American English With Brent

Do you know the right English phrases to describe the habits that drive you crazy, like slow internet or line cutters? Master these 10 common 'pet peeves' to help you sound more like a native speaker when you complain.✅ Speak Better English With Me https://brentspeak.as.me/ Use code Winter15 for 15% off. Want even more English? Become a member: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/usbrent/subscribe1. Chewing Loudly: When someone eats with loud mouth noises. : My father always chews loudly when he eats popcorn. 2. People Cutting in Line: When someone skips the line instead of waiting. : I was waiting in line for my ticket when someone cut in front of me.3. Slow Walkers: People who walk very slowly in busy places.: Slow walkers are a common pet peeve in malls and airports.4. Leaving Dirty Dishes in the Sink: Not washing dishes right away. : For some people, dirty dishes are a huge pet peeve.5. Interrupting Someone: Talking before the other person finishes. : Being interrupted is a big pet peeve for many students.6. Loud Phone Conversations: Talking very loudly on the phone in public. : Loud phone calls on the bus are a common pet peeve.7. People Not Using Turn Signals: Drivers who don’t signal when they turn.They don’t use blinkers. : Not using a turn signal annoys many drivers.8. Leaving the Toilet Seat Up: Not putting the seat down after using the bathroom. : Some people say this is their number one pet peeve.9. Clicking Pens Over and Over: When someone keeps pressing a pen button. : Pen-clicking is a small but annoying pet peeve.10. Slow Internet: When webpages or videos won’t load quickly. : Slow internet is a universal pet peeve.

Here are two strong sentences for your description box that combine the news story with the educational value:Explore the shocking allegations of war crimes in Venezuela while I teach you 20 advanced English vocabulary words used in the report. By the end of this video, you will understand complex terms like Geneva Conventions, alleged, and carried out so you can follow international news with confidence.✅ Speak Better English With Me https://brentspeak.as.me/ Use code Winter15 for 15% off 🇺🇸 Become a member for bonus English: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/usbrent/subscribe📺 Link to Newscast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MccDVmHfc08&list=RDNSMccDVmHfc08&start_radio=11. War Crimes: Serious illegal acts committed during a war, like hurting civilians.: The soldier was put in jail for committing war crimes.2. Geneva Conventions: International laws that tell countries how to treat people during a war.: The Geneva Conventions say that you cannot hurt prisoners of war.3. Alleged: Said to have happened, but not proven to be true yet.: The alleged thief is waiting for his trial in court.4. Sources: Where information or news comes from.: The reporter checked three different sources to make sure the story was true.5. Carried Out: Completed or finished a task.: The team successfully carried out the project on time.6. Follow Up: To do something more about a previous action or conversation.: The doctor wants to follow up with the patient next week to see if he feels better.7. Prior: Before or earlier.: You need to finish your homework prior to watching TV.8. Secretary of Defense: The government official in charge of a country's military.: The Secretary of Defense advised the President on the new army plan.9. Ensure: To make sure something happens.: Please ensure that the door is locked when you leave the house.10. Briefed: Given short, important information about a situation.: The soldiers were briefed on the mission before they left the base.11. Double Tap Strikes: A military attack where a place is bombed, and then bombed again a few minutes later to hit the rescuers.: Double tap strikes are very dangerous for ambulance drivers trying to help the injured.12. Violate: To break a rule, law, or agreement.: If you drive too fast, you violate the traffic laws.13. Armed Conflict: A fight or war involving weapons.: The armed conflict between the two countries lasted for five years.14. Prohibits: To forbid or not allow something.: The school prohibits smoking on campus.15. Execution: The act of killing someone as a punishment.: The prisoner faced execution for his terrible crimes.16. Combatant : A person who is fighting in a war (like a soldier).: Civilians should not be targeted, only a combatant can be fought in war.17. Surrender: To stop fighting and admit defeat.: The army had to surrender because they ran out of food.18. Acknowledge: To admit that something is true or that you noticed it.: He refused to acknowledge that he made a mistake.19. “In the Context”: Looking at the situation surrounding an event to understand it better.: You must look at his actions in the context of the war to understand why he did it.20. Accusations: Statements saying someone has done something wrong.: He denied the accusations that he stole the money.21. Moral Authority: Being respected because you follow high standards of right and wrong.: A leader needs moral authority so people will trust and follow them.

