That's English! - Burning Issues: Recent Episodes
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Hello and welcome to this podcast brought to you by That's English!, the Spanish Ministry of Education's official distance learning English course.
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The best places to be a woman podcast Hello and welcome to this podcast brought to you by That's English!, the Spanish Ministry of Education's official distance learning English course. To find out more about That's English! go to www.thatsenglish.com or contact your local Official School of Languages. Kate: Hi Drew! What are you up to? You look really busy. Drew: Yeah, I'm preparing a seminar paper for my master's degree. Kate: Oh, I see. And what is it about? Drew: Well, it's about the gender gap in different countries. Kate: Oh, that's interesting ... and maybe a bit depressing, especially if you're a woman, I suppose. Drew: Too right. I've just been reading this article, which was published a few years ago by The Independent newspaper. It talks about the best and worst places in the world to be a woman. Kate: Hmmmmm... How do they decide that? Drew: Well, they compare men's and women's access to and participation in education, health, top management positions, politics, employment etc. Kate: I see. And if you take all these things into consideration, which is the best country to live in if you're a woman? Drew: Well, the country where the gender gap is narrowest when you think of education, health, politics and employment is Iceland. Kate: Well, that comes as no surprise. I thought it would probably be a Scandinavian country, like Denmark or Sweden. Drew: Okay, okay...You're very clever. But can you tell me the country which has the most women parliamentarians? Kate: Mmm... I don't know... Australia or New Zealand, may be? Drew: Cold, cold. Kate: Is it a European country? Drew: Cold again. Kate: Well, I have no idea. You tell me. Drew: Rwanda. Apparently over half of the seats in the Rwandan parliament are held by women. Kate: Really? I would never have guessed that. Drew: Yeah - me neither. And, according to the article, the country that has had the longest serving female head of government is Sri Lanka. It says that women have run the country for 23 years. Kate: Well, I didn't know that either, but, if you think about it, a lot of Asian countries have had female leaders, like Indira Gandhi in India or Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan. Drew: Just like the States, eh? It's incredible that we still haven't had a female president. In the UK, you had Mrs Thatcher and then Theresa May, of course. Kate: Indeed. Does the article say if the UK is the best place to be a woman in any field? Drew: Sorry, I'm afraid not. Kate: And what about the U.S.? Drew: Apparently the States is the best place to be a female athlete, because it's the country with more women in the top ten ranking of the best paid sportswomen. Kate: Well, that doesn't surprise me. And, if we think of women workers in general, where should we be living to earn equal pay? Drew: Well, it says here that you should go to either Luxembourg or Norway. Those are the countries where men and women are most likely to earn the same amount of money for doing the same job. The worst place is apparently Saudi Arabia. According to the statistics they give here, a woman only earns $7,157 compared to a man's $36,727 for doing a similar job. Kate: You're kidding!! What a huge difference! Drew: Another study I've seen says that New Zealand is the country with the smallest pay gap, but even there, women still earn 5% less than men. Kate: And what about unpaid work? You know, gender equality at home. Drew: Well, it says here that Danish women spend only 57 minutes more each day than men on household chores. By contrast, Mexican women spend 4 hours 21 minutes more each day than men washing, cleaning, looking after the kids etc. Kate: Is that because Mexico has a more traditional culture? Drew: Probably. But things are changing in countries like Spain and Italy, which also used to be very traditional societies where women used to take care of the children and all the domestic chores. There's a study by Oxford University that says that things have changed a lot over the last two decades. It says that Spain, for instance, in the year 2002, women spent almost 3 hours more than men each day doing the housework, but that by 2009, this had dropped to 2 hours 19 minutes. So things seem to be improving. Kate: Fortunately! And what have you found out about the glass ceiling? You know, the invisible barrier that stops women reaching the top positions in their professions. Drew: Well, in The Independent's article, it says that Thailand has the greatest percentage of women in senior management. However, in a more recent study, published in 2015 by the International Labour Organization, Jamaica tops the list, with nearly 60% of all management posts being held by women. Kate: Well, that's the problem when you are looking at statistics - you have to make sure that the same parameters are used to be able to compare figures. Drew: That's true, but what statistics do agree on is that Japan is the country where fewer management positions are held by women, only 8% in fact. Kate: Gosh! Drew: It's not all bad news for Japanese women, though. Kate: Really? Why's that? Drew: Well, Japanese women have the longest life expectancy in the world. They can expect to live to be 87 years old, 7 years more than Japanese men. Kate: That's probably because they don't suffer all the stress from being in a top management post. Drew: Hah! Hah! Very funny, but I don't think so because Japanese men are number 8 in the top ten life expectancy ranking for men. According to the World Health Organisation, they can expect to live to the ripe old age of 80. Kate: Okay, I was only joking. So which statistic have you found most surprising? Drew: Well, given the poor performance of the Middle Eastern countries, like Saudi Arabia or Oman, in all the rankings, it really surprised me to find out that Qatar leads the world ranking in the proportion of female university students. Apparently, there are six women for every man enrolled in tertiary education. Kate: Well, that's encouraging news. Drew: Yes, it is. In fact, I am thinking of finishing my seminar presentation on this positive note, on the importance of education to close the gender gap. I am going to use this quote by Kofi Annan. Tell me what you think. Kate: Which one? Drew: Gender equality is more than a goal in itself. It is a precondition for meeting the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development and building good governance. Kate: Indisputable. Hear! Hear! Drew: We hope you have found this podcast interesting. If you would like to read the article: The best and worst places to be a woman, you'll find the link at the end of this podcast's transcript. Bye for now! We hope you have enjoyed this podcast, brought to you by That's English! Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter. We look forward to hearing from you. Bye for now! http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/revealed-the-best-and-worst-places-to-be-a-woman-7534794.html
