In this episode, I will tell you about my friend Sara. Listen carefully and take the quiz to check your understanding.

Español Práctico 

Mi amiga Sara (Level A2-B1)

みなさん、こんにちは。おげんきですか。日本は3連休です。そして、台風が来ています。
大型の台風が九州に近づいているようです。九州にお住まいの方、大丈夫ですか。気をつけてください。
19日の月曜日は敬老の日で、23日の金曜日は秋分の日なので、今週は休みが多いです。九月のこの連休のことをシルバーウイークって言うんですよ。

我が家の高校2年生の息子は、今日は学校の文化祭。今朝は台風の影響で雨足が強かったのですが、朝6時半に家を出て行きました。青春ですね。「文化祭、何をするの」って聞くと、「モグラたたき」って。えー、何それって感じです。人間モグラたたきのようですよ。楽しいことを考えますね。
コロナ前は入場制限もなく自由に学校見学に行けましたが、コロナ禍ということで、インターネットで予約してからの入場のようです。面倒な時代ですね。でも、インターネットでの配信も少しあるみたいなので、わざわざ学校まで足を運ばなくても、文化祭の様子を垣間見ることができます。これは、親にはありがたいですね。

娘は明日が誕生日です。で、雨ですが、原宿まで洋服を買いに行きたいと。日本の小学生はおしゃれが大好きですよ。
なので、大雨の中、私の姉も一緒に原宿にお買い物に行ってきました。私の姉ですから、娘にとってはおばさんですね。たくさん試着して、さんざん悩んで洋服を買いました。
娘との買い物は、私自身も楽しみなんです。あー、こんなのが好きなんだとか、大きくなったなあって思いながら、楽しく買い物しましたよ。原宿は雨でも混んでいました。

みなさんはどんな週末でしたか。


「のぞみ」の日記

3連休（9月18日）

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Is college worth the time and money? Americans are increasingly skeptical about the value and cost, according to a new survey.

And most said they feel the US higher education system is moving in the "wrong direction."

Overall, only 36% of adults said they have a "great deal" or "quite a lot" of confidence in higher education, according to a report released by Gallup and the Lumina Foundation. That confidence level has declined steadily from 57% in 2015.

Some of the same opinions have been reflected in declining enrollment numbers as colleges contend with the effects of the student debt crisis, concerns about the high cost of tuition and political debates over how they teach about race and other topics.

"It's so expensive, and I don't think colleges are teaching people what they need to get a job," said Randy Hill, a 59-year-old driver from Connecticut.

He added: "You graduate out of college, you're up to [your] eyeballs in debt, you can't get a job, then you can't pay it off. What's the point?"

The June 2024 survey's overall finding — that 36% of adults feel strong confidence in higher education — is the same as the year before.

But what concerns researchers is that more Americans — 32% — said they have "very little" or no confidence in higher education.

Experts say that fewer college graduates could lead to labor shortages in fields from health care to information technology.

For those who choose not to go to college, it often means lower lifetime earnings — 75% less compared with those who get bachelor's degrees, according to Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce. And during an economic downturn, those without degrees are more likely to lose jobs.

However, others still see the value in higher education. College student Kristen Freeman from California told The Associated Press: "I think higher education can give students the spark to want to change the system."

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