Today's phrase is "to probe"

Transcript: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1yuC-p53_L5WmIzvQkNzlOzrZdiOQHjNAvfHCJQL-1xw/edit?usp=sharing

Teacher Joseph's Podcast

To Probe (with transcript)

In this episode, I make some observations about different conversational styles among native and non-native English speakers. I am generalizing, of course, and these are just my thoughts, based on what I've experienced in my life. *

I'd love to hear what YOU think! What have you observed? 

Here are some questions you might want to talk to yourself or write about - as we reflect on the year that has ended. Maybe you want to create a short monologue by recording your thoughts in a voice memo on your phone. Or perhaps you could try writing down your ideas on your phone or on a piece of paper. Do it for 5 or 10 minutes, and don't worry about your grammar or vocabulary. Writing is a great PROCESS - an exercise where you can use your English - anywhere, anytime, without a teacher or a listener. So getting in the HABIT of writing or speaking to yourself is as important as the words you use. Over time, your skills will improve! 

---- QUESTIONS TO ANSWER -----

What does the word SUCCESS mean to you? 
What does SUCCESS LOOK LIKE to you? 
What is something you have SUCCEEDED AT?

Based on YOUR definition of success - what made 2023 a successful year for you?
What will make 2024 a successful year for you? 

And here's a THOUGHT EXPERIMENT and a WRITING EXERCISE.
Imagine it is December 31, 2024. Using past tenses, write about what made 2024 a successful year for you. (This may feel strange, but it’s a great exercise for your English and for your mind! It can be fun and transformative, too!)

-------

*Note - In this episode, I make the mistake of using the word "American" to refer to people from the US. This is a bad habit that I am (still) trying to break. The truth is that we are all Americans in the whole hemisphere - North and South. But, as they say, "old habits die hard" or existing patterns are hard to change. 

Hear and There

4. How we speak with others & why we should talk to ourselves

Learn useful sentences for communication in Spanish and Cantonese with Ida&Sun
If you want to keep practicing more book a lesson with Ida&Sun

SUN https://www.italki.com/teacher/5014534/chinese(cantonese)
IDA https://www.italki.com/teacher/5160694/spanish


Ida&Sun - Mangohamster 『 Spanish and Cantonese』

Ida&Sun  『 Spanish and Cantonese 1 』

On some tour buses, you'll hear the guide welcome passengers in a number of different languages.

And at airports around the world, announcements might be made in more than one language to help more travelers understand what's being said.

But in Belgium, a train passenger made an official complaint after the conductor used both Dutch and French to say good morning.

The problem for this passenger was that the train was traveling through a city called Vilvoorde in the Flemish part of Belgium, where Dutch is the main language.

But Vilvoorde is very close to the capital, Brussels, where both Dutch and French are used.

The French-speaking conductor, named Ilyass Alba, wrote about the complaint on Facebook.

He said that after greeting passengers, one had replied: "We're not in Brussels yet, you have to use Dutch only!"

And while many people have taken Alba's side, the person who complained was technically correct — only Dutch should have been used.

According to the country's language rules, only Dutch should have been used while the train was in the Flemish part of the country. And as Belga News Agency explains, Belgium's rules say only French should be used when trains are in the French-speaking part of the country.

But announcements can be French and Dutch in Brussels. And on trains traveling to Brussels Airport, Dutch, French, German — another of Belgium's official languages — and English can be used.

Some Dutch-speaking politicians have said it's important that conductors stick to language rules.

But the country's French-speaking transport minister said that making passengers feel welcome is the most important thing.

The train company, SNCB, agreed with the transport minister. "Saying hello in several languages is just nice, we can only thank our conductors for that," an SNCB official told Agence France-Presse.

Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

Greeting in Two Languages Upsets Train Passenger

오늘 배울 요리는 콜리플라워 감자 수프야.
今天要学的是花椰菜土豆汤。

와! 너무 기대된다! 먼저 무엇을 하면 되니?
哇! 太期待了! 我先弄点儿什么? 

우선 감자, 양파와 콜리플라워를 깨끗하게 씻은 뒤에 칼로 작게 썰어.
先把土豆, 洋葱和花椰菜洗干净以后再切成小块儿。

감자, 양파랑 콜리플라워 다 준비했어. 
너랑 같이 요리하니까 너무 재미있다.
土豆、洋葱和花椰菜都准备好了。跟你一起做料理真有趣。 

콜리플라워 花椰菜
기대하다 期待
양파 洋葱
썰다 切

[YOON] 1분 한국어

오늘 배울 요리는 콜리플라워 감자 수프야. 今天要学的是花椰菜土豆汤。

Maritza y yo platicamos sobre el senderismo, ambos lo practicamos y nos late un ching0.

Maritza:
https://www.italki.com/teacher/2901802

Mucho que decir

El senderismo Ft. Maritza (Guatemala) 

Jenna and Max are at a cozy café when suddenly Max gets an email.

Max (staring at his phone, confused):
Hey, Jenna, this guy I’m working with just said, “Give me a shout.” What does that even mean?

Jenna (stirring her coffee):
It just means to contact him.

Max (frowning):
Wait… but “shout” means to yell. So, does he want me to yell his name?

Jenna (laughs):
No, no! He’s not asking you to actually shout. It just means to message him, call him—basically, let him know when you need something.

Max (nodding slowly):
Okay… so, if I say “I’ll give you a shout,” it means I’ll call you?

Jenna (approving):
Exactly! Or text, or email—whatever works.

Max (thinking hard):
Hmm… but what if I really do shout your name? Like—HEY, JENNA!

[SFX: Café customers turning to stare]

Jenna (covering her face, whispering):
Okay, maybe don’t do that in public…

Max (grinning):
Got it. So, if I’m stuck on my project later, I can just say, “Jenna, I’ll give you a shout?”

Jenna (thumbs up):
Now you’re getting it!

Max (pauses, tilting head):
Wait… I have to ask—how do you know all these phrases so well? It’s like English just clicks for you.

Jenna (shrugging, playfully):
Well, let’s just say I found the cheat code.

Max (leaning in, curious):
Cheat code? What, like a secret trick?

Jenna (grinning):
Kinda! I trained with English Teacher Smith on iTalki. It wasn’t just lessons—it was real conversation, real corrections, and now, boom! English feels natural.

Max (raising an eyebrow, impressed):
That actually sounds pretty smart.

Jenna (pulls out phone, taps screen):
Here, see? Just click the profile, book a speaking lesson, and you’ll be talking like a pro in no time.

Max (smirking, clicking on phone):
Alright… I’ll give Teacher Smith a shout then.
(books lesson)

LEARN BY LISTENING

Here's How To Give Me A Shout Without Shouting

In this episode I talk about different news sources.
Take an English Lesson with Carl https://italki.com/teacher/1947582
Listen to The Steetwise English Podcast!

Streetwise English

SWE 145 Online  News Sources (Learning English)

The success of another woman is NOT a threat to your crown. In recent months, I have experienced women calling me names and giving snide remarks against me. What more, I have seen it being done to other women. When you are pursuing success as a woman, many are threatened by your presence. "CAT FIGHT is real, not just in real life but also the digital world."