Summary

Rob is contemplating a new career – one where he can use his youth and intelligence to become successful. There's a phrase to describe this but Feifei is ready to point out that this phrase will never apply to Rob. Find out more about being a 'whizz-kid' in this programme.

Transcript

Feifei
Hello and welcome to The English We Speak. I'm Feifei.

Rob
And I'm Rob.

Feifei
Hey Rob, have you ever wondered what you'd be doing if you weren't here?

Rob
Hmmm... Lying on the sofa, watching TV I expect.

Feifei
No Rob. I mean in your career – if you weren't a talented presenter like you are?

Rob
I'd be a financial whizz-kid: investing in the stock market, making loads of money.

Feifei
A whizz-kid? You mean someone young, very clever and successful at doing something?

Rob
Yes, that's a whizz-kid! I don't know why I didn't do it.

Feifei
Do you want me to tell you?

Rob
No. Let's just hear about some other whizz-kids who are young, intelligent and successful, just like me…

Examples:
My nephew is a computer whizz-kid: he earns a fortune fixing people's laptops!

Our new financial whizz-kid has come straight from university and he's doing really well.

She was a whizz-kid at university, so it's no wonder she's now a partner at one of the top legal firms.

Feifei
So they are whizz-kids – clever, successful or skilful people – and most of all, they are young, like kids! And there's the problem Rob.

Rob
A problem?

Feifei
Yes, you're not young anymore.

Rob
OK, clever then!

Feifei
Hmm, I'm not so sure about that.

Rob
Alright, successful – one out of three isn't bad.

Feifei
Well, erm, errr…

Rob
OK. Perhaps I'd never be a financial whizz-kid. Maybe I'll stick to my other plan.

Feifei
Which is?

Rob
Sitting on the sofa, watching TV. I'm off to do it now. Bye.

Feifei
Hmm, not a whizz-kid then, just a lazy man. Bye.