#Online English Learning Market

[damonp304]

Two Strikes And Dayna Abraham Still Wrote Calm The Chaos | SummitPressPublishers

🌟What happens when the agent with whom you have a relationship turns down your firsts proposal AND tells you your credibility is in question? If you're Dayna Abraham, you keep going. You write a new proposal that gets you a 6-figure book deal AND you write the book in less than 6 months. Because your mission and vision are bigger than self doubt. www.calmthechaosbook.com

[unicornbarsa]

What Makes Score Merit Advanced English Program Perfect for Young Learners

In a world where communication is key and global opportunities are rapidly expanding, proficiency in English has become more important than ever. At ScoreMerit, we understand that the foundation for language mastery must be built early. That’s why our Advanced English Program, designed specifically for children from KG to Grade 2, offers a transformative learning experience that goes beyond traditional classroom instruction.

Here’s what sets our program apart and makes it the perfect choice for young learners:

🌟 1. International-Standard Curriculum

Our curriculum isn’t just local—it’s global. Developed by seasoned educators with international teaching experience, our program aligns with global benchmarks for early language learning. Children are introduced to age-appropriate concepts in grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure using themes that are both culturally diverse and intellectually stimulating.

👩‍🏫 2. Internationally Certified Educators

We believe great teaching leads to great learning. Our teachers are not only passionate about education but are also internationally certified. They bring in proven methodologies and creative teaching styles that cater to young minds, making the learning process both effective and enjoyable.

👶 3. Tailored for Young Learners

Young children have unique learning needs. Our Advanced English Program uses storytelling, songs, games, and visuals to create a multisensory learning environment. Whether it’s mastering phonics or constructing simple sentences, our approach is structured, yet playful—keeping engagement and curiosity high.

🧠 4. Focus on Language Skills and Thinking Skills

This isn’t just an English class—it’s a comprehensive skill-building experience. While children learn to read and write with confidence, they’re also trained to think critically, ask questions, and express their ideas clearly. Our integrated activities strengthen listening, speaking, reading, and writing (LSRW) skills.

💻 5. Digital Practice Sheets & Interactive Tools

We leverage technology to reinforce learning beyond the classroom. Every student receives digital practice sheets, games, and interactive exercises to revise concepts at home. This blend of traditional teaching and digital reinforcement ensures learning is both consistent and flexible.

🏆 6. Small Batch Sizes for Personal Attention

We maintain small class sizes to ensure each child receives personal attention. This allows our teachers to monitor individual progress closely and provide targeted support where needed—an essential element for early learners who are still building confidence in a new language.

🎓 7. Course Completion Certificates

Every young learner deserves recognition for their efforts. Upon completing the Advanced English Program, students receive a course completion certificate, a small yet meaningful motivator that celebrates their journey and builds a sense of achievement.

💬 Parent-Tested, Child-Approved

Our program has already helped hundreds of young learners gain a strong command over English in their early academic years. Parents frequently report improvements in reading fluency, confidence in speaking, and a growing love for learning.

Final Thoughts

At ScoreMerit, we believe that the right start makes all the difference. Our Advanced English Program offers a nurturing, comprehensive, and internationally aligned foundation that equips children not just with language skills, but with the confidence to thrive in any environment.

Ready to give your child a head start in English? Enroll now or get in touch to learn more about our upcoming batches!

[sudo24learning]

[vickram-seo-730]

Basic Interview Tips You should know to enhance your chances

Getting that ideal job frequently comes down to one big obstacle: The interview.

One major hurdle often stands in the way of landing that dream job: the interview. This is your chance to shine, yet interview anxiousness could cloud your judgement. If you are positive and somewhat prepared, you may make a good impression and breeze through the interview process. During an interview, picture yourself being asked, “Why do you want to work for our company?”

Do your research:

You can learn about the necessities of the organisation and the particular position by conducting research. This enables you to prepare instances from your background that specifically address their top concerns. You might discuss how your abilities fit into their projects or bring up pertinent industry trends for the role.

Knowing the background of the organisation before the interview offers you a sense of confidence. You can predict queries and craft succinct, precise responses that demonstrate your expertise and suitability for the position. Throughout the interview, this confidence comes through and leaves a good impression.

Know the Interview Tips to Ace Your Interview Game

It takes more than just being prepared to ace an interview. It’s about controlling your anxiety, improving your communication abilities, and showcasing your value as a candidate. The following Interview tips will help you improve your interviewing abilities and make a good impression.

Practice Mock Interviews: Ask a friend, relative, or career advisor to perform mock interviews. This gives you the chance to practise your responses, get feedback on how you carry yourself, and gain confidence in an interview. Make a Self-Record: Record your responses to frequently asked interview questions. Replay it and evaluate how you delivered it. You can pinpoint areas for development using this self-reflection, such as pacing, clarity, or the use of filler words like “um” and “ah.”

