Holiday or Vacation
Chapter 15
Intro
K - Okay Mike, it’s time for the holidays – or do I mean vacation? Mike explains; it is Holiday in Britain and Vacation in the States.
1:09 – No secret, the weather can be fickle! Mike reveals some useful and general rules regarding how you could change the weather for the worse and what words to avoid saying out loud!
3:56 – Is there a risk as a tourist of being ripped off? Well, yes, as with everywhere you go. There are “grockle” shops to avoid. You pay through the nose there, Mike says.
4:36 – What to eat then? Curry, fish and chips; but be selective – if you know what to select!
Mike’s own personal tip on how to spot a good restaurant is to visit the Ladies or Gents.
6:53 – What is a polite way of interrupting people? The phrase “Excuse me…” is a good start.
7:25 – Toilets, how to ask for them in a polite way? Depending of the situation, but often the word Toilet is fine!
8:37 – Tea! What is the difference between a cup of tea, having tea, high tea and afternoon tea? Tricky question, Mike takes us through the different meanings. Just be sure to really ask for a cup of tea if you only want to drink a cup of tea – or you might end up with baked beans on toast!
10:23 – Dinner or supper – what is the difference?
10:54 – Both of us getting hungry now and the talk about Devonshire clotted cream tea isn’t making the situation better… scones with strawberry jam, an important meal, Mikes asserts.
12:28 - Pubs and restaurants. A pub in the States is often called a bar. And the British pubs do often have bars in them, sometimes several bars in the same pub, and sometimes even restaurants.
15:34 - Wrapping up by wishing you all a Happy Holiday!
Outro.
A useful hint from Mike:
This pod chapter contains interesting words such as fickle, grockle and licensee for instance. And the saying; “pay through the nose”, which is what you do when you pay too much for something. A risk all tourists sometimes face during the holidays. The more comfortable you get with your English the more you can practice throwing in a saying or two! But as always, only use them when you are sure you know what they mean.
Good luck practicing your English during the holidays!
Best regards,
Mike Ward, English coach