Ridiculous lawsuits podcast Hello and welcome to this podcast brought to you by That's English!, the Spanish Ministry of Education's official distance learning English course. To find out more about That's English! go to www.thatsenglish.com or contact your local Official School of Languages. Kate: Hi Drew! You're very quiet. What are you reading? Drew: Well, actually, I'm reading something so ludicrous, I don't know whether to laugh or cry. Kate: Why's that? Drew: Well, I'll start from the beginning. Last night I was dining out with some friends and when the waiter brought the first courses, my friend Jackie found there was a fly in her soup. Kate: Hah! Hah! Hah! Drew: I don't understand what's so funny. Kate: Well, it's like the joke: "Waiter, waiter, there's a fly in my soup!" And the waiter says: "Don't shout! Everyone will want one." Drew: Very funny. Well, none of us were very impressed, I can tell you. Kate: Okay, okay. I was only kidding. Where's your sense of humour? Drew: Well, I'm not annoyed about what happened in the restaurant. In fact, the head waiter was really apologetic and they didn't charge us for the meal. Kate: So, thanks to the fly in the soup, you got a free dinner! Then I don't understand why you're in a bad mood. Drew: Well, the thing is that after the fly made its uninvited appearance in my friend's soup, we started talking about how, if this had happened in the States, we would have probably sued the restaurant... Kate: Ooh! Drew: Well, yes!... and that led on to a discussion about the ridiculous lawsuits that you often read about in the press, especially in the US. Nigel, that's Jackie's husband, recommended different articles on the Internet I should have a look at about the stupid things my fellow Americans have sued for over the years. And the more I read, the angrier it makes me feel. It's such a waste of time and money and, I think, it's a very poor reflection on American society. Kate: Really?... Is it as bad as that? Drew: Well, let's see what you think. One of the most ludicrous cases was back in 2006 when a guy called Allen Heckard decided to sue Michael Jordan and Nike. Kate: Well, why did he do that? Drew: Well, it turns out that Heckard is Jordan's look-a-like, some say he's like an identical twin, and it was precisely for that reason that Heckard tried to claim $832 million damages because he said he was tired of being mistaken for Jordan and that the public harassment was causing him continual emotional distress. Kate: And did he win the case? Drew: No. It seems that he decided to withdraw legal action once it was clear he didn't have a chance of winning and would end up having to pay the court costs if he went to trial. Kate: Well, surely that's a sign that the legal system works. Drew: But my point is that the case should never have been filed in the first place. Just listen to another one. Back in 2007, a dry-cleaning company in Washington D.C. was taken to court by one of its customers because of misplacing a pair of his pants. Kate: Maybe they were very expensive designer trousers. Drew: However expensive they were, there's no way they'd have been worth the $67 million that the customer tried to sue the dry-cleaner for, claiming that he hadn't received the "same day service" or the "satisfaction guaranteed" that the company advertised. Kate: $67 million! That's a bit steep. Did the customer win the case? Drew: No, he didn't. Fortunately, the court ruled in favour of the dry- cleaner. Kate: Well, there you go. It's another example of how the legal system seems to have worked correctly. Drew: On that, I must agree to differ. You see, by the time it won the case, the dry-cleaning company had already had to close down two of its stores to finance its defence in the case and, what is worse, at least for me, is that the customer was a judge. Kate: You must be joking! Drew: No, I'm not. The guy was called Judge Pearson and the only good thing is that his conduct was reproved by a review board and he ended up losing his job. Kate: I should think so. Drew: Do you understand now why I find all this so irritating? Kate: Well, as in so many other things, I think it's of a matter of striking the balance between using and abusing the system. Drew: Maybe you're right. There's one case which is the epitome of this abuse of the legal system. A guy called Robert Lee Brock, who was doing time in a jail in Virginia actually had the gall to try and sue himself. Kate: I beg your pardon!! - how can you sue yourself? Drew: Well, according to this article about 9 of the Most Ridiculous Lawsuits of All Time, he said he had "breached his own religious and civil rights by getting himself drunk enough to break the law." Kate: But I still don't understand what the benefits would be of suing yourself. If you win or lose, in either case, you'll have to pay. Drew: Not if you claim, as this guy did, that the state should pay the settlement for him as he was in jail and couldn't work. Kate: Don't tell me he got away with it. Drew: No, he didn't, but according to this article, the judge praised his "innovative approach to civil rights litigation." Kate: You were right, you don't know whether to laugh or cry. When did this all start? I mean, have there been cases like this for many years. Drew: It seems that one of the first and most famous lawsuits of this kind, and the one that seems to have acted like a trigger for many of those to follow, happened back in 1992. An elderly lady, called Stella Liebeck, spilled a cup of coffee on her lap and scalded herself one day at a McDonald's drive-through. She decided to sue McDonald's for her medical expenses and the jury ended up awarding her $2.9m in damages. Kate: Oh yes, I remember that one. It's really well-known. In fact, I know there's a documentary called Hot Coffee that talks about that case. Drew: Really? Kate: Yes. I haven't seen it myself but I remember reading about it. Apparently, it questions whether this kind of lawsuit is as ridiculous as we might be led to believe. It would seem that the lobbies of the big corporations in the States have managed to convince people that the civil justice system needs to be reformed to prevent people from taking so-called "frivolous lawsuits" to court when what they really want is to protect their own economic interests to the detriment of civil liberties. Drew: Oh that's interesting. I must watch it. It sounds like it might give me a very different perspective on the whole issue. Kate: Yes, I'd like to see it too. In any case, Drew, you know there are always two sides to every story. Drew: Yeah, you're right. Nothing is black or white. Everything has different shades of grey. Kate: Having said that, you must tell me which restaurant you went to last night. Drew: Why? Do want to try it out after what happened to us? Kate: No. It's so that I know not to go there. You know what they say, If you give a dog a bad name... Drew: Hang it! Kate: Exactly. Drew: If you have found this podcast interesting and would like to read the article 9 of the Most Ridiculous Lawsuits of All Time, you will find the link at the end of the transcript. See you later! http://www.therichest.com/expensive-lifestyle/lifestyle/9-of-the-most-ridiculous-lawsuits-of-all-time/ We hope you have enjoyed this podcast, brought to you by That's English! Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter. We look forward to hearing from you. Bye for now!
