The Fluent Mind ESL Podcast

Jack McBain

Welcome to The Fluent Mind ESL Podcast, where we take you on a journey from learning the basics to mastering the nuances of the English language. Our podcast is designed for non-native speakers who are looking to improve their English skills in a fun and interactive way. Each episode covers a wide range of topics to help you navigate the English-speaking world with ease. Join us every week as we explore the English language and help you build confidence in your communication skills. Let's get started!

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Sep 25, 2023 • 10min

A to Z Quick Chat 91 | Do you believe that happiness is a choice, or is it influenced more by external factors?

In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Jack is joined by May, Layla, and Hendrick as they discuss the following question:Do you believe that happiness is a choice, or is it influenced more by external factors?00:00:01JackWelcome to the A-Z English podcast, where Jack and Social take you on a journey from learning the basics to mastering the nuances of the English language. Our podcast is designed for non-native speakers who are looking to improve their English skills in a fun and interactive way. Each episode covers a wide range of topics.00:00:23JackFrom grammar and vocabulary to slang and culture to help you navigate the English speaking world with ease.00:00:34JackWelcome to the A-Z English podcast. My name is Jack and I'm one of the hosts of the podcast and today I am without social but do not worry, I am with May from Malaysia, Hendrick from Indonesia and Leila from Saudi Arabia. So we 3 for the price of 1.00:00:54JackCan't complain with that, so steal.00:00:57JackUM so.00:00:59JackWhat we're going to do today is a quick chat episode and I'm going to read a question to you and then I want you guys to just, you know, think about it and tell me what, what your opinions are. There's no right or wrong answer to these. These are just opinion questions. But the question is.00:01:19JackDo you believe that happiness is a choice, or is it influenced?00:01:26JackBy external factors and I'll read it one more time. Do you believe happiness is a choice that we make? Or is happiness influenced by?00:01:41JackExternal factors, things that happen to us.00:01:44JackIn our daily lives.00:01:48LaylaIt's close.00:01:52MayCostume make a decision for me.00:01:57LaylaI am.00:01:58MayBut I most probably I will go for.00:02:04MayExternal factor as well.00:02:07JackOK.00:02:12MayIt is true that we can choose to be happy. However, our external, the external factor most of the time affect as well.00:02:26MayFor example, if the environment we are surrounded with full of, like crisis, anger, everybody's fighting so.00:02:37MayI mean, it is hard for us to feel happy. How are we going to laugh at our time? Because our environment is so stressful.00:02:46MaySo we can't be pushing away all these things and laugh on our own.00:02:52MaySo I think that is hard.00:02:54MayTo happen it is, I mean it.00:02:56MayIs unlikely to happen.00:02:59MaySo on, but on the other hand, if we are in a very healthy environment, healthy surrounding.00:03:08MaySo certainly we will easily feel happy.00:03:15MayWithout any reasons, without finding the a reason.00:03:19MayTo be happy.00:03:22MayAnd the environment.00:03:24MayFor me, the the environment we are at.00:03:30MayIf will give us effect as well.00:03:34JackOK, so for you may you're kind of trying to figure out like is it the chicken what came first, the chicken or the egg, right? It's like does happiness come first and you choose it and it doesn't matter what the external factors are or do the external factors make you happy?00:03:55JackAnd so your happiness is is dependent on the external factors like what the people around you, some good luck, happy things happen, you know, good things happen to you.00:04:09JackIt sounds like you're you're more on the second the second one.00:04:14MayYes, I I want to the second option and we for sure we can decide where they want to be happy and and so on.00:04:23MayBut then we.00:04:26MayWhen we.00:04:28MayI mean, when you were a child, what can we do? What could we do unless we are? We are an adult and we move out from the the unhealthy place. So then we can decide.00:04:47MaySo when people always say happiness is our choice, if we decide we want to be happy, we.00:04:52MayCan be happy.00:04:53MayIt is true part. It is partly true.00:04:56MayBut then it is also depends on.00:04:59MayWhere we are.00:05:00JackOK. OK, good. Alright. So you're you're kind of, yeah, you kind of go. You're kind of you're kind of saying it's it it the both things are possible you could choose to be happy but.00:05:13JackIt's harder when bad things are happening to you and you're like I'm choosing to be happy and then something bad happens and you're like I'm choosing to be happy and another bad thing happens. It's very difficult, right?00:05:26MayYes, you are right Jeff.00:05:28JackYeah. OK. OK. Layla, what do you?00:05:31JackThink can you just choose to be?00:05:33JackHappy. Just wake.00:05:34JackUp and you go. I am happy today.00:05:38LaylaNo, I think I couldn't just have an exam. Maybe a literally. It depends on your environment. Sometimes you try to make happiness, you try to be happy all the time, but unfortunately you are. You are surrounded by negative.00:05:59LaylaPeople are.00:06:00LaylaSome very serious issue that really affect on you and in your feeling. So when you try to be happy, you couldn't. It's just like a challenge for you. So I think I can say between making happens and it depends on.00:06:20LaylaThe situation.00:06:23LaylaOr maybe the environment surrounded you?00:06:27JackOK. So you're you're going with #2 external factors is more?00:06:27LaylaThat's my thought thought about.00:06:33JackInfluences your your how happy you are in in a day.00:06:39JackOK, alright.00:06:41JackAnd Henry, OK, OK.00:06:41LaylaYeah, maybe.00:06:43LaylaYou can say