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In this episode: How to avoid personal questions
 
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Listener Feedback: RafaelReza, tú lo haces bastante bien lo de pronunciar español, sin embargo a Craig si, que le cuesta un poco más, y no acabo de entenderlo porque a veces he oído los años que lleva Craig en España, ¡y son muchos! Creo que alguna vez habéis dicho que lleváis desde 1998....a veces pienso en ello y me imagino viviendo en Inglaterra tantos años y (creo) que hablaría inglés como un nativo....(bueno, tampoco estoy muy seguro de ello) os pido perdón, porque la mayoría de las veces os escribo en español, pero, aunque os lo entiendo todo....no soy capaz de "colocar este rollo" (get this out/across) en inglés....Bueno, espero que Craig no se moleste con mi comentario y si fuera así, le pido disculpas por adelantado...Un saludo afectuoso, Rafael
Hi Craig and Reza,How are you doing? I'm Pepe Calvo, a 51 years old (51-year-old) self-taught English student. I started to learn English on my own in my mid-forties and thanks to the Internet and the help from podcasts like yours I think I'm getting it. From the beginning I also started to practise with English natives, who are retired and live nearby, and it was tough but now I'm really proud to be able to follow a conversation more or less fluently. I don't spend any time studying, nor do I do exercises and things like that, I think the key is to listen to English - the more you can, the better, and in addition, speak, read, write and watch (documentaries are my favourites) in English as much as you can. I call it "my little linguistic immersion" and I think it works, doesn't it?Nowadays, I am listening to your podcasts but I'm not up to date with them yet and I'm wondering if you’ve already got the ‘dulce de leche’ recipe, have you? If not, it is the least I can do for you to express my gratitude. It is really easy, my mom used to make it when I was a kid, here you are:
https://cookpad.com/es/recetas/129294-dulce-de-leche-con-leche-condensada-en-olla-rapida
Thank you very, very much for your generosity sharing your work for free, it is a great help for people like me, I really appreciate it! I live in Tortosa, not too far from you, if there is something more I can do for you, you only have to ask. Listen to you soon!
Compound adjectives
The journey lasts 3 hours - It's a three-hour journeyIt's a 10 kilometre trip - The trip is 10 kilometresHow to avoid personal questions
How to avoid personal questions
What kind of questions, and in what kind of situations, could be difficult, inappropriate and/or embarrassing?
Filling in a formapplying for a service or product (online or face to face)meeting someone for the first time and making small talkjob interviews
(to deflect - desviar)
Are the following expressions “Asking a personal question”(Q) or “Responding to a personal question”(R)? Why do you ask? (R)That’s got nothing to do with you. (R)I know this is a bit personal, but... (Q)Can I ask you a personal question? (Q)That’s rather a personal question. (R)I hope you don’t mind me asking, but…(Q)I’m afraid that’s none of your business. (R)I’d rather not answer that (if you don’t mind). (R)I know this is a bit nosey, but…(Q) (nosey = entrometido/a, indiscreto/a, 'meter las narices')Mind your own business! (R) SHOWS ANNOYANCEI don’t mean to pry, but….(Q) - (to pry - entrometerse)I’m sorry to say I’m not prepared to answer that. (R)No comment. (R)I don’t want/wish to comment on that. (R) If you don’t mind m, I’d like to ask....(Q) Would it bother you if I asked…(Q) I’ll understand if you don’t want/wish to answer, but…(Q) I’d r