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英语对话口语听力训练 每期音频同步搭配文本 学习效率更高
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获取全部文本资料公众号搜索:yymaster888Come, come. Everything is cheap. Nothing new, but everything works. TV, shoes, toys, suits, games, all for a good price. Don't miss it.Hey man, good afternoon. You sell secondhand stuff, right?Of course, my friend. Only secondhand, but good condition, good price. Everything you see, I got it from people who didn't need it anymore. Some even from offices that are closed. They are good quality products. Some of them were used by wealthy people. You can take a look.Interesting. Hey, that TV over there, it looks old. Does it still work?This one? Oh, yes, brother. It works perfectly. You'll see. That's a 32-inch plasma TV. Samsung from 2010. It's old, yes, but it works very well. The image is good. Great colors. HDMI port works. Remote control? Yes, included. Plus extra batteries.Interesting. And how much does it cost? I suppose not much.Look, this TV new costs $200 or $300. But for you, because you seem to be a smart guy, just give me $60.Come on, man. 60? It's from 2010. I can't give you 60 for that TV.Yes, but it's Korean quality, not like the new plastic stuff today. I'll tell you something. You take this home, plug it in. Boom. TV time. I can even show you. It works here. Portable battery. It's a great offer.Okay. Okay. Uh, let me think. What about that suit? That black one.Oh, that's a real suit, my friend. Fine wool. Italian brand. Very elegant. Look, feel it. It's a very elegant suit. You love it.Um, yeah. It looks nice. Looks like an important man.Oh, you're right. It belonged to a lawyer. He lost weight. Gave it to me. Still fresh. Only used twice, I think. No holes, no stains. It's perfect.Maybe. I think I like it. I can use it for work. How much?Well, this suit cost like $500 or $600 new, but for you—for you only $25, right? Cleaned, ready to wear.That's cheap. Um, and that PlayStation, are you selling it?Yes, of course. PlayStation 3. But uh... what about the suit?I have to think about it first. But PlayStation 3 looks like the five. It's a new design.I could lie to you, but I am very honest. It is the PS3 classic, brother. Retro for the real gamer. Real men love to play with that. It comes with two controllers and three games. The best games: FIFA 2014, Grand Theft Auto IV, and Call of Duty.Wow. I used to play those games many years ago. I'd love to play those again, but this time with my children. How much?Well, we're talking about the PS3, bro. You know, these things are not cheap.Just tell me. Oh, but first, does it work?How can you ask that? I tested it last night. Works perfectly. Seriously, good for kids, good for adults. It's not PS5, but it's still fun.Yeah, I see. But um... you haven't told me the price. How much is it?Well, this amazing game console with games and controllers... 70. $70.Too much. I can give you $50. That's all.$50? Come on, bro. The controllers alone are worth 30. Let's do 60. Final offer. You won't find it cheaper anywhere.Um, okay. I'll think. And those shoes, they look good.Leather shoes. Real leather, black, beautiful, made in Brazil, cleaned and polished. Size 43. I think that's your size. Lucky you.You're right. That's my size. And it looks great. Uh, how much?Perfect. Just $15. They are in excellent condition. Come on.Okay, that's a fair price. Oh, and those toys over there. I like them.For your kids, take them. Only $1 each. Very cheap. Some are McDonald's toys, others from Disney. They are in good condition.I'll take five of them. And the shoes and the TV for 50. Yes. Is that okay?Um, okay. Okay. Take the shoes, five toys, and the TV for 50. Deal.Deal. Let me get my wallet, but I will pick them up later in 5 minutes.Don't worry. I will be here all day. Great. First sale.Hey there. You sell secondhand things. I'm looking for something.Yes, sir. Welcome to Carlos Street Shop. What do you need today? We got electronics, clothes, kitchen items, even an old guitar.
获取全部文本资料公众号搜索:yymaster888Hello everyone and welcome to English Pod. My name is Marco.My name is Katherine. And today we've got another episode in our series about giving a presentation.That's right. Today we're going to talk about some key elements of the topic that we're talking about. We're talking about a laptop computer. So we're going to give some more details and characteristics about the computer and what makes it so special.So let's take a listen to what Mr. Ford has to say about what makes this company's computers very special.Mr. Ford: Now, a key question you might ask yourself is what differentiates the new X420 line with our previous models and also of course with some of our competitors. In other words, what makes the X420 stand out from all the others? This is a key question and is something I'd like to explore in a little depth.Firstly, the X420 has a range of USPs that really make it a cut above the rest. The first thing to mention is that the X420 is the first in a new generation of ultra-light laptop computers. It is only 2 lb, which compares very favorably with all our key competitors. In terms of computer performance, for such a light machine, it's very powerful. 4 GB of RAM with an ultra-fast processor. The most advanced video and sound cards on the market are installed with a crystal clear 15-inch LCD display. The X420 really stands out as a next-generation laptop. Compared with our previous X540 range, it really is in a league of its own.Now, if we go on to look at projected sales for the X420, we can see that sales revenue for 2010 is expected to hit at least $20 million. Now, this is really a conservative estimate. If our marketing campaign is successful, I'm confident that we could see a doubling of this figure at the very least. Now, please bear in mind that this is only for the first year of production. I'm certain that in the coming 3 years, the X420 will actually overtake all our existing products, both in terms of sales and revenue. Okay, now let's move on to discuss our marketing concept and look more closely at our key competitors.All right, we're back. So, we obviously heard a lot of vocab here, a lot of interesting things regarding the computer. Why don't we take a look at some of the words that he used onLanguage Takeaway?So, the first word that is pretty challenging is to differentiate. It's a verb. So, Mr. Ford says, "Ask yourself what it is that differentiates this new computer line with other ones."That's right. So to differentiate, that means what makes it different? What is so special about it? Right.That's right. So you can ask a question like this: What differentiates Apple computers from other computers?That's right. So you're asking what makes it so different?That's right. Okay. So then he rephrases the question and he says, "Well, in other words, what makes the X420 stand out from all the other computers?"All right, so this is a verbal phrase, to stand out. It's very similar to the one that we just mentioned, to differentiate. This means what makes this computer special? Why is it unique?That's right. So we're basically saying, why is this one more noticeable than the rest? That's to stand out. So maybe if everyone in the office is wearing white t-shirts today, but somebody comes in wearing a red t-shirt, that person is going to stand out.Actually, Marco, I think today that's you. You're wearing a red t-shirt today, so you stand out. Okay. So, uh, now as he continued to talk about the computer, he used this prefix before an adjective that was very interesting. He said, "This computer is ultra light." And then he said it's ultra thin as well. And that it has an ultra fast processor.Okay. So ultra light. Ultra fast. Ultra thin. This is a way of saying "very very."That's right. So that's what he's saying. He's saying it's very light. It's very thin. So that's pretty much the structure. You can add ultra before an adjective to emphasize that it's very something.That's right. So when I think of cool actors, I think of James Dean. He was ultra cool.Ultra cool. Very cool.That's right. Okay. So, you can do it with pretty much all adjectives, but uh you know, don't really... you can't really exaggerate and use it all the time.That's right. Well, the key is to remember this is an exaggeration. So, yeah, you don't want to use it all the time, but if you want to emphasize that something is special or that it's very very something, you use the word ultra.That's right. Okay. As he continued to talk about the characteristics of the laptop computer, he made reference to the LCD display, the screen of the computer, and he said that it's a crystal clear 15-inch LCD display. What does he mean by crystal clear?Well, crystal is a very special kind of glass, right? And so, it's expensive. It's what some people have as their special glassware, you know, wine glasses and drinking glasses. And so crystal is very special because it's so clear to see through.So transparent.It's transparent. Light goes through it. You can see everything. And so to say something is crystal clear is to say that it's very very clear.Uh it's extremely clear. It's as clear as crystal. Okay. So basically the screen of this computer, you can see very very well everything that's on the screen, everything that's happening.All the colors, all of the words.Mhm.Okay. And then moving away from the characteristics of the computer, he talked about projected sales and uh he expected $20 million. But he said that that is a very conservative estimate. Okay. So an estimate is like a guess. It's how much we think we will earn in a year or how much we think will happen. Um but in this case, a conservative estimate means that it's a low estimate. You know, we might make $20 million next year. That's conservative. Uh, another estimate is we will make $40 million. So that's not conservative.That's right. Okay. So as you said, an estimate is we are more or less guessing how much it would be. And conservative... so what would be the opposite of a conservative estimate?You could say a generous estimate. That means you're giving a lot.Okay.Uh, so a generous estimate is our revenues will be at around $60 million next year.Okay. Very good. So I think we've taken in a lot. Why don't we take a break? Let's listen to the dialogue again and we'll be back with Fluency Builder.[Presentation Clip Replay: Mr. Ford]Mr. Ford: Now, a key question you might ask yourself is what differentiates the new X420 line with our previous models and also of course with some of our competitors. In other words, what makes the X420 stand out from all the others? This is a key question and is something I'd like to explore in a little depth.
