Join me as we delve into the quintessentially British tradition of conker duelling. Learn about this unique autumn pastime while improving your English. Transcript and glossary available at
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1efv3S0EVR5EhSyutBI62eTInjuWTR6eYrzMIj0detuY/edit?usp=sharing, or by messaging us. Perfect for English learners and fans of British culture.

Tea, Talk & Textbooks: An ESL Podcast

UK Conker Duel

揠苗助长[yà miáo zhù zhǎng]：pull;spoil/shoot/help/grow;to try to help the shoots grow by pulling them upward.
宋国 sòng guó：Song state in the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.) in Chinese history.
嫌 xián：to dislike and avoid
庄稼 zhuāng jia：crops
拔高 bá gāo：pull upward
疲乏 pí fá：tired; exhausted
一大截 yī dà jié；a wide margin
枯死 kū sǐ：wither; dry up and die
This idiom also known as “拔苗助长[bá miáo zhù zhǎng]“.Literally means to do harm to a thing by being over-enthusiastic about it.

乐读中文 (Lè Dú Zhōngwén) - "Joyful Chinese Stories"

揠苗助长[yà miáo zhù zhǎng]

➤Chi è Gianluca Gotto?
➤Che generi di libri ha scritto?
➤Come si intitolano i suoi libri e di cosa parlano? 

Lo scoprirete in questo episodio!


Puro Parlare

5. Gianluca Gotto e i suoi libri.

JAKE: Where should we take a vacation this year? Let’s 
decide soon.
MELISSA: Well, I’d like to go somewhere warm. How about
the beach? Or we could rent a cabin on the lake.
JAKE: You want to go to the beach, again? I want to ski 
this winter. How about a compromise? What about 
traveling to the Alps in Europe next April? We can 
find a ski resort on a lake.
MELISSA: Oh, we’ve never been to Europe before! But I don’t 
know if it will be sunny and warm then. I need to 
do some research first. That will help me make up
my mind.



LANGUAGE NOTES
• Decide is a useful verb to express choice. The idiom “to make up my mind” also 
means “to decide”: “There are so many choices in this menu. It’s going to take awhile 
to make up my mind/decide.” You can finish this sentence with either the idiom or the 
verb “decide.”
• How about This phrase presents an alternative. This phrase can be followed by a 
subject plus a conjugated verb or by a noun: How about we go swimming? / How about 
a movie tonight?
• Many verbs express opinions: to think / to believe / to suppose / to assume, etc. They 
are not all synonymous. For example, “to suppose” and “to assume” express that the 
speaker has a preconceived idea: He came back late from work, so I assumed that traffic 
was bad. /I suppose that may not have been the case, and that he might just have had a 
lot of work.

English Conversation practice (30-day challenge)

Day 27: Giving your opinion

Algunos idiomas como el ESPAÑOL tienen varios acentos dependiendo el país y/o la región donde se hablan. Super interesante saber más de esto, y aprender a entender al menos 2 o 3 de ellos. Te amplio la info en el audio, vamos!

Disfruta de aprender

Diferentes Acentos

En este episodio aprenderás algunas frases que no se pueden traducir leteralmente del inglés al español y te explicaré la traducción correcta en español

Spanish Shortcut

EP 16. FRASES QUE NO SE TRADUCEN LITERALMENTE

In this episode, we'll talk about the different Bulgarian dishes and how they are prepared. Are you ready?

Bulgarian Today

Bulgarian Food to try - or not :)

In this episode, we explore how the throat chakra, or Vishuddha, supports language learning and how the act of learning a language can, in turn, heal the throat chakra. By practicing mindful speaking, reading aloud, and breath-focused articulation, learners stimulate the vagus nerve, which calms the parasympathetic nervous system, reduces amygdala hyperactivity, and lowers stress that contributes to GERD and acid reflux. The vibrations produced by the voice resonate in the throat and chest, easing tension and strengthening communication. This practice not only improves language fluency but also fosters emotional release, confidence, and physical healing, proving that your own voice is both a tool of expression and a pathway to wellness.