Learning English Podcast Conversation | season 3 Episode 125 | Podcast English

Added: 2026-05-12

[00:00:01][music] Hello everyone and welcome to English Pod. My name is Marco.

[00:00:06]>> My name is Katherine. And today we have a very serious dialogue for you.

[00:00:10]>> That's right. We are going to talk about a will and testament. The last will and testament of someone.

[00:00:16]>> All right. So what is a will and testament? Well, basically this is a document that someone writes usually with a lawyer that explains what to do with the person's body and their possessions, their things after they die.

[00:00:29]>> Right? So many people write these and the family will then use it to discover who gets to receive certain objects and what to do with this person's body.

[00:00:38]>> Right. [music] Exactly. So that is a last will in testament. We are going to take a look and at an example of one so you would see more or less in English how one is written. Now obviously they're they can be very long and very complex. So, we've taken one that's uh that has some interesting words there that are a little bit more specific, very a lot of legal terms there. So, uh why don't we listen to this dialogue for the first time and we'll be back shortly.

[00:01:11]Last will and testament of Luke Thompson. I, Luke Thompson, residing in California, being of sound mind, do hereby declare this instrument to be my last will and testament. I hereby revoke all previous wills and coticils. I direct that the disposition of my remains be as follows. I'm to be cremated and taken to the summit of Mount Everest, where my ashes will forever remain at the ceiling of the earth. I give all the rest and residue of my estate to my spouse, Betty Thompson, should she survive me for 60 days. If my spouse, Betty Thompson, does not survive me, I give all the rest and residue of my estate to English Pod. If neither Betty Thompson nor English Pod survives me, I give all the rest and residue of my estate to my heirs as determined by the laws of the state of California relating to descent and distribution. I appoint Robert Porter to act as the executor of this will to serve without bond. Should Robert Porter be unable or unwilling to serve, then I appoint Jason Smalls to act as the executor of this will. I herewith aix my signature to this will on this the 23rd of May 2010 in the presence of the following witnesses who witnessed and subscribed this will at my request and in my presence.

[00:02:36]>> [music] >> All right, we're back. So, now we're going to take a look at five key words on Language Takeaway.

[00:02:44]Language Takeaway.

[00:02:46]>> Okay, the first word here in language takeaway comes from the very beginning of this well monologue. We're reading the last will and testament aloud.

[00:02:55]>> I Luke Thompson residing in California being of sound mind. Sound as an adjective. What does this mean? That's very interesting. So he says I am in sound mind and sound is an adjective to describe I am in a good state of mind.

[00:03:12]>> That's right. So it means not having any problems or logical or unaffected.

[00:03:19]>> Basically I'm not crazy. Right.

[00:03:21]>> Right. I'm not crazy. I I don't have any problems. We can say this about other things too. We can say he's of sound body.

[00:03:27]>> Right. That means that he is healthy. He has no problems with his body. Or I could say, Marco, that's a really good decision. It's a sound decision.

[00:03:36]>> So again, that's also a way of saying good or >> it will work.

[00:03:40]>> It will work. It's a good decision.

[00:03:42]Yeah. So you can use this adjective with sound body, sound mind, or a sound decision. Or sometimes some people even say I think in Ireland they say, "Oh, he's a really sound guy."

[00:03:55]>> Oh, so he's a good guy.

[00:03:57]>> He's a good guy.

[00:03:57]>> Very interesting. I learned something.

[00:03:59]So uh sound body sound mind sound guy.

[00:04:02]Uh moving on he was talking about the will and he says I hereby revoke all previous wheels and cautisils.

[00:04:09]>> The verb here is to revoke.

[00:04:11]>> To revoke. [music] >> This is something that a lot of people hear in America when they they drive their car too fast.

[00:04:18]>> Yeah.

[00:04:18]>> The police catch them and the police revoke their driver's license.

[00:04:23]>> And that basically means to take away or to Yeah. To take. Right.

[00:04:27]>> To take away from. So this man here, Luke Thompson, what he's saying is I revoke all previous wills. That means any other will that I wrote before, [music] it's not good anymore. I'm throwing it away. This is the only one that will exist.

[00:04:42]>> Mhm. So you can use this word revoke with many aspects. For example, sometimes employees will get their benefits revoked by the company because maybe they don't have enough money anymore [music] >> or maybe they're bad employees >> or maybe they were bad employees.

[00:04:55]>> That's too bad.

[00:04:55]>> All right. So to revoke now, moving on.

[00:04:58]He was talking about his estate. So this is very interesting because he says, "I give all the rest and residue of my estate to my spouse."

[00:05:08]>> Okay, estate. It sounds like a very fancy word. It is a fancy word.

[00:05:12]Sometimes we use this word to mean someone's property, their house.

[00:05:16]>> But in a will, this means everything the person owns. House, car, things, pets, stocks, investments. The estate is essentially everything the person owns as a kind of one unit, [music] >> right? Exactly. So, anything that is yours or you may have bought, just consider the estate is a big bag, right?

[00:05:38]That's your estate. And inside this bag is everything that you own.

[00:05:42]>> You might see advertisements in fact in America or in England for estate sales.

[00:05:47]>> This means that when someone passes away, when they die, [music] their family will sell their things. And this is an estate sale. You can find beautiful interesting things in estate sales.

[00:05:57]>> Exactly. Very interesting. So that is a person's estate. Now remember this is in the legal terms because you also have other things like real estate [music] and as you mentioned which would be a house right?

[00:06:08]>> Okay. Now apart from his from his estate he was telling everyone as to how they should take care of his body or what they [music] should do with it and he said well I am to be cremated.

[00:06:19]>> Okay this is important. When a person dies, there are generally two options.

[00:06:24]>> Uh their body can be buried >> in a casket in the ground.

[00:06:30]>> Uh that means they they're put in the earth. But a lot of people choose to be cremated.

[00:06:34]>> All right.

[00:06:35]>> Okay. That means that their body will be burned >> and their ashes that means the things that are left after they are burned, they will be taken somewhere else.

[00:06:43]>> Right? [music] >> Like in a bowl or a pot, >> right? And uh in this case, that's what the person wants. He wants to be cremated. So that would be the verb to cremate.

[00:06:53]>> And the noun would be a cremation.

[00:06:55]>> Cremation. And what is going to happen to all this stuff? Basically, it's going to be given away to his wife, to English pod, and to his heirs. This is our next word. What is an heir?

[00:07:09]>> Now, if you notice, the h is silent there. So his heirs and that th those are basically his children, his daughters or his uh his sons, >> right? My heirs are the people who are related to me >> who in this case will receive some of my things. [music] >> Now is it only their the children or also it could be maybe any other relative?

[00:07:33]>> It could be any other relative. You could say I'm his heir. He's my great uncle. means we're related but we're not necessarily father and daughter or grandfather and granddaughter. An heir is someone who is related to the family.

[00:07:46]Uh it doesn't have to be a certain relationship. [music] >> And now it's interesting because from this word we can get inheritance. Now we didn't find it in the dialogue. So it's very interesting because it comes they're very similar in spelling, right?

[00:07:58]Inheritance and heir, >> right? Good to remember.

[00:08:01]>> Yeah, good to remember. You can you switch the e and the eyes, right?

[00:08:04]>> That's right. So inheritance it's a thing. Um, you can receive this. So, I received an inheritance from my great-g grandandmother. That means I received some money or some things. [music] >> That means you were that that person's heir.

[00:08:18]>> That's right. Okay.

[00:08:20]>> Or, you know, in his inheritance, he he received a large house. He was the heir to a great fortune.

[00:08:26]>> Okay. Interesting. So, again, inheritance wasn't in the dialogue, but I think it's worth mentioning. And uh I think now we can move on to four very interesting uh items that we have for you on Fluency Builder. Okay, these first two are words that we normally read or hear in legal documents and I want to place emphasis on the fact that we don't really say them in spoken English. So remember that these are more formal terms.

[00:08:54]>> Yeah.

[00:08:55]>> Uh the first one is >> hereby.

[00:08:57]>> Hereby.

[00:08:58]>> I hereby declare. [music] >> Right? That means now >> now >> with this word with this spoken >> sentence this will happen.

[00:09:08]>> I think we've seen it like in movies sometimes it was like I hereby declare this country in the name of England.

[00:09:14]>> I hereby declare you man and wife.

