In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Xochitl and Jack discuss the question: Is cheating in a relationship ever justified?

Transcript:

00:00:00

Jack

Hey, A is the English podcast listeners. It's Jack here and we just want to announce that we are now on WeChat. Our WeChat ID is A-Z English podcast that is A-Z English podcast, one word all lowercase.

00:00:17

Jack

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00:00:18

Jack

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00:00:22

Jack

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00:00:23

Jack

And we can answer your questions. We can read your comments on the podcast. So we'd love for you to join us and be active in our we chat group. Our WeChat ID is A-Z English podcast. Thanks. See you on the app.

00:00:49

Jack

Welcome to the Ados English podcast. My name is Jack and I'm here with my co-host social. And today we have a topic talk and social. Today's topic is a little scandalous. The question is, can cheating in a romantic relationship ever be justified?

00:01:07

Jack

Should the couple try to work through it, or is the trust permanently broken?

00:01:15

Xochitl

Uh, I really don't think it's ever justified. I personally have never cheated, so I don't understand.

00:01:24

Xochitl

It's a decision, too, I hate when people say that it's a mistake. I don't think it's a mistake. It's a choice that people actively made and you have to live with the consequences of that choice. And I think, like, if you do want to try to work through it, then the person who cheated needs to be willing to really put in the majority of the work.

00:01:31

Jack

Right.

00:01:45

Xochitl

And.

00:01:47

Xochitl

Needs to be willing.

00:01:48

Xochitl

To see that there are going to be pretty big consequences like the that person is not going to trust you. Like for a good long while. And I I think that's perfectly acceptable and absolutely normal. It'd be kind of weird if they suddenly did trust you, you know.

00:02:05

Jack

Yeah, I.

00:02:06

Xochitl

Again, you've been good.

00:02:09

Jack

Oh, sorry, I I I really hate it. When. When?

00:02:13

Jack

Like cheaters, say something like UM.

00:02:16

Jack

Well, you weren't paying attention to me or you weren't being attentive as a as a partner. And so I started looking in, you know, other places to get my needs met or whatever and that sort of kind of nonsense, you know, it's like I I think this is one of those.

00:02:19

Xochitl

Ah.

00:02:36

Jack

Rare occasions where it's like 100 zero, you know, like it's yeah, it's it's 100% the cheaters fault and they they have to take full.

00:02:49

Jack

Responsibility for their actions. I I don't think there can be any Hemming and hawing about it. It's it's, you know, I I think it's such a it's such a red flag when when a cheater starts trying to push the blame onto.

00:03:10

Jack

His or her partner for you know, making.

00:03:13

Jack

Me do that it. It reminds me of, like, domestic violence, right where the domestic abuser tries to blame the, you know, you know, I I don't. I didn't want to hit you. But you make me so angry, you know, and and that that's that's that's just nonsense.

00:03:18

Xochitl

Ma'am.

00:03:30

Xochitl

Right, yeah.

00:03:34

Jack

Like, that's just garbage logic and so.

00:03:38

Jack

Yeah, I I just, I just don't. Yeah.

00:03:40

Xochitl

Yeah, I think I I'll go. I'll go a step further here and say that cheating is definitely a form of abuse because you have to be lying to cheat. And lying is emotional abuse by definition.

00:03:55

Xochitl

So yeah, in some ways you're gaslighting your partner. You're, uh, hiding information from them. You're lying to them. You're invalidating them constantly because you're trying to make them think that they're crazy when you're cheating so that they don't hold you accountable for your actions, and you're blaming them and and shaming them. And it just.

00:04:17

Xochitl

It's toxic and it is abusive in in the context. And I yeah, I just really, really am against cheating.

00:04:27

Jack

Yeah, I like he said. That's a form of emotional abuse for sure.

00:04:32

Xochitl

Yeah.

00:04:33

Jack

And also I think that like.

00:04:36

Jack

Commitment requires again I I there. There are a few times in life where I think it's like a 0 sum 0 sum, meaning like it's 100% zero.

00:04:47

Jack

You know, either you're committed to your partner or or you're not, you know, and if you're, if you're always, if you're with your partner, but you've always got, like, one eye kind of looking around for something better, something. It's I I I just really hate that.

00:05:04

Xochitl

I know.

00:05:07

Jack

That kind of behavior, it reminds me of like, UM, it happens in friendships as well, where it.

00:05:15

Jack

Like you, you know, Jack, you're good enough to hang out with at this party, but I'm going to keep my eye open looking around the the room for maybe somebody a little bit more interesting, a little bit cooler that I can go talk to. So you're good enough in the moment.

00:05:35

Jack

But you're not. You're you're not really good enough. And that's a real self esteem killer, I I think.

00:05:45

Xochitl

Yeah, he is a self esteem killer. And then ultimately though like like dealing with cheaters and talking to them, I don't think it's anything about their partner not being. Obviously it's not about the partner not not being good enough, but I don't even think it's about them thinking their partners and good enough. It's like they just have this black hole in their heart and mind.

00:06:06

Xochitl

And they need like constant validation and attention from other people.

00:06:09

Xochitl

People and most of the times they can't handle like critique. Like if something starts going wrong in a relationship instead of facing up to their responsibility and whatever is going on or talking it out with their partner. If they can't face criticism or face.

00:06:10

Jack

Yes.

00:06:27

Xochitl

Issues when things get real, so they would rather just find a way to like escape in a sense and source their validation from someone else.

00:06:37

Jack

It's almost like they're they're willing to if they don't get what they want completely, they're going to blow it. They're going to blow the whole thing up.

00:06:45

Jack

You know, and that is like the most childish kind of toddler behavior. Like, it's the ultimate. I'm taking my ball and going home kind of behavior, right? Yeah.

00:06:52

Xochitl

Yeah.

00:06:59

Jack

And it's so immature. So, you know, I think ultimately I the second part of that question was should the couple try to work through it?

00:07:09

Jack

You know, I honestly don't think I don't. I just think it's. I don't think you can come back from that, to be honest. So at least I know that I personally cannot come back from that. Cheating is A is a a deal breaker in in my for me. So if if I were in a.

00:07:29

Jack

You know, just hypothetically, I mean I'm. I'm married. I've been married for 17 years, happily married. But if I'm. I'm just thinking hypothetically in like a dating situation or something. If if that happened to me, I I would just cut my losses.

00:07:47

Jack

And and and and find find a new partner like that's. That's ultimately where I kind of land. And it. What what about you?

00:07:56

Xochitl

I think that I that.

00:08:02

Xochitl

I how do? How do I say this?

00:08:05

Xochitl

I think that.

00:08:08

Xochitl

People who stay and try to work through it like a lot, a lot of times they get almost worse judgment than the cheater. Like people calling them stupid and stuff. And I think that's so mean because they're already like a victim of this horrible situation and they like, they're really, I don't know, forgiving people, I think. But at the same time, I I.

00:08:28

Xochitl

I do think you can't come back for men even if you choose to try to work things out and try to come back from it or whatever, I personally think.

00:08:37

Xochitl

UM.

00:08:38

Xochitl

It's like you can't, like you will always remember.

00:08:44

Xochitl

When they cheated on you and it will always affect yourself esteem and you're always going to be wondering like where they are and what they're doing and you're going to start behaving like a person that you don't recognize sometimes I think.

00:08:58

Jack

Yeah, you're gonna turn into somebody you don't want to be like the that.

00:08:58

Xochitl

As.

00:09:01

Jack

The kind of paranoid looking under every every rock for some kind of evidence and it it it just consumes your your life and you're you're not really living at that point. You're you're you're more consumed with this this relationship, and nobody deserves to.

00:09:22

Jack

To have to live like that.

00:09:23

Xochitl

No, no one should have to live like that. So you.

00:09:27

Xochitl

Yeah, I think, yeah. I mean, I think it's cool to cut your losses. It's something that it's like cheating is very common in Mexican culture, like men, especially cheating on women. I think there's a I think there's also a whole sexist level to cheating where, like in marriages, it's more common for men to cheat.

00:09:47

Xochitl

The way that society is and to get away with it or like for.

00:09:51

Xochitl

It to be acceptable anyway.

00:09:54

Xochitl

To some.

00:09:54

Jack

This is like the the boys will be boys kind of mentality.

00:09:57

Xochitl

Yes, and men will be mankind equality. But I think that's.

00:09:59

Jack

I need that you.

00:10:01

Xochitl

I feel like that's true in at least every culture that I'm familiar with. To some extent, you know, and I don't. I definitely understand why people, especially people who already have kids or who are like, have been married for a long time, why they would like, want and try to work through it.

00:10:07

Jack

Hmm.

00:10:21

Xochitl

Like I definitely understand.

00:10:23

Jack

Yeah, that's true.

00:10:26

Xochitl

Yeah, but at the same time, like I if anyone is ever in that situation, I would say don't like, just don't just cut your losses. You'll you'll always regret investing more time in fixing things than just moving on to a new relationship where you could have all the trust and respect that.

00:10:46

Xochitl

You should have had from the start and deserved in someone else that will respect you and care about you and.

00:10:57

Xochitl

Be a reliable person that you can actually trust.

00:11:00

Jack

Yeah, and. And and cheating when you have kids is really a a new, just a deeper. Yeah. Like a new low. Like, that's about as low as you can go. Because I mean you.

00:11:07

Xochitl

Low.

00:11:14

Jack

The the psychic damage that you can that it that infidelity causes children is it has a ripple effect that that will go will last throughout their lives as well. So your selfish act is actually.

00:11:34

Jack

Affecting your children's lives and their happiness and and their future relationships. So even from that, from that point of view, it's almost just inexcusable.

00:11:47

Xochitl

Yeah. And it also it's traumatic to be cheated on. Like, I know that a lot of people might be like, oh, that's an overreaction or whatever, but it's not literally like.

00:11:56

Xochitl

It's it's traumatizing, and someone that you're supposed to love and trust and all this and the person that you're supposed to believe the most in, like when you're in a committed relationship, just throws all of that trust and belief in the trash and sacrifices your self esteem and your self worth and.

00:12:17

Xochitl

Everything that you've poured into the relationship just to cheat on you, it is very traumatizing and so.

00:12:27

Xochitl

It's like someone can be so selfish that they don't even.

00:12:34

Xochitl

Don't even think about how it's gonna affect others like, but rather than just breaking up or going their separate ways or something, they'd rather put you in such a painful situation is just a selfish.

00:12:48

Xochitl

Turd.

00:12:53

Xochitl

Yeah, it's like, what a, what? A turd man. It's just that bad, you know? So it's like, I don't know. I. So I think for me, yeah. I mean, sure you can get past it and all this, but it's really low. I remember there.

00:12:56

Jack

Yeah.

00:13:07

Xochitl

Was it? I don't know if you have you ever seen the try, guys? They're like the YouTube group of four different.

00:13:12

Jack

Ohh yeah I'm I'm.

00:13:13

Jack

Familiar with that YouTube channel? Yeah.

00:13:15

Xochitl

Well, there was a.

00:13:16

Xochitl

Guy named Ned in it and.

00:13:19

Jack

Ohh yeah, this scandal. Couple years ago I remember this one.

00:13:23

Xochitl

He would only talk about his wife like he loved his wife and he would always talk about his wife all the time on the show and he was known as the wife Guy of the Try Guys and I really liked Ned and Ariel's relationship and I was like, Oh well, I hope I find someone who who loves me that much someday and who I love that.

00:13:43

Xochitl

That's interest.

00:13:44

Xochitl

So much and I was like, they seem like really happy and everything. And then he was cheating on Ariel with a coworker and she has like, two kids by him. And he publicly cheated on her, like, the way that she found out was like, some fan saw him with this other girl, like dancing at a club and posted pictures of it on Reddit.

00:14:04

Jack

Yeah.

00:14:06

Xochitl

And like, that's how she found out. And like the level of horribleness and like selfishness and everything.

00:14:13

Xochitl

Like how low can you be?

00:14:16

Jack

Yeah, yeah, just a a worm. You know, just a belly crawl.

00:14:21

Xochitl

Yeah.

00:14:22

Jack

You know.

00:14:23

Xochitl

And then like they are, they stayed together anyway. I believe in and trying to work it out.

00:14:29

Xochitl

And I just like.

00:14:30

Xochitl

I feel bad for Ariel because I mean it. Ultimately it's her choice, so I shouldn't say ohh I feel bad for her. But like what it mean is like when you're cheated on in such a public context and then and you have the kids and everything and.

00:14:43

Xochitl

I just feel like she can do so much better than this worthless worm of a man, you know, like, yeah.

00:14:48

Jack

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Someone that's willing to just to to just blow the foundations out from under your your marriage. Your relation.

00:14:57

Jack

Chip, what? Whatever compels a person to do that is there's a it's pathological, you know? It's it's it, it it's it defies logic. I I just can't wrap my mind around it almost. You know, what would? What would compel someone to just.

00:15:15

Xochitl

Yeah.

00:15:20

Jack

I guess maybe and and the fact that what made it worse is that he, you know, he was the the marriage guy. You know, so.

00:15:26

발표자

Oh.

00:15:27

Xochitl

I know only talking about his wife, John Mulaney, who's a famous comedian, also did like something very similar, apparently.

00:15:35

Xochitl

It's just trash like, you know, thinking about these men that are, like, always parading around about their wives and everything and the whole time they're just like these worm cheaters. Like it really. It really took me when I found out that news, I was like, what a nasty turd.

00:15:53

Jack

Yeah, and. And a lot of a lot of.

00:15:55

Jack

Times the.

00:15:56

Jack

Is the the reason they give is because I can.

00:16:02

Jack

Which that that is so dark to me. That kind of thinking, you know, is is.

00:16:08

Xochitl

Bro like I could kill him right now. Sorry. That's that's a little much for the podcast. I could be. I could, like, push someone off a Cliff if figuratively. If I wanted to. But like, you don't do it because you're a human being and you like you don't. Why would you do something like that? It's so dark to think like there's no limit.

00:16:29

Xochitl

OK, this this is one thing that that one of the reasons that I think you shouldn't stay with the cheater like one of the big thing.

00:16:35

Xochitl

Is that I watch a lot of true crime and almost every man who's murdered his like pregnant wife or wife or whatever was a cheater. First they cheated first and they were cheating. They had, like, there's either lots of instances of cheating in their relationship, like Lacey Peterson with Scott Peterson, like Scott Peterson cheated on her multiple times before he killed her.

00:16:43

Jack

Yeah, yeah.

00:16:56

Jack

Chris Watts, yeah.

00:16:58

Xochitl

Watts was cheating all these like family Annihilators, and it's just nasty. Like they were cheaters also. And that really makes you think about it. Like when you said it gets dark like cause I can. It's like, yeah.

00:16:59

Jack

Yeah.

00:17:14

Xochitl

Because they can like.

00:17:18

Xochitl

Yeah, yeah. There's no limit to how far they'll go. Like, sometimes it's a slippery slope, and someone who's willing to cheat on you. And like, why do you betray you in that way and put your health at risk? In many instances, that physical health and emotional health.

00:17:35

Xochitl

How far are they really, truly willing to go? You have no idea.

00:17:39

Jack

Sometimes they're willing to go so far to cover up their their indiscretions that they'll commit murder. You know, now this is obviously that's a the a very small percentage, but.

00:17:46

Xochitl

Yeah.

00:17:48

Xochitl

Sleep and but.

00:17:51

Jack

Yeah, it's, yeah.

00:17:52

Xochitl

But still pretty much all these family Annihilators were cheaters. So think about that. Alright, listeners. Well, let us know what you think about cheating in the comments. I'm definitely curious to know. Do you think that cheating's ever justifiable?

00:17:56

Jack

Yeah, yeah.

00:17:59

Jack

Yeah. Well, there we go.

00:18:10

Xochitl

A. Do you have a a dark black and white thinking like Jack and I have about? Yeah, let us know in the comments. We're very interested in now. So leave us a comment down below at A-Z with podcast.com. Shoot us an e-mail at at Oz with podcast@gmail.com and join the China WhatsApp groups to join our conversation and talk to Jack and I directly.

00:18:31

Xochitl

Remember that Jack and I are now hosting an English corner for $10, around 10 USD, or 80 RMB a month, so you get.

00:18:41

Xochitl

20 uh English corner sessions with Jack and I for that quantity, and you get to talk with other English speakers every single day that Monday through Friday. And yeah, there are a lot of perks and there's a lot of cool people who speak really great English and we have really fun discussion.

00:19:01

Xochitl

Questions. So make sure to shoot this message if you would be interested in that and we'll see you next.

00:19:07

Xochitl

Time. Bye bye.

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In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Xochitl talks about the organic coffee business she has started with her partner.

Transcript:

00:01:24

Jack

Kind of a a sky blue or or light blue color with a a really cool logo and everything on there and so I was just wondering like what's going on with that?

00:01:36

Xochitl

Well, that I started selling organic coffee. My partner is a coffee farmer in the Sierra Juarez, which is an area mountainous area of Wahaca where I live.

00:01:50

Xochitl

Yeah. And he he's a farmer, so he does things like, uh, he plants beans, corn, coffee, pineapples, mangoes, avocados. But the big one of the big.

00:02:07

Xochitl

Sources of income for coffee farmers are for farmers here in Osaka is coffee, is coffee used to be quite well paid, but unfortunately the the price of coffee has really gone down a lot. I'm not sure what's going on, but the market.

00:02:22

Xochitl

It's not that there's more supply than demand. It's just I think, how.

00:02:29

Xochitl

Some things have been happening with exports to the United States and prices and the dollar and the peso and how they're moving up and down. It's caused a lot of issues and.

00:02:41

Xochitl

Well, I was talking to him and he was he was telling me that.

00:02:45

Xochitl

They can only sell their coffee in parchment at 41 pesos, which is about like 2 bucks a kilo. A kilo is 2 point.

00:02:53

Jack

Dollars a kilogram for. Oh my God.

00:02:56

Xochitl

Yes, it's parchment coffee, so it's not like roasted or anything. It's just it that has to go through a whole process before it's ready to drink, but it's.

00:03:05

Jack

MMM.

00:03:07

Xochitl

It's still far to cheap price for organic coffee, and they're not making any money off of it anymore. And also.

00:03:16

Jack

Someone's making money though. It's like the middleman, you know, they're.

00:03:19

Xochitl

Yeah, it's the middleman is making money because the the price of coffee, especially organic coffee and local coffee, has gone up on the market, but they're not paying coffee funds.

00:03:21

Jack

Yeah.

00:03:28

Jack

Right. But the farmers are getting screwed on the on the the back end, yeah.

00:03:33

Xochitl

Yes, it's exactly what's happening. So it's it's really been a disaster for a lot of people. And yeah, I was talking to him and I just had the idea to sell his coffee here in the city because I live here.

00:03:35

Jack

Yeah.

00:03:45

Xochitl

City.

00:03:46

Jack

Hmm.

00:03:47

Xochitl

And you know, we talked about it and we made some plans and we kind of it just got, I just kind of posted it on an expat wahaka group saying hey, guys like would you be interested in organic coffee?

00:04:01

Xochitl

And a bunch of people were like, oh, yeah, you know, we didn't know how to price it. Like, we didn't know.

00:04:05

Xochitl

Anything about it?

00:04:06

Xochitl

Because he's gonna coffee farmer and his family has done coffee farming for generations. But like he's never really been on the on this like market end of.

00:04:14

Xochitl

Things.

00:04:15

Xochitl

Because what they usually do is they they belong to an organization coffee organization called Niche.

00:04:21

Xochitl

Yeah. Which is like organic coffee organization and.

00:04:25

Xochitl

They they give them like.

00:04:28

Xochitl

Courses and stuff on how to grow organic coffee and different varieties that are worth more money and all these kind of.

00:04:34

Xochitl

Things.

00:04:35

Xochitl

But because of how the market's going and I don't know what's happening, they're only able to buy 200 kilos on average from each coffee farmer.

00:04:45

Jack

Oh, it's nothing. 200 kilos.

00:04:45

Xochitl

And.

00:04:47

Xochitl

Yeah, the the usual production is at least five. You usually at least have 500 kilos leftover after that, you know, even for a small farmer. So uh.

00:05:01

Xochitl

Yeah. So it got to the point, you know, they have they have like at least 300 kilos or leftovers. So I talked to him and we went through the whole process of deciding to sell it and we got a lot of attention on that's that's.

00:05:14

Xochitl

What I could do?

00:05:15

Xochitl

And so we kind of had hit the ground running because I posted this just out of curiosity and I got I got, like business out the wazoo and.

00:05:25

Jack

Yeah.

00:05:25

Xochitl

I was like.

00:05:27

Xochitl

Tons of people inquiring and and a lot to keep up with. And so at that point we had to go ahead and we hit the ground running.

00:05:34

Xochitl

So is he.

00:05:36

Xochitl

We we decided to go with an artisanal process because that's pretty much how he knows how to make the coffee. So what you have to do is you have to take a like mortar and pestle, which for those of our listeners who aren't familiar, a mortar is like kind of like a a stone or wooden bowl or something and a pestle.

00:05:42

Jack

MHM.

00:05:56

Xochitl

Like a giant one, though.

00:05:58

Xochitl

And a puzzle is like the thing that you use to pound it. So people used to do this to like grind flour and stuff. In the olden days.

