22 Minutes of Intermediate English Listening Practice with Native English Conversation

I'm absolutely addicted. Who is tidier? Legs are just everywhere. I've lied to you.

what is my worst habit? This is a conversation killer. I'm just trying to think of any other

pet peeves you have. That's not true. That's the most obnoxious-looking jacket I've ever

seen in my life. Can't keep up with myself. Now cry and laughter. Why are you crying?

Hello, lovely students and welcome back to "English with Lucy." Today

William and I, because you may have noticed that my husband is here with me. Hello, everyone. We've

got a listening/conversation lesson. I think it's going to be interesting for you, but also for us.

We might end up learning something about each other. Maybe, hopefully not because we've been

together for nearly six years. So we're going to have a conversation on camera and for your

benefit on screen as we are talking, interesting vocabulary words and phrases will appear. I have

also created a free e-book for you. It contains the full transcript of this conversation, all of

the key vocabulary along with the pronunciation, the definitions and examples, and a quiz so you

can put what you've learned into practise. It's going to be an awesome resource. If you

would like to download that free e-book, where do they have to click? Here? No. Where do they? Oh,

down there? Yes. Okay. Just down there on the link in the description box. You then enter your what?

Email address. And your name. And your name. Full name. Sorry. Can I ask, do you ever watch

my videos?Sometime. You then join my mailing list and the e-book will come directly to your

inbox. And then after that, you've joined the PDF club. You will automatically receive all of my

free weekly PDFs in e-books, along with all of my course updates, offers, and general emails. It's a

free service and you can unsubscribe at any time. Okay. I'm really excited to start this. Me too,

but I have no idea what the questions are gonna be. Well, neither do I cause of one of my lovely

teachers pre- , prepared them. Okay, I'll go first. What is my favourite food?Fruit,

as a general answer, fruit, but to be specific, watermelons. Yeah. Oh,

there's nothing like a good watermelon. And part of the fun of a watermelon is that they're not

grown in England and you can't access them. So when you go abroad and there's a great

watermelon. I sound like a total weirdo, don't I? Watermelon. You can't access them.

I don't know. I think the majority of people whenever they go abroad and come to exotic fruit,

I mean coconuts, for me. Oh yeah. Will loves a coconut. This isn't my question. No. So don't

take over. No, sorry! Okay, that was a really easy one, I've made no secret of the fact that

I'm absolutely addicted to fruit. Total fruit fan. Well, I also normally buy you a watermelon every

birthday. That's true. And Easter. Because you don't like chocolate eggs. I do like chocolate

eggs, but I prefer, I prefer a watermelon. I mean you can get chocolate anytime, but good,

in season watermelon, in the UK. That's a luxury! Yeah! What did Will wear on your first date?

I know this like the back of my hand because I remember calling my mum afterwards and being like,

he's so nice but he wore a fleece 'cause I thought that was so weird. But there's this brand of

fleece that only farmers seem to wear called a Schoffel or Schoffel. I'd never seen it before.

It's a very soft fleece with a leather trim. And I just thought, I just,

I'd never been out with a farmer before and I thought that's a farmer. You'd also just come

back from Spain. Yeah. So if they were selling them in Spain, I would've said that they're in

the wrong market. Yeah, that's true. Okay. My turn. What was the first film we saw together?

Oh, I do know this because it was our fourth date. "Beauty and the Beast." Yes, it was. It

was. And do you remember how I impressed you on that date? Actually, I did it in two ways. Yes.

You brought beer to the cinema. In my handbag. In a cinema that didn't serve any alcohol. I brought

only one for you because I'd also just passed my driving test by that point, it was February,

and I drove you there in my little car and it was traumatic 'cause I wasn't a very confident

driver. No. But I brought you a beer to have to relax after I traumatised you. That was very

thoughtful. Oh, this is a tough one. How would Will describe himself in one word? Interesting.

Laid back. Yeah. Predictable. You're very laid back. No, as in predictable answer, yeah. Yeah,

or chilled. Chilled. Yeah, I'm okay with chilled. What would you say? To describe myself? In one

word? Trying to think of the longest word I know. No. Good. Good! Spontaneous. No. Laid back I

would say, I've always been laid back. Yes. In a good way though. It's better than being uptight.

