The Level Up English Podcast

Michael Lavers

🇬🇧 I'm Michael Lavers and this podcast will help you improve your English. I'm an online English teacher for students learning as a second language. In this podcast, I answer your questions about learning and help you achieve your goals in British English. Once a month I talk to a teacher or expert on topics related to language. read less

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(Note that the podcast begins as "The English With Michael Podcast", but later on changes to "The Level Up English Podcast")Hello and welcome to The Level Up English.Hello and welcome to the first-ever episode.This is an introductory episode so I thought I could take some time to tell you about who I am and what to expect from this podcast.So my name is Michael Lavers. I'm an online ESL teacher - that is, people learning English as a Second Language.I'm from a city called Plymouth in the United Kingdom.I have taught thousands of lessons online with students from all around the world, all difference countries, from ages 4 to 80. But maybe we could talk about why I want to make a podcast. I love helping people improve their English, but, there's only so much I can do in one day. I have a lot of questions online, on my website, on social media, asking for help, but unfortunately I can't help everyone.So I thought a podcast would be a great way to reach more people and, hopefully, help people improve their English, and also British English.I love podcasts! I listen to several hours of podcasts every day, so I think it's a really good way to learn no matter how busy you are.I'm really passionate about helping people and I think podcasts are a good way to do that.So let's talk about what you can expect in this podcast.A usual episode might include me:answering your questions providing some advice on how to learn Englishmaybe sometimes we can talk about grammar and vocabulary (but in a fun way)in the future I may do some interviews as well (I've never done that before so we'll have to see how it goes, but that's something I would be very interested in trying)Each podcast with the podcast notes and all the resources will be available on my website at ewmichael.com/podcast (Note: this will redirect to my new website)If you have any questions for me that you'd like me to answer, or any ideas for future episodes, please let me know and I'll be happy to answer.So thank you vert much for coming to check out my podcast and I'm looking forward to learning together.Go to https://levelupenglish.school/podcast for more resources and information!------------------Website: levelupenglish.schoolEmail: info@ewmichael.comInstagram: @englishwithmichaelFacebook: /englishwithmichaelYoutube: /englishwithmichaelPersonal website: ewmichael.comSupport the showSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

Episodes

#268 The Best Way to Learn English with Fabio Cerpelloni

#268 The Best Way to Learn English with Fabio Cerpelloni

Fabio Cerpelloni chats with me on the podcast today around the topic of his new book: 'Any Language You Want: 18 Conflicting Lessons for a New Kind of Language Learner'.A collection of contradictory true personal stories in answer to "What's the best way to learn a language?" In each of the 18 chapters, Fabio -- a language learner and teacher -- shares a story about how he mastered English, his second language, and tells you what's the best way to learn another language.In this episode, we discuss some ways to learn English and why it's not as simple as you might think. I'm sure you'll leave, however, feeling inspired, motivated, and with some new ideas on how to best master this language.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast268Fabio's Website: https://fabiocerpelloni.comThe Book: https://fabiocerpelloni.com/any-language-you-want/-----Think Fast, Talk SmartThis episode is brought to you by the Think Fast, Talk Smart Podcast by Stanford. Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.Support the showSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

#267 Learn English by Teaching

#267 Learn English by Teaching

A listener asked me how they can teach English to their friend, so I decided to give some tips and advice in this podcast episode.I cover some tips you can do to help a friend, partner, or family member learn English - whether this is in a casual setting or a more structured lesson setting. I also cover some mistakes that many beginner teachers make, which will you useful for you no matter what kind of teaching you are interested in.And finally, I talk at the end about some basic steps to take if you're interested in becoming a professional teacher and making some extra money from that.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast267Support the showSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

#266 Make English Pronunciation Easier with Assimilation

#266 Make English Pronunciation Easier with Assimilation

In Episode 255, we spoke about Linking. In Episode 262, we spoke about Elision.Now, in Episode 266, we're talking all about Assimilation. This is the 3rd and final part in our connected speech series, where I look at how spoken English can change the pronunciation of certain words. If you want to speak with a natural British accent, then this is essential to know. In this episode, I'll be looking at times when the sounds of words change so they become easier to pronounce. I'll be doing this while answering questions and sharing my views on them, and I invite you to join in as well. Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast266Support the showSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

#265 Acronyms to Level Up Your English

#265 Acronyms to Level Up Your English

Acronyms are words that use the first letter of each word in a phrase. NASA and LOL are two common examples from very different areas.In the age of the internet, acronyms are now a part of everyday writing and reading, but did you know some are also used in speech?In this episode, I go through some really common everyday acronyms that you need to know and follow each one with an example from my own life.I also end with a list of some more casual texting acronyms that are useful when casually writing to friends.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast265Support the showSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

