跟读练习: Your Daily English Podcast: Making Good Choices! - 通过视频学习英语口语

Hello, everyone.

Welcome to another English vocabulary podcast episode here on High Level Listening.

Have you ever had two choices in front of you

and then you spent forever trying to make a decision and maybe you even changed your mind at the last second?

Yes, I know I definitely have,

but do you know how to talk about changing your mind or thinking hard about choices in real conversational English.

Today, we're talking about making decisions, and we've got two short stories, one in British English with me and one in American English with Kat,

and they're both packed with natural B1 and B2 vocabulary that native speakers really use.

So, you're going to hear lots of great phrases, but not just in a list.

You're going to hear them in our stories, phrases like make up your mind, go with your gut, weigh your options, think it over, and second thoughts.

Yeah, and we've made you a free making decisions vocabulary list to go with today's lesson as well.

You can download it from the link below and keep the phrases and study them later.

And if you really like this video and you enjoy learning vocabulary through these conversational stories and these classes with us,

there's a lot more waiting for you in our study guide called My Year of English Vocabulary.

And we have over 100 everyday topics for you to improve your naturally spoken, everyday vocabulary to sound more natural in English.

Okay, well, let's get into our stories then.

Kat will go first, like always.

Kat, are you usually quick to make up your mind or do you like to weigh your options first?

Oh, I mean, I definitely prefer to weigh my options rather than just make a spur-of-the-moment decision.

So like last month, I'd narrowed it down to two places for a weekend trip, but I kept going back and forth.

I dragged my feet so long.

Actually, I had to make a split second decision before they got booked up

and just went with a place that sounded more relaxing.

Actually, now maybe I'm having second thoughts.

Maybe I jumped the gun on that one.

Oh, wow.

Yes, guys.

Sounds like you need this trip.

I know.

I need to just go somewhere relaxing.

Yeah.

All right.

So even if you didn't understand every single phrase in that, don't worry.

We're going to chat about them in a little bit.

Let me ask Mark.

Mark, do you usually go with your gut or do you prefer to think things over?

I'm definitely someone who tends to go with my gut.

That's just my personality.

I don't like to mull things over.

A few weeks ago, I was choosing a new pair of trainers and I really like two pairs.

and after trying them on, I trusted my instincts and picked one pair before I could overthink it.

I had a few second thoughts at the till, but I didn't change my mind and I stuck with my decision.

I could learn something from that decision-making process.

Right.

So like always, don't worry if you didn't catch everything.

We're about to go through them once more.

We'll start with Kat's story first.

So are you usually quick to make up your mind or do you like to weigh up your options?

Honestly, I definitely prefer to weigh my options rather than just make a spur of the moment decision.

Okay, so you'll hear that one again.

I definitely prefer to weigh my options rather than just make a spur of the moment decision.

Okay, so I'm using the word prefer.

So I prefer this rather than that.

Okay.

That means I choose number one and I don't like number two.

So I definitely prefer to weigh my options.

Now, if you weigh something, w-e-i-g-h, if you weigh something, you see how much it weighs.

Okay.

So pounds, kilograms, but if you're going to weigh your options, it's kind of thinking, oh, I could do this.

Oh, I could do that.

Here's another choice.

So I'm thinking about my choices.

I'm weighing my options.

And no, we don't say weighing my choices.

Yeah, this phrase, let's keep these words together.

I weigh my options.

I'm weighing my options, meaning I'm thinking about all the choices.

So I prefer to weigh my options rather than just make a spur of the moment decision.

If you're going to make a choice, make a decision, be careful in English we use make.

I know a lot of languages they use take, make a decision, make a choice, but we're gonna make a spur of the moment decision.

A spur of the moment.

That means it happened just like that.

Oh, yes.

Oh, which one do you like between that?

Yeah, that one.

So at the spur of the moment is happening right now, immediately, right away.

Okay.

So I definitely prefer to weigh my options rather than just make a spur of the moment decision.

Yeah, I like that phrase, a spur of the moment decision.

It sounds very fun and spontaneous.

Like you meet someone who went on a trip and they say, oh yes, we just saw a cheap flight to Spain.

So we went on a little spare of the moment trip.

Like you just decided you didn't think too much and you went off and had fun.

So what kind of decisions do you tend to take your time with?