00:06:05

Jack

Right now you see a lot of people using mortar and pestle for like medicine and stuff like that.

00:06:10

Xochitl

Yeah. Medicine are like herbs. A lot of people use it for, like, finely grinding herbs and teas, but he has to use a giant one to like, take all the the kind of peel the shell off of our coffee.

00:06:22

Jack

Right.

00:06:23

Jack

OK.

00:06:23

Xochitl

So he does that all by hand, so that's crazy. It's a lot of work and hard labor.

00:06:28

Jack

Wow, he must be in great shape then because.

00:06:31

Xochitl

He hasn't. Really. Yeah, he's a really good team. But yeah, he's very strong and honestly, I don't think I would probably last two minutes trying.

00:06:33

Jack

Strong.

00:06:39

Xochitl

To do that.

00:06:40

Xochitl

So yeah, he he definitely he dishes the coffee that way and then we pay a local woman to hand roast the coffee.

00:06:41

Jack

Yeah, me neither.

00:06:51

Xochitl

Which is artisanal traditional method to do it?

00:06:54

Jack

Wow.

00:06:56

Jack

That's awesome. So like if people start drinking your coffee, they're they're going to be used to her roast. Basically, she kind of determines the flavor in a way like part of it comes from the the, you know, of course the bean. But then part of it also flavor of the coffee comes from how it's roasted. Right.

00:06:57

Xochitl

And right.

00:07:08

Xochitl

1.

00:07:16

Xochitl

Yeah. So she so depends on how you raise the coffee and there's different roasts like you can do a light roast, dark roast and medium roast, and they all have different flavor profiles. And she does kind of a medium dark roast, which works really well because they they they're hand roasted, they have like, a different. They have color variations and the beans, but once you.

00:07:30

Jack

Yeah.

00:07:37

Xochitl

Grind them in your coffee grinder or whatever. It's an even color. It's a uniform color and uh, it's smells delicious because there's the sugars and the coffee beans are like caramelized because they're roasted by hand, so they're not burnt like in our machine. But that would be if you did it by machine process.

00:07:51

Jack

Yeah.

00:07:54

Xochitl

And.

00:07:56

Xochitl

It just comes out really great. It has really. It has like a bold uh flavor and it still has body for those who like dark roasts, but it's not like a bitter dark roast that has, like, acidic notes and floral notes.

00:08:10

Xochitl

And uh, it's very it has a very sweet aroma, a really pleasant like caramel like aroma and almost like some chocolate you.

00:08:19

Xochitl

Know it's really.

00:08:20

Xochitl

Be good. I'm. I'm not a huge coffee drinker myself, but I definitely started because I had to describe it to the clients.

00:08:20

Jack

Yeah.

00:08:25

Jack

You sound like a coffee drinker, though. Jeez, you. You're describing all the notes. I mean, I just like. I just wanna. When I saw the the post, I just wanted to grab one of those bags. And just, like, open it and just stick my nose in there and.

00:08:29

Xochitl

Yeah.

00:08:39

Jack

Just smell it.

00:08:39

Xochitl

Yeah, was.

00:08:40

Jack

I love that smell of fresh. Oh my gosh. I bet it just it is.

00:08:44

Jack

Only.

00:08:45

Xochitl

Yes, it smells amazing and.

00:08:49

Xochitl

There's been a lot of things to learn. We price to way too low. So now we're figuring that out because we we didn't really know about the market. And there's a single origin coffee, which means it's coffee all from the same community and the same pic of that year. And so it's like it's worth more. And then it's also organic. So it's worth more and it has expensive.

00:08:55

발표자

Hmm.

00:09:10

Xochitl

Varieties inside the ensemble like there's different beams that we use, so we use like geisha, which is pretty expensive. Kafa Deepika, which is one of the original ones.

00:09:21

Xochitl

Has been.

00:09:24

Xochitl

Planted for hundreds of years here and yeah, so a lot of those things that, you know, quality and expense. And then the other things we went with an artisanal process which requires a lot of Labor, manual labor.

00:09:25

Jack

Yeah.

00:09:37

Jack

Yeah.

00:09:38

Xochitl

So we kind of replaced it way to that we personally 10 bucks a kilo.

00:09:44

Jack

10 bucks a kilo. Wow. You get through like you're giving it away for free there.

00:09:45

Xochitl

Yes, yes.

00:09:49

Xochitl

We basically did. It's 200 pesos or two hundred 200 pesos kilo, which is 10, about 10 bucks.

00:09:57

Jack

So is are you still making profit though, like at that price point?

00:09:58

Xochitl

And.

00:10:02

Xochitl

Uh, we're barely not. If we count our hours of Labor, we're not. We're in red numbers. But if we don't count the hours of Labor that.

00:10:08

Xochitl

We.

00:10:08

Xochitl

Put into it, then, yeah, we're making, like a tiny profit, a very tiny profit, so.

00:10:15

Jack

So you guys have to you guys have to reprice that then eventually this first round, maybe you can you can sell it cheaply, but you know after that you're going.

00:10:24

Jack

To have to.

00:10:26

Jack

You know, put put it up a little bit.

00:10:28

Jack

You know.

00:10:28

Xochitl

Yeah, I don't know what to do. I I I I'm not sure how to reprice it because I like, it's scared of losing customers or something.

00:10:40

Jack

No, that's just you that you guys just have imposter syndrome. You know, you, you just, you just you just don't have the confidence right now because you're just starting out. But I I think you should be very confident in your product. It sounds like a great product. I mean it looks amazing. So I think you guys could ask, you know.

00:10:41

Xochitl

So we basically have 349.

00:10:47

Xochitl

Best year yet?

00:10:56

Xochitl

Yeah.

00:11:00

Jack

Double that much and people will still pay. You know, if they love it, they'll they'll pay, you know? Yeah.

00:11:04

Xochitl

Uh, yeah.

00:11:06

Xochitl

Yeah, that's kind.

00:11:06

Xochitl

Of where right now, and I think it's going pretty well, a lot of people ask us, you know, do you have half kilo bags, do you have white roast? Do you have decaf? It's like we don't have any of these things yet because I think we have people don't don't like know the whole process like being a coffee farmer and working on doing all this like it's kind of amazing that we've gotten as far as we had in the last month.

00:11:28

Xochitl

We've only been doing this a month. We really hit the ground running but.

00:11:31

Jack

MHM.

00:11:32

Xochitl

But yeah, we we can't diversify our products yet, so that that is one hurdle that we've been dealing with. But one thing I'm happy about is the packaging. I'm going to pick that. And I also designed a little logo and I think it came out really well.

00:11:47

Jack

Yeah, that's the fun part. I I I enjoy that sort of stuff. The, the, the smashing, the the beans. Not. Not exactly my cup of tea right there but or.

00:11:48

Xochitl

And and.

00:11:59

Xochitl

No. Yeah, that's that's his job. So he does all he's like, but he's out of quality and production or whatever he's had of production.

00:12:06

Xochitl

So he's quality.

00:12:06

Xochitl

People and smashing beans up and going to different like sea farmers within his community to see, you know, if we can buy their crop for the next year. But he's he has a very.

00:12:18

Xochitl

That they're organic and that they're certified organic.

00:12:22

Xochitl

And so he's doing that whole process himself.

00:12:25

Xochitl

And then my end is really customer service and communicating with the client.

00:12:32

Xochitl

And sending them, you know, information about this and that and whatever and.

00:12:40

Xochitl

Making sales and whatnot, that's basically my whole and designing the Flyers, designing the coffee bags, designing the different products that we're going to introduce into the market, all that is.

00:12:52

Xochitl

Kind of what I'm up to.

00:12:54

Jack

Right, you're you're marketing and these operations, I guess or something like that and yeah.

00:12:58

Xochitl

Yes, that's really what it is. I'm marketing these operations and I'm also customer service I'm trying.

00:13:05

Jack

Right.

00:13:06

Xochitl

Even the customer service on things, but it's like he's kind of shy, so it it doesn't work as well for him I think. But you know I'll get him, I'll get him. I'll work him up and I told you that you should be confident because it's your, it's your product and your you made this. So a lot of people.

00:13:11

Jack

Yeah.

00:13:26

Xochitl

Are interested in talking to you about your project and you know.

00:13:30

Jack

Right.

00:13:31

Xochitl

Don't be shy.

00:13:32

Xochitl

OK.

00:13:33

Xochitl

So.

00:13:33

Jack

Yeah, be proud of it. Be proud. I mean that. He should be very proud. That's amazing. What what he's doing? So what you guys are doing together? It's really cool.

00:13:40

Xochitl

Yeah, that's really cool. I think in the future we're trying to do something like talks where we kind of have these like I'm going to do raffle tickets. So we're selling each raffle ticket for like 12 bucks, but they get to come to a.

00:13:56

Xochitl

Talk.

00:13:57

Xochitl

About about the coffee and how he produces it and everything, and they get free coffee and snacks and then they also get a chance to win like a coffee experience. So we're we're planning on doing a business in the future where people can like de shell and hand roast their own coffee so they can like, you know.

00:14:17

Xochitl

Have the experience of seeing what it's like.

00:14:19

Jack

Yeah, and that's a good for tourists. I think they would really enjoy that, that would.

00:14:23

Jack

Be really, yeah.

00:14:23

Xochitl

Yeah, I have a friend who does it with chocolate with cacao and I think it would be really awesome with.

00:14:30

Xochitl

Coffee.

00:14:31

Jack

Yeah, I think that would be a great experience and you can get the tourists to deshell those coffee beans for free. So get them on the pestle and mortar.

00:14:39

Xochitl

Yeah, yeah, we can use painting to do labor for us. So, yeah, I think it'll be exciting.

00:14:44

Jack

Pictures.

00:14:51

Jack

All right, well, good for you. Yeah, congratulations to you and your partner for that. That venture, it's it's really cool.

00:14:58

발표자

Thanks Jack.

00:14:59

Xochitl

All right, listen, there's well, let us know if you have any more questions. Are you coffee drinkers? I'm curious. I myself, I, I grew up drinking coffee, but I stopped drinking around 18 and and then I just started again. So yeah, I'm curious. Are you guys big coffee drinkers? We know Jack is leave us a comment down below and let us know, do you like coffee?

00:15:19

Xochitl

Do you enjoy it? Do you have any recommendations for our business? We'd love to hear them leave a comment down below it. It is englishpodcast.com. Shoot us an e-mail at it is englishpodcast@gmail.com. And don't forget to join the Channel one group so you can join Jack and I on the conversation.

00:15:34

Xochitl

One and Jack and I started an English corner, which is another business venture that I have on my hands now.

00:15:40

Xochitl

But it's been really.

00:15:40

Xochitl

Exciting and really fun, and we do it Monday through Friday for an.

00:15:44

Xochitl

Hour a day.

00:15:45

Xochitl

And it's just $10 USD a month, so you get it for $0.50, a class or whatever. And we have a lot of really strong English speakers and we've made some adjustments. So you guys get a lot.

00:15:56

Xochitl

Of.

00:15:56

Xochitl

Speaking time and yeah, we're really excited about this project, so if you're interested, make sure to send us a direct message.

00:16:03

Xochitl

And ask about it and I will be happy to get back to you.

00:16:06

Xochitl

See you guys next time. Bye bye.

00:16:07

Jack

Go back.

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In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Xochitl and Jack talk about "a" and "an."

Transcript:

00:00:00

Jack

Hey, A is the English podcast listeners. It's Jack here and we just want to announce that we are now on WeChat. Our WeChat ID is A-Z English podcast that is A-Z English podcast, one word all lowercase.

00:00:17

Jack

And if you.

00:00:18

Jack

Join the group. You will be able to talk with me. You'll be able to.

00:00:22

Jack

Talk with social.

00:00:23

Jack

And we can answer your questions. We can read your comments on the podcast. So we'd love for you to join us and be active in our we chat group. Our WeChat ID is A-Z English podcast. Thanks. See you on the app.

00:00:50

Jack

Welcome to the A-Z English podcast. My name is Jack and I'm here with my co-host social. And today we are in the grammar zone and we're going to talk about ohh and on.

00:01:02

Jack

In social, what is the difference between those two articles? Why do we?

00:01:07

Jack

Why do we separate those? We have two different words for them.

00:01:12

Xochitl

UM.

00:01:13

Xochitl

Because they have to agree with the next word. So if.

00:01:20

Xochitl

The next word starts with a the vowel. Then it has to be a N.

00:01:26

Xochitl

So, for example, an elephant an A A.

00:01:33

Jack

An igloo.

00:01:34

Xochitl

On apple.

00:01:35

Jack

Yeah.

00:01:36

Xochitl

Yeah, an English an apple. And if it's a, it's because the next the following thing that you're referring to. Uh. Noun that you're referring to, I guess, usually starts with a a consonant and not a vowel. So it'd be like a pie, a cake.

00:01:56

Xochitl

A A car.

00:01:59

Xochitl

And etcetera, etcetera. Just anything that starts with the continent and then on and.

00:02:04

Jack

A podcast.

00:02:06

Xochitl

Yeah, podcast.

00:02:07

Jack

MHM.

00:02:09

Xochitl

And an is for anything that starts with.

00:02:11

Xochitl

A vowel, I think.

00:02:12

Xochitl

It's because it it does sound. It does make it sound smoother, like think about saying a elephant or a elephant instead of an an elephant. It just avoids your vowel noises all mushing together.

00:02:21

Jack

Yes.

00:02:27

Jack

Right. It's very awkward in English to have two vowel sounds together. You we can't do that, right? They need to be interrupted by a consonant sound like uh.

00:02:39

Jack

Uh, like a a egg is is 2 two vowel sounds together, right?

00:02:45

Jack

So yeah, we can't. It's just a, it's a a phonetic rule in English that you just.

00:02:45

발표자

Yeah.

00:02:52

Jack

It's much easier if you break it up with the with the consonant. So we say on an egg, an apple. Any glue like that.

00:03:02

Xochitl

Well, thanks.

00:03:03

Jack

Yeah.

00:03:05

Xochitl

Yeah, I think that's pretty much it. It just keep in mind.

00:03:09

Xochitl

If it's going to start with a consonant, make sure that you are using A and then if it's going to start with the vowel, the next following we're just going to start with the vowel. Make sure that you're doing AN on and yeah, that's.

00:03:21

Jack

Right.

00:03:22

Jack

What about? What about a an hour?

00:03:25

Jack

And that's an H.

00:03:26

Xochitl

Uh.

00:03:27

Jack

So we should say our.

00:03:28

Xochitl

Yeah, that's true.

00:03:30

Xochitl

Yeah, but you don't you say an hour. Ha. There are some exceptions to this rule, and I think it comes down to if that consonant is silent and our age is silent. So you're still making two vowel sounds. So you would do an AM hour instead.

00:03:42

발표자

Right.

00:03:49

Jack

What about source? Yeah.

00:03:49

Xochitl

Of an hour.

00:03:52

Xochitl

But see, that's not.

00:03:54

Jack

It's not horse. Yeah, we say on horse.

00:03:56

Xochitl

Yeah, I don't know why is it like that. Jake. Jack.

00:04:01

Jack

My my name is Jack by.

00:04:02

Jack

The way no, no, no, you're you. You are. You're exactly right. It it doesn't. The rule is not. It's not a spelling rule.

00:04:12

Jack

It's a. It's a. It's a phonetic rule. It's a sound rule, so if it sounds like a vowel, we use on and so our is a silent H so we say an hour.

00:04:26

Jack

But horse, we actually pronounce the H sound, so we say a horse.

00:04:31

Jack

So so it's it's doesn't come down to spelling a lot, a lot of teachers teach it as a spelling rule in in school in grammar school, but it's not. And this is where a very strange word that a very strange example emerges here with historic.

00:04:52

Jack

I hear it all the time on the news N historic event.

00:04:58

Jack

And there's no reason to say. And historic if you're saying, if you're pronouncing the H, it would be all historic, not N historic. Have you?

00:05:09

Jack

Heard that before.

00:05:09

Xochitl

Yeah, I I have heard that mistake. A historic. But yeah, it is a historic event. But Jack, I'm confused because when you do.

00:05:20

Xochitl

Oh yeah, that's true.

00:05:22

Xochitl

A horse? A historic event.

00:05:26

Jack

Yeah.

00:05:26

Xochitl

And you wouldn't say umm horse because it's again you're pronouncing the.

00:05:33

Jack

Yeah. When people say unhistoric, they're they're being, they think they're being super smart, but they're actually being too clever that they're actually wrong. It's like, yes, exactly. It's kind of a it's a it's a weird, like academia thing. I've heard it so many times, and it used to drive my.

00:05:33

Xochitl

Ah.

00:05:43

Xochitl

They're overthinking.

00:05:53

Jack

My my teacher in my university crazy.

00:05:57

Jack

When when she would hear that. And so I kind of learned from my teacher. It was like, oh, no, you gotta follow the rules, right? All historic. But if you say historic and you don't say the H, you could say N historic event. But historic is not really a word we use, right. We say historic with an H.

00:06:17

Jack

So a historic event we have stuff.

00:06:22

Xochitl

Crazy. All right, it's nice if you have any more questions for us or any more grammar issues that you would like us to resolve here on the podcast, make sure to leave us a comment down below at A-Z, newspodcast.com shoot us an e-mail at AZ englishpodcast@gmail.com and also make sure that you join the WeChat or WhatsApp groups to make sure that you can talk to Jack.

00:06:23

Jack

Yeah.

00:06:43

Xochitl

Directly and join the conversation there. Remember the Jack and I are now doing a special corner. Yeah, English corner. So that's a lot of fun. It's only 80 RMB or 10 USD dollars.

00:06:49

Jack

English corner.

00:07:00

Xochitl

Per month. So for 20 classes you're basically paying $0.50 a class, and it's really great. It's a community where a lot of people are excellent English speakers and we really enjoyed putting it together. It's one hour a day from Monday to Friday, and if you want more information, make sure to message.

00:07:05

Jack

Exactly.

00:07:19

Xochitl

Or Jack directly on the WeChat or WhatsApp groups.

00:07:23

Xochitl

And we'll see you guys next time.

00:07:24

Xochitl

Bye bye bye.

00:07:25

Jack

Bye.

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In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Xochitl presents Jack with a conundrum:

Would you rather have your daughter or wife encounter a strange bear or a strange man while alone in the woods?

Transcript:

00:00:00

Jack

Hey, A is the English podcast listeners. It's Jack here and we just want to announce that we are now on WeChat. Our WeChat ID is A-Z English podcast that is A-Z English podcast, one word all lowercase.

00:00:17

Jack

And if you.

00:00:18

Jack

Join the group. You will be able to talk with me. You'll be able to.

00:00:22

Jack

Talk with social.

00:00:23

Jack

And we can answer your questions. We can read your comments on the podcast. So we'd love for you to join us and be active in our we chat group. Our WeChat ID is A-Z English podcast. Thanks. See you on the app.

00:00:49

Jack

Welcome to the A-Z English podcast. My name is Jack and I'm here with my co-host social. And today we have another topic talk for you and social you have kind of a I don't know what you would call like a situation or a conundrum. A conundrum is like a difficult decision or difficult situation.

00:01:09

Jack

So what is your? What is the conundrum?

00:01:12

Xochitl

Jack, this has become really popular in my medicines in the last, maybe even couple of months and it's very popular amongst American medicine. So I'm curious to hear what your answer is. So without any context, let's say that your wife and your daughter are in the woods.

00:01:32

Xochitl

Lost and alone. And they have, you know, no Internet cell service. Whatever to call you or call anyone else.

00:01:39

Xochitl

Would you rather they come across a strange man that no like you? You don't know? They don't know. Nobody knows him or his intentions or anything. Or would you rather they come across a bear?

00:01:50

발표자

Yeah.

00:01:51

Jack

No. OK. So just to for our listeners there, in in, in case you didn't catch that you said social that my my wife and my daughter are in the woods just walking in the woods. They have no cell phone, no way to to contact anybody.

00:02:12

Jack

And the question is, would I rather they come across a bear or a strange man that they don't know?

00:02:21

Xochitl

Yes, correct.

00:02:23

Jack

OK.

00:02:25

Jack

This is, you know, this should be an easy question. I mean, if we lived in like a, like, a a reasonable world, you know, where we, you know. But I feel like I listen to a lot of, like, true crime podcasts. And so I just, I've listened to too much true crime to.

00:02:44

Jack

To to answer this one easily, what kind of bear is it? Is it a grizzly bear?

00:02:50

Xochitl

Don't know. We don't know what kind.

00:02:52

Xochitl

Of bear it is. It's just.

00:02:52

Jack

You don't know what kind of bear it is. It could be a brown bear. It could be a black bear. It could be a a grizzly bear.

00:02:57

Xochitl

Come here. Just sit there. It's just like you don't know what kind of man it is. You.

00:03:03

Xochitl

Also don't know.

00:03:04

Xochitl

What kind?

00:03:04

Xochitl

Of bear it is. Yeah, have.

00:03:06

Xochitl

Some good choice there.

00:03:09

Jack

Do I know the gender of the bear?

00:03:12

Xochitl

Uh, no.

00:03:16

Jack

All right. Because, you know, if it if it were, uh, if it were a female bear, I would be, I would. I would choose the man because, you know, if if the if the if a if a female bear is protecting her Cubs. If her Cubs are in the area. That's a very dangerous situation. So I would.