#264 Increase Your Confidence to Speak English with Clare

#264 Increase Your Confidence to Speak English with Clare

In this episode, Clare from the Smart English Coach podcast joins us for a fun chat about confidence, limiting beliefs, and language learning. We explore how confidence is so important in language learning and the steps you can take to improve this skill.We also cover interesting stories from our own language-learning experiences and answer the question of whether you can be too old to learn a language. We touched on so many great topics today and I know you'll get something motivational out of this conversation. Where to find ClarePodcast - Smart English CoachWebsite - english-at-home.comShow notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast264Support the showSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

#263 Big Lessons from Visiting Japan

#263 Big Lessons from Visiting Japan

Do you love the rambling episodes? Well this might be for you! Today, I go over my recent trip to Japan and discuss some of the things I did, but mostly reflect on the language experience I had there.Learning Japanese, it was great to go back and practice. In this episode, I share the positives and the negatives and tie it up into some takeaways that should benefit all language learners.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast263Support the showSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

#262 Why You Can't Understand Native Speakers (Elision)

#262 Why You Can't Understand Native Speakers (Elision)

Textbook English is different from spoken English, and a big part of this comes down to pronunciation and how things are said in real conversations. This is Part 2 in my series on pronunciation, where we first looked at Linking in Episode 255, and now we're looking at Elision. These are both features of connected speech that share some similarities.In this episode, I share an example of elision followed by a question or challenge for myself that I also ask you (the listeners) to do as well!Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast262Support the showSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

#261 Travel Stories - Phrasal Verbs with 'Turn'

#261 Travel Stories - Phrasal Verbs with 'Turn'

I get a few requests to continue my series on Phrasal Verbs, and specifically, I had one recently to cover phrasal verbs that use the verb 'turn'. I thought of as many common ones as I could and made a list, and then I went through my memories to recount some memorable travel stories from my life. While doing so, I used these 'turn' phrasal verbs in a natural context.I encourage you to do the same too! Practice like this is the best way to learn.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast261Support the showSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

#260 Playing Games to Learn English (Dylan - British Education)

#260 Playing Games to Learn English (Dylan - British Education)

Dylan (from the YouTube channel British Education) joined me for a fun games session today. We're using games to have a conversation and practice English, and we encourage you to play along too. If you have a teacher or language partner, we also encourage you to try these games for yourself.We actually recorded for about 2 hours together, but I cut it down a lot to fit into this week's podcast. We played 20 Questions, Would You Rather, Riddles, and 2 Truths and a Lie. We also spoke for a long time about travel, language learning, and self-improvement, but this was cut out of the episode. I'm posting the full conversation on the website for members. Click below to join! Where to find DylanYouTube - youtube.com/channel/UCEGuZlXpfQjsALYlGVCyv-QInstagram - instagram.com/britisheducation_Website - dylaneducation.co.ukShow notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast260Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.Support the showSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

#259 Fixing Your Relationship Problems

#259 Fixing Your Relationship Problems

Since this episode falls on Valentine's Day, let's discuss the topic of Love and Relationships.I'll be basing this episode around a group class I taught before where we discuss some questions related to relationships, such as having a long and happy marriage, and how to break up with someone. I also have the help of Chat GPT who gives some brilliant advice for all relationships out there. There will also be a few phrases you can use to talk about relationships . I'm sure at least one will be new for you.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast259Support the showSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

#258 I Made Very Big Mistakes

#258 I Made Very Big Mistakes

Just a few days into 2024, I already made 2 very big and expensive mistakes.In this episode, I share what happened and exactly why I made these mistakes, and then I talk about some possible lessons that I should learn from these mistakes.I also spend a bit more time discussing the importance of making mistakes and the right mindset to have when it comes to mistakes in life and in language learning too. Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast258Support the showSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

#257 How to Live a Long Life (Blue Zones)

#257 How to Live a Long Life (Blue Zones)

In this episode, we're taking a deep dive into Blue Zones - 5 areas around the world where people live a long time with great health.I'll be sharing my uneducated views on why this might be, but also looking at the Power 9 - 9 reasons why researchers believe life expectancy is so long in these places. For those of you who want to learn some new English along the way, I'll also be trying my best to include some dependant prepositions and their phrases too. I'll explain more about this in the episode.Don't forget to join in the conversation on the show notes page below.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast257Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.Support the showSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

