Students always ask me why they should travel to South America; what is so attractive  about this place and why is everyone deciding to come. Instead of giving them reasons to  visit this wonderful continent, I tell them why they shouldn’t visit it.

Students always ask me why they should travel to South America; what is so attractive&nbsp;about this place and why is everyone deciding to come. Instead of giving them reasons to&nbsp;visit this wonderful continent, I tell them why they shouldn’t visit it.&nbsp;&nbsp; 1. Too much nature&nbsp;Get ready to get astonished by some of the most majestic landscapes you will ever see:&nbsp;from waterfalls, deserts, the biggest mountain range in the world, and the greatest forest on&nbsp;the planet; to millennial glaciers, and heavenly beaches to choose from. You will also find&nbsp;the world's largest river and the driest place on earth.&nbsp;&nbsp;What’s wrong with this continent? It is absurd to have some of the most famous natural&nbsp;spots in the world in only one place. The Amazon, Iguazú Falls, Perito Moreno Glacier,&nbsp;Atacama desert, The Andes, Copacabana Beach … What’s left for other continents?! Traveling from Alaska to Argentina on one of the most beautiful highways in the world,&nbsp;crossing 14 countries, and covering around 30.000 km sounds crazy.&nbsp;This continent is way too big!! Seriously, how are you going to be able to see all of it in just&nbsp;a couple of weeks? You will definitely need to go back.&nbsp; 2. You will find different people&nbsp;After traveling all over the world, I can confirm I have never met so many nice people as those living in South America. If ever you get lost at night and you don’t have a place to sleep, why would you accept the invitation of a stranger to spend the night at their home; receiving good food, a bed, and a welcoming, smiley face?&nbsp;A South American distinguishes himself by their desire to help and for having a warm and&nbsp;affectionate heart. Every country in the continent has cultures and traditions native to their&nbsp;people so be ready to see endless multiculturalism.&nbsp;&nbsp; 3. Not-so-famous gastronomy&nbsp;&nbsp;Ceviche, empanadas, asado, dulce de leche, arepas, chicharrón, feijoada, bandeja paisa,&nbsp;41 types of potatoes and 13 types of corn. I am not hungry. Are you?The best coffee in the world, the best cacao, and an exquisite variety of meat and seafood are only a few examples of everything you can find in this privileged land.&nbsp;I have tried many dishes customary in South America and I can assure you they are unique. The mix of textures and flavors can only be found here. Lima (Peru) is known as the gastronomic capital of Latin America and in 2021 was chosen as the world’s culinary capital. ¡Asu mare! (Expression in Peru similar to Wow in English)&nbsp;Food is part of South America’s DNA, it’s in our daily life: we celebrate with food, we party&nbsp;with food and we gather around it.&nbsp; 4. Nothing to see&nbsp;There’s no Colosseum, Stonehenge, Eiffel Tower, or Big Ben in South America. Instead,&nbsp;you have the remains of some of history's biggest and most important civilizations such as Machu Picchu, Chichen Itza Pyramids, and Teotihuacan.&nbsp;&nbsp;You can also find plenty of UNESCO World Heritage sites; two of the seven Wonders of&nbsp;the World and some of the biggest celebrations on the planet.&nbsp;Just think about Christ the Redeemer, Galapagos Islands, Easter Island, Nazca lines,&nbsp;Uyuni Salt Flat. The list goes on.&nbsp;&nbsp;Do you like adventure? Why not do it in the South American style? Sandboarding on&nbsp;giant dunes in Peru, trekking on a glacier in Argentina, river sledding in Chile, skydiving&nbsp;over Iguazú Falls, and much more.&nbsp;Be careful because you will not get any sleep. We really like nightlife and we love to party, especially if there’s food and drinks.&nbsp; 5. Why would you want to return home?&nbsp;South America will trap you. You will not want to leave. Believe me, you will want to come&nbsp;back. But, like all great things, everything has to come to an end.&nbsp;&nbsp;I hope this article has woken up that desire to travel to this wonderful region. A place full of&nbsp;varieties and adventures; history and traditions; great people and gastronomy. My continent and the land that I live in.

Top 5 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Travel to South America

We live in an age where most information is available on the internet, but tacit understandings of culture and customs are still difficult to access. In this article, I will introduce some Japan-specific characteristics related to medical clinics.