[00:09:17]>> Exactly. Okay.

[00:09:18]>> That means in this moment this happens.

[00:09:21]>> Okay. [music] And a very similar word that we also saw in the dialogue is herewith. So in the will and testament [music] we hear Luke Thompson who says I herewith affix my signature that means um [music] with the action of signing my name signing my signature >> this will be completed. [music] Okay so I hear with you have to have an action not just a word.

[00:09:43]>> Okay the difference I hear with >> I hear with attach my seal. Okay, a seal is like a stamp. Um, very common in in the old days when you had real letters, but I here with a you know I herewith attach my seal [music] and give my approval to this document.

[00:10:01]>> Okay, so it has to be something physical, >> right? So if maybe you're writing like this very classic letter and you say I hear with include a lock of my hair.

[00:10:10]>> Ooh, how romantic.

[00:10:11]>> Okay, that's kind of creepy. But but you hear with you you're including or attaching physically, right? I guess I guess the modern version of herewith would be attach.

[00:10:21]>> Yeah.

[00:10:22]>> Okay. Good.

[00:10:23]>> Herewith, hereby. But we've got another phrase here that you might hear more commonly at the beginning of the will and testament. [music] There's a phrase as follows. Okay. Um I direct that the disposition of my remains be as follows.

[00:10:38]So with my body do as follows.

[00:10:40]>> Mhm. M. So basically, this is a very common way of putting this in a sentence to indicate that you're going to start to list items.

[00:10:51]>> That's right. Or give instructions.

[00:10:53]>> Instructions.

[00:10:54]>> So, for example, to make a loaf of bread, do as follows. Number one >> Mhm.

[00:10:58]>> get some flour. Number two, add some water. So, this is a way for us to to say, listen, I'm going to give you instructions or a list. Pay attention.

[00:11:07]So, please do as follows. Please act as follows.

[00:11:11]>> Okay, very good. And our last uh word that we have here, going back to here with, he said, I herewith a fix my signature. What does it mean when you affix?

[00:11:23]>> Okay, a fix is a word we have a number of other words for these days. So you rarely hear it. It means to attach or to include.

[00:11:32]>> Okay, so I hear with a fix my signature would be attach my signature, >> right? I provide my signature or I hear with affix my address or I hear with a fix something.

[00:11:43]>> Mhm. Okay. Very good. Really interesting stuff. Uh you'll obviously see this very commonly with uh legal documents such as these. Even though it is like older English, it's still very commonly used, I guess, cuz the law is so old.

[00:11:58]>> That's right. Definitely. And I think that uh it's worth listening to today's monologue one more time. Think about some of the words that we've just discussed [music] and we'll be back in a moment.

[00:12:15]Last will and testament of Luke Thompson. I, Luke Thompson, residing in California, being of sound mind, do hereby declare this instrument to be my last will and testament. I hereby revoke all previous wills and coticils. I direct that the disposition of my remains be as follows. I'm to be cremated and taken to the summit of Mount Everest, where my ashes will forever remain at the ceiling of the earth. I give all the rest and residue of my estate to my spouse, Betty Thompson, should she survive me for 60 days. If my spouse, Betty Thompson, does not survive me, I give all the rest and residue of my estate to English Pod. If neither Betty Thompson nor English Pod survives me, I give all the rest and residue of my estate to my heirs as determined by the laws of the state of California relating to disscent and distribution. I appoint Robert Porter to act as the executor of this will to serve without bond. Should Robert Porter be unable or unwilling to serve, then I appoint Jason Smalls to act as the exeutor of this will. I herew with aix my signature to this will on this the 23rd of May 2010 in the presence of the following witnesses who witnessed and subscribed this will at my request and in my presence [music] all right we're back so this is a very interesting topic now I wonder within the will or within the estate do you also acquire a person's debts Ah, that's a good question >> because I know in some countries you do, in some countries you don't. Um, I know in like some cases some uh heirs have have found themselves in some legal problems because all of a sudden they inherited uh that person's uh debts and and stuff like that.

[00:14:11]>> I think that does happen especially for people whose properties are mortgaged. M >> for example, if uh if your uncle has a house and he didn't pay for it with cash, he has a mortgage and he dies and you inherit this [music] house, you also inherit the mortgage.

[00:14:26]>> Yeah.

[00:14:27]>> So sometimes inheritances are not always a good thing. Um I think this happened more in the past. There are more protections and safeguards for people today, >> but definitely I I mean what is it like in Ecuador? Do people inherit debt? Um, yeah. I think most, well, obviously most banks when they give out loans or a mortgage, you are they they have somebody that will kind of cosign on these things. And I imagine, I'm not really very sure, but I know that if you inherit an estate that has a mortgage, you are forced to pay it. And if you can't, then they will make that other person who co-signed it responsible if he still exists. I don't know. In these legal systems, it's sometimes very strange because it seems like there would be a lot of gaps.

[00:15:12]>> That's right. And everyone wants to protect themselves.

[00:15:14]>> Yeah. Exactly.

[00:15:15]>> So, we've got the bank that wants to protect its it itself. It gives a loan.

[00:15:19]It wants the money back. And a person who wants to protect himself from maybe a relative who who dies and has debt.

[00:15:27]>> Yeah.

[00:15:27]>> Yeah. So, I'm curious to know what our users have to say. What is the situation in your country? Do most people have a will in testament? What happens with debt >> or what happens if somebody dies and they don't have a will in testament?

[00:15:40]>> That's a good question, too. I don't have an answer for that one. [laughter] >> All right, so let us know and we'll uh give you guys some uh information on that as well. englishpot.com. We'll see everyone there.

[00:15:49]>> Bye, everyone. [music] >> Bye.

[00:15:59]>> The English Pod audio review.

[00:16:02]Listen to the meaning then say the vocabulary word.

[00:16:06]>> Live in a place permanently.

[00:16:11]Resside.

[00:16:15]Free from disease or injury in good condition.

[00:16:21]Sound by means of or as a result of this.

[00:16:30]Hereby, a paper made to settle property after one's death.

[00:16:38]Last will and testament.

[00:16:42]The body of a dead person remains the highest point. Top summit.

[00:16:58]Everything you own. all your assets.

[00:17:03]Estate.

[00:17:05]Choose someone to do a particular job.

[00:17:10]Appoint.

[00:17:13]Add or append.

[00:17:17]A fix.

[00:17:20]To sign at the end of the will or contract.

[00:17:25]Subscribe.

[00:17:28]A person's partner in marriage.

[00:17:32]Spouse.

[00:17:34]Cancel.

[00:17:38]Revoke.

[00:17:40]Let's try that faster.

[00:17:43]>> The body of a dead person.

[00:17:48]Remains.

[00:17:51]Cancel.

[00:17:54]Revoke.

[00:17:55]Choose someone to do a particular job.

[00:18:00]Appoint a person's partner in marriage.

[00:18:06]Spouse to sign at the end of the will or contract.

[00:18:12]Subscribe.

[00:18:15]Add or append.

[00:18:18]A fix.

[00:18:20]A paper made to settle property after one's death.

[00:18:25]Last will and testament.

[00:18:28]Free from disease or injury in good condition.

[00:18:34]Sound the highest point. Top summit.

[00:18:43]By means of or as a result of this, hereby live in a place permanently reside.

[00:18:57]Everything you own, all your assets.

[00:19:01]Estate.

[00:19:03]Now say the word and hear it in a sentence.

[00:19:07]>> Revoke.

[00:19:10]His driving license was revoked by the police.

[00:19:18]Revoke.

[00:19:23]My parents revoked my phone privileges.

[00:19:27]Revoke.

[00:19:34]The court decided to revoke the terrorist citizenship remains.

[00:19:44]The remains were transferred to the morg.

[00:19:48]Remains.

[00:19:53]A cemetery has the remains of many people.

[00:19:58]Remains.

[00:20:04]The police covered the remains with a white sheet.

[00:20:08]Estate.

[00:20:11]Bill Gates estate is valued at over $1 billion.

[00:20:17]Estate.

[00:20:21]A person's estate is comprised of all assets which are held in the descendants's name alone.

[00:20:29]Estate.

[00:20:35]The family divided the estate equally among everyone. Hereby I hereby declare you husband and wife.

[00:20:49]Hereby I hereby resign as president of the United States.

[00:20:58]Hereby we hereby commit to obeying the laws of this country.

