Come back to our site for more Can you use your body to increase your confidence in English speaking? Today, learn what poses can make you more comfortable and powerful! Social psychologist Amy Cuddy says body language affects how we think, and how others think about us. When people are slouched and closed-in on themselves, they not only feel less powerful, but they appear less powerful to others. Consider: Are your shoulders slouched? Or are they back, with your chest open? Are you spreading yourself out physically? Are you smiling? Is your body upright? Tips for power-posing your way to confidence: * Stand with your arms up, legs spread out, shoulders back and chest out. Take up space and breathe deeply! * If you can't do this at the moment, imagine you’re doing it, or do it in the bathroom before your important interview or presentation. You can even do it while talking on the phone. * Yawn! By yawning, we are naturally bringing oxygen to our brain, which makes us feel more alert and confident. Have you tried power posing? Has it worked for you? Tell us your story in the comments section below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Read the full episode summary When you’re talking about the future in English, should you use “will” or “going to”? Today, in #6 of the Top 15 Fixes, we discuss the correct way to tell others what you want to do, whether in the immediate future or many years from now! "Will" and "going to" are interchangeable in meaning, but native English speakers tend to use them for slightly different purposes. Will is often used in the context of a big plan or dream, often in the far future: * I will get married, eventually. * “Someday, people will live on Mars.” However, Will can also be used if you have just spontaneously made a decision, at this very moment, or for promises: * “Maybe I will go out to lunch.” * “I will always love you.” Going to is used for more specific decisions about your immediate future: * “I’m gonna (going to) go biking tomorrow.” * “She’s going to call later tonight.” These rules are general. Remember, there are exceptions, and native speakers can be inconsistent. The best way to learn is to get out and hear native English speakers, and use the language the way you hear it spoken. Other Entries in the 15 Fixes Series: * Episode 165: Listen or Hear? * Episode 169: Speak, Talk, Tell and Say? * Episode 173: Wish vs. Hope * Episode 177: Talking About Age in English * Episode 181: Future Tense in English * Episode 185: Interested or Interesting? * Episode 189: Talking About the Past * Episode 193: How to Borrow Money * Episode 197: Who Pays for Lunch? What will you do in the future? What are you going to do? Tell us about it in the comments section below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

How should you talk about money in American culture? Today, we discuss what you should and shouldn't ask Americans about money! Go here to read the full episode summary Americans tend to think it rude to discuss personal finances and financial decisions. This may be due to the basic American value of faith in an egalitarian society. But whatever the reason, money is a touchy subject, and questions about it alienate or even upset an American. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you a perfectionist when it comes to learning English? If you are, then you are not alone! Today we have an awesome guest! Today Jun from Hapa Eikaiwa is here to talk about how you can beat this problem. Do you feel like you are afraid of making mistakes or that everything that you say has to be perfect? Jun has found that a lot of his students rehearse their sentences in their heads and can’t jump into a conversation and express themselves because of perfectionism. Do you think more than you talk? Come back to our site for more Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Are you an English amateur or a pro? Today we talk about the work from author Steven Pressfield and what it means for your English learning. Go here to read the full episode summary Who’s a Pro? The pro artist or English learner or entrepreneur will show up every day and will do the work. He will move past the thoughts that tend to make him get side-tracked. The pro is present in his studies and his work. He doesn’t repeat negative thoughts or make excuses. Are you a pro when it comes to learning English? Who’s an Amateur? He might make excuses for not being fluent in English. The amateur might decide that his lack of English skills is because he doesn’t have a good teacher, or good resources, or the right opportunities. Are you an amateur English learner? Tell us in the comments! Are you an English amateur or an English pro? Why? Can you share a strategy to help other AEE listeners “turn pro”? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Go here to read the full episode summary Do you know who pays for lunch when you go out with English speakers? This might be a source of serious confusion for you if you are making the mistake of translating the word "invite" from your native language to English! Today you'll learn how to avoid one of the most awkward possible misunderstandings when you go out for lunch! Today is number 7 of our Top 15 Fixes to Tune up Your Porsche! What does it mean when you "invite" someone out for dinner or for lunch? The verb "invite" just means to extend an invitation to someone to go out and do something together. It does NOT mean that you will pay for the person's meal. Are you translating this verb and its meaning from your native language into English? A lot of people make this mistake! In English when we invite someone to dinner we aren't sure who is going to pay. If you do want to pay for someone you can say: * "I've got this" * "I got this" * "Let me get this" * "This one's on me" * "I'll take this" * "Don't worry about it. I've got this" Other Entries in the 15 Fixes Series: Episode 165: Listen or Hear? Episode 169: Speak, Talk, Tell and Say? Episode 173: Wish vs. Hope Episode 177: Talking About Age in English Episode 181: Future Tense in English Episode 185: Interested or Interesting? Episode 189: Talking About the Past How do you deal with paying for the bill in your culture? Is it ok to refuse when someone offers to pay for you or should you accept? How do you think your culture is different from American culture in this sense? Leave us a message in the comments and let's have a conversation! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Taking IELTS? Get our free IELTS video course now Do you want to maximize your English learning and get fluent in English faster? Today you'll learn how to maximize your English learning by using spreadsheets with Jane Lawson from Daily Step! You'll also learn two other very cool tips to speak English like a native. Come back to our site to get specific tips and tricks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Americans love to use English slang. Would you like to sound more American when you speak English? Today we talk about four common slang combinations you can use to sound more like a native! Come back to our site for more examples As with other people and languages, Americans tend to bridge words and speak quickly. This can have the effect of shortening and even creating entirely new words. Here are four slang combination-words that you are likely to hear when around Americans: * wanna (want to): “I wanna go out tonight.” * shoulda (should have): “I shoulda told the truth.” * gonna (going to): “He’s gonna go to a movie later.” * gotta (got to): “She says she’s gotta work.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Come back to our site for more info and tips Should you do a free language exchange instead of an English lesson? Today, we discuss why this might be a mistake! Language exchanges are a big topic in language learning. They’re popular because they’re both fun and free. But they do have some downfalls and sometimes a real teacher is better. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Go here to read the full episode summary Do you borrow or lend to a friend in need? Today, in #8 of our countdown of the Top 15 Fixes in English series, we’ll be talking about the difference between these two similar verbs! You don’t want to let grammar get in the way of giving to or getting from your friends. But the verbs borrow and lend are tricky because they both mean to temporarily give — and yet they are different. The key to using these verbs is understanding that they follow perspective. Consider who is doing the giving, and who is doing the receiving. * Lend focuses on the one who is giving (the one doing the action). * Borrow focuses on the one receiving (the one upon whom the action is done). Here are some examples: I asked her if I could borrow some money. I asked her if she could lend me some money. Did you borrow it from her? Did she lend it to you? Other Entries in the 15 Fixes Series: * Episode 165: Listen or Hear? * Episode 169: Speak, Talk, Tell and Say? * Episode 173: Wish vs. Hope * Episode 177: Talking About Age in English * Episode 181: Future Tense in English * Episode 185: Interested or Interesting? * Episode 189: Talking About the Past Have you had trouble with borrow or lend? Tell us your story in the comments section below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Taking IELTS? Get our free IELTS video training course now How do you make small talk in English interesting? Does it always have to be boring? Today we talk with Chris Colin about how you can generate great small talk! Come back to our site to get more details and tips Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Taking IELTS? Get our free IELTS video training course now Can you get success by asking for it? Today, we talk about one surprisingly simple way to get what you want in your career and life! Come back to our site for more great tips Don’t assume that you can’t have everything in life. A lot of times, you might be surprised what you can get by just asking. A good strategy is to find ways to negotiate a win-win situation out of something you want. Everything is negotiable and nothing is set in stone. Of course, what you’re asking for has to be reasonable, and you need to be able to support your request. If you are asking for something fair and not too bold, you may be surprised to get what you want. And if not, the very worst that can happen is you receive a No! Have you ever achieved success by just asking? Tell us about it in the comments section below! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices