Quora knows best - For English learners and others

This episode is related to the following Reddit post: Reddit - Dive into anything https://www.reddit.com/r/languagelearning/comments/15by64n/are_there_any_words_or_phrases_that_you_like/

Kevin Abroad asked this: Share bad language learning advice but make it convincing. https://twitter.com/KevinAbroad1/status/1667958816929898496?s=20        

Jimmy Carter to begin receiving home hospice care. But who is Jimmy Carter? Listen to a brief summary in this podcast.  

Summary: In this interview episode, the host of the language learning podcast My Fluent Podcast, Daniel Goodson, is interviewed by an AI called Peter about his English learning journey. Daniel shares that he has been learning English passively for many years through activities such as reading books and listening to podcasts in English. He also started his own podcast, My Fluent Podcast, to practice speaking with native speakers and improve his skills. Daniel shares that immersing himself in the language and speaking with others, whether native or non-native speakers, has helped him a lot in his learning journey. He also encourages other language learners to start their own podcasts as a way to practice and improve their skills. Show Notes: Introduction to the AI interviewer, Peter, and the topic of the episode Daniel's background as an English learner and language enthusiast What inspired Daniel to start learning English and helpful resources he has found in his journey Daniel's experiences practicing English with native speakers and the impact on his learning How Daniel started his own podcast, My Fluent Podcast, as a way to practice speaking and improve his skills Tips and advice for other language learners interested in starting their own podcasts or finding other ways to engage with native speakers Final thoughts from Daniel on the importance of starting and being creative in language learning. The complete chatGPT prompt I used:  "I want you to act as an interviewer in a language learning podcast. I will be the interviewee and you will ask me the interview questions relating to my English learning journey. I want you to only reply as the interviewer. Do not write all the conservation at once. I want you to only do the interview with me. Ask me the questions and wait for my answers. Do not write explanations. Ask me the questions one by one like an interviewer does and wait for my answers. My first sentence is “Hi”" What do you think of AI in language learning? Share it with us: myfluentpodcast@gmail.com  Open AI in on the rise. In general, ChatGPT or AI is taken the world by storm. Should we be afraid of it? I would rather say, we should use it to our benefit. We have no other choice. It's just a matter of time until it will dominate. Be prepared!!

Why do people read novels? Transcript: We read novels because we want to live, even vicariously, in a world with meaning. Too many senseless events happen in the real world: children die of starvation at the very gates of the wealthy, innocent and admirable people perish in natural disasters, wars that destroy young lives and entire countries are waged for the pettiest of reasons. A novelist, whether realistic or fantastic, extrapolates meaning onto his or her envisioned world. Sometimes the good guy wins. The sick child recovers. The impoverished orphan has a secret fortune. Even when the ultimate theme is meaninglessness and futility, the novelist reveals the inherent strength in a character, the machinations of history in everyday affairs, the possibility that society is capable of change. Thomas Hardy's overriding theme is that the universe is malevolent or at best indifferent to the affairs of man. Yet his characters navigate a world of symbols: the unchanging, unyielding heath; the rick fires that challenge Gabriel Oak to exhaustion; the closed doors of the Yeobrights and Christminster. A character's life *means* something. Ultimately that's what a reader wants to extrapolate back onto him/herself. https://www.quora.com/Why-do-people-read-novels/answer/Ann-Litz 

Never mind if she can't cook. If she loves you and you love her, that is enough to lead a happy married life. Cooking is not rocket science. Both of you can learn it together. By the way my wife married me in spite of my inability to cook. I married her in spite of her inability to drive. We are a happily married couple. She cooks for me and I drive her around. Don't let these minor difficulties come in your way. Here is a picture of us that I haven't shared before. https://qph.cf2.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-7825d7eac1da0d29a417c5c33a76a70a-pjlq  Vocab: rocket science (something very difficult to understand) Original article on Quoa.com: https://qr.ae/pvo7LK 

Quora.com  (Whis is not an official Quora Podcast) https://qr.ae/pvHyKT  Difficult words: ambiguity (he presence of two or more possible meanings in a single passage.) cliches (Formally, a cliché is “a trite, stereotyped expression; a sentence or phrase, usually expressing a popular or common thought or idea, that has lost originality, ingenuity, and impact by long overuse, as sadder but wiser, or strong as an ox.” It can also be defined as “anything that has become trite commonplace through overuse.) monosyllabic (having only one syllable) perception (opinion, perception, understanding) ADDENDUM (an item of additional material added at the end of a book or document, typically in order to correct, clarify, or supplement something.) One characteristic that will make everyone think you're unintelligent, even if you aren't, is speaking poorly. I don't necessarily mean using slang or having a thick accent (although those might count against you in some circles). I mean not communicating well with words. People who speak well are usually rather precise. They say what they mean as unambiguously as possible (unless they intend ambiguity) in a way that is concise but clear. Speaking in vague generalities and relying on cliches can make you sound less intelligent, as can an over-reliance on a small set of (often monosyllabic) words. Again, you might be smart, but you won't come across as such. ADDENDUM: For some reason this answer has been getting a lot of replies lately saying that speaking well is not the same as being smart. I want to emphasize the last sentence above. This is not about whether how you speak is actually indicative of your intelligence. It is about perception. If you speak well, you can be perceived as being smarter than you are. If you speak poorly, you can be perceived as being less intelligent.  

