Do you remember the last time you bit into your favourite fruits? What were they? Mango? Papaya? Orange? If someone asked where those fruits come from, would you be able to answer? No, we don’t mean from your refrigerator or the supermarket. We mean the origin of those fruits. We eat so many fruits yet we might not be able to explain their roots. To help you better understand your favourite fruits, we’ve put together a list of fruits and their origins.
Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. For those of you who are in a relationship, you can expect candlelight dinners and roses. But do you have no one to celebrate it with? Don’t worry, we’re all in the same boat and we believe that it shouldn’t stop you from expressing love, wishing others happiness, and sending them warm fuzzy feelings–in any type of form. Here’s our guide to surviving Valentine’s Day.
Wait, what? You have someone to celebrate it with? Well, we have you covered as well. Here are some greetings you can use to express that love to them.
Indonesia is a big country comprising diverse cultures, ethnicities, languages and religions, with Islam being the dominant religion. One famous Islamic attribute is “peci”, which is worn by males on Islamic occasions such as Eid ul-Fitr and Eid al-Adha. It is also commonly worn at weddings and funerals as well as it has become a symbol of nationalism. But have you ever questioned its history? Who introduced “peci” to Indonesia?
Lucky you, we have done our research to answer your curiosity. Let’s discover the origin of “peci” from in this episode!
What are the things that annoy you? When someone cuts the line? When the train is late? When being stuck in traffic? When food delivery takes so long? Name all the things that drive you crazy!
There is actually a term to express this, namely “pet peeves.” It is an idiom which means “something that you particularly dislike.” Pet peeves exist in almost every area of our life, including at work and in relationships. But how can you deal with pet peeves? Do you keep your silence when things can be changed?
Listen to these tips!
Are you facing failure right now? Do you just get down and feel bad for yourself? Now, let us throw a quote at you, one you may also recognize, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!”
What is the basis of this quote? It means, when you have problems, use them to breed opportunities instead. How you respond to life’s lemons is what matters the most. In fact, some of the most impactful inventions were created out of difficulties.
How do we live by this quote? Let’s find out and be inspired!
Happy New Year 2020, dear SET-lers (SET Listeners)! New year, new decade! We know, we know… every year, people around the world (including yourself) make New Year’s Resolutions, hoping to become better versions of themselves. However, many struggle and even fail to achieve their goals. Let’s make a fresh start! We’ve put together a plan to help you realize your dreams!
Merry Christmas, dear SET-lers (SET Listeners)! That is if you celebrate Christmas.
Have you bought gifts for your friends and family yet? What kind of gift giver are you? Maybe for someone very special, you might be looking for a gift that is expensive. However, most people agree that it’s the thought that counts. What do you think? Is it really the thought that counts?
Whichever gift giver you are, it is time to relax at home and listen to this episode on gift-giving.
Warmest holiday wishes for you!
Do you realize that some of the animals and plants you eat, materials you use, and even medicines you consume are being manipulated? Manipulated? What does it mean? Should we be concerned? Welcome to the world of ‘Genetic Engineering’! ‘Engineering’ is the scientific application to build, design, invent, and test machines and systems, with the goal to make our lives better. On the other hand, ‘genetic’ comes from the word ‘genes’, which are made up of DNA carrying information about the traits of living things. Simply, ‘genetic engineering’ is the scientific act of manipulating DNA and genes tailored to our benefit. But what does manipulation even mean? What are the examples?
Do you wish to master English quickly? Are you wondering why other learners are faster than you? Our first tip is to find out what type of learner you are: a visual learner, an auditory learner, a reading/writing learner, or a kinesthetic learner. What is the next step once you’ve discovered your type? Well, the old cliché “Practice Makes Perfect” never gets old. Consistent practice sharpens your skills and you should tailor your practice to your learning style. In our newest episode, Gio and Kiky say that another trick is to set a goal. Do you think it’s important? What are your ways to learn English? Share your thoughts in the comments!
Have you heard of the English tests called TOEIC, TOEFL and IELTS? As English learners, you will need to participate in one (or even two) of them to officially evaluate your English competency. But what are the differences? What do universities and scholarship institutions usually require? Let’s find out from our newest episode, where Ms. Lita explains everything you need to know about the three.
We have a tough question for you: Would you consider a Long Distance Relationship (LDR) or would you date your friend’s ex? If you had to choose just ONE, which one would you choose? Some people are against LDR because of trust issues, while others believe that it actually shows, and even strengthens, the trust between the couple. It is also thought by many that going after a friend’s ex could complicate your friendship, whereas plenty believe that you have to fight for love. Share your thoughts with us!
What’s in store for us when it comes to spending habits? It is undeniable that the world is moving towards a cashless society. While we can already feel its positive impact, we need to address the setbacks. Digitalisation allows for an easier exchange of money, but the older generation might not be comfortable with digital payments. Let’s hear what Gio and Kiky have to say. Feel free to share your thoughts with us too.
Hands up for those who love traveling! Do you prefer solo travel over group travel? What do you think are the pros and cons of each? When you travel alone, you can do anything you want, whenever you want, however you want, without having to agree with your friends. But when you travel in a group you can share memories and adventures with them.
