Wellness Fatigue: Is Being ‘Well’ Wearing Us Out? | English Listening Practice (E62)

Try saying that title out loud 3 times fast! Let’s kick off the year with an English pronunciation challenge 😂, and then take a deep dive into wellness—a word that might have you (like me) rolling your eyes, or perhaps you’re reaching for a $30 melatonin-infused chocolate. From Goop-y trends to Instagram "healthfluencers," we’re tackling the exhausting pursuit of being well in episode 62 of Hear You Go.

For today’s English listening practice (B2/C1 Intermediate & Advanced English), we’ll explore the tangled web of wellness and self-care: their rise to buzzword status, the trillion-dollar industry cashing in on our insecurities, and why it all feels so impossible (and expensive). Spoiler: it’s not just you who feels exhausted by the need to be “well”.

Practice your English listening skills, and learn about:

What real self-care looks like (hint: it’s not in a bottle or a spa)

How to set boundaries, prioritize your values, and ditch the guilt—good advice for language learning too!

Why wellness isn’t just personal—it’s also about community and systemic change

Oh, and don’t miss the linguistic nuggets of advanced English sprinkled throughout! Ready to redefine your year on your terms? Let’s do this. 🧘‍♀️✨

A Christmas … Dog. | Book Talk for English Listening Practice.

It’s December 17th, and my home is filling up with of cookies, Christmas aromas, and eager anticipation of family coming home.

In this special holiday episode, created for your Advanced English listening practice, you'll hear about a heartwarming Canadian short story—Carmichael’s Dog by David Adams Richards.

Humour, nostalgia, a puppy, and a snowy New Brunswick Christmas set the stage for this comedy of errors about two brothers, community, and overcoming grief. Join me for excerpts, reflections, and a cozy escape into the magic of storytelling to conclude your English listening practice for 2024.

Happy holidays, listeners—let’s jump in.

Slow down.

Breathe.

Pause.

Reflect.

Create a gap.

React or respond?

What do we do about the teacher's ego? About learners' anxieties? 

Episode 60 of Hear You Go covers a lot of ground as my special guest, Toronto-based English language teacher Danny McGee, joins me to discuss the importance and benefits of mindfulness for both teachers AND learners.

It's tremendously difficult to summarize this exceptional conversation. Truly, it's gonna knock your socks off!

So whether you teach English in a school or you're a freelance English language teacher, whether you study a language independently or in a group, you'll come away from this conversation with a better understanding of how mindfulness can not only help improve your teaching and learning, but also help you as a human being living in a chaotic world. It's something we can and should all try - why not?

What have we got to lose? 

This Advanced English conversation will give you plenty of food for thought, and when you need to learn even more, go follow Danny on Instagram: @mindful_teacherdanny 

Put on your listening ears and take a comfy seat for this listening practice. Danny and I have different English accents for you to analyze, and we use a slew of delightful expressions and vocabulary to keep your advanced English ears piqued.

Oh, and listen up for the part of the conversation where two English language teachers can't find the right word to save their lives :) 

To contact Danny:

Instagram: @mindful_teacherdanny

What is it about music? Why does the music of our youth stay with us?

In this English listening practice episode (E59) of Hear You Go, we’re turning up the volume to take a walk down memory lane and hear the playlist of my childhood—mostly English songs from artists like Kris Kristofferson and Bruce Springsteen that shaped my childhood, and probably influenced my bleeding heart.

What is it about music that sparks these memories? You know that music is a fabulous mood booster, but it’s also super helpful in learning new English vocabulary through song lyrics. Music is connected to memory, and therefore is a pretty good way to remember words and how they’re produced orally, or used in a poem or piece of prose writing.

Without a doubt, listening to music helps bring about nostalgia, and listening to songs in English boosts language acquisition in an enjoyable way.

Music is a must for English listening practice, from beginner to advanced English. It’s also a fabulous way to hear how words are contracted and reduced: made messy, as most spoken language is. The rules get broken in songs, and isn’t that comforting?

To thank you for all your support so far this season (season 3!), I’ve even made a special playlist for you (and added another)—perfect for learning or just reminiscing. What’s on your childhood playlist? 🎶