We live in an age where most information is available on the internet, but tacit understandings of culture and customs are still difficult to access. In this article, I will introduce some Japan-specific characteristics related to medical clinics. Winter will soon be over. Many of you may be planning a trip to Japan at the moment. Traveling is fun, but it can also bring unexpected trouble. To ensure that most of your holiday memories are not of travel-related hassles, it is important to anticipate and prepare for emergencies in advance.&nbsp; Overview of Japanese clinicsIn Japan, premises where doctors or dentists practice medicine or dentistry (except clinics that specialize in dentistry only) and which do not have in-patient facilities for patients, or with in-patient facilities for 19 patients or fewer are classified as clinics rather than hospitals (1). The most common providers of clinics in Japan are medical corporations, accounting for 40% of the total. This is followed by individual medical practitioners, who also account for around 40% of the total. In contrast to this, the percentage of the national government, public medical institutions, and social insurance-related organizations total around 5% (2). So unless you are going to have a major operation, you will go to the nearest private clinic from where you are staying.&nbsp; Where can you find Japanese clinics?In urban areas such as Tokyo and Osaka, there are many clinics within walking distance of any district. Most private clinics in Japan are not very large and are about the size of a café or hair salon in urban areas. Clinics in buildings can be even smaller. Some have exteriors and interiors that are so stylish that you might not notice they are clinics at first. Some are located in shopping malls. Some are new as if they were built yesterday, some are old-fashioned as if time has stood still for more than 50 years. The atmosphere of private clinics in Japan really depends on the taste of the medical corporation or the owner. Still, there is little difference in the price unless it is for cosmetic treatment. When you arrive at your hotel, search for clinics in your neighborhood using Google Map. Possible barriers to visiting Japanese clinics: LanguageService in foreign languages is only available in some clinics in Japan. Even in clinics that state that they are "English-speaking", there is often only one English-speaking staff member on duty, and when that person is taking time off, no one will be available to help you in English. Even so, if the injury is minor, it might be possible to communicate with the medical staff. If you suddenly become ill and the cause is unknown, or if you have a chronic illness or allergy that is difficult to explain, it is safer to choose a clinic for foreigners or a clinic with foreign doctors on staff. Here is <a href="https://www.jnto.go.jp/emergency/eng/mi_guide.html#search">the Tourism Agency website</a> you can search for clinics and information in various languages. ShoesIn some Japanese clinics, you may have to remove your shoes and change into slippers when entering. This practice was a device to prevent tetanus bacteria, micro-organisms, and mold from mud on the shoes from being introduced into the clinic when the roads were not yet paved. Now that the roads are paved, such problems have largely disappeared, and the hygiene of shared slippers tends to be seen as a problem more than that. So most new clinics allow patients to enter with their shoes on. If you don't want to take your shoes off in a clinic, check before you go whether they accept that or not; you can probably tell this from the photos of the clinic's interior on Google Maps. Waiting timeAs you know, Japan is a country with a large elderly population. In addition, Japan's national health insurance system is very inexpensive for individuals to pay for medical care, with those aged 70 and over paying 20% of the cost and those aged 75 and over paying 10% (3). For example, a medical examination alone costs only a few hundred yen per visit. This is why some elderly people go to the clinic almost every morning. Because there are so many of them, some clinics complete elderly group consultations first, putting off seeing the other patients until later. Therefore, you may have to wait for more than an hour if you go in the morning. For clinics with prominent reviews stating "long waiting time", try to go in the early afternoon, just after the lunch break. Although Japan has a National Medical Insurance program, tourists are not covered by it, so make sure you purchase comprehensive travel insurance which includes medical care before you go. Not confident enough to go to the clinic on your own? Ask a teacher who lives in your travel destination directly in a Japanese lesson about the appointment process and the necessary medical vocabulary at the clinic. References:1. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan (2008), Glossary of terms, <a href="https://www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/saikin/hw/iryosd/08/dl/02.pdf">https://www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/saikin/hw/iryosd/08/dl/02.pdf</a>2. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan (2021), Overview of the 2021 Medical Facilities (Dynamic) Survey and Hospital Report, <a href="https://www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/saikin/hw/iryosd/21/dl/02sisetu03.pdf">https://www.mhlw.go.jp/toukei/saikin/hw/iryosd/21/dl/02sisetu03.pdf</a>&nbsp;3. Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan (2020), Partial (co-payment) ratio of medical expenses, <a href="https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/000937919.pdf">https://www.mhlw.go.jp/content/000937919.pdf</a>

Japanese Medical Clinic Culture

For our article of the month this time as a topic I have chosen a theme that is a hallmark for us Italians because if it is true that in Italy there are infinite accents, pronunciations, and dialects, which can vary from region to region but even from city to city (but we will talk about this in ano

Hello, students from all over the world!&nbsp; For our article of the month this time as a topic I have chosen a theme that is a hallmark for us Italians because if it is true that in Italy there are infinite accents, pronunciations, and dialects, which can vary from region to region but even from city to city (but we will talk about this in another article), we Italians manage to understand each other even without speaking because there is a universal language that unites us. Well yes, I am talking about what we always do, now unintentionally, which is GESTICOLARE (gesticulate).&nbsp;We gesture for anything and a gesture can have different meanings depending on the situation,&nbsp;facial expressions, the way it is done, and so on. Just think that I, at the beginning of my experience as an italki tutor, did nothing but try to quiet my hands or tried to put them under the desk so as to "hide" them so as not to distract the student or to prevent him or her from finding me "strange," but then on reflection, I realized that I was making a mistake and there were several reasons for this: the first was that by concentrating on the movement of my hands, I was listening less to the person I was talking to and then, secondly, and this is, in my opinion, the most important motivation, which then led me to experience all the video lessons very naturally, is that by gesturing with my hands and with my body in general, I was making the student live an&nbsp;experience and not just a lesson or a conversation with a native Italian speaker and furthermore&nbsp;often my way of moving my hands to reinforce a concept, was also a reason for opening a topic of conversation.&nbsp; But let's cut to the chase: why do we gesticulate, have we ever wondered? Is there a logical and&nbsp;scientific explanation for this pronounced phenomenon that distinguishes our culture abroad? Or do we simply relegate its explanation to our love for the theatrical world?&nbsp; Well, one of the first theories that tried to answer this question concerns past territorial occupations. It is thought that the Italians probably felt the need to develop an alternative form of communication among themselves during the centuries when the peninsula was occupied by&nbsp;Austria, France, and Spain. Since these occupations did not last long and the language was now contaminated, new ways to communicate were needed, and bodily expression was certainly the most direct way.&nbsp; Another corroborated theory as to why we gesticulate is one that ties in with the period of colonization in southern Italy. In fact, a professor of psychology at a university in Rome says that in cities as crowded as those in southern Italy were, it was as if there was a kind of competition and that therefore the whole body was used to gain the attention of others.&nbsp;Both explanations seem to be plausible and it could be that they are both partly true, so it could be possible that there is not only a reason for this phenomenon but that many small things created this way of speaking without using the voice.&nbsp; Let us come to the numbers and examples: it has been estimated (again by the same scholar and&nbsp;lecturer mentioned just before, by the way) that there would exist at least 250 different gestures and each of them stands for one or even more meanings.&nbsp;&nbsp; A classic example of a typical Italian gesture, perhaps the best known in the world and which is&nbsp;also depopulating on the most used social networks, for which an emoji (<img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/3dWRto6aMIUlTJPP4ktE5mt14ZpRrDLYAHKU_ckd9XI6x2NfIfvTsz_XXo0WMoI1eS55WtX8bHFV57LHPlZFmJgLQYzSIp1sFiXXy8ENVmcvAXHOQLzx_p_2CXqCrozuLXibDX2GlefZLo-pqZY4GQ" height="20" width="20">) was also invented,&nbsp;is that of the pine-cone hand: also called the tulip hand, it is a gesture characterized by grouping the fingers in a way that recalls the shape of a pine-cone, swinging the hand toward the interlocutor. It has a double meaning: interrogative or critical. In the first case, it could be&nbsp;translated into speech as "what do you want?"; in the second case it could be translated as "what&nbsp;are you talking about!" or "not at all." In the first meaning usually, the hand moves quickly, in the second case the hand swings more slowly to emphasize the critical position of the interlocutor. As you have therefore well understood, we Italians speak with gestures and words, and this phrase is not an exaggeration but a reality. Recent studies by researchers at the University of&nbsp;Parma, have shown that our brain recognizes words and objects by helping itself with the gesture we have internalized of them. And this potential then is also exploited for rehabilitation therapies in the treatment of brain trauma.&nbsp;&nbsp; They, therefore, concluded that "Our gesturing habit is so internalized that it can be considered&nbsp;nonverbal speech, which nevertheless conveys a clearly decodable meaning."&nbsp;And it is with this beautiful sentence that I bid you farewell and look forward to the next article.&nbsp;Have a good study, ciaooo!<img src="https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Fhn6SLtocsus8MWV7HhKheujfBn9OpaGSQeEcmXlmzGVANuGtQeg1nOuFF7SOVIgixMgw7TA2pYBb92AsR45fH6BjGVXZcqPb3OxDGVwPj0GvhqMKni8VFqyHcEeNeWJBegzJZZDUuSeXg7dhxJdpQ" height="20" width="20"><img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/rBD6za9A-wU49bs4mDtjOC0HCfi2_9KVQeHW-wU2GQCu7fZcy-YRK-fdbirGvTT3Za4ELGMBO2L_t7Em8UfXRZIclAacJnT_pja8NHzE91W8l64D5OnBEfzJgDCpFfRcw4xFHsfhLrQzqZA_howXxw" height="20" width="20"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/bq-_Nr7AknuOhLjLTNrJuAZpCezBThS8BAraU61gin8KFgiktqN8BLYLChGWwjjv-pIOmz3nggatml4CJNLMzob2QAZ89gu_DM0ctaFGSjqmuMWFHtCAIZ_YtUKQlQpQs__yXsp8EgxzEWaEbF6GiA" height="20" width="20">

