This podcast series is based on current events about unusual news stories. With each episode usually less than 30-seconds, it's a great way for beginners to improve vocabulary!

Weird News: 30-second long news episodes to improve your listening and vocabulary

Interesting news articles read in English help you to explore new vocabulary and improve your pronunciation.
Articles vary in level - Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced.

English News

Learn how native speakers use different words and phrases.

Native English

Allora il termine macchia diventa Macchiaioli, e così vi posso parlare di un movimento artistico italiano forse poco famoso, che è durato poco, ma da conoscere (secondo la mia umile opinione).
Questo movimento artistico, che si è sviluppato tra il 1855 e il 1865 in Toscana, si chiama così proprio per la tecnica che usavano per dipingere. Non più pennellate chiare e definite, ma una pittura fatta di “macchie”, appunto.
All’inizio la definizione era dispregiativa, usata in senso negativo, perché non rispettavano i modi di dipingere canonici.
Tutto nasce tra Firenze e Livorno. I Macchiaioli si riunivano al Caffè Michelangelo di Firenze; il loro scopo era quello di propagandare, diffondere, una pittura che riproducesse “l’Impressionismo del vero”.
Ma è a Castiglioncello, sempre in Toscana, in una tenuta in campagna di un amico comune, che trovano ispirazione. Qui, immersi nella natura selvaggia e incontaminata della costa livornese, iniziano a dipingere all’aperto, usando pennellate rapide e dense — le famose “macchie” — per cogliere la luce e i colori reali del paesaggio.
Quando dico “l’impressionismo del vero”, intendo proprio dire che questi artisti volevano raccontare la vita vera: la quotidianità, la fatica, la natura, la guerra. Erano ribelli  idealisti, e attraverso l’arte cercavano un contatto diretto con la realtà del loro tempo. Giovanni Fattori, il più noto tra loro, ha dipinto scene di guerra e vita contadina, ma anche la forza del vento mediterraneo che piega gli alberi, e la luce che danza sulle onde del mare. Che poesia!
Spesso i Macchiaioli sono stati paragonati agli Impressionisti francesi.
Ma questo non è esatto: mentre gli Impressionisti, nei loro quadri, celebrano momenti leggeri della vita borghese, gli artisti italiani vogliono “raccontare” la vita vera, anche se dura e scomoda, il popolo.
I Macchiaioli non sono solo parte della storia dell’arte: sono testimoni di un cambiamento profondo, un invito a guardare il mondo con occhi sinceri. 


la Rubrica di Simona

LA RUBRICA NELL'ARTE

マットさん、ひらがながわかりますか。Matt, do you understand hiragana?
ひらがながだいたいわかります。I can understand most of hiragana.
カタカナがすこしわかります。I understand a little katakana.
漢字はぜんぜんわかりません。I don't understand any kanji.


エミリーさん、日本語がわかりますか。　Emily, do you understand Japanese?
はい、すこしわかります。Yes, I understand a little.
中国語がわかりますか。Do you understand Chinese?
はい、よくわかります。Yes, I understand very well.
英語がわかりますか。Do you understand English?
はい、だいたいわかります。Yes, I understand most of it.
フランス語がわかりますか。Do you understand French?
いいえ、ぜんぜんわかりません。No, I don't understand it at all.

マットさん、マクドナルドをたべますか。Matt, do you eat McDonald's?
いいえ、あまりたべません。No, I don't eat much.
沖縄料理をたべますか。Do you eat Okinawan food?
はい、よく食べます。Yes, I eat a lot.

おかねがぜんぜんありません。　I have no money at all.
おかねがありませんから、お母さんにおかねをかります。I don't have any money, so I have to ask my mother for money.
おかねがありませんから、どこにもいけません。I can't go anywhere because I don't have any money.

飲みにいきませんか。Would you like to go for a drink?
くるまで来ましたから、ちょっと。I've come all the way, so...
飲みにいきませんか。Would you like to go for a drink?
きょうは仕事がありますから、I have work today, so let's go for a drink.



にほんごのれんしゅう

みんなの日本語　Lesson 9-2

In this episode for upper-intermediate and advanced English learners, I’ll talk about some idioms and sayings that I personally use regularly. Today’s idioms are mostly related to having lots and lots of work to do, or being really busy. These idioms (and one phrasal verb) can all be used in a business context, but are also used in everyday life.

I welcome you to practice what you’ve learned by writing examples in the comments!  (Music by Lesfm from Pixabay)

Conversations With a Friend

Idioms Related to Having Lots of Work to Do

The Harvard study on happiness, known as "The Good Life," began in 1939 and followed a group of 724 men throughout their lives to explore what factors contribute to a happy and satisfying life. The study found that close and fulfilling relationships, physical and mental wellbeing, resilience, and gratitude were all important factors for a happy life.

In contrast, the "other" happiness that is promoted through consumerism and social media popularity can have negative consequences on individuals' mental and emotional health. The constant pursuit of material goods and a perfect image on social media can lead to stress, anxiety, and a sense of inadequacy. The true happiness comes from satisfying interpersonal relationships, physical and mental health, and meaningful activities that give us a sense of purpose and meaning in life.

Los podcasts de Alex

Tipos de Felicidad, INTERMEDIATE B2 LEVEL

En este episodio te hablo del perfeccionismo y cómo este puede afectar al aprendizaje de idiomas.

The Spanish on the Road

Perfeccionismo

Describe a time you were very busy.

You should say: 

When it was.
Why you were so busy.
How you managed it.
And explain how you felt about being so busy.





“ One of the busiest times I experienced was about 3 months ago, when I had to finish a very important and difficult assignment in order to graduate in my major, business management. 

I had only 2 weeks to complete this paper, and if I didn't meet the deadline, I would automatically fail my finals, as well as being unable to graduate, so it was of great importance to me. I also had a part-time job at this time, which took up a lot of my time and didn’t actually leave much time to complete my paper. 

The assignment was also very challenging, certainly  no walk in the park  and I needed to do a lot of research as well as collect a lot of data before I could even start to brainstorm ideas on how I would complete it. This meant I had to burn the midnight oil, and pull a few all nighters to be certain of having it finished to meet the deadline.

Although I didn’t exactly enjoy being so busy and under so much pressure, I felt very proud and satisfied to have completed the assignment after working all the hours god sent me. I was on cloud nine when I received my grade and discovered I got a straight A for the paper, and could now look forward to graduating.


Thank you…”


IELTS 85 Speaking

Describe a time you were very busy - IELTS speaking part 2

En esta 2a PARTE del episodio, Jon (Madrid) y Joan (Barcelona) hablan Natalia, una bióloga de Colombia que después de vivir un tiempo en Brasil, viajó a Europa, concretamente a los Países Bajos (Holanda), lugar que hoy en día es su casa. ¡Relájate y escúchanos!

¡Qué Pasa! Podcast en Español

VIS A VIS con NATALIA NARANJO | Una colombiana en Europa (PARTE 2)

British people often send cards for Christmas.

You can find the transcript here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1maAKxlbvGIEHvnpp63ZBTf3GJMuzdVbA/view?usp=drivesdk