Arnel's Everyday English Interview | Speak English Fluently with Steve Hatherly

Welcome back to another edition of Speak English fluently.

I am your host Steve Hatherly and I thank you, uh, very much for joining us once again.

I’m very excited today because my guest is the owner and operator of her very own

YouTube channel.

It's called Arnel’s Everyday English.

Which offers English lessons for ESL and EFL students.

She is from the United States originally.

But she has been living in the U.K… living and working for the last 11 years.

Her channel is extremely popular 497,000 subscribers.

And that's just the last time I checked.

So I’m sure the number is even higher now.

The channel keeps her very busy, as does her regular teaching job, as does her family life

at home.

And, therefore, I thank her very much for joining me today.

Arnel, welcome.

And it's so nice to meet you and have you here.

Thank you, Steve.

I love that introduction.

And I’m really excited to be here as well.

Well I think we're finished then.

We got a good introduction.

We can just we can just end there.

Yeah, goodbye.

Goodbye.

Well, let's talk about you before we talk about your channel and the details of your

work and all of those things.

So you're from the United States originally.

Which part?

I was born in Arizona.

Very nice.

Arizona.

But I left when I was six months old because of my dad's job.

I traveled everywhere.

So I left the U.S. when I was seven.

I left when I was seven and I haven't lived there since, oh wow, um, yes, I’ve been,

where did I live?

I lived in Korea.

I lived in, um, South Korea for one year.

And then Germany for 10 years.

And then the Netherlands for four years.

And I’ve been in the U.K. for 12 years.

Goodness me.

Oh, I apologize.

It's been 12 years now, not 11 in the U.K.

You truly are… you truly are a citizen of the world then.

I am...

I am but I still have my family in the States.

And I like to go back and visit them, um, from time to time when I can.

But, yeah, I’ve been in the U.K.

Do you travel to China or Korea much at all?

Because I was reading in your bio, and you told me before we got started today, you get

this question a lot about your ethnicity.

You're American but you're also a mix of Chinese and Korean.

So you visit the States.

Do you also visit China and Korea too?

Yes, lots of people ask me where I’m from.

So my dad - he's American.

My dad's American - my mom is Chinese-Korean, um, so I… the last time I was in Korea was

2014.

Okay, so, no, I don't visit Korea often but I do have relatives in Korea.

I don't have relatives in China.

But my Chinese relatives are living in Taiwan.

Oh, I see.

And also, it will be a much further trip for you to come visit this part of the world than

it would be to get to the United States.

I suppose yes… yes and, um, I have three little kids, Steve, so I think any parent

knows traveling with kids is no fun.

So how…

how old are your children?

My son is eight.

I have one son he's eight.

And then I have twin daughters.

Twin daughters!

They are five.

Oh, my goodness!

Where do you find the time to do all of this YouTube work plus your regular job?

That's a good question yeah, um, I eat coffee… coffee is my answer.

I think a lot of my followers know I love coffee.

I need several strong coffees a day to keep me going.

But not after 3 p.m.

I learned that from watching one of your videos.

Yes, exactly.

Otherwise, I can't sleep that…

I’m jittery the whole day.

Um, and I didn't have coffee before this interview Steve just to calm my nerves.

So you know before this interview, if you pass out halfway through, then we will understand.

So let's talk about your career then.

Um, when did you get into teaching?

Is it something that you transitioned into or has this been your thing since the beginning

of your career?

No, um, so I told you I lived in the Netherlands for four years and that's where I did university.

And I, um, was originally a dancer.

Oh, wow.

Yeah, I don't think anyone knows that, so this is the first time…

I’m…

I’m kind of announcing that.

Um, I trained as a dancer professionally since I was 13.

And then, um, I went to university for dance.

So my bachelor is in contemporary dance.

So what kind of dance were you doing in your university studies?

Um, well we had ballet training every day but it I specialized in modern dance.

And it's kind of hard to explain modern dance.

Um, I wish I had a clip to show you on my phone.

I could show you a modern dance but you can Google it.

Everyone can google modern dance.

So the plan was then, in your younger years, to pursue dance professionally obviously,

so when did that decision come to, kind of give up on that part of your life?

If… if in fact you did, and transition… and transition into this part?

Well I graduated, um, from uni in 2010.

And to be honest, I had been dancing for such a long time that I was burnt out.

So I didn't want to dance anymore.

I was burnt out by I guess the… the dance world.

I could describe it like that.

