Articles in Real Conversations
All of the posts below are recordings of real conversations with transcripts. Use them to learn English as it is actually spoken, including all the background noises and natural sounds speakers make.Learn how to cook Brazilian food.
Mark: Fresh or seeds or …?
Brazilian Neighbour: Fresh. Fresh.
Mark: The leaves?
Brazilian Neighbour: The leaves. Yeah. You put it right in the end.
Mark: Right. OK. Wow!
What percentage of your income do you pay in tax to the government? Listen to a Dutch guy complain about how much tax he pays.
Talking with children can be insightful, as they have an innocent view of the world and ask very good questions. In this conversation, an adult speaks with a child about how a puppy dog sits.
Vedanta is a Hindu philosophy and practice whose goal is self-realization. In this conversation, Mark asks a woman in India about the best place to study Vedanta.
Have you ever built a boat? An Ozzie and a Kiwi talk about building a boat. It isn’t as easy at it might seem.
Words are powerful. They can affect water in noticeable ways. And since we are made mostly of water, words have a powerful effect on us, too.
Father and daughter hear a noise. What is it?
Is is a helicopter, a boat, or an aeroplane?
Listen and find out for yourself.
An Australian speaks with a Londoner about accents in London, England. They compare an Australian and a London, or Cockney, accent.
A father sits his daughter on his lap and tells her a story. She listens and participates.
Several guys talk about federal taxes and drug money in a pool hall. What is the U.S. government’s role in this?
Mark talks with an Australian World War II veteran about his experiences in India. “The countryside was very much like Australia.”
Mark talks with a Canadian fellow, named Burke, from Ontario. Burke talks a bit about his life as a young adult there.
Mark speaks with Jeremy, from France, who he meets at a cafe in New Delhi. Mark thinks he looks Japanese, but he’s not. Where are his parents from?
A man and a woman talk about multi-level marketing. The woman has strong feelings about it and says that it is unethical.
Have you ever heard a Cockney accent? What exactly does ‘Cockney’ mean? Find out by listening to this conversation.
Did you know that there is a place in Thailand that cures drug addicts by teaching them how to meditate? Listen to Mark talk with a man named John, who is doing research on Thai Buddhism.
Some people all Brooklyn “The Planet” because it is so culturally diverse. Steve was born and raised in Brooklyn. Listen to Steve talk with Mark about some of his past experiences.
Micheal got a horrible illness called ‘amoebic dysentery’ during his trip to India. Unfortunately, he took the wrong pills to cure himself. Listen to what he has to say in this conversation.
What do you call a cross between French and English? Find out in this conversation between an Australian and a Scotsman.
Have you ever met a Mormon? Did you know they are very efficient language learners? Listen to Mark speak with a Mormon on a mission in Cambodia.
Connecticut’s is the ‘Constitution State’. How do you pronounce it. Hear a short conversation with someone who grew up in Connecticut.
Port Moresby is the capital and largest city in Papua New Guinea. Hear someone speak who lived there for 10 years as a child.
In this recording, an international medical research scientist talks about her expertise and all the places she has studied and worked.
Have you ever read Swedenborg? Do you know what a ’scrim’ is? Listen to two guys talk about it.
The universe is full of many forms, but the essence is one. The essence is one. The essence is one. So says the swami.
A temple in Ethiopia contains a very special relic. Is it the Holy Grail or the Ten Commandments? Listen to Luis and Isabel talk about it.
Drilling for oil and gas on a big rig at sea is hard work. It’s also dangerous. Hear a big rig ‘motorman’ talk about his experiences on a drilling platform.
If you had the chance to live forever, would you take it? Hear about a Chinese man who wanted to live forever and how he tried to do it.
What do Oranjeboom, Ghana, and CSIS have in common? A Canadian man named Burke, whose parents were teachers who worked in different countries when he was a child. Listen to Burke talk about it.
San Francisco has always been a pretty wild and crazy place, full of all kinds of fascinating sub-cultures. Listen to an American guy talk about some of his experiences living in San Francisco.
The island of Cuba has a high literacy, an excellent medical system, and the people live a long time. Hear some Brits and an Australian talk about Cuba and their leader, Fidel Castro.
Misun is a Japanese Korean from Osaka. Her parents were both born in Japan, too. She cannot get a Japanese passport, but instead has a Korean one. Mark interviews her in this recording.
In this recording, Mark talks with an Indian woman who was born in Pakistan, grew up in Delhi, and spent a good number of years living abroad, in places like Japan and Singapore.
In Gibraltar, they don’t want to be Spanish and they don’t want to be British. What do they want to be? Listen to Mark and Luis talk about this British colony in the south of Spain.
