Zalamit Podcast DZ زالاميط: تعلّم الإنجليزيّة بالدّارجة

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Text: " That was the most surprising story I had ever heard. It sparked my curiosity so I went digging. I needed to know more about the life of Grandpa Mouloud. It wasn’t an easy task as most of the people from that generation had either passed away, had memory problems or were reluctant to speak to me. There were very few records and practically no books. It made me so sad that the stories of the past were slipping away like sand through my fingers. In a desperate attempt, I put posts on a few facebook groups. It was like a message in a bottle. I didn’t get any answer for months until one day I got a message from a woman I didn’t know. She was a friend of a friend. She said that had seen my post but didn’t contact me then because  she had forgotten where she had seen the post so there was no way for her to contact me.  My message stayed on her mind until one day, while she was talking to the friend we have in common, my story came up. 

Malia, her name was Malia, reached out saying that her grandfather lived in the same street as Grandpa Mouloud when he was young before he moved to Switzerland after the independence. She said that he was a photographer and that he took thousands of photographs. She said that he kept pristine records. He was a kind of amateur archaivist. He kept dated journals and letters too. 

“I am his only granddaughter,” She wrote, “I inherited all his documents. I spent hours and hours looking through the photographs he took wondering what stories hid behind the beautiful faces on the black and white paper. A few stood out. On one of them you can see a group of five young people, four men and one woman. All smiling. One of them looks like he suffered a burn on his face. Another is holding an Aoud. It was the woman who has always intrigued me. She looked like a movie star. She looked so lively and good humored and kind. It’s hard to explain. She was just shining through the page. It’s really one in a million chance that one of them is your grandpa but I mean, it’s worth a shot. Please find attached a few pictures that were taken in the old neighborhood.” 

My jaw hit the floor when I opened the attachment.  There he was, young Mouloud, staring back at me from across a century. He was so handsome. I was looking at a precious treasure. What other stories do the rest of the photographs hide? Stories of bravery and sacrifice, stories of beauty and friendship. I can’t help but wonder about all the long lost stories, the forgotten heroes, of our shared past. This story ends here but it’s not actually the end of the story. But that’s for another day."

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Text:

"The man stood up and gave me the warmest handshake of my life. I was completely confused. For a moment, I thought he had mistaken me for someone else.

Then he said, “It’s such an honor to meet one of Si Mouloud’s grandchildren. My family owes him so much—we owe him our lives.”

I was really taken aback. I was stunned. I didn’t know what to say. He continued talking, and I listened, wide-eyed, unable to believe what I was hearing.

Here’s the story he told me:

Back in the early days of the Algerian revolution, his grandfather, Sidali Laouar, was a musician. But not just any musician—he was a member of the resistance. A very handsome man and a gifted oud player, he performed alongside his wife, Lalla Deedee, a singer with a voice so moving it was said to bring people to tears. The fact that they were stunning must have helped too. 

Together, they were a beloved musical duo. Their talent opened many doors—including those of the enemy. They often performed at hotels and events attended by French officials. Their popularity became their cover. While entertaining guests, they secretly gathered information. Through coded lyrics in their songs, they passed intelligence to the armed resistance. Their role was crucial in several key operations.

But how does my grandfather fit into all this?

After eighteen months of working as messengers, the authorities caught on. The French police had discovered their secret and were planning to execute them. Sidali and Deedee who were used to the lavish life of entertainers, became fugitives overnight.

One desperate night, they knocked on Grandpa Mouloud’s door. They told him everything. He was terrified—rightfully so. Helping them could mean death. But he couldn’t turn them away.

He let them hide under the stairs in his home. The big house was one of those old style houses with a courtyard in the middle. He tucked them behind some furniture, he fed them, and kept them hidden. The risk was enormous. Any one of the nearby families could have been interrogated. And the French police were not known for their mercy.

A few days later, the police came knocking. They wanted to search the house.

Grandpa was so terrified that his body temperature spiked. He turned red. He was sweating and shaking uncontrollably—he looked severely ill. Grandma Sousou acted fast. She told the officers he was gravely sick, possibly contagious. That scared them off. They backed away and left without searching.

He had saved the musical duo’s lives. She had saved their family’s lives… "

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Text: Grandpa Mouloud

Nobody knew that Grandpa Mouloud was a Moudjahid. Well, maybe Grandma Sousou knew, but if she did, she took that secret to the grave. None of her children had any idea, not even my mother, who was the eldest and the most trusted of them all, always by her parents' side. She was her mother’s confident and her father’s right hand,andeven she didn’t know.

But you know what they say: the truth always comes outand this time, it happened in the most unexpected way.

Let me tell you how it all unfolded.

Two summers ago, I went to Turkey for a much-needed vacation. It had been a rough couple of years. The shop had gone under, and we had to rebuild everything from scratch. We went back to the drawing board, searching for a new idea. I had to call in every favor, reach out to everyone I knew, no matter how distant the connection. I worked 80-hour weeks, 100-hour weeks even, for months on end. It was exhausting. Thankfully, it all paid off. By summer, things were finally looking up, so I decided to treat myself to a vacation. I needed to clear my head.

Anyway, back to the story.

I was having lunch at a restaurant in Bodrum when I overheard someone at the table next to mine speaking Dardja,with the very distinct accent of my tiny village. I couldn’t help myself, I turned around and said hello. We all laughed at the coincidence and fell into the usual Algerian routine of: “Do you know so-and-so?” “Oh yeah, I know so-and-so.”

Then I mentioned my grandfather’s name.

Their jaws dropped. It was like they had seen a ghost.

One of them stood up and gave me the warmest handshake I’ve ever received in my life. I just stood there, completely confused. “What is this about?” I thought…

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Text: Holiday Plans 

Amina: Hey Lamia! Long time no see. What are you up to these days?

Lamia: Oh, hey Amina! Not much, just trying to survive this crazy week at work. I can’t wait for the holidays. I’m going on vacation to Constantine. I’m super excited about that. I can’t wait to walk over the bridges and under them, and to really take in this medieval city.  What about you? Got any plans lined up?

Amina: Well… not really. I’ve been thinking about taking a trip too, but I keep going back and forth.

Leo: Why? You always talk about wanting to explore the country a bit more. Where were you thinking of going?

Amina: My cousin invited me to visit her in Bejaia, but I don’t know… it feels like a big hassle. Flights, packing, expenses—it all adds up.

Lamia: Come on, don’t talk yourself out of it already! When was the last time you actually took a real vacation?

Amina: Hmm… I guess about six years ago. But things are different now. I’ve got so much on my plate.

Lamia: You always say that! You need to take a breather. If you keep burning the candle at both ends, you’ll crash.

Amina: I know, you’re right. I just feel guilty when I take time off.

Lamia: Guilty? For what? Everyone needs to recharge their batteries. You’ve been running non-stop for years.

Amina: Maybe. I thought about staying home, catching up on some reading, or cleaning up the apartment.

Lamia: Cleaning up the apartment? That doesn’t sound like much of a holiday!

Amina: Yeah, I guess you’re right. But I’m not sure I want to deal with airports and crowds either.

Lamia: Fair enough. What if you just take a short trip somewhere nearby? Get out of town for a couple of days, nothing fancy.

Amina: Hmm, that might actually work. Maybe I could drive down to the lake. I haven’t been there in ages.

Lamia: There you go! Just pack light and hit the road. You don’t have to go far to get a change of scenery.

Amina: You make it sound so easy. Maybe I’ll give it a shot.

Lamia: That’s the spirit! Don’t overthink it. Sometimes the best trips are the ones you don’t plan too much for.

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Text: A Beautiful Present

You know those moments when someone does something so thoughtful that it changes you a little bit? Well, that happened to me not long ago. A friend of mine gave me a present — a print of Monet’s Sunrise. And here’s the funny thing — it wasn’t my birthday, it wasn’t a holiday, not even a “thank you” kind of gift. It was just because I had mentioned it once, in passing, during a random conversation. It completely took me by surprise and it truly made my day.

When I unwrapped it, I was honestly speechless. It felt like the world slowed down for a second. I couldn’t believe that she had remembered that tiny detail — something I had said without giving it much thought. But she did remember. And she went out of her way to find it for me. That’s what blew me away.

I’ve always loved that painting — the soft colors, the calm sea, the way the light dances across the water. It’s the kind of image that reminds me to breathe, to slow down, to just be. And now, every time I look at it, I think not only of Monet’s genius but also of my friend’s kindness. It’s hanging in my living room, catching the morning light just right.

The truth is, that gift was worth more than a thousand expensive things. It wasn’t about the price tag; it was about the thought behind it. It showed me that someone was really listening. In a world where everyone’s always rushing, scrolling, and half-paying attention, that means the world.

That painting taught me something — that the smallest gestures can make the biggest impact. It reminded me to pay attention to what people say, to hold on to those little details that reveal who they are. Because sometimes, that’s how we show love — not with grand gestures, but with quiet, unexpected acts of care that go straight to the heart.

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Text: Emotional Regulation 

Today, I want to talk to you about something we all deal with, but don’t always notice: emotional regulation. That’s just a fancy way of saying how we manage our feelings, especially the difficult ones like anger, frustration, or sadness.

Let me start with a story.

Last week, I was in line at the town hall. I had to get a birth certificate for the nth time in my life. That was already a bad start. It was late, the line was long, I wasn’t sure I would get to the window before closing time, the croud was loud and rude and I had two tired kids with me. One of them started asking to play with my phone, over and over, and of course I said no. She began crying loudly, and I felt my own frustration rising. I could feel the heat in my face, my heart beating faster. My first instinct was to snap: “Stop it right now!”

But in that moment, I paused. I took a slow breath. I reminded myself, “She’s not trying to ruin my day. She’s just tired and disappointed.” By slowing down my reaction, I stayed calm. Eventually, she calmed down too. That’s emotional regulation in action.

So how do we practice it in everyday life?

One simple metgod is naming the emotion. If you feel angry, say to yourself, “I’m angry right now.” It sounds simple, but it actually helps your brain shift from reacting to thinking.

Another technique is pausing before reacting. Imagine you get a negative comment from a co-worker. Instead of sending a sharp reply, take a moment. Breathe. Even stepping away for two minutes can change how you respond.

A third tool is reframing the situation. Let’s say you’re stuck in traffic and you’re late. Instead of focusing on how unfair it is, you might think, “This gives me time to listen to my favorite podcast.” The problem doesn’t disappear, but the stress lessens.

The truth is, emotional regulation doesn’t mean ignoring feelings. It means accepting them and choosing what to do next. Feelings are signals, not orders. Anger, sadness, frustration—they’re information. And once you learn to manage them, you gain more control over your actions, your relationships, and even your happiness.

So next time you feel your emotions rising, try to pause, name the feeling, and choose your response. It’s not easy, but like any skill, the more you practice, the stronger you get.

