Learn English with ease! Conversations, language tips & cultural insights. All levels welcome. Your friendly tutor Zia helps you build confidence & fluency.

Zia English Corner

Welcome to my English Corner

Listen and try to imitate it with your friend


Listening for beginners

Dialogue for acquaintance - حوار للتعارف - 4

李白---铁杵磨针：比喻只要有决心，肯下功夫。多么难的事情也能做成功。

Vivi甜讲中国故事

中国传统文化小故事

In this episode, Mona quizzes Brent on his British English knowledge. See if you can do better than we can!

At the end of the episode, we look at the following vocabulary in more detail:

to have a leg up on someone
to take a stab at something
to fit the bill

Brentoni's English Podcast

021 - Brent Tests His Knowledge of British English

In this episode, I will be reading a story. The name of the story is “Sheriff Pritchett” by Maren Hansen. This story has a lot of good dialog, and I’m excited to share it with you. So, let’s get started.



Read the transcript on my website: https://teatimewithtayvinb.wordpress.com/2022/04/15/tea-time-story-5-sheriff-pritchett/

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TEA_Time_Tayvin


T.E.A. Time with Tayvin Bayless 

TEA Time Story # 5 Sheriff Pritchett 

It's a question I get over and over here on italki - how important is COMMUNICATION when you're getting ready for an important interview in English?  

The answer might surprise you.  

Let's look at some data together to understand just how important COMMUNICATION really is.  

Let's get started! 

Confident English Interview Podcast

How important is COMMUNICATION when you're getting ready for an important interview in English?

🎧 Io e te – Niccolò Ammaniti

In questa puntata vi parlo di Io e te di Niccolò Ammaniti, un romanzo breve e intenso che racconta l’adolescenza, la solitudine e il bisogno di sentirsi accettati.
Lorenzo ha quattordici anni, non ha amici e preferisce restare solo. Ma un giorno decide di mentire ai genitori per vivere una settimana “normale”. Solo che le cose non vanno come aveva immaginato. La sua solitudine viene interrotta dall’arrivo inaspettato di Olivia, la sorellastra maggiore, che ha problemi di droga e cerca rifugio proprio lì, nella sua tana segreta.

💬 Lessico utile dell’episodio

Sentirsi fuori posto → sentirsi diverso, non adatto alla situazione
Fingere → comportarsi come se qualcosa fosse vero, anche se non lo è
Mentire → dire una bugia
Sentirsi accettato → quando gi altri ti fanno sentire incluso
Solitudine → stato di chi è solo o si sente solo
Settimana bianca → vacanza in montagna sulla neve
Fingersi → comportarsi come se si fosse qualcun altro
Imitare i più pericolosi → cercare di somigliare a chi ha più forza o sicurezza
Mi ha guardato come se mi fosse cresciuta la coda → espressione ironica per dire “mi ha guardato come se avessi detto qualcosa di assurdo”
Tirare su col naso → gesto tipico di chi sta piangendo
Mi sono messa a piangere come una cretina → modo colloquiale per dire “mi sono emozionata molto”

📖 Ti è mai successo di sentirti “fuori posto”, diverso dagli altri?
Ti è mai capitato di mentire per non far stare male qualcuno?
Se fossi al posto di Lorenzo, avresti confessato la verità o avresti continuato a fingere?

👉 Vuoi leggerlo anche tu?
Leggere in lingua originale può sembrare difficile, ma se lo fai con una guida diventa molto più semplice, e alla fine la soddisfazione è enorme.
Prenota il tuo posto nel bookclub e leggi con me romanzi autentici!

🎙️ Io sono Elisa, ti ringrazio per l’ascolto e… alla prossima puntata!

BookClub e Cappuccino: libri italiani contemporanei

03. Bookclub & Cappuccino: Io e te, Ammaniti


The boardroom. A crucial client meeting. A high-stakes sales call. These scenarios demand clear and confident communication. Here are five best practices to elevate your language and project unwavering self-belief:

Power Verbs:  Replace wishy-washy verbs with action-oriented ones. Instead of saying, "We could explore this new marketing strategy," say, "We will implement this data-driven strategy to boost brand awareness by 20%." This injects decisiveness and ownership into your message.

Be Specific:  Unspecific claims lack impact.  Instead of "Our product is the best," showcase its strengths with data. Say, "Our software boasts a 98% customer satisfaction rate and a 25% reduction in processing time compared to competitors." Specifics build trust and credibility.

Direct Address: Engage your audience directly. Ditch phrases like "I think" or "in my opinion." Say, "We can deliver this project on time and within budget." This conveys authority and ownership of your ideas.

Positive Framing: Focus on the strengths of your solutions.  Instead of, "This plan might have a tight deadline," say, "This fast-track approach allows for agility and capitalizes on current market trends." Highlighting positives reassures and motivates your audience.

Conciseness is Key: Eliminate unnecessary words and filler phrases.  Instead of, "We believe that this approach might be a good way to proceed," say, "We propose this solution to achieve optimal results." Concise communication delivers a clear message and maximizes impact.

I use confident language every day with my clients. I also use it with family, friends and any chance I get. Many of us use language that is unclear or passive habitually, without intent or purpose. 

One of the first habits I work on with my clients is the overuse of - I think, maybe, and I don't know. 

Start being aware of the phrases that you use, especially at the beginning and end of your sentences. 


The Global Professional Podcast

The 5 Best Practices of Confident Language - EP 31

As a communication coach, I witness the transformative power of preparation in business communication.  Winging it might work occasionally, but for consistent success, pre-communication planning is your secret weapon.  Here are my top 6  tips to ensure you dominate your next meeting, presentation, or email exchange:

1. Know Your Audience:  This isn't a cliche; it's the foundation.  Research your audience's background, interests, and pain points.  Tailor your language and message to resonate with them.  Imagine explaining your idea to a friend – that level of clarity and connection is what you're aiming for.

2. Define Your Purpose:  What is the single most important takeaway you want your audience to have?  Is it to inform, persuade, or simply update?  Having a clear purpose keeps your message focused and avoids information overload.

3. Craft a Compelling Message:  Less is more.  Eliminate jargon and redundancy.  Structure your message with a clear beginning, middle, and end.  Practice your delivery beforehand, paying attention to pacing, tone, and body language.

4. Anticipate Roadblocks:  Forewarned is forearmed.  Think of potential objections or questions your audience might have.  Prepare clear, concise responses that address these concerns head-on.  This demonstrates confidence and proactive problem-solving.

5. Choose Your Weapon Wisely:  Not all communication channels are created equal.  Consider the purpose and audience when selecting your method.  A complex proposal might be best delivered as a written document, while a team update could thrive on a video call.

6. Embrace Technology:  Utilize presentation tools effectively.  Visuals can significantly enhance understanding and retention of your message.  However, avoid information overload –  keep slides clean and focused on supporting your core points.