Is it rude to flake on someone? Why do people do it? Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/9yJOXFDlqpt  Original post on Quora.com  https://qr.ae/pvFeSG  https://qr.ae/pvFeSL Other examples with the expression "to flake on someone": https://www.instagram.com/p/CbA60d2DfUG/?utm_source=ig_web_button_share_sheet The one time I actually depend on you, and you flake on picking me up from the airport. Marge, don't flake out on me. Don't you flake on me!

Audiogram version: https://share.descript.com/view/8wPOQ3qrGey  Transcript: Today's question on Quora Knows Best is how to be more focused. And the answer comes from Rafael Eliassen and it goes like this: 1. Keeping a straight poster, your body language controls, how you feel and vice versa. 2. Create a reward system. Willpower is hard to muster. When you live a mundane life, 4. Remove distractions, you can't function with multiple things, trying to take your attention. 5. The more relaxed you feel, the easier it will be to focus. Do things that make you feel less stressed. 6. Create a schedule. It will keep you on track and avoid confusion about what. 7. Practice meditation: The more aware you are about your thoughts and feelings, the better. 8. Take care of your health, eat, sleep, and exercise right to maximize productivity. 9. Be patient don't get discouraged. If you don't have laser focus after reading these. It will take time. Thank you for listening. This was Quora Knows Best. I am Daniel Goodson, the host of another show as well. It is called My Fluent Podcast in which I talk about methods and approaches on how to become fluent in a foreign language bye. Article on Quora: https://qr.ae/pGLYRX  (65) How to be more focused? - Small Business Ideas Online (quora.com): https://smallbusinessideasonline.quora.com/How-to-be-more-focused  

Video with subtitles: https://share.descript.com/view/VCM4bNkBrob?t=0  Full article: https://qr.ae/pGQnSI  www.quora.com  Vocabulary:  To tag along:  go along with, often uninvited; "my younger brother often tagged along when I went out with my friends" accompany - go or travel along... (see The Free Dictionary.)  To settle down: to begin to live a quiet and steady life by getting a regular job, getting married, etc.  (see merriam-webster) Upbringing: early trainingespecially : a particular way of bringing up a child Burgeois: a middle-class person,  weed: (1) tobacco products (2): MARIJUANA   Full Transcript: Those that still live are now people in their seventies or eighties, and probably someone's grandparents. Some will have adapted to a more conservative lifestyle. Others not so much. My parents are that kind. They met in 67 and spent a few years traveling and living experiences… with little me tagging along, until I had to be schooled and they settled down. They were not as ideologically motivated as other hippies were, but they wanted to feel free from their conservative upbringing. That's us in Ibiza, around ‘71 I think. After that we lived in Paris for a few years before moving to Spain. Times changed and new things were happening, being a hippie wasn't as cool anymore, maybe their life became a bit more bourgeois, but they've always been (and still are) unconventional people in many ways. Now they're old and they have three grandchildren (my sister's kids). They live quite simply on the pension they have left, maybe my father sells a painting, or my mother gets a modelling gig being the granny in a commercial, but they don't need much as long as they're happy and healthy. Well, ma likes her little bag of weed, but it's medicinal ok?

This is the video version of episode 31

What is your opinion? Share it with us and we will publish it on this podcast. (use the videoask link below) You can choose between video/audio-only/text. https://www.videoask.com/f5w03f1g8  Link to the article on Quora: https://qr.ae/pGjgCO Full transcipt further below! Vocabulary: wunderkind: a person who is very clever or good at something and achieves success at a young age JPL: Jet Propulsion Laboratory NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) - Robotic Space Exploration. average guy: ordinary guy, normal guy, average joe fly - flew - flown I had no decline in my learning ability in 30 years: drop, decrease, fall. Some people are still extremely lucid: clearn, plain, understandable Don't be prejudiced against older people and sell them short: an unfair feeling of dislike for a person or group because of race, sex, religion, etc. // or something like making your own mind about sth. before you know the facts. Don't be prejudiced against older people and sell them short: sell (someone, something, or oneself) short To undervalue someone, something, or oneself; to underestimate or underappreciate the good qualities of someone, something, or oneself. Often used in negative constructions. in the blink of an eye: at a glance. in a flash. in a heartbeat. in a jiffy. In other words, it happens very fast. Transcript I'm just about to turn 65. I've been employed as an airline pilot for 36 years. I'm reasonably intelligent, but admittedly far from a wunderkind, and with no offers to work for the JPL or NASA. Pretty much an average guy who's outstanding at being humble. At at age 64, I had to learn how to fly the most complex and advanced airliner currently in service, the Airbus A350. I had flown the relatively simplistic Boeing 767 for the past 25 years, and had never flown an Airbus, which is completely different in almost every way from a Boeing. I was the oldest person to attempt going through the Delta's A350 Initial Qualification training program. I was warned that even much younger pilots were finding the training to be extremely challenging, and that because of my age, success might not be an option. It was an extremely complex airplane. The training manual is literally 7000 pages long. Countless Training videos, 6 weeks of simulators, extremely difficult electronic and oral exams. “It can't be done, old guy”, many said. BULLSHIT! I went through the training and actually had an easy time of it. It was no more challenging than when I went through MD-11 training in 1991, at age 34, even though the A350 was a much more difficult training program. I had no decline in my learning ability in 30 years, and aced the very challenging program without any trouble. If I can maintain my ability to easily learn complex tasks into my mid-60's, hell, anyone can. To answer the question: For some it might be age 30, or 40, or 50, etc, etc. However, everyone is different. Some people are still extremely lucid and able to learn well into their 90's. Don't assume. Don't count yourself out at any age. Don't be prejudiced against older people and sell them short, because many of them are still as sharp or even sharper than you. Treat all people well, especially older people, because in the blink of an eye you're going to be one of them, and you're going to love it when someone treats YOU with dignity and a little bit of respect. quora.com          

