Steph Davis, Rock Climbing in Rodellar (Sierra de Guara) & Flow State

Steph Davis is one of the world's leading rock climbers, a BASE jumper and a wingsuit flyer. She was the first woman to summit all the peaks of the Fitzroy Range in Patagonia, among other amazing exploits in her career. 

B2 students can browse her Wikipedia entry, read the introduction and "early life" sections for some  background information, and they will get familiar with words like: a BASE jumper, to free climb, to free solo, a wingsuit flyer, to summit, a straight-A [student], an asset, sheer [will], brainy, a flawless [technique], an [English] major, a lift up, to [get] sucked in, a [school] break, to boulder, to pursue [climbing], a bacherlor's degree, the canon [of mountaneering literature], disparate shifting [reality], to decide against [it], to quit, to relate to [climbing].

If you want to listen to an old radio interview to Steph Davis, you can try Rock climber Steph Davis on KSJD, (Cortez, Colorado, 2016) by Tom Yoder, a (17':13") phone interview without a script. The vocabulary is not particularly difficult, but the nature of the phone interview makes it harder to understand every single word at some points, so this recording is recommended for Experts, and, perhaps, for C2 students. The following list of words might help learners to follow the interview: a venture, a memoir, an avid [reader], an infatuation, an essay, to jump [into a project], a proper [book], [all] from scratch, to accomplish, funnily [enough], to free solo, attached, to figure out, awareness, to go about [things], a sustainable [life], arguably, to highlight [the fact that], to make an attempt on [a climb], BASE jumping, [to go for] a hike, a lifestyle [really], the tagline, to pass away, to follow in your footsteps, to get into [it], to parachute, wingsuit [flying], to skydive, to blow me away, [to get] stuck [on that], to dive [down], a [climbing] clinic, she-[climbers], to see how it goes, [to learn] stuff [on my own], to live by, to take on [risks]. 

Rodellar, in Sierra de Guara Natural Park, is one of Europe's top rock climbing destinations -in the picture on the left you can see a view of El Delfín (F7c+), whereas in the link above, by Climb Europe, B2 students can find details about the location, gear and accommodation to get to Rodellar, as well as interesting & technical expressions like: a gorge, limestone, steep, stamina, to find your way [out], overhanging [caves], an arch, a tufa, a pinnacle, split, a single pitch [route], trad [gear], a rope, a quickdraw, a multi-pitch [route], a twin rope, accommodation, self-catering [bungalows]. For further information about adventure sports, you can check the Somontano Tourism website. 

If you want to learn how rock climbers and other athletes can concentrate so sharply and overcome their fear, you can read this National Geographic article by Shayla Love: What's flow state? Here is the science behind top athletes laser focus. This story is recommended for B2 students and above, who will encounter expressions like: flow state, laser [focus], to tap into, peak [focus], slim, sandstone, grip, free solo [climbing], harness, a parachute, engrossed, a mindset, to leverage, impervious, a javelin [thrower], to accomplish [a goal], to come up [with a theory], to ramp up, [your skills] to take over, the frontal lobe, a seasoned [jazz player], to rely upon, to let go, drywall, your expertise, to tackle [a difficult challenge].

Finally, you can watch this short video about cragging in Rodellar on Jorge Packer's channel, and enjoy the incredible views of the Mascún canyon and El Delfín in the heart of beautiful Sierra de Guara:

Barbies as Role Models & Girl Power K-pop on International Women's Day, an Indian Viewpoint

Sneha Kumari writes the story "Women's Day Vibes: Barbie's cultural reset is redefining the idea of role models" on Indiatimes to mark International Women's Day, 2026. 

This short article can be recommeded for B2 students and above, who will come across interesting expressions like: vibes, a reset, a role model, a trailblazer, a Dream Team, [sky-high] heels, a debut, a [pop-culture] icon, [beauty] standards, fast-forward, a reboot, a brand, a lineup, to honour, one-of-a-kind [dolls], likeness,

a [headline] moment, a doll, in other words, Gen Z, a highlight, a shift, to matter, to flip that script, to bat, [record-breaking] performances, [to push the sport into the] spotlight, packed [stadiums], [trending] hashtags, a [toy] aisle, to spot, the pitch, [the old Barbie fantasy] to land, a disability, to take [an idea] one step further, to inspire, to pick up [a cricket bat], a makeover, to enthral.

Another interesting pop-culture story on International Women's Day is Karen Noronha's "a K-pop playlist by TWICE, MAMAMOO, Jenie and more that embody power, strength and confidence", also found on Indiatimes, where B2 students can listen to several K-pop songs (including Miss-A's - "I don't need a man" in the picture), they can read the text and pick up words like: to embody, bold, self-worth, a track, resilience, empowerment, unapologetic [self-love], to deliver [an anthem], to stand tall, to embrace [individuality], a feel-good [anthem], to blast, a spot, an upbeat [anthem], to let go, to do [you] wrong, girl power, vibes, a statement, to thrive, quirks, a cutie [bluff charm], a rallying [cry], hardship, fearless, a stepping stone, a soaring [anthem], a path, a versatile [journalist], seamlessly.

Finally, you can watch a short clip from CBS19 News (Charlottesville, Va), where the Barbie Dream Team story is discussed. This informal conversation with subtitles is also accessible to B2 students, who will encounter expressions like: to mark (Internation Women's Day), a lineup, a pioneer, a doll, a race-car [driver], a soccer player, [new Barbies'] coming out, a random [Barbie], to make a difference [in the world], actual [people], inclusive, autism, stuff [out there], all around, a teachable [experience for kids].

The Best Tech in the Mobile World Congress, 2026

The Mobile World Congress 2026 has been held in Barcelona from March 2nd to 5th. In the picture you can see the Home Assistant Robot by Grup Saltó which provides robotic care to more than 600 elderly people in Barcelona.  

Next, you can read a short corporate press note about the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra, which has won the "Best in Show" at the Global Mobile Awards (GLOMO Awards). This short text has plenty of technical terms, colourful marketing adjectives and adverbs, so it is recommended for C1 students and above who can find interesting words and collocations like: groundbreaking, impactful, consumer-focused [products], [to set] a benchmark [for technology], the gold-standard, across the [digital] landscape, a seamless [blend] [of hardware and software], a built-in [Privacy Display], a breakthrough, vibrant [viewing], a [customized] chipset, to power, effortless [mobile experiences], compelling [technology], [to push] the boundaries, a meaningful [impact], to address [the needs], a [judging] panel, an agentic AI phone, ongoing [commitment].

Finally, you can watch the video the Best Tech of MWC 2026! (14:19, without subtitles) by Android Authority, which shows the coolest smartphone prototypes in the fair.  The speech is fast, dense and packed with technical jargon and brand names, so it is recommended for C2 students and Experts, who might pick up expressions like: weird, a concept, modularity, a ton of, accessories, a power bank, bulky, modules, to fancy, cool, at first glance, a tagline, a [hidden] display, to prop it up, pixels, textures, [so much] hype, amulet display, glare, coatings, a refresh [rate], a prototype, a [camera] gimbal, footage, gimmicky, a lens, [200] frame [a second], a [camera] rig, to stick with [phones], a foldable [smartphone], flagship [style phones], coating, bizarrely, specs, a grid, gamers, a built-in [cooling fan], by-pass charging, a pop-up [fire starter], wireless, an upgrade, an update, a bargain, to make up for [the not massive battery], a headphone, affordable, a [battery] to run out, padding.

You can read a written article about the Best of  MWC Awards 2026 by Bogdan Petrovan. Or else, you can just relax, watch the images, forget the technical jargon and enjoy the video: