You're DEFINITELY Fluent In English If You Can Understand These

Summary

The video script is a comprehensive exploration of the nuances of English language comprehension through humor and cultural references. It begins with the creator's reflection on a previous video about understanding context, particularly through jokes, which were misunderstood by some viewers. The script emphasizes that humor is a sophisticated aspect of language that goes beyond vocabulary and grammar, involving cultural knowledge and social savvy. It uses examples from various sources, including the Oscars, TV shows, and everyday scenarios, to illustrate how understanding jokes can indicate fluency in English. The video also introduces Elsa AI, a tool for English learners to practice conversations in different scenarios. The creator encourages viewers to engage with the content, share their experiences, and apply the insights to improve their English proficiency.

Takeaways

• 😄 The importance of understanding context is emphasized through the use of jokes, which are often dependent on word play or cultural references.
• 😅 The humor in jokes is subjective, and the primary goal was to select jokes that are not easy to understand, thus testing the listener's grasp of English.
• 😉 Understanding jokes indicates fluency in English, as it requires developed listening skills and an advanced vocabulary, including slang and casual speech.
• 🎭 Jokes are a window into a culture's deep story, reflecting nuances of life and historical events in English-speaking societies.
• 😂 The ability to get a joke means you're savvy about the social game of language, showcasing an understanding beyond grammar and textbook English.
• 🏃‍♂️ The speaker acknowledges that jokes are not just about words but also about situations, and getting a joke means you're tuned to English at its natural speed.
• 📽️ An example from the Oscars involving Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling is used to illustrate the need for cultural knowledge to understand humor.
• 📺 A clip from Brooklyn 99 demonstrates how humor can play with language and how understanding it can show proficiency in English.
• 🤖 Introducing Elsa AI, a tool for English learners to practice conversations and receive evaluations, enhancing language immersion and skill development.
• 📝 The transcript also serves as an educational piece, guiding viewers on how to understand fast speech, idiomatic expressions, and cultural references in English.
• 📚 It's highlighted that humor is a complex aspect of language that involves not just vocabulary, but also cultural and social understanding.
• 💬 Engaging with the content through comments and sharing experiences can help viewers gauge their English proficiency and continue learning.

Q & A

What was the main point of the video that was misunderstood by many viewers?

The main point of the video was to emphasize the importance of understanding context in language, particularly in English, using jokes that involve word play or cultural references as an example. Many viewers focused on the humor aspect of the jokes, missing the deeper goal of showcasing language nuances and cultural immersion.

Why did the creator choose jokes that are not easily understandable?

The creator chose jokes that are not easily understandable to illustrate that understanding such jokes requires well-developed listening skills and an advanced vocabulary, indicative of a deeper grasp of the English language beyond mere fluency.

What does getting a joke imply about a person's understanding of English according to the video?

Getting a joke implies that a person is savvy about the social game of language, understanding slang, casual speech, and cultural references. It shows that they are not just translating word for word but are truly getting the vibe of the language.

What is the significance of the 'barbin Heimer rivalry' reference in the Oscars 2024 example?

The 'barbin Heimer rivalry' is a cultural reference combining the names of two movies, 'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer'. It signifies a playful rivalry between the actors Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling, referencing the movies they starred in, and demonstrates the importance of cultural knowledge in understanding jokes.

What does the phrase 'leaving all that fodder in the dust' mean in the context of the Oscars 2024 example?

The phrase 'leaving all that fodder in the dust' means to decisively move beyond or ignore trivial matters, such as rumors or distractions, and to focus on more important aspects. In this context, it refers to the actors moving past the rivalry associated with their movies.

How does the 'drop house' joke from the TV show Brooklyn 99 demonstrate the use of humor and wordplay in English?

The 'drop house' joke humorously refers to a portable toilet (porta potty) by playing on the double meaning of 'drop', both as a physical act and a casual way to say someone is going to the bathroom. It demonstrates the use of humor and wordplay by aligning the function of a portable toilet with the phrase in a witty and memorable way.

What is Elsa AI, and how can it help English learners?

Elsa AI is a feature of the Elsa Speak app that allows users to create their own roleplay scenarios and practice English conversations on any topic. It provides an in-depth evaluation of the user's performance after the conversation, helping English learners to improve their language skills in a practical and engaging way.

In the Charmed TV show example, what does the phrase 'couldn't hit the broadside of a beauty parlor' imply?

