[0:00]We got to get out of here before they take me away. Take you away? You're going to leave me? No way. That's my body you're in. Oh, okay. Do you think you can walk? I don't know. I failed Body Test Drive, like 436 times. But will you try?
[0:15]Okay. I'm a cat. I can make this.
[0:23]Okay, come on. You're doing great. Keep going. Keep going. I'm just going to rest here for a minute. No, no, no, no. They'll be back any minute. Come on. Okay!
[0:41]Now, push the down button. Move your... Nope. Careful. Those fingers are my livelihood. Oh! Now. Fhew! Now get in. Fhew!
[1:02]What is the purpose of life? All of us have asked ourselves this question at some point, right? Well, in today's lesson, we will not only learn advanced English expressions and pronunciation, but we will also try to answer this profound question with Pixar's Soul. In this animation, a music teacher, Joe Garner, dies right as he's about to fulfill his lifelong dream of playing in a jazz band. He is so devastated that he tries to escape the afterlife. He connects with a new soul, 22, that truly does not want to become human. But in a turn of events, they're both accidentally sent to Earth, and hilariously, 22 ends up in Joe's body and Joe's soul in a cat. By the way, we are going to learn a lot of advanced vocabulary in today's lesson. So if you want to be able to use all these expressions confidently, the next time you have a conversation in English, try the magic flashcards on our RealLife App. They use a scientific method that brings back words for review right when you're about to forget them, so you will remember them forever. Super easy! Get the premium lesson with Soul with all the flashcards for free now using the link down in the description below.
[2:25]All right, let's return to the hospital and understand all of this advanced vocabulary during this body mix up. Let's start with a common phrasal verb. We got to get out of here before they take me away. Take you away? You're going to leave me? No way. That's my body you're in. To take someone away means to force that person to leave a place. In this case, Joe is in a cat's body, and he is worried the hospital staff will remove him from the room. You might also often hear it used like, "The police took him away in handcuffs." Or, "My parents are taking away my phone as punishment." Here's another example. You're ruining my life! What? Music's the only thing that makes me happy. And you, you want to take that away. You'll never understand. Joe spoke really fast here, and without subtitles, I bet it'd be pretty difficult for you to understand. Now, this is largely because of something called Connected Speech. That's how we natives cut, reduce, and link our words together in fluent speech. If you're like most learners, you weren't taught this in school. Listen again. We got to get out of here before they take me away.
[3:35]First, have got to often reduces to just gotta. You've noticed this before, right? When a T is between two vowel sounds, it usually morphs into a tap T, which sounds like [duh]. And we hear that in gotta [gaw-duh]. But we also hear it twice in get out of [geh-dou-duv]. Finally, of often reduces to just a schwa sound: [uh]. Let's put that all together. We gotta get out of here.
[4:08]Your speaking will only improve with lots of practice. So listen to Joe again and try to say that just like he did. We got to get out of here before they take me away. We got to get out of here before they take me away.
[4:24]Okay, do you think you can walk? I don't know! I failed Body Test Drive, like, 436 times. A test drive is when you try out a car before buying it to see how it performs. But the humor is that here 22 is talking about literally test-driving a human body. Trying it out to see if she likes being alive. By the way, in everyday conversation you might test drive anything before committing to it. Like, "I'm test-driving this productivity app for a week." Joe also needs to get used to his cat body. So he says, I'm a cat. I can make this. When you say, "I can make this," you're saying that you can successfully do something difficult, especially something physical, like a jump or challenging move. Joe in the cat's body is confident he can make the jump, but it doesn't really work out. I'm just going to rest here for a minute. No, no, no, no. They'll be back any minute. Now this common expression means very soon or at any moment now. We can see 22 is really having trouble managing a human body. And Joe is worried she will damage his hands. So he says, Move your... Nope. Careful. Those fingers are my livelihood. Oh! Your livelihood is the job or source of income you need to pay for your life. For Joe, his fingers are essential because he's a jazz piano player and music teacher. Without his fingers, he can't do his job. Or for example, for a singer, their voice is their livelihood. Listen to this example. That's the last thing I need, some animal chewing its way in here. What are you going to do if you catch it? Well, these vegetables are part of our livelihood. We can't afford to share them with any animal that get in here. Jumping forward, as Joe notices 22 enjoying life from eating pizza, to listening to music, to meeting new people, to watching children play, and leaves falling from a tree, something beautiful happens. He starts to realize life is not about fulfilling some predetermined purpose. Rather, it's about living presently and enjoying every moment. We'll see one of these moments that is illuminating for Joe when 22 gets a haircut in his body.
