Shows
Generally American (A Journey in American English)S6E2: Jury Duty and Legal ProceedingssummaryIn this episode of the Generally American podcast, hosts Christopher Chandler and Chris Schauer discuss a variety of topics, including their experiences with seasonal changes, personal reflections on health and fitness, and a detailed account of Chandler's recent jury duty experience. They delve into the workings of the US jury system, the responsibilities that come with it, and the cultural perceptions surrounding jury duty. The conversation also touches on legal insights regarding traffic violations and the differences in work and bureaucracy between the US and Germany.takeawaysThe podcast...
2024-10-1647 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S5E10: Cultural Influence as a Form of Soft PowerIn this episode, Kris and I discuss the concept of soft power and its influence on global relations. We explore how the United States, as a global power, exerts its soft power through cultural, economic, and military influence. We also touch on the impact of American pop culture, such as music, TV shows, and movies, on other countries. We highlight the importance of soft power in shaping perceptions and relationships between nations.TakeawaysSoft power is the ability to influence others without the use of force, and the United States exerts its soft power through cultural...
2024-06-2647 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S5E9: Staying Informed: A Civic DutySummaryIn this episode, Kris and I discuss the concept of civic duty and its various aspects. We touch on topics such as jury duty, paying taxes, staying informed, and the role of the military. We also explore the differences between the US and Germany in terms of civic duties and the cultural attitudes towards them. TakeawaysCivic duty encompasses various responsibilities such as jury duty, paying taxes, and staying informed.The US and Germany have different approaches to civic duties, with the US emphasizing individual participation and Germany focusing on collective decision-making.Su...
2024-06-1149 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S5E8: The Ethics of True Crime PodcastSummaryIn this episode, Kris and I discuss their thoughts on true crime podcasts and the ethical implications of consuming and creating true crime content. We explore the fascination with killers and the morbid curiosity that drives the popularity of true crime. We also touch on the desensitization that can occur from consuming too much true crime media and the potential educational value of understanding criminal behavior. The conversation raises questions about the ethics of portraying killers authentically and the line between journalism and exploitation.TakeawaysTrue crime podcasts have become increasingly p...
2024-05-2348 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S5E7: Exploring the Evolution of the Gig EconomySummaryIn this episode, Kris and I discuss the gig economy from the perspective of food delivery apps like Uber Eats and DoorDash. We explore the definition of a gig and how it has evolved over the years. We also touch on the challenges and risks faced by gig workers, such as low pay, reliance on tips, and lack of benefits. We discuss the gamification of gig apps and the impact of the gig economy on traditional industries like taxis. They also mention other gig platforms like Upwork and Fiverr. Overall, We highlight the convenience and drawbacks of t...
2024-05-0849 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S5E6: Media - Questioning Your Own Biases and OpinionsSummaryIn this episode, Kris and I discuss the media and the challenges of consuming information in today's world. We talk about biases in the media, the importance of fact-checking, and the need to be skeptical of information. We also touch on the influence of social media and the pressure to be the first to report news. We emphasize the importance of seeking out diverse sources of information and being aware of one's own biases.TakeawaysThe media has biases, and it's important to be aware of them when con...
2024-04-1946 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S5E5:Exploring the Evolution and Diversity of Music DiscoveryDescriptionIn this episode, Kris and I discuss various methods of discovering new music and how it has evolved over time. We touch on the influence of wealth on music discovery, differences in music discovery between countries, the role of soundtracks in music discovery, and the evolution of music mediums. We also speculate on future music discovery methods and recommend starting a music exchange group to expand one's musical horizons.TakeawaysMusic discovery has changed significantly over time, with streaming services and algorithms playing a major role in how people find new music.The influence o...
2024-04-0147 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S5E4: About Fast Food and ThingsSummaryIn this episode, Kris and I discuss the topic of fast food. We start with a conversation about the weather and moving, then transition into talking about fast food as a part of life in the US. We discuss how fast food was once seen as a treat but has now become a way of life for many people. We also touch on the issue of food deserts and how fast food can be the only affordable option for some. We then discuss the rising prices of fast food and the use of apps and rewards...
2024-03-1548 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S5E1: Happy New Year - Kris' House and Chris' DaughterSummaryIn this episode, Kris and I catch up after a long break. We discuss their New Year's resolutions, the recent cold wave and weather conditions, their experiences with moving and settling into new places, becoming dual citizens and raising bilingual children, the importance of owning a house, playing the game Pal World, and the process of decluttering. TakeawaysNew Year's resolutions can serve as guidelines rather than strict rules.Moving can be challenging, especially in extreme weather conditions.Becoming a dual citizen can offer various benefits, including the ability to live a...