Well, okay, like last month, I'd narrowed it down to two places for a weekend trip, but I kept going back and forth.

So, okay, like last month, I'd narrowed it down to two places for a weekend trip, but I kept going back and forth.

Okay, so you have lots of decisions, lots of options to make, right?

but I'm going to narrow it down.

Oh, I want to go to Paris.

I want to go to Rome.

I want to go to Miami.

I want to go to New York.

No, let's narrow it down.

Okay.

If I narrow something down, I'm going to cut off other choices.

No, no, no. Okay.

These two.

So I'd narrowed it down.

So if you make something narrow, it's wide and then it's narrow.

100

I'd narrowed it down to two places for a weekend trip.

101

Maybe I wanted to go to 10 different places, but I narrowed it down to two places for a weekend trip.

102

But I kept going back and forth.

103

If you are feeling a little indecisive, then you might go back and forth.

104

Oh, I kept going back and forth.

105

Well, this sounds not, oh, but that one sounds good too well you know we could well actually

106

so i can't make a decision i keep going back

107

and forth back and forth back and forth like on a swing this one

108

or maybe this oh that this one

109

so like last month i'd narrowed it down to two places for a weekend trip

110

but i kept going back and forth Oh, wow.

111

So what finally helped you choose?

112

Well, if I'm honest, I dragged my feet so long, I had to make a split second decision before they got booked up.

113

If I'm being honest, I dragged my feet so long, I had to make a split second decision before they got booked up.

114

So I dragged my feet.

115

I dragged my feet.

116

Now, I can think of this literally, like when your little kids don't want to do something,

117

they take their feet and they drag them.

118

They drag them.

119

Stop dragging your feet.

120

Let's go.

121

So when you drag your feet,

122

you're specifically trying to go slow or you're trying to put off making a decision.

123

I'm sorry, I'm dragging my feet on this.

124

it's time to make a decision.

125

Stop dragging your feet.

126

Let's go.

127

Let's go.

128

Okay.

129

So I dragged my feet so long.

130

I had to make a split second decision.

131

Okay.

132

So a split second decision sounds similar to making a decision in the spur of the moment.

133

Okay.

134

A split second.

135

It sounds like instead of one Mississippi, two Mississippi, fast, right?

136

So instead of one second, two, No, you have to make a decision right now.

137

Let's make a split second decision.

138

Go.

139

Yes.

140

Oh, okay.

141

No, I don't know.

142

So I dragged my feet so long, I had to make a split second decision before they got booked up.

143

so remember i i was deciding right and it was getting closer

144

and closer to the time and i was afraid

145

that there wouldn't be any space so i had to make

146

that split second decision before they got booked up yeah that's

147

another good phrase a split deck split second decision sounds like

148

a quick decision you have to make under pressure like i

149

often hear in sports like there's a lot of pressure on

150

you other players are coming at you you have to make a split second decision to go left

151

or go right and it can change everything this split second decision

152

so it's a stressful time and

153

which one did you go with well we just went with the place

154

that sounded more relaxing right i it sounds like this just planning this trip was a little bit exhausting

155

and stressful for me.

156

So I just went with the place that sounded more relaxing.

157

When you go with something, I'd go with the blue.

158

Let's go with the third one.

159

When you go with something, you're choosing.

160

Okay, so we went with, we went with the place that sounded more relaxing.

161

That means I chose the place that sounded more relaxing.

162

Okay.

163

And are you happy with your choice now?

164

I don't know.

165

Maybe I'm having second thoughts.

166

Everybody has that really indecisive friend, right?

167

And so then when they do make a decision, maybe they have second thoughts.

168

So we usually use, I'm having second thoughts, meaning I made a decision, but now I kind of regret it.

169

Should I have done that?

170

I guess.

171

I'm not confident.

172

I'm not confident in my decision.

173

I'm having second thoughts.

174

Maybe I felt confident because I had to book something quickly, but now I'm having second thoughts.

175

All right.

176

Excellent.

177

So we're going to go through the entire conversation one more time.

178

So Kat, are you usually quick to make up your mind or do you like to weigh up your options?

179

I definitely prefer to weigh my options rather than just make a spur of the moment decision.

180

Okay, well what kind of decisions do you tend to take your time with?

181

So okay, like last month I'd narrowed it down to two places for a weekend trip

182

but I kept going back and forth.

183

Okay, what made you finally choose?

