

English with Thiago
Thiago Alencar
This is a podcast designed to help intermediate and advanced English learners communicate with more confidence, accuracy, clarity and awareness.
Hosted by Thiago Alencar, a Brazilian English Teacher with over 15 years of experience, this podcast deals with topics such as English pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, exam preparation, writing, listening, mindset and everything else related to English learning.
If you feel forever stuck at the intermediate level, this podcast is for you!
Follow the show so you don't miss a single new episode!
Hosted by Thiago Alencar, a Brazilian English Teacher with over 15 years of experience, this podcast deals with topics such as English pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, exam preparation, writing, listening, mindset and everything else related to English learning.
If you feel forever stuck at the intermediate level, this podcast is for you!
Follow the show so you don't miss a single new episode!
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 20, 2024 • 19min
4 Reasons Why English Pronunciation is Hard and What You Can Do About It
🔒Join my private community:
https://www.englishwiththiago.com/community
🎯Get my pronunciation course:
https://www.englishwiththiago.com/course-pre-sale
📖50 Phrasal Verbs & Idioms (FREE eBook):
https://www.englishwiththiago.com/spice-up-ebook
💖Become a channel member:
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⭐Want to be featured in The Learner's Corner?
🎙️Send me a voice message:
https://www.speakpipe.com/englishwiththiago
✍️Write me an email at:
hello.teacherthiago@gmail.com
📱Follow me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/teacher.thiagoalencar/
📱Get 50% off of ELSA premium membership for one year: https://www.elsaspeak.com/inf/englishwiththiagopremium
📱Download ELSA and get 7 days membership for free: https://bit.ly/ENGLISHWITHTHIAGOXELSA
Summary
In this episode, Thiago Alencar discusses the challenges of English pronunciation, highlighting four main reasons: the variety of accents, the non-phonetic nature of the language, the need to master individual sounds, and the importance of connected speech. He provides practical tips for learners to improve their pronunciation skills, emphasizing the significance of listening and practice.
Chapters
00:00 Intro & Variety of Accents
05:49 The Non-Phonetic Nature of English
08:48 Mastering Individual Sounds in English
11:39 The Importance of Connected Speech
14:46 The Learner's Corner & Outro
Follow me on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@teacher.thiagoalencar
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5 snips
Sep 18, 2024 • 36min
How To Study English ALONE And Still Improve FAST (Tips for Self-Study)
🔒Join my private community:
https://www.englishwiththiago.com/community
🎯Get my pronunciation course:
https://www.englishwiththiago.com/course-pre-sale
📖50 Phrasal Verbs & Idioms (FREE eBook):
https://www.englishwiththiago.com/spice-up-ebook
💖Become a channel member:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChN7HW1AJ4GWtPiBMLD8Tsg/join
⭐Want to be featured in The Learner's Corner?
🎙️Send me a voice message:
https://www.speakpipe.com/englishwiththiago
✍️Write me an email at:
hello.teacherthiago@gmail.com
📱Follow me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/teacher.thiagoalencar/
📱Get 50% off of ELSA premium membership for one year: https://www.elsaspeak.com/inf/englishwiththiagopremium
📱Download ELSA and get 7 days membership for free: https://bit.ly/ENGLISHWITHTHIAGOXELSA
Summary
In this episode, Thiago Alencar shares practical tips for learning English alone. He emphasizes the importance of assessing one's current routine, the balance of input and output in language learning, and the benefits of reading aloud and writing longhand. He also discusses leveraging media and developing a reading habit, as well as creative ways to practice speaking alone.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Learning English Alone
02:26 Assessing Your Current Routine
04:49 The Importance of Input and Output
07:02 Reading Aloud for Better Fluency
10:10 Writing Longhand for Deeper Learning
14:38 Leveraging Media for Language Acquisition
20:59 Developing a Reading Habit
23:46 Practicing Speaking Alone
29:30 The Learner's Corner and Outro
Follow me on Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/@teacher.thiagoalencar
Follow me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/teacher.thiagoalencar/

Sep 16, 2024 • 31min
Common Mistakes in English Learners Make, How To Fix Them & Understanding Errors vs Slips in English
Discover the common mistakes that English learners make, from subject-verb agreement to the tricky world of prepositions. Unravel the distinction between errors and slips, and learn how distractions can impact language skills. Get practical tips on mastering articles, verb tenses, and understanding countable versus uncountable nouns. This discussion encourages immersion and practice to boost fluency. Embrace the journey of language learning and reflect on how proficiency progression changes the types of mistakes made.

