I support adult, independent English learners to learn more effectively. This podcast answers your questions and covers vocabulary, pronunciation issues and self-study strategies. 

Birdsong English Explains

如果有人放你鸽子，那不是一件愉快的事，我今天会告诉你。

西班牙语表达

"Dejar plantado"？你是想说像种花那样吗？

如果你容易迷路，你可以先学一下这些词汇。
New Words:
1. 别   bié  don't 
2.担心  dānxīn worry
3.游泳池 yóuyǒngchí   swimming pool
4.怎么 zěnme how 
5.走zǒu  walk;get(to)
6.向 xiàng to;towards
7.东 dōng east
8.路口 lùkǒu crossing;junction;intersection
9.右 yòu right
10.拐 guǎi turn;change direction
11.等 děng wait (for)



问路频道

去游泳池怎么走？

In this chapter I introduce the podcast and give some thoughts to the degree of difficulty of Spanish. Is Spanish easy to learn? It's an "accessible" language for those who learn it as a second language? 

Duration: 10 minutes 

En este capítulo presento el podcast y reflexiono sobre el grado de dificultad del idioma español. ¿El español es un idioma fácil de aprender? ¿Es un idioma "accesible para quienes lo aprenden como segunda lengua?

Duración: 10 minutos. 

Español con voz

¿El español es un idioma fácil de aprender?

Trump indicates ‘positive’ progress in US-EU trade talks

Wall Street up in early trading after US president commends bloc for calling to ‘quickly establish meeting dates’

Short & Sweet Daily Business English News

Trump indicates ‘positive’ progress in US-EU trade talks

今天是2024年3月11日星期一,农历二月二，是民间俗称“龙抬头”的日子。这天，万物复苏，春天真的来了。
今年是甲辰龙年，龙抬头60年一遇，龙头一抬，好运自来。
龙抬头这天要做的三件事：
一是早上7点出门，面朝东方，大口呼吸新鲜空气，这是踩龙气；
二是吃龙福，可以吃水饺、面条、龙眼等沾沾龙王爷的福气
三是剃龙头，这一天理发的话会福星高照，鸿运当头。
龙抬头 lóng tái tóu：Loong Head Up，It is a traditional Chinese folk festival.
民间 mín jiān：folk;popular;among the people
俗称 sú chēng：be commonly called；proverb
甲辰 jiǎ chén：The Chinese sexagenary cycle, also known as Stems-and-Branches, is a cyclic numeral system of60 combinations of the two basic cycles, the ten Heavenly Stemsand the twelve Earthly Branches.
万物复苏 wàn wù fù sū：everything rouses up from sleeping
龙眼 lóng yǎn：ongan; euphoria longan
剃头\理发 tì tóu\ lǐ fà：Shaving and haircutting




“龙”年中国话（“ lóng ” nián zhōng guó huà）

 Longtaitou Festival 龙抬头

No todo es color de rosa para los inmigrantes. 

El otro lado de la moneda

El lado oscuro de la inmigración

When you take your IELTS speaking exam, there is a strong possibility that in part 2 you might have to describe a piece of art you like, so it’s best to prepare and go into your exam with a work of art you can talk about up your sleeve. You should also try to slip a few idioms in. See if you can spot the idioms I use in this podcast.

In this podcast I’m going to imagine I’m in an IELTS exam part 2, and I have to talk about a work of art.

OK, let’s make a start. The work of art I’m going to talk about is the Mona Lisa.

First, I’d like to mention who created it. The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci.

Now, I’d like to tell you about the first time I encountered it. We were studying the history of art in junior high, and my group had to talk about the Mona Lisa.

Next, I’d like to give you a little bit of the painting’s history. It is thought that Leonardo Da Vinci painted The Mona Lisa in Florence, Italy between 1503 and 1506. However, it has been suggested that Leonardo worked on the painting as late as 1517. It is painted in oil on a white canvas and has been on display at The Louvre museum in Paris since 1797.

Finally, let’s talk about why I like it. I love this painting because it’s both unusual and beautiful. Furthermore, it is said to be one of the most valuable paintings in the world, and may be worth as much as one billion dollars. In other words, it costs an arm and a leg! However, I don’t just like it because it’s expensive, I find it aesthetically pleasing, too. Also, the woman seems very mysterious. Sometimes she looks happy, and at other times she looks sad. It’s almost as if she is alive! I think this painting is one in a million and painters like Leonardo Da Vinci come along once in a blue moon.

Did you spot the idioms I used? That’s right: up your sleeve, costs an arm and a leg, one in a million, and once in a blue moon. Now take the quiz that comes with this podcast, and don’t forget to book a lesson with me!

IELTS Speaking Practice

IELTS speaking part 2: ART - The Mona Lisa

Today, in the “Serbian to go” podcast, you will hear 3 WAYS of how to say THANK YOU in Serbian.🤗 Let’s start!😎
Срећно учење! / Srećno učenje!📚
See you in class!👋
