0:00 Are you ready to learn real English conversation in 2026?
0:05 >> I'm ready.
0:05 >> All right.
0:06 Well, you're in the right place.
0:08 Hi, I'm Vanessa from speakenglishwithvanessa.com and today I am with my husband Dan.
0:15 >> Hello.
0:15 >> And we are going to introduce you to Real English Conversation.
0:21 We are about to have a spontaneous, off-the-cuff,
0:25 not planned conversation except for a couple questions that I wrote down.
0:29 And I want you to immerse yourself in English.
0:32 If this is challenging for you,
0:34 you're welcome to click CC and view the full subtitles,
0:37 but I want you to sit back, relax,
0:40 and enjoy English because
0:42 that is the number one thing that's going to help you to speak real
0:45 and confidently when you have English conversations.
0:49 And like always, I have created a free PDF worksheet over Dan's face here
0:55 for today's lesson.
0:56 It's going to include every question, vocabulary phrase that appears here, every sample sentence,
1:03 everything that you need to be able to speak and express yourself in English.
1:08 Plus, there's a little bonus inside this worksheet.
1:11 If you download the worksheet,
1:12 you will get access to the audio version of today's lesson.
1:16 That's kind of like a mini podcast episode.
1:19 You can download that audio version and listen to it wherever you want.
1:23 In the car, doing the dishes, walking your dog.
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2:01 version of today's lesson.
2:02 All right, Dan, are you ready?
2:04 >> I'm ready.
2:05 Finally.
2:06 Let's do it.
2:06 >> Okay, so I have a list of 10 questions
2:09 and there's a little theme with these questions.
2:12 So, often times around the new year, people make New Year's resolutions.
2:16 >> Are you a New Year's resolution kind of guy?
2:19 >> Is that my first question?
2:20 >> No, this is just the real question.
2:22 Uh yes, I am, but I'm not.
2:26 Maybe this is true for most people,
2:27 but uh I often make New Year's resolutions
2:31 and then they just kind of fall away
2:32 or maybe one of them kind of happens.
2:35 Although last year I I made a big uh New Year's resolution
2:38 which was to work out.
2:40 >> Oh, >> and I did work out.
2:41 So, >> congratulations.
2:44 >> I can feel your strength.
2:47 >> She has been too.
2:48 Check Check out those guys.
2:49 >> Yeah.
2:50 So, you make New Year's resolutions.
2:53 Sometimes they don't work out.
2:54 I think that's pretty normal.
2:55 >> I'm getting better every year.
2:56 Once I'm 40, once I'm 40,
2:58 I'm just going to be like nailing every single one.
2:59 Is that how life works?
3:00 >> I think that's how life works.
3:02 >> Yeah, definitely.
3:03 >> So, often times people
3:04 when they make New Year's resolutions will choose to do something
3:09 or to cut out something from their life.
3:12 So, all of these questions have to do with cutting out something from your
3:15 life.
3:16 And could you do it?
3:17 So, I'm going to ask you my first question,
3:20 and I want you to just go with your gut
3:22 and tell me what you think.
3:24 >> Number one, could you live without your smartphone for an entire month?
3:29 >> Uh, yes.
3:33 >> Oh, >> I could.
3:34 >> You would survive.
3:36 >> Yeah, I'd survive.
3:37 >> What would be the difficulty?
3:38 >> Can I use a computer or watch TV?
3:41 >> Just smartphone.
3:42 >> Oh, yeah.
3:42 I could do that.
3:43 >> Okay.
3:43 >> I'd get a I'd get a little flip phone.
3:45 The dumb phone.
3:46 >> Okay.
3:46 >> Yeah.
3:46 And I I just call you every day.
3:48 I'd be like, "Hey, baby."
3:49 And then you'd be like, "Hi, Dan.
3:51 >> I'm in the house with you."
3:53 >> Well, you know, when I'm out somewhere, >> okay, >> lost lost in the wilderness.
3:57 >> So, what would what kind of difficulties would you find
3:59 if you didn't have a smartphone?
4:01 >> Uh, probably if I wanted to text or uh take a picture or something.
4:08 Yeah.
4:08 >> You know, just the little conveniences more than anything else.
4:11 Listening to music in the car would be >> probably a little annoying,
4:15 but it's all like just little stuff that, you know,
4:18 doesn't really matter that much.
4:19 And I'd probably, if I were to do this, I would be like,
4:21 I'm not using my smartphone for a month.
4:24 I'm on a mission and look at me.
4:26 This is great.
4:27 >> Okay.
4:27 Well, maybe it's your new year's resolution.
4:30 You never know.
4:31 >> Planting ideas.
4:32 >> Yeah.
4:32 >> How about you?
4:33 Would it be rough?
4:34 >> Um, I think it would probably be more rough than I'm willing to admit.