2024-02-0148 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S4E42: Season Finale - Recapping the SeasonSummaryIn this episode, Kris and I dive into a season reflection, sharing tales of illness, discussing the COVID-19 impact, and trading stories about odd weather in our locations. From navigating ethical buying to exploring AI's rise, and even talking about on Kris' recent Green Bay Packers game adventure, we cover it all. Join us as we wrap up with plans for the season break, emphasizing goal-setting importance, offering effective strategies, and dishing out motivation tips, all with a touch of celebrating success and learning from failures—packed with insights for your goal-chasing journey! TakeawaysT...
2023-12-1753 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S4E41: American Scandals in ActionSummaryIn this episode, Kris and I discuss various scandals, ranging from Thanksgiving mishaps to high-profile political controversies. We touch on scandals involving The Completionist, Bill Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, Anthony Weiner, Hurricane Katrina, George W. Bush and 9/11, and Kanye West. We explore the impact of scandals on public figures and the varying reactions from the public. We also reflect on the fascination with scandals and the role of media in perpetuating them.TakeawaysScandals can have a significant impact on public figures, affecting their reputation and careers.The public's reaction to scandals can v...
2023-11-2646 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S4E40: The Beauty of Working from HomeKris and I discuss the advantages of working from home. Chapters:(00:00) - Intro
(03:40) - Holidays
(07:00) - Main Topic - Remote Work
(17:00) - Advtanges and Disadvantages of Remote Work
(23:00) - Keeping up Appearances
(32:00) - Adjusting to Remote Work
(35:00) - Team Bonding and Bosses
(45:00) - Outro
Transcript:Check out the website - https://generallyamerican.transistor.fm/episodesOr download the transcripthttps://share.transistor.fm/s/0fc8186e/transcript.srtContact:Podcast Team: Poll: https://forms.gle/EDqw565Wus4JHsut8Discord: https://discord.gg/NUUC2QJ...
2023-11-1247 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S4E39: Unemployement: Comparing the American and German SystemsKris discusses his recent unemployment due to his company's bankruptcy and the Montana unemployment application process. We compare the U.S. and German unemployment systems, talk about resume gaps from long-term unemployment, and highlight the importance of work-life separation while working from home. The conversation also touches on bankruptcy and unemployement processes in the U.S. and Germany.Chapters:(00:00) - Intro
(00:30) - Small Talk
(05:30) - Main Topic - Unemployement
(10:00) - Unemployee Process
(15:00) - Not Getting Hired on Purpose
(22:00) - Bankrupcy
(30:00) - Legal Trouble at Kris' Old Company
(31:00) - Listener Feedback
(35:00) - At-Will Employment / Contracts...
2023-10-2842 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S4E37: Urban Myths, Legends & (Digital) FolkloreHave you ever wondered what goes bump in the night in the U.S. or the cultural and majestical icons that Americans generally think about? Then you have to listen to this episode where Kris and I discuss urban legends, mythical figures and digital folklore that is prevalent throughout the context of the U.S.! Contact:Poll: https://forms.gle/EDqw565Wus4JHsut8E-mail: podcastteam@generallyamerican.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/generallyamcnInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/generally_american/
2023-09-3046 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S4E35: Catching up - Travel and MoviesDescription:Kris and I catch up on what we have been doing for the past couple of weeks: movies, travelling, the weather and work Contact:Poll: https://forms.gle/EDqw565Wus4JHsut8Discord: https://discord.gg/NUUC2QJumvE-mail: christophermichaelchandler@gmail.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/generallyamcnInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/generally_american/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/9405318
2023-09-0444 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S4E31 Subcultures and CounterculturesDescription:Touching on last time, Kris and I discuss the various sub and counter cultures within the U.S. Contact:Poll: https://forms.gle/EDqw565Wus4JHsut8Discord: https://discord.gg/NUUC2QJumvE-mail: christophermichaelchandler@gmail.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/generallyamcnInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/generally_american/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/9405318
2023-06-1138 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S4E30 - Generational Shifts (Attitudes, Opinions, and The Value of Hardwork)Description:The more things change the more things stay the same, or do they? Kris and I discuss the shifting cultural tides that spans many generations.Contact:Poll: https://forms.gle/EDqw565Wus4JHsut8Discord: https://discord.gg/NUUC2QJumvE-mail: christophermichaelchandler@gmail.comTwitter: https://twitter.com/generallyamcnInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/generally_american/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/9405318
2023-05-2048 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S4E29: Houses - Part of the American Dream (Twitter/Instagram in Description)Description:Houses and Housing in the U.S is very different than in the U.S. Kris and I explore some of the differencesContact:Poll: https://forms.gle/EDqw565Wus4JHsut8Discord: https://discord.gg/NUUC2QJumvE-mail: christophermichaelchandler@gmail.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/generallyamcnInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/generally_american/Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/9405318