[00:21:08]Appoint.

[00:21:13]The president appointed me as the vice president.

[00:21:17]Appoint.

[00:21:20]My teacher appointed me as the classroom monitor.

[00:21:25]Appoint.

[00:21:27]He was appointed as the child's legal guardian.

[00:21:44]Hello everyone. Welcome to another lesson at English Pod. My name is Marco.

[00:21:49]>> My name is Katherine. So Marco, what are we talking about today?

[00:21:52]>> Today we're going to be talking about a popular topic all over the world and that is smoking.

[00:21:59]>> Well, not so popular in the States right now to be honest.

[00:22:01]>> Well, that's the thing. In every country in the world now, they are becoming more strict on smoking and where you can smoke. So, it's becoming very difficult for smokers nowadays. Well, it's a good reason to want to quit. And that's what we're going to be talking about today is is quitting smoking.

[00:22:17]>> Well, before we get going, we do have a really important phrase that we should preview in today's vocabulary preview.

[00:22:24]>> Vocabulary preview.

[00:22:26]>> All right. So, on vocabulary preview, we're going to take a look at this word pack of smokes.

[00:22:31]pack of smokes. So >> a pack of smokes.

[00:22:34]>> So smokes is a word for cigarettes. It's the same thing. Smokes or cigarettes, >> right? But a pack is, you know, like 20 cigarettes.

[00:22:43]>> It's a box of cigarettes. You buy them in a pack. You don't just buy one at a time. So again, the phrase is pack of smokes.

[00:22:51]>> Pack of smokes. So why don't we listen to our dialogue for the first time and see what's going on with this smoker.

[00:22:57][music] It smells like an ashtray in here.

[00:23:12]>> Hi, honey. What's wrong? Why do you have that look on your face?

[00:23:16]>> What's wrong? I thought we agreed you were going to quit smoking.

[00:23:19]>> No, I said I was going to cut down, which is very different. You can't just expect me to go cold turkey overnight.

[00:23:26]>> Look, there are other ways to quit. You can try the nicotine patch or nicotine chewing gum. We spend a fortune on cigarettes every month and now laws are cracking down and not allowing smoking in any public place. It's not like you can just light up like before.

[00:23:41]>> I know. I know. I really am trying, but I don't have the willpower to just quit.

[00:23:46]I can't fight with the urge to reach for my pack of smokes in the morning with coffee or after lunch. Please understand.

[00:23:53]>> Fine. I want a divorce.

[00:24:01]Sorry, I just um just smoked a pack of cig [laughter] you you do smoke, don't you?

[00:24:08]>> Well, we'll talk about that later.

[00:24:09][laughter] >> All right. So, it is a little bit extreme though. I mean, he's divorcing her cuz she won't quit.

[00:24:15]>> Well, some people really are health conscious and are afraid of the negative side of smoking, which has a lot of health side effects.

[00:24:24]>> Yeah. Well, as he was complaining about all the negative effects and the negative aspects of uh smoking, he did mention both of them mentioned a lot of great words and phrases. So, why don't we take a look at them now in language takeaway.

[00:24:40]>> Language takeaway.

[00:24:42]>> Well, this first word is a word that's very important for any smoker who goes to a bar or a restaurant and needs to put the ash somewhere, right? So, when you smoke, there's some ash. There's some messy, dirty stuff, and you need an ashtray to collect it.

[00:24:57]>> An ashtray.

[00:24:59]>> So, an ashtray is something that's usually round or square, and you put it on a table, and it's just very helpful to keep the house clean or restaurant clean. So, if you're in a restaurant, you say, "Hey, can I have an ashtray, please?"

[00:25:09]>> Mhm. So, the the residue or the the stuff that when you're smoking, it comes out, the gray, I don't know, like dust, it's called ash, >> right? And this is a tray. But the the complaint here is it smells like an ashtray in here. That means it smells really really bad in here.

[00:25:28]>> Yeah. It smells like cigarettes.

[00:25:30]>> Yeah. So that word again is ashtray.

[00:25:32]>> Ashtray. All right. Well, and the guy was complaining and he said, "Well, I thought you were going to quit smoking."

[00:25:38]And she said, "No, no, I said I was going to cut down."

[00:25:43]>> She says it's very different from quitting smoking. So, Marco, maybe we should talk about how cutting down and quitting are different.

[00:25:50]>> All right. So, if I say I'm going to cut down on smoking, it's just I'm going to smoke less.

[00:25:55]>> M. Okay. So, let's take an example. I smoke 10 cigarettes a day, but I want to cut down. How many should I smoke later?

[00:26:03]Maybe >> like two or three.

[00:26:04]>> Three. Two or three.

[00:26:06]>> Instead of quitting. So, if you quit smoking, that would mean zero.

[00:26:10]>> Zero cigarettes. No smoking anymore, >> right?

[00:26:13]>> All right. So you can also cut down on carbs like carbohydrates. So some people who cut down on carbs eat less bread.

[00:26:21]They don't eat any pasta. So these are really good ways of trying to talk about dieting as well as smoking.

[00:26:28]>> Right? And I think we have a couple of examples of other ways we can use this phrase cut down. So let's listen to them now.

[00:26:36]>> Example one.

[00:26:39]>> Our company has decided to cut down our workload. So, from now on, we leave at 3:00 p.m. every Friday.

[00:26:46]>> Example two, >> you should really cut down on the amount of salt you eat. It's not good for you.

[00:26:54]>> Example three, >> my doctor told me I need to cut down on fatty foods because of my heart condition.

[00:27:04]>> And when you want to smoke a cigarette, you have to do something first with some fire. So we call this lighting up.

[00:27:11]>> To light up.

[00:27:12]>> So lighting up, it doesn't mean turning on the light. It actually means using a lighter or some fire to start your cigarette.

[00:27:20]>> Right? So you want to light up with the lighter matches or some sort of fire.

[00:27:24]>> The the man says the husband says it's not like you can just light up like before. That means it's not like you can just smoke like before. So in some cases light up means to smoke a cigarette.

[00:27:34]We're in a movie theater and someone lights a cigarette and I say, "Oh, you can't light up in here."

[00:27:39]>> Right. So, you can't smoke in here.

[00:27:40]>> You can't smoke in here.

[00:27:41]>> It's another way of saying smoking.

[00:27:43]>> Mhm.

[00:27:43]>> Very good. And she was explaining, you know, how difficult it is and she's trying to quit, but she said, "I don't have the willpower to just quit."

[00:27:52]>> Ooh, willpower. So, this is an important word.

[00:27:55]>> Willpower.

[00:27:55]>> Willpower. You think of the main part of this word is will. That means the desire to do something. You want to do something. So if I have willpower, I have strong willpower. What am I saying?

[00:28:05][music] >> You're saying that you can make a decision and you can follow your decision. So I decide not to eat cake. I have very strong willpower. So I never eat cake.

[00:28:17]>> Mhm.

[00:28:17]>> If I don't have strong willpower, maybe I [music] sometimes secretly eat cake in the middle of the night from my refrigerator.

[00:28:24]>> So that happens, right? Sometimes you don't have a strong enough willpower, so you kind of eat a little bit of cake when nobody's watching.

[00:28:32]>> Exactly. And you can have willpower about lots of different things. So, this is a great word again to use when you're talking about dieting or smoking or drinking, >> any type of maybe temptation.

[00:28:43]>> Exactly.

[00:28:43]>> All right. And well, she said she had this urge to reach for her pack of smokes.

[00:28:49]>> Ooh, urge is another good one. It's very similar to willpower, but an urge is kind of like a physical feeling that makes you want to do something.

[00:28:58]>> So, you have like this strong desire.

[00:29:00]>> Mhm. So, I have the urge to go swimming today. I don't know why, but I really want to.

[00:29:05]>> All right. You have an urge. Interesting word.

[00:29:08]>> Pregnant women often have these kinds of things, too. I have the urge to do something. We also call them cravings.

[00:29:13]>> Oh, cravings or urge to do something.

[00:29:15]All right. Interesting. So, we've taken a look at these five great words, and I think we should listen to our dialogue again. We're going to slow it down just a little bit, and then we'll come back and talk some more. [music] >> It smells like an ashtray in here.

[00:29:36]>> Hi, honey. What's wrong? Why do you have that look on your face?

[00:29:41]>> What's wrong? I thought we agreed that you were going to quit smoking.

