AEE 2325: English Fluency is Not a Ways Off

Summary

Podcast Summary: All Ears English Podcast - Episode 2325: "English Fluency is Not a Ways Off"

Release Date: December 19, 2024
Hosts: Lindsay McMahon and Michelle Kaplan (Aubrey Carter)
Platform: All Ears English Podcast

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Introduction

In Episode 2325 of the All Ears English Podcast, hosts Lindsay McMahon and Aubrey Carter delve into the nuances of expressing distance and progress in American English. Titled "English Fluency is Not a Ways Off," the episode focuses on common native expressions that convey distance, both physical and metaphorical, enriching listeners' conversational skills.

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Exploring the Phrase "Ways"

Timestamp: 03:14

The episode kicks off with Lindsay posing a question to Aubrey about her swimming capabilities, leading to the introduction of the phrase "quite a ways." Aubrey explains:

"That's a very native chunk. Right? To say quite a ways. It sounds probably kind of strange. This word ways is very flexible in English."
— Aubrey Carter [03:14]

Lindsay and Aubrey clarify the meaning and usage of "quite a ways," emphasizing its versatility in everyday conversation to indicate significant distance or progress.

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Different Contexts of "Ways" in American English

Timestamp: 05:01

The hosts outline four primary ways natives use "ways" to describe distance:

1. Quite a Ways
   Meaning: Really far or a great distance.
   Example: "She ran quite a ways before running out of breath."
   — Aubrey Carter [04:44]

2. A Ways to Go
   Meaning: There is still much to do or a long distance remaining.
   Example: "We still have a ways to go before we get there."
   — Aubrey Carter [05:53]

3. A Ways Off
   Meaning: Something is far away or not imminent in time.
   Example: "The meeting is a ways off."
   — Lindsay McMahon [06:54]

4. A Ways Away
   Meaning: Similar to "a ways off," often used regionally to indicate something is far away.
   Example: "She lives a ways away."
   — Aubrey Carter [08:09]

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Practical Usage and Distinctions

Timestamp: 07:44

Lindsay provides a useful distinction between "a ways off" and "way off":

"Don't be confused with the difference between a ways off and way off. Like, you're way off. You're completely wrong."
— Aubrey Carter [07:44]

This highlights the importance of context, where "a ways off" pertains to distance or time, whereas "way off" refers to being incorrect.

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Role Play: Applying the Phrases

Timestamp: 10:05

To solidify understanding, Lindsay and Aubrey engage in a role-play scenario set on a hike. They demonstrate the usage of the discussed phrases naturally within conversation:

Lindsay: "I'm glad we picked this hike. Even though it was quite a ways."
Aubrey: "That'd be cool to explore, but it's a ways off."
Lindsay: "We've got a ways to go."
— [10:05 - 11:38]

This exercise illustrates how these expressions seamlessly integrate into everyday dialogue, enhancing fluency and making speech sound more native.

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Key Takeaways

Timestamp: 12:30

Towards the end of the episode, Lindsay and Aubrey summarize the importance of these phrases:

"These phrases are so native and natural, especially for informal conversations... Pick one to throw into your conversations."
— Aubrey Carter [12:30]

Additionally, Lindsay encourages listeners to:

1. Notice Usage: Pay attention to how these phrases are used in various contexts.
2. Practice Incorporation: Actively incorporate at least one of these expressions into daily conversations to build fluency.

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Conclusion

In this episode, All Ears English successfully unpacks the flexibility and utility of the word "ways" in American English. By providing clear definitions, examples, and practical role-play, Lindsay and Aubrey equip intermediate to advanced English learners with valuable tools to sound more natural and confident in their conversations. Emphasizing connection over perfection, the episode underscores that mastering such nuances brings learners closer to native-level fluency.

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Notable Quotes:

• Aubrey Carter [03:14]: "That's a very native chunk. Right? To say quite a ways."
• Aubrey Carter [07:44]: "Don't be confused with the difference between a ways off and way off."
• Aubrey Carter [12:30]: "Pick one to throw into your conversations."

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Additional Resources:

• All Ears English App: For real-time transcripts and personalized vocabulary lists.
• Fluency Score Quiz: Assess your English level at allearsenglish.com/fluencyscore

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Join Lindsay and Aubrey in future episodes to continue enhancing your American English skills through engaging and practical lessons. Remember, Connection NOT Perfection!

