In this episode we will look at the comparisons between learning a language and creating art. We look at the threshold between learning and creating in the privacy of our own mind and sharing our work with the public and how that relates to moving from static learning to active conversation.

Philosophical Friday

Philosophical Friday with a quote from Stephen King

In this episode, we’re going to explore three similar yet tricky English phrases — “If only”, “Only if”, and “As long as” — and learn how to express them naturally in Chinese! Whether you're wishing for something, setting a condition, or making a promise, I’ll guide you through the most accurate and native ways to say it. Let’s learn together with clear examples and useful vocabulary!

Learn Chinese and Have Fun!

Got "If Only", "Only If", and "As Long As" in Chinese — All at Once!

Workplace anxiety is a growing concern for businesses and organizations of all sizes. It refers to the feelings of worry, fear, and unease that employees may experience in their professional environments. This type of anxiety can have significant impacts on an individual's productivity, job performance, and overall well-being, ultimately affecting the success and profitability of the company as a whole.

The manifestations of workplace anxiety can take many forms. Employees may experience physical symptoms such as headaches, muscle tension, and digestive issues. Mentally, they may struggle with decreased concentration, indecisiveness, and feelings of dread about going to work. Behaviorally, workplace anxiety can lead to absenteeism, presenteeism (where employees are physically present but not fully engaged), and even burnout.

At the core, workplace anxiety is driven by a variety of factors, both internal and external to the organization. Internal factors may include high-pressure work environments, unrealistic deadlines, lack of job security, poor communication from management, and interpersonal conflicts with colleagues. External factors can encompass economic uncertainty, industry disruptions, and societal stressors that seep into the workplace.

The business implications of workplace anxiety are far-reaching. Reduced productivity and performance can directly impact the bottom line, as tasks take longer to complete and mistakes become more frequent. Increased healthcare costs associated with stress-related illnesses and higher turnover rates can also weigh heavily on a company's financial resources. Moreover, workplace anxiety can erode employee morale, collaboration, and overall job satisfaction, making it challenging to attract and retain top talent.

The Global Professional Podcast

Workplace Anxiety Explained - Episode 54

LA VENTANA ARQUEOLOGICA MAS ANTIGUA DEL CENTRO HISTORICO DE LA CIUDAD DE MÉXICO.



Spanish México

LA VENTANA ARQUEOLOGICA MAS ANTIGUA DEL CENTRO HISTORICO DE LA CIUDAD DE MÉXICO.

Mona and I discuss my theory that students of ANY language should read Haruki Murakami's novels.

Starting at 17:26, I explain the following vocabulary from the episode:

to get a feel for (something)
on the one hand; on the other hand
down to earth

As always, a full transcript of the episode can be found at www.american-idiom.com

Brentoni's English Podcast

013 - Why Language Learners Should Read Haruki Murakami

This podcast gives you strategies to succeed on each part of the IELTS Speaking Exam. The three parts are very different from one another so you need to use strategies that are specific to each part. This podcast starts with a brief overview of strategies for the overall exam and continues with a closer look at the ways to succeed on Parts 1, 2, and 3.

IELTS Speaking Success

IELTS Speaking Strategies 1 2 3 - Episode 1: Intro

In questo podcast vi parlerò un po' di me stessa e del mio carattere. Parlerò di quanto sia importante scegliere ed essere liberi, ci sono anche nuovi termini che sicuramente non conoscete. Spero che vi faccia riflettere e aspetto i vostri commenti.

Ascolta e impara con Anna

Decisioni e libertà

Do you go to work even when you're not feeling well?

If you do, you're not alone. A survey of workers in the US has found that 9% of people never take sick days.

Some said that's just because they don't get sick very often. But others said pressure at work makes them less likely to take sick days.

And some part-time workers said they feel financial pressure to go to work even when they aren't feeling well — because they need the money!

Yahoo News and YouGov surveyed almost 1,500 US adults — although only about half of them were actually workers, so the other half weren't able to comment.

About 16% said they take one or two sick days a year. Twelve percent said they take "a few" days, and 4% said they take "more than a few" days.

Another 3% of people said they don't have the option to take sick days where they work.

But how do your colleagues feel when you take a sick day — or when you go in to work even when you're not well?

More than one-third of people said they prefer their colleagues to stay at home if they're sick. But 5% said people should work even when they're sick.

However, only 7% of people said they always believe their colleagues really are sick when they have a day off!

Experts told Yahoo News that going to work when you're unwell isn't a sign of commitment, however — they said it just shows you're disrespecting yourself and your body.


Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

Almost One Tenth of US Workers Never Take Sick Days

https://linktr.ee/atsushi_japanese

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

今日は、関西弁のやん、について。

めっちゃ寒いやん！
とか、久しぶりやん！とか関西弁で良く使います。

どういう時に使うか、例文を使いながら、説明しますね。
うそやん
ーえ、うそやん！それは知らんかったわ。
　うそでしょ！みたいな意味ですね

めっちゃ安いやん
ーこれ、めっちゃ安いやん！買います！
　安いですね！みたいな意味です
　
言うてたやん
ー昨日は行くって言うてたやん
　言ってたでしょ、みたいな意味です

ええやん
ーそれ、めっちゃええやん
　とても良いね、みたいな意味です

ちゃうやん
ーちゃうやん、ちゃうやん、そういう意味じゃない
　違うよ、違うよ、みたいな意味です

例文としてはこんな感じですね。
だよ、とか、よね、とか、でしょ、とかそんな時に使います。

　僕は最近日本の漫才とかみませんが、漫才とか見ると、たぶん、良く聞くと思います。特にツッコミの人が言いますね。
それ、ーやん！
それちゃうやん！

もちろん、日常会話でもたっくさん使いますので、YouTubeとかで関西弁の人を見つけたら、聞いてみてください。

もし、関西弁を直接聞きたい！という人がいたら、ぜひオンラインレッスンでお話しましょう！なんでも教えるでー。
この、でーも関西弁ですね。

ということで、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！
