Episode 41
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Read the Transcript
Follow the text while you listen, then repeat useful sentences aloud.
I'm Georgiana, founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently and confidently.
Today you'll practice pronunciation with some of the most popular fashion brands on the market. I'll help you pronounce these names like an American.
Later, you'll practice your listening with an interesting point of view story.
Now let the fun begin!
I'll give you some information about each brand, and you'll need to guess its name. Believe me—it'll be fun!
Let's get started!
1. Adidas
When you think of sports, what name comes to mind? Here's a hint: it's a German brand.
Pause and say the brand name.
It's Adidas! Adidas is a famous German brand that designs and manufactures shoes, clothing, and accessories. The founder named the company after his nickname, Adi, and his last name, Dassler.
2. Armani
What's one of the most popular and expensive Italian fashion brands? The name starts with the letter A. Can you guess?
Pause and say the brand name.
Yes—Armani. Giorgio Armani, an Italian fashion designer, formed his company in 1975. The brand is widely known for ready-to-wear fashion, accessories, glasses, cosmetics, and perfumes.
3. Calvin Klein
When you think about comfortable yet sophisticated underwear, what's the first brand that comes to mind? Think of an American brand beginning with C.
Pause and say the brand name.
Yes! The brand is Calvin Klein. Calvin Klein is an American fashion house founded by the designer Calvin Klein. It's widely known for its underwear line and perfumes.
4. Christian Dior
What's your favorite French fashion brand? Here's a hint: the name starts with C.
Pause and say the brand name.
It's not Chanel—it's Christian Dior. Christian Dior founded his fashion house in 1946. Today, the company designs ready-to-wear fashion, accessories, footwear, jewelry, fragrances, makeup, and skincare products.
5. Gucci
Can you think of another Italian fashion brand? This one starts with G.
Pause and say the brand name.
The correct answer is Gucci. Gucci is an Italian luxury brand of fashion and leather goods. Guccio Gucci founded it in Italy in 1921.
6. Levi's
This one's easy. What's the most popular American jeans manufacturer?
Pause and say the brand name.
Yes—Levi's. Founded in 1853, it is one of the oldest jeans brands. Its jeans are known for comfort and strong, appealing styling.
7. Louis Vuitton
This French brand is famous for its bags. Can you guess?
Pause and say the brand name.
The answer is Louis Vuitton, often shortened to LV. It is a fashion house and luxury retail company founded in Paris in 1854 and known for its high-quality bags.
8. Nike
Think about sports shoes and you'll guess this American brand.
Pause and say the brand name.
Yes—Nike! The company was founded in 1964 as Blue Ribbon Sports and officially became Nike, Inc. in 1971. Its name comes from Nike, the Greek goddess of victory.
9. Pandora
How about jewelry? The name starts with P, and it's a European company.
Pause and say the brand name.
The answer is Pandora. This Danish jewelry manufacturer is known for customizable charm bracelets, designer rings, and necklaces.
10. Ralph Lauren
Now another legendary American fashion brand. Its name starts with R.
Pause and say the brand name.
Ralph Lauren is an American corporation founded in 1967 by the fashion designer Ralph Lauren. The brand is widely known for clothing and fragrances.
11. Prada
This Italian fashion brand starts with P.
Pause and say the brand name.
Prada is an Italian luxury fashion house founded in 1913 by Mario Prada. It is known for leather handbags, travel accessories, shoes, ready-to-wear fashion, and perfumes.
12. Puma
This is another popular German sports brand.
Pause and say the brand name.
Puma designs and manufactures athletic and casual footwear, apparel, and accessories. The founders of Puma and Adidas were brothers.
13. Reebok
This European sports brand was acquired by Adidas in 2005 but kept its original name.
Pause and say the brand name.
The answer is Reebok. Reebok produces and distributes fitness and running sportswear.
14. Tommy Hilfiger
This American fashion brand starts with T.
Pause and say the brand name.
Tommy Hilfiger is an American company founded in 1985. It designs apparel, footwear, accessories, fragrances, and home furnishings.
15. Victoria's Secret
This American brand is famous around the world for women's lingerie.
Pause and say the company name.
Victoria's Secret was founded in San Francisco in 1977 as an alternative to the packaged underwear its founder considered unattractive.
16. Zara
The last fashion brand comes from Spain. Can you guess its name?
Pause and say the brand name.
The answer is Zara. This fashion retailer was founded in Spain in 1975. It was originally named Zorba, but the name was changed after the founders discovered a nearby bar with the same name.
Let's move on to the speaking-practice section.
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GRAMMAR MADE EASY
POV Story: Grammar in Context
Read the same story in two different points of view and notice how the grammar changes naturally.
| 01 |
First version Miya · Present & Future |
I'm Miya, and I'm 35 years old. I'm a Japanese woman, and I'm very excited because I just won the lottery! I decided to travel the world in search of adventure, and, like any other woman, I want to renovate my wardrobe.
