Ep 130: Nuestros mejores consejos para practicar inglés SOLO!

 

Siempre surge la pregunta en conversaciones con estudiantes y personas en general que desean aprender inglés, Como practicar inglés si nadie a mi alrededor habla inglés y no tengo a nadie con quien practicar? Bueno, el día de hoy te compartiremos nuestros mejores tips para practicar inglés solo. 

 Excelente tema esté especialmente para los que aprenden inglés fuera de un país de habla inglesa, la verdad es que practicar ingles solo no es tan divertido y puede llevar a la desmotivación pero, con la tecnología que contamos ahora hay muchas formas de practicar inglés solo y de forma divertida.

 Learning is not a spectator sport. – D. Blocher

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Que aprenderás en este episodio?

Los mejores consejo para practicar inglés solo.

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Recursos:

En esta guia vas a encontrar el vocabulario
básico esencial que necesitas saber para
empezar a hablar ingles. Los temas están
organizados para equiparte con el
vocabulario que necesitas para ir desde
saludar en ingles, ir de compras, adquirir
servicios, comer en un restaurante o lidiar
con las autoridades en inglés.

Espero que esta guia te brinde la ayuda que
necesita para empezar a hablar ingles.
Esta guía es creada, diseñada y revisada por
Starlin santos y Thomas Martínez, quienes
son los fundadores de englishwayrd, un
sistema de aprendizaje de ingles en linea.

Nuestras consejos: Resumen.

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Starlin: El primer tip para practicar ingles solo, es hablar contigo mismo, si, habla ingles solo, crea conversaciones internas en inglés sobre situaciones cotidianas, por ejemplo, quieres aprender el vocabulario sobre cómo ordenar comida en ingles, imaginate que estas en un restaurante, que dirias cuando llega el mesero? Como pides tu comida favorita, piensa en eso y haz conversaciones contigo mismo, admito que es algo que hacía cuando aprendía inglés y aún hago cuando quiero practicar palabras nuevas o memorizar expresiones.  Esta es una técnica súper útil si no tenías a nadie que hable inglés para practicar inglés. Usa tu creatividad. 

Thomas: Esta técnica de hablar contigo mismo me parece muy creativa e interesante y admito que de forma inconsciente la he usado y la recomiendo.  Una técnica que a mi me funciono para practicar ingles solo fue la de ver películas en inglés con o sin subtítulos, no solo veía las películas si no que anotaba los diálogos y las palabras desconocidas, busca el significado y luego leía esos diálogos y palabras en voz alta hasta aprenderlas. Te sugiero que hagas lo mismo!

Starlin: Me gusta mucho esa idea, ver películas y más si te gustan son un excelente recurso para practicar inglés por tu cuenta. Otro  tip para ti es una técnica que use por mucho tiempo en mi proceso de aprendizaje y es el shadowing, esta técnica se basa en repetir e imitar la forma de hablar de un hablante nativo. Los pasos para hacerlo son los siguientes:

1. Selecciona un vídeo más o menos 20 minutos o audición de alguna temática de tu interés e imprime la transcripción. 

2. Lee la transcripción un par de veces a fin de familiarizarte con el tema. 

3. Grábate mientras realizas una primera lectura en voz alta de la transcripción.

4. Escucha la audición y/o visualiza el vídeo mientras lees la transcripción en voz baja. Presta especial atención a aquellas palabras que te resulten más difíciles de pronunciar y coloca un puntito sobre la sílaba que contenga el estrés -golpe de voz-. Fíjate también en la entonación, las pausas y los cambios en la modulación de la voz.

5. Vuelve a escuchar la audición / vídeo y repite en voz alta de manera simultánea lo que escuchas. Repite este paso las veces que necesites.

6. Grábate mientras realizas una segunda lectura en voz alta de la transcripción y compara el resultado con la primera grabación. ¿Notas alguna diferencia?

Ahora se que esta técnica la inventó Alexander Arguelles, un lingüista estadounidense. 

