Voices on the Road 艾米路上

Amie Road
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Amie Road 是一個以「社群」為核心的語言學習線上平台，提供英文、日文學習者一個持續成長、彼此支持、跨文化交流的空間。 Amie 是 Amie Road 的創辦人，同時也是這個 Podcast 的主持人。 在這裡，我們把社群裡最真實、最有力量的故事帶給你。 你會聽到—— ・來自不同背景的產業職人：他們的專業、人生選擇、以及語言如何成為職涯的跳板。 ・來自學員的真實聲音：學習英文、日文或跨文化成長的歷程紀錄。 ・關於教育、語言學習、旅遊與跨國生活的對話：把語言變成生活的一部分，也把世界變成你的日常。 Amie Road 相信： 語言能開啟機會，社群能陪你走得更遠，而故事能讓我們看見更大的世界。 Welcome to Voices on the Road — 讓我們一起邁向一個語言更自由、視野更寬廣、人生更接近理想的旅程。 -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

  1. 3d ago

    Episode 18 ｜[全英] 解密 Amie Road 課程設計背後的理論！

    很多學生在Amie Road上課後總是覺得我們和別人不一樣，但他們卻說不出來哪裡不一樣。 今天就讓我們課程總監跟大家解密吧！ Hello everyone, and welcome back to Voices on the Road. I’m your host, Chloe. But before we dive in, as always, you can find our full transcript in the show notes. If you want to take notes while listening, or if you want to learn more about Amie Road, feel free to click the link and check it out! Alright, let's get back to today's topic. Today, I want to ask you a question. Have you ever memorized a list of fifty vocabulary words for a test, got a perfect score, but then a week later, you couldn't use a single one of those words in a real conversation? If this has happened to you, it is not your fault. It is because of the way you were taught. Today, we are going to talk about the teaching philosophy we use here at Amie Road. We are going to introduce a concept called CLT, and discuss why something called "contextualization" is the secret to true fluency. First, what is CLT? It stands for Communicative Language Teaching. In traditional classrooms, teachers focus mostly on strict grammar rules and translating sentences word by word. But CLT is an approach that believes the main goal of learning a language is simply to communicate. It focuses on real-life interactions. We want you to be able to order coffee, share your feelings, or debate a social issue, rather than just passing a multiple-choice test. To achieve this goal, we have to use something called Contextualization. What does this long word mean? Well, "context" means the situation or the background of an event. So, contextualization means learning language inside a real, meaningful situation. Think about it: words don't live alone. If you just memorize the word "flashy" or "subtle" from a dictionary, your brain doesn't know when or how to use them. You are learning the words in isolation. But if you learn the word "flashy" while we are talking about the "New Money" fashion trend, your brain instantly connects the word to a picture, a vibe, and a real-life situation. That is contextualization! This is exactly what we strive to do at Amie Road. Whether we are designing our main course syllabus or writing our weekly newsletters, we always incorporate contextualization. We don't just give you random grammar exercises. We give you a theme—like minimalism, Y2K fashion, or studying abroad—and we teach you the specific English you need for that exact situation. By learning this way, you are not just memorizing; you are preparing for real life! Now, let’s move to our Vocabulary Corner. Here are five key words from today's episode. 1. Approach This is a noun. It means a specific way of doing something or thinking about a problem. Example: "Amie Road uses a communicative approach to teach English." 2. Context This is a very important noun. It means the situation, background, or environment in which something happens. Example: "You can often guess the meaning of a new word by looking at its context." 3. Isolation This is a noun. It means the state of being separate from other people or things. Example: "It is very hard to remember vocabulary if you study it in isolation." 4. Incorporate This is a great B2 verb. It means to include something as part of something larger. Example: "We try to incorporate real-life situations into our syllabus design." 5. Syllabus This is a noun. It is a document that outlines the subjects or topics that will be studied in a particular course. Example: "The teacher gave us the syllabus on the first day of class." Thank you for listening to Voices on The Road. If you want to learn more about Amie Road, we are an English learning platform focusing not only on English improvement but also achieving your dream life through English learning. If you want to know more, please follow us on Instagram: amieroad_official. I’ll see you in the next one, stay tuned! 首先，什麼是 CLT？它的全稱是「溝通式語言教學法」（Communicative Language Teaching）。 在傳統課堂中，老師大多著重於嚴格的語法規則和逐字翻譯句子。但 CLT 是一種教學法，它認為學習語言的主要目標就是為了「溝通」。它專注於現實生活中的互動。我們希望你能有能力去點咖啡、分享情感，或是辯論社會議題，而不僅僅是通過選擇題考試。 為了達成這個目標，我們必須運用所謂的「情境化」（Contextualization）。 這個長單字是什麼意思呢？「Context」（語境/情境）指的是事件的情況或背景。因此，情境化意味著在真實且有意義的情況下學習語言。 想想看，單字不是孤立存在的。如果你只是從字典裡背下「flashy」（俗氣、顯眼的）或「subtle」（微妙的）這些單字，你的大腦並不知道何時或如何使用它們。你是在「孤立狀態」下學習這些單字。 但如果你是在討論「新貴」（New Money）時尚趨勢時學到「flashy」這個詞，你的大腦會瞬間將這個詞與圖片、氛圍以及現實生活中的情境連結起來。這就是情境化！ 這正是我們在 Amie Road 極力追求的目標。無論是在規劃主課程大綱（syllabus）或撰寫每週電子報時，我們總是融入情境化。我們不只是給你隨機的語法練習，而是提供一個主題——比如極簡主義、Y2K 時尚或出國留學——並教你在那個特定情境下所需的專業英語。 透過這種方式學習，你不僅是在死記硬背，而是在為現實生活做準備！ 現在，讓我們進入「詞彙角落」。這裡有五個來自今天節目的關鍵詞彙： 1. Approach (教學法、方法) 這是一個名詞，指做某事或思考問題的特定方式。 例句：Amie Road 使用溝通式教學法來教授英語。 2. Context (情境、語境) 這是一個非常重要的名詞，指事情發生的情況、背景或環境。 例句：你通常可以透過觀察語境來猜測一個新單字的意思。 3. Isolation (孤立、隔離) 這是一個名詞，指與其他人或事物分開的狀態。 例句：如果你在孤立狀態下（單獨）學習，是很難記住單字的。 4. Incorporate (包含、融入) 這是一個很棒的 B2 等級動詞，意指將某事物作為更大整體的一部分納入其中。 例句：我們嘗試將現實生活中的情境融入到課程大綱的設計中。 5. Syllabus (課程大綱) 這是一個名詞，指概述特定課程中將要學習的科目或主題的文件。 例句：老師在開學第一天就給了我們課程大綱 聯絡 Amie Road ▫️追蹤我們的IG: https://www.instagram.com/amieroad_official/ ▫️官網看更多資訊：https://amieroad.com/ ▫️加入官方Line了解課程：https://lin.ee/5VRMEiq ▫️成為Amie Road VIP會員：https://reurl.cc/OR9dN9 ▫️合作/投稿：contact@amieroad.com -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

