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00:00:05Hello, I'm Neil and welcome to 6 Minute English, where we vigorously discuss a new
00:00:11topic and six related items of vocabulary.
00:00:14And hello, I'm Rob. Today we're discussing vigorous exercise and whether adults take
00:00:20enough of it. Vigorous means using a lot of energy to do something.
00:00:25So how many steps do you do in a day, Rob?
00:00:28How many steps? How should I know, Neil? It would be pretty hard to count them all.
00:00:33Oh, come on, you can track steps on your phone. I do 10,000 a day, which is the magic
00:00:39number
00:00:39for keeping fit and healthy, apparently.
00:00:42Not if you saunter, Neil, surely. Sauntering from the sofa to the fridge and back, or from
00:00:47the house to the car?
00:00:49Well, I never saunter, Rob. Saunter means to walk slowly, and you'd have to make a lot
00:00:54of trips to the fridge to clock up 10,000 steps. To get some vigorous exercise, you need to
00:01:01get out and about, round the park at a brisk pace.
00:01:04Brisk means quick and energetic, the opposite of sauntering. OK, well, perhaps you can tell
00:01:12me, Neil, how many people aged between 40 and 60 do less than 10 minutes brisk walking every
00:01:19month? Is it… a. 4%, b. 14% or c. 40%?
00:01:27Hmm, I'm going to say 4%, because 10 minutes is such a short amount of time.
00:01:35Hmm, indeed. Now, I've got another question for you, Neil. Why is exercise so important?
00:01:41Because it sounds pretty boring – counting steps, going to the gym, running on a machine.
00:01:46Well…
00:01:47When you exercise, you stimulate the body's natural repair system. Your body will actually
00:01:53stay younger if you exercise.
00:01:55That sounds good.
00:01:56Exercise also lowers your risk of developing illnesses, such as heart disease, cancer and
00:02:02diabetes.
00:02:04Hmm… I'm getting a bit worried now, Neil, but I don't have enough time to do a thousand
00:02:09steps every day. I'm far too busy.
00:02:11Well, Rob, now might be a good time to listen to Julia Bradbury. She's a TV presenter and
00:02:17outdoor walking enthusiast, who will explain how she builds walking into her busy life.
00:02:25I will walk to meetings instead of catching a bus or getting a taxi or a car into meetings.
00:02:30And I will also, if I can't build that into my working day, if it's a day when I haven't
00:02:36got meetings and I may be at home with the kids, I will take the time. I will take my
00:02:41kids out
00:02:41with the buggy and I will definitely do 30-40 minutes at least every day going to the park,
00:02:46going to the shops, picking up my things en route and really sort of building it into
00:02:50my life – taking the stairs and not taking lifts. All of these kinds of little decisions
00:02:56can incrementally build up to creating more walking time in your day.
00:03:03So, if you build something into your day or your life, you include it from the beginning.
00:03:08And Julia Bradbury has built walking into her day. Even though she's very busy too, Rob,
00:03:14you should learn from her.
00:03:16So, she walks instead of driving or taking the bus and takes the stairs instead of the
00:03:22lift. Hmm. I could do those things.
00:03:25You could indeed. And before you know it, you'd be doing 10,000 steps because the amount
00:03:29of walking you do in a day builds incrementally.
00:03:33Incrementally means gradually increasing in size. OK, well, before I think that over, perhaps
00:03:40I could tell you the answer to today's quiz question.
00:03:43OK, you asked me how many people aged between 40 and 60 do less than 10 minutes brisk walking
00:03:50every month. The options were A, 4%, B, 14% or C, 40%?
00:03:58And you said 4%. But I'm afraid it's actually 40% and that's according to the government
00:04:05body Public Health England here in the UK.
00:04:09Oh dear. That's a lot more people than I expected.
00:04:12But it isn't that surprising. People in all age groups are leading more sedentary lifestyles
00:04:17these days. Our job is very sedentary, which means it involves a lot of sitting and not
00:04:23much exercise.
00:04:24Well, I might just run on the spot while we go over the new vocabulary we've learned
00:04:28today.
00:04:29Good plan. First up, we heard vigorous, which means using a lot of energy to do something.
00:04:37OK, I'm running vigorously on the spot.
00:04:41Great example. And good to see you taking some vigorous exercise.
00:04:46Number two. Saunter means to walk slowly in a relaxed way. When I saw Rob I sauntered over
00:04:53to say hello.
00:04:54Hi Neil.
00:04:55Number three. Brisk means quick and energetic.
00:04:59It's important to take some brisk exercise every day.
00:05:03Yes. And I'm beginning to realise that that might be true.
00:05:07Yep. I think you've done enough jogging for today, Rob. You've probably done about a hundred
00:05:12steps.
00:05:12Oh, is that all? OK, number four. If you build something into something, you include it from
00:05:19the beginning.
00:05:19It's important to build regular exercise into your daily routine.
00:05:24Very good advice. Number five is incrementally, which means gradually increasing in size.
00:05:30Incremental is the adjective. The company has been making incremental changes to its pay
00:05:35structure.
00:05:36Does that mean we're getting a pay rise?
00:05:38I doubt it. And finally, number six. Sedentary means sitting
00:05:42eating a lot and not taking much exercise. For example, it's bad for your health to lead
00:05:47such a sedentary lifestyle.
00:05:49Ah, duly noted, Neil. Well, it's time to go now, but if today's show has inspired you
00:05:54to step out and take more exercise, please let us know by visiting our Twitter, Facebook
00:05:59and YouTube pages and telling us all about it.
00:06:02Goodbye.
00:06:03Bye-bye.
00:06:046 Minute English from BBC Learning English
00:06:09Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Rob.
00:06:14And I'm Sam.
00:06:15With the outbreak of the coronavirus epidemic, people in many countries around the world have
00:06:20started wearing face masks to protect both themselves and others they come into contact
00:06:25with. In this programme, we'll be asking whether wearing masks in public can help prevent the
00:06:31spread of coronavirus in the community.
00:06:33Face masks have long been popular in some Asian countries, but with the spread of COVID-19,
00:06:40they're increasingly being seen in other parts of the world too.
00:06:44Wearing a protective mask or face covering is nothing new. Medical masks have a long history
00:06:50from the plagues of medieval Europe to 19th century outbreaks of cholera in the United States.
00:06:56But when did they start to be commonly used? That's my question for today. When and where were
00:07:02face masks first widely used? Was it a. 1855 in Vienna, b. 1905 in Chicago, or c. 1955 in London?
00:07:14Hmm. Well, you mentioned cholera outbreaks in the US, Rob, so I'll say b. 1905 in Chicago.
00:07:22Right, Sam. Well, we'll find out later if you were right. Now, face masks may inspire confidence,
00:07:28but what is the evidence that they actually protect the wearer from contracting the virus
00:07:34or prevent infected people from spreading the virus to others?