Thomas: Wao, me encanta ese dato y la técnica del shadowing es algo que recomiendo que apliques para obtener un acento más suave al oído. Me lo recomendaron varias veces y te pasaré el mismo dato, ¡piensa en inglés! Así tal cual, quizás sea algo descabellado como hablar solo, pero esta es una buena manera para poner tu cerebro a trabajar. Al principio puede que tu cerebro se rehuse y comience a pensar de forma natural en español. Estés o no ocupado, siempre habrá un pensamiento activo dentro de ti, cámbialo al inglés y de esa manera aprenderás poco a poco.

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Únete a una comunidad con tus mismo intereses y practica tu inglés.

Desde los inicios de los tiempos los seres humanos hemos necesitado la comunidad para fortalecernos y crecer juntos y eso no ha cambiado, el ser humano es un ser social y la socialización en torno a un tema de interés común te ayudara a aprender mas rápido, es por esto que te recomiendo que busques una comunidad con tus mismos intereses para que puedas practicar tu inglés, socializar, aprender y compartir lo que sabes, eso de verdad que ayuda mucho.

En EnglishwayRD creemos que la comunidad es importante para el aprendizaje y por eso tenemos nuestro club de inglés en Whatsapp. Únete y comparte y aprende en comunidad.

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Conoce a los presentadores del podcast

Starlin santos

Co-fundador de englishwayrd, host del podcast englishwayrd. Profesor de ingles con mas de 5 años de experiencia en la enseñanza del idioma inglés. TEFL certified.

Thomas martinez

Co-fundador de englishwayrd, host del podcast englishwayrd. Profesor de inglés certificado con 4 años de experiencia en la enseñanza del idioma ingles y mas de 1o años en el aprendizaje de inglés. TEFL certified.

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Curiosities about Christmas that most people don't know

Christmas is a universal celebration in which the whole world stops to celebrate the most magical night of the year. Although it is the same holiday, traditions change from culture to culture, giving Christmas different nuances in different countries. In this article, we have collected 15 curiosities about the holiday from around the world that will introduce you to different cultures and customs that you probably didn't know about.

In Sweden, Father Christmas is slightly different from the rest of the world. His name is Tomte, he is as small as an elf and he walks around with his goat Yule.

In Norway, as is the tradition, on 24 December all the brooms and tools used to clean the house are hidden. This is because it is said that at night evil witches come and steal all the brooms from the houses.

In the Czech Republic, there is a Christmas tradition that single women, with the door behind them, throw a shoe backwards. If it falls with the tip facing the door, it means that the woman will find love within the year.

The Statue of Liberty is perhaps the greatest Christmas present in history! It was given by the French to the United States on 25 December as a sign of friendship between the two peoples.

In Germany and Austria, there is the evil equivalent of St Nicholas. It is a demon called Krampus who has the task of punishing bad children; in some cities, during popular parades, some people wear the mask of these demons.

In the United States, in the state of Washington, there is a Christmas town called Leavensworth. With less than 2,000 inhabitants, this place is a perfect reproduction of a Bavarian village that transforms into a huge Christmas market during the Christmas season.

The Euphorbia Pulcherrima, or more commonly known as the Christmas star, is a plant native to Mexico that can grow up to 4 metres. In ancient times, the Aztecs used it to obtain red pigments.

In Ukraine, spider webs are used for decoration because they are believed to bring good luck.

The longest Christmas lunch is probably eaten in Poland, where the tradition is to have 12 courses, one for each apostle.

In Serbia, presents are unwrapped two weeks before Christmas Eve. Children during this period "kidnap and bind" mothers and demand a ransom which is usually repaid in gifts.

In Spain, the nativity scene is an important tradition; in Catalonia, the figure of the "caganer", i.e. a shepherd who does his business, is one of the figurines. He is considered a good luck charm in Spanish culture.

In South Africa, the traditional holiday dish is fried insects.

In Brazil, it is believed that "Papi Noel" comes from Greenland, and for this reason, when he arrives in Brazil, he wears only silk clothes because of the high temperature.

In Japan, Christmas is very different from the way we know it. It is much more like Valentine's Day where everyone exchanges gifts and the tradition is to eat fried chicken preferably from the KFC fast food chain.

