The Speak Confident English Podcast

Even if you never watch the Oscars or Golden Globes, you're going to hear about them — at work, on social media, in the news. And the language people use in those conversations is full of idioms, phrasal verbs, and phrases that can catch you off guard.
In this episode, you'll get the vocabulary you need to join any conversation about film award ceremonies — before, during, and after the show. You'll learn how to talk about predictions and pre-awards buzz (frontrunner, dark horse, gaining momentum), discuss nominations and who deserves to win (up for an award, overdue, big break), react to ceremony moments, and join post-show debates about who was snubbed, robbed, or swept the awards.
Every phrase comes with clear examples so you can hear how native speakers actually use them — at a coffee break, in a text to a friend, or scrolling through social media the morning after.
Ready to feel confident joining these conversations in English? Press play.
Get the full lesson and transcript at https://www.speakconfidentenglish.com/english-conversation-practice-film-awards
Episode Timestamps:
0:00 English conversations on films
1:20 Pre-awards buzz
6:13 Nominations
8:55 Predictions
10:31 Performances
12:20 The awards ceremony
14:55 Reactions
17:56 Post-awards
20:13 Practice
 
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Thank you for listening! I share new episodes every Wednesday. Make sure you click the follow button to get notified.
Get the full episode show notes at: https://www.speakconfidentenglish.com/english-conversation-practice-film-awards
If you prefer video or want closed captions, you can watch all my episodes on YouTube → ⁠https://www.youtube.com/speakconfidentenglish⁠
 
COME SAY 'HI!'
Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/speakconfidentenglish/⁠
Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/speakconfidentenglish⁠
 
MORE RESOURCES FOR YOU:
How to Get the Confidence to Say What You Want in English (Free Fluency Training) → https://www.speakconfidentenglish.com/english-conversation-practice-film-awards
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review! It really helps get encouragement and actionable advice to nonnative English speakers around the world.

English idioms for work are full of sports language — and if you've ever nodded along in a meeting without fully understanding what someone meant, this episode is for you.
In this lesson, you'll learn 11 of the most common sports-related phrases used in professional English conversations — including "knock it out of the park," "the ball is in your court," "down to the wire," and more.
You'll discover not just what each idiom means, but when to use it, when to avoid it, and how power dynamics can change the meaning entirely.
You'll also get practical guidance on which three idioms to start with and a simple approach for moving from understanding these phrases to using them naturally and confidently yourself.
Find the full written lesson at https://www.speakconfidentenglish.com/english-idioms-for-work-sports-phrases
This is the kind of vocabulary that makes real conversations click — and easier to build than you might think.
Episode Timestamps:
00:00 The power of idioms
02:28 Idiom: Game plan
04:45 Idiom: Kick things off
06:44 Idiom: Be on the same team
09:01 Idiom: Level the playing field
11:45 Idiom: Ball is in your court
13:44 Idiom: Step up to the plate
15:40 Idiom: Take eyes off the ball
17:15 Idiom: Play hardball
18:56 Idiom: Move the goalposts
20:29 Idiom: Down to the wire
22:36 Idiom: Knock it out of the park
24:00 How to learn & use
 
 
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Thank you for listening! I share new episodes every Wednesday. Make sure you click the follow button to get notified.
Get the full episode show notes at: https://www.speakconfidentenglish.com/english-idioms-for-work-sports-phrases
If you prefer video or want closed captions, you can watch all my episodes on YouTube → ⁠https://www.youtube.com/speakconfidentenglish⁠
 
COME SAY 'HI!'
Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/speakconfidentenglish/⁠
Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/speakconfidentenglish⁠
 
MORE RESOURCES FOR YOU:
How to Get the Confidence to Say What You Want in English (Free Fluency Training) → ⁠https://www.speakconfidentenglish.com/say-what-you-want-in-english/⁠
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review! It really helps get encouragement and actionable advice to nonnative English speakers around the world.

You understand English, but speaking still doesn't feel fluent? If you've studied for years and still can't speak English fluently when it matters, this episode will help you understand why, and how to start changing it.
A lot of English learners can follow meetings, podcasts, and videos, but speaking feels different. Speaking is real-time. You have to find words fast, build sentences, and keep going even when you're nervous. That skill doesn't grow from understanding alone. It grows from the right kind of practice.
In this episode, I explain 4 reasons you can understand English but can't speak fluently:
You believe you need to study more before you can speak

You believe confidence should come first

You believe you're too busy to practice

You believe you need a native speaker to practice with

As you listen, you'll get simple practice steps you can use this week to start building your English fluency.
Also, if Fluency School is the right next step for you, get the details here: speakconfidentenglish.com/fluencyschool
 
