English, Seriously? Let's Talk: A Grammar and Style Guide cover art

English, Seriously? Let's Talk: A Grammar and Style Guide

English, Seriously? Let's Talk: A Grammar and Style Guide

By: Jamie Gale
Listen for free

About this listen

Even if you've spoken English your entire life, there's always something new to learn or improve. "English, Seriously? Let's Talk" is your weekly dose of casual conversation about language.

As native English speakers, we often take our language for granted, especially since so many non-natives use this language. However, let's be honest—English can be quite a struggle for everyone! Join us on "English, Seriously? Let's Talk" as we tackle the challenges and celebrate the victories of mastering this complex, beautiful language.

We'll explore common mistakes, offer writing tips, and clarify confusing grammar rules. Expect relatable stories and practical advice to help you enhance your English skills. We're ditching traditional grammar textbooks and instead diving into the subtleties of English in a fun and engaging way.

There will be no stuffy lectures—just real talk about how to make your English shine. Join me, Jamie Gale, on "English, Seriously? Let's Talk" as we explore the nuances of our native tongue. Jamie brings a unique perspective, with experience crafting strategic analyses and representing organizations at major international events.

So grab a cup of coffee (or tea!), kick back, and let's talk English. Seriously!

Jamie Gale
Education Language Learning
Episodes
  • Which Witch is Which? Taming 'That' Pesky Pronoun
    Mar 30 2025

    In this episode of "English Seriously? Let's Talk," host Jamie, a foreign policy consultant by day and a language enthusiast fluent in five languages, dives into the often confusing world of "which" and "that."

    While Jamie's language expertise spans multiple tongues, this podcast focuses solely on English's delightful and sometimes perplexing nuances. Jamie breaks down the essential difference between these two relative pronouns, explaining how "that" introduces restrictive clauses, crucial for sentence meaning, while "which" introduces non-restrictive clauses, offering additional but non-essential information.

    Through relatable examples and a conversational tone, Jamie illuminates how proper usage and punctuation, particularly commas, significantly impact clarity and meaning. Listeners will gain practical tips to distinguish between these clauses, understand the subtle shifts in tone they create, and navigate the evolving usage of these words. Jamie emphasizes that mastering "which" and "that" is not about achieving grammatical perfection but about effective communication, encouraging listeners to embrace the learning journey and enjoy the quirks of the English language.

    Show More Show Less
    9 mins
  • Building Blocks and Frameworks: Parts of Speech and Sentence Structure
    Mar 19 2025

    In this episode of "English, Seriously? Let's Talk," host Jamie dives into the fundamental building blocks of the English language: parts of speech and sentence structure. The episode begins with a breakdown of nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, prepositions, conjunctions, and interjections, providing engaging and whimsical examples to illustrate each concept. Listeners learn how to identify adjectives and adverbs by asking specific questions and are introduced to the concepts of transitive and intransitive verbs, adjective order, and different types of pronouns, all to be explored further in future episodes.

    The episode then transitions to sentence structure, explaining the roles of subjects, predicates, and objects. Finally, using fun and imaginative sentences, the host clarifies the distinctions between clauses, fragments, and various sentence types (simple, compound, complex, and compound-complex). The episode concludes by emphasizing that this is just an introduction to these complex topics, with more in-depth explorations in future episodes.

    Show More Show Less
    34 mins
  • Tricky Twins: Affect v. Effect, Than v. Then, Lay v. Lie
    Mar 18 2025

    In the inaugural episode of "English, Seriously, Let's Talk," host Jamie, a self-proclaimed language enthusiast, explores the common pitfalls of English usage. This episode focuses on three frequently confused word pairs: "affect" and "effect," "then" and "than," and "lie" and "lay."

    Jamie explores the historical roots of these words, tracing their origins back to Latin and Old English, revealing how their meanings and pronunciations have evolved, contributing to modern-day confusion. Through engaging storytelling and relatable examples, we clarify the distinctions between these tricky words, providing listeners with practical tools to improve their communication.

    By explaining the nuances of these word pairs, we highlight how understanding these subtle differences can significantly enhance writing and speaking skills. The episode concludes with a quick quiz and a sentence completion challenge, allowing listeners to test their newfound knowledge.

    Show More Show Less
    10 mins
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.