The phrase 'couldn't hit the broadside of a beauty parlor' is a humorous twist on the idiom 'couldn't hit the broadside of a barn', which describes someone's poor aim or lack of skill. In this context, it's used to mock someone's lack of skill and the appearance of their hair.

What is the reference to Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein in the statement 'it's kind of fun being Woodward to your Bernstein again'?

The reference is to the famous journalistic duo Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, who reported on the Watergate scandal for the Washington Post in the 1970s. The statement implies that the speaker enjoys working closely with someone in a team, especially on tasks that involve uncovering hidden details or facts.

What does the question 'what you have a tick' imply in the final example of the video?

The question 'what you have a tick' is a casual and typically rude way to inquire if someone has a nervous twitch. In the context of the video, it's used by the speaker to express annoyance with another person.

How does the video script use humor to demonstrate the complexities of language understanding?

The video script uses humor through jokes and cultural references to highlight the complexities of language understanding. It shows that grasping humor in a language requires not just vocabulary and grammar knowledge, but also an understanding of cultural context, idiomatic expressions, and the ability to interpret tone and intention.

What is the purpose of providing subtitles in the video examples?

The purpose of providing subtitles in the video examples is to help viewers who may have missed certain words or cultural references. Subtitles can clarify the meaning of what is being said, especially when the speech is fast, accented, or contains idiomatic language or cultural nuances that may not be immediately clear to all viewers.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Understanding Jokes as a Measure of English Fluency

The speaker discusses the importance of context in language understanding, using jokes as an example. They clarify that the jokes in a previous video were not meant to be funny but were chosen for their complexity and cultural references. The speaker emphasizes that understanding such jokes indicates a high level of English proficiency, as it involves grasping nuances, slang, and cultural references. They also mention that humor is a sign of a well-developed listening skill and an understanding of the social aspects of language.

05:02

📺 Analyzing Cultural References and Language Play in Media

This paragraph focuses on dissecting a humorous exchange from the Oscars 2024 between Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling. The speaker explains the cultural phenomenon 'barbon Heimer', which is a blend of two movie titles, 'Barbie' and 'Oppenheimer'. They discuss how understanding such references requires familiarity with the culture and the ability to comprehend accents and idiomatic expressions. The paragraph also introduces a new AI tool called Elsa AI for English learners, which allows for role-playing and conversation practice.

10:05

🎭 Deciphering Humor and Sarcasm in Dialogues

The speaker analyzes a scene from 'Brooklyn 99' and a statement from 'The Charmed TV show', explaining the humor and sarcasm in the dialogues. They break down phrases such as 'drop house' as a humorous reference to a portable toilet and 'barbon Heimer rivalry' as a cultural reference. The speaker also provides an explanation for a sarcastic comment about a hairdo and a phrase comparing teamwork to the famous journalistic duo Woodward and Bernstein. The paragraph ends with a casual and fast-paced question 'what you have a tick', which is explained as a rude inquiry about a nervous twitch.

Keywords

💡Context

Context refers to the circumstances or setting in which something occurs, which can significantly influence its interpretation. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding context when interpreting jokes, as it helps in grasping the cultural nuances and linguistic subtleties that are often involved in humor.

💡Jokes

Jokes are a form of humor that often rely on word play, cultural references, or situational irony. The video uses jokes as a tool to illustrate the depth of language understanding, as getting a joke indicates not just a grasp of language but also an understanding of the culture and social norms it originates from.

💡Subjectivity

Subjectivity pertains to the quality of being based on or influenced by personal feelings, tastes, or opinions. The speaker mentions that humor is subjective, which is why not everyone may find the same jokes funny, and this subjectivity is part of what makes humor a rich area for exploring language and culture.

💡Fluency

Fluency in a language refers to the ability to speak or write it smoothly, accurately, and effectively. The video discusses the misconception that understanding jokes equates to fluency in English, clarifying that true fluency involves not only comprehension but also immersion in the culture and advanced vocabulary.

💡Cultural References

Cultural references are allusions to cultural phenomena, such as well-known people, events, or products, that are part of a shared cultural knowledge. The video script mentions the 'Barbie Heimer' rivalry, which is a play on the names of two movies, as an example of a cultural reference that requires background knowledge to understand.

💡Slang

Slang refers to informal language composed of words and phrases that are not considered standard in formal speech or writing. The video highlights that understanding slang is a sign of being familiar with the casual and colloquial aspects of English, as it is often used in jokes and everyday conversation.

