The A to Z English Podcast

A collocation is a combination of words that are commonly used together in a natural way by native speakers of a language. These word pairings sound "right" to native speakers because they occur frequently in everyday language.Pay tribute – To honor or show respect to someone or something.Example: The president paid tribute to the fallen soldiers.Bear responsibility – To accept or take on accountability for something.Example: He bore responsibility for the project's failure.Run a risk – To expose oneself to the possibility of danger or loss.Example: You run a risk of injury if you don't warm up before exercising.Podcast Website: http://atozenglishpodcast.comSocial Media:WeChat: atozenglishpodcastFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/671098974684413/Tik Tok: @atozenglish1Instagram: @atozenglish22Twitter: @atozenglish22A to Z Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/theatozenglishpodcastCheck out our You Tube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCds7JR-5dbarBfas4Ve4h8ABecome a member of Podchaser and leave a positive review!https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-a-to-z-english-podcast-4779670Join our Whatsapp group: https://forms.gle/zKCS8y1t9jwv2KTn7Intro/Outro Music: Debora by Jangwahttps://freemusicarchive.org/music/Dilating_Times/single/debora/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-a-to-z-english-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode, Xochitl and Jack discuss writing music as a hobby.Find links to Jack's music here:https://soundcloud.com/jack-mcbhttps://www.youtube.com/@echodust77https://echodust2.bandcamp.com/musicPodcast Website: http://atozenglishpodcast.comSocial Media:WeChat: atozenglishpodcastFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/671098974684413/Tik Tok: @atozenglish1Instagram: @atozenglish22Twitter: @atozenglish22A to Z Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/theatozenglishpodcastCheck out our You Tube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCds7JR-5dbarBfas4Ve4h8ABecome a member of Podchaser and leave a positive review!https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-a-to-z-english-podcast-4779670Join our Whatsapp group: https://forms.gle/zKCS8y1t9jwv2KTn7Intro/Outro Music: Debora by Jangwahttps://freemusicarchive.org/music/Dilating_Times/single/debora/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-a-to-z-english-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode, Xochitl and Jack talk about their pets and the sad news related to Jack's dog, Lily. Podcast Website: http://atozenglishpodcast.comSocial Media:WeChat: atozenglishpodcastFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/671098974684413/Tik Tok: @atozenglish1Instagram: @atozenglish22Twitter: @atozenglish22A to Z Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/theatozenglishpodcastCheck out our You Tube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCds7JR-5dbarBfas4Ve4h8ABecome a member of Podchaser and leave a positive review!https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-a-to-z-english-podcast-4779670Join our Whatsapp group: https://forms.gle/zKCS8y1t9jwv2KTn7Intro/Outro Music: Debora by Jangwahttps://freemusicarchive.org/music/Dilating_Times/single/debora/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-a-to-z-english-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode, Xochitl tells Jack about her trip to Korea and Japan. They also discuss the sad reason that Jack couldn't meet up with Xochitl while she was visiting Korea. Podcast Website: http://atozenglishpodcast.comSocial Media:WeChat: atozenglishpodcastFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/671098974684413/Tik Tok: @atozenglish1Instagram: @atozenglish22Twitter: @atozenglish22A to Z Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/theatozenglishpodcastCheck out our You Tube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCds7JR-5dbarBfas4Ve4h8ABecome a member of Podchaser and leave a positive review!https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-a-to-z-english-podcast-4779670Join our Whatsapp group: https://forms.gle/zKCS8y1t9jwv2KTn7Intro/Outro Music: Debora by Jangwahttps://freemusicarchive.org/music/Dilating_Times/single/debora/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-a-to-z-english-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

🎙 The A to Z English Podcast: We're Back! 🎙After a long hiatus, we're thrilled to be back in your ears with fresh energy and exciting content! In this special return episode, we catch you up on what we've been up to, share some behind-the-scenes stories, and preview what you can expect in the coming episodes. From language tips and cultural discussions to fun and engaging topics, we’re diving back into everything you love about The A to Z English Podcast.Plus, we’re bringing a new vibe to the show with music by the incredible Eaters. Don’t miss their track "Dig Your Own Soul," which adds a groovy spark to our journey forward.Tune in, catch up, and let’s explore the world of English together again—one letter at a time!Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-a-to-z-english-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It's with heavy hearts that Xochitl and I are announcing that this is our last episode. We put the "..." in the title to indicate that no one knows the future and there may be a time we start the podcast up again. But for now, we won't be releasing any new episodes. A huge thank you and a huge hug from Xochitl and me to all of our listeners out there. You're the best audience in the world, and we so thoroughly appreciate your support. Thank you, thank you thank you!!!Podcast Website:https://atozenglishpodcast.com/the-last-episode/Social Media:WeChat: atozenglishpodcastFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/671098974684413/Tik Tok: @atozenglish1Instagram: @atozenglish22Twitter: @atozenglish22A to Z Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/theatozenglishpodcastCheck out our You Tube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCds7JR-5dbarBfas4Ve4h8ABecome a member of Podchaser and leave a positive review!https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-a-to-z-english-podcast-4779670Join our Whatsapp group: https://forms.gle/zKCS8y1t9jwv2KTn7Intro/Outro Music: Debora by Jangwahttps://freemusicarchive.org/music/Dilating_Times/single/debora/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-a-to-z-english-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dive into the future of ESL education, where challenges from the pandemic and globalization reshape teaching practices. Discover how technology, AI, and translation apps influence language learning, questioning the necessity of studying English. Uncover the uncertainties facing teachers, especially in Korea, while emphasizing the irreplaceable human touch in conveying culture through language. Personal stories add depth as educators navigate these evolving landscapes, engaging students to share their insights on what's next for language learning.

Here are the meanings of the phrases "drop the ball" and "fall off":Drop the Ball"Drop the ball" is an idiom that means to make a mistake or fail to meet an obligation or responsibility. It suggests that someone has let something important slip through the cracks, leading to a failure or mishap. The phrase likely originates from sports, where dropping the ball can lead to a loss of possession or a missed opportunity.Example:"I really dropped the ball on that project. I forgot to submit the report on time."Fall Off"Fall off" can have a few different meanings depending on the context:Literal Meaning: To physically fall from a higher place to a lower place.Example: "Be careful on the ladder so you don't fall off."Decrease or Decline: To experience a reduction in amount, quality, or intensity.Example: "Sales have fallen off since the holiday season."Lose Focus or Consistency: To stop maintaining a certain level of performance, attention, or engagement.Example: "He was doing well in his studies, but his grades fell off after he started working part-time."Both phrases are commonly used in everyday conversation and writing, and their meanings can often be inferred from the context in which they are used.Podcast Website:https://atozenglishpodcast.com/idiom-academy-drop-the-ball-and-fall-off/Social Media:WeChat: atozenglishpodcastFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/671098974684413/Tik Tok: @atozenglish1Instagram: @atozenglish22Twitter: @atozenglish22A to Z Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/theatozenglishpodcastCheck out our You Tube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCds7JR-5dbarBfas4Ve4h8ABecome a member of Podchaser and leave a positive review!https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-a-to-z-english-podcast-4779670Join our Whatsapp group: https://forms.gle/zKCS8y1t9jwv2KTn7Intro/Outro Music: Debora by Jangwahttps://freemusicarchive.org/music/Dilating_Times/single/debora/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-a-to-z-english-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Xochitl and Jack answer more silly questions.Transcript:00:00:00JackHey, A is the English podcast listeners. It's Jack here and we just want to announce that we are now on WeChat. Our WeChat ID is A-Z English podcast that is A-Z English podcast, one word all lowercase.00:00:17JackAnd if you.00:00:18JackJoin the group. You will be able to talk with me. You'll be able to.00:00:22JackTalk with social.00:00:23JackAnd we can answer your questions. We can read your comments on the podcast. So we'd love for you to join us and be active in our we chat group. Our WeChat ID is A-Z English podcast. Thanks. See you on the app.00:00:48JackWelcome to the Ados English podcast. My name is Jack and I'm here with my co-host social. And today we have a fun topic talk.00:00:57JackAnd this one is. These are just silly questions, social and.00:01:02JackWe're going to do three of them, and if you join our English corner through the WeChat group, you can also discuss these. We we discussed these questions last week, but we will discuss questions like this in the future as well. And #1 is what are your most random pet peeves?00:01:22JackWe we talked.00:01:22JackAbout pet peeves before, but what's your like most random one? That probably no one else is annoyed by, but only you?00:01:30XochitlMy most random pet peeve.00:01:35XochitlThe leading the chair not pushing, as we discussed before.00:01:39발표자Mm-hmm.00:01:41XochitlWhat's another one?00:01:44XochitlI'm trying to think I'm not too much of A picky person, so it's kind of hard for me. I hate this is kind of a like a weird one. It's not really my business, but I just hate seeing like.00:01:57XochitlLike useless men like this sounds weird, but it's kind of a pet peeve of mine when there's, like, a a woman with like like this just happened in the airport. There's a woman was literally the she she and her husband were at the airport and she had like, seven kids. And I think she's pregnant with another kid and.00:02:17XochitlHe the man just like there's he was supposed to get like dinner for all the kids and the wife with his oldest son, and they just disappeared for like 2 hours and then came back with nothing.00:02:30XochitlAnd the kids were, like, running around and screaming, and the lady looked, like, devastated. And it was like, oh, my God, I just, you know what I mean? I hate seeing stuff like that every time I see a man, a useless partner. That's a huge piece. And it's funny because it's not really my business, but it just makes me angry.00:02:48JackYeah, it's kind of I'm. I'm just, I