Life can be tough, but staying motivated makes all the difference! In this episode of English Learners Boost, Teacher Ian shares practical strategies to help you stay inspired and push through challenges. Learn how to find your "why," break big goals into small steps, embrace failure, and stay positive—all while improving your English skills! Plus, don’t miss the chance to book an English lesson with Teacher Ian on iTalki and experience his unique teaching approach. Tune in and stay motivated! 🚀🎧

English Learner's Boost

How to Stay Motivated When Life Gets Tough

明けましておめでとうございます！
ポッドキャストの更新が滞っている間に年が明けてしまいました！
皆さんは新年のカレンダーを買いましたか？
今回は、フミがお気に入りのカレンダーについて話します。
※去年の秋に収録したものなので、少し季節外れな会話があります。

Happy New Year!
While we have not been updating the podcast, the New Year has come!
Have you bought your New Year's calendars?　
This time, Fumi talks about his favorite calendar.
*We recorded this podcast last fall, so the conversation is a bit out of season.

♤ キーワード
・縁起がいい（えんぎがいい：bring good luck）
・六曜（ろくよう：The traditional Japanese calendar system used to indicate the perceived luck or fortune of each day. There are 6 labels and often referenced for scheduling events like weddings or funerals. While their use is rooted in superstition, the Rokuyo system remains widely referenced in Japan for scheduling ceremonies and selecting auspicious dates.）
　1. 先勝 - Senshō / Sakikachi (good for starting things, good in the morning)
　2. 友引 - Tomobiki (good day, should avoid funerals)
　3. 先負 - Senbu / Sakimake (good afternoon, bad morning)
　4. 仏滅 - Butsumetsu (extremely unlucky)
　5. 大安 - Taian (very lucky )
　6. 赤口 - Shakkō (lucky only during the hour of the horse (11 a.m. to 1 p.m.), awfully unlucky at other times)
・寅の日（とらのひ：The golden pattern of the tiger is a symbol of money, so the day of the tiger is especially associated with money luck.）
・一粒万倍日（いちりゅうまんばいび：The day that you can get hundreds of times harvest from a grain of seed. So it’s believed many benefits are received from very little.）
・怪我の功名（けがのこうみょう：One of the Japanese proverbs that means a mistake or careless action leading to a fortunate result. It is an unexpected success born out of a failure.）
・待てば海路の日和あり（まてばかいろのひよりあり：One of the Japanese proverbs that means”Everything comes to him who waits.”）

♧ 理解度チェッククイズ
1. フミは毎年どんなカレンダーを買っている？
2. それはどうして？

♢ 前回のクイズの答え
1. フミが最近気になっている言葉は？
→ 界隈
2. それはどういう意味？
→ 〜(する)人たち
3. 元々どこで使われていた言葉？
→ TwitterやInstagramなどのSNSで使われていた

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 31：お気に入りのカレンダー

みなさんはヤドリギ（宿木）を知っていますか？
ヤドリギは木の上で育つ植物で、丸い形を作ります。冬でも緑色の葉っぱをつけているので簡単に見つけることができます。私はドイツで初めてヤドリギがある木を見て、鳥の巣があるのかなと思っていました。
ところが、先日ある日本の俳優さんがインスタグラムにヤドリギの写真をアップしているのを見つけて、この植物の正体が分かりました。
調べてみると、ヤドリギは地面では育たず、木の幹や枝の上で栄養をもらって育つ植物のようです。ヨーロッパではクリスマスに幸運を呼ぶシンボルとして玄関に飾るそうです。


育つ：そだつ　grow
植物：しょくぶつ　plant
鳥（とり）の巣（す）：　bird nest
俳優：はいゆう　actor
正体：しょうたい　true nature
地面：じめん　ground
幹：みき　trunk
枝：えだ　branch
栄養：えいよう　nutrition
幸運：こううん　luck
玄関：げんかん　entrance
飾る：かざる　decorate

Nihongo Short Story by Noriko

ヤドリギ（mistletoe）  

Aunque no lo crean, ordenar comida callejera en Ciudad de México puede ser un reto, no por no saber los nombres de los platillos sino por el vocabulario y slang que utilizamos para hacerlo.

En el episodio de hoy estaremos hablando de cómo ordenar comida callejera en México, hablaremos de todas las jergas y modismos que usamos para poder hacerlo y alguno que otro dato curioso relacionado a la comida mexicana callejera.

No te puedes perder este episodio, realmente es muy interesante y cargado de información tanto cultural como lingüística, para que puedas expandir tu vocabulario del español y puedas ordenar tu futura comida mexicana con éxito.

Si deseas leer la transcripción de este podcast para no perderte ni una sola palabra de lo que decimos, puedes hacerlo yendo a este enlace: esdeverdad.com/podcast/comida-callejera

Es De Verdad

T2 E15 - ¿Cómo ordenar comida callejera mexicana en Ciudad de México?  Vocabulario de Comida en CDMX

In this episode, I make some observations about different conversational styles among native and non-native English speakers. I am generalizing, of course, and these are just my thoughts, based on what I've experienced in my life. *

I'd love to hear what YOU think! What have you observed? 

Here are some questions you might want to talk to yourself or write about - as we reflect on the year that has ended. Maybe you want to create a short monologue by recording your thoughts in a voice memo on your phone. Or perhaps you could try writing down your ideas on your phone or on a piece of paper. Do it for 5 or 10 minutes, and don't worry about your grammar or vocabulary. Writing is a great PROCESS - an exercise where you can use your English - anywhere, anytime, without a teacher or a listener. So getting in the HABIT of writing or speaking to yourself is as important as the words you use. Over time, your skills will improve! 

---- QUESTIONS TO ANSWER -----

What does the word SUCCESS mean to you? 
What does SUCCESS LOOK LIKE to you? 
What is something you have SUCCEEDED AT?

Based on YOUR definition of success - what made 2023 a successful year for you?
What will make 2024 a successful year for you? 

And here's a THOUGHT EXPERIMENT and a WRITING EXERCISE.
Imagine it is December 31, 2024. Using past tenses, write about what made 2024 a successful year for you. (This may feel strange, but it’s a great exercise for your English and for your mind! It can be fun and transformative, too!)

-------

*Note - In this episode, I make the mistake of using the word "American" to refer to people from the US. This is a bad habit that I am (still) trying to break. The truth is that we are all Americans in the whole hemisphere - North and South. But, as they say, "old habits die hard" or existing patterns are hard to change. 

Hear and There

4. How we speak with others & why we should talk to ourselves

Join us on "English Learners Boost" as we tackle the challenge of understanding native English speakers. Learn practical tips to decode fast speech, grasp idiomatic expressions, and use context clues effectively. From TV shows to newspaper articles, discover how to enhance your comprehension skills and bridge the gap in conversations. Boost your English listening skills and connect with native speakers like a pro!

Improving English Comprehension: Tips for Understanding Native Speakers

In One Minute English Podcast I'll be touching on some questions related to your new job or when you start a new job.

Questions are easy to understand and digest plus it's an opportunity for you to think in English & Use English instead of learning it.

Enjoy and see you tomorrow.

🎙 One-Minute Speaking Challenge by Anatoly Glazkov – Voice Unlock Method™

One Minute English - Starting a new job.

CHISTES MEXICANOS

UNA VIUDA RICA.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mV2eTARob8uNnaFYux9MtaSLIM1N1kEx/view?usp=drivesdk