78: The Secret Rules of British Life Nobody Tells You

Crossing on a red light? Table service in a pub? Bus, supermarket and London Underground ettiquette? Mitch tests Isi with 5 very British scenarios to see if she knows the unwritten rules of British life. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Intro Isi: [0:22] Hello! Mitch: [0:24] Hello! Welcome to the Easy English Podcast. Isi: [0:28] I'm pro-leaving this out next time. We should... please leave your comment on Spotify, or your other favourite apps. On Spotify you can leave a comment and say, stop telling us which podcast we are listening to. Mitch: [0:43] What did I say at the beginning now? Hello! Isi: [0:46] How are you? Without an answer, but that's very English. Mitch: [0:51] It is very English. Isi: [0:52] Alright. - Alright, mate. - Alright. Mitch: [0:54] Alright. So today, we're going to be playing a little scenario game with you. - As usual. - As usual, putting you to the test. And proposing five situations, that will happen to you, in the UK and will happen to you in the UK, if you come. Let's call them 'unwritten rules of the UK'. Isi: [1:15] The first one is already an odd one then. There's no should or shouldn't in that one. well basically there's a should. Mitch: [1:21] Hold your horses. we'll get on to that in a minute. I just want to quickly say, that if you're listening to this podcast, on your podcast app, you should be made aware, that this podcast is also available as a video on YouTube and we're going to be showing some pictures, in-between Isi and I, of these sort of proposed scenarios. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

Come play along as Isi ranks traditional British food, such as the full English breakfast, Sunday roast dinner, crumpets ans the famous fish & chips. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Mitch: [0:22] Hello. Isi: [0:24] Hi. Mitch: [0:25] Welcome to the Easy English Podcast. Isi: [0:29] How long will we say this? Always? Mitch: [0:31] Always. Forever. Isi: [0:33] It takes five good seconds of our podcast. Mitch: [0:37] That just took five good seconds, saying that. So today, our main Topic of the Week we'll be ranking the best and worst British foods. Isi: [0:50] It's very fitting, because we just had one of the best ones, last night. Mitch: [0:55] What did we have last night? Isi: [0:56] A Sunday roast, by Mitch's mum. That was really nice. Mitch: [1:01] And we're going to be ranking them by this chart, which you can see in the middle of us. And their ranking goes from 'God tier' to 'top tier', 'mid tier', 'low tier' and 'crap tier'. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

Improve your English listening skills as Isi tries to guess where these 7 strong accents from the UK are from... Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Intro Mitch: [0:22] Hiya everybody, welcome to the Easy English Podcast. Isi: [0:27] Hello. Mitch: [0:28] I'm overdoing my enthusiasm I feel, because we are in a low energy state. We've just come back from Berlin and we both caught the dreaded Corona. Isi: [0:44] Dreaded. Mitch: [0:45] So, we've been a little bit under the weather. So, I'm going to try to infuse some extra energy to the podcast, right Isi? Isi: [0:54] Please. I don't have it today. Mitch: [0:56] Aww... but before we carry on actually, because we have just come back from Berlin and we met lots of really nice people, it wasn't anything to do with Easy English we were actually there for the Easy German Summer School. But we met loads of you who were also Easy English Podcast listeners, so huge shout-out! Isi: [1:17] Shout-out to everyone. And we also did a new episode for Easy English. Mitch: [1:21] We also made an episode in Berlin, about Berlin, comparing um... cultural, culture shocks, that we noticed in our time there, the one week we spent, before we caught the dreaded (Co)rona. But that's not what we're discussing today. Today, a little bit of a follow-on from last episode, where Isi tested me on cultural slang words. Isi: [1:46] Yes. Mitch: [1:46] The reason she did that, was because, we like to play a game now, where she quickly, guesses the accent of a person, when we're in the UK. And she's on fire. She's on a hot streak of victories. Isi: [2:02] Well... God, you make me scared. Mitch: [2:06] So I searched online and found some... because Brighton is very southern, most of the time. Only rarely do you hear someone from the far reaches of the UK, so I went and found accents from the far reaches of the UK. So we're going to play a little game, maybe you can play along with us, and pause and try to guess yourself, where you think this person's from, and we're going to discuss little hints and tips as to why we think they sound like where they're coming from. Because there are some giveaways in all of these, because they're quite strong, regional accents. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