Prepare a list of questions for your interviewer: There is collaboration in the interview. You’re exploring the culture and fit of the firm as much as they are evaluating you. You can ask your interviewer the following thought-provoking questions. Asking the right question is the key Interview tips anybody should know to win your chance.

Here are some basic questions to help you:

Could you describe a normal workday or workweek for someone in this position? What qualities make someone the perfect fit for this position? What are the prospects for career growth inside the organisation? What are the opportunities for career growth inside the organisation? What are the plans for the upcoming years for the company? How would this position advance those objectives?

Passion Attracts:

Enthusiasm naturally attracts others. Everyone involved will have a more enjoyable and interesting interview if you show real excitement for the position and the business. Your real interest in the chance is evident via your passion, which distinguishes you from less enthusiastic candidates. It’s like having a window into your soul. Moreover, passion frequently indicates devotion and perseverance. By demonstrating your excitement, you persuade the interviewer that you’ll approach the job’s daily responsibilities with an equal amount of vigour and passion.

Voice out your own Unique Selling Point:

To ace that perfect job interview, standing out from the crowd is essential. Everybody is unique in their skills and life experiences, but what distinguishes YOU from the rest? In this case, your Unique Selling Points (USPs) are crucial.These are the traits and backgrounds that make you the best fit for the particular role. Finding your USPs necessitates some introspection. First, figure out what talents are needed by analysing the requirements listed in the job description. Next, explore your wealth of abilities and encounters. Consider activities such as personal projects, charity work, or even hobbies that sharpen key skills in addition to your resume. Next, let your imagination run wild! List all the things that you have that make you a valuable asset.

“Keep it short, know your CV inside and out, and concentrate on giving a one- to two-minute self-advertisement because first impressions matter a lot.”

Be Genuine:

In the intense world of interviews, there’s a strong temptation to pretend to be someone you’re not. You might practise canned responses, present an air of steadfast confidence that might come across as a little inauthentic, and create a persona you believe the interviewer wants to see. You can establish a human connection with the interviewer by being sincere. It enables you to authentically and convincingly convey your personality and why you are a good fit for the position. Your genuineness builds rapport and trust, which makes the interview more enjoyable for you both.

Consider this- sincere people tend to attract other genuine people. Being truthful with yourself helps the interviewer assess if you’d mesh well with the team’s culture by making the conversation feel more natural and less like an interrogation.

Final Thoughts:

This blog piece laid the groundwork for a successful interview. To enhance one’s communication abilities and obtain a competitive advantage, one may want to enrol in a Business English course with English Partner. With the vocabulary, grammar, and communication skills these courses can provide you, you’ll be able to handle interviews with professionalism and confidence. Our trainers at English Partner will guide your way with right Interview tips to help you to secure your dream job. Developing interviewing skills is a talent that can have a big impact on your professional path. You may impress interviewers and raise your chances of getting the job by being well-prepared, conveying your talents, displaying how well you match the corporate culture, and proving that you can solve problems.

Keep in mind that interviews are two-way conversations; you may use them to determine whether the organisation shares your goals. Through preparation, experience, and ongoing development, you can successfully navigate interviews and work toward your professional objectives.

Pro Tip: Dress Well. Look Good. Dressing well and maintaining a polished appearance can make a strong impression. Your clothing choice can convey confidence, professionalism.

[ep-2024]

How a Fluent English Speaking Course Can Boost Your Career

Why Does English Fluency Matter in Business?

Fluency in English isn’t just about words; it’s a gateway to a bunch of opportunities. From getting desirable jobs to embracing various cultures, Fluent English Speaking Course  acts as your ticket to an expansive global playground.

How English Enhances Business Communication:

Mastering English offers a valuable role in business communication. It opens doors to a wealth of information and resources, allowing professionals to stay updated with the latest industry trends, market reports, and research papers. This knowledge is necessary for making well-informed decisions, a skill acquired in our Fluent English Speaking Course.

Building Professional Relationships:

Fluent English communication deals with trust and credibility in professional relationships.  A Fluent English course reflects knowledge, professionalism, and reliability. Colleagues, clients, and partners observe individuals with strong English skills as trustworthy, contributing to stronger business connections and a reputable professional image.

10 Steps to Excel in English Effortlessly:

Regular Practice Sessions: Engage daily in reading books, articles, or newspapers in English and maintain a journal for writing practice.

Speak Aloud: Practice speaking English aloud, join conversation groups or language exchange programs.

Watch and Listen: Pay attention to language, accents, and expressions in English movies, TV shows, podcasts, and music.

Expand Vocabulary: Learn new words regularly and apply them in conversations or writing.

Grammar and Structure: Focus on grammar rules and seek feedback to improve accuracy.

Engage with Native Speakers: Interact with native English speakers for exposure and language nuances.

Be Consistent: Set achievable language goals and maintain regularity  in practice.

Utilize Online Resources: Access language learning apps, websites, and tutorials for interactive learning.

Persistence: Stay motivated and persistent in language learning despite challenges.

Seek Feedback: Embrace positive feedbacks from teachers or language partners for improvement.

