The Fluent Mind ESL Podcast

Become friends with The A to Z English Podcast on WeChat!Account ID: atozenglishpodcastDear Jack,I am a student from [Country] studying in an English-speaking country. I find it challenging to make friends because I am not confident in my English skills. I often worry about making mistakes and being misunderstood. Do you have any advice on how I can improve my language skills and feel more comfortable interacting with native speakers?Sincerely,Feeling Lost in LanguageThe phrase "fake it till you make it" is often used to convey the idea of acting with confidence and assurance, even if you may not feel entirely competent or confident in a given situation. It suggests that by outwardly portraying confidence and competence, you may eventually gain the skills or confidence you initially lacked."Peas and carrots" is a phrase that is often used together to describe things that go well together, much like the two foods in a classic culinary combination. The term has found its way into popular culture, often used to represent harmony or compatibility.Podcast Website:https://atozenglishpodcast.com/a-to-z-dear-jack-18-feeling-lost-in-language/Social Media:Facebook 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-5dbarBfas4Ve4h8ADonate to the show: https://app.redcircle.com/shows/9472af5c-8580-45e1-b0dd-ff211db08a90/donationsRobin and Jack started a new You Tube channel called English Word Master. You can check it out here:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2aXaXaMY4P2VhVaEre5w7ABecome 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: Daybird by Broke for Freehttps://freemusicarchive.org/music/Broke_For_Free/Directionless_EP/Broke_For_Free_-_Directionless_EP_-_03_Day_Bird/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcodeSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fluent-mind-esl-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Here are some historical world events that took place on November 30:1872: The first-ever international football match took place between Scotland and England at Hamilton Crescent in Glasgow.1939: The Winter War began as the Soviet Union invaded Finland.1954: The first successful kidney transplant was performed by Dr. Joseph E. Murray and Dr. David Hume at Brigham Hospital in Boston, USA.1966: Barbados gained independence from the United Kingdom.1993: The Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act was signed into law in the United States, imposing federal background checks on firearm purchasers.1999: In Seattle, the anti-globalization protests against the World Trade Organization (WTO) reached their peak, leading to widespread chaos and clashes with law enforcement.2004: Longtime Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma stepped down, marking the end of his term in office.2013: China successfully launched its Chang'e-3 lunar rover, marking the first time China had landed a spacecraft on the Moon.2015: The Paris Agreement, a global climate change accord, was adopted by 195 countries during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21).2020: Prominent Iranian nuclear scientist Mohsen Fakhrizadeh was assassinated near Tehran.These are just a few examples, and many more events have occurred on November 30th throughout history.Podcast Website:https://atozenglishpodcast.com/a-to-z-this-day-in-world-history-november-30th/Social Media:Facebook 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-5dbarBfas4Ve4h8ADonate to the show: https://app.redcircle.com/shows/9472af5c-8580-45e1-b0dd-ff211db08a90/donationsRobin and Jack started a new You Tube channel called English Word Master. You can check it out here:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2aXaXaMY4P2VhVaEre5w7ABecome 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: Daybird by Broke for Freehttps://freemusicarchive.org/music/Broke_For_Free/Directionless_EP/Broke_For_Free_-_Directionless_EP_-_03_Day_Bird/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcodehttps://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Joplin/Piano_Rolls_from_archiveorg/ScottJoplin-RagtimeDance1906/https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fluent-mind-esl-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dear Xochitl and Jack,I trust this letter finds you in the warmth and joy of the holiday season. I'm reaching out to you seeking your guidance on a matter that tends to intensify during this festive time.As the holidays approach, the pressure to meet family expectations and create a perfect celebration seems to escalate. My partner