Hello and welcome to English Snacks! I'm Amber, your English teacher and native English speaker from Australia, now living in the French countryside.
October is my favourite time of year. The mornings are cooler, the light is golden, the leaves are changing, and I find myself wanting to drink tea, read books and slow down a little.
In this episode, I'm taking you with me into my October. We'll meet Anne Shirley from Anne of Green Gables, enjoy some beautiful poetry, learn natural English vocabulary for autumn and cool weather, and finish with shadowing practice to help you improve your pronunciation, rhythm and intonation.
This is a gentle English listening lesson for intermediate ESL learners (B1–B2) who want to understand natural English, build vocabulary and speak more confidently.
🍁 In this episode, you'll learn useful autumn English:
• a nip in the air — a small feeling of cold in the air
• crisp — pleasantly cool and fresh
• misty — containing a light fog
• to bundle up — to put on warm clothes or layers
• to rustle — to make a soft, crackling sound
• cosy/cozy — warm, comfortable and relaxing
• hushed — very quiet and still
• mild — pleasantly warm or not too cold
• to savour/savor — to enjoy something slowly and fully
You'll hear natural sentences such as:
🍂 “There's a nip in the air.”
🍂 “I love the crisp, misty mornings.”
📚 English through literature
I'll introduce you to Anne Shirley, the imaginative heroine of L. M. Montgomery's classic novel Anne of Green Gables, and we'll explore why Anne loves October so much.
We'll also hear a few beautiful words from poets Robert Frost and Helen Hunt Jackson, and discover how simple English can create beautiful pictures.
🎧 Shadowing practice
At the end of the episode, we'll practise together. I'll say several sentences and you can repeat after me, copying my rhythm and intonation.
Shadowing is a wonderful way to move beyond simply understanding English and start making your spoken English sound more natural.
🌿 Your English challenge
This week, look out of your window or step outside and find one thing about October that makes you smile.
It could be a colour, smell, sound, the weather—or even something you're eating.
Then say:
“I'm so glad for…”
For example:
🍁 “I'm so glad for the golden light.”
🎃 “I'm so glad for pumpkin soup.”
☕ “I'm so glad for crisp mornings.”
Try making your own sentence and saying it aloud.
💛 About English Snacks
English Snacks is a short, gentle English podcast for intermediate ESL learners who want to improve their listening, vocabulary, pronunciation and everyday spoken English.
Listen slowly, listen again, shadow with me, and let your English grow one little snack at a time.
If you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to English Snacks so you never miss a new lesson.
Come hungry for knowledge. 🍂
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