⚡We’re Maria and Pablo! And we’d like to share our lifestyle and culture with you. Improve your listening comprehension, increase your vocabulary, and fluency and learn something new in each episode!⚡

Maria & Pablo Spanish

I have spoken before about how to improve your spoken English in general, but this episode is addressing the subject of pronunciation in particular. I outline a method you can use and some steps you can take.

Kev's English Podcast

Kev's English Podcast: Episode 6: How to improve your pronunciation

然后，在一天的早晨，恰好在太阳升起的时候，她开放了。
Then one morning, exactly at sunrise, she suddenly showed herself.
她已经精细地做了那么长的准备工作，却打着哈欠说道：
And, after working with all this painstaking precision, she yawned and said:
我刚刚睡醒，真对不起，
Ah! I am scarcely awake. I beg that you will excuse me.
瞧我的头发还是乱蓬蓬的…
My petals are still all disarranged.
小王子这时再也控制不住自己的爱慕心情：“你是多么美丽啊！”
But the little prince could not restrain his admiration: "Oh! How beautiful you are!"
花儿悠然自得地说：“是吧，我是与太阳同时出生的…”
"Am I not?" the flower responded, sweetly. "And I was born at the same moment as the sun."
小王子看出了这花儿不太谦虚，可是她确实丽姿动人。
The little prince could guess easily enough that she was not any too modest–but how moving–and exciting–she was!
她随后又说道：“现在该是吃早点的时候了吧，请你也想着给我准备一点…”
"I think it is time for breakfast," she added an instant later. "If you would have the kindness to think of my needs".
小王子很有些不好意思，于是就拿着喷壶，打来了一壶清清的凉水，浇灌着花儿。

And the little prince, completely abashed, went to look for a sprinkling-can of fresh water. So, he tended the flower.
于是，就这样，这朵花儿就以她那有点敏感多疑的虚荣心折磨着小王子。
So, too, she began very quickly to torment him with her vanity– which was, if the truth be known, a little dificult to deal with.
例如，有一天，她向小王子讲起她身上长的四根刺：“老虎，让它张着爪子来吧！”
One day, for instance, when she was speaking of her four thorns, she said to the little prince: "Let the tigers come with their claws!"
小王子顶了她一句：“在我这个星球上没有老虎，而且，老虎是不会吃草的”。
"There are no tigers on my planet," the little prince objected. "And, anyway, tigers do not eat weeds."
花儿轻声说道：“我并不是草。”
"I am not a weed," the flower replied, sweetly.
真对不起。
Please excuse me.
我并不怕什么老虎，可我讨厌穿堂风。
I am not at all afraid of tigers, she went on, but I have a horror of drafts.
你没有屏风？
I suppose you wouldn't have a screen for me?
小王子思忖着：“讨厌穿堂风…这对一株植物来说，真不走运，这朵花儿真不大好伺候…”
"A horror of drafts–that is bad luck, for a plant," remarked the little prince, and added to himself, "This flower is a very complex creature."

小王子-The Little Prince-Read in Chinese

小王子第19章：婀娜的花朵

Para el día de hoy hablaremos sobre el cáncer de seno, ya que el 19 de octubre de cada año se conmemora el Día Internacional de lucha contra esta enfermedad, una fecha que tiene como objetivo concientizar a la población sobre esta enfermedad y resaltar la importancia de la detección precoz para mejorar el pronóstico y la supervivencia de quienes llegan a padecer esta enfermedad. 

¡Hablemos de salud!

19 de octubre, día mundial de la lucha contra el cáncer de seno

 you will learn lots of vocabulary with this joke. enjoy it 

Story learning Chinese with Annie

funny chinese stories -----joke no.2  -----是我戒酒了

Dans cet épisode, je vous partage les conseils essentiels pour réussir le DELF A2.
Même si cet examen reste accessible, il demande une bonne préparation dans les quatre compétences : compréhension orale, compréhension écrite, production orale et production écrite.
Je vous explique comment identifier les informations importantes à l’écoute, comment lire efficacement les textes courts du DELF, comment structurer votre prise de parole, et comment rédiger un texte clair et simple en utilisant les temps essentiels comme le passé composé.

Je vous parle aussi de l’importance de la régularité, de stratégies simples pour progresser plus vite, et de la façon de gagner en confiance avant l’examen.
Dans mes cours sur italki, je propose des simulations complètes, des exercices ciblés et des corrections personnalisées pour vous aider à réussir.

Bonne préparation et bonne écoute !
=============================================================================
In this episode, I share the essential tips you need to succeed in the DELF A2 exam.
Although this exam is accessible, it still requires solid preparation in all four skills: listening, reading, speaking, and writing.

