矛 máo：spear; lance; pike，A type of ancient Chinese weapon
盾 dùn：A shield for protecting the body
自相矛盾[zì xiāng máo dùn]：oneself/each other/spear/shield，to contradict oneself 
夸赞kuā zàn：praise;commend 
质问 zhì wèn：query;inter pellate;question;call to account
哑口无言 yǎ kǒu w yán：Have nothing to say for oneself; be dumbfounded

乐读中文 (Lè Dú Zhōngwén) - "Joyful Chinese Stories"

自相矛盾[zì xiāng máo dùn]

「げんき」ｐ58–ｐ59、L2のたんごです。Repeat the word,remembering the meaning of the word in your mind.


げんきのごい

How do you split your personality when speaking English?

It took me 9 years to understand it and over 20 thousand 1-1 sessions with my clients.

A personality split or a shifting sense of self – in the context of acquiring a new language. It’s not a true “split” in the clinical sense of dissociative identity disorder (formerly multiple personality disorder). 

Instead, it’s a dynamic alteration in how we present ourselves, think, and feel, contingent on the linguistic environment we find ourselves in. Let me elaborate:

The Essence of the “Shifting Sense of Self”

Imagine your native language as a well-worn, comfortable garment. It’s woven into your personality, shaping your sense of humor, emotional expression, and even your thought patterns. When you learn a new language, it’s like trying on a new set of clothes – at first, it feels unfamiliar, perhaps a bit ill-fitting. As you become more proficient, the “garment” becomes more comfortable, influencing your “self” in new ways.

Ready to elevate your spoken English? Listen to my new podcast for strategies to build on your existing strengths and unlock transformative results in self-presentations, public speaking, and beyond.

Do it now.

To your unstoppable self!

Public Speaking Secrets - 8 Week Course For Corporate Professionals.

How do you split your personality when speaking English?

This is a short conversation between  a student and a teacher.
 The script is as follows:
M: Hello, teacher, how are you? sà-wàt-dee kráp kroo bpen yang ngai bâang kráp
T: Hello, fine and you Meng? sà-wàt-dee kâ · sà-baai dee · láew Meng lá kâ
M: Life is fine. I have been to Thailand for 2 days. (ago)
      chee-wít sà-baai · sà-baai kráp · maa bprà-têt tai sŏng wan láew 
T: Are you coming for a visit, right?  maa tîieow châi măi?
 M: Not at all. I moved to work  here. mâi châi loiie kráp  pŏm yáai maa tam ngaan têe nêe
T: Very good. Tomorrow Thailand will have an important festival.
     Dee mâak · prûng-née bprà-têt tai jà mee têt-sà-gaan săm-kan
M: What is the festival? I've never been to Thailand in this period.
      têt-sà-gaan à-rai kráp · pŏm mâi koiie maa bprà-têt tai  chûuang née
T:   Songkran, do you know ?  sŏng-graan · róo jàk măi
M:  I've never heard,  what is it?  mâi koiie dâai yin · keu à-rai kráp
T: Thai New Year's Day Tourists know that Songkran is a water play day for Thai people.
       wan bpee mài tai · nák tông tîieow róo jàk sŏng-graan keu wan lên náam kŏng kon tai
M: Very interesting, I'm glad to be able to visit Songkran Festival.
      nâa sŏn jai mâak · pŏm dee jai têe jà dâai tîieow têt-sà-gaan sŏng-graan
T: not just play with water. We have many activities such as going to the temple to make merit. release the bird, release the fish,  visit family , pay respect to parents and elders and carry sand into the temple
   mâi châi kâe lên náam · rao mee gìt-jà-gam lăai yàang · chên · bpai tam bun têe wát · bplòi nók bplòi bplaa · bpai yîiam krôp kruua · wâai pôr mâe láe pôo sŏong aa-yú láe kŏn saai kâo wát
M: Really excited! Tomorrow I will go to the city and temple to see the Songkran atmosphere.
     róo sèuk dtèun dtên jing jing · prûng-née pŏm jà bpai nai meuuang láe wát · pêuua doo ban-
     yaa-gàat
     Sorry, I have to go. I have an appointment with my boss.
     kŏr tôht kráp · pŏm dtông bpai láew · pŏm mee nát gàp jâo naai kráp

Learning Thai with Kru Tarntawan

Conversation about Songkran Festival

 QURAN

surah al falaq

Warum schreiben Menschen Tagebücher? Welche Arten von Tagebüchern gibt es?
Welche berühmten Tagebücher sind uns bekannt?
In dieser Episode erfährst du etwas über dieses sehr persönliche Thema. 


