An explanation of which articles to use and some examples.

The Social Evolutionary

Articles: "a", "an", "the" or nothing.

Segunda entrega de este podcast sobre datos curiosos e interesantes de Colombia.

Curiosidades de Colombia

Describe an invention that changed how people's life - IELTS speaking








Describe an invention that changed how people’s life


You should say:

What it was
When it was invented
How people use it

And explain how it has changed peoples lives






“I think the one invention that has really changed how we live in recent years has to be the smartphone, which really has become an integral part of so many people's lives, as well as an item that most people feel they can’t live without.

I guess the smartphone as we know it today was invented by Apple, and hit the mass market back in about 2007 or 8, which really broke new ground and launched a mobile revolution, quickly becoming the one piece of technology everybody wanted to own.

I think the first way the smartphone changed peoples lives was in how it literally put the internet in everyone's pocket, and completely revolutionised the mobile industry. On top of that, it also put a good camera in our pockets, and made us all aspiring photographers overnight, which also led to a huge rise in the different social media platforms.

I really believe that the smartphone and the apps that go with it changed so much in our lives, even the way people work today, and the way we do business. From posting selfies on facebook and online shopping to work related emails or communication the smartphone really has revolutionised just about everybody's life, from the ordinary joe bloggs to the business bigwigs.

Thank you.”


IELTS 85 Speaking

Describe an invention that changed people's lives

If you look up “get” in a dictionary, you might see anywhere from 10 to 20 definitions.  That is really scary.  However, I have some good news.  There is a much easier way to remember how to use “get.”  

Instead of memorizing dozens of meanings, it’s better to organize the meanings of “get” into groups.  Each group is easy to recognize because it is based on what comes after “get.” 

For the full text of this podcast, please go to https://www.difficultenglishexplained.com/the-verb-get-not-as-complicated-as-it-looks/ . 
 

Difficult English Explained

The Verb “Get” --- Not as Complicated as it Looks

Continuación del cuento "El día en que murió Juan Rulfo", autoría de la distinguida escritora mexicana Cristina Rivera Garza.

Cuento de nunca acabar

Episodio 7: El día en que murió Juan Rulfo (Parte 2)

Staying healthy can be difficult — it might mean we don't always get to eat and drink the things we want.

Sometimes we have to sacrifice some sweet things because we know they're not such a good idea!

But how far would you go to make sure you have a healthy diet?

A new survey has found that almost a quarter of people in the UK don't enjoy their meals because they put health before taste.

That means they're choosing to eat meals they don't like just because they're healthy.

However, the survey, by a bread company called Warburtons, also found that 74% of people aged between 25 and 44 aren't quite sure how to eat a balanced diet.

So it's perhaps not a surprise that people are eating meals they don't enjoy!

It's true that foods full of sugar, salt and butter can taste good, but experts say that healthy meals can taste great too.

And we can still enjoy some tasty things as part of a healthy diet.

In fact, some experts say that we shouldn't think of foods as "good" or "bad" — we should be able to enjoy everything in moderation.

This is something that older adults are better at, according to the survey, which included 2,000 people in the UK.

Adults over the age of 65 were most likely to put their enjoyment first when making food. Younger people admitted to eating meals in front of others to look like they're healthy — even if they don't like the food.

English Conversation/Dialogue

Survey: Young Adults Sacrifice Taste for Health in Meals

CHISTES MEXICANOS

UN HUEVO LE DICE A UN TOMATE

"If you were an ice cream flavor, which one would you be, and why?"

This may be your idea of a nightmare interview question — and yes, employers really use it.

Your answer won't reveal anything about your ability to, say, use Microsoft Excel or drive a forklift truck. But it may tell your potential boss something about your "soft skills."

It's been said that hard skills will get you an interview, but soft skills will get you a job.

Hard skills are things you might learn at university, like how to write computer code or speak French.

Soft skills are the things you might not be able to prove with a qualification, but that will help you succeed in the workplace.

These could include being good at things like problem-solving, time management, and communicating with others or understanding how they feel — even being a good listener.

Employers say soft skills are more important than ever as the world adapts to remote and hybrid working patterns, because being able to communicate clearly and adapt to new situations is even more vital to success.

Some have called soft skills innate. But can we learn them or at least improve them?

"Yes," says jobs website Indeed.

It says the keys are to communicate regularly with the people on your team, be open to feedback, and pay attention to the way others overcome challenges including how they interact with people to do so.

Indeed also says it's important to simply get to work on time. This will help with time management, and also helps you achieve your goals and stand out from your colleagues.

Amanda Vickers, CEO of training company Speak First, told The Guardian that it's also important to try to understand what other people's needs and motives might be. This will help you adapt and work successfully with different people.

So, which ice cream flavor are you?

Well, the flavor isn't important but your answer could demonstrate soft skills such as creativity, quick thinking and even self-awareness.

Just don't choose vanilla.

Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

Succeed at Work by Developing Your Soft Skills

lesson on italki 
https://www.italki.com/ja/teacher/9451959/japanese

https://linktr.ee/atsushi_japanese

こんばんは！
Japanese daily life podcast のAtsushiです。
このPodcastは、日本語を勉強しているみなさんに向けたPodcastです。

昨日の夜、はじめてヨガのオンラインレッスンを受けました。今いろんなサービスがオンラインで受けられるようになりましたね。見る、聞く、話す、体を動かす、などの体験はほとんどがオンラインでもできるようになりましたね。

食べたり飲んだり、その場所に行ったり、というのはリアルでしかできない体験ですね。

それで話を戻しますが、ヨガのオンラインレッスンはとても楽しかったです。そもそも、ヨガのレッスンを受けること自体がはじめての体験でした。いつもヨガをする時はYouTubeを見ながらしていました。だから、人に見られながらするのははじめてだったので、少し緊張しました。でも良いことがありました。

1つ目は、自分がしている動き、ポーズがあっているかどうかがわかることです。
あってますよーとか、もう少し足の向きを右にしてください、とか、具体的に言ってもらえます。1人でしていると、多分これであってると思う、ていう感じでしています。ですので、このフィードバックがもらえるのはとても良いです。

2つ目は具体的な説明があることです。もちろん、YouTubeでも具体的に教えてもらえますが、オンラインレッスンだと、よくわからないなという反応があった時にもう少し詳しく教えてくれたり、違う言葉で言ってもらえたりします。ですので、ちゃんと理解した動き、ポーズができるので良いですね。

で、これって、日本語のオンラインレッスンと同じだなと思いました。
基礎的な学習は学校やYoutubeで結構できると思いますが、実践的、実際に話すような練習は、やっぱり日本人と直接話すことが大切ですね。

さっき話した、自分の話している日本語があってるかの確認ができますし、わからない時にさらに確認して、教えてもらうこともできますね。

さらにオンラインの良い点は、Wi-Fiがあれば、いつでもどこでもできる！ということですね。僕のレッスンを受けてくれている方もいろんな国の方がいます。僕は寝ている時間をのぞけば、ほぼいつでもレッスンできるようにしています。

2023年は日本語を勉強したい！と考えているみなさん！
ぜひ、僕と日本語のレッスンをはじめましょう！
italki のオンラインレッスンでお待ちしていますね！

ということで、今回も最後まで聞いていただき、ありがとうございます！ではまた！



