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  • Vanessa: Hi.

  • I'm Vanessa from SpeakEnglishWithVanessa.com.

  • Are you ready to make some American pancakes and immerse yourself in English?

  • Let's do it.

  • Today I invite you to my home to make some pancakes with me and my four-year-old son

  • Theo.

  • We're going to be mixing the ingredients, making the pancakes, and then we'll be sitting

  • down at the table as a family and attempting to eat them together.

  • It's a little bit chaotic.

  • I have a four-year-old and a one-and-a-half-year-old.

  • As you can imagine, meal times are a little bit chaotic, but that's daily life, and that's

  • what I want to show you is real life English.

  • All of the English that you hear while we're baking and while we're sitting at the table

  • is what real American speakers use.

  • So, I hope that you'll be able to add that to your toolbox of English knowledge.

  • And to help you never forget what you've learned, I've created a free PDF worksheet that you

  • can download with the link in the description.

  • This includes all of the vocabulary, the phrases, the pronunciation points.

  • Everything that you are about to learn in this lesson, you can download in the free

  • PDF.

  • Plus, you can answer Vanessa's challenge question at the bottom of the PDF.

  • Click on the link in the description to download that PDF today.

  • All right.

  • Are you ready to bake some pancake with me?

  • Well, first things first, we have to go to the chicken coop and collect the eggs.

  • Let's go.

  • Dan: Oh my goodness.

  • Theo: How many?

  • Dan: We got four.

  • Theo: Whoa. Dan: Nice.

  • Vanessa: Thank you, chickens.

  • Theo: There are our eggs.

  • Vanessa: Oh, nice.

  • Theo: Look what you got.

  • Look what you made.

  • Vanessa: Thank you, chickens.

  • Theo: Thank you, chickens.

  • Dan: Thank you, chickens.

  • Freddie: Thank you, chickens.

  • Vanessa: What'd you say?

  • Dan: Thank you, chickens.

  • Vanessa: Thank you, chickens?

  • Dan: Can you say, "Thank you, chickens?"

  • Freddie: Thank you, chickens.

  • Vanessa: Thank you, chickens.

  • That's right.

  • Theo: Do you think they'll know it's a bowl?

  • Vanessa: Well< you can tell them.

  • Do you think that would be helpful?

  • Theo: It's a bowl.

  • Vanessa: It is a bowl, yes.

  • So, today Theo and I are going to be making pancakes, and the first step is I've got to

  • turn on this skillet.

  • It's called an electric griddle.

  • Do you know what this is going to be?

  • Theo: What?

  • Vanessa: Super hot.

  • Theo: Yeah.

  • This is going to be super hot.

  • Vanessa: Yes.

  • So we've got to push it to the side, and I think I have all the ingredients for us.

  • So, let's look at our recipe.

  • Mix the milk and vinegar.

  • Do you know which one of these is milk and vinegar?

  • Theo: Milk and vinegar.

  • Vanessa: All right, milk and vinegar.

  • So, we're going to put it in the biggest bowl.

  • We need 3/4 of a cup.

  • Can you hold that out?

  • Theo: That's milk?

  • Vanessa: And we're actually going to double our recipe, so we need a cup and a half.

  • Yes, that's milk.

  • Hold it really tight.

  • It's going to be heavy.

  • We're going to fill it all the way up.

  • All right, and then we're going to do a little bit more.

  • A half.

  • We're going to eyeball it.

  • That means that we don't use the measuring cup perfectly.

  • Okay, and the next thing it says vinegar, so we're going to need this.

  • It's a tablespoon.

  • We're going to have to use four of those.

  • So can you help me count them?

  • Theo: One.

  • Vanessa: All right, hold it a little bit closer so it doesn't splash.

  • Theo: Two.

  • Three.

  • Four.

  • Vanessa: All right, and now it says we have to set that aside because this is going to

  • curdle.

  • What's curdle?

  • Theo: Curdle means that it's going to kind of become clumpy.

  • Usually you don't want milk to become clumpy, but in pancakes it's going to make it great.

  • It's going to ferment it a little bit.

  • Vanessa: I need to mix it.

  • Let's set that aside because we have another bowl we've got to fill.

  • Are you ready?

  • It says, "Mix the eggs and... oh, mix the dry ingredients."

  • Okay, so we've got to mix the dry ingredients, which is flour.

  • Theo: Nice.

  • Vanessa: You want to be the scooper?

  • Oh, there's milk in there.

  • Let me get a dry one for you.

