This is an All Ears English podcast, episode 2082.
Is that so?
How to respond with personality in English.
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When someone shares some news, maybe about politics or about your friend group, what can you say to respond with enthusiasm in English?
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Hey, Michelle, how's it going today?
Good.
How are you?
I'm feeling excellent.
What are we talking about on All Ears English today?
Lindsay, did you know that Aubrey went on a helicopter ride this weekend?
That is wild.
I did not.
I didn't know that.
Is that so?
Yes wow, okay.
So is that actually true, michelle?
No, i don't think that's actually true, but it seems like it could happen, right.
Yeah, i feel like.
I feel like i could see aubrey going.
I could see her doing that.
I could see her going skydiving i'm not i've never asked her if she wants to go skydiving, but i could see her wanting to do that.
Michelle, these are questions i'm going to ask her later.
I'll text her.
If you uh, if you could, here's a question for you.
If you could take a helicopter ride anywhere, where would you go?
Like what would you be above to get a view of any place in the world, to get a view of for the best view?
So this is, this is different than just like what, where I'd want to go.
I'm just, we're just talking about the view.
Yeah.
Like what would you want to be above in a helicopter to look down and just a sense of wonder, of wow, this incredible, I don't know.
It's a place in the world that I think mean i would say oh, i'm torn between city and like beautiful type situation, but i would probably say tokyo, or tokyo cool cool cool cool, all right.
Or i think maybe like dubai or somewhere with a lot of desert, but also the amazing buildings, like okay, stuff like that interesting yeah okay, how about you?
My basic answer is the grand canyon, but that's too basic, so i would say something like maybe the amazon.
Oh, if i could look down and see, even like dip down and see wildlife or something i don't know, i don't know.
I think it would be if i weren't causing any harm to the environment, of course.
Well, that's good yeah yeah, so anyways well, there's a key thing that i said here, or you said, or one of us said what was it?
Well, it was, is that?
So that's what we're going to be talking about this episode.
But guys, we have something really fun coming up.
We've been doing this for a few weeks now.
It's a key Spotify poll.
So if you are listening on Spotify, you can interact with us.
So at the end of this episode, towards the end, we will present a poll.
And if you're listening on Spotify, you can actually hit an answer to whatever you want to say for this poll.
And then we'll be able to get the results. and share them with you on a future episode.
So that's gonna be really, really fun.
And so the question is, is that coming at the end of the episode today, Michelle?
Coming later on.
So don't stop listening.
You gotta find out what that question is.
And guys, one more thing.
Make sure you hit follow wherever you're listening to the All Ears English podcast so you never miss anything.
I love it.
Good stuff, good stuff.
So guys, hang out until we announce the poll at the end and then participate.
Make your voice heard.
You know, we are a community here.
Our community believes in connection, not perfection.
So we wanna hear what you have. to say, but stay on for the question.
Definitely.
All right.
So what happened was I noticed myself saying and others actually saying, is that so?
Is that so?
Yeah.
Interesting.
So what does it mean, Michelle?
Is that so?
It means really?
Maybe the person is surprised or they just didn't know a particular fact.
So this is a unique way to express this feeling.
And I also think it brings about connection, because instead of just saying, really it adds some extra emotion and thought.
So I like that.
Do you say, is that so?
I do sometimes.
I think it sounds pretty smart.
It sounds articulate to me, right?
Oh, is that so?
I don't say it all of the time, right?
I wouldn't want to overuse it, but I think there is a time and a place for, is that so?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, exactly.
I mean, is there anything that's come up in your life or maybe on the news recently that you learned?
That was a little surprising.
Yeah, I mean we don't get into politics too much on this show, so I won't really voice my opinion on this.
But I was a little surprised to hear that my particular state is taking action on this.
The courts, actually because Trump will be running in the election next year and my state is trying to disqualify Trump from the election due to the 14th Amendment.
And I was like, whoa, Colorado, making moves.
And if I had shared that with you, you could have said, oh, is that so?
Is that so?
Yeah.
I haven't heard.
So that's just one example.
So, you know, responding to the news, responding to politics.
Right.
Something like that.
Or even, I mean, sometimes I say, is that so to my son?
Because he'll bring up such a random thing.
So it makes me laugh.
So sometimes I'll just say, oh, is that so?
And, you know, and it just kind of makes me giggle for some reason.
Yeah.
