When someone asks you if you want to head somewhere, they are asking you if you want to go somewhere. It’s kind of a weird thing about our language, one of our idioms. I am so happy that we happened to have this conversation during Head Week because it fits perfectly into our theme! Let’s attack this lesson, head on ..read more

Last weekend was the Fourth of July, and what better way is there to celebrate the birth of the U.S.A. than going on a picnic? Whether it’s at the beach or in the park, Americans love to combine soaking up some sun with eating some grub. Since the weather is usually nice on the Fourth, a lot of families begin their celebrations with an outdoor barbecue, potluck, or picnic. A picnic can be a family affair, with food and games for the kids. Or you can have a classy, romantic picnic with a bottle of wine and tasty treats in a fancy basket. A picnic can also mean hanging out at the park with you ..read more

Most people have a slight desire to get rid of all of their possessions and hit the road. Christopher McCandless gave in to that idea. Shortly after graduating from college, he gave everything he had away and traveled for two years. He came to Alaska where he hunted to survive. Eventually, he accidentally ate some poisoned seeds and his adventures came to an end. He was found dead in an abandoned bus. In 1996, Jon Krakauer turned McCandless’ story into a book called Into the Wild. The book was recently made into a movie with a soundtrack by Pearl Jam vocalist Eddie Vedder. Listen to Marni a ..read more

A relaxing beach vacation may sound perfect to some, but for the more adventurous, it just isn’t exciting enough. Unless getting to the beach meant hiking through the jungle or parachuting out of an airplane. Then it might be OK. Adventure travelers aren’t interested in plain old sightseeing or a typical beach holiday. They prefer to spend their vacations doing active, exciting, and possibly even slightly dangerous activities. They like to go to remote places that most tourists never visit. Find out if Marni and Ella are thrill seekers when it comes to travel ..read more

These days, it’s hard to find time to spend in the great outdoors. Most people have to work or go to school inside of a building. But sometimes, one needs to leave the city and breathe some fresh air. Camping is a great way to get away from all the noise of daily life. One of the best things about camping is that one can do it anywhere. For people who like the beach, one can simply set up a tent right on the sand. Some people like the mountains more and might even camp in the snow. Many people like camping because it is easier to see the stars away from city lights. Camping lets people take ..read more

When the temperature starts going up, you might go crazy trying to stay cool. Turning on a fan might help for awhile. However, when it really gets hot, the only way to monitor the temperature is with air conditioning. Although running an AC isn’t as efficient as using a fan, it’s much more comfortable. With a push of a button, your house feels as cool as you want it. It’s the perfect climate, no matter how hot it is outside. Why doesn’t Gary want to turn on his AC? Find out in today’s English lesson about being frugal ..read more

Sometimes one of the stars of a movie is the place it’s filmed. Think about a movie like Amélie. Could it have been filmed anywhere but Paris? Mason and Marni are at the mall and being there reminds Mason how boring life in your hometown can be. He really wants to travel somewhere, but sometimes it’s hard to get away. So Marni recommends The Darjeeling Limited, a movie about three brothers who ride a train together across India ..read more

As fun as it is to travel and see new places, it can also be stressful. Finding the perfect hotel is one way to cut down on the stress. It’s nice to have a comfortable room to come home to at the end of a long day of sightseeing. But the perfect hotel often doesn’t come at the perfect price. In fact, paying for a place to sleep can destroy your travel budget if you aren’t careful. Find out what Mason and Jason look for in a hotel ..read more

Just a couple of weeks ago Jennifer Lopez finally announced that she’s pregnant. But the tabloids have already been talking about it for months. It seems like they might have known before the father! But you sure wouldn’t have been able to tell that everyone’s favorite acting, singing and dancing Latina star is pregnant from looking at her tour schedule. Listen to Devan and Amanda talk about how being with child hasn’t slowed J.Lo down at all ..read more

“He’s slowly dipping his feet in the water a little bit. He’s testing it out to see what it’s about, and what it means, and if it feels right for him. He’s 16 and figuring out his world.” —Actor James Marsden, speaking about his son’s first fashion show in Milan, Italy (People ..read more