and I often find ourselves torn between multiple family obligations, each vying for our time and attention.How can we strike a balance between our families' desires and create a harmonious holiday experience for everyone involved? I want to ensure the season is filled with joy rather than stress, and your insights into managing family expectations during this time would be greatly appreciated.Thank you for your time and wisdom.Warm regards,Juggling Christmas ExpectationsPodcast Website:https://atozenglishpodcast.com/a-to-z-dear-jack-juggling-christmas-expectations/Social Media:Facebook 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-5dbarBfas4Ve4h8ADonate to the show: https://app.redcircle.com/shows/9472af5c-8580-45e1-b0dd-ff211db08a90/donationsRobin and Jack started a new You Tube channel called English Word Master. You can check it out here:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2aXaXaMY4P2VhVaEre5w7ABecome 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: Daybird by Broke for Freehttps://freemusicarchive.org/music/Broke_For_Free/Directionless_EP/Broke_For_Free_-_Directionless_EP_-_03_Day_Bird/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcodehttps://freemusicarchive.org/music/eaters/simian-samba/audrey-horne/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fluent-mind-esl-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 discuss whether it's better to say "Happy Holidays" or "Merry Christmas." Transcript:00:00:00JackYou're listening to the A-Z English podcast.00:00:13JackWelcome to the A-Z English podcast. My name is Jack and I'm here with my co-host social. And today we're going to have a conversation or a debate social. Happy holidays or Merry Christmas.00:00:28JackWhat do you say? What do you?00:00:30JackSay to people.00:00:33XochitlI think you can say whatever you want, but I like to say happy holidays because not everyone celebrates Christmas and I don't think it's taking anything away. A lot of people who say Merry Christmas are like, oh, they're they're taking Christmas away from us and it's like they're not. We're just adding to the holidays that everyone's celebrating and taking them into account because not everyone's a Christian.00:00:53XochitlAnd not everyone's an American like.00:00:56XochitlUS born Christian whatever, which follows the same religion, does the same holidays. There's a lot of diversity in this country and all over the world, so I prefer happy holidays, even myself. I don't only celebrate Christmas, we have very snuggles too, and a bunch of other holidays in between so.00:01:16JackRight.00:01:18JackI'm I'm I'm in total agreement with you. I think I'm. I'm older, so my habit is just to say Merry Christmas to people. I'll say it to anyone you know mistake. Just without thinking. Kind of. You know whether they're Muslim, Jewish.00:01:38JackAtheist. Whatever. I'll my my kind of default is to just say ohh Merry Christmas, you know and.00:01:44JackI I'm trying.00:01:45JackTo catch myself this holiday season because, like you said, happy Holidays is just adding on. It's more inclusive, right, so it's like.00:01:55발표자And I don't understand.00:01:56JackPeople that feel like, oh, that's the war. There's, like, a expression in America, the war on Christmas. Like, there's like, they're trying to kill Christmas.00:02:06JackAnd I'm like.00:02:08JackIf secularizing like sorry, I'm using big words here for our listeners, secular means non religious and Christmas is already pretty secular because we.00:02:21JackYou know when.00:02:21JackWe think of Christmas we think of.00:02:23JackSanta Claus and.00:02:25JackRudolph the Red Nosed reindeer and frosty the snowman.00:02:28JackAnd you know all these, these things that have.00:02:30JackNothing to do with religion.00:02:34JackBut they're not work. They don't care about that stuff. They're only they only get angry when you say happy holidays instead of Merry Christmas. And I don't know why they're so upset or triggered by the expression. Happy holidays because you know, like Jewish people celebrate the Hanukkah.00:02:54JackAround the same time of year that we celebrate Christmas so.00:03:00JackIf I say Merry Christmas, it might be offensive to, you know, a a Jewish person. So in that case I might want to say happy holidays and make them feel more a.00:03:11JackPart of the.00:03:11JackCommunity. So I that's is that was what you were.00:03:14JackSaying and I I think.00:03:15JackI agree with you 100%.00:03:18XochitlYeah. And let us know what holidays you celebrate in your home country and whether we should say Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays. Which one do you think leave a comment down below on our website at AZ englishpodcast.com shoot us an e-mail at AZ englishpodcast@gmail.com.00:03:36XochitlAnd join our WhatsApp group to join the conversation and we will see you next time.00:03:39XochitlBye bye and holidays.00:03:40발표자Alright, bye bye.00:03:43JackHappy holidays.Podcast Website:https://atozenglishpodcast.com/the-a-to-z-english-podcast-merry-christmas-or-happy-holidays/Social Media:Facebook 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-5dbarBfas4Ve4h8ADonate to the show: https://app.redcircle.com/shows/9472af5c-8580-45e1-b0dd-ff211db08a90/donationsRobin and Jack started a new You Tube channel called English Word Master. You can check it out here:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2aXaXaMY4P2VhVaEre5w7ABecome 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: Daybird by Broke for Freehttps://freemusicarchive.org/music/Broke_For_Free/Directionless_EP/Broke_For_Free_-_Directionless_EP_-_03_Day_Bird/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcodehttps://freemusicarchive.org/music/eaters/simian-samba/audrey-horne/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fluent-mind-esl-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Here are some historical events that occurred on November 29th:1864: The Sand Creek Massacre took place in Colorado, USA, where a group of Colorado Territory militia attacked and killed about 70 Cheyenne and Arapaho people, mostly women and children.1947: The United Nations General Assembly voted to partition Palestine into Jewish and Arab states, leading to the creation of the state of Israel.1963: U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson established the Warren Commission to investigate the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.1972: Atari released Pong, the first commercially successful video game.2001: George Harrison, the lead guitarist of The Beatles, passed away in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 58.These are just a few examples, and many more events have occurred on November 29th throughout history.Podcast Website:https://atozenglishpodcast.com/a-to-z-this-day-in-world-history-november-29th/Social Media:Facebook 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-5dbarBfas4Ve4h8ADonate to the show: https://app.redcircle.com/shows/9472af5c-8580-45e1-b0dd-ff211db08a90/donationsRobin and Jack started a new You Tube channel called English Word Master. You can check it out here:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2aXaXaMY4P2VhVaEre5w7ABecome 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: Daybird by Broke for Freehttps://freemusicarchive.org/music/Broke_For_Free/Directionless_EP/Broke_For_Free_-_Directionless_EP_-_03_Day_Bird/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcodehttps://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Joplin/Piano_Rolls_from_archiveorg/ScottJoplin-RagtimeDance1906/https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fluent-mind-esl-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Dear Jack,I've recently discovered that my best friend has been spreading rumors about me behind my back. I never thought they would betray me like this. When I confronted them, they denied everything and accused me of being paranoid. I value our friendship, but I can't shake off the feeling of betrayal. How do I handle this situation and rebuild trust with someone I thought was my closest confidant?Sincerely,"Betrayed and Baffled"The phrase "behind my back" is an idiomatic expression that means doing something secretly or without someone's knowledge, typically in a deceptive or sneaky manner. In the context of the Dear Abby question, it suggests that the friend was spreading rumors about the person without their awareness, and the individual only found out about it later. Essentially, it implies a sense of betrayal or dishonesty because the actions were concealed from the person involved.To "shake off" is a phrasal verb that means to get rid of or eliminate something, often in a physical or metaphorical sense. In a physical sense, it might mean to remove something by shaking it, as in shaking off water after a swim. In a metaphorical sense, it refers to the act of overcoming or dispelling something, such as feelings, thoughts, or a situation.For example, in the context of the Dear Abby question, "How do I handle this situation and 'shake off' this feeling of betrayal?" means how can the person overcome or dispel the sense of betrayal that they are