获取全部文本资料公众号搜索:yymaster888Welcome back to Pod Chill, everyone.Hi, friends. We're really happy you're here with us today. Leo, before we start, can I ask you real quick?Of course, Gwen.How are you feeling today?Honestly, I've been tired lately. I wake up feeling drained, and even sleep doesn't really help. Wait, am I getting old already?Yeah, Leo, you're definitely old. Just kidding. But you know what? That's a feeling many adults quietly live with.Really? People like us?Yeah, but many people think it's just normal. But is it really normal to feel tired every day? What do you think, Leo?I also wonder if it's normal to be tired all the time.That's what we want to talk about today. Why you're always tired even when you do nothing.And we'll also show you gentle ways to help the body recover. Please like and follow Pod Chill if this space feels good to you.And stay until the end because we'll learn some simple vocabulary together. Now, let's sit down, breathe a little, and start.Part 1: Why We Feel TiredHey, Leo. The first reason behind this tired feeling is actually connected to something you really love. You know what it is?That sounds dangerous. Let me guess. Wait, are you talking about coffee?Bingo. That's coffee.But why? Coffee feels like the start button of the day.Yeah, coffee helps you feel awake. But when you use it the wrong way, it can do the opposite.Oh, how?When do you usually drink your first cup?Right after I wake up. It's like my daily medicine.But there's something you might not know. Drinking coffee on an empty stomach can actually make you feel more tired.Really? But I feel energized when I drink it.That kind of energy isn't very steady. At first, caffeine gives you energy, but it fades quickly.Oh, that makes sense now. Later on, I can't focus and my body feels heavy again. And when that tired feeling came back, my solution was drinking more coffee—sometimes even in the afternoon because I just wanted to feel normal again.At first, it felt helpful, but having coffee too late in the day can quietly create another problem. Not because coffee is bad, but because caffeine can stay in your body longer than you think.Oh, right. Coffee after the afternoon can make it harder to fall into deep sleep. I used to think it is okay. I can still fall asleep at night. But falling asleep is not the same as sleeping well.Exactly. That's what we call poor sleep quality. It's when you sleep too little or even sleep a lot, but the sleep isn't deep.It's like we don't really feel rested, right?Yep. Many people sleep for enough hours, but they still feel tired the next day.That sounds exactly like me. I wake up in the morning and I already feel tired even before the day starts.One reason can be the way we breathe while sleeping. Breathing through the mouth seems small, but it can keep the body tense.That explains why my mouth is dry and my head feels heavy when I wake up. I thought everyone did that.Another habit that hurts sleep quality is using the snooze button.Oh, right. The button on our phone alarm.Each time you press it, the alarm stops, rings again, and breaks your sleep.I press it every morning like it is a habit. And instead of resting, my brain feels slow and unclear.So even if you sleep eight hours, your body may not fully recover. The sleep looks long, but the quality is missing. My dear friends, how many hours do you usually sleep?Feel free to share. I'd really love to know. Now coming back to my mornings for a moment. When I finally get out of bed, I tell myself, "Okay, today will be better." But then I make the same mistake again.Let me guess, your phone is the first thing you pick up in the morning.Yeah. Every day before my feet even touch the floor, I am already scrolling. Messages, news, videos, random posts I do not even remember later.That kind of start looks active, but it actually makes you more tired. After you wake up, your brain gives you a quick positive feeling.It feels exciting for a short time. Like my brain is awake even if my body is not.But that rise happens too fast. And when it drops, your energy drops too.That's why my head feels slow. I'm awake but my mind is not clear. I sit there looking at my screen feeling tired and unable to focus.Many people call that brain fog. Your mind feels busy but your thinking is slow.And it feels bad because the day has not even started yet. I have not worked. I have not moved but I already feel mentally tired.That's why the way you start your day matters so much. It decides if you feel tired or energetic all day. There's one more area we should talk about because it often gets ignored.Tell us, Gwen.Not drinking enough water can make you feel tired without you noticing. Many adults walk around all day slightly dehydrated and don't realize it. The body then feels slow, heavy, and easily drained.That word again, "drained." It fits perfectly. I don't feel sick, just empty, like my battery is low.Exactly. Coffee and tea don't fully replace water. Your body still needs plain water to work well.That's true.Quick check-in for everyone listening. How much water do you usually drink in a day?Be honest with yourself. You can drop your answer in the comments and stay until the end because we'll share what enough really looks like.Let's continue. The way you spend your evenings also plays a bigger role than you think.Oh, how?Blue light from phones and screens keeps your brain active at night. Even when your body is tired, your mind stays awake.I tell myself I am relaxing, but my eyes hurt and I keep thinking too much. That doesn't feel like rest at all.What you eat at night can add to this problem. A big meal close to bedtime makes your body work when it should be resting.Even after a full night's rest, we can still feel tired in the morning. These habits don't feel serious in the moment, but over time they quietly wear out your energy.I agree.Part 2: The SolutionsAfter hearing all of this, it can feel a bit heavy. But this part is not about blaming yourself. It's about small changes that actually help. Let's move into solutions that fit real life. Finally, the hopeful chapter. My favorite kind.We'll start with caffeine since it's part of many mornings. Coffee isn't the enemy.I'm relieved to hear that. I was afraid you'd tell me to break up with coffee.Not at all. It's about using caffeine in a smarter way. First, have a light breakfast, then wait a bit before your morning coffee. Let your body wake up before you push it.I notice that when I wait, my coffee feels stronger but calmer. I don't feel rushed anymore.Yep. Another habit is to cut back on caffeine in the afternoon. Late coffee can quietly hurt your sleep.That was painful at first, but your nights will become deeper.And deeper sleep helps your body recover. One more simple tip is to pair coffee with some fat or food. It helps keep your energy steady.That stopped the crash for me. I don't feel worn out so quickly anymore.All right. Using caffeine in a better way helps, but it cannot fix everything by itself. If your sleep is still poor, the tired feeling will return.Yeah, I learned that the hard way. Even when I cut back on coffee, bad sleep still ruined my next day.So, let us talk about sleep quality. Not in a strict way, but in a gentle way.Gentle sleep rules sound good. Our body needs support, not pressure.One easy place to start is breathing. Breathing through your nose while sleeping helps the body feel calm and safe. Friends, when you try that, you will wake up more relaxed. I did, and my chest did not feel tight anymore.Give it a go, my friends. Another habit that matters is the snooze button. Pressing snooze breaks your sleep into small parts. I thought I was getting more rest, but I was actually making my brain confused every morning. Waking up at the same time each day helps your body feel steady. Going to bed and waking up at similar times creates a routine.Keeping a steady schedule in the morning can make starting the day calmer. The mind has space to wake up slowly without rushing.Exactly. It helps the brain wake up little by little. When sleep is steady, energy comes more easily during the day.That might be why some mornings feel lighter than others. And the bedroom also matters, right?True. A dark, cool, and quiet room tells your body it is time to rest.Even small lights or noise can make it hard to relax. A cool room helps the body feel comfortable and calm.Exactly. It's like telling the body, "Now it's time to rest."Try changing the lights and opening the window a little. It will feel like your room is helping you sleep.And one last thing many of us find hard: using phones or devices right before bed. That was the hardest habit for me to stop. But when I stopped, my mind slowed down faster.These small changes do not need to be perfect. They simply help your body rest and recover during the night.You know what surprised me the most?What's that?Even on days when I used coffee the right way, I still felt tired. That is when I understood the problem was not only daytime energy. It was about what happened during the night. That is an important thing to notice. Sleep is where energy is built again, not taken from later.Yeah, daytime habits feel obvious, but sleep works quietly. When sleep is weak, nothing else really feels okay.So instead of pushing yourself to sleep better, we can start with something very simple like our breathing. I never thought breathing mattered at night.Breathing through your nose helps your body stay calm. It helps your body stay more relaxed. It is a small change, but it helps a lot.That's cool.None of these are hard rules. They gently help your body return to real rest.After I improved my nights a little, I noticed something interesting. Mornings felt more open, like starting fresh again.That is a good time to add two very simple things. Water and sunlight.They sound almost too simple. Like advice we have heard since we were kids.That is true. But simple things work well
获取全部文本资料公众号搜索:yymaster888Good morning, teacher. Can I ask you something? Honestly, I've been trying to learn English for years, but I always feel stuck. Now, it's 2026 and I don't know what really works anymore. There are so many apps, videos, AI tools, and courses. I feel lost.That's a very honest question, and I'm glad you asked it. The truth is, learning English in 2026 is very different. It is very different from learning English 10 years ago, James.And I'll tell you why. We have more tools, more information, and more opportunities than ever before. That's the truth. But at the same time, we also have more distractions, more confusion, and of course, we also have more pressure.So the key today is not learning more, but learning smarter.Stop "Studying" EnglishSo the first thing you have to do is stop studying English.What? What do you mean by stop studying English?I don't mean stop learning. I mean, stop treating English like a school subject. In 2026, English is not something you study for exams. It's a tool you use to live, work, and connect with the world.Many students still spend hours memorizing grammar rules, but they never use English in real situations. That's why they feel stuck. What works now is daily use, even if it's imperfect. Listening to short conversations, watching videos about real life, reading comments, sending messages, or speaking to yourself in English.I mean, five to 10 minutes of real use every day is better. It is much better than one hour of boring study once a week.Use AI CarefullyThe other thing you have to do is use technology, but don't depend on it.There are so many AI tools now. Should I use them?Yes, but carefully. In 2026, AI is a powerful assistant, not a teacher. Many students make the mistake of letting AI do everything for them: translations, writing, speaking, everything that feels comfortable. But it doesn't help your brain learn.The smart way is to use technology to support, not replace your thinking. For example, you can ask AI to explain a phrase, correct your sentence, or give you examples, but then you should repeat it, say it out loud, and try to use it in your own words. English grows when you do the work, not when a machine does it for you.Learn From People, Not TextbooksWhat else? Oh, learn English from people, not from textbooks. I mean, textbooks are not bad, but they are not enough.In 2026, real English comes from real people: from conversations, podcasts, interviews, stories, and daily life situations. Textbooks often teach perfect sentences that nobody actually uses in real life. That's why I always recommend learning from conversations. Conversations about family, work, money, relationships, problems, and emotions.When you hear how people really speak, you start to understand rhythm, tone, and natural expressions. It helps a lot. This is what makes your English sound human, not robotic.Connect English to Your LifeOh, also learn English for your life, not for English. Many learners ask, "How do I learn English?" A better question is: "What do I want to do in English in 2026?"English should be connected to your life, your job, your goals, your problems, your interests. If you like business, learn English through business conversations. If you like family topics, learn through family stories. When English is connected to something you care about, your brain remembers it faster and longer. Believe me.
