This podcast series is based on current events about unusual news stories. With each episode usually less than 30-seconds, it's a great way for beginners to improve vocabulary!

Weird News: 30-second long news episodes to improve your listening and vocabulary

Interesting news articles read in English help you to explore new vocabulary and improve your pronunciation.
Articles vary in level - Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced.

English News

Learn how native speakers use different words and phrases.

Native English

Hey iTalkiers.

In this episode, I want to talk a little about how social media use affects mental health.

Follow this link for a complete script of the podcast.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_9SkTwtd-KeUSPIIK6fcS9MrkQEyHfN4ULZUmVM4kzE/edit?usp=sharing


Organic English

002 | How Social Media Affects Mental Health

A1-A2 - A vingança dos peixes 

Era uma vez (porque é assim que todos os bons contos começam) uma família de peixes. Na verdade, eram várias famílias. Nadavam todos pelo mar. Divertiam-se muito a jogar às escondidas, jogavam futebol com conchas e tinham muitas outras brincadeiras. Isto tudo para dizer que viviam uma vida simples, mas cheia de alegria e felicidade. Viviam com outras criaturas marinhas. Claro que, de vez em quando, havia um “desaparecimento”, especialmente quando passava por lá um tubarão, mas isso era a lei da Natureza, e nada podia mudá-la.
Porém, um dia, um peixe desapareceu sem ninguém saber porquê. Estavam todos preocupados, porque ele não voltava. Vários dias depois, outros peixes desapareceram. Portanto, todos os peixes que ainda estavam vivos juntaram-se e decidi- ram explorar os oceanos. Poucos dias depois, um peixe voltou e contou aos outros o que tinha visto: era um monstro enorme, com várias bocas que nunca se fechavam. Não se lhe distinguiam olhos. Ao ouvir isto, todos os peixes ficaram aflitos e com medo. Brincavam muito menos, estavam muito mais atentos e vigilantes.
Mas, um dia, dois peixinhos ganharam coragem, saíram da casa deles e foram explorar o mar, para ver o monstro que comia os peixes. Esconderam-se atrás das algas como costumavam fazer. Esperaram, esperaram, mas foram recompensados por tanta paciência, porque a criatura demoníaca voltou. Comia tudo o que via, parecia que nunca conseguia saciar-se. Tinha imensas bocas que nunca se fechavam. Apesar do pavor que tinham, ficaram a observar e não fugiram. E fizeram bem, porque, depois, eles viram uma coisa inacreditável: o monstro não comia os peixes, mas guardava-os dentro da barriga. Depois subia para dentro do barco que o arrastava. Oferecia todos os peixes que tinha aos humanos, estava ao serviço deles. Foi então que os dois peixes perceberam que não era monstro nenhum… (…)

(Unfortunately I can’t post the rest of the tale! Write me on Italki and I’ll send it to you!)

Portuguese with Cata

A vingança dos peixes de Gaspar Sallé Pinto

En este audio-artículo describo los lugares de la provincia de Castellón que, para mí, son los más interesantes : )

VIAJAR POR ESPAÑA  "AUDIOS"

Mi España - La Provincia de Castellón (I)


   a. Green with envy - To be extremely jealous.
      Example: "When she saw his new car, she turned green with envy."
   b. Black sheep - An outcast or someone who is different from the rest of the family or group.
      Example: "He's the black sheep of the family; everyone else is successful."
   c. Red flag - A warning sign or signal of potential danger or problem.
      Example: "His aggressive behavior is a red flag; we need to be cautious."
   d. Golden opportunity - A chance or opportunity that is highly advantageous.
      Example: "She saw the job opening as a golden opportunity to advance her career."
   e. Paint the town red - To go out and enjoy oneself, usually by partying or celebrating.
      Example: "It's my birthday; let's paint the town red tonight!"



IELTS Podcast 雅思博客

Colours-related idioms

🎧Escucha este divertido episodio, vas a escuchar cómo le decimos a algunas prendas de ropa en México y en Argentina.

Checa también el canal de Camila:
https://www.italki.com/teacher/11031501 

Hablando Al Chile

 ¿Remera o playera? 🎧

Modern Chinese(時代華語)B1- Reading(短文)

The articles, "a", "an" and "the" are important to show which object we are talking about.

My podcast episode that explains what they are and how to use them: https://www.italki.com/en/podcast/episode/coh1dyg1vpvszcpnwaecgn

The Social Evolutionary

"Weed" or "A Weed" - a BIG difference!

Try these tips during awkward silences or when you don't know what else to talk about.

1.   Don't reject your own ideas thinking that they are not worth sharing. When you filter most of your stories and experiences you have fewer topics to talk about. 
 
2.   Don't list your points, instead elaborate on each point using examples or personal experiences. This also gives the opportunity to the listener to add to the topic or share their own experiences making it a two-way conversation.
 
3.   Speak at the right pace. If you speak too fast, you end the conversation very quickly. It’s usually because the listener doesn’t understand you and therefore can’t keep the conversation going.  
 
4.   Learn to ask smart questions to keep the conversation going. Ask open-ended questions such as, “what do you think about …?” with follow-up questions “why do you think …?”. This helps you build up on the information that you received.
 
5.   Practise thinking critically so you always have something to say. When you practice critical thinking and ask yourself counter-questions, you are able to spontaneously think of ideas and form arguments using your background knowledge. You can easily connect the dots and be eloquent while talking to people.
 
6.   Learn a few speech frameworks such as Past - Present - Future, Problem – Solution - Benefit, or other storytelling formats such as ‘the mountain’. When you have a structure, you don’t lose your chain of thoughts and you don’t run into dead ends. Your listeners are also able to understand you better and remember what you said.
 
7.   If you are using a second language to communicate such as English, then simplify your complex thoughts in your native language first and then translate them to English. Lots of times when translation is tough, we give up and change the topic. But this practice helps you make the translation process easy. 
 
If you want to learn more, please book a session with me. 
