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BBC LEARNING ENGLISH
6 Minute English
A future without doctors?
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
Are you feeling well, Sam? No headache or sore throat?
Sam
No, I feel fine thanks, Neil. Why do you ask?
Neil
Well, I’ve been reading some inspirational stories about the doctors and nurses
fighting Covid. When I was a boy, I always dreamed of becoming a doctor.
Sam
Ah, I see. Have you ever been in hospital?
Neil
Yes, I have, and I remember the nurse’s bedside manner – you know, the kind and
caring way that doctors and nurses treat people who are ill.
Sam
Nowadays more and more of the jobs that humans do are being carried out by
machines. But I doubt that a doctor’s bedside manner could easily be replaced by
a robot.
Neil
In this programme, we’ll be discussing whether the revolution in artificial
intelligence, often shortened to ‘AI’, could replace human doctors and nurses.
We’ll be asking: can you imagine a future without doctors?
6 Minute English ©British Broadcasting Corporation 2021

bbclearningenglish.com Page 1 of 5
Sam
In fact, machines are already doing some of the jobs traditionally done by
doctors - scanning people’s bodies to detect skin cancer, for example.
Neil
Yes, that’s true, Sam, and it links to my quiz question which is about human skin.
It’s a well-known fact that skin is the human body’s largest organ – but how
much skin does the average adult have? Is it:
a) 2 square metres?,
b) 3 square metres? or,
c) 4 square metres?
Sam
Of course our skin gets loose as we age but I can’t believe there’s 3 square
metres of it! I’ll say the answer is a) 2 square metres.
Neil
OK, we’ll find out if that’s correct later. Every year in the UK over 5 million
people are treated for skin cancer. Catch it early and your chances of survival are
increased.
Sam
Usually a skin specialist, or dermatologist, will examine your skin using a
handheld microscope. But in 2017, a team of researchers at Stanford Medical
School made an exciting announcement.
Neil
Here’s Oxford University researcher Daniel Susskind, telling BBC World Service
programme, The Big Idea, what the medics at Stanford had invented:
Daniel Susskind
A team of researchers at Stamford last year announced the development of a
system that, if you give it a photo of a freckle it can tell you as accurately as
twenty-one leading dermatologists whether or not that freckle is cancerous.
Sam
The Stanford medical team had invented an AI system to analyse freckles – small
brown spots found on people’s skin, especially on pale skin.
Neil
As it turned out the AI programme was better than human doctors at telling
whether a freckle was harmless or cancerous – connected to some type of
cancer.

Sam
So, it seems that artificial intelligence is already replacing humans when it comes
to detecting cancer – and doing a better job of it.
Neil
But Daniel Susskind isn’t convinced. One reason is that AI systems still need
humans to programme them – and as it turns out, knowing exactly how doctors
detect illness remains something of a mystery.
Sam
Here’s Daniel Susskind again in conversation with BBC World Service
programme, The Big Idea:
Daniel Susskind
If you ask a doctor how it is they make a diagnosis, they might be able to point
you to particularly revealing parts of a reference book or give you a few rules of
thumb, but ultimately they’d struggle… they’d say again it requires things like
creativity and judgment, and these things are very difficult to articulate – and so
traditionally it’s been thought very hard to automate – if a human being can’t
explain how they do these special things, where on earth do we begin in writing
instructions for a machine to follow?
Neil
Most doctors find it difficult to explain how they make a diagnosis – their
judgement about what someone’s particular sickness is, made by examining
them.
Sam
Diagnosing someone’s illness is complicated but there are some rules of thumb.
A rule of thumb is a practical but approximate way of doing something.
Neil
For example, when cooking, a good rule of thumb is two portions to water to one
portion of rice.
Sam
Exactly. And because identifying sickness is so difficult, Daniel says “where on
earth do we begin writing instructions for a machine?” We use phrases like
where, how or what on earth to show feelings like anger, surprise or disbelief.

Neil
I might show surprise by asking Sam, ‘how on earth did you know the answer to
that?’
Sam
Ha ha! I guess you’re talking about your quiz question, Neil? And you needn’t be
surprised – I’m naturally brainy!
Neil
Of course you are. In my quiz question I asked Sam how much skin there is on an
adult human body.
Sam
And I said it was a) 2 square metres.
Neil
Which was… the correct answer! With your brains I think you’d make a good
doctor, Sam, and I’m sure you’d have a good bedside manner too.
Sam
You mean, the kind and caring way that doctors and nurses treat their patients.
OK, let’s recap the rest of the vocabulary, starting with freckle – a small brown
spot on someone’s skin.
Neil
Freckles are usually harmless, but some skin spots can be cancerous – connected
to cancer.
Sam
A doctor’s diagnosis is their judgement about what someone’s particular
sickness or disease is.
Neil
A rule of thumb is a useful but approximate way of doing or measuring
something.
Sam
And finally, we use phrases like where on earth..? as a way to show emotions like
anger, surprise or disbelief.
Neil
That’s all for this programme but join us for the next edition of 6 Minute English
when we’ll discuss another trending topic and the related vocabulary.

Sam
Why on earth would you miss it? Goodbye for now!
Neil
Goodbye!
VOCABULARY
bedside manner
the kind and caring behaviour shown by doctors and nurses to people who are ill
freckle
small brown or ginger spot on someone’s skin, especially a person with pale skin
cancerous
involving cancer
diagnosis
a doctor’s judgement about what someone’s particular sickness or disease is,
made after examining them
rule of thumb
a useful and practical but approximate way of doing or measuring something
where, how, what, why on earth...?

an emphatic way of forming a statement or question to show frustration, anger,
surprise or disbelief

6 Minute English
The art of conversation
Sam
Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I’m Sam.
Neil
And I’m Neil.
Sam
Recently I met up with an old school friend who I hadn’t seen for years. We talked
for hours…
Neil
It sounds like you had a good chinwag – a long and pleasant conversation between
friends, which is great because in this programme we’re talking about talking.
We’ll be discussing conservations – the exchange of ideas, thoughts and feelings
that happens when people talk to each other. And as usual we’ll be learning some
new vocabulary as well.
Sam
With the rise of Twitter and social media, which encourages us to give our opinion
on a subject without always listening in return, some think the art of conversation
is being lost. But luckily, there are still millions of us who love to talk, chat, chinwag
and chatter away. In fact, in 2012 a competition in Latvia broke the world record
for the longest telephone conversation. So, Neil, my question is this: how long did
this record-breaking conversation last? Was it:
a) 24 hours and 4 minutes?
b) 54 hours and 4 minutes? or,
c) 84 hours and 4 minutes?
Neil
Hmmm, I’ll guess a) 24 hours and 4 minutes, after which they probably fell asleep!

Sam
OK, Neil, I’ll reveal the correct answer later in the programme. During a long
career, DJ and BBC radio presenter, Nihal Arthanayake, has had conversations
with hundreds of people. Now he’s used these experiences to write a book entitled,
‘Let's Talk: How to Have Better Conversations’. Here Nihal tells another radio
presenter, Michael Rosen, of BBC Radio 4’s, Word of Mouth, about the influence
of his mother who also loved talking to people in her job as a nurse:
Nihal Arthanayake
Well, it gave me the sense that you are enriched by listening. And this was of
course, pre-social media which has of course encouraged us to project - to
transmit - more than receive. So it meant that I guess I was conscious of
experiences of others, and wanted to try and understand them. Also, partially,
Michael, it was a survival instinct because I was a little brown boy in a
predominantly white school, a state school in the 1980s.
Neil
For Nihal, good conversation involves listening as much as speaking. By listening
we find out things about the person we are talking to which, in turn, help us
understand ourselves. This is why Nihal says we are enriched by listening – we are
improved by having something else added.
Sam
As a British Asian boy growing up in a white community, Nihal also thinks
conversation was a way for him to make friends and find protection. He says having
conversations was a survival instinct - the human instinct to do something in a
dangerous situation that will keep them safe from harm.
Neil
Nihal sees an important difference between ‘listening simply to reply’, and
‘listening to understand’. When we ‘listen to reply’, we are thinking about the next
thing we want to say more than trying to understand the other person’s point of
view. ‘Listening to understand’, on the other hand, helps build bridges - improve
relationships between people who are very different or do not like each other.
Sam
Here’s Nihal again in conversation with BBC Radio 4’s, Word of Mouth:
Nihal Arthanayake
So conversation can build bridges, and it is proven through history that
conversation has, and that conversation can be seen as an art form, and that's one
of the things that I want us to understand – it's not just tittle tattle, it's not just

shouting at each other on social media, it's not two politicians talking over each
other.
Neil
Good conversation brings people together, unlike tittle-tattle - talk about other
people's lives that is usually unkind, disapproving, or untrue.
Sam
And good conversation involves taking turns, not talking over someone – trying
to silence people by talking more loudly, forcefully, and persistently than them.
Neil
Hopefully, Nihal’s tips can help us all have better conversations, encounter new
ideas and make friends. So, Sam, did you do any of these things when you met up
with your old school friend?
Sam
I think so. We both listened to each other, there was no tittle-tattle but a little bit
of gossip. Before we knew it a couple of hours had passed - but not as much time
as those record-breaking telephone conservations I mentioned earlier.
Neil
Ah yes, in your question you asked how long the world’s longest telephone
conversation lasted. It guessed it was an incredible 24 hours and 4 minutes… was
I right?
Sam
Well, Neil, I’m afraid that was… the wrong answer. In fact, the record-breaking
conversation lasted 54 hours and 4 minutes - about the same as 540 programmes
of 6 Minute English!
Neil
Wow! OK, let’s recap the vocabulary we’ve learned from this programme on the
art of good conversations, starting with chinwag – a
long and pleasant conversation between friends.
Sam
When something is enriched, it’s improved by having something else added to it.
Neil
The survival instinct is the basic instinct in humans and animals to do something
in a dangerous situation that will keep them alive.

Sam
If you build bridges, you improve relationships between people who are very
different or do not like each other.
Neil
Tittle-tattle is talk about other people's lives that is usually unkind, disapproving,
or untrue.
Sam
And finally, if you talk over someone, you silence or drown them out by talking
more loudly than them. That’s the end of our conversation, but remember to join
us soon for more trending topics and useful vocabulary. Bye for now!
Neil
Goodbye!
VOCABULARY
chinwag
a long and pleasant conversation between friends
enriched
improved by having something else added to it
survival instinct
the human instinct to do something in a dangerous situation to stay alive
build bridges
improve relationships between people who are very different or do not like each
other
tittle-tattle
talk about other people's lives that is usually unkind, disapproving, or untrue
talk over (someone)

silence or drown out someone by talking more loudly, forcefully, and persistently
than them

6 Minute English
The benefits of boredom
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!

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

6 Minute English
Brain training
NB: This is not a word-for-word transcript
Sophie
Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. I'm Sophie…
Neil
Watashi-wa Ni-ru.
Sophie
What did you say?
Neil
Watashi-wa Ni-ru. 'I'm Neil.' It's Japanese, Sophie.
Sophie
Very good, Neil! So your Japanese language lessons are going well, then?
Neil
They are indeed. And did you know, Sophie, that scientists believe learning a second
language can boost brainpower? Bilingualism – or speaking two languages equally well – is
a form of brain training.
Sophie
Brain training is where you're learning ways to increase your memory or intelligence.
That's great Neil – but you're not exactly… bilingual… are you?
Neil
Not yet. No.
Sophie
Well, brain training is the subject of today's show. And ways to train your brain might be
doing a crossword puzzle, playing chess, or studying a new language! Now I have a question
for you, Neil.
Neil
I hope my brain is up to the challenge.
6 Minute English © British Broadcasting Corporation

2015
Sophie
I'm sure it is. Can you tell me: How many neurons – or nerve cells – are there in the
typical human brain? Is it …
a) 8.6 billion
b) 86 billion
Or c) 860 billion
Neil
Hmm. I'm going to say a) 8.6 billion.
Sophie
Well, we'll find out later on in the show whether you got the answer right or not. But now
let's listen to neuropsychologist Dr Catherine Loveday talking about why being bilingual may
protect your brain from damage if you have a stroke.
INSERT
Dr Catherine Loveday, neuropsychologist
I think the theory behind why bilingualism might be a protective factor is that [it] involves a
lot of switchings – a lot of attentional changes – lots of switching. And that seems to
exercise the sort of executive parts of our brain. Those parts of the brain are kind of
stronger and fitter when it comes to resisting some kind of damage from the stroke.
Neil
A stroke is a serious illness that occurs when blood flow to an area of the brain is cut off.
And executive functions are the mental skills involved with doing things like problem
solving and planning.
Sophie
So when a bilingual speaker switches – or changes – from one language to another – this
exercises the executive parts of their brain, making it stronger and fitter. And because the
brain is stronger, it's able to resist – or prevent – damage caused by a stroke.
Neil
But many of us aren't bilingual are we? So our brains aren't going to be protected against
strokes.
Sophie
Don't worry, Neil. There are other things you can do to exercise your brain. If you're right
handed, doing tasks like brushing your teeth with your left hand will stimulate your brain –
or getting dressed in the dark with your eyes shut. Or simply memorizing a list of words,
for example your shopping list.

2016
Neil
Doing things with the wrong hand sounds hard. But the shopping list thing sounds easier…
OK. Let's see… pizza, doughnuts, crisps, bottle of coke, chocolate cake…
Sophie
That's not a very healthy list, Neil! A good diet is also important in keeping your brain fit
and healthy.
Neil
Maybe I should cut down on the chocolate cake then?
Sophie
Actually, that's the one thing you could leave on the list. According to research, chocolate
may enhance – or improve – cognitive performance, and that is your ability to acquire and
utilize knowledge. Now let's listen to Dr Loveday talking about building up our cognitive
reserve – this is the idea of building up extra abilities to help protect the brain against
declining memory or thinking.
INSERT
Dr Catherine Loveday, neuropsychologist
Continually just stimulating the brain – things like learning a language, learning music, just
educating yourself, seems to continue to build up that cognitive reserve. So even if people
take up languages or take up other things later in life it will give them a degree of protection.
Neil
Stimulate means to make something become more active. Hmm. Not sure I'm continually
stimulating my brain. What do you think, Sophie?
Sophie
With all our stimulating discussions, Neil, I'm sure we're both building up our cognitive
reserve. And there are your Japanese lessons too.
Neil
Well, so I am doing well as far as my cognitive reserve goes. Sophie you've put my mind at
rest.
Sophie
And if you put someone's mind at rest you stop them worrying. Well, don't get too
relaxed Neil – your brain needs constant stimulation, remember?
Neil
Hmm. I think I might just lie down after the show with a box of chocolates and today's
crossword… or maybe I'll memorize another shopping list… this time in Japanese.

2016
Sophie
OK. I think it's time to hear the answer to today's quiz question. I asked: How many
neurons are there in the typical human brain? Is it … a) 8.6 billion b) 86 billion or c) 860
billion?
Neil
And I said a) 8.6 billion.
Sophie
I thought you were feeling clever today, Neil. I'm afraid that's the wrong answer. It's b) 86
billion. But do you know how scientists calculated that number?
Neil
Did they have a guess, Sophie?
Sophie
No, not exactly. Apparently, the easiest way is to count how many neurons there are in one
part of the brain and then multiply that for the rest of the brain's volume.
Neil
Well, that's a lot of brain cells. OK, can we hear the words we learned today?
Sophie
They are:
bilingualism
brain training
neurons
stroke
executive functions
switches
resist
enhance
cognitive reserve
stimulate
put someone's mind at rest
Neil
Well, that's the end of today's 6 Minute English. Don't forget to join us again soon!
Both
Bye.

2016
Vocabulary
bilingualism
speaking two languages equally well
brain training
learning ways to increase your memory or intelligence
neurons
nerve cells
stroke
a serious illness that occurs when blood flow to an area in the brain is cut off
executive functions
behaviour that is the same as the way most other people behave
switches
changes
resist
try to stop or prevent
enhance
improve
cognitive reserve
the idea of building up extra abilities to help protect the brain against declining memory or
thinking. Well Sophie you've put my mind at rest
stimulate
make something become more active
put someone's mind at rest

stop someone from worrying

2016
6 Minute English
Bullying or normal competition?
Rob
Hello, I'm Rob. Welcome to 6 Minute English. I'm joined today by Neil. Hello, Neil!
Neil
Hi there, Rob!
Rob
Today we are talking about a very serious topic: bullying. And you're going to learn some
vocabulary related to this topic.
Neil
It's a serious matter because it can leave people traumatised.
Rob
Traumatised, it means, they end up with emotional wounds which affect them
psychologically. Bullies want to intimidate people.
Neil
To intimidate, in other words, to make people fear them. Yes, it does make people feel
they can't help themselves – they're powerless. They feel helpless.
Rob
Unfortunately, bullying has been increasing in the workplace in spite of laws against it. Let's
go for some figures. Are you ready for a question, Neil?
Neil
Yes, I am.
Rob
The Workplace Bullying Institute based in the US conducted a survey last year. How much
of the American workforce has experienced bullying at work. Was it:
a) 7%
b) 27%
c) 47%
6 Minute English © British Broadcasting Corporation 2015

Neil
Well, I don't know but I'm going to go for 27%.
Rob
OK. I'll give you the answer by the end of the programme.
Neil
I'm very keen to know, Rob. Intimidating people is a bad thing but some might say that, well,
aggression is part of human nature.
Rob
Yes, that's an interesting point, Neil. I can imagine big strong men imposing their will by
force in the Stone Age, but behaving this way now probably isn't a good idea. The
California-based anthropologist Christopher Boehm explains. Listen and then tell me: what
made bullying go out of fashion?
Christopher Boehm, Anthropologist at the University of California, US

About a quarter of a million years ago, humans began to hunt zebras and antelope. And they had
to cooperate to do so because their weapons were rather primitive and they did not want alpha
males to be dominating the carcass after it was killed. So the thing that everyone else did was to
start killing alpha males. Bullies simply were not tolerated.
Neil
Ah, people had to cooperate with each other - in other words, to work together for their
mutual benefit. They were hunting animals for food.
Rob
Yes, and nobody wanted the alpha male – the strong man in the group who wanted to
dominate everybody else – to take all the meat for himself.
Neil
So about 250,000 years ago, when human society was evolving, people realised it wasn't
good for the community to have a bully around.
Rob
No. So if we make a big jump in history and back to the 21st century, well, modern
companies value cooperation. People's wellbeing matters too.
Neil
That's right. Many countries have laws against bullying which is part of the companies'
human resources policy.

