Learn the World in Simple English with Miss Y 簡單英文 大千世界

「狐假虎威」， 可能根本不是寓言，而是真的。 狐狸到底怎麼活下去的？ 搜尋《胡說成語》， 從這一集開始聽。 https://fstry.pse.is/8wld9r —— 以上為 Firstory Podcast 廣告 —— 你聽過歐洲歌唱大賽（Eurovision）嗎？這個擁有超過60年歷史的國際音樂比賽，不只是唱歌，更是一場結合文化、創意與話題性的表演盛宴。本集帶你認識Eurovision的起源、比賽方式，以及它為何能吸引上億觀眾。同時也會聊到它誇張又充滿爭議的舞台風格，並比較與亞洲歌唱節目的差異。 Have you heard of Eurovision? In this episode, we explore what it is, how it started, and why millions still watch it today. From dramatic performances to cultural meaning, we also compare it with Asian music shows and share personal thoughts on live music, creativity, and authenticity. Leave a comment and share your thoughts: Transcript: Hey guys, I’m your English teacher, Miss Y! Welcome to the podcast made for intermediate English learners who want to listen to English, and learn about different topics in a fun and easy way. If you’re into pop music—like catchy songs, big performances, and discovering new artists—then today’s episode is really for you. (Pop music 流行樂) So today, we’re talking about… Eurovision. And I want to start with a quick story. The first time I heard about Eurovision wasn’t from the real contest. It was actually from a movie—Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga. I don’t know if you’ve seen it, but I loved this movie. It’s such a fun and heart-warming comedy, and the songs are surprisingly beautiful. I remember watching it and thinking, “Is there actually a competition like this?” And then I found out—yes, it’s real. And honestly, it’s even more dramatic than the movie. So what exactly is Eurovision? Basically, it’s a huge international song competition (比賽). Every year, different countries send one singer or group to represent them. Each country performs one original song on stage (original, 原始的; 在這裡是原創的), and then after all the performances, the countries vote for each other. And here’s an important detail—countries can’t vote for themselves. So the whole system depends on how other countries see your song. Usually, there are two semi-finals (準決賽; semi- 一半的) and then a big final (決賽). That final is the main show, where everything happens. The winner is decided by a mix of professional judges and regular people voting from home. So it’s not just about who sings the best—it’s also about who connects with the audience. And sometimes… there’s a little bit of politics involved too Eurovision actually started a long time ago, in 1956. At that time, Europe had just gone through World War II (第二次世界大戰), and countries were trying to rebuild relationships. So the idea was simple: use music to bring people together. In the beginning, the show was very small and simple. The stage wasn’t huge, there weren’t many countries, and the performances were quite basic. But over time, it slowly grew into something much bigger. Now it’s a massive production with lights, effects, dancers, and sometimes really unexpected ideas. Even though it’s called Eurovision, not every country is actually in Europe. Most participants are European, of course, but some countries outside Europe can join if they are part of the broadcasting system. That’s why countries like Australia or Israel have participated. So it’s less about geography (地理位置), and more about being part of this network. Usually, you’ll see around 35 to 40 countries competing each year, which makes it feel really international So now you might be thinking—okay, but is it really that popular? The answer is yes. It’s actually one of the biggest non-sports events in the world. Every year, the final gets around 160 to 200 million viewers. That’s a huge number. In many European countries, Eurovision night is kind of like a big event. People watch it with friends, talk about the performances, and react together in real time. And even though fewer people watch traditional TV now, Eurovision is still very strong online. It trends on social media, people share clips, and some performances go viral (在網路上爆紅) So why do people still love it after so many years? Part of the reason is that Eurovision has changed with the times. The performances today are designed for platforms like YouTube or TikTok, so they’re very visual, which means easy to be seen, and it is also easy to share. At the same time, the music styles are much more diverse now. You don’t just hear pop—you might hear rock (搖滾樂), electronic music (電子樂), or something completely unexpected. Another important reason is the strong connection with the LGBTQ+ community. For many people, Eurovision feels like a space where you can be yourself, express your identity, and feel accepted. That gives the show a very special atmosphere. It’s also interesting because it’s not only about music. You can sometimes see culture and even politics in the voting. Certain countries tend to support each other, and that adds another layer to the competition. And of course, Eurovision can change people’s lives. Some artists become internationally famous after the contest. So for many performers, it’s a huge opportunity Now let’s talk about the style of the performances, because this is where Eurovision gets really interesting. The performances are often very dramatic (戲劇化; 很誇張). Sometimes they’re exaggerated (誇張), sometimes they’re a bit strange, and sometimes they’re just completely unexpected. You might see wild costumes, unusual dance moves, or crazy stage effects. It can feel like you’re watching a concert, a fashion show, and a comedy show all at the same time. And this is exactly why some people don’t like it. Some people feel it’s too weird, or not serious enough. They think the focus is more on the show than the music. Others feel that the quality of the songs can be inconsistent. Inconsistent means it is not stable, it doesn’t always stay the same. It means some songs are really great, but others are easy to forget. And then there’s the voting. Some viewers believe that countries sometimes vote based on relationships, not just the music. So yes, Eurovision is very popular—but it’s also quite controversial (有爭議性的). If you’re curious and want to see what Eurovision is really like, there are a couple of performances I’d really recommend. One is “Euphoria.” This song was perform by a Sweden performer. It’s one of the most famous Eurovision songs ever. The performance is actually quite simple, but very powerful, and the song is still popular today. If you like energetic songs and powerful singing style, you might like it. Another one is “Zitti e buoni” by the Italian contestant. This one feels completely different—it’s energetic rock music, and the band became internationally famous after winning. I personally like the performance a lot, and it is very exciting to watch. If you watch these two, you’ll already start to understand the range of Eurovision—from emotional and artistic to modern and cool. Now let’s compare Eurovision with something you might be more familiar with—music competitions in Asia. The biggest difference is probably the focus. In Eurovision, you’re not just watching a singer—you’re watching a country. There’s a sense of national identity (國家的認同感), and the performances are often very big and dramatic. In many Asian shows, the focus is more on the individual or the group. The attention is on vocal skill, training, and improvement. Judges (評審) also play a much bigger role. It seems like in Asia, people still like to hear the opinions from the authority figures (權威人士). So the feeling is quite different. Asian competitions often feel more emotional and skill-focused, while Eurovision feels more like a creative show—sometimes unpredictable, sometimes even a little chaotic (混亂). And now there’s something new happening. Eurovision is planning to launch a version in Asia in 2026, with the Grand Final to be hosted in Bangkok, Thailand on November 14. This new competition is expected to include countries like Thailand or South Korea, and it will try to combine Eurovision’s style with Asian pop music culture. It’s a really interesting idea, because Asia has huge audiences and very strong music industries—especially when you think about things like K-pop. But at the same time, there are questions. Different countries have different tastes, different cultures, and sometimes political tensions. So it’s not clear if the Eurovision style will work in the same way. Still, it’s definitely something worth watching. Before we finish, I want to share my opinion. I really like the spirit of Eurovision. It feels creative and different. It celebrates many kinds of people and styles. Don’t get me wrong, I still like some aspect in Asian music industry, but when I look at some Asian music shows, I sometimes feel they are more similar. The styles and beauty standards can feel the same. I also like that Eurovision is live. You can hear real voices. You can feel the singer’s emotion and passion. It may not be perfect, but it feels real. Some Asian singing shows use lip-sync (對嘴) to sound perfect. But for me, that can feel a bit empty. It looks good, but it doesn’t feel alive. I also like that Eurovision sometimes talks about serious topics. Music and art can show our thoughts and feelings. That makes it more real and more meaningful. So for me, Eurovision is feels human and alive. Now I want to ask you: What kind of shows do you enjoy more—serious singing competitions, or something more fun and dramatic? Share your thoughts with me in the comments! Alright, that’s it for today’s episode. I’m Miss Y, and I really hope you enjoyed learning English with me today. If you liked this episode, come back next time for another fun 15 to 20 minutes of simple, clear English and a brand-new topic to explore. Stay curious, and learn about the world in simple English. Powered by Firstory Hosting

在西方故事中，龍通常是邪惡、貪婪且需要被擊敗的怪物；但在中國與東方文化中，龍卻象徵權力、智慧與好運，甚至與雨水與自然息息相關。本集將帶你從文化、宗教、自然觀與歷史角度，探索為什麼不同文明會塑造出如此不同的龍形象，同時也解釋龍為何會出現在世界各地的神話之中。透過這個主題，你不僅能學習英文，也能更深入理解文化差異。 Why are dragons evil monsters in Western stories but powerful symbols of luck in Eastern cultures? In this episode, we explore how culture, religion, nature, and history shape dragon myths. You’ll also learn why dragons appear across many civilizations—and what they reveal about how people see the world. Leave a comment and share your thoughts: Transcript: Hey guys, I’m your English teacher, Miss Y! Welcome to the podcast made for intermediate English learners who want to listen to English, and learn about different topics in a fun and easy way. Today we’re talking about something really fun—dragons. But not just any dragons. I want you to think about this question for a second. Why are dragons in Western stories usually scary monsters… but in Eastern cultures, especially in China, they’re powerful and lucky? Same creature, totally different meaning. So what’s going on here? Let’s start with the dragons that many of you probably know best — the Eastern dragons, especially Chinese dragons. Chinese dragons are long and smooth (滑順), almost like a snake. They don’t need wings to fly. They move through the sky like they’re swimming in air. Chinese dragons are connected to water—rain, rivers, oceans. And that’s a big deal, because in ancient China, people depended on farming (農耕). And farming depends on rain. They are not enemies (敵人). So people respected it. Because the dragon could bring rain. And rain means life. If you’ve ever seen a dragon dance during Chinese New Year, you guys must know what dance I’m talking about, 舞龍舞獅, you’ll notice something interesting. People are celebrating the dragon. They’re not trying to kill it. They believe the dragon brings good luck and prosperity (繁榮). You can also see this idea in movies. Have you guys watched the Japanese animation by Hayao Miyazaki, Spirited Away? (台灣翻成神隱少女) It’s such a great animated movie (動畫片; animation). In Spirited Away, the dragon character Haku, the boy who is actually a white dragon, is magical and kind. He is such a popular character (角色). In the Disney animation Mulan (花木蘭), Mushu, a good friend of Mulan, he is small and funny, but still protective (有保護力的; 會保護人的). He is also a cute and lovable character. So here, the dragon is not a monster. It’s a helper. A protector. Something positive. Now let’s move to Western dragons. And here, everything changes. When you think of a dragon in Western movies or books, what comes to mind? Usually something huge, with wings, breathing fire, right? Instead of smooth and gentle, it is dangerous, aggressive (有攻擊性的), and actually… not something you want to meet. In a lot of stories, dragons live in dark places like caves or mountains, and they often guard treasure. Gold, jewels, anything valuable. And they don’t share. They’re greedy (貪心的). Take the dragon Smaug from The Hobbit (奇幻小說和電影 哈比人). Smaug, the dragon, is sleeping on a giant pile of gold, and he’s not just dangerous—he’s also proud and selfish. Or think about Game of Thrones (權力遊戲; 冰與火之歌), it was one of the most popular TV shows back in 2011. I love this series (影集; TV drama)… well, at least the first 4 seasons. One the the best series I’ve ever watched. The dragons in Game of Thrones are powerful and impressive, but they can destroy entire cities. They’re not exactly friendly. Even in something like How to Train Your Dragon, a popular animated movie by Dream Works. I like this animation, too. At the beginning in the animation, people are afraid of dragons. They see them as enemies. Although if you continue watching, the dragons are depicted as big cute pets. But you get the idea, the original image of the dragons are furious (兇猛的) and dangerous. So in Western culture, dragons are usually something you fight. Something you defeat. And if you win, you’re the hero. Now here’s another interesting question. Why do dragons appear in so many cultures in the first place? I mean, Europe, China, the Middle East, even the Americas—so many places have dragon-like creatures. And many of these cultures never even met each other. So why dragons? One idea is fossils (化石). Imagine you’re living thousands of years ago, and you find a giant bone in the ground. You don’t know what a dinosaur is. So what do you think? Probably something like, “This must be a giant creature.” And over time, that idea turns into stories. Into myths (神話). Into dragons. Another idea is natural disasters (災難; natural disaster就是自然災害, 天災). Think about earthquakes, floods, volcanoes. These are powerful and scary events, especially if you don’t have scientific explanations. So people created stories to explain them. Maybe a giant creature under the earth caused the shaking. Maybe a dragon in the water caused the flood. And then there’s something even simpler—human fear (恐懼. 名詞). Humans are naturally afraid of certain animals. Snakes, for example. Big predators (掠食者). Flying birds of prey (會狩獵掠食的鳥類; eagle 是一種bird of prey). Now imagine combining all those things into one creature. Something that crawls like a snake, flies like a bird, and attacks like a predator. That sounds a lot like a dragon. So dragons may come from a mix of imagination, fear, and real-world experiences. But that still doesn’t explain why Western and Eastern dragons are so different. So let’s talk about that. A big reason is cultural values (價值觀). Different cultures see the world in different ways. In many Western traditions, stories are often about conflict (衝突). A hero fights against something evil and wins. So naturally, the dragon becomes that “evil thing.” The obstacle. The final boss. But in Eastern cultures, especially in Chinese philosophy (哲學思想), there’s more focus on balance and harmony (平衡與和諧). It’s not always about good versus evil. It’s about how different forces work together. So instead of being something to destroy, the dragon becomes something to understand… and respect. Another important difference is how people see nature. In many Western stories, nature is something dangerous. Storms, fires, wild animals—they can all hurt people. So there’s this idea that humans need to fight or control nature. And the dragon becomes a symbol (象徵) of that danger. But in ancient China, people depended on nature, especially for farming. They needed rain, not too much, not too little. So instead of fighting nature, they tried to live in harmony with it. And the dragon became a symbol of that natural power—something strong, but also necessary. Religion also plays a role (宗教). In Europe, Christianity (基督教) had a big influence. And in many Christian stories, dragons represent evil or sin (罪惡). So killing a dragon becomes a symbol of doing something good, something moral. But in China, belief systems like Confucianism (儒家思想; 孔子思想) and Daoism (道教) don’t focus so much on good versus evil. They focus more on balance, order, and harmony. So the dragon doesn’t become evil. It becomes part of the natural system. Then there’s politics (政治). In China, the dragon became a symbol of the emperor (帝王). The emperor was seen as having a special connection to heaven, and the dragon represented that power. So the dragon became a symbol of authority, strength, and even national identity. But in Europe, dragons are usually outside society. They live far away, in unknown places. And heroes become famous by defeating them. So in one culture, the dragon supports power. In the other, it challenges it. And finally, history matters. Over time, these ideas changed and developed. In China, the dragon slowly became more and more important, from a tribal symbol to a national one. In Europe, dragons became more clearly evil during the Middle Ages (中世紀), especially in religious stories. So what we see today is the result of many years of cultural development. So when we put everything together, we start to see the big picture. Dragons are not just fantasy creatures. They’re actually reflections of how people see the world. In Western cultures, dragons are often something to fight. Something dangerous. In Eastern cultures, dragons are something to respect. Something powerful and positive. And maybe that’s the most interesting part. Because when we look at dragons… we’re really looking at ourselves. Our fears. Our beliefs. Our values. So next time you watch a movie or read a story with a dragon, take a moment and think: What does this dragon say about the culture it comes from? Last but not least, I would like you to let me know, do you prefer a Western version’s dragon, or an Eastern version‘s dragon? Why is that? Share with me in the comments. Alright, that’s it for today. I’m Miss Y, and I really hope you enjoyed learning English with me today. If you liked this episode, come back next time for another fun 15 to 20 minutes of simple, clear English and a brand-new topic to explore. Stay curious, and learn about the world in simple English. Powered by Firstory Hosting