that.00:06:44JackYeah. Yeah. Hendrick. What about you? Can you just turn the happiness on like a switch? You're just going to flip it on?00:06:51JackIn the morning, just.00:06:52JackHappiness switch.00:06:55HendrickYeah. For me, I think happiness.00:06:58HendrickIs a choice. I mean, this is your choice because.00:07:00HendrickBecause, I mean, like, yeah, when even when you are in the difficult situation, I mean like you can still trying to be happy, you just need you know like find one reason why you you have to be happy like one reason you have to be grateful and then be happy even even when you are.00:07:20HendrickLiving in the like in the bad information with bad people, I mean, like you can make the you can make the.00:07:32HendrickI mean like make the you know, like make it like the building and then, yeah, batteries. I mean, like, make the batteries and then yeah, it's like you still can choose to be happy even even when you are in the difficult situation or in the best situation.00:07:48JackOK.00:07:48JackOK, I like that. Alright, so you're you're like an eternal optimist. You're like, I can. There's good in every situation. We can find the good in it. Hold on to it. OK.00:07:49HendrickSo it is a choice.00:07:57HendrickYeah, exactly. Just find one reason. You just you just need to find one reason why you. Why you have to be happy. That's yeah. Every single day.00:08:00JackAlright, alright, alright.00:08:09JackSo I wish I could be like Hendrick, alright? I I wanna. I wanna. I wanna agree with you. But I'm I'm, you know, for me like happiness is. It's trickier for me. I my it's.00:08:21JackMore of mood related.00:08:23JackSometimes I just wake up and I'm in such a good mood. I'm.00:08:26JackJust happy.00:08:27JackAnd I don't know what it is.00:08:29JackLike maybe I.00:08:32JackIt's maybe it's chemical. It's just like the chemicals in my brain are all mixed together in such a good way. And I just like everything is positive. I feel good and I'm just happy.00:08:45JackAnd I can't really control it.00:08:46MayProbably you dream of something nice. Just the night. Probably probably in that on, on that night we dream about something.00:08:56JackYeah, maybe I dreamt about something. Nice. Yeah, that's that's.00:08:59LaylaYeah, really. So effect on me.00:09:03MayAnd your mood.00:09:04MayOn the next thing.00:09:04LaylaI thought.00:09:06JackI had a good dream and. Yeah, yeah, I I woke up and and I feel like I'm.00:09:11JackIn a good mood?00:09:13JackYeah, it just happens to me sometimes, but sometimes I I I wake up in a foul mood, you know, I'm just really.00:09:21JackI'm just really like, uh, you know, kind of depressed or or just down or whatever. I'm good at hiding it, you know, I mean, I don't think anyone ever that meets me ever thinks that I'm like a Moody, you know, like a roller coaster. I'm pretty stable.00:09:36HendrickYes you are.00:09:38JackYeah, like I.00:09:39JackI look like I'm pretty happy all the time. I'm a pretty happy person, generally speaking, but sometimes I'm just like extra happy and I and that's just mood related and I never know when it's gonna happen. It just hits like a lightning bolt and I wake up and I'm like I'm just so happy today. I just. I'm so happy to be here. I can't wait to teach this.00:09:59JackAnd sometimes I'm just really like, I'm not feeling it. And in those moments, I think Hendrick is right. You know, you have to.00:10:08JackFind something positive.00:10:11MayYeah, yeah.00:10:11JackWhat's I've I've got my health, I've got my, I've got this or that going for me and just hold on to that positive thing and try to carry that with you through the day and and not let the external. I mean, there's always going to be annoying things that happen to us every day.00:10:30HendrickExactly, yeah.00:10:30JackRight, traffic jams and.00:10:33JackFriends are gonna be angry with us, or we'll we'll argue with our spouse or something. And you know things are gonna happen. But if you can hold on to that one positive thing and like Hendrick says, I think you'd be much, much.00:10:48JackHappier, but it's hard to do, easy to talk about, difficult to do in practice, yeah.00:10:52HendrickYeah, exactly. Yeah. Because.00:10:56HendrickYeah, because, you know, like nowadays, you know, like I'm a.00:10:59HendrickStudent right now I have.00:11:00HendrickA lot of assignments, which is it makes me, like, feel overwhelmed. But you know, like I was trying to, you know, find one reason for example like ohh this is maybe, you know like one of the way for me to maybe one day to study a group.00:11:16HendrickLike it is like a training for me. And so I was thinking something positive and it makes me a bit better than, you know, like being.00:11:25JackThere you go. There you go. This is all just a step. One step towards something amazing happening for you. Yeah. Yeah. There you go. All right, everybody, let us know what you think. Can you is happiness like a switch that you can turn on?00:11:31HendrickYeah, that's it.00:11:42JackIs it something you can? Can you just hold on to it? If you can think of 1 positive thing in your life? Or is it? Are you kind of a victim of like circumstances? Like if everything's falling apart around you, does that just affect your mood so that you just can't be happy?00:12:03JackLet us know what you think by sending us your messages on our website, leaving a comment at A-Z englishpodcast.com very easy A-Z englishpodcast.com or send us an e-mail A-Z englishpodcast@gmail.com that's A-Z englishpodcast@gmail.com.00:12:23JackOr join our WhatsApp group and you can make lots of comments and get into a debate about this issue with our wonderful students in our WhatsApp group. So lots of choices for you all and we will see you, or at least you will hear us next time. Thanks.00:12:40JackBye bye bye.Podcast Website:https://atozenglishpodcast.com/a-to-z-quick-chat-91-do-you-believe-that-happiness-is-a-choice-or-is-it-influenced-more-by-external-factors/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