4:39 M >> I think I would love to do this,
4:41 but so we did do this a couple years ago.
4:43 We got rid of our smartphones
4:44 and we bought a flip phone >>
4:46 and the hardest thing was texting.
4:49 It was so annoying.
4:51 I didn't realize how much I rely on texting my family or my friends,
4:56 even if it's just like to meet up with somebody else to make plans.
5:00 >> Yeah.
5:00 >> And to push the same button three times for one letter is so tedious.
5:06 >> Kind of hard.
5:07 Uh, I will say I didn't think that.
5:10 Uh, I do use my smartphone at work.
5:12 There's a lot of work chatter that we have to do.
5:15 So, >> could you use the computer for that?
5:17 >> Uh, no.
5:18 Cuz it has to be handy cuz we we're in we're in the forest
5:20 and there's children everywhere
5:22 and we got to have like instantaneous messaging.
5:24 But I could just set I could keep my smartphone over there.
5:27 It's workrelated.
5:28 >> Oh, like keep it at school.
5:30 Okay.
5:30 Yeah.
5:30 Yeah.
5:31 I feel like the other thing
5:32 that was difficult when we gave up our smartphones >> was taking pictures.
5:36 Mhm.
5:36 >> I just had no way to take pictures
5:38 and I'm kind of addicted to taking pictures.
5:40 >> We got used to taking photos of everything.
5:42 >> Yeah.
5:42 And our kids and >> I don't even think we had kids yet.
5:46 >> Uh we did.
5:46 It was when It was when Theo was a baby.
5:49 >> Okay.
5:49 >> And I think that's what kind of prompted it was.
5:51 >> We got to take pictures of our baby.
5:52 >> Yeah.
5:53 Yeah.
5:53 We had a little kid and we're like, "Oh,
5:54 we want to teach him to not be on smartphones and all of this,
5:59 so we should do the same thing."
6:00 But I didn't have a way to take good pictures.
6:03 And that was really hard.
6:04 So yeah, now I think we just have like blocks on our phone.
6:07 We put like blocks
6:08 so that you can't use social media
6:11 and stuff like that.
6:12 But all right, let's go to question number two.
6:13 We got 10 of these.
6:14 >> The second question is,
6:16 could you live dun without coffee or tea for the rest of your life?
6:23 >> No.
6:23 No way.
6:24 >> Okay.
6:24 >> Yeah, I need I need something to pick me up in the morning.
6:28 >> Okay.
6:28 >> Even just out of habit.
6:29 I I suppose I could like change it up to something else. hot hot
6:34 hot water and honey
6:35 and lemon.
6:36 Does that count?
6:37 >> I mean, is that a >> If you're looking for caffeine, that doesn't count.
6:40 >> Well, yeah.
6:41 I mean, I would eventually get weaned off of the caffeine, but >> yeah,
6:45 >> if the idea of it is pretty not not appealing to me.
6:49 I I am a two cup of coffee kind of person a day.
6:54 >> Yeah.
6:54 Yeah.
6:54 >> Two cups of coffee a day kind of person.
6:57 >> That's it.
6:58 Yeah.
6:58 >> And you?
6:59 >> Uh, I think I could do it.
7:01 Mhm.
7:01 >> I think it would be more sad than >> like physically difficult.
7:08 >> I think my body can adjust.
7:10 I drink a cup of black tea every morning
7:12 and sometimes a cup of green tea in the afternoon.
7:15 I think there would probably be like a week
7:17 or two where I might get headaches
7:19 and that kind of weaning process >> where you're trying to not get addicted
7:23 to caffeine anymore.
7:25 >> But I think it's more I like the ritual.
7:28 I like the habit of a warm drink, >> a hot drink in the morning.
7:31 >> Yeah.
7:31 And I don't always like sit down at the kitchen table and drink it.
7:34 Sometimes I go for a walk
7:35 and I'm >> going for a walk
7:37 while I'm drinking it,
7:38 but I still like it.
7:39 I still enjoy that kind of habit.
7:41 So, I think it would be more sad, but if I had to,
7:43 I would.
7:44 Yeah.
7:44 What about you?
7:45 Could you go without coffee or tea for the rest of your life?
7:49 It's a pretty long time.
7:51 >> Be a sad sad sad day if that happened.
7:53 Question number three is,
7:56 could you live without internet if you still had access to books and TV?
8:03 >> I don't think so.
8:05 Not any Not anymore.
8:06 >> So many things are digital at this point.
8:09 Probably even down to our like I don't know legal documents
8:12 and bank accounts and >> all kinds of things are online.
8:16 Plus all of your money comes from the internet.
8:19 >> My job is the internet.
8:21 >> Yeah, that's right.
8:23 And uh yeah, I use the internet for work all the time.
8:26 I think >> I think we're pretty interconnected now at this point
8:30 that it would be really tough.
