Episode 58: What to Do When You Don’t Understand a Native Speaker

06min | 03/16/2026

Description

English, please is a podcast designed to help improve your English by listening to clear, intermediate English about many different topics like history, culture, art, music, travel, and language.

Episode 58: What to Do When You Don’t Understand a Native Speaker
It happens to almost every language learner: you're having a conversation in English, and suddenly you miss something. You freeze. You smile and nod. In this episode, you'll learn four simple strategies for exactly this situation, plus why native English is sometimes so hard to understand in the first place. As with all episodes, this one is just the right length for practicing your listening skills in one sitting.

Want to keep practicing after you listen? Subscribe to the free English, please newsletter at comullen.com/newsletter. You'll get English practice tips and activities with every new episode, plus a free sample lesson from the English Listening Accelerator delivered straight to your inbox.

Want more structured practice? Try a free sample lesson from the English Listening Accelerator at comullen.com/listen.

I'm now on YouTube! I share short, practical English content on my channel!

Episode transcript

Podcast website

Get the English Listening Accelerator!

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Chapters

Chapter 1
0sec
Chapter 2
1min
Chapter 3
4min

About English, please

Struggling to find intermediate English content that's actually interesting? English, please gives you real, interesting content at the perfect level for intermediate learners (B1-B2).

Every episode is under 10 minutes with clear, natural English about topics that actually matter: American culture, travel, daily life, and practical tips you can use right away. No textbook English. No slow, unnatural speech. Just real conversations you can follow and understand.

Every episode is completely free and includes:

Clear intermediate-level English (B1-B2)
Free transcripts
Vocabulary definitions in chapter markers
Topics that keep you engaged while you learn

Ready to practice more actively? Try the English Listening Accelerator at comullen.com/listen. It's a complete workbook with 10 practical lessons, audio files, comprehension questions, vocabulary, repeat-after-me exercises, and a complete answer key. Download Lesson 2 free to see if it's right for you!

I'm now on YouTube! I share short, practical English lessons on my channel!

Join thousands of learners improving their English, one episode at a time! Questions or feedback? Contact me!

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

About English, please

Struggling to find intermediate English content that's actually interesting? English, please gives you real, interesting content at the perfect level for intermediate learners (B1-B2).

Every episode is under 10 minutes with clear, natural English about topics that actually matter: American culture, travel, daily life, and practical tips you can use right away. No textbook English. No slow, unnatural speech. Just real conversations you can follow and understand.

Every episode is completely free and includes:

Clear intermediate-level English (B1-B2)
Free transcripts
Vocabulary definitions in chapter markers
Topics that keep you engaged while you learn

Ready to practice more actively? Try the English Listening Accelerator at comullen.com/listen. It's a complete workbook with 10 practical lessons, audio files, comprehension questions, vocabulary, repeat-after-me exercises, and a complete answer key. Download Lesson 2 free to see if it's right for you!

I'm now on YouTube! I share short, practical English lessons on my channel!

Join thousands of learners improving their English, one episode at a time! Questions or feedback? Contact me!

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Description

English, please is a podcast designed to help improve your English by listening to clear, intermediate English about many different topics like history, culture, art, music, travel, and language.

Episode 58: What to Do When You Don’t Understand a Native Speaker
It happens to almost every language learner: you're having a conversation in English, and suddenly you miss something. You freeze. You smile and nod. In this episode, you'll learn four simple strategies for exactly this situation, plus why native English is sometimes so hard to understand in the first place. As with all episodes, this one is just the right length for practicing your listening skills in one sitting.

Want to keep practicing after you listen? Subscribe to the free English, please newsletter at comullen.com/newsletter. You'll get English practice tips and activities with every new episode, plus a free sample lesson from the English Listening Accelerator delivered straight to your inbox.

Want more structured practice? Try a free sample lesson from the English Listening Accelerator at comullen.com/listen.

I'm now on YouTube! I share short, practical English content on my channel!

Episode transcript

Podcast website

Get the English Listening Accelerator!

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

Chapters

Chapter 1
0sec
Chapter 2
1min
Chapter 3
4min

About English, please

Struggling to find intermediate English content that's actually interesting? English, please gives you real, interesting content at the perfect level for intermediate learners (B1-B2).

Every episode is under 10 minutes with clear, natural English about topics that actually matter: American culture, travel, daily life, and practical tips you can use right away. No textbook English. No slow, unnatural speech. Just real conversations you can follow and understand.

Every episode is completely free and includes:

Clear intermediate-level English (B1-B2)
Free transcripts
Vocabulary definitions in chapter markers
Topics that keep you engaged while you learn

Ready to practice more actively? Try the English Listening Accelerator at comullen.com/listen. It's a complete workbook with 10 practical lessons, audio files, comprehension questions, vocabulary, repeat-after-me exercises, and a complete answer key. Download Lesson 2 free to see if it's right for you!

I'm now on YouTube! I share short, practical English lessons on my channel!

Join thousands of learners improving their English, one episode at a time! Questions or feedback? Contact me!

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

About English, please

Struggling to find intermediate English content that's actually interesting? English, please gives you real, interesting content at the perfect level for intermediate learners (B1-B2).

Every episode is under 10 minutes with clear, natural English about topics that actually matter: American culture, travel, daily life, and practical tips you can use right away. No textbook English. No slow, unnatural speech. Just real conversations you can follow and understand.

Every episode is completely free and includes:

Clear intermediate-level English (B1-B2)
Free transcripts
Vocabulary definitions in chapter markers
Topics that keep you engaged while you learn

Ready to practice more actively? Try the English Listening Accelerator at comullen.com/listen. It's a complete workbook with 10 practical lessons, audio files, comprehension questions, vocabulary, repeat-after-me exercises, and a complete answer key. Download Lesson 2 free to see if it's right for you!

I'm now on YouTube! I share short, practical English lessons on my channel!

Join thousands of learners improving their English, one episode at a time! Questions or feedback? Contact me!

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.

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