A leopard can't change its spots

Jennifer:	Hello, I'm Jennifer and this is The English We Speak. I'm with Feifei, and we're here at the zoo!
Feifei:	Hi there everyone. Yes, the sun is out, so we thought we would come and take a look at some of our favourite animals. We've already seen the elephants and penguins—I love the penguins, they're so funny.
Jennifer:	Well we're moving on now to my favourites—the big cats!
Feifei:	According to this leaflet, they have lions, tigers, pumas and leopards!
Jennifer:	Fantastic—I love leopards. They're so beautiful and they also feature in one of my favourite phrases in English.
Feifei:	Let me guess, it's "a leopard can't change its spots"?
Jennifer:	Absolutely, Feifei. The phrase "a leopard can't change its spots" is used to describe a person's character, particularly if they have some bad habits.
Feifei:	Just as a leopard can't change the spots on its fur, a person can't change their personality, even if they say they have. It's part of them.
Jennifer:	Let's hear some examples of how you might use this phrase.

John promised me that he would stay out of trouble at school, but I don't believe him. A leopard can't change its spots.

Katie used to have a reputation for gossiping and spreading rumours. I've heard she's changed now, but I don't trust her: a leopard can't change its spots.

Feifei: Great phrase. Let's see if we can find a real life leopard then!

Jennifer: Well, the big cat area is over there, according to this map. Oh look! I can see lions ... They have little baby ones too ... Ah! But where are the leopards?

Feifei: Er, Jen ...

Jennifer: They must be here somewhere, a big spotty cat like that can't be too hard to find.

Feifei: (whispering) Jen, I think you should ...

Jennifer: Hurry, they must be this way. I want to see a leopard right now! A leopard can't change its spots and I can't change the fact that it's my favourite animal in the whole wide world!

Feifei: I think you should turn around!

(huge growl and roar)

Jennifer: (terrified) Oh. Hello Mr Leopard. You're a lot bigger in real life ...

Feifei: (whispering) Join us again for another edition of The English We Speak from BBC Learning English ... Bye!

(roar)

Jennifer: Here kitty, kitty, kitty. Nice kitty ...

(roar)

Jennifer:	Well, the big cat area is over there, according to this map. Oh look! I can see lions ... They have little baby ones too ... Ah! But where are the leopards?
Feifei:	Er, Jen ...
Jennifer:	They must be here somewhere, a big spotty cat like that can't be too hard to find.
Feifei:	(whispering) Jen, I think you should ...
Jennifer:	Hurry, they must be this way. I want to see a leopard right now! A leopard can't change its spots and I can't change the fact that it's my favourite animal in the whole wide world!
Feifei:	I think you should turn around! (huge growl and roar)
Jennifer:	(terrified) Oh. Hello Mr Leopard. You're a lot bigger in real life ...
Feifei:	(whispering) Join us again for another edition of The English We Speak from BBC Learning English ... Bye! (roar)
Jennifer:	Here kitty, kitty, kitty. Nice kitty ... (roar)