Deutsch mit Sonia

Tagebuch

나의 취미 생활

나는 어릴 때부터 다양한 취미를 가져 왔다. 그림 그리기, 독서, 운동 등 여러 가지를 해 보았지만, 지금 가장 좋아하는 취미는 바로 베이킹이다. 베이킹을 시작하게 된 이유는 단순했다. 어느 날, 친구가 집에서 직접 만든 쿠키를 선물해 주었는데, 그 맛이 너무 특별하고 감동적이었다. 그래서 나도 직접 무언가를 만들어 보고 싶어졌다.

처음에는 오븐 온도 조절도 어렵고, 레시피를 따라하는 것도 힘들었다. 케이크를 만들다가 안에서 다 타 버린 적도 있고, 쿠키가 돌처럼 딱딱해진 적도 있었다. 실패할 때마다 속상했지만, 포기하지 않았다. 인터넷에서 베이킹 영상을 찾아 보고, 요리책도 여러 권 읽으면서 조금씩 실력을 쌓았다.

요즘은 쉬운 쿠키나 머핀뿐만 아니라, 치즈케이크나 마카롱 같은 어려운 디저트도 만들 수 있게 되었다. 가장 기억에 남는 순간은, 부모님 결혼기념일에 내가 만든 초콜릿 케이크를 선물했을 때이다. 부모님이 정말 맛있다며 행복해하셨고, 나도 뿌듯하고 기뻤다. 그날 이후로 베이킹은 나에게 단순한 취미가 아니라, 사랑을 전하는 방법이 되었다.

베이킹을 하면서 좋은 점이 많다. 하나는 스트레스를 해소할 수 있다는 것이다. 힘든 일이 있어도 반죽을 하고, 오븐에 굽고, 달콤한 냄새를 맡으면 마음이 편해진다. 또 다른 좋은 점은 주변 사람들과 행복을 나눌 수 있다는 것이다. 친구나 가족에게 직접 만든 빵이나 케이크를 선물하면, 모두가 웃으며 좋아한다. 이런 모습을 보면 내 마음도 따뜻해진다.

앞으로도 계속 베이킹을 즐기고 싶다. 그리고 언젠가는 나만의 특별한 디저트 레시피를 만들어 보고 싶다. 혹시 기회가 된다면 작은 베이커리를 열어 보는 것도 나의 꿈이다. 베이킹은 나에게 기쁨을 주는 소중한 취미이고, 앞으로도 내 삶에 큰 행복을 줄 것이라고 믿는다.

한국의 문화

나의 취미 생활

Jenna and Max are at a cozy café when suddenly Max gets an email.

Max (staring at his phone, confused):
Hey, Jenna, this guy I’m working with just said, “Give me a shout.” What does that even mean?

Jenna (stirring her coffee):
It just means to contact him.

Max (frowning):
Wait… but “shout” means to yell. So, does he want me to yell his name?

Jenna (laughs):
No, no! He’s not asking you to actually shout. It just means to message him, call him—basically, let him know when you need something.

Max (nodding slowly):
Okay… so, if I say “I’ll give you a shout,” it means I’ll call you?

Jenna (approving):
Exactly! Or text, or email—whatever works.

Max (thinking hard):
Hmm… but what if I really do shout your name? Like—HEY, JENNA!

[SFX: Café customers turning to stare]

Jenna (covering her face, whispering):
Okay, maybe don’t do that in public…

Max (grinning):
Got it. So, if I’m stuck on my project later, I can just say, “Jenna, I’ll give you a shout?”

Jenna (thumbs up):
Now you’re getting it!

Max (pauses, tilting head):
Wait… I have to ask—how do you know all these phrases so well? It’s like English just clicks for you.

Jenna (shrugging, playfully):
Well, let’s just say I found the cheat code.

Max (leaning in, curious):
Cheat code? What, like a secret trick?

Jenna (grinning):
Kinda! I trained with English Teacher Smith on iTalki. It wasn’t just lessons—it was real conversation, real corrections, and now, boom! English feels natural.

Max (raising an eyebrow, impressed):
That actually sounds pretty smart.

Jenna (pulls out phone, taps screen):
Here, see? Just click the profile, book a speaking lesson, and you’ll be talking like a pro in no time.

Max (smirking, clicking on phone):
Alright… I’ll give Teacher Smith a shout then.
(books lesson)