Oh yeah!
I'm Xenia, your RealLife English Fluency Coach.
And in today's lesson I'll help you get ready for the new Super Mario Galaxy movie by catching up on the main story from the first Super Mario.
And as always, learning a ton of English expressions along the way.
So Mari and Luigi are plumbers in Brooklyn trying to start their own business.
People don't really take them seriously and they're trying to show that they're capable.
When a huge plumbing problem hits the city, they go underground to fix it.
And that's when they discover a mysterious green pipe.
They both get sucked into it but they're separated.
Luigi falls into a dark world filled with lava and Mario arrives in the colorful Mushroom Kingdom where he meets Toad for the first time.
Now, before we get started, you should know this lesson comes with its own vocabulary flashcards covering all the advanced expressions that you will learn today.
Practicing with these flashcards daily is the easiest way for you to remember these words forever.
If that sounds interesting to you, just click the link in the description.
We'll take you directly to our app, where you'll be able to start your vocabulary practice right after the lesson.
Now, we'll cover three clips today.
Let's get started by watching the first scene with subtitles.
Hello.
Yeah, I'm actually looking for somebody.
My brother, in fact.
He looks exactly like me, but tall and skinny and green.
See, last time I saw him, he was falling through a pipe, it was foggy, and I believe there was lava.
Uh, that is not good.
Um, your brother has landed in the Dark Lands.
They're under Bowser's control.
Bowser?
He's the most evil, wretched creature alive.
I'm taking you to see the princess.
She can help you.
She can do anything.
Princess?
Now let's break down the vocabulary from Mario's arrival in the Mushroom Kingdom.
First, let's listen to how he describes Luigi.
Skinny means very thin, with little body fat or muscle.
Compared to Mario, Luigi definitely looks skinny.
It's a neutral word, but sometimes it can sound negative, like someone is thinnier than they should be.
So other words you could use could be slim, which is more positive, like thin and attractive.
Slender, which sounds elegant and graceful, and lean, that gives the idea of fit and muscular without fat.
Let's look into this other word Mario used to describe the location where Luigi fell.
This is fog, a thick cloud at ground level that makes it hard to see.
We could also say haze or mist.
So basically, if there's fog, We can describe the weather as foggy or hazy.
And you can also use it figuratively.
For example, if you say your memory is foggy, you mean you can't remember things well.
It's unclear.
Check out this other example.
How did I get here?
Oh, I dragged you for like seven miles.
What happened?
Your head bounced on the sidewalk a few times.
Oh, so foggy.
Uh, that is not good.
Um, your brother has landed in the Dark Lands.
Landed here means arrived or ended up.
Literally, when you land, you come down from the air and touch the ground, like an airplane landing.
But we also use it more generally, like after college, I landed in Kiev, meaning ended up there.
I could also say I landed a great job there, meaning I got a job.
Anyway, so Luigi literally fell through the sky and landed in the dangerous Darklands.
Let's hear what Toad has to say about this place.
When something is under someone's control, It means that person has power over it and can command or manage it.
Get away!
It's not his fault.
Good dragons under the control of bad people do bad things.
Ratchet in this case means terrible or morally bad.
It's a strong word that suggests something is not just bad but cruel, despicable or causing suffering.
A perfect word to describe the villain like Bowser.
So Toad describes Bowser as... He's the most evil, wretched creature alive.
A quick note about pronunciation here.
Many learners mispronounce this word because of the way it's spelled.
You should say it just like Toad did, as a two-syllable word.
Creature.
That's it.
Creature.
Alright.
So at this point we've already heard some advanced expressions and you may be wondering how you could actually remember all of these words and side note, if you're not wondering that you should be most of the students i've taught would learn new words, just like we're doing now, only to see them disappear from their memory within hours, even minutes.
It's a very common problem.
Now, to solve that problem, we've developed the perfect tool to use with our lessons our magic flashcards.
They are scientifically proven to work by helping you practice expressions in a fun way until they become automatic.
By simply practicing 10-15 minutes a day, these words will become part of your natural vocabulary forever, and it's completely free to start.
Just click the link in the description below, using your phone, to get our real life app and start the vocabulary practice once you're done watching this lesson.
Okay, so now Mario knows where Luigi is. the Darklands, controlled by the evil Bowser.
And Toad is taking Mario to meet Princess Peach, who can help him.
But before they arrive, an emergency meeting is happening at the castle.
The situation is worse than Mario realizes.
Let's see what's going on in our next scene!
Council, your attention.
Bowser has found the superstar and is headed toward our kingdom.
Its power will make him invincible.
We will be destroyed.
Princess, what are we gonna do?