I explain how to identify key information when listening, how to read short DELF texts efficiently, how to structure your oral presentation, and how to write a clear, simple text using essential tenses such as the passé composé.

You will also hear practical strategies to improve faster, learn more regularly, and feel more confident on exam day.
In my italki lessons, I offer full exam simulations, targeted exercises, and personalized corrections to help you succeed.

Enjoy the episode, and good luck with your DELF A2 preparation!

Bienvenue au French Podcast de Karim

Réussir le DELF A2 : les essentiels en 3 minutes

Happy New Year! 
Today, I'm going to talk about one of ivents on New year's Eve.
We have Ohitakisai in Hirota shrine on New Year's Eve. It's an ivent for Shinto ritual.  In Ohitakisai, a large bonfire is lit at the shrine. The flame will cleanse us of one year of impurities.
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あけましておめでとうございます。
今年は　西暦で2023年です。　日本の元号では　令和5年です。　干支はうさぎです。
前回　ポッドキャストをアップしてから2週間以上空いてしまいました。
おかげさまで、部屋の片づけもかなりできました。お正月の用意もそれなりに整えることができました。
12月31日大晦日の夜は、家から２０分ほど歩いて行ける廣田神社に行きました。この日は、午後9時から　大晦日御火焚祭（おひたきさい）という行事がありました。これは、知らないうちに溜まった1年間の罪や穢れを祓い清めるために、大きな焚火をする行事です。　焚火の火にあたると、悪いものが取れ、きれいな心と体で新しい年を迎えることができるそうです。また、これは「福火（ふくび）」とも言われています。「福火」は、その火にあたることで、福を授かることができるそうです。
神社の広場で焚かれる御火焚祭（おひたきさい）の火は、とても大きいです。2メートルぐらいまで炎が上がります。めらめら　ゆらゆら動く炎は　まるで　龍が空に昇る姿に見えます。新しい薪を　放り込む度に火の粉が舞い上がります。　風に吹かれてその火の粉が周りにいる人たちに降りかかってくることもあります。みんな2メートル以上　離れたところに立っていますが、火の粉が自分たちのほうに飛んできたら、急いで逃げていました。　この日の夜の気温は5℃ぐらいで寒かったので、焚火はとても暖かく気持ちよかったです。30分ぐらい　焚火の炎の勢いを眺めてから、神社にお参りをして帰りました。
帰宅後、年越しそばを作って　みんなと一緒に食べました。　そうこうしている内に、
深夜０時、２０２３年の１月１日になりました。　「あけましておめでとうございます。今年もよろしくお願いします」と　新年のあいさつをして忘年会はお開きです。友人たちはそれぞれ家へ帰っていきました。
こんな風に私の２０２２年は終わり、無事に２０２３年を迎えることが出来ました。
それでは、みなさん、今年もどうぞよろしくお願いいたします。



やさしい日本語（にほんご）

大晦日御火焚祭（おおみそかおひたきさい）Ohitakisai on New Year's Eve

In questo episodio vedremo la storia dell'università di Bologna che è considerata l'università più antica dell'Europa. Ancora oggi Bologna è una città piena di vita e di studenti dove l'università ha un ruolo molto importante.

Testo: 

L’università di Bologna è la più antica università del mondo. Ha quasi 1000 anni. Nasce infatti nel 1088.  Dopo l'università di Bologna, nel 1096 nasce l'università di Oxford nel Regno Unito e nel 1170 l'università di Parigi in Francia. Da quel momento in poi l’università ha un grande sviluppo soprattutto in Italia e Bologna diventa un modello per tutte. A Bologna all'inizio sono gli studenti a scegliere e a pagare i maestri più prestigiosi1, che a volte vengono anche da città lontane. Di conseguenza solo i ragazzi più ricchi possono studiare. I maestri più stimati guadagnano tanto e possono diventare molto famosi.  Gli studenti sono solo maschi, perché a quel tempo le donne non possono studiare, arrivano a Bologna anche da lontano e cercano alloggio, cibo e divertimenti per il loro tempo libero. Grazie alla presenza della sua università, Bologna diventa il centro più importante dell’Emilia Romagna e passa alla storia come “Bologna la Dotta”, che vuol dire la sapiente. All'università le lezioni sono in latino, perché nel Medioevo il latino è la lingua della cultura....



Italiano espresso

Lettura livello A2: l'università più antica dell'Europa: Bologna 

IELTS Preparation. Band 8-9 Answers. Part 1 - Spending time alone.

Q. Do you spend a lot of time by yourself?
Q. What do you usually do when you are alone?
Q. Has what you do when you are by yourself changed a lot since your childhood?
Q. Do you think it is important to have time for yourself?

Please time your answers. How long did it take you to answer these questions individually? How do you feel about your current results? What would you like to work on?