🍄Caution: this week's topic requires critical thinking, may not be suitable for lopsided fanatics*

👁‍🗨Context
In the wake of* Pope Francis's passing away, we discuss if soft power can wield any real influence in 2025 and beyond. We start from the state level and then come down to soft power in your every day life.

👁‍🗨Editorial
We must confess this is one of our editing team's most favourite topics so far, and we can't wait to learn what opinions, facts, and tips S2S speaking buddies will exchange in speaking sessions.

👁‍🗨Educational
You will use 12 new phrases in your speech as well: check them out in the images to prep up. How many of them do you confidently use in your speech already?

🎀Post's Glossary

*lopsided fanatics: people who're very extreme and unbalanced in their support for something
*in the wake of: after something happens

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#s2s_weekly_topic Soft power

Use this word to negotiate a better deal >

🫧 Am I eligible for (a free trial day at your coworking)?

🫧 What criteria do I have to meet to be eligible for (incubation program selection)?

If you read, understand, and enjoy this post, you're eligible for S2S trial

Learn more about S2S

#s2s_vocabulary Soft power

😐 Morning vs mourning: same sounds, 1 different letter, 2 very different meanings

Every day starts with 'morning' but every day doesn't start with 'mourning' -- hopefully people around you don't die every day and you don't mourn them

Mourning period is the time when people are very sad because someone has died

#s2s_vocabulary Soft power

Passing the buck to you*

S2S channel will be shut down for the rest of the week

📌Reasons

1. We want to analyse the activity in this blog and reshape it to suit your needs better

2. Another honest reason: founder burnout

📌Your turn
Shape the future of this channel -- tell us

1. Which 1-2 things you like the most in thic channel? Share the reasons you're coming back

2. Which 1-2 things you want to receive that we don't publish yet? Share your requests

Glossary
*to pass the buck (idiom)
→ to say that someone else should take responsibility/action instead of you

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😊 Big 5 Personality Traits & Language Learning

B1-2 learners: your 'lack of talent' isn't why you're stuck. It's your personality. Here's how to hack it.

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⚠️ This is a deviation form the usual post schedule
> Why? I've realised the previous framework was quite limiting and stifling. I want to share more.
> What's next? My thoughts out of schedule > Your feedback & post requests > Analyse > Incorporate feedback > Repeat
It takes 2 sides to create the highest quality learning content. We have all the ingrideints (great learners & a great educator): now it's about mixing the two

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Back to The Big 5

Over the years, as a teacher and a product manager at Yandex, I've interacted with >hundreds< of English learners. Complaining about their lack of talent for languages.

Is it really about high IQ or mystical 'talent'? The research shows that success in language learning highly correlates with personality traits. The most empirically valid personality test is NOT MBTI (even though MBTI has enjoyed the best marketing adoption). It's Big 5.

Here's how the Big 5 scales correlate with language learning success, ranked from the highest to lowest impact.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Conscientiousness — Strongest Predictor
Why? Discipline, persistence, and structured study habits lead to long-term retention and consistent practice.

Evidence: Correlates strongly with academic achievement, including grammar mastery and vocabulary growth.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Openness to Experience — Very Strong Predictor
Why? Curiosity, cultural interest, and cognitive flexibility help with acquiring accents, idioms, and creative language use.

Evidence: Linked to better pronunciation and willingness to experiment with language.

⭐️⭐️⭐️ Extraversion — Moderate Predictor, Context-Dependent
Why? Social engagement boosts speaking fluency but doesn’t always help with grammar or writing.

Evidence: Stronger correlation in oral proficiency than in reading/writing. Introverts may excel in input-based learning (reading/listening).

⭐️⭐️ Emotional Stability (Low Neuroticism) — Moderate-Weak Predictor
Why? Lower anxiety = more risk-taking in speaking, less fear of mistakes.

Evidence: High neuroticism can hinder performance in high-pressure settings (e.g., exams).

⭐️ Agreeableness — Weakest Predictor
Why? Being cooperative helps in group learning but has little direct impact on linguistic skills.

Evidence: Slight link to better communication in social settings, but not a major factor in proficiency.

💊 Shitty news for adult learners: Openness to New Experience (Very Strong Predictor) goes down with age
🌈 Great news for adult learners: Conscientiousness (Strongest Predictor) goes up with age
🌈🌈 Great news for everyone: even though the personality core stays intact thoughout life, personality traits CAN be changed through conscious effort

Shall I write more about how to develop Conscientiousness and/or Openness to New Experience?
Which traits affect your language learning success?

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