Hello and welcome to the English Like a Native podcast. My name is Anna and you're listening to Week 20, Day 4 of Your English 5 a Day, the second season.
This series is dedicated to helping you to expand your vocabulary so that you feel more comfortable and more like yourself when communicating in English.
Now, you don't have to record anything because we do that for you.
You can find the vocabulary from today's episode and every episode of the five a day series all together in one vocabulary vault that you can access for free via the link in the show notes.
All right, let's begin today's episode as we always do with a snapshot of what's to come.
Listen closely. The new consultant arrived with with a polished proposal that was perfectly appropriate for our struggling department.
Our charismatic but sceptical manager had the nerve to question her methods publicly, but then went on to implement them.
Rather than burden the team with complex procedures, her streamlined approach saved everyone time and ultimately doubled our productivity.
activity. Okay. Let's dive into the vocabulary starting with the adjective polished, polished.
We spell this P -O -L -I -S -H -E -D polished.
If something is polished, then it's very well done.
It's refined and professional.
So if you are presenting something, you want it it to be polished.
You want it to be done to a certain standard because you're presenting it to other people.
When this podcast is first recorded, the audio is a little rough and there may be some repeats because I make a mistake.
And when we first have the audio transcribed by AI, it's full of mistakes.
So we take the audio and the transcription and we work on it to ensure that but it is as refined and professional as possible.
We correct the transcripts, we improve the audio, we remove any mistakes that I may have made until we have a polished episode to tickle your eardrums. Here's another example.
His writing style is polished and elegant.
Next on the list is the adjective appropriate.
Appropriate. Appropriate.
This is a very common adjective.
We spell it A -P -P -R -O -P -R -I -A -T -E.
Appropriate. Appropriate.
If something is appropriate, then it's suitable for a situation.
For example, it is appropriate for me to wear something smart to go to work in.
It's not appropriate for me to turn up at work in my bikini.
It's not appropriate for me to go to a funeral wearing a very colourful dress.
unless the person who died specifically requested that everyone wear bright colours for their funeral.
So is what you're wearing today appropriate for the situation you currently find yourself in?
It might not be appropriate to use slang and informal language when you're in a job interview.
But it is appropriate to laugh and smile and have fun when you are having a play date with, well, not you, when you're on a play date with your children and your children are playing with other children and you're speaking to the parents.
It's appropriate in that situation to be fun and relaxed and informal.
Here's another example sentence.
His joke was not appropriate for the occasion.
Next, we have the adjective charismatic.
Charismatic. We spell this C -H -A -R -I -S -M -A -T -I -C.
Charismatic. Charismatic.
If someone is described as charismatic, then they have a strong, charming personality that attracts others.
They are very charismatic.
Here's an example sentence.
She is charismatic and easily makes friends.
Do you know someone who is charismatic or would you consider yourself to be charismatic?
All of us can work on being more charismatic but for some it definitely comes more naturally than for others.
Next, we're going to look at the idiom to have the nerve to.
To have the nerve to.
Have the nerve, nerve we spell n -e -r -v -e, to do something.
So to have the nerve to do something.
This means to be bold or rude enough to do something.
So for example, I am a compliant person who doesn't like to cause problems or create a fuss or go against the grain in any way.
So I will normally follow along and keep my mouth shut.
I will be quiet and do as what is expected.
But some people are bold or brave enough or rude enough to go against the grain.
For example, if we are sitting in a garden that is a public garden, but there are signs everywhere saying this is a peace garden it's a garden of peace where everyone can sit quietly to enjoy the sounds of nature so please follow the rules and be respectful and keep your voice down but then someone comes in and starts speaking very loudly making very rude comments about the the area, and maybe even starts talking very loudly on their phone to someone laughing and giggling, just being completely disrespectful, then you could use this phrase.
I can't believe you had the nerve to take a phone call while standing in the peace garden.
Here's another example.
She had the nerve to interrupt the teacher.
Okay, so to have the nerve to do something.
thing. Last on our list today is the verb burden.
Burden. We spell this B -U -R -D -E -N.
Burden. To burden someone is to put a heavy responsibility onto them.
So, you give them a heavy responsibility that they have to deal with.
For example, if I tell you that now you not only have have to do everything that you normally must do in your life look after your family your animals your home do your job but now you also must take care of my elderly aunt who cannot walk very well she cannot dress herself she must be fed she needs to be checked every hour on the hour hour.
She needs her medication.
She needs to go to the doctor's once a week.
That's a heavy responsibility that I've just given you.
So I have burdened you.
To burden. Here's another example.
She felt burdened by the amount of work she had.
Have you ever burdened someone?
Or has someone ever burdened you?
Given you a heavy responsibility.
ability. So, that's our five.
Let's do a quick recap.
First, we had the adjective polished, describing something that's very well done, refined and professional, polished.
Then we had the adjective appropriate, which describes something that is suitable for a situation.
We had the adjective charismatic, which describes a person who has a strong, charming personality that attracts others.
They are charismatic.
We had the idiom to have the nerve to do something, which is to be bold or rude enough to do something, to have the nerve to do it.
And finally, we had the verb burden, which is to put a heavy responsibility on someone to burden.
All right. Let's do this now for pronunciation purposes.
So please repeat after me.
Polished. Polished.
Appropriate. Appropriate.
charismatic, charismatic Have the nerve to… have the nerve to… burden, burden Very good.
OK. How did I describe my podcast episodes?
I said they were refined and professional, done to a good standard. So, what adjective did I use?
My podcast episodes are polished.
Very good. And if something is suitable for a situation, then it is what?
appropriate. Very good.
If somebody has a strong and charming personality and they attract others, then they are what?
Charismatic. Fantastic.
And what's that idiom that means that someone is either bold or rude enough to do something?
They have the nerve to do it.
Very good. Finally, what is the verb that means to put a heavy responsibility on someone?
Burden. Brilliant. To burden.
Fantastic. Let's revisit our snapshot quickly and see if it makes more sense the second time round.
The new consultant arrived with a polished proposal that was perfectly appropriate for our struggling department.
Our charismatic but sceptical manager had the nerve to question her methods publicly, but then went on to implement them.
Rather than burden the team with complex procedures, her streamlined approach saved everyone time and ultimately doubled our productivity.
activity. Great. Now I want you to listen out for this vocabulary once again as we head into Storytime.
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Not Lee walked into the office building with a nervous smile.
Today was her first day as team manager at Wilson & Co.
Her black suit made her look polished and professional, and she had practised her introduction speech all weekend.
end. Good morning, everyone, she said as she entered the meeting room.
I'm Li Qian, your new manager.
Ten pairs of eyes looked at her.
Some people smiled, but others just stared.
Li took a deep breath and continued with her speech. I know change can be difficult, but I'm excited to work with all of you.
After the meeting, Lee sat at her new desk.
Her colleague, Tate, knocked on her door.
That was an appropriate introduction, he said.
Short and friendly.
The team liked it. Thanks, Tate.
I was so nervous. You didn't look nervous at all, Tate replied.
Lee's first week went well.
She learned everyone's names and started to understand the team's strengths and weaknesses.
Her boss, Mrs Wilson, seemed pleased.
But not everything was perfect.
One team member, Dustin, was difficult.
He arrived late, left early and rarely finished his work on time.
On Friday, Dustin missed an important deadline.
line. Lee knew she had to speak with him.
As his manager, it was her responsibility.
Dustin, can we talk in my office?
She asked. Dustin followed her with a bored expression.
Dustin, I noticed you didn't finish the Johnson report yesterday, Lee said.
So what? I'll do it next week, Dustin replied.
applied. Lee was surprised by his attitude.
The client needed it yesterday.
The whole team depends on you doing your part.
Look, I've been here for five years, Dustin said.
You've been here for one week.
How do you have the nerve to criticise me?
Lee felt her confidence drop.
Was she being too strict?
But then she remembered Mrs Wilson's words.
A good manager is fair but firm.
Dustin, she said calmly.
I don't want to burden you with extra work, but we all have responsibilities.
When you miss deadlines, it affects everyone.
Dustin looked at her for a long moment, then nodded slowly.
Fine, I'll finish it today.
Lee was relieved. Her first difficult conversation as a manager was over.
The next month was busy but rewarding.
Lee worked hard to be a good leader.
She was not naturally charismatic like Mrs Wilson, but her team respected her because she was honest and supportive.
One day Mrs Wilson called her into her office.
Lee, I've had excellent feedback about you, she said.
You handled that situation with Dustin very well.
He's improved a lot since your talk.
Thank you, Mrs Wilson, Lee said, surprised.
Being a manager isn't easy, Mrs Wilson continued.
But you have good instincts.
You're firm but fair and you don't burden your team with unrealistic expectations.
presentations. Leigh left her office feeling proud.
She had worried about being a new manager, but now she knew she could do it.
With time and experience, she would become even better at her job.
As she walked back to her desk, Dustin gave her a small smile.
Good job on the Miller project, boss, he said.
Leigh smiled back. Yes, she was going to be just just fine.
And that brings us to the end of today's episode.
I do hope you found it useful and until next time, take very good care and goodbye.
