When someone asks you if you want to head somewhere, they are asking you if you want to go somewhere. It’s kind of a weird thing about our language, one of our idioms. I am so happy that we happened to have this conversation during Head Week because it fits perfectly into our theme! Let’s attack this lesson, head on! -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

“Today, I decided to soak up the sun instead of swimming.” —Ebaby!’s Kat, speaking about relaxing in the sunshine -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

Last weekend was the Fourth of July, and what better way is there to celebrate the birth of the U.S.A. than going on a picnic? Whether it’s at the beach or in the park, Americans love to combine soaking up some sun with eating some grub. Since the weather is usually nice on the Fourth, a lot of families begin their celebrations with an outdoor barbecue, potluck, or picnic. A picnic can be a family affair, with food and games for the kids. Or you can have a classy, romantic picnic with a...

Most people have a slight desire to get rid of all of their possessions and hit the road. Christopher McCandless gave in to that idea. Shortly after graduating from college, he gave everything he had away and traveled for two years. He came to Alaska where he hunted to survive. Eventually, he accidentally ate some poisoned seeds and his adventures came to an end. He was found dead in an abandoned bus. In 1996, Jon Krakauer turned McCandless’ story into a book called Into the Wild. The book...

A relaxing beach vacation may sound perfect to some, but for the more adventurous, it just isn’t exciting enough. Unless getting to the beach meant hiking through the jungle or parachuting out of an airplane. Then it might be OK. Adventure travelers aren’t interested in plain old sightseeing or a typical beach holiday. They prefer to spend their vacations doing active, exciting, and possibly even slightly dangerous activities. They like to go to remote places that most tourists never visit....

When the temperature starts going up, you might go crazy trying to stay cool. Turning on a fan might help for awhile. However, when it really gets hot, the only way to monitor the temperature is with air conditioning. Although running an AC isn’t as efficient as using a fan, it’s much more comfortable. With a push of a button, your house feels as cool as you want it. It’s the perfect climate, no matter how hot it is outside. Why doesn’t Gary want to turn on his AC? Find out in today’s English...

Sometimes one of the stars of a movie is the place it’s filmed. Think about a movie like Amélie. Could it have been filmed anywhere but Paris? Mason and Marni are at the mall and being there reminds Mason how boring life in your hometown can be. He really wants to travel somewhere, but sometimes it’s hard to get away. So Marni recommends The Darjeeling Limited, a movie about three brothers who ride a train together across India. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

As fun as it is to travel and see new places, it can also be stressful. Finding the perfect hotel is one way to cut down on the stress. It’s nice to have a comfortable room to come home to at the end of a long day of sightseeing. But the perfect hotel often doesn’t come at the perfect price. In fact, paying for a place to sleep can destroy your travel budget if you aren’t careful. Find out what Mason and Jason look for in a hotel. -- View this and other great English lessons at...

Just a couple of weeks ago Jennifer Lopez finally announced that she’s pregnant. But the tabloids have already been talking about it for months. It seems like they might have known before the father! But you sure wouldn’t have been able to tell that everyone’s favorite acting, singing and dancing Latina star is pregnant from looking at her tour schedule. Listen to Devan and Amanda talk about how being with child hasn’t slowed J.Lo down at all. -- View this and other great English lessons at...

“He’s slowly dipping his feet in the water a little bit. He’s testing it out to see what it’s about, and what it means, and if it feels right for him. He’s 16 and figuring out his world.” —Actor James Marsden, speaking about his son’s first fashion show in Milan, Italy (People) -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

When the weather starts to warm up, you might begin to hear the sound of waves and feel warm sand between your toes. The beach is calling. You should grab your swimsuit, your sunscreen, a beach towel and head out! Not everyone is lucky enough to live near a beach. That’s why islands and other spots near the ocean are such popular places to vacation. The idea of lying in the sun and splashing in the sea is pretty attractive to most people. Find out if Ella and Jason like going to the beach. --...

