Did you know an octupus has three hearts?

Did you know?

Octopus heart

Here I recite some lines from the Iliad. This part centres around Hector's finding Andromache, and their final dialogue. 

Ancient Greek Now

Iliad 6.369-465

SALESPERSON: Can I help you?
GLORIA: Yes, I’m looking for a sweater — in a size medium.
SALESPERSON: Let’s see … here’s a nice white one. What do 
you think?
GLORIA: I think I’d rather have it in blue.
SALESPERSON: OK … here’s blue, in a medium. Would you
like to try it on?
GLORIA: OK … yes, I love it. It fits perfectly. How much is it?
SALESPERSON: It’s $50. It will be $53, with tax.
GLORIA: Perfect! I’ll take it.

LANGUAGE NOTES
• Can I help you? or “May I help you?” is what a salesperson normally says to greet 
a customer.
• I’m looking for a here means “I don’t know exactly which one I want.”
• Size medium. Clothing usually comes in small, medium and large sizes. Some 
women’s clothing comes in number sizes, usually ranging from 2 to 16.
• Let’s see … An expression used when a person wants to think something over, to 
make a choice or decision, or to look for something.
• I’d rather have it in here means “I don’t like this exact one. I would prefer it in a 
different” color/size/material, etc.
• Would you like to …? is a polite way to ask “Do you want to …?”
• Try it on means to test the fit or appearance of a garment by putting it on. “Try on” is a 
separable phrasal verb, so the object “it” goes between “try” and “on.”
• How much is it? means “How much does it cost?” Notice that the main sentence 
stress falls on “is” in this question.
• I’ll take it means “I will buy it.”

English Conversation practice (30-day challenge)

Day 18: Shopping

I feel that hte air at night is cold. The food will be on the winter menue soon.
I made Oden for the first time in a while tonight.
Do you know what kind of dish Oden is?
Today I will talk about Oden.
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夜の空気が冷たく感じるようになると　料理もそろそろ冬メニューです。
久しぶりに「おでん」を作りました。　日本に来たことのある人は　「おでん」を食べたことがあるかもしれません。　でも、日本に来たことがない人は、「おでん」がどんな料理か想像もつかないと思います。
フランスのポトフやイタリアのポリート、シンガポールの醸豆腐（ヨントーフ）などが、日本のおでんに似ていると思います。　でも、使う材料も調味料もちがうので、当然　味も全く違います。
「おでん」といっても、日本の中でも　地域によって　かなり違うようです。北海道や東北では、みそだれを付けて食べるおでん、関東では具材にちくわぶやスジを入れて甘辛い味のおでんだそうです。ほかにも、串に刺しているおでんや味噌で煮込んで味付けするおでんなど　日本全国　いろいろなご当地おでんがあるようです。
ちなみに　私は　関西在住なので、関西風おでんです。家庭によって、味付けも入れる材料も違うと思いますが、私が作るおでんはこうです。
材料は、大根、にんじん、じゃがいも、手羽先、こんにゃく、昆布、ごぼう天、平天、ゆで卵、厚揚げなどです。
調味料は、お出汁4カップ、薄口醤油１/４カップ、みりん大さじ１，砂糖　大さじ１-１/２です。
大根やにんじんは煮崩れないように、少し厚めに切ります。こんにゃくはよく味が沁み込むように、三角に切ってから包丁で　一筋切り込みを入れます。
ごぼう天と平天は魚をすり身にした練り物です。手羽先やごぼう天、平天、昆布からいい味が出てきます。それが、2-3時間煮込む間に、大根やにんじん、こんにゃくなどに沁み込んで　とてもおいしくなります。
今日は今シーズン　はじめての「おでん」を作りました。我ながら、おいしくできたと思います。つい食べすぎてしまいました。
寒くなると　体があたたまる料理が美味しく感じます。また太ってしまいそうです。
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Thank you for listenining to the end.
See you! Bye!



