In this episode, Nick discusses renting and buying houses, which could come up in Speaking Part 3 or Writing Part 2 of the IELTS test. 

IELTS with Nick - World Knowledge 

Is it better to rent or buy a house?

NASA has given SpaceX an $843 million contract to build the vehicle that will help to destroy the International Space Station (ISS).

Space X, a company that's controlled by Elon Musk, will build the vehicle but the mission will be led by NASA.

The ISS was launched in 1998 and it's likely that it will have to be removed from space in the next few years.

The station is operated by space agencies from the US, Europe, Japan, Canada and Russia. All the countries involved have said they'll operate the station until 2030 except Russia, which has said it will operate it until 2028.

Teams of astronauts have been living in the space station since 2000. During that time, they have done more than 3,300 experiments in space.

It's expected that the SpaceX vehicle will pull the ISS through space before landing it in the sea. Both are likely to break apart as they re-enter Earth's atmosphere.

NASA said that it will be focusing on "commercially owned space destinations closer to home" as life on the ISS comes to an end.

The contract is seen as another vote of confidence for the company that Musk founded in 2002.

But experts say it won't be easy bringing such a large space station back to Earth safely.

Meghan Bartels from Scientific American said it will be a "delicate" challenge.

She said it took 42 different launches to send the ISS into space, where it was put together in orbit.

She added: "The orbiting laboratory contains about as much internal space as a six-bedroom house spread over an area the size of a football field," and that it weighs almost as much as three blue whales.

It's not yet known what the vehicle will look like or exactly when the mission will take place.

Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

SpaceX Given Contract to Destroy Space Station

今回のエピソードでは、日本で大人気のファストフード「牛丼」の歴史と文化について紹介します。牛丼はどのように生まれ、なぜここまで多くの人に愛されるようになったのでしょうか？日本の食べ物文化をいっしょに学びましょう！
In this episode, we explore the history and cultural background of gyudon, one of Japan’s most beloved fast foods. Where did gyudon come from, and why is it so popular today? Tune in and learn more about Japanese food culture with us!
這一集要介紹日本非常受歡迎的速食「牛丼」的歷史與文化。牛丼是怎麼誕生的？又為什麼會成為日本人與旅客都喜愛的料理呢？歡迎收聽，一起更深入認識日本的飲食文化！


にほんごタイム🇯🇵Learn Japanese with Sayuri!

［JLPT:N4-N3］早い・安い・うまい！牛丼から見る日本のファストフード文化｜Fast, Cheap, Delicious: Gyudon and Japan’s Fast-Food Culture｜又快又便宜又好吃！從牛丼看日本的速食文化

Here's today's news. Please share your thoughts at the end when I ask a question.
You can check the script at the link provided.

今日(きょう)のニュースです。最後(さいご)に質問(しつもん)をしますので、感想(かんそう)を聞(き)かせください。スクリプトはリンクで確認(かくにん)できます。

■SuicaとPASMO 名前を登録するカードを9月から売る - Starting in September, Suica and PASMO cards with registered names will be available for purchase -
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/easy/k10014553851000/k10014553851000.html

NEWS for beginners - Native Japanese Accent -

SuicaとPASMO - Suica and PASMO -

Join me on a short journey to my young life where we will see several common idioms in action that make use of the verb 'to hit'.

A Stone's Throw Podcast

A Snapshot From My Childhood

Here are FIVE useful tips for staying motivated while learning a new language. :)

Learning Strategies for Success with Tyler Teacher

Tips for staying motivated while learning a new language 

I progetti segreti dell'avveniristico sottomarino Akes x3 sono stati rubati. Chi può essere stato? Un orecchino trovato sul luogo del crimine potrebbe essere un indizio decisivo per la soluzione del caso. O forse no...  Come sempre scrivete il nome del colpevole nei commenti e spiegate perchè pensate che quel personaggio sia responsabile del crimine.

Se io fossi Sherlock Holmes

Furto all'ambasciata

[単語リスト] [word list]

しどう　指導  guidance,instruction
ふくしゅう　復讐   revenge
こうあん　公安   public safety
つかまえる　捕まえる   to seize, to catch 
しょうぶ　勝負 a game, a match 
たいど　態度   attitude
いかり　怒り   anger
ズルい    cheating
めいれい　命令   order
みのがす　見逃す   overlooking something, missing something