  • Theo: I dumped it out of there.

  • Vanessa: That's okay.

  • Okay, let's use two full cups of flour.

  • Good job leveling that off.

  • Okay, all right.

  • Oh, level it off before we use it.

  • Okay, all right.

  • Pancakes are very forgiving so even if you have a little bit too much or not enough,

  • then that's okay.

  • You know what I realized we forgot?

  • Theo: What?

  • Vanessa: Your apron.

  • I'll tie it.

  • Theo: Because you have an apron?

  • Vanessa: I have my apron so I bet you can have an apron, too.

  • There we go.

  • All right, the next is the baking soda and baking powder.

  • This one we're going to use the tiny scoop and we're going to use two of those.

  • Theo: These?

  • This?

  • Vanessa: Yeah, it's kind of clumpy in there, so can you smash up the clumps a little bit

  • with that scooper?

  • Kind of just smash in there, yeah.

  • Do you kind of have a funny feeling in your mouth when you use this?

  • Theo: What?

  • Vanessa: I can kind of taste it in the air.

  • All right, level it off.

  • One more scoop.

  • Okay, that will make one full, okay.

  • Actually, I think...

  • No, that's good.

  • You're supposed to use baking powder and baking soda and I only have baking soda, but I'm

  • afraid to use too much of this because it will make the pancakes yucky, so let's just

  • use that.

  • All right, salt.

  • We need two scoops of that, too.

  • Before we use it, I'm going to wipe this off, or maybe you can wipe it off, because it has

  • some of that baking soda on it, which is really yucky.

  • Yeah, that's good.

  • Break it off first.

  • Theo: Is that enough?

  • Vanessa: That looks great.

  • Okay, one, two, okay.

  • And then we have one more dry ingredient and it's back here.

  • I feel it getting hot.

  • Do you feel that?

  • Theo: Yeah.

  • Vanessa: All right, now we need some sugar.

  • So let's use this bigger scoop.

  • Can you dry it off with it?

  • Theo: What was in here?

  • Vanessa: We used that for vinegar and we definitely don't want vinegar in our sugar.

  • Okay.

  • Theo: Is that enough?

  • Vanessa: That looks great.

  • Can you get two- Theo: It's still wet.

  • Vanessa: It's a little bit wet.

  • Yeah, that's okay.

  • Could you get two scoops?

  • That's two tablespoons.

  • You know what?

  • Freddie put some banana pieces on this griddle earlier before it was turned on.

  • I can kind of smell them burning a little bit on there.

  • Oh, I see it's steaming, too.

  • Theo: Yes.

  • Vanessa: Okay, that's great.

  • Is that the first one?

  • Theo: Yeah.

  • Vanessa: Okay, let's do two.

  • That looks great And now- Theo: Can I try some sugar?

  • Vanessa: Yeah, a little pinch.

  • Theo: This is so both of us could have some.

  • Vanessa: Oh, I don't really want any, but could you eat it over the bowl so we don't

  • get ants?

  • That's a dream come true for any kid right there.

  • A pinch of sugar.

  • We'll mix that up.

  • Can you just wipe it on this towel?

  • Theo: Oh.

  • Vanessa: We don't want to gross out our students too much?

  • Theo: What's gross?

  • Vanessa: Well, usually it's not a good idea to lick your fingers when you're cooking,

  • but you know what?

  • You're only four years old.

  • It's okay.

  • If I did it, it probably would be not a good idea.

  • There you go.

  • Can you help stir that the rest of the way?

  • And then we'll go and- Theo: Well, you mix it with this and I'll

  • mix it with this.

  • Vanessa: Okay, now, that one can kind of thwack the ingredients all over the place, like that.

  • So let's use it really gently.

  • Okay, it says the next thing is to mix...

  • Oh, Freddie did get a bunch of stuff on here.

  • Let's see if I can rinse it off.

  • Usually the griddle does not steam so much, but there's burnt banana on it.

  • Yum.

  • Okay, so what are we doing next?

  • We did the milk and vinegar, the dry ingredients.

  • Mix the egg and the butter into the milk.

  • So, let's set aside the dry ingredients and let's check on our milk.

  • It's looking thick.

  • So usually when you bake pancakes you use buttermilk, which is already thick, but this

  • is a good way to kind of make it at home.

  • Ready?

  • Theo: Good?

  • Vanessa: Good save.

  • All right, let's put those in here.

  • Theo: (singing) Vanessa: And we need one more.

  • Theo: (singing) Vanessa: Yeah, but all of our chickens lay

  • slightly different colored eggs, all shades of brown.

