Most adults I know who study a foreign language do so in order to speak it, perhaps visit that country. In languages that build words from letters, the phonemes are important to meaning. Obviously “heresy” is very different from “hearsay,” but sow and sow are different words that sound different, while sew and so are also different but sound the same. It’s especially important in order to appreciate literature, poetry, music, and jokes.

Personally I cut cubes first, makes freezing and thawing easier. Drain but don’t press. Spread in a layer until frozen, then you can put into a bag or container.

congregation*

When English-speaking kids are taught to read, and to spell, it’s very much an out-loud process, using phonics, and methodically covers the various pronunciation of all the letters’ sounds. “Sound it out” is the first step in decoding written words. Then of course there’s using context clues to figure out what word you’ve heard before could be spelled using those letters’ possible sounds. And it’s not until later, once all the common rules and exceptions of pronunciation are automatic, that you start “reading to learn” and attempt words you’ve never heard before.

Tbf, you’re not wrong about the inconsistency of English, it’s because we stole words, phrases, entire dialects from so many sources. And sometimes we kept the original pronunciation, other times we rudely imposed our phonetic expectations of the time and place when we stole them. Also the “correct” pronunciation for many words is different in different English-speaking countries.

On the plus side for you, that means most people are pretty lenient about what we consider “fluent,” and make allowances for accent. Unless they’re a racist asshole in the first place. When you mispronounce a word because you’re following phonetic rules but that word breaks them, most of us can recognize that version because we did the same thing when learning to read.

Invites? Demands!

https://oldsh.itjust.works/post/41805544

“ICE Predicts Record Month as Over 800 Mexican Search & Rescue Workers Deported to Honduras” The Onion

In B4 someone blames the Left

I’ve substituted sesame seeds for tahini in hummus before, toasting them and then blitzing them in the blender before adding the other ingredients. I always make my hummus in a blender so it’s fluffy and smooth. But with squash you might need a food processor instead, and it might not puree the sesame seeds enough.

Israeli experts in using sexual violence as a genocidal strategy, eh?

Agreed, although I prefer silicone rather than rubber these days, it holds up better with heat.

They start small, and get big like that if they’re undisturbed. Show up in lawns sometimes too. Taste sour, in a nice way.

I live in Los Angeles and just happen to have a grocery store within easy walking distance. Like 0.5 km. But I don’t, because the old nice little convenience store got turned into stupid Whole Foods. Or Mold Foods, as we started calling it after trying some of their groceries. Now I drive a mile to where I can get fresher produce and dairy, and paper towels that don’t disintegrate with the first touch of liquid. Or we get our groceries delivered.

What do we think this kid really got into?

If he’s really scalded I don’t wanna be laughing

Ron Perlman

Obviously it’s going to be hardest in spontaneous conversation, but for a planned speech, you could type as I did or use highlighters to indicate the most important words and phrases, and/or remind yourself which syllable gets stressed in tricky words.

Just to add to your difficulty, English vs. American differences include stressing different parts of words.

Good points, both would be good.

But, $GOP$

True, and maybe it would make sense for the county (or a cellphone company?) to invest in strategically located towers so that cell service would be less spotty in general there? Not just for this kind of emergency but also lost hikers etc.

Good points. It’s too bad someone ruined a pretty funny joke with AI slop.

…Or is it perhaps a sign the robots are stealing our boyfriends?!?

Now he can grow up to be a SPICY butterfly!