The environment is a fairly common topic in the IELTS test, so it's useful to have some ideas about it.

Today, Nick helps you answer this question. 

IELTS with Nick - World Knowledge 

Should governments or individuals be responsible for protecting the environment?

 In this episode, we are going to look at the current trade talks between China and the USA taking place in Switzerland. The trade talks appear to be going well, however, there is no deal reached at this time. So, will a deal be reached? That is the big question.


Short & Sweet Daily Business English News

Episode 5, China and US reach a trade deal?

A gaucho's horse constituted most of what he owned in the world. This podcast is about Gauchos' horses, their partners in life and adventures.

Culture and Heritage of Latin America

Gauchos and Their Horses

This story uses words from '4000 most common English words'

Zara is dragging Bobby into the market. He is like a stubborn little boy. Her eyes are beaming with enthusiasm and his are downcast with despair. 

The market is out of this world! There are countless numbers of things Zara has never seen before. 

As the two friends walk down the street, Zara points at everything in amazement while Bobby  dismisses them as boring and ordinary. 

Arriving at a food stall, Zara wants to experience everything. “And what are these fragrant things?” 

“Those are herbs…” 

“And this spicy thing?”

“Garlic… umm, where are you from?” 

“And what about this? It looks like the roots of a plant!” 

“That’s ginger, and, yes, they are the roots. Are you from outside of China?”

Zara is overwhelmed with positive emotion and disregards Bobby’s questions. 

The two friends arrive at an animal stall. It has horses, cows, chickens and pigs for sale. Zara touches all the animals, smelling and patting them. “These creatures are beautiful!” 

But Bobby doesn’t get it. He’s never met someone so strange in his life. He’s actually starting to feel irritated by Zara’s joy.

“Look, I have to get going soon… You know, my important task. So, is there anything I can do for you?” 

Zara stuffs a sugar-coated figurine into Bobby’s mouth. “Try this!” 

Bobby reluctantly chews and a little smile appears on his face. But then it disappears and he looks annoyed.

Zara runs off down the street, touching all the lovely silks and picking up all the metal tools. 

Bobby thinks, who does she think she is?

Being a Cloud

Zara the Mayfly

In this episode we are going to listen to a conversation about family members and their names. Let's start now.
----------------------------------------
老 师：你今年几岁了？
                                                                                                                                      
松籽儿：我今年八岁了。

老 师：那你家里有弟弟妹妹吗？

松籽儿：我没有弟弟，但是我有一个妹妹。

老 师：噢，你有一个妹妹，那你妹妹今年多大呀？

松籽儿：她今年一岁七个月。

老 师：哦，她现在一岁七个月。那你叫松籽儿，你妹妹叫什么呢？

松籽儿：她叫松果。

老 师：那你还有哥哥姐姐吗？

松籽儿：我没有哥哥，但我有一个姐姐

老 师：那你姐姐叫……

松籽儿：松豆。

老 师：啊哈，真好玩儿，你们三个的名字起得可真有意思。

松籽儿：老师，那你有哥哥姐姐吗？

老 师：哎呀，很遗憾啊。我没有哥哥姐姐，我还没有弟弟妹妹，我们家就我一个。所以
我觉得挺孤单的。你们有兄弟姐妹的孩子，在家就可以一起玩儿了。放假的时候，
你们家肯定很热闹吧。

松籽儿：对。而且呢，欢迎你到我们家来玩儿。

老 师：好啊，我一定去。谢谢你哦。

lǎo  shī ： nǐ jīn nián jǐ suì le ？  
sōnɡ zǐ ér ： wǒ jīn nián bá suì le 。  
lǎo  shī ： nà nǐ jiā lǐ yǒu dì di mèi mei mɑ ？  
sōnɡ zǐ ér ： wǒ méi yǒu dì di ， dàn shì wǒ yǒu yí ɡè mèi mei 。 
 lǎo  shī ： ō ， nǐ yǒu yí ɡè mèi mei ， nà nǐ mèi mei jīn nián duō dà yɑ ？  
sōnɡ zǐ ér ： tā jīn nián yí suì qí ɡè yuè 。  
lǎo  shī ： ò ， tā xiàn zài yí suì qí ɡè yuè 。 nà nǐ jiào sōnɡ zǐ ér ， nǐ mèi mei jiào shén me ne ？  sōnɡ zǐ ér ： tā jiào sōnɡ ɡuǒ 。  
lǎo  shī ： nà nǐ hái yǒu ɡē ɡe jiě jie mɑ ？  
sōnɡ zǐ ér ： wǒ méi yǒu ɡē ɡe ， dàn wǒ yǒu yí ɡè jiě jie 。  
lǎo  shī ： nà nǐ jiě jie jiào … …  
sōnɡ zǐ ér ： sōnɡ dòu 。  
lǎo  shī ： ā hā ， zhēn hǎo wán ér ， nǐ men sān ɡè de mínɡ zi qǐ dé kě zhēn yǒu yì si 。 
 sōnɡ zǐ ér ： lǎo shī ， nà nǐ yǒu ɡē ɡe jiě jie mɑ ？ 
lǎo  shī ： āi yɑ ， hěn yí hàn ā 。 wǒ méi yǒu ɡē ɡe jiě jie ， wǒ hái méi yǒu dì di mèi mei ， wǒ men jiā jiù wǒ yí ɡè 。 suǒ yǐ  wǒ jué dé tǐnɡ ɡū dān de 。 nǐ men yǒu xiōnɡ di jiě mèi de hái zi ， zài jiā jiù kě yǐ yì qǐ wán ér le 。 fànɡ jià de shí hou ，  nǐ men jiā kěn dìnɡ hěn rè nɑo bɑ 。  
sōnɡ zǐ ér ： duì 。 ér qiě ne ， huān yínɡ nǐ dào wǒ men jiā lái wán ér 。  
lǎo  shī ： hǎo ā ， wǒ yí dìnɡ qù 。 xiè xiè nǐ ò 。 

Story Chinese

欢迎你到我家来玩儿 Welcome to my home and have fun (elementary level)

Writing your CV and cover letter is NOT the first stage of your job application process. Yet this is where most people start...and fail!

This podcast explains a very early, key stage of your planning...and the 6 important questions your must answer to get started!

How to create an awesome job application strategy: Advice on careers, CVs, cover letters, interview planning

It's all about me - 6 powerful questions you must ask before applying for a job

In this episode of The Streetwise English Podcast I talk about the battle against "Procrastination"  https://italki.com/teacher/1947582
Book a 1 on 1 class!!

Streetwise English

SWE 126 - Anti- Procrastination Motivation- Part 1

In this episode, Karen and Baiwei talked about the culture shock and reverse culture shock when they went to China and returned to their hometown.