Enjoy the twentieth first episode of Culture To Grow, which allows you to travel the world from the comfort of your home, your car, or if you are still half asleep in your bed.

In this episode, we will be wishing my sister a HAPPY BIRTHDAY and also learn about  the wonderful ways birthdays are celebrated in different corners of the world. You will also learn about two unique traditions that my family does for each person's birthday.

Some of my guests who will be sharing their own unique cultures with all of you are  from Somalia, China, Vietnam, Sudan, and Japan. 

Somalia - [00:01:38]
China -  [00:02:25]
Vietnam - [00:03:04]
Sudan - [00:03:47]
Japan - [00:04:47]

Culture To Grow

Episode 21: Birthday Culture Around the World Part 2

Se você ouviu o último episódio, já conhece um pouco da região Norte do Brasil. Hoje, vamos continuar nossa jornada pelo país e explorar outra parte fascinante: o Nordeste.

O Nordeste é formado por nove estados: Maranhão, Piauí, Ceará, Rio Grande do Norte, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe e Bahia. É uma região conhecida por sua riqueza cultural, histórica e natural.

Foi no litoral do Nordeste que os portugueses chegaram pela primeira vez ao Brasil. Por isso, cidades como Olinda e Salvador preservam uma arquitetura colonial impressionante, cheia de história.

Mas o Nordeste vai muito além disso. É lá que estão algumas das praias mais bonitas do mundo, como Jericoacoara, Porto de Galinhas, Maragogi e Praia do Espelho. E no interior, o sertão guarda tradições fortes, como a literatura de cordel e o repente.

A música é uma marca registrada da região: forró, frevo, axé, maracatu, e as grandes festas populares como o Carnaval de Salvador e o São João de Campina Grande.

E claro, a culinária é um espetáculo à parte. Moqueca, acarajé, carne de sol, tapioca, vatapá... sabores que encantam quem visita.

Se você está aprendendo português e quer mergulhar de verdade na cultura brasileira, conhecer o Nordeste é essencial. Me acompanhe para mais curiosidades e dicas de português para estrangeiros.

Suas Aulas de Português

Regiões do Brasil - NORDESTE

Expanding your knowledge of English phrases and idioms will allow you to communicate better with native English speakers.

In this episode, you will learn nine new English phrases and idioms. This episode is part two of How to Present Ideas Successfully. 

You'll also get some homework at the end so you can continue to improve your English communication skills. Tune in to continue building your English vocabulary with new idioms and phrases! 
Episode originally published January 30, 2021.

Original theme music by Lucas Knutter 

Read the transcript at https://www.express-to-impress.com/english-phrases/

Join the Express to Impress community on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/express-to-impress/.

See infographics for this episode on Pinterest at https://www.pinterest.com/ExpresstoImpress/.

Express to Impress

English Phrases and Idioms

In this episode, you will hear a story about two persons' experience of going to a Chinatowm. Thank you for listening to it.

一天，小王的女朋友小平说她想去中国城吃中国饭。小王就开车带小平去中国城。可是，小王从来没去过中国城，他不知道去中国城怎么走，所以小平拿了一张地图告诉小王怎么走。过了二十分钟，他们到了一个地方，在这个地方他们考到了很多中国字，他们想这个地方就是中国城。他们停车问一个人，“你知道中国饭店在哪儿吗？” 那个人说：”这里是小东京，没有中国饭店。“这个时候，他们才知道他们走错了地方，这里不是中国城。小平非常不高兴，因为她只想吃中国菜，不想吃日本菜。

Story Chinese

24#27 去中国城 go to the Chinatown

はい、こんにちは。ようへい先生です。
えー、今日は、2つ動詞（どうし）をみなさんに教（おし）えたいと思います。 
2つとも、他動詞（たどうし）の無意志動詞です。他動詞、transitive verbですね。無意思動詞(むいしどうし） non-volitional verbですね。無意思動詞（むいしどうし）non-volitional verb で（みんなの日本語の）31課のnon-voilitional formとちがいますよ。
「行こう、教えよう、　伝えよう」じゃありませんよ。

無意志動詞。えー、Verbs that doesn`t have someone`s will ですかね。someone or animal`s will 　ですね。　無意志動詞、例えば　「あきます、きえます、すべります」などです。
はい。ふたつの動詞（どうし）ですが、
「忘（わす）れました」と「なくしました」
です。
例文を言いますと、
・カギを忘れました。
・カギをなくしました。

はい、 えー、ちょっと似（に）ていますよね。ちょっとsimillar です。 
ですが、この2つの文に場所(ばしょ）をつけます。
・電車 ”に” カギを忘れました。
・電車 ”で” カギをなくしました。

はい。 ちょっと不思議（ふしぎ）ですよね。どうして助詞（じょし particle)がちがうのか。
このシチュエーションの”忘（わす）れます”は、何かを忘れる、”漢字を忘れる” や、”昔のガールフレンドのことを忘れる”　じゃなくて、『置（お）いてきてしまった』 というアクションの、動作（どうさ action)の動詞(どうし）ですね。ですから、
「つくえ”に”ペンを置きます」「紙”に”絵を書（か）きます」
の ”に” を使うことになるんですね。ですから、『場所（ばしょ）＋で忘れました』ですと 
・日本で私の国の言葉（ことば）を忘れてしまいました。
・その旅行をした所で、いやなことをぜんぶ 忘れました。

という使い方ができるんですね。 
はい、ちょっとむずかしいですか。はい、今日も聞いてくれてありがとうございます。 では、みんな日本語の勉強がんばってください、バイバイ👋


ようへい先生　N4～N3　レベルの生徒（せいと）へ　(^^♪

＃9　”わすれました”の２つの 意味（いみ）

A funny story about a pig who met a lion while drenching itself at the lake. The lion wouldn't come near the pig as it stinks really bad. 
Question: After listening to the podcast,   what do you think has made this a funny story?




It's Story Time with Teacher Rose Jane

The Yucky Pig

En este breve pódcast os hablo de la vida en el barrio cuando era pequeño. ¡Cómo ha cambiado todo desde entonces! Empezando por los parques; que no tienen nada que ver con los de antes. Los de antes eran de tierra y estaban llenos de árboles. Los de ahora son de cementos y no hay quien pueda jugar en ellos.

Reyes from Spain

Cómo era la vida en el barrio antes

Talking to yourself isn’t just harmless—it’s scientifically proven to boost cognitive function and language retention. According to research, internal self-talk regulates emotions and improves focus, especially under pressure. Now imagine doing this in your target language—it’s like rewiring your internal operating system to think in new words, sounds, and rhythms.
And here’s something else that’s fascinating—rehearsed monologue, or what we call “self-talk,” activates the same brain regions involved in conversation with others. That means that practicing your thoughts aloud, even in private, preps your brain for real-life social interactions.

When you talk to yourself in a new language, you’re building not just fluency—you’re building trust. Trust in your own voice. Confidence grows when we hear ourselves trying.
And in moments of doubt, this diary becomes your mirror. It shows you how far you’ve come—not just in words, but in courage.




💃🏻111 Tips for Learning a Language 

Tip 66 - Speak to yourself before you speak to others

CIUDAD DE MÉXICO EPISODIO NÚMERO NUEVE.