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Hello everyone and welcome to English Pod. My name is Marco.

My name is Katherine. And today we're bringing you another elementary level lesson as a part of our interview series.That's right. This is part two of the interview series. In the last part we talked about uh well a brief introduction uh when you arrive to a job interview. But on this occasion, we're going to talk a little bit about uh yourself and your life.That's right. So, this is the most personal part, I think, of an interview. Let's take a listen to today's dialogue, and we'll be back in a moment to talk more about the things that you've heard.

� Dialogue

Now, Miss Child's passed on your resume to me, and I've had a chance to look it over. I must say, I'm quite impressed.Thank you very much. I've tried to keep it short and clear. If there are any questions, please feel free to ask me.Well, yes, I do have a number of questions, but perhaps first you could give me a brief overview. I'd like to get a little bit of an idea of your background.Yes, of course. Well, as you can see from the resume, I'm 27 and grew up in Brooklyn, New York. Although our family moved to London when I was quite young at around 16.Ah, I see. So, you were actually educated in Europe.Yes, precisely. Although I was born in the US, I would definitely call London home. But as you see, I've actually spent a lot of my life moving from country to country. My father was in the oil business before he retired. So we also spent a number of years in Saudi Arabia, too.Very interesting. So it seems you had quite an adventurous childhood.Absolutely. We were never still for too long, but now I'm really looking to settle down.I see. Okay. Well, let's move on to discuss your education, shall we? Sure.

� Language Takeaway

All right, we're back. So, uh, obviously this person had a very interesting life and they used some pretty interesting words there. So, why don't we take a look at five key words that we have prepared for you on Language Takeaway?Language Takeaway.

#1. Impressed

All right, so the first word that we have is right when Mr. Parsons uh talked to Miss Childs and he said that he was very impressed with her resume.All right. So, someone says, "I'm impressed." when they think that something that you did or something about you is very interesting or good or better than most people's. That's right. So, you're kind of uh amazed. You're kind of uh you're like, "Wow."Right. And so, this is the an adjective. I am impressed. That's right. So teachers sometimes say this. Um maybe when you do really really really well on a test, they say, "Hey, Marco, I'm really impressed. You got 99%." Parents say this to friends, family. So basically, this is a way to say, "Good job. Wow." Right? And there's also a a verb. So this is the adjective to be impressed. And the verb form would be to impress someone. So that's obviously if you impress your teacher by studying, your teacher will be impressed.

#2. Overview

That's right. And following that, Mr. Parson has some questions about Miss Child's background.That's right. He asked her for a brief overview of her background. So we have two interesting words there. Uh an overview. What is an overview?An overview is like a summary. It's basically a way to ask for someone to give you a lot of information in very few words.That's right. So, you don't really want too much details. You don't want somebody to tell you their life in detail. You just want a brief summary.Right. So, not I was born on August 11th in 1979 and I was and then I went into this and no, this is basic simple, you know, this is where I'm from. This is where I went to school. The end.

#3. Background

Mhm. and well he wanted a brief overview of her background. What exactly is her background?Well, think about the word back. Okay, that means behind or in this case background is your personal history. So, you could ask someone what's your background? It means where are you from or you know what have you been doing up to up to now in your life. That's right. And precisely when he asked her about her background now she's starting to talk about her her life that in general terms as we said it's an overview. So she said that she's 27 and she's from Brooklyn etc. So she starts giving very general information about herself and her life.

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Hi everyone. Welcome back to Podcast and Chill. I'm Gwen.

And I'm Leo.

So, how's your day going, Leo?

Honestly, not great.

Oh, no. What happened?

Well, I went to buy ice cream this morning. Strawberry. My favorite.

Good choice.

Yeah. But then some people at the shop started laughing at me.

Wait, seriously? Why?

No idea. But I got so angry that I threw the ice cream away and walked out.

Oh, Leo, that must have hurt.

Yeah, I couldn't stop myself. I just lost it.

You know what? That happens to a lot of people. Getting angry is normal.

Really?

Of course.

What about you, friends? Has anyone ever laughed at your English or said something that made you upset?

