As I work for a publisher, I'm always using reference books such as dictionaries. But I read a lot for pleasure too, and I particularly like poetry. At home all my books are arranged in alphabetical order (I know that's a bit strange!). I've also got lots of novels from different categories - crime stories, ghost stories, historical novels, murder mysteries, science fiction, etc. - but there is non-fiction as well. I read quite a lot of biographies. My husband says I'm book-crazy.

English Mini Lessons

Types of books

Красный — Red
Синий — Blue
Жёлтый — Yellow
Зелёный — Green
Оранжевый — Orange
Фиолетовый — Purple
Розовый — Pink
Коричневый — Brown
Чёрный — Black
Белый — White
Серый — Gray

Enjoy Russian with Yanchik ❤️

Цвета - Colours

Advanced Chinese Listening Comprehension：最可能被AI取代的工作

HSK 5 & Superior Soundscapes

In this episode, we explore OET Nursing Speaking — Managing Exam Stress and Panic Attacks, a realistic Band-A consultation between a nurse and an 18-year-old student struggling with anxiety before exams.

You’ll hear how the nurse uses empathy, reassurance, and clear psychoeducation to explain that panic attacks are a normal stress response — not a heart problem.
This case demonstrates effective structure, active listening, and practical coping advice, including:

Paced breathing techniques

Visualisation and grounding (5-4-3-2-1 method)

Lifestyle adjustments (sleep, breaks, exercise)

Collaborative follow-up planning

🎯 Ideal for OET Nursing candidates aiming for Band A in Clinical Communication Criteria — especially:

A. Relationship Building

B. Understanding and Perspective

C. Providing Structure

D. Information Gathering

E. Information Giving

📚 Learn how to sound calm, supportive, and confident — even when your patient feels overwhelmed.
Transcript available here...https://www.notion.so/OET-Nursing-Roleplay-3-Managing-Exam-Stress-and-Panic-Attacks-28a3e0e9024b804c8b8fc5c079185fc0?source=copy_link

Kev's English Podcast

OET Nursing Roleplay 3: Managing Exam Stress and Panic Attacks

ハルカちゃん、頼みもしないのに、 俳句 haiku 作りました！でも、8-7-5は だめでしょう。今度5-7-5 を教えてやります。ま、愛媛（えひめ）は俳句が盛んな土地なので、AIも調子に乗りましたね。温泉入って、みかん食べて、私はここに人生の極楽（ごくらく heaven ）を見ました。母が住んでいます。私も移住したいです。

スクリプトは⁠こちら⁠。
https://chivalrous-wallaby-f5c.notion.site/16-9a990c7b16514da38f4b3ea77de5da78?pvs=4
楽しみ方は⁠こちら⁠を見てください。
https://chivalrous-wallaby-f5c.notion.site/S2-1114d60c575442768615bc975767fd41?pvs=4

今年はこれで一休み。最後は10分オーバー、年末スペシャルです。
来年も「行ったことのある場所」主義で、続けていきます。
ご期待ください。じゃあ、またね。


すずまりの日本語「きき耳ずきん」S2

第16話　長生きするなら、松山へ（愛媛）

This episode is about 【中国学校开学】, you will learn how to say 【Cry loudly,Separation anxiety】 ect. 
------------------------------------------------
It is recommended that you study in the following ways:
Step 1: Gist listening. Listen to get the main idea. (more times if necessary)
Step 2: Read the text to find out words you didn't get, then look up the dictionary. 
Step 3: Listen and imitate as much as you can without looking at the text.
Step 4: Write down what you hear if you want to practise writing.
-------------------------------------------------- 
男：时间来到了9月1号，不仅是中小学，不少地方的幼儿园小朋友们也开学了。幼儿园迎来了整个学习里说是最忙碌的一天。
女：是，大家通常会把这一天称作叫“神兽归笼”。幼儿园呢确实变成了大型的“伤别离”现场。我们也看到网上有很多的视频引发了大家的热议，有网友就开玩笑说：“哇幼儿园开学第一天真的是听取哇声一片。”
男：是小朋友第一次离开家要出个小远门了哈。有嗷嗷大哭的，有含泪一步三回头的，也有搂着爸爸妈妈脖子，挂在身上不愿意下来的。老师呢恨不得长八只手，感觉哄不完，根本就哄不完。
女：其实爸爸妈妈也没好到哪儿去，因为他们的分离焦虑呀可能比孩子们更严重。
男：是，通过大家发布的视频呢我们总结了一下哈，比如说，有这个老父亲送完了萌娃回来一直抹眼泪的，有上一秒嘴上说着“解放了”下一秒却化身壁虎各种趴墙头偷看孩子的。
女：特别理解啊，为人父母的心情。你像幼儿园是孩子离开家庭独立成长的第一步，其实也是爸爸妈妈面临和孩子分离的第一步。这世上大部分的爱都是关乎拥有的，但唯独呢父母对子女的爱却应该是逐步放手的爱。所以啊，对于家长们来说呢，希望大家也要提前做好准备，也给孩子充分的信任和鼓励。
男：是，其实每一次流泪呢也都是孩子成长的一个契机，所以家长们也要相信孩子啊，当他们独立面对陌生环境的时候，将爆发出意想不到的小宇宙。
（来源：抖音“中国之声”）
------------------------------------------------