00:03:36

Jack

I would just hope that the man is not a psychic, a psychotic killer. You know, a psycho.

00:03:44

Jack

Right.

00:03:46

Jack

If the if the bear were male I uh, it's probably gonna just leave them alone, you know? Like it just it it they.

00:03:54

Jack

You know, they don't really necessarily see humans as prey, necessarily, unless they're starving, you know, they'll they'll pretty much just. They might play around with you or whatever, which is terrifying. You know, that could still kill you or injure you. But generally speaking, they'll they'll leave you alone.

00:04:16

Jack

If it's a if it's a male Baron, it's starving. It'll it'll eat you. So that in that case, I mean, there's just too many. I guess there are too many variables when it comes to the bear.

00:04:25

Xochitl

You can't overcomplicate Jack. You don't know because also you could also think you know black bears like 100% of the time, pretty much like 99.9% of the time a black bear will run away if.

00:04:38

Xochitl

It sees a human like it'll just take.

00:04:39

Jack

Right, right. Exactly, exactly. They're they're they're not interested in humans. Really. You know, they might be curious.

00:04:44

Xochitl

They're scared. Blackberries are scared of humans. Actually a little bit like if they see one, I run into them. When I was camping in national parks, I we did like two week backpacking in national.

00:04:53

Xochitl

Like and they they like, run away, cause there's kind of scared of people, black bears, and they're pretty. They're kind of they're a lot smaller than grizzly bears, actually.

00:04:59

Jack

Yeah, yeah.

00:05:04

Xochitl

They're not that big.

00:05:04

Jack

The problem is just the. The problem is that bears are just too unreliable right now for me to like if my wife and my daughter came across the bear. They're just too you just, you just never know what's going to happen.

00:05:16

Jack

Like it's just.

00:05:16

Xochitl

Well, what about men? So men are are men reliable to you?

00:05:20

Jack

Well, I think a bear is going to do what a bear is going to do, right? Like like they're they weigh 500 lbs. They're going.

00:05:25

Xochitl

OK.

00:05:28

Jack

Them.

00:05:29

Jack

You know, if they decide that they want to, you know, bite you and mess you up, they'll do it. And it's really kind of like, it's very much like a a coin toss.

00:05:42

Jack

Now the man, on the other hand.

00:05:45

Jack

What percentage of of men are are psycho killers?

00:05:52

Jack

I mean like it's it's got to be.

00:05:54

Jack

It's got to be minuscule, right? It's got to be like small, small percentage.

00:05:57

Xochitl

That kind of bad Jack, because I was like, I realize that you're a good guy. And that's like, you don't think of this but like, think about it this way. How many men are psycho killers? Yeah. How many men are actually good people when they come across a woman alone in the woods?

00:06:14

Jack

I've been, I'm going to say still a large a majority.

00:06:19

Jack

A large majority are good, are good people, but there are there is a percentage of of of very bad people that are gonna that are going to be like a crime of we call this we we would call this a crime of opportunity right. It's like they're not necessarily they're not necessarily going to do.

00:06:21

Xochitl

OK, that's all.

00:06:35

Xochitl

Yes.

00:06:39

Jack

Anything in society, but when when society is not looking?

00:06:44

Jack

You know, and they feel like they can, you know, sneak their their hand into the cookie jar and get away with it. How many men, you know, what are they going to do?

00:06:57

Jack

This is this is like the Darkest podcast we've ever done. When I think about it.

00:07:01

Xochitl

Yeah, but I want to ask you something that might make it a little lighthearted and dark. Dark in a way. What would you have answered? How, what would you say if I said, would you rather that your wife and daughter come across a woman in the woods? A strange woman in the.

00:07:07

Jack

Yeah.

00:07:15

Xochitl

Woods or a bear in the woods?

00:07:17

Jack

Ohh woman yeah, 100 zero. Yeah, I wouldn't hesitate in.

00:07:18

Xochitl

Yeah, it's.

00:07:21

Jack

A for a SEC.

00:07:22

Jack

In.

00:07:23

Xochitl

And then like you see how bad it is that like we have to, we we've sat here having quite a long conversation debating whether a man or a bear is a is a worst threat. And when we think about a woman we're like, Oh yeah, that's fine because.

00:07:36

Jack

Yeah, a woman is is not a threat, just like a.

00:07:39

Xochitl

No, but also it just speaks about how poorly men behave in society and how many men are criminals and or just crappy people that.

00:07:50

Jack

Yeah, I mean it is, it is really, uh it it is really.

00:07:55

Jack

It it is, it is bad I-11. I remember a few months ago, my daughter was.

00:08:02

Jack

Coming home and she got harassed by some guy.

00:08:06

Jack

You know, she's 16 years old and yeah, I was. I was. I ran outside. I was like.

00:08:09

발표자

Oh.

00:08:13

Jack

Where? Where is he? I'm going to kill.

00:08:14

Jack

Him, you know.

00:08:16

Xochitl

What?

00:08:17

Jack

But it's just like you know, it's what women have to deal with in society, you know, getting harassed and things like that is kind of related to this question where, you know.

00:08:31

Jack

If if they were to come across a man in the woods.

00:08:35

Jack

It would. That is also terrifying.

00:08:39

Jack

But statistically, I would rather they come across a man than a bear because the bear is just too unreliable. I just don't know what the bear is going to do. I can't. I just can't trust the bear cause of the bear is just going to is going to do what's what's in its nature, you know, which is hunt or whatever, you know, like.

00:08:59

Jack

To attack, defend whatever it feels is necessary at that moment.

00:09:05

Jack

A man if 95% of men are are are decent people, that's a pretty those are pretty good odds, right? That she's not going to come across that other 5% so.

00:09:18

Xochitl

Wow, Jack, you have a really good you. You think 95% of men are decent people? I I'm not the only need a real audience or anything. I just think most men would, even. Most men would probably disagree with you on how many. What percentage of men are good people when a crime of opportunity arises.

00:09:25

Jack

Think so? Yeah.

00:09:38

Xochitl

And so I would have to say I'm closer to this 75 or 65% mark.

00:09:44

Jack

Ohh no, I don't. I that's that's too high. I I don't think I. I really don't think that uh that there that that men are that bad. I just think that like the the the crimes we how can I say it like like it's like it's over amplified in some ways like.

00:10:00

Jack

True crime like because it's, you know, you only hear about the the bad stories.

00:10:04

발표자

Like I think because.

00:10:06

Xochitl

You're a man that you feel this way.

00:10:08

Xochitl

Jack.

00:10:08

Jack

Do you think so?

00:10:08

Xochitl

I'm not trying to, you know. Yeah, you're you're biased because you haven't experienced everything that a woman experiences. Your daughter is only 16, and she's already been harassed on the street by a man.

00:10:10

Jack

Gender bias?

00:10:20

Jack

Yeah, yeah.

00:10:22

Xochitl

Think about that. That's kind of what women grow up with. I think the first time I was harassed by a man, I was nine years old.

00:10:28

발표자

Ah.

00:10:29

Jack

Yeah, that's awful. That's really. That's disgusting. And I mean, it's disgusting behavior. I guess he, I mean, you. I could be totally wrong here. You could be. You could be more on on on point than you know. 7525I I was. I guess I'm just I I 5% seemed like a high number to me.

00:10:29

Xochitl

So.

00:10:32

Xochitl

Yes, I have.

00:10:35

발표자

And.

00:10:49

Jack

Even then, you know like cause that's a lot of people. That's a lot of people, you know, that's like in the United States that would be 15,000,000 people, you know.

00:10:51

Xochitl

So funny.

00:10:55

Xochitl

Add.

00:10:59

Xochitl

You must surround yourself with really nice guys. Like really great.

00:11:04

Jack

Yeah, I guess I just, my my, my, my friends and and you know colleagues that I work with are just just very decent people I guess I.

00:11:05

Xochitl

Other men that are really great.

00:11:14

Jack

I don't.

00:11:15

Xochitl

Like I don't know and.

00:11:17

Xochitl

There's probably a part of it is also cultural.

00:11:21

Xochitl

But it I'll tell you netizens in the US, even though the US is, is to me a fairly safe country for women compared to Mexico and even compared to Korea in some contexts because, well, I did. Well, I did feel safe walking around Korea late at night to the convenience store or whatever.

00:11:41

Xochitl

Situations you see horrible things come out in the news about women in clubs in Korea and all sorts of horrible trafficking rings and terrible, you know, things that happen.

00:11:52

Jack

MHM.

00:11:52

Xochitl

So the US is a fairly safe.

00:11:55

Xochitl

Country for women, I think in my opinion.

00:11:59

Xochitl

Compared to where am right now.

00:11:59

Jack

Oh yeah, and I'm I was. I was thinking you might say, actually, I was just. I was kind of being like, UM, you know, but I but I. But I I I I think that like, you know, for the most part like.

00:12:12

Xochitl

I think it's like even though regardless of of the fact that that the USA is a safe country for women, most women medicines are choosing to be.

00:12:12

Jack

You can.

00:12:24

발표자

Here.

00:12:25

Jack

Really, they're going with the bear because the bear might just turn, cause they're thinking the bear is going to turn around and run away, and then they're they're then they're, it's done it. They're free. But the man is like you gotta, you gotta deal with this like.

00:12:27

Xochitl

And I have.

00:12:38

Jack

If he's a good guy, OK, fine. He'll help you get out of the woods. But you know, if he's crazy, you know, sick or deranged to man a sick, deranged man. Yeah, I would much rather have the bear. You.

00:12:56

Jack

Yeah, that's tough. It's a tough one. I'm still. I'm still gonna go with the man over the bear. I still think that the bear there are just too many variables with the bear. I just can't. I just can't trust the bear. And and and.

00:12:56

Xochitl

Right.

00:13:09

Xochitl

I'm gonna go with there. Sorry, go ahead.

00:13:11

Jack

No, no, no. You're going to go. You. So you, you're going to go with the banner.

00:13:14

발표자

I'd better go with.

00:13:15

Xochitl

The better than the man because I've I've grown up as a woman and I've experienced too many things throughout my life to trust random man in the world.

00:13:28

Xochitl

And I have encountered random beads in the wood.

00:13:32

Xochitl

Umm, when I was camping and backpacking. I have that experience and bears especially black bears, usually run away and grizzly bears are not as vicious as a lot of people think they are. If they're not, like really in attack mode, they kind of just chill all the time like they're starving and like they might eat.

00:13:52

Xochitl

You.

00:13:52

Jack

Yeah, they will. Yeah, yeah.

00:13:54

Xochitl

Well, what they can do is like, maim or eat you. I know it.

00:13:57

Xochitl

Sounds terrible like.

00:13:58

Jack

Our grizzly will mess you up, though that there those are terrifying. They're they're they're big, they're changing.

00:14:04

Xochitl

Yeah, if it attacks you. Yeah, it will mess you up. But you know, there's that whole documentary, Grizzly man, where he lived in most grizzly bears for like, 20 years before he was eaten by 1.

00:14:13

Jack

Yeah, but it's it's a bear.

00:14:16

Jack

I mean.

00:14:16

Xochitl

Yeah, like it's a man, just.

00:14:19

Jack

He's what if he's just, he's probably just.

00:14:20

Jack

Probably just a hunter. You know, he's probably out hunting. Just it's a nice guy, you know, trying to trying to shoot some shoot a deer.

00:14:26

Xochitl

A company I don't know if I've ever met a nice guy that like hunted animals. I mean, except for people who traditionally do like indigenous peoples. But, you know, I don't know most people who have hunting as like a hobby are kind of weird, too. It's like, I don't know, I I just wouldn't trust him, man. I just. I just don't know why there's too many variables.

00:14:46

Xochitl

The man. And so I would rather I would rather be maimed and killed by a bear.

00:14:51

Xochitl

Then if it came down to it, then like tortured and killed by a.

00:14:56

Xochitl

Man, I know it's so dark.

00:14:58

Jack

The more I think about this your answer, the more insane I think it is though, like a bear versus a man like a human.

00:15:07

Jack

I I don't know. I mean I I get, I get why you why? Why the medicines and why you you. Why you guys think like the bear is better.

00:15:08

발표자

Sing.

00:15:16

발표자

Here.

00:15:17

Jack

But I just think statistically.

00:15:20

Jack

The man would be a much safer bet.

00:15:24

Xochitl

Statistically, more than run away from you when they when they encounter you, like most of the time you're going.

00:15:30

Xochitl

To encounter a black bear.

00:15:32

Xochitl

And it's going to run.

00:15:34

Xochitl

Uh.

00:15:36

Jack

Like what percentage of the time do you think a bear would actually attack you though?

00:15:41

Jack

Do you think it's the same? Do you think it's like less than 5%?

00:15:41

Xochitl

That's right.

00:15:45

Xochitl

But I don't think that's less than 5% for men. Jack, I don't think that at all. I'm pretty.

00:15:50

Jack

Sure, it can't be more than 5% of men and that you're talking about like hundreds of millions of people, I mean.

00:15:53

Xochitl

I'm gonna look, let's look up statistics. I I'm gonna look up statistics on this. I'm gonna look up statistics and.

00:16:04

Xochitl

So one in.

00:16:05

Xochitl

Three women have experienced some form of physical violence by an intimate partner.

00:16:09

Jack

Hmm.

00:16:11

Xochitl

And.

00:16:13

Xochitl

Let's see.

00:16:14

Jack

Yeah, that that tracks. I would. I would believe that.

00:16:20

Jack

But that's domestic violence a little different than in the woods, I think.

00:16:21

Xochitl

And.

00:16:24

Xochitl

It says I came across one statistically demonstrated that roughly 1/3 of women experience assault of some kind.

00:16:32

Xochitl

It's kind of a lack of reliable data here.

00:16:35

Jack

Yeah, I don't think it's hard to hard to gauge because what what you're talking about in the woods, this is like a full on like a felony level like, you know, crime like, like the worst crime you can do, you know? So I don't know that this is there's no way for us to.

00:16:48

Xochitl

Right.

00:16:53

Jack

To to really resolve it. I guess it's just kind of our feelings, you know?

00:16:54

Xochitl

Let's say 20.

00:16:57

Jack

Like I still.

00:16:57

발표자

So.

00:16:58

Xochitl

I'm going to come back next week with stats because I want because I I want, I'm going to come back next to the stats cause I feel like you have your blinders on your man and I want to dismantle it. So I yeah, I'm gonna also, I want you to talk to your wife. I want you to ask your wife just if you think she'd be down to answer.

00:17:10

Jack

I got to get my my main blinders off.

00:17:19

Jack

Yeah, yeah, sure, I'll. I'll ask her. I'll. I'll tell you what she says next week, for sure.

00:17:25

Xochitl

She's telling me like, why?

00:17:25

Xochitl

You're asking me this question.

00:17:27

Jack

Maybe that's a?

00:17:27

Jack

Weird. You know, I need to murder me. Yes.

00:17:29

Xochitl

Very, very good. Yeah. So I.

00:17:33

Xochitl

Have I been married to a serial serial killer? All.

00:17:35

Xochitl

These years.

00:17:35

Jack

Right, right.

00:17:37

Xochitl

Yeah, but you know, it is a weird question, but I think one thing that should give us pause is just thinking about how quickly would be to answer that if it were, if it were a woman in the world who would just automatically.

00:17:49

Xochitl

Who's a woman and what man we do? We do think, you know we're sitting here and thinking about it.

00:17:50

Jack

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:17:54

Jack

No, I think you I think you made you made the point and I think the point is very clear that there's a, there's a distinction.

00:18:02

Jack

And why is there there should not be one?

00:18:05

Jack

And it's it. It's sad. It's a sad commentary on our.

00:18:12

Jack

Society or our world or whatever, that, that, that I couldn't answer that one as fast as the.

00:18:19

Jack

You know that we that the answer is, you know when it's a woman, it's so quick to say the woman, but when it's a man, I'm hesitating, you know, right there it's it's already the point is already made. You know so.

00:18:33

Xochitl

Right.

00:18:34

Xochitl

Yeah. All right. Well, listeners, this was was a bit of a dark episode, but an interesting episode nonetheless. Yeah. So I'm curious to know what your answers are. Please leave us a comment at easing with podcast.com. Shoot us an e-mail at AZ englishpodcast@gmail.com and please join the WeChat and WhatsApp groups to join the conversation. I'm really, really curious.

00:18:54

Xochitl

See what the women think.

00:18:57

Xochitl

And yeah, I I gotta know. I gotta know, guys. So let let me know what you think and and we chat on subgroups and yeah. Also Jack and I have started an English corner and we do this Monday to today and it's really fun. We have a lot of fluent English speakers in there and we have a lot of people.

00:19:16

Xochitl

That you get a lot of speaking time to get to practice your English and better your English with your other whole learners classmates almost on the.

00:19:24

Xochitl

Just and I think that it's really interesting. We have discussion questions and I've had a really good time doing it so far and it's 10 USD a month, which is about 20 or sorry $0.50 a uh, a class is being 20 classes total. So yeah, I hope that you guys can join us for that. And if you're so interested, make sure to.

00:19:46

Xochitl

Send us a message and we'll get back to you on how you can join and we'll see you guys next time. Bye bye.

00:19:52

Jack

bye

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In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Xochitl shares 3 confusing words with the listeners. She and Jack explain the meanings of the words and how to use them in sentences.

Transcript:

00:00:00

Jack

Hey, A is the English podcast listeners. It's Jack here and we just want to announce that we are now on WeChat. Our WeChat ID is A-Z English podcast that is A-Z English podcast, one word all lowercase.

00:00:17

Jack

And if you.

00:00:18

Jack

Join the group. You will be able to talk with me. You'll be able to.

00:00:22

Jack

Talk with social.

00:00:23

Jack

And we can answer your questions. We can read your comments on the podcast. So we'd love for you to join us and be active in our we chat group. Our WeChat ID is A-Z English podcast. Thanks. See you on the app.

00:00:50

Jack

Welcome to the A-Z English podcast. My name is Jack and I'm here with my co-host social. And today we're going to share. Well, we're going to do a we're under the vocabulary spotlight and we are going to share some words that we came across during our English corner classes that students kind of struggle with. And so so.

00:01:11

Jack

Was the first one that you you had that you came up with?

00:01:15

Xochitl

The first one I noticed students struggled a little bit with was workload, the pronunciation, workload and then on top of that, what it meant workload is just. It's a compound word. It has the word work in it and the word load in it, and you put it together.

00:01:19

발표자

Hmm.

00:01:36

Xochitl

With no spaces and its workload, so workload just means the amount of work that each person is.

00:01:44

Xochitl

Uh.

00:01:45

Jack

Each.

00:01:45

Xochitl

Person's share of work so that can be at your house like domestic tasks like chores or that can also be at your job. You know, between your colleagues you may have a heavier workload if you have a higher position in the company. So that's kind of what workload refers to.

00:02:08

Jack

Yeah, exactly. It's, it's it's a lot of times you hear it with the word share shared workload.

00:02:15

Jack

You know, so you have, you have this like?

00:02:18

Jack

The certain amount of work that you have to do at your office and then they divide it among the employees. You're gonna do this much? You're gonna do this much? You're gonna do this much? You're gonna do this much, and each piece is your workload.

00:02:33

Jack

And and then you basically just start working away, chipping away at it, you know, trying to to decrease it down to 0.

00:02:42

Jack

And of course, in the company or corporation it never gets down to 0 because there's always more work. You know you there's another workload piled on top of your old workload. And so you know, it's kind of a never ending, you know, thing but.

00:03:02

Jack

Yeah, I mean, I just think that like, yeah, certain even within this podcast social and I divide certain parts of the workload, she's spends a lot of time talking to students on the app.

00:03:13

Jack

App communicating with them, recording I my workload is. Yeah, I do like the editing and and and some of the you know adding like little music pieces or whatever to it which actually I enjoy. So it's kind of like my my workload is kind of the fun part and I get the the editing part of it.

00:03:19

Xochitl

Can I have an idea?

00:03:34

Jack

But yeah, it's a it's a shared workload and and you know when you do that, when you share the workload, it makes it a lot easier to finish a project more quickly.

00:03:47

발표자

So.

00:03:50

Xochitl

The second one that I saw some students struggle with was the meaning of emotional labor. When I say emotional labor, what does that mean to you, Jack?

00:03:59

Jack

This one I've actually I'm not too familiar with this term. This seems like uh, maybe something that is a newer.

00:04:07

Xochitl

Kind of a new age term.

00:04:09

Jack

Yeah, just like a Gen. Z kind of thing like.

00:04:12

발표자

Yes.

00:04:15

Jack

Most workload is, that is that does that mean like managing your relationships with other people and and trying to keep those you know keep up with like replying to people on social media and emails and that kind of stuff is that, am I right about is?

00:04:15

발표자

Well, let's yeah.

00:04:33

Jack

That what an emotional workload is.

00:04:35

Xochitl

Yeah, it has a.

00:04:36

Xochitl

Couple of different meanings. So some people said, uh, emotional labor, can you know it can be part of your job, like if you're working in customer service, you know, regulating your emotions and kind of managing customer emotions as well.

00:04:52

Xochitl

But I think a lot more commonly in this new age, we use it when we're talking about women's workload in the home, which a lot of it is invisible labor, which means labor that you cannot necessarily see and appreciate. For example, if you have a stack of.

