We look at the grammar of this popular, philosophical question. Grammar shows us that it CAN'T be half full or empty. These are "absolute" words.

The Social Evolutionary

A Glass Half Full... or Half Empty???

Այս թողարկումը հոգեվերլուծության մասին է, համաձայն որի մեր ցանկությունները կարևոր են։ Իսկ դուք ի՞նչ եք կարծում․․․ 

․․․ մասին 

Հոգեվերլուծություն #04

In this episode we will look at the comparisons between learning a language and creating art. We look at the threshold between learning and creating in the privacy of our own mind and sharing our work with the public and how that relates to moving from static learning to active conversation.

Philosophical Friday

Philosophical Friday with a quote from Stephen King

Join us on a special trip to the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, where we'll explore the amazing underwater world. Discover colourful fish, funny penguins, and graceful rays as we learn about the ocean and why it's important to protect it. Get ready for an exciting adventure filled with incredible sea creatures and the beauty of nature.

"Welcome to our podcast, Playful English Proficiency!

I'm your host, Adalet, and today we're going on an amazing adventure to the Two Oceans Aquarium in Cape Town, South Africa. Get ready to explore the underwater world and meet some incredible sea animals!

The aquarium is in Cape Town, where you can see a beautiful big mountain called Table Mountain. It's called the Two Oceans Aquarium because two oceans meet here near Cape Town: the Atlantic Ocean and the Indian Ocean.

Inside the aquarium, I saw lots of bright tropical fish, like clownfish and pretty pink anemones. They looked so beautiful!

I also saw some funny penguins. There were penguins from South Africa called African penguins, and they were really noisy! They walked around and made loud noises, like donkeys. I love their adorable little waddle.

Next, I found some penguins called rock hoppers. Now, they jumped on rocks just like their name. It was so fun to watch them! Later, they were swimming in a big tank, and it looked like they were flying underwater!"

Please feel free to contact me here on italki if you would like a PDF script of this podcast episode.

See you next time!

Cape Town Chronicles

Episode 1: An Adventure at The Two Oceans Aquarium (A2)

今週（こんしゅう）
英語: "this week"
スペイン語: "esta semana"
ドイツ語: "diese Woche"
タイ語: "สัปดาห์นี้"

会（あ）う
英語: "to meet"
スペイン語: "encontrarse" / "reunirse"
ドイツ語: "treffen"
タイ語: "พบเจอ"

疲（つか）れる
英語: "to get tired"
スペイン語: "cansarse"
ドイツ語: "müde werden"
タイ語: "เหนื่อย"

東京（とうきょう）

わたしのいえから東京（とうきょう）まででんしゃで1時間（いちじかん）です。
今週（こんしゅう）は3回（さんかい）もとうきょうに行（い）きました。
せいとさんにあったり、ともだちにあったりしました。とてもたのしかったです。でも、ちょっとつかれましたから、来週（らいしゅう）はとうきょうに行（い）きたくないです。


Jurisensei1217forbeginners

東京（とうきょう）

The character "头 - Tóu " is a pictophonetic character.
 Let's have a look at the traditional writing to make it easier to understand. 

 頭= 豆+页

 It consists of two parts: the radical "页" (pronounced xié) and the phonetic "豆 - Dòu ".

In this type of pictophonetic characters, the radical provides the meaning category of the character, while the diaphragm indicates the pronunciation . 

The original meaning of "页- xié" is head, Therefore "头 - Tóu" primarily means "head." It can also refer to a person's mind or intellect, and it can be used to describe the top or leading position of something, such as in a group or series.

Now let's go for the Usage

1.Noun:
General: "头 - Tóu" refers directly to the head of a person or an animal.
例如（For example）: 他的头很大。-Tā de tóu hěn dà 。 (His head is very big.)

 老头儿 - Lǎo tóur : Used informally to refer to an elderly man, where "头儿 - tóur" adds a sense of familiarity or endearment.
例如：公园里有几个老头儿在下象棋。- Gōng yuán lǐ yǒu jǐ gè lǎo tóu er zài xià xiàng qí 。
 (There are a few old men playing chess in the park.)

插头 - Chā tóu: Refers to the plug that connects devices to a power source, emphasizing the endpoint of the connection.
例如：请拔掉插头以断开电源。- Qǐng bá diào chā tóu yǐ duàn kāi diàn yuán 。
(Please unplug the plug to disconnect the power.)

2.Measure Word:

 "头" is also used as a measure word for livestock and some other animals.
例如：三头牛。- Sān tóu niú 。 (Three cows.)

3.Leadership or Priority: 
It can indicate the foremost or leading element.
例如：队伍的头。- Duì wu de tóu 。 (The head of the line.)

4. Idiomatic Expressions: 

例如：头痛 - Tóu tòng  (headache), 开头 -Kāi tóu (beginning), 破头 - Pò tóu (literally 'crack one's head', meaning to go to a lot of trouble), 抢破头 - Qiǎng pò tóu  (desperately competing, literally 'fighting until one's head breaks').

Chinese Item:
"虎头虎脑" (hǔ tóu hǔ nǎo) is an idiomatic expression in Chinese that describes someone, usually a child, who appears strong, energetic, and lively. 



每日一字

The fantastic story continues in its creepy way. Listen to all 5 and be ready for the coming end!

Stories to Stimulate!

Will and Mary Part 5 

An impromptu speech  refers to a presentation delivered with little to no prior preparation. Often called "speaking off the cuff," it requires the speaker to think on their feet and effectively communicate ideas on a given topic with minimal notice. Impromptu speeches can arise in various situations, including:

Meetings: Brainstorming sessions, project updates, or responding to questions from colleagues can all turn into impromptu speaking opportunities.

Client Interactions: A chance meeting with a potential client or answering unexpected questions during a presentation might necessitate impromptu remarks.

Networking Events: Making a strong first impression often involves conversing and sharing ideas on the spot.
While lacking the polish of a prepared speech, impromptu presentations offer several benefits:

Authenticity: Speaking without a script can project genuine enthusiasm and passion for the topic.

Adaptability: Impromptu speeches allow you to tailor your message to the audience's interests or address emerging issues.

Thinking Skills: They challenge your critical thinking and communication skills on the fly.
Here are some tips for delivering successful impromptu speeches:

Take a Breath: A brief pause allows you to collect your thoughts and formulate a response.

Start with a Strong Opening: Grab attention with a relevant anecdote, statistic, or question.

Focus on Key Points: Organize your thoughts around a central message and a few supporting points.

Use Clear Language: Avoid jargon and speak in a concise and confident manner.

End Gracefully: Summarize your main points and conclude with a call to action or impactful statement.

By honing your impromptu speaking skills, you can become a more effective communicator and build trust with colleagues, clients, and potential partners in the business world.

The Global Professional Podcast

Impromptu Speech Explained - Episode 91

（📝C1↑）
日本人なら誰でも知っている「ちびまる子ちゃん」について話しました😆日常の話なので、日本語の勉強にもおすすめですよ💗