If yes, you're not alone. Most people don't even realize why they react that way or how to stop it.

Including me, apparently.

I can tell. But don't worry, that's exactly what we'll talk about today.

Perfect. I'm ready to calm down and learn something new. Let's get started.

� The 90-Second RuleSo, Leo, do you know how anger starts?

No idea.

It starts with our brain.

I don't get it.

When something bad happens, like when someone laughs at us or says something mean, our brain sees it as a sign of danger.

And...?

Your brain thinks you're in danger, so it wants to protect you. It does that by releasing stress hormones.

Stress hormones. What are those and how do they protect me?

Hormones are a special thing in your body that make you ready to react. When they show up, people often react in one of three ways.

Three ways. What are they?

Fight: That means you want to attack or argue.

Oh, I wanted to shout at those people, but I didn't do that.

Because you reacted with 2. Flight: That means you want to run away. You want to leave the situation fast.

I did leave the shop really quickly.

And the third way is 3. Freeze: That means you stop. You don't know what to do. You just stand there and can't move or speak.

I felt that before, too. Like when a teacher asked me a question and I couldn't think of any answer.

Yes, that's freeze. So these three reactions—fight, flight, freeze—your body just does them.

So I can't control them.

Nope. You can't control how your body reacts at first. But the good news is those reactions don't last long. It only lasts about 90 seconds.

Only 90 seconds, but I still feel upset about the ice cream and that was hours ago. If it's not the hormones anymore, then what's keeping me angry?

� Feeding the Fire: The Burnt Toast AnalogyGlad that you mentioned it, Leo. What you're feeling now is not from those stress hormones anymore. It's your thoughts about the situation that keep you angry. What did you think when people laughed at you?

I was thinking, "Why are they so mean?" and "This is so embarrassing."

Those thoughts kept you angry. If you keep thinking the same thoughts over and over, your anger will stay.

How does it even make sense?

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Good morning. Welcome to Bright Tech Electronics. How can I help you today?

Hi, good morning. I'm looking for some help with my laptop. You see, it's very old and doesn't work properly anymore.

Yeah, I see. Um, what seems to be the problem?

Well, it's very slow. It takes 5 minutes just to open a browser and sometimes it turns off by itself. I have to turn it on again.

That sounds serious. How old is your laptop?

I am not sure. Maybe about 10 years, maybe more.

Oh, wow. 10 years is a long time for a laptop. That's like a hundred in human years.

Yeah, maybe. Do you think it can still be repaired?

Honestly, it's not worth repairing. The parts are probably no longer available. And even if they are, it would cost almost as much as a new one.

Oh, I see. So maybe it's time to buy a new one.

I think that's the best idea. Let me show you what we have. Oh, first, uh, tell me what do you usually use your laptop for?

Well, mostly for work, you know, word documents, emails, and um, sometimes maybe video calls for meetings. Nothing too fancy.

Perfect. In that case, you don't need a gaming laptop or something super powerful. But of course, it's still good to have one that's fast and reliable. Uh, over here, please.

All right, here we have three main options.

This one is our basic model. Perfect for office work. It has 8 GB of RAM, a fast SSD, and battery life of around 6 hours.

The second one is mid-range. It's a bit faster, a good laptop with 16 gigabytes of RAM and a stronger processor.

And this last one is our premium model. It's super light, touchscreen, long battery, and excellent for multitasking.

Um, the premium one looks nice, but it must be expensive.

Oh, no. It's $1,200. But right now we have a 10% discount. And if you pay by credit, we have 0% interest for 6 months.

Oh, that's interesting. And the mid-range one?

That's $850. Also with a small discount this week.

I don't want to spend too much. I think I'll go with the middle one.

Great choice. It's one of our best sellers. Really? Would you like to pay in cash or by credit? We have both options.

I think with cash. But how does uh the credit work?

Oh, it's very simple. You can pay in up to 12 months. The interest rate is low and you can make the first payment next month.

Um, no. I'll pay in cash. I don't like that.

Smart decision. Let's go to the counter and prepare your purchase.