Sep 13, 2024 • 10min
Master the Art of English Conversation: Never Run Out of Things to Say!
Join my Private Community:
https://www.englishwiththiago.com/community
Get my pronunciation course:
https://www.englishwiththiago.com/course-pre-sale
50 Phrasal Verbs & Idioms (FREE eBook):
https://www.englishwiththiago.com/spice-up-ebook
Get 50% off of ELSA premium membership for one year: https://www.elsaspeak.com/inf/englishwiththiagopremium
Download ELSA and get 7 days membership for free: https://bit.ly/ENGLISHWITHTHIAGOXELSA
Summary
In this episode, Thiago Alencar shares seven essential tips for keeping conversations flowing in English. He emphasizes the importance of asking open-ended questions, engaging actively, and practicing conversational skills. The discussion also covers how to navigate difficult conversations and the significance of mutual engagement in dialogue.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction to Conversational Skills
03:09 Effective Questioning Techniques
06:13 Engagement and Active Listening
09:07 Navigating Difficult Conversations
Follow me on YouTube:
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Follow me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/teacher.thiagoalencar/

Sep 11, 2024 • 28min
7 Signs You Are Becoming Fluent in English & How To Know if You're Making Progress in Your English Learning Journey
Join my Private Community:
https://www.englishwiththiago.com/community
Get my pronunciation course:
https://www.englishwiththiago.com/course-pre-sale
50 Phrasal Verbs & Idioms (FREE eBook):
https://www.englishwiththiago.com/spice-up-ebook
Get 50% off of ELSA premium membership for one year: https://www.elsaspeak.com/inf/englishwiththiagopremium
Download ELSA and get 7 days membership for free: https://bit.ly/ENGLISHWITHTHIAGOXELSA
Summary
In this episode, Thiago shares seven signs that showed him he was on the right path to becoming fluent in English. The signs include dreaming in English, obsessing over the language, having conversations with native speakers, consuming more demanding content, understanding language from movies and music, achieving things that were previously difficult, and receiving positive feedback about his English skills. Thiago encourages listeners to reflect on these signs and consider their own progress in learning English.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Dreaming in English
04:19 Obsessing Over English
10:02 Conversing with Native Speakers
12:26 Consuming Challenging Content
16:33 Understanding Language from Movies and Music
21:32 Achieving Goals
24:55 Receiving Positive Feedback
Follow me on YouTube:
https://www.youtube.com/@teacher.thiagoalencar
Follow me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/teacher.thiagoalencar/

Sep 9, 2024 • 29min
How I Always Remember Words in English (My favorite strategy to build vocabulary, tips and more!)
Discover innovative ways to remember English vocabulary with personal strategies! Learn how contextual usage can enhance your memorization by connecting words to real-life experiences. Explore practical tips like reading extensively and speaking with confidence. Thiago emphasizes active engagement and the use of online resources to boost your vocabulary. Dive into the world of collocations for even more effective learning!

Sep 6, 2024 • 24min
He's so likeable! - Reacting to Keanu Reeves' English, Analyzing Grammar, Vocabulary & Pronunciation
Join my Private Community:
https://www.englishwiththiago.com/community
Get my pronunciation course:
https://www.englishwiththiago.com/course-pre-sale
50 Phrasal Verbs & Idioms (FREE eBook):
https://www.englishwiththiago.com/spice-up-ebook
Get 50% off of ELSA premium membership for one year: https://www.elsaspeak.com/inf/englishwiththiagopremium
Download ELSA and get 7 days membership for free: https://bit.ly/ENGLISHWITHTHIAGOXELSA
Summary
In this conversation, Thiago Alencar reacts to an interview with Keanu Reeves and analyzes his English language usage. Keanu Reeves discusses various topics, including his personal preferences. Thiago also points out the use of passive voice, pronunciation of words, and highlights Keanu's likability and relaxed demeanor throughout the interview.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
00:30 Getting to know Keanu Reeves
03:58 What is the best sandwich?
07:24 What's one thing you own you should throw out?
09:37 What is the scariest animal?
09:58 Apples or oranges?
10:06 Have you ever asked someone for their autograph?
15:44 What do you think happens when we die?
16:51 Favorite action movie?
17:50 Window or aisle?
18:44 Favorite smell?
20:08 Cats or dogs?
20:15 One song
20:55 Your life in five words
21:54 Impressions and conclusion
Follow me on YouTube:
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Follow me on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/teacher.thiagoalencar/

