The Level Up English Podcast
The Level Up English Podcast
#11 Interview with an English Learner from China
I talk with Molly, from China, about her experience learning English.
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Hello and welcome to the English with Michael Podcast, the best place to come to study English as a second language as well as the practice, the British accent with me, Michael Lavers as your teacher.
Michael:Hello and welcome back to the English with Michael podcast. Today we have a very special podcast because I have a guest joining me for an English interview and it's very special because the guest is my girlfriend Molly. Molly is from China and she's currently living with me in the UK. She is teaching Chinese in an English school and a grammar school and of course she's learning English. So she's here today to talk with me about her experience in the UK learning English. And maybe we'll talk a little bit about China as well. So I hope that you enjoy it. Let me know what you think if you like this type of podcast. So without any further delay, here is my talk with Molly. I'm here today with my girlfriend Molly, and this is a special episode because she is from China, so she's also an English learner. So welcome to the podcast, Molly.
Molly:Hello everyone. I'm Molly, surprisingly from China.
Michael:Say thank you very much for joining me. So maybe could we start by talking a little bit about where you're from in China?
Molly:Well, I'm from the south part it's a city which is called Guanzhou, which is quite close to Hong Kong. So I speak Cantonese and Mandarin as well.
Michael:Okay, fantastic. And how, I mean, of course I already know this, but I'm asking you for the viewers or listeners, but how long have you been learning English now?
Molly:Well, I think I started to learn English when I was in the primary school. Um, maybe, maybe it's when I'm in year 3, so probably like eight or nine years old.
Michael:Okay. So you've come a long way, come a long way.
Molly:But you know the, uh, when we're learning English at school, um, I didn't makee too much progress though. So I think I made more progress when I was doing self studying.
Michael:I see. Okay. That's what I was going to ask you. So what is, what do you think of the difference between self study versus study you did at school? How is it better? How is it different? What did you not like about school for example?
Molly:Well to be honest, I think the English when, when I was starting at the school especially like primary school and secondary school. They mostly prepare for the exams. Like for example, we have a very important exam in China, which is called goukou, which is like, the final exam of like your whole school year. And then, it would decide that if you can go to a good university or just a so-so University, so everyone has to work very hard word. And the English is one of the compulsory subjects. So yeah, the teachers do teach us lots of stuff, but it's based on the textbooks and exams.
Michael:oh, I see. So there's lots of reading, lots of grammar and maybe not much practice, like no speaking practice maybe.
Molly:Um, so in the Chinese school we don't do lots of speaking practice. And then, so I came to UK two years ago, and then when it's, when there was the first time when I come to UK, I feel a little bit confused about, uh, the, the way of the British for people speaking for example, um, I'm working in a British school. And then all of my colleagues see me, and say, are you all right? Um, how are you? And then I used to say, I'm fine, thank you. Because that is what we, what we were taught when we are in the school, but I gradually realised that that is really not natural. So the more natural way you should be good. And you? Or we can say like, how's it going instead of like, how are you? So sometimes I think the way the Chinese school teaches English is, is not communicative. It's not super good for the, like communication with the English people. So that's what they think, which is like the, the, the, the backwards shortway.
Michael:Oh, the downside.
Molly:Yeah, the downside. Oh, remember it. So it's like, this is the downsides of the, uh, Chinese way of teaching English. But I guess now, I'm in the UK and then I can learn whatever I need. So for example, I need to improve my speaking skill because I need to talk with my English colleagues because my school is a purely English school. So it is quite important for me to improve my speaking skills to communicate with the other staff in the school.
Michael:Mm. Yeah. So this is a good point just to confirm for people who didn't catch that you are working in an English school. Teaching Chinese, right? I'm glad I got that right. Um, and how, how are you enjoying that? How is that going?
Molly:Um, let me, I've been here for two years and it sounds like your long time but time Really goes fast. I do, I do a think, I grow up a bit. I quite enjoy my life teaching and English too. It was quite challenging at the beginning because the British kids are not, I mean they're not that well behaved compared to the Chinese kids, uh, because in China basically all of the kids are very respectful to the teacher.
Michael:okay. So basically British students have bad behaviour. Is that what you're saying?