Rob
Human Resources – also known by the initials HR - is the department which hires new
employees and stores information about their career at the company.
Neil
And what sort of behaviour is considered bullying in the civilised world?
Rob
That's what Helene Guldberg is about to explain to us. She's a specialist in developmental
psychology. What's the main thing that defines bullying?
Helene Guldberg, developmental psychologist

Something that is intentional on the part of the perpetrator; it has to involve some kind of power
imbalance, so it's not an argument between equals, and it's something that is repetitive. So it's not
a one off rage by one person against another. The intent is to cause harm, which can be
psychological or physical.
Rob
To be considered bullying, the behaviour has to be intentional, which means it has to be
planned or deliberate.
Neil
And also has to happen many times and involve power.
Rob
Yes, indeed. One person has to have more power than the other.
Neil
You know, Rob, this idea of intention is very important, because some people are just more
confident and demanding then others. They might say that they didn't mean to cause any
harm. They don't mean to bully anyone.
Rob
Yes. But it can be interpreted differently. Darren Treadway, at the State University of New
York, studied bullying in the workplace. He uses a word which means the way someone
interprets something they see or hear. Which word is it?
Darren Treadway, at the State University of New York, US

At the end of the day, if the target feels as if they're being bullied, the corporation needs to make
sure they're addressing that feeling. If you're the supervisor who's… your subordinate says that
they're being bullied by you or abused by you, while you may not feel you're doing that, it's your
responsibility as a communicator to make sure that they are getting the accurate perception of
your behaviour. Being known as a bully is a stigma that nobody in a corporation wants.

Neil
It's perception. According to Darren Treadway, bullying is a matter of perception – the
way some action is interpreted by a person, in this case, a subordinate.
Rob
And supervisors have to be aware of how their subordinates see their behaviour.
Neil
It's all a matter of communication.
Rob
Yes, indeed. But we are running out of time, I'm afraid. Let's go back to the question I put
to you earlier in the programme. It's about a survey by the Workplace Bullying Institute. I
asked how much of the American workforce has experienced bullying in the workplace.
The options were 7%, 27% and 47%.
Neil
And I guessed 27%.
Rob
And you guessed very well. The answer is indeed 27%. What do you think about that?
Neil
Well, it's depressingly high, isn't it?
Rob
Yes, it is. OK. Well, before we go, could you remind us of some of the words that we've
heard today, Neil?
Neil
Yes. We've heard:
traumatised
to intimidate
helpless
to cooperate
alpha male
human resources
intentional
perception
Neil
Right. Thanks, Neil. Do log on to www.bbclearningenglish.com to find more 6 Minute
English programmes.

Both
Bye.
Vocabulary
traumatised
someone who carries emotional wounds which affect them psychologically
to intimidate
to cause fear in other people
helpless
make people feel they can't help themselves, they are powerless
to cooperate
to work together for their mutual benefit
alpha male
the strong man in the group who wanted to dominate everybody else
human resources
also known by the initials HR, is the department which hires new employees and keeps
information about their life in the company
intentional
planned, deliberate
perception
the way someone interprets something they see or hear

6 Minute English
How colour affects us
Neil
Georgina
And I’m Georgina.
Neil
This is the programme where we hope to add some colour to your life by talking
about an interesting subject and teaching you some useful vocabulary.
Georgina
And colour is what we’re talking about today. What’s your favourite colour, Neil?
Neil
Oh, I like green – a fresh, bold colour, that reminds me of nature – it can have a
calming effect. And you?
Georgina
It’s got to be blue – it reminds me of the sea, the sky – and holidays, of course!
Neil
Colour – no matter which one we prefer – affects how we feel. And we’ll be
talking about that soon. But not before I challenge you to answer my quiz
question, Georgina – and it’s a science question. Do you know what the splitting
of white light into its different colours is called? Is it…
a) dispersion
b) reflection, or
c) refraction?
Georgina
Hmmm, well I’m not a scientist, so I’ll have a guess as c) refraction.

Neil
OK, I’ll reveal the right answer later on. But now, let’s talk more about colour.
Colour can represent many different things, depending on where you come from.
You can be ‘green with envy’ – wishing you had what someone else had.
Georgina
And someone can feel blue – so feel depressed. We choose colours to express
ourselves in what we wear or how we decorate our home.
Neil
The BBC Radio 4 programme, You and Yours, has been talking about colour and
whether it affects everyone’s mood. Karen Haller is a colour psychologist and a
colour designer and consultant – she explained how colour affects us…
Karen Haller, colour psychologist and a colour design and consultant

It’s the way that we take in the wavelengths of light because colour is
wavelengths of light, and it’s how that comes in through our eye, and then it
goes into the part of our brain called the hypothalamus, which governs our
sleeping patterns, our hormones, our behaviours, our appetite – it governs
everything and so different colours and different frequencies or different
wavelengths of light, we have different responses and different reactions to
them.
Neil
So, colour is wavelengths of light - a wavelength is the distance between two
waves of sound or light that are next to each other. As these wavelengths
change, so does the colour we see.
Georgina
Thanks for the science lesson! Karen also explained that there’s a part of our
brain that controls – she used the word govern – how we feel and how we
behave. And this can change depending on what colour we see.
Neil
Interesting stuff – of course, colour can affect us differently. Seeing red can make
one person angry but someone else may just feel energised.
Georgina
Homeware and furnishing manufacturers offer a whole spectrum – or range – of
colours to choose to suit everyone’s taste, and mood. But during the recent
coronavirus pandemic, there was a rise in demand for intense, bright shades and
patterns. This was referred to as ‘happy design’ - design that was meant to help
lift our mood.

Neil
Yes, and Karen Haller spoke a bit more about this on the You and Yours
programme…
Karen Haller, colour psychologist and a colour design and consultant

In the time when everyone was out and we were all working, and we lived very
busy lives, quite often what people wanted – they wanted a quiet sanctuary to
come back to, so they had very pale colours or very low chromatic colours in
their house – low saturation – because that helped them unwind and helped
them relax and to feel very soothed. But what I have found since the first
lockdown is a lot of people, because they’re not getting that outside stimulation,
they’re actually putting a lot of brighter colours in their home because they’re
trying to bring in that feeling that they would have got when they were out – that
excitement and that buzz.
Georgina
It seems that in our normal busy working lives, our homes were peaceful places
and somewhere to relax – they were a sanctuary. To create this relaxing space,
we use pale colours – ones that lack intensity, like sky blue.
Neil
But during the recent lockdowns, when we weren’t outside much,
we tried to get that stimulation - that excitement or experience – by decorating
our homes with brighter colour. Such as yellow!
Georgina
Hmmm, perhaps a little too bright for me! It is all about personal taste and the
connections we make with the colours we see but it makes sense that brighter
colours can certainly lift our mood.
Neil
Now, earlier I asked you, Georgina, do you know what the splitting of white light
into its different colours is called? Is it…
a) dispersion
b) reflection, or
c) refraction?
Georgina
And I said it was refraction.

Neil
Sorry Georgina, that’s wrong. It is actually called dispersion. Back to school for
you – but not before we recap some of today’s vocabulary.
Georgina
OK. Firstly we can describe someone who wishes they had what someone else
has, as being green with envy.
Neil
We also talked about a wavelength - the distance between two waves of sound
or light that are next to each other.
Georgina
To govern means to control or influence.
Neil
A sanctuary can be a peaceful or relaxing place – in some cases it can be a safe
place for someone in danger.
Georgina
Stimulation describes the feeling of being excited, interested or enthused by
something. And pale describes a colour that lacks intensity, it’s not very bright –
and for me, they’re much better than a bold bright yellow!
Neil
Well, Georgina, thanks for showing your true colours! That’s all for now, but
we’ll be picking another topic to discuss out of the blue, next time.
Georgina
Don’t forget you can hear other 6 Minute English programmes and much more
on our website at bbclearningenglish.com – and we’re always posting stuff on our
social media platforms. Bye for now.
Neil
Goodbye.

VOCABULARY
green with envy

the feeling someone has who wishes they had what someone else has
wavelength
distance between two waves of sound or light that are next to each other
govern
control or influence
sanctuary
peaceful, relaxing or safe place
stimulation
feeling of being excited, interested or enthused by something
pale
colour that lacks intensity

6 Minute English
Connecting remote communities
Neil
Sam
And I’m Sam.
Neil
If you’re old enough to remember the early days of dial-up internet then you’ll
know the unforgettable sound of the ‘handshake’, the clicks and squeaks your
computer made as it struggled to connect to the internet through the telephone
line.
Sam
Yes, I remember that strange noise! Dial-up internet was slow and websites took
forever to load. And because you couldn’t use both the internet and the telephone
at the same time, this was usually followed by someone shouting, “Get off the
computer, I’m making a phone call!”
Neil
In the thirty years since then, the internet has changed dramatically. Fibre optics
and broadband have created superfast internet speeds and an interconnected
online world, where physical distances between people are no longer a barrier to
communication - a situation expressed in the phrase, the global village.
Sam
But take a closer look and you’ll still find people around the world with a slow
connection or no internet at all. In this programme we’ll be finding out how some
communities are working together to fix their internet connection problems for
the benefit of local people. And, of course, we’ll be learning some new vocabulary
too.

Neil
But before that I have a question for you, Sam. We’ve been talking about the early
days of the internet, but do you know the name of the first ever internet browser,
the engine for searching websites? Was it:
a) Ask Jeeves?
b) WorldWideWeb?
c) Yahoo?
Sam
I’ll guess it was c) Yahoo.
Neil
OK, Sam. We’ll find out the answer later. You might think its people living in the
most remote and isolated places with the greatest difficulty getting online, but
that’s not always true. Even here in the UK people struggle to connect, including
BBC radio listener, Katie, who explained her problem to BBC World Service
programme, Digital Planet:
World Service listener, Katie

Hi, I’m Katie. I live in Dorset in England. Our internet can be quite spasmodic here,
and I think that that’s due to most of our underground cabling is very old and
somewhat dodgy, tatty, and needs replacing.
Sam
Katie lives in Dorset, a rural part of south-west England. She describes her
internet connection as spasmodic – suddenly working but only for a short time
and not in a regular way.
Neil
She thinks this is because her internet cables are dodgy, slang for bad or
untrustworthy.
Sam
A dodgy internet connection might be irritating, but in other parts of the world the
consequences can be more serious. Aamer Hayat is farmer who lives in the
Pakistani Punjab, one of the country’s most fertile regions, but also one of the
least connected. His village is a three-hour drive from the nearest town, and he
can’t make a phone call, even with 2G.
Neil
For Aamer, basic weather information like knowing when rain is coming can mean
the difference between his crops succeeding or failing. Without the internet he

doesn’t have a reliable weather report, so the villagers decided to build their own
fifty-metre-high telephone transmission tower, linking a network of five villages
to the internet. Here is Aamer talking to BBC World Service programme, Digital
Planet…
Aamer Hayat
We used to do conventional farming like just getting information from word-of-
mouth. Now, I’m using the latest technologies to have gadgets available with us
and taking information right from the horse’s mouth through internet and the
technology we have in our hands. So, this is what I’m doing in my farm practices.
Sam
Before the community-built tower brought the internet to his village, Aamer got
his weather report by word-of-mouth - information passed on by people telling
each other.
Neil
Now, there’s stable internet that works thanks to a tower high enough to pick up
a telephone signal which it then sends into the villages via solar-powered receivers
– a type of gadget, meaning a small, electronic device which does something
useful.
Sam
This means Aamer now gets his weather report straight from the horse's mouth,
an idiom meaning from a reliable source, or from someone who knows what
they’re talking about. The internet brings reliable climatic information, which
means a good harvest not just for Aamer and his family, but for all the families
living in the five connected villages.
Neil
It’s a great example of community action, and of people looking after each other
– something which may have been lost since the early, idealistic days of the
internet. And speaking of the early internet, it’s time to answer my question.
Remember, I asked you for the name of the very first internet browser.
Sam
I guessed it was c) Yahoo. So, was I right?
Neil
You were… wrong, I’m afraid, Sam. Way back before Google, the first internet
browser was called the WorldWideWeb - invented by none other than cyber
legend, Tim Berners-Lee, who, I think, would be pleased to hear about Aamer’s
community internet.

Sam
Yes. Right, let’s recap the vocabulary we’ve learnt about internet connections
between people living at a physical distance in the modern world, something
described as the global village.
Neil
If your internet is spasmodic, it’s irregular, stopping then suddenly working for a
short time. In other words, it’s dodgy, a slang word meaning bad or unreliable
Sam
If you know something by word-of-mouth, it’s been passed verbally from person
to person. Whereas if you hear it from the horse’s mouth, it’s come directly from
a reliable source of information.
Neil
And finally, a gadget is a small, electronic device with a useful purpose. Once again
our six minutes are up. Bye for now!
Sam
Bye!

VOCABULARY
global village
description of the modern world as a connected community in which people
communicate across great distances using technology such as the internet and
telephone
spasmodic
happening suddenly for a short time and not in a regular way
dodgy
(informal) bad, not able to be trusted
word-of-mouth
information passed by people telling each other, rather than being written down
or sent electronically
gadget
small, modern electronic device or machine which does something useful
(straight) from the horse's mouth

(idiom) directly from the most reliable source, or from someone who has reliable
knowledge of it

6 Minute English
Deep-sea mining
Neil
Sam
And I’m Sam. Here at Six Minute English, we often discuss the new inventions and
ideas scientists dream up to fight climate change – technologies like geo-
engineering which could reduce global warming by reflecting sunlight back into
space.
Neil
Often these ideas are controversial because scientists disagree over whether the
technology is possible, and whether, in some cases, it could do more harm than
good.
Sam
In this programme, we’ll be finding out about a new idea to collect lumps of
precious metals, called nodules, from the bottom of the ocean. The idea, known
as deep-sea mining, could provide the metals like copper, nickel and cobalt which
are needed for the green technology used in electric car batteries and other
renewable energy. But could deep-sea mining actually damage delicate ocean
ecosystems as well?
Neil
We’ll be hearing from two experts and learning some new vocabulary soon, but
first I have a question for you, Sam. Mammals like dolphins and whales represent
a tiny amount of all marine biodiversity - the thousands of animal species living in
the sea. Even all the different types of fish combined make up less than 3% of all
living things in the ocean. So, according to recent estimates by Unesco
oceanographers, how many different marine species have their home in the
ocean? Is it:
a) 70,000?
b) 170,000?

c) 700,000?
Sam
I’ll guess there are around 170,000 animal species living in the sea.
Neil
OK, Sam, I’ll reveal the answer at the end of the programme. Deep-sea mining is
supported by some scientists because it could provide the raw materials,
especially metals, needed to power electric cars. Amongst them is, Bramley
Murton, a professor of marine biology at Southampton’s National Oceanographic
Centre. Here he outlines the problem to BBC World Service’s, Science in Action.
Bramley Murton
As in so many things in life, there's a real kind of paradox or a conundrum. The
global grid capacity by 2050 will have to increase by three times. Electrical car
ownership is set to increase by a factor of 25. Solar and wind generation is going
to grow by a factor of a hundred. All of these things which we need to do to
decarbonise are going to require raw materials and metals in particular. So, as a
society we’re faced with this conundrum. We need to decarbonise.
Sam
Professor Murton describes the situation using two words. Firstly, he calls it a
conundrum – a problem that is very difficult to solve. He also calls it a paradox –
a situation that seems impossible because it contains two opposite ideas. Deep-
sea mining could damage the ocean, but paradoxically it might provide rare metals
needed to decarbonise the planet.
Neil
At the heart of the problem is that, in the future, green activities like driving
electric cars and using solar power is going to increase by a factor of a hundred. If
something increases by a factor of a certain number, it becomes multiplied that
many times.
Sam
But another marine biologist, Helen Scales, isn’t convinced. Here she explains her
doubts to BBC World Service’s, Science in Action.
Helen Scales
My concern at this point is that deep-sea mining and deep-sea nodules in
particular are being seen as a silver bullet to solve the climate crisis, and in such a
way as well that I think, that we can hopefully rely on life carrying on pretty much
as normal. My concern is that it really will be opening a door to something much

more than those tests – it’s leading down a rather slippery slope I think, towards
this getting permission for deep-sea mining to be open on a commercial scale.
Neil
Helen worries that deep-sea mining will be seen as a silver bullet to the climate
crisis – a simple and instant solution to a complicated problem. She thinks the
tests which have been permitted to assess the difficulty of mining underwater
could open the door to mining on a large scale which would damage fragile marine
eco-systems beyond repair. If you open the door to something, you allow
something new to start, or make it possible.
Sam
Helen thinks starting deep-sea mining leads down a slippery slope – a situation or
habit that is difficult to stop and is likely to get worse and worse. And that could
spell the end for thousands of marine animal and plant species.
Neil
Yes, our oceans need protection as much as our land and skies - which reminds me
of my question, Sam.
Sam
Yes, you asked how many different marine species live in the ocean and I guessed
it was b) 170,000.
Neil
Which was the wrong answer, I’m afraid! There are estimated to be around 700,000
marine species, only about 226,000 of which have been identified so far. OK, let’s
recap the vocabulary we’ve learned from the programme, starting with
conundrum – a problem that’s very difficult to fix.
Sam
A paradox describes a situation that seems impossible because it contains two
opposite ideas.
Neil
If something grows by a factor of ten, it becomes multiplied ten times.
Sam
The term, a silver bullet, means a simple solution to a complicated problem - often
a solution that doesn’t actually exist.

