Moral Stories

The Hare and the Tortoise

皆さんの身近には「癒し」がありますか。 
勉強や仕事に追われていると、「癒し」を求めてしまいますよね。 
今回は、二人が癒されているものについて話します。

Is there anything therapeutic or things that help you feel relaxed around you?
When you are busy with your studies and work, you may be looking for "healing".
This time, we will talk about what heals us both.

♤ キーワード
・癒される（いやされる: here it means that you feel relaxed or less stressed） 
・観葉植物（かんようしょくぶつ：indoor house plants）
・ドラセナ（dracaena）
・朝顔（あさがお：morning glory）
・菊（きく：chrysantheｍum） 
・絵日記（えにっき：illustrated diary）
※In Japan, the morning glory observation diary, is a standard homework for elementary school students during their summer vacation.
・絵心（えごころ：artistic taste） 
・にゅるにゅる（vine up fast） 

♧ 理解度チェッククイズ  
1. フミが朝顔を育てようと思った理由は？
2. 小学生用の朝顔の種にはどんな工夫がされている？

♢ 前回のクイズの答え 
1. 「アルモンデ料理」とはどんな料理？  
→ 家にあるもので作る料理
2. 「タイパ」は何の略で、どういう意味？ 
→ タイムパフォーマンスの略で、時間的な効率を表すことば  

BGM special thanks：MusMus

アヤさんとフミさんの日本語雑談（Aya and Fumi’s Japanese Chit-Chat）

Episode 28：癒し

有点 (yǒudiǎn) and 一点 (yīdiǎn) both translate to "a little" or "slightly" in English. However, they are used slightly differently in Chinese.

有点 (yǒudiǎn) is used to describe a small amount or degree of something. It is often used to describe an adjective or an adjective phrase. For example:

这个电影有点好看 (zhège diànyǐng yǒudiǎn hǎokàn) means "this movie is a little bit good-looking."
这个饭有点辣 (zhège fàn yǒudiǎn là) means "this meal is a little spicy."
一点 (yīdiǎn) is used to describe a small amount or degree of something, but it is often used to describe a noun or a verb. For example:

我想吃一点苹果 (wǒ xiǎng chī yīdiǎn píngguǒ) means "I want to eat a little bit of apples."
我会说一点中文 (wǒ huì shuō yīdiǎn zhōngwén) means "I can speak a little bit of Chinese."
In general, 一点 (yīdiǎn) is more commonly used than 有点 (yǒudiǎn) in Chinese. However, both can be used to describe a small amount or degree of something, and the choice between them depends on the context and the specific word or phrase that they are modifying.

Difference between A and B in Chinese with Shanmei

有点 (yǒudiǎn) VS 一点 (yīdiǎn) 

In this episode for upper-intermediate and advanced English learners, I’ll talk about vocabulary and idioms related to sleep. 

It’s a topic that can come in especially handy if you find yourself engaging in small talk, especially since so many of us are sleep-deprived.

The idioms we’ll cover are:
-hit the hay/hit the sack
-to sleep like a rock/to sleep like a baby
-out like a light
-to catch some Zs
-to sleep on it/to sleep on something

 (Music by Lesfm from Pixabay)

Conversations With a Friend

How to Talk About Sleep

Ever wonder how locals actually talk in Hawaiʻi? In this episode, you’ll hear a full sample of Hawaiian Pidgin — real phrases, real rhythm, real island vibes.
⚠️ Warning: It’s a lot at once (on purpose!) — but don’t worry, we can break it all down together in a lesson.
Press play, listen in, and take the first step toward sounding more local. 🤙

🏝 Speak Hawaii: Language, Culture & Travel

"What Hawaiian Pidgin Really Sounds Like (Listen for Yourself!)"

¡Aquí está el tercer capítulo de mi viaje a México! Empiezo a viajar solo y llego a Guadalajara. Allí hago una excursión a una pequeña ciudad llamada Tequila (donde me comí unos chilaquiles y bebí palomitas).
¿Te vienes conmigo?


La vida de Héctor (Spanish Podcast)

México III - Guadalajara (¡Y TEQUILA!)

In this episode, we dive into imperfective and perfective verbs in Ukrainian. These two verb aspects are crucial for expressing ongoing actions versus completed actions.

Imperfective verbs describe actions in progress or repeated actions.
Example: читати (to read) – Я читаю книгу (“I am reading a book”).

Perfective verbs focus on completed actions or actions that will be completed.
Example: прочитати (to finish reading) – Я прочитав книгу (“I finished reading the book”).

Understanding when to use each aspect will make your Ukrainian more accurate and natural, whether you’re talking about habits, ongoing activities, or completed tasks. Tune in for all the details and examples to level up your language skills!



Український подкаст для початківців з Альоною / Ukrainian podcast for beginners with Alyona 

Ukrainian Verbs Explained: Imperfective vs. Perfective

In questo episodio racconteremo la storia di Alberto Spiedini e della sua cucina giapponese con influenze italiane. 





Principali verbi nel testo: 

apprezzasse: 3 pers sing congiuntivo imperfetto verbo “apprezzare”

avesse: 3 pers sing congiuntivo imperfetto verbo “avere”

sarebbe stata: 3 pers. sing. condizionale passato verbo “essere”

si è trasferito: 3 pers sing passato prossimo verbo riflessivo “trasferirsi”

erano: 3 plurale imperfetto verbo “essere”

è diventato:  3 pers. singolare  passato prossimo verbo “diventare”

ha creato: 3 pers. singolare  passato prossimo verbo “creare”

avesse fatto: 3 pers singolare congiuntivo trapassato verbo “fare”

se semini, raccogli: Periodo ipotetico del primo tipo: realtà – certezza (indicativo + indicativo)

ho investito: 1 pers. singolare  passato prossimo verbo “investire”

se preparassi…sarebbe più…: Periodo ipotetico del secondo tipo: possibilità (congiuntivo imperfetto+ condizionale presente)

se non avessi creato…non mi sarei….:Periodo ipotetico del terzo tipo: impossibilità nel passato (congiuntivo trapassato + condizionale passato)

ho notato: 1 pers. singolare  passato prossimo verbo “notare”

venivo:  1 pers. singolare imperfetto verbo “venire”

sono arrivato: 1 pers. singolare  passato prossimo verbo “arrivare”

ho faticato: 1 pers. singolare  passato prossimo verbo “faticare”

correva:  3 pers. singolare  imperfetto verbo “correre”

riuscirei: 1 pers. singolare  condizionale presente verbo “riuscire”
rimanerci: rimanere+ci = rimanere lì







Parole da scoprire nel testo: 

Avere un debole= avere una passione per un certo argomento o qualcosa. 
nipponica: del Giappone
scuola prestigiosa: scuola che gode di alto prestigio, quindi importante. 
indefesso: instancabile
estrosa: piena di originalità
tradizione culinaria: tradizione della cucina
titubanti: perplesse, piene di dubbi.
ha messo su famiglia: ha una famiglia. (Modo di dire italiano)
perplesso: con dubbi

Italiano espresso

Livello B1/B2: La cucina giapponese e un po' italiana di Alberto

Power dressing is something that many people neglect when it comes to personal development. It is because some feel that it is not important. Although, there are certain industries that need it more, I believe that it does matter, especially when you are building yourself.