00:07:38Professor Robert West has conducted a review of over 20 studies looking into the evidence.
00:07:44Here he is speaking to the BBC World Service programme, Health Check.
00:07:49The evidence is equivocal on it. It doesn't really tell you anything yet. I mean, hopefully that will
00:07:54change. So we're thrown back on sort of first principles and basics. And this is why, as in so
00:08:01many other areas of public health, you get such a heated debate, because people are really relying
00:08:05on their opinion on things. And you will have one group who say, well, it stands to reason,
00:08:11the good old stands to reason argument, which is, obviously, if you've got a covering in front of
00:08:16your face, and you're speaking or coughing into that covering, it's going to trap quite a lot of
00:08:23the virus on the droplets that you'll be emitting. So far, the evidence over whether face masks are
00:08:29helpful or harmful is equivocal – difficult to interpret, because it seems to have two opposite
00:08:36or contradictory meanings. Based on current evidence, Professor West feels we cannot say whether
00:08:42mask wearing is beneficial. Some evidence suggests that wearing masks can prevent the disease spreading,
00:08:49and some suggest the opposite. There may be reasons why wearing masks could actually increase
00:08:55the spread of coronavirus. However, for some people, it stands to reason that masks are beneficial,
00:09:03meaning it is obviously true from the facts. Actually, the evidence is far from obvious,
00:09:09but everyone has an opinion on the issue. And after weeks of stressful lockdown,
00:09:14this can lead to heated debate, discussion or argument in which people become angry and excited.
00:09:21Up until recently, the World Health Organisation said there were two groups who definitely should
00:09:26wear masks – people showing symptoms of the virus and their carers. But that left the problem of
00:09:33people who have the virus without knowing it, and maybe unintentionally omitting it. Sending
00:09:38something out into the air, for example a noise or smell, or in this case coronavirus. In June,
00:09:44the WHO advice changed. Now they say masks should be worn in public, where social distancing measures
00:09:51are not possible. But the advantages of wearing masks might be outweighed by other considerations,
00:09:58as Professor West explains. It could also have unfortunate negative consequences in terms of
00:10:05the sort of mask shaming that people feel compelled to wear masks in situations where it's actually not
00:10:12helpful and may be harmful, because it's expected of them and they feel that they would be judged if
00:10:18they didn't. But I think in addition to that, one of the problems we have is that masks can potentially
00:10:25create a false sense of security. One negative effect is the practice of mask shaming – criticising
00:10:33or humiliating someone for not wearing a face covering. Another problem is that wearing masks
00:10:39might create a false sense of security – a feeling of being safer than you really are.
00:10:45Is that what happened in 1905, Rob? Oh yes, today's quiz question. I asked you
00:10:51when face masks were first widely used. And I said B, 1905 in Chicago.
00:10:58Ah, well done Sam, you were absolutely right. It was 1905 in Chicago, when Dr Alice Hamilton first
00:11:06noticed that carers wearing masks to treat scarlet fever patients did not get sick.
00:11:11OK, interesting. So today we've been discussing whether wearing masks helps prevent infected
00:11:18people emitting or sending out coronavirus. Well, so far the evidence is equivocal – unclear,
00:11:25because it seems contradictory. In other words, we can't say either way for certain.
00:11:31But for some, it stands to reason – meaning it's obviously true that mask wearing is a good idea.
00:11:38The disagreement over wearing face coverings has started heated debate – that's
00:11:44discussion which becomes angry or excited. And this, in turn, has led to incidents of
00:11:49mask shaming – criticising or mocking people for not wearing a face mask.
00:11:56A final drawback is that masks might give the wearer a false sense of security – that's belief that
00:12:03they are safe when they're not. And that's all we've got time for today. Bye for now.
00:12:08Bye-bye.
00:12:15Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. I'm Neil.
00:12:18And I'm Sam.
00:12:19And in this programme we're looking at the word objectification.
00:12:23Objectification is when we reduce people to objects.
00:12:26An example of this is advertising and the media, and in particular the way women have been shown –
00:12:32impossibly attractive and implausibly perfect models. In adverts and in movies and on
00:12:38TV you are much more likely to see naked or half-naked women than men.
00:12:42Objectification can lead to issues in society such as inequality and discrimination.
00:12:48Objectification of women is a problem. But what about the objectification of men?
00:12:53Before we hear more, it's time for a question. Today's question is, on British TV, in which
00:12:59decade was a completely naked man first seen? Was it A, the 1940s, B, the 1950s or C, the 1960s?
00:13:08What do you think, Sam?
00:13:09I'm going for the 60s.
00:13:10I'll give the answer later in the programme. Now, Sam, do you know the TV programme Love Island?
00:13:16Yes. It's a kind of dating show and all the contestants – men and women – spend a lot
00:13:23of time in their swimming costumes and they've all got perfect bodies.
00:13:27Yes, that's right. It's a programme that seems to objectify men and women equally. But is that a bad thing?
00:13:33Dr Peter Lucas is Senior Lecturer in Philosophy at the University of Central Lancashire. He spoke on
00:13:40this topic on the BBC's Woman's Hour programme. What does he suggest might be the advantage of
00:13:46featuring men with perfect bodies?
00:13:49If you look at the impact of TV series like Love Island, for instance, the producers of that programme
00:13:54present that – have described it as being aspirational for their audience. It's presenting
00:13:59role models. It's presenting models that people are supposed to aspire to.
00:14:03Now, many women thinking about the male bodies on display there might think, well,
00:14:07if it means that more men get off to the gym and sort of look after themselves physically,
00:14:11surely that's a good thing.
00:14:12So, what might be an advantage of these highly fit athletic bodies on show?
00:14:17Dr Lucas suggests that seeing those bodies might encourage men to go to the gym and work hard to
00:14:24improve their fitness and health, and that could be a good thing.
00:14:28Yes, the people in the programme are described as role models.
00:14:31A role model is someone whose behaviour is seen as a good example for others to copy.
00:14:37Hmm. I'm not sure the behaviour of the people in Love Island makes them good role models,
00:14:42but perhaps from the point of view of their physical fitness, they give us something to aspire to.
00:14:48If you aspire to something, it's something you can aim for, something you want to achieve.
00:14:53Dr Lucas also used a related word – aspirational. The TV series Love Island was described as being
00:15:01aspirational. It shows a lifestyle that people would like to have, something they might aim to achieve.
00:15:08But there are also dangers to encouraging people to get to the gym. Here's Dr Lucas again.
00:15:14Dr Lucas. But also, it's likely to generate higher levels of narcissism, self-consciousness.
