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

教育教育

言語学習言語学習

自己啓発自己啓発

予告編を再生

(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.comSign 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.

エピソード

#299 Why We Always Want More (Hedonic Adaptation)

#299 Why We Always Want More (Hedonic Adaptation)

In my last episode, I spoke about my cycling trip to Taiwan. While there, I had a lot of time alone to think to myself with no distractions. In this episode today, I'm going to share some of the things I was thinking about.One of these was the idea of Hedonic Adaptation (also known as the Hedonic Treadmill). This is something that we all face as humans and might just be the key to understanding how to be happy and content.It's a really useful topic when it comes to being happy with what you have and not always feeling bad about what you don't - such as feeling bad for not being good enough at English. Let's find out more.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast299Modem FuturaModem Futura is your guide to the bold frontiers of tomorrow, where technology,...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySign 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.

#298 I Cycled 1000km Around Taiwan

#298 I Cycled 1000km Around Taiwan

I took 2 weeks off in October to ride a bicycle around the whole of Taiwan. It was over 1000km and took about 2 weeks to complete. Along the way, I had both good and bad experiences and there's a lot I'd love to share!I also filmed a lot of videos of my cycle, so if you'd like to see, you can watch this episode on YouTube - The Level Up English Podcast.This is perhaps the longest solo episode I've ever recorded, but throughout the episode, I talk about the good and the bad, what I did day by day, how I prepared for the trip, and my experience talking in Chinese with people there. Along the way, I also mention a lot of useful vocabulary which will be useful for you as English learners. Hope you enjoy!Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast298Modem FuturaModem Futura is your guide to the bold frontiers of tomorrow, where technology,...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySign 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.

#297 Don't Fall for the Comparison Trap

#297 Don't Fall for the Comparison Trap

The Comparison Trap is when we get stuck comparing our lives to other people and feeling worse as a result.It's a common problem in language learning, and this is something that I often experience too since I was inspired to make this episode after a moment of comparison made me feel worse.We often compare ourselves to others in many ways, such as income, appearance, skills, and on social media. In this episode, I cover all of these topics while sharing some useful comparative grammar structures to improve your spoken English.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast297Modem FuturaModem Futura is your guide to the bold frontiers of tomorrow, where technology,...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySign 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.

#296 Be More Curious

#296 Be More Curious

Curiosity is an important thing to practice to be better English language learners and enjoy your life more. When we start learning a language, we’re naturally very open and curious to learning new things. It can be an amazing feeling when you’re really into something and you’re looking up every little detail.However, along the way, we naturally get more complacent and we begin to take things for granted. This curiosity fades into daily habits and routines. Curiosity makes language learning so much more enjoyable more also helps you progress faster. That’s the idea behind today’s episode.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast296Modem FuturaModem Futura is your guide to the bold frontiers of tomorrow, where technology,...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySign 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.

#295 Finding Your Dream Job with Megan Nicholls

#295 Finding Your Dream Job with Megan Nicholls

Megan is a teacher from Manchester, UK who has been teaching for 10 years and recently made the move to online classes. Megan specialises in Business English for professionals and improving spoken fluency, so in this episode, we talk all about jobs.We start out discussing dream jobs and finding the right job for you.I then quiz Megan on some really useful English business expressions that you can use both in and out of the workplace.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast295Modem FuturaModem Futura is your guide to the bold frontiers of tomorrow, where technology,...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySign 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.

#294 Are You Using 'Used To' Wrong?

#294 Are You Using 'Used To' Wrong?

Let's look at 3 ways we can use 'used to' in English. We'll look at the different grammar and way we structure these terms while answering fun and interesting questions on these topics.I encourage you to answer these questions either in your personal studies or by leaving a comment in the shownotes below.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast294Modem FuturaModem Futura is your guide to the bold frontiers of tomorrow, where technology,...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySign 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.

#293 Will I Be Replaced By AI?

#293 Will I Be Replaced By AI?