[00:29:46]No, I said I was going to cut down, which is very different. You can't just expect me to go cold turkey overnight.

[00:29:56]Look, there are other ways to quit. You can try the nicotine patch or nicotine chewing gum. We spend a fortune on cigarettes every month, and now laws are cracking down and not allowing smoking in any public place. It's not like you can just light up like before.

[00:30:14]>> I know. I know. I really am trying, but I don't have the willpower to just quit.

[00:30:21]I can't fight with the urge to reach for my pack of smokes in the morning with coffee or after lunch. Please understand.

[00:30:29]>> Fine. I want a divorce.

[00:30:34]And [music] we are back. So, we have a great part of our show where we like to talk about some phrases that help you attain fluency. That means sounding like a native speaker of English. And today's phrases are wonderful.

[00:30:45]>> All right, so let's take a look at them now in Fluency Builder.

[00:30:50]>> Fluency Builder.

[00:30:51]>> So on Fluency Builder today, let's take a look at two different phrases. And let's start with the first one. She mentioned something about going cold turkey overnight. What is that phrase?

[00:31:02]Gold cold turkey. Now this is a very strange phrase. Okay, so first of all, why would a turkey be cold? They have lots of feathers. And second of all, why would what does it have to do with cigarettes?

[00:31:13]>> Right? So if I say I'm going cold turkey, what is that?

[00:31:16]>> So just take this as a phrase. Don't think about the actual words because they won't make sense in this context.

[00:31:22]What we're talking about is quitting smoking entirely. It you're not going to cut down. It means today I'm not going to smoke at all and I'm never going to smoke again. That means never ever will I smoke another cigarette. So it's cold turkey. So if I go cold turkey means I stop doing something immediately and suddenly and forever >> entirely.

[00:31:44]>> All right.

[00:31:45]>> So you can use this phrase for different habits, different things that you do like drinking for example or cutting down on sugar.

[00:31:52]>> But generally we just say this about cigarettes.

[00:31:55]>> So it's mostly related to smoking.

[00:31:56]>> Yeah. So >> going cold turkey.

[00:31:58]>> Some people like to smoke less like one cigarette a day or one cigarette a week.

[00:32:03]But going cold turkey is supposed to be the hardest.

[00:32:06]>> Right. Okay. going cold turkey. All right. And well, he was explaining the different negative aspects of smoking.

[00:32:12]He said, "Well, you know, they spend a fortune on cigarettes every month." And he said laws are cracking down. So, if the laws are cracking down, what what is he trying to say there?

[00:32:23]>> Well, this is actually a very interesting point because in America right now, it's very hard to smoke in public places. So, this means that the government is trying to stop people from smoking. So they say no more smoking in public places, no more smoking in restaurants, no more smoking in bars.

[00:32:40]And so this is this means they're cracking down. They're making it harder to do something.

[00:32:44]>> So they are becoming more strict.

[00:32:47]>> Mhm.

[00:32:47]>> I think for this phrase, we should listen to a couple of more examples just to make sure we understand it.

[00:32:53]>> Example one, >> the police are cracking down on drunk driving in our city.

[00:33:01]Example two.

[00:33:04]>> Our school has really started to crack down on tardiness.

[00:33:08]>> Example three.

[00:33:11]>> The president has passed a law that will crack down on possession of illegal substances.

[00:33:18]>> All right. So the government is cracking down. Laws are cracking down.

[00:33:22]>> Yeah. Exactly. So this is an important one because you read this in the newspapers as well about certain laws and police action.

[00:33:28]>> All right. Great. So, I think it's time for us to listen to this dialogue for one last time, and then we'll come back and talk a little bit more about this vice. [music] It smells like an ashtray in here.

[00:33:50]>> Hi, honey. What's wrong? Why do you have that look on your face?

[00:33:54]>> What's wrong? I thought we agreed you were going to quit smoking. No, I said I was going to cut down, which is very different. You can't just expect me to go cold turkey overnight.

[00:34:04]>> Look, there are other ways to quit. You can try the nicotine patch or nicotine chewing gum. We spend a fortune on cigarettes every month, and now laws are cracking down and not allowing smoking in any public place. It's not like you can just light up like before.

[00:34:19]>> I know. I know. I really am trying, but I don't have the willpower to just quit.

[00:34:24]I can't fight with the urge to reach for my pack of smokes in the morning with coffee or after lunch. Please understand.

[00:34:31]>> Fine. I want a divorce.

[00:34:38]>> So, do you have a problem with this vice as you call it?

[00:34:42]>> Um, [music] >> are you a smoker?

[00:34:44]>> I'm really not. I'm the type of person that could maybe smoke socially, like if we go out to a bar with drinks. A social smoker like they call it, right?

[00:34:53]>> Yeah. I'm jealous.

[00:34:55]>> But not really. You're a habitual smoker, right?

[00:34:57]>> Right. Well, I was I'm trying to cut down. So, as a habitual smoker, I often smoked every day.

[00:35:03]>> Sometimes I smoked a lot and sometimes I smoke less, but right now I'm in a period where I'm mostly quit.

[00:35:11]>> Okay. Almost.

[00:35:12]>> Yeah. Well, I haven't smoked in a while, and when I do, it's just one cigarette.

[00:35:15]Now, it is interesting because like we mentioned, laws are cracking down on where you can smoke, but also taxes and cigarettes are becoming much more expensive, right?

[00:35:24]>> Absolutely. Especially where I'm from in Chicago, it's easy to spend maybe $10 US or $12 on one pack of cigarettes.

[00:35:31]>> On a pack of cigarettes. Imagine that.

[00:35:33]So, and you have people that can't help smoking one or two packs a day.

[00:35:38]>> So, how much is that a month? It's just an amazing amount of money.

[00:35:41]>> Thousand of dollars. Well, and I have to say though, a lot of my friends who used to smoke in America have quit. So, this is maybe working.

[00:35:48]>> The the whole thing of making cigarettes more expensive.

[00:35:51]>> Yeah. Making them much more expensive.

[00:35:52]>> Now, another interesting thing and what I was reading recently is that, you know, those warnings that come on cigarette packs that say, you know, smoking kills, smoking causes cancer.

[00:36:02]Actually, a study has proven that it's not effective, that people don't mind it or even worry about the cautions on the cigarette packages.

[00:36:09]>> Well, as a smoker, I could say that.

[00:36:11]Yeah, you generally, if you're going to smoke a cigarette, don't look at the label that much. You just, you know, you throw it in your bag and you forget about it.

[00:36:17]>> But it's actually gotten to the point where people choose the cigarette pack based on the picture. So, it's like, "Oh, yeah, give me the one with the black lungs or give me that one, you know."

[00:36:25]>> Oh, god.

[00:36:26]>> Yeah, it's interesting. So, it's not really working. I guess uh we're going to have to find other ways to make people more conscious about this vice.

[00:36:33]>> We should.

[00:36:34]>> But come to our website at englishpot.com. Tell us what you think about this uh vice smoking. Is it good?

[00:36:40]Is it bad? Are you a habitual smoker or just a social smoker?

[00:36:44]>> What is smoking? Smoking is a habit that many people have. Some people smoke everyday while others smoke only sometimes.

[00:36:54]There are also people who try smoking once and never do it again. But what exactly is smoking? How does it work?

[00:37:02]What happens when someone smokes? In this part, we will discuss smoking in detail. Smoking has been around for hundreds of years. In the past, people smoked tobacco in pipes and cigars.

[00:37:16]Today, most people smoke cigarettes.

[00:37:19]Some people also use electronic cigarettes, which are called ecigarettes or vapes. These are different from normal cigarettes, but they still contain nicotine. What is smoking?

[00:37:31]Smoking means burning a substance and inhaling the smoke into the lungs. The most common substance that people smoke is tobacco. Tobacco comes from a plant and it is dried and rolled into cigarettes. When a person lights a cigarette, the tobacco burns and they breathe in the smoke. When people smoke, they take in many chemicals. Some of these chemicals can be very harmful to the body. Smoking does not only affect the person who smokes, it can also affect the people around them. The smoke from a cigarette spreads in the air and other people may breathe it in. This is called passive smoking or secondhand smoking. How do people smoke? There are different ways that people smoke. The most common way is by using cigarettes.

