Some common phrases we say at Christmas time. But be careful!

The Social Evolutionary

Silly things we say in the "Silly Season", (Christmas).

Phrasal verbs are very common in English, especially in informal contexts. 
 They are made up of a verb and a particle or, sometimes, two particles. The particle often changes the meaning of the verb. Today let's learn 5 simple phrasal verbs with "look". 


All-Weather English

5 simple phrasal verbs with "look" 

The difference between two verbs: to allow and to permit.

What's the difference?

Allow VS Permit

【北海道Hokkaido生活】
〈#103〉8月12日金曜日　　天気/晴れ　気温/25℃ 

北竜町/ほくりゅうちょう
・200万本のひまわりが満開
・ひまわりで作った迷路を楽しんだり
・遊覧車から写真を撮ったり

［単語］
200万/にひゃくまん…2,000,000
本/ほん…大きな花の数え方。1本、2本、3本
輪/りん…小さな花の数え方。1輪、2輪、3輪
ひまわり…黄色い大きな花
満開/まんかい…全部の花が咲く
迷路/めいろ…複雑な道　
遊覧車/ゆうらんしゃ…景色を見るための車。ゆっくり走る。

〈美和Miwa〉
日本語の先生
Podcast「どこでも.JAPANESE」も放送中！

レッスン待ってます♪


北海道Hokkaido生活 for Japanese learners

〈#103〉8月12日金曜日　200万本のひまわり満開


The boardroom. A crucial client meeting. A high-stakes sales call. These scenarios demand clear and confident communication. Here are five best practices to elevate your language and project unwavering self-belief:

Power Verbs:  Replace wishy-washy verbs with action-oriented ones. Instead of saying, "We could explore this new marketing strategy," say, "We will implement this data-driven strategy to boost brand awareness by 20%." This injects decisiveness and ownership into your message.

Be Specific:  Unspecific claims lack impact.  Instead of "Our product is the best," showcase its strengths with data. Say, "Our software boasts a 98% customer satisfaction rate and a 25% reduction in processing time compared to competitors." Specifics build trust and credibility.

Direct Address: Engage your audience directly. Ditch phrases like "I think" or "in my opinion." Say, "We can deliver this project on time and within budget." This conveys authority and ownership of your ideas.

Positive Framing: Focus on the strengths of your solutions.  Instead of, "This plan might have a tight deadline," say, "This fast-track approach allows for agility and capitalizes on current market trends." Highlighting positives reassures and motivates your audience.

Conciseness is Key: Eliminate unnecessary words and filler phrases.  Instead of, "We believe that this approach might be a good way to proceed," say, "We propose this solution to achieve optimal results." Concise communication delivers a clear message and maximizes impact.

I use confident language every day with my clients. I also use it with family, friends and any chance I get. Many of us use language that is unclear or passive habitually, without intent or purpose. 

One of the first habits I work on with my clients is the overuse of - I think, maybe, and I don't know. 

Start being aware of the phrases that you use, especially at the beginning and end of your sentences. 


The Global Professional Podcast

The 5 Best Practices of Confident Language - EP 31

Customer: Excuse me, can you help me, please?
Staff: I’ll try!
Customer: I’m looking for some apples.
Staff: The produce section is in aisle 1, at the front of the store, near the door where you came in.
Customer: Sorry, can you repeat that?
Staff: Of course. Go to the front of the store, and near the door, where you came in, you’ll see the fruit and vegetables.
Customer: Right. Got it. Thanks so much.

English Conversation/Dialogue

At a Supermarket

Here I will read the 5th chapter, this one has only 1 page. 

Beginner book Dutch A1-A2

Chapter 5 Page 1 - Feestprogramma 

How to compare things that are exactly the same, using "as...as" or "the same... as."