Neil
A slippery slope is a situation or course of action that is difficult to stop and is
likely to get worse and worse
Sam
And finally, the idiom to open the door to something means to allow something
new to start or to make it possible. Once again, our six minutes are up. Bye for now!
Neil
Goodbye!
VOCABULARY
paradox
situation that seems impossible because it contains two opposite ideas
conundrum
problem that is very difficult to solve
increase/grow by a factor of (x)

be multiplied by that many (x) times
silver bullet
simple and immediate solution to a complicated problem
slippery slope
situation or habit that is difficult to stop and is likely to get worse and worse
open the door to (something)

(idiom) allow something new to start, or make it possible to happen

6 Minute English
Doomscrolling: Why do
we do it?
Sam
Neil
And I’m Neil.
Sam
Have you heard the expression doomscrolling, Neil? It’s when people spend a lot
of time reading, or ‘scrolling’, a mobile phone or computer screen in order to read
negative news stories – stories full of doom.
Neil
I hate to admit it, but I do sometimes doomscroll.
Sam
Well don’t feel too bad, Neil, because you’re not alone. Research from the
University of California found that people all over the world doomscroll,
regardless of culture. What’s more, there may even be evolutionary reasons why
we’re attracted to bad news.
Neil
In this programme, we’ll be investigating why we feel compelled to look at, and
even seek out, bad news. And, as usual, we’ll be learning some new vocabulary, as
well.
Sam
But before that I have a question for you, Neil. Doomscrolling is a very modern
idea which is only possible with the 24/7, non-stop cycle of news reporting. So,
according to international news agency, Reuters, what has been the top global
news story of 2023 so far? Is it:

a) The war in Ukraine?
b) Increasing prices and inflation?, or,
c) Prince Harry’s autobiography?
Neil
I think the answer is an issue that’s affecting everyone – inflation.
Sam
OK, Neil. I’ll reveal the answer at the end of the programme. Now, it might be true
that the non-stop news cycle makes doomscrolling possible, but that doesn’t
explain why we do it. Anthropologist Ella al-Shamahi thinks the answer may lie in
human evolution. Here she outlines the problem for BBC Radio 4 programme, Why
Do We Do That?
Ella al-Shamahi
We go searching out for bad news, looking for things that will make us feel ick
inside. And so many of us do it. Is it a result of 24/7 doom on tap on our phones?
Or, is it some kind of compulsion that comes from somewhere way, way back?
Sam
Reading bad news stories makes us feel ick – an informal American phrase which
means feel sick, often because of something disgusting or disturbing. It’s a feeling
caused by the fact that, thanks to the internet, now we have the news on tap –
easily available so that you can have as much of it as you want, whenever you want.
Neil
But Ella thinks that’s not the whole story. There’s another theory: way back in
human history, when we lived in caves, it seemed everything could kill us, from
wild animals to eating the wrong mushroom. Knowing what the dangers were, and
how to avoid them, was vital to our survival, and from an evolutionary perspective,
survival is everything. As a result, we humans naturally pay attention to the
negative stuff, something Ella calls ‘negativity bias’.
Sam
But while cavemen only knew what was happening in their local area, nowadays
we know the bad news from all over the world. Here’s Ella again, discussing this
with her friend, TV presenter, Clara Amfo, for BBC Radio 4 programme, Why Do
We Do That?
Ella al-Shamahi
Before it would be like, I don’t know, I'm assuming you'd go to the neighbour's cave
and they’d only know… the bad news from… that particular mountain. Whereas

now, it's like, ‘Let me tell you about the really bad information and situation that's
going on in some island somewhere…’. It's just the good news doesn't make up for
it…
Clara Amfo
It really doesn't, and I think trauma’s romanticised, really. ‘What doesn't kill you
makes you stronger’, ‘this is a test’. I think we're conditioned to believe that
negative experiences shape us more than joyous ones.
Neil
Reading bad news from around the world can depress us, and Ella thinks that the
little good news we do hear doesn’t make up for the depressing news. To make up
for something means to compensate for something bad with something good.
Sam
Good news is hard to find. In fact, Clara thinks society has romanticised bad,
traumatic news. If you romanticise something, you talk about it in a way that
makes it sound better than it really is. Connected to this is the saying, ‘What
doesn't kill you makes you stronger’, meaning that by going through difficult
experiences in life, people build up strength and resilience for the future.
Neil
Maybe it’s best to stop doomscrolling altogether, but with so much bad news
pouring into our mobile phones every day, it’s not easy.
Sam
OK, it’s time to reveal the answer to my question, Neil. I asked you what news
agency, Reuters, considers the top news story of 2023 so far.
Neil
And I guessed it was b) inflation.
Sam
Which was… the correct answer, although there’s still plenty of time for 2023 to
bring us more doom, hopefully along with a little positivity too. OK, let’s recap the
vocabulary we’ve learned from this programme about doomscrolling – spending
lots of time reading bad news stories on your phone.
Neil
Feeling ick is American slang for feeling sick, often because of something
disgusting or disturbing.

Sam
When something is on tap, it’s easily available so that you can have of much of it
as you want.
Neil
The phrasal verb to make up for something means to compensate for something
bad with something good.
Sam
When we romanticise something, we make it sound better than it is.
Neil
And finally, the saying ‘what doesn't kill you makes you stronger’ means that by
going through difficult life experiences, people build up strength for the future.
Sam
Once again our six minutes are up, but if doomscrolling’s not for you, remember
you can find lots of positive news stories to build your vocabulary here at 6 Minute
English.
Neil
Don’t forget that there is more to BBC Learning English than 6 Minute English.
Why not try to improve your vocabulary through the language in news headlines.
Try the News Review video on our website or download the podcast.
Sam
But that’s bye for now!
Neil
Bye!

VOCABULARY
doomscrolling
spending a lot of time looking at your computer screen or mobile phone and
reading bad news stories
feel ick
(US slang) feel sick, often because of something disgusting or disturbing
on tap
easily available so that you can have of much of it as you want, whenever you
want
make up for (something)

compensate for something bad with something good
romanticise (something)
talk about something in a way that makes it sound better than it really is
‘What doesn't kill you makes you stronger’

phrase which expresses the idea that by going through difficult life experiences,
people build up strength and resilience for the future

6 Minute English
Do you follow your dreams?
Neil
Beth
And I’m Beth.
Neil
When I was a boy, I wanted to be a fireman when I grew up. How about you, Beth?
Did you have any childhood dreams?
Beth
I wanted to be an astronaut and fly to the Moon…
Neil
When we’re young most of us have big dreams and plans for the future.
Unfortunately, as we grow up these childhood dreams often get lost in the adult
world of jobs, money, families and careers. But not for everyone…
Beth
Daisy, from New Zealand, and, Herman, from Argentina are two people who
decided to follow their childhood dreams. They wanted the world to become a
utopia – a perfect, ideal society where everyone is happy and gets along with each
other. In this programme, we’ll be hearing how Daisy and Herman made their
dreams come true – not by changing the world, but by changing themselves. And,
as usual, we’ll be learning some new vocabulary too.
Neil
But before that I have a question for you, Beth. Following your dreams can be
tough, but not following them can leave you regretting all the things you wanted
to do but didn’t. In 2012, Australian nurse, Bronnie Ware, wrote her bestselling
book, The Top Five Regrets of the Dying, after interviewing terminally ill patients
about their life regrets. So, what do you think their top regret was? Was it:
a) I wish I hadn’t worked so hard?

b) I wish I had followed my dreams? or
c) I wish I’d made more money?
Beth
Well, I’ll guess it’s b) they wish they had followed their dreams.
Neil
OK, Beth. I’ll reveal the correct answer at the end of the programme.
Beth
The first dreamer we’re going to meet lives in Riverside, a peace-loving community
in New Zealand where everyone shares everything. Riverside members work for
the community’s businesses, including a farm, a hotel and a café. All the money
they earn is collected and shared between everyone equally.
Neil
Daisy, who was born in East Germany, joined Riverside in 2004. Here she explains
her belief in sharing to BBC World Service programme, The Documentary.
Daisy
What I think I always believed in is that the sharing of resources can provide a
group of people with quite a great advantage, but it doesn’t matter how many
hours you work or what work you do, everyone is getting the same amount. And
that is something that many people outside of Riverside struggle with, and where
we’re often getting this ‘communism’ label attached to us, because it’s so… it
seems so outlandish for people.
Beth
Riverside isn’t a communist community. In fact, people with many different
political views live there. But Daisy says that local people struggle with the idea
that everything is shared. If you struggle with an idea, you find it difficult to
accept or think about it.
Neil
Daisy also says some local people call Riverside outlandish – strange and
unusual.
Beth
Our second group of dreamers are a family - the Zapps. In 2000, childhood
sweethearts, Herman and Candelaria Zapp, bought a vintage car and set off from
Argentina to travel around the world with less than 3.500 dollars in their pockets.

Twenty-two years and three children later they have visited over a hundred
countries, meeting with countless people and experiences on the way.
Neil
Here, Herman Zapp explains to BBC World Service’s, The Documentary, how
following his dream has changed him for the better.
Herman Zapp
I am so happy with the Herman there is now, that I know now – not the one who
wanted to conquer the world, but the one who was conquered by the world. I learn
so much from people, and it’s amazing how the more you meet people, the more
you know stories, how much more humble you become because you notice that
you are a beautiful, tiny piece of sand, but a very important piece of sand like
everyone is, right?
Beth
After many years travelling, meeting new people and hearing their stories,
Herman is more humble – not proud or arrogant. He no longer wants to conquer
the world – to control it by force; rather, he has been conquered by his experiences.
Neil
Herman compares himself to a beautiful but tiny piece of sand and uses the
phrase a grain of sand to describe things which are insignificant in themselves,
but at the same time are an important part of the whole.
Beth
Daisy and Herman are rare examples of dreamers who followed their dream and
found a happy life, lived without regret – which reminds me of your question, Neil.
Neil
Yes, I asked about Bronnie Ware’s book, The Top Five Regrets of the Dying. What
do you think the number one regret was, Beth?
Beth
I guessed it was b) not following your dreams.
Neil
Which was the right answer! Not having the courage to follow your dreams was
listed as the top life regret. At least we have people like Daisy and Herman to
remind us dreams can come true!

Beth
OK, let’s recap the vocabulary from this programme, starting with utopia – a
perfect world where everyone is happy.
Neil
If you struggle with an idea, you find it difficult to accept.
Beth
The adjective, outlandish, means strange and unusual.
Neil
To conquer something means to control it by force.
Beth
Someone who is humble is not proud or arrogant.
Neil
And finally, the phrase a grain of sand describes something which is both
insignificant yet somehow important.
Beth
Once again, our six minutes are up. Bye for now!
Neil
Goodbye!
VOCABULARY

utopia
perfect, ideal society where everyone is happy and gets along with each other
struggle with (something)

find it difficult to accept or even think about (something)
outlandish
strange, unusual and difficult to like
conquer
control something by force
humble
not proud or arrogant
a grain of sand
small and insignificant, yet at the same time important, part of a whole

6 Minute English
Do emojis make language better?
Sam
Neil
And I’m Neil.
Sam
It’s nice to see you, Neil, [smiley face], [high five], [fist bump]!
Neil
What’s this, Sam? Are you saying hello with… emojis?!
Sam
Yes, I am! In this programme, we’re entering the world of emojis – the small
characters people use to show emotions in texts and emails. Do you have a
favourite emoji, Neil? Mine’s the [crying tears of laughter] emoji.
Neil
I like the [smiling face with hearts] one, and with over three thousand emojis to
choose from, there’s one for every occasion. It’s one of the reasons why emojis
have become so popular over the last twenty years – they let people put back some
of the human emotion that’s missing in written texts and emails.
Sam
We’ll be finding out more about emojis, and learning some related vocabulary,
soon… but first I have a question for you, Neil. It’s about the word ‘emoji’ itself,
which was invented in 1999 in Japan for the first internet-enabled mobile phones.
The name, ‘emoji’, comes from the combination of two Japanese words, but which
words? Is the word ‘emoji’ a combination of:
a) face and emotion?

b) picture and character? or

c) message and image?
Neil
I’ll say it’s a) face and emotion.
Sam
OK, Neil. We’ll find out if your answer gets a [thumbs up] at the end of the
programme. When we talk with someone face to face, we use physical gestures
like smiling, laughing or nodding to show the other person how we feel. But these
gestures get lost in written communication.
Neil
That’s where emojis come in - they add feeling and emotion to online messages.
But not everyone is an emoji fan. Some people believe that carefully chosen words
are the best way of expressing yourself, and that emojis are affecting our ability to
put feelings into words.
Sam
Here’s cognitive linguist, Professor Vyv Evans, author of a book about the
language of emojis, explaining more to BBC Radio 4’s, Word of Mouth.
Professor Vyv Evans

A lot of people, you know, language-mavens, the grammar police and so on, or
say… have this sort of jaundiced, prejudiced view about emoji – that it’s taking us
back to the dark ages of illiteracy - bring back Shakespeare, and stick to the
language of Shakespeare and all the rest of it. But that fundamentally
misunderstands the nature of communication. Emoji is important. In fact, it makes
us more effective communicators in the digital age.
Neil
Vyv Evans describes people who don’t approve of emojis as the grammar police –
a slang term referring to people who want to see formal language and grammar -
what they call ‘correct’ English – written online. The grammar police criticise
modern styles of English and like to correct other people’s mistakes in spelling
and grammar.
Sam
According to Professor Evans, the grammar police have a jaundiced view of emojis
– they only see the negative side of them because of their own ideas and
experiences.

Neil
What’s more, they think emojis are taking us back to the dark ages of illiteracy,
when most people couldn’t read or write. If someone refers to the dark ages, they
mean a past time in history considered uncivilised, and characterised by ignorance.
Sam
But luckily for emoji fans, the grammar police are in the minority. Over 6 billion
emoji messages are sent around the world every day, with about 70 percent
containing emotion-based characters like [smiley face] and [blowing kisses].
Neil
According to Professor Evans, emoji users are more expressive, more effective
communicators. So, could that be an advantage for someone looking for love
online? That’s what Michael Rosen, presenter of BBC Radio 4’s, Word of Mouth,
wanted to find out.
Michael Rosen
Is it possible to start a relationship using emoji?
Professor Vyv Evans

Well, there is research that’s been conducted by Match.com, the American-based
dating site, and what they’ve found, based on their research, is that the people
that use more emojis tend to be lucky in love, they have more success in terms of
dating. In the digital age, using emoji makes us more effective communicators…
Michael Rosen
… more expressive …
Professor Vyv Evans

… more expressive, we’re better able to express our emotional selves, and people
therefore it stands to reason, if you use more emojis you’re gonna get more dates!
Sam
For people who are dating, or starting a romantic relationship with someone, it
seems that using emojis helps them be lucky in love, an expression meaning lucky
in finding a romantic partner.
Neil
Emojis let us show our true personality, so, Professor Evans says, it stands to
reason - in other words, it seems likely to be true - that emoji users get more dates.
And that’s a big [thumbs up] from me! What about your question, Sam? Did my
answer get a [thumbs up] too?

Sam
In my question, I asked you which words combine to make up the Japanese word,
‘emoji’.
Neil
I guessed it was a) face and emotion.
Sam
Which was [sad face] the wrong answer, I’m afraid. In fact, ‘emoji’ combines the
words for ‘picture’ and ‘character’ in Japanese. OK, let’s recap the vocabulary
we’ve learnt about emojis, starting with the grammar police, people who want
correct spelling and grammar online, and criticise those who don’t.
Neil
If you have a jaundiced view of something, you only see the negative side because
of your own bad experience with it.
Sam
‘The dark ages’ describes a period in history characterised by ignorance and a lack
of progress.
Neil
If you are dating someone, you are spending time with them romantically, which
means you are lucky in love, an expression meaning lucky in finding a romantic
partner.
Sam
And finally, the phrase it stands to reason means that something seems likely to
be true, or it makes sense. Once again, our six minutes are up. Bye for now!
Neil
Bye!

VOCABULARY
the grammar police

(informal) people who want to have correct English spelling and grammar
written online, and who criticise those who don’t follow grammar rules
a jaundiced view (of something)

only seeing the negative side of something because of your own bad experience
with it
the dark ages

a time in the past considered not advanced and characterised by a lack of
knowledge and progress
dating
spending time with someone you have started a romantic relationship
lucky in love
lucky in finding a romantic partner
it stands to reason (that)

it seems likely to be true (that); it makes sense (that) back to the dark ages

6 Minute English
Food and mood
Sam
Rob
And I’m Rob.
Sam
When someone feels sad or in a bad mood, they often try to feel better by eating
their favourite food… I usually go for a peanut butter sandwich myself. Do you
have a favourite comfort food, Rob?
Rob
Hmm, maybe a cream chocolate éclair… Comfort food is a type of emotional
eating – eating lots of food because we feel sad, not because we’re hungry. But
unfortunately, most comfort food is high in carbohydrates and sugar and, after a
few minutes, it leaves us feeling even worse than before.
Sam
Today, scientific research into the relationship between what we eat and how we
feel is growing. In this programme we’ll be investigating the connection between
our food and our mood. We’ll hear how healthy eating makes us feel better, and
of course, we’ll be learning some new vocabulary as well.
Rob
Great! But first I have a question for you, Sam. People who link what we eat with
how we feel make a simple argument: the food you eat supplies nutrients and
energy to the brain, and the brain controls our emotions. That might sound
simplistic, but the brain is a vital link in the connection between food and our
mood. So, Sam, my question is: how much of the body’s total energy is used up by
the brain? Is it: a) 10 percent, b) 20 percent, or c) 30 percent?
Sam
Hmmm, that's a good question. I’ll say it’s a) 10 percent.