www.quora.com     https://qr.ae/pGjufJ   Chris Ebbert Senior Lecturer in Industrial Design, Mid Sweden University Transcript: Realise that you may not be a failure in the eyes of someone else. Here's my story. I was 40, divorced, had left a life in New Zealand behind that had fallen apart in the most dramatic way possible, and was invited at my cousin's house in Austria to a summer party. As we ate barbecued things and drank local beer, dreams were swapped and future visions exchanged. My cousin is a sound engineer, struggling as a consultant, doing the odd gig in Vienna or Salzburg. We talked about happiness. And I heard myself saying, “maybe some day, when I am successful, I will know what happiness is.” My cousin looked at me as if I was very, very drunk. And maybe, I was. And he said, “Chris; you are the dean of a French university, a Grande Ecole at that, in Shanghai. And you say ‘some day when you are successful'?” That changed my world view. I realised then and there that it depends very much on whom we ask whether we feel like failures, or not. All I had been able to see was how badly things had gone for me in New Zealand, and how the expat position in China really was only a gap filler till I would be able to find something to replace the life I had had in NZ. That that life in Shanghai was in itself pretty cool was somehow off my radar. Perhaps you need to ask the right people? Try to understand what the average person's existence on this planet is like. Success and failure are not quantitative values. They are dangerously subjective perceptions, and require some grounding in basic values. So, stop comparing yourself to the wrong people. By comparing ourselves to stars or celebrities of some standing, we will always look bad. Here is the full episode of My Fluent Podcast with Chris Ebbert reading out loud: E56 - Do we have another personality in another language? https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/myfluentpodcast/E56_-_Do_we_have_another_personality_in_another_language.mp3  

Vocabulary: 0:18 conjure: implore (someone) to do something. 0:24 exacerbated by: to make more severe, to make worse (a problem etc.) 0:30 unpredictable: you can not predict it. You can not foresee it. 0:39 manic episode: is characterized by a sustained period of abnormally elevated or irritable mood, intense energy, racing thoughts, and other extreme and exaggerated behaviors. 0:47 lack of sleep: not having enough sleep (see also sleep deprivation) 1:07 he'd say: he would say 1:12 Impulsivity, check. Invincibility, check: 1:28 anxiety: state of fear 1:38 pent up energy: held back energy 1:52 Kyle made bold decisions: In Simple terms, decisions that have been taken without the fear of judgement are called as bold decisions. As a coincidence they might tend to break the established stereotypes of society. 1:52 on the whim: because of a sudden decision (rather "on a whim") 1:55 and often regretted his actions once the mania had subsided: become less intense, violent, or severe. 2:15 plummeting to the ground: fall or drop straight down at high speed. 3:01 It's like being crammed in the tube full of angry people and not being able to escape: completely fill (a place or container) to the point of overflowing 3:42 To get a grip: keep or recover one's self-control. 3:52 without being patronizing: kind or helpful but betraying a feeling of superiority; condescending. www.quora.com https://www.quora.com/What-is-bipolar-disorder/answer/Alisha-Talks?ch=10&oid=215519979&share=7d64728c&srid=hmrnZ&target_type=answer   Are you a very motivated language learner and want to become part of the podcast team, drop me an e-mail: myfluentpodcast@gmail.com  Full Transcript:  Today on Quora Knows Best "What is bipolar disorder?" "What is bipolar disorder?" And Alisha talks from Quora.com puts it like this: Bipolar disorder is a constant, internal war. You're fighting hard to conjure a balance in a world rid of stability. It's a chemical imbalance, exacerbated by environmental triggers. It is unpredictable, and can be a lifelong struggle. Kyle was diagnosed with Bipolar I disorder. 0:39 When he entered a manic episode, his mind would constantly be buzzing with exciting and optimistic ideas. Even with a lack of sleep, Kyle did not want to stop. His energy was off the roof. Dominating every conversation whilst speaking to his friends, Kyle would speak fast and switch topics quickly, making it hard for others to keep up with him. Sometimes Kyle couldn't keep up with himself. You could break Kyle's phone and he'd say, “ey, all the more reason to buy a new one!” Impulsivity, check. Invincibility, check. Whilst this may be confusing for friends and family, for the person living with bipolar, this may seem like a great time. 1:27 With Kyle however, as his mania elevated, so did the anxiety, excessive sweating, and irritation. He felt the adrenaline rising throughout his body, and to release that pent up energy, he would over-exercise to the point of exhaustion. His confidence was also a downfall. Kyle made bold decisions on the whim and often regretted his actions once the mania had subsided. When the mania burnt out, Kyle had nothing left. He may have periods experiencing a ‘normal' mood, but otherwise he'd be placed on the complete opposite end of the spectrum. The lows of depression, like rock-climbing to the very top and plummeting to the ground, sunk in deep and fast. 2:24 During this period, Kyle wants to be left alone. It's not that he wants to be by himself, but rather, he wants everyone to disappear. He doesn't want to go anywhere, see anyone or do anything. He feels as if no matter what he does, people call him names, and tell him that he's doing something wrong. The easiest thing to do then is just hide. The worst thing for Kyle is hearing the words, “cheer up”, or “what happened to the happy Kyle?” It's frustrating for him. Nothing is enjoyable. It's like being crammed in the tube full of angry people and not being able to escape. The pent up frustration and sadness create a pessimistic view of the world. He doesn't like to envision the future because all he sees is hardship, endless work and disappointment - “what even is the point?”. 3:22 Outro / recommendations To worry about your loved one is completely normal. You may be afraid of their actions during an emotional low, or worried about them making reckless decisions during periods of high. You have to remember that people with this disorder cannot control their emotions or moods. Avoid sensitive and ignorant comments such as “get a grip” or “cheer up”, offer practical help without being patronizing. Just, let them know you're there to help in any way you can. So this was the text of Alisha Talks from Quora.com. If you want to get more information about the vocabulary that was used here, you'll find more explanations in the show notes. If you have any suggestions for future episodes, drop me an email: myfluentpodcast@gmail.com . I'm your host, Daniel Goodson, have a good one!  