Molly:Well not bad behaviour, that's a kind of stereotype or just they are more active at school and then I mean they have their own personality so it(is) just a different way of education. Can't say their bad behaviour. I'll be in trouble.
Michael:They won't listened to this podcast, but maybe we could talk about your experience with English because hopefully other English learners can find some inspiration or maybe some ideas from this. I'm not sure. So tell me about your study method now. Say What are you doing to study English these days?
Molly:Well, you used to laugh at my study method because one of my study method is to repeat the text. I mean by speaking the test, uh, read all the text again and again. And then I think you laughed at me before when you were doing another interview with another... When you were in another podcast.
Michael:That's right, we did laugh at you a little bit.
Molly:Not a little bit
Michael:because yeah, what Molly does is she will repeat the same sentence again and again and again,
Molly:Not the same sentence. I mean the same text because, um, by doing that the text, will, I will keep the t ext i n m ind so I won't them.
Michael:So the key is repetition. Did you think that's a good way? Does it work for you?
Molly:It's not just repetition is like, um, so first of all I will choose a text, which is slightly higher than my English level and then I will translate it from English to Chinese. Then based on the Chinese translation I just did, I translate it back to English. So I have to make sure it is exactly right. Compared to the text and then I can know, well I can tell that what kind of vocabs I'm not familiar with or which language point. Um, I didn't cover before. And then like also I can tell the difference of the way that the Chinese people think. And um, the difference of the difference of the way that the Chinese people think and the ways of the English people thing. So languages, the difference of languages do represent the difference. There's differences in two cultures. So I think through this exercise I can know more about the differences between two languages and then also can try it. It can help me cover the language points and the vocabs more efficiently. And last is the repitition. so after the translation, now repeat the text. Basically read out the text again and again and then to make sure, um, I'll keep them in mind.
Michael:Oh, okay. I didn't realise that before. So, so basically you're getting a listening, reading practice and the translating in both languages you're repeating.
Molly:Yes proud of me?
Michael:Very proud. Oh, that's really good. Okay. But yeah, I think Molly does work very hard. So I often see her, she reads English books. Of course she lives in the UK now, so she's always talking with people here. Um, even with me, usually in English.
Molly:Yes, I have to because you don't speak Chinese.
Michael:Mm yi dian dian. A little bit. But yeah not good enough. But sometimes I will laugh at you for other reasons as well. Uh, so since we've been together, you've made a few funny mistakes
Molly:Quite a lot of funny mistakes. silly mistakes.
Michael:Sometimes I'll ignore them. Sometimes I'll correct them if they're really funny. I prefer not to correct them, which maybe makes me a bad person, but I think they sound very funny.
Molly:Which is really, really irresponsible.
Michael:Maybe. But you are not paying me to be a teacher. So there's um, a few I've got written down here. So
Molly:Really you've written down my mistakes?
Michael:Yes. I wrote down some of your mistakes so we can talk about them. Uh, one of them is actually what I'll do. I will, I will read them and maybe the listeners can try to guess what these mean or guess what these actually are. The first one is a physical drink. Do you remember saying that?
Molly:Yes. Physical drink. Mental drink.
Michael:Physical drink? Yes. A physical drink. This was a mistake. And what she meant to say was a fizzy drink. Fizzy drink. So this is like a carbonated drink. For example, Coca-Cola lemonade. That was a very funny one. I thought. Another one was what Molly said. Asparagus. Is that right? Does anyone know what that could be? Have a gas. So this was the vegetable asparagus.
Molly:Asparagus.
Michael:So you got the.
Molly:I'm still confused about where I should put the stress on.
Michael:Yeah, you got this one right. It's just the stress was in the wrong place and it's so easy to do. Yeah. Asp.. even I, I always go it wrong then. Asparagus, asparagus,
Molly:Let\s repeat it 100 times
Michael:asparagus and one more, which is really funny. When you had a tooth problem before Molly had a pain in her tooth and she said to me, Michael, I've got tooth cake tooth cake. I said, really? Tooth cake. That sounds delicious. I want some tooth cake. But Molly meant..
Molly:that doesn't sound delicious at all.
