Learn about the reasons why we use the Past Continuous and in which situations! Part 2.

English Syndicate

Why do we use the Past Continuous tense? Pt. 2

** This story contains graphic and explicit material it is not recommended for children. For mature audiences only. ** 18+
The Parrot and the Potbellied Pig from Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris Illustrations by Ian Falconer
Read by me Teacher Alyse. Listen and follow along.
Send me a message me for your free pdf copy of this book.

The way the pig is labeled based on his Vietnamese heritage, despite being born in the U.S., mirrors the real-world experiences of many immigrants and their descendants. Even when someone identifies as fully American, they can still be seen as "other" because of their background. The parrot's insistence on framing the pig's identity through an ethnic lens—rather than his actual achievements—reflects how media narratives and public discourse can shape (and sometimes distort) the way individuals are perceived.
This is especially important now, given the ongoing discussions about immigration in the U.S. Many immigrants and first-generation Americans face similar struggles with identity, belonging, and how they're portrayed in society. The story also highlights how insecurities—whether about identity, appearance, or status—can be exacerbated by external judgments.
Themes and Interpretation
•	Identity and Stereotyping: The pig’s frustration highlights how labels—whether about ethnicity or body image—can shape and limit a person’s self-perception.
•	Media Manipulation: The parrot, representing a journalist, distorts facts for a sensationalized story, raising questions about bias and ethics in reporting.
•	Self-Perception and Insecurity: The pig’s struggles with his body image illustrate how external judgments can create deep-seated insecurities.
•	Cultural Commentary: The story subtly critiques societal assumptions about identity and heritage, showing how people (or animals) can be boxed in by others’ perceptions.

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

The Parrot and the Potbellied Pig

"En este episodio exploramos las teorías del profesor Stephen Krashen sobre la adquisición de idiomas. Descubre cómo su enfoque natural y sus cinco hipótesis pueden transformar la manera en que aprendes un nuevo idioma, haciéndolo un proceso más intuitivo, relajado y efectivo. ¡Perfecto para estudiantes y apasionados por el aprendizaje de lenguas!"

Dream on - Tus sueños, tu idioma, tu mundo

"Aprender Sin Estrés: El Enfoque Natural de Stephen Krashen"

Duas amigas de São Paulo vão decorar a casa para o Natal! 

Portuguese Audios for Beginners A1 -Áudios em Português para Principiantes A1

A decoração do apartamento

"POR and PARA prepositions", one of the most difficult topics in learning Spanish, will no longer be confusing after this podcast.
Enjoy this first round, and follow me for the second one on "PARA"!

Spanish Grammar

POR vs PARA

I interview my friend Sofie and she shares some tips for learning strategies and improving your accent. This is the second half of our conversation. Please check out the first half as well (English Advice from a Pro - Part One).

In the second half of the episode (starting at 16:24), I explain the following phrases:

to make up ground (appears at 5:45)
at the end of the day (appears at 7:22)
to pick up (appears at 14:05)

Brentoni's English Podcast

012 - English Advice from a Pro (Part Two)

안녕하세요! 
오늘은 한국에서 많이 쓰이는 단어, [갓생]에 대해 이야기해 보려고 해요. 혹시 들어본 적 있으신가요? 
갓생은 단순히 유행어가 아니라, 한국의 문화와 삶의 가치를 담고 있는 단어예요. 이와 관련된 재미있는 표현들도 함께 소개해 드릴게요!

갓생 (God-Life)
갓생은 영어 God와 한국어 '생'의 조합이에요. '생'은 삶을 의미하죠. 그래서 갓생은 생산적이고, 규칙적이며, 목표를 달성하는 "신적인 삶"을 뜻해요. 예를 들어, 매일 아침 일찍 일어나 운동하고, 공부하고, 계획한 일을 모두 이루는 사람을 보면 "정말 갓생 산다!"라고 말할 수 있어요.

"나는 이번 주도 갓생 살기로 결심했어."
I've decided to live a productive life again this week."
한국 사회는 자기계발과 성실함을 중요하게 생각하는데, 갓생이라는 단어가 그런 문화를 잘 보여주고 있죠.

갓반인 (Ordinary Person)
그런가 하면, 갓반인이라는 단어도 있어요. 이것은 "갓"과 "일반인"의 조합인데요, 일반인은 평범한 사람을 뜻해요. 주로 덕후, 즉 팬덤에 푹 빠진 사람들이 자신과는 다른 평범한 사람들을 표현할 때 사용해요.

"나는 덕후로 살다 보니 갓반인이 너무 부럽다."
"As a passionate enthusiast, I sometimes envy ordinary people."
이 표현은 덕후들 사이에서 자조적이면서도 유머러스하게 사용된답니다.

머글 (Muggle)
머글은 Harry Potter에서 온 단어로, 팬덤이나 특정 취미와 관계없는 사람을 뜻해요. K-pop 팬들이 자주 사용하는 표현이기도 해요.

"내 친구는 완전 머글이라 내가 덕질하는 걸 이해 못 해."
"My friend is a total muggle, so they don’t get my fan obsession."

현생 (Real Life)
마지막으로, 현생은 현실 생활의 줄임말이에요. 현실 세계의 책임이나 일 때문에 취미나 팬 활동에 집중할 수 없을 때 주로 쓰이죠.

"요즘 현생이 너무 바빠서 덕질을 못 하고 있어."
"I'm too busy with real life these days to indulge in my fandom."
이렇게 다양한 표현들이 한국의 대중문화와 일상 속에서 쓰이고 있어요. 여러분은 지금 갓생을 살고 계신가요? 아니면 현생 때문에 바쁜가요?

오늘 팟캐스트를 들으신 후, 꼭 이 단어들을 한 번 사용해 보세요! 다음 시간에는 또 다른 재미있는 한국어 표현을 들고 올게요. 감사합니다!

[ㅇㄱㄹㅇ 덕후 톡] Real Deok-hu Talk Straight from K-media

[갓생] Living a God-Life: Unlocking Korean Slang Gem

⬅️ Left–right political spectrum➡️ Where will you put yourself on?
The world tend to be more and more extreme, I mean, more and more far-right parties won the election, and far-left parties seems become more extreme.
Let's take a look on the win for far-right party in Italy.


⬅️左派和右派➡️ 你会怎么定义你自己呢？
世界似乎越来越极端，越来越多右翼政党赢得政权，而左翼政党也变得更偏激。
因此我们来看看意大极右翼政党赢得大选的新闻吧！

生词：
国会 guóhuì
右派 yòupài
胜利 shènglì
总理 zǒnglǐ
法西斯主义 fǎxīsī zhǔyì
复活 fùhuó

News with zhe

#14义大利国会大选极右派胜利

What you believe about yourself ultimately shapes your learning: 

Transcript: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tLHFCyBlP2SkUGgZNGSAvWN4mpblBxHy/view?usp=drivesdk