experiencing.A "confidant" is a person to whom one can confide or share private and personal matters with a high degree of trust and confidentiality. A confidant is someone you feel comfortable discussing your thoughts, feelings, and secrets with, knowing that they will keep the information confidential and offer support or advice. The term is often used to describe a close and trusted friend or advisor with whom you share a deep level of trust and intimacy."Gaslight" is a term that originated from a play called "Gas Light" and its film adaptations. It is now commonly used as a verb to describe a form of psychological manipulation where one person seeks to sow seeds of doubt in a targeted individual, making them question their own memory, perception, or sanity. This manipulative behavior is often carried out through subtle and persistent tactics, such as denying facts, trivializing concerns, or presenting false information, with the goal of making the victim doubt their own reality.The term comes from the idea of gaslighting as a way to describe the dimming of gas lights in the original play, which the manipulator does to convince the victim that they are imagining the change in light, even though the manipulator is the one responsible for it.Being aware of gaslighting is important in interpersonal relationships, as it can have a significant impact on a person's mental well-being and self-esteem. Recognizing the signs of gaslighting is crucial for individuals to protect themselves from such manipulative tactics.Podcast Website:https://atozenglishpodcast.com/a-to-z-dear-jack-16-betrayed-and-baffled/Social Media:Facebook 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-5dbarBfas4Ve4h8ADonate to the show: https://app.redcircle.com/shows/9472af5c-8580-45e1-b0dd-ff211db08a90/donationsRobin and Jack started a new You Tube channel called English Word Master. You can check it out here:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2aXaXaMY4P2VhVaEre5w7ABecome 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: Daybird by Broke for Freehttps://freemusicarchive.org/music/Broke_For_Free/Directionless_EP/Broke_For_Free_-_Directionless_EP_-_03_Day_Bird/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcodeSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fluent-mind-esl-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Here is an Am I the Jerk situation for your listening pleasure! You and your friend have been planning a weekend getaway for months. Both of you are excited about the trip, and you've made various arrangements, including booking accommodation and planning activities. However, a week before the trip, your friend has a family emergency and can no longer make it.Now, here's the situation: You have two options. One option is to go on the trip alone and enjoy the planned activities as originally intended. The other option is to cancel the trip altogether, as it doesn't feel right to go without your friend, especially considering the circumstances.Would you be the jerk if you chose to go on the trip alone, despite your friend's unfortunate situation, or would it be understandable as you've already invested time and effort into planning the getaway?Podcast Website:https://atozenglishpodcast.com/a-to-z-am-i-the-jerk-31-would-you-be-the-jerk-if-you-chose-to-go-on-the-trip-alone/Social Media:Facebook 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-5dbarBfas4Ve4h8ADonate to the show: https://app.redcircle.com/shows/9472af5c-8580-45e1-b0dd-ff211db08a90/donationsRobin and Jack started a new You Tube channel called English Word Master. You can check it out here:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2aXaXaMY4P2VhVaEre5w7ABecome 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: Daybird by Broke for Freehttps://freemusicarchive.org/music/Broke_For_Free/Directionless_EP/Broke_For_Free_-_Directionless_EP_-_03_Day_Bird/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcodeSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fluent-mind-esl-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Here are some historical events that occurred on November 28:1520: Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan reached the Pacific Ocean after passing through the South American strait that now bears his name.1660: At Gresham College in London, scientist and architect Christopher Wren delivered the first formal astronomy lecture.1893: Women in the U.S. state of Colorado were granted the right to vote.1922: Captain Cyril Turner of the Royal Air Force gave the first public skywriting exhibition in