Portion distortion podcast Hello and welcome to this podcast brought to you by That's English!, the Spanish Ministry of Education's official distance learning English course. To find out more about That's English! go to www.thatsenglish.com or contact your local Official School of Languages. Drew: Good morning, Kate! How are you today? Kate: Oh, please don't ask. Drew: Why not? What's the problem? Kate: I'm so hungry. I could eat a horse. Drew: Why? Didn't you eat breakfast? Kate: Yes. But not my usual cereal and toast with butter and jam. You see, I've just started a diet to lose some weight and breakfast has been reduced to grapefruit, fat-free plain yoghurt and green tea. Drew: Oh, that doesn't sound very exciting. So why have you decided to go on a diet? Kate: Well, you know - getting ready for the summer and also because I think I need to be a bit more careful about what I eat. I saw a piece of news on my mobile the other day about the amount of calories there are in a mocha coffee, which I love. And I was absolutely horrified because it turns out that there are about 350! Drew: Well, yeah. The problem isn't only the cream and the chocolate that they put in it, but also the size. In most coffee shops, the cups are absolutely enormous. Kate: That's exactly what it said in the article I read. Apparently, 20 years ago, the average size of a coffee cup would be eight ounces, which I think is about 240 millilitres, whereas now, thirty, two ounce cups are quite common. Drew: Hell! That's just short of a litre of coffee! Kate: Yes, and very fattening. Drew: So why don't you forget about your diet and just eat less? My sister is always dieting and, in the end she always seems to put on more weight, not less. Kate: Yes, I know that in the States there are a lot of people with weight problems. Drew: About 66 per cent of the population, in fact. That's two out of every three adults! Kate: Well, I don't think the figures are much better in the UK. I know it's the country with the highest number of people suffering from obesity in the European Union. The most worrying thing, I think, is the number of children that are overweight. Drew: I couldn't agree more. It's very difficult, though, because fast food is what kids adore. You know, they just can't get enough burgers, French fries, hot dogs. And all washed down with a nice glass of soda, full of sugar. Kate: Yes that's right, and the food manufacturers spend millions on making junk food as tasty and delicious as possible. Drew: Absolutely. I have a friend back in the States who became addicted to junk food. Kate: Wow! I didn't know you could actually become addicted! Drew: As you say, food companies spend huge amounts of money on creating the juiciest hamburger or the crunchiest potato chip and do research on the effects that the taste and texture of food has on the brain. They have become designers of addictive foods, so it's quite easy for us all to get hooked. You just said how much you love mocha coffee. Kate: That's true. So what can we do to resist the temptation of eating all these appetising foods that are so bad for us? Drew: Well, as I said to you before, in many cases, we just need to eat less. Remember what you were saying about the size of coffee cups? Well, the same is true of dinner plates and bowls that have also gotten bigger. The larger the container, the more we eat. Really, increased portion sizes have distorted our perception of what is an appropriate serving, of what we really need. Kate: Yes, that's true. One of the basic tips for losing weight is to serve your meals on a smaller plate, because it helps you to eat less. Drew: Have a look at this. While we've been talking, I've pulled up a website from the U.S. National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. It's a quiz called Portion Distortion and it shows just how much the size of food portions has increased over the last 20 years. For example, a 1970s' plate of spaghetti and meatballs would have 500 calories and today it would have double - 1,025 calories to be exact. Kate: It's really astounding, isn't it? Drew: It also gives an idea of how many calories you burn doing daily activities like cleaning the house or raking up the leaves. Kate: So, tell me why I should be more enthusiastic about doing the cleaning? Drew: Well, according to this, two and half hours of house cleaning will burn approximately 525 calories. Kate: Thanks Drew. I'm going to have a look at this. Maybe you're right. Perhaps going on a diet isn't such a good idea and I really just need to eat less and do more exercise. Drew: Exactly. That's what I say to my sister. After all, it's really just mathematics. You have to balance the calories you take in with the calories you burn off. Kate: Though it's much easier when you eat at home. My problem is that I have lunch out in restaurants every working day in the week. Drew: Well, here it says that if you order meat, for example, the serving should be no bigger than a deck of cards or that a pancake should be the size of a CD. Kate: Well, unless you go to a very chic, minimalist restaurant, the servings are always much bigger than that. Drew: In that case, you know what you can always do. Kate: What's that? Drew: Ask for a doggy bag and take the leftovers home. Kate: You have an answer for everything. Drew: Hah! Hah! Very funny! Come on. Let's go and get something to eat. Kate: What a good idea! I'm starving. Drew: We hope you have found this podcast interesting. And if you would like to do the Portion Distortion Quiz, you will find the link at the end of the transcript. https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/wecan/portion/documents/PD2.pdf We hope you have enjoyed this podcast, brought to you by That's English! Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter. We look forward to hearing from you. Bye for now!
Next door strangers podcast Hello and welcome to this podcast brought to you by That's English!, the Spanish Ministry of Education's official distance learning English course. To find out more about That's English! go to www.thatsenglish.com or contact your local Official School of Languages. Kate: Good morning, Drew! What's the matter? You look exhausted. Drew: Oh, I'm fine...it's just that I've been burning the candle at both ends. Kate: I see...Did you go out last night? Drew: No, no...I don't usually go out in the week as I have to get up really early. Kate: So what were you up to, then? Drew: Just reading...I got really engrossed in an article about urban anonymity. Kate: How do you mean? Drew: Well, the fact that nowadays our neighbours are often complete strangers. Kate: That's true...I remember my grandmother telling us about how, when she was a little girl in Newcastle, in the north of England, all the neighbours would get together to hold street parties to celebrate Guy Fawkes on 5th November or May Day, and now you probably don't even know the name of the person who lives in the flat on the opposite side of the landing. Drew: Exactly, that's precisely what I was reading about. Kate: So why is it then that now our next door neighbours are more like next door strangers? What has made us lose our good neighbourly behaviour? Drew: Well, the article talked about the evolution of cities and social architecture in the States, but I'm pretty sure that a lot of what it said could also apply to the UK and other European countries. It said that it was at the turn of the twentieth century when the great urban metropolises, like New York for example, really started to grow. The new industrial growth attracted waves of immigrants who created close-knit communities in clearly defined areas within each town where they shared public spaces such as schools, markets and churches and most likely worked in the same factories. So we could say that because they had similar lifestyles and income levels, they felt close to their neighbours and more willing to share aspects of their lives with them. Kate: So they reproduced a village-like community in each neighbourhood... Drew: In a way, that's right. Now this has all changed with the stampede of the white middle-class to the suburbs in the '80s and '90s. Kate: Did you say 'stampede'? Drew: Yes, I did. Just to give you an example, in the 1980s Chicago lost 18 percent of its white population. You know, more affluent people preferred to have more space and live in single-family homes in healthier, greener areas and commute into town to go to work. Kate: Yes, I think something similar happened in the UK. Drew: So this "white flight" changed the social architecture of the metropolises and urban neighbourhoods became synonymous of poor, black areas plagued by drugs and crime. Kate: I see...so we could say that this broke the neighbourhood spirit. Drew: In part, though it's true that community centres and different church organisations did a lot to bring neighbourhoods together. But