English listening BBC

• Scrub up well
• You shouldn't have
• Not looking too clever

Neil’s got things to do while he presents this programme but because he doesn’t want Jiaying to be distracted, he has a phrase to use – and we’re here to explain what it is and how to use it.

Transcript

Jiaying
Hello. Welcome to The English We Speak, with me Jiaying...

Neil
... and me... Neil...

Jiaying
Neil, what are you doing?

Neil
Oh, don’t mind me – I’m just doing some useful chores while I’m in the studio.

Jiaying
Neil, I do mind.

Neil
Well, don’t mind – just ignore me – that’s what I mean.

Jiaying
That’s not easy – but I get it. When someone says, ‘don’t mind me’, they mean ‘ignore me’, ‘don’t let me interrupt you’. So, you don’t want to interrupt me – but it’s very distracting.

Neil
Sorry. I’ll just finish them off while we hear some more examples of ‘don’t mind me’...

Examples

Sorry, don’t mind me – I’ve just come back to get the books I left on the table.

Please don’t mind me – I’ve got to eat this sandwich during the meeting because I haven’t had time for lunch.

I’ve just got to fix this light, so don’t mind me.

Jiaying
You’re listening to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English. Today, we’re hearing about the phrase ‘don’t mind me’, which people say to mean ‘please continue, don’t let me interrupt you.’ But, unfortunately, Neil, clipping your fingernails has interrupted me. I can’t concentrate.

Neil
Well, I’ve finished now. But... don’t mind me if I start on my toenails now – I just need to remove my socks.

Jiaying
Oh no! Neil, don’t mind me if I go now – this is too much!

Neil
Where are you going?

Jiaying
To get some fresh air – and a cup of coffee, just for me.

Neil
Oh, don’t mind me – I’m only your co-presenter and lifelong friend!

Jiaying
Bye, Neil.

Neil
Bye – now back to my toenails....

• Would you eat a cricket? How about a portion of nice crunchy ants?

• Why not put your idle brain to good use?

• We wonder what all that licking is really all about

• Life in a place where people work, study longer hours and get less sleep than anywhere else

• Artificial snow, coronavirus and controversy surround the Beijing Games starting soon.

• Learn how microbes help digest food and have an impact in our bodies.

• How do languages get invented?

• What will future technology be like?

• We talk about the defences plants might develop after facing periods of stress.

• We talk about the maths formulas that are increasingly part of our lives

• Diamonds and poo - could these be used to help prevent climate catastrophe?

• How can we make video conferences feel more natural?

• Hear about a project through which you can borrow a person to have a candid chat with

• Questions about the safety of nuclear plants remain for many people.

• Georgina and Rob talk about memorising things.

• We talk about a famous video game character from the 80s.

• Should athletes be sponsored by companies that produce unhealthy food?

• We talk about the music of Wiley and Stormzy, inspired by derelict housing in London

• We discuss what happens to the extra money you give at restaurants

• Why is the German leader Angela Merkel called 'Mutti'?

• Could AI be the answer in the fight against climate change?

• Why don't people talk more about this aspect of women's lives?

• Bitcoin: is it an investment option for ordinary people?

• Hear about a woman's effort to keep her language alive

• What are non-fungible tokens?

• Learn more about these furry flying mammals

• Some extreme weather events are puzzling scientists

• Can spending hours online affect the new generation's mental health?

• They make coalitions and have a desire for power. Are they like us?

• What's behind counting people in a country?

• How much maths do you need to know to get by?

• We discuss if AI could replace human doctors and nurses

• How actors are made to feel more comfortable in intimate scenes

• We discuss the long-term effects on players who make a career taking heavy tackles

• What goes in the mind of the richest person in the world?

• How a fun activity was discouraged by religion and in the name of school discipline

• Companies are considering using carbon labelling the same way as they use nutrition information

• Learn the language of going to the toilet

• How the Apollo 11 astronaut Michael Collins felt in 1969 about not walking on the Moon.

• A toast to the vocabulary you'll learn here!

• Which colour makes you happy?

• Is there a stigma attached to not wanting to work the 9-to-5 shift?

• Can anyone be hypnotised?

• We talk about a breeding programme with the last individuals of the species.

• Shouldn't we stop throwing things away and start fixing them?

• Do you 'read' people easily?

• Does carving scary faces into pumpkins really frighten away evil spirits?

• We talk about the famous piece of rock that was key to translating the writing system created in ancient Egypt.

• Covid-19: Are we tired of feeling sorry for others?

• Why do people decide to be alone for long periods of time?

• Learn about self-cloning animals

• Sirens, mermaids, mami wata... we talk about different representations of these intriguing water creatures.

• Hear about whether noise is bad for our health

• Can the two biggest polluters work together?

• Hear about why being naked in nature might be good for you

• Learn why this tasty snack became popular with the Industrial Revolution

• Where did today's English language really come from?

• Hear all about the Skylab astronauts’ disagreement with mission control

• Hear about digital technology which helps blind people improve their lives

• Hear about what small things you can do to feel happier about life

• Hear about how to create a happy place

• Hear about Covid-19 and how our knowledge has changed

• Hear about singing and why it’s good to do it

• Hear about why some people are choosing to freelance

• Hear about a woman whose cells never die

• Hear about storytelling and how it helps us to connect and communicate

• Is learning languages good for head, heart and soul?

• Hear about comfort food and why we eat it

• Hear about why fat-shaming is on the rise

• Hear about coronavirus and how it isn’t that bad compared to historical pandemics

• Hear about how trees can communicate with each other

• Could jellyfish could reduce plastic pollution?

• Hear how texting has become more popular than talking

• Hear about how loneliness can affect everyone

• Hear about different people's attitude to being on time

• Hear about online fraud and how it is becoming more common

• Scientists worry about this year's global heating and melting polar ice

• About 40 years ago, portable music players became a craze with the launch of the Sony Walkman.

• Hear about projects to create liveable underwater habitats

• Volunteer hackers are invited to prevent election cyber-attacks

• Hear the iconic environmentalist Jane Goodall talk about the deep connections between humans and the great apes

• Learn about Web Science, a new academic subject about the internet

• What will the jobs market look like after the coronavirus pandemic ends?

• Local project trains grandmothers to help Zimbabweans mental health

• The number of bees is declining at an alarming rate, with serious consequences for humans.

• Conspiracy theories: Don't be fooled!

• What does your blood type say about you?

• The future of cities after the Covid-19 crisis

• What is trust? And who should we place our trust in?

• Can companies operate better without managers?

• Neil and Georgina talk about the origins of Covid-19 and teach you related vocabulary.

• Could plant growth studies in the ISS help feed people on Earth in the future?

• Surf in South Africa, skateboarding in Afghanistan – are making poor children more assertive.

• Lots of companies are rushing to install technology to make offices and workplaces safer.

• Is wearing a face mask necessary?

• Why are millennials so attracted to starting their own businesses?

• We talk about being a saver in a consumer culture and discuss the meaning of 'thrift' through history.

• New apps are transforming the way people order food from home

• Listen to civil rights activist, Tarana Burke, who coined the phrase

• Is recycling a guilt-free way of encouraging us to use more plastic?

• How can books help us relax and feel more alive during troubled times?

• How do electric systems differ across the world?

• Does crying make you feel better?

• Where does a pasty come from?

• Music with a smaller carbon footprint

• How smart is artificial intelligence?

• How long will we survive for?

• Who's responsible for recycling?

• Pond scum - the new superfood which could benefit your health and the planet

• Cheap production of clothes is being blamed for contributing to global warming.

• Are we born with the ability to cope well with difficult situations? Can we learn it?

• Can a battle of ideas be a constructive exercise?

• What are low emission zones and why are more cities adopting these cleaner-air initiatives? Clean up your English by listening to this discussion

• What's inspiring women to get involved in politics?

• Giving up beer, wine and spirits is a challenge many people include in their New Year's resolutions.

• Why is yawning contagious?

• What's the carbon footprint of your Christmas tree?

• Can ecotherapy heal our urban woes?

• Anxious about talking to people you don't know? Listen to what a social psychologist has to say about it.

• Does delaying university to travel help you get a job in the future?

• How small changes can make a big difference to people with mental health issues at work.

• What goes on in the brain and the body when we listen to Adele?

• Do we only learn language from our mother?

• Are you prepared to be the canvas for a painting that might last forever?

• Internships: exploitation or valuable work experience?

• Consumers are less keen to keep quiet when they are not happy with the service.

• Learn about alphabet disadvantage!

• Everyone loves a holiday, but what damage can tourists do? Sam and Rob find out.

• How are we going to feed ourselves?

• Being more environmentally friendly

• Libra, Bitcoin... would you invest in digital money?

• Does recycling coffee cups make a difference?

• Why is 'shame' the emotion of now?

• Are you planning for a comfortable retirement?

• FIFA Women's World Cup 2019

• Does fast, loud, aggressive, guitar-based music inspire violence or happiness?

• Is talking on the telephone embarrassing?

• Why do we associate motorcycles with men?

• Shopping online in the middle of the night is becoming popular but, is it always a good idea?

• Is there anything more frustrating?

• Studies have shown that about 40% of the variation in a person's weight is influenced by genes.

• Do smart speakers make life easier or spy on you?

• Has anxiety been good for humans?

• Neil and Rob talk about the animal symbol of Easter in literature and in the real world.

• Is it time you decluttered?

• Do you know that cringey feeling?

• Do you have a second job?

• Be careful where you look!

• How much do you enjoy doing housework and paying bills?

• Why are these magical creatures back in fashion?

• Are you allergic to anything?

• How effective are dating apps when you're looking for a romantic partner?

• What's so special about these uncomfortable shoes?