I was really burnt out.

I didn't want to keep going so I thought I’m going to travel.

And I think, as you know, a lot of people who travel, they also teach English.

Sure.

And I thought I can't just be a native speaker and teach English.

I have to, um, get some training, I have to learn how to be a teacher so, um, at this

point, I was in the U.K. and I decided to do my, um, TESOL training.

And from there, I never traveled because what happened.

The school that you got your TESOL training from is the school that you started to work

at correct?

Correct, yes.

Thank you.

Thank you for reminding me.

I remember my own I read.

I read that bio very carefully.

Yeah, I…

I completely forgot, so keep reminding me.

Um, because I couldn't forget, um, yes at first it wasn't a, um, how did I start?

I think I first started out by doing the summer school.

It's… a lot of junior students from Europe would come to England.

And I was a summer school teacher.

And from there, I…

my contract kept getting extended, um, you know six more weeks another six weeks.

Um, yeah so that's kind of how my teaching career started.

And it was, um, a wonderful learning experience.

I think all, um, teachers and newly qualified teachers know when you're first starting out,

it's stressful.

It's stressful walking to a classroom with, you know, 15 students.

But that was good for me.

It really helped me, um, help me progress.

A lot of new teachers perhaps don't realize, and maybe even a lot of students don't realize,

that teaching there's… there's a large performance element to teaching and that's difficult to

get used to in the beginning.

Right, yes, um, I remember the very first lesson I taught.

So when you do your TESOL training, on day one, you have to teach.

I had no teaching experience and I remember very clearly how to teach the weather.

And I was so flustered.

I was speaking really quickly and I was writing on the board and I was just talking.

And I think I kept getting…

well the students were just staring at me.

They all had blank expression because I was speaking too quickly and, um, I was so nervous

and that made me even more nervous.

So I would say my very first day in the classroom is not something I want to remember.

I can remember my first day on the radio and I, uh, I don't look fondly upon that experience

either.

So I completely understand what you're saying.

Yeah… yeah and I remember afterwards, I got some feedback from one of the professional

teachers and he said I really liked how he used two colors on the board.

So I used one red pen and one green pen.

And I said, “Oh, thank you,” but I actually didn't know I was doing that.

It was…

I was like, yes I planned…

I plan to use two colors, but in fact I was just so nervous I was using random pens in

my first class.

That's funny.

Yeah, so how long were you a teacher than before you decided to go the YouTube route?

Um, seven eight years.

Oh, wow, okay.

So it had been a while?

Yeah… yeah, and I originally, um, did not want to start a YouTube channel because I’m,

um, a pretty private person.

And I didn't have a personal Facebook.

I didn't have a personal Instagram.

I never had anything like that, Um, so the idea came to me that I should start

a personal brand.

Um, and I thought, oh if I’m going to start a production brand, have my own website, I

should probably start making YouTube videos.

And this was end of 2019.

Okay.

So, I think I’ve been thinking about starting YouTube channel since 2018.

But it took me a long time to get the courage to be like, right, I’m gonna film this video,

and I’m gonna edit it.

And I didn't know how to edit videos.

So I had to find the software and do all of that.

Um, so yeah, I procrastinated a really long time because I was so nervous about making

videos.

We call it… or you call it, excuse me, uh, Arnel’s Everyday English.

It started three years ago now I think.

I…

I think I…

I found your first video, I think, correct me if I’m wrong, but was it about, uh, something

about picking… picking the right one.

Or it's… it's yours to pick or something like that.

Take Your Pick.

Take Your Pick, that was… an idiot…

Take Your Pick, yeah, that's what it was.

And I noticed, because I watched your recent video, some of your recent videos, obviously,

you have so many I couldn't watch them all, but I watched some recent ones, and then I

watched the first one to Take Your Pick video, and I thought, wow, usually when people start

with YouTube or something, where they have to be in front of the camera, it's really

kind of unnerving right, to stare at a little green dot.

Yes.

With no eyes looking back at you and act natural.

But in my opinion, you were very natural from… from the very beginning.

Did you have any training for that before you started or did you just turn on the camera

for your first video?

No, I think I did practice.

Um, so my husband he set up the camera.

And I kind of practiced a little bit.

And when I watched my video back, I thought, “Oh, my god.

I can't use this.”

It's so hard to do isn't it?

To watch yourself back.

Yeah, it's hard to… to watch yourself . So I, um, I tried multiple times actually

and finally I decided I’m just gonna have to do it.

