英语大师-EnglishMaster

EnglishMaster

英语对话口语听力训练 每期音频同步搭配文本 学习效率更高

  1. -2 J

    Vol224.日常英语学习How to Tip in America

    获取全部英语文本和重点知识点请公众号搜索:yymaster888 Tipping. It's a big part of life here in the United States, and it can be confusing even for people who live here. How much should you tip? When should you tip? And is it 10%, 15%, or 20%. And what happens if you don't tip at all? Today, I'm going to explain American tipping culture in an easy and simple way. Let's start. The most common place to tip is at a full-service restaurant like the one I'm in right now. A normal tip for good service is around 15 to 25%. But why is it so high? When the server brings your bill, he or she will bring you two copies. One for the restaurant or the merchant copy and one for you. On your copy, there's a line that says tip. So, my total for my food is $34.95. But I do have to tip my server for her service. So, if I leave a tip, the total will be a lot higher than I thought. So, you're not just paying for your meal. I'm not only paying $34.95. I'm going to be paying 15 to 25% more because I do have to leave a tip. Also, I do want to add that if you are with a group of six or more people at your table, some restaurants will add an automatic tip, which means that the tip is already included with your order. So, if you are with a big group of people, go ahead and check that bill and check for gratuity and it'll be 18 to 20% already added to your bill. And why am I telling you that? Well, one time I went out with a big group of friends and of course I didn't know the restaurant already had a tip included in the receipt. So when I received the bill, I put a tip amount in this section without looking at the original price with the tip already included. I'm telling you this to be careful and double check the receipt to make sure you don't leave a double tip. But if the service was really good and you do want to leave a double tip, that's totally fine. But I do know some people don't know the rules here in America. So make sure and double check if you are sitting with a group of six or more people. Just ask the restaurant if the tip is already included in the check. Why do we tip so much? And where does the system come from? Well, in many states, restaurant workers, especially servers, earn a subminimum wage. That means their wage is a lot lower than the normal minimum wage. And that's the reason why many servers and restaurant workers depend on tips because most of their income comes from that. The idea is that this encourages better service. So the more attentive and more friendly your server is, the more likely you are able to tip well, which means your server will make more money. And this is all based on a performance-based payment system. But what happens if you don't tip well or at all? For a server, that's just not a bad day. It can essentially mean they worked for free or even lost money since they often have to tip out a portion of their tips to busers or other workers in the restaurant. This is a high-stake system for them. But now, let's go ahead and ask my server, Evelyn, what she thinks about tipping culture in America. Host: This is my wonderful server, Evelyn. She took care of me today. So, Evelyn, what do you think about tipping culture? Evelyn: I think it depends on every circumstance in every restaurant. Um, like here, we make a little bit more below um minimum wage just because we do make bigger tips. Um, tipping is not always necessary by any means. If you can't tip, you can't tip. It's honestly appreciated, but as someone who mainly works for tips, um it's a little frustrating when I do get stiffed or when somebody doesn't tip like according to the bill. Host: Have you had times where someone left like zero tips? Evelyn: Uh yes, all the time. Um it could either depend on they felt as if they didn't get as good service or they didn't like the food. Um anything can go into it. I've had times where I've gotten zero tips, but I've had times where I've gotten up to $300 at a time. Host: So, since you work as a server, how do you tip in real life? Like, do you tip at restaurants? Do you tip at cafes? Evelyn: I tip everywhere, even on DoorDash and deliveries. Um, I typically tip always 20%. Um, and then if it's really great service, I go beyond that. Host: And then here's your tip. Evelyn: Thank you so much.