00:05:12

Xochitl

Dishes and they're all gone, you know, because your mom did them. You can see that. That's another type of Labor. But that's a domestic labor, but.

00:05:23

Xochitl

When the kid comes flying home from school and maybe they got depressed because their friends bullied them and their mom is checking in on their kid day after day for the week and cheering them up and maybe your husband came home from a stressful job and then you have to see the in laws and you have to pick a a gift.

00:05:43

Xochitl

For your mother-in-law, it's a lot of these things that kind of fall under an invisible guys that you can't see the person.

00:05:53

Xochitl

Doing these tasks in the same way, perhaps because they don't have a clean cut result, but overall you're doing a lot of Labor emotionally, kind of like what a a therapist would do, maybe. Or a psychologist would do. So you're you're kind of doing unpaid.

00:06:13

Xochitl

Emotional labor. You're like a, uh, unpaid therapist for your family.

00:06:17

Jack

Right, right. It's like it's not quantitative, but it's qualitative in nature.

00:06:27

발표자

Hmm.

00:06:28

Jack

It's like, uh, yeah, it's it. It's emotionally draining. But you don't really get any credit for it. You know, you do the dishes, you get like, a, you get a little little star sticker, you know, like, good job. You did the you did the dishes, you know, check that off the list. But.

00:06:48

Jack

And.

00:06:49

Jack

Johnny has a skin knee and he, you know, he's scared of skateboards now you know. So you've got to console him for 1/2 an hour. You don't. There's no. There's no sticker for that. You know, there's, there's, that's just.

00:07:07

Jack

I mean, I guess in in the traditional sense they would just say, well, that's parenting. So just, you know, suck it up and and do it you know.

00:07:16

Jack

But it often falls on the the mother's shoulders. You know, she's the one that has to take do the the, the nurturing and the the caring for the child with the skin and the knee and the father kind of gets a pass as he, you know, marches off to his.

00:07:36

Jack

The computer room.

00:07:36

Xochitl

Drink beer and watch TV or something.

00:07:38

Jack

Yeah, yeah, yeah. You didn't ask your mom. Mom will deal with it, you know? Yeah. So emotional labor. I I like it. I dig it. Yeah, I'm. I'm. I think we should be more careful to to consider that, you know.

00:07:43

Xochitl

Yeah.

00:07:54

Xochitl

Yeah, I recognize it. Another thing I noticed that students were struggling with the vocabulary word to describe certain words. Certain chores. Sorry. And they they were missing one and I didn't want to interrupt, but I thought it would be be a good time to introduce the vocabulary word.

00:08:15

Xochitl

Tedious Jack. What does tedious mean when attempts is tedious?

00:08:16

Jack

Hmm.

00:08:18

Jack

Yeah, if something is. If a task or a chore is tedious it it's just it's very.

00:08:25

Jack

Well, I'm going to use another big word to describe a big word. Monotonous and monotonous, means it's very repetitive. It's just like it's something that you do that is, it's not difficult, but it's. But it's time consuming and it's very annoying.

00:08:45

Jack

You know, I'm trying to think of like.

00:08:49

Jack

You know, a lot of a lot of construction work is very tedious. You know, when you're building a a wall like a like a brick wall, you have to just one brick at a time, you know, and it take, you know, it takes a long time to finish that wall. And so it's very just doing the same thing over and over.

00:09:08

Jack

And over and over again 100 * 1000 * 10,000 times. That is very tedious, tedious work.

00:09:18

Jack

Work.

00:09:19

Xochitl

One of our students was talking about how she has a cat and she doesn't like to put her clothing directly into the washer because she's worried that the cat hair will damage her clogged her washer so she takes clothing item by clothing item and puts.

00:09:32

Xochitl

A lint roller.

00:09:33

Xochitl

Over it and gets rid of the cat hair that way. And so she said.

00:09:39

Xochitl

Doing laundry is incredibly tedious task for her.

00:09:43

Xochitl

I was more.

00:09:43

Xochitl

So impressed that anyone would even think to do that, I just toss it in the washer. I I kind of shake things out. Like if I have some my sheets or whatever, I I just shake them out outside and then throw them in the washer.

00:09:50

Jack

Yeah.

00:09:57

Jack

I've got those double stick tape rollers and I roll my clothes too before.

00:10:02

Jack

To get all the dog.

00:10:02

Xochitl

Hair off of him before you put him.

00:10:04

Xochitl

In the washer.

00:10:05

Jack

Yeah, yeah, just just run it up and down my shirt just to get. Yeah, yeah.

00:10:08

Xochitl

Wild. I never. I didn't know this was a thing at all. Blenda doesn't shed hardly at all, so I don't even have this issue. He really doesn't shed. I can be wearing all black and and hug him and he'll sit on my lap and pet him. And. And there's like, no hair on me when I'm.

00:10:16

Jack

Yeah.

00:10:27

Jack

OK. Yeah. Lily is my dog. Sheds a little bit. Not that much, but yeah, just every once in a while I'll take the roller just, you know, go over my my clothes not. Not every time. I'm not like like what she does. You're your student. But I do. We do have those, those rollers, those double stick tape rollers that that are really nice for just getting lint and stuff.

00:10:41

발표자

Hmm.

00:10:48

Jack

Off of your your clothes.

00:10:50

Xochitl

But do you do it before you put it in the washer or do you?

00:10:53

Xochitl

Just do it like.

00:10:53

Jack

Only if I only.

00:10:54

Jack

If I like shave my dog or something, you know, if I give my dog a haircut or something like that, yeah. Then I have to.

00:10:56

Xochitl

Oh yeah.

00:10:59

발표자

Yeah.

00:11:00

Xochitl

I would just shake it, shake it out like that and I don't know, does it. Maybe it sticks to your clothes anyway, I I've.

00:11:07

Xochitl

Never even thought.

00:11:08

Xochitl

About doing this, so that's new cleanliness tips for our listeners I guess out there.

00:11:12

Jack

You have double stick tape rollers. Really good.

00:11:15

Xochitl

Yeah, let us know is that something that you do at home or do you have any other tedious tasks that you often do? Let us know if there's any other vocabulary words that you would like us to cover. If there is a word that you're grasping of or trying to think of to describe as.

00:11:32

Xochitl

Situation. Let us know as well and umm, we'll try our best to come up with some vocabulary words that we can showcase to describe that. So leave a comment down below at AZ englishpodcast.com shoot us an e-mail at azspodcast@gmail.com and join the channel subgroup to talk to Jack and I directly remember that Jack and I are now hosting an English corner.

00:11:54

Xochitl

Monday through Friday for an hour a day and we have a lot of really great students. It's super fun. So if you would like to be a part of that, if you're interested in that at all, make sure to message Jack privately on WeChat or the A-Z English podcast WhatsApp, and we'll make sure to send you a link. See you guys next.

00:12:12

Xochitl

Time. Bye bye.

00:12:13

Jack

bye

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Too rich for my blood: The phrase "too rich for my blood" is an idiomatic expression meaning that something is too expensive or beyond one's financial reach. It conveys the idea that the cost or price of something is more than what the speaker is willing or able to pay. This phrase is often used in social or economic contexts to indicate that a particular item, activity, or lifestyle is financially out of reach for the person using the expression.

Transcript:

00:00:00

Jack

Hey, A is the English podcast listeners. It's Jack here and we just want to announce that we are now on WeChat. Our WeChat ID is A-Z English podcast that is A-Z English podcast, one word all lowercase.

00:00:17

Jack

And if you.

00:00:18

Jack

Join the group. You will be able to talk with me. You'll be able to.

00:00:22

Jack

Talk with social.

00:00:23

Jack

And we can answer your questions. We can read your comments on the podcast. So we'd love for you to join us and be active in our we chat group. Our WeChat ID is A-Z English podcast. Thanks. See you on the app.

00:00:50

Jack

Welcome to the A-Z English podcast. My name is Jack and I'm here with my co-host social. And today we are going to do an MI, the jerk episode and here's the situation.

00:01:00

Jack

Uh, social you and a group of your friends have a tradition of going out for dinner every Friday night. Everyone in your group has generally similar financial situations, and you typically all choose moderately priced restaurants. One Friday, you suggest a new upscale restaurant that just opened in town. The menu.

00:01:20

Jack

Is significantly more expensive than your usual spot.

00:01:24

Jack

Two of your friends expressed concerns about the cost, saying they can't afford to spend that much on dinner.

00:01:31

Jack

You respond by saying, come on, it's just one night you can skip it. If you can't afford it. This statement causes tension and the group ends up splitting with some going to the upscale restaurant and others opting out entirely. Question, are you the jerk for suggesting the expensive restaurant and making the comment?

00:01:52

Jack

About affordability.

00:01:54

Jack

Hmm.

00:01:56

Xochitl

No, I don't think so. I think if I couldn't afford something and my friends would going to do it, I would be like.

00:02:03

Xochitl

You know to have fun. Uh, tell me what it tell me. If it's good, I'll save up and maybe next time we can all go together.

00:02:11

Xochitl

Because, you know, sometimes people are at different points and yeah, you have. Uh, you may make the same income, but you might have different responsibilities or people might be starting different projects or have different things they need to take care of, like student loans, rent. You know, you can make the same amount of money and have vastly different expenses.

00:02:31

Xochitl

Also prioritize.

00:02:32

Xochitl

Guys. Uh, what? You spend your money on very differently. So someone might say, you know, I don't like spending a lot of money on dinner. I'd rather spend it on a hobby or, you know, I I'm saving up for a trip. Coming up in a couple of months or something, you know? So I wouldn't be upset.

00:02:53

Xochitl

You know you can skip it if you if you can't afford it. I wouldn't take that.

00:02:58

Xochitl

As a comment, you know calling me broke or trying to, like, hurt my feelings. I would just think, yeah, you know, I I can't afford it. Or maybe it's not my priority to spend my money there. I might respond that I might be like, well, I can sort it, but I'd rather spend my money elsewhere. But, you know, you guys have fun and enjoy it and tell me if it's any good.

00:03:19

Xochitl

And then maybe we can go together next time. So yeah, I don't think this person is a jerk. Maybe they could have.

00:03:26

Xochitl

Uh, avoided that comment just because it could hurt a few people's it it could potentially hurt someones feelings, especially if they're already sensitive about maybe they have other expenses and they're stressed because they don't get to go, but I don't think it it was. It will. And so I wouldn't hold it against them. So I I don't think.

00:03:45

Xochitl

They're the jerk.

00:03:46

Xochitl

How about you, Jack?

00:03:48

Jack

UM, yeah, I I'm thinking the the the most like jerky point of the of of the part of the of the uh situation is when he says come on, it's just one night. You know, it's like what is, what does that have to do with anything like it's still money like though.

00:04:08

Jack

You know, it could be one night, five nights. Whatever. It doesn't matter.

00:04:15

Jack

And UM. But the second part of his comment where he says you can skip it if you can't afford it. I think that's that's OK, you know, like, I I don't think like everyone has to be. It's it's really like it's an odd situation when you get older, when you go from your 20s to your 30s.

00:04:35

Jack

You know, sometimes some of your friends are like graduating from medical school or get becoming lawyers or something, and they're moving into this, like, higher.

00:04:44

Jack

Their income bracket and all of a sudden the things that they like to do are not exactly the same as the things you like to do, like a barbecue in the backyard. They like that, but they also might like going to the fancy new restaurant in town that cost, you know, 2 or $300.

00:05:04

Jack

For a.

00:05:04

Jack

Here and you're you're just like 2 or $300.00 for a dinner that that pays for my child's braces, you know, or something like that, you know, you know, like, I'm not gonna. I'm not gonna throw $300.00 away for, you know, cold Robbie or something, you know, like, I'm not going to do that. So.

00:05:26

Jack

I I I, but I think your your answer is the best answer is that gracefully decline.

00:05:36

발표자

And.

00:05:36

Jack

Don't make. Don't stop your feet and go like it's not fair. You know, like, you know what lifes? Not fair. You know what I mean? They have a right to go to the fancy restaurant if they want to. And you have a whole. You have a total right not to go and. But if you if you, if you make a big point out of like you know only everybody should only go to places that all of us can afford.

00:06:00

Jack

I don't think that's a fair request. I think you can just say like opt.

00:06:04

Jack

Out.

00:06:04

Jack

Say hey, tonight you guys, I'm just gonna hang at home, but I hope you have a good time and I'll catch up with you next week when we go to, you know, Burger King and watch a movie. You know, whatever.

00:06:19

Jack

What's wrong with that? I I don't know why you have to be, you know, hurt feelings over over over, uh, over that, you know?

00:06:27

Xochitl

I think potentially if it started migrating to the point where the group was.

00:06:33

Xochitl

Spending more on outings and you you couldn't really afford to see your friends at all anymore, then that would be a good time to bring it up and say, hey guys, you know.

00:06:41

Xochitl

I'm kind of.

00:06:42

Xochitl

Getting priced out of our get togethers and I was wondering if at least a couple of times you know every other time. Maybe we can go to a more affordable place.

00:06:53

Xochitl

Umm.

00:06:54

Xochitl

And you know, if your friends care about you and want you there, I'm sure that they won't be willing to meet. I'm sure they'll be willing to meet you in the middle at some point.

00:07:04

Jack

Yes, I think that's that's a really fair point. I think it you know you you can say like hey at least like couple times a month, can we go to a place that's like affordable that everybody likes.

00:07:14

Jack

You know, and then I can participate as well because, you know, I'm friends with you guys, but you know, you earn a lot more money than I do. And I think that in in that case, a lot of times they don't even think like that. You know, some most people think like, oh, if I have this much money, everybody has this much money, you know, you just you you're not you, you're not thinking.

00:07:35

Jack

Clearly about like what other people are might be earning.

00:07:40

Jack

You know, maybe your friend works for like an NGO or something like that, you know? And so they're, they're their income. They're they're doing something that they love giving back to the community, but they're not getting paid, you know, high salary as opposed to, like a lawyer or a Doctor Who's making a lot of money. It's it's totally fair.

00:07:59

Jack

Just say to them, hey, can we?

00:08:02

Jack

Can we go to, you know, the the the burger joints or the the pizza place? You know once in a while like the old days and they probably be happy. They probably love it you know like unless they're, you know, really stuck up people they they probably would enjoy going you know back to their roots and doing doing some of the stuff that you guys did when you were in college or.

00:08:25

Jack

When you were in your 20s.

00:08:27

Jack

So.

00:08:29

Jack

Yeah, I think your advice is is excellent. Yeah. And yeah, I would guess we're, you know, we're we're curious what.

00:08:39

Jack

What you guys think? Social. Do you want to take us out here with the?

00:08:44

Xochitl

Alright guys. Uh, let us know what you think. Is this person the jerk? Are they not the jerk? What would you do in their situation? Make sure to leave us a comment down below at it as being this podcast@gmail.com or sorry. Leave us a comment down below at AZ englishpodcast.com. Shoot us an e-mail at AZ englishpodcast@gmail.com and join the WeChat.

00:09:03

Xochitl

And WhatsApp group to join our conversation and we, Jack and I are now hosting a.

00:09:11

Xochitl

Zoom Class English corner an English corner Monday through Friday for an hour a day. And if you're interested in joining, make sure to check through the WeChat or the WhatsApp group for the link and we'll see you guys next time.

00:09:11

Jack

An English corner, yeah, yeah.

00:09:26

Xochitl

Bye bye bye bye.

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In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Xochitl explains the tuna fish sandwich debate question to Jack. Then, Jack offers his opinion on the situation.

Transcript:

00:00:00

Jack

Hey, A to Z Listeners this is the English podcast listeners. It's Jack here and we just want to announce that we are now on WeChat. Our WeChat ID is A-Z English podcast that is A-Z English podcast, one word all lowercase.

00:00:17

Jack

And if you.

00:00:18

Jack

Join the group. You will be able to talk with me. You'll be able to.

00:00:22

Jack

Talk with social.

00:00:23

Jack

And we can answer your questions. We can read your comments on the podcast. So we'd love for you to join us and be active in our we chat group. Our WeChat ID is A-Z English podcast. Thanks. See you on the app.

00:00:50

Jack

Welcome to the A-Z English podcast. My name is Jack and I'm here with my co-host social. And today we have a topic talk, I believe, and this is the tuna fish sandwich debate and social. I have no idea what this means. Please enlighten me.

00:01:08

Xochitl

Jack, I came across this and it it's kind of popular amongst American medicines in the in the group that I found. So a girl was commenting about how.

00:01:21

Xochitl

She gave her.

00:01:23

Xochitl

Money to go buy and cheese sandwich with all the fixings, which for others who don't know means, you know, lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise, whatever. And she very specifically said she wanted that ham and cheese sandwich. So he went to subway, she gave him money for both of their sandwich.

00:01:37

발표자 3

Mm-hmm.

00:01:44

Xochitl

And I believe she wasn't feeling well or or something. So anyway, he went alone. So he went and bought a sandwich and he bought himself something different. And then he bought her a tuna fish salad sandwich, which he also likes. But he knows she doesn't like tuna.

00:02:05

Xochitl

And she doesn't really eat tuna, but he likes tuna, and he brought her the sandwich and told her that he brought her the tuna fish sandwich because he just wanted her to try his favorite sandwich, even though he got himself something different as well. So the commenters were divided on whether she should be grateful.

00:02:25

Xochitl

And she was actually saying she was grateful anyway, but that it kind of annoyed her. But she ended up feeling grateful that he went and got sandwiches, or if she should be upset.

00:02:36

Xochitl

That he got her something she didn't ask for with her money, that he liked, that he knew that she wouldn't really like. So what do you think, Jack?

00:02:45

Jack

Yeah, this one is. This is very uhm, here's an expression SUS like suspect, you know? Yeah, this is suck.

00:02:53

Xochitl

But yes, that's like me. So it's like weird or kind of suspicious. That's what it stands for. Suspicious.

00:02:56

Jack

Yeah.

00:03:00

Jack

Suspicious. Exactly.

00:03:03

Jack

This reminds me of an episode of The Simpsons where Homer.

00:03:09

Jack

Buys Marge a bowling ball for her birthday that is exactly like sized for his hand and his fingers. So basically he buys her a present that she will never use and doesn't wants and that.

00:03:29

Jack

He wants and that he will use.

00:03:31

Jack

And she is supposed to be grateful for that. And and this is like, this is just pure manipulation, you know, like, this is just this guy wants to eat all of the sandwiches and he's got his sandwich that he bought for himself.

00:03:43

Xochitl

Right.

00:03:53

Jack

And then he knows that she's not going to eat the tuna sandwich because she doesn't like tuna.

00:03:59

Jack

And he's trying to frame it as like I'm it's like.

00:04:04

Jack

It's it's like the it's, it's just it's like.

00:04:06

Jack

Kind of like a.

00:04:07

Jack

Gaslighting, almost like like I'm I'm giving you the exact opposite of what you want and and make and and you're and forcing you to say thank you for.

00:04:09

Xochitl

Yeah.

00:04:18

Jack

For me doing it's, it's just like it's, it's awful. I mean it's it's in the grand scheme of things. It's not a big deal. It's just a sandwich. But I would be, you know, greatly annoyed. And I know my wife would be really annoyed if she told me I want this sandwich and then I showed up with a totally different sandwich.

00:04:18

Xochitl

Great.

00:04:38

Jack

Which containing an ingredient that I know she doesn't like and then saying, oh, but this is my favorite sandwich. You gotta try it. It's like. Well, then, why don't you buy that your favorite sandwich for yourself and give her some of yours and buy her the sandwich that she wants?

00:04:56

Jack

Like, that's what an adult would do. This is what a child would do is what this guy did. So she's married, she's not married, or she's dating a a child. Not a, not a man, you know.

00:04:57

Xochitl

Yeah.

00:05:07

Xochitl

Yeah, OK, good. We're on the same side of this debate. A lot of men in the comments were saying.

00:05:13

Xochitl

Because he went and got the sandwiches, but also what he changed to you. If he if he was buying it with his own money.

00:05:23

Jack

No, it wouldn't. It wouldn't change because like again, like she, she specifically asked for a a sandwich, a ham and cheese sandwich.

00:05:33

Jack

And you're showing up with a tuna sandwich.

00:05:36

Jack

It's like.

00:05:39

Jack

You know, kind of like, uh, if I asked you to buy me an Americano and you show up with a macchiato or something, it's like, oh, no, I didn't want the, you know, extra 300 calories of sugar or whatever. I just wanted a, a plain Americano.

00:05:56

Jack

UM, it it's just, it's just it's kind of like I I guess the the sandwich is irrelevant. It's more of like, are you listening to your partner, are you, you know, are you paying attention and and are you do you understand their wants and needs and design?

00:06:12

Jack

Years. And are you putting those desires above your own desires to have basically two sandwiches and she has none. You know, that's the that's the the manipulation here. It's like it's like a scheme. I'm gonna. I'm gonna find a way to eat my sandwich and your sandwich and you're gonna like it.

00:06:27

Xochitl

Right.

00:06:34

Jack

You know, like you're gonna say thank you. It's it's like it's it's twisted. It's it's, it's diabolical, you know.

00:06:35

Xochitl

Right.

00:06:41

Xochitl

I know. And the crazy thing to me is that I I bet he had his wallet on him and he could have just bought himself an extra tuna sandwich with his.