  • But one of them, the Black Copper Maran, has really dark eggs like this, which is super

  • cool.

  • Some of them are really light and some of them are kind of medium.

  • All right.

  • Theo: Can we do three eggs?

  • Vanessa: This is the kind of recipe where we can't add more eggs.

  • Okay, now comes an important job.

  • Oh, the butter.

  • We've got to add the butter to this, too.

  • Theo: Can I do it?

  • Vanessa: Yes.

  • I'm going to scrape the last bits out, and can you use that fork to break up the yolk

  • in there?

  • Theo: This fork?

  • Vanessa: Yeah.

  • I think this might be our most prepared cooking show, because when we made broccoli cornbread

  • muffins and when we made chocolate chip cookies, I had the ingredients all scattered around

  • our kitchen in every place.

  • But this time I put them all on the counter.

  • All right, I think the next step after you mix this is to add the dry mixture to the

  • wet mixture, but there's a special note in our recipe mix.

  • Theo: What is it?

  • Vanessa: It says don't over mix.

  • Do you know what over mix means?

  • Theo: What?

  • Vanessa: It means mix it too much.

  • Because if you mix it too much you're going to have rubbery pancakes, and we want fluffy

  • pancakes.

  • So I'm going to pour this into here.

  • Theo: Can I do it?

  • Vanessa: Just a little bit at a time.

  • There you go.

  • Okay, let's mix that in.

  • I'm sure some professional bakers will be upset at us for using a fork because you're

  • supposed to use other tools, but I like to use a fork.

  • All right, go ahead.

  • If you pour it a little bit closer to the bowl, then it won't explode like that.

  • Okay, a little bit more, Chef Theo.

  • All right.

  • Usually recipes say mix just until combined.

  • That means when all the ingredients are just combined, and not afterwards, that's when

  • you stop mixing.

  • Okay, let's add all the rest.

  • Even the bowl.

  • Do you think this bowl would be tasty?

  • Theo: No, that's a little accident.

  • Vanessa: That was a little accident.

  • Theo: That was a big accident.

  • Vanessa: Well, you know what a big accident would be?

  • If I dropped all of this on your head.

  • That would be a super big accident.

  • And then what would we teach our students?

  • We'd teach them that to make pancakes you dump it on your head?

  • Oh my goodness.

  • Is that flour?

  • Theo: Yeah.

  • Vanessa: Okay, okay.

  • Theo: It's yummy.

  • Vanessa: Don't eat the flour like that.

  • Do you think it's combined, Theo?

  • Does that look good?

  • Theo: Mm-hmm.

  • Vanessa: I think it looks good.

  • What do you guys think?

  • This looks just combined.

  • Okay, now it's time- Theo: It's combined?

  • Vanessa: The word combined?

  • What do you think the word combined means?

  • Can we teach them?

  • Theo: Mm-hmm.

  • Vanessa: What's it mean?

  • Theo: Teach them.

  • Vanessa: You want me to teach them?

  • Theo: Mm-hmm.

  • It means until everything is mixed together.

  • So, I'm going to get a cup.

  • But you know what?

  • We're going to have to wash your hands before we make it.

  • Vanessa: Why?

  • Theo: Because you were licking your hands.

  • Vanessa: What cup?

  • Theo: So let's take a little break.

  • Vanessa: What cup?

  • Theo: The cup measurement to scoop into here.

  • So let's take a little break and wash your hands and then we'll make the pancakes.

  • Vanessa: Could you...

  • What is that?

  • Theo: That's the microphone.

  • Don't touch that.

  • All right, let's... can you go to the bathroom really quick and wash your hands?

  • Theo: My scrunge (!), my sponge.

  • Vanessa: Here.

  • Okay.

  • Theo: I'm back.

  • Vanessa: We're back and we're going to make the pancakes on the hot griddle.

  • Theo: Could you make snowflakes and stuff?

  • Vanessa: You want me to try to make shapes?

  • Theo: Like snowflakes or- Vanessa: How about I try to make a snowman?

  • Theo: Make a snowman.

  • Vanessa: Okay, all right, here we go.

  • I'm going to make the head and the body.

  • Oh boy, oh boy, and then once we let it cook we'll put some chocolate chips on it.

  • Theo: That looks like a snow angel.

  • Vanessa: There's some videos of people online making really fantastically-shaped pancakes,

  • but I think they have a different type of batter.

  • This batter makes really fluffy pancakes.

