Easy English: Learn English with everyday conversations – Details, episodes & analysis

To Mitch's surprise, it actually happened... Oasis are back! The duo discuss the news and overwhelming demand for Oasis tickets. They discuss the cultural relevance of their music; being the soundtrack to nineties, naughties, politics, football, cultural events and unfortunately, tragedy. Join them for a chat about a band that defined a generation. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Isi: [0:00] It's a party! Mitch, you now have to give me that scream that never came. Mitch: [0:05] Yeah! Oasis are back! Sorry, Nola. Intro Mitch: [0:28] he unthinkable thing happened which I think one time I said it will never happen. Isi: [0:33] I know in the years together how often you talked about this the unimaginable happened Mitch: [0:40] The unimaginable happened. My favourite band ever Oasis decided to make a reunion. Isi: [0:50] You are freaking happy and I'm freaking happy for you I'm also happy I mean it's not that I'm not also an Oasis fan in a way I wouldn't say I'm a fan fan like you are but I'm a fan of the music for sure I love their music a lot I wanted to see them years ago before they broke up, I had tickets. Mitch: [1:10] 11 dates and if you divide that by how many people are excited it's it's going to be difficult to get tickets. Isi: [1:19] Yeah people will come from other countries to the UK, 100%. I mean, we know one, Manuel from Easy German is also a huge fan. He will for sure try to, he will go to the UK because it's the only European date. So that's what they said, which I can't believe really. I see them already playing in France, Germany or wherever. Mitch: [1:36] Yeah, but they've not announced that. So at the moment on Saturday, they've only got 11 gigs available. I'm happy, but they are the kind of band where you kind of want to get insurance on your ticket. Isi: [1:50] Well you get your money back if they have a big fight over five pints and... Mitch: [1:55] I hope so how did it work for the people who Isi: [1:58] Just imagine they would get all those tickets tickets now to make uh make some more money and then they say it's off. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

This week Isi deciphers the typical stereotypes about Brits and reveals whether or not they are true. They also answer YOUR questions in another section of Unhelpful Advice Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Mitch: [0:00] Are you ready? Isi: [0:00] I'm ready. Mitch: [0:01] Wonderful. INTRO Mitch: [0:22] Welcome to episode 48 of the Easy English Podcast. We're creeping into the 50 zone. Isi: [0:30] What do you have for us today, Mitch? Mitch: [0:32] Okay, so in the past, you've read out some articles or found articles to question me about my UK culture and my dialect. So now I thought I would point the finger back at you. As someone who has spent a lot of time in Britain, I thought that I would find an article about typical stereotypes, that foreigners have about British people and British culture, and ask you for your opinion now, are these stereotypes fact or fiction? TOPIC OF THE WEEK Isi: [1:18] Fact or fiction? Mitch: [1:19] Firstly, I read you out the stereotype and you stamp it with a metaphorical fiction or fact. Isi: [1:28] Do I have to do? Or do you do that later editing? Mitch: [1:33] Oh, yeah. Oh. Isi: [1:36] Fiction. Fact. Fiction. Fact. Mitch: [1:41] Stereotype number one. Brits love talking about the weather. Isi: [1:49] Fact. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

This week, Mitch and Isi discuss Brits' perception of Germans. They discuss typical stereotypes, true or false. The difference between Bavaria and the rest of Germany. Germany's current culture and history. Their obsession with coastal England and of course, Germany's current representative in the UK; Jürgen Klopp. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Intro Isi: [0:23] Good morning. Mitch: [0:24] Good morning from... (Morning.) ...overcast Germany. Isi: [0:30] It's actually sunny at the moment. Mitch: [0:31] Is it? Isi: [0:32] Yes. I get neck problems again if I always turn around to you like this now. Mitch: [0:37] Just face... Isi: [0:37] I will not face... Mitch: [0:38] Just don't look at me. Isi: [0:39] I will not look at you. Mitch: [0:40] I can't take the pressure. Isi: [0:42] It's sunny right now. We had a really sunny weekend. I mean, we only arrived Saturday. But we had a really sunny weekend in Germany.Very much summer feeling. And now it's going back to winter. You hear my voice my voice is still bad. Mitch: [0:56] I can't tell if you're speaking to the listeners or me now. Because you're just facing the wall . Isi: [1:01] Do you see my eye always trying to get over to you. Mitch: [1:04] you look like Nola when she thinks we're talking about her. Isi: [1:08] And she's naughty. so yeah we are in Germany. How fitting because I have a little topic for you for today Mitch . Mitch: [1:15] Is it our topic of the week? Isi: [1:17] It is the topic of the week.So what i would like to know, well I have my own experiences with this topic but I would like to know from you growing up in the UK how do British people perceive Germans and German culture and the the German language? Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

This week's episode is a flu-based survival guide, Mitch and Isi cover lemon & ginger tea, spicy soups, fruit salads, vapour inhalation, reality TV, fishing shows, bed rest and tissue-plugs. Mitch also reviews the British, metaphorical horror/thriller movie 'Men' in his new section 'Mitch's Movie Club'. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Intro Mitch: [0:24] Hiya, welcome to episode 38 of the Easy English Podcast. Isi, how are you? Isi: [0:30] I'm okay. I am a bit congested, still. Mitch: [0:33] Well, that's good. Not good, but good for the podcast because... Isi: [0:38] Good for the podcast? Mitch: [0:39] Yeah, because I wanted to do an episode about getting over illnesses. Tips and tricks from Mitch and Isi. (What a great episode.) Let's go. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

After a question last time round from listener Georgia, Mitch and Isi discuss the influence of modern day influencers; the Royal Family. From backing British made products, influencing the EU referendum and championing mental health and environmental awareness. They also discuss the controversial topics surrounding the armed forces and the love/hate relationship they have with tabloid media. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Intro Mitch: [0:23] Hello, welcome to episode... what is it? Oh God. Isi: [0:27] 30... Mitch: [0:29] 30, what would you think? 31? No, don't be silly. Isi: [0:34] Oh God. Mitch: [0:36] Episode 37. (Wow!) Of the Easy English Podcast. Isi: [0:41] Hello. Mitch: [0:41] I planned for us to do an episode about Georgia's question from the last episode, asking; how much the royal family affects our day-to-day life, in the UK. Isi: [0:52] Didn't we talk about the royals before? We did a video episode about the queen's jubilee with Cari from Easy German who's a big 'Crown' 'The Crown' fan and Netflix series. Mitch: [1:04] Yeah I mean that is already one way in which the royal family affects, their part of (The world.) Yeah, they're like... they're back they're back again into common culture. There was a period I think between Diana and now, where they're kind of had a bit of a dip. But now they're kind of like, influencers. They live a life of influencers, in a way, don't they? Isi: [1:26] I guess they're representatives of the monarchy. But in a way, I think they see themselves also as representatives of Britain, of the Commonwealth. Mitch: [1:37] They have some power, in the sense of they don't have any... Isi: [1:41] They're influential. Mitch: [1:42] Yeah, exactly. Isi: [1:42] To a lot of people still. Mitch: [1:44] If they mention a brand or something, then they can have... or talk badly about a brand. Isi: [1:49] But they don't do that, on purpose, they don't they don't want to be political and they are actually they shouldn't be, right? From the legal stand. Mitch: [1:59] They shouldn't be, but obviously like, if you think of Harry and Meghan they had a Spotify and did Kate and William also have a Spotify. (No, I don't think so.) Harry and Meghan had a Spotify podcast right, exclusive. Isi: [2:09] Do they still have that. Mitch: [2:10] No. (I've never listened to it.) It got dropped. (Okay.) Because they're so boring. (Are they?) But Spotify obviously has like... Isi: [2:18] I actually like their Netflix series. I found it quite entertaining. Mitch: [2:22] That was good. (Yeah.) But if you think they have these brands... that they promote, they put their stamp on things that they agree with, principally, things that are British-made. Isi: [2:33] Ah, true, yeah. Like very old, traditional products, like brown sauce. Mitch: [2:39] Twining's tea? Isi: [2:40] I love Twining's tea. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

