In this episode we will talk about the two main good luck traditions for the new year´s eve.

Leggende e tradizioni italiane

Capodanno

ROMANIAN

Grădina. Garden.

Hello and welcome to today’s episode. I hope you are all