Ballpark figure, shift, chur, keener, a double-double, lekker, togs, thongs, jonesin & craic... do you know these English slang words from outside the UK? Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Intro Mitch: [0:25] I'm nervous. Isi: [0:26] Really? Mitch: [0:28] Nervously excited. Isi: [0:30] Mitch is confused, because he doesn't know what's coming up today. Mitch: [0:33] Yeah, I feel like I'm in the hot seat for the first time in a long time. Isi: [0:38] So, yeah, I prepared this topic. Mitch doesn't even know it yet. What I thought, actually, it has a little background story. At the moment we play this game, whenever we are somewhere where people are, where I guess if someone has a different accent to our southern British surroundings, I guess where the people are from. Because I would love to master this, and to bring my English to the next level and know when someone is from Australia, the US, Ireland, or Liverpool. Mitch: [1:18] You're getting really good at it though. You're quite quick. Isi: [1:21] Why did you say though? Wasn't it expected? Actually yesterday, good example, no? Mitch: [1:28] Yeah, I just quizzed you... there was someone behind you and I just quizzed you quickly; do you know where they're from? You're just, like a flash, "Ireland." What part of Ireland? "Republic". Isi: [1:40] I love Ireland. Yeah, so what I thought is, I would like to, a bit, quiz you, if you know slang words from other British English speaking countries or regions, actually countries, I think, only. Yeah, other countries. Would you like to go for that? Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

Working holidays, lunch at your desk, small talk at meetings, wild Christmas parties & tea breaks... we discuss 5 strange work habits in the UK. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Isi: [0:22] Hiya! Mitch: [0:23] Hiya! Isi: [0:24] Hiya! Mitch: [0:25] Welcome to Easy English... Welcome to the Easy English Podcast. For those of you listening, you should be made aware, as per usual, that this episode is also available as a video episode on our YouTube channel. Because in this one, I'm going to be showing you some pictures and you might also want to look and watch along, as we identify five work habits that Germans might not understand. Isi: [1:03] Oh. Mitch: [1:03] And, I've harnessed the power of AI to create some images of typical work scenarios in the UK, which might be a little bit strange, not just for Germans, but for you guys, wherever you're watching from, if it's not in the UK. Isi: [1:23] Okay. I don't know what's coming, but I'm prepared for nothing. Mitch: [1:31] But, before we go into this week's topic, we have an exciting announcement that we've been working on over the summer, right Isi? Isi: [1:42] Yes. We changed our memberships, I think that's the first announcement. And with that, also produced a new trailer on our YouTube channel, so if you're listening, hop over there. If you're on the YouTube channel, click on it here, somewhere. So yeah, there's a new trailer, a very detailed, long trailer, that explains everything about our memberships, about our work, about our content, so please, please watch that. What we can tell now is that we, made our memberships easier and... we had before five memberships, now we have three, and to us they make more sense, then hopefully, to you. Mitch: [2:26] Yeah we've defined them a bit more in the areas of Supporter, which is for anyone that wants to help keep our project Easy English running, because at the moment it's currently just myself and Isi, little old us, and our project Easy English is kind of a community funded project, run by you, designed by you, inspired by you and made for you. You know, our podcasts and videos are free to watch and listen to, so becoming a member not only helps you learn with us, but also helps keep our project running. It's just a small amount you pay every month if you were to join the Supporter Membership and in return we'd also invite you to join our Discord server, which is a chat-based app, Is that right? Isi: [3:13] Server. Tool. Mitch: [3:14] Tool, where you can meet other members like yourself, who are supporting us, who are learning with us. But you can also meet with myself and Isi, and we'll discuss just general topics, get to know each other, and we'll get to say thank you for helping to support Easy English. Isi: [3:29] Yeah. I share lots of pictures of Nola. Mitch: [3:34] There'll be Nola pictures. There'll be dinner pictures. There'll be holiday pictures, food pictures. Isi: [3:38] All my guilty pleasure food. It's on there. So, yeah, for sure. I mean, our Discord is, for us, a place where we daily, meet our Easy English family, and it's a lot of fun. It's like a place where we just daily hang out. It's great. Mitch: [3:57] The second membership is the Learner Membership, which has now just combined the Video and Podcast Membership into one. So you're going to get all of the learning material for all of our episodes, whether it be a podcast episode or video episode. Isi: [4:10] All in one. Mitch: [4:11] Exactly, and you'll also be invited to Discord. And then the final membership is our Conversation Membership, which includes everything we've just said, but adds on our really fun, really relaxed and really useful and helpful conversation calls, which happen every Tuesday. It's a group setting it's online we all create a pub themed background, a bit like what we're doing here in the background and we just chat about topics which will be referenced in videos, we chat about topics that will help you if you're working in English, if you're coming to live in England, or if you're just wanting to surround yourself in the English-speaking world. Isi: [4:50] So, if you want to become a member and get more comfortable with your English, learn with us, get to know us, chat with us, be part of our little world, then go to easyenglish.video/membership Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