Did you know that the main protagonists of the Chinese revolution, Mao Zedong and Chiang Kai-Shek, were related? Find out how in this conversation between an American and an Australian.
A French guy is making a documentary about a Benedictine monk who went to India to learn from Hinduism. The monk never came back….
Some people have said that football, or soccer, is the world’s global language. Indeed, it is the world’s most popular sport. Listen to an Australian bloke talk with a Yorkshireman about football.
There are a multitude of languages spoken in India, one of the world’s largest and most diverse countries. Listen to Mark talk to an interesting guy who claims to speak many Indian languages.
Do you know how to make a cup of tea properly? Apparently, there is more than one way to prepare a cup of tea, and depending on which way you choose, your cup of tea will taste differently. Hear an Irish fellow describe his method.
The Vedas are large bodies of texts originating in ancient India. In this recording, the swami tells Mark all about the powerful effects the Vedas have when chanted.
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Download audio file (londonaccent.mp3)
at egg
London Bloke: Personally to myself, Class A drugs are drugs that…Ok I will put it this way…
Australian Bloke: Speed. Co…?
London Bloke: I will …
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Download audio file (hannan.mp3)
at fooey
Mark: What was your name again?
Hannan: My name is Hannan Benetan.
Mark: One more time.
Mark and Hannan: Hannan.
Mark: Hannan. How do spell …
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Download audio file (virginiaaccent.mp3)
at scandblue
The Guy from Virginia: No. Marriage is a family-oriented….family institution. If you want to have a family…
The Other Guy: The family is sacred.
…
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Download audio file (mush.mp3)
at Parksey1964
(Can you tell a person from Southampton by the way they talk; by their accent?)
First English Guy: Oh yeah.
Englishwoman: That’s Southampton. It is about as …
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Download audio file (Himalayan Hike1.mp3)
at irp
Mark and Axel from Australia teamed up with Luis from Spain and Alex from France to hike to Malana in Himachal Pradesh. Gilles helped …
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Download audio file (argentine.mp3)
at lu6fpj
Australian Guy: How is the Argentinian economy now, like there was a crash a few years ago wasn’t there?
Argentine Guy: The crash was in …
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Download audio file (marseilles.mp3)
at serena sundai
Mark: So Eric, you are from France?
Eric: Yes.
Mark: Which part?
Eric: Which park?
Mark: Which part?!
Eric: My part is Marseilles. My …
The Beatles are from Liverpool. Listen to this recording and find out what a real Liverpool accent sounds like.
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Download audio file (swami4.mp3)
at Irp
Swami: So you have the five senses.
Mark: Mm. Mm.What is the relationship between Atman and Brahman?
Swami: Brahman and Atman are the same thing.
…
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Download audio file (potatoes.mp3)
at Lynnintokyo
Wayne, from northern Kentucky, explains to Aaron the difference between mashed, smashed, and whipped potatoes.
Aaron: What’s the difference between mashed potatoes, smashed potatoes, and whipped …
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Download audio file (christiania.mp3)
at Only Alice
Three guys are sitting by the lake in Phnom Penh talking about Christiania and the death of hippie culture in Copenhagen.
Mark: Christiana. What year …
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Download audio file (tamilminority.mp3)
at noaman
Reporter: Uh-huh.
Tamil Man: Open this one. (the digital recorder; “turn it on”)
Reporter: Yeah.
Tamil Man: Very important.
Reporter: Good.
Tamil Man: The Sri Lankan Government; what they …
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Download audio file (luisdogon.mp3)
at el rabbit
A group of friends start to talk about Dogon villages in Africa and end up talking about nationalism.
Mark: What is the Dogon village like?
…
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Download audio file (burmesenepali.mp3)
at pingnews.com
Australian Fellow: How many Nepali people are there in Burma and how did they come to be there?
Nepalese Chap: We are half a million …
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Download audio file (outsideoslo.mp3)
at catmer
Mark met a Norwegian woman at a cafe.
Mark: What part of Norway do you come from?
The Norwegian Woman: Just outside Oslo.
Mark: Oh Yeah. …
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Download audio file (kirsten.mp3)
at Jonathon Ah Kit
Mark: So Kirsten what part of Tasmania do you come from?
Kirsten: I come from a place called Launceston in the north of the …
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Download audio file (swami3.mp3)
at Irp
Mark: What are the five elements?
Swami: The first is earth.
Mark: Earth.
Swami: The most solid. Rough is the earth.
Mark: Matter.
Swami: Matter. …
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Download audio file (mormon1.mp3)
at lee benjamin
Mark: I am in Phnom Penh and I am talking to Elder Swenson. You are from Utah?
Elder Swenson: I am actually from …
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Download audio file (travelagent.mp3)
at Myyogaonline
Mark ran into a Japanese guy at a travel agent in Rishikesh.
