Hi everyone! Christmas is getting closer and closer! I'm having a hard time choosing all the gifts I have to give this year. In this episode, I introduce Japanese Christmas again but in N4-N3 Japanese!

たつきのにほんご

日本のクリスマス (intermediate)

Hello, and welcome back to The Everyday English Podcast! I’m your host, Mohammad Riaz, and I’m so glad you’re here with me today.

We’re going to talk about something that has completely changed the way I make decisions. It’s a powerful idea from the thinker Naval Ravikant, and it goes like this:

"If you want to make the wrong decision, ask everyone."

Now, when I first read that, I have to be honest—it made me uncomfortable. My first thought was, "But Mohammad, isn't it good to get different perspectives?" And maybe you're thinking the same thing right now.

But let me walk you through why Naval says this—and more importantly, why I’ve come to agree with him.

The Everyday English Podcast

“If you want to make the wrong decision, ask everyone.”

Konnichiwa! Welcome to Slow Japanese! In this episode, program host Akari will talk about herself, the self-introduction episode. 

Usage of Slow Japanese:
STEP 1. Listen to the episode without seeing scripts.
STEP 2. Go to mochifika.com and check "Key vocabularies of this episode", listen again to the episode while seeing the list.
STEP 3. Check the whole script, it'll fill the gap in your understanding.

Scripts and key vocabularies of this episode are here:
https://mochifika.com/podcast-script/slow-japanese-episode-1-about-me/

Slow Japanese

Episode #1 - About me

One Minute Challenge to Speak English. Events

We are all quite busy in today's world but it shouldn't be the reason why not to practice to speak English, right?

Today I am challenging you to think of a recent event and to listen to some of my questions in the podcast to make you think even more!

Jump into today's one minute podcast and enjoy the experience!

See you tomorrow!

🎙 One-Minute Speaking Challenge by Anatoly Glazkov – Voice Unlock Method™

One Minute Challenge to Speak English. Events

One of Coca-Cola's many taglines was: "You can't beat the real thing." The company was trying to say that even though there were a lot of similar drinks, none of them was as good as the "real" Coke.

You might not agree. But when it comes to art, researchers in the Netherlands think it's true — you can't beat the real thing.

A small study has found that real artworks stimulate the brain much more than posters or prints of the same work.

The Mauritshuis ("MAO-rits-haus") Museum in The Hague commissioned the study. The museum's best-known artwork is Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer.

Researchers showed this artwork and four others to 20 people. While they were looking at the paintings, their brain activity was measured using a brain scanner.

The participants were also asked to look at posters of those same five artworks. The researchers compared their brain activity when looking at the real artworks and when looking at the posters.

They found that when looking at the real artworks, participants had an emotional response that was 10 times stronger compared to when they were looking at the posters.

Martine Gosselink from the museum said this was an "enormous difference." She said they had thought that looking at the real thing might give people a richer experience, but now "we can really say that it is true."

The researchers said the real art caused a strong emotional response in a part of the brain called the precuneus. This part of the brain is involved with self-reflection and personal memories.

Some have said that this research demonstrates the importance of museums and galleries for people of all ages.

Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

Study: Real Art Stimulates Brain More than Posters

Cuento de Juan Rulfo de título "En la madrugada".

Cuento de nunca acabar

Episodio 3: En la madrugada

Сегодня я расскажу вам о немецкой молодёжной группе AnnenMayKantereit. Мне очень нравится их творчество и голос солиста. 
Today I will tell you about the German youth group AnnenMayKantereit. I really like their work and the voice of the soloist.

Russian for foreigners

Рубрика "Персона". The rubric "A person"

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 

Universal Truths about Learning

Transcript: https://drive.google.com/file/d/12MWfIcCKsxs0640qEZ6r4CI_Fkc4ic9O/view?usp=drivesdk