• New technology might be putting an end to instrumental introductions to pop songs

• What's the positive side of feeling good when bad things happen to people you envy?

• Would you all but give up eating meat to save the environment?

• The former US First Lady and her mission to inspire women

• Are you a button presser?

• What does 'x' really mean?

• How important is the smell of coffee?

• What can chickens teach us about organisation?

• Can people feel lonely in a crowded place?

• Neil and Sam discuss objectification. What is it and is there really a 'perfect body'?

• Rob and Neil discuss the must-have skill of the future

• Paying a lot to look a mess!

• Could we live without plastic? We discuss the issues and the progress that's being made.

• Have you grown up with social media?

• A bright new fashion trend

• The word snowflake has taken on a new meaning. We discuss this new term without causing offence!

• What does our brain tell us to do when faced with a dating app?

• Do you lead a sedentary lifestyle? Learn what made people more active in Finland.

• Why is street food becoming more popular in the UK?

• Do people still buy cameras when everybody is keen on selfies?

• Why do men want to be fathers?

• Does being taller mean you earn more at work?

• Learn more about this fascinating animal

• Why are countryside walks no longer so popular?

• Why technology doesn't always know best

• Our new virtual assistants

• Why are football fans so quiet nowdays?

• What does your smell say about you?

• Is the internet a positive thing?

• How much do you know about the food you eat?

• Would you tell a robot your deepest secrets?

• The history of the humble ‘hello’

• A new approach to swimming

• Are robots and artificial intelligence taking over from humans? Dan and Neil discuss the rise of the machines

• Are you trying to give up drinking this month? Catherine and Rob discuss abstaining and the benefits of a dry January

• Would you pay more for coffee if you knew it was doing some good? Dan and Catherine discuss the pros and cons of ethically produced coffee.

• Bitcoin is here and it's generating interest. Is that a good or bad thing? Dan and Neil discuss the pros and cons of this digital currency.

• Can science prove the existence of 'man flu' or are men just big babies? Dan and Neil discuss all this and give you six useful items of vocabulary.

• A popular job at this time of year is playing the part of Santa. But what does it take to be the perfect Father Christmas? Neil and Dan discuss whether it's a role that would suit Dan.

• The number of schoolchildren doing part-time jobs in the UK has fallen. Is that a good thing? Neil and Dan discuss the pros and cons of working while you're still at school.

• Have you ever bought something when you're sad and then regretted it later?

• How old is your smartphone?

• More people are going to the gym to get fitter but why?

• Does a cafe's free wi-fi encourage you to go in and buy a coffee?

• There’s a fresh interest in keeping cars out of cities. Is it a good idea?

• Are you aware of how much of the sweet stuff you eat?

• When you have to be polite and courteous ... even when you swim!

• Can you tell the difference between the taste of bottled water and tap water?

• Neil and Rob talk about vigorous exercise – and whether adults take enough of it!

• Are you afraid of machines that copy human intelligent behaviour?

• Did you know that when the entire body is aging hair can grow stronger?

• Tim and Neil talk about interactions that can be misunderstood by people of different backgrounds

• A policeman, a pilot, a chef - what's our fascination with uniforms?

• Tim and Neil laugh their head off as they teach you useful vocabulary

• Rob and Neil are in a hurry to discuss our concept of time and teach you new words

• Rob and Neil discuss what makes people want to share a video

• Have you ever thought about what sort of funeral you would like to have?

• The treatments that help people stay mentally healthy

• Have you ever cheated an honesty box? Is honesty really the best policy?

• Do you not want to be seen?

• How do lost cats and dogs find their way home?

• Want to improve your life?

• Can we trust our first impressions?

• Why do we throw away so much technology?

• Relax, slow down and breathe. Neil and Catherine explore mindfulness - what it is and what benefits it offers

• A new way to rest in peace

• Could you give up meat and animal products?

• Do people now have shorter attention spans than goldfish?

• Food waste is a major problem

• The rich are getting richer

• How did a man fall from a 47 storey skyscraper and survive?

• What's behind the trend for having more than one career?

• How does your food affect your mood?

• Can dogs be used to detect cancer?

• Are you an emoji person? We explore how simple smiley faces have become powerful communication tools.

• What do you eat for lunch? Sandwiches are the most popular lunchtime meal in the UK, but why?

• Can humanity really breach the 90 year limit?

• Gun control with no guns? How is that possible? Join Dan and Neil to find out.

• Neil and Dan discuss romanticism

• Catherine and Neil discuss why the police and the legal system are concerned about eyewitness testimony

• Catherine and Neil discuss how the pressures of modern living are making us hostile to each other

• Why are so many people obsessed with learning about their family history? Neil and Catherine talk about genealogy

• The increased study of extremophile microbes has revealed a lot about what is and is not needed to sustain life on Earth

• Why are we so fascinated with the superheroes that populate our cinema screens and comic books?

• Alice and Neil discuss whether we would miss driving as driverless cars are tested in cities around the world

• What’s your personality type? If you are an introvert you’re in good company; Barack Obama, JK Rowling are introverts...

• Why is it that some games, hobbies and activities become crazes while others don’t? Alice and Neil talk about their preferences

• Alice and Neil discuss circadian rhythms – the so-called body clock that influences an organism's daily cycle of changes

• Sophie and Neil discuss why the last pharaoh of Egypt still fascinates people today

• Why do we fear animals that pose no threat to us? Sophie and Neil discuss the reason why fear of spiders is so common

• Neil and Alice talk about the defiant women who fought for their right to choose their representatives

• Call them what you want – trainers, sneakers, tennis shoes – but why does everybody love them so much?

• Sophie and Neil discuss the bike's mass appeal, from helping to widen the gene pool to blazing a trail for the women’s movement

• Sophie and Neil discuss social networks and why we often use different identities for different social media

• Free, digital news is threatening traditional newspapers. Sophie and Neil discuss the pros and cons of news in print

• Why are we attracted to some people and not to others? Sophie and Neil discuss love at first sight

• What is loneliness and why do we feel it? Sophie and Neil discuss how feeling lonely can help us to survive

• How do you see yourself and how do others see you? Alice and Neil discuss identity and how appearances can be deceptive

• Why is punctuation important? Neil and Alice discuss rhetoric, commas and full stops.

• Alice and Neil discuss penicillin, the so-called wonder drug discovered in 1928 by Alexander Fleming

• What might the world look like if temperatures keep rising? Neil and Alice discuss the need to adapt to the changes ahead

• Did you ever own a Walkman or a record player? Alice and Neil discuss old tech and why the US Pentagon still uses floppy disks

• Neil and Alice discuss the differences between slang, jargon, and swearing, while teaching you some Cockney Rhyming Slang

• Do women clean the house more often than men? Alice and Neil discuss the topic and teach you a tidy amount of vocabulary

• Is food labelling clear enough to help us make healthy choices? Alice and Neil discuss chocolate chip muffins along with some other tasty vocabulary

• Who were the Muses and how did they help the creative process? Neil and Alice discuss how to be more creative

• Will we still be speaking in an English we recognise in a thousand years' time? Alice and Neil make some educated guesses!

• Neil and Alice discuss the threat to The Great Barrier Reef, the Grand Canyon, and the Inca city of Machu Picchu in Peru

• Why do some weeks just fly by but sometimes minutes can seem like hours? Neil and Alice discuss our perception of time

• What will the cities of the future look like, and will we enjoy living in them? Alice and Neil discuss Neil's attempt at town planning

• Why is the disease diabetes on the rise? Alice and Neil talk about the role that diet has to play in this global health problem

• Why do we procrastinate? Rob and Alice discuss why it can be difficult to get on with tasks

• Why do we like to impersonate people? Neil tries out his best impression of Elvis while teaching you some related vocabulary

• Alice and Rob consider which study techniques are good and which aren't. Does sleeping with a book under your pillow help?

• Young entrepreneurs are appearing everywhere. Alice and Rob discuss whether grey hair is best

• Why do people often say one thing and do another? Alice and Rob ask how far hypocrisy is actually part of who we are

• Do you have what it takes to go to space? Alice and Rob discuss the challenges of a job thousands of people are keen on

• Do you believe men walked on the Moon? Alice and Rob discuss why some people are suspicious about everything

• You've decluttered and tidied but could you live life free of stuff? Alice and Rob discuss why we give objects emotional value

• Are you a teetotaler or a drinker? Rob and Alice discuss what risk to your health regular drinking may have

• What does it take to impress the ladies in the 21st century? Neil and Alice discuss knights in shining armour

• Is retirement the end of everything or just a door for new opportunities? Alice and Rob talk about aging

• Do you always agree with what most people in your group say? Neil and Sophie discuss staff meetings.

• Neil and Sophie discuss the health benefits of being able to speak two languages fluently. And Neil... speaks Japanese!

• How often do you check your phone? Neil and Sophie discuss how social media is changing the way we interact.

• Sophie and Neil discover that soil has some surprising qualities and discuss how growing food can be therapeutic too

• Sophie and Neil talk about traditional fairy tales for the adult market and teach you some magical vocabulary

• Neil and Sophie discuss the growing industry of team building – from zombie bootcamps to horse training for executives.

• Neil and Sophie discuss Mars, the fourth rock from the Sun

• Neil and Sophie talk about gene editing, designer babies and how many errors Neil might have in his genetic code.

• How generous are you? Neil and Sophie discuss Mark Zuckerberg and what it takes to be a modern-day philanthropist.

• Are the days of paying by cash for a latte or a newspaper nearly gone? Alice and Neil discuss Neil's fondness for loose change...

• Tea comes in different forms – milky, sweet or spicy. Alice and Neil discuss how this Asian leaf conquered the world.

• Train, car, bicycle ... Hundreds of millions of us make the same journey day in day out. Take a hike with Alice and Neil and learn new vocabulary.

• Are food allergies on the increase and if so, why? Neil and Alice talk about the growing fear of food and teach new words.

• Are artificial lights and late night TV ruining our sleep? Neil and Alice discuss the issue and teach you related vocabulary.

• What does it take to be a good interviewer? Neil and Alice discuss TV chat show hosts and teach you some related vocabulary.

• How much does appearance really matter? Neil and Alice discuss fitness and New Year's resolutions

• Some families struggle to buy even food and can’t afford presents. Neil and Alice discuss how some charities are helping those in need.

• Alice and Finn talk about the passion some people have for danger and the unseen threats we face every day

• Alice and Neil discuss the psychological pressures of going to university. They also teach some related vocabulary.

• Neil and Alice discuss the long-lasting appeal of this man with a bow and how he has changed over the centuries

• Do you know how much your partner earns? Is he or she in debt? Would this make you love them less?

• The BBC broadcasts a season of programmes discussing women's issues around the world

• Are you good at telling jokes? What makes a good comedian?

• Should we all pay for supermarket plastic bags? Neil and Alice take a look at the environmental impact of plastic and teach you some related words.

• Should the difficult language of Shakespeare be 'translated' into plain English?

• The bicycle is the most popular form of two-wheeled transport in the world, but could we all soon be using hoverboards? Listen to Neil and Finn's conversation and learn some new words.

• If you are sitting at a desk or answering the phone, stop for a moment and ask: could a robot or machine do this job better? Neil and Finn discuss the future of our jobs.

• Neil and Alice discuss what kind of book people like to be seen reading. Do you like to impress people with a classic book in your hands?

• Does being born in the summer reduce your chance of going to university?

• Take a trip with Rob and Alice to find out about the Earth’s core. They’ll discuss how hot it is – and whether there are any dinosaurs living there!

• Do you dress formally or casually? Do you choose trendy items or old comfortable ones? Rob and Will talk about the meaning of clothes.

• It's been described as the world's largest and most democratic classical music festival. Neil and Finn guide you through the BBC Proms

• What an awful sound - cracking your knuckles! Listen in to Rob and Neil to find out if it's a useful skill or just an annoying habit

• Was Charles Darwin the only man with ideas about evolution? Rob and Neil talk about someone else who discovered it first.

• What are the modern day dilemmas in using a lift? Rob and Neil discuss the awkwardness and irritation of being in one

• Should young people be made to vote in elections or should we choose? We discuss the ideas behind compulsory voting

• What do we need our chins for? Rob and Neil discuss how we got them and what our chins say about us

• Why do gibbons sing duets and what has this got to do with the evolution of the human language?

• Skinny models: What does the law say about walking the catwalk?

• The dangers of computer games. How good are they for our health?

• It's amazing! What part of our body have scientists discovered can heal and help us?

• Do you chew gum and what do you do with it when you've finished? Listen to Rob and Finn discussing the history and chemical properties of gum and why it's messing up our streets whilst explaining some related vocabulary

• Food banks provide food to people in the UK who can't afford to buy their own. Rob and Finn discuss this how they work and how they help many of the country's poorest

• Listen to Neil and Rob discussing mood swings, risk taking, and why people make fun of teenagers, while they also explore some related vocabulary.

• How can remote parts of the world get access to the internet? Neil and Catherine discuss a new idea for spreading knowledge

• What makes us angry and why is aggression useful? Neil and Catherine discuss human behaviour.

• Big bushy beards have become so fashionable that there's now an art exhibition dedicated to them

• A London apartment block has front and back entrances for private and social housing - or so-called rich and poor doors. Does it make sense to you? Listen to a discussion whilst learning some housing-related vocabulary

• Fifty years ago, on 18 March 1965, Soviet astronaut Alexei Leonov took the first space walk. Listen to Rob and Neil describing the struggles of that ground-breaking space mission whilst explaining some related vocabulary.

• Furniture with built-in wireless charging technology - like a coffee table is now being sold. 'Built-in' means the technology is included as part of the table. So you just pop your phone on the table, and technology does the rest!

• Many animals face extinction. But people are realising that they must act now to stop further losses. A scheme to save the Asian elephant in China could provide an answer.

• How does music make you feel? Research shows that it actually influences us more than we realise - whether we're at the movies, the supermarket, or down the pub

• Coffee is now the most popular drink in the world. But what about the economics and politics of coffee production? It's as complicated as getting the right flavour in your cup

• Rob and Neil put on their sunglasses to find out more about this special star and teach some related vocabulary. We promise you won’t be blinded with science!

• The UK has become the first country to approve legislation allowing the creation of babies with genetic material from three people. Listen to Neil and Harry’s conversation and learn some related vocabulary.

• What are some art galleries banning to protect their paintings? Find out with Neil and Harry

• An electronic device under your skin?! Workers in Sweden take part in experiment which allows them to get in and out of their office without a key, ID or password. Listen to Neil and Harry’s chat and learn some related vocabulary.

• This year marks the 50th anniversary of Winston Churchill’s death. He is known throughout the world for his role in defeating Nazi Germany but he also made mistakes. Listen to Neil and Mike’s discussion, and learn new vocabulary.

• We live in a richer world. But the gap between rich and poor is still very wide in individual countries. How to change this? Listen to Rob and Harry’s discussion, and learn some related vocabulary.

• The price of vaccines has escalated and some poor countries are struggling to prevent children from catching certain life-threatening diseases, says Medecins Sans Frontieres. Listen to Rob and Neil’s discussion, and learn some related vocabulary.

• Will thinking computers be the end of humans? Listen to Rob and Neil’s chat and learn some related vocabulary.

• About 37,000 tourists are expected to visit Antarctica this season. But should they be going to a region with such a sensitive environment? Listen to Rob and Neil’s conversation and learn some new vocabulary.

• At a time when more people compete for fewer jobs, are you sure you present your skills and abilities well to a potential employer? Listen to Rob and Neil's conversation and learn some related vocabulary.

• Going to a party where you don't know anyone? Listen to Rob and Neil's advice and learn some related vocabulary

• We use computers for everything nowadays. Are we forgetting our own abilities - and losing our talent? Listen to Rob and Neil's discussion, and learn some related vocabulary

• Smoking in cars with children might be banned in England. Listen to Neil and Rob's chat and learn some related vocabulary

• Is bullying just an attempt to give a bad name to what is part of human nature? Listen to Rob and Neil’s chat and learn some related vocabulary.

• What would you put in your time capsule? Listen to Rob and Neil’s chat and learn new vocabulary

• When enemy soldiers sang together in WW1. Listen to Rob and Finn’s chat and learn some related vocabulary.

• The London school where students speak 42 different languages

• Laughter isn't always the best medicine, says research

• Are your pictures, documents and videos safe online? Listen to Rob and Finn's chat and learn new vocabulary

• Nowhere to park? How the sharing economy is changing the way we use our space

• How can science fiction help the world? Rob and Finn discuss a project which aims to inspire through stories of a bright future

• Why is eating meat bad news?

• Do real-life superheroes exist or are they just cartoon characters?

• Rob and Finn discuss the World Health Organisation's recommendations on e-cigarettes

• Should we eat less sugar? Listen to Rob and Neil and learn new vocabulary

• Is learning English getting easier? Find out what's new

• Why do we buy so much food and not eat it all? Learn more about food waste

• Is it right to sleep at work? Rob and Finn discuss the benefits of sleeping on the job.

• Is the way we see famous people a new thing? Learn about the first 'modern celebrity'.

• Bored? You're not alone. Rob and Finn discuss how to deal with boredom and teach some related vocabulary. We promise you won't be bored!

Page 2

• Eating bugs
• The benefits of boredom
• Do our poets care about us?

How do you feel when you are kind to someone? The benefits of kindness have been attracting the attention of psychologists in recent years. Neil and Sam open their hearts, talk about the topic and teach you related vocabulary.

This week's question

In 2021, a global survey conducted for the BBC’s ‘Kindness Test’ asked people to name their top five random acts of kindness. So which kind act came top?

a] giving someone a smile

b] giving someone a hug

c] giving someone your time to just listen

Listen to the programme to find out the answer. 

Vocabulary

random act of kindness
small action done to help someone else or to make them feel happy

counter-intuitive
not happening in the way you would expect it to

yummy
delicious; tasting very good

warm glow
inner feeling of happiness at doing something kind for others

compassion
strong feeling of empathy for the suffering of others and a wish to help them

fluffy
soft and woolly; considered not serious or important

Transcript

Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript

Sam
Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Sam.

Neil
And I’m Neil. In this programme, we’re discussing something we’ve heard a lot about during the pandemic – kindness. When was the last time you did something kind for someone else, Sam?

Sam
Hmmm, I gave my mum flowers last week.

Neil
Ah, that was kind. And how did it feel?

Sam
It felt good knowing I’d made her happy.

Neil
Right! It’s something that psychologists are starting to prove scientifically but that most of us knew all along: we feel just as good being kind to someone else as when someone is kind to us.

Sam
It reminds me of something called a random act of kindness. Have you heard of that, Neil?

Neil
Yes, things like helping a stranger cross the road – small, everyday things people do to help others for no other reason than to make them happy.

Sam
Yes, and one of the main benefits of being kind is that we feel the kindness in ourselves. It’s called ‘the gift that keeps on giving’ - and it reminds me of my quiz question. In 2021, a global survey conducted for the BBC’s ‘Kindness Test’ asked people to name their top five random acts of kindness. So which kind act came top? Was it:a] giving someone a smile?b] giving someone a hug? or

c] giving someone your time to just listen?

Neil
They all sound wonderful but what I’d really like is a nice big hug!

Sam
OK, Neil, we’ll find out later if that’s the right answer.