  • Theo: Fluffy.

  • Vanessa: Do you know how to tell when we should flip it over?

  • Whoa, cover your mouth.

  • Thank you.

  • Oh, there you go.

  • Baking with children is an exercise in teaching.

  • Teaching many things.

  • Cooking, patience, and hygiene.

  • Oh, those are special chocolate chips that were made in Asheville, where we live.

  • Theo: They were from...

  • What's that called?

  • Vanessa: French Fried Chocolate Lounge.

  • So, it's this really amazing chocolate shop that-

  • Theo: I'm going to put some in.

  • Vanessa: ... gets cocoa beans.

  • You can put them on top.

  • And they have a bean to bar factory, basically.

  • Theo: I want to try my chocolate for the afternoon.

  • Vanessa: You can try a couple pieces.

  • And you can have chocolate bars, hot chocolate, sipping chocolate, and this is the kind of

  • chocolate I got for- Theo: I think Daddy got it.

  • Vanessa: Daddy bought it for me, yes, for Mother's Day, and it's chai masala milk sipping

  • chocolate.

  • So, you can melt this and make it into drinkable chocolate or-

  • Theo: Hot chocolate.

  • Vanessa: ... hot chocolate.

  • So good.

  • Theo: Let's make this to our hot chocolate tomorrow.

  • Vanessa: Oh, okay.

  • Well, we're pretty excited because tomorrow is going to be the first snow of winter.

  • And at first they said we're only going to get this much and then we looked this morning.

  • Okay, that's enough, that's enough.

  • Theo: I'm putting them on the pancakes now.

  • Vanessa: Okay, and then they said this morning we're going to get this much, about 6 to 10",

  • and that's a lot for us where we live in North Carolina.

  • So, it's quite exciting.

  • Dan: Here we go.

  • Nice.

  • There he goes.

  • Oh, yay.

  • You're going to try to do it by yourself, Freddie?

  • Vanessa: Okay, I think this one is ready.

  • Let's check underneath.

  • Looks good.

  • Theo: Look at them.

  • Vanessa: Oh, that one's the perfect color.

  • Okay.

  • Theo: I'll mix this up.

  • Vanessa: All right, that one's looking good, too.

  • That one's looking good.

  • I think we're going to try this giant chocolate chip one.

  • Ready?

  • Theo: Mm-hmm.

  • Vanessa: All right.

  • That one probably could use some more time.

  • I am curious what's going to happen with this snowman.

  • Do you think I can flip him without him breaking?

  • Theo: Do you think?

  • Vanessa: I hope so.

  • I'm not sure, because these two parts might fall apart, but I'm going to hold onto the

  • spatula really well and we're going to try.

  • Theo: That one probably will not break, that one you're holding now.

  • Vanessa: I kind of smushed it.

  • Whoopsies.

  • Theo: “I don't want a lot for Christmas...”

  • Vanessa: All right, I'm going to give it a try.

  • Theo: “I don't want a lot for Christmas...”

  • Vanessa: Are you ready?

  • Theo: Don't tell me.

  • Vanessa: Can you count down?

  • Three, two- Theo: Don't tell me what happens.

  • Vanessa: Oh, okay.

  • Are you worried about your precious snowman?

  • All right, I'm going to try to use a little thing to help him get on.

  • Here goes.

  • Oh, I did it.

  • Theo: Yay.

  • Vanessa: Okay, now we've just got to wait a moment and we are going to put them on here

  • and finish making these, and when daddy comes back, we're going to eat them.

  • Theo: But I want to eat one while it's done.

  • Vanessa: Maybe like one of these small ones you can see if it's good?

  • Theo: That's good.

  • Vanessa: Yeah.

  • Theo: I'll flip one.

  • Vanessa: We'll see if they're done.

  • You want to peek under one?

  • Peek under that one.

  • I think it could go for just a moment longer because they're pretty thick and fluffy and

  • looking great.

  • But I have one other thing on the stove over here that I'm making for these.

  • Theo: What?

  • Tell me.

  • Vanessa: It is a syrup.

  • Now, you can use a regular maple syrup.

  • That's fine, too.

  • But I'm also making a syrup with blueberries, raspberries.

  • Theo: I need the syrup.

  • Vanessa: Blueberries, raspberries, and banana that Freddie cut up that he burnt onto the

  • skillet.

  • All right, ready?

  • Theo: No, stop.

  • Vanessa: You're going to do it?

  • Theo: Yeah.

  • Raise up.

  • Vanessa: Oh, let me get you your plate really quick.