齋戒月（Ramadan）是全球約二十億穆斯林一年中最重要的時刻之一。在這一集節目中，Miss Y 要跟你介紹什麼是Ramadan、什麼是iftar（開齋餐）以及Eid al-Fitr（開齋節）。你也會了解穆斯林每天從黎明到日落禁食的生活節奏，以及不同國家為什麼會有不同的齋戒時間。此外，我分享一些人的真實經驗，包括運動員、學生，以及嘗試齋戒的非穆斯林。In this episode, we introduce Ramadan for English learners. You will learn what Ramadan, iftar, and Eid al-Fitr are, how Muslims observe the holy month, and why fasting hours differ around the world. Miss Y also shares people's personal experiences, from athletes, students, and a non-Muslim who tried fasting.Leave a comment and share your thoughts: Hey guys, I’m your English teacher, Miss Y! Welcome to the podcast made for intermediate English learners who want to listen to English, and learn about different topics in a fun and easy way. Around this time of the year, many people around the world are observing Ramadan. If you have Muslim friends, (Muslim 穆斯林; 回教徒) classmates, or coworkers, you might notice something different in their daily routine. They may not be eating lunch during the day, or they may feel a little more tired than usual. If you live in a Muslim-majority country, you might also notice a special Ramadan atmosphere. Restaurants may open later in the evening, streets become lively at night, and families gather together for evening meals. Ramadan is a very important time for Muslims around the world. In today’s episode, we will talk about what Ramadan is, where people celebrate Ramadan, what a typical day during Ramadan looks like, why fasting hours are different around the world, and finally, we will hear some real personal experiences from people who practice Ramadan. Let’s begin. So what is Ramadan? It is a holy month in Islam. Islam is one of the major religions in the world. (伊斯蘭教; 回教) Muslims believe that during Ramadan, the holy book called the Qur’an (可蘭經) was first revealed to the Prophet Muhammad (先知 穆罕默德). During this month, many Muslims practice fasting. Fasting means not eating or drinking during the daytime. (fasting 齋戒; 節食, 動詞就是fast) Muslims begin fasting at dawn, which is the time when the sun first starts to rise (dawn, 黎明, 破曉的時候). They continue fasting until sunset. That means no food and no water during the day. But Ramadan is not only about food. It is also a time for spiritual reflection (自省) and prayer (祈禱), and a time to help others and improve your character. Many people also try to be more patient and kinder during this time. During Ramadan, people fast all day. But at sunset, they finally break the fast. (打破齋戒) The meal that breaks the fast is called iftar. Iftar happens every evening during Ramadan. Traditionally, many Muslims first break the fast with dates (棗子;椰棗) and water. After that, they may pray and then eat a full meal. Iftar is often a social event. Families eat together. Friends visit each other. Some mosques (清真寺) or community centers organize large meals for many people. In some cities, thousands of people gather for public iftar meals. For many people, iftar is one of the happiest parts of Ramadan because it brings people together. Ramadan lasts about 29 or 30 days. After Ramadan ends, Muslims celebrate a festival called Eid al-Fitr. Eid al-Fitr means “the festival of breaking the fast.” On this day, Muslims usually attend a special morning prayer and wear new or special clothes. They also visit family and friends and give gifts to children. Sometimes they share special foods and sweets. Many people also give money or food to people in need so that everyone can celebrate. It is pretty much like the Lunar New Year celebration in Chinese-speaking communities. Eid is a joyful day and marks the end of a month of fasting and reflection. Ramadan is practiced by Muslims around the world. Today there are about 2 billion Muslims globally. That means roughly one out of every four people in the world is Muslim. Many Muslim-majority countries celebrate Ramadan widely. Some examples include Indonesia (印尼), Pakistan (巴基斯坦), Bangladesh (孟加拉), Turkey (土耳其), Saudi Arabia (沙烏地阿拉伯), and Egypt (埃及). But Ramadan is not limited to these countries. Muslims also live in Europe, North America, East Asia, and many other regions. So Ramadan is truly a global tradition. No matter where they live, Muslims follow the same basic rule: fast from dawn to sunset. Let’s look at what a typical day during Ramadan might look like. First, people wake up very early in the morning, before sunrise. They eat a meal called suhoor, which is the pre-dawn meal. This meal is important because it gives people energy for the long day ahead. After eating, they perform the dawn prayer (清晨的禱告), and the fast begins. During the day, people continue their normal activities. They still go to work, attend school, exercise, or take care of family responsibilities. However, they do all these things without eating or drinking. Many people also spend extra time reading the Qur’an or praying. Then, finally, the sun begins to set. When sunset arrives, the fast ends. People gather for iftar, the evening meal. After eating, many people attend special night prayers (夜晚的禱告) at the mosque. These prayers can last one or two hours. After that, people may relax, spend time with family, and sleep before waking up early again for the next day of fasting. This daily cycle continues for the entire month. One interesting fact about Ramadan is that fasting hours are not the same everywhere. Why? Because Muslims fast from dawn to sunset, and the length of daylight changes depending on where you live. Near the equator (赤道), day and night are almost the same length all year. In countries like Malaysia or Indonesia, fasting usually lasts about 12 to 13 hours. But in countries farther north, the days can be much longer during certain seasons. For example, in northern parts of Europe, fasting may last 18 to 20 hours. Cities in countries such as Norway, Sweden, or Iceland sometimes experience extremely long daylight during the summer. This happens because the Earth is tilted (傾斜的), which affects how long the sun stays above the horizon. In some very northern places, the sun may barely go down at all. In these situations, Muslims may follow the fasting times of another city with normal sunrise and sunset. So depending on location, fasting hours around the world can be quite different. Now I want to share some real experiences from people who have observed Ramadan. These stories show what Ramadan feels like in everyday life. Some people who convert (改變信仰; 開始信奉) to Islam describe their first Ramadan as very memorable. At first, they say fasting can feel difficult. The first few days may include hunger, thirst, and headaches. But after a short time, the body begins to adjust (適應). Many people say they start to feel calmer and more focused. They also enjoy the strong sense of community during Ramadan. community (社區;社群); sense of community (屬於某種群體的感覺; 一種對群體的歸屬感) People pray together, eat together, and support each other. Many Muslims continue their normal work or school schedule during Ramadan. One person shared an experience online about working while fasting. He said that after a few days, the body adapts to the routine. He explained that it helps to eat healthy food before dawn and rest when possible. Even people with physically demanding jobs (要求體力的) sometimes fast during Ramadan. For them, the experience requires discipline (紀律) and patience (耐心). Some athletes (運動員) also fast during Ramadan. One example is a college basketball player in the United States. During Ramadan, he still attended classes, practiced with his team, and played games. However, he could not drink water during the daytime. Can you imagine? To prepare, he woke up around five in the morning to eat before sunrise. Then he trained and competed while fasting. His coach said this showed great dedication (專注;奉獻) and mental strength (心理的素質). For many athletes, Ramadan becomes both a physical and mental challenge. Some non-Muslims (非穆斯林 不是信奉伊斯蘭教的人) have also tried fasting during Ramadan to understand the experience. One student decided to try fasting for the entire month. At first, she thought she would only try it for one day. But she continued for the full month. She said the experience helped her understand her Muslim friends better. She also learned to appreciate simple things like food and water. Many people who try Ramadan say the most surprising part is how meaningful the evening meal feels after a long day of fasting. Before we finish today’s episode, let’s talk about something practical. If you have Muslim friends, classmates, or coworkers, you might wonder how you can be respectful during Ramadan. Here are a few tips. First, be understanding about fasting. During Ramadan, Muslims do not eat or drink from dawn until sunset, so they might feel a little more tired or thirsty during the day. Second, try to be supportive (支持). Some people like to say simple things such as “Ramadan Mubarak” or “Happy Ramadan.” This is a friendly way to show respect. Third, be thoughtful about food situations. You do not need to hide your food, but it is kind to be aware that your friend may be fasting. Finally, if you are invited to an iftar meal, it can be a wonderful opportunity to learn about another culture and share a special moment with your friends. Ramadan is not only about fasting. For many Muslims, it is a time of reflection, gratitude, discipline, and community. And now we have a question for you. After learning about Ramadan today, what do you think about this practice? Do you think fasting for a month would be difficult? What do you think people might learn from this experience? Take a moment to think about it. Thank you for listening to today’s episode. I’m Miss Y, and I really hope you enjoyed learning English with me today. If you liked this episode, come back next time for another fun 15 to 20 minutes of simple, clear English and a brand-new topic to explore. Stay curious, and learn about the world in simple English. Powered by Firstory Hosting

最近新聞不斷出現「伊朗、以色列、美國衝突升高」的報導，但到底發生了什麼事？為什麼突然爆發攻擊？這場衝突會不會演變成更大的戰爭？在這一集節目中，Miss Y會用簡單英文帶你一步一步了解：美國與以色列為何攻擊伊朗、伊朗如何反擊、戰爭對全球油價與經濟的影響，以及各國人民與政府的反應。讓你一邊看懂國際新聞，也能學習新單字。 What exactly happened between Iran, the United States, and Israel? In this episode, we break down the conflict in simple English. You’ll learn why the attacks happened, how Iran responded, and how the war could affect oil prices, global politics, and people around the world. Transcript: Hey guys, I’m your English teacher, Miss Y! Welcome to the podcast made for intermediate English learners who want to listen to English and learn about different topics in a fun and easy way. Today we’re going to talk about something that has been all over the news recently — the conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel. You may have seen headlines about airstrikes (空襲), missiles (飛彈), and rising tensions (緊張的情勢) in the Middle East. But it can be confusing. What exactly happened? Why did it happen now? And how is it affecting people around the world? In today’s episode, I’ll explain the situation in simple and clear English. Let’s start with what actually happened. The current crisis started on February 28, 2026. On that day, the United States and Israel launched large military attacks on Iran. These strikes (means attacks, 襲擊;攻擊) included air attacks and missile attacks. Their targets were mostly Iranian military bases, missile launch sites (launch 發射), nuclear-related facilities (nuclear 核能). Basically, places connected to Iran’s military power. Reports say that hundreds of Iranian military targets were hit (被襲擊；被攻襲). One of the biggest shocks came when reports said that Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei (哈米尼), was killed during the strikes. It is a huge event. Khamenei had been Iran’s most powerful leader since 1989. The attacks didn’t stop after the first day. In the days that followed, the United States and Israel continued to strike more targets inside Iran. And of course, Iran didn’t stay quiet. Iran launched missiles and drones (無人機) toward several targets across the Middle East (中東). These attacks included missile strikes against Israel, U.S. military bases in the region, and countries that host American troops, such as Kuwait (科威特) and the United Arab Emirates (UAE, 阿拉伯聯合大公國). So the conflict quickly spread beyond just Iran and Israel. It became a regional confrontation (對峙 衝突) across the Middle East. Sadly, civilians have also been affected. (Civilians means people who are not members of the police or army, 平民) News reports say hundreds of people have died in Iran since the strikes began. There have also been casualties in Israel and several Gulf countries (Gulf 就是海灣). Because of the danger, many governments have started evacuating their citizens (撤離他們的公民) from Iran. Students, diplomats, and foreign workers have been told to leave as quickly as possible. So the situation is very tense. But why now? This is an important question. The main reason given by the United States and Israel is Iran’s nuclear program. Iran has been enriching uranium. Now, what is uranium? It is used in nuclear technology. 叫做鈾的化學物質. Iran has been enriching uranium to about 60 percent purity. If the purity becomes very high — around 90 percent — it can be used to make nuclear weapons (核子武器). So 60 percent is already very close to that level. Back in 2015, Iran signed a nuclear agreement with world powers. Under that deal, Iran agreed to keep uranium enrichment below 3.67 percent. But in recent years, Iran increased its enrichment levels far beyond that limit. Because of this, the U.S. government said the goal of the attack was to prevent Iran from getting nuclear weapons. For Israel, this issue is especially serious. Israeli leaders have said many times that a nuclear-armed Iran would threaten Israel’s survival. Another concern is the balance of power in the Middle East. If Iran had nuclear weapons, they might be harder to attack. Their allies could become stronger. And other countries in the region might try to build nuclear weapons too. That could start a nuclear arms race (arms 武器; arms race 武器競賽) in the Middle East. Another major issue is Iran’s influence in the region. Iran supports several armed groups across the Middle East, such as Hamas (哈瑪斯) and Hezbollah (黎巴嫩真主黨), who are both considered to be terrorist organization (恐怖主義組織). For Israel, groups like Hezbollah in Lebanon and Hamas in Gaza are major security threats (威脅). Because of this, weakening Iran could also weaken those groups. Finally, some analysts believe the war has a larger political goal. The strikes didn’t only target nuclear facilities. They also targeted Iran’s leadership and security forces. Some officials have even talked about the possibility of replacing Iran’s current government. So the conflict may not be only about nuclear weapons. It may also be about changing the balance of power in the region. Even though the fighting is mainly in the Middle East, the impact (衝擊) is global. One of the biggest effects is oil prices. Near Iran there is a very important waterway called the Strait of Hormuz (荷姆茲海峽). This narrow passage is one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes. About 20 to 30 percent of the world’s oil passes through this area, and it is on the border of Iran. Iran has threatened to block or disrupt shipping there. Because of this risk, oil prices have already started to rise. And when oil prices rise, many other prices rise too — like gasoline, transportation, electricity, and even food. Another effect is in the financial markets (金融市場). After the conflict started, stock markets (股市) in Asia dropped. Investors became worried about a larger war. When people feel uncertain about the economy, they often move their money into “safe-haven” assets. The conflict has also affected air travel. Many airlines have stopped flying over Iranian airspace or nearby regions. Flights between Europe and Asia are now taking longer routes. And this means there are longer travel times and possibly higher ticket prices. I have a few friends who couldn’t get back home from Europe for a few days because of this. And perhaps the biggest global impact is simply fear. Many analysts worry that the conflict could expand if Hezbollah joins the war from Lebanon, or Gulf countries become directly involved, or even major powers like Russia or China take stronger positions. Because of this, people around the world are watching the situation very closely. If we compare the two sides militarily (軍事上地), there are some clear differences. The United States and Israel have some of the strongest air power and very advanced technology. They also have a very powerful navy (海軍). Iran’s military is different. Iran has fewer advanced aircraft, but it has a large number of missiles and drones. Iran also has many allies across the region. Economically, the United States is far stronger. Iran’s economy has been weakened by years of international sanctions (國際制裁). Because of this, most military experts say under normal situation the U.S. and Israel are stronger than Iran. But that doesn’t mean the war would be easy. Iran could still cause serious damage through missile attacks, regional allies, and economic disruption. Right now, there are no peace talks yet, so the situation remains very uncertain. How are people reacting around the world? The reactions have been very different depending on the country. In the United States, some Americans support the strikes. They believe Iran’s nuclear program is dangerous and military action could prevent a bigger war later. But others strongly oppose the attack. Critics say it could start a large Middle East war, and they argue that Congress did not formally approve the operation. Anti-war protests have taken place in several American cities. Inside Iran, reactions are also very mixed. Some people actually celebrated the reported death of Khamenei. In some cities, people reportedly danced in the streets or cheered. Many critics of the government blame him because he killed many civilians during protests, the country has many economic problems, and the government imposed strict political and religious rules, so many people are suffering. However, many other Iranians mourned (替…哀悼) him. Supporters of the government held large mourning ceremonies and called him a martyr. A martyr is someone who is killed because of their religious or other beliefs. And perhaps the largest group of people simply feel afraid. Many civilians are worried about bombs, economic collapse, and the possibility of a long war. Some families have started buying supplies or trying to leave big cities. Outside Iran, the reactions are also mixed. In Israel, most people support the military campaign, as Israel is always tough on defending and attacking enemies to protect their country. In Europe, governments are calling for calm and negotiations, as they usually do. They ask for peace but rarely take strong international actions. Meanwhile, let’s see Russia and China’s reaction. Although these two countries are usually allies with Iran, Russia might not have enough energy to help them because it is still busy with the war against Ukraine. China, strangely, also hasn’t really done much to help Iran; it has only criticized the attacks verbally (口頭上的). Across the Middle East, many governments are nervous. Some countries are strengthening their air defenses, while others are pushing for urgent diplomacy (外交手段). Many fear that the conflict could spread across the entire region. So that’s the situation right now. A major conflict has started between Iran and the United States and Israel. The reasons include nuclear concerns, regional politics, and long-standing tensions. The consequences are already being felt around the world — from oil prices to global security fears. And for now, the biggest question remains: will this conflict stay limited, or will it grow into a much larger war? We’ll have to watch how the situation develops.

如果你從小在不同國家長大，你的個性會改變嗎？本集帶你了解「天性與環境」的概念，以及科學研究如何解釋文化如何影響我們的性格、價值觀與思考方式。Miss Y也會分享自己在亞洲、南美、歐洲與澳洲生活的經驗，談談環境如何讓我更開放與有彈性，同時核心個性仍然不變。 Would you be a different person if you grew up in another country? In this episode, we explore nature vs nurture and how culture shapes personality. You’ll learn about scientific research, real-life experiences, and reflect on your own identity, while improving your listening with clear and simple English. Leave a comment and share your thoughts: Transcript:Hey guys, I’m your English teacher, Miss Y! Welcome to the podcast made for intermediate English learners who want to listen to English, and learn about different topics in a fun and easy way. Today, we are going to talk about a very interesting question… Would you be a different person if you grew up in another country? For example, if you grew up in Japan instead of Taiwan, or in Canada instead of Malaysia, would your personality be different? Would you think differently? Would you like different things? This topic is about something called nature and nurture. (nature 自然; nurture 培育,照顧,養育; 這兩個字因為長得很像, 常常一起用, 就像一個押韻的片語) In simple terms, it means: Are we born the way we are? Or do we become who we are because of our environment? (是自然造成的？還是環境給你的培育造成的?) So today, we will look at scientific research and talk about how where you grow up can affect your personality (個性). Let’s start with the first question. How much of our personality comes from our genes? And how much comes from our environment? Have you ever thought about this? Scientists often study twins to answer this question. Why twins? Because identical twins (同卵雙胞胎) have almost the same DNA, but their lives can be different. If twins are very similar, it may be because of genes. But if they are different, the environment may play a role. Researchers compare identical twins with non-identical twins (異卵雙胞胎), who share only about half of their genes. If identical twins are more similar, this suggests that genes are important. If both types are similar, the environment is also very important. One large study looked at twins and their traits (特質), like personality, intelligence, mental health, education, and political beliefs. The result was very interesting. Scientists found that genes explain about 50 percent of the differences between people. This does not mean half of your personality is fixed. It means that, in a large group, about half of the differences are related to genetics (遺傳學). The other 50 percent comes from family, culture, education, friendships, and life experiences. Even small daily experiences and random events can shape who you become. The study also showed that in childhood, the environment often has a stronger effect, but as people grow older, their genetic tendencies may become clearer. So the answer is not simple. It is not only nature. It is not only nurture. It is both. Now let’s talk about personality. Research shows that personality traits are about 40 percent genetic. This means the environment has a strong influence. For example, you may be born with a tendency (傾向) to be more outgoing or quieter. But your environment can change how this personality develops over time. The people around you, the way you are raised, and the values you learn all play an important role. If you grow up in a very social and open culture, you may become more extroverted (外向的) because you have many chances to talk, share, and express your ideas. But if you grow up in a quiet culture, you may become more reserved (保守的), because this behavior is seen as polite and normal. Even the same person can act differently in different places. For example, someone may be very talkative with close friends but quiet in a formal situation. This shows that personality is flexible and can change depending on the environment. One scientist said that when she moved from the UK to Norway (挪威), she became less extroverted. In Norway, people don’t usually talk to strangers. So her behavior changed. She learned to respect the local social rules and became more comfortable with silence. But her basic personality did not disappear. She still liked social activities. She just expressed her personality in a different way. For example, she chose smaller groups and deeper conversations instead of large and noisy events. This shows something important, right? Our environment shapes how our personality appears. It does not completely change who we are, but it can change how we show our true self in daily life. Another study looked at children in different places. Researchers compared Taiwanese children, English children, and children from Chinese families living in England. The children were given different situations and were asked how they would react to their parents’ requests. They found that all children obeyed (服從; 聽話) their parents when asked, especially when the request was clear and direct. But Taiwanese children were more likely to obey even when they did not want to, or when they first felt unhappy about the request. They were also more likely to change their feelings and accept the situation. Why? Because their culture strongly values respect and obedience (聽話; 順從), and children are often taught from a young age to think about family harmony (和諧) and group needs. This does not mean one group is better or worse. It simply shows how culture shapes behavior and emotional responses in everyday life. There was also a study in 2022 that compared personality traits in 22 countries. The researchers used personality tests and asked thousands of people about their habits, attitudes, and daily behavior. They found that countries with strong discipline (紀律) and structure (架構;框架), such as India, China, and Germany, had people who scored higher in organization (有條理) and dutifulness (負責任). People in these cultures often value planning, responsibility, and following rules. In countries with more flexible and equal cultures, such as Canada, the UK, and Australia, people showed more openness (開放性) and agreeableness (能接受不一樣的東西). They were more likely to try new experiences, accept different ideas, and focus on cooperation and fairness. Again, this is not about individuals (個人). Many people are different. But these are general (普遍的) patterns that help scientists understand how culture and social systems can influence personality over time. So what is the final answer? Science shows that where you grow up does affect your personality. It can influence your values (價值觀), your thinking, your behavior, and even your brain. But it does not completely control who you are. You are a mix of many things: your genes, your culture, your experiences, and your choices. And this is good news. It means you are not fixed. You can change, grow, and develop. If you move to a new place, learn a new language, or meet new people, your personality can also grow. I want to share a little about my own experience. I have lived in different parts of the world, including Asia, South America, Europe, and Australia. These experiences changed the way I see the world. Living in different cultures made me more open-minded and flexible. I learned that there are many ways to think and live, and I became more understanding of people who are different from me. However, I feel that my core personality hasn’t really changed. I am still more introverted (內向的). I still enjoy quiet time, deep thinking, and small groups. So even though the environment can change our behavior, it may not completely change who we are inside. For me, an important life principle is to know who you are, appreciate your own traits, and be kind and gentle to different people. We do not need to be the same. We can respect and learn from each other. And finally, even though there are many personalities and cultures in the world, humans are very similar. We all want love. We all want companionship. We all want to feel understood and accepted. Before we finish, I want you to think about this question. If you grew up in another country, how would you be different? What do you think? Would you be more confident? More quiet? More independent? More family-focused? And which parts of your personality would stay the same? I’m Miss Y, and I really hope you enjoyed learning English with me today. If you liked this episode, come back next time for another fun 15 to 20 minutes of simple, clear English and a brand-new topic to explore. Stay curious, and learn about the world in simple English. Powered by Firstory Hosting

