Konnichiwa everybody, I hope you are all well. It’s been too long since my last newsletter! Due to a shoulder injury and neck hernia, I had to put my newsletters and Patreon posts on pause for a little while. While I am still not able to restart my Patreon yet, I can restart my newsletters slowly. […]
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Pausing for Winter
Hello Everyone, First of all, I would like to thank you for all your support. It’s been incredibly fun to share cultural and language insights with you all. Unfortunately, I have had to make the difficult decision of putting my Patreon on pause until further notice due to some chronic shoulder pain issues. I am […]
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 […]
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 […]
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🏛 Latin Quote🌿
« Medicus curat, natura sanat » 🇫🇷 Le médecin soigne, la nature guérit. 🇺🇸 The doctor treats, nature heals.An old Latin aphorism praising nature’s healing powers🙏🏻 🇯🇵 医者は治療して、自然は治す。自然のヒーリング・パワーを称えるラテン語の格言🌏(いしゃ は ちりょうして、しぜん は なおす。しぜん の ヒーリング・パワーを たたえる ラテンご の かくげん)
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🇫🇷 Anti-war French Literature: Boris Vian
French author and musician Boris Vian wrote an anti-war song in 1954 against the First Indochina War. The song takes the form of a letter from a draftee to the president, explaining his reasons for deserting. Although it was initially criticized as an anti-patriotic song and banned by the French national radio committee for 8 […]
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) […]
In the almost two months since the shocking murder of Japan’s former Prime Minister Abe by Yamagami Tetsuya (山上徹也), controversies continue to arise. Although many are saddened by Abe’s death, sympathy for Yamagami has emerged in both mainstream and social media. Initially, Japanese media’s reports were filled with very ambiguous expressions and generated more questions […]
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🏛 Latin Quote ✅
« Vita non est vivere sed valere » -Martial 🇫🇷 La vie ne consiste pas à vivre, mais à vivre en bonne santé 🟰 conseil judicieux de Martial: vivons, mais vivons bien. Remarquez aussi les allitérations en « v » en latin, qui font tout le charme de cette maxime. 🇺🇸 Life is not to live but to live […]