Tell me about your best friend at school.

Listen to how I answer this particular question, and get some short English explanations about some vocabulary and expressions I use in my answer.  Try to answer the questions in the vocabulary examples using the new vocabulary and expressions.

Speak English With Muki

Episode 4: Your Best Friend

문장연습

받침[ㅂ, ㄷ, ㄱ] + {ㅂ, ㄷ, ㅅ, ㅈ, ㄱ}  {ㅃ, ㄸ, ㅆ, ㅉ, ㄲ }
                                                                     (된소리)

                           ( 예문 )

1. 저는 밥보다 빵을 더 좋아해요.              [밥뽀다]
2. 앞집에 할머니가 살아요.                        [앞찝에]
3. 탑승구가 어디에 있어요?                        [탑씅구]
4. 친구는 전화를 받고 나갔어요.                [받꼬]
5. 음악을 듣다가 잠이 들었어요.                [듣따가]
6. 친구는 항상 회의에 늦게 옵니다.           [늦께]
7. 우리 언니는 첫사랑하고 결혼했어요     [첫싸랑]
8. 어느 학교에 다니세요?                           [ 학꾜]
9. 학생 식당이 어디에 있어요.                   [학쌩]  [식땅]
10. 새 직장이 마음에 들어요?                    [직짱]
11. 내일 아홉시까지 오세요.                      [아홉씨]

한국어 발음 연습

한국어 발음 연습 "경음화" 문장 연습

L’anno è finito e sta per arrivare il duemilaventidue. Come festeggerai la notte di San Silvestro?
Jimmy parteciperà a un Cenone organizzato dai suoi amici. Andranno a cena insieme e poi aspetteranno la mezzanotte per fare un brindisi e farsi gli auguri.
Mentre aspetta ha deciso di fare un bilancio di fine anno e di stilare una lista di buoni propositi per l’anno nuovo.

Quest’anno per lui è stato molto positivo perché si è traferito in Italia, ha conosciuto molte persone nuove, ha imparato la lingua italiana e ha viaggiato molto. Insomma, è stato un anno pieno di esperienze positive ed è molto soddisfatto! Spera che il prossimo anno sarà altrettanto positivo.
La sua lista di buoni propositi è questa:
raggiungerà un livello avanzato di italiano;
leggerà solo libri in italiano;
andrà a visitare la Toscana;
ascolterà ogni settimana i podcast di Cocai Italiano per migliorare la lingua;
imparerà a cucinare la lasagna;
comprerà una gondola per fare il giro di Venezia via canale.
È già tardi, è ora di andare a festeggiare il nuovo anno! Jimmy lascia il suo diario e corre a casa dei suoi amici per salutare l’anno che verrà!

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

Cocai italiano - Podcast for Italian learners

Festeggiamo l'anno nuovo

Learn the simplest Norwegian colours. Bonus for this track is a counting rhyme as a repetition of the earlier counting episode.

Norsk for nybegynnere (A1-A2)

Norsk tale EP. 4 – Farger 

I got excited talking about Italian food. If you didn't catch a word, feel free to get in touch with me!

Bedside Italian

Bedside Italian #11 - Oggi ho cucinato italiano!

When you take your IELTS speaking exam, there is a strong possibility that in part 2 you might have to describe a piece of art you like, so it’s best to prepare and go into your exam with a work of art you can talk about up your sleeve. You should also try to slip a few idioms in. See if you can spot the idioms I use in this podcast.

In this podcast I’m going to imagine I’m in an IELTS exam part 2, and I have to talk about a work of art.

OK, let’s make a start. The work of art I’m going to talk about is the Mona Lisa.

First, I’d like to mention who created it. The Mona Lisa was painted by Leonardo Da Vinci.

Now, I’d like to tell you about the first time I encountered it. We were studying the history of art in junior high, and my group had to talk about the Mona Lisa.

Next, I’d like to give you a little bit of the painting’s history. It is thought that Leonardo Da Vinci painted The Mona Lisa in Florence, Italy between 1503 and 1506. However, it has been suggested that Leonardo worked on the painting as late as 1517. It is painted in oil on a white canvas and has been on display at The Louvre museum in Paris since 1797.

Finally, let’s talk about why I like it. I love this painting because it’s both unusual and beautiful. Furthermore, it is said to be one of the most valuable paintings in the world, and may be worth as much as one billion dollars. In other words, it costs an arm and a leg! However, I don’t just like it because it’s expensive, I find it aesthetically pleasing, too. Also, the woman seems very mysterious. Sometimes she looks happy, and at other times she looks sad. It’s almost as if she is alive! I think this painting is one in a million and painters like Leonardo Da Vinci come along once in a blue moon.

Did you spot the idioms I used? That’s right: up your sleeve, costs an arm and a leg, one in a million, and once in a blue moon. Now take the quiz that comes with this podcast, and don’t forget to book a lesson with me!

IELTS Speaking Practice

IELTS speaking part 2: ART - The Mona Lisa

More than half of Japanese children spend at least one hour every day playing video games.

That's according to a 2022 survey by Japanese internet company Nifty Corporation.

Twenty-four percent of kids said they play for between one and two hours a day. Thirteen percent said they play for between two and three hours, and 17% reported playing three hours or more.

Only 9% said they do not play at all.

More than 2,300 elementary and junior high school children took part in the survey, which was done in September and October of 2022.

Almost 80% said they usually play video games alone. When they do play with others, they more often play with people online than with someone else in the room.

Parents in Japan have spoken of their concerns about the amount of time their children spend playing video games. In 2020, Kagawa prefecture said people under 20 should limit their time spent playing video games to one hour per day during the week and 90 minutes on weekends.

The Nifty survey also asked children about rules in their homes for playing video games.

Fifty-three percent said they have time limits for playing, with 44% saying they can only play after they have finished their other tasks.

One in five of the children surveyed said they are not allowed to play with strangers online, and more than half are not allowed to spend money when playing online games.

Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

Most Japanese Kids Play over 1 Hour of Video Games a Day

آن روز که مرکب فلک زین کردند

آرایش مشتری و پروین کردند

این بود نصیب ما زدیوان قضا

ما را چه گنه قسمت ما این کردند

 I tell You this -- When, starting from the Goal,
        Over the shoulders of the flaming Foal
        Of Heav'n Parwin and Mushtari they flung,
        In my predestin'd Plot of Dust and Soul.


قسمت = fate


Persian Poetry

آن روز که مرکب فلک زین کردند

CHISTES MEXICANOS DE NAVIDAD CON UNA ESPECIAL DEDICATORIA PARA MI GRAN AMIGA: ANN TAYLOR DE CANADÁ.