Neil
Now, that good feeling Sam got from giving her mum flowers is something psychologists have become very interested in. During the past decade over a thousand academic papers were written including the term ‘kindness’. 

Sam
The author of one such paper is Dr Dan Campbell-Meiklejohn, senior psychologist at the University of Sussex, and researcher for the BBC’s Kindness Test. 

Neil
Here is Dr Campbell-Meiklejohn discussing his findings with BBC World Service programme, Health Check.

Dr Dan Campbell-Meiklejohn
What we know from the science is, and what can seem counter-intuitive because giving can cost something of ourselves, is that we can experience a sense of reward when we are kind to others… so like, when we eat a yummy food or have a pleasant surprise, the parts of our brain that help us remember these nice experiences and motivated us to do them again and again – they become active when we’re kind. And we call this feeling a warm glow.

Sam
Usually giving something away, money for example, means we no longer possess it. But kindness is different: both the giver of kindness and the receiver experience what Dr Campbell-Meiklejohn calls a warm glow – an inner feeling of happiness. 

Neil
Nevertheless, for some people giving something away equals losing it, so for them being kind seems counter-intuitive – opposite to the way you expect things should happen.

Sam
But on a chemical level the brain doesn’t agree! For our brain, being kind feels as good as any other pleasurable activity, for example eating something yummy – something delicious which tastes good.

Neil
OK, Sam, I can see that being kind is great in my personal life. But what about the ruthless world of business or politics – surely there’s no place for kindness there?

Sam
It’s true that in many countries politics involves fierce debate and criticism of anyone who disagrees with you. But there are those who believe it doesn’t have to be like that.

Neil
Jennifer Nagel for one. She’s co-director of a movement called Compassion in Politics and author of the book, We, written with the actor Gillian Anderson.

Sam
Listen as Jennifer explains her vision to BBC World Service programme, Health Check.

Jennifer Nagel
Compassionate leadership leads to inclusive, cooperative outcomes which lead to fairer societies, lower crime rates, higher levels of health and wellbeing. And yet we have this idea that compassion somehow doesn’t belong, that it can be dismissed in the same way as women have been dismissed as something fluffy and a nice idea but not really practical. But in fact, the science behind compassion is that it actually takes courage to act with compassion.

Neil
Jennifer wants politics to be based on compassion – a strong feeling of empathy with the suffering of others and a wish to help them.

Sam
She says kindness is sometimes dismissed as fluffy – soft and woolly, something not considered serious or important. But in fact, being compassionate is not easy and takes courage.

Neil
Jennifer’s is a strong voice for a kinder, more compassionate society. But I bet even she could use a random act of kindness now and again… maybe a hug?

Sam
Ah that’s right, Neil, a hug was one of the top five random acts of kindness I asked about in my quiz question, along with smiling and listening. But which came out on top?

Neil
I said it was b] giving someone a hug. So, was I right?

Sam
Giving a hug was… the wrong answer, I’m afraid. The number one random act of kindness was a] giving a smile. But don’t worry, Neil – I have a big hug waiting for you here!

Neil
Ah, thanks, Sam, that’s so kind! OK, let’s recap the vocabulary from this discussion about random acts of kindness – small things people do to be kind to others.

Sam
Something counter-intuitive doesn’t happen in the way you expect it to.

Neil
Yummy means delicious or tasting very good.

Sam
A warm glow describes the pleasant inner feeling of happiness at doing something kind.

Neil
Compassion is a feeling of sympathy for the suffering of others and a wish to help them.

Sam
And finally, something fluffy is soft and woolly, not considered serious or important.

Neil
Our six minutes are up, but if you’ve enjoyed this programme, why not go out and perform your own random act of kindness. Goodbye for now! 

Sam
Bye!

Page 3

How many hours do you sleep? Not many, if you live in South Korea, which might be one of the most stressed and tired nations on earth. It is a place where people work and study longer hours and get less sleep than anywhere else. Neil and Sam talk about sleeplessness and teach you related vocabulary.

This week's question

In the 1960s, American man, Randy Gardner, set the world record for staying awake for the longest period. Do you know what that time was?

a] 64 hours

b] 164 hours

c] 264 hours

Listen to the programme to find out the answer. 

Vocabulary

go out like a light
go to sleep very quickly

switch off
stop thinking about something and think about something else

agitated
get worried or upset

encroach
gradually take over

side-effects
unpleasant and unexpected result from taking medication

sleepwalking
moving around and doing things while still asleep

Transcript

Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript

Sam
Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Sam.

Neil
And I’m Neil.

Sam
Sleep – we all need it – some more than others. I can usually get by with around seven hours a night but I do like to have a nap – a short sleep – in the afternoon, when I’m not working of course. How about you, Neil?

Neil
I’m always tired and as soon as my head hits the pillow, I’m out like a light – meaning I go to sleep very quickly.  

Sam
Well, Neil, you might not survive in South Korea then. Apparently, it’s one of the most stressed and tired nations on earth - a place where people work and study longer hours and get less sleep than anywhere else. We’ll find out more later and teach some sleep-related vocabulary.

Neil
But before we do, you need to give me a question to keep me awake and alert!

Sam
Of course I do, and here it is. In the 1960s, American man, Randy Gardner, set the world record for staying awake for the longest period. Do you know what that time was? Was it:a]    64 hoursb]    164 hours, or

c]    264 hours?

Neil
All sound impossible but I’ll guess a] 64 hours – that’s nearly 3 days!

Sam
Oh, well. I’ll give you the answer later in the programme – assuming you don’t doze off! But let’s talk more about sleep now. As I mentioned, we all need it to help our mind and body rest and relax. And going without sleep – or sleeplessness - is bad for our health.

Neil
Many things can stop us sleeping and some of them are pressure, anxiety and stress caused by your job. And in South Korea research has shown it’s become increasingly difficult to switch off – stop thinking about work and relax. South Koreans sleep fewer hours and have higher rates of depression and suicide than almost anywhere else.

Sam
Se-Woong Koo has been reporting on this for the BBC World Service Documentary podcast. He met one worker who explained why she never got time to relax.

Se-Woong Koo, BBC reporter
Separating work and rest time has been a recurring issue for Ji-an – in her last job her office hours were long. Like most Korean firms, her employer didn’t think about any boundaries. They encroached on almost all her time.

Korean office worker
They told me ‘you need to be contactable 24/7’ – there will always be someone from work reaching out to me, like needing to get something done right now. Even just thinking about it, I get really agitated.

Sam
So, that stressed out worker got agitated just thinking about the situation – she got worried or upset. That’s because office hours in South Korea are long and some employers expect their workers to be contactable all the time.

Neil
Yes, there are no boundaries – so no limits or rules about when employers can contact their employees. Therefore, as this employee said, work encroached – it gradually took over - her leisure time. Stress like this can lead to insomnia – a condition where you are unable to sleep.

Sam
The BBC Discovery podcast goes on to explain that offering a cure for this sleeplessness has become big business. There are sleep clinics where doctors assess people overnight, and sleep cafes that offer places to nap in the middle of the working day. 

Neil
One other issue in South Korea that’s affecting sleep is the ‘bali bali’ culture, meaning ‘quickly, quickly’ or ‘hurry, hurry’. People are constantly in a rush.

Sam
Doctor Lee spoke to the World Service’s Discovery podcast about the effects of this and how even trying to take medication to help sleep, has its problems.

Dr Lee
People take like, ten or twenty pills per one night, and because they cannot fall asleep even with the medication, they drink alcohol on top of that, and they experience side-effects of the medication. People can sleepwalk, and go to the refrigerator, eat a lot of things unconsciously - uncooked food, and they don’t remember next day. There were cases of car accidents in the centre of Seoul which has been sleepwalking patients.

Neil
So, some people are taking lots of pills to help them sleep but they’re not working so they’re drinking alcohol as well. This leads to side-effects – unpleasant and unexpected results from the medication.

Sam
It seems, one of these side-effects is sleepwalking – moving around and doing things while still asleep. 

Neil
Well, if sleeping pills aren’t working, there’s always meditation – or working less. 

Sam
At least South Koreans are getting some sleep, unlike Randy Gardner who I asked you about earlier.

Neil
Yes, he holds the record for staying awake the longest. And I thought he stayed awake for 64 hours. Was I right?

Sam
No, Neil. Not long enough. Randy Gardner stayed awake for an incredible 264.4 hours – that’s 11 days and 25 minutes – in January 1964. 

Neil
That’s one record I really don’t want to beat.

Sam
Well, before you nod off Neil, let’s recap some of the vocabulary we’ve been discussing, including go out like a light, which means you go to sleep very quickly.

Neil
When you switch off you stop concentrating on one thing and start thinking about something else.

Sam
A lack of sleep or rest can make you agitated – you get worried or upset.

Neil
Encroach means gradually take over.

Sam
When you take medication and it gives you an unpleasant and unexpected result, we call these side-effects.

Neil
And sleepwalking describes moving around and doing things while still asleep.

Sam
That’s our six minutes up. Goodbye and sweet dreams!

Neil
Goodbye!

Page 4

We love and care for our pets. But do they care about us in return? Do they know when their human owners feel afraid or in danger. Do animals know, or care, about human feelings? Neil and Sam talk about cats and dogs and teach you related vocabulary.

This week's question

‘Lassie’ wasn’t the only TV show to feature a boy and his pet companion. A similar show, Skippy, was set in Australia - but what type of animal was the star?

a] a rabbit

b] a frog

c] a kangaroo

Listen to the programme to find out the answer. 

Vocabulary

domesticated
describes animals which are under human control and live closely with people, for example pets, working animals and farm animals

anthropomorphize
treat an animal as if it were human in appearance or behaviour

feign
pretend to have a particular problem or emotion

agony
extreme physical pain

distress
strong feeling of worry, sadness or pain

grooming
the way some animals clean themselves using their tongue or paws

Transcript

Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript

Sam
Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Sam.

Neil
And I’m Neil. Sam, do you remember an old children’s television show called, ‘Lassie’?

Sam
Yes, I grew up watching the adventures of schoolboy, Timmy, and his pet dog, a collie named Lassie. Whenever Timmy got lost or into trouble, Lassie sensed danger and came to the rescue.

Neil
If you believe shows like ‘Lassie’, pets know when their human owners feel afraid or in danger. But in real life do animals know, or care, about human feelings?

Sam
Now, Neil, obviously we’re not talking about wild animals, right?

Neil
We’re talking about domesticated animals – types of animals which are under human control and have been living closely with people for centuries. They include pets, like cats and dogs, working animals and farm animals, like cows and sheep.

Sam
So, what about dogs like our friend, Lassie? Do you think they can sense human feelings?

Neil
It’s hard to know what’s really going on behind a dog’s big, brown eyes. Unlike humans, pets can’t talk to say how they’re feeling, and this makes it easy for us to misunderstand them. People often anthropomorphize their pets – treat them as if they were human by giving them human characteristics.

Sam
In cartoons, Micky Mouse can talk and Donald Duck dances and sings, but we know mice and ducks don’t really do that in nature.

Neil
Exactly. But recently, new research has suggested that sometimes pets do respond to their owner’s feelings.

Sam
OK. Well, before we find out more, I have a quiz question for you, Neil. ‘Lassie’ wasn’t the only TV show to feature a boy and his pet companion. A similar show, Skippy, was set in Australia - but what type of animal was the star? Was Skippy:a] a rabbit?b] a frog? or

c] a kangaroo?

Neil
Well, if Skippy was Australian, I’ll guess he’s c] a kangaroo. 

Sam
OK, I’ll reveal the answer later in the programme. Now, Neil, earlier you mentioned that because animals can’t speak, it’s difficult to know their feelings about us.

Neil
Difficult, yes… but not impossible. Recently, anthrozoologist Dr Karen Hiestand, designed an experiment to test whether our pets really do care about us. She filmed pet owners pretending to be hurt and observed the reactions of their dogs and cats.

Sam
Here’s Adrian Washbourne, producer for BBC World Service programme, Health Check, pretending to hurt his leg at home, where he lives with his two pets, a cat and a dog.

Adrian Washbourne
And now I’m going to fake an injury, and we’ll see how they respond. Ouch! Ow! Well, the tail wagging has got a bit more, there’s a bit of a yawn. I don’t think they were particularly sensitive or bothered that I was squealing around the floor in agony, holding my leg up in the air, trying to feign an injury. Meanwhile the cat, who’s on the windowsill, is looking at me with wide eyes.

Neil
Adrian didn’t really hurt his leg – he feigned, or pretended, to be hurt. He pretended to be in agony – extreme physical pain, to see what his pets would do.

Sam
Adrian’s dog wagged his tail and gave a yawn. The cat, meanwhile, just looked at him with wide eyes… Little evidence of pets showing care or concern there, you might think. But, according to Dr Hiestand, the animals’ behaviour makes perfect sense when you remember where they came from. Dogs are descended from ancient breeds of wolves – very social animals who live together in packs, so it makes sense that a dog would sniff and come closer to investigate what was happening. 

Neil
Cats, on the other hand, are solitary creatures, descended from wild cats who lived and hunted alone. Dr Hiestand thinks this explains the reaction of Adrian’s cat, as she told BBC World Service programme, Health Check:

Dr Karen Hiestand
What we’re seeing typically is cats staying much more still… that they’re looking and looking at their owner, so they’re definitely paying their owner an awful lot of attention when they’re displaying a negative distress emotion, comparing to during the control procedure where they’re just doing cat things – walking around, grooming… that kind of thing.

Sam
The experiment showed the different responses of cats and dogs to human distress – feelings of worry, sadness or pain. 

Neil
In the experiment, dogs were visibly concerned, while cats simply paid more attention to what was going on. Some cats did nothing except carry on grooming – cleaning themselves using their tongue and paws.

Sam
The experiment confirms the idea we have of cats being cold and antisocial.

Neil
And of dogs being our best friend. But according to Dr Hiestand’s findings, cats also feel human distress – they just show it in a different way.

Sam
Well, if the experiment included Lassie, he’d probably phone the emergency services, then make Adrian a cup of tea!

Neil
Ha! And what about, Skippy?

Sam
Ah yes, in my quiz question I asked Neil about the Australian TV star, Skippy.

Neil
I guessed that he was c] a kangaroo.

Sam
Which was… the correct answer! Over two metres high and able to jump nine metres in a single hop, you’d be in safe hands with Skippy the Kangaroo. Right, let’s recap the vocabulary from this programme starting with domesticated – a word to describe animals which are not wild and live under human control.

Neil
To anthropomorphize means to give animals human qualities and characteristics.

Sam
If you feign illness, you pretend to be ill when you are not.

Neil
To be in agony means to be in extreme physical pain.

Sam
Someone who’s in distress, feels worry, pain or sadness.

Neil
And finally, grooming is how some animals clean themselves using their tongue and paws.

Sam
That’s all the time we have for this programme. Bye for now!

Neil
Goodbye!

Page 5

Having nothing to do, or doing the same task again and again, can be demotivating. But it doesn't have to be always that way. Neil and Sam talk about the positive side of boredom and teach you related vocabulary.

This week's question

A survey by British newspaper The Mirror, found Peter Willis to be ‘the most boring man in Britain’. What ‘boring’ hobby did he have that earned him that title?

a] Collecting train numbers – that’s train spotting,

b]  Taking photos of letterboxes, or

c]  Driving around roundabouts of the UK.

Listen to the programme to find out the answer. 

Vocabulary

boredom
the state of feeling little excitement or enthusiasm

die of boredom
be extremely bored 

upside
a positive side to a bad situation

stimulation
activates or enriches the mind

novelty
new, unusual or different. 

connotation
an emotion connected to a word 

Transcript

Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript

Neil
Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Neil.

Sam
And I’m Sam.

Neil
How’s your week been, Sam?       

Sam
Oh, you know, quiet – I haven’t done much or been anywhere – so, it’s been a bit boring. 

Neil
I know that feeling – when nothing exciting happens, it can lead to boredom – the state of feeling little excitement or enthusiasm, often because you’ve got nothing to do. But Sam, there is some good news – boredom can be good for you.

Sam
Tell me more!

Neil
I will but not until I’ve set you a question to answer. A survey by British newspaper The Mirror, found Peter Willis to be ‘the most boring man in Britain’. What ‘boring’ hobby did he have that earned him that title? Was it…?a]    Collecting train numbers – that’s train spotting,b]    Taking photos of letterboxes, or

c]    Driving around roundabouts of the UK. 

Sam
Wow – they all sounds deadly boring – but I imagine taking photos of letterboxes is the most boring – perhaps? 

Neil
Well, as usual, I will give you the answer at the end of the programme. But, as you say, we might die of boredom following those hobbies – a phrase that expresses how extremely bored you are. 

Sam
But not for everyone – boredom depends on your state of mind – some of us might find something boring while others might it fascinating. 

Neil
True. But let’s talk about feeling bored when we have nothing to do – not even trainspotting! Having nothing to do, or doing the same task again and again, can certainly be demotivating. But according to Sandi Mann, who was speaking on the BBC World Service’s The Why Factor programme, being bored doesn’t have to be boring – it can be good for us…

Dr Sandi Mann, Psychology lecturer, University of Central Lancashire
It's this emotion everyone thinks is so negative but there's a real positive to it too, there's a real upside to it. We become more creative, so for example, being bored allows our mind to wander, allows us to daydream, and that can actually lead us to problem solving and creativity. I fear that by swiping and scrolling our boredom away these days, that we're losing that creativity because we've got so much to entertain us - but it seems that the more we have to entertain us, the more bored we seem to be! And there's a reason for that – and that’s because we actually get addicted to stimulation and to novelty.

Neil
Some interesting thoughts from Sandi Mann there. She says that there’s an upside to boredom – that means a positive side to a bad situation. And that is, it can make us more creative.

Sam
That’s because when we have nothing to do, we allow our minds to wander. We can think freely, which might help us solve problems. This can’t happen when, as Sandi says, we swipe and scroll our boredom away – referring to the movements we make on smartphones.

Neil
Yes, and it’s smartphones we turn to for entertainment when we are bored – it gives us stimulation – it activates or enriches the mind. And it gives us something new, unusual and different to look at – what we can call novelty. 

Sam
I’m sure many of us look at our phones when we are in a queue or sitting on a bus – just to prevent being bored – but it seems we should just sit and think. Let’s take inspiration from Manoush Zomorodi – an author and host of the Zig Zag podcast. Here she is speaking on The Why Factor programme, explaining that it takes effort but it’s worth it….

Manoush Zomorodi, author and podcaster
We think, who wants to be bored? What an awful sensation that is. And I think that the issue is with mind-wandering, you don't immediately get to roses and chirping birds, and amazing creative thinking - there is this uncomfortable period that you have to pass through where maybe you start thinking about  things you don't want to  think about or uncomfortable situations or unpleasant feelings that you have, that's why boredom I think has negative connotations 'cos we feel uncomfortable - but when we stick with it that's when the good stuff can come.  

Neil
So, we might think boredom as an awful sensation – or feeling – because that’s when we start focussing on negative things. Manoush thinks that’s why we have negative connotations with boredom.

Sam
A connotation is an emotion connected to a word. But if we work through the bad stuff and stick with it, amazing creative thinking can happen – as Manoush says ‘the good stuff can come’. 

