Learning English video lessons
based on TED Talks

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David Sivers: How to Start a Movement

In just more than 3 minutes, Derek Sivers explains step-by-step how to start a movement. Starting from one "lone nut" to a rousing group of followers, Derek's analysis of the process may surprise you.

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Hannah Brencher: Love letters to strangers

Hannah Brencher explains how she made a crazy promise on the internet to send a hand-written letter to anyone who asked. In today’s fast-paced world of emails, text messages and tweets, letter writing is almost a lost art form.

In this short video, Hannah explains the reasons why she reached out to strangers through writing letters.

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David Gallo: Underwater Astonishments

Put on your scuba diving suit and mask and get ready to dive deep into this learning English video! It's difficult to believe that 97 percent of the ocean has not been explored. Man has only see about 3 percent of the ocean but what has been found is truly astonishing.

Watch this video to see some incredible sea creatures.

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Joshua Silver: Adjustable liquid-filled eyeglasses

Almost half the people in the world need corrective eyewear and Joshua Silver’s helping to solve this problem with self-adjustable eyeglasses. The lenses are filled with liquid and wearers get the correct vision strength by adding or removing fluid from tiny syringes on each arm of the lenses.

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Matt Cutts:  Try Something New for 30 Days

In this short learn English video, Matt Cutts challenges us to try something new for just 30 days (the amount of time to form a habit). Starting with a simple 30-day challenge to take a picture each day he later found himself on top of Mount Kilimanjaro and with a new way to describe himself (a "novelist").

This lesson offers readers a chance to learn 10 important idioms and phrasal verbs. 

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Jia Jiang:  Surprising Lessons from 100 Days of Rejection

Soon after quitting his job and starting his own company, Jia Jiang was rejected by a business investor and the future of his company was in jeopardy. Like most of us, he felt terrible. But unlike most of us, he decided to do something about his fear and started "Rejection Therapy," a game where he had to be rejected by a person on 100 different days.

Jia Jiang is a lovely speaker with a message that just may help you too if you are afraid of rejection.

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Candy Chang:  Before I die I want to....

Candy Chang is an artist, designer and urban planner. She looks at how to make cities more comfortable and thoughtful places. In this project, she transformed an abandoned house in her neighborhood into an interactive wall where people can share their hopes and dreams. This is such a creative and thoughtful project.

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Joe Smith: How to use a paper towel

Joe smith is an advocate for proper paper towel use.

Most people use several paper towels to dry their hands and this is bad, bad, bad for the environment. You've probably seen people grab 3-4 paper towels in public restrooms (that is, if they wash their hands at all...).

Perhaps you're even guilty of this behavior yourself. Well, don't despair. In just 4:32 minutes, Joe Smith will share his perfect technique for drying your hands with just one sheet of paper.

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Cameron Russell: Looks aren't everything. Believe me, I'm a model

Cameron Russell is a model who has appeared in fashion magazines like Vogue and walked runways for famous designers and brands including Victoria's Secret, Versace, Benneton and Chanel.

But is she more than just a pretty face?

Watch this learn English video to find out her thoughts about the power of looks, image and the legacy of beauty in society today. 

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Aimee Mullins: My 12 Pairs of Legs

Aimee Mullins' legs were amputated (surgically removed) when she was a baby so she learned to walk on a prosthetic legs. She later learned how to run so fast that she competed as an international-level sprinter and set world records at the 1996 Paralympics. Aimee has worked as a model and actor too. 

As you will see in this video, Aimee is passionate about looking at prosthetics in a new way.

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William Kamkwamba: How I Harnessed the Wind

At 14, William Kamkwamba didn’t have the money to go to school but that did not stop him from getting an education. Reading books from the library and using scrap materials, William created a windmill that pumped water and produced electricity.

His courage and determination will surely inspire you in this learning English video lesson.