477. How She Stopped Avoiding English and Started Thriving
The InFluency Podcast
“Difficult doesn't mean impossible, and direction is more important than speed.” That’s a quote from the wonderful interview I’m having today with my dear student, Luciana! Her story will inspire you to keep going, no matter where you are on your English journey. In this episode, Luciana, a UX designer from Brazil now living in Portugal, shares how she went from avoiding speaking English and feeling awkward in meetings… to hosting conversation groups, creating videos, and speaking confidently every single day. We talk about: - How she shifted her mindset from fear to joy - Why...
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476. Useful English Phrases with Severance | English with TV Shows
The InFluency Podcast
Have you watched the TV show, Severance? In today’s episode, we’re learning and shadowing common phrases from the show!
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475. Success story: How she overcame English anxiety and changed her life
The InFluency Podcast
In this interview, I have the opportunity to speak with my student, Laura, who shares her remarkable journey of transformation, from feeling shy and introverted with social anxiety, to being an active member of my community, hosting conversation groups, and organizing in-person events. In this conversation, Laura shares her limiting beliefs she overcame, the social anxiety that once made even simple interactions feel impossible, and the mindset shifts that helped her break free from self-doubt. I hope you enjoy this interview! P.S. you can buy Laura’s vocabulary planner here! Get on the...
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474. Elevate your English: Linking words you can use beyond ‘However’ and ‘Or’
The InFluency Podcast
In this episode, we'll explore different linking words that you can add to your English vocabulary. You’ll get more ideas to express your thoughts differently, beyond words like "however" or "or"! You’ll learn how to connect your ideas more naturally and fluently, making your speech and writing more dynamic and engaging.
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473. Build your English confidence step-by-step [7-day challenge]
The InFluency Podcast
Confidence doesn’t magically appear overnight, it’s something you build, one step at a time. The truth is, confidence is a skill, and just like any other skill, you can learn it, practice it, and get better at it. In this episode, I’ll share the most common things that get in the way of your confidence when speaking English, so you can finally recognize and overcome them. You’ll discover practical tips, mindset shifts, and real-life strategies that will help you stop second-guessing yourself and start speaking with clarity, ease, and impact. PLUS, I’m inviting you to join my...
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472. Pronunciation practice in a song: Traitor by Olivia Rodrigo
The InFluency Podcast
Have you ever used music to boost your English pronunciation? 🎶 In this week’s video, I’m introducing you to Olivia Rodrigo’s song Traitor to practice the different T sounds in American English… especially the Flap T! I’ll break down lines from the song, show you how to pronounce them, and I’m certain you won’t be able to resist singing along with me 😉 Want to keep practicing prosody? Check out this playlist: Here are the lyrics of the part we did together: Brown guilty eyes and little white lies Yeah, I played dumb but I always knew That you'd talk to her, maybe did even...
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471. How to pronounce pronouns correctly in real life English
The InFluency Podcast
Pronouns in English: I, you, he, she, we, they: It’s one of the first things we learn when starting to study English, but do you know how they are REALLY pronounced? The answer might surprise you. In this episode, we’ll uncover the real pronunciation of English pronouns in everyday speech, and spoiler alert! It’s probably NOT the way you learned them in English class. Download the free PDF (+ audio) to practice pronouns in English!
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470. Fluent with AI? This is what Artificial Intelligence WON’T help you with.
The InFluency Podcast
Now with the rise of AI, everything has become FAST. We look for short videos, quick wins, and AI tools that do everything for us. And while that’s amazing in so many ways, it can also make us believe that fluency should be something that’s easy, instant, or effortless. But here’s the truth: some things still take time, intention, and consistency. And English is one of them! In this episode, I talk about the five must-have qualities you need to truly master English. Not tools. Not grammar rules. Not hacks. Qualities. The kind that no app or AI can give you. Because over the past couple...
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469. Breaking through your limitations: Katya’s journey to total fluency
The InFluency Podcast
In this interview, I had the absolute pleasure of speaking with Katya, one of my amazing students who started learning English from scratch seven years ago. What’s even more incredible is that she did it all without ever living in an English-speaking country!! Katya takes us through her journey, from feeling stuck and frustrated to finding the breakthrough that led her to become a leader in our communities. We dive deep into how pronunciation work, especially prosody, not only helped her speak with confidence but also transformed her mindset and life. In this conversation, Katya shares her...
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468. Read out loud with me! Practice vocabulary, pronunciation and connected speech | Let Them by Mel Robbins
The InFluency Podcast
Improve your vocabulary, pronunciation and pace while reading a book out loud with me! We’re reading the ‘Let Them’ book by Mel Robbins. Not only is it an excellent practice, it’s also a great way for us to understand how WE can adopt this theory in our lives. Download the PDF here to follow along and improve your vocabulary [Free!] More ‘read out loud’ videos:
info_outlineHave you ever tried to practice rhythm in English before? In this episode, we're diving into the rhythm of English, an essential part of speaking with fluency and confidence. English is a syllable-timed language, meaning that the rhythm is based on the time between syllables, not on individual words.
Let’s practice together today with a metronome to help you develop rhythm in English in several different exercises!
More episodes on rhythm:
Rhythm of English words: https://hadarshemesh.com/podcast/116/
Practice rhythm in a speech: https://hadarshemesh.com/podcast/47/