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Complete English transcript
Martin, was the weekend photography course good?
Yes, it was good.
Was the walk through the old city good?
Also good.
And was helping the beginners good?
Very good.
Three different experiences and one very vague adjective.
I can already see where this is going.
Today, good becomes enjoyable, rewarding or worthwhile.
Welcome to Your English Toolbox and Practice Arena Five-Minute English.
I am Martin.
And I am Julia.
Today we are choosing a more precise word for a positive experience.
Let us begin with enjoyable.
Enjoyable means pleasant and giving you pleasure.
A film can be enjoyable.
A meal can be enjoyable.
And the walk through the old city was very enjoyable.
Enjoyable focuses on how the experience felt while it was happening.
It does not have to be amazing or important.
It simply gave you a good time.
For example: We had an enjoyable evening with our neighbours.
Or: The book was light but enjoyable.
Can I say, “I was enjoyable”?
Only if you mean that other people enjoyed spending time with you.
Ah.
If I enjoyed the course, the course was enjoyable, and I enjoyed it.
Exactly.
Do not say that you were enjoyable when you mean that you had fun.
Now let us look at rewarding.
Rewarding describes something that gives you satisfaction, a sense of achievement or personal value.
It often requires effort.
Teaching can be rewarding.
Learning a difficult skill can be rewarding.
And helping the beginners with their cameras was rewarding.
Why not simply enjoyable?
It may have been enjoyable too.
But rewarding explains the deeper satisfaction you felt because your effort helped someone.
So an experience can be difficult and still be rewarding.
Absolutely.
Training for a race may be exhausting but rewarding.
A rewarding job is not necessarily an easy job.
Correct.
The value often comes from the challenge, progress or contribution.
Our third word is worthwhile.
Worthwhile means worth the time, effort or money that you give to something.
The course cost money and took the whole weekend.
Was it worthwhile?
Yes.
I learned techniques that I will use for years.
Then you can say: The course was worthwhile.
Or: It is worthwhile to compare several options before you decide.
We also often say: It is worth doing something.
The course was worthwhile.
It was worth taking.
Be careful: worthwhile is one word.
And we do not say “worthful” or “worthly”.
What is the difference between rewarding and worthwhile?
Rewarding focuses on the satisfaction or value you receive.
Worthwhile is a judgement: the result justified the time, effort or cost.
A long project can be both rewarding and worthwhile.
And enjoyable?
That focuses on pleasure.
Something can be enjoyable but not worthwhile.
Like watching six hours of short videos instead of doing your work?
Very enjoyable.
Perhaps not worthwhile.
Let us compare the three words.
Enjoyable means pleasant and fun to experience.
Rewarding means giving satisfaction, achievement or personal value.
Worthwhile means worth the time, effort or money involved.
Time for a quick challenge.
Choose enjoyable, rewarding or worthwhile before we answer.
Situation one.
You spend a relaxed evening laughing with friends.
It was enjoyable.
Situation two.
You mentor a new colleague and feel proud when her confidence grows.
It was rewarding.
Situation three.
A difficult course gives you a qualification that improves your career.
It was worthwhile.
Situation four.
A volunteer project requires effort, but it gives you a strong sense of purpose.
It was rewarding.
Now improve this sentence: Learning English is good.
Is the experience pleasant?
Learning English is enjoyable.
Does your progress give you satisfaction?
Learning English is rewarding.
Does the result justify your time and effort?
Learning English is worthwhile.
On the episode page at yourenglishtoolbox.com, you can compare every example with Spanish, German, French or Farsi.
That contrast helps you notice the difference between words that a dictionary may translate in a similar way.
The direct link is in the episode description.
So, give me your final review of the weekend.
The city walk was enjoyable.
Good.
Helping the beginners was rewarding.
Better.
And the photography course was definitely worthwhile.
Now your review is as precise as your photographs.
The photographs still need work.
Then next weekend may be worthwhile too.
See you next time, friends.
Goodbye.
