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App matches your face with famous paintings |Learn the English phrase ‘Push the limit’
Episode 15
Today on Plain English: Do you have a historical double—in a painting? A new feature in a Google app will search historical artwork and tell you whic…
8 years, 3 months ago
Could Oprah be president? | English phrase ‘speak up’
Episode 14
Today on Plain English: Media mogul Oprah Winfrey gave an inspirational speech at the Golden Globe Awards in January, focusing on injustice and sexua…
8 years, 3 months ago
North Korea to participate in Winter Olympics | How to use ‘rocky’
Episode 13
Today on Plain English: North Korea announced it will send a delegation of athletes to the Winter Olympics, being held in Pyeongchang, just 40 miles …
8 years, 3 months ago
Giving up alcohol for ‘Dry January’ | Pumping their own gas in Oregon | English words ‘sober’ and ‘quirky’
Episode 12
A UK charity encourages people to give up alcohol for the month of January. Those who do experience better sleep, weight loss, and better health—but …
8 years, 3 months ago
Protests in Iran | New Year around the world | Practice ‘shut down’ & ‘bucket list’
Episode 11
Protesters in Iran are demonstrating against the government, focusing on the economic conditions that include high unemployment and high inflation. T…
8 years, 4 months ago
Power out at world’s busiest airport | Spain’s lottery | English words ‘stranded’ and ‘fundraiser’
Episode 10
An electrical fire below ground knocked out power at the Atlanta airport—the world’s busiest—for eleven hours just eight days before Christmas. Passe…
8 years, 4 months ago
Saudi Arabia to allow cinemas | Facebook bad for mental health? | English phrases ‘dive in’ and ‘wind up’
Episode 9
Saudi Arabia will allow construction of new movie theaters, after a 35-year prohibition. Theater chains are ready to dive into a new market, but some…
8 years, 4 months ago
Wildfires in California | Russia banned from Olympics | English phrases 'crack down on' and 'caught up in'
Episode 8
A series of deadly wildfires has broken out in Southern California; they have been spread by strong, dry winds. The fires have caused over 200,000 pe…
8 years, 4 months ago
‘Coco’ a hit in Mexico and US | Prince Harry engaged | English phrases ‘to go over well’ and ‘to die down’
Episode 7
Disney’s 3-D animated film “Coco”, which is rich with Mexican cultural references, is officially the highest-grossing film ever in Mexico and is popu…
8 years, 5 months ago
Serial killer Charles Manson dies | Sustainable city on Mars? | Learn English phrases “hold a grudge” and “come about”
Episode 6
Charles Manson, a cult leader whose followers brutally killed nine people and terrorized Los Angeles in 1969, died in jail of natural causes at age 8…
8 years, 5 months ago