What is a food hedonist? It is lightly defined as finding pleasure in food. Do you have any food you don’t mind being indulged in? Chocolate? Chips? Fries? Do you know that our personality can be described by our type of eating habits: fast, slow, and picky. What are the differences and what type are you
Let’s talk about relationships! Some people say that honesty is an important element of successful relationships, while others say that honesty can actually break relationships. What do you think? Does being honest matter? Or do you prefer to tell white lies? Share your views with us!
Have you noticed the constant change in our lifestyle over the last couple of years? New technologies come and change how we live, work, and interact in society. We are being driven by this technology circle. Welcome to the era of disruption, where innovation is the centre of cultural, global, and economic change. What do you think are the pros and cons of innovation?
What is the English word for ‘netizen julid’? Yes, those people on the Internet who like posting negative comments with the intention of provoking others and create sensations. Find out what the word is, as it is our vocab of this week. This brings us to the topic of our episode: Anything Social Media. What is the impact of social media and how can we use social media responsibly?
Our environment is undoubtedly in an alarming state due to non-recyclable wastes. In this episode, we suggest a few ways to manage plastic use, but then we questioned, “What about waste management itself?” It’s a long road ahead, but fortunately, actions have been taken. Innovators have been trying to reinvent plastic using different materials that are more “conforming” to the environment. Do you think this sounds promising? What is this new plastic anyway?
How would you feel if your friend surprised you with a free ticket to Dufan? For those who like an adrenaline rush, the feeling would probably be extreme happiness. You imagine all the terrifying rides you would get on, all that fun and screaming. For others it may not sound so appealing as that kind of ‘rush’ is not something that does anything for them. We all want to be happy, it is after all a universal desire, we just chase it differently. How do you pursue happiness?
Did you know that Jakarta’s air quality is among the world’s worst? It was categorised as “very unhealthy” by AirVisual, a Switzerland-based pollution mapping service. Discussions on combating these harmful air pollutants have long been had, such as adopting a more “green” lifestyle in almost all of our daily activities. What are your thoughts? How can we change the air level from “unhealthy” to “moderate”? Gio and Kiky have also shared their concerns on our fifth podcast, where you’ll learn the vocab of the week and you can play along in an ‘adjective’ game at the end.
A few years ago, people might not have predicted an incredible bloom in technology. Now, technology has not only become an integral part of human lives, but has also transformed areas, such as business, health, and education, for the better. In fact, technology continues to progress all the time.
Have you kept up with today’s technologies? Our fourth episode covers the newest technologies, namely Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR). What are they? What are their benefits?
What comes to your mind when you hear the word “UK”?
If you say, “The weather”, you are 100% correct!
Did you know, if we Indonesians love (or loathe) to talk about the traffic, the Brits have a love and hate relationship with the often gloomy weather in their country, thus it is a very common topic amongst them.
What else comes to your mind? Royal weddings? Big Ben? The Harry Potter movies? You name it! Additionally, the UK is indeed very famous for its accent. Who agrees?
If you want to enhance your British listening skills, let’s welcome our one and only Daniel, our native teacher from the UK.
Besides learning interesting facts about the UK, you’ll also get to hear Daniel’s views on the differences between Indonesia and the UK. Here’s one: he finds it shocking when a taxi driver asked him if he’s married or not, because this is totally inappropriate in the UK.
Daniel’s culture shock experiences can make your tummy tickle because of how true they are. Curious to know more?
Then our podcast is just what you need!
“Do you have any idea how hard it is to drive in Jakarta?”
“Oh trust me. Been there, done that!”
Have you ever heard such a conversation? Or is it a common topic of conversation among Jakarta citizens?
Welcome to the hustle and bustle of Jakarta traffic!
Motorcycle drivers ‘innocently’ riding on the wrong side of the road. Being literally excruciatingly swamped on the train. Being impolitely honked by the drivers behind you.
The nearly life-and-death experience of almost getting into an accident (that moment where your heart skipped a beat and life flashes before your eyes – never happened to you? Okay).
Not to mention, the breath-taking amount of cars and motorcycles during rush hour that makes them look like ants from above.
Kiky and Gio are here to talk about everything related to commuting in Jakarta, ranging from what transport they usually use to get to work to their experiences using Jakarta’s public transport.
Do you have any scary or funny experiences commuting in Jakarta?
Share them with us! We’d love to know!
Wherever you are, whether you are on your way to work or going back home, stay safe!
You’ve seen him give quizzes on English Today’s Instagram. You’ve seen him explain about Business Skills. You’ve watched his funny English videos. You’ve even watched his performances on national television.
Mr. D(@gurukumrd) or also known as Dennis is everyone’s favourite ‘bule’ Instagram celebrity sharing his daily videos on English tips. His naturally humorous streak is what keeps his audiences wanting more. He’s a unique on-camera personality that has made him a ‘fortune’ of more than 1 million Instagram followers.
Whether you want to learn more about Mr. D or are trying to enhance your listening skills or want to increase your daily vocabulary, listen to Mr.D, as our special guest, on Speak English Today Podcast with our weekly hosts Gio and Kiky.
Stay tuned for our episodes where we’ll bring more guest stars and talk about interesting topics each week. Download your podcast platform and find us at: Speak English Today.