at the same time, the people who had moved to the suburbs lost the feeling of community and became more isolated from their neighbours. In recent years, a new phenomenon called "gentrification" is posing another threat to inner-city districts. Kate: Oh yes, I've heard a lot about that. It's when new people come to live to the centre of big cities. But why is that a problem? I would have thought that if more inhabitants are returning to city centres, there'll be more investment and more services. Drew: Well, as often is the case, what's good for some is bad for others. Gentrification more often than not means that the lower-income "old" residents become economically marginalised. Kate: In what way? Drew: Well, because the new arrivals tend to have higher purchasing power. They're richer and can afford more expensive apartments in renovated or newly built constructions and they demand retail establishments and amenities, things like shops and restaurants, that are more sophisticated but also more expensive. Kate: So, what you're saying is that everything suddenly becomes more expensive and this can cause old residents to feel resentment towards their new neighbours. Drew: That's right. Basically, the people who are most critical of gentrification say that it destroys the "soul" of the neighbourhood, its character and the sense of sharing and belonging to one's own little patch of town. Kate: It seems, then, that the type of property you live in and sharing similar levels of income with your neighbours contribute towards creating close-knit communities. Drew: So it would appear. Obviously, the house or apartment where you live depends on what you can afford. Kate: Do you think it makes a difference if you rent or buy? Drew: Well, the article didn't mention that but I think it probably does. It's logical to assume that if you decide to buy a property you intend to settle down, long term, right? Kate: So you'll be more interested in getting on well with your neighbours, if only for the sake of having a quiet life. And what about living in a house or a flat? How can that affect the relationship between neighbours? Drew: Well, it's difficult to say. If you live in an apartment block, you may have a greater chance of coming across your neighbours in the hallway and this might help to spark off a relationship. On the other hand, you're probably more likely to bother or be bothered by your neighbours, you know, by playing music too loud, or partying into the early hours... Kate: Or walking around in high heels on a wooden floor! Drew: Oh, that's right. I remember there used to be a lady living on the floor above me who would do just that on Sunday mornings. It used to drive me crazy. Kate: Yes, I can imagine. But, you know, I don't think neighbours in housing estates get on much better. Drew: That's probably true...Barbecues tend to be real bones of contention (if you'll pardon the pun) in many condominiums. But you probably see your neighbours more if you're out in the yard gardening or cleaning the car... Kate: Yes, but you might also suffer the pressure of trying to keep up with the Joneses... Drew: Oh, I know what you mean. My dad used to live in a condo in Palm Beach and he had a neighbour like that. If Dad bought a new lawn mower, for example, you could bet your bottom dollar that this guy would buy a bigger and better one. It was really incredible. Kate: But at least it's better to have that kind of relationship with your neighbour than no relationship at all, don't you think? Drew: Oh, definitely...but to be honest I think recently it's new technologies that have contributed most to the loss of our neighbourly spirit. Kate: Do you mean to say that nowadays people would rather stay at home and chat on Skype than with their neighbours? Drew: Well, you know, it's worse than that and often less obvious...you walk the dog with your earphones on, listening to music, rather than chatting to your fellow dog owners. Or you do the weekly shop online so you know longer bump into your neighbours in the supermarket... Kate: So what you're saying is that the global village is actually killing our neighbourly spirit. Drew: Well, I wouldn't go as far as to say that, but it is certainly clear that we seem to have a closer relationship with our online pals, than with the people that live just round the corner or in the same apartment building. Kate: Turning us into next door strangers rather than next door neighbours. Drew: Well, sadly, that seems to be right. Drew: We hope you have found this podcast interesting. And you will find the article Next- Door Strangers: The Crisis of Urban Anonymity in the link at the end of the transcript. We hope you have enjoyed this podcast, brought to you by That's English! Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter. We look forward to hearing from you. Bye for now! http://iasc-culture.org/THR/THR_article_2017_Summer_Dunkelman.php
Making a good first impression podcast Hello and welcome to this podcast brought to you by That's English!, the Spanish Ministry of Education's official distance learning English course. To find out more about That's English! go to www.thatsenglish.com or contact your local Official School of Languages. Drew: Hi Kate! How are you doing? Kate: Hi Drew! I'm fine thanks. And you? You look different today...I don't know, like...more confident, maybe? Drew: Hah! Hah! Hah! Well, the other day I read a very interesting article in an old Forbes magazine about making a good first impression, so I'm working on the image I project and, well...I guess it's working! Kate: Oh, so that's what it is. What did the article say? Drew: Well, let's start with a question: do you find that when you meet someone for the first time, the first impression you have of that person is a lasting impression? Kate: Sometimes, but not always. Often when I get to know them better, I find they're completely different to what I thought to start off with. Drew: Yeah, the same thing happens to me. However, according to this article, when we meet somebody for the first time, "we make eleven major decisions about one another in the first seven seconds of meeting." Kate: Wow! You're kidding! Drew: No, I'm not. And the most important thing is our body language. Look at what it says here: "non verbal cues have over four times the impact on the impression you make than anything you say." Kate: Gosh! I knew that body language was important, but not to that extent! Drew: Yes, it's really amazing, isn't it? Kate: And does the article give any advice on how to make a good first impression? Drew: Yes, it does, actually. For example, it talks about how important it is to have a good body posture. Apparently, if you pull your shoulders back and stand straight, you look taller and it gives the impression that you are confident. According to Forbes: "status and power are non- verbally conveyed by height and space." So the taller you are, the better. Kate: Oooooh, so that's what you were doing!! Yes, it's curious, but it is true that I always wear high-heels when I have an important meeting because it makes me feel more confident. Drew: Oh really! You ladies are lucky that you can do that! Kate: Well, you don't have any problem either - being so tall. Drew: Yeah, I suppose so. Kate: What other tips does the article give? Drew: Well, to smile, of course. Kate: Yes, that's obvious, isn't it? Drew: Yes, but sometimes it's good to point out the obvious. I have a friend who coordinates the call centres that provide the customer service for his company. He told me that the operators are told to smile while they are attending the customers, even though they only speak to them on the phone, because apparently, you can tell by somebody's voice if they're smiling. Kate: Do you really think so? Drew: Well, according to my friend, they think it is so important that in some call centres, the operators sit in front of a mirror, so that they can actually see themselves while they're working. That way, they can keep a check on their own body language. Kate: That's amazing. Well, apart from standing straight and smiling, what else should I do to make a good first impression? Drew: Well, you should make eye contact. Kate: Oh, I do find that difficult sometimes. I am a bit shy, so looking at somebody straight in the eye, especially when I don't know them, makes me feel uncomfortable. Drew: Well, in the article they say that if you look into somebody's eyes, it "transmits energy and indicates interest and openness." Kate: Yes, I know it's important. If you look down or to one side, it gives the impression that you've got something to hide. I remember somebody telling me about a little trick, which was to look at the other person between the eyes, at the bridge of their nose. Drew: Well, the article says that a good way to improve your eye contact, is to make a point of noticing the colour of people's