Michael:Well, it's still cake, but what did you mean? Do you remember the real word?
Molly:Tooth ache.
Michael:Tooth ache Yes, tooth ache. Uh, so yeah. If you ache, it means kind of a pain or some kind of painful feeling. Is an ache
Molly:Yes. I have to complain that uh, like the medical system in UK is really, really bad because I got tooth ache and then I can't get any appointment because the dentists don't accept new patients. So I have to go very, very far away to make an emergency appointment. Which is really annoying.
Michael:Mm. Yes, I've seen you do it. It's very annoying to me. It's quite simple. But maybe harder for you because you're not a permanent resident. But I, I wanted to ask about these mistakes. So how did you feel when I corrected you? How did you feel?
Molly:Um, I mean, I feel quite happy about that. I would rather, um, be corrected instead of, and not know anything about my mistakes because you're my boyfriend and if you can correct me, I don't feel you too bad. So I won't make any mistakes when I'm talking to other people, like my students or my colleagues. So that makes me feel happier.
Michael:Ah, that's a really good point. So it's better for me to laugh at you than your students. That's a good point.
Molly:Yes, of course. It's really embarrassing.
Michael:Yeah. And I thought you might give that answer and that's really good because I think this is a good message that if you make a mistake, don't worry, just laugh and learn. You can. Like, like move on, you know, don't do well and think about your mistakes and you know, be happy when someone corrects you because that means that you're learning. It's a really good thing.
Molly:Exactly. Like my students, they sometimes they speak Chinese really, really bad. And then because Chinese is the language with tones, which is quite difficult for the English learners, so they're just, just didn't get the tone. So, um, even though they speak it really, really bad(ly), I've never laugh at them. I always smile at them and I encourage them to speak more. So because I believe, um, if they, if they can make mistakes that means they can make progress.
Michael:Yeah. No, absolutely. It's important not to make people feel bad for making mistakes and kind of see in a good way.
Molly:Yeah. So it's like, we can, we can talk to them like, well, that's good, but if we can do it in this way, that's even better.
Michael:Yeah, definitely. Definitely. Well, I want to ask you now because I think, I imagine there are many people out there who are kind of dreaming or you know, wishing that they could one day have a boyfriend or a girlfriend who speaks English as a native language. Really. Maybe because I think it's killing two birds with one stone.
Molly:I thought there will be someone dreaming about having a Chinese girlfriend or Chinese boyfriend to help them learn Chinese.
Michael:Well maybe, maybe if you think about it, I think it's quite a nice idea because you do get a partner to be with. But on the other hand you get, well some people might think that you get a free teacher as well. So I wanted to ask you to answer people's questions. Do you think having an English boyfriend helps you improve your English? Or does it maybe even make it harder?
Molly:You didn't really teach me English.
Michael:No, I don't. We don't have lessons. I think that would be a bit strange in a way.
Molly:Well, um, I think it does help sometimes. Maybe you can help me. Well you help me speak English like more comfortably. So I do feel quite relaxed when I'm speaking English with you. But to be honest, I don't think it really helps. So do not look for a boyfriend or a girlfriend if you are just going to learn the language, which is not fair for him or for her. So, um, but to be honest, I think working in an English school helped me more than having an English boyfriend because I have to force myself to be professional and then to be brave, to be confident. So that takes me lots and lots of time to practice. So I think, yeah, my work helps me, helps me more about that.
Michael:Okay. So to summarise, maybe Molly saying she does not recommend an English boyfriend or girlfriend.
Molly:I mean if, if he or she attracts you and you think he is a good guy, so maybe you can think about it, but to not make a boyfriend who is English just because you want to learn English.
Michael:Yeah, no, I, I would agree with that. Not that I, I guess I can use my own experience with learning Chinese, but I, yeah, it seems to me that, you know,
Molly:I don't really help you learn Chinese to be honest.
Michael:Yeah. Choose who you want to be with, but don't base that decision on what language so they can help you learn. Oh, I think that's a good, a good rule to go by. I also wanted to ask you today if you have ever had any kind of language mishaps, which means kind of mistakes or funny kind of embarrassing situations because these stories are always really funny. Can you think of anything like that?