In the United States, Christmas decorations are loved by everyone, so real competitions are held.

These Christmas-themed curiosities are sure to amaze at lunch with the family!

🔆 Recursos y materiales gratis en inglés, para Navidad.

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Christmas fruit cakes recipe

Cooking recipes - Desserts - How to make Christmas fruit cakes?

Ingredients :

• 2 cups currants
• 2 cups candied citrus peel mix
• 1 1/2 cups coarsely chopped candied pineapple
• 1 1/2 cups candied red cherries, halved
• 1 1/2 cups sultanas
• 1 cup dark rum or brandy
• 2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1 pinch of salt
• 3/4 cup softened butter
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/3 cup strawberry jam
• 2 tablespoons molasses
• 5 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts

Preparation :

In a large bowl, combine currants, citrus peel, pineapple, cherries, sultanas and 3/4 cup (180 ml) rum. Cover and let stand at room temperature for 24 hours (stirring occasionally).

In a bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, allspice, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Add 1/2 cup (125 ml) of the dry ingredients to the macerated candied fruit and mix. In a separate bowl, using an electric mixer, beat butter with brown sugar, jam and molasses until fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the remaining dry ingredients all at once until the batter is smooth. Add the candied fruit mixture and nuts and mix. Pour batter into a 13" x 9" (33 cm x 23 cm) parchment-lined cake pan and smooth the top.

Place a cake pan filled halfway with water on the bottom rack of a preheated 300ºF (150ºC) oven. Place the cake on the middle rack and bake for 1 hour. Loosely cover the top of the cake with foil and bake for 45 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the centre of the cake comes out clean but slightly sticky. Place the pan on a wire rack and let cool completely.

Unmould the cake and remove the parchment paper. Using a double layer of cheesecloth, cut out a 16-inch (40 cm) square and dip in the remaining rum. Wrap the cake in the rum-soaked cheesecloth, then in plastic wrap and finally in aluminum foil. Refrigerate for 1 month. (The cake will keep for up to 3 months in the refrigerator).

When ready to give, cut the cake into 6 bars.

A good tip

For a gourmet version: before wrapping the cake, you can top it with a thin layer of marzipan and then cream cheese icing.

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Pistachio and cranberry biscotti recipe

Cooking recipes - Desserts - How to make Pistachio and cranberry biscotti?

Ingredients :

• 1/2 cup softened butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 1/2 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup unsalted pistachios
• 1 cup dried cranberries
• 1 egg white
• 1 teaspoon water
• 10 oz chopped white chocolate, melted

Preparation :

In a large bowl, beat butter with sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, then vanilla. In another bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. Add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, in two batches, and mix until the batter is smooth. Add pistachios and cranberries and mix.

Separate the dough into two portions. On a lightly floured surface, shape each portion into a 12-inch (30 cm) long roll. Place rolls of dough on a large parchment-lined baking sheet, spaced 2 inches (5 cm) apart and flatten slightly. In a small bowl, whisk egg white with water. Brush the tops of the rolls with the mixture.

Bake in preheated 325ºF (160ºC) oven for 30 minutes or until rolls are firm and lightly browned. Remove the baking sheet to a wire rack and let rest for 10 minutes. Place rolls on cutting board. Using a serrated knife, cut on the bias into 1/2-inch (1 cm) thick slices. Place slices vertically on baking sheet, spacing them 1/2 inch (1 cm) apart. Continue baking in preheated 300ºF (150ºC) oven for 35 minutes or until biscotti are almost dry. Remove biscotti to a wire rack and cool completely.

Dip one end of each biscotti into melted chocolate (let excess drip off). Place biscotti on wax paper-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate for 20 minutes or until chocolate is set (Biscotti will keep for up to 1 week at room temperature or up to 1 month in the freezer).

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Biscuit dough truffles recipe

Cooking recipes - Desserts - How to make Biscuit dough truffles?