think.00:02:50JackIt's funny that you were.00:02:51JackJust watching that whole scenario play out and just seething, just so angry.00:02:57XochitlYes, I was sitting across from the waiting and I was just like, oh, my God, this poor lady. And this, like, older lady sitting next to her was like, helped ended up helping her with distract her kids for a while, which was really nice. Of the older lady to step in. But it was just.00:03:12XochitlCrazy that the woman has a whole husband. That's like doing nothing.00:03:17JackYeah.00:03:17XochitlJust absolutely insane.00:03:19JackI wonder, I wonder if my wife would have stories. And then I thought fortunately there might be some examples of me checking out for a moment, but I I try not to. I I try to, you know, we we try to divide and conquer. You know, the best that we can.00:03:34XochitlI don't think he would have been that useless like this guy was a a new level. You know what I mean? From what I've seen of you, I have a hard time believing you would have been that.00:03:39발표자Yeah.00:03:43XochitlBad.00:03:43XochitlYou know, so that's a.00:03:45XochitlBig Tip team of mine and I think.00:03:49XochitlThose are those are two big ones, I.00:03:53XochitlI don't think that I have another one. I guess another, maybe third one is like noise makes me irritated really fast. So like.00:04:04XochitlI like things to be pretty quiet, but if I have to hear like a bunch of noise.00:04:10XochitlI can just get so angry quickly for no reason kind of. So that peeve is like just really noisy environments can really grate on my nerves if I'm not expecting it. You know, if I'm at like a concert or something, obviously I don't really care. You expect it to be loud, but it's.00:04:25JackYeah, you can't really complain about the noise at a concert.00:04:28XochitlYeah, but it's just like sudden loudness or something out of nowhere. Like it just kind of grates on my nerves.00:04:36XochitlYeah. How about you, Jack? What are your pet peeves?00:04:39JackI've got a couple. Well, my the first one, I said this one was in another podcast too, but I it bothers me when people say, you know what I mean like that. It's like, yeah, because I'm. I'm always like, yeah, I I know exactly what you mean. You don't have to ask me. You know, I'm not stupid, but.00:04:49XochitlYes, I remember that.00:04:59JackBut it's not, that's just me projecting because people.00:05:03JackAre they're not really asking me a question. They're just, it's just a filler, right? It's it's a.00:05:09XochitlOr they're worried that they don't make sense. Like when I ask people. Ohh, do you know what I mean? Like I'm. I'm asking because I think I don't make sense.00:05:18JackYeah, you're being like you're being an active listener. You're you're actually really, genuinely trying to be understood and making sure the other person understands you. So yeah, that that pet peeve is is just it's it's actually it's it's on me. It's not. It's my fault. It's not other people being annoying. It's just me being annoying.00:05:38JackUM.00:05:40JackAnother one is that I noticed that really bothers me is when, like people, when did people stop using headphones and just start listening to their stupid phones out loud like is there?00:05:50발표자Oh my God, that has not happened.00:05:53XochitlTo me, at the airport. Sorry, go ahead.00:05:55JackOh, no, I yeah, I mean, but was it music or was it, uh, talking?00:05:59XochitlJust random stuff like videos and talking and music and like and phone calls and stuff. And I'm like, why are you listening to everything out loud? Like where are your heads?00:06:10JackYeah.00:06:10XochitlAnd it's so funny, because just before that I was like seeing a video and like, oh, I don't want to listen to this cause I don't have headphones. And so I'm not going to listen to it and I'll just save it for later. And then there's person next to me. He's like blasting this video and like, it's so weird, you know? Yeah.00:06:25JackI know, I know what you mean. It's it happened to me yesterday. Guy in the elevator is listening.00:06:30JackTo.00:06:30JackHis stupid YouTube channel about baseball or something and everyone has to listen to it. Then another person in the elevator takes their phone out and starts listening to their thing, and none of them are putting any headphones in as if we all want to.00:06:42JackListen to your garbage.00:06:44JackYou know.00:06:44JackIt's like if if I wanted to listen to it, I would listen to it my myself. There's there's no is there, is there no respect anymore? What? What happened to to people? It's just.00:06:55XochitlIt I just grew, actually. I grew up. You just sound like such a boomer when you said that. But it's kind of funny because my boomer dad would actually do that. We would be watching like soap operas like my mom and I would be watching soap opera. And my dad would come in listening to baseball on his iPad and just sit in the room listening to the baseball like.00:07:15XochitlIn the middle of us watching soap opera and I'd be like, can you leave like or turn that off?00:07:19XochitlOff and he's like, I just want to spend time with you guys. I'm like, then put some headphones in or watch this with us or and watch that way or something. It was just so annoying because it's like we can't even hear the soap opera that we're watching cause he's too busy listening to the baseball game on full blast in the middle of the room. We were sitting in. So yeah, it's really annoying.00:07:37JackYes, headphone headphone etiquette. Come on, people. What's the craziest thing you've ever done? I mean, this is a hard question because.00:07:47JackI've done too many crazy things, but.00:07:50XochitlAre you feeling something?00:07:52XochitlWell, maybe it's just like deciding I was gonna move to Korea. Like, I don't know where I just pulled that out of thin air. And I was like, yeah, what I