Struggling with the /th/ sound in English? You're not alone! In this episode, we’ll break down the two types of /th/—voiced and unvoiced—explaining how to position your mouth, common pronunciation mistakes, and easy ways to practice. Whether you mix up think and sink or those and doze, this episode will help you master this tricky sound with clear explanations and practical exercises. Tune in and start speaking with confidence!

 Pronunciation and Accent Reduction with a Focus on North American English

Sink or Think? Those or Doze?  Mastering the TH Consonant

It is a story about a Chinese teacher whose application was refused.

Story Chinese

Miss Liu is sad. 刘老师很难过

Let's see what { It's a long shot } means :



It means :

it's unlikely but it's still possible
There is still a small chance so let's try
it's difficult or kinda unlikely but still it's possible, let's do that

English for Work with James

Episode 12 : It's a long shot

Smartphones are everywhere these days.

How many advantages and disadvantages of using them can you think of?

In this episode, Nick gives you some more ideas...

IELTS with Nick - World Knowledge 

What are the advantages and disadvantages of using smartphones every day?

Listen and try to imitate it with your friend

Listening for beginners

Dialogue for acquaintance - حوار للتعارف - 6

Hi大家好，我是Cara，欢迎收听我的频道Talk to Cara in Chinese.

今天的节目，想跟大家分享一个中国的传统节日：元宵节。
元宵节是在农历正月十五，也是春节的最后一天。在元宵节，我们的活动是去看花灯。全国每一个城市都会举办大型的花灯展览活动，如果你在上海，可以去上海豫园元宵灯会，如果你在四川省，可以去四川自贡市的自贡灯会，如果你在南京，可以去南京秦淮灯会，这些都是非常具有传统性和地方特色的灯会。在中国古代，我们除了看花灯，还会猜灯谜。当然在现代中国，还有一些城市保留着猜灯谜的活动。我会在这个节目的小测试环节给大家出几个灯谜。

当然，中国灯艺文化也存在着地域的差异。花灯是南方的标志，刚才说的上海，南京，自贡都是中国南方城市。如果你在中国的东北，一定要去看哈尔滨市的元宵节冰雕。

除了看灯会以外，元宵节还有一项习俗不能错过。那就是吃汤圆（南方吃汤圆，北方吃元宵，食物的做法不一样）。汤圆是由糯米粉揉成的圆圆的团子，象征着家庭圆满。汤圆的馅儿可以是甜的，比如芝麻，芋泥等，在我的家乡莆田，汤圆是咸的，我们会把肉末，香菇，花生放在一起，炒熟做成馅料，包出来的汤圆是普通汤圆的两倍，我们叫大汤圆。
有时候，我们做一颗特殊的汤圆，里面放入一枚消过毒的硬币。如果你吃到了这枚带着硬币的汤圆，那么它预示着你在新的一年里财运都会很好。
好的，今天的节目就到这里，如果你喜欢我的节目，可以订阅我的播客频道。我还做了一期关于红包的节目，感兴趣的朋友可以去我的播客频道收听。如果你有任何的意见或者建议，可以私信给我或者在我们的课堂上讨论。我们下次节目再见！

Talk to Cara in Chinese

13.中国节日系列：元宵节The Lantern Fesitival 

This episode introduces three idioms that use the word elephant. Listen to the examples to hear how to use them. Please send me a message if you would like a copy of the audio script.

Idiom Corner

Elephant

【北海道Hokkaido生活】
〈#96〉7月27日水曜日　天気/くもり　気温/24℃ 

シマフクロウ/しまふくろう…鳥
・シマフクロウは天然記念物
・北海道だけに住んでる絶滅危惧種
・今年の調査で過去最多となる41羽のヒナが確認
・去年より4羽多い

［単語］
天然記念物/てんねんきねんぶつ…大切にする必要がある物
絶滅危惧種/ぜつめつきぐしゅ…同じタイプの動物が全部死ぬこと
調査/ちょうさ…調べる
過去/かこ…今まで
最多/さいた…一番多い
羽/わ…鳥の数え方。1羽、2羽、3羽
ヒナ/ひな…鳥の赤ちゃん


〈美和Miwa〉
日本語の先生
Podcast「どこでも.JAPANESE」も放送中！

レッスン待ってます♪


北海道Hokkaido生活 for Japanese learners

〈#96〉7月27日水曜日　鳥のヒナが41羽

Greenland's prime minister has said that the people of the mineral-rich Arctic territory don't want to be Americans.

However, he understands the US President-elect Donald Trump's interest in the island given its strategic location, and he's open to greater cooperation with Washington.

The comments from the Greenlandic leader, Múte B. Egede, came after Trump said that he wouldn't rule out using force or economic pressure in order to make Greenland — a semiautonomous territory of Denmark — a part of the US.

Trump said that it was a matter of national security for the US.

Egede acknowledged that Greenland is part of the North American continent, and "a place that the Americans see as part of their world." He said he hasn't spoken to Trump, but that he's open to discussions about what "unites us."

"Cooperation is about dialogue. Cooperation means that you will work towards solutions," he said.

Egede has been calling for independence for Greenland, presenting Denmark as a colonial power that hasn't always treated the Indigenous Inuit population well.

"Greenland is for the Greenlandic people. We do not want to be Danish, we do not want to be American. We want to be Greenlandic," he said.

Trump's desire for Greenland has caused anxiety across Europe. The US is a strong ally of the European Union, and many Europeans were shocked by the suggestion that an incoming US leader could even consider using force against an ally.

Greenland has a population of 57,000. But it is a vast territory possessing natural resources that include oil, gas, and rare earth elements, which are expected to become more accessible as ice melts because of climate change.

It also has a key strategic location in the Arctic, where Russia, China and others are seeking to expand their interests.

Greenland, the world's largest island, lies closer to the North American mainland than to Denmark. 