Christmas... New Year... The Spring Festival... Valentine's Day... With so many festivals approaching, the gift-giving season has officially arrived. In this episode, Karen and Baiwei chatted about gift-giving etiquette including regifting, returning gifts and writing wishlists! 

Chillchat (Learn Chinese and Chill)

“送礼季”到啦！It's The Gift-giving Season!

We took the risk. We said YES to the new job or new home. We are using our English, at last. 

Unfortunately, however, we may find that the reactions of others -- in the workplace or in our home -- are MIXED. 

Some people are proud of us and want to celebrate our success with us. Others, we may be surprised to discover, seem to suddenly DISLIKE us. They may appear to distrust us or seem jealous, envious, or more competitive. Support we may have had just a day before - that helped us get where we find ourselves -- may have suddenly disappeared.

If this has happened to you -- you're not alone. AND there are ways to feel better and get the support and care you seek. 

This is something I wish we spoke more about, for I believe it's a topic that is CRUCIALLY important in the world of language learning. 

I'd love to hear what you think! 

Hear and There

11. What can happen after (and why we may be afraid of) stepping out of our comfort zone

Getting support with AI is great, but it's not the same as working with a teacher. In this audio, I express some of my views on the subject. I'd love to hear what you think!!! 

9. When AI isn't the same as a teacher 

Harriet Rich moved to Valladolid, Mexico from the US, when she retired, about 15 years ago. I stayed at the Airbnb she has there, in 2023. It feels like a blessing to say we’ve been friends ever since. 

These days, we’re playing around with podcasting. Here we are, talking about writing and publishing and more!

10. An interview with Harriet Rich, a self-published fiction writer 

We call it a PHONE - but let's be honest. We rarely use this COMPUTER in our pocket - to make phone calls. And we often forget all the tools that it contains, built right in. Tools that are amazing for working on our English!

I hope this episode helps you get inspired to use your phone as the language partner it is! 

* Please note - I speak very fast in this episode - so it may be challenging to understand everything I say. But I repeat myself a lot, so you don't have to understand it all. I think you will understand the main point. That is what matters! I hope it inspires you to USE your English to LEARN more English - today!

8. The language partner in your pocket 

Writing is great for your speaking, but it's not necessary! What's great about writing is that it gives you a way to LOOK at YOUR words. To see how things really are. Speech-to-text applications or many AI programs allow you SEE the words you SAY. That is so helpful.

It also gives you a way to practice WITHOUT getting feedback - which has some real benefits. 
Listen to hear more! 

6. But what if we don't like to write? 

This May, I want to plant a seed in your brain. I will water this seed during the month of May. This seed is - TO WRITE - in English.

The thought I want to water, nourish and feed - for you, this month - is the idea that this month, this MAY - you START TO THINK about writing in ENGLISH. 

May this May be the month that you begin to write! That is my wish for you. 

Until next time! 

7. May we write in English this May

If you like to write, you're in luck. Writing is also great for your SPEAKING. 

Listen to learn more, and follow this podcast if you're interested, because I'll be talking about this a lot! 

5. Write to speak 

In this episode, I make some observations about different conversational styles among native and non-native English speakers. I am generalizing, of course, and these are just my thoughts, based on what I've experienced in my life. *

I'd love to hear what YOU think! What have you observed? 

Here are some questions you might want to talk to yourself or write about - as we reflect on the year that has ended. Maybe you want to create a short monologue by recording your thoughts in a voice memo on your phone. Or perhaps you could try writing down your ideas on your phone or on a piece of paper. Do it for 5 or 10 minutes, and don't worry about your grammar or vocabulary. Writing is a great PROCESS - an exercise where you can use your English - anywhere, anytime, without a teacher or a listener. So getting in the HABIT of writing or speaking to yourself is as important as the words you use. Over time, your skills will improve! 

---- QUESTIONS TO ANSWER -----

What does the word SUCCESS mean to you? 
What does SUCCESS LOOK LIKE to you? 
What is something you have SUCCEEDED AT?

Based on YOUR definition of success - what made 2023 a successful year for you?
What will make 2024 a successful year for you? 

And here's a THOUGHT EXPERIMENT and a WRITING EXERCISE.
Imagine it is December 31, 2024. Using past tenses, write about what made 2024 a successful year for you. (This may feel strange, but it’s a great exercise for your English and for your mind! It can be fun and transformative, too!)

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*Note - In this episode, I make the mistake of using the word "American" to refer to people from the US. This is a bad habit that I am (still) trying to break. The truth is that we are all Americans in the whole hemisphere - North and South. But, as they say, "old habits die hard" or existing patterns are hard to change. 