Show Notes
Changing a habit is hard, and talking about it in English can feel just as tricky. Sarah and Mike sit down for a slow, honest conversation about trying to change your routine: cutting back on coffee, going to the gym in a dark winter morning, reading instead of scrolling, and what happens when a new habit quietly stops after nine days. This daily English conversation gives you the words you need when a friend asks how your new plan is going and you have to answer truthfully.
What do you say when someone asks about the habit you started in January and you gave up on it in February? In this friendly English podcast you'll learn how to use "cut back on" when you are drinking less, how to talk about temptation in the supermarket drinks aisle or in front of a bakery window, the difference between "temporary" and "permanent" changes, and natural replies like "I'm off it this week", "I fell off it for a bit" and "I'm back on it now". Sarah and Mike also practise how to deflect a question politely, and how to say something lasted nine days in a row before it started to tail off.
This episode is perfect for B1 English learners who want to talk about their own habits and goals in real conversations, with everyday vocabulary for starting, stopping and restarting a routine.
💡 Tip: Say one sentence about a habit you're attempting, out loud, with a real number in it.
📚 Vocabulary in this episode • cut back on: do less of something • temptation: something you want but shouldn't have • cold turkey: stopping suddenly and completely • abandon: leave something and never go back • drastic: very big and very sudden • deflect: turn a question away from yourself • pin down: get an exact answer from someone • ongoing: still happening, not finished • temporary: only for a short time • permanent: meant to last forever, not just for now • tail off: slowly stop, little by little • take root: become a normal part of life • kick the habit: finally stop a bad habit • on autopilot: doing something without thinking • lapse into: slide back into an old behavior • resume: start again after a stop • beat yourself up: blame yourself too much • be candid: say the true thing plainly • overstate: make it sound bigger than it is
🎯 In this episode, you can practise: • Talking About Habits In English • Cut Back On Coffee • Going Cold Turkey • Describing Your Morning Routine • New Year Goals In English • Nine Days In A Row • Making A Habit Take Root • English speaking practice • Daily English conversation • B1 English vocabulary
Everyday English Academy is where Sarah and Mike talk slowly and simply about everyday life, so English learners can build listening, speaking, vocabulary and confidence one relaxed conversation at a time.
Make a cup of tea, sit somewhere comfortable, and listen along with us at an easy pace.
Try the learning tip today: say one sentence out loud about a habit you're attempting, with a real number in it, like "I've read for twenty minutes, four days in a row." 🔔 Subscribe to Everyday English Academy and practise with a new easy conversation every week.
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