Benefits of English Proficiency at Work:

English fluency signifies adaptability and respect for diverse cultures, providing positive relationships and creating a thorough work environment. Through the Course, we facilitate connections and effective communication in a global landscape.

A Pathway to Fluency with English Partner:

Our course focuses on grammar finesse and pronunciation, ensuring dedicated learning, embracing challenges, and learning from mistakes. Mastery in English not only enhances linguistic skills but also creates opportunities, enabling effective global communication.

Fluent English Speaking Course with English Partner:

At English Partner, we understand the important role of fluent English in shaping successful careers. It’s not just a mere qualification but a noticeable attribute that enriches your resume. Many well known companies seek individuals proficient in English as it serves as the global language for business communication.  Join our English Partner Fluent English Speaking Course today and experience the transformative journey towards English communication.

Limitless Opportunities Await You:

Personalized Learning Paths

Interactive Lessons

Multimedia Resources

Live Practice Sessions

Feedback and Assessments

Flexibility and Accessibility

Ongoing Support

Progress Tracking

Expert Guidance: English Partner offers access to experienced instructors who provide expert guidance and support throughout your English learning journey. Our instructors employ effective teaching methodologies to enhance your spoken English skills.

Learning Experience: We understand that each learner has unique needs. Our courses are designed to provide diverse proficiency levels, ensuring a personalized learning experience. Whether you’re a beginner or aiming for advanced fluency, our course adapts to your pace and goals.

Interactive and Engaging Lessons: Engage in dynamic and interactive lessons that focus on practical application. Through varied activities, discussions, and role-plays, we make learning English enjoyable, engaging in  active participation and improving fluency.

Comprehensive Curriculum: Our platform offers a comprehensive curriculum covering grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and conversation skills. This global approach ensures a well-rounded development of your English-speaking abilities.

Flexible Learning Schedule: Access course materials and participate in sessions at your convenience. Our online platform allows flexibility in scheduling, enabling learning from anywhere with an internet connection. You can balance your learning alongside your daily commitments.

Immersive Multimedia Resources: Benefit from a bunch of multimedia resources such as video tutorials, audio materials, interactive quizzes, and reading exercises. These resources help to differentiate learning styles, making the learning process engaging and effective.

Practical Live Practice Sessions: Participate in live practice sessions led by instructors or through group interactions with fellow learners. Engage in real-time conversations, discussions, and exercises, applying what you’ve learned and honing your spoken English skills.

Continuous Progress Tracking: Track your progress with regular assessments and performance evaluations. Receive personalized feedback from instructors, helping you identify areas for improvement and guiding you towards fluency.

Supportive Learning Environment: Our platform provides a supportive community where learners can interact, exchange ideas, and support each other’s learning journey. You’ll find a productive environment for growth and improvement.

Job Readiness and Career Advancement: English fluency significantly enhances job prospects and career growth. By mastering your spoken English skills with English Partner, you equip yourself with a vital tool for success in the professional world.

Excellent Aspects of our Course:

Engage in interactive live practice sessions facilitated by trainers or through group discussions with other students. Practice speaking English aloud by participating in exercises, talks, and conversations in real time while putting what you’ve learned into practice.

Monitor your development through frequent tests and performance reviews. Get individualized feedback from teachers to help you pinpoint your areas of weakness and progress toward fluency. 

Our platform creates a friendly community where students can communicate, share ideas, and encourage one another’s academic endeavors. You’ll discover a setting that’s favorable to development. 

Proficiency in English greatly improves one’s chances for employment and career advancement. Using English Partner to improve your spoken English gives you an essential tool for enhancing your fluency in English which will also lead to an increase in your job opportunities. 

[jay-academy]

Are you looking to find the best online course provider to enhance your skills and boost your career? In this video, I share 6 essential tips to help you choose the right online course provider that meets your needs. Learn how to evaluate course quality, understand certification value, check instructor credentials, compare pricing, explore course flexibility, and read reviews. Whether you're interested in learning new skills or advancing your career, these tips will guide you in making an informed decision. Don't forget to subscribe for more educational content and insights!

[pipsdelhi62]

Pips Delhi provides the best English-speaking classes!

Are you looking to enhance your English-speaking skills and unlock new opportunities? Look no further than PIPS Delhi! As the Premier Institute for Professional Studies in Delhi, located on Devli Road, New Delhi, we offer top-notch English-speaking classes tailored to meet your needs.

At PIPS Delhi, we understand the importance of mastering the English language in today's globalized world. Whether you're a student, a working professional, or an aspiring language enthusiast, our comprehensive English-speaking courses are designed to help you become proficient in speaking, listening, reading, and writing in English.

Our experienced instructors are dedicated to providing personalized attention and guidance to each student, ensuring that you progress at your own pace and achieve your language learning goals. From basic grammar and vocabulary to advanced conversation skills, we cover it all to ensure that you gain the confidence to communicate effectively in English in any situation.

What sets PIPS Delhi apart is our commitment to excellence and our focus on practical learning. Our state-of-the-art facilities and interactive teaching methods create an immersive learning environment where you can practice and refine your English skills in real-life scenarios.

Moreover, at PIPS Delhi, we offer placement assistance to help you kickstart your career or academic journey with confidence. With our extensive network of partner organizations, you'll have access to a wide range of opportunities where your English-speaking skills will be valued and appreciated.

Don't let language barriers hold you back from reaching your full potential. Join PIPS Delhi today and embark on a transformative journey towards mastering the English language. Contact us at +91-9650200473 to learn more about our English-speaking classes and take the first step towards a brighter future.

[padmespetal]

my love mine all mine — bruce wayne

synopsis: the weight of loving a man like him.

word count: 984

warnings: none, mentions of blood

note: my first fic i’m posting <33 sorry if there are mistakes english is not my first language i used a bale batman picture but you can imagine any version of bruce you want, hope you enjoy reading !! 🤍

Everyone always says you are so lucky to be Mrs. Wayne.

They say it in whispers behind champagne glasses at charity galas, in the sharp-edged comments of online forums dissecting your every move, in the glossy spreads of magazines that parade you like a prize.

They say it like a mantra, like an undeniable truth—because to them, you are the woman who won.

The tabloids adore you. Or rather, they adore picking you apart.

They scrutinize every dress you wear, every way you style your hair, the minute fluctuations in your weight as if it were a stock market chart. Did you gain a pound? Lose two? Was that diamond bracelet new, or just an old piece resurfaced to keep up appearances?

The public treats you like a living exhibit, a fragile doll encased in glass, standing at the side of Gotham’s most infamous bachelor-turned-husband.

No one thought it would last.

Bruce Wayne, the Bruce Wayne, had been through more relationships than anyone could count.

Women entered his orbit and just as quickly disappeared, leaving behind only the fading scent of expensive perfume and speculation in the tabloids.

He was a playboy. A heartbreaker .

The kind of man who could smile just right, make you feel like you were the only woman in the world—only for you to wake up one morning and realize you’d just been another name on his list.

And yet.

You had to be different, didn’t you? Because somehow, against all odds, against the expectations of an entire city, you weren’t just another chapter in his book. You were the last page.

But no one ever talks about what it actually means to be Mrs. Wayne.

They don’t know about the weight of it, the exhaustion, the sharp edges that come with the soft silks and diamonds.

They don’t see the sleepless nights spent staring at the clock, waiting for him to come home—wondering if this will be the night he doesn’t.

They don’t see the way your hands shake as you press them against his bloodied skin, patching him up in the dim light of your bedroom, biting back the tears because you knew what you signed up for.

Because crying never stopped him from going back out there.

They don’t see the fights, either. The yelling that ricochets off the walls of Wayne Manor like gunfire, your voice raw from screaming at him because how dare he be so reckless—because does he not realize what he’d leave behind if he didn’t come back?

“You don’t get to be careless,” you had shouted once, eyes burning with unshed tears. “You don’t get to act like your life doesn’t matter.”

And Bruce—stoic, unshakable Bruce—had just stared at you, jaw tight, breathing heavy, as if he wanted to argue. As if he wanted to tell you that Gotham came first. But the words never left his lips.

Because Gotham might be his city, but you—you and the messy, complicated family you built together—you were his home.

Everyone thought it was impossible for him to let someone in. Even he thought so.

Batman never thought he’d find someone who could understand.

He had learned the hard way that loving him was dangerous. He had been burned before. He had loved and lost, and he had told himself that it was better—safer—to be alone. And for a long time, he believed it.

There was Selina, of course.

The woman who had come closer than anyone else before you. The one he almost, almost married. But they were fire and ice, drawn together by their similarities yet always breaking apart because of them. They wanted too much from each other—too much change, too much compromise, too much that neither of them could ever truly give.

But you…

You weren’t like the others.

You didn’t fall for the mask. You weren’t enamored by the money, the power, the legacy of the Wayne name. You didn’t flinch at his darkness. You saw him—not just the billionaire, not just the vigilante, but him.

And that terrified him.

You saw through the careful facade, through the charming smiles and effortless grace, through the masks he had perfected over decades of hiding.

He tried to push you away. Oh, how he tried.

But you were persistent. Stubborn. You told him you weren’t going anywhere, that you’d rather walk through fire with him than live a life without him.

“You’re a fool,” he had told you once, voice low, rough.

“And you love me for it,” you had whispered back.

He married you months later.

So yes, being the new Mrs. Wayne was glamorous.

It was champagne-filled nights at high society events, breathtaking gowns, luxurious vacations, and a life most people could only dream of.

But it was also bruises hidden under expensive fabrics, exhaustion masked by perfectly applied makeup, whispered arguments behind closed doors.

It was being Batmom to the family of misfits and broken souls he had adopted along the way—learning to navigate the chaos of a home filled with vigilantes, each carrying their own wounds and ghosts.