  2. Jul 13

    Episode 17 ｜[全英] 為何單字總是記不起來？搞懂「遺忘曲線」，讓單字被鎖定在你的長期記憶中！

    你是否也常常因為「背完單字隔天就忘記」的原因而放棄英文？ 千萬別氣餒！這只是「遺忘曲線」在運作罷了。 我們的大腦為了節省能量，會自動篩除那些我們不使用的資訊。 今天Amie Road 的課程總監要親自跟大家分享這個理論以外，也會教你如何打破這個惱人的機制！ 一起戰勝英文吧！ ＿＿＿＿＿＿ 逐字稿： Before we dive in, as always, you can find our full transcript in the show notes. If you want to take notes while listening, or if you want to learn more about Amie Road, feel free to click the link and check it out! Alright, let's get back to today's topic. Today, we are going to talk about something that every single language learner experiences. Tell me if this sounds familiar: You sit down at your desk, you spend an hour studying a list of 20 new English words, and you feel great. You know all of them! But then, you wake up the next morning, and… they are gone. You can only remember maybe three or four words. It is incredibly frustrating. You might think, "Wow, my memory is terrible!" But I am here to tell you a secret: Your memory is not terrible. Your brain is actually working exactly the way it is supposed to! Today, we are going to talk about a famous psychological concept called the Forgetting Curve, and how we can beat it. The Forgetting Curve was discovered by a German psychologist named Hermann Ebbinghaus. He did an experiment to see how fast humans forget new information. He found out that if we don't review what we learn, we lose information incredibly quickly. In fact, his graph shows that within just 24 hours, you might forget over 50% of what you learned! After a week, you might only retain about 10% or 20%. The curve drops very fast at the beginning, and then it flattens out. So, when you forget those English words the next day, it is not your fault. It is just the Forgetting Curve doing its job. Our brains are designed to throw away information that we don't use, to save energy. So, how do we fix this? How do we tell our brain, "Hey, keep these words, they are important!"? The answer is a technique called Spaced Repetition. To beat the curve, you have to review your notes at specific intervals—meaning specific amounts of time. You don't need to study the same word for three hours today. Instead, study it for five minutes today. Then, review it again tomorrow. Then, wait three days and review it again. Then, wait a week. Every time you review the word, you reset the curve back to 100%. And every time you do this, the curve drops slower and slower, until the word is finally locked in your long-term memory. So, take those notes, and make a smart schedule. Work with your brain, not against it! Now, let’s move to our Vocabulary Corner. Here are five key words from today's episode. 1. Frustrating This is an adjective. It describes a feeling of being annoyed or angry because you cannot achieve what you want. Example: "It is so frustrating when you study hard but still forget the vocabulary." 2. Curve This is a noun. It is a line that bends. On a graph, it shows how a number goes up or down. Example: "The forgetting curve shows a sharp drop in the first 24 hours." 3. Retain This is a formal B2 verb. It means to keep something or remember facts and information. Example: "Reading out loud can help you retain new English words." 4. Interval This is a noun. It means a period of time between two events. Example: "You should review your notes at regular intervals, like every three days." 5. Spaced Repetition This is a learning technique where you review information with increasing amounts of time between each review session. Example: "Using flashcards is a great way to practice spaced repetition." Thank you for listening to Voices on The Road. If you want to learn more about Amie Road, we are an English learning platform focusing not only on English improvement but also achieving your dream life through English learning. If you want to know more, please follow us on Instagram: amieroad_official. I’ll see you in the next one, stay tuned! 「遺忘曲線」（The Forgetting Curve）是由一位名叫赫爾曼·艾賓豪斯（Hermann Ebbinghaus）的德國心理學家所發現的。 他進行了一項實驗，觀察人類遺忘新資訊的速度。 他發現，如果我們不複習所學的內容，遺忘的速度會快得驚人。事實上，他的圖表顯示，僅在 24 小時內，你就可能忘掉超過 50% 的學習內容！一週之後，你可能只剩下約 10% 到 20% 的記憶。 這條曲線在初期下降得非常快，隨後才會趨於平緩。所以，當你發現隔天就忘了那些英語單字時，那並不是你的錯，這只是「遺忘曲線」在運作罷了。我們的大腦為了節省能量，會自動篩除那些我們不使用的資訊。 那麼，我們該如何解決這個問題呢？我們該如何告訴大腦：「嘿，保留這些單字，它們很重要！」？ 答案就是一種稱為「間隔複習法」（Spaced Repetition）的技巧。 為了戰勝這個曲線，你必須在「特定間隔」——也就是固定的時間點——複習你的筆記。你不需要今天花三小時重複背同一個單字，相反地，今天只需學習五分鐘，明天再複習一次，接著間隔三天後再複習，然後再間隔一週。 每次你複習該單字時，都會將記憶曲線重置回 100%。而每一次這樣做，曲線下降的速度就會越來越慢，直到該單字最終被鎖定在你的長期記憶中。 所以，記好筆記並安排一個聰明的複習計劃吧。順應你的大腦運作方式，而不是跟它作對！ 現在，讓我們進入「詞彙角落」。這裡有五個來自今天節目的關鍵詞彙： 1. Frustrating (令人挫折的) 這是一個形容詞，用來描述因為無法達成目標而感到惱火或憤怒的感覺。 例句：明明很努力學習卻還是忘記單字，這真的非常令人挫折。 2. Curve (曲線) 這是一個名詞，指彎曲的線條。在圖表上，它顯示了數值的升降變化。 例句：遺忘曲線顯示在最初的 24 小時內會有大幅度的下降。 3. Retain (保持、記住) 這是一個正式的 B2 等級動詞，意指保留某物，或記住事實與資訊。 例句：大聲朗讀有助於你記住（保持）新的英語單字。 4. Interval (間隔) 這是一個名詞，指兩個事件之間的時間段。 例句：你應該以規律的間隔複習筆記，例如每三天一次。 5. Spaced Repetition (間隔複習法) 這是一種學習技巧，透過在每次複習之間增加時間長度來鞏固記憶。 例句：使用單字卡是練習間隔複習法的好方法。 聯絡 Amie Road ▫️追蹤我們的IG: https://www.instagram.com/amieroad_official/ ▫️官網看更多資訊：https://amieroad.com/ ▫️加入官方Line了解課程：https://lin.ee/5VRMEiq ▫️成為Amie Road VIP會員：https://reurl.cc/OR9dN9 ▫️合作/投稿：contact@amieroad.com -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