What makes a perfect summer jam? It has to be a catchy, upbeat song. It should have the feeling of a carefree, sun-filled day. It should make you want to dance. And you’ll know it’s the hit of the summer when you can’t help but hear it every time you turn on your radio. So what is this summer’s big hit? Is it “Alejandro” by Lady Gaga? Katy Perry’s “California Gurls”? Hear Jason and Devan’s nominees for this year’s song of the summer. Then add your own. -- View this and other great English...

Hi Friends! Labor Day happens every year on the first Monday in September. It is a holiday dedicated to the American workers who have contributed to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country. Many people use the three-day holiday weekend to travel and visit family and friends. It’s also a common weekend for marriages. Beth is planning on attending a Labor Day weekend wedding. Listen in to her conversation with Miguel to hear all about it. -- View this and other great English...

Summer is almost here, and that means it’s time to start the agonizing process of shopping for a new bathing suit. Finding the perfect suit that covers up everything you’d rather not reveal while still showing off all the right parts is difficult, especially for the ladies. But girls aren’t the only ones who can be faced with a swimsuit dilemma. When it comes to swimsuits for guys, there are two directions you can follow. One is to go with a long, baggy board short that may get in the way...

When sailors went on long voyages, they would take citrus fruits like limes or oranges with them. Without them, or specifically, the vitamin C inside them, the sailors would die! These days, sailors have vitamin C pills, but that doesn’t mean that eating a grapefruit isn’t good for your health. Citrus fruits are a tasty way to stay well. One way many people enjoy citrus fruits is in juices. Orange juice is a common breakfast beverage in the US. Find out if Jeff and Sara take theirs with or...

During the summer, there are lots of fun ways to beat the heat. You can cool off with a popsicle or ice cream cone, visit the beach, or swim in a pool. But the most fun of all may be going to a water park. At water parks, you can soar down water slides, swim in wave pools, or just hang out and catch some rays. In the hot summer months, water parks are usually crowded with families and children. Jason recently went to a water park. Hear him tell Amy about his experience. -- View this and other...

We don’t choose our relatives. We’re just born with them, and we have to do our best to get along with them. In fact, we have to love them. They’re family. Sometimes, that can be a challenge. We all have relatives who just don’t seem to have anything in common with us. But most of us also have at least one relative whom we love to be around and would want to hang out with even if we weren’t related. Hear Amy tell Marni about her favorite relative. -- View this and other great English lessons...

Hi Friends! There are lots of ways to travel from city to city in the U.S. – including airplanes, trains, buses, and even boats. But one of Americans’ favorite ways to travel is by car. People love to drive. The freedom of the open road and the fun of seeing all the interesting things between here and there make for a great adventure. Zach recently drove his car all the way from Los Angeles, California to Portland, Oregon. Listen to his conversation with Miguel to hear what it was like. --...

A few short years ago, the life of the business traveler was great. You would fly first class from city to city, drink and dine on the company tab, stay in plush hotel rooms, and milk that unrestricted corporate expense account for all it was worth.But times have changed.With increasing operating costs, companies are downsizing their staffs and budgets, putting the kibosh on the perks and lavish lifestyle that made business travel so much fun.Listen to Taylor and John talk about business...

Rémy wants to be a chef, and luckily, he lives in the best culinary city in the world, Paris, France. But there’s one problem. Rémy is a rat. And rats can’t be chefs. They aren’t even allowed in kitchens! Listen to Mason tell Amanda about how Rémy the rat makes for his favorite movie of the summer, Ratatouille. -- View this and other great English lessons at www.englishbaby.com

The lives of men have always revolved around water. There’s a reason most cities are located on a river or lake. Potable water has always been necessary and somewhat hard to find. But with increasing population and pollution, it is becoming more and more difficult to hydrate mankind. Some experts say that the next world war will be over water. We’re certainly not there yet, but there’s no reason we shouldn’t be more careful with our most important resource. -- View this and other great...

Hi Friends! When getting to know someone, it’s common to talk about where you come from. Your background has a lot to do with who you are, so you can help someone understand you better if you tell them about your hometown and your history. Also, it’s interesting to hear what someone else’s opinions are about the place where you grew up. Often, his/her idea of it will be much different than yours. Josh and Beth recently compared their upbringings, which were very different. Listen in to...