Useful info about the Russian language. Here are introduced the language layers and nuances just like in a matryoshka doll.

Matryoshka

私はバターをたくさん使った料理やあぶらっこい料理が苦手です。
砂糖をたくさん使ったお菓子もあまり好きじゃありません。
私のパートナーも同じです。
私たちは他のことについては意見が合わないことが多いですが、食べ物については意見が合います。
でも、みなさんの中にはパートナーと食べ物の好みが合わない人がいるかもしれません。
片方がベジタリアン、ヴィーガンだったりするとレストランに行く時は困ると思います。
食習慣や食べ物の好みが合わないから別れるということもあるかもしれません。
私にとって食事は生活の中でとても大事なので、食習慣や食べ物の好みが合わないことはとても大きな問題になると思います。
みなさんは相手の食習慣や食べ物の好みに合わせることはできますか？

あぶらっこい：oily, fatty, heavy
意見：いけん opinion
食習慣：diet habit
片方：かたほう　either one
好み：このみ　taste
好みが合う： have the same tastes
別れる：わかれる　break up
相手：あいて　the other one, partner

Nihongo Short Story by Noriko

食べ物の好み（Tastes Preference in Food）

“I’m not actually a huge fan of TV, but there is one show that I do enjoy watching every weekend. It’s called _______ idol, which is a hugely popular reality show, where aspiring singers compete against each other for a shot at fame, or even a record contract.




The show is on every Sunday night at about 8pm, and I normally watch it at home with my family.




Young people who dream of being a famous singer, can have the chance to be chosen to perform on the show in front of judges who select the best performers. Later on the public can also get involved, and vote for their favourite singer by phone or online, and the singer with the most votes becomes the winner.




One of the things I love about this show is that it gives any Joe Bloggs off the street, not only a genuine chance to show off their talent, but to also have a shot at fame.




I think we all dream of what it might be like to be a star, and this show really opens doors for some of these dreamers, if of course they have the talent.




On top of that, it’s a lot of fun watching the early stages of the show, and passing judgement on the different contestants as well as supporting the best singers, as if I had discovered them myself.

IELTS 85 Speaking

Describe a TV program that you like to watch - IELTS speaking part 2

In this episode for upper-intermediate and advanced English learners, my daughter and I talk about our predictions for the second part of Stranger Things 4. The first seven episodes were released at the end of May and the last two episodes come out July 1st. We recorded this episode on June 17th and try to guess what'll happen in those last two episodes. 

WARNING: This episode contains SPOILERS (we talk about what happened in the first seven episodes, so don't listen to this if you haven't already watched it).

We'd love to hear your predictions in the comments, or, if you're listening to this after the last two episodes come out you can find out if we were right or not!  (Music by Lesfm from Pixabay)

Conversations With a Friend

Stranger Things Season 4, Part 2 PREDICTIONS!

Welcome ! ☀️
Because it’s summer — and to keep things feeling light and fun — this podcast channel aims to stay connected to French pronunciation. The episodes are short and straightforward, each focusing on how to pronounce essential French sounds that are tricky or commonly mispronounced.

Today's episode is about the pronunciation of the letter "g".
➡️ Read the transcript while listening, to link the sounds to the spelling.
➡️ Prepare a paper and a pen, you will need them for the little quiz at the end of the episode.
Have fun !

TRANSCRIPTION :
Bonjour ! J’espère que tu vas bien ! Moi oui, je vais très bien !
Aujourd’hui on va pratiquer la prononciation correcte de la lettre “g”. Elle a deux prononciations : j et gu

“G” se prononce “j” lorsque la lettre d’après est un i, e ou y. Comme girafe ou mange.
Voici des exemples.
Répète après moi : gîte / gynécologue / gentil / orange / mariage / digital / régime / région / religion / énergie

Ensuite “g” se prononce “gh” quand la lettre d’après et un a, o ou u. Comme dans gouvernement ou gâteau.
Voici des exemples.
Répète après moi :  guitare / guide / regarder / frigo / drogue / fatigue / gorille / garage / bagage / gare

Allez, maintenant le quiz final ! Je vais dire un mot, est-ce que c’est le mot “a” ou le “b” ?
Prêt ? C’est parti !

1. a. kangourou b. kangeourou
2. a. mangue b. mange
3. a. draguer b. dragée
4. a. fige b. figue
5. a. rigoler b. rigeoler
6. a. bague b. Bages
7. a. guide b. gide
8. a. guépard b. gépard
9. a. longeur b. longueur
10 a. guillotine b. gillotine

Et voilà c’est tout pour aujourd’hui. Les réponses sont à la fin de la transcription. Je te dis à bientôt !

ANSWERS : 
1. a. kangourou
2. b. mange
3. b. dragée
4. b. figue
5. a. rigoler
6. b. Bages
7. a. guide
8. a. guépard
9. b. longueur
10. a. guillotine

French Pronunciation to go

Pronunciation of the letter "g"

Cape Town is a very popular tourist destination. This article describes what you may discover there. 

English in 60 Seconds

Travelling to Cape Town

JOHN: Hi, Alice, it’s John. How are you?

ALICE: Oh, hi, John! I was just thinking about you.

JOHN: That’s nice. I was wondering if you’d like to go to a
movie tonight.

ALICE: Sure, I’d love to! What’s playing?

JOHN: I was thinking about that new comedy Lights Out. What do you think?

ALICE: Sounds great!

JOHN: OK, I’ll pick you up around 7:30. The movie starts at 8:00.

ALICE: See you then. Bye!

Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

A Telephone Call

Your Personal Mission Statement (Personal Mission Statement or Mission Statement) is a roadmap, guiding you towards a life of purpose and fulfillment. But before you write it, take a deep dive into what truly matters. Here are some questions to spark self-discovery and craft a powerful Mission Statement:

Values:

What are my core values? (e.g., integrity, adventure, learning)
What principles are non-negotiable for me?
What actions bring me a sense of peace and satisfaction?
Passions and Strengths:

What activities make me lose track of time?
What skills and talents come naturally to me?
How can I leverage my strengths to make a positive impact?
Goals and Aspirations:

What do I want to achieve in different areas of life (career, relationships, personal growth)?
What kind of legacy do I want to leave behind?
How can my goals contribute to a better world?
Impact and Contribution:

Who or what inspires me?
What problems or challenges do I care deeply about solving?
How can I empower others to live fulfilling lives?
Reflection and Growth:

What motivates me intrinsically (from within) versus extrinsically (external rewards)?
Am I living authentically, aligned with my values?
What are some challenges or fears that might hinder my progress?
Bonus prompts:

Imagine your ideal future self. What are they doing? Who are they with?
What would my role model's Mission Statement look like?
What advice would my future self give me today?
Remember:

There are no right or wrong answers. Be honest with yourself.
This is an ongoing exploration. Revisit your Mission Statement regularly as you evolve.
Your Mission Statement should inspire and motivate you.
By reflecting on these questions, you'll gain clarity on your core values, aspirations, and the impact you want to make. This self-awareness will empower you to craft a Mission Statement that serves as a guiding light on your life's journey.