66: Love, Sweetheart and Other Pet Names

Today we're joined by a special guest... Mitch's mum. She talks about having and raising children in the UK; how kids speak to adults, how to educate children & being a childminder. She also defines common phrases that parents say to their children and answers your questions about raising a boy in the modern world & what Mitch was like as a child. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Mitch: [0:23] Hello, welcome to the Easy English Podcast. Today is a special episode, not because Isi is also not here, but because today I'm being joined by my mum. Hello, mum. Angeline: [0:39] Hello. Mitch: [0:41] How nervous out of 10 are you now? Angeline: [0:45] I'm not sure, really. Just because I don't know what's happening, really. I don't know what's going to be asked. Mitch: [0:52] Wonderful. - That's more than nerves than anything. - That's great. - Great. - No it's not really. The... the point of this episode is, we're still in France, at my parents; myself and Isi and we had the idea that we would interview my mum and ask her about things to do with children, me as a kid, the UK, from a mum perspective and things like that. So I've divided up the podcast into kind of three sections, the first is kind of, general questions to ask you about being my mum and mum stuff. - Right. - We'll call it 'mum stuff'. - 'Mum stuff'. - Then, the second section I would like to call it by a name I've invented called 'mum-isms'. Angeline: [1:45] 'Mum-isms', okay. Mitch: [1:47] All phrases which I remember from my childhood that you said. Angeline: [1:50] Oh no, "I told you so". Mitch: [1:54] And I want you to define what they mean, because they're quite commonly said. Angeline: [1:59] Yeah, okay. Mitch: [1:59] Not just by mums, but by parents I think, to their children. - Yeah. - And then the third bit is, we've got a couple of questions from our listeners and members, that they'd like you to answer. - Okay. - Okay. Sound good? Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

Mitch and Isi discuss the lesser known traditions in the UK; can you really walk off-road from Brighton to Scotland? Is Guy Fawkes a modern-day superhero? Has Isi won a pub quiz? Boy George as Captain Hook?!?! Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Isi: [0:00] Let's go on. Mitch: [0:00] Let's go on. Isi: [0:01] Okay. What is this? Is it like this? Mitch: [0:11] What was that you were reaching in for? Isi: [0:14] An apple? Mitch: [0:15] From where? Isi: [0:16] Garden Eden. I love Peter Pan! Peter Pan is with Captain Hook? Mitch: [0:26] F&%ing hell. Isi: [0:28] That one story. Don't touch me! Mitch: [0:36] It's called a bonfire. Isi: [0:37] Still not so fine, by the way, for wildlife. But we could walk to Scotland. Mitch: [0:44] We could, but we might die. Welcome to the Easy English Podcast. Isi: [1:13] Welcome, welcome. Mitch: [1:14] For those of you listening to this podcast, you should be made aware of that this podcast is also available on our YouTube channel. And the reason I’m saying this, is because today, we're going to discuss cultural phenomenon in the UK. - Yes. - These are cultural phenomenons which you may not know about in the UK Isi: [1:42] First picture, let's go. I'm ready. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

Mitch and Isi go back in time to the 1990s England and Germany and make each other guess the titles to the shows they watched as children. How have these shows defined both of their personalities? Isi finds out with a ChatGPT summary at the end. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Isi: [0:00] Water, earth, fire. Isi: [0:03] Is that the kid from '(The) Sixth Sense'? Mitch: [0:11] I see dead people. Isi: [0:15] Imagination, escapism, and adventure. Mitch: [0:18] Yep. Isi: [0:20] I asked ChatGPT to connect all those five shows that I have. And... Mitch: [0:31] Are you going to cry? It was called 'Are You Afraid of the Dark?' Isi: [0:36] Second picture... Mitch: [0:38] Gladiators! Do you have the power... - Wait. My show... -Do you have the speed, the strength, the heart to be a hero? Isi: [0:48] Very 80s. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