Word list: CV: curriculum vitae IQ: intelligence quotien to state sth.: 1. to set by regulation or authority 2: to express the particulars of especially in words : REPORT broadly : to express in words. a Bully: One who is habitually cruel, insulting, or threatening to others who are weaker, smaller, or in some way vulnerable to play it down: to attach little importance to : MINIMIZE a committee:  a body of persons delegated to consider, investigate, take action on, or report on some matter you'll be stuck up about it: you'll be stuck up about it to antagonize:  to act in opposition to   www.Quora.com:  https://qr.ae/pGzFzi  https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/    Do you want to answer this question yourself? Or do you want to learn with a motivated learner? Drop me a message: myfluentpodcast@gmail.com     

quora.com  For the original article head over to https://qr.ae/pGxNmK  Transcript: Imagine, if you will, that you are in a park, sitting on the grass with a friend. Your friend is talking, and sharing with you something quite delicate, intimate. This is the kind of thing you want to hold so gently. Dushka, he says. I suffer from terrible, insatiable hunger. As he says this, you notice he is holding a sandwich. I don't know what to do about my hunger, he is saying. I will probably never encounter food again. He puts his head down. The sandwich is right there in his hand, and you can see it so clearly. The lightly toasted pretzel roll and thick ham slices. The generous spread of whole grain mustard. The unexpected, bright orange slice of butternut squash. Fresh arugula, for the peppery taste but also for the balance of color. It's not just a sandwich. It's a prize. At this point, what I want to do, with urgency, with despair, is say “There is a sandwich in your hands! You are already holding everything you want! What is happening? How can you not see what is so clearly in your possession?” What this makes me is a terrible listener. To him, his hunger is real, and I am denying his experience. I am being judgmental of his perception and his decision making. I am putting him down right when he is making himself vulnerable by sharing this hunger with me. If you want to become a better listener, shut up about the sandwich.

Quora.com https://qr.ae/pGVlhG Transcript: I'm not an amazingly fast reader, but I'm faster than most of the people I know. My reading speed allows me to go through about 2 books a week (averaging 200 pages), and that's on top of a 15-credit summer quarter and a part time job. Looking back, I've come to realize that the sheer act of reading every day was the single most beneficial factor in quickening my speed and enhancing my comprehension. In everything I tried, reading for enjoyment was the most substantial factor in helping me become a better reader. It sounds over-simplified and just like common sense, but it works. I would compare reading to a sport or playing music: practice improves your efficiency and effectiveness. Since we make use of our reading abilities daily, however, it's much harder to get out of shape or lose some of our capabilities. One of the best things you can do to read faster and think better is find some books that you really love and read as much as you can. For me, those books were pop-psychology, business, and self-help books. As far as techniques go, I watched this short video a while back about how to read faster. It seems that most people don't move far past the stage that we learned to read in. Think back to elementary school: this was the time when you sounded out the letters and read aloud. I feel like most people continue to read this way by using their auditory/vocal systems to process words. The more advanced and much faster way has to do with using your visual systems. How is this distinction achieved? By a simple exercise. Find any sort of material to read and as you read, and as you read it repeat some sort of basic sequence. Count "1, 2, 3" or "a, b, c" repetitively as you read. What this does is separate what you say from what you see. It doesn't matter that you don't comprehend anything at first, just that you are practicing that separation. With enough practice, your mind should be able to automatically separate the two and begin using your eyes (not your mouth) to read. I'd like to see what others think because I have very little experience with this and don't know if there's any scientific evidence to back what I said.

Quora.com  Here is the original article of Mayank Pahuja: https://qr.ae/pGVgDy  Transcript:   I think you shouldn't waste any time and start reading as much as you can. I hope, when you say that you want to be an author it doesn't mean you just want to be another book writer, think about it. Anyone write a book, but how many of them write a good book? Do you want to write a book that turns into a movie soon? I hope not. I hope, you have found the path with clearer idea and it's not just the frustration of work which is making you to write something. If I say I want to be author, first thing I would do is read all great authors, then write material which of my choice, which I think has meaning and carries the perspective that should match with my target audience. It's important to have distinctive style, because when you read books, you don't have authors face but with the words and lines you can recognize who's the author. So, when someone shows you a sentence you can easily say 'Hey! that's Wodehouse' Most important thing is discipline. Although, it varies from individual to individual but the golden rule is to set the target of writing every day. It doesn't matter if you write 500 or 5000 words. More you write, you will understand the flaws, you will come closer to idea of your plot or story. You will be comfortable with the words. And last, be comfortable with the language you are writing.