2023-05-0649 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S4E28: Higher Education - Vocational Schools / College / UniversityDescription:Studying in the U.S. is a complicated venture, but Kris and I talk do our best to explain the intricacies and requirements of studying at colleges, universities or going to vocational schools Contact:Poll: https://forms.gle/EDqw565Wus4JHsut8Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/9405318Discord: https://discord.gg/NUUC2QJumvE-mail: christophermichaelchandler@gmail.com
2023-04-2449 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S4E27 - Reverse Culture Shock (Listener Request)Description:Kris and I talk about my experiences of being shocked my own culture when coming back from Germany to the U.S.Contact:Poll: https://forms.gle/EDqw565Wus4JHsut8Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/9405318Discord: https://discord.gg/NUUC2QJumvE-mail: christophermichaelchandler@gmail.com
2023-04-0248 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S4E26: Back From VegasDescription:Kris is back from having fun at Las Vegas! We talk about interesting tips, tricks and must-knows when visiting sin city. Contact:Poll: https://forms.gle/EDqw565Wus4JHsut8Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/9405318Discord: https://discord.gg/NUUC2QJumvE-mail: christophermichaelchandler@gmail.com
2023-03-2348 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S4E25: Listener Poll, Listener Feedback, and PatreonHello,please fill out the survey if you have time. It will only take a couple of minutes. Poll: https://forms.gle/EDqw565Wus4JHsut8Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/join/9405318Discord: https://discord.gg/NUUC2QJumv E-mail: christophermichaelchandler@gmail.com ---Hello,welcome to a mini-episode! Kris is not here today. So, it is just me, the other Chris. I'll be speaking for both of us for the duration of this small episode. We have two important announcements to make...
2023-03-1503 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S4E24: Las Vegas - Take me Down to Paradise City, Where...Description:Kris and I talk about his upcoming trip to Las Vegas, the gambling center of the U.S. ! Contact:If you would like to get in contact with us, please contact us in the following ways:Discord: https://discord.gg/NUUC2QJumvE-mail: christophermichaelchandler@gmail.com
2023-03-0645 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S4E20: Happy New Year and Festive TraditionsDescription:Kris and I talk about starting in the new year and what festive traditions mean to us. The new year has started and Kris and I are looking forward to doing great things year. In this episode he and I discuss the holiday season, religion and festive traditions. Contact:If you would like to get in contact with us, please contact us in the following ways:Discord: https://discord.gg/NUUC2QJumvE-mail: christophermichaelchandler@gmail.com
2023-01-0856 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S4E19: Eating Healthy and DietingDescription:†he year is coming to a close and we all want to start the new year off with good health. So, Kris and I talk about dieting and healthy food. Contact:If you would like to get in contact with us, please contact us in the following ways:Discord: https://discord.gg/NUUC2QJumvE-mail: christophermichaelchandler@gmail.com
2022-12-1553 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S4E18: Post-Thanksgiving Banter: Sports and SnowDescription:Thanksgiving came and went. Kris and I touch on how we spent our thanksgivings. Also, we delve into some side topics like the NFL being in Germany and winter weather. Contact:If you would like to get in contact with us, please contact us in the following ways:Discord: https://discord.gg/NUUC2QJumvE-mail: christophermichaelchandler@gmail.com
2022-11-2944 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S4E17: Work Place CultureDescription:Not quite like the office, but Kris and I discuss our work place experiences. Work culture and going back to the office has been more important than ever in the past couple of months. Contact:If you would like to get in contact with us, please contact us in the following ways:Discord: https://discord.gg/NUUC2QJumvE-mail: christophermichaelchandler@gmail.com
2022-11-1651 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S4E16: Medical Debt/Insurance and Public AssistanceDescription:Continuing with last week's episode, Kris and I discuss how medical insurance and medical debt are intertwined. On an final note, we include public assistance and how that ties in with medical assitance.Contact:If you would like to get in contact with us, please contact us in the following ways:Discord: https://discord.gg/NUUC2QJumvE-mail: christophermichaelchandler@gmail.com
2022-10-3038 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S4E14: Catching Up and TripsDescription:Kris and I discuss our trips and travels in the past two months. Contact:If you would like to get in contact with us, please contact us in the following ways:Discord: https://discord.gg/NUUC2QJumvE-mail: christophermichaelchandler@gmail.com
2022-09-2555 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S4E13: Conspiracy Theories and Where to find ThemDescription:Who built the pyramids and and were we really on the moon? There are many answers to those questions, some less serious and trustworthy than others. What do you believe? Well, that depends on where you live and where you grow up. You are shaped by your experiences. Conspiracy theories are one of the ways that try to make sense of the world. They are simply too many of them to deal with them all in this episode, but Kris and I want to give you a glimpse of some of the most well known in the U...