Transcript

[A]

This is an All Ears English podcast. Episode 2325 English fluency is not a ways off. Welcome to the All Ears English podcast, downloaded more than 200 million times. Are you feeling stuck with your English? We'll show you how to become fearless and fluent by focusing on connection, not perfection with your American host, Aubrey Carter, the IELTS whiz and Lindsey McMahon, the English adventurer, coming to you from Arizona and Colorado, usa. To get real time transcripts right on your phone and create your personalized vocabulary list, try the Allears English app for iOS and Android. Start your seven day free trial at allearsenglish.com forward slapp.

[B]

Do you ever need a way to express that something is far away? Today, learn four supernatural ways that natives say this when they give directions or talk about distance in English. Listen in today. Are you feeling stuck at your English level? Are you sure what your real English level is? If you take our free quiz, we'll tell you what level you're stuck at and how to reach your next English Milestone. Go to allersenglish.comfluencyscore now that's fluency. Score one word. Allearsenglish.comfluencyscore.

[A]

Hey there, Aubry. How's it going today?

[B]

I'm great, Lindsay. How are you?

[A]

Good. But I do have a question for you today to kick off the episode.

[B]

You ready? Yes. Let's hear it.

[A]

So, Aubry, I think you're a swimmer, right? So how far can you swim?

[B]

Oh, quite a ways. Probably a mile, maybe two miles. Wow.

[A]

That's actually far. I mean, you must be in good shape, right? Because swimming is exhausting.

[B]

It is exhausting. Right. I've tried to like swim across a lake, which I. The. The different difficult thing I think about distant swimming is the. The fear. Like if you're in the middle of a lake. Oh, and there's no boat. Right. You can't let your. You can't panic because you could drown.

[A]

Oh, well, it's the whole story of. Do you remember the story of D? I think it's D. Hannah Nyad who did the swim. Was it around the world that she was trying.

[B]

No. Where was From Cuba to Florida.

[A]

To Florida.

[B]

Yes. Across. Yes, I just saw them. There's a film that won all kinds or was at least nominated for all kinds of awards with Jody Foster and Annette Benning. Did you see the film? Amazing.

[A]

Yeah, I saw it. It's a great movie. It's a great movie.

[B]

You guys should watch it. I think it's just called Nyad. Right.

[A]

Talk about someone. Yeah. Nyad. Talk about someone with. I don't stick to itiveness. Right.

[B]

Seriously, I definitely couldn't swim that far. It's amazing. And then she's getting stung by jellyfish or like, she was so. Yeah, she was amazing.

[A]

But she's so dead set on her goal. So that's. That's another topic for another day. But I like what you said here, Aubrey. For today's episode, I asked you how far you can swim. You said, quite a ways, probably a mile. Now, interesting that you said quite a ways.

[B]

That's a very native chunk. Right? To say quite a ways. It sounds probably kind of strange. This word ways is very flexible in English. It means a lot of different things. It came up. I was listening to the episode 2316, and I said, oh, you'd be scrolling back in the feed. Quite a ways to find an episode. Yeah, we use this a lot of different ways in English, and I'm excited to dive into this today.

[A]

Me too. But first, before we get into it, guys, hit the follow button. Now, make sure you're following allers English, because that way we'll just drop right into your queue. So hit follow. All right, Aubrey, I'm excited to get into it. So there are three or four ways. We say ways. Right.

[B]

And these are all separate from just, you know, the regular ways. When you're like. Like, how many ways can you do this? That's different. These are chunks where we're using ways to talk about distance. So this first one that we used already, quite a ways, just means really far, a great distance.

[A]

Yeah. And I just want to make sure that we clarify the spelling, because this is also separate from that amazing app that you use when you try to figure out the best way to get to the grocery store during traffic times. Right. It's not ways. The app W a z E, but it is W a y s. And we have the article A quite a ways W a y S. Okay.

[B]

Exactly. So and is separate and ways. You guys definitely need the transcripts for this episode.

[A]

Yeah. Because I'm looking at her notes, I'm thinking, wow, that might be confusing for our listeners. Right.

[B]

For sure. Let's give some examples here, though. You could say she ran quite a ways before running out of breath. This means she ran really far.

[A]

Mm. Or that mountain is quite a ways from here. And what I'm saying is it's very. It seems far away from here.

[B]

Yep. It's at a great distance. Right. But that's so much more formal to say that mountain is a great Distance from here?

