorrected in their publications. These unfair stories have caused many to be kept from getting jobs, homes, etc., and are constantly haunted by a past publication. However, recently The Boston Globe has committed to giving people the...

Seven years ago, comedian Christian Fetterman left his home in Pennsylvania, US for Chile with the dream of learning Spanish and making people laugh with funny videos. Since starting his YouTube channel—“Gringo Mode On”—three years ago, he has gained widespread popularity for his viral content, especially his hilarious parodies and stereotypes of Chileans and gringos. Join us for today’s episode as we sit down with Christian to talk all about his journey from teaching English to...

The Southeast Asian country of Myanmar has suffered from countless hardships and injustices in the recent past, from the mass genocide of the Rohingya Muslims to having one of the longest ongoing civil wars in the world. To make things even worse, on February 1st, the Myanmar military successfully deposed the democratically elected National League for Democracy (NLD) party through a military coup—seizing the power of the government and declaring a state of emergency and martial...

When speaking any language—as a native or as a learner—it can be very easy to fall into the habit of using the same general and uninteresting adjectives over and over. In English, just a few of these adjectives include “good”, “bad”, “fine”, and they are not only vague—but also downright boring. A great way to expand your lexicon, sound more fluent and have fun challenging yourself at the same is to learn and use some great alternative synonyms to replace them. Join us for today’s...

It is common to hear people talk all about the big cities in the US—New York City, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco, etc. However, a lesser-known city that lies in the hills of Kentucky is Louisville. Home to the famous boxer, Muhammed Ali, The Kentucky Derby, and Kentucky Fried Chicken—Louisville is a hidden gem that is overlooked too often by tourists. Join us on today’s episode as we talk to our special guest and native Kentuckian—Nate Douglas—about the Bluegrass State from...

The Grand Canyon is an enormous natural formation located in the southwest US in a state called Arizona that was formed by millions of years of river and wind erosion. At 446km length and 29km width, the canyon is a sight to see and is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the US with an estimated 5.9 million tourists visiting every year. While visiting the Grand Canyon is for everyone, it is especially attractive to hikers looking to experience some of the trails and...