00:06:48

Xochitl

Money and gotten her what she wanted, but he was like, Nah, I'm gonna use her own money, especially if like to get myself something I want. But I agree with you. I don't think it would have changed regardless. Like, it's like if someone asks you cause especially when you're in the long term partnership and especially if you get married and stuff, usually it becomes both of your money.

00:07:09

Xochitl

Right. So it doesn't really matter. It's just.

00:07:13

Xochitl

It comes down to are you listening to the person do.

00:07:15

Xochitl

You care about what they want.

00:07:17

Xochitl

Or are you a selfish?

00:07:19

Xochitl

You know.

00:07:21

Xochitl

Jerk.

00:07:21

Jack

B hole. Yeah, exactly. Why. Why can't you? Why can't you buy your girlfriend a a sandwich when she's not feeling well? It's like, come on, dude. You're collecting money from your girlfriend. I mean that. That really tells everything that says everything that needs that, that I need to know right there.

00:07:26

Xochitl

Yeah, yeah.

00:07:35

Xochitl

Then.

00:07:42

Jack

Is that the guys took the money from her and not only that, but he's going to buy himself a sandwich with her money. It's like.

00:07:53

Jack

Sorry, sorry, lady, but you, you this guy is not a keeper, you know. Throw this one back because there's plenty of fish in the sea. Yeah.

00:07:59

발표자

No.

00:08:00

Xochitl

And.

00:08:04

Xochitl

Yeah, it's funny because he actually said, oh, yeah, he was sweet to get me food. So like, he gets a pass. I was like.

00:08:11

Jack

Well, how? How many miles did he walk to?

00:08:13

Jack

Get the sandwich.

00:08:13

Xochitl

What I'm in that situation is make the person go either one.

00:08:18

Jack

Yeah. I mean, if he drove, then I can.

00:08:20

Xochitl

Times that I wanted or you're giving that money back. Pay for sandwich that I don't want.

00:08:26

Jack

Yeah.

00:08:27

Jack

No, I'm. I'm. I'm. I'm on team. I'm I'm. I think she should have. She should have been annoyed with him. I don't know how angry you can get over a sandwich. I don't think you should start World War three. You know, in the relationship. But it's just like another little. It's it's like another little little like sign that this guy's.

00:08:29

Xochitl

Yeah, you're driving back.

00:08:44

발표자 3

Hey.

00:08:47

Jack

The total loser, you know? That's, that's what I've that's the way I interpret.

00:08:52

Jack

And I'm sure there's probably a million other ways that he's of kind of a loser in that relationship as well, so.

00:09:00

Xochitl

I'm curious to know what you would have done if you had been on the receiving end of getting a sandwich you didn't want. Like would, would you make the person go back? Would you ask for your money back or would or would you call them out? Or?

00:09:12

Xochitl

Would you?

00:09:14

Xochitl

What we say thank you and in your mind.

00:09:17

Jack

That's that's an interesting point.

00:09:20

Xochitl

Loser. I gotta cut him loose.

00:09:22

Jack

When it comes to me, there is no sandwich. Then I don't like. So you know, I'll eat anything at any time.

00:09:31

Jack

You know, it could be a horse meat, you know, sandwich. I'll probably eat it, you know? And uh, I wouldn't say anything. I'll, I'll.

00:09:41

Jack

Yeah, it it it. It's not it. It doesn't. Uh, the situation doesn't fit well with me because there's nothing on the subway menu that I wouldn't eat. Maybe if I got a vegetarian sandwich should be like a little disappointed, but still eat it. You know, I wouldn't complain, you know?

00:09:59

Jack

But in this case.

00:10:02

Jack

I think she should be slightly annoyed because he's trying to be manipulative, you know, and it's it's it's obvious and he's trying to get her to.

00:10:12

Jack

Actively participate in in the manipulation and be like you know, be grateful for.

00:10:20

Jack

A trick that he's pulling on her. So you know, I just, I I don't appreciate the. I mean I appreciate the effort on his part to try to get.

00:10:29

Jack

Away with this?

00:10:30

Jack

In a in a weird in a twisted way. I kind of appreciate it, but but I I hope that she sees through it and and it doesn't fall for for the.

00:10:39

발표자

Right.

00:10:40

Jack

The the silliness of this of this guy's excuse. He's he's fine. Yeah.

00:10:44

발표자

Right.

00:10:46

Xochitl

So this wouldn't fly with you. And what would you do? Would you send the person back for a sandwich? Would you ask for your money back, or would you just quietly accept it? Yeah. Leave a comment down below at AZ englishpodcast.com. Shoot us an e-mail at azspodcast@gmail.com and join our WeChat WhatsApp groups to make sure that you can.

00:11:07

Xochitl

Talk to Jack and I directly.

00:11:09

Xochitl

Also, Jack and I have started a class on zoom, so if you would like the link to that, make sure to join our WeChat group or you can also message checking directly on the A-Z English podcast WhatsApp or we chat and you can join our Zoom English corner and we'll see you guys.

00:11:28

Xochitl

Next time, bye bye.

00:11:29

Jack

Bye.

00:11:29

발표자 3

bye

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In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Xochitl and Jack talk about which chores they hate and which ones they don't mind.

Transcript:

00:00:00

Jack

Hey, A is the English podcast listeners. It's Jack here and we just want to announce that we are now on WeChat. Our WeChat ID is A-Z English podcast that is A-Z English podcast, one word all lowercase.

00:00:17

Jack

And if you.

00:00:18

Jack

Join the group. You will be able to talk with me. You'll be able to.

00:00:22

Jack

Talk with social.

00:00:23

Jack

And we can answer your questions. We can read your comments on the podcast. So we'd love for you to join us and be active in our we chat group. Our WeChat ID is A-Z English podcast. Thanks. See you on the app.

00:00:52

Jack

Welcome to the agency English podcast. My name is Jack and I'm here with my co-host, social. And today we have a topic talk episode and social. Today's topic is what household chores?

00:01:03

Jack

Do you usually help?

00:01:04

Jack

With and which ones do you enjoy and which ones?

00:01:07

Jack

Do you hate?

00:01:10

Xochitl

Ohh well Jack, I live alone.

00:01:13

Jack

So you do.

00:01:14

Xochitl

I.

00:01:15

Xochitl

Yeah, I mean, I did and find out what. Yeah, now that I live in Mexico, I pay someone to come do some of them. And I do some of them. So that kind of works out pretty well for me. But lately, the person that I was paying to come do household chores, unfortunately.

00:01:16

Jack

Swear none of them. I don't know. It depends on.

00:01:18

Jack

How you live, yeah.

00:01:24

Jack

Yeah.

00:01:34

Xochitl

Her father got ill and I totally get that. So I've been handling them on my own.

00:01:40

Jack

MHM.

00:01:40

Xochitl

And and.

00:01:43

Xochitl

I like cooking. Uh, if there's other people around like I hate cooking just myself.

00:01:50

Jack

Yeah, me too. I hate like it's still. There's nothing lonelier than frying. Like one egg, you know?

00:01:56

Jack

What I mean, it's just like what's?

00:01:57

Xochitl

Oh my God. Wow. We're like.

00:01:58

Jack

What's wrong with my life? You.

00:02:00

Jack

Know when you yeah.

00:02:00

Xochitl

I know it's just and we have no one to eat with and it's like just different thing. So if I'm alone, a lot of the times, they'll just end up ordering food like Uber eats or whatever. And but if there's even just one other person with me, I'm happy to cook.

00:02:04

Jack

Yeah.

00:02:12

Jack

Oh, nice, yeah.

00:02:19

Xochitl

Other chores that I do like wash the dishes, do my laundry.

00:02:25

Xochitl

Ah, sweep mop.

00:02:29

Jack

Is is there one that like, really irks you? That just drives you crazy, that you really hate.

00:02:29

Xochitl

I don't.

00:02:34

Xochitl

OK, I don't like sleeping and mopping because it makes my back hurt, which is like weird, but I don't know why, but my back really hurts. Whenever I like sweep and mop, so I don't like that. I don't like getting.

00:02:39

Jack

Ah.

00:02:46

Xochitl

Even though I don't mind sleeping in mopping, it's just the fact that my back always hurts. It like really annoys me and I don't like. Yeah, I don't like.

00:02:53

Jack

It's yeah.

00:02:56

Xochitl

Doing the dishes I used to really like doing the dishes when I was a kid, and now I hate doing the dishes because it's like.

00:03:03

Xochitl

Just the nasty food on it. Or like other people's mouths. It not it, grosses me.

00:03:09

Jack

It reminds me of the like Reddit thread like kids are.

00:03:13

Jack

Freaking stupid, you know, like a kid like kid kids are like, oh, man, I wish I were old enough to mature enough to wash the dishes, you know? And they kind of trick you into doing it, you know? Yeah.

00:03:23

Xochitl

Alright.

00:03:27

Xochitl

I know. And you think it's fun and then you're like, you become an adult and you have to do the dishes every day. And the kitchen is never clean. And every time you cook something, the kitchen is dirty again. And then it just makes me want to eat out all the time because then I don't have to do dishes. I don't have to clean my kitchen. I just, like, eat out of container.

00:03:42

Jack

Yeah, and and eating out is not not expensive in in Mexico, in Oaxaca, right? Yeah.

00:03:47

Xochitl

No, it it's not too expensive. You can get a full meal for like.

00:03:52

Xochitl

Three to four bucks probably like you. You can get what they call, which is like the big meal today, and you get, like, a a fresh water that, like, has a fruit flavor usually and a whole meal. And then sometimes they give you, like, dessert and you get, like, the main.

00:03:55

Jack

Wow.

00:04:12

Xochitl

Fish and two side dishes. And that's like 3 or $4.00. So at that point, it's like, I don't really want to.

00:04:18

Xochitl

Cook so.

00:04:19

Jack

So $3 in Korea will buy you like.

00:04:23

Xochitl

They won't even buy you.

00:04:24

Xochitl

Coffee man like I remember.

00:04:25

Jack

You won't even buy you a coffee. I mean, maybe you could. Maybe you could get the cup, but there won't be anything in it, you know, for the three dollars. Yeah.

00:04:27

Xochitl

No, I never heard.

00:04:32

Xochitl

Yeah.

00:04:34

Xochitl

Yeah, but, Jack, what are the ones that you hate to do? And what which ones do you do in general and which is?

00:04:40

Jack

Yeah. So I'm basically, I'm like I I dust I'm I vacuum and I mop. That's all. My wife asked me to do. She does the, you know, the big stuff, right, like she.

00:04:50

Jack

She's kind of on her hands and knees cleaning the bathrooms once a week, and she does all the dusting of everywhere. I just have to dust my this little room right here, this man cave, my podcasting room, and I hate it because you know, when you're dusting.

00:05:09

Jack

Like books and stuff, there's all the you know.

00:05:11

Jack

There's so so.

00:05:12

Jack

Many little nooks and crannies and little, you know, spaces that you have to try to get into.

00:05:18

Jack

And so, you know, sometimes I'm I do a good job. Sometimes I'm a little lazy with that vacuuming. I don't mind doing it that that much. I think vacuuming is is is OK, although I have been trying to, you know, pitch the idea to my wife that we should get.

00:05:38

Jack

A Roomba, you know, like a like a. Yeah, like a like a a robot vacuum cleaner. But she's not. She's. She's skeptical because of her plants. She doesn't want it to, like, knock over her plants. You know, while it's cruising around. Whatever.

00:05:40

Xochitl

Ohh that's the good idea.

00:05:57

Jack

So.

00:05:58

Jack

So I'm stuck doing that. The one that I hate the most is taking out the trash.

00:06:05

Jack

I hate it.

00:06:07

Jack

So I'll let it pile up like to a ridiculous level, where it's like it's like a, it's like a mountain of of like, boxes, kind of teetering. And then finally I'll be like, alright, I it's time to go. And the reason I don't like it is because we live on the third, third floor of a walk up and then I have to walk over to the recycling.

00:06:28

Jack

Garbage area which is like.

00:06:29

Jack

Maybe. Uh oh, I don't know.

00:06:36

Jack

I don't know 100 meters, you know, away from my my front door and.

00:06:43

Jack

I just like in the winter. It's freezing cold in the summer. It's hot, you know? So I just. I just don't like it. I just really hate that. So, you know.

00:06:46

Xochitl

Yeah.

00:06:52

Xochitl

Also, for listeners who don't know, separating trash in Korea is like very difficult. So.

00:06:59

Jack

They recycle everything, you know, even food, food, garbage. It's crazy.

00:06:59

Xochitl

I it's like, yeah. And yeah, yeah.

00:07:05

Xochitl

Yeah, the food garbage goes to like pigs or something, I believe, right?

00:07:08

Jack

Yeah, they make some kind of.

00:07:12

Jack

Yeah, some some kind.

00:07:13

Jack

Of food like the dry food after they dry it out and stuff they they feed.

00:07:17

Jack

It to pigs, yeah.

00:07:17

Xochitl

Oh, they like dehydrating it. Oh.

00:07:20

Jack

Yeah, they dehydrate it. Yeah, yeah.

00:07:22

Xochitl

Oh cool so.

00:07:23

Jack

Yeah.

00:07:25

Xochitl

Huh. Well, anyway it so there's certain things you can't put in your food. Trash like bones, egg shells, things like that, because obviously that could hurt the pigs, so.

00:07:37

Xochitl

Yeah, it is a pain, but.

00:07:39

Jack

I put everything in there that I shouldn't.

00:07:43

Xochitl

That you did. Did you not know about this?

00:07:45

Jack

I didn't know about that. I I put egg cells and coffee grounds and everything in there. Yeah, yeah.

00:07:46

Xochitl

No, no, I think I think coffee grounds might be OK. You have to look into it, but you're not supposed to put. You're like.

00:07:53

Xochitl

That you're just now hearing. Yeah, yeah.

00:07:56

Jack

I thought pigs could eat egg shells. No problem. I mean, just like.

00:07:59

Xochitl

I think it's because they dehydrate it. That probably like become sharp or something. I don't know. I think you're not supposed to put egg shells. Check. Check. You're also not supposed to put bones in there. So.

00:08:10

Xochitl

Just double check though you've been living there long to me, so you know, double check. But I remember when I got there that people told me I wasn't supposed to do that.

00:08:18

Xochitl

So then I didn't, but it was a pain. It I would. I would kind of just not do the food trash. I would kind of just put my food trash in the normal trash and just throw it away.

00:08:26

Jack

Yeah, yeah, you just you.

00:08:29

Jack

If they make it too complicated and it's too, it's too much trouble. People just won't do it. So.

00:08:34

Xochitl

I know. Yeah, it's a lot, yeah.

00:08:36

Xochitl

What is 1 chore that you really like doing?

00:08:39

Jack

A. A tool that I like doing well. That's a good question. I'm not sure there is one. I think you know vacuuming is because I still, I can put my my hair, put my my earbuds in and and usually I listen to our our podcast episodes while I'm vacuuming. So I'll just listen to a podcast and vacuum. You know, it's just like a.

00:08:59

Jack

You know, sometimes I'll do, like, uh, you know, I Love Lucy. You know, I'll dance a little bit with the vacuum cleaner and, you know, kind of like that, like a like, it's a dancing partner or something if no one's home, you know, if if my wife's home, I won't do that. But yeah, make it fun. You know, if if I.

00:09:16

Jack

Then. But yeah, vacuuming is no big deal. That's it's easy.

00:09:21

Xochitl

Yeah, I I like vacuuming as well.

00:09:25

Xochitl

And trying to think, I think that's probably the one that I like the most. I kind of like scrubbing floors. I I find it satisfying.

00:09:34

Jack

Ohh you do when the when the like white line and the when the the.

00:09:38

Jack

Route changes like dark to to light or something.

00:09:39

Xochitl

Yeah.

00:09:42

Xochitl

Yeah, you're like in there with elbow grease. Really. Scrubbing. I got your floors. I actually like doing that. I I find it satisfying. I I I see what sweeping and mopping. I don't see that much of an immediate difference. So I don't like it that much, but I really like, like scrubbing things. Kind of. I find it like satisfying. So.

00:10:01

Jack

Are you are you an 80% or a?

00:10:03

Jack

100 Percenter and what I mean by that is like.

00:10:06

Jack

Some people clean to like about 80%, you know.

00:10:09

Jack

Feel like it's.

00:10:10

Jack

Good enough like this. This is fine. You know? Like if the company came over, they wouldn't be like, oh, you're such a pig, you know. But then there are other people that are like, 100%. And so I think the problem that that my wife and my wife is 100 percenter and I'm an 80 percenter. And so there's like, that's a point of contention for us.

00:10:25

Xochitl

Right.

00:10:29

Jack

Where I'm like I did it already. So like do it again the right way. You know, that kind of stuff. So yeah.

00:10:35

Xochitl

Right. I kind of.

00:10:40

Xochitl

I'm not 100% sure, but I I don't clean all the time, but when it gets dirty, if if I'm gonna clean it, I want it to be sparkling you.

00:10:48

Xochitl

Know what I mean?

00:10:48

Jack

So you're like you're. You're like, I can. I can let it go. But then one day you just roll up your sleeves and you're like.

00:10:55

Jack

It's time to go to work. It's like like an Avenger or something, you know? Yeah. OK.

00:10:56

Xochitl

Yes. And then?

00:11:00

Xochitl

Yeah. And then, yeah, I I definitely am kind of like that. And I don't like it. It's like if someone else cleans and it's still dirty. And I myself that drives me crazy too. That really does.

00:11:08

Jack

Ohh that drives my wife crazy.

00:11:13

Xochitl

I hate it, like when the floor is like no one really scrubbed them, they just kind of swept and mopped a little bit and it's still like you walk across barefoot and your feet are like Gray after that piece that it makes me very angry. So I went with sure that I scrub. I just I'd rather scrub it.

00:11:22

Jack

Yep.

00:11:31

Xochitl

And then mopped it several times. But.

00:11:34

Xochitl

I just it has to be clean, you know, with the clean. It has to be clean. It has to be clean enough for you to eat off of, basically.

00:11:37

Jack

Yeah.

00:11:41

Jack

What? Well, when people clean your your house, they're going to do it half heartedly, you know? That's a good expression there. Half heartedly means like small, low effort, you know, because it's not theirs, you know. So yeah.

00:11:46

Xochitl

Yeah.

00:11:51

Xochitl

Yes.

00:11:53

Xochitl

And love their house. So who cared? Yeah. Yeah. All right. Well, tell sisters, what is your least favorite chore and your favorite chore. If you like any chores. And what are you usually responsible for in your home? I'm really curious to know. So send us an e-mail at AZ with podcast at Gmail dot.

00:12:11

Xochitl

One, leave a comment down below at AZ with podcast.com and join the we channel WhatsApp groups to talk to Jack and I directly and we will be discussing things like this in the English corner as well. So if you guys are interested in joining the English corner again, that's 20 lessons for $10 a month.

00:12:21

Jack

Yes.

00:12:29

Jack

But the 1st 10 are free.

00:12:30

Xochitl

The 1st 10 lessons are free, so if you feel like support supporting us and you're able to support us, you get a lot of bang for your buck. As we would say in the US, so we look forward to seeing you in that Ave. as well and we'll see you.

00:12:39

발표자

Yes.

00:12:44

Xochitl

Guys, next time. Bye bye.

00:12:45

Jack

Bye bye.

00:12:46

발표자

Bye.

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In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Xochitl and Jack discuss three idioms related to rain.

Transcript:

00:00:00

Jack

Hey, A is the English podcast listeners. It's Jack here and we just want to announce that we are now on WeChat. Our WeChat ID is A-Z English podcast that is A-Z English podcast, one word all lowercase.

00:00:17

Jack

And if you.

00:00:18

Jack

Join the group. You will be able to talk with me. You'll be able to.

00:00:22

Jack

Talk with social.

00:00:23

Jack

And we can answer your questions. We can read your comments on the podcast. So we'd love for you to join us and be active in our we chat group. Our WeChat ID is A-Z English podcast. Thanks. See you on the app.

00:00:51

Jack

Welcome to the A-Z English podcast. My name is Jack and I'm here with my co-host social. And today we are in the Idiom Academy and we have 3 idioms social what is what's our first one?

00:01:01

Xochitl

Our first idiom is it's raining cats and dogs.

00:01:06

Jack

Oh yeah, sure.

00:01:08

Xochitl

What does that mean, Jack?

00:01:10

Jack

Well, it means that uh, cats and dogs are are just falling from the sky for some reason. No, what it means is that it's raining very, very hard out there outside.

00:01:24

Jack

So we, you know it's it's it's kind of an old idiom cause I can just picture like my grandfather or my dad saying, you know, like we're going outside to go in the car and it's oh, it's raining cats and dogs out there, you know. So we.

00:01:32

Xochitl

Yeah.

00:01:39

Jack

It's it's, it's.

00:01:40

Jack

One of the the dumbest like idiots like we have.

00:01:45

Jack

But it's so.

00:01:45

Xochitl

Yes, weird.

00:01:46

Jack

Common like people use it still all the.

00:01:50

Xochitl

Yeah, it's kind of not like it's a very nonsensical one. Like why? I don't know if it's just because, like, when it rained really hard you. I don't know what the etymology is, which means like the origin. I really like origin is I think it's just like the slamming sound, maybe of rain. It's like a cat.

