Learn English BLACKPINK's JENNIE

[Music] This that pretty girl m this that fla she just touched down in LA. Pretty

girls don't do drama unless we won.

It'll be depending on a date. Pretty

girls looking to defend. I know I'm a defend. I never let it catch no

defend. I never let it catch no strength. This that pretty girl mast

strength. This that pretty girl mast that stun. I'll make you want to swing

that stun. I'll make you want to swing both ways.

You asked for it and you got it. Today

we're learning English with Blackpink's Jenny. And boy is she amazing. Her song

Jenny. And boy is she amazing. Her song

Mantra, which we just saw a clip of, actually topped iTunes charts in 47 countries and broke Spotify streaming records. We'll watch three fascinating

records. We'll watch three fascinating and funny interviews with Jenny and learn all of the advanced expressions.

Now, you should also know that this lesson comes with its very own vocabulary flashcards covering all the key words and expressions that we'll learn today. Practicing with these daily

learn today. Practicing with these daily is the easiest way for you to remember these new words forever and go from sounding like an English learner to an

advanced English speaker. So, if that sounds interesting for you, then I want to invite you to click that link down description below to get our app and start your vocal practice for free. Now,

let's watch the first interview where Jenny tells Shaun Evans about the inspiration that she took from Shakespeare's play As You Like It when producing her solo album.

[Music] When I first read the play and saw how they broke down into seven different stages,

what I was coming from was also the seven years of being in a group of Blackpink and um how every little event has changed me over time. I've had my

ups and downs. I've had my roller coaster emotions of when I loved music, when I hated music and and every moments in between was was the important things

that got me here. So, I started just breaking myself down and I guess it just inspired me to look at myself in a

different way and and really dive into what got me here and who I am, if that makes sense.

I am following you all the way. Okay,

[Music] so we heard some amazing expressions from Jenny in her hit song Mantra and in the interview that we just watched. I

wanted to teach you a couple great slang expressions from the song. First,

pretty girl.

To flaunt means to show off something that you're proud of in a confident, bold way. When you flaunt something,

bold way. When you flaunt something, you're deliberately displaying it because you want people to notice and admire it. Jenny is encouraging her

admire it. Jenny is encouraging her listeners to flaunt themselves, to confidently show off who they are without hiding. Check out this other

without hiding. Check out this other example from Bruno Mars. Come on, jump on it. If you said it, if you freak

on it. If you said it, if you freak dead, then it don't come.

That pretty girl.

A stunner is someone who is so attractive or impressive that they literally stun people. Think of the weapons some police carry. This is

sometimes called a stun gun, which uses electricity to leave the target unable to move. So imagine someone who is so

to move. So imagine someone who is so beautiful they leave others speechless or amazed almost as if they've been zapped. If you say someone is stunning

zapped. If you say someone is stunning or is a stunner which can be pronounced stunna as she does in the song, it's a powerful compliment that suggests someone has serious star quality. These

words perfectly capture the empowering message of mantra. It's all about embracing your confidence and owning your beauty. Now let's move on to the

your beauty. Now let's move on to the interview clips where we heard Jenny use some amazing expressions talking about the inspiration for her work. When I

first read the play and saw how they broke down into seven different stages, what I was coming from was also the seven years of being in a group of Blackpink.

To break down something means to analyze it or examine it in detail, separating it into smaller parts to better understand it. Jenny is talking about

understand it. Jenny is talking about how Shakespeare's play, As You Like It, analyze the seven stages of life. But we

hear another meaning later in the interview. Listen again. I started just

interview. Listen again. I started just breaking myself down and I guess it just inspired me to look at myself in a

different way and and really dive into what got me here and who I am.