获取全部文本资料公众号搜索:yymaster888Hi everyone, welcome back to Podcast and Chill. I'm Leo.And I'm Gwen. Hope your day is going well. Or at least better than Leo's.Oh, come on, Gwen. Don't remind me. My morning meeting had a small problem.Uh-huh. Small. You said, "I need the numbers now in front of everyone."I was in a hurry, so I just wanted to be fast and clear. But in a professional workplace, it sounds like an order.And that's the tricky part. Your words and tone change everything.Yeah. So, today we'll learn how to sound friendly, clear, and professional at work. And the best part, you can use these tips for small talk, too.So, everyone, this is your time to share with us.Comment your name, your country, and one English goal you have. We love to get to know our friends.Also, this episode is great for B1 learners, but strong beginners are very welcome, too. We'll explain keywords and do a recap at the end so you can remember everything easily.Yeah, no one gets left behind. Now, let's get started.So, Leo, about that "I need the numbers now" moment. Imagine saying that in an email.Oh, no. Without my smile or tone of voice, it would sound even worse. Like a direct order.Yeah, that panic before hitting send is real. It often starts with the greeting.Tell me about it. I usually just use the safest way: "Hi" or "Hello."Yes. For most co-workers, you can go with the simple "Hi" or "Hello." Friendly, clean, professional.What about for someone I don't know well, like a big boss or a new client?Then it's time to be extra polite. Use "Dear," like "Dear Mr. Smith" or "Dear Dr. Lee."Okay. "Hi" for teammates, "Dear" for the boss—not to the amazing person who controls my future.Perfect. Right after the greeting, add a short polite line. Something like, "I hope you are well" or "I hope you are doing well."It's like a quick hello before you start. Much better than "Wake up everybody. Time to work."Let's save that for your mornings at home, Leo. For emails, "I hope you're well" is enough. Saying hi and wishing them well already makes me sound professional.You are.But honestly, after the 50th email, it can feel a bit boring, you know.I know, but it's a polite habit, especially if you haven't emailed the person for a while.It shows they're talking to a person, not just a screen.Yep. Now, let's see. Say hi. Wish them well. What else?The goodbye, the thanks, or "best regards" things.Oh, yes, the closing. For most work emails, a simple "Thanks" is perfect. But "Best regards" is mostly for clients or the boss. It's just professional.Huh, cool. Just thanks and my name.Yes. Your email plan now is ready. Start with a warm line. "Hi, Gwen." And end with a "Thanks, Leo."Gwen, I think we're missing something. What goes in the middle? The part where I actually ask for something.Ah, right. That's where most mistakes happen.Yeah. So, how can I ask for something without sounding too bossy?This is where the real magic happens. We turn strong words into polite requests. Instead of your old friend, "Send me the file," you ask, "Could you please send me the file?"The magic phrase, "Could you please?" It sounds like I'm asking, not telling.Or you can use, "Would you mind sending me the file?" See, it's a question, not an order.Uh-huh. It gives the other person a choice and sounds much more polite.Now you're getting it. But Leo, what if you're the one sending the file?Um, do I say, "I'm sending the file. Can you check it?"Maybe not. Try a more polite way like, "Please find the report attached." Or, "I've attached the file for you." It sounds like you know what you're doing.Attached. It's just the big word for the files in there.Well, it's the workplace, so we have to sound professional. It's part of the context.But here's a real problem, Gwen. You send the perfect email, use all the right words, and then get no answer.Oh, the silence. It's the worst.
获取全部文本资料公众号搜索:yymaster888I'll soon graduate and make a lot of money and leave this house. And I achieved all of this on my own without anyone's help. You'll see.Ah, what time is it? Oh god, it's very late.Mom, why didn't you wake me up earlier?Jake, wake up. You'll get late to work. You have to take a shower and get dressed right now.Okay. Okay.Why did I wake up late? Did my alarm go off? Oh, I remember. Yesterday I went out with some friends and got home very late. That's probably why I overslept. I don't even remember how I got to my room.Okay, I will take a shower. It's not fair. Why do I have to work and study at the same time? Anyway, I think I am a strong person. I work and study and I do everything well. Since I was little, it was always difficult to study and sometimes I had to work to pay for my things. But hey, I'm going to graduate soon and all this effort will be worth it. In fact, I've already prepared my speech."Thank you all for being here. From the moment I started studying, I knew this wasn't going to be easy. When I started college, I was alone and had to work to pay for my studies. No one helped me. I never had wealthy parents or an uncle with money to pay for my studies.I've had to work since I was a child. And I was never ashamed to do so because I knew that to achieve important things, one has to sacrifice and work hard to achieve them. So today I want to thank myself and only myself because I didn't need anyone's help.That's right. Many people take this opportunity to thank their friends, parents, uncles, godparents, but not me. I had to do it all on my own. And I want to tell you, yes, you who are watching me and who don't have anyone's support, that you can make your dreams come true. I am the best."Oh, I remember when I got my first job. I was just 15 years old. Then when I moved alone, I had to buy my own stuff. I had to pay for my own initial computer studies to get a job in a company and continue studying. And now I'm going to graduate with honors thanks to my hard work. What else could I ask for?Jake, it's very late. Come here. Your breakfast is ready.Yes, Mom. I'm going now.I also learned a new language by myself. And of course, I had to pay for that working hard. And look, I went to a party yesterday and I don't remember how, but I was able to get home on my own despite my young age. I am a very responsible man, a mature adult, despite being so young.Jake, how long will it take you to come for breakfast? The food has been served for an hour.Yes, Mom. I'm going now. All right.I think it's time to have breakfast and go to work. Oh, I like that job. I just sit in front of the computer all day reviewing company programs. I no longer have to work cleaning bathrooms or getting my hands dirty. And it's all thanks to my studies and obviously also because I'm very skilled for the job. I got it on my own and went to that interview. They recognized my potential and hired me. And how could they not? I'm the best.Jake, are you coming or not?Yes, Mom. One moment, please. Okay, I'm here. What did you make for breakfast? Oh, fried eggs with toast and butter. I love it.Did you take a shower and iron your shirt?Oh, no. I forgot it. But the shirt was ironed.Of course, it was ironed. I always iron your clothes before putting them away in the closet. Are you carrying your USB flash drive with what your boss asked you for?Of course. How do you know that?You told me that last week and you said I should remind you today because you always forget. I don't want you to have problems at work.Mom, please. I'm not a kid anymore. I know what I'm doing. It's my job.Okay, I'm just saying.Yeah. And who got you that job? Wasn't it mom who talked to her boss's brother to recommend you to the company where he works?Thomas, you're also here. Yes, maybe. But I was hired because of my previous studies in computing. Those studies I paid for with so much effort. I paid for my studies myself by working hard. It was difficult but I did it.Oh really? So you did it alone? And who had to take out a loan for you to start studying? Didn't you ask mom for money to pay for the first year of your studies?Yeah. Okay. She gave me that money, but I had to work hard to pay for the rest.Yes, I know. But when you lost your job, she always had to give you money so you could continue studying. And of course you tried hard. But don't forget that our mother always helped you.Yes. But then I moved out to live on my own and be independent and I bought my own things.But my mom was the one who bought you all the furniture so you could move into your new apartment. Plus, she was the one who lent you the money to pay for your first few months rent until you could get settled.Yeah, probably. But I'm the only one in the family who moved out on my own and I'm very independent.
Easy English系列 油管百万订阅亿次播放的easy english系列音频限时回归 本期带来《English Speaking Practice》获取全部文本资料公众号搜索:yymaster888I'm enjoying this so much.This is nice, isn't it? Just sitting here watching the world go by.It really is. Look over there, Trisha. That man with the bright yellow t-shirt. He's running so fast, isn't he? He looks like he's training for a marathon.He certainly is. And his dog is running right beside him, keeping perfect pace. What a well-trained dog.Oh, look at the children near the fountain. They're splashing each other with water. Their parents are just laughing and watching them. They're clearly having a fantastic time.They definitely are. And further down near the big oak tree, a couple is having a picnic. She's spreading out a blanket, and he's unpacking a basket full of goodies. I wonder what they're eating.Probably sandwiches and fruit.And listen, can you hear that? Someone is playing a guitar in the bandstand. It's a lovely mellow tune.I can. It's lovely indeed. And look at that group of women over there. They're practicing yoga. They are balancing on one leg perfectly. I'm always so impressed by that.Me, too. For me, it's hard just to sit still sometimes. Look at that funny dog over there. He's chasing a squirrel up a tree. The squirrel is chattering angrily at him from a safe branch.Poor little dog. He's trying so hard.Everyone is so busy today. It's wonderful to just observe.It really is. I'm enjoying this so much. We should do this more often.We absolutely should.How have you been Hi, Era.Hi, Ben. How have you been?I've been good, thanks. And you?I've been great. I've had a really busy week.Oh, really? What have you done?Well, on Monday, I finally finished that big project at work. It was tough. Then I went to a new art exhibition on Wednesday. It was fantastic.That sounds productive. I haven't done anything that exciting this week.Oh, come on. Have you done anything interesting recently?Let me think. Yes, I have. Last weekend, I visited my cousin in the mountains. We went hiking and the views were incredible.Wow, that sounds lovely. Have you ever seen a bear in the wild?No, I haven't, thankfully. But I did see a very large deer once. It was very impressive.That's still exciting. Have you ever traveled outside of Europe?Yes, I have. I went to Thailand a few years ago. It was an amazing trip. I tried so many new foods and saw beautiful temples.Thailand. That's incredible. I haven't been there yet, but I really want to go. What was your favorite part of the trip?Definitely the food. I ate the best pad thai of my life there. And the people were so friendly.Sounds like you had a wonderful time. I haven't had a big trip like that in a while.Well, maybe we can plan something together soon.I'd like that. I'm always ready for a new adventure.That's great. I can't wait.