8:32 >> Like even if you're at the library, like you wouldn't use the computers there.
8:35 That would be >> Yeah,
8:36 I think the tricky thing about this question is
8:38 that it seems like you're the only one without internet.
8:41 Could you live without internet?
8:43 I >> if everyone else still had it.
8:45 Now, if the world internet shut down, we'd find a way to survive.
8:49 But if it's just you, that's a big bummer.
8:52 >> Tough.
8:53 I think it it would be hard to cut cut yourself off completely.
8:56 Yeah.
8:57 It'd be kind of fun to try,
8:58 but then you're just going to end up being
9:00 that guy who lives alone in the woods
9:01 and he comes out with a big beard
9:02 and HE'S LIKE,
9:03 "GET OFF MY LAWN and uh the government's trying to get you."
9:08 And he's probably right, but you're like, "Okay, get okay, man.
9:11 That's okay."
9:12 >> Yeah, >> we'll be all right.
9:13 >> Okay, let's go to the next question.
9:15 >> You're not going to answer that?
9:16 >> Oh, I I did I not answer it?
9:17 Um, I feel like I probably could not.
9:22 >> Yeah.
9:23 >> Yeah.
9:23 I I have a very lovehate relationship with the internet and technology.
9:29 I love how there are positive possibilities with it.
9:33 Like you can learn English, you can learn cool stuff online,
9:36 and it can help me stay connected to like the people I love who
9:40 live far away.
9:41 >> I remember when we were stareyed about the internet, but >> now look at us.
9:46 But I think we're constantly trying to save ourselves from the internet.
9:53 Like trying to stop ourselves from using it too much, stop our kids,
9:56 stop like >> it's hard to have balance.
9:58 >> Yeah.
9:59 We're It's I think probably a hundred years from now,
10:02 people will look back and see this era and be like, "Oh, yeah.
10:06 They had no clue how to protect themselves from the internet."
10:09 Like now >> robots.
10:11 >> Hopefully people won't be robots 100 years ago.
10:13 >> No, I'm talking about AI.
10:15 Oh, AI, too.
10:16 Yeah.
10:16 Yeah.
10:17 I don't know.
10:17 I think I could live without the internet,
10:19 but it would be a big bummer >> and be a lot trickier, I think,
10:23 than we imagine.
10:24 >> Oh, it would be very hard at this point.
10:26 >> All right.
10:26 I got another question for you.
10:28 This is very different.
10:30 Could you live without speaking for a whole week?
10:33 >> I thought you were going to say speak English with Vanessa.
10:35 >> Could you live without >> No, I can't.
10:38 >> Can you live without speaking for a whole week?
10:41 >> Speaking.
10:41 >> So, silent >> like me.
10:44 Mhm.
10:44 >> Yeah.
10:45 No, >> I am the most verbal person ever.
10:52 Can I whistle?
10:55 >> Can I speaking?
10:57 >> If dad is not speaking.
10:58 >> I can make noises.
10:59 >> You can make noises.
11:02 >> Dan is very noisy.
11:03 I'm a little bit of a noisy guy.
11:04 >> Always tapping or whistling or Yeah.
11:07 >> I remember when Theo was really really little.
11:11 We heard someone whistling and he said, "Oh, dada."
11:15 >> He was whistling all the time.
11:17 But no, it wasn't you.
11:18 But he was so used to connecting that.
11:20 >> Yeah.
11:20 So, and some people go on these silent retreats where Yeah. silent meditations where
11:27 you're quiet,
11:27 you don't speak for, I don't know, a whole week or something.
11:31 That just seems like torture to me.
11:32 Like, why would you do that?
11:34 I mean, I Some people have reasons.
11:36 I would not choose to do.
11:37 >> It would have to be that kind of situation for me to do it.
11:40 I'd have to be like, "All right, this is going to stink,
11:43 but I'm going to come out the other end a great person."
11:46 >> You'd have to be really convinced that it would actually help you, too,
11:49 cuz there's like about 150,000 other things I would rather do with my week
11:55 of vacation >> than sit
11:58 and go somewhere and not talk.
11:59 Yeah, that would be hard.
12:00 >> Yeah.
12:01 H I think I would have to be going through though.
12:03 >> I know.
12:04 If you don't want to do it, then you need it, right?
12:06 >> Yeah.
12:07 Well, you know, you don't get anywhere without a little pain.
12:10 >> Ain't that right?
12:11 >> Yeah.
12:11 I'm not going to do it, though.
12:13 >> All right.
12:13 Kind of adjacent to that question is number five.
12:16 Could you live without music, including background music in stores and movies?
12:21 So, no music.
12:22 >> Oh, no.
12:24 >> Okay.
12:24 >> No, no, I love music.
12:27 >> It's my life.
