Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript

Alice
Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. I'm Alice…

Neil
… and I'm Neil. Hello.

Alice
Hello, Neil. Now tell me, do you usually go dutch when you take someone out to dinner?

Neil
Now go dutch means to share the cost of something, for example a meal in a restaurant. Well Alice, no, I usually expect my date to pay actually.

Alice
I hope you're joking, Neil. But I wouldn’t be surprised! Personally, I think it's a nice gesture to offer to pay for the meal when you're on a date.

Neil
Yeah. But it can depend on the situation – some people might be very offended if you offered to pay for everything!

Alice
Well yes, true. Clearly you're not going to offend those people, Neil, though are you? And I won’t be going to dinner with you any time soon.

Neil
Well, I didn't ask so calm down, Alice! Actually, money matters can cause relationship problems in couples – and that's the subject of the show. Here's today's quiz question based on a UK survey. Ready, Alice?

Alice
I am indeed.

Neil
What percentage of married couples don't know exactly what their spouse earns? Is it:
a) 4%?
b) 14%?
Or c) 44%

Alice
Well, gosh! I think b) 14%. Yes, that sounds about right to me.

Neil
Well, we'll find out if you're right or wrong later on. Now, it seems important that couples are honest about their finances because it can have an impact on their future financial options together.

Alice
Yes, that's right. If you're buying a house together and then find out later that your spouse – your husband or wife – is thousands of pounds in debt, then the chances are you won't be able to get a mortgage. To be in debt, by the way, means to owe money to someone.

Neil
Good point. A mortgage is where a bank lends you money to buy a house. Let's listen now to what Arabella Russell, a relationship therapist, has to say about this.

INSERT
Arabella Russell, relationship therapist
The fact of the matter is it's very difficult – it can be very difficult – to talk about money. Often when we talk about money, it’s emotions very close to us – there's guilt, there's shame. What have we done in the past? To start those conversations is complicated. Money can be about how we value ourselves, how we feel valued. It’s not just a simple case of talking about hard cash.

Neil
Arabella talks about 'hard cash'. Now what does that mean?

Alice
Well, we say hard cash when we talk about physical money – the coins and banknotes – as opposed to other types of payment.

Neil
And why do we find it so difficult to talk about cash, Alice?

Alice
Well, because we get emotional about it! Arabella talks about feelings of guilt and shame. And for many of us, money isn't simply money – it can be about how we value ourselves or feel valued.

Neil
Right – so if I were to buy you a cheap engagement ring you would feel undervalued.

Alice
Nice example, Neil! You can't be a cheapskate when it comes to engagement rings! So how much would you spend on our engagement ring, Neil?

Neil
Well… um… I didn't know we were getting married! But if I was buying an engagement ring for you Alice, I think definitely I would spend about… you know around... in the region of … mmm pounds…

Alice
Sorry, Neil, I didn't quite catch that. Alright!

Neil
Are you calling me a cheapskate?

Alice
I certainly am, Neil. Cheapskate means someone who doesn't like spending money, by the way. Moving on – let's hear more from Arabella about how people have different attitudes towards money.

INSERT
Arabella Russell, relationship therapist
Accept the fact that in your relationship you might do money differently – there might be a spender there might be a saver. It’s very tempting if your partner does things differently to say they're wrong. They might do it differently because they see money differently. Do it differently but have a budget. Of course be honest about each other but recognise that you might just have a different view of money.

Neil
Now that sounds like excellent advice to me! I'm a saver, and I'm not ashamed to say it. Why waste money on an expensive

engagement ring? Engagements don't always last. You might drop the ring down the kitchen sink or…

Alice
How romantic, Neil!

Neil
… it could be stolen or you might meet someone else.

Alice
Indeed. Now I know I shouldn't say you're wrong… but you're wrong! You have to invest in a relationship if you want it to work.

Neil
Calm down. I see money differently to you. I’m a saver and you’re a spender, and that’s all there is to it. And a budget means the money you have available for something and a plan for how to use it.

Alice
Well, we'll have to agree to differ. And that means accept that we have different opinions on this one! Can we have the answer to today's quiz question then, please?