Rob
Right. Well, I’ll reveal the answer later in the programme. Emotional eating is often
caused by feelings of depression, anxiety or stress. Chef Danny Edwards, who has
suffered with depression, works in one of the most stressful places imaginable - a
busy restaurant kitchen. BBC World Service programme, The Food Chain, asked
Danny about his eating habits at work:
Danny Edwards
Actually, when you’re working in a kitchen environment for long periods, your
appetite can become suppressed because you sometimes don't want to eat, or you
don't feel like you can stop and eat, and all of that. So, it very often is grabbing
something on the go which obviously, as we know, is not great for us… So you go
for something that’s quick, so hence why a lot of chefs have quite a bad diet.
Sam
Even though he’s surrounded by food, Danny says that working under stress
actually decreases his appetite – the feeling that you want to eat food. In a busy
kitchen there’s no time for a sit-down meal, so Danny has to grab and go – take
something quickly because he doesn’t have much time, although he knows this
isn’t very healthy.
Rob
So when even chefs have a difficult relationship with food, what about the rest of
us? Professor Felice Jacka, is an expert in nutritional psychiatry. She studied the
effect of eating a healthy diet – food such as fresh fruit and vegetables, wholegrain
cereals, and olive oil – on people suffering depression. Professor Jacka found that
the patients whose mental health improved were the same patients who had also
improved their diet.
Sam
But Professor Jacka’s ideas were not accepted by everyone. Here, she explains to
Jordan Dunbar, presenter of BBC World Service’s, The Food Chain, about the
opposition her study faced from other doctors:
Prof Felice Jacka

So I proposed to do this for my PhD study, and everyone thought I was a bit
bananas, you know, and there was quite a bit of, I guess, eye rolling maybe. I'm not
surprised by that because the discipline of psychiatry was very medication- and
brain-focused.
Jordan Dunbar
What did people say in the field? Were they sceptical?

Prof Felice Jacka
Oh, hugely sceptical and sometimes very patronising. But this again comes from
the fact that general practitioners, psychiatrists, medical specialists get almost no
nutrition training through all those years of study.
Rob
When Professor Jacka investigated the link between food and mood, her
colleagues thought she was bananas – a slang word meaning silly or crazy. They
rolled their eyes – a phrase which describes the gesture of turning your eyes
upwards to express annoyance, boredom or disbelief.
Sam
Other colleagues were patronising – they behaved towards her as if she were
stupid or unimportant. Professor Jacka thinks this is because most doctors have
little or no training about nutrition and the effect of food on mental health. But
her ground-breaking research, named ‘The Smile Trial’, has been successfully
repeated elsewhere, clearly showing the link between eating well and feeling
good.
Rob
So, the next time you’re feeling down and your brain is calling out for a donut, you
might be better eating an apple instead! And speaking of brains, Sam, it’s time to
reveal the answer to my question.
Sam
Yes, you asked me how much of the body’s energy is used up by the brain. And I
guessed it was ten percent…
Rob
Well, I’m afraid you are wrong. In fact, around 20 percent of the body’s energy goes
to feeding the brain, even though it only makes up two percent of our total body
weight. OK, let’s recap the vocabulary we’ve learned from our discussion about
emotional eating – that's eating too much food because of how you feel, not
because you’re hungry.
Sam
Appetite is the desire to eat food.
Rob
If you grab and go, you take something quickly because you don’t have much time.

Sam
Calling someone bananas is slang for silly or crazy.
Rob
If you roll your eyes, you move your eyes upwards to show you feel annoyed, bored
or don’t believe what someone is telling you.
Sam
And finally, if someone is patronising you, they speak or behave towards you as if
you were stupid or unimportant. That's the end of our programme. Don’t forget to
join us again soon for more topical discussion and useful vocabulary here at 6
Minute English. Bye, everyone!
Rob
Bye!
VOCABULARY

emotional eating
eating lots of food in response to emotional feelings instead of to hunger
appetite
the feeling that you want to eat food; the desire for food
grab and go
the activity of taking something quickly when you do not have much time
bananas
(slang) silly; crazy
roll your eyes

move your eyes upwards as a way of showing annoyance, boredom or disbelief
patronising
speaking or behaving towards someone as if they were stupid or unimportant

6 Minute English
How pandemics end
Sam
Neil
And I’m Neil.
Sam
In March 2020, the World Health Organisation, the WHO, declared Covid-19 a
pandemic. Now, after two and half years in the shadow of Covid, for many people
travel restrictions are ending, and many people around the world are starting their
lives again. But not everyone.
Neil
Whether it’s because of lockdowns and not seeing friends, or getting sick, even
dying, everyone wants to see an end to the pandemic. But with cases of Covid
infections still in the millions, and doctors warning about new variants of the
disease, is the pandemic really coming to an end? In this programme, we’ll be
finding out how pandemics end, and, as usual, we’ll be learning some related
vocabulary as well.
Sam
Of course, pandemics are nothing new. Ancient texts are full of stories of plagues
which spread death and disease before eventually going away. In the Middle Ages,
The Black Death that killed over half of Europe’s population lasted for four years.
It’s only with modern vaccines that diseases have been eradicated – completely
ended. So, Neil, my question this week is: which disease was eradicated in 1977?
Was it:
a) cholera?
b) polio? or
c) smallpox?

Neil
I’m going to say c) smallpox.
Sam
OK, I’ll reveal the answer at the end of the program.
Neil
Of course, the idea that the pandemic might not be ending isn’t something people
want to hear. Most people are sick of worrying about Covid and can’t wait for
things to get back to normal. But as Yale University physician, Professor Nicholas
Christakis, explained to BBC World Service programme, The Inquiry, it’s not just
the biological disease that needs to end – pandemics have a social ending too.
Prof. Nicholas Christakis

Pandemics are not just a biological phenomenon, they’re also a social
phenomenon, and they end socially. And one of the ways that they end socially is
when everyone just sort of agrees that they have ended – when everyone is simply
willing to tolerate more risk. On other words, we sort of declare victory, maybe
prematurely, or another way of thinking about it is, we put our heads in the sand.
Sam
Biologically Covid still exists in the world and most of us would rather not catch it.
But if you’re vaccinated, the risk of getting seriously ill is much lower, so it’s
reasonable to make plans to resume normal life. When enough people do this, we
declare victory – a phrase meaning to announce something to be finished before
it actually is, but when it looks ‘good enough’.
Neil
The danger is that we declare victory prematurely – too soon, before it’s the best
time to do so. Professor Christakis uses another idiom for this – to bury your head
in the sand, meaning to deliberately refuse to accept the truth about something
you find unpleasant.
Sam
It’s also true that pandemics do not end in the same way for everyone, everywhere.
Rich western countries with the resources to vaccinate their populations are in a
better position than most.
Neil
Professor Dora Vargha is an expert on the history of medicine. She compares the
Covid pandemic to an ongoing disease for which we have no cure, and which has
killed millions since its outbreak in the 1980s – HIV/Aids. Here is Professor Vargha
speaking with BBC World Service’s, The Inquiry.

Prof Dora Vargha
What happens in the case of HIV/Aids is that it became from being an immediate
death sentence basically to a manageable chronic disease… but that happens in
societies that have the means and the infrastructure to make that possible with
medication, and that is not necessarily true for all parts of the world, but we don’t
think about the HIV/Aids pandemic as an ongoing pandemic.
Sam
Although HIV has no cure, modern medical drugs allow people to continue living
with the disease for years. HIV is no longer a death sentence – a phrase meaning
the punishment of death for committing a crime, or from an incurable disease.
Neil
Nowadays, HIV is no longer fatal. It has become a disease which can be controlled
and is chronic, or long lasting. We no longer think of Aids as a pandemic, but that’s
not true everywhere - only in countries which can provide the necessary medical
drugs and support.
Sam
Finding the right balance of Covid restrictions for communities of people
exhausted by the pandemic isn’t easy. Many scientists are warning that we haven’t
yet reached the beginning of the end of Covid, but hopefully we’re at least
reaching the end of the beginning.
Neil
Let’s finish the programme on hopeful note by remembering that diseases can and
do eventually end – like in your quiz question, Sam.
Sam
Yes, I asked which disease was eradicated in 1977. Neil said it was smallpox which
was the correct answer! Well done, Neil! Smallpox no longer occurs naturally, but
did you know that samples of smallpox do still exist, frozen in American and Soviet
laboratories during the Cold War!
Neil
As if the thought that the Covid pandemic might never end isn’t scary enough!
Right, let’s recap the vocabulary we’ve learnt starting with eradicate – to
completely get rid of something, such as a disease.
Sam
If you declare victory, you announce something to be finished before it actually is.
The danger is doing this is that you announce it prematurely, or too soon.

Neil
The idiom bury your head in the sand means to refuse to accept or look at a
situation you don’t like.
Sam
A death sentence means the punishment of death for committing a crime, or from
an incurable disease.
Neil
And finally, a chronic disease is one which lasts for a long time. Even though the
pandemic hasn’t ended, our programme has because our six minutes are up. Bye
for now!
Sam
Bye!
VOCABULARY
eradicate
completely destroy or get rid of something such as a social problem or disease
declare victory
announce something to be finished before it actually is but when it seems ‘good
enough’
prematurely
happening too soon, before the best time to do it
bury your head in the sand

deliberately refuse to accept the truth about something you find unpleasant
death sentence
the punishment of death for committing a crime, or from a disease which has no
cure
chronic
lasting for a long time

6 Minute English
Does your CV shine?
Rob
Hello, I'm Rob. Welcome to 6 Minute English. With me in the studio today is Neil. Hello,
Neil!
Neil
Hello there, Rob!
Rob
Now I bet you have an impressive CV, Neil. CV is short for curriculum vitae – that's a Latin
expression we use for the document in which people list their work history, education,
interests and abilities. In other parts of the English-speaking world it's called a resume. Now,
Neil, I know you are a very good teacher and producer, but does your CV actually shine?
Neil
Well, I hope it's good enough to impress hiring managers. But it's a challenge to prove on a
piece of paper or online document that you're really better than the other people who are
competing for the same position.
Rob
Today we're talking about CVs and you'll learn some words related to this topic, which will
especially interest jobseekers – that's what we call people looking for work.
Neil
Yes, and jobseekers have to worry about having an impressive CV so they get that call for a
job interview.
Rob
Yes, the CV is just the beginning. And, as you mentioned job interviews, I'll ask you a
question all about this. According to a recent survey, managers decide quite quickly if
they're going to really consider giving a candidate a job or not. So, when you go for a job
interview how long do you have, on average, to make a good enough impression for an
employer to hire you? Do you have…
a) Less than 3 minutes
b) Less than 5 minutes
c) Less than 10 minutes

Neil
Well, I think it's probably quite short so I'm going to go for: (b) 5 minutes.
Rob
Well, you'll have the correct answer – the result of this survey – at the end of the
programme. But people have done all sorts of unusual things to reach the interview level.
One of them is Briton Daniel Conway, who went from posing shirtless in the street with
the phrase "employ me" written on his chest to uploading a video on social media asking to
be hired.
Neil
Ah, this video went viral – it means became popular very quickly. In it his daughter appears
next to the phrase "give my dad a job".
Rob
Yes. Daniel Conway tells us about his experience looking for work. Which word does he
use when he says he wanted to be noticed?
Daniel Conway, former jobseeker

I just thought as a young naive kid that I would kind of walk into a job, but the truth is, you know,
there are a lot of good people out there who got just as great skills and I realised at that point that
you've got to stand out and get your strengths across.
Neil
He uses the phrasal verb to stand out – it means to be more visible than others in a group
so that he can be noticed.
Rob
Dan Conway uses another phrasal verb: get your strengths across – to get something
across means to make something clear. In this case he wants the employer to understand
how good he is as a potential employee, his strengths and his good qualities.
Neil
And did he get a job?
Rob
Well, yes, he did. And I'm glad to say that after four years this 29-year-old man got a job
marketing vitamins!
Neil
Well, we can say that he was good at marketing himself.
Rob
Yes, we can. Well, he was bold and courageous in his attempts to catch potential

employers' attention. He showed a quality described by career coach Corinne Mills. Listen
to what she says and tell me: what is the quality jobseekers have to show for sure?
Corinne Mills, MD - Personal Career Management

You've got to be confident! I mean, if you are not confident about your skills and abilities, then
why should an employer have faith in you? So, don't be modest. This is your opportunity to really
show your skills and experience and what a great performer you're gonna be in the job.
Neil
The career coach says you've got to be confident! It means self-assured, believe in your
capacity to do things. And sometimes we feel that it isn't nice to say "I'm very good at this"
or "I'm wonderful at that" but she advises you not to be modest.
Rob
Exactly. Modest means humble, moderate when talking about your abilities.
Neil
You know, Rob, I've got some top tips for people writing their CV.
Rob
OK, well, let's have them.
Neil
Yes. Here is the first one: you have to be concise – it means brief, give the information in a
few words. Maybe you could write a brief profile at the top and keep the CV to just two
pages.
Rob
Thank you. That's a good bit of advice. And I think you should give evidence of success in
previous jobs. If a presentation you did helped you to get a client you should include it
there. And be accurate, in other words, be precise and tell the truth. Don't invent things.
Neil
And you should also remember to check your spelling and grammar!
Rob
Yes, that's very important! Well, we wish everybody success when writing and sending out
their CV, and we hope they are called for a job interview, in which they have a very short
period of time to leave a good impression…
Neil
Indeed! So how long after all is this period of time, according to your survey? Did I get the
answer to the question you asked at the beginning of the programme right?

Rob
Well, I asked you: how long do you have on average to make a good enough impression for
an employer to hire you? Do you have less than 3 minutes, less than 5 minutes or less than
10 minutes?
Neil
And I said less than 5 minutes.
Rob
And you're wrong. The correct answer is actually less than 10 minutes, so you'd have a little
bit longer. Jobseekers have on average just six minutes and 25 seconds during the first
meeting to impress potential employers. That's according to a new study from the website
monster.co.uk. And we're almost out of time. So let's remember some of the words we
said today, Neil.
Neil
CV (curriculum vitae)
viral
to stand out
get your strengths across
confident
modest
concise
accurate
Rob
Thank you. Well, that is it for today. Do log on to www.bbclearningenglish.com to find
more 6 Minute English programmes. Until next time. Goodbye!
Neil
Bye!
Vocabulary
CV (curriculum vitae)
document in which you list your work history, education, your interests and abilities
viral
video posted online which becomes popular very quickly
to stand out
to appear more than others in the same group

get your strengths across
make your abilities clear to somebody
confident
self-assure, believe in your own capacity to do things
modest
humble
concise
brief, give the information in few words
accurate
precise

6 Minute English
Is being kind good for you?
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!
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

6 Minute English
Why laughter is the best medicine
Sam
Neil
And I’m Neil.
Sam
Have you heard this joke, Neil? Question: what’s a rat’s favourite game?
Neil
I don’t know, Sam, what is a rat’s favourite game?
Sam
Hide and squeak!
Neil
Ha-ha-ha! Very funny!
Sam
Well, I’m glad you’re laughing because, as we’ll be finding out in this programme,
laughter is good for you! In fact, laughter is often called ‘the best medicine’.
Neil
And it seems that’s really true, medically speaking. Laughing releases anti-stress
endorphins into the body and there’s evidence that people who laugh recover
more quickly from illness, including Covid.
Sam
Laughing is an essential part of what makes us human. Babies cry straight from
birth but the next sound they make, often as young as two or three months, is
laughter.

Neil
And who can hear a baby laugh without laughing themselves? Laughter is
catching.
Sam
But before we start tickling our funny bones, I have a quiz question for you, Neil,
and it’s no laughing matter. Laughter can be a serious business. In fact, there’s a
scientific field of study into laughter and its effects on the human body. But what
is this study called? Is it:
a) gigglology?
b) gelotology? or
c) guffology?
Neil
Did you make those words up, Sam? They sound a bit funny to me! I’ll say the
study of laughter is called b) gelotology.
Sam
OK, Neil, but you’ll be laughing on the other side of your face if you’re wrong!
Anyway, we’ll find out the correct answer later in the programme.
Neil
Someone who’s an expert in the study of laughing – whatever it’s called – is
cognitive neuroscientist, Professor Sophie Scott. Here she explains to David
Edmonds, presenter of BBC World Service programme, The Big Idea, exactly how
a laugh is produced.
David Edmonds
Laughing is a variation of breathing. Like breathing, it involves the rib cage.
Prof Sophie Scott

When you laugh you get these very, very large, very fast contractions of the rib
cage. And it’s a very primitive way of making a sound, so you’re really just
squeezing air out in big bouts. Each of those individual squeezes gives you a ‘ha!’
sound.
Sam
The ‘ha-ha’ sound you make when you laugh comes from your rib cage - a
structure made of bones, called ribs, inside your chest which protects the heart
and lungs. The rib cage works like a drum to amplify a laugh.
Neil
It’s the reason why jokes are sometimes called ‘rib-ticklers’.

