6 Things Americans Are Better At Than British People

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In today's video, I talk about stuff Americans are better at than British people. Should make for a lively comments section.
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[@clupus63]

As an American, I just want to say congratulations on remaining a You Tube sensation.

[@donnaj9964]

Yay! Way to go!! 🍾🥂(Sorry; I just had to!)

[@Heartwing37]

Same!

[@timacrow]

As an American Web Bot, I would like to say Subscribe!

[@danquaylesitsspeltpotatoe8307]

1) being conned by would be tyrannical dictator 2) having imaginary friend because the flat earth book tells them too 3) thinking the world is flat and 6000 years old! 4) Not being able to grasp evolution is a fact 5) living in fundy majority towns where the household income is below 25k a year! and the education level is year 9-10!

[@twoeyedjack6836]

As a British person I'd just like to say this channel is not that great. Laurence seems to have forgotten what it was like in the UK for example it is fairly common for companies to offer gym membership or at least a discount as a perk.

[@olderwiser64]

We don’t litter because we boomers were tortured by a public service announcement/ad campaign using a Native American on a horse looking at all the litter we threw on the land and he cried with one tear in his eye. It was emotional hostage taking AND IT WORKED. Not only did it stop us from littering, but we would NEVER let our kids litter either-that’s how effective that ad campaign was. Bravo, I say, to whoever came up with that!

[@Kurious2no]

I remember that ad well. Oddly enough it was Lady Bird Johnson who pushed the "Beautify America" activities. Good for her!

[@jeancranston304]

The amount of litter on beautiful country roads in the UK astonishes me. People must just toss stuff out the window. Here in the US, lots of us just drive around with our trash until it just is disgusting.

[@MarkHadley206]

@@Kurious2no That’s good ON her👍🏼

[@stellangios]

​@@jeancranston304 people in my city throw fast food containers, wrappers, and whole meals out of the window regularly. And probably because bathroom facilities aren't easily accessible and drivers are under a lot of pressure, a lot of water bottles with not water in them also get tossed. I wish the US was better about not littering. I actually clean up trash (especially candy wrappers and chips bags) around the neighborhood for fun. I never run out of opportunities for fun. 🙃

[@stellangios]

Technically he was an Italian guy in Indigenous stereotype drag, and he was in a canoe. But still I'm glad it worked!! 👍

[@KylieMalchusArt]

Thanks for always being kind to Americans. Maybe it's just me, but I'm so used to everyone hating on us (including fellow Americans!) that it comes as a shock when someone actually says something nice 😅 I've always been in love with British culture, but your videos have caused me to appreciate my own just a little more too. Thanks! P.S. glad you're one of us now. We needed you.

[@kylezdancewicz7346]

I’m fine if another American harps on American English because it’s usually more light hearted, but I have seen some Europeans that actually think their better because they speak British English and not American English.

[@nothanks9503]

Americans invented self criticism and our culture is so pervasive that every country in earth also picked up our culture of criticizing Americans

[@protorhinocerator142]

@@nothanks9503 Canada enters the chat, eh?

[@nothanks9503]

@@protorhinocerator142 I wouldn’t say Canada adopted our culture of criticism of Americans but you’re using an American phrase to express your opinion at the moment regardless it has their own thing where they maintain an apologetic stance with intermittent periods of unapologetic war crimes

[@monkbeats290]

@@nothanks9503I really don’t think that’s what it is lol. I think processed food, private healthcare, and ignorance of how the rest of the world works are more legitimate reasons. With that being said, Europe definitely isn’t perfect either.

[@ThirdLawPair]

"As long as you are communicating effectively and with respect... the outcome will be fine." Solid wisdom.

[@marklar7551]

Although, it is a solid way to get taken advantage of. Not all US citizens are nice folks.

[@protorhinocerator142]

I find any favor prefaced with "Hey" usually causes a positive vibe even if it's not a positive result. Example. Hey so can I borrow your umbrella? I have some stuff in the car I need to bring in. Sorry man but I'm just about to leave. Maybe ask Bob.

[@seandobbins2231]

@@marklar7551 respectfulness doesn't require a lack of vigilance. You absolutely can be respectful to others while safeguarding yourself.

[@BinroWasRight]

@@seandobbins2231 Wonderfully said!

[@johnroscoe2406]

@@marklar7551 While that is an absolutely fair and sound point, I am quite sure you can say that about all civilizations everywhere.

[@grannypeacock]

My mother is from Britain and she puts down kids who are pleased (chuffed) with themselves for getting better grades after hard work. She says it's a British thing but my British friends point out there's a difference between not celebrating success and being a jerk

[@anitapeludat256]

I'm curious, would you say perhaps it's a generational perspective by your Mum? I'm 63 and for 5 decades of traveling all over the states and in western Europe, I hesitate to say I've observed many Brits, (well 5 decades worth), can have such a Debbie downer perspective on people, even their own fellow citizens. Is it a generational habit or a national habit for some Brits, not all . Americans, for instance, are disliked everywhere by someone, I'm realistic, people have their own reasons for sure. England seems to get 1st in line on that one for 50 yrs of my life so far . Why? I don't respond in kind, it's harsh but predictable and let it go . I just got to thinking about how many years I've heard it. That's a lot of years.

[@jameshill2450]

It's a very common thing in cultures where you have a very small tight-knit community where everyone has to rely on each other as a whole unit. As a rule you ridicule people who accomplish something good rather than congratulate them, because you need everyone to be equal and you can't afford to have one person get a big head and start feeling like they're better than any of it.

[@uncletiggermclaren7592]

"very small tight-knit community" "has to rely on each other as a whole unit." Are you talking about the British People?. Who took over a sixth of the land surface of the world?. Who virtually MADE the modern world, Industrial Manufacturing, 90% of Scientific Advances, have English Speaking Peoples in a dozen successful countries that owe their very EXISTENCE to Great Britain . . . does that sound very "small" and "tight knit" to anyone sensible?. @@jameshill2450

[@faenethlorhalien]

@@jameshill2450 Yup, kinda like here in Japan. There's this adage, "Deru kugi ga utareru", which means that the nail that protrudes gets hammered down", and it's the epitome of this mentality: never try to stand out positively so that you don't make others feel bad or envious, and always try to not fall behind so you won't inconvenience other people. The result? The elevation of absolute and utter mediocrity to the only acceptable standard, and, as a professor, let me tell you that whatever you imagine dealing with people with that mentality feels like, it's EVEN more soul-crushing. The only people who innovate and become GOOD are basically societal outcasts, utter nerds (and I'm not saying this as an insult) who don't give a rat's ass about societal pressure. Most of them end up snatched by American companies and employed abroad, and a few end up in some of the few Japanese corporations that are still world leaders in their fields.

