ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.
Listen "Episode 118 How To Choose Reading Sources That Work For You - Part 1 - Marie Kondo"
Episode Synopsis
In today's episode we're looking at lots of articles about the same story. The goal is to figure out how we can identify good learning sources for English quickly and easily. We will consider the source, the vocabulary, the tone of the writing, the grammar and the purpose of the writing.
In today's episode I mention many different articles. You can find them all in the links below. The person our articles focus on is Marie Kondo.
Tomorrow we'll be doing a similar exercise with a different story.
Engoo
https://engoo.com/app/daily-news/article/marie-kondo-has-kind-of-given-up-tidying-her-house/NrRLOqMCEe2RFENmiYDh8w
Financial Times
https://www.ft.com/content/432c520c-c4e3-41a7-85c3-7a47fa1cb506
Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/home/2023/01/26/marie-kondo-kurashi-inner-calm/
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/jan/30/queen-of-clean-marie-kondo-says-she-has-kind-of-given-up-on-tidying-at-home
Channel News Asia
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/marie-kondo-tidying-mess-appreciate-life-children-family-3256916
NPR
https://www.npr.org/2023/01/29/1152149068/marie-kondo-revealed-shes-kind-of-given-up-on-being-so-tidy-people-freaked-out
Homes and Gardens
https://www.homesandgardens.com/news/marie-kondo-given-up-on-tidying
Watergate Scandal
In this episode I referenced the Watergate Scandal. This is an infamous scandal that took place in 1972. It involved President Nixon, who was involved in a cover-up of criminal activity.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Watergate-Scandal
Vocabulary
revelation - something that is revealed, usually dramatically
broken the internet - a modern phrase that means something became very popular
change of heart - idiom - to change your mind
bear in mind - to remember something or keep it in your mind.
paywall - when you find a page on the internet that you have to pay to access.
epiphany - when you have a 'brainwave' or sudden idea that makes everything you were confused about clear and understandable.
clinical tidiness - extreme, or more than normal levels of tidy
journalistic integrity - staying true to the values of good journalism, which includes seeking and unveiling the truth, revealing corruption, being honest and factual.
frazzled - overwhelmed, tired and worn out
Having trouble keeping up - idiom - having trouble maintaining a similar pace to everyone else.
Never fear - phrase, meaning don't be scared
hinge - literally, metal piece that help a door open and close. As an idiom 'everything hinges on this' - means a vital piece of information that changes everything
liberal broad pages - generally left leaning, or more socialist, 'broad pages' is the big page newspapers, alternatively the small page newspapers are called 'tabloids'. The broad pages are usually aimed at intellectual educated readers, where as the tabloids are typically aimed at the working class.
decluttering guru - 'guru' is often used to say someone is considered an expert at something. It follows the thing they are an expert in.
pivot to mess epitomizes - 'pivot' is similar to 'hinge' so this sentence means 'move or change direction' to mess is a perfect example of...
Meticulously - to do carefully and in detail
Clutter - stuff everywhere that isn't needed and has no place
Unfurled - similar to uncurl, often used to describe the way leaves uncurl.
Neat and tidy - idiom - used to describe tidy and well organised places
Lifestyle magazines - magazines, usually for women, that focus on homes, furniture, and lifestyle
Let's not even start - phrase used to say 'I've had enough, I don't want to talk about this'
Binge watched - to watch many episodes all at once
Organizer - someone or something that is good at or enjoys organising things
Reshaping - to change the shape of something
Decluttering - to take away all of the unnecessary or unneeded things or to find them a place.
Tidier - comparative adjective of 'tidy'
In today's episode I mention many different articles. You can find them all in the links below. The person our articles focus on is Marie Kondo.
Tomorrow we'll be doing a similar exercise with a different story.
Engoo
https://engoo.com/app/daily-news/article/marie-kondo-has-kind-of-given-up-tidying-her-house/NrRLOqMCEe2RFENmiYDh8w
Financial Times
https://www.ft.com/content/432c520c-c4e3-41a7-85c3-7a47fa1cb506
Washington Post
https://www.washingtonpost.com/home/2023/01/26/marie-kondo-kurashi-inner-calm/
The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/jan/30/queen-of-clean-marie-kondo-says-she-has-kind-of-given-up-on-tidying-at-home
Channel News Asia
https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/marie-kondo-tidying-mess-appreciate-life-children-family-3256916
NPR
https://www.npr.org/2023/01/29/1152149068/marie-kondo-revealed-shes-kind-of-given-up-on-being-so-tidy-people-freaked-out
Homes and Gardens
https://www.homesandgardens.com/news/marie-kondo-given-up-on-tidying
Watergate Scandal
In this episode I referenced the Watergate Scandal. This is an infamous scandal that took place in 1972. It involved President Nixon, who was involved in a cover-up of criminal activity.
https://www.britannica.com/event/Watergate-Scandal
Vocabulary
revelation - something that is revealed, usually dramatically
broken the internet - a modern phrase that means something became very popular
change of heart - idiom - to change your mind
bear in mind - to remember something or keep it in your mind.
paywall - when you find a page on the internet that you have to pay to access.
epiphany - when you have a 'brainwave' or sudden idea that makes everything you were confused about clear and understandable.
clinical tidiness - extreme, or more than normal levels of tidy
journalistic integrity - staying true to the values of good journalism, which includes seeking and unveiling the truth, revealing corruption, being honest and factual.
frazzled - overwhelmed, tired and worn out
Having trouble keeping up - idiom - having trouble maintaining a similar pace to everyone else.
Never fear - phrase, meaning don't be scared
hinge - literally, metal piece that help a door open and close. As an idiom 'everything hinges on this' - means a vital piece of information that changes everything
liberal broad pages - generally left leaning, or more socialist, 'broad pages' is the big page newspapers, alternatively the small page newspapers are called 'tabloids'. The broad pages are usually aimed at intellectual educated readers, where as the tabloids are typically aimed at the working class.
decluttering guru - 'guru' is often used to say someone is considered an expert at something. It follows the thing they are an expert in.
pivot to mess epitomizes - 'pivot' is similar to 'hinge' so this sentence means 'move or change direction' to mess is a perfect example of...
Meticulously - to do carefully and in detail
Clutter - stuff everywhere that isn't needed and has no place
Unfurled - similar to uncurl, often used to describe the way leaves uncurl.
Neat and tidy - idiom - used to describe tidy and well organised places
Lifestyle magazines - magazines, usually for women, that focus on homes, furniture, and lifestyle
Let's not even start - phrase used to say 'I've had enough, I don't want to talk about this'
Binge watched - to watch many episodes all at once
Organizer - someone or something that is good at or enjoys organising things
Reshaping - to change the shape of something
Decluttering - to take away all of the unnecessary or unneeded things or to find them a place.
Tidier - comparative adjective of 'tidy'
In God we trust