00:15:22Becoming obsessive about your appearance is not particularly an attractive feature,
00:15:25either in men or in women. And I suspect that that's impacting on men's behaviour in a way which
00:15:30is detrimental in the same sort of way that it's been detrimental for women really for decades.
00:15:36He talks about behaviour that is detrimental. This means behaviour that has a negative impact.
00:15:42What behaviours does he say are detrimental?
00:15:44If people become obsessed by their appearance, it could lead to narcissism. This is a condition
00:15:50where you spend so much time focusing on yourself, your own looks, your own body,
00:15:56that you stop caring about anyone else.
00:15:58And because it's very, very hard to get that kind of body, it can also lead to people being very
00:16:04self-conscious. They might become embarrassed about their bodies and lose confidence in themselves
00:16:09as a result.
00:16:10Right, it's almost time to review this week's vocabulary. But before that, let's have the
00:16:15answer to the quiz. In what decade was the first naked man seen on British TV?
00:16:21Was it a the 1940s, b the 1950s or c the 1960s? What did you say, Sam?
00:16:27I said c the 60s.
00:16:29I'm afraid the revolution had come earlier than that. The correct answer is the 1950s.
00:16:35It was a 1957 documentary called Out of Step, part of which was filmed at a nudist colony.
00:16:42Now time for our vocabulary.
00:16:44Our first word was objectification. This is the noun for when we reduce a human being
00:16:50to an object. We don't think of them as a real person anymore. The verb is to objectify.
00:16:56Someone whose behaviour is a good example that others want to copy is a role model.
00:17:01When it comes to presenting 6 Minute English, you are my role model, Neil.
00:17:05Ah, you're too kind. And I aspire to your level of professionalism, Sam.
00:17:10To aspire to, to aim to be, to hope to achieve.
00:17:13That is related to the next word, aspirational. This adjective is used to describe the desire to
00:17:20improve parts of your life. For example, getting a better job or a better body.
00:17:26Aspirational TV programmes or adverts show lifestyles that people might want to be theirs.
00:17:31Our next word is an adjective for something that is bad for you,
00:17:35something that has a negative effect. The adjective is detrimental.
00:17:39We heard that aspiring to the perfect body can be detrimental because it might lead to narcissism.
00:17:45Narcissism is the term for someone who is so obsessed with their own body and life
00:17:49that they don't care about anyone else.
00:17:52Achieving that perfect body is incredibly hard and impossible for most real people.
00:17:56And not achieving it can make people overly self-conscious,
00:18:00which in this situation means that they can lose confidence in themselves.
00:18:04That's all we have time for today. Do join us next time.
00:18:07And remember, you can find us on the website bbclearningenglish.com. Bye bye!
00:18:12Bye!
00:18:146 Minute English from BBC Learning English
00:18:19Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English, the show that brings you an interesting topic,
00:18:24authentic listening practice and vocabulary to help you improve your language skills. I'm Rob.
00:18:29And I'm Catherine. In this programme we'll be discussing quitting drinking and staying dry.
00:18:35Right. So when you say quitting, you mean giving up. And when you say drinking,
00:18:40you're particularly referring to the activity of drinking alcohol.
00:18:43Exactly, Rob.
00:18:45But what about staying dry? It's nothing to do with the weather.
00:18:48No, that's true. The adjective dry here means no alcohol. And I, Rob, am currently having a dry January.
00:18:58Ah yes, your New Year's resolution is to give up alcohol for one month. Any reason?
00:19:02Yes. I'm doing it in order to improve my health and save some money. And a resolution,
00:19:09by the way, is a promise to yourself to do something or not to do something.
00:19:14Right. Well, they seem like good reasons. And for now, we must keep up our resolution to always
00:19:19start the programme with a question. So, are you ready for it, Catherine?
00:19:22I am. Crack on, Rob.
00:19:23OK. According to data from the World Health Organisation in 2015, which country consumed
00:19:30the most alcohol per person? Was it a Australia, b Finland or c the Czech Republic?
00:19:36So, well, they all sound quite likely. But I did visit Prague once and I had a lovely time,
00:19:43that's what I'm going to say. C, the Czech Republic.
00:19:46OK. Well, as always, we'll find out the answer later on. But let's continue our discussion about
00:19:52drinking – or informally known as boozing – and trying to give it up. We all know that too much
00:19:57drinking can be bad for us and that's why you, Catherine, have decided to quit – but only for a
00:20:02month.
00:20:02Yes, just a month. But it's a start and I might continue into February. But I'm seeing the benefits
00:20:09already – I've managed to shed some weight, most of which I actually put on over Christmas.
00:20:14Yeah, I can see. So, to shed here simply means lose. And I bet your sobriety is helping
00:20:20you sleep better. Sobriety, by the way, means the state of not being drunk.
00:20:24It is, actually. And I'm not alone. A study of 857 British adults
00:20:29by Dr Richard de Visser from the University of Sussex found that after going for a month
00:20:35without alcohol, 62% of the people in the study said they had better sleep.
00:20:41So, Rob, does that tempt you to become tea total and stop drinking?
00:20:47Err, not me, Catherine. I need a drink to help me relax and be more sociable. You know how shy
00:20:52I am.
00:20:53Yes, of course, Rob. Well, maybe you should listen to Catherine Gray. Now, she's the author of a book
00:20:59called The Unexpected Joy of Being Sober, which she wrote after she discovered the negative effects
00:21:06of going to too many work-related parties where she was just drinking too much.
00:21:12Here she is speaking on BBC Radio 4's Woman's Hour programme.
00:21:16I had a lot of social anxiety and when I quit, I had to deal with that. I think I
00:21:22used drinking
00:21:22as a crutch, a confidence crutch. It eased the way to go to big glittering parties and stuff like that.
00:21:28And when I quit, I had to learn real confidence in a way.
00:21:33So, Catherine worked in the magazine business which involved going to lots of boozy parties.
00:21:39Drinking, she says, helped her deal with a nervous and worried feeling that she had when she met new
00:21:44people. She called it social anxiety.
00:21:47Yes, and she used drinking as a crutch. A crutch here is something you depend on for support
00:21:53and sometimes you rely on it too much.
00:21:55Yes, and eventually she decided to abstain from drinking. In other words,
00:22:00stop doing something that's enjoyable but bad for you and she feels much better for it.
00:22:05So, Rob, come on, haven't you got the willpower to just quit drinking for just 30 days?
00:22:10Well, according to Catherine Gray, that wouldn't be long enough.
00:22:14Experts say that it takes 66 days for a new habit to bed in,
00:22:18so I would always recommend trying it for 90 days.
00:22:2130 days is the hard bit before you get to the rewards,
00:22:24because after 66 days it starts getting a lot easier
00:22:27and you start really feeling better in yourself.
00:22:30Right, so it takes 66 days for doing a regular activity,
00:22:34a habit, to bed in. And bed in means to become normal and start working properly.