Thank you for your purchase. If you have any further questions, I'll be here to help.

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Hello everyone and welcome to English Pod. My name is Marco.

My name is Katherine. And today we have a very special lesson for you. This is actually the first in a series of lessons about interview skills.

That's right. For 10 lessons that you will hear once a week for the next 10 weeks, we are going to take a look at an interview, a job interview, and we're going to take you step by step throughout the whole interview process, as well as teaching you some useful words and phrases that you can use next time you're at a job interview in English. Exactly. So, pay attention. Today is the first day we're going to be entering the office and we're going to learn some things that are important for talking to your future employer or meeting people in an interview.

Okay.

Dialogue

Mr. Parsons: Come in, Mr. Parsons. Ah, you must be Rebecca. Please do come in.

Rebecca: Thank you for making some time to see me, Mr. Parsons, it's a pleasure to meet you, finally.

Mr. Parsons: The pleasure is all mine, Rebecca. Have a seat, please. Now, would you like any refreshments, tea, or coffee?

Rebecca: A coffee would be lovely. Thank you. Black, no sugar.

Mr. Parsons: No problem. Sally, can we have two coffees, please? One, no milk or sugar.

Sally: Certainly, Mr. Parson.

Mr. Parsons: So, Rebecca, I understand you had a first interview with Miss Child's last week.

Rebecca: Yes, that's correct. She filled me in on the details of the job on the telephone.

Mr. Parsons: Great. Well, I'm glad to say she recommended you for a second interview, and here we are. Perhaps we can start by discussing your background and résumé details a little.

Rebecca: Yes, of course.

Language Takeaway �

So, one of the first things that you're offered when you go to interview at a company is refreshments.

Refreshments sounds complicated, but it's actually a very simple word for beverages or drinks, right? So, that's why he offered her tea or coffee. Refreshments are cola, coffee, tea.

Answering: If I say, "Would you like any refreshments, Marco?" You can say, "Yes, water would be fine. Thank you." Or, "I'd like a Coke," or, "I'd like a cup of coffee."

And after that, the characters are talking about the details of the job.

The details of the job are the specific points about the job. For example, if she applied for a receptionist, the details would be answering the phones, taking messages, receiving people at the office. Also, the working hours, days a week, etc.

Details are basically more information about something, the specific information about a general topic. It's not only related to work. The details can be of many, many things. If I ask you about your details, Marco, you could maybe tell me your phone number, your address, my full name, or birthday. These are details.

After she explained that she received the details of the job by phone, Mr. Parson said that she was recommended for a second interview.

The verb here is to recommend. You can recommend a person, an object, a movie. That's basically you are saying that this is good and that it's worth seeing, it's worth buying, it's worth interviewing.

For example, "I really like the movieAvatar. Marco, I recommend you see it." Or, "Katherine recommended the movieAvatar." Katherine suggested or told Marco it would be good.

And then Mr. Parson said that they're going to start discussing her background.

Background (think of the wordbackthat meansbehind) usually means a person's history at a job or at many jobs, or even their educational background (information about where they studied).

A person's background is all their history—work, study—many different things, even maybe seminars or courses that they assisted, or even just their personal history. That means someone's personal history.

Hand-in-hand with background, we have a piece of paper that usually you send to an employer to apply for a job. This is the famous résumé.

A résumé is a document that lists your work history, your working background.

It's a very important part of applying for a job. Usually, you send your résumé before you go for the interview so that the employer can look and see is this person qualified? What's their work history?

Very similar to a résumé, you may have heard a CV.

A CV is a lot like a résumé. It stands forCurriculum Vitae(CV) and it's more detailed. It has more details about a person's academic or study history.

A résumé is very similar to a summary of your work background, whereas a CV will have more details about your education, maybe more details about your work background, what you did, objectives, etc.

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Hi friends, welcome back to Podcast and Chill. I am your friend Leo

and I'm Gwen. So happy to be here with you today.

Friends, today we're talking about something really important for English learners.

Yes, our topic is how to never forget English words.

We'll share five easy, fun tips that actually work.

No boring grammar, I promise. Just practical ways you can use every day.