[A]

No. Yeah, that would be weird.

[B]

Very far. And I probably say this the most often. Oh, it's quite a ways.

[A]

Yeah, but it really is. So it's kind of slangy, I guess, wouldn't you say?

[B]

Yeah, I probably wouldn't write this. There are lots of, you know, many more formal ways to write it, maybe in a very informal email, but it's definitely more spoken English.

[A]

Agreed. Yeah. Is there another meaning, another way we use this?

[B]

Yes. So this exact same phrase, we use it to mean that we made progress. We might say, like we've gotten quite a ways on this pro project, means we got a lot done, we made some progress.

[A]

Right. I love it. So it's the, it's the metaphorical version of swimming. How far have you swim? Yes. Number two, a ways to go. So this is looking ahead. How much more do you have to. To do or to go?

[B]

Exactly. Yeah. And this could be both. The metaphorical. Right. We've got a ways to go on this project, meaning we've still got a lot to. Of progress to make. Or it could also be physical distance to say you have a long distance to go.

[A]

Exactly. I love it. Yes. So we still. You. So go ahead, Aubrey.

[B]

We still have a ways to go before we get there. So maybe you're on a road trip across the. You still have 300 miles. Be like, oh, we still have a ways to go.

[A]

Yeah. And that does happen on a cross country road trip. I mean 3, 000 miles to go essentially from the east coast to the west coast. And you know, three days later you're still in the desert of Utah or Arizona and it just feels really long.

[B]

Yeah, exactly. Right. And we use this so often to talk about those distance. Right. Oh, we've come a long ways. We only have a short way to go. Right. It's interesting how instead of using the word distance, we often will replace it with this more native chunk.

[A]

Yeah, this is interesting. And then the third way that our listeners need to know today is if something again, very similar to number two.

[B]

Right? Yes.

[A]

Something is far away. It's a ways off. Now this could be in terms of time or it could be distance too, right?

[B]

Exactly right. You could say the meeting is 30. Well, let's see. The, the meeting is a ways off. And you mean it's like in two months, right?

[A]

Yes, exactly. Like, you know, I'm thinking, oh, there's this conference I want to go to next summer, but it's still a ways off. So I'm not going to register or book My flight yet. Right. That sort of thing.

[B]

Exactly. And also physical distance. Right. You could say she lives a ways off. It'll take at least 30 minutes to get there. And that just means she lives really far.

[A]

And be careful. So here's a warning for our listeners. Don't be confused with the difference between a ways off and way off. Like, you're way off. You're completely wrong. Okay.

[B]

Exactly. If I say, oh, I thought she'd get here at 8, but I was way off. This has nothing to do with distance. Right. This means I was wrong about something.

[A]

Yeah. That could be another episode for another day. I mean, totally not in the same ballpark.

[B]

They're so similar. Right. So be careful. It's amazing how one little letter and it's such a different meaning.

[A]

Oh, my gosh. Now, we're not going to complicate it anymore or anything, but we'll add a fourth one. Aubry. What is it?

[B]

And so this is always away. She's kind of silly and repetitive. It means far away. It is the exact same meaning as a ways off.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

I grew up saying this a lot. I feel like this might be a little more regional. Depending on where someone grew up, they'd be more likely to say a ways away. But I did find it in some song lyrics. There's an RM song where they say, we can reach our destination, but it's still a ways away.

[A]

It means it's still far off. I think it probably is regional just by nature of the fact that if you're asking someone where something is in a rural area, you're more likely to use that, oh, that guy's house is down there. But it's a ways away. A ways off. But in the city, you're gonna say it's three blocks that way and two blocks to the west. Good point.

[B]

Because nothing's a ways.

[A]

Nothing's a ways away. Does it make sense that that would come out in more rural living?

[B]

I think, yeah, that makes sense. Right? So you might say she lives quite a ways away, or she lives a long ways away, and they both just mean she lives very far away.

[A]

All right, nice.

[C]

This episode is brought to you by Google Gemini. With the Gemini app, you can talk live and have a real time conversation with an AI assistant. It's great for all kinds of things, like if you want to practice for an upcoming interview, ask for advice on things to do in a new city, or brainstorm creative ideas. And by the way, this script was actually read by Gemini. Download the Gemini app for iOS and Android today must be 18 plus to use Gemini Live.

