绕口令

Giant Dreams Midget Abilities by David Sedaris read by Teacher Alyse
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"WHEN YOU'RE PLAYING YOUR GUITAR, MAKE BELIEVE YOU'RE PLAYING AN ACTUAL WOMAN," MISTER MANCINI TOLD ME. "GRAB HER BY THE NECK AND MAKE HER HOLLER."

My father loves jazz and has an extensive collection of records and reel-to-reel tapes he used to enjoy after returning home from work. He might have entered the house in a foul mood, but once he had his Dexter Gordon and a vodka martini, the stress melted away and everything was "Beautiful, baby, just beautiful." The instant the needle hit that record, he'd loosen his tie and become something other than the conservative engineer with a pocketful of IBM pencils embossed with the command think.

"Man, oh man, will you get a load of the chops on this guy? I saw him once at the Blue Note, and I mean to tell you that he blew me right out of my chair! A talent like that comes along only once in a lifetime. The guy was an absolute comet, and there I was in the front row. Can you imagine that?"

"Gee," I'd say. "I bet that was really interesting."

Empathy was the wrong tack, as it seemed only to irritate him.

"You don't know the half of it," my father would say. " 'Really interesting' my butt. You haven't got a clue. You could have taken a hatchet and cut the man's lips right off his face, chopped them off at the quick, and he still would have played better than anyone else out there. That's how good he was."

Because it was the music we'd grown up with, I liked to think that my sisters and I had a genuine appreciation for jazz. We preferred it over the music our friends were listening to, yet nothing we did or said could convince him of our devotion. Aside from replaying the tune on your own instrument, how could you prove you were really listening? It was as if he expected us to change color at the end of each selection.

Three by Sedaris ( Adult 18+ )

Giant Dreams Midget Abilities

Here are some general tips and aspects to consider when searching for a tutor on italki. 

Learnable English

How to Choose the Perfect italki Tutor

В этом подкасте я рассказываю краткую историю театра в России и о том, что там можно посмотреть.

Привет, это Наташа!

Эпизод 33. Театр в России.

Clase gratis de Presente de Subjuntivo: https://spanishwithberta.systeme.io/presentedesubjuntivo

Español coloquial

Estoy hasta las narices de que me llamen a la hora de la siesta

Hello. Today, I will talk a little about the way to say "20 years old" that comes up in the first Chapter of Minna no Nihongo.
At 20 years old, it’s fine to say “にじゅっさい” (nijussai), but there’s also another way to say it: “はたち” (hatachi).　Japanese counters can be challenging to remember, as they are not “いちさい” (ichisai) but rather “いっさい” (issai), and not “しちさい” (shichisai) but “ななさい” (nanasai). Occasionally, there are completely different expressions, like for 20 years old. It can be difficult, but let’s do your best to memorize them.

As for “はたち,” in Lesson 5, the date “20th”  is also expressed as “はつか.” Perhaps ancient Japanese people used the character “は” to mean 20. Connecting these two ideas might make it a bit easier to remember. Keep up the good work!

Now, a little update regarding my course: I have launched a new Minna no Nihongo course. The content is exactly the same, but it can be taken with two people. It’s also possible with three or more, but in that case, the lesson fee will change a little bit.
Of course, just like the regular Minna no Nihongo course, there will be plenty of homework. If anyone would like to take it with a friend, please give it a try!

Alright, everyone, keep studying hard!


ようへい先生　　N4,N5チャンネル

みんなの日本語Chapter One　20years old

In this episode of Streetwise English Podcast, I talk about using a camera to meet new people. Book an English conversation class with me . My teacher profile: https://italki.com/teacher/1947582 Thanks for listening!

Streetwise English

SWE 94 - Breaking the Ice with a Camera

Spanish star Rafael Nadal is retiring from professional tennis at the age of 38, he has announced.

Nadal won 22 Grand Slam singles titles during his career, including the French Open 14 times.

He has been one of the greatest players of the modern game, sharing his time at the top with his longtime rivals Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic.

The tennis world has long debated which man should be called the "Greatest of All Time" — or "GOAT."

Nadal hasn't been able to compete much during the past two seasons because of injuries. He has entered just two of the last eight major tournaments.

He said that next month's Davis Cup finals — when he'll play for Spain — will be his final tournament.

"It is obviously a difficult decision, one that has taken me some time to make," he said. "But in this life, everything has a beginning and an end."

Nadal was known for his physical style of play — he played every point as though it were his last, but he was especially strong on clay courts.

There is a statue of Nadal outside those slow, red courts in Paris on which he enjoyed so much success.

As well as his French Open titles, he won the US Open four times and won Wimbledon and the Australian Open twice each.

"I think it is the appropriate time to put an end to a career that has been long and much more successful than I could have ever imagined," Nadal said.

His last major title came in Paris in June 2022. Nadal's tally of Grand Slams has since been surpassed by Djokovic, who has now won 24 majors.

In total, the Spaniard won 92 singles titles, spent 209 weeks as the world's number one player and earned almost $135 million in prize money.

He said: "Really, everything I have experienced has been a dream come true."

Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

Rafael Nadal Retires from Professional Tennis at 38

IELTS Preparation. Band 8-9 Answers. Part 1 - Countryside

Q. Do you like going to the countryside?
Q. Why is the countryside usually quieter than the city?
Q. Why do many people prefer to live in the countryside?
Q. Where are the quietest places in cities?
Q. What will the countryside look like in your country in the future?

Let me know what you liked best!