00:22:41Now, earlier I asked you, according to data from the World Health Organisation in 2015,
00:22:47which country consumed the most alcohol per person? Was it A Australia,
00:22:53B Finland or C the Czech Republic?
00:22:56And I said the Czech Republic. Was I right?
00:22:59You were, Catherine.
00:23:00Spot on. Well done.
00:23:02Apparently, 14.1 litres of pure alcohol is consumed per person each year.
00:23:08Well, like I said, they do make good beer in the Czech Republic. But people,
00:23:12be careful, only drink it in moderation.
00:23:15Now, Rob, shall we take a look at the vocabulary we've mentioned today?
00:23:19Indeed, yes. The first word we had was resolution. That's a promise to yourself to do or not do
00:23:25something. Catherine's New Year's resolution was to give up drinking alcohol for a whole month.
00:23:31Yes, and I'm still doing it, Rob. The plan is to shed a few kilos and get fit.
00:23:36So, for example, Rob shed lots of weight when he went on a cake-free diet.
00:23:41Really? I'd never give up cake, Catherine. But I could be tempted to give up booze,
00:23:46as I know sobriety is good for my health. That's the noun word to mean the state of not being
00:23:51drunk.
00:23:52Now, our next word was abstain. And that means not do something that's enjoyable,
00:23:57but bad for you. So, Rob needs to abstain from eating cakes if he wants to wear his skinny jeans.
00:24:05Are you dropping a hint there, Catherine? Now, our final word is actually two words – bed in.
00:24:11It means to become normal and start working properly.
00:24:14It took a while for the new computer system to bed in, but now it's working perfectly.
00:24:19That's brilliant because now we can go online and find
00:24:22more BBC Learning English programmes at bbclearningenglish.com.
00:24:26And that's all for today's 6 Minute English. We hope you enjoyed it. Bye for now!
00:24:30Bye!
00:24:37Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. I'm Neil. Joining me for this is Dan.
00:24:41Hello. And can I say, Dan, you're looking very slim. It looks like your diet is working.
00:24:47This is my normal figure, and I have not been on a diet. But it looks like you've actually put
00:24:52on a bit of weight. Well, I may have a little paunch or a fat stomach, but didn't you know
00:24:57that
00:24:57it's out of my control? Some of this has to do with my jeans – not the ones I wear,
00:25:02but the cells in my body that control my development. That's what we'll be discussing in this programme.
00:25:09However our audience might describe themselves – tubby and overweight, or thin and skinny,
00:25:14which means very thin – they're more than welcome to join us on this voyage of discovery.
00:25:19So let's start with answering a question, huh?
00:25:21What's the name of the popular diet that involves avoiding eating carbohydrates,
00:25:26and in which you can eat as much fat and protein as you'd like?
00:25:29Is it a the Mediterranean diet, b the Atkins diet, or c the Graham diet?
00:25:35I've heard of the Atkins diet, so I'll say b.
00:25:39Well, you'll have to wait a bit to find out. But Dan, you may have also heard of a crash
00:25:44diet.
00:25:45That's where someone makes a rapid change to the types of food they eat,
00:25:49with the aim of losing weight quickly. Yes, I know that eating this way can be
00:25:53risky for your health, and they don't always work. That's true, and now scientists have some
00:25:58evidence that shows that our weight is not just controlled by what we eat. So it might be quite
00:26:03natural for someone to be thin or fat. It's all to do with their genes.
00:26:07Research published in the journal PLOS Genetics explains how twin studies have shown that about
00:26:1440% of the variation in a person's weight is affected by their genes, and also why thin but
00:26:20healthy people have genetic advantages in terms of maintaining a healthy weight.
00:26:25So that means that losing weight isn't just about having willpower.
00:26:29That's controlling your own behaviour to achieve something. It's actually about something that's
00:26:35out of our control? Yes, possibly. Let's hear from the study's author,
00:26:39Sada Faruqi, who is Professor of Metabolism and Medicine at the University of Cambridge,
00:26:44and has been a pioneer in the genetics of obesity for more than 20 years.
00:26:49Obesity, of course, is where someone is very overweight in a way that's dangerous for their health.
00:26:54Here she is speaking on the BBC World Service programme Health Check.
00:26:58What does she say might be one of the benefits of this research for people who are overweight?
00:27:04It actually can be very helpful in trying to get them to come to terms with some of the difficulties
00:27:08they may be having, but also help them to engage with help and support to try to encourage weight
00:27:13loss. I hope one of the main outcomes of this work might be to a little bit start to get
00:27:18people
00:27:19thinking about that, because people are very judgmental and tend to think, look, if I can stay
00:27:22thin and control my weight, why can't you? And what I would say to that is, well, the data now
00:27:27shows that
00:27:27you're probably quite lucky in terms of the genes that you have, rather than just being either morally
00:27:32superior or having better willpower.
00:27:34Some interesting thoughts there. For people who are overweight, this research can help them come
00:27:40to terms with the struggle they may be having to lose weight. When you come to terms with something,
00:27:45you start to accept the difficult or unpleasant situation you are in.
00:27:49So I suppose she means accepting that if you're trying to shed a few pounds,
00:27:54unsuccessfully, it's not all your fault. And it may stop people being so judgmental – that's
00:28:00so quick to criticise people based on their own beliefs.
00:28:03A slim person might say, well, I had less and lost weight, so why can't you? And now we know
00:28:09things aren't quite that simple. You're just lucky to have the right genes, but it doesn't make you
00:28:14morally superior.
00:28:15So it's not just about having willpower.
00:28:18This research is much more detailed, of course, than we've had time to explain here. But for someone
00:28:23who is overweight, will they feel defeated?
00:28:26Absolutely not, according to Professor Faruqi. For people who are obese, this research is helpful.
00:28:32Not only should it give them hope, it could lead to the development of medicines to help them.
00:28:37But as genes only play a part in our size and weight, we should all eat a healthy diet and
00:28:42do
00:28:42some exercise. And there is always new research about the best things to do and the right things
00:28:47to eat. Recently, research published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine said that
00:28:52bursts of high-intensity interval training may be more effective for weight loss than longer,
00:28:58less intense workouts. A burst is a sudden and short increase in something.
00:29:03Even if diets don't help you lose weight, eating a balanced diet can certainly keep you healthy and
00:29:08make you feel good. And as I'm talking about diets, why don't I answer the question I asked you earlier?
00:29:14What's the name of the popular diet in which you should avoid eating carbohydrates,
00:29:19but you can have as much fat and protein as you want? Is it a the Mediterranean diet,
00:29:25b the Atkins diet, or c the Graham diet?
00:29:28I said the Atkins diet.
00:29:29And that is correct.
00:29:31Woohoo!
