Are you always in search of Greener Pastures? Welcome to the Best English Podcast by Teacher Bruno Gon. Today, we'll be delving into the idiom "greener pastures." This seemingly simple phrase carries a rich history and has found its way into our everyday conversations. Join us as we explore its origins, understand its meaning, and explore how it's used in modern contexts.

Let's start by uncovering the roots of the idiom. "Greener pastures" can be traced back to agricultural societies where livestock grazed in fields. The idea is that some pastures are greener, lusher, and more favorable for grazing than others. The concept of seeking greener pastures evolved as a metaphor for seeking better opportunities or a more promising situation.

Now that we know where it comes from, let's define "greener pastures." This idiom refers to the pursuit of better opportunities or a more favorable situation elsewhere. It's often used when someone decides to leave their current situation, whether it be a job, a relationship, or a location, in search of something better.

To better understand its usage, let's explore some examples. Imagine someone in a dead-end job, feeling unfulfilled and underappreciated. They might express their desire for change by saying, "I think it's time for me to move on to greener pastures." In this context, "greener pastures" symbolizes a more promising and satisfying career opportunity. Another example could be someone considering relocating to a different city for a fresh start. They might say, "I believe there are greener pastures waiting for me in a new place." Here, the idiom captures the idea of seeking a better life or future in a different location.

In today's fast-paced world, the idiom "greener pastures" remains relevant. Whether in professional, personal, or geographical contexts, people often use it to express their pursuit of better opportunities. As we wrap up our exploration of "greener pastures," we've learned that this idiom has deep agricultural roots and has grown into a powerful metaphor for the universal human desire for improvement. So, the next time you hear someone mention "greener pastures," you'll understand that they're not just talking about grass but are expressing their aspirations for a brighter future.

By that, I conclude this episode. If you liked this episode, please rate it 5 stars, foward to friends, follow me back on instagram @bestenglish.br and on Linked in Teacher Bruno Gon. Thank you for always be there.

Would you survive in a dog-eat-dog place?

Hello everyone, welcome to the Best English podcast by Teacher Bruno Gon. Today, I present to you the idom dog-eat-dog. So, sit back, relax, and let's explore the meaning, origins, and usage of this intriguing expression. To kick things off, let's get down to the basics. What does "dog-eat-dog" actually mean? Well, this idiom paints a vivid picture of a fiercely competitive and cutthroat environment. It suggests a situation where people are willing to do whatever it takes, even if it means harming others, to succeed or survive. Now, that we know the meaning, let's dig into the origins of "dog-eat-dog." The phrase has its roots in the world of dogfighting, a brutal and aggressive sport where dogs were pitted against each other. The phrase started appearing in literature in the early 20th century, and over time, it evolved to describe competitive and ruthless situations beyond the literal dogfighting context.

"Dog-eat-dog" is a versatile idiom that finds its way into various contexts. Whether it's the corporate world, the world of sports, or even personal relationships, this phrase captures the essence of intense competition and the sometimes ruthless pursuit of success. It's often used to describe environments where everyone is looking out for their own interests, often at the expense of others.

Let's dive into some examples to see how "dog-eat-dog" is used in everyday language. Take a look at this example: In the highly competitive world of technology startups, it's a dog-eat-dog environment, with companies racing to out-innovate and outmaneuver each other to dominate the market. Another example is: The political landscape can be a dog-eat-dog arena, where politicians may backstab their allies to secure power and achieve their personal ambitions.

If you liked this episode, don't forget to rate me 5 starts, foward to friends and hit buzzer for further notifications. Thank you everyone.

Hello everyone

Recently, at the school I work at, my principal and I provided an instructional meeting for the teachers about Artificial Intelligence. We talked about some myths, what it is and what it isn’t, how it is being used by companies, people, teachers and also provided some practical examples. It was very interesting because we showed text-to-speech tools, image generator, text generator and some practical tips to use it in class and as preparation and planning for classes. Of course, the bad use was not forgotten, it was mentioned how addicted to cell phones kids and teens are, how they differ from adults over 30 years old. 

It was raised what are called digital natives. What is it? They are people who are younger than 20 years old. They are born and raised with the use of tech devices. Have you ever observed how cell phones are literally with them all the time, it feels like cyborgs. I am mentioning this, because once you take a phone from these kids, it feels like they are mutilated. 