Molly:Okay, so there is one, so last summer when I'm, when I was going to fly back to China for my summer holiday, one of my colleagues asked me, um, oh Molly, who are you going to fly with? And I said, no, I'm just myself. I'm flying alone, but to be honest he was asking, uh, which company are you going to fly with? So I think it's very funny stuff. So I think this quite funny,
Michael:but I would actually side with you because I don't think that is a problem with your English. I think that is a problem with that question because that question can have two meanings depending on how you understand it. And it's got two meanings. I don't think that's the mistake.
Molly:Hmm. So it's like, because the meaning of that question is not clear.
Michael:Exactly. So who can talk about a company or a person? So that person should have said, yeah, what company are you flying with? Or what person are you flying with? So yeah, I don't think that was a mistake. I think that is not your fault. You can feel good about that one.
Molly:Okay. Make me feel better. Yeah. And then maybe also, um, I used to call my, one of my student's name wrong(for) about a term, which is quite embarrassing. So my students called
Michael:For the whole term?
Molly:Yeah for the whole term, I feel really sorry about that. Um, so one of my students is called Niall.
Michael:Okay. I've never heard of that name.
Molly:I think it's kind of like more American n ame,
Michael:It's not Neil? There's a name Neil, which is n. E. I. L. I think,
Molly:No this one is like NIALL
Michael:I've never heard of that before.
Molly:Which is called niall, so it's not my, it's not my fault is it? Because e ven you haven't heard about that. U m, so my s tudents c all Niall, but I kept calling him nail. An no one corrects me
Michael:Oh like you're hammering a nail.
Molly:Yes. I call him nail and then basically at the end of the term, and then when I was talking to other teachers, uh, I said, um, how this, how does my student Nail doing this lesson? And then my colleagues ask Nail which Nail, Oh, you mean Niall?
Michael:Oh, that's really embarrassing. But I wanted to ask, why do you think no one corrected you until that point?
Molly:I don't know. Maybe because the students think is fun and they even more me mocked the way that I called him.
Michael:Ah, okay. Okay. Maybe they were like bullying him in a way.
Molly:Oh, I feel bad about it.
Michael:I wondered, I might be wrong, but I wondered, do you think that people don't correct you because they know you're not a native speaker, so they're kind of, they're more forgiving. Is that possible?
Molly:Yeah, it's possible. But to me, I have a high expectation to my English because I'm currently working in an English school. So I hope my English to be as good as I can because I want you to be professional. But on the other hand, there are lots of English teachers in China and they don't speak Chinese at all. So it's kind of not super fair. So when I, whenever I feel bad about my English, I'm always thinking about it. So to help me feel better.
Michael:So you spoke about, you know, you want to have good English because you a teacher, of course, it's a good reason. So that moves on to another topic which I want to cover, which is your motivation. So what would you say your main motivations to improve your English?
Molly:Hmm. Well, let's start from, um, very, very realistic point because if I can speak English well, that means I can teach in an English group properly and then I can, it's easier for me to get a decent paid job, so there's, I think that's one of the main reasons. And then, um, another one is I feel like I can use English to communicate with the British people. Well, not just British people, maybe lots of the people from different countries who can speak English as well. It's like I can tell them more about my culture. So it's like we are building a bridge of different cultures because of the languages we speak. And also if I can speak very good English, well maybe not perfect. And then I can tell my students that if I can do it, um, if I can speak English well. And then also I speak English as second language and you guys are learning Chinese as a second language. So if you work hard like me, so you can do well as well. Um, to be a model. Am I right?
Michael:Yeah so you want to be a role model.
Molly:To be a role model for them. So I to tell them, I really understand you guys feeling, but if you keep trying hard, um, you can speak Chinese as well as when I'm speaking English.
Michael:Okay. So that was a good point. If you want, if you're a teacher, of course you have to improve your language because if you don't know any other languages, then it's maybe people wonder what kind of, how you can be a good teacher if you've never experienced it for yourself. Maybe that's, is that what you're saying? Yeah. Okay. Yeah, that, that, that can be a good point. Definitely. So I think motivation is a very tricky area. Many people struggle with feeling motivated to learn. Um, so for you it's, I think mainly for job and also there's personal reasons as well. Like you're joining cultures together, but what advice? English boyfriend. Yeah. And you need to, yeah, you want to talk to me. So what advice would you give for English learners who find it difficult to get motivation? So how do you remotivate yourself when you feel bad about your English?