Thanks for listening.

email me: pr.asma.benmoussa@gmail.com

سلام يا ناس، راكو ملاح؟ لي حبو يقراو إنجليزية،ولا صينية ولا يديرو إستشارة ، تلقاو كامل الروابط هنا لتحت. ولي حبو يكونو سبونسور لحلقة (حتى و تكونو أفراد برك ماشي بسيف عنكم شركة) أبعثولي إيميل:

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"Text: Fad Diets 

I’ve been experimenting with different ways to lose weight, and honestly, it’s been a mix of progress and setbacks. I started with strict diets—low carb, intermittent fasting, even counting every calorie. Each one worked for a little while, but they were hard to stick to. The moment life got busy or stressful, I’d slip back into old habits. It felt like I was always starting over.

Exercise has been another trial-and-error process. I joined a gym, tried group classes, even invested in some equipment at home. At first, I was motivated, but the enthusiasm didn’t always last. Sometimes the workouts felt too intense, other times I just couldn’t stay consistent. Still, I’ve noticed that even light movement—like walking every day or stretching—makes me feel better, so I’m trying to build on that.

I’ve also looked into healthier cooking. Swapping fried foods for baked versions, adding more vegetables, and paying attention to portion sizes has been manageable. It’s not perfect, but small adjustments seem easier to maintain than big, dramatic changes.

One thing I’ve realized is that losing weight isn’t just about discipline; it’s about finding something sustainable. I don’t want to be on another plan that I drop after a month. I want habits that fit into my life without making me miserable. That’s the real challenge—balancing health with everyday reality.

So no, I don’t have it all figured out. I still make mistakes, and progress feels slow. But I’m learning what works for me. Step by step, I’m building routines I can actually keep. And maybe that’s the point: not perfection, but consistency. Consistency is key."

سلام يا ناس، راكو ملاح؟ لي حبو يقراو إنجليزية،ولا صينية ولا يديرو إستشارة ، تلقاو كامل الروابط هنا لتحت. ولي حبو يكونو سبونسور لحلقة (حتى و تكونو أفراد برك ماشي بسيف عنكم شركة) أبعثولي إيميل:

Sponsor an episode: Email: pr.asma.benmoussa@gmail.com حجز إستشارة👇Gosra with Asma "Coaching": ⁠⁠https://forms.gle/uLxBU9LaPAmbPtMh9⁠⁠

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Text:Follow Through 

Today we’re talking about something that almost everyone struggles with: how to follow through with your plans.

We’ve all been there—you set a goal, you feel excited, you start strong… and then a week later, your motivation is gone. The gym shoes are back in the closet, the project is half-finished, and you’re left wondering, “Why can’t I just stick with it?”

The good news? Following through isn’t about having more willpower. It’s about building the right systems. I have six tips to share with you. Let’s dive in.

Tip No 1: Know Your “Why”

Before you start any plan, ask yourself: Why does this matter to me? If your “why” is weak—like “I should do this because other people expect it”—you’ll quit the first time it gets tough. But if your “why” is strong—For example: “I want to feel healthier so I can run around with my kids”—you’ll push through, even when motivation dips.

Tip No 2: Start Small

Big plans feel exciting, but they can also feel overwhelming. Want to write a book? Start with 15 minutes a day. Want to get fit? Begin with one workout a week, not seven. Small steps create momentum—and momentum keeps you moving.

Tip No 3: Create Time Anchors

Here’s a powerful trick: connect your new plan to something you already do. For example: “After I make my morning coffee, I’ll spend 20 minutes on my project.” Your brain loves routines, so anchoring your new habit makes it harder to skip.

Tip No 4: Plan for Roadblocks

Life happens. You’ll get tired, busy, or distracted. Instead of hoping for perfect conditions, plan for the obstacles. Miss your morning workout? Do a 10-minute walk at lunch. Didn’t write today? Jot down a quick outline before bed. Flexibility beats perfection every time.

Tip No 5: Stay Accountable

We’re more likely to quit on ourselves than on someone else. That’s why accountability is so powerful. Tell a friend about your plan. Join a group. Even post your progress online. When others are watching, you’ll feel more committed to showing up.

Tip No 6: Celebrate the Small Wins

Don’t wait until the big goal is complete to celebrate. Finished your first draft? That’s a win. Showed up three times this week? That’s a win. Celebrating progress keeps the journey enjoyable—and that’s what makes it sustainable.

So here’s the takeaway: following through isn’t about being perfect. It’s about staying consistent, even when things don’t go exactly as planned. Know your “why,” start small, anchor your habits, expect setbacks, stay accountable, and celebrate the progress.

Remember: consistency beats intensity. It’s not about doing everything at once—it’s about showing up, again and again and again and again. 

That’s it for today. If this gave you a boost, share it with someone who’s chasing their own goals. 

I’ll see you next time. Until then, keep moving forward—one step at a time."

Thank you for listening and thank you for learning new things everyday :)

سلام يا ناس، راكو ملاح؟ لي حبو يقراو إنجليزية،ولا صينية ولا يديرو إستشارة ، تلقاو كامل الروابط هنا لتحت. ولي حبو يكونو سبونسور لحلقة (حتى و تكونو أفراد برك ماشي بسيف عنكم شركة) أبعثولي إيميل:

Sponsor an episode: Email: pr.asma.benmoussa@gmail.com حجز إستشارة👇Gosra with Asma "Coaching": ⁠https://forms.gle/uLxBU9LaPAmbPtMh9⁠

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Text:The Substitute Teacher 

"The classroom buzzed like a beehive. Desks screeched across the floor, students shouted to/at each other,  someone at the back was playing music on their phone and there was even a ball being passed around.

Mr. Boumaza took a deep breath and stepped inside. He was holding the name list the front office had handed him. It was his first day as a substitute teacher.

“Good morning, class,” he said, trying to sound calm.

No one listened.

A paper airplane sailed past his head and landed on the whiteboard.

He cleared his throat and said louder. “Alright, everyone, please take your seats.”

A few students glanced up. One boy in the front smirked and said, “You’re not our real teacher. We don’t have to listen to you. Who are you even?”

Laughter spread across the room.

Mr. Boumaza walked to the front, erased the board, and wrote in large letters: “You don’t know me but I bet I know your father.”He turned around, smiled, and said, “I’m not here to be your real teacher. I’m here to make sure you don’t burn the place down while she’s gone. Deal?”

Some students exchanged looks. The music stopped.

He read the first name on the list. “Djamila Belaid.”

Nobody looked up. Nobody said a word.

“Belaid? Is your father the dentist or is he the one who has a superette?”

A boy yelled “He’s the superette guy.” and burst out laughing. Djamila turned to him with a frown. 

“What about you? What’s your name?” asked the teacher pointing at the boy who had just spoken. 

Djamila answered promptly “His name is Bilel Zacharia” and made a face at him.

“Zacharia? Isn’t your family from Blida?” 

Correct again. 

“I bet you’ll never know who I am.” A tall boy said defiantly. 

“You look like a Benbrit. Your uncles were even taller than you but you might get there some day.” 

The teacher had now the interest and the attention of the class. He told a few jokes. They laughed. 

“Okay, we’re not here only to joke around, we’re here to learn a thing or two about science. So let’s start.”

The students were more willing to listen this time. Mr. Boumaza handed out the day’s assignment, surprised to feel a small sense of control return. He smiled to himself. Maybe it won’t be such a disaster after all."

Thank you for listening.

And thank you for learning new things everyday.

شكرا على الإستماع.

سلام يا ناس، راكو ملاح؟ لي حبو يقراو إنجليزية،ولا صينية ولا يديرو إستشارة ، تلقاو كامل الروابط هنا لتحت. ولي حبو يكونو سبونسور لحلقة (حتى و تكونو أفراد برك ماشي بسيف عنكم شركة) أبعثولي إيميل:

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Text: Cognitive Biases

"You might not realize it, but your brain is constantly taking shortcuts. These shortcuts help you make quick decisions, but sometimes… they lead you in the wrong direction. That’s what we call cognitive biases—systematic errors in the way we think.

So, let’s break down some of the most common ones.

Anchoring Bias Imagine you’re shopping for a winter coat. The first one you see is 12 000Da. The next coat you find is 8000Da. Suddenly, that second one feels like a bargain—even if it’s still overpriced. That’s the anchoring bias: the tendency to rely too heavily on the first piece of information we get.

Confirmation BiasNow, think about scrolling through social media. You click on articles that agree with what you already believe, and ignore the ones that challenge you. That’s confirmation bias: we search for, interpret, and remember information that supports our existing views. It’s comfortable… but it can also keep us trapped in our own bubbles.

Availability Heuristic Here’s another one: the availability heuristic. If you’ve just seen a news story about a plane crash, you might feel flying is dangerous—even though statistically, it’s one of the safest ways to travel. Why? Because dramatic events stick in our memory and feel more common than they really are.

The Halo Effect This one’s sneaky. The halo effect makes us assume that if someone is good at one thing, they must be good at everything. For example, if an actor is attractive and charming, we might think they’re also smart, kind, and trustworthy—even if we don’t actually know them at all.

The Dunning-Kruger Effect And of course, the famous Dunning-Kruger Effect. This is when people with low ability in a subject overestimate their competence, while true experts often underestimate themselves. Basically—it’s the reason why the most confident person in the room isn’t always the most knowledgeable.

So, why does this matter? Because recognizing these biases can help us make better choices. Whether it’s in business, relationships, or everyday decisions, being aware of our mental shortcuts gives us a chance to slow down and think more critically.

Next time you catch yourself jumping to conclusions or making snap judgments—pause. Ask yourself: Am I falling into a bias trap?"

Thank you for listening.

And thank you for learning new things everyday :)

سلام يا ناس، راكو ملاح؟ شكرا على الإستماع. لي حبو يقراو إنجليزية،ولا صينية ولا يديرو إستشارة ، تلقاو كامل الروابط هنا لتحت. ولي حبو يكونو سبونسور لحلقة (حتى و تكونو أفراد برك ماشي بسيف عنكم شركة) أبعثولي إيميل:

Sponsor an episode: Email: pr.asma.benmoussa@gmail.com حجز إستشارة👇Gosra with Asma "Coaching": https://forms.gle/uLxBU9LaPAmbPtMh9

Zalamit Method 6-Week English Course Description: https://youtu.be/fJ8-GmLH5ys?si=JKUkgAPezULcXtw-Register for Zalamit Method here: https://forms.gle/DEFTjvEuTq8kBKfM9Cours de Chinois En Ligne: https://forms.gle/QGbdgu2PxNSwwLPr9تحبو نكمل القصرة في الإنستجرام ، مرحبا بيكم: Instagram: Kahwa ou Podcast DZ: https://www.instagram.com/kahwaoupodcastdz/

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Text: Alha wa Chabab

"Wow… I can’t believe I’m standing here right now. Honestly, I used to daydream about this moment all the time. I grew up watching this show. Everyone in my family loves it. I come from a musical family. My dad plays the synthesizer and my mom has the most beautiful rocky voice you could imagine. She’s the one who gave me the love of Rai music. I know some people think that that kind of music is somehow dirty but my mom always said it was the most sincere, bravest, most authentic kind of music. The autotune is just extra, just for fun.  