Sep 21, 2023 • 14min

A to Z Quick Chat 90 | Do you believe in the value of traditional education, or do you think there are better ways to learn and acquire knowledge?

In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Jack is joined by his good friends May, Layla, and Hendrick as they discuss the questions:Do you believe in the value of traditional education, or do you think there are better ways to learn and acquire knowledge?00:00:01JackWelcome to the A-Z English podcast, where Jack and Social take you on a journey from learning the basics to mastering the nuances of the English language. Our podcast is designed for non-native speakers who are looking to improve their English skills in a fun and interactive way. Each episode covers a wide range of.00:00:22JackTopics from grammar and vocabulary to slang and culture to help you navigate the English speaking world with ease.00:00:32JackWelcome to the A to Z English podcast. My name is Jack and I'm one of the hosts of this podcast. I am here without my co-host social, however, I am lucky enough to be in the presence of three amazing people may from Malaysia, Hendrick from Indonesia, and Leila.00:00:52JackFrom Saudi Arabia and they're back again for another episode. How are you doing today, guys?00:00:59MayEverything is fine, Jack.00:01:01HendrickYeah, I'm doing good.00:01:03JackDon't worry everybody listeners out there. Leila's Wi-Fi is a little bit wobbly today, but we'll I think it's. I think she's gonna make it. I have a good feeling. It's gonna. We're gonna make it through. So what we're going to do today is a quick chat episode and I'm going to ask.00:01:22JackMy guests are question, question and then we're all going to take turns and share our opinions about these questions. So the first the question, the only question today is.00:01:34JackIs do you believe in the value of traditional education?00:01:41JackOr do you think there are better ways to learn and acquire knowledge?00:01:49JackAnd I could read it one more time for our listeners out there so they can catch it. Do you believe in the value of traditional education or do you think there are better ways to learn and acquire knowledge?00:02:09JackThat's the question, and I'll let whoever wants to go first is free to jump in.00:02:15MayI believe traditional education is still is still necessary or still still value these days.00:02:27MayBecause when when we mention about traditional education, I believe it is something to do with going to school, meeting the teachers and sit sitting in the classroom and learn together with.00:02:44MayOur friends, I mean our, our friends, the classroom.00:02:50MayIn that way way we will learn.00:02:53MayExactly how to communicate with people.00:02:57MayIn real, in actual or maybe so communication skills is?00:03:03MayVery important, although these days will be getting used on the Internet or online platform, but I believe it's still important to be traditional.00:03:18MayAs I mean, sitting in the class learning, talking to the teachers directly, so that would be perfect.00:03:26JackOK, OK. So may you're.00:03:29JackYou're still a traditionalist. Do you still think the uh, the current uh approach? The current tradition is still valuable to students.00:03:37MayYeah, it's still, it is still reasonable because we need to.00:03:44MayActual communication with I mean face to face communication with each other.00:03:50MayWhen it comes to computers, we can. I mean, it's not difficult at all and we just we just press 1 button and then we can hide our face and we can maybe beautifying our our face, beautify our face and.00:04:08MayAnd so but and it it comes to physical communication or with physical contact with people, things are different.00:04:20JackOK. And you're talking about like online offline education?00:04:25JackUM, when you think of traditional, you think of in the classroom, students are facing the teacher. The teacher is at the front of the classroom, but online would be, you know, through some kind of platform like what we're using right here. Zoom to communicate to each other, OK.00:04:45MaySo we're just looking at the.00:04:46MayScreen so I I will be able to see you directly.00:04:50MaySo you you may reject, but maybe you.00:04:55MayYou could be somewhere someone.00:04:56MayElse so same goes today.00:04:56JackI could be someone else. This I could be AI. I could not even be AI. I might be a robot right now. You don't even know. Yeah.00:05:04MayI can replace myself with my twin sister if I have her.00:05:08MaySo anything impossible?00:05:09JackRight.00:05:12JackWell, let me.00:05:12MaySo I I prefer the traditional way.00:05:14JackI might start making sounds.00:05:16LaylaLike pee, poo poo. Pee, poo poo, poo poop.00:05:18JackYou know and do.00:05:19JackYou do you like? Who's that? Is that Jack?00:05:21JackOr is that?00:05:22JackA robot.00:05:23MayEverything you want that's not you.00:05:26JackAlright, nice. Thanks mate. Let's let's go and we'll just go in in order of what's on my screen right here. Ohh Leila's Layla's asking to participate. OK, go ahead, Layla.00:05:40LaylaI think in when it comes for children, teenagers, I think traditional education is.00:05:53LaylaMore important than the other ways of education because they need to be sitting in front of the teacher and to communicate physically with the other students, they also need to improve other skills.00:06:14LaylaLike sports, I mean, which related to sports they.00:06:20LaylaRelated to their bodies, I think it's not only about getting information, so it's very important for kids and teenager.00:06:32LaylaBut when it comes for adults.00:06:36LaylaYeah. Yeah, we can. We can replace.00:06:41LaylaTraditional education in in another style, in another method like teaching.00:06:51LaylaLearning by online using zoom classes or maybe searching about some information on some websites we can we can study something ourselves. In many cases we don't need to be exactly with the