12:29 It's my lifeblood.
12:31 >> Oh, okay.
12:31 >> Especially because I got just tunes going on in my head all the time.
12:34 I know.
12:34 >> I mean, at least I'm allowed to hum them now.
12:37 >> No, cuz you can speak.
12:38 >> Cuz I can speak.
12:38 So >> speak again.
12:40 >> Yeah.
12:40 But I would not be happy about that.
12:43 >> Oh, I think I could.
12:45 >> Yeah, >> I think it would be a bummer.
12:47 >> You seem to like silence more than me.
12:49 >> But I do like silence.
12:51 >> Yeah.
12:52 I I feel like most often when given the choice,
12:57 I will opt for silence
12:59 or maybe listening to a podcast in the car >> instead of music.
13:03 But I think it is true.
13:04 Like if we could open a little door inside your brain,
13:08 it would just be like >> uh >> flowers, rainbows, kittens, >> sparkles of music,
13:15 like this like tornado of like >> Okay, I'm not that crazy,
13:22 >> but just a lot of a lot more music is in there >>
13:27 probably >> than for me.
13:29 Yeah.
13:29 >> Which I appreciate. ever seen?
13:31 If anybody's ever seen The Emperor's New Groove,
13:33 >> where the where the guy he's like sneaking around
13:36 and he's doing his own theme music,
13:40 that's kind of me in a nutshell.
13:43 >> Yeah.
13:44 >> Yeah.
13:44 >> Yeah.
13:44 Yeah.
13:44 I like music, but I feel like I enjoy it in circum certain circumstances
13:51 and oftentimes right now,
13:52 especially with little kids, my brain is often overstimulated with noise.
13:57 >> Yeah.
13:57 I always want to put on music in the car
13:59 and I can always I look over
14:00 and I'm like she doesn't really want to hear this right now,
14:02 does she?
14:04 >> If anyone else is talking to me then I can't handle music.
14:08 >> And if it's quiet then I can enjoy music.
14:12 >> But if it's just adults that's fine
14:14 but when it's kids especially kids I'm in charge of >> it very quickly
14:18 gets overwhelming.
14:19 >> Kids make all the sounds a little bit shriller.
14:23 >> Yeah.
14:23 Yeah.
14:23 I don't know.
14:24 What about you?
14:24 Could you live without music for the rest of your life?
14:28 It's a big question.
14:29 All right, the next one is kind of adjacent to uh previous questions about
14:34 a smartphone and the internet,
14:36 but this is more specific.
14:37 Could you live without using any social media for one year?
14:40 And we probably need to define what is social media >> because yeah,
14:44 we think of like Facebook, YouTube, Instagram.
14:47 That's like typical social media.
14:48 >> Wait, YouTube counts?
14:50 >> Of course.
14:51 Yeah, because there's a way to comment.
14:52 It's not.
14:53 No, >> absolutely.
14:54 That is social media.
14:55 >> It's a video platform.
14:57 >> Oh, that's what they say.
14:58 There's a way to interact on the platform.
15:01 It's social media.
15:02 >> So, like Netflix is not social media because you're just watching it.
15:06 >> But if there's a way to interact, >> well, what about like just a chat?
15:10 Like >> like Reddit could be social media, >> but what about just the chat app?
15:14 >> That's the question.
15:15 Like is a chat app is WhatsApp with our family.
15:19 Is that social media?
15:20 >> That's our little mini social media.
15:21 I need that.
15:23 >> Okay.
15:23 Okay.
15:23 So, could you live without traditional social media?
15:26 >> Yeah, for sure.
15:26 For sure.
15:27 >> Oh, that's brave.
15:29 >> Yeah.
15:29 >> No speak English with Vanessa for the rest of >> Well,
15:33 you can have that and you can keep it going.
15:36 >> Okay.
15:36 >> And uh I'll be over here happy.
15:38 >> Okay.
15:39 I'll just be depressed to social media.
15:42 >> But I don't use a lot of social media anyway.
15:45 I check Facebook for some stupid reason >> every now
15:49 and then >> and I get about nothing from it.
15:51 I do use YouTube quite a bit though.
15:54 >> Yeah, that's social media.
15:55 >> I don't really consider it social media.
15:56 I don't use it like social media.
15:58 >> You don't comment.
16:00 >> I do sometimes >> that social media because it's the social part of it.
16:03 It's not just media.
16:04 It's also >> your input is part of >> I could live without that though.
16:09 >> Yeah.
16:09 Yeah.
16:10 >> Yeah.
16:10 I could do it.
16:11 >> I think I could.
16:12 The hard thing is
16:12 if we take apart take my job work is dependent on >> it.
16:16 In my personal life, I could do without social media,
16:19 but in my professional life, I obviously need social media.
16:23 I mean, you're watching this on social media right now.
