這集跟著Miss Y 來一趟冬日聖誕市集世界巡禮！我們會走訪2025年特選五大熱門市集，聊聊必看亮點、必吃美食與旅行小提醒。還有我住巴黎時每年必逛的杜樂麗花園聖誕市集、我市集必吃的的療癒回憶！

Join Miss Y for a cozy “travel by imagination” episode about the best Christmas markets in 2025! I'll be sharing highlights, foods to try, and simple travel tips. Plus, I’ll tell you my sweet Paris memory at the Christmas market in Tuileries Garden.

Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cmilgpemw00i201yvfrduavyf/comments

Transcript:

Hey guys, I’m your English teacher, Miss Y!
Welcome to the podcast made for intermediate English learners who want to listen to English, and learn about different topics in a fun and easy way.
So today, we’re talking about something super cozy, super December, and honestly… it just makes people smile.
We’re going to chat about the best Christmas markets around the world in 2025, according to an CNN news report.
You know in December, even if you’re super busy, you still see Christmas lights everywhere—shopping malls, cafes, streets… and suddenly you feel like, “Oh… it’s the end of the year.” And for me, I don’t know why, but I really love the holiday atmosphere. atmosphere 氣氛. I love the holiday atmosphere. I love the lights, the music, the warm drinks, family and friends gather together, and that feeling like… life slows down just a little.
So I have to be honest: I couldn’t help it. 我忍不住. Because it’s December, I just had to make one more Christmas-related episode. And here’s the best part: Christmas markets are not only about Christmas. They’re about beautiful lights, cute gifts, festive decoration, amazing snacks, warm drinks, and that cozy feeling of being outside in the cold… but your hands are warm because you’re holding something hot. Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas, Christmas markets are still really fun. In Taiwan, we do have Christmas market. Y’all are probably thinking about the notorious 板橋耶誕城. But in Europe, the Christmas vibe is another level. vibe 也是像氣氛, like atmosphere. Christmas markets in Europe feel like a big tradition—like the whole city joins in.

Here’s A tiny bit of history (don’t worry, it’s simple)

Christmas markets are not new. A long time ago in Europe, cities held winter markets in December. One of the earliest recorded ones was in Vienna, 維也納, all the way back in 1298. 
Over time, the tradition spread. Now, you can find Christmas markets in many places—Germany, Switzerland, France, Belgium, even Singapore and New York.
In this episode, I’ll take you on a little “travel by imagination” tour. I’ll share five famous Christmas markets—what you can see there, what you can eat, what makes each place special, and the dates for 2025. So even if you can’t travel this year, you can still feel like you’re walking through the market with me.
Alright, let’s start our winter world tour.

1) Vienna, Austria
Okay, first stop: Vienna.
Vienna is like… elegant. Beautiful buildings, classical music, and during Christmas season, it becomes a fairy tale. 一個童話故事, fairy tale.
Vienna has many Christmas markets—around 20. But the most classic one is Wiener Christkindlmarkt — forgive my German, I’ll try my best to pronounce it — also called Rathausplatz, because it’s in front of the City Hall. 
Here’s what makes it special: There’s a reindeer train (it’s very cute, especially for kids). There’s a giant Ferris wheel, Ferris wheel 就是摩天輪, so you can see the city lights from the Ferris wheel. There’s a huge Advent wreath. (Advent is the weeks before Christmas. People count down the days. wreath 就是那種聖誕裝飾的花圈) There’s even a children’s ice rink 溜冰場—and it’s pretty big.
And there’s something called the Tree of Hearts: a large tree decorated with many shiny heart lights. It’s basically a “photo must-do.” a must-do, 就是必做的事情. So a “photo must-do” is like how in Taiwan we love taking photos with seasonal decorations? Same here.
Now let’s talk about food. Because Christmas markets do not just “look cute.” They also “eat a lot.”
You can find: Austrian sausages, 香腸, oh they do have good sausages, gingerbread cookies 薑餅餅乾, and warm drinks like Christmas punch, 有水果的調酒會叫punch. The Christmas punch is usually fruity, warm, sometimes with spices.
This market runs from November 14 to December 26, 2025. If you ever go, the tip is to go at night. The lights make everything feel magical.

2) Basel, Switzerland
Next stop: Switzerland. 瑞士
Switzerland is already famous for being clean, safe, and beautiful. And during Christmas season? It becomes a postcard.
Many Swiss towns have Christmas markets, but Basel has one of the biggest—and many people say it’s the best.
Basel Christmas Market is in two main areas, they are called Barfüsserplatz and Münsterplatz
Together, there are around 150 decorated stalls.
When I say “stalls,” I mean small booth shops. In Chinese, you can think of it like a Christmas version of 市集攤位.
So what do they sell? They sell Christmas spices, decorations, candles and lots of handmade items. It’s very “warm and handmade,” not just big brands.
Now for families, there’s a really cute area called a Christmas fairytale forest at Münsterplatz. Kids can do activities like: decorating gingerbread and candles, making stars in a workshop, like the stars to decorate your Christmas tree, and watching a puppet show.
And for adults (and honestly, also for kids), there are beautiful views. You can climb up St. Martin’s tower and look down at the old town lights.
And of course… you can drink mulled wine. Mulled wine is warm red wine with spices. If you don’t drink alcohol, don’t worry—many markets also sell warm non-alcohol drinks, like hot chocolate.
If you like a calm, classy Christmas feeling, Basel is a great choice.