  • Oh, it's a lucky day.

  • We've got so many chocolate chips in here.

  • Usually we get, like, 10 chocolate chips and mix them into the batter and it's kind of

  • like a mystery which pancake will have chocolate chips.

  • Maybe one will have five, maybe one will have none, but this one has a lot.

  • Maybe it's a special occasion.

  • Theo: Maybe it's a special occasion for Christmas.

  • Maybe we're celebrating the day before snow.

  • Vanessa: The day before snow.

  • Snow eve.

  • The eve of the first snow.

  • That's right, we're celebrating that.

  • Whoa, it's all gone.

  • Tell me, how was it?

  • Theo: Well, I want another one.

  • Vanessa: Well, that's a good sign.

  • I guess it was good.

  • Let's check on your snowman.

  • All right.

  • He's so cute.

  • Hello.

  • Are you going to eat me?

  • Theo: Put him on my plate.

  • Vanessa: I think he needs some syrup.

  • You think he needs some syrup?

  • Theo: Mm-hmm.

  • Vanessa: Yeah?

  • Okay.

  • Theo: I'll put some syrup on.

  • Vanessa: Well, we have three different types of sweetener you can put on.

  • Excuse me.

  • You could put syrup, maple syrup, from somewhere very exciting.

  • Oh, it's from Canada.

  • Or you could use my berry syrup.

  • It has no sugar in it.

  • It's just berries, so you could both if you wanted.

  • Or you could put half- Theo: I'll do that and this.

  • Vanessa: Okay< sounds like a great plan.

  • Theo: Pour some on him.

  • Vanessa: All right.

  • We're going to put it on his head?

  • Theo: Yeah.

  • Vanessa: Whoa, that's a lot, okay.

  • Usually we're a little conservative with the syrup in our house, but I guess it's a special

  • occasion.

  • You're a licking machine today.

  • All right, there you go.

  • Can you wipe your hands off on this, Theo?

  • Yeah.

  • Theo: Yum.

  • Vanessa: I know it's yummy, but it's not a good idea when you bake or when you cook,

  • especially when you cook food for other people.

  • Theo: We're not cooking it for other people.

  • Vanessa: Well, what about me?

  • Am I going to eat it?

  • Theo: Are you?

  • Vanessa: Yeah.

  • What about daddy?

  • Theo: Daddy is.

  • Vanessa: What about Freddie?

  • Theo: Yeah.

  • Vanessa: So that's other people.

  • When you're making something only for you, that's when it's probably okay to lick stuff.

  • But if other people are going to eat it, they might not want you to lick it.

  • We make pancakes maybe like once a month, and it's a special occasion.

  • Sometimes for breakfast, sometimes for brunch, sometimes for lunch, like today, depending

  • on how busy our morning was.

  • All right, well, all our pancakes are done.

  • Theo: Except mine.

  • Vanessa: Well, even yours, because you ate it.

  • And we're going to go sit down at the table with daddy and eat them.

  • Theo: Now?

  • Vanessa: Now.

  • I just saw daddy come back with Freddie.

  • Let's go.

  • So here we are with our pancakes.

  • Dan: Hooray.

  • Vanessa: Yay.

  • Thank you, Theo, for helping me make these pancakes.

  • We are going to put some goodies on them.

  • Dan: Thank you for making them, dears.

  • Theo: Dear.

  • Vanessa: Dear.

  • Some of them have more chocolate chips than others.

  • Dan: Oh, surprise chocolate chips?

  • Theo: Can I do them?

  • Dan: That's exciting.

  • Vanessa: This one has a lot, yes.

  • But while we're eating, I also have some questions to ask you guys.

  • Dan: Oh boy.

  • Theo: I want some questions.

  • Freddie: I want some.

  • Vanessa: Okay.

  • Dan: I want some.

  • Vanessa: You want some, Freddie?

  • Dan: You want some questions?

  • Vanessa: In case you were wondering, yes, Freddie has a black eye.

  • He fell and he hit a chair with his face.

  • Dan: If you can see it.

  • Vanessa: Yeah, so anyway, it's not syrup in his eye.

  • It is a black eye, but it is getting better.

  • This is day two, so probably in two days it will be gone.

  • Dan: It actually almost looks worse- Vanessa: I know, it's getting blacker.

  • Dan: ... because it's getting darker.

  • Vanessa: Okay, I have a question.

  • This is from a game called Table Topics and we did it when Theo was one-and-a-half.

  • Theo: I'll do it.