the United States at the New York Times building in New York City.1943: During World War II, the Tehran Conference began. It was a meeting between U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and Soviet Premier Joseph Stalin to discuss war strategy and post-war Europe.1960: Mauritania became independent from France.1971: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) was established.1987: South Korean opposition leader Kim Dae-jung was sentenced to death for his role in organizing pro-democracy protests. The sentence was later commuted.2002: NATO invited seven former communist countries—Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania, Slovakia, and Slovenia—to become members.2012: An 8.6 magnitude earthquake struck off the west coast of northern Sumatra, Indonesia, triggering a tsunami warning across the Indian Ocean.These are just a few examples, and there are certainly more events that occurred on November 28 throughout history.Podcast Website:https://atozenglishpodcast.com/a-to-z-this-day-in-world-history-november-28th/Social Media:Facebook 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-5dbarBfas4Ve4h8ADonate to the show: https://app.redcircle.com/shows/9472af5c-8580-45e1-b0dd-ff211db08a90/donationsRobin and Jack started a new You Tube channel called English Word Master. You can check it out here:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2aXaXaMY4P2VhVaEre5w7ABecome 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: Daybird by Broke for Freehttps://freemusicarchive.org/music/Broke_For_Free/Directionless_EP/Broke_For_Free_-_Directionless_EP_-_03_Day_Bird/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcodehttps://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Joplin/Piano_Rolls_from_archiveorg/ScottJoplin-RagtimeDance1906/https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fluent-mind-esl-podcast/donationsAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Here are a few more historical events that happened on November 27:1703: The first Eddystone Lighthouse was destroyed in the Great Storm of 1703.1895: Alfred Nobel signed his will, setting aside his fortune to establish the Nobel Prize after his death.1940: In World War II, the Battle of Cape Spartivento took place between British and Italian naval forces.1971: The Soviet Union launched the Mars 2 orbiter, which later became the first spacecraft to reach the surface of Mars.1989: Avianca Flight 203, a Boeing 727, exploded in mid-air over Colombia, killing all 107 people on board.2007: Benazir Bhutto, the former Prime Minister of Pakistan, was assassinated in a suicide attack.These events span a wide range of historical periods and locations, providing a glimpse into the diversity of occurrences on November 27 throughout history.Podcast Website:https://atozenglishpodcast.com/a-to-z-this-day-in-world-history-november-27th/Social Media:Facebook 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-5dbarBfas4Ve4h8ADonate to the show: https://app.redcircle.com/shows/9472af5c-8580-45e1-b0dd-ff211db08a90/donationsRobin and Jack started a new You Tube channel called English Word Master. You can check it out here:https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2aXaXaMY4P2VhVaEre5w7ABecome 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: Daybird by Broke for Freehttps://freemusicarchive.org/music/Broke_For_Free/Directionless_EP/Broke_For_Free_-_Directionless_EP_-_03_Day_Bird/https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcodehttps://freemusicarchive.org/music/eaters/simian-samba/audrey-horne/https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Joplin/Piano_Rolls_from_archiveorg/ScottJoplin-RagtimeDance1906/https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-fluent-mind-esl-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 discuss the following question: Is it better to give or to receive an incredibly thoughtful gift? Transcript: 00:00:00JackYou're listening to the A-Z English podcast.00:00:15JackWelcome to the A to Z English podcast. My name is Jack and I'm here with my co-host social. And today we are going to do a would you rather question and the question is social, would you rather give?00:00:30JackOr receive a very thoughtful gift.00:00:36XochitlI would rather give a very thoughtful gift, the old saying in English goes giving is better than receiving, and I think it's true because I get really excited when I take the time to.00:00:53XochitlPick out something that people would really like, and I pride myself in being good at gifts most people really like the stuff