00:02:09

Xochitl

Fell from your roof or something on? I don't know, so.

00:02:13

Xochitl

I'm not sure it's not.

00:02:13

Jack

I mean it it it, yeah.

00:02:14

Jack

You could just any two nouns could be like it's raining bowl bowling balls and toaster ovens. You know, like it it could be it. It makes as much sense as, you know, cats and dogs so.

00:02:22

Xochitl

Right, yes.

00:02:27

Xochitl

Yeah, but for some reason we we chose cats and dogs. So like this thing.

00:02:27

발표자 3

Yeah.

00:02:31

Jack

Yeah, we chose cats and dogs. We have to live.

00:02:33

Jack

With it, yeah.

00:02:34

Xochitl

It's pouring. It's pouring. So which brings us to our next idiom. When it rains, it pours. Jack what?

00:02:36

Jack

Yeah.

00:02:42

Xochitl

That means only rain.

00:02:43

Jack

Ohh this one I I like this one because like it's like when you when you get a little bit busy you get really busy. You know it seems like like you you you'll you'll go like weeks without any anything and then all of a sudden you have 20 things that you have to do. You know it's like.

00:03:01

Jack

It just kind of, you know? Yeah, it's just like when it rains, it pours it a lot of rain comes, you know. But when there's nothing that nothing is happening.

00:03:08

Xochitl

Right.

00:03:11

Xochitl

When it rains, it pours. Or what's the other one? It can also mean when something bad.

00:03:17

Xochitl

Happens that a lot of bad things happen, like let's say ohh you know I was. I was doing fine. Let's let's been fine. And then I broke my thumb and then my mom broke her leg and then we owe hospital bills and now?

00:03:38

Xochitl

The hospital or out of our pain medication.

00:03:40

Xochitl

Then and then my dad got in a car crash on his way.

00:03:44

Xochitl

To.

00:03:44

Xochitl

Pick us up. It's not a bad thing.

00:03:45

Jack

Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's just like, yeah, yeah.

00:03:49

Xochitl

It's kind of how it is. It's like if I don't know if you ever noticed, it's like one bad thing happens and then a bunch of bad thing happened. Happen. Bad things happen. Yeah.

00:03:55

Jack

Well, it's like.

00:03:57

Jack

It's like it's like, uh, you know?

00:04:00

Jack

A guy sitting at home and his girlfriend just broke up with him.

00:04:03

Jack

And then he's, like, checks his e-mail. He got fired from his job, and he's and he gets a phone call. His grandmother passed away, you know, or something. And it's just like one after the other, after the other. It's like when it rains.

00:04:08

Xochitl

Yeah.

00:04:17

Jack

It pours, yeah.

00:04:19

Xochitl

Yeah. And then the other one is, uh, take a rain check. Jack, this one has only fascinated me because I don't think I understood what this meant. And I was like a teenager, so.

00:04:32

Jack

I think I may still not know it. I mean, I know what it means, but I I'm not sure. Like what? Why they?

00:04:37

Xochitl

Why? I guess maybe.

00:04:40

Xochitl

Because if it's raining, well, tell them what it means and I'll then I'll give you my idea about that apology.

00:04:45

Jack

Yeah. So let's say for example, let's say you, you, you said to me like, hey, Jack, let's, let's grab lunch on Tuesday. And I'm like, oh, I have a meeting on Tuesday. So can I take a rain check?

00:04:59

Jack

And a rain check just means can we? Can we change the date to a future time, but an unknown future time. So we will have lunch together. It's just we don't know when it's going to happen in the future. So you know, we have to make a a a a plan.

00:05:08

발표자

Right.

00:05:16

Xochitl

Right. This means, yeah, let let's leave it for the future at some point.

00:05:17

발표자 3

Yeah.

00:05:22

Jack

Yeah, it's kind of like it's kind of like saying it's it's kind of different than saying no, you know, I'm busy because it's kind of like saying.

00:05:27

Xochitl

Yeah.

00:05:29

Xochitl

Playing later or something.

00:05:31

Jack

Yeah. Well, it's it's like, it's nice. It's like a nice way to say like I want to spend time with you. I want to do this. I just can't do it at that time that you said, you know.

00:05:40

Xochitl

Like. Yeah, it's like it's nicer than maybe later. Like maybe later. It's like no later for sure. Later, for sure. You wanna do this? But.

00:05:40

Jack

And so.

00:05:51

Jack

Yeah, maybe later is what we call blowing someone off. Basically, yeah.

00:05:55

Xochitl

Yeah. Yeah. So it's not maybe later. It's like later for sure. I I do want to hang out with you. I just can't. Unfortunately, at that time. So yeah. Yeah. So it's it's a nice way to say to say that.

00:06:03

Jack

Right, exactly.

00:06:05

Jack

Take a rain check.

00:06:10

Xochitl

And yeah, all right, since if you have anymore questions about these idioms or any more idioms, make sure to leave us a comment down below at A-Z English podcast. Shoot us an e-mail at at AZ englishpodcast@gmail.com.

00:06:23

Xochitl

And make sure that you join the lead channel WhatsApp groups to talk to us directly. I would love to see and hear you guys using these idioms. I think it would be really fun. And of course if you're able to Jack and I have now started an English corner.

00:06:36

Jack

Yep.

00:06:37

Xochitl

For $10 a month, you get 20 lessons, so that's $0.50 per lesson and the 1st 10 lessons are free. So if you feel so inclined to support us and can and are able to support us, make sure to join us on the English.

00:06:44

발표자 3

Yep.

00:06:53

Xochitl

Corner and you can do that through our WeChat group and. And so we will see you guys next time. And again thank you so much for sticking with us through the podcast. We really appreciate your support and we'll see you guys next time. Bye bye.

00:07:08

발표자 3

Bye bye bye.

Podcast Website:

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In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Xochitl and Jack talk about their new venture in China with the creation of The A to Z English Corner.

❤ The A to Z English Corner Class Link:  

https://voovmeeting.com/p/6511832952  

10 Classes for Free! Mon. - Fri. @ 9:00p.m.

WeChat: atozenglishpodcast  

 👉 Please follow these instructions:  

1. Read and check the vocabulary in the questions  

2. You must have clear audio  

3. You must have a good internet connection  

4. You must open your camera  

5. You must speak English 

Transcript:

00:00:00

Jack

Hey, A is the English podcast listeners. It's Jack here and we just want to announce that we are now on WeChat. Our WeChat ID is A-Z English podcast that is A-Z English podcast, one word all lowercase.

00:00:17

Jack

And if you.

00:00:18

Jack

Join the group. You will be able to talk with me. You'll be able to.

00:00:22

Jack

Talk with social.

00:00:23

Jack

And we can answer your questions. We can read your comments on the podcast. So we'd love for you to join us and be active in our we chat group. Our WeChat ID is A-Z English podcast. Thanks. See you on the app.

00:00:51

Jack

Welcome to the A-Z English podcast. My name is Jack and I am here with my co-host social. And today we have a very special episode and today's episode is titled.

00:01:03

Jack

The A to.

00:01:04

Jack

Z English corner.

00:01:06

Jack

And social, we have exciting news for our listeners out there. We are starting an English corner in China.

00:01:17

Jack

And we'll be teaching.

00:01:18

Jack

Every day, you know, five days a week.

00:01:21

Xochitl

Yeah, we're really excited about this. I want our listeners to know know that we're still going to be of.

00:01:27

Xochitl

1st at least three episodes a week of 8OZ, and the reasoning for making the English corner is of course we'll be able to interact more with our students and we want to be able to keep making content for you guys because it takes a lot of effort and it takes money and time and it's expensive ultimately for Jack and I.

00:01:47

Xochitl

To run the A-Z podcast. So yeah, this is an opportunity to benefit everyone and I'm really looking forward to it. Of course, we'll always remain loyal to the A-Z English podcast, and we'll keep making content for you guys. Ah, 100% free of charge.

00:02:02

Jack

Right. We're never going to you.

00:02:02

Xochitl

And.

00:02:04

Jack

You never have to pay for the podcast.

00:02:06

Xochitl

Yeah, never abandoned you for the podcast.

00:02:08

Jack

Yeah, and. And the for the English corner, the 1st 10 classes are free. So you can, you know, you get to really take it for a test ride and see if you like it. You know, like you can, you can go to 10 classes for free if it's, if you enjoy it.

00:02:28

Jack

Then you will become you. You will move on to VIP status for we we settled on 80 RMB a month.

00:02:38

Jack

OK, which is about $10 a month. US ten U.S. dollars per month, but for $10 you're getting 20 classes.

00:02:49

Jack

You know, Monday through Friday.

00:02:53

Jack

Every every week, Monday through Friday 9:00 PM to 10:00 PM for so 9:00 in the evening in in China.

00:03:03

Jack

And I don't know what you know. I'm not good at math, but $10.00 for 20 classes. What does that come down to $0.50 a class?

00:03:13

Xochitl

Yeah, something like that.

00:03:14

Jack

OK, OK. Yeah.

00:03:17

Jack

Yeah. I mean, in the in the, in the real world, you know, one hour with a A.

00:03:23

Jack

Native English speaker.

00:03:25

Jack

Is probably about five times that much you know about 50 bucks an hour, something like that, you know.

00:03:32

Xochitl

Right, that'd be 10 times as much as $0.50. Well, right per class. OK, I'm not strong mathematician, so that's why we keep.

00:03:39

Jack

Sorry. Yeah, now we're.

00:03:43

Jack

We're we're we're mapping poorly here again.

00:03:45

Xochitl

That's that's why weird language teachers and.

00:03:48

Jack

Hi.

00:03:49

Xochitl

So yeah, I know I'm very excited about this. I'm looking forward to being able to connect with our students because Jack told me that we're going to be hosting this so that we get to interact with each individual student and I don't know, I really look forward to that. I think that's my favorite.

00:04:09

Xochitl

Part of doing at Oz is being able to have that link with the students directly and seeing you guys grow and seeing you progress and seeing you enjoy the content that we make and I'm really excited to be able to do that full time.

00:04:22

Jack

I mean, we've gotten so much love from China, you know, like the the podcast. I mean for for sure our our largest percentage of audiences from China and a lot of that comes from Billy. Billy, I think you know some of our videos or our podcast is is they the.

00:04:42

Jack

Episodes have been uploaded onto Billy, Billy and so people have just found us.

00:04:46

Jack

That way, but you can also join our we our our we chat group. So our WeChat username ID is A-Z English podcast. So A-Z English podcast. So if you you can look in the description.

00:05:06

Jack

You can join, you can click on it and join. You know, come into my our WeChat group and I'll let you.

00:05:12

Jack

And and that's where I'll post the the discussion questions for the the, the, the video conferencing class. And so we're using VVOV the app, it's kind of like zoom or Skype kind of similar to those, but it's a.

00:05:33

Jack

I believe a a Chinese company, VOV and so you can join the V class.

00:05:41

Jack

Straight from clicking the the link in where the discussion questions are so in in the WeChat. So yeah, I think it's it sounds complicated right now. I mean the as I talk about it, it sounds very complicated, but it's I think once we students kind of get used to it, it'll be very.

00:06:00

Jack

You know simple, you know.

00:06:02

발표자

Oh.

00:06:03

Xochitl

Yeah, and I and I'm just really excited. I I want to thank our students that have been with us from the beginning and that have allowed us to keep creating content and to keep growing as content creators. And I know we've taken quite a few turns and divots in the last few months trying to make sure that we stay afloat.

00:06:21

Jack

Yeah.

00:06:22

Xochitl

Podcast and I really appreciate guys sticking with us.

00:06:23

Jack

Right.

00:06:27

Xochitl

Through all of that, because it's been a lot, but our fan base, you guys are unshakable, you've you've supported us through all of this. And I want you guys to know that podcasts will only be free to you. I want you guys to know that we'll still be in the WhatsApp groups. We'll still be in the WeChat groups. You can still e-mail us directly to the English.

00:06:46

Xochitl

Podcast@gmail.com you can still always leave us a comment. We'd love to see your comments at A-Z, podcast.com and.

00:06:56

Xochitl

We're so happy that you guys are part of this journey with us and and we'll always have that in mind moving forward.

00:07:05

Jack

Yeah, I can't wait to see.

00:07:06

Jack

Everybody in the English.

00:07:07

Jack

Corner. It'll be. It'll be fantastic. So we're going to have so much fun. I just. I'm really excited.

00:07:14

Xochitl

See you guys next time. Bye bye.

00:07:15

Jack

OK.

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Intro/Outro Music: Debora by Jangwa

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Dilating_Times/single/debora/

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In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Xochitl and Jack discuss minimal pairs. They focus on the /p/ and /b/ sounds.

Minimal pairs are pairs of words that differ by only one phoneme and have different meanings. Here are some minimal pairs with the sounds /b/ and /p/:

bat / pat

ball / Paul

bin / pin

bark / park

bat / pat

ban / pan

bet / pet

bake / pake

best / pest

bow / pow

buy / pie

big / pig

boat / coat

back / pack

beach / peach

These minimal pairs illustrate how a single phoneme change can result in completely different words and meanings. The /b/ and /p/ sounds are distinguished primarily by their voicing: /b/ is voiced, while /p/ is voiceless.

Podcast Website:

https://atozenglishpodcast.com/quick-tips-minimal-pairs-with-the-sounds-p-and-b/

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https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Dilating_Times/single/debora/

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As easy as pie - Very easy

"The exam was as easy as pie."

As stubborn as a mule - Very stubborn

"He's as stubborn as a mule and won't listen to reason

As strong as an ox - Very strong

"After years of weightlifting, he's as strong as an ox."

As white as snow - Very white

"Her dress was as white as snow."

As sharp as a tack - Very sharp or smart

"She's as sharp as a tack, always quick with a witty response."

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https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Dilating_Times/single/debora/

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Point At

Meaning: To direct someone's attention to something by extending a finger or other object towards it.

Usage:

Example 1: "She pointed at the painting on the wall."

Example 2: "The teacher pointed at the map to show us where the country is located."

Point Out

Meaning: To bring something to someone's attention, often by mentioning or highlighting it.

Usage:

Example 1: "He pointed out the errors in the document."

Example 2: "I’d like to point out that we need to finish this project by Friday."

Pointed

Meaning (Adjective): Sharp or having a sharp end.

Usage:

Example 1: "The pencil has a pointed tip."

Meaning (Adjective - Figurative): Direct and often critical or indicating something explicitly.

Example 2: "She made a pointed remark about his tardiness."

Meaning (Past Tense Verb): Past tense of the verb "point."

Usage:

Example 1: "He pointed towards the exit."

Example 2: "She pointed at the star in the sky."

To summarize:

Point at: A physical gesture directing attention.

Point out: An action of indicating or highlighting information.

Pointed: Can describe a physical attribute (sharpness) or imply a direct/critical comment. As a verb, it is the past tense of "point."

Podcast Website:

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In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, we talk about how parents sometimes get too involved or invested in their children's lives.

Transcript:

00:00:00

Jack

Hey, it is the English podcast listeners. This is Jack here. We are excited to offer you a new way to get even more involved with our podcast for just $10 a month, you can become an exclusive subscriber and join our private WhatsApp and WeChat groups as a member.

00:00:20

Jack

You'll have the opportunity to ask questions and leave comments that we will address in a special weekly episode dedicated to our support.

00:00:30

발표자

Yours.

00:00:31

Jack

Your generous donations help cover the operational costs of the podcast.

00:00:36

Jack

Allowing us to keep delivering the content you love to join, simply click the links in the description to pay via our stripe account or directly on the WeChat app.

00:00:50

Jack

Thank you for your support. We can't wait to connect with you in our exclusive groups and hear what you have to say.

00:00:57

Jack

OK.

00:00:58

Jack

Now let's get on with the show.

00:01:09

Jack

Welcome to the A-Z English podcast. My name is Jack and I'm here with my.

00:01:13

Jack

Co-host social and.

00:01:15

Jack

Today we are doing a topic talk episode and today's topic is.

00:01:22

Jack

Do you do you feel nervous? When? Ohh sorry. Do you feel nervous for other people when they have to do something important, you know? And so. Oh, I was just going to give, like, here's the here's the background information. My daughter has a huge performance today.

00:01:33

Xochitl

Sorry, go ahead Jack.

00:01:41

Jack

And I'm I was. I'm so nervous. I I can't even think about it because, you know, I'm I want her to be successful. I want her to do a great job.

00:01:53

Jack

But I don't want to jinx it. You know what I mean by, you know, I don't know, thinking too much about it or or, you know, giving her some bad luck or whatever. So I'm just trying to push it out of my mind. And I'm wondering if you ever feel that way.

00:02:10

Xochitl

Yeah, I would say.

00:02:13

Xochitl

There's so many like secondhand type of emotions, secondhand embarrassment, which means feeling embarrassed for someone else's secondhand anxiousness or nervousness where you feel anxious or nervous for someone and excited too, like you can be, oh, I'm so excited for her. I'm worried. Is she going to do well? I'm nervous.

00:02:20

Jack

Yes.

00:02:33

Xochitl

You know.

00:02:35

Xochitl

And yeah, I definitely felt that way before.

00:02:39

Jack

Yeah, I'd love that. These that you defined it really well. Secondhand emotions. Is that what?

00:02:44

Jack

You called it.

00:02:45

Xochitl

Yeah.

00:02:46

Jack

Yeah. So you know, we get this like one of the big ones is like the Olympic.

00:02:51

Jack

Like, you know, like, like the gymnastics when there's like one person has to perform some sort of like routine. And if they do it well, your country will win the gold medal. And there's I it. I feel like I get sick to my stomach when I watch those, you know.

00:03:11

Jack

Because I'm like, I want them to to do it so well, and I feel like if I can just channel like positive energy.

00:03:18

Jack

From my my brain to that person. And it's so funny because it's like it has nothing to do with me. Like I I'm inconsequential, you know, like. But somehow I feel like I can control it if I just use my mind, you know?

00:03:35

Xochitl

Mine Ben Jedi Powers to.

00:03:37

Jack

Yeah, I feel like if I could just if I could just use my mind and I think this is common in sports too, right? Like your basketball team. You want them to win so badly if you want it badly enough.

00:03:44

발표자

Now.

00:03:50

Jack

You can actually affect the outcome of the game. I think we do feel that. I mean, it's totally irrational, it's illogical. It makes no sense. But I think that's why people love sports is because they feel like they're invested in it and that's how I feel today because my daughter.

00:04:11

Jack

For for our listeners out there is a a ballerina. She goes to a ballet school in America, an Academy.

00:04:18

Jack

And they had their big performance today and she had a very important part that was very difficult and all week she's been struggling with it. I believe she's even said that she fell down one time while doing the practice. And so I was, like, freaking out in, in my mind.

00:04:39

Jack

All week, you know, just totally stressed about it, because not because I'm embarrassed if she doesn't do well, it's more just like I just want her to succeed so badly for herself, for her life, that.

00:04:53

Xochitl

Mm-hmm.

00:04:55

Jack

It's.

00:04:56

Jack

It I actually probably feel more nervous than she does about about these things, which is so funny.

00:05:03

Xochitl

Yes, you always have.

00:05:04

Xochitl

No control which makes you more nervous.

00:05:06

Xochitl

Right. It's like.

00:05:06

Jack

Yeah, right. That's a great point. I have no control over it and all I can do is send positive messages from my mind, you know, like good vibes to her. But I obviously I know that's not gonna do anything. And and I I didn't wanna.

00:05:23

Jack

I didn't want to put any pressure on her, so I all I did was say, hey, good luck today. You know, instead of saying like, make sure you did do this and don't do that and you have to do this. It's like the last thing she needs is advice from a guy who has who, you know, never a day in my life. Yeah.

00:05:39

Xochitl

He's never done that way a day in.

00:05:41

Xochitl

His life so.

00:05:43

Jack

You know, so. So my wife and I were really careful to not put any extra pressure on top of her because that's the last thing she needs. She needs to relax. She needs to be, you know, mentally.

00:05:56

Jack

Prepared. Yeah. Yeah, it's really fun.

00:05:59

Xochitl

I think that's.

00:05:59

Xochitl

Really important not to do and I think it's you guys should feel proud of yourselves. So I think it's very rare for parents to acknowledge that and to come to a point, especially in in certain cultures to say I don't want to put extra pressure on my daughter. I want her.

00:06:16

Xochitl

To succeed or do the best for her on her own terms. But you know, I'm not going to give her unsolicited advice. I'm not gonna make her feel unsupported accidentally by pressuring her even more.

00:06:29

Jack

Yeah. And I think that's uh, parents.

00:06:31

Jack

Have a very.

00:06:33

Jack

There's a there's a a strong urge to do that sometimes, and I'll tell you what. Like, you know, Tiger moms and helicopter moms get a really bad reputation, but they they're nothing close. Not they're not even nearly as bad as.

00:06:38

발표자

Yeah.

00:06:47

Xochitl

Hmm.

00:06:53

Jack

Sports dads.

00:06:56

Jack

Sports dads are, you know, they're, you know, yelling at their kid, you know, do this, do that. You gotta prepare this and you know, don't you know, swing your baseball bat this way or kick the soccer ball this way and you know, they get so invested.