Neil
So, basically, don’t think of boredom as being boring! However, could this adjective be applied to the hobby that Peter Willis – the most boring man in Britain – does?

Sam
Ah yes, Neil, you asked me what that hobby is. And I said he took photos of postboxes. Was I right?

Neil
Yes, you were! Congratulations. The former postman dreams of taking a photo of all of Britain’s 115,000 postboxes.

Sam
Well, good luck to Peter. I didn’t realise there were so many postboxes in the UK!  So, we’ve been talking about the benefits of boredom today – boredom is the state of feeling little excitement or enthusiasm.

Neil
We mentioned the phrase to die of boredom which we use to express how extremely bored we are. 

Sam
But boredom has an upside, which means it has a positive side to a bad situation. 

Neil
We heard the word stimulation which means activates or enriches the mind. And novelty which describes something that is new, unusual or different. 

Sam
And we described a connotation – that’s an emotion connected to a word. 

Neil
Well, I hope you haven’t been bored listening to us! Goodbye for now!

Sam
Bye!

Page 6

Beijing is preparing to host the 2022 Winter Olympics, but the games will look different this time. Neil and Sam give you an update and teach you some related vocabulary so you can talk about it too.

This week's question 

The Winter Olympics have not been around as long as the Summer Olympics, so do you know when the first Winter event took place?

a]    1904

b]    1924

c]    1934

Listen to the programme to find out the answer. 

Vocabulary

controversy
disagreement or argument about something people have strong feelings about 

in full swing
at its highest level or activity

headache
something that causes you a lot of problems

mountain
[metaphor] large amount of something

dynamic
continually changing and developing 

the clock is ticking
time is running out to prepare for or complete something

Transcript

Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript

Neil
Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Neil.

Sam
And I’m Sam.

Neil
Sam, would you describe yourself as ‘sporty’?            

Sam
Well, I do like to go running and I might watch some sport on TV.

Neil
Would you watch sport like bandy, skeleton or perhaps luge? 

Sam
Ah, you’re talking about quite specialised sports, played on ice or snow, and that’s because it’s almost time for the Winter Olympics.

Neil
Yes, you’re right. The 2022 Winter Olympics starts in Beijing on the 4th February. This event will mark the return of the Olympics to Beijing for the first time in 14 years, having previously hosted the 2008 Summer Games.

Sam
That means Beijing will become the first city in the world to have hosted both the Winter and Summer Games. But these latest Games are not without controversy – that’s disagreement or argument about something people have strong feelings about. 

Neil
More about that later – but as usual, I have a question or you, Sam. The Winter Olympics have not been around as long as the Summer Olympics, so do you know when the first Winter event took place? Was it in: a]    1904b]    1924, or

c]    1934?

Sam
Well, as they are relatively new, I’ll go for c] 1934.

Neil
OK, Sam, we’ll find out if that’s right later in the programme. Now, this latest Winter Olympics are scheduled to include a record 109 events over 15 disciplines in seven sports - biathlon, bobsledding, curling, ice hockey, luge, skating and skiing. A discipline in this context is a particular way of doing a sport.

Sam
The BBC’s China correspondent, Stephen McDonell, went to a recent test event for the Olympics and explained what the organisers are hoping for…

Stephen McDonell, BBC China correspondent
In the mountains outside Beijing, the test events are in full swing. [The] Games organisers will be hoping [that] despite the coronavirus headaches, despite the alleged human rights abuses, despite the allegations from a former Chinese Olympian - a tennis star at that - involving a senior government official - they can still produce a memorable Winter Olympics.

Neil
So that was Stephen McDonell at a test event which he described as being in full swing – so, at its highest level or activity – its busiest. And he mentioned the controversy surrounding the games. 

Sam
Yes, he mentioned the coronavirus headache – not an actual headache but something that causes a lot of problems. Covid-19 certainly makes it difficult to plan a huge event like this, particularly managing people who are travelling from all parts of the world.

Neil
On top of this, China is accused of human rights abuses against the Uighur Muslims. And there is the controversy around the tennis player, Peng Shuai. 

Sam
But despite the issues facing the game’s organisers, they want to put on an event that is hard to forget, for good reasons – Stephen used the word memorable. 

Neil
Well, seeing athletes hurtle down an icy track at 130 kilometres an hour on what looks like a tea tray, is certainly unforgettable. This is what they call ‘the skeleton’.

Sam
Let’s hear more about the preparations for the games from the BBC’s Stephen McDonell. 

Stephen McDonell, BBC China correspondent
The games will be held in a freezing, mostly dry area - a mountain of snow making is required, but this can make for quick, dynamic runs. The athletes we spoke to said these sites will make for high-quality competition - for everyone here, the clock is now ticking.

Neil
So, despite this being a winter event, held in a cold place, enormous quantities of artificial snow have to be made. Stephen McDonell describes this as a mountain of snow – not a real mountain – but a large amount of it. 

Sam
But some athletes say this type of snow is good for speed, and changing and developing – or dynamic – conditions. They hope it will be a ‘high-quality’ competition.

Neil
Let’s hope so, and it’s not long until it starts – and for the athletes the clock is ticking, meaning time is running out to prepare.

Sam
And our time is running out too, so Neil, what’s the answer to the question you asked me? 

Neil
Oh yes, I asked you when the first Winter Olympics took place?

Sam
And I said 1934. 

Neil
Which was… I’m afraid to say, Sam, the wrong answer. The first Winter Olympic Games took place in 1924 and were held in Chamonix in the French Alps. The Beijing Winter Olympics is the 24th games. And the Paralympic Games will take place a month later in the city, between 4th and 13th March 2022.

Sam
Looks like I need to brush up on my Winter Olympics knowledge but not before we recap some of the vocabulary we’ve mentioned, starting with controversy – disagreement or argument about something people have strong feelings about.

Neil
We talked about something being in full swing – so, at its highest level of activity.

Sam
And a headache is, metaphorically, something that causes you a lot of problems.

Neil
A mountain is not only a very high hill - used metaphorically it means a large amount of something.

Sam
Something continually changing and developing can be described as dynamic. 

Neil
And finally, the clock is ticking, means time is running out to prepare for or complete something. 

Sam
Well, the clock is no longer ticking for us because our six minutes are up! 

Neil
Goodbye for now!

Sam
Bye bye!

Page 7

Many diets claim to improve health or help you lose weight, recent research shows that what counts is not what you eat but how your body reacts. Neil and Sam discuss how microbes matter when it comes to food, and teach some related vocabulary.

This week's question 

How long exactly is the average adult’s gut?

a] 3.5 metres

b] 5.5 metres

c] 7.5 metres

Listen to the programme to find out the answer. 

Vocabulary

gut [informal]
intestines; long tube inside the body which starts below the stomach and helps digest food 

microbes
tiny, microscopic organisms living inside the human body

calorie
unit measuring the amount of energy that food provides

flimsy
weak and difficult to believe; not convincing

skinny
very thin

stick out of the crowd
be very easy to notice, in a positive sense

Transcript

Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript

Sam
Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Sam. 

Neil
And I’m Neil.

Sam
In recent years new diets with names like ‘vegan’, ‘keto’ and ‘paleo’ have become very popular. Are you a vegetarian, Neil? Do you follow any particular diet?

Neil
Well, I eat lots of fresh fruit and vegetables and only a little meat from time to time.

Sam
Well, while many diets claim to improve health or help you lose weight, recent research shows that what counts is not what you eat but how your body reacts.

Neil
Yes, and that reaction doesn’t happen where you might think – not in the brain, or tongue, or even the stomach, but in the gut – another name for the intestines - the long tube inside your body which digests food. 

Sam
Inside everyone’s gut are millions of microbes – tiny living organisms, too small to see without a microscope. Some of them are good for us, some bad.

Neil
Microbes help digest food, but they influence our bodies more than we know. Think of them as chemical factories that cause our individual reaction to the food we eat.

Sam
This mix of gut microbes is unique and different for everyone, even identical twins. 

Neil
And it’s the reason why some doctors now recommend a personalised diet, one that perfectly fits your own unique combination of microbes. 

Sam
We’ll hear more soon, but first I have a question for you, Neil, and it’s about the gut - the tube which includes the large and small intestine. It’s very long - but how long exactly is the average adult’s gut? Is it:a] 3.5 metres? b] 5.5 metres? or,

c] 7.5 metres? 

Neil
Well, everybody is different of course, but I’ll say on average the gut is b] 5.5 metres long. 

Sam
OK, Neil, I’ll reveal the answer later in the programme.

Neil
Among the first to investigate gut microbes was Dr Tim Spector, author of bestselling book, The Diet Myth. He wanted to check whether the dietary advice he had heard and believed, advice like ‘eat little and often’ or ‘avoid fat’, was really true.

Sam
Listen as Dr Spector explains how he started to doubt some of this advice - ‘food myths’, he calls them - to BBC Radio 4 programme, The Life Scientific:

Tim Spector
All these so-called myths that I’d believed, whether it was about calories, about fats, when to eat, how to eat, were based on flimsy or no evidence, very old, very poor quality, and had been repeated so much that people didn’t think to question them. 

Neil
One of the food myths Dr Spector questioned was counting calories – the units which measure the amount of energy food provides.

Sam
He discovered that much of the dietary advice he had heard was either incorrect or based on flimsy evidence. If evidence is flimsy, it’s weak and unconvincing.

Neil
As Dr Spector questioned these food myths, he remembered an earlier study involving identical twins, pairs of brothers or sisters with the same genes. 

Sam
It was the surprising differences in weight between one twin and another that made Dr Spector realise that no two people have the same gut – even identical twins’ guts are different.

Neil
But, as he told BBC Radio 4’s, The Life Scientific, the discovery came in a very smelly way – by asking his volunteers to send samples of their poo in the post!

Tim Spector
We collected lots of these samples, sequenced them, and looked at twins where one was overweight and one was skinny… and we found in every case, the skinnier twin had a more diverse microbiome, greater numbers of different species and they also nearly always had high numbers of a couple of microbes that just stuck out of the crowd – and one was called christensenella and the other was called akkermansia.

Sam
Although genetically identical, one twin was overweight, while the other twin was skinny, or very thin.

Neil
Because the weight difference could not be explained genetically, Dr Spector suspected the microbes in the skinnier twin’s gut held the answer: the more diverse someone’s microbes, the better their gut was at digesting food, regulating fat and maintaining health. 

Sam
Two microbes, christensenella and akkermansia, were especially effective. Dr Spector says these microbes stuck out of the crowd, meaning they were easy to notice for their positive effect.

Neil
And since everyone’s microbes are different, it follows that a personalised diet which selects the friendliest food for your gut, is best. Right, and all this talk of eating is making me hungry, so tell me, Sam, was my answer to your question, right?

Sam
Ah yes, I asked about the length of the gut in the average adult.

Neil
I said it was 5.5 metres.

Sam
Which was… the correct answer! Well done, Neil – that took ‘guts’, which is the second meaning of the word: courage.

Neil
OK, let’s recap the vocabulary we’ve learned starting with gut – an informal word for the intestines, the tube which digests food from the stomach.

Sam
Microbes are microscopic organisms living inside the body.

Neil
A calorie is a unit measuring how much energy food provides.

Sam
If an argument or evidence is flimsy, it’s weak and hard to believe.

Neil
A skinny person is very thin. 

Sam
And finally, if something sticks out of the crowd, it’s noticeable in a good way.

Neil
Unfortunately, our six minutes are up, but remember: look after your gut, and your gut will look after you! Goodbye!

Page 8

• Do trees have memories?
  
• Algorithms
  
• Changing the Earth's climate

How will technology help us in the future? We discuss how things like the metaverse, energy tech, and AI might influence how we live in years to come, and teach you some related vocabulary so you can talk about it too.

This week's question 

According to a 2021 survey by gaming company, Thrive Analytics, what percentage of people who try virtual reality once want to try it again? 

a] 9 percent

b] 49 percent

c] 79 percent

Listen to the programme to find out the answer. 

Vocabulary

three-dimensional [3-D]
having the three dimensions of length, width and height, making objects appear real and solid, not flat

phygital
combining the features of physical and digital worlds to create a new type of experience

sceptical
doubtful that something is true or useful

unwieldy
difficult to move or carry because it’s so heavy, large or strangely shaped

augmented reality [AR]
technology which augments [adds to] the ordinary physical world by projecting virtual pictures, text or characters on top

immersive
stimulating the senses and surrounding someone so that they feel completely involved in an experience

Transcript

Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript

Sam
Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Sam. 

Neil
And I’m Neil.

Sam
On Saturday mornings I love going to watch football in the park. The problem is when it’s cold and rainy - I look out the bedroom window and go straight back to bed!

Neil
Well, instead of going to the park, why not bring the park to you? Imagine watching a live version of the football match at home in the warm, with friends. Sound good, Sam?

Sam
Sounds great! – but how can I be in two places at once? Is there some amazing invention to do that?

Neil
There might be, Sam - and it could be happening sooner than you think, thanks to developments in VR, or virtual reality. According to Facebook boss, Mark Zuckerberg, in the future we’ll all spend much of our time living and working in the ‘metaverse’ – a series of virtual worlds.

Sam
Virtual reality is a topic we’ve discussed before at 6 Minute English. But when Facebook announced that it was hiring ten thousand new workers to develop VR for the ‘metaverse’, we thought it was time for another look.

Neil
Is this programme, we’ll be hearing two different opinions on the ‘metaverse’ and how it might shape the future.

Sam
But first I have a question for you, Neil. According to a 2021 survey by gaming company, Thrive Analytics, what percentage of people who try virtual reality once want to try it again? Is it:

a] 9 percent?

b] 49 percent?  or,

c] 79 percent?

Neil
I guess with VR you either love it or hate it, so I’ll say b] 49 percent of people want to try it again.

Sam
OK, I’ll reveal the correct answer later in the programme. But what Neil said is true: people tend to either love virtual reality or hate it. Somebody who loves it is Emma Ridderstad, CEO of Warpin’, a company which develops VR technology.

Neil
Here she is telling BBC World Service programme, Tech Tent, her vision of the future:

Emma Ridderstad
In ten years, everything that you do on your phone today, you will do in 3-D, through your classes for example. You will be able to do your shopping, you will be able to meet your friends, you will be able to work remotely with whomever you want, you will be able to share digital spaces, share music, share art, share projects in digital spaces between each other. And you will also be able to integrate the digital objects in your physical world, making the world much more phygital than is it today.

Sam
Virtual reality creates 3-D, or three-dimensional experiences where objects have the three dimensions of length, width and height. This makes them look lifelike and solid, not two-dimensional and flat.

Neil
Emma says that in the future VR will mix digital objects and physical objects to create exciting new experiences – like staying home to watch the same football match that is simultaneously happening in the park. She blends the words ‘physical’ and ‘digital’ to make a new word describing this combination: phygital.

Sam
But while a ‘phygital’ future sounds like paradise to some, others are more sceptical – they doubt that VR will come true or be useful.

Neil
One such sceptic is technology innovator, Dr Nicola Millard. For one thing, she doesn’t like wearing a VR headset – the heavy helmet and glasses that create virtual reality for the wearer – something she explained to BBC World Service’s, Tech Tent:

Dr Nicola Millard
There are some basic things to think about. So, how do we access it? So, the reason, sort of, social networks took off was, we’ve got mobile technologies that let us use it. Now, obviously one of the barriers can be that VR or AR headsets - so VR, I’ve always been slightly sceptical about. I’ve called it ‘vomity reality’ for a while because, frankly, I usually need a bucket somewhere close if you’ve got a headset on me… and also, do I want to spend vast amounts of time in those rather unwieldy headsets? Now, I know they’re talking AR as well and obviously that does not necessarily need a headset, but I think we’re seeing some quite immersive environments coming out at the moment as well.

Sam
Nicola called VR ‘vomity reality’ because wearing a headset makes her feel sick, maybe because it’s so unwieldy – difficult to move or wear because it’s big and heavy.

Neil
She also makes a difference between VR - virtual reality- and AR, which stands for augmented reality – tech which adds to the ordinary physical world by projecting virtual words, pictures and characters, usually by wearing glasses or with a mobile phone.

Sam
While virtual reality replaces what you hear and see, augmented reality adds to it. Both VR and AR are immersive experiences – they stimulate your senses and surround you so that you feel completely involved in the experience.

Neil
In fact, the experience feels so real that people keep coming back for more.

Sam
Right! In my question I asked Neil how many people who try VR for the first time want to try it again.

Neil
I guessed it was about half – 49 percent. Was I right?

Sam
You were… wrong, I’m afraid. The correct answer is much higher - 79 percent of people would give VR another try. I suppose because the experience was so immersive – stimulating, surrounding and realistic.

Neil
Ok, A, let’s recap the other vocabulary from this programme on the ‘metaverse’, a kind of augmented reality – reality which is enhanced or added to by technology.

Sam
3-D objects have three dimensions, making them appear real and solid.

Neil
Phygital is an invented word which combines the features of ‘physical’ and ‘digital’ worlds.

Sam
A sceptical person is doubtful about something.

Neil
And finally, unwieldy means difficult to move or carry because it’s so big and heavy.

Sam
That’s our six minutes up, in this reality anyway. See you in the ‘metaverse’ soon!

Neil
Goodbye!

Page 9

New bits of English are invented as people use the language in new ways, but what happens when a language comes from an entirely different galaxy – somewhere like Qo’noS, home planet of the Klingons? Neil and Sam discuss how languages develop and teach some related vocabulary.

This week's question 

In 2010, Klingon became the first invented language to do what? Is it:

a] have its own dictionary?,b] have an opera written? or,

c] be recognised as an official language by the United Nations?

Listen to the programme to find out the answer. 

Vocabulary

living language
a language that people still speak and use in their ordinary lives

my bad
used instead of ‘my fault’ to admit that you have made a mistake [informal, US]

patron saint
someone who is believed to give special help and protection to a particular activity

conlang
constructed language; artificially invented language, such as Esperanto and Klingon

root [of a language]
origin or source

get stuck on [something]
be unable to continue or complete what you’re doing because it’s too difficult

Transcript

Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript

Sam
Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Sam. 

Neil
And I’m Neil. How are you today, Sam?

Sam
Thanks for asking Neil, I’m fine… not!

Neil
Sorry, so are you fine? Or not…?

Sam
Oh, did I confuse you? My bad!

Neil
Sam is speaking English, just a very modern type of English, for example saying ‘my bad’, instead of ‘my fault’ as a way of accepting that she’s wrong.

Sam
Or adding ‘not’ at the end of a sentence to show I really mean the opposite of what I said. Both are examples of small changes in English which have happened naturally over the last decade or two.

Neil
Changes like these happen because, unlike say, Latin, which no-one speaks day-to-day, English is a living language – a language people speak and use in their ordinary lives.

Sam
New bits of English are invented as people use the language in new ways, but what happens when a language comes from an entirely different galaxy – somewhere like Qo’noS, home planet of the Klingons?

Neil
Yes, when sci-fi TV show, Star Trek, introduced alien characters called Klingons, the makers needed to invent a whole new language - Klingon.

Sam
Entirely made-up and unrelated to any human language, Klingon has developed a life of its own. Today you can even study it at university. So, Neil, my quiz question is this: in 2010, Klingon became the first invented language to do what? Is it:

a]      have its own dictionary?,

b]     have an opera written?  or,

c]      be recognised as an official language by the United Nations?