16:26 And yeah, I think within me personally,
16:28 I have this ethical dispute constantly going on of I want to use this
16:35 platform for good.
16:37 And I hope that I hope that's happening.
16:39 But I also hope
16:40 that the those of you who are watching this can watch my videos
16:45 and use YouTube for good >>
16:48 and also live a very rich real in-person life.
16:52 >> Step away from this sometimes.
16:55 >> Yeah.
16:55 Yeah.
16:55 Don't watch Vanessa lost in it >> again
16:57 and again and then step away
16:59 and don't watch anything else.
17:01 >> Yeah.
17:02 Well, that's also why I've started to offer some of these downloadable options.
17:05 Like you can download the audio of this
17:07 and go out in the real world.
17:08 Take a walk with your dog and listen to it.
17:10 >> Touch grass as the kids are saying.
17:12 >> Yeah.
17:12 Go outside and >> touch the real world.
17:14 >> I spend enough time with children
17:16 that I know that social media is like toxic.
17:19 So yeah, if you if you have uh teenagers,
17:23 don't let them use this stuff.
17:24 It's terrible.
17:25 >> Yeah, it's really hard.
17:26 I'm sure it's hard.
17:27 We don't have teenagers yet, but >> Well, they're not going to use it.
17:31 Sorry.
17:31 >> Yeah, it's totally going to rot your brain.
17:34 Okay.
17:35 Except for speak English with Vanessa.
17:36 >> Yeah, of course.
17:37 >> All right, number seven.
17:40 Could you live without your favorite food forever?
17:43 So, what do you have a favorite food?
17:46 >> I just like all food.
17:49 >> So, >> so I don't even know what my favorite food is.
17:51 Pizza.
17:52 I guess it's very stereotypical.
17:54 >> Okay.
17:54 >> It's you get a good slice of pizza, it's so good.
17:58 >> Okay.
17:59 Could you live without pizza forever?
18:05 Do I have to watch other people eat pizza?
18:07 Oh, >> it's only you.
18:08 You're the only one deprived.
18:12 >> Oh, yeah.
18:12 I could do it.
18:14 >> I mean, I would hate it, but you know,
18:16 if I had like a good substitute, I'm like, I can't eat pizza,
18:20 but dang it, I can eat a calzone.
18:22 >> Oh, that's too close.
18:23 But okay, >> it's not a hypothetical situation.
18:26 >> It's not as good as pizza.
18:28 >> Yeah.
18:28 Well, >> I can eat toast with melted cheese on it. really sad >> pizza.
18:36 >> I know.
18:36 When I was thinking about this question, like what even is my favorite food?
18:39 I love fruit.
18:40 Like fresh >> Oh, >> fruit.
18:43 Watermelon.
18:44 Like those types of things.
18:45 And that always hits the spot for me.
18:47 Like if I'm hungry, an apple with peanut butter.
18:51 Perfect.
18:52 >> Like always.
18:54 >> Vanessa's favorite food.
18:55 Apple and peanut butter.
18:57 Welcome to your kindergarten student.
18:59 >> The most like simple thing ever.
19:01 American peanut butter, but like a banana,
19:04 I put peanut butter on it and it's so good every time.
19:08 Fruit.
19:08 Fruit.
19:08 >> You can tell we live around children a lot.
19:11 >> I like that kind of stuff anyway.
19:13 But I feel like if I >> especially likes putting the little raisins on it.
19:16 >> I mean, I do though.
19:17 >> It's on a log.
19:18 >> I do.
19:20 Uh I don't think I could live without fruit.
19:23 That would be really sad to me.
19:24 I feel like >> Well, fruit.
19:25 That's very broad.
19:27 >> Yeah.
19:27 Yeah.
19:28 But you know, some people don't eat that kind of stuff anyway.
19:30 Like that's very rare in their lives.
19:33 Like I know when we lived in South Korea,
19:35 fruit was seen as like a expensive item.
19:38 It was really special,
19:39 but fruit is so common
19:41 and cheap here that I eat it all the time.
19:44 >> Yeah, I think I would not be able to live without eating fruit.
19:47 All right, question number eight is a fun one.
19:49 Could you live without electric lights if you could still use candles and sunlight?
19:55 Could you live without >> electric light?
19:58 So, I have electricity, but I don't have light bulbs.
20:01 >> Yes.
20:01 You have no way to turn on a light.
20:04 >> That's just annoying.
20:06 Your neighbors have like a light on, too.
20:08 >> Everyone else is living the good life and you're stuck in the stone age.
20:13 >> Yeah, I think I could only because I know it'd be really healthy.
20:17 >> Oh, yeah.
20:18 >> Yeah.
20:18 >> Tell me why you think it'd be healthy.
20:19 >> Because, you know, Well, I've read things.
20:22 >> He's read >> thing or two.
