It's the world's favourite sweet snack, and the chocolate industry is worth over $100 billion. Discover the fantastic history of where it comes from, how it became so popular, and learn about some of the economics of chocolate production.

English Learning for Curious Minds

Chocolate

Part 4. Listening & Comprehension:

Please answer the following questions of understanding:

Question 1:
On what date does Christmas take place?
a The date varies from year to year
b 20th December
c 31st December
d 25th December


Question 2:
Which mythical figure is said to deliver presents on Christmas?
a The Easter Bunny
b Saint Patrick
c Santa Claus
d Christmas Angel


Question 3:
How are children's present requests said to be granted or denied on Christmas?
a Randomly
b Through a specially designed mathematical formula
c Nobody is quite sure
d By reviewing their presence on either the "Good" or "Naughty" List


Question 4:
Which parties are said to help Santa Claus make and deliver presents?
a Elves
b He performs the work himself
c Magical reindeer
d A and C


Question 5:
On Christmas, where are presents typically found?
a Underneath the Christmas tree and in stockings
b In the chimney
c In the mailbox
d Hidden throughout the house


See you tomorrow on my profile to get daily 2 minute English to improve your Speaking & Thinking, Reading, Writing & Thinking and Listening & Comprehension. 

The Habits of Highly Effective English Communicators

English Daily Listening practice to improve your Listening & Comprehension

Is college worth the time and money? Americans are increasingly skeptical about the value and cost, according to a new survey.

And most said they feel the US higher education system is moving in the "wrong direction."

Overall, only 36% of adults said they have a "great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in higher education, according to a report released by Gallup and the Lumina Foundation. That confidence level has declined steadily from 57% in 2015.

Some of the same opinions have been reflected in declining enrollment numbers as colleges contend with the effects of the student debt crisis, concerns about the high cost of tuition and political debates over how they teach about race and other topics.

"It's so expensive, and I don't think colleges are teaching people what they need to get a job," said Randy Hill, a 59-year-old driver from Connecticut.

He added: "You graduate out of college, you're up to [your] eyeballs in debt, you can't get a job, then you can't pay it off. What's the point?"

The June 2024 survey's overall finding — that 36% of adults feel strong confidence in higher education — is the same as the year before.

But what concerns researchers is that more Americans — 32% — said they have "very little" or no confidence in higher education.

Experts say that fewer college graduates could lead to labor shortages in fields from health care to information technology.

For those who choose not to go to college, it often means lower lifetime earnings — 75% less compared with those who get bachelor's degrees, according to Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce. And during an economic downturn, those without degrees are more likely to lose jobs.

However, others still see the value in higher education. College student Kristen Freeman from California told The Associated Press: "I think higher education can give students the spark to want to change the system."

Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

Many US Adults Unsure if College is Worthwhile

EL SOMBRERO CHARRO.

El sombrero charro fue parte del estereotipo del nacionalismo mexicano del siglo XX. El charro fue un pintoresco representante del folclor de México que se convirtió –y con ello, su característico atuendo– en un personaje mítico y que más tarde daría un salto a la industria cinematográfica para conocer la fama. Quizá su origen no tenga tanta relevancia como su trascendencia cultural, pero no es casualidad que ahí, como parte de ese universo simbólico, su sombrero se consolidara también como un señuelo de la identidad mexicana.

Una aproximación hacia el origen del sombrero charro nos exige adentrarnos en el mundo de significaciones que vieron nacer al mítico personaje del charro mexicano. Porque si algo nos debe quedar claro es que la construcción simbólica de este encuentra su apogeo en la Época de Oro del cine mexicano –aunque desde muchos años atrás ya se concebía– y en donde su original vestimenta es el sello indiscutible de lo mexicano. Sí, el charro se constituyó a través de los valores ideológicos de la época apelando a los sentimientos más que la razón. Por esos tiempos, el cine volvió algo idiosincrásico: aquella chaqueta bordada, corta y entallada, a ese pantalón ajustado y ese enorme sombrero jarano de ala ancha.

El discurso nacionalista que se esparcía después de la Revolución Mexicana propició diversas transformaciones en nuestro país. La aproximación más cercana al nacimiento del charro no se da en este periodo sino mucho antes; con el ranchero y el jinete –aunque algunos historiadores sugieren a los chinacos como una figura predecesora–. Pero, el jinete se refería más que nada al hombre de campo, aquel que peleó junto con Emiliano Zapata en la Revolución Mexicana.



Spanish México

EL SOMBRERO CHARRO.

강아지가 너무 귀엽네요. 미용은 어디로 가서 하세요?
小狗太可爱了。它美发去哪儿做? 

귀엽죠? 저희 강아지 미용은 제가 집에서 주기적으로 직접 하고 있어요.
可爱吧? 我亲自在家定期给它做。 

전문적으로 미용기술을 배우신 거예요? 가게에서 한 줄 알았어요.
你专门学过美容技术吗? 我还以为是在店里做的。 

배운지는 몇 달 밖에 안 되었는데, 전보다 실력이 좀 많이 늘었어요. 
虽然刚学了没几个月, 但是比以前进步了不少。

헤어스타일을 멋지게 하다, 미용 美发
기한을 정하다, 주기적으로 定期
미용기술 美容技术
발전하다, 진보하다 进步

[YOON] 1분 한국어

강아지가 너무 귀엽네요. 미용은 어디로 가서 하세요? 小狗太可爱了。它美发去哪儿做? 




こんにちは！
Japanese daily life podcast のAtsushiです。
このPodcastは、日本語を楽しく勉強しているみなさんに向けたPodcastです。

ぼくの日常生活の話を聞くことで、日本語のリスニングをよくしたり、新しい言葉を知ってもらえたらいいなと思います。

みなさんお元気でしょうか。
今日もトルコからPodcastを録っています。


今日は、N3の漢字をやります！
両をやります！　

音読み　りょう
訓読み　ふたーつ　送り仮名はつ

意味は、ふたつ、双方、などがあります。

例えば、

・両手ーりょうて　右と左の手

・両方ーりょうほう　双方どちらも

・両親ーりょうしん　父と母　



こんな感じですね。
これを使って例文を作っていきましょう！

・とっさに両手で受け止めた

・日本語も英語も両方勉強しています

・両親にはとても感謝しています



こんな感じです。

今回も最後まで聞いていただき、ありがとうございます！
ではまた！


Atsushi のJapanese podcast (travel/news /文法・漢字・語彙/Osaka/Hokkaido/🇹🇷🇬🇪🇦🇲🇪🇸🇵🇹)

#419 N3 漢字"両"について

Welcome to 'English Learners Boost,' your go-to podcast for energizing your English learning journey! In this New Year special, discover practical resolutions to boost your language goals. From expanding vocabulary to staying motivated, we've got you covered. Tune in and make 2024 your year of linguistic triumph!

English Learner's Boost

How to Motivate Yourself to Learn English this Year

This podcast is about the misconceptions that many English learners may have about the present continuous tense. Many think that it's only used for actions occurring in the moment but there's more to it than that. 