  • Freddie: I want to do it.

  • Vanessa: Okay, are you ready?

  • My question is, what was your favorite game to play as a child?

  • Theo: Right now my favorite game is the Dinosaur Escape.

  • Vanessa: The Dinosaur Escape Game?

  • Dan: Dinosaur Escape.

  • Vanessa: All right.

  • Dan: You are a child.

  • Vanessa: Yeah, so that's what he likes now.

  • Freddie: Dino Game.

  • Dan: What's your favorite game?

  • Vanessa: The Dinosaur Escape Game?

  • Dan: Do you like the Dinosaur Escape Game?

  • Freddie: Yeah.

  • Vanessa: Yeah?

  • Okay.

  • Dan: So he likes it, too.

  • Vanessa: What about you, hon?

  • What was your favorite game as a kid?

  • Dan: I don't know for sure, but the game that just came to my mind was Twister.

  • Vanessa: Twister, okay.

  • Dan: Remember Twister?

  • Vanessa: Yeah.

  • So, you put your hands down and you try to step on the circles.

  • Dan: You spin a wheel and there's a color and you have to put your hand on the color-

  • Vanessa: Oh, yeah.

  • Dan: ... or your foot.

  • Isn't that called Twister?

  • Vanessa: Yeah, yeah.

  • I kind of like that game but I feel like every time we played it, it was with people I didn't

  • really want to play with.

  • Dan: Oh, really?

  • Vanessa: So, I didn't really play it with my best friends.

  • Dan: Well, I had two other siblings and a family of three kids that were our best friends,

  • so we were all comfortable with each other.

  • Vanessa: Yeah, I think you should tell them about the alligator game.

  • Don't give our kids any ideas.

  • Dan: Well, that's not an official game.

  • Vanessa: It doesn't have to be an official game.

  • Freddie: Alligator game.

  • Theo: What's the al- Dan: The alligator game was when you stacked

  • two mattresses on top of each other.

  • Vanessa: Oh boy.

  • Dan: And then the little kids get in between the mattresses and the big kids jump on top.

  • Theo: I want to do that.

  • Vanessa: You want to do it?

  • Oh, Freddie, that's the microphone.

  • We don't tap that.

  • Dan: You need at least six children, though, so we don't have enough.

  • Vanessa: Oh boy.

  • Would you be a little kid inside the mattress, or would you be jumping on the mattress?

  • Theo: I would be jumping on the mattress and Freddie would be in it.

  • Vanessa: Okay, Freddie would be in it?

  • Theo: Oh, yeah.

  • Dan: I was a middle child so I got to be both in the mattresses and on top.

  • Vanessa: Oh boy.

  • I think when I was little my favorite game was just playing in the back yard, digging.

  • I think we dug in the back yard for half of my childhood, which is always fun.

  • Dan: What about a real game, like a board game?

  • Vanessa: A board game?

  • Theo: How deep did you dig?

  • Vanessa: Well, we dug lots and lots and lots of holes, shallow holes.

  • I think my favorite official game was Uno.

  • Dan: Uno.

  • Vanessa: We played Uno all the time.

  • And you know, Uno's a really great way to learn English, too, because you've got numbers

  • and letters, and simple game.

  • Dan: Definitely.

  • Very simple.

  • Vanessa: But we used to play that at the swimming pool-

  • Dan: That's a good game.

  • I think Theo might be ready for Uno.

  • Vanessa: ... with our friends.

  • Yeah, I think we could play Uno.

  • Theo: Uno, dos, tres.

  • Vanessa: Yeah, that's right.

  • You can count a little bit in Spanish.

  • All right, I have one other question.

  • Are you ready?

  • Dan: Yes.

  • Vanessa: If you could have any view from your back porch, what would it be?

  • Dan: This one.

  • Vanessa: Yeah?

  • This is your dream view?

  • Dan: No, but it's pretty good.

  • Theo: This one.

  • Dan: Well, we did one time see a bear running in the neighbor's lawn.

  • That's pretty special.

  • Vanessa: That's a good view.

  • Freddie: Theo. Dan: Well, I already answered this in another

  • video, but not this one.

  • I would take the ocean from a cliff.

  • Vanessa: Oh, so there'd be a cliff outside your door or somewhere out there?

  • Dan: Mm-hmm, yeah.

  • I love ocean views from a high vantage point.

  • Vanessa: That would be nice.

  • I think I would like- Dan: I like that more than the beach.

  • Vanessa: Oh yeah?

  • Dan: Mm-hmm.

