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The Crow & the Pitcher
In a spell of dry weather, when the Birds could find very little to drink, a thirsty Crow found a pitcher with a little water in it. But the pitcher was high and had a narrow neck, and no matter how he tried, the Crow could not reach the water. The poor thing felt as if he must die of thirst.

Then an idea came to him. Picking up some small pebbles, he dropped them into the pitcher one by one. With each pebble the water rose a little higher until at last it was near enough so he could drink.

In a pinch a good use of our wits may help us out.



Streetwise English

SWE 154 The Crow and the Pitcher (Children's Story)

Learn some Bulgarian idioms that are used in everyday life. Check out this list with audio pronunciation and description!

Bulgarian Today

Some of the most popular idioms in Bulgaria

拼音

Today's topic is "Getting busier Japanese in December".  Most of Japanese say "I'm busy! I'm busy!" in December. Why so specially busy for Japanese in December? I'm going to talk about it today. 
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日本の12月は　忙しいです。
12月のことを昔の暦で師走（しはす）と言います。これは　先生が走るくらい忙しいという意味です。走るというだけでも、なんだか忙しそうですよね。
でも、どうして12月が　そんなに忙しいのでしょうか。
個人的には、年賀状を書いたり、大掃除をしたりする上に、クリスマスパーティ―や、忘年会などがあります。　私も以前は　年賀状を100枚ぐらい書いていました。デザインや宛名書きをパソコンで作ってしまえば簡単です。でも、それでは味気ないような気がして、私は、宛名と短いメッセージは手書きで書いています。大掃除では、普段しないところまで　ていねいにするので時間がかかって、大変です。　平日の昼間は仕事なので、週末にこれらのことをすべてしなければなりません。
忘年会は「1年間いろいろおつかれさま～」という気持ちで、飲んだり食べたりする会です。　会社で働いていたころは、この忘年会が12月に2，3回はありました。社内の人との忘年会、取引先の方たちとの忘年会、そして、親しい友人だけでする忘年会です。おいしいものが食べられるのはいいけれど、結構　気を遣うことも多かったです。そのため、忘年会のあとに体調を崩すことも何回かありました。
一般的に、会社では、今している仕事を翌年にまで持ち越さないようにするとか、逆に年明けすぐにスタートできるように準備するなどがあります。　12月末を1年の区切り（くぎり）として考える習慣のようなものが、私たちをより忙しくさせるのだと思います。今まで溜めていたことを終わらせようとすることで業務が増えると、周りの人の仕事も増えてしまう。それがどんどん他のところにも伝染していくんですね。そして、「忙しい」「忙しい」と走り回る人が増えていくという・・・悪循環のようなものです。
私は、今　会社で働いていないので、こういう忙しさはありませんが、それでも
「部屋を年内に片づけなくちゃ！」「窓ふき、庭の手入れ、部屋の掃除もしなくちゃ！」「年賀状はどうしよう？」など　頭の中は大忙しです。　今日はもう12月14日。お正月まであと17日しかありませんが、まだ　何もしていません！ああ、忙しい！どうしよう！


やさしい日本語（にほんご）

12月はいそがしい日本人　Getting busier Japanese in December　

Hoy tengo una conversación con una amiga argentina, también profesora, Anabella de hablamos en español. En este episodio Anabella nos cuenta algunas de las particularidades del español rioplatense y cosas sobre su país, Argentina.


Blanca to go 

18– Un viaje a Argentina con Anabella

A new year begins with a powerful shift in mindset. In this episode of English Learners Boost, Teacher Ian—a licensed professional science teacher and English tutor—shares how adopting a New Year, New Mindset can transform your English learning journey. Discover practical insights, motivation, and encouragement to build confidence, embrace mistakes, and stay consistent. Plus, learn how you can book an English lesson on iTalki and experience Teacher Ian’s unique teaching methodology firsthand.

English Learner's Boost

New Year, New Mindset

Being a picky eater can mean a number of different things. It may describe someone who doesn't like to try new foods, or someone who prefers plain meals. It can also refer to someone who eats quite a narrow range of foods.

It's quite common for children to be picky eaters. They may only like their pasta without sauce, or their bread cut in a certain shape.

Parents often feel they're to blame when their children are picky eaters. But according to a new study, picky eating is mostly caused by our genes.

Researchers in the UK looked at data from identical and non-identical twins who had been followed from birth since 2007.

Identical twins share 100% of their genes, while non-identical twins share half, on average. Studying these twins allowed the researchers to compare the eating habits of people who were genetically the same and those who weren't, but still grew up in the same home together.

More than 4,800 twins were included in the study. Their parents completed questionnaires about how picky their children were aged 16 months, then again at the ages of 3, 5, 7 and 13.

Not all parents completed the questionnaires as their children got older, but from the results, the researchers found that the eating habits of identical twins were much more similar than those of non-identical twins.

They also found that genetic variation explained 60% of the differences in food pickiness at 16 months, and 74% between the ages of 3 and 13. Meanwhile, shared environment only explained 15% to 26% of these differences, and the environmental effect was strongest when children were younger.

However, the researchers added that environmental effects are still important: parents can still influence their children's eating habits by eating together as a family, and by offering a wide variety of different foods, for example.

Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

Genes Biggest Cause of Picky Eating in Children

Sometimes you have to let go and give up what you have now in order to receive something better in the future. Don’t let stubbornness be your downfall!

Short Stories with Rose 

How to Hunt a Monkey 

¿Sos parte del turismo de masas? ¿La ciudad en que vivis sufre este fenómeno?

HOLA, desde Buenos Aires Argentina, mi nombre es Camila, y vengo a entrenar tu escucha del español con mi acento rioplatense, y este tema viajero y mega interesante.

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