We all tell stories, but what stories do we tell? | Ideas in English for Advanced Listening Practice.

📚 In this episode of Hear You Go, I dive into The Bee Sting by Paul Murray—a Booker Prize–shortlisted novel about an Irish family falling apart, unraveling really, under pressure. Each family member tells their own version of events, showing us how perspective, memory, and emotion shape the stories we carry.

The episode explores:

• Why personal narratives matter, both in novels and in our own lives

• How different voices and perspectives in The Bee Sting reveal deeper truths

• What language learners can take from the idea of rewriting their own narratives

• Useful vocabulary for talking about stories and identity

I invite you to reflect on your narrative. What story do you tell about yourself—and how might you tell it differently?

🎧 Ready to rethink the stories you carry? Here we go…

Have you heard the alarm bells too? Are we reading less these days?

My friends are all readers, so I find it hard to imagine that people don’t read for enjoyment. In search of answers, I decided to take a look at the shifting habits around reading for pleasure. Are people (especially young people) actually reading less? What does the data say? And why does it matter?

We’ll explore:

• What does it mean to read and be a “reader”

• What the data say about reading rates today

• What we might lose if the “reading class” keeps shrinking—and what role AI and smartphones play in all this

This is an advanced English language exploration of books, literacy, and attention—but also about empathy, imagination, and the kind of connection that only deep reading can bring. Whether you're an avid reader or someone who’s been meaning to get back into it, I hope this episode gives you something to reflect on.

📖 So… are you still reading for pleasure? Let’s talk about it.

Raising Bilingual Kids: A Conversation with Leticia Dalposso

In this episode of Hear You Go, I speak with Leticia Dalposso, a Brazilian English teacher and mother of two, about how she is raising her children to speak English at home—even though they live in Brazil and English isn’t her first language.

This conversation is perfect for advanced English learners, English teachers, and anyone interested in bilingual parenting, language identity, and real English conversation.

You’ll hear how Leticia uses the OPOL (One Parent, One Language) method to support her children’s bilingual development, and how she stays motivated despite pressure and questions from people around her.

🎧You’ll hear:

• A real-life example of how to raise bilingual children

• Why Leticia chose to speak English to her kids at home

• Her favourite ways to make English feel natural and fun

• How she responds to doubts and criticism from others

• Encouragement for parents and teachers using English in everyday life

As always, I’ll note some useful intermediate/advanced language (B1/C1 Intermediate & Advanced English) along the way.

🔗  Follow Leticia here on Instagram

Her podcast is here:

Bilingual Coffee podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/3wx1exBzfZoRYGWz7PerM6?si=57a05de5043a4116

It’s the final episode of Season 3—thank you for listening! 

Today, I’m sharing a book that completely surprised me: The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim. I honestly don’t know how I hadn’t heard of it before, but I’m so glad I finally read it. It’s a charming read (just what I needed in recent months!)—but also sharp, funny, and quietly radical and subversive.

In this episode, I’ll share:
📚 A bit about the author’s fascinating and rather unconventional life
💐 A review of the book and why it’s more than just a sweet story set in Italy
🪞Some big questions about women, freedom, and what it means to carve out space for ourselves

Plus, a little sneak peek at what’s coming in Season 4—and a reminder that WILDE: The Listening Festival is now open for early bird registration! If you're into real conversations, women's voices, and the many Englishes of the world, this course might be your thing.

So let’s dive in to this book talk episode - enjoy!