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Hello, this is Six Minute English from BBC Learning English.
I'm Rob.
And I'm Sam.
Now, Sam, look into my eyes.
You are feeling sleepy, relax.
What's the good doing, Rob?
Trying to hypnotise me.
Well, since hypnotism is the topic of this program, I thought I'd give it a try.
So, how do you feel, Sam?
Are you under my spell?
I don't think so, Rob.
It's not so easy to put me into a hypnotic trance.
That's the word to describe the state of mind of someone who's been hypnotised and isn't completely in control.
You mean like those stage magicians who trick people into clucking like a chicken or playing imaginary violin.
Yes, some hypnotists make people do silly things for entertainment,
but hypnotism has real benefits as well, curing phobias, for example.
Maybe so, but for other people, the very idea of a hypnotic trance is nonsense.
And even if hypnotism is real, why would you let a complete stranger inside your head?