這一集我們用簡單英文聊一個震驚全球的真實犯罪案件——Jeffrey Epstein。為什麼一個出身普通的人能夠快速累積巨大財富？2008 年的認罪協議為什麼引發巨大爭議？為什麼案件在 2019 年重新被調查？他的死亡又為何充滿疑點？近年公開的文件又提到了哪些知名人物？ In this episode, we explore the Jeffrey Epstein case in simple English. Why did he become so rich? Why was the 2008 plea deal so controversial? What happened in 2019, and why is the case still discussed today? Learn useful vocabulary while understanding this shocking true crime story. Leave a comment and share your thoughts: Transcript: Hey guys, I’m your English teacher, Miss Y. Welcome to this podcast made for intermediate English learners who want to listen to English and learn about different topics in a fun and easy way. Let me tell you a secret. I’m actually a true crime fan. True crime (真實犯罪). I really enjoy watching true crime documentaries. So today, I want to talk about a very hot and famous case: Jeffrey Epstein. You might have heard his name in the news. Recently, his name has come back into the spotlight again. In this episode, I want to explain this case in simple English. However, I will not go into the details of what he did to the teenage girls. It does not mean the victims (受害者) are not important. They are very important. But the story is very evil and disturbing, and some listeners may not feel comfortable hearing those details. If you want to learn more, I recommend a Netflix documentary called “Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich.” It explains the case and the victims’ experiences in much more detail. Today, we will focus on the big picture and the key events. So let’s start from the beginning and understand who Jeffrey Epstein was. Who was Jeffrey Epstein? He was an American businessman and financier. A financier means a person who manages money for rich people. 金融家. But later, he became known as a sex offender (性侵犯) and was accused of running a network that abused underage girls. Abuse means 不當對待 or hurt someone in a very serious way. This case shocked many people because Epstein was connected to many powerful and famous people, like politicians, business leaders, and celebrities. Now, how did he become rich? This is one of the biggest mysteries. Epstein did not come from a rich family. He grew up in Brooklyn, New York. His parents were not wealthy. His early life was quite normal. He was good at math, and he went to college, but he did not finish his degree. He dropped out (輟學) before graduating. But here is the strange part. Even without a college degree, he became a math teacher at a very famous private school in New York. Normally, teachers need a degree, right? But this school was very elite (菁英的) and had more freedom in hiring. The headmaster decided to hire him. Some people wondered if Epstein had strong connections or special support. However, there is no clear evidence. After a short time, he left teaching and moved to Wall Street (華爾街), the center of finance in the United States. He got a job at a big investment bank. This surprised many people because he had little experience in finance. But in the 1970s, it was more common to get jobs through recommendations and personal networks (人脈). So experts say this was not impossible. Still, people became suspicious (懷疑的) because his career grew very fast. He started working with very rich clients. Later, he opened his own financial business. He said he only worked with billionaires and ultra-rich people. He helped them with tax planning, investments, and protecting their money. But here is another mystery. Almost nobody knows exactly how he made his money. There are very few public records. Some journalists believe he helped rich people move money to other countries to reduce taxes. This is not always illegal, but it is very secret. Others think he was more like a “fixer.” That means he helped powerful people solve problems quietly and privately. There are also more extreme theories. Some people believe he collected secrets about powerful people and used those secrets to gain influence. But again, there is no confirmed proof. One very important relationship was with a billionaire businessman named Leslie Wexner, the owner of the famous lingerie brand Victoria’s Secret. Wexner trusted Epstein and gave him control over large amounts of money. This helped Epstein become rich and famous. But later, Wexner said Epstein had betrayed his trust. So overall, the biggest controversy about Epstein’s wealth is simple: nobody really knows the full story. His business was very secret, and many records are private. But one thing I’m very sure about is that he was extremely good at dealing with people and building his network. Now let’s move to the 2008 case. In 2005, police in Florida began investigating Epstein after a teenage girl said he paid her for sexual activities (sexual 跟性有關的; sexual activities 性方面的活動). The police found many victims. They believed Epstein was running a system where girls were recruited (被招募) to give “massages,” which later became sexual abuse. Many of these girls were under 18. Okay, here you will hear many words related to lawsuit. At first, federal prosecutors (檢察官) considered charging him with human trafficking. Human trafficking means buying, selling and transporting human. If convicted (被定罪的話), he could have gone to prison for many years, even life. But in 2008, something surprising happened. Epstein made a plea deal. A plea deal means the defendant agrees to plead guilty to smaller crimes to avoid a trial. (plea deal 認罪協議, 就是你可以自己承認一些罪，換取比較輕的刑罰) In Epstein’s case, the deal was very controversial. He pleaded guilty, he admitted that he did something wrong, he admitted he was guilty to only two charges (指控) related to prostitution (賣淫). These were much less serious than the original accusations (指控). In fact, he avoided federal charges completely. That was so not fair. His punishment was also shocking. He was sentenced (不是句子的意思; 表示判刑) to 13 months in a local jail. But he was allowed work release. This means he could leave jail during the day, six days a week, and go to a private office. In reality, he spent much of his sentence outside the jail. Who could be sentenced to jail but is allowed to go out almost every day? That was just crazy, right? Another big controversy was that the victims were not told about the plea deal before it was signed. Also, the agreement protected the people who helped Epstein doing illegal stuff. This stopped a wider investigation. Unfortunately, for many years, the public didn’t know about this case at that time. But in 2019, about 10 years later, everything changed. In 2019, some journalists published new reports. They interviewed victims and reviewed the old case. Thanks to this report, now everyone knew, and was shocked again. Many people asked why Epstein had received such a light sentence. Federal prosecutors in New York opened a new investigation. They charged Epstein with sex trafficking. So, Epstein was arrested in July 2019. This time, it looked like he would face a full trial (審判). Many people hoped the truth about his network and connections would finally come out. But — there are so many “but”s in today’s story — before the trial began, something dramatic happened. In August 2019, Epstein was found dead in his jail cell. The official cause of death was suicide (自殺). He used bedsheets to hang himself. However, many people did not believe this explanation. There were many strange details. First, Epstein was a high-risk prisoner (high-risk 高風險). He had information about powerful people. Many believed he should have been under strict watch. Second, he had earlier injuries in jail. It means he might have tried to commit suicide before. He was placed on suicide watch (特別看守為了防止自殺), but later removed. People asked why. Third, security failures happened. The guards were supposed to check on him regularly, but they did not. They later admitted they fell asleep and changed records. Fourth, cameras near his cell were not working properly on that night. Some video was missing. What a coincidence! (coincidence 巧合) Because of all these problems, many conspiracy theories (conspiracy theories 陰謀論) conspiracy theories spread. Some people believed powerful figures (有權勢的人物) wanted him dead. Others thought intelligence agencies (情報單位) were involved. But official investigations said there was no evidence of murder. Even today, many people are still not convinced. So why did the case become popular again in 2025 and 2026? One big reason is that courts (法院) continued to release old documents. These were from lawsuits and investigations connected to Epstein. Many documents had been secret for years. When they were released, they included names of many famous people. For the record, being named in a document does not mean someone did a crime. Sometimes a person is only mentioned in a witness statement or social contact list. Still, the public was very interested. Some of the most famous people who received attention included Prince Andrew from the British royal family (英國皇室). He was directly accused by one of Epstein’s victims of sexual abuse. He denied it. Former US President Bill Clinton (柯林頓) also got attention because he had social contact with Epstein in the past. But he said he did not know about Epstein’s crimes. US President Donald Trump (川普) was also discussed because he had social connections with Epstein in the 1990s. He said he later ended the relationship. Bill Gates (比爾蓋茲) met Epstein several times after Epstein’s 2008 conviction. Gates later said this was a mistake. Elon Musk (馬斯克), his name was mentioned. And Musk said he only met Epstein briefly and did not continue the relationship. The reason this case continues to attract attention is simple. Many important questions remain unanswered. Epstein died before a trial. Many victims feel justice is incomplete. People still want to know the full truth. Even many years later, the story of Jeffrey Epstein is still in the spotlight. It makes us think about an important question: are all people really equal in fr

每年農曆新年前夕，「Chinese New Year」和「Lunar New Year」的用法總會引發討論。這一集，我們用簡單英文帶你了解兩個詞的差異，為什麼有人堅持使用「Chinese New Year」，也有人主張更包容的「Lunar New Year」。我們也會介紹迪士尼與英國博物館等國際爭議案例，比較台灣、韓國、越南、馬來西亞及西方媒體的用詞習慣，並思考語言如何反映身份與價值。 Should we say Chinese New Year or Lunar New Year? In this episode, we explore the meaning behind these words, real international controversies, and how different countries and media use the terms. Learn how language reflects culture, identity, and values. Transcript: Hey guys, I’m your English teacher, Miss Y. Welcome to the podcast made for intermediate English learners who want to listen to English and learn about different topics in a fun and easy way. Today, I want to talk about a question that comes up every single year, usually around January or February. Should we say “Chinese New Year,” or should we say “Lunar New Year”? I mean, they have more or less the same meaning, just different wording, right? But once you look a little closer, you’ll realize this question is actually about culture, identity, history, and even power. And in recent years, especially on international media and social media, this debate has become much louder. So before we get into the arguments, let’s slow down and start with the basics. When people say “Chinese New Year,” they’re usually talking about the traditional New Year celebration that comes from Chinese culture. “Chinese” 這個字當然就是中國的或中華文化的. Historically, this celebration originated in China, and it has been celebrated for thousands of years. So from a historical (歷史的) point of view, calling it Chinese New Year actually makes a lot of sense. Now, let’s look at the other term: “Lunar New Year.” The word “lunar” comes from the word “moon.” This word originate from Latin lunaris, which means the moon. We can still see this word in other latin related languages. For example, in French, the moon is called “lune,” and in Spanish, it’s “luna.” The reason we use the word “lunar” is because this New Year is celebrated based on lunar or lunisolar calendars (陰曆, 根據月亮軌跡而定的曆法). And this kind of calendar is used in multiple Asian cultures, not only Chinese culture. Many countries in the world celebrate this holiday. Besides China, in South Korea, Vietnam, Taiwan, Malaysia and Singapore, this holiday is celebrated nationwide. These celebrations usually happen around the same time, but they’re not exactly the same thing. The traditions can be different, the food can be different, and even the meanings behind the holiday can be different. That’s the basic difference between the two terms. Now, let’s talk about why people argue about this so much. This question becomes emotional because names are not neutral (中性). The words we choose show what — and who — we decide to highlight. Generally speaking, there are two main ways people look at this issue. Some people strongly prefer the term “Chinese New Year.” They often say this festival comes from Chinese history, and that using “Lunar New Year” erases Chinese cultural origins. (erase 好像橡皮擦; 擦掉; 抹去). It erases Chinese origins. For many Chinese communities, especially people from China, the name “Chinese New Year” represents visibility and pride. So when the name changes, it can feel like someone is saying, “This isn’t really Chinese anymore.” On the other hand, people who prefer the term “Lunar New Year” usually see things differently. They point out that many cultures celebrate this holiday, not only Chinese culture. They feel that using “Chinese New Year” excludes Koreans, Vietnamese, and others. Especially in international spaces, they believe inclusive language matters (inclusive 有包容性的), and that “Lunar New Year” feels more inclusive, respectful and more accurate. So both sides feel like they’re protecting something important. And that’s why this debate keeps coming back year after year. To see how real this debate is, let’s look at a couple of international media argument. In January 2023, Disney Parks posted a message online celebrating Lunar New Year. Soon after that, Disney received strong criticism on social media, especially from Chinese Internet users from China. Some people said Disney should have used the term “Chinese New Year,” and others felt that using “Lunar New Year” was a way of avoiding the word “Chinese.” Another example comes from the British Museum (大英博物館). In 2023, the museum used the term “Korean Lunar New Year” in a public message. Some Chinese internet users, they again, reacted very strongly and accused the museum of ignoring Chinese origins or even “stealing” Chinese culture. This controversy (爭議) shows how international institutions or companies are often caught between cultural sensitivity and political or identity-based reactions. Now, let’s look at how different countries in Asia use these terms, starting with Taiwan. In Taiwan, media usually use 農曆新年, which means Lunar New Year, or simply 過年, which just means New Year. In English-language Taiwanese media, “Lunar New Year” is much more common than “Chinese New Year.” This choice often comes from a focus on local culture, and it’s also a safer way to talk to international audiences without touching political issues (政治相關的議題). In South Korea, the holiday is called Seollal — forgive my Korean pronunciation. Korean media almost never call it “Chinese New Year.” They use Seollal in Korean, and “Lunar New Year” when explaining it in English. That’s because Koreans see this holiday as a Korean tradition, deeply connected to Korean history and Confucian culture (儒家;孔子的). Calling it “Chinese New Year” would feel inaccurate to many people. In Vietnam, the holiday is called Tết, or Tết Nguyên Đán, let me know if I say it wrong. Vietnamese media always use Tết in Vietnamese, and in English they usually use “Tet,” “Vietnamese Lunar New Year,” or simply “Lunar New Year.” Vietnamese sources strongly emphasize that Tết is Vietnam’s own cultural event. It’s related to Chinese traditions, but it’s not the same thing. Malaysia is a very interesting case because it’s a multi-ethnic society (multi是多, ethnic 種族. multi-ethnic 多種族的). In Malaysia, how the holiday is named really depends on language and audience. Chinese-language Malaysian media use both 農曆新年 (Lunar New Year) or 華人新年 (Chinese New Year). Within Chinese Malaysian communities, “Chinese New Year” is still widely used and carries strong cultural meaning. But English-language Malaysian media usually prefer the term “Lunar New Year,” because they are speaking to a mixed audience that includes Malay, Indian, and Chinese communities. Now let’s talk about Western countries like the United States, the UK, and Australia. In the US, media use both terms, depending on context (脈絡, 講這句話的脈絡或背景). Government offices, schools, and universities often use “Lunar New Year,” while community events in Chinatowns may still say “Chinese New Year.” So “Chinese New Year” is still widely used by the general public, but “Lunar New Year” is becoming more common in official and inclusive settings. In the UK, major media outlets like The Guardian (英國的衛報) often use “Lunar New Year,” especially when reporting in multicultural contexts. This reflects a preference for neutral and inclusive language. Australia is a very clear example. Media outlets like SBS, which is a multicultural broadcaster (是澳洲一個很大的多元文化公共媒體), almost always use “Lunar New Year.” SBS explains the holiday as something celebrated by Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, and other Asian communities. So in Western media today, “Lunar New Year” is often the default (default 就是一個預設值;默認用法;一個基本用法), and “Chinese New Year” is added only when extra explanation is needed. Now, let’s step back and look at the bigger picture. Language is never just language. When people choose certain words, they’re often showing who they identify with, who they want to include, and what values they care about. You’ve probably heard people say, “Does it really matter what we call it? Chinese New Year, Lunar New Year — it’s the same thing.” And honestly, I get that. Some people truly feel that word choice isn’t the main issue. As long as communication happens, that’s enough. It’s kind of like clothes. Some people think, “As long as I’m wearing something, it’s fine. It doesn’t what I wear. What matters is who I am inside.” And you know what? That’s totally valid (means reasonable and logical). It’s a valid way of thinking. But here’s where I see things a little differently. Even if you don’t care what you’re wearing, do you think other people might still read something into it? That’s exactly how language works. You might choose a word and think, “I didn’t mean anything by it.” But the person listening might still think, “Hmm. Why did they choose that word?” or might get some impression on you, subconsciously (潛意識的). So even if the speaker feels neutral, the listener might not. There might be a gap between what you mean and how you’re understood. For me personally, I’m pretty conscious about word choice. Not because I want to be “correct,” but because words are one way I show who I am. When I choose a certain term, I’m saying something like, “This is what reflect my thinking. This is what I care about. This is how I see the situation.” So when I say “Chinese New Year” or “Lunar New Year,” I’m making a small decision about showing who I am, and what kind of awareness I want to show. And let’s not forget something important. Language doesn’t just express our ideas. It can slowly shape them (shape可以當動詞, 塑造;形塑). Language shapes our idea. The words you use again and again can influence how you see people, change what feels “normal,” and affect how you see the world — without you realizing it. This happens quietly, in the background. You’re not doing it on purpose. So language and thinking are kind of in a loop (一個循環 一個迴路). You change the words you use, and your thinking shifts a little. Your thinking changes, and your word choices change again. They feed into each other. So what do I want you to take away from this? I’m not saying everyone