3) Strasbourg, France
Now let’s go to France—specifically Strasbourg. 中文是史特拉斯堡
Strasbourg is famous because it has one of Europe’s oldest Christmas markets. It started in 1570. That is… seriously old. 
The market is spread across more than 10 locations in the city. So it’s not just one square, square 在這裡不是正方形, square 也可以指廣場. It’s not just one square, it is in many locations. It’s like the whole city becomes a Christmas zone.
Imagine walking around and seeing thousands of tiny lights, ornaments everywhere and wooden stalls that look like little cabins. cabin 就是小木屋, their stalls look like little cabins, so cute.
Strasbourg’s market is very popular. It brings in over 2 million visitors every year. So yes, it can be crowded. If you want to go there during Christmas time, you have to plan early. Otherwise, the hotel rooms will be sold out!
The stalls sell decorations, gifts, and local treats. And there’s local wine from the Alsace region. Alsace is one of the regions in France that is known for producing wine, specially white wine.
One famous spot is Place Kléber, because that’s where you’ll see the Great Christmas Tree—a huge tree that becomes the center of attention.
But honestly, the best part is just wandering, “wander” is like “walk around” — walking slowly through the narrow streets, small squares, and old buildings. It feels like you’re inside a Christmas movie.
Here is the tip: if you don’t like crowds, try weekday afternoons. Nighttime is beautiful but very busy.

4) Brussels, Belgium
Next: Brussels, in Belgium. 比利時的布魯塞爾
Brussels has something called Winter Wonders. And it’s not only a market—it’s more like a festival.
So if you want more activities, more “event feeling,” Brussels is a great pick.
Winter Wonders spreads across different areas. Basically, the city center becomes one big holiday route.
What can you do there? You can watch a light and sound show, or go ice skating. You can also ride fairground rides (like a mini amusement park). amusement park, 遊樂園. 遊樂設施就叫 ride. And there are about 200 chalets. “Chalets” are those wooden cabins-style stalls.
You can eat and drink things like glühwein (that’s mulled wine—this is the German word, and many Christmas markets use it), and you can buy some Belgian beers, you know how Belgium is famous for it’s flavorful beer. And of course… Belgian waffles, something you have to try if you go to Belgium!
And Brussels has a huge Christmas tree in Grand Place, which is already a beautiful square even without Christmas. With Christmas lights? Amazing.
Brussels Winter Wonders runs from November 28, 2025 to January 5, 2026. So if you’re traveling during New Year’s time, this one is perfect.

5) Prague, Czech Republic
Okay, now let’s go to our last pick, Prague. 布拉格
Prague at Christmas is the definition of a winter wonderland. The buildings are old and beautiful, and the streets look magical with lights.
Prague has many markets, but the two main ones are: Old Town Square and Wenceslas Square.
The best part? They’re only a few minutes’ walk apart. So you can easily visit both in one day, no problem.
Old Town Square is great for live shows, dance performances and creative workshops. So it’s more about entertainment and atmosphere.
Wenceslas Square is great for handmade gifts and local snacks. And one snack you might see is klobasa, a Czech sausage. Czech 捷克, Prague is the capital of Czech Republic. If you like sausages, you will be very happy in Central Europe. Trust me. Christmas markets = sausage kingdom.
And of course, you’ll also find mulled wine again. It’s like the “official drink” of European winter markets.
These Prague markets run from mid November till the beginning of January. Again—perfect for year-end travel.

My Christmas market memory
When I lived in Paris, France, I went to the Christmas market in Paris every year.
The Christmas market took place in Tuileries Garden—it’s a really famous garden in Paris, it is beautiful by itself, and you can even see Eiffel Tower, 巴黎鐵塔, you can see the Eiffel Tower in the distance when you enjoy a nice walk in the France garden. Around this time of year, the Christmas market would pop up there. And let me tell you… it was such a vibe. 
They had hot food and hot drinks, handmade crafts, little rides and fun attractions like a Ferris wheel. It felt like a winter festival right in the middle of the city. And okay… now we need to talk about the best part: the food. Every year, my favorite thing to eat was a raclette sandwich. So what is raclette? Raclette is a kind of cheese; it’s perfect for winter. Here’s what I loved: the vendors would have this huge block of raclette cheese—I’m not joking, it was like… bigger than someone’s head. They put it on a stand and heat it up. Then, when they make the sandwich, they use a scraper—like a knife—and they scrape the melted cheese, melted 融化的, they took down the melted cheese from the hot side of the block. And that hot, melted cheese falls onto a piece of French baguette that is crispy outside and soft inside. Then you can choose to add ham in your sandwich too. That’s it. Simple. But… oh my goodness, it was so comforting. Like instant happiness for me. And I always buy a vin chaud— that’s mulled wine in French. And the smell is so “Christmas.” I remember standing near the little fire heaters somewhere in the market—those warm areas where people gather—and just eating my raclette sandwich and drinking mulled wine. Warm food in cold weather just hits different. It’s like… your whole body relaxes. It’s healing. Truly.

