Conversational English vocabulary guide: Vocabulary, Context and Practice

Master key conversational English phrases and vocabulary from episode, including planning ahead, col.

Why This Episode Matters

of dives into practical, everyday English that learners can use right away. From the difference between “college” and “school” to the correct use of “depend on,” the lesson covers high‑frequency vocabulary, pronunciation nuances, and idiomatic expressions that appear in real conversations. By focusing on concrete examples and cultural context, the episode helps students move beyond textbook rules and speak English naturally.

Fast Recap

Understand the phrasal verb “to plan ahead” (prepare in advance) and its opposite “to wing it” (improvise).

Learn why “college” is a false friend for Spanish speakers and how “school” works as a versatile term for any educational level.

Master the correct preposition after “depend”: always “depends on,” never “depends of.”

What to Practise

• First, the meaning and usage of “to plan ahead” and “to wing it” with cultural examples from travel and daily life.
• Next, how to correctly use “college” and “school” in English, avoiding the false‑friend mistake common among Spanish speakers.
• Also, the rule that “depend” always takes the preposition “on” and how to apply it in sentences.
• However, a range of slang and colloquial terms for describing someone who flatters an authority figure, with notes on formality and vulgarity.
• Therefore, the phonetic difference between “bases” and “basis” and why it matters for clear pronunciation.
• Finally, how historical contexts (gold mining, baseball) shape modern idioms like “to strike it rich” and “to strike out.”

Episode Roadmap

Planning Ahead vs. Improvising

This part focuses on The episode contrasts “to plan ahead” (preparing in advance and connects it with exemplified by booking a restaurant in Rome during its busiest weekend) with “to wing it” (improvising, illustrated by wandering around without a plan). It notes that while planning ahead builds confidence, leaving room for spontaneity can lead to memorable experiences. Learners are encouraged to practice both approaches depending on the situation. Use it as a listening checkpoint: pause here, repeat the useful expressions, and check that you can explain the idea without translating word for word.

‘College’ vs. School: A Vocabulary Correction

This part focuses on the lesson explains that “college” in English refers to university‑level education and connects it with not to “colegio” (which means school for younger children). “School” is a generic term that can describe any educational stage, from primary to university. This distinction prevents learners from inaccurately claiming they are in “college” when they are actually in primary or secondary school. Use it as a listening checkpoint: pause here, repeat the useful expressions, and check that you can explain the idea without translating word for word.

Correcting Prepositions: Depend On

This part focuses on A common error among learners is saying “depends of” instead of the correct “depends on.” The episode reinforces that the verb “depend” must always be paired with the preposition “on.”. Examples include “It depends on the weather” and “Success depends on effort.” Mastery of this collocation improves grammatical accuracy. Use it as a listening checkpoint: pause here, repeat the useful expressions, and check that you can explain the idea without translating word for word.

Slang for Flattering Others (‘Teacher’s Pet’)

This part focuses on The lesson presents a spectrum of expressions for a student who seeks favor from a teacher. Formal terms include “teacher’s pet.” Informal and increasingly colloquial versions are “suck up and connects it with ” “kiss up, ” and “brown noser.” The episode notes that these phrases carry different levels of vulgarity and. Should be chosen based on context and audience. Use it as a listening checkpoint: pause here, repeat the useful expressions, and check that you can explain the idea without translating word for word.

Phonetic Drill: Bases vs. Basis

This part focuses on The episode highlights that “bases” (plural of base or the verb form) and “basis” (meaning foundation) are not homophones. “Bases” ends with a soft American “z” sound. Meanwhile and connects it with “basis” ends with a sharp, pure “s” sound. This distinction is crucial for idioms such as “cover your bases” and phrases like “on a daily basis.”. Use it as a listening checkpoint: pause here, repeat the useful expressions, and check that you can explain the idea without translating word for word.

