Living in Russia

Going to Russia

"Behind the Lessons: Get to Know Your Child's ESL Teacher" is a personal podcast designed for prospective and current parents of my ESL students. Through candid storytelling, I offer a glimpse into my educational background, share my experiences learning foreign languages, and reflect on my journey as an ESL teacher. By getting to know me better, parents can gain insights into my teaching style, values, and commitment to their child's language development. Join me on this journey as we build connections and foster trust, empowering parents to choose me as their child's ESL teacher with confidence.

Behind the Lessons: Get to Know Your Child's ESL Teacher

Introduction

Here's how to say "Do you come here often?" in Thai: 
👉 "คุณมาที่นี่บ่อยมั้ย?" (kun maa tîi nîi bɔ̀ɔi mái?)

Let's break it down:
🔹 "คุณ" (kun) - means "you"
🔹 "มา" (maa) - means "come"
🔹 "ที่นี่" (tîi nîi) - means "here"
🔹 "บ่อย" (bɔ̀ɔi) - means "often"
🔹 "มั้ย" (mái) - is a question particle, similar to asking "Do you?"

Practice this phrase and give it a try on your next Thai adventure naka! 🌟🥰

Learn Thai with Pailin

Learn to Say "Do You Come Here Often?" in Thai! 🌴

For beginner level learners✨　
わたしのいろいろなはなし　LESSON13 　

「ネコのクロエちゃん」My cat Chloe［3：27］

The aim of this lesson...
ペットのことを　話します。
to talk about pets!!



★★Introduction of the characters★★
1．きょうの　バックミラーくんは　｛　小学（しょうがく）　・　中学（ちゅうがく）　｝　５ねんせいの　｛　男の子（おとこのこ）　・　女の子（おんなのこ）　｝です。

2．バックミラーくんは　｛　英語（えいご）　・　日本語（にほんご）　・　中国語（ちゅうごくご）　｝も　囲碁（いご、Go game）も　すごく　じょうずです。いごは　もう　｛　４ねん　・　５ねん　｝しています。まいとし、いごの　｛　れんしゅう　・　しあい　　｝に　行っています。いま、｛　５きゅう　・　６きゅう　｝です。もっと　つよくなりたいです！


★★Please tell me about yourself★★
なにをしているとき、とてもたのしくて、げんきなきもちになりますか。
What makes you feel happy and energetic?

3．せんせい
わたしは、友だちと　｛　ジョジョというアニメのこと　・　冗談（じょうだん、joke）　｝を　はなしているとき


4．バックミラーくん
｛　人が　たくさんいる　・　だれもいない　｝ところ、｛　きれいな　みずうみ　・　ごみ　｝があって　｛　さかな　・　とり　｝がいるところで、｛　おとうさんと　おかあさん　・　ともだち　・　おじいちゃん　｝と　あるいているとき

=きれいな　しぜんの　なかを　すきなひとと　あるいているとき　

⇒それは、「しあわせ」って　いいますね！
　たのしくて　げんきになるのは　「しあわせ」を　かんじるとき　なんですね。


★Answer★
Answers at the bottom!

LESSON13　ネコのクロエちゃん My cat Chloe
1)［3：27］Introduction of the characters, Please tell me about yourself 
2)［4：34］The aim of this lesson, Text, Vocabulary 
3)［3：51］Sentence pattern and expression 1&2　 
4)［3：05］Text, Applied conversation practice, Extra thinking training　 
5)［7：54］Let's challenge you too!
6)［4：18］Interview...

You can see the text of this lesson on my free website.
你可以在我的免费网站上找到这一课的内容。

★Answer★
1.小学・男の子　2．日本語・５ねん・しあい・５きゅう　3．じょうだん　4．だれもいない・きれいなみずうみ・とり・おとうさんと　おかあさん

Japanese! わたしの いろいろな はなし

ネコのクロエちゃん（1）

El salario mínimo es la cuantía mínima de remuneración que un empleador está obligado a pagar a sus empleados por el trabajo que ellos efectúan.


Mucho que decir

El salario mínimo en México

Short story 「はなこさんの夏休（なつやす）み《 Hanako’s summer vacation 》ep2」
This is an original story I created.
This episode is JLPT-N5 level.

I created a quiz on this episode.
After listening, please take the quiz!

Please use this audio for listening and shadowing practices.