获取全部文本资料公众号搜索:yymaster888Hello everyone and welcome to English Pod. My name is Marco.My name is Katherine. And today we have the beginning of a very long series on giving a presentation. So this series is at the intermediate level. Right Marco?That's right. It's part of our business series. We previously took a look at how to go upon an interview. Now we're going to talk about presentation. So everything about a presentation, how to give a presentation, language you can use in a presentation and a lot of other things like this.That's right. So today we're going to talk about the very beginning of a presentation. Let's take a listen to this dialogue and we'll be back in a moment.The DialogueJonathan: Hi everyone. Can everyone hear me? Can you guys at the back hear everything?Jonathan: I think all of you know why we are here this afternoon. As most of you are aware, 2010 marks an important moment for Alpha Computers. We have bounced back from the recession and now we are set to launch our new line of laptop and desktop computers. I'm really pleased to welcome Michael Ford, the global marketing manager for Alpha Computers, who has flown in from California to give all of you an overview of the marketing campaign and to answer any questions you may have. So, please give a warm welcome to Mr. Ford.Michael Ford: Thank you, Jonathan. It really is a pleasure to be here today. It has been three years since I visited Beijing, and it's clear to me that operations here are obviously going from strength to strength. The Alpha brand continues to grow in leaps and bounds in China, and that is certainly down to the hard work of all of you here. So, congratulations to all of you.Michael Ford: I'd like to start by outlining the key points of my presentation this afternoon and giving you an idea of the topics that will be discussed. The presentation today is divided into five main parts.First of all, I'd like to briefly touch on the background of the new X420 line, how the whole concept has come about, and how the new product fits into our existing brand line. Secondly, I'd like to present data on projected sales for the X420. We will then go on to discuss our key rivals in this sector. Then I'd like to go on to outline the campaign concept for the X420. Finally, I'm happy to open up the discussion for any questions or points you may have for me.Language TakeawayAll right, we're back. So, as you can see, it's the very beginning of a presentation. We're kind of starting to give people an idea what we're going to talk about. So, let's take a look at some of the language Mr. Ford used on Language Takeaway.So the reason Mr. Ford is giving a presentation is because he wants to talk about the company's new line of computers, right? And so he says that they're going to launch a new line of desktop and laptop computers.That's right. So they want to launch a new line of laptop. So this verb to launch means to bring out to the market.That's right. So instead of the word "to start," which you could use in many different ways like to start eating or to start swimming, in this case, to launch means you're going to introduce a new product to the market like you said, Marco.That's right. We are going to start selling to the market a new product. We're going to launch a new line of laptop and desktop computers.For example, this spring Steve Jobs launched the iPad which is a new product.That's right. So, he launched the iPad and the iPhone 4.Mhm. They're always launching new things at Apple.That's right. All right. So, since they're launching this new line of laptop and desktop computers, Mr. Ford first wanted to give a brief overview of the marketing campaign.Okay. So, first of all, we're going to talk about how this product is being marketed. So, you want to give a general picture or a very simple picture of what's going to happen. So at the beginning this will happen, then this will happen. At the end this will happen. And that's what we call an overview.That's right. So it's a brief or general idea of what we're talking about. An overview. Nothing too specific. We just want to give you a general idea.That's right. After that, Mr. Ford starts talking and he's talking about the presentation which has many parts and he wants to talk about what each part will contain. So he says, "I'd like to briefly touch on the background of the new X420 line." So this verb to touch on, what does this mean?Okay. So when he says he wants to touch on the background of this new computer, he's basically saying, "I want to talk about."
获取全部文本资料公众号搜索:yymaster888Hi, welcome back to Podcast and Chill. You are here again today and that already says something beautiful about you.Yes, you didn't give up. You still want to learn.And if you are listening to this episode, maybe you asked yourself a very familiar question: How long does it take to speak English?Is one year enough? Do you need two years?Or will it never happen? You're not alone. Many people open a book and see too many rules, too many words.They read for 2 minutes and want to close the book. That's me some years ago when I learned a new language.But you are still here with us. Thank you for not giving up and for keeping up by watching this video to practice English. Today we will talk about how the brain really learns a language, and at the end, we will tell you a clear number—the real time it takes to speak English well.And remember you have a PDF with all key points from this episode. So what are we waiting for? Let's get started.Before we talk about learning English, I want to ask you something simple, Leo.Sure. What is it?Leo, do you remember how you learned your first language?Hm. Not the exact moment, but I remember how it felt.How did it feel?Natural. I never studied or opened a book. I just lived my life and the words came by themselves.That's interesting. We didn't know we were learning, but our brain worked quietly.Oh, like in the background.Exactly. Everyone around you was teaching you without knowing. Parents, friends, even street sounds.So, the world was our classroom.Yes. And learning didn't happen in just one place. Eating, playing, crying, sleeping. They all helped.Every little moment gave us some language.Yes, even small things taught us something. The brain notices sounds and voices before we understand them.So, it's like collecting information.Exactly. Like pieces of a puzzle coming together. Then one day we could speak.No one explained grammar or tenses. Everything just happened naturally, right?Rules weren't needed first. What mattered was hearing the language every day.Hearing it again and again, and giving your brain time to understand.That's different from how we study English. Now, many learners forget this. They think speaking starts with grammar, but it doesn't.So, it starts with listening.Yes, daily natural listening teaches without you even thinking. No special exercises needed.That sounds easier.Step by step, your brain starts to understand. Slowly, it learns the language.So, when learning English feels hard, what should I do? I think our friends are really curious to hear this.Think about the little you from before. That child had no stress, no pressure.Yeah, I wasn't worried about anything. Children didn't compare themselves to anyone.They moved slowly and let the world teach them one sound at a time.Can we really do that again?Yes, we can. Our brain still knows how to learn this way. We just need to go back to that slow, gentle way.That sounds easier. You can do that, friends. It's funny when I think about how easy learning was as a child.Yes. It felt natural then, didn't it?Yep. But now many people try the opposite.That's the traditional way. Grammar rules, long word lists, lots of exercises. It never ends.I remember trying that. I could do all the exercises, but I still couldn't say a simple sentence.That's very common. The brain doesn't learn like that. Too much grammar and memorizing can make learning stressful.Stress makes people give up faster.Exactly. The more pressure, the less fun it is.And learning should be fun, right?Yes. Learning works best when it feels natural. Your brain wants real language, not just pages of rules.Real language like listening to conversations or songs.Yes. Simple things you hear in daily life. A friend saying, "I'm on my way." Or someone saying, "Give me a second." Or hearing, "Take your time" when someone waits for you. These phrases aren't in textbooks, but they are everywhere in real life, and your brain notices them without you trying.Little by little, it starts to understand how words fit together.That's amazing. So, listening is the key.Yes. Listen first, speak later. The brain learns by copying sounds and sentences if it hears them often.Even five or 10 minutes a day can help.Right. Exactly. Watching a short video, listening to a podcast, or hearing people talk while you walk.I see. It's not about studying all day.No, it's about getting input every day in a regular way. Well, in this case, input means the things your brain receives like words you hear, read, or see. And over time, the brain will remember sounds, words, and sentences.So speaking will come naturally, just like when we learned our first language.That is much easier than trying to remember word lists. And the more real examples you hear, the faster your brain starts to understand.Simple, but very useful in learning English.Exactly. And once the brain hears them often, it starts using them automatically.So the old way, too much grammar, too much memorizing doesn't work.Right? The brain needs English it can see or hear and time to learn it.Listen first, copy second. That's the method.And the brain will do the rest.
获取全部文本资料公众号搜索:yymaster888He was loyal, hardworking, always helping everyone. Always staying late, learning new things, always giving his best. And when he said with tears in his eyes that a machine was taking his job—the job he built his entire life around—it broke something inside me.Michael, I still can't believe what happened today. I've been trying to process everything since the morning, but the more I think about it, the more unreal it feels. One moment, Mark was sitting at his desk, drinking his usual black coffee, talking about the weekend. The next moment, he came out of the boss's office with that empty look in his eyes. He didn't even say anything at first. Can you believe it? He just packed his things quietly, like he didn't want to disturb anyone, and walked out.And then I had to ask him, and he told me he had got fired because the company decided to replace his position with an AI program. An AI program. I swear my heart dropped. I never thought we would see this happening so close to us.I know. I watched him walk past me with his box and I asked him if he was okay. He tried to smile, but the smile didn't stay on his face for more than a second. He said the company was moving in a "new direction." And by new direction, he meant a cheaper direction.Man, Mark has been here for 9 years. Daniel, 9 years. He was loyal, hardworking, always helping everyone, always staying late, learning new things, always giving his best. And then today they tell him his job can be done by an AI system. An AI system that doesn't even need a lunch break.That's serious. It makes me sick to think how quickly someone can be erased. Like they never mattered—their job, their years in this company.Part 2: The Loss of IdentityAnd when he said with tears in his eyes that a machine was taking his job, the job he built his entire life around, it broke something inside me. He told me that: "A machine took my job." I built my whole life around that line. It keeps playing in my head too because it wasn't just about the job. It was about everything behind it: his house, his family, his routine, his confidence, his identity.People don't understand how much of ourselves we put into our work, and then suddenly a software update or a new program makes all that not necessary. That's incredible.I heard from someone in HR that the AI they are testing now can do:Data entryReportingOrganizing & CorrectingEmailing & Checking errorsEven customer communicationBasically, everything Mark did for years is now being done by a program in seconds. How can a human compete with that? It's like trying to race a car on foot.And what scares me even more is that they said Mark was the first one. You know what that means? That means they are planning more changes. If the AI works well, they'll expand it to other teams. And we both know what that means. That means we are next. Or maybe not us—maybe someone else we care about is next. The fear is spreading through the office like smoke.Seriously, everyone is whispering about it. I have heard many comments. No one wants to be the one who walks into the boss's office next. And honestly, I don't blame them. If they can replace Mark—someone who was one of the best workers here—they can replace any of us.Part 3: Efficiency vs. HumanityExactly. And the worst part is that nobody explained anything clearly. They just said the AI is "more efficient" and that was it. Efficient for who? For the company, sure, but not for the people who lose everything. And you know what really hurts? The emails we got afterward."We are excited for this new phase of innovation."Excited for who? For the software engineers? For the investors? Because the employees certainly aren't excited. They are terrified. My hands were shaking when I opened that email.It's the same everywhere now. I read a news article last week:It was about a customer service center that replaced 80% of their team.They replaced them with AI chat systems. 80%, Daniel.And they said customers didn't even notice the difference.In another company, AI now does the work of a junior accountant. It checks numbers, finds errors, corrects them, and organizes files. What used to take a team a whole day takes the AI five minutes. It's like watching a whole world change faster than anyone can keep up.You are right. And people always say, "AI will create new jobs." But the thing is that they never explain what jobs or for who. Most of us don't have time or money to learn programming, robotics, or advanced technology. Mark didn't either. He has kids, bills, responsibilities. How was he supposed to suddenly transform into a tech expert? People talk about this like it's simple, but the truth is that it's not. It's not realistic for everyone, and it's not fair.Part 4: The Financial & Emotional EarthquakeYeah, it's not fair. You know what scares me the most? The part where Mark said he had made plans for his salary. He said he already divided how he was going to use the money this month. He said he needed to pay for:His daughter's school trip.His wife's medicine.Part of the rent.