    15 min
  2. -4 J

    Vol223.日常英语学习What You Like to Do

    获取全部英语文本和重点知识点请公众号搜索:yymaster888 Hello everyone and welcome back to Pod and Chill, the channel where learning English is not only easy but also fun. My name is Gwen and I'm so happy to be here with you today. Hello Gwen, and hello to all our wonderful friends around the world. I'm Leo. How are you doing today, Gwen? I'm doing really great, Leo. It always makes me happy to join you and talk with our friends. What about you? I'm very good. Thank you. I feel excited and ready for another fun episode. Me, too. But before we get started, we just want to say a big thank you to all of you for listening and supporting our channel. If you enjoy learning with us, please share this video with your friends. Yes. And don't forget to subscribe and give us a like. It really helps us grow and keeps us motivated to make more lessons for you. Exactly. Every little bit of support means a lot. So, are you ready for today's topic? Absolutely. Today's topic is going to be a fun one. We are going to talk about things we like to do. That's such a great topic. In English, one of the most common and useful questions is, "What do you like to do?" Yes. It's a perfect way to start a conversation and get to know someone better. So, let me ask you first. What do you like to do, Leo? Hm, that's a very good question. I actually like many things. For example, one of my favorites is listening to music. I like to listen because it helps me relax and learn at the same time. Oh, nice. And to say you like something, you can use the phrase I like to followed by the action. For example, "I like to listen to music." Exactly. "I like to listen to music." Or you can also say "I like listening to music." Both are correct. Yes. "I like to listen to music" or "I like listening to music." Very good. What kind of music do you like to listen to? I like pop songs. Fun and happy songs. They always give me energy. And you? Do you like to listen to music? I do. I like to listen to music a lot. I like listening in the morning while I drink my coffee. It makes me feel relaxed and ready for the day. What about other things, Gwen? What else do you like to do? Well, I really like to ride my bicycle in the evening. The fresh air, the quiet streets, it feels amazing. Riding a bike is great. So, you say, "I like to ride my bike." Good. Do you ride every day? I try to. Not every day, but maybe three times a week. It makes me feel free. That's wonderful. Feeling free is important. We can use another word for "like." We can say enjoy. For example, "I enjoy riding my bicycle in the evening." Oh yes, "enjoy" is a great word. It sounds a little stronger, like you really, really like it. I enjoy riding. Exactly. With the word enjoy, we usually use the action with "-ing" at the end. For example, I enjoy swimming. I enjoy riding. I enjoy speaking. That's a great tip, Leo. So, I can say, "I enjoy drinking tea in the afternoon." Perfect. Yes. Wow, your afternoon sounds very relaxing, Gwen. It is. What about you, Leo? What do you enjoy doing? I enjoy playing the guitar. Really? Wow. I'm not very good with instruments. It's fun. I enjoy learning new songs. It's not always easy, but it's very rewarding. Using "Love"What about movies, Gwen? Do you like to watch movies? Oh, I love movies. See, we have "like," "enjoy," and now love. "Love" is very strong. Yes, "I love movies." It means you like them very, very much. Exactly. I love watching comedies. They always make me laugh. I can imagine. I love movies too. I love watching science fiction. They are so exciting. Ah, science fiction is fun. So for our friends, you can say "I love" and then the thing. "I love movies" or "I love watching comedies." Yes, it's easy. I love pizza. I love sunny days. I love holidays. Oh, I definitely love holidays. Who doesn't? Talking About Hobbies, Food, and SportsOn weekends, I like to bake cakes. Sometimes I try new recipes from the internet like carrot cake or banana bread. Baking is great. So you say, "I like to bake cakes." That's a perfect example. What kind of cakes do you love the most? I love fruit cakes. The sweetness of the fruit makes them taste so fresh. I also enjoy decorating them with cream and strawberries. It feels creative, almost like art. Fruit cakes are delicious. I enjoy them, too. But I also like cheesecakes. You know, rich and creamy. Sometimes one small piece is never enough. Oh, cheesecakes are amazing! What about sports, Leo? Do you like to play sports? I do. I like to play basketball. It's exciting and it keeps me healthy. It's also a lot of fun to play with friends on the weekend. And you, Gwen, do you like sports? I don't play sports very much, but I like to watch swimming on TV. The races are so fast and the swimmers are so strong. Ah, watching sports is fun, too. So, here's a question for our friends. Do you like to play sports or watch sports?