Sign Language or Rather....of Italian Gestures!

In this article, we'll explore how using a recording device can help you speak like a native English speaker, and provide some actionable tips to help you get started.

Do you dream of speaking English like a native speaker? If so, there's a simple tool that can help you achieve this goal: a recording device/recording app. By recording yourself and playing the recordings back, you can improve your pronunciation, intonation, and overall fluency in the language. In this article, we'll explore how using a recording device can help you speak like a native English speaker, and provide some actionable tips to help you get started. <h3>The Benefits of Recording Your Voice</h3> One of the biggest advantages of using a recording device is that it allows you to hear your own voice, which can be a great way to identify areas where you need improvement. For example, you might notice that you struggle with certain vowel or consonant sounds, or that you have a tendency to speak too quickly or slowly. By identifying these issues, you can work on correcting them and improve your overall fluency. Another advantage of using a recording device is that it allows you to compare your own voice to that of native English speakers. This can be especially helpful if you're struggling to master a particular accent or dialect. By listening to recordings of your favorite English-speaking actors or actresses, you can pick up on the nuances of their speech and practice mimicking their accent and intonation. Key Action Point: Record yourself reading a passage or dialogue in English, and then play it back to identify areas where you can improve your pronunciation and fluency. <h3>How to Practice with a Recording Device/App</h3>Once you've recorded yourself and identified areas where you need improvement, it's time to start practicing. One effective strategy is to choose a favorite English-speaking actor or actress and practice saying the same lines that they say in a movie or TV show. By doing this, you can work on mastering their accent, intonation, and overall speaking style. Another strategy is to record yourself speaking in English and then listen to the recording while reading along with a transcript of what you said. This can help you identify any mistakes or areas where you need improvement, and can also help you improve your listening skills. Key Action Point: Choose a favorite English-speaking actor or actress and practice saying the same lines they say in a movie or TV show to improve your accent and intonation. <h3>Tips for Getting the Most Out of Recording Your Voice</h3>To get the most out of recording, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, make sure you're recording in a quiet environment with minimal background noise. This will help ensure that your recordings are clear and easy to understand. Second, be sure to listen to your recordings with a critical ear. Pay attention to your pronunciation, intonation, and overall fluency, and look for areas where you can improve. Key Action Point: Record yourself in a quiet environment and listen to your recordings with a critical ear to identify areas where you can improve. Using a recording device is a valuable tool for anyone looking to improve their English speaking skills. By recording yourself and listening to the recordings, you can identify areas where you need improvement, practice speaking like a native speaker, and ultimately achieve greater fluency in the language. So why not give it a try? With a little practice and dedication, you'll be speaking English like a native speaker in no time.

How Using a Recording Device/App Can Help You Speak Like a Native English Speaker

As a non-native English speaker, immersing yourself in a new culture and learning to communicate effectively can be a daunting task. One of the keys to effective communication is a strong command of the language's idioms, phrasal verbs, and slang. These phrases are a common feature of English and ca