This lesson uses the breaking news story of two National Guard soldiers who were ambushed and shot while patrolling near the White House as a context for learning relevant vocabulary. We will analyze the sequence of events, from the initial attack that left one soldier in critical condition to the subsequent investigation that ended up charging the suspect with first-degree murder.✅ Speak Better English With Me https://brentspeak.as.me/ Use code BlackFriday for 20% off until December 1, 2025. 💙 OVER 100 BONUS ENGLISH LESSONS? Become a channel member. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCakDTg9dhhAsr3WmHyJDa-g/join📺 Link to Newscast: https://youtu.be/nRvJ2LmTMvs?si=D9UdkGJI0R181XOT1. Dramatic : Very sudden, surprising, or emotional. : There was a dramatic change in the score at the end of the game.2. Exclusively : Only for one person or group. : This bathroom is exclusively for customers.3. Ambushed : To attack someone by surprise from a hiding spot. : The lion ambushed the zebra from the tall grass.4. National Guard : Soldiers who help inside the country during emergencies (like floods). : The National Guard brought food and water after the big storm.5. Revolver : A small gun with a spinning part that holds bullets. : The police officer in the old movie used a revolver.6. Upgrading : Making something better or newer or more serious. : I am upgrading my phone to the newest model.7. Initial : First; at the beginning. : My initial idea was bad, but my second idea was great.8. First Degree Murder : Planning to kill someone, and then doing it. : He went to prison for first degree murder because he planned the crime.9. Critical Condition : Very sick or hurt; in danger of dying. : The doctors said the patient is in critical condition.10. Ended Up : To finally arrive somewhere, usually by mistake or surprise. : We took the wrong bus and ended up at the beach.11. Patrolling : Walking or driving around an area to watch for danger. : Police cars are patrolling the streets tonight.12. Open Doors : To give you new chances for success. : A college degree can open doors to better jobs.13. Big-Hearted : Very kind and nice. : My teacher is big-hearted; she always helps us.14. Grudge : Staying angry at someone for a long time because of something they did. : She held a grudge against her little brother for eating the last cookie. 15. Coast to Coast : From one side of the US (ocean) to the other. : The plane flew coast to coast, from New York to California.16. Search Warrants : Papers from a judge that let police search a house. : The police had search warrants to look for the stolen money in the suspect’s car.17. Asylum : Safety in a new country for people running away from danger. : They asked for asylum because their home country was at war.18. Third World Countries : Poor countries (people usually say "developing countries" now). : He wants to help build schools in third world countries.19. Green Card : A card that lets you live and work in the US forever. : She was so happy when she got her Green Card.20. Resettle : To move and start a new home in a new place. : The family had to resettle in a new city after the fire.21. Held Accountable : To be responsible for what you did. : The student was held accountable for cheating on the test.

