In this episode I'll end my long monologue about the effectiveness of some of the most popular language study apps. Do they actually work? If yes, in which areas of language learning are they useful? How should you use them?

Subtitled Italian

Season 01 / Episode 04 - Are study apps really worth it? (part 2)

Portuguese Audios for Intermediate Advance B2 -Áudios em Português para Intermédios Avançados B2

A praia de Copacabana

In today's episode we learn an anecdote about the American tourists who once met the Queen and had no idea who she was. Here's the story. 

Key Vocabulary:
An anecdote   /ˈanɪkdəʊt/   noun  = a short, interesting story about a real incident or person.
To play a prank on someone = To carry out a trick, deception, or practical joke on someone.
To pull someone's leg  =  to deceive someone playfully; tease someone.
Cantankerous	/kanˈtaŋk(ə)rəs/ adjective   = bad-tempered, argumentative, and uncooperative.
To be a fly on the wall =  you would like to hear what will be said or see what will happen while not being noticed

Former Royal Protection Officer, Richard Griffin said he and the Queen met the American hikers one day while they were walking near Balmoral Castle, her holiday home in Scotland.
"The Queen would always stop and say hello," Griffin said. "And it was clear from the moment we first stopped that they hadn't recognized the Queen."
Griffin said one of the Americans asked the Queen where she lived.
"She said, 'Well I live in London, but I've got a holiday home near here,"' Griffin recalled. 
The hiker then asked if she had ever met Queen Elizabeth.
"Well I haven't, but Richard here meets her regularly," the Queen replied.
The hiker then turned to Griffin and asked: "Oh, you've met the Queen? What's she like?"
"I decided to pull her leg, so I said, 'she can be very cantankerous at times, but she's got a lovely sense of humour".
The American then got his camera out, and gave it to the Queen, asking if she could take a picture of him with the royal protection officer. "Then we swapped places and I took a picture of them with the Queen and we waved goodbye". "The Queen said to me, 'I'd love to be a fly on the wall when he shows those photographs to their friends —  hopefully someone tells him who I am.'"

Learn English with Cambridge David

The Queen and the American tourists

The Main Differences Between British English and American English
The English language is a global medium of communication with two predominant forms: British English and American English. These two varieties serve as the foundation for millions of speakers worldwide. However, they differ significantly in vocabulary, spelling, grammar, pronunciation, and usage. Understanding these distinctions is essential for anyone who wants to communicate effectively across cultural and linguistic boundaries. This essay explores the key differences between British and American English and explains why these differences matter.
Vocabulary
One of the most noticeable differences is in the words each variety uses. Many words differ entirely for the same concept. For example, British English uses the word "flat" to describe a living space, while American English uses the word "apartment." Similarly, a "lorry" in British English is a "truck" in American English, and "petrol" becomes "gas."
Even some common words have different meanings depending on the variety. For instance, in British English, the word "pants" refers to underwear, but in American English, "pants" means trousers. These differences can cause confusion, which is why understanding the context is so important. Both varieties also have unique idiomatic expressions. For example, in British English, the phrase "fancy dress" refers to a costume, but Americans would call this a "costume party."
Spelling
Spelling differences between British and American English developed as the result of historical changes. British English spells the word "colour" with a "u," while American English spells it "color." Another example is the British spelling "centre," which is written as "center" in American English: https://youtu.be/hzLVVTbqgcAhttps://youtu.be/hzLVVTbqgcA

Differences between British English and American English

The Main Differences Between British English and American English - Introduction: https://youtu.be/hzLVVTbqgcA 

Nuestra existencia y el desarrollo de todas nuestras extensiones han llevado a la desaparición de muchas especies de animales como de plantas y ecosistemas. Hoy hablamos de los arrecifes ubicados en Centro América y de su papel en nuestras vidas. 
En el siguiente enlace encontrarán en artículo del episodio así como vocabulario nuevo: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Cc5qd4OP-JYIZNDmIug-6QAP9Vq5NZ3IuRW27zynY0I/edit?usp=sharing

Voces Difusora

Arrecifes: la existencia del humano, la desaparición del ecosistema

Hey, how are you? I hope you are well. I'm Milo Spanish, a Spanish tutor at italki, and today we're going to talk about some interesting words in Spanish that sometimes confuse those who are learning the language.