[00:38:20]A cigarette is a small roll of tobacco wrapped in paper. A person lights one end and breathes in the smoke. Some people also use cigars. A cigar is bigger and thicker than a cigarette. It has more tobacco and produces more smoke. Some people believe cigars are more expensive and special, so they smoke them on special occasions.

[00:38:43]Another way of smoking is using a pipe.

[00:38:46]In the past, many people used pipes to smoke tobacco. The tobacco is put inside the bowl of the pipe and the person inhales the smoke through a long tube.

[00:38:56]Today, pipes are less common, but some people still use them. Some people also use hookas or shishas. A hookah is a water pipe that is used for smoking flavored tobacco. It is popular in some cultures and people often smoke it in groups. However, smoking a hookah can be just as harmful as smoking cigarettes.

[00:39:19]In recent years, electronic cigarettes, ecigarettes, or vapes have become more popular. These devices do not burn tobacco. Instead, they heat a liquid that turns into vapor. People inhale the vapor in the same way they inhale cigarette smoke. Many people think vaping is safer than smoking, but it still contains nicotine and other chemicals. What happens when a person smokes? When a person smokes a cigarette, the smoke goes into their lungs. From the lungs, the chemicals in the smoke enter the bloodstream. This means the chemicals travel through the whole body. Nicotine, the addictive substance in tobacco, affects the brain.

[00:40:03]It makes the person feel calm or happy for a short time. However, this feeling does not last long. After some time, the person wants to smoke again. This is why smoking is addictive. The more a person smokes, the more their body gets used to nicotine. If they try to stop smoking, they may feel uncomfortable or stressed.

[00:40:25]This is called nicotine withdrawal. Many people find it very difficult to quit smoking because of this. Does smoking only affect the smoker? Many people think that smoking only affects the person who smokes. But this is not true.

[00:40:41]Smoking can also harm the people around the smoker. When a person smokes, the smoke spreads in the air. If another person breathes this smoke, it can harm their health, too. This is called secondhand smoking or passive smoking.

[00:40:57]Secondhand smoke can be especially dangerous for children, pregnant women, and older people. Even if a person does not smoke, breathing in smoke from others can still cause serious health problems.

[00:41:10]Why do people start smoking? Smoking is a habit that millions of people around the world develop at some point in their lives. Some people start smoking when they are young while others begin later in life. Even though people know that smoking is harmful, many still choose to start. It is interesting to understand what leads people to take that first cigarette and why they continue. There are many different influences that encourage people to smoke. Sometimes it happens because of the environment they live in, the people they spend time with, or the situations they face. The first time a person smokes is often not because they truly want to, but because of a moment, [music] a situation, or a feeling that pushes them to try it. One of the most common reasons a person smokes for the first time is exposure. If someone grows up in a house where family members smoke, they might see it as a normal activity. They watch their parents, older siblings, or relatives lighting cigarettes everyday.

[00:42:16]And after a while, it does not seem strange or bad. It becomes something usual like drinking tea or having a meal. When they get older, they might feel that smoking is just another part of life, and they do not question it.

[00:42:31]Sometimes friends play a big role in influencing a person to smoke. If a person is in a group where most people smoke, they might feel pressure to join in. No one wants to feel left out or different, so they pick up a cigarette to fit in. [music] They may not even like the taste or feeling of smoking at first, but they continue because it helps them feel included. Over time, what started as an occasional activity becomes a habit and eventually an addiction. Media and advertisements have also played a role in encouraging people to smoke. In the past, movies, TV shows, and magazines often showed famous actors, musicians, or models smoking.

[00:43:16]These people looked stylish, confident, and successful. Many young people believed that smoking was a sign of maturity and independence. When they saw their favorite celebrities smoking, they thought it made them look strong and interesting. [music] Even today, although smoking advertisements are banned in many countries, people still see characters in film smoking, making it seem exciting or attractive. Another reason people start smoking is the belief that it helps with stress. Life can be difficult and everyone faces problems. Some people go through hard times at work, at school, or in their personal lives. When they see others smoking to relax, they think it might help them too. After smoking, they may feel calm for a short time, but this feeling does not last. In reality, smoking does not remove stress. It only creates a cycle where the person feels they need to smoke more to feel better.

[00:44:18]Curiosity also leads many people to try smoking. Sometimes a person simply wonders what it feels like to smoke.

[00:44:26]They see other people doing it and start to think, "What does it taste like? How does it make people feel?" This curiosity can be strong enough to make them take a cigarette and try it just once. However, for many that one cigarette turns into another and soon they find themselves smoking regularly.

[00:44:48]Some people start smoking because they believe it will help them lose weight.

[00:44:52]There is a common belief that smoking reduces hunger, making people eat less.

[00:44:57]For some, this seems like an easy way to stay slim. They think that instead of eating snacks, they can just smoke a cigarette. While it may be true that nicotine affects appetite, this is not a healthy way to control weight. Smoking damages the body in many ways and can cause serious health problems. In some cultures and societies, smoking is connected to traditions and social events. In certain places, people smoke when they meet friends, when they celebrate, or even when they discuss important topics. Some communities see smoking as a symbol of respect or hospitality. If a person grows up in such an environment, they may feel that smoking is just a natural part of life.

[00:45:43]They might not even think about whether it is good or bad. They simply accept it as something normal. There are also people who start smoking because they believe it helps them concentrate.

[00:45:53]Some students and professionals think that smoking makes them more focused, especially when they're studying or working on something important. They might see older students or colleagues smoking during breaks and assume that it improves their ability to think clearly.

[00:46:09]This belief makes them try smoking hoping it will give them the same benefits. In some cases, people smoke because they want to rebel. They want to feel independent or break the rules set by parents, teachers, or society.

[00:46:24]Teenagers in particular often feel the need to prove that they can make their own choices. If smoking is seen as something forbidden, it becomes even more tempting. They light a cigarette to show that they are in control of their lives. What starts as an act of rebellion can quickly become a habit that is hard to break. Many people do not think about the long-term effects of smoking when they start. They assume that they can stop anytime they want.

[00:46:53]They believe that smoking a few cigarettes will not cause harm. However, over time, their body gets used to nicotine and quitting becomes difficult.

[00:47:03]What began as an occasional activity turns into a daily routine. Before they realize it, they are addicted. One important thing to understand is that smoking does not bring any real benefit.

[00:47:16]The things that make people start fitting in, curiosity, stress relief, or rebellion, are only temporary feelings.

[00:47:25]The risks and dangers of smoking, however, are very real and longlasting.

[00:47:31]Once a person starts smoking, it can be very difficult to stop. The effects of smoking. Smoking is not just a simple habit. [music] It is something that affects the body, mind, and even the people around the smoker. When a person smokes, they might not notice the effects immediately. At first, smoking may feel like a small activity that helps them relax or fit in with friends.

[00:47:57]However, over time, smoking starts to change many things in life. It affects health, relationships, daily activities, and even the environment. The effects of smoking can be divided into different areas. The most serious impact is on health. Every time a person smokes, harmful chemicals enter their body.

[00:48:20]These chemicals affect different parts of the body in different ways. The lungs, heart, and even the skin start to change. Breathing becomes more difficult and the body becomes weaker. Many smokers experience coughing, shortness of breath, and tiredness. These are just the early signs. As time goes on, more serious health problems can develop. The lungs are one of the first organs to be affected. A healthy person breathes easily and their lungs work smoothly.

[00:48:53]But smoking damages the lungs, making it harder to breathe. Smokers often feel like they are out of breath after simple activities like walking or climbing stairs. They also cough more because their lungs try to clear out the harmful substances from cigarettes. Over time, these problems can turn into serious diseases. The heart is another organ that suffers because of smoking. A strong heart is necessary for a healthy life, but smoking weakens it. The chemicals in cigarettes make the heart work harder, increasing the risk of heart disease. Smokers are more likely to have high blood pressure, heart attacks, and other heart problems. Even young smokers can develop heart rellated issues if they continue smoking for a long time. Smoking also affects the skin. Many people do not realize this, but cigarettes can change how a person looks. Smokers often develop wrinkles earlier than non-smokers.

[00:49:53]Their skin becomes dull, dry, and loses its natural glow. This is because smoking reduces the amount of oxygen that reaches the skin. As a result, smokers may look older than they really are. Another serious effect of smoking is on the immune system.

[00:50:11]The immune system is responsible for protecting the body from illness. A strong immune system fights infections and helps the body heal quickly.