[@jameshill2450]

@@faenethlorhalien I'm not disagreeing, but that's a matter of having different values depending on the kind of life you live. What I'm referring to is SMALL societies and cultures, like a hunter-gatherer style of society where everyone LITERALLY depends on the entire group working together. When you're in Pre-Babylonia and every single person in the clan had to do their part to keep the group fed, you could not afford for one person to start thinking they're smarter than that and move away to California. That was the only guy that knew how to make rope, and now half of the tribe is going to die because Braygrog wanted to go "find himself."

[@elihinze3161]

I definitely noticed the Spanish pronunciation thing during the Great British Baking Show's 'Mexican week'. Every time they said "tres leches", I kept screaming at the TV "IT'S NOT A FRENCH DISH!!!" 🤣

[@a.b.8035]

Something like "tray lash"?

[@ben8147]

@@a.b.8035 bit more like tray lashay

[@evaklum8974]

BARILOCHE ARGENTINA

[@evaklum8974]

​@@ben8147 ANTÁRTIDA ARGENTINA

[@marty5627]

In general I have noticed that British people take great pride in pronouncing all foreign words as if they were English words. Whereas Americans are more likely to try to pronounce foreign words that have been incorporated into American English the way that they would be pronounced in the nation of origin. Per @elihizne3161 comment about Mexican Week, yeah that was one week, but in almost every episode of Great British Baking Show you can hear the contestants and judges slaughtering the pronunciation of French words like “filet” and “herb”. And let’s not forget how they pronounce “pita”!😂

[@bantorio6525]

💙🤍❤ ... I'm an immigrant and came to this wonderful country ... I've visited and stayed in many others, but there's no country like America ... God bless America ... !!!

[@SirSqueakyMoose]

As an American most people I know would congratulate someone having success, it's the American dream to work hard so it's only natural to celebrate success. Laurence you have more subscribers than the population of the State of Wyoming and that is AWESOME!

[@kinpandun2464]

Addendum: It's the American Dream to be Rewarded for Hard Work.

[@Trebor74]

​@@kinpandun2464it's the American dream to work yourself to death chasing the American dream.

[@daveb1177]

I thought the American dream was the one where you show up to school in just your underwear.@@Trebor74

[@MyPhobo]

@@daveb1177 That's actually the American reoccurring nightmare. Easy mistake to make.

[@kylezdancewicz7346]

@@Trebor74your never going to have good life with that attitude, if you work a boring job strive for better, and if you actually really try you might be surprised at what you can do.

[@rossedwardmiller]

Fun UK gym story: I was on a work trip visiting Edinburgh Scotland and hit the gym in the morning. Almost everyone had what I’d call “footballer body” which is very lean with sturdy legs. There was one other guy there who was bigger and more pronounced upper body like me… Canadian. The 2 “biggest guys in the gym” were both visiting from North America

[@kinpandun2464]

It's all the football and hockey.

[@nicolad8822]

Over built upper bodies are ugly.

[@onevastanus]

Careful you don't tip over.

[@dustylong]

​@@onevastanus🤣😂🤣

[@Excalion88]

It's hilarious seeing guys with huge arms and chests with little toothpick legs, though.

[@elstuff1]

The Spanish thing is so funny! As a white American dude, I learned it out of necessity since I lived in a small, mostly Hispanic town. Yeah, mispronouncing Spanish is as egregious as mispronouncing English over here.

[@timmmahhhh]

As an American the way British and Canadians pronounce taco and pasta holds a special place in my lower spine.

[@peterzavon3012]

Except if you are a Texan. In my experience the Texans heavily Anglicize their pronunciation of Spanish place names like Llano and San Jacinto

[@reindeer7752]

The vowels are pronounced the same no matter what Spanish country.

[@LindaC616]

​@@timmmahhhh Oh God, yes. But I've been teaching it for over 30 years, so maybe I've become desensitized...

[@w.reidripley1968]

​@@peterzavon3012...Peggy Hill. We never see her actually teaching Spanish, which is just as well.

[@IndianaDel1]

As of Yesterday, I am a US Citizen. All done in Chicago I also share the fact that my US born wife's first name is Tara too LOL

[@monkeytrainer8135]

Congratulations! What wonderful news! Welcome!

[@bull614]

Welcome to the family brother. We are glad to have you join us.

[@whitelacey333]

Congrats! Well done!

[@youthoughtaboutit6946]

Belated welcome to the country and congratulations on becoming a citizen!

[@BinroWasRight]

Welcome to the American club! Good to have ya, more the merrier 😎

[@lorddrac_dontaskmetodance]

Thank you so much for mentioning American pronunciations of Spanish words. I remember watching a video from a British KZbinr Aiden of Coffeehouse Crime where he sometimes criticizes Americans for how they pronounce certain words, for not pronouncing them for how they are spelled. He did that with the word "taco." It's pronounced "tock-o", but he insisted that it was pronounced "tack-o." Silly English people. They constantly attempt to correct our English, now they dare attempt to correct our Spanish as well? 🙄

[@CherylVogler]

One thing I've noticed is in quite a few fanfiction stories written by British writers the word drawer is spelt 'draw'. I wondered why, then I eventually realized that the word 'drawer' is pronounced as 'draw' (in non-rhotic English), so they must have figured that's how the word is spelt!

[@jasmineb5252]

As a Mexican, as far as I'm aware, taco is pronounced as TA-ko so i would say the americans don't know how to pronounce taco lol

[@evaklum8974]

BARILOCHE USHUAIA A R G E N T I N A

[@SIB1963]

@@jasmineb5252 Uh, yeah, I don't think you've ever heard a Brit say "taco".