It was being the one person who could ground Bruce, the one who reminded him that he was more than his mission, more than the cowl, more than the trauma he carried like a second skin.

It was waiting up at night, staring out at the city skyline, waiting for the Bat-Signal to disappear—because that meant he was coming home.

It was waking up to the sound of him slipping into bed beside you at dawn, his body aching, his mind heavy, but his arms pulling you close like he needed you to breathe.

It was love, in all its messy, painful, beautiful glory.

So let them talk. Let the tabloids speculate, let the world watch and judge and never understand.

Because they’ll never know what it truly means to be Mrs. Wayne.

And you wouldn’t trade it for anything.

© padmespetal 2025 — I DO NOT APPROVE OF MY WORKS TO BE TRANSLATED OR COPIED ANYWHERE WITHOUT PERMISSION

tags:

[grimeerie]

If Enigma of Fear comes this month,i am praying for this game to be absolulety marketed fucking EVERYWHERE online,cause not only Ordem is such a amazing project that deserves so much recognition,but being a fully brazilian/latino-made TTRPG,the idea of this series becoming worldwide-known means so much personally as a brazilian artist.

I've mentioned this on a post before,but the experience of growing up as a latine being constantly fed white american-centric pop culture,be it comics,TV series,movies,art in general,to such a extreme point it made me develop such high insecurity in my country's art and culture as a whole,is so deeply harmful that even after leaving that toxic mindset,that insecurity still lingers on.

And it's why Ordem as a project is just so beautiful as an rpg to me,like the campaign main setting? All brazilian cities! The characters? Brazilians from different parts of the country all speaking in the accent and slang of their state or city! The players? Brazilians! The promotional art,the music,the boards,the tokens? ALL BRAZILIAN MADE. Like this project in so unashamedly Brazil and that makes me love every bit of bit.

Even though the gringo side of the Ordem fandom may still be somewhat small,the ammount of love i've seen you all have for this project is so big; all of the fanart,fics,headcanons,every single form of appreciation has just been so good. Know that regardless of what you may think about the quality of your contribution to this fandom know that to me and so many other brazilian,your love for this series means a lot to us. The hype for Enigma of Fear has been wonderful to see,and DESERVED CAUSE THE GOD THE GAME LOOKS FANTASTICAL AND DUMATIVA PUT THEIR WHOLE DUMATUSSY FOR 4 YEARS INTO THAT GAME AND THEY DESERVE THE RESPECT FOR IT-

BUT ALSO i want to shoutout the QSMP fandom as well,cause y'all are insane fr,seeing people love the same CCs i've watched and loved since my childhood,the fandom interacting with us Brazilian ??? Learning about our culture???? LEARNING TO SPEAK PORTUGUESE???

Sorry for the ramble but like- the whole learning portuguese part still makes me so happily feral cause as someone who grew up on Internet fandom spaces,having to learn english on my own to be able to interact with others,especially english being the main language in most internet spaces,THE FACT THE INVERSE IS HAPPENING LIKE WHAT?? Serioulsly,the dedication man! That is awesome!!

Legitimately i don't think there's enough words to describe the appreciation i have for yall,so basically: thank you all,so much,for giving us so much love this past year,and i hope if Ordem does become big enough out there,that more brazilian art to come gains as much love as this one,we are such a diverse country with so much to offer,and im am so glad to be born to such a colorful and crazy country <3

In general i hope this will be an encouragment for all to support non-white american centric art in general,there's so much art from other countries to love and appreciate,that desperately need it.

So basically: Watch Ordem Paranormal,and play Enigma of Fear when it comes out. It's RPG,it's story,characters,worldbuilding are fantastic,its horror,found family,comedy and deliciously SOUL-CRUSHING angst. Trust me,you won't regret it.

É ORDO REALITAS CARALHO!

[cautious-soup]

Obsessive!Suguru Geto x Fem!Reader

Part 1

Summary: Suguru Geto finds himself unwillingly fixated on you. Infuriated that he's so preoccupied with such a weakling, he sets out to make you suffer.

CW// metaphysical non-con, degrading internal monologues directed at reader, stalking, weirdo behavior

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♥︎♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

The obsession from him was pure. Unadulterated, delusional, eye-twitching nail biting obsession--with you. Obsession with making you cry, making you hurt, making you bleed, and reveling in otherworldly ecstacy from your wails of pleasure (and agony).

You're normal. Well, you're unique in your own way, everyone is, but you're normal, a regular person, a non-curse user.

So, naturally, he hates you. Because honestly, how dare you? You're nothing special, you're weak, you're a waste of space. Yet, the biggest space you occupy is the space in his brain, pressing against the walls of his skull, driving him batshit insane.

You? Really?

You came to him because you were depressed, and anxious, and your shoulders hurt all the time even though you bought a fancy new bag online that was supposed to make them hurt less.

So, with nowhere else to turn, you go to see Suguru.

He was new, and expensive, but according to your peers he worked. He was good at what he did, and you could hardly stand to raise your arms for more than a few seconds without clenching your jaw in pain.

