Many of us struggled with the Old English poem “Beowulf” in high school. But what if you could actually hear “Beowulf” in the English of today? There’s a new translation by Maria Dahvana Headley that uses contemporary language and even internet slang to create a fresh take on this centuries-old poem — right down to addressing the reader as Bro! Also, what’s ... Show More
Nov 24
Deep Fried Air (Rebroadcast) - 24 November 2025
Eels, orts, and Wordle! Sweden awarded its most prestigious literary award to a book about . . . eels. The Book of Eels reveals the mysterious life cycle of this sea creature and its significance for famous figures from Aristotle to Sigmund Freud. Plus, what's an ort? It's the ... Show More
53m 45s
Nov 17
No Bones - 17 November 2025
Whippoorwills, bob whites, and chickadees. How do we decide the names of birds and what to call their calls? Plus, the last syllables of Arkansas and Kansas are pronounced differently, but they come from the same etymological root. And: What’s the best word to describe your relat ... Show More
53m 45s
May 2024
Air worms and fire breathing dragons: Old English animal stories with Hana Videen
<p>982. This week, we delve into the fascinating world of Old English with medievalist Hana Videen, author of "The Deorhord." We'll uncover the secrets of Old English animal names, from "walking weaver" for spider to the ominous "unland" for a whale's deceptive island. </p><p>Fi ... Show More
30m 56s
Mar 2024
English Learners: 4 Books You Will Love
<p><b>E192: </b>🎙️ Welcome to <b>The English Like a Native Podcast</b>, your go-to listening resource for intermediate to advanced English learners. I'm your host, Anna, and today we're diving into the world of books as we celebrate<b><em> World Book Day</em></b> on Th ... Show More
18m 2s
Nov 2022
Why Today's 'Thank You' Is Different from an Ancient 'Thank You.' Gerunds.
<p>902. Language reflects culture, so it's no surprise that giving thanks hundreds of years ago was different from giving thanks today. We have the fascinating history. Plus, since "Thanksgiving" is a gerund, we looked at all the interesting things you can do with gerunds in gene ... Show More
16m 58s
Feb 2022
#271 20 Clever Word Combinations in English you Should Add to your Vocabulary (Brunch, Staycation and MORE)
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It's become very popular and trendy to combine words in English in recent years, but this can leave learners feeling pretty confused and conversations, or when watching TV series movies and listening to podcasts. These combinations of words happ ... Show More
37m 59s