[86:15 – 88:50] The dual metaphors of ‘strike it rich’ and ‘strike out’

This part focuses on explores two opposite idioms sharing the verb “strike.” “To strike it rich” originates from gold‑ and silver‑mining rushes and connects it with meaning to suddenly acquire a large fortune. “To strike out” comes from baseball, where a batter misses three pitches and is out, symbolizing complete failure. Understanding these origins helps learners use the idioms naturally in conversations about success and setbacks. Use it as a listening checkpoint: pause here, repeat the useful expressions, and check that you can explain the idea without translating word for word.

Key Ideas to Remember

• First, “To plan ahead” means to prepare in advance; “to wing it” means to improvise.
• Next, “College” is a false friend for Spanish speakers; it means university. Meanwhile, “school” is versatile for any educational level.
• Also, “Depend” always takes the preposition “on” (e.g. “It depends on the road conditions”).
• However, expressions for a teacher’s favorite student range from formal “teacher’s pet” to colloquial “suck up,” “kiss up,” and “brown noser.”
• Therefore, “Bases” (soft “z” ending) and “basis” (sharp “s” ending) are pronounced differently despite similar spelling.
• Finally, “To strike it rich” refers to sudden wealth from mining; “to strike out” means total failure in baseball.
• The idiom “at the 11th hour” describes an action occurring at the very last minute.
• “Cracking up” can mean laughing hysterically or losing one’s mind, depending on context.

Vocabulary

English	Español	Note / Uso
flattering compliments	el piropo más halagador / halagante	Introduced during the question of the week about the most flattering compliment ever received.
to wing it (wing them)	improvisar	Defined as improvising during trips or general situations, contrasted with planning ahead.
wander around	deambular	Used when describing walking aimlessly without a fixed plan.
college	universidad	Identified as a false friend. Therefore, Spanish speakers often mistake it for ‘colegio’ (which actually means school).
spark	chispa	Used in the context of a teacher lighting a spark inside a student to inspire learning.
hangover	resacón	Mentioned humorously as a reason why teaching primary school kids while hungover is inadvisable.
and all that jazz	y todo eso	An idiomatic expression meaning ‘and all that other stuff’.
to sign up for	apuntarse / darse de alta	A phrasal verb used for registering or enrolling in a course or activity.
to drop out of	dejar / abandonar	A phrasal verb for quitting a class, activity, or school; the noun ‘dropout’ describes someone who leaves early.
butt kisser / ass kisser / suck up / kiss up / brown noser	pelota / pelotilla / lameculos / chupamedias / lambiscón / arrastrado	A collection of terms with varying levels of vulgarity used to describe someone who flatters for ulterior motives.
to plan ahead	planificar con antelación	To prepare or make plans for something well in advance, rather than waiting until the last minute.
to wing it	improvisar	To improvise or do something without prior preparation, such as during a trip or an activity.
teacher’s pet	el ojito derecho del profesor / el pelota	A student who is favored by the teacher, often seen as flattering them for ulterior motives.
suck up / kiss up / brown noser / ass kisser	pelota / pelotilla / lameculos / chupamedias	Various informal and colloquial terms used to describe someone who flatters an authority figure to gain favors.
to go out on a limb	arriesgarse / mojarse	To take a risk, make a bold guess, or express a controversial opinion that might leave you vulnerable.
better late than never	más vale tarde que nunca / mejor tarde que nunca	An idiom expressing relief or acceptance that something has finally happened or arrived after a delay.

