#13 Featured article: China and Central Asia
📍 As China is expanding its global reach, the Central Asian countries along the old and new Silk Road are of great importance. Read today’s not one, not two, but three articles about the tricky role that China now plays in Central Asia.
⛓ https://eurasianet.org/poll-shows-uzbeks-like-neighbors-growing-leery-of-chinese-investments
⛓ https://eurasianet.org/china-taking-big-brother-to-central-asia
⛓ https://eurasianet.org/perspectives-chinas-central-asia-strategy-in-the-age-of-extreme-competition
👉@afandi_english👈 #article
📍 As China is expanding its global reach, the Central Asian countries along the old and new Silk Road are of great importance. Read today’s not one, not two, but three articles about the tricky role that China now plays in Central Asia.
⛓ https://eurasianet.org/poll-shows-uzbeks-like-neighbors-growing-leery-of-chinese-investments
⛓ https://eurasianet.org/china-taking-big-brother-to-central-asia
⛓ https://eurasianet.org/perspectives-chinas-central-asia-strategy-in-the-age-of-extreme-competition
👉@afandi_english👈 #article
Eurasianet
Poll shows Uzbeks, like neighbors, growing leery of Chinese investments
The longer Central Asians host Chinese investors, the less they seem to like them.
#29 Afandi Quiz: Cultural Misunderstanding
Today’s quiz is about a cultural misunderstanding in the following situation:
▶️ Ryan from 🇨🇦Canada is excited to be in 🇯🇵Japan for promoting his startup (=a small technology firm) company’s product: a social distance measuring bracelet (=sth you wear around the wrist or arm) that beeps (=makes a little sound) when another person comes too close. At a meeting with a potential (=possible) partner company he talks a lot about business opportunities and that there is a lot of money to be made in the future.
In the end, however, the Japanese side declines (=says no to) the offer.
👉@afandi_english👈 #culture_quiz
Today’s quiz is about a cultural misunderstanding in the following situation:
▶️ Ryan from 🇨🇦Canada is excited to be in 🇯🇵Japan for promoting his startup (=a small technology firm) company’s product: a social distance measuring bracelet (=sth you wear around the wrist or arm) that beeps (=makes a little sound) when another person comes too close. At a meeting with a potential (=possible) partner company he talks a lot about business opportunities and that there is a lot of money to be made in the future.
In the end, however, the Japanese side declines (=says no to) the offer.
👉@afandi_english👈 #culture_quiz
Why do the Japanese say no to the offer?
Final Results
26%
To gain their trust Ryan should have talked about his past achievements.
20%
Unlike Canadians, Japanese don’t believe in social distancing.
30%
Japanese think they don’t need technology from other countries.
24%
In Japan bracelets are a sign that a family member died.
Ouch…
👎 Yes, the Japanese are confident about their technology but they use Chinese hardware and American software just like everyone else in the world. A Japanese field of expertise (=expert knowledge and skills) is robotics, but even there Japan isn’t alone.
👍 The correct answer: Japanese, similar to other East Asians, think that past achievements are the best way to tell if something or someone has a future. Only talking about the future simply doesn’t convince them but sounds more like daydreaming. In cultural studies this is called “past-orientation”. Past-oriented societies value seniority, security, safe investments and slow growth (think of those little Japanese bonsai trees). Canada and the US are future-oriented societies that value optimism, risk-taking, creativity and enthusiasm.
👎 Yes, Japan is a mysterious country with mysterious traditions. But this thing about bracelets was completely made up (=invented, unreal).
👎 Japanese people have always practiced social distancing, more or less. They are very polite but never come too close.
👎 Yes, the Japanese are confident about their technology but they use Chinese hardware and American software just like everyone else in the world. A Japanese field of expertise (=expert knowledge and skills) is robotics, but even there Japan isn’t alone.
👍 The correct answer: Japanese, similar to other East Asians, think that past achievements are the best way to tell if something or someone has a future. Only talking about the future simply doesn’t convince them but sounds more like daydreaming. In cultural studies this is called “past-orientation”. Past-oriented societies value seniority, security, safe investments and slow growth (think of those little Japanese bonsai trees). Canada and the US are future-oriented societies that value optimism, risk-taking, creativity and enthusiasm.
