Nick discusses art today! What do you think makes a good piece of art? This question might come up in IELTS speaking Part 3 or Writing Part 2. 

IELTS with Nick - World Knowledge 

What makes a good piece of art?

How often do you go out with your friends?

Listen to how I answer this particular question, and get some short English explanations about some vocabulary and expressions I use in my answer.  Try to answer the questions in the vocabulary examples using the new vocabulary and expressions.

Speak English With Muki

Episode 3: Meeting Friends

** This story contains graphic and explicit material it is not recommended for children. For mature audiences only. ** 18+
The Parrot and the Potbellied Pig from Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris Illustrations by Ian Falconer
Read by me Teacher Alyse. Listen and follow along.
Send me a message me for your free pdf copy of this book.

The way the pig is labeled based on his Vietnamese heritage, despite being born in the U.S., mirrors the real-world experiences of many immigrants and their descendants. Even when someone identifies as fully American, they can still be seen as "other" because of their background. The parrot's insistence on framing the pig's identity through an ethnic lens—rather than his actual achievements—reflects how media narratives and public discourse can shape (and sometimes distort) the way individuals are perceived.
This is especially important now, given the ongoing discussions about immigration in the U.S. Many immigrants and first-generation Americans face similar struggles with identity, belonging, and how they're portrayed in society. The story also highlights how insecurities—whether about identity, appearance, or status—can be exacerbated by external judgments.
Themes and Interpretation
•	Identity and Stereotyping: The pig’s frustration highlights how labels—whether about ethnicity or body image—can shape and limit a person’s self-perception.
•	Media Manipulation: The parrot, representing a journalist, distorts facts for a sensationalized story, raising questions about bias and ethics in reporting.
•	Self-Perception and Insecurity: The pig’s struggles with his body image illustrate how external judgments can create deep-seated insecurities.
•	Cultural Commentary: The story subtly critiques societal assumptions about identity and heritage, showing how people (or animals) can be boxed in by others’ perceptions.

Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk and other stories from David Sedaris ( Adult 18+) 

The Parrot and the Potbellied Pig

In this episode, we’re practicing the UH sound, as in: but, butt, love, enough, month, cut, won, one, money, young, etc.

To pronounce the UH /ʌ/ sound correctly, keep your lips relaxed and neutral, with your tongue in the center of your mouth.

Accent Free

UH the fundamental sound of American English

In questo episodio vediamo quali sono gli articoli in italiano e come usarli facendo degli esempi 🇮🇹

🇮🇹 PAUSA CAFFE' con_Marco

Gli articoli: quali sono e come si usano 🇮🇹

Imagine living without the words "left" and "right", "behind" or "ahead". This is reality in some cases of indigenous Australian languages. But how do they refer to the position of things? Well, this short cut-out from our podcast will tell you.

The Age of Humans

Episode 1: Which direction does time flow?

Let's talk about New Year's Eve and New Year's Day in Spain.

English My Way

Happy New Year's Spain.

Hay momentos en los que lo inexplicable toca nuestra realidad: sombras que se mueven solas, voces que nadie más escucha o presencias que ponen la piel de gallina. En este episodio compartimos experiencias paranormales reales, esas historias que desafían la lógica y dejan más preguntas que respuestas. ¿Fue un simple susto, sugestión… o algo del otro lado?

Spanish adventures

Experiencias paranormales

Opponents of proposal to increase cap to €10,000 say it would reward tax evaders and illegal business.
