Happy English Michael DiGiacomo
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Happy English Michael DiGiacomo
@happyenglishny.bsky.social
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Learn English with Michael 😊 I’m your American English 🇺🇸 teacher since 1994. Visit www.myhappyenglish.com Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/om/podcast/happy-english-podcast/id884643408
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912 - Phrasal Verb Friday - Buckle Down
Hey there! It’s Michael here — and welcome back to another Happy English, Phrasal Verb Friday.  I’m here every Friday with a quick, one-point English lesson to help you learn a new phrasal verb and sound more natural when you speak. Today’s phrasal verb is buckle down. When you buckle down, it means you start working seriously and with focus — especially after being a bit lazy or distracted. You stop wasting time and get things done. And we tend to say, buckle down and DO somerthing. - Like my buddy Kevin. He was having fun all summer, but now that classes started, he really needs to buckle down and study. - Or my coworker Amy — she had a big project deadline coming up, so she buckled down this week and finished everything on time. - And me? I’ll be honest — I’ve been putting off updating my website, but this weekend I’m gonna buckle down and finally get it done. So how about you? Is there something you need to buckle down and do — maybe work, study, or a personal goal? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week’s Phrasal Verb Friday. Thanks for listening — and until next time, keep learning and keep it cool. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/plsg Visit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/ My AI English Tutor is https://chatgpt.com/g/g-687344c0706c819184e8bda28d7582d9-ask-michael-your-english-teacher 
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909 - Sunday Speak - The American Flap T Pronunciation
Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to another Happy English Sunday Speak. I’m here every Sunday with a quick one-point tip to help you speak English more naturally. Now, in American English, there’s a special sound we make with the letter T. It’s called the flap T, and it sounds kind of like a soft D sound. You’ll hear it in words like better, water, and pretty. So instead of saying “BET-ter,” “WAH-ter,” and “PRIT-ty,” Americans usually say “BEH-der,” “WAH-der,”  and “PRI-dee.” This sound happens when the T comes between two vowel sounds — like the a and e in water, or the i and y in city. Let me give you some sentences to practice this:  -  “I feel better today.” → “I feel beh-der today.” -  “We had a pretty nice day in the city.” → We had a pri-dee nice day in the sih-dy.” -  “Can I get a glass of water?” → “Can I gedda glass of wah-der?” This flap T sound makes your English smoother and more natural — just like how most Americans really speak. Thanks for listening. And remember to like, follow, and subscribe so you won’t miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week’s Sunday Speak. Until next time, keep learning and keep it cool. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsg Visit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/ My AI English Tutor is https://chatgpt.com/g/g-687344c0706c819184e8bda28d7582d9-ask-michael-your-english-teacher 
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908 - Saturday Short – You Know What I Mean?
Hey there! It’s Michael here  -  and welcome back to another Happy English Saturday Short, your quick tip for speaking English better. Today, let’s look at a super common phrase you’ll hear in everyday English: “You know what I mean?” We use you know what I mean? to seek agreement or to check if the other person understands us. It’s kind of like soft tag questions, like isn’t it? that keeps the conversation friendly and connected. Like, in the office, you might say: “There’s something strange about the new marketing manager, you know what I mean?” OR  “That meeting felt way too long, you know what I mean?” And on a rainy Monday, “Man, this weather makes me so sleepy, you know what I mean?” Again, when you say you know what I mean, you’re not really asking for information. You’re just trying to connect what you’re thinking with the other person. It makes your English sound more relaxed, natural, and conversational. And here’s a quick pronunciation tip  -  in real life, we often say it like this: “Y’know what I mean?” Go ahead, try saying that out loud. So remember, you know what I mean? is a great way to show understanding, invite agreement, and sound more like a native speaker. You know what I mean? Oh, and don’t forget to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week’s Saturday Short. Thanks for listening  -  and until next time, keep learning and keep it cool. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsg Visit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/ My AI English Tutor is https://chatgpt.com/g/g-687344c0706c819184e8bda28d7582d9-ask-michael-your-english-teacher 