    21 min
  3. -6 J

    Vol222.日常英语学习A Store Full of Stories

    获取全部英语文本和重点知识点请公众号搜索:yymaster888 Another day, another story. People come here looking for sugar, milk or bread. But they also bring their lives with them.Some bring laughter.Some bring tears.Some bring secrets.My store is not just a store. It's a little stage where life keeps playing every single day.Let's see who walks in first today. It's going to be a good day. Scene 1: The Teapot Good morning, Mr. Sam. Do you have a teapot? A big one, not a small one. Of course, Mrs. Brown. Big or small? Shiny or simple? I have many teapots. But tell me, why a big one if it's only for you? I don't understand. Huh? Young man, because when I pour tea into a big teapot, I don't feel so alone. You see, I used to make tea every day for my husband. We would sit in the garden talking about silly things, laughing, complaining about the neighbors, or just watching the birds. When he passed away, I thought I could stop drinking tea. But then I realized that I could still talk to him even if he was not there. Oh, I see. So, you still talk to him every day? Of course. I'll tell you something. Love doesn't disappear. I sit by my window at 4:00 sharp, pour tea into two cups, and I tell him everything that happened that day. Sometimes I cry. Sometimes I laugh, but at least I don't feel invisible. That's beautiful. You know, I believe people never really leave. They live in our words, our habits, our memories. Yes. But sometimes the silence in the house is too heavy. That's why I came here today. My old teapot broke yesterday. It felt like losing him again. That's why I want to buy a new one. Then we'll fix that today. Look at this one. Big, shiny, strong. Like it was made for someone who knows the weight of love. You are a poet, Sam. All right, I like it. How much? Don't worry. For you, I'll give you a special price. $10. But with one condition. Next time you drink tea, save a cup for me. I'll visit and we'll talk about your stories. What do you think? Deal. And I'll make cookies the way my husband liked them. Then it's a promise. Thank you, Mrs. Brown. And have a nice day. You too, Sam. You're always so kind. Have a nice day. You know, sometimes people don't buy objects. They buy memories, comfort, a way to keep love alive. Scene 2: The CologneExcuse me. Do you have cologne? Something good, please. Really good. Good morning. A cologne? Yes, I do. What's going on? Relax, young man. You look like you're about to run a marathon. What happens is I... I have a date tonight. My first real date. And I don't want to smell like chicken wings, you know. I get it. Good choice. Cologne is a smart idea. But remember, she will fall in love with your heart, not just your smell. Wow, this one smells amazing. Fresh, clean, kind of confident. Mr. Sam, what do you think? Do you think she will like it? Let me tell you this. If she doesn't, maybe she's not the right person. But tell me, where are you taking her?

    20 min
  4. 2 OCT.