Molly:So I wanna say that if, if someone really, really hates English or hates any kind of foreign languages, I would say maybe just give up. And then
Michael:what? I mean, if you don't, if you don't really enjoy it from the bottom of your h eart, so probably it is easier to give up and then spend your time on something that you can feel happy about it. I'm sorry if i t's offensive. No, I generally agree that if you don't, if you don't have the passion or the love for something, it's really, really difficult to study and it's possible. It will probably make you quite miserable. However, as an English teacher, I can see that there are many people who are learning English. You know, most of my students love English, but many of the students, they are learning for a job or for some kind of practical reason. Maybe they want to get promotion or something like that, but they don't necessarily love English, but they are, they're learning it out of necessity. So in that case, my personal advice for those people would be, you're not born passionate about something. Not always. Anyway. I think when you are passionate about something, you have to work hard to create that passion. So if you're feeling demotivated and not so good about your English and you still really want to learn, maybe deep down inside for an internal or external reason, then I would say find a way to make it fun, you know, find a way to make it enjoyable for you. And also remember to visualise the kind of imagine what it will be like if you become in English. What can you do with that? Where can you go? And if you start thinking about that, I think it's possible to start finding enjoyment in it.
Molly:Yeah, I agree. I agree. And then also I think it's quite important to realise that learning a foreign language is, now that your foreign language is not everything of the life. So don't feel bad if you can't, if you cannot do a language well, because people have a variety of talents and then um, maybe someone is good at languages, someone who's good at math, someone has to do that like sports. So don't feel bad about that. And then, but just try your best and then try lots of different methods to improve it. And then just pick the best one. So if you don't mind, I can share one of my stories when I'm teaching in the English school. So as everyone knows, the year nine of the English school is the how this year to teach. I think it's because of the hormones
Michael:because I guess they're that special age when you're a teenager, everyone is angry or you know, they have so much emotions going around.
Molly:Yeah, they're being very emotional. And then also they're not very nice to the teachers sometimes. And then one of my year nine class one day mocked my accent, which is really, really upsetting. So I feel really, really bad at that day. So basically I cried, I cry at night and then yes, Michael was panicked and he didn't know what happened to me. So I said I would just being laughed(at) by my students. So I really feel bad about those. I felt there was no motivation to learn English anymore because I'm really, I was really depressed. I feel like I have been learning English for so long, but there is still someone who is not satisfied with my English.
Michael:Mm, no, I think that's a very normal feeling to have. Everyone has ups and downs and everyone has days where they don't feel motivated or good about the English.
Molly:But on the other hand, so a few days later, another year 9 class, so I have to two year nine classes. So I have two year nine classes. So one of the students of one of my year 9 classes told me that he really admired me. Well, I'm not sure if it's true or not. So he thinks he admire me because I can speak English as a Chinese in English school and then teach Chinese in a purely English group, which is quite amazing even though I don't speak perfect English, but I can still use my English to teach the British kids. So they think that was quite amazing. And then, and then he told me that he probably, he can never do that. Like to to teach Chinese or sorry to teach English in the Chinese school. And then speaking Chinese to the Chinese People. So I think I do. So I think I did do a pretty good job even though sometimes it was quite hard to go through like the periods, when I, when I was laughed by others.
Michael:Yeah, definitely. So it's I think a really good idea to not focus on what you can't do but focus on what you can do and what you have accomplished. So it's really amazing that you can teach your language in a completely foreign school when no one else speaks. Your language is very amazing and obviously not everyone will be in that situation, but it's always a good idea to kind of look back over the past months or years even of your English study and you see how far you've come. I mean, sometimes it's easy to forget, it's easy to let time slip by and you don't notice. It was really important to do that.
Molly:And also, I really recommended to speak English to um, English people.
Michael:Ah, so you mean practice with native speakers?
Molly:Yes, so practice with native native speaker. So by practicing with the native speaker, you know how to respond naturally to in, in the English way. So I think it's the way better than just learning from the textbook.