  3. May 29

    Episode 16 ｜[全英] 筆記不是逐字照抄就好！揭秘讓大腦真正開竅的「主動筆記心法」

    你有沒有過這樣的經驗？ 上課或聽講座時，手上的原子筆從來沒停過，密密麻麻地抄下了所有的內容； 又或者，總覺得筆記一定要做得漂漂亮亮、用色斑斕，才算是有在認真學習。 但你有沒有想過，如果我們只是像機器一樣照抄，大腦其實正在進行「被動學習」，這也是為什麼許多知識我們總是轉頭就忘。 真正的記筆記高手，他們的筆記本可能不完美，但在記錄的過程中，大腦其實都在進行一場高強度的「健身鍛鍊」。他們做筆記不只是為了留存紀錄，而是為了啟動關鍵的思考機制，無痛將聽到的資訊內化成自己帶得走的能力。 在本集節目中，我們將打破大家對「完美筆記」的迷思，帶你重新梳理如何透過更有策略的記錄與後續行動，讓你的英文與生活知識學習真正不一樣。 如果你也想告別被動照抄、想知道如何真正精通那些課本沒教的知識， 一起收聽這集，讓我們打破學習的盲點！❤️ 逐字稿： Chloe: Hello everyone, and welcome back to Voices on the Road. I’m your host, Chloe. Chloe: But before we dive in, as always, you can find our full transcript in the description box . If you want to take notes while listening, or if you want to learn more about Amie Road, feel free to click the link and check it out! Alright, let's get back to today's topic. Actually, the announcement I just made is the perfect introduction for today's episode. I always tell you that you can take notes while listening, but today I want to talk about why you should do it. We all know we should take notes. Teachers have been telling us to do it since elementary school. But what is the real importance of note-taking, especially when you are learning a language? Chloe: Many students think that taking notes just means copying exactly what the teacher says, or writing down every single word from a presentation. But if you just copy like a machine, you are doing something we call passive learning. Good note-taking is actually active learning. When you take notes properly, your brain has to do a lot of work. You have to listen to the information, understand it, decide what is the most important part, and then write it down in your own words. This process is like a workout for your brain. It helps move the information from your short-term memory into your long-term memory. Chloe: So, how can we be better at it? First, don't try to write everything. Just jot down the key points. If we are learning English, write down the new vocabulary, or those natural "chunks" and idioms we talked about in previous episodes. Second, don't worry about making your notes look perfect. Thanks to social media, we sometimes feel like our notes need to be beautiful and aesthetic, with five different colors of highlighters. But they don't! Your notes just need to be clear and useful for you. **And finally, the most important part of note-taking happens *after* you finish writing. You have to review them. **Taking the notes is only half of the journey. Looking at them again the next day, or a week later, is how you truly master the knowledge. Chloe: Now, let’s move to our Vocabulary Corner. Here are five key words and phrases from today's episode. 1. Passive / Active These are opposite adjectives. "Passive" means accepting what happens without doing anything. "Active" means participating and putting in effort. Example: "Don't just be a passive listener; try to be an active learner." 2. Process As a verb, this means to think about and understand information. Example: "My brain needs a moment to process all these new English grammar rules." 3. Jot down This is a very natural phrasal verb. It means to write something quickly so that you don't forget it. Example: "Let me just jot down your phone number before I forget." 4. Summarize This is a verb that means to express the most important facts or ideas about something in a short and clear way. Example: "Can you summarize the main point of the movie for me?" 5. Review This means to look at or study something again, especially before an exam or to help you remember it. Example: "I always review my vocabulary notes on Sunday evenings." Chloe: Thank you for listening to Voices on The Road. If you want to learn more about Amie Road, we are an English learning platform focusing not only on English improvement but also achieving your dream life through English learning. If you want to know more, please follow us on Instagram: amieroad_official. I’ll see you in the next one, stay tuned! - 聯絡 Amie Road ▫️追蹤我們的IG: https://www.instagram.com/amieroad_official/ ▫️官網看更多資訊：https://amieroad.com/ ▫️加入官方Line了解課程：https://lin.ee/5VRMEiq ▫️成為Amie Road VIP會員：https://reurl.cc/OR9dN9 ▫️合作/投稿：contact@amieroad.com -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