Mitch and Isi discuss English words that are originally from the German language and answer your questions in our regular segment of 'Unhelpful Advice' Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Intro Mitch: [0:22] Is it all on? Is it all going? Isi: [0:25] What are we talking about? Mitch: [0:27] Hello and welcome to the Easy English Podcast episode... I don't know. Isi: [0:34] We don't know anything. We were on holidays. We don't know anything anymore. Mitch: [0:38] We're back from Hollibobs. So as we are a bi-national couple, myself being English and Isi... Isi: [0:46] Being German. Mitch: [0:47] We thought we'd do a topic about German words that are being used in the English vocabulary. We also have some messages from some of our listeners, which we'll play in our Unhelpful Advice section first. But before we do any of that, if you're listening to this podcast as someone who wants to improve their English, let's say you've hit a wall and you just don't know how you can improve it and take it to that next level to become really fluent and understand people like me, native Brits, who are speaking grammatically incorrect and with slang and swearing and maybe even non-native English speakers like Isi, who you think oh that's - Speaking really incorrect. - Who are speaking quickly with an accent and you want to be sounding like them because they're at this C level. With our podcast you are able to download an interactive transcript and what this does is it allows you to listen to the podcast, like you're doing right now, but on your phone on your laptop whether you're at work, commuting to work, sat at home, sat on the toilet, you can learn listening to us however you wish and the interactive transcript will help you by translating each and every sentence that we speak in the podcast into your language of choice. Therefore, you're able to keep up and understand exactly what we're saying and feel like you're improving your English and taking it to that next level, where you can come to the UK and interact with other Brits, other non-native English speakers and hold a nice conversation, make friends and have a great time. So go to easyenglish.video/membership and become a Podcast Member to improve your English with us. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

Mitch and Isi discuss the social class system in the UK and how, just by simply changing your car, supermarket or dog can affect your status. They discuss the upper class and how normal people like you and me can enter this privileged world. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Show Notes The British Social Class Interview: The SOCIAL CLASS System... EXPLAINED (https://youtu.be/wvWyr6SBGnA) (Easy English 191) Transcript Intro Mitch: [0:22] Hiya, welcome to the Easy English Podcast. Isi: [0:27] Poddy. Mitch: [0:28] The poddy. The poddy. This week, I wanted to speak about something which we've made an episode on, and I want to ask you for your opinion Isi, now you've been in the UK for some time. We want to speak about the British social class system. Isi: [0:46] Okay, I'm in. Mitch: [0:47] But before we do that, I just want to do some housekeeping, general housekeeping of the podcast. And that is to firstly, give you another nudge to remind you that we, at the moment in May, have a 50% sale of all of our memberships. That includes this podcast; there is a membership for, which you can join and get an interactive transcript, which helps to translate the entire podcast, interactively - whilst you're listening into your language of choice, to help you keep up and listen along with our podcast. Really useful for if you're someone who is struggling with your English comprehension and want to really understand exactly everything we're saying, because English people, we talk fast, we have really crazy accents and dialects all over the place, for such a small country. And we use a lot of slang and quite frankly, a lot of grammatical errors. And this will help you keep up and listen along with our podcast. Mitch: [1:54] We also offer memberships for our videos on YouTube, which is where you can get worksheets and things to help you if you're maybe more of a beginner. And if you're a more proficient English learner, maybe an expert you'd like to say, but you'd like to be able to practice your English speaking, because maybe you don't have any English friends or English speaking friends, then you can join our Conversation Membership for a 50% discount, this May. But you only have... tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, you have less than two weeks to claim your 50% discount. To check it out, all you have to do is go to easyenglish.video/membership to take you to our membership site, to check out all of the memberships we have on offer for 50% off in May. The second thing I want to say is that we forget, always, to mention that if you want to leave a message and feature on our podcast, then you can, you just have to go to easyenglish.fm and you'll find there's a little microphone button you can press and you can ask us questions. Maybe about an English language learning question, an English culture question, or anything you like, we will answer all of your questions. Mitch: [3:18] My question for you, Isi, speaking of culture, is; are you aware of this class system? Do you feel it when you're in the UK? Because it's a big cultural topic. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

Sweetheart, darling, ducky, honey, sausage, poppet, mate and of course... love. This week, Mitch and Isi discuss names of affection, or 'pet names' in the UK. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Isi: [0:00] Treacle. - Alright treacle? - Pumpkin, muffin, poppet, sausage. - Allo sausage. - And cabbage?! Mitch: [0:10] Cabbage is not one. Isi: [0:12] Mate. Mitch: [0:13] Mate. Alright, mate. Hello, mate. What's up, mate? Hiya, mate! Isi: [0:17] Then we got love and lovely again. And how is the use in the north? What you would say to someone? Mitch: [0:24] Hiya love. Isi: [0:24] No. Mitch: [0:25] Oh, sorry. Y'alright, love? Isi: [0:27] No. Ta love. Mitch: [0:30] Ta love. Isi: [0:31] Soft and lovin', Mitch: [0:33] Soft and lovin'. Mate is a good thing to go in with, for anyone. Isi: [0:38] Angel. - Angel! - Oh I don't like angel, nah. Mitch: [0:43] I feel a bit sick. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