你最近是不是覺得，社群媒體上出現越來越多怪怪的影片？動物做不可能的事情、很假卻很感人的故事，或是讓人分不清真假的 AI 內容。這一集，Miss Y 帶你認識什麼是 AI slop，為什麼它會充滿我們的社群媒體。我們會聊到一位法國學生如何開始揭露假 AI 內容、很多人都被「兔子彈跳床影片」騙過的經驗，還有為什麼有些 AI 內容最後變成了一種新的網路文化。適合想練聽力，也想看懂世界正在發生什麼事的你。 Have you noticed strange AI videos everywhere online?In this episode, Miss Y explains what “AI slop” is and why social media feels fake and confusing today. Through real stories and simple English, you’ll explore how AI content spreads, fools us, and even becomes part of internet culture.Leave a comment and share your thoughts: Hey guys, I’m your English teacher, Miss Y! Welcome to the podcast made for intermediate English learners who want to listen to English and learn about different topics in a fun and easy way. Today I want to talk about something that’s been quietly taking over the internet. I’m pretty sure you’ve noticed it, even if you didn’t know the name for it. Have you been scrolling, (scroll是大家現在很常做的事, 就是滑手機的滑這個動作), have you ever been scrolling on Facebook, Instagram, or YouTube Shorts, and suddenly you stop and think, “What did I just watch?” Maybe it’s a strange video of animals doing impossible things, or a very emotional story that feels fake, or something so weird that you can’t tell if it’s a joke or not. If that sounds familiar, you’ve already met something people now call AI slop. The word “slop” originally means messy food, like leftovers (廚餘啦那種不要的剩菜) mixed together in one bowl. Online, it’s used to describe content that feels cheap, rushed, and low quality. When people say “AI slop,” they usually mean content made by AI very quickly, copied again and again, and pushed onto people who didn’t really ask for it. The reason it feels like AI slop is everywhere is actually pretty simple. Now you can just type a sentence, press a button, and the video is done. Because it’s so fast and so cheap, people can produce huge amounts of content in a very short time. Because of this, many users are starting to feel frustrated (就是一種很氣餒,很洩氣,很心煩感覺). You might have noticed that sometimes your feeds (社群媒體推播給你的東西就是feeds, 很像它餵給你什麼你就要吃什麼) are full of fake images and meaningless videos. Have you guys watched a video of rabbits jumping on a trampoline (那種給小朋友玩的彈跳床)? At first, it looked completely real. For a few seconds, I just watched and thought, “Wow, this is cute.” Then I read the comments and realized it was fake! I had been fooled, even though I knew AI videos existed. That’s when it really hit me how easy it is for even careful people to believe something for a moment before questioning it. And honestly, it is tiring and confusing to feel like nothing on the Internet is real. There was a French university student named Théodore. One day, he was scrolling on Facebook when he saw an image that was obviously generated by AI. It showed two very poor children sitting in the middle of a busy road in heavy rain, a birthday cake was on the ground, and one child was holding a sign asking people to like the post because it was his birthday. To Théodore, it was obviously fake. But then he looked at the reactions. The post had almost one million likes and heart emojis. People were writing comments like “God bless you” and “This made me cry”. That moment shocked him. He couldn’t believe that so many people accepted such a fake image without thinking. So he started an account on X, where he reposted these kinds of AI images and made fun of them. His message was simple: “Look at this. How can people believe this?” Very quickly, other users started sending him more examples. His account grew to over one hundred thousand followers. But over time, Théodore became tired. The fake content never stopped. For every post he exposed, many more appeared. In the end, he realized this wasn’t a short trend. AI slop was becoming normal. Théodore isn’t against AI itself. (be against something就是你反對某個東西) He’s against fake, emotional content made only for clicks (就是用滑鼠點擊的這件事或是動作). It’s about how easily our attention can be fooled online. Unfortunately, social media platforms love this. They don’t really care if content is good or bad. What they care about is whether people stop scrolling. If a strange AI video makes you watch for five more seconds, or leaves an angry comment, the system thinks, “Great, this works,” and shows it to more people. Even complaining helps the algorithm (演算法). Strangely, all that attention, even anger, still counts as engagement (就是做出參與,投入這種行為). And engagement keeps the content alive. Many social media companies have even reduced their moderation teams (他們控制內容的團隊). Instead of checking content themselves, they now rely more on users to report problems. That means a lot of fake or harmful content stays online longer than it should. Some researchers are worried that this constant flood of fast, fake content is slowly changing how we think. When everything is short, emotional, and disposable, people may stop thinking deeply. They may stop checking facts because it takes too much effort. Over time, this can hurt attention spans (能夠集中注意力的時間) and make people care less about truth, especially when AI is used to spread fake news or political messages. However, not everyone thinks this situation is completely new or hopeless. Some writers point out that every major media invention caused panic (造成恐慌), it caused panic at first. For example, when printing (印刷術) became cheap hundreds of years ago, people complained about too many useless books. When movies first became popular, there were lots of bad films, but that industry also trained great directors and actors. Even the early internet was full of spam and nonsense before it became what we know today. From this perspective, AI slop might just be the messy early stage of a new kind of media. Yes, most of it is forgettable, but a small part of it could turn into something meaningful later. In fact, some people argue that calling everything “slop” is unfair, because it ignores the human effort behind some AI creations. When you talk to AI creators, many of them say their work isn’t just one click and done. They spend hours experimenting (experiment, 做實驗), changing ideas, and developing strange characters or worlds. Their role is less about technical skill and more about creative direction (創意指導). They decide what feels funny, disturbing, or interesting. In that sense, AI becomes more like a new tool, not just a replacement for creativity. There’s also a cultural side to this. There is something called Italian brain-rot. brain-rot這個字有brain, 腦袋嘛, 那rot就是腐爛, brain-rot means you lose the ability to think, your brain becomes dead, you become more stupid. Italian brain-rot started with silly AI videos using fake Italian-sounding words and funny characters that were part human, part animal, part object. Like there is a character called Bombardiro Crocodilo; it is a military airplane with a crocodile face. These videos didn’t really make sense. They were just funny and stupid. But people found it very funny and started copying the style. They changed the characters, made the voices more dramatic, and added fake backstories. Very quickly, it turned into a shared joke. A Chinese creator named Mu Tianran took this one step further. He made videos where he pretended to be AI slop. In one clip, or video, he acts like a street interviewer and asks people, “Do you know you are AI-generated?” The people respond in stiff ways. 就是很僵硬, people pretend to respond in a stiff and unnatural way, like bad AI characters. The funny part is that none of it is AI. It’s all acted by humans. Humans are now copying AI copying humans. That’s when you realize AI slop isn’t just content anymore. It’s become a style that people recognize, share, and joke about together. It has become one part of a pop culture. So what does this mean for us? AI slop probably isn’t going away. It’s too cheap and too effective. But that doesn’t mean everything online will become meaningless. Humans are still very good at one thing: playing with new tools, joking about them, and turning them into culture. Before we end this episode, I’d like to know what you guys think about the AI slop after listening to today’s sharing? Do you feel guilty if you enjoy a fake AI video? Will you still laugh or feel moved, or does that make it meaningless, or just different? Do you think social media should be stricter on AI generated content? And finally, do you think AI content will be good for human, or will it be bad for us? Maybe the real challenge isn’t stopping the flood. I really hope in all the noise, there may still be some good ideas worth keeping. I’m Miss Y, and I really hope you enjoyed learning English with me today. If you liked this episode, come back next time for another fun 15 to 20 minutes of simple, clear English—and a brand-new topic to explore. Stay curious, learn the world in simple English with Miss Y, and I’ll talk to you again soon. Powered by Firstory Hosting

你能想像有人徒手攀爬台北101嗎？這一集帶你回顧世界知名攀岩者 Alex Honnold 挑戰台北101的驚險過程，從攀爬當天的天氣與現場氣氛，到他在高空中的心理狀態與身體極限。我們也會聊到他多年來為這次挑戰所做的準備，以及他過去徒手攀登優勝美地酋長岩（El Capitan）的傳奇經歷。這不只是一場運動壯舉，更是一個關於專注、勇氣與人類極限的故事。 What does it feel like to climb one of the world’s tallest buildings without ropes? This episode follows Alex Honnold’s breathtaking ascent of Taipei 101, exploring the conditions on the day, his mindset high above the city, his preparation, and his legendary free solo climb of El Capitan. Transcript: Hey guys, I’m your English teacher, Miss Y! Welcome to the podcast made for intermediate English learners who want to listen to English and learn about different topics in a fun and easy way. Today’s story is honestly one of those “I can’t believe I am watching this” moments. We’re talking about Alex Honnold climbing Taipei 101 — without ropes. Yep. That Taipei 101. The tallest building in Taiwan. Over 500 meters high. And he climbed it with just his hands, his feet, and a small chalk bag. Let’s get into it. Picture this. It’s a clear Sunday morning in Taipei. The sky is blue, the air is calm, and thousands of people are standing outside Taipei 101, looking up. Around the world, many more people are watching their screens because Netflix is live-streaming the whole thing. Live-stream means people all over the world can watch it on the internet as something happens; 現場串流直播, livestream. Netflix is live-streaming it! Alex Honnold, a 40-year-old American climber, is standing at the bottom of the building. No ropes. No harness. 沒有護具. No safety net. This kind of climbing is called free soloing — climbing completely alone, with no protective equipment. One mistake could mean death. The building is 508 meters tall — that’s about 1,667 feet — and has 101 floors. When Alex looked up, he later said it felt like the building went on forever. He said, “It feels infinite.” infinite 就是無限的,沒有盡頭一樣. When you look up, you don’t see a top — just more building and more sky. He actually planned to climb the day before, but the weather was bad. It had rained, and wet surfaces are extremely dangerous for climbing. So they postponed it. Safety — at least weather safety — still matters, even for someone who takes huge risks. The next day, the sun showed up, and the sky cleared up. When the climb finally started, the crowd got quiet. Alex began moving slowly and carefully up the outside of Taipei 101. Now, you might imagine him climbing on smooth glass, smooth就是光滑的, but actually the building has many metal beams, ledges, 梁跟柱就是beams and ledges, so the building has metal beams and ledges, and also balcony edges. Still, that doesn’t make it easy. It’s physically exhausting and mentally intense. As he climbed higher, he had to deal with wind, especially around the corners of the building. Wind at that height can push your body and affect your balance. He also had to climb over the building’s famous “bamboo box” design — bamboo就是竹子, the “bamboo box” design, featuring those stacked sections that stick out a little. Because they overhang — meaning they lean outward, 就是他凸出來, overhang — they are more physically demanding. demanding就是高度要求的, 哪方面的要求呢? physically, 體能方面的. They are physically demanding. You have to use more arm strength to pull yourself up. He said those were some of the hardest moves of the whole climb. But something interesting happened mentally. mentally是心理層面的. Instead of getting more scared as he got higher, he actually started to relax. He said the biggest challenge was at the beginning — staying calm with all the people watching, the cameras, the pressure. But once he got into the rhythm of climbing, the rhythm, 就是節奏, He found his own rhythm of climbing, he felt more focused and even started to enjoy it. After about one and a half hours — 91 minutes to be precise — he reached the top spire of Taipei 101. When he stood at the very top, he raised his arms and smiled. The crowd below went crazy. He later said standing on the top was actually less scary than climbing the side. I don’t know about you, but I felt so nervous even when watching him standing at the top of Taipei 101. He even had time to take a selfie at the top — imagine that. Selfie… 508 meters above the ground. That must be the coolest selfie in 2026. He described the feeling like finishing a long race. You’re tired, but it’s a “happy tired.” Your muscles are exhausted, but you know you made it. After the climb, Alex did interviews, and his comments were really interesting for understanding his mindset. He said during the climb, he sometimes lost track of space and time. When you lose track of something, you no longer know what is happening, you no longer remember anything. That means he was so focused on each movement — each handhold, each step — that he wasn’t really thinking about how high he was or how long he had been climbing. He said the key is to stay present. present就是當下,現下,現在的時空. Don’t think about the top. Don’t think about falling. Just think about this move right now, that is the present moment. Then the next one. And the next one. Near the top, he described the final section as a “victory lap.” That expression usually comes from sports. After a runner wins a race, they sometimes jog slowly around the track to celebrate. For Alex, the hardest part was already done, and he could finally enjoy the view. And what a view. Taipei stretched out below him, 台北就在他眼下伸展開來 — the city, the mountains in the distance, the sky all around. He said it was beautiful and “quite an experience.” Even with strong winds and physical fatigue, fatigue meaning feeling very very tired, he said he never felt like he had to stop. He expected to be tired — of course he would be tired after climbing a skyscraper! A skyscraper is an extremely tall building — so tall it feels like it’s touching the sky. 摩天大樓. Of course climbing a skyscraper is tiring! But he trusted his training. So why did this even happen? Alex had actually dreamed about climbing Taipei 101 for more than 10 years. But it’s not easy to get permission, 得到許可, to climb one of the most famous skyscrapers in the world. Eventually, the idea was connected with Netflix, which wanted to create a live event — something exciting, dramatic, and global. Netflix livestreamed the climb with a 10-second delay. That means the video people saw was 10 seconds behind real life. This gave them a small safety buffer in case something went wrong and they needed to stop the broadcast. The event created huge excitement — but also ethical concerns. ethical就是跟道德有關的. ethical concerns, or ethical worries. Some people felt it was inspiring and amazing. Others felt it was too dangerous to show live, worrying it might turn life-threatening risk into entertainment. The local government and Taipei 101 management officially approved the climb. Taipei 101’s chairperson, 董事長, the chairperson, Janet Chia, shared on her social media about the unimaginable difficulty and risks she had to undergo when making the decision to approve the climb. Luckily, the event was a huge success. She even congratulated Alex afterward and said she hoped the world could see Taiwan’s beauty and the warmth of its people. So the climb was not just a personal challenge — it also became a global media event and a moment of international attention for Taiwan. If you’re thinking, “What kind of person does this?” — good question. Alex Honnold is probably the most famous free solo climber in the world. He’s been climbing since he was young and became well known in his early 20s for doing extremely difficult climbs alone. But his biggest, most famous achievement before Taipei 101 was in 2017, when he became the first person ever to free solo El Capitan in Yosemite National Park in the U.S. Yosemite National Park 中文是翻成「優勝美地國家公園」. El Capitan is a giant rock wall about 1,000 meters tall — that’s almost 3,000 feet. He climbed it with no ropes in just under four hours. That climb was filmed in the documentary, documentary紀錄片. The documentary is called “Free Solo,” which later won an Oscar. 奧斯卡獎. Before that climb, he practiced every move again and again with ropes. He memorized every handhold, every foothold. He says free soloing is not about being crazy or loving danger. For him, it’s about movement, focus, and mastery. mastery就是把一件事情或技巧做到精通, 充分掌握一件事情. He tries to reduce risk as much as possible through preparation. Still, he knows the risk is never zero. That’s why many people see him as brave. Others see him as reckless. Reckless is like being careless and irresponsible, not considering things carefully enough. But everyone agrees he is incredibly skilled and mentally strong. After the Taipei 101 climb, reactions were mixed. Many people felt awe — that feeling when something is so amazing it almost doesn’t feel real. 超驚訝說不出話的感覺, 就是awe. Social media was full of messages like, “I couldn’t breathe watching this,” and “This is history.” But some people felt uneasy. They asked, “Should we really be watching something where a person could die on live TV?” Even some climbers felt uncomfortable with the livestream, saying climbing is personal and not meant to be a public spectacle like this. His wife, Sanni, watched from inside the building and later joked that she was basically having a panic attack the whole time. panic attack就是恐慌症發作那樣. She was joking, but no doubt she was super worried. Imagine loving someone who does this for a living! Alex himself, though, stayed very calm about it all. After finishing, he simply said, “What a nice day.” And then went to have Xiao Lung Bao (this little juicy delicious pork steam buns) in Din Tai Feng restaurant. Very classic Alex Honnold — simple, quiet, not dramatic. He also said he hopes people feel inspired, inspired 就是感覺被啟發的,感覺想法或靈感的被激發的. He hopes people can feel inspired — not to climb skyscrapers, but to go after their own goals, whatever they are. Before we finish, here are some questions for you to think about: Could you watch this kind of livestream, or would it be too stressfu

