Listen to these stories, check your listening comprehension and learn even more (on the topic, with vocabulary and exercises by booking a lesson with me.

Russian Language: a Real Breakthrough

Let's start with 5 simple idioms for business and ordinary life!

5 Weekly Idioms 

5 Idioms - Week 1

Try it now！ 听播客回答问题，Listen to the podcast and answer the questions below. There will be a text tomorrow after you finish the exercise!
1. nǚ de fā xiàn le nián qīng rén shén me wèn tí ？ nán de zěn me kàn ？ 
1.女 的 发 现   了 年   轻   人  什   么 问  题 ？ 男  的 怎  么 看  ？ 
2.nǚ de jué dé nián qīng rén bú duàn liàn de yuán yīn shì shén me ？ 
2.女 的 觉  得 年   轻   人  不 锻   炼   的 原   因  是  什   么 ？ 
3.nán de tóng yì nǚ de kàn fǎ ma ？ 
3.男  的 同   意 女 的 看  法 吗 ？ 


他们在聊啥？What are they talking about？

健康意识jiàn kāng yì shí ： health consciousness

In this story, an aeroplane named Seven is using a secret energy source. But the assistant engineer might know what it is. 
This is Part 3 of 5. 

It was 12:00pm and Seven was playing cards with Zack the pilot in their hangar.
 
Seven picked up a few cards and slammed five down on the table. “Once again, I’m winning, Zack. When will you ever learn? You can’t beat me—Hah!” 

Zack, looking frustrated, said, “Next time I’ll beat you. I’m going to practice online. You’ll see. Next time.” 

Tobee arrived for work and went straight to the office. He noticed the security camera system was blinking, alerting some kind of action needed. Tobee took care of it and turned to exit the office. 

But what was this? In front of him there were several huge barrels labelled ‘7-Up’. Tobee thought that it was illegal to use 7-Up. He understood it was a cheaper fuel source, but he believed it wasn’t worth the risk. Tobee believed in the government’s decision to ban 7-Up as a fuel source. 

Tobee stepped out into the main hangar and confronted Zack. 

“Boss? There are seven giant barrels of 7-Up in the office. Have you been giving it to Seven? You know that’s illegal, right? Why are you doing this? You’re risking your entire business.” 

Zack looked undeniably suspicious and worried. He struggled to speak confidently and said, “Oh that… that’s left over from my son’s 14th birthday party last week. Want some?” 

Tobee said, “Uh… okay. But… I’m a bit… hurt that you didn’t invite me…” 

Zack laughed nervously. “Yes… I only just invited family and friends… Sorry, Tobee. Maybe next time. Uhh, feel free to take some home if you want.” 

As Tobee left the main hangar, Seven whispered to Zack, “Phew, that was a close one. Thankfully he bought it.” 

Tobee didn’t believe Zack’s improvised story, but he tried to play along. He didn’t want Zack catching onto him. Tobee thought that he’d discover the truth for himself. 


Being a Cloud

Seven the Aeroplane

Netflixドラマ【First Love 初恋】は見ましたか？
【First Love 初恋】の撮影の場所は北海道です。
北海道に住んでいる私が、撮影の場所を紹介したいと思います。
北海道のこと、文化についても話します。

《話にでてくる言葉》
旭川市/あさひかわし
サンピアザ水族館/さんぴあざすいぞくかん
ろばた焼きウタリ/ろばたやきうたり
創生スクエア/そうせいすくえあ


北海道へようこそ【First Love 初恋】from Netflix

2.きみの声【First Love 初恋】from Netflix

If you want to be good with conversational English and communication, learn how to do small talk.
Small talk is one way to warm up the conversation. It is important to ask simple questions first before asking deeper questions. Small talk is an artform that leads to bigger conversations.

FLO TALKS 

SMALL TALK IS AN ARTFORM

Uma viagem de dois amigos à terra de Sua Majestade!

 Portuguese Audios for Intermediate B1 -Áudios em Português para Intermédios B1

A Viagem

Negotiation is a cornerstone of leadership. From securing contracts to resolving team conflicts, leaders must navigate agreements that benefit all parties. Here's how to excel at this vital skill:

1. Know Your BATNA: Before entering negotiations, determine your Best Alternative To a Negotiated Agreement (BATNA). This empowers you to walk away if an offer falls short of your needs. A strong BATNA strengthens your position and gives you room to make concessions.

2. Collaborative Spirit: Aim for win-win solutions. Leaders understand successful negotiation isn't about dominance, but building long-term relationships. Focus on common interests and identify areas where compromise can create mutual benefit.

3. Active Listening: Master the art of active listening. Pay close attention to the other party's needs and concerns. Ask clarifying questions to ensure you fully grasp their position. This fosters trust and allows you to tailor your approach.

4. Clear Communication: Articulate your goals and needs clearly, using strong communication skills.  Back up claims with data and evidence to support your arguments.  Be assertive, yet respectful, avoiding aggressive tactics that can damage relationships.

5. Leverage Body Language: Nonverbal cues speak volumes. Maintain confident eye contact, an upright posture, and avoid fidgeting. Projecting confidence strengthens your position and demonstrates your seriousness.

6. Be Flexible, Not Fixed: While you enter negotiations with clear goals, be prepared to adapt.  Unexpected issues may arise.  Maintain a flexible mindset, willing to consider alternative proposals that achieve your core objectives.

7. Patience is Key: Negotiations rarely happen overnight. Be patient, allowing time for discussion and counter-proposals. Don't rush the process to avoid settling for an unfavorable deal.

By mastering these strategies, leaders can transform negotiations from battles into opportunities for collaboration and mutual success.

The Global Professional Podcast

How do leaders negotiate? - Episode 68

山上的冒险

小明和小红是一对好朋友。一个周末，他们决定去山上探险。出发前，他们准备了食物和水，还带了地图和指南针。一路上，他们看到了许多美丽的风景，还有一些小动物。经过几个小时的爬山，他们到达了山顶。站在山顶上，他们看到了远处的城市和河流，感觉非常开心。
问题和选项：

    小明和小红是怎么关系？
        A. 兄妹
        B. 同事
        C. 好朋友
        D. 夫妻

    他们在出发前准备了什么？
        A. 帐篷和睡袋
        B. 食物、水、地图和指南针
        C. 相机和望远镜
        D. 书和笔记本

    他们在山顶上看到了什么？
        A. 远处的城市和河流
        B. 其他登山者
        C. 大海和船只
        D. 飞机和机场