Back when I was singing in parks, or down in the subway station where the sound of my guitar had to compete with trains rushing past, I’d picture something like this. Bright lights, a real stage, and people actually listening—not just hurrying past.

You know, a lot of people doubted me. They’d say, “Singing on the street isn’t a career,” or, “You’re wasting your time.” And, okay, sometimes I doubted myself too. It’s hard not to when strangers look at you like you’re invisible or like you’re a weird creature. But then I’d get those few smiles, or someone would stop and record a video, or even toss me a thumbs-up along with a coin. That little spark of encouragement—that kept me going.

And of course, I had my team at home. My mom, who never once told me to get a “real job,” even when money was tight. And my sister, who probably got sick of hearing me practice the same chorus a hundred times but still clapped every single time. They’re the reason I kept believing in myself when the world made it tough. They have my back and sometimes I feel like I am carrying their dream. I know my mom wished she could be an artist, openly, but she kept her songs between us, like a family secret. I want her to be proud of me. 

I guess what I want to say is… this moment feels huge, but it also feels like the natural next step. Because I’ve been preparing for this in every subway station, every park bench, every rainy day when my guitar strings slipped under my fingers. This is what I’ve been working toward.

So yeah, maybe I’m still the same busker, just with better lighting and a bigger crowd. But tonight, I get to share my music with you, and that’s all I’ve ever wanted. This one is for you Mom!

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Text:

"Sam: Leila! Wow, it’s been ages. How have you been?

Leila: Sam! I kn

ow, it feels like forever. I’ve been good, just really busy with work. I’va actually accepted a new position in the marketing department and it’s been quite the learning curve. Definitely challenging but I’m loving it. How about you?

Sam: Same here. Work has been intense, but I’ve managed to find time for some hobbies. For a while I did nothing but work and I felt myself going down the slippery slope towards burnout. I had to take a break and rethink my priorities. So now I take time for myself and the things I care about. I actually started learning the guitar.

Leila: No way! That’s amazing. How’s it going?

Sam: Slowly, but I can play a few songs now. What about you—still painting?

Leila: Yes, actually. I joined a local art group, and we meet every weekend. It’s been so refreshing. I have even made  a few friends there and even though we have very different lives we have the love of painting in common.

Sam: That sounds great. And how’s your family?

Leila: They’re doing well, thanks. My sister just had a baby, so I’m an aunt now!

Sam: Congratulations! That’s wonderful news. How’s the little one?

Leila: She’s adorable—tiny, but already so full of personality. I am going to go visit them tonight actually. I miss her so much even though I saw her just three days ago. What about your family?

Sam: Everyone’s good. My parents are enjoying retirement, traveling a lot. And my brother moved back to the city, so we see each other more often now.

Leila: That’s nice. It must feel good to have him nearby again.

Sam: Definitely. And what about our old group of friends? Have you kept in touch with anyone?

Leila: A bit. I still talk to Maya sometimes—she just started her own business. And I ran into Tom a few weeks ago; he’s teaching now!

Sam: Wow, Tom as a teacher—I can actually picture that. We should try to get everyone together sometime.

Leila: Absolutely. It would be so fun to catch up properly, like the old days.

Sam: Let’s make it happen."

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Text: The Birds on the Roof

Every afternoon, Amin and his friends claimed their usual table at the neighborhood Café, just across from the hospital. They weren’t doing anything special: just heated debated about the last football match (Classic armchair coaches) , endless coffees that made them jittery, and trying to make each other laugh until someone choked on their Crocket. They were not bad guys, they were just often jobless, annoyingly loud and a bit immature.

One day, Amin parked his old scooter in the reserved staff parking spot. The doctor who usually parked there got really mad and started shouting at him. Amin just laughed at him and that made the doctor even angrier. He thankfully found another spot, parked, slammed the door and stomped away.  While mimicking the walk of the grumpy doctor who had scolded him , Amine noticed a boy watching him from the hospital window. He had a shaved head, an IV drip, and the kind of smile you don’t fake.

"That kid gets it," Amin joked pointing at the boy 

That moment stuck with him. He couldn’t forget that smile. 

The next day, Amin brought a big balloon that looked like an anemic Sponge Bob. Without asking the café owner, he climbed on the roof of the establishment. He stood there holding the balloon and when the boy looked out, he started waving then pretending to have a fist fight with the malnourished Sponge Bob. The boy laughed. Nurses peeked out too and so did more patients. min liked the attention so he kept going. His friends joined him.

One day, Amin and his friends came dressed up as a superheros and danced feminine dances, shaking their bums and youyouying. The patients thought it was hilarious.

People in the hospital began to wait for them. “They’re here!” The nurses would say and the patients would rush to the windows. The grumpy doctor turned out to be a super friendly guy who bought them some coffee sometimes. The café owner gave them free pastries for being “idiots for a good cause.”

They called themselves *The Birds on the Roof*. No money, no plan—just four friends being ridiculous for the people who were suffering.

“We’re not doctors, obviously…Nadir here can barely read.” Amin said with a cheeky smile, “We’re not rich either but laughter is free, bro. Might as well share it.”

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Text: It’s Like Riding a Bike

"They all keep saying, “You’ll be fine—it’s like riding a bike.” Honestly? I’m not so sure. Five years is a long time. Five years of diapers, school runs, nap schedules, and laundry (so much laundry). Now I’m supposed to just… get back on the bike like nothing happened?

I used to know exactly what I was doing. Meetings, deadlines, reports—I could juggle it all with one hand and a coffee in the other. But now? Now I juggle snack times, lost shoes, and toys on the living room floor. And as much as I love my kids, part of me has missed that other version of myself—the one with sharp ideas and actual adult conversations.

But the truth is, I’m nervous. Things change in five years. Technology moves on. People move up. I’m scared I won’t recognize the place—or worse—that they won’t recognize me. What if I don’t fit anymore?

I start overthinking but then I stop and remind myself—these last five years have been work. Hard work. Maybe it didn’t come with a paycheck, but managing small humans is no small job. Patience, multitasking, problem-solving, negotiating, mediating, marketing (Have you ever tried to convince a toddler to go to bed?)—I’ve been training this whole time, just in a different way.

So yeah—I might wobble a bit at first. Might fall once or twice. But I know how to get back up. And honestly? I’m ready to feel like me again."

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"Text: Graduation 

I can’t believe my niece has graduated. It feels like just yesterday Salsabil was running around the backyard or zooming on her scooter. And there she was standing on that stage, defending her thesis. What?!

As I sat in the quiet auditorium, memories kept flashing through my mind. I remembered watching cartoons with her, she’d be so restless climbing up and down the couch, imitating every character on the screen. I remembered taking her to the beach and building sand castles with her. I remembered her tears when she fell from her bike ( I panicked so hard that day). I remembered her constantly scraped knees. And there she was, smiling, confident, grown.

My sister, her mom, was sitting next to me, wiping away tears with a tissue. “Where did the time go? That’s my baby who just started elementary school yesterday.” she whispered, her voice shaking.

The judges asked her what I thought were difficult questions. I could feel my sister tensing up, worried about her daughter. But there was no need to worry. My niece stayed calm, she didn’t falter. She answered in great details and the jury seemed pleased with her answers. One of the judges said: “Your defense was air tight. You answered my questions before I had a chance to ask them.” 

When they gave their feedback and we heard the long-awaited “Congratulations”, the whole family stood up and cheered. My sister’s Youyous were the loudest I’ve ever heard from her. Salsabil glanced over at us and beamed. That smile said everything. Hard work, late nights studying, friendships made and lost, gratitude, joy, doubt, determination, all leading up to this one moment.

After the ceremony, we met her outside. She ran to us, hugging everyone tightly. “I did it!” she said, laughing, a mix of joy and disbelief.

I just nod, unable to speak for a second. “Of course you did,” I finally say. “We always knew you would. We are so proud of you.”

Looking at her, I don’t just see a graduate. I see the little girl with the roller skates and I am blinded by how bright her future is. "

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I don’t know what I was thinking. Honestly, I just went to the mall to clear my head. Get a coffee, maybe window-shop. And somehow, I walked out carrying a bag, a new pair of pants, and shoes that I definitely don’t need. I have nowhere to go with a pair of high-heels. It felt good at the time—like I was fixing something. Like the right outfit could magically make everything better. I did fail my exam. I have to face it and wrap my head around it. It’s not the end of the world, I know, but it does feel like it is.

Now that I’m home, it just feels... stupid. The bag is nice, sure, but I already have one just like it. The pants? Tight. Too tight. I knew it in the fitting room, but I convinced myself otherwise. They might fit in two months if I actually stop having late-night snacks, but right now? They’re just sitting on my bed judging me. And the shoes? Beautiful. Completely unnecessary. And overpriced.

It’s not just about the money—though, honestly, I could have used that for something smarter. It’s the feeling underneath it. Like I was trying to fill some weird empty space with shopping bags. And now I’m sitting here surrounded by them, wondering what exactly I thought I was buying. Confidence? Control? A better version of myself?

I do this though, no matter what mood I am in. If I am happy, I go out and shop to celebrate. If I’m sad, I go for retail therapy. I’m tired of this cycle—buy, regret, repeat. Next time I feel stressed, I’m going to the park or I’ll call a friend. I’m not running to the nearest store pretending shopping is the answer.

I just want to start spending my time—and my money—on things that actually matter. Things that still feel good after I’ve brought them home."

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Text: The Sleepover

“You ask her!” 

“No! You ask her.”

“She’s gonna say no.” 

“We won’t know until we try.”

Djawed and Racim tiptoed to their mom. They wanted to ask her if they could stay at their cousin’s house for a sleepover. Before coming for this visit, she had asked them to behave themselves. During the visit, she gave them “the look” several times so they stop misbehaving.  But they have driven her crazy the whole time—they spilled juice, jumped on the couch, played soccer in the hallway, told family secrets and asked for seconds. One could forgive the kids for anything, except asking for seconds. 

“Mama… can we stay for a sleepover? Please?” said the boys

Their mom laughed. “After the mess you made today? No way.”

The boys looked down. Then Djawed said, “We promise to help clean up.”

“And no fighting,” Racim added quickly.

Their mom continued smiling but it was a cold smile. “Put your shoes on. We’re leaving.” she said firmly.

“Come on, let them stay! Don’t you remember the mess we used to make a Uncle Faycal’s house?” 

She turned to see her brother. 

“Are you sure it’s okay?” 

“It’s no bother at all. Kids will be kids. We have to let them be kids.” 

“Alright” She whispered.

“YES!” the boys shouted and ran off to their cousin’s room.