Yes. Opposites attract. You're looking at me like it's one thing we need to work on. Yeah. No,

I wouldn't say I'm particularly uptight but I'm definitely not as laid back. I mean, you

are horizontal to be fair. But I do, I like it. You bring a lot of balance to the relationship.

Yeah. Life is all about balance. Okay. My turn. Who is better at remembering important dates?You.

Why? Because my memory's appalling. No, it's not appalling. My mind thinks very quickly.

So when I think of something, unless I write it down five minutes later, it might have drifted

off and something else has come in and replaced it. I like the way you didn't say that you're

forgetful. You said I think too quickly.

I'm not forgetful. I'm just too fast. Life cannot keep up. So many ideas.

Yeah. You come from laid back to think too quickly.

Yeah, I can't keep up with myself. Now, cry and laughter! Why are you crying? Kinda,

lights are bright on there. Yeah. it looks like you punched me in the face. Yeah. Don't say that,

you'll start rumours! So when we started going out, you were a farmer. I mean,

you didn't leave the farm. There was no option really. Yeah, my social calendar was empty. And

it was only when we moved away that we started having lots more options, lots more opportunities

to see other people, go away. And then we almost went through a phase where there were too many

invitations and too much going on and there were multiple invitations on each weekend. And so I

put in place a shared calendar. Yeah. But then we've had issues with you agreeing to things, but

not putting it in the shared calendar. I've gone the other end of the spectrum, haven't I?Yes. I

just said yes to everything. Yeah, there were quite a few times where you'd suddenly realised

that you'd said yes to about three different people on the same day. But you know what? It's

good problems to have. Look at us complaining about having too much fun.Too popular. Yeah.

Who is tidier?Now, that's a hard one. Yeah, I'm wondering what your answer's gonna be. Yeah. So

am I. I say that we are like swans, okay? We glide along beautifully like that. Everything

looks fine. Yeah, looks just like a swan. But underneath the surface of the water, it's like

legs are just everywhere. And I feel like that's what our personal life is like. Our business life.

We're talking about tidying here. I'm getting there, okay? Okay. Right. From the outside,

the house looks tidy and amazing but if you dare to open a cupboard, a load of crap. I think a lot

of people can relate to that. I hope so. I hope a lot of people can relate to that. Yeah, I think

probably part of my problem growing up was I had the tidiest mum on Earth and I almost rebelled

against it. I felt like your mum was very tidy as well. She was, she had to look after three boys,

so. So we were spoiled and we never learned to tidy for ourselves. I would say we're both

pretty similar in tidiness as in like both quite untidy. What do you think? Yeah, well,

what do they call it? Agree to disagree. Do you think I'm untidier? I think I'm

slightly better. Okay. I'll accept that. For the sake of the video. No,

for the sake of our marriage. Sorry, I've still got tears in my eyes, they are red.

From when you claimed you think too quickly. And now they are back again. Yeah, cool. Ooh,

this is a good one. Who is more adventurous?

Ooh. So in general, I would say you. Would you? I feel like diving into

something new, you're a little bit more up for it compared to me. But

when we actually get there, I feel like I probably then take the reins.

I think this could describe our whole relationship. I feel like I'm very quick

to go for something and adapt to it. And then you end up doing it better in the long run. And I'm

thinking of every board game we've ever learnt. I always learn the instructions really quickly and

I win for like the first 10 rounds and then you get it and then you like absolutely take over.

Yeah, I would agree with that. I think that's spot on. Although with sports and taking risks,

maybe you're--You never come to the start line. What is Will's pet peeve or biggest pet peeve?

When people say 110%? Yes. Yes. I understand the idea. Sorry, I'm taking over now. No,

I love that you're such a YouTuber, looking at the camera. No, I love

the way the question is what's your pet peeve and I'm like I'll take over from here.