Sam
Professor Scott calls this a very primitive way of making sounds because it’s
simple, natural and essentially human.
Neil
The word primitive can be used to describe anything relating to the basic way
humans lived in their early stages of development, before money, machines or
writing were invented.
Sam
Primitive human noises, like crying and laughing, link to a universal human
experience, and this can be seen in the large number of words we use to talk
about them. In English, ‘chuckle’, ‘giggle’, ‘chortle’, ‘cackle’ and ‘guffaw’ all
describe different types of laughter.
Neil
Right, so how would you describe a ‘giggle’, Sam?
Sam
I’d say a giggle is laughing in a quiet but uncontrolled way, like a child who finds
something very funny or feels embarrassed.
Neil
Unlike a guffaw which is when you blast out a very loud laugh, often at
something stupid or rude someone has said.
Sam
But humans aren’t the only animals to laugh. We belong to the same family as
other primates like chimpanzees, gorillas and orangutans, all of whom laugh.
Neil
Even rats tickle each other and make squeaky noises like laughter when they
play. Here’s Professor Scott again to take up the story for BBC World Service
programme, The Big Idea.
Prof Sophie Scott

Play is a very important behaviour for mammals – all mammals play when they’re
juveniles and some mammals play their whole lives, and laughter is a sort of an
invitation to play, it’s a sign that you’re playing.
Sam
Professor Scott says that laughter is an important social tool for all mammals –

animals, including humans, dogs and whales, which give birth to live young,
rather than laying eggs, and who feed their young with milk.
Neil
By laughing, young mammals - sometimes called juveniles - signal that they
want to play, and young rats who don’t laugh back are more likely to get a bite
than a giggle. And a rat bite is nothing to laugh about.
Sam
What a lot of facts we’ve learned about laughter, Neil!
Neil
Yes, we could almost be experts on laughter… ‘Guffologists’, isn’t that what you
called them, Sam?
Sam
Ah yes, in my quiz question I asked you to name the scientific study of laughter
and its effects on the body.
Neil
I’m almost certain it’s not ‘gigglology’ or ‘guffology’! So, the answer must be…
Sam
Gelotology! The correct answer! Well done, Neil, I knew you were good for a
laugh!
Neil
OK. Let’s recap the vocabulary from the programme before you think up any
more terrible jokes! First, we had rib cage – the structure in your chest which is
made of ribs, and produces the sound of a laugh.
Sam
The adjective primitive relates to the simple, natural way humans lived in their
early stages of development.
Neil
There are different types of laughter, including giggles - childlike laughter in a
quiet but uncontrolled way.
Sam
And guffaw is when you laugh out loud, often at something someone has said.

Neil
Mammals are animals, including humans, which give birth to live young and feed
them with milk.
Sam
And finally, a young animal which is not fully grown can be called a juvenile.
Neil
Well, it’s been a laugh a minute, Sam, but unfortunately our six minutes are up.
Sam
Join us again soon for more trending topics, useful vocabulary, and, who knows,
maybe some terrible jokes, here at 6 Minute English. Bye for now!
Neil
Goodbye!
VOCABULARY
rib cage
structure in the human chest made of bones called ribs which protects your
lungs and heart
primitive
relating to the simple, natural way humans lived in their early stages of
development, before money, machines or writing were invented
giggle
a quiet, childlike but uncontrolled way of laughing
guffaw
laugh out loud, often at something stupid or rude someone has said
mammals
animals, including humans, dogs and whales, which give birth to live young,
rather than laying eggs, and who feed their young with milk
juvenile
young animal which is not fully grown

6 Minute English
Man vs beast: Who is more
efficient?
Sam
Roy
And I’m Roy. Whether it’s salmon swimming upriver to lay their eggs or cheetahs
running faster than a car, animals can do incredible things with their bodies.
Sam
Human bodies are no less incredible – just think of Olympic swimmers and
sprinters.
Roy
Our bodies work using just the energy provided by what we eat. This means that
the human body has to be incredibly efficient, using as little energy as possible to
do what it needs to.
Sam
Yet even with our efficient bodies, no-one can run as fast a cheetah, not even
Olympic champions! In this programme, we’ll be asking: exactly how efficient is
the human body?
Roy
We’ll be comparing human bodies’ performance against each other, and against
some animals too. And, of course, we’ll be learning some new and useful
vocabulary as well.
Sam
But before that I have a question for you, Roy. Efficiency involves an input and an
output. It‘s about the relationship between the amount of energy coming in – in
other words, the food we eat - and the amount of the energy going out – the

usual movements and activities of day-to-day life. So, according to this
definition, which animal is the most efficient? Is it:
a) an ant?
b) a whale? or
c) a human?
Roy
Humans are the most efficient animal.
Sam
OK, Roy. I’ll reveal the answer later in the programme. To find out more about
how the human body works it’s helpful to know how our species evolved. Here’s
Herman Pontzer, professor of evolutionary anthropology at Duke University,
speaking with BBC World Service programme, CrowdScience.
Prof Herman Pontzer

Humans are remarkably efficient. We walk on two very straight legs, if a human
stands next to a dog, for example, the dog has got that funny bent classic dog
leg shape, right? And that crouched posture is really typical of most animals.
Humans have a very straight leg, and so because of that, and because our legs
are pretty long for our body size – humans are part of the ape family – we’re are
efficient.
Roy
Humans are apes and evolved from the same origin as gorillas and chimpanzees.
One big difference however is that humans walk upright on straight legs,
whereas most animals are crouched – bent over at the knee and leaning forwards
to the ground. This crouched posture is not an efficient way to move.
Sam
Other animals, like dogs, have flat backs and move on four bent legs called
doglegs – something bent in the shape of a dog’s leg. The word dogleg can also
mean a sharp bend in a road or path.
Roy
So, the design of the human body makes it efficient compared to some other
animals - but how do humans compare with each other? How do Kenyan athletes
break long-distance running records, while many of us struggle to run for the
bus? The main reason, according to Loughborough University physiologist,
Rhona Pearce, is training. But there may be other factors too, as she explained to
BBC World Service’s, CrowdScience.

Rhona Pearce
Age probably comes into it in that there’s probably an optimal age for tendon
elasticity – that drops off as you get older, so probably there’s a sweet spot in
age for running economy. So, in terms of weight, it depends on what you weight
is made up of, if you’ve got more muscle mass that’s going to help you, whereas
if it’s more fat then you’ve got to carry it.
Sam
Efficient running depends on having flexible muscles and tendons, and this
flexibility drops off, or decreases, as we get older. This means that, in terms of
running, the body has an optimal age – the best age, or the age at which you are
most likely to succeed.
Roy
Body composition also plays a part. Efficient runners need high muscle mass -
the amount of muscle in your body, as opposed to fat or bone. So, training, age,
muscle mass and genetics and are all factors which, when they come together,
produce a sweet spot – the best possible combination of factors and
circumstances. And from the evidence it looks like my answer to your question
was right, Sam.
Sam
Ah yes, I asked which animal was the most efficient, and you said it was c) a
human. Well, I’m sorry to say but that was the wrong answer! The funny thing is -
and scientists still don’t understand why - but the bigger the animal, the less
energy it uses, kilo for kilo. So, the most efficient animal…
Roy
…is also be the biggest – a whale! OK, let’s recap the vocabulary from the
programme, starting with crouched – a position, which is bent at the knee,
leaning forward and closer to the ground.
Sam
A dogleg can describe something which has a bent shape, especially a sharp
bend in a road or path.
Roy
The optimal age to do something is the best age to do it.
Sam
If something drops off, it decreases in quality or quantity.

Roy
A sweet spot is the best possible combination of factors or circumstances.
Sam
And finally, muscle mass is the amount of muscle in your body, as opposed to fat
or bone. Once again, our six minute are up. Bye for now!
Roy
Bye!
VOCABULARY
crouched
bent at the knees, closer to the ground and leaning forward slightly
dogleg
having a bent shape, like a dog’s leg; a sharp bend in a road or path
optimal age
best age; age at which you are most likely to succeed in an activity
drops off
decreases in amount or quality
sweet spot
best possible combination of factors or circumstances
muscle mass
the amount of muscle in your body, as opposed to fat or bone

6 Minute English
Can music mend a broken heart?
Sam
Neil
And I’m Neil. There are a million songs about falling in love, and just as many
about being broken-hearted. Do you remember the first time you fell in love,
Sam?
Sam
Yes - I was fourteen and it seemed like every word of every love song had been
written just for me!
Neil
There’s a strong connection between music and love - as Shakespeare famously
wrote, ‘If music be the food of love, play on’. In this programme we’ll be meeting
a singer-songwriter who used music to express her feelings of falling in love, and
later to mend her broken heart when the relationship ended. And as usual, we’ll
be learning some new vocabulary as well.
Sam
But first I have a question for you, Neil. Your mention of Shakespeare reminds
me of Romeo and Juliet, his famous lovers who fall in love despite their fighting
families, only to die tragically young. But in which Italian city was Romeo and
Juliet set? Was it:
a) Florence?
b) Venice? or,
c) Verona?
Neil
I think it must be one of the world’s most romantic cities - Florence.
Sam
OK, Neil, I’ll reveal the answer later in the programme. Julia Jacklin is an

Australian singer-songwriter whose song, ‘Don’t Know How To Keep Loving You’,
reached number eight in the Australian pop charts. Her song lyrics explore
feelings of falling in love as well as the pain of breaking up.
Neil
Julia’s songs are written from experience. Several years ago she quit her band in
Australia and bought a one-way ticket to London to be with her boyfriend
and soulmate – the person who she felt a special romantic connection with. But
things didn’t work out as she’d hoped, and she found herself alone and working
in a depressing job.
Sam
Julia turned to music, pouring her feelings of lost love into the songs which later
became her first album as a successful grown-up musician. So when BBC World
Service programme, The Conversation, spoke with her, they asked Julia what she
would tell her younger self:
Julia Jacklin
The one thing that was just very heart-breaking for me at that age was
adult cynicism, I guess, about love… I found that really difficult. You know, now
when a young person is, like, really in love at fourteen, I know that as an adult, all
your instincts are telling them… you know that it's probably not going to work,
you know? And it's like, just relax, or whatever, but I remember at the time just
desperately wanting to be validated by adults and not be told that I was being
stupid. I don't know, I'd probably just be like, yeah - go for it!
Neil
Many teenagers have a romantic ideal of ever-lasting love, often in contrast to
the beliefs of adults which Julia calls cynicism - the belief that something will not
be successful, or that the people involved are not sincere.
Sam
The young Julia wanted to feel validated – to get confirmation that her feelings
were worthwhile and valued. She wanted someone to tell her, ‘Go for it!’, a
phrase used to encourage a person to do whatever it takes to make something
work.
Neil
Young love is delicate and it’s easy to be pessimistic. I mean, how many couples
do you know, Sam, who met as teenagers and stayed together for the rest of
their lives?
Sam
I don’t know many, it’s true. Neuroscientist, Dr Lucy Brown, is co-creator of, The

Anatomy Of Love, a website exploring the science of romance. She thinks we
need to be more realistic about falling in love, as she explains here to BBC World
Service’s, The Conversation:
Dr Lucy Brown
I wish someone had said: you know love is wonderful… yes, go for it
but heartbreak happens and maybe this isn’t gonna last… maybe it is, but maybe
it isn't, and just realise that it can be one of the most devastating experiences in
your life, but you're gonna get over it.
Neil
Dr Brown thinks it’s important to know that relationships can end in heartbreak -
feelings of great sadness, as if your heart is broken, especially after the end of a
romantic affair.
Sam
But she also wants young people to know that, whatever happens, they can get
over it - feel better again after something has made them unhappy.
Neil
Falling in love is one of the great experiences in life, and developing the strength
to face whatever happens makes it more likely that the story ends happily–
unlike the tale of Romeo and Juliet.
Sam
I think it’s time to reveal the answer to my question – in which Italian city does
the story of Romeo and Juliet take place?
Neil
I said it was Florence – so, was I right?
Sam
Well, Florence is a romantic city, but the correct answer is… Verona. Verona was
little known in Shakespeare’s time, but nowadays thousands of tourists visit the
sites connected with the story, including the famous balcony where Romeo
declared his eternal love. OK, let’s recap the vocabulary we’ve learned starting
with soulmate – the special person who you feel a strong romantic bond to.
Neil
Cynicism describes the belief that something will not work out successfully.
Sam
If you are validated, you get external confirmation that your actions, ideas or
feelings are worthwhile and valuable.

Neil
You can use the phrase, Go for it! to encourage someone to make whatever
efforts are necessary to get something done.
Sam
Heartbreak describes feelings of great sadness, as if your heart is broken.
Neil
And finally, to get over something means to feel better again after something
has made you unhappy. One again our six minutes are up, but there’s time for
one more famous saying and I think it’s good advice: “better to have loved and
lost, than never to have loved at all”. Goodbye for now.
Sam
Bye!
VOCABULARY
soulmate
the person you have a special romantic bond with and love very much
cynicism
the belief that something will not be successful, or that the people involved are
not sincere
validated
having confirmation that your ideas, feeling or actions are worthwhile and
valuable
Go for it!
used to encourage someone to make whatever efforts are needed to get
something done
heartbreak
feelings of great sadness as if your heart is broken, especially at the end of a
romantic affair

get over (something/someone)
feel better again after something or someone has made you unhappy

6 Minute English
How accurate are opinion polls?
Neil
Sam
And I’m Sam. Predicting the future is not easy but that’s exactly the job of opinion
pollsters – researchers who ask people questions to discover what they think
about certain topics. Often their aim is predicting which political party will win in
election by asking members of the public how they intend to vote.
Neil
But predicting the future is never one hundred percent accurate, and opinion polls
don’t always get it right. In 2016, few pollsters predicted a victory for Donald
Trump over Hillary Clinton in the US presidential election.
Sam
And in the 2020 US elections, most polls predicted Trump would lose to Joe Biden
by a much larger amount than he actually did. These mistakes, sometimes called
misfires - when things do not work in the way intended - have damaged the
reputation of opinion pollsters. In this programme we’ll be taking a look into the
opinion polling industry and, of course, learning some useful new vocabulary as
well.
Neil
But first I have a question for you, Sam, and it’s about another time when the
opinion polls got it wrong. Few pollsters predicted that Britain would vote to leave
the European Union in the 2016 Brexit referendum which, in the end, it did. But
what was the final split between those who voted to leave and those who wanted
to remain? Was it:
a) 51 leave to 49 remain?
b) 52 leave to 48 remain?
c) 52 remain to 48 leave?

Sam
I think it was b) 52 percent voted to leave and 48 percent to remain.
Neil
OK, Sam, I’ll reveal the answer at the end of the programme.
Sam
One of the biggest polling companies was founded by George Gallup. Born in 1901
on a farm in Iowa, Gallup was a student of journalism. He wanted to know people’s
opinion on a range of subjects and came up with a simple idea – why not ask try
asking them? Here’s G Elliot Morris, a data journalist for ‘The Economist’,
explaining more to BBC World Service programme, More or Less…
G Elliot Morris
And he publishes his dissertation on this - how to measure what people want,
basically. And he gets hired by a much bigger advertising agency in New York
called Young and Rubicam. And they basically give him a blank cheque to do their
research, to figure out how to call people, how to talk to them, to figure out if they
remember or liked a certain product. Basically to figure out early methodologies
in advertising. And then by 1931 or so, he's wondering: well, if it works for
toothpaste, why not politics?
Neil
George Gallup tried to figure out what customers wanted to buy. If you figure
something out, you finally understand it or find a solution to a problem after
thinking about it a lot.
Sam
Later he was hired by a New York advertising agency to find out people’s opinion
of consumer products like toothpaste and soft drinks. George was given a blank
cheque – an unlimited amount of money and freedom to do his job.
Neil
At this time, polling was focused on consumer preferences, not politics. But asking
people about their political views is a lot more complicated than asking them
about toothpaste. Making accurate election predictions depends on polling a
sample group of people who accurately represent the population as a whole. One
of the reasons for pollsters failure to predict Trump’s election in 2016 is that they
didn’t ask enough white, non-college educated voters.

Sam
So, polling is a very complex process, one which is never totally reliable according
to G Elliot Morris , speaking again here to BBC World Service’s, More or Less…
G Elliot Morris
If people were understanding this process, that’s generating all the polls, then
they would understand polls as less precise tools – tools that definitely can’t offer
the laser-like predictive accuracy we’ve come to expect from them, then the
difference between polling’s’ expectations and performance wouldn’t be so stark.
Neil
Opinion polls can estimate the outcome of an election but they can’t give us laser-
like accuracy. If you describe something as laser-like you mean it is very accurate
and focused, like a laser.
Sam
If people understand how hard it is to predict the future, they might be more
realistic about how accurate opinion polls can be. Then, differences between a
prediction and the final result wouldn’t be so stark – obvious and easily visible, or
harsh.
Neil
Predicting the future is difficult, otherwise everyone would be a lottery winner by
now! Maybe it’s not opinion polls that are broken but our desire to know the future
that’s the problem. OK, it’s time to reveal the answer to my question about the
Brexit referendum.
Sam
I said the final result was 52 percent for leave and 48 percent for remain.
Neil
Which was… the correct answer! and another example of an opinion poll misfire –
a situation where something does not work as intended. OK, let’s recap the rest of
the vocabulary from this programme about opinion pollsters – people who
conduct polls asking the public their opinion on particular subjects, especially
politics.
Sam
If you figure something out, you finally understand it, or find the solution to a
problem after thinking long and hard about it.

Neil
If someone gives you a blank cheque, you have unlimited money and freedom to
complete a task.
Sam
When you describe something as laser-like you mean that it’s very accurate and
precise.
Neil
And finally, the adjective stark has several meanings including obvious, harsh and
plain. Once again, our six minutes are up. Bye for now!
Sam
Bye!