Neil
Yes, we can. I asked: What percentage of married couples don't know exactly what their spouse earns? Is it:
a) 4%?
b) 14%?
Or c) 44%

Alice
And I said b) 14%.

Neil
And you are absolutely and completely… wrong! The correct answer is 44%. Now that's according to new research conducted by the UK credit report service, Noddle, who also found that an astonishing 1.9 million married couples actively try to keep their finances secret from their partners!

Alice
Gosh, what a lot of people! Can we have today's words again then, Neil, please?

Neil
Yes, we can. Here they are:
go dutch
spouse
to be in debt
mortgage
hard cash
cheapskate
budget
agree to differ

Alice
Well, that brings us to the end of today's 6 Minute English. We hope you thought today's programme was good value. Please join us again soon. See you then.

Both
Bye.

Zero and first conditionals

Neil and Catherine take a look at the zero and first conditionals. Learn how to make them and when to use them, listen to some example sentences and test what you've learnt in the quiz at the end of the programme.

Form

Zero condtional

Both parts of the sentence are in the present simple

If you work on the computer too long, your eyes start hurting.
I get terrible headaches when I eat chocolate.

The two parts can come in any order

Your eyes start hurting if you work on the computer too long.
When I eat chocolate, I get terrible headaches.

First conditional

The if/when part of the sentence is in present simple. The result part is will + infinitive (without 'to')

If you drop that glass, it will break.
I'll go home when I finish work.

The two parts can come in any order

That glass will break if you drop it.
When I finish work, I'll go home.

Meaning

Zero conditional

Use the first conditional for facts, things that are generally true or that you believe to be true. You can use if or when and the meaning doesn't change.

When it rains, the ground gets wet.
If you drink a lot of fizzy drinks, your teeth get damaged.
I get a stomachache if I eat too much cake.

First conditional

Use the first conditional for possible future results of an action or situation. Using if means that we are not sure about the possible result. Using when means we think the possible result is more likely.

If you don't take an umbrella, you'll get wet.
We'll be late if we don't leave soon!
I'll tell you the good news when I see you.

Neil
Hello. Welcome to 6 Minute Grammar with me, Neil.

Catherine
And me, Catherine. Hello.

Neil
Now, Catherine, would you like to have some of this delicious chocolate I've got here?

Catherine
Oh Neil, I'd love to but I can't. When I eat chocolate, I get terrible headaches.

Neil
Oh that's bad luck! If I eat a lot of chocolate, I just get fat!

Catherine
Do you? You don't look it, you look thin!

Neil
It's all the cycling you see. I can eat whatever I want because of all the cycling.

Catherine
Lucky you.

Neil
Now, in this programme, we're looking at the zero conditional and the first conditional.

Catherine
We'll be discussing why and when we use them.

Neil
We'll see how to form them...

Catherine
We'll help you decide which one to use in which situation...

Neil
And we'll bring you a quiz at the end of the show.

Catherine
So listen carefully - and take some notes!

Neil
Let's start by looking at the zero conditional. We use it to talk about things which always happen in particular situations.

Catherine
For example, I always get a headache if I eat chocolate. We also use the zero conditional to talk about facts and truths. And here's Finn with our first example.

Finn
If you drop an apple, it falls to the ground.

Neil
That's gravity for you! Now, there are two parts to the sentence. The part with if plus the present simple tells us the situation, and the other part is in the present simple tense, and tells us what happens as a result of the if situation. Here's Finn with an example of the if situation:

Finn
If you drop an apple...

And I'll say that again: If you drop an apple...

Catherine
And the result:

Finn
...it falls to the ground.

Catherine
Once more:

Finn
...it falls to the ground.

Neil
And this result happens every time the situation happens. Isn't that right, Catherine?

Catherine
That's correct Neil. It's a scientific fact - and it was first identified by Isaac Newton, I believe.

Neil
I think you're right! So that's the zero conditional. Let's compare it with an example of the first conditional. Finn.

Finn
If you drop that glass, it'll break.

Catherine
And once again:

Finn
If you drop that glass, it'll break.

Catherine
Now, in this sentence the if plus present simple part gives us a possible future situation. The other part is made with will plus an infinitive without 'to' and it gives us the result of this possible future situation.

