"Lockdown may end or may not end by May end as it may extend, but May will end by May end as it may not wait for the lockdown to end" —(so-called)Swamy Nithyananda.

那个被疫情偷走的三年还有持续封锁中的上海朋友。
希望那个没有疫情和战争的世界能够快点回来！

Le Franglish

byebye to Covid

Ее взгляд, изящная, благородная рука, которую она подавала мне, ее домашнее платье, прическа, голос, шаги всякий раз производили на меня всё то же впечатление чего-то нового, необыкновенного в моей жизни и важного. Мы беседовали подолгу и подолгу молчали, думая каждый о своем, или же она играла мне на рояле. Если же никого не было дома, то я оставался и ждал, разговаривал с няней, играл с ребенком или же в кабинете лежал на турецком диване и читал газету, а когда Анна Алексеевна возвращалась, то я встречал ее в передней, брал от нее все ее покупки, и почему-то всякий раз эти покупки я нес с такою любовью, с таким торжеством, точно мальчик.


Нескучные истории - Not boring stories

Антон Чехов "О ЛЮБВИ"

#카공족 #스터디카페 #한국문화 #ZamZamPod #잼잼한국어  
#KoreanPodcast #StudyinCafe #KoreanCulture #LearnKorean

📌 잼잼한국어 ZamZamPod EP.3

오늘의 주제는 바로! 요즘 한국 카페에서 자주 보이는 '카공족'입니다.  
'카페에서 공부하는 사람들'이라는 뜻의 카공족,  
그들은 왜 카페를 공부방으로 쓰게 됐을까요?

하지만 이들의 존재가 항상 환영받는 건 아닙니다.  
커피 한 잔으로 몇 시간을 머무는 행동, 사장님들의 속앓이,  
그리고 ‘노 스터디존’, ‘스터디카페’까지…  
카공족을 둘러싼 한국 사회의 흥미로운 이야기, 함께 들어보세요!

🧠 여러분은 어떻게 생각하시나요?
댓글로 자유롭게 의견을 나눠주세요!

–––

🎧 ZamZamPod EP.3: “Study freedom or café nuisance?”  
Have you heard of the term *'카공족 (Ka-gong-jok)'*?  
It refers to people who study in cafés — a unique trend in Korean café culture.

But not everyone welcomes this.  
Some café owners are frustrated by customers who stay for hours with just one coffee.  
From “No Study Zones” to dedicated study cafés, let’s talk about this growing phenomenon!

💬 What do YOU think? Is it freedom or disturbance? Share your thoughts below!

📺유튜브  https://www.youtube.com/@ZamZam_Korean

ZamZamPod

[ZamZamPod] EP.3 – 카공족, 자유인가? 민폐인가?

Read the podcast here>> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1WHwMIpUVvWMb7H47u7zgUMar4356EJu5/view?usp=sharing

Lisa's Podcast

A man rescued from homemade boat on the Pacific Ocean.

Master the Art of Conversation: Active Listening Best Practices
In today's fast-paced world, truly being heard can feel like a luxury. Active listening, however, goes beyond simply hearing words. It's a powerful communication skill that fosters deeper understanding, builds trust, and strengthens relationships. Here are some best practices to elevate your active listening game:

Be Present: Put away distractions like phones and silence internal chatter. Focus solely on the speaker, conveying attentiveness through eye contact and open body language.

Listen Verbally and Nonverbally: Pay attention not just to words, but also to tone of voice, facial expressions, and body language. These nonverbal cues can reveal underlying emotions or unspoken concerns.

Embrace Silence: Don't feel pressured to fill every pause. Comfortable silence allows the speaker to gather their thoughts and express themselves fully.

Ask Clarifying Questions: Don't assume you understand everything. Use open-ended questions to encourage elaboration and ensure you're on the same page.

Paraphrase and Summarize: Reflect back key points in your own words to confirm comprehension and demonstrate attentiveness. This also helps identify any misunderstandings early on.

Acknowledge Emotions: Validate the speaker's feelings with empathy. Show you understand their perspective, even if you don't agree.

Minimize Interruptions: Allow the speaker to finish their thoughts before responding. Interrupting hinders their flow and can come across as dismissive.

By incorporating these practices, you become a more engaged and supportive listener. This strengthens relationships in all areas of life, from building trust with clients to fostering deeper connections with loved ones. Remember, active listening is a continuous journey. With practice, you'll become a master of communication, fostering a world where everyone feels heard and understood.

The Global Professional Podcast

Active Listening Best Practices - Episode 83

如果有人放你鸽子，那不是一件愉快的事，我今天会告诉你。

西班牙语表达

"Dejar plantado"？你是想说像种花那样吗？

Hello, dear learners! 
Here is a situation number two - "how to ask for help".
Here are survival phrases that are highly recommended to learn by heart to react quick when necessary. Oh boy... I am sure you will never use it but it's kind of safer to be 100% prepared when travelling (not only in Russia!)
Your teacher,
Elena

1-minute Survival Russian for Travelling (A1-A2)

Как попросить о помощи/How to ask for help

Travelers often fly to New York or Paris just for the shopping experience, but according to a new report, it's Milan that should be called the capital of global shopping.

A real estate company has found that Via Monte Napoleone in Milan is the world's most expensive retail destination.

US firm Cushman & Wakefield ranked shopping areas based on the rent prices per square meter, and Milan has knocked New York's Fifth Avenue off the top of the list.

The average rent on the Milan street has risen to more than $20,800 per square meter compared with about $20,300 per square meter on an 11-block area of upper Fifth Avenue.

Via Monte Napoleone's small size — it's just 350 meters long — and walking distance to services and top cultural sites are among the street's key advantages, according to Guglielmo Miani, president of the Monte Napoleone District association.

"Not everything can fit, which is a benefit" since the limited space makes the street even more exclusive, said Miani.

The biggest brands on the street make more than $100 million in annual sales, Miani said, which goes a long way to paying the rent. Tiffany is preparing to open a store on Via Monte Napoleone, and luxury fashion store Fendi is expanding.

The Monte Napoleone District says 11 million people visited the area during the first 11 months of the year, but there's no way to say how many were big spenders and how many were just window shopping.

But according to shopping firm Global Blue, the average shopper on Via Monte Napoleone spent $2,600 per purchase between August and November — the highest average receipt in the world.

Officials from Fifth Avenue praised Milan for its efforts in making the street — and the city — a desirable place to shop.

But they added that the Italian city should enjoy its position at the top of the list while it can!

Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

Milan Shopping Street Named World's Most Exclusive

在这集Chillchat全中文特辑里，Karen讲了几个地道的口语表达，比如”That was close"或者“No wonder"。