20:24 A thing or two.
20:25 And you know, we have our circadian rhythm that goes with the sun.
20:28 And it's actually the healthiest
20:29 if you wake up early in the morning
20:31 and you go to bed
20:32 when it's dark at night.
20:33 Seems kind of obvious.
20:35 >> Mhm.
20:35 >> But what really prevents us from doing
20:36 that is all these electronic lights all over the place.
20:40 I guess I could still have my phone in this scenario.
20:42 So that kind of defeats the purpose.
20:44 >> You just have like a light shining in your face,
20:46 >> which is the worst kind of light in my eyes.
20:48 >> Yeah.
20:48 Anyways, so well if in theory
20:51 that meant that I had to go to bed earlier,
20:53 then it would probably be very healthy.
20:55 >> And then if I had a good excuse, like I could tell my neighbors,
20:58 I'm sorry, I just can't turn on my lights.
20:59 I have this curse or whatever it is.
21:02 >> And so >> my wife cursed me with >> my wife cursed me
21:05 and I can't use electric.
21:07 I'm in the doghouse real mad this time.
21:09 In fact, I live in a dog house then.
21:13 Yes, I could do it.
21:17 Okay.
21:18 All right.
21:18 I was crying.
21:20 >> Um I think it would be really hard.
21:24 >> Um I could do it.
21:27 >> You live in the doghouse, too?
21:30 >> I want to live in a dog house.
21:32 Um I think the only way I could make no lights work in a
21:37 sustainable like I could actually do it
21:39 and not be too bothered is
21:41 if I didn't live in a house.
21:43 if I lived like in a a tent
21:46 or a yurt or like something >> dog house,
21:48 >> not a dog house,
21:50 like something that let in more sunlight
21:52 because you have you ever like you know in the evenings where like the
21:55 sun has set but it's not
21:58 if you go outside it's not dark yet your eyes adjust to it
22:01 but then when you come inside has
22:03 that ever happened to you like you come inside
22:05 and you look back outside
22:06 and you're like it's
22:07 so dark out there how was I seeing things
22:09 but like it's actually not
22:10 that dark when you go out there I feel like
22:12 if I didn't live in a house
22:14 then my body would adjust more like I would use sunlight more
22:19 but in the house it blocks
22:20 so much of the sunlight
22:21 that it's darker inside.
22:23 >> Do you have to live in a a well-lit area is what you're
22:26 saying?
22:26 >> Yeah.
22:26 Or at least like not in a house >> large house.
22:30 Just don't want to live in a house anymore.
22:32 >> If I had to do this if I was cursed with no electric lights.
22:36 >> But sometimes I do think like I want to give it a try.
22:38 I feel like that would be a very interesting New Year's resolution.
22:40 >> We do.
22:41 We still need light.
22:42 I don't think you can have a phone in this scenario.
22:43 >> No.
22:44 No.
22:44 >> Cuz that's just like I'm shining my light.
22:46 >> Maybe it needs to be a summer thing
22:47 when there's a lot of sunlight
22:49 and you just >> The curse is only in summer.
22:52 >> You don't turn on the lights
22:54 and you I mean we we had this during the hurricane in September 2024.
22:59 There was a a really bad um hurricane.
23:02 >> No lights.
23:03 We still had our phones though.
23:04 >> We had flashlights.
23:05 >> We had flashlights.
23:06 >> We couldn't plug in our phones.
23:07 Like there's no way to charge them.
23:08 >> Flashlights cursed, too.
23:09 >> I don't know.
23:11 But it >> this question is getting too too real.
23:14 >> It was challenging
23:17 and it really shaped like the end of the day came
23:21 so fast.
23:22 >> Like night came
23:24 so much faster because you're
23:25 so used to just turning on a light.
23:27 >> Yeah.
23:28 Yeah.
23:29 Definitely.
23:29 >> Yeah.
23:30 I would like to try it sometime.
23:31 I feel like whenever I go camping,
23:34 >> I feel so different because I am just using the sun.
23:37 >> That's one of the benefits of camping.
23:39 It's like, "All right, it's dark now.
23:40 What are we going to do?"
23:41 >> I'd be curious to try it out.
23:43 Rew wild ourselves for a little bit.
23:46 >> Raar.
23:46 >> Okay.
23:47 All right.
23:48 Question number nine.
23:49 Could you live without spending money for a whole weekend?
23:56 >> Yeah.
23:57 Just one weekend?
24:01 >> Yeah.
24:01 >> Yeah.
24:01 >> Okay.
24:01 >> Yeah.
24:01 >> Yeah.
24:01 >> Hang out.
24:02 Do I have enough food in my house?
24:04 >> Yeah.
24:04 Just like right now, you're not allowed to spend money for the whole weekend.
24:07 No problem.
24:08 I feel like we do that like every other weekend.