Finn
If you drop that glass...

If you drop that glass...

Catherine
And this is only a possible situation.

Finn
...it'll break.

...it'll break.

Catherine
And this is the result of the situation. We use will to show we are certain that the glass will break. But it only breaks if we drop the glass.

Neil
When we are less certain of the result we can use might, like this:

Finn
If you drop the glass, it might break.

Catherine
And once again:

Finn
If you drop the glass, it might break.

Neil
It's sometimes difficult to choose between the zero and first conditional. It helps to remember that as well as using the zero conditional for truths, we also use it for general situations. If you're talking about a specific situation, or a one-off situation, the first conditional is probably best. For example, to describe a general situation that is true for everyone, we can use the zero conditional to say:

Finn
If you sit in the sun too long, you get burned.

Catherine
But if your friend is about to go sunbathing, perhaps without any sun cream, you can use the first conditional to talk about that specific situation and its possible result, like this:

Finn
If you sit in the sun too long, you will get burned.

IDENT
6 Minute Grammar from BBC Learning English.

Catherine
And it's quiz time! Are these sentences grammatically correct, or wrong? Here's the first one: When we're older, we'll go travelling.

Neil
OK, this first conditional sentence is correct.

Catherine
Good. Here's another one: If plants don't get water, they die.

Neil
This sentence is correct too.

Catherine
OK, get ready for the last sentence: If I fail my exa

ms again, I feel terrible.

Neil
And that's wrong. It's a specific situation and it's describing a possibility, not a certainty. So we need the first conditional. Here's the correct sentence:

Finn
If I fail my exams again, I will feel terrible.

Catherine
Now, before we go, there's just enough time for a top tip. The first conditional only has one 'will'. So this sentence is wrong:

Finn
If they will leave now, they'll be home for lunch.

Neil
You need to use present simple without will in the if part. Here's the correct version:

Finn
If they leave now, they'll be home for lunch.

Catherine
Thank you Finn. So that's the zero conditional, with the present tense in both parts, for things which always happen.

Neil
And that's the first conditional with if plus present simple, together with will, plus an infinitive, for possible future situations.

Catherine
There's more about this on our website at bbclearningenglish.com. Join us again for more 6 Minute Grammar.

Both
Bye.

In the early stories of Robin Hood there is no Maid Marian, no Friar Tuck, Robin doesn't live in the time of bad Prince John, or the crusades, doesn't lead a large and merry gang, and never robs the rich to give to the poor. Neil and Alice discuss the long-lasting appeal of this man with a bow and how he has changed over the centuries.

This week's question

When do we find the first reference to Robin Hood in English literature? Was it in the…

a) 5th century?

b) 10th century?

c) 14th century?

You can hear the right answer at the end of the programme.

outlaw
criminal

medieval period or Middle Ages
the period in Europe from the 5th to the 15th century

ballad
a song or poem that tells a story

disturbing
making you feel upset or shocked

assassinations
the murder of important people, often for political reasons

dismembered bodies
bodies that have been cut or torn into pieces

trickster
someone who deceives or cheats people

operate on your own terms
do what you want according to your own rules

masculinity
the qualities typical of a man

Note: This is not a word-for-word transcript

Alice
Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. I'm Alice…

Neil
… and I'm Neil. Hello.

Alice
Hello, Neil. Now what do you know about Robin Hood?

Neil
OK. Well, he wore green tights…

Alice
Yes, he did.

Neil
He was good at archery… he had a girlfriend called Maid Marion. He was English – although he sometimes he has an American accent in Hollywood films.

Alice
Yes.

Neil
There was a great Disney cartoon series using animal characters. Robin and Maid Marion were foxes.

Alice
Anything else? What about being an outlaw or criminal? Heroically fighting against injustice and corruption?

Neil
Oh yeah, there's all that stuff as well – robbing the rich and giving to the poor. Yes, yeah… he lived in Sherwood Forest with a band of merry men.

Alice
Yes, he did. OK, it sounds like you've watched a lot of TV and film versions but haven't read the literature.

Neil
Oh, come on, Alice! Have you read the literature?

