Old-school

Hello and welcome to The English We Speak from BBC Learning English. I’m Sian.

Hi everyone, I’m Feifei.

What on earth are you looking for Feifei? Why are you taking everything out of your bag?

I’m just looking for a stamp - I know I’ve got one in here somewhere. I just can’t seem to find it.

A stamp? What do you want a stamp for?

I’ve written a letter to my family and I want to get it in the post before midday.

You’ve written a letter? That’s a bit old-school isn’t it?

‘Old-school’? Who are you calling ‘old-school’? I’m younger than you!

Yeah but writing letters is quite old-school, you know - it’s a bit old-fashioned. Most people just email or send instant messages nowadays.

Yeah, but it’s so nice to get a real letter in the post! So ‘old-school’ basically describes something that’s from an earlier time - something old-fashioned. Let’s hear some examples:

Woah! That haircut is so old-school!

You want to go roller-skating tonight? Man, that’s so old-school!

Our new teacher is a bit old-school in his approach, but he always gets good results.

So ‘old-school’ is used as a bit of an insult, right?

No, it doesn’t have to be. It can also be used a compliment - to talk about something from the past that you admire. Or to describe something you feel nostalgic about.

I love your new coat - it’s so old-school!

Look at these old-school computer games, aren’t they awesome?!

Exactly, I think it’s a good thing to be old-school. If only I could find that stamp.

Why don’t you just fax it?

Well, that really would be old-school Sian. Get with the times!