忙碌/máng lù/Busy
神兽归笼/shén shòu guī lóng/The beast returns to the cage (referring the kids go back to school )
伤别离/shāng bié lí/Sad about separation
听取哇声一片/tīng qǔ wā shēng yí piàn/hear the sound of cry(original 
verse is 听取蛙（wā,frog）声一片)
嗷嗷大哭/áo áo dà kū/Cry loudly
含泪一步三回头/hán lèi yí bù sān huí tóu/Look back every few steps with tears
搂/lōu/hold...in one's arms
挂/guà/Hang
哄/hǒng/Coax/lull
分离焦虑/fēn lí jiāo lǜ/Separation anxiety
萌娃/méng wá/Cute baby
抹眼泪/mǒ yǎn lèi/Wipe tears
解放/jiě fàng/Liberation
化身壁虎/huà shēn bì hǔ/Turning into a gecko（posture）
趴墙头/pā qiáng tóu/Lean against the wall
唯独/wéi dú/Only
逐步放手/zhú bù fàng shǒu/Gradually letting go
契机/qì jī/Opportunity
爆发出小宇宙/bào fā chū xiǎo yǔ zhòu/Burst into a small universe（referring the kids will show their power）
意想不到/yì xiǎng bú dào/Unexpected

Yuli's Chinese Channel

开学啦（Advanced level）

There's an old English saying that goes: "Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise."

But according to a recent study, "late to bed and late to rise" may actually be better for your brain — though researchers didn't check if it does anything for your health or your wallet.

A study published in BMJ Public Health looked at data from nearly 27,000 people who reported how long they slept, and whether they were a "morning lark" — someone who wakes up early — or a "night owl," who sleeps late.

The participants, aged between 53 and 86, also did cognitive tests that checked their reasoning, memory, and how quickly they could process information.

It was found that night owls performed best on the cognitive tests — ahead of those who described themselves as neither morning people nor night people. And morning larks had the lowest cognitive scores of all.

People's bodies have times when they naturally prefer to sleep. And Raha West of Imperial College London, the study's lead author, said that while it's possible to gradually shift your sleeping times, it's very difficult to completely change from a morning person to a night person.

However, she also said the results just show the trend, and not the truth for every individual.

The authors also noted that their results, which focused on older adults, contrasted with past research on adolescents, which found that young morning larks actually had better health and better mental well-being.

Speaking to The Guardian, Jacqui-Ann Hanley of Alzheimer’s Research UK, who wasn't involved with the study, also said it isn't clear if being a morning person leads to poorer cognitive results in older adults, or if the weaker cognitive abilities that come with aging just make people get up earlier.

The study also found that people generally got better cognitive scores if they reported sleeping between seven and nine hours each night.

Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

'Night Owls' May Have Better Brains

우리 가족을 소개합니다

안녕하세요! 저는 민수예요. 저는 한국 사람이고, 스무 살이에요. 오늘은 우리 가족을 소개할게요.

우리 가족은 네 명이에요. 아빠, 엄마, 누나, 그리고 저예요. 우리 가족은 서울에 살아요.

아빠는 회사원이에요. 아빠는 키가 크고 힘이 세요. 아빠는 운동을 좋아해요. 저랑 같이 농구를 해요.

엄마는 요리를 잘해요. 엄마는 친절하고 따뜻한 사람이에요. 엄마가 만든 김치찌개가 정말 맛있어요.

누나는 대학생이에요. 누나는 저보다 두 살 많아요. 누나는 음악을 좋아해요. 기타를 잘 쳐요. 저한테 노래를 불러 줘요.

우리 가족은 주말에 함께 시간을 보내요. 보통 공원에 가서 산책을 해요. 그리고 맛있는 음식을 먹어요.

우리 가족은 서로 많이 사랑해요. 저는 우리 가족이 정말 좋아요! 😊