    Vol221.日常英语学习Learn English on Your Phone

    获取全部英语文本和重点知识点请公众号搜索:yymaster888 Hey everyone and welcome back to my YouTube channel. Today we are going to learn about something useful. How to learn English using just your phone. Our phones are powerful tools that can transform how we learn. The first thing I would do if I want to learn English from my phone is to change the phone's language to English. This might feel a little challenging at first, but you'll quickly pick up on technical terms and common phrases you see every day, like when you're updating apps or navigating settings. Think of your phone settings. That's the main place to change things and fix problems. If you change your language to English, you are going to learn new words like personal hotspot, display and brightness, wallpaper, etc. And you are going to get used to seeing these new words on your phone. Another way to learn English on your phone is by using Google Translate or any similar translation app you have. In my opinion, translation apps are really underrated. It's like having a dictionary right in your pocket. Let's say you see a sign on the road and you don't know what it means. For example, a sign that says toe. With a translation app, you can hear the English pronunciation, see examples of how toe is used in a sentence and see the word used as a noun, verb, or adjective, which helps you increase your vocabulary. This gives you a clear understanding of what the word means and how you can use it all in a quick and easy way. I really encourage you to use your translator app whenever you encounter a word you don't really know. Here's an even cooler feature. You can even take a picture and translate everything it says in the photo. For example, let's say you're at a restaurant. You can take a picture of the menu. Now I can see the menu in English or in your native language. This is helpful because you can see both the English version and the menu in your native language side by side. It makes learning practical and fun, especially if you're not sure what dishes are on the menu. Now that we have our phones switched to English, you'll want to download a dedicated learning app. An app is just any program you download like WhatsApp, Spotify, Amazon, etc. As you guys know, I am a native speaker and sometimes when my students ask me to try new apps to learn English, especially with AI, I realized some apps don't sound natural. So, after trying different apps, one app that drew my attention is Bspeaker. Bspeaker is an app that is easy to use. This is important when you're learning English because you don't want to download an app that is hard or complicated to navigate. And Bspeaker did a really good job with this. Their homepage is simple and easy to use. And the most important thing is their videos are accurate. It feels like you're having a live class, but even better. The difference between this app and other apps is that there aren't any AI avatars. Instead, you can see a real person talking, see their body language, and how they express themselves. This is important because when you speak English in real life, you speak with a real person. You don't talk with an AI avatar, so you can see their lips. You hear their accent, pronunciation, tone of voice, and can hear their emotions. Now that we've changed our phone language to English and downloaded the app, let's start learning English with my phone. I'm on Bspeaker and one part that I like is clicking on the brain, the AI tutor icon. You press the scenes button and this will show you different scenarios you can practice your English with. Let's practice one that can be really tricky. Complaining about food, especially if you're not sure how to phrase things. It's not a secret that here in America, the food can be bad. This is a great way to practice. Let's start. "Welcome to our restaurant. How can I assist you today? Is there anything wrong with your order?" "Yes, there is something wrong. I haven't gotten my food in a while, and I'm wondering what's the holdup. Can you ask the chef?" "I sincerely apologize for the delay. That must be quite frustrating for you. Let me check with the kitchen right away and find out the reason for the hold up. Could you please let me know what you ordered?" "Yes, I ordered steak." "Thank you for the information. I'll find out what happened to your steak order immediately. Please bear with me for just a moment. Thank you for your patience. It seems there was a mixup in the kitchen and your order is being prepared now. I am so sorry for the inconvenience. To make it up to you, would you like a complimentary dessert of your choice once your meal arrives?" "Yes, that would be great. Thank you." That was great. You might know what the waiter will say after you do complain, but you might end up getting a free meal or a free dessert. In this case, it's complimentary, and that means the restaurant won't charge you for it. I feel so much more confident after practicing with the AI tutor. Now, let's take this confidence into the real world and practice complaining about food at a restaurant. "Hey, is everything okay? You need something?" "Yeah, I've actually been waiting on my refill for like over 30 minutes and I don't even know when my food's going to be ready. Can you ask the chef?" "Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry. I'm going to ask right now. It's just like right now we're pretty busy. Also, let me get a refill for you." "Okay." "Sorry about that. Maybe we can give you a free dessert for your wait." "Okay, that'll be great. Thank you so much." Wow, thank you so much. I just practiced a real-world scenario where I complained about my food and they just gave me a complimentary dessert which is completely free.

    11 min
  5. 30 SEPT.