This week, Mitch and Isi were joined by special guest Harry from Easy Spanish. With Harry being a Brit living in Spain, they talked about reverse culture shocks; things Harry misses, loves, finds annoying and more, when he comes back to the UK. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Show Notes Tom Jones: Green Green Grass Of Home (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmT1ptv3VEc) Easy Spanish YouTube: Learn Spanish the Fun Way with Us! (https://www.youtube.com/@EasySpanish) Easy Spanish Podcast: The Easy Spanish Podcast (https://www.easy-spanish.org/podcast) Transcript Intro Mitch: [0:23] Hi everybody, welcome to the Easy English Podcast. Today we have a very special episode. We're going to be doing an episode called Five Reverse Culture Shocks. And a culture shock is, for anyone who's just wondering, is when you arrive in a place, a destination, and there is something happening which completely surprises you or is contrasting to what you're aware of. So a reverse one, which is kind of, we're making up our own sort of definitions here, is what happens if you come back to your own culture and are shocked, or still shocked. And to sort of traverse this topic, we have invited Harry from Easy Spanish. Hello, Harry. Harry: [1:16] Hi. Isi: [1:17] Hi. Harry: [1:19] Or Hola. Mitch: [1:22] How's it going, Harry? Nice to speak to you. Harry: [1:26] Going very well. Thank you, Mitch. What a pleasure to be on the Easy English Podcast. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

This week, Mitch finds 5 very British things that he thinks will annoy Germans. Isi debates whether separate hold and cold taps, basic bakeries, pubs that close early, narrow and dangerous roads and short-shorts in winter would annoy ALL Germans. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Intro Mitch: [0:22] Hiya! Welcome to the Easy English Podcast. Today, we're going to be discussing five things that annoy you, that I know annoy you, as a German who is experiencing the UK. Isi: [0:39] So that people can hate me afterwards Mitch: [0:43] No, but these are things which I think all Germans will be annoyed about, and I'm going to leave it up to you to decide what the pictures are that I’m going to show you, what they really mean, what the annoyance will be. And if you're listening to this podcast, you should be made aware that this podcast is also available on our YouTube channel, where we'll be showing pictures to Isi and we'll be discussing five annoying things that all Germans hate about the UK. Isi: [1:14] I doubt that all Germans will hate it. Mitch: [1:17] Yeah, clickbait. Isi: [1:19] Hate is a very strong word. Let's say dislike or criticise. Mitch: [1:26] Five things Germans criticise about the UK. Isi: [1:34] And in the end, it's only me. Mitch: [1:35] Let's go. Five things Isi criticises... about the UK. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

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