I will not let him hurt you.
We are going to stop Bowser.
How?
Look at us.
We're adorable.
I'm going to convince the Great Kong Army to help us.
Together, we'll annihilate that monster.
Their Mad King doesn't make alliances.
The Kongs will never agree.
I can convince him.
I'll leave for the Jungle Kingdom in the morning.
The very first word we hear is actually a good one.
For us to understand the context of the scene, imagine a group of serious advisors sitting around a big table discussing what to do next.
That's a council.
It's usually formal, a city council, a student council or a royal council like the one in the mushroom kingdom which advises princess peach on important decisions.
Let's listen to General Toad explain the situation.
The verb to head isn't often used by learners, but you should definitely become familiar with it because natives use it all the time.
It means to move or go somewhere.
You might say I'm heading home.
She's heading to the store.
Or the storm is heading towards the city.
And when you're headed towards something, you're moving in the direction or closer to it.
So Bowser is headed towards the kingdom.
He's moving in their direction, coming to attack them.
Its power will make him invincible.
We will be destroyed.
Invincible means impossible to defeat or harm.
It defines something you cannot win against.
Like Superman is invincible to anything but Kryptonite.
An invincible army cannot be defeated. and with the Superstar, Bowser would become invincible.
You probably remember the Star Power from the Mario video games, right?
Adorable means extremely cute, lovable and charming in a way that makes you want to protect or care for something.
Babies are adorable, puppies are adorable, and the toads are saying they're adorable too.
Aww, isn't he adorable?
I'm going to convince the Great Kong Army to help us!
Together, we'll annihilate that monster!
To annihilate means to completely destroy or wipe out something, leaving nothing behind.
It's a very strong word, stronger than just defeat or destroy.
I heard you want my army.
Without your help, the mushroom kingdom will be annihilated.
Now you may struggle to pronounce this word because it looks complicated, but it's pretty easy.
All you need to do is this.
There are four syllables.
Let's work on the first two.
Great.
Now the other two olate olate now say it all together, stressing the second syllable nigh annihilate, annihilate together.
We'll annihilate that monster, we'll annihilate that monster.
So Peach isn't just planning to stop Bowser, she plans on getting help from the Kong military force to annihilate him, to destroy him completely.
Their Mad King doesn't make alliances.
The Kongs will never agree.
In phrases like mad king, mad scientist or mad genius.
The word mad means crazy, mentally unstable and hard to predict.
General Toad is saying King Kong doesn't make agreements to work together with other leaders.
He doesn't make alliances.
Countries usually form alliances during wars And in this case, Princess Peach wants to form an alliance with the Kongs to fight Bowser together.
I can convince him.
I'll leave for the Jungle Kingdom in the morning.
Good luck, Princess, for all our sakes.
For someone's sake means for the benefit of that person or to help or protect that person.
Now, you might say, for example, for your own sake, be careful.
Or I'm doing this for my family's sake.
See this other example.
Now, just as Peach is preparing to leave, Mario runs into her, literally.
He's been avoiding the palace guards and when they finally meet, he explains his situation and asks for help finding Luigi.
Let's watch how Peach responds.
Then it's only a matter of time until he's captured by Bowser.
But you're in luck.
I'm on my way to stop him.
Well, take me with you.
This guy's a lunatic.
A psycho.
He will eat you for breakfast.
He won't even notice it, probably, because you're very, very small.
You know what?
Make fun of me all you want, but you were gonna help me find my brother.
Please?
Well, okay.
Let's see what you're made of.
Is that a yes?
No, that's a let's see what you're made of.
What does Princess Peach mean by this expression?
It will happen eventually.
It will happen very quickly.
It's happening right now!
Only or just a matter of time means something will definitely happen.
You just don't know exactly when, but it will happen eventually.
See this other example.
Listen.
If we don't stop and learn to trust one another again, it's only a matter of time before we tear each other apart.
This makes me think of an advanced word that kinda means the same thing that is inevitable when an event can't be avoided.
But it looks like Peach will be able to help Mario.
Let's hear what she says.
And it's only a matter of time until he's captured by bowser.
But you're in luck, i'm on my way to stop him.
When someone says you're in luck, they simply mean i have good news for you.
For example, someone says i'm starving and you may reply you're in luck, i have one slice of pizza left.
Similar expression you may hear is this is your lucky day.
So she explains she's on her way to stop bowser.
When you say i'm on my way to do something, you mean you're in the process of going somewhere or about to do something, like i'm on my way to the store or i'm on my way to fix this problem.
And this phrase is actually a good one for practicing advanced pronunciation.
It has a couple of important connected speech patterns.
And by connected speech I mean the way natives cut through Jews and link words together when speaking fluently.
Listen how she says it.
I'm on my way to stop him.
I'm on my way to stop him.
So here's what's happening.
First she links I'm with on to produce the sound I'm on.
Then in the phrase with on my way to, she changed the last word.
Instead of using a strong to, she simply says da.
On my way to.
I'm on my way to.
I'm on my way to stop him.
Becoming a fluent speaker requires lots of practice, so try repeat it after Pete.
I'm on my way to stop him.
I'm on my way to stop him.
Well take me with you.
This guy's a lunatic, a psycho. he will eat you for breakfast.
A lunatic is someone who acts insane or dangerously crazy.
It's a bit of a strong word that suggests someone is completely out of control.
And just a fun fact, looking at its etymology, it comes from the word lunar, because people used to believe the moon made people go crazy.
A psycho is slang for someone who is dangerously unstable or violent.
It's actually short for psychopath, but we'll often use it in an exaggerated way.
And pay attention to the pronunciation.
The P here is silent.
You should actually say psycho.
Psycho.
She then says Bowser will eat Mario for breakfast.
This is a figurative expression meaning to easily defeat, destroy or dominate someone without any effort.
It's like Bowser is so much stronger than Mario that beating him would be like eating breakfast.
A simple, easy task.
Listen, Piccoletto, I eat kids like you for breakfast.
But Mario doesn't feel scared by any of this.
He actually wants to join Peach in her mission to defeat Bowser as a way to save his brother Luigi.
And that's when she says this.
You won't even notice it, probably, because you're very, very small.
If someone says they want to see what you're made of, they mean they'll test your skills and courage to find out what you're truly capable of.
It's like discovering what's inside someone, what they're really like when challenged.
In other words, Peach is giving the test Mario to see if he has what it takes.
Another common native expression.
Today we'll start with what you only think you know.
Show me what you're made of.
Alright, now are you ready for the final and most important step of the lesson?
We're going to take everything we've just learned in these three clips the new vocabulary and advanced pronunciation and put it all into practice.
You'll watch the whole scene again, this time without any subtitles, and answer some quiz questions.
Are you ready?
Let's do this.
Hello.
Yeah, I'm actually looking for somebody.
My brother, in fact.
He looks exactly like me but tall and skinny.
Skinny means thin.
But what would be another word for thin that would sound more positive?
Like a compliment.
Slim or slender.
And green.
See, last time I saw him, he was falling through a pipe, it was foggy, and I believe there was lava?
Uh, that is not good.
Um, your brother has landed in the Dark Lands.
They're under Bowser's control.
Bowser?
He's the most evil, wretched creature alive!
Toad calls Bowser a wretched creature.
What does this emphasize about Bowser?
He's ugly and deformed?
He's weak and pathetic?
He's morally despicable?
I'm taking you to see the princess.
She can help you.
She can do anything.
Princess?
Council, your attention.
Bowser has found the superstar and is headed toward our kingdom.
Its power will make him invincible.
We will be destroyed.
Princess, what are we going to do?
I will not let him hurt you.
How do you spell annihilate?
Their Mad King doesn't make alliances.
The Kongs will never agree.
I can convince him.
I'll leave for the Jungle Kingdom in the morning.
Good luck, Princess.
For all our sakes.
Then it's only a matter of time until he's captured by Bowser.
But you're in luck.
I'm on my way to stop him.
Well, take me with you.
This guy's a lunatic.
Princess Peach calls Bowser a lunatic.
She's warning Mario that Bowser is dangerously rational and unpredictable, extremely angry and aggressive, or unintelligent and foolish.
A psycho.
He will eat you for breakfast.
He won't even notice it, probably, because you're very, very small.
You know what?
Make fun of me all you want, but you are going to help me find my brother.
Please?
Well, okay.
Let's see what you're made of.
What does Peach mean?
She wants to check if he's physically strong.
She'll test his abilities to see if he's capable.
She wants to know where he comes from.
Is that a yes?
No, that's a let's see what you're made of.
Oh yeah, amazing job, guys.
Now, if you're new to this youtube channel, you should know that every single week, we make new lessons, just like this one with celebrities movies, tv series to help you understand fast speaking natives without getting lost, without missing the jokes and without subtitles.
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We got to get out of here before they take me away.
Take you away?
You're going to leave me?
No way.
That's my body you're in.
Oh, OK.
Do you think you can walk?
I don't know.
I failed body test drive like 436 times.
But will you try?
OK.
I'm a cat.
I can make this.
I'm just gonna rest here for a minute.
No, no, no, no.
They'll be back any minute.
Come on!
Hey!