So, grab your water, relax, and let's dive in.

Many of our listeners tell us the same problem.

What is it?

They say, "I learn a new English word today and tomorrow, poof, it's gone."

Oh, yes. This happens to so many people, right?

Exactly. You spend time studying, but the words just disappear from your mind.

It's tiring. You feel like, "Why can't I remember? Am I lazy? Is my memory bad?"

But here's the truth. It's not because you're lazy. It's because of how your brain naturally works.

Right? Our brain is like a busy street. Imagine you walk down the street and see a stranger for just one second. Tomorrow, do you remember their face?

Of course not. But if you meet that person again and again, maybe you talk to them, spend time together

Then that person becomes your friend and you never forget your friends.

Yes, vocabulary is exactly the same. A word you see only once is a stranger. A word you use many times becomes your friend.

So why do we forget words so fast? Scientists say our brain forgets new information very quickly if we don't review it.

How quickly?

After one day, we forget about half of what we learned. After one week, we forget almost everything.

Wow. So, if I learn 10 new words today, maybe next week I only remember two.

Exactly. But here's the good news.

There's good news.

If you see and use a word many times, your brain says, "Oh, this is important. I should remember this." Then the brain saves it in long-term memory.

So, it's like training your brain. And today, we'll show you exactly how to do that.

We'll share five simple but powerful methods to make words stick in your mind forever. Shall we start with the first one?

Let's go.

Method 1: Use New Words in Your Own Sentences

All right. Here's method number one. Use new words in your own sentences. This might sound simple, but it's actually super powerful. Do you know why?

Because learning just the meaning of a word is not enough.

Right.If you only know the translation, your brain will forget it quickly. It's like knowing someone's name but never actually talking to them. You forget fast.

Exactly. But if you use the word in sentences, your brain sees the word in action and that's how memory becomes strong.

So, here's the rule. For every new word, make at least three different sentences.

And these sentences should be from different contexts like school, family, work, or friends.

Let's try an example. Let's use the wordcook.

Good idea. For example, first sentence,I cook dinner for my family.Second sentence could be,"My mom cooks a very delicious soup."

And for the last one, h let'scooktogether on Sunday.

Nice. Now we see the wordcookwith family, with mom, and with friends. When the brain sees a word in many situations, it understands this word is useful in real life. I need to keep it. It's like watching your friend in school, in the park, and in the cafe. You know them better.

Wow, that's a big difference.

Yes, because the brain learns through use.

I'm so excited about this method.

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Good morning, David. You're up early. That's weird.
Morning. I couldn't sleep.
Are you okay? You look worried. What's wrong?
I don't know, Laura. Something just doesn't feel right anymore.
Something doesn't feel right anymore. What do you mean?
I feel stuck. Every day is the same: I wake up, rush to work, sit in front of the computer for eight hours, come home, eat dinner, watch TV, go to sleep, and do it all again the next day.
I see. That's life, isn't it?
Maybe. But I feel like I'm just surviving, not living. I'm tired.
Let's talk about it. Tell me what your day is like, David. Maybe if you talk about it, you'll see what's really bothering you.
Okay, maybe. Every morning my alarm rings at 6:30. I get up, brush my teeth, take a shower, and drink coffee while checking emails on my phone. I have to do it. I barely talk to you because I'm already thinking about work. Then I drive through traffic for almost an hour. When I finally get to the office, it's the same thing every day: meetings, reports, calls, deadlines. Everyone looks tired, like robots. At noon, I eat lunch at my desk—a sandwich or fast food—and keep working. At 6:00 p.m., I leave, drive back home in traffic again, and by the time I get here, I'm exhausted. I eat dinner, maybe watch a movie, and go to bed around 11. That's it. It starts again the next morning.
That sounds really hard. I think I understand you now. But it's what most people do, right? Work, earn money, build a future.
I know, but I feel empty. I don't see a future here. I just see the same week repeated 52 times a year.
I see. So, what are you thinking?
I think I'm not going to work today.
What? Are you serious? You're not going to work today?
I've been thinking about this for months, Laura. I have a business idea—something I really believe in.
A business? You never told me about it. What kind of idea?
I'll tell you about it now. Remember how I love photography? I've been studying marketing, editing, and social media. I want to start my own creative studio: photos, videos, and branding for small businesses.
That's interesting, but it's a big step, David. You have a stable job. Are you really sure you want to quit?
To be honest, no, I'm not completely sure about quitting, but I am sure of one thing: I'm not happy like this.
I understand that. But what if it doesn't work? What if the money isn't enough? What are you going to do?
Then I'll try again. I'll learn, adjust, and keep going. I'd rather fail trying to live than succeed living someone else's routine.
So, what will your new days look like if you quit your job?
Oh, I've imagined it many times. I could wake up at 6:30, not because of an alarm, but because I want to make coffee for both of us. Take a few minutes to stretch, breathe, and maybe read something inspiring. Then I'd work on my own projects: editing photos, planning shoots, meeting clients who are passionate like me. I'd control my time. I'd have lunch with you, not in front of a screen. Maybe take a walk after—I've always wanted to do that. In the afternoon, I'd finish work early. I wouldn't work until very late anymore. I'd have time to cook dinner, exercise, or just relax. It could still be hard work, but it would be my work—our dream.
That does sound nice. Just one thing: Are you sure that this routine will make you happy forever?
No, not forever. That's the routine I want until we reach our goals. I know we have to work hard to get it. Then we could relax. After we reach those goals, what's your dream routine then? How do you imagine it?

