All Ears English Podcast – Episode 2472: Done With IELTS or TOEFL? Back From a Trip? What to Do Next!

Hosts: Aubrey Carter & Lindsay McMahon
Date: September 3, 2025

Episode Overview

In this episode, Aubrey and Lindsay address a common challenge for intermediate and advanced English learners: what to do after reaching a major milestone—like completing IELTS or TOEFL, or returning from an English-immersion trip. The episode covers how to sustain and grow your English fluency when external motivation (like an exam or trip) is gone. The hosts offer actionable strategies to make English learning a lasting, sustainable, and enjoyable journey, focusing on connection rather than perfection.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Listener Question: “How Do I Get to the Next Level?”

[03:30]

• A listener thanks the hosts for the podcast’s contagious energy and credits them for a 9 in IELTS listening.
• The listener’s dilemma: With a 7.5 overall IELTS score, they still struggle to fully understand native-level conversations and written content—how can they keep improving?

2. Learning for Life, Not Just the Event

[02:35] Aubrey:

“If you’re learning [English] for a trip or an exam, it can be challenging to continue building fluency … your learning process will be different.”

• Recognizing the difference between event-based preparation (exam/trip) and sustainable, lifelong learning.
• Importance of adjusting your mindset and methods for ongoing improvement.

3. Core Strategies for Lifelong English Growth

A. Speak and Listen Consistently
[06:18]

• Consistency is key! Regular speaking and listening are vital to prevent language ‘atrophy’, similar to muscle loss after stopping workouts.
• Choose content you enjoy, such as engaging podcasts or audiobooks, to make practice enjoyable.
• [07:04] Lindsay:

“We don’t want to say, ‘I have to learn English now, so I’m going to consume something.’ We want to say, ‘I want to know what happens next, or I want to hang out with these characters.’”

• Find a conversation partner or friend who shares your interests to spark stimulating discussions.

B. Think in English, Not Just Translate
[07:52]

• Narrate your daily routines or feelings in English to train your brain for fluency.
• Discover vocabulary gaps organically and actively seek them out.
• [08:11] Aubrey:

“The best thing to do is to start narrating your daily routines or your feelings out loud. This trains your brain to think in English.”

C. Grow Your Vocabulary—Smartly
[09:18]

• Read books, articles, or magazines you enjoy; use vocab apps judiciously.
• The All Ears English app selects key vocabulary from each episode for focused learning.
• Don’t overwhelm yourself: pick 4–5 new words per 30 minutes of input so learning stays fun and usable.
• [10:10] Lindsay:

“Don’t try to learn every word that you hear… you end up with just long lists of vocabulary, none of which you’re actually using.”

D. Embrace Idiomatic Language
[10:43]

• Seek out and use idiomatic expressions, phrasal verbs, and colloquialisms.
• Don’t hesitate to ask for clarification:
  [11:02] Lindsay:

  “There’s nothing wrong with asking a native speaker what something meant.”

E. Prioritize Pronunciation and Intonation
[11:19]

• Regular shadowing/mimicking native speakers in 10–20 second chunks.
• Use the podcast’s role plays or short segments as authentic practice material.
• Seek feedback from teachers, peers, or AI tools for targeted improvement.
• [12:41] Aubrey:

“AI is getting better and better. It’s a great way to get feedback on your pronunciation.”

F. Use Every Resource—There’s a World of Content
[14:55]

• Tap into online courses, ESL blogs, YouTube, podcasts, and TV shows that match your interests.
• [15:21] Lindsay:

  “Take it in, make a choice, and use it.”

4. Mindset: Set Goals and Be Kind to Yourself

[15:40]

• Define why you’re learning English—make it meaningful, realistic, and achievable.
• Accept that setbacks are normal (e.g., missing a week’s lessons); what matters is returning to your routine, not perfection.
• [16:52] Aubrey:

“Give yourself some grace… be flexible, don’t beat yourself up. We can’t expect things to always go according to plan.”

• [17:37] Aubrey:

“We can forgive ourselves for any little hiccups, get right back on the wagon, and do everything we can to stay consistent.”

5. Sustaining Momentum After a Milestone

[18:30]

• When you’ve completed IELTS, TOEFL, or a trip, set new, manageable goals to maintain progress.
• If you need a future goal (like another trip), visualize or plan it—even using AI: [19:15] Lindsay:

  “I asked ChatGPT to plan a trip where I’d be traveling in India, but working remotely and visiting meditation sites… They came up with an amazing plan. I almost booked the trip.”

• Use vision boarding and planning as motivational tools.

6. Resource Reminder

• Check out the “IELTS Energy” podcast for useful English learning content, not just exam prep.
  • [18:12] Aubrey:

    “So many of the episodes over there—whether you’re studying for IELTS or not—you’re going to learn so much interesting vocabulary.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [03:09] Lindsay:

  “How do we say, ‘This is something I’m interested in pursuing over many years’? That’s a really exciting commitment. How do we make it sustainable?”

• [04:37] Lindsay:

  “And how fast can we lose what we’ve gained? It’s just like working out… you can get out of shape in a week.”

• [07:52] Lindsay:

  “Eventually working towards thinking in English and avoiding translating in your native language…”

• [17:12] Lindsay (quoting a project manager):

  “No project plan ever holds up to reality. It never happens. Reality gets in the way… Give yourself some grace.”

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:00–02:35: Setting the scene—Language learning beyond exams and trips.
• 03:30–04:44: Listener question and the challenge of maintaining progress.
• 06:18–08:59: Core strategies—Consistency, enjoyment, and speaking out loud.
• 09:18–10:43: Vocabulary and idiomatic language tips.
• 11:19–12:57: Pronunciation, intonation, and leveraging feedback (including AI tools).
• 14:55–15:40: Utilizing all available English resources.
• 15:40–17:58: Setting goals, maintaining motivation, and being kind to yourself after setbacks.
• 18:12–19:44: Leveraging other podcasts and vision planning for motivation.

Summary Takeaway

When the exam is done or your trip is over, don’t stop! English learning is a marathon, not a sprint. Make engagement, intention, and sustainability your priorities. Practice consistently, set clear goals, and be gentle with yourself when life happens. Use technology, community, and creativity to bring English into your daily life in ways that bring you joy. Progress doesn’t stop at a certificate—the real journey is lifelong connection through language.