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;As a non-native English speaker, immersing yourself in a new culture and learning to communicate effectively can be a daunting task. One of the keys to effective communication is a strong command of the language's idioms, phrasal verbs, and slang. These phrases are a common feature of English and can be difficult for non-native speakers to understand and use correctly. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Idioms are phrases that cannot be understood by translating individual words. For example, the phrase "break a leg" is commonly used to wish someone good luck, but it does not literally mean to break a leg. Instead, it is an expression that has become a part of the English language and culture. Some other common idioms include "the ball is in your court," which means it is your turn to make a decision or take action, and "bite the bullet," which means to face a difficult or unpleasant situation bravely.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Phrasal verbs are an essential part of the English language and are frequently used by native English speakers. These verbs are made up of a verb and a particle, such as an adverb or preposition, and the meaning of the phrasal verb is often different from the individual words. For example, "turn off" means to stop using or operating, while "turn down" means to reduce or reject. Other examples of phrasal verbs include "pick up," which can mean to lift or raise something, to improve or increase, or to meet someone and take them somewhere. "Look for" means to search or seek out something, while "get along" means to have a good relationship or to get along well with someone. "Put off" means to delay or postpone something. It is important for non-native English speakers to learn and understand these phrasal verbs in order to communicate effectively with native English speakers. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Slang is an informal language that is commonly used by native English speakers in everyday conversation and is often used to add personality and flavor to language. It can be a fun and effective way to connect with native English speakers. However, it can also be confusing and hard to understand, especially for those who are just learning the language. Here are a few examples of common slang terms: "Sick" (adjective): This term can be used to describe something that is cool or impressive, as in "That new car is sick!""Lit" (adjective): This term means that something is exciting or fun, as in "That party was lit!""Fam" (noun): This term is a shortened version of "family" and is used to refer to close friends, as in "What's up, fam?""YOLO" (acronym): This term stands for "You Only Live Once" and is often used to justify taking risks or making impulsive decisions, as in "I'm going skydiving for the first time this weekend - YOLO!"&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Learning these idioms, phrasal verbs, and slang terms is important because they are frequently used by native English speakers and can add depth and nuance to your language skills.&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;So, how can you learn these phrases and use them effectively to communicate with native English speakers? Here are a few tips: 1. Start with the basics: Make sure you have a strong foundation in standard English, including grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure. This will make it easier to understand and use idioms, phrasal verbs, and slang when you encounter them. 2. Listen and observe: One of the best ways to learn idioms, phrasal verbs, and slang is to simply listen and observe how native English speakers use them in everyday conversation. Pay attention to the context in which they are used and try to pick up on common patterns and meanings. 3. Ask questions: Don't be afraid to ask native English speakers about the meaning of a particular slang word or phrase. Most people will be happy to explain and may even provide additional examples to help you understand. 4. Use online resources: There are many online resources available to help you learn idioms, phrasal verbs, and slang and improve your overall English skills. Look for websites, blogs, and social media groups that focus on English language learning and offer tips and resources for mastering these phrases. 5. Practice, practice, practice: The more you use idioms, phrasal verbs, and slang in your everyday conversations, the more comfortable you will become with them. Practice using these phrases with native English speakers or with other non-native speakers who are also learning the language. 6. Pay attention to regional differences: Idioms, phrasal verbs, and slang can vary widely from one region to another. For example, what is considered slang in the United States may not be considered slang in the United Kingdom. So, it's important to pay attention to the specific region you are in and try to learn the phrases that are commonly used there. 7. Use idioms, phrasal verbs, and slang appropriately: These phrases are an informal way of speaking and are not appropriate in all situations. For example, it is not appropriate to use slang in formal settings such as job interviews or business meetings. Instead, stick to standard English in these types of situations. 8. Be aware of slang that might be offensive: Some slang words and phrases can be offensive or inappropriate in certain contexts. Make sure you are aware of the potential connotations of a slang term before using it. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;In conclusion, learning idioms, phrasal verbs, and slang is an important part of effectively communicating with native English speakers. These phrases can add depth and nuance to your language skills and help you connect with others in a more natural and authentic way. By following the tips outlined above and practicing regularly, you'll be well on your way to mastering these important aspects of the English language. Remember to start with the basics, listen and observe, ask questions, use online resources, and practice, practice, practice. Pay attention to regional differences and use idioms, phrasal verbs, and slang appropriately, and be aware of any terms that might be offensive. Learning the history of slang can also provide valuable insight into the culture and society in which it is used. With effort and persistence, you can become proficient in using these phrases and communicate effectively with native English speakers.

Learning Slang and Phrasal Verbs to Communicate With Native English Speakers

All language learners probably have ever asked themselves “do these people actually speak elike the book’s dialogues?” Well, as you have probably found out, no, they don’t.

All language learners probably have ever asked themselves “do these people actually speak elike the book’s dialogues?” Well, as you have probably found out, no, they don’t.&nbsp; I still remember the first time I spoke with an American, and he asked me “how are you doing?” and I was like “is he actually interested in what I’m doing? What does he mean by how? The way I do something?”&nbsp; One thing people ignore when they start their learning journey is that language books are made to let you learn a language through its structure and rules and understand how it’s made and how it works, but speaking a language is totally different.&nbsp; When Italians speak, they express themselves not only with words but also with gestures (of course) and a lot of idioms! Idioms are short sentences and expressions whose meaning is not deducible from their literal translation.&nbsp; So here 8 Italian idioms you probably didn’t know:&nbsp; 1) Conosco i miei polli - Lit. “I know my chickens”&nbsp; Spoiler: we’re not actually talking about chickens. This expression stands for “I know what I’m talking about”. So we’re expecting exactly what we’re thinking of. For example:&nbsp; Io so già in anticipo cosa faranno, cosa diranno, come si comporteranno, conosco i miei polli.&nbsp; “I already know in advance what they’ll do, what they’ll say, how they’ll behave, I know who I’m dealing with”&nbsp; 2) Morto un papa, se ne fa un altro - Lit. “one pope dies, another one will be made”&nbsp; I know, Italians have a thing for the Church, even if they don’t do it on purpose. We have many expressions that are referred to it and this is one of the most used. This one’s meaning is like “life goes on even after the worst of tragedies”, in a nutshell: “Oh no. Anyway.”&nbsp; - “Io e Marco ci siamo lasciati, sono molto giù”&nbsp;- “Dai, morto un papa se ne fa un altro!”&nbsp; - “Marco and I broke up, I’m sad”.&nbsp;- “Come on, life goes on!”&nbsp; 3) Ogni morte di papa - Lit. “Every death of a pope” As I said, we have a thing for this stuff. Here’s another expression about the pope. Since the death of a pope doesn’t come very often (or at least, not usually) this depression refers to an event that occurs once after a long time. It’s also used sarcastically.&nbsp; “Qui non nevica mai, forse una volta ogni morte di papa”&nbsp; “It never snows here, maybe once blue moon”&nbsp; 4) Chi dorme non piglia pesci - Lit. “Who sleeps doesn’t catch fish”&nbsp; This one is the English “the early bird catches the worm“, so basically, it means that if you’re lazy, you get nothing.&nbsp; - Sono rimasto a casa a dormire e mi sono perso gli sconti in negozio!&nbsp;- Eh, chi dorme non piglia pesci!&nbsp; - I stayed home to sleep and missed the discounts in the store!&nbsp;- Eh, the early bird catches the worm!&nbsp; 5) Avere le braccine corte - Lit. “To have short arms”&nbsp; This expression is not referred to a physical condition, of course, it’s figurative and it’s used to say someone’s a bit tight with their money. It is translatable with the English expression “short arms and deep pockets”, referring to those people who have money but never put their hands in their pockets to pay for anything.&nbsp; “Paolo non offre mai, ha le braccine corte! ”&nbsp; “Paul never offers anything, he has short arms and deep pockets! ”&nbsp; 6) Tutto fa brodo - Lit. “Everything makes broth/soup”&nbsp; Italians have a thing for food as well (of course), so we have many expressions that are food-related. Here’s one of the most used ones. This one can be translated with “every little bit helps”. A soup is good when you put a lot of ingredients in (good soup, I know you laughed), so everything contributes something to the whole.&nbsp; - Non so se fare il corso di francese o quello di spagnolo.&nbsp;- Falli tutti e due, tutto fa brodo!&nbsp; - I don't know whether to take the French course or the Spanish one.&nbsp;- Do them both, every little bit helps! 7) Minestra riscaldata - Lit. “Reheated soup”&nbsp;Food. Again. This expression usually refers to relationships, mostly romantic ones, but it can also be referred to as friendship. It’s referred to something that has already gone wrong and that we are trying to make right one more time, but know it will go wrong once again.&nbsp; - Io e Luca ci siamo rimessi insieme.&nbsp;- Di nuovo? È la solita minestra riscaldata!&nbsp; - Luca and I got back together.&nbsp;- Again? There’s nothing new about it!&nbsp; 8) Stare a pennello - Lit. “Fit like a paintbrush”&nbsp; This expression is often used for compliments, it means that the dress or whatever (it can also be referred to situations, events, and so on) fits you so perfectly that it looks like it’s been painted onto your body.&nbsp; - Come mi sta questo vestito?&nbsp;- Ti calza a pennello!&nbsp; - How does this dress fit me?&nbsp;- It fits you perfectly!&nbsp; Did you know all these expressions? What’s your favorite?&nbsp;Follow me for more!&nbsp; A presto,&nbsp;Federica

