Episode 194
Listen to the Episode
Listen once for the main idea. Then use the transcript and repeat useful sentences aloud.
Download and study
Episode Resources
Download a file or continue to the transcript.
Best order: listen once, read while listening, then listen again without the text.
Full lesson
Read the Transcript
Follow the text while you listen, then repeat useful sentences aloud.
Hi, everybody! I am Georgiana, your English teacher and founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com. My mission is to help you speak English fluently.
Today, I will talk about Coca-Cola. And with a mini-story, you will improve your English fluency while learning some fun facts about Coca-Cola.
Do you like Coca-Cola? I used to drink plenty of Coke when I was younger, but I try to drink more water nowadays. However, I admit that Coca-Cola is the perfect drink to complement my popcorn at the cinema. And the good news is that if you want a healthier version, you can choose the sugar-free and even caffeine-free Coke.
SpeakEnglishPodcast.com/podcast >
But when and how was Coca-Cola invented?
In 1886, John Pemberton, a pharmacist from Georgia, invented a new kind of syrup. The drink was first sold as a nerve tonic that "relieves exhaustion," but it wasn't very successful.
Therefore, he sold his secret formula to another pharmacist, Asa Griggs Candler.
Candler was actually the one who invented Coca-Cola, as he mixed Pemberton's syrup with soda.
He started selling Coca-Cola in several drugstores and advertised his new drink, and soon people were going to the drugstores just to get a drink of Coca-Cola.
Before long, the drink became very popular, and a couple of entrepreneurs wanted to sell it in bottles. So, Candler sold them a license to bottle the drink, and soon the men were millionaires.
Did you know that the Coca-Cola bottle is the most recognizable object in the world? The famous Coca-Cola bottle is more than 100 years old.
Although the drink doesn't contain any cocoa, the famous bottle was originally shaped like a cocoa bean. Its unusual shape initially helped Coca-Cola stand out from its competitors. Nowadays, hundreds of millions of people can recognize a Coca-Cola bottle by its shape.
Also, the well-known Coca-Cola logo is the most famous in the world, perhaps because it has not changed in more than 100 years. The company still uses the script logo that Frank Robinson crafted in 1891.
Coca-Cola became popular in Europe during the First World War. American soldiers in Europe started asking for Coca-Cola, so the company started exporting it, and soon the drink was also being bottled in Europe.
Today, Coca-Cola is produced in countries worldwide and is undoubtedly the most popular drink in the world.
When it comes to the famous formula, it is probably the most valuable secret in the world. The exact ingredients used to make Coca-Cola are known to only a handful of people.
And since Christmas is coming up, I wanted to answer a very common question about Santa and Coca-Cola.
Did you know that many people think that the Coca-Cola Company invented Santa Claus?
Actually, I will talk in more detail about Father Christmas in a future episode, but I can assure you that Coca-Cola did not invent Father Christmas.
The company began using Santa Claus in its advertising in the 1920s; however, Santa's story dates back to the third century.
That's all about Coca-Cola and Santa for today. Let's continue with a mini-story.
Now, let’s practice.
Speaking Practice
Mini-Story: Speaking Practice
Answer each question out loud, then listen to the answer and respond quickly. Don’t worry about mistakes.
Speaking practice
Let’s Start!
What's a mini-story?
A mini-story is very simple. I give you information using phrases, and then I ask you questions.
After each question, there will be some seconds of silence: it's your turn to answer the question!
Just try to give an easy and short answer. Not a complex one.
After your answer, I'll give you the correct answer.
And just like that, I'll tell a story with questions and answers.
Are you ready?
1. More than 10,000 Coca-Cola soft drinks are consumed per second.
How many drinks are consumed per second? 500?
No. No. Not 500. More than 10,000 Coca-Cola soft drinks are consumed per second.
Coca-Cola or Pepsi?
Coca-Cola. I’m talking about Coca-Cola.
Is Coca-Cola an alcoholic drink?
No. No. Coca-Cola is a soft drink.
2. During its early days, Coca-Cola had some cocaine in it.
Did Coca-Cola have some cocoa in it?
No. No. Coca-Cola didn't have any cocoa in it. But it did have some cocaine in it.
When did Coca-Cola have some cocaine in it?
In the early days. Coca-Cola had some cocaine in it in the early days.
Does Coca-Cola have any caffeine in it nowadays?
Yes. Nowadays, Coca-Cola has some caffeine in it.
So, Coca-Cola has some cocaine in it nowadays?
No. No. Not cocaine. Coca-Cola has some caffeine in it but not cocaine. It used to have some cocaine in it in the early days.
3. Coca-Cola was the first-ever Olympic sponsor.
Was Coca-Cola the first-ever Formula 1 sponsor?
No. No. Coca-Cola was the first-ever Olympic sponsor.
Was Coca-Cola the second-ever Olympic sponsor?
No. No. Coca-Cola was the first-ever Olympic sponsor.
4. Coke was the first soda in space. It came in new cans with special lids to avoid any danger of explosion for the crew.
Was Coke the first soda in space?
Yes. In 1985 Coke became the first soda consumed in outer space.
Did the soda come in new cans or glass bottles?
Not in glass bottles. The soda came in new cans.
Did the new cans have a special lid?
Yes. The new cans had a special lid to avoid any danger of explosion.
5. Coca-Cola tried to replace coffee.
In the '80s, Coca-Cola started using the slogan "All the sugar and twice the caffeine."
Did Coca-Cola try to replace chocolate?
No. No. Coca-Cola didn't try to replace chocolate.
What did the company try to replace?
Coffee. In the '80s, the company tried to replace coffee.
Did Coca-Cola use the slogan "All the sugar and twice the caffeine?"
Yes. Coca-Cola tried to replace coffee. And used the slogan "All the sugar and twice the caffeine."
Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you in the next episode.
Review
Vocabulary from This Episode
Review useful words and expressions before listening again.
01 nerve tonic
a drink once advertised as relieving exhaustion.
02 secret formula
a recipe whose ingredients are kept private.
03 drugstore
a shop that sells medicine and other products.
04 bottle a drink
put a beverage into bottles for sale.
05 recognizable
easy to identify.
06 competitor
a person or company trying to succeed in the same market.
07 sponsor
support an event financially or publicly.
08 export
send goods to another country for sale.
0 Comments