Learn Mandarin from a short story.
You can also watch the video about this story here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KO1RxSj8q30&t=15s

Learn Mandarin with Mandy

E02 小蝌蚪找妈妈【Little Tadpoles Looking for their mommy】

Bu episode ile Türkiye'de de bulunan ve kullanılan ŞİFALI DOĞAL TAŞLAR öğreniyorsunuz . Türkiyedeki doğal taşları tanımak onları özelliklerine uygun olarak kullanmak ister misin? O zaman haydi başlayalım :) Not:Lütfen bu yayının eğlence amaçlı olduğunu unutmayın. This is just Turkish listening exercise for fun&learning.:)

Turcology and Turkey with Ayse

TURKISH : TÜRKİYEDEKİ GİZEMLİ TAŞLAR  : AKİK

If you’ve listened to my previous podcasts, you’ll know that want to score a band score 7 in your IELTS Speaking exam, you have to use some less common idiomatic expressions.

We all know the idiom ‘it’s raining cats and dogs’ because this is a common idiom. But what are some less common idioms?

This podcast will give you 3 more idioms for you to learn, which you can use in your IELTS Speaking exam.

Preparing for exams can be a double-edged sword. This is because examiners don’t want you to memorise and repeat your answers from memory. However, using idioms can get you a higher band score. So how do we balance this? Idioms have to be memorised, because they have to be spoken exactly. We cannot change them. For example, you cannot say ‘my parents punched the roof’, you have to say my parents ‘hit the roof.’

Another tip for using idioms is not to put all your eggs in one basket. Make sure you are armed with a variety of different idioms in your memory bank. If you only know one idiom, for example ‘think outside the box’ you have to hope your part 2 speaking exam is a suitable topic for the idiom.

You can, of course, use idioms in parts  1 and 3, but part 2 is the easiest place to slot in a few idioms, because you have 1 minute to prepare.

Don’t forget to book a lesson with me, so you can practise using idioms, and get the band score you are aiming for.


IELTS Speaking Practice

3 more idioms for IELTS


Effective virtual communication is the successful transmission and understanding of information through electronic channels in a business setting. It involves clear, concise messaging tailored to the chosen platform (email, video conferencing, etc.)  While lacking physical presence, it leverages strong writing, active listening, and professional online etiquette to build rapport and achieve goals.  This can be achieved through techniques like setting agendas, using visual aids, and employing clear nonverbal cues when on camera. By understanding these methods, professionals can bridge geographical distances and foster collaboration within the virtual landscape.

However, effective virtual communication goes beyond just technical proficiency. It requires a keen understanding of audience needs and the ability to adapt communication styles accordingly.  For instance, complex topics might necessitate a shift from email to video conferencing for real-time clarification.  Empathy also plays a crucial role, as virtual interactions can sometimes feel less personal.  Utilizing techniques like virtual icebreakers and acknowledging colleagues' contributions can help create a more positive and inclusive environment.

Effective virtual communication is an ongoing process that requires continuous development.  By embracing new technologies, seeking feedback, and refining communication strategies, professionals can become masters of the virtual landscape, fostering stronger relationships and achieving success in today's increasingly digital business world. 

The Global Professional Podcast

Effective Virtual Communication EP 34

Слова из эпизода: высокий - очень значительный, возвышенный (книжн.) - high; чистая красота - pure beauty; непременно - обязательно - necessarily; глупый - неумный - silly, foolish; вглядеться - пристально рассматривать - gaze, scrutinize; всмотреться - рассмотреть внимательно - take a close look, examine closely, peer; черта - особенность, качество - trait, characteristic, feature; взгляд - gaze, look, sight; мало-помалу - постепенно, понемногу - little by little, gradually; поразительное безобразие - ужасное, неприятное зрелище - shocking ugliness; увлечься - целиком отдаться занятию, чувству -  fall for, take a fancy to, be fascinated; удовлетвориться - быть довольным - be satisfied, content; гарем - harem; исполненный - полный, наполненный чем-то - filled, full of; необычайный - выдающийся, удивительный - extraordinary, remarkable; двигать - приводить в движение, перемещать - move; исполнять - в значении создавать, творить сейчас, осуществлять - do, fulfill, accomplish; строить судьбу - создавать судьбу, планировать будущее - build one's destiny; явно или тайно - открыто или скрыто - openly or secretly; присутствовать - находиться, быть на месте - be present, attend; событие - то, что случилось - event, happening, occasion; грация - изящность, элегантность - grace; своего рода - определенного типа, особого рода - a kind of, a sort of; воплощение - олицетворение - embodiment, incarnation; дурной собой - некрасивый человек - bad-looking, ugly; блестеть - сверкать, сиять - shine, glitter; материя - вещество, материал - matter, substance; палить - гореть, сжигать - burn, scorch; будить - пробуждать, вызывать - awaken, arouse; шевелить мысль - внушать идеи, активизировать мысль - stir up thoughts; поднимать дух - вдохновлять - lift spirits; на высоте своего достоинства - во всей красе, на пике своей значимости - at the height of one's dignity; мелочь - незначительная вещь - small detail; не грязнить чистоту - сохранять чистоту, не пачкать - keep purity, not soil.