I want to fly to Europe right now! I just bought a ticket! After I visit the most emblematic places in Paris, I intend to hire a personal shopper to help me to buy clothes and accessories from legendary French designers: Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, and Chanel.
And I love Italian brands: Armani, Gucci, and Prada, so I'm eager to discover Rome, and above all, I wanna shop at the best stores in the city.
I also need to visit Berlin. I'm fascinated by the history and beauty of the German capital. In Berlin, I feel like wearing comfortable clothes, so I intend to purchase clothes mostly from sports brands like Adidas, Puma, or Reebok.
I was told that my favorite jewelry brand, Pandora, is from Copenhagen. So, I don't want to miss out on the opportunity to visit Denmark.
And before leaving Europe, I hope to spend some time in Spain. I want to enjoy for some weeks the fantastic weather and the delicious food. Plus, I could get plenty of clothes and accessories from Zara stores.
Lastly, I want to travel to New York, where I can find all the brands in the world. I intend to enjoy the city for a few weeks and buy clothes, makeup, fragrances, and much more. Calvin Klein, Levi's, Nike, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, and Victoria's Secret are some of my favorite American brands.
I do hope not to get too excited during my travel and spend all my money. Otherwise, I'll need to start selling some of the expensive jewelry and clothes on eBay.
But wait!!! Oh, no!! I'm afraid that I won't get to travel anywhere anymore!
It turns out that I didn't read the lottery number correctly!! Now I'm only relieved that I didn't tell anyone about my crazy plan!
Oh!! I must cancel the trip to Paris!
| 02 |
Second version Miya · Past Tense |
Now I'll tell you the story from a different point of view (Third Person Past Tense) Miya was a 35-year-old Japanese woman who was very excited because she had just won the lottery. She decided to travel the world in search of adventure, and, like any other woman, she wanted to renovate her wardrobe.
She wanted to travel to Europe right away. In fact, she had just bought a ticket! After visiting the most emblematic places in Paris, she hired a personal shopper to help her to buy the clothes and accessories from legendary French designers: Christian Dior, Louis Vuitton, and Chanel.
And she loved Italian brands: Armani, Gucci, and Prada. She was eager to discover Rome, and above all, she wanted to shop at the best stores in the city.
She also needed to visit Berlin. She was fascinated by the history and beauty of the German capital. In Berlin, she intended to wear comfortable clothes, so she purchased clothes mostly from sports brands like Adidas, Puma, and Reebok.
She was told that her favorite jewelry brand, Pandora, was from Copenhagen. So, Miya didn't want to miss out on the opportunity to visit Denmark.
And before leaving Europe, she also wanted to spend some time in Spain. She enjoyed the fantastic weather and the delicious food for some weeks and got plenty of clothes and accessories from the Zara stores.
Her last destination was New York, where she found all the brands in the world. She intended to enjoy the city for a few weeks and buy clothes, makeup, fragrances, and much more. Calvin Klein, Levi's, Nike, Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, and Victoria's Secret were some of her favorite American brands.
Miya was afraid to get so excited during her trip that she would spend all her money. In that case, she would have tried to sell some of the expensive jewelry and clothing on eBay.
But unfortunately, she didn't get to travel anywhere anymore!
It turns out that Miya didn't read the lottery number correctly!!
She was only relieved that she didn't tell anyone about her crazy plan! And suddenly remembered that she had to cancel the trip to Paris!
Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you in the next episode.
Review
Vocabulary
Review the most useful words and expressions before listening again.
Fashion brand
A company known for clothing, accessories, footwear, or other fashion products.
Accessories
Items such as bags, belts, jewelry, or glasses that complement clothing.
Ready-to-wear
Clothing produced in standard sizes and sold ready to be worn.
Fashion house
A company that designs and sells high-end fashion.
Luxury brand
A brand associated with expensive, high-quality products.
Footwear
Shoes and other things worn on the feet.
Apparel
Clothing.
Retailer
A company or shop that sells products directly to customers.
Want more speaking practice? Continue with a complete audio course.
thank you for sharing!
Dear Georgiana
Excellent method. I would like to buy your course but I have a doubt. I’ll improve my listening but how improve my speech?
I study English for a very long time and until now I have no confidence nor fluency.
Please give me some orientation to solve my problem.
Many thanks for attention
Hi Raimundo! Of course that you’ll improve your speaking and fluency. The courses are designed in order to help you to speak English fluently. With the question and answer technique you’ll start speaking from DAY ONE.
You can get more information over here: https://fluencythroughstories.leadpages.co/fluency-course-sale/
Dear my Teacher Georgiana,
Thank you verry much !!!
Looking forward for next lesson
See you.
thank you for sharing