Transcription:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/13VhJXoSkhs-y6iIYw1koVwzmjgGDrvM31st63CLQqsQ/edit?usp=sharing

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# 14 What sport do Russians choose? (+transcription)

**Listen to this audio file to learn about Iran's culture and people
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Persian Podcasts / پادکست فارسی 

ایران زیبا / Beautiful Iran

In this podcast for adult, independent English learners we look at the correct pronunciation (in southern British / modern RP) of the following words: chaotic, mindful, fruit, and nature.

Birdsong English Explains

Ep.1 Common pronunciation errors

If you see someone sitting alone in a restaurant, you might assume they're waiting for someone, or perhaps they're grabbing a quick lunch on their break.

But more and more people around the world are purposely dining alone.

Japan has a special word for this: ohitorisama, which refers to people confidently doing things alone without worrying about what others think.

A recent survey found that 23% of Japanese people eat out alone, up from 18% in 2018. And in the US, solo dining reservations have risen 29% over the last two years, according to restaurant reservation site OpenTable.

OpenTable CEO Debby Soo thinks remote work is one reason for the increase, with people looking for a break from their home offices.

The increasing popularity in solo dining comes as more people are living alone. In 2019, the Pew Research Center found that 38% of US adults ages 25 to 54 were living without a partner, up from 29% in 1990. In Japan, single households now make up one-third of the total; that’s expected to increase to 40% by 2040, according to government data.

Growing interest in solo travel — particularly among travelers ages 55 and over — is also leading to more meals alone.

But Soo thinks there could be more to it than that.

"I think there's a broader movement of self-love and self-care and really … enjoying your own company," Soo said.

As a result, many restaurants are redoing their seating, changing their menus and adding other special touches to appeal to solo diners.

But some aren't always happy to seat one diner. A Michelin-starred London restaurant caused a stir last year when it started charging solo diners the same price as two customers. The restaurant, which has 34 seats, offers an eight-course menu costing about $280 per person.

Other restaurants say it's worth seating one person because solo diners will often come back and eat there again.

Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

Party of One: Solo Dining Increasing in Popularity

JOYCE: Should we take a taxi or a bus to the mall?
BILL: Let’s take a bus. It’s impossible to get a taxi during 
rush hour.
JOYCE: Isn’t that a bus stop over there?
BILL: Yes ... Oh! There’s a bus now. We’ll have to run to 
catch it.
JOYCE: Oh, no! We just missed it.
BILL: No problem. There’ll be another one in 10 minutes.


LANGUAGE NOTES
• Should we … or …? Is a way of asking “Which is better?” “Should” is used to ask 
for an opinion. Note that we do not say “Will” here.
• Take a taxi or a bus? The word “or” signals a choice here. Notice the rising 
intonation on taxi (the first choice) and falling intonation on bus (the second choice).
• Let’s (Let us) means “I think we should do this.”
• Rush hour is the time of day when most people are going to or from work. In most 
American cities, rush hour is from about 7:30 to 9:00 a.m. and from about 4:30 to 
6:30 p.m. Notice that “rush hour” is a compound noun, with the main stress on the 
first word.
• Isn’t that This is a negative question. The speaker expects an affirmative answer. It 
is used to check information.
• Bus stop is a compound noun, with the main stress on the first word.
• Oh! is an exclamation used to express alarm or surprise.
• Oh, no! is an expression used to express disappointment.
• We just missed it here means “We arrived a moment too late to get the bus.” 
Notice the emphasis on “just” to show the very recent past.
• No problem here means “It doesn’t matter.

English Conversation practice (30-day challenge)

Day 19: Transportation 

Why good communication with colleagues and bosses matters in the workplace.

English Cup 

 The Importance of Business Communication Skills

Vocabulaire de l'école et anecdote sur l'école, vidéo ci-dessous: 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQp6ToEV4j0