00:29:31Well done.
00:29:32This well-known low-carb diet was developed by the American physician and cardiologist
00:29:38Robert Atkins in the 1960s. Other low-carb diets are available.
00:29:42Neil, I think it's time we reminded ourselves of some of the vocabulary we've discussed today.
00:29:47Good idea. Let's talk about paunch, another name for a fat stomach that men like me and you have.
00:29:54Ha! Speak for yourself. I'm closer to skinny, a word to describe someone looking very thin and sometimes
00:30:00ill. Our next word was willpower. If you have willpower, you can control your own behaviour to achieve
00:30:07something. The next phrase, come to terms with something, means you start to accept the
00:30:11difficult or unpleasant situation you are in. If you're judgmental, you're quick to
00:30:15criticise people based on your own beliefs. And finally, we mentioned a burst of high-intensity
00:30:21interval training. A burst is a sudden and short increase in something.
00:30:25Well, we've had a burst of vocabulary there, and it's time to say goodbye.
00:30:28Please join us next time. And of course, don't forget our website, bbclearningenglish.com. Goodbye.
00:30:34Bye.
00:30:41Hello and welcome to 6 Minute English. I'm Catherine.
00:30:44And I'm Dan.
00:30:45Now, Dan, would you say you had a sedentary lifestyle at all?
00:30:49If I only went to work, yes, I would have a pretty sedentary life. I sit on the tube,
00:30:55I sit at my desk or in the studio for most of the day. But because I know that's not
00:30:59good for my
00:31:00health, I do also like to go to the gym a couple of times a week. And I'll do some
00:31:05exercise,
00:31:05like a bike ride or playing football at the weekend. So my job is pretty sedentary, but not my life.
00:31:11Nice answer, Dan. And our topic today is about how one country in particular has been very successful
00:31:19in dealing with the problem of a sedentary population. But before we find out more,
00:31:25here's today's question. According to a recent survey,
00:31:29how long does the average person in the UK spend sitting down every day?
00:31:36Is it a between 6 and 7 hours,
00:31:39b between 7 and 8 hours,
00:31:41or c between 8 and 9 hours? So, Dan, what do you think?
00:31:47Based on my day, it would be between 8 and 9 hours. But I don't know if I'm an average
00:31:52person,
00:31:52so I'm interested to learn the answer for myself.
00:31:55We'll find out the answer later in the programme.
00:31:59Now, 40 years ago, Finland was perhaps the unhealthiest country in the Western world,
00:32:05but now it's one of the healthiest. Death by heart disease in Finland has fallen by 80%,
00:32:13and life expectancy – the age at which the average person lives until – has risen by 10 years.
00:32:19How has this been achieved? This was investigated on BBC Radio 4's You and Yours programme,
00:32:27and one of the ways Finland has improved the health of the nation is by a lot of state involvement.
00:32:35BBC reporter John Lawrenson describes in a humorous way how this works.
00:32:42How does he describe someone with many health problems?
00:32:46If you're an exercise shirker because you're fat, or old, or asthmatic, or chained to your computer,
00:32:53or just plain lazy, or all of those things rolled into one super health disaster zone,
00:32:58they will come to you in the form, perhaps, of a stern lady with a clipboard, and make some firm
00:33:05suggestions. They won't actually drag you off your PlayStation, out of your nursing home,
00:33:11or out of the pub, but they do get quite close.
00:33:15How did he describe someone with a lot of health problems, Dan?
00:33:19Well, he wasn't very complimentary, and we should emphasise that this report is quite tongue-in-cheek,
00:33:25which means that it's meant to be funny and shouldn't be taken seriously. But he called
00:33:30the people with many health problems super health disaster zones.
00:33:34Super health disaster zones. So, what other vocabulary can we pick from what he said?
00:33:40He talked about being an exercise shirker. A shirker is someone who avoids doing something,
00:33:45usually because they're being lazy. It's also a verb – to shirk.
00:33:50Laurenson says that if you're an exercise shirker, or indeed a super health disaster zone,
00:33:57someone from the authorities will come and visit you. In another tongue-in-cheek description,
00:34:03he says that this visitor might be a stern lady with a clipboard.
00:34:09Stern is an adjective which means very serious and strict – someone without a sense of humour,
00:34:15who might be quite angry. And in his description, the reporter says that this stern lady will have
00:34:21a clipboard. It's a hard board you can attach papers to, so you can write on the paper while
00:34:27you're moving around. So, we have this image of an angry lady arriving at your house to tell you off
00:34:34for your health habits and make you live a healthier life. But he does point out that they won't actually
00:34:41drag you out of your house to do exercise. However, in the report, he goes on to say that there
00:34:47is a
00:34:47lot of encouragement – even from school age – to eat well and take regular exercise.
00:34:53Well, before a stern lady with a clipboard comes and tells us off for not finishing on time,
00:34:58let's get the answer to today's quiz. According to a recent survey, how long does the average person
00:35:05in the UK spend sitting down every day? Is it a between six and seven hours,
00:35:11b between seven and eight hours, or c between eight and nine hours?
00:35:17And I said I had no idea.
00:35:19Well, the answer was c, Dan – between eight and nine hours. In fact, it was eight and a quarter
00:35:25hours.
00:35:26By comparison, in Finland, it's less than six hours.
00:35:30I guess we're a lot more sedentary in Britain.
00:35:32And sedentary is the first word in our vocabulary review. It's an adjective used to describe a
00:35:40lifestyle which involves a lot of sitting and not much exercise.
00:35:44And if you're very sedentary, it can lead to a lower life expectancy.
00:35:48Life expectancy – the age to which you're expected to live.
00:35:53Next, we had the word shirker for someone who avoids doing something they don't like,
00:35:58usually because they're lazy. For example, an exercise shirker avoids exercise.
00:36:04Something that is said tongue-in-cheek is meant to be humorous and not taken seriously.
00:36:10If you're stern, though, you want to be taken seriously. It's an adjective that means serious and strict.
00:36:17And finally, there's clipboard – a board you attach papers to so you write on them as you walk around.
00:36:24Well, Dan – it's time for us to go and get some exercise.
00:36:27Join us again next time and remember you can find us on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter,
00:36:32YouTube and, of course, our website bbclearningenglish.com. See you soon!
00:36:43Hello, this is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Neil.
00:36:49And I'm Sam.
00:36:50Sam, what blood type are you?
00:36:53Ah, you mean the different groups used to classify humans by blood? Types A, B, AB and O?
00:37:02I think I'm type O. How about you, Neil?
00:37:05Well, it may sound strange, but actually I don't know.
00:37:10Hmm, yeah, lots of Westerners don't know their blood type. But in parts of Asia,
00:37:14blood groups are a topic of daily conversation. People select romantic partners based on blood type,
00:37:21and different blood groups are associated with different personalities.