获取全部文本资料公众号搜索:yymaster888Hello English learners and welcome to English Pod. My name is Marco.Hi everyone. My name is Katherine and today we have another episode of our interview series lessons.That's right. Today we're taking a look at a very important aspect of an interview. We're talking about salary and money.That's right. So this is the end of the interview when we're starting to talk about details of the job. Let's check this out. Listen to the dialogue one time and when we come back we'll be talking more about what's going on.The DialogueMr. Parsons: Okay. Well, I'm sure you have a number of questions to ask me regarding the position.Rebecca: Yes. Well, Miss Charles did give me an overview of the position over the phone, but there were some details I'd like to clarify.Mr. Parsons: Well, feel free to ask me anything and I'll try to fill in the details.Rebecca: Could I first ask about the remuneration package?Mr. Parsons: Yes, of course. That's quite an important point, isn't it? As a junior sub-editor, we offer a starting salary of 150,000 Hong Kong dollars per annum. This doesn't include a generous housing allowance also.Rebecca: I understand. And are there other bonuses included?Mr. Parsons: Well, apart from full health insurance, we do offer a company's staff bonus scheme linked to readership numbers, but we could go through all the details of that at a later date.Rebecca: Well, Mr. Parsons, I am flexible when it comes to salary. The opportunity to work in Hong Kong with your company is the most important thing for me.Mr. Parsons: Excellent. Well, what other questions do you have, Rebecca?Language TakeawayAll right, we're back. So, let's take a look at a couple of words and phrases on language takeaway.Okay, so this first phrase is a set phrase. That means these words often go together. The phrase is remuneration package.That's right. A remuneration package. Rebecca said, "Could I first ask about the remuneration package?"So, what's an easier way to say this, Marco?Uh, I guess basically the salary.That's right. But a package means that it's not just money, it's also some of the benefits or the bonuses. So this is a way to describe how a person is paid in general.That's right. So the remuneration package that Rebecca is being offered, Mr. Parsons said that she would get a starting salary of $150,000 per annum. Okay. So this phrase starting salary is another fixed phrase. We have a lot of these today. That means these two words go together. Starting salary. So salary is easy. It's the amount of money you make either per month or per week or per year.But what is a starting salary? How is that different?Well, basically that's the money that you would start earning in the company. But obviously with time it could change and you can get more money.So this means that you will start making this much money but it's possible that in the future you will make more. This is the starting salary.That's right. And well, of course, as we said, it's $150,000 Hong Kong dollars per annum. So now we're specifying how often you're getting this money per annum.So if it were per month, this might be a lot of money.That's right.
获取全部文本资料公众号搜索:yymaster888Hello everyone. Welcome to Pod Chill.I'm so happy you are here today. I hope you feel cozy, relaxed, and ready to talk with me like friends. Today, I want to ask you something:Have you ever been happy when you're alone?Have you ever felt sad just because you have no one beside you?Many people think happiness comes from friends, from a partner, or from always being around other people. But that's not always true. We're talking about joy in a different way. The kind you find when you're on your own. You might think being alone is boring, not fun, or sometimes even a little lonely.Today we will explore why that happens and how to turn it into something positive. Then you will also know how to be your own best friend. This skill can make you stronger, freer, and more real. So let's start.Navigating Life's ChangesSometimes life asks you to do things by yourself.A new job can feel strange because everything is new.Moving to another city can make you feel far from home.Studying in another country can make the mornings feel very quiet.When a relationship ends or a friend slowly leaves, the silence can feel heavy.These are not failures. They are just changes. In these moments, you may feel small and unsure. That feeling is normal. No one can stay with you all the time. People have their own life and their own problems. Even the people who love you need time for themselves. This does not mean they do not care; it only means life is busy for everyone.When you accept this, being alone becomes easier. Alone time becomes a chance to learn and hear your own voice. You start to trust yourself and make small choices for your growth. Slowly, you learn to stand on your own and feel safe.Facing the Fear of LonelinessThe hard part is not being alone. The hard part is feeling afraid of being alone.Sometimes we try to fix the empty feeling by being busy with people. You may join groups, go to parties, or stay with a partner to avoid quiet moments. But being with people or making noise does not always make the empty feeling go away.Have you ever been in a room full of laughter and still felt empty? That strange weight in your chest can stay even when people smile around you. Later, when you are alone in a quiet room, the empty feeling can feel stronger.Many times, loneliness comes from the thoughts and feelings in your own mind. If you wait for someone else to make you happy, you give your power to them.Being okay alone means you do not run away from quiet moments. You sit with your feelings and notice them instead of trying to avoid them. That slow practice helps you feel calmer in a crowd and at home. Over time, the empty moments become chances to meet yourself again.Finding Strength WithinWhen the fear becomes softer, you start to feel a quiet strength inside. You stop relying on other people to fix your mood.Decisions become clearer because you know what you want.You feel less afraid of being left out.You choose friends and partners because they fit your life, not because you need them to feel okay.When relationships end, you may feel sad, but you also know you can move forward.Small problems do not feel like the end of the world anymore.That does not mean you never feel pain. It means you have tools to care for yourself in hard times. You learn what makes you calm, what gives you energy, and what takes it away. With this knowledge, you can say no and take care of yourself.Understanding the VoidBut I know that there is one thing that is not easy. Sometimes you can feel lonely even when people are around. You may wonder,why do I feel empty when I'm not alone?Loneliness is not always about others. Sometimes it comes from not knowing yourself.When you don't know what you like or what makes you happy, you feel lost inside. You might follow what others choose, say yes to plans you don't enjoy, or stay quiet when something feels wrong. After a while, it feels like you don't know who you really are.Comparing yourself to others can make loneliness worse. Social media shows happy pictures, fun trips, or couples smiling, but you don't see their hard days, stress, or sadness. Everyone has problems that others don't see. When you think about your own life and the calm you make, your heart feels better.Many people think happiness comes from others, but true happiness starts inside you. Others can bring joy, but they cannot create it for you. When you enjoy life by yourself first, you feel more peaceful. Others can add to your happiness, but they are not the source.So if you feel lonely sometimes, it is okay. It is a sign to connect with yourself. See what you need and feel okay alone.
获取全部文本资料公众号搜索:yymaster888It is a very calm afternoon, Henry. Sunny and quiet. The kind of afternoon that makes me think about many things. The wind is soft, the sky is clear, and I can hear the children playing far away. It reminds me that life keeps moving even if we move slower now.Yes, George. Days like this make me feel peaceful but also a little sad. Sometimes I sit here alone and I think about how many years passed, how many memories I keep inside me and how different life is now. I think about my family, my friends and the people around me. And I think about the times when the park was full of people I knew, not strangers like now.I know that feeling very well. The world changes, Henry. We get older, the people around us get older, and it's natural. And suddenly one day we realize we are not in the center of life anymore. We just watch from the side like observers of a big movie that keeps going.You know, George, I try not to complain. But sometimes I feel forgotten. My children live far away. They call me yes, but they call quickly like they are in a hurry. They say, "Hi, Dad. How are you? Okay, great. I have to go now." And then the call ends. It is strange. I changed their diapers. I held their hands when they were scared. I took care of them. I worked very hard every day so they could have food and education. But now they do not have time for me. That's what they tell me.You are not alone, Henry. I tell you my family is the same. They love me. I know they do. But life is fast for them. They have jobs, responsibilities, problems, plans. And sometimes I think they forget that I am still here waiting for them to say, "Dad, let's have dinner together." Or, "Grandpa, let's go to the park." The truth is, sometimes I feel like I became invisible, Henry. Like my family sees my name on the calendar but not my face in the world.That is exactly how I feel, George. Invisible, like a shadow of who I used to be. Remember when we were young? Life was loud, full of movement. The house was full of noise. Children running, laughing, shouting, crying, and we used to say, "I can't wait for some quiet." Funny, isn't it? Now we have all the quiet in the world and we wish for noise again. We want to hear those noises again.Oh yes, sure. I remember Sundays with my family. My wife cooked. The kids helped. The dog ran everywhere. We talked about the week. We laughed about silly things. I remember those afternoons like they were yesterday. They live in my mind like warm sunlight. Beautiful moments. But now those days are gone. They are just memories now.I remember taking my kids to the beach. To that amazing beach. They used to run to the water and turn around to see if I was watching. I always watched every second. They really had fun. Those memories are like beautiful paintings in my heart. Really, I still hold them. Sometimes they feel more real than the present.Growing old is strange, Henry. When you are young, you think old age is far away. You never imagine how it will feel. But one day, you look at your hands and they are not young anymore. You walk slower. You forget things. You need help and you realize, "Ah, this is what old age feels like."The hardest part is not the gray hair or the weak knees or the tired eyes. The hardest part is seeing life change without you. Seeing your children live their own lives. Seeing friends disappear one by one. Seeing the world move forward while you stay behind.Yes. And accepting that you are no longer necessary. That is painful. Even if you pretend it is not. That's the truth.Yeah, you're right.Tell me, do your children visit often?Visit? My children? Not really. They all live busy lives. They tell me they love me and I believe them. But love today is different, George. Love is digital. A message, a text, a quick call. They think it is enough. And maybe for them it is. But for us, we need presence. We need a hand on the shoulder, a hug, a warm voice.I know. My granddaughter sends me pictures on her phone. I like that, but it's not the same. I want to see her in person. I want to hear her laugh in front of me, not on a screen. Yes, technology is good, but sometimes it makes people lazy with love. Life is a circle, Henry. When we were young, our parents got old and we were busy. We had families to raise, work to do. We loved our parents, but we did not visit as much as we should have. We are living the same story now.
