Today I had a conversation with a friend. At the beginning, there was a strange echo and some unexpected sounds during the call. We suspected it might be related to the computer, microphone, or even a VPN connection, but we could not find the exact cause. Later, our conversation shifted to internet privacy and communication in China. This reminded me of a story my father told me. When he worked at a factory, employees were supposed to receive compensation for winter heating expenses, but the factory did not pay them. Some workers discussed gathering together to address the issue, and shortly afterward many of them received phone calls from the police. One police officer privately admitted that he understood their frustration because his own mother had experienced something similar. I mentioned that learning Chinese is often less urgent for foreigners because they can usually live and work successfully without speaking Chinese. We discussed some former students of mine.

Today I had an interesting English conversation lesson. I have realized that English grammar is very different from my native language. We also talked about language teachers and learning methods. Another topic was the difficulty of learning English in China. I explained that China is relatively isolated from foreign media because many foreign websites are blocked. Most television programs, social media platforms, and online content are in Chinese, so many people have limited opportunities to hear authentic English. Although some people use VPNs, many have never used one or never worked in an international environment, so they rarely encounter English in daily life. I said that German is quite popular in China because many German companies, especially automobile manufacturers such as Audi, have businesses there. I shared that I studied business at university because my parents thought it was a practical and popular major.

Today I had an interesting conversation about work, language learning, and cultural differences between China and the UK. We first discussed online payment methods and the limits on sending money internationally. We talked about platforms such as Stripe and PayPal and how government regulations can affect international transactions. Then we moved on to a legal article about workers' rights during hot weather in the UK. We compared workplace benefits in China and the UK, including transportation allowances, mobile phone subsidies, and employee benefits provided by schools. Later, the conversation turned to learning Mandarin. We also discussed effective ways to learn a language. We agreed that using beginner textbooks with pinyin, listening to audio recordings, and studying vocabulary by topic can be very helpful. Listening practice is especially important for Mandarin learners because pronunciation and tones can be challenging. Toward the end of our discussion, we shared some amusing experiences about language misunderstandings in international business.

Today I joined an English conversation group and had a chance to practice speaking with people from different backgrounds. At the beginning, several participants talked about their children's exams and school schedules. Some of them discussed the differences between school systems in different parts of Canada and the United States. Later, I introduced myself and shared that I am originally from China. Even so, the other participants encouraged me and told me that my English was improving through practice. The topic of the lesson was travel. We read a passage about how traveling helps people build connections, learn about different cultures, and gain valuable experiences. Then we took turns answering discussion questions about our travel experiences. During the discussion, we recommended places to visit and talked about travel experiences in Canada, the United States, and China. One interesting travel story involved accidentally boarding the wrong train in Germany and getting off at the next station after another passenger pointed out the mistake.

Today I had an interesting conversation about language, culture, and humor. We talked about old jokes from Spanish-speaking countries and how difficult it can be to explain jokes in another language. I learned that humor often depends on culture, vocabulary, and timing, which makes translation challenging. One joke involved a boy who proudly told his mother that he had scored four goals in a football match. However, the final score was only 2–2 because some of the goals were scored in his own team's net. We also discussed how older generations often tell jokes as stories rather than short punchlines. Later, we tried to explain another joke about a worker who intentionally created a drainage problem so that he could be paid more money to fix it later. Explaining the joke was difficult, and we both agreed that telling jokes in a foreign language is a real challenge because it requires not only vocabulary but also cultural understanding.

I try to go outside about twice a day because spending too much time looking at a computer screen is not good for my eyes. My eyes often feel dry and painful after working on a computer for long periods. When I go outside, I look at distant objects to give my eyes a chance to rest. the job market has changed in recent years and some international companies have reduced their presence in certain countries. I do not teach as much as before because working in front of a computer screen for many hours makes my eyes feel very dry and uncomfortable. Although doctors gave me eye drops, they have not solved the problem completely. Since I work with computers every day, it is difficult to avoid screen time. To reduce the strain on my eyes, I recently borrowed several books from the library. I hope that reading physical books will help me spend less time looking at screens and give my eyes more opportunities to rest.

My students are very enthusiastic about learning Chinese. Unlike English, which is a compulsory subject in many schools, people who choose to study Chinese usually have a strong interest in it and are prepared to put in the effort. Most Chinese students begin studying English in primary school. However, many people do not learn it very effectively because it is often taught as an academic subject rather than as a practical language. Students spend a lot of time memorizing vocabulary and grammar, but they have few opportunities to speak or listen. Most websites, books, social media platforms, and other resources around me were in Chinese. My parents grew up in difficult circumstances. They experienced the Cultural Revolution and had limited educational opportunities. My father left school at the age of sixteen to work in a factory and support himself. Because of this background, my parents did not have many opportunities to read or continue learning.