This is a reading from the Aozora Bunko "Jyûnen（Ten Years）" with some expressions changed to easy Japanese for learners of Japanese.
The reading is followed by explanations of the story and vocabulary. Please use it to study Japanese listening comprehension.

.｡.:*･ﾟ＋.｡.:*･ﾟ＋.｡.:*･ﾟ＋.｡.:*･ﾟ＋.｡.

青空文庫「十年」より、日本語学習者向けに一部の表現をやさしい日本語に変えて、朗読しています。
朗読の後にストーリーや語彙の解説があります。日本語のリスニングの勉強にお役立てください。

OYASUMI にほんご

#7　Ten Years（10ねん, Jyûnen）

Why You Freeze in English: The Psychology of Language Learning

🎧 Have you ever felt like your English is perfect in your head… but the moment you open your mouth — it disappears?

You tell yourself it’s bad grammar, or not enough vocabulary. But the truth is… it’s not grammar at all.

It’s psychology.

In this episode, we’re going to explore what’s really happening in your mind when you speak another language — why emotions, memory, identity, and even your belief system decide whether your English flows or freezes.

You’ll discover why anxiety blocks your brain, how perfectionism slows you down, and how playfulness accelerates fluency.

And I’ll share what I’ve learned in over 20,000 coaching sessions with professionals around the world — from Russia to China to the Middle East — about how people truly unlock their global voice.

If you’ve ever doubted yourself in English… this episode will change the way you see language learning forever. Let’s dive in.


If today’s episode resonated with you, here’s what I want you to do next. Don’t just stop at listening — take action.

I’ve put together a free Voice Starter Kit with warm-ups and mindset shifts I usually only share with my private clients. It’s designed to lower your anxiety, boost your confidence, and help you sound clear and natural in English — even under pressure.

All you need to do is send me a quick DM with the word VOICE and I’ll send it straight to you.

Remember — your English is not just grammar and vocabulary. It’s your global identity. Let’s unlock it together.

Job Interview Preparation | CEO Interview Strategies From Diverse Business Sectors!

Why You Freeze in English: The Psychology of Language Learning

The 3-Second Shift: From Tension to Trust

What if clarity had nothing to do with vocabulary?
What if your English didn’t need fixing — your voice just needed space?

In this episode, I share a story about one of my clients — a senior product lead at Tencent — who felt like she disappeared every time she had to speak in English.

She wasn’t struggling with grammar.
She was struggling with presence.

We didn’t work on performance.
We worked on something simpler — and far more powerful:
A 3-second shift that helped her speak from calm, not tension. From self-trust, not fear.

If you’re a global professional who sounds fluent but doesn’t feel fully you in English — this episode is for you.

DM me “VOICE” if it resonates. I’ll send you a short voice note you can use today.

Let’s bring your real voice back.

The 3-Second Shift: From Tension to Trust

“Your Voice Isn’t Broken”

Most professionals I work with already know how to speak English.
But they don’t feel like themselves when they speak it.

They sound smaller. More careful. Less certain.
Not because they lack skill — but because they don’t trust their voice in the moments that matter.

I don’t fix English.
I help leaders speak from clarity, not tension. From self-trust, not perfection.
And when they do — everything changes.

🌱 If this resonates, DM me “VOICE.”
Let’s bring your real voice back.

“Your Voice Isn’t Broken”

🧠 Confidence & Communication — What’s the real connection?

If you’re a non-native English-speaking manager, you’ve likely felt it:

👉 You know what you want to say…
But in the moment, the words vanish. Doubt creeps in. Confidence slips away.

The truth is — language and confidence are deeply connected.
How you feel when you speak matters just as much as the words you choose.

Try this 1-minute confidence reset before your next meeting:

✨ Close your eyes
✨ Inhale slowly (4 seconds)
✨ Hold (4 seconds)
✨ Exhale gently (6 seconds)
✨ Repeat 3 times

Then say quietly to yourself:
💬 “My voice matters. I speak with clarity.”

🌿 Confidence doesn’t mean speaking perfectly. It means showing up — grounded, clear, and present.

If you’re ready to feel more confident in your communication, I’d love to help.

📩 DM me anytime — let’s build that confidence together.

#BusinessEnglish #ConfidenceAtWork #LeadershipCommunication #MindfulCommunication #NonNativeSpeaker #PublicSpeaking #ExecutivePresence #SoftSkillsMatter #SpeakWithConfidence #CareerGrowth

🧠 Confidence & Communication — What’s the real connection?

Important presentation coming up in English? Feeling nervous? 🦋 It’s normal! Presenting in another language can be tough.

We all have things we do before a presentation to feel calmer. But what really helps when you’re under pressure?

I want to know: What’s your best trick to calm your nerves before a big presentation in English?

Do you:

Breathe deeply?
Imagine yourself doing well?
Do a power pose in the bathroom? (No problem if you do! 😉)
Or something else?