你相信動物也會悲傷、害怕，甚至愛嗎？這集我們從「狗狗是真的愛我，還是想吃零食？」這個常見問題出發，延伸到更深的思考：動物到底在想什麼、感受什麼？從科學研究、動物行為到大象、虎鯨、海豚等故事，我們一起重新理解「情緒」與「意識」並不是人類獨有。身為動物愛好者，我也在準備這集時對人類之於地球產生更謙卑的想法。Do animals have real feelings—like love, fear, and grief? In this episode, we explore animal emotions through science, behavior, and powerful stories about elephants, dolphins, and killer whales. As an animal lover, I also reflect on how humans are not “above” other species—just one life among many.Transcript:Hey guys, I’m your English teacher, Miss Y! Welcome to the podcast made for intermediate English learners who want to listen to English and learn about different topics in a fun and easy way. So this week, I spent some time looking up different materials for our episodes, and… honestly, some topics just hit harder than others. And this one? It really stayed in my mind. Because I’m a big animal lover. Like… I’ve always felt really peaceful around animals. And after reading and watching more about today’s topic, I started to feel something else too: this… more humble feeling. Like, maybe humans aren’t the “main character” of Earth. Main character 就是主角. And yeah—maybe we’re not the main character of Earth. So today we’re talking about something that sounds simple… but is actually pretty deep: Do animals have feelings? I mean feelings like love, fear or feeling scared, sadness or grief 悲傷, joy or happiness, anxiety or feeling nervous, and even empathy 同情. And I know—some people might think this question is kind of silly. Because if you’ve ever lived with a dog, you probably feel like the answer is… obviously yes. Your dog sees you come home, and suddenly it’s like… “Oh my god, you came back from the dead!!! I missed you!!!” And your dog is jumping, spinning, tail wagging so hard it looks like it might fly away. So of course it’s natural to ask: “Does my dog love me?” Or… “Is my dog just excited because I might give it food?” But today, I want to change the question a little bit. Because maybe the problem is… we always make it about “us,” right? Like humans always want to know: “Do they love me?” “Do they understand me?” “Are they like us?” It’s kind of… narcissistic. Narcissistic 就是很自戀 很自我中心的意思. Like we’re the center of the universe. So instead of asking, “Do animals love us?” Let’s ask something more respectful. How do I understand them? Who are animals? What is happening inside their minds? What is happening inside their hearts? Okay, let me share a story that honestly surprised me. Scientists did an experiment 實驗, with crayfish. Crayfish 就是那種小龍蝦, 好像有些地方也叫螯蝦. So basically, the scientists gave crayfish small electric shocks—電擊. Every time the crayfish tried to leave its burrow, like its home, they gave it electric shocks. And after a while, the crayfish changed. It became cautious and nervous. It stopped exploring. Basically… it developed something like anxiety. 焦慮這種感覺. And here’s the crazy part: scientists gave that crayfish the same kind of medicine humans take for anxiety. And the crayfish calmed down. It became curious again. It went out from its home and explored again. So the crayfish wasn’t just reacting like a robot. Something deeper was going on. And honestly… this part feels so human. Because we humans can develop anxiety in the same way too—just like the crayfish—because of our past experiences. But here’s where it gets dark… and kind of ironic. Because humans see this and think: “Wow, crayfish can feel anxiety.” And then… we still boil them alive. So maybe the question isn’t only: “Do animals have feelings?” The real question is: If they have feelings… why don’t we take that a bit more seriously? Okay, now this next story is honestly amazing. In South Africa, there was a baby dolphin—dolphin 就是海豚. And this baby dolphin lived in an aquarium, 水族館. Her name was Dolly. One day a keeper—就是動物管理員—took a cigarette break near the window. He was smoking. And Dolly swam up, looked at him, and watched. Then she went back to her mother, nursed—drinking milk from her mother—for a minute. Then she came back to the window… and released a cloud of milk into the water around her head. It looked like smoke. Like… it REALLY looked like smoke. And at first it seems like she was just copying him. But here’s the thing… She wasn’t copying in a simple way. She was using milk as a symbol for smoke. She made a creative connection. And when humans use one thing to represent another… we call it art. So maybe art is not only human. Maybe creativity is not only human. Now let’s go bigger. There are some animals that are obviously smart. Like apes. We know chimpanzees and gorillas have intelligence. Ape 就是人猿, chimpanzee 是黑猩猩, gorilla 是大猩猩. They’re not exactly “monkeys”—they’re apes. But there are also animals that surprise us. For example… octopuses. Octopus 章魚. And seriously, do you guys know that octopuses are actually super smart? Octopuses can solve puzzles. They can use tools. They recognize human faces. They even seem to have personalities. 他們是有個性的. Some are curious. Some are shy. Some are aggressive. That’s not a simple creature. That’s a complex mind. Another example is sea otters. 海獺. Sea otters use rocks like tools to open shells. And they don’t just use tools. They teach their babies how to use them. And that’s important, because teaching isn’t common in animals. But killer whales do. Killer whales 就是殺人鯨, 另外一個名字是 orca. Orcas teach. They teach their babies how to survive. They also share food. So now we have animals with intelligence, culture, teaching, social rules, and family bonds. Animals may not be as smart as humans… but they are definitely not stupid. Okay, now let’s talk about elephants. Elephants are famous for being intelligent and emotional. And some researchers did this experiment: They recorded human voices. They played different recordings from hidden speakers. And when they played tourists’ voices? Elephants didn’t care. Because tourists are annoying, yes… but they don’t hurt elephants. But recordings of herders? Herder 就是管理動物的人. Herders sometimes carry spears. Sometimes they attack elephants. And when elephants heard those voices? They got nervous. They grouped together. They ran away. So elephants don’t just understand: “Human or not human.” They understand: “Different kinds of humans.” Safe humans. Dangerous humans. And that’s honestly a powerful reminder: Animals are watching us. They’ve been watching us for much longer than we’ve been watching them. They may even know us better than we know them. Another thing humans are proud of is empathy. Empathy is being able to understand and share other people’s feelings. Empathy 就是同理心. We like to think empathy makes us special. But actually… empathy is ancient. 是很古老的. It started as something very simple. The oldest form of empathy is probably contagious fear. Fear is the feeling of being scared. Contagious means it can be passed from one to another—it can influence others. 就是會感染的, 會傳遞的. Contagious fear 就是恐懼是會散播的. Imagine you’re in a group of birds. Suddenly all the birds fly away. If you stop and say: “Hmm, interesting. Why are they leaving?” You might become lunch. So instead, you feel fear too. You run too. That shared emotion is a kind of empathy. Then empathy becomes more complex. Like when you feel sad because someone else is sad. So animals are capable of sensing others’ emotions… because it’s a way to stay alive. Empathy isn’t human-only. Humans are not that special, and animals are not always heartless. Heartless 就是冷血、沒感情的意思. Now we need to talk about one feeling that many people think only humans have: Grief. Grief is a deep sadness—especially when someone you love dies. Grief 就是非常悲痛非常悲傷的感覺. Grief is love that has nowhere to go. When a person you love disappears… you still love them. But you can’t give that love to them anymore. And humans aren’t the only ones who experience that. There’s a story from a farm sanctuary in New York. It’s about two ducks—duck 鴨子—named Harper and Kohl. Harper and Kohl were rescued from a foie gras factory. Foie gras 是法文, 就是一種食物, 鵝肝或鴨肝, 法國人喜歡吃的貴貴的那種. These two ducks were raised in a foie gras factory. And luckily, they were saved, rescued, and brought to a sanctuary. Sanctuary 就是庇護所或避難所. For the next four years, the ducks Harper and Kohl slowly became healthy again. And during those four years, they became best friends. They always stayed close. They ate together. They walked around together. And they often went to the same little pond, just the two of them—like it was their favorite place. But one day, Kohl started to feel serious pain in his legs, and the pain could not be healed. So the sanctuary workers made the heartbreaking decision to euthanize him, to stop the suffering. To euthanize is to kill an animal in a humane way, trying to reduce its pain, and finally stopping its pain. And then… the workers did something truly kind. They brought Harper to Kohl’s body. At first, Harper walked up and gently pushed the body, like he was trying to wake his friend up. And then Harper did something that still breaks my heart. He laid his whole body on top of Kohl, and stayed there… for more than an hour. Just quietly lying there. Like he didn’t want to leave. And after that, Harper changed. In the weeks that followed, he had a hard time. He kept going back to that same pond where they used to go together. He didn’t want to be with other ducks. He didn’t want new friends. And within two months… Harper died too. And when I hear this story, I can’t see it as “just instinct.” Instinct 就是動物的本能或天性. This is not just instinct. To me, it sounds like grief. Real sorrow. Sorrow 跟 grief 很像, 都是很深的悲傷. The pain of losing someone you love. So here’s the idea. A lot of people think humans are special because of our brains. We’re proud of our brains. We even call ourselves Homo sapiens — it comes from Latin, meaning “wise humans.” But here’s the funny thing: Our brain didn’t just magically appear. It’s inherited. 它是被傳承下來的. It is inherited. Our nervous system has a long history. A very long hist

你聽到 flirting 會覺得害羞、尷尬，還是很反感？其實調情不一定是油膩或不正經，它也可以是一種讓人感覺「被看見、很特別、被認可」的溫柔互動。本集 Miss Y 會用 TED Talk 和心理學研究分享：怎麼樣正確 flirting以及讓人更有魅力的關鍵。一起用簡單英文學會健康、有分寸的 flirting！Flirting has a bad reputation. But what if flirting is simply making someone feel seen, special, and acknowledged? In this episode, Miss Y shares what she learned from a TED Talk and psychology research about healthy flirting, chemistry, body language, and how to connect without being creepy.Transcript:Hey guys, I’m your English teacher, Miss Y!Welcome to the podcast made for intermediate English learners who want to listen to English, and learn about different topics in a fun and easy way.Today, I want to talk about a word that makes some people smile and other people… well, it makes them want to hide under a table. That word is flirting. Flirt 是今天的keyword, 是動詞. 這個字在台灣有點像“調情”，現代一點的講法就是在“撩人”這種行為。Flirting就是把這個動詞變成名詞，在講調情這種“行為”。 The dictionary even says flirting is behaving like you're attracted to someone just for "amusement," without being serious. Basically, wasting people’s time. I’ve been reading some fascinating research and watching a great TED Talk by a dating coach named Francesca Hogi. And I really like the idea that flirting isn't about being a "player." It’s actually a superpower for human connection. So don’t worry—this is not going to be one of those “pickup artist” episodes. To pick up someone, means to casually begin to talk with a stranger, with the intention to have a sexual or romantic relationship with them. pick up就是搭訕或是把妹這樣. I’m not going to talk about the how to “pick up” girls. Today, I’m sharing what I’ve learned about how to unlock this superpower of human connection, why science says it’s actually good for your brain, and how to do it without being "creepy."Okay, first question: When you hear the word flirt… how do you feel? Some people feel happy, like: “Omg really? You think I’m charming?” But other people feel defensive, like: “What?! I’m not a flirt!” flirt, 這個字也可以拿來當名詞. 如果說 He is a flirt. 就是他是個愛跟人家調情的人，很愛撩人的人，感覺很不正經。 And honestly, I also kind of understand why flirting has a bad name. Because in my experience — especially in East Asian culture — flirting is… complicated. Like, on one side, I feel like a lot of guys don’t really flirt.They might be polite, they might be nice, they might even like you a lot — but they don’t show it. So the girl ends up feeling like: “Okay… he’s a good person, but… where is the spark?” spark 就是人跟人之間相處會有的那種”火花”, 有來電的感覺. There is not spark. It can feel very flat, very safe, but not exciting. But then on the other side, sometimes the guys who do flirt… flirt in a way that makes girls uncomfortable. Like they jump too fast into appearance, or they say something too direct, too awkward, too pushy. And it doesn’t feel romantic — it feels annoying. So I think in our culture, flirting sometimes becomes either too little, so there’s no chemistry… chemistry跟spark有點像, chemistry是人跟人相處的化學效應. 就很聊得來, 就是你們之間有chemistry. So sometimes the flirting is too little, or sometimes it is too much, so it becomes creepy. creepy就是很恐怖很噁心很不舒服的感覺. That’s why I really like the TED Talk definition of flirting — because it’s not about acting cool. She mentions three words: seen, 被看見的, special 很特別的, and acknowledged 被認可的.Think about that. Seen, special, and acknowledged. When you look at it that way, flirting isn’t just for dating. It’s for everyone. If you’re single, it helps you get that second date. If you’re already in a relationship, it’s the spark that keeps things exciting. And here’s a tip for my fellow introverts. introverts 就是內向的人. So introverts, you actually have an advantage. 有優勢. Why? Because when an introvert flirts, it feels more "real." It doesn't feel like a practiced performance; it feels like you are genuinely interested in that specific person. Being a "good flirt" isn't about being the loudest person in the room. It’s about two things: Presence and Enthusiasm.What is Presence? Presence means the fact that you are here, you exist now. 一個人他在場, 他出席, 出現在當下. 但是Presence不只是要物理上你人出現. Ｍore importantly, presence means: you’re mentally here. mentally 是心理上的. 要心理上存在當下. You have to be mentally present. Not thinking about: “Do I look weird?” “What should I say?” “What if they reject me?” “Oh no my English is bad!” No. Presence means: you’re focused on the other person. A very simple tip: Phone down. Eyes up. When people feel your attention, they feel special. Enthusiasm 這個字的意思是”熱情”.Enthusiasm means your energy says: “I’m happy to talk to you.” Not like you’re bored. Not like you’re doing homework. Like… you’re genuinely interested. You’re truly interested in that person. But not fake passion. A real warm smile and a friendly tone are extremely magnetic. magnetic 是有磁鐵有磁性的意思, 也是像磁鐵一樣很有吸引力的. Sometimes people think flirting is about being sexy. But honestly? Flirting is just being warm and real.So, how do we actually do it? The speaker talked about three flirting styles, and honestly they are very “safe.” Not scary. The first style was curiosity. Basically: asking good questions and listening deeply. You don’t have to be funny. You don’t need to be smooth. You can just say: “What do you enjoy doing lately?” “What kind of trip do you dream of?” “What makes you feel excited?” Curiosity is such an underrated flirting style. Second style: compliments. But she also said many compliments are actually bad. Like “You’re hot” is too lazy. Too general. And “You’re my type” is more about you than them. So better compliments are specific, like: “You have a really nice sense of style.” “You have calm energy. I like it.” “I love the way you explain things.” And the third style was playfulness. Like small jokes, light teasing, sending fun signals. But not crossing boundaries. More like making the moment feel alive. And I think the key point she kept repeating was: Flirting should make people feel special. Not unsafe.Now, here is the really "nerdy" part I loved. There’s a psychology professor, Gurit Birnbaum, who studied flirting using Virtual Reality, or VR. 虛擬實境. Virtual就是虛擬的, Reality就是現實. She had people in committed relationships, 就是有穩定關係的人, she asked people in committed relationships to talk to a virtual bartender. Some bartenders were just polite, and others were a bit flirty. flirty就是從flirt變來的形容詞, 在調情的. You might think, "Wait, if I’m in a relationship, isn’t flirting with a bartender bad?" Well, the results were surprising! The people who flirted with the VR bartender actually felt more attracted to their real-life partners afterward. It’s like the flirting "reminded" them that they are attractive and social, and they took that positive energy home to their partner. Also, science confirms that body language plays a huge role. For example, people seem more romantically desirable when they have an open posture. posture 就是姿勢． Like just relaxed shoulders, face the person directly, head up, or take up space naturally. Not in an aggressive way. It’s not to tell people that “I own this place.” It’s just being comfortable. It’s a non-verbal way to say, "I’m confident and I’m here with you." There was also a fun term: self-grooming. grooming有打扮外觀、整理外觀的意思。 Self-grooming means people might touch their hair, adjust their clothes, maybe fix their sleeves… Not because they’re nervous. But because they want to look good for the other person. And honestly… we all do that. Even if we don’t admit it. When reading this article, I realize that I do that too. In a date, I would pull my hair to one side of the shoulder, and show some part of my neck. It makes me feel more feminine, more sexy, and more… confident. And I think it works well.But be aware of a big flirting problem here. Psychologists said men often overestimate romantic interest. overestimate 有兩個部分, over是超過, estimate是評估. overestimate就是高估某個東西. Men often overestimate women’s interest in them. And women often underestimate it. underestimate就是overestimate的相反，低估。Women underestimate the interest from men. What happens? So a woman smiles because she’s polite. Then a guy often thinks: “Oh my god she likes me.” And that is where awkward situations come from. Even worse—some workplaces force women to smile and be friendly. But then customers misunderstand it as flirting. So yeah, the report made me think: It’s really important to remember: Not every smile is flirting. Sometimes it’s just kindness. Sometimes it’s just customer service. So if you’re flirting with someone, the best sign is: Do they flirt back? And if not, then that’s your answer. Good flirting is not pushing. Good flirting is reading the room.So, what’s the takeaway? Flirting isn't a trick. It’s a way to be more human. It’s about being present, being curious, and being brave enough to show someone that you see them. And honestly, I think flirting can happen between a couple who are together for a long time. Flirting can always be a good ideal to give your romantic relation a bit spark. Whether you're talking to a stranger at a coffee shop or your spouse of ten years, try to make them feel a little bit special today!I’m Miss Y, and I hope you enjoyed learning English with me. If you liked this episode, come back next time for another fun 15 to 20 minutes of simple, clear English and a brand-new topic to explore. Stay curious, learn the World in simple English with Miss Y, I’ll talk to you again soon.Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cmilgpemw00i201yvfrduavyf/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

