 I share real Japanese that native speakers actually use, spoken slowly and gently.
In short 3–4 minute episodes.

HONTO NO NIHONGO with Maiko

** 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.

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 and other stories from David Sedaris ( Adult 18+) 

The Parrot and the Potbellied Pig

第九课  你儿子在哪儿工作
一、听力  第一部分
1.医院
2.医生
3.椅子
4.小猫

第二部分
5. 男：我的猫呢？
女：在椅子下面。
6. 男：你妈妈是医生吗？
   女：不是，我妈妈是老师，她在学校工作。
7. 男：我的狗在哪儿？
女：在椅子上面。
8. 女：你朋友在哪儿工作？
 男：她是医生，在医院工作。

第三部分
9. 这是我的小猫，在椅子下面。
   问：他的猫在哪儿？
10.他儿子叫李朋，在商店工作。
   问：他儿子在哪儿工作？
11.他爸爸是医生，妈妈不工作。
问：他妈妈在哪儿工作？
12. 她儿子在中国，她女儿在美国。
问：她女儿在哪儿？


hsk1  第九课  你儿子在哪儿工作

Enjoy the eleventh episode of Culture To Grow, which allows you to travel the world from the comfort of your home, your car, or if you are still half asleep in your bed.

In this episode, you will hear from listeners about their own resolutions and the challenges and triumphs they've experienced in the past and would like to overcome.

Whether you're a resolution-making pro or new to the game, this episode has something for everyone. Tune in to get a fresh start on the new year and set yourself up for success.

Culture To Grow

Episode 11: New Year's Resolutions

今回のトピックは奈良県で起きたストーカー捜査の警察官にストーカーした疑い、女を逮捕の事件についてお話しします。
タイトルですら意味わからないですよね^^ そんなお話をします^^
When you fail the first time, always remember to pick yourself up and try again. Except maybe in this case.

The Konnichiwa Podcast is a bilingual English-Japanese podcast. Dan, My, and Yurie started the podcast with the goal of creating a show where Japanese and English speakers of all levels could improve their language skills and have fun in the process. With topics ranging from the latest news stories, to life in Japan, to the history of ramen, the Konnichiwa Podcast aims to entertain while giving listeners a glimpse into international communication.

The Konnichiwa Podcast

Stranger Danger

El viaje no ha hecho más que empezar. Después de una noche exigente... ¿qué vamos a hacer durante el día? ¡Toca explorar Berlín! :)

Audiolibros de Joan

Viajando por Europa. Capítulo 3.

얘들아 , 우리 10시에 영상 통화 하자.
大伙们，我们十点钟视频通话吧。

응, 근데 나 9시 40분부터 10시 10분까지 온라인 한국어 수업이 있어.
嗯, 可是我从九点四十到十点十分有线上韩语课。 

그럼 넌 한국어 수업 끝나면 들어와.
那你韩语课结束后进来吧。 

알겠어. 얘들아 이따가 만나. 
知道了。大伙们待会儿见。


얘들아, 모두들 大伙们
온라인 线上
오프라인 线下
끝나다 结束 
이따(가), 잠시 후에 待会儿


[YOON] 1분 한국어

얘들아 , 우리 10시에 영상 통화 하자. 大伙们，我们十点钟视频通话吧。

The Spanish have lots of yummy food. But when you see what their name means, it doesn't sound so good.
I wrote a romantic comedy novel about bad translations. "Loosely Translated", by Simon Wheeler, is on Amazon, as a digital book.

The Social Evolutionary

Spanish Food Translates Badly!

There is plenty of information on the internet as to how to get high score in IELTS speaking, right? I don't want to go over it because you did it yourself. In this episode and in the future episodes I'll be talking about Psychology and HOW it is influencing us WHILE we are taking the test.