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Pop culture talk

What is Doppiaggio? And what is Doppiaggese? Why are Hollywood movies always late to arrive to Italian cinemas? 
Are there positive sides of the Fascism repression? 
What grants the success of a Hollywood movie in Italy more - the movie itself or its dubbed version? 
Have a listen and let's find out together!


Language Tales

Impact of Fascism on Italian language

In this episode, let’s explore how to express “sort of” and “kind of” in Chinese! You’ll learn how native speakers use phrases like “有点儿”, “算是” in everyday conversations to express uncertainty, hesitation, or just a bit of something......These small words can make your Chinese sound much more natural — kind of like a native!

Learn Chinese and Have Fun!

How to Say “Sort of” or “Kind of” in Chinese?


En el último callejón de la calle más oscura del pueblo, se erguía una casa. No era una casa cualquiera, sino una mansión antigua, de esas que parecen absorber la luz y el sonido a su alrededor. Los lugareños la evitaban, susurrando leyendas sobre extraños sucesos y presencias malignas que habitaban en su interior.

Desde que la familia Blackwood se mudó, la casa se volvió aún más siniestra. Los Blackwood eran extraños, recluidos y rodeados de un aura de misterio. Los niños de la escuela contaban historias sobre luces parpadeantes en las ventanas a altas horas de la noche, sombras que se movían detrás de las cortinas y risas espeluznantes que resonaban en la noche.

Un día, un grupo de jóvenes, desafiando las advertencias de los mayores, decidió explorar la casa. Armados con linternas y una dosis de valentía, se adentraron en la mansión. Las habitaciones estaban llenas de polvo y telarañas, y un frío intenso les helaba los huesos. Los cuadros colgados en las paredes parecían observarlos con ojos vacíos.

Al llegar al sótano, la atmósfera se volvió aún más opresiva. Las paredes estaban cubiertas de extraños símbolos y el suelo crujía bajo sus pies. De repente, una puerta se abrió de golpe y un viento helado los envolvió. Los jóvenes se congelaron del miedo, pero no pudieron moverse.

Una voz gutural y profunda resonó en la oscuridad: "Se han adentrado en lo prohibido". Las luces parpadearon y se apagaron, sumiendo el sótano en una oscuridad total. Los jóvenes trataron de escapar, pero una fuerza invisible los mantenía inmovilizados.

Al día siguiente, los jóvenes fueron encontrados desmayados en el callejón, sin recordar nada de lo ocurrido. Los habitantes del pueblo susurraron que habían sido marcados por la maldición de la casa Blackwood.

Desde entonces, la casa del final del camino se convirtió en una leyenda aún más aterradora. Se decía que aquellos que se atrevían a entrar en ella, nunca volvían a ser los mismos.

Spanish Reading Comprehesion

The House at the End of the Road.

Today’s tip is specially for all the bibliophiles and bookworms out there. Imagine diving into the same captivating novel in two different languages! Sounds exciting, right? 

Let’s explore how this method can supercharge your language learning journey.

💃🏻111 Tips for Learning a Language 

Tip 31 - Specially for bookworms to double the fun and double the learning!

On some tour buses, you'll hear the guide welcome passengers in a number of different languages.

And at airports around the world, announcements might be made in more than one language to help more travelers understand what's being said.

But in Belgium, a train passenger made an official complaint after the conductor used both Dutch and French to say good morning.

The problem for this passenger was that the train was traveling through a city called Vilvoorde in the Flemish part of Belgium, where Dutch is the main language.

But Vilvoorde is very close to the capital, Brussels, where both Dutch and French are used.

The French-speaking conductor, named Ilyass Alba, wrote about the complaint on Facebook.

He said that after greeting passengers, one had replied: "We're not in Brussels yet, you have to use Dutch only!"

And while many people have taken Alba's side, the person who complained was technically correct — only Dutch should have been used.

According to the country's language rules, only Dutch should have been used while the train was in the Flemish part of the country. And as Belga News Agency explains, Belgium's rules say only French should be used when trains are in the French-speaking part of the country.

But announcements can be French and Dutch in Brussels. And on trains traveling to Brussels Airport, Dutch, French, German — another of Belgium's official languages — and English can be used.

Some Dutch-speaking politicians have said it's important that conductors stick to language rules.

But the country's French-speaking transport minister said that making passengers feel welcome is the most important thing.

The train company, SNCB, agreed with the transport minister. "Saying hello in several languages is just nice, we can only thank our conductors for that," an SNCB official told Agence France-Presse.

Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

Greeting in Two Languages Upsets Train Passenger

IELTS Preparation. Band 8-9 Answers. Part 1 - Neighbours. Questions 2.

How often do you see them? 

Linking words: To begin with, on top of that, besides.

Relevant vocabulary: A sign of respect, visit, routine, rituals, conversations, elatives, frequently, live close to us, greetings, exchange smiles, park, morning, go out.

If you feel frightened to speak, scared of making mistakes and stuck when speaking - read through my available classes. It might be IELTS speaking preparation, success in your job interview, career coaching or business English - I am sure you'll find something suitable.

Book your class now

See you in 5!

IELTS-SPEAKING 8-9 BAND IS POSSIBLE. DAILY SPEAKING PRACTICE PART 1,2 & 3. Listen daily.

IELTS Preparation. Band 8-9 Answers. Part 1 - Neighbours. Q2

In this episode, we're gonna learn a tale of a fisherman and a journalist. When you listen to this story, please take this question in your mind: why does Mr. Yang not want to donate his car? 

The Fisherman
垂钓者的故事
一个晴朗的下午, 杨先生开着车去钓鱼。
☆晴朗: sunny  ☆钓鱼: go fishing.

他把车停在了湖边。
☆湖边 by the lake.

在他准备钓鱼的时候,一个摄影师和一个记者走到了他的身边。
☆摄影师:   photographer  ☆记者:  journalist 

记者问他,“对不起, 先生。打扰您一下。”
我们是电视台的。想采访您一下, 行吗?”
☆电视台:  a television station  采访: interview 

“嗯。”
"Sure".

“您贵姓啊?”

  “姓杨。”

"噢, 杨先生, 您看着镜头。"
 ☆看镜头: look at the camera.

”嗯”。

“杨先生, 我们想问您, 如果您有一百万, 您愿意捐给那些需要帮助的人吗?
☆捐: donate

杨先生低头想了一会儿, 然后抬头看着记者说,“都捐了啊?”
☆低头: lowered his head   ☆抬头: lifted his head up 

“您看着镜头。”

“诶诶。”

 “对, 都捐了。”

  “愿意。”
  
  “您有一千万呢?”

   "愿意。”

“您有一个亿呢?”

“十个亿都行。”

“那您如果有一辆汽车, 您愿意捐给别人吗?”

杨先生看了一眼他的车, 然后对着记者摆了摆手表示不愿意。
☆摆了摆手: shook his hand

“为什么呀?”

“别的都行, 就是汽车不行。”

"您有十个亿您都愿意捐。为什么车就不行了?”

“因为我真有一辆汽车。”
 
For more Chinese stories to help you practice your beginner and intermediate Chinese, please visit our YouTube channel, YMC Learn Chinese. 
Thank you for watching and listening! I'm Lucky Yancy. Good luck to you everyday! 下次见!＾０＾~


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3. The Fisherman 垂钓者的故事

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NU-x2GIOQLjaSjddNmxD6iOe5XWc2ROU/view?usp=drivesdk