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907 - Phrasal Verb Friday - Flake Out
Hey there! It’s Michael here - and welcome back to another Happy English, Phrasal Verb Friday.  I’m here every Friday with a quick, one-poi nt English lesson to help you learn a new phrasal verb and sound more natural when you speak. Today’s phrasal verb is flake out.  When you flake out, it means you agree to do something - like meet up, help out, or join an event - but then you don’t show up or don’t follow through. Basically, you cancel or disappear at the last minute. - Like last weekend. My friend Jake said he’d help me move the pianos,  but he totally flaked out. - And then the next day, Jenny promised to come to dinner, but she flaked out and texted an hour before saying she was “too tired.” - And honestly, I’ve flaked out before too, totally not something I’m proud of at all.  And here’s a little pronunciation tip: flake out - flay-kout. The K sound at the end of flake connects right into out. Fla......kout.  flay-kout! So how about you? Has a friend ever flaked out on you? Or maybe you’ve flaked out on someone before? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week’s Phrasal Verb Friday. Thanks for listening - and until next time, keep learning and keep it cool. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsg Visit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/ My AI English Tutor is HERE https://chatgpt.com/g/g-687344c0706c819184e8bda28d7582d9-ask-michael-your-english-teacher
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903 - Sunday Speak - I Dunno
Hey there! It’s Michael here — and welcome back to another Happy English Sunday Speak. I’m here every Sunday with a quick one-point tip to help you speak English more naturally. Now, one of the most common phrases in English is “I don’t know.” But in everyday conversation, most native speakers don’t pronounce each word clearly like that. Instead, we usually say “I dunno.” (“EYE-duh-NO”) That’s right — I don’t know becomes I dunno. It’s just a natural sound change that happens when we speak quickly. -  “Who’s coming to the party?” → “I dunno.” -  “What time does the movie start?” → “Eh, I dunno.” -  “I’m gonna ask Tom where Jenny is” → “He dunno.”  The meaning doesn’t change — it’s just faster, smoother, and more natural. So next time you want to say I don’t know, try saying I dunno. It’ll make your English sound more relaxed and more natural. Thanks for listening. And  remember to like, follow, and subscribe so you won’t miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week’s Sunday Speak. Until next time, keep learning and keep it cool. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsg Visit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/ My AI English Tutor is https://chatgpt.com/g/g-687344c0706c819184e8bda28d7582d9-ask-michael-your-english-teacher 
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902 - Saturday Short - Let Me Tell You Something
Hey there! It’s Michael here and welcome back to another Happy English Saturday Short, your quick tip for speaking English better. Today, let’s look at a really common and powerful phrase: “Let me tell you something.” We use let me tell you something when we want to share our feelings, give an opinion, or emphasize what we’re about to say. It helps grab the listener’s attention and makes your speech sound more natural — and more emotional. Let’s say your friend just ask you about a new restaurant in town. You could say:  “Oh, let me tell you something - their pasta is incredible!” Or maybe you saw a movie, and a friend says she heard it’s boring. You can say:  “Let me tell you something, that movie is one of the best I’ve seen this year.” We also use it when we feel strongly about something:  “Let me tell you something — learning English takes time, but it’s totally worth it.” So remember, let me tell you something is a great way to add emotion, confidence, or strong opinion to what you say. It’s natural, it’s friendly, and it really makes your English sound alive. And let me tell you something - if you keep practicing with these Saturday Shorts, your English is only going to get better and better! Oh, and don’t forget to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week’s Saturday Short. Thanks for listening — and until next time, keep learning and keep it cool. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsg Visit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/ My AI English Tutor is https://chatgpt.com/g/g-687344c0706c819184e8bda28d7582d9-ask-michael-your-english-teacher 
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901 - Phrasal Verb Frida - Crank Out