  • Vanessa: I think I would still like the mountains, like a big mountain view where it's like the

  • mountains just open up in front of your window.

  • But I don't want to be isolated.

  • I still would like to live in a community, but maybe a mountain community.

  • Vanessa: What about you, Theo?

  • Theo: Where's a towel?

  • Vanessa: Here you go.

  • Dan: Well, we could have an ocean view from the back and a mountain view from the front.

  • Vanessa: Wow.

  • Dan: Who can make this happen?

  • Vanessa: What country could make this happen?

  • Dan: For us?

  • Korea.

  • Vanessa: Yeah, a lot of countries have mountains.

  • Dan: California, probably, places in California.

  • Vanessa: Oh, yeah.

  • Lots of places have mountains.

  • Dan: And oceans.

  • Vanessa: What about you, Theo?

  • Theo: Lots of places have mountains.

  • Vanessa: Do you want to live near the beach or the mountains?

  • Dan: Thank you.

  • Freddie: The towel.

  • Dan: Paper towel?

  • Theo: Beach.

  • Vanessa: The beach?

  • We did have a good time at the beach this year, didn't we?

  • All right, I have another question.

  • Oh.

  • What would you most like to do for someone if you had the money and time?

  • Theo: Share my water bottle.

  • Vanessa: Share your water bottle with Freddie?

  • Dan: If you had money and time, you'd share your water bottle with the world.

  • Vanessa: So, Theo's New Year's resolution is to share his water bottle with Freddie,

  • which he often doesn't like to do.

  • But you said this year you're going to try to learn to be okay with it?

  • Theo: Mm-hmm.

  • Vanessa: That's very generous of you.

  • Dan: If I had all the money in the world and time-

  • Vanessa: Yeah, what would you like to do for someone else?

  • Dan: For somebody else?

  • Vanessa: Yeah.

  • Freddie: All done!

  • Vanessa: Maybe while you're thinking- Dan: I would probably-

  • Vanessa: No, go head.

  • Freddie: All done.

  • Vanessa: You're all done?

  • Dan: You're all done?

  • Freddie: Yeah.

  • Dan: You want to just sit there or do you want to go for a run?

  • Vanessa: Do you want to go play?

  • Freddie: Run.

  • Run.

  • Dan: Okay, let's wipe your hands off.

  • Vanessa: Our kids go for a run around our house when they're done eating.

  • Freddie: Done eating.

  • Dan: That's a lot of syrup on your fingers.

  • You're sure you're all done?

  • Freddie: More syrups.

  • Dan: More syrup?

  • No, you've got enough syrup right there.

  • You can dip your pancake in it.

  • Theo: Do you want to run with me- Dan: Do you want to dip it?

  • Theo: ... or run by yourself?

  • Dan: Okay, he's going to eat that.

  • Vanessa: Okay, here you, go, Freddie.

  • Freddie: I'm done.

  • Dan: Okay, I would probably start a bunch of schools.

  • Freddie: I'm done.

  • Dan: Kind of like a forest school.

  • Vanessa: Oh, like nature schools?

  • Dan: Nature schools or even nature schools for kids who are not very little.

  • Like, all the way through elementary.

  • Better schools than we have now because I think school, controversial take, I think

  • most schools- Freddie: I'm done.

  • Dan: You're done?

  • Okay.

  • Uh oh.

  • Oh.

  • I think most schools have kids sitting around too long, so.

  • Vanessa: Especially little kids.

  • Dan: Yeah.

  • Vanessa: Yeah.

  • Dan: And it doesn't seem like the public schools are going to change anytime soon, at least

  • in our country, so- Vanessa: So you could fund-

  • Dan: ... I would fund in, yeah.

  • And then I'd probably have to do a ton of research to really make sure that that's exactly

  • what kids that age need.

  • Vanessa: Well, I think that's a noble cause, though, because-

  • Dan: It's a noble cause.

  • Vanessa: ... usually in the US, outdoor schools are pretty expensive and a lot of people can't

  • afford that, but- Dan: Well, they just barely exist.

  • Vanessa: There's not many of them, yeah.

  • So, if they were cheaper because they had an angel donor, Daniel-

  • Dan: Maybe just an angel.

  • Vanessa: Maybe an angel, Daniel, then that would be nice, yeah.

  • I think if I had all the money and time in the world, I think I would add one more thing

  • here, and power.

  • Dan: Oh.

  • Vanessa: And influence.

  • Dan: President Vanessa.

  • Please, America.