    Vol220.日常英语学习Start Building Systems

    获取全部英语文本和重点知识点请公众号搜索:yymaster888 Hey everyone, welcome back to Podcast and Chill. I'm Leo and I'm Gwen. How are you feeling today? We hope you're still doing well and ready to learn something new with us. Leo, I want to ask you something. Have you ever felt like it's hard to handle work, study, health, family, and your hobbies? Oh, wow. Yes. All the time. I feel like I'm always trying to do everything, but never really doing well at anything. That's exactly what I thought. And here's another question. Why do so many people set goals but still can't reach them? Hm. Maybe because we give up too easily. I know I do that a lot. Right. And do you ever feel like days just pass by? And you're tired but feel like you haven't done much. Story of my life. I go to bed thinking, "What did I actually do today? It's annoying." And it's like every new year I make a big list. I'll go to the gym three times a week. I'll eat healthy. I'll learn a new language. Then what? Two weeks later, back to pizza and old habits. And the time feels like it's running fast, but still no change. I think many of our listeners feel the same way, Leo. But here's the good news. It's not because you're lazy or weak. The problem is not only with goals. The real problem is with the system. A system like a robot system? Not exactly. A system means your daily habits, your plan, things around you, all the things that help you move toward your goal step by step. Ah, I see. So, it's not about screaming, "This year I will change my life." It's about building something that can help change happen. And that's why today we'll talk about how to build systems to actually reach your goals before 2025 ends. Oh, that sounds much better because honestly, my 2024 goals are still waiting for me and I'm done feeling tired all the time. Perfect. So, let's start with something that might change how you think about reaching your goals. Hold on, Gwen. I want to ask you something first. We are talking about goals, big goals here, but many people give up quickly. Why does that happen? Let me ask you back. What usually happens when you try to reach a goal? Well, I get excited at first. I make a plan like yes this year I'll go to the gym every day but after a week my body hurts work gets busy and goodbye gym. Uh-huh. And you probably think I just need to try harder or I need more motivation, right? Yeah. I always blame myself for not trying harder or something like that. That's the challenge, Leo. People only use motivation. Motivation feels so strong in the beginning, like something new and exciting, but then after some time, the energy goes down and life makes it hard for you. Yep. That suddenly I'm sitting on the sofa with chips saying, "Tomorrow I'll try again." And then tomorrow becomes next week, next month, and the goal disappears. But don't worry, it's not you, Leo. The real problem here is the way you're doing it. Most people try to run only on willpower and motivation. But those things are like batteries. They run out. So now what? Do we just need bigger batteries? No. The answer is systems thinking. Systems thinking, that sounds very serious, like something in science.、 It's actually very simple. Systems thinking means you shouldn't just try harder. Instead, build small habits that work together, like parts of a machine. Parts of a machine. So everything moves smoothly. Yeah. Let me give you an example. Think about brushing your teeth. You don't need motivation every night. You just do it because it's part of your system. True. I never say, "Oh, no. I don't feel motivated to brush my teeth today. I just do it." That's the point. We need to make learning or working become habits we do without thinking. Just like brushing teeth. Okay. But how do I build that system? Now let's use English learning as an example. If you say I will study 3 hours every night, it sounds too hard. You'll give up fast. Yeah, 3 hours feels like too much. But if you break it into small parts, it feels lighter. Small parts like Lego blocks. Yes, Lego blocks. Instead of saying, I'll study 3 hours every night, you break it into smaller parts. I'll study for 30 minutes after work right at the office before going home. Ooh, that makes sense. Or review for 15 minutes on the bus every morning and maybe study for 2 hours on the weekend. That's how it works. Each block is small, but when you connect them, they build into something big and strong. Exactly. You put together these small habits into one system. You fit them into your daily habits after work, during travel, on weekends. You don't have to fight with yourself every day. You already know when or where to study. That actually sounds easier than what I usually do. Like the system is working for me, not against me. You got it. And this idea works for everything, not just English. If you want to get fit, put your workout clothes near your bed so you see them first thing in the morning. Because of this system, it happens every day. Even if you don't feel motivated, you still do it. Wait, so you're saying I don't need to be super motivated all the time? No. The truth is motivation is never enough. On our worst days, it simply goes away. So, how are you going to do it, right? Oh, yeah. On bad days, I just want to lie down and watch TV. And that's completely normal, Leo. You don't need to be stronger. You just need to organize your life to make things easier. Wow, that feels nice. So, it's not about fighting harder. It's about making smarter plans. And once you start thinking in systems, you'll see getting better doesn't stop when motivation is gone. The system helps you keep going. Now, I'm curious, Gwen. How do we actually think in systems? Good question. It's not enough to just say, "I have a system." We need to know how to build it the right way. Ah, like building a house. You don't just throw bricks anywhere. You need to follow steps or the house will fall down. And systems thinking also has some rules to follow. Rules? Oh, no. Sounds important. How many do we need? Not too many. I'll keep it simple. And you can use them for study, work, and even daily life. All right, then I'm ready. Let's begin with rule number one. Think of the big picture. Big picture like looking at life from far away like a map. Something like that. It means don't only look at today. Try to see your goal from all sides. Ask yourself questions like what could stop me if I fail What would be the reason? What problems might I face? Now that sounds like planning for problems before they happen. Correct. And if you can see problems early, you can fix them before they start. Can you give me an example? Sure. Many people want to study at night after work, right? But at that time they are already too tired. So the real problem here is not English. The real problem is lack of sleep and low energy. Huh? If I always fail because I don't get enough sleep, then the answer is not more coffee. I need to sleep better and it means making sleep part of the system. Exactly. That's why thinking about everything is so important. All right, big picture. What's the rule number two? Rule number two, create a system you can use many times. You mean like copy and paste, huh?