這一集，我們要聊一則真的像電影一樣的國際新聞。美國軍方在深夜行動中，直接逮捕了委內瑞拉總統馬杜洛，震驚全世界。 Miss Y 會用簡單、清楚的英文，一步一步帶你了解事情是怎麼發生的、為什麼和毒品與石油有關、現在誰在掌控委內瑞拉，以及各國和委內瑞拉人民的反應。 In this episode, Miss Y breaks down shocking world news in simple English. The U.S. military captured Venezuela’s president in a dramatic overnight operation. Learn what happened, why oil and drugs matter, and how the world is reacting. Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cmilgpemw00i201yvfrduavyf/comments Transcript: Hey guys, I’m your English teacher, Miss Y! Welcome to the podcast made for intermediate English learners who want to listen to English, and learn about different topics in a fun and easy way. Today, we have to talk about something crazy. Seriously, when I read the news this morning, I thought I was reading a script for a Hollywood movie. I thought, "Is this the new Mission Impossible movie?" But no, it is real life. We are talking about the massive news coming out of Venezuela. 委內瑞拉. If you haven’t heard yet, the United States military has captured the President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro. It happened overnight, it was dramatic, and the whole world is talking about it. In this episode, I’m going to break down exactly what happened, why it happened, and what the reactions from the world and in the county are. And, as always, I’ll explain some key English vocabulary along the way so you can improve your listening skills. So, grab your coffee, or your bubble tea, and let’s dive in. Okay, let’s start with the operation. operation 在這裡是指軍事行動，作戰行動。 According to the BBC, this operation happened at 2:00 AM local time. It was the middle of the night. The US sent their elite soldiers, their very best special soldiers, to President Maduro’s residence, his home, in the capital city, Caracas. Caracas就是Venezuela的capital, 首都. At the same time, the U.S. military carried out attack from the air on many different important locations, including military bases, airports, ports, and communication towers. They used more than 150 aircraft. Can you imagine? 150 airplanes and helicopters flying into the capital city. These air strikes, or air attacks, were not random. They were used as a distraction, distraction就是一個分散注意力的東西, these air attacks were just a distraction, so the special soldiers could enter the city and catch Maduro without facing too much difficulties. The U.S. forces also managed to cut the power, the electric power. So, imagine, the entire city was pitch black. Now, here is the most dramatic part. Maduro, the Venezuelan President, tried to hide. He ran to a safe room. A safe room is a special, strong room in a house designed to protect people from attacks. But guess what? He made it past the door, but he couldn't close the door in time. The US soldiers captured him and his wife before he could close the door. Isn’t this just like a movie? They put them on a plane, and flew them all the way to New York. Right now, as we speak, the President of Venezuela is sitting in the US jail, in Brooklyn, New York. It’s absolutely wild. So, you might be asking: "Why?" Why did the US invade a foreign country to kidnap their president? Kidnap is like taking someone away illegally, 綁架, kidnap. Why did the US kidnap Venezuelan president? Well, the most direct reason is drugs. 毒品. The Department of Justice, 就是相當於司法部, the US Department of Justice has charged Maduro with Narco-terrorism. Let’s break that word down. Narco means illegal drugs. Terrorism is using violence for political purposes. So, narco-terrorism means using drug trafficking to fund or support terrorist activities. The US claims that Maduro isn't just a president, but that he is actually the leader of a drug cartel, drug cartel 販毒集團. The cartel is called "Cartel de los Soles.”, They say he secretly planned and sent cocaine, cocaine is a very strong type of drug, 古柯鹼, they sent cocaine into the US. But, of course, Maduro denies this. He says the US is just using the "War on Drugs" as an excuse. That leads to another big reason, which is... well, can you guess? Oil. Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves in the world. They have the most oil in the world. That is a lot of oil. Donald Trump was very open about this. After the operation, he said that US oil companies would move into Venezuela to "start making money." Trump says the US spent money on this operation and the lost money because of the drugs, they will take the oil wealth to get their money back. Here we can mention something interesting about the type of oil. In the oil industry, "sweet" oil is easier to refine into gasoline, 可以變成汽油. The US has a lot of oil reserves, but they have mostly “sweet” oil. Another kind of oil is the "sour, heavy" oil. The “sour” oil is harder to process, but it’s good for making diesel, 可以做成柴油, and asphalt 瀝青. This is the type of oil that Venezuela has. But then you might ask, why is Venezuela still so poor, even though it has so much oil? First of all, the government depends too much on oil. When a country puts almost all its eggs in one basket, other industries don’t really grow. So when oil prices go down, or when oil production drops, the country suddenly has no other good way to make money. Second, Venezuela hasn’t invested enough in learning new technology or developing better skills to produce and process oil. Because of that, their oil production has fallen a lot over the years. And lastly, there is a very serious problem with corruption. The government is heavily corrupt. 貪污, corrupt 是形容詞或動詞, corruption 是名詞. Honestly, when you put all of this together, it feels like the government has done a really bad job. They didn’t just make small mistakes — they messed up the country, big time. So, who is in charge of Venezuela now? The vice-president, 副總統, Delcy Rodríguez, she was sworn in as the interim president. 臨時總統. That means she is now officially leading the country, at least for the moment. Rodríguez is on the same side of Maduro, and she is part of Maduro’s inner circle. 她是在Maduro那派的內圈成員裡, inner circle. She demanded Maduro’s release and said that he is still the “only president” of Venezuela. At the same time, Trump said that the United States would “run the country”, run 在這裡不是”跑”, 是經營的意思. The US said they would run the country until there could be a proper and safe transition of power. However, it is still very unclear what that actually means. Who will make decisions? How much control will the U.S. have? And how long will this situation last? Even American officials have not given clear answers. The U.S. Secretary of State, 他們的國務卿, the U.S. Secretary of State said the U.S. would keep a close eye on the interim president. He also warned that if Venezuela doesn’t cooperate, the U.S. has many ways to put pressure on the country. This situation creates confusion and uncertainty, both inside Venezuela and around the world. So how do Venezuelans themselves feel about what just happened? Honestly, it’s not very clear yet. Right now, there are no polls, poll 就是民調, there are no official polls that clearly show how many people inside Venezuela support or oppose the U.S. capture of President Maduro. But we can still look at some important information from the past. In earlier surveys, even when many Venezuelans were unhappy with their government, a very large portion of people said they did not want foreign countries to use military force in Venezuela. For them, national pride and sovereignty, sovereignty 主權, 這個字今天很重要. Their pride and sovereignty are important. They worry that foreign military action could lead to more violence and instability. At the same time, reactions are very different among Venezuelans living abroad. For the past 10 years, about 25 % of Venezuelan has decided to move out from Venezuela — that’s lots people, 1 out of 4 people left the country, you can imagine how bad it has been to live in Venezuela. Many overseas Venezuelan, like those now living in the US or other Latin American countries, they have openly supported strong U.S. action. Some say this was the only way to remove Maduro and bring real change. So inside Venezuela, feelings seem mixed and cautious. Outside the country, there is more hope and even celebration. In short, Venezuelans are divided—not just politically, but also by where they live. As you can imagine, the world reaction is also strong. Several countries, including Russia, China, and Iran, strongly condemned the U.S. action. condemn, means to strongly criticize. 譴責. They called it a violation of Venezuela’s sovereignty, 違反主權, and a violation of international law 違反國際法. Well, I'm sure these countries "really" care about sovereignty and International law. Many Latin American countries, including Colombia 哥倫比亞 and Brazil 巴西, also criticized the attack. Cuba 古巴, Cuba’s president called it a criminal act. 犯罪行爲. However, not everyone opposed the action. oppose, 反對. Not everyone opposed the US. Argentina 阿根廷, Argentina’s president, a close ally, a good friend, of the U.S., celebrated the event online, saying that “freedom moves forward.” In Europe, reactions were more mixed. Some leaders in Europe said they did not support Maduro’s government, but they also warned that military intervention 軍事介入, military intervention could create more instability. 不穩定 The United Nations 聯合國, The UN expressed serious concern and reminded all countries that international law must be respected. Phew. That was a lot of information, right? This situation in Venezuela is developing every hour. It brings up big questions about international law, sovereignty, and the future of energy. What do you guys think? Is this a right move to stop a drug lord? Or is it an illegal invasion for oil? It’s a complex topic, but I hope this episode helped you understand the English news a little better. I’m Miss Y, and I hope you enjoyed learning English with me. If you liked this episode, come back next time for another fun 15 to 20 minutes of simple, clear English and a brand-new topic to explo

這一集，Miss Y 帶你一起了解為什麼 Gen Z 這一代特別喜歡復古文化。從黑膠唱片、底片相機、DVD、復古遊戲，到舊音樂、懷舊影集與古著穿搭，看看他們喜歡哪些復古事物，以及背後真正的原因。Miss Y 也分享自己最懷念的復古裝置，回顧它為什麼曾經那麼流行，以及它帶來的情感記憶。 In this episode, Miss Y explores why Gen Z is drawn to retro culture. From vinyl records and film cameras to old music, retro gaming, and vintage fashion, she explains what they love and why. Miss Y also shares the vintage device she misses most and why it once meant so much. Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cmilgpemw00i201yvfrduavyf/comments Transcript: Hey guys, I’m your English teacher, Miss Y! Welcome to the podcast made for intermediate English learners who want to listen to English, and learn about different topics in a fun and easy way. I just finished the finale of Stranger Things, the drama on Netflix. Are you guys a fan of that show too? After watching, I felt … wow. I’ve been watching this show for almost ten years. Ten years! So finally seeing the ending felt kind of unreal. And yeah— it is a great TV drama. It was emotional, intense, scary, and somehow still very warm at the same time. So the last episode, 影集的一集叫一個episode, when the last episode ended, I just sat there for a moment like, “Okay… that’s it. It’s really over.” If you’ve never watched it, Stranger Things is basically a sci-fi story about a group of kids in a small town, strange experiments, another dark world, and a lot of friendship. And one thing that makes the show special is its retro vibe. Retro 這個字是今天的key word. Retro vibe is the feeling you get from the past, from the old times. retro有點像復古、重新流行的感覺. So the drama is set in the 1980s, everything feels old-school— the bikes, the clothes, the music, the technology. No smartphones. No social media. Just kids riding bikes, knocking on doors, and hanging out in person. And while I was watching the ending, I suddenly realized something. This show is popular not only because of the story, but also because of how much people—especially Gen Z—love that retro feeling. And that actually connects perfectly to what we’re talking about today. Have you noticed that Gen Z really loves old things? Not just “old” like last year’s phone. I mean DVDs, vinyl records 就是黑膠唱片, film cameras 底片相機, old game consoles 遊戲機台, old TV shows, and early-2000s fashion. At first, this feels kind of strange. Because Gen Z grew up with smartphones. They grew up with streaming, social media, fast internet, and apps for everything. So why are they going backwards? Today, I want to break this into two simple parts. First, What kinds of retro things does Gen Z actually like? And second, Why does the past feel so attractive to them right now? Let’s start with the first part. What Retro Things Does Gen Z Love? Let’s start with vinyl records. Yes, even in the age of Spotify and Apple Music, vinyl records are coming back. Gen Z likes vinyl not because it’s convenient— actually, it’s less convenient. You have to put the record on. You have to flip it. flip, 翻面. You need to flip the record. You can’t skip songs easily. skip, 跳過. It’s not easy to skip songs. But that’s the point. Listening to vinyl feels intentional. intentional, 刻意的. It’s intentional. Music becomes something you focus on, not just background noise. And there’s also the physical part. You can see the album cover. You can touch the record Many Gen Z listeners say, “It feels more real.” Next: film cameras. film, 底片, 也可以用這個字來指電影. 這裡是底片的意思. Most of us take photos with our phones without thinking. Take one, delete it, take another. Film cameras are the opposite, it’s totally different. You don’t see the photo right away. Each photo costs money. You have to wait. And Gen Z actually likes that pressure. Waiting makes the moment feel special. You slow down. You think before you click. Many also say film photos feel warmer and more emotional. Now let’s talk about DVDs. Streaming is convenient, streaming 就是串流, 線上可以直接看影片聽音樂. Streaming is easy, but it can also be annoying. You scroll and scroll, scroll 就是滑手機的滑. You keep scrolling and still can’t decide what to watch. Some Gen Z people prefer DVDs because they like owning things. When you have a DVD, it won’t disappear from a platform. You don’t need the internet. You don’t need a subscription. And because DVDs are “old,” they’re often cheaper. Gen Z often describes DVDs as “cool,” “authentic,” authentic means real. or even “a bit rebellious.” 叛逆 Gen Z also loves old music. Songs from the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s are everywhere. Many Gen Z listeners discover old songs through social media. A short video can make a 30-year-old song popular again. Even though they weren’t alive at that time, the music feels emotional and meaningful. Old songs become part of their identity. identity 身份. Songs become who they are. Retro gaming is another big one. Old game consoles, handheld devices, handheld 就是手持的, and simple games. Why? Because modern games are complicated. You need updates. You need downloads. You need the internet. With retro games, you put the game in and play. No waiting. No pressure. For many Gen Z players, retro games feel comforting— like going back home. Gen Z also loves old TV shows Shows they watched as kids, or shows from before they were born. Why? Because you already know the story. You know the characters. You know what’s going to happen. There’s no stress. Watching familiar shows helps people relax. It lowers emotional pressure. This is why comfort shows are so popular. comfort就是感覺很療癒的. They like comfort shows. And finally, fashion. Vintage and second-hand clothes are everywhere. Vintage is another key word here. Vintage跟retro差不多意思, 復古的. Vintage and second-hand clothes. Y2K fashion. Y2K fashion is the early-2000s style. 90s styles. Gen Z likes vintage fashion because it feels unique. Online trends make everyone look the same. Vintage clothes are harder to copy. Finding a vintage jacket or jeans feels like a treasure hunt. 尋寶 treasure hunt. It shows effort, taste, and personality. So after looking at all these retro things— vinyl records, film cameras, DVDs, old music, retro games, comfort shows, vintage fashion— the big question is… Why now? Why does this generation, the most digital generation ever, feel so drawn to the past? I think one big reason is simply that being online all the time is tiring. Gen Z grew up with phones in their hands. Notifications never stop. Social media never sleeps. Even when you’re “relaxing,” you’re still scrolling, comparing, and reacting. So when Gen Z touches something retro, it feels different. Old technology has limits. You can’t do ten things at once. You watch one DVD. You listen to one record. You play one game. And that slowness feels calming. Another thing is ownership. Ownership is the fact that you actually have a thing. Today, almost everything is temporary. temporary 暫時的. We rent music, rent movies, rent software. Things disappear. Platforms change. Subscriptions end. But retro things are physical. physical 實體的. These things are phyisical. When you buy a DVD or a vinyl record, it’s yours. No internet needed. No updates. No “this content is no longer available.” For a generation growing up with job uncertainty, high living costs, and an unclear future, owning something real—even something small—feels surprisingly important. There’s also a strong emotional reason: nostalgia. Here comes another key word, nostalgia. Nostalgia is a feeling when you think about the past. 懷念過去的感覺, 懷舊. nostalgia. Gen Z lives in a very heavy time. They grew up watching global crises on their phones. They went through a pandemic during important years of their life. They see bad news often, all day, every day. So the past feels safe. Old shows feel predictable. Old music feels comforting. Old styles feel warm. Even if Gen Z didn’t live in those times, they imagine them as simpler. And honestly, every generation does this. When the present, the present is the time right now. When the present feels stressful, we look back. Social media makes this even stronger. We’re always comparing our real lives to other people’s highlight reels. highlight reels 就是精選的限時動態,在社交媒體上. And Gen Z also feels pressure to present a perfect version of themselves online— for school, for work, for dating. Life can start to feel like a performance. Retro culture feels less fake. People weren’t documenting or recording everything. Moments weren’t measured by likes. That idea feels refreshing. There’s also the need for individuality. Individuality means something to make you different than other people, you are an individual, you are not other people, you are you. Online trends spread so fast that everyone ends up looking the same. Buying something vintage feels intentional. It says, “I chose this.” Not an algorithm, 演算法, not an algorithm that your internet feeds you. And finally, I think retro offers something very simple but very powerful. It feels human. It’s imperfect. It’s slower. It’s physical. In a world that’s fast, digital, and overwhelming, retro feels grounding. ground是土地嘛, grounding是一種很腳踏實地的感覺, 很穩. So Gen Z isn’t rejecting the future. They’re just looking for balance. And sometimes, the past is the easiest place to find it. Speaking of retro things, there’s one vintage device I personally miss a lot. The iPod. You guys know iPod? Not iPad. It’s a music player. I still remember the day I got my first iPod. It was a gift from my dad, and I was so excited. I remember opening the box and thinking, “Wow… I’m cool now. I’m officially trendy.” Back then, the iPod was a hit. And it actually solved a real problem. Before the iPod, listening to music was kind of annoying. You had CDs, you had to change discs, and MP3 players were small and hard to use. Then the iPod came out and said, “1,000 songs in your pocket.” That was crazy at the time. It was also super easy to use. The click wheel made sense right away. Click wheel 就是它有一個轉盤, you can use one finger to control and choose songs. It’s so easy to use, no learning curve. And the design matt

2025 年的美妝文化看似追求「自然」，卻變得越來越極端。本集Miss Y提到低維護美感背後的高維護療程、狗狗美容、外表通膨，以及甚麼叫「 full bush」帶來的身體接納討論。一起思考，美究竟是自由，還是壓力？ In this episode, we explore beauty culture in 2025 using clear, learner-friendly English. From “natural” looks that need high-maintenance treatments to dog beauty, appearance inflation, and body acceptance, this episode helps you understand modern beauty trends—and reflect on what beauty really means. Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cmilgpemw00i201yvfrduavyf/comments Transcript: Hey guys, I’m your English teacher, Miss Y! Welcome to the podcast made for intermediate English learners who want to listen to English, and learn about different topics in a fun and easy way. Today we’re talking about something that sounds fun… but is also a little crazy: beauty culture in 2025. I’m using a CNN report that looked back at the year and asked three beauty writers to describe the biggest moments. And honestly, the report’s message is simple: beauty in 2025 was full of extremes. extreme 就是極端. Beauty in 2025 was extreme! It’s too much! On one side, people said, “I want a low-maintenance look.” maintenance 就是維護 維持, low-maintenance 低度的維護, 就是不用花太多心力維持. A low-maintenance look is a beauty style that you don’t need to work hard to get. On the other side, that “low-maintenance” look often needed high-maintenance treatments, high-maintenance 就是要花高度心力維護的, a high-maintenance treatments are ****like lash lifts 燙睫毛, laser hair removal 雷射除毛, or cosmetic procedures 美容療程. And then—yes—beauty expanded in some surprising directions. Like… beauty products for dogs. And skincare products for very young children. And a big conversation online about pubic hair and body acceptance. So today, let’s explore: Why “natural” beauty sometimes isn’t natural at all Why dog beauty became a real thing What “appearance inflation” means—and why it matters How the “full bush” conversation became a symbol of body positivity Don’t worry—I’ll explain vocabulary along the way, and I’ll keep the language clear and comfortable. Let’s get into it. Let’s start with the biggest contradiction of the year. In 2025, many people wanted a “low maintenance” routine. Low maintenance means: not much effort, not much time, not many steps. For example: no mascara, 睫毛膏, no heavy makeup, maybe even no makeup at all Some people pointed to celebrities who appeared makeup-free. makeup-free 不是說makeup自由, … free 表示“沒有某個東西的”. makeup-free 就是沒化妝的 But here’s the twist. To look “effortlessly” fresh, many people used high maintenance treatments. High maintenance means: time, money, and regular appointments. Think about it: If you want to skip mascara… you might get a lash lift. If you want “perfect skin”… you might do laser treatments. If you want “no makeup”… you might still do teeth whitening 牙齒美白, fillers 就是臉部的那種填充, Botox 鼎鼎有名的肉毒, or other procedures. So the style looks simple, but the process can be complicated. This creates a strange feeling: You look “natural,” but your natural look might be supported by technology, clinics, and money. And brands were sending mixed messages. Some brands said: “Redefine beauty on your terms.” Redefine 重新定義, on your terms 就是用你自己的“話”, 自己的方式. “Redefine beauty on your terms.” That sounds empowering—like, “You decide. Be yourself.” But at the same time, other brands sold products like compression face shapewear— Do you know what it is? I didn’t even know that existed. Basically, it’s a tight piece of cloth you wear on your face to make your face shape look better. So beauty culture in 2025 was pushing two ideas at once: “Be yourself.” and “Also, please change yourself.” If you feel confused… you are not alone. In the report, actress Kate Winslet, Kate Winslet就是Titanic鐵達尼號女主角, she said something about modern beauty standards: It’s chaos. chaos 就是災難. And honestly, that word fits. So that’s our foundation: beauty culture felt more intense, more expensive, and more confusing. Now, let’s go to the next surprising trend Okay. Let’s talk about beauty for dogs. In 2025, the beauty industry didn’t only focus on humans. It started selling beauty products for pets—especially dogs. This trend is sometimes called canine cosmetics. Canine means “related to dogs.” Cosmetics means beauty products or makeup. So canine cosmetics is the beauty products for dogs: dog shampoo, dog coat oil, dog fragrance… even dry shampoo for dogs. One writer in the report, Jessica DeFino, described dog beauty as a breakout category—meaning it grew fast and became very noticeable. Some products were described with luxury language: “vegan” 素食, “pH-balanced”, “infused with vitamins”, vitamins 維他命, “signature fragrance”, fragrance 是香味 “Signature fragrance” means: it has a special smell that represents the brand. And here’s an interesting detail: Some dog products are marketed not only for dogs, but for humans to enjoy the smell. So it’s almost like: the dog is wearing perfume, 香水, the dog is wearing perfume for the owner’s happiness. Now, why would dog beauty become popular? The report gives a few reasons. Reason 1: treating animals like humans Human tend to give human traits, emotions, intentions, or characteristics to a non-human thing. And in this case, we now view our pet as our children. For example: The owner now celebrate a dog’s birthday like a child’s birthday. Some buy clothes for a dog, and they would say, “My dog is my baby” As some people choose not to have children, they may treat dogs like kids. So dog beauty becomes like “baby skincare.” Reason 2: People see themselves in their pets The report mentions something fascinating: dogs communicate with facial expressions 臉部表情, and over time they developed facial muscles to connect with humans better—like muscles that help them raise their eyebrows. The dogs can do expressions that human can understand more. So maybe we feel emotionally connected when a dog “looks” expressive. And beauty brands take advantage of that emotional connection. Reason 3: control and “domestication” Jessica DeFino also introduces a more serious idea: that dog beauty might reflect how society controls beings which it “loves.” She references a scholar who discussed how, historically, pets and women were both expected to be “good,” “well-behaved,” and “controlled”—like being kept on a leash, metaphorically. leash 繩子, 被繩子綁住, being kept on a leash. This is not a simple topic, and the writer is not saying “this is definitely true.” She’s suggesting that maybe dog beauty is connected to deeper cultural feelings about power or control. Whether you agree or not, it’s an interesting question: If we love something, why do we still want to shape it, style it, and “improve” it? And there’s also an economic reason: pet grooming is a growing industry, and businesses follow money. So dog beauty shows us something important: The beauty industry tries to expand. Once it sells everything to humans, it looks for the next market. And in 2025, that market was… your dog. Now let’s shift to the next major theme: people talking more openly about procedures. procedures 原本是流程, 但這裡指的是醫美療程. Another writer, Sable Yong, described 2025 as a year of cosmetic transparency. Transparency 最原本的意思是透明. Transparency here means: being open, honest, and not hiding information. In the past, many celebrities avoided talking about surgery or treatments. There was stigma. A stigma is something people judged you negatively for it. Something you should be shamed for. But in 2025, more celebrities and influencers openly said what they did. The report gives examples like: a celebrity sharing details of cosmetic surgery results. The public are curious about specific facelift techniques, facelift 就是拉皮那種手術. And there is an athlete discussing procedures and saying social media isn’t real, so being transparent can help. This openness changed the culture. Instead of “Ew, plastic surgery,” people often reacted with: “Wow, they look great.” That sounds positive, right? But here comes the key idea: appearance inflation. Let’s unpack that phrase carefully. What is “appearance inflation”? In economics, inflation means prices go up. 通貨膨脹, inflation. So appearance inflation means: the “price” and “standard” of looking good goes up. In other words: The baseline expectation for how good you should look becomes higher and higher. And to meet that higher baseline, you might need: Botox, fillers, lasers, professional nails, expensive skincare, skincare就是皮膚保養品, or frequent treatments. treatments跟procedure一樣可以翻成療程. These things become “normal.” But not everyone can afford them. So appearance inflation can increase inequality 不平等: the beauty “standard” becomes expensive, and people with less money feel excluded. It can also make people more worried and suspicious. suspicious, 有疑心的. It makes people suspicious. You might look at someone online and think: “Are they naturally like that? Or did they get treatments?” And then you might feel pressure, like thinking “Do I need to do that too?” Plus, social media makes it worse because: photos are edited, edited 被編輯過的, lighting is controlled, lighting就是照相的時候的打光, and angles are chosen carefully, angles就是拍照的角度. Moreover, sometimes AI is involved So we can start doubting everything we see. Sable Yong ends with a hope: Maybe because AI makes online images less trustworthy, people will return to appreciating real human qualities, like the imperfection, uniqueness, or individuality. That’s an optimistic idea: in 2026, maybe people will get tired of perfect faces and remember that real humans are not perfect, we all have pores 毛孔, lines 紋路, asymmetry 不對稱的地方, and age, of course, because people grow old. Now we’re moving into a topic that might feel a little awkward—but we’ll talk about it calmly and respectfully. It became a big cultural conversation in 2025. The third writer, Alex Peters, discussed what she called “the full bush agenda.” Here, bush 原本的意思是樹叢, here it refers to pubic hair — hair in your private part, 就是在私密處的毛髮. 因為不好意思直接說pubic hair