[6:32]They say you're born to do something, but how do you figure out what that thing is? I mean, what if you pick up the wrong thing? Or somebody else's thing, you know? Then you're stuck. I wouldn't call myself stuck, but I never planned on cutting heads for a living. Wait, but you were born to be a barber, weren't you? I wanted to be a veterinarian. So, why didn't you do that? I was planning to when I got out of the Navy. Then my daughter got sick, and barber school is a lot cheaper than veterinarian school. Well, that's too bad. You're stuck as a barber and now you're unhappy. Whoa, whoa, slow your roll there, Joe. I'm happy as a clam, my man. Not everyone can be Charles Drew inventing blood transfusions. Or me, playing piano with Dorothea Williams. I know. You are not all that. Anyone could play in a band if they wanted to. Don't pay Paul any mind. People like him just bring other people down so they can make themselves feel better. Oh, I get it. He's just criticizing me to cover up the pain of his own failed dreams. You cut deep, Joe.
[7:37]What do you think 22 meant when they said, "If you pick up the wrong thing"? You grab the wrong tool. You choose the wrong career path. You lift something incorrectly.
[7:54]Exactly. While this phrasal verb has many meanings, in this context, it means to choose or start doing something. We often use this for hobbies you learn, like when I decided to pick up German in high school. Or how I'd like to pick up guitar this year. Listen to this example. Here, let me show you how it's done. I didn't spend all that time around them witches without picking up a few tricks. I wouldn't call myself stuck, but I never planned on cutting heads for a living. Cutting heads is slang for cutting hair or being a barber. When you do something "for a living," that's your job, your livelihood, as we saw earlier. A barber cuts hair for a living, a pilot flies planes for a living, or an author writes novels for a living. And I loved the two casual expressions that Dez use next. Well, that's too bad. You're stuck as a barber and now you're unhappy. Whoa, whoa, slow your roll there, Joe. I'm happy as a clam, my man. First, "slow your roll" is a way to tell someone to calm down or not rush to conclusions. In other words, Dez is saying that just because he did not expect to become a barber, it does not mean he is unhappy. For example, if you arrive late for a date with your husband, and you can see he is annoyed, you might say, "Slow your roll, let me explain before you get angry." And "happy as a clam" just means extremely happy and content. Why clams? The full expression is actually "happy as a clam at high tide." Because at high tide, clams are safe from people digging them up. And I bet that you would be happy as a clam if you could use all the expressions you're learning today at work, with friends, or while traveling. But slow your roll, if you don't review these expressions you're learning, you're sure to forget them in hours or even minutes. I've been there and learning six languages myself. That's exactly why we created the magic flashcards that I told you about earlier. And that's not all. If you're the type of person who can read, write and understand well, but speaking is still a challenge, we have the new RealLife AI coach. You can watch short, 5-minute lessons with your favorite series and movies, learn new everyday expressions, and then use them in a real conversation in a safe environment with your AI coach. Give it a try and get more confident, natural English speaking in just minutes. Click the link in the description to get started. Moving on, have you heard of the person that Dez mentions? Not everyone can be Charles Drew inventing blood transfusions. Charles Drew was a brilliant surgeon and medical researcher who developed improved techniques for blood storage and created the first large-scale blood banks. He made groundbreaking (innovative) contributions to medicine that have saved countless lives. Dez is pointing out that not everyone can make such huge, world-changing contributions, and that's okay! And at the beginning of the movie, Joe got the opportunity to achieve his dream by playing in Dorothea Williams' Band, a