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Introduction

Neil and Georgie have a real conversation in easy English about their social media habits. Learn to talk about how much you use social media and whether you plan to change.

Vocabulary

maybe

used to talk about something that is not certain

probably

used to talk about something that is most likely

definitely

used to talk about something that is certain

catch up with

talk to someone you haven't seen for a long time

Transcript

Neil
Hello. You're listening to Real Easy English from BBC Learning English. I’m Neil.

Georgie
And I'm Georgie. In this podcast, we talk in easy English about a different topic each week to help improve your English skills.

Neil
If you want to read a long, you can visit our website: bbclearningenglish.com.

Georgie
Hi, Neil.

Neil
Hi, Georgie, how are you?

Georgie
I'm pretty good, thanks. How are you?

Neil
I'm very well thank you.

Georgie
What are we talking about today, Neil?

Neil
Today we're talking about social media and how much we use it.

Georgie
Well, I use social media all the time, so I have lots of things to say.

Neil
Great! OK, Georgie, so you said you use social media a lot. Why do you like it?

Georgie
Well, the reason I like it is actually the reason I dislike it as well. I use it when I'm bored. It's… it can be very entertaining, especially TikTok, for example, yeah, the videos I watch are very fun and entertaining. I like that about it, but it's also something I hate because it can be very addictive and you can waste a lot of time watching TikTok videos.

Neil, do you watch TikTok videos?

Neil
I try not to, to be honest, because I'm too old.

Georgie
You're never too old for TikTok videos!

Neil
But I always think I'm using it too much. Do you think you use social media too much, Georgie?

Georgie
I think definitely I use social media too much!

Neil
OK, Georgie, you used the word definitely. Tell us more about definitely.

Georgie
Yes, well definitely means that something is certainly the case. If you definitely do something there is no doubt that you did it. You certainly did it.

Neil
Yeah. So what do you use social media for? You said you watch videos, but anything else?

Georgie
The main reason I think is to stay in touch with my friends. This was definitely true when I lived in Spain. It was a good way for me to see what my friends in England were doing. I also posted things myself, so it was a way to show everyone else what I was doing as well.

Neil, what do you use social media for?

Neil
Well, I like messaging apps, mainly, and group chats, so that I can catch up with friends who live far away that I can't actually see in person.

Georgie
Yes, I also use it for that. Neil, you just used the verb catch up with. Can you explain that a bit more, please?

Neil
Yeah. So, if you catch up with someone it means you speak to them, you contact them and you find out what they've been doing in their life. Find out what activities or what changes in their lives have happened.

Georgie
Yeah, when you catch up with someone, it brings you up to date with their life and what they’ve been doing since you last saw them.

Neil
So, Georgie, you said you think you use your phone too much for social media. Do you have any plans to use your phone less?

Georgie
I would love to use my phone less. But if I'm being realistic, I think I will probably continue using my phone in the same way. It’s just too difficult to reduce the screen time, it's so addictive. But maybe in the future, I will put those limits that your phone can put to help me reduce my screen time.

Neil
Georgie, you used words like maybe and probably and we use these when we're not sure or not certain if we are going to do something.

Georgie
Yes. So maybe I will use my phone less, maybe I will continue using my phone in the same way. Probably, I will continue using my phone in the same way.

Neil
Well, Georgie, it sounds like you use your phone a lot. Maybe you should have a break or just relax a bit!

Georgie
Yes, Neil. I think you're right. Let's quickly recap the words and phrases we learned during the conversation.

Neil
We had maybe which we use to talk about something that is not certain.

Georgie
Probably, which means most likely.

Neil
Definitely, which we use to say something is certain.

Georgie
And catch up with - talking to someone you haven't seen for a long time.

Neil
Thanks for listening to Real Easy English. Remember, you can find more programmes to help you with your English at bbclearningenglish.com.

Next time, we'll talk about journeys and how we get to work.

Georgie
See you, then. Bye.

Neil
Bye!

Now try this...

Learn more about using maybe, probably and definitely here.