    22 min
  6. 28 SEPT.

    Vol219.日常英语学习Everyday English Practice

    获取全部英语文本和重点知识点请公众号搜索:yymaster888 Orders Food in EnglishDon't worry, Sara. Ordering food in English is easy. Just be polite and clear.I know, but I'm afraid I'll say something wrong. Sorry.Mistakes are normal. Don't worry. The waiter will help you.Waiter: Good afternoon. Welcome to Green Garden Restaurant. Do you need a few minutes or are you ready to order?Um, I think I'm ready. What is chicken parmesan?Waiter: That's chicken with tomato sauce and melted cheese served with pasta or salad.Oh, that sounds delicious. I'll have chicken parmesan with salad, please. And water.Waiter: Great choice. And for you, sir, what would you like to order?I'll take the beef stew with rice and an orange juice, please.Waiter: Perfect. If that's all, I'll bring your food soon. Just some minutes.Wow, that was stressful and scary. I was so nervous, but I did it.You did great. You sounded confident. Well done, Sara.Really? My voice was shaking. This is my first time ordering food in English.Maybe, but the waiter understood everything. That's the point of communication.That's true. And the waiter was very kind. I felt good.Exactly. Most people want to help you. Don't be afraid to speak in English.Waiter: Here's your orange juice and water. Your food will be ready in 10 minutes.Thank you very much.See, even saying thank you makes the experience better.Next time, maybe I'll try to order dessert, too. I like to eat something sweet after lunch.Careful. If you order dessert, I'll eat half of it.No way. I'll order chocolate cake and guard it with my life.Waiter: Here you go. Chicken parmesan and beef stew. Enjoy your meal.Sara and Thank you.Oh, everything looks so delicious.Let's eat.Um, this is really good. Maybe ordering food in English isn't so scary after all.See, you can do it. You just need practice and a little courage.Tom's Doctor's VisitI don't like this, Dad. Doctors always make me nervous. I don't like the hospital.Son, it's not the doctor's fault. You're here to feel better, not worse.I know, but what if the doctor says something serious? I'm scared.Then we deal with it together. Don't worry. Everything will be fine.Hello, Tom. Hello, Mr. Davis. So, Tom, tell me, what brings you here today?Um, I've been coughing a lot, especially at night. Sometimes I feel short of breath.I see. Well, I need to ask you and be honest, please. Do you smoke?What? No, I never. No, I don't smoke. Never.Good. It's just a question. Do you spend time around people who smoke?Well, some of my friends smoke, but not me. I promise.He also eats a lot of fast food. Maybe that's part of the problem.Dad, please. That's not the reason. Don't say that.Well, food may not cause coughing, but healthy habits are always important. Let me check your lungs. All right. Now, take a deep breath and out.Your lungs sound fine. I think it may be allergies or maybe a small infection.Really? Are you sure, doctor? I don't want to be sick. Please.Yes. I'll give you some medicine. And I want you to drink more water, eat better, and rest.See, Tom, I told you it was nothing too serious. And you were worried.Yeah, you're right. I guess I was more scared than sick.That happens to many patients. Fear can feel worse than the real problem.Listen to the doctor, son. And remember, health is not only about medicine. It's about choices every day. Habits. You should remember that, son.You're right. I'll try to take better care of myself.Good. You'll be fine. Don't worry. Come back in one week for a checkup.Thank you, doctor. You know that maybe you should also eat less fast food.I like that idea. Maybe we both need a change. What do you think? Deal?I think that's a great idea. Then we start tomorrow.Tomorrow? I thought we were going to start today. Why not today?Because today is Saturday and Saturdays are pizza night.Movie NightFinally, we're here. I've been waiting all week for this movie.Are you sure this is a good idea? The reviews say it's 3 hours long.3 hours of action, explosions, and superheroes. That's not long. That's perfect.Okay, but if I fall asleep, don't wake me up. Do you hear me?Good evening. Welcome to Tangerine Cinema. Two tickets.Yes, please. Two for Galactic Heroes 5, the best movie. And one giant popcorn. We'll share. I don't have much money.Share? No way. I need my own bucket. Are you kidding?So, two tickets, two giant popcorns, and drinks.Large soda for me. Diet, please. I can't drink it with sugar.Are you serious? Water for me. I'm not crazy like him.Perfect. Popcorn, soda, water. That will be $28.Of course, worth every penny. You won't regret it. I promise.Wow, it was so dark in here. I couldn't even see the seats.You said, "I bet you $5." The hero says, "We must save the world in the first five minutes." And it happened. How did you know? Did you watch this movie?No, I haven't watched this movie before. But I knew that. I mean, I knew that was going to happen. It's typical of that kind of movies.Fine. But no more bets. Why was the villain always laughing like that?Because it's a villain rule. If you don't laugh like that, you're not scary.You're right. People were staring. We were talking too much.You were talking. I told you to shut up, but you kept asking questions.What do you want me to do? There were many things I didn't know.I told you to watch the previous movie, but you didn't want to.Fine, I will watch it. I liked it. It was different. It was interesting.See, I told you. 3 hours of pure happiness. Admit it.Or 3 hours of popcorn.All right, I admit it. It was a great movie.Okay, now let's watch another movie. Um, that one over there.Are you kidding? No, thank you. I can't handle three more hours. Bye.