👎 Yes, Japan is a mysterious country with mysterious traditions. But this thing about bracelets was completely made up (=invented, unreal).
👎 Japanese people have always practiced social distancing, more or less. They are very polite but never come too close.
#10 IELTS DOs & DON’Ts: Career advice
▶️ It’s worth thinking about why you want to take IELTS. What kind of person do you want to be and what role does this exam play?
1) As a future professional ❌ Don’t get crazy about grammar rules. Linguistics is not your field. ✅ Do work with professional materials BUT all in English. Let the linguists get the high scores, with your knowledge you will get the high salary in the future.
2) As a language person ❌ Don’t get stuck with IELTS materials. They are not rich enough for you. ✅ Do explore language more deeply, try different strategies and develop your strengths. No need to worry about a high score.
3) As an academic ❌ Don’t try to show off with a high score. It’s not your business. ✅ Do work quietly. Use imitation and academic reasoning to become fluent enough for the score you need.
You know best which one or what combination you are. Don’t just go with the flow (=do the same as other people) but know what you need.
👉@afandi_english👈 #ielts
▶️ It’s worth thinking about why you want to take IELTS. What kind of person do you want to be and what role does this exam play?
1) As a future professional ❌ Don’t get crazy about grammar rules. Linguistics is not your field. ✅ Do work with professional materials BUT all in English. Let the linguists get the high scores, with your knowledge you will get the high salary in the future.
2) As a language person ❌ Don’t get stuck with IELTS materials. They are not rich enough for you. ✅ Do explore language more deeply, try different strategies and develop your strengths. No need to worry about a high score.
3) As an academic ❌ Don’t try to show off with a high score. It’s not your business. ✅ Do work quietly. Use imitation and academic reasoning to become fluent enough for the score you need.
You know best which one or what combination you are. Don’t just go with the flow (=do the same as other people) but know what you need.
👉@afandi_english👈 #ielts
Dear friends,
🎉 Afandi English is proud to bring you the best of offline education at Andijan’s brand new Afandi English Education Centre!
🎊 Come and check it out. We’re going to have a Grand Opening Party today at 5pm.
🗓 Classes will start from next Monday. What would you like to learn?
🇬🇧 English
🇩🇪 German
🇨🇳 Chinese
🇫🇷 French
📍 Address: Basement of “Oq Ayiqcha” building, opposite Inyaz, Boburshox Ko’chasi
🎉 Afandi English is proud to bring you the best of offline education at Andijan’s brand new Afandi English Education Centre!
🎊 Come and check it out. We’re going to have a Grand Opening Party today at 5pm.
🗓 Classes will start from next Monday. What would you like to learn?
🇬🇧 English
🇩🇪 German
🇨🇳 Chinese
🇫🇷 French
📍 Address: Basement of “Oq Ayiqcha” building, opposite Inyaz, Boburshox Ko’chasi
#65 Our favourite mistakes: Grammar
▶️ Please translate the following sentence:
Afandi Aprel hazillar kunida o‘zining hamma do’stlariga hazil qildi.
❌ Perhaps you think it is:
Afandi fooled his all friends on April Fools’ Day.
✅ Well, it should be:
Afandi fooled all (of) his friends on April Fools’ Day.
❓Why?
❗️ “His” and “all” cannot be combined in this order. “All” is a predeterminer and stands before “his” but not behind it. The “of” is optional.
❗️ Not sure what determiners are? Determiners in English include articles (a, the), demonstratives (this, that), quantifiers (all, some, many), numerals (=numbers) and possessives (my, her, their). Determiners always come before nouns or noun phrases.
👉@afandi_english👈 #mistakes #grammar
▶️ Please translate the following sentence:
Afandi Aprel hazillar kunida o‘zining hamma do’stlariga hazil qildi.
❌ Perhaps you think it is:
Afandi fooled his all friends on April Fools’ Day.
✅ Well, it should be:
❗️ “His” and “all” cannot be combined in this order. “All” is a predeterminer and stands before “his” but not behind it. The “of” is optional.
