Happy Singles Day to students in China! Today, the 11th of November (11/11) is the day when vendors offer huge discounts, and customers search for bargains. In the west, this day is known as 'Black Friday', although it doesn't take place until the last Friday in November. Sometimes, people like to make an impulse buy, some are shopaholics, and others just can't resist a good bargain. So whether you're shopping online, in a shopping mall, or just walking round your favourite department store, I wish you all a happy Singles Day.

Almost all the apps I installed on my phones are must-have apps. This conclusion was based on a thing happened yesterday. Yesterday, when I watched a picture taken in 2009, I was so excited about seeing my old friend again. Unfortunately, the picture was not very clean, especially my friend's face. In that case, I immediately remember an app on my phone. That is an AI tool which can help me fix old picture. It didn't take me much time, then a clean picture appeared and all the details were perfect. Even pictures can be made into a short video by this app, and people in the pictures can smile and move. Maybe this app I just use once in a year, but it's a must-have app because I must use it sooner or later. This thing reminds me of some other things happened many year ago. At that time, I usually used a software called PS to fix pictures that often costed me many hours to finish a project. So, I am sure that more and more apps will be downloaded on my phone. Each of them is a must-have app!

English students, try this.

From Performing English to Becoming the Speaker: The Shift That Changes Everything You’ve been learning English for years. You’ve invested time, money, and emotion into courses, apps, and tutors. You can read articles, write emails, maybe even lead meetings — but still, every time you open your mouth in English, a quiet, painful voice whispers: “I should be better by now.” “Why do I still sound like this?” “Something in me still feels small.” You nod when others speak. You plan your sentences before you say them. You smile politely, even when you have strong opinions. And deep inside, you feel this strange mix of pride and shame — proud that you’ve come so far, ashamed that it still doesn’t feel enough. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone. And more importantly — this is not a language problem. It’s an identity problem. The Loop of Judgement Many high-achieving women I work with describe their English experience as a silent emotional loop. They’re successful in their own language — confident, expressive, even magnetic. But the moment they switch to English, something shifts. The confidence disappears, replaced by tension, self-monitoring, and a subtle feeling of being less. They replay conversations afterward, analyzing every word, every pause, every mistake. They keep hoping that one more course, one more pronunciation trick, one more vocabulary list will finally make them feel free. But no matter how fluent they become, the satisfaction never arrives. Because what’s missing isn’t knowledge — it’s wholeness. The Real Problem: The English Performance Box Most learners live inside what I call the English performance box. continue reading in the comment section now

Being able to talk on a wide variety of topics is really helpful for getting a higher mark on the IELTS test. In this podcast I will help you to form opinions and ideas for Speaking Part 3 and Writing Part 2. You can also book a private lesson with me on my profile. Hope to see you in a lesson soon!

to work on first? I think that priority is to improve my English and through communication and communication with different people, and also improve my communication skills and makes my speaking more confident.

A few days ago, I applied for tickets to a very popular artist’s concert just for fun. But surprisingly, I got it! I didn’t expect to get them, so I chose Fukuoka as the concert location. I have always wanted to visit Fukuoka, so I think this is a great chance to travel and enjoy the concert at the same time. Fukuoka is known for many delicious foods. And I love them such as Hakata ramen and Mentaiko. I really want to try the real local taste at least once in my life. My friend also recommended me a popular sweet called Hakata Torimon, so I want to try that too. If I really go there, I’ll work hard until February to save enough money for the trip. So I can enjoy everything without worry. I am already excited just thinking about it! Please let me know if you have any recommendations about Fukuoka.