eyes. Kate: That's a good idea! It's true that you often don't even remember the eye colour of people you see every day. Drew: That's true! What colour are your eyes, by the way? Let me check... Kate: Hah! Hah! Well, what else does the article say? Drew: It talks about the importance of shaking hands. Apparently, the rapport you create with the first handshake is the equivalent of three hours of continuous interaction with no physical contact. Kate: Wow! But that depends so much on people's nationality and culture, doesn't it ? I mean, Spanish people are so warm and friendly, even when they don't know you, whilst English people are terribly inhibited when it comes to non-verbal language. Drew: Definitely. I mean look at the difference between the Americans and the Japanese, for example. We aren't particularly touchy- feely as a country either, but the Japanese take that to the extreme. There is no physical contact, at all, between new acquaintances, at least. Kate: Yes, I know what you mean. But I have had more problems in business meetings with Spanish companies because of just the opposite. It can be awkward sometimes because you often don't know whether to shake hands, or give two kisses, or both!! Drew: Yeah, I know what you mean. The article also mentions the importance of keeping the right distance and respecting the other person's space, you know: don't get too close!! Kate: Yeah, that's a difficult one, sometimes, because if you stand back too much, you can give the impression that you are unfriendly when you aren't. Drew: Indeed. You have to strike a balance between keeping your distance and showing that you're interested in what the other person is saying. Kate: What does the article say about that? Drew: That you should stay about two feet away from the other person - that's about half a metre - and only lean forward very slightly to show that you are interested in what the other person is saying. Kate: That sounds like good advice. Does the article give any more tips? Drew: Just one more. It says you should raise your eyebrows. Kate: Raise your eyebrows? Why's that? Drew: Well, it says you should "open your eyes slightly more than normal to simulate the 'eyebrow flash' that is the universal signal of recognition and acknowledgement." Kate: The eyebrow flash! I'd never heard of that before! Drew: Me neither. I don't really agree with this one. I think that when you raise your eyebrows you're showing surprise, or even disapproval. Kate: Yes - I agree it's a bit dodgy to do that. You might give the other person the wrong idea. I remember reading an article that talked about how certain gestures, which we think are universal, can mean completely different things in some countries. Drew: Really? Such as what? Kate: Well, I remember it said that in Albania, and I think it said in Bulgaria as well, they nod their heads to say 'no' and shake their heads to say 'yes'. Drew: Wow! How confusing! Kate: Yes, it is. Drew: Though having said that, I remember a Brazilian friend telling me never to use the OK sign in Brazil, because, if you do, you are basically telling the other person to "get lost". Kate: Well, that's good to know. I'll have to remember all of this the next time I meet a new acquaintance, especially if they're Albanian, Bulgarian or Brazilian! Drew: Hah! Hah! You're too right! Drew: If you would like to read Carol Kinsey Goman's article: Seven seconds to make a first impression, you'll find the link at the end of this podcast's transcript. See you later! We hope you have enjoyed this podcast, brought to you by That's English! Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter. We look forward to hearing from you. Bye for now! www.forbes.com/sites/carolkinseygoman/2011/02/13/seven-seconds-to-make-a-first-impression/#615e20f02722
Emotional intelligence podcast Hello and welcome to this podcast brought to you by That's English!, the Spanish Ministry of Education's official distance learning English course. To find out more about That's English! go to www.thatsenglish.com or contact your local Official School of Languages. Kate: Hi Drew! Sorry I'm a bit late but I couldn't get here any faster. Drew: Ah, don't worry, Kate. Thanks for coming at such short notice. Kate: So, what's up? What's the rush? Drew: Well, I need you to be my guinea pig... Kate: I beg your pardon... Drew: Yes, you see, I'm doing a course about emotional intelligence and I need you to give me a hand. Kate: Well, I don't think I'll be of much help. I really don't know anything about emotional intelligence. Drew: Well, that's exactly why I think you can help me out. I have to prepare a paper about the different types of behaviour that are characteristic of emotionally intelligent people and I'd like you to tell me how easy it is for you to adopt this kind of behaviour. Kate: OK...that sounds interesting. I'm ready when you are. Drew: Great! First I'll give you a definition of emotional intelligence as opposed to IQ or intelligence quotient. Kate: Oh, I'm usually quite good at IQ tests... Drew: I'd absolutely no doubt you would be...So, as you know, IQ tests measure your ability to reason, based on standardized problem- solving tests and in the good old days, a person's success was thought to depend on their IQ. Kate: And I suppose now you're going to tell me that success depends on emotional intelligence. Drew: Exactly! Nowadays emotional intelligence is thought to be, and I quote, "the critical factor that sets star performers from the rest of the pack." According to some research I've read about, "90% of top performers have high emotional intelligence." Kate: Well that's a pretty convincing figure. So, tell me, how would you define emotional intelligence? Drew: Well, on the course we were told that it includes three skills: emotional awareness. That is the ability to control your emotions and apply them to tasks like thinking and problem solving. It is also ability to perceive other people's emotions so you can adjust to their mood and help them cheer up or calm down, for example. Kate: So, one of the keys to emotional intelligence is empathy. Drew: That's right, Kate. An emotionally intelligent person is empathetic. Not only do they have the ability to understand and share other people's feelings but they are also able to identify and master their own emotions and can pinpoint exactly how they feel because they have, what is called, a "robust emotional vocabulary." Kate: How do you mean? Drew: Well, take yourself this morning, for instance...You got here later than you had planned. How did that make you feel? Kate: A bit stressed, irritated maybe, 'cause I missed a tube by the skin of my teeth. Drew: So, you might have felt exasperated or even angry... Kate: Yes, I suppose so... Drew: In fact, emotions often hide other emotions. A teenager may appear to be angry when they are actually afraid, afraid of not being good enough or not being able to fit in, you see? So, the more precise you are about labelling your emotions, the easier it will be for you to master them and decide how you should react in different situations. Kate: I see...And what other things are characteristic of emotionally intelligent people? Drew: Well, they don't seek perfection... Kate: Really? That does surprise me. I've always thought that the key to success was to strive for perfection. I always try to do things as well as I possibly can. Drew: And when things don't turn out "perfectly," how does that make you feel? Kate: To be honest, if it's my fault because of something I've done wrong or because I haven't done something that I should have, I feel anxious and worried and even lose sleep over it. Drew: Oh dear, Kate. That's the problem with perfectionists... You see perfection doesn't exist. Everybody makes mistakes and if perfection is your goal, you are bound to end up feeling disappointed and frustrated. An emotionally intelligent person, on the other hand, will always look on the positive side of what they have achieved and not dwell on their mistakes. Kate: Oh, there's no way I can forget a mistake easily. I can try and put it to the back of my mind but I can't forget it. Drew: But I didn't say that emotionally intelligent people forget their mistakes, I said they don't dwell on them. And there is a difference. If you forget a mistake, the chances are you'll make the same mistake again one day, but we have to learn how to turn our failures into success by transforming our mistakes into ways of improving how we do things. Kate: That's easier said than done. Drew: Well, nobody said it was easy but I think it'll be well worth the effort if you try. Let's move on to another sign of emotional intelligence...Kate, are you easily offended? Kate: Well, I'm not exactly thick-skinned...I can be a bit touchy sometimes, but I can't say I'm easily offended. Drew: Well, I'm glad to hear that because emotionally intelligent people are