Mitch and Isi discuss a topic recommended by Easy English Member, Marketa; childhood. Isi explains how her street was a construction area for skate parks, igloos and prison cells. Whilst Mitch tells of crossbows, conker fights and... offensive language. Did any of it happen, or are these just tall tales, recollected from hear-say and distant memories? They also answer Georgia's question about the Royals, in their regular section of Unhelpful Advice. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Show Notes Opinions on the Royal Family: What Do English People Think of the Royal Family? (https://youtu.be/6pP-caxrr6Y?si=E5lz8gRfPrNmsk3T) (Easy English 98) Reacting to the Queens Jubilee: The Queen's Platinum Jubilee (https://youtu.be/zpn6SxwLe7M?si=Y3HoWWbrby6-Pf0a) (Easy English 123) Transcript Intro Mitch: [0:23] Welcome to the Easy English Podcast. Today, we are doing, we're sort of catching up with some requests of things that you've sent us in. We wanted to cover a topic, which one of our members of Easy English; Marketa, one of our longest standing, dearest members, requested us to do a topic, comparing our childhoods from the perspective of growing up in the UK to growing up in Germany. Isi: [0:51] That's a good topic. Mitch: [0:51] Which is interesting. And they mentioned school and birthday parties, specifically. Isi: [0:58] Perfect. I mean, obviously, the kindergarten school system is different. I think that should not be part of it, though. That could be an own topic. What is the difference? I would say in general, the upbringing in both our countries are similar. There's definitely countries where we would find bigger differences. Mitch: [1:18] It's hard to compare a little bit, because you grew up in a a 300,000 city and I grew up in a 30,000 town. Isi: [1:24] Yeah you're the village boy Mitch: [1:27] I'm the cauliflower-eared, village boy. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

This week, Mitch and Isi bring you the podcast from the Easy English-mobile. Mitch is drving whilst Isi navigates the infamous Antwerp bottle-neck into the JFK tunnel. And what better situation than to discuss driving in the UK. The duo discuss, roundabouts, service station, exploding tyres, car fridges, speed limits and drunk French drivers. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Intro Mitch & Isi: [0:27] So, welcome to the Easy English Podcast from the streets, just entering Belgium. From the A67 in Belgium. Today is a special episode. - It's a special episode. - Is this even legal, what we're doing? - Why? - Are you allowed to podcast while driving? - We're not watching anything or listening to anything, we're just talking. - I know, but multitasking is hard. - We normally talk in the car. As we were talking about public transport, this is not public transport, I mean for Nola it is, kind of, but it is transport. And we thought, as we, so many times go back and forth between Germany, and England and France also, sometimes, around Europe, that we will do an episode from the car. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

Today, the duo talk about the strange cultural rhetorical greeting "y'alright?" How to be the giver... and receiver of it, before going into the Topic of the Week, discussing typical British etiquette around queuing for buses, cashier desks and buying rounds of drinks. Long-time member James also asks us a question about teaching English in our regular segment of Unhelpful Advice. If you would also like to ask us a question, go to easyenglish.fm. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Show Notes British Etiquette video: WHAT is Considered RUDE In the UK? (https://youtu.be/hvBHUZsX9n8) (Easy English 172) Transcript Intro Mitch: [0:22] Good evening. Isi: [0:23] Good evening Mitch, how are you doing? Mitch: [0:27] Very well, thank you. Yeah, how would it be done... I'm thinking of 1930s/40s Britain. Hello welcome to the Easy English Podcast. Isi: [0:35] Alright. (Alright?) Alright (Are you alright?) Are you alright? Mitch: [0:40] And always the answer; yeah you? But never really meaning it. Isi: [0:43] Yeah me to, thanks, thanks, bye. Such a stupid conversation, really. Mitch: [0:52] Yeah you? Welcome to the Easy English Podcast... I said that already. Isi: [0:55] By the way, I always walk on when people ask me that, I always say like; yeah... and then I just go and I make the 'yeah' so long that I don't have to ask 'and you', because then I think in my German manners, that I have to wait for the answer that nobody wants to give me anyway, so always I'm like; oh yeah, yeah, yeah. Thank you, yeah. And then I just make a chewing gum and I'm already around the corner. (Oh really?) I did it yesterday, in the hallway, with one of the builders. Mitch: [1:22] Oh yeah, he said; "hey, yeah, you alright?" Isi: [1:24] Yeah, and I was just like; oh yeah, thank you. Yeah, yeah. And I just went on. Mitch: [1:29] You don't even need to respond. Isi: [1:31] Yeah, you should say; yeah, how are you? But then nothing comes back. And that is for me, a weird end of a conversation, right? Mitch: [1:39] Yeah, I find it weird. It happened also to me we were in the park and two school girls got jumped on by Nola, in a loving way. Isi: [1:46] Well, they provoked her to jump on her. They were running at her like... While running at her they were like; is she friendly? And we were like; yeah. So basically, they jumped on her. Mitch: [1:57] And then I said... because I was actually asking; are they all right? I was like; are you all right? And she went; "yeah you?" And then I realised; oh she thinks I'm asking like; are you alright? Like, how are you? Isi: [2:12] That is really... we had another podcast I think in the very beginning where we talked about this and it's still a big topic for me. I find it weird, because it's also about the intonation. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