Alice
Yes I have. I studied English at university and one of my specialist subjects was medieval literature. The Middle Ages or medieval period lasted in Europe from the 5th to the 15th century.

Neil
I see. And I'm guessing that Robin Hood is the subject of today's show?

Alice
Absolutely. You're right! So here's a question for you, Neil: When do we find the first reference to Robin Hood in English literature? Was it in the…
a) 5th century?
b) 10th century?
Or c) 14th century?

Neil
Well, I'm going to go for the middle one – and that's b) 10th century.

Alice
OK. Well, we'll find out if you're right or wrong later on. Now, why do you think the stories of Robin Hood have lasted from the Middle Ages through to the modern day?

Neil
Well, I suppose it's got appeal on lots of levels – action, adventure – there's some comedy stuff there with the merry men. And of course, romance, like I said before.

Alice
Yes, indeed. Actually the early versions of Robin Hood were very violent. Let's listen to Professor Thomas Hahn talk about one of the ballads called The Monk.

INSERT
Thomas Hahn, Professor of English Literature at the University of Rochester, New York
The Monk is, I think for most modern audiences who've either seen movies or read children's stories or whatever, quite disturbing in terms of its levels of violence. In terms of trying to make some comparisons with popular culture it seems to me that it's really at the level of Sopranos in terms of things like dismembered bodies and actual violence and assassinations.

Neil
What's a ballad, Alice?

Alice
Well, It's a song or poem that tells a story. People were telling the stories of Robin Hood for a long time before they were written down – and performing them too.

Neil
Really? And how about the comparison between the Robin Hood ballads and the Sopranos? Now The Sopranos is a popular US TV series about gangsters. Maybe I should get The Monk on audiobook. What do you think?

Alice
Yes, I don’t think you'd find it disturbing – disturbing means making you feel upset or shocked. Assassinations are the murder of important people, often for political reasons. And dismembered bodies are bodies that have been cut or torn into pieces.

Neil
Right. It sounds like medieval entertainment for guys. You know, like martial arts movies these days.

Alice
Well, yes, you may be right. Now do you remember you mentioned Maid Marion at the start of the show?

Neil
I do.

Alice
Well, actually, in the early ballads there is no Maid Marian. She appears in later versions along with other characters we know well today. But Robin is always a trickster, and a man with a bow in a wood.

Neil
A trickster is someone who deceives or cheats people. That's impressive, Alice. You certainly know your medieval ballads.

Alice
Yes, I do. So what's so appealing about this man with a bow? Let's listen to Professor Hahn again.

INSERT
Thomas Hahn, Professor of English Literature at the University of Rochester, New York
What he represents I think is a kind of strong and forceful masculinity that operates on its own terms and for its own interests and that's I think wha

t we admire in these stories.

Neil
What does it mean to operate on your own terms, Alice?

Alice
Well, Neil, it means to do what you want according to your own rules. And masculinity means the qualities typical of a man. Now, remember my question from earlier? I asked: When do we find the first reference to Robin Hood in English literature? Was it in the…
a) 5th century?
b) 10th century?
Or c) 14th century?

Neil
And I said b) 10th century.

Alice
Yes, well… I'm afraid you are wrong, Neil. The first reference occurs in the English poet William Langland's book Piers Plowman written between 1370 and 1390. Sloth, the lazy priest, says: "I kan not parfitly my Paternoster as the preest it singeth,/ But I kan rymes of Robyn Hood and Randolf Erl of Chestre."

Neil
Well, Alice, can you translate that into modern English, please? Maybe that's for another show.

Alice
Maybe another show…

Neil
Can we just have today's words again, please?

Alice
We certainly can. And we can have those in modern English. OK. Here they are:
outlaw
medieval period or Middle Ages
ballad
disturbing
assassinations
dismembered bodies
trickster
operate on your own terms
masculinity

Neil
Well, that brings us to the end of today's 6 Minute English. We hope you enjoyed today's walk in the woods. Please do join us again soon.

Both
Bye.