00:37:25In this programme, we'll be finding out all about blood, why humans have different blood types,
00:37:30and whether blood is something more than just a way of pumping oxygen around your body.
00:37:36And, of course, we'll be learning some new vocabulary as well.
00:37:39Now, Neil, I have an interesting fact for you. Did you know that many Japanese pop stars' websites
00:37:46will feature their blood type alongside information like their age and hobbies?
00:37:52I didn't, Sam, but Japanese culture is certainly interested in blood. There's even a word,
00:37:58buruhara, meaning blood harassment, which is used to describe hostility towards people from a certain
00:38:04blood group considered to be selfish. But which group? That's my quiz question for today.
00:38:10Which blood types may fall victim to buruhara? Is it A, blood type A, B, blood type B, or C,
00:38:20blood type O?
00:38:22I'll say A, blood type A.
00:38:25OK, Sam, we'll find out the answer later. Now, as we've heard, blood is a big deal in Japan.
00:38:31Marnie Chesterton from BBC World Service programme CrowdScience travelled to Tokyo,
00:38:36where she asked Japanese translator Chia Kobayashi to explain more.
00:38:41For blood type A, generally it is thought they are perfectionists, more detail-oriented,
00:38:49pretty much good at precise type of job, and that makes them good at helping others,
00:38:55and good at teamwork and respect rules and customs. That's a typical blood A type.
00:39:0140% of Japan's population are sensitive, anxious type As.
00:39:0630% are curious and stubborn, generous type Os. 10% are creative A-Bs.
00:39:12But woe betide the 20% type B, because they have a far less desirable personality, apparently.
00:39:20According to Japanese tradition, blood type As are perfectionists – people who want
00:39:26everything to be perfect and demand the highest standards possible.
00:39:30This contrasts with type Os who are considered to be stubborn – people who are determined to
00:39:36do what they want and refuse to change their mind.
00:39:39But it's unfortunate blood type Bs who have the least desirable personality – selfish and independent.
00:39:46Woe betide the type Bs, remarks the presenter Marnie Chesterton – an informal British expression
00:39:54said when there will be trouble ahead for someone – in this case, poor type Bs.
00:40:00But apart from customs and traditions, is there actually any science behind these beliefs?
00:40:05Well, not according to Dr Emma Pomeroy of Cambridge University's archaeology department.
00:40:12She thinks that, like horoscopes, there's no scientific basis for a connection between
00:40:17blood types and personalities.
00:40:19Which makes me wonder what exactly blood types are?
00:40:23Blood types are kinds of stickers or chemical markers which support our immune system – the
00:40:30organs, cells and processes which protect the human body from infection and illness.
00:40:36Those chemical markers can identify foreign bodies like pathogens – small organisms such
00:40:42as a virus or bacteria that can cause disease. The variety of blood types seems to be a result
00:40:48of different bodily responses to different disease-causing pathogens.
00:40:53Which explains why blood of the same type is needed in blood transfusions – medical procedures
00:40:59in which blood is taken from one person and put into another person's body – often after an accident
00:41:06or during an operation.
00:41:08And explains the high demand for type O blood, which can be given to anyone.
00:41:12Ah, generous type Os – like me! I always knew I was special.
00:41:17And curious and stubborn – wasn't that the type O personality?
00:41:22Oh yes. Today's quiz question was about blood type personalities.
00:41:27I asked you which undesirable blood type is considered selfish in Japan?
00:41:31And I said A – blood type A.
00:41:34But as we've heard, it's actually B – blood type B.
00:41:39Never mind. I'll settle for being curious, stubborn and generous.
00:41:43In today's programme, we've been talking all about blood types and personalities.
00:41:49In Japan, blood type A people are thought of as perfectionists – people who want everything to be perfect.
00:41:56Unlike type O's who are considered stubborn, determined to get their own way and unwilling to change.
00:42:02And woe betide selfish type B's – an informal expression said when they will be trouble for someone,
00:42:09or if they will be punished for doing a particular thing.
00:42:13Scientifically speaking, blood types help support our immune system – the organs and
00:42:18cellular processes which protect the human body from infection.
00:42:23They also help identify foreign pathogens – small organisms such as a virus or bacteria that can cause a disease.
00:42:31And explain why the same blood type is needed for a successful blood transfusion – that's the
00:42:36procedure in which blood is transferred from one person's body to another during an operation.
00:42:41And that's all we have time for today. Bye-bye for now.
00:42:45Goodbye.
00:42:51Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Neil.
00:42:55And I'm Georgina.
00:42:57Covid-19 has changed everyday life for people in countries around the world.
00:43:02But coronavirus wasn't the first pandemic to cause mass sickness and disrupt daily life.
00:43:07Between 2002 and 2004, an outbreak of the disease known as SARS – or Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome – caused
00:43:17hundreds of deaths in southern China before spreading to other parts of the world.
00:43:22The virus that caused SARS survived by mutating – changing as it reproduced itself in the bodies of
00:43:29infected people – and this caused the virus to create strains – slight variations of the original.
00:43:35COVID-19 – the disease caused by the strain of the original SARS virus we are experiencing
00:43:41now – has been called SARS-2.
00:43:44In this programme, we'll be looking at the origins of COVID-19 and hearing new evidence about the scale
00:43:51of the threat we face from the disease. And of course, we'll be learning some new vocabulary as well.
00:43:56But first, it's time for our quiz question. We know that white blood cells make up part of the
00:44:02immune system our body needs to fight infectious diseases like COVID-19, but how many white blood
00:44:08cells per microlitre does the average adult human need? Is it a 7,000, b 17,000 or c 70
00:44:18,000?
00:44:20In that case, I'd say more is better – so c 70,000.
00:44:25OK, we'll find out the answer at the end of the programme. Now, Georgina, you mentioned that the
00:44:30disease spreading across the world today wasn't the first COVID-19 type disease.
00:44:35That's right. In fact, a recent research project in China has identified over 700 different types
00:44:42of coronavirus carried by bats. Some of these virus strains are thought to have already crossed over to humans.
00:44:50Dr Peter Daszak of New York's EcoHealth Alliance thinks that new strains of the virus
00:44:55have the potential to cause future pandemics. He's spent years in the Chinese countryside
00:45:01looking for the coronaviruses that could jump from bats to humans.
00:45:05Here he is talking to the BBC World Service programme Science in Action.
00:45:10It would have been great to have found the precursor to SARS-2, but what would have been
00:45:14even better is to have found it before SARS-2 emerged and raised the red flag on it and
00:45:19stopped the outbreak. But we didn't do that. What we were looking for were, at the time,
00:45:25our hypothesis was that SARS-1, the original SARS virus, which we all thought had disappeared,
00:45:31was still out there in bats. And that was what we were looking for. So we found a lot of
00:45:35SARS-1-related viruses.