This is a really fun episode all about the recent progress of AI (Artificial Intelligence) - specifically in the area of audio and music.I share a few songs that were made by AI about this podcast that I think will blow your mind. I had a lot of fun with it. I also share my thoughts on the future changes that AI will bring to the world, some jobs that will be lost and others that will be safe from AI and automation, and much more. Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast293Modem FuturaModem Futura is your guide to the bold frontiers of tomorrow, where technology,...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySign 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.

#292 The MOST Unusual Places in the World

#292 The MOST Unusual Places in the World

I'm exploring a topic I truly love today and looking at the most unusual and strange places on our planet.I'll be talking about the highest cities, hottest places, coldest places, and much more in today's episode. This is a great opportunity to practice your knowledge of superlatives (using EST to talk about the most of something).Check the shownotes page below for more information on the words, and join as a member to access bonus learning materials to help you remember the language in today's episode.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast292Modem FuturaModem Futura is your guide to the bold frontiers of tomorrow, where technology,...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySign 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.

#291 Optimistic or Pessimistic?

#291 Optimistic or Pessimistic?

In today's episode, we're exploring the topics of optimism, pessimism, and realism. These are different attitudes towards life and the future and can have a massive impact on your happiness and mental health.I go over the definitions and words, discuss some possible benefits of being pessimistic, and give many tips on how and why you can be more optimistic in life.A really fun episode filled with English vocabulary, and hopefully quite motivational too.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast291Modem FuturaModem Futura is your guide to the bold frontiers of tomorrow, where technology,...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySign 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.

#290 Top 4 Business English Expressions with Paola (Talaera Talks)

#290 Top 4 Business English Expressions with Paola (Talaera Talks)

Paola from the Talaera Talks podcast and I are doing a cross-post episode today. You can also find this episode and many more over on their podcast. The topic is all about jobs, careers, and business English expression. We start by asking questions to each other, using our own work experience to give examples of when to use these expressions.We then talk about advice on how to get a job when English isn't your first language, and a bit on work-life balance.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast290Modem FuturaModem Futura is your guide to the bold frontiers of tomorrow, where technology,...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySign 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.

#289 How to Improve Your Work-Life Balance

#289 How to Improve Your Work-Life Balance

One of the listeners suggested I talk about the topic of work-life balance. This is something I've been working on in my own life for many years, and I feel like I might have something useful to share on this topic.So in this episode, I talk about a few tips that you can implement to have a better sense of work-life balance and enjoy your life more, regardless of how many hours you have to work each day.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast289Modem FuturaModem Futura is your guide to the bold frontiers of tomorrow, where technology,...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySign 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.

#288 Reverse Culture Shock in the UK

#288 Reverse Culture Shock in the UK

I recently went back to my home country - the UK - for the first time in a quite a while and was fascinated by how the UK appeared to me after being away for a while.There was a lot that I found strange, unusual, and interesting that I wasn't really aware of while I was still living in England. In this episode, I discuss some of my feelings and culture shock experiences, and perhaps some of you can relate to these experiences when you visit the UK for the first time. Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast288Modem FuturaModem Futura is your guide to the bold frontiers of tomorrow, where technology,...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySign 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.

#287 I Took a Train from London to Romania

#287 I Took a Train from London to Romania

I just came back from a trip in Europe and I thought I'd get on the microphone today and review some of the good and bad experiences I had there.I made the adventurous decision to travel from London all the way to Istanbul by train (listen to the episode to see why I didn't make it all the way!) In this episode, I talk about my experience sleeping on trains, my time in each country, and why I suddenly changed my travel plans. There are also some useful expressions and vocabulary to help improve your English throughout.This is a very casual, chatty episode, so hopefully you don't mind. You're always welcome to comment your feedback on the shownotes page (link below)Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast287Modem FuturaModem Futura is your guide to the bold frontiers of tomorrow, where technology,...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySign 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.