24:11 >> Yeah.
24:12 >> Yeah.
24:12 I think where we live, you don't have to spend money to do activities.
24:15 Like you can go to a friend's house, you can go hiking,
24:17 you can go to the park.
24:18 >> We certainly put a lot of money into our home area, you know?
24:23 It's like we have enough stuff here already
24:25 that we don't have to spend more money.
24:27 But >> yeah, we don't go out to eat that often.
24:30 >> It wouldn't be like, oh,
24:31 what are how are we going to eat
24:32 because we can't go out to a restaurant.
24:34 Like we cook food at home all the time.
24:36 So, if we had the food that we have now,
24:38 we could we could last through the weekend for sure.
24:41 >> Survive for 4 days or so.
24:43 >> Yeah, probably more than that.
24:45 We might not be eating your favorite food, pizza, but >> they'll be fine.
24:50 Yeah.
24:50 Could you go for the whole weekend without spending money?
24:53 Um, is that normal for you?
24:54 I know a lot of people do paid activities on the weekend
24:58 or like go out to brunch
24:59 or go out to a cafe
25:00 or stuff like that.
25:02 Um, I think because >> some people probably look forward to
25:04 that more than maybe we do.
25:06 >> I think because we have little kids, those things are not fun.
25:10 >> And so why would I pay to do something not fun?
25:13 But, you know, if it's just me, like this weekend,
25:15 I'm going out with some other women
25:19 and we're going to this uh champagne bar.
25:22 It's going to be very cool.
25:23 >> And it's like a holiday book exchange.
25:26 We're all bringing a book to share with each other.
25:28 and I'm gonna buy a glass of champagne
25:30 or a glass of wine
25:31 or something there.
25:32 And if I were cursed this weekend to not buy anything
25:36 and I had to go there
25:37 and everyone else was drinking something fun,
25:39 that would be a bummer.
25:40 >> Mhm.
25:40 That's true.
25:41 >> Yeah.
25:41 I'd also have to find free parking.
25:43 >> Oh yeah.
25:44 >> Like I have to pay for parking.
25:45 >> You got to walk >> from here.
25:48 It's >> only 11 miles or so. 15 >> down the highway.
25:54 Danger.
25:54 I would never survive.
25:56 Okay, let's go to our final question.
25:58 And I think this is a fun one to end on.
26:00 Number 10.
26:01 Could you live without wearing shoes for an entire summer?
26:10 >> Uh, sure.
26:11 I haven't really thought about it.
26:13 >> Yeah.
26:13 >> I mean, it wouldn't I do like to have my feet covered.
26:16 >> I know.
26:17 >> A little bit more probably than you do.
26:20 >> Yeah.
26:20 >> But I could do it.
26:22 Yeah.
26:22 It's summer.
26:25 Well, >> okay.
26:25 Okay, let's say at our on our >> I don't want to I don't
26:26 want to walk into the grocery store therapy.
26:28 That's the problem.
26:29 >> What if it was just our house and our property?
26:32 >> Well, that's easy.
26:35 >> Yeah, >> sure.
26:35 >> Every time you walked outside.
26:37 >> Mhm.
26:37 >> Wow.
26:38 You'd have pretty tough feet.
26:39 I know, but I feel like No offense,
26:41 you're kind of a wimp when it comes to bare feet.
26:46 >> I'm overestimating my feet.
26:46 >> Yeah.
26:46 Yeah.
26:47 Maybe >> like our kids are barefoot all summer except
26:49 when we go in the car.
26:51 I get used to it.
26:52 >> Go to the store or something.
26:53 Of course they wear shoes.
26:54 But there also I could be like crazy shoe lady.
26:58 Not anti-shoe lady.
27:00 >> Anti-shoe lady.
27:00 >> What was her name?
27:01 >> I'm not going to say that on YouTube.
27:03 >> There's a woman we know who doesn't wear shoes ever.
27:05 Ever.
27:06 >> She called shoes foot coffins.
27:08 >> Yeah.
27:08 Which there's a whole movement like that.
27:10 It's not just her.
27:12 >> Um I'm sure if those people exist on the internet, they'll find us.
27:15 >> She took it to another level.
27:16 >> Yeah.
27:17 Snow grocery store everywhere.
27:18 No shoes.
27:20 >> Um I think in the >> She seemed really normal.
27:24 So normal, like really normal.
27:27 Um I think in the natural world, the grass, the forest,
27:33 um like on land like that, I could do it.
27:37 It would be hard.
27:37 I think it would take probably like >> I wouldn't want to drive barefoot either,
27:40 honestly.
27:41 >> No, I think it would take a couple months,
27:43 but every day in the summer,
27:44 I try to be barefoot outside for like 10 15 minutes at least.
27:48 >> And if I'm I need to go outside to get something quickly.