How Do Italians Actually Speak? 8 Italian Idioms

In general, the trick with Italian, unlike English, is to pronounce all the letters of a word exactly, so the important thing is to know the pronunciation of each letter of the alphabet.

Ciao students from all over the world.&nbsp; This month I was thinking about a topic to talk to you about in my monthly article and while I&nbsp;was thinking I said to myself: who can advise me better than a person who has been&nbsp;studying Italian for many years and who has therefore overcome various obstacles? So, for&nbsp;this article I asked Alex, a dear student of mine (whom I'm sure will read me and therefore I&nbsp;greet with much affection), to tell me what was the most difficult step for him in the path of&nbsp;studying the Italian language.&nbsp; He undoubtedly answered me: “Isa, the pronunciation!”&nbsp; And today I'm here to write about this topic because I think that for every language this is the&nbsp;sore point.&nbsp;Has it ever happened to you to learn a language through books, songs, and texts for a long time&nbsp;and then finally make the long-awaited trip to the country where the language you are&nbsp;learning is spoken and think that you have landed on the wrong flight because you cannot&nbsp;understand a single word?&nbsp; Well, yes to me! I studied English at school for many years, until one day I finally traveled for&nbsp;9 hours on a plane to visit my grandparents in Canada, when I got there I tried to practice&nbsp;with my cousin… I let you imagine the disastrous result! At first, I felt confused, wrong, and&nbsp;discouraged as if I had wasted all those years of my life studying a language that I couldn't&nbsp;understand but in reality, it wasn't like that, just the real pronunciation of a language, you can&nbsp;only learn it with lots and lots of practice and some secrets.&nbsp; Therefore, this article wants to be a friend you can count on and I hope that anyone who is in&nbsp;this situation right now can read it and find the right motivation to continue. Having said that, here I am going to tell you some pronunciation secrets. In general, the trick with Italian, unlike English, is to pronounce all the letters of a word exactly, so the important thing is to know the pronunciation of each letter of the alphabet.&nbsp; Let's start with the vowels, which are: A, E I, O, U. Unlike French, English, and the same&nbsp;Latin from which it derives, Italian does not distinguish between short and long vowels and&nbsp;does not have diphthongs. it means that you have to read all the vowels, even the final ones&nbsp;within a word. Let's give some examples: The word "AIUOLE" contains all the vowels and&nbsp;trying to pronounce it helps to understand what I mean by the premise. Let's do another exercise with “AUTUNNO”. The beginning AU is given by the vowels A+U&nbsp;which are read separately, not as in AUGUST in English.&nbsp; Remember to also pronounce E when a word ends with this letter. Try saying “GRAZIE”,&nbsp;with the final E!&nbsp; Let's move on to the consonants, which are perhaps a little more difficult. There are some that are produced by the sound that comes from the throat and is called guttural, these are the C, the G, and the Q.&nbsp; The first two (C and G) can have two sounds:&nbsp;-Sweet, when they are followed by E and I, (for example the words CECI and GESSO) and&nbsp;have the same English sound as Chop or James/Giraffe in English:&nbsp;-Hard, when they are followed by the remaining vowels therefore A, O, U. In this case, the C&nbsp;has the sound of the K in the word King in English, “CASA-CUORE-CORSO”, while the G&nbsp;has the same sound as Game or Got in English “GATTO-GOCCIA-GUSTO”. But how does the pronunciation behave when there are two consonants together rather than&nbsp;a consonant and a vowel?&nbsp;Here we have some sounds that I like to define as special, let's see together what they are:&nbsp; - GL&nbsp;If the graphic nexus GL is followed by the vowel I, it is pronounced as if it were a single&nbsp;sound. “FOGLIO, FIGLIO”, GLI sounds like the double LL in Spanish of “AMARILLO” for&nbsp;example.&nbsp;If GL is followed by any vowel other than I, it is pronounced as two separate sounds of&nbsp;guttural G +L. For example “INGLESE, GLORIA, GLOBO”.&nbsp;For more examples, you can consult the Treccani Encyclopedia and any other Italian&nbsp;language dictionary.&nbsp; - GN&nbsp;The group of letters GN, on the other hand, always produces the same sound, whatever the&nbsp;vowel that follows it. It might look like Spanish N with cedilla. COMPAGNO, INSEGNANTE,&nbsp;LAVAGNA. Start practicing these words!&nbsp; - SC&nbsp;As you may have guessed, its sound depends on the vowels that follow it. Let's do a little&nbsp;exercise in Italian as a foreign language and see if you can guess which group of letters is&nbsp;pronounced as SHOES and which is SCHOOL in English.&nbsp;Group A: SCATOLA, SCONTO, SCUOLA.&nbsp;Group B: SCIVOLO, SCIARE, CRESCERE, SCEGLIERE.&nbsp;&nbsp;The general rule is that SC is formed by guttural S+C if followed by A, O, U. If instead it is&nbsp;followed by I and E it forms a single sound like SH of SHOES in English or CH of&nbsp;CHAMPIGNON in French.&nbsp; These are the main groups, then there would be many others but it is right to learn step by&nbsp;step.&nbsp;If you need or just like to hear the pronunciation of the sounds I have listed in this article,&nbsp;write me a private message and I will be happy to prepare a voice recording so that you can&nbsp;always hear the sound the pronunciation of a certain group of letters when in doubt.&nbsp; I hope this article has been helpful for all of you, share it with your fellow students, and see you soon!&nbsp;Ciao!&nbsp;

Italian Pronunciation

Every language has idioms and everyone loves idioms.

