logo
episode-header-image
May 2024
26m 4s

The translator at the center of a sports...

Plain English
About this episode

Today's story: Shohei Ohtani is a superstar baseball player in Los Angeles. Since his arrival in the U.S., he has used a Japanese translator. But the translator stands accused of stealing money from Ohtani and using the money to pay off sports gambling debts. Ohtani himself is considered the victim.

Learn this English expression: To be 'caught up in something' is to be involved in something (usually bad), often unintentionally

Full lesson: https://plainenglish.com/673

--

Upgrade all your skills in English: Plain English is the best current-events podcast for learning English.

You might be learning English to improve your career, enjoy music and movies, connect with family abroad, or even prepare for an international move. Whatever your reason, we'll help you achieve your goals in English.

How it works: Listen to a new story every Monday and Thursday. They're all about current events, trending topics, and what's going on in the world. Get exposure to new words and ideas that you otherwise might not have heard in English.

The audio moves at a speed that's right for intermediate English learners: just a little slower than full native speed. You'll improve your English listening, learn new words, and have fun thinking in English.

--

Did you like this episode? You'll love the full Plain English experience. Join today and unlock the fast (native-speed) version of this episode, translations in the transcripts, how-to video lessons, live conversation calls, and more. Tap/click: PlainEnglish.com/join

Here's where else you can find us: Instagram | YouTube | WhatsApp | Email

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
Aug 21
Egypt’s long-awaited mega-museum nears completion
Today's story: After years of delays, Cairo’s Grand Egypt Museum is finally nearing completion. The massive museum will house over 100,000 artifacts from Ancient Egypt, including more than 5,000 items from King Tut’s tomb. Although the King Tut galleries are still closed, most of ... Show More
13m 42s
Aug 18
The poison mushroom and Australia’s sensational murder trial
Today's story: Erin Patterson invited her estranged husband’s family to lunch and served them beef wellington. But her guests soon got sick, and doctors discovered the recipe had been made with poisonous death cap mushrooms. Patterson claimed it was all a tragic mistake, but inco ... Show More
14m 53s
Aug 14
Cities are getting that sinking feeling
Today's story: Cities around the world are sinking due to a combination of groundwater extraction, rapid urbanization, and the weight of large buildings. This phenomenon, called subsidence, can damage infrastructure, worsen flooding, and, in some places, become irreversible.Trans ... Show More
13m 55s
Recommended Episodes
Dec 2022
#315 Studying English Should NOT Be Boring — How to Make it Fun & Easy
Connecting your passions and hobbies with your English learning is a surefire way to not only enjoy the process but also improve your English considerably. In today’s episode, a very special guest from the RealLife team will share his story on how he became fluent in English, and ... Show More
32 m
Feb 2022
#274 Fast & Easy Trick to Expand your English Vocabulary
One of the greatest challenges for Upper-intermediate learners is to continue making progress in their English. We’ve had countless students tell us about this problem: They already speak English quite well but still have some things to improve. Although they know this, they’re n ... Show More
41m 26s
Nov 2022
#312 How To Advance Your English FAST: Start Teaching!
When you are at intermediate level, it’s much harder to see progress in your English learning. You find yourself in this intermediate zone that seems to last forever. Some people even call it the “plateau purgatory”. But if you want to take your English to a true advanced level, ... Show More
40m 13s
Aug 2023
21 IMPORTANT sports daily English expressions
Sports in the United States are popular, and people love watching them. Many of our idioms and phrases come from sports. In this video, I will teach you 21 important idioms and phrases that you can use in your daily English conversations.  Sign up for a 30-day trial of audible to ... Show More
13m 59s
Aug 2022
#300 The Courage to Suck at Doing Something New: A Story of English Fluency Journey
Are you afraid of making mistakes in English? Well, being a successful English learner means having the courage to fail, dust yourself off and try again and again and again. In today’s episode, I’m joined by a very special guest who will share her English learning journey and how ... Show More
28m 18s
Nov 2022
#310 Learn The Basics Of English Grammar: How To Use Grammar To Speak English Better
If your English is already intermediate, resuming your grammar studies may be the solution to take it to the next level. Learning (or reviewing) the basics of English grammar will help you fix mistakes you might still be making at intermediate level so you can go on to have more ... Show More
31m 8s
Apr 2024
Simplified Speech #195 – Live sports
Episode description: In this Simplified Speech episode, Andrew and Kassy share their experiences attending live sporting events in various countries, including Canada, the USA, Korea, Thailand, and Taiwan. They discuss the exciting atmosphere, food options, ticket prices, and cul ... Show More
29m 47s