#256 Spending 10 Days in Silence - Stories with Bree Aesie

#256 Spending 10 Days in Silence - Stories with Bree Aesie

Bree Aesie from Into The Stories Podcast joins us today for a conversation about meditation and stories. This was one of my favourite conversations yet, packed with lots of life lessons as well as English learning tips and motivation.Since Bree's podcast is all about looking at stories, we start by turning the tables on Bree and I ask her to share a meaningful story for her. We talk about her 10-day silent meditation retreat in Thailand and some of the difficulties and lessons from that experience. We delve into topics around meditation and mindfulness, and also why learning a language through stories is such a powerful and effective method. By the way, I also appeared on Bree's podcast! You can listen to our episode here where I talk about a challenging and personal experience in my 20s. Into the Story Podcast - Michael's Episode - https://pod.link/1522715603Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast256Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.Support the showSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

#255 The Secret to Natural British English (Linking!)

#255 The Secret to Natural British English (Linking!)

Textbook English is different from spoken English, and a big part of this comes down to pronunciation and how things are said in real conversations.You may understand English learner material easily, but then really struggle when it comes to watching TV or movies. What I discuss in this episode may be the reason why.This is the first part of a series I’m going to do on pronunciation, and this episode will be about something called Linking.Linking is when a consonant sound connects from the end of one word to the beginning of the next word. Listen to find out more!Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast255Support the showSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

#254 Ask Me Anything 4

#254 Ask Me Anything 4

I answer listener questions on all sorts of topics - ranging from British culture to the fairness of life! And of course, English language questions too. It was a fun episode and you all gave great questions. I always enjoy these episodes because they feel a bit more casual and laid-back compared to the usual ones. If you want to ask a question for next time, the best place to do that is on my Instagram - @englishwithmichaelShow notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast254Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.Support the showSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

#253 Use Conjunctions to Debate in English

#253 Use Conjunctions to Debate in English

Let's look at some conjunctions (also known as connectives) to help improve your conversation and debating skills in English.Conjunctions are an effective way to make your sentences more complex and sound much more natural - rather than simply using a string of short, simple sentences. We'll also be looking at more phrases, such as adverbs.In this episode, I share them in a natural way while sharing my own opinions on some controversial and interesting debate topics. Can you share your own views on the topics using these conjunctions in the comments on the show notes page below?Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast253Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.Support the showSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

#252 Reflecting on 2023, Planning for 2024

#252 Reflecting on 2023, Planning for 2024

Welcome back to one of my favourite episodes of the year - one filled with reflections and goal-setting at the end of the year. I love this time of year because it's a natural rest point for thinking about how the previous year has gone, and what we'd like to change going forward. It's a great time to think about your goals and progress with your English learning, but also other areas too and consider what you want to get out of the next year, and your life!Join me in a slightly longer episode as we explore the topics of Successes and Struggles from the previous year, as well as different goals and plans for the next year.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast252Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.Support the showSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

#251 Is English Education Broken? (Gregory Diehl)

#251 Is English Education Broken? (Gregory Diehl)

Gregory Diehl is an English teacher and author of the new book: Our Global Lingua Franca: An Educator’s Guide to Spreading English Where EFL Doesn’t Work.It's a fascinating book looking at Gregory's experience teaching in many countries all around the world from Thailand to Iran, and we talk about this extensively in this episode. We talk about why English is so important to learn, Gregory's bad teaching experiences, the problems with school and teaching English, getting immersion, video games, and how to develop an accent. Gregory's WebsiteAmazon Link to BookShow notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast251Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.Support the showSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

#250 Answer These Mixed Conditional Questions

#250 Answer These Mixed Conditional Questions

Let's learn to use hypothetical situations with confidence in this episode on Mixed Conditionals. It's been a long-time suggestion from listeners, and I've finally decided to get to it.I cover some different types of conditional structures in a casual way, and ask you questions to think about making your own sentences.I hope you find this episode useful, and perhaps more importantly, fun!Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast250Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.Support the showSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.

#249 Unbelievable Statistics About the UK

#249 Unbelievable Statistics About the UK

In this week's episode of the Level Up English podcast, we dive into the fascinating world of statistics. Prepare to be amazed by some truly unbelievable facts!I'll start by covering a few random statistics, ranging from sleeping with a teddy bear and not washing your hands. You'll be shocked at some of these! We'll then talk about the UK specifically and share some tourism-related stats on the country as a quiz. How many can you answer correctly? Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast249Sign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.Support the showSign Up for Free Lessons - https://www.levelupenglish.school/#freelessonsJoin Level Up English - https://courses.levelupenglish.schoolBy becoming a member, you can access all podcast transcripts, listen to the private podcast and join live lessons and courses on the website.