The terrible fire that hit a tall building in Hong Kong yesterday is a huge disaster.. In this English lesson, we will first watch the newscast and talk about the search for many people who are still missing, and look at serious concerns about the materials used to fix the building. Over 20 new terms you can use in your next English conversation. ✅ Speak Better English With Me https://brentspeak.as.me/ Use code BlackFriday for 20% off until December 1, 2025. Bonus English: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/usbrent/subscribe📺 Link to Newscast: https://youtu.be/nRvJ2LmTMvs?si=D9UdkGJI0R181XOTVocabulary List: News Report Terms1. Massive : Very, very big; huge. : The ship was massive compared to the small fishing boat.2. Residential : An area or building where people live (not for work or factories). : We live in a quiet, residential neighborhood with many families.3. High-Rise : A very tall building with many floors. : She lives on the 20th floor of a high-rise apartment building.4. Complex : A group of buildings that are used for a specific purpose. : The university has a new sports complex with a gym and a pool.5. Stands : To remain in a place; to stay standing and not fall. : Her best time to run a marathon still stands at four hours and 25 minutes.6. Executives : The top managers or bosses in a company. : The company executives met to make important decisions about money.7. Suspicion : A feeling that something is true or wrong, even without proof. : The police have a suspicion that the fire was started on purpose.8. Manslaughter : The crime of killing a person by accident or without planning to do it. : The driver was charged with manslaughter after the accidental crash.9. Inferno : A very large and dangerous fire that is out of control. : It took firefighters two days to stop the inferno in the forest.10. Gross Negligence : Being extremely careless; not paying attention to safety rules at all. : The company was sued for gross negligence because they ignored the safety warnings.11. Densely Populated : When many people live closely together in one area. : Bangladesh is a densely populated country; it is very crowded.12. Struggling : Trying very hard to do something that is difficult. : The student is struggling to understand the difficult math problem.: We could say that the math problem is very complex, or confusing.13. Charred : Burnt until it is black on the outside. : We left the pizza in the oven too long and the crust was charred.14. Scores : A large number of things or people. : Scores of people waited in line to buy tickets for the concert.15. Confirmed : To say that something is definitely true or correct. : The doctor confirmed that her leg was broken.16. Decades : Periods of time measuring 10 years (e.g., 20 years = 2 decades). : They have been best friends for three decades.17. Scaffolding : A temporary metal structure on the outside of a building used by workers to fix it. : The building is covered in scaffolding while they paint the outside walls.18. Bursting : Breaking open suddenly; or being very full. : Her suitcase was bursting because she packed too many clothes.19. Stunned : Very shocked or surprised; unable to react. : We were stunned into silence when we heard the bad news.

✅ Speak Better English With Me https://brentspeak.as.me/ Use code Fall15 for 15% off. 💙 OVER 100 BONUS ENGLISH LESSONS? Become a channel member. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCakDTg9dhhAsr3WmHyJDa-g/joinThanksgiving1. Turkey Day: A nickname for Thanksgiving. : Many people call Thanksgiving Turkey Day.2. Stuffing/ Dressing: Bread mixed with seasoning, cooked inside or outside the turkey. : My family makes delicious stuffing every year.2.5. I’m Stuffed: I ate so much food that I now feel very full.: After three plates of turkey and mashed potatoes, I’m stuffed.3. Leftovers: Food that is not eaten and saved for later. : We ate leftovers for two days after Thanksgiving.4. Feast: A very large meal. : My family prepares a big feast on Thanksgiving.5. Gravy: A thick sauce made from the turkey juices. : I put gravy on my mashed potatoes.6. Give Thanks: To say or think about what you are thankful for. : At dinner, we give thanks to have our family at the table and healthy.8. Black Friday: The big shopping day the day after Thanksgiving. : Many people go shopping on Black Friday.10. Pass the…: A phrase used at the dinner table to ask for food. : “Can you pass the mashed potatoes, please?”13. The Kids’ Table: A separate table where children sit during Thanksgiving dinner. : When I was young, I sat at the kids’ table every year.14. Gobble Gobble: The sound people say a turkey makes (a fun phrase). : The little kids laughed and said gobble gobble at the turkey picture.16. Holiday Traffic: Heavy car traffic during holiday travel. : We left early to avoid holiday traffic.17. Host / Hosting: The person who invites everyone to their home. : My aunt is hosting Thanksgiving this year.18. Potluck: A meal where each person brings a dish. : Our school has a Thanksgiving potluck with food from many countries.19. Seconds: A second serving of food (another plate). : The turkey was so good that I went back for seconds.20. Food Coma : Feeling very sleepy after eating too much food. : After dinner, everyone sat on the couch in a food coma.21. American Football: A popular U.S. sport played on Thanksgiving, where two teams run, throw, and kick an oval-shaped ball.: Many families watch American football together on Thanksgiving Day.22. Macy’s Parade: A famous Thanksgiving parade in New York City with balloons, music, and floats.: Many people watch Macy’s Parade on TV every Thanksgiving morning.29. Carve the TurkeyMeaning: To cut the cooked turkey into slices. Sentence: My uncle always carves the turkey at Thanksgiving.30. Set the Table: The plates, cups, and utensils arranged for the dinner.: The kids helped set the table before the meal.