[@MiguelEMG]

@@SIB1963both sides don’t know how to pronounce a Spanish A, I’ve always been left unsatisfied by both sides when it came to the pronunciation of a. Had to struggle really hard to teach my white American girlfriend how to say a Spanish A cause it kept sounding so jarring.

[@cynthiaalver]

One Christmas I went to a friend's home in a rural part of our town in Mississippi. There were people coming in and going out all day. It's tradition to stop in for drinks or food and move on to the next stop, with holiday cards and packages or home made additions to the food table. There were two turkeys, a whole roasted hog, ham, shrimp and sausage gumbo, jambalaya, cold and warm potato salad, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, yeast rolls and an 8 foot table of desserts. Pecan pie, pumpkin pie, banana pudding, ambrosia, cranberry cinnamon bread and more. At the end of the day we had counted 75 people who had dropped in. A truly warm and wonderful southern celebration of the holiday spirit.

[@LindaC616]

Oh, my, that's a lot of food! If you have never watched, it you should see the Christmas episode of the Vicar of Dibley. She gets 3 or 4 different invitations to Christmas dinner. And if you have watched it before, go watch it again!😅

[@glennrishton5679]

From the gumbo and jambalaya you could be from the Coast.

[@cynthiaalver]

@@glennrishton5679 Biloxi ❤️

[@penultimateh766]

Since blacks make up 1/3 of Mississippi's population, you probably hosted about 25 of them, is that true?

[@glennrishton5679]

@@cynthiaalver Gulfport Hi Neighbor.

[@LeannaRuthJensen]

I worked on a tourist information 800 number in college, helping French, Spanish, German and British tourists having trouble with the language. British tourists wanting directions to LA Jolla (saying it like jolly with an a on the end) argued with me for 20 minutes about how to say it. I finally gave up and wished them hoy.

[@ronsparks7887]

I remember from Spanish class that "LL" is actually considered a different letter from "L".

[@mikeboosh8776]

@@ronsparks7887 The pronunciation varies from country to country too. I remember visiting Buenos Aires and ordering chicken, pronouncing the double ll as "y" as i'd been taught in classes here in England - so sounding like "po- yo"; and getting strange looks. My colleague explained that they pronounce ll as a cross between a "ch" and a soft "j" there, so it's more like "poj -cho". Similarly, "playa" sounded more like "plajcha" to my ears

[@seven471]

La hoya 😊

[@texasforever1974]

I’m a Texan and the pronunciation of paella was hilarious! Most of us from the border states have at least a rudimentary understanding of the Spanish language. Congrats on becoming a KZbin sensation!!!

[@rachelf5466]

I'm also from a border state and can confirm that everybody where I live has a basic understanding of Spanish pronunciation and can hold a very basic conversation.

[@ku8721]

Peggy Hill has entered the chat

[@OneBentMonkey]

“He gave me the sort of look you give to somebody weeing in a ditch”-I love how hysterically specific this is!! I’m soo going to steal this. Pure genius!! ❤

[@willscott4785]

People weeing in a ditch is not an uncommon sight along British highways. Public "toilets" (restrooms) are few and far between there

[@OneBentMonkey]

@@willscott4785 And if you don’t want to spend 20p when you do find one, a ditch is a viable alternative!

[@marklar7551]

​@@willscott4785yet they complain about our toilet stall doors....😊👽🗿👽

[@willscott4785]

@@marklar7551 Yeah, and don't get me started on the hygiene of British loos, not to mention London call boxes (phone booths). When we moved to England one English friend of ours who had traveled in the States asked, 'Why are you moving here? Don't you like clean restrooms?"

[@janerkenbrack3373]

Americans buy more gym memberships. The actual use of them is a different matter. January at Planet Fitness is almost too crowded to go. But within a week following Valentines Day you can park your care next to the machine you want. This is how they can sell memberships for ten bucks a month and keep their doors open. Most of the customers only go a few times.

[@2Plus2isChicken2013]

That's how it was for me the one time I had a membership to a gym. I went maybe twice and never again. It's not something I really enjoy and there are other ways of getting exercise that cost nothing such as going for a walk.

[@mikeboosh8776]

Same in Britain. I regularly go to the gym here and always hate January as the place is full of fat people sweating over the kit or lurking by the water fountain. By February you can bet there'll only be 1 or maybe 2 extra faces in amongst the regulars.

[@withinyouwithoutyou3]

Park your car next to the machine you want 💀🤣💀🤣

[@kalmtraveler]

What's sad is as a half-Hispanic man, neither my fully Hispanic dad or myself ever learned Spanish. I order chimichangas at Mexican restaurants and get shameful sighs from the staff.

[@sjdrifter72]

Shame, shame, shame. Learn some Spanish!

[@bukketkid2567]

My grandparents never taught us Spanish so we wouldn't have an accent. They said it's to protect us when we get pulled over by the popo 😂

[@teresabillings8378]

My Hispanic friends and classmates were not taught Spanish. Their parents were strict about it. Unfortunately, this caused the children to be unable to communicate with their grandparents. Learning many life lessons from my own grandparents, it's sad that they couldn't learn these lessons too. It's a bit funny now because being bilingual is beneficial when job hunting.

[@KairuHakubi]

It's not like I need to learn swedish or french or german or irish or hebrew for any of my ancestors to be proud of me heh. English will do fine. (I did learn some French though. Mainly because my mom speaks it. also we are significantly English too, so eh) I do sometimes wonder how ethnicity might affect pronunciation though, I mean I have definitely noticed a preponderance of big, fleshy throats on frenchies, and our ability to make the particular noises that language requires... The ultimate one of course being Maurice LaMarche who can communicate entirely in gurgles.

[@johnl5316]

why would you learn Spanish? I don't see the logic.

[@robbymidgettofficial]

I have an uncle who came over from England and my aunt was telling me a story once of the most British thing he had ever done. They were at the grocery store and his son wandered off. When he couldn't find him, he panicked and told my aunt and they split up to start looking. While she was rushing around the store looking for him, my uncle got into a line and patiently waited to tell the customer service rep that his son was missing. Fortunately my aunt found my little cousin, but my aunt saw my uncle standing there and furiously said, "YOU QUEUED UP FOR THIS????"