Because of that, a question remains:How to make the best use of this technology in class?

I believe that some steps are necessary, they include dramatic changes that start at home, pass by schools and maybe to public policies of education. 

First of all, parents should stop using phones as a pacifier or any toy. Kids must have toys and games to stimulate their creativity, their intelligence. Remember that social media are not made to produce, they are to make people use nonstop. Their AI understands your behaviour and starts to feed your social media with what you want. Remember, kids don’t need cell phones. This behavioral reshaping includes parents as well, because the generation who witnessed the birth of easy internet access are today’s parents. Second, it is mandatory to bring back computer classes to school. It sounds odd, but kids and teens today barely know how to use softwares such as word, excel, power point, or attach files to an email. Sad, but true. Along with this, the appropriate use of social media, AI and other modern tools. Understand that there is a limit to use. Third, tools such as Internet search and AI only perform what is told them to do. If a prompt is not well written or a question is not well asked, it will provide the answer based on it. What do I want to say? That students today are taught and are focused on only finding answers, but they are not prepared to learn how to ask questions and not prepared to effectively give commands. So, if this is lacking in their abilities, how can they operate these tools with great gain? 

In education, there is also a challenge for the teachers. Many of them don’t know how to use them, some don’t care about them. It is sadly interesting that a good number of teachers go to these mini courses, workshops because they “have to” and when they come, they don’t pay attention and they act just like the students: using phones, not listening, not caring about. 

By this, I conclude this episode. I hope you have enjoyed this episode. If you liked this episode, forward to your friends, rate me 5 stars and share it. If you want to get in touch with me, find me on Instagram @bestenglish.br and on LinkedIn Teacher Bruno Gon.

Do you have a monkey on your back? Well, if may say no because you may not be familiar with this idiom.

Hi, and welcome to the Best English Podcast by Teacher Bruno Gon. Today, I bring to you this idiom which I find very interesting: "Monkey on your back".

Let's start by unraveling the origins of this idiom. The phrase "monkey on your back" is thought to have originated in the United States in the early 20th century. It's often used to describe a persistent and burdensome problem or addiction that feels as though it's clinging to you, much like a mischievous monkey.

So, what exactly does it mean when someone says they have a "monkey on their back"? To break it down, it typically refers to a personal issue, like an addiction, a secret, or an obligation that someone is struggling to manage. It feels like a constant weight on their shoulders, making it challenging to break free.

One common context where this idiom is used is in relation to addiction. When someone has a substance abuse problem, that addiction is often described as the "monkey on their back." It's an apt metaphor because addiction can be as persistent and as difficult to shake off as an actual monkey clinging to you.

Let's explore some real-life examples. Imagine someone trying to quit smoking after years of habit. They may say, "I've got this monkey on my back, and it's so hard to get rid of it." The monkey, in this case, symbolizes the craving and dependency. Another example could be someone hiding a big secret, like an affair. They might describe the affair as the "monkey on their back" because it's a constant source of guilt and anxiety.

By that, I conclude this episode and again I ask you. Do you have any monkeys on your back? Well, if you need any help, don't be ashamed to ask. If you like this episode, please rate 5 stars, foward to friends, follow me back and hit the buzzer for further notifications. Thank you.

Do you keep your job because you like it or because you have to? Hi, welcome to the Best English Podcast by Teacher Bruno Gon. Today, I bring to you this new term which was recently coined: Grumpy Staying. Do you know what is? Not long ago, something started in the US and it was called The Big Quit, which is a large number of people quitting their jobs because they wanted, they felt like doing it. For a number of reasons, one of the most common is because these people were unhappy in their jobs. Relating to it, there are two other phenomena happening, the "quiet quitting" and "grumpy staying". They are fairly easy to understand. Quiet quitting occurs when employees do the bare minimum to remain on a company's payroll. Quiet quitters do the tasks outlined in their job descriptions, but nothing more. People who are quietly quitting don't make a show of their intentions to part ways with their employer. On the other hand, workers are “grumpy staying.” This is when workers dislike their jobs, but begrudgingly keep their jobs in a tightening job market. High-potential employees staying at jobs they are unsatisfied with but hesitate to leave in a tightening labor market. Once again, I ask you. Are you Quiet quitter, grump stayer or are you happy in you job? Leave a comment about it?

Well, this is today's episode. If you like it, rate it 5 stars, foward to friends, follow me and hit the buzzer for further notifications. Thank you.