thick-skinned and, even if they are teased or ridiculed, their self- confidence is strong enough for them not to feel offended. Kate: In my case, if someone teases me I tend to take it with a sense of humour and laugh along with them. Drew: Now, Kate, and I'd like you to be honest on this one, do you hold grudges? Kate: That depends... Drew: So you do... Kate: Sometimes...I have to admit that I find it difficult to forgive and forget... Drew: Well, here I have to say that you must change your ways because people who hold grudges can even end up with health problems. Researchers have demonstrated that the stress that negative emotions like resentment produce can lead to high blood pressure and heart disease. Luckily, emotionally intelligent people avoid these negative emotions at all costs. Kate: I certainly do need to change my ways then... Drew: Ah, don't be so hard on yourself. Here are a couple of other characteristics of emotional intelligence that I know you certainly do have. Kate: And what are they? Drew: The first is that you're not afraid of change. Emotionally intelligent people are flexible and easily adapt to new circumstances. Kate: That's true. I always think of a change as an opportunity, though I know that a lot people are frightened of change because they think they might lose what they have. Drew: That's right, so that's good. Kate: And how else do you think I'm emotionally intelligent? Drew: Because you appreciate what you have. People who are grateful for what life offers them are less likely to suffer stress and this improves their mood and physical well-being. Kate: Well, something is better than nothing... Drew: Now now, Kate, just stop that negativity. Kate: Alright, alright! So is there anything I can do to be more emotionally intelligent, or do I have to put up with the way I am? Drew: Of course there is! There are many things you can do! As I just said, you have to try to manage your negative emotions... Kate: And how can I do that? Drew: Well, there are several ways, but basically you should widen your perspective on how you view a situation before reacting. Instead of jumping to conclusions about other people's behaviour, you should put yourself in the other person's shoes and try to be more objective. Kate: Yes, I can be a bit like a bull at a gate sometimes... Drew: I would say that you're just a bit temperamental. You need to learn how to manage stress and stay cool. Kate: And how do you suggest I do that? Drew: Well, the obvious things: stay off the coffee for one thing. When you feel nervous, you should get some fresh air or splash your face with cold water. And if you are upset about something, take a deep breath and count to ten...If you stay calm when you're under pressure, it'll be easier for you to find a better way of solving the problem. In any case, I'm sure that when I finish my course, I'll be in a much better position to give you more advice. Kate: OK Drew. I'll be all ears. Why don't we go for a coffee, or maybe an orange juice? Drew: Hah! I'm pleased to see that you've taken on board what I've being saying. Kate: Of course! I'm a quick learner. No more coffee for the rest of the day! Come on, let's go! Drew: We hope you have found this podcast interesting. See you later! We hope you have enjoyed this podcast, brought to you by That's English! Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter. We look forward to hearing from you. Bye for now! Sources: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/242881 https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/communication-success/201410/how-increase-your-emotional-intelligence-6-essentials
E-mail - friend or foe? podcast Hello and welcome to this podcast brought to you by That's English!, the Spanish Ministry of Education's official distance learning English course. To find out more about That's English! go to www.thatsenglish.com or contact your local Official School of Languages. Drew: Hi Kate! How are you doing? Kate: Not bad, thanks. And you? Drew: I feel great. I've just finished doing a really interesting course at work. Kate: Really? What was it about? Drew: Well, it was to give us some tips on how to improve our productivity. Kate: Oh, I see. So your company's paid for a course to show you all how to work harder. There's certainly method in their madness. Drew: Well, you could say that, but I think the idea was to help us work better, not harder and to be honest, I've found it really useful. Kate: OK then. So what advice have they given you? Drew: Well, the main problem in our company is that we all work really long hours. As you know, due to the economic crisis, several colleagues were fired. Kate: Yes, I remember you saying. How many people were made redundant? Drew: Oh, they laid off seven people and, since then, the rest of us have had to share out their workload. Kate: Which is the reason why you all have to work longer hours. Do you get paid overtime? Drew: You have to be joking, right? Kate: I can but hope. Drew: No...and this has caused a lot of bad feeling because none of us have had a pay rise either. Kate: So now your company has the cheek to make you all do a course to improve your productivity and you say that you feel great about it. I just don't get it. Drew: Well, I don't have much choice, do I? It's better to grin and bear it. Kate: I suppose so. Go on then, tell me what you have learnt on the course. Drew: Well, the main idea is that, if we don't want to work late, we have to work smarter, more efficiently. Kate: And how do they suggest you do that? Drew: Well, they talked about the dangers of multi-tasking, for example, because you try and do several things at the same time, even though you might feel like you're getting a lot done, going from one thing to another usually means that you never complete any task properly and you waste time. Kate: But surely that depends on the person and the type of job. I mean, if you are a receptionist, for instance, you have no choice but to do several things at the same time, as you are constantly being interrupted by the telephone. Drew: Of course, that's true, but in most jobs you have to do things that require a lot of thinking and it's clear that the more disruptions you have, the longer it takes, as you lose your train of thought. That's what happens to me, at least. Kate: So how do you get around that? Drew: Well, by drawing up a sensible work plan, prioritising the most important tasks. They told us that it should be demanding but realistic too. There's no point in setting yourself impossible deadlines as this only leads to frustration. Kate: That's true - I'm afraid I've learnt that myself, the hard way. Drew: You see, I told you the course had been really useful! Kate: OK, I get your point. What else should you do? Drew: Well, when you need to concentrate on an important task, you should divert your calls to your voicemail and resist the temptation of constantly checking your e-mails. Kate: Surely having a look at your inbox doesn't take up that much time? Drew: Surprisingly, the guy that gave us the course told us that, on average, people spend an hour or two every day dealing with their e-mails, which is a fairly significant proportion of their working day. Kate: But if you receive an important e-mail, you have to reply back and deal with whatever issue comes up straightaway. Drew: Of course, nobody questions that. The problem is that, apparently, a lot of the stuff in our inbox isn't really important. You are often simply being copied about something that doesn't affect your work directly. Kate: Oh, I know what you mean. F.Y.I.: For your information. Drew: Exactly. We were also told that in some cases, it's also a way to shun one's own responsibility. You know, if I do something that I am not certain about, I just tell everyone. That way, if there's trouble later on, I can always say, "Ah, but you all knew about it and nobody said anything at the time." Kate: That's interesting. I'd never thought about "for your information" e- mails as a way of avoiding responsibility. Drew: And another problem with e-mails is that people don't really know how to write them properly. Kate: What do you mean? Drew: Well, what do you do if you open an e-mail and see that it is really long? Kate: To tell you the truth, if it isn't urgent, I close it and go back to it later, when I have more time to read it. Drew: Exactly. That's what we all do. The thing is that e-mail must be short and straight to the point. Kate: K.I.S.S. Keep it short and simple. Drew: That's right. Keep it short and simple. But there's more to it than that. On the course, they gave us some guidelines on how to write a convincing e-mail. Kate: What tips did they give you? Drew: Well, it's really quite straightforward. Basically, there are six steps. To start off with, you should decide what the goal of the e-mail is. Otherwise, you'll end up being vague