2022-08-0756 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S4:E11 History and the Fourth of JulyDescription:We are a bit late to the party, but Kris and I want to talk about the fourth of July and how it came about it. Also, we dive into a bit of the history and culture surrounding this favorite American tradition!.Contact:If you would like to get in contact with us, please contact us in the following ways:Discord: https://discord.gg/NUUC2QJumvE-mail: christophermichaelchandler@gmail.com
2022-07-1136 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S4E10: Loss Leaders and Bulk BuyingDescription:It is no secret that Americans love to buy in bulk. That's no secret. In today's episode Kris and I talk about in which ways Americans love to buy in large quantities. We have a few funny stories for you and hope that you will stick around to hear them ! Contact:If you would like to get in contact with us, please contact us in the following ways:Discord: https://discord.gg/NUUC2QJumvE-mail: christophermichaelchandler@gmail.com
2022-06-2837 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S4E6: What does "Culture" Even Mean and Does the U.S. Even Have One ?Description: It is hard to know what culture is and how to define, but many people take the you-know-it-when-you-see-it kind of approach. The U.S. has often been accused of not having a culture, or its culture being very young and refined. There is a famous quote that serves as the basis of our podcast which sums up a lot of Americans attitudes about culture and what it means to be American. "In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates h...
2022-04-3046 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S4E5: Buying Ethically - Putting Your Money Where Your Mouth IsDescription:It is said that if you want to truly express your opinion, then you should put your money where your mouth is. So, that means that you can vote with your wallet and boycott products that you disagree with. In this day and age, it is becoming increasingly diffiuclt to buy goods that have not been created unethically. However, even if it is difficult, we still believe that it is worth a try. Kris and I talk about the difficulties facing those who to buy in a fashion that is in more in lines with their...
2022-04-1641 min2022-02-0600 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S3E24: Black Friday and Online Shopping AdventuresThe internet has been around for over thirty years now, much to the surprise of many people. Kris and I talk about our experiences growing up with the internet and how this has shaped our online word view. We hope that you enjoy this episode and please feel free to get in contact with us !
2021-11-2949 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S3E23: What's in a Holiday Anyway?Kris and I talk about the various holidays in the U.S. and how they are celebrated. We get into the details of particular ones and how they have been adpated to fit American tastes.
2021-11-1648 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S3:E21 Catching up With KrisKris and I do a bit of catching up and talk about travelling and sports!
2021-10-1759 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S3:E20 - Credit Cards (The Lost Episode)Kris and I discuss the need for Americans to have many credit cards.
2021-10-0545 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S3E19: Gun Ownership: Second AmendmentGun ownership is a big point of contention and debate in the U.S. That is why Kris and I want to talk about it in today's episode !
2021-08-1048 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S3E18: Economic Booms (Interview with Jeff, Kris' Father)Hello everyone, in today's episode, Chris and I will be discussing economic booms in the u.s. !
2021-08-0338 min
Language TalkS2E3: Finding Your MotiviationHello everyone, sometimes, it is hard to find motivation and to stay motivted when learning a language. In today's episode, Kris and I want to talk about the ways that you can improve or find motivation. With that being said, let's begin
2021-07-2625 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S3E17: Americans, Past Time and DowntimeHey everyone, another week, another new episode. We kept you waiting, but we haven't forgotten about you! In this week's episode, Chris and I want to talk about the differences between "past time" and "down time" in the context of the U.S. I found this to be most interesting because Kris and I seem to have different views on what exactly those terms me. So, stick to the end if you want figure out where the differences lie !We hope that you enjoy this episode and with that being said, let's begin
2021-07-2638 minLanguage TalkS2E2 To Duolingo or not to DuolingoWelcome back,Kris is trying to get into learning Japanese. He recently tried out Duolingo and wanted to talk about his experiences. I am not a huge fan of duolingo for various reasons. That is the reason why Kris and I wanted to take the time out to discuss these differences. With that being said, let’s begin
2021-07-1231 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S3E16: The Daily Freedoms in the U.S of AHello and welcome back ,Kris and I are not very political, or at least, we try not to be. Still, every now and then we touch on some political topics when it fits in with the theme of our pocast. In today’s episode, Kris and I will be discussing the First Amendmet, which belongs to a list of amendments know as the bill of rights. This amendment deals with a lot of the freedoms that Americans. And we hope that you enjoy this epsiode. Without further adue, let’s begin!christophermichaelchandler@gmail.comDi...