The United States and Venezuela are facing growing tension in the Caribbean, especially as drug-smuggling boats lead to more military activity. In this lesson, you’ll learn 25 important vocabulary words that explain what’s happening—and help you understand English news more easily.✅ Speak Better English With Me https://brentspeak.as.me/ Use code Fall15 for 15% off. 💙 OVER 100 BONUS ENGLISH LESSONS? Become a channel member. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCakDTg9dhhAsr3WmHyJDa-g/joinLink to Newscast: https://youtu.be/1bu1G5RFvFU?si=MPkUXN-iN3oYbKU4 1. Buildup: a slow increase of something : There was a buildup of soldiers near the border. 2. Tensions: stress or bad feelings between groups or countries : Tensions grew between the U.S. and China over trade. 3. USS Gerald Ford: a very large U.S. Navy ship used for aircraft and military operations : The USS Gerald Ford sailed into the area for training. 4. Conducting: doing or carrying out an activity : The military is conducting training this week. 5. Joint Exercises: training done together by two or more countries : The U.S. and Trinidad are doing joint exercises. 6. Trinidad & Tobago: an island country in the Caribbean made of two main islands : The cruise ship arrived near Trinidad & Tobago. 7. Puerto Rico: a U.S. territory in the Caribbean : Many ships travel between Puerto Rico and nearby islands. 8. Specifically: in a detailed or exact way : They were looking specifically for a man in the crowd with a red jacket. 9. Essentially: basically; in simple terms : The whole movie is essentially about a magical quest. 10. Reaper Drones: unmanned aircraft used for watching or attacking targets : Reaper drones flew over the ocean to look for threats. 11. Hellfire Missiles: powerful missiles carried by drones or helicopters : The drone was armed with Hellfire missiles. 12. Suspected: thought to be guilty without proof yet : The boat was suspected of carrying drugs. 13. Smuggling: secretly moving illegal items from one place to another : The teenagers tried smuggling candy into the theater because the theater’s candy was too expensive. 14. Frequency: how often something happens : The frequency of buses on weekends is much slower. 15. Intensity: how strong or serious something is : The sun’s intensity was too strong, so I had to put on my sunglasses.: The movie’s intensity kept the students on the edge of their seats. 16. Particular: specific; one exact thing : I don’t want any candy; I want this particular one.: They chose that particular restaurant because it was quiet. 17. Naval: related to a country’s navy : There were many naval ships in the area. 18. Navel: the small round spot on your stomach (belly button) : He put sunscreen on his navel at the beach. 19. Destroyers: fast, powerful navy ships used for defense : Two destroyers were being built in a nearby naval shipyard. 20. Submarine: a special ship that can travel underwater : The submarine moved silently under the ocean. 21. Postured: positioned or arranged to show strength or readiness : The military postured its ships near the area to show it was ready. 22. Get Rid Of: to remove something; to throw something away : They want to get rid of old, broken equipment. 23. He’s In: he has decided to join or agree to something : We asked him to help us move this weekend, and he said, “I’m in.” 24. Vulnerable: easily hurt or in danger : Without warm clothes, we were vulnerable to the cold weather. 25. Antagonizing: making someone angry on purpose : He kept antagonizing the other group by shouting at them.

