从古代开始，中国的文人墨客就擅用同义词的现象写诗、做文章。清朝才子纪晓岚参加宴席的时候，有人让他写一首祝福的诗句，没想到纪晓岚竟然“骂”起人来了，这究竟是怎么一回事儿呢？

Learning Chinese culture with Miss Zhang

汉字小故事-同义转换-《纪晓岚巧用“坏”词说好话》

ANGELICA: Doesn’t the bride look beautiful in that wedding dress?
MARIA: Yes. She looks amazing. And the groom is so romantic. 
I just heard the story of how they got engaged! He 
proposed to her during a candlelight dinner in London. 
Did you know that was where they went to school?
ANGELICA: Oh? Wonderful. And the honeymoon! What a great 
idea! Most people just go to the beach for a week 
after they tie the knot. But they plan on heading to 
California and cruising the coast on their motorcycle.
MARIA: Really! What a fantastic idea. This is by far the best 
wedding I’ve ever been to



LANGUAGE NOTES
• Doesn’t …? When you have a negative question, the expected answer is “yes.” As 
such, it expresses the exact opposite of what is being conveyed (i.e., the bride DOES 
look absolutely beautiful).
• Listen to the stress on honeymoon. There are three syllables in “honeymoon,” with the 
stress on the first syllable [HO-ney-moon]. This content word is culturally important, so 
it’s emphasized: It means a trip or vacation taken by a newly married couple.
• Tie the knot is an informal way of saying “get married.”
• Can you find and explain the two usages of just in this dialogue? “Just” is an adverb 
that can be used in two different ways:
 a) To indicate a very recent past (I just heard the story). When used to convey 
time, “just” is commonly used with a simple past verb because the action is 
complete. Sometimes it can also be used with the present perfect (He’s just 
finished writing a book).
 b) To indicate contrast or emphasis (Most people just go to the beach). In that 
case, “just” can be replaced by “simply” and emphasize the word it relates to 
(a verb, adjective or other adverb) by denoting contrast. Compare the following 
sentences: “They just got married yesterday” (adverb of time). “The wedding 
reception was just wonderful” (adverb of emphasis).

English Conversation practice (30-day challenge)

Day 29: Weddings

In English exams with questions where you have to fill in the missing word, often they will put two words that sound good. But how do you know which one is correct?

Previous quiz question with a preposition trap! https://www.italki.com/en/quiz/quiz/370676

Link to my teacher's profile with my podcast and all my quiz questions: https://www.italki.com/en/creator_portfolio/1667154?tab=quiz

The Social Evolutionary

Exam Tips: Filling in the missing word.

In this episode of Ctrl+Speak, we break down the concept of ACL (Access Control List). ACLs are a set of rules that manage which users or systems can access resources on a network or system. Learn the difference between standard and extended ACLs, and explore real-world scenarios where ACLs are essential in managing access and ensuring security. Stay tuned for a short quiz at the end to test your knowledge!



CTRL+SPEAK

Episode 2: ACL (Access Control List)

Snails are horribly violent in when making love. So how are they connected to the image of romance?

Snail dart photo: By Joris M. Koene and Hinrich Schulenburg - CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4922082

SNAILS: Romantic, or Dangerous Beasts?

Do you have an Italian friend? Are you in Italy and trying to make new acquittances? In today's episode I'll help you learn the most common ways to invite someone out in Italian :)


Download for free our pdf for travellers. By doing that you will subscribe at our newsletter and receive useful Italian language input every Wednesday. -->  https://colossal-architect-8330.ck.page/2cdfeb21b1
Take a look at our video course for beginners and learn online in a total flexible way.  --> https://cocai-italiano.com/
***

 
Welcome to this brand new podcast broadcasted by Cocai Italian.

3 minutes Italian delivers you a full experience of the Italian language in pills.

Do you want to learn Italian language? Or did you just started this journey? Then 3 minutes Italian by Cocai Italiano will help you by teaching you a few, daily Italian expressions to start speaking today!

3 minutes Italian

How to invite someone out in Italian - 3 minutes Italian

A1 Arabic

where are u from?

You've landed the interview – congratulations! Now you need to convince them that you're the perfect fit. Focus on confident communication. It's not about bragging; it's about presenting yourself with clarity, authority, and a winning mindset.

First impressions matter.  Avoid the passive voice and vague statements. Instead of saying, "I could potentially contribute," say, "I'm eager to leverage my marketing expertise to expand your customer base."  Action verbs like "leverage" and "expand" showcase your proactive approach.

Back up your claims with results. Don't just say you're a team player.  Tell a story!  "In my previous role, I collaborated with a diverse team to launch a new product that boosted sales by 20%." Specific examples paint a vivid picture of your accomplishments.

Speak directly to the interviewer. Phrases like "I think" weaken your message. Instead, take ownership of your ideas. Say, "We can implement a strategy that tackles your current challenges head-on." This conveys confidence and decisiveness.

Focus on the positive. When discussing past experiences, highlight your successes. Did you overcome a challenge? Learned a new skill quickly? Share those stories! They demonstrate your adaptability and willingness to learn.

Remember, the interview is a two-way street. Tailor your language to the company culture. Research their values and communication style. If they're data-driven, use metrics and numbers. A laid-back startup might appreciate a more enthusiastic and creative approach.

Finally, don't underestimate the power of body language. Maintain eye contact, project good posture, and speak with a clear, enthusiastic tone. It all adds up to a confident presence that will leave a lasting impression.

Showcase your skills and experience, but also assess if the company culture aligns with your own communication style.  Confident communication is a win-win, helping you land the job you deserve and find a work environment where you can thrive.

The Global Professional Podcast

Getting the Job: Confident Language During the Interview EP 32

lesson on italki 
https://www.italki.com/ja/teacher/9451959/japanese

https://linktr.ee/atsushi_japanese

こんにちは！
Japanese daily life podcast のAtsushiです。
このPodcastは、日本語を勉強しているみなさんに向けたPodcastです。


今回、Podcastが180回になりました！👏
これをはじめて、半年、6ヶ月がたちました！
みなさんが聴いてくれているおかげですね、本当にありがとうございます！

実は昨日、うれしいことがありました。
はじめてレッスンを受けてくれた方と話していたんですが、その方は、このレッスンの前にPodcastを聴いてくれていました。それもあって、レッスンを予約してくれたそうです。

これは本当にうれしいですね。
僕のPodcastは、日本語学習をしている人にとってサポートになればと思って続けています。だから、実際に聴いてくれている人の言葉が聞けると本当にうれしいです。

他のレッスンを受けてくれている方も、レッスン中にPodcastのトピックが出てきます。

日本や日本語のことを知るきっかけになるだけでなく、僕のことも知ってもらえるので、いいコンテンツだと思います。

テキスト、文章だけではわからない、性格、雰囲気みたいなものも、声を通して伝わるのかなと思います。


僕もいろんなPodcastを聴いています。
英語学習のオススメのPodcastがあれば教えてほしいです。


これからも、日本のことや、僕の普段の生活の話をPodcastでしていきますので、良かったら聴いてくださいね！

ということで、今回も最後まで聴いていただき、ありがとうございます！

ではまた！