The ingredients of the Biscuit dough truffles :

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 300 mL sweetened condensed milk
• 1 cup miniature chocolate chips
• 8 oz. coarsely chopped bittersweet chocolate

The steps of Biscuit dough truffles :

In a bowl, using an electric mixer, beat 1/2 cup (125 mL) butter, brown sugar and vanilla until smooth and creamy. Beat in flour and salt on low speed, alternating with condensed milk. Add the chocolate chips and mix with a wooden spoon.

Shape biscuit dough into balls about 3/4" (2 cm) in diameter. Place balls on a parchment-lined biscuit sheet. Freeze for 30 minutes or until firm (balls will keep for up to 1 week in refrigerator and up to 1 month in freezer).

Meanwhile, in a metal bowl set over a pan of hot but not boiling water, melt the chopped chocolate and remaining butter, stirring until smooth. Remove the pan from the heat.

Line another baking sheet with parchment paper. Using 2 forks, dip the cold biscuit dough balls one by one into the melted chocolate so that they are well coated (let the excess chocolate run off). Place the truffles on the baking sheet. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until chocolate has hardened.

Pour the remaining melted chocolate into a small resealable bag (Ziploc type). Seal the bag and make a small hole in one of the bottom corners. Gently squeeze the bag and drizzle the chocolate over the truffles.

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Cyber Monday shopping tips

Are you already shopping today for Black Friday? Make sure you put some money aside for next Monday, because you can still get huge discounts during Cyber Monday 2021. This is probably the favourite online shopping day for many bargain hunters, but unfortunately also for cybercriminals. We give you some tips on how to shop safely online during Cyber Monday.

What is Cyber Monday?

Cyber Monday is the online retailers' answer to Black Friday. In the past, Black Friday was only available in physical shops. Online retailers decided to make the following Monday their big discount day. Today, the difference is rather small, as on Black Friday and Cyber Monday you can shop online at competitive prices.

As the name suggests, Cyber Monday falls on a Monday each time. This year it falls on Monday 29 November. You can easily do this calculation for the following years as well: Thanksgiving always falls on the fourth Thursday in November, the next day is Black Friday and the following Monday is Cyber Monday. As with Black Friday, you can get particularly good deals on electronics or clothing. ⇒ The best Cyber Monday offers

Peak day for discounts and cyber criminals

Unfortunately, Cyber Monday, like Black Friday, is not only a peak day for bargain hunters. Cyber criminals are also on the prowl and want a piece of the action. The number of fraudulent websites and cases of financial phishing therefore often increases at the start of the sales period. With phishing, hackers try to get your personal information, passwords and even bank details in order to steal money. For example, they create fake pages of well-known retailers and fake payment systems, which can lead to online shoppers being tricked into losing a lot of money.

Tips for safe online shopping during Cyber Monday:

1. Secure your computer: surf on a secure internet connection (so no public networks) and always install the latest versions of your operating system, web browser and anti-virus software.
2. Use strong passwords: Create a unique and complex password for each website or online shop that is difficult for cybercriminals to discover.
3. Buy from sites you know: order from online shops you usually use, that you know and can therefore trust.
4. Don't open unreliable emails: many retailers send out a newsletter with their discounts during Cyber Monday. Is the email full of errors or do the emails contain suspicious characters? Delete it immediately and don't click on the links.
5. Make sure you can pay safely: In a secure online shop and secure payment area, the URL always starts with "https" and a closed padlock. Is it just "http"? Then your data is not sent securely and you cannot pay safely.
6. Use a secure payment method: pay for your purchases with a secure payment method such as credit card, Paypal, Payconiq, Klarna, bank transfer or ordinary debit card. Beware of payment services such as Western Union or Moneygram, which are often used by fraudsters.
7. Tip: Credit card (and Paypal) payments often include (online) purchase insurance, which protects you against damage, loss, theft and non-delivery of the product you have purchased. Sometimes there is also insurance against fraud. Some banks also offer cashback credit cards that allow you to get part of the purchase price back.

Amazon is the marketplace with the highest sales record on Black Friday and Cyber Monday since 2017.

🔆 Recursos y materiales gratis en inglés, para Acción de gracias.