Final friendly thoughts
So, would you like to visit a Christmas market in Europe? If you could choose one, which Christmas market would you want to visit?
Would it be Vienna: classic, elegant, and full of “traditional Christmas”. Or Basel: cozy, beautiful, and super Swiss. Maybe some people prefer Strasbourg: historic, famous, and huge. Would it be Brussels which has festival-style with lots of activities, or Prague: romantic winter wonderland vibes?
Even if you don’t travel this year, it’s still fun to learn about these places. And who knows—maybe one day you’ll go. And when you do, you’ll be like, “Ohhh I learned this in podcast!”

Alright guys, that’s it for today.
I’m Miss Y, and I hope you enjoyed learning English with me.
If you liked this episode, come back next time for another fun 15 to 20 minutes of simple, clear English and a brand-new topic to explore.
Stay curious, learn the World in simple English with Miss Y, I’ll talk to you again soon. Have a merry merry Christmas!

這一集我從 Ted-Ed 的 「The Benefits of a Bilingual Brain」 出發，聊聊雙語／多語大腦是怎麼運作的，以及學語言對大腦和人生有什麼好處。也會分享我自己在中文、台語、英文和西班牙文之間切換的經驗，談談每一種語言如何打開不同的門、影響身份認同，讓我們在世界上多一份選擇。

In this episode, I share some ideas from the Ted-Ed video “The Benefits of a Bilingual Brain” and talk about how bilingual and multilingual brains work. I also share my own experience of using Mandarin, Taiwanese, English, and Spanish, and how different languages open different doors, shape our identity, and give us more choices in life.


Leave a comment and share your thoughts: https://open.firstory.me/user/cmilgpemw00i201yvfrduavyf/comments