[@qwazse4]

Litter awareness had been a significant part of American youth education - especially via outdoor programs like Scouting, Campfire, etc … But sports teams and other clubs also adopted clean-up days (esp. Adopt-a-highway). I have serious concerns about how that tradition may carry forward to future generations.

[@marklar7551]

Businesses and other organizations also "adopt a highway" and do their own cleanup of litter all over the place which helps.

[@garythecyclingnerd6219]

Needs to come back. Our cities are getting worse

[@jcmhanel1]

I love your channel! The good thing for you is, none of us care what cousin Chad thinks Just one American getting to the point!😂

[@marklar7551]

Yup, we all know him, and he's a twat 🗿👽🗿

[@misspatvandriverlady7555]

I would imagine American English also wholesale borrows more words from Spanish (rodeo, tornado, habanero, La Niña, El Niño, jalapeño, mariachi, burrito, mesa, salsa (both the food and the dance), nachos, arroyo, and so on, and so forth! 🤔

[@rosameryrojas-delcerro1059]

American English follows every language down dark alleys and robs all of them of thier loose vocabulary, extended vernacular and random colloquialisms.

[@Denpachii]

@@rosameryrojas-delcerro1059 As well as happily impregnating some of them with slightly odd results. (thinking of German)

[@LindaC616]

​@@rosameryrojas-delcerro1059😅😅

[@LindaC616]

And more from the indigenous languages: hurricane, canoe, hammock (taino), puma, quinoa, llama, alpaca, etc (quechua), for example

[@w.reidripley1968]

Roughly summarizing: Southwestern terrain from Sierra to arroyo, and equipment for cowboys. Plus a few naughty words, of which gringo is the mildest. That one dates from the Mexican War, when things were a little fraught.

[@EmmaCruises]

I think Americans do encouragement a lot better (and Canadians and Australians do too). I’ve always worked with Brits but now with lots of Americans and they are sooooo encouraging! 😂💕

[@signalfire15]

Every success, no matter how big or small, is deserving of celebration. Seeing people (even complete strangers) working towards something and reaching their goals… it’s special and beautiful. I love being able to add to their joy in whatever way I can.

[@myopinion6092]

we now arent you just singing your own praises .sad

[@protorhinocerator142]

In the military they have promotion parties. 30 people of various ranks might get promoted that month. They throw a promotion party and the promotees chip in for it. Free food and drinks for the well-wishers. Celebration is pretty much assured.

[@withinyouwithoutyou3]

You gotta take them where you get them or life can get tedious and boring. When you stop celebrating the small stuff things get bleak fast lol

[@dshepherd107]

These never get old Laurence. You’ve not posted a single one I haven’t thoroughly enjoyed 🙂

[@davidwilkins5932]

That’s because he’s a true KZbin Sensation. Never underestimate his abilities. 😶

[@LorettaMoore1234]

British go to hospital. Americans go to the hospital. "I'm in hospital." "I'm in the hospital."

[@balancedactguy]

In the US we say "Go to College" ...Brits say "Go to University"!

[@allenwilliams1306]

@@balancedactguy A British “College“ could be set up for pupils/students aged from 4 to 90. A College need not have anything to do with education: for example, the College of Heralds and the Royal College of General Practitioners. The word has no specific educational application at all. That's why we don't “go to college”; the phrase doesn't have a meaning of any significance.

[@balancedactguy]

@@allenwilliams1306 You missed the point completely We say "Go to College" ...even when mostly you're headed to a University. They don't. Period. I found your boring response having no significance.

[@allenwilliams1306]

@@balancedactguy “They don't. Period.” You have forgotten to say who “they” are, and what it is they don't do. Your previous sentence explained what “you” do. I do understand what you mean by “Period”: “full stop”. Secondly, to spell it out, the significance of what I wrote was to explain why in Britain “to go to college” is a phrase, essentially, devoid of meaning, and we never use it to mean “to go to university”. Universities generally are not colleges in any event. The US usage is bewildering. I don't give a shit that you are too stupid to appreciate this, or that you found my response boring.

[@isoldejaneholland8370]

The US comic Jim Gaffigan does a whole bit about that whole "I'm in hospital" thing, and he's hilarious as always.

[@egpx]

Brit here. Spanish was not an option back in the 70s when I was going through school. French was compulsory and German available as an option. Of course Spanish would have been very useful as many Brits went to (and plenty still do) Spain for their holidays (vacation if you prefer it). It’s no longer an issue as most Spaniards seem to have learnt English and in some cases speak it better than the Brits who go there. There has, however, been a bit of an upturn in the number of Brits learning Spanish over the past few years, including me. Alas, I’m just about to give it up after four months of it as I naturally assumed I’d be fluent in it by now but reality has shown that I’m completely useless at it. I’ll maybe try and revive my CSE level French instead or just save my money and shout at any foreigner in English as is the traditional way.

[@dave8599]

After what the germans did in two world wars, we should have outlawed german, and forced them to speak English.

[@trickygoose2]

I'm British and went to school in the '80s and only French and German were available.

[@egpx]

@garyallen8824 to be honest any native Spanish speakers round here speak English! There’s not that many of them. My Spanish teacher is Scottish. She teaches Castilian Spanish.

[@stardust949]

Hey! I have a pretty Great American-British Hosting anecdote to share (if anyone even reads this, because, alas...I am NOT a KZbin Sensation). A year ago my youngest son, age 29 and totally American born and raised just DECIDED he was by-God going to Britian for a week or so in December!! There is a small seaside town in the UK that has the Same Name as our Last Name---and my young man decided he wanted to see a bit of London, and then travel to this small city. He did. AND, being the gregarious American he is, he went to a Pub, where many British People were watching their "football" play off (Soccer) and he struck up a conversation with some local guy----who promptly invited him to his Mum & Dad's home for a Sunday Dinner!!!!! My kid had a great time and got to explain many American Things to the enthralled residents of your fair homeland.

[@deborahdanhauer8525]

Yep! I’m having my whole family this weekend at my little bitty home for Christmas. We will be tripping over each other and giggling and it will be glorious!❤️🤗🐝🎄 Merry Christmas! Happy Solstice! Happy Hanukkah! Ya’ll!