获取全部文本资料公众号搜索:yymaster888Hello everyone and welcome to English Pod. My name is Marco.My name is Catherine. And today we've got one more episode in our series about interview skills. This is an elementary level series and we're here today to talk about things that you might not be very good at.That's right. Today we're going to talk about weaknesses and that is our word for vocabulary preview. So let's take a look at it now.Vocabulary PreviewOkay. So, what is a weakness?A weakness is a thing or an activity or something that you're just not very good at or something that you think you can improve.Okay. So, obviously no one is perfect and uh like we saw in the previous lesson, we had a lot of good things about ourselves, key strengths, and now we're going to talk about our weaknesses. Maybe um you're a little bit lazy. That might be a weakness.That's right. So weakness is the opposite of strength and that is the topic today. So let's take a listen to today's dialogue.DialogueMr. Parsons: Okay, Rebecca. Well, I think you've given me a clear impression of your positive qualities, but let's talk a little bit about your weaknesses.Rebecca: Okay. Well, it's always more difficult to describe them, isn't it?Mr. Parsons: Definitely. But if you had to pinpoint one weakness, what would it be?Rebecca: Well, as I mentioned before, I do tend to get frustrated if I don't see progress in my work or career. I suppose I'm quite a restless character. My father always taught me to be a high achiever. So...Mr. Parsons: So would you say if things don't go your way at work, it could easily get you down.Rebecca: Well, in a way, yes. But I must say that even if I'm not completely happy in my work, I always give 110%. I would never sherk my responsibilities. I suppose sometimes I expect too much too soon.Mr. Parsons: Well, you know, journalism is a highly competitive world, so you do need to keep pushing yourself.Rebecca: It's true.Mr. Parsons: Okay. Well, let's move on to talk about the job position here, shall we?Rebecca: Yes, please.Language TakeawayAll right. We're back. So, obviously, Rebecca did a very good job at talking about her weaknesses in a very positive way. So, before we get into analyzing that, why don't we take a look at a couple of words she used on language takeaway.One of the first words that Mr. Parsons used was a clear impression. So, impression.All right. So, I think this is a very common word when people talk about first impressions or uh I get the impression. So, what is an impression?Well, an impression is like an idea or a feeling. So, I can have an impression about something. It means that I don't necessarily understand it really well or I don't have experience with it but it's it's an idea that I have about something.That's right. So for example, uh maybe you meet somebody new and you say "I get the impression that he is a liar."But maybe then you get to know him and he's not. So this is your idea about something or the way you feel about something. So in this case, Mr. Parsons has a clear impression of her positive qualities. That means that he has an idea or an understanding of the things that Rebecca is good at, but he wants to know more about her weaknesses.That's right. And Mr. Parsons asked her to try and pinpoint uh one of her weaknesses. So, this word to pinpoint.This is a great word. I'm not really sure where it comes from in English, but I think it's very visual. You can see what the word means. Pinpoint means to to locate or identify or uh really be specific about something.That's right. So maybe if you go to the doctor and uh you say that your back hurts, the doctor might ask you to try and pinpoint where on your back you have the pain.That's right. So it's a way to be specific or very exact about something.Okay. So, uh, if she had to pinpoint something, she said, "Well, I do get a little bit frustrated."Okay. So, frustrated is a way you feel. I feel frustrated. He is frustrated. It's uh it's basically a feeling that you get when you have to do something, but you don't think you can do it. Or maybe something annoys you and you get frustrated. Um, for example, when people tap like this and I'm working, I get frustrated because it's a distraction. So, everyone has different things that frustrate them.Now, if we take a look at this word, uh, it is actually an adjective and we usually use it "you get frustrated" or as you said, "you feel frustrated." So, remember, it may look like a verb, but it's actually an adjective that ends in -ed. Frustrated. To get frustrated.He got frustrated or we feel very frustrated.Okay. And uh well apart from being frustrated she also said that uh she is a restless character.Okay. So someone is restless if they don't like to stay in one place all the time. That means someone who wants to move around or to go places or to travel or to see new things is restless.That's right. So uh she has a restless character. That means she likes to move around. She doesn't like to stand still in one place.Maybe she gets bored very easily.Mhm. Okay. Okay, so that's somebody that would be restless. But uh moving on, she also said that she doesn't like to sherk her responsibilities. Okay, you often hear these words go together. So responsibilities are things that we need to do, right? Uh things that other people expect us to do. Uh to sherk a responsibility means to to not do something that you're supposed to do. It means to avoid responsibility or to uh to push it away.Okay. So, it's a verb to sherk your responsibilities. You shouldn't sherk your responsibilities.That's right.
获取全部文本资料公众号搜索:yymaster888Hello everyone. Welcome back to Pod and Chill. I am really happy you are here with me today. Before we start, I want to ask you something simple:How was your day? Was it long? Was it busy? These days, life can feel like a fast machine. We keep moving, keep running, and we forget to pause. And this is why I want you to imagine something with me.Imagine walking through a busy street. The cars are loud, the air feels heavy, and your shoulders feel tight. You move because you have to, not because you want to. And in that moment, you may ask yourself:"Do I have time to breathe? Do I have time for me?"Sometimes when life feels too heavy, we wish we could go back—back to childhood, to days when problems were small and joy was easy, to moments when we played and felt free. But what if you can still connect with the child inside you right now?Today's episode is about that gentle child, our inner child. And today we learn how to heal it with small, soft steps. So let yourself chill. You are safe here because today we heal our inner child together.1. The Power of Simple JoyLet's talk about something small but strong: Joy.Joy feels like a tiny light inside us. Sometimes it gets hidden under stress, worries, and daily tasks, but it never truly goes away. Think back to your childhood for a moment.What made you laugh so easily?What did you enjoy before you cared about rules or being "good enough"?Maybe you liked drawing, running around, or making little games. Maybe you loved reading, singing loudly, or dancing in your room. These simple things gave you real happiness. When we grow up, we often think looking back is silly. We tell ourselves to "be adults," even when our heart wants something gentle.Joy doesn't disappear; it just becomes quiet. To find it, you can start by remembering. Look at old photos, think of good memories, or try a small fun activity. Bringing joy back gently helps you heal. When you let yourself feel joy again, your heart gets room to rest.2. Forgiving Your PastForgiving your past is not pretending it was perfect. It means looking at your younger self with kindness. That's the child who tried hard, who didn't know much yet, and who felt everything deeply.Many of us still carry old mistakes like heavy weights. Maybe it was something embarrassing, something you wish you could change, or a moment that still comes back to your mind. Think softly for a moment:"Your inner child has been with you all this time, waiting for understanding and comfort."A simple message like "You did the best you could back then" can bring more healing than you imagine. Forgiving yourself doesn't mean ignoring the pain; it means releasing its control over your heart. It means saying to your younger self:"You were learning, and that was enough."3. The Importance of PlayfulnessPlayfulness is not only for children. It helps you stay curious and feel more alive. As we grow up, many people forget those light joys because they think they are "childish." But actually, a little bit of play can calm your mind.Think about the present: What still makes you smile?Cooking something familiar?Walking slowly and feeling the wind?Writing, listening to an old song, or watching a childhood movie?Try adding one small fun habit into your day. These moments tell your inner child that it’s still important and you still remember it.
获取全部文本资料公众号搜索:yymaster888This is not my job. I came here to do other things, not cleaning the toilets. You're taking advantage of me and you are disrespecting me.Careful with your words. You can't lose this. Good job, Brandon.The Work Day BeginsGood morning. Today you have a lot to do. So listen carefully.Good morning, boss. Sure. I am ready to start working. Tell me.All right. First, you must finish the banner designs for the marketing team; they need it for today. So, please try not to take too long with that. And remember to use the model we discussed in the meeting. Okay. Then you need to organize the storage room because everything is a mess. I don't know when was the last time they organized that area. Every time I want to find something, I never do because it is a mess.After that, go to the administration office and help them print and fold the new brochures. We will need them for the marketing campaign this week. It's important. Remember to check that they are all printed correctly. I don't want the same mistake to be repeated as the last time they did it.And later... Oh, I remember now. You must help the academic department carry the chairs to the auditorium for the event. All of them. Everything must be done for today. And you have to do it well, please.Um, sir, I understand the design work, but organizing the storage room and folding brochures... Is that also part of my job? I only ask so I can plan the time correctly.Seriously, you ask too many questions. Just do it. Remember, the company needs people who don't complain. If you want to grow here, you must learn to do whatever is needed. Now go. Don't waste time and do it well.Okay. Yes, sir. I'll start right away and I'll do it very well.A Warning from a CoworkerCoworker: Hey man, you look tired already. What did the boss give you this time?A lot. I need to finish some designs, then organize the storage room, help administration with brochures, and later move chairs for the event. And I have to finish for today. So I'd better start right now.Coworker: Wait, what? [laughter] Moving chairs? Storage room? That's not your job. You're a graphic designer. That's work for logistics or administration. You should be creating graphic designs or videos for the company.Yeah, I know. But maybe the boss sees something in me. I don't know. Maybe if I work hard, he'll give me a better position one day.Coworker: Working hard is good, but letting people walk all over you is different. You must be careful. Some bosses take advantage when they see someone kind.Yes, maybe. But I don't want problems. I want to grow.Coworker: You can grow without being abused. Just remember that.The Job Fair AssignmentBrandon, come to my office. I have something important to tell you. Tomorrow we have a big job fair. I need you to attend.Sir, what job fair? I didn't know we were going to have one. Do you want me to create the flyers and brochures for tomorrow?[laughter] No, you will do something more important tomorrow. You will represent the company, talk to students, give information, and try to get them to enroll. Remember to convince them. Okay. Also, you must carry the company's promotional module. It's a little heavy, but you are young and strong. I am sure you will do it well. Plus, there is no one else to do it.So, I am not working today? I mean, you want me to do the brochures for tomorrow?What? No. Do everything I told you a while ago, too. And when you finish, you'll help a little with the brochures and flyers. And don't worry, transportation is arranged, but you will stay there all day.Sir, but I'm not in admissions or marketing. I'm in graphic design. I mean, I don't know how to give information to students.Don't make excuses. You are young. You can learn. Just smile and talk. The information is easy to memorize. That's it. And remember, if you want to grow here, you must show loyalty. Now, go prepared.The Aftermath of the FairCoworker: Bro, how was the job fair? You look completely dead.It was a long day. I carried the module, stayed under the sun for hours, and talked to hundreds of people. I didn't even touch a computer. I didn't do any design. Just gave information to young people. It was really tiring.