Transcript:
Hey guys, I’m your English teacher, Miss Y! Welcome to the podcast made for intermediate English learners who want to listen to English, and learn about different topics in a fun and easy way.
Today I want to share something that I watched. I was on YouTube and saw a Ted-Ed video called “The benefits of a bilingual brain.” The topic is always my passion, because I’m such a language lover, I always enjoy being able to communicate in different languages. And of course, this topic is super relevant for English learners. So in this episode, I want to share what I learned from the video in a simple way. We’re going to talk about: what it really means to “know” a language, different types of bilinguals, how learning a language as a child or as an adult can affect your brain, and why using more than one language is actually very good exercise for your brain. Lastly, I’ll share some of my own experience as a language learner. Alright, Let’s get into it.
Do you “know” a language? Let me ask you a question: If you can say, “Hello, how are you?” in English, does that mean you know English? Hmm… probably not, right? Language ability is usually divided into four parts: Speaking, Writing, Listening and Reading.
We can also say there are two active skills, active 就是主動的, the two active skills include speaking and writing; and two passive skills, passive 就是被動的, 被動能力, passive skills, which are listening and reading. For example, maybe you can understand English songs or movies (that is your listening skill), and you can read English posts on Instagram (this is reading skill). But speaking is still hard, and writing feels scary. You still know some English, but your skills are not balanced. balanced 就是平衡的. your skills might not be balanced. But guess what? That’s completely normal. A bilingual 我們稱為雙語人士, 會說兩種語言的人. “Bi” means two, for example bicycle, bicycle有兩個輪子. “lingual” originally meant “tongue” 舌頭, and later on the meaning extended to “language” 後來引申為語言的意思. So there is a kind of bilingual, we call them balanced bilingual. A balanced bilingual is someone who is almost equally strong in all four skills in two languages.
But honestly, most bilingual people in the world are not balanced. They use their languages in different ways, in different places, and with different people. Maybe you use Mandarin at home, Taiwanese with your grandparents, and English at work or at school. Each language has its own “zone”, zone 區域, every language has its own “zone” in your life. So when we talk about bilinguals, we’re not talking about “perfect” people who never make mistakes. We’re talking about real people, like you and me, whose languages are strong in some areas and weak in others. And that’s okay.
Three types of bilinguals (meet Gabriella and her family)
To understand bilingual brains, it helps to look at how people learn their languages. Let’s imagine a girl named Cindy. Cindy is from Taiwan, and her family moves to the United States when she is two years old. At home, her parents speak Mandarine Chinese. Outside, at daycare and later at school, everyone speaks English. So little Cindy grows up hearing Chinese and English at the same time. We can call her a compound bilingual. 這是一種bilingual類型. 複合型雙語者 compound bilingual.
That means: She is learning two languages together, and she is learning one idea from the world, but she has two different ways to express them, to express the same idea. For example, she has one concept, concept就是概念, she has one concept of “dog” in her mind, but she has two labels, 他有兩個語言標籤: “狗” in Mandarine Chinese. “dog” in English. She doesn’t really separate them. Both languages grow inside her brain as she learns about the world.
Now, let’s look at her teenage brother. He moves to the U.S. when he’s, say, 14 years old. He already speaks Mandarine Chinese fluently. Then he starts learning English at school: grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing. We can call him a coordinate bilingual. 這是另一種bilingual, 對等型雙語者 coordinate bilingual. That means: He has one set of concepts in Chinese that is used at home, and he is building another set of concepts in English that is used at school. His brain is working with two sets of concepts more separately than his little sister. Finally, what about Cindy’s parents?
They move to the U.S. as adults. At home they use Chinese almost all the time. At work or outside, they have to use English: maybe at the supermarket, at the bank, or with their boss. They might learn English by translating from Chinese in their head. We can call them subordinate bilinguals. 這種類型是從屬型雙語者, subordinate bilinguals. That means: Their main language is Mandarine Chinese. The second language, English, is often filtered through Chinese. For example, when they hear “dog,” their brain might first think “狗,” and then think of the animal.
Now, here’s something important:
Even though these three types of bilinguals learned language in different ways, all of them can become fully proficient, proficient 精通, they can all become proficient in another language.
They might sound a little different, have an accent, 有口音 accent, or they might choose different words, but they can all communicate very well. From the outside, if you just meet them, you might not even notice the difference.
What’s happening inside the brain?
Okay, now let’s go inside the brain. Don’t worry, we’re not going to be super scientific. I’ll keep it simple. So our brain has two halves 有兩辦, called hemispheres: There are Left hemisphere and Right hemisphere. In general: The left side is more logical 邏輯性的 and analytical 分析性的. It helps with structure, rules, and details. The right side is more emotional 情緒的 and social 社會性的. It helps with feelings, tone, and context. This is not a 100% clear line, but it’s a helpful way to think about it. Language uses both sides: You need structure and grammar You also need emotion, attitude, and social feeling. Here comes an important idea called the critical period hypothesis. 關鍵期假說. hypothesis 就是假說 一個理論. This hypothesis says: When we are children, our brains are more plastic – more flexible and changeable. Because of this, children can use both hemispheres more easily for language learning. As we grow older, language ability tends to move more to one side of the brain, usually the left half of the brain. So if a child learns a new language early, their brain might connect that language to both halves – the logical half and the emotional half. They might have a deeper “feel” for the language. For adults, language is usually more focused in one hemisphere, so the process can feel harder and slower. But this does not mean adults can’t learn languages. It just means the brain is working in a different way. Child learners vs. adult learners: different superpowers
Let’s compare two people: A child who learns a second language early and an adult who learns a second language later. The child might get more natural pronunciation, and pick up slang and expressions easily, slang 一些流行語, they learn slang easily; and also they understand social feelings in the language more intuitively 更直覺性的, intuitive 直覺的, understand the social part of the language intuitively. It almost feels like the language becomes a natural part of their identity. identity 身份認同. The adult might: think more carefully about grammar rules, translate in their head at the beginning, and feel that speaking is “less emotional” in the second language. In fact, some research shows something very interesting:
When adults make decisions in their second language, 第二語言, 或第二外語, they sometimes become more rational, rational 理性的, they are more rational and less emotional when thinking in the second language. They might think more logically and feel less emotional bias, bias 偏見, they feel less emotional bias in the second language than in their native language. For example, imagine you have a difficult choice, and you read the problem in English instead of Mandarin. You might feel a little more distance from the emotion, and that can help you think more clearly. So both groups have different strengths: Child learners are more natural, emotional, instinctive. Adult learners are more rational, careful, and conscious 有意識的. conscious. And both ways of learning are equally valuable.
Now for one of my favorite parts:
If you are bilingual or learning another language, your brain may actually look different. Researchers using brain imaging have found that bilingual people often have higher grey matter density, density 密度, they have higher grey matter density in certain areas, and there are more activity in some regions when using the second language
Grey matter 灰質區, 是什麼呢? It’s the part of the brain that has many of your neurons 神經元 and synapses 突觸 – which are the cells and connections that process information. So if your grey matter density is higher, your brain works more efficiently when you learn, think or process information from the outside world. So when you use more than one language, it’s like giving your brain a workout. You know how lifting weights can strengthen your muscles? lifting weights 重訓, lifting weights can strengthen your muscles, right? In a similar way, switching between languages is like your brain lifting mental weights. 好像在重訓你的大腦. And there’s more. Studies suggest that bilingualism can help delay the onset of brain diseases like Alzheimer’s 阿茲罕默症 and dementia 失智症 by up to five years. This doesn’t mean bilingual people will never get these diseases, of course. But it means their brains may stay healthy and active longer. Language learning is not just about communication; it is also a long-term investment in your brain health.
“But I heard bilingualism is bad for kids…” You might think, “Wait, I remember hearing that kids get confused if they learn two languages.”
For many years, especially before the 1960s, some experts believed that bilingual children were at a disadvantage. 他們有劣勢, at a disadvantage, 處在劣勢的環境.
Before the 1960s, scientists thought children would become slower because their brains were always busy choosing the right language. Parents were told, “Don’t confuse your child. Just use one language.” But later, researchers discovered that many of those old studies were flawed. 有錯誤的. They were flawed. The methods were not good, and the results were not reliable. When better research was done, the picture changed. Yes, sometimes bilinguals may react more slowly in certain tests, especially when they have to switch between languages quickly. That is because their brain is doing extra work: “Use English here? Or Mandarin? Which word is better?” But this extra effort is actually a kind of training. Think of it like this: If you always take the elevator, you might walk stairs more slowly. But if you always use the stairs, your legs become stronger. In the same way, switching between languages, switching 轉換, switching between languages makes your brain’s “control center” stronger over time.
The brain’s control center is your superpower.
There is a part of the brain called the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The name is long and difficult, so let’s just call it the control center of your brain. This area helps with Planning, Problem solving, Switching between tasks, and Focusing on what is important and ignoring what is not. When bilingual people constantly choose between languages, like – “Should I say this in English or Mandarin?” – their control center gets a lot of practice. Some research shows that when bilinguals switch languages, this area becomes more active. And just like a muscle, the more you use it, the stronger it can become. So the small “slowdowns” or extra effort in certain tests are not a bad thing. They are signs that the brain is doing complex work: When it is controlling attention, blocking the wrong word in the wrong language, or selecting the right word quickly. All of this may help bilinguals in other areas of life too, such as multitasking or staying focused in noisy environments.
Does being bilingual make you “smarter”? This is a tricky question. Does bilingualism automatically make you a genius? No, not exactly. But it does make your brain more active, More flexible, More complex, And possibly more resilient to aging. resilient 就是更有抵抗性, aging 就是老化. Your brain can be more resilient to aging, it means your brain can get old more slowly. So instead of saying, “Being bilingual makes you smarter,” it might be better to say, “Being bilingual keeps your brain in better shape.” Like regular exercise for your body, regular mental exercise through language use helps your brain stay fit. So, let’s bring this back to you. Maybe you started learning English in school in Taiwan. Maybe you feel shy when you speak, or you think, “My English is not good enough.” But from your brain’s point of view, something powerful is already happening. Every time you Try to remember a word, Switch from Mandarin thinking to English thinking, Listen to an English podcast, or even Read an article or watch a YouTube video in English, You are training your brain’s control center, building more connections, and giving your grey matter a workout. And it doesn’t matter if You didn’t learn English as a child or You started in junior high, senior high, or even as an adult
It is never too late for your brain to benefit from a new language. You might not sound like a native speaker, and that’s completely fine. In my point of view, accent is not a problem; it tells a story. A story of you. It shows where you come from and what languages you carry inside you. It is beautiful.
I really enjoy being bilingual, or even multilingual. bilingual means speaking two languages, and multilingual mean speaking more than two languages. Multi這個字跟有“多”的意思, 像是multimedia就是多媒體。So I like being multilingual. For me, speaking a foreign language is like opening a door and discovering another world. Every time I learn a new language, I feel like I’m opening a different door. This is very exciting for me, and this is why I want to share this feeling with you, with my podcast, to show you the world. Also, when you consciously choose which language to speak, you are actually choosing how you want to show yourself, just like putting on different clothes in different occasions. I like having this power to choose. For example, when I talk to my grandma, I choose Taiwanese, even thought my Taiwanese is not that good. But I want to feel closer to my grandma and to the place where I was born. When I am with people from different countries, I choose English, because English is one of the most common languages in the world and it lets us communicate smoothly among people from different backgrounds. When I travel abroad and I know the local language, I try to use it. For instance, when I traveled in South America, I chose to speak Spanish. My Spanish is not perfect but it helped me get closer to the local people and showed that I respect and love their culture. Every language you speak gives you more choices in how you connect with others and with the world.
Final thoughts
So, what can we take away from all of this? First, if you use more than one language in your life, even at a basic level, you are already part of the bilingual and multilingual majority in the world. That’s something to feel proud of.
Second, there are different types of bilinguals: Some grew up with two languages from childhood. Some learned a second language in school as teenagers. Some started as adults. All of them can become strong language users. The path is just different. Third, language learning is not only about exams, TOEIC scores, or perfect grammar. It is also about your brain health, your thinking style, and how you understand emotions and social situations. Finally, it is never too late. Even if you didn’t learn English as a child, every new word you learn now is still helping your brain. You are giving yourself a long-term gift. So next time you feel tired of memorizing vocabulary or frustrated about grammar, remember this: You’re not just studying for a test.
You’re training your brain to be healthier, more flexible, and more powerful.
And every time you move from “Hello” to “Hi, let me tell you about this interesting topic,” you’re taking another step on your bilingual journey. Alright, that’s it for today’s episode, inspired by the Ted-Ed video “The benefits of a bilingual brain” and also by my own language-learning experience. Thanks for staying with me all the way to the end. If you’re listening to this in English right now, your bilingual brain is already doing something amazing.
I’m Miss Y, and I hope you enjoyed learning English with me. If you liked this episode, come back next time for another fun 15 to 20 minutes of simple, clear English and a brand-new topic to explore. Stay curious, Learn the World in simple English with Miss Y, I’ll talk to you again soon.