[@lonestar2078]

I'm learning Spanish on my phone. seemed like it'd be a good idea since I work at a farm store and there's a noticeable Spanish-speaking population. definitely not a majority of our customers, but there's enough of them that I finally said "I seriously need to learn Spanish to better communicate with these folks". been more than a year and I'm still basically at the level of a toddler

[@Benson_aka_devils_advocate_88]

Find the ones that can speak both pretty well and let them know you want to learn. They should be able to teach you a few basics that are specific to your job and from there it usually starts falling into place. I worked for the City of Phoenix water department and had to learn some basic sayings to communicate my intentions. From there I put together a decent vocabulary, enough to be understood at least. Tens years later and I don't remember squat, tho. So there's that too.

[@LindaC616]

​@Benson_aka_devils_advocate_88 It's a fabulous suggestion! I have been teaching Spanish for over 30 years. I find that people who go into an immersion experience with a little bit of a background retain it longer than people who have no background at all and just Immerse themselves. Use it or lose it. But you are exactly right -- finding someone who wants to learn a little English and doing an exchange over coffee or a beer once a week, half an hour in Spanish in half an hour in English will help you learn a lot. Also, your local church or community center might have a group for English Conversation tutoring one night a week where you can meet people to do the same. Literacy volunteers might be able to help as well.

[@LindaC616]

Oh, and I also wanted to say to have patience with yourself! you did not learn to speak English perfectly until the age of five or six, and even then you made mistakes -- and you were fully immeresed! So you're not going to learn another language from scratch in a year. be kind to yourself.

[@lonestar2078]

@@LindaC616 I tend to talk with them when I'm filling their propane tanks. It's only a handful of minutes, but I love it

[@lonestar2078]

@LindaC616 I tell myself exactly that. It's just, I'm just waiting for the lessons to get to the point where my knowledge of the language can actually be useful lol

[@stevethepocket]

Fun fact about littering: "Don't mess with Texas" was originally a government anti-littering slogan. (Aimed, presumably, at out-of-state tourists.)

[@girhen]

One of my favorite things about a channel called Technology Connections is No Effort November. Alec stops trying to shine everything and have perfect takes for one month. Something fell off a shelf during a take? He looks at it, and either makes a face or reminds us what month it is, and then keeps going. So hey, a low-research and easy-to-make video is perfect! Enjoy the holidays.

[@AlyJeann]

The irony of me watching this having just got home from the gym 😅

[@user-wj1kg8qo3p]

I just finished my home workout

[@user-wj1kg8qo3p]

Cry more about it @@nobody8717

[@lo1bo2]

I did my garage workout a couple hours ago.@@user-wj1kg8qo3p

[@brealistic3542]

I think if gyms offered free snickers bars or ham sandwiches a lot of fatties would start going to the gym.🤔

[@derrickjohnson3574]

Hah, watching this as I was going to the gym.

[@deeblack9393]

Part of the thing about Spanish is that in America, most people learn the Latin American versions, while in the UK, those who learn Spanish learn the version from Spain, two different versions.

[@jamescurfman3284]

That really is a valid point! :)

[@actiondork]

I wish. I took Spanish all throughout school because I thought it would be very handy. Turns out it was Castilian. Did me very little good. 😆 I'm always excited when I bump into a Spaniard because I can actually understand them.

[@l.sexton439]

¡Si senorita Molina! ​@@actiondork

[@jasonrodgers9063]

Sort of like the differences between British & American English.

[@pjschmid2251]

Yes, but neither one of them would pronounce paella as pie-Ella yet a shocking number of British people do just that 🤷🏻‍♀️😳. The first time I heard it on a KZbin channel from a British person I thought they were just trying to be funny, but nope that was how they actually, pronounced it with no jest intended whatsoever.

[@user-fb1on7ie4z]

During an employee review that I received once, my supervisor told me I was too blunt for people in the south (I was living in Tennessee at the time). He said Southerners preferred to beat around the bush. Mind you, I was born and raised in Western USA.

[@LindaC616]

I'm INTJ. I could never survive in the south!😅

[@Timbothruster-fh3cw]

​@@LindaC616For what reason exactly?🤨

[@susanunger4700]

Happened to me that year I lived in the south

[@LindaC616]

@@Timbothruster-fh3cw read much?

[@TheCJTok]

It’s part of trying to be polite. Maybe bring up good things first then offering constructive criticism.

[@davidbryden7904]

It's true that we pronounce a lot of Spanish words fairly well in LA, but most of us still miss pronounce Los Angeles. 😂

[@buradi90]

I took French as an American because every other language class was full and a foreign language was required. I turned out to enjoy it, but Spanish was my first choice because it's what you encounter most.

[@kaelanmcalpine2011]

My mom ended up doing the same thing for mostly the same reason, though she was also a hipster and didn't want to actually take a Spanish class. Initially she wanted, I think it was, either German or Russian but those classes were done away with by the time she would've had a chance to learn them.

[@marklar7551]

I took French because my family are St. Lawrence settlers near Quebec up in NY. Hated it, switched to German since it was easier and sounds mean.

[@buradi90]

@@kaelanmcalpine2011 I tried Spanish first because of prevalence, then German because my older brother took it and my dad had lived there for a while as a kid and would speak a few random German words in daily life at home (the few he remembered). Then, I tried Latin because I figured it would help me figure out medical words and word origins. They were all full, so I ended up with French.

[@buradi90]

@@marklar7551 I also find German easier. I started German on Duolingo.

[@rebeccahicks2392]

I took Italian because I was reading some books translated from it and thought it would be cool to read them in the original, but I can often understand Spanish because of exposure to it.

[@vgpowerlord]

Interesting note: The US doesn't have an official language. The *de facto* language is English, but you'll notice that government documents tend to be available in both English and Spanish.

[@mikeskinner45]

The worst part of "going to the gym" is GOING to to the gym.

[@tallactordude]

And I’m one of those Americans who took French in school and speaks very little Spanish that isn’t food related. So at least I pronounce paella correctly.

[@LindaC616]

Yay, you! This Spanish teacher thanks you!

[@jonesnori]

What I want to know is why so many of us Americans mispronounced llama. That should have a "y" sound, too (well, depending where you live - some countries make that "ll" more like an English "j" or "sh" sound).

