Episode 66: Chicago

[00:00:00] Welcome to English, please, the podcast where we explore interesting topics in under 10 minutes in clear, intermediate English. I’m your host, Christopher. I live in New York City, and I’ve always been passionate about languages and how we learn them. Whether you’re listening on your way to work or while cooking dinner at home, this show is designed to help you with your English listening and comprehension skills.

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I just got [00:01:00] back from Chicago, and I have to say that it’s one of those cities that stays with you. I was there for a few days to visit an old friend, and from the moment I arrived, I felt the energy of the place. Chicago is loud, confident, and beautiful. Today, I want to share a little of what makes this city so special, and along the way, we’ll look at some vocabulary that will help you describe cities, culture, and history in English.

Let’s start with something surprising if you haven’t been there. Chicago is located on the edge of Lake Michigan, one of the five Great Lakes of North America. When you stand at the waterfront and look out, there is no other side. It looks like the ocean. The lake is so big that it shapes the entire feeling of the city. The skyline rises up behind you, and in front of you, there is nothing but water. It’s a [00:02:00] remarkable sight.

And when you turn around, the skyline takes your breath away. Chicago is widely considered the birthplace of modern architecture. In 1871, a devastating fire destroyed much of the city. When Chicago was rebuilt, architects used that opportunity to experiment with something new. They developed new ways to construct tall buildings using steel frames, and the skyscraper was born. The architecture of Chicago is distinctive in a way that’s hard to miss, and two buildings in particular stand out. The Sears Tower, now officially called the Willis Tower, was for many years the tallest building in the world. The John Hancock Center is another landmark on the skyline with its bold, dark shape and dramatic height. Walking along the [00:03:00] Chicago River and looking up at these buildings is genuinely impressive.

But Chicago’s influence on the world isn’t only about buildings. The city also has an incredible music history. Chicago blues developed in the city in the 1940s and 1950s as musicians from the American South brought their music north and gave it a new electric sound. Artists like Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf created something raw and powerful that would go on to influence rock and roll and popular music around the world. The rhythm of Chicago blues is something you feel immediately because it’s deep, it’s emotional, and it’s unmistakably alive.

Decades later, something else emerged from Chicago. House music was born in the city in the early 1980s in clubs on the South [00:04:00] Side. DJs began experimenting with electronic sounds, drum machines, and a beat that made people want to dance. House music spread quickly to Europe—to the UK, Germany, and beyond. If you’ve ever been to a club in Berlin or London, you’ve heard music that has its roots in Chicago. Many people love house music without really knowing where it came from.

That’s one of the things I find so interesting about cities. A place can shape culture in ways that travel far beyond its borders. Chicago’s architecture changed how we build cities. Its music changed how we listen, and how we move. And the lake gives the whole city a sense of openness and possibility.

If you visit Chicago, walk along the lakefront, look up at the skyline, and find some live blues music in the evening. You won’t regret it.[00:05:00] 

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