logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2020
22m 33s

Hagia Sophia controversially converted f...

Plain English
About this episode

"

For the second time in its history, Istanbul’s Hagia Sophia, a prized, architectural jewel, will be converted into a mosque. Turkey’s conservative supporters welcomed the change. Other Turks and most of the international community believe it’s a politically motivated move to regain support for the president, whose approval ratings have slid in recent years. Plus, learn what “a tiny sliver” means.

--

At Plain English, we make English lessons for the modern world.

-- Today’s full English lesson, including a free transcript, can be found at: https://plainenglish.com/281

-- Learning English should be fun! That’s why our lessons are about current events and trending topics you care about: business, travel, technology, health, science, politics, the environment, and so much more. Our free English lessons always include English expressions and phrasal verbs, too.

-- Learn even more English at PlainEnglish.com, where we have fast and slow audio, translations, videos, online English courses, and a supportive community of English learners like you. Sign up free at PlainEnglish.com/Join

-- Aprende inglés gratis en línea con nuestro curso de inglés. Se habla a una velocidad lenta para que todos entiendan. ¡Aprende ingles con nosotros ahora! | Aprenda Inglês online grátis com o Plain English, a uma velocidade menor, para que todos possam entender.

Contact: E-mail jeff@plainenglish.com | WhatsApp +1 312 967 8757 | Facebook PlainEnglishPod | Instagram PlainEnglishPod | Twitter @PlainEnglishPod

"

Mentioned in this episode:

The Expressions are back!

Subscribe to our new podcast, "Essential English Expressions." Each episode shows you step-by-step how to use a common English expression, with plenty of examples. Season 1 is available now. Download or stream all 14 episodes at [link].

Up next
Jul 10
How to keep a high passenger rating
Today's story: You thought only the passengers rated the drivers? Think again: drivers rate passengers, too. And a low passenger rating might cost you. But it's not hard to earn a high passenger rating. To keep a high rating, don’t make the driver wait, be polite, avoid eating or ... Show More
17m 37s
Jul 7
Three words to say exactly where you are
Today's story: A company called what3words has divided the world into 57 trillion squares, each three meters by three meters, and labeled each square with a unique three-word combination. This makes it easier to specify precise locations—even in parks, rural areas, or places with ... Show More
19m 56s
Jul 3
Which way is home? It’s complicated
Today's story: In many parts of the world, buildings don't have formal, complete addresses that can be identified on a map. Locals often use landmarks to explain where they live. But these improvised systems come with inefficiencies and real-world consequences. It's hard for resi ... Show More
16m 12s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2023
Essential travel vocabulary lesson
In today’s English lesson I will teach you all of the essential travel English vocabulary that you need to know to get around airports, especially in the United States. In this English lesson I will teach you vocabulary, common phrases, and cultural knowledge that will help you g ... Show More
10m 15s
Jan 2023
Learn the Top English Jokes
Understanding American humor is important for foreigners because it can help them better understand the culture, values, and perspectives of the United States. It can give insight into what Americans find funny, and why they laugh at certain things. It can also be a great way to ... Show More
12m 9s
Apr 2021
Speak Better English with Harry | Episode 281
Hi there, I'm Harry from www.englishlessonviaskype.com and welcome to my English learning podcast where I help you improve your English speaking, listening, pronunciation and grammar. In today's podcast episode you're going to learn popular English collocations. A ... Show More
15m 39s
Mar 2021
Speak Better English with Harry | Episode 270
Hi there, I'm Harry from www.englishlessonviaskype.com and welcome to my English learning podcast where I help you improve your English speaking, listening, pronunciation and grammar. In this podcast episode, I would like to introduce a native teacher James. James is an expe ... Show More
12m 28s
Aug 2023
Learn 28 popular English Idioms in the United States
Looking to improve your English conversation skills and sound more like a native speaker? In this video, I'll be teaching you 28 commonly used idioms and phrases in the United States that you need to know. This video will provide clear explanations and fun examples to help yo ... Show More
31m 7s
Sep 2020
Speak Better English with Harry | Episode 215
Hi there, I'm Harry from www.englishlessonviaskype.com and welcome to my English learning podcast where I help you improve your English speaking, listening, pronunciation and grammar. Today, we're reviewing English grammar rules. In this episode, we will concentrate on ... Show More
14m 1s
Aug 2023
150 english phrases for American English
Learn 150 English phrases and idioms that you can learn formally and informally in your English conversations. Visit https://englishwithkayla.com/ to upgrade your English conversations with my new six-week conversation course //JOIN MY EMAIL LIST https://englishvocabularyhelp.com ... Show More
1h 59m