I had an interesting Airbnb experience in Montreal, and it taught me a lot of useful English phrases. I want to share them with you so you can use them on your next trip.✅ Speak Better English With Me https://brentspeak.as.me/ Use code Fall15 for 15% off.

In this lesson, I explain the viral news about President Trump’s rumored $2000 giveaway and what’s really going on. You’ll also learn useful English vocabulary from the story like pledge, low income, and double down.✅ Speak Better English With Me https://brentspeak.as.me/ Use code Fall15 for 15% off. 📺 Link to Newscast: https://youtu.be/p-k3kNewOto?si=aSx2qPs9LxQtDvwv1. Doubling Down: To continue doing something strongly, even after problems or criticism. : He doubled down on his diet after seeing how much weight he had gained.2. Pledge: A serious promise to do something. : He pledged to his family that he would stop smoking and live a healthier life.3. Low Income: Earning little money, not enough for many basic needs. : Many low-income families receive help to pay for food and housing.4. Middle Income: Earning a moderate amount of money — not poor, not rich. : Middle-income families often work hard to pay for their homes and children’s education.5. High Income: Earning a lot of money. : Doctors and engineers are often in the high-income group.6. Dividends: Money paid to people who own shares in a company. : Her smart investments paid off, and the dividends helped her retire early.7. Tariff: A tax on goods brought into a country. : The U.S. placed a tariff on steel from other countries.8. Revenue: The total money a government or business earns. : Tourism brings a lot of revenue to the country each year.9. Stimulus Check: Money the government gives to people to help the economy during hard times. : Many Americans used their stimulus checks to buy food and pay rent.10. A Share: A small part of a company that someone can own. : Owning a share means you own a small part of a company.11. Congress: The part of the U.S. government that makes laws. : Congress voted to pass a new education bill.12. Inflation: When prices go up and money buys less than before. : Because of inflation, food and gas are more expensive this year.13. Debt: Money that you owe to someone. : The country has a lot of debt after years of borrowing money.14. Go Crazy: To become very excited, angry, or out of control. : Fans went crazy when the singer walked on stage.15. Deficit: When you spend more money than you have. : The government had a budget deficit after spending too much on the military.16. Surge: A sudden, strong increase.: She felt a surge of fear when the dog barked loudly. : There was a surge in gas prices after the war started.17. Surplus: When there is more of something than needed. : The farm had a surplus of corn after a good harvest.

I filmed today’s lesson at The Devine Cinnamon Roll Deli in Columbia, South Carolina—one of the most famous places for huge, homemade cinnamon buns. In this video, you’ll learn how to order breakfast in simple, natural English just like people do in the United States.✅ Speak Better English With Me https://brentspeak.as.me/ Use code Fall15 for 15% off.

Every year on November 11, people in the United States celebrate Veterans Day to honor those who served in the military. In this lesson, you’ll learn the history, traditions, and important English words used to talk about this national holiday.✅ Speak Better English With Me https://brentspeak.as.me/ Use code Fall15 for 15% off. Veteran – Someone who served in the military. : My grandfather is a veteran who served in the Army.Military – The armed forces of a country. : The military protects the country.Serve – To work for your country, especially in the military. : Many men and women serve in the U.S. military.Honor – To show respect and thanks. : We honor our veterans for their bravery.Sacrifice – Giving up something important to help others. : Veterans made many sacrifices like leaving their families to keep us safe.Ceremony – A special event to remember or celebrate something. : There was a Veterans Day ceremony at the park.Memorial – A place built to remember someone or something important. : We visited the war memorial to lay flowers.Freedom – The right to live and speak freely. : Veterans helped protect our freedom.Parade – A public celebration with marching bands and flags. : The Veterans Day parade went through the city streets.Courage – Being brave even when it’s hard or scary. : Soldiers show great courage during war.