Yes. I just think people take it too far. You can't give more. It's just a saying. No, people,

they use it in every "Apprentice" video under the sun. Oh, so this is a TV show in the UK and

America where people compete for a job position. I remember you coming back from trying to,

I think you'd gone with your dad to buy a new car or something for the farm. It was a new

farm vehicle. And I remember you coming back and said, "Everything we asked him, the guy just said,

'110%, 110%, mate.'" Do the wheels work? 110%. How good's the engine? 110%. And it just comes

across as insincere. Yeah. It's just doesn't make sense. Okay. It doesn't make sense. I'm

just trying to think of any other pet peeves you have. Whenever I touch you with a cold

foot. Yeah, I think every guy can relate. Guys, do you hate it when I touch you with a cold foot?

Because we need to talk, basically. Okay. Who is more honest?

I would say it's a 50-50 split. Can you elaborate on this 50-50 split? Mhm. You want me, you

want me to elaborate? Yes, it's a conversation lesson, Will. Like,

you are looking at me like I was dishonest about something this morning. No. No. I just, it's

just the students are waiting. They know 50-50 splits by now. I can't think of a time where

I've lied to you. Ah, but this was years ago. What was that? And this was when I pretended to

be on the farm when I was actually going to London to collect the engagement ring. Yes.

What a terrible lie. Yeah. I don't think I've ever really lied unless-Keyword there. Really? No,

I think it's just like you have the odd white lie, don't you? Yeah. You know, but nothing serious.

But I think more as like honesty as a personality. I'm not one of those people that will, you know,

not be able to sleep unless I tell the absolute truth and how I'm feeling in every single

conversation. If someone asks me, do you like my dress? And I don't like it I'm not going to

cause a scene and tell them that I don't. But I know some people stand by that and and think, no,

if I don't like something, I'm gonna say it. Yeah. I'm quite good at letting things go. I'm quite

tolerant. Yeah, that's another word I would use to describe you. Tolerant. Tolerant. That makes

me sound like a nightmare. Yeah, I was gonna say the word you'd go for is tolerant. Yeah. And me?

Tolerable. Yes. Persistent. This is a good question. Who is Will's celebrity crush.

Oh, Jennifer Aniston. Yeah. Jennifer Aniston. I had to tell you that. I thought you were gonna

say a a different answer. What was I gonna? I would like to think Scarlett Johansson,

although she never really has. Messaged me. No. Messaged you. Never really

what? Come up in conversation. I think she's mine if I had a female one?

Yeah. Yeah, Jennifer Aniston. Yeah, Jennifer Aniston. Okay. This is a good one. What's the

first gift I ever gave you? I think it was a red British and Irish Lions rugby jacket. I went to

the ends of the Earth for that and by the ends of the Earth, I mean Luton. The jacket itself.

So the British and Irish Lions, for those of you who don't know, it is a combination of England,

Scotland, Ireland and Wales. And they play every four years-- Rugby. Rugby

against the southern hemisphere, whether it's South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. And it's

something that's on my bucket list of going on one of their tours. It lasts two weeks to a month.

And I've always followed them ever since I was a young child, I always wanted their kit. And there

was one jacket in particular that I saw that year, which I really, really wanted. And I almost bought

it for myself. But when I went to purchase it online on a website and it said there's one left

in stock, I said, you know what? I'm gonna buy it tomorrow. And I went back the next day and it

had gone and I was distraught. And this must have been two weeks before Christmas Day and

Christmas Day came and I opened up my present from Lucy and there was this bright red British

and Irish Lions rugby jacket. And you then told me the story of how you got it. It was

really hard to get in time for Christmas. But then the even better part of the story

is that we went to a friend's house to stay over and there was this really obnoxious guy

who saw the jacket hanging on the back of a chair and was like, "Oh my God, that's the

most obnoxious looking jacket I've ever seen in my life. Who the hell's is that?" And I was like, oh,

that was my Christmas present to Will because it was a very bright red. Oh, bless that guy.

He said if I could put a percentage on how much I hate that, it would be 110%. What

song did you dance to for your first dance? "Smack My Bitch Up" by The Prodigy. Lucy.