A noisy neighbour, an awkward stand-off, an ironic compliment and a round at the bar... 4 difficult scenarios for Isi to deal with in the UK. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Mitch: [0:22] Hiya, welcome to the Easy English Podcast. Isi, how's it going? Isi: [0:28] It's going. Mitch: [0:29] It's going. Very good. That's a very British response. So today, I wanted to, like in the last video episode, test you on your British cultural knowledge. Isi: [0:42] Oh dear. Mitch: [0:45] So for those of you who are listening, you can also, if you'd like, watch this podcast on YouTube, on our YouTube channel. So head over there to watch us debate some British culture topics. So what I'm going to do is I'm going to propose a scenario to you and maybe give you some options, about what you could possibly do. Or you can... Isi: [1:06] You can only go wrong. Mitch: [1:08] Yeah, exactly. You can volunteer your own response if you like as well. Isi: [1:12] We'll see. That was last time already really good. Mitch: [1:15] Yeah. Yeah, because the answers are maybe not what you might expect. Isi: [1:19] Okay. Mitch: [1:20] Okay. Isi: [1:21] I'm ready. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

Today's episode is all about love; the reality TV show Love is Blind; how the concept works, if it is successful and how it is good for learning English. Isi also has three phrases all about love from the medieval ages and from French nobility. Lastly, Samuel asks us a question about improving their English and we announce our NEW Wednesday afternoon conversation classes. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Intro Mitch: [0:23] Hello welcome to Easy English episode 64? It is episode 64, just to clarify. Isi: [0:34] clarify. And I will again, cough around. People only know me with an ill voice. I saw it on our recent video about being on the island Sylt for a month. Mitch: [0:44] Yeah we've been away on a German island? There's an island in Germany? What? We made a video about it, you can watch it on YouTube. Yeah we spent four weeks, off-season on this island. It was very relaxing, but as there is not so much to do, because in the off-season, a lot of places are closed or closing early. To fill the time, we were watching some series and to cosy up in our airbnbs. We'd like to speak about one of them, which we really like. - Yep. - And one that gets a bad reputation, I think, because it fits into the category of reality TV. - And Nola just came in. - That was well synchronised, let's do it again, three two one reality three two one reality TV, Unhelpful Advice Mitch: [1:52] Before we talk about the series Love is Blind, we actually have a voice message from a listener. Isi: [2:01] Okay. Samuel: [2:02] Good morning, Easy. I'm Samuel St Fort. I want to speak English. Mitch: [2:08] Ah, thanks for sending in your message, Samuel. They want to speak English. Isi: [2:13] Yeah, I think they want to speak English. So, yeah. Mitch: [2:17] So if you're also like Samuel listening to this podcast and wanting to improve your English and you've, maybe hit a wall and you're really struggling to take your English to that next level, then why don't you try learning and improving your English with us? There are many ways you can improve your English with us at Easy English. We offer material for our YouTube videos. For example, you can get worksheets for our videos, which takes from the vocabulary used in the episode, and we give you a little quiz that you have to complete. Or, if you listen to the podcast, and this is what you'd like to improve on, your listening skills, then you can get an interactive transcript for each and every podcast we record, which helps to translate the podcast in live-time as you're listening to it on your phone, or on your laptop. You can download a interactive translator tool, which allows you to click on each and every word we are saying and then it translates it in live-time, into your language of choice. Or if you're an advanced speaker, then you can improve your English speaking, pronunciation, your vocabulary by joining our conversation classes. Now these are group conversation classes that we hold on Zoom. We now have two, every week. We have one on Tuesday evenings at 18.15 in British time and on Wednesday lunchtimes at 12:00. So maybe you want to, in your lunch break, quickly jump onto a call and meet other members and meet myself, and Isi and try to improve your English speaking skills. And we have a last minute or maybe even second offer for you if you're listening to this podcast today. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