Now, when you break yourself down, it means to examine your own thoughts, feelings, and experiences deeply. That's

exactly what Jenny did after 7 years with Blackpink when they decided to take a break. Now, here's a fun fact about

a break. Now, here's a fun fact about Jenny. She actually spent 5 years living

Jenny. She actually spent 5 years living in New Zealand as a child from ages 8 to 13 where she attended ACG Pernell College. Despite that, I have to say I

College. Despite that, I have to say I watched a lot of Jenny interviews preparing for this lesson because it was kind of difficult to find ones where she used advanced vocabulary and expressions. So, even though she lived

expressions. So, even though she lived in English-speaking country, she fell into the same trap that most English learners do, which is getting stuck on the intermediate plateau, always using

the same words and expressions. This can

leave your English sounding dry, basic, and not effectively communicating the details of what you want to say. The

truth is, you've already learned some useful advanced expressions like flaunt, stun, and break down. But if you don't practice these, you'll forget them faster than a K-pop dance trend. Want to

actually use these expressions naturally when you speak English? Well, if you want to sound confident, simply knowing them is not enough. You need to practice them until they're automatic. That is

exactly why we created a set of flashcards for you that is available for free on our app. The magic is in the science behind it. The app uses smart technology to bring back words for

review right when you're about to forget them. It's like having a personal

them. It's like having a personal English coach right in your pocket. Just

10 to 15 minutes a day and these words will be at the tip of your tongue when you need them. Super easy. No more I know that word but can't remember it moments. So click the link down

moments. So click the link down description below to get your free vocabulary flashcards right now on the Real Life English app. Your future

fluent self will thank you. And now

check out this super common expression that Jenny used here.

I've had my ups and downs. I've had my roller coaster emotions of when I loved music, when I hated music and and every moments in between was was the important

things that got me here.

When you have your ups and downs, it means you experience both good times and bad times, successes and failures. Life

isn't always smooth. Sometimes you're on top of the world and sometimes you face challenges. Jenny's being honest about

challenges. Jenny's being honest about her journey, which shows real maturity.

Check out this other example. Well, I

owe you a lot, Davey. I know we've had some ups and downs, but I probably wouldn't be going to college if it weren't for you.

What a vivid way to describe feelings.

I've had my roller coaster emotions of when I loved music.

Roller coaster emotions refers to feelings go up and down dramatically, just like riding a roller coaster. One

moment you're high with excitement, the next you might feel sad or scared. It

perfectly captures how intense and unpredictable emotions can be, especially in the demanding world of K-pop. Did you know that Jenny trained

K-pop. Did you know that Jenny trained for six years before debuting with Blackpink? That's a lot of ups and

Blackpink? That's a lot of ups and downs. She once said that every month

downs. She once said that every month trainee had to perform for the company's CEO and producers to evaluate their progress. Talk about roller coaster

progress. Talk about roller coaster emotions. Next, let's check out some of

emotions. Next, let's check out some of Jenny's mastery of connected speech.

That's how natives and advanced speakers cut, reduce, and link our words together in fluent speech. And it's absolutely essential for you if you want to speak naturally and understand fast native speech.

I've had my roller coaster emotions of when I loved music when I hated music.

First off, she said hated with a tap t, which sounds like a soft duh sound, like in butter or cat and dog. So instead of

hated, it sounds like hated. Next, she

linked the N from when to the pronoun I.

So it sounds like one word. When I When I Let's put it all together. When I

hated music. When I hated music. Your

speaking will only get better with lots and lots of practice. So, try to say it just like Jenny.

When I hated music. When I hated music.

I started just breaking myself down. And

I guess it just inspired me to look at myself in a different way and and really dive into what got me here and who I am, if that makes sense.

I am following you all the way.

When Sean says, "I'm following you all the way," he's politely confirming that he completely understood what Jenny is explaining and agrees with her thought process. It's like saying, "I'm with

process. It's like saying, "I'm with you," or, "I get it completely." Check

out this other example.

Address only the patient you are here to see. Do not open windows. Do not close

see. Do not open windows. Do not close doors. Are you following?

doors. Are you following?

Uh, yeah. Yeah, I'm following.

The next clip we'll watch is actually Jenny interviewing Billy Isish. In it,

she recommends the best traditional Korean food for Billy to try while she's visiting Korea.

[Music] Um, did you try did you get to try any Korean food or was there any Korean food that you've tried before that you liked?

Maybe I need like some recommendations. I feel

like I want to have like true good ass Korean food.

So to my vegan friends, what I like to recommend is pimp.

Mhm.

Because it could be made with all sorts of vegetable of your choice. And it

doesn't obviously have meaning in but if you get any time I would like to recommend you some baby.

Please, please. I'm so in.

[Music] Whoa. Billy dropped some really casual

Whoa. Billy dropped some really casual slang here. Watch again.

slang here. Watch again.

I need like some recommendations. I feel

like I want to have like true good ass Korean food.