    31 min
  7. 25 SEPT.

    Vol218.日常英语学习Healthy Habits Conversation

    获取全部英语文本和重点知识点请公众号搜索:yymaster888 Good morning, David.Morning, Anna. How are you today?I'm good, thanks. Just taking a walk for exercise.That's great. Walking is healthy.Yes, I try to walk every morning. Do you exercise, too?Sometimes. I usually run twice a week.Nice. Do you go to the gym?Not really. I prefer outdoor activities.I understand. Fresh air is better.Exactly. It makes me feel alive.Do you follow a strict diet?Not strict, but I try to eat more vegetables.Same here. I cut down on sugar.That's smart. Sugar is not good for health.True. Do you drink coffee?Oh, yes. I can't live without coffee.Me, too. But I only drink one cup.I drink two cups every morning.Wow. Doesn't it make you too active?Sometimes, yes. But I need the energy.I understand. I usually drink green tea.That's healthier. Green tea is good for the heart.Yes, my doctor suggested it. Do you go to the doctor often?Not often. Only for a checkup once a year.That's good. Prevention is better than cure.Absolutely.Do you sleep well at night?Not always. Sometimes I stay up late working.You should get more sleep. It's important.I know, but work keeps me busy.Maybe try meditation before bed.That sounds helpful. Do you meditate?Yes, 10 minutes before sleep. It relaxes me.I should try that. Stress makes me restless.Stress is common. We need balance.True. Do you read books to relax?Yes, sometimes novels. What about you?I like podcasts. They are interesting.Nice. What podcast do you listen to?Mostly health and lifestyle.Oh, that's useful. Do they give tips?Yes, like drink more water, move more. Good advice.How much water do you drink?Around 2 L a day.Impressive. I sometimes forget.Set a reminder on your phone.Good idea. I'll do that.By the way, do you cook at home?Yes, almost every day.That's great. Homemade food is healthier.Yes, but sometimes I order fast food.Same here. Once in a while is okay.Exactly. Everything in moderation.Well said.

    28 min
  8. 23 SEPT.