That night, the boys played video games, made instant noodles, and built a fort in the living room. They played music, they danced, and they told all sorts of stories. They made their beds on the floor using lots of soft blankets and pillows. 

When the lights went out late at night and the room grew quiet, Racim whispered to Djawed, “I can’t sleep. I want to call Mama.”

“No way! Don’t ruin this for us. Just stay put until the morning. Everything is fine. I am here, you’re safe. Everything will be okay.” Said Djawed. And he started telling his younger brother a soothing story until he drifted to sleep.

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Text:

" You know, people always say that having a steady government job is the safe option. A regular paycheck, health insurance, paid holidays… sure, that sounds good. But here’s the thing — when you work for the government, or for a private company for that matter, there’s a limit to what you can accomplish. You're following their rules, their schedule, their vision. You trade your time and energy for a monthly wage, and most of the time, you don’t even get a thank you. I mean, you could push hard to make an impact but it can be so hard going against the grain. Plus, it could all go to waste if a higher up decides to block your ideas and initiatives. There’s also a limit to how much you can earn and 

I don’t like that.

when you work for yourself? It’s different. You’re the boss. You decide when to wake up, how to spend your time, and what projects to take on. If you want to try a new idea, no one says no. You just go for it. Only the market can decide. Every hour you work is an investment in your future, and the future of your family. There’s no limit on how much you can grow and how much you can make. That’s really motivating. 

Sure, it’s not easy. There’s risk. There’s stress. Some days, you might make nothing. But then one day, a client says yes, or your product sells out, or your idea finally works—and that success is yours. All yours. And for me, nothing compares to that feeling. 

Freedom, growth, creativity — that’s what I get from working for myself. I guess, at the end of the day, it’s a question of personality. It’s a personal preference. I personally can’t stand the feeling of stagnation. I had a government job for years but I ended up quitting. I worked hard but I felt like I was just spinning my wheels. My colleagues loved lounging, drinking coffee and gossiping. What was a pleasant life of low stress for them was a nightmare for me. I felt antsy and burnt out from boredom. Everyone thinks that you can only burn out from working too much. How about from doing nothing? Or doing something that is meaningless to you? So, what they call “the safe job” was unsafe for my mental health. I had to go.

Anyways, I’ve learned more, grown faster, and felt more alive in the past five years of having my own business than in all my years behind someone else’s desk. I am grateful for what I’ve learned there but it wasn’t sustainable for me. So no, it’s not always safe. But I’d rather do this than anything else in the world. "

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Text: On Fridays, Our House is a Zoo

Most people get Fridays off so they are special for almost everyone. But at our house, they’re not just special—they are wild. Every Friday, our big family gathers, and it’s chaos.

Mom wakes up early to prepare couscous. The smell of spices and the heat of the steam fill the kitchen. Dad sweeps the patio. All the cousins love to run around and play there. Grandma, who lives with us, makes some Halwet Ettabaa. Everyone loves those cakes. My siblings and I get ready for the mess that’s about to happen. Manel, my older sister, hides all the valuables and all the breakables. “Can’t trust those kids!” She says every single time. 

Around noon, the first knock comes. It’s Uncle Karim and his family. Aunt Leila is carrying trays of sweets, and their twins rush past her to grab the best seats in the living room. “Don’t break anything!” Aunt Leila shouts, but the kids are already jumping on the couch. More cars pull up. Aunt Sarah’s car is very full. She has five children. The house fills up quickly. 

The uncles go to the nearby mosque for the Friday prayer. They eat when they come back. The aunts gather in the kitchen, laughing and telling stories as they help Mom with the food. The cousins play noisy games, and someone always ends up crying.

When lunch is served, it’s pure madness. Plates are passed around, kids argue over who gets the most meat, and the youngest ones spill juice everywhere. But somehow, we all fit, squished together on chairs, couches, and even the floor, we are all full and we are all happy. 

After lunch, the noise doesn’t stop. The kids race outside, chasing each other and yelling. The adults relax with coffee and pastries, still talking, still laughing.

By the evening, the house looks like a battlefield—crumbs on the floor, cushions out of place, and tired faces everywhere. But as the last car drives away, I can’t help but smile.

Every Friday, our place is a zoo. And I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

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Text: We Make a Good Team
"Soraia and Fatma worked in the same advertising company. They were great teammates. One day, their boss called them into his office. He said it was urgent. 

“Brace yourself, this is gonna be bad.” said Fatma to Soraia 

“We have a big project,” he said. “Bimo wants a new ad campaign. We need something fun and exciting to show why people love their biscuits! Oh, also, they want it by Sunday!”  

Soraia clapped her hands. “That sounds amazing!”  

Fatma nodded. “But also a little scary. We don’t have much time.”  

Soraia smiled. “Don’t be a wet blanket! This is a great opportunity to showcase our talent. Let’s be positive!”  

They got to work right away. Soraia sketched ideas for posters and videos. She was the artistic one. She drew smiling kids dunking Bimo biscuits into their cups of milk. Fatma wrote catchy slogans like “Bimo: The Taste of Childhood,the Taste Happiness!” 

By the end of the day, they had lots of great ideas. “This is going to be amazing!” Soraia said.  

The next morning, disaster struck. Soraia opened her laptop and gasped. “Oh no! The designs are gone!”  

Fatma rushed over. “What happened?”  

“I don’t know! Maybe my computer crashed.”  

Fatma took a deep breath. “Good thing I prepared for the worst. I saved everything on my USB drive. I knew something bad would happen.”  

Soraia sighed in relief. “Fatma, you’re a lifesaver! I guess it pays to be a little bit pessimistic ha.”  

They quickly got back to work. They made bright posters and a fun video showing a multi-generational family sharing Bimo biscuits during afternoon coffee. Even the famous mug with Noah’s Arch was there.” 

On Sunday, they presented their ad campaign to their boss. He watched the video and smiled. “This is perfect! Bimo will love it!”  

Soraia and Fatma hugged each other. “We did it!”  

Fatma grinned. “And we learned an important lesson—always have a backup plan.”  

Soraia laughed. “Yes! I’m the glass half full, you’re the glass half empty and together we make an excellent, realistic, safe, wonderful glass haha. We make a good team.”  

A week later, Bimo’s new ads were everywhere—on TV, on billboards, and on social media. Soraia and Fatma felt proud of their work.

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My Way or the Highway

One day, Lina and Fedwa, who have been best friends since kindergarten, went to the beach and were shocked by what they saw. There were plastic bottles, candy wrappers, cigarette butts and plastic bags everywhere. There were even some dirty diapers half buried in the sand. It was disgusting. This beach used to be pristine. It’s where they used to swim and play as children.

“This beach is a mess!” Lina said. “What happened?”

“Savages! That’s what happened.” Said Fedwa.

“This is too much. I was here a few days ago and it was more or less clean. I’m not sure people are capable of making it this dirty in this short a time. I think that the current brought all this trash from somewhere else.” Lina said. “We should organize a cleanup.”

Fedwa nodded. “I hate to have to clean up after idiots, but I hate seeing the beach like this even more. Let’s get to work.”

Lina took out a notebook. “First, we need a plan. We should call the mayor’s office and ask for trash bags and gloves.”

Fedwa shook her head. “Are you serious? That will take way too long. That is, if they even answer. We should just grab some friends and start right away!”

Lina frowned. “We need permission first.”

Fedwa crossed her arms. “That’s a waste of time. We need action now!”

Lina sighed. “Fedwa, we have to do this the right way.”

Fedwa threw her hands in the air. “With you it’s always “My way or the highway!”. You’re so stubborn. I can’t deal with you sometimes.” 

Lina frowned. “Fine! If you don’t want to plan, I’ll do it alone.”

Fedwa stomped off. “And I’ll clean up my way!”

For the next two days, Fedwa and her friends picked up trash without asking for help. But soon, they ran out of bags, and the city workers told them they needed permission.

Meanwhile, Lina got approval from the mayor’s office. The city gave her gloves, bags, and even t-shirts.

On Saturday, the cleanup started. Lina’s volunteer kept busy taking pictures. They barely lifted a finger. Fadwa and her friend worked quickly and efficiently.

When Lina saw Fedwa’s team working hard, she sighed. “Looks like I bit off more than I could chew.”

Fedwa smiled. “Looks like you’re being used for a photo op.”

Lina looked down and then laughed. “I think you’re right. But hey, the job is getting done.”

They worked side by side until the beach was spotless.

When they finished, Fedwa said, “I was too stubborn. I should have met you halfway.”

Lina laughed. “Next time, let’s remember that we are on the same team.”

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"Like every morning, Hadj. Ali took his plastic chair outside his house, placed it in front of the metal door, and sat down. He spent the whole day sitting there, watching the world go by. He’s always there, rain or shine. His house was painted blue, which was a bold choice in this neighborhood, most houses were not even covered in cement. There were red bricks as far as the eye can see. He painted it himself.  

Hadj. Ali was the eyes of the neighborhood. He saw children running to school, their backpacks bouncing. He waved to the mailman, who always smiled back. He watched birds fly from tree to tree, chirping their little songs. He noticed when young love started to blossom and when fights erupted behind closed doors.

He was the eyes of the neighborhood but above all, Hadj. Ali was the friend of the cats, all the cats and kittens from around the neighborhood. He pet them. He played with the. He fed them. He loved the. 

One day, a boy named Sami stopped in front of Hadj. Ali’s house. “Good morning, Uncle!” Sami said.

“Good morning, young man,” Hadj. Ali replied. “Where are you going?”

“I’m coming to see you actually,” Sami said. “I have something to show you.”

Hadj. Ali was curious. “What’s that?” He said.

Sami giggled and got his phone out of his pocket to show him a video. On the video, one could see Hadj. Ali surrounded by a dozens cats. The cats seemed excited to see him. They were rubbing his legs and jumping around excitedly. 

“I put this video on the internet, and it had more than one millions views! I received many messages of people who want to send you cat food so you can feed all your cats.” 

Hadj. Ali was shocked. He wasn’t sure he understood everything, but he was very happy that the cats were going to get food.

Later, a cat came and sat near Hadj. Ali’s feet. It was a skinny, orange cat with big green eyes. “You are a star now, did you know that?” Hadj. Ali said, laughing.

Hadj ali was the heart of the neighborhood."

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Hang On a Second 

Hang on a second. So, you're telling me that you can make Crepponi at home? My mind is blown right now haha. I never thought that that was an option. I thought Crepponi just magically filled those old ice cream machines and only the chosen few could pull the lever for that delicious freezing swirly goodness haha. I have to try it. What do I need?

- I know right? Well, you need lemons of course. When life gives you lemons, you make...crepponi. and you also need sugar and eggs.

-Are you for real? Eggs? Is this ice cream or is it Mouskoutchou? 

- I will send you the recipe. But just FYI, it takes some time and you might not get it right the first time. You need to hang in there and keep trying and maybe the next time we hang out we'll be eating your very own homemade Crepponi. 

