In the introductory episode, I answer why I think it's important to look at asking questions as an art. I give my background, anecdotes, and hypotheticals to display what trying to achieve with this podcast. While I use a lot of complex vocabulary, I try to speak in a slower cadence so that learners in a wide range of levels can try to understand. Hope you enjoy! 

The Art of Asking Questions

Episode 1: Introduction

Daily Sentences: Turkish – Arabic – English

Merhaba Türkçe 

In this episode I will tell you my story of my missing cat Bug, what I did to try and find him and what I have learnt. I did cry a bit in this episode. I miss my cat Bug so very much. Have you had a pet go missing? What did you do? How did you feel?

Follow me for more All About Cats

All About Cats

Missing Cat

One Minute Speaking Challenge - Birthday

Here are some questions to get you thinking in English - it's the key in your spoken English development ( or any other language you are learning )!

What was the best birthday you ever had?
How old were you?
Who was there, who did you invite?
Did you have it at home? Did you cook?
or you had it in a restaurant/ cafe?
Why was it the best birthday for you?
What feelings, emotions did you experience?
What were the gifts you were given?
Which one was the best one?
Who was the most memorable person at the party?

Simple questions but it'll take you a moment to think&answer.

Have a go, challenge yourself - there are many rewards in that - including your ptomotions, raising salary - making more money.

it's one step at a time, one day at a time towards your desired future.

Don't postpone or accept and exuse from yourself.

🎙 One-Minute Speaking Challenge by Anatoly Glazkov – Voice Unlock Method™

One Minute Speaking Challenge - Birthday

If you're looking to make a good first impression on a dating app, from your POV, you might think it would be a good idea to send a text using lots of abbreviations to make it seem like you're BFFs with the person you're texting.

But FWIW, according to a recent study from Stanford University and the University of Toronto, nobody likes receiving text abbreviations — not even young people.

Don't know those abbreviations? "POV" means "point of view," "BFF" means "best friend forever," and "FWIW" is "for what it's worth"!

Researchers studying the use of such abbreviations did a number of studies with several thousand people, and they found that texts using abbreviations were less likely to get replies. And writers using abbreviations were more likely to be seen as insincere.

Of course, we all use abbreviations — in one survey, it was found that 99% of people said they used them. But the researchers found that people don't like receiving texts with abbreviations, because rather than making them feel closer to the other person, it felt like the other person wasn't putting much effort into the conversation.

And while young people are even more likely to use abbreviations, they still felt that people who used them were insincere. Young people were also less likely to reply to such messages.

Lead researcher David Fang said we often put different amounts of effort into our conversations to show how important the other person is to us.

So it might be fine to put little effort into, say, a quick message to a delivery driver. But Fang said his team's results are especially important for people who really want to make a good impression — like at the beginning of a relationship!

Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

Want a Reply by Text? Don't Use Abbreviations!

Did you know?

Crocodile’s heart

Today I want to talk about a particular group of English adjectives.  These adjectives start with the prefix, "a-".  This prefix comes from Middle English.  It attaches to verbs and nouns and it changes them into adjectives.  An example would be "sleep" and "asleep." 

Find a transcript at:  https://www.difficultenglishexplained.com/blog/adjectives-that-start-with-a

Difficult English Explained

Adjectives that start with a-

In this episode, we explore how music profoundly supports language learning by shaping memory, focus, and emotional engagement. Happy music increases dopamine, boosting motivation and vocabulary recall. Sad music deepens introspection, making grammar and writing easier to master. Neutral background music enhances attention for reading and listening. Steady rhythms improve fluency and pronunciation, while tempos around 60–80 BPM align with optimal brainwave states for learning. Finally, metronomes and chimes help structure study sessions and sustain focus. Music becomes not just background noise but a powerful partner in your journey to fluency.

💃🏻111 Tips for Learning a Language 

Tip 80 - The Soundtrack to Fluency: How 🎼Music🎼 can help you speak volumes in language learning

Sweden has launched a new law that allows grandparents to get paid parental leave while taking care of their grandchildren for up to three months of a child's first year.