could. Yeah, I'll move to Korea. That was kind of crazy, I think. Yeah. Yeah. It it ended up working out fine. Another really crazy one that I always remember is we went to Spain when I was a little kid, I was like.00:08:12Xochitl9 or 10 years old and my dad.00:08:19XochitlWe were like going to this castle and my dad decided to crawl up through the castle like there's there. Was this an old sewage hall hole in the castle wall and my dad decided to that we should, like, cut through.00:08:37XochitlAnd go through there instead of walking around the into the castle entrance like normal people.00:08:45XochitlMy mom was not.00:08:45JackI think your dad the craziest thing. Your.00:08:47JackDad's ever done.00:08:48XochitlYes, we were little kids, but I unfortunately with Dragon and I was like, no, I don't want to do this. And then my sister and my dad were, like, getting angry at me because I was like on the verge.00:08:57XochitlOf tears because.00:08:58XochitlI was like, we're gonna get in trouble and we didn't get in trouble. By the way, somehow we did. We did that and then jumped over this like police orange mesh.00:09:08XochitlUs and just acted like we were there the whole time.00:09:12JackWow, you guys got away with it. Nice.00:09:13XochitlEgg.00:09:15XochitlYeah, it's. It was very weird. My dad is an insane person. So. So yeah, that was definitely a crazy thing. And I do remember it still vividly, because something that I didn't want to do and was still doing. So yeah. How about you, Jack? Crazy thing you've done.00:09:33JackThat's funny. I mean, I I think probably the craziest thing I've ever done is.00:09:39JackYeah, I I would say move to to Asia. I mean just kind of on a whim, just like I'm going to go to Thailand.00:09:47JackAnd teach English without any teaching experience or anything. I just I just went and.00:09:54JackYeah, I didn't even know where Thailand was on a map. I think I could have been going to Taiwan like it didn't. I didn't even know. I I put so little thought into it.00:10:05JackI just got on a plane and and landed and hoped for the best, you know? And yeah, 20 some years later it worked out great, but it was just. It was one. It was a crazy thing because it it changed the entire.00:10:11XochitlHmm.00:10:22JackOutcome of my life like it just said, the direction it changed the entire direction of my life, and so it took me. It took me to places that I've I never dreamed I would ever go to.00:10:34JackOr had never even heard of before. When I was a kid. So yeah, I think, yeah, travel doing doing what we did is is pretty crazy.00:10:44JackThat definitely qualifies.00:10:44XochitlYeah.00:10:46XochitlMost people never do that.00:10:49JackYeah, I think I don't have people think about it, but they they they rarely pull the trigger and do it.00:10:55JackAnd.00:10:55XochitlI think the the like hardest part though from the athletes is like uh, sorry Jack, did I interrupt.00:11:00XochitlYou. No, no.00:11:01XochitlOK. I was just thinking, I think the weirdest part for me is like when you get to Korea and you meet a bunch of other people who were just as crazy as you and then, like, some of them are actually crazy people because you know what I mean? There's, like, a lot of really weird expats.00:11:11JackYeah, yeah, yeah.00:11:15XochitlBecause.00:11:19XochitlThere's a lot of weird ex. That's because it takes a certain level of audacity and craziness to do to to do that to, like, uproot your life and move somewhere else. And so there's other people who are also crazy for different reasons, though. You know what I mean? Or am I not?00:11:37발표자I.00:11:37JackI have a theory about this actually because no, I know exactly what you mean.00:11:41JackThere's kind of 222 groups, you know, there's like, normal. There's normal people that want an adventure and they they, they kind of do something crazy because they're like, cause it is kind of crazy to move to a country where you don't speak.00:11:49XochitlYeah.00:11:55JackThe language you don't know the culture.00:11:58JackAnd you're going to live there indefinitely.00:12:01JackAnd that's crazy. But there are also kind of crazy people that just don't fit into society back home.00:12:10JackAnd so they they go to another place where they can, where the local population, the local people, can't distinguish between crazy people and normal people. So there's normal people who are adventurous and then crazy people. And we all get lumped in together as foreigners.00:12:10XochitlYeah.00:12:30JackAnd I always want to feel like that person over there is crazy. That person does not represent me.00:12:37JackI'm not.00:12:38XochitlRight.00:12:39JackThat person, that person, is weird. That person is weird in America. That person is weird in Canada.00:12:45XochitlYes, yes.00:12:45발표자That person is.00:12:46JackA weirdo, you know, like you you. Yeah.00:12:50XochitlI had that experience with few different times. I had, like I had a lot of kind of bad experiences with other expats in Korea because you find out there's a lot of people that are there for a reason.00:13:00XochitlThat is not the reason that you're there. No, they're like escaping all the bridges that you burn back in their home country, like different weird things. I I had one person that I knew that was extremely weird, like.00:13:14XochitlHe was really friendly at first and then became like, really hostile and it was like super weird. And I just stopped talking like she totally misinterpreted a situation that we had. And I was like, huh, maybe I actually came off like a jerk. I feel terrible. I'm so sorry.00:13:34XochitlAnd she was like, no, you definitely did that on purpose. You're a horrible person. And I was like, Ohh Dang, maybe I am a horrible person. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I didn't mean, you know, to do that. And then that person had the same exact problem with everyone else that we knew mutually. And I was like, oh, OK, it wasn't you.00:13:50JackAnd every person that she knows back home, she's had that problem.00:13:52JackWith.00:13:53XochitlYes, that's exactly what happened. And then?00:13:57XochitlWhat's another crazy one that happened? I had this one I had, like. It happened to me like a few different times, with different people and On the contrary, I have friends that I'm people that I met, that I'm still friends with, you know that I still stayed.00:14:09XochitlIn.00:14:09XochitlTouch with, but there there was another like, there's a couple that was like super racist and I was like, Oh my God. Like they just started saying racist stuff in front of me, thinking I'd be cool.00:14:21XochitlWith that, and I was like, what the heck, you know what?00:14:24XochitlI mean like.00:14:25JackNo.00:14:25XochitlIt was so.00:14:26XochitlWeird. And also to know like expat to like go to Korea and are racist like towards Asian people and I'm like why are you here?00:14:35JackYeah, yeah, I that is. That is bizarre behavior. I mean, because they're, you know, they're no one. No one will take them anywhere. They they don't. They don't fit in anywhere. And it's it's like they have to, you have to fix yourself it. It's it's you can't just if you're broken in America and then you come to Korea and you.00:14:53JackThink you're going to be fixed?00:14:54발표자It's.00:14:55JackIt's not, it's not. It doesn't work that way. You know, you gotta fix yourself wherever you are. And but I. But I feel like they can blend in a little bit more here in, in an odd way or get away with their behavior a little bit more because people are just just chalk it up as.00:15:14JackWell, that person's a foreigner, so they don't understand, but it's like, no, it's not. Has nothing to do with them being a foreigner. They're just.00:15:23JackA weird person. They're just strange, and they behave strangely, and so they deserve they. You should avoid that person, you know, that's what.00:15:32JackI want to tell people.00:15:32XochitlYes, I know I I've had that happen so many times. So ultimately, yeah, it's it's an interesting experience.00:15:44XochitlSo I don't know listeners, let us know what the craziest thing you've ever done was. Have you ever lived in another country and also do you know about the phenomenon that Jack and I are talking about? I'm curious if you guys know what we're talking about. Leave a comment down below at AZ englishpodcast.com shoot us an e-mail at AZ englishpodcast@gmail.com and make sure to join the WeChat and also.00:16:04XochitlTo talk to Jack and I directly.00:16:06XochitlAnne, Jack and I did start an English corner, as I'm sure you've heard, it's Monday through Friday for an hour a day and we have a lot of Members now. It's really cool. We get to discuss different topics just like the ones we discussed today, and everyone gets to chime in with their opinion and it's a really great time and environment to be able to practice your English.00:16:26XochitlSo if you want to join us, make sure to send a message to Jack on WeChat or WhatsApp, or shoot us an e-mail at aznewspodcast@gmail.com and we'll see you guys next time. Bye bye.00:16:36JackBye.Podcast Website:https://atozenglishpodcast.com/topic-talk-more-silly-questions/Social Media:WeChat: atozenglishpodcastFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/671098974684413/Tik Tok: @atozenglish1Instagram: @atozenglish22Twitter: @atozenglish22A to Z Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/theatozenglishpodcastCheck out our You Tube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCds7JR-5dbarBfas4Ve4h8ABecome a member of Podchaser and leave a positive review!https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-a-to-z-english-podcast-4779670Join our Whatsapp group: https://forms.gle/zKCS8y1t9jwv2KTn7Intro/Outro Music: Debora by Jangwahttps://freemusicarchive.org/music/Dilating_Times/single/debora/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-a-to-z-english-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Xochitl explains why she may not want to have children.Transcript:00:00:00JackHey, A is the English podcast listeners. It's Jack here and we just want to announce that we are now on WeChat. Our WeChat ID is A-Z English podcast that is A-Z English podcast, one word all lowercase.00:00:17JackAnd if you.00:00:18JackJoin the group. You will be able to talk with me. You'll be able to.00:00:22JackTalk with social.00:00:23JackAnd we can answer your questions. We can read your comments on the podcast. So we'd love for you to join us and be active in our we chat group. Our WeChat ID is A-Z English podcast. Thanks. See you on the app.00:00:49JackWelcome to the A-Z English podcast. My name is Jack and.00:00:52JackI'm here with my co-host social.00:00:54JackAnd today we have an interesting topic.00:00:56JackFor you and social, I'm going to.00:00:58JackLet you introduce the topic today.00:01:04XochitlToday, we're going to talk about.00:01:07XochitlSocietal pressures and expectations kind of in this upcoming generation, which includes, you know, people my age and younger, and we're going to talk about how I maybe don't want to have kids.00:01:22JackMHM.00:01:24XochitlYeah. So I don't know what to say about that, except I guess I've gotten to an age finally.00:01:29XochitlThere, you know one once people know like they ask me how old I am and once they know, you know, they they sometimes ask, you know, do I want to have kids or am I thinking about having kids? And the answer is kind of no. I mean whenever I hear screaming children, it just dries up, it dries.00:01:50XochitlThe uterus right up, Jack to the side.00:01:51XochitlOf.00:01:52XochitlSomething I just I hate. I I can't really stand the shrill shrieking of of joyous children. I'm just kidding. But it is it. It is really hard and