VOCABULARY
opinion pollster
people who conduct polls which ask members of the public their opinion on
particular subjects, especially ones concerning politics
misfire
something that does not work in the way it was intended to
figure (something) out

finally understand something, or find the solution to a problem, after thinking
hard about it
blank cheque
unlimited money and freedom to complete a task
laser-like
very accurate and focused, like the beam of a laser
stark
obvious; easy to see; harsh; without decoration

6 Minute English
Island life: is it paradise?
Sam
Rob
And I’m Rob.
Sam
What do Britain, Greenland, Australia, Hawaii, and Cuba all have in common,
Rob?
Rob
Are you planning your summer holidays, Sam? Or is it that they’re all islands?
Sam
Right, Rob, they are all islands, but that’s about all they have in common. There’s
as much variety in the world’s islands as in the people who live there!
Rob
In tourist holiday magazines, Pacific islands like Fiji, Tonga and Tahiti look like
paradise, with tropical rainforests, white, sandy beaches and turquoise blue sea.
But in reality, life is far from paradise for these island communities. In 2022, the
island of Tonga suffered a tsunami – a huge wave caused by an earthquake that
flowed inland, killing people and causing largescale damage. The destruction was
terrible and added to the continuing crisis of rising sea levels threatening the
island’s survival.
Sam
In this programme we’ll be hearing some Pacific islander voices and, as usual,
learning some new vocabulary too. But first I have a question for you, Rob. We
already named some islands, large and small, but how much of the world’s
population, do you think, lives on an island?

a) 11 percent
b) 15 percent
c) 20 percent
Rob
Ooh, that’s a tricky question! It can’t be that many, so I’ll guess a) 11 percent.
Sam
OK, Rob. I’ll reveal the correct answer at the end of the programme. The South
Pacific is home to thousands of low-lying islands dotted across miles of Pacific
Ocean. With rising sea levels, it’s predicted that many of these islands will simply
disappear in coming years.
Rob
And if that wasn’t bad enough, the effects of climate change are making life
difficult for these island communities right now. The tsunami that hit Tonga left
the main island, Tonga Tarpu, in ruins. One of those leading the clean-up was, Ofa
Ma'asi Kaisamy, manager of the Pacific Climate Change Centre. She told BBC
World Service programme Business Daily the extent of the problem.
Ofa Ma'asi Kaisamy

The projected impacts of climate change on agriculture and fisheries will
undermine food production systems in the Pacific. Our Pacific people are also
dependent on crops, livestock, agriculture, fisheries, handicrafts for food security
and income, and these sectors are also highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate
change.
Sam
The economy of many islands like Tonga depends on tourism, farming or fishing,
and on handicrafts – skilfully making traditional objects like jewellery, textiles or
pottery by hand. These are usually sold to tourists, but when tsunamis keep the
tourists away, local jobs become vulnerable – unprotected and open to damage.
Rob
This affects not only handicrafts, but Tonga’s ability to produce enough food to
feed its population, something known as food security.
Sam
As the effects of climate change hit the local economy, young people are leaving
Tonga to find work elsewhere. Tonga Youth Employment and Entrepreneurship is
a project working with local organisations to help young people start businesses

and find jobs. Here’s project director, Lusia Latu-Jones, speaking with BBC World
Service’s Business Daily:
Lusia Latu-Jones
It can be emotional, very emotional and heartbreaking to see what’s happening in
our island… but it’s even harder when you see young people coming through…
just looking, looking for chance to help their families, for them to get on their feet
again. So the question we ask ourselves as an organisation is how can we address
these challenges to better support our people so that they can get back on their
feet, feed their families.
Rob
We can hear the emotion in Lusia’s voice when she describes the situation facing
young Tongans as heartbreaking – causing strong feelings of sadness.
Sam
She says her role is to help people get back on their feet, an idiom which means
be able to function again after having difficulties in life.
Rob
The many problems Tongans face are made worse by perhaps the biggest problem
of all - the fact that poverty, hunger and the loss of their traditional culture is being
caused by the carbon emissions of larger countries halfway around the world. If
we all learned to adapt our lifestyle, just as Pacific islanders have done, it may not
yet be too late to change the fate of their island paradise.
Sam
And the fate of the millions living on other islands too, which reminds me of my
question, Rob! Eleven percent of us are islanders, which works out as over 730
million people.
Rob
OK, let’s recap the vocabulary from this programme starting with tsunami – a very
large wave that flows inland causing death and destruction.
Sam
Many islanders produce handicrafts - handmade traditional objects like jewellery,
textiles and pottery.
Rob
Someone who is vulnerable is weak or unprotected.

Sam
The phrase food security refers to a country’s ability to produce enough food to
feed its population.
Rob
When something is heartbreaking, it makes you feel very sad.
Sam
And finally, to get back on your feet means to be okay again after having
difficulties in life.
Rob
Once again our six minutes are up! Goodbye for now.
Sam
Bye!

VOCABULARY
tsunami
large wave caused by an earthquake that flows inland causing death and
destruction
handicrafts
skilfully handmade traditional objects like jewellery, textiles and pottery
vulnerable
unprotected, weak, open to harm
food security
the ability of a country to produce or obtain enough food to feed its population
heartbreaking
causing a strong feeling of sadness
get back on your feet

be okay again after having problems or difficulties in life

6 Minute English
Coronavirus vs other pandemics
Neil
Georgina
And I’m Georgina.
Neil
I’ve really had enough of this coronavirus, Georgina! People getting sick, losing
their jobs and to top it off, the pubs in some places are closed!
Georgina
I know it’s bad, Neil, but compared to historical pandemics like the Spanish flu
and economic crises like the Great Depression, coronavirus isn’t actually so bad.
You’ve got to look at the bigger picture – the long-term, overall view of a
complex situation.
Neil
Hmm, somehow that’s not very comforting, Georgina! But tell me more…
Georgina
Well, we’ve heard lots from politicians and scientists about the spread of
coronavirus but a historian’s view might give us a fresh look at the bigger picture
– and maybe a more hopeful point of view. So in this programme we’ll be hearing
from historian, Peter Frankopan, author of bestselling book, The Silk Roads.
Neil
Ah, the title of that book, The Silk Roads, reminds me of my quiz question,
Georgina. Are you ready to have a go?
Georgina
I’ll try, Neil, but the only thing I know about the Silk Roads is that they were the
ancient routes along which people travelled the Earth.

Neil
Very good, Georgina! Not just people but also ideas, religions, languages and
diseases travelled from place to place along these ancient roads. But where
exactly did the Silk Roads run? That’s my quiz question. Was it:
a) From South America to Europe?,

b) From Africa to Asia?, or,
c) From Asia to Europe?
Georgina
Well, since this current pandemic came from Wuhan, I’ll say, c) from Asia to
Europe.
Neil
OK, Georgina, we’ll find out later if that’s right. What’s certain is that disease
passing from place to place and from animals to humans, is nothing new. Listen
to historian, Peter Frankopan, being interviewed for the BBC programme,
HARDTalk.
Georgina
See if you can hear the reason he gives for how diseases are spread.
Peter Frankopan
Well, it’s a fairly predictable thing a historian would say but change and
widespread diseases are nothing new. Our ancestors all lived through big
pandemics, some of them which were much more lethal than coronavirus. And
one of the products of living together in high-density populations, going back as
far as historical records go, is you find there are transitions of disease from
animals to human beings and they inflict damage. And that damage typically you
measure in mortality rates but then the economic and social consequences of
disease. There’s a lot of examples in history to learn from.
Neil
Compared to coronavirus, other big pandemics in history have been much more
lethal – dangerous enough to cause death.
Georgina
One reason Peter gives for this is the high-density of populations, meaning
people living together in buildings very close to one another. In olden days this
included living together with animals, making the transmission of disease to
humans much easier.

Neil
Right, Georgina, like the flea-infested rats which spread the plague across
Europe in the Middle Ages.
Georgina
But times change and today most people live in very different ways from people
living centuries ago.
Neil
So how can we explain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020? And why
have some countries been able to deal with it so much better than others. Here’s
Peter Frankopan again, talking on the BBC’s HARDTalk.
Georgina
Listen and see if you can you spot his answer.
Peter Frankopan
Well, your geographical position in the world matters – if you’re if you’re
geographically peripheral like Scandinavia or New Zealand, then you have a
different dose, a different level of connectivity with the rest of the world. If
you’re a country like the UK which is the centre of all global flight routes, then
the incidence of people going backwards and forwards, in and out of your
country - you’re going to spread and catch much quicker. The scorecard is very
mixed and there’ve been some democratic systems that have been extremely
resilient and robust at anticipating it and some that have got it wrong.
Neil
According to Peter, countries which are geographically peripheral – at the
periphery or edge of things, instead of at the centre, are less at risk.
Georgina
The UK, on the other hand, is at the centre of global flight routes – the
connecting flight paths used by airplanes. Visiting air passengers who spread the
disease are one of the reasons behind Britain’s dose of coronavirus.
Neil
Here, dose is used as an informal way of saying an unpleasant experience.
Georgina
So from a historical viewpoint, this current pandemic doesn’t seem so bad – far
fewer people have died than in previous pandemics and with the arrival of a
vaccine, the end is almost in sight.

Neil
Hmm, I guess so, Georgina, but for now at least the pubs are still closed in some
places! Anyway, it was interesting to hear how diseases have been spreading
since ancient times.
Georgina
On routes like the Silk Roads, you mean? So what was the answer to your quiz
question, Neil? Was I right?
Neil
You said the ancient Silk Roads ran, c) from Asia to Europe which was… correct!
They ran from Japan and the Far East through Asia and the Middle East, bringing
trade and spices as well as new ideas and languages to Europe.
Georgina
Sounds like another example of looking at the bigger picture - the long-term,
overall view of a complex situation.
Neil
Let’s recap the other vocabulary too. Diseases can be lethal – extremely
dangerous, even causing death.
Georgina
A high-density population is a population living very closely together.
Neil
Peripheral countries may be less at risk from pandemics because they are at the
periphery or edge of events, instead of at the centre.
Georgina
So somewhere with fewer flight routes – the connecting pathways followed by
airplanes, might get a less serious dose – or unpleasant experience, of
coronavirus.
Neil
Well, I hope this experience hasn’t been too unpleasant and you get a chance to
use some of this vocabulary chatting to your friends about trending stories in the
news.
Georgina
And if you like topical discussions and want to learn how to use the vocabulary
found in headlines, why not check out our News Review podcast? Remember to
join us again soon at 6 Minute English.

Neil
And to download our free app from your usual app store so you can follow BBC
Learning English – we’re all over social media as well. Goodbye for now!
Georgina
Bye!

VOCABULARY
the bigger picture

the long-term, overall view of a complex situation
lethal
causing death; extremely dangerous
high-density
having people living together in buildings close to one another
peripheral
happening at the edge, not centre, of something
flight routes
air routes and connections followed by airplanes
dose
(informal) something unpleasant to experience

6 Minute English
Optimists vs. Pessimists
Neil
Sam
And I’m Sam.
Neil
We often hear phrases such as, ‘dream big’ or, ‘reach for the stars’ which reflect
an optimistic view of life. Are you an optimist, Sam?
Sam
I hope so! I try to see the positive side of life, even when something bad happens.
Neil
It sounds like you’re a glass-half-full person – someone who always thinks that
good things will happen.
Sam
How about you, Neil? Are you optimistic?
Neil
Look, things go wrong all the time - that’s a fact of life. Call me a pessimist if you
like but I’m just being realistic.
Sam
Hmm, it sounds like Neil is more of a glass-half-empty person, but the truth is
that the age-old debate between optimism and pessimism is more complex than
we think.
Neil
Yes, whether you’re a sunny optimist or a gloomy pessimist may be determined
more by your birthplace and your age than your attitude, as we’ll be finding out
in this programme.

Sam
Great. I’ve got a good feeling about this, Neil!
Neil
But first, as usual, I have a question for you, Sam. Psychologists define optimism
as an attitude which overestimates the chances of good things happening to you,
while underestimating the chances of bad things occurring. So, what proportion
of the British population, do you think, describe themselves as optimistic? Is it:
a) 20 percent?
b) 50 percent? or,
c) 80 percent?
Sam
I’ll choose the largest – 80 percent… but then, I’m optimistic so I would say that!
Neil
OK, Sam. We’ll find out if your optimistic answer is the correct one later in the
programme. Someone who probably wouldn’t agree with you, th0ugh, is BBC
World Service listener, Hannah. Hannah grew up in Germany before moving to
the United States. She thinks Americans tend to be more optimistic than people
back home in Germany, as she told BBC World Service programme,
CrowdScience:
Hannah
I think the stereotypical perception of Germans is that we’re quite pessimistic
and that kind of tends to come across as being a bit of a Debbie Downer, when in
actuality, Germans just tend to be avid planners for all eventual negative
eventualities as well… so that’s kind of us being pessimistic but actually being
cautious, as opposed to for example, what I’ve notice in America that a lot of
people tend to be hyper-optimistic. I’ve always admired how Americans tend to
be able to sugarcoat everything.
Sam
As a stereotypical pessimist, Hannah sometimes feels like a Debbie Downer. This
expression is American slang for someone who makes others feel bad by
focussing on the depressing aspects of things.
Neil
Americans, on the other hand, are typically seen as optimists who tend to
sugarcoat things – make things seem better than they really are.

Sam
According to Hannah, many Americans are hyper-optimistic. She uses the prefix
hyper to say that there is too much of a certain quality. Hyper-sensitive people
are too sensitive; a hyper-optimist is too optimistic.
Neil
Besides your country of birth, age is another consideration in the optimism
debate. When we’re young we have our whole life ahead of us, and it’s easier to
optimistically believe that everything’s going to be alright.
Sam
The belief that everything’s going to be fine is called ‘the optimism bias’. It isn’t
fixed but changes as we age - something neuroscientist, Professor Tali Sharot,
explained to BBC World Service programme, CrowdScience:
Tali Sharot
So it’s quite high in kids and teenagers – they think, ‘Oh, everything’s going to be
fine’… and then it goes down, down, down and it hits rock bottom in your midlife
at which point the optimism bias is relatively small, and then it starts climbing up
again and it’s quite high in the elderly population, and that goes absolutely
against our view of the grumpy old man, or woman.
Neil
After starting out high in children, the optimism bias hits rock bottom – the
lowest possible level – in middle age, often because of work pressures, family
responsibilities or caring for elderly parents.
Sam
But optimism seems to increase again as we get older. This is surprising as it
goes against the image we have of the grumpy old man – a phrase to describe
someone who complains a lot, is moody and gets easily annoyed. Optimistic
women, meanwhile, can look forward to longer, healthier lives.
Neil
Good news for you then, Sam! But I’m sticking with my pessimism. If I anticipate
things going wrong I don’t get disappointed when they do!
Sam
That’s actually a fairly positive way of looking at things, Neil, but I’m not sure if
most people would agree with you – or maybe they would… It depends on the
answer to your question…

Neil
Right. I asked Sam what proportion of British people describe themselves as
optimistic.
Sam
And optimistically, I said it was c) 80 percent.
Neil
Which was… the correct answer!
Sam
Of course it was. Whether you expect good or bad things to happen to you,
you’re probably right. So why not focus on the sunny side of life, Neil? That way,
you’ve got nothing to lose!
Neil
OK, let’s recap the vocabulary from this programme, Sam. You’re certainly a
glass-half-full person – someone with an optimistic attitude to life.
Sam
And you’re something of a Debbie Downer - American slang for someone who
brings everyone down by talking about the negative side of things.
Neil
If you sugarcoat something, you make it appear more positive than it really is.
Sam
The prefix hyper is used before an adjective to show having too much of that
quality, for example hypercritical means being too critical.
Neil
If something hits rock bottom it reaches its lowest possible level.
Sam
And finally, the phrase grumpy old man can be used to describe someone who
always complains, is intolerant and gets annoyed easily… a bit like Neil!
Neil
Unfortunately our six minutes are up, but join us again soon for more trending
topics and useful vocabulary here at 6 Minute English. Goodbye for now!
Sam
Bye!

VOCABULARY
glass-half-full person
someone with an optimistic attitude who tends to focus on the positive side of
life
Debbie Downer
(US slang) someone who makes others feel bad by focussing on the bad or
depressing side of things
sugarcoat
to make something seem better than it really is
hyper-
(prefix) having too much of a quality eg. hyperactive, hypersensitive
rock bottom
lowest possible level
grumpy old man

describes someone who complains a lot, is moody and intolerant, and gets easily
annoyed

6 Minute English
Restoring trust in science
Sam
Rob
And I’m Rob.
Sam
Once in a while along comes a scientist who captures the public imagination and
communicates their passion for science in an exciting and understandable way.
Rob
In this programme, we’ll be meeting one of America’s best-known popular
scientists. Astronomer Neil deGrasse Tyson. He’s a man with a gift for
communicating and inspiring people with his television shows and books on
cosmology – the study of the origin and nature of the universe.
Sam
In his day job he runs the Hayden Planetarium in New York’s American Museum of
Natural History, but Neil’s real mission is to encourage scientific thinking among
the American public.
Rob
We’ll be hearing from the famous astronomer, and learning some new vocabulary,
soon. But first I have a question for you, Sam. Science is ever-changing with new
discoveries updating our understanding all the time. For centuries, the Earth was
thought to be the centre of the Universe - but who was the first astronomer to
have the correct idea that, in fact, the Earth and the planets revolve around the
Sun? Was it:
a) Nicolaus Copernicus?
b) Isaac Newton? or
c) Galileo Galilei?