Every language has idioms and everyone loves idioms. Truth be told (i.e., to tell you the truth/actually), I’m not really sure that every language has idioms.After all, there are more than 7,000 languages, and I have not checked to see if all of them have idioms.But we do know that idioms are common in many languages, and they are used in informal and formal speech and writing. <h3>What are Idioms?</h3>Idioms, in any language, are difficult to use correctly or in the right situation.The words in idioms are like the words in poetry.&nbsp;Idioms are not meant to be interpreted literally (word for word).Instead, idioms are figurative forms of speech. <h3>Literal meanings</h3>The words used in an idiom are different from the word’s normal, original, or common meaning.&nbsp;“I ate a pizza” can be taken literally.The sentence means exactly what the sentence and the words in the sentence mean.“I lost my smartphone and had a heart attack” cannot possibly mean that the person suffered a heart attack just because they lost their smartphone. So that sentence should not be interpreted literally. <h3>Figurative meanings</h3>Figurative speech uses words in a different way.The words do not mean what they mean in the literal/original sense.Instead, the words create a figure, an image or picture in one’s mind.Poetry, which is sometimes difficult to understand, uses figurative speech, words and metaphors.Metaphors are a form of figurative language, which&nbsp;refers to words or expressions that mean something different from their literal definition.“The curtain of night fell across the countryside” is a metaphor.Actually, there was no curtain, but the figurative phrase “curtain of night” paints a picture in our minds. <img src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/EoZ0PnI_OAm1pBU-J1tG-LLn-Qa2bZ8TKvsdpc_HRIFMvTNrTbm9iXh-VDQTqngfusFdkKwkApZyimQ_seEjFwe0F4XtXNWKpxFjiETS5H2Nl7bHg_5cqH2l2ue3mUBFJMmTmnE7jAHzaw807ilQln5ymnhPMy7mA6PlrYITCIzuUO6gAjvCjCuI4Pd1_CHfV0iyW3lEQA" alt="90,396 Countryside At Night Stock Photos, Pictures &amp; Royalty-Free Images - iStock" height="97" width="145"> <h3>Who Uses Idioms?</h3>Idioms are used informally and more formally, especially in business.An idiom is an expression used by a particular group of people with a meaning that is only known through common use.An idiom used in one village may have no meaning in a different village or different part of the country. <h3>When do we use idioms?</h3>We use idioms when we talk to people and in many different situations, such as:<ul><li>at work, e.g., “The applicant for the job is too green” “We shouldn’t put all our eggs in one basket”</li><li>in stores, e.g., “This new computer cost an arm and a leg”&nbsp;</li><li>in restaurants, e.g., “This restaurant’s food is out of this world”&nbsp;</li><li>when we speak with our friends, e.g., “I will believe what you said but only after I hear it straight from the horse's mouth”</li><li>when we speak to our family members, e.g., “Don’t tell our five-year-old sister about Santa Claus. In other words, don’t let the cat out of the bag”.</li></ul>&nbsp;&nbsp;We also use idioms in the things we write, usually to make the writing more interesting or entertaining,<ul><li>e.g., “We would have enjoyed our vacation if we hadn’t felt under the weather the whole time”</li><li> </li><li>e.g., “The judge didn’t believe the criminal because he spoke out of both sides of his mouth”.</li></ul> <h3>Do Different Languages Have the Same Idioms?</h3>Well… yes and no.The idioms may be different, but their meanings may be the same.In English, the idiom “You can’t get blood from a stone” means that you can’t get financial help from someone who is cheap or selfish.In Chinese, there is a similar idiom and it can be interpreted as, “You can’t pull a feather from an iron rooster”.Both idioms refer to a stingy person. <h3>Be Careful…</h3>It takes many years, even for a native speaker, to know when to use an idiom.For example; kick the bucket does not literally mean kicking a bucket with your foot.<img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/Zhb4W_w1Js_I-_pkPrEfLxM7Ye9fZ7tAJu4cOFiGBtna4N96H1g1xYCV_3hsNMp63OpP8sziCG8-ASgCjkwSHwOkD36C0Fd9KwzkYUDoOS_2MDMw0FvQHqZGve4txnqSNuoUKAH-vu_yRCXKLHoj1nGqbe0Zx-1AyhJaDkLRCvgx5KMiJfmEFdSRCZsKzm_-l0AxUEmWvg" alt="Kicking the Bucket: How to Die around the World | by K. Habel | Learzing | Medium" height="84" width="118">It means 'dropping dead/to die suddenly'. But you must be careful when using this idiom.It’s a comical, humourous idiom.“I’m sorry your little goldfish kicked the bucket” would be OK, but it would not appropriate to use when speaking about someone a person cared deeply for.&nbsp; Do you see how using this idiom incorrectly could cause problems for you?&nbsp; <h3>Idioms in Business</h3>There are many idioms used in the business world.Here are a few examples:― Think outside the box[an original idea outside the boundaries of normal thinking or rules.]― Not going to fly[an idea or plan that will not be successful]― On the same page[having the same understanding of a situation] <h3>Should a Second Language Student Use Idioms?</h3>Again, the answer is maybe yes and maybe no.My advice to all English learners is to read idioms, learn them, but be very careful about using them.Using an idiom in the wrong situation could cause confusion for the listener or reader and could be embarrassing for the speaker or writer.&nbsp;In fact, it may be best to avoid using idioms at least until you have reached a middle or upper advanced level.

