The A to Z English Podcast Jack McBain

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In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Xochitl and Jack talk about aspects of their cultures that they strongly dislike.
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 A-Z English podcast. My name is Jack and I'm here with my co-host, Social and social. I thought today we could read the names of a couple of our our patrons.
00:01:09
발표자
Hmm.
00:01:09
Jack
And so.
00:01:12
Jack
The first one that I want to read is Isabel Isabel from.
00:01:17
Jack
Ireland. She's actually.
00:01:19
Xochitl
Thank you, Isabel.
00:01:20
Jack
Yeah. Thank you, Isabel. She's not from Ireland, but she lives in Ireland and uh, it's very exciting to have her as a patron for the show. Another one of our patrons is Johnny from China.
00:01:37
Xochitl
Thank you, Johnny.
00:01:38
Jack
Yeah. Thank you, Johnny. Johnny's been on the show. Actually. I interviewed him. And so he's. Yeah, he was on the podcast, and he's amazing. His If you talk to him, he sounds like he's got an American accent. Yeah, it's amazing. Just perfect.
00:01:41
Xochitl
Oh, it's great.
00:01:50
Xochitl
Oh wow.
00:01:55
Jack
Next up, we've got may from Malaysia.
00:01:58
Jack
Yeah.
00:01:59
Xochitl
Thank you. Day.
00:02:00
Jack
Yeah. And Salima from Iran.
00:02:04
Xochitl
Thank you, Selina.
00:02:05
Jack
Yeah. And Leila from Saudi Arabia.
00:02:09
Xochitl
Ohh, thank you, Layla. I love Layla.
00:02:11
Jack
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:02:12
Xochitl
Well, that has a very nice voice if anyone's ever heard her voice to the chat.
00:02:17
Jack
Yes.
00:02:17
Xochitl
I I test with labels boys.
00:02:20
Jack
Yeah, she's a very, very sweet voice. Very soft spoken, but yeah, very soothing. Yeah.
00:02:23
Xochitl
You have a soothing kind of.
00:02:24
Xochitl
A.
00:02:26
Xochitl
Calming voice I really enjoy.
00:02:27
Jack
Good, good, good podcasting voice, I think.
00:02:29
Xochitl
Yeah, I think she would, too, for sure. Anyway, thank you so much to our patrons who are supporting our exclusive content. It really, really allows Jack and I to make more content and higher quality content. So we really, really appreciate it. And thank you so much. Hopefully we will get some more supporters here. And thanks to those who have already begun to support us.
00:02:31
Jack
You know.
00:02:51
Jack
Yeah. So today's topic is things that you hate about your culture and uh, I'm not going to.
00:02:58
Jack
Talk about Korean culture. I'm going to stay away from that because it is not my place or my position to critique Korean culture. I've lived here for 30 or 20 years. But you know, when it comes to critiquing culture, I think you have to do it from your own culture. You know you have to because you're critiquing yourself too.
00:03:20
Jack
And.
00:03:21
Jack
The things about American culture, probably the number one problem that I have with American culture, is that we're very individualistic.
00:03:31
Jack
My problems are my problems. Your problems are your problems. Don't put your problems on me, you know, and I understand that attitude because in some ways I do hate when so