[@mrcryptozoic817]

@@jonesnori It's just uncommon enough to never need to crack the pronunciation barrier. There are other imported words which have been, for example: pizza would be mispronounced if it weren't so ubiquitous.

[@kinpandun2464]

​@@jonesnoriThis may be an artefact of WHEN American English acquired the word llama. Also it prevents homonym confusion with the spanish word "llamar", which is arguably used more often by non-hispanic Americans when interacting with the modern Latinx community in their local area then the word "llama" (animal) which in the USA is usually being raised by well-enough off white folk that own land. If they hire latino laborers they might use the Spanish pronunciation when speaking with those guys IN Spanish, but they will go right back to "lamma" when speaking in English, because the word was naturalized to English before we, as a country, really got good at Spanish pronunciation. Probably there was also carry-over from people having hear about the Dalai Lama, honestly. TLDR: Ears are lazy, and the pronunciation was grandfathered in before American white folk developed Spanish listening ears.

[@LynxSouth]

@@jonesnori When a foreign word is 'borrowed' from (any) Language A into (any) Language B, it's natural and normal for the B-speakers to adapt the Language A word to more or less fit Language B rules of spelling and pronunciation. Otherwise, we'd end up with languages too full of unnecessary exceptions to be efficient. Native speakers of all languages do it. In other words, we do not mispronounce the English version of llama any more than we mispronounce the thousands of words we've borrowed from French, Italian, etc. Examples: English: Yankee; Spanish: Yanqui (diff. spelling, ~same sound) Finnish: sauna (sow-nah); English: sauna (saw-nuh) (same spelling, diff. sound) Italian: pizza; Finnish: pitsa (diff. spelling, ~same sound)

[@cyberherbalist]

As an American living in the UK, I am triggered by the fact that they spell "chili" using two Ls over here. "Chilli," I tell them, "is a Spanish word, and would be pronounced 'chiyi' if that's the way it were spelled!" But they ignore me.

[@hatleyhoward7193]

This is a hill to die on.

[@leecarlson9713]

Oh, Lawrence, I am one of those people who invites no one over for the holidays! I became a recluse because of COVID, and being around people now is very difficult for me. I have a small group of friends, and we communicate frequently by text and phone, but I am happiest when I am “in my own little corner, in my own little chair.”

[@pisswobble1571]

Ooh me too.... Perhaps you are secretly English

[@cate9540]

COVID gave us introverts a legitimate reason for preferring to be alone instead of always having to explain why we didn't want to "go out and meet new people".

[@leecarlson9713]

I actually have English heritage. My first ancestor came across the Mayflower, and ten years later my Prince family arrived. Part of my family is in The Domesday Book. So, yes, I can claim being English (although a bit in the past).

[@steveburke7675]

@@cate9540 As an introvert COVID was no problem for me...while my more extroverted amigos were going stir crazy.

[@JeannineDobson]

Ooh, Laurence! Another great video. It still amazes me how you can hone in on the differences between UK and US culture. As an American who studied Spanish (Castilian) for 7 years between high school and college - good on you for learning another language! There's that congratulating thing again, lol. I'd like to suggest for the sequel video that the British/UK do television better than Americans, especially murder mysteries and crime dramas. Americans tend to focus on the gore and horror of the situation, whereas British murder shows concentrate on the why of the crime - motivation, circumstances, etc. Midsomer Murders is a textbook example. But other British TV too: such as Keeping Up Appearances, The Vicar of Dibley, Are You Being Served?, and many others showcase that wonderful dry British wit. And then, of course, there is the force of nature that is Doctor Who.

[@JimCoder]

The littering difference surprised me. I would have guessed the British would be more conscientious about such things. But I'm not as well traveled as Lawrence. My U.S. friends impose a mock "trail tax" on ourselves whenever we hike the woods. It's competitive. Whoever collects the most trash wins the contest. The only prize is a more pleasant hike for _everyone_ and _everyone_ appreciates it, including the winner. Great fun. 😉

[@tengonadacluewhatsgutsprec1419]

It surprised me as well, gotta wonder if maybe it's the decade at which he's lived in these places? Over the last two decades our species as a whole has gotten more conscious of the issue so maybe that's what he's really witnessed.../shrug

[@LindaC616]

Fun idea for hikers!

[@Westpark16]

I would say we are way better than much of Europe with city garbage collection.its not universal but Honestly we have more public toilets ...less public urination..more garbage bins because we have walk and eat on run coffee on go...etc.

[@TechnicolorMammoth]

I love you so much Laurence. I was a massive Anglophile as a kid and teenager growing up in rural Texas. I watched as much football (soccer, you know it literally means the same sport, whatever lol) as I could, I made sure we had Christmas crackers during holidays, I drank tea with milk and biscuits…like English biscuits, but some times with Southern American style biscuits since it went just as well with, and I fell in love with Drum n Bass, English House and UK folk and rock. Not to mention all of the history books and BBC America I’d read and watch. It’s actually where, as an adult, I have had many amazing conversations with British people since I have such a thorough knowledge of the history and culture. I can pick up certain regional dialects and know more often than not in more detail than “London” or “Manchester” where someone is actually from. Speaking of waffling on, haha, I’m pretty good at that too. Looking forward to the follow up to this video! I can definitely think of 6 things Brits do better, but I’ve gone on for far too long. Cheers!

[@kaelanmcalpine2011]

I guess nice to see someone else also loves DnB and British rock music. Though my two favorite DnB artists aren't actually British, they're Dutch and Austrian

[@sergiomessina2037]

Congratulations on 653,000 subscribers!

[@jayarcher4200]

I don't know why, but after listening to your videos, I read the comments below and the voice in my head is an imitation of you. Thanks for being my earworm!

[@elliepass2833]

(I hope you feel better soon, your Eyes looked sad - none of my business) I really appreciate your videos You're awesome 😎🎉 Thank you!!!!

[@LindaC616]

Wasn't it this time last year he lost his father?

[@donnamusick159]

Love the getting to the point part! Southerners will always ask how you are and how your family is doing before diving into the point. However, then you have to get to the point without fluff. Things that I heard often while growing up, "Get to the point", "Don't beat around the bush", etc

[@joelbrown3479]

👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 Great save,can't wait for Part2. Keep up the GREAT WORK

[@David-gh1hj]

Thank you for not being lost in the pond. Merry Christmas!