It's not a universal rule, but it is the neutral place from which comics lettering begins creatively and for the audience. I am not familiar enough with the origin. However, lettering by hand is labor intensive, consistency & clarity are rewarded and a foundation in communication is essential. If you are tasked with lettering by hand and you want it to be consistent, to keep the readers eye flowing through the work, you had better make it as easy on you and the reader as you can. Comic publishing came out of the tradition of sweat shops and production speed was critical. If you add serif to a font it can help with readability, as does proper use of capital and lower case letters. Cursive works to add fluidity and character. However, all three are more labor intensive, especially if you are looking for consistency. In addition, each has the potential to undermine the arts own use of line quality. The lettering is there to help the reader understand the story, not to slow the pace of the story. A legible underwhelming consistency serves this purpose. If the letters look the same most of the time, are quickly executed, tend to serve the pace and readability of a comic, then it creates aspects of a visual lexicon. Fluency in reading comics is about reading Sequential Art and this comes with a verity of elements. One being the letters. As soon as you set up the unassuming norm that doesn't effect the reader much, you can do things to the lettering to effect the storytelling. By making a word in BOLD it creates an accent, weight or metaphoric opportunity. You can change the word balloon to infer new information. You can color code the word or ballon to create identity connections with characters. You can add in serif, lower case or cursive to introduce layered context. You can also completely create new typography that serves sound effects or titles. The more you use these elements the more they loose their effectiveness in telling the story. If you are sparing (like with most of comics other visual elements) the more power and clarity they hold for the reader and the quicker you can produce a comic by hand. Many comics lettering is now done on the computer. This changes the laborious aspects some (not as much as we hope sometimes), but it doesn't change the lexicon already established much and the need for clarity and carful use of visual elements. It may not be the perfect font, but it's a practical tradition that will remain, as long as it serves the story, audience and creative process. I hope someone knows the origin of who and why. From quora.com  https://qr.ae/pG1qwN  https://qr.ae/pG1qw2 www.myfluentpodcast.com    vocabulary: labor intensive (time-consuming, burdensome, laborious) the tradition of sweat shops capital and lower case letters.  Cursive works to add fluidity and character. line quality not to slow the pace of the story. legible (readable, clear) Fluency in reading comics is about reading Sequential Art and this comes with a verity of elements. As soon as you set up the unassuming norm that doesn't effect the reader much, you can do things to the lettering to effect the storytelling. By making a word in BOLD it creates an accent, weight or metaphoric opportunity.  You can change the word balloon to infer new information.     

Quora.com https://qr.ae/pG7y60 What impresses you the most? Vasudey's answer: As I reached office yesterday, I realized that I have forgotten my wallet. After I reached back in the evening, I saw the wallet on bed and took a sigh of relief. I saw the biscuit packet and realized that the Hide n Seek biscuit packet on my bed which I had opened previous night had only 2 biscuits left in it whereas I remembered that it had around 8–10 biscuits left when I left in the morning. Nearby the packet was my wallet which had around 20000 rupees in it as I had to pay some bills. I immediately checked my wallet and all the money was there in it. Next morning when our maid came to cook, she said, “Bhaiya, I was hungry yesterday, so I ate some biscuits while cleaning the room. Your wallet was in the hall so I also kept it in the room.” I smiled at her and brought another packet of biscuits from the room and offered her. She was happy and so was I to witness her honesty. She could had easily misplaced 20000 rupees or the whole wallet and I wouldn't even know, but she chose trust over money. I live with my flatmates in a 3 bhk flat. All 3 of us go to work leaving the key with the guard. Sometimes, she comes while we are not at home, does her work and leaves. 3rd of every month if she doesn't receives her salary, she asks us for the same. Our maid (didi) is a young lady in mid 20s. She works in around 7 houses a day as she is the only bread earner in her family. Never do we ask her to cook a certain dish. She brings vegetables by herself, grocery by herself and prepares the delicious food. Never do we ask her to clean our rooms. She cleans the rooms, washrooms, balconies, everything by herself. What really impresses me? Her way of doing her work with all the heart, her honesty and the hardwork she puts in. इज़्ज़त से कमाई बासी रोटी खाने का सुकून बेयिमानी से कमाई ५ स्टार होटेल से सौ गुना ज़्यादा है। Hard and honest earned stale bread is 100 times more soothing than a 5 star meal earned by dishonesty. In a world where being dishonest to climb up the ladder is an easier option, there are people who are happy moving slowly and steadily with all their hardships and a bag of honesty.   Vocabulary:  sigh of relief hardships climb up the ladder

