English, baby! Blog http://englishbabyblog.com Learn English with English, baby! Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:44:14 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 As the World Learns Season 2: Things Fall Apart http://englishbabyblog.com/2012/01/13/as-the-world-learns-season-2-things-fall-apart/ http://englishbabyblog.com/2012/01/13/as-the-world-learns-season-2-things-fall-apart/#comments Fri, 13 Jan 2012 06:54:50 +0000 jasonsimms http://englishbabyblog.com/?p=788 The English, baby! ESL soap opera recently finished airing its second set of 10 episodes. Each is focused on a specific idiom or American slang phrase and packed with related vocabulary, grammar and laughs. Lots of laughs.

Though, this season was a little darker. After Jason and Devan got engaged last season, things start to get a little heavy. Literally, in Dale’s case. Watch all 10 videos here and see the guide below for links to the full lessons.

2.01 – Get Hitched: Devan and Jason announce to their friends that they are getting married.
2.02 – Let Oneself Go: Dale’s co-workers start to notice that he isn’t taking care of himself.
2.03 – Two Cents: Devan’s friends all have ideas about her wedding.
2.04 – Odd Man Out: All of Jason’s friends want to be groomsmen at the wedding.
2.05 – Over The Top: Marni takes Devan shopping for a wedding dress and simplicity rules.
2.06 – Bridezilla: Devan goes crazy as she and Jason register for wedding gifts.
2.07 – Cold Feet: Jason visits Mason at the dumpster for advice and ends up with socks.
2.08 – The Breaking Point: Jason reaches his limit for wedding planning.
2.09 – Hurt Someone’s Feelings: Jeff confronts Dale about his weight and feelings get hurt.
2.10 – Call Something Off: Jason wants to call off the wedding. Devan cancels their relationship.

]]> http://englishbabyblog.com/2012/01/13/as-the-world-learns-season-2-things-fall-apart/feed/ 1 From Brazil to Turkey, Ebaby! Friends http://englishbabyblog.com/2012/01/07/from-brazil-to-turkey-ebaby-friends/ http://englishbabyblog.com/2012/01/07/from-brazil-to-turkey-ebaby-friends/#comments Sat, 07 Jan 2012 01:43:39 +0000 jasonsimms http://englishbabyblog.com/?p=772
Every now and then, we hear stories of people who met on English, baby! visiting one another in real life. We believe that a social environment helps people learn English. So when our members form bonds strong enough to make international trips to see each other, we think that is a really cool thing.

Recently, some Ebaby! members I got to meet a few years ago had another international guest. Zeus from Turkey and Kinski from Ukraine met on English, baby! and got married a few years ago. I went to their wedding and made a video about it. It was an incredible good time.

Another one of Zeus’ Ebaby! friends, Rita, traveled from Brazil with a friend to visit Zeus and Kinski in Istanbul last fall. They are amazing hosts, so I’m sure a fantastic time was had by all. Zues describes meeting his online friend of 6 years at the airport:

“You can not imagine at that moment, feelings were maximum. We hugged and get happy to see eachother. Than we went to their hotel. We showed them Istanbul’s beauties and they loved much Istanbul.”

From the look of it, Istanbul loved them back, too.

They also visited some of the sites I saw on my trip. I know I was right here:

And here:

I wish I had visited this place. Looks cool! Guess I’ll have to go back.

Have you met your Ebaby! friends in real life? Tell us about it!

]]> http://englishbabyblog.com/2012/01/07/from-brazil-to-turkey-ebaby-friends/feed/ 0 Thanks for the Thoughtful Gifs http://englishbabyblog.com/2011/10/29/thanks-for-the-thoughtful-gifs/ http://englishbabyblog.com/2011/10/29/thanks-for-the-thoughtful-gifs/#comments Sat, 29 Oct 2011 22:39:33 +0000 jasonsimms http://englishbabyblog.com/?p=756 Our recent English lesson videos with US Women’s National Team star Ali Krieger have introduced us to the previously unknown world of fan-created animated gifs. Between Ali tweeting the lessons and the official US Soccer blog posting them, a lot of fans saw them, and a few were inspired to create these fun images.


Original post here.


Original post here.


Original post here.


Original post here.

Apparently, there are dozens of these gifs created by fans of the US Women’s National Team every day. We think it’s pretty amusing, and we’re glad they like our videos.

]]> http://englishbabyblog.com/2011/10/29/thanks-for-the-thoughtful-gifs/feed/ 0 Learning Soccer Slang with International Stars http://englishbabyblog.com/2011/10/27/learning-soccer-slang-with-international-stars/ http://englishbabyblog.com/2011/10/27/learning-soccer-slang-with-international-stars/#comments Thu, 27 Oct 2011 01:23:44 +0000 jasonsimms http://englishbabyblog.com/?p=748
We recently got a taste of World Cup action just up the street from the English, baby! office in Portland. The US Women’s National Team took on the Canadians, and two of the athletes were happy to teach some new vocabulary to our members around the world.

Canadian goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc talked about the number one term every goalie must know, “save”. She was tons of fun. We grabbed her right after she said hello to ESPN broadcaster and women’s soccer legend Julie Foudy (pictured above).

There were a few hundred fans there to watch the teams practice. Just before signing some autographs, US defender Ali Krieger gave us an interview. Since she’s such a smart player and a leader, we had her teach the more abstract term “distribution.” She also happened to use the phrase “sink or swim,” so we turned that into a second video.

We also recently featured a pair of lessons by the only Japanese player in MLS, Kosuke Kimura. He talks about last year’s MLS Cup in which his Colorado Rapids pulled off a come from behind victory, and he demonstrates how to “cut the angle” in a hotel lobby. This easy going attitude has made Kosuke a fan favorite, so it’s no surprise that these videos were covered by soccer blogs including Soccer 365 and Burgundy Wave.

You can find more soccer slang lessons on English, baby! See you next season.

]]> http://englishbabyblog.com/2011/10/27/learning-soccer-slang-with-international-stars/feed/ 0 As the World Learns Season 1: The Proposal http://englishbabyblog.com/2011/10/06/as-the-world-learns-season-1-the-proposal/ http://englishbabyblog.com/2011/10/06/as-the-world-learns-season-1-the-proposal/#comments Thu, 06 Oct 2011 06:12:11 +0000 jasonsimms http://englishbabyblog.com/?p=730 After 165 nonstop episodes, it seemed time to start producing the English, baby! soap opera, As the World Learns, in seasons. Watch all 10 episodes of the romantic first season right here. Each episode is an English lesson focused on a particular phrase. See the episode guide below for links to the full lessons.

1.01 – Left Out: Get to know the Ebaby! cast while the men of the office get left out.
1.02 – Glass Ceiling: The women of the office have a plan to break the glass ceiling.
1.03 – Girls’ Night Out: On a girls’ night out, the women make a discovery.
1.04 – Plant the Seed: Devan starts planting the seed to get what she wants.
1.05 – Pop the Question: Mason catches Jason practicing to pop the question.
1.06 – Break the Bank: Jason asks Jeff how to get a ring that won’t break the bank.
1.07 – Have Second Thoughts: Trouble at the office gives Jason second thoughts.
1.08 – Spill the Beans: Mason spills the beans about Jason’s plan.
1.09 – Chicken Out: Jason has a plan, but will he chicken out?
1.10 – It Just Slipped Out: Jason let’s something very important just slip out.

Season 2 starts in November. Don’t miss the wedding planning drama! Thanks for supporting coolest English lessons anywhere. Tell your friends!

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