and start beating about the bush. Kate: Oh yes, I hate it when people don't get to the point. Drew: Interestingly, they say that the second thing you should do is to write your conclusion. Kate: Why's that? I was always told to end with the conclusion. Drew: Same here, but these guys on the course told us that as nobody has any time these days, if you don't make the reason for the e-mail clear straightaway, it probably won't even get read. Kate: I see. Then what should you do? Drew: Well, obviously, in the body of the e-mail you make the points that will support your conclusion. Visually, the format and sentence structure should be similar and each point should be backed by facts. Otherwise, you'll give the impression that it's only your point of view. Kate: Yes, that doesn't look very professional, does it? Drew: No, it doesn't. In step number 5, at the end of the e-mail, you should restate the conclusion in such a way as to lead the recipient towards the line of action you want them to take to achieve your goal. Kate: I think this sounds easier than it really is. Drew: I think it's just a matter of practice. Finally, and this is something that I never do, they told us to write the subject line last, as it is the most important part of the e-mail. They told us that if the subject isn't interesting enough, the e-mail might not even get opened and it should also imply the goal that you are aiming to achieve. Kate: From what you're saying, I reckon I always write my e-mails back to front and the wrong way around. Drew: Me too! Kate: And do you think that now you know how to write an e-mail properly, this will help you leave work on time? Drew: Well, I don't know yet, but I'm certainly going to try out some of the tips they have given us. I have nothing to lose. Kate: Well, good luck Drew! And thank you! I am going to take some of these ideas on board myself. You learn something new every day! Drew: We hope you have found this podcast interesting. See you later! Source: www.inc.com/geoffrey-james/how-to-write-a-convincing-email.html We hope you have enjoyed this podcast, brought to you by That's English! Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter. We look forward to hearing from you. Bye for now!
Annoying plane passengers podcast Hello and welcome to this podcast brought to you by That's English!, the Spanish Ministry of Education's official distance learning English course. To find out more about That's English! go to www.thatsenglish.com or contact your local Official School of Languages. Kate: Hi Drew! Nice to see you! How was your trip? Drew: Oh my trip was great but I'm absolutely exhausted. Kate: How come? Drew: Oh, 'cause I had a terrible flight back. Kate: Why's that? Drew: Well, because there was a group of really rowdy passengers on board. One of them even started a fist fight and had to be subdued by the crew. Kate: Oh, no... that's awful. How unlucky! What happened? Drew: Well, problems really started at the boarding gate, even before we got on the plane. There was this group of guys who were already well oiled. They'd obviously had one too many drinks, you know? So, well, the ground staff told them to stop trying to jump the queue as they tried to push their way into the line for first-class passengers when they had economy-class tickets. Kate: Oh dear. Did they become aggressive? Drew: Not at that point. They just made a lot of noise about it. The real trouble came about later on, when were in mid-Atlantic... Kate: Go on. Drew: Well, they'd obviously made the connecting flight in Miami from Cuba, as they were going on about the great time they'd had in Varadero. They'd taken their trainers off and obviously hadn't taken a shower for some time... Kate: How disgusting! They sound like the typical passengers from hell, noisy, with smelly feet and body odour...Were you sitting near them? Drew: Unfortunately I was. The real problems began when they started to kick the seats of the passengers in the row in front. Kate: Why on earth did they do that? Drew: Oh, just for the hell of it! Kate: And what happened then? Drew: Well, the woman who was sitting in front of them, told them several times to knock it off. Kate: And I imagine they took no notice and went on kicking her seat... Drew: You guessed it! Kate: So what happened then? Drew: Well, when she'd had enough, she suddenly stood up, turned around and slapped one of the guys across the face. Kate: Good for her! Drew: Do you really think so? It just made things worse. Kate: Well, I can just imagine how irritated she must have felt. Drew: Me too, but all she achieved was that her husband ended up with a bloody nose... Kate: Oh no! Why's that? Drew: Well, because one of the guys stood up and punched him in the face... Kate: Oh my god! That's dreadful and how dangerous! Drew: Well, I have to say that the cabin crew were very quick off the mark and managed to subdue the two guys before they could cause any more trouble. They told them that if they didn't behave, they'd spend the rest of the flight locked up in one of the toilets and that the police would be waiting for them in Madrid to escort them off the plane. Kate: And did that do the trick? Drew: Oh yes. They were as quiet as mice for the rest of the flight. Kate: Thank goodness for that. And what about the poor husband with the bloody nose? Drew: Well, fortunately it was nothing serious and the purser moved him and his wife into first class to make up for the incident and keep them happy. Kate: It's incredible how irritable people get when they're flying. It seems that incidences of air rage are becoming more and more common. Drew: Well, it's hardly surprising really, especially with low cost airlines that give you practically no personal space. If you're tall, like me, it's impossible to sit down in most rows 'cause I just can't get my legs in. I always have to sit in the row over the wings where there's an emergency exit and often pay extra for that. Kate: Yeah, my husband has to do the same. I usually try to get a window seat myself. Otherwise, the chances are you spend the whole flight getting up and down to let out the passengers sitting next to you so that they can go to the loo. Drew: Yeah, I know. And it's really irritating when they lean on the back of your seat when they're getting up and down. One thing I can't stand is having a really chatty person next to me, giving me a rundown of their life story, when all I want to do is read, or listen to music or sleep. Kate: Yes, I know what you mean. In my case, what really gets my goat is when I can hear the person next to me crunching crisps or peanuts. Or when they order, or what's worse, BRING their own really smelly food - sometimes it makes me feel quite queasy. Drew: Well, I once had just the opposite problem. Kate: How come? Drew: Well, once I had a lady sitting next to me who decided to try out all the perfumes on offer in the in-flight magazine. You can't imagine the stink! Kate: Yes, she must have caused quite a pong. Did she buy any of them? Drew: No, she didn't. I don't know how the cabin attendants put up with people like that. Kate: Yes, they have to be really patient. Look at the people that try to stuff their hand luggage and duty frees any how into the overhead lockers or jump up to get their stuff out so as to be the first off the plane, even though they are told time and time again to wait until the aircraft has stopped completely. Drew: Yeah. It's ridiculous. I think a lot of people don't really respect flight attendants and consider them as glorified waiters when they are really there for passengers' safety. Kate: Yes, you're probably right. But what is clear is that we all seem to find the same things irritating when we fly. I remember reading an article, not so long ago, that said that air rage is often triggered when economy class passengers board the plane at the front of the aircraft and have to walk through the first class section. Drew: Why's that? Kate: Well, apparently people feel a sense of inequality and it unconsciously stresses them out. I remember it said that it makes economy class travellers feel like cattle and this can then lead to fits of air rage. Drew: Really? I'd never thought about that, but whatever the reasons it appears that we all get annoyed when we fly and can all be annoying for other passengers at the same time. Kate: So it would seem. Drew: If you have found this podcast interesting, at the end of the transcript you will find the link of the CNN article about the World's most annoying plane passengers that's mentioned in the conversation. Bye for now! http://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/airplane-etiquette-study- annoying-passengers-expedia-2017/index.html We hope you have enjoyed this podcast, brought to you by That's English! Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter. We look forward to hearing from you. Bye for now!
