La cultura popular está llena de creencias, mitos y leyendas que construyen la identidad de un pueblo y forma parte del imaginario colectivo de sus habitantes. Cuba no es la excepción y posee un montón de historias con seres únicos.

Cafecito con Ale

El güije, criatura mitológica cubana

Very few textbooks teach 'euphemisms', but they're an essential part of English life. An euphemism is a mild or indirect word / expression that takes the place of something that is considered too blunt when referring to something embarrassing. For example, the phrase 'a correctional facility' is an idiom that we use instead of the word 'prison'. Or we say that a person is 'big boned', instead of the word 'fat'. So the next time you hear somebody saying that they have to 'powder their nose', or you learn that someone has a 'negative cash flow', use this podcast to know exactly what they mean. 
* By the way, have you ever wondered where the expression 'a bucket list' comes from? Well it comes from the euphemism 'to kick the bucket', which means 'to die'. Your bucket list is the list of all the things you want to do before you 'kick the bucket'. On my bucket list is to learn how to play the guitar. What's on yours?

Learn English with Cambridge David

The one about Euphemisms

The head brewmaster for Weihenstephan, the world's oldest brewery, has a secret: he really likes alcohol-free beer.

Even though he's quick to say he obviously enjoys real beer more, Tobias Zollo says he savors alcohol-free beer when he's working or eating lunch. It has the same taste but fewer calories than regular beer because the alcohol has been removed.

"You can't drink beer every day — unfortunately," he joked at the brewery in the German town of Freising, about 31 kilometers north of Munich.

Alcohol-free beer has been gaining popularity in recent years as beer consumption shrinks.

At the Weihenstephan brewery, which was founded in 1040, non-alcoholic beer now makes up 10% of the volume. The increase since they started making alcohol-free drinks in the 1990s, mirrors the statistics for the rest of Germany's beer industry.

"The people are unfortunately — I have to say that as a brewer — unfortunately drinking less beer," said Zollo. "If there's an alternative to have the crisp and fresh taste from a typical Weihenstephan beer, but just as a non-alcoholic version, we want to do that."

This summer, Munich's first alcohol-free beer garden opened near the city's main train station. And even at Oktoberfest alcohol-free beer is on the menu.

The festival, which began on September 21 and continues until October 6, has 18 large tents and all but two of them offer alcohol-free beer. The sober beverage costs the same as an alcoholic beer — between $15 and $17 for a 1-liter mug — but saves drinkers from a hangover.

"For people who don't like to drink alcohol and want to enjoy the Oktoberfest as well, I think it's a good option," Mikael Caselitz, 24, of Munich said at the festival. "Sometimes people feel like they have more fun with alcohol, which is not a good thing because you can also have fun without alcohol."

He added: "If you want to come and drink alcohol-free beer, nobody will judge you."

Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

Alcohol-Free Beer Gaining Popularity, Even at Oktoberfest

-ed and -ing can be hard but there's an easy rule to remember how to use them! Join me in this episode of Stairway to English to learn the differences and how to use them correctly!

My schedule is full right now. If you would like a class with me, send me a message on italki! I will add you to my waitlist. I will have more classes available at the end of April! I look forward to meeting you in class!

Stairway to English: Short easy to understand episodes to improve your English grammar and fluency

Are you scared or scary?! Learn the difference between -ed adjective endings and -ing adjective endings!

Happy Earth's Day! 🥳 Since it is today we should say something about it. 🧐
Срећан дан планете Земље! Enjoy! 🤗

Срећно учење! / Srećno učenje! 📚
If you like this podcast, please contact me for the transcript. 🧾
See you in class! 👋


SERBIAN TO GO

Дан планете Земље – Earth's Day (A2 and above)

It might sound like the worst start to your day — you get into the shower, and it's ice cold. But while you might not enjoy it, a cold shower could actually be good for your health.

Spending time in cold water is not a new idea — the Ancient Greeks used cold water as a form of therapy as early as 3,500 BC. And things like cold water swims and ice baths have become quite popular around the world.

Experts believe there are a few reasons cold showers could be good for us.

Corey Simon, a doctor at Duke School of Medicine in the US, told CNN that having one or two cold showers a week helps him be more mentally present.

He believes the reason for this is that he has to mentally prepare himself for something stressful: the cold water. But once he's in it, he feels like he's in control of that stressor.

In fact, a 2022 study found that participants who showered for a minute in 10- to 14-degree water every day for two weeks had lower stress levels than a control group.

Cold showers could also be good for our immune system. In a study done in the Netherlands in 2016, people who spent 30 to 90 seconds in a cold shower took 29% fewer sick days from work.

Cold water has also been found to improve circulation, and can reduce muscle pain after a workout. Research suggests that taking a cold shower often could increase your metabolism too.

But experts say it's important to speak to your doctor before taking cold showers often, because it could be dangerous — especially for those with certain conditions, like heart or circulatory problems.



Why Cold Showers Could Be Good for You

En el episodio de hoy tengo una conversación con Nicolás Rosano, un chico uruguayo que va a hablar sobre su país. Escucha si quieres aprender un poquito sobre este maravilloso país sudamericano, desde comida hasta personajes populares.
Puedes encontrar a Nicolás en Instagram en los siguientes enlaces:
https://www.instagram.com/nicolas_rosano/
https://www.instagram.com/kamehouseuruguay/
https://www.instagram.com/subarashii_supeingo/


Blanca to go 

conoce Uruguay con Nicolás R

Four corvesations: 

1- En la joyería
2- En la farmacia
3- A levantarse suena el despertador
4- Pidiendo direcciones por teléfono

this podcast is to improve your listening and vocabulary


Learn Spanish Conversation

Learn Spanish Conversation parte 4

Una época donde muchas celebraciones se dan a lo largo y ancho del continente latinoamericano, posee algunas costumbres en común. Es que, sin duda el mes de diciembre representa época de alegría y compartir para quienes crecimos y vivimos en América Latina. 
Conozcamos algunas de las tradiciones donde la alegría, la religiosidad y el compartir se hacen presentes en navidad y año nuevo, pero primero, conoceremos algunas celebraciones especificas o relativas a navidad. 