The Japanese Guy: Do you think I ought to take a local bus all …
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Download audio file (pahlinterview.mp3)
at walt jabsco
Mark: So Pahl what part of Cambodia do you come from?
Pahl: I come from Kompong Cham Province.
Mark: Kompong Cham. And you were …
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Download audio file (israelieran.mp3)
at Tmuna Fish
Mark: So Eran what part of Israel do you come from?
Eran: I am from Rishon. Rishon le Zion.
Mark: From where?
Eran: Rishon …
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Download audio file (ishtar.mp3)
at grabthar
Syrian Guy: There. What happened there? You know?
Mark: You were talking about Ishtar. The old Assyrian goddess.
Syrian Guy: Ishtarte. Ishtarte.
Mark: Ishtarte. Yeah.
Syrian …
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Download audio file (isabel1.mp3)
at pingnews.com
Mark: What part of South Africa were you born in?
Isabel: In those days it was called the western Transvaal.
Mark: Right.
Isabel: These days …
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Download audio file (dahi.mp3)
at davidgraymaclean
Mark: So… so Dahi, what part of Ireland do you come from?
Dahi: I am from Cork. It is in the very south.
Mark: …
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Download audio file (kathsurrey.mp3)
at Patryck
Mark: Sorry what did you say your name was again?
Kath: My name is Kath. Short for Katherine.
Mark: Katherine. Katherine. Mark
Kath: Hello. (laughs)
…
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Download audio file (OPEC.mp3)
at elkrusty
A guy from Indiana talked to Mark about the war in Iraq.
Mark: Which oil cartel?
Guy: OPEC.
Mark: OPEC. Right. And they were gonna like …
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Download audio file (swami2.mp3)
at Irp
Swami: If you are meditating anyway there is a lot of heat.
Mark: Mm.
Swami: I have a lot of heat so that is why …
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Download audio file (nickmanchester.mp3)
at Neil101
Mark ran into Nick from Manchester in the village of Malana in Himachal Pradesh.
Mark: So Nick you are from Manchester?
Nick: Yeah.
Mark: How long …
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Download audio file (swami1.mp3)
at Gayatri
Swami: Where are the cricket grounds in Australia … where test cricket is held?
Mark: Every city.
Swami: Every city?
Mark: I am from Brisbane.
Swami: Ah-ha Brisbane! Queensland.
Mark: …
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Download audio file (adrian.mp3)
at Motographer
Mark: So Adrian, what part of Germany do you come from?
Adrian: I’m coming from the southwest of Germany.
Mark: What’s the name of the area?
Adrian: It’s …
Totoro is a famous character in Japan. Children and adults of all ages love Totoro. Listen to this little girl answer questions from her father about Totoro.
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Download audio file (annette.mp3)
at *heloise*
Mark: What’s your name?
Annette: Annette.
Mark: Annette. And where are you from, Annette?
Annette: I’m from Denmark.
Mark: Oh really? What part …
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Download audio file (aaron1.mp3)
at Kevin Sall
Mark: You were born in..What state were you born in, Aaron?
Aaron: I was born in Tennesee.
Mark: What part of Tennesee?
Aaron: Memphis, Tennesee.
Mark: Memphis, Tennesee. …
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Download audio file (burke1.mp3)
at Monique Hofland
Mark: Did you say…? Burke! Did you say you were…? Did you say you grew up on the road?
Burke: Ahm. Well. Actually I …
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Download audio file (meditation.mp3)
at premasagar
Mark: So what is meditation?
Alec: Hmm..good question. Well meditation is a huge variety of techniques that are used to move people into the moment…or to …
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Download audio file (workinginbangkok.mp3)
at Hartfried Schmid
Mark talked to Tim at his office in Bangkok.
Mark : Hello everybody. I am just sitting here in Bangkok at a UNESCO office with …
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Download audio file (studyinginindia.mp3)
at dashingyankee
Mark: So I am just sitting in an Indian restaurant with my friend, Arthur. Arthur, you have been to India, haven’t you?
Arthur: Yes.
Mark: Tell us …
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Download audio file (workingasanengineer.mp3)
at pianoforte
Mark talks to Tony about a job in Kuwait
Mark: What kind of job in Kuwait?
Tony: Oh it would be ahh…well…it could be a number of …
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Download audio file (vietnamwar.mp3)
at *hendrik
Mark asks Tony about his experiences in Bangkok during the Vietnam War.
Tony: I didn’t go to Vietnam. I was in the air force.
Mark: Right.
Tony: They …
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Download audio file (eyre.mp3)
at SideShowMom
Mark: There is this big lake in the middle of Australia: Lake Eyre…and it is below sea level..
