Talking Points
1. Duolingo’s Owl is Dead
2. Adults Buying Toys for Themself
3. Is K-pop Done?

Listen Up: I break down some of the language we can use to talk about the news stories from today’s edition.

Focus Phrase: Falling off

Executive Edition: Use how questions to empower team members to solve problems.

Figure It Out: When would you ask “How are things?”

Talking Points

Three quick news stories to help you start small talk conversations in English. Start your conversation with phrases like:

• I read a story about …

• Did you hear about … ?

• Saw something interesting the other day. …

Duolingo Announces the Death of Its Owl Mascot

Duolingo has announced the "death" of its iconic owl mascot, Duo, in a dramatic marketing campaign.

The company has blacked out its social media profiles and posted cryptic messages, leaving users wondering – is this a joke? A rebrand? Or something bigger?

Talking points: How do you feel about companies using mystery to get attention? Does this kind of marketing make you more or less interested in a brand?

Language tips: It’s possible you might not have ever thought about this topic before. How would you answer any question that you haven’t thought about before? Listen to the audio in the listen up section for my tips.

Chinese Toymaker Taps 'Kidult' Craze

A Chinese toymaker has seen its shares skyrocket as it capitalizes on the growing "kidult" trend – adults buying toys for themselves.

Collectibles and nostalgia-driven products are fueling demand, making this a booming market.

Is this just a passing trend, or is toy collecting becoming a mainstream hobby for adults?

Talking points: Do you buy anything now that you loved as a child? Why do you think adults are drawn to toys and collectibles?

Language tips: It’s okay to state your opinion without the phrase I think. This is a great chance to give an anecdote (a very short story) about yourself or a person you know.

Is K-pop Falling Off?

Some fans are worried that K-pop is losing its global influence, as fewer songs are topping international music charts.

Others argue that the genre is still thriving but that chart rankings don’t tell the whole story.

Does success in music depend on numbers, or is there more to it than that?

Talking points: In general, do other people’s opinions affect your decisions? For example, would you listen to music if it wasn’t charting? Or would you watch a movie if critics said they didn’t like it?

Language tip: It’s likely you might answer with It depends. If you do, be sure to get a supporting statement to explain.