Michael:I completely agree. I may be biased because I am a online teacher, but this goes back to what you said at the beginning where learning from a textbook, I think not just in China properly, probably most schools around the world, the English is very formal. Correct. Um, of course it's correct, but maybe too correct. You know, it's quite often not what we would say naturally.
Molly:Yeah. Just like the first lesson of every English textbook is, hello, how are you? I'm fine, thank you. And you? So I can tell that basically the same.
Michael:Yeah. Yeah. And we do say that in England, but there's a lot of other more casual ways to say that to, you know, it's very, very common for especially men to say to people, all right mate. All right mate.
Molly:Yeah. So when I, when I say I'm like, I'm fine. Thank you. How are you? To my colleague. Well my colleagues were totally shocked. They were stunned and do know how to respond to me because it was too formal.
Michael:Yeah. Yeah. So it's important to get that kind of speaking practice and learn from real life situations, you know, not just learning from a book, which can be good, but not if you're only doing that. Do you have any useful English learning resources that our listeners might find useful themselves?
Molly:I always use Memrise and Duolingo. I'm not sure if you know the two apps.
Michael:Yeah. So the, these are apps. So the first is Memrise. I said m. E m r. I. S. E. Yes.
Molly:And then another one is duolingo which is spelled DUOLINGO
Michael:DUOLINGO. And I've used both of them and I think they're quite good. I like them. I don't use them at the moment. But yeah, I'll put a link to both of these in the show notes if you want to have a look at that. And this will be at ewmichael.com/molly.
Molly:Yes. And also I recommend if you are interested in the British English. So try to listen more to the BBC learning English website.
Michael:Yes, I've seen this and there's so many good lessons on BBC.. Is it BBC learning English?
Molly:Yeah. BBC learning English. There are two programs that I really recommend. One is called the English we speak, so they would talk about their language point, but in a very casual but natural way. Um, also there was another one which was called BBC six minutes English. So when I, when I'm doing a shower, always leave the speaker. Oh, leave the speaker on and then just to play the BBC.
Michael:Oh, that's what that sound was. Okay. No, that's good advice. So again, we will put a link to them in the show notes again so you can find them if you want to. And you sure there's no other resources that you would recommend. You know, maybe someone in the room here.
Molly:Maybe, maybe you can look for, um, native speaker who is an English teacher
Michael:who also has a website...
Molly:and who also has a website which is called EW....
Michael:You don't remember my name??
Molly:e w what?
Michael:Michael.
Molly:Michael? Yeah, English with Michael.
Michael:Ah, yeah. Well thank you Molly. You're so kind to recommend my website. I know you use it all the time. Thank you.
Molly:I was forced
Michael:How about any books? I see you reading English books from time to time too. Do you have any favourite books, English books, but any you recommend or maybe you don't recommend them?
Molly:To be honest, I feel quite hard sometimes to read an English novel English fiction because some of the languages are really hard to understand and it's quite hard for me to figure out what is the context mean. So I'm trying to start from the like more practical books. For example, I'm reading a book which is called how to survive your first year teaching, which is really practical for me and I think I'm very interested in it and it's really useful for me and it motivates me to read more and more because it's very useful for my teaching. Um, so I recommend you to look for some books, which is this, just start from some books, which is easier. And then which is more practical. So I recommend you to start from some books which are easier and then which are more practical.
Michael:I think that is good advice because it's kind of like a multipurpose thing. You're learning about something useful for you, but also improving your English. Yeah, I think that's really good advice and yeah, maybe you're a bit similar to me. I'm not a big fan of fiction and stories so much, but I think also it depends on the book, but usually fiction will be very, it can be very difficult with lots of difficult adjectives and long sentences
Molly:with simile and metaphor.
Michael:Yeah, lots of strange metaphors that dictionaries can't really help with. But with a nonfiction book, the whole purpose of nonfiction is to explain information in the simplest way possible possible. So that might be good for English as well. Of course, it depends on the book and the topic. Uh, yeah, that might be something to consider if you're looking to find some reading material.