Quora article: https://qr.ae/pGXMjW Learn English with this text on YouTube: https://youtu.be/32Rn3RCk-d0 Full Transcript: Like the rest of my family, I basically grew up expecting there to be a bottle of wine or two waiting for me every evening, plus some whisky or cognac afterwards as a night cap. Most of my adult life, that's how I lived. From about age 20 to 45, I drank a bottle of wine every evening, plus some spirit. I thought it was what distinguishes a good life from a bad life, not because it was so much fun, but because there was a sense of sophistication and accomplishment that came with it. It had snob appeal. Enter my Chinese wife, who realised I tend toward sleep apnea, and it freaked her out. You can only do so many nights of attempted resuscitations, thinking your husband just died in his sleep. So I decided to go off it to see if it helped, and we got ourselves an overload of tea cups, tea pots, and tea varieties to fill the beverage gap. The result was amazing. Not only did the sleep apnea disappear, but I also slept vastly better, my stress levels plummeted, as did my weight, and my bills. After a year, I couldn't believe how much money I had saved drinking tea instead of wine. We started flying away on holiday like we had not done before. And I no longer wake up with a sad soundtrack on my mind every morning. For decades, I had believed that that's what waking up is simply like. Instead, I actually wake up full of bright ideas and good thoughts now. Now, I still like wine. But I see its downsides. So, on weekends, with family, I will have a bottle of wine. But it's not a bottle a day anymore, and I can truly recommend the effects it has to give your body a respite with some proper sleep. Vocabulary  nightcap: A nightcap is a drink taken shortly before bedtime. For example, a small alcoholic drink or glass of warm milk can supposedly promote a good night's sleep sophistication: the process or result of becoming cultured, knowledgeable, or disillusioned apnea: transient cessation of respiration downsides: the negative aspect of something otherwise regarded as good or desirable.      

Minh Le's asnwer to:  Why don't I talk as much as other people? Well, I also had this problem before. In every party and conversation, I had always been the most quite person because I didn't know what to say. I was afraid that people would find me boring because I didn't talk much. Then I realize that there're these three simple solutions to this problem. Most people like to talk about themselves, what they like and dislike, their passions, etc. And it makes them feel best talking to someone who can listen. If you practice active listening, you will be able to understand people better which leads to your ability to ask open-end, interesting questions. That's how to keep a conversation going on interestingly. And by actively listening, it helps you to accumulate knowledge, experiences and stories from other people adding up to your life library and you'll be able to remember a lot of good stories well. Thus, those experiences you accumulate become your own stories to tell other people in upcoming conversations, meetings, etc. In order to become a good speaker, you first need to be a good listener. Another way to increase your knowledge in general so you can have a wide range of topics to talk about is reading. Writers sometime put their whole lifetime experiences in a book of several hundred pages, by reading a book, you absorb all of those knowledge in just a much shorter time. The more you read, the more knowledgable you are, which makes you become much more intellectually interesting. It's always a better conversation talking with someone who reads a lot more than a person who read nothing. So take at least 30 minutes a day reading book as a habit, believe me, you won't regret reading too much. Last thing, don't worry if you're not able to have much to talk about at the moment. Being a good conversationalist is all about story telling. If you pay extra attention to your everyday things and learn how to talk about them in an interesting way, that would be still much better than having an interesting story being told in a boring way. How you tell a story matters as much as your experiences and knowledge. So, to sum up, you need first to be a good listener, do reading as a habit and then learn how to tell a story well. That's all you need to make a good talk. https://qr.ae/pGXG0Z from www.Quora.com  

Quora's Link https://qr.ae/pNdBMe Ebbert:  As a university lecturer who regularly examines students, I can tell pretty quickly whether someone is just parroting something they have read, or has actually understood it. Once you involve them in a conversation on the subject in question, and they come with metaphors (“… it's almost a bit like…”), I know I can tick them off as someone who has “got it.” People who don't know what they are talking about usually keep it strictly straight. But someone who understands will get poetic about it. Beware though, if you are trying to feign understanding using this method: There is a fine line between blathering and making metaphorical allusions. (Quora: https://qr.ae/pNdBuG)  Vocabulary:  To parrot = repeat, recite, ape, copy , copycat  subject in question = topic at hand, matter at hand To keep it straight = To avoid confusing or mixing up something; to keep something clear or organized

Quora.com  https://qr.ae/pNZ1U9 Transcript: That the person you are marrying most likely isn't the person you think they are. There's a pretty good chance your partner will cheat on you. Relationships, are 50/50. But most don't see it that way. Marriage won't change your partners toxic ways. If your partner betrayed you while dating, you're in for one hell of a ride marrying that toxic SoB. There's a 52.8% chance it will end in divorce, and another 45% chance you will live in a miserable comfort. Couples that are together 3–4 years before marriage have a better chance of success. Most marry out of a convenience, not love. You're most likely getting married for the wrong reason. 1:30  Lastly, there are no relationship facts. We all have different experiences. Your best shot in marriage is fixing your part of toxicity. It's never one sided, and marriage and relationships aren't easy.