184

Well I dragged my feet so long I had to make a a split second decision before they got booked up.

185

Okay.

186

And which one did you go with?

187

Well, I just went with the place that sounded more relaxing.

188

Okay.

189

And are you happy with the choice now?

190

Yeah, maybe I'm having second thoughts.

191

No, no, no. No, I'm happy.

192

I'm happy.

193

Nice.

194

All right.

195

So it's time for Mark's conversation.

196

So we learned tons of vocabulary.

197

I'm going to go ahead and give you guys this whole list and you can find it in the description below.

198

That way you can download the whole list and have it easily at your fingertips.

199

So here we go, Mark.

200

Do you usually go with your gut or do you prefer to think things over?

201

I'm definitely someone who tends to go with my gut.

202

I'm definitely someone who tends to go with my gut.

203

This is a really good phrase if you want to talk about your personality or your character.

204

I'm definitely someone who tends to do something.

205

It means I usually do this or I usually behave this way.

206

So I'm definitely someone who tends to relax on the weekends or I'm definitely someone who tends to speak my mind honestly.

207

And me, I'm definitely someone who tends to go with my gut.

208

So this is really the opposite of cat.

209

Cat spent a lot of time weighing up her options, thinking of the good and bad of each one and taking time.

210

But I go with my gut.

211

Your gut is actually your stomach.

212

And in English, maybe other cultures, we think that your stomach has your most honest and pure thoughts and feelings.

213

Like if you feel it in your gut, it's coming from a very deep and sincere real place.

214

And you can think with your head and think logically and think about facts and information, but your gut is a much more pure,

215

faster, and maybe less conscious decision.

216

So it's the opposite of weighing everything up and taking your time.

217

Go with your gut.

218

Don't think too much.

219

Just choose.

220

Go.

221

Listen to your body.

222

Yeah, that's interesting.

223

I wish I could do that.

224

That's just my personality.

225

I don't like to mull things over.

226

But we have a special word for think.

227

I can think it over.

228

I'm like, okay, interesting idea.

229

I'll think it over.

230

It means I will take some time to think about it, decide if it's good or bad.

231

The other word is mull.

232

M-U-L-L.

233

Yeah, if you mull it over.

234

Is this something you say in the US or is this more British?

235

Not as often.

236

I'll just give you some time to think things over.

237

Mull it over a little bit.

238

I definitely have heard people say it, but I feel like it's a little bit more British.

239

Right.

240

Yeah, maybe job interviews or job offers.

241

They'll be like, take some time, just mull it over.

242

Like these are important decisions, so don't take them lightly.

243

But I don't like to mull things over.

244

Over sounds like I'm thinking again and again, and I'm taking time and time and time.

245

And yeah, I don't like to mull things over.

246

So if you don't really like to do that, can you kind of give me an example of that?

247

Yeah, a few weeks ago, I was choosing a new pair of trainers, and I really liked two pairs.

248

So a few weeks ago, I was choosing a new pair of trainers and I really liked two pairs.

249

So I was choosing a new pair of trainers.

250

In the UK, trainers are sneakers or sports shoes, Nike, Adidas, Reebok, those ones usually are white for running,

251

for doing exercise, going to the gym.

252

Those are trainers.

253

And I was choosing.

254

You can use this as a continuous verb.

255

I was shopping, I was looking, or I was buying, and I was choosing.

256

So I was in a shoe store, and I was looking at two different pairs, and I liked them both.

257

So that was a decision I had to make.

258

Well, how did you choose which ones you wanted to buy?

259

After trying them on, I trusted my instincts and picked one pair before I could overthink it.

260

So after trying them on, I trusted my instincts and picked one pair before I could overthink it.

261

So when you're looking to buy shoes, the first thing you do is try them on, as in put them on and see if they're comfortable and they fit.

262

And I trusted my instincts.

263

Just like go with my gut, trust my instincts is the same thing.

264

We seem to think that your instincts and your honesty lives in your gut, in your stomach.

265

You can follow your instincts or trust your instincts.

266

It's again when you don't think about it too much.

267

And if you think about it too much, you overthink it.

268

So I trusted my instincts before I could overthink.

269

Again, over has the negative part of it.

270

If you put over before a verb, it's usually bad.

271

Like you overspend, overpay is paying too much.

272

Overthink is thinking too much.

273

So much that it becomes bad and it actually there's more negatives than positives.

274

So you chose a pair are you happy with your choice?

275

I had a few second thoughts at the till but I didn't change my mind and I stuck with my decision.

276

So I had a few second thoughts at the till but I didn't change my mind and I stuck with my decision.

277

So I'm using the same phrase as Kat second thoughts and you have second thoughts and in in the past tense, I had a few second thoughts.

278

Maybe I put the second pair back and I saw them in the box and thought, oh no, I'll never wear them.

279

Are these the best shoes?

280

Am I maximizing my choice?

281

Are these the best possible shoes I could possibly buy?

282

Too many choices.

283

Yeah.

284

Exactly.

285

Yeah.

286

Paralyzed with choice.

287

Yeah.

288

Right.

289

And then second thoughts, especially with shopping and making big decisions.

290

Yeah.

291

This is a way to talk about regrets as Kat said I had a few second thoughts well maybe um

292

but I didn't change my mind

293

change my mind is a very common phrase you could say change my choice that's okay didn't change my decision

294

but change my mind even if you're buying a physical object or a physical product.

295

My mind is made up.

296

I will not change my mind.

297

And then I stuck with my decision.

298

That's the past of stick with my decision.

299

I made a choice and I will stick to it.

300

So I will not change it.

301

Stick means do not change.

302

So stick to your lane, stick to your decision.

303

I stuck with my decision and I bought those shoes.

304

All right.

305

So let's hear that whole conversation once more.

306

So Mark, do you normally go with your gut or do you like to think things over?

307

I'm definitely someone who tends to go with my gut.

308

Hmm.

309

Okay.

310

Yeah.

311

That's kind of interesting.

312

Not like me, but.

313

That's just my personality.

314

I don't like to mull things over.

315

What do you mean by that?

316

Can you give me an example?

317

Yeah, a few weeks ago I was choosing a new pair of trainers and I really liked two pairs.

318

So how did you choose which ones to buy?

319

After trying them on, I trusted my instincts and picked one pair before I could overthink it.

320

And are you happy with your choice?

321

I had a few second thoughts at the till but I didn't change my mind and stuck with my decision.

322

I feel like I am completely the opposite.

323

I would be sitting there just kind of weighing my options.

324

And then probably what would happen to me is I wouldn't buy anything.

325

And I would just go home and be unhappy that I still didn't buy any sneakers.

326

Right.

327

And read a thousand reviews online and try something wrong with one pair.

328

So it's easier.

329

I know.

330

I know.

331

It's just too much.

332

It's overwhelming.

333

The choices are overwhelming, I think.

334

All right.

335

So today you heard lots of different ways to talk about decisions and making choices.

336

Yeah.

337

From Kat's story, we heard phrases like make up your mind, weigh your options, spur of the moment decision, narrow it down, back and forth and go with something.

338

And from Mark's story, you heard phrases like go with your gut, think things over, mold things over.

339

When you're overthinking things, you got to trust your instincts.

340

Okay.

341

I don't have those second thoughts.

342

Yeah.

343

So please let us know, what are you like?

344

Think about your own life.

345

Are you like me and you tend to go with your gut

346

or are you more like cats where you weigh up your options and spend time thinking things over?

347

So we'd love to hear from you and we hope that you enjoyed this video.

348

Don't forget to grab the free vocabulary list for this episode.

349

It's going to be in the link below.

350

You're going to go to the My Year of Vocabulary.

351

What's it called?

352

My Year of English Vocabulary.

353

My Year of English Vocabulary.

354

So it's going to take you to the My Year of English Vocabulary Study Guide, and you'll be able to download it in the free preview.

355

If you like learning this way, where you're not just learning or memorizing individual words, but learning phrases that people use in real conversations,

356

that's exactly what we created My Year of English Vocabulary for.

357

Inside, you'll learn 2,400 useful words and phrases across over 100 real-life topics with both American and British English,

358

so you can steadily build your vocabulary throughout the entire year.

359

That's right.

360

Yeah, so many words and units.

361

That's about 200 new words or phrases every month, and that's covering everyday life, feelings, work, relationships, travel, all kinds of topics.

362

Thanks so much for listening, everyone.

363

Don't forget to like and subscribe if you want more natural American and British English with me, Kat, and Mark here on High Level Listening.

364

Bye-bye.

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