Boost Your English: Advanced Vocabulary from Maya Angelou's "Caged Bird" Poem

📖In this episode of the Learn English Podcast, we celebrate Banned Book Week by looking at one of the most famous poets in American history: Maya Angelou. She was a writer, performer, and civil rights activist whose words inspired millions. Her most famous book, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings, tells the story of her difficult childhood and how she found her voice through poetry.

We share highlights of Maya Angelou’s life, from her childhood in the South to becoming San Francisco’s first African American female streetcar conductor, and later an international performer. You will hear how she faced challenges, built a career as an actress, dancer, and writer, and used her voice to speak out against injustice.

We also read her powerful poem Caged Bird. The poem uses the image of a bird in a cage as a metaphor for people who are not free. We explain advanced vocabulary and poetic phrases, giving you the chance to practice listening to complex English while improving your fluency and confidence.

Banned Book Week is a time when people discuss books that have been removed from schools or libraries. Sadly, Angelou’s famous memoir has been banned in some places. Reading in English is one of the best ways to grow your vocabulary and language skills, and her work is a great example of literature that can help you master the language.

🔗Previous MLK Episodes 1 and 2

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📜 SOURCES

Caged Bird Poem: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/48989/caged-bird

Oprah Winfrey Interview

Inauguration Poem

📝 Vocabulary list:

1) Banned book – a book that has been removed from libraries or schools.

2) Struggles – difficult experiences or challenges.

3) Traumatic – very shocking or upsetting, causing lasting emotional pain.

4) Speak out – to say what you think openly, especially about something wrong or unfair.

5) Civil Rights Movement – the social movement in the U.S. fighting for equal rights for African Americans in the 1950s–60s.

6) Memoir – a book that someone writes about their own life and experiences.

7) Honorary degree – a special academic award given to someone for their achievements.

8) Analogy – A comparison between two things to help explain something.

9) Leap – to jump with energy or joy.

10) Seldom – almost never; rarely.

11) Rage – very strong anger.

12) Long for – to strongly want or desire something, especially something hard to get.