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In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Xochitl and Jack talk about spoon theory:
Spoon Theory: The Spoon Theory is a metaphor used to explain the limited amount of energy and resources that people with chronic illnesses or disabilities have to accomplish daily tasks and activities. It was coined by Christine Miserandino in 2003 in an essay she wrote to explain her experience with lupus to a friend.
Transcript:
00:00:01
Jack
Welcome to the A-Z English podcast. My name is Jack and I'm here with my co-host social and today social and I are going to talk about something called Spoon theory and I don't really know what this is, to be honest. I am kind of ignorant on this topic, but social is going to explain.
00:00:22
Jack
The meaning of spoon theory and then we are going to complain like a couple of old people about all of our physical ailments that we're dealing with, right? So, OK, awesome. Alright. What is spoon theory? Social.
00:00:34
Xochitl
Yes.
00:00:39
Xochitl
So spoon theory is a metaphor, and it describes the amount of physical or mental energy that you have available for daily activities. So if you live with chronic pain or chronic illness, whether it's mental or physical or both, you're kind of limited in a way that other people aren't. And so.
00:00:59
Xochitl
The idea is that you have a set amount of spoons. Let's say you have 10 spoons for your day, and then things that other people don't realize take up energy because they have.
00:01:09
Xochitl
A more fit body do take up energy for people with chronic pain. So let's say getting up and out of bed, taking a shower, making something to eat.
00:01:23
Xochitl
Even getting ready for bed, getting dressed, all those things can put strain on your body and eat up your spoon. So maybe by the time you even get ready to go to work, you're down 5 spoons and someone who doesn't have chronic illness might have just used a spoon or half a spoon of energy to do all those.
00:01:44
Jack
Yeah. And let's just, uh, quickly, uh, unpack a little bit of the vocabulary. Chronic means, like, always constant. So chronic pain means you're always in pain from the time you wake up to the time you go to bed. You have some kind of pain.
00:01:54
발표자
Yes.
00:02:04
Jack
Issue.
00:02:05
Jack
And and so social was describing like, like the spoons are not literally spoons. We're not talking about real spoons. We're saying, like, they're like metaphors. Like, you got 10 spoons and.
00:02:19
Xochitl
They're like units of energy, basically.
00:02:21
Jack
Units of energy. Right. Exactly. And so.
00:02:24
Xochitl
Like hit points on a video game when your character has like a little green.
00:02:28
Xochitl
R.
00:02:30
Jack
Yeah, right. Energy. Your power gets, you know, goes down and down and down, yeah.
00:02:30
Xochitl
And then yeah it.
00:02:35
Xochitl
If your character is a healthy character, let's say they did all their tests and their bar is still green. But if your character has chronic illness, then by the time they're done with their morning routine, they might be down to yellow. They might be.
00:02:47
Xochitl
Down to half points.
00:02:49
Jack
Right. And let's say your energy level for the day for a person with chronic pain is 10 spoon.
00:02:55
발표자
And.
00:02:56
Jack
Like social said, getting ready in the morning, making breakfast, taking a shower, getting dressed, that might be 5 spoons, which means you only have 5 left for the whole day, so you get the bus, get to work, open your computer. You know, there's three more spoons now. You've got 2 spoons.
00:02:56
Xochitl
Yes.
00:03:17
Jack
Left, you don't even have enough to get home, you know.
00:03:20
Xochitl
Right.
00:03:22
Jack
Until you hit the wall right and you're so exhausted.
00:03:22
Xochitl
And.
00:03:24
Xochitl
Right.

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In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Xochitl and Jack help out a listener who is anxious about having an accent when speaking English.
Dear Xochitl and Jack,
I recently moved to an English-speaking country to pursue my studies, and while I'm confident in my academic English, I find it challenging to engage in casual conversations with native speakers. I often feel self-conscious about my accent and worry that I might not be understood clearly. How can I overcome this fear and improve my spoken English in informal settings?
Sincerely,
Accent Anxieties
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 A-Z English podcast. My name is Jack and I'm here with my co-host social. And today we are.
00:01:03
Jack
Doing a dear social and Jack episode where one of our listeners has written or sent us an e-mail.
00:01:12
Jack
With some kind of problem that they need help with and it is something language related and so.
00:01:18
Jack
Uh, and I know I know what you're going to say already, because I've read this before, so I can kind of predict what your answer is going to be social. But I I like I you've said this before and I I like it so much. I I hope you say it again. So here's the here's the letter. Here's Social and Jack.
00:01:36
Jack
I recently moved to an English speaking country to pursue to pursue my studies.
00:01:43
Jack
And while I'm confident in my academic English, I find it challenging to engage in casual conversation with native speakers. I often feel self-conscious about my accent and worry that I might not be understood clearly.
00:02:01
Jack
How can I overcome this fear and improve my spoken English in informal settings? Sincerely.
00:02:10
Jack
Accent anxieties.
00:02:13
Xochitl
Alright, acts and anxiety. Well, I think the fear that you're having is really valid. It's really normal. I think anyone who learns a new language feels this way. I know I certainly did when I moved to Korea. I'm going to tell you.
00:02:28
Xochitl
The way that you're going to see the most improvement.
00:02:32
Xochitl
Is jumping head first just nose diving into that fear?
00:02:39
Xochitl
And trying your hardest anyway. Yes, there will be uncomfortable and awkward moments where people don't understand what you're saying. Yes, sometimes people might correct you, some people might be jerks and make fun of your accents. I had people laugh at me in Korea to my face.
00:02:55
Xochitl
Yeah, it stings a little bit, but how many languages could they speak fluently so you know, most of the time, any. Yeah. Most of the time, people who can speak two languages fluently are not going to be the same people laughing in your face because they can appreciate how difficult it is to learn a second language. And they're going to be respectful.
00:03:02
발표자
Yeah.
00:03:02
Jack
Yeah, yeah.
00:03:15
Xochitl
About it.
00:03:16
Jack
And what? What does your mom say about people that speak two languages?
00:03:21
Jack
Do you remember? Ohh you forgot. Ohh OK. God love. I'll never forget this because your mom, your your mom