Everyone Loves Idioms, But Did You Know…

Do you often say げんきですか and しつもんがあります to your teacher? Sometimes textbooks and even teachers tell you unnatural expressions, just to make the grammar simple and more understandable.In this article, I will show you how to sound more natural instead of those phrases. Here

Hello everyone! みなさん, こんにちは！ Do you often say げんきですか and しつもんがあります to your teacher? Sometimes textbooks and even teachers tell you unnatural expressions, just to make the grammar simple and more understandable.In this article, I will show you how to sound more natural instead of those phrases. Here we go! <h3>1. げんきですか → Comments on weather</h3>One of the most popular Japanese textbook is called ‘げんき’. Other textbooks also introduce げんきですか as ‘How are you?’ but in fact, it is more like ‘How have you been?’ It is usually not used with people with whom you meet on a daily basis and to someone who you have never talked to. for example, when you send a first message to someone you found on social media. Your teacher is always asking you, ‘げんきですか’?&nbsp;Perhaps it is because you guys only see each other once a week. It is also possible that your teacher has lived in a Western country for a long time and is too used to asking "How are you?”. Usually teachers and students just greet ‘きょうも よろしく おねがいします’&nbsp; So how do people greet each other? We talk about the WEATHER all the time!If you are actually walking together, comment on the weather with&nbsp;'-ね'.e.g.&nbsp;・きょうは　さむいですね- It is cold today.・だんだん　あったかくなってきましたね - It’s getting warmer and warmer.・すごい　あめですね - It is raining so hard!・ほんとうに むしあついですね - It is really hot and humid. When they say xxxね to you, you are supposed to agree with them like ‘そうですね’, ‘ほんとうですね’&nbsp;even if you do not actually think so, just like you wouldn’t say ‘I am so tired’, when asked ‘How are you?’. This is because the purpose of this conversation is not to actually debate the weather, but to share feelings and feel friendly towards each other. This is a conversation I once had with a Russian student in Tokyo in November, where it was like 60℉/ 15℃. Me: きょうはさむいですね/ It's cold today.Russian student: いえ、きょうは ぜんぜん さむく ありません。No, it's not cold at all today. I know, of course, that this student was just being honest and did not mean to attack me or anything. But if you were as honest as she was, you might make your Japanese friend feel awkward. What if the two of you are in different places, like you and your italki teacher?&nbsp;For example, you can say, ・そちらはさむいですか？ - Is it cold over there?・そちらは なんど ぐらい ですか？ - What is the temperature like over there?・さむそうですね - It seems it is cold over there. (Judging by the teacher’s clothing) <h3>2. こんにちは → やっほー！/ よ！to Friends</h3>こんにちは! is a polite greeting and is not used between friends. However, how to greet casually in Japanese is actually a difficult question. Used by everyone: おはよー！/ おつかれ！*Mainly used by people who self-identify as women: やっほー！Mainly used by people who self-identify as men: よ！/ おう！/ うっす！/ おっす！*おつかれ→exept in the morning Male variations are mostly used verbally. In texting, they do not say hi/ hey, especially to those they talk to often. You can jump straight to the main topic or if you are texting on the app LINE, it is also very common to start a conversation with a sticker (スタンプ). <h3>3. しつもんがあります → あ、ちょっと すみません</h3>Do you say "しつもんがあります" a lot to your teacher during class? You may be surprised to learn that Japanese speakers rarely say this in a conversation. These are the phrases that take its place. (formal)・あ、ちょっと すみません・ちょっと よろしいですか？ (casual)・あ、ちょっと ごめん &nbsp;ちょっとすみません and ちょっとごめん are also used as ‘One moment please’, ‘One second please’. As you may already know, in Japanese you do not normally say ’1びょう まってください’ or ‘1ぷん まってください’. <h3>4. ですから→でして…</h3>I'm so sorry! This is not your fault, it is the fault of Japanese textbooks. Probably you learned ‘because’ is ですから. First of all, から is a friendly style and ので is used in formal speech. When speaking in honorifics, use ので, instead of ですから. Secondly, usually when you end a sentence with から, it means you are angry, begging something desperately. There is a nuance that he really wanted to say something afterwards, but held back from saying it. e.g.Your mom: ねえ！！！もう行くよ！！ (Hey! We have to get going!)You: いま行くから！(I’m coming now!! JUST WAIT A MINUTE!!)Mom: 電車行っちゃうから！！ (We’ll miss the train!! HURRY UP!!) As I capitalized the ‘hidden message part’, this ending with から has a strong tone. It is used almost exclusively between families and couples. So, how can we fix it? e.g.A: 日本のどの街(まち)が一番(いちばん)好(す)きですか？/Which city in Japan do you like the best?)B(Formal)京都(きょうと)ですね。歴史(れきし)が好きでして…/ I like Kyoto. Actually I like history.B(Casual) 京都(きょうと)かな。歴史(れきし)が好きで…/ I’d say Kyoto. Actually I like history. In conversation, it is very common to end a sentence with 'て/ でして' when giving additional information. In a written style you can say 歴史が好きなので、京都が好きです。 Another example.A: なんで日本語(にほんご)勉強(べんきょう)してるの？B(casual) マンガが好きで…B(Formal) マンガが好きでして… So when ですから/ ますから is used？ It is mainly used by teachers, doctors, authorizations to explain, convince or warn something to others. It is also used in cooking YouTube videos to explain the procedure. In other words, when the speaker has more authority or knowledge than the listener. e.g. At a platform間もなく、1番線に電車が参ります。危ないですから、黄色い線の内側へお下がり下さい。(まもなく いちばんせんに でんしゃが まいります。あぶないですから きいろいせんの うちがわに おさがりください)A train will be arriving soon on Track 1. Please move back to the inside of the yellow line. In a cooking tutorial video卵の白身は後で使いますから取っておいて下さい。(たまごの しろみは あとで つかいますから とっておいて ください)Save the egg whites for later use. <h3>5. 〜ません → 〜ないですね…/ 〜ないんですが…</h3>In conversation, saying ‘〜ません’ sounds a bit harsh and unfriendly. It sounds nicer if you say the following. Teacher: 中国(ちゅうごく)ではクリスマスは何(なに)かお祝(いわ)いはするんですか？&nbsp;(Do you do anything on Christmas in China?) You: 中国ではあんまりしないですね…&nbsp;(Not so much in China (as you might have guessed…) Teacher: Youさんの文化(ぶんか)では、生(なま)のお魚(さかな)は食(た)べるんですか？&nbsp;Do you eat raw fish in your culture?You: あんまり食(た)べないですね…&nbsp;Not so much…(which means No, we don’t.) When you end a sentence with んですが… it adds the nuance ‘Can you help me with it?’, ‘Is there anything you can do with it?’ or ‘hmm…let’s see what is happening…’ Teacher: 聞こえますか？ -Can you hear me?You: えーっと…まだ聞こえないんですが… - hmm…Not yet…(Please check if your microphone is connected properly?) Teacher: 画面、見えますか？- Can you see my screen?You: あ、すみません、まだ見えないんですが… - I can’t see it yet… (Let’s wait for a bit…) &nbsp;At the end of the んですが…, the intonation is lowered, and extended for about 1 second. If you don't lengthen the が, you will sound angry, so be careful! In the written style like an essay, it is totally okay just to end the sentence with ません。 e.g.中国(ちゅうごく)ではクリスマスは特(とく)に何(なに)もしません。 - In China, we don't do anything special for Christmas. I hope you'll try the phrases you learned today with your italki teachers! If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments. Thank you for reading!!