Why do Brits celebrate November 5th? What time should you arrive to a party? Should you go to the pub with your boss? All these questions... and more, will be answered in this episode's British culture quiz. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Mitch: [0:22] Okay, so welcome to episode 63 of the Easy English Podcast. Mitch: [0:28] Today, our main topic will be testing not only Isi, but also myself, quite nervously, on a British culture quiz. But, before we go into the quiz, we have a really exciting announcement, that we've been waiting to announce for ages. We will be starting another additional, conversation call. - Pub call. - We have one already, which is on Tuesday evenings, GMT at 18:15. Our new date will be every Wednesday at 12pm GMT. So maybe you're someone who you're quite good at speaking English, or you think you are, but you don't really have a way to practice your conversational English, speaking and listening. And let's say you've got to a certain level and you've hit a wall, this is the place where you should come, to really get to that next level and level-up your English. We will meet every week, twice a week now, and we will just talk about regular topics that you'll be speaking about, when you come to England, when you're working for an English company, or working in England, when you're visiting the UK, because it's all well and good reading a book and understanding the grammar and vocabulary, but when, we British people speak, as Isi can probably testify. - Yeah. - We're using grammatical errors, we're speaking very quickly, we're lazy, we're sloppy. Mitch: [1:56] Sorry Brits. - And so, the Easy English call is the best way to really put yourself on the ground and improve your English and really feel comfortable and confident, when you're going to come to the UK, work in the UK, and be able to interact with native speakers. Isi: [2:13] And even if you don't come to the UK, but just want to get better with your English, if you live in another English-speaking country, move to another English-speaking country, or just really are interested in the English language, or need it for your job, or because you have friends, partners, from English-speaking countries, whatever your reason is, you might want to improve and level-up your English. Mitch: [2:36] So if you are interested in becoming confident and levelling up your English speaking and listening skills, then join our Conversation Membership at easyenglish.video/membership. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

After discussing the phrase 'mad as a hatter', Isi and Mitch discuss the British etiquette of interacting with strangers in private, in public and in pubs and restaurants. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Intro Mitch: [0:23] Welcome to the Easy English Podcast, episode 62. Isi: [0:28] Hello, good morning. Mitch: [0:29] Good morning. Isi: [0:30] From Germany. Mitch: [0:31] From Germany. I'm living the German dream. Isi: [0:35] Mitch is just eating a pretzel with butter. Just had coffee and a pretzel, very German. We arrived, already over the weekend. It was the first thing in the supermarket that we got. Mitch: [0:46] What is the... this has now become a small topic, but how would you rank German supermarkets? Isi: [0:55] What does that mean? Mitch: [0:56] From top to bottom, which is considered the most premium, to the most scabby. Isi: [1:00] I don't even know all the supermarkets any more. Mitch: [1:04] In England? Isi: [1:05] I would say the best is, well, the best, the most expensive is, is it Marks and Spencers? Mitch: [1:14] Yep, I'd say so, Marks and Spencers. Isi: [1:16] You know that you eat, should our listeners hear you eating? Marks and Spencers and then... Mitch: [1:23] Morrison's. Isi: [1:24] Morrison's. Is that actually, even more premium? Mitch: [1:27] No, Morrison's is a more premium supermarket. M&S, which is actually a clothing store, has like, a small sort of, supermarket section. Isi: [1:38] Yeah, M&S. Then not Morrison's, next one. And Tesco's? Mitch: [1:45] I think Tesco's and Sainsbury's are kind of locked. Isi: [1:49] Sainsbury's and Co-op is also somewhere around them, I'd say. Or is Co-op actually better than Sainsbury's? Mitch: [1:55] Co-op is actually probably better than Sainsbury's and Tesco's. Isi: [1:57] Saino's, as we call it. Mitch: [1:59] Saino's. Isi: [2:00] And then probably ASDA, which is a discounter. Mitch: [2:05] Yeah. Isi: [2:05] And then the German ones. Mitch: [2:07] Then the German ones. Isi: [2:08] Lidl and Aldi. Where Lidl is better in England and Aldi is not... or? Mitch: [2:14] I'd say that Lidl could be above ASDA. ASDA also goes by the other name of ASBOs, which stands for Antisocial Behaviour Order. Isi: [2:23] Oh, God. I think ASDA has a lot more to offer, at least. Mitch: [2:27] It's usually massive, because it's owned by Walmart. Isi: [2:29] Yeah, and they have a lot of, if you like to cook from different cuisines, they have like World's Food Isles and all that. Lidl doesn't have that. Mitch: [2:37] Okay, so we're saying Marks & Spencer's M&S, Morrison's Co-op, Sainsbury's and Tesco's, then Asda, Lidl, Aldi. Okay, shall we move on to our actual program? Isi: [2:53] I would like to, yes, can I start? Mitch: [2:56] Please. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership