Transcription
English Leap Podcast >> from Speak English with Clauss.
Hey English learners, welcome back to the English Leap Podcast, your cozy little place to learn easy English through real everyday conversations. I'm Anna >> and I'm Jake. >> How are you doing today, Jake? >> I'm good. Actually, I'm hungry >> already. >> Anna, I'm always emotionally close to food. >> Emotionally close to food. That is a beautiful relationship. >> Thank you. I take it very seriously. >> Well, that is perfect because today we are talking about favorite food. >> Oh, dangerous topic. >> Dangerous. >> Very dangerous. If we talk about food for too long, I may need to order something before the episode ends. >> Fair warning. >> What about you, Anna? Are you hungry? >> A little, but mostly I'm excited. Food is such an easy topic, but it can also be very personal. >> H, that's true. Food is not only taste. >> It can be memory, >> family, >> comfort, >> culture, >> and sometimes just pure happiness on a plate. >> Beautiful. I support that sentence. >> Before we begin, this episode is perfect for B1 and B2 English learners. >> And if you are A2, you can still watch this as a challenge. You don't need to understand every single word. >> Just follow the main idea, enjoy the conversation, and repeat the sentences you like. >> And after the episode, you can visit the English Leap Club. >> The link is in the description. >> Inside the club, you'll find the episode transcript, quizzes, games, and many more exciting activities to help you improve your English. >> So, don't let the lesson end when the video ends. Watch the episode first, then continue practicing inside the English Leap Club. >> And stay until the end because later we have our say it better segment. >> That's where we take simple food sentences and make them sound more natural. >> For example, instead of saying this food is very tasty, >> you can say this dish is full of flavor >> lovely. And instead of saying, "I like this food too much," >> you can say, "I absolutely love this dish." >> So stay with us. Today you'll learn how to talk about food, taste, memories, and favorite dishes in better English. >> And honestly, Jake, just saying that made me hungry. >> Same here. Food is one of those topics where I don't need preparation. I arrive ready. >> You arrive hungry. >> That too. Actually, I had a light breakfast today. So, my appetite is very serious right now. >> Appetite that means your desire to eat, right? >> Yes. And today, my desire to eat is doing very well. >> Good to know. Then let me ask you properly. What is one food you never get tired of? >> I want to give a mature answer, but honestly, pizza. >> That is a very Jake answer. >> I know. But listen, pizza is dependable. It doesn't ask too many questions. It just appears and improves the situation. Pizza improves the situation. >> Always. Bad day, pizza helps. Good day, pizza celebrates. Lazy evening, pizza understands. >> That sounds less like food and more like emotional support. >> It is emotional support with cheese. >> Fair enough. What kind of pizza do you like? >> I like a simple one. Good crust, tomato sauce, cheese, mushrooms, maybe pepperoni. Nothing too fancy. >> No pineapple debate today. >> Anna, we are trying to keep peace in the world. >> Wise choice. >> What about you? What food would you choose? >> I think I'd choose mac and cheese. >> Oh, that is a very comforting answer. >> It really is. For me, mac and cheese is not just food. It reminds me of home, family dinners, and quiet evenings when you just want something warm. >> M creamy, cheesy, soft. >> Exactly. And when it's baked on top with that golden crispy layer. >> Okay, now I understand. >> The aroma fills the kitchen and suddenly everyone is nearby. >> Aroma that means a pleasant smell, especially from food or coffee or something nice. >> Yes. And the aroma of baked mac and cheese is dangerous. You say, "I'll just have a small portion." And then somehow your plate is full. >> That sounds very believable. >> Exactly. It's the kind of smell that makes people wander into the kitchen and pretend they're just checking something. >> That happens with garlic bread in my house. >> Really? >> Oh, yes. If there is garlic bread in the oven, I become a very kind person. >> Only then? Mostly then >> at least you were honest. >> I'll say, "Do you need help? Should I set the table? Should I check if the bread is ready?" But really, I just want to stand close to the garlic bread. >> Food brings out the truth. >> It really does. But I understand what you mean about mac and cheese. Some foods carry memories. >> They do. And sometimes a favorite food is not the most expensive food or the most beautiful food. It's the food that feels familiar. >> Like homemade food. >> Yes, homemade food has a different kind of comfort. >> My grandmother used to make soup. Very simple soup. Nothing fancy at all, but I still remember it. >> What made it special? >> I think it was the whole moment. The bowl was always too