teachers.00:07:11LaylaTo get the information. Yeah, there is some benefits I.00:07:16LaylaReject that, but it's it's possible. It could be, and a lot of people just learn from these resources and they really have good information and knowledge about many different. I can say subjects.00:07:35JackMm-hmm. OK. OK, good. Alright. So I think you and may are are thinking very similarly. You guys are on the same page. I think Mr. Hendrick's future teacher or future professor, what do?00:07:50JackYou think about this, Sir?00:07:50HendrickWow, yeah.00:07:53HendrickSo yeah, I believe.00:07:56HendrickTraditional education it is good. But I mean, like right now we live in the 20th century, which is we have to adapt with the technology, right. And talking about traditional education, I think we talked about like the teacher Center, which is the teacher is the only one.00:08:16HendrickTeach their students. But when we talk about, you know, like something change changes right now, I think it should be like student center, which is the student they have to, you know, like.00:08:29HendrickMake research on the Internet or they can, you know, like learn something from the Internet or they can read books and then they can come to.00:08:39HendrickThe they they.00:08:40HendrickThey can come to the class and then they can discuss with their friends or with.00:08:43HendrickThe teacher. So yeah, I think personal education, that's good, but.00:08:48HendrickWe have to, you know.00:08:49HendrickAnd that with the.00:08:50HendrickTechnology are it?00:08:53HendrickSomething here?00:08:54JackYeah, yeah, interesting. Alright. I'm gonna throw my two cents in here. I'm going to agree with with Hendrick. Teaching should be student centered, not teacher centered. So the teachers should not be up in front of the room lecturing and talking and telling everybody.00:09:05HendrickYeah. Hey.00:09:13JackHow to do it? You know you should actually focus on students needs.00:09:19JackAnd you know the teacher should be floating around the classroom working with students on projects where they get to explore and and and basically kind of discover the knowledge themselves instead of the teacher just telling them what the knowledge is. I mean, I think we.00:09:40JackI think I brought up a Chinese proverb the other day, and I I don't remember it exactly, but I'll paraphrase it. It was like.00:09:50JackTell tell a person and they forget in a minute.00:09:55JackRead it in a book. You forget it in a day, but if you do something, you remember it for a lifetime, you know? So there's something, something to be said about that the old lecture style teaching, I think needs to go away forever. Like it just doesn't, I don't think.00:10:12HendrickYeah, exactly.00:10:12JackIt works.00:10:15MayYes, that's it.00:10:15JackBut if, but it's much more difficult job, it's a much more difficult job for a teacher to come up with activities and tasks for students where they can explore and discover the knowledge themselves. But if they do it that if you can figure out how to do it that way.00:10:30JackIt's it's really more profound and impactful for the students and yeah, that's the trick. I think of being a good teacher is how do you do that? And sometimes lecturing is just the fastest, easiest way to give the information. But if you can find a better way to do it.00:10:50JackIt's. That's always better than than just.00:10:53JackDoing a lecture.00:10:54JackSo that's my opinion. Yeah, yeah.00:10:56HendrickYeah. And I think when you know like when the education, it becomes to the student center, I mean like the student, they can explore the more about the activity. So that's really good. That's thing better than they have to yeah. Rather than they have to rely on the teacher.00:11:08JackRight, they get to use their creativity.00:11:14HendrickThat's that's not really.00:11:15JackYeah, providing students with a lot of opportunities to learn a lot of different things and discover things and and and put kind of put the pieces together themselves. You know, instead of you showing them like you have to put this right here together with this, let them discover it on their own. That's a really important thing.00:11:16HendrickGood, I think.00:11:36JackAnd I think it's hard, you know, it's very hard to do in a, in a classroom full of 24 students, 25 students, thirty students, forty students. How?00:11:47JackDo you do that?00:11:48JackI don't know. I don't have the answer to that. It's a huge challenge and sometimes it's impossible. You know, sometimes it's impossible. But but I think that should be the goal.00:12:01HendrickThanks hector.00:12:02JackAll right. Well, you.00:12:04JackGuys, thank you so much for sharing your opinions. I really appreciate it. I think this is a really important topic and I would love to know what our friends and listeners out there think about this topic.00:12:17JackUM, the question is, uh, do you believe in the value of traditional education like kind of teacher centered or even like online education or sorry offline education or do you think there are better ways to learn and acquire knowledge which could be student focused or even?00:12:37JackUsing platforms like Zoom or other online platforms and so let us know what you think by sending us an e-mail at AZ englishpodcast@gmail.com.00:12:50JackOr go to our website A-Z englishpodcast.com and leave a comment and or join our WhatsApp group. Leave a comment there as well so they have. There are lots of options and lots of ways to get in touch with me and I'll read your comment and happily write a response to it. So with that said, thank you so much.00:13:10JackGuys, I appreciate your time today and we'll see you next time. Thanks everybody. Bye.Podcast Website:https://atozenglishpodcast.com/a-to-z-quick-chat-90-do-you-believe-in-the-value-of-traditional-education-or-do-you-think-there-are-better-ways-to-learn-and-acquire-knowledge/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