[@rachelgates509]

Really surprised about the littering thing!!

[@blakeharvard5841]

Glad to see your channel again. Learning Castilian Español myself.

[@patrickchipman8652]

Something that I've noticed as a difference between British and American English is the fact that the pronunciation of words that come from other languages are very different. Americans tend to pronounce the word as close to the original as they can, whereas Brits tend to make it sound more, well, English. Of course there will be exceptions, but just some food for thought.

[@protorhinocerator142]

The alyoominnium you say...

[@darbyheavey406]

The British pronunciation usually helps with spelling…..

[@TheAttacker732]

The most interesting thing about that is that it even applies, counterintuitively, to the English language. English pronunciation in the New World has been relatively unchanged for ~3 centuries. English pronunciation in Britain was dramatically shifted during Victorian times, and has been shifting since.

[@spjr99]

i assume that is a result of the many languages spoken here and the general culture of acceptance and adopting over assimilation

[@robertmarley9380]

@@protorhinocerator142al-uh-min-ee-um (though usually last two syllables are just merged to be pronounced "yum" unless you're explaining how spell it out loud 😂)

[@yesloow]

Solid video, my man! Look at you, all out here killing it!

[@sandyaw3057]

I would love to learn Spanish so I could converse extensively with my new Puerto Rican son-in-law’s family. Most speak English but some do not so it would be a plus if I could speak Spanish.

[@LindaC616]

Be patient with yourself, it's not a sprint, it's a marathon!

[@naomioconnor4107]

I have gym equipment at home, and use it. Perhaps our larger homes allow such

[@quaintlyeccentric]

I enjoy your opinion pieces just as much as the researched ones! Keep sharing, please!

[@chrisdroste3296]

Knowing the Spanish pronunciation actually makes it a little fun banter when discussing food comes up; I'll deliberately say "quesa dill-a" when I'm with my kids and they laugh and correct me, knowing full well I'm just teasing

[@williambarnes3125]

Always a good day when litp posts!!

[@dwc1964]

My favorite British mispronunciation of Spanish was _Don Quixote_ as "Don Quicks-oat"

[@jamesengland7461]

OUCH! That hurt my ears 😂

[@allenwilliams1306]

Don Quixote is pronounced Don Quix-ote. “X” is generally pronounced “ks”, as in the brand of washing-up liquid called “Quix”. “-ote” is pronounced here as in mote, vote, tote, note, rote, etc., so there is no need to change it to “oat”, although that has an identical sound, unless you a Geordie. Cervantes, by the way, is pronounced Sir-VAN-tease”.

[@evaklum8974]

DON QUIJOTE

[@evaklum8974]

​@@jamesengland7461 DON QUIJOTE

[@evaklum8974]

​@@allenwilliams1306 DON QUIJOTE

[@LoganJohnson-lm2bh]

He's always good for a chuckle .

[@nelliep1530]

Love these videos. I've learned so much about the differences between the two countries

[@nobody8717]

winning revolutionary wars in the years of 1760 through 1795. if that's not one, then we've lost our way as a people.

[@betsyr4724]

Excellent point

[@melissacoelho8413]

Love your channel, it has actually taught me things I didn’t know. Example, why we both speak the same language, but pronounce certain words differently or simply use different words for the same thing. I find that fascinating. Truly love your channel and love learning new perspectives I never thought of. So as a American (USA) thank you.

[@brianb160]

Back in the 70s and 80s, there was a LOT more litter around in the US. I remember being a kid and seeing people throw fast food bags out of their car windows on the highway quite regularly. It took years of PSAs and a mountain of tickets from the police to break that national habit.

[@crs7937]

yup, me too. I have been to Italy, Spain, France a few times....they look as dirty as Tijuana, MX. Total pigs!

[@thomasbraeking6225]

The Cayuhoga River catching fire stimulated a lot of the environmental clean-up. Around 4-5 years later, the EPA was established.

[@garythecyclingnerd6219]

It’s getting worse.

[@SMElder-iy6fl]

Merry Christmas to you and Tarah, Laurence!

[@switchbladejones]

You’re so good at this. Very entertaining!

[@kennedymcgovern5413]

The littering thing is regional. I live in the South and I have lived in the Midwest. Litter is not a problem in these places. But I am originally from the northeast. Litter is bad there.

[@LindaC616]

Yep Midwesterner now on the east coast

[@samuelloftin3166]

Had me chuckling. Gracias!

[@richb313]

Perfect post just before Christmas.

[@onehundredpercentmaxnochil9720]

My previous workplace had a really good gym on the premises and I really loved using the gym 🇺🇲

[@DrGlynnWix]

In my head, his wife's cousin Chad exists and is his biggest fan. He loves having him bringing him up in videos and it's a fun inside joke for him them that he gives Laurence a hard time. 😊

[@brianbunker2150]

Great job mate smashing video.

[@davidkyle5017]

Happy New year : ) Thanks for all the entertainment last year. looking forward to more of the same in '24

[@jasonrodgers9063]

I speak fluent Spanish (as long as it's a menu item!).

[@Isthatyoudermot]

I speak fluent Chinese, if by Chinese you mean the number on the menu.

[@mareshamead8862]

Thank you for addressing the paella issue. I've lived in London for over a year now, and it still drives me nuts whenever British people say 'paella'. Spanish language and Hispanic culture is so much a part of US culture that even though I'm not of Mexican descent, I was really excited that the Mexican embassy sponsored a Dia de Muertos event in London because it helped ease some of my homesickness.

[@georgio101]

Might comfort you to learn paella is not from Spanish, but Catalan. Really it should be pronounced something like 'paelya', with the same sound some English speakers use in the middle of the word 'million'.

[@monkeytrainer8135]

My parents used to have some friends from England. The wife pronounced tacos as “TACK-os”. It made my skin crawl.

[@ddemaine]

@@monkeytrainer8135 I'm informed by my Spanish friends, "tack-os" how it's pronounced in (some parts of) Spain.

