The "DON'Ts" of UK Culture | Easy English 125

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Easy Languages is an international video project aiming at supporting people worldwide to learn languages through authentic street interviews and expose the street culture of participating partner countries abroad. Episodes are produced in local languages and contain subtitles in both the original language as well as in English.
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Producers of this episode: Mitchell Hargreaves, Isabell Hargreaves-Schmid
#learnenglish #easyenglish #easylanguages

[@EasyEnglishVideos]

Please support Mitch and Isi - easyenglish.video/membership

[@Mitchy810]

Seems UK and Japan have something in common; we often say sorry a little too much and we say 'pants' meaning underwear. But it's only in the western part of Japan that people stand in the right side on escalators, people in eastern part of Japan like Tokyo stand in the left side.

[@EasyEnglishVideos]

I'm happy to hear that, fellow Mitchy 👋 I spent a small amount of time in Japan and absolutely fell in love

[@nealgrimes4382]

pants meaning underwear is an Americanism, older people such as myself often use Pants to mean Trousers.

[@essexitagermeng5504]

Other big ‘not to do’ here is to be loud either by speaking or playing music especially on trains where people enjoy reading, and taking an extra seat for one’s own bag.

[@mariannereuter]

Oh, I remember I was standing on the left side of the elevator during my last trip to London. It was quickly clear this was a faut pax. Can't quite remember what people said, but I understood that I was the only one standing left. I won't forget it. 😅

[@EasyEnglishVideos]

😳😳😳😳😳 I feel bad for you... I think in the last few years they made signs, mainly to stop the immense passive aggressiveness, I imagine.

[@mariannereuter]

@@EasyEnglishVideos Don’t worry, I‘m German. I‘m used to direct speech. 😉

[@EasyEnglishVideos]

Oh thank God 😜

[@nealgrimes4382]

This is only relevant in London, where i'm from people would be annoyed if you tried to push past them.

[@macclift9956]

The Brits are a wonderful culture! One of the best!

[@mathewchan5148]

If the subtitle is made optional instead of burnt into the video that would be really great, 'cause some English learners like myself find it helpful to first have the subtitle off to test out on the listening. But great videos and topics always!

[@EasyEnglishVideos]

Hi Mathew, you can get downloads of the episodes with and without subtitles as one of many perks in our membership - patreon.com/easyenglishvideos

[@essexitagermeng5504]

Other big ‘not to do’ here are speaking or listening to music too loud and taking an extra seat for one’s own bag.

[@johnwhite7330]

We do queue here in Japan.

[@vladimirkuliashov3020]

Really interesting video, thanks!

[@danogunner]

It’s so random… rule of the road is “keep left, pass right” in South Africa… makes little sense why you pass on the left when walking. In SA people tend to pass on the right - whether driving or walking

[@AccioPadfoot12]

I'm American. The biggest 'not to do' for me is to talk loudly. One fits in much better by behaving in a demure manner rather than our potential 'in your face' obnoxious manner (or some of us, anyway). Actually, the solid 'not to do' thing would be don't forego research on (any place) you plan to travel to. Online resources can inform you on social and cultural guidelines.

[@kerimvisualinformatics3616]

I love the British🇬🇧 accent my mouth accustomed that

[@mendicius_jade]

When I bump into somebody, I automatically say 'sorry', who cares who bumped first, I'll just say sorry for the inconvenience and go on walking. I have more important things to do than to engage in some small-case, meaningless fights.

[@riz8437]

Never assume everyone is English, never confuse England and the UK and never assume that everyone likes the royals.

[@antygona-iq8ew]

I am not native speaker ( female), once I wanted to complement my work colleagues ( I got on well with her) on the thourser she was wearing as she ussally wore dresses and I said to her : you look nice when you wear your pants. She look so bewildered.

[@EasyEnglishVideos]

🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂

[@nealgrimes4382]

I am English and i often say Pants to mean Trousers.

[@Hadrianus01]

It's odd how in Britain, you drive on the left and the left lane is the slow lane, but you stand on the right on the escalator!

[@EasyEnglishVideos]

It's like we want you to get it wrong 😆

[@steveb149]

@@EasyEnglishVideos It comes from the World War the metal was taken from 1 side so Brits had to stand on right. We still do after

[@nicolapicola4502]

Oops, I think I got that escalator thing wrong while I was there 😁 eek 😬

[@steliosieronymakis2480]

1:27 What can't you do after 11pm? 3:08 If you stand on the left you're likely to have... 4:20 What do Brits typically do with queue-jumping? 4:52 Saying 'pants' instead of 'trousers' shows... 8:23 What happens in the Tube?

[@EasyEnglishVideos]

Loving these chapters 💙

[@greenghoul157]

As hard as some names are to pronounce please try to get them right, ask around and look up how to pronounce the names of places, also don't just visit London there are other places like up north of England you've got York and there's Scotland that are friendly and love tourism

[@benghiz9905]

Very cool interviewees👍

[@EasyEnglishVideos]

Thanks for watching Ben 🙌

[@benghiz9905]

@@EasyEnglishVideos 🙏👍

[@AahhBurnedToast]

I speak English natively and some of these things are strange to find out about the UK

[@AngelineHargreaves]

DON'T call Wales ,Northern Ireland or Scotland ,England ! Wales , Scotland and England and NORTHERN Ireland are all very proud seperate places joined as the United Kingdom /Great Britain

[@EasyEnglishVideos]

This is such a good one... can't believe no one mentioned it.