Molly:But for some English learners who really fancy English fiction, maybe you can recommend them to read some English fictions, which already have had some movie which is, which made about them. So for example, I'm trying to read an English fiction, which is called the Gone Girl.
Michael:Yeah. Gone, Girl.
Molly:Yeah. Not sure if you note that movie because I've watched that movie before. So I think I can understand the context matter. So I feel a little bit easier when I'm doing the reading and it helps me understand the text easier. So I think if you really liked fiction instead of the practical books, maybe try some books with the English movie.
Michael:Yeah, no, that's a good idea. So yeah, so it's just basically what Molly is saying is if you can find a book that also has a movie on the same topic, that's based, usually the movie is based on the book. And then if you watch the movie first, you'll have a better understanding of the story and the context. And another piece of advice, which I recently gave in a youtube video. I think it's not published yet. Maybe that will be published soon, but that was to buy a book and an audiobook so you can listen to the book while you're reading it. So that kind of helps with two learning kind of skills at the same time. It's a little bit of a different tactic. So I think we'll end the podcast soon. And mainly just because it's very hot in the UK at the moment it's 22 degrees, which might not sound hot for many countries. But for the UK that's quite hot. Well, okay. In order to record this podcast, I had to close the windows and now I'm so hot and uncomfortable. So I think we'll end up soon. But before we finish, is there anything, Molly, that you'd like people to know about you? Anything else? Um,
Molly:well because I'm not doing a business and I'm just a teacher, a very, very, very normal teacher in UK. So I would like to say something about my, so let's start from some stereotypes. So first of all, I don't eat dogs.
Michael:Okay. In case anyone was wondering,
Molly:yes, I don't eat dogs
Michael:That isn't really, a think in China. Not Co mmon A nyway.
Molly:Uh, I mean, I mean, it wasn't common before. It just, just, um, a specific area in China and then in that area, some people like eating dogs.
Michael:China's a very big country.
Molly:Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. And then, um, I don't eat dog. So first of all, and then also some people think, because I'm trainee east, so lots of people think you must be good at badminton or Ping pong. So sometimes my colleagues will invite me to play ping pong or badminton with them. And then because they think I must be good at it because I'm Chinese, but I'm actually not, so I played very bad badminton and ping pong. So, um, that's kind of another stereotype and then, well, the last stereotype about Chinese is they must be very good at math.
Michael:Oh, that's always true.
Molly:So I don't think I'm good at math, but I do think the math that English schools teach is quite easy.
Michael:Hmm. You're saying we're not as smart as you.
Molly:I mean, you, you know what? So when I was doing the final year exam, I mean the Gou kou, the most important exam. Um, when I'm, when I was in the secondary school and then I got about 85%, but um, um, one of the worst students in my class,
Michael:85%. That's the worst in my class? Oh, that was the best in my class. Wow. Okay. So this is your chance. This is where you're announcing to the world every stereotype. A chance to clarify Yeah. Every stereotype you have about China is wrong.
Molly:Not Everything.
Michael:One stereotype that is true is all Chinese people are crazy about food.
Molly:Oh yes I am. So I always spend ages in the kitchen and then just for a few bites.
Michael:Yeah. Yeah. Just for many hours of cooking for five minutes of eating.
Molly:Yeah. I can spend about sweet hours in the kitchen and then keep making the dumplings.
Michael:Yeah. Yeah. So that is something that I have yet to be proven wrong on that all Chinese love food. So yeah, I think we'll end it there today. But thank you very much for your time, Molly. I know you didn't have to do this, so
Molly:Thank you for inviting me.
Michael:Yeah, of course. It's really fun to have you and it's hope. Yeah.
Molly:It's really weird for us to speak in a serious way.
Michael:Yeah. Usually we don't talk so clearly to each other. Usually we talk very in a much more immature way, maybe so. It's very awkward
Molly:Like"you silly boy."
Michael:Hopefully this has been useful for some learners, you know, to hear another learner's experience. Thank you very much for listening today.
Molly:Thank you for listening to us
Michael:and I'll see you next week.
Molly:See you next week.
Michael:Bye Bye. You have been listening to the English with Michael Podcast to view the podcast notes for this episode and to listen to previous episodes. Head over to ewmichael.com/podcast