~~~~~~~~ 901 - Phrasal Verb Frida - Crank Out Hey there! It’s Michael here — and welcome back to another Happy English, Phrasal Verb Friday. I’m here every Friday with a quick, one-point English lesson to help you learn a new phrasal verb and sound more natural when you speak. Today’s phrasal verb is crank out. When you crank something out, it means you produce it quickly, often in large amounts. This phrase is often used for things like writing, work, or manufacturing — anything that can be produced at a fast pace, sometimes with a focus on quantity over quality. - The factory in the next town cranks out thousands of sneakers every week. - My friend Amanda writes for a travel blog, and last week she cranked out five articles in just two days! - And I remember when I was in college — we all cranked out our final papers right before the deadline. Typical, right? And hey, here’s a little pronunciation tip: crank out… crank-out. The K at the end of crank links smoothly into the O of out. Crank-out. So how about you? What’s something you’ve cranked out lately — work, content, projects, maybe a bunch of emails? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week’s Phrasal Verb Friday. Thanks for listening — and until next time, keep learning and keep it cool. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsg Visit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/ My AI English Tutor is https://chatgpt.com/g/g-687344c0706c819184e8bda28d7582d9-ask-michael-your-english-teacher 
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897 - Sunday Speak - Hang on
Hey there! It’s Michael here — and welcome back to another Happy English Sunday Speak. I’m here every Sunday with a quick one-point tip to help you speak English more naturally. Sometimes, you need to ask someone to wait. In situations like this, you could say “Please wait a moment.” And sure, that’s correct English — but it sounds a bit formal and not something we usually say to friends or coworkers. In everyday conversation, we have a more natural and friendly way to ask someone to wait: “Hang on.” - Like, when you’re on the phone and need to check something. You can say, “Hang on, let me grab my notes.” - Or, if you’re in the middle of doing something, and your friend says, “Hey, can you look at this?” You can say, “Hang on a second.” - Even if someone’s talking too fast, you can say, “Whoa, hang on! Say that again?” It’s short, casual, and super natural. So next time instead of “Please wait a moment,” just say “Hang on.” And remember to like, follow, and subscribe so you won’t miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week’s Sunday Speak. Thanks for listening — and until next time, keep learning and keep it cool. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsg Visit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/ My AI English Tutor is https://chatgpt.com/g/g-687344c0706c819184e8bda28d7582d9-ask-michael-your-english-teacher 
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896 - Saturday Short - Kind of Sort of A bit
Hey there! It’s Michael here — and welcome back to another Happy English Saturday Short, your quick tip for speaking English better. Today, let’s look at three really natural phrases: kind of, sort of, and a bit. We use these to soften what we’re saying. They make a statement sound less strong, less direct — and that makes your English sound more natural in everyday conversation. For example, let’s say you’re tired after work. Instead of just saying, “I’m tired,” you can soften it by saying: “I’m kind of tired today.”  Or: “I’m a bit tired after work.” Here’s another one. Imagine you saw a movie, but you didn’t really love a it, but you don’t want to sound too negative. You could say:  “That movie was sort of boring.”  It’s not as harsh as, “That movie was boring.” So remember — kind of, sort of, and a bit are like little cushions for your sentences. They soften your opinion and make it sound friendlier and more natural. So, are you kind of ready to try these out in your own conversations? I bet you are! Oh, and don’t forget to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week’s Saturday Short. Thanks for listening — and until next time, keep learning and keep it cool. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsg Visit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/ My AI English Tutor is https://chatgpt.com/g/g-687344c0706c819184e8bda28d7582d9-ask-michael-your-english-teacher 
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895 - Phrasal Verb Friday - Jazz Up