Script:

How would you like your steak? Well, I like it medium, sometimes well medium.

Hello and welcome to Best English Podcast by Teacher Bruno Gon and today I bring it to you something that I never heard of. Well, regardless if I was supposed to know it or not, Let's see. Well, I was in class with my saturday morning group and we were speaking about restaurant and bars vocabulary and its level of formality and appropriateness. During the class, one of my students asked how to say these words such as rare, medium, well-done and so on. The second student, who works in a resort in Portugal, said she usually has orders of blue meat. Blue as the color, but it has two different spellings. One as the color, B L U E and the other is B L E U. My immediate reaction was like, what?, blue? is that alien? After some laughter and faces, she started to explain to me that this blue steak is basically a piece of meat which is grilled on its surface but keeps inside basically raw. In a scale, it is under rare. Personally, I don't know how anyone eats it, but taste is taste. As I said before, I have never heard of. I went online to find some data on blue steak and some of them said that have a spongey or chewy texture without all of the juice that you get from a medium-rare steak. Some other data says that people order this way because it is faster. Well, what do you think of it? Well, by that, I close today's episode. If you liked this episode, please rate it 5 stars, foward to friends, follow me back and hit the bell for further notifications. If you want to get in touch with me, follow me on instagram @bestenglish.br or on LinkedIn Teacher Bruno Gon. Thank you.

Hello everyone.

Be careful when you listen to people commenting about news or information. It may be a bad take.

Today, I bring to you the slang “bad take”. What is that? Well, according to the urban dictionary bad take is an opinion that is either uninformed or poorly reasoned. Also, I found a definition that mentions that it could be an error in judgment and interpretation of a piece of information. This misinterpretation may lead to a disruption in passing accurate information to others.

Well, it is fairly easy to see people who practice it around. Why? Well, in times of political polarization, many people are influenced by poor opinions, and some of them are so horrible that only by saying “bad take” to the person. How many times have you opened your phone and read a post that your reaction was to say. “This is a bad take, how does anyone believe it?”. I myself have read many of them. Let me ask you, what makes you react to bad take opinions or so-called arguments? Leave your comment.

By this, I conclude this episode with this slang. I hope you have enjoyed this slang and start using it. If you liked this episode, forward to your friends, rate me 5 stars and share it. If you want to get in touch with me, find me on Instagram @bestenglish.br and on LinkedIn Teacher Bruno Gon. Thank you for listening.

Hello everyone

Todauy, I close the Brazilian Habits talking about music.

Hello everyoneSorry I took longer than my recent schedule on posting episodes, but I am here once again to present something that might surprise many of you. Brazil is famous for many cultural aspects such as beautiful beaches, beautiful women, soccer, samba and MPB are the maybe the greatest ones. Which ones I listed are familiar to you? Leave in the comment section. 

However, according to Spotify, the most listened music styles in Brazil today are neither samba nor mpb. In fact, they are Funk Carioca, Brazilian university country music and arrocha, which is a variation of forró. In my personal musical taste, I am far from the most listened to in Brazil, I like rock and heavy metal. Believe or not, in Brazil from the beginning of 80’s up to late 90’ rock was the biggest music style in Brazil along with samba and axé. Despite rock, samba and mpb losing their top, they still have a huge amount of fans. If you take bands, singers who are in their 30-year career or so, they don’t come on tv too often, on the other hand their concerts are crowded. Recently, I attended a concert of a band which is 40 years old and it was just crowded, about 10 thousand people. In the city I live, a concert this size, believe me. It is crowded. 

Considering samba being a traditional cultural mark in Brazil, there are not as many people dancing samba as you think. Actually, it is easier for you to know more people that don’t dance than people who dance samba. Relating the traditional MPB, seems like it is aging as Jazz did. Our first MPB and Bossa Nova generation is about 80 years old and despite having a huge number of fans, sadly doesn’t seem to be renewing their fan base. Therefore, it will become music listened to by less people compared to today. 

Well, Brazil has a huge diversity in art relating to dancing and music. If you are curious enough to try to discover this precious cultural mark, I can help you. Send me a message on my instagram @bestenglish.br or on LinkedIn Teacher Bruno Gon. I hope I have made you curious about our music enough to make you start digging into it. If you liked this episode, please rate it 5 stars, forward to friends. Thank you very much.