Sep 21, 2023 • 8min

A to Z Idioms 28 | To steal someone's thunder

In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Jack explains the meaning of the idiom "to steal someone's thunder.""To steal someone's thunder."This idiom means to take the credit for something that someone else has done or to overshadow someone's achievements or success by doing something similar, but usually more attention-grabbing or significant.For example, if someone worked hard on a project and was about to present their findings, but then a colleague presented a similar project just before them, getting all the attention and credit, you could say the colleague "stole their thunder."This idiom has a theatrical origin. It is attributed to playwright John Dennis, who invented a machine to create the sound of thunder for his plays. When his invention was not successful, another playwright, Richard Steele, used a similar machine in one of his productions to great success, essentially stealing Dennis's thunder.Podcast Website:https://atozenglishpodcast.com/a-to-z-idioms-28-to-steal-someones-thunder/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

Sep 20, 2023 • 14min

A to Z Quick Chat 89 | Do you believe you can build close relationships with internet friends?

The hosts discuss the possibility of building close relationships with internet friends, reflecting on their childhood experiences with technology. They compare online and in-person friendships, highlighting the depth of sharing personal details with internet friends. Exploring the differences between internet and in-person friendships, they conclude that close relationships with internet friends are possible but differ from in-person relationships. They also discuss their experience with creating and maintaining online friendships, highlighting the impact of technology on long-distance relationships.

Sep 19, 2023 • 10min

A to Z Quick Chat 88 | Do you believe in the idea that blood type gives us information about our personalities?

In this Quick Chat episode, Xochitl and Jack discuss the idea of blood type determining our personalities, highlighting the limited number of blood types compared to the variety of personalities. They debunk the belief that blood type accurately predicts personality traits, exploring the impact of brain structure, traumatic injuries, and emotional trauma. The podcast challenges the notion of blood type personality, emphasizing the influence of experiences, genetics, and upbringing on our personalities.

Sep 18, 2023 • 10min

A to Z Quick Chat 87 | Do you believe in karma?

