Learn to describe people. We cover basic language and expressions about appearance and personality. Best for beginner students!

Super Basic Spanish

Learn Basic Spanish: Descripciones personales (personal descriptions)

Learn and Speak Malay Job Vocabulary: Can you guess how long office staff work?

All about Work and Jobs 

Can you guess how long office staff work?

Un premier épisode pour vous faire découvrir un produit emblématique du sud de la France : le savon de Marseile. 

Simple comme bonjour

Le savon de Marseille

Have you ever heard of doublespeak? The language is stripped of expressions to the point where anyone that speaks it becomes incapable of any "rebellious" or "unorthodox" thought? Well, this is, luckily, fiction right from George Orwell's famous 1984. But does a language like that actually exist? Let's hear out our expert on the subject matter - Guillaume Thierry.

The Age of Humans

Episode 1: Could Orwell´s doublespeak exist?

Cada 16 de Septiembre los mexicanos celebramos nuestro día de la independencia, 
¿pero cómo que no es el 5 de mayo?, pues no, la independencia de México ocurrió un 16 de septiembre, escucha este episodio y aprende un poco más acerca de esta fecha.

Con un ojo al gato

¡Viva México señores!

TRANSCRIPTION (explanation included)
These various expressions for negation span a spectrum of formality and tone. In the lexicon of everyday conversation, one might simply assert "no," "nope," or "nah," and even employ a touch of informality with "not gonna happen." When a matter is more absolute, phrases like "without a doubt, no" and "under no circumstances" make the position clear. In informal settings, a definitive refusal might take the form of "not a chance" or "ain't gonna happen," perhaps even with a touch of camaraderie, as in "nah, mate." For matters requiring decorum, a formal approach may involve phrases like "I'm afraid the answer is no" or "I must decline," while adding regret, as in "regrettably, no," imparts a sense of genuine consideration. Politeness tempers the refusal in phrases such as "I'm sorry, but no" and "thank you for considering me, but I'll have to say no," expressing gratitude for the offer. The witty turn of phrase adds a touch of humor to the refusal, suggesting impossibility with expressions like "I'd sooner sprout wings and fly" or "when pigs fly." In more elevated circles, the upper class might communicate their refusal with statements like "I regret to inform you that the answer is in the negative" or "it would not be fitting, I'm afraid," while maintaining an air of politeness. For royalty, a refusal is conveyed with grace and tact, as in "one must respectfully decline" or "I cannot acquiesce to that request," underscoring the formal nature of the response. Ultimately, the choice of expression hinges on the context and the level of decorum required for the situation at hand.

LEARN BY LISTENING

How To say 'NO' in various English Registers

just a cute little story about travelling with lots of vocabulary on topic

New words 生词:

национальный парк - national park, 国家公园；
официальный сайт - official website, 官方网站；
стоимость посещения - cost per visit, 每次访问费用；
экскурсионная группа - excursion group, 游览团；
машина на прокат - a car to rent, 租一辆车；
смотровая площадка - observation deck, 观景台；
заказать экскурсию - book an excursion, 预订短途旅行；
организованный трансфер - transfer, 转移

Виниловые пластинки

Куда съездить

Learn Basic Spanish: ¿Qué hizo la doctora ayer? (What did the doctor do yesterday?)

Уживајте у поучној причи / Uživajte u poučnoj priči! After listening to this short story try to answer these questions in the comments below:
1. Шта је лисица покушала да дохвати? / Šta je lisica pokušala da dohvati?
2. Да ли је у томе успела? / Da li je u tome uspela?
3. Која је поука приче? /  Koja je pouka priče?
Срећно учење! / Srećno učenje!