Sam
Hmm, I’ll say it was c) Galileo.
Rob
OK, Sam. I’ll reveal the correct answer later in the programme. Recent events like
the Covid pandemic and climate crisis have put scientists under pressure from
critics motivated by political views. Neil deGrasse Tyson thinks facts are not
dependent on politics, but should be established with the scientific method, a
process of finding the truth through testing and experimentation.
Sam
Here’s Neil explaining more about the scientific method to BBC World Service
programme, HardTalk.
Neil deGrasse Tyson

If you have a brilliant idea and you test it and it unearths so much of what has been
known before, we’re gonna double-check that – the rest of us – we’ll say, ‘But did
he do it? Did he cross his t’s and dot his i’s? Did he … Let me check the power
that’s driving his experiment, you know, the wall current, let me check how that
was conceived and done’. And if no-one can duplicate your results, it’s not a result.
Rob
Before scientists can confirm the truth of an experiment, their findings must be
doubled-checked - making certain something is correct by carefully examining it
again. This process is called ‘peer review’ - other scientists double-checking the
experiment to make sure everything was done correctly. One way they do this is
to duplicate, or repeat, the experiment to see if they get the same result.
Sam
In other words, Neil wants scientists to have crossed the t’s and dotted the i’s, a
phrase which means paying attention to the small details of whatever you are
doing.
Rob
A scientific approach requires an open mind and critical thinking, but Neil believes
the most important thing is to know the difference between fact and opinion.
People have opinions about all kinds of things but that doesn’t make what they
believe a fact.
Sam
Yet fact and opinion are becoming harder to separate. As protests by anti-vaccine
groups and climate change deniers have shown, many Americans, even presidents,

seem suspicious of scientific fact. It’s a worrying trend that Neil thinks is a result
of the US education system, as he told BBC World Service programme, HardTalk.
Neil deGrasse Tyson

It has to do with how science is taught in schools. It’s currently taught as a body of
information, a satchel of facts that are imparted upon you and then you
regurgitate that for an exam. That’s an aspect of science, but it’s not the most
important part of science. The most important part of science is knowing how to
question things and knowing when an answer has emerged that represents an
objective truth about this world.
Rob
Neil says that science is taught by encouraging students to regurgitate facts - to
repeat information without properly understanding it.
Sam
Knowledge is important, but what’s also needed is a questioning attitude than can
recognise objective truth - a truth about the natural world which is not influenced
by human bias, opinions or emotion. Without that, anyone is free to call whatever
they like a ‘fact’, which only leads to chaos.
Rob
Right. No matter how hard I believe that the Moon is made of cheese, or the Sun
goes round around the Earth, believing it doesn’t make it true.
Sam
That sounds like something Neil deGrasse Tyson would agree with – and maybe
Galileo too!
Rob
Yes. In my question I asked who first came up with the idea that the Earth revolves
around the Sun.
Sam
And I said it was Renaissance astronomer, Galileo.
Rob
Which was the wrong answer, I’m afraid. Galileo knew the Earth revolved around
the Sun, but the first person with the idea was Polish astronomer, Nicolaus
Copernicus, in 1543 – unfortunately, centuries before the invention of television
could spread the news of this objective truth – a provable truth which is
uninfluenced by human bias or opinion.

Sam
OK, let’s recap the rest of the vocabulary from our chat about American scientist
Neil deGrasse Tyson and his love of cosmology - the study of the Universe.
Rob
To double-check something means to make certain it’s correct by carefully re-
examining it. One way scientists do this is to duplicate, or repeat exactly, an
experiment.
Sam
The idiom ‘cross the t’s and dot the i’s’ means to pay close attention to the details
of what you are doing.
Rob
And finally, if you regurgitate facts, you just repeat them without properly
understanding them – something a true scientist would never do!
Sam
Once again, our six minutes are up. Goodbye for now!
Rob
Bye!

VOCABULARY
cosmology
the study of the origin and nature of the universe
double-check
make certain something is correct by carefully examining it again
duplicate
repeat or copy something in exactly the same way
cross the t’s and dot the i’s

(idiom) pay close attention to the details of the activity or task you are doing
regurgitate
repeat something without properly understanding it
objective truth
scientifically proven truth about the natural world which is not influenced by
human bias, opinions or emotion

6 Minute English
The secret life of buffets
Neil
Sam
And I’m Sam.
Neil
Have you ever been to an all-you-can-eat buffet, Sam? You know – a meal in a
restaurant where you can eat as much food as you like.
Sam
Yes, I went to an Indian buffet once. I didn’t eat all day before the meal, but I only
managed to finish three or four plates…well, maybe five!
Neil
It sounds like your eyes were bigger than your belly, or stomach – a phrase
describing someone who has taken more food than they can eat. In this
programme we’ll be discussing buffets – a feast of many different food dishes
where diners are allowed to eat as much as they want – or as much as their
stomachs will allow. And, of course, we’ll be learning some new vocabulary as well.
Sam
The popularity of buffets is booming, especially in Middle Eastern and Asian
countries where the variety of foods means there’s something for everyone. But
feasts are big and boastful - usually too much is cooked, and buffets have been
criticised for waste.
Neil
We’ll hear more soon, but first I have a question for you, Sam. The word ‘buffet’
originated from the French name for the table on which food was served, but
buffets themselves don’t come from France. So in which country did buffets
begin?

a) The United States of America
b) Sweden
c) China
Sam
Well, the US is famous for supersizing food so I’ll guess a) America.
Neil
OK, Sam. We’ll find out the answer later in the programme. John Wood, owner of
cooking company Kitchen Cut, knows a lot about buffets – he used to run a one
thousand seat breakfast buffet at the five-star Jumeirah Beach Hotel in Dubai.
Here John shares his observations on human buffet behaviour with BBC World
Service programme, The Food Chain.
John Wood
There are different people that treat buffets in different ways. Some people think
this is a great opportunity to try little bits and lots of everything, and we come
back as many times as I like. And other people just - whether they don't like getting
up and down, which is understandable from their table - just want to pile it high,
and people they want to get value for money. So, if you're paying $100, $200 a
head for a buffet, you're gonna pile it up high and take the most expensive things
you can you know, and get your money's worth.
Sam
John says buffet diners want to get their money’s worth – get good value for the
money they spend, so they often pile up food on their plate. If you pile something
up, you gather a large amount of it into one place to build what’s called a pile.
Neil
But buffets are not just about eating until you explode - they’re also an
opportunity to show off to your friends. Weddings are big in India, and usually
include a buffet. The richer the people getting married, the bigger the buffet,
sometimes inviting as many as five thousand guests. If each guest eats around six
dishes, we’re taking about a seriously big buffet!
Sam
Sandeep Sreedharan is a wedding caterer from Goa in South India – he owns a
company which provides the food and drink for special social occasions. Here he
talks with Ruth Alexander, presenter of BBC World Service, The Food Programme,
about organising an Indian wedding buffet:

Sandeep Sreedharan
It's a very vicious circle, I think, right? Everybody wants to overwhelm everybody
around you.
Ruth Alexander
OK. That's the aim. They are out to impress - they want to ‘wow’ the guests - knock
their socks off.
Sandeep Sreedharan
Hain… knock their socks off. They should just go back saying, ‘I couldn't eat even
half of it!’, you know. Some people just come for eating. They don't even worry
about who's wedding is it… They know that… ‘Who's the caterer? Ah, these guys
are catering. Oh my God, this is gonna be great.
Sam
Wedding buffets are designed to amaze and overwhelm the guests with their huge
displays of food. They need to ‘wow’ the guests, or knock their socks off – an idiom
meaning to amaze and impress someone.
Neil
The problem is that no matter how extravagant and expensive one buffet is, the
next one has to be even more impressive, something Sandeep calls a vicious circle
– a difficult situation which has the effect of creating new problems which then
make the original situation even worse.
Sam
It seems the secret to enjoying a buffet is trying a little bit of everything, without
stuffing yourself until you can’t move – although in the past, I think, that was
exactly the idea.
Neil
OK, it’s time to reveal the answer to my question - where did the buffets originally
come from?
Sam
I guessed it was from the United States. Was I right?
Neil
That was… the wrong answer, I’m afraid, Sam. In fact buffets are thought to have
come from Sweden in the Middle Ages.

Sam
OK, let’s recap the vocabulary we’ve learned, starting with the expression, eyes
bigger than your belly, or eyes bigger than your stomach, used when someone has
taken more food than they can eat.
Neil
If you pile up your plate, you gather a large quantity of food together into a pile.
Sam
The phrase to get your money’s worth means to get good value for the money you
have spent .
Neil
A vicious circle is a problematic situation, having the effect of creating new
problems which then make the first situation even worse.
Sam
The idiom to knock your socks off means to wow, amaze or impress someone.
Neil
And finally, a caterer is a person or company which provides food and drink for
special social occasions. Once again, our six minutes are up. Bye for now!
Sam
Bye!

VOCABULARY
eyes bigger than your belly

(idiom) used when someone has taken more food than they can eat
pile up
gather a large quantity of something into a one place to form a pile
get your money’s worth

get good value for the money you have spent
vicious circle
problem or difficult situation which has the effect of creating new problems which
then make the original situation even worse
knock your socks off!

(idiom) amaze and impress someone
caterer
person or company which provides food and drink for special social occasions

6 Minute English
What are more dangerous:
sharks or humans?
Sam
Rob
And I’m Rob. Now, on Friday the 29th of June 1975, movie posters appeared in
cinemas all over the USA with the now notorious words: ‘You’ll never go in the
water again’. So, do you know which movie was being promoted, Sam?
Sam
Yes, I think it was ‘Jaws’ - Steven Spielberg’s infamous horror movie which
terrified a generation with its story of a man-eating great white shark with a
taste for revenge and for human flesh.
Rob
'Jaws' multiplied people’s fascination with, and fear of, sharks.
Sam
But sharks’ fearsome reputation is not based on facts: most attacks on humans
are cases of mistaken identity, where the shark mistakes a swimmer for fish. In
recent years the average annual number of worldwide deaths from shark bites
was as low as four.
Rob
Today sharks should be the apex predators of the ocean - the top predator that
hunts and eats other animals but has no natural predator of its own.
Sam
Instead, over 100 million sharks are caught and killed each year and, thanks to
this overfishing, many shark species are now endangered. We’ll hear more soon,
but first I have a question for you, Rob. Approximately, how many different
species of shark exist today? Is it:

a) 330?
b) 530? or
c) 730?
Rob
Well, I’ll take a guess at b) 530.
Sam
OK, I’ll reveal the correct answer later in the programme.
Rob
Now, as Sam mentioned, ‘Jaws’ made many people nervous about swimming in
the sea, largely thanks to scenes in the movie showing the shark biting swimmers
in a frenzy of teeth and blood.
Sam
George Burgess has spent 40 years studying the cause of shark attacks in his job
as director of the Florida Programme for Shark Research. According to him, the
movie’s depiction of great whites is totally unrealistic, as he told BBC World
Service programme, The Inquiry.
George Burgess
Will a single shark that’s involved in a bite on a human be more likely to bite
another human in the future? In other words, is there something of the ‘Jaws’
image as we saw, unfortunately, in the movies of which you had a white shark
that, apparently, had a grudge and would try to go after humans… well, nothing
could be further from the truth than that.
Rob
In the movie, sharks are portrayed as vengeful creatures who recognise and try
to kill individual people. The shark in Jaws had a grudge – a feeling of anger or
hatred towards someone because of what they did in the past.
Sam
According to marine biologist, George Burgess, this is nothing like the real
behaviour of sharks in the wild. He says nothing could be further from the
truth – an expression used to emphasise that something is not true at all.
Rob
The actual truth is that sharks have been perfectly designed by evolution for
their ocean environment. In fact, they have hardly changed over the last 400
million years, making them even older than the dinosaurs.

Sam
Sharks’ characteristic design – their fin, teeth and skin – allows them to thrive in
their natural environment. Listen to Oliver Crimmin, senior curator at London’s
Natural History Museum, explaining more to BBC World Service programme, The
Inquiry.
Oliver Crimmin
If we look at the really successful features of sharks you’ve got to consider
this cartilaginous skeleton – that’s no bone in the skeleton.
That flexible material that the skeleton is made of enables sharks to be
very agile, and it enables them to be athletic and it’s lightweight.
Rob
Sharks’ skeletons are made of cartilage, not bone. Cartilage is a strong flexible
tissue which connects joints in the bodies of living creatures.
Sam
Feel for the bony material in the fold of your ear – that’s cartilage.
Rob
Not having bones allows sharks to be both flexible - able to bend without
breaking, and agile - able to move their body quickly and easily. Boneless, bendy,
and built for speed, sharks really are the perfect evolutionary design.
Sam
Yet overfishing and the cruel practice of finning, cutting off shark fins to make
exotic soups and returning the wounded creature to the sea to die, are
threatening shark numbers.
Rob
Which is why it’s tragic that so many of their species are facing extinction. And
speaking of shark species, what was the answer to your question, Sam?
Sam
In my quiz question, I asked how many species of shark there are in existence.
Rob
Yeah, and I guessed it was around 530 different species.
Sam
Which was the correct answer, Rob! And the variety of shark species is incredible,
from giants like the great white to the tiny dwarf lantern shark.

Rob
Ok, let’s recap the vocabulary from this programme all about sharks, the
ocean’s apex predator – that’s the top predator that hunts other animals but has
no predators of its own.
Sam
If you hold a grudge, you have feelings of anger towards someone because of
something they did in the past.
Rob
The phrase, nothing could be further from the truth, is used to emphasise that
something is totally false.
Sam
Cartilage is the strong flexible tissue connecting bones or joints in the body.
Rob
Flexible means able to bend without breaking.
Sam
And finally, if you’re agile, you can move your body quickly and easily.
Rob
Once again, our six minutes are over.
Sam
Bye for now!
Rob
Goodbye!

Vocabulary
apex predator
predator (animal that hunts and eats other animals) at the top of a food chain
because it has no natural predators of its own
grudge
feeling of anger or hatred towards someone because of what they did to you in
the past
nothing could be further from the truth

expression used to emphasise that something is not true at all
cartilage
strong flexible tissue which connects bones or joints in the bodies of living
creatures
flexible
able to bend without breaking
agile
able to move your body quickly and easily

6 Minute English
Sleepy in South Korea
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 hours
b) 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!

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

6 Minute English
Is social media a distraction?
Sophie
Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. I'm Sophie…
[pause]
Sophie
Neil? … [sound of a smartphone] Neil!
Neil
Oh, sorry! … And I'm Neil.
Sophie
Neil, please put down your phone. We're doing the show!
Neil
Yeah, I know. Hang on a minute. I just need to tweet something and… Done!
Sophie
And the subject of today's show is social media and its impact on our daily lives.
Neil
Hmm, well, I suppose it has had quite a big impact on mine.
Sophie
That's all too clear. Now, perhaps we can move on to today's quiz question?
Neil
Of course – I'm all ears. [sound of a smartphone] Oh, hang on, wait a second…
Sophie
There's a word to describe what you're doing, you know. Answer me this: Which word
describes a situation where you're talking to someone and they suddenly look down at their
phone or answer it? Is it…
a) phobbing?

b) phibbing?
Or c) phubbing?
Neil
Well, you've got me there, Sophie! I have no idea! But I'll guess that it's c) phubbing!
Sophie
Well, we'll find out later on in the show whether you got the answer right or not. Now,
let's move on and talk about phone etiquette – etiquette means rules of polite behaviour
in society or among people in a certain group.
Neil
Well… interrupting conversations to check your phone has become a social norm, hasn't it,
Sophie?
Sophie
Social norms are the rules of behaviour considered acceptable in a group or society. I
don't agree, Neil! Let's listen to Professor Sherry Turkle of Massachusetts Institute of
Technology talking about social norms amongst students.
INSERT
Sherry Turkle, American clinical psychologist and professor of the social studies
of Science and Technology at Massachusetts Institute of Technology
I interviewed hundreds of college students and what they talked about was what some of
them called 'the rule of three'. And what the rule of three is which is that if you go to
dinner with friends, you don't want to look down at your phone until you see that three
people, let's say you're six at dinner, are looking up in the conversation. So there's a new
etiquette where you don't look down unless three people are looking up kind of to keep a
little conversation alive.
Neil
Professor Sherry Turkle.
Sophie
Why don't you try out the rule of three once in a while?
Neil
There are only two of us here, Sophie - do the math! And I'm listening to you… mmm… let
me just send a text message here on my phone ... hang on…
[pause]
Sophie
Neil… NEIL! I'm not going to carry on with the show unless you pay attention!

Neil
Sorry, Sophie. Actually I was just doing that to wind you up. I wasn't really using my
phone… Sorry.
Sophie
And to wind someone up means to say or do something deliberately in order to annoy
someone. Well, I do get wound up about people constantly checking their devices.
Yesterday, I was in a café and two girls came in. They sat down and started chatting away –
but not to each other – they were tapping away at their devices. And there was no face-to-
face conversation at all!
Neil
But you can have moments of connection using your devices, you know?
Sophie
If you have a connection with someone you engage emotionally.
Neil
Exactly. I was on the train this morning and there were a couple sharing a tablet. They were
looking at the screen, and talking about what they saw there. It was very intimate, and they
were… well… very connected. Let's hear from Ian Sinclair, British poet and filmmaker,
talking about a new generation of connected humans.
INSERT
Iain Sinclair, British writer, poet, and filmmaker
Physiologically we're changing, that almost the neck muscles are tipped over to look down.
We're getting a new kind of human being. And I think – maybe I'm not getting it – but there
is actually a different kind of intimacy emerging in which these instruments are very
important.
Sophie
So Iain Sinclair says our physiology is changing – our bodies, our neck muscles are
changing – to make it easier to look down all the time at our devices! But it isn't only
muscles that might change as a result of our techie habits – it's the way we interact – or
engage with each other too. Ian Sinclair talks about a different kind of intimacy emerging –
what does he mean, Neil?
Neil
Our intimacy – or closeness – with other people is somehow connected up with our
devices. They've become part of us. And I expect some day devices will literally be part of
us – an implant in our necks or something.
Sophie

What a horrible thought!
Neil
Let's have the quiz question again Sophie to take your mind off it.
Sophie
OK. I asked: Which word describes a situation where you're talking to someone and they
suddenly look down at their phone or answer it? Is it…a) phobbing? b) phibbing? Or c)
phubbing?
Neil
And I said c) phubbing.
Sophie
You were right, Neil! Well done! It's a combination of' 'phone' and 'snubbing' – snub means
to deliberately ignore someone you know. New words formed by putting together parts of
existing words are known as blends or portmanteau words. And 'phubbing' is starting to
appear in some online dictionaries. Now can we hear the words we learned today?
[Silence, as Neil is concentrated on his phone]
Sophie
Neil? OK! I'll say the words myself:
etiquette
wind someone up
have a connection with someone
physiology
interact
intimacy
snub
Sophie
Well, that's the end of today's 6 Minute English. Don't forget to connect with us again soon!
Come on Neil, connect with us! Come on!
Neil
Oh, yeah, hang on, just got to…
Sophie
Goodbye!
Neil
Hang on… I'll be with you in a second… Yes. OK. Bye!

