Ep. 4 - How to Set English Learning Goals That Actually Work
Release Date: 07/02/2025
Ep. 5 - Journaling, Doodling & Deep Learning: Making English Stick
Alone with English
You don’t need a better memory. You need more meaning. In this reflective, creative episode of Alone with English, Ruth and Jennie explore how journaling, note-taking, doodling, and even paying attention to smells or colours, can help English finally land in your life in a way that sticks. This isn’t about perfect notebooks or endless review. It’s about making English yours, through emotion, expression, and small, personal rituals that feel good to you. You’ll hear: Why journaling (in any language) helps your brain remember How colour, imagery, and movement boost vocabulary...
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Ep. 4 - How to Set English Learning Goals That Actually Work
Alone with English
Forget “fluency.” Let’s talk about you. Feeling overwhelmed by English? You’re not alone, and you’re not doing it wrong. In this episode of Alone with English, Ruth and Jennie gently dismantle the vague, exhausting goals we’re told to chase (“just be fluent!”) and help you reconnect with what actually matters to you. This isn’t a productivity episode, it’s a realignment. We’re guiding you back to a place where your goals make sense for your life, your energy, and your voice. You’ll hear: Why “I want to be fluent” is too vague, and what to say instead How to spot...
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Ep. 3 - Should English Be Fun? Rethinking Motivation and Expectation
Alone with English
Fun isn’t the goal. Freedom is. In this episode of Alone with English, Ruth and Jennie take on a common (and confusing) expectation: that learning English should always be fun. We’ve been told two things at once: “Push through the pain!” “Make it fun or you’ll never stick with it!” But what if both of those are distractions? What if learning that matters is sometimes quiet, repetitive, or even boring, and that’s okay? This conversation helps you step away from performative learning and start tuning into what actually works for you. You’ll hear: Why the “fun vs....
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Ep. 2 - English Doesn’t Have to Hurt: Finding Joy in the Journey
Alone with English
If English has ever made you feel ashamed, small, or afraid, this one’s for you. In this episode of Alone with English, Ruth and Jennie get real about the emotional fallout of traditional language learning. So many learners carry invisible scars from classrooms that punished mistakes, teachers who demanded perfection, or systems that made them feel like they were never enough. But it doesn’t have to be that way. This episode is your invitation to break up with shame, and begin building a new relationship with English. One that includes curiosity, joy, movement, and permission to do things...
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Ep. 1 - You’re Not Alone: Redefining the English Learning Journey
Alone with English
You’re not the problem. The system is. In this first episode of Alone with English, Ruth and Jennie speak directly to the learners who feel ashamed, stuck, or like they’re always behind. Because here’s the truth: if English learning has left you feeling inadequate, it’s not a personal failure. It’s the result of a system that’s been selling you efficiency and leaving you exhausted. This episode is a wake-up call and a warm welcome. We share the emotional truths behind why learners give up, and how to start finding freedom in your English again. You’ll hear: Why “not good...
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Trailer for Alone with English
Alone with English
Alone with English is a podcast about language, identity, and connection. Hosts Jennie Reed and Ruth Pringle explore what it feels like to live and learn with English. This isn’t about tips or quick fixes. It’s about honest conversations, encouragement, and finding your own way with English. Whether you’re learning, teaching, or just curious, this podcast invites you to feel more at home in your voice. Ruth Pringle, from Jennie Reed, from For the audio + transcript, .
info_outlineForget “fluency.” Let’s talk about you.
Feeling overwhelmed by English? You’re not alone, and you’re not doing it wrong.
In this episode of Alone with English, Ruth and Jennie gently dismantle the vague, exhausting goals we’re told to chase (“just be fluent!”) and help you reconnect with what actually matters to you.
This isn’t a productivity episode, it’s a realignment. We’re guiding you back to a place where your goals make sense for your life, your energy, and your voice.
You’ll hear:
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Why “I want to be fluent” is too vague, and what to say instead
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How to spot the difference between panic goals and long-term growth
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Why you might not need English classes at all, and what to do instead
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How to connect with a teacher who serves you, not their curriculum
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What sustainable, human goal-setting really looks like
📝 Plus: Download your free “Self-Assessment & Goal-Setting Worksheet”a practical tool to help you reflect, reset, and move forward with confidence. (Link in the show notes.)
Whether you're just beginning or stuck on a plateau, this episode offers a gentler way to move forward, one that’s grounded in clarity, connection, and choice.
Resources & Links
🎯 Goal Setting Worksheet - Free Resources
📈 Needs Analysis - Understand what you want to achieve
🧠 Excellence in English Education - Confidence-building pronunciation coaching from Jennie
🌿 Blue Noun Language Holidays - Immersive, creative English experiences in Scotland
🎙 Listen on Spotify | Apple Podcasts coming soon
For Audio + Transcript, click here.