What can you do in 5 minutes? You can:
-Grab a cup of tea 
-Sit back, relax & play an English podcast
-Practice your listening skills & vocab with a fun story
-Smile & get back to work :)

5-minute English Tea Time

"I JUST want to be fluent in English!" How many times have you said this to yourself, your friend or teacher? 
This podcast is for you! I'll be sharing answers & tips about fluency & how to reach it.

I Just Wanna Be Fluent in English!

Welcome to our American Slang Lesson, where we dive into the colorful and ever-evolving world of casual language! Slang is an essential part of American English—it adds personality, emotion, and cultural flavor to everyday conversations.

In this lesson, we’ll explore 100 commonly used slang words and phrases, grouped into categories to help you understand when and how to use them. Whether you’re chatting with friends, scrolling through social media, or just trying to understand pop culture, this guide will give you the tools to communicate naturally and confidently.

Let’s jump in and make learning fun and engaging—after all, mastering slang is one of the best ways to sound like a native speaker!

General Slang
These are versatile terms used in a wide variety of situations to describe things, people, or experiences. They’re common in everyday conversations.

Lit – which means: Exciting, fun, or amazing.
Fire – which means: Extremely good or impressive.
Salty – which means: Upset or bitter about something.
Dope – which means: Cool or awesome.
Chill – which means: Relaxed or easygoing.
Hype – which means: Very exciting or over-the-top.
Vibes – which means: The atmosphere or mood of something.
Epic – which means: Amazing or unforgettable.
Savage – which means: Bold or harsh in a funny way.
Bet – which means: Used to express agreement or approval.

Expressions of Agreement/Excitement
These phrases are commonly used to express excitement, agreement, or enthusiasm. They’re casual and conversational.

For real – which means: Honestly or seriously.
Deadass – which means: Completely serious.
I’m down – which means: I’m interested or agree.
No cap – which means: No lie or being truthful.
Fr (For real) – which means: Seriously or definitely.
Say less – which means: I understand, no need to explain further.
Preach – which means: To strongly agree with someone’s statement.
On point – which means: Perfect or exactly right.
Facts – which means: Completely true.

Learn Colloquial American English Slang with Tom:  https://youtu.be/-nWR0zwGC_c

100 Slang Words and Phrases

doll dog desk duck

Listen and repeat.

Send me a message to learn with me.
https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/13365914

Phonics The Alphabet 

Letter D

Listen and repeat:

alpaca, alligator, ant, anteater, anemone, apple, arrow, aardvark, asparagus, anaconda, anchor

Flashcards free download: https://supersimple.com/free-printables/captain-seasalt-and-the-abc-pirates-a-flashcards/

Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VdUpF0Pzrw0

Captain Seasalt And The ABC Pirates

Letter A

An impromptu speech  refers to a presentation delivered with little to no prior preparation. Often called "speaking off the cuff," it requires the speaker to think on their feet and effectively communicate ideas on a given topic with minimal notice. Impromptu speeches can arise in various situations, including:

Meetings: Brainstorming sessions, project updates, or responding to questions from colleagues can all turn into impromptu speaking opportunities.

Client Interactions: A chance meeting with a potential client or answering unexpected questions during a presentation might necessitate impromptu remarks.

Networking Events: Making a strong first impression often involves conversing and sharing ideas on the spot.
While lacking the polish of a prepared speech, impromptu presentations offer several benefits:

Authenticity: Speaking without a script can project genuine enthusiasm and passion for the topic.

Adaptability: Impromptu speeches allow you to tailor your message to the audience's interests or address emerging issues.

Thinking Skills: They challenge your critical thinking and communication skills on the fly.
Here are some tips for delivering successful impromptu speeches:

Take a Breath: A brief pause allows you to collect your thoughts and formulate a response.

Start with a Strong Opening: Grab attention with a relevant anecdote, statistic, or question.

Focus on Key Points: Organize your thoughts around a central message and a few supporting points.

Use Clear Language: Avoid jargon and speak in a concise and confident manner.