So I posted that very first video and you know it's kind of like closing my eyes.

Sorry internet, there's my video.

Yeah the, uh, the channel the channel is… is so incredibly popular.

Congratulations by the way.

In… in only three years, uh, for when I saw the number 497 000 subscribers.

I thought, oh, Arnel must have been doing this, for I don't know maybe five or more

years, maybe even 10 years, but it's only been three years.

And you've had that amount of success.

So congratulations.

And from that very first video, the Take Your Pick video.

Yeah, things have progressed really quickly for you, yes?

Um, I think because I’m kind of involved in it.

I think about it every day.

I don't feel like the progression is that quick but I know it is.

But I think because I, you know, I’m always working on the, um, my next video, I don't,

yeah, I don't really pay attention to how quickly it's progressing.

Interesting, um, well let's talk about the channel in general.

Give us a give us a rundown, if you could, on what the channel is all about Arnel’s

Everyday English?

If you go to Arnel’s Everyday English, you will see general English topics.

So I like teaching grammar.

I like to break down all of the grammar structures in English and try to make them easy to understand.

Um, grammar, vocabulary, including idioms, phrasal verbs, um, and other topics like making

small talk.

I try to include as much as I can to help students improve.

Yeah, what are some of the favorite videos that you've… that you've made - some of

your favorite content?

Um, my most popular video is about the four conditionals and mixed conditionals.

I watched that…

I watched that one.

Yeah, I think 1.6 million views something like that for that… for that video.

And I wanted to, yeah, I wanted to ask you as well if teachers also send you comments

and ask you questions because even for me, as a native English speaker, watching that

conditionals video, I learned something in there.

Of course I know how to say…

I know how to use the rules, but I never actually thought how to put it down so that it would

be easy for a student to understand.

So really really really well well done there.

Thank you.

Yeah, um, that was a tough one.

I think my grammar videos are my most popular videos.

So if you look through my channel, the… the best performing videos are always about

grammar.

Um, and yeah, I think it's not easy to write a script for these grammar topics.

And I spent a long time on my conditional video.

And I had a lot of fun.

If you watch the video, you'll see I’m kind of having fun in the video.

I like, you know, having those animations, a few silly things in there is what I always

like to include.

Your editing skills are beyond impressive.

Even from video number one, the Take Your Pick video, you had little animated, uh, pictures

of different beverages in the corners.

Yes, and I thought, “Wow that's really cool.”

And… and you were able to kind of follow the images as they came out obviously.

That's… that's… that's a product of… of good editing.

But goodness me, that conditionals video is… is another great example.

And all of your videos are so well edited.

Do you do you think that that helps with the success and the popularity of your videos

as well?

I…

I think it does.

I get a lot of comments and they love the animation.

They love the editing.

And it helps them because, um, you know before I started my YouTube channel, I was really

thinking how can I teach on a video?

I’ve never even thought about just recording 20 minutes and putting it out there.

And I thought, okay, if I have all the text on the screen, and if I highlight all of the

grammatical structures, that's one way I can deal with this and, um, I include that in

my script.

So a lot of times you might see my videos, I’ll turn, and I’ll pause for six or seven

seconds because I know I’m gonna have a video clip come up there.

So that's all the script.

Um, and yeah I think, um, students do like my editing.

And so thank you, um, to everyone who has complimented my editing.

And I’m still trying to get better and better.

It's amazing that in only three years you've gotten that good because if you talk to any

YouTuber, any topic, any channel, their number one, not complaint, but they're the thing

that takes them the longest is… is the editing.

How long does one of your videos take to edit?

You know it's funny you say that because for me editing is, it's kind of like finally,

it'd be editing.

Oh, interesting.

That is the first time I’ve ever heard that before.

Yeah, um, for me, the script takes a long time.

Um, to try to break down the grammar or the vocabulary that's the hardest thing for me.

And, oh, I have an example one second, okay just reaching over here so Steve you can see

I have my script.

This is for my latest video.

Okay, and, um, this is what takes me the longest.

It'll take me about a week… a week and a half to write the writing of the script, yeah,

depending on the topic.

Because if I can break it down in the script, um, and hopefully students can understand

it easily, then I feel like the lesson will be okay.

Okay, so once the script is done, then I have to film… film the video and that stressful

for me as well.

I…

I wouldn't say I’m a fan of the whole filming process, setting up the lights, um, you know

getting the mic getting the mic ready, all of that stuff.