    Vol217.日常英语学习Shadow Your Way to English

    获取全部英语文本和重点知识点请公众号搜索:yymaster888 Hi everyone. Welcome back to Podcast and Chill. I'm Gwen. And I'm Leo. How are you today, Leo? I'm good, but there is this one question that keeps bothering me. What's that? Do you ever practice speaking English but still feel like your mouth doesn't move naturally? Of course, it happens to a lot of learners, especially the beginners. They can listen and understand English well, but it's hard for them to speak it. Our dear friends, if you're also facing this problem, this episode is for you. Today we will talk about a 10-minute shadowing practice. By doing this exercise daily, you will speak English more fluently and confidently, just like a native speaker. Even better, this 10-minute practice is actually easy and fun. Are you ready for it? Let's go. This speaking problem is quite common. I think almost every English learner has to deal with this. You're right. And it's so annoying. Think about it. You can hear the words and understand them. But when it's your turn to speak to them, you just can't. Somehow you don't sound like native speakers. And it doesn't feel right. It's like your brain knows what to do, but your mouth just won't want to help. You know the words, you understand the grammar, but speaking feels hard. That's such a perfect way to put it. And the worst part, you start comparing yourself to native speakers all the time. You hear them speak so easily, so naturally, and then you listen to yourself and think, "Gh, why do I sound so weird?" I get it. When we can't speak like native speakers, we usually feel like we're not good enough. We lose confidence slowly, and that loss is the beginning of the end. It's true. Confidence is what keeps our learning journey going. But it's hard to stay confident when you keep trying but see no improvement. You practice for weeks, maybe months and years, and you still feel stuck in the same place. And here's what makes it worse. We slowly stop trying to speak with people right? You might think, "Oh, I'll practice more first. I'll get better. Then I'll talk to people." But that day never comes because you're too scared to make mistakes. Yes. It becomes this big problem. The less you speak, the more scared you get. The more scared you get, the less you want to speak. Do you see the cycle? It's like being afraid of water but trying to learn swimming without going in the water. However, very few learners realize this one thing. They often make some mistakes that stop them from getting better. Right.Like we all know that practice makes perfect. We should speak more to speak better. But some people don't like to wait when they practice. They want results right away. Friends, remember this. You can't expect to sound like a native speaker just by practicing for a week. And what happens when people don't see quick results? They tend to lose focus fast and give up quickly. It's like going to the gym once and wanting to look like the rock the next day. Some do practice, but they choose the wrong materials to practice with. That's true. They often try to copy native speakers who speak too fast for their level. I know, right? It's like a beginner driver trying to drive like a race car driver on their first day. Of course, it's going to be hard. Suddenly, all English learners think of English as rocket science. That's why those learners give up fast after listening to native speakers. However, all these mistakes have the same cause. It's the way you learn the language. You only listen. You don't talk back. That's so right. People often just wait for the language to come to them instead of the other way around. They listen, they read, they watch movies, but they don't really join in. They're like passengers in a car instead of the driver. The solution is quite simple, though. It's to take in the language actively. By doing this, you are the one in control. When you're in control, you can decide if you get better or get worse.And what's the best way to actively take in English or any other language? It's shadowing. Shadowing, friends, what does this word remind you of? The dark shape that appears when you stand under the sun or light. You move and that dark shape moves. You run and that dark shape runs as well. If you're thinking about it, you're on the right track. Gwen's right. Just like your shadow follows your movements, shadowing is when you copy and repeat after what and how a person speaks. This practice is very popular. Many famous actors and actresses use it for their work. For example, Meyer Street used shadowing to learn Margaret Thatcher's British accent for the movie The Iron Lady. Although shadowing is really effective, it's surprisingly simple. Even doing it for 10 minutes a day, can help your English, both speaking and listening, improve a lot. How can only 10 minutes make that much of a difference? You might be asking this, but don't worry. It's not about how much time we spend practicing, but how we practice. That's right. Using 10 minutes properly can get you further than studying hour after hour in the wrong way. While it's true that spending hours listening to textbook audios can still give you some improvement, it's not much and is impractical. Plus, it's not like you can sit through even just one hour with 100% focus. Meanwhile, it's much easier for you to focus for 10 minutes. And what you get after these 10 minutes is actually useful.

    18 min

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英语对话口语听力训练 每期音频同步搭配文本 学习效率更高

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