In the introductory episode, I answer why I think it's important to look at asking questions as an art. I give my background, anecdotes, and hypotheticals to display what trying to achieve with this podcast. While I use a lot of complex vocabulary, I try to speak in a slower cadence so that learners in a wide range of levels can try to understand. Hope you enjoy! 

The Art of Asking Questions

Episode 1: Introduction

How motivated are you? Learn about the types of motivation and understand how it can help you learn a language. 

 Ideas for Learning English

Motivation

The difference between China and foreign countries

Beginner Chinese Listening

Beginner Chinese Listening：中外的不同  The difference between China and foreign countries

The European Union (EU) has encouraged citizens across the continent to stockpile food, water and other essentials to last at least 72 hours as war, cyberattacks, climate change and disease increase the chances of a crisis.

The call to action for the EU's 450 million citizens comes as the 27-nation bloc rethinks its security, especially after Donald Trump's US administration warned that Europe must take more responsibility for it.

In recent years, the EU has been forced to deal with the coronavirus pandemic, and the threat from Russia, including its attempts to exploit Europe's dependence on its natural gas to weaken support for Ukraine.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has warned that Russia could be capable of launching another attack in Europe by 2030.

"Today's threats facing Europe are more complex than ever, and they are all interconnected," said Preparedness and Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib as she shared a new strategy for dealing with future disasters.

While the commission is keen not to be seen as alarmist, Lahbib said it's important "to make sure people have essential supplies for at least 72 hours in a crisis." She listed food, water, flashlights, ID papers, medicine and radios as things to stock.

Lahbib said the EU should build up a "strategic reserve" and stockpile other critical resources including firefighting planes; medical, energy and transport equipment; and specialized assets against chemical, biological and nuclear threats.

The EU's plans are similar to those in France, Finland and Sweden.

Last year, Sweden updated its civil emergency advice "to better reflect today's security policy reality" such as what to do in case of nuclear attack.

Not all EU countries have the same level of crisis preparedness, and the commission also wants to encourage them to coordinate better in case of emergency.

President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said: "New realities require a new level of preparedness in Europe."



Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

EU Asks People to Gather Supplies in Case of Crisis

Like many other grandmothers, Daisy likes to knit, and she isn't very good with technology.

Or, at least, that's what she might tell people on the phone.

Daisy also describes herself as "your worst nightmare." But don't worry, she's not talking to you — she's talking to phone scammers.

That's because Daisy is actually an AI chatbot. She was created by UK phone company Virgin Media O2 to speak to scammers on the phone and make them believe they're talking to a real person.

Older people are very vulnerable to scams. In July, a UK study found that about 67% of people over the age of 75 were victims of at least one scam attempt in the six months before the study — with almost 75% being phone scams.

Enter Daisy, who has been trained to have conversations with phone scammers and waste their time.

Virgin Media O2 worked with Jim Browning, a YouTuber who has spent years "scambaiting" — that is, pretending to be a clueless victim to waste scammers' time.

And that's the whole point — Daisy can't stop scammers, but she can slow them down.

"Whenever she's on the phone with a scammer, your parents, your grandparents, your relatives, are not being scammed," Browning told Sky News.

The company says Daisy is already "wasting hundreds and hundreds of hours of scammers' time," and has shared real-life conversations the chatbot has had with scammers.

Some conversations last nearly an hour. She talks about her cat, Fluffy, and people in her family. In some conversations, she gives the scammers what they want — bank details. But of course, they're not real.

Murray Mackenzie from Virgin Media O2 said Daisy is also a reminder that the person you're speaking to on the phone might not always be who they say they are.

Meet the AI Grandma Wasting Scammers' Time

Nivel B1 Intermedio.
Tema: No tengo con quién hablar. ¡Eso NO es cierto!

Hoy te explico como practicar y mejorar tu español hablado, incluso si no tienes amigos para compartir,

Y no es hablar con ChatGPT, es mucho mejor.

Te cuento todo en este corto episodio, y si después de tu ejercicio ya sientes que deseas hablar con otro humano, sabes que estoy aquí para ti, 

Las sesiones se llaman SUELTA LA LENGUA, conversación superchévere para CRECER como hablante, NO como estudiante,

Espero verte en clase,
Rocio.
Tu profe de Rocío En Español.

Rocío en Español Podcast

26. No tengo con quién hablar. ¡Eso NO es cierto!. Te explico....

Today we're talking about freelancing and about being a freelancer. Learn the best, most professional, language and see yourself grow to new levels!
Happy learning!

New English US

Being a freelancer

Este episódio é uma breve exposição sobre como é viver no Brasil enfrentando dificuldades e maravilhas. Falaremos sobre diferentes pontos de vista, diferenças regionais e comportamento.