获取全部文本资料公众号搜索:yymaster888Hello everyone and welcome to English Pod. My name is Marco.My name is Katherine. And as you've probably noticed on our website, this is one of many different parts of a series all about having an interview in English. This is a job interview. And at this point, we're at about part seven.That's right. So today what we're going to talk about is uh the key question whenever uh you're having a job interview is they ask you to describe your key strengths and this is our word for vocabulary preview today. So let's take a look at it.Vocabulary preview.Okay, so you might have heard the word strength before. This is something that you're good at. And so key strength or key strengths plural would be things that you think are most important about you as far as the things that you do well.That's right. So, as we mentioned, your boss or your potential boss might ask you to describe your key strength. So, you're going to mention a lot of adjectives, positive adjectives, saying how how good of a worker you are. So, why don't we uh listen to our dialogue? Let's see what Rebecca has to say about her key strengths. And uh we'll look at those in a little bit.DialogueMr. Parsons: Okay, Rebecca, now you've given me a good idea of your work and academic background, but what about you as a person? How would you describe your key strengths?Rebecca: Well, Mr. Parsons, as I mentioned before, I'm someone who needs new challenges. I'm really focused and hardworking. I think my academic results prove this.Mr. Parsons: Yes, true. But how about other personal qualities?Rebecca: Well, I believe I'm a good team player, but I can also work well independently. I'm very enthusiastic and well, I hope my colleagues would agree. I'm fun to work with.Mr. Parsons: What would you say is your most positive quality?Rebecca: Hm, that's a tough question, but I would have to say my passion. I'm really passionate about journalism and passionate about my career.Language TakeawayAll right. So, she obviously has a lot of good key strengths. Why don't we analyze a couple of those on language takeaway?Announcer: Language takeaway.So, one of the first things that Rebecca mentions is that she's really focused. Okay. So, this this word focused, what does this mean?All right. So, if a person is focused, uh, basically you're saying that you concentrate on your work.That's right. And someone whose focus might be very good in a noisy office or in a place that is full of distractions like you said because they don't stop their work and think about the noise or move around or go talk to people. Someone who is focused just sits down and can do a lot of work all at once.That's right. So she describes herself as focused and hardworking. So hardworking means basically what it sounds like that someone works very hard. That means they put in a lot of hours. They can um they get their work done. They're really really dependable.That's right. So, as you as you can see, we use the word hardworking together. So, if you work hard, you don't say I I work hard. You can say that, but if you want to use it as an as an adjective, you say, "I am hardworking." The opposite, of course, would be lazy.That's right. Okay. So, uh, we're focused, we're hardworking, and she also said that she is a good team player. Okay, this is a really key phrase here because it's something that employers, so people who are hiring new staff, like to look out for because most jobs, you don't work alone. You work with other people. And so, a team player is someone who works well in a group or works well with others.That's right. So a team player, everyone wants to have a good team player working for their team, for their company. And apart from being a good team player, you also want to be enthusiastic.That's right. So this means that you are interested in what you do. You are excited about it. It's not like, oh god, I have to do this report. It's like, oh wow, I get to do this report. I'm enthusiastic. I'm really interested. I'm going to put a lot of energy into it.That's right. Okay. Okay. So, an enthusiastic person not only can be about working, you can be enthusiastic about anything. About uh I don't know, painting your house, about uh going on a trip.Mhm. Exactly. Enthusiastic.All right. And our last word for language takeaway is also a good quality to have if you are passionate about what you do or what you're doing.So, someone who is passionate about something really really likes that thing. That means that they uh love to do it or love to see it. Um, passion is the opposite of not interested. Okay. So, you're really really emotional and excited and interested in something.That's right. So, you are passionate about something. Uh, it comes from the noun passion. So, you have a passion for painting. Maybe you love to paint. So, you're very passionate about painting.Mhm. So, a lot of great adjectives there to describe yourself in a good way. Why don't we listen to our dialogue again and we'll be back with Fluency Builder.Dialogue RepetitionMr. Parsons: Okay, Rebecca, now you've given me a good idea of your work and academic background, but what about you as a person? How would you describe your key strengths?Rebecca: Well, Mr. Parsons, as I mentioned before, I'm someone who needs new challenges. I'm really focused and hardworking. I think my academic results prove this.Mr. Parsons: Yes, true. But how about other personal qualities?Rebecca: Well, I believe I'm a good team player, but I can also work well independently. I'm very enthusiastic and well, I hope my colleagues would agree. I'm fun to work with.Mr. Parsons: What would you say is your most positive quality?Rebecca: Hm, that's a tough question, but I would have to say my passion. I'm really passionate about journalism and passionate about my career.Fluency BuilderAll right. So, on Fluency Builder today, we've picked out three key phrases. Let's take a look at the first one when uh Rebecca said, "I'm someone who needs new challenges." Okay, so this structure, "I'm someone who..." is something that you hear a lot of and you can actually fill in the end of that sentence with a number of different phrases. So, in here, we heard I'm someone who needs new challenges. We could also say, "I'm someone who needs structure."All right. So, we can also change the verb, right, from needs to "I'm someone who likes a challenge."Mhm.
获取全部文本资料公众号搜索:yymaster888Hello my dear friends. I'm Catherine. How are you? Me? I had a bad day today. I made lots of mistakes. I took the wrong train to work. I said wrong things in an important meeting. I bought the wrong cake for my friend's birthday. You see, a lot of mistakes. But it's okay. I'm still fine. I'm sure we all make mistakes sometimes, right? And I know you feel bad about it. The thing is, it's okay to make mistakes. Really, I'm not saying that you should go and make mistakes. What I mean is, you don't have to feel bad about it. Mistakes happen, but we can choose how to feel about them. So, you can choose to feel good about it. How can we do that? Stay with me and let's see.What is a mistake? It's when you do something and the result is not good. Maybe you spilled coffee on your shirt. Maybe you forgot your keys. Maybe you said the wrong word in English. It makes you feel bad. I know that feeling. Why? Because I make mistakes, too. In fact, everybody makes mistakes. You make them. Your parents make them. Your friends make them. Your teachers make them. Your bosses make them. Even the best people in the world make mistakes. It's just a part of being human. We are human. So we make mistakes, right? You must accept that we are not perfect. Nobody is. Perfect people don't exist. Everyone has problems. That doesn't mean people are not important. In fact, problems help us grow. We can't get better if we are already perfect. Do you understand? Problems or mistakes help us grow.I talked about this with my friend once. He said, "I'm pretty sure there are perfect people. They never make mistakes." "Who? Tell me a name," I asked him. He thought for a while and said, "Leonardo da Vinci. He was one of the greatest people in the world." My friend was right. Da Vinci was in fact one of the greatest people in the world. But that doesn't mean he never made mistakes. We can see only his final works. They are perfect because Da Vinci learned from his old failed projects. He knew what to do and what not to do. If you think about it this way, you can say mistakes are like practice.Think about learning a sport like soccer. When you practice soccer, you try to kick the ball. Maybe you miss. The miss is a mistake. But the miss is not a failure. The miss is only part of practice. The miss gives you information. It tells you try to move your foot here next time. Your life is like this. Mistakes are practice. They give you information for your next try. They help you make a better plan. Mistakes don't mean that you are bad. They mean that you are trying. If you are trying, you're good.So if mistakes are good, why don't they make us feel happy? That's a good question, my friends. The truth is the lesson from a mistake is good. But the result of a mistake can be bad and that is what makes us feel bad. We can learn from mistakes and that makes us grow. But we also have to see the result of the mistake. If you spill coffee on your shirt, you might ruin it. If you forget your keys, you might not get into your house. If you say something wrong in English, someone might laugh at you. We can't run away from the results of our mistakes. The feeling after we make a mistake isn't good. It is often very strong. Maybe you feel scared. Maybe you feel hot. Maybe you want to scream. Maybe you want to say bad things.Now, let me tell you one thing. You can't change the result of your mistake right away. But you can change how you feel about it. When we make mistakes, it's important to stay calm. We can only learn well if we're calm. The first thing you must do is stop. Do not be scared. Do not run away. Just stop and breathe. Take a slow deep breath in. Then breathe out slowly. We use our breathing to help our mind stay calm. When the mind is calm, we can see the problem clearly. Look at the mistake like you look at a raincloud. It is there but it will go away. The rain is not forever. The mistake is not forever. Remember this. Mistakes are a normal part of life. Like rain is a normal part of the sky. This is true. Do not fight the truth.