這集跟著Miss Y 來一趟冬日聖誕市集世界巡禮！我們會走訪2025年特選五大熱門市集，聊聊必看亮點、必吃美食與旅行小提醒。還有我住巴黎時每年必逛的杜樂麗花園聖誕市集、我市集必吃的的療癒回憶！ Join Miss Y for a cozy “travel by imagination” episode about the best Christmas markets in 2025! I'll be sharing highlights, foods to try, and simple travel tips. Plus, I’ll tell you my sweet Paris memory at the Christmas market in Tuileries Garden. Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cmilgpemw00i201yvfrduavyf/comments Transcript: Hey guys, I’m your English teacher, Miss Y! Welcome to the podcast made for intermediate English learners who want to listen to English, and learn about different topics in a fun and easy way. So today, we’re talking about something super cozy, super December, and honestly… it just makes people smile. We’re going to chat about the best Christmas markets around the world in 2025, according to an CNN news report. You know in December, even if you’re super busy, you still see Christmas lights everywhere—shopping malls, cafes, streets… and suddenly you feel like, “Oh… it’s the end of the year.” And for me, I don’t know why, but I really love the holiday atmosphere. atmosphere 氣氛. I love the holiday atmosphere. I love the lights, the music, the warm drinks, family and friends gather together, and that feeling like… life slows down just a little. So I have to be honest: I couldn’t help it. 我忍不住. Because it’s December, I just had to make one more Christmas-related episode. And here’s the best part: Christmas markets are not only about Christmas. They’re about beautiful lights, cute gifts, festive decoration, amazing snacks, warm drinks, and that cozy feeling of being outside in the cold… but your hands are warm because you’re holding something hot. Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, Christmas markets are still really fun. In Taiwan, we do have Christmas market. Y’all are probably thinking about the notorious 板橋耶誕城. But in Europe, the Christmas vibe is another level. vibe 也是像氣氛, like atmosphere. Christmas markets in Europe feel like a big tradition—like the whole city joins in. Here’s A tiny bit of history (don’t worry, it’s simple) Christmas markets are not new. A long time ago in Europe, cities held winter markets in December. One of the earliest recorded ones was in Vienna, 維也納, all the way back in 1298.  Over time, the tradition spread. Now, you can find Christmas markets in many places—Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium, even Singapore and New York. In this episode, I’ll take you on a little “travel by imagination” tour. I’ll share five famous Christmas markets—what you can see there, what you can eat, what makes each place special, and the dates for 2025. So even if you can’t travel this year, you can still feel like you’re walking through the market with me. Alright, let’s start our winter world tour. 1) Vienna, Austria Okay, first stop: Vienna. Vienna is like… elegant. Beautiful buildings, classical music, and during Christmas season, it becomes a fairy tale. 一個童話故事, fairy tale. Vienna has many Christmas markets—around 20. But the most classic one is Wiener Christkindlmarkt — forgive my German, I’ll try my best to pronounce it — also called Rathausplatz, because it’s in front of the City Hall.  Here’s what makes it special: There’s a reindeer train (it’s very cute, especially for kids). There’s a giant Ferris wheel, Ferris wheel 就是摩天輪, so you can see the city lights from the Ferris wheel. There’s a huge Advent wreath. (Advent is the weeks before Christmas. People count down the days. wreath 就是那種聖誕裝飾的花圈) There’s even a children’s ice rink 溜冰場—and it’s pretty big. And there’s something called the Tree of Hearts: a large tree decorated with many shiny heart lights. It’s basically a “photo must-do.” a must-do, 就是必做的事情. So a “photo must-do” is like how in Taiwan we love taking photos with seasonal decorations? Same here. Now let’s talk about food. Because Christmas markets do not just “look cute.” They also “eat a lot.” You can find: Austrian sausages, 香腸, oh they do have good sausages, gingerbread cookies 薑餅餅乾, and warm drinks like Christmas punch, 有水果的調酒會叫punch. The Christmas punch is usually fruity, warm, sometimes with spices. This market runs from November 14 to December 26, 2025. If you ever go, the tip is to go at night. The lights make everything feel magical. 2) Basel, Switzerland Next stop: Switzerland. 瑞士 Switzerland is already famous for being clean, safe, and beautiful. And during Christmas season? It becomes a postcard. Many Swiss towns have Christmas markets, but Basel has one of the biggest—and many people say it’s the best. Basel Christmas Market is in two main areas, they are called Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz Together, there are around 150 decorated stalls. When I say “stalls,” I mean small booth shops. In Chinese, you can think of it like a Christmas version of 市集攤位. So what do they sell? They sell Christmas spices, decorations, candles and lots of handmade items. It’s very “warm and handmade,” not just big brands. Now for families, there’s a really cute area called a Christmas fairytale forest at Münsterplatz. Kids can do activities like: decorating gingerbread and candles, making stars in a workshop, like the stars to decorate your Christmas tree, and watching a puppet show. And for adults (and honestly, also for kids), there are beautiful views. You can climb up St. Martin’s tower and look down at the old town lights. And of course… you can drink mulled wine. Mulled wine is warm red wine with spices. If you don’t drink alcohol, don’t worry—many markets also sell warm non-alcohol drinks, like hot chocolate. If you like a calm, classy Christmas feeling, Basel is a great choice. 3) Strasbourg, France Now let’s go to France—specifically Strasbourg. 中文是史特拉斯堡 Strasbourg is famous because it has one of Europe’s oldest Christmas markets. It started in 1570. That is… seriously old.  The market is spread across more than 10 locations in the city. So it’s not just one square, square 在這裡不是正方形, square 也可以指廣場. It’s not just one square, it is in many locations. It’s like the whole city becomes a Christmas zone. Imagine walking around and seeing thousands of tiny lights, ornaments everywhere and wooden stalls that look like little cabins. cabin 就是小木屋, their stalls look like little cabins, so cute. Strasbourg’s market is very popular. It brings in over 2 million visitors every year. So yes, it can be crowded. If you want to go there during Christmas time, you have to plan early. Otherwise, the hotel rooms will be sold out! The stalls sell decorations, gifts, and local treats. And there’s local wine from the Alsace region. Alsace is one of the regions in France that is known for producing wine, specially white wine. One famous spot is Place Kléber, because that’s where you’ll see the Great Christmas Tree—a huge tree that becomes the center of attention. But honestly, the best part is just wandering, “wander” is like “walk around” — walking slowly through the narrow streets, small squares, and old buildings. It feels like you’re inside a Christmas movie. Here is the tip: if you don’t like crowds, try weekday afternoons. Nighttime is beautiful but very busy. 4) Brussels, Belgium Next: Brussels, in Belgium. 比利時的布魯塞爾 Brussels has something called Winter Wonders. And it’s not only a market—it’s more like a festival. So if you want more activities, more “event feeling,” Brussels is a great pick. Winter Wonders spreads across different areas. Basically, the city center becomes one big holiday route. What can you do there? You can watch a light and sound show, or go ice skating. You can also ride fairground rides (like a mini amusement park). amusement park, 遊樂園. 遊樂設施就叫 ride. And there are about 200 chalets. “Chalets” are those wooden cabins-style stalls. You can eat and drink things like glühwein (that’s mulled wine—this is the German word, and many Christmas markets use it), and you can buy some Belgian beers, you know how Belgium is famous for it’s flavorful beer. And of course… Belgian waffles, something you have to try if you go to Belgium! And Brussels has a huge Christmas tree in Grand Place, which is already a beautiful square even without Christmas. With Christmas lights? Amazing. Brussels Winter Wonders runs from November 28, 2025 to January 5, 2026. So if you’re traveling during New Year’s time, this one is perfect. 5) Prague, Czech Republic Okay, now let’s go to our last pick, Prague. 布拉格 Prague at Christmas is the definition of a winter wonderland. The buildings are old and beautiful, and the streets look magical with lights. Prague has many markets, but the two main ones are: Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square. The best part? They’re only a few minutes’ walk apart. So you can easily visit both in one day, no problem. Old Town Square is great for live shows, dance performances and creative workshops. So it’s more about entertainment and atmosphere. Wenceslas Square is great for handmade gifts and local snacks. And one snack you might see is klobasa, a Czech sausage. Czech 捷克, Prague is the capital of Czech Republic. If you like sausages, you will be very happy in Central Europe. Trust me. Christmas markets = sausage kingdom. And of course, you’ll also find mulled wine again. It’s like the “official drink” of European winter markets. These Prague markets run from mid November till the beginning of January. Again—perfect for year-end travel. My Christmas market memory When I lived in Paris, France, I went to the Christmas market in Paris every year. The Christmas market took place in Tuileries Garden—it’s a really famous garden in Paris, it is beautiful by itself, and you can even see Eiffel Tower, 巴黎鐵塔, you can see the Eiffel Tower in the distance when you enjoy a nice walk in the France garden. Around this time of year, the Christmas market would pop up there. And let me tell you… it was such a vibe.  They had hot food and hot drinks, handmade crafts, little rides and fun attractions like a Ferris wheel. It felt like a wint

這一集我從 Ted-Ed 的 「The Benefits of a Bilingual Brain」 出發，聊聊雙語／多語大腦是怎麼運作的，以及學語言對大腦和人生有什麼好處。也會分享我自己在中文、台語、英文和西班牙文之間切換的經驗，談談每一種語言如何打開不同的門、影響身份認同，讓我們在世界上多一份選擇。 In this episode, I share some ideas from the Ted-Ed video “The Benefits of a Bilingual Brain” and talk about how bilingual and multilingual brains work. I also share my own experience of using Mandarin, Taiwanese, English, and Spanish, and how different languages open different doors, shape our identity, and give us more choices in life. Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cmilgpemw00i201yvfrduavyf/comments Transcript: Hey guys, I’m your English teacher, Miss Y! Welcome to the podcast made for intermediate English learners who want to listen to English, and learn about different topics in a fun and easy way. Today I want to share something that I watched. I was on YouTube and saw a Ted-Ed video called “The benefits of a bilingual brain.” The topic is always my passion, because I’m such a language lover, I always enjoy being able to communicate in different languages. And of course, this topic is super relevant for English learners. So in this episode, I want to share what I learned from the video in a simple way. We’re going to talk about: what it really means to “know” a language, different types of bilinguals, how learning a language as a child or as an adult can affect your brain, and why using more than one language is actually very good exercise for your brain. Lastly, I’ll share some of my own experience as a language learner. Alright, Let’s get into it. Do you “know” a language? Let me ask you a question: If you can say, “Hello, how are you?” in English, does that mean you know English? Hmm… probably not, right? Language ability is usually divided into four parts: Speaking, Writing, Listening and Reading. We can also say there are two active skills, active 就是主動的, the two active skills include speaking and writing; and two passive skills, passive 就是被動的, 被動能力, passive skills, which are listening and reading. For example, maybe you can understand English songs or movies (that is your listening skill), and you can read English posts on Instagram (this is reading skill). But speaking is still hard, and writing feels scary. You still know some English, but your skills are not balanced. balanced 就是平衡的. your skills might not be balanced. But guess what? That’s completely normal. A bilingual 我們稱為雙語人士, 會說兩種語言的人. “Bi” means two, for example bicycle, bicycle有兩個輪子. “lingual” originally meant “tongue” 舌頭, and later on the meaning extended to “language” 後來引申為語言的意思. So there is a kind of bilingual, we call them balanced bilingual. A balanced bilingual is someone who is almost equally strong in all four skills in two languages. But honestly, most bilingual people in the world are not balanced. They use their languages in different ways, in different places, and with different people. Maybe you use Mandarin at home, Taiwanese with your grandparents, and English at work or at school. Each language has its own “zone”, zone 區域, every language has its own “zone” in your life. So when we talk about bilinguals, we’re not talking about “perfect” people who never make mistakes. We’re talking about real people, like you and me, whose languages are strong in some areas and weak in others. And that’s okay. Three types of bilinguals (meet Gabriella and her family) To understand bilingual brains, it helps to look at how people learn their languages. Let’s imagine a girl named Cindy. Cindy is from Taiwan, and her family moves to the United States when she is two years old. At home, her parents speak Mandarine Chinese. Outside, at daycare and later at school, everyone speaks English. So little Cindy grows up hearing Chinese and English at the same time. We can call her a compound bilingual. 這是一種bilingual類型. 複合型雙語者 compound bilingual. That means: She is learning two languages together, and she is learning one idea from the world, but she has two different ways to express them, to express the same idea. For example, she has one concept, concept就是概念, she has one concept of “dog” in her mind, but she has two labels, 他有兩個語言標籤: “狗” in Mandarine Chinese. “dog” in English. She doesn’t really separate them. Both languages grow inside her brain as she learns about the world. Now, let’s look at her teenage brother. He moves to the U.S. when he’s, say, 14 years old. He already speaks Mandarine Chinese fluently. Then he starts learning English at school: grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing. We can call him a coordinate bilingual. 這是另一種bilingual, 對等型雙語者 coordinate bilingual. That means: He has one set of concepts in Chinese that is used at home, and he is building another set of concepts in English that is used at school. His brain is working with two sets of concepts more separately than his little sister. Finally, what about Cindy’s parents? They move to the U.S. as adults. At home they use Chinese almost all the time. At work or outside, they have to use English: maybe at the supermarket, at the bank, or with their boss. They might learn English by translating from Chinese in their head. We can call them subordinate bilinguals. 這種類型是從屬型雙語者, subordinate bilinguals. That means: Their main language is Mandarine Chinese. The second language, English, is often filtered through Chinese. For example, when they hear “dog,” their brain might first think “狗,” and then think of the animal. Now, here’s something important: Even though these three types of bilinguals learned language in different ways, all of them can become fully proficient, proficient 精通, they can all become proficient in another language. They might sound a little different, have an accent, 有口音 accent, or they might choose different words, but they can all communicate very well. From the outside, if you just meet them, you might not even notice the difference. What’s happening inside the brain? Okay, now let’s go inside the brain. Don’t worry, we’re not going to be super scientific. I’ll keep it simple. So our brain has two halves 有兩辦, called hemispheres: There are Left hemisphere and Right hemisphere. In general: The left side is more logical 邏輯性的 and analytical 分析性的. It helps with structure, rules, and details. The right side is more emotional 情緒的 and social 社會性的. It helps with feelings, tone, and context. This is not a 100% clear line, but it’s a helpful way to think about it. Language uses both sides: You need structure and grammar You also need emotion, attitude, and social feeling. Here comes an important idea called the critical period hypothesis. 關鍵期假說. hypothesis 就是假說 一個理論. This hypothesis says: When we are children, our brains are more plastic – more flexible and changeable. Because of this, children can use both hemispheres more easily for language learning. As we grow older, language ability tends to move more to one side of the brain, usually the left half of the brain. So if a child learns a new language early, their brain might connect that language to both halves – the logical half and the emotional half. They might have a deeper “feel” for the language. For adults, language is usually more focused in one hemisphere, so the process can feel harder and slower. But this does not mean adults can’t learn languages. It just means the brain is working in a different way. Child learners vs. adult learners: different superpowers Let’s compare two people: A child who learns a second language early and an adult who learns a second language later. The child might get more natural pronunciation, and pick up slang and expressions easily, slang 一些流行語, they learn slang easily; and also they understand social feelings in the language more intuitively 更直覺性的, intuitive 直覺的, understand the social part of the language intuitively. It almost feels like the language becomes a natural part of their identity. identity 身份認同. The adult might: think more carefully about grammar rules, translate in their head at the beginning, and feel that speaking is “less emotional” in the second language. In fact, some research shows something very interesting: When adults make decisions in their second language, 第二語言, 或第二外語, they sometimes become more rational, rational 理性的, they are more rational and less emotional when thinking in the second language. They might think more logically and feel less emotional bias, bias 偏見, they feel less emotional bias in the second language than in their native language. For example, imagine you have a difficult choice, and you read the problem in English instead of Mandarin. You might feel a little more distance from the emotion, and that can help you think more clearly. So both groups have different strengths: Child learners are more natural, emotional, instinctive. Adult learners are more rational, careful, and conscious 有意識的. conscious. And both ways of learning are equally valuable. Now for one of my favorite parts: If you are bilingual or learning another language, your brain may actually look different. Researchers using brain imaging have found that bilingual people often have higher grey matter density, density 密度, they have higher grey matter density in certain areas, and there are more activity in some regions when using the second language Grey matter 灰質區, 是什麼呢? It’s the part of the brain that has many of your neurons 神經元 and synapses 突觸 – which are the cells and connections that process information. So if your grey matter density is higher, your brain works more efficiently when you learn, think or process information from the outside world. So when you use more than one language, it’s like giving your brain a workout. You know how lifting weights can strengthen your muscles? lifting weights 重訓, lifting weights can strengthen your muscles, right? In a similar way, switching between languages is like your brain lifting mental weights. 好像在重訓你的大腦. And there’s more. Studies suggest that bilingualism can help delay the onset of brain diseases like Alzheimer’s 阿茲罕默症 and dementia 失

