Join Tim for 'Tea, Talk & Textbooks,' where British culture meets English learning. Ideal for B1-B2 learners or British culture enthusiasts. Enjoy narratives, language tips, and a spot of humour.

Tea, Talk & Textbooks: An ESL Podcast

¿Te gusta el tequila? ¿Qué sabes sobre esta bebida mexicana?

En este episodio de Español al Oído, hablamos del origen del tequila y la diferencia entre el tequila y otros aguardientes, tambien llamados mezcales.

Después de escuchar, contesta las siguientes preguntas:

1. ¿Qué diferencia hay entre el mezcal y el tequila?
2. ¿Las botellas de tequila tienen un gusado adentro?
3. ¿Qué indica una etiquieta "100% agave" en una botella de tequila?
4. ¿Qué es un caballito?
5. ¿Qué es una margarita?

Español al oído

El tequila

Booksellers survey: how did you  choose the last book you read?
I was in a bookshop and the title and front cover just attracted my attention.
It was a recommendation by a friend - he said it was original and had a good plot.
I read a bit of the first chapter in a bookshop - it was interesting and well written.
I read a summary of the book and it was by an author who is well known.
I love narrative fiction where love Is the main theme of the book.

English Mini Lessons

Choosing a book

For beginner level learners　
わたしのいろいろなはなし2022　LESSON11　

「また ここに もどってこられますように！」 I hope I come back here again!

★★The aim of this lesson...
だいすきな ばしょの はなしを します。
to talk about the new members!

2)The aim of this lesson, Text, Vocabulary［5：51］ 

★★Text & Vocabulary★★
Please repeat after me...

1．
ちゅうこうせいのとき、イタリア（Italy）のことを　たくさん　きょうかしょで　みました。コロッセオ（Colosseum - Rome ）、ボッティチェリ（Sandro Botticelli）のえを。サンタルチア（Santa Lucia）のうたも　うたいました。それで、ずっと　おもっていました。「いつか　イタリアに　いってみたいなぁ」って。

1）ちゅうこうせい（中高生）〈N〉middle and high school students、初中和高中学生
2）きょうかしょ（教科書）〈N〉textbook、课本
3）いつか〈adv〉Someday、有一天
4）いってみたい（行ってみたい）I‘d like to go （there）、我想去（那里） 
　

2．
２４さいのとき、はじめて　イタリアに　いきました。きょうかしょで　みたものが　たくさんありました。でも、にほんには　ない　やさいの　においや　あじ、まちの　おと、ひとの　こえ、くうき、いろいろなことを　はだで　かんじて、イタリアが　だいすきになりました。

5）はじめて（初めて）〈adv〉first time、第一次
6）やさい（野菜）〈N〉vegetable、蔬菜
7）まち（町、街）〈N〉Town, city、城镇，城市
8）おと（音）〈N〉Sound、声音

9）ひと（人）〈N〉people、人
10）こえ（声）〈N〉Voice、声音
11）くうき（空気）〈N〉Air、空气
12）はだで　かんじます（肌で感じます）Sが　（なに）を　はだで　かんじます〈V〉experience it,　knowlege gained first-hand,　experience gained　first-hand、我直接感觉到了。我感觉到它在皮肤上。


3．
たびの　さいごに、フィレンツェ（Florence）の　きれいなひろばに　いって、ゆうひを　みながら、ねがいました。「またここにもどってくることができますように！」って。いま　イタリアに　すんでいますよ。

13）たび（旅）〈N/する〉Travel、旅行
14）さいご（最後）〈N〉Last、最后
15）ひろば（広場）〈N〉The Plaza、广场
16）ゆうひ（夕日）〈N〉Sunset、夕阳
17）ねがいます（願います）Sが　（どこ・だれ）に　（なに）を　　ねがいます〈V〉I wish、我希望
18）もどってきます（戻ってきます）Sが　（どこ）に　もどってきます〈V〉I'm coming back、我回来了


LESSON11　また ここに もどってこられますように！ I hope I come back here again!
1)［3：51］Introduction of the characters, Please tell me about yourself 
2)［5：51］The aim of this lesson, Text, Vocabulary 
3)［4：37］Sentence pattern and expression 1&2　 
4)［5：12］Text, Applied conversation practice, Extra thinking training　 
5)［8：50］Let's challenge you too!
6)［5：40］Interview...

You can see the text of this lesson on my free website.
你可以在我的免费网站上找到这一课的内容。

Voice:Luigi(Backmirror),Elena(Marie),ondoku3

Japanese! わたしの いろいろな はなし

また ここに もどってこられますように！（2）

An excerpt from Jules Verne's book The Cannon of Peace.

Greek podcast

Το κανόνι της Ειρήνης

Martín y yo hablamos sobre Axolotl, Xoloitzcuintle y El Gato de Van.
Mira al perfil de Martín para mas episodios interesantes: https://www.italki.com/teacher/5211013

Turkishized

Animales simbólicos de Turquía y México.

This is a short podcast for elementary Persian learners. this podcast is about a couple who are going to have breakfast. The guy asks the woman what she would like to have for breakfast.

TheFarsiPod

09. Everyday activities: eating breakfast

You're lying on the couch, bored, looking at videos on TikTok or YouTube. You watch a video of a dog swimming, and then switch to a cooking video, then to someone doing a weird dance.

But it doesn't help your boredom.

In fact, according to new research, it could make it even worse.

Researchers in Canada found that switching from one video to another, or moving forward or backward in the same video, can increase feelings of boredom.

In a study published by the American Psychological Association, the researchers did several experiments with more than 1,200 people.

In one experiment, participants were first given seven different five-minute videos they could switch between over 10 minutes. They were then given one 10-minute video to watch, without being able to fast-forward.

The participants reported lower levels of boredom when they watched the single 10-minute video, and found the experience to be more engaging and meaningful than when they switched between the shorter videos.

In another experiment, participants were found to be less bored when they watched a single 10-minute video than when they were given 10 minutes to skip forward and backward through a 50-minute video.

Katy Tam, one of the researchers, said digital switching — switching between videos or within a video itself — can make watching something feel meaningless, because you don't have time to engage with it or understand it.

"If people want a more enjoyable experience when watching videos, they can try to stay focused on the content and minimize digital switching," she said. "Just like paying for a more immersive experience in a movie theater, more enjoyment comes from immersing oneself in online videos rather than swiping through them."

Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

Swiping Through Online Videos Can Increase Boredom

Today’s tip is a unique and soothing approach to language learning—listening to positive affirmations while you sleep in the language you are learning. Imagine drifting off to sleep while gently absorbing new phrases and vocabulary. Sounds relaxing, right? Let’s explore how this can enhance your language journey.