The A to Z English Podcast Jack McBain

Become a monthly subscriber for just $1.99 per month and receive an additional two to three episodes per week!
https://app.redcircle.com/shows/9472af5c-8580-45e1-b0dd-ff211db08a90/exclusive-content
In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Xochitl and Jack give you a list of dos and don'ts when meeting your significant other's parents for the first time.
Transcript:
00:00:00
Jack
Hey A-Z listeners, this is Jack here.
00:00:03
Jack
And if you would like to become a an exclusive subscriber to the show, you can hit the link in the description and that will take you to our Red Circle page, where for $1.99 a month you will get access to an extra two or three episodes each week.
00:00:23
Jack
And be careful, don't hit that donation button if you want to become an exclusive subscriber because the donation button is just a one time donation. However, the exclusive subscriber button will give you access to the extra two or three episodes.
00:00:42
Jack
Each week.
00:00:44
Jack
So make sure you hit that exclusive subscriber button if you want access to the extra episodes.
00:00:52
Jack
Now let's get on with the show.
00:00:55
Jack
Welcome to the A-Z English podcast. My name is Jack and today we are and I'm with my co-host social of course. And we are in the culture corner and we're talking about what do you do when you meet the parents of your, of your boyfriend or girlfriend for the first time, you know?
00:01:14
Jack
What's the what kind of etiquette do you like behavior? Should you display? What? What should you do? What shouldn't you do so social? Do you have like a list of dos and don'ts?
00:01:24
Jack
For for our our listeners out there who may be like meeting their significant others parents for the first time.
00:01:33
Xochitl
Yeah, I know. I we just had an episode talking about how you can dress like a slob anywhere in America, but a first date and also meeting a parent. Parents are two occasions where I would.
00:01:39
Jack
Yes.
00:01:44
Xochitl
Never do that.
00:01:46
Xochitl
So you want to go and kind of business casual attire, which means a nice dress shirt usually, or a polo. Or it could be a crisp, a clean looking solid color, no logos, no designs well fitted T-shirt and then neutral.
00:01:54
Jack
Yes.
00:02:06
Xochitl
Done.
00:02:07
Xochitl
And a pair of either nice clean, no tears, jeans or a pair of slacks. Kind of casual khaki, black, neutral tone slacks. And you can wear, you know, a pair of clean, crisp white sneakers or some casual dress shoes. Don't.
00:02:19
Jack
Yeah.
00:02:26
Xochitl
Go in as a man wearing like rocks or like sandals. And and if you're a woman, just go in a nice.
00:02:37
Xochitl
Kind of also neutral toned or it can be.
00:02:42
Xochitl
Pattern and it doesn't really have to be a neutral tone, but just kind of a tasteful dress. Nothing too crazy, nothing too extravagant.
00:02:51
Xochitl
Might wear something neutral, might wear something in a light pink or blue or something like that, but just a simple casual floral dress with a little cardigan is and your footwear is also more relaxed. You can wear a pair of clean tennis shoes like white, crisp tennis shoes, a pair of.
00:03:01
Jack
Yeah.
00:03:11
Xochitl
Little sandals if it's hot anything, but just make sure you look presentable.
00:03:18
Xochitl
And that's a big one for.
00:03:21
Xochitl
Looks duos.
00:03:23
Jack
And I'm going to say most of the time we we have an expression. Don't don't judge a book by its cover, but in this situation your, the, your boyfriend or girlfriend's parents are definitely.
00:03:38
Jack
Judging the book by its cover, so make your cover look good.
00:03:40
Xochitl
Yes.
00:03:44
Xochitl
Yeah, want to look.
00:03:44
Jack
Because you are being judged.
00:03:47
Xochitl
Yeah, you want to look presentable. You want to look clean. Clean cut is the phrase we use really often in the US, which means somebody who is, they're, well, shaved, their hair grew.
00:03:57
발표자 3
No.
00:03:57
Jack
Look like me right now

