In this new episode of Your Spanish Journey I'll talk about the benefitis of extensive reading when it comes to learning a foreign language, and I'll read a short story by the Argentinian psychologist and writer Jorge Bucay. Relax and enjoy!

Your Spanish Journey

Extensive reading: short stories to enjoy. 

In questo episodio, parliamo di 5 fatti su Matera

Facts about Italy in slow italian

Facts about Italy in slow italian - #3 Matera

Reading a book in Japanese ''The Music Box Planet'' #16
You can practice shadowing, and repeating with this reading and the text below. Besides, it's helpful to study Kanji. 😊 
📚My lessons: https://www.italki.com/ja/teacher/6185061

カンパネラ爺は、机のひきだしから 古びたアンモナイトの殻をとりだし、
ラッパの根もとに むけました。あのときのオルゴールです。
ハンドルを ゆっくりまわすと、アンモナイトのオルゴールから
とても やさしい音色が ながれました。
アンモナイトのオルゴールの やさしい音色は、カンパネラ爺が５０年かけて 
こしらえたラッパを とおって、大きな大きな音になり、空中帝国の はしのはしまで
鳴りひびきました。こんな やさしい音色は、いままで だれも聴いたことが ありません。　
世界のすべてが、とまったかのようでした。
だれもが一度、手をやすめ、その音色に心を うばわれました。


【Kanji】

机　　　　　　　　つくえ
古びた　　　　　　ふるびた
殻　　　　　　　　から
音色　　　　　　　ねいろ
鳴りひびきました　なりひびきました
聴いたこと　　　　きいたこと
一度　　　　　　　いちど
手　　　　　　　　て
心　　　　　　　　こころ


朗読クラブ📚Reading to Japanese language learners 

朗読：『オルゴールワールド』#16にしのあきひろ著

朋友们你们好！今天的零食是一个故事，叫做 “小猫种鱼”。
听起来有点儿怪怪的，对吧？你们是不是很好奇呢？我们一起边吃边学吧！

编著：张丽萍

从前有一只小懒猫，他很喜欢吃鱼，但是他不喜欢和妈妈一起去钓鱼。
小猫对妈妈说：“钓鱼太累了，要是不用钓鱼也能有很多很多的鱼就好了”。

小猫经常去附近的农场玩儿。
春天的时候，小猫看见农民把花生种进地里。秋天的时候，农民收了很多花生。
春天的时候，小猫看见农民把玉米种进地里。秋天的时候，农民收了很多玉米。
春天的时候，小猫看见农民把土豆种进地里。秋天的时候，农民收了很多很多的土豆。

小猫想：要是秋天我也能收到好多好多的鱼就好了，我就不用去钓鱼了。
于是，小猫找了一些小鱼，小心地把小鱼种进地里。
小猫等啊等，一个月，两个月，三个月过去了，小猫想：秋天的时候，我一定会收到很多很多的鱼。

故事到这儿就结束了！你们觉得，秋天的时候，  小猫会有很多鱼吗？

词语：

种 [zhòng] to plant; to grow; to cultivate
怪怪 [guài guài] strange, odd
好奇 [hào qí] inquisitive; curious; inquisitiveness; curiosity
编著 [biān zhù] to compile; to write
从前 [cóng qián] previously; formerly; once upon a time
钓鱼 [diào yú] to fish (with line and hook); to dupe
农场 [nóng chǎng] farm
农民 [nóng mín] peasant; farmer
花生 [huā shēng] peanut; groundnut 
收 [shōu] to receive; to accept; to collect
玉米 [yù mǐ] corn; maize
土豆 [tǔ dòu] potato 
要是 [yào shi] (coll.) if
于是 [yú shì] thereupon; as a result
结束 [jié shù] termination; to finish; to end; to conclude; to close



解馋小零食

2022年12月28号 - 小猫种鱼 (Elementary)

In this episode, my story of how I learnt to speak English from zero and my current challenge to learn Spanish in Costa Rica is shared. I also answer questions from students as following. 
1. did you learn English just for yourself or for my future career?
2. You have moved to other country just to learn Spanish now but how did that happen? Do you have strong passion for it and do you have plans to use Spanish for future? 

