English Vibes is back, and today we're tackling the art of expressing surprise like a native speaker.  Life's full of unexpected moments, and being able to react naturally is key!  So, buckle up and get ready to learn some awesome expressions.

English Vibes

Use These Expressions Next Time You're Surprised

Hello everyone! Welcome to Honto no Nihongo with Maiko! 💖
In this episode, we explore the magic of the number "3" (San) in Japan. 
Why is it so special? 
Maiko Sensei explains it all using simple Japanese!


[About Maiko Sensei]


I am a Japanese teacher with experience in over 450 online lessons on platforms like italki and Preply. 
I love sharing real, useful Japanese with all of you!


[What you will learn in this episode:]
​ The "-San" mystery: Why do we add "-san" to animals and even food?​ Mikka Bozu (3-day monk): A funny idiom for when we quit something too soon.​ Sandome no Shojiki: The Japanese version of "Third time's a charm."


HONTO NO NIHONGO with Maiko

EP3: Why Japanese People Love the Number "3" (San)?

In this episode I briefly talk about two theoretical hypothesis (Interaction and Output) according to which speaking in your target language / second language can help you improve your TL/L2 skills faster.

This is theoretical background... Next coming up: Research and experiments confirming these hypotheses!

INFORMAL Learning of English: How to MAXIMISE your language learning experience. 

Part 1 - Speaking for better acquisition! 

Eccoci con una seconda mini storia in italiano facile per aiutarti a comprendere sempre meglio questa lingua meravigliosa.

Here we are with a new mini story in Italian to help you learn this wonderful language.

Oggi trovi anche il transcript!
Today you will find the transcript!

C'era una volta un ragazzo di nome Luca. Luca viveva in un piccolo villaggio ai piedi di una montagna. Amava passare il suo tempo libero a camminare nei boschi e a esplorare nuovi posti. Un giorno, mentre era in giro per i boschi, incontrò una volpe molto simpatica. La volpe era curiosa e decise di seguire Luca ovunque andasse.

Luca era molto felice di avere la volpe come sua amica e la portava con sé dovunque. Insieme, esplorarono le montagne e visitarono bellissimi laghi. Un giorno, durante una delle loro passeggiate, incontrarono un uomo anziano che sembrava avere bisogno di aiuto.

L'uomo chiese a Luca e alla volpe se potevano aiutarlo a portare alcuni pesi fino alla sua casa, che si trovava sulla cima della montagna. Luca e la volpe accettarono di aiutare l'uomo e insieme portarono i pesi fino alla sua casa.

Il signore era molto grato per l'aiuto di Luca e della volpe e decise di offrirgli una cena come ringraziamento. Durante la cena, l'uomo raccontò loro storie meravigliose sulle montagne e sulla natura che li circondava.

Da quel momento in poi, Luca e la volpe visitavano spesso l'uomo sulla cima della montagna e passavano del tempo con lui. Luca imparò molto dalle storie dell'uomo e apprezzò ancora di più la bellezza della natura.

E così, Luca e la volpe continuarono a esplorare i boschi e le montagne insieme.

Download the pdf "Italian for travelers". Click here. https://www.buymeacoffee.com/cocaiitaliano/e/120663

Learn Italian from scratch https://cocai-italiano.com/

More content https://linktr.ee/Cocaiitaliano

3 minutes Italian

Mini storia in Italiano 2 - 3 minutes Italian

Customer: Excuse me, can you help me, please?
Staff: I’ll try!
Customer: I’m looking for some apples.
Staff: The produce section is in aisle 1, at the front of the store, near the door where you came in.
Customer: Sorry, can you repeat that?
Staff: Of course. Go to the front of the store, and near the door, where you came in, you’ll see the fruit and vegetables.
Customer: Right. Got it. Thanks so much.