やさしい日本語（にほんご）

おでん　Oden

In this episode we will talk about 【Eating spicy】, you will learn how to say 【mildly spicy,medium spicy,have acne】 ect. The material helps you get used to different voice and accent. 
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It is recommended that you study in the following ways:
Step 1: Gist listening. Listen to get the main idea. (more times if necessary)
Step 2: Read the text to find out words you didn't get, then look up the dictionary. 
Step 3: Listen and imitate as much as you can without looking at the text.
Step 4: Write down what you hear if you want to practise writing.
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大家好，我是Yuli。欢迎收听我的播客。
上期我们聊了吃辣可以降低得肿瘤的风险，那么所有人都能吃辣吗？我们来听听专家怎么说？
主持人：您是四川人啊，可能那个地区的朋友特别爱吃辣。但其实现在全国好像都爱吃辣，大家都无辣不欢。不过啊，相对来说像我们北方人可能吃辣的能力稍微弱一点。所以有的时候咱们去饭店吃饭的时候，有时候厨师会问您说：您是要微辣呀？是要中辣呀？还是要一种特别辣呀？所以这个也是有不同的分歧的。那您能不能跟我们说说就是如果从抵抗口腔癌症的这种角度来分析的话，那么吃什么样的程度的辣可能更适合一些？是稍微吃一点儿还是要吃得比较辣？是经常吃还是适当地吃？
左医生：唉，你这个问题得特别好。这个答案到底是，唉吃多少辣椒合适，就有人会问我。其实这个我们只能说大概中度，但吃多少到底什么是这样，每人感觉是不一样的。因为如果您特别辣的话，你实在承受不了，对你的胃有烧灼，这个不值当的啊。因为有的人吃完以后的话，呃，这个辣度虽然说我们没有说明确的提示，就吃得你比较舒服。你没有说辣得你胃疼，那这个辣度是比较适合你的。但是中等辣度是不是就适合所有人呢，那也不一定。比方说，我刚才说你本来就胃肠道可能就有不太好，有溃疡，有什么。你在溃疡上你再放点辣椒面，那可能就不适合了。还有有的人呢，他的体质不太一样。因为这个体质不一样，有的人吃了以后真的就容易长痘啊，上火的那些。还有呢，我觉得跟我们国家的这个地理环境（有关系）。因为我们西南三省那边还有包括南方是很潮湿的，辣椒是有一定的祛湿作用的。但是如果在北方你还是吃得这么辣，天天这么吃的话，有可能真的就会上火呀，等等。还有呢，比方说您便秘了，然后你眼睛又红肿了，这个时候呢也是不推荐的，就包括这中度辣轻度辣也是不推荐吃的。但是普通人如果你觉得它对你没什么危害的话，我们适当地吃点中辣的，我觉得还是挺好的。
你觉得你适合吃辣吗？留言告诉我吧。我们下期来听听吃辣的时候要注意什么。
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无辣不欢	/	wú là bù huān	/	No fun without spice
微辣	/	wēi là	/	mildly spicy
中辣	/	zhōng là	/	medium spicy
分歧	/	fēn qí	/	divergence
抵抗	/	dǐ kàng	/	Resist
承受	/	chéng shòu	/	bear
灼烧	/	zhuó shāo	/	Burning
值当	/	zhí dàng	/	worthy
胃肠道	/	wèi cháng dào	/	Gastrointestinal tract
溃疡	/	kuì yáng	/	ulcer
辣椒面	/	là jiāo miàn	/	chilli powder
体质	/	tǐ zhì	/	corporeity status
长痘	/	zhǎng dòu	/	have acne
上火	/	shàng huǒ	/	inner heat/fever
祛湿	/	qū shī	/	dispel dampness
便秘	/	biàn mì	/	Constipation
红肿	/	hóng zhǒng	/	Redness and swelling

Yuli's Chinese Channel

每个人都能吃辣吗? Can everyone eat spicy food? （Advanced level）

We know we should appreciate people more often but do we know how to acknowledge them and why is it even so important? 