  4. May 15

    Episode 15｜ [全英] 世界上真的有「標準英文」嗎？打破 5% 的完美迷思 🎧

    你腦海中的「完美英文」長什麼樣子？是像好萊塢影星的口音，還是牛津大學教授的優雅腔調？ 延續之前聊到學英文的初衷，這一集 Chloe 要帶大家打破那個讓我們焦慮已久的「標準英文 (Standard English)」迷思。許多學員因為自覺口音不夠道地、或無法說得像教科書一樣精準而感到挫折，但你知道嗎？語言學家指出，全球竟然只有約 5% 的人口在講這種所謂的「標準英文」！ 這意味著絕大多數的使用者——甚至是來自美國、英國等「內圈國家 (Inner Circle)」的母語人士，每天也都在使用在地方言與俚語。當我們理解了「標準」其實只是少數派的書寫規則時，我們就能從追求完美的枷鎖中解脫。 在 Amie Road，我們始終相信：你的口音訴說著你來自哪裡的動人故事。學習語言的終極目標不在於抹滅你的背景，而在於達到「清晰與有效溝通 (Intelligible)」。掌握溝通策略、自信分享觀點，用英文去開啟你理想生活的無限可能。🩷 逐字稿： Chloe: Hello everyone, and welcome back to Voices on the Road. I’m your host today, Chloe. Chloe: But before we dive in, as always, you can find our full transcript in the description box. If you want to take notes while listening, or if you want to learn more about Amie Road, feel free to click the link and check it out! Alright, let's get back to today's topic. Following up on our last episode about why we learn English, today I want to ask you another question: What does "perfect" English sound like? When you imagine a perfect English speaker, do they have an American accent? Or maybe a British accent? Do they sound like a Hollywood actor or a professor at Oxford University? Many students feel anxious because they think they need to speak exactly like the textbook. But today, we are going to talk about whether there is truly a "Standard English," or if that is just a myth. Chloe: In the world of language learning, researchers often talk about the Inner Circle. This refers to countries where English is the traditional first language—places like the US, the UK, and now that I am here, Australia! For a long time, people believed that the English spoken in these Inner Circle countries was the only "Standard" or "correct" English. Any other accent or local dialect was often called "broken English" or "incorrect." But a very famous linguist named David Crystal points out something fascinating. He says that "Standard English" is actually just a minority dialect. It is mostly the language of writing—defined by strict spelling, punctuation, and grammar rules, like never using a double negative. Because we see Standard English in books, on the news, and in formal speeches, we think it is universal. We think everybody speaks like that. But actually, Professor Crystal estimates that only about 5% of the spoken English around the world is purely "Standard"! Chloe: Think about that! Most people in the world—even native speakers in the Inner Circle—speak with local dialects, use slang, and break the textbook grammar rules every single day. There are more people who speak English as a second language than as a first language. People use English to do business between Japan and Germany, or between Taiwan and Brazil. This means there are many different varieties of English. So, the goal of learning a language is not to erase your background or hide your accent. Your accent tells a beautiful story about where you come from.  The real goal is to be intelligible—which means people can understand you clearly. If you can use your strategic competence to communicate effectively and share your ideas, you are speaking perfectly fine. You don't need to fit into that tiny 5% of textbook English to be a confident, successful speaker. Chloe: Now, let’s move to our Vocabulary Corner. Here are five key words from today's episode. 1. Standard This is an adjective or a noun. It refers to a level of quality or a widely accepted rule. Example: "Many people mistakenly believe there is only one standard way to speak English." 2. Dialect This is a noun. It is a specific form of a language that is unique to a specific region or social group. Example: "There are hundreds of different dialects of English spoken around the world." 3. Minority This is a noun meaning the smaller part of a group; less than half. Example: "People who speak pure Standard English are actually in the minority." 4. Inner Circle A term used to describe countries where English is the primary, native language (like the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand). Example: "You don't have to be from the Inner Circle to be fluent in English." 5. Intelligible This is a very important B2 adjective. It means able to be understood; clear. Example: "Her pronunciation is not perfectly American, but she is completely intelligible." Chloe: Thank you for listening to Voices on The Road. If you want to learn more about Amie Road, we are an English learning platform focusing not only on English improvement but also achieving your dream life through English learning. If you want to know more, please follow us on Instagram: amieroad_official. I’ll see you in the next one, stay tuned! - 聯絡 Amie Road ▫️追蹤我們的IG: https://www.instagram.com/amieroad_official/ ▫️官網看更多資訊：https://amieroad.com/ ▫️加入官方Line了解課程：https://lin.ee/5VRMEiq ▫️成為Amie Road VIP會員：https://reurl.cc/OR9dN9 ▫️合作/投稿：contact@amieroad.com -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