[@juanfran579]

I've kept trying again and again to get on the driver's side into the car. Difficult to get used to not to try driving off with someone else's car when you are with British drivers.

[@antygona-iq8ew]

I would say newer respond sincerely to "how are you". It took me ages to understand that this is just meaningless greeting and no one actually want to know how I am.

[@EasyEnglishVideos]

This is Isi’s “don’t”. I never realised how impractical it is to greet someone with a question that… is t really a question 😆

[@antygona-iq8ew]

@@EasyEnglishVideos I am from Poland, in Poland back in the days, the "how are you" was reserved for friends/ colleagues. Usually people asked this question when they care or at least wanted to pretend to care, how some feels/ getting on. I think now it changed but I would say that is still reserved for people who know each other a bit.

[@MadlinGrünhagel]

What would happen in the UK if there was a large queue in the supermarket and you'd approach with just one or two items? Would people ask you to go first? That's what usually happens in Germany at least. It's usually a funny scene to watch. Not sure why we do it but it's become almost a polite obligation. (Yes, we can be polite but we'd never say sorry if we're not sorry. But that's probably no surprise) Cheers! 😂

[@EasyEnglishVideos]

Good question... if someone came to the checkout with only 2 items and I had multiple, I would probably ask if they wanted to go ahead of me. However, in the UK we usually have 3 different checkouts; one for shopping trolleys (multiple items), one for carry baskets or less than 10 items and then the self-service.

[@heroicsquirrel3195]

Depends on the person, its not expected, sometimes i do it sometimes i dont

[@mrw1783]

We do let people go first. Especially at Aldi.

[@fitzrory]

Another one: you should always wait for everyone else to get off the bus or train before you get on - even when it’s busy!

[@EasyEnglishVideos]

That's a top one! Really important or else you'll even have the driver moaning at you

[@seham370]

Don't be late in britain .... I knew that in one of your vidéos ... thanks for the vidéo , very usefull as usally

[@EasyEnglishVideos]

Hahahaha I'm glad you've actually learnt something from our videos 🙌

[@seham370]

😂😂😂😂😂😂👍👍👍👍

[@klimtkahlo]

Tuts: plural noun - an exclamation of disapproval or annoyance. "tut-tuts of disapproval" I had to look for myself so I figured I spared someone the bother and share it! Not that it is much of a bother to look for stuff nowadays, but still…

[@EasyEnglishVideos]

Thanks Klimt, good research... this and the rest of the episodes vocabulary is broken down in our learning extras if anyone wants to become an Easy English member - patreon.com/easyenglishvideos

[@TriciawiththeTRUTH]

I wondered while watching too, but figured it out with the context. Sounds similar to maybe a scoff? Maybe an ugh? I think we have a few in the USA too.

[@rosameijering5161]

I am from The Netherlands but many things I do the same

[@TriciawiththeTRUTH]

I've always heard getting in a line was a big thing in the UK but can someone tell me how it differs from the USA? I haven't been to the UK yet. Thanks!

[@EasyEnglishVideos]

One time I was waiting outside a shop whilst a friend was inside. And without noticing, people had started to line up behind me to queue for that shop. British people queue unintentionally; if there were 3 lanes, one had a long queue, the other, slightly less and the other lane was free, most British people would get into the slightly less longer queue thinking they'd beaten the system 😆

[@TriciawiththeTRUTH]

@@EasyEnglishVideos Veeeeery interesting! 🤣 I feel like many people here in the USA would try a lot of politeness too, BUT we probably wouldn't be as patient. I think many of us would try and find a quicker way. Thanks for the example 😃🙏🌏

[@andrewbarrett42]

How do Americans queue?

[@richardtree6645]

Had a Japanese girl try to pay me a compliment by saying to me "you look like a movie star" as nice as this may sound my reply was" hope you don't mean porn star? "

[@amerikawoche8243]

I was recently in Manchester & Liverpool and am quite proud I didn't get killed by a car or tram when crossing the street. I was rather unsure of myself on escalators, or even walking the streets, as I didn't know how reflexively brits stay left when except when to pass. I just thought that - maybe - most people are right-handed, and therefore it is better to use that arm when hanging on for dear life. Maybe? The people movers at Manchester airport were broken so I didn't get a chance there. Will have to look into the situ at John Lennon Airport. Never knew it was called that - have to pinch a sign from there someday.

[@antygona-iq8ew]

Staying on the right side on escalator is paramount in London underground, especially during busy morning hours. Before pandemics, tubes where very overpacted with the service running frequently late. Having some inconsiderable in the way in addition to all of that is just annoying.

[@EasyEnglishVideos]

I have a question; is it signposted nowadays to keep to the right in all Underground stations?