[@sluggo206]

@@ddemaine Spanish a is partway toward a in cat, which Americans are never told. You can tell when you hear American "Gwodamala" and Spanish "Guatemala" side by side. Geoff Lindsey has a video on this, "Who pronounces foreign words like 'pasta' right?"

[@LindaC616]

Happy Christmas, Laurence and Tara! And condolences, bc it's a sad time of year as of a year or so, and that doesn't go away quickly.

[@suechapel1443]

Congratulations Lawrence 👏 on all your successes! 😊

[@GizmoFromPizmo]

I cracked up when you said, "Probably all bots isn't it?" 😆

[@calebleland8390]

Number one on that next list would certainly have to be sarcasm. I always thought myself quite the sarcastic git, especially since I grew up watching so much British television. But after many more years of delivering into British programs, movies, and comedians, I've learned that we Yanks have nothing on our cousins across the pond when it comes to that art form.

[@Clobercow1]

Thank you for getting to the point.

[@NikkiRhodeen]

Congratulations on 650k subs! 🎉🎊🍾🎈 love from Connecticut, USA 🇺🇸

[@Anelisa8520]

I learned French in school as a kid on the East Coast, moved to California (part of Mexico til 1850!) and d'oh... Sure wished I'd learned Spanish. We do inevitably pick up bits of Spanish here. And having some French helps with learning Spanish... *a little* more than it confuses my Spanish attempts. With a lil Spangrench now n then, when my other-language memory defaults to French!

[@jesseberg3271]

An ally of the Spartans once sent an envoy to them asking for supplies to help their city through a war. The envoy got up before the Spartan assembly and began to give a speech about the ancient ties of friendship between their two peoples and the dastardly acts of agression by their enemies. Eventually, a leading Spartan got up, silenced the man, and told him, "Too many words. Come back tomorrow." The next day the envoy came before the Spartan Assembly holding an empty sack. He said, "Need weapons." and the Spartand voted to give him what he needed, and he headed home. Although it was mentioned to him, by one particular loquacious and gregarious Spartan that it would have been enough to merely hold up the sack and say, "Weapons".

[@cynthiajohnston424]

There's a " Designing Women " episode similar to this when Julia Sugarbaker goes on one of her rants & is told to cut it way down ! 😂😂

[@cynthiajohnston424]

@garyallen8824 Still enjoy DW & have been known to binge watch . AP on Young Sheldon is a great character & glad she has a featured role . On occasion I go off on a rant ( bad service , poor manners , political / social injustices , etc. ) at which point my husband jokingly ( ? ) accuses me of " going all Julia Sugarbaker " on someone or something . I take that as a compliment ! 😂

[@Carolmaizy]

Love your work!

[@jimpolk]

Merry Christmas Lawrence

[@neen42]

Spain is a frequent vacation spot for lots of folks in the UK, and Spain is close.

[@TechnicolorMammoth]

Well yeah, that’s why it’s hilarious how terrible Brit’s are on average with saying Spanish words.

[@LindaC616]

​@@TechnicolorMammothyes!

[@neen42]

I've seen some shows of brits in Spain - reminded me very much of some Americans. Going somewhere else but doing the same stuff, eating the same food, and being shocked when someone suggests they try or learn something new!

[@neen42]

Keep in mind i realize these are some British folks, just like some Americans.

[@mellonlord4616]

I really loved that last one. I have been thinking about this a lot with the criticism that Americans are rarely bilingual in that I think in time we'll all be fairly competent in Spanish. All Americans I think can at least get through some basic greetings and would likely know a few hundred words of Spanish. And yeah, we're certainly better at pronouncing it, I'll never get over how Hugh Grant said the word 'Adios' in that movie with Julia Roberts. I kept playing it over and over trying to figure out what he said, took me half a dozen times and then my jaw fell on the floor.

[@LindaC616]

I think you're being generous with "a few hundred words". Likely in the 10s, unless they've had classes before (and it is the most popular choice of language). Source: 30+ yrs of teaching it

[@signalfire15]

@@LindaC616Most Americans take Spanish in school.

[@LindaC616]

@@signalfire15 ergo my comment "it's the most popular choice"

[@bethmeredith]

Great video!

[@melanieneill3398]

Laurence you make me proud to be an American! Thank you for your videos… I’m happy you are in the states. You are a great ambassador!!!

[@stanpotter7764]

You're so smart and hilarious! You've mastered the deadpan. I'm proud to call you a fellow American! 🤟🇺🇸🤜🏻🤛🏻

[@balancedactguy]

Well Laurence...you are now at 657K Subscribers AND you gained at least 250 views from when I began watching this very episode!

[@nadenrc]

Lawrence I’m so glad I found you on KZbin you are educational plus funny

[@patriciajohnsonson8639]

I am watching this video on Christmas Day. So Merry Christmas to you and your wife, Laurence.

[@Justiceincorporated.]

Ooooooo Laurence😊

[@dlaserus]

I am 40 and have lived in America all my life. I can tell you that littering used to be a much bigger problem in America. But when I was a kid, there was a concentrated effort to reduce it. Between ads, more public garbage cans going up, and general social pressure, it is true that littering has all but dissappeared.

[@marklar7551]

There are bad areas for litter, mostly near cities, and some due to just the amount of landfill we generate and some falling out of collection spots and trucks that haul it. The fines are huge and we live in the dash cam age as well, so you rarely see anything pitched out the window. See tons of beer cans and other assorted alcohol containers all across the country though.

[@jamesmason8436]

As a Brit I've the opposite experience, in that littering wasn't a problem at all when I was a kid but has become a problem in recent decades, largely due to the emergence of fast food outlets. That said, it's a regional problem rather than widespread. Largely confined to certain parts of towns and cities than absolutely everywhere. There's never any litter in my more middle class/ family orientated neighbourhood, but when I visit some of my family and friends elsewhere in the city where there's lot more younger singletons, students and, frankly, migrants from the developing world, it's shocking how much is just dumped in the street.

[@pretzeltime3900]

Oooooo Laurence…You have become my very favorite KZbinr. Waiting excitedly for Part 2.

[@Merle1987]

The getting to the point thing is so valid.

[@susanwillingham2295]

I go to the gym faithfully February-December but refuse to go from the first of the year until the crowds of new years resolutioners drop out.