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In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Xochitl and Jack discuss the following three idiomatic expressions:

Out of the blue:
Definition: Unexpectedly or without warning; something happening suddenly and unexpectedly.
Example: "I hadn't spoken to my old friend in years, but then out of the blue, she sent me an email asking how I was doing."

Take it with a grain of salt:
Definition: To be skeptical about something; not to completely believe or trust something.
Example: "The tabloids reported that the celebrity was getting married again, but we should take it with a grain of salt until we hear it from a reliable source."

Give it a shot:
Definition: To attempt or try something; to give something a try, especially when facing uncertainty or difficulty.
Example: "I've never played golf before, but I'm willing to give it a shot and see how it goes."

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In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Xochitl and Jack talk about why it's still important for adults to learn a new language.
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 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 and the topic of today's conversation is why you are never too old to learn a language and such a I just went online and did a little bit of research.
00:01:18
Jack
And I found five pretty interesting reasons why you're never too old to learn a language, and the first one is about near neuroplasticity.
00:01:29
Xochitl
Oh, interesting.
00:01:30
Jack
And so yeah, and it's it's it says here while it's true that children often have an easier time picking up languages due to their brains, high level of neuroplasticity, which means ability to adapt and change, adults can still learn new languages.
00:01:50
Jack
Effectively, research has shown that the adult brain remains capable of forming new neural connections.
00:01:58
Jack
Actions and adapting to new linguistic challenges, albeit at a different pace than children, so it's not like we have zero ability to learn a language and and build new neural pathways, but it's not the same as when we're like in the the critical age when you know.
00:02:18
Jack
Whatever that might be, five to three years old.
00:02:21
Jack
You know, I don't know. Thirteen years old or whatever, so yeah.
00:02:25
발표자
Right, right.
00:02:26
Xochitl
Yeah. OK. I think that's very interesting. I've heard before on theories that if you learn two or more languages as a balanced bilingual from childhood that you're also more able to pick up new languages. But even if you hadn't, even if you are monolingual.
00:02:44
Xochitl
And you never learned more than one language growing up. I think research shows that adults, it's it's beginning to show at an increasing weight that adults still retain quite a bit of neuroplasticity. Right, so I think.
00:03:02
Xochitl
Yeah, that just gives you every more reason to have faith that you can learn another language and a lot of the world has light up on us because they have learned two or more languages.
00:03:15
Xochitl
From a young age so.
00:03:17
Jack
Yeah. And this one kind of dovetails nicely. It connects with the one later, which is cognitive benefits. You know, like the like, holding off dementia and stuff like that is creating new neural pathways in your brain, you know, so neurons are making new connections.
00:03:28
발표자
Yep.
00:03:36
Jack
This is a good thing, like it's a it's a good practice. It's like exercise for your brain, you know, it's like working out your brain. So yeah, definitely a good thing. And I also I wanted to say one more thing about what you said about bilingual children.
00:03:44
Xochitl
Right.
00:03:56
Jack
Cause my daughter is a a balanced bilingual just like you.
00:04:00
Jack
Bar and I think there's something that children learn early that that we don't, that I didn't learn till I was older and that is that language

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In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Xochitl and Jack talk about fillers English speakers often use.

English language fillers are words or phrases that people use in speech to fill pauses or gaps in conversation. Here are some common ones:

Um / Uh: Used to indicate hesitation or to fill a pause while thinking.
Well: Often used to introduce a statement, express agreement, or to indicate that you're considering something.
So: Frequently used to transition between topics or to start a new thought.
You know: Used to seek validation from the listener or to emphasize a point.
Like: Often used as a filler word, especially among younger speakers, to pause or emphasize a point.
I mean: Used to clarify or rephrase a statement.
Actually: Used to add emphasis or correction to a statement.
Basically: Often used to simplify or summarize a complex idea.
Well, you see: Used to begin an explanation or to introduce reasoning.
In a way / In a sense: Used to qualify or add nuance to a statement.

Podcast Website:
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