Today's episode is the audio to the Guide to the TOEFL - Speaking presentation. In it, you'll learn what the speaking section of the Test of English as a Foreign Language requires, as well as hear some sample questions and answers and get advice on whether using templates to form your answers is a good idea. Some of the questions depend on written text, so be sure to go to the website to download the transcript so you can read them: https://lovelangwri.com/2022/05/10/guide-to-the-toefl-speaking/

For the Love of Language and Writing

Guide to the TOEFL - Speaking

ช่วงนี้อากาศเป็นยังไงบ้างคะ How is the weather?

Learn Thai by Kru Jane 

Thai Podcast 2/2025 (อากาศ)

Food-related idioms:
   a. A piece of cake - Very easy or effortless.
      Example: "The maths test was a piece of cake for me."
   b. Bite off more than you can chew - To take on more responsibility than you can handle.
      Example: "He took on multiple projects and bit off more than he could chew."
   c. Spill the beans - To reveal a secret or confidential information.
      Example: "Don't spill the beans about the surprise party!"
   d. Take it with a grain of salt - To be skeptical or not fully believe something.
      Example: "I heard a rumor about her promotion, but I'll take it with a grain of salt until it's confirmed."
   e. The icing on the cake - Something additional that makes a good situation even better.
      Example: "Winning the lottery was amazing, and getting a new car was the icing on the cake."


IELTS Podcast 雅思博客

Food related idioms 

In these past months, it seems that a lot of political drama has been spinning around like a 24/7, in my world, in other people's world, everywhere. That has brought my memories to a bedtime story that I will never forget. I still can picture in mind how the book looked like, how I sat next to Mom as she read the book to me. The title was, "The Man, The Boy, and The Donkey". At that time I thought, "This boy and his father are foolish." That's why I couldn't forget the story. 

However, as I grew up, I realized that indeed, yeah, stupid things I do. Even worse, I do it because I have been told to.

The story I'm reading to you now is from https://www.fablereads.com/en/fable/the-man-the-boy-and-the-donkey. If you are interested in learning English through stories, please feel free to check out my lesson "Learning English through Stories" here: https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/24647106/english

#EnglishLeague #NewWord

Midori no Heya

Politics in Our Lives

첫 번째 여행 경험

나는 지난 여름에 처음으로 제주도에 갔다. 그동안 사진으로만 보던 제주도를 드디어 직접 볼 수 있어서 정말 기대가 되었다. 나는 가족과 함께 비행기를 타고 제주도로 갔다. 비행기는 약 한 시간 정도 걸렸다. 창문 밖으로 보이는 바다가 너무 아름다웠다.

제주도에 도착하자 따뜻한 바람이 나를 반겨주었다. 우리는 먼저 렌터카를 빌려서 여행을 시작했다. 첫 번째로 간 곳은 한라산이었다. 한라산은 제주도에서 가장 높은 산이다. 산을 오르는 길은 조금 힘들었지만, 정상에서 보는 경치는 정말 멋있었다. 하늘도 맑고, 바람도 시원해서 기분이 아주 좋았다.

다음 날, 우리는 협재 해수욕장에 갔다. 모래는 하얗고 부드러웠고, 바닷물은 맑고 파랬다. 나는 바다에 발을 담그고 한참 동안 놀았다. 가족과 함께 사진도 많이 찍었다. 그리고 근처 식당에서 흑돼지 고기도 먹었다. 고기가 정말 부드럽고 맛있어서 모두가 만족했다.

제주도에는 예쁜 카페도 많았다. 우리는 바다를 볼 수 있는 카페에 가서 커피와 케이크를 먹었다. 창문 밖으로 파란 바다가 보이고, 파도 소리도 들려서 아주 편안한 시간이 되었다.

여행 마지막 날에는 기념품 가게에 들렀다. 나는 친구들에게 줄 선물로 감귤 초콜릿과 제주도 그림이 그려진 엽서를 샀다. 여행이 끝나는 것이 아쉬웠지만, 좋은 추억을 많이 만들 수 있어서 행복했다.

이번 제주도 여행을 통해 자연의 아름다움을 느끼고 가족과 소중한 시간을 보낼 수 있었다. 다음에는 친구들과 함께 제주도를 다시 방문하고 싶다. 그리고 더 많은 곳을 둘러보고, 다양한 음식을 맛보고 싶다.

한국의 문화

첫 번째 여행 경험

Speculating
If I was to ask you about your dream job you may not know exactly what that would involve. In this case you would have to speculate. Here is some useful language for speculating. 
maybe/perhaps
It is fairly/quite/very/extremely/ (un)likely that
It's quite possible (that)
I imagine/suspect (that)


Everyday English with Teacher Alyse

Speculating

Hi Everyone! 

In this episode, I talk about my recent experience camping and some of the tips and tricks that I learned while out in the Peak District (UK). 

Did you learn anything new? Send me a message about your experiences! 

English with Emily 

Camping - Episode 4 

In this special year-end wrap-up of English Learners Boost, we celebrate the milestones we’ve reached together—from the podcast’s growth to the achievements of amazing English learners. Reflect on the journey, feel the gratitude, and get inspired to stay positive and motivated for the year ahead. Don’t miss tips for setting goals and how you can book a personalized English lesson on iTalki to make 2025 your most successful year in learning English yet! Let’s celebrate and look forward to new beginnings! 🎉

English Learner's Boost

Must-Listen Before 2025: Your Guide to an Empowered New Year!

More than half of US adults work while they're on vacation, according to a new survey.

A public relations company called Movchan Agency found that 54% of Americans sometimes or always work while they're on holiday.

There's a name for taking a trip and bringing your work with you: a "workcation."

This is usually something a worker plans, letting them get a break from the office without using up paid days off.

But according to the survey, some people have no choice — their work follows them even when they want to take a break.

So while 34% of people said they work on vacation because they love what they do, 29% do it because they're afraid of losing their job.

And about a quarter of people said their boss even asks them to work when they're on holiday.

Almost half of the people surveyed said they feel guilty if they're not working during their vacation.

The report says its results show that workplace boundaries have been broken, and burnout is on the horizon.

Many people are already feeling burned out by work. Others admitted to arguing with a partner during their holiday because of the work they're doing on vacation, while almost half have canceled an activity on their trip for work reasons.

Business psychologist Roger Hall told Fox Business that we need to use holiday time to rest our minds.

He said: "The human brain needs time for rest and quiet in order to repair itself."

He added that because many of us can work from anywhere, we don't get that rest.

