learn a chinese proverb and a few word along the way
井      jǐng           well
底下  dǐ xia        bottom
青蛙   qīng wā   frog   

Learn Chinese in a fun way

chinese proverb "the frog at the bottom of the well"

This episode focuses on words which can be used to replace basic English terms like SCARED and LAUGHED. 

The Amplify English Podcast

Synonyms for the word SCARED and LAUGHED

In this episode, I make some observations about different conversational styles among native and non-native English speakers. I am generalizing, of course, and these are just my thoughts, based on what I've experienced in my life. *

I'd love to hear what YOU think! What have you observed? 

Here are some questions you might want to talk to yourself or write about - as we reflect on the year that has ended. Maybe you want to create a short monologue by recording your thoughts in a voice memo on your phone. Or perhaps you could try writing down your ideas on your phone or on a piece of paper. Do it for 5 or 10 minutes, and don't worry about your grammar or vocabulary. Writing is a great PROCESS - an exercise where you can use your English - anywhere, anytime, without a teacher or a listener. So getting in the HABIT of writing or speaking to yourself is as important as the words you use. Over time, your skills will improve! 

---- QUESTIONS TO ANSWER -----

What does the word SUCCESS mean to you? 
What does SUCCESS LOOK LIKE to you? 
What is something you have SUCCEEDED AT?

Based on YOUR definition of success - what made 2023 a successful year for you?
What will make 2024 a successful year for you? 

And here's a THOUGHT EXPERIMENT and a WRITING EXERCISE.
Imagine it is December 31, 2024. Using past tenses, write about what made 2024 a successful year for you. (This may feel strange, but it’s a great exercise for your English and for your mind! It can be fun and transformative, too!)

-------

*Note - In this episode, I make the mistake of using the word "American" to refer to people from the US. This is a bad habit that I am (still) trying to break. The truth is that we are all Americans in the whole hemisphere - North and South. But, as they say, "old habits die hard" or existing patterns are hard to change. 

Hear and There

4. How we speak with others & why we should talk to ourselves

Four corvesations: 

1- Haciendo compras
2- En el almacén de aparatos electrónicos
3- En el almuerzo en la hacienda maya
4- Por teléfono de nueva york a buenos aires argentina

Learn Spanish Conversation

Learn Spanish Conversation parte 3

Script 

おはようございます。日本語だんだんポットキャストのゆかりです。

今日は数字(すうじ)のはなしです。

1 いち
2 に
3 さん
つぎは？

そう、4(よん)ですね。

4(し)ともいいます。

温泉に行くと、ロッカーがありますね。

ロッカーの数字は、

1、2、3、5、6と、なっています。

4をみつけることができません。

4がないことがあります。

これには理由(りゆう)があります。

4"よんの数字は"し"とよむこともできます。

人や動物が死(し)ぬ、と同じ発音(はつおん)です。

そのため、昔(むかし)はよくこの数字(すうじ)をつかいませんでした。

数字があるところ、

たとえば、ロッカーや駐車場(ちゅうしゃじょう)、部屋の番号など‥

4をつかわないことがありました。

最近(さいきん)は、あまり気にしない人もおおいです。

日本に旅行にきたら、1.2.3.5.6
となっている場所をさがしてみて下さいね。

では、今日も最後まで聞いてくれて、だんだん、です。

また明日！

--------------------
Today's Keywords

□死にます(しにます)/死ぬ(しぬ)
die



Japaneseだんだんpodcast

45. 日本には"4"がない？/Travel tips/Japaneseだんだんpodcast

There are three different meanings in English for the word "esperar".

Remember to try the quiz questions to check you comprehension.

The Social Evolutionary

Hold on! What does "esperar" mean? (For Spanish students learning English.)

Southern California is experiencing its most devastating winter fires in more than four decades.

Fueled by powerful Santa Ana winds, fierce wildfires around the Los Angeles area have sent residents fleeing from their burning homes.

Santa Anas are warm, dry northeast winds that blow from the interior of Southern California toward the coast, moving in the opposite direction of the normal winds that carry moist air from the Pacific.

Thousands of firefighters have been battling multiple blazes, from the Pacific Coast to Pasadena, just north of Los Angeles, with new fires breaking out in the Hollywood Hills on the evening of January 8.

One of the fires is already the most destructive in Los Angeles history.

By early morning on January 9, more than 1,900 structures had been destroyed and over 130,000 people were under evacuation orders, with five people reported dead.

The fires have already consumed an area of about 110 square kilometers — nearly the size of the entire city of San Francisco.

Fires don't usually blaze at this time of year. But Santa Anas are happening later and later in the year, and this year's winds are much faster than usual — helping the flames spread faster once they ignite.

California had two extremely wet winters that caused lots of plants to grow, followed by a sudden drought that dried them out — which experts say has provided the perfect tinder for the flames.

AccuWeather estimated damage from the latest fires could reach $57 billion, with the weather company's Jonathan Porter saying "it may become the worst wildfire in modern California history."

Among those who have lost their homes are a number of celebrities, including actor Billy Crystal, who lost his home in the Pacific Palisades neighborhood that he had lived in for 45 years.

Another celebrity who lost his home, The Princess Bride star Cary Elwes, wrote on Instagram: "Sadly we did lose our home but we are grateful to have survived this truly devastating fire."

Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

Southern California Battles Devastating Winter Fires

Today, we're going to learn 7 fun idioms for talking about money. It doesn't matter whether you're made of money, if you feel like a million dollars, or if you think that money doesn't grow on trees, these idioms will help you to understand native speakers whenever you hear them talking about money. Just make sure that you don't 'pick up the tab' at the end of the evening! 

Learn English with Cambridge David

Idioms about money

Describing Scents and Smells (with transcript)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qsfMjYT92NOM0fNlEpJtT15xm0nsiE2u/view?usp=drivesdk