Charlie Baxter, host of The British English Podcast, discusses the north/south divide in England, his background in psychology & NLP, and his travels in Chile, Germany, and Australia. Topics include regional identities, life in Sydney, NLP coaching, wildlife encounters in Australia, and transitioning from podcasting to YouTube content creation.
Discussion on the north/south divide in England and Charlie's background in psychology & NLP.
Experience of living in different countries like Chile, Germany, and Australia.
Transition from face-to-face teaching to online teaching, highlighting the flexibility and challenges.
Deep dives
Life in Ohio and the Puma-Adidas Rivalry
Living in Ohio revealed the epitome of an American experience, with stereotypical college parties and a clear division between Puma and Adidas supporters. The rivalry is so ingrained that people would scrutinize each other's shoes to determine allegiance to a brand, highlighting the competitive spirit in this midwestern town.
Travel from the States to Germany
From the United States, the journey led to Germany where cultural immersion through learning German took a back seat due to the extensive use of English among expats. The comfy English bubble created by fellow expats hindered the complexity of picking up the German language despite initial enthusiasm and attempts to balance studying Spanish and Italian.
Adventures in Australia
Arriving in Australia after experiences in the States and Germany, the emphasis shifted to the spaciousness, weather, and the richness of life Down Under. Initially cautious of critters like spiders due to their reputation, normal sightings of possums, bats, bin chickens (ibis), and iguanas became peculiar features of the Australian wildlife mosaic.
Transition from Germany to Australia
The leap from Germany's English-dominated environment to Australia's vast landscapes and unique wildlife marked a significant shift in cultural immersion. Initially unnerved by a small spider in Australia due to its lethal reputation, experiences with native animals like possums, bats, bin chickens, and iguanas gradually integrated into everyday local wildlife encounters.
Encountering Wildlife in Sydney
The speaker describes various encounters with wildlife in Sydney, including massive bats hanging upside down and being mistaken for dead, large fruit bats flying around the botanical gardens, white parrots known as cockatoos, and the infamous 'bin chickens' with long beaks scavenging for food. Additionally, they mention encountering iguanas and kookaburras, showcasing the variety of wildlife experiences in Sydney.
Transition to Online Teaching and Content Creation
The host discusses transitioning from face-to-face teaching to online teaching, realizing the flexibility and potential for teaching online. Starting with English teaching in an office setting and then moving to teaching on the beach, the speaker emphasizes their passion for creating online content with a friend, leading to the establishment of a YouTube channel and later, a podcast. They delve into the challenges of balancing teaching speed for different English levels and the shift from longer YouTube live lessons to more engaging podcast and long-form content for better audience connection.
Chatting with Charlie from The British English Podcast and Real English with Real Teachers on YouTube. We talk about the north/south divide in England, Charlie's background in psychology & NLP, his decision to become an online English teacher and his travelling experiences in Chile, Germany and Australia. Video version available on YouTube.