Become a monthly subscriber for just $1.99 per month and receive an additional two to three episodes per week!
https://app.redcircle.com/shows/9472af5c-8580-45e1-b0dd-ff211db08a90/exclusive-content
In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Xochitl and Jack talk about the cartoons they used to watch on television as children.
Transcript:
00:00:00
Jack
Hey A-Z listeners, this is Jack here.
00:00:03
Jack
And if you would like to become an exclusive subscriber to the show, you can hit the link in the description and that will take you to our Red Circle page, where for $1.99 a month you will get access to an extra two or three episodes each week.
00:00:23
Jack
And be careful, don't hit that donation button if you want to become an exclusive subscriber because the donation button is just a one time donation. However, the exclusive subscriber button will give you access to the extra two or three episodes.
00:00:42
Jack
Each week.
00:00:44
Jack
So make sure you hit that exclusive subscriber button if you want access to the extra episodes.
00:00:52
Jack
Now let's get on with the show.
00:00:55
Jack
Welcome to the 80s English podcast. My name is Jack and I'm here with my Co social. And today we are talking about what cartoons did you watch when you were a kid. And we'll try to keep it at like 3. I think 3 each if we can. And so I grew up. I was a kid in the 80s and in the 80s.
00:01:10
Xochitl
Yes.
00:01:16
Jack
There was this thing called Saturday morning cartoons and every kid.
00:01:23
Jack
Couldn't wait to wake up on Saturday morning and watch Saturday morning cartoons. This is because this is before the Internet, right? I mean, we're talking 5 channels on the television and the whole Saturday morning is just for you. Yeah, just cartoons.
00:01:41
Xochitl
Cartoons.
00:01:44
Jack
So.
00:01:45
Jack
The ones that I watched the first one that I watched was, uh, Transformers. I loved Transformers. Yeah, and now you can watch those movies, those ridiculous.
00:01:54
Xochitl
Interesting.
00:01:58
Xochitl
Those came out like when I was a kid. Ish. Those transformed? Yeah, I.
00:02:01
Jack
Yeah, right. And I I remember having the toys in the 80s and watching the original cartoon in the 80s, and it was great. Optimus Prime and Bumblebee and all the all the main characters. But that was that was a.
00:02:21
Jack
A A definite staple when I.
00:02:24
Jack
As a kid, uh, another one that I watched was GI Joe. My brother and I loved GI Joe. And GI Joe is now a famous movie series as well because they take all these 80s cartoons and they turn them into, you know, big blockbuster movies.
00:02:42
Xochitl
Movies, real action, live action things. Yeah. So now I understand that live action isn't new because I I was like, why are they turning all these Disney classics that I watched when I was a kid into live action? And now I see that life actions that I saw when I was.
00:02:56
Xochitl
Growing up were things that were cartoons when you were a kid, so it's not a new thing.
00:02:59
Jack
Yeah, right. You you're saying the copy of the copy of the copy? You know what I mean? Like you're.
00:03:04
Xochitl
Right, yeah.
00:03:06
Jack
Yeah, because all the all the directors and the writers were were kids that were my age. Watching these these Saturday morning cartoons going, these would make great movies. I can't wait to grow up and make this into a movie, which is funny because people that are watching those movies have no idea that those used to be cartoons.
00:03:27
Xochitl
Right, it's weird.
00:03:28
Jack
Yeah, it's, it's weird.
00:03:30
Jack
Uh #3. I used to watch uh Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
00:03:35
Jack
Which is yeah.
00:03:35
Xochitl
Ohh, let's let's.
00:03:37
Xochitl
Do a thing. When I was a kid.
00:03:38
Jack
Yeah.
00:03:40
Jack
And you know, I was choosing. I was trying to decide between that and dungeons and Dragons because I love the Dungeons and Dragons.
00:03:47
Xochitl
No dungeons and Dragons was a cartoon.
00:03:49
Jack
Yeah. Yeah