In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Xochitl and Jack talk about whether or not they believe in the idea of karma.Transcript:00:00:01JackWelcome to the A-Z English podcast, where Jack and Social take you on a journey from learning the basics to mastering the nuances of the English language. Our podcast is designed for non-native speakers who are looking to improve their English skills in a fun and interactive way. Each episode covers a wide range of topics.00:00:23JackFrom grammar and vocabulary to slang and culture to help you navigate the English speaking world with ease.00:00:36JackWelcome to the A-Z English podcast. My name is Jack and I'm here with my co-host social. And today we are doing another quick chat episode and today's question is, do you believe in the idea of Karma?00:00:52JackAnd Karma is the idea that your actions come back to.00:00:57JackYou in some way.00:00:59JackSo do you believe in Karma?00:01:04XochitlUM, OK, I'm conflicted. As of typical Gemini.00:01:08XochitlI have like.00:01:08XochitlI always have two opinions about everything and this is one of those situations where I have two opinions on Karma.00:01:19XochitlBasically, I know that psychologically and logically, the world doesn't work that way. You don't get rewarded for good behavior, you don't get punished for bad behavior. I think a lot of it comes from our religious ideals.00:01:36XochitlThat there's like some kind of ultimate reward for the behavior. But I think if that were true, we wouldn't see a lot of like.00:01:46XochitlPoor people who work really hard, still being like poor enough to starve forever or rich people who rip everyone off, like still being.00:01:56XochitlBillionaires. You know, I think.00:01:58XochitlUltimately, logically, I believe that Karma is probably a non sequitur, which for our viewers who don't know what that means, it's means it's not really relevant or it there is no like link between these.00:02:12XochitlBut like spiritually on some level, I do believe in it and I have experienced it. And as we talked about in our last episode, sometimes I think we go back and like apply.00:02:27XochitlThe things that we believe in, like we see our memories through a filter. So it's like maybe I did something bad and a lot of bad things happen to me and I'm going to see it through the filter of like cause and effect like because I believe in karma these bad things happen to me because I did something bad and recently that kind of happened.00:02:49XochitlHad a couple of bad things happen already. At that point I think, but I lied about something pretty major to someone.00:02:58XochitlUM.00:03:04XochitlI will come clean about it. You know soon enough. But I did lie about something and I really dislike lying, which also can be another thing, potentially the stress.00:03:17XochitlOf doing something that you morally don't agree with, I think also puts some strain on your health and stuff, but I lied about something pretty major to someone important to me and.00:03:31XochitlAfter that I got like sick. I got my kidney infection. I twisted my ankle and a lot of stuff was going on and I was like, OK, I'm this is my fault because I did something bad that I morally disagree with. And because of that, Karma is coming back to bite me.00:03:48JackRight.00:03:50XochitlYeah. However.00:03:51JackOK.00:03:52XochitlJust so the quick side note that person did like some really terrible things to me and they seemed fine. So like what I mean is like, I don't know if I truly, but at least for myself personally, I do believe in.00:04:05XochitlIt sometimes how about you, Jack?00:04:09JackYou know in.00:04:10JackIn my own personal experience, I find that.00:04:16JackIn in like close relationships with people that that like like your example of like lying to each other or those kinds of things.00:04:27JackI do believe in Karma on a on a small scale on a small scale. I do believe in Karma, I think.00:04:35JackIf I am lie to to my friend, then I think something bad will happen or I will be exposed for being a liar later. And so I think I think