获取全部文本资料公众号搜索:yymaster888You came into my home like I was dangerous. You don't know what it's like to have 10 officers yelling at you while your mother cries in the hallway.Understand? When we act, it's because we follow evidence. And right now, everything points to you. You are the thief.Can someone finally explain why I'm here? I've been sitting in this chair for hours. You broke into my house this morning, shouted at me to get down, and took me away like some criminal. I haven't done anything wrong. I don't even know what this is about.Calm down, Mr. Lewis. We are not here to fight. We are here to understand what happened. That's it. You were brought in because you match the description of a suspect involved in a robbery that happened this morning. Is it clear?What? A robbery? That's ridiculous. I was at home. I didn't do it. You can ask my neighbor, Mrs. Taylor. She saw me leave the house at 8:00. Not before, I promise. I mean, how can I be accused of something I didn't do? Please, I need to go to work. I can't be here. It is a mistake.Look, I get that you're upset, but let's start from the beginning. When we arrived at your house, you refused to open the door. You shouted, saying you didn't know who we were. And when we came in, you resisted arrest. That's not good. You tried to pull away. That's already a serious matter.Of course, because you didn't tell me what was going on. You scared my mother half to death. How could you do that? You kicked the door open like I was some murderer. I am not. Anyone could resist if a stranger burst into their house like that. I was just scared. I panicked. I didn't know how to react. I think anyone could react that way if they were in the same situation.Mr. Lewis, we had a warrant and we had a reason to be there. The victim's statement gave us a clear lead. That's why we did that.Victim? What? What victim? Who are you talking about?All right. At approximately 7:25 this morning, a woman named Laura Bennett was walking to her office on Maple Street. She claims a man approached her from behind, grabbed her phone and money, and pushed her when she tried to stop him. She was hurt. The suspect then ran toward the corner, jumped onto a black motorcycle, and left quickly. Everything is in the report and it's clear.She described the man as mid-30s, short brown hair, red t-shirt, and riding a black motorcycle license plate ending with "2K". You perfectly match the description given to us by the robbery victim.What? Wait, a black motorcycle? You're serious? Because there must be hundreds of black motorcycles in this city. Mine's been parked all week. I haven't used it. I promise you can ask my neighbors. They will tell you the truth.Yes, of course. That's what we're going to verify. But the thing is that the partial plate matches yours and the victim identified your photo from the database. That's why you're here.That's crazy. She's making a mistake. Who's that woman? I've never seen that woman in my life. Why would I steal her phone and money?That's what we are trying to find out. I have to check. You don't have a record, which helps you, but your behavior this morning—resisting arrest—makes things complicated.You think I resisted because I'm guilty, but I resisted because I'm innocent. You came into my home like I was dangerous. You don't know what it's like to have 10 officers yelling at you while your mother cries in the hallway.
获取全部文本资料公众号搜索:yymaster888Hello everyone and welcome to English Pod. My name is Marco.My name is Katherine. And today we're going to continue in our series about job interviews.That's right. And on this occasion, we're taking a look at part five of our interview series where we explain why we left our previous job.Okay. And so in interview, this is a very popular question. "Why did you leave your last job?" Learn some tools for answering this question in today's dialogue. We're going to take a listen to it first and we'll be back in a moment.The DialogueOkay. Now, I'd like to find out more about your last job. I see you spent almost 4 years at the London Weekly. Is that right?Yes, that's right. To be honest, the first year was quite tough for me. I was really just treated more like an intern. I didn't have many responsibilities and I found it quite frustrating.So what changed?Well, slowly but surely I proved myself and the new editor liked me so he promoted me to features writer.Wow, a real step up.Yes, I was responsible for restaurant and food reviews mostly. I spent 3 years in that position, but to be honest, it wasn't an area of journalism I wanted to stay in long term.I see. So why did you decide to leave finally?I just felt that the paper couldn't offer me any new opportunities. I really needed a more challenging role to be honest.Language TakeawayAll right, we're back. And as we saw, Rebecca handled it quite well, explaining why you left your last job. Because obviously, you don't want to say something like, "Well, I just really didn't like my company," or, you know, "The boss was a really bad guy,"...or I was fired for being lazy.Exactly. So, why don't we take a look at a couple of different words on language takeaway.Okay. So, we've got some great descriptive words here. These are some adjectives. The first one is tough. So, Rebecca said, "To be honest, the first year was quite tough for me."All right. So, she's describing that her first year at that company where she was working, it was tough. And that means hard, difficult.That's right. So you could say this is a really tough situation. That means it's a difficult situation. It's hard because there's no easy answer.Exactly. So if you describe something as tough, it means that it's very difficult. Now there is another meaning to this where it can be that you are a strong person.Right. So that's different because we're talking about a person, not a situation. But if you're talking about a job or an experience or even homework, like this homework is really tough, it means that it's very hard. Exactly. Well, apart from her job of being a little bit tough, she said that it was also a little bit frustrating.Okay. So, usually these things go together. If something is tough, like it's difficult, it's usually frustrating, too. Um, and so in this case, something is frustrating when it makes you unhappy or for example, it makes you feel stressed.Um so something that's frustrating is not a good thing.Exactly. So as you gave the example with the homework assignment, if you have maybe a math assignment that's very difficult and you can't solve it, you don't find the solution, then you get frustrated. You get maybe angry at yourself or you get very angry for not be able being able to solve it. So that's when something is frustrating.I hate being frustrated.Exactly. Well, it's not a nice feeling, but uh she said that well it was frustrating. It was tough. That you know after a while I proved myself.Okay. So that means that um she was able to show someone that she can handle uh difficult things, difficult work, difficult situations and so she said um I proved myself and the new editor liked me. So basically she did a really good job.Exactly. So if you prove yourself you're showing someone that you have great uh ability or capabilities of solving a problem or being able to handle a difficult job.That's right. For example, I could say, you know, last year Bob didn't do very well at school, but this year he really proved himself. He studied hard and he got really good grades.Exactly. And well, Rebecca, what she got in exchange for proving herself, uh, she got promoted.This is great. So, promotions are good things. Um, the verb here is to promote or to be promoted. So, in this case, she was promoted. Um, you could say last year I was promoted. um or he will be promoted next week. He doesn't know yet.Exactly. Now, remember that to be promoted means to uh get a better position in your job. Now, as we mentioned, the verb is to promote. And you may be asking yourself why you're using the verb to be in the past, was promoted. And this is because it's an -ed adjective. It's an adjective that ends in -ed. So, you may think it's a verb, but it's not. It's actually an adjective.The verb here is to be.Exactly. So, I was promoted. Was is obviously our verb here, the verb to be. But promoted is an adjective that ends in -ed.Okay. And so, if I'm the boss, the action I do, the verb I do is I promote someone. Uh, so this can be a little bit tricky, but we recommend that you check out the website for more details because we have lots of examples of how to use this.Exactly. Well, she got promoted and uh well, she was really happy for a while, but then she said, "You know what? I really needed a more challenging role, a more challenging job."Okay. Challenging is a great adjective. It means something is difficult or it gives you a challenge. So that means it's not easy.Yeah. So she found that her job was a little bit too easy. So she wanted something a little bit more challenging.Okay. And so this is a really great word for job interviews in particular because you're basically saying, "I want hard work. I want to prove myself." There we go again. Prove. I want to show you that I'm a good employee or a hard worker and so I want a challenge. Something that's hard.Exactly. So, uh something that is hard is a challenge or you want something challenging. So, why don't we review these words that we've taken a look at now? Let's go back to the dialogue and listen to it again.Dialogue RepriseOkay. Now, I'd like to find out more about your last job. I see you spent almost 4 years at the London Weekly. Is that right?Yes, that's right. To be honest, the first year was quite tough for me. I was really just treated more like an intern. I didn't have many responsibilities and I found it quite frustrating.So, what changed?Well, slowly but surely, I proved myself and the new editor liked me, so he promoted me to features writer.Wow, a real step up.Yes, I was responsible for restaurant and food reviews mostly. I spent 3 years in that position, but to be honest, it wasn't an area of journalism I wanted to stay in longterm.I see. So, why did you decide to leave finally?I just felt that the paper couldn't offer me any new opportunities. I really needed a more challenging role to be honest.Fluency BuilderAll right, we're back. So, now let's take a look at a couple of phrases we picked out for you on Fluency Builder.Okay, this first phrase is unusual because it actually happens at the end of sentences. This is very very common with people who are making small talk or who are doing interviews. Um, this is the phrase, is that right?Mhm. So, basically, you saw that in the first line, Mr. Parsons was talking to her and said, "Well, I see you spent almost 4 years at the London Weekly. Is that right?" So, he's ending the sentence with this phrase. So, he's making the sentence a question. I see that you did this. Is that right? So, he's asking her to confirm the fact that he knows about her because maybe they've never really talked before. Uh so, this is a good way for him to ask her to uh give more details.Mhm. Exactly.So, for example, uh Marco, I hear that you're from Ecuador. Is that right?That's right. So you apart from ending the sentence like this if maybe somebody asks you is that right you have to confirm you have to say yes that's right or yes it's also good to elaborate to give more details so yes I'm from Ecuador I was born there but I've lived in the United States this is a way to give more information because that's basically what the person's asking.Yeah I think it wouldn't be very good if you're at a job interview and the person says is that right and you say yes that's right and and you don't say anything else.So yeah, basically the point is you have to confirm or deny. You have to say yes that's right or no that's not right and then you have to give some information about the question.Exactly. All right. Now uh moving on when Rebecca again was talking about her job she was saying it's tough and I didn't have many responsibilities and I found it quite frustrating.Okay. So this is like lost and found like I lost my hat and I found it later.No. No. This is what's interesting about this verb uh find. We are not actually looking for something or we didn't actually find something we were looking for.This is kind of a realization, right?That's right. It's like a feeling.
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