Become a monthly subscriber for just $1.99 per month and receive an additional two to three episodes per week!
https://app.redcircle.com/shows/9472af5c-8580-45e1-b0dd-ff211db08a90/exclusive-content
In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Xochitl and Jack discuss etiquette surrounding first dates in the United States.
Transcript:
00:00:00
Jack
Hey A-Z listeners, this is Jack here.
00:00:03
Jack
And if you would like to become a an exclusive subscriber to the show, you can hit the link in the description and that will take you to our Red Circle page, where for $1.99 a month you will get access to an extra two or three episodes each week.
00:00:23
Jack
And be careful, don't hit that donation button if you want to become an exclusive subscriber because the donation button is just a one time donation. However, the exclusive subscriber button will give you access to the extra two or three episodes.
00:00:42
Jack
Each week.
00:00:44
Jack
So make sure you hit that exclusive subscriber button if you want access to the extra episodes.
00:00:52
Jack
Now let's get on with the show.
00:00:55
Jack
Welcome to the A-Z English podcast. My name is Jack and today we are and I'm with my co-host social of course. And we are in the culture corner and we're talking about what do you do when you meet the parents of your, of your boyfriend or girlfriend for the first time, you know?
00:01:14
Jack
What's the what kind of etiquette do you like behavior? Should you display? What? What should you do? What shouldn't you do so social? Do you have like a list of dos and don'ts?
00:01:24
Jack
For for our our listeners out there who may be like meeting their significant others parents for the first time.
00:01:33
Xochitl
Yeah, I know. I we just had an episode talking about how you can dress like a slob anywhere in America, but a first date and also meeting a parent. Parents are two occasions where I would.
00:01:39
Jack
Yes.
00:01:44
Xochitl
Never do that.
00:01:46
Xochitl
So you want to go and kind of business casual attire, which means a nice dress shirt usually, or a polo. Or it could be a crisp, a clean looking solid color, no logos, no designs well fitted T-shirt and then neutral.
00:01:54
Jack
Yes.
00:02:06
Xochitl
Done.
00:02:07
Xochitl
And a pair of either nice clean, no tears, jeans or a pair of slacks. Kind of casual khaki, black, neutral tone slacks. And you can wear, you know, a pair of clean, crisp white sneakers or some casual dress shoes. Don't.
00:02:19
Jack
Yeah.
00:02:26
Xochitl
Go in as a man wearing like rocks or like sandals. And and if you're a woman, just go in a nice.
00:02:37
Xochitl
Kind of also neutral toned or it can be.
00:02:42
Xochitl
Pattern and it doesn't really have to be a neutral tone, but just kind of a tasteful dress. Nothing too crazy, nothing too extravagant.
00:02:51
Xochitl
Might wear something neutral, might wear something in a light pink or blue or something like that, but just a simple casual floral dress with a little cardigan is and your footwear is also more relaxed. You can wear a pair of clean tennis shoes like white, crisp tennis shoes, a pair of.
00:03:01
Jack
Yeah.
00:03:11
Xochitl
Little sandals if it's hot anything, but just make sure you look presentable.
00:03:18
Xochitl
And that's a big one for.
00:03:21
Xochitl
Looks duos.
00:03:23
Jack
And I'm going to say most of the time we we have an expression. Don't don't judge a book by its cover, but in this situation your, the, your boyfriend or girlfriend's parents are definitely.
00:03:38
Jack
Judging the book by its cover, so make your cover look good.
00:03:40
Xochitl
Yes.
00:03:44
Xochitl
Yeah, want to look.
00:03:44
Jack
Because you are being judged.
00:03:47
Xochitl
Yeah, you want to look presentable. You want to look clean. Clean cut is the phrase we use really often in the US, which means somebody who is, they're, well, shaved, their hair grew.
00:03:57
발표자 3
No.
00:03:57
Jack
Look like me right now is.
00:03:59
Xochitl
Yeah, don't hav

Become a monthly subscriber for just $1.99 per month and receive an additional two to three episodes per week!
https://app.redcircle.com/shows/9472af5c-8580-45e1-b0dd-ff211db08a90/exclusive-content
In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Jack tests Xochitl on her knowledge of Canadian slang.

Canadian Slang Terms:
Toque - A knitted winter hat, often with a pom-pom on top.
Double-double - In the context of coffee from Tim Hortons, it means two creams and two sugars.
Mickey - A small bottle of alcohol, typically 375 ml.
Loonie and Toonie - The Canadian one-dollar coin and two-dollar coin, respectively.
Keener - Someone who is overly eager or enthusiastic.
Poutine - A dish originating from Quebec consisting of fries, cheese curds, and gravy.
Hoser - An affectionate term for a foolish or inept person, made famous by the comedy sketch "Great White North" on SCTV.
Chesterfield - a term that used to be more commonly used in Canada to refer to a sofa or couch

