Learn All About British New Year's Resolutions In This English Listening Practice Lesson
Ready for a vocabulary workout? Dive into our latest lesson on New Year's resolutions and get tips for a fitter English vocabulary. In today's lesson we discover some interesting facts about British culture and we help expand your English vocabulary.
Why our lesson will help you with your English:
- 🌍 Lifestyle & Culture: Immerse in British traditions and values.
- 🗣️ Conversation Skills: Learn to discuss personal goals like a native.
- 🏆 Advanced Vocabulary: Boost your word power for real-life topics.
- 🔊 Listening Practice: Perfect your understanding with our engaging audio.
- 🤓 Grammar: Polish your sentences for flawless speaking.
- 📘 Tutorial: English idioms with our motorcycle-themed insights.
- 🚀 Kick-Start Your Learning: Re-energize your English journey with us!
✔Lesson transcript: https://adeptenglish.com/lessons/english-listening-practice-new-years-2024-resolutions-uk-culture-and-vocabulary-lesson/
However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at.
⭐ Stephen Hawking
In our lesson today, you're diving into a mix of English vocabulary and British culture, centred on New Year’s resolutions. This approach provides a unique window into how the British start their year, offering insights into their priorities and psyche. As a language learner, you'll not only expand your vocabulary around personal goals and ambitions but also gain an understanding of cultural practices.
Learning English our way is more than language learning; it’s a cultural journey, making your learning experience richer and more engaging. Remember, understanding a language also involves grasping the culture it springs from. This lesson does just that, making it an invaluable part of your journey to fluency.
Plan your work for today and every day, then work your plan.
⭐ Margaret Thatcher
So are you ready to get your English in shape! Our new podcast offers easy, fun lessons. Check it out on Spotify and YouTube.
More About This Lesson
Dive into the exciting world of British culture and enhance your English vocabulary through the theme of New Year's resolutions. This unique lesson blends cultural insights with language learning, offering you a lively way to start the year!
To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.
⭐ Winston Churchill
- Cultural Insight: Learn about British New Year's traditions and mindset.
- Vocabulary Expansion: Gain words related to goals, ambitions, and lifestyles.
- Idiomatic Phrases: Understand and use idioms like "kick-start".
- Consistent Practice: Emphasizes the importance of regular learning.
- Basic Vocabulary Focus: Suggestion to start with a foundational words course.
- Practical Examples: Discusses real-life topics like resolutions and fitness.
- Data Interpretation: Learn how to discuss statistics and surveys in English.
- Diverse Topics: Covers varied subjects from diet to social media.
- Goal Setting Advice: Insights on setting and reviewing personal goals.
- Personal Sharing: Opportunity to relate to the speaker's experiences.
Benefits of our listen & learn approach to learning
You'll not only master new English words but also gain an understanding of British cultural practices. This approach makes your language learning experience more engaging and effective.
The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams.
⭐ Oprah Winfrey
What you'll learn:
- The significance of New Year's resolutions in British culture.
- Idiomatic expressions and their meanings.
- The role of statistics and data in understanding British viewpoints.
- Specific vocabulary related to goals and resolutions.
- Overcoming common fears in language learning, such as misunderstanding cultural references or struggling with consistency.
Get started now! 🌟 Follow and subscribe to Adept English for more engaging lessons. Boost your English fluency with our unique method that makes learning both fun and easy! 🎧📣
FAQ: Learning to Speak British English Fluently Through Discussing New Year's Resolutions
Learning English with this lesson is like riding a bike through the picturesque British countryside; as you pedal along, exploring New Year's resolutions, you not only journey through the scenic landscape of British culture but also build your vocabulary muscle, making every new word a delightful discovery on your path to fluency.
- What is the Significance of Discussing New Year's Resolutions in Learning English? Discussing New Year's resolutions is beneficial for learning English as it provides insights into British culture and mentality. This topic allows learners to expand their vocabulary related to personal goals, ambitions, and lifestyle choices, which are integral parts of conversational English.
- How Does Understanding British Culture Help in Learning English? Understanding British culture aids in learning English by offering context to the language. It helps in grasping idiomatic expressions, cultural references, and societal norms, enhancing the ability to communicate effectively and understand the nuances of the language.
- Can Discussing Topics Like New Year's Resolutions Improve Vocabulary? Yes, discussing topics like New Year's resolutions can significantly improve vocabulary. It introduces learners to specific terms related to goals, fitness, finances, and personal development, which are commonly used in everyday conversations.
- Is Consistency Important in Learning English, and How Can It Be Achieved? Consistency is crucial in language learning. It ensures steady progress and retention of knowledge. Achieving consistency involves regular practice, like listening to English podcasts daily, and integrating English into various aspects of daily life.
