Hey there! This is TOP episode 291. Everyday English: 5 Expressions You’ll Actually Use
Are you tired of lacking confidence when speaking English? Does it block you from achieving your true goals? This podcast is the place for you. This is Teacher Ola Podcast. My name’s Ola Mierniczak and I empower English learners like you, to become confident speakers. The key to fluency is in your pocket. You’ll boost your vocabulary, brush up your grammar and improve your pronunciation. Enjoy your journey to fluency!
Hey there. Thank you for joining me today!
Listen up — I’ve got a short listening practice for you. It’s a little story. And yes, it really happened!
A few years ago, I had a minor car accident. I’d had my driver’s license for less than a year, and honestly, I still didn’t feel very confident behind the wheel. As you can probably tell, I’m already trying to justify what I did… because yes, it was a little stupid — but just a little!
I drove into a parking lot and started looking for a space. Suddenly, one of the parked cars started backing out… and bumped right into my car.
The driver jumped out and immediately started yelling at me:
“What kind of driving is that?! If everyone drove like you, the roads would be full of accidents!”
I was so shocked, I didn’t even stop to consider that he might be wrong.
Then he said his tail light was broken and asked me to pay him 100 złotys.
It was a nightmare — I mean my own reaction was. I was so naive.
Anyway, here comes the grand finale: I gave him the money, and he drove off.
Later, I told my boyfriend the whole story, and he pointed out — very calmly — that it wasn’t my fault. I had the right of way.
We managed to track down footage from a security camera nearby, and guess what? The man got a pretty big fine.
Did I get my money back?
Sadly, no.
But — I learned something way more valuable.
I learned that in a stressful moment, it’s so important to stop and breathe. Slow down.
Take a second to think clearly and decide how you actually want to react.
And the same goes for speaking English.
If you feel stressed when you try to talk — slow down.
You don’t have to speak fast. You don’t need complicated, long sentences.
In fact, the slower you speak, the more confident you sound.
If you feel like you could use a quick refresher on how to build short, clear sentences in the most common tenses — grab the Vocabulary Builder List.
It’ll help you start thinking in English and talk about your free time with ease.
All my lists are organised by topic, and this one’s all about Free Time.
Go to teacherola.com/lista and grab it while it’s still available.
It costs about the same as a coffee out, and it gives you a really solid review — plus an audio version to practise pronunciation.
Go to teacherola.com/lista.
Ok! Time for 5 Expressions! In today’s episode, we’re going to cover five super useful phrases you can use in everyday conversations. These 5 phrases will help you sound more natural and confident. We’ll break them down with simple explanations, and I’ll share some examples so you can really get a feel for how to use them. Ready to add these to your vocabulary? Let’s get started! 5 Expressions You’ll Actually Use.
One. “I’m on it”
This is something you say when someone asks you to do something — and you want to let them know you’re already doing it or you’re about to. It’s short, confident, and super common at work or in any situation where you’re taking responsibility for a task. Examples:
– “Can you reply to that email?”
– “Yep, I’m on it.”
– “We need someone to pick up snacks for the meeting.”
– “I’m on it!”
Two. “I’m good, thanks”
This is a friendly way to say “No, thank you,” when someone offers you something — like food, a drink, or help — and you don’t want it. It sounds more relaxed than a formal “No, thank you.” Just say: “I’m good, thanks!”. Examples:
– “Do you want more coffee?”
– “I’m good, thanks.”
– “Need any help with that?”
– “Nope, I’m good, but thank you!”
Three. “No worries”
This one’s a great all-rounder. You can use it instead of “you’re welcome,” or to tell someone it’s okay — like when they apologize. It’s friendly, casual, and used all the time. No worries. Examples:
– “Thanks for helping me with the bags.”
– “No worries!”
– “Sorry I’m late!”
– “No worries. I just got here too.”
Four. “It’s up to you”
This is what you say when you don’t mind either option and you want the other person to choose. It’s perfect for decisions about food, movies, or weekend plans. It shows you’re flexible and open. Examples:
– “Should we get sushi or pizza?”
– “I don’t know… it’s up to you.”
– “Do you want to watch a movie or go for a walk?”
– “Totally up to you!”
Five. “I’m in”
This one’s super short and super positive. You use it when you agree to join a plan or an idea. It’s like saying, “Yes, I want to be part of that.” In short: “I’m in”. Examples:
– “We’re having a beach day on Saturday.”
– “I’m in!”
– “We’re having a barbecue on Saturday. You in?”
– “Absolutely. I’m in!”
Alright, time to practise! I’ll read 10 sentences twice. Try to repeat them out loud — it’ll help you feel more confident using these expressions. It’s a must, don’t skip this part! Ready? Here we go!
– “Can you reply to that email?” – “Yep, I’m on it.”
– “Do you want more coffee?” – “I’m good, thanks.”
– “Thanks for helping me with the bags.” – “No worries!”
– “Sorry I’m late!” – “No worries. I just got here too.”
– “Should we get sushi or pizza?” – “I don’t know… it’s up to you.”
– “We’re having a barbecue on Saturday. You in?” – “Absolutely. I’m in!”
She was on it right away.
They offered more snacks, but I was good.
We couldn’t decide, so it was up to her.
They mentioned a trip, and I was in.
Awesome work! But don’t stop just yet—grab your worksheet! Visit teacherola.com/291 and complete the task. It’s a quick step that will really help you lock in the new phrases.
And by the way, if you’re serious about improving your speaking skills, I’ve got something special for you. Get my list of 120 authentic sentences for self-study. These are the exact phrases, idioms, and phrasal verbs you need to confidently talk about your free time—books, music, TV shows, sports, hobbies… all the fun stuff!
Head over to teacherola.com/lista and grab your copy before it’s gone. That is till Wednesday the 7th of May!
If you found this episode helpful, please share it with someone else working on their English fluency. And if you have a moment, leave a review, rate, or like the episode—it really means a lot to me. Thank you!
That’s all for today. Thanks again for listening! I’ll see you in the next episode. I believe in you—you’ve got this! Stay fearless, take care, and say it out loud! I’m your teacher, Teacher Ola, and you’ve been listening to Teacher Ola Podcast. Bye for now!