The real English of magic, spells and superstitions, in slow, clear English — fingers crossed, touch wood, knock on wood, believe in, good luck, bad luck, superstitious. An English learning podcast episode you can take on a walk or a long drive, with nothing on screen to miss. Taught through Practical Magic 2.

This episode covers the story of Practical Magic 2, the sequel to the 1998 film, in which the Owens sisters, played by Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman, face the family curse again — plus a vocabulary lesson built right into that story: the language of magic and luck, from "believe in" and "superstitious" to "touch wood", "good luck" and "fingers crossed".

Perfect for English learners who enjoy movies and want a slow, clear, podcast-friendly way to improve their English listening comprehension and vocabulary on the go — no video required.

Free interactive learning materials for this episode are also available at engmoviereviews.com.

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to this English learning podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts for more movies reviewed in slow, clear English, or catch the video version on YouTube (EngMovieReviews).

The real English of standing your ground at work, in slow, clear English — speak up, push back on, stand your ground, be taken seriously, overlooked and passed over. An English learning podcast episode you can follow on a commute or a long walk, with no screen needed. Taught through Hidden Figures.

This episode covers the story of Hidden Figures, the drama about three Black mathematicians whose work mattered to America's early space missions while Virginia law kept them in a segregated department, with separate canteens, libraries and bathrooms — plus a vocabulary lesson built right into that story: the English of standing your ground at work, from “speak up” and “push back on” to “stand your ground”, “be taken seriously” and “passed over”.

A note on the film: it compresses timelines, merges real people into invented ones and writes scenes for the screen, so the episode separates what is on the record from what the film dramatises.

Perfect for English learners who enjoy movies and want a slow, clear, podcast-friendly way to improve their English listening comprehension and vocabulary on the go — no video required.

Free interactive learning materials for this episode are also available at engmoviereviews.com.

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to this English learning podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts for more movies reviewed in slow, clear English, or catch the video version on YouTube (EngMovieReviews).

The real English of argument and negotiation, in slow, clear English — you have a point, back down, drive a hard bargain, off the record, on the record, settle. An English learning podcast episode you can follow on a commute or a long walk, with no screen needed. Taught through The Social Network.

This episode covers the story of The Social Network as the film tells it, David Fincher's drama about a website built in a university dormitory and the duelling lawsuits that follow — plus a vocabulary lesson built right into that story: the English of argument and negotiation, from “you have a point” and “back down” to “drive a hard bargain”, “off the record” and “settle”.

A note on the film: its account of events is disputed by several of the people it portrays, so the episode treats everything as the film's version rather than as a record of what happened.

Perfect for English learners who enjoy movies and want a slow, clear, podcast-friendly way to improve their English listening comprehension and vocabulary on the go — no video required.

Free interactive learning materials for this episode are also available at engmoviereviews.com.

Enjoyed this episode? Subscribe to this English learning podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts for more movies reviewed in slow, clear English, or catch the video version on YouTube (EngMovieReviews).