- How Can Learning English Help in Understanding Cultural Practices Like New Year's Resolutions? Learning English allows deeper understanding of cultural practices like New Year's resolutions. It enables learners to engage in discussions, comprehend the significance of such traditions, and appreciate cultural diversity, enriching the overall language learning experience.
Most Unusual Words:
- Psyche: The mind or personality of a person.
- Idiomatically: Using words in a way that is different from their usual meaning to give a special effect.
- Consistency: Doing something the same way over time.
- Economically: Using resources in a way that saves money or effort.
- Epidemic: A rapid spread or increase in the occurrence of something, often used for diseases.
- Doom-scrolling: Spending a lot of time on social media reading negative news.
- Renovating: Repairing and improving a building to make it look new again.
- Voluntary: Done willingly, without being forced or paid.
- Glucose: A type of sugar in the blood and a major source of energy for the body.
- Kick-start: To start something quickly or give something new energy.
Most Frequently Used Words:
| Word | Count |
|---|---|
| Resolutions | 24 |
| People | 21 |
| About | 16 |
| Their | 13 |
| English | 7 |
| Listening | 6 |
| Doing | 6 |
| Things | 6 |
| Podcast | 5 |
| Interesting | 5 |
Listen To The Audio Lesson Now
Transcript: Do Brits Really Struggle To Keep New Years Resolutions
Do resolutions actually lead to real change?
Hi there and Happy New Year to all of our listeners!. Today learn how discussing New Year’s resolutions offers a window into English vocabulary and British culture. Have you ever wondered how people in Britain kick off their new year? This podcast about New Year’s resolutions will give you both an insight into the psyche, the mind of British people and what their priorities in life are. And it’ll give you some great vocabulary for discussing people’s personal goals and ambitions. Making New Year's resolutions is a tradition where people promise themselves that they’ll make positive changes in their lives. I have made some ‘loose’ New Year’s resolutions, so if you keep listening to the end of this podcast, I’ll tell you what mine are! And perhaps you’ll be spurred on to make your New Year’s resolutions by listening to this podcast - as well as practising your English, of course!
Hello, I’m Hilary, and you’re listening to Adept English. We will help you to speak English fluently. All you have to do is listen. So start listening now and find out how it works.
Can 'kick-starting' your English change your life?
So it’s the start of a new year - and why not kick-start your English learning? This verb ‘to kick-start’ in English comes from the world of motorcycling - motorbikes in other words. And the verb ‘to kick-start’, KICK START sometimes with a hyphen in the middle - that’s when you use a metal lever at the back of a motorbike which if you kick it, starts the engine. We also use this verb idiomatically, it means according to Collins Dictionary ‘To re-start a process that has stopped’ So if you've taken a break in your English learning over the holidays, it's time to get back into English. Remember, consistency is the key in language learning.
Boost Your Learning With Adept English
It's OK to take breaks, but what matters is your long-term commitment. I’ve had a break from my French learning over the holiday, but I have returned to listening daily to my French. And remember, if you find our podcasts difficult, you could begin 2024 with our Most Common 500 Words Course - that’ll get your basic English vocabulary sorted out and everything else will be much easier after that. You know where to look - this course is available on our website - adeptenglish.com.
📷
A person standing on a mountain peak, holding a flag, signifying achievement. Learn to talk about saving money in English! Our new podcast offers easy, fun lessons.
Why do under 25s make more resolutions than over 65s?
So what about people’s New Year’s Resolutions this year? Well, YouGov - that’s YOUGOV - that’s an international market research company, based in the UK, but with operations in Europe, North America, the Middle East and Asia. So I’m using their data - that’s YOUGOV’s data - on New Year’s Resolutions for some interesting statistics for the UK. It says that ‘Only 31% if those who made resolutions in 2023 kept them all’. And that ‘only 16%’ of Britons who made New Year’s Resolutions in 2023 didn’t keep any of them’. What I also noticed that was interesting - 29% of 18-24 year olds make New Year’s resolutions, but only 6% of the over 65s do. Maybe people learn with age that they don’t keep to them? And women make resolutions more than men. I do think it’s a good idea to have a review at the start of the year, a refocus on your overall direction and your life and where you’re putting your energy. It’s like a mini life-review at the start of each year. It’s important to do this - like the ‘Seven Habits of Highly Successful People’ author suggests - ‘Start with the end in mind’. So think about your goals. Unless you do this type of thinking where you ‘helicopter over your life’ and take the long-view, you could end up not really thinking about it and life ‘happening to you’, rather than you actively choosing your direction.