[00:50:20]However, smoking weakens this defense.

[00:50:24]Smokers get sick more often and take longer to recover from common illnesses like colds and flu. Wounds and cuts also heal more slowly because smoking reduces blood flow. The negative effects of smoking do not stop with the person who smokes. People around smokers are also affected even if they do not smoke themselves. This is called secondhand smoke. When a person smokes, the smoke spreads into the air. Family members, friends, and even strangers nearby breathe in this smoke, which can harm their health. Babies, children, and elderly people are especially at risk.

[00:51:04]Pregnant women who smoke can also harm their unborn babies. Smoking during pregnancy increases the chances of health problems for the baby, such as low birth weight or breathing difficulties.

[00:51:16]Even after birth, babies who live in a house with a smoker are more likely to have health problems like asthma or frequent colds. The environment also suffers because of smoking. Cigarette smoke pollutes the air and cigarette butts create waste. Many smokers throw cigarette butts on the ground, in parks, or on the streets. These small pieces of trash take years to break down and often end up in rivers, lakes, and oceans.

[00:51:45]They harm animals and the environment.

[00:51:48]Forest fires are sometimes started by people who throw away burning cigarettes carelessly.

[00:51:53]Smoking does not only affect health and the environment. It also has financial effects. Cigarettes are expensive. Many smokers spend a large amount of money on cigarettes every month. If a person smokes for many years, they spend thousands of dollars on cigarettes. This money could be used for better things, buying healthy food, traveling, education, or saving for the future.

[00:52:19]Many smokers realize too late that smoking has taken a lot from them. Not just their health, but also their money.

[00:52:27]Smoking also affects personal and social relationships. Many non-smokers do not like being around smokers because of the smell of cigarettes. The smell stays on clothes, hair, and even in homes and cars. Some people find it unpleasant and this can create distance in relationships.

[00:52:47]Smokers may also find it difficult to be in places where smoking is not allowed, such as restaurants, offices, or public transportation.

[00:52:56]This can limit their activities and make them feel uncomfortable in social situations.

[00:53:02]For those who have been smoking for a long time, quitting may seem difficult.

[00:53:07]However, many people have successfully quit smoking and improved their lives.

[00:53:13]The body begins to heal as soon as a person stops smoking. Breathing becomes easier, energy levels increase, and the risk of serious diseases decreases.

[00:53:23]Skin starts to look healthier and the sense of taste and smell improves. The money saved from not buying cigarettes can be used for better things. Quitting smoking is not easy, but it is possible with determination and support. Many people find it helpful to set a goal, seek support from family and friends, or use tools like nicotine patches or counseling. Some people quit immediately while others do it gradually. Every small step toward quitting is a step toward a healthier life. Conclusion: Smoking affects every part of life, health, relationships, finances, and the environment. While it may seem like a small habit at first, its long-term effects are serious. Many people wish they had never started smoking, but the good news is that quitting is always possible. Every person has the power to make the choice to live a healthier life. Understanding the effects of smoking helps people make better decisions. For English learners, reading and discussing topics like this also helps improve language skills while learning about important issues. Smoking is a challenge. But with knowledge and effort, anyone can overcome it.

[00:54:44]>> The English Pod audio review.

[00:54:47]Listen to the meaning then say the vocabulary word.

[00:54:52]Informal of saying cigarette.

[00:54:56]>> Stogy.

[00:54:59]A receptacle for tobacco ashes and cigarettes and cigars.

[00:55:06]Ashtray.

[00:55:09]The end of the cigarette which contains the filter and is placed into the mouth to smoke.

[00:55:17]but reduce the amount taken or used.

[00:55:24]Cut down a solid sticky substance that remains when tobacco is burned. It accumulates in the lungs of smokers and is considered carcinogenic.

[00:55:38]tar.

[00:55:40]Immediate complete withdrawal from something.

[00:55:46]Cold turkey.

[00:55:48]A mechanical device for lighting a cigarette, cigar, or pipe.

[00:55:55]Lighter.

[00:55:57]A patch that slowly releases nicotine into the body.

[00:56:03]Nicotine patch.

[00:56:06]A thin strip of wood or cardboard tipped with a chemical that ignites when scraped against a rough or specially treated surface.

[00:56:18]Match gum that slowly releases nicotine into the body.

[00:56:26]Nicotine chewing gum.

[00:56:29]Smoking a cigarette once. A puff. Share a cigarette with someone.

[00:56:36]Drag to act more forcefully. To regulate or repress.

[00:56:45]Crack down.

[00:56:47]To start smoking a cigarette.

[00:56:52]Light up.

[00:56:54]The strength of mind to carry out a decision.

[00:56:59]Willpower.

[00:57:02]A strong impulse. Inner drive or yearning.

[00:57:07]Urge.

[00:57:09]>> A box of cigarettes.

[00:57:13]Pack of smokes.

[00:57:16]Let's try that faster.

[00:57:19]A receptacle for tobacco ashes and cigarettes and cigars.

[00:57:25]Ashtray.

[00:57:28]Informal of saying cigarette.

[00:57:31]Stogy.

[00:57:33]to start smoking a cigarette.

[00:57:37]Light up a strong impulse, inner drive or yearning.

[00:57:44]Urge: A box of cigarettes.

[00:57:49]Pack of smokes.

[00:57:51]A solid sticky substance that remains when tobacco is burned. It accumulates in the lungs of smokers and is considered carcinogenic.

[00:58:02]Tar, >> the strength of mind to carry out a decision.

[00:58:08]Willpower, >> the end of the cigarette which contains the filter and is placed into the mouth to smoke.

[00:58:18]>> But immediate complete withdrawal from something.

[00:58:25]Cold turkey, >> a patch that slowly releases nicotine into the body.

[00:58:32]Nicotine patch.

[00:58:35]Reduce the amount taken or used.

[00:58:39]Cut down.

[00:58:41]Smoking a cigarette once. A puff. Share a cigarette with someone.

[00:58:48]Drag.

[00:58:49]A thin strip of wood or cardboard tipped with a chemical that ignites when scraped against a rough or specially treated surface.

[00:59:00]Match a mechanical device for lighting a cigarette, cigar, or pipe.

[00:59:08]Lighter to act more forcefully to regulate or repress.

[00:59:16]Crack down.

[00:59:18]Gum that slowly releases nicotine into the body.

[00:59:23]Nicotine chewing gum.

[00:59:26]Now say the word and hear it in a sentence.

[00:59:30]Crack down.

[00:59:36]The police is cracking down on drunk driving in our city.

[00:59:40]Crack down.

[00:59:47]The president has passed a law that will crack down on possession of illegal substances.

[00:59:53]Crack down.

[00:59:56]Our school has really started to crack down on tardiness.

[01:00:04]Cut down.

[01:00:10]You should really cut down on the amount of salt you eat. It's not good for you.

[01:00:15]Cut down.

[01:00:22]Our company has decided to cut down our workload. So, from now on, we leave at 3 p.m. every Friday.

[01:00:30]Cut down.

[01:00:36]My doctor told me I need to cut down on fatty foods because of my heart condition.

[01:00:41]Light up.

[01:00:50]Honey, you can't light up here. We are in a non-smoking area.

[01:00:56]Light up.

[01:01:06]John is addicted to smoking. Anytime and anywhere he has a chance, he lights up immediately.

[01:01:13]Light up.

[01:01:20]The government is making it more difficult to light up with all these anti-smoking laws.

[01:01:27]Willpower.

[01:01:36]I don't have the willpower to stick to my diet. It's so hard.

[01:01:42]Willpower.

[01:01:54]Kathy is a workaholic. She needs to gather more willpower and refuse to work extra hours.

[01:02:02]Willpower, willpower, and discipline are essential to any person that wants to succeed in life.

[01:02:15]urge.

[01:02:24]I was so angry at him that I felt a sudden urge to hit him.

[01:02:29]Urge.

[01:02:37]Last night, my wife got an uncontrollable urge to smoke every hour.

[01:02:42]It was weird.

[01:02:45]Urge.

[01:02:56]When Carol was pregnant, she once had an urge to eat a bacon and tuda sandwich.

[01:03:01]It was disgusting.

[01:03:08]>> Hello everyone [music] and welcome to English Pod. My name is Marco.