  • We might be pretty well off, I think.

  • Vanessa: I don't know about that.

  • Dan: I'd vote for you.

  • Vanessa: Okay, well, thank you.

  • Freddie: Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.

  • Vanessa: You married me.

  • Freddie wants to water our plants with- Dan: Go ahead, squeeze it.

  • Vanessa: All right, we took a little pause so our children can spray our friends.

  • Nothing better than kids with spray bottles.

  • Freddie: Spray.

  • Vanessa: And I wanted to answer this question before we said goodbye.

  • I feel like if I could help someone else and had all the money and time and power in the

  • world, my first thought for this- Freddie: Spray, spray, spray, spray, spray,

  • spray, spray.

  • Dan: Oh, someone else?

  • Vanessa: Yeah.

  • Dan: I thought it was like...

  • Just one person?

  • Vanessa: Or it could be anyone else?

  • You're spraying, Freddie?

  • Freddie: Yeah.

  • Vanessa: Okay.

  • Is, uh, I would like to free North Korea.

  • Freddie: Spray, spray, spray.

  • Dan: Oh.

  • Vanessa: I was thinking about now we already- Freddie: Spray, spray, spray, spray.

  • Vanessa: He's spraying, yeah.

  • Dan: You don't need to do it too much.

  • It's probably fine now.

  • Vanessa: We donate to a charity every month that helps North Koreans who have estates,

  • North Korea to kind of reintegrate into daily life, wherever else they are.

  • Freddie: Spray, spray, spray, spray, spray, spray, spray, spray, spray, spray, spray,

  • spray, spray, spray, spray.

  • Vanessa: He's very into spray.

  • Dan: Spray, spray, spray.

  • It doesn't work unless you say, "Spray."

  • Freddie: Spray, spray, spray.

  • Vanessa: That's the magic word.

  • Anyway, I feel like that's something, that's a cause that's very close to my heart and

  • I feel passionate about.

  • So yes, I would like to help people in North Korea.

  • That would be awesome.

  • Theo: I'm done.

  • Vanessa: Yeah.

  • Well, thank you so much for joining us today for our slightly hectic but-

  • Dan: A normal meal at our house.

  • Vanessa: Very normal.

  • Making pancakes and children spraying plants while we try to eat.

  • Theo: Bye.

  • Vanessa: Bye.

  • Freddie: Bye.

  • Vanessa: Well, thank you so much for learning English with us today.

  • I know that our mealtime was a little bit chaotic but that's okay.

  • I appreciate you being willing to open your mind to learn real, daily life English.

  • Don't forget to click on the link in the description to download the free PDF worksheet so that

  • you never forget what you've learned.

  • You can also answer Vanessa's challenge question at the bottom of the PDF.

  • There is a link in the description to download that now.

  • And now, I have a question for you.

  • When you want to make a special breakfast, what do you make?

  • For us, we like to make pancakes as a special breakfast, maybe about once a month.

  • But what about for you?

  • Let me know in the comments and thank you so much for learning English with me.

  • I will see you again next Friday for new lesson here on my YouTube channel.

  • Bye.

  • All right, Theo.

  • Are you ready to make to make some pancakes?

  • Theo: Yes.

  • Vanessa: Okay.

  • I'm going to get our measurements.

  • Do you think that Freddie's going to be ready to help make pancakes soon?

  • Theo: He thinks that...

  • what's after one?

  • Vanessa: Two.

  • Theo: He's going to be two after he's one?

  • Vanessa: Yes.

  • Theo: Maybe when he's two he could help.

  • Vanessa: Oh, okay.

  • Theo: What's after two?

  • Vanessa: Three.

  • Theo: Probably when he's three or four.

  • Vanessa: Okay.

  • You know, in the South where we live, some people make chicken and waffles.

  • There's restaurants called Chicken and Waffles, and there was a restaurant I used to go to

  • when I was in college called Gladys Knight's Chicken and Waffles.

  • And you got a waffle, and they put fried chicken on it.

  • You think that would be good?

  • A lot of people think so.

  • Personally, I think I like my waffles and my chicken separate.

  • Maybe waffles for breakfast and chicken for lunch or dinner.

  • But put them all together and it's a southern delicacy.

  • The next step is to download the free PDF worksheet for this lesson.

  • With this free PDF, you will master today's lesson and never forget what you have learned.

  • You can be a confident English speaker.

  • Don't forget to subscribe to my YouTube channel for a free English lesson every Friday.

  • Bye.

Vanessa: Hi.

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