2021-07-1245 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S3E15: Adaption of Foreign Media in the U.S., Censorship and White-WashingHello everyone and welcome back to a brand new episode. I would like to start with asking you to please excuse our absence. It is not Kris’ fault or anything.Actually, it was my fault because it was my birthday last week. Since I did not feel like recording an episode on my birthday, I decided to give us off for the weekend. I am not sure if we had mentioned that last time or not, but now you know!Anywho, what do we want to talk about today? Well, we want to to...
2021-07-0542 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)SE314: Cultural Aspects of Summer in the U.S.Whenever I think of summer, I always think of the song summer time sadness, but I don’t know why? It is a good song after all. You should go check it out though. Anyway, in today’s episode, Kris and I want to talk about the cultural aspects of summer in the U.S.Even though Kris and I are both from the U.S., he and I have had similar and different experiences with respect to how we spend and spent our time during the Summer. Some of the summer-related topics that we touch on have to...
2021-06-2246 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S3E12: What Nerds are Made ofIn today's episode, Kris and I want to talk about the differences between geeks and nerds. Also, we want to touch on how acceptable nerd culture has become in the U.S.Feel free to contact us! christophermichaelchandler@gmail.comDiscord Link https://discord.gg/8E7sgVha
2021-06-0747 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S3E3: The Retail Worker and Domestic TravelToday's episode ties into last week's episode of the average worker and introduces the topic of travelling.
2021-03-1548 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S3E2: The Average PersonThe U.S. is a huge country, but still, we try and give you a depiction of what the average person could look like.
2021-03-0848 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S3E1: An Introduction to Sports in the U.S.Since it is Kris' first episode, I thought that I would let him take the lead. So, in today's episode ,we talked about his take on various sports in the U.S.. Come contact us if you have questions !https://discord.gg/m5gbY4CG
2021-02-2851 min2021-02-0904 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S2E6: 🇦🇷 🇺🇸 A Stop in Argentina (A Small Introduction in Español) 🇺🇸 🇦🇷My guest,Nicole, and I talk about how and why she learned English. She also provides some ticks and trips on how to go about learning English. Please come join me and Nicole in the discord! https://discord.gg/SZRHJMY8
2021-02-0142 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S2:E5: Life Imitating Art : AnglicismsIn my language learning journey, I have noticed how English has influenced and been influenced by all sorts of languages. In today's episode, I simply want to focus on three: French, German and Japanese. Contact information https://discord.gg/KxwgyV8vhttps://chrisandamericanenglish.transistor.fm/christophermichaelchandler@gmail.com
2021-01-2528 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S2:E4: Tell Me What Makes You Laugh, and I'll Tell You Who You Are# Discord Room: Discord: A Journey with Chris and American English Today's episode is about humor and how Germans and American see it differently. I also touch on the problem of things getting lost in translation and why I am convinced that learning culture is harder than learning a language. Announcements:I have been looking for a co-host on my podcast. I have a few potential candidates and I hope that we can do more topics soon! I have started a discord server. Please come and join us if you are int...
2021-01-2126 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S2E3: Friendships and SmalltalkIn these trying times friendship and small talk are more important than every. Let's get into that.
2021-01-1826 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S2E2: The Quirkiness of American OptimismIn today's episode I want to talk about optimism in the U.S. and how it compares to other cultures.
2021-01-1129 min
Generally American (A Journey in American English)I'll be back soonA short explanation as to my absence
2020-12-2801 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S2E1: Exporting Culture: The Rise of an U.S. HegemonyIn a new series, I want to to touch on the exporting of U.S. culture. Ever since its inception, or maybe even before, the U.S. has been at the forefront of the world's stage for better or for worse.