and I just see there's so much responsibility. I admire people who are parents. Of course I know it's really hard.00:02:01JackYeah.00:02:10XochitlBut I do see there's so much responsibility and it kind of makes me feel like you just never know where things are gonna go. Like a lot of things are kind of out of your control when you have kids and.00:02:25XochitlIt's scary because I I I I guess I always go to the darkest, you know, recess of my mind and think you know what? If someone murdered my kids or you know what? What kid murdered someone you know and and not just that. It's like every decision that you make for the rest of your life will revolve around your kids and even when your kids are adult.00:02:36JackHmm.00:02:49XochitlYou're going to worry about them every single day, and you're gonna.00:02:54XochitlLike put your energy into that bill. Never stop being your kids, you know.00:03:00JackOh, I I know exactly what you mean. It's. But can I go back and back a little bit? Are you are you offended when people ask you that?00:03:05XochitlOh yeah, Jack, rewind.00:03:09XochitlI don't really care but, but I know some people. Some people do get offended and I think that's their right because it's kind of like it's not really anyone's business, you know, and if.00:03:19JackYeah, it's kind of an inappropriate question in some in some ways.00:03:22JackI feel like.00:03:23XochitlIt's kind of a crazy question because it's like if I wanted kids and could have kids, wouldn't I have them right now? And then it's like, and if I didn't want kids, then why are you asking me and like?00:03:29JackYou're right.00:03:35XochitlLike there's just or if I want kids and couldn't have them like, then we're just about to open a really uncomfortable can of worms, especially if you don't know me super well. Like, what if you asked me that and I have on my, like, fifth round of IVF and we know it's not gonna work anymore. And I'm like, I start sobbing my eyes out. And you just ask me, you know, if I want to have kids, you know what I mean? Like, it's just why.00:03:55XochitlI don't get why people ask that, and I and I can see like if I wanted kids and I had issues.00:04:00XochitlConceiving I would probably be really I could easily be hurt and I can see why people would be, you know, it's a.00:04:06XochitlWeird question to ask.00:04:07JackYeah, it seems like it kind of a dangerous area to to ask questions about, you know, because it's so personal and and also, you know, do you feel like you do, you feel obligated to explain yourself after when you say no like because I feel like just saying no is should be enough.00:04:27JackBut but I I feel like you feel like you have to qualify that with like an explanation and that that's I think the crux of today's topic, right is the.00:04:38JackThe this kind of idea that like you have to have kids like it's just and and I'm I'm I'm my we were talking about this before the the podcast before we started recording.00:04:43XochitlRight.00:04:53JackAnd uhm, I told you, I I mentioned to my daughter. I said, you know. Well, I think I told her don't have any kids or something like that. But that's a little harsh, you know? Like I mean, of course, if she wants to have kids, I I hope she has kids. And I would love to be a grand a granddad. But because then you just get to do all the fun stuff.00:05:13JackNone of the hard work.00:05:15XochitlRight. You get to spoil your kids rotten and she has to discipline them.00:05:19JackExactly. That's. I'm looking forward to that actually that's that's that's kind of the reward for going through and parenting is you get to then you get to be a grandparent but.00:05:30JackThe but I just feel like like more, more and more people in your age.00:05:34발표자Group.00:05:35JackAre are, are choosing not to have kids and choosing not to get married, especially women you know are are are just going into the workforce focusing on their jobs and their careers and realize that having a kid is also a full time job.00:05:40JackHmm.00:05:55JackBy itself, and I know because I've I've gone through it, my daughter, and we're coming out of, we're kind of coming out of it on the on the other end a little bit because my daughter is now 15, almost 16. So she's basically like a little adult. And, you know, all the.00:06:13JackAnnoying stuff is is is done, you know, I mean it. It's lovely when they're they're little and cute, but sometimes it can be.00:06:19JackLike.00:06:20JackExhausting. You know, I just remember my daughter crying uncontrollably for no reason in about two in the morning, and I'm just beside myself and you know.00:06:33JackLying on the floor on her bed, bedroom in or in her bedroom, holding her hand, saying, you know, will you go to sleep if I hold your hand? And then she said yes, OK. And so I'm holding your hand. And then she finally falls asleep. And then I fall asleep and.00:06:48JackTo wake up on this hardwood floor.00:06:51JackAnd not well rested the next day. And you know, it's just it. It's it's tough. Like I I just think like having kids going into it without, like thinking about it really and really knowing that you want to be a parent. I think some people just jump into it too too quickly.00:07:09JackDo you think?00:07:09XochitlUh.00:07:10XochitlYeah, I totally agree with you. I think actually some of the most responsible people are like end up not having kids because they just know I'm not trying to knock anyone who's who's had kids. I'm sure a lot of people.00:07:24XochitlAre responsible parents, but I'm just saying that a lot of people who would be responsible parents also just don't end up having kids because they think about everything that has to go into raising a child. You know, it's like a lot of effort, a lot of money, a lot of time, a lot of sacrifices.00:07:42XochitlAnd UM.00:07:44XochitlI think one of the most common arguments now