Bean Counting - 19 May 2025

There are word nerds, and then there’s the woman who set up a folding chair on sidewalks throughout the country, cheerfully dispensing tips about grammar. She recounts her adventures in a new book. And the story of the brilliant pioneer of computing language whose name lives on i ...  Show more

How do dictionaries define colors? And why are some of those definitions so confusing, like “stronger than carmine” and “bluer than fiesta”? Dictionary editor Kory Stamper explains it all in her new book. Plus, the story behind the expression more bang for your buck goes back to ...  Show more

Download ELSA for free + get 7 days membership for free:  https://bit.ly/ELSAxTHINKINGINENGLISH Get exclusive ELSA discounts:  https://elsaspeak.com/inf/promo-code-thinking-in-english/?promocode=THINK85 Today I want to discuss Noah Webster, the man who played a major role in cre ...  Show more

“Learning other languages makes you a more open person and makes you understand we are not in a vacuum.” - Fadi BouKaram When it comes to learning a new language, fear of acceptance by native speakers is often a barrier to practising and improving. But Fadi BouKaram believes shar ...  Show more

In this Catch Word episode, Andrew and Indiana teach you two very useful English idioms: to go off the rails and to get out of hand. These are common expressions that English speakers use to describe situations that become chaotic, unmanageable, or out of control. You’ll hear And ...  Show more

Ever wondered why "of" seems to disappear and sound so "soft" when native speakers are talking quickly? In this episode so you'll learn why and how to soften the word "of" so you can sound more natural when you speak in English as well as und ...