hot. She would tell me, "Wait, don't eat yet." And of course, I would eat too soon and burn my tongue. >> Every child does that. I think it's a rule. If someone says it's hot, the child must immediately test the danger >> for science. >> Exactly. But that soup was comforting, not because the recipe was complicated. It just felt safe. >> I love that food can make you feel taken care of. >> M and that's why I think favorite food changes with mood. >> Oh, interesting. Explain. Well, if I'm tired, I don't want restaurantstyle food with 10 small things on the plate. >> Tiny food with a decoration leaf. >> Yes, I respect it, but not when I'm tired. When I'm tired, I want something warm and easy like soup, rice, pasta, or something I can eat in comfortable clothes. >> Comfortable clothes are important for emotional eating. >> Very important. >> I agree with you. Sometimes you want food that feels gentle, but sometimes you want food that wakes you up. >> Like spicy food. >> Yes. I love food that has strong flavor. Not too much, but enough to make you pay attention. >> I'm careful with spice. I enjoy it at first and then suddenly I become quiet. >> Quiet. >> Very quiet. I start thinking, why was I so confident 5 minutes ago? >> So spice teaches humility. >> It really does. But I do like savory food more than sweet food. >> Savory means food that is salty or spicy. Not sweet. >> Yes. Give me pizza, noodles, rice, bread, cheese, I'll be happy. >> I like savory food too, but I cannot completely leave dessert. >> Ah, so you are both teams. >> I am balanced. >> That is one word for it. >> What is another word? >> Hungry. >> Also true. Anna, do you have a dessert you really love? >> Warm brownies with ice cream. >> Oh, that is not just dessert. That is an event. >> It is. The brownie is warm, the ice cream is cold, and together it feels perfect. >> That makes up hot and cold is dangerous. >> Dangerous in a good way. >> I agree. I like desserts, but I'm more careful because if something is too sweet, I get tired of it quickly. >> Same. Too much sweetness can feel heavy. >> But a little sweetness after dinner, beautiful, >> especially with tea. >> Now we are building a whole evening. >> We are. Tea, dessert, comfortable clothes. >> This episode is becoming a lifestyle plan. >> A delicious lifestyle plan. >> Let me ask you something. Do you enjoy cooking? >> I enjoy the idea of cooking. >> That answer says a lot. I like imagining myself cooking beautifully. Calm music, clean kitchen, everything ready. >> And real life, >> real life is me opening every cupboard and saying, "Where is the salt?" >> That is also my style. >> I can cook some things well, but I'm not the kind of person who can just open the fridge and create magic. >> Same. Some people see rice, tomatoes, cheese, and a few spices and somehow make a beautiful meal. I see those things and make stress. >> Stress with salt. >> Exactly. >> I actually enjoy cooking when I'm not in a hurry. >> What do you like making? >> Pasta. I know. Very surprising. >> Pizza and pasta. Italy is safe with you. >> I hope so. I like making pasta because it feels simple, but you can still play with it. Different sauce, different vegetables, maybe chicken, maybe mushrooms. >> Do you follow a recipe >> at first? Yes. Then halfway through I become overconfident. >> Dangerous stage. >> Very dangerous. I start thinking I don't need measurements. I feel the food. >> And does the food feel you back? >> Sometimes with anger. >> What happened? >> Once I added too much chili. I thought just a little more, but my hand did not understand. Little. >> Oh no. The pasta was so spicy that I had to eat it with yogurt. >> Pasta with yogurt? >> We don't talk about that evening. >> Fair. >> What about you? Any cooking mistakes? >> Plenty. I once made a dish that looked beautiful but tasted completely bland. >> Bland. That means it has very little flavor. >> Yes. It looked like food, but it had no personality. >> Food with no personality is sad. Very sad. Everyone was polite though. >> That's worse. >> It is when people say it's nice and then drink water. >> That pause before nice tells the truth. >> Exactly. I knew it needed more salt, more spices, maybe more confidence. >> Confidence is an ingredient, too. >> Apparently, I forgot that one. >> You know, this is why seasoned food matters. Seasoned means cooked with enough salt, spices, herbs, or flavor. >> Yes, a dish can be simple, but if it's well seasoned, it can be amazing. >> That is true. Sometimes the difference between boring food and delicious food is just proper seasoning. >> Like potatoes. >> Potatoes are a perfect example. >> Plain potatoes are fine, but seasoned potatoes, completely different life. >> Crispy, salty, a little spicy. >> Please stop. I'm already hungry. >> You started this. I regret nothing. >> Food also connects to culture. Like when someone says they love a certain cuisine, they are talking about more than one dish. >> Cuisine means a style of cooking from a country, region, or