Vocabulary
etiquette
rules of polite behaviour in society or among people in a certain group
wind someone up
say or do something deliberately in order to annoy someone
have a connection with someone

engage emotionally
physiology
the way a living thing works or functions
interact
engage
intimacy
closeness
snub
deliberately ignore someone you know

6 Minute English
Songwriting
Sam
Neil
And I’m Neil. [Singing] Du du dum dum! Da-da-da!
Sam
What’s that song you’re singing, Neil? Is it The Rolling Stones?
Neil
Well, I’ve had this song stuck in my head all day! It’s a real earworm – you know, a
song you keep hearing over and over again in your head.
Sam
Well, The Rolling Stones, for example, are famous for their catchy songs. But
writing a memorable song isn’t easy. Not only do you have to write a good tune,
you also need to match it to the lyrics - the words of the song.
Neil
In this programme, we’ll be discussing the art of songwriting – combining lyrics
and music to make a hit song. And of course, we’ll be learning some new
vocabulary as well.
Sam
But first I have a question for you, Neil. Every week from 1964 until it ended in
2006, the BBC television programme, Top of the Pops, had a countdown of the
most popular songs in the British music charts, from number forty up to number
one. So who’s had the most number one hit songs in the UK over the years? Is it:
a) The Rolling Stones?

b) The Beatles? or,

c) Elvis Presley?
Neil
You’re showing your age there, Sam – those musicians were famous decades ago!
I’m going to go for c), the King of rock’n’roll, Elvis Presley.
Sam
OK, Neil. I’ll reveal the answer later in the programme. Professor Adam Bradley is
the author of The Book of Rhymes, a study into the lyrics of hip-hop music. He
knows a lot about how words and music combine to make hit songs. When he
spoke to BBC Radio 4 programme, Word of Mouth, the presenter, Michael Rosen,
asked Adam what music he was listening to at the moment.
Adam Bradley
These days I have a little bit of a nostalgic streak, so I go back to some of the
earliest music that mattered to me as a young person, music that my mother
played for me, things like Crosby, Stills and Nash ‘Suite: Judy Blue Eyes’… things
like the earliest music that I discovered as an independent tastemaker for myself,
things like De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest.
Neil
Adam says he’s currently listening to the music his mother played him when he
was young because he has a nostalgic streak - an affectionate feeling for a happy
time in the past. His mum liked 1960s American singer-songwriters like Crosby,
Stills and Nash.
Sam
Adam is also listening to hip-hop groups like De La Soul - the music he chose when
he started finding his own taste in music, becoming a tastemaker for himself. A
tastemaker is someone who influences what is considered fashionable or popular
at the moment.
Neil
As well as hip-hop, Adam also loves rock‘n’roll music, and – like me – is a big fan
of The Rolling Stones whose singer, Mick Jagger, and guitar player, Keith Richards,
are two of the most successful songwriters ever. Here Adam tells BBC Radio 4’s,
Word of Mouth, how the rock stars worked together to write some of the best
known songs in rock‘n’roll history:
Adam Bradley
Often Keith Richards would go on one of his historic benders and wake up with a
recording device next to him in the morning where he had put the melody down
for a song, and had the chord structure and everything in place. And he might take

that to Mick, and Mick would listen through and he would write lyrics… And in
Mick’s mind, as he said in an interview once, he would impose his melodies as a
singer on Keith's chord structure. So there would be this give and take, this
tension.
Sam
Keith Richards is famous for going on benders – a period of time spent in heavy
alcohol drinking and non-stop partying. During these, he often thought up the
chord structure for a song. A chord is three or more musical notes played
together, so a chord structure is a sequence of chords played one after the other.
Neil
Later, Mick Jagger would listen to the music Keith had thought up, and write lyrics
to match. Adam describes this relationship as give and take – a compromise where
you are willing to accept suggestions from another person and give up some ideas
of your own.
Sam
Mick and Keith’s legendary friendship has certainly been up and down over the
years, and there’s no doubt they’ve written some of the best rock songs ever. But
have they been top when it comes to number one hits? It’s time to reveal the
answer to my question…
Neil
Yes, you asked who has had the most number one hits in the UK music charts, and
I said it was Elvis Presley.
Sam
Which was… the correct answer, Neil! With twenty-one number one hits, Elvis, the
King of rock‘n’roll, is the most successful chart-topper, followed by The Beatles
with seventeen number ones, and further down the list, The Rolling Stones with
eight.
Neil
OK, let’s recap the vocabulary we’ve learned starting with earworm - a song that
you can’t stop hearing over and over in your head.
Sam
A nostalgic streak is an affectionate or bittersweet feeling you have for a happy
time in the past.

Neil
A tastemaker is a person that influences what people think is popular or
fashionable at the moment.
Sam
If you go on a bender, you spend time drinking alcohol heavily.
Neil
A chord structure is a sequence of musical chords.
Sam
And finally, give and take between two people is a compromise in which they are
willing to accept suggestions from each another, and give up some of their own
ideas.
Neil
Don’t forget that there is more to BBC Learning English than 6 Minute English!
Why not try to improve your vocabulary through the language in news headlines?
Try the News Review video on our website or download the podcast. And, of
course, we have a free app – it’s full of useful programmes and activities to help
you improve your English.
Sam
Once again, our six minutes are up. Bye for now!
Neil
Bye!

VOCABULARY
earworm
(informal) a song that you keep hearing in your head, to the point of irritation
nostalgic streak
affectionate and slightly sad feeling you have for a happy time in the past
tastemaker
person who influences what is currently popular or fashionable
(go on a) bender
keep drinking a lot of alcohol for an extended period of time
chord structure
sequence of musical chords
give and take

compromise in which you are willing to accept suggestions from another person
and give up some ideas of your own

6 Minute English
United against food waste
Neil
Sam
And I’m Sam.
Neil
Does this situation sound familiar to you, Sam? You reach into the kitchen
refrigerator looking for something to eat, only to find a brown lettuce, a sad-
looking cucumber, and some two-week old fish, all past its use-by date – the date
printed on the food containers showing how long it is safe to eat.
Sam
Oh, I’m guilty of wasting food, Neil – me and many others. According to the UN,
one third of the food we grow ends up in the rubbish bin. And it’s not just food
that’s wasted – it’s also the resources used to produce that food, things like water,
land and transport.
Neil
In this programme, we’ll be talking about food waste. We’ll meet the people trying
to stop us from throwing good food away, and, as usual, we’ll be learning some
new vocabulary as well.
Sam
Here in the UK, big supermarkets import food from abroad for customers to enjoy
all year round. Summer fruit like strawberries and mangos are flown in from
tropical countries and sold in winter, increasing carbon emissions as well as waste.
Neil
Yes, that’s why you hear the phrase, ‘eat local, eat seasonal’ to encourage people
to buy and eat food which has been grown in their local area, at that time of year.
So, Sam, my question is – which of the following foods can be grown in Britain
throughout the year? Is it:

a) strawberries?
b) kale? or,
c) rhubarb?
Sam
Hmmm, it’s definitely not strawberries ‘cos they only grow in summer, so I’ll say
b) kale.
Neil
OK, I’ll reveal the answer later. We’ve talked about supermarkets in Britain, but
food waste is happening all over the world. In Puerto Rico, too, most people shop
in supermarkets, making it difficult for farmers to choose what to sell, and how
much to charge for their fruit and vegetables.
Sam
Josefina Arcay is a farmer who wanted to make it easier for customers to buy local
food. She started an online shop to connect shoppers with farmers directly,
without the supermarkets. Here Josefina explains her project to Jo Mathys,
reporter for BBC World Service Programme, People Fixing The World.
Jo Mathys
So Josefina, that's the farmer who we heard earlier growing those giant avocados,
she used to have to sell her crops to these kind of middlemen.
Josefina Arcay
We had a lot of… I don’t know how you call carreros... it’s just people that have a
big truck and they will just come by, and they will say, ‘What do you have? Ohhh…
that's too expensive! Wooh… very expensive! I want it half that price’. So I didn't
have any way of controlling how I was going to sell - it just depended on these
people coming.
Jo Mathys
And a lot of these carreros are kind of commissioned by the supermarkets. All this
leads to food waste because it's really hard for farmers, like Josefina, to predict
which crops they're going to be able to sell.
Neil
Josefina used to sell her food to carreros or middlemen – people who buy food
directly from the grower, and make money by selling it on to customers. Josefina
had no control over what to sell, and a lot of her food went to waste.

Sam
Usually middlemen are commissioned – they received a payment from the
supermarkets directly related to the amount they sell. But with Josefina’s online
shop, farmers get a fair price for their food, customers get high-quality, fresh
vegetables, and less food is wasted.
Neil
Another problem is that we throw away food after we’ve bought it. In fact, the UN
estimates that 60 percent of food waste happens in this way, often because it’s
past the use-by date and might not be safe to eat.
Sam
But according to green designer, Solveiga Pakstaite, these use-by dates aren't
always accurate, something she discussed with BBC World Service’s, People Fixing
The World.
Jo Mathys
Well, food makers don’t know how people will keep their products, so for instance,
they might forget to put their groceries straight in the fridge when they get home.
So what they do is they calculate the use-by date using a very cautious estimate.
Solveiga Pakstaite
Food producers and supermarkets… they kind of have to calculate it to the worst-
case scenario because they don't know which product is going to get stored at the
wrong temperature, so they have to blanket apply a shorter date to protect
consumers.
Neil
Supermarkets set cautious use-by dates for the worst-case scenario – the worst
case that could possibly happen in a situation, for example, someone getting sick
and dying of food poisoning. In other words, they blanket apply use-by dates.
Here, blanket is an adverb meaning applied in the same way to everything, even
when there are differences between those things.
Sam
Doing this protects customers from bad food, but it also means a lot of safe-to-
eat food gets thrown away. Maybe it’s best to stick to local, seasonal food after
all. Anyway, Neil, what was the answer to your question?
Neil
Right. I asked you which food could be grown in Britain all year round. You said
kale, which was… the correct answer! Unlike strawberries and rhubarb, kale grows
in all seasons, and what’s more, it’s good for you too! OK, let’s recap the

vocabulary we’ve learned starting with use-by date – the date until which food is
safe to eat.
Sam
The slogan eat local, eat seasonal encourages people to buy food which has been
grown locally during the current season.
Neil
A middleman buys produce directly from the producer, before selling it on to
customers for a profit. If he is commissioned, he received a payment directly
related to the amount he sells.
Sam
The worst-case scenario describes the most serious, unpleasant thing that could
happen in a situation.
Neil
And finally, the adverb blanket means applied in the same uniform way to
everything, even when there are differences between those things. Bye for now!
Sam
Bye bye!

VOCABULARY
use-by date
date until which food may be safely eaten, usually printed on the food container
eat local, eat seasonal

slogan used to encourage people to buy and eat fresh food which has been
grown in their local area during the current season
middleman
business people who buy produce directly from producers, and make money by
selling it on to shops or customers
commissioned
receiving a payment which is directly related to the amount sold
worst-case scenario
the worst, most serious and unpleasant thing that could possibly happen in a
situation
blanket (+ verb)
(adverb) applied in the same uniform way to everything, even when there are
differences between those things

6 Minute English
Why do we procrastinate?
Sam
Neil
And I’m Neil.
Sam
Come on, Neil, let’s make a start! I’ve got a deadline to meet today, and I haven’t
finished my work yet!
Neil
Let me guess, it’s because you delayed, and delayed, and put your work off until
the last minute - as usual! You’re a real procrastinator, Sam – someone who keeps
delaying things that need to be done.
Sam
What can I say? I work better when a deadline is approaching.
Neil
I see, but did you know that that people who procrastinate have higher levels of
stress and lower wellbeing? Procrastination is also linked with lower financial and
career success, so there's a lot of reasons not to do it.
Sam
In this programme, we’re discussing procrastination – the act of delaying things
that must be done until later, often because they’re difficult, boring or unpleasant.
And, as usual, we’ll be learning some new vocabulary along the way.
Neil
So, without wasting any more time, I have a question for you, Sam. The fact that
procrastinating, or putting things off, is bad for us doesn’t stop people doing it.

According to recent research by DePaul University in Chicago, what percentage of
people procrastinate so much that it interferes with their day-to-day life? Is it:
a) 10 percent?
b) 20 percent? or,
c) 30 percent?
Sam
I’ll guess that around 10 percent of people have a serious procrastination problem.
Neil
OK, Sam. We’ll find out the answer later in the programme. Sam is certainly not
alone in putting things off until the last minute. Here’s Ella al-Shamahi, presenter
of BBC Radio 4’s, Why Do We Do That? talking to the comedian, Eshaan Akbar,
about his procrastination habit:
Ella al-Shamahi
Would you say, Eshaan, that you're a procrastinator?
Eshaan Akbar
I am a serial procrastinator without a shadow of a doubt.
Ella al-Shamahi
Why? Why do you think you procrastinate?
Eshaan Akbar
Over the years, I've told myself that I procrastinate because I work better under
pressure. That's what I've told myself.
Sam
Eshaan thinks that he is a procrastinator without a shadow of a doubt, a phrase
which is used to emphasise that you are completely certain of something.
Neil
Eshaan also says that, like Sam, he works better under pressure, when he feels
stressed or anxious because of having too much to do. But maybe, also like Sam,
Eshaan has a problem organising his workload and managing his time.
Sam
Hang on, Neil, my time management skills are OK, thank you! With me, it’s more
of an emotional response – I see a mountain of work, feel threatened, and think,
‘how on earth will I finish all that?!’

Neil
What Sam says is supported by a theory of human evolution which explains how
putting things off is an emotional response. Back when we were living in caves, life
was dangerous and short, and our ancestors were impulsive – they acted suddenly,
on instinct, without thinking about the consequences of what they were doing.
Back then, being impulsive was a good thing, but in modern life, with work goals
and deadlines, when we are impulsive and get distracted, we procrastinate. So
rather than being a problem with time management, Sam should blame her
caveman ancestors who acted on impulse.
Sam
Hmm, an interesting idea, but it’s not going to help me meet my deadline! Let’s
listen again to comedian Eshaan Akbar talking how he feels when he
procrastinates:
Eshaan Akbar
A lot of stuff you read about procrastination focuses on the time management
element of it… I probably got a better sense that for me it seems very squarely
around the emotional aspect of it. Perhaps I get more emotional gratification from
doing it last minute. And, I need to understand why I prefer that over the calm
serenity of getting things done with oodles of time on my hands.
Neil
In the same way that our ancestors felt good living on impulse, Eshaan thinks he
gets gratification - a feeling of pleasure and satisfaction – from doing things at
the last minute. What he doesn’t understand is why he prefers to work under
pressure, instead of finishing calmly with oodles, or lots of, time.
Sam
Unlike Eshaan, I’d rather finish my work feeling relaxed, but there never seems to
be enough time.
Neil
Well, breaking down the task into smaller stages also breaks down the level of
threat you feel from your workload. Also, forgiving yourself for procrastinating in
the past seems helpful in avoiding procrastinating in the future. So, forgive
yourself and start making changes, Sam, before you end up like the timewasters
in my question: what percentage of people procrastinate so much that it interferes
with day-to-day life.
Sam
Well, I guessed it was 10 percent.

Neil
Which was… the wrong answer, I’m afraid. In fact around 20 percent of us have a
procrastination habit so strong it makes life difficult. Okay, let’s recap the
vocabulary we’ve learned from this programme on procrastination – delaying, or
putting off, doing things until later, often because they’re difficult, unpleasant or
boring.
Sam
The phrase without a shadow of a doubt is used to emphasise that you are
completely certain of something.
Neil
If you’re under pressure, you feel stressed or anxious because of having too
much to do.
Sam
Impulsive behaviour is sudden and spontaneous, done without thinking about the
consequences.
Neil
Gratification means a feeling of pleasure and satisfaction.
Sam
And finally, when you have oodles of something, you have a lot of a very large
amount of something pleasant…. like time, which once again we’ve run out of. I’m
rushing off to finish my work, Neil, but remember to make time to join us again
soon, here at 6 Minute English. Bye for now!
Neil
Bye!

VOCABULARY
procrastination
delaying doing things that must be done until later, often because they are boring,
difficult or unpleasant
without a shadow of a doubt

used to emphasise that you are completely certain of something
under pressure
feeling stressed or anxious because of having too much to do
impulsive
acting suddenly and instinctively, without thinking about the consequences of
your actions
gratification
feeling of pleasure and satisfaction
oodles of (something)
a very large amount of something pleasant


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BBC LEARNING ENGLISH

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