  5. May 1

    Episode 14｜ [全英] 學英文是為了誰？揭開「國際金援」背後的語言真相 💸

    你是否想過，為什麼英文會成為全球通用的語言？這真的只是一個「偶然」嗎？ 延續上週聊到的「語言帝國主義」，這一集 Chloe 將帶大家挖掘更深層的權力運作。 我們常聽到的「國際援助 (Financial Aid)」，表面上看似善意的資源分享， 但背後往往帶著「附加條件 (Strings attached)」。 這些資金如何流入教育體系、如何推動英文教材的普及， 並在無形中塑造了「英文好 = 受過高等教育」的社會標籤？ 當我們理解了這套由「全球北方 (Global North)」制定的遊戲規則， 我們就能跳脫挫折感，重新定義英文這項工具。 在 Amie Road，我們不只教你語言，更希望帶你透過不同的視角看世界。 掌握規則、翻轉不平等，用英文去實現你真正嚮往的人生。🩷 逐字稿： Chloe: Hello everyone, and welcome back to Voices on the Road. I’m your host, Chloe. Chloe: Before we dive in, as always, you can find the full transcript in the description box . If you want to take notes while listening, or if you want to learn more about Amie Road, feel free to click the link and check it out! Alright, let's get back to today's topic. Last week, we talked about a very big concept: Linguistic Imperialism. We discussed how English didn't just become a global language by accident, but through history and power. Today, we are going to dig a little deeper. We are going to look at how this actually happens in the modern world. And we are going to talk about something that usually sounds completely positive: Financial Aid. Chloe: To understand this, we first need to learn two very important terms used in global politics and economics: the Global North and the Global South. The "Global North" refers to the richer, more developed countries, like the United States, the UK, countries in Europe, and also the country I am living in right now—Australia! The "Global South" refers to developing nations, mostly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Usually, we hear that the Global North gives billions of dollars in "financial aid" to the Global South to help them build schools, hospitals, and economies. It sounds like charity, right? But there is a very interesting YouTube video by Doha Debates called "Here’s Why Foreign Aid Is a Scam" that we shared on our page. The video explains that this aid is often not just free money. It is a system of power. In fact, because of unfair trade rules and debts, more money actually flows out of the Global South back to the rich countries than the other way around. Chloe: So, what does this have to do with learning English? Well, when the Global North gives financial aid to a developing country, that money often comes with "strings attached"—meaning there are rules about how to use it. A lot of this financial aid goes directly to governments and big language institutions to fund education programs. But these programs usually promote the language of the country giving the money—which is very often English. They build English training centers, provide English textbooks, and encourage local governments to make English a required subject in schools. By doing this, they create a system where you must speak English to get a good job or to be considered "educated" in your own country. This financial aid helps spread English, but it also creates inequality. It gives an advantage to the people who can afford extra English classes, and it slowly pushes local languages and cultures out of the way. Chloe: I know this sounds a bit heavy. But as I said last week, knowing the truth doesn't mean we should stop learning. At Amie Road, we want you to see the full picture. When you understand why the world works this way, you stop feeling bad about your mistakes. You realize that English is a game with rules created by the Global North. But you can learn those rules, master the game, and use this language to build your dream life and speak up for yourself! Chloe: Now, let’s move to our Vocabulary Corner. Here are five key phrases from today's episode. 1. Financial Aid This is a noun. It refers to money given to support a country, organization, or person. Example: "The country received financial aid to improve its education system." 2. The Global North / The Global South These are terms used to describe the economic divide in the world between richer, developed countries (North) and poorer, developing countries (South). Example: "Many resources are transferred from the Global South to the Global North." 3. Inequality This is a noun that means an unfair situation where some people have more money, opportunities, or power than others. Example: "Financial aid sometimes accidentally creates more inequality in society." 4. Strings attached This is a very common B2 idiom. If something has "strings attached," it means there are special conditions or rules you must follow to get it. Example: "They offered me the job, but there are a lot of strings attached." 5. Promote This is a verb that means to encourage something or help it happen and become popular. Example: "The new government policy promotes the learning of foreign languages." Chloe: Thank you for listening to Voices on The Road. If you want to learn more about Amie Road, we are an English learning platform focusing not only on English improvement but also achieving your dream life through English learning. If you want to know more, please follow us on Instagram: amieroad_official. I’ll see you in the next one, stay tuned! - 聯絡 Amie Road ▫️追蹤我們的IG: https://www.instagram.com/amieroad_official/ ▫️官網看更多資訊：https://amieroad.com/ ▫️加入官方Line了解課程：https://lin.ee/5VRMEiq ▫️成為Amie Road VIP會員：https://reurl.cc/OR9dN9 ▫️合作/投稿：contact@amieroad.com -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