[@antygona-iq8ew]

@@EasyEnglishVideos I actually not sure. There used be some safety audio announcement in underground, I think they said you should stay on the right side and hold the handrail at all the time, but they also said do not walk or run. I haven't heared any since pandemic but I don't travel to busy station anymore. Before I used to get off at Waterloo, which was really busy. Out of curiosity I will check if I can see any, next time I travel.

[@klimtkahlo]

Also what is the “off-license” that closes at 11? Answer: a store selling alcoholic beverages for consumption elsewhere (British English)

[@trevormillar1576]

A liquor store. The term "off'licence" comes from the sign over the door that says" licenced fif the sale of alcoholic liquors for consumption OFF the premises ", I.e not to be drunk in the shop.

[@fadeltauma4296]

Peace How do I find out my language is toward improving gradually.

[@EasyEnglishVideos]

Good question! Unless you have someone to practice conversational English with, I guess it'd be about how much you understand of these episodes without having to re-watch them? I hope my answer is okay, as it's a good question to ask.

[@malte5140]

I always watch other "easy..." videos, and at first I wonder for 10 seconds where the other subtitles of the second language are Edit: it's possible to give the option to turn subtitles on and off?

[@EasyEnglishVideos]

Our membership offers the video without the hard coded subtitles for all our videos for €5 a month 😁

[@boontime]

It's true, when us Brits went on our killing spree around the world you could guarantee just as you were being stabbed to hear the words 'Terribly sorry old chap' before they moved onto to apologise to the next person

[@olivervandebeer7492]

Americans use "Excuse me" like the Brits use sorry..To me, it just shows that ppl have manners. No American would get away with jumping in front of the line..If you looked like a gang member may be but Id would certainly not get away with it.

[@aro40]

I do hate the escalator thing, and just tell them 'Move over, please'. When it comes to jumping forward in a queue, which is something I never do either, people are quite inconsiderate at the university where I go to...just saying!

[@charly3899]

Looking left and start walking on the street!

[@ControlledCha0s]

I must be _much_ more British than I ever suspected, because I'm precisely that kind of person that apologises for all sorts of things. And while maybe on a few occasions I actually mean it as an admission of guilt, it's far more often just a kind of "politeness reflex", like some of the folks on the vid said. 😁

[@EasyEnglishVideos]

Oh wow! 😆

[@klimtkahlo]

Where was the guy with a slight accent from?

[@EasyEnglishVideos]

He's originally from Bolivia, but I believe he moved in his 20's... really nice guy

[@antygona-iq8ew]

I am tone death, who actually that was?

[@EasyEnglishVideos]

The guy with the hat and earphones

[@antygona-iq8ew]

@@EasyEnglishVideos thank you, that is a very fine accent ( can I used fine here instead of "slight") to my ear but again I am really bad when is coming to distinguish between slight sounds differences. His comand of English is very good, he used very English expression to to say what he thinks.

[@EasyEnglishVideos]

Fine is good, but could also mean “good”. If it were me, I’d say he has a very subtle accent, but don’t take that as a criticism, you are essentially correct 😁

[@NiskiOfficial]

Can I become fake deaf person in UK because their ancient is hard to me to understand?😅

[@EasyEnglishVideos]

😆😆😆😆

[@deanmadley4786]

To all newcomers Don’t talk about Seckel Cell anaemia and The cost to the NHS

[@klimtkahlo]

Never tell a Brit when they ask you if you would like a cup of different all black sorts of tea that to you they all are the same and that you only have them when you have a tummy ache! I did that once and I thought I was going to be stabbed through the heart but in a very classy, posh way! Not a bad way to go! 😂🤣😬

[@EasyEnglishVideos]

😆😆😆 that's hilarious... each Brit definitely has a favourite black tea brand that they'd die on their shield for... mine's "Yorkshire Tea" 💪

[@klimtkahlo]

@@EasyEnglishVideos Will have to look for it! And agree! My brother in law (a German that only drinks good tea ) brought over some tea for himself, since he clearly did not trust me to give him more than Lipton tea bags. When he left, he left the tea and i tried it and it was out of this world good. He buys it in Paris in a store that sells loose leave tea. Fancy stuff! Insert monocle emoji here. Why did they eliminate that particular one emoji?

[@EasyEnglishVideos]

Oh nice! I haven’t quite branched out into loose tea leaves yet… but Isi has 🧐🧐🧐

[@fluxsiarski]

🙌

[@EasyEnglishVideos]

🙌

[@ohno-95]

im sorry. i commited the biggest crime. i stood on the left of the escalator once.... please.. forgive me...

[@EasyEnglishVideos]

How dare you 😆

[@AS-bn9qv]

HMM, sorry it depends on intonation as it can mean not understanding something, sorry?

[@christopherfairs9095]

'Would you call it out?' - is not British english.

[@marahollow1214]

I don’t know why I’m watching this. I’m British Oh wait no autism

[@flyxtop]

ah from the start, the lady's hair in the mouth seems annoying.. and she pull it out at 8:28.

[@feyzassoylemez]

what do you mean ?

[@TripleDinLV]

Don't apologise, just get the fuck on in your life! If there's an issue, come around....

[@EasyEnglishVideos]

😆