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Hey everyone and a warm welcome back to a new episode. I'm William

And I'm Kelly. So today we want to ask you all a question. Have you ever thought about actively improving your personality?

Absolutely. I think a lot of us want to build a stronger, more charismatic personality. We often get inspiration from others like a favorite actor or actress and we see qualities in them that we admire.

That's a great point, William. And it doesn't have to be an actor. It could be anyone. A successful business leader, an author, even a family member. We see these people who seem to have it all together and we think, "I want some of that."

Exactly. We admire their confidence, their communication skills, their presence. But the tricky part is we often don't know how to bridge that gap. We see the finished product, but not the work that went into it.

Which is exactly what we're going to dive into today. Let's talk about how we can actually become that person we admire. Starting with the first most crucial step.

So, Kelly, the first thing I would say is self-awareness. You cannot change what you are not aware of. It is the absolute bedrock of all personality development.

I completely agree. Self-awareness is like looking in a mirror before a makeover. You have to honestly see your current traits and habits before you can decide what to improve. So if you want to be a confident person, you first have to notice what makes you feel insecure, right? It's about identifying that gap.

Exactly. A great way to start is by asking yourself one simple question at the end of the day: "When did I feel truly confident and when did I feel unsure?"

That's a powerful practice. It immediately highlights your patterns and that self-knowledge is your most powerful tool for growth.

I totally agree with this. You know, Kelly, that reminds me of a girl I knew in college. She was incredibly shy and had almost no confidence. And it all seemed to stem from her face.

From her face? What do you mean?

Yes. She was convinced she was ugly. She thought her features weren't right. She'd always hide behind her hair, never made eye contact. She spent all her time alone in the library. She literally had no friends.

Oh, now I get you. That sounds so painful.

It was. And the real tragedy was that she was one of the kindest, most talented people. She wrote beautiful poetry, but no one knew because she was hiding all of it.

So, what changed? How did she overcome it?

It started with self-awareness. Just like we said, she realized her thoughts were her biggest barrier. One day she made a simple but powerful decision to stop saying "I'm ugly" and replace it with "I am capable." She focused on her talent, not her perceived flaw.

That shift is everything.

It is. She started a small blog for her poetry anonymously at first. The positive feedback she received had nothing to do with her face. It was all about her mind and her words. That gave her the first real spark of confidence. So by focusing on her strength, she built a new identity for herself.

Exactly. The girl who hid behind her hair started looking people in the eye. She found her voice and then she found her friends. She didn't change her face, she changed her focus.

What a perfect example. It proves that the first step to changing your life is changing the story you tell yourself.