I get.00:00:59XochitlThem and just nothing brings joy to you like seeing someone enjoy whatever you thought.00:01:07XochitlTo get for them.00:01:10JackYeah, I I agree with you. Actually I'm, I'm.00:01:14JackGonna answer the same way like there's there's something.00:01:18JackLike here's an example like if if somebody.00:01:21JackSays something in March. You're like window shopping with your your boyfriend or girlfriend or something, and they make a comment like, wow.00:01:30JackI really like that.00:01:32JackThat ring.00:01:34JackAnd you make a mental note in March and you still remember in December, you know, and you buy that same ring and they've already forgotten about it, you know. And so then you, you know, surprised them. That's a that's a really good feeling. It's not it. It feels better than even receiving.00:01:54JackOne thing, uh, really thoughtful, I think.00:01:56JackBecause you just get that like.00:01:59JackAnd this this is still kind of like a selfish thing. Like it's making me feel better. Like it's. I'm choosing it because of how it makes me feel. But it does like it. It does really. It is like multiple times more satisfying to give, like, a gift that somebody really is, like, surprised by and really impressed with.00:02:22XochitlYeah, I'm really happy to get.00:02:24JackYeah. Do you have an example can?00:02:26JackYou think of?00:02:26JackOne that you like. A gift that you gave someone that.00:02:28JackWas that really like, hit the spot?00:02:31XochitlUh, I used to get.00:02:34XochitlI used to get really nice.00:02:38XochitlGifts for people.00:02:40XochitlLike on your birthday or Christmas or whatever. When I was younger.00:02:45XochitlNow that I'm older and.00:02:48XochitlI can't just use my babysitting, money or whatever because I have bills to.00:02:51XochitlPay I like.00:02:52JackRight, right.00:02:53XochitlI I can't. I don't do.00:02:54XochitlIt as much.00:02:55XochitlBut I guess the last one was to my mom's birthday. I got her a embroider shirt. Like it's a a white blouse cotton blouse with a.00:03:07XochitlIt's a good traditional brewery style from the US or.00:03:10XochitlFrom Mexico, sorry.00:03:13XochitlThat has, like beadwork across the neckline.00:03:17XochitlAnd it was.00:03:19XochitlLittle hummingbirds and she loves hummingbirds.00:03:24XochitlAnd she just really, really loved.00:03:25XochitlThe piece they're like really nice, handmade blouses.00:03:31XochitlAnd yeah, I don't know. I know that she was.00:03:32XochitlReally happy to get that, so if that's.00:03:35XochitlProbably the last.00:03:36XochitlThe most recent one I can think.00:03:37XochitlOf how about you, Jack?00:03:40JackI'm I'm trying to think of like my wife and I, we.00:03:42JackDon't exchange gifts.00:03:44JackWe just kind of like buy what we.00:03:47JackWhat we need or?00:03:47XochitlHow about the?00:03:48XochitlTime that you received really nicely because I I I can talk about that, I think that my.00:03:53XochitlThat even though this.00:03:53발표자Oh yeah, I I.00:03:55JackI received a an amazing gift from.00:04:00JackFrom a friend in college, she gave me a my favorite movie is this movie called Say Anything. It's my favorite movie and she had.00:04:11JackThe movie poster.00:04:13JackAnd she got it framed and gave it to me as a gift.00:04:17JackAnd uh, and it was just just like a amazing, you know, like, wow, it just kind of knocked my socks off, you know, like, here's this, like.00:04:27JackFramed glass poster of my favorite movie and it was like a poster from the, you know, original.00:04:36JackThe movie, like UH, it's hard. You know, those are hard to come by, right? And so, yeah, it was just like it was. It was really unexpected and and super thoughtful. And yeah, it's probably one of the best gifts I've received. And and my wife gave me a really thoughtful.00:04:56JackGift once too. It's really cute. It was like I always use toothpicks. Like I always chew on a toothpick, which is kind of a disgusting habit. I know it's it's probably not the most appeal.00:05:11JackHabit. But she bought me a little case where you can stick the toothpicks in.00:05:18JackAnd it it has a little mirror and it closes and it's like a little wallet and you just carry it in your pocket.00:05:24발표자Oh that.00:05:25JackAnd so you could shake it out and you got like, it's almost like those old like cigarette cases.00:05:25발표자Is really nice.00:05:30JackYou know where people would.00:05:31XochitlOh yeah.00:05:31JackPut their cigarettes in a.00:05:33JackCase. Yeah. So it was just like.00:05:37JackIt was just one of those things.00:05:38JackWhere she noticed, like