00:07:16

Jack

That we have a word for it. It's called Vicarious to live vicariously through your child, and basically what that means is that the father is living out his sports fantasy through his child.

00:07:35

Jack

And so his self esteem and his self worth is all tied up in the child's performance, and that's too much pressure for a child to carry. It's such a burden and so and they and and they I feel like no one ever criticizes the sports dad. You know the crazy.

00:07:54

Jack

It's always the tiger mom and the helicopter mom that gets the bad reputation. But there's a dad version that is just as bad.

00:08:03

Jack

Or worse so.

00:08:04

Xochitl

Yeah, I have a dad just like that. And it wasn't even just about sports. It was about literally everything in my life.

00:08:10

Xochitl

And he could never say anything positive about anything. He was always like it just was never good enough for him.

00:08:17

Jack

Right.

00:08:18

Xochitl

He was just. That's something about dads like that. And uh, a lot of culture that's really common. It's not as.

00:08:24

Xochitl

Common in American.

00:08:25

Xochitl

Culture. But my dad slipped through the cracks or something. He's like, he is absolutely insane. He's so.

00:08:31

Jack

Well, your dad is old school, you know. They like the World War Two generate. You know, baby boomers like, you know, just boys don't cry.

00:08:34

발표자

And.

00:08:41

Xochitl

The Cold War, right? But like still? Yeah, he was a boomer. He's a he's a.

00:08:46

Xochitl

He's a limit between Boomer and Gen. X.

00:08:49

Jack

Right, right. He he's almost Gen. X. But like what I mean by baby boomer is like their parents were like ohh, you think this is bad? Well, how about World War Two when I was flying airplanes over Germany? You know, it's like, so just shut up and eat your vegetables. You know that kind of.

00:09:07

Xochitl

Yeah, you think this is bad? I'll beat you up and no, no listeners, but yeah, it was very bad. So I know his parents are really hard on him. And then he and in turn, he was really hard on us and and.

00:09:08

발표자

Right.

00:09:11

Jack

Yeah, exactly.

00:09:15

Jack

Yes.

00:09:20

Xochitl

Ultimately, it never helps your kids because you just give them low self esteem, which is.

00:09:24

Xochitl

What? Yeah.

00:09:24

Jack

Yes, you give them low self esteem. You, you, you, you, you shatter their their their ego. You know they're they're kind of the their ability to like trust their instincts and trust their decision makings and process and you you just make them very much like insecure about you know the.

00:09:35

발표자

Even though.

00:09:44

Jack

The ground that they're standing on, you know, you know.

00:09:46

Xochitl

Yeah.

00:09:47

Xochitl

Yeah. And you make them like perfectionist and they're completely blinded. It says we say have a saying in English. The perfect is the enemy of the good and that's.

00:09:56

Xochitl

As if you're only trying to do perfect things, you will just you never get anything done. It's because it's never good enough. It's like you could do a Mona Lisa painting and then you went and and tore it to shreds and threw it in the fire.

00:10:07

Xochitl

Pit because you.

00:10:08

Xochitl

Were like ohh the way her eye, the twinkle in her eye wasn't done exactly perfectly, so I'm going to start all over again.

00:10:14

Jack

I'm throwing it away because every time I move, she's looking at me and I don't like that, you know.

00:10:19

Xochitl

Right. Yeah. And so it's definitely a a big factor in in parenting and.

00:10:26

Xochitl

I think this new generation of parents, I'm proud of the fact that I think they learned a lot from their parents and what best for their kids, you know, and are doing the best and it's. Yeah, it's important to support them.

00:10:31

Jack

Yeah.

00:10:38

Jack

Well, it's it is true. And this is we're off topic now. But you know we we pass our damage. You know our our, our our damages you know our our.

00:10:50

Xochitl

Almost.

00:10:51

Jack

Our traumas, we pass those on to our kids even though and we we don't do it consciously it it happens subject.

00:11:00

Jack

Obviously and but, but if you can recognize the trauma, then you can kind of do something about it. And so, you know, I, I decided long ago I'm never gonna be a helicopter parent. I'm never gonna. I'm never gonna be involved in the ballet except as a cheerleader. I'm just her biggest fan.

00:11:21

Jack

And that's it. And so it's only positive I only cheer for her and I don't tell her what to do or how to do it or anything, cause it's none of my business that's for her coaches. That's for her teachers.

00:11:33

Jack

To do and it's made. It's made a huge difference. You know, there's, there's there's no friction between the two of us. Yeah. No resentment. Yeah.

00:11:34

Xochitl

Right.

00:11:40

Xochitl

Yeah, we got me in fiction. Yeah, that's important. Yeah. Alright. Well, tell us, have you ever felt a second hand emotion, whether it be feeling embarrassed for someone else, nervous for someone else, excited for someone else and also let us know what kind of parenting style did your parents engage in and what's common in your culture and your?

00:11:59

발표자

OK.

00:12:00

Xochitl

We're very interested to know, leave this comment down below at A-Z englishpodcast.com shoot us an e-mail at at ozspodcast@gmail.com and make sure to join the WeChat and WhatsApp groups to talk to Jack and I directly. And if you can spare a little extra money, make sure to sign up for exclusive content as that really helps Jack and I be able to create more content.

00:12:17

Xochitl

And I'll see you guys next time. Bye bye.

00:12:19

Jack

Bye bye.

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In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Xochitl talks about her trip to China.

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Transcript:

00:00:00

Jack

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00:00:20

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00:00:30

Xochitl

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00:00:31

Jack

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00:00:36

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00:00:50

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00:00:57

Jack

OK.

00:00:58

Jack

Now let's get on with the show. Welcome to the A-Z English podcast. My name is Jack and I'm here with my co-host social. And today we are doing a topic talk.

00:01:16

Jack

And today's topic is social's trip to China when she was 16 years old and social I I didn't know that you went to China when you were sixteen. I think this is the first time I'm learning of this and.

00:01:34

Jack

Why did you go? Who did you go with? What did you do? You know all the WH questions? I'm so curious.

00:01:41

Xochitl

UM so.

00:01:45

Xochitl

What can I say about this trip?

00:01:48

Xochitl

UM, well, we went. I was learning Mandarin at the time I started learning Mandarin in the in freshman year of high school, which for our listeners that means first year of high school and in US we have four years of high school so.

00:02:06

Xochitl

My I want to say it was my junior year. Yes, because I was 16 my junior year.

00:02:12

Xochitl

I the summer of my junior year, we went to China on a trip because as it turns out, my dad is a a university professor and his university, the Confucius Institute, holds a trip to China. And you have to pay like your ticket. But I think everything else is paid for it.

00:02:29

Xochitl

It's like it's subsidized, so that means like they pay for a lot of your trip and.

00:02:34

Jack

So you just buy the ticket, but they pay for like your accommodation. They pay for your food and that kind of stuff they travel.

00:02:41

Xochitl

Yeah, I believe either that was the case or it's subsidized, meaning they put a lot of money towards your your accommodation and your food and your travel. And. Yeah, so it was pretty affordable. So my dad said.

00:02:50

Jack

It lowers the price down so.

00:02:53

Jack

Don't have to pay much.

00:02:55

Xochitl

Hmm.

00:02:57

Xochitl

Hey, I'll pay for it. My dad found it, actually, and he said he would pay for it for me. And so I.

00:03:01

Xochitl

Said.

00:03:02

Xochitl

Yeah. OK and.

00:03:07

Xochitl

A few like only one other person who was in my class in Chinese went, and besides, that was all students from Louisville, which is the capital of Kentucky.

00:03:17

Jack

Yeah.

00:03:18

Xochitl

And so we all went to China, and it was a a an age range from.

00:03:27

Xochitl

1617.

00:03:30

Xochitl

Pretty much and.

00:03:34

Xochitl

We it was a really great time. I think we landed in Beijing and we went to Shanghai and Xian.

00:03:41

Jack

Hmm.

00:03:42

Xochitl

And I really, really loved it. I think that's probably one of my favorite places that I've ever visited.

00:03:48

Xochitl

I really like the food. I liked the weather, I liked how busy it was, and there were a lot of really beautiful parks, like especially she had a really beautiful park and we spent the most time in Shannon and spent a week in Shannon. If I'm not mistaken, and went to a high school and got to meet like other kids our age. And then we went to host family and have like, dinner with them.

00:03:54

Jack

Yeah.

00:04:04

Jack

Yeah.

00:04:13

Xochitl

And we got to go shopping and we got to take the subway and like, we got to, like, eat street food and we got to go on the Great Wall. We hiked on the great.

00:04:23

Xochitl

Wall of China.

00:04:24

Jack

Oh cool.

00:04:25

Xochitl

Yeah, we went to Shanghai, we went to like some traditional palace. I want to say.

00:04:32

Jack

Yeah.

00:04:33

Xochitl

Yeah, because we went to some gardens. Some like traditional gardens in Shanghai, and it was very hot and humid in Shanghai and in Beijing it was very rainy and cold. It was like.

00:04:44

Xochitl

Very because Shanghai's the South and Beijing's like the north, right? And then Shian was probably my favorite because.

00:04:53

Xochitl

The weather was just perfect the whole time, so I really liked it there.

00:04:57

Jack

So social you said you went to Shanghai. I I heard some quotes by a famous chef and traveler, Anthony Bourdain. And he said.

00:05:00

Xochitl

Yeah.

00:05:09

Xochitl

Yes.

00:05:10

Jack

Shanghai makes New York City look like a.

00:05:13

Jack

Third world country.

00:05:14

Jack

Country.

00:05:15

Jack

Like and and I I've always found that really interesting because I think the perception that Americans have of China is that it's somehow backwards or, you know, it's not developed or whatever. And if you look at some of these projects that they have and they're building.

00:05:37

Jack

And the things that they're doing in China, they're it looks like it looks like it's in science fiction movie like it's in the future.

00:05:43

Xochitl

Yes. Yeah.

00:05:46

Xochitl

That this was almost 10 years ago. At this point, I guess, or 10 years ago. So. But I do remember that it was really insane how tall all the buildings were, and we had a race after I think in Beijing is where we ate Peking ducks because it was a specialty. And I want to say that's from Beijing.

00:05:57

Jack

Yeah.

00:06:06

Xochitl

But he's saying.

00:06:06

Jack

Yeah.

00:06:07

Xochitl

Just correct me if I'm wrong, I'm pretty sure that's.

00:06:10

Xochitl

And so after he had pecking dunk, it was really delicious. But it's heavy because it's kind of fatty and sugary, and it's really.

00:06:15

Jack

The duck is the duck is is wonderful, but it's so oily and so.

00:06:22

Xochitl

You're saying it's like delicious cake buds, and then your stomachs like so. My friends and I like waist because we were staying on like the 13th floor or something. I don't think any of it. No, it was higher than that. None of us had ever been that high up and like, stayed that high up. And so I remember that we got in like an.

00:06:23

Xochitl

Rich.

00:06:26

Jack

Yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:06:40

Xochitl

There and they got an elevator and my friend and I tried to.

00:06:45

Xochitl

Race him up the.

00:06:45

Xochitl

Stairs. There's no way we could make.

00:06:47

Xochitl

It you know we.

00:06:48

Xochitl

Were just like running. It isn't good, I think made it and I made it and like they were. I think they had, like stopped on the floor because of something or something. And so they we made it close to the same time.

00:06:48

Jack

You got to like the 8th floor and.

00:06:52

Jack

Yeah.

00:07:02

Xochitl

But I like threw up after cause I ran so hard and I was like, no, I'm not taking that.

00:07:09

Jack

Amazing duck goes in Beijing. Duck goes out. Yeah.

00:07:12

Xochitl

So it was very.

00:07:15

Jack

Ohh my gosh.

00:07:15

Xochitl

Yeah, and seeing how I was very beautiful, we actually I believe we stayed at a university in Shanghai and.

00:07:23

Xochitl

It was really nice. I remember the dorms and everything and.

00:07:29

Xochitl

We were saying some college dorms, even though we.

00:07:31

Xochitl

Were.

00:07:31

Xochitl

High school students, but it's because I think the university Shanghai has like some exchange program. That's what we are looking at. And yeah, it was really fascinating. I we really enjoyed it. And I would say it's a beautiful country. I think it's one of the the.

00:07:39

Jack

Yeah.

00:07:48

Xochitl

That in Seattle are two places that I went and I was like, I love it here. I I could live here. I could stay here forever, you know.

00:07:55

Jack

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Shanghai is a city that I've I absolutely must visit. I'm I'm I'm more interested in visiting Shanghai than I am in visiting Beijing. Oddly enough, I know it's the capital city and everything, but I really want to visit Shanghai. It seems like such a cool.

00:08:14

Jack

Vibe, like such a cool city.

00:08:16

Xochitl

Yeah. And the Chinese listeners don't hate me for this. I like the Southern accent more, even though it's more improper.

00:08:25

Xochitl

The the northern accent is more difficult for me to pronounce because it's like it's rougher and like the the tones and like the the sounds like the consonant sounds are much sharper and the Southern accent is like.

00:08:38

Xochitl

Mm-hmm.

00:08:41

Xochitl

More, it's softer and it's easier for a foreigner because it's hard to like. Enunciate those. Those like sharp consonant sounds like like that kind of for the for the north and for the South. It might be like the instead of the. And so it was just easier for me to pronounce because my first teacher was actually southern Chinese.

00:09:02

Jack

No.

00:09:02

Jack

OK.

00:09:03

Xochitl

And my tutor after that was also she was from Nanjing, so she was from the South southern capital city. I guess so I was more used to that. And then when I went to college.

00:09:13

Xochitl

The professors were from the north and it was so hard to keep up because it's like it's a more proper, supposedly I think pronunciation.

00:09:21

Jack

OK, be more formal or something like that. Like yeah, yeah.

00:09:26

Xochitl

I guess it's more. It's kind of like how in in the southern US like dialect or regional accent, we kind of slow words together or whatever.

00:09:35

Jack

Yeah, there's a southern drawl. They call it, you know, which I think it would be really funny if if for like, a a Chinese student or a Korean student to go to America and study English in Louisiana or Georgia or Alabama.

00:09:38

Xochitl

Yes, OK.

00:09:52

Jack

And so they learn, you know, English with that, like how y'all doing, you know? Hey, y'all, you know, something like that. It's it's like, yeah.

00:09:58

Xochitl

Hey. Yeah. Yeah. So that's basically how I learned Chinese. So that's what I had this funny accent to them, to the Northerners. So it was fun, though. But yeah. So yeah, that was my trip to China. I have so many very fond memories, and I loved it. And I definitely, I think it's one of the number one.

00:10:18

Xochitl

Countries that I that I really want to go back.

00:10:21

Jack

OK. And what how about the people I we we I forgot to ask you about the people but.

00:10:22

Xochitl

The one that I.

00:10:26

Xochitl

Everyone was so friendly and it was crazy because everyone was so friendly and it felt really safe and I remember I left my like wallet full of money at one of these stands and the the old lady went after me and I was like, hey, you forgot this.

00:10:40

Jack

Wow, I love that.

00:10:40

Xochitl

And crazy cause a lot of places they'd be like, oh, I just do that in the US. Don't do that. You know what I mean?

00:10:44

Jack

Hey.

00:10:47

Jack

In the US, that money is Gonzo. Yeah. Gone for sure. Yeah.

00:10:52

Xochitl

And here you left your money here and I bought all this merch because I knew my dad would really like it. It was really fun. It was like these.

00:11:00

Xochitl

T-shirts Obama was president at the time, and they were called like Obama. Mao, like Mao did. The only guess, but Obama added it's like not in the Red Star. And it was really, I really. I had a fun time with that. I got my dad like a watch and AT shirt and a hat and all this stuff.

00:11:07

Jack

Yeah, Obama.

00:11:18

Jack

Nice. That's great.

00:11:20

Xochitl

Yeah. And the people are so nice, so friendly and.

00:11:24

Xochitl

They were, so they were.

00:11:25

Xochitl

So, like nice and flattering to us and and like accommodating and I don't know, I really, really appreciated it. And yeah, nothing, nothing bad to say, all good things. And I really hope to come back someday and be able to see.

00:11:40

Jack

You maybe wanna go to China. I really wanna get there so.

00:11:43

Xochitl

You have to go. My dad also really wants to go. And I tell him, like, come on, man.

00:11:48

Xochitl

You should go because the circus we also went to the circus. It was so cool. And The thing is really funny is that the popcorn is like sweet there. It's not salty. It's not like like.

00:11:58

Jack

Yeah, it's the same in Korea too. They got, you know, yeah, the, the the sweet popcorn, the caramel popcorn. Yeah, it's.

00:12:02

Xochitl

Yeah.

00:12:05

Jack

It's it's interesting.

00:12:07

Jack

Yeah, I'm. I'm definitely a savory. Over over. Yeah, yeah.

00:12:10

Xochitl

Yeah. Anyway, listeners, let us know, are you too sweet or salty popcorn? Have you been to China? Are you from China? Tell us your experiences. I really love it. Definitely country that I want to go.

00:12:22

Xochitl

Too, and yeah, we'll see you guys next time. Make sure to join our WeChat and WhatsApp groups. That way we can interact with you directly if you have any money to spare, make sure that you join to see our exclusive content episodes. It really helps. I can I make more content for you guys and send us an e-mail at at ozenglishpodcast@gmail.com and leave us a comment.

00:12:43

Xochitl

And below at A-Z englishpodcast.com and we'll see you guys next time. Bye bye.

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In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Jack gives some common reasons why people might hate English.

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The reasons why some people may express a dislike for the English language can vary widely based on personal, cultural, and educational factors. Here are some common reasons:

Complex Grammar and Spelling: English has many irregular rules and exceptions in its grammar and spelling, making it difficult to learn and master. For example, words like "knight" and "night" sound the same but are spelled differently, and verb conjugations can be inconsistent.

Colonial History: English is often associated with British colonialism. In countries that were colonized, English might be seen as a symbol of oppression and cultural erasure. This historical context can contribute to negative feelings towards the language.

Global Dominance: The prevalence of English as a global lingua franca can sometimes feel overpowering. In international settings, non-native speakers might feel pressured to learn English, which can lead to resentment, especially if they feel their own languages and cultures are being overshadowed.

Cultural Imposition: The dominance of English-language media (movies, music, literature) can sometimes be seen as a form of cultural imperialism, pushing Western norms and values onto other cultures.

Educational Challenges: In some educational systems, English is taught in a way that feels overly strict or punitive, leading to negative associations. Students might struggle with the language due to teaching methods that do not accommodate different learning styles.

Pronunciation Difficulties: English pronunciation can be particularly challenging for non-native speakers. The same letter combinations can be pronounced differently in various words, leading to confusion and frustration.

Language Pride: People may feel a strong sense of pride in their native language and view the necessity of learning English as undermining their own linguistic and cultural identity.

Social and Economic Inequality: In some societies, fluency in English can be a marker of social status and economic opportunity, creating a divide between those who have access to quality English education and those who do not. This can foster resentment among those who feel disadvantaged.

Understanding these reasons can foster a more empathetic perspective towards those who may dislike English. It highlights the importance of promoting multilingualism and cultural respect in global interactions.

Here's a deeper look into the complexities of English language structure and pronunciation that contribute to its perceived difficulty:

Language Structure

Irregular Verb Conjugations:

English has many irregular verbs that do not follow standard conjugation patterns. For instance, "go" becomes "went" (past tense) instead of "goed."

This requires memorization of many unique forms, which can be challenging for learners.

Inconsistent Spelling Rules:

The relationship between spelling and pronunciation in English is often inconsistent. For example, the "ough" in "though," "through," "rough," and "cough" is pronounced differently in each word.

Words borrowed from other languages retain their original spellings, adding to the complexity (e.g., "ballet" from French, "yacht" from Dutch).

Articles and Determiners:

English uses articles ("a," "an," "the") and determiners (e.g., "some," "any") that do not exist in all languages, requiring learners to understand their proper usage.

The definite article "the" and the indefinite articles "a" and "an" are used based on specific grammatical rules that can be confusing.

Syntax Variability:

English allows for flexible sentence structures but also has specific rules about word order (Subject-Verb-Object is standard).

Questions and negatives require auxiliary verbs (e.g., "Do you like...?" "I do not like...").

Prepositions:

English prepositions can be particularly tricky because their use often does not follow a logical pattern and must be memorized (e.g., "interested in," "good at," "afraid of").

Pronunciation Challenges

Vowel Sounds:

English has a large number of vowel sounds (about 20), including diphthongs, which are combinations of two vowel sounds within the same syllable.

For example, the "i" in "bit" is different from the "i" in "bite."

Consonant Clusters:

English frequently uses consonant clusters (multiple consonants together) which can be difficult for speakers of languages that do not use them.

Words like "strengths" or "twelfth" are challenging due to their complex clusters.

Stress and Intonation:

English is a stress-timed language, meaning that the rhythm of speech is based on the stress of syllables rather than the syllable count.

Sentence meaning can change based on intonation and stress patterns (e.g., "I didn't say he stole the money" can have different meanings depending on which word is stressed).

Homophones and Homographs:

Homophones are words that sound the same but have different meanings and spellings (e.g., "two," "to," "too").

Homographs are words that are spelled the same but have different meanings and sometimes different pronunciations (e.g., "lead" as in to guide, and "lead" as in the metal).