Episode Timestamps:
00:00 Is your English speaking level stuck?
01:37 Reason 1
06:46 Reason 2
11:10 Reason 3
15:55 Reason 4
21:48 What if you're highly shy in English?
23:44 Your next steps
 
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Thank you for listening! I share new episodes every Wednesday. Make sure you click the follow button to get notified.
Get the full episode show notes at: https://www.speakconfidentenglish.com/you-understand-english-but-cant-speak-fluently-heres-why
If you prefer video or want closed captions, you can watch all my episodes on YouTube → ⁠https://www.youtube.com/speakconfidentenglish⁠
 
COME SAY 'HI!'
Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/speakconfidentenglish/⁠
Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/speakconfidentenglish⁠
 
MORE RESOURCES FOR YOU:
How to Get the Confidence to Say What You Want in English (Free Fluency Training) → ⁠https://www.speakconfidentenglish.com/say-what-you-want-in-english/⁠
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review! It really helps get encouragement and actionable advice to nonnative English speakers around the world.

Making plans in English conversation can feel awkward, especially when someone says, "We should get together sometime," and then nothing happens.
In this episode, you'll learn how to make plans in English with a simple 6-stage process, so you can invite people naturally, read the signals, and follow through with confidence.
You'll learn how to:
start casually: "Are you free this weekend?" / "What are you up to this weekend?"

use natural invitations (inviting in English): "How about we…?" and "I was thinking we could…"

understand we should get together meaning (warm politeness vs real interest)

understand let me check my calendar meaning (often not rejection)

get specific with time + place so plans actually happen

decline politely in English and how to reschedule in English

send a simple follow up text in English before you meet

 
Related lesson: https://speakconfidentenglish.com/yes-no-maybe-in-english
 
Episode Timestamps:
00:00 Missed opportunities?
02:44 Initiating plans
04:40 Suggesting plans
07:43 Reading unspoken signals
13:53 Determining time/place
16:15 Responding to invitations
19:45 Finalizing plans
20:29 Following up
22:20 Recap
 
Want to learn with me?
My next Fluency School program is coming soon. Get all the details here: https://www.speakconfidentenglish.com/fluencyschool/
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Thank you for listening! I share new episodes every Wednesday. Make sure you click the follow button to get notified.
Get the full episode show notes at: https://www.speakconfidentenglish.com/making-plans-in-english-conversation
If you prefer video or want closed captions, you can watch all my episodes on YouTube → ⁠https://www.youtube.com/speakconfidentenglish⁠
 
COME SAY 'HI!'
Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/speakconfidentenglish/⁠
Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/speakconfidentenglish⁠
 
MORE RESOURCES FOR YOU:
How to Get the Confidence to Say What You Want in English (Free Fluency Training) → ⁠https://www.speakconfidentenglish.com/say-what-you-want-in-english/⁠
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review! It really helps get encouragement and actionable advice to nonnative English speakers around the world.

Learn to use just in English correctly, because it changes meaning and tone. In this Confident English lesson, you'll learn the real just meaning in 6 common situations—so you can sound natural in conversation and clear in emails at work.
You hear "just" everywhere:
"I just finished the report,"
"I just need five minutes."
"That's just perfect."
But the meaning of just depends on context.
In this episode, you'll learn:
how to use just for time (just recently)

just in time and just missed (close calls)

just vs only (limits and expectations)

how to soften requests in polite English (especially email English)

how hedging language can affect tone in professional English and workplace English

how "just" can add emphasis in conversational English

Perfect if you want practical English vocabulary you can use right away.
 
Episode Timestamps:
00:00 What makes 'just' tricky
01:40 The foundation
03:27 #1 for time
05:15 #2 for close calls
07:26 #3 for 'only this'
11:14 #4 for perfect fits
12:53 #5 for soft requests
14:53 #6 for strong feelings
16:23 Next steps
 
Want to learn with me?
My next Fluency School program is coming soon. Get all the details here: https://www.speakconfidentenglish.com/fluencyschool/
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Thank you for listening! I share new episodes every Wednesday. Make sure you click the follow button to get notified.
Get the full episode show notes at: https://www.speakconfidentenglish.com/use-just-in-english
If you prefer video or want closed captions, you can watch all my episodes on YouTube → ⁠https://www.youtube.com/speakconfidentenglish⁠
 
COME SAY 'HI!'
Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/speakconfidentenglish/⁠
Facebook: ⁠https://www.facebook.com/speakconfidentenglish⁠
 
MORE RESOURCES FOR YOU:
How to Get the Confidence to Say What You Want in English (Free Fluency Training) → ⁠https://www.speakconfidentenglish.com/say-what-you-want-in-english/⁠
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review! It really helps get encouragement and actionable advice to nonnative English speakers around the world.