culture. >> Yes. Indian cuisine, Italian cuisine, Arabic cuisine, Korean cuisine, Mexican cuisine. >> I love trying different cuisines. >> Me, too. It feels like traveling without going far. >> That's a lovely way to put it. You can learn a lot about people through their food. What they eat during celebrations, what they cook when someone is sick, what they serve to guests. >> That's true. Some foods say welcome. Some foods say rest. Some foods say we are celebrating today. >> Beautiful. And some foods say please eat more. I made too much. >> That is every family gathering. >> Especially when someone keeps adding food to your plate. >> You say I'm full. and they hear, "Please give me more rice." >> That is a universal experience. >> I think learners can talk about food in many ways. They can talk about taste, smell, texture, memory, culture, or mood. >> Yes. So, instead of only saying, "My favorite food is mac and cheese," I can say, "My favorite food is mac and cheese because it feels comforting and reminds me of home." >> That sounds much richer. >> Or you can say, "I love pizza because it's savory. comforting and easy to share. >> I would absolutely say that >> you should. >> I also like I enjoy Italian cuisine because the dishes are simple but full of flavor. >> Very nice. >> Thank you. I'm growing. >> Proud of you. >> And if you don't like something, you can still say it politely. >> Yes, that's important. Instead of saying this food is bad, you can say it's a little bland for me. >> Much softer. or I usually prefer food that is more seasoned. >> That sounds respectful. >> Food opinions can be dangerous. People take them personally. >> Very personally. If you say someone's favorite food is bad, you may lose a friend >> or start a family argument. >> True. >> So, we describe our taste, not attack the food. >> That is a good rule. >> It's not really my taste is a safe sentence. Very safe and very useful. >> Anna, now I have a serious question. >> I'm ready. >> If you had to eat one cuisine for one month, which one would you choose? >> That is difficult. >> Take your time. This is important. >> I think Indian cuisine because there is so much variety. Rice dishes, breads, curries, snacks, sweets, street food, homemade food. >> Good answer. >> What about you? Italian cuisine probably >> because of pizza >> and pasta and bread and cheese. I am consistent. >> You really are. >> But I also love Arabic food. Grilled meat, rice, humumus, fresh bread. >> M humumus with warm bread is beautiful. >> Very beautiful. >> Food is such a warm topic. >> It is. And it brings people into conversation quickly >> because everyone has something to say. >> Even a shy learner can answer, "What food do you like?" >> Yes. And then slowly they can add more. >> I like pasta. >> I like creamy pasta. >> I like creamy pasta because it feels comforting. >> I like creamy pasta, but I don't like it when it is too bland. >> Look at that. The sentence is growing. >> Like our appetites. My appetite did not need help. >> So, what are you eating after this episode? >> I want to say salad, but we both know that would be a lie. >> Pizza, >> maybe, or pasta or garlic bread. I need to respect the conversation. >> I respect that. What about you? >> I think I'll have something savory. Maybe rice with something spicy. >> Biryani, >> if I'm lucky. >> May your day be full of aroma and perfectly seasoned food. That is the nicest blessing. >> Thank you. >> I meant it deeply. >> And to our learners, next time someone asks about your favorite food, don't stop at the name. >> Say what it tastes like. >> Say what it smells like. >> Say when you eat it, >> say who makes it. >> Say what memory it brings back. >> That's how a simple answer becomes a real conversation. >> And now I think we are ready for the word tour. >> Yes. Let's take the six useful words from today's conversation and practice them properly. >> Our first word is appetite. >> Appetite. >> Appetite. >> Appetite. Appetite. >> Appetite. >> Appetite means your desire to eat. >> Maybe you skipped breakfast and now you really want food. >> You could say, "I have a big appetite today." >> Or maybe you are tired or not feeling well and you do not want to eat much. >> Then you could say, "I don't have much appetite today." Our next word is aroma. >> Aroma. >> Aroma. >> Aro. Aroma. >> Aroma means a pleasant smell. >> We often use it for food, coffee, bread, spices, or something that smells really nice. >> Maybe someone is baking mac and cheese and the smell fills the kitchen. You could say, "The aroma of baked mac and cheese made me hungry." >> Or maybe you walk past a bakery in the morning. >> Then you could say, "I love the aroma of fresh bread." Our next word is savory. >> Savory. >> Savory. >> Savory. >> Savory. Savory. >> Savory means salty or spicy, not sweet. Pizza, soup, rice, noodles, and cheese dishes are usually savory. >> You could say, "I usually prefer savory food to sweet food." >> Or maybe you want something salty after