روش صحیح استفاده از مطالب این کانال
6 minutes English
۱- یک برگ کاغذ بردارید.
۲- لغات جدید متن را در آن بنویسید. افزایش دامنه لغات( vocabulary)
۳- معنی آن را در دیکشنری جستجو و بنویسید.
۴- متن کامل موضوع را ترجمه کنید و در برگه بنویسید.
مهارت ترجمه(translation)
متن فارسی شده موضوع را به دقت مطالعه کنید.
افزایش درک متون (comprehension)
۵- صدای متن را دانلود،و به تعداد زیاد در صورتی که به متن انگلیسی موضوع نگاه می کنید،گوش فرا دهید.
افزایش مهارت شنیداری (listening)
*تا زمانی که حس می کنید،کلمات و جملات گوینده،نا مفهوم و غیر قابل فهم است،به متن انگلیسی موضوع نگاه کنید.
۶- به تعداد زیاد به صدای گوینده متن،بدون مشاهده متن موضوع،گوش فرا دهید.
افزایش مهارت شنیداری (listening)
بعد از مدت کوتاهی،به مرور وابستگی شما به مشاهده موضوع های بعدی کم می شود.
اکنون شما در مرحله بسیار خوبی از مهارت شنیداری قرار دارید.
۷- متن مورد مطالعه را با صدای بلند و تلفظ صحیح،به تعداد زیاد و تا رسیدن به نقطه مطلوب سرعت بخوانید.
افزایش مهارت خواندن( reading)
۸-سعی کنید به صورت گروهی(حداقل دو نفره)از مطالب کانال استفاده کنید،تا بعد انجام مراحل بالا،متن مکالمه را با هم اجراء کنید.
افزایش مهارت مکالمه ( speaking)
* تعویض شخصیت مکالمه حین اجراء فراموش نشود تا speaking شما به نحوه مطلوبی با کیفیت شود.

Step 1: Listen

You're going to hear a genuine BBC news report. Before you listen, read these three summaries:

a) The use of some vehicles has been banned in Beijing because the air pollution is at a dangerous level.

b) Driving has been made illegal in Beijing because the air pollution is at a dangerous level.

c) There's a state of emergency in Beijing because the air pollution is at a dangerous level.

Now listen and decide which one is correct. Listen again if you need to.

Step 2: Learn the key words and listen again

How was that? Try listening again. Here are three definitions of key vocabulary items which may help you.

severe restrictions
strict limits

declared
stated officially

red alert
a warning that something dangerous will probably happen

Step 3: Transcript and answer

Severe restrictions are in force in Beijing to limit air pollution after the city declared a red alert for the first time.

Half the city's vehicles have been banned from the roads.

Answer

a) The use of some vehicles has been banned in Beijing because the air pollution is at a dangerous level.

This bulletin comes from BBC World Service Radio.

روش صحیح استفاده از مطالب این کانال
6 minutes English
۱- یک برگ کاغذ بردارید.
۲- لغات جدید متن را در آن بنویسید. افزایش دامنه لغات( vocabulary)
۳- معنی آن را در دیکشنری جستجو و بنویسید.
۴- متن کامل موضوع را ترجمه کنید و در برگه بنویسید.
مهارت ترجمه(translation)
متن فارسی شده موضوع را به دقت مطالعه کنید.
افزایش درک متون (comprehension)
۵- صدای متن را دانلود،و به تعداد زیاد در صورتی که به متن انگلیسی موضوع نگاه می کنید،گوش فرا دهید.
افزایش مهارت شنیداری (listening)
*تا زمانی که حس می کنید،کلمات و جملات گوینده،نا مفهوم و غیر قابل فهم است،به متن انگلیسی موضوع نگاه کنید.
۶- به تعداد زیاد به صدای گوینده متن،بدون مشاهده متن موضوع،گوش فرا دهید.
افزایش مهارت شنیداری (listening)
بعد از مدت کوتاهی،به مرور وابستگی شما به مشاهده موضوع های بعدی کم می شود.
اکنون شما در مرحله بسیار خوبی از مهارت شنیداری قرار دارید.
۷- متن مورد مطالعه را با صدای بلند و تلفظ صحیح،به تعداد زیاد و تا رسیدن به نقطه مطلوب سرعت بخوانید.
افزایش مهارت خواندن( reading)
۸-سعی کنید به صورت گروهی(حداقل دو نفره)از مطالب کانال استفاده کنید،تا بعد انجام مراحل بالا،متن مکالمه را با هم اجراء کنید.
افزایش مهارت مکالمه ( speaking)
* تعویض شخصیت مکالمه حین اجراء فراموش نشود تا speaking شما به نحوه مطلوبی با کیفیت شود.