這一集，我要帶你看看芬蘭很特別的「小聖誕派對」，聽聽他們怎麼在又黑又冷的冬天，把生活變得很溫暖、很快樂。我也聊到自己以前在北歐遇到的雪國風景和麋鹿小故事。一起感受北歐冬天的魔法，看看為什麼大家說芬蘭真的超會過聖誕節。

In this episode, I take you into Finland’s fun “Little Christmas” parties and how people make their dark, freezing winter feel warm and joyful. I also share a bit about my own snowy trip to a Nordic country and some cozy moments there. Come enjoy a little Nordic winter magic and see why people say Finland really knows how to celebrate Christmas.

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Hey guys, I’m your English teacher, Miss Y! Welcome to the podcast made for intermediate English learners who want to listen to English, and learn about different topics in a fun and easy way.

Today I want to tell you something really fun about Finland. You know, the country with thousands of lakes, a lot of forests, and very cold winters. Finland 這個國家就是芬蘭. But even though winter is super dark and super cold, Finnish people know how to make the season feel warm and cheerful. And honestly… I think they might be the true Christmas masters. Let me tell you why.

So, a lot of tourists travel to Finland in December for a very simple reason:
They want to meet the real Santa Claus. There’s a place in northern Finland called Rovaniemi, and inside it is Santa Claus Village. Finland calls it the “home of the true Santa,” and yeah—it’s very cute and very Christmasy. You can see Santa, take photos, send Christmas postcards, all that good stuff. But here’s the thing that surprised me:
Most Finnish people don’t need Santa’s Village at all to feel Christmas.
For them, Christmas begins way earlier—like… at the start of November. And it begins with something called pikkujoulut, which means “little Christmas.”

什麼是Pikkujoulut? Okay, imagine this: You finish work or school, and instead of going home like usual, you go to a fun little party. There’s food. There’s music. People are laughing. Maybe there’s a silly game. Maybe someone is wearing a Santa hat. Maybe someone is too excited and already dancing.
That’s basically pikkujoulut. These parties happen everywhere—in offices, schools, restaurants, homes, bowling alleys… you name it. 你想得到的都有. And you don’t just go to one. You might go to five Or ten. Even twelve if you have a lot of groups of friends. It’s like Finland turns into one giant warm-up party before Christmas.

So, what do people eat at these “little Christmas” parties? Well, it depends. Sometimes the food is super simple—cheese, crackers, snacks. But sometimes it’s a full Christmas meal, even in November. Typical Finnish holiday foods include:
Christmas ham, vegetable casseroles, casserole 就是那種用鍋子燉煮的燉菜，就是像我們滷一鍋菜的那種料理. They also eat Beetroot salad, Beetroot像一種顏色很紅的蘿蔔, 外國人通常拌沙拉生吃, 我不知道為什麼我吃beetroot的時候覺得她有一種玉米罐頭的味道. If you try it, let me know how you think about it. And next, they sometimes have smoked or cured salmon, love. 這我很愛. The end of the meal they’ll have desserts with plums, puff pastries, 就是酥皮類的甜點, and Gingerbread cookies 薑餅餅乾.
And of course… the classic drink called glögi. It’s like hot wine with spices. 像那種香料熱紅酒, 英文會說mulled wine. And they put raisins and almonds in it. raisins 葡萄乾, almond就是杏仁。It’s warm, sweet, and perfect for cold weather. I love it during chilly Christmas time. For some people, the party stays very sweet and cozy. For others… let’s just say the party gets a little more exciting.

There are sooo many funny stories about pikkujoulut. For example, one musician remembers performing at a bowling alley Christmas party. bowling alley, 保齡球館, 保齡球館派對耶, sounds interesting. He said everybody was drinking a lot, the music was loud, people were dancing between bowling lanes… and then something crazy happened: Santa Claus got arrested. arrested 被逮補的 Yes. Santa Claus got arrested. The police came. And Santa—still in costume—was taken away in a police car. Can you imagine Santa spending the night in jail?
Only in Finland. Another woman remembers a very different style of pikkujoulut. When she was a kid, her parents took her to family-friendly parties with porridge, candy, and a Santa visit. But when she became a teenager, things changed. She and her friends had a high school pikkujoulut at a Finnish summer cottage. cottage 就是小木屋. They had the party in a cottage. They all did the very Finnish thing: Go to the sauna, sauna 三溫暖… after the sauna, they go roll around naked in the snow. naked 就是沒穿衣服，裸體在雪地上打滾. Wow. She said it wasn’t even a very “Christmas” party—they just ate chips and candy. But it was super fun and unforgettable. And that’s really the spirit of pikkujoulut: not about fancy traditions, just about enjoying the moment.

Actual Christmas in Finland is usually calm, quiet, and family-focused. People go to church, visit the cemetery with candles, and have a peaceful dinner at home.
But pikkujoulut? Completely the opposite. 完全相反 It’s the time when Finns let loose, laugh loudly, meet new people, and get creative. One Finnish principal said pikkujoulut is “the non-serious stuff”—the fun stuff you share with friends or coworkers, not your family. Because think about it: In December, Helsinki has only six hours of daylight. Helsinki is the capital of Finland. Helsinki has only six hours of daylight, so for a big part of the day, it’s cold, snowy, and dark. Of course people need a reason to celebrate… again and again and again.

Now here’s something I love about Finnish culture: If you do something silly at a party, people don’t judge you for the rest of your life. Unless you actually hurt someone or were really rude, most mistakes are just laughed off. laughed off 就是一笑了之。The next week at work, someone might quietly say, “Oh, Teppo did it again,” and then everyone continues with their normal life. No drama. No gossip. Just: “Yep. Things happen. Moving on.” I think that attitude makes pikkujoulut feel very safe and relaxed. You can have fun without worrying too much.

In summery, why do people say the Finns, the Finns 就是Finnish people, 芬蘭人, the Finns might be the best at celebrating Christmas? First, they celebrate early. Other countries start in December. Finns start in November. Also, they celebrate often. Not one party. Not two parties. Maybe ten parties! Furthermore, they mix tradition with fun. Old traditions like porridge with a secret almond… Mixed with modern fun like bowling or sauna parties. And they fight the dark winter with light and laughter. Six hours of daylight? No problem. Just have another party. Last but not least, they don’t pressure people to be perfect. You can be goofy. You can be silly. You can relax and be yourself. Honestly, that’s what makes Christmas feel special—being with people, sharing joy, and enjoying a little magic even in the coldest season.
Maybe pikkujoulut really is a state of mind. a state of mind, 一種心態. Their life philosophy. 他們的生活哲學.

