These Pronunciation episodes follow chronologically. They follow a reading on Engoo - with explanations along the way. Go to the website in order to follow along. : https://engoo.com/app/daily-news/article/study-says-reading-fiction-helps-us-understand-others/MsfhnFVrEe22EWf-hDINhQ 

English in 60 Seconds

Pronunciation 4

In this episode, we will be discussing some of the differences between informal and formal Farsi, and we'll go through some examples of  each one.  We will focus on  the nuances of the Farsi language and learn how to communicate more effectively . In addition to the podcast, I have attached a Google Doc with further information and examples for listeners to study and practice. 

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1BWf83C0ca4wVd5NvLSeehMna4vOHLFJQcDcC5vg6MB4/edit?usp=sharing

Farsi with Ali

Formal vs. Informal Farsi: Understaning the differences

I don't understand why people buy such poor quality items of clothing, wear them a few times and then throw them away. It's terrible for the environment.
I hate the fashion trade. I read somewhere that companies can sell a dress for $5, but they don't make any profit. They're just aiming to attract more consumers to their websites so that they'll spend more money.
My brother's a fashion designer, but I think designer labels are a waste of money. I just shop in high street stores and I only buy casual clothes.

English Mini Lessons

Attitudes to Fashion

日本(にほん)のiPhone16は安(やす)い？
Is the iPhone 16 cheap in Japan?
아이폰 16은 일본이 더 싸나?

NANAのにほんごpodcast 

日本(にほん)のiPhone16は安(やす)い？Is the iPhone 16 cheap in Japan?

An urban design firm is hoping to create the "world's greenest highway" by covering a major road in Dubai with gardens, trees, walkways and solar panels.

The proposed 64-kilometer-long road, called the "Dubai Green Spine," would see the Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Road, one of Dubai's main highways, enhanced with over 1 million trees and enough solar panels to power 130,000 homes.

Dubai-based design firm URB says its road concept would help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by over 1 million metric tons per year, and help the city manage the needs of a population that's expected to grow from over 3 million today to nearly 8 million by 2040.

URB's design aims to reduce city heat and improve air quality while offering a safe, attractive and accessible route for commuting and leisure. Green spaces would be combined with walking and cycling paths, and electric tram lines would have solar panels built directly into the tracks.

Bus shelters and elevators would have rooftop solar panels, while garden-covered paths over the highway would make a walk from one side to the other easy and enjoyable.

URB CEO Baharash Bagherian says the concept is about "proving that our streets can do more than facilitate car traffic; they can significantly enhance quality of life."

He says the design takes a "human-centric approach" that prioritizes people and green spaces over cars.

However, it takes a lot of water to grow plants in Dubai. CNN notes that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) already consumes around 550 liters of water per person every day, compared to an average of 310 liters in the US and 144 liters in the European Union.

And most of the UAE's water isn't used for drinking — it's just needed to keep parts of the desert country green.

With this in mind, URB's design includes drought-resistant plants and special soil that helps retain water.

URB has also proposed designs for a 93-kilometer indoor cycling and walking "highway" called 

Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

Dubai Firm Hopes to Make 'World's Greenest Highway'

Aprenda Português Com Notícias Insólitas e Malucas -Learn Portuguese With Crazy Isoteric News 

Homem finge a própria morte para descobrir quem aparece no funeral

As a language coach, my primary goal is to help people become better communicators. This is more important than learning the language perfectly.

The Language Journey

What I do as a Language Coach

The Taj Mahal
The Taj Mahal (pronounced /ˌtɑːdʒ mə'hɑːl/) is a famous mausoleum next to the river Yamuna in the Indian city of Agra. A mausoleum is a building where people bury the dead. The name Taj Mahal means 'the crown of palaces'.

1. 
The most famous part of the Taj Mahal is the large white dome in the centre. It is 35 metres high and is surrounded by four smaller domes. The rooms inside the building are decorated with beautiful archways and precious stones in the walls. The buildings are surrounded by gardens with pathways, pools, fountains and green gardens.

2.
The construction of the Taj Mahal began in 1632 and finished in 1653. It was built with materials from all over India and Asia, but the main material is white marble. Historians believe that the materials were transported by over 1,000 elephants for the construction.

3.
The emperor Shah Jahan built the Taj Mahal as a burial place for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. According to legend, he wanted to build another Taj Mahal in black on the other side of the river, but this never happened. During the Indian Rebellion of 1857, many parts of the Taj Mahal were damaged by British soldiers, who took some of the precious stones from its walls. Over the years, the Taj Mahal has suffered from environmental damage, and there have been many government attempts to conserve its beauty.

4.
The Taj Mahal is one of India's most famous landmarks. There are millions of visitors to the mausoleum every year. The Taj Mahal is almost always included in lists of famous buildings to visit and is considered one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. It is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.