💡Listening Skills

Listening skills are the abilities required to understand spoken language, which include attention, comprehension, and interpretation. The video stresses the importance of developing listening skills to truly understand and appreciate English humor, as it often involves nuances that are not evident in written text.

💡Natural Speech

Natural speech refers to the way people speak in everyday situations, which can be faster and more fluid than formal or scripted speech. The video uses the example of understanding jokes in fast speech to demonstrate that one's listening skills are attuned to the natural speed and rhythm of English.

💡Articulation

Articulation is the manner in which speech sounds are pronounced. The video points out that the ability to understand different articulations and accents is crucial for listening comprehension, as it reflects the diversity of speech patterns in English-speaking cultures.

💡Idiom

An idiom is a phrase or expression whose meaning cannot be deduced from the literal meanings of its words. The video uses the idiom 'couldn't hit the broadside of a barn' to illustrate how understanding idioms requires cultural knowledge, as they often carry figurative meanings.

💡Investigative Reporting

Investigative reporting is a form of journalism in which reporters deeply research a topic of interest, often involving crime, corruption, or political malfeasance. The video references Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein, famous for their investigative reporting on the Watergate scandal, to highlight the significance of teamwork and detail-oriented research.

Highlights

The importance of understanding context is emphasized using jokes as an example.

Many viewers missed the point of the video, focusing on the humor rather than the linguistic and cultural context.

The speaker chose jokes that were complex due to word play or cultural references to illustrate the depth of language understanding.

Understanding jokes indicates fluency in English, as it involves more than just vocabulary—it includes cultural immersion and advanced listening skills.

Jokes are a window into the casual and slang aspects of English-speaking culture.

The ability to understand jokes reflects a grasp of the social nuances and the natural speed of the English language.

The speaker clarified that they did not focus on the complexity or humor of the jokes but on their educational value.

An example from the Oscars 2024 is used to test the viewer's understanding of cultural references and accents.

The 'barbin Heimer rivalry' is a play on the simultaneous release of two movies, showcasing the importance of cultural knowledge.

The phrase 'leaving all that fodder in the dust' is explained to illustrate moving beyond trivial matters.

A clip from 'Brooklyn 99' is used to highlight the use of humor in naming businesses and the double meaning of words.

The introduction of Elsa AI, a tool for English learners to practice conversations and receive evaluations.

Elsa AI allows users to create roleplay scenarios to mimic real-life situations and improve language skills.

A roleplay scenario about ordering coffee in a coffee shop is demonstrated to show how Elsa AI works.

The Charmed TV show is referenced to discuss the use of derogatory terms and the importance of understanding idiomatic expressions.

The phrase 'it's kind of fun being Woodward to your Bernstein' is analyzed for its reference to the famous journalistic duo and teamwork.

The final example, 'what you have a tick', is a fast-paced, casual inquiry used to demonstrate the speaker's annoyance.

The video concludes with a call to action for viewers to share their experience and understanding of the examples provided.