End Gracefully: Summarize your main points and conclude with a call to action or impactful statement.

By honing your impromptu speaking skills, you can become a more effective communicator and build trust with colleagues, clients, and potential partners in the business world.

The Global Professional Podcast

Impromptu Speech Explained - Episode 91

Have you ever wondered what different kinds of celebrations are celebrated at the end of the year in different cultures? In honour of our German heritage we celebrate Heilig Abend and new this year, the Rauhnächte. In honour of our North American heritage we celebrate Christmas. And in the tradition of a Celtic past we celebrate the Feast of Lights at Winter Solstice.

Philosophical Friday

Holiday Special. Today I’d like to share with you some end-of-year traditions we celebrate in our home which is a mixture of three cultures.

In this episode we are going to learn 【Hobby 】in Chinese. 
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As a beginner, there're some vocabularies that you didn't learn before, and native speaker's speed seems too fast to understand. But don't worry, let's do it step by step. 
1st time: listen and catch the words you know already, have a guess about the content.
2nd time: look at the text to check if you guessed it right. 
3rd time: listen one more time, repeat after it.
4th time: practice until you can speak as the normal speed without looking at the text. 
--------------------------------------------------
我有很多爱好。
wǒ yǒu hěn duō ài hào 。
I have many hobbies.
我喜欢做饭、看书和运动。
wǒ xǐ huān zuò fàn 、 kàn shū hé yùn dòng 。
I like to cook, read books and play sports.
我喜欢的运动很多，做瑜伽、徒步、爬山等。
wǒ xǐ huān de yùn dòng hěn duō ， zuò yú jiā 、 tú bù 、 pá shān děng 。
I like a lot of sports, doing yoga, hiking, climbing, etc.
我还喜欢和朋友去野餐和露营。
wǒ hái xǐ huān hé péng yǒu qù yě cān hé lù yíng 。
I also like to go picnicking and camping with my friends.
我喜欢听音乐，但是我不会唱歌，也不会乐器。
wǒ xǐ huān tīng yīn yuè ， dàn shì wǒ bú huì chàng gē ， yě bú huì yuè qì 。
I like to listen to music, but I can't sing or play an instrument.
我也喜欢看电影、电视剧和综艺节目。
wǒ yě xǐ huān kàn diàn yǐng 、 diàn shì jù hé zōng yì jié mù 。
I also like to watch movies, TV dramas and variety shows.
我最喜欢的是喜剧。
wǒ zuì xǐ huān de shì xǐ jù 。
My favorite is comedy.
你有什么爱好呢？
nǐ yǒu shén me ài hào ne ？
What are your hobbies?

Yuli's Chinese Channel

爱好 Hobby （Beginner）

Passengers flying on some routes could have to spend almost $80 more to help European airlines pay for sustainable fuels.

According to European Union (EU) rules, airlines will have to use more sustainable fuel starting in January. Two percent of the fuel they use will have to be sustainable in 2025, but that will increase to 6% in 2030 and 70% in 2050.

This is part of the EU's plan to reduce carbon emissions, with the airline industry said to produce 2% of the world's carbon emissions.

However, sustainable fuels are much more expensive than normal jet fuel, and German airline Lufthansa has announced that travelers will have to pay more for flights leaving on or after January 1, 2025.

Lufthansa said it spends billions every year on new technologies, and has been working to help make flying more sustainable. It added that it has also supported research into global weather and climate, but that it can't pay for sustainable fuels without help from customers.

Passengers will have to pay extra on any flight leaving from any EU country, as well as from Norway, Switzerland and the UK.

Any flights booked for 2025 from now on will include the extra cost, and customers flying on any Lufthansa-operated airline will have to pay. The Lufthansa group also operates Eurowings, Austrian Airlines, Swiss Air, Brussels Airlines and Lufthansa City Airlines.

People taking short-haul flights in economy class may only need to pay about $5 more, according to Reuters, while those flying long-haul in first class could pay almost $80.

Many other airlines have said they won't be increasing prices, but they want governments to do more to help them.