Autumn blues podcast Hello and welcome to this podcast brought to you by That's English!, the Spanish Ministry of Education's official distance learning English course. To find out more about That's English! go to www.thatsenglish.com or contact your local Official School of Languages. Drew: Hi Kate! What's up? You look really down. Kate: Nothing really, it's just that since I returned from my holiday and have been back at work, I feel sleepy all the time and generally a bit fed up, you know, rather down in the dumps. Drew: Oh dear. It sounds to me as if you're suffering from the autumn blues. Kate: Do you think so? Drew: Yes, I do. Apparently, in the fall, when the nights draw in and the days get shorter, the lack of sunlight affects our mood and may even lead to a vitamin D deficiency in the winter months. Kate: Well, it's never happened to me before. And why is vitamin D so important? Drew: Well, among other things it prevents S.A.D. Kate: And what is S.A.D.? Drew: Seasonal Affective Disorder. Kate: And how come you know so much about this? Drew: Well, as you can probably guess, I have suffered from this myself. Kate: Really? And what did you do to get over it? Drew: Well, I had quite a mild, one-off bout of it a few years ago. Fortunately, my doctor gave me a lot of good advice that I have since followed at the beginning of the fall, and I'm sure it's helped to prevent me getting it again. Kate: So why is the lack of sunlight so important and what can I do about it? Drew: Well, it seems that the lack of sunlight affects the brain, and this, in turn, affects the production of two important hormones. One of them is called "melatonin", which is a hormone that makes you feel sleepy. The lack of natural light makes the body produce more melatonin than during the summer months when the days are much longer. This is why, as you said earlier, you feel sleepy all the time. Kate: That's right. I thought it was because recently I've been sleeping really badly, waking up several times during the night. Drew: Well, it's all part and parcel of the same thing. Our body's internal clock uses sunlight to program various functions such as when we wake up, so it stands to reason that the longer hours of darkness are bound to affect us in some way. Kate: And how can we prevent this from happening, apart from going to live on the equator? Drew: Very funny...Well, the doctor told me that it was really important to get up early and make the most of the morning because it's when the daylight in winter is strongest, and go outdoors for at least 30 minutes a day. Kate: And if it's raining? Drew: You should still go out. I remember him saying that, even on an overcast day, the light is 500 times brighter outdoors than indoors. Kate: So, what you're saying is that just by going outside during the morning, this will help me to sleep better and feel more positive? Drew: Well, I found that running or having a brisk walk really helped to boost my mood when I was suffering from S.A.D. Like having a good night's sleep, being in contact with nature really lifts your spirits and makes you feel much better about life in general. Kate: I see...That makes sense...And which is the other hormone that is affected by the lack of daylight? Drew: Well, the shorter days reduce the body's production of this other hormone, serotonin, which is often called the "happy hormone" because it affects our mood. Kate: And what can you do to combat this? Drew: Well, here you have to be careful 'cause when the body's low on serotonin, it makes us feel like eating more carbohydrates, such as potatoes, rice or pasta, as they help to boost the production of this hormone... Kate: Oh, that's just wonderful! The lack of light makes you crave the kind of food that makes you put on weight so, instead of having the autumn blues, I'll end up fat and happy! Drew: Now, just hold your horses! There are other foods, apart from carbohydrates, which also help the body to produce serotonin, such as dairy products, fish, almonds, peanuts and bananas. Think about it: When have you ever seen an unhappy, overweight monkey? Kate: Okay, I get your point. Basically, you're saying that I need to get up early and do some exercise outdoors and include in my diet foods that boost my levels of serotonin, but being careful to avoid too many carbs. Drew: That's right...you got it! In a nutshell! But there are other things you can do as well, which I think will help you feel better. Kate: Such as...? Drew: Well, in the evenings, when it starts getting dark and cold outside, it's all too easy to fall into the trap of staying in and neglecting your social life. Kate: Oh, I love to curl up on the sofa with a good book, or watch a good film in the winter... Drew: Me too, but if you are feeling down, it's really important not to cut yourself off from your friends. You must make a point of regularly meeting up for a get-together and having a good laugh. You know that laughter boosts your endorphins, another feel-good hormone. Kate: It's amazing, we really are walking chemistry sets, aren't we? Drew: We certainly are. And something I found really useful and still try to do at the beginning of the autumn is to set myself a goal. Kate: What sort of goal? Drew: Well, to start off with, it shouldn't be very ambitious, but something simple, like reading a book that you've been wanting to read for some time, or going to the cinema or the theatre once a month. Kate: And how can this help me to feel better? Drew: Quite simply because it will give you a sense of achievement, which is so important for your self-esteem and personal motivation. Once you start feeling better, you should set yourself a more demanding goal. What I did was to start going to cookery classes. Kate: Cookery classes? Drew: Oh yes, and it's one of the best things I've ever done. I find cooking not only relaxes me but it's great fun trying out different recipes, and experimenting a little. It makes me feel so good when I prepare a meal for friends and everybody tells me how much they've enjoyed their food. It's really rewarding. Kate: Yes, I can imagine. Well, thank you so much, Drew. I really appreciate your advice. I'm going to put it into practice straightaway. Drew: You're welcome, Kate. I hope you feel better soon and always remember, no matter how long the winter, the spring is sure to follow. Drew: We hope you have found this podcast interesting. See you later! We hope you have enjoyed this podcast, brought to you by That's English! Please follow us on Facebook and Twitter. We look forward to hearing from you. Bye for now! Source: http://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/health/20-ways-to-beat-the-autumn-blues-1371446