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00:08
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Sen: Hello and welcome to our podcast English Trips. I’m Sen, and I’ll give you expert guidance on how to make the most of these episodes as a language learning tool.
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00:30
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Today we have two destinations: we’ll begin in Kenya, and then make our way across the Atlantic Ocean to New York!
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00:42
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Are you learning English at the moment? Then this podcast is perfect for you. In each episode, we’ll take a virtual trip to a different part of the English-speaking world, where you’ll hear a real story from a real person… in English, of course!
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01:00
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Each episode focuses on a specific part of the language, such as a grammar topic. But don’t worry, this isn’t a grammar podcast. The main thing is that our stories are fun and interesting, and they also get you more comfortable with understanding the language!
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01:17
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Also, did you know that you can read along while you listen using our dynamic transcript? You’ll find the link in our show notes. Here’s a learning tip just for you: the first time you listen to the episode, follow along with the transcript. This will help you understand more of the story, and identify any difficult words or expressions. Then, listen a second, or even third time without the transcript, and see how much more you understand!
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01:53
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Today, we’re going to focus on frequency words, or words that tell us how often someone does something. For example, I always brush my teeth but I never drive because I don't have a car. Always and never are just a couple of examples. Which other frequency words do you hear in the story?
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02:20
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For today’s English trip, we’re going to hear from Tevin. Tevin grew up in Kenya, but moved to New York when he was a teenager.
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02:26
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02:28
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02:30
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Let’s listen to his story about finding his place in a new country. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t so easy! So, fasten your seatbelts, we’re off on another English trip!
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02:47
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Tevin: I was born in a small town called Meru, in Kenya. It was just me and my mom.
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02:55
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We moved to the capital city, Nairobi, when I was four years old. My mom never had much money. Life wasn’t so easy.
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03:05
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When I was seven years old, my mom married my step-dad, and we moved to a nicer apartment.
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03:12
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When I was 13, I took my high school exams. I got into a good boarding school. My life was finally getting better. I did well in school, I had close friends, and even my first girlfriend. I felt like I belonged.
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03:28
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Then, just one year later, my life changed again. My step-dad got a job working for the UN in New York.
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03:35
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United Nations (Padraic Ryan / Wikimedia) 

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03:36
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We had to move. I didn’t want to go. My life was so good in Nairobi! Why did we have to go now?
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03:46
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I protested, but nothing changed. We moved to New Rochelle, just north of New York City. We arrived in the winter, and I was shocked. It was so cold!
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03:56
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03:58
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I didn’t have a real jacket. I never needed one in Kenya.
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04:02
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The next surprise: our new apartment building. It was taller than the tallest building in Kenya! I always knew America was different, but this felt like another universe! And… the surprises didn’t stop there.
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04:19
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English is the official language of Kenya. All my classes at school were in English, and I often spoke it with my friends and family.
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04:28
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So, I thought communication in the States would be easy. We all speak English, right? But when I moved to the US, I learned I was very wrong.
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04:38
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Yes, the Americans and I spoke the same language, but communication was hard. It was hard for the Americans to understand my Kenyan accent. It was hard for me to understand the fast American speech… and the slang.
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04:55
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Here are a few stories I always tell about my struggle to communicate. First, our address in New Rochelle was 40 Memorial Highway. But, when I say “forty”, with my accent it sounded like “fourteen”.
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05:11
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Every time I took a taxi, the driver brought me to the wrong place. I was usually too embarrassed to say anything. I just thanked the driver, got out, and walked home.
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05:26
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I remember the first time I went to a fast food restaurant. After I ordered, the cashier asked me “Forhereortogo?”. “Was that one word?”, I thought to myself. “FOR HERE OR TO GOOOO?”, he said again. “Oh. Yes. I mean, for here. Thanks.” I was so embarrassed… again.
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05:37
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05:51
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Then there was slang. When students at my new school made plans, they sometimes said “I’m up for that”, and sometimes “I’m down for that”. I always thought you say “I’m up” when you want to do something, and “I’m down” when you don’t. Later, I learned that they both mean “I want to do that.” I was so confused.
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06:11
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06:14
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I felt so dumb. People didn’t often understand me, and I rarely understood them. How could I improve? What should I do? Then, I had an idea. I started watching TV. A lot of TV.
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06:29
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06:32
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I usually watched sitcoms because I wanted to learn to speak like everyday people. So I watched, I listened, and I learned.
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06:43
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After some time, my English improved. I listened to the conversations on TV shows. This helped me to understand the fast-talking Americans.
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06:55
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Also, I often repeated what the characters on the show said. It helped me to practice speaking, and it’s how I learned the American accent I have today. It also helped me learn some slang.
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07:10
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When my English improved, it was much easier to fit in. I was more confident. I made more friends. I did well at school. And I learned to enjoy my new home.
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07:24
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Sen: Well, Tevin sure had a lot of problems after he moved to New York. Poor guy. I totally understand his confusion with “I’m up” and “I’m down” – they always confuse me too! But, in the end, he was able to learn the slang, improve his English, and finally start enjoying his life in the United States
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07:47
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That’s all for today! How many other frequency words did you hear in the story? If you didn’t get them all, you can always go back and listen again, or check out our beginner courses in the Babbel app for a little refresher!
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08:03
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Finally, we’d love to hear what you think of the podcast. You can write us an email at podcasting@babbel.com, or simply leave a comment in your podcast app and we’ll see it. Thanks for listening, and see you next time for another exciting English trip!
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End
Tevin learns to speak English like a local in New York when he moves there from Kenya. Although English is one of the official languages of Kenya, Tevin needed some time to adjust to the local manner of speaking when he moved with his family to New York. He tells us how he was able to practice until he started to gradually speak like a local. We'd love to get your feedback, suggestions or learn about your own language learning journey. Email podcasting@babbel.com