I…

I really don't like.

And once the video is filmed, I can think, it's time for editing.

I’m the total opposite.

The setup of everything, that the microphone placement, the… the headphones, the audio,

chat, I don't like that.

Oh, that's my favorite stuff.

And for me, when it comes time to edit, I just feel like please file don't disappear,

don't disappear.

I don't disappear.

Yeah, yeah, yeah I mean, um, I think in the beginning, when I first started editing, I

was learning how to use a software and I kept thinking, oh that's interesting you know,

how I get a line.

I didn't know how to do that.

How can I put text on the screen?

It was a real mystery to me.

And now that I know how to do it, I’m like what else can I do.

And to be honest Steve, a lot of times, I hold back.

I would like to add more screen but it is a lesson.

Like, it can't be too distracting.

That script that you just popped up in front of the screen, was that the future simple

versus future continuous script?

No, this was, um, this is a video I released yesterday.

It's…

I forgot the video I released yesterday.

Um, it's about titles and names in English.

So Mr., Mrs., newsman all of those titles that I think students can confuse because

there are so many.

Well, now, that seems like, I now if you, uh, because I saw you post about and you said

future continuous and future, uh, simple that was one of the hardest scripts that you've

ever had to write.

That's what you said in your post but Mr. and Mrs. and Ms., that's quite a long script

you showed me for Mr., Mrss and Ms. So you are obviously very detailed in in your

scripts - the way you go about your preparation.

Yeah, um, I think the reason why the future simple, future continuous script was so difficult

is because that verb ‘will’… ‘will’ in English is everywhere.

There are so many uses.

So I had a kind of I tried to break down ‘will’ before I moved on to future continuous.

That's why it took so long.

And I was kind of ripping my hairs out trying to find a simple way it's so explain it.

It's so true and that that doesn't that happen so often when you teach English as a second

or foreign language - where suddenly you come across a topic and you think, oh I…

I of course I understand this.

I’m a native English speaker.

But how do I explain this to someone who wouldn't get it?

That's one of the challenges, isn't it?

Yes, oh, absolutely.

And I think, um, you know my years of teaching experience really helped.

Because when I first started teaching, I didn't know how to explain things, and it's just

trial and error.

A lot of trial and error and feedback from the students, um, was very helpful.

Yeah, so, I think you know about the detail in my script.

I do put a lot of detail in there.

And if I was teaching in front of a class, I wouldn't teach, um, in that much detail

because I could kind of see the students the next day and I can ask some questions.

But I feel like if it's in a video, you know, students can pause the video, they can go

back to it.

I might as well get as much information in there as possible.

Well, you have your YouTube, uh, channel but you also teach online correct?

Can you tell us about that a little bit?

Yes, um, I have my online students.

So they're one-to-one students.

And I work from home which is great because, um, as you mentioned earlier, I do have three

little kids.

And it's not easy for me to get up in the morning, get ready, and go to a language school

or anything.

So I really enjoy teaching from home.

Um, yeah so I teach about 15 hours a week, um, you know with my one-to-one students,

so that doesn't leave a lot of time for my YouTube channel.

Um, between my one-to-one students, my kids, it's kind of hard to squeeze in that time

,so I know, um, I would like to publish more videos, but it's not always possible.

Well, yeah, I wanted to ask about that.

I mean you have… you must have to have an extremely detailed schedule for your… for

your own life, I would think.

Yeah I…

I do, um, I work on my YouTube channel a lot of the evenings,

So after my kids come from school, um, you know, I’m kind of busy with snack time,

homework time, play time, all of those things that involve them.

And then, the evening, I can work on my script and, um, when I’m editing that's the fun

part.

So it's not really a chore for me to edit my videos.

It's kind of the script, I think “Oh my god!”

I write my script, but when it's editing, it's the fun ride.

So in the evenings is when I mainly work on it.

I understand a little bit more now.

I think because that's kind of the quiet peaceful time of the day when you can sit down and

do the editing, right?

It is.

And I kind of think…

I think of ideas as I edit.

I’m like, oh, I’m going to include that in there.

I’m going to put that sound effect in there.

So it's a fun.

It's a fun project for me to edit my videos.

Um, and then, once I edit a video and I publish it, I take a couple days off because for me,

it's kind of like a marathon.

Just get my video out there, um, yeah so that's where I am now.

I’m kind of in between videos.

Do you get…

I’ll ask you that question now that I wanted to bring up before, do you get a lot of feedback,

from obviously from students?