Vocab: 0:10 Enthralling 0:46 mere concept (used to emphasize that something is not large or important 1:17 Spaniard (A Spanish person) 1:25 Come to think of it (cool informal expression, got me thinking) mire of obscurity (an area of deep, wet, sticky earth) 02:42 harrowing (gonizing, bitter, cruel) 02:55 scraps (food that is discarded (as from a kitchen) food waste, garbage) 03:02 sedated via gas (to cause a person or animal to be very calm or go to sleep by giving them a drug) spoil (to destroy or reduce the pleasure, interest, or beauty of something) blown away by the performance (o thoroughly impress, overwhelm, or excite someone.) Transcript: 0:10 The very concept of this film is so enthralling that five minutes after finding out about it I was already watching it on my television screen. 0:20 This is rare. Usually, what primarily draws me to certain films are the old familiars; Such as which actors are starring, which directors are directing, and which writers are writing. Sometimes, the studio that is producing the film will also become a factor, especially if it has a reputable track record of putting out high quality cinema. 0:46 Surprisingly, and I think this largely true for all of us, usually a mere concept isn't enough to capture our attentions. This is despite the fact that a film's concept is arguably just as important as who is acting, who is directing, who is writing and who is producing. 1:10 For this film, literally, all I had to go by was the concept. The director was some obscure Spaniard who mainly stuck to making commercials, and the Spanish actors were entirely unknown to American audiences. Come to think of it, they were probably largely unknown to Spanish audiences as well... Everyone else attached, from the writers to the production companies also hailed from the mire of obscurity. I did recognize Netflix as the distributor, and although there have been stellar, high quality projects released from this platform, I won't watch a movie just because Netflix is involved. 1:54 But this concept? I just had to watch it play out; Performances and reviews be damned. 2:20 The Platform (2019) Yes, the entire film is centered around a mechanical platform that delivers food downwards to prisoners in leveled cells. The prisoners at the top levels of the prison can stuff their faces with however much they please, resulting in them always having full bellies. But as the platform progressively descends from level to level, the food starts to run out, leaving those unfortunate enough to be on the lower levels being forced to resort to cannibalism and/or suicide. The harrowing thing about it is that supposedly there's enough food to sustain everyone in the prison, all 300+ levels of it, but by level 50 or so, even the scraps are completely consumed. What's more, every month, the prisoners are sedated via gas and randomly transferred to different levels of the prison, so you could be eating like a king one month, and dying of starvation by the next, depending on which level you wake up on. 3:20 I don't want to spoil anything about the plot, characters, or even the many additional themes explored, but just know, I was completely blown away by the performances, the gloomy scenery, and the social commentary. It was so disturbing, and ultimately rewarding, that this film had me thinking about it for days after the credits rolled. 3:45  The concept captured my attention, but everything else about the film kept my eyes glued to the screen. This is a career launching film for the obscure director, actors and writers involved, and has been released to rave reviews from critics. Unfortunately, being a Spanish film, it's not well known to American audiences. But do yourself a favor now and check it out; It's available on Netflix. Just don't eat anything while viewing: The entire concept of food goes from arbitrary to horrific. In this horror/sci-fi flick, food becomes the monster. See the Quora link for the full article: https://qr.ae/pNeqSs If you want to improve your English and are on the lookout of a language partner, drop me a message at: myfluentpodcast@gmail.com     

Quora Link: https://qr.ae/pNbstB Full transcript of the answer: Being in speech team back in high school and college has truly paid off in respect to developing a powerful speaking voice. Through my participation in speech team, I learned countless snippets on how to be a good speaker. Here a some that just stuck in my head: 1. Practice: Practice is key. But not just any practice, perfect practice. My speech coach would always tell me - perfect practice makes perfect. So practice while noting down the things that you need to fix. Practice in a setting where you normally would need to use your speaking voice. For instance, use opportunities such as dinners, small introductions, family parties, etc as places where you can test out your speaking skills. Practicing in such occasions will truly help you in the future. 2. Listen to yourself: I would oftentimes record myself saying a speech or reading a speech. It would help me listen to my mistakes and work on things I needed to improve on. Enunciation is key and listening to yourself will help point out key areas where you lack enunciation. How can anyone else understand you if you don't understand yourself? Also, practice in front of a mirror. A good speaking voice is not only sound but mannerisms as well. By standing in front of a mirror, you can study yourself and again, note down your mannerisms - hand gestures/eye contact. 3. Take up every opportunity to talk: I would read everything and anything out load - such as shampoo bottles or cereal boxes - literally, anything and everything. Also, jump to the occasion when you need to read something out loud to a group of people. Or times where you need to make a small speech in a small setting - these are all ideal places to practice and hone your speaking skills. 4. Be confident: confidence is key. If you believe in yourself, you can do anything. Speaking is an art and you need to be an artist. As an artist, the first person to recognize the beauty of your work is you - so be confident in yourself. Link to the Quora answer: https://qr.ae/pNbsnK  myfluentpodcast@gmail.com 

What misconceptions do foreign language learners have about learning the English language? https://qr.ae/pN4q6G  www.quora.com  https://www.quora.com/profile/Veronica-Curlette

Full transcript: In my opinion, yes, it used to be true, a lot of people were passionate about reading books. Now most people are using social media. They have less time and less interest in reading books. Some still do. They will tell you that books are the only source of wisdom. It is a matter of opinion or preference. I personally doubt that. I was once passionate about reading books, too. I thought if I read a lot of books, I will get a lot of knowledge. I went to the university library quite a few times to find useful books. I was reading them. May be I learned a bit. But, I think I learned a lot more from observations, impressions or conversations with other people. Try it yourself. Pick a place in the world you want to learn more about and read a book about this place first. Then use Flickr and YouTube to get visual impressions of the same place. See what works better for you. Books often get obsolete by the time they are published. They are also often biased, since everyone's point of view is different. It may be possible, I would argue, to be equally intelligent`even if you are not reading books often, but listening to conversations, read a lot of freshly published stuff (online), listen to music lyrics, and make your own opinions, All these tips do not apply to classical literature, though. Classical works do actually have a lot of wisdom because people are reading them for decades and even centuries, and they are still relevant. Same is true for good music and good lyrics in this music. So, it is, ultimately, up to you. Find something to learn from, whether its books or anything else. My personal advice, though, is not to rely on books or TED Talks as a source of wisdom. Sure, there are a few ideas there. But, perhaps, there are more things to learn through conversations, thinking, asking questions, and finding your own answers. 342 views View Upvoters   The answer comes from Mikhail Kotykhov.  Quora.com https://qr.ae/pNoXDI