Podcast Website:
https://atozenglishpodcast.com/vocabulary-spotlight-canadian-slang/
Social Media:
WeChat: atozenglishpodcast
Facebook Group: 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/671098974684413/
Tik Tok: @atozenglish1
Instagram: @atozenglish22
Twitter: @atozenglish22
A to Z Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/theatozenglishpodcast
Check out our You Tube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCds7JR-5dbarBfas4Ve4h8A
Become a member of Podchaser and leave a positive review!
https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/the-a-to-z-english-podcast-4779670
Join our Whatsapp group: https://forms.gle/zKCS8y1t9jwv2KTn7
Intro/Outro Music: Daybird by Broke for Free
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Broke_For_Free/Directionless_EP/Broke_For_Free_-_Directionless_EP_-_03_Day_Bird/
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/legalcode


Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/the-a-to-z-english-podcast/exclusive-content

Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands

Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Become a monthly subscriber for just $1.99 per month and receive an additional two to three episodes per week!
https://app.redcircle.com/shows/9472af5c-8580-45e1-b0dd-ff211db08a90/exclusive-content
In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Xochitl an Jack talk about table manners in America.
Transcript:
00:00:00
Jack
Hey A-Z listeners, this is Jack here.
00:00:03
Jack
And if you would like to become a an exclusive subscriber to the show, you can hit the link in the description and that will take you to our Red Circle page, where for $1.99 a month you will get access to an extra two or three episodes each week.
00:00:23
Jack
And be careful, don't hit that donation button if you want to become an exclusive subscriber because the donation button is just a one time donation. However, the exclusive subscriber button will give you access to the extra two or three episodes.
00:00:42
Jack
Each week.
00:00:44
Jack
So make sure you hit that exclusive subscriber button if you want access to the extra episodes.
00:00:52
Jack
Now let's get on with the show.
00:00:55
Jack
Welcome to the agency English podcast. My name is Jack, and I'm here with my co-host, social. And today we are doing a we're in the culture corner. I believe we're in the the culture corner and we're talking about table manners in America, American table manners and we.
00:01:14
Jack
We kind of made a list of five kind of golden rules and uh, what? What are they? So. So what's #1?
00:01:22
Xochitl
Don't put your elbows on the table, so if there's like the tablecloth surface, don't eat with your elbows like on the table. And that's so different in other countries and cultures because like in Mexico, there's no issue with putting your on table. In America, your wrist putting your wrists on the table is OK, but elbows is.
00:01:28
Jack
Yeah.
00:01:42
Xochitl
It's just considered rude for some reason. I'm not really sure why.
00:01:45
Jack
It's so arbitrary. It's so dumb, like there's no reason for it. You know? It's like my why? Why, you know, don't be comfortable, you know.
00:01:49
Xochitl
And then there's.
00:01:50
Xochitl
A children.
00:01:54
Xochitl
Yeah, yeah. There's a children's line that's like in certain name, like Amy. Amy, Amy, if you're able to take your elbows off the table, this is not a horse's stable.
00:02:06
Jack
Yeah.
00:02:07
Xochitl
And it's like, I don't know why that even exists. I didn't know it was rude until I read it in like a book sometime in like the third grade.
00:02:11
Jack
Yeah.
00:02:16
Xochitl
UM.
00:02:18
Xochitl
So whatever.
00:02:19
Jack
I'll. I'll do it. I I don't really care. I I find that, like the least offensive of the of the table manner crimes. So you know when I'm eating, I'll. I'll probably do it. You know it it depends on where I am. If I'm in like a fancy schmancy.
00:02:35
Jack
Wearing a tuxedo. OK, I'm going to follow the all the taper table manners. But you know, if I'm, like, eating at a friend's house and some, you know, the.
00:02:46
Jack
They're.
00:02:47
Jack
They don't really care. I'll. I'll. I'll put my elbows on the table.
00:02:50
Xochitl
Yeah, I don't care if you're if you're, like, meeting your girlfriend or boyfriend's parents for the first time and they're American, like your elbows on the table, or if you're going to like a fancy dinner or like a work party or like a work party for your significant other or your own work party or whatever. Some kind of formal event, then I would say, like, steer away from it because there's some people in the older generation.
00:03:12
Xochitl
Like boomers and older that still?
00:03:14
Xochitl
Hair. But otherwise, if you're just at a casual house party or hang out with some friends at house warming or something, but it doesn't really matter, I don't think.
00:03:24
Jack
Yeah. Keep your knees off the table. That's a bad thing. Yeah, your feet. Yeah. Don't put your feet on the table.
00:03:27
Xochitl
Yeah, that's better. Your feet altered. The other cultures don't. Tha

