In this episode, students learn simple questions and responses used at job interviews. They also learn common adjectives to describe their job strengths. 🎧💼

Make sure to complete the follow-up quiz to check your understanding ✍🏻

Everyday Dialogues

Interviewing for a Job 

In this episode of channel Let's speak Albanian/Le të flasim shqip we'll learn how to express about the outlook of a person in Albanian to level A1-B2. Hope this episode will help you better improve Albanian. Let's enjoy it! 

Paraqitja e jashtme - outlook - Внешность
flokë - hair - волосы
shaka - joke - шутка
vetull - eyebrow - бровь
hundë - nose - нос
faqe - cheek - щека
palestër - gym - спортзал   

Let's speak Albanian

Let's speak Albanian/Le të flasim shqip

すっかり暖かくなりましたね。
暖かくなると、気分がうきうきして明るい色の服がほしくなりませんか？
今回はアヤさんの最近の高い買い物について話します。
皆さんもすてきな春服に出会えますように。

Now finally spring has come!!
Don't you feel happier and more excited when it's getting warmer?
This time, Aya talks about her expensive shopping.
I hope you'll find nice spring clothes as well.

♤ キーワード
・一目惚れ（ひとめぼれ：love at first sight）
・引きこもり（ひきこもり：homebody）

♧  理解度チェッククイズ
1. アヤさんが最近買ったものは？
2. アヤさんの満足度が100%じゃない理由は？

♢ 前回のクイズの答え
1. フミさんが道外で感じたカルチャーショックは？
→ 家の庭に柑橘類の木があること
2. アヤさんのおばあちゃんの家の庭には何の木があった？
→ みかん、きんかん、びわの木

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 03：最近の高い買い物

A new survey in Japan has shown that many people may be giving up on "happily ever after" when they get older than 35.

A survey by the Nippon Foundation asked 6,000 people, aged 15 to 45, about the country's falling birth rate. Among the 3,935 single participants, 46% said they want to get married, while 33% said they don't.

However, when asked if they really think they will get married, only 27% said yes, while 39% said no.

Younger people were more hopeful about marriage, with about 40% of those aged 15 to 25 thinking they will marry. But over 50% of single people aged 36 to 45 believe they won't get married, suggesting people may give up on marriage as they age.

Of the 1,313 people who said they don't want to get married, 40% said they prefer being single. Other reasons for staying single included not being able to see any benefit to marrying, and wanting to put their own life first. More than 20% didn't have a clear reason or just didn't know why.

For the 267 people who want to marry but think they won't, the top reason for thinking it won't happen is not having chances to meet potential partners, which was mentioned by 49% of these people. Others said they weren't good at getting along with people of the opposite sex, or felt financially insecure.

Where people lived also affected views on marriage. About 30% of people in central Tokyo and big cities thought they would marry, but only just over 20% of those in smaller towns and villages felt the same.

Marriages in Japan have been decreasing for years. In 2023, there were 3.9 marriages per 1,000 people in Japan — down from a high of 12 marriages per 1,000 people in 1947.

Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

Japan's Over-35s Giving Up on Marriage

おはようございます！Atsushiです。
今日は、北海道でも、大阪でもなく、岡山にいます。
ボランティアがあったので、岡山に来ました。

今日の岡山の天気は今、雨です。
気温は、26℃です。

さて、今日は岡山にいるので、少し岡山について話します。

岡山は"晴れの国(はれのくに)"とよばれています。
なぜかというと、岡山は、1年間にふる雨の量がとても少ないからです。基本的には晴れの日が多い岡山ですが、今日は残念ながら、雨です。

昨日、倉敷、という場所に行きました。岡山県の中にあります。岡山市のとなりが倉敷市です。そこに、倉敷美観地区というものがあります。そこに行ってきました。

倉敷美観地区は1642年に幕府直轄地"天領"となりました。
その時の政府が直接管理した、ということですね。
ここに流れる倉敷川は当時運河として利用されていて、商売が栄えた場所でした。

そして、その街並みは戦前までの建物が今も9割残っているそうです。おそらく建て替えなどはあったと思いますが、90%ほどが昔のままのもの、というのは、とてもおもしろいですね。

日本には、京都をはじめ、いろんな場所で昔からの街並みを残している場所があります。

東京のような大都市に行くのもいいですが、このような歴史的な場所に行くのも良いと思います。

ということで、今回も最後まで聞いていただき、ありがとうございます！

ではまた！






Atsushi のJapanese podcast (travel/news /文法・漢字・語彙/Osaka/Hokkaido/🇹🇷🇬🇪🇦🇲🇪🇸🇵🇹)

61 倉敷美観地区(くらしきびかんちく)について

这里是one minute Chinese, 中文一分钟，每天都不同！ 我们一起听一分钟，想一分钟，说一分钟，今天的话题是你最喜欢什么时候？
有人喜欢早上，有人喜欢晚上，有人喜欢春天，有人喜欢冬天，有人喜欢运动的时候，有人喜欢和爱人(ai4 ren2)lover在一起的时候。
我最喜欢看书的时候，在书里，我可以在一百万年((yi4 bai3 wan4 nian2)one million year前的森林里，也可以在2099年的外太空(wai4 tai4 kong1)outer-space，我可以是一位科学家， 也可以是一位明星，在这样的时间里，我可以去不同的世界，也有不同的我，所以，看书是我最美好的时光(shi2 guang1)time,days, moments。
你呢？你最喜欢什么时间呢？

One minute Chinese

你最喜欢什么时候？

We all share our data online these days. Do you think this is a problem?

Today, Nick gives you some ideas for this IELTS question.

IELTS with Nick - World Knowledge 

Should we be concerned about how our personal data is used online?

Vocal clarity is all about making your voice sound clean, expressive, and easy to understand. It starts with strong articulation and enunciation—making sure each word is crisp and pronounced clearly. Breath support, especially from the diaphragm, helps maintain vocal strength and steadiness so your voice doesn’t fade or waver.

Resonance is another big piece of the puzzle. Using different areas like your chest, nasal passages, or head for tone placement can give your voice richness and projection. To keep your sound open and flexible, it's essential to release tension in your jaw, tongue, and lips. Gentle warm-ups and stretches can help with that.

Pitch control and expressive intonation ensure your voice doesn’t sound monotone or dull. Along with that, pacing and rhythm make a huge difference—speaking or singing with intention, and not too fast, helps your audience catch every word.

If you're using a microphone, knowing how to position yourself and control your volume makes a big difference. And of course, the secret ingredient to all of this is consistent practice. Recording yourself, getting feedback, or even working with a coach (me) can help you refine your sound over time.