those things do come back to to us. But as far as like everything.00:04:55JackBeing in balance to, you know, like you said, I think that in.00:05:01JackIn in the in general powerful people.00:05:07JackLie and cheat and they get away with it their whole lives, and they're relatively happy for their entire lives, and they never have to face any consequences for their actions and all all their people work really hard and do the right thing and they get.00:05:26JackUhm, completely ripped off. And uh by this, you know, lose everything. And they didn't do anything wrong. All they did was work hard and be honest. And so I I really just can't believe in karma.00:05:39JackBecause when I look at it on a large scale, it seems to not be true. But when it comes to small close relationships, like within families or small friend groups, then I think those are bad behavior does tend to be exposed. You can't really hide it from those people.00:06:00JackAnd so.00:06:00XochitlYou can't run from it.00:06:02JackYeah. So yeah.00:06:03XochitlI think I'm sorry. Go ahead.00:06:05JackNo, no, that's it. That's it.00:06:07XochitlI was just gonna say I think that in those cases it's less of like karma and more just getting exposed. It's not like unrelated bad things happen because you lied. It's like you got caught lying and now you have to face the consequences. So I'd say that's consequences more than karma, in my opinion.00:06:26JackYeah, I think you're right. I think you're right. I mean, maybe if I, if I tell a lie to someone really close to me and I have a lot of anxiety and stress, it might make me more likely to get sick. I think that those kinds of.00:06:39XochitlRight.00:06:40JackThings can happen too.00:06:42JackBut I feel like there's a there's a a good explanation for that that doesn't need.00:06:42발표자 3Think the.00:06:48JackAny magical?00:06:50JackYou know, terminology, you know we don't need to call it Karma, we can just.00:06:55JackCall it stress.00:06:57JackStress is bad for us.00:06:58발표자Right.00:07:00XochitlRight. And I and people who don't like really have a moral compass and don't see anything wrong with, like behavior like that. They don't say they don't get stressed and suffer the stress the same way you would if you if you did something that goes against.00:07:16XochitlMorals like they're people who lie and cheat and have and just sleep totally fine at night like a baby, right? Because we have no concept. But if you're someone who, like, actually cares about the people around you and is not selfish and has some empathy if you lie or do something that you don't agree with it.00:07:17JackRight.00:07:37XochitlAnd that's when it really kind of eats you alive.00:07:40JackRight. You feel guilt? Guilt is a is. A is a bad feeling.00:07:44JackAnd it makes you people.00:07:45JackLike I think and people that feel no guilt have no shame, and they live very happily in their lives. But I couldn't live that way because it just, you know, it would like you said it would eat me alive like it wouldn't. I wouldn't be able to sleep at night.00:08:05JackIf I knew that I was living at a double life and lying to the people that I I love, so yeah, I agree with you 100%.00:08:16XochitlYeah. So if you have a concept like Karma in your culture or just the word karma or the concept of karma is known in your culture, these I think it's become very global especially.00:08:27XochitlLike with.00:08:28XochitlInternet, we know what karma means in Mexico as well, and we apply the same way. So if you have anything similar in your culture, let us know. And also if you believe in Karma or not and we will see you guys next time, make sure to leave a comment down below on our website. Thatistheenglishpodcast.com send us an e-mail at the A-Z.00:08:49XochitlPodcast@gmail.com and join our WhatsApp group and we will see you.00:08:53XochitlGuys, next time. Bye bye.00:08:55발표자 3Bye bye.Podcast Website:https://atozenglishpodcast.com/a-to-z-quick-chat-87-do-you-believe-in-karma/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

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