2020-11-2313 minLanguage TalkS1#15 Talking to your PhoneEven if you do not have a language partner, you have your cell phone and that is more powerful than you realize!
2020-11-2202 minLanguage TalkS1#14 Setting Goals (with respect to testing your progress)If you don't know where you are coming from, then you can't know where you are going. That's why language goals are so important in language learning.
2020-11-2204 minLanguage TalkS1#13 Don't Put All of Your Eggs in One BasketIt is tempting to stick with one resource, but that it is not always the best choice. You should always make sure that your resources meet your needs. If you feel like you have outgrown something, then it is time for you to move on to a new resource. I want to talk about that a little bit.
2020-11-2204 minLanguage TalkS1#12 Testing your ProgressThere are a lot of language tests out there, but should you take them? They might not always be the solution to your problems. If you need it for work or school, they might be a good option for you, otherwise, they might be a waste of time. Instead, try and find real-world ways to test yourself.
2020-11-2204 minLanguage TalkS1#11 How to be Your Own Conversation PartnerIt's not always easy to find a language partner. So, why don't you be your own conversation partner?
2020-11-2204 minLanguage TalkS1#10 It's all About ContextIf you want to understand how to use a word, then you have to understand its context. Let's talk about that a bit, shall we?
2020-11-2203 minLanguage TalkS1#9 The Power of Mnemonics and RepetitionDo you have trouble remembering things? Do you often find yourself forgetting important details or facts? You are not alone and it happens to the best of us unfortunately. Our minds can only hold so much information. However, there is a way to combat that and that is through the power of mnemonics and repetition. If I might steal from the words of Michael Shermer, an American science writer, "“Humans are pattern-seeking story-telling animals, and we are quite adept at telling stories about patterns, whether they exist or not.” Let us explore that a little bit.
2020-11-2203 minLanguage TalkS1#8 An Opportunity Not Used is an Opportunity WastedBenjamin Franklin was reported to have said "A penny saved is a penny earned." I think that the opposite of opportunities could also be said. An opportunity not used is an opportunity wasted. I know that I have been guilty of letting opportunities pass me by because I was too afraid to deal with the reality of my consequences. Have you felt the same way? Let us talk about that a little bit, shall we ?
2020-11-2203 minLanguage TalkS1#7 - The Myth of FluencyIf you are anything like me, then you have probably said to yourself "I want to be fluent in language x". After having learnt a couple languages to a degree that I am satisfied with, I am always asked "Are you fluent in language x" or "Do you speak language x perfectly". Fluency has become somewhat of an overused term and I want to talk about that about it.
2020-11-2203 minLanguage TalkS1#6 Should I Use Subtitles?I was recently asked a question by one of my students. She is learning English and watches a lot of shows in English. However, she still has trouble understanding spoken English without the subtitles on. So her question to me was "Should I use subtitles"? and we are going to answer that question now.
2020-11-2203 min2020-11-2203 minLanguage TalkS1#4 - Letting Your Ears Do the WorkI know the feeling you get when you feel like everything is too fast, too above your level, too intricate and so on. One of the biggest hurdles that we face is training our ears to understand sounds at native speeds. I want talk about how best to train your ears with respect to a foreign language.
2020-11-2002 minLanguage TalkS1#3 - Enjoying the ProcessToday, there's one piece of wisdom, one simple tip that I would like impart upon you: the journey is more important than the destination. I hope that you will forgive me for employing this platitude, but it does represent the ethos and intent of this podcast after all.We tend to see and treat languages as tools as if they were akin to a hammer, a car, a knife, and so forth. And while, yes, it is a tool for communication. It is not something that you can just buy at a store and use right away. It is o...
2020-11-2003 minLanguage TalkS1:2 - Pop CultureSo, the tip that I want talk about to today is the importance of culture in language learning. Now, too often we are taught languages in a vacuum. We tend to learn them from overused textbooks, language learning videos, flash cards,etc. We never get to experience the vitality of the language. It goes without saying that languages are constantly evolving and do not exist independent of their speakers. Therefore, I want to touch on pop culture in this episode.
2020-11-1903 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)Daily Tips Announcement (My tips will be podcasted to my new podcast)https://podcasts.apple.com/de/podcast/chriss-daily-language-tips/id1540356650
2020-11-1700 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S1E11 Finale: English as a Germanic LanguageLanguage Tips PodcastI want to talk about the similarities between English and German. Plus, what makes English different than German and why is it not related to the romance languages? Also, I am moving my tips to my new podcast (link in the description). This podcast will be for the longer episodes.