Practice Ideas

Concept	Explanation	Why it matters
College vs. School	In English, ‘college’ is a false friend for Spanish speakers. Therefore, it does not translate to ‘colegio’ (a school for young children); it is simply another term for university. Meanwhile, ‘school’ is a highly versatile, generic term that can correctly be used to describe any educational level.	Understanding this prevents learners from incorrectly claiming they are in ‘college’ when they are actually children in school. This would otherwise imply they are university‑level child prodigies.
Bases vs. Basis	‘Bases’ (the plural of base, or the third‑person singular form of the verb ‘to base’) and ‘basis’ (meaning foundation, singular) are not true homophones. ‘Bases’ ends with a soft American ‘z’ sound, whereas ‘basis’ ends with a sharp, pure ‘s’ sound.	Distinguishing this subtle phonetic nuance ensures correct pronunciation when using common everyday idioms such as ‘cover your bases’ or describing actions done ‘on a daily basis’.
Always Be Creating (ABC)	A creative motto modeled after the famous sales catchphrase ‘Always Be Closing’. It advocates for constantly pursuing creative projects—whether writing a book, a poem, a song, or filming a smartphone movie—without waiting for big publishing or production companies to back you.	With modern tools like smartphones making creation highly accessible, this mindset helps creators push past discouragement, express their inner message, and release creative energy out of their systems.
To Strike It Rich vs. To Strike Out	These are two idiomatic expressions sharing the word ‘strike’ but conveying opposite outcomes. ‘To strike it rich’ means to make a massive amount of money suddenly, originating from historical gold or precious metal mining. ‘To strike out’ comes from baseball (when a batter misses three pitches) and means to fail completely.	A vast number of English idioms derive from historical industries and sports. Knowing these prevents literal translation mistakes and gives learners natural vocabulary to describe success and failure.
Cracking Up	A colloquial phrasal verb that has dual meanings. It represents laughing hysterically (similar to ‘busting a gut’ or being ‘in stitches’) but can also mean going crazy or losing one’s mind.	Recognizing both meanings is key to understanding conversational contexts, especially when a speaker is laughing so hysterically on a news broadcast that observers think she is losing her sanity.
At the 11th Hour	An idiom meaning at the very last minute or just before a deadline.	Helps learners understand urgent or last‑minute actions in English narratives.

Examples From the Episode

Source / Moment	Why it helps	Review cue
Question of the week regarding the most ‘flattering compliments’ (el piropo más halagador/halagante)	Teaches the vocabulary word ‘flattering’ as an adjective for compliments and introduces its Spanish translation ‘piropo’.	Use this as context while reviewing the video.
‘s real‑life example of booking a restaurant in Rome during the busiest weekend of the year	Contrasts the cultural concept of ‘planning ahead’ (booking in advance) with ‘winging it’ (improvising) and wandering around (‘deambular’).	Use this as context while reviewing the video.
References to Alice Cooper’s classic song ‘School’s Out’ and Pink Floyd’s ‘Another Brick in the Wall’ (‘We Don’t Need No Education’)	Highlights how music is utilized as a tool to celebrate the end of school and transition into ‘back to school’ vocabulary.	Use this as context while reviewing the video.
Mention of the television series ‘Doogie Howser M.D.’ (known in Spanish as ‘Médico Precoz’)	Used to illustrate why claiming to be in ‘college’ at age twelve would be implausible, reinforcing the false‑friend concept.	Use this as context while reviewing the video.
the lesson’s anecdote about planning a dinner in Rome versus wandering around to find a place to eat	Shows the practical benefits of planning ahead (securing a good meal) versus the risks of winging it (potentially disappointing food or getting ripped off).	Use this as context while reviewing the video.
Discussion of the phrase ‘depends on’ versus the incorrect ‘depends of’	Provides sentence models such as ‘Your success depends on your effort’ and explains why the preposition ‘on’ is required.	Use this as context while reviewing the video.
Explanation of the teacher’s pet phenomenon and related slang	Gives concrete utterances like ‘She’s such a suck up’ and notes the varying degrees of formality and impoliteness.	Use this as context while reviewing the video.
Pronunciation contrast between ‘bases’ and ‘basis’	Demonstrates the soft ‘z’ sound in ‘bases’ (as in ‘cover your bases’) versus the sharp ‘s’ sound in ‘basis’ (as in ‘on a daily basis’).	Use this as context while reviewing the video.
Origin of ‘to strike it rich’ from gold‑mining rushes	Links the idiom to historical events where prospectors suddenly found wealth.	Use this as context while reviewing the video.
Origin of ‘to strike out’ from baseball scoring	Connects the idiom to the experience of a batter swinging and missing three times.	Use this as context while reviewing the video.