Over 50% in the UK aim to improve fitness
So what do people in the UK resolve to do in their resolutions? Well, predictably 56% of people making New Year’s resolutions are concerned with improving their physical fitness - doing more exercise in other words. I’ve spoken before on this podcast about how the gyms are fully subscribed and full in January - and about how it appears to tail off in February and beyond. This is presumably how gyms make their money! But this resolution to improve physical fitness is by far the most common one for people.
Let’s save up for nice things!
Next 49% of people making resolutions want to save more money. This is quite a common one - and difficult of course, with the cost of living increase. But people have goals and things they want or things they want to do in their lives, and saving up money usually is necessary in order to achieve this. My feeling is it’s good to live as economically as you can on what you have and if you’re fortunate enough to have money to spare by doing this, it’s good to save up for the things you want - the things you want to have or the things you want to do.
Can cutting carbs truly improve health?
Next in the list - 45% of people make resolutions make them about losing weight. Again, I’ve talked before on this podcast about how the UK has an ‘obesity epidemic’ - lots of people who are overweight. So understandably lots of people want to lose weight. And 42% of people who make resolutions want ‘to improve their diet’. I’m busy with this - not losing weight, but improving my diet. I’ve shared before in my podcasts that I’m not diabetic, but I do seem to react to certain carbohydrates - they give me high glucose. And so I’ve changed my diet to avoid these ‘glucose spikes’. This has been a little bit of a challenge over Christmas! I’ve avoided the mince pies for example.
Is social media harmful and do you want to spend more time at work or with your family?
Interestingly, the next lot of resolutions on the list have far lower percentage of people deciding to do them. Of people who make resolutions, 21% decide they want ‘to spend less time on social media’. Less time ‘doom-scrolling’ as it sometimes gets called. Not something I do particularly, but I know people can feel that they waste a lot of time on social media and that they could be doing something more constructive with their time. Only 20% of New Year’s resolutions concern people’s work and pursuing career goals - that’s surprising to me! I would’ve thought it would be much higher than this. And quite heartening - also 20% of people who make New Year’s resolutions want ‘to spend more time with their family’. That’s nice that that’s level with work ambitions - interesting to hear that it’s the same percentage as career ambitions and goals. The YouGov data says that 19% of people who make New Year’s resolutions are deciding to take up a new hobby or interest. Or presumably, this also includes hobbies and interests you’ve done before, but not for a while.
Let’s do some more decorating!
A bit more data? 15% of New Year’s resolutions concern renovating or decorating your house or flat. 14% of resolutions are about doing more voluntary or charity work. And 12% of people want to cut down the amount of alcohol they consume. And I was surprised to see that only 6% of New Year’s resolutions are about giving up smoking. That’s a really interesting statistic. Maybe smokers don’t make New Year’s resolutions - or maybe it’s because there aren’t that many people left in the UK who actually smoke cigarettes. I can honestly say I don’t know one person who smokes cigarettes any more! So maybe it’s just that smoking isn’t that common any more!
What If Every Study You Trusted Was False
Hilary’s 2024 New Year’s resolutions?
My New Year’s resolutions? I don’t need to lose any weight, but I am intending to do more exercise for my health. And my ‘kick-start’ for this? One of my presents for Christmas was some very nice new running shoes. I have a resolution to carry on with my new diet - low sugar and low carbohydrate - and continue learning about it. I’m probably going to do the Zoe programme - that’s Tim Spector’s programme of personalised tests, which helps you learn about your personalised ‘best diet’. Living more economically would be another goal for me - so that more money can be saved up for the nice things. And I’m also one of that 15% of people who make resolutions about decorating and furnishing their homes. We recently decorated my son’s bedroom and it looks so much better, I’ve decided I’d like to redecorate some other parts of the house. I’d better be quick though, because once it’s gardening season, I’ll want to be outside doing that! Other vague goals - working less, spending more time doing things I enjoy, with people I enjoy being with.
Download The Podcast Audio & Transcript
Solve The Maths Problem To Download Podcast & Transcript
Share your New Year’s resolutions with us - in English, of course!
So there we have it! Those are my New Year’s resolutions and some interesting statistics about what typically Britons make their New Year’s resolutions about. Hopefully this will make you think about what you’d like to change or do in the coming year. Let us know what you’re planning and if you make any New Year’s resolutions. As ever, we love to hear from you.
Goodbye
Enough for now. Have a lovely day. Speak to you again soon. Goodbye.
Thank you so much for listening. Please help me tell others about this podcast by reviewing or rating it. And, please share it on social media. You can find more listening lessons and a free English course at adeptenglish.com
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