2020-11-1614 minLanguage TalkS1E1 - Motivation, Consistency, DeterminationHello, my fellow language learners, welcome the daily tip section of my podcast. This is intended for those who do not have time to listen to the full podcast or are only interested in the language language tips. To ease you into it a bit, I want to start off with something that you probably already know; motivation, consistency, determination.
2020-11-1303 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)Chris's Daily Language Tips - Tip #14 Setting Goals (with respect to testing your progress)This is a continuation of a episode 12 and why goals are so important in language learning
2020-11-1300 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)Chris's Daily Language Tips - Tip #13 Don't Put All of Your Eggs in One BasketIt is comfortable to stay with one resource, but that can often hurt you more than it can help you
2020-11-1200 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)Chris's Daily Language Tips - Tip #12 Testing your ProgressThere are a lot of language tests out there, but should you take them?
2020-11-1100 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)Chris's Daily Language Tips - Tip #11 How to be Your Own Conversation PartnerIt's not always easy to find a language partner. So, why don't you be your own conversation partner?
2020-11-1000 min
Generally American (A Journey in American English)Chris's Daily Language - Tip #It's all about contextIf you want to understand how to use a word, then you have to understand its context. Let's talk about that a bit, shall we?
2020-11-0900 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S1E10: The Difficulties of PronuciationThis episode is a bit longer because I wanted to touch on a few major points: Why English spelling is so weird, how to best improve your pronunciation and the problems with fluency and perfection.
2020-11-0820 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)Chris's Daily Language - Tip #9 The Power of Mnemonics and RepetitionIntro
You're listening to A Journey with Chris and American English.
Chris's Daily Language - Tip #9 The Power of Mnemonics and Repetition
Hello, my fellow language learners, welcome the daily tip section of my podcast. This is intended for those who do not have time to listen to the full podcast or are only interested in the language learning tips.
Do you have trouble remembering things? Do you often find yourself forgetting important details or facts? You are not alone and it happens to the best of us unfortunately. Our minds can only hold so much information. However, there is a way...
2020-11-0600 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)Chris's Daily Language Tip - Tip #8 An Opportunity not used is an Opportunity WastedIntro
You're listening to A Journey with Chris and American English.
Chris's Daily Language Tips - tip #8 An Opportunity not Used is an Opportunity Wasted
Hello, my fellow language learners, welcome the daily tip section of my podcast. This is intended for those who do not have time to listen to the full podcast or are only interested in the language learning tips. I do not know if I have a mantra for this podcast. However, I am starting to believe that it could be something like "Motivation, consistency, dedication". What do you think ?
Benjamin Franklin was reported to have...
2020-11-0500 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)Chris's Daily Language Tips #7 - The Myth of FluencyIntro
You're listening to A Journey with Chris and American English.
Chris's Daily Language Tips - Tip #7 The Myth of Fluency
Hello, my fellow language learners, welcome the daily tip section of my podcast. This is intended for those who do not have time to listen to the full podcast or are only interested in the language language tips. To ease you into a bit, I want to start off with something that you probably already know; Motivation, consistency, determination.
If you are anything like me, then you have probably said to yourself "I want to be fluent in language...
2020-11-0400 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)Chris's Daily Language Tip #6 Should I use Subtitles?Intro
You're listening to A Journey with Chris and American English.
Chris's Daily Language Tips - Tip #6 Should I Use Subtitles?
Hello, my fellow language learners, welcome the daily tip section of my podcast. This is intended for those who do not have time to listen to the full podcast or are only interested in the language learning tip.
I was recently asked a question by one of my students. She is learning English and watches a lot of shows in English. However, she still has trouble understanding spoken English without the subtitles on. So her question to me was "S houl...
2020-11-0300 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S1E9: What Exactly is General American English?In this week's episode, I want to talk about what exactly General American English is. A potential response might be "well, the dialect of English that is spoken within the United States of America." While yes, your answer would be technically correct, it is lacking and thus leaves a lot to be desired. Over the past couple of weeks, we have been talking about English and its evolution. American English is just one of the varieties that has evolved out of European English. Furthermore, I want to go over how you can be more motivated in your English studies and then w...
2020-11-0209 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)Chris's Daily Language Tip - Tip #5 Immersion (It's the little things that matter)Article
Intro:
You're listening to A Journey with Chris and American English.
Chris's Daily Language Tip - Tip #5 Immersion
Hello, my fellow language learners, welcome the daily tip section of my podcast.This is intended for those who do not have time to listen to the full podcast or are only interested in the language tips. My goal is for these tips to act as food for thought and a cause to ponder.
