THE POLITE ART OF STARTING A CONVERSATION | What is small talk and why is it so important in business?

In this episode, we discuss what exactly is meant by small talk, when you should use small talk in business and which topics make for a great conversation. We discuss why this important social skill is vital for every English learner to master. so that you can become an integral part of a team, instead of being the outsider.

Book a lesson with Paul here: https://teach.italki.com/teacher/1657616 
Book a lesson with Rachel here: https://www.italki.com/teacher/1394345

BizPod - The Business English Podcast

BizPod Episode 3 - Making Small Talk

Ready to laugh, lead, and learn your way to fluency? The C(48) Verbs of the Day are here to help you expand your vocabulary and express yourself like a pro! 

Laugh – 笑 (Xiào) 😂
Lead – 领导 (Lǐngdǎo) 🧭
Learn – 学习 (Xuéxí) 📚
Lend – 借给 (Jiè gěi) 🤝
Lick – 舔 (Tiǎn) 👅

Want to deepen your learning?
📘 C(48) Vocabulary Flash Cards: Fun and visual, these flashcards will help you remember today’s verbs with ease!
🎯 C(48) Verbs Quiz: Put your skills to the test and see how well you know these essential verbs!

5 Verbs a Day. 每天学习五个动词。

C (48) Verbs Set : Laugh Lead Learn Lend Lick

I'm back! Do let me know if you didn't catch a word.

Bedside Italian

Bedside Italian #35 - Le scimmie urlatrici!

안녕하세요! 오늘도 충분히 멋진 하루를 보낸 당신을 위한 따뜻한 위로와 응원의 메시지를 담았습니다.
이 따뜻하고 진심 어린 메시지는 한국어를 배울 때 여러분을 위한 것입니다.
잠시 휴식을 취하고 재충전하세요.

This video is here to remind you how amazing you were today.
This warm and heartfelt message is for you when you're learning Korean.
Take a moment to relax and recharge.

어젯밤에도 잠을 설쳤죠.
오늘은 조금 괜찮을까 했는데,
아침부터 일이 꼬이기만 했어요.
그런 날,
우리 모두 있잖아요.
하지만 잊지 마세요.
그런 날에도
당신은 멈추지 않았다는 걸요.
넘어져도,
힘들어도,
다시 일어나 한 걸음씩 나아갔잖아요.
그건 정말 대단한 거예요.
오늘의 당신은 충분히 멋졌습니다.
그리고 내일은 더 빛날 거예요.
잠시 쉬어도 괜찮아요.
당신은 그럴 자격이 있으니까요.
오늘도 수고한 당신,
충분히 잘하고 있어요.

You had trouble sleeping last night again, didn’t you?
You thought today might be better,
but things have been going wrong since morning.
We all have days like that, don’t we?
But don’t forget,
even on days like that,
you didn’t stop moving forward.
Even when you stumbled,
even when it was tough,
you got back up and took one step at a time.
That’s truly amazing.
You were incredible today.
And tomorrow, you’ll shine even brighter.
It’s okay to take a break.
You deserve it.
To you, who worked so hard today,
you’re doing great.

Korean Listening Class 한국어 문장 듣기 - Korean teacher, Grace

한국어 듣기 - 한국어로 위로받아요. Find comfort in Korean

🔑 La Llave del Pasado 🏚️🕰️

Emma heredó una vieja casa de su abuela, un lugar que nunca había visitado antes. Entre los muebles cubiertos de polvo y los libros antiguos, encontró una pequeña llave dorada con un símbolo extraño grabado. Intrigada, comenzó a buscar por toda la casa hasta que encontró un baúl cerrado en el desván. Sin dudarlo, giró la llave en la cerradura y el baúl se abrió con un crujido. Dentro había una única cosa: un espejo ovalado con un marco de plata ennegrecida. Pero lo más inquietante era que su reflejo no imitaba sus movimientos.

Emma parpadeó varias veces, creyendo que era un truco de la luz. Pero su reflejo seguía observándola fijamente, hasta que levantó la mano y señaló algo detrás de ella. Atemorizada, Emma se giró, pero no había nada. Al volver la vista al espejo, su reflejo había desaparecido. Un escalofrío recorrió su espalda cuando escuchó un susurro en la habitación: "No debiste abrir el baúl".

Intentó salir corriendo, pero la puerta del desván se cerró de golpe. El aire se volvió frío y el espejo empezó a temblar. Emma gritó, pero su voz se apagó cuando sintió que algo la jalaba hacia el cristal. Lo último que vio antes de ser absorbida fue su reflejo… sonriendo. A la mañana siguiente, la casa seguía en silencio, pero el espejo mostraba algo nuevo: una figura atrapada en su interior, golpeando desesperadamente desde el otro lado.

Spanish Reading Comprehesion

The Key to the Past

Sveiki!

In the first official episode of Pauzė, I will introduce you to Rima and Jurgis, and tell you a bit about them - their age, where they come from, what they do in life, and what they like using the 'Man patinka' structure.

How did you find the episode? Let me know if you have any questions or comments.

Iki kito karto!

Pauzė

Episode 1: About me/I like - Apie mane/Man patinka

cat, cup, computer, car

Listen and repeat.

Send me a message to learn with me.


Phonics The Alphabet 

Letter C

op universities in California like Stanford and the University of Southern California will no longer be able to favor the relatives of alumni and school donors during the application process.

That's after state governor Gavin Newsom signed a law banning all private nonprofit colleges from giving preference to so-called "legacy" applicants and those with links to donors.

Newsom said the law already applied to public universities in the state. The law will now apply to all universities from September 2025.

The governor said: "In California, everyone should be able to get ahead through merit, skill, and hard work. The California Dream shouldn't be accessible to just a lucky few, which is why we're opening the door to higher education wide enough for everyone, fairly."

California is the second US state to ban both public and private universities from favoring legacy applicants. Maryland was the first, earlier this year, although the state's top school — Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore — had already ended the practice independently.

Virginia, Illinois and Colorado have banned public universities from giving preferential treatment to those with links to former students or donors.

Admissions to US universities are very competitive. And legacy admissions policies give an advantage to applicants whose — often wealthy, often white — family members previously attended the university, or who have donated money to the school.

A 2022 study looked at one unnamed US university and found that, over a 16-year period, 34% of legacy applicants were accepted — compared to just 14% of non-legacy applicants.

A group representing private colleges in California said it was "uncomfortable" with the state getting involved in the universities' admissions processes, but said the institutions would follow the new law.