Hey there! It’s Michael here — and welcome back to another Happy English, Phrasal Verb Friday. I’m here every Friday, with a quick, one-point English lesson to help you learn one new phrasal verb and sound more natural when you speak. Today’s phrasal verb is jazz up. When you jazz something up, it means you make it more interesting, exciting, or attractive. It’s like giving something a little extra style or energy. Like, my friend Lisa was hosting a party last weekend. She jazzed up her living room with some cool lights and a new playlist. At work, Tony jazzed up his presentation by adding some funny memes. And me? Well, I jazzed up my dinner the other night by adding some hot chili sauce. So how about you? Do you like to jazz up your cooking, your house, or maybe even your social media posts? Leave a comment below, and remember to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week’s Phrasal Verb Friday. Thanks for listening — and until next time, keep learning and keep it cool. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsg Visit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/ My AI English Tutor is https://chatgpt.com/g/g-687344c0706c819184e8bda28d7582d9-ask-michael-your-english-teacher 
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891 - Sunday Speak - How Come
Now, when you want to ask why in English, sure, you can just say “why.” But in everyday conversation, native speakers often use a more casual phrase: “How come?” “How come” means the same as “why,” but it sounds softer, friendlier, and very conversational. And, it’s easy to use. You can use it by itself!  Like, your friend says, “I’m skipping lunch today.” You can ask, “How come?” Or your coworker says, “I can’t make it to the meeting.” You can ask, “Oh really? How come?” You can also put how come in front of any sentence to make a casual question. Like, if your friend never comes to the karaoke party, you can ask, How come you don’t like karaoke? Or if a coworker comes to the office late, you can ask, How come you came late this morning.  How come. It’s short, casual, and super natural. So next time, instead of just “why,” try saying “How come?” Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsg Visit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/ My AI English Tutor is https://chatgpt.com/g/g-687344c0706c819184e8bda28d7582d9-ask-michael-your-english-teacher 
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890 - Saturday Short - Negative Questions
We often use a negative question like “Isn’t this…?” or “Aren’t you…?” in conversation. Technically, these are not questions for asking something. They are a casual and friendly way to confirm something or make a suggestion. For example, if you and your friend are at the peir on a sunny day, you might say:   “Isn’t this a perfect day for fishing?”  You’re not really asking for information — you’re confirming what you already think. OR "Aren't these donuts delicious!” Or if you’re making a suggestion, you can use the same pattern. Like:  “It’s almost 5pm. Isn’t it better to take the subway?”  Here, you’re giving your suggestion in the form of a question. Here’s another one. “The exam is a week away. Shouldn’t you start studying?” So remember, negative questions like “Isn’t it…?” and “Aren’t you…?” are great for confirming ideas or suggesting something in a very natural, conversational way. “Isn’t that interesting!” So, aren’t you gonna try to use this kind of English in your conversations? Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsg Visit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/ My AI English Tutor is https://chatgpt.com/g/g-687344c0706c819184e8bda28d7582d9-ask-michael-your-english-teacher
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889 - Friday Phrasal Verb - Slack Off
Today’s phrasal verb is slack off.  When you slack off, it means you become lazy about your work, your studies, or your responsibilities. You don’t try as hard as you should. Like, my friend Eddie started going to the gym in in July, but by the middle of this month, he really started to slack off. And in the office, Jenny was slacking off all week, so now she has to stay late to finish her project.  And me? Honestly speaking, I’ve been slacking off on studying Japanese reading and writing. But now that I have Sayaka-sensei’s new book, Japanese Kanji from scratch, I’m a lot more motivated.  By the way, notice the pronunciation: slack off…slack-koff (2x). We connect the K at the end of slack with off: slack-koff. So how about you? Do you ever slack off — maybe at work, school, or even with your hobbies? Leave a comment below, and remember to follow or subscribe so you don’t miss the next Happy English Podcast and next week’s Friday Phrasal Verb. Thanks for listening — and until next time, keep learning and keep it cool. Join my Podcast Learner's Study Group here: https://learn.myhappyenglish.com/plsg Visit my website for over 3,000 free English lessons: https://www.myhappyenglish.com/ My AI English Tutor is https://chatgpt.com/g/g-687344c0706c819184e8bda28d7582d9-ask-michael-your-english-teacher 
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