- I am excited. Crepponi was such a big part of my childhood. One of my core memories was running to 3ammi Zouzou's shop with my cousins with our 5 dinars in hand. He would always give me more, or at least that's what it felt like. I loved him for that. Sabrina would eat so slowly, it would melt on her hands and she'd always cry about it. That was the routine. Haha (Ding) Oh I just got your text. Thanks.

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Text: A Flood

I was standing on the edge of the pasture near Oued Djedi, watching the gray clouds gather over El Djelfa. The air was thick with the smell of rain, and the wind blew through the trees. Farmers nearby were hurriedly moving their sheep to higher ground. They were shouting and waving their hands. Every once and again, their yells mixed with the sound of thunder. Suddenly, the rain began, light at first, then heavy and relentless. The once-dry river bed began to fill up rapidly. Within minutes, the water was overflowing its banks. I was scared.

The sheep were stuck in the middle of the river bed, huddled together. Their loud bleats were drowned out by the sound of rushing water. An old shepherd, holding a long stick, stepped into the water. He shouted and tried to guide the sheep to higher ground. Other shepherds joined him, using ropes to pull some of the animals to safety. I wanted to help, but my legs felt rooted to the ground, overwhelmed by what I was seeing.

The water carried many things with it—branches, trash, and even a bright yellow bucket I had seen earlier. People from the village came to help. Everyone was wet and muddy, but they kept going.

Just as quickly as it began, the rain stopped, and the water’s advance slowed. The shepherds, soaked and exhausted, managed to save most of their sheep, though a few were still stranded on small patches of higher ground. I was very impressed by their quick actions, their resilience, and their bravery. I was embarrassed that I didn’t help and a little shocked at how frozen I had been. As the sun broke through the clouds, casting a golden light over the muddy scene, I felt a strange mixture of awe and sadness. The river that was nothing more than dry rocks that kids play on had reminded us all of its power.

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Text: Watch Out

"We are in a bit of a disagreement with my husband. I’ll tell you what happened and you tell me what you think. So, I got a bank draft the other day and found that 250 000da was missing from our account. I was shocked. I thought that someone had hacked into our account so I immediately called Zakaria. He said that it wasn’t a mistake and that he used the money to buy a watch. A watch! 250 000da for a watch! I lost it. I couldn’t believe that one, he would splurge on such a frivolous item and that two, he wouldn’t ask for my opinion prior to making such a big… he calls it “an investment”, I call it throwing money out of the window for something that your phone can do, that your oven can do, that a stupid microwave can do; to tell the time. We merged our finances when we got married and now we have a joint account so we generally discuss bigger purchases. I felt blindsided. I hung up on him and spent the day watching the clock, waiting for him to come home. I called my sister first and she said that I should stay calm and try to see things from his point of view. 

When he got home I asked him. I asked him to tell me his side of the story. He said that it was a very high-end piece and it was actually a bargain. A watch of that caliber usually goes for 750 000da or more. He said that it was beautifully crafted and that it could be passed down to our son and maybe even his son after that, like a true family heirloom. He said that just because I don’t care that others don’t notice. According to him, a nice watch is an indicator of success. It puts you immediately in a higher social status and his clients would definitely notice. It was overall a great investment. By this point I was agreeing with him. I could understand where he was coming from, plus he’s been doing so well at work, I thought that he had the right to treat himself. And the he added the part that I didn’t like. He said that he didn’t have to justify himself, that I was a control freak and that I wasted more than 250 000da this year alone buying low-end bags. I was furious again. "

Text: "Yesterday morning, I walked into my bathroom and immediately felt my socks get wet. What a bummer! I was already late. “I don’t need this.” I thought. I looked down and saw a puddle of water on the floor. At first, I thought I had spilled some water the night before, but then I noticed it was still dripping from the side of the bathtub. “Oh no,” I said to myself. “The tub is leaking!”

I grabbed a towel and tried to soak up the water, but it just kept coming. I didn’t know what to do, so I called my dad. “Dad, the bathtub is leaking!” I said. “There’s water everywhere. What should I do?”

He told me not to worry. “I’ll call Karim,” he said. “He’ll fix it.”

Karim is a plumber who lives nearby. We call him every time we need help. He answered right away. Dad explained the situation. 

“Hi, Karim, how are you? How’s the family?” Dad said. “Look man, our bathtub is leaking, and I can’t stop the water. Can you come to help me?”

He asked  where the water was coming from. I looked closer and saw it was dripping from underneath the tub. “It’s coming from below,” I told him.

“Okay,” he said. “I’ll bring my tools and be there in an hour.”

When he arrived, he brought a big toolbox and got right to work. He checked under the tub and said, “There’s a loose pipe. I’ll tighten it and seal it so it won’t leak anymore.”

We watched as he worked, using wrenches, tape, and some special glue. After a little while, he stood up and smiled. “All done!” he said. “The leak is fixed.”

We were so relieved. “Thank you, Karim! I truly appreciate you coming so fast.” I said.

“You’re welcome,” he replied. “Keep an eye out for leaks in the future. It’s good to catch them early.”

After he left, I cleaned up the bathroom and put everything back in place. In the commotion, I forgot that I was already late. Now, I am super late. That should be my superhero name. Super Late."

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Take care :)

Text: " “That guy is the worst! I don’t want to work with him. Please, pair me up with anyone else.” I begged my boss but he wouldn’t hear it. He said that Samir has experience with this project and that he would be able to lead me. So not only do I have to work with him, but I also have to follow him? How am I supposed to work with a guy I don’t trust? I don’t know how on earth he earned the trust of the boss but from what I have seen, he’s a loose cannon. He is unpredictable and not in a good way. He plays the fool but I can see through him. He is a calculating, conniving, always looking out for number one kind of person. I don’t trust him farther than I can throw him. I have proof for what I am saying. I saw him take credit for work he didn’t do. I saw him steal our colleagues ideas. I saw him harass one intern and bully another, plus I know he cheats on his wife all over town. And I know all this is after being here for only one year. Who knows what else he is guilty of? Who knows if he steals from the treasury or if he cooks the books? Who knows if he lies about us to look good? Oh my God! What am I going to do? I can’t stand the idea of working closely with him. Integrity is very important to me. I just want to do my job and go home. I don’t need this kind of added stress. "

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Text: "I’m in the bus going to Cherchell. I am sitting by the open window and I can feel the salt air of the Mediterranean Sea on my face. It’s a scorchingly hot day but the bus is going fast so the air feels cool on my skin. I look at the people in the bus and wonder about their lives. I love people watching. I know that every single one of us has a unique story and I would love to know each one of them. People would think I am weird if I started interviewing random passengers so I will just use my imagination. I see a mother with her three children. The kids are wearing colorful shorts and holding floaties. They are going to the beach for sure. I wonder if it’s a spacial day or if it is part of their routine. I love that she didn’t let the heat and the inconvenience of public transport stop her from making memories with her little ones. There’s an old man in a tank top. That’s a pretty rare sight. Old men usually hide their shoulders around here. His skin is leathery but he looks quite fit for someone his age. My guess is that he worked out his whole life. There’s a young man wearing headphones and blasting Rai music. I wonder if Cherchell is his home or if he’s just going for a visit. I wonder if he has a special someone to love him. I wonder about his dreams and aspirations. The young man sitting next to me asks me to close the window, that’s a good opportunity to strike up a conversation. I will try to discover his life story. "

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Love.

Text: "I usuallydo my chores on Fridays. It's my only day off so I try to get caught up with cleaning and get everything ready for the next week. I always start with the bathroom. I scrub the sink and the shower. I don't have a tub and I don't mind that. I don't really enjoy taking baths, it feels like such a waste of water, plus, it makes no sense to me to just sit there simmering in my own dead skin. Yuk. After making the sink and the shower shine, I move on to the mirror. I wipe it down. I’m always shocked at how quickly it gets dirty again. I, then throw in a load of laundry before moving on to the kitchen. When the kitchen is clean I feel like the whole house is clean. I cooked some tomato sauce last night so there are reddried splatters on the tiles and on the stove. I was too tired to clean up so I just ate and went to bed. Maria will probably stop by this afternoon just to say hi. She likes to check on me, to see if I’m doing okay. Living abroad can be very lonely so I’m grateful to have such a caring neighbor. We go to the same university but we have different majors. I take marine biology and she studies psychology."

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Text: " Hey, long time no see. What's up? I have been kind of MIA for a while, it's true. I've had a busy year. In January I got a new job and got pregnant. Yes, both at the same time. In October I delivered the baby and my first born turned two in November, so you can imagine! You can say that my hands are full. This is no excuse to completely disappear, I know, but I hope you can understand that I have a lot on my plate and it's hard to make time for hobbies. How have you been? I hope you've had a wonderful year. I know that it is hard sometimes to stay positive and upbeat when so much in the world is going wrong. When you read the news you think that the world is falling apart and the humanity has gone mad. Humans are strange creatures that are hard to understand sometimes. In the midst of the chaos, I hope you are still working hard and trying your best to find joy. I know I am. Doing our best is all we can do. My heart is with our brothers and sisters in Palestine and Sudan but I won't let that be an excuse to not do my work. Let's talk soon. I'll be here once a week, hopefully. That's it for now. Take care. Bye. "

Thank you for listening. Thank you for trying your best to learn English. If you have any question please feel free to add it in the question box.

Tip of the day: Try to use an IELTS book. 

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Text: " Of course we’re going to have a power outage now! Typical! Every time there’s a little bit of rain we can expect to be in the dark. I wonder how long it’s going to last this time. I find that outrageous. They should have found a solution by now. Honestly, what annoys me the most is not the fact that I can’t switch on the light and I am not too worried about the food in the fridge, it can last many hours no problem. My biggest concern is that I have to submit my assignment before midnight tonight and with the power out, the router is off and that means no internet. Ah. I am so mad. I am actually mad at myself. I don’t know why I leave everything to the last minute. Had I finished my work earlier, I wouldn’t have been so stressed right now. I would have just relaxed like I used to when I was a child. It might sound strange but I have fond memories of the power outages that happened when I was a kid. I remember everyone would leave their room and gather in the living room. No TV, no internet, no reading, no cooking, no distractions, just some time to talk and be together. We would light a few candles, sit anywhere and Dad would retell us our favorite stories from his own childhood. We would laugh at my uncle’s mischief, like the time he filled all the sugar and salt bags with sand. He wanted to prank his mom and got into big trouble for that. My sister Nora would impersonate members of the family and we would try to guess who it was. My brother Djamel would play the guitar and sing. I am the youngest so I would sit on Mom’s lap and enjoy the show. It was good bonding time. We always felt closer afterwards. Oh! The power is back on. Thank God! I can now complete my homework and send it to my teacher." 

Listen to this conversation between a fitness coach and a prospective client. 

