English Learning for Curious Minds is a podcast for intermediate to advanced English learners who want to learn weird and wonderful things about the world at the same time as improving their English. Find more episodes at leonardoenglish.com.

English Learning for Curious Minds

Vocabulario de la casa y uso del Pretérito Imperfecto para descripciones. 
 https://docs.google.com/document/d/1acoyUMkiDLazPKHeQmsyFSqXxkMy4c7tvcVoOFbaIhs/edit

Inspirando a principiantes: Audios para nivel A2

La casa de la abuela (con transcripción)

私は先日タクシーのアプリをダウンロードしました。
このアプリは目的地と待ち合わせ場所をあらかじめ設定することができます。予約が完了すると、タクシーの色と車のナンバーが送られてくるので、自分が乗るタクシーをすぐに見つけることができます。
予約したタクシーがどこにいるかを地図上で見たり、タクシーが何分後に到着するかを知ることもできます。
支払いはアプリにクレジットカード情報を登録しておけば、目的地に着いた時に支払いをせずにすぐに降りることができます。

このアプリを使ってみた私の感想は待ち合わせ場所の近くにいるタクシーが来るので、待ち時間が少なく、支払いも楽なのでとても便利だと思いました。しかし、私はそもそもタクシーをあまり使わないようにしているので、あまり恩恵を受けられないかもしれません。

みなさんはタクシーアプリを使っていますか？
どんな時にタクシーに乗りますか？

あらかじめ：in advance
目的地：もくてきち　destination
待ち合わせ場所：まちあわせばしょmeeting spot
地図上：ちずじょう　on the map
到着する：とうちゃくする　arrive
登録する：とうろくする　register
感想：かんそう　my thoughts
タクシーを呼(よ)ぶ：call taxi
そもそも：in the first place
恩恵を受ける：おんけいをうける　get benefit

Nihongo Short Story by Noriko

タクシーのアプリ（Taxi App）

日本語の丁寧さのレベルについて、お話ししました😊

Nihongo Hiyori | Japanese Podcast

[EP093] 日本語の丁寧レベル | Japanese Politeness Levels - How to Use Them

This San Fermin festival in Pamplona, Spain, is world-renowned. In this episode, students learn about the saint behind the holiday and the rules that govern the dangerous race.  🎧🇪🇸

Holidays and Event 🌎🎉

Running of the Bulls 🐂 🇪🇸 

In this episode of My Levantine Arabic Diary, I take you to my favorite spot in Istanbul—Balat 😊

My Levantine Arabic Diary 

Balat: Istanbul’s Hidden Gem – A Podcast in Levantine Arabic

Disneyland Paris has launched a new light show called Disney Tales of Magic, an immersive 20-minute show that uses drones, synchronized fountains, and high-definition projections.

The show's main feature — ultra-bright lasers — has been used only once before, at the Paris 2024 Olympics at the Eiffel Tower during the opening ceremony featuring a performance by Celine Dion. The lasers, which travel 37 kilometers, deliver extraordinary power while remaining safe near crowds.

"The Paris Olympics used it first. But we saw it first," said Dana Harrel, executive entertainment director at Disneyland Paris.

The show brings Disney and Pixar tales to life with the use of drone-made 3D figures projected onto the night sky, synchronized fountains and a 100-piece orchestra.

The show also reflects Disney's storytelling evolution. Tim Lutkin, artistic director of the production, noted the shift from classic fairy tales to modern narratives like Encanto and Inside Out 2, which explore deeper themes such as anxiety and depression.

The show is just one part of Disneyland Paris' $2 billion expansion plan, part of a $60 billion global investment announced in September 2023, aiming to redefine Disney parks, cruises and attractions over the next decade.

At the heart of the expansion is the transformation of Walt Disney Studios Park, doubling in size and reimagined as Disney Adventure World. Opening in spring 2025, a new park entrance, World Premiere, will greet visitors with the glamor of a Hollywood film premiere, leading them into immersive themed areas.

The expansion includes two eagerly awaited themed lands: The World of Frozen, opening in 2026, and The Lion King land. The Disneyland Hotel has also been revamped, with rooms themed around classic Disney royalty.

"These projects reflect our commitment to innovation and storytelling," said Natacha Rafalski, head of Disneyland Paris, adding that they will further strengthen it as Europe's top tourist destination.



Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

Drones and Lasers Light Up Disneyland Paris in New Show

Netflix now has 10 million subscribers in Japan, according to the streaming company.

It got to that number during the first half of 2024, so it may be even higher by now — and it's double the number of subscribers Netflix had in the country four years ago.

It's believed that new Japanese shows on the platform — including Tokyo Swindlers, The Queen of Villains and The Boyfriend — have helped the streaming service get more subscribers.

"Japan in particular is a country which wants to see a lot of its own content so we strongly feel the need to produce it," said Kaata Sakamoto, Netflix's vice president of content for Japan.

He added that the company wants to produce more content that will be popular with people in Japan, including more sports and comedy shows.

Subscribers around the world have also been enjoying Japanese content on the platform. It's the third-most-watched non-English-language content on Netflix, after Korean and Spanish. And Japanese anime shows and movies have been watched more than 1 billion times on Netflix in the last year.

Sakamoto said there are plans to make more anime for the platform, but he wants to find "stories that have never been told before."

Netflix first came to Japan in 2015. In 2023, it was the most popular streaming service in the country, with about 22% of the market share.

Around the world, Netflix has more than 280 million subscribers.

Netflix Reaches 10 Million Subscribers in Japan

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1U4XyeRvl6u6c3x5PdxaiXwOmd64Kt18H/view?usp=drivesdk