Learn English Vocabulary Daily #17.3 — British English Podcast

Hello, and welcome to The English Like a Native Podcast.

My name is Anna and you are listening to Week 17, Day 3 of Your English Five a Day.

This is a series that aims to increase your active vocabulary by

deep-diving into five pieces every day of the week from Monday to Friday.

I highly recommend making this podcast a part of your daily routine.

Whether you are travelling to work on the train, driving, or whether

clearing up the kitchen is part of your morning or afternoon.

For me, I love to listen to podcasts while I'm washing up first thing in

the morning, just after breakfast.

And also as I drive to and from the gym.

On the rare occasion when that does happen.

So, let's start today's lovely list with a verb and it is to review, review.

Now this is spelled R E V I E W.

Review, review.

To review is to write your opinion about something.

Now we're looking at this verb in the context of critics,

reviewing books, plays or films.

In this case, review means to write your opinion about something.

So, you look at something and then give your very considered opinion.

So, an opinion that you've thought about.

You've given it some time, you've given it your focus, and now

you're writing your honest thoughts and feelings about the piece.

Here's an example sentence,

"I don't always watch films that have only been reviewed favourably, everyone

has different tastes so I like to try things out for myself sometimes."

Have you ever been called upon to review a book or a play that

you've seen or even a film?

I guess in some way we all review things.

We write a status on Facebook saying,

"I've just seen this amazing film, the acting was fantastic, the writing left

a little bit to be desired, but on the whole, this is a must-see film."

So, in some way, we are all critics and we all share our opinions.

Here's the next word.

This is a noun and it is plot, plot.

We spell this P L O T.

Nice and easy.

Plot.

The plot refers to the story of a book, film or play.

So, what's it about?

Here's an example sentence,

"There was an unexpected twist in the plot towards the end of the movie.

I was flabbergasted."

Next we have an adjective and it is analytical, analytical.

Analytical is spelled A N A L Y T I C A L.

Analytical, analytical.

If someone or something is analytical, then it very carefully,

or they very carefully and systematically study something.

So, to do something in a very systematic way, very careful

way, really analysing something.

Here's an example sentence,

"Always use an analytical approach when writing a book or film review, people are

relying on you for reliable information."

Are you an analytical person?

I'm sometimes analytical.

Sometimes I would describe myself as more artistic — more arty-farty,

airy-fairy — up in the air and loose, free-flowing, not so much analytical.

I don't tend to study data very much.

Let's move on.

The next word is a noun and it is spoiler, spoiler.

We spell this S P O I L E R.

Spoiler, spoiler.

A spoiler is information that tells you what happens in a

play or in a film or in a story.

So, it spoils the surprise.

It tells you the big reveal, which ruins things for you.

So, often you'll see spoiler alert before a spoiler is given, so that you have the

option to turn it off or not read it.

A spoiler will usually ruin your enjoyment.

For example, I was really into the Game of Thrones when that was, you

know, coming out on a weekly basis, we would sit down and watch it as soon

as the episode was out, we'd be like,

"Have to watch it!"

But then because it came out in America before it came out over here, we would

have to avoid social media on that day.

Because if we woke up and looked on social media, people would be spoiling it by

talking about it all over social media.

And so, we're like,

"Oh.

Avoid those spoilers.

We don't want to know what happens because we want to enjoy it.

We want to have the surprise, the reveal, as we're going through

the story with the characters."

Here's an example sentence,

"Spoiler alert — Anna's mystery guest in next week's podcast is

none other than David Beckham."

If only that were true!

Unfortunately, I don't get guests like David Beckham appearing on this

podcast, but perhaps if you give it a like, a rating or review, and we grow

the popularity of this podcast then perhaps the guests can grow with it.

You never know.

Right, let's move on to our last word on the list.

This is another noun and it is series, series.

We spell this S E R I E S.

Series.

A series in the publishing world is a set of books published by the same company

that all deal with the same subject.

So, a series of books.

Here's an example sentence,

"ELAN are talking to a publishing house about releasing a series

on English language acquisition."

Alright, let's recap all the words that we've covered today.

We started with the verb review, review, which is something that a critic

does to a book, play or film, where they are writing their opinion on it.

Then we had the noun plot, which refers to the story of a book, film, or play.

Then we had the adjective analytical, which is to be very careful and

systematic in your study of something.

Then we had the noun spoiler, usually coupled with the

word alert, a spoiler alert.

A spoiler is a revelation, a reveal of information, particularly the ending or

the outcome of a situation within a story.

Then we had the noun series, referring to a set of books

published by the same company that all deal with the same subject.

Alright, let's do this for pronunciation.

If you're able to, please repeat after me.

Review.

Review.

Plot.

Plot.

Analytical.

Analytical.

Spoiler.

Spoiler.

Series.

Series.

Very good.

So, what word do we use to refer to a set of books all

published by the same company?

A series.

Very good.

And what do we call the story of a book or film?

The plot.

The plot.

That's right.

And if a critic reads my book that I've written and writes his opinion

about my book, what is he doing?

He's reviewing it, isn't he?

Review.

That's what he's doing.

And if that critic is very careful and systematic in his study of my

book, then what adjective could I use to describe that particular critic?

Analytical.

Analytical.

If in his review of my book, he reveals the ending, so that everyone

knows the plot and what comes at the end, then what has he just done?

He's created a...

spoiler.

He's created a spoiler and spoiled the ending of my story.

Now everybody knows.

Alright so that's all for today.

Let's bring them together in today's story.

Now, I did say story, but I didn't really mean story.

I've already given you one of my book reviews this week, so today I actually

thought that I'd give you a few tips on how to write your own book or film review.

So, here we go.

A normal review will begin with a couple of sentences describing

what the book is about i.e.

the plot - the series of events that unfold from start to

finish - and the characters.

Next, you move on to describing the storyline in a little more detail,

but try not to go past the 50% marker.

The 50% marker is halfway through the book — if you go much farther than

this, then you risk becoming a spoiler and people will not thank you for that!

Next up, we have a little about how the author, or book, has succeeded.

Did you praise the characters in your introduction?

If so, now is the time to tell us why you praised them, what makes them so

special or important to the story?

You also need to say what you don't like about the book, or the way

the author has written the book.

If there are no negatives, then use this opportunity to let potential readers

know any other plus points of the book.

Has the author written it in a way that is easily understood, have they used old

or new language, or a mixture of both?

Is the book part of a series?

Have you read any other books in the series?

How do they compare to this one?

Using an analytical approach will help give your readers and the book's potential

readers a clear idea of what to expect.

Use a mix of praise and criticism, be honest and avoid empty words and

phrases that don't really need to be there; cliché words like 'interesting,

fascinating, relatable, absolutely'.

Above all, make the readers want to read.

Good luck and happy reviewing!

That is all for today.

I do hope you found today useful.

Until next time, take very good care and goodbye.