#374 The 90% Rule: How to choose English listening level

This week is a bit special! All my courses have a 60% discount. I've received several messages with questions about the courses. In this short episode I'm gonna try to answer some frequently asked questions. By the way, you can get the deal at: Speakenglishpodcast.com/courses  

How to choose English listening level? Listening is powerful… but it must be comprehensible You already know that I insist on one thing again and again: you need to listen a lot.You need to listen every day, and you need to repeat the same lessons many times, because repetition helps you consolidate: vocabulary grammar patterns pronunciation …in a natural way. But today I want to make something very clear, because some students misunderstand this idea: ✅ Listening is powerful only when the content is comprehensible. Read the Transcript on my website: 

Have You Ever Had This Moment? You start speaking English. At the beginning, it's okay. And then suddenly… your brain stops. You know the idea. You know the meaning. But the word doesn't come. So what do you do? You speak faster. You try to push the words out. And then you feel frustrated. Sometimes you even feel ashamed, like: "Why can't I say something so simple?" Get the transcript here: https://speakenglishpodcast.com/373-why-you-freeze-when-speaking-english

Today we're going to talk about Valentine's Day. But don't worry — this is not going to be a boring episode about chocolates, roses, and red hearts everywhere. Let me ask you something. Is Valentine's Day really about love? Or is it about pressure? Pressure to buy a gift.
Pressure to be romantic.
Pressure to post something on Instagram.
Pressure to prove that your relationship is perfect. Get the transcript on my website: https://speakenglishpodcast.com/372-is-valentines-day-really-about-love

In the previous episode, we talked about how dogs understand our emotions and how they communicate without words. Today, I want to continue that conversation, but from a different angle. Instead of focusing on emotions, we're going to look at how dogs experience the world, how they gather information, and why they naturally look to humans for guidance. Because dogs don't just feel with us.
They observe, analyze, and cooperate with us in ways that are easy to overlook. Get the transcript on my website: https://speakenglishpodcast.com/371-dogs-and-their-superpower

Today, I want to talk about dogs again. If you've been listening to the podcast for a while, you already know this isn't the first time I've brought up dogs. Dogs are one of those topics we can come back to again and again, because each time we look at them from a different angle, we discover something new.  Get the transcript here: https://speakenglishpodcast.com/370-how-dogs-communicate-emotions/

Welcome back! This is the final episode in our 4-part series about going to the doctor. So far, we learned how to make an appointment, how to check in at the clinic, and how to answer the nurse's questions. In this lesson, we will focus on the conversation with the doctor. This part can feel intimidating, but with a few simple expressions and some practice, you'll feel much more confident. Get the transcript on my website: https://speakenglishpodcast.com/podcast/

Welcome back! This is the third episode in our 4-part series about going to the doctor. So far, we practiced how to make an appointment and how to check in at the clinic. Today, we'll continue with the next step: talking with the nurse. Usually, before you see the doctor, a nurse will ask you a few questions about your health. The nurse may also take your temperature, check your blood pressure, and write notes for the doctor. Get the transcript on my website: https://speakenglishpodcast.com/368-going-to-the-doctor-3    

Today, we will talk about how people in America celebrate New Year's Eve. And with a short story you will learn grammar in context without any boring rules. On my website you can get the 5 Secrets to speak English and also my premium courses. Get the text here: speakenglishpodcast.com/367-new-years-eve-in-the-usa-2026/

Merry Christmas, everyone!  Hey there! Welcome back to the podcast. I'm really happy you're here today. Christmas is a special time in the United States. But here's something interesting: people don't celebrate Christmas the same way everywhere. In today's episode, let's look at some fun and unusual Christmas traditions from different parts of the USA. Get the transcript on my website: https://speakenglishpodcast.com/366-christmas-traditions-in-the-usa-2025/