English Conversation/Dialogue

At a Supermarket

Real Life Chinese
今天我们来听听“It’s so weird”用中文怎么说？

*******Script for your second time listening********
qí guài
奇 怪   weird
zhēn qí guài ！
真奇怪！
tài qí guài le ！
太奇怪了！
This is so weird. 

nǐ bù jué dé hěn qí guài ma ？
你不觉得很奇怪吗？

片段一Clip one
A：这真是奇怪了！真是！
B:  爷爷，您别生气
A：zhè zhēn shì qí guài le ！zhēn shì ！
B:  yé ye ，nín bié shēng qì   

片段二
A：特奇怪，她突然叫我去她家。我不知道怎么回事儿。
A：tè qí guài ，tā tū rán jiào wǒ qù tā jiā 。wǒ bú zhī dào zěn me huí shì r 。

片段三
A：每一条都有你们有点奇怪啊。你们站到后面吧。 
A：měi yì tiáo dōu yǒu nǐ men yǒu diǎn qí guài a 。nǐ men zhàn dào hòu miàn ba 。

片段四
A:  你还好吗？
B:  很奇怪，我反而觉得轻松自在的。
A:  nǐ hái hǎo ma ？
B:  hěn qí guài ，wǒ fǎn ér jué de qīng sōng zì zài de 。

片段五
A：我肚子太大了，是不是很奇怪？ 
A: wǒ dù zi tài dà le ，shì bú shì hěn qí guài ？


Iris' screening room

Real Life Chinese ——来听听“It’s so weird”用中文怎么说得地道？

Giant Dreams Midget Abilities by David Sedaris read by Teacher Alyse
Read and follow along. Send me a message for your free digital copy of this story. 

"WHEN YOU'RE PLAYING YOUR GUITAR, MAKE BELIEVE YOU'RE PLAYING AN ACTUAL WOMAN," MISTER MANCINI TOLD ME. "GRAB HER BY THE NECK AND MAKE HER HOLLER."

My father loves jazz and has an extensive collection of records and reel-to-reel tapes he used to enjoy after returning home from work. He might have entered the house in a foul mood, but once he had his Dexter Gordon and a vodka martini, the stress melted away and everything was "Beautiful, baby, just beautiful." The instant the needle hit that record, he'd loosen his tie and become something other than the conservative engineer with a pocketful of IBM pencils embossed with the command think.

"Man, oh man, will you get a load of the chops on this guy? I saw him once at the Blue Note, and I mean to tell you that he blew me right out of my chair! A talent like that comes along only once in a lifetime. The guy was an absolute comet, and there I was in the front row. Can you imagine that?"

"Gee," I'd say. "I bet that was really interesting."

Empathy was the wrong tack, as it seemed only to irritate him.

"You don't know the half of it," my father would say. " 'Really interesting' my butt. You haven't got a clue. You could have taken a hatchet and cut the man's lips right off his face, chopped them off at the quick, and he still would have played better than anyone else out there. That's how good he was."

Because it was the music we'd grown up with, I liked to think that my sisters and I had a genuine appreciation for jazz. We preferred it over the music our friends were listening to, yet nothing we did or said could convince him of our devotion. Aside from replaying the tune on your own instrument, how could you prove you were really listening? It was as if he expected us to change color at the end of each selection.

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

Giant Dreams Midget Abilities

A: ¡Hola! Creo que no te conozco, ¿es tu primer día?

B: ¡Hola! Sí, empiezo las clases de inglés hoy.

A: Me llamo Kate, encantada.

B: Yo Laura, igualmente.

A: Bueno, Laura, ¿conoces ya a alguien de la academia?

B: Aún no, todavía no he ido a la primera clase.

A: Te presento a mis amigos más tarde entonces.

B: ¡Genial! Muchas gracias.

A: Los viernes solemos salir a tomarnos una cerveza juntos, ¿te quieres venir?

B: ¡Claro!

Learn Spanish Conversation

Learn Spanish Conversation parte 34

Imagine a deal on the verge of collapse, not because of product quality or price, but because a seemingly innocuous email landed with the cultural impact of a lead balloon. This is the hidden cost of neglecting a global mindset – a billion-dollar blind spot for businesses venturing into the international arena.
As a communication coach specializing in cross-cultural interactions, I've seen firsthand how a company's success hinges on its ability to bridge cultural divides. A global mindset isn't just about knowing a few customs or phrases in another language. It's a comprehensive approach that values diversity, embraces different perspectives, and prioritizes clear, adaptable communication.
Developing a global mindset isn't a one-time fix. It's an ongoing process that requires continuous learning and adaptation. Here are some practical steps to build a communication bridge within your team.

Encourage cross-cultural exchange programs or workshops.
Create a diverse team environment and celebrate cultural differences.
Implement communication guidelines that address cultural sensitivities.
Invest in communication training that focuses on active listening and adaptability.
By fostering a global mindset and prioritizing clear, adaptable communication, your company can unlock a wealth of opportunities in the international arena. 