When you listen to a podcast... what turns you off most? Words I want to learn from this episode: chalkboard bigotry = stubborn or intolerant adherence to one's opinions or prejudices to banter = good-natured teasing or exchanging of clever remarks My other podcasts: My Fluent podcast https://www.myfluentpodcast.com/interview-matt-haseldorff-from-the-spoken-english-code-gave-a-fantastic-interview/ The vocab man: https://www.spreaker.com/show/vocab-man Music: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes/Inspiring__Upbeat_Music/Scott_Holmes_-_Upbeat_Party        

If you want to read along while you are listening, you can head over to quora.com or directly here: https://qr.ae/pNHgqa  Words I want to learn: marital bedroom

Do you want to read along while you are listeing? Head over to  Quora.com or directly to the relevant post: https://qr.ae/pNH4MO  I read out loud Michael William's answer to the question: Why do I stutter when I talk to people and not when reading something alone? Send me your question and answer: myfluentpodcast@gmail.com 

Head over to quora.com to read along while you are listening to Quora knows best. https://qr.ae/pNH42n  Did you like the format? Don't forget to follow!

www.quora.com https://www.quora.com/If-you-can-give-me-only-one-secret-to-improve-myself-what-would-it-be So the key lesson is that If you don't let go of the unnecessary things holding on to you, you will never get to see the magnificence you want to see within your life. If you keep holding on to everything just for the sake of it, they will only hide the beauty and make you look normal, uninteresting and mundane.

How hard is it being elderly? Do you wish you looked after yourself better when you were younger?   https://www.quora.com/How-hard-is-it-being-elderly-Do-you-wish-you-looked-after-yourself-better-when-you-were-younger

Nela Canovic take on how to learn something new. Her tagline on quora is: 10,000 hours and counting on becoming the best version of myself. Have fun. https://www.quora.com/q/limitlesslearning/What-should-I-do-if-I-want-to-learn-something-new?ch=10&share=3419ab75&srid=hmrnZ

This time, I make a crossover publising. This is an episode from my other show called my fluent podcast in which I share tips and tricks on how to learn a language and become fluent.  Your host. Daniel Goodson.  www.myfluentpodcast.com

First part of the episode: Quora Answer and Question. Second part: English tips Quora article: https://qr.ae/pNrcKX music: https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes/Road_Trip_Indie_Rock/Get_Away_1507 Scott Holmes - "Heavy Rock" (01:27) Get Away by Scott Holmes is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License.    

Takudzwa Razemba, Seeker of Truth gives 15 points as an answer to today's question.

Words: Talk down eloquence Quora.com https://qr.ae/pNn3g2 Teamwork by Scott Holmes is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License.

Link for today's article: https://qr.ae/pNn5rC Today's question: What did Nietzsche mean by saying "If you stare into the abyss, the abyss stares back at you!"  Article from www.quora.com / Frederick Dolan ------ Words / vocabulary: "That can happen to the man of ressentiment." Def.: A feeling of indignant displeasure or persistent ill will at something regarded as a wrong, insult, or injury SYN: rancor, offence. Why did Joseph Romero looked up the word resentment? I looked up resentment, due to its Latin origin (I.e. Spanish resentimiento). Which literally means re-feeling. But resentment is always used to describe a negative feeling of harbored anger. Technically, based on Latin origin, anything one re feels could be considered a resentment. Even the kind way a person treated you once. But used this way would lead to miscommunication because I've never seen used as a pleasant re feeling. So I wanted to check if there was an alternate definition in which it was used in an opposite re feeling. That is all. “Resentment.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/resentment. Accessed 15 Mar. 2020. The scourge "He's convinced that his various disabilities are caused by someone or something out to get him, and that if only the scourge were eliminated from the world all would be well." ferretting to find and bring to light by searching —usually used with out "this is your attitude, Nietzsche is saying, you're going to get really good at ferreting out the nasty parts of life, wherever they might be hiding, and you'll uncover one hitherto unrecognized injustice after another:" “Ferret.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ferret. Accessed 15 Mar. 2020. Susan Wolf's “Moral Saints:” A Summary: https://www.philosophybro.com/archive/susan-wolfs-moral-saints-a-summary  

Today's Author: James Altucher, written 18 books. which means he probably knows nothing about self-improvement. quora.com https://www.quora.com/How-can-I-improve-my-focus-10 Read out loud by Daniel Goodson.  

In 2009 the quora author Michael Rogers was diagnosed with a grade 4 brain cancer. The statistics looked quite ugly. They gave him 6 months to one year to live. Michael Rogers shares his experience.  Article: quora.com / https://www.quora.com/As-a-dying-person-what-is-your-advice-to-the-living/answer/Michael-Rogers-167?ch=10&share=9cd2ad53&srid=hmrnZ Author: Ossama Suleiman Host: Daniel Goodson. Contact: myfluentpodcast@gmail.com Music: Marcos H. Bolanos, Unchained Melodies Vol.2 Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/ Have a look at my other language learning podcast: www.myfluentpodcast.com