  6. Apr 17

    Episode 13｜ [全英] 為什麼大家都要學英文？藏在語言背後的權力與秘密

    你曾經想過，為什麼我們在學校不是學法文或西班牙文， 而是每個人都覺得「必須」學好英文嗎？ 很多人會說，因為英文是國際語言、對找工作有幫助。 但英文之所以會成為全球通用的語言， 背後其實跟歷史、權力，還有經濟影響力有很大的關係。 在這集節目中，課程總監 Chloe 會帶大家認識一個有趣的概念， 讓我們一起看看英文是如何透過歷史與文化的推動， 一步步成為現在這種無所不在的強勢地位。 雖然英文的流行有其歷史背景，但這並不代表我們只能被動接受。 相反地，我們應該把它當成一個強大的工具， 用來武裝自己、跨出舒適圈，並向世界分享你獨特的觀點。 除了精彩的觀點分享，這集我們也準備了五個實用的單字， 讓你學會用英文，聊聊這種深刻的社會觀察。 如果你也想重新思考學習語言的意義， 一起來聽這集吧 💗 逐字稿： Chloe: Hello everyone, and welcome back to Voices on the Road. I’m your host, Chloe. Chloe: Before we dive in, as always, you can find the full transcript in the show notes. If you want to take notes while listening, or if you want to learn more about Amie Road, feel free to click the link and check it out! Alright, let's get back to today's topic. Today, I want to start with a very simple question, but one that we almost never ask ourselves. Have you ever thought about the real reason we learn English? Why don't we all learn French, or Spanish, or Swahili in school? Why is English the one language that everyone in the world feels they must learn? You might say, "Because it is an international language!" or "Because it helps me get a good job." And that is true! But why is it an international language? Today, we are going to talk about a fascinating concept called Linguistic Imperialism. Chloe: So, what is Linguistic Imperialism? "Imperialism" is a big word. Historically, it means when one strong country takes control over other countries. "Linguistic Imperialism" means the dominance—the power and control—of one language over others. English didn't become a global language just because it is a beautiful or easy language. It became global because of history, power, and economics. First, there was the British Empire, which spread the language around the world. Then, in modern times, there is the huge economic and cultural power of the United States—through movies, technology, and business. But it is very important to understand that the spread of English did not happen automatically by accident. It didn't just spread naturally like the wind! Instead, it was pushed and mediated by specific agencies. For example, governments make policies about which languages must be taught in schools. Big language institutions promote English tests all over the world. And historically, speaking English was a symbol of the elite group—the richest and most powerful people in society. They were the ones who set the rules and decided that English was the language of education and success. Because of this, learning English sometimes feels less like a choice and more like a requirement if you want to survive and be successful. Chloe: But here is the important part: does this mean we should stop learning English? Absolutely not! At Amie Road, we believe that you can take this powerful tool and use it for your dreams. You don't learn English to forget your own culture. You learn English to empower yourself, to step out of your comfort zone, and to share your unique, nuanced perspective with the rest of the world. English is just a bridge. You decide where the bridge takes you. Chloe: Now, let’s move to our Vocabulary Corner. Here are five key words from today's episode. 1. Imperialism This is a noun. It refers to a system where one powerful country controls other countries, often influencing their culture and language. Example: "Linguistic imperialism explains why English is so dominant in global business." 2. Dominance This means having power and influence over others. Example: "The dominance of the English language is obvious on the internet." 3. Elite This is a noun or an adjective. It refers to a small group of people who have a lot of power, money, or influence in society. Example: "Historically, speaking a foreign language was a privilege for the elite." 4. Institution This is a large and important organization, like a university, a government department, or a bank. Example: "Educational institutions play a big role in deciding what students learn." 5. Empower This is a beautiful verb. It means to give someone the power, confidence, or authority to do something. Example: "Learning a new language can truly empower you to travel the world safely." Chloe: Thank you for listening to Voices on The Road. If you want to learn more about Amie Road, we are an English learning platform focusing not only on English improvement but also achieving your dream life through English learning. If you want to know more, please follow us on Instagram: amieroad_official. I’ll see you in the next one, stay tuned! - 聯絡 Amie Road ▫️追蹤我們的IG: https://www.instagram.com/amieroad_official/ ▫️官網看更多資訊：https://amieroad.com/ ▫️加入官方Line了解課程：https://lin.ee/5VRMEiq ▫️成為Amie Road VIP會員：https://reurl.cc/OR9dN9 ▫️合作/投稿：contact@amieroad.com -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