Step 1: Listen

You're going to hear a genuine BBC news report. Before you listen, read these three summaries:

a) The use of some vehicles has been banned in Beijing because the air pollution is at a dangerous level.

b) Driving has been made illegal in Beijing because the air pollution is at a dangerous level.

c) There's a state of emergency in Beijing because the air pollution is at a dangerous level.

Now listen and decide which one is correct. Listen again if you need to.

Step 2: Learn the key words and listen again

How was that? Try listening again. Here are three definitions of key vocabulary items which may help you.

severe restrictions
strict limits

declared
stated officially

red alert
a warning that something dangerous will probably happen

Step 3: Transcript and answer

Severe restrictions are in force in Beijing to limit air pollution after the city declared a red alert for the first time.

Half the city's vehicles have been banned from the roads.

Answer

a) The use of some vehicles has been banned in Beijing because the air pollution is at a dangerous level.

This bulletin comes from BBC World Service Radio.

روش صحیح استفاده از مطالب این کانال
6 minutes English
۱- یک برگ کاغذ بردارید.
۲- لغات جدید متن را در آن بنویسید. افزایش دامنه لغات( vocabulary)
۳- معنی آن را در دیکشنری جستجو و بنویسید.
۴- متن کامل موضوع را ترجمه کنید و در برگه بنویسید.
مهارت ترجمه(translation)
متن فارسی شده موضوع را به دقت مطالعه کنید.
افزایش درک متون (comprehension)
۵- صدای متن را دانلود،و به تعداد زیاد در صورتی که به متن انگلیسی موضوع نگاه می کنید،گوش فرا دهید.
افزایش مهارت شنیداری (listening)
*تا زمانی که حس می کنید،کلمات و جملات گوینده،نا مفهوم و غیر قابل فهم است،به متن انگلیسی موضوع نگاه کنید.
۶- به تعداد زیاد به صدای گوینده متن،بدون مشاهده متن موضوع،گوش فرا دهید.
افزایش مهارت شنیداری (listening)
بعد از مدت کوتاهی،به مرور وابستگی شما به مشاهده موضوع های بعدی کم می شود.
اکنون شما در مرحله بسیار خوبی از مهارت شنیداری قرار دارید.
۷- متن مورد مطالعه را با صدای بلند و تلفظ صحیح،به تعداد زیاد و تا رسیدن به نقطه مطلوب سرعت بخوانید.
افزایش مهارت خواندن( reading)
۸-سعی کنید به صورت گروهی(حداقل دو نفره)از مطالب کانال استفاده کنید،تا بعد انجام مراحل بالا،متن مکالمه را با هم اجراء کنید.
افزایش مهارت مکالمه ( speaking)
* تعویض شخصیت مکالمه حین اجراء فراموش نشود تا speaking شما به نحوه مطلوبی با کیفیت شود.

Leaving home to start life at university is an exciting time for many young people but very challenging for some. Alice and Neil discuss the psychological pressures of making this big transition. They also teach some related vocabulary.

This week's question

In a survey of students at Imperial College London, how many students said they suffered from high levels of stress or a mental health condition during their time at college? Was it…

a) 1 out of 4?

b) 2 out of 4?

c) 3 out of 4?

You can hear the right answer at the end of the programme.

through rose-tinted spectacles
seeing a situation as better than it really was

out of your comfort zone
being in a situation that you aren't familiar with and which makes you feel nervous

counselling
professional help with personal or psychological problems

homesick
missing your family and friends when you're away from home

stress
pressure or worry caused by a difficult situation

balancing act
where you try to give your attention to two or more things at the same time

look after yourself
be responsible for or take care of yourself

budgeting
planning how much money you have and how you will spend it

stressed
anxious and worried