for for children is or for people who don't want to have children is like, oh, you're selfish and it's.00:07:51XochitlLike, I mean, I think it's more selfish to bring a child in the world when you're not fully prepared to take care of that child.00:07:59JackRight. Being neglectful. Not to, you know, be still trying to live your selfish life because you you you have to. Once you have a kid, you, you're, it's done. It's not life is no longer about you.00:08:13JackSo.00:08:14JackSo you know, I I know some people that that have kids and they still want to live like they don't have kids. And you what happens is in either one of the spouses, the husband or the wife ends up, you know, doing most of the heavy lifting. Most of the work and then resentment.00:08:15XochitlRight.00:08:34JackPros and then divorce happens and those kinds of things and.00:08:40JackThat's like you said, way more selfish than just deciding not to have kids.00:08:46XochitlRight.00:08:48XochitlYeah, yeah, I I completely agree. And I just, you know.00:08:55XochitlI just can't. I just can't. I I notice a lot less people in my generation are having kids. In fact, the the next door neighbor here at my mom's house, she just went to staying on a girls trip. She's like a she's a doctor, and her mom came over to take care.00:09:09XochitlOf her cats.00:09:10XochitlAnd my aunt went over there and to pick something up, I think. And the lady told her the mom of this doctor was like, it's funny, we used to take care. My, my parents generation used to take care of the of their grandkids. And now I'm taking care of my grand pets, you know.00:09:32JackThat's.00:09:33XochitlAnd that's so true. A lot of people are just opting to have pets and not have children because all the responsibility, you can't really leave a young kid alone for that long to go on a summer trip or, you know, just so many factors that make it.00:09:51XochitlAnd possibly hard, especially in today's economy, to have and raise a child.00:09:57JackI think you hit on a big point there. The the economic factor is huge. The societal pressure for women to have children is very is very strong, right? Because we just talked about that. People will just randomly ask you if you're, you know, why don't you have kids and and but what they.00:10:17JackWhat people forget is that, like, women are discriminated against in the workforce for taking pregnancy leave.00:10:26JackYou know, they're that they're, they're you. I don't want to hire a woman. Who?00:10:26XochitlYep.00:10:30JackWas.00:10:31JackAt that age of around the age that a person would have children because she's going to have to leave for for three months or six months or whatever the, you know, there's no free daycare, you have to pay for daycare. It's very expensive and and you are raising.00:10:50XochitlYes.00:10:52JackI mean, and for the economy, you're providing another?00:10:55JackA future worker.00:10:57JackAnd you, but you get no benefits or respect for that all you all you get is the pressure to have the kid, but none of the help on the other end and so.00:11:08JackThat's, that's what kind of makes me angry about the system is that it's it's very much designed to encourage women to have children, make more workers, but we're not going to. We're not going to consider that a job, but we're not going to consider that worthy of any benefits. You just do that on your own.00:11:27XochitlWhen in company.00:11:29JackAnd you work a full time job because these days both parents need to work just to to make ends meet.00:11:35JackSo.00:11:36XochitlRight.00:11:37JackSo economically, it just doesn't make sense to even have kids. And I think that a lot of people are opting out of the of having kids and and even families because they're like, well, the system is rigged. It's it's not fair. It's it doesn't value the children, the, the, the.00:11:57JackAre the the people that that raised the children and the women that that that create the children so?00:12:03JackI'm I'm very much you know, if the system changed then maybe my attitude.00:12:09JackWould change a little.00:12:10JackBit but under the current model I just feel like I totally respect that decision for when when people say I don't want to.00:12:19JackHave.00:12:19JackKids, I'm like, good for you. Like.00:12:23JackI think I think that's a a strong choice. It's it's a hard one to make, but it makes a lot of sense to me.00:12:30XochitlI'm curious about when you told your daughter, like, don't have kids you you want to expand on that a little bit more. I'm kind of curious about.00:12:37XochitlYeah.00:12:38JackYeah, I I want her to. I want her to find her happiness. You know? I don't want her to feel like she has to put her dreams on the back burner.00:12:50JackUM, just because.00:12:54JackOf some like societal norm, you know, like ohh, you're still dancing ballet it if she's still dancing ballet at 30 and it's her, career's going well. You don't have to sidetrack yourself to, you know, start a family just because society tells you to, if you if she wants to, then I totally support it.00:13:14JackBut I'm not going to be one of the parents. That's like, every time I see her at Christmas, you know, start bothering her and nagging her about, you know, when are you gonna? When am I gonna get some grandkids? Like, I'll, I'll never do that. You know? So that was more of where I was coming from when I said don't have kids. I didn't really mean don't have kids. I just said.00:13:34JackHave kids when you want to have kids and if you don't, it's totally OK.00:13:42XochitlI'm curious about why that or how that conversation came up.00:13:47JackI can't remember. I I don't. I don't remember where it might have.00:13:51JackJust been an off the cuff.00:13:53JackThing that I said to her one day. We're just, you know, we're sometimes, you know, she's a teenager, she doesn't like having.00:14:01JackDeep