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Hanukkah: Meaning and rituals of the Jewish festival of lights

"HAPPY HANUKKAH". This year, the Hanukkah festival of lights begins before December. Date, wishes, prayers or even the meaning of the "miracle of the vial of oil".

This year, Hanukkah, also known as the "Jewish festival of lights", runs from Sunday 28 November (evening) to Monday 6 December. This is because this celebration lasts eight days. Its date varies every year, because the Jewish calendar is based on the Moon, as opposed to the Sun in the Latin calendar. The programme of Jewish liturgy during this interlude includes songs and blessings, food fried in oil and, above all, the traditional Jewish candlestick. Called the "menorah", it has nine branches. On each night of the eight days, believers light one of them (the first one is lit on the eve of the first full day of Hanukkah, which is the evening of 28 November this year). By lighting up the menorah a little more each day, the followers of Judaism commemorate what they consider to be "the miracle of lights".

When is Hanukkah?

The Jewish celebration of Hanukkah takes place over eight days, from the 25th of Kislev to the 2nd of Tebeth in the Hebrew calendar. Generally, this festive period corresponds to one week of December in the Gregorian calendar currently used in our countries, and is not far from St Nicholas' Day on 6 December. As Hanukkah takes place in winter shortly before Christmas, it has often been seen as the "Advent of Israel", contextualises the French Jewish-Israeli poet Claude Vigée in the book "Un panier de houblon". The first candle of Hanukkah is lit on the eve of 25 Kislev. A central candleholder then lights the lights of the eight other branches, one day at a time.

When is Hanukkah 2021?

In 2021, Hanukkah begins on Sunday 28 November and lasts until Monday 6 December. The celebration therefore takes place several months after Yom Kippur, or Day of Atonement, which is considered by believers to be the "holiest of Jewish holidays" and will be celebrated in 2021 on 15 and 16 September. In 2016, the Jewish Festival of Lights began on Christmas Eve, a Saturday, in the middle of Shabbat.

What is the meaning and origin of Hanukkah?

Symbolically, the gradual lighting of the traditional candlestick or the making of oil dishes (latkes, potato cakes, and other doughnuts) for Hanukkah commemorate the "miracle of the oil jar". For believers in Judaism, this miracle took place 23 centuries ago, after the Jews re-dedicated the Temple of Israel. The Jews had just recovered the temple after an unexpected victory over the Greek-Syrian troops of Antiochus Epiphanes, who sought to subdue them. In the Judaic story, a small vial found far away from the temple is used to light the place of worship for eight days in exchange for a normal one.

Hanukkah Prayer

During Hanukkah, the usual liturgy does not give rise to an additional prayer service: without a holy character and not a holiday apart from Israel, this festival is not linked to any prayer ritual indicated in the Bible. It is said to be rabbinical and not biblical. However, several readings are added to the ordinary liturgy, varying over time, to signal that Hanukkah is taking place. In the synagogue, special prayers are recited, such as Al Hanissim, a blessing that is part of the Amida, the morning service prayer, but also the Birkat Hamazon, the Jewish post-meal prayer; the Hallel, which is read every day in its entirety, as a form of praise and thanksgiving, and is used on joyous Jewish holidays; or the reading of specific passages from the Torah, such as the one on the sacrifices made at the time of the inauguration of the Temple. The Temple had just been returned to the Jews after they regained their independence from the Greeks in the second century BC.

Happy Hanukkah

How do you wish for a happy Hanukkah? To wish each other a happy Hanukkah, the faithful usually say "Hag Sameah" or "Hanukkah Sameah". And if you want to take it a step further, give your friend or boyfriend a menorah celebrating Hanukkah, the inexpensive traditional candlestick, and the candles that go with it. Making doughnuts with mint tea is also a great way to celebrate the Festival of Lights. But don't panic: for each 'edition' of these festivities, you have eight days to give a Hanukkah surprise to any loved ones that may be involved...

When is Hanukkah 2022?

The Jewish festival of Hanukkah in the coming years will take place on very different dates. In 2022: from Sunday 18 December to Monday 26 December; in 2023: from Thursday 7 December to Friday 15 December; in 2024: from Wednesday 25 December to Thursday 2 January.

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