Proper English

https://feed.podbean.com/properenglish/feed.xml

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Episodes

If you're learning English and you want to know the correct word to use in a particular situation, if you get stuck thinking of the right preposition, if you are puzzled by definite and indefinite articles, then Proper English is the podcast for you!

Episodes

Jun 2, 2020

Proper English Episode 57: What we did at the weekend

Jun 2, 2020

9 min

What did you do at the weekend? We spent some time in the garden, and tidied our garden shed (it needed it). We found quite a lot of garden-related idioms and - we have a new feature: 'Where on earth does that come from?'

Like us on Facebook (properenglish2019), and follow us on Twitter (@properenglish4) or YouTube . Oh, and if you have a burning English grammar-related question, why not ask us on Instagram (properenglish2019), and we'll do our best to answer - or, if you're an email kind of person, and you have any feedback or suggestions for future podcasts, you can always contact us at properenglish@sapo.pt.

You can find us on italki at

https://www.italki.com/alisondaviskurley or https://www.italki.com/davekurley.

This week’s podcast features incidental music from Incompetech:

Danse Macabre - Big Hit 2 by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3590-danse-macabre---big-hit-2

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

May 26, 2020

Proper English Episode 56: The Traditional English Pub

May 26, 2020

9 min

This week, it's Alison's turn to fly solo. Don't worry, Dave'll be back next week! It's all about the traditional English pub in this episode, a little bit of history of some pub names, and considering the difference between a pub and a bar. There's also a rundown of the answers to last week's quiz and the Idiom of the Week is 'Not my cup of tea.'

You can find us on italki at

https://www.italki.com/alisondaviskurley or https://www.italki.com/davekurley.

This podcast uses the following sounds from Freesound and music from Incompetech:

https://freesound.org/s/258207/ by YleArkisto

https://freesound.org/s/220754/ by FoolBoyMedia

Danse Macabre - Big Hit 2 by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3590-danse-macabre---big-hit-2

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

May 19, 2020

Proper English Episode 55: The Pub Quiz

May 19, 2020

13 min

This week we're taking a look at that peculiarly British tradition - the pub quiz! And we're giving you a chance to take part in our very own Proper English Pub Quiz! The Idiom of the Week is 'Head in the clouds.'

You can find us on italki at

https://www.italki.com/alisondaviskurley or https://www.italki.com/davekurley.

This week’s podcast features incidental music from Incompetech:

Danse Macabre - Big Hit 2 by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3590-danse-macabre---big-hit-2

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

May 12, 2020

Proper English Episode 54: What's in a Name? (part 2)

May 12, 2020

8 min

This week, we return to the theme of names - we're concentrating on the wild and wonderful place names in England this time. The Idiom of the Week under investigation by Davidson and Roberts is 'Off the top of your head.'

You can find us on italki at

https://www.italki.com/alisondaviskurley or https://www.italki.com/davekurley.

This week’s podcast features incidental music from Incompetech:

Danse Macabre - Big Hit 2 by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3590-danse-macabre---big-hit-2

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Hidden Agenda by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3872-hidden-agenda

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

May 5, 2020

Proper English Episode 53: Happy Birthday to Us!

May 5, 2020

14 min

This week, Proper English is one year old! To celebrate, we're telling you the story of how this little podcast came into existence, what we've been doing this year, and what we've got in store for you in the future! We're also discussing the difference between the words 'sensible' and sensitive, and the Idiom of the Week is 'You can't have your cake and eat it!'

You can find us on italki at

https://www.italki.com/alisondaviskurley or https://www.italki.com/davekurley.

This week’s podcast features incidental music from Incompetech:

Danse Macabre - Big Hit 2 by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3590-danse-macabre---big-hit-2

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Hidden Agenda by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3872-hidden-agenda

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Apr 28, 2020

Proper English Episode 52: What's in a name?

Apr 28, 2020

13 min

This week, we're talking about our names: first names and surnames - how they're spelt and pronounced, where they come from, and what they mean. We're also looking at the the difference between 'sound' and 'noise', and the Idiom of the Week is 'My name is mud.' Also, we're having a little competition: if you come up with a first name for Detective Inspector Davidson - and we like it - not only will you get a mention, but we'll use it in a future sketch!

You can find us on italki at

https://www.italki.com/alisondaviskurley or https://www.italki.com/davekurley.

This week’s podcast features incidental music from Incompetech:

Danse Macabre - Big Hit 2 by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3590-danse-macabre---big-hit-2

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Hidden Agenda by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3872-hidden-agenda

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Apr 21, 2020

Proper English Episode 51: Living where people speak English

Apr 21, 2020

14 min

This week, we're talking with Carla, one of our students, about her experiences as a Brazilian living and studying in London. The Idiom of the Week is Carla's take on the words she didn't learn in English class.

You can find us on italki at

https://www.italki.com/alisondaviskurley or https://www.italki.com/davekurley.

This week’s podcast features incidental music from Incompetech:

Danse Macabre - Big Hit 2 by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3590-danse-macabre---big-hit-2

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Apr 14, 2020

Proper English Episode 50: Common problems

Apr 14, 2020

13 min

This week, we're discussing some of the obstacles English language learners face when trying to polish their conversational skills. We'll also be looking at the difference between 'each' and 'every', and Sergeant Roberts learns from his girlfriend Roxie the meaning of the idiom 'A chicken and egg situation.'

You can find us on italki at

https://www.italki.com/alisondaviskurley or https://www.italki.com/davekurley.

This week’s podcast features incidental music from Incompetech:

Danse Macabre - Big Hit 2 by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3590-danse-macabre---big-hit-2

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Hidden Agenda by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3872-hidden-agenda

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Apr 7, 2020

Proper English Episode 49: Four poems

Apr 7, 2020

12 min

We like to do something different in every episode - this week, we're reciting poetry! We're talking about rhythms and rhyme schemes, alliteration and assonance, and sad subjects and silly verse!

You can find us on italki at

https://www.italki.com/alisondaviskurley or https://www.italki.com/davekurley.

This podcast uses the following sounds from Freesound and music from Incompetech:

https://freesound.org/s/170464/ by eliasheuninck

https://freesound.org/s/188240/ by gadzooks

https://freesound.org/s/392212/ by jjwallace

Sad Trio by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4314-sad-trio

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Mar 31, 2020

Proper English Episode 48: Prepositions (part 3) - It's about time!

Mar 31, 2020

13 min

This week, we're returning to the subject of prepositions - this time around, we're concentrating on the prepositions we use when we talk about time. We're also looking at the difference between 'allowed' and 'aloud', and long-suffering Detective Inspector Davidson has to explain to her sergeant what the idiom 'The penny dropped' means.

You can find us on italki at

https://www.italki.com/alisondaviskurley or https://www.italki.com/davekurley.

If you have any feedback or suggestions for future podcasts, you can always contact us at properenglish@sapo.pt.

This week’s podcast features incidental music from Incompetech:

White by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/4626-white

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Hidden Agenda by Kevin MacLeod

Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/3872-hidden-agenda

License: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/