#GuessTheIdiom

It’s been a while since I last posted a picture illustrating an idiom or an expression.

Let’s begin with a simpler one today.

Can you guess the idiom this picture is illustrating?

I recently discovered Garth Brooks from rewatching The Ranch, a Netflix show. And now I’m hooked. I’ve always loved country music, but his songs just pull at your heartstrings.

Yesterday, I was at Drujba, enjoying an amazing performance by Sahar, the legendary band from the early 2000s.

The whole concert was live—a rare treat here in Uzbekistan.

And honestly, the lead singer sounds exactly like he does on his recordings. Not many can pull that off!

P.S. He will be performing today as well.

What are your goals for 2025?

Two of the trickiest month names to pronounce in English:

January /ˈ‍dʒænjuəri/👻
February /ˈ‍februeri/ 🇺🇸🥶

I agree with the guy in the video:

the more you try and work out exactly what you should be saying, (the more) you feel uncomfortable about it.

#WordOfTheDay
Obituary (noun)

Meaning: A notice of a person’s death, usually published in a newspaper, often with a brief biography.

Pronunciation:
/əˈbɪtʃ.ʊə.ri/ (UK)
/oʊˈbɪtʃ.u.er.i/ (US)

Usage in a sentence:

The newspaper published a touching obituary for the renowned scientist, highlighting his contributions to renewable energy.

She read the obituary section every morning to keep up with local news.

Common Collocations:
Write an obituary
Publish an obituary
Obituary column
Obituary notice

Let’s test how well you keep up with the news. Whose obituary do you think I’ll be sharing later?

The article above was originally published by the BBC, and its language may not be ideal for ESL students. To make it more accessible, I asked ChatGPT to simplify the text, and here is the ESL-friendly version.
https://telegra.ph/Jimmy-Carter-From-Farmer-to-President-and-Nobel-Winner-12-30

Happy 2025, everyone!

I’m excited to share a new goal for this year: I’ve chosen 12 books to read, one for each month.

For January, I’ve started with Grit by Angela Duckworth. I first came across the author through the podcast No Stupid Questions, and as soon as I saw her name on the cover, I knew it would be a great read!

I’ll be sharing my insights here after finishing each book.

Here is a small passage from the book.

What a perfect description of never giving up even when your goal feels entirely out of reach.

Finding satisfaction within dissatisfaction is where the secret to success lies.

#LongRead #tips #insights #reading #books

How I Read Books?

After my last post about reading, someone asked me this very question. Instead of replying to them directly, I thought I’d share my process with all of you here. Hopefully, you’ll find it insightful and maybe even pick up a tip or two!

The Environment
To truly enjoy and absorb what I’m reading, I need the right environment, somewhere calm and distraction-free. For me, that’s usually at night. I love staying up a bit late to read a few pages.

Daily goal
This year, I’ve decided to approach my reading in a more structured way. I’ve created a list of 12 books—one for each month of 2025 (with the help of ChatGPT). To make sure I finish each book on time, I divide the total number of pages by 30 days. This gives me a manageable daily reading goal. For instance, my current read, Grit, is about 350 pages long. To finish it within a month, I need to read an average of 12 pages a day, which is quite manageable, even if I choose to read each page twice (more on that later).

Audible
I also use Audible to complement my reading. With a premium membership, I get one audiobook each month, and I’ve decided to align my Audible picks with my reading list. Sometimes, I even combine reading and listening: I’ll read the physical book while listening to the audiobook. It feels like the author (or narrator) is reading along with me, which adds to the experience.

Notes
What I love most about reading is reflecting on the ideas I’ve absorbed. I have a private Telegram channel where I post my insights after finishing each chapter. It’s like having a personal library of reflections I can revisit anytime. This practice helps me retain key ideas and apply them when the opportunity arises.

Rereading
Another tip: If you want to get even more out of a book, consider reading it twice. Every re-read reveals something new. Let’s face it: our minds sometimes wander while reading, and we might miss important details. That’s where Audible helps me again: I’ll read a chapter first and then listen to it (or vice versa) to make sure I’ve caught everything.

Wrap-up
In the end, reading is a deeply personal experience, and there’s no one-size-fits-all approach. What matters most is finding a method that works for you and enjoying the process. As the saying goes, “The journey is more important than the destination.”

I hope these thoughts inspire you to pick up a book. Happy reading!

https://telegra.ph/How-I-Read-Books-01-01

#Trip to Doha

Team IELTS ZONE

Stay tuned for more photos!