[01:03:11]>> My name is Catherine. And today we have a very serious dialogue for you.

[01:03:15]>> That's right. We are going to talk about a will and testament. The last will and testament of someone.

[01:03:21]>> All right. So what is a will and testament? Well, [music] basically this is a document that someone writes usually with a lawyer that explains what to do with the person's body and their possessions, their things after they die. Right.

[01:03:34]>> So many people write these and the family will then use it to discover who gets to receive certain objects and what to do with this person's body. [music] >> Right. Exactly. So that is a last will in testament. We are going to take a look and at an example of one so you would see more or less in English how one is written. Now obviously they're they can be very long and very complex.

[01:03:57]So, we've taken one that's uh that has some interesting words there that are a little bit more specific, very a lot of legal terms there. So, uh why don't we listen to this dialogue for the first time and we'll be back shortly. Last will and testament of Luke Thompson. I Luke Thompson residing in California, being of sound mind, do hereby declare this instrument to be my last will and testament. I hereby revoke all previous wills and coticils. I direct that the disposition of my remains be as follows.

[01:04:29]I'm to be cremated and taken to the summit of Mount Everest, where my ashes will forever remain at the ceiling of the earth. I give all the rest and residue of my estate to my spouse, Betty Thompson, should she survive me for 60 days. If my spouse, Betty Thompson, does not survive me, I give all the rest and residue of my estate to English Pod. If neither Betty Thompson nor English Pod survives me, I give all the rest and residue of my estate to my heirs as determined by the laws of the state of California relating to disscent and distribution. I appoint Robert Porter to act as the executor of this will to serve without bond. Should Robert Porter be unable or unwilling to serve, then I appoint Jason Smalls to act as the executor of this will. I here withwith aix my signature to this will on this the 23rd of May 2010 in the presence of the following witnesses who witnessed and subscribe this will at my request and in my presence. All right, we're back. So now we're going to take a look at five key words on language takeaway.

[01:05:38]>> Language takeaway.

[01:05:41]>> Okay, the first word here in language takeaway comes from the very beginning of this well monologue. We're reading the last will in testament aloud.

[01:05:50]>> I Luke Thompson residing in California being of sound mind. Sound as an adjective. What does this mean?

[01:05:57]>> That's very interesting. So he says I am in sound mind and sound is an adjective to describe I am in a good state of mind.

[01:06:07]>> That's right. So it means not having any problems or logical or unaffected.

[01:06:13]>> Basically I'm not crazy. Right.

[01:06:15]>> Right. I'm not crazy. I I don't have any problems. We can say this about other things, too. We can say he's of sound body, >> right? That means that he is healthy. He has no problems with his body.

[01:06:26]>> Or I could say, Marco, that's a really good decision. It's a sound decision.

[01:06:30][music] >> So, again, that's also a way of saying good or >> it will work.

[01:06:35]>> It will work. It's a good decision.

[01:06:37]Yeah. So you can use this adjective uh with sound body, sound mind, or a sound decision. Or sometimes uh some people even say I think in Ireland they say, "Oh, he's a really sound guy."

[01:06:50]>> Oh, so he's a good guy.

[01:06:51]>> He's a good guy.

[01:06:52]>> Very interesting. I learned something.

[01:06:53]>> So uh sound body, sound mind, sound guy.

[01:06:56]Uh moving on, he was talking about the will and he says, "I hereby revoke all previous wills and cautil."

[01:07:03]>> The verb here is to revoke.

[01:07:06]>> To revoke. This is something that a lot of people hear in America when they they drive their car too fast.

[01:07:12]>> Yeah.

[01:07:13]>> The police catch them and the police revoke their driver's license.

[01:07:17]>> And that basically means to take away or to Yeah. To take, right?

[01:07:22]>> To take away from. So this man here, Luke Thompson, what he's saying is I revoke all previous wills. That means any other will that I wrote before, it's not good anymore. I'm throwing it away.

[01:07:34][music] this is the only one that will exist.

[01:07:37]>> So you can use this word revoke with many aspects. For example, sometimes employees will get their benefits revoked by the company because maybe they don't have enough money anymore [music] >> or maybe they're bad employees >> or maybe they were bad employees.

[01:07:49]>> That's too bad.

[01:07:50]>> All right. So to revoke now moving on, he was talking about his estate. So this is very interesting because he says, "I give all the rest and residue of my estate to my spouse."

[01:08:02]>> Okay, estate. It sounds like a very fancy word. It is a fancy word.

[01:08:06]Sometimes we use this word to mean someone's property, their house. But in a will, this means everything the person owns. House, car, things, pets, stocks, investments, the estate is essentially everything the person owns as a kind of one unit.

[01:08:26]>> Right. Exactly. So, anything that is yours or you may have bought, just consider the estate is a big bag, right?

[01:08:32]That's your estate. And inside this bag is everything that you own.

[01:08:36]>> You might see advertisements in fact in America or in England for estate sales.

[01:08:41]>> This means that when someone passes away, when they die, [music] their family will sell their things and this is an estate sale. You can find beautiful interesting things in estate sales.

[01:08:51]>> Exactly. Very interesting. So that is a person's estate. Now remember this is in the legal terms because you also have other things like real estate and as you mentioned which would be a house, right?

[01:09:02]Okay. Now, apart from his from his estate, he was telling everyone as to how they should take care of his body or what they should do with it. And he said, "Well, I am to be cremated."

[01:09:14]>> Okay, this is important. When a person dies, there are generally two options.

[01:09:18]>> Mhm.

[01:09:19]>> Uh their body can be buried >> in a casket in the ground.

[01:09:24]>> Uh that means they they're put in the earth, but a lot of people choose to be cremated.

[01:09:29]>> All right.

[01:09:29]>> Okay. That means that their body will be burned. Mhm.

[01:09:32]>> And their ashes, that means the things that are left after they are burned, [music] they will be taken somewhere else, >> right?

[01:09:38]>> Like in a bowl or a pot, >> right? And uh in this case, that's what the person wants. He wants to be cremated. So that would be the verb to cremate.

[01:09:47]>> And the noun would be a cremation.

[01:09:50]>> Cremation. And what is going to happen to all this stuff? Basically, it's going to be given away to his wife, to English pod, and to his heirs. This is our next word. What is an heir?

[01:10:03]>> Now, if you notice, the H is silent there. So, his heirs and that those are basically his children, his daughters or his uh his sons, >> right? My heirs are the people who are related to me.

[01:10:18]>> Mhm.

[01:10:18]>> Who in this case will receive some of my things. Now, is it only their the children or also it could be maybe any other [music] relative?

[01:10:27]>> It could be any other relative. You could say, "I'm his heir. He's my great uncle." Means we're related, but we're not necessarily father and daughter or grandfather and granddaughter. [music] An an heir is someone who is related to the family. Uh it doesn't have to be a certain relationship. [music] >> And now it's interesting because from this word we can get inheritance. Now, we didn't find it in the dialogue. So, it's very interesting because it comes they're very similar in spelling, right?

[01:10:53]Inheritance and air, >> right? Good to remember.

[01:10:56]>> Yeah, good to remember. You can you switch the e and the I's, right?

[01:10:59]>> That's right. So, inheritance, it's a thing. Um, you can receive this. So, I received an inheritance from my great grandmother.

[01:11:07]>> That means I received some money or some things.

[01:11:11]>> That means you were the that person's heir.

[01:11:13]>> That's right. Okay. or you know in his inheritance he he received a large house he was the heir to a great fortune >> okay interesting so again inheritance wasn't in the dialogue but I think it's worth mentioning and uh I think now we can move on to four very interesting uh items that we have for you on fluency builder okay these first two are words that we normally read or hear in legal documents and I want to place emphasis on the fact that we don't really say them in spoken English. So remember that these are [music] more formal terms.

[01:11:49]>> The first one is >> hereby >> hereby >> I hereby declare >> right [music] >> that means now >> now >> with this word with this spoken >> sentence this will happen.

[01:12:02]>> I think we've seen it like in movies sometimes it was like I hereby declare this country in the name of England.

[01:12:09]>> I hereby declare you man and wife.

[01:12:11]>> Exactly. Okay. That means in this moment this happens. [music] >> Okay. And a very similar word that we also saw in the dialogue is herewith.

[01:12:20]>> So in the will and testament we hear Luke Thompson who says I herew with affix my signature. [music] That means um with the action of signing my name signing my signature >> this will be completed. Okay. So I here with you have to have an action not just a word.