  7. Apr 3

    Episode 12｜ [全英] 什麼是極簡主義？重新看見真正重要的事

    很多人一聽到「極簡主義」，就會想到空蕩蕩的房間， 或是覺得什麼東西都不能買。 但其實極簡並不是要強迫自己擁有的越少越好， 而是一種生活方式與心態。 在這集節目中，課程總監 Chloe 會帶大家一起認識極簡。 當你試著把雜亂的東西清除， 只保留自己喜愛的、對自己重要的東西， 原本緊繃的心情自然就能感覺到放鬆。 在這個不斷叫我們「買更多」的世界裡， 練習把時間和精力， 花在那些真正讓你感到快樂的事情上。 除了分享生活觀點，這集我們也準備了五個實用的單字， 讓你學會用英文，跟朋友聊聊這種簡單的生活方式。 如果你最近也在思考，如何讓生活變得更簡單、更有餘裕， 一起來聽這集吧 💗 逐字稿： Chloe: Hello everyone, and welcome back to Voices on the Road. I’m your host, Chloe. Today, we are going to talk about a topic that is very popular right now, and it is also something I personally love. We are talking about Minimalism. When you hear the word "minimalism," what do you think of? Do you imagine a completely empty room with white walls and only one chair? A lot of people think minimalism means you have to throw everything away and live with almost nothing. But today, we are going to talk about what minimalism really means, how it can make our homes look beautiful, and how it can actually make o ur lives less stressful. Let’s get into it! Chloe: But before we dive in, as always, you can find the full transcript in the description box. If you want to take notes while listening, or if you want to learn more about Amie Road, feel free to click the link and check it out! Alright, let's get back to today's topic. First, let’s talk about minimalism as a style, especially in home decor. The minimalist aesthetic is all about keeping things simple and clean. In a minimalist home, you won't see a lot of messy tables or walls covered with too many pictures. Instead, it focuses on neutral colors—like white, beige, or soft grey—and open spaces. The idea here is that your home should be a peaceful place. When your physical space is clean and organized, your mind feels more relaxed, too. Everything in the room has a purpose or brings you joy. Chloe: But minimalism is not just about how your apartment looks. It is also a powerful lifestyle and mindset. We live in a world that constantly tells us to buy more: more clothes, more gadgets, more things. Minimalism is the decision to say, "Stop. I have enough." It is about being intentional. Instead of spending your money and energy on collecting a hundred things you don't really care about, you focus your time and money on a few things that truly matter to you. This could mean having a smaller wardrobe of clothes you absolutely love, or simply spending less time scrolling on your phone and more time doing your hobbies—like reading a good book or doing some crochet. Minimalism isn't about having less just to have less. It is about making room for more of what is important. Chloe: Now, let’s move to our Vocabulary Corner. Here are five useful words to help you talk about this lifestyle. 1. Clutter This is a noun. It means a lot of things in an untidy state, especially things that are not necessary. Example: "I can't focus on my work when there is too much clutter on my desk." 2. Declutter This is the verb form. It means to remove the mess or the things you don't need from a place. Example: "I spent my whole weekend decluttering my bedroom." 3. Intentional This is a great B2 adjective. It means doing something on purpose, after thinking about it carefully. Example: "Minimalism helps you become more intentional about how you spend your money." 4. Essential This means absolutely necessary or extremely important. Example: "When packing for my trip, I only brought the essentials." 5. Mindset A mindset is the way you think about things or your general attitude toward life. Example: "Adopting a minimalist mindset has helped me reduce my daily stress." Chloe: Thank you for listening to Voices on The Road. If you want to learn more about Amie Road, we are an English learning platform focusing not only on English improvement but also achieving your dream life through English learning. If you want to know more, please follow us on Instagram: amieroad_official. I’ll see you in the next one, stay tuned! - 聯絡 Amie Road ▫️追蹤我們的IG: https://www.instagram.com/amieroad_official/ ▫️官網看更多資訊：https://amieroad.com/ ▫️加入官方Line了解課程：https://lin.ee/5VRMEiq ▫️成為Amie Road VIP會員：https://reurl.cc/OR9dN9 ▫️合作/投稿：contact@amieroad.com -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