Suguru scoffs internally when you first meet him because, well, you're just another client. Another useless weakling with insignificant problems. He exorcises you and sends you on your way like he's always done.

But this time something's wrong.

It starts quietly, almost insidiously. He thinks he's fixated on you because he's stressed, unhappy, craving sex because whether he admits it or not, he's still a man with needs. (Pathetic needs.)

So, he figured he'd mess with you--quietly and systemically terrorize you until you manifested a curse strong enough to suit his appetites, then do away with you. Maybe he'd force himself on you, but only to speed up the process if things went to slow, make your negative feelings more potent.

Then, when the job was done, he'd kill you. That part was always just for fun.

He learns you're in Japan as an English teacher. Before Suguru removed your curse, you had to grit your teeth to keep from snapping at your students due to the pain.

The stress of work had only manifested a low grade curse, and he had no use working with that.

So first, he studied you. What did you like? What did you hate? What did you fear? He took note of it all.

He took note of your height, then your weight, then shoe size, then skin, eyes, hair, nose, mouth, teeth, lips.

He decides he's documented enough about your physical atrributes when he tries to estimate your cup size.

But he knew it wouldn't be enough. No, in order to truly terrorize you, he'd have to talk to you.

You're unnerved when he approaches you for the first time. The market street is bathed in sunset orange, and you've just picked up your end of the week snack, ready to go home and binge Netflix, but he's there. Suguru.

It's strange, you thought the oppressive energy you felt when you'd gone to see him had something to do with the old temple. But you felt it here too, almost before you saw him. Whatever it was, it followed him.

"Y/N," he said pleasantly, "I trust you've been well."

You take a while to respond, before laughing nervously, "Uh, yeah! Yeah I've been much better, I appreciate it a ton."

"..."

Not much for small talk, I guess you think when Suguru doesn't respond.

"Well, I'll be on my way then. It was nice seeing you."

Suguru watches you leave, pulse throbbing in his neck and jaw clenched. It wasn't enough. Why, why wasn't it enough? You were nothing--nothing. It would take too much singular effort to coax out negative energy from an average weakling like you, he'd be better off hunting for special grades like usual.

Still, he followed you home.

And a week later, Suguru decides to take things up a notch, or several notches.

You don't usually remember your dreams too well. You have pieces from over the years--learning to fly, falling, running, chasing

But tonight, it's vivid. Vivid and panicked, you feel so panicked, but you don't know why.

It's so dark. The darkness feels alive, like it's touching you. No, it is touching you. The unmistakable feeling of a hand clasps your shoulder, your hip, you choke.

"Hk," but you can't move.

The darkness combs over you, leaving cold in its wake against your skin. Why can you feel cold? Why can you feel any of this?

It isn't like feeling in the waking world. You can almost see it, you're confused, you're scared.

The touch of darkness grows rough, violent. It tugs at your hair, gropes at your thighs, your chest, prods at your mouth until it's open. It chokes you when you try to scream, wrenches your thighs apart, and then--

"HHHHH-"

You shoot up so violently the room spins. Awake, you fumble for your lamp, reaching vainly for your breath as you hyperventilate.

The ghostly cold still lingers on your skin. You fold your knees up to your chest and sob.

All the while, Suguru revels in this little bit you give him, even though it's nowhere close to enough.

♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♥︎♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

Part 2

[xceanlynx]

I'm gonna rant because I am TIRED of gringos talking about brazilian politics without having the decency to research about it

No, "brazil banning x/twitter" is NOT THE SAME as the US trying to ban Tiktok. The US want to ban tiktok simply because it's chinese. Y'all can cry about personal data all you want, but in the end of the day it is because Tiktok is not from the US.

Brazil IS NOT BANNING TWITTER. Brazil wants Twitter to get rid of accounts that organized/fomented the attempted coup last year - which is, in fact, a crime. Elon refused to obey the SOVEREIGN DECISION OF BRAZIL, and is threatening to leave brazilian market (good riddance). As y'all can see: No, here in Brazil it is not "freedom of speech" when your speech is a CRIME. Same goes for racism, xenophobia, homophobia and so on. I am truly sorry that the US as a country has brainwashed most of their citizens to believe that freedom of speech is the human right to rule above all else, including human decency.

What I see online is obviously far right people talking shit about it, but my God if I see another goddamn liberal talk about my country the same patronizing way I am seeing right now, I might as well talk shit about yours too. The difference being that I do not see my country as the paragon of perfection and center of the world, contrary to some if not most US citizens

Fuck you to anyone who gets bothered by any english mistake I made. Got mad? LEARN PORTUGUESE THEN

[sayruq]

Hello , I hope you’re doing well 🫶🏻

Me and my family need your help to survive from genocide in gaza,here our goFundMe link just read our story and help us if you can or just share it, we appreciated everything you would do.

https://gofund.me/38cab03b

Hello, I'm Khader Abu Sha'ban, and I'm 20 years old, I have a twin brother his name is Ragheb, and we are from Gaza City, We started the second year of our degree (designing and programming mobile applications). We live with a family of 9 members, they are all educated and have university degrees in the fields of engineering, programming, information security, administration, and law, We are the youngest in the family and we are the only ones who are still learning and we didn't end our degree yet.

