Try saying that tongue-twister of a 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 the latest wellness trends to Instagram "healthfluencers," I'm sharing my frustration about 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 (it’s not found in a bottle or at 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. 🧘‍♀️✨

Hear You Go English language listening podcasts aim to give you, the intermediate English language learner and advanced English language learner, a space to practice your English listening so that you can think, learn, and connect in English.

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You can also follow me on Instagram.

🎶 Amos the Transparent provides my theme song. They're an awesome group of talented musicians. Give them some love and check out their music.

Please share the podcast and spread the knowledge!

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.

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❤️‍🔥 Are you a fan of Hear You Go?

🎧 Have you listened to the podcast and found it valuable for your listening practice?

🫙 You can say thank you by leaving a tip in my tip jar.

Your support is deeply appreciated.

Catherine 🤗

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Do you get my newsletter? It’s really the best way to hear from me.

You can also follow me on Instagram.

🎶 Amos the Transparent provides my theme song. They're an awesome group of talented musicians. Give them some love and check out their music.

Hear You Go English language listening podcasts aim to give you, the intermediate and Advanced English language learner, a space to practice your English listening so that you can think, learn, and connect in English.

Please share the podcast and spread the knowledge!

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 :)

Resources Danny mentions:

Anything by Thich Nhat Hanh.

Mindfulness and Learning: Celebrating the Affective Dimension of Education, by Terry Hyland

Eckhart Tolle

Living in the Moment, Anna Black

The Mindful Way workbook, Teasdale et al.

***************************************

Are you a fan of Hear You Go?

Have you listened to the podcast and found it valuable for your listening practice?

You can say thank you by leaving a tip in my tip jar.

Your support is deeply appreciated.

**************************************************

Theme music: Amos the Transparent.