In a conversation when you acknowledge people, they feel heard and valued. They become more open-minded even if you are opposing their beliefs. It’s because, through your acknowledgment of their ideas, they know that you have been listening and you understand where they are coming from. If you want to do business with people or maintain a good relationship with them, without learning how to acknowledge people, you will get nowhere.

Acknowledging is easy.

Just paraphrase what they said and follow up with a relevant question or your opinion. Paraphrasing proves that you understand them since you express their ideas using your own words. 

During negotiations or discussions even if you disagree with people, you can make them hear you out by disagreeing politely or by partially disagreeing with them. A strong disagreement shows that you are unwilling to talk. This makes the negotiation take a negative turn and go downhill. 

So, disagree politely and follow up with relevant questions to show that you are interested in learning more about them. 

What you do is often reciprocated. When you listen, they listen. When you show interest in people, they will show interest in you. When you acknowledge them, they will acknowledge your work, ideas, and suggestions.

Acknowledge people. Have more discussions and not arguments. 


Sensei Ann

How not to be rude in English? 

En este episodio hablaremos brevemente sobre los efectos de la música al aprender un idioma.
te sorprenderá este corto episodio a la vez que aprendes escuchando.

Cuentos breves de motivación.

¿Puede la música ayudarnos a aprender un idioma?

“I love watching the World Cup, which is without doubt the biggest and most exciting international football tournament in the world today. Every four years, it brings the world together in a celebration of the beautiful game. Every time the World Cup rolls around, it's like a huge party!

I especially enjoy the opening match between the host nation and the defending champions. It's always an emotional, high-stakes encounter that sets the tone for the tournament. As the games go on, the intensity builds, and it's so exciting to watch the best teams in the world battle it out for the cup.

When I watch the World Cup, I'm usually with my family. We get together to watch the big games, and it's a great excuse to spend some quality time together. We all love football, so it's a great way to bond over something we all enjoy. Plus, it's always fun to debate and discuss the games afterwards.

I think my favourite thing about the World Cup is the atmosphere. It's a truly global event, and it's so cool to see people from all over the world coming together in one place to enjoy the sport. It's a great feeling of unity, and it really brings out the best in people.

As well as that,the games are always thrilling, the atmosphere is electric, and spending time with my family, and friends while watching is always a blast. 


Thank you.”

IELTS 85 Speaking

Describe a sports program you like to watch

When you take your IELTS speaking exam, there is a strong possibility that in part 2 you might have to describe a piece of art you like, so it’s best to prepare and go into your exam with a work of art you can talk about up your sleeve. You should also try to slip a few idioms in. See if you can spot the idioms I use in this podcast.

In this podcast I’m going to imagine I’m in an IELTS exam part 2, and I have to talk about a work of art.

OK, let’s make a start. The work of art I’m going to talk about is the Mona Lisa.

First, I’d like to mention who created it. The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci.

Now, I’d like to tell you about the first time I encountered it. We were studying the history of art in junior high, and my group had to talk about the Mona Lisa.

Next, I’d like to give you a little bit of the painting’s history. It is thought that Leonardo Da Vinci painted The Mona Lisa in Florence, Italy between 1503 and 1506. However, it has been suggested that Leonardo worked on the painting as late as 1517. It is painted in oil on a white canvas and has been on display at The Louvre museum in Paris since 1797.

Finally, let’s talk about why I like it. I love this painting because it’s both unusual and beautiful. Furthermore, it is said to be one of the most valuable paintings in the world, and may be worth as much as one billion dollars. In other words, it costs an arm and a leg! However, I don’t just like it because it’s expensive, I find it aesthetically pleasing, too. Also, the woman seems very mysterious. Sometimes she looks happy, and at other times she looks sad. It’s almost as if she is alive! I think this painting is one in a million and painters like Leonardo Da Vinci come along once in a blue moon.

Did you spot the idioms I used? That’s right: up your sleeve, costs an arm and a leg, one in a million, and once in a blue moon. Now take the quiz that comes with this podcast, and don’t forget to book a lesson with me!