#286 A 1200km Pilgrimage (Fran from Step Up Japanese)

#286 A 1200km Pilgrimage (Fran from Step Up Japanese)

Fran from Step Up Japanese and I discuss a few different topics in today's episode, including:The Shikoku 88 Pilgrimage (walking around the Japanese island of Shikoku)The Tadoku reading method for languagesAn embarrassing language mistake on TVAnd more!If you're a fan of hearing casual British English conversations, and also finding out something new about language learning, then this should be a good episode for you.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast286Modem FuturaModem Futura is your guide to the bold frontiers of tomorrow, where technology,...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySign 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.

#285 Ask Me Anything 5

#285 Ask Me Anything 5

This is the fifth episode in the AMA series (Ask Me Anything) where the listeners of the podcast ask me questions about English learning, British culture, or maybe something totally unrelated.They're also fun, relaxed, and more casual than regular episodes. Hopefully, you'll learn something new in this one while enjoying the topics. If you want to submit questions for future episodes, the best place is on my Instagram page: @englishwithmichaelShow notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast285Modem FuturaModem Futura is your guide to the bold frontiers of tomorrow, where technology,...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySign 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.

#284 8 Phrasal Verbs with 'Out'

#284 8 Phrasal Verbs with 'Out'

We've done a few episodes on phrasal verbs now, including the verbs Turn and Set, and this is a continuation of that series, except today we're looking at a preposition: Out. I'll be covering 8 different phrasal verbs that are commonly used while sharing my own stories about them from my own life, and I'll encourage you do to the same.#13 What are phrasal verbs?#261 Phrasal Verbs with 'Turn'#272 Phrasal Verbs with 'Set'Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast284Modem FuturaModem Futura is your guide to the bold frontiers of tomorrow, where technology,...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySign 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.

#283 Mind-blowing Facts About Body Language

#283 Mind-blowing Facts About Body Language

I've always been interested in body language, and today I'd like to share that interest with you all.I'm going to be reviewing and reacting to some amazing body language facts from some articles while sharing my opinions, experiences, and a lot of new vocabulary and expressions.I hope you learn something new today - whether it's about how you can position your body to change how people see you, or simply just some new English words.Source 1: factretriever.com Source 2: forbes.com Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast283Modem FuturaModem Futura is your guide to the bold frontiers of tomorrow, where technology,...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySign 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.

#282 Learn English from the News - Stephen from SEND7

#282 Learn English from the News - Stephen from SEND7

Stephen from the SEND7 podcast joins me today for a talk about the news. We cover a wide range of topics, such as learning English with the news, avoiding bias and fake news, how to deal with news anxiety, and some positive stories you may have missed. Stephen also shares reasons why he's feeling optimistic for the future despite all the terrible things we see in the news today. Stick around until the end to find out why.I really hope you enjoy our discussion. Don't forget to check out Stephen's podcast, and also consider supporting Level Up English on the links below.Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast282Modem FuturaModem Futura is your guide to the bold frontiers of tomorrow, where technology,...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySign 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.

#281 Outsmart Your Brain with Cognitive Biases

#281 Outsmart Your Brain with Cognitive Biases

I'm so excited for this topic, because today we're looking at Cognitive Biases.This is how our brains can trick us into certain beliefs and behaviours. Learn about things like the Sunk Cost Fallacy, Loss Aversion, Confirmation Bias, and more!We'll be talking about examples of how these things can affect our views and beliefs, as well as how you can use these to become better English learners.Share your views and comments on the show notes page below! If I get good feedback, I'd love to make a Part 2 in the future. Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast281Modem FuturaModem Futura is your guide to the bold frontiers of tomorrow, where technology,...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySign 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.

#280 6 English Animal Expressions You Need to Know

#280 6 English Animal Expressions You Need to Know

I first covered this topic back in Episode 215, but it's such a huge one, I think it's time for a Part 2.Today, I'm sharing 6 idioms related to animals that we use in daily conversations in British English. While I share each one, I give you some examples from my own life to connect them with and make them more memorable and invite you to do the same. How many did you know?Show notes page - https://levelupenglish.school/podcast280Modem FuturaModem Futura is your guide to the bold frontiers of tomorrow, where technology,...Listen on: Apple Podcasts SpotifySign 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.