☆Hanako’s summer vacation ep1
#19 Short story / Hanako’s summer vacation ep1 / storytelling // N5 Level

☆Words☆
毎年（まいとし / maitoshi）：every year
新幹線（しんかんせん / shinkansen）：bullet train 
～を 降りる（～を おりる / ～o oriru）：get off
タクシー乗り場（たくしーのりば / takushīnoriba）：taxi stand
 遠い（とおい / tōi）：far
～に 着く（～に つく / ～ni tsu ku）：to arrive
携帯電話（けいたいでんわ / kētaidenwa）：cell phone
連絡する（れんらくする / renrakusuru）：contact
辛い（からい / karai）：spicy
お土産（おみやげ / omiyage）：souvenir
甘い（あまい / amai）：sweet
キッチン（きっちん / kicchin）：kitchen
冷蔵庫（れいぞうこ / rēzōko）：fridge
急いで（いそいで / isoide）：hurry
びっくりする（bikkurisuru）：to be surprised

☆Grammar☆
・te-form
・plain form（casual conversation）

☆Script for this episode
The scripts (URL) are listed in the overview section of the channel.

☆Quiz for this episode
https://www.italki.com/quiz/set/6274?utm_source=copylink_share&utm_medium=share_content&utm_campaign=share_quiz

Simple Japanese Listening with Meg（めぐ）Smile

#22  Short story /  Hanako’s summer vacation ep2 / storytelling // N5 Level

3000 Most Common Words

This is a clean and tidy office. A photo is displayed on the wall. It shows the Memory Stationery staff standing proud in front of a new warehouse. Everyone’s face is full of optimism.  But today the company atmosphere is tense. A4, the CEO of the company, is at his desk and on the phone; he is facing out the window at the sky. His facial expression is timid.

“I hear you, Mr. Scissors,” says A4. “But it’s impossible. I can’t take our prices down that low. You’re asking me to sacrifice our entire profit margin.”

A4 sits in silence as he listens to the response. A bead of sweat runs down the CEO’s face. The voice on the other end is frightening him.

“Sir, last month I discounted our products to the bottom line… Yes, but, please, sir, I’m just an
honest wholesaler. I promise I’m not trying to take advantage of you… Other retailers are happy to pay market rate—”

A4 suddenly pulls the phone away from his ear. The voice is furious and aggressive. It is blasting out the tiny speaker. When the harsh noise calms down, A4 puts the phone back to his ear.

“No, please, don’t cut me. Please, sir. You’re right, okay? You’re right. That was rude of me, I’m
sorry… I know. I’m a scrap. You’re right. I’m no better than a tissue. You’re right…”

A4 changes his tone. He isn’t pleading anymore. He sounds like he has given up.

“Mr. Scissors. I’ll look at our margins and call you back. There might be some way we can go down lower…”

A4 hangs up the phone. He leans back in his chair. His eyes are glazed over. He is deep in
contemplation. He imagines the brutal scenario of Mr. Scissors cutting him into a thousand pieces.

Throughout this entire time, A4 has been recording the conversation onto his paper body. This is his natural ability. A4’s unmistakable memory is the reason why he is the CEO.

A4 picks up the phone and dials a number. Life returns to his eyes.

“Backpack, get everyone together in the meeting room. I have an announcement.”

Being a Cloud

A4 the Piece of Paper 

Whether you live to work or you work to live, having a healthy work-life balance is good for both you and your employer.

Here are just a few ways to keep your balance healthy!

Plan
It can help to plan your time, making sure to include social activities in those plans, says Allaya Cooks-Campbell from job coaching website BetterUp.

Even scheduling a night in front of the TV is enough — it will give you a bit of time to switch off.

If you're able to, you could also plan to take short breaks during the day, and perhaps even use them to take a walk or read a few pages of a book.

Use apps to help
Cooks-Campbell also suggests using an app to block distracting websites during the work day — which might include things like social media.

You can then do the same in the evening and block work apps, if you find it difficult to stop checking them.

Be kind to yourself
It's important to be realistic about your work-life balance, and not to get too stressed if you don't follow your plan. That's according to Kate Eby from work management company Smartsheet.

Being kind to yourself, she says, can help you improve your mental health.

Talk to your boss
If you're finding it difficult to get your work-life balance right, speaking to your manager may be a good idea — although not everyone will feel comfortable doing this.

It may be that you have been given too much work to do, or there is a better way to do it — and talking to your boss could help you work smarter, not harder.

However, Cooks-Campbell says different things work for different people — so you have to find what's right for you!

Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

Plan, Be Kind: Tips for a Healthy Work-Life Balance

Small talk doesn't have to be mundane; it can be a colorful canvas of shared experiences! In our latest episode, Amy and Curtis spill the beans on their recent hobbies and activities.

Curtis shares his newfound morning routine – brisk walking for an energy boost, a new hobby he's picked up with coloring books. Meanwhile, Amy takes us on a journey through her latest experiments from the kitchen.

Book a trial lesson with Curtis - https://www.italki.com/teacher/4672521/english