They say weird, random things, don't they?
Kind of out of context and they observe things and they're like, I'm like, okay.
Right actually, oh my gosh, the other day he wanted me to make a crown for him and he said can you make a?
He's no.
He said mom, make a crown for me because i'm the king of the family.
And and i said okay.
I said, can you try that again?
And he said can you please make a crown for me because i'm the king of the family?
That is a quote.
That is a quote, and i love the confidence i think we all need to learn from your son.
Yeah, sometimes i like i, i think i've made it.
I don't have it now, but what another one?
He said, oh my god, there are some winners anyway.
But yeah, i might say oh, is that so you're the king of the family really okay yeah geez, it just makes me sometimes i wish i didn't, you know like, gain a filter as an adult.
I wish i could maintain the lack of a filter that i had as a kid.
Right, just saying things like that.
I love it.
Oh yeah, it's so good, it's the best, it's hysterical um, so anyway, but Is that so?
Would you say that's formal, informal?
Could you use it at work?
What do you think?
I think it's leaning formal for sure.
Obviously you could use it at a dinner party, social event, but I do think it's kind of leaning a little bit more on the more formal, more articulate side of things.
That's what I think.
What do you think, Michelle?
I think it has that kind of vibe to it, but I also think that it's kind of used in a way of oh, is that so?
Just right, in a cool way.
Yeah, for sure.
Yeah, somehow i think it's just mixing it up, making your responses a bit more interesting.
You know yeah yeah um, and i think that the meaning can actually change based on how you say it.
So, for example, i might say to my son oh, is that so?
Like yes, you're the king of, you're the king of the family.
But if you're telling me a piece of interesting news, i might say oh, is that so?
Is that right?
So it could be challenging someone.
Is that so right?
Like you're the king of the family, is that so?
Do you pay the bills right?
Yeah um, versus.
I just shared the thing i talked about with the 14th amendment in colorado.
Is that so?
I hadn't heard that.
You know, i didn't watch the news yesterday.
All right, more genuine oh really, i didn't know that.
Like, that's interesting to me exactly.
Yes, love it So.
But yeah, we also want to direct you over to another episode.
We have need to convince a decision maker, learn how to nail it in English.
So that's episode 27.
So 2071, there we go.
27.
Oh my gosh.
Could we send our listeners back to episode 27?
It's so far back.
Oh my gosh.
Yeah.
No, not 27.
2071.
A lot higher than that.
I love it.
Are there any other things we can say, Michelle, that mean the same thing?
And our listeners could throw all of these into their vocabulary and just become immediately more interesting, right.
Right.
So the first one is, is that right? definitely, definitely, definitely.
Right.
So this, um, doesn't mean, is that correct?
Right.
What does this mean?
What does this mean?
Is the same thing really the same idea?
Like, you know, it could mean, is that correct?
If you're using it in that context, is that right?
Um, is that right in this kind of way?
Like, Oh, is that right?
Right.
Shows you how important intonation is and how important context is.
Totally.
Let's give our listeners an example.
So Michelle, I ate two hamburgers for dinner.
Is that right?
Oh, highly unlikely.
I would not be able to eat two hamburgers.
No.
And what else?
Okay.
So then I don't know why I wrote, is that so?
Because that's the one we're doing.
But so, well, yeah, we have another one coming up.
Just a minute.
All right, Michelle.
Okay.
This one is fun.
What is it?
You don't say.
It reminds me of some movie or some quote.
There was something in pop culture that with this, but i can't put my finger on it right now.
Yeah yeah um yeah, i don't know.
It makes me think of like a cartoon.
Yeah, i don't know why i feel like there's a cartoon.
There's something there.
I'm not sure there's something there.
We'll have to research it.
Maybe our listeners will know and they'll write into us and tell us what it is.
There's something in pop culture media.
Um, here we go michelle, i'm buying a new car tomorrow.
You don't say, or maybe it's like a line of, i don't know, like TV dad or something.
The Tanner's right yeah, that's of course when you say TV dad, what I think dad?
Sure so, but Lindsey, why is it important to use phrases like these?
What do you think it does, instead of just saying all the time oh really oh oh, my gosh.
Well, I think it's important to be interesting.
I mean, You know, I just met with a friend for coffee at a coffee shop, a new friend that, actually someone I met at the podcast conference.
And she lives in my neighborhood, which is so cool.
We have a lot in common.
Yeah, that is.
That is so.
Yes, it is.
But, you know, she was telling me about her life, right?
Like working in podcasting.
She used to live in New York.
So we have all these things in common.
It matters the way I respond to her, the things she shares with me, right?
It matters if I just say, oh.
OK, that's so boring.
You know, we need to respond with life in us.
Yes, yes, exactly.
I think it shows you're interested, that you're listening and that you have your own style.
Yes, 100 percent.
Shall we do a role play and show our listeners how to do it?
Let's do it.
So here we are, friends, and we are gossiping.
OK, here we go.
So Lacey got fired.
No.
Yes.
So she's moving.
Is that so?
Oh, yep.
To California.
Wow.
Well, maybe she'll get in touch with Paul.
He just moved there.
Is that right?
Yeah.
He works for a movie studio.
You don't say.
Good for him.
Nice.
Nice.
Love it.
Not the worst thing to move to California if you get fired.
I mean, that's kind of awesome.
The weather there is just insanely amazing all the time.
Exactly.
Exactly.
So let's go through it.
So you said so Lacey got fired.
And I said I just wanted to highlight this, because this is, this is pretty common, and when you're surprised, you can also just go no yeah, and you could also add a gasp no no, like.
And then you said yes, it's right, so that's a lot of fun.
But and as far as our expression goes you said yes, so she's moving, and i said is that so right?
Yeah, so this is for new information and actually it really is actually better.
You know my example about the coffee shop.
I think this is better for news rather than getting to know someone.
So i'm going to edit my comments, right.
Because this is like updates, news, happenings, goings on, right?
New things that are happening, especially if you share acquaintances or again, politics and news events.
It's not as much for like getting to know someone on a first-time basis.
I used to live in New York.
I guess you could say that.
I used to live in Brooklyn.
Oh, is that so?
I guess so.
I think it is.
I think it's just something that's interesting to you or unique or I don't know.
I'm sticking with what you said at first, Lindsay.
Yeah, but I like all three contexts.
The news, personal news, like work news, work colleagues, things like that, and then getting to know someone and just learning early facts about them yeah, and you're responding right okay yeah okay, I like that too.
So then uh, so I said, is that so, uh?
And then what was the next one?
And then you said wow well, maybe she can get in touch with Paul.
He just moved there.
And I said, is that right?
Right, I'm saying what am I saying that about what?
Uh, you were saying the fact that Paul just moved to California.
Right, so I didn't know that, right.
And then finally, I said he works for a movie studio.
And you said you don't say it's like wow.
The other place where this could be useful is when, like when you realize you know the same person you know.
Don't say you know him too, I know him, you know this.
Sometimes it happens a lot like small communities within industries oh wow, you don't say you know him as well right, that's another context.
There's a lot of context for this, Michelle.
A lot, a lot.
So, but yeah, that's the role play.
So lots of, think of it, the main thing is that you're kind of surprised or intrigued.
And then the other thing I think is challenging someone.
Oh, is that so?
You're the king of the family.
You know, one day, when my son is 16 years old, I'm going to have him listen to this episode and tease him about what he said.
I love that.
I love that.
All right.
So now we have come to our key poll question.
And Michelle, what is the key poll question if you are listening in Spotify today?
What is the question?
So we are bringing it back to the helicopter ride, because we were talking about if Aubrey went on a helicopter ride, though I made that up.
But so the question is, I want to know about our listeners.
So this is a key poll.
Have you ever been on a helicopter ride?
Yes or no.
This will be an interesting to get a sense.
I personally.
Well, i'll just wait and vote as part of our poll later okay okay, okay.
So guys, go ahead and vote on that and we will share the connections.
I want to get to know you guys even more.
So guys lindsay, what's the takeaway for today?
Well guys, this is as you've seen.
We've thrown out three or four contexts in which this would be great.
Is that so right?
The key is respond when someone shares something with personality And be interesting.
That's the key, right?
Just be interesting.
Don't say, oh, avoid, oh, right?
Be interesting and be interested, right?
Yes.
That's the other thing is you know you want to be interesting to others, but you also want to be interested in what others are saying.
So I think that's a good one to leave us with.
That's connection, Michelle.
That's connection right there.
All right.
Well, thank you for hanging out with me today on the microphone and I'll see you next time.
All right.
Bye, Lindsay.
Take care.
Bye.
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