Don't forget our beautiful cat - Kelwa – whom we consider a family member and we adopted him during the war when he was homeless in the street, however, he filled our lives with joy.

Before October 7th, Our life was full of goals, ambitions, and hope. and because we are identical twins I and my brother share everything in life and we have the same hobbies, actually we have the same life So we practice sports such as football, table tennis, and basketball and we are professionals in video games. we spend our time learning English next to our university education in the field where we found our passion which is Programming, and we have a small online store (Candles Store) to sell candles that we manually made. We have a goal to finish our university life as fast as we can to join the labor market of IT and open our startup company for techniques and applications with the great passion that we already have. this dream is growing day by day, but because of the war and the current circumstances, the dream started to fade, during the war educational institutions and Universities were destroyed in Gaza and the study was arrested. during the previous 8 months we have been unable to complete our education and estimates indicate that restoration of university status in Gaza will take time and may exceed years. The war came and destroyed our lives, our dreams, and our souls, My family did not decide to displacement to the south, despite all the suffering we had passed during this period and we decided to stay at home and not leave the beautiful memories, the idea of displacement to south and go to an unknown place that we don't have any relatives there was the most difficult for us to leave everything and not return back, so the decision was steadfast, non-displacement and patience on the suffering, but the war has been partially damaged our house because of targeting the house next to us, and damaged our beautiful memories and become ineffective to live, but thank God no one of my family has been hurt. The house went and we lost a lot of our beloveds (14 members of my cousins) and witnessed a lot of suffering in Gaza we were forced to internally-displacement east and west more than 5 times and it was very difficult to escape under the shelling at night and under The voices of aircraft and bombing and moving from a non-safe place to another non-safe place and don't forget the starvation that we still live in northern Gaza and dumping bombs, rockets and insecure until life became black for us. We won't forget the night of December 18th, when we lived the most terrifying night in our lives when we woke up at night to the voices of bombs and shells of nearby tanks and the glass and shrapnel on us, and I do not forget the voices of crying and the sounds of the SOS and we are unable to move even unable to breathe because of the hole of the smoke bombs that have thrown on us, I swear the horror of this night will accompany me to the last day My life. The horror of this night is repeated daily and there is no end and life has already black for us, after all this suffering we have reached a plan to rebuild the rest of our lives again elsewhere after we lost our house and members of my family as well as we lost the source income of my family this led us to seek help through this campaign, the raised funds will cover travel expenses for 9 people outside Gaza (where the travel coordination costing $ 5,000 per person) and $ 5,000 for addition costs for initial stability Abroad and $ 5000 initial amount to complete the study abroad for me and my brother. If the situation improves in Gaza we will use funds to restore our house and complete our education in Gaza or abroad, according to appropriate conditions.

These brothers have been raising funds since May and they've only received €678 so far. Please share and donate. Help save lives !!!!!!!

[penultimate-step]

I have a mild interest in video game history stuff, so I was reading through the "50 Years of Text Games" page recently. I got to the article on The Hobbit (1982), which I had only heard about in passing before this, but this seems to have been an oversight given its apparent importance. Looking through this and some other articles, the game was well known for having npc behavior years ahead of its time, and was inspirational to early games programmers; this page even going so far as to say it "is often credited for helping to jump-start the British home computing market." But beyond the game's technical achievements, one paragraph at the article's end about the game's creator, Veronika Megler, stuck with me:

Megler for years was little aware of the game’s success. After graduating, Melbourne House offered her a full-time position, but she was sick of assembler debugging and turned it down: “I have a very low tolerance for doing the same thing over and over again.” She accepted an entry-level job at IBM, who “made it very clear that having written a game was not regarded as any kind of relevant work experience,” and would go on to a long and successful career as a computer professional—but never again worked in games. It wasn’t until the 2000s that she learned the extent of The Hobbit’s popularity, and its impact on a generation of players around the world: players who had first learned English to solve it, or had their imaginations fired for their own computer careers by the magic inherent in the game’s simulated possibilities.

(50 Years of Text Games)

And that got me thinking about legacy and how we perceive ourselves for a bit. Because to Megler none of this stuff is that important, apparently. For her this was just a college programming job, what others saw as groundbreaking NPC design she saw as ordinary, a stepping stone in her career; not part of her real life, which involved IT work. And today she is a leading data scientist at Amazon. But if you look her up online, check her wikipedia page, all of that stuff is a footnote. The last 40 years of her life, the stuff she valued, it's all placed under several paragraphs talking about her involvement in games, stuff she did for less than a year. 100 years from now, assuming people are still playing video games, people will probably be talking about The Hobbit, long after all the other stuff fades into history.