It has often been said that if you want to learn a language to any level of proficiency, then you have to live in the country in which...
2020-10-3000 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)Chris's Daily Language Tip #4 - Letting your Ears Do The WorkArticle
Intro:
You're listening to A Journey with Chris and American English.
Chris's Daily Language Tip - Tip #4 Letting your Ears Do The Work
Hello, my fellow language learners, welcome the daily tip section of my podcast. This is intended for those who do not have time to listen to the full podcast or are only interested in the language tips. My goal is for these tips to act as food for thought and a cause to ponder.
I know the feeling you get when you feel like everything is too fast, too above your level, too intricate and so on. On...
2020-10-2900 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)Chris's Daily Language Tip #3 - Enjoying the ProcessArticle
Intro:
You're listening to A Journey with Chris and American English.
Chris's Daily Language Tip - Tip #3 Enjoying the Process
Hello, my fellow language learners, welcome the daily tip section of my podcast. This is intended for those who do not have time to listen to the full podcast or are only interested in the language tips. My goal is for these tips to act as food for thought and a cause to ponder.
Today, there's one piece of wisdom, one simple tip that I would like impart upon you: the journey is more important than the destination. I hope...
2020-10-2800 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)Chris's Daily Language Tip - Tip #2 Pop CultureArticle
Intro:
You're listening to A Journey with Chris and American English.
Chris's Daily Language Tip - Tip #2 Pop Culture
Hello, my fellow language learners, welcome the daily tip section of my podcast. This is intended for those who do not have time to listen to the full podcast or are only interested in the language tips. My goal is for these tips to act as food for thought and a cause to ponder.
So, the tip that I want talk about to today is the importance of culture in language learning. Now, too often we are taught languages in a...
2020-10-2700 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)Chris's Daily Language Tip #1 - Motivation, Consistency, DeterminationArticle
Intro
You're listening to A Journey with Chris and American English.
Chris's Daily Language - Tip #1 Motivation, Consistency, Determination
Hello, my fellow language learners, welcome the daily tip section of my podcast.This is intended for those who do not have time to listen to the full podcast or are only interested in the language language tips. To ease you into a bit, I want to start off with something that you probably already know; Motivation, consistency, determination.
Motivation
Now, you might be thinking, that these are three tips, but I assure you that they are all belong together and I w...
2020-10-2600 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S1E8: The U.S. and MultilingualismIn this week's episode, I want to talk about multilingualism in the U.S, the languages that I personally speak and how I go about maintaining those languages. The purpose of this episode is to give you a better understanding of my linguistic background and current linguistic situation. Also, I hope that if our situations are similar, then it might be of personal use to you.
2020-10-2610 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S1E7: American Literature and TalesSpeaking from personal experience, I know that it is tempting to stay in the walled garden that is learner material, but it is not something that will help you advance in the long run. Now, it does go without saying that you have to learn how to crawl before you can walk, and walk before you can run. The sooner you start familiarizing yourself with native content, the better. Plus, it provides you a realistic measure of your abilities.Please do not believe that you have to start off with something like Shakespeare or Lord of the...
2020-10-1912 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S1E6: General American and Received PronunciationIn the last couple of episodes we talked about how to use the history of a language as a language learning tool, the different stages of English and the French influence on the English language. This time, to be more true to the podcast, I want to talk a little bit about dialects. It should come as a surprise to no one that there are different dialects and variations of the English language throughout the world. This is true of most languages, of course. The two most prominent being American English, also known as General American and RP, also known...
2020-10-1209 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S1E5: The French Influence on EnglishIn the last episode, we talked about the history of English; Old, Middle and Early Modern English. Now, I also touched on the fact French had a great deal of influence on English, but I did not go into detail about what that exactly means. Well, in this episode, I want to expand upon that a bit. It should be noted that French, just like English, has undergone a lot of changes. So, the French that is spoken today is not the same as the French that was spoken almost a thousand years ago. However, it is s...
2020-10-0509 minGenerally American (A Journey in American English)S1E4: Language History as a Language Learning TipIn this episode, I want to focus on a short history of the English language. You may wonder "What does history of the language have to do with language learning ?" Well, quite a lot actually! It is only by knowing where we have come from that we can know where we are going. In my language learning journey, I have not only found it fascinating to learn about the history of a language, but I have also found it to be very insightful. It has also allowed me to gain a greater understanding of the language as well.With t...
2020-09-2810 min