eating dessert. >> Then you could say, "I'm craving something savory now." Our next word is bland. >> Bland. >> Bland. >> Bland. Bland. Bland means food has very little flavor. >> Not salty enough, not spicy enough, not interesting enough. >> Maybe a soup looks nice, but it has no real taste. >> You could say, "This soup is a little bland." >> Or maybe you want to be polite when you don't enjoy a dish. >> Then you could say, "It's a bit bland for me." Our next word is cuisine. >> Cuisine. >> Cuisine. >> Cuisine. Cuisine. >> Cuisine means a style of cooking from a country, region, or culture. >> For example, Italian cuisine, Indian cuisine, Arabic cuisine, Mexican cuisine, or Korean cuisine. >> Maybe you love pasta, pizza, and fresh bread. >> You could say, "I really enjoy Italian cuisine." >> Or maybe you like trying different food from different cultures. >> Then you could say, "I love exploring different cuisines." Our final word is seasoned. >> Seasoned. >> Seasoned. >> Seasoned. Seasoned. >> Seasoned means food has enough salt, spices, herbs, or flavor added to it. >> A dish can be simple, but if it is well seasoned, it can taste amazing. >> Maybe you eat potatoes with salt, pepper, and spices. >> You could say, "These potatoes are perfectly seasoned." >> Or maybe the food needs more flavor. Then you could say, "This dish needs to be seasoned a little more." >> Beautiful. Today we learned six food words: appetite, aroma, savory, bland, cuisine, and seasoned. >> Try to use one of these words when you talk about your favorite food. >> And if you want to practice these words more, don't forget to visit the English Leap Club. >> The link is in the description. Inside the club, you'll find the full transcript for this episode, quizzes, games, and many more exciting activities to help you improve your English. >> So, after watching, you can go there, review today's words, test yourself, and keep practicing. >> Exactly. Don't let the lesson end here, continue your practice inside the English Leap Club. And now, now it's time for Say It Better. >> This is where we take simple English and make it sound more natural. >> And today, we're doing it with food sentences. >> Good. My favorite kind of education. >> Let's start with a common sentence. This food is very tasty. >> It's not wrong. It's clear. >> But it sounds a little basic. If you want to sound more natural, you can describe the flavor. >> You could say, "This dish is full of flavor." >> Lovely. Or, "The flavor is amazing." >> That sounds like something people really say. Here's one I hear a lot. I like this food too much. >> Ah, yes. The feeling is clear, but the sentence doesn't sound natural. >> In English, we usually don't say, "I like it too much," when we mean we love it. >> You can say, "I absolutely love this dish." >> Or, "I'm a big fan of this food." >> Nice. That sounds friendly and natural. What about this one? This food makes me remember my childhood. >> H, I understand it, but it feels a little translated. A smoother way is this food reminds me of my childhood. >> That's much better. >> Or this dish reminds me of home. >> Simple but emotional. Here's another one. I want to eat sweet. >> Very common. >> We understand the idea, but we need to make it natural. >> You can say, I'm craving something sweet >> or I feel like having something sweet. That one is very useful in daily conversation. Let's do one for food you don't really like. Some learners say, "This food has no taste." >> That can sound a little too direct, especially if someone cooked it for you. >> Very true. A softer way is, "It's a little bland for me." >> That sounds more polite. >> Or, "I usually prefer food with stronger flavor." >> That's a nice way to share your taste without hurting anyone. One more. A learner might say, "I like food of Italy." >> We understand it, but it needs a smoother structure. >> You can say, "I like Italian food." >> Or if you want to use today's word tour word, you can say, "I really enjoy Italian cuisine." >> That sounds more mature. >> Yes, especially for B1 and B2 learners. I like this segment because food is easy to talk about, but these small changes make your English sound much better. >> Exactly. Better English is not always about difficult grammar. >> Sometimes it's just choosing the sentence people actually use. >> So now we want to hear from you. What is your favorite food and why do you love it? >> Try to use one word from today's word tour. appetite, aroma, savory, bland, cuisine, or seasoned. >> And if you want to practice more, visit the English Leap Club through the link in the description. >> You'll find the transcript, quizzes, games, and more activities to help you review this episode. >> Thank you for learning with us today. >> Keep practicing. Take care, and we'll see you in the next episode. >> Bye for now. Your progress doesn't end here. To continue advancing your English skills, click on the next video or explore the additional videos we've thoughtfully selected for you.