Text: "- Hi, I just randomly found myself on your Instagram page and I liked your style. I saw that you work at different gyms and one of them is in my neighborhood. I am interested in working with you. I just have a few questions just to make sure you are a good fit for what I’m looking for.

- Hi, yes, sure, I’d be happy to answer any question you have.

- I’d like to know how you structure your workouts.

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Text: 

" I am throwing a party for Aissa tomorrow. It’s his birthday. He’s turning 20. He said that he never had a birthday party before, even when he was a child. It kind of broke my heart a little because in my family birthdays are a big deal. We love to celebrate each and every one of us with a party, a big cake, gifts and lots of music. It’s going to be a surprise party. He has no clue. All he knows is that he needs to be at Slimane’s store at two. He thinks that Slimane needs help. The plan is to have a picnic at the beach. I wish I could do more but the money is tight. I hope he likes it anyways. I called all his friends and most of them RSVPed. Sam won’t be able to come. I wish he could. He’s usually the life of the party. I made a birthday cake and I bought him a book from his favorite author.  I’m a bit nervous. I hope it goes well. Aissa is my classmate. I like him. I like, like like him. I wish we could be more than friends. I want to be his girlfriend. I hope he gets the hint. This party was such a hassle to organize, I really hope he gets the message. "

Comprehension questions: 

What is the occasion for the party being thrown? How does the writer feel about birthdays in their own family? Who is the surprise party for? Why does the writer think Aissa believes he needs to be at Slimane's store at 2pm? How many people RSVPed to the party? Who is Sam and why is the writer sad he can't come to the party? What does the writer hope Aissa gets from this party? What did the writer buy for Aissa and why? How does the writer feel about the party? What does the writer hope for his relationship with Aissa to be?

Writing task:

Is it appropriate for the writer to throw a surprise party for Aissa without his knowledge or consent? Is it necessary for birthdays to be a big deal in a family? Is it necessary for the party to be extravagant for Aissa to have a good time? Is it fair for the writer to use the party as a way to communicate their feelings for Aissa, or should they have expressed them earlier? Is the writer's concern about their tight budget a valid excuse for not doing more for the party? Are surprise parties an effective way to show someone you care about them? Is it important to include friends in birthday parties? What is more important, the writer's hope to send a message or Aissa's enjoyment of the party? How much thought and effort is enough to make a party special? Should the writer be more honest and direct with Aissa about their feelings or could this kind of hinting through a party would be more effective?

Text: 

“New Year's resolutions can be a powerful tool for personal growth and change, but it's important to approach them with the right mindset. If you have tried and failed to stick to your resolutions in the past, it's important to remember that change is a process and setbacks are a normal part of that process. Instead of beating yourself up or feeling like a failure, try to view past failures as opportunities to learn and grow. Consider setting small, achievable goals that you can work towards gradually, and focus on building positive habits rather than trying to achieve a specific outcome. Remember to be kind to yourself and celebrate your successes, no matter how small they may seem. With the right mindset and approach, you can turn your New Year's resolution into a meaningful and lasting change.”

Hum, okay, so this is what the logic says. Instead I know I will set goals that are way too big and I will be disappointed about not achieving them. I will focus on my goals for about a week and a half and then I will slip back into my old habits because they are nice and comfortable haha I will set goals anyways. I love the sense of hope that the New Year brings."

Comprehension questions :

What is an important aspect to consider when making New Year's resolutions?Why is it important to view past failures as opportunities to learn and grow?What is a recommended approach to setting New Year's resolutions?How does the second speaker typically approach their New Year's resolutions?What does the second speaker enjoy about the New Year?

Key Words: temperature / overwhelming 

Text: 

"The weather is getting colder, finally! Fall is my favorite season. I'm glad it's here. This summer was too hot. We couldn't leave the house before sunset. Everyone took long afternoon naps. It was nice at first but by the end it felt like a  waste of time. The temperature dropped now. It's around 25 degrees during the day which is great. And it is 20 degrees at night. The perfect temperature for sleeping. I love it when the leaves turn brown, red and yellow. I think it's beautiful. Albert Camus wrote about fall. He said: "Autumn is another Spring where every leaf is a flower." I love this quote. Right now, I'm taking a walk on main street. The street is empty-ish. It's not completely empty but it's a huge difference compared to August. We get many tourists. It gets a bit overwhelming in the summer. I mean, they are welcome and we appreciate the business they bring, and we love hosting them but I'm glad there's not traffic jam on the sidewalk. I'll take a few pictures today. Once in a while, I like to play tourist in my own hometown. I think that if so many people choose to come here for the holiday to love the beauty of our town and snap so many pictures of everything, I, too, should make an effort and appreciate my town. I don't want to take it for granted. I see little blue dots and little pink dots on the horizon. The school day is over. The students who are wearing their pink and blue uniforms, are going home now. I'm taking a picture of that. Love what you have and you will always be happy. That's what I believe. I love my hometown in the fall." 

Comprehension questions:

What season does the narrator enjoy the most? Why was it difficult to leave the house during the summer? How does the narrator feel about the temperature now that it has cooled down? What does the narrator think about the quote by Albert Camus about autumn? Why does the narrator decide to play tourist in their own hometown? What is the narrator's belief about happiness? What do the students in the narrator's town wear as uniforms?

Key Words: gut feeling / had to

Text:

"It all started the day before. I was waiting in line at El Djidjli to buy a chicken panini for lunch when I saw these two sketchy guys. They were not from here it was clear. I know most people in this town and I don't know, I can tell when people are not from here. It's the attitude, they way they move, the way they carry themselves, something, I don't know, I just know it. I hadn't even heard them speak by then. Later, I heard their accent but at that moment I just saw them walking around. They were looking closely at every parked car. I thought I saw one of them taking a picture of a license plate but I wasn't sure. My lunch break was over and I had to go back to the office. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was up. It was a slow day at the office. We don't get many customers in the Winter. That's okay. It's our slow season. Our busy season is in Spring. Anyways, I wish I had done something that day. I wish I had told someone, the cops, the neighbour, anyone. I didn't. The next day, in the morning, I noticed the same two guys by Kaokao Park. I was driving. When I stopped at the red light I looked into the rearview mirror and I saw that there was a child with them. The blood in my veins turned into ice. I can't explain. It was an animal instinct in me. I remembered that the car that was parked by El Djidjli, yesterday, had stickers on it. The stickers were a family stick figures and a baby on board sign. The light turned green and I had to drive. Something was up. I just knew it. I have children myself and since I became a mom I scan the environment nonstop. I turned the car around and went to the park. I had the courage to call the cops this time. I entered the park and looked for them but they had vanished. I walked around the woods, looking left and right, expecting to see them behind every tree, until I saw them. One of them, the tall one started running towards me. To say that I was scared is an understatement. I ran as fast as I could but he caught up with me. He grabbed me by the hair and I screamed at the top of my lungs. He was dragging me when we heard a loud voice yelling "let her go". We both looked around, it was a  police officer. He was running towards us. Another police officer came from the other side. The tall guy let go of me and he tried to escape but the cop caught him. This is the craziest thing that ever happened to me. The police officer took me to the station and after I recovered from the scare he told me that the two men were trying to kidnap the little girl but my call saved her. I couldn't believe my ears. I was so proud of myself but so horrified and the same time. I am still in shock to this day. I was right. My instincts were right. I am glad I followed my gut feeling. There was an article about me in the local newspaper and many social media pages talked about me too. Since that day, I decided to always listen to my instincts."

Comprehension Questions:

What made the speaker suspicious of the two men they saw at El Djidjli? What did the speaker do when they saw the two men and a child at Kaokao Park? How did the speaker react when the tall man grabbed them by the hair? How did the situation resolve? Why did the speaker decide to always listen to their instincts after this incident?

There's so many of you guys listening to Zalamit! It makes me sooo happy. Thank you everyone! I am proud of what we are doing here.

Key Words: Either / Tie the knot

Text: 

"You need to make up your mind. You can't stall forever. I know it's a hard decision to make but you have to make it. No one else can do this for you. It's your responsibility. You've been avoiding this for how long? Six months? That's too long. Either you marry her or you let her go. I know you don't like this kind of ultimatums and you think it's immature and life is too complicated for this type of requests and it's too much pressure and bla bla bla but it's not about you. It's not only about what you want. She has made herself clear. She has given you many chances before and I really feel like this is the last one you're going to get. You've been together for many years now so it's time to tie the knot or move on. Is she not a good person? Do you not love her? And don't start with your stories of "my situation". She knows about your situation. She knows everything about you and she accepts you. You say she deserves better and that you're working to have better things to give her but all these reasons feel like excuses now. I'm telling you. You're going to lose her."
That's what Karim told me two months before she left. She left me and she left the city. She moved to Annaba to start over. Algiers is empty without her. My life is empty without her."

Comprehension questions :

What decision does the speaker need to make? How long has the speaker been avoiding this decision? What has the speaker's partner made clear to them? What does Karim tell the speaker? What happened two months later?

Debate questions based on the text:

Is it fair to give someone an ultimatum in a relationship? Is it justifiable to end a relationship if your partner is not ready to commit to marriage? Is it ever acceptable to make excuses in a relationship? Is it always necessary to end a relationship if one person wants to move on? Is it possible for a person to change their mind about marriage after being in a long-term relationship?

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Key words: bite / brakes

Text: 

"Marwa's car is having problems already. She bought it recently but she didn't buy it new. She bought it second hand. I told her not to buy from Chakib Chakma. He's the typical greasy car salesman. He's a fast talker and a con artist. She should have known better. She should have asked around. She told me that the first week she needed to replace the brakes, and a few days later the transmission went. She youtubed a way to fix it and it worked for a few days and then broke again. This is no joke. It's dangerous. She could really get hurt if she got into an accident because of this old car. I guess she's going to just have to bite the bullet and get it fixed by a professional."

Love.

Key Words:

Text: 

"My name is Moundir. I got a summer job, which means, I now have to wake up early. Well, early compared to my usual 1 p.m. wake up time. These days I wake up at 9 a.m. I have to be at the store by 10. I sell ice-cream on the board walk. I work from 10 to 10. It’s a really long day but I need the money. It’s an easy and pleasant job, all in all. It makes people happy. I like talking to the kids. They crack me up. Especially this small kid named Mustapha. He comes to the store with a bunch of coins and spreads them on the counter. He says he gets paid to do chores and run errands then he comes here to spend his hard earned money. He’s a hustler. I understand. I’m doing the same. The thing that surprised me the most about this job is the sore forearms. I wasn’t expecting scooping ice-cream could be so challenging. It’s not hard but it adds up. By the end of the day my arm is dead. If I spend my money wisely, I will be able to buy a new pc by the end of the summer. I hope I can resist the temptation of buying clothes and going out. I guess it’s a good thing that I work such long hours. It helps me save."