Transcripts

I made a video a year ago with the same

title in that video I talked about the

importance of understanding context

using jokes as an

example and oh boy so many people

completely missed the point of that

video a lot of people complained about

the jokes being not funny which is okay

because the sense of humor is very

subjective plus I wasn't focused on the

jokes being funny when I chose them I

was looking for jokes that are not that

easy to understand due to word play or

cultural references and another thing

that people were saying in the comments

is that being able to understand those

jokes doesn't mean that you're fluent in

English which is absolutely true I 100%

agree in fact I literally said in that

video that to be able to understand

everything you hear in English one

really needs to spend a lot of time not

only working on their listening skills

by immersing themselves in the culture

but also by having an advanced

vocabulary I thought that this

explanation would be enough however I

understand now that I should have

explained it better first of all I chose

jokes because to be able to understand

them your listening skills need to be

really welldeveloped native speakers of

English play with words twist meanings

and reference stuff that is specific to

English-speaking culture if you're

laughing it means that you're not just

translating word for word you're really

getting the vibe of the language many

jokes deeply draw upon the nuances of

life and historical events in

English-speaking societies understanding

these jokes really shows that you know

more than just words you're really

getting into the culture's deep story

jokes are loaded with slang and the way

people really talk if you're in on the

joke it means that you've got a grip on

the cool and casual side of English not

just the textbook stuff jokes aren't

just about words they're about

situations who's saying what and why

it's funny getting a joke means that

you're Savvy about the social game of

language not just the grammar listening

to jokes especially in fast speech or

shows and getting them that's proof your

ears are tuned to English at its natural

speed humor is all about playing with a

language bending it flipping it making

it dance laughing at a joke means your

brain's doing some serious gymnastics in

English and I purposely didn't choose

complicated Jokes which I also mentioned

in the video I acknowledge that there

are of course many more complicated and

funnier jokes I really hope this

explanation clears the air and explains

my reasoning for focusing on jokes now

however as a form of Revenge I have

something a bit more complicated for you

to understand I'm just kidding but it

will test if you're Savvy enough with

all the previously mentioned aspects

it's not only going to test your

knowledge of cultural references casual

speech and slang but it will also really

challenge your listening skills ready

are you excited let's do this our first

example is from the Oscars

2024 it's a brief exchange between Emily

blonde and Ryan Gosling I'm just happy

that we can finally put this barbin

Heimer rivalry behind us that's right

that's right here's Ken and kitty just

leaving all that fodder in the dust I'm

just happy that we can finally put this

barbon Heimer rivalry behind us that's

right that's right here's Ken and kitty

just leaving all that fodder in the dust

okay so did you get it if you understood

every word and most importantly the

meaning then congratulations you're most

definitely fluent in English if you

didn't that's totally fine we're here to

learn aren't we let's watch it again

with subtitles I'm just happy that we

can finally uh put this barbin Heimer

rivalry behind us that's right that's

right here's Ken and kitty just leaving

all that fodder in the dust now it's a

lot clearer right first of all they both

speak with different accents Emily Blunt

speaks with a beautiful British accent

and Ryan Gosling speaks with an American

accent Ryan refers to some kind of rival

rivalry between them over the movies

they were starring in to understand this

you need to be familiar with these

movies obviously but if you've never

heard the names of these movies in

English and you turn on the Oscars in

English and you stumble upon this

exchange you might not have any clue

about what they're saying okay now

barbon Heimer is a cultural phenomenon

that preceded and surrounded the

simultaneous theatrical release of two

films Warner Brothers Pictures Barbie

and Universal Pictures Oppenheimer it's

a mix of the names of both of these

movies so there you have it a cultural

reference let's break down Emily's words

she mentioned kenon Kitty referring to

the characters they played in those

movies she said all that F in this

context F likely means trivial or

unimportant information rumors

distractions or anything that doesn't

deserve deserve serious attention leave

in the dust this phrase is often used to

describe leaving something or someone

far behind either in a race or more

figuratively moving beyond past issues

failures or expectations putting it all

together here's Ken and kitty just

leaving all that futter in the dust

means that Ken and kitty that are

basically them are decisively moving

beyond or ignoring Tri matters

demonstrating their ability to overcome

Petty issues I'm just happy that we can

finally put this barbon Heimer rivalry

behind us that's right that's right

here's Ken and kitty just leaving all

that fodder in the dust okay let's move

on to our next example from the TV show

Brooklyn 99 someone use the drop house

drop house perfect name for a

Port-A-Potty company as soon as we get

out of here I am taking that straight to

Shark Tank someone use the drop house

drop house perfect name for a porta poot

company as soon as we get out of here I

am taking that straight to Shark Tank

and now let's watch it and listen to it

with subtitles someone use the drop

house drop house perfect name for a

porta poot company as soon as we get out

of here I am taking that straight to

Shark Tank all right now let me explain

this in this context a drop house is

humorously used to refer to a portapotty

which is a portable toilet the joke lies

in the name drop house suggesting a

place where One Drops waste aligning

with the function of a porta calling it

The Perfect name for the portapotty

company plays on the double meaning of

drop both as a physical act and as a

casual way to say someone is going to

the bathroom so referring to a

portapotty as a drop drop house is a

joke about it being a place where people

go to use the toilet someone use the

drop house drop house perfect name for a