You know, after learning all this about Finland’s Christmas traditions, I started thinking about my own experience traveling in the Nordic countries. Nordic country 就是北歐國家. I’ve never been to Finland, but I’ve been to Norway, 挪威, and some parts of it felt a little similar to what people describe about Finnish winter life. I still remember visiting a reindeer farm there. reindeer就是麋鹿. The ground was covered with thick, soft snow, and it was snowing lightly the whole time. It was freezing. But at the same time, everything looked so beautiful. Everything was completely white, quiet, and peaceful. And the reindeers were so gentle. When I touched their fur, fur 就是毛皮, their fur felt a little rough, but you could tell it was really warm and perfect for the cold weather. After walking around outside in the snow, we went into a small wooden cottage to rest. And wow… the moment the door closed, it felt so warm and cozy inside. We even drank hot reindeer stew, 他們有麋鹿燉湯, well, they only kill old reindeers, so I think the reindeers generally have a good life. The warm soup after the freezing cold… honestly, it felt like happiness in a bowl. So when I imagine Finnish people having all these little Christmas parties in that kind of winter—warm drinks, friends, laughter, cozy rooms—I kind of understand why it feels so special. It’s that warm feeling in the middle of a long, dark, freezing season.

How about you guys?
Would you like to visit Finland one day? Do you want to see the hometown of Santa Claus? Or maybe join a real pikkujoulut party? I think it would be pretty fun!

I’m Miss Y, and I hope you enjoyed learning English with me. If you liked this episode, come back next time for another fun 15 to 20 minutes of simple, clear English and a brand-new topic to explore. Stay curious, Learn the World in simple English with Miss Y, I’ll talk to you again soon.https://open.firstory.me/user/cmilgpemw00i201yvfrduavyf/comments

中日因台灣問題而升溫的外交緊張，到底發生了什麼？
本集用清楚、好懂、口語英文帶你認識整起事件的背景、歷史與最新進展。
適合初中級～中級英文學習者，一邊聽英文、一邊討論國際新聞。 🌏✨

Rising tensions between China and Japan over Taiwan — what exactly happened?
In this episode, I’ll guide you through the background, history, and latest developments in clear, simple, and conversational English.
Perfect for low-intermediate to intermediate English learners who want to practice listening while understanding global news. 
https://open.firstory.me/user/cmilgpemw00i201yvfrduavyf/comments


Transcript:
“China & Japan: What’s Going On?”
Hey guys, I’m your English teacher, Miss Y! Welcome to the podcast made for intermediate English learners who want to listen to English, and learn about different topics in a fun and easy way. So grab your headphones, make yourself comfortable, and let’s dive in!

Today we’re diving into a topic that’s been all over the news recently. It’s about China, Japan, and their rising tension over Taiwan. Now, I know political topics can feel a bit heavy, but don’t worry — I’m going to explain it like we’re just chatting over coffee.
Simple English, clear ideas. So let’s take a deep breath… and let’s jump in.

What’s Actually Happening? So here’s the situation in a nutshell: Recently, China and Japan got into a really heated argument. Not a small disagreement — a serious diplomatic fight. diplomatic, 外交的. So the two countries is having a diplomatic fight. Everything started when Japan’s prime minister, Sanae Takaichi, made a statement. Sanae Takaichi, 就是高市早苗. She is the prime minister, 首相. The Japanese prime minister made a statement. She said that if China attacked Taiwan, Japan might use its self-defense forces to respond. self-defense 自我防衛，forces就是軍隊，或是軍備。日本自衛隊的翻譯就是self-defense forces。If China attacked Taiwan, Japan might use its self-defense forces to respond to that situation. Her attitude is aligned with Japan’s former Prime Minister, Abe Shinzo, 安倍晉三, who said that: “A Taiwan contingency is a Japan contingency.” Contingency is something that might possibly happen in the future, usually causing problems. Contingency就是未來可能出現的危急情況. Anyways, Takaichi’s comment upset China. Like… really upset them. A Chinese diplomat，diplomat就是外交官。 A Chinese diplomat then posted something online that many people thought sounded like a threat，聽起來像一個威脅，threat。 It sounded like a threat toward the Japanese prime minister — something very harsh.
One thing led to another. 事情一件接著一件發生。 This whole situation got emotional, political, and complicated very quickly.

Let’s Walk Through the Timeline. On November 7 -- The spark. During a meeting in Japan’s parliament, someone asked the prime minister: “What situation around Taiwan would be considered dangerous enough for Japan to act?” And she answered something like: “Well, if there are wars or military force, that could threaten Japan.”
Now, in Japanese law, there is a term called a “survival-threatening situation.” survival就是跟生存有關的，threatening，威脅。 survival-threatening situation 攸關存亡的威脅。 This means Japan can take action if an attack on an ally also puts Japan at risk. ally 就是盟友，for example, the US is an ally of Japan, so is Taiwan now. put someone at risk, 就是使某人處在危險之中。So if there is an attack on an ally, and it also puts Japan at risk, then they can do something to defend. So what the prime minister said basically suggested that a war involving Taiwan might activate Japan’s military. China did not like that. They called her comment “extremely wrong.” The next day — things explode. A Chinese diplomat in Osaka reposted a news article about her comment... and then added a very angry statement, something like: “A dirty head that sticks itself in must be cut off.” Cut off? Can you imagine? Pretty shocking, right? People immediately reacted.
Japan protested China protested back. The post was deleted afterwards, but the anger stayed. The situation spreads. Then we saw travel warnings, Chinese airlines offering refunds, Japanese movies delayed in China, politicians making stronger statements every day. This wasn’t just an online fight anymore — it became a full diplomatic crisis. crisis，一個危機，危險的情況。This seemed to become a big diplomatic crisis.