Really makes you realize that we have very little control over how we will be remembered, what about our lives others consider important and worth remembering.

[mareastrorum]

Story time.

When I was a kid, my mom signed me and my siblings up for Tae Kwon Do classes for various reasons. One of the more fun reasons was that Dragon Ball Z was on Toonami and it was a thing we all enjoyed, so it was easy to convince us to behave for an hour a day several times a week. Easily half of the kids in class were DBZ fans. The owner was a DBZ fan. The giant hulk of a Navy vet who sparred with me was a DBZ fan. We all loved the show.

The classes were taught about half a mile down one road from where we lived, so on Saturdays, we would walk the whole way on our own to and from class. One of the fun reasons was that there was a comic book shop about halfway there that sold manga and Japanese merch, so we left early and spent maybe $1-2 of money we had each hoarded on cards, comics, etc. (I’ve worked since I was 7ish doing stuff for cash.) I had a collection of DBZ trading cards and comics in Japanese. The shopkeeper was sworn to secrecy lest he lose sales because we weren’t actually supposed to have spending money.

One day, on the Computer, I learned that a DBZ video game for PlayStation was going to come out in the U.S. and it was going to have the newest characters in it and some characters from the rumored GT sequel that wasn’t even translated to English yet. HYPE. I eagerly awaited news only to find none. I couldn’t call retailers to check if they had it because this was back when calls were charged per minute and most of the big stores were technically not local even though they were in the same county. I asked the comic book guy if he knew what happened, and since he was also looking forward to the game, he checked around. Not available anywhere nearby. I’d have to go to downtown Los Angeles in person to maybe find a copy. It may as well have been in Siberia.

>:(

I looked on the Computer to see what other people were doing on the various Geocities fan webrings whose URLs I had memorized (because I couldn’t bookmark any of them or my mom would find out I was spending money on stuff). Online shopping wasn’t really a thing yet, and the only thing they could find was that the game was supposed to be available in the U.S., but it was either bullshit or there were basically no copies made. Apparently, it was a hit in Japan, and the most I could find was a picture of the cover art.

>:(

I went to the comic book guy to complain the next Saturday, and he introduced me to a new idea: there’s a Japanese version of the game that he saw on eBay, this new website where people sold their stuff online. But the game would only work on a U.S. PlayStation if I used a kit to circumvent the DRM. It wouldn’t be in English, but at least I’d be able to play.

Off I went home to learn about eBay on the Computer. THERE WAS THE GAME. A whole $20 plus shipping. I had to look up what shipping was because I didn’t know the term. So more like $30. And I needed a bank card or credit card to buy on eBay. (I didn’t care about the 18 or older disclaimer because I had lied about that on every website I had ever visited.)

>:(

I did not make a plan. I went and got my cash box (I’d bought it at the flea market) that I hid in the box spring under my mattress and counted out $30. I then immediately confronted my mom when she got home. I WANT A GAME. HERE’S THE MONEY. BUY IT ON EBAY. I had to explain eBay. She did not ask where I got the money because I had perfect grades and that was all that mattered.

A month later, the game arrived from Asia, and I cannot recall if it was actually Japanese on the shipping labels or if it was Chinese because I couldn’t tell the difference. It had the right box art though. Tried it on the PlayStation, and indeed, it did not work.

Next Saturday, I went to the comic book guy to buy the kit to jailbreak the PlayStation. He did not believe me that I had bought the game. I showed him the error message that popped up on the screen because I wrote it down in my notebook. He eventually relented and sold me the kit. Another $7! (But I’d brought $10 because I had learned this bullshit was expensive, so I got more comics and cards too.)

After class, we ran home. We were martial arts kids, that was practically a cooldown.

THE KIT WORKED. I added a spring to the mechanism to keep the lid open, started with a disk that tricks the regional DRM, then switched the disk at prompting to start the game. We had no idea what any of it said, but it was a simple fighting game, and all the characters had portraits anyway. Button mashing paradise. I was the coolest kid at TKD classes because I was the only one anyone knew with this DBZ game.

I charged kids a quarter each to come with us after class to play my regionally jailbroken Japanese (or maybe Chinese) DBZ PlayStation fighter game. I made my money back by Christmas.

>:)

I was 9.

[clever-ludicrous]

Learning languages through stories is way to overlooked or dismissed as too difficult and time-consuming.

Years ago, I had to read my fanfictions in English because the market for German batim fanfictions wasn’t as big as I had hoped. That alone motivated me to actually learn the language, instead of just trying to pass my exams, and many non-native English speakers can probably agree. Today, most of my online activities are in English, which has improved my proficiency so much. I can’t imagine how I could have reached this level so quickly without reading.

I also discovered Olly Richards' books for learning French, which has helped me grow my vocabulary and actually made the language fun for me again. Now, I'm reading my first novel in Esperanto (Marvirinstrato - Tim Westover), and I highly recommend reading in your target language, whether it’s ‘just’ a fanfiction or a book. If it’s too difficult, try a bilingual version.