Let’s practice your Japanese comprehension with this video, which includes N5 and N4 level Japanese grammar points taught in Genki 1 and Genki 2. The Japanese language has many sensitive nuances, and using them smoothly and appropriately can be the most difficult part. Experience, such as talking and listening as much as possible, is key […]
Tag: Comprehension
Today, let’s practice our French comprehension with a video from French Vogue’s YouTube’s channel, posted above. In this video, a style expert comments and critiques the cool and unique looks encountered in the Parisian streets. **Please note, I divided the quiz into 2 parts: today, my questions are about the looks 1, 2 and 4. My […]
Murakami has worked both at UC Berkeley and Princeton College. Here in this excerpt, he tells us which city he prefers living at and why. This text is technical and contains many subtleties, so it is ok to not understand all. Try to guess the main points, and answer to the questions below after listening […]
In today’s excerpt, Murakami is telling what he enjoyed doing after he moved to the US. Author: Murakami Haruki (村上春樹) Title: “やがて哀しき外国語” (やがて かなしき がいこくご) アメリカに来て暮らすようになってから、中古レコード店をまわってジャズの古いレコードを漁ることが、大きな楽しみになってしまった。一番の娯楽と言ってもいいくらいだ。せっかく外国に住んでいるのだから、もう少し有意義で活動的な人生の楽しみかたがあってもいいのにと、ときどき自分でも思うのだけれど。 （アメリカ に きて くらす ように なってから、ちゅうこ レコードてん を まわって ジャズ の ふるい レコード を あさる こと が、おおきな たのしみ に なってしまった。いちばん の ごらく と いっても いい くらいだ。せっかく がいこく に すんでいる のだから、もう すこし ゆういぎで かつどうてきな じんせい の たのしみかた が あっても いいのに と、ときどき じぶん でも おもう のだけれど。） Comments: Murakami tells us that since he has started living in America, his hobby has been to go to used records stores and hunt for (漁る – あさる) […]
Today’s excerpt is where Murakami meets one of his favorite American author’s relative. Author: Murakami Haruki (村上春樹) Title: “やがて哀しき外国語” (Yagate kanashiki gaikokugo) 先日ペンシルヴェニアに住んでいるシンシア・ロスさんという人から、夕食に来ないかと言う招待の手紙をいただいた。その手紙によると、シンシアさんは実はスコット・フィッツジェラルドの孫にあたるということである。(…) 彼女は僕がスコット・フィッツジェラルドの小説の翻訳をしていることを人づてに聞いて、興味を持ってわざわざ招待してくれたのだ。 Senjitu Pensiruvenia ni sundeiru Sinsia Rosu san to iuu hito kara, yuushoku ni konai ka to iuu shoutai no tegami wo itadaita. Sono tegami ni yoruto, Sinsia san wa jituha Sukotto […]
Today’s Japanese listening comprehension is an excerpt where Murakami Haruki explains his first visit to Princeton University and the reason behind it. Hint: it is related to one of his favorite American author. As usual, I am reading first normal speed, and then again more slowly. Try to first listen without looking at the transcript below, […]
Today’s listening comprehension is from the book “やがて哀しき外国語” (yagate kanashiki gaikokugo) by Murakami Haruki (村上春樹). It is an essay about his experience living in the US as an Associate Researcher and Associate Professor at Princeton University, in the 90’s. I am personally not a fan of Murakami’s novels, but I do like his essays very […]
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🇫🇷 Improving Listening Comprehension
When learning a language, practicing listening comprehension is extremely important. As an English language learner myself, I find phone conversations particularly challenging, as there are no visual cues to help provide contextual clues. Even after years of living in the US, it is always a bit intimidating to talk on the phone. My students often […]