這一集，我要帶你看看芬蘭很特別的「小聖誕派對」，聽聽他們怎麼在又黑又冷的冬天，把生活變得很溫暖、很快樂。我也聊到自己以前在北歐遇到的雪國風景和麋鹿小故事。一起感受北歐冬天的魔法，看看為什麼大家說芬蘭真的超會過聖誕節。 In this episode, I take you into Finland’s fun “Little Christmas” parties and how people make their dark, freezing winter feel warm and joyful. I also share a bit about my own snowy trip to a Nordic country and some cozy moments there. Come enjoy a little Nordic winter magic and see why people say Finland really knows how to celebrate Christmas. ----------------------------- Hey guys, I’m your English teacher, Miss Y! Welcome to the podcast made for intermediate English learners who want to listen to English, and learn about different topics in a fun and easy way. Today I want to tell you something really fun about Finland. You know, the country with thousands of lakes, a lot of forests, and very cold winters. Finland 這個國家就是芬蘭. But even though winter is super dark and super cold, Finnish people know how to make the season feel warm and cheerful. And honestly… I think they might be the true Christmas masters. Let me tell you why. So, a lot of tourists travel to Finland in December for a very simple reason: They want to meet the real Santa Claus. There’s a place in northern Finland called Rovaniemi, and inside it is Santa Claus Village. Finland calls it the “home of the true Santa,” and yeah—it’s very cute and very Christmasy. You can see Santa, take photos, send Christmas postcards, all that good stuff. But here’s the thing that surprised me: Most Finnish people don’t need Santa’s Village at all to feel Christmas. For them, Christmas begins way earlier—like… at the start of November. And it begins with something called pikkujoulut, which means “little Christmas.” 什麼是Pikkujoulut? Okay, imagine this: You finish work or school, and instead of going home like usual, you go to a fun little party. There’s food. There’s music. People are laughing. Maybe there’s a silly game. Maybe someone is wearing a Santa hat. Maybe someone is too excited and already dancing. That’s basically pikkujoulut. These parties happen everywhere—in offices, schools, restaurants, homes, bowling alleys… you name it. 你想得到的都有. And you don’t just go to one. You might go to five Or ten. Even twelve if you have a lot of groups of friends. It’s like Finland turns into one giant warm-up party before Christmas. So, what do people eat at these “little Christmas” parties? Well, it depends. Sometimes the food is super simple—cheese, crackers, snacks. But sometimes it’s a full Christmas meal, even in November. Typical Finnish holiday foods include: Christmas ham, vegetable casseroles, casserole 就是那種用鍋子燉煮的燉菜，就是像我們滷一鍋菜的那種料理. They also eat Beetroot salad, Beetroot像一種顏色很紅的蘿蔔, 外國人通常拌沙拉生吃, 我不知道為什麼我吃beetroot的時候覺得她有一種玉米罐頭的味道. If you try it, let me know how you think about it. And next, they sometimes have smoked or cured salmon, love. 這我很愛. The end of the meal they’ll have desserts with plums, puff pastries, 就是酥皮類的甜點, and Gingerbread cookies 薑餅餅乾. And of course… the classic drink called glögi. It’s like hot wine with spices. 像那種香料熱紅酒, 英文會說mulled wine. And they put raisins and almonds in it. raisins 葡萄乾, almond就是杏仁。It’s warm, sweet, and perfect for cold weather. I love it during chilly Christmas time. For some people, the party stays very sweet and cozy. For others… let’s just say the party gets a little more exciting. There are sooo many funny stories about pikkujoulut. For example, one musician remembers performing at a bowling alley Christmas party. bowling alley, 保齡球館, 保齡球館派對耶, sounds interesting. He said everybody was drinking a lot, the music was loud, people were dancing between bowling lanes… and then something crazy happened: Santa Claus got arrested. arrested 被逮補的 Yes. Santa Claus got arrested. The police came. And Santa—still in costume—was taken away in a police car. Can you imagine Santa spending the night in jail? Only in Finland. Another woman remembers a very different style of pikkujoulut. When she was a kid, her parents took her to family-friendly parties with porridge, candy, and a Santa visit. But when she became a teenager, things changed. She and her friends had a high school pikkujoulut at a Finnish summer cottage. cottage 就是小木屋. They had the party in a cottage. They all did the very Finnish thing: Go to the sauna, sauna 三溫暖… after the sauna, they go roll around naked in the snow. naked 就是沒穿衣服，裸體在雪地上打滾. Wow. She said it wasn’t even a very “Christmas” party—they just ate chips and candy. But it was super fun and unforgettable. And that’s really the spirit of pikkujoulut: not about fancy traditions, just about enjoying the moment. Actual Christmas in Finland is usually calm, quiet, and family-focused. People go to church, visit the cemetery with candles, and have a peaceful dinner at home. But pikkujoulut? Completely the opposite. 完全相反 It’s the time when Finns let loose, laugh loudly, meet new people, and get creative. One Finnish principal said pikkujoulut is “the non-serious stuff”—the fun stuff you share with friends or coworkers, not your family. Because think about it: In December, Helsinki has only six hours of daylight. Helsinki is the capital of Finland. Helsinki has only six hours of daylight, so for a big part of the day, it’s cold, snowy, and dark. Of course people need a reason to celebrate… again and again and again. Now here’s something I love about Finnish culture: If you do something silly at a party, people don’t judge you for the rest of your life. Unless you actually hurt someone or were really rude, most mistakes are just laughed off. laughed off 就是一笑了之。The next week at work, someone might quietly say, “Oh, Teppo did it again,” and then everyone continues with their normal life. No drama. No gossip. Just: “Yep. Things happen. Moving on.” I think that attitude makes pikkujoulut feel very safe and relaxed. You can have fun without worrying too much. In summery, why do people say the Finns, the Finns 就是Finnish people, 芬蘭人, the Finns might be the best at celebrating Christmas? First, they celebrate early. Other countries start in December. Finns start in November. Also, they celebrate often. Not one party. Not two parties. Maybe ten parties! Furthermore, they mix tradition with fun. Old traditions like porridge with a secret almond… Mixed with modern fun like bowling or sauna parties. And they fight the dark winter with light and laughter. Six hours of daylight? No problem. Just have another party. Last but not least, they don’t pressure people to be perfect. You can be goofy. You can be silly. You can relax and be yourself. Honestly, that’s what makes Christmas feel special—being with people, sharing joy, and enjoying a little magic even in the coldest season. Maybe pikkujoulut really is a state of mind. a state of mind, 一種心態. Their life philosophy. 他們的生活哲學. You know, after learning all this about Finland’s Christmas traditions, I started thinking about my own experience traveling in the Nordic countries. Nordic country 就是北歐國家. I’ve never been to Finland, but I’ve been to Norway, 挪威, and some parts of it felt a little similar to what people describe about Finnish winter life. I still remember visiting a reindeer farm there. reindeer就是麋鹿. The ground was covered with thick, soft snow, and it was snowing lightly the whole time. It was freezing. But at the same time, everything looked so beautiful. Everything was completely white, quiet, and peaceful. And the reindeers were so gentle. When I touched their fur, fur 就是毛皮, their fur felt a little rough, but you could tell it was really warm and perfect for the cold weather. After walking around outside in the snow, we went into a small wooden cottage to rest. And wow… the moment the door closed, it felt so warm and cozy inside. We even drank hot reindeer stew, 他們有麋鹿燉湯, well, they only kill old reindeers, so I think the reindeers generally have a good life. The warm soup after the freezing cold… honestly, it felt like happiness in a bowl. So when I imagine Finnish people having all these little Christmas parties in that kind of winter—warm drinks, friends, laughter, cozy rooms—I kind of understand why it feels so special. It’s that warm feeling in the middle of a long, dark, freezing season. How about you guys? Would you like to visit Finland one day? Do you want to see the hometown of Santa Claus? Or maybe join a real pikkujoulut party? I think it would be pretty fun! I’m Miss Y, and I hope you enjoyed learning English with me. If you liked this episode, come back next time for another fun 15 to 20 minutes of simple, clear English and a brand-new topic to explore. Stay curious, Learn the World in simple English with Miss Y, I’ll talk to you again soon.https://open.firstory.me/user/cmilgpemw00i201yvfrduavyf/comments Powered by Firstory Hosting

中日因台灣問題而升溫的外交緊張，到底發生了什麼？ 本集用清楚、好懂、口語英文帶你認識整起事件的背景、歷史與最新進展。 適合初中級～中級英文學習者，一邊聽英文、一邊討論國際新聞。 🌏✨ Rising tensions between China and Japan over Taiwan — what exactly happened? In this episode, I’ll guide you through the background, history, and latest developments in clear, simple, and conversational English. Perfect for low-intermediate to intermediate English learners who want to practice listening while understanding global news.  https://open.firstory.me/user/cmilgpemw00i201yvfrduavyf/comments Transcript: “China & Japan: What’s Going On?” Hey guys, I’m your English teacher, Miss Y! Welcome to the podcast made for intermediate English learners who want to listen to English, and learn about different topics in a fun and easy way. So grab your headphones, make yourself comfortable, and let’s dive in! Today we’re diving into a topic that’s been all over the news recently. It’s about China, Japan, and their rising tension over Taiwan. Now, I know political topics can feel a bit heavy, but don’t worry — I’m going to explain it like we’re just chatting over coffee. Simple English, clear ideas. So let’s take a deep breath… and let’s jump in. What’s Actually Happening? So here’s the situation in a nutshell: Recently, China and Japan got into a really heated argument. Not a small disagreement — a serious diplomatic fight. diplomatic, 外交的. So the two countries is having a diplomatic fight. Everything started when Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, made a statement. Sanae Takaichi, 就是高市早苗. She is the prime minister, 首相. The Japanese prime minister made a statement. She said that if China attacked Taiwan, Japan might use its self-defense forces to respond. self-defense 自我防衛，forces就是軍隊，或是軍備。日本自衛隊的翻譯就是self-defense forces。If China attacked Taiwan, Japan might use its self-defense forces to respond to that situation. Her attitude is aligned with Japan’s former Prime Minister, Abe Shinzo, 安倍晉三, who said that: “A Taiwan contingency is a Japan contingency.” Contingency is something that might possibly happen in the future, usually causing problems. Contingency就是未來可能出現的危急情況. Anyways, Takaichi’s comment upset China. Like… really upset them. A Chinese diplomat，diplomat就是外交官。 A Chinese diplomat then posted something online that many people thought sounded like a threat，聽起來像一個威脅，threat。 It sounded like a threat toward the Japanese prime minister — something very harsh. One thing led to another. 事情一件接著一件發生。 This whole situation got emotional, political, and complicated very quickly. Let’s Walk Through the Timeline. On November 7 -- The spark. During a meeting in Japan’s parliament, someone asked the prime minister: “What situation around Taiwan would be considered dangerous enough for Japan to act?” And she answered something like: “Well, if there are wars or military force, that could threaten Japan.” Now, in Japanese law, there is a term called a “survival-threatening situation.” survival就是跟生存有關的，threatening，威脅。 survival-threatening situation 攸關存亡的威脅。 This means Japan can take action if an attack on an ally also puts Japan at risk. ally 就是盟友，for example, the US is an ally of Japan, so is Taiwan now. put someone at risk, 就是使某人處在危險之中。So if there is an attack on an ally, and it also puts Japan at risk, then they can do something to defend. So what the prime minister said basically suggested that a war involving Taiwan might activate Japan’s military. China did not like that. They called her comment “extremely wrong.” The next day — things explode. A Chinese diplomat in Osaka reposted a news article about her comment... and then added a very angry statement, something like: “A dirty head that sticks itself in must be cut off.” Cut off? Can you imagine? Pretty shocking, right? People immediately reacted. Japan protested China protested back. The post was deleted afterwards, but the anger stayed. The situation spreads. Then we saw travel warnings, Chinese airlines offering refunds, Japanese movies delayed in China, politicians making stronger statements every day. This wasn’t just an online fight anymore — it became a full diplomatic crisis. crisis，一個危機，危險的情況。This seemed to become a big diplomatic crisis. Why Is This Such a Sensitive Topic? To really understand this argument, we need to talk about two background issues: Historical tension between China and Japan, tension 就是緊繃，緊張的情況。These two countries have a long, painful history: During world war II, Japan’s military actions caused millions of deaths in China. There has been decades of mistrust. Even though today’s generations weren’t alive back then, the emotions are still there in Chinese people’s mind. Sometimes, one political comment can bring back all those old wounds. 傷口 wound. It brings back the old wounds. Second, Taiwan’s political status. Taiwan governs itself. But China says Taiwan is part of China. Japan and the US don’t officially say Taiwan is a country… They don’t. But they also kind of support Taiwan’s democracy and safety. democracy 就是民主. These countries do supports Taiwan’s democracy. This creates a situation called “strategic ambiguity.” strategic 戰略性的, ambiguity, 模糊. So strategic ambiguity means like they say: “We’re not telling you exactly what we will do. And that uncertainty is part of our strategy.” This has worked for decades. Everyone avoids saying too much. But Takaichi’s comment? It was more direct than usual. And China felt that Japan was stepping too close to the topic. Why Did Japan’s Comment Make China So Angry? There are a few reasons. Reason 1, it challenges China’s “one-China” principle China says Taiwan is part of its territory. territory, 領地. They think Taiwan is their territory. So when another country suggests it might protect Taiwan, China sees that as interfering. interfere就是干預, 干擾. China thinks this action is interfering their domestic issue. The second reason, Japan’s growing defense plans, defense 就是防衛;國防. Japan has been increasing military spending. The prime minister is known for being strong on defense. She’s very supportive of Taiwan. To China, this looks like Japan is getting more involved in an issue China considers its “core interest.” 核心利益, core interest. Taiwan’s issue is China’s core interest. The third reason, fear of foreign alliances, 同盟. China worries that Japan + the US + Taiwan might team up if something happens. So any public comment from Japan about “defending Taiwan” makes Beijing extremely nervous. Why Japan Cares About Taiwan? This is important. Japan isn’t only thinking about politics — it’s also thinking about safety. Taiwan is very close to Japan. If something happens there, Japan could be affected militarily, economically, geographically Also, a major part of the world’s technology — especially computer chips, now “chips” here doesn’t meant potatoes chips, chip 也是晶片的意思 — some of the most high tech chips come from Taiwan. Therefore, stability is important for Japan’s economy as well. stability 就是穩定。Stability is what Japan wants. How the Two Countries Responded? Here’s what each side did. Japan’s reaction: They defended the prime minister’s comment. They protested the Chinese diplomat’s harsh post. They told China to take action about the online threat. They emphasized: “We want peace in the Taiwan Strait.” Taiwan Strait 就是台灣海峽. China’s reaction: They demanded that Japan take back the comment. They summoned the Japanese ambassador in China，summon 召喚或傳喚 , ambassador 外交官。China summoning Japanese ambassador means China officially called Japan’s ambassador into the Chinese foreign ministry to give a strong warning or complaint. It’s a serious diplomatic action, like saying: “Come here, come here. We need to talk — now.” They warned Japan to “stop playing with fire”. They told Chinese citizens to avoid traveling to Japan and allowed airlines to offer refunds. And they even suspended some Japanese movie releases. suspend, 暫停。China paused or delayed the release of certain Japanese movies in China. In short: Both sides pushed back hard. This argument is not only about one sentence from Japan. It’s about old historical mistrust, modern-day security in Asia, Taiwan’s political future, US influence in the region, rising nationalism in both countries And when emotions, history, and politics mix… things can escalate fast. What Could Happen Next? Most experts believe that neither side actually wants a real conflict. But both want to show strength. So what will likely happen? There will be more strong statements, more diplomatic tension, maybe more warnings or travel advice, and eventually… the situation will probably calm down again. But the deeper issues — history, Taiwan, security — won’t disappear. So this probably won’t be the last time Japan and China clash over this topic. What Can We Learn from This? Here are a question for you to think about after learning this news. How do you think the tension might affect everyday people in Japan or China? I personally think Chinese citizens are the scapegoat of this situation, as always. Here, Scapegoat refers to a person who is blamed for something that has gone wrong, but they haven’t done anything wrong. 就是一個代罪羔羊的意思. Chinese people have become to be the scapegoat, they are the sacrifice to punish Japan in order to save their government’s face. So, what do you think? How can this situation affect people from both countries, or even affect people from Taiwan? Alright, that’s it for today’s episode. Thanks so much for hanging out with me today! This was a big topic, but I hope the way we broke it down made it clear and easy to follow. I’m Miss Y, and I hope you enjoyed learning English with me. If you liked this episode, come back next time for another fun 15 to 20 minutes of simple, clear English and a brand-new topic to explore. Stay curious, Learn the World in simple English with Miss Y, I’ll talk to you again soon, 下次見囉！ Powered by Firstory Hosting