3 challenging to pronounce B2/C1 level phrases

Yesterday, at 6PM Moscow time, the most dedicated readers took 1 power step to confident English speech. They met with @ybeymlina via Zoom to discuss the topic "Inside the mind of a procrastinator," based on Tim Urban's TED talk.

3 phrases appeared challenging to pronounce during yesterday's discussion. Here they are, fully clarified, for you to master them

🫧To pursue creative dreams: /tə pərˈsu kriˈeɪtɪv drimz/
> To actively work toward achieving your artistic or imaginative goals.
> After years in banking, she quit her job to pursue creative dreams of becoming a painter.

🫧Guilt-filled: /ˈgɪlt fɪld/
> Full of guilty feelings; feeling bad about something you did or didn't do.
> After eating the entire cake, Maria had a guilt-filled evening on the couch.

🫧Frantic all-nighters: /ˈfræntɪk ɔl ˈnaɪtɚz/
> Staying awake all night in a rushed, stressed, and desperate way to finish work.
> His college years were marked by frantic all-nighters fueled by coffee and panic.

🎧 Play the video to listen, repeat, and nail the pronunciation. Feeling ambitious? Drop a voice message saying these words out loud!

🪴

👩‍💼 See how a Linkedinese coach turns every slip-up into a chance to shine up

Slept through an alarm, got fired, getting a divorce? It's all a matter of perspective. Jokes aside, language is your tool to bend reality to your will.

Transcript

— Hi mommy. How would you translate "I slept through my alarm" into LinkedIn?

— This morning, my body executed an autonomous override* to maximize sleep intake. In our hustle-obsessed culture*, we've forgotten a fundamental truth: peak performance* demands peak recovery.

I am not apologizing for honoring my body's intelligence. How about you? Are you listening to your body's wisdom, or are you bowing to* arbitrary* wake-up calls?

*Glossary

🫧Override: To take control and ignore a previous command or rule.
🫧Hustle obsessed culture: A society that is fixated on constantly working hard, being busy, and chasing success.
🫧Peak performance: Functioning at your absolute best.
🫧To bow to: To let something control you.
🫧Arbitrary: Based on random chance, not for any real reason.

IG reference julianachanphd

Your turn
💅 I'm popular on LinkedIn
⭐️ I want to get active on LinkedIn
😊 I don't care much about LinkedIn

A moment to celebrate achievement of @HackerIvan - a PitchUp club member

Ivan (LinkedIn), 25yo, MIPT graduate, lives in Zurich, Switzerland. He describes himself (and I agree) as "a supercharged individual who loves tech-capitalism, innovation, sales, business development, fintech industry."

Last week, Ivan's pitch got the 3d place at the Swiss {AI} Weeks UBS hackathon. You can get inspired with his 4min performance on YouTube.

💓Let's get a round of reactions to Ivan - we all have an imposter syndrome and it never hurts to get some acknowledgement from the community. It matters more than you think.

Want to sharpen your presentation skills in English with Ivan and other entrepreneurs? Text PitchUp to @ybeymlina to apply.
You can be an active builder or at the ideation stage.

8 Sc-Fi Book Recommendations by Aaron Rasmussen

Aaron Rasmussen (LinkedIn) is the co-founder of MasterClass (that celebrity-taught online course platform, $3B valuation). He later founded Outlier (dot) org ($200M valuation) for accredited college courses.

Extraordinary facts:
🫧turned a high school chemistry accident that temporarily* blinded* him into inspiration for an award-winning audio-only horror game;
🫧has a joined degree in Computer Science and Mass Communications (ads) from Boston University.

Aaron says: "Science fiction prepared me for AI better than my computer science degree."

Here, we share 8 books recommended by Aaron, with "Ease of Read" estimated by Claude, where 1 stands for "easy-peasy," and 10 for "oh, so hard." From the oldest, to the newest, Amazon links're included.

1. "The Machine Stops" by E.M. Forster, UK. 40 pages, 1909, 6/10. Early dystopian vision of technology isolation and control.

2. "I, Robot" by Isaac Asimov, USSR/USA. 224 pages, 1950, 5/10. Classic sci-fi short stories foundational to modern robotics themes.

3. "The Moon is a Harsh Mistress" by Robert A. Heinlein, USA. 382 pages, 1966, 6/10. Classic libertarian sci-fi with political intrigue and revolution on the lunar colony.

4. "Metamorphosis of Prime Intellect" by Roger Williams, USA. 250 pages, 1994, 7/10. Mind-bending AI ethics, deep philosophical questions on humanity and control.

5. "The Diamond Age" by Neal Stephenson, USA. 355 pages, 1995, 8/10. Complex cyberpunk narrative blending tech, culture, and education.

6. "Ancillary* Justice" by Ann Leckie, USA. 409 pages, 2013, 7/10. Award-winning space opera focused on identity and AI consciousness.

7. "Blindsight" by Peter Watts, Canada. 400 pages, 2006, 9/10. Deep, scientifically rigorous first contact novel exploring consciousness and alien life, challenging norms.

8. "A Closed and Common Orbit" by Becky Chambers, USA. 336 pages, 2016, 3/10. Heartwarming exploration of AI and identity in a gentle, optimistic future.

*Glossary
🫧Ancillary - supporting to the main activities.
"The book includes an ancillary website with video tutorials and practice quizzes for students."
🫧Temporarily - for a limited period of time.
"I'm temporarily staying with my parents until my new apartment is ready."
🫧Blinded - unable to see.
"The bright flash of the explosion blinded him for a few moments."

Over to you
🫧Can you add a rommendation to the list in the* comments?
🫧Do you feel like picking a book from the list for us to read and discuss toegther over Zoom?

*Thank you @Roziy_15 for catching me dropping the "the" article - well done, keep going!

There won't be any posts here over the weekend. Take time to explore our podcasts on EnglishForImpact's YouTube channel. Have a good one ⭐️

12 Phrases to Read English Colleagues Between the Lines

Even though Anglo Saxons appear more polite and polished compared to many others, it doesn't mean they don't get annoyed or impatient. In the culture that doesn't encourage open expression of rudeness, it's important to learn to read the real intent behind the speech.

Especially common for communications with clients or higher ups, when you feel double constraints on genuine self-expression.

🫧I appreciate your concern - Your input is noted but I’m doing it my way. Translation: Stop bothering me

🫧Thank you for your patience - Sorry this took forever, but let’s pretend you agreed to wait. Often means: I know you’re annoyed

🫧Moving forward - Let’s forget that mess and never speak of it again. Subtext: That’s behind us now

🫧For clarity - You’re wrong and here’s why. Implies: Let me explain this since you clearly didn’t get it

🫧Gentle reminder - This is the third time I’m asking and I’m irritated. Means: Do this NOW

🫧I’m copying [name of the person CCed] for visibility - I need witnesses/backup or I want to make sure someone important sees this. Sometimes: Covering my ass

🫧Happy to discuss further - I’m done with this conversation but being polite.

🫧Thanks in advance - Do this, it’s not really optional. Implies: I expect compliance

🫧As stated previously - Can you not read? I already told you this. Subtext: I’m frustrated you’re making me repeat myself

🫧I’d love to hear your thoughts - Give me feedback but I’ve probably already decided. Sometimes genuine, often procedural

🫧Please advise - I need a decision/answer from you, or This is your problem now. Passive-aggressive way to push responsibility

🫧While I understand your urgency - Your panic is not my priority. Translation: Calm down, this isn’t that urgent​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

IG reference corporategags

⭐️ What phrase & interpretation won you over?