Become a monthly subscriber for just $1.99 per month and receive an additional two to three episodes per week!
https://app.redcircle.com/shows/9472af5c-8580-45e1-b0dd-ff211db08a90/exclusive-content
In this episode of The A to Z English Podcast, Jack talks with lifelong English language learner Johnny from China.
Transcript:
00:00:00
Jack
Hey A-Z listeners, this is Jack here.
00:00:03
Jack
And if you would like to become a an exclusive subscriber to the show, you can hit the link in the description and that will take you to our Red Circle page, where for $1.99 a month you will get access to an extra two or three episodes each week.
00:00:23
Jack
And be careful, don't hit that donation button if you want to become an exclusive subscriber because the donation button is just a one time donation. However, the exclusive subscriber button will give you access to the extra two or three episodes.
00:00:42
Jack
Each week.
00:00:44
Jack
So make sure you hit that exclusive subscriber button if you want access to the extra episodes.
00:00:52
Jack
Now let's get on with the show.
00:00:56
Jack
Welcome to the AC English podcast. My name is Jack, and today we have a very special episode for you. I am doing an interview with Johnny and Johnny is from China and we're just going to have a conversation today. And, you know, leave and see where it leads. So Johnny.
00:01:16
Jack
Tell us a little bit. Like where, where?
00:01:17
Jack
Are you from in China? Exactly.
00:01:19
Johnny
Hi. Hi, Jack. Hi. The audience of AZ English podcast. My name is Johnny and I'm from China and I'm living in China at the moment, so it's a it's a great honor to me to be on the show with Jack. Yeah.
00:01:35
Jack
It's. It's an honor to have you here. You're a long time listener and you know you always, you know, send us, you know, comments and things like that. And we really appreciate your support. It's it's.
00:01:39
Johnny
Exactly, yeah.
00:01:46
Jack
Awesome.
00:01:47
Johnny
Well, that yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:01:49
Jack
Where where in China?
00:01:50
Jack
Are you from exactly like what city?
00:01:51
Jack
Do you live in?
00:01:52
Johnny
Oh, I'm. I'm from. I'm from the city called Fuzhou. That's like the the southern part of China. And so I'm in the South of China, basically. Yeah. It's like the coastal city here. Yeah. Yeah.
00:02:00
Jack
OK. OK. OK.
00:02:04
Jack
Yeah. Oh, I'm. I'm sure they've got amazing seafood there.
00:02:08
Johnny
Yeah. Yeah. So I don't know if you heard of the place, but we've actually got a lot of fellow countrymen, everyone, especially you, will find a lot of my people from my hometown in in New York. OK. So in Chinatown, a lot of them.
00:02:23
Jack
Oh. Oh, really.
00:02:25
Johnny
Are from Fuzhou.
00:02:26
Johnny
Actually, yeah. Yeah. So and they speak.
00:02:26
Jack
OK. Interesting.
00:02:28
Johnny
And and they speak still speak the the, the native native language. And it's like a dialect, yeah.
00:02:37
Jack
Right. So, so a lot of people there speak that dialect. OK, you sing. That's fascinating. OK.
00:02:40
Johnny
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
00:02:43
Jack
Yeah. Well, Johnny, a lot of our listeners would love to know, you know, they just from listening to you talk right now they're they're probably in awe because you have such a strong command of the English language. And when we do interview episodes like this, we'd love to, like, ask our our guests.
00:02:57
Johnny
Thank you.
00:03:03
Jack
Like, how did you like? What was your language journey like starting from when you were young? When did you Start learning English? What was your trajectory?
00:03:14
Johnny
Yeah, like on uh, so, you know, in China. So I think it's pretty much the same in in Korea. So we started learning language in perhaps in in our primary school. So we have like text.
00:03:25
Jack
I think it's third.
00:03:26
Jack
3rd grade in Korea is when they start.
00:03:28
Johnny
So great. Yeah, the same. No, it's it's. It's just thing to find out. Korea is the same. Yeah. So it