[01:12:38]>> Okay difference. I hear with >> I hear with attach my seal. Okay, a seal is like a stamp. Um very common in in the old days when you had real letters, but I hear with a you know I herew with attach my seal and give my approval to this document.

[01:12:55]>> Okay, so it has to be something physical, >> right? So if maybe you're writing like this very classic letter and you say, I hear with include a lock of my hair.

[01:13:04]>> Ooh, how romantic.

[01:13:05]>> Okay, that's kind of creepy.

[01:13:06][clears throat] Yeah, >> but here with you you're including or attaching physically, right? I guess I guess the modern version of herewith would be attach.

[01:13:15]>> Yeah.

[01:13:16]>> Okay, good.

[01:13:17]>> Herew with hereby. But we've got another phrase here that you might hear more commonly. At the beginning of the will and testament, [music] there's a phrase as follows. Okay. Um I direct that the disposition of my remains be as follows.

[01:13:32]So with my body do as follows.

[01:13:35]>> Mhm. M.

[01:13:36]>> So, basically, this is a very common way of putting this in a sentence to indicate that you're going to start to list items.

[01:13:45]>> That's right. Or give instructions.

[01:13:47]>> Instructions.

[01:13:48]>> So, for example, to make a loaf of bread, do as follows. Number one.

[01:13:52]>> Mhm.

[01:13:53]>> Get some flour. Number two, add some water. So, this is a way for us to to say, listen, I'm going to give you instructions or a list. Pay attention.

[01:14:01]So, please do as follows. Please act as follows.

[01:14:06]>> Okay, very good. And our last uh word that we have here going back to here with he said I herew with a fix my signature. What does it mean when you affix?

[01:14:17]>> Okay, a fix is a word we have a number of other words for these days. So you rarely hear it. It means to attach or to include.

[01:14:26]>> Okay, so I hear with a fix my signature would be attach my signature, >> right? I provide my signature or I hear with a fix my address or I hear with a fix something.

[01:14:38]>> Mhm. Okay. Very good. Really interesting stuff. Uh you'll obviously see this very commonly with uh legal documents such as these even though it is like older English. It's still very commonly used.

[01:14:50]I guess cuz the law is so old.

[01:14:52]>> That's right. Definitely. And I think that uh it's worth listening to today's monologue one more time. Think about some of the words that we've just discussed and we'll be back in a moment.

[01:15:02]>> Last will and testament of Luke Thompson. I, Luke Thompson, residing in California, being of sound mind, do hereby declare this instrument to be my last will and testament. I hereby revoke all previous wills and coticils. I direct that the disposition of my remains be as follows. I'm to be cremated and taken to the summit of Mount Everest, where my ashes will forever remain at the ceiling of the earth. I give all the rest and residue of my estate to my spouse, Betty Thompson, should she survive me for 60 days. If my spouse, Betty Thompson, does not survive me, I give all the rest and residue of my estate to English Pod. If neither Betty Thompson nor English Pod survives me, I give all the rest and residue of my estate to my heirs as determined by the laws of the state of California relating to disscent and distribution. I appoint Robert Porter to act as the exeutor of this will to serve without bond. Should Robert Porter be unable or unwilling to serve, then I appoint Jason Smalls to act as the executor of this will. I herew with aix my signature to this will on this the 23rd of May 2010 in the presence of the following witnesses who witnessed and subscribed this will at my request and in my presence. All right we're back. So this is a very interesting topic. Now I wonder within the will or within the estate do you also acquire a person's debts?

[01:16:34]>> Ah that's a good question >> cuz I know in some countries you do in some countries you don't. Um I know in like some cases some uh heirs have have found themselves in some legal problems because all of a sudden they inherited uh that person's uh debts and and stuff like that.

[01:16:52]>> I think that does happen especially for people whose properties are mortgaged.

[01:16:56]>> For example, if uh if your uncle has a house and he didn't pay for it with cash, he has a mortgage and he dies and you inherit this house, [music] you also inherit the mortgage.

[01:17:07]>> Yeah. So sometimes inheritances are not always a good thing. Um I think this happened more in the past. There are more protections and safeguards for people today. But definitely I I mean what is it like in Ecuador? Do people inherit debt?

[01:17:21]>> Um yeah. I think most well obviously most banks when they give out loans or a mortgage you are they they have somebody that will kind of cosign on these things. And I imagine, I'm not really very sure, but I know that if you inherit an estate that has a mortgage, you are forced to pay it. And if you can't, then they will make that other person who co-signed it responsible if he still exists. I don't know. In these legal systems, it's sometimes very strange because it seems like there would be a lot of gaps.

[01:17:52]>> That's right. And everyone wants to protect themselves.

[01:17:54]>> Yeah. Exactly.

[01:17:55]>> So, we've got the bank that wants to protect its its itself. It gives a loan.

[01:18:00]It wants the money back. and a person who wants to protect himself from maybe a relative who who dies and has debt.

[01:18:08]>> Yeah. So, I'm curious to know what our users have to say. What is the situation in your country? Do most people have a will in testament? What happens with debt?

[01:18:17]>> Or what happens if somebody dies and they don't have a will in testament?

[01:18:20]>> That's a good question, too. I don't have an answer for that one. [laughter] >> All right. So, let us know and we'll uh give you guys some uh information on that as well. englishpot.com. We'll see everyone there.

[01:18:29]>> Bye, everyone.

[01:18:30]>> Bye.

[01:18:30]>> [music] >> The English Pod audio review.

[01:18:42]Listen to the meaning then say the vocabulary word.

[01:18:47]Live in a place permanently.

[01:18:51]Resside.

[01:18:55]Free from disease or injury. In good condition.

[01:19:01]sound by means of or as a result of this.

[01:19:10]Hereby a paper made to settle property after one's death.

[01:19:18]Last will and testament.

[01:19:22]The body of a dead person remains the highest point. Top summit.

[01:19:38]Everything you own, all your assets.

[01:19:43]Estate.

[01:19:46]Choose someone to do a particular job.

[01:19:51]Appoint.

[01:19:53]add or append a fix to sign at the end of the will or contract.

[01:20:05]Subscribe a person's partner in marriage.

[01:20:12]Spouse cancel.

[01:20:18]Revoke.

[01:20:20]Let's try that faster.

[01:20:23]>> The body of a dead person.

[01:20:28]Remains.

[01:20:31]Cancel.

[01:20:34]Revoke.

[01:20:36]Choose someone to do a particular job.

[01:20:40]Appoint.

[01:20:42]A person's partner in marriage.

[01:20:46]Spouse.

[01:20:48]to sign at the end of the will or contract.

[01:20:52]Subscribe, add or append.

[01:20:58]A fix.

[01:21:00]A paper made to settle property after one's death.

[01:21:05]Last will and testament.

[01:21:09]Free from disease or injury in good condition.

[01:21:14]Sound.

[01:21:17]The highest point top summit by means of or as a result of this hereby live in a place permanently reside everything you own all your assets estate.

[01:21:43]Now say the word and hear it in a sentence.

[01:21:48]Revoke.

[01:21:53]His driving license was revoked by the police.

[01:21:58]Revoke.

[01:22:03]My parents revoked my phone privileges.

[01:22:07]Revoke.

[01:22:14]The court decided to revoke the terrorist citizenship remains.

[01:22:24]The remains were transferred to the morg.

[01:22:28]Remains A cemetery has the remains of many people.

[01:22:38]remains.

[01:22:44]The police covered the remains with a white sheet.

[01:22:48]Estate.

[01:22:54]Bill Gates estate is valued at over $1 billion.

[01:23:00]Estate.

[01:23:05]A person's estate is comprised of all assets which are held in the descendants's name alone.

[01:23:12]Estate the family divided the estate equally among everyone.

[01:23:24]Hereby I hereby declare you husband and wife.

[01:23:33]Hereby I hereby resign as president of the United States.

[01:23:45]Hereby we hereby commit to obeying the laws of this country.

[01:23:57]Appoint.

[01:24:02]The president appointed me as the vice president.

[01:24:08]Appoint.

[01:24:14]My teacher appointed me as the classroom monitor.

[01:24:19]Appoint.

[01:24:27]He was appointed as the child's legal guardian. Yeah.

[01:24:36]>> [music]