Many English learners are told their English is “good,” but still feel nervous, misunderstood, or blocked at work. In this New Year’s episode, a former student from China shares how fixing pronunciation and communication completely changed his confidence, career, and daily life.

Real English Skills

People Said His English Was Good — But Something Was Still Wrong

wánɡ yánɡ bǔ láo 
亡羊补牢
cónɡ qián yǒu ɡè rén yǎnɡ le jǐ zhǐ yánɡ。 
从前有个人养了几只羊。
yì tiān zǎo shànɡ，tā qù fànɡ yánɡ，
一天早上，他去放羊，
fā xiàn yánɡ shǎo le yì zhī。
发现羊少了一只。
yuán lái yánɡ juàn pò le ɡè kū lónɡ， 
原来羊圈破了个窟窿，
yè li lánɡ cónɡ kū lónɡ zuān jìn qù， 
夜里狼从窟窿钻进去，
bǎ yánɡ diāo zǒu le。 
把羊叼走了。
lín jū quàn tā shuō: 
邻居劝他说:
“ɡǎn jǐn bǎ yánɡ juàn xiū yì xiū， 
“赶紧把羊圈修一修，
dǔ shànɡ nà ɡe kū lónɡ bɑ!” 
堵上那个窟窿吧!”
tā shuō:“yánɡ yǐ jīnɡ diū le， 
他说:“羊已经丢了，
hái xiū yánɡ juàn ɡàn shén me?” 
还修羊圈干什么?”
dì èr tiān zǎo shànɡ，tā qù fànɡ yánɡ， 
第二天早上，他去放羊，
fā xiàn yánɡ yòu shǎo le yì zhī。 
发现羊又少了一只。
yuán lái lánɡ yòu cónɡ kū lónɡ zuān jìn qù， 
原来狼又从窟窿钻进去，
bǎ yánɡ diāo zǒu le。 
把羊叼走了。
tā hěn hòu huǐ méi yǒu tīnɡ lín jū de quàn ɡào，
他很后悔没有听邻居的劝告，
xīn xiǎnɡ，xiàn zài xiū hái bù wǎn。
心想，现在修还不晚。
tā ɡǎn jǐn dǔ shànɡ nà ɡe kū lónɡ，
他赶紧堵上那个窟窿，
bǎ yánɡ juàn xiū dé jiē jiē shí shí de。
把羊圈修得结结实实的。
cónɡ cǐ，tā de yánɡ zài yě méi diū ɡuò。
从此，他的羊再也没丢过。

CHINESE STORY中文故事

亡羊补牢

Att ta körkort är inte enkelt! Eller?

Jag berättar om min uppkörning. Och så som det var för mig är det för alla andra i Sverige också.


Easy Swedish with Viktoria

Ep. #26 - Julspecial Uppkörning

We Brits are famous for our politeness and diplomacy, but what do some of the things we say actually mean? This podcast takes a look at how we choose our words to say the complete opposite of what we are telling you; when and how to complain; and provides you with an understanding of how to answer the eternal question when asked: "How are you?"

Learn British Culture with Pip

Why the British don't say what they mean 

1、Social and payment:  Wechat(微信 wēi xìn）
2、Online payment and travel: Alipay（支付宝 zhī fù bǎo）
3、Translation dictionary：Pleco and Youdao （有道 yǒu dào）
4、Maps：Baidu map and Gaode map（百度地图 bǎi dù dì tú 、高德地图 gāo dé dì tú ）
5、Delivery applications：  Meituan and hungry me（美团 měi tuán、 饿了么 è le me）
6、Entertainment：Tiktok（抖音 dǒu yīn）
7、E-commerce softwares: Taobao and alibaba（淘宝 táo bǎo、 阿里巴巴 ā lǐ bā bā）

Welcome to visit China ”欢迎来中国!“

 The Essential Mobile Apps in China

JAMES: Good morning, Professor Austin, how are you doing?

PROFESSOR AUSTIN: Good morning, James. I am doing well. And you?

JAMES: I’m great, thank you. This is my friend Emma. She is thinking about applying to this college. She has a few questions. Would you mind telling us about the process, please.

PROFESSOR AUSTIN: Hello, Emma! It’s a pleasure to meet you. I’m more than happy to speak with you. Please stop by my office next week.

EMMA: It’s a pleasure to meet you, professor. Thank you so much for helping us.

PROFESSOR AUSTIN: Don’t mention it. Hopefully, I will be able to answer your questions!

Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

Formal Introductions

Una piccola favola di Lev Tolstoj — “La taccola e la brocca.” Ci aiuta a capire cosa proviamo, a gestire lo stress, e a rimanere motivati passo dopo passo.



«Stories & Mind»

 “La taccola e la brocca”  & l’intelligenza emotiva ( EQ)

This episode gives students of English some advice about how to answer a common question type from Part 3 of the IELTS speaking test. Students will focus particularly on different forms of the "there is"/"there are" structure which will help them to compare advantages and disadvantages (in this case, relating to working from home).

Please send me your own answers to this question, and I'll give you some advice about how to improve.

IELTS-style speaking questions

IELTS Part 3: "What are the advantages and disadvantages of working from home?"

Today I talk about the phrase "to be better off", Prince Harry's kids get a new surname, Britain opens "daytime clubs" as an alternative to night clubs and song lyrics from Ellen Foley, We Belong to the Night.