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Ep 2: Mastering the Subway Order

2m 46s

Ep 2: Mastering the Subway Order

In Episode 2 of the Kiwi English Booster, the host teaches listeners how to confidently order food at a New Zealand sandwich counter, specifically Subway, where staff fire rapid questions. The episode begins with a slow conversation between a customer and a worker. The customer orders a foot-long chicken schnitzel on Italian herbs and cheese bread, requests Old English cheese, and asks for it toasted. For salads, they choose lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and "heaps of capsicum" (meaning lots of bell peppers), then add honey mustard and a little salt. When offered a combo with a drink, they politely decline with "Nah thanks, just the sub today," and the worker replies "Too easy" (meaning no problem) before stating the price. The host then explains key terms: chicken schnitzel (crumbed chicken, a popular lunch option), Old English (a stronger processed cheese slice found in NZ Subways), capsicum (the NZ term for bell peppers), and "too easy" (a classic Kiwi phrase meaning happy to help). To simulate real-world pressure, the episode replays the same conversation at a faster pace, mimicking a busy 12:30pm rush. The host encourages learners to memorize these phrases and order with confidence next time they're hungry. The episode ends with a friendly sign-off, reinforcing practical vocabulary for everyday dining in New Zealand.

Transcription

359 Words, 2034 Characters

English
Kia ora! Welcome back to the Kiwi English Booster. This is Episode 2 and today we are getting some Kai, that's food, on the go. Today's mission is surviving the sandwich counter. You know the one, subway. It can be intimidating because they fire questions that you very quickly. Bread, cheese, toasted, salads, sources. In New Zealand we use specific names for vegetables like capsicum, which might throw you off. We are going to break it down so you don't panic. Ready? Let's listen to the conversation, spoken slowly first. Hi there. What are you having today? G'day? Can I please have a foot long chicken schnitzel on Italian herbs and cheese? Sure. What cheese would you like? And do you want it toasted? Old English cheese. And yes toasted please? Cool. Any salads? Lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and heaps of capsicum things? Any sources or salt and pepper? Just some honey mustard and a little bit of salt. Do you want to make that a combo with a drink? Nah thanks, just the sub today. Too easy. That'll be $16. Did you catch that? Let's look at the key words. One, chicken schnitzel. This is crumbed chicken, extremely popular in in-zed lunches. Two, old English. This is a specific type of processed cheese slice you'll find in in-zed subways. It's stronger than cheddar. Three, capsicum. I'll say it again. This is what we call bell peppers. Red capsicum, green capsicum. Four, too easy. This is a classic kiwi phrase. The work is said at the end. It means no problem. Or happy to do it. Now imagine it's 12.30pm and the shop is packed. Let's listen to the fast version. Hi there. Good day. Sure. What cheese would you like in? Do you want it toasted? Old English cheese and yes toasted please. Cool. Any salads? Let us tamarro, cucumber and heaps of capsicum. Thanks. Any sauces or salt and pepper? Nah thanks. Just the sub today. Too easy. That'll be $16. Goodbye. Next time you're hungry, walk in there with confidence and order that schnitzel. Thanks for tuning in to episode two of the Kiwi English Booster. Ka-kei-tan-ong.

Podcast Summary

Key Points:

  1. The episode focuses on ordering food at a New Zealand sandwich counter, like Subway, where staff ask rapid questions about bread, cheese, toasting, salads, and sauces.
  2. Key New Zealand vocabulary includes "chicken schnitzel" (crumbed chicken), "Old English" (a strong processed cheese slice), "capsicum" (bell pepper), and "too easy" (meaning no problem).
  3. The lesson provides a slow-paced conversation example, then a fast-paced version to simulate a busy lunch rush, helping learners build confidence.
  4. Practical tips include using phrases like "heaps of" to mean "a lot of" and responding with "Nah thanks" to politely decline offers.

Summary:

In Episode 2 of the Kiwi English Booster, the host teaches listeners how to confidently order food at a New Zealand sandwich counter, specifically Subway, where staff fire rapid questions. The episode begins with a slow conversation between a customer and a worker. The customer orders a foot-long chicken schnitzel on Italian herbs and cheese bread, requests Old English cheese, and asks for it toasted.

For salads, they choose lettuce, tomato, cucumber, and "heaps of capsicum" (meaning lots of bell peppers), then add honey mustard and a little salt. When offered a combo with a drink, they politely decline with "Nah thanks, just the sub today," and the worker replies "Too easy" (meaning no problem) before stating the price. The host then explains key terms: chicken schnitzel (crumbed chicken, a popular lunch option), Old English (a stronger processed cheese slice found in NZ Subways), capsicum (the NZ term for bell peppers), and "too easy" (a classic Kiwi phrase meaning happy to help).

To simulate real-world pressure, the episode replays the same conversation at a faster pace, mimicking a busy 12:30pm rush. The host encourages learners to memorize these phrases and order with confidence next time they're hungry. The episode ends with a friendly sign-off, reinforcing practical vocabulary for everyday dining in New Zealand.

FAQs

It's a language learning podcast that teaches New Zealand English phrases and vocabulary through real-life scenarios, like ordering food.

Kai is a Māori word for food, commonly used in New Zealand English.

It's crumbed chicken, a very popular choice for lunches in New Zealand.

It's a specific type of processed cheese slice found at New Zealand Subway stores, stronger in flavor than cheddar.

Capsicum is the New Zealand term for bell peppers, like red or green capsicum.

It's a classic Kiwi phrase meaning 'no problem' or 'happy to do it', often said at the end of a transaction.

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Transcription

359 words