This is a casual podcast about the English language.  I will talk about conversations I had during the day and question that were asked.  Group class plans will also be discussed.

Reflections

By the end of this session, you’ll have a clearer understanding of consonant categories, common pronunciation challenges, and practical exercises to perfect your pronunciation.

Sounds of American English: https://youtu.be/v5nh8u0zji8

Mastering American English with Tom The Power of Consonants: https://youtu.be/4RAXSHMK0RE

Oggi parliamo di possibilità, e di conseguenza anche un po’ della grammatica.
Lo so che, in questo caso, l’approccio non è più così tanto comunicativo, ma volevo dare un senso di istruzione, diciamo, a questo audio.
Comincerei con la classica domanda che si fa in classe, con gli amici, con i figli: se vincessi la lotteria, o comunque un sacco (o un fracco, o un pacco) di soldi, qual è la prima cosa che faresti?
E quasi tutti sempre rispondiamo: andrei in aeroporto e partirei per un lungo viaggio. 
E smetteresti di lavorare? Non penseresti alle conseguenze? E dove andresti, scusa?
E quale sarebbe la seconda cosa che faresti? …….. silenzio…… alla domanda bisogna pensarci bene. È una possibilità allettante, quella che ci fa sognare. 
Per questo si chiama “periodo ipotetico della possibilità”: possiamo esprimere un desiderio.
Quello di vincere un fracco di soldi è il più comune, certo, e anche il più grandioso.
Ma noi, in genere, apprezziamo anche i piccoli desideri: aaahhhh, se non ci fosse il traffico a Roma, si vivrebbe così bene; se potessi arrivare al mare in 10 minuti, mi farei un bel bagno e poi aspetterei il tramonto con una bella granita al limone, freschissima. 
E, se non facesse così caldo, dormiremmo tutti meglio.
E se potessimo andare tutti in vacanza quando ne abbiamo voglia…. Questa si che sarebbe vita!
Ecco, cose così. Ma sempre lì a fantasticare improbabili avvenimenti.
Così si parla non solo di possibilità, ma anche di “irrealtà”! 
Ma voi ve la immaginate Roma senza traffico????
E se leggessimo la notizia clamorosa che da domani internet non è più disponibile, come reagiremmo?
Io malissimo, sicuramente! Dovrei inventarmi un nuovo lavoro, tanto per cominciare.
Ma quale lavoro potrei scegliere? 🤔
Se fossi obbligato a scegliere un altro pianeta dove andare a vivere, quale preferiresti?
Ecco le assurdità dell’irrealtà. Ipotesi che non si avvereranno, ma con le quali a volte abbiamo passato del tempo a parlare o a pensare.





la Rubrica di Simona

SE....

In this brief retelling of the fairy tale about Six Brothers under a magical spell and made to live as Swans, we look at a few different kinds of commonly used phrases so that we can understand them in context.

A Stone's Throw Podcast

The Six Swans

Tuve una plática larga y tendida con Imene, una argelina radicando en la capirucha. También es profesora de árabe en Italki.

Imene:
https://www.italki.com/teacher/7804173

Mucho que decir

Choques culturales Ft. Imene (Argelia) 

After 15 months, three Israeli hostages have left Hamas captivity as a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas took hold on the morning of January 19.

Dozens of Palestinian prisoners also walked free from Israeli jail as the skies above Gaza and Israel were silent for the first time in over a year, stirring modest hopes for ending the Israel-Hamas war.

The ceasefire deal, with an initial phase lasting six weeks, calls for the entry into Gaza of 600 trucks carrying humanitarian relief daily. Over the course of the deal's first stage, 33 Israeli hostages in Hamas captivity in Gaza will also be released in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

Many Israelis stayed glued to TV screens to glimpse the three hostages — Emily Damari, Romi Gonen and Doron Steinbrecher — being released as militants handed them over to the Red Cross on a packed street in Gaza City.

In videos released by the Israeli government, the women were seen weeping and hugging family members. Damari raised a bandaged hand in triumph.