Silent Letters:

Many English words contain silent letters that are not pronounced (e.g., the "k" in "knight," the "b" in "debt").

This inconsistency adds to the difficulty of spelling and pronunciation.

Examples of Difficulties

"The chaos of English pronunciation": A classic example is the poem "The Chaos" by Gerard Nolst Trenité, which illustrates the inconsistencies and complexities in English pronunciation.

Minimal Pairs: Words that differ by only a single sound can change meanings entirely (e.g., "ship" vs. "sheep," "bat" vs. "pat").

Conclusion

The irregularities and inconsistencies in English grammar, spelling, and pronunciation contribute significantly to the difficulty of learning the language. Understanding these challenges can help educators develop more effective teaching methods and learners to be more patient with their progress.

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In this exclusive episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Xochitl and Jack talk about how music can help you improve your English.

Transcript:

00:00:00

Jack

Hey A-Z listeners, this is Jack here.

00:00:03

Jack

And if you would like to become a an exclusive subscriber to the show, you can hit the link in the description and that will take you to our Red Circle page, where for $1.99 a month you will get access to an extra two or three episodes each week.

00:00:23

Jack

And be careful, don't hit that donation button if you want to become an exclusive subscriber because the donation button is just a one time donation. However, the exclusive subscriber button will give you access to the extra two or three episodes.

00:00:42

Jack

Each week.

00:00:44

Jack

So make sure you hit that exclusive subscriber button if you want access to the extra episodes.

00:00:52

Jack

Now let's get on with the show.

00:00:55

Jack

Welcome to the Ados English podcast. My name is Jack and I'm here with my co-host social. And today we're doing another topic talk episode, and this one is how to use music in language learning.

00:01:09

Jack

And because I think music can be a real, UM, interesting way to, you know, improve your English. So the first one I have here is listen actively.

00:01:21

Jack

And what that means is start by listening to songs and trying to understand the lyrics. Uh, look up the lyrics online, read along while listening and translate unfamiliar words and phrases. And then you can repeat and even sing along with the song. And I've.

00:01:42

Jack

Seeing Korean students.

00:01:45

Jack

Seeing English songs in like almost perfect intonation just because they practiced so much and they can actually sing a song in English and it sounds wonderful. It just sounds wonderful. So what do you think about that? Listen, listening actively.

00:01:53

Xochitl

Looks great.

00:02:07

Xochitl

I think it really helps because you're doing a lot of things there. When you're memorizing lyrics. Another thing that you're doing is that you're perfecting your accent and your pronunciation. You're working on your listening skills, and you are retaining information about the meaning of the lyrics, and you're doing all of these things at the same time, which obviously is a huge.

00:02:28

Xochitl

Stupid.

00:02:29

Jack

Absolutely. Absolutely. OK. Now, #2 is kind of related to #1, uh, this one is analyzed the lyrics. And so it's like breakdown the song line by line and try to identify patterns of like grammar, verb tense, idiomatic expressions and things like that.

00:02:50

Jack

Do you do I think that could be actually?

00:02:52

Jack

It enjoyable because you're you'll get even more out of the song. You know, you might like the the melody of the song but but not understand the lyrics. But if you sit down and just break down the lyrics and try to understand exactly what they mean and you know there's going to be a lot of idiom.

00:03:14

Jack

A lot of poetry, a lot of rhyme in there, and I think that might open some some doors. I don't know. What do you think?

00:03:23

Xochitl

Yeah, I I think it really helps because lyrics are fairly poetic in their language. We use a lot of figurative language and lyrics, and I think that it really gets your gears working on decoding language and working through some of those idioms that you might have heard.

00:03:43

Xochitl

I'm working through some just figurative language. In general, things like comparisons or symbols inside lyrics. All of those things really help you think about English and language on a higher level.

00:03:54

Jack

Yes.

00:03:59

Jack

OK. Yeah, I totally.

00:04:02

Jack

And #3, we've got four. So there's two more #3 is use music videos because being able to see the the video. And I think part of it just looking at their lips, you know, as they're speaking that you're seeing the mouth and the art articulation is good.

00:04:20

Xochitl

Yes.

00:04:21

Jack

But also the context.

00:04:24

Jack

Because, you know, many music videos are often storytelling. You know it's it's, it's video, it's visual storytelling with a musical.

00:04:34

Jack

Soundtrack to go with it and how? How do you feel about that like and and using subtitles as well with the with the music videos?

00:04:46

Xochitl

Uhm, I think that's really interesting. I think you can also try doing it without subtitles at first and just seeing how much you understand what's going on and just switch you back and forth. Don't be afraid to jump into something without subtitles and just try to see how much of it you can gather on your own just through contacts and through what you are already.

00:04:53

발표자

Mm-hmm.

00:05:04

Xochitl

You know, and yeah, I think watching music videos, I I really like your point about looking at the lips and the Annunciation and the pronunciation and everything. That's one of my biggest tips for language learning. And when people ask me how I like mimic pronunciation, I've always made a key point of looking at people's mouths.

00:05:25

Xochitl

They talk another language and you see the.

00:05:26

Jack

Mm-hmm.

00:05:28

발표자

Difference.

00:05:30

Xochitl

For example, in English our mouths are a lot more closed and we use a lot of kind of guttural sounds. Like all the way from the back of our.

00:05:36

발표자

Throat.

00:05:39

Xochitl

But in Spanish you open your mouth a lot more when you talk to make the vowels like bigger. And then in Korea and I noticed people using a lot of their nose when they spoke to make certain.

00:05:46

발표자

Again.

00:05:53

Jack

Ohh more nasal size. Yeah, yeah.

00:05:56

Xochitl

Kind of nasal like and.

00:05:58

Xochitl

Noises and kind of Gee noises with their nose. So.

00:06:01

Jack

Yeah.

00:06:02

Jack

That's interesting. That's interesting. Yeah. Yeah, I think I think music videos is a good way, especially if you've already analyzed the lyrics. And here's another thing I I that just kind of occurred to me.

00:06:15

Jack

Is, UM, you know, a lot of song music is a good a good way to do it, because a song is something you if you find a song that really kind of.

00:06:27

Jack

That you really that you really enjoy. Yeah. You can listen to it multiple times, like listening to a lecture, some kind of like audio recording from a book is is gonna get so boring after the third or fourth time. But a song you could listen to it 100 times. You know, you just you still enjoy it.

00:06:27

Xochitl

Right.

00:06:45

Xochitl

Wasn't really every day.

00:06:47

Xochitl

It's for per year, honestly.

00:06:49

Jack

Right, right, right. Well, I'm one of those people that when I find a song that I love, I just. I beat it into the ground, you know, I'll listen to it over and over and over again until the point where I basically can't listen to it anymore, which is, I don't know what that says about me. It's it's a a very odd thing.

00:07:09

Xochitl

A lot of people are like that. It's kind of like a hit of of good emotion.

00:07:15

Jack

Yeah. It's like a dopamine.

00:07:17

Xochitl

When you're listening to a drug, I mean, sorry, you're listening to a song.

00:07:21

Xochitl

Yeah. It's like a drug hit. Dopamine hit. Whatever. So I have no experience, I swear. But I I just remember when I was in in college, we were taking a course on music. And I remember that there was a study that said that it can be more powerful. The the what goes on in your brain chemically when you hear a song that you really like.

00:07:42

Xochitl

Can be more powerful than drugs, and I remember that really stuck with me. So yeah, it definitely keeps.

00:07:47

Jack

Yeah, sure, sure. Well, I mean, it makes sense, right? I mean, there's adrenaline, dopamine and things like that that occurs naturally.

00:07:56

Jack

Through like you go skydiving or bungee jumping that that has a a feel of like a like a drug feeling. So yeah, that you're you're not wrong. You're not wrong at all. Our last one is explore different genres listen to a wide variety of music genres to expose yourself to different vocabulary and expressions.

00:08:18

Jack

Each genre might have its own slang and cultural references.

00:08:23

Jack

I think that's interesting.

00:08:24

Xochitl

I like that. Yeah, it kind of went similar to what I talked about with the articles of what we talked about the articles earlier. Yeah, I think really diversifying the content that not only what you watch on YouTube and through YouTube channels or what you read in articles, but also the kind of genres of music you listen to and even the genres of things that you watch on Netflix, you could.

00:08:43

Xochitl

Watch a show like a horror movie comedy, A Stand up comedy, a documentary and it's very by night and you'll acquire a lot of information and new vocabulary that will really help you overcome those plateaus and keep you interested also.

00:08:46

Xochitl

OK.

00:08:57

Jack

Yeah, if.

00:08:58

Jack

Want to if?

00:08:59

Jack

You if you want to, you know, learn, learn a lot of vocabulary about heartbreak, listen to country music. You know, if you want to hear the romantic vocabulary, listen to a lot of R&B. You know, a lot of love songs. So yeah, it'll expose you to different things.

00:09:07

발표자

Right.

00:09:14

Xochitl

Right.

00:09:18

Jack

Well, that those are four are four big ones.

00:09:22

Xochitl

All right, listeners, if you like that, make sure to leave a comment down below letting us know which tips you're going to be using and shoot us an e-mail at A-Z with podcast@gmail.com. Leave us a comment@azenglishpodcast.com and make sure to join the WeChat and WhatsApp group so you can join Jack and I in conversation. And again if you have $1.99.

00:09:42

Xochitl

There, we really appreciate you guys joining our exclusive podcast content. We really, really appreciate the support so far from all our listeners. It's really helped us so far be able to make and think new content for.

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In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Xochitl and Jack provide three good strategies for overcoming a plateau in your language learning journey.

Transcript:

00:00:00

Jack

Hey A-Z listeners, this is Jack here.

00:00:03

Jack

And if you would like to become a an exclusive subscriber to the show, you can hit the link in the description and that will take you to our Red Circle page, where for $1.99 a month you will get access to an extra two or three episodes each week.

00:00:23

Jack

And be careful, don't hit that donation button if you want to become an exclusive subscriber because the donation button is just a one time donation. However, the exclusive subscriber button will give you access to the extra two or three episodes.

00:00:42

Jack

Each week.

00:00:44

Jack

So make sure you hit that exclusive subscriber button if you want access to the extra episodes.

00:00:52

Jack

Now let's get on with the show.

00:00:56

Jack

Welcome to the Ages English podcast. My name is Jack and I'm here with my co-host social. And today we are doing a topic talk episode and social the topic for today is I've I've pulled up three strategies for overcoming.

00:01:13

Jack

A plateau in language learning and a plateau just means that you reached a certain level and then you're not improving anymore. You're kind of stuck and you're you're kind of flatlined.

00:01:25

Jack

Know.

00:01:26

Jack

And yeah, so I'll, I'll.

00:01:27

Xochitl

I'm.

00:01:29

Jack

I'll tell you the strategies.

00:01:30

Jack

And then you just, you know, tell me what you think about them and and and share your your your your view on on these.

00:01:38

Jack

So the first one is.

00:01:40

Jack

Diversify your learning methods, which means changing the way you engage with the language can re energize your learning process. So incorporate different activities that target various skills, such as reading, listening, writing and speaking.

00:02:00

Jack

You can for reading, you can choose a variety of materials such as books, articles and blogs to expand your vocabulary. You can listen to podcasts. You can follow YouTube channels and again that's right in our that's what we're doing here.

00:02:18

Jack

UM to listen to different accents and slang, and we do a lot of slang episodes. So the 80s, the English podcast is really a great way to improve your listening by writing, journaling, writing essays, or replying on online form.

00:02:35

Jack

Things. And by joining language exchange programs, finding a conversation partner or participating in speaking clubs. Or you could even join the world English Google meets class, which is something that I started with.

00:02:56

Jack

Another another teacher here in Korea and students can for $10 a month, they can join and just have a one hour conversation. Actually, if you become a VIP, it sometimes students will talk for two or three hours a night.

00:03:13

Jack

Every night. Every day. Yeah. So. And then there are multiple classes and what we have multiple teachers teaching different lessons as well. So you know. So there's a lot of things you can do. What what do you, how do you feel about this like?

00:03:13

발표자

Yes.

00:03:28

Jack

Diversifying learning methods.

00:03:31

Xochitl

I think that's really good. I I actually was one of the first things I would have suggested right off the bat, especially with reading. It's really great to read varied content like you can try.

00:03:44

Xochitl

Thing old English literature and you can try reading science articles and you can try reading the horoscope in a magazine or a celebrity news thing or and and you can try reading a fashion article just because you're gonna acquire a lot more different, diverse vocabulary that you don't see in every day and.

00:03:53

Jack

Right.

00:04:04

Xochitl

That really helps be able to get you from just a proficient level to really a distinguished native speaker level.

00:04:14

Jack

I'm gonna throw. I'm gonna throw a plug for something I'm not related to it at all. I have no connection to it.

00:04:21

Xochitl

Yeah, do it.

00:04:21

발표자

But.

00:04:22

Jack

It's called Breaking News English and what they do is they take an article and they kind of scale it down so that it's more understandable for second language learners.

00:04:35

Jack

And they put a new article up every single day, and you can read the article and answer some comprehension questions, some true or false questions, vocabulary matching. They've got lots of little exercises there, and I think that's just such a great.

00:04:51

Jack

Website I I've used it many times for my classes and I I love breaking news English. So if you're in, if you're looking for somebody to read and the articles are all different, you know it's a science article. It's a sports article. It's a news article. It's all just a bunch of different things. And like you said.

00:05:10

Jack

If you read a variety of of material, you're gonna pick up a variety of vocabulary. If you stay in one specific area like sports only, you're gonna get a lot of sports lingo, but you may.

00:05:24

Jack

Get exposed to science or yeah.

00:05:24

Xochitl

You'll be lacking in several social studies, sociology and all history, yeah.

00:05:30

발표자

Right.

00:05:33

Jack

Exactly, exactly. #2, the second one is set specific, achievable goals. Breaking down your learning into smaller manageable goals can help you stay motivated and measure progress.

00:05:48

발표자

Yes.

00:05:49

Jack

How do you feel about that one?

00:05:51

Xochitl

I think that was good. I mean for example, you could say your goal is to improve your pronunciation, but that's extremely vague. But for example, let's say that you struggle with pronouncing the R or R.

00:06:06

Xochitl

R sounds so which is really common. Then you could practice a few words that are L&R heavier that alternate between L&R within the same word.

00:06:18

Xochitl

And record yourself every day and you'll see your progress from the beginning of the month to the end of the month. And that will really inspire you to keep going and keep practicing and improving.

00:06:30

Jack

That's right. That's right. I think students tend to like, try to bite off more than they can chew. You know, you you you set your goals as like I wanna. I wanna sound like a native speaker. What does that mean exactly? You wanna sound like a native speaker? Well, I mean, it's it's kind of like a a a child saying, you know, I want to be Michael Jordan.

00:06:35

Xochitl

Yeah.

00:06:44

Xochitl

Right.

00:06:50

Jack

Well, there's a lot of steps that you have to take to get to that high. The highest level of of basketball or whatever sport you.

00:06:50

Xochitl

Yeah.

00:06:57

Jack

Might be playing.

00:06:59

Jack

You you have to, you know, set you small goals. Yeah. Yeah. Well, right.

00:07:01

Xochitl

Pick an accent.

00:07:05

Xochitl

Pick an accent for 1A neutral English or some kind. The easiest one that though, or the one that you like, or the one that you resonate the most with and there's just so many small goals from there. Just start with short words or the one you know, ones that you have a little bit of a hard time.

00:07:22

Xochitl

Announcing and then build up from there and gain your confidence, yeah.

00:07:26

Jack

Absolutely.

00:07:28

Jack

And #3 is immerse yourself in language and immersion is one of the most effective ways to push through a plateau. And what does immersion mean?

00:07:39

Xochitl

Immersion means when you are fully surrounded by a language, in a lot of aspects. So when I was living in Korea, I was immersed in Korean because it's only foreign teacher. So all day, every day, all that I would hear were people speaking Korean around me. And I would say this is this. And patients were the biggest keys to my breakthrough and speaking Korean.

00:08:00

Xochitl

Because at first when I got there and I would, I would hear a word and I'd.

00:08:05

Xochitl

I wouldn't know where a word began in another one and another began.

00:08:08

Jack

Yes, that's a hard thing. You create a yeah, yes.

00:08:11

Xochitl

I was like, what's going on? Because so where is there so many it might be?

00:08:16

Xochitl

A sentence with only two or two words or three words, or even one word. But it has many syllables, so I was very confused. I was very confused and then with I said I said I'll never learn Korean. I'm I've gone crazy on. I don't know what I'm doing here with patients. Within a couple of weeks, I could. I could begin to distinguish where.

00:08:36

Xochitl

Words ended and and began.

00:08:39

Xochitl

And every month it just got better and better. And then I would feel like I hit a plateau of understanding, or sometimes I would even regress a little bit and then I would improve. And so it it's another thing is that learning of any type and especially language learning, it's not necessarily a linear improvement, is not going to be linear. You might do really well for a while, you might regress.

00:08:59

Xochitl

After a little bit and come back down. But overall the trend is going to be that you're improving. So you just have.

00:09:04

Jack

Yes.

00:09:05

Xochitl

To have faith, yes.

00:09:06

Jack

Absolutely. It's a, it's a. It's a long process and it's very detailed and or tedious we say detailed.

00:09:16

Jack

And it takes a long time to to to grow your language skills. And yeah, I mean, like, So what social did what I did travel if possible. So that's one of the ways you can do just throw yourself right into the fire. You know, so that you have to use.

00:09:29

Xochitl

Yes.

00:09:35

Xochitl

Thanks.

00:09:37

Jack

The target language you have to use English to survive. You know survival English, you know, right? But that's expensive and that's not available to everybody that that's not available. But you can do a version of that online like that. Google meets class that I was talking about.

00:09:42

Xochitl

Sometimes people.

00:09:53

Jack

On is a kind of a version of that where we have a number no native language rule. You have to speak English and so no matter what your skill level is, you've got to find a way to communicate some ideas and you just have to figure it out and you're there's no, there's no guide or anything necessarily.

00:10:07

Xochitl

Yeah.

00:10:13

Jack

You just, you know, you can ask questions, people will help you. But it's a great way to grow because it's a stress. It's putting stress on your.

00:10:22

Jack

On on, on you and forcing you to perform.

00:10:25

Jack

Form.

00:10:26

Jack

And.

00:10:27

Xochitl

In a real.

00:10:27

Xochitl

World environment that you don't. Only you wouldn't have access to otherwise. It's really like, OK, this is crunch time kind of behavior which I think really helps. And yeah, I would say that. So that's a great way. Jack. Sorry. Did I?

00:10:41

Xochitl

Cut you off. Go ahead. I.

00:10:42

Jack

No, no, that's it. I'm. I'm good. Yeah.

00:10:45

Xochitl

I was going to say that's really good.

00:10:46

Xochitl

And another way I know a lot of people learn another language is through playing video games with people that speak that language. As native speakers, you'll pick up things that they're saying, and you'll begin to understand things through that context.

00:11:01

Xochitl

Another way to immerse yourself is by joining like a Facebook group for that. For a hobby that you like in English, or watching a YouTube channel in English, or listening to our podcast or watching Netflix or English movies.

00:11:21

Xochitl

I have a friend who moved from Brazil to the US when he was around 7 and he said the biggest way he learned English was through movies and I think that that was a really big help when I was trying to learn Korean is just a lot of listening.

00:11:35

Xochitl

This and and sometimes I would watch something with subtitles and I would rewatch it without the subtitles, yeah.

00:11:42

Jack

Yeah, that's that's the incremental element to it, right? Start with the easiest and then move a little bit more challenging, a little bit more challenging. That's the way you.

00:11:50

Jack

Grow so yeah.

00:11:54

Jack

Right on.

00:11:55

Xochitl

All right, listeners, if you like these tips or if you're curious or have any English learning language tips of your own to overcome a plateau, make sure to leave a comment down below at A-Z englishpodcast.com shoot us an e-mail at AZ englishpodcast@gmail.com and join the WeChat and also groups to join the conversation.

00:12:12

Xochitl

And if you have $1.99 to spare, make sure you support Jack and I and our exclusive podcast content. It really helps us create more content for you guys and we really, really appreciate all the.

00:12:22

Xochitl

Support so far.

00:12:23

Xochitl

Thank you again and we'll see you guys next.

00:12:24

Xochitl

Time. Bye bye bye bye.

00:12:25

발표자

Go back.

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In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Xochitl and Jack give you three expressions which use the word "finger."

Butterfingers:

Definition: This term is used to describe someone who is clumsy, especially with their hands, often dropping things or failing to catch something.

Example Usage: "He missed the easy catch during the game because he has butterfingers."

Finger Food:

Definition: This refers to small pieces of food that are meant to be eaten with the fingers, without the need for utensils.

Example Usage: "At the party, they served a variety of finger foods like sliders, chicken wings, and mini quiches."

Finger a Criminal:

Definition: This slang term means to identify or inform on a criminal, often to the police or authorities. It involves pointing out or naming someone as the perpetrator of a crime.

Example Usage: "The witness agreed to finger the criminal in exchange for a reduced sentence."

Podcast Website:

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Intro/Outro Music: Daybird by Broke for Free

https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Broke_For_Free/Directionless_EP/Broke_For_Free_-_Directionless_EP_-_03_Day_Bird/

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