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Hi everyone. Welcome back to Podcast and Chill. How are you doing today? I'm Gwen.

And I'm Leo. It's so good to have you here again. It always feels special to sit down and talk with you.

Thanks, Leo. And today we have a fun and useful topic. We're going to learn how to talk about weekends in English, especially weekends for single people.

Ah, single life. You can sleep late, eat whatever you want, and enjoy your time.

Yes, we'll share our own weekend soon. But before that, remember to subscribe to our channel so you can learn more English with us.

Your support keeps us going and gives us energy to make more videos.

Now, let's get ready. Find a comfortable place. Take a deep breath and relax.

Take one more deep breath. And don't worry if your English is not perfect. Mistakes are normal.

We are always here to help you and practice together.

Exactly. Every mistake helps you learn something new. Try to speak out loud with us, even if it's just a few simple words.

All right, now let's begin our journey into weekend stories and have some fun while learning English together.

Hey Gwen, after a busy week of work and school, you are happy to wait for the weekend, right?

Yes, of course. The weekend feels like a small holiday. I always wait for it.

Me too. From Monday to Friday, life feels busy and a little stressful. But when I think about Saturday and Sunday, I feel happy.

Exactly. The weekend gives us time to rest, to breathe, and to enjoy life a little more.

And it's not only about rest. The weekend also means freedom. You don't need to follow a busy plan.

Yes, that's true. On weekdays, we have school, work, and meetings. But on weekends, we can choose what we want to do or even do nothing at all.

I think that's why many people wait for Friday.

Yeah. On Friday evening, many people feel happy because tomorrow is Saturday.

And when the weekend comes, even simple things can make me feel better,

like drinking tea slowly, reading a few pages of a book, or just waking up late.

So when we talk about weekends in English, it's not only about what we do, it's also about the feeling, waiting for it, resting, and being free.

That's right. And that is why weekend is such a good topic for English practice. Everyone has something to say about them.

Okay, let's share what we did last weekend. And remember, we will use the past simple tense. So, Gwen, what did you do?

My weekend was pretty quiet. On Saturday morning, I went to a cafe near my house and read a book. It felt so relaxing.

That sounds good. Did you have coffee there alone or with friends?

Just by myself. I sat by the window, listened to music, and enjoyed the moment.

Great. Did you stay out the whole day?

No, not really. Sometimes I had lunch with my parents. We ate together at a small restaurant. It felt nice to spend time with them after a busy week. In the afternoon, I watched a series on Netflix at home. And in the evening, I called my best friend. We talked about work, family, and even made some travel plans for next month.

Oh, so your weekend was calm with some time for yourself and also some time for your family.

Yes, that's right. What about you, Leo?

Well, my weekend was more active. On Saturday, I went hiking with my friends. The weather was sunny and the air was fresh. It was fun, but my legs were so hurt after that.

You always need some movement, right?

Yeah, that's me. I like being outside. And in the evening, I went on a dinner date at a restaurant.

Wow, sounds nice. Did you enjoy the food?

Yes, it was delicious. I ate pasta and salad. On Sunday morning, I went to church with my family. Later that day, I played online games with my friends.

So, my weekend was more relaxing and yours was more social and active, but we both spent time with family. That is lovely.

Exactly. Weekends can be very different for everyone and that's totally fine.

A weekend is a special time to rest after a busy week of study and work. There are so many activities we can do. Reading, cooking, meeting friends, or even traveling.

Yes. And sometimes doing nothing is also nice. You can just say, "I stayed at home and relaxed."

That's true. I slept a lot and watched TV. Both are also good weekend activities.

What about you, our friends? What did you do last weekend? Did you do something fun or something relaxing?

Yeah. Did you spend time with your family or meet your friends? We want to know about your weekend, too.

Please share your weekend in the comments. It's a great way to practice your English.

Don't be shy. Even one simple sentence is good practice. You can write, "I watched a movie" or "I visited my parents."

And if you're not sure how to talk about your weekend in English, don't worry. We will share some useful words and phrases with you in the next part.

So stay with us and keep practicing little by little.