1. Madrugar: Esta palabra no tiene equivalente directo en inglés. "Madrugar" significa levantarse temprano, especialmente antes de lo habitual. En algunas culturas, madrugar es una costumbre para aprovechar más el día. Por ejemplo, "Hoy tuve que madrugar para llegar a tiempo al trabajo."

2. Pena ajena: Esta expresión se refiere a la vergüenza que sentimos al ver a otra persona en una situación incómoda o embarazosa. No se trata de nuestra vergüenza, sino de sentirla por otro. En inglés sería algo similar a "secondhand embarrassment". Ejemplo: "Me dio mucha pena ajena ver cómo olvidó su discurso."

3. Empalagar: "Empalagar" significa sentir cansancio o hartazgo debido a algo que hemos consumido o experimentado en exceso. Puede aplicarse a comida, como cuando hemos comido tanto dulce que ya no queremos más. "Este postre está delicioso, pero después de dos porciones, me empalagué."

4. Desvelarse: Este verbo es usado cuando alguien no puede dormir o se queda despierto hasta tarde, generalmente por alguna preocupación o actividad. "Me desvelé estudiando para el examen y ahora estoy muy cansado."
 
5. Friolento: Se usa para describir a alguien que es muy sensible al frío. Una persona friolenta siempre tiene frío, incluso en temperaturas moderadas. "Soy muy friolento, necesito una chaqueta incluso en primavera."


And that's all for today. If you have questions or want to learn more, feel free to book a class with me. You can find more information in my profile. See you next time!

Colombia

Spanish Words with No Direct English Translation

LUKE: Hello? Hi, Stephanie, how are things at the office?
STEPHANIE: Hi, Luke! How are you? Can you please stop and pick up 
extra paper for the computer printer?
LUKE: What did you say? Can you repeat that, please? Did you 
say to pick up ink for the printer? Sorry, the phone is 
cutting out.
STEPHANIE: Can you hear me now? No, I need more computer paper. 
Listen, I’ll text you exactly what I need. Thanks, Luke. 
Talk to you later.
LUKE: Thanks, Stephanie. Sorry, my phone has really bad
reception here.



LANGUAGE NOTES
• There are a few ways to express a lack of understanding and to request additional 
information. The most common ones are stated, but you can also say “Excuse me” or 
simply “I can’t hear you.” In a more formal situation, try saying “I’m sorry?” or “I beg 
your pardon?” (with a rising intonation).
• When asking someone to clarify information try saying Can you please repeat that? / 
Can you spell that for me? / Can you please write down the address for me?
• Cutting out describes a difficulty in understanding a caller due to poor cellphone 
reception. If you are having trouble understanding the caller, you can also say The 
line is breaking up / I am losing you. If the phone call is disconnected because of poor 
reception, you can say The call dropped.
• Talk to you later is the equivalent in a phone conversation of “See you later” in a 
regular, face-to-face conversation.
• Reception here means the availability of cellular service, the possibility to receive and 
give calls on a cellphone. Cellphone reception can be limited in remote areas, inside 
large buildings or underground (in the subway, for instance).

English Conversation practice (30-day challenge)

Day 7: Asking them to repeat

How Style Can Kill: In this episode, we’ll explore different moments in history—without following a strict timeline—to uncover how fashion has, quite literally, taken lives.

Spanish but nerdy

Dying for Fashion

Una de las preguntas más frecuentes de mis estudiantes es qué series pueden ver para practciar su español. En este episodio de menciono 7. 5 de ellas bastante actuales, y otras 2 que han marcado un antes y un después en la vida de los españoles.