Sep 4, 2024 • 29min
Native vs Non-Native English Teachers: Which One is Better? Analyzing Pros and Cons and Tips to Find The Right English Teacher for You
Join my Private Community:
https://www.englishwiththiago.com/community
Get my pronunciation course:
https://www.englishwiththiago.com/course-pre-sale
50 Phrasal Verbs & Idioms (FREE eBook):
https://www.englishwiththiago.com/spice-up-ebook
Get 50% off of ELSA premium membership for one year: https://www.elsaspeak.com/inf/englishwiththiagopremium
Download ELSA and get 7 days membership for free: https://bit.ly/ENGLISHWITHTHIAGOXELSA
Native vs Non-Native English Teachers: Which one is better?
This episode discusses the pros and cons of having a native English teacher versus a non-native English teacher. The pros of having a native English teacher include authentic pronunciation and intonation, cultural insight, and confidence boost. The cons include assumptions about proficiency level and lack of formal training. The pros of having a non-native English teacher include relatable experience, strong grammar knowledge, and empathy. The cons include accent variation, less exposure to idioms and slang, and learner perception. The key takeaway is to go beyond the native/non-native distinction and consider factors such as the teacher's language learning success, passion for teaching, ability to explain clearly, and whether their English is inspiring to you.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction: Native vs. Non-Native English Teachers
01:26 Pros of Having a Native English Teacher
03:48 Cultural Insight and Confidence Boost
06:36 Cons of Having a Native English Teacher
12:18 Pros of Having a Non-Native English Teacher
15:10 Grammar Focus and Empathy
18:06 Cons of Having a Non-Native English Teacher
20:31 Looking Beyond the Native/Non-Native Distinction
21:01 Choosing a Teacher Based on Teaching Skills and Personal Fit
25:17 The Importance of Finding an Inspiring English Teacher
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Sep 2, 2024 • 38min
Understanding The IELTS Test (Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing), Overview and Tips To Take The Exam
Get 50% off of ELSA premium membership for one year: https://www.elsaspeak.com/inf/englishwiththiagopremium
Download ELSA and get 7 days membership for free: https://bit.ly/ENGLISHWITHTHIAGOXELSA
In this video, I give you an overview of the IELTS test and its four parts: Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing. I also give you some useful tips for you to practice the different skills when taking the exam. Whether you're planning to take IELTS Academic or IELTS General, this episode is a must-watch for you.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Overview of IELTS
03:01 IELTS Speaking Test
07:56 A Great Tool To Practice for IELTS Speaking
14:33 IELTS Listening Test
23:36 IELTS Reading Test
29:52 IELTS Writing Test
36:22 Conclusion
Follow My YouTube Channel:
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Aug 30, 2024 • 28min
Reacting To Elon Musk's English, The Importance of Reading and Not Having a Zero-Sum Mindset (Elon Musk on Lex Fridman's Podcast)
Get my pronunciation course on PRE-SALE:
https://www.englishwiththiago.com/course-pre-sale
50 Phrasal Verbs & Idioms (FREE eBook):
https://www.englishwiththiago.com/spice-up-ebook
Get 50% off of ELSA premium membership for one year: https://www.elsaspeak.com/inf/englishwiththiagopremium
Download ELSA and get 7 days membership for free): https://bit.ly/ENGLISHWITHTHIAGOXELSA
In this video, I react to Elon Musk's English. This is a clip from an interview he gave on Lex Fridman's podcast a couple of years ago. In this clip, Elon Musk talks about the importance of reading books, reading broadly and not having a zero-sum mindset. Time for some listening practice and vocabulary building!
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:23 Elon Musk's Advice: Be Useful and Have a Positive Impact
04:46 The Importance of Reading Extensively and Gaining General Knowledge
07:57 Developing a Growth Mindset and Avoiding a Zero-Sum Mindset
08:44 Embracing Pauses and Collecting Thoughts for Effective Communication
19:40 Celebrating Others and Promoting a Culture of Abundance
21:35 Creating More Than You Consume
25:20 Communication Style: Elon Musk's Articulation and Lex Friedman's Calmness
26:44 Conclusion
Follow My YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/@teacher.thiagoalencar
Follow me on Instagram:
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