Yes, but do you get feedback from teachers as well?

Oh, um, yes I do.

And I love hearing from teachers.

So, um, if any teachers comment, thank you very much for commenting.

I love hearing from you.

Um, yeah, I get very nice comments thanking me for helping them with their lessons.

Or I get questions, um, and so I try to answer as many comments as possible but I can't always

get to all of them.

And, yeah, teachers do message me.

And it's really nice to hear because as a teacher I feel I can feel their pain when

a topic is hard to teach.

I’m like, “Yes, I feel your pain.”

Well I was going to recommend because it's been a while since I’ve been in a classroom

setting but as a former teacher I would recommend that teachers visit your channel as well because

not only can they get help perhaps with an explanation of something that they've been

trying to teach but they can also get lessons or ideas for lessons for their own classrooms

as well.

So I would totally recommend that teachers visit your channel.

Thank you.

And, um, some teachers do say I use your videos and my lessons and my students say, “Hi.”

I’m like, “Wow,” it's kind of nice to be part of a community that I never met and

they, you know, they've seen my videos.

That's kind of a nice, um, way to connect with people online.

And that's what I what I do love about my YouTube channel is that I can connect with

people all over the world.

Um, yeah, it's a cool.

It's a cool thing, isn't it?

I…

I was looking at some of your comments and you do have, um, viewers from all over the

planet.

The world and teaching itself has changed and learning itself maybe learning at its

core hasn't changed but how we learned that the tools that we have available to us has…

has learned… has changed so much.

And now people can learn from anywhere around the world.

And I was looking at the comments and you do have students from all over the world.

That's kind of… that's really cool, isn't it?

It is really cool.

I like responding to them and, um, I try to ask them questions as well.

And I get some really funny comments, um, you know, about I can't think of a funny comment

right now.

I do…

I do get funny comments.

That's a funny comment.

That's a funny comment.

That's a funny comment, um, trust me, I get funny comments.

I just can't remember them.

I wish I made a list.

Oh, that's quite all right.

So then, what is the future, uh, of your channel?

Do you have any plans to kind of come up with, I don't know, I’m guess, I’m wondering,

if there's maybe a website coming, or an app coming, or books coming, or things like that?

But, I’m also guessing that maybe there's just not enough hours in the day for that

right now.

I do have a website, arnelseverydayEnglish.com And on my website, I have a blog that goes

along with my videos.

Not all of my videos, but a lot of my videos.

Um, they, I make a blog post because some people prefer reading watching so I have my

website, and on my website, I have a free library where students can download PDFs,

um, about different grammar topics like, um, ‘well versus good’ or homophones.

So lots of different, um, different PDFs and one thing students might like is I have a

PDF of 101 idioms and it's very colorful - you can print it out, you can cut it up.

So I recommend you go and check it out.

Fantastic.

And tell us why everyone should visit your YouTube channel Arnel’s Everyday English?

Because I…

I hope it helps you.

I hope you find a video there that can help you with one of your, um, you know a grammar

problem you have.

Or if you want to expand your vocabulary.

And I hope, um, my channel will teach you something new in a fun way .

That's what I would like - in a fun way, colorful way.

And I’m speaking from my own experience, watching a few of your videos, you are so…

so good at speaking, uh, in a way that everyone can understand.

You've had a lot of experience in front of the camera now.

Everything is very controlled.

And I thought when I was watching you, wow, this is a really really good teacher.

So I think everyone should check out Arnel’s Everyday English.

You can find that on YouTube.

You can check out, uh, her, uh, website as well for the blog posts and the PDFs and all

of those.

100 was it 101 1001 English 101 idioms okay 101 idioms maybe a thousand for free maybe

a thousand and one a few years down the road who knows that's my next one yeah right

Well, Arnel, it was a real pleasure to speak with you today.

Once again congratulations on your channel's success and your family success and all of

the success in your life.

And I hope that we can speak again someday.

Thank you.

Thank you very much Steve for just for being so easy to talk to and so complimentary about

my channel.

Thank you very much.

Well I appreciate your compliments as well.

That'll do it for today's edition.

This edition of Speak English fluently.

I’ve been your host Steve Hatherly.

I hope you come back again next time.

And if you are interested in seeing more interview style videos, on my own personal channel,

you can search Storytime Steve Hatherly on YouTube as well.

Now thank you once again and have a good one, bye.

Bye-bye.