Thank you for listening

Key Words: Optimistic / Pessimistic

Text: 

"Hanane and Ali are friends. They grew up together like brother and sister. They are both an only-child, so they found in each other the sibling they never had. They are seventeen years old now. It's their last year of high school. They often discuss their ambitions. Hanane is very optimistic,.unlike Ali who tends to see the glass half empty. "After the Bac exam, I'm going to study at Esi. I'll do my best to be the top of my grade. I think I can do it. I'm ready to outwork anybody. Then, I"ll apply for scholarships until I get one. I'll do my masters degree in the US. Finally, I'll get a job at a big tech company. I think you should do the same." Hannan explained. "I hate to burst your bubble" Ali answered,"but I don't think you're forgetting where we're from. No one from Sidi Makhlouf goes into tech and succeeds, plus we're poor, plus my parents will never accept me leaving Algeria, they'll say yes but they'll be very sad, plus your parents will never accept, you're a girl."
"So what?" Answered Hannan "so what? I'll find a solution to every problem. I won't let anything stop me. I think my parents will end up being proud. You can keep dreaming of working for Sonatrach. I have bigger dreams."

Key Words: pull an all nighter / game designer

Text: 

"Oh no, I hear the birds chirping, that means I stayed up all night, again. I don't mind pulling an all nighter once in a while, before an exam or when a project has a deadline, but this is different. This is becoming a problem. It's the third time this week that I don't sleep a wink all night. I bought a ps5 and I haven't been able to control myself. Every time I have a minute of free time I spend it on games. You can say I let the controller control me. I love video games, always have. The first game I played was Tetris on my dad's phone. I was 6 years old. I remember I would beg him for hours until he caved in. My mother had nerves of steel. I would beg and beg and cry and throw tantrums but no meant no. I want to become a game designer. But for that I need to do more work and less play."

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Key Words: Might / Probably won't

Text:

"

Good job! You are trying to learn and that is awesome!

Key Words: Childhood / neither...nor...

Text:

" I remember when Nawel was a child, she used to love talking to old people. She would call them gramps and granny, make silly faces at them and ask them numerous questions. She used to play dominos against Uncle Moha. He would let her win most of the time. He knew she was a sore loser. She was a special child. She did enjoy the usual games like hide-and-seek, playing catch, hopscotch and all sorts of ball games, but she also enjoyed less common activities. For instance, she used to love writing poetry. We don’t know where she got that from. Neither her mother nor I loved poetry. Also, there used to be a live wrestling show every Saturday and she couldn’t wait to watch it. She was a huge fan of The Undertaker. Her favorite food was spinach for some reason, which was quite strange for a young child. When I think about her childhood, I can hear her laughter, I can see her sticking her tongue out, I can almost taste the candy that she used to share with me behind her mother’s back. She is a strong and caring woman now. She still loves talking to olde people and teasing them, making them laugh. She became a hospice nurse. "

Key Words: journey / breeze

Text: "Last week, my friends and I went on a road trip to Annaba. We needed to quench our thirst for adventure after a whole year without traveling. We left El Djelfa at the crack of dawn so we could reach my friend Djafar’s native village by lunch time. He’s originally from the region of Biskra and still has many uncles and cousins living there. Driving there was amazing. It was impressive to see the millions of date trees. We ate at the best local restaurant. It felt good to break the journey. We were getting tired of being stuck in Salim’s old car. We got out and stretched our legs, bought a bunch of snacks and carried on our way. We bought some cakes, some salted peanuts and some dates. Djafar ate most of them. Soheib didn’t eat much because he didn’t stop talking. He gave us a headache. We got to Annaba at around three in the afternoon and went straight to the beach. We didn’t even stop at the hotel to register or to unpack. Annaba is gorgeous. Salim jumped in the water head first. The breeze felt amazing. The weather was good during the whole stay. The temperature was between 25 and 30 degrees, compared to 45 back home. We challenged ourselves to swim in at least ten different beaches, so every day was a new adventure. Djafar bought a kids tube and floated all day. He called himself “The Happiest Man at the Beach.” We couldn’t stop laughing at him."

Thank you for listening :) 

Key Words: Out of the blue / Unannounced

Text: 

"My friend Salsabile showed up to my house yesterday, out of the blue, unannounced, and said she was staying with me for a week. Of course my door is always open,, she can always come to me when she needs a shoulder to cry on. After all, that’s what friends are for. But this is so unlike her. I don’t know what she’s going through but it can’t be good. I asked her several times what’s wrong but she refused to tell me. I am worried about her. She brought one bag with one change of clothes and nothing else. I made a bed for her on the floor in my room and she went to bed early. This morning when I woke up, she wasn’t there. I don’t know what to do now. Should I call her parents? Should I call the police?"

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Key Words: Driver's license / book a spot

Text: 

"Hi, I have a question; what are the fees for a driver’s license?

Key Words: coping mechanism / Give back

Text: 

" Whether the relationship lasted three weeks or three years, breakups can leave us feeling heartbroken, lost and even physically ill. While there’s no magic formula to make the pain disappear, having healthy coping mechanisms in place is essential to getting over your ex and moving on to the next chapter of your life.

To help you on your way, here are three things you can do to help you cope with the stress of a break up: 1- Write or Talk it out: it is important to get your feelings out and gain clarity 2- Do things YOU love: Often in relationships we forget who we are, now is the time to rediscover yourself. 3- Give back: take care of somebody else to keep your mood high. Doing good feels good." 

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Key Words: Worse/ Worst / Turn

"Do you know the game “Truth or Dare”? It’s not a game for the faint of heart. You need to be brave to play it. I usually love it because you discover so many things about your friends if they choose Truth and it’s very funny when they choose Dare. We played it last Sunday with my friends and this time it wasn’t fun at all. When I chose Truth the first time, they asked me if I had a boyfriend. That was easy, I just said no. When I chose Truth the second time Mariam asked me “Who are you in love with?” Omg I hate her for that because I told her in confidence who I was in love with. She knew it was a secret. Worst of all, he was sitting right there. I turned crimson red, like a tomato, and whispered his name. I said “Amir”. They all laughed. It was awful. I tried to make it look like a joke but that only made it worse. I will never choose Truth ever again. When it was his turn he didn’t choose Truth, he chose Dare. Marwa dared him to run to the middle of the road and dance. And that was the end of the game."

Keywords: Could / On the right track

Text: 

"Plastic has polluted the countryside and endangered wildlife for decades. Environmentalists told us to cut the amount we use or switch to biodegradable alternatives. Scientists have now made a biodegradable plastic, so the billions of plastic bags, cups, straws, etc. that we throw away each day could be "compostable". They could break down like organic waste. The plastic breaks down within weeks, rather than centuries, using just heat and water.

This new plastic has enzymes inside it. When these enzymes are exposed to heat and water, they eat away at the plastic and turn it into nutrients for the soil. A professor said 98 per cent of the plastic her team made degraded. She said: "We are...saying that we are on the right track. We can solve this continuing problem of single-use plastics." She added: "Look at all the wasted stuff we throw away - clothing, shoes, electronics....We are taking things from the earth at a faster rate than we can return them."

Website: www.breakingnewsenglish.com

Keywords: was pointing at / just in time

Text:

"I watched an interesting news story earlier. A young man was walking in the street in Ain el Fakroun when he heard a loud scream coming from above. He looked up and saw a woman. She looked scared. She was at her window pointing at something. The young man looked at what she was pointing at and saw a toddler dangling between the railings of a balcony, on the third floor of the building across the street. The man ran to the building as fast as he could and arrived just in time to catch the falling two-year-old. Both the child and the man are fine. There was a video showing the whole thing. It was so scary to watch. Even though I know the end, I know that the man is a hero and the kid is fine, but still it was scary to watch. The father said “It all happened so fast. I was folding the laundry and he was playing with his toys when I suddenly noticed that he wasn’t there. I just looked away for two seconds. I am still shaking! I will be eternally grateful to Mr. Hamid.”

Key words: go fishing/ don't get me wrong

Text:

"I am living the good life! What does the good life mean? I think it’s different for everybody. To me, the good life is having a house near the beach. I finally have it. I am truly happy. I lived all my life in Biskra. I love Biskra, don’t get me wrong. It’s a beautiful region but my heart belongs to the sea. I bought this little house in a village near Jijel and this is where I’m spending my retirement. It’s close to a small beach. The water is pristine and the weather is perfect. I am learning how to fish, at my age! My neighbor, a young man, has a boat and he often invites me to go fishing with him. We catch sardines or dorados and we grill them on the barbecue. Both our families share this meal. My grandchildren come to visit once in a while, whenever they have time off of school. They spend the whole summer here. They go swimming and snorkeling. We play soccer on the sand. I am not young anymore and my health is not what it used to be but I am truly happy. I think, I’m the happiest I’ve ever been."

Key words: make money / make a difference 

Text:

"Hi, my name is Reda. The first thing I do when I wake up is check social media. The last thing I do before I fall asleep is check social media. It really has become an addiction. I check how many likes I got, how many comments were left, how many messages I received. It’s really important for me to see how much traffic I get on my pages. My business is tied to my social media presence. I get many sales directly from Facebook and Instagram. It’s an important tool and if you use it right it can make a huge difference in how much money you make. I have a shop downtown but I make as much money from deliveries. I ship my products to 43 provinces now but I’m hoping that soon I’ll be able to ship all over the country, maybe even abroad. Who knows? Let’s hope!" 

Thank you for listening!

Text:

- Do you have any pets?

- I do. I have a turtle.

- A turtle! That’s unusual.

- Is it? I don’t know. It just feels normal to me because it’s always been there.

- You’ve always had a turtle?

- Yes, it was there before I was born.

- It’s more than twenty five years old?

- It is! It’s always been with us. It appeared in the vegetable garden one day and ate all of the lettuce that my mom had planted. And it never left.

- This is so funny to me. I know people who have cats and dogs and fish but I’ve never met someone who had a turtle. Does it have a name?

- Actually, no, it doesn’t. We just call it turtle.

- This is hilarious!

- Do you have a pet?

- No, I don’t. I wish I did.

- Have you ever had a pet?

- Yes, when I was a child we had a dog called Laika.

- So many dogs are called Laika.

- Of course! It’s named after the first dog in space! That’s an excellent name, if you ask me.

- Oh, that’s the reason. I didn’t know.

Symptoms.

Text:

"My daughter Oumnia is sick. She has a fever. I measured her temperature. It’s 38.8. That’s pretty high. She is coughing, a dry cough. She has a runny nose. She is tired. She was bedridden all day yesterday. She doesn’t have a stomachache or nausea or anything, which is good. She has a headache though, a terrible one. She complained about it many times. I’m taking her to the doctor. I’m taking her to the hospital. The hospital might be crowded but that’s fine by me. There are many good doctors working there and I trust them, so if we have to wait for an hour or two, I think it’s fine. I don’t think it’s an emergency. I think she caught a cold or it might be the flu. The doctor will know what medicine to prescribe to her. I hope it’s not antibiotics but if it is I will make sure she takes them. I will make some chicken soup for dinner and give her lots of fluids to drink. I am sure she will be fine in no time."