Say These Instead of the Textbook-Phrases!

Let's uncover five powerful hacks listed below that use this verb tense to enable speaking in the present, past, and future.

Many French learners will find verb conjugation the worst part of the journey. However, it does not have to be! While the present indicative can be intricate for some learners, the good news is that it may be the only verb tense you ever need to master! It is especially true if your goal is to use French mostly to chat. Though we can use it the same way as in English, the present indicative in French can also be your conversation Swiss-army knife! Even better, its different uses will sound natural and vivid compared to tenses like future, simple past, and past tense. Therefore, let's uncover five powerful hacks listed below that use this verb tense to enable speaking in the present, past, and future. 1. Recurring actions (present equivalent)2. Ongoing activities "progressive present" (present continuous equivalent)3. Recent actions "recent past" (past equivalent)4. Stories: the "historical present" (past equivalent)5. Future actions "close future" (future equivalent) <h3>1. Recurring actions</h3> For recurring, usual actions, when we use the present in English, we use the same in French. So let's call it the "recurring present." Je&nbsp;joue&nbsp;de la guitare. (I play guitar.) Though you can use it to communicate an action you are doing in the present moment, we generally use it to share something we commonly do. For example, have a look at the following sentences. Gérard: Comment est-ce que tu t'occupes&nbsp;les fins de semaine ?&nbsp;(How do you spend your weekends?)Ginette: Je m'achète&nbsp;une caisse de 24, je&nbsp;mets&nbsp;du country et je&nbsp;fais&nbsp;de la danse en ligne.&nbsp;(I buy a case of 24, put on country and line dance.) <h3>2. In-progress actions</h3> For an activity you are doing right now, you can build your sentence using the verb "être" conjugated with the subject + "en train de" + an infinitive verb. This structure will effectively stress that you are in the process of doing that action. Je&nbsp;suis en train de faire&nbsp;mes devoirs. (I am doing my homework.) Using "en train de" helps emphasize that the action is still incomplete. For example, look at the following chat: Georgio: Qu'est-ce que vous faites en ce moment ?&nbsp;(What are you doing right now?)Groupe d'amis de Georgio: On&nbsp;est en train de regarder&nbsp;le dernier film de Xavier Dolan.&nbsp;(We are watching Xavier Dolan's latest movie.) <h3>3. Recent actions</h3> I recently realized how valuable the use of the "recent past" is. Commonly, we start a chat by revealing what we were doing minutes before or recalling what occurred in our lives over the last days, weeks, or months. Instead of using the compound past, you can build your sentence using the verb "venir" conjugated with the subject + "d'/de" preposition + an infinitive verb. You will effectively stress that the event happened recently. Je&nbsp;viens de déménager&nbsp;à Montréal pour mon nouvel emploi. (I just moved to Montréal for my new job.) Martine: Qu'est-ce qui&nbsp;vient d'arriver&nbsp;?&nbsp;(What just happened ?)Guy: Je&nbsp;viens de tomber&nbsp;en bas de ma chaise.&nbsp;(I fell out of my chair) <h3>4. Stories</h3> Using the "historical present" is not only remarkably easy, but it also can enhance your storytelling! To build your sentence, use the basic indicative present form and give proper context, so your listener understands that you are recounting something from the past in the present tense. La chanson&nbsp;reçoit&nbsp;en 2015 le Prix Empreinte culturelle de la SOCAN. (The song received the 2015 SOCAN Cultural Footprint Award.) Jean-Paul: Pourquoi ça&nbsp;devient&nbsp;une chanson aussi populaire? (Why did it become such a popular song?)Pierrette: Parce qu'après cet événement, le mouvement nationaliste s'en&nbsp;empare&nbsp;et en&nbsp;fait&nbsp;l'hymne national québécois! (Because after this event, the nationalist movement seized it and made it the Quebec national anthem!) <h3>5. Future actions</h3> This last one may be the most intuitive for English speakers. To communicate events in the future, we use the structure "aller" conjugated with the subject + an infinitive verb, the same way you would use "be going to." Je&nbsp;vais passer&nbsp;la fin de semaine au chalet. (I will spend the weekend at the cottage.) Jean-Claude:&nbsp;Vas-tu&nbsp;voyager&nbsp;pour tes vacances ? (Are you traveling for your vacation?)Germaine: Bien sûr ! Je&nbsp;vais me faire bronzer&nbsp;à Fort Lauderdale. (Of course! I'm going to get a tan in Fort Lauderdale.) I can't stress enough how practical, effective, and underused these five tips are. But unfortunately, I see too many learners move quickly to other tenses before they master the present tense. They often get discouraged because of the enormous memorization effort required. That rushing behavior can be counterproductive. Quick wins increase motivation, which is crucial for success. That's why I recommend and encourage their use without restraint! Do yourself a favor, use these tips daily while discussing, and wait until you feel comfortable before tackling other verb tenses.

5 Ways of Hacking the Present Indicative in French

He likes it in Sweden/He enjoys Sweden/He thrives in Sweden. Which one should I use? 
("He" has moved to Sweden).

Which is the stressed syllable in "composite".
Ex. Concrete is a composite material.

Can downstairs be used synonymously with cellar?

Thanks!

Can you tell me the past tense of these words?
1. Cut
2. Run
3. Eat