  8. Mar 20

    Episode 11｜ [全英]學了這麼久還是不敢開口？揭秘精通英文的6種核心能力拼圖

    「為什麼我考過了檢定、背了這麼多單字，在真實對話中還是覺得卡卡的？」 如果你也曾有過這種感覺，那是因為文法規則其實只是語言這塊大拼圖中的其中一小片。 在本集《Voices on the Road》中， 持人 Chloe 要帶大家認識語言學習領域中非常著名且實用的 「Celce-Murcia 溝通能力模型」。 我們會一起探討為什麼單靠「背單字＋記文法」往往無法應對真實對話， 並深入淺出地分享模型中的 六大核心能力， 以及最後一項能幫助你化解溝通尷尬的隱藏關鍵。 從理解文化背景、掌握道地的語言語塊，到如何在對話中自然地來回互動， 這集內容將帶你重新思考學習語言的策略。 如果你想知道當你在對話中突然需要「爭取時間」思考時， 該如何運用聰明的策略讓對話不中斷， 或是想讓自己的表達聽起來更像母語人士， 這一集的分享絕對能為你的學習之路帶來新的啟發。 逐字稿： Chloe: Hello everyone, and welcome back t o Voices on the Road. I’m your host, Chloe. Chloe: But before we dive in, as always, you can find the full transcript in the comment section. If you want to take notes while listening, or if you want to learn more about Amie Road, feel free to click the link and check it ou t! Alright, let's get back to today's topic. Today, we are talking about how we actually learn English. You know, language is a very complicated process. We have to be strategic about our learning so that we can gain all the competences—all the skills—that we need in order to reach true proficiency. Many students think that learning English just means memorizing vocabulary and studying grammar rules. But have you ever known all the grammar rules, and still felt like you couldn't speak naturally in a real conversation? This is because grammar is only one small piece of the puzzle! Today, I want to introduce you to a famous concept in language learning called the Celce-Murcia Competence Model. Don't worry about the long name—the idea is actually very practical and helpful for us. Chloe: This model tells us that to be truly good at a language, we need several different types of "competence ," or skills. Let's look at them simply. First is Linguistic Competence. This is what you already know! It is the grammar, the vocabulary, and the pronunciation. It is the basic building blocks of the language. Second is Formulaic Competence. Native speakers don't always build sentences word by word; they use "chunks" of language. Formulaic competence means knowing which words naturally go together. For example, we say "heavy rain," not "strong rain." It also includes idioms like "piece of cake." Knowing these chunks makes you sound much more natural and more native. Third is Sociocultural Competence. This means knowing the culture. It is understanding what is polite or impolite to say in different situations. For example, the way you speak to your boss is different from the way you speak to your best friend. Fourth is Actional Competence. This means knowing how to do things with words. How do you properly apologize? How do you politely ask for a favor? It is about matching your words to your intentions or sometimes you might say the ability to perform different speech acts. Fifth is Interactional Competence. This is all about the actual back-and-forth of a conversation. How do you know when it is your turn to speak? How do you know the other person you are listening? This includes body language, eye contact, and those little words we say like "yeah" or "uh-huh" to keep the conversation flowing smoothly. Sixth is Discourse Competence. This is the glue that holds everything together. It is your ability to connect sentences so they make sense in a long conversation or an email, rather than just speaking in single, broken sentences. You might hear the two words “cohesion” and “coherence”, we do so play a big role and discourse competence. And finally, we have Strategic Competence. To put it formally, this is the ability to use language to organize effective messages and to overcome potential communication problems as part of communicative competence. But what does that mean in real life? For example, when you are in a conversation and you suddenly need to buy yourself some time to think, what do you say? Do you use filler phrases like, "Well, let me think about that for a second," or "That is a great question"? Knowing how to handle those moments and keep the conversation going is your strategic competence! Chloe: So, next time you are studying, remember that language is more than just a textbook. You need to be strategic. Practice the culture, learn those natural word chunks, and practice what to say when you need a little more time to think! Chloe: Now, let’s move to our Vocabulary Corner. Here are five key words from today's episode to help you talk about your learning journey. 1. Complicated This means having many different parts; difficult to understand. Example: "Human communication is a very complicated process." 2. Strategic This is an adjective that means doing something with a clear plan to achieve a goal. Example: "If you want to pass the test, you need to be strategic about how you study." 3. Competence This is a noun. It means the ability to do something successfully or efficiently. Example: "She has a high level of competence in spoken English." 4. Proficiency This is similar to competence. It means a high degree of skill or expertise. Example: "He spent a year abroad to reach true language proficiency." 5. Intention This is a noun that means what you plan or want to do; your aim. Example: "I didn't mean to sound rude; that was not my intention." Chloe: Thank you for listening to Voices on The Road. If you want to learn more about Amie Road, we are an English learning platform focusing not only on English improvement but also achieving your dream life through English learning. If you want to know more, please follow us on Instagram: amieroad_official. I’ll see you in the next one, stay tuned! - 聯絡 Amie Road ▫️追蹤我們的IG: https://www.instagram.com/amieroad_official/ ▫️官網看更多資訊：https://amieroad.com/ ▫️加入官方Line了解課程：https://lin.ee/5VRMEiq ▫️成為Amie Road VIP會員：https://reurl.cc/OR9dN9 ▫️合作/投稿：contact@amieroad.com -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

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Amie Road 是一個以「社群」為核心的語言學習線上平台，提供英文、日文學習者一個持續成長、彼此支持、跨文化交流的空間。 Amie 是 Amie Road 的創辦人，同時也是這個 Podcast 的主持人。 在這裡，我們把社群裡最真實、最有力量的故事帶給你。 你會聽到—— ・來自不同背景的產業職人：他們的專業、人生選擇、以及語言如何成為職涯的跳板。 ・來自學員的真實聲音：學習英文、日文或跨文化成長的歷程紀錄。 ・關於教育、語言學習、旅遊與跨國生活的對話：把語言變成生活的一部分，也把世界變成你的日常。 Amie Road 相信： 語言能開啟機會，社群能陪你走得更遠，而故事能讓我們看見更大的世界。 Welcome to Voices on the Road — 讓我們一起邁向一個語言更自由、視野更寬廣、人生更接近理想的旅程。 -- Hosting provided by SoundOn

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