Key Words: Soul mate / Hope.

Text:

"Do you believe in soul mates? Do you believe that there is one perfect person for you? Just one? Just for you? I don’t know personally. I’ve had three girlfriends in the past but I have never felt the deep, passionate, unconditional love, that you see in the movies. I hope I can find that some day. If I find her I will put a ring on it right away. These days, love stories are complicated. Or maybe, they have always been complicated. I want someone who knows how to show love. I don’t like cold and distant people. I don’t want my romantic relationship to feel like platonic love. I want someone who is kind, and loving. I remember my first love. It was in grade one. Her name was Selma and she sat in the back. It was love at first sight haha. I remember I ran to her table and I stole her pencil case. She cried and I got into trouble. The teacher had a talk with me. I did it for love, people, I did it for love! One thing I am sure of is that I have an undying love for potato chips. This love story is forever!"

Key words: getting out of hand/ let go

Text:

"I love fashion. For me clothes are a way to express myself. They are a way to show my style and my mood. I love to play with different colors and fabrics. I love stripes, patterns, dots, floral prints, block colors. You name it. The problem is, my wardrobe is getting out of hand. I have too many clothes. I am embarrassed. I want to declutter my closet. I made three piles. One pile is for clothes I will keep, one for the clothes I will donate and one for the ones I will sell. It makes me feel a little bit sad to say goodbye to these shirts. I have so many good memories of wearing them. But, they don’t fit me anymore so I have to let them go. I love the cut of this jacket but it’s out of style. And these shorts I will say goodbye to because I don’t wear shorts anymore. I started wearing a Hijab two years ago, so that’s why I don’t wear shorts anymore. I will keep this Micky Mouse t-shirt. I have this t-shirt since grade 8. It’s my favorite. It’s so comfy. What’s your favorite item of clothing?"

Key words: Should / Shouldn't

Text: 

"I am worried about my father. He smokes like a chimney. He is overweight. His gut is huge. He looks pregnant. He eats dessert for breakfast and fast-food for dessert. He works long hours and sleeps late at night. He never walks. He always drives everywhere. He basically does the opposite of what you should do to stay healthy. I try to give him advice to help him change his lifestyle. I say: “Dad, you should drink water. You shouldn’t drink soda.” But he doesn’t listen. He is set in his ways. He refuses to change. I trick him into eating vegetables. I make carrot cakes and zucchini cookies. He doesn’t know he’s eating vegetables. I don’t deep-fry fries, I bake them in the oven. I water down his soda. He always says: “Hammoud is not what it used to be. They changed the recipe.” It makes me laugh. Also, I ask him to watch over my two year-old sister. She has a lot of energy. He runs after her for hours. That’s a form of exercise. My father is a hard-working, energetic, happy man. He loves good food and good jokes. I just wish he would take better care of his health. What do you do to stay healthy?"

Text:

"Hi, nice to meet you. I’m Samia. I’m from Algeria. Oh you don’t know Algeria. Well, it’s in North Africa. Yes, I’m North-African. Algeria is the biggest country in Africa. It’s on the Mediterranean sea. Some people like to say it’s the door to Africa, or the door to Europe. It depends where you are, I guess. Do you know the Sahara desert? Well, the biggest part of this desert is in Algeria. Many tourists go there to look at the stars. Desert skies are just stunning. The stars are exceptionally bright there because there’s no air pollution, no light pollution and no humidity. It’s really the perfect conditions for stargazing. But don’t imagine that Algeria is all sand dunes and camels. It’s a really diverse country. There’s snow peak mountains and rivers. The beaches are gorgeous too. Algerian people are ethnically diverse as well. You see I’m short and I have brown skin but not everybody looks like me. It’s actually hard to say what an Algerian looks like because there’s all sorts of people, people with fair skin and people with dark skin and gingers even. There’s people with brown eyes, green eyes, blue eyes, black eyes. It’s so rich. We have great cuisine and if you really want to dance your butt off, you need to play some Rai music."

نتمنّى تكون عجبتكم هاذ الحلقة 

إذا عنكم سؤال أرواحو   

instagram @zalamit.podcast

Text: 

"We're so excited! We can finally afford a new home. This city is very expensive. For the same amount of money, back home we could have rented a big house, maybe a villa. We have lived in this apartment for six years now. When we first moved in we were newlyweds. this two bedroom apartment was enough for the both of us. Just two people. And then, two years later, we had our son and shortly after that we had our daughter. And now it feels really crowded. There's a lot of clutter and there's toys everywhere. The kids play in the living room because it's the only place where they can run. The other rooms are too small. I work from home and the noise makes it really hard for me to focus. I'm really excited to have a home-office. The bathroom is tiny and the kitchen too. There's barely enough space for a fridge and a stove in this kitchen. It was a beautiful six years. We were happy here. It's just time for an upgrade. Anyways, I'm happy we're all together and as they say, home is where the heart is."

Ps: kayen chuia ghaltat bessah 3djezt n3awed nsedjel. La prochaine fois matkoun hetta ghelta. Love.

What do you do in the morning? What's your morning routine?

Text: 

"Hi, my name is Aymen. I’m from Saida but now I live in Oran. I’m a student here. I live on campus. My morning routine is simple. I wake up every morning at 7 am. I try to be quiet because my roommate likes to sleep in. He is so lazy. He misses half his classes because he wakes up too late. I go to the shared bathroom. I wash my face, I brush my teeth then I go back to my room and I drink some water. I don’t eat breakfast. I have no appetite early in the morning. Fine, the truth is I’m just too lazy to make breakfast. When I am at home and my mom cooks breakfast for me, I happily eat it, especially if it’s Msemmen. Yum! I like to start my day on the right foot, so I read five to ten pages of a book. I feed my mind before I feed my body, I guess. After that I check my messages, my notifications, social media, and before I know it an hour is gone and I’m late for class. I get dressed quickly and I run to catch the university bus. I usually have one or two classes in the morning. Sometimes I eat lunch at the cafeteria and other times I eat fast food. And that’s my morning."

نتمنّى تكون عجبتكم هاذ الحلقة 

إذا عنكم سؤال أرواحو ليوتوب ولّا instagram

Follow @zalamit.podcast

يعطيكم الصّحّة على الإستماع . يعطيكم الصّحّة لي راكو تحاولو تتعلّمو حاجات جدد. نستعرف بيكم. لازم الكوراج باش واحد يسيّي يتعلّم! نتمنّالكم تتعلمو و تنساو كامل بلّي واحد النّهار ما كنتوش تفّهمو.

Text:

"Hey, yeah, I’m waiting for my friend Leila. We are going to a new pizza place. It’s called Pisa Pizza. I want to try it. I heard that they sell their tomato sauce. If it’s good I will buy a jar. It’s 12.30 already! We were supposed to be there at 12. Leila is always late. It drives me crazy. She is nice and funny and all but she’s never on time. I know this. I know this about her. I don’t know why I’m surprised every time. We’ve been friends for 20 years. We’ve been friends since grade 1. Can you imagine? I know her inside out. She has her head in the clouds but she had a very good heart. We’ve been together through thick and thin. If I have a problem I know I can count on her. And when I have good news, she’s the first one I call.

I’m so hungry. When I’m hungry I get hangry. My mother says: “If you start hating everybody, it means you are hungry. And, If you start feeling like everyone hates you, it meant you are tired.” I think it’s true. Oh, here’s Leila. Alright, bye."

El vide? 

يعطيكم الصّحّة على الإستماع . يعطيكم الصّحّة لي راكو تحاولو تتعلّمو حاجات جدد. نستعرف بيكم. لازم الكوراج باش واحد يسيّي يتعلّم! نتمنّالكم تتعلمو و تنساو كامل بلّي واحد النّهار ما كنتوش تفّهمو.

Text: 

"Hey hi, what's up? My name is Slimane. I'm 23 years-old and I'm from Setif. How do I spend my free time? Well, I have a lot of free time right now. I graduated recently and I'm looking for a job so right now  I have a lot of free time but I enjoy it. It's good because I have so many hobbies. I love football. That's the number one hobby for sure. I love playing football. I love watching football. I'm on a football team. It's a great team. We're the best in the city. My favorite thing in the world is to go to the stadium and be, you know, the loud supporter, singing songs with other sports fan. That's the best. I love singing. I'm really into rap. I don't sing rap but I love listening to it. My guilty pleasure is pop music. Stuff like, Ariana Grande or you know Justin Beiber. But that's a secret. Don't tell anyone. I play them in my car when I'm all by myself. I'm not by myself a lot. I hang out with my friends all the time. I'm a very social person. You can say I'm a social butterfly." 

Mother, father ou rba3t'houm

يعطيكم الصّحّة على الإستماع . يعطيكم الصّحّة لي راكو تحاولو تتعلّمو حاجات جدد. نستعرف بيكم. لازم الكوراج باش واحد يسيّي يتعلّم! نتمنّالكم تتعلمو و تنساو كامل بلّي واحد النّهار ما كنتوش تفّهمو.

Text: 

"Hello, this is Samia. You asked about my family so here we go. My family is a bit strange but all families a little strange if you ask me. My father was in the army so he acts like an army man even at home. He is so organized. My mother is the opposite. She is so messy. She is so disorganized. She spends all her time playing music, singing and dancing. I have two siblings, two brothers. My younger brother is my best friend. We get along so well. My other brother, that's another story. We don't get along at all. We fight all the time. He is only one year older than me but he thinks he's the boss. Well, he's not the boss of me! My younger brother is so funny and so fun. He is a lot like my mother. They look alike too. I don't have any sisters but I have three cousins and they are like sisters to me. Every holiday I go to their home and spend time with them. It's so fun. My grandparents on my mother's side passed away before I was born so I don't know them. My grandparents on my fathers side are alive. They are so nice. I see them every Friday. It's great. That's it. That's my family. Bye.

تعرفو على الطريقة لي تتعلمو بيها في هاذ البودكاست

Lesson one 1: Name, birthday, status...

يعطيكم الصّحّة على الإستماع . يعطيكم الصّحّة لي راكو تحاولو تتعلّمو حاجات جدد. نستعرف بيكم. لازم الكوراج باش واحد يسيّي يتعلّم! نتمنّالكم تتعلمو و تنساو كامل بلّي واحد النّهار ما كنتوش تفّهمو.

Text: 

"Hi, how's it going? My name is Boualam Boubriss. Well, my first name is Boualam and my last name is Boubriss. I'm originally from Batna but now I live in Algiers. I work here. I work at a clothing store. I sell men's clothes. I love my job because I love fashion. I'm 27 years old. My birthday is on April 15th. My mother says that I smile a lot because I was born in Spring. I am single right now. I am not married and I don't have a girlfriend. Do you know any nice girl you can introduce me to? I'm just joking. See you."

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