Yes, even five minutes of practice every day can make a big difference.

Okay, maybe you're thinking, "My weekend is not like yours. What can I say then?" No problem. We have many common activities and useful phrases for you. Everyone's weekend is different, but we can still talk about them easily in English.

That's right. Think about the things you usually do on weekends. Now, we will show you lots of useful words and examples. First, let's talk about me time. Me time means the time you give to yourself.

Only you. No work, no school, no meetings, no stress. Just quiet time for your body and your mind.

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All right, son. I'm here. You told me you wanted to talk to me.

Yes, Dad. I'm sorry to bother you. I know you have to go to work.

What are you talking about? You are my son. I will always have time for you. Now tell me, what do you want to talk about with me? I'm sure it's important.

Well, nothing serious. In fact, I feel a little ashamed. I don't know whether to tell you.

Oh, come on. Whatever it is, I want to hear it. Okay, just tell me.

Well, um, thank you. Um, there is someone in the school.

It is a girl, right? That's what you want to tell me. You want to tell me that you have a girlfriend?

No. I mean, no yet. There is a girl I like a lot, but she's not my girlfriend. She's my friend. Her name is Anna. She's so beautiful. I like her a lot.

Oh, I see. Then what is the problem? Tell her that you like her. I know you're not a child anymore. You're a teenager. It is normal you like girls. If you're asking for my permission, you have my complete trust. Just bring her home when she's your girlfriend. I am sure your mother would like to know her. And of course, me too. My son.

That is the problem. That I like her a lot and I want her to be my girlfriend, but I don't know. I don't know how to tell her that I like her. It's the first time I will do something like that. I don't know if she feels as I do. Maybe she doesn't like me. What can I do?

Advice from DadAll right, I understand. Don't worry. I will help you, my son. Telling a girl you like her sounds simple, but actually doing it can be nerve-wracking. I will tell you a few ways you can express your emotions.

Drop some hints: Give her a few compliments. Yeah, give her a few compliments about her outfit or her nice laugh. It really works.

Tell her about a pretty flower you saw that made you think of her at the park today.

If you give enough hints as to how you're feeling, she'll be better prepared for when you tell her you like her.

You can try saying some things like, "I saw a gorgeous rose on my walk earlier today. It made me think of you." Or, "You have the best smile I ever seen." Try to pay attention to how she reacts to these compliments.

Do you really think that can work? How will I know she likes what I'm saying?

Well, if she smiles and laughs, it's a good sign. Now, you can also set a deadline for yourself. It will give you the motivation you need. If you've been thinking about this girl for a while, try setting a deadline for when you're going to tell her that you like her. It doesn't have to be immediately, but it should be within the next few weeks at least. It is not good idea to let too much time pass.

Pump yourself up first. Remind yourself of how awesome you are for a confidence boost. You could write a list or just say things out loud to yourself. You don't have to get cocky, but try saying things like, "This is going to go well. Even if she doesn't like me back, I'll feel better after I've said it."

Oh, this is very important. Please tell her in person if possible. Don't just text her. Try to approach her when she's alone and not busy. You told me you are friends and that's good. You can suggest hanging out one-on-one. You don't have to be completely isolated, but try not to confess your feelings around a group of friends. It is not a good idea. Try going for a walk in the park or meeting up in the food court at the mall. You could say something like, "Hey, do you want to hang out after school today?" Don't say, "I need to talk to you." She might think you have something bad to say. It happened to me.

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Hello everyone. Welcome back to another exciting episode of our podcast.

Hi friends, I'm your host Jessica. Now Robinson, let me ask you something. Have you ever spent years learning English, mastered the grammar, and can read a whole book, but then the moment someone greets you with hello, your mind just goes completely blank?

Oh, absolutely. That used to happen to me all the time when I was learning English. But why do you bring this up?

Well, today we're going to break down the real reasons you're struggling with speaking and exactly what you can do to fix them.

But how, Jessica? Could you please tell us?

First off, let's dive into the core reasons why so many people struggle with speaking English. The first big hurdle is what I like to call the fear and mindset block.

That sounds interesting. Can you elaborate on that?