Share your tips below! Let’s help each other feel more confident before presenting. 👇 

#PresentationSkills #PublicSpeaking #CommunicationSkills #Nerves #EnglishForProfessionals #ExecutiveCoaching

P.S. I recently created a new introductory video outlining my expertise and how I can help you succeed. I invite you to take a look. I’m confident you’ll find it both informative and engaging.



English Presentation Panic? You've got this!

Crush Chaos, Own Your Career: 5 Hacks for Women Who Do It All

Oh, that glorious chaos of adulting! Left hand typing reports, right hand folding laundry, one foot meal-prepping, and the other chasing a toddler. “Balance”? More like “survival mode.” But fear not—I’ve cracked the code. As a self-proclaimed “balance wizard,” here’s my cheat sheet:

1️⃣ Daily ‘Mini-Vacation’
Steal 30 minutes every day for pure joy: a book, Netflix, doodling, or staring at trees. Non-negotiable. (Your sanity will thank you.)

2️⃣ People > To-Do Lists
Swap “productivity guilt” for real moments with loved ones. Pro tip: Laughing with friends recharges you faster than 10 coffees.

3️⃣ Perfectionism? Kick It to the Curb
Repeat after me: “Done > Perfect.” Your boss won’t notice the typo. But burnout? Oh, they’ll notice that.

4️⃣ Master the Art of “NOPE”
Not your emergency? Not your problem. Boundaries = freedom. (And fewer 3 AM Slack pings.)

5️⃣ Phone? Gone on Weekends
Activate “ghost mode.” No emails. No doomscrolling. Just living. (Spoiler: The world won’t collapse.)

Your Turn, Balance Warriors!
What’s your secret to surviving the corporate circus? Share below! 🎪✨

P.S. If all else fails… chocolate.

Listen to teh podcast and get inspired!

Crush Chaos, Own Your Career: 5 Hacks for Women Who Do It All

Bruce Lee’s Empty Cup - And Why Your English is Costing You MONEY

Bruce Lee asked: Is your cup empty, or full?

The answer could be why you’re leaving money on the table every time you open your mouth in a business situation. I’m talking presentations that bore clients to death, pitches that land with a thud, job interviews where you sound like a buffoon…and even those damn IELTS tests my students sweat over.

See, you’re probably making ONE of these critical mistakes (and maybe all of them):

You’re STUCK in Your Ways: “Empty” means potential. “Full” means rigid, unable to adapt. Your English is probably stuck in a textbook from 1985.

You’re Fixated on “Perfect”: Forget perfection. Aim for impact. Trying to be flawless is paralyzing you. Stop it.

You Think You’re “Done” Learning: The moment you stop learning, you start dying (business-wise, anyway). Your English has to evolve to stay sharp.

You’re Clueless About Yourself: You have ZERO awareness of how you actually sound to prospects, clients, or even the interviewer across the table. Ouch.

But there’s a way out.

In my latest podcast episode, I take Bruce Lee’s wisdom – yes, the martial arts guy – and brutally expose exactly how you can weaponize your English.

Become instantly more persuasive.

Sharpen your message until it cuts like a diamond.

Deliver every sentence with unshakeable clarity.

Click here to listen now. This isn’t about grammar lessons; this is about MONEY. Don’t let your English hold you hostage any longer.


P.S. Are you SERIOUS about mastering high-impact business English? This podcast is just the beginning. There’s a whole lot more where that came from…

Book my limited 1-1 communication / confidence / clarity BOOSTER meetings now.

Bruce Lee’s Empty Cup - And Why Your English is Costing You MONEY

Is Your Introduction Repelling Your Dream Job? Stop Begging and Start COMMANDING Attention!

Let’s be blunt: Your introduction is either a powerful weapon or a pathetic weakness. Are you sounding like a timid pushover, or a confident COMPETITION CRUSHER who’s about to steal the show?

Truth is, most job seekers are UTTERLY FORGETTABLE. They drone on with the same tired clichés, blending into the background like wallpaper.

What makes YOU different? What makes the hiring manager absolutely OBSESSED with having you on their team?

If you can’t answer that, you’re DEAD IN THE WATER.

This isn’t about “looking professional.” It’s about projecting POWER, AUTHORITY, and undeniable VALUE that leaves the competition in the dust.

In this recording, I’ll hand you the exact phrases you need to inject into your system NOW to transform your introduction into a high-impact sales pitch.

LISTEN UP: This isn’t for the faint of heart. This is about crafting an introduction that DEMANDS attention, builds instant rapport, and leaves the hiring manager begging you to accept the job.

Listen, drill these phrases, and build your own arsenal of words. Because in today’s cutthroat job market, you either DOMINATE or you DISAPPEAR.

Time to stop sounding like everyone else and start projecting the UNSTOPPABLE force you really are.

Are you ready to finally make the hiring person fall in love with you, or are you going to let another opportunity slip through your fingers? The choice is yours.

But let’s face it, you are here, because you want to win it all. No participation trophies, no second place…

Are you ready to have more people want to hire you?

Anatoly

(P.S. This recording is NOT for those who are satisfied with mediocrity. If you’re looking for fluff, go somewhere else. This is for serious action-takers who are ready to DOMINATE.)