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Real Easy English

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Talking about happiness

Episode 250912 / 12 Sep 2025

(Photo: Getty)

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Introduction

Neil and Beth have a real conversation in easy English about what makes them happy. Learn to talk about things that make you happy.

Vocabulary

positive
a positive person is hopeful and confident. They think about the good parts of a situation

negative
a negative person is someone who doesn't expect good things and thinks bad things are going to happen

cheer up
start to feel happier. You can also cheer a person up - that means you do something to make them feel happier

grumpy
in a bad mood, maybe just for a short period of time

take time out
stop doing the thing that makes you grumpy and try to relax or do something different

Transcript

Beth
Hello and welcome to Real Easy English. In this podcast we have real conversations in easy English to help you learn. I'm Beth.

Neil
And I'm Neil. If you want to watch a video version of this podcast, you can find it on our website, bbclearningenglish.com. There's also a free worksheet there.

Beth
Hello, Neil.

Neil
Hi, Beth.

Beth
How are you? Are you feeling happy today?

Neil
I'm feeling really happy today. How about you?

Beth
I'm good, I'm good. I'm also happy. And today we're talking about happiness. We will talk about the things that make us happy and what to do if we're feeling sad and want to be happy.

Neil
Well, let's get started.

Beth
So, Neil, what makes you happy?

Neil
Oh, that's a good question. Recording Real Easy English.

Beth
Yay!

Neil
But also, being with my friends and family makes me happy.

Beth
Why?

Neil
I like those people, and I like to be with people I like and that makes me happy.

Beth
I think that is fair enough. I would say the same - being with people. I'm happy enough on my own, but I'm definitely happier when I'm around people I like.

Neil
Me too. Yeah. Are you generally a positive person, do you think, or are you negative?

Beth
I think I'm generally positive. I like to smile and laugh. And I like to think positively. So even if something is a bit negative, I try to see the positive side in it. So, I can be negative, but I think generally I'm positive and happy.

Neil
Yeah. Even happy people are sometimes sad. What do you do if you're sad to make you happier?

Beth
I have a happy playlist full of songs that make me happy. So I might put on some songs, do some singing, do some dancing and that will make me happy. What about you? What makes you happy if you're feeling a bit sad?

Neil
I think it's important to try to change the situation if you're sad. So I might do some exercise, go out for a walk, maybe try to have a conversation with a friend, just to change the way I feel.

Beth
Yeah. They're good ideas. Are you generally a positive person or a negative person?

Neil
Yeah. Positive, I think generally. But sometimes I'm a bit grumpy.

Beth
We're all a bit grumpy sometimes.

Neil
Yeah. Do you think it's important to be happy all the time?

Beth
All the time? No, I don't think so. I think you should just feel your emotions. I think if you're feeling sad, that's OK. Have a cry or do whatever you need to do and feel your emotions. Because if you try to cover them and just act happy and you're not, I don't think it's going to help your situation.

Neil
I think I agree. I don't think anyone's happy all the time. So, Beth, you like singing and dancing to your special playlist. Is there anything else you do that will cheer you up?

Beth
What else cheers me up? What else makes me happy, if I'm feeling sad? I think, like you said, some exercise, so I might go out for a walk, and ideally, have a chat with a friend. That's basically what you said. But I do think that's a good idea. And sometimes fresh air and being outside in nature is what you need, especially if you're angry, or grumpy, or annoyed. You need to take time out, step away from the situation, and just relax, and maybe be outside, and then you'll feel happy again.

Neil
Yeah, I think that would cheer me up too.

Beth
Let's recap the vocabulary we heard during the conversation. A positive person is hopeful and confident. They think about the good parts of a situation.

Neil
And a negative person is the opposite of that. They don't expect good things, and they think bad things are going to happen.

Beth
If you cheer up, then you start to feel happier and you can also cheer a person up. That means that you do something to make them feel happier.

Neil
Yes, and you might need to cheer up someone who is grumpy. If you're grumpy, you're in a bad mood, maybe just for a short period of time.

Beth
And if you take time out, you stop doing the thing that makes you grumpy and try to relax or do something different.

Neil
That's it for this episode of Real Easy English. Try the worksheet on our website, bbclearningenglish.com.

Beth
And we'll be back next week with another conversation in easy English. See you then.

Neil
Goodbye. 

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