porta potty company as soon as we get

out of here I am taking that straight to

Shark Tank I am very excited to announce

a brand new AI tool that Elsa speak has

just launched and which is made just for

English Learners Elsa AI is a brand new

feature of the Elsa speak app which lets

you create your own roleplay and

practice English conversations on any

topic you like you can practice with

four preset scenarios or you can create

your own to mimic real life situations

that come up in your own daily life and

what's even better is that Elsa will

then give you an indepth evaluation on

how you performed after the conversation

so if you don't have the Elsa app

already you can click the link in the

video description or pinned comment or

you can scan this QR code you can see on

the screen to download Elsa for free and

then if you want unlimited usage of Elsa

AI you can click the other Link in the

video description and Pinn comment and

get an amazing discount off of Elsa

premium that Elsa always gives to our

viewers give it a try and let me know

what you guys think hi welcome to Elsa

AI please select one of the following

role plays okay so we have chat with

Friends shopping at the mall ask for

directions job interview or my own

scenario or surprise me let's go with my

own

scenario great what kind of scenario

would you like to role playay can you

give me some details about it let's make

a scenario about ordering coffee in a

coffee shop hi there what can I get for

you today okay so here we have to

improvise and just speak good morning

can I get a latte with dairyfree milk of

course we have a few different dairyfree

milk options available which one would

you like in your latte what kind of

options do you have we offer almond milk

soy milk and oat milk as Dair free

options a few moments later great job

how did you feel during the role playing

activity was there anything that you

found challenging or anything that you

particularly

enjoyed well I enjoyed that I didn't

have to pay money for my

latte haha yes that's definitely a perk

of a role playing activity okay well

that was is really really cool I loved

it you guys should definitely try it all

right let's proceed to another video

this is a scene from The Charmed TV show

don't worry this bimbo couldn't hit the

broadside of a beauty parlor check out

that die job don't worry this bimbo

couldn't hit the broadside of a beauty

parlor check out that die job so did you

understand every word and if you did did

you understand the meaning let's watch

it again with subtitles don't worry this

bimbo couldn't hit the broadside of a

beauty parlor check out that die

as you could see she said don't worry

this bimbo couldn't hit the broadside of

a beauty parlor check out the die job in

this case she speaks not necessarily

fast but rather without any breaks and

what makes it difficult to understand

the speech in all these examples is

primarily the articulation as everyone

has a different manner of speaking and

this is something you get used to the

more you work on your listening skills

eventually you'll be able to understand

anyone once you've the words it becomes

pretty obvious that she was talking

about someone's hairdo bimbo is

derogatorily used to stereotype a woman

as attractive but unintelligent and

superficial this term is considered

offensive check out that die job is a

casual way of noting that someone's hair

has been colored it was said

sarcastically to imply that the die job

was not well done based on the first

part of the commentary and couldn't hit

the broadside of a beauty parlor is a

humorous Twist on the idiom couldn't hit

the broadside of a barn which describes

someone's poor aim or lack of skill in a

certain area it makes fun of someone's

lack of skill and their appearance

essentially saying don't worry this

person is so unskilled they couldn't

achieve something very easy like even

getting their hair colored nicely it

uses humor as an insult to criticize

both the person's ability and the op

appearance of their hair don't worry

this bimbo couldn't hit the broadside of

a beauty parlor check out that die job

all right let me know in the comments if

this example was easy for you and let's

move on to the next one it's kind of fun

being Woodward to your Burn scene again

it's kind of fun being Woodward to your

bur scene again okay did you understand

what she said let's watch it again with

subtitles it's kind of fun being

Woodward to your bursteen again this

statement references the famous

journalistic Duo Bob Woodward and Carl

Bernstein who reported on the water game

Scandal for the Washington Post in the

early 1970s their investigative

reporting was crucial in uncovering the

Scandal that eventually led to the

resignation of President Richard Nixon

when someone says it's kind of fun being

your Woodward to your Bernstein again

this means that they enjoy working

closely with that person like a team

especially on tasks that involve finding

out hidden details or facts and the word

again shows that they've teamed up like

this before this one is truly difficult

to understand understand because you

need to be familiar with what she was

referring to and honestly I don't think

that even every American knows about

Woodward and Bernstein even the way she

structured her sentence is grammatically

unusual but perfectly understandable and

effective in casual communication she

uses a creative conversational style

rather than a strict grammatical

structure it's kind of fun being

Woodward to your Bernstein again and of

course let me know if you understood it

without subtitles and explanation and

finally let's watch our last last

example for this

video what you have a

tick what you have a

tick so did you get it if you did

awesome but we'll still watch it again

with

subtitles what you have a

tick in this case it's just said pretty

fast and you don't need any context to

understand it the only thing you need is

to be able to hear all the words and

know what this question means based on

her tone and the scene you can see that

she's annoyed with this guy and just

being rude to him asking someone what do

you have a tick is a casual way to

inquire if someone has a nervous twitch

and usually I would say this would be

considered as a rude way to ask this

question what you have a

tick all righty you guys that's it for

this video please let me know your

results in the comments or share with us

if this video was too easy or too

difficult for you also I hope that

learned something new today or just

enjoyed the video if you did please also

let me know in the comments take care

and I'll see you in the next

one