fictional jazz musician based on the real jazz saxophonist, Tia Fuller. So Joe's childhood rival, Paul, overhears 22, mention this and says: Or me, playing piano with Dorothea Williams. I know. You are not all that. Now this is a soft insult, meaning that someone is not as special or impressive as they think they are. It comes from the expression "all that and a bag of chips," which means someone who is really great. And it's not just used for people. You could say something like, "The movie was okay, but it wasn't all that." Check out these examples. You're all alone, so you have to pick away at other people's happiness. You're not all that. Bill, when you get back to the booth, could you tell Joe that Cindy from the Bronx thinks he is "All that and a bag of chips"? I'll pass that along. Now let's hear Joe's comeback. Anyone could play in a band if they wanted to. Don't pay Paul any mind. People like him just bring other people down so they can make themselves feel better. Oh, I get it. He's just criticizing me to cover up the pain of his own failed dreams. Pay someone mind means to listen to them or care about their opinion. If you don't pay them mind, you just ignore them. A friend might tell you, "Don't pay the news any mind. It just makes you anxious." Here's another example. Me? Do you understand me? He can't help it, Mrs. Dodds. Percy's special. That's enough. Pay them no mind. When you're ready to hear what the gods have in store for you, they'll tell you. Now if you "bring someone down," you make them feel bad, sad, or discouraged. You could do this by criticizing or insulting someone, or being negative.
[12:28]Miss Sylvester, I want to thank you. For what? For teaching me a valuable life lesson. When you really believe in yourself, you don't have to bring other people down.
[12:43]He's just criticizing me to cover up the pain of his own failed dreams. And if you "cover something up," you hide it. Like you might cover up something on your desk that you don't want your boss to see. In this case, it's used figuratively. Paul is hiding his own disappointment by criticizing others. A cover up is also used for hiding the truth. Like how politicians attempt to cover up scandals they are involved in. And let's hear Paul's response to this insight. You cut deep, Joe. When something cuts deep, it hurts emotionally in a profound way. Just like a physical wound, but emotional instead. If you break up with your partner after several years, that cuts deep. Now we'll watch a final, impactful scene where 22 reflects about their time on Earth, when it's time for them to go back to the Great Before.
[13:31]So, you ready? Huh? To go home. What do you think of Earth, anyway? I always said it was dumb. But I mean, just look at what I found. Your mom sewed your suit from this cute spool. When I was nervous, Dez gave me this. A guy on the subway yelled at me. It was scary. But I kind of liked that, too. Truth is, I've always worried that maybe there's something wrong with me. You know? Maybe I'm not good enough for living. But then you showed me about purpose and passion, and maybe sky-watching can be my spark. Or walking. I'm really good at walking. Those really aren't purposes, 22. That's just regular old living. Man, this scene is absolutely beautiful. After experiencing simple joys eating pizza, listening to music, getting a haircut, 22 starts to appreciate many of the everyday human experiences we take for granted. 22 thought being a human was dumb, but they changed their mind. What do you think of Earth, anyway? I always said it was dumb. When you call something dumb, you're saying that it's stupid or not intelligent. But here, 22 is using it more casually to say that it's pointless. You might hear "That's a dumb idea." Or "I thought the movie was pretty dumb." Keep in mind, this word can be considered rude. We also hear a nice instance of Connected Speech in Joe's question. What do you think of Earth, anyway? He actually dropped the word "do" all together. When "you" is preceded by a word ending in T, it usually morphs into a [chu] sound. So "what do you" becomes "wachu." Practice it with Joe. What do you think of Earth, anyway? What do you think of Earth, anyway?
