pingpingchinese(Elena Ann)

PingpingChinese E01：Third Tone Rule

The difference between two prepositions: accross and through.

What's the difference?

Across or Through

5 Tips for Studying IELTS Speaking

Preparing for the IELTS Speaking test can be challenging, but with the right strategies, you can improve your fluency and confidence. Here are five tips to help you excel:

Practice Speaking Daily
Consistency is key to improving your speaking skills. Set aside time each day to practice speaking English, even if it's just for 10-15 minutes. Talk about a variety of topics, record yourself, and identify areas where you can improve.

Expand Your Vocabulary
A rich vocabulary will allow you to express yourself more clearly and precisely. Learn new words daily, and practice using them in sentences. Focus on synonyms, idiomatic expressions, and topic-specific vocabulary like travel, work, and culture.

Work on Pronunciation and Intonation
Clear pronunciation is essential in the IELTS Speaking test. Focus on common pronunciation mistakes, and practice intonation to sound more natural. Listening to native speakers through podcasts or videos can help you understand how words should be pronounced and how sentences flow.

Develop Your Ideas
In the IELTS Speaking test, you’ll need to speak at length on various topics. Practice expanding your ideas by structuring your answers clearly. Use examples, explanations, and reasons to support your opinions.

Simulate Test Conditions
Familiarize yourself with the test format by simulating exam conditions. Record yourself answering common IELTS questions within the time limit, and get feedback from a tutor or language partner.

With consistent practice and these strategies, you'll be well-prepared to perform confidently on test day.

IELTS Speaking Practice

5 Tips for your IELTS Speaking 

¿Cuáles son los principales prejuicios sobre los inmigrantes que existen en tu país?

Migrante es el término más general para referirse a toda aquella persona que abandona el lugar en que habita o llega a otro destino para establecerse en él.

Con motivo de los flujos migratorios que afectan en la actualidad a millones de personas en todo el mundo, en los medios de comunicación ha surgido la duda sobre la palabra que conviene emplear para referirse a todas ellas de manera general.

A este respecto, cabe señalar que el sustantivo emigrante pone el foco en la persona que abandona su hogar, mientras que inmigrante hace referencia a esa misma persona, pero desde la perspectiva de quien ya ha llegado a su nuevo destino para radicarse en él.

De modo más amplio, el Diccionario de la lengua española define migrante como ‘que migra’, esto es, ‘que se traslada desde el lugar en que habita a otro diferente’, definición general con la que es posible designar a todo aquel que se desplaza de un lugar a otro.

Un bocado de español

Migración - Inmigración - Emigración 

A South Korean musical about a teenage girl who meets a mysterious magician.

Vocabulary:
burden: something heavy you carry, whether physical or figurative
creditor: someone you owe money to
magician: a person who does magic tricks
wind-up toy: a toy that uses a clockwork motor to move
rat race: constantly competing to get ahead
distraction: something that moves your attention elsewhere

Learn English with Stories

Movie Series: The Sound of Magic

Teacher Smith and Den were having a natural, unplanned conversation about Den’s journey to becoming fluent in English. Den reflected on how he once struggled but improved by immersing himself in English-speaking environments and practicing regularly. Over time, his confidence grew, and now, to Teacher Smith’s admiration, Den has even become an English teacher himself. They shared a laugh about how fluent he sounds today and marvelled at his impressive progress.

LEARN BY LISTENING

How to Become Fluent in English and Even Teach It: A Real Success Story

Spanish México

LA COMIDA MEXICANA I.

Borders between countries sometimes change after wars or international agreements, but part of the border between Italy and Switzerland is changing because of melting glaciers.

Large sections of the border are defined by different parts of the glacier, for example the lines of ridges in the ice.

But climate change has caused glaciers across Europe to melt and this has changed the positions of the glaciers' ridges and the natural boundaries between the countries.

The two countries have been talking about the new borders for a number of months. Switzerland signed the new border agreement at the end of September and it's waiting for Italy to do the same.

Part of the border is close to the popular Swiss ski resort of Zermatt. Some of the slopes will be affected by the border change, although skiers shouldn't need to worry about carrying their passports up the mountain!

In fact, both countries are in the Schengen area, so anyone with a visa to visit one of them will usually be able to visit the other without any problems.

The changes have been made so that it is clear which of the two countries is responsible for maintaining certain areas.

But both countries' economic interests were also considered when the new borders were agreed, Bloomberg said.

According to 2023 data, Switzerland's glaciers lost 4% of their volume in 2023, after losing a record 6% of their volume in 2022.

The region has had less snow and warmer summers in recent years.

Some glaciers have no ice left, and the situation will only get worse if nothing is done about climate change, experts say.

According to a 2023 study, up to half of the world's glaciers could disappear by 2100, even if we make progress with targets limiting climate change.

Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

Italy, Switzerland Change Borders as Glaciers Melt

You may have heard the phrase “beating a dead horse”, which refers to continuing an effort that is no longer useful. But how do you know when your study methods, goals, or mindset are the dead horse? And when should you move on?

Let’s explore how to detect when something isn’t working, how to adjust your approach, and most importantly—how to avoid wasting energy on language learning methods that will never work for you.

🐴 The Dead Horse Theory in Language Learning
The Dead Horse Theory suggests that if a strategy no longer works, stop using it. But here’s the catch—most of us don’t realize we’re on a dead horse until it’s too late.
We keep pushing through outdated learning strategies, believing that more effort will eventually yield results. We blame ourselves for not being “smart enough” or “motivated enough,” when in reality, we might just be riding the wrong horse.

Here’s where self-awareness and rational decision-making come into play. How can you tell if you’re stuck beating a dead horse in your language journey?