Neil
Hmmm, every language needs vocabulary, so I’ll say a] Klingon was the first invented language to have its own dictionary.

Sam
OK, Neil, I’ll reveal the answer later in the programme. Klingon isn’t the only made-up language invented for the movies. David Peterson is the creator of Dothraki, a language used in the fantasy TV show, Game of Thrones.

Neil
From his home in Los Angeles, David spoke to Michael Rosen, presenter of BBC Radio 4 programme, Word of Mouth. They discussed Saint Hildegard who created the very first made-up language in the 12th century:

David Peterson
What she had was an entire list of nouns, a whole list of nouns – many of them godly, many of them not, and she would drop them into songs using Latin grammar and other Latin words, so it’s not a language proper in the way that we understand it now, because really when we talk about a language it’s not just the vocabulary, it’s the grammar – nevertheless we still kind of look on her as the patron saint of modern conlanging.

Sam
Saint Hildegard invented new nouns but used Latin grammar, so David doesn’t think her invention is a proper language. Nevertheless, Saint Hildegard is considered the patron saint of languages.

Neil
The patron saint of something refers to a Christian saint who is believed to give special help to a particular activity. Here, the activity is inventing a conlang, short for constructed language – artificially invented languages, like Klingon and Dothraki.

Sam
Another famous constructed language, Esperanto, was invented in 1887 by Polish doctor, Ludwik Zamenhof. He wanted to make it easier for people who spoke different languages to communicate with each other.

Neil
Listen as David Peterson speaks Esperanto with Michael Rosen and tests how much he understands for BBC Radio 4 programme, Word of Mouth:

David Peterson
You are an English speaker from Western Europe, and in the 19th Century ‘universal’ meant ‘able to be understood by people from WesternEurope’.

And so, for example to say, ‘I speak Esperanto’, ‘mi parolas Esperanton’.

Michael Rosen
Yes, I might have got that one – the ‘parle’ bit from its Latin root, and ‘me’, obviously. Try me again.

David Peterson 
Kiel vi fartas?

Michael Rosen
Who is my father? No, ‘Where am I travelling’? Er, no I got stuck on that one!

Sam
Like Spanish, Italian and other modern European languages, Esperanto is based on Latin. Michael guessed the meaning of the Esperanto word ‘parolas’ from its Latin root – the origin or source of a language.

Neil
But the second sentence of Esperanto isn’t so easy. Michael gets stuck on that one – he can’t answer because it’s too difficult.

Sam
I think I’d probably get stuck on that as well. But at least Esperanto was invented for humans, not alien creatures from outer space!

Neil
And speaking of creatures from outer space, did I get the right answer to your quiz question, Sam?

Sam
I asked Neil about an unusual first achieved by the made-up alien language, Klingon.

Neil
I guessed it was the first invented language to have its own dictionary.

Sam
Which was… the wrong answer, I’m afraid. Incredibly, the correct answer was c] - in 2010 a company of Dutch musicians and singers performed the first ever Klingon opera! The story must have been hard to follow but I’m sure the singing was out of this world!

Neil
MajQa! That’s Klingon for ‘great’. OK, let’s recap the vocabulary from our discussion about invented languages, also called constructed languages, or conlangs for short.

Sam
A living language, like English, is a language that people still speak and use in their ordinary lives.

Neil
The phrase, my bad, originated in the United States but is also used in Britain as an informal way to say, ‘my fault’ or to tell someone that you’ve made a mistake.

Sam
A patron saint is someone believed to give special help and protection to a particular activity.

Neil
The root of a languagemeans its origin or source.

Sam
And finally, if you get stuck on something, you’re unable to complete it because it’s too difficult.

Neil
That’s all the time we have for this programme about invented languages. ‘Gis revido baldau’- that’s Esperanto for ‘see you again soon’.

Sam
In other words, ‘Qapla’, which is how Klingons say ‘goodbye’. Qapla!

Neil
Qapla!

Page 10

Would you eat a cricket doughnut? Food made from bugs is a growing trend in the Western world. Insects are an alternative source of food and experts say they’re filled with lots of good nutrients. Neil and Sam discuss this strange menu and teach you related vocabulary.

This week's question

Do you know what type of food is sometimes known as ‘priest chokers’?a] cheeseb] pasta

c] potato

Listen to the programme to find out the answer. 

Vocabulary

fusion
mix of different styles

entomophagy
the practice of eating insects

an uphill struggle
needs a lot of effort to achieve

ingrained
long-lasting attitude that is difficult to change

viscerally
having an emotional reaction rather than one based on fact or reason

sustainably
doing something in a way that can last for a long time and is good for the environment

Transcript

Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript

Neil
Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Neil. 

Sam
And I’m Sam.

Neil
Do you like trying new food?       

Sam
I do indeed – I love eating foods from around the world and I especially like trying out restaurants that serve news kinds of food.

Neil
Me too, and I like food that is a mix of different styles – sometimes called fusion food. But could I tempt you to some insect tapas or a tarantula doughnut?

Sam
Maybe not – the idea of eating food made from bugs and creepy crawlies doesn’t appeal.

Neil
Well, maybe I can convince you in this programme because that’s what we’re discussing – and teaching you some vocabulary along the way. But first, I must serve you a question to answer. It’s about food – but not made form bugs. Do you know what type of food is sometimes known as ‘priest chokers’? Is it:a]    cheese?b]    pasta? or

c]    potato?

Sam
I think I know this one, Neil. It’s pasta, isn’t it?

Neil
Well, I will give you the answer at the end of the programme. But, let’s get back to food made from bugs – which is a growing trend in the Western world.  Insects are an alternative source of food and experts say they’re filled with lots of good nutrients, including amino acids and protein. And eating them could help to fight world hunger and reduce pollution.

Sam
I’m not convinced yet, but I do know that the word for eating insects is ‘entomophagy’ and it’s something BBC World Service programme, The Food Chain, discussed.

Neil
The programme spoke to experts who think cooking with bugs is a great idea. One of them was Andy Holcroft, founding director of Grub Kitchen and Bug Farm Foods. He explained the challenge of getting some people to eat bugs…

Andy Holcroft, founding director of Grub Kitchen and Bug Farm Foods
In the Western culture, we have got a bit of an uphill – I would say - struggle because pre-conceptions around eating insects are already sort of ingrained in society, so we already think before we've even tried them, they're going to taste disgusting or gross. So, to actually get someone to put it in your mouth - the easiest way we find straightaway is to try maybe, a cricket cookie or a chocolate-chip cricket cookie where you have… we are using cricket powder so you don’t actually see any insects whatsoever – you’re getting the idea of eating them so people can deal with that a bit more than actually seeing the whole insect. 

Neil
Interestingly, it seems to be western cultures that don’t like eating insects – perhaps because it’s thought to be wrong or just disgusting, even if it’s not! As Andy says, people have pre-conceived ideas about it. To change these ideas is an uphill struggle or needs a lot of effort to achieve.

SamYes, the negative attitude to eating bugs is ingrained into society, meaning it is a long-lasting attitude that is difficult to change. But Andy and other chefs are trying to change that attitude by subtly introducing insects into food, such as his chocolate-chip cricket cookies.

Neil
This is just for starters! Other interesting and exotic dishes, where you do see the bugs you’re eating, are now being served. 

Sam
I’m still not convinced but maybe chef Joseph Yoon can change my mind? He is a chef and an ‘edible insect ambassador’. He’s also trying to persuade the squeamish – people easily upset by something unpleasant - to overcome their fears of crickets, worms, and spiders, and instead see them as a tasty, alternative source of protein.

Neil
Here he is, speaking on the BBC’s Food Chain programme talking about changing people’s attitudes.

Joseph Yoon, chef and executive director of Brooklyn Bugs
We approach our work with openness, with understanding and inclusivity. When people approach me and they go like ‘urghh’ or they react very viscerally, I don’t get confrontational, I go like, I understand that you can feel that way and what we need to do is start changing these perceptions from insects as being a pest, that bites you or that carries disease, to edible insects, something that’s sustainablyfarmed and harvested specifically for human consumption.

Neil
So, Joseph is passionate about edible insects but is understanding of people who don’t like the idea and maybe show this viscerally - having an emotional reaction rather than one based on fact or reason. 

Sam
But Joseph wants to change these negative emotions by explaining the insects are farmed purely for humans to eat, and they are farmed sustainably – in a way that can last for a long time and is good for the environment.

Neil
I suppose we kill animals such as cows and sheep to eat so why not insects or spiders? The debate about this continues but there’s no debate about the answer to today’s question, Sam. Earlier, I asked you if you knew what type of food is sometimes known as ‘priest choker’?

Sam
And I was sure if was pasta. 

Neil
It is pasta. Strozzapreti, which means ‘priest chokers’ in Italian, is an elongated form of cavatelli pasta. Its name is thought to come from the greedy priests who were so enthralled by the pasta that they ate too quickly and choked themselves. No bugs were involved, though. 

Sam
That’s good to know because we have been talking about entomophagy, a word for the practice of eating insects.

Neil
Other vocabulary we mentioned included fusion, which means a mix of different styles. And the expression an uphill struggle means needs a lot of effort to achieve.

Sam
Something that is ingrained is a long-lasting attitude that is difficult to change.

Neil
Viscerally describes having an emotional reaction rather than one based on fact or reason. 

Sam
And, doing something sustainably is doing it in a way that can last for a long time and is good for the environment.

Neil
Well, that’s all for this 6 Minute English. If you’ve enjoyed it, join us again soon for more real-life stories and topical vocabulary here at 6 Minute English. Goodbye for now!

Sam
Bye!