In this new advanced English language conversation (E72), I talk to English language coach and pronunciation pro Jessica Dias to discuss one of the most underrated language skills: listening.

But not just listening for meaning — listening as a speaking strategy. Jessy shares how tuning your ear to real English conversations helps you sound more natural, confident, and fluent.

We explore why so many learners struggle to speak — and how the problem often starts with what and how they’re listening.

From the importance of decoding fast, messy, connected speech to the power of noticing reductions, contractions, and rhythm, Jessy breaks it all down for us.

We also dig into the difference between listening for pleasure and listening with intention, and how noticing small pronunciation details (like the difference between sheep and ship) can make a huge impact on both your listening and speaking skills.

✨ Highlights:

• Why real conversations are always better than curated audio
• How decoding speech helps you speak more freely and understand more
• The myth of “they speak too fast”
• Listening as a gateway to pronunciation mastery

🎓 Want to go further? Jessy’s Clear Pronunciation Program (CPP) is now open — a self-paced course designed to help learners and teachers fine-tune their pronunciation and listening. Or check out Jessy Academy, her live conversation program for intermediate to advanced learners.

📲 Follow Jessy on Instagram: @MsJessyDays Links to courses and more in her bio.

As always, I’ll note some useful intermediate/advanced language (B1/C1 Intermediate & Advanced English) along the way.

Hear You Go English language listening podcasts aim to give you, the intermediate English language learner and advanced English language learner, a space to practice your English listening so that you can think, learn, and connect in English.

To access the transcript, be sure to sign up for the newsletter.

You can also follow me on Instagram.

🎶 Amos the Transparent provides my theme song. They're an awesome group of talented musicians. Give them some love and check out their music.

Episode 71: A Beginner Goes to Italy and Wonders: Why Learn a Language?

In this episode of Hear You Go for intermediate and advanced English language learners, I take you with me as I connect the TED Talk by linguist John McWhorter to my 2½-week language experiment in Italy.

Can I tell you how often I felt like my head was going to explode?!

In this three-part episode, I:

• unpack McWhorter’s four compelling reasons to learn a language
• share my real-world Italian wins and stumbles, and
• reflect on what this experience taught me about learning, teaching, and recommitting to French

Wherever you are on your language journey, this episode might make you pause and ask: Why am I learning a language—and what do I want from it? We probably don’t ask ourselves this question enough, right?

Bonus: travel vicariously through me as I share some remarkable moments from a special trip.

As always, I’ll note some useful intermediate/advanced language (B1/C1 Intermediate & Advanced English) along the way.

Hear You Go English language listening podcasts aim to give you, the intermediate English language learner and advanced English language learner, a space to practice your English listening so that you can think, learn, and connect in English.

To access the transcript, be sure to sign up for the newsletter.

You can also follow me on Instagram.

🎶 Amos the Transparent provides my theme song. They're an awesome group of talented musicians. Give them some love and check out their music.

Obasan and the Silence of History (E70)

In this episode of Hear You Go, we honour Asian Heritage Month in Canada by exploring the groundbreaking novel Obasan by Joy Kogawa—a powerful and emotional story that reveals the experiences of Japanese Canadians during and after WWII.

In this two-part episode, we:

• examine the historical context of Japanese immigration to Canada and the discrimination they faced, then
• turn to the novel itself—its emotional resonance, narrative structure, and the legacy it preserves.

Through reflection and storytelling, this episode asks: what happens when a nation forgets? And what power lies in remembering?

With clear explanations and rich vocabulary, this episode builds your listening skills while deepening your understanding of a difficult but important part of history.

As always, we’ll note some useful intermediate/advanced language (B1/C1 Intermediate & Advanced English) along the way.

🔊 Listen now and test your listening in this advanced English language podcast 🎧

Hear You Go English language listening podcasts aim to give you, the intermediate English language learner and advanced English language learner, a space to practice your English listening so that you can think, learn, and connect in English.

To access the transcript, be sure to sign up for the newsletter.

You can also follow me on Instagram.

🎶 Amos the Transparent provides my theme song. They're an awesome group of talented musicians. Give them some love and check out their music.