How to order coffee in English ☕️ (C1 C2 Super Advanced Level!)

English with Lucy
19 Oct 202310:39
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRIn this engaging video, English with Lucy takes on the challenge of ordering a coffee at a C1 advanced English level. The video humorously explores the limits of politeness and complexity in language, progressing from a simple 'black coffee please' to an elaborate request for an 'artisanally prepared' coffee with specific temperature, milk, sugar, and a touch of cinnamon. Along the way, Lucy introduces advanced grammatical structures, modal verbs, and vocabulary, making the lesson both entertaining and educational. She emphasizes the importance of politeness and formality in requests, and provides a free PDF with phrases, grammatical structures, and a quiz for viewers to deepen their understanding. The video concludes with an invitation to Lucy's C1 program, which has received positive feedback for its comprehensive approach to advanced English learning.

Takeaways
  • 📚 The video is part of a series on C1 level English, focusing on advanced English skills.
  • 🎓 Lucy provides a free PDF with phrases, grammatical structures, and a quiz to reinforce the lesson's content.
  • ☕ The lesson explores how to order a coffee using advanced English, starting from simple to highly complex orders.
  • 🇺🇸🇬🇧 Differences in ordering coffee are highlighted, including the use of 'get' in American English and its increasing presence in British English.
  • 🔄 Politeness levels in requests are demonstrated, with the use of modal verbs like 'can', 'may', and 'could', and adverbs like 'kindly'.
  • 🔍 The importance of word placement, such as 'please', is shown to emphasize politeness and formality in requests.
  • 🌟 Vocabulary like 'brew', 'sprinkling', 'craft', and 'enrich' is introduced to describe the coffee preparation process in a more sophisticated manner.
  • 📈 The use of advanced language structures, such as the subjunctive mood, is explained in the context of making requests.
  • 📝 The video script is enriched with examples of formal and polite expressions, including 'If it's not too much trouble' and 'Would you be so kind as to'.
  • 🤔 The lesson humorously acknowledges the impracticality of overly complex orders in real-life situations.
  • 📈 The video concludes with an invitation to Lucy's C1 program, which includes comprehensive lessons on advanced English, British humor, and pronunciation.
Q & A

  • What is the purpose of the video series English with Lucy?

    -The purpose of the video series is to teach advanced English, specifically at the C1 level, in an engaging and enjoyable way.

  • What does Lucy offer to her viewers to support the lesson?

    -Lucy offers a free PDF that contains all the phrases and grammatical structures used in the video, along with a quiz to test knowledge.

  • How does Lucy describe the process of ordering a coffee at Starbucks?

    -Lucy describes it as a more complex process, often requiring specific terms like 'doppio half-caf skinny mocha venti to go'.

  • What is the significance of using 'may I' instead of 'can I' in a request?

    -'May I' is considered a more polite form of making requests than 'can I', and it is often used to set a formal tone.

  • How does Lucy demonstrate the use of advanced vocabulary in a coffee order?

    -Lucy uses advanced vocabulary such as 'brew', 'craft', 'organic', 'single origin beans', and 'ergonomically designed' to create a highly detailed and polite coffee order.

  • What does the phrase 'If it's not too much trouble' imply in a request?

    -The phrase 'If it's not too much trouble' is a very polite way of asking someone to do something, especially when the request might cause extra effort.

  • What is the subjunctive mood and how is it used in the final coffee order example?

    -The subjunctive mood is a formal English structure used after certain verbs like 'request'. In the final coffee order, it is used in the sentence 'I request that it be presented'.

  • What is the difference between 'complement' and 'compliment' as used in the script?

    -'Complement' with an 'e' is a verb meaning to go well with or enhance something, while 'compliment' with an 'i' means to praise or express admiration.

  • How does Lucy incorporate humor into her C1 level English lessons?

    -Lucy incorporates humor by creating exaggerated and unrealistic scenarios, such as an overly complex coffee order, to make the lessons fun and memorable.

  • What is the structure of the C1 programme that Lucy mentions?

    -The C1 programme is a 12-week long course that includes readings, listenings, humor, pronunciation, and weekly conversation lessons.

  • How can viewers access more information about Lucy's C1 programme?

    -Viewers can access more information about the C1 programme by visiting the website englishwithlucy.com.

  • What is the main takeaway Lucy hopes her viewers will get from this lesson?

    -Lucy hopes that viewers will not only be entertained by the lesson but also remember and be able to use the advanced grammatical structures and vocabulary presented in real-life situations.

Outlines
00:00
😀 Introduction to Advanced English Coffee Ordering

In the first paragraph, Lucy introduces her advanced English lesson focused on the complexities of ordering a coffee at a C1 level. She mentions that she's been enjoying creating content for advanced English learners and that her audience has been receptive. She challenges herself and her students to explore how sophisticated the process of ordering a coffee can be in English. Lucy also mentions a free PDF she has created that includes all the phrases and grammatical structures she will use in the video, as well as a quiz for viewers to test their knowledge. The PDF is available to those who sign up for her mailing list. She then begins her lesson by acknowledging the simplicity of basic coffee orders but stating her intention to elevate the language used to a more advanced level, making it both fun and educational.