This week, we answer Arthur's question on improving one's English when nervous to speak. But the main topic is about Britain's transport network, notably it's iconic buses. We talk double-deckers, Megabuses, thanking the driver, tapping on, cashless buses, USB buses, plus dog, bikes, prams drinking on buses. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Intro Mitch: 0:23 (Hey!) Hello Easy English peeps, welcome to the Easy English Podcast, how are you doing? Isi [0:30] That sounds so radio show-ish. Are you not into our podcast Mitch? My voice is a bit weird today isn't it? Mitch: [0:37] It's the second coffee podcast we've ever done. It's always a bit of a weird feeling. Uh, before we start with today's topic, I want to do a quick Unhelpful Advice / Your Messages section. Sound good? (Go for it.) Unhelpful Advice Mitch: [0:59] We have, yeah this isn't a question, it's just a statement; "Easy English Podcast". There you go. (That was it?) Yeah that was it. Isi [1:09] Oh hello, then. That was hello wasn't it? Mitch: [1:12] Yeah. Isi [1:12] That was a greeting, maybe. Mitch: [1:14] Thank you for calling in. Uh yeah, that's us, that's our name, don't wear it out. Thank you for calling in. Our next one is um actually a question from uh someone who left us an audio message, who goes by the name of Arthur? I'd say Arthur, but i don't... that's very um... it's a very British sort of pronunciation. Isi [1:40] Think it's a name that is used in a lot of different languages. But maybe in a different way. Arthur, Arthur. Mitch: [1:46] Did you have a cartoon show called Arthur. And it's called yeah 'Hey Arthur'? (Yeah, yeah, yeah.) Did you? (I think I know that yeah, is that Nickelodeon?) Yeah! (Yeah, I know it yeah.) What a wonderful time to play, hey! And he had a sister called DW. (That is weird.) and his Neighbors were rhinoceroses and he was like a weird... Isi [2:06] His name was rhinoceros Mitch: [2:07] The neighbours were rhinoceroses and he had a crush on an elephant and he... but he was like a weasel or something. (Cute.) With glasses on. This isn't from a weasel with glasses on. This is from a normal person called Arthur. Here we go; "Hi, everyone. I am Arthur. I want to learn English, because I think, when I try to talk, to speak, it's very basic, because my vocabulary is minimal than the others. When I try to talk, with other person, maybe the other person might understand me, but I think so, that I need to speak very well, to have more vocabulary, I try to express it, maybe it sometimes it's very difficult to me, but I never... I think so that I'm nervous about speaking English. Thank you very much". Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership

Mitch and Isi start their first episode in a series about dogs. They want to give you their experience... and lack of when it comes to being a dog-parent. In this episode, Mitch and Isi talk adoption; finding your new furry friend, how to prepare, the practical and emotional elements you'll need to survive and the nerves and excitement you'll go through when adding a four-legged friend into your family. Interactive Transcript Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership Transcript Intro Mitch: [0:19] Three, two, one, happy new year. Isi: [0:23] Three, two, one, happy new year. Mitch: [0:28] Oh God. Isi: [0:32] Okay, chin, chin, ting, ting. Mitch: [0:35] How fitting that the dog is trying to get into the room, as we're today, going to speak about dogs. Isi: [0:42] Dogs. Mitch: [0:43] Dogs in the UK. Isi: [0:45] Dogs. Mitch: [0:45] But first, so today as we're speaking is the 2nd of January, which for those who don't know is the start of our 30 Day Challenge. (Will we always do this now?) It's like we're rehearsed. (Yeah.) Three, two, one, 30 Day Challenge. Like a game show; you've won the star prize! (Or a morning radio show.) Yeah. A speedboat, but you live in Birmingham, so you're never going to to get to use it. Support Easy English and get interactive transcripts and bonus content for all our episodes: easyenglish.fm/membership