When you put ass after an adjective like this, it's an intensifier. It makes the adjective stronger. So good ass is a

adjective stronger. So good ass is a creative way to say really good. But if

you want to be more formal, you'd better say excellent instead. This is very casual language that you'd use with friends, not in formal situations. Billy

is known for speaking casually like this. Check out her lesson with her

this. Check out her lesson with her where you can learn a lot more slang like this because it could be made with all sorts of vegetable of your choice and it doesn't obviously have meaning.

Obviously is such a useful word that natives use a ton. It means clearly or of course something that should be easy to understand or expect. When Jenny says BB and Bop obviously doesn't have meat,

she's pointing out that she clearly would not recommend any dish that did because Billy is a vegan. Here's a quick pronunciation tip. Notice how Jenny says

pronunciation tip. Notice how Jenny says obviously. Many native speakers actually

obviously. Many native speakers actually pronounce it more like obviously with slight reduction. The second syllable

slight reduction. The second syllable often gets shortened to casual speech or even shorten it to just obi.

But if you get any time, I would like to recommend you some please. I'm so in.

please. I'm so in.

And here's another great casual expression. I'm so in means I'm

expression. I'm so in means I'm definitely interested or count me in.

It's an enthusiastic way to say yes to something. Billy is excited about trying

something. Billy is excited about trying authentic Korean food with Jenny. This

expression is perfect for showing enthusiasm about plans, activities, or ideas. Much more energetic than just

ideas. Much more energetic than just saying yes. Check out these examples.

saying yes. Check out these examples.

Oh, he's flying us all to Lake Como.

It's Clooney's birthday, so let's get on that jet. I'm I'm so in. Her senior year

that jet. I'm I'm so in. Her senior year could be the last time we're all together in the same place.

And I don't want to let anything ruin that.

Agreed.

I'm in. I'm so in.

Me, too. Did you get to try any Korean food or At the start of this clip, we can hear a masterful use connected speech from Jenny. First, there's some morphing.

Jenny. First, there's some morphing.

When we have a D followed by a Y sound, it often morphs into a J sound. We don't

say did you, but did you? When we have a T or D followed by another T or D, we usually would just say one of them. So

get to becomes get to. Let's put it all together. Did you get to Did you get to?

together. Did you get to Did you get to?

Listen to Jenny again and try to pronounce this phrase just like her. Did

you get to try any Korean food or did you get to try any Korean food or finally? Let's take a look at this

finally? Let's take a look at this hilarious conversation from Jenny's chicken shop date with Amelia de Moldenberg.

[Music] This is very intimate.

This is very intimate. Yes. Because it's

a date.

I can feel it.

The tension.

Mhm.

The sexual chemistry.

It's there. Or maybe it's just the smell of chicken that's throwing you off.

I've never really had any pets apart from a hamster.

Have you ever had a hamster?

I currently have a hamster.

You have a hamster?

I do have a hamster.

What is the hamster here?

Unfortunately not.

What's hamster called?

Baddy.

She's a baddie. I had to name her Baddy.

She just sort of like posting thirst traps the whole time.

She basically just runs on the wheels all day. What What made you want to get

all day. What What made you want to get a hamster?

Companionship.

Oh, yeah. They're really known for being great companions, aren't they? Hamsters.

[Music] The start of this interview absolutely cracks me up.

The tension. Mhm. The sexual chemistry.

It's there.

Amelia starts off using Jenny's introverted personality to create some humorous awkwardness. So tension refers

humorous awkwardness. So tension refers to a feeling of stress, nervousness, or anticipation in the air between people.

It's like an invisible force that makes a situation feel charged or uncomfortable. In this case, they're

uncomfortable. In this case, they're playfully talking about romantic tension during their date. Sexual chemistry

describes the natural romantic or physical attraction between two people.

When there's chemistry, people feel drawn to each other in a romantic way.

Amelia is just joking around here. It's

all part of the playful format of chicken chop date.

Or maybe it's just the smell of chicken that's throwing you off.

Now, this is clever. To throw someone off means to confuse them, distract them, or make them feel uncomfortable or uncertain. For example, Jenny might be

uncertain. For example, Jenny might be thrown off while performing if she didn't sleep enough. She would not be able to bring her normal skill and talent to her dancing and singing because sleepiness is throwing her off.