00:45:39COVID-19 may have been contained if scientists had known more about the disease's precursor.
00:45:45That's a situation which existed before something and led to the development of that thing.
00:45:50Here, the precursor of COVID-19 was the original SARS-1.
00:45:54Any new cases of the virus would have been a red flag for another outbreak,
00:45:59a symbol of danger that some action needs to be taken.
00:46:03Dr Daszak believed that some form of SARS remained in bats and based his investigations on this
00:46:09hypothesis – an idea which is suggested as a possible explanation of something,
00:46:14but which has not yet been proved correct.
00:46:16Another scientist working to prevent new epidemics is the pathologist Professor Mary Fawkes.
00:46:22The original SARS was treated as a respiratory disease which attacked the lungs.
00:46:27But when working with infected patients,
00:46:29Professor Fawkes noticed that COVID-19 was damaging the brain, blood and other organs as well.
00:46:36Dr Daszak
00:46:37Clinicians have recognized that a lot of patients that have COVID are exhibiting confusion,
00:46:44not necessarily aware of their environment appropriately. Some are having seizures.
00:46:49So there are some central nervous system abnormalities. And as you know,
00:46:54a lot of patients are exhibiting loss of sense of smell. And that is a direct connection to the brain
00:47:00as well.
00:47:01In some infected patients, coronavirus attacks the central nervous system – the body's main
00:47:07system of nerve control consisting of the brain and spinal cord.
00:47:11When severe, this can cause seizures – sudden violent attacks of an illness,
00:47:16often affecting the heart or brain.
00:47:18It seems that COVID-19 type diseases are not going to disappear any time soon.
00:47:23Reminding us of the importance of the scientific research we've heard about today.
00:47:27And the importance of boosting your immunity – which reminds me of today's quiz question.
00:47:32You asked me how many white blood cells per microlitre the human body has.
00:47:37I said C – 70,000.
00:47:40Well, if that was true, you've definitely boosted your immunity,
00:47:44Georgina, because the correct answer is C – just 7,000.
00:47:48Today we've been discussing the strains or slight variations of the virus which causes COVID-19.
00:47:54COVID-19 has a previous disease called SARS as its precursor – a situation which existed before
00:48:01something and caused the development of that thing.
00:48:05Researchers used the idea that the virus had passed to humans from bats as their hypothesis –
00:48:10possible explanation for something which has not yet been proved true.
00:48:14By identifying new virus strains, doctors hope unexplained cases can act as a red flag – a
00:48:22warning sign of danger to prevent further outbreaks.
00:48:25Knowing about new strains is increasingly important as we find out more about how
00:48:30coronavirus attacks the body's central nervous system – the brain and spinal cord – which
00:48:36in some patients can cause seizures – sudden violent attacks of an illness,
00:48:41especially affecting the heart or brain.
00:48:43So, try to stay safe, wash your hands and remember to join us again soon.
00:48:48Bye for now.
00:48:49Bye.
00:48:55Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Neil.
00:48:59And I'm Sam.
00:49:00How do you relax, Sam?
00:49:01Well, I love watching movies and I go swimming.
00:49:05One thing that millions of people around the world do is meditate to relax – and that's
00:49:10the subject of our programme. We'll be looking at experiments by scientists in the US into the
00:49:15Buddhist practice of meditation. We'll find out how Tibetan monks use meditation techniques to focus
00:49:21better and manage their emotions.
00:49:24But what exactly is meditation? People just sitting cross-legged on the floor thinking of nothing?
00:49:31Well, I think there's a bit more to it than that. After all, Buddhist meditation is an ancient
00:49:35practice – even science, according to some. Tibetan Buddhism, as embodied by the Dalai Lama,
00:49:41is what many people think of when you mention meditation. Which brings me to my quiz question.
00:49:46Which is?
00:49:47What is the meaning of the Tibetan word for meditation? Is it A to relax, B to feel blissful,
00:49:54or C to become familiar?
00:49:56I think it must be either A to relax or B to feel blissful because they sound like
00:50:03positive states of mind. But I'm not sure about calling meditation a science,
00:50:08Neil. Isn't it more like a philosophy or a lifestyle?
00:50:12Not according to Professor Richard Davidson of the Center for Healthy Minds. He spoke to Alejandra
00:50:18Martins of the BBC World Service program Witness History about his remarkable scientific experiment,
00:50:25which proved for the first time that meditation can actually change the brain.
00:50:29When I first met His Holiness the Dalai Lama, it was 1972. He challenged me and he said,
00:50:37I understand that you've been using tools of modern neuroscience to study anxiety and depression.
00:50:44Why can't you use those same tools to study kindness and to study compassion?
00:50:51Neuroscience is the scientific study of the workings of the human brain and nervous system.
00:50:56Professor Davidson measured negative mental states like depression,
00:51:00in contrast to positive attitudes such as compassion. That's the wish for everyone to be free from suffering.
00:51:06Right. In his test, Buddhist monks sent out loving thoughts to everyone equally – to friends,
00:51:14enemies and strangers, as well as to themselves.
00:51:17Compassionate thoughts such as, may you be happy and peaceful, may you not suffer. And the results were astonishing.
00:51:25What did they show, Neil?
00:51:26Very high levels of gamma oscillations – now that's brain waves showing increased connections between
00:51:32different parts of the brain. This is what you or I might experience as a flash of insight,
00:51:38a moment of sudden understanding and clarity. For us, it might last less than a second,
00:51:44but for these experienced Buddhist monks, the gamma waves lasted minutes.
00:51:48Furthermore, as Richard Davidson explains, brain changes as a result of meditation can be long-lasting.
00:51:55There is no question at this point in time, based upon the current science that has been
00:52:02conducted over the last 10 years, that meditation can change the brain in enduring ways. And the
00:52:12circuits that are involved are multiple, but they include circuits that are important for regulating
00:52:18attention and regulating emotion.
00:52:20So, this was proof of neuroplasticity – our brain's ability to change in response to conscious effort.
00:52:28In other words, the meditating monks were intentionally reshaping their minds.
00:52:34And this was possible because the brain circuits – different parts of the brain responsible for
00:52:40different functions – start talking to each other in new ways that created enduring – meaning long-lasting – changes.
00:52:48The meditators gained insight into how their minds work. They were more focused and emotionally
00:52:54balanced and less likely to get upset. How cool is that?
00:52:58Pretty cool. But these Tibetan monks sound like Buddhas. They spend thousands of hours sitting in
00:53:04meditation. I've got to go to work, Neil. What good is meditation to me?
00:53:09Well, Sam, in fact, the experiment showed that 30 minutes of meditation a day significantly
00:53:15increased feelings of loving-kindness in the new meditators too.
00:53:19OK, maybe I'll give meditation a go after all. But not before I find out the answer to today's quiz,
00:53:25please.
00:53:26Yes, I asked you what the Tibetan word for meditation meant.
00:53:29And I said either A to relax or B to feel blissful. And I'm feeling pretty confident of getting it
00:53:37right this time, Neil.
00:53:38Well, Sam, if the answer came to you in a flash of insight, then I'm afraid you need more practice.
00:53:44Because the correct answer is C – to become familiar, in this case, with more positive thoughts and emotions.
00:53:51You mean emotions like kindness and compassion – the thought wishing everyone to be free from their problems.
00:53:58What other vocabulary did we learn today, Neil?
00:54:01Well, it turns out meditation is actually a science – neuroscience, in fact – which is the study of
00:54:07the human brain and nervous system. Meditation experiments proved neuroplasticity – the brain's
00:54:13ability to restructure.
00:54:15By generating and sending out the compassionate wish – may all beings be happy – Buddhist meditators
00:54:23change their brain circuits – different parts of the brain responsible for different functions.
00:54:28And this is an enduring change, meaning it lasts and increases over a long period of time.
00:54:35I must say, Sam, you took it pretty well when you guessed the wrong answer just then.
00:54:39Thanks, Neil. I don't like getting upset, so I'm trying out some breathing meditation.
00:54:45Breathing in the positive, breathing out the negative.
00:54:49Join us again soon for another interesting discussion on 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English.
00:54:55Bye for now.
00:54:56Bye-bye.
00:55:02Hello. This is 6 Minute English from BBC Learning English. I'm Neil.
00:55:07And I'm Georgina. I've got a puzzle for you, Neil. Ready?
00:55:10Sure.
00:55:11OK. It's a riddle.
00:55:13I'm as light as a feather, but no one can hold me for very long. What am I?
00:55:19As light as a feather, but no one can hold you?
00:55:23No idea. What are you?
00:55:25Your breath.
00:55:27Ah, yes, I see. OK then, I've got one for you. I'm so big I'm everywhere, but so small you
00:55:35can't see me.
00:55:36What am I?
00:55:37You're everywhere, but I can't see you. Mmm. Tricky. I give up.
00:55:43Well, the answer is germs.
00:55:45And with the outbreak of coronavirus, people around the world have rediscovered the importance of fighting germs to stop the
00:55:53spread of disease.
00:55:54In this programme, we'll be discussing the importance of hand washing in the prevention of germs and viruses.
00:56:01And we'll start off by meeting the first person to realise that keeping hands clean can really help prevent diseases
00:56:09being passed on.
00:56:10Ah, do you mean the 19th century Hungarian Dr Ignaz Semmelweis? He was known as the saviour of mothers for
00:56:18keeping maternity wards germ-free, and he had a very interesting life.
00:56:22But do you know what happened to him in the end? That's my quiz question.
00:56:37Dr Semmelweis sounds like a scientific hero, so I'll say he won the Nobel Prize.
00:56:44OK. We'll find out later if you were right.
00:56:47But what's for sure is that Ignaz Semmelweis was a hero to Val Curtis, a director at the London School
00:56:53of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
00:56:55Here she is talking to BBC Radio 4's Science Stories.
00:56:59Semmelweis is kind of my patron saint.
00:57:02Hand washing has been my life for the last 30 years, working on trying to improve hygiene, mostly in developing
00:57:08countries.
00:57:08And he was really the first to identify the importance of keeping hands clean in the prevention of transmission of
00:57:15infection.
00:57:16And since the beginning of my career working in public health, I've been trying to understand how diseases get spread
00:57:23and what the best way of preventing it is.
00:57:24And hand washing jumped out as being the most important means of preventing infections, particularly in developing countries.
00:57:33Val's work is all about improving hygiene – practices for maintaining health and preventing disease, especially through cleanliness.
00:57:42And she was clearly influenced by the work of Dr Semmelweis because she calls him her patron saint – a
00:57:48kind of guide and protector, believed to give special help or inspiration.
00:57:52But Dr Semmelweis is also a good example of science communication.
00:57:58Getting the message out so people understand the importance of hygiene is difficult.
00:58:03And wash your hands jumped out or made a strong impact as a simple message to communicate.
00:58:10Here's Val again.
00:58:11It wasn't until we wrote a paper in 2003 that showed the evidence that hand washing could save a million
00:58:19lives that actually people started to take it seriously and hand washing became a big important issue internationally.
00:58:25So, for me, the lesson from Sammelweis is don't scream and shout and accuse people of doing things wrongly, but
00:58:32patiently get the data out there and tell your story in a positive way.
00:58:36The idea that hand washing is an essential part of hygiene is supported by scientific evidence – the facts and
00:58:44information used to show that a belief is true – in this case, Val's belief that hand washing could help
00:58:51save a million lives.
00:58:52So, hand washing has become an important global issue or topic of discussion – especially in places without access to
00:59:01clean sanitation and toilets.
00:59:02Val also mentions that if you want people to listen to your message, it's better to present the evidence in
00:59:09a positive, scientific way instead of screaming and shouting – speaking in a forceful or even angry way to convince
00:59:16people you're right.
00:59:17Right. People don't listen if you scream and shout at them – they just think you're strange.
00:59:22Which brings me back to today's quiz question. Remember I asked you what happened to Dr Semmelweis in the end?
00:59:28And I said A – he won the Nobel Prize.
00:59:32Well, I'm afraid the answer was B – he actually ended up in a hospital for mentally ill people.
00:59:37Today, we've been talking about hand washing – one of the single best ways to improve personal hygiene – the
00:59:44prevention of disease by keeping clean.
00:59:47Recently, hand washing has become a top global issue – a subject or topic people are thinking and talking about.
00:59:55Scientific evidence – the facts and information used to prove ideas true or valid – shows that hand washing jumped
01:00:03out – or was easily noticed – as one of the most important methods to stop the spread of infection.
01:00:09The work of 19th century scientist Ignatz Semmelweis was so inspiring that even today some doctors consider him the patron
01:00:18saint of hygiene – an expression referring to a protecting or guiding saint believed to give special help or inspiration.
01:00:26But communicating the message of wash your hands to people around the world is hard – especially if you just
01:00:32scream and shout – or try to convince someone by talking to them in a forceful or argumentative way.
01:00:39OK Neil, the scientific evidence has convinced me. I promise to make sure I regularly wash my hands.
01:00:46That's all from us today. But do join us again soon for more topical discussion and vocabulary here at BBC
01:00:53Learning English's 6 Minute English.
01:00:55Stay safe and remember to wash your hands. Bye for now.
01:00:59Bye.
01:01:016 Minute English from BBC Learning English.