The answers to those are covered. So please enjoy ;)

GOOD VIVES ONLY RADIO BY HIDE

[WHEN YOU HAVE DOUBTS IN YOUR LIFE] Give yourself permission to follow your heart!

In this story, a woodpecker named George is the watchman for a society of animals. But what happens when he starts to lose his confidence? 
This is Part 1 of 6. 

Oh no, it’s happening… I can feel it. They’re coming...

George swooped down from his treetop lookout and glided over a harmonious society of diverse forest animals. He trumpeted an alarming bird sound to warn of an incoming attack. All the animals immediately scattered to their hiding places. 

George darted for the animal leaders’ headquarters. Zipping into the center of the gathering, almost tumbling over, George the Woodpecker announced, “Code Red!”  

The animal leaders sprang into action to execute their emergency plan.
 
Carlos the Bear was the first to charge out. It’s his role to meet the invaders head on. Confronting them at the perimeter of the animal territory, he saw them holding chainsaws, swords and knives. The terrifying brown bear let out an incredible roar to keep them back. However, as they had deadly weapons, the arrogant invaders kept inching closer and closer.  

Meanwhile, Julian the Beaver was holding onto Mary the Dear’s back as they raced through the forest. Going around the side and meeting the intruders from behind, the other two animal leaders encountered delimbers, stump grinders and log loaders. These deforesting machines are devastating for animal habitats. Working in coordination, they cut down trees, rip out the roots and stack the lumber package, ready for transport. 

Julian snuck into the heart of the murderous machinery and interfered with their engines. Because of his robust and tough teeth, he chewed through vital wires, creating malfunctions. With his role complete, he jumped back on Mary and they got away.  With the massive machines now needing repairs, the invaders retreated back to their logging station. 

Back at the headquarters, Carlos, Mary, Julian and George, the trusted guardians of the forest, gathered together to evaluate their response to the invaders.  

Being a Cloud

George the Woodpecker

All the top-level business English language related to meetings is included in this podcast episode.
Learn to speak professional business English so that you can be more successful at work!

New English US

Business English Podcast: Meetings

Is there a graceful way to navigate the depths of sadness through words? Smith believes there is. In his insightful discourse, she touches on the art of expressing emotions when feeling low. With a touch of advanced yet approachable language, Smith emphasizes the power of honest self-expression in those melancholic moments.

LEARN BY LISTENING

Listen to THIS if You're Sad

Parque Delta es considerado uno de los inmuebles con mayor actividad paranormal en la ciudad, los cuales son reportados por sus visitantes, quienes escuchan ruidos extraños o ven personas que posteriormente se desvanecen en el aire como si nunca hubiesen estado ahí.

La sobria historia de Parque Delta comienza entre los años 1925 y 1936, cuando todavía no era un centro comercial sino un estadio de béisbol. El 15 de junio de 1952 mientras se jugaba el tercer juego de la serie entre diablos rojos de México y rojos de águila Veracruz, se derrumbó parte de la gradería, dejando decenas de personas heridas y 2 muertos.

En 1955, el IMSS adquirió este terreno para construir el parque del seguro social, un estadio que fue la casa de los diablos rojos de México y los tigres capitalinos hasta su cierre en el año 2000. Durante esta etapa, ocurrió uno de los eventos más trágicos en la historia de México, el terremoto de 1985, con una escala de 8.1 grados.

Ese desastre natural costó la vida a muchas personas debido a los cientos de edificios, hoteles, y viviendas, entre otras edificaciones que colapsaron en la Ciudad de México. Entre las edificaciones que colapsaron en esa ocasión se encuentran hospitales como el centro médico Nacional, el cual estaba muy cerca de parque delta.

Ante la necesidad de un lugar para resguardar los cientos de cuerpos de personas fallecidas, y la falta de morgues y hospitales para ello, el lugar fue acondicionado para convertirse en una morgue, por lo que durante el desastre, Parque Delta recibió los cuerpos de cientos de personas fallecidas bajo los escombros de los edificios derrumbados.

Principalmente, Parque Delta se resguardo los cuerpos de personas no reconocidas, entre quienes no tenían familia o que sencillamente no eran localizados entre el caos. Los cuerpos eran conservados con uso de hielo, formol y sal para retrasar la descomposición.

Durante este terrible desastre natural, Parque Delta se convirtió en la morgue más grande del...