Why Is This Such a Sensitive Topic? To really understand this argument, we need to talk about two background issues: Historical tension between China and Japan, tension 就是緊繃，緊張的情況。These two countries have a long, painful history:
During world war II, Japan’s military actions caused millions of deaths in China. There has been decades of mistrust. Even though today’s generations weren’t alive back then, the emotions are still there in Chinese people’s mind. Sometimes, one political comment can bring back all those old wounds. 傷口 wound. It brings back the old wounds. Second, Taiwan’s political status. Taiwan governs itself. But China says Taiwan is part of China. Japan and the US don’t officially say Taiwan is a country… They don’t. But they also kind of support Taiwan’s democracy and safety. democracy 就是民主. These countries do supports Taiwan’s democracy. This creates a situation called “strategic ambiguity.” strategic 戰略性的, ambiguity, 模糊. So strategic ambiguity means like they say: “We’re not telling you exactly what we will do. And that uncertainty is part of our strategy.” This has worked for decades. Everyone avoids saying too much. But Takaichi’s comment? It was more direct than usual. And China felt that Japan was stepping too close to the topic.

Why Did Japan’s Comment Make China So Angry? There are a few reasons. Reason 1, it challenges China’s “one-China” principle China says Taiwan is part of its territory. territory, 領地. They think Taiwan is their territory. So when another country suggests it might protect Taiwan, China sees that as interfering. interfere就是干預, 干擾. China thinks this action is interfering their domestic issue. The second reason, Japan’s growing defense plans, defense 就是防衛;國防. Japan has been increasing military spending. The prime minister is known for being strong on defense. She’s very supportive of Taiwan. To China, this looks like Japan is getting more involved in an issue China considers its “core interest.” 核心利益, core interest. Taiwan’s issue is China’s core interest. The third reason, fear of foreign alliances, 同盟. China worries that Japan + the US + Taiwan might team up if something happens. So any public comment from Japan about “defending Taiwan” makes Beijing extremely nervous.

Why Japan Cares About Taiwan? This is important. Japan isn’t only thinking about politics — it’s also thinking about safety. Taiwan is very close to Japan. If something happens there, Japan could be affected militarily, economically, geographically Also, a major part of the world’s technology — especially computer chips, now “chips” here doesn’t meant potatoes chips, chip 也是晶片的意思 — some of the most high tech chips come from Taiwan. Therefore, stability is important for Japan’s economy as well. stability 就是穩定。Stability is what Japan wants.

How the Two Countries Responded? Here’s what each side did. Japan’s reaction: They defended the prime minister’s comment. They protested the Chinese diplomat’s harsh post. They told China to take action about the online threat. They emphasized: “We want peace in the Taiwan Strait.” Taiwan Strait 就是台灣海峽. China’s reaction: They demanded that Japan take back the comment. They summoned the Japanese ambassador in China，summon 召喚或傳喚 , ambassador 外交官。China summoning Japanese ambassador means China officially called Japan’s ambassador into the Chinese foreign ministry to give a strong warning or complaint. It’s a serious diplomatic action, like saying: “Come here, come here. We need to talk — now.” They warned Japan to “stop playing with fire”. They told Chinese citizens to avoid traveling to Japan and allowed airlines to offer refunds. And they even suspended some Japanese movie releases. suspend, 暫停。China paused or delayed the release of certain Japanese movies in China. In short: Both sides pushed back hard. This argument is not only about one sentence from Japan. It’s about old historical mistrust, modern-day security in Asia, Taiwan’s political future, US influence in the region, rising nationalism in both countries And when emotions, history, and politics mix… things can escalate fast.

What Could Happen Next? Most experts believe that neither side actually wants a real conflict. But both want to show strength. So what will likely happen? There will be more strong statements, more diplomatic tension, maybe more warnings or travel advice, and eventually… the situation will probably calm down again. But the deeper issues — history, Taiwan, security — won’t disappear. So this probably won’t be the last time Japan and China clash over this topic.

What Can We Learn from This? Here are a question for you to think about after learning this news. How do you think the tension might affect everyday people in Japan or China? I personally think Chinese citizens are the scapegoat of this situation, as always. Here, Scapegoat refers to a person who is blamed for something that has gone wrong, but they haven’t done anything wrong. 就是一個代罪羔羊的意思. Chinese people have become to be the scapegoat, they are the sacrifice to punish Japan in order to save their government’s face. So, what do you think? How can this situation affect people from both countries, or even affect people from Taiwan?

Alright, that’s it for today’s episode. Thanks so much for hanging out with me today!
This was a big topic, but I hope the way we broke it down made it clear and easy to follow.

I’m Miss Y, and I hope you enjoyed learning English with me.
If you liked this episode, come back next time for another fun 15 to 20 minutes of simple, clear English and a brand-new topic to explore.
Stay curious, Learn the World in simple English with Miss Y, I’ll talk to you again soon, 下次見囉！