That's not true. "Say a Little Prayer" by Aretha Franklin. Yes. It was amazing,

beautiful, romantic. What is my worst habit? Where do you start? Oh,

this is a conversation killer I think. We'll make it the last question. I think your

worst habit. Barking orders. Barking orders. What a terrible way of saying it, Will. No.

Barking orders. Well, I do say that to you. Yeah, it's true. I don't bark though. No, I've got a

good one actually. Okay. Worst habit was probably lack of driving that your reluctance to try and

overcome your driving fears. I'm better. Yes. I still, when I approach a roundabout and I get

there, I'm still not 100% sure who goes first. And it's like an innate thing. It comes from

naturally., I do not know whether what side is my left and what side is my right. And

you can say to me, oh, hold up your fingers like that. But it's still, it's the fact that I don't

immediately know. Most people just... Do you just know what side of your body is your left and what

is your right. Yes. I have to check. And then that takes me a second and then by that point,

someone's already beeped me behind in the car and then I'm freaked out. Oh yeah,

but it's always been that way. I mean even when I'm working on Excel and it's like delete

left column, delete right column. I always have to be like left, right, one, two. Okay,

it's that one that needs to be deleted. See, I believe if you practise something enough,

whatever it is, you will overcome it. It just depends how long it takes you to then overcome

it. You have witnessed me struggle with my lefts and rights. It's something more

than just a lack of practise. You're perfect, don't beat yourself down. And manipulative.

Okay, you can ask me one more question. What did Will want to be when he was younger? Ah,

there are various things I think. I remember once you met your friend's dad who was an investment

banker and was really rich and cool. So you wanted to be an investment banker. For one night. Yeah.

I know that you wanted to be a farmer for quite a large part of your childhood.

Did you ever want to be a rugby player? Yes. You wanted to be a rugby player as well.

What about when you were a little child? Did you ever want to be like a fireman or something?

I think it was probably something to do with farming. Yeah. Yeah. Growing up on a farm helps.

Do you know what I wanted to be when I was a child? I know you wanted to work in makeup,

but that was later on. No, it wasn't makeup. What? Reconstructive plastic surgery. I did

not know that. You didn't know that. That's the first question in all of this that I didn't know.

When I was younger, I really loved making faces out of clay. And so I thought the perfect job

for me would be to be a plastic surgeon but I wanted it to be a reconstructive one. So

like people in car crashes and stuff, I could like make their faces look the way they did.

And so I even did chemistry and biology and things at A Levels to carry on this until I realised no,

I don't have a medicine degree in me. I'm not dedicated, hardworking or possibly intelligent

enough to do that. So then I want to do marketing and now I'm a YouTuber. Natural

progression. My parents are so proud. Okay, that's it from us. I hope you enjoyed learning a little

bit more about both of us, but more importantly, I hope you learned lots and lots of interesting

vocabulary. If you would like to read the full transcript and get a full list of all

the vocabulary we used, all of the pronunciation, the examples, the definitions, we've included some

listening comprehension questions. We've got a quiz on the vocabulary. Download the e-book. I

know you're getting ready to point in the right direction. Where do they click? Just here? Yes.

Yes. You click just down here. You sign up for the mailing list and it'll come automatically to your

inbox and you'll be signed up to my newsletter. You'll get all my future PDFs, my news, updates

and offers. Don't forget to connect with me on all of my social media. I've got my Instagram

and my Facebook. I've also got my website where I've got loads of lessons and a free interactive

pronunciation tool where you can click on phonemes and hear how they're pronounced, and hear me

pronouncing words containing those phonemes. I've also got all of my English courses now and Will

has helped create these. It's been an amazing project, hasn't it? It's a team effort. Yeah,

'cause we actually work together now and it's been really awesome. So we've got a B1 programme,

the B2 programme, our pronunciation programme. And our C1's coming out in May. It is, I'll leave

a waiting list down below or if it's already out, then I'm sure we'll put a link somewhere

and we've got our challenges as well. I think we'll see them soon for another lesson. Bye-Bye.