Reading Russian

Отрывок из романа "Обрыв" И.А. Гончаров

Today you’re going to hear how to talk about future actions in Moroccan Arabic.

(غدي/غادي)‬ is the future marker in this dialect. It’s a good idea to compare this to the future markers of other dialects which differ considerably.

Sample sentences:

I will go.
You will run.
You (plural) will sleep.
She will come.
He will speak.
We will see.
They will know.

Aprende árabe con Radia 

How to use the future tense in Moroccan Arabic

Listen to this conversation between two neighbors and see how they are planning to celebrate a wedding. 

Wedding planning

In this episode we will talk about 【Pandemic】, you will learn how to say 【do nucleic acid, wear a mask】 ect.
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It is recommended that you study in the following ways:
1st time: listen without looking at the text.
2nd time: look at the text and write down the new words, later look up the dictionary. 
3rd time: listen again without looking at the text.
4th time: repeat after it without looking at the text.
大家好，我是Yuli。欢迎收听我的播客。
今天我们来聊一聊【疫情】的话题。
中国的疫情是2019年底开始的。我记得那一年的春节，我回了老家。每天在电视上看到武汉疫情的报道，觉得很难过。假期结束后要回广州上班，一路上戴着口罩，有点害怕。每天进公司和进小区都要测体温。外卖只能送到小区门口，自己去拿，也不可以在饭店里吃饭。
疫情不太严重的时候，我们的生活正常一点，但是去外面也要戴口罩。有一段时间国内没有疫情，国内旅游也正常了。但是因为有国外回来的人，很难一直都是正常的。如果一个地方出现新的疫情，很多人都要去做核酸。严重的时候，这个地方所有的人都要去做核酸。
时间过得很快，疫情已经两年多了。虽然我们已经习惯了戴口罩的生活，但是它真的改变了我们的生活。
最大的改变是很多东西都发展为线上了。特别是疫情严重的时候，大家只能在家里。于是上班族开始在家办公，学生开始上网课。因为不能去健身房，很多人买了健身的东西，在家里健身。因为不能出去吃饭，很多人都是用手机叫外卖，或者开始学习做饭。因为不能像以前一样出去旅游，这几年野餐和露营的人越来越多。野餐和露营不需要去很远的地方，买一些食物，就可以和家人朋友一起去玩了。
疫情对经济的影响是最大的。商店的生意变得很差，因为只要有疫情影响，他们很可能就得关门。换工作的人比以前少了，因为经济不好，工作不好找。更多的大学毕业生选择了考研和考公务员，因为更稳定。
你们国家的疫情怎么样呢？疫情改变了你的生活吗？留言告诉我吧。我们下期见。
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小区	xiǎo qū	community,neighbourhood
测体温	cè tǐ wēn	take one's temperature
外卖	wàimài	food delivery
戴口罩	dài kǒu zhào	Wear a mask
做核酸	zuò hé suān	do nucleic acid
上班族	shàng bān zú	office worker
上网课	shàngwǎngkè	have class online
野餐	yě cān	Picnic
露营	lù yíng	Camping
考研	kǎo yán	take postgraduate entrance examination
考公务员	kǎo gōng wù yuán	take part in civil servant exam 

Yuli's Chinese Channel

疫情 Pandemic （Intermediate level）

・東北地方の方言「めんこい」について
・意味と使用例の紹介
・「めんこい」「めんけ」「めごい」など色々な表現をする。地域によって若干違う言い方をする。
・小さい子供や愛らしい動物などによく使われる
・「めんこい」を使ってみよう
・まとめ