Saying “Happy New Year!” Around the World

Ways to say "Happy New Year" in such languages as Arabic, Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin), French, Hebrew, Korean, Swedish, Vietnamese, and more.

Saying “Happy New Year!” Around the World

Ways to say "Happy New Year" in such languages as Arabic, Chinese (Cantonese and Mandarin), French, Hebrew, Korean, Swedish, Vietnamese, and more.

Say Thank You

It's what your parents always remind you to say. Now you can dazzle your friends and relatives by saying it in 26 different languages.

“Cut from the same cloth.”

This means that a person is very similar to another. When making suits, tailors use fabric from the same piece of cloth to make sure the pieces match perfectly.

“Strike while the iron’s hot.”

When you do this, you’re taking advantage of a good opportunity. Blacksmiths must shape iron into objects during the brief time it’s red-hot.

Greetings Around the World

Some people shake hands, some kiss and hug. Others just say hello. These exchanges are common in the U.S., but how do people in other countries greet each other? In most of Europe, a handshake will do.

A Few of ...

“The pot calling the kettle black.”

In the seventeenth century, both pots and kettles turned black because they were used over open fires. Today, this idiom means criticizing someone else for a fault of one's own.

“Raining cats and dogs.”

In Norse mythology, the dog is associated with wind and the cat with storms. This expression means it's raining very heavily.

To “shed crocodile tears.”

Crocodiles have a reflex that causes their eyes to tear when they open their mouths. This makes it look as though they are crying while devouring their prey. In fact, neither crocodiles nor people who shed “...

“A close shave.”

In the past, student barbers learned to shave on customers. If they shaved too close, their clients might be cut or even barely escape serious injury. Today, we use this idiom if a person narrowly escapes disaster.

“Dot the i's and cross the t's.”

When only handwritten documents were used, it was very important for the clerk to write everything properly, especially letters like i and t, which could easily be confused. The idiom has since come to mean paying attention to every little detail.

“He who pays the piper calls the tune.”

In medieval times, people were entertained by st...

1.       What is it?

2.       How often do you watch it?

3.       Explain why you like it.

Part 3

1.       What do you like or dislike about living in your town?

2.       Some people prefer to live in a small town. Others prefer to live in a big city. Which one do you prefer?

3.       Would you prefer to live in a ger or in a modern apartment? Why?

4.       What would your dream house be like?

5.       When choosing a place to live, what do you consider most important?

Speaking Test 4

Part 1

1.       What do you usually do in your free time?

2.       Do you prefer ...

1.       What is it?

2.       How often do you watch it?

3.       Explain why you like it.

Part 3

1.       What do you like or dislike about living in your town?

2.       Some people prefer to live in a small town. Others prefer to live in a big city. Which one do you prefer?

3.       Would you prefer to live in a ger or in a modern apartment? Why?

4.       What would your dream house be like?

5.       When choosing a place to live, what do you consider most important?

Speaking Test 4

Part 1

1.       What do you usually do in your free time?

2.       Do you prefer ...