Beginner

Japan’s celebration for the new emperor

2019年2月6日

Japan's celebration for the new emperor

Pre-reading questions: Do you like celebrations? What events do you like to attend? Vocabulary: emperor /EM-per-er/ [noun] a male ruler He said he wanted to be the emperor of China someday. retire /re-TAHYUHR/ [verb] to leave your job or position and stop working I don’t have any plans to retire yet. well-known /WEL-nohn/ [adjective] popular or recognized by people She was introduced to me as a well-known author. role /rohl/ [noun] a position that something or someone has in a situation, organization, etc. My friend’s role in the wedding is very important. adviser /ad-VAHY-zer/ [noun] someone who gives advice about something My adviser told me not to spend too much…
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Beginner

Sakura Ando stars in NHK morning drama

2019年1月30日

Sakura Ando stars in NHK morning drama (2)

Pre-reading questions: Do you like watching “asadora” (morning dramas)? Who is your favorite actor/actress? Vocabulary: difficult /DIF-i-kuhl/ [adjective] not easy to deal with The teacher helped her students in answering a difficult question. base /beys/ [verb] to use a story or painting on something The movie is based on the popular romance novel. inventor /in-VEN-ter/ [noun] a person who makes a new system or machine A young inventor developed television in 1920. challenging /CHAL-in-jing/ [adjective] difficult, in a way that tests your ability or determination Playing volleyball is challenging but fun. heroine /HER-oh-in / [noun] the main female character in a story Fukuko Imai is the heroine of “Manpuku”. Sakura…
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Beginner

Discover a new tropical destination in Kenya

2019年1月23日

Discover a new tropical destination in Kenya

Pre-reading questions: What do you like to do on the beach? How often do you go to the beach? Vocabulary: national /NASH-uh-nl/ [adjective] relating to the people or customs of a country Mangoes are the national fruit of the Philippines. wild /wahyld/ [adjective] used to refer to plant and animals that live or grow in natural conditions and with natural characteristics Mike is afraid of wild bears. island /AHY-luh nd/ [noun] a piece of land completely surrounded by water Have you been to Jeju island? windsurfing /WIND-sur-fing/ [noun] a sport in which you sail acoss water by standing on a board and holding onto a large sail My brother’s hobby…
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Beginner

Ebola virus could spread to Uganda

2019年1月16日

Ebola virus could spread to Uganda 01162019

Pre-reading questions: Do you want to go to Africa? What country would you like to visit? Vocabulary: approximately /uh-PROK-suh-mit-lee/ [adverb] close to a particular number or time They waited for approximately two hours. partner /PAHRT-ner/ [noun] the person you are married to or living with Garry’s partner was his high school crush. spread /spred/ [verb] to move from one place to another The chips spread to the floor. symptom /SIMP-tuhm/ [noun] any feeling of illness or physical or mental change that is caused by a particular disease The symptoms of her disease are headache and stomachache. vomit /VOM-it/ [verb] to empty the contents of the stomach through the mouth, usually…
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Beginner

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The largest underwater restaurant in the world is opening soon

2019年1月9日

The largest underwater restaurant in the world is opening soon

Photo from © snohetta.com via snohetta.com Pre-reading questions: Do you like eating outside? Do you like to go to the sea? Vocabulary: unique /yoo-NEEK/ [adjective] different or special in some way She has a unique quality that’s why people like her. Norway /NAWR-wey/ [noun] a country in northern Europe Norway is known as the Land of the Midnight Sun. perform /per-FAWRM/ [verb] to do an action We need to perform the task as soon as possible. architect /AHR-ki-tekt/ [noun] a person who designs new buildings and is responsible for how they are built We are looking for an architect to design our new office. rough /ruhf/ [adjective] (of the weather…
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Beginner

Google Maps adds new feature for daily passengers

2019年1月2日

Google Maps adds new feature for daily passengers

Pre-reading questions: How do you go to school or work? What app is useful for you? Vocabulary: suitable /SOO-tuh-buhl/ [adjective] being right or correct for something or someone This show is not suitable for children. delay /dih-LEY/ [noun] something that is late to happen There will be a delay in the food’s delivery. arrival /uh-RAHY-vuhl/ [noun] the act of coming to a place Lily’s arrival time is around 8:00 PM. vehicle /VEE-i-kuhl/ [noun] a car, bus, truck, etc. Too many vehicles can cause huge traffic. switch /swich/ [verb] to change or go to from one thing to another Robert switched from using Samsung to iPhone. Google Maps will have new…
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Beginner

Human-caused activities result to extreme weather conditions

2018年12月26日

landscape-Human-caused activities result to extreme weather conditions

Pre-reading questions: How is the weather in your city nowadays? What is your favorite weather? Vocabulary: high /hahy/ [adjective] greater than normal People cannot go swimming at the beach this morning because of the high tide. badness /BAD-nes/ [noun] unpleasant and can cause more danger The badness of the weather can cause heavy street floods. warming /WAWR-ming/ [noun] also known as global warming; a rise in temperature The melting of glaciers in the Arctic is caused by global warming. take place /teyk pleys/ [phrase] something will happen; to happen The graduation will take place at PICC Complex. sure /shur/ [adjective] when someone is sure about something, there are no negative…
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Beginner

Berkhamsted Revisited: surprisingly popular among men

2018年12月24日

Podcast Berkhamsted Revisited

Pre-Reading Questions: What do you do on your free time? Have you listened to a podcast? Vocabulary: remember /ri-MEM-ber/ [verb] to be able to bring a piece of information back in your mind She remembers her 10th birthday party. about /uh-BOUT/ [preposition] on the subject of, or connected with The meeting was about the upcoming project. change /cheynj/ [verb] to make or become different Alice needs to change her mind about going to the party. everyone /EV-ree-wuhn/ [pronoun] every person Everyone attended the mass last Sunday. page /peyj/ [noun] web page; one part of a website Her Facebook page is full of celebrity pictures. Berkhamsted Revisited is the podcast to…
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Beginner

1 out of 50 people falls in love on an airplane

2018年12月19日

Airplane-12-19-18

Pre-reading questions: Do you like to travel by airplane? Have you been to another country? Vocabulary: result /ri-ZUHLT/ [noun] the information you get from something The result of the exam was posted. willingly /WIL-ing-lee/ [adverb] readily and enthusiastically I willingly babysit my granddaughter. stranger /STREYN-jer/ [noun] someone you do not know My father always warned me not to talk to strangers. lasting /LAH-sting/ [adjective] continuing to exist for a long time Did any of your teachers make a lasting impression on you? chance /chahns/ [noun] the level of possibility that something will happen She doesn’t have a chance to win the game. 1 in every 50 airplane passengers falls in…
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Beginner

AI robots to start teaching English in Japan by 2019

2018年12月17日

AI robots to start teaching English in Japan by 2019

Pre-reading questions: Do you like studying English? Do you think that learning English is difficult? Vocabulary: help /help/ [verb] to make it possible or easier for someone to do something She helps the students with their homework. project /PROJ-ekt/ [noun] a piece of planned work or activity that is completed over a period of time The project that we are working on is nearly finished. lesson /LES-uhn/ [noun] an amount of teaching given at one time Today we are going to study a new lesson material. include /in-KLOOD/ [verb] to make something part of something else Our exams will include the topics that we studied last month. change /cheynj/ [noun]…
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Beginner