Craig: Right…
Mark: And normally the rivers in Australia…they …
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Download audio file (onhorseback.mp3)
at stephanie-sas
Craig and Mark and some friends talk about a horseback journey from Canada to South America.
Craig: One night Mark and I came up with an …
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Download audio file (scales.mp3)
at Dey
Mark and Pedro and Be and Kenni are comparing Indian music and western music.
Mark: Hello everybody. I am just sitting here with Kenni and Pedro …
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Download audio file (miria2.mp3)
at leonie_x
Mark: Ok, so, a minute ago you were talking about your uncle and you said that he was one of the pioneers in Davao.
Miriam: Yes. …
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Download audio file (laveen.mp3)
at Caretakr
Aaron: Where are you from?
Derek: I’m from Laveen, Arizona.
Aaron: Where is Laveen?
Derek: Laveen is Southwest of Phoenix.
Aaron: Southwest of Phoenix.
Derek: Phoenix is the capital of …
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Download audio file (steve1.mp3)
at Joe_B
Mark: So, Steve, you are from Brooklyn?
Steve: Yes.
Mark: That is one of the boroughs of New York City?
Steve: Correct.
Mark: How many boroughs are there, do …
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Download audio file (chakras.mp3)
at omnos
In this conversation, Pedro, Kenni, Mark and Be talk about energy centers in the body (chakras) and then start to sing. In their conversation they …
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Download audio file (miria1.mp3)
at Aktiv Phil
Mark: Where are you from Miriam?
Miriam: I am from the Philippines. I was born in Manila, actually.
Mark: Right.
Miriam: … in 1961
Mark: Your parents …
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Download audio file (chile.mp3)
at emeeelea a.k.a mela
Kenni and Pedro talk with Mark and Be about South America.
Mark: So, Kenni, are you from Santiago as well?
Kenni: Yes, I am from …
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Download audio file (bhagavad-gita.mp3)
at novanglus3
Mark and Pedro and Kenni and Be are talking about the Bhagavad-Gita after dinner.
Mark: Hello everybody. I am just sitting here with Pedro. We have …
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Download audio file (buck.mp3)
at the_life_and_times_of_the_
Mark talks to Eric about an incredible animal experience. Note that the word ‘buck’ means ‘dollar‘ and also ‘male deer’.
Eric: So I was in…I think …
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Download audio file (japaneseanimals.mp3)
at eesti
Mark and Eric talk about wild animals in Japan.
Mark: When you go on these motorcycle trips, do you see much wildlife?
Eric: Well often I ride …
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Download audio file (plutonium.mp3)
at maidrin_rua
Mark and Aaron talked to an eighty-six year-old Japanese poet and political activist who had lived in India and China.
Mark: Ok so you came back …
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Download audio file (borninvirginia.mp3)
at vidalia
Mark met Tony in Bangkok. They talked and ate together.
Tony: Can I eat while I am talking?
Mark: Yeah, yeah yeah yeah..
Tony: You ever heard a …
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Download audio file (motorcycle.mp3)
at novon
Mark asks Eric about motorcycling in Japan.
Mark: Hey, Eric! You’ve got a motorcycle, haven’t you?
Eric: Ahh, yes, I have two.
Mark: What kind?
Eric: I have a …
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Download audio file (overseas.mp3)
at glenelg48
Mark talks to Seiko about her time in San Francisco, Beijing and Amsterdam and they wander on to the topic of languages and being bilingual …
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Download audio file (trailoftears.mp3)
at babasteve
In this interview Mark talks to his friend, Eric from Oklahoma about the cowboy culture in that part of the United States.
Mark : Hello everybody. …
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Download audio file (lerato.africa.mp3)
at Farl
In this conversation, Mark asks Lerato about where she has been in Africa and they get talking about ideas of color and the mutilation of …
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Download audio file (lerato.mp3)
at carlosoliveirareis
In this recording Mark interviews Lerato, who comes from South Africa.
M: Ok so…Hello everybody I am sitting here with Lerato from South Africa. What part …
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Download audio file (steve.mp3)
at teaspout
Mark interviews Steve Yenik, a friend and co-worker of his, who lives in Kyoto, Japan. In it, Steve talks a little bit about the Midwest …
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Download audio file (danishmigrants.mp3)
Tom and Klaus are two senior Danish immigrants who came to Australia as young men in their twenties. They are talking with Mark and Lyndell about …
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Download audio file (matt.mp3)
In this podcast, Mark White interviews Matt, a U.S. marine who is now stationed in Japan and who fought in the Battle of Baghdad.
Mark: Ok, Matt. …
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Download audio file (archie.mp3)
In this podcast, Mark White interviews Archie, a sheep man from the town of Emmaville in New South Wales, Australia. Archie talks about the …