05:03
😄 The Art of Polite and Advanced Coffee Ordering

The second paragraph delves into the intricacies of ordering coffee with increasing levels of politeness and complexity. Lucy outlines six levels of coffee ordering, starting with a simple 'black coffee please' and progressing to a highly detailed and polite request incorporating advanced vocabulary and grammatical structures. She emphasizes the importance of politeness, the use of modal verbs like 'can' and 'may', and the formal tone set by placing 'please' earlier in the sentence. The paragraph humorously illustrates how to push the boundaries of customer requests, even to the point of being overly demanding, while also teaching advanced English language concepts. The final order in this paragraph is an夸张 (exaggerated) example of a C1 level order, replete with formal language and specific, sophisticated requests.

10:06
😉 Wrapping Up the Lesson and Course Promotion

In the final paragraph, Lucy concludes her lesson on advanced coffee ordering with a humorous touch, acknowledging that the last order might be considered extreme. She briefly reviews some of the grammatical structures and vocabulary used, such as 'would you be so kind as to', 'artisanal preparation', and 'ergonomically designed'. Lucy then invites viewers to download the accompanying PDF for further study, which includes example sentences. She asks for feedback on the lesson and if there's interest in more such advanced and entertaining content. Lastly, she promotes her C1 level program, a 12-week course that has shown great results for over 2000 students. She highlights the course's comprehensive nature, including its focus on humor, pronunciation, and conversation analysis, and provides a link for those interested to learn more.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡C1 level English
C1 level English refers to an advanced proficiency level in the English language as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). In the context of the video, it signifies the complexity and advanced nature of the language structures and vocabulary used to order a coffee, which is a simple task made sophisticated for educational purposes.
💡Modal verbs
Modal verbs in English are auxiliary verbs that express ability, permission, possibility, or obligation. In the video, 'can', 'may', and 'could' are used to formulate increasingly polite requests, illustrating the use of modal verbs to enhance the level of politeness in advanced English.
💡Politeness
Politeness in communication refers to the use of language that shows respect and consideration for others. The video demonstrates how the level of politeness can be escalated through the use of modal verbs, adverbs like 'kindly', and formal structures, which is central to the theme of taking a simple task to an advanced linguistic level.
💡Coffee order
A coffee order is a request made by a customer to a barista or server for a specific type of coffee. The video uses the coffee order as a vehicle to explore various levels of complexity in language, ultimately showing how a simple request can be articulated in advanced English.
💡Vocabulary
Vocabulary refers to the set of words known to a person or within a particular text. The video emphasizes the importance of advanced vocabulary in expressing complex ideas, such as 'artisanal preparation', 'complemented', and 'ergonomically designed', which are used to create a humorously over-the-top coffee order.
💡Grammatical structures
Grammatical structures are the ways in which words, phrases, and clauses are combined to form sentences. The video showcases advanced grammatical structures like the subjunctive mood ('I request that it be presented') and the use of adverbs and adjectives to create a more sophisticated and formal tone.
💡Subjunctive mood
The subjunctive mood is a verb form that is used to express a wish, a suggestion, a command, or a hypothetical situation. In the video, the subjunctive mood is exemplified in the sentence 'I request that it be presented', highlighting a formal way of making a request.
💡Adverbs
Adverbs are words that modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs. In the context of the video, 'kindly' is used as an adverb to soften a request and make it more polite, which is a key aspect of the advanced English demonstrated in the coffee ordering scenario.
💡Ergonomically designed
Ergonomically designed refers to the design of objects, such as furniture or equipment, to maximize comfort and efficiency for the people using them. In the video, an 'ergonomically designed handle for a right-handed individual' is requested, adding to the complexity and humor of the advanced coffee order.
💡Locally sourced
Locally sourced means that products, such as milk in the video, are obtained from local producers or suppliers. It is often associated with sustainability and supporting local economies. The video uses 'locally sourced milk' to add another layer of specificity and sophistication to the coffee order.
💡Craft
To craft means to make something with skill and creativity, often by hand. In the video, the customer requests the barista to 'craft' the coffee, implying a higher level of care and attention to detail than simply 'making' it, which contributes to the advanced and humorous tone of the order.
Highlights

Lucy is creating a series on C1 level English, which is advanced English, and it's well-received by the audience.

The lesson aims to push the boundaries on how advanced one can get while ordering a simple cup of coffee in English.

A free PDF is available, containing phrases, grammatical structures, and a quiz related to the lesson.

The PDF also offers a subscription to weekly lesson PDFs, news, course updates, and offers.

The basic way of ordering coffee is presented, which is simple and acceptable in most contexts.

The use of 'can I get' is more common in American English and is slowly entering British English.

Level two introduces a more polite form of ordering using the modal verb 'can'.

Level three demonstrates an even more polite request using 'may I' and the addition of 'please'.

Level four adds complexity with 'could you kindly' and specifies the coffee order with milk and sugar.

Level five introduces advanced vocabulary such as 'brew' and 'sprinkling', making the order sound more poetic.

Level six takes politeness to a new level with 'if it's not too much trouble' and detailed specifications for the coffee.

The final level seven includes a highly formal and detailed request, using terms like 'artisanal preparation' and 'ergonomically designed'.

Lucy uses the subjunctive mood in the final sentence, a formal structure in English.

The vocabulary includes terms like 'artisanal', 'complement', 'adorn', 'subtle', and 'discernible', which are explained in the lesson.

The lesson is meant to be fun and memorable, helping students learn advanced grammatical structures and vocabulary.

Lucy invites feedback and requests for future lessons in the comments section.

A 12-week C1 programme is available for those interested in advancing their English to a higher level.

The C1 programme includes a story throughout the readings and listenings, with a focus on British English humor and pronunciation.

Lucy's courses are available on her website, and she encourages students to check out the C1 programme for more learning opportunities.

Transcripts

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