第10回目は、お花見について話しました。
いま、日本はお花見の季節です。うらやましい！わたしも桜を見に行きたいです...

In the 10th episode, I talked about cherry blossom viewing.
Now is the season of Hanami in Japan. I am so jealous! I want to go see cherry blossoms too...

Plain Japanese Podcast やさしい にほんご ポッドキャスト

#10 お花見 Cherry Blossom Viewing

What is coarticulation, and why does it make listening and speaking hard in a foreign language? Learn more in this podcast, from my Youtube channel "Adventures with Alex"!

Adventures in English with Alex

Coarticulation - Listening and Speaking Tips in English

Medical Spanish 🏥
(Gut Microbiota)
Entrevista a la nutrióloga Nancy Arredondo sobre la microbiota intestinal.


Medical Spanish

Microbiota Intestinal (EXTRACT)

A story about a little boy who discovers that the fish he thought he found in a pond were actually baby frogs (tadpoles)!

Storytime with Teacher Lauren

I Found a Frog

** This story contains graphic and explicit material it is not recommended for children. For mature audiences only. ** 18+
The Parrot and the Potbellied Pig from Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk by David Sedaris Illustrations by Ian Falconer
Read by me Teacher Alyse. Listen and follow along.
Send me a message me for your free pdf copy of this book.
https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/13365914
The way the pig is labeled based on his Vietnamese heritage, despite being born in the U.S., mirrors the real-world experiences of many immigrants and their descendants. Even when someone identifies as fully American, they can still be seen as "other" because of their background. The parrot's insistence on framing the pig's identity through an ethnic lens—rather than his actual achievements—reflects how media narratives and public discourse can shape (and sometimes distort) the way individuals are perceived.
This is especially important now, given the ongoing discussions about immigration in the U.S. Many immigrants and first-generation Americans face similar struggles with identity, belonging, and how they're portrayed in society. The story also highlights how insecurities—whether about identity, appearance, or status—can be exacerbated by external judgments.
Themes and Interpretation
•	Identity and Stereotyping: The pig’s frustration highlights how labels—whether about ethnicity or body image—can shape and limit a person’s self-perception.
•	Media Manipulation: The parrot, representing a journalist, distorts facts for a sensationalized story, raising questions about bias and ethics in reporting.
•	Self-Perception and Insecurity: The pig’s struggles with his body image illustrate how external judgments can create deep-seated insecurities.
•	Cultural Commentary: The story subtly critiques societal assumptions about identity and heritage, showing how people (or animals) can be boxed in by others’ perceptions.

Squirrel Seeks Chipmunk ( Adult 18+) 

The Parrot and the Potbellied Pig

IELTS Preparation. Band 8-9 Answers. Part 1 - Visitors.

Q. What would you suggest a visitor should see and do?
Q. Are there any traditional arts or music you would recommend?
Q. Tell me about the kind of foreign visitors or tourists who go to your country.
Q. In what ways has tourism changed your country?

Let me know which words were the most challenging and why?

IELTS-SPEAKING 8-9 BAND IS POSSIBLE. DAILY SPEAKING PRACTICE PART 1,2 & 3. Listen daily.

IELTS Preparation. Band 8-9 Answers. Part 1 - Visitors.

This podcast will teach you nine new idioms. The nine idioms it will teach you are:

there are many ways to skin a cat
a hard nut to crack
having a coffee
bite your nose off to spite your face
shoot yourself in the foot
go the extra mile
kill two birds with one stone
give it a shot
It’s not rocket science.

To get the band score you need in IELTS it’s important to learn the skills the examiners are looking for.

Listen to this podcast to learn 9 idioms to use in your IELTS speaking exam.



IELTS Speaking Practice

9 more idioms for IELTS

IELTS Preparation. Band 8-9 Answers. Part 3- The Internet and It's Impact. Question 6.

How has the internet changed the way we communicate with others?

Linking words: in addition, besides, finally.

Relevant vocabulary: while talking, live a world apart, sending or receiving, huge amount of data, friends and families, emails, spending virtually, personalized, view anybody, live, on camera, , in fact, it has made, easier, faster, information, affordable write messages, letters, as large as.

How helpful was it? Would you like to do the same?

Book my one-on-one so we can develop this ability in you too!

See you in 5.
