La Tomatina- Spain
The Battle of the Oranges- Italy
Holi, the Festival of Colors- India

Learn English with Stories

3 Fun Festivals from Around the World

共同点：以前某个时期，现在情况已经不那样了。  (1)(2) 
不同点：
本来: 按道理就应该这样。(3)(4)
原来:发觉以前不知道的情况或突然明白了某事。(5)

(1)他本来姓张，后来才改姓李的。→原来
(2) 这里原来有一排旧房子，现在都拆掉了。 →本来
(3)这本书本来昨天就该还给你,拖到现在，
真不好意思。
(4) A:看来这孩子还真的有点儿不懂事。
      B:本来嘛,一个孩子，懂什么事。
(5)我还以为是谁呢,原来是你啊!

Eva Wang的channel ——汉语语法对比合集

汉语语法对比之“本来”和“原来”

Welcome English learners! Today we’re continuing the conversation between Jennifer and James. In the last episode, James had just met Jennifer while he was walking in the park. Her dog had fetched a ball and had come close to him. Jennifer was in the middle of telling him why she started dog sitting for her friend. Listen to the story in this episode to grow your vocabulary and listening skills. Enjoy!
“I was having coffee with my friend, Sarah, and we were talking about how difficult it is to live up to the standards of being a “modern woman.” Jennifer started her story.
“Oh, that sounds like an interesting conversation…” James responded. “I’ve always felt like it must be almost impossible for women to balance career and family. Especially single women.”
“Well, yeah, that’s what we were saying to each other. There’s a lot of pressure on women to be “independent,” as if they don’t need men in their lives. I think marriage and family are great and I hate the stigma that is sometimes given to housewives in our society.”
“That’s an interesting perspective to hear from a woman.” James replied. “You wouldn’t know that based on what you see in the media.”
“Exactly. Anyways, Sarah is married, so she and her husband are taking a trip this weekend. She works as an accountant, so she stays busy, but she wants to have kids, too. That’s why we were talking about “modern women.” Anyhow, I offered to watch their dog for the weekend, so here I am!” Jennifer explained.
“I see. That’s nice of you to do for her!” James appreciated this small act Jennifer was doing for her friend. He wanted to learn more about her, but she had a question for him.
“So, what brings you out to the park on a Saturday morning?” Jennifer inquired.
“I like to go for a walk when I’m thinking about something.” James told her.
“Ah, ok. So, can I ask what’s on your mind?” Sarah asked with an inquisitive look on her face. 
James was more than happy to tell her.


Stories in English

Why Jennifer is Dog Sitting

Muchas veces nos encontramos antes oraciones que no pueden traducirse literalmente y que nos confunden, esta, probablemente, es una de ellas. 

Curiosidades sobre el español y su cultura

No hacer vida en + lugar

¿El subjuntivo te da miedo? ¡No te preocupes! En este episodio aprenderás a usarlo paso a paso para expresar deseos y emociones en español. Con ejemplos claros, una regla fácil de recordar y un ejercicio práctico al final. Este es el Parte 1 de nuestra serie completa sobre el subjuntivo. ¡Vamos!

☕🎧🎙️ Español Express 🎙️🎧☕

El Subjuntivo Parte 1: Deseos y Emociones en 7 minutos ⏱️🧠

Have you ever wondered what different kinds of celebrations are celebrated at the end of the year in different cultures? In honour of our German heritage we celebrate Heilig Abend and new this year, the Rauhnächte. In honour of our North American heritage we celebrate Christmas. And in the tradition of a Celtic past we celebrate the Feast of Lights at Winter Solstice.

Philosophical Friday

Holiday Special. Today I’d like to share with you some end-of-year traditions we celebrate in our home which is a mixture of three cultures.

Habit stacking, a concept popularized by James Clear in his book “Atomic Habits,” can be a powerful tool in business negotiations. It involves pairing a new habit with an existing one to create a sequence of behaviors that lead to a desired outcome. With practice, habit stacking can help negotiations become more natural and impactful.

Identify Core Habits: Start by pinpointing habits that are already part of your negotiation routine, such as reviewing key documents like contracts or setting clear meeting agendas in advance of discussions. These foundational habits form the base of your negotiation process.

Stack New Behaviors: Attach new habits that enhance negotiation skills, like practicing active listening techniques or rehearsing persuasive yet empathetic language with a colleague, to these core habits. Layering in complementary behaviors builds negotiation acumen over time.

Create Triggers: Use the completion of one habit as the trigger or cue to smoothly start the next habit in the sequence. For instance, after reviewing all pertinent documents, you might then take 10 minutes to practice delivering your opening pitch out loud.

Maintain Consistency: Repeat this full habit stack sequence consistently, whether daily or weekly, to solidify the new negotiation habits. Performing the behaviors together and over time will make them almost automatic. Over several months, this approach can lead to more effective, impactful and confident negotiations.

By using habit stacking to systematically improve your negotiation techniques, you can achieve better outcomes and build stronger long-term business relationships. With practice, your negotiations will become more natural and impactful.

Mail Bag coming on Monday!

The Global Professional Podcast

Habit Stacking to Improve Negotiation Skills - Episode 43

Struggling with the L sound in English? Whether it's light L or dark L, this episode breaks it down so you can pronounce it clearly and confidently. Learn common mistakes, practice with minimal pairs, and get tips to improve your pronunciation. Don’t let L leave you lost—tune in and master it today! 🎙🔊

 Pronunciation and Accent Reduction with a Focus on North American English

 Lost in “L”? - Don’t Call for Help - Listen to This!

Halloween is a fun and spooky holiday that people celebrate on October 31st each year. But do you know where it comes from, and why we wear scary costumes? Let's explore the history of Halloween and costumes!
Halloween started a very long time ago, around 2,000 years ago. It began with an ancient Celtic festival called "Samhain" (pronounced sah-win). The Celts lived in what is now Ireland, the United Kingdom, and France. Samhain was a special time when they celebrated the end of summer and the beginning of winter.
The Celts believed that on the night of October 31st, the boundary between the living and the dead was very thin. They thought that the spirits of the dead could come back to Earth on this night. Some people were afraid of these ghosts, so they dressed up in costumes to hide from them. They also lit bonfires to scare the ghosts away.
In the 8th century, the Christian church started a holiday called "All Saints' Day" on November 1st. It was a day to remember and honor all the saints. The night before, on October 31st, became known as "All Hallows' Eve," which later turned into "Halloween."
Over time, Halloween came to America with immigrants from different countries. People brought their own customs and traditions, and Halloween became a mix of all these traditions. One of these traditions was dressing up in costumes, which became a big part of Halloween.
Today, Halloween is a day for fun and creativity. People of all ages wear costumes, but the costumes are not just scary. You can be anything you want – a superhero, a princess, a witch, or even a funny animal. People also go trick-or-treating, where kids dress up in costumes and go door to door asking for sweets.
So, when you see people in scary costumes on Halloween, remember that it all began with the Celts who wanted to protect themselves from ghosts. Now, Halloween is a time for everyone to enjoy dressing up and having a spooky good time.