The military said she lost two fingers in the Hamas-led militant attack on October 7, 2023, that killed over 1,200 people and resulted in the abduction of some 250 others.

Meanwhile, in the occupied West Bank, crowds flooded the streets around 1 a.m. on January 20 as white buses carrying 90 Palestinian detainees — all women or teens — exited the gates of Ofer prison.

Fireworks erupted, and several men climbed atop one of the buses to raise Hamas flags.

All of those being released had been detained for what Israel called offenses related to its security, from throwing stones and promoting violence on social media to more serious accusations such as attempted murder.

Khalida Jarrar, one of the freed detainees, told The Associated Press: "There's this double feeling we're living in, on the one hand, this feeling of freedom, that we thank everyone for, and on the other hand, this pain, of losing so many Palestinian martyrs."


Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

Gaza Ceasefire Brings Exchange of Prisoners and Hostages

IELTS Preparation. Band 8-9 Answers. Part 3 - Life Experience Q5-6

5. What experience do you wish you had gained? Wh do you think so?
6. Why do some people fail to learn from their experience?

Which idea can you use in your answers if the same type of question would come up on your test?

For more IELTS podcasts - check my podcasts section and get more ideas.

To be trained by me personally - send a class request.

You can count on my full support and assistance!

IELTS-SPEAKING 8-9 BAND IS POSSIBLE. DAILY SPEAKING PRACTICE PART 1,2 & 3. Listen daily.

IELTS Preparation. Band 8-9 Answers. Part 3 - Life Experience Q5-6

When it comes to Summer time, it's Fireworks Festival all over Japan. In 2023, a lot of festivals are held for the first time in post COVID-19.  Fireworks in Japanese is "Hanabi".
Most of Japanese love Hanabi. We are so excited to see a number of Hanabi and enjoy them.
I'm going to introduce some Fireworks Festivals held in Kansai area. 
******************************************************************
夏祭りと花火大会

日本の夏といえば、花火大会！
何千発も花火を打ち上げる大きなお祭りが　各地で開催されます。
私が住んでいる関西地方でも、いくつかの大きなお祭りがあります。
先陣を切って行われるのが、大阪の「天神祭り」です。今年、２０２３年は７月２５日火曜日に午後７：３０から『天神祭奉納花火』が行われました。約３０００発の花火が打ち上げられたそうです。私の勤める日本語学校は大阪にあるので、クラスの学生たちの何人かは見に行ったと言っていました。夜のお祭りを遅くまで楽しんだらしく、翌日の授業では眠そうにしていたそうです。
さらに、大きな花火大会があります。『なにわ淀川花火大会』です。
今年は８月５日（土）の午後７：３０から８：３０の間に約20,000発の花火が打ち上げられるそうです。　一般的な打ち上げ花火だけでなく、川の水面を鏡のように利用したパフォーマンスや音楽に合わせた打ち上げ花火など　さまざまな花火が楽しめるそうです。　
他にも『猪名川花火大会』『泉州夢花火』『水都くらわんか花火大会』などなど、いろいろな場所で花火大会が開催されます。どの花火大会にも、大勢の人たちが見物に訪れます。　
花火の音と夜空に描かれる色さまざまな模様に、釘付けになります。1時間近く上ばかり見ていると、首が痛くなってきますが、それでも、みんな花火を最後まで見続けます。
ひときわ大きな花火が連続でババババババっと一気に打ち上げられると、それが花火大会のフィナーレです。その最後の２，３分は、　みんなの「うわあ！」という歓声が、特大の花火の上がる音にかき消されるほどです。そして、一瞬のうちに空は静かになり花火大会は終わります。
「あ～、終わってしまった…。」ちょっと、寂しく感じる瞬間です。
コロナで夏祭りも花火大会もこの２，３年は中止されていましたが、今年は久しぶりに開催するところが多いです。　今年こそ花火を見に行きたいと思っています。


 

やさしい日本語（にほんご）

2023花火大会（はなびたいかい）Fireworks Festival

https://drive.google.com/file/d/164D2cnE9dwWpJfUmdU8FptAITNHj8laC/view?usp=drivesdk