27:53 Um, and then come back in.
27:54 I try to do it barefoot
27:55 because I think it's good for you
27:57 and I feel good
27:58 if you touch the earth
27:59 and sometimes there's like dew on the ground.
28:01 >> Getting grounded as they say.
28:03 >> And sometimes I step on a rock
28:04 and it really hurts
28:05 and like >> it's good to feel pain.
28:06 We've covered that already.
28:08 >> I need to like force myself to feel pain.
28:10 >> Yeah.
28:11 Don't get too comfortable.
28:12 >> All of that is good.
28:13 If you lived in a city, >> well, >> pretty impossible.
28:17 I would never do this at a park.
28:19 >> At like a city park.
28:21 You just don't know.
28:22 Is there glass?
28:24 Are there needles?
28:25 Like what?
28:25 >> Because of where we live.
28:26 I mean, if we lived back in South Korea, no thank you.
28:29 >> I would never do that.
28:30 No, it's a big city and it's a what they say, concrete jungle.
28:34 But if you're in the woods, maybe hiking,
28:37 like there's a lot of hiking trails and stuff.
28:38 It depends.
28:40 >> It depends on the trail.
28:41 >> A lot of shoes going on those trails, too.
28:42 >> Yeah, it depends on that.
28:44 But I remember sometimes when we went on hikes,
28:46 it was a while ago here, not in Korea.
28:50 We went barefoot for a while, like we would go barefoot for a section.
28:53 I did.
28:54 >> Yeah, you did, too.
28:54 It's been a while,
28:55 but it was so fun cuz you felt almost like you're rebelling a little
28:59 bit >> like,
29:00 "Oh, I'm going to walk barefoot on this trail."
29:01 And it felt good.
29:02 Like you're if your feet are not used to it,
29:07 you'll be surprised how tender and sensitive your feet are.
29:10 >> But it's good for your feet.
29:11 >> Yeah, you're right.
29:11 I was a bit of ah kind of guy.
29:16 >> Yeah.
29:16 Yeah.
29:16 I wear what do they call that?
29:18 Wide toe box shoes.
29:20 Like flat shoes.
29:21 So my feet are used to that type of uh walking.
29:25 >> You still got cushioning >> and they're very they're very thin on the bottom though.
29:29 Like I feel rocks.
29:30 Like I feel pebbles and stuff when I walk with even with my shoes.
29:34 >> Um but I would >> fancy shoes.
29:37 You feel the rocks underneath.
29:38 >> You can feel the rocks.
29:39 You too should buy them.
29:41 Okay.
29:41 Well, that is the end of our conversation lesson today.
29:45 >> Very random.
29:46 >> Well, thank you so much, Dan, for joining me today.
29:49 >> You're welcome.
29:49 Thank you.
29:50 >> Insight was very appreciated.
29:52 >> Fun.
29:52 >> I hope you enjoyed our conversation.
29:54 I hope you have a wonderful beginning to 2026.
29:58 And I hope that you'll join me to speak English with Vanessa over this
30:03 year.
30:03 And Dan and Dan sometimes.
30:06 So, how you can do
30:07 that is you can click subscribe
30:09 and you will if you click the bell,
30:11 you will never miss one of my lessons.
30:13 I post a new real life English lesson here on my YouTube channel every
30:18 Friday.
30:18 So, I hope that you can join me throughout this year.
30:21 And don't forget to download the free PDF worksheet.
30:23 It includes all of today's questions,
30:26 plus any vocabulary that popped up here on the screen.
30:29 We're going to have that vocabulary definitions,
30:31 multiple sample sentences to help you be able to use
30:34 that yourself. so that you can chitchat
30:37 and have a great real life conversation in English,
30:40 too.
30:40 Plus, within that worksheet is the audio version of today's lesson.
30:44 Take it out into the real world.
30:46 Maybe even take your shoes off
30:48 and walk around barefoot
30:49 while you're listening to it.
30:51 >> Maybe.
30:51 >> Well, turn off your lights.
30:53 >> You're getting healthier every day if you do these things.
30:57 >> Amazing.
30:57 So, to get this worksheet and the bonus listening uh the audio version,
31:02 all you have to do is click on the link in the description,
31:04 enter your name and email address, and voila, just like that,
31:08 it will land in your email inbox.
31:10 This is my gift to you.
31:13 >> So, thanks so much for joining me, Dan.
31:14 >> Thank you.
31:15 >> Thanks so much for watching,
31:16 and I'll see you again next Friday for a new lesson here on my
31:20 YouTube channel.
31:21 Bye >> bye.
31:22 >> But wait, do you want more?
31:24 I recommend watching this video next where you will see Dan
31:28 and I talking about travel,
31:30 including some embarrassing things that we have done while traveling abroad.
31:35 I hope to see you there.