Absolutely. One major component of this block is the perfectionism trap. Many learners have this overwhelming desire to speak perfectly right from the start. They fear making mistakes or sounding silly, and that's completely understandable.

I get that. I used to feel like I had to eliminate every single mistake before I could even try to speak.

Exactly. But here's the thing. That kind of fear can paralyze you. The truth is, effective communication is way more important than speaking flawlessly. Even native speakers make mistakes all the time.

So, it's okay to mess up.

Absolutely. Making mistakes is part of the learning process. It helps you improve and become a more confident speaker. Now, the second aspect of this mindset block is what I call the FBI interrogation feeling.

That sounds intense. What do you mean by that?

Well, many learners feel like the entire conversation depends on them and they're being judged continuously. This pressure can lead to anxiety that makes it hard to engage in a natural chat. It's crucial to shift your goal from trying to impress others to simply connecting with them.

That's a great point. Instead of worrying about what others think, we should focus on just enjoying the conversation.

Exactly. Now, let's move on to the second part, the practice gap. Many learners spend years absorbing English through reading or listening, but spend very little time actually producing it, like speaking or writing.

That's a great analogy. It's like reading a manual on how to drive, but never actually getting behind the wheel.

Yes, precisely. Speaking is a physical skill, much like driving. You can only get better by practicing. Another thing to consider is the difference between passive and active learning. Watching Netflix with subtitles is passive, but summarizing what you just watched out loud, that's active learning.

I see. Engaging actively helps reinforce the concepts we've learned.

Exactly. And which brings us to the final issue, the knowledge application problem. Many people understand grammar rules and vocabulary, but when it comes time to apply that knowledge in conversation, they freeze up.

That's so true. I sometimes know what I want to say in my head but can't get the words out when speaking.

Right? It's essential to practice applying what you know in real life situations. So don't be afraid to speak, make mistakes, and actively engage with the language.

I love that. Those are some practical tips. I think it's all about changing our approach and mindset.

So those are some practical tips, but let's talk about another big hurdle: unrealistic expectations and environment.

Right. It can be so discouraging when learners compare themselves to bilingual or native speakers.

Exactly. That can really demotivate you. Instead of measuring yourself against someone who's been fluent for years, it's more beneficial to compare yourself to your past self. Look at how far you've come.

That's a great perspective. And it's also tough when there's a lack of a safe environment to practice. Sometimes we don't have anyone we feel comfortable speaking with.

Totally. Having a supportive environment is crucial. You don't want to feel judged when you're trying to get better.

So, what can we do to overcome these hurdles?

Great question. First, it's important to conquer your mindset. One actionable tip is to embrace strategic incompetence. Give yourself permission to be bad at speaking for a while. Your primary goal should be to communicate, not to be perfect.

That makes sense. If you allow yourself to make mistakes, it takes off a lot of pressure.

Exactly. Another helpful tip is to reframe your goals. Instead of setting out to have a perfect 30-minute conversation, aim for smaller achievable goals like successfully ordering a coffee and saying, "Have a nice day."

I love that. It's much more manageable.

Absolutely. Now, let's bridge the input-output gap. One helpful strategy is self-talk. As you go about your day, describe your actions in English. Say things like, "I am walking to the kitchen." Or, "I need to buy milk." It may sound a bit silly, but it's a great way to practice without pressure.

I can see how that helps. It keeps the language fresh in your mind.

Exactly. Also, consider shadowing. This involves listening to audio clips like podcasts or YouTube videos and then repeating after them to practice rhythm and intonation.

That's a smart way to improve fluency.

It really is. And that practice helps build what we call muscle memory for your mouth and brain. But there's another critical area we haven't touched on yet: cognitive load.

Cognitive load. That sounds a bit scientific. What does that mean for an English learner?

It's the mental effort required to speak. Think about it. You're trying to remember vocabulary, apply grammar rules, manage your pronunciation, and follow the conversation all at the same time. Your brain's RAM gets maxed out, and it just freezes.

Oh, that explains so much. It's not that we don't know the words, it's that our brain is doing too many tasks at once.