❗️ Not sure what determiners are? Determiners in English include articles (a, the), demonstratives (this, that), quantifiers (all, some, many), numerals (=numbers) and possessives (my, her, their). Determiners always come before nouns or noun phrases.
👉@afandi_english👈 #mistakes #grammar
Afandi English
#1 Self-study: Tom & Savannah 🆕 Brand new on the channel: Materials for self-study! Learn English with interesting videos. You won’t believe how much English you can extract from a video if you go to the bottom of it. IELTS students – here is your source…
Media is too big
VIEW IN TELEGRAM
#10 Self-study: Bonsai
▶️ Today’s video and handout are about Japan’s tiny trees called “bonsai”. Check out how an old lady gardener finds her happiness in them.
❗️If you think this is good material for your self-study, please follow the instructions in #1 👆 and the instructions on the handout below 👇.
🔤 Subtitles provided.
👉@afandi_english👈 #self_study
▶️ Today’s video and handout are about Japan’s tiny trees called “bonsai”. Check out how an old lady gardener finds her happiness in them.
❗️If you think this is good material for your self-study, please follow the instructions in #1 👆 and the instructions on the handout below 👇.
🔤 Subtitles provided.
👉@afandi_english👈 #self_study
#31 Travelogue Germany: Berlin
Berlin has changed a lot over the years as it became the capital of reunified Germany. It’s a very creative city (see the pictures).
1990-2000: The wild years
The economy of ex-communist East Germany collapsed and many Easterners went to the West for work. East Berlin was full of abandoned houses and life was cheap. Subcultures thrived in squatted houses and hidden, illegal bars.
2000-2010: “Poor but sexy”…
… is how the mayor famously described Berlin. The city’s easygoing atmosphere had become very popular. It was the “party capital” and Berlin set new trends in art, music and film.
2010-2020: Gentrification
One district after the other became more expensive and less exciting. Investors bought up lots of houses and ordinary people could no longer pay the high rents.
---Vocab---
📍reunified = together again 📍subculture = culture of one group in society 📍thrive = be strong and healthy 📍squat = illegally occupy a house
👉@afandi_english👈 #travel #germany
Berlin has changed a lot over the years as it became the capital of reunified Germany. It’s a very creative city (see the pictures).
1990-2000: The wild years
The economy of ex-communist East Germany collapsed and many Easterners went to the West for work. East Berlin was full of abandoned houses and life was cheap. Subcultures thrived in squatted houses and hidden, illegal bars.
2000-2010: “Poor but sexy”…
… is how the mayor famously described Berlin. The city’s easygoing atmosphere had become very popular. It was the “party capital” and Berlin set new trends in art, music and film.
2010-2020: Gentrification
One district after the other became more expensive and less exciting. Investors bought up lots of houses and ordinary people could no longer pay the high rents.
---Vocab---
📍reunified = together again 📍subculture = culture of one group in society 📍thrive = be strong and healthy 📍squat = illegally occupy a house
👉@afandi_english👈 #travel #germany
A good city ...
Anonymous Poll
22%
is clean and beautiful
63%
is comfortable and easy to live in
15%
has many interesting places and events
#21 YouTube Channel Recommendation: Khan Academy
📊 English Level: Advanced
🔤 Subtitles: Available
💬 Topics: Science, school subjects
💡 Content: Khan Academy is an immensely useful resource for anyone with a professional background and/or interest in a particular subject. If all you need is general English, then Khan Academy is probably not for you. But if you know your subject and want to transfer and develop that knowledge in English then this channel is a great way to combine language and subject knowledge. Also, if you happen to prepare for SAT there are a lot of videos to help you with that.
⛓ Link: https://www.youtube.com/user/khanacademy
👉@afandi_english👈 #youtube
📊 English Level: Advanced
🔤 Subtitles: Available
💬 Topics: Science, school subjects
💡 Content: Khan Academy is an immensely useful resource for anyone with a professional background and/or interest in a particular subject. If all you need is general English, then Khan Academy is probably not for you. But if you know your subject and want to transfer and develop that knowledge in English then this channel is a great way to combine language and subject knowledge. Also, if you happen to prepare for SAT there are a lot of videos to help you with that.
⛓ Link: https://www.youtube.com/user/khanacademy
👉@afandi_english👈 #youtube