If you or your partner are a foreigner, is it frustrating, or sad, that your children don't speak the language, apart from maybe a few words?

The Social Evolutionary

We are Bilingual. So why aren't our kids?

I’ll introduce Japanese culture in easy Japanese.
Today’s Theme is “お盆（ぼん）《Bon festival》”.
This episode is JLPT-N3 level.

I created a quiz on this episode.
After listening, please take the quiz!

Please use this audio for listening and shadowing practices.

☆Words☆
お盆（ぼん）：Bon festival
Obon is one of the Buddhist events. In Buddhism, it is believed that the spirits of family ancestors come back to this world during the Obon period between July and August, and a series of events take place to commemorate them.
Obon is regarded as one of the most important family occasions of the year in Japan.
Although Obon is not an official holiday, many offices are temporarily closed for business during this period. 

盆踊（ぼんおど）り：Bon Festival dance
Bon Odori is a traditional Japanese dance that is generally performed at events or festivals during Obon holidays.
Participants wear yukata, a casual traditional Kimono-style garment, and dance to traditional music while circling around a stage to honor the spirits of ancestors.

移動（いどう）する：move

仏教（ぶっきょう）：Buddhism

先祖（せんぞ）：ancestor

もてなす：treat / welcome

仏壇（ぶつだん）：Buddhist altar

迎（むか）え火（び）：welcoming fire
“迎え火” is a sacred fire that is often burned on August 13th in front of each household to guide the spirits of their ancestors back home.

提灯（ちょうちん）：chochin lantern

送（おく）り火（び）：seeing off fire
"送り火"is lit on the last day of Obon, which is generally August 16th to send the ancestors back to their world.

五山送り火（ござんのおくりび）：
The Send-off Bonfires of Five Mountains (Gozan no Okuribi) refers to the annual bonfires lit at various 5 locations including Nyoigatake (Mt. Nyoi known as Mt. Daimonji) on August 16 in Kyoto City.

阿波踊（あわおど）り：
“阿波踊り” is the largest and the most famous bon festival dance in Japan, attracting more than 1 million visitors from August 12 to 15 every year. 

☆Script for this episode
The scripts (URL) are listed in the overview section of the channel.

☆Quiz for this episode


Simple Japanese Listening with Meg（めぐ）Smile

#43 Japanese culture / お盆《Bon festival》 // N3 Level /Japanese listening

Intermediate Chinese Listening：压力 Pressure

Intermediate Chinese Listening

Conheça alguns objetos comuns que têm em um escritório e outros nem tão comuns assim.

Português em 1 minuto com o Júlio

Itens do meu escritório

it's all Greek to me!

Vocabulary about health 

Il migliore amico di Jimmy è un ragazzo italiano di nome Marco. Marco è di Venezia, ha 30 anni e vuole imparare l’inglese. A volte la sera Jimmy incontra Marco e insieme chiacchierano in italiano e in inglese.

Jimmy conosce Marco da solo un mese. Marco è giovane, un po’ basso, magro ma è in forma. Secondo alcune persone è bello, secondo altre persone è brutto.

Marco ha i capelli corti, castani e ricci. Ha gli occhi piccoli e neri, le labbra carnose, il naso aquilino come molti italiani e ha la pelle scura.

Jimmy è anziano, alto, un po’ robusto. Ha i capelli lunghi, biondi e lisci. In realtà i suoi capelli stanno diventando brizzolati. Ha gli occhi grandi e verdi, le labbra sottili e il naso a patata.

Marco e Jimmy hanno due caratteri diversi. Marco è estroverso, gentile ma pigro. Jimmy è timido e introverso, a volte scontroso, ma molto diligente.

Sono due brave persone: Jimmy è molto generoso, Marco è molto simpatico e sorridente. Però Jimmy, quando è arrabbiato, è un po’ antipatico. Marco invece è un po’ tirchio e lascia pagare sempre Jimmy!

Nonostante le differenze, Jimmy e Marco vanno molto d’accordo e sono felici di trascorrere del tempo insieme.



Language points



Secondo + persona = Secondo me oggi piove!/Secondo Luigi, arriveremo a destinazione fra due ore.
Lascia pagare = Lascia + infinito. Lasciami stare in pace!/Lascia andare Gianni in giardino.
Nonostante = Nonostante il prezzo, voglio comprare questo biglietto aereo./Nonostante la pioggia, il cane è in giardino.
Andare d’accordo = Io e i miei fratelli andiamo molto d’accordo./Tu vai d’accordo con la tua famiglia?
Trascorrere del tempo = Ami trascorrere del tempo con i tuoi amici?

//Want to learn more Italian? Check out the link -> https://cocai-italiano.com/

Cocai italiano - Podcast for Italian learners

Il mio migliore amico

Conversation Starters #4 "Food"

A topic we ALL love and enjoy, food, is a super simple way to connect with others and use simple language. Let's unpack it together in this short and sweet podcast episode. :)

Baffling Lingo

FOOD

Part three of Thumbelina by Author Hans Christian Andersen.
Complete the short quiz afterwards to check your understanding.


Teacher Michelle's Learn English with Story

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IELTS Preparation. Band 8-9 Answers. Part 1 - Laughing.

Q. What kinds of thing make you laugh?
Q. Do you like making other people laugh? [Why/Why not?]
Q. Do you think it’s important for people to laugh? [Why/Why not?]
Q. Is laughing the same as feeling happy, do you think? [Why/Why not?]

How easy was the topic for you? If you'd summarize - which were the key words you used in each question?

Let me know how I can be of assistance.