I can do the evolution of dance dance.

That sounds good. Do you need some music? Go.

music? Go.

No, actually music would just throw me off. I need complete silence. Okay.

off. I need complete silence. Okay.

Amelia's jokingly suggesting that maybe it's not romantic tension at all. Maybe

Jenny is just distracted or thrown off by the smell of fried chicken in the restaurant. This is such witty humor.

restaurant. This is such witty humor.

Taking something that seems serious, the tension, and giving it a silly twist.

I've never really had any pets apart from a hamster.

Apart from means except from or other than. So, Amelia is saying she's never

than. So, Amelia is saying she's never had any pets like a dog or cat with the exception of a hamster. It's a more formal way to say except for and sounds quite sophisticated. Here's another

quite sophisticated. Here's another example.

You read minds.

I can read every mind in this room apart from yours.

Just money, sex, money, sex, cat,

and then you?

Nothing. Interesting fact, Jenny actually had two dogs named Kai and Kuma, though sadly Kai passed away.

She's also known to be an only child who grew up in Soul's upscale Chongdam Dong district. Sorry if I butchered that

district. Sorry if I butchered that pronunciation. Now, let's check out some

pronunciation. Now, let's check out some British connected speech with Amelia.

Have you ever had stuff?

With questions like this, you will almost always find connected speech.

First off, Brits often like to drop their hes, which Amelia did here with have and had. She links have and you together and it sounds like one word.

Have you have you? A reduces to just a schwa sound uh and links to had. Add a

also notice that in British English they usually have a nonrodic r. So ever

sounds like ever. Ever. Well, that was a lot. Let me see if I can pull off this

lot. Let me see if I can pull off this British pronunciation. Have you ever had

British pronunciation. Have you ever had a hamster? Have you ever had a hamster?

a hamster? Have you ever had a hamster?

This is really useful because you can try repurposing it for many different questions. Take a look at each of these

questions. Take a look at each of these examples and try to think of how a native would say it and then you'll hear me say it and I'll use more of an American accent instead of trying to

butcher a British accent.

Have you ever had a pet?

Have you ever had a boyfriend?

Have you ever had a heart attack?

Now improve your fluency. Listen to

Ameilia say this with actual correct British pronunciation and try to say it just like her.

Have you ever had a hamster? Have you

ever had a hamster?

What's hamster called? Baddy. She's a

baddie.

Yeah.

This is the British way to ask someone's name or the name of something. Instead

of what's the hamster's name, they say what's the hamster called? Both are

correct, but called is more common in British English. In modern slang, a

British English. In modern slang, a baddie refers to an attractive, confident woman who knows her worth.

It's actually a compliment. Calling

someone a baddie means they're stylish, fierce, and empowered. It's interesting

that Jenny chose this name for her hamster. Very on brand for someone who's

hamster. Very on brand for someone who's known as a fashion icon.

She just sort of like posting thirst traps the whole time.

This is hilarious. A thirst trap is a social media post, usually a photo, that's designed to attract attention and compliments, typically featuring someone looking attractive. We'd imagine a woman

looking attractive. We'd imagine a woman who is a baddie doing this on her Instagram. Amelia is jokingly asking if

Instagram. Amelia is jokingly asking if the hamster is constantly showing off and trying to get attention, like posting attractive photos on Instagram.

It's such a funny way to talk about a hamster's behavior, comparing it to social media culture.

What What made you want to get a hamster? Companionship.

hamster? Companionship.

This is a beautiful, more formal word that means friendship and the comfort of having someone or in this case a pet to spend time with. Jenny won a hamster for the emotional support and connection that comes from having a companion.

However, Ameilia playfully teases Jenny saying, "They're really known for being great companions."

great companions." Oh, yeah. They're really known for being

Oh, yeah. They're really known for being great companions, aren't they, hamsters?

If you pay attention to her tone, you can tell it's sarcasm. What she really means is that Jenny could have chosen a better pet if she's looking for a companion. All right, let's wrap up the

companion. All right, let's wrap up the scene with a final bit of connected speech.

What What made you want to get a hamster?

So, again, we have a super reduced question. In American and many variants

question. In American and many variants of British English, we use a glottle T in what. We cut the sound off at the

in what. We cut the sound off at the back of the throat. So, not what, but what what we have some fantastic sound morphing with made you. When we

encounter a D and Y together, they often become a J sound. So, instead of made you, we hear made you. You probably know that want to often becomes wanna, which

happens here. And finally, we have

happens here. And finally, we have another glottle T in get, and it links to a get a get a. Amazing job. That was

another phrase packed with connected speech. Let's put it together. What made

speech. Let's put it together. What made

you want to get a hamster? What made you want to get a hamster? Again, try

repurposing this question with connected speech.

What made you want to become a doctor?

What made you want to move to the USA?

What made you want to take a K-pop dance class?

And finally, listen to Amelia again and try to say it just like her.

What? What made you want to get a hamster? What? What made you want to get

hamster? What? What made you want to get a hamster?

Wow, you are on fire today. And we're

not done yet. Actually, now comes the most important part. You're going to watch all the interview clips again without subtitles to test your comprehension after all that hard studying. And let's make it a bit

studying. And let's make it a bit harder, why don't we? I'm going to ask you some quiz questions along the way.

Let's go.

[Music] When I first read the play and saw how they broke down into seven different stages.

What does break down mean when talking about analyzing something to destroy completely? To examine in detail by

completely? To examine in detail by separating into parts. to become

emotional.

What I was coming from was also the seven years of being in a group of Blackpink and um how every little event has changed me over time.

Fill in the blank.

I've had my ups and downs. I've had my roller coaster emotions of when I loved music, when I hated music and and every moments in between was was the important

things that got me here. So, I started just breaking myself down and I guess it just inspired me to look at myself in a

different way and and really dive into what got me here and who I am, if that makes sense.

I am following you all the way.

If someone says, "I'm following you all the way," they mean they're walking behind you. They're stalking you on

behind you. They're stalking you on social media. They completely understand

social media. They completely understand and agree.

Um, did you try did you get to try any Korean food or was there any Korean food that you've tried before that you liked?

Maybe I need like some recommendations. I feel

like I want to have like true good ass Korean food.

True or false? Good ass is appropriate language to use in formal business meetings.

So to my vegan friends, what I like to recommend is pbeim pop.

Mhm.

Because it could be made with all sorts of vegetable of your choice and it doesn't obviously have me in. But if you get any time, I would like to recommend you some baby.

Please, please. I'm so in.

Give an example of when you might say I'm so in. In your own life.

This is very intimate.

This is very intimate. Yes. Because it's

a date.

I can feel it.

The tension.

Mhm.

The sexual chemistry.

It's there.

Or maybe it's just the smell of chicken that's throwing you off. If a loud noise during your presentation throws you off, it means it distracts and confuses you, it makes you angry, it physically pushes

you away.

I've never really had any pets apart from a hamster. Have you ever had a hamster?

I currently have a hamster.

You have a hamster?

I do have a hamster.

What is the hamster here?

Unfortunately not.

What's hamster called?

Baddy.

She's a baddie. Yeah, I had to name her Baddy. She just sort of like posting

Baddy. She just sort of like posting thirst traps the whole time. She

basically just runs under wheels all day. What What made you want to get a

day. What What made you want to get a hamster? Companionship.

hamster? Companionship.

Oh, yeah. They're really known for being great companions, aren't they? Hamsters.

Ah, yeah. I hope that you had a lot of fun learning with Jenny today. And every

single week, we make new lessons like this one with your favorite celebrities, movies, and series so that you can understand fast-peaking natives without getting lost, without missing the jokes,

and without subtitles. So, if that sounds like something that you would like to be able to do, I highly recommend you hit that subscribe button and the bell button below so you don't miss a single new lesson. 10 million

learners from around the globe cannot be wrong. This method really works. And if

wrong. This method really works. And if

you want to remember these new expressions that we learned today forever, the best way to do that is with the Real Life English app. And you can get the vocab flashcards with this lesson with Jenny for free by clicking the link down in the description below.

And finally, if you want to continue your learning, then next I highly recommend you check out this fun lesson with Lisa. I think for me the big

with Lisa. I think for me the big difference is language cuz um English is not my first language. So it's

challenging for me to answer or doing interview in in English.

Yeah. But you know what's amazing about you is you know you speak English, you speak Thai, speak Korean, you're conversational in Japanese, conversational in Chinese. I've heard

you rattle off French