[15:34]Just look at what I found. Your mom sewed your suit from this cute spool. These are spools, a common item in a sewing kit. Joe's mom is a seamstress, so she has plenty of these. 22 found one and kept it as a treasure, showing how we can find meaning in small, ordinary objects. 22 was never interested in becoming human, and throughout the beginning of the movie, we see that in the Great Before they find it impossible to find their "spark." Truth is, I've always worried that maybe there's something wrong with me. You know? Maybe I'm not good enough for living. But then you showed me about purpose and passion, and maybe sky-watching can be my spark. In soul's world, a spark is what everyone thinks to be your purpose, the thing that you are born to do. But watch what Joe says next. Or walking. I'm really good at walking. Those really aren't purposes, 22. That's just regular old living. "Regular old living" just means normal everyday life. Nothing special or extraordinary, just ordinary existence. You can use this expression in all sorts of contexts, like "It's not a fancy sports car, just a regular old Sedan," or "We're not going anywhere exotic, just a regular old camping trip." Or this example: You're a pigeon. You can walk right past them. Oh, huh. Just a regular old bird. Joe dismisses 22's joy as unimportant, but the beautiful irony is that 22 is on to something. The profound message of Soul is revealed later, when Jerry, a manifestation of universal consciousness, explains that spark isn't your purpose after all. Hey, um, we never found out what 22's purpose was. Excuse me? You know, her spark, her purpose, was it music? Biology? Walking? We don't assign purposes. Where did you get that idea? Because I have piano. It's what I was born to do. That's my spark. A spark isn't a soul's purpose. Oh, you mentors and your passions, your purposes, your meanings of life. So basic. So a spark is just a desire to be alive. This challenges Joe's views on life's meaning. It isn't about finding some grand purpose; it's about enjoying regular old living: the small moments, the simple pleasures, the everyday experiences that make life worth living. Now you're prepared to go watch the full movie. Watching it myself, I found it profound and beautiful. And the ending even made me cry. But we're not done yet. Now it's time to test everything you learned by watching all the scenes again without subtitles. And I'm going to make it a bit more challenging by asking you some quiz questions. Let's see what you got.
[18:21]We got to get out of here before they take me away. Take you away? You're going to leave me? No way. That's my body you're in. Oh, okay. Do you think you can walk? I don't know. I failed Body Test Drive, like 436 times. But will you try?
[18:36]Okay. I'm a cat. I can make this.
[18:44]Okay, come on. You're doing great. Keep going. Keep going. I'm just going to rest here for a minute. No, no, no, no. They'll be back any minute. Come on. Okay!
[19:02]Now, push the down button. Move your... Nope. Careful. Those fingers are my livelihood. Oh! True or False: Your "livelihood" is your hobby or something you do for fun.
[19:21]False - Your livelihood is how you make money to support yourself. Now. Fhew! Now get in. Fhew! They say you're born to do something, but how do you figure out what that thing is? I mean, what if you pick up the wrong thing? Or somebody else's thing, you know? Then you're stuck. Fill in the blank: "I want to be a photographer, so I'm going to study photography ____ ____." I never planned on cutting heads for a living. Wait, but you were born to be a barber, weren't you? I wanted to be a veterinarian. So, why didn't you do that? I was planning to when I got out of the Navy. Then my daughter got sick, and barber school is a lot cheaper than veterinarian school. Well, that's too bad. You're stuck as a barber and now you're unhappy. Whoa, whoa, slow your roll there, Joe. If someone tells you to "slow your roll," they want you to: Drive more slowly. Calm down and not rush to conclusions. Turn your head slightly.
[20:37]I'm happy as a clam, my man. Not everyone can be Charles Drew inventing blood transfusions. Or me, playing piano with Dorothea Williams. I know. You are not all that. Anyone could play in a band if they wanted to. Don't pay Paul any mind. People like him just bring other people down so they can make themselves feel better. Oh, I get it. He's just criticizing me to cover up the pain of his own failed dreams. You cut deep, Joe. So, you ready? Huh? To go home. What do you think of Earth, anyway? I always said it was dumb. But I mean, just look at what I found. Your mom sewed your suit from this cute spool. When I was nervous, Dez gave me this. A guy on the subway yelled at me. It was scary. But I kind of liked that, too. Truth is, I've always worried that maybe there's something wrong with me. You know? Maybe I'm not good enough for living. But then you showed me about purpose and passion, and maybe sky-watching can be my spark. Or walking. I'm really good at walking. Those really aren't purposes, 22. That's just regular old living.
[23:06]Tonight we drink from our ancestors' bowl, as Tautai Vasa once did, to bestow this title on you to connect to our past, our present and the future that lies beyond. May the ancestors continue to guide us.
[23:39]I am honored to serve our people. May ancestors continue to guide us.