conversations with her dad, you know, or or mom? It's it's everything's uncomfortable, right when you're. I think I was driving her to. I was driving her to ballet, and I think it just. I just. It kind of hit me in that moment. I'm like, I've got 10 minutes to kind of she can't run away from me, you know, she has to listen.00:14:23JackSo I I just gave her a little lecture right there. It wasn't a lecture. It was just I was trying to be thoughtful about it, but I was just, you know, I just wanted her to know.00:14:33JackThat, that it's OK. You know, it's it's to focus on you and your career and and be a.00:14:40JackA strong woman and and you know.00:14:43JackIt's it's like there's a.00:14:44JackLot of pushback on that these days.00:14:48JackWomen are supposed to be.00:14:51JackThis, and men are supposed to be that, and I just think that I'm.00:14:55JackI I I feel like some of those foundations are starting to crumble a little bit, and maybe that's why there's a resurgence like a a resurgence of this, like, idea that women need to be traditional and and and and and. But I I just reject it fully. I I don't believe in that.00:15:17JackI want to I want to raise a a strong independent woman that doesn't need any man to take care of her, doesn't need to be a mother if she doesn't want to. I don't want her to feel any pressure to be anything other than what she wants to be.00:15:34XochitlMHM.00:15:36XochitlI think that's admirable. Yeah. My mom is the same way. She she got married young. She got married at 24, and she told us don't get married. Young only told us that. And and I.00:15:50XochitlI guess we.00:15:51XochitlEnded up taking it to heart. My sister always wanted to get married young, but now she's 30 and she's not married. And I'm also not married. And and I don't want to or plan to get married soon, though people have started asking me.00:16:05JackYeah, yeah, the older generation, the boomers, right. I always ask you. Yeah.00:16:06XochitlAlso and.00:16:09XochitlYeah, like you know, I'm not too interested in getting married right away because.00:16:14XochitlIt just it takes a long time and when you get married, you're picking someone that you're going to be tied to for the rest of your life. So you want to.00:16:20XochitlMake that decision wisely.00:16:22JackYeah, yeah, I I I was 30. So I waited, you know, till I I knew. You know, when I met my wife, I kind of had had a an idea. Like, uh, in English we say an inkling. A little bit of an idea that.00:16:36JackYou know, we're we're going to end up together forever. I knew it, but we waited, you know, we waited a year and a half or so, you know, dating before we decided to get married. And but. But you know it in just because it worked out really well. In my case, it's not.00:16:57JackIt doesn't mean that doesn't necessarily apply to everybody. You know, everyone's unique. And so I think some people feel like the, you know, they they're looking at their watch and they're like, ohh TikTok. I gotta hurry up and get married. And they just kind of go with somebody that they're not fully.00:17:17XochitlYeah.00:17:17JackYeah, I I don't know there. There might be like red flags or there might be just just certain things that that maybe you're not. You're not sure about and if you're not sure, don't. If you hesitate, don't do it because once you do, you're you're in it, you know and and it's and once you have kids.00:17:37JackYou're forever linked to that person, regardless of whether you stay married or not. So.00:17:43JackIt's it's. It's a decision not to be taken lightly. It's it's a it's I think it's a very serious decision.00:17:50XochitlYeah, yeah, I definitely agree. Yeah, I'm curious what our our viewers think, whether they.00:17:59XochitlYou know whether they want to have kids, whether they feel the pressure to have kids and their culture, whether they feel pressure to get married, whether they got married young under pressure or had kids young under pressure and what their thoughts are about, you know, the coming general.00:18:16XochitlAnd and how things are different now or you know, if you're my generation or younger, what you feel is different about us and how we're growing up versus how our parents were at our age. Yeah, I'm curious. So let us know at A-Z. Englishpodcast.com leave us a comment down below. Shoot us an e-mail at AZ.00:18:37XochitlPodcast@gmail.com and make sure to join the WeChat and WhatsApp group to talk to Jack and I. And if you guys are interested.00:18:45XochitlMake sure to join our English corner. That's where you can talk to Jack and I on Monday through Friday for an hour, and there are a lot of members in our English corner now and we discussed things just like this topic and other interesting and fun topics and it's really cool. You get to practice your English and I think everyone really enjoys it.00:19:04XochitlOr if you're interested, make sure to, uh, shoot us a A we chat a WhatsApp or an e-mail and we'll talk to you guys later. Bye bye bye.Podcast Website:https://atozenglishpodcast.com/topic-talk-what-if-i-dont-want-children/Social Media:WeChat: atozenglishpodcastFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/671098974684413/Tik Tok: @atozenglish1Instagram: @atozenglish22Twitter: @atozenglish22A to Z Facebook Page:https://www.facebook.com/theatozenglishpodcastCheck out our You Tube Channel:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCds7JR-5dbarBfas4Ve4h8ABecome a member of Podchaser and leave a positive review!https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-a-to-z-english-podcast-4779670Join our Whatsapp group: https://forms.gle/zKCS8y1t9jwv2KTn7Intro/Outro Music: Debora by Jangwahttps://freemusicarchive.org/music/Dilating_Times/single/debora/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-a-to-z-english-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy