Coffee effects, relationships and self-study tips from Learn English Podcast

Hello listeners, I'm excited to meet again. Welcome to the 8-Minute English Podcast series on the Learn English Podcast channel. I'm your host, Nathan. It's a pleasure to have you with us. A cup of coffee can give you energy in the morning or help you stay awake when working at night. But does it always keep you awake? And how should we drink coffee the right way?

The conversation between Drake, Matthew, and Jimmy will answer these questions. They are relatives who are meeting again at a party. We've prepared a special free PDF for this episode full of useful tips and vocabulary to help with your learning. Don't forget to check it out. Now let's start this journey. You know, I can't even count how many cups of coffee I've had today. Probably my fifth one.

but hey, it keeps me awake. I'm thinking of drinking more coffee too. I just started my first job and I feel tired all the time. It must be hard for you at first. Do you think coffee really works? I've been losing sleep and I'm not sure if coffee will help or make it worse. I understand why you feel that way, Jimmy. Coffee does make you feel awake, but it's not always the best answer. Magic or not, it works for me. I mean, look at me. I'm still going strong even after all those late nights at work.

And coffee's my best friend. It's just coffee, right? Oh, it's a bit more than just coffee. That's because of the caffeine in coffee. Caffeine affects the brain. So, it doesn't just make you feel awake, and that's it? That's right. It stops something in your body called adenosine. Adenosine makes you feel tired. So when you drink coffee, the caffeine stops you from feeling sleepy, and you feel more awake. Oh, so caffeine makes the brain think we're not tired? Exactly.

But the effect of caffeine doesn't stay for a long time. When it's gone, the tired feeling comes back, and you might feel even more sleepy. That's why sometimes you feel very tired after the caffeine goes away. Yeah, I've had those tired moments after coffee, but I just grab another cup. Problem solved, right? That's the tricky part. The more coffee you drink, the more your body gets used to it. Over time, you need more coffee to feel awake. So, if I drink a lot of coffee now, it won't help me as much later?

That sounds hard. Yes, that's true. And if you keep drinking more coffee, you might also get some bad effects. Bad effects? It's just coffee. How bad could it be? If you drink too much coffee, it can make you feel nervous or make it hard to sleep later. Some people feel their heart beat fast or feel worried. It's not as harmless as you think if you drink a lot. I didn't know coffee could do that to me. Yes, if you drink it in the afternoon or evening, it can make it hard to sleep.

Okay, I understand. But for someone like me who needs to stay awake for work, what else can I do? Coffee is the easiest option. There are other ways to stay awake. Sometimes you're just tired because you're not drinking enough water. Drinking water can help, or you can take a short walk to feel more awake. A healthy snack with protein can give you energy that lasts longer than coffee. I could try walking instead of drinking coffee, but coffee seems faster.

Yeah, how can I drink coffee without having too much? You don't need to quit coffee. Just be smart about it. Remember not to drink it too late in the day. It'll mess with your sleep. For example, drink coffee only in the morning or right after lunch, but skip it in the late afternoon. This way you can still enjoy coffee without it messing up your sleep. Maybe I'll try to drink less coffee. I can switch to something else after 5 p.m. That's a great idea.

Coffee is okay as long as you also drink water, eat healthy, and sleep enough. It's all about balance. That sounds possible for me. Yeah, you can also try different types of coffee. Just find one that is suitable for you. Some coffees have more caffeine, while others have less. That's right. If you like Vietnamese drip coffee, it's very strong. It takes a long time to brew, which makes it taste even stronger. You just have to pick what suits your energy needs.

You can try a small sample pack of the coffee before you buy it for a large amount. Thanks. These tips sound simple, but I think they'll really help. I'll start tomorrow. Let's see how long you can do it, Jimmy, especially with your new job. Hey, it's all about forming good habits now. You guys got this. Just kidding. I'm doing it, too. No more coffee in the afternoon for me.

Let's learn some important vocabulary together. The first word for today is awake. It means not sleeping. Hannah says coffee helps her stay awake during long work hours. Next, we have a noun called magic. It means a power that seems impossible. Drake jokes that whether coffee is magic or not, it still helps him stay awake when he's tired. The next word is a noun, effect.

This means a change that happens because of something. Hannah says the effect of caffeine doesn't last for a long time. Now, let's learn the verb grab. It means to take something quickly. Drake often grabs another cup of coffee when he feels tired. The last word is option. It means a choice between different things. Jimmy says coffee seems like the easiest option to stay awake. ... ...

Now let's answer some questions below. The first question, what would you do if you felt tired at work like Jimmy? If I felt tired at work, I'd take a quick walk or maybe have a small snack. It's better than drinking coffee all the time. The second question, would you stop drinking coffee in the afternoon like Drake plans to? About me, I would stop drinking coffee in the afternoon because I want to sleep better at night. That's all. Please share your answers in the

Hey everyone, here's a fun and surprising fact about coffee. Did you know that coffee can actually improve your social interactions? A study from the University of Oxford found that caffeine can make people feel closer. This means that sharing a cup of coffee can make your conversations easier. It can also create a stronger friendship. But be careful. Too much coffee can make you feel nervous, which can have the opposite effect.

so when you have coffee with a friend remember you're not just enjoying a drink you're also building a connection just don't drink too much to keep the good feelings i'll suggest some activities so you will have so much fun with friends or family when going out for coffee trying a board game like uno or jenga adding a little friendly competition to your coffee time don't forget to choose a board game cafe for a suitable and comfortable space you can also share favorite books or talk about a recent read

It's a perfect chance to explore fun ideas together. For something creative, bring along a notebook to sketch, write, or even give project ideas. You could also pick a fun topic to chat about, like dream travel spots or future goals. That's it. So, let's enjoy it from now on. That is the end of today's topic. I hope you found ways to stay awake without using too much coffee. Coffee is good if we use it right. You can also look for other things to help you feel awake.

Try using the tips from the podcast for a while and come back to share your results. I hope you succeed. Goodbye and see you again in the next episode. Please stay healthy.

Hey everyone, welcome back to 8 Minute English. I'm Nathan, and you're listening to the Learn English Podcast. So, today's episode is going to be a little different from usual. Usually, we dive into conversations or fun lessons. But today, I'm going outside. Yep, I'm going to hit the streets and ask people about a pretty cool topic.

and that topic is five signs that you're an attractive person now don't worry it's not a serious deep interview this is street style we're going to keep it light and funny just like a real chat with friends oh and don't forget there's a pdf with extra info about today's topic make a copy of it so you can edit and keep notes on all the tips we're sharing

Alright, let's go. Let's find out what makes people attractive. Hi there, thanks for stopping. What's your name? My name's Alex. Great to meet you, Alex. So, tell me, um, what are a few things that make a person attractive to you? Well, for me, confidence is number one. You know, when someone walks like they believe in themselves. I totally get that.

confidence can make a big difference exactly and they don't have to be loud just comfortable in their own skin that's a good point anything else that catches your eye definitely kindness it's nice when someone is kind to others without expecting anything bad and humor if they can make me laugh that's a big plus totally agree laughter really connects people thanks alex that was great

Alright, next up, what's your name? I'm Emily. Nice to meet you, Emily. Tell us what's something you find attractive in others. I think empathy is really important. When someone can understand or feel what others are going through, it's very attractive. Really? So, just being a nice person? Yeah, like when they actually listen to you. It's sweet, you know? Absolutely. Everyone likes to feel heard.

and confidence. When someone believes in themselves, it makes them shine. That's true. Alright, Emily. Thanks for sharing. And moving on, what's your name? I'm Mike. Great to meet you, Mike. Alright, so, what do you find attractive in someone? Sense of humor, for sure. If someone can make me laugh, I'm interested. Nice. So, do you like people who tell jokes or just have that funny vibe?

a bit of both if they can make a bad day feel better that's really attractive that's a good point anything else? intelligence and they can talk about interesting things or teach me something new I find that really attractive I hear you laughter and good conversation can really connect people thanks Mike hi there thanks for stopping what's your name? I'm Sarah great to meet you Sarah

So, tell me, what makes a person attractive to you? For me, someone with a positive outlook is really attractive. You mean like a glass-half-full kind of person? Exactly. They're just fun to be around. They don't complain too much and try to see the best in everything. That's refreshing. I totally get that. Thanks, Sarah. Alright, next up, what's your name? My name's Jake. Nice to meet you, Jake.

So what makes someone attractive to you? For me, I'd say ambition. When someone is driven and has their own goals, that's really attractive. Ah, I get it. You like people with a sense of purpose. That's right. It shows that they're not just sitting around waiting for things to happen. They're making moves and working towards something. That's a strong quality, Jake. Thanks for sharing.

Alright, so we've heard some amazing qualities from everyone today. Confidence, kindness, humor, positivity, ambition. These are definitely attractive qualities. But remember, these aren't the only things that make someone special. Each of us has our own unique qualities that make us stand out. So, don't feel like you need to match these traits perfectly to be interesting or attractive.

The real beauty is in being yourself. When you're true to who you are, that's what really shines through. So go out there, be confident, embrace your unique self, and remember you're already special just as you are. And that's what makes you truly attractive. Now let's go over some vocabulary words that can help you talk about attractive qualities in English. First up, confidence.

Confidence means believing in yourself and your abilities. For example, you walked into the room with confidence. Next we have kindness. Kindness is about being friendly, caring, and thoughtful towards others. Like in the sentence, her kindness made everyone feel welcome. Our third word is humor. Humor is the ability to make others laugh or see the fun side of things. For example,

His humor always lightens up the room. Next is honesty. Honesty means being truthful and genuine with others. For instance, honesty is the foundation of any good friendship. And last, we have ambition. Ambition is having a strong desire to achieve something. Like in this sentence, her ambition drives her to work hard every day. All right, now I have a couple of questions for you based on what we've learned.

First question, what's one quality that you think makes someone attractive? For example, do you think humor or kindness is more important? Second question, which of these qualities would you like to improve in yourself? Like, do you want to work on being more confident or more honest? Give these questions some thought and maybe even share your answers with us.

Alright, before we wrap up, I thought it'd be fun to share a few interesting facts and studies about attractiveness. First up, did you know that a study from the University of Kansas found that people who laugh together tend to feel closer? Laughter releases feel-good hormones called endorphins, which make us feel more connected to others. So, humor doesn't just make things fun. It actually builds stronger relationships. Another fun fact

Researchers at Harvard University discovered that showing kindness can actually make us happier. When we do something kind, it activates parts of the brain associated with pleasure. So, not only do others appreciate kindness, but we also feel good about ourselves. Here's another cool insight. The University of California found that people with a growth mindset are often seen as more attractive.

A growth mindset is when someone believes they can improve through hard work and learning. People with this mindset are open to new ideas and enjoy learning, which makes them more engaging. So maybe that's something to think about if you're working on self-improvement. And remember, all these qualities we discussed, kindness, humor, honesty, are just a few ways to be attractive.

The most important thing is to be genuine and embrace who you are. Now, if you want to keep practicing, check out the free PDF we made. Make a copy of it so you can take notes and edit your own answers. Thanks for joining me today, everyone. I'll see you next time on 8 Minute English.

hello listeners i'm happy to see you again welcome to the eight minute english podcast series on the learn english podcast channel i'm your host nathan it's great to have you here with us again what do you think self-study is and is it studying a subject or a language by yourself

Yes, it is. But it's more than that. Self-study is something you need to do regularly. You have to practice every day. It's also something you need to learn how to do. Today, we have a conversation between Jasmine, a new member of the school club, and Sharon, the club's former leader. They will talk about how to focus on self-study and keep it going. We've prepared a special free PDF for this episode, full of tips and words to help you learn better. Don't forget to check it out

Let's get started right now. Hi Sharon, I'm so happy you're here. I've heard a lot about you from other club members. They all say you have a lot to share. That's really nice of them to say. I'm glad to be back with everyone. How's the club been for you so far? I'm really happy we met at this meeting. Things at the club are going well, but I feel stuck when studying, especially alone.

It feels boring when I study by myself. I want to improve, but it's hard to get started. Do you have any tips? I understand, Jasmine. Studying alone can feel hard at first, but if you see it as a way to grow and learn, it can actually be fun. It's not just about English or school. It can help in many areas of life. Really? I thought it was just extra homework. Why is studying alone so important? Good question. Self-study isn't just extra work.

it's a way to take control of your learning this is important because things are always changing when you study on your own you're building habits to be independent you're not only learning facts you're learning how to learn so it's really about building confidence and skills for daily life not just school exactly think about it if you always depended on teachers for everything self-study helps you get ready for anything new you need to learn it's not just for english it's for learning anything

That sounds really helpful, but when I try to set study goals, I often feel bored. My goals feel too big, and then I get confused. That happens a lot. One tip is to break big goals into smaller steps. For example, if you want to improve in English, try a small goal like, learn five new words each day. These smaller steps keep you motivated because you see progress more often. Instead of trying to become fluent,

so instead of saying i want to master english i could say i want to learn how to describe my daily routine in english you got it that sounds simple and easy to stick with when you set small reachable goals it's easier to make progress without feeling stressed

I understand. But there's one more thing. It's hard to focus when I get distracted. My phone, notifications. They all distract me. I feel like I'll turn into a caveman if I don't check them. I'm worried I'll miss club meetings. I don't want to upset people by not checking messages. Oh, Jasmine, you remind me of when I first joined the club. Can you tell me more? Sure. When I first joined, I listened carefully to what everyone said. I even missed an English class to go to a club event.

When doing homework, I would pick up my phone every time I got a message. Things changed when I saw my focus was getting worse. A study from California showed this too. Checking your phone can make it harder to focus on work or school. It's true what people say. You really know a lot. So what happened after that? That's what I want to share with you next. To get my focus back, I made a special study area. I tried to keep this space just for studying.

like keeping my desk clear, setting my phone to do not disturb, and only having study things around me. Wow, that sounds really smart. That helps with outside distractions. What about inside distractions, like motivation? I lose motivation quickly. Self-study isn't just about motivation. To do well, you need a plan too. They work together. When motivation goes away, a plan helps you keep going.

you need to decide what to study and for how long that sounds easy enough to try yes and if you want to stay motivated there's a way find someone who also likes learning on their own they don't need to study the same thing as you just have the same goal of learning alone that's great I'll try to find someone but I'm still not sure what would be good to study there are many free resources online websites like Coursera Khan Academy and YouTube have lessons

You can also find simple apps to help you learn languages or other things. And don't be afraid to ask for help. Study groups or online communities can help too. You're right. Just talking with you has been a big help. I've learned things I didn't think about before. You're welcome. Let's learn some useful words with me now. First, we have realize. It means to understand something clearly.

Sharon started to realize that studying in a quiet place helps her focus. Now let's look at confidence. This word means feeling sure that you can do something well. We can feel more confident when we practice self-study every day. Next, we have notification. It's a message sent to your phone or computer. Jasmine finds her phone notifications distracting when she studies. Have you heard this word? Concentrate.

This verb means to focus. Jasmine finds it hard to concentrate when she gets distracted. Lastly we have motivated. It means having a strong reason to do something. Smaller goals help Jasmine stay motivated in her studies. You can write down these words to learn them easily. Let's understand the topic better by answering some questions. First question.

What is the main message of this podcast episode? From what I've learned, self-study is important for our growth and confidence. It gives tips on setting goals, creating a study space and finding resources. We need to practice and keep a self-study routine. Next question. What will you do to avoid distractions while studying? For me, I will turn off my phone notifications and find a quiet study space. What about you?

Please share what you learned from the podcast in the comments below. Before ending today's podcast, I'll share some useful information about the topic. There's a famous study that shows our brains work better with focused study times. It's called the Pomodoro Technique. This method was created by Francesco Cirillo in the 1980s, and it really works. Here's how it works.

You study for 25 minutes and then take a short five-minute break. After you do this four times, you can take a longer break of 15 to 30 minutes. Try this method when you study alone, then come back here and tell us how it went. I'd love to hear from you. We've come to the end of today's podcast. I hope you can use the advice from this episode in your life. It will make things better for you. Trust me, self-study is not hard. The hard part is keeping it going until we see good results. Stay healthy.

and keep up your self study routine. Goodbye and see you in the next episode.