a habit of mine and gave me a present. A gift that is related to that habit, and it is just really cute and really charming. Little little gift. And so I keep that in a very special place.00:05:54JackWith, you know other.00:05:55JackThings that she gave me when we were.00:05:58JackYeah, it's really cool.00:06:00XochitlYeah, that is really nice. I my for my birthday.00:06:04XochitlThis year, my boyfriend took me on a like day trip to Iceland, which is neighboring Osaka. Everything.00:06:12XochitlTourism place and we went up to the matador, which is like the see through. I told I've talked about this on the podcast. I think before the.00:06:20XochitlLike how they have the Grand Canyon, where it's like glass at the bottom and you can walk on it and.00:06:26XochitlAnd it was really fun.00:06:27XochitlIt was a.00:06:27XochitlReally great trip and I think these days I prefer like getting experiences as gifts or getting experiences as gifts rather than stuff because it's like I have so much stuff at this point I don't want. I don't really need anything else.00:06:46JackThat's a great point, right? We always think in terms of like stuff and I, you know, we've actually that it's funny you brought that up because we've been doing a huge purge of stuff in our house in the.00:07:00JackLast couple weeks.00:07:02JackMy wife has just been throwing away.00:07:04JackThings you know, just getting rid of things that we don't use stuff you know, shoes that my daughter wore when she was 8 years old. You know, just that they're sitting in the shoe closet and and. And I think that, like, you realized that those experiences are so much more valuable than any like thing you could.00:07:24JackYou have the memory of it, you know, and you got to do something and spend time with somebody.00:07:30JackAnd we we.00:07:31JackWe don't value that in our culture.00:07:35XochitlI know, but it's just so much more meaningful. You, especially when someone does it like I never really thought of it. And then when my boyfriend did that for me, I was like, wow, I mean, 100 times we do this every single year, then ever get any kind of gift again?00:07:52XochitlAnd it can even be similar to the same price as you don't have to spend a lot to go on a day.00:07:56XochitlTrip or go out to.00:07:57XochitlEat somewhere but like do some memory of spending time with people that you love and doing something fun. It's worth so much.00:08:05JackHere's a tip to the young guys out there if you if you want to impress your significant other.00:08:12JackUM, particularly female. Significant other uhm.00:08:17JackMake a plan.00:08:19JackLike women love that like they really they hate the like. What do you wanna?00:08:23JackDo I don't?00:08:24JackKnow what do.00:08:25JackYou wanna do?00:08:25JackI don't know.00:08:26JackWhat do you wanna do if you just take?00:08:28JackThe bull by the.00:08:29JackHorns to use the expression.00:08:31JackAnd make a plan for your.00:08:35JackLady friend, your female friend, and then she will really, really appreciate it. And it it's a very attractive quality that.00:08:44JackAnd and I, you know, I wish.00:08:46JackI'd learned like my wife married me despite my you.00:08:52JackKnow inability to do that.00:08:53XochitlThe plan.00:08:53JackYou know, but now is like an older.00:08:56JackMan, I can see like, oh, you know, I think that's what women want is like, to a guy that'll just make a plan at this time. We're going to this place and then we're going to eat at this restaurant. And you don't have to think about anything. Just you're along for the ride, you know, because I think women do a lot of the planning in relationships.00:09:17JackAnd so yeah, I think I think that's a huge tip for our young single male listeners out there is make a plan.00:09:28XochitlYeah. Make a plan. Yeah. So let us know. Would you rather give or receive a thoughtful gift to make sure to let us know in the comments at AZ englishpodcast.com shootings?00:09:39XochitlAn e-mail at.00:09:40XochitlAzenglishpodcast@gmail.com and join our WhatsApp group to join the conversation and we will see you guys next time. Bye bye.00:09:48JackAlright, bye bye.Podcast Website:https://atozenglishpodcast.com/the-a-to-z-english-podcast-is-it-better-to-give-or-to-receive-a-thoughtful-gift/Social Media:Facebook 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-5dbarBfas4Ve4h8ADonate to the show: https://app.redcircle.com/shows/9472af5c-8580-45e1-b0dd-ff211db08a90/donationsRobin and Jack started a new You Tube channel called English Word Master. 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