Common Learner Traps

Watch out for	Why it matters	Better move
college	Identified as a false friend. Therefore, Spanish speakers often mistake it for ‘colegio’ (which actually means school).	Say it in a short sentence, then check whether the meaning changes if you translate it literally.
College vs. School	In English, ‘college’ is a false friend for Spanish speakers. Therefore, it does not translate to ‘colegio’ (a school for young children); it is simply another term for university. Meanwhile, ‘school’ is a highly versatile, generic term that can correctly be used to describe any educational level.	Understanding this prevents learners from incorrectly claiming they are in ‘college’ when they are actually children in school. This would otherwise imply they are university‑level child prodigies.
Bases vs. Basis	‘Bases’ (the plural of base, or the third‑person singular form of the verb ‘to base’) and ‘basis’ (meaning foundation, singular) are not true homophones. ‘Bases’ ends with a soft American ‘z’ sound, whereas ‘basis’ ends with a sharp, pure ‘s’ sound.	Distinguishing this subtle phonetic nuance ensures correct pronunciation when using common everyday idioms such as ‘cover your bases’ or describing actions done ‘on a daily basis’.
To Strike It Rich vs. To Strike Out	These are two idiomatic expressions sharing the word ‘strike’ but conveying opposite outcomes. ‘To strike it rich’ means to make a massive amount of money suddenly, originating from historical gold or precious metal mining. ‘To strike out’ comes from baseball (when a batter misses three pitches) and means to fail completely.	A vast number of English idioms derive from historical industries and sports. Knowing these prevents literal translation mistakes and gives learners natural vocabulary to describe success and failure.

Try It Yourself

Use these prompts after reading the article. They are designed for active recall: say the answer aloud first, then check the tables above.

1. Explain this in your own words: The meaning and usage of “to plan ahead” and “to wing it” with cultural examples from travel and daily life.
2. Explain this in your own words: How to correctly use “college” and “school” in English, avoiding the false‑friend mistake common among Spanish speakers.
3. Explain this in your own words: The rule that “depend” always takes the preposition “on” and how to apply it in sentences.
4. Make one original sentence with “flattering” without starting from “halagador” in Spanish.
5. Make one original sentence with “college” without starting from “universidad” in Spanish.
6. Make one original sentence with “school” without starting from “escuela” in Spanish.

Glossary

Term	How it sounds	Meaning / Spanish
flattering	/ˈflæt.ər.ɪŋ/	halagador
college	/ˈkɒl.ɪdʒ/	universidad
school	/skuːl/	escuela
depend on	/dɪˈpend ɒn/	depender de
teacher’s pet	/ˈtiː.tʃəz ˈpet/	el ojito derecho del profesor
suck up	/sʌk ʌp/	lameculos
kiss up	/kɪs ʌp/	chupamedias
brown noser	/ˈbraʊn ˌnoʊ.zər/	lamisón
bases	/ˈbeɪ.sɪz/	bases
basis	/ˈbeɪ.sɪs/	base
to strike it rich	/tuː straɪk ɪt rɪtʃ/	hacerse rico de repente
to strike out	/tuː straɪk aʊt/	fallar completamente

Questions Learners Ask

What is the difference between 'college' and 'school' in English?

'College' refers specifically to university‑level education. Meanwhile, 'school' is a general term that can describe any educational level, from primary to university.

Should I say 'depends on' or 'depends of'?

Always use 'depends on'. The verb 'depend' requires the preposition 'on' (e.g. 'It depends on the result').

What does 'to wing it' mean?

To wing it means to improvise or do something without prior preparation, such as deciding what to do on the spot during a trip or activity.

Are 'bases' and 'basis' pronounced the same way?

No. 'Bases' ends with a soft American 'z' sound (/ˈbeɪ.sɪz/). Meanwhile, 'basis' ends with a sharp 's' sound (/ˈbeɪ.sɪs/).

Where does the idiom 'to strike it rich' come from?

It originates from historical gold‑ and silver‑mining rushes, where prospectors suddenly found large amounts of precious metal.

What are some informal ways to describe a teacher's pet?

Informal and colloquial terms include 'suck up', 'kiss up', and 'brown noser', each with increasing levels of informality and slight vulgarity.

Quick Quiz

Review Cards

Fuente: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=icqEisooEBE