[A]

Okay, Aubry, we are going to show our listeners. Hopefully our listeners are not panicking. It's okay. Don't worry, guys. Just think of it this way. This is added value for your English. Right. Not going to be on any English test, but if you can learn at least one of these today to insert it properly into your commentary, super native and natural. Right, Aubrey?

[B]

And I feel like we use this so often that I really think this is going to be one of those things that you're going to start hearing now all the time on podcast, on tv, be like, oh, I learned about that on Allers English.

[A]

It's a great one. So here, Aubrey, in this role play, we are on a hike. All right.

[B]

Type one.

[A]

Fun. Yeah? Yes, exactly. Good.

[B]

Wow, look at that view. I'm glad we picked this hike. Even though it was quite a ways. Definitely worth the hour drive.

[A]

I agree. Oh, wow, look at that cave. That would be cool to explore, but it's a ways off.

[B]

That is quite a ways away. I think we could make it, though. Want to try?

[A]

Let's do it. We better get going. We've got a ways to go. Oh, wow. Okay.

[B]

So we used all of them here. This is one of those. Would be like, it might be strange to say. Yeah, always over and over in the same conversation.

[A]

Yeah, for sure.

[B]

But this week we get to hear them all.

[A]

Yeah, you may hear it one at once in this conversation, realistically. Right. So first you said, aubry, I'm glad we picked this hike. Even though it was quite a ways. Sorry, it was quite a ways.

[B]

Quite a ways.

[A]

Yes. Yeah.

[B]

It just means, like, it was a long drive. Right. We. Wherever we were living was like, ooh, this hike is an hour away. I'd be like, oh, that's quite a ways.

[A]

Yeah. And you could also insert. It was quite a ways. It was quite a ways from our house. Right? You could say that. Yeah.

[B]

Yes, exactly. Right. Just to maybe. If you want to be clear, that's what it means. It was quite a ways. Means it was quite a ways from wherever we were.

[A]

Yes. You got it. Okay, what's the next one?

[B]

And then you said, oh, there's this. So you're looking at a cave in the distance. You say, that'd be cool to explore, but it's a ways off. That just means it's very far.

[A]

And then I'm going to say the same exact thing but use different words. Oh, that is quite a ways away. Right. So you're. I'm. You're agreeing with me here. Right.

[B]

And I'm just saying, like, oh, that is really far. But it's just another way to say it that is a ways away.

[A]

Yeah. Good. And then I say, let's do it. We better get going. We've got a ways to go. And that means we have a long way to go. Basically everything in this conversation is something is far away, right?

[B]

Exactly. And a lot of these are pretty interchangeable.

[A]

Right.

[B]

You could mix one in. The meanings are very similar. And so that makes it a little tricky but also a little easier to use. Right. If you, if you ever want to say that something's very far, then you could say one of these instead.

[A]

Said, yeah, I like this today because these are the kind of phrases that are going to come up. If you're driving in the countryside and you stop again, ask someone for directions, fill up on gas and ask, where's this? Where's that? Oh, it's a ways down the road.

[B]

This is, oh, that's a ways off.

[A]

Right. Probably with some kind of accent too.

[B]

And now you'll know what they're saying. Yes, I understand. He means it's far.

[A]

Exactly. Any other takeaway for today, Aubry?

[B]

Yeah, I think these phrases are so native and natural, especially for informal conversations like you mentioned, Lindsay. You might not see these written a lot unless it's like dialogue written out in a book because it is more about conversational English. But I'm curious. I hope you guys start noticing them as you're listening to English and definitely use one, pick one to throw into your conversations.

[A]

Yeah, I think noticing them now is your next step. It's your first step. You've heard about them, now you may notice them and then start to think about, okay, why did that person use it here? Hm. I can imagine using it in these scenarios and then it starts to come up naturally, right?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

Love it, Love it. Awesome.

[B]

So fun. Thanks for joining me today, Lindsay.

[A]

All right, sounds good, Aubrey. See you next time. Take care. Bye. Thanks for listening to all ears. English. Would you like to know your English level? Take our 2 minute quiz, go to allearsenglish.com forward/fluencyscore and if you believe in connection, not perfection, then hit subscribe now to make sure you don't miss anything. See you next time. Ibosinas and la parte superior de los asientos paracrencia tresientos hamas as escuchado alguacina to musika itu forma de manejar descubrel totalment Nissan kicks a Nissan USA puntokom Poncion Desponive Corporation.