In this episode, I talk to one of my italki students, Adriana from Columbia, who recently took OET and got a grade B pass with some very good scores!
If you want a transcript, see below
https://kevsenglishpodcast.com/2025/03/02/kevs-english-podcast-episode-22-interview-with-adriana-from-columbia-and-her-oet-success/

Kev's English Podcast

Kev's English Podcast: Episode 22: Interview with Adriana from Columbia and her OET success!

Привет!

В этом выпуске подкаста мы поговорим про зимние праздники. Конечно, это Новый год и Рождество. Мы узнаем, когда отмечаются эти праздники, и какие бывают традиции.

Приятного прослушивания!

Speak fluent Russian A1-A2

Выпуск 18. Новый год и Рождество / New Year and Christmas

1. Cows are sacred - Cows are protected by their own set of rules in the Constitution, making killing a cow a crime. Even on crowded city streets, cows have the liberty to roam where they please without fear of being harassed by humans.

2. India has over 300,000 mosques and over 2 million Hindu temples - About 15% of India’s population is Muslim. The mosques across the country range from small village buildings to immense famous ones, like the Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad or the Jama Masjid in New Delhi. 
The same can be said about India’s Hindu temples, which surpass two million to serve the 79.8% of India’s Hindu population. Just the holy city of Varanasi has over 23,000 temples. It is safe to say India is the land of temples!

3. Hinduism is the oldest religion in the world - With documents dating back as early as 5,500 BCE, Hinduism is considered the oldest religion in the world. There is not a known founder of Hinduism, and no one cares to know who started Hinduism since Hinduism is a way of life. Currently, Hinduism is the third largest religion in the world, serving more than 1 billion people. 

4. India has 22 recognized languages - The numerous languages spoken across India include Santali, Kashmiri, Bengali, Tamil, and Urdu. However, the official languages are English and Hindi.
India also has the world’s second-largest population of English speakers (first is the United States), since most Indians speak their own regional language as well as English for easier communication.
Sanskrit is considered the oldest language in the world, the “mother of all languages.” Every Hindu book is written in Sanskrit

5. India has the highest population of vegetarians - “Indian food” has become one of the most widespread cuisines in the world. It’s estimated that between 15% and 30% of India’s population follow a strict vegetarian diet, while many others will only consume fish and no land animals.

Learn Fluent English with Professor Ashish

5 Fun and Interesting Facts About India That Might Surprise You

In this episode of OET Roleplay Practice with Kev, The English Native, we explore Roleplay Card #3: a consultation between a doctor and a patient worried they might have diabetes.

This roleplay is a practical example of how doctors can:
Gather patient information naturally
Show empathy and reassurance
Use structured, supportive explanations
Guide patients through next steps clearly

By listening carefully, you’ll learn how to:
Respond to patient concerns without sounding robotic
Use sequencing language for clarity
Balance medical accuracy with supportive communication
End the consultation with a safe, collaborative plan

👉 If you’re preparing for OET Speaking, these strategies will help you demonstrate empathy, responsiveness, and clarity — all essential for Band A performance.

Trascript available on www.theenglishnative.com

OET Speaking Roleplay Practice 3: Medicine (Diabetes Checkup)

In this episode, you will listen to a dialog at the bar and learn how to use simple past tense in a basic conversation.  Enjoy your podcast! <<< Don't forget to solve the related quiz after listening to the podcast.

Turkish Conversations from Zero to Hero

Episode 6: At the Bar - Emma ile Ewan Barda Sohbet Ediyor...

In this episode I share a mysterious story with you. "The neighbors knew the stories of the old house. They knew the rumors. Everyone agreed that the house was haunted."

You can read the transcript here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oO7AwlFQOcxsC3hriMh14KXUSqt7SheH/view?usp=sharing

Find the podcast on anchor: https://anchor.fm/teatimewithtayvin/episodes/Nice-to-meet-you--Im-Tayvin-e1fnaee

My Twitter Profile: https://twitter.com/TEA_Time_Tayvin

T.E.A. Time with Tayvin Bayless 

TEA Time Story # 3 The Cradle in the Attic 

The largest diamond found in more than a century has been unearthed at a mine in Botswana, and the country's president showed off the fist-sized stone to the world on August 22.

The Botswana government says the huge 2,492-carat diamond is the second-biggest ever discovered in a mine. It's the biggest diamond found since 1905.

The diamond was presented to the world at the office of Botswana President Mokgweetsi Masisi. It weighs about half a kilogram and Masisi was one of the first to hold it.

Masisi said: "I am lucky to have seen it in my time." He said "wow" before calling government officials over to take a closer look.

Officials said it was too early to value the stone or decide how it would be sold. Another smaller diamond from the same mine in Botswana was sold for $63 million in 2016, a record for a rough gem.

Naseem Lahri, Botswana managing director for Lucara, the Canadian mining company that found the diamond, added: "I am very proud. It is a product of Botswana."

Lucara said in a statement that it recovered the "exceptional" rough diamond from its Karowe Mine in central Botswana. Lucara said it was a "high-quality" stone and was found intact.

It was located using X-ray technology designed to find large, high-value diamonds.

The weight would make it the largest diamond found in 119 years and the second-largest ever dug out of a mine after the Cullinan Diamond that was discovered in South Africa in 1905.

The famous Cullinan was 3,106 carats and was cut into gems, some of which form part of the British Crown Jewels.

Botswana, a country of 2.6 million people in southern Africa, is the second-biggest producer of natural diamonds behind Russia and has unearthed all of the world's biggest stones in recent years.

Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

Huge Botswana Diamond is Biggest Found Since 1905

Listen to the first part of the story of Hansel and Gretel read aloud in Dutch.

Sprookjes in het Nederlands voorgelezen

Hans en Grietje deel 1 (Hansel and Gretel part 1)

IELTS Speaking Part 1 - Telephoning.

How often do you make telephone calls? 
Who do you spend the most time talking to on the telephone? 
When do you think you’ll next make a telephone call? 
Do you sometimes prefer to send a text message instead of telephoning?

How can you answer these basic questions? What would you include? Should you make it complicated or should it be simple and straighforward?