Daily English Pod

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To check the transcript: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2379282

Link to the  Literature Google Drive: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Y-4arXkn8sxfvjzzwWoJhxQdKLtTZDrvspy9HUq4AZs/edit?usp=sharing

Underwhelming

We use this adjective to describe something that is less impressive, exciting, or satisfying than we expected.

Example:  Imagine you've been looking forward to visiting a famous tourist attraction.

You've seen hundreds of beautiful photographs of it online, and everyone says it's absolutely breathtaking.

But when you finally get there, it's incredibly crowded, the weather isn't great, and the whole experience feels rather ordinary.

Later, a friend asks:

“So, how was it? Was it amazing?”

You say:

“Honestly, it was a bit underwhelming. I think I'd built it up too much in my head.”

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English lesson application (with Jale): https://forms.gle/RGS9xwfLHXRRnmaQ9

To check the transcript: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2379282

Link to the  Literature Google Drive: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Y-4arXkn8sxfvjzzwWoJhxQdKLtTZDrvspy9HUq4AZs/edit?usp=sharing

I didn't know what to make of it

It's a very natural way to express confusion or uncertainty, especially when a situation is unusual, surprising, or difficult to understand.

Example:

 Imagine you've just finished a job interview.

You think it went reasonably well. You answered the questions, had a pleasant conversation, and felt quite confident.

But just before you leave, the interviewer says:

“Well, that was certainly an interesting interview.”

And that's it.

You walk out wondering:

“Interesting in a good way? Or interesting in a bad way?”

Later, your friend asks how it went.

You say:

“Honestly, I'm not sure. The interviewer said it was interesting, but I didn't know what to make of that.”

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To check the transcript: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2379282

Link to the  Literature Google Drive: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Y-4arXkn8sxfvjzzwWoJhxQdKLtTZDrvspy9HUq4AZs/edit?usp=sharing

It didn't sit right with me

We use this when something makes us feel uncomfortable, uneasy, or that something isn’t quite right.

Example:

Imagine you’re at a restaurant with a group of friends.

One of them starts making jokes about someone who isn’t there.

Everyone laughs.

You smile politely, but you don’t find it particularly funny.

Later, you tell another friend:

“I know they were just joking, but honestly, some of those comments didn’t sit right with me.”

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To check the transcript: https://www.buzzsprout.com/2379282

Link to the Google Drive: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Y-4arXkn8sxfvjzzwWoJhxQdKLtTZDrvspy9HUq4AZs/edit?usp=sharing

In Praise of Literature

You might have heard countless times about the benefits of reading books — how books, especially literature, can deepen us and enrich our lives. You’ve probably heard a lot of advice about reading. 

But let me try to approach it a little differently.

A couple of days ago, a student and I were reading a poem together.

That is not something completely unusual for me. I sometimes bring poems or literary texts into my classes.

But this time, as we were reading, I found myself observing her reactions more closely.

I could see the poem moving through her.

I noticed her emotions, the way she interpreted certain lines, the memories and thoughts the poem seemed to bring up.

And suddenly, I felt that I was seeing a part of her that I had not seen before.

She seemed more alive somehow. And even the connection between us felt deeper.

That moment stayed with me and convinced me to dedicate an episode to literature. 

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The Space Between You and the Structure

There is a kind of bravery that does not look dramatic from the outside.

It is not rebellion for the sake of rebellion.

It is not refusing every rule.

It is not walking away from society and pretending we do not need other people, institutions, money, work, or belonging.

The courage to look at the structure you are living inside and ask:

Do I actually believe in all of this?

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It caught up with me

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I brushed it off

To brush something off means to treat something as unimportant and not let it affect you too much.

Example

Imagine someone makes a negative comment about your presentation.

It’s not particularly helpful, and you don’t think it deserves much attention.

A friend asks:

“Did that comment bother you?”

You say:

“A little, but I just brushed it off.”

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It fell through

When a plan, agreement, deal, or arrangement falls through, it fails to happen — usually after it seemed as though it probably would.

Example:

Imagine you and your friends have been planning a weekend trip for months.

You’ve chosen the dates. You’ve found a place to stay. Everyone seems ready to go.

Then two people can’t get time off, another person has to cancel, and suddenly the whole plan is off.

Someone asks:

“Aren’t you going away this weekend?”

You say:

“No. Unfortunately, the trip fell through.”

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We grew apart

When two people grow apart, they gradually become less close over time.

Example:

 imagine two friends who were inseparable at university.

They studied together, traveled together, and spoke almost every day.

After graduation, one moved abroad. The other started a demanding new job.

At first, they kept in touch constantly.

Then every week became every month.

Eventually, they were mostly sending each other birthday messages.

Someone asks:

“Are you two still close?”

And you say:

“Not really. Nothing happened between us. We just grew apart.”

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Stay on top of sth 

To “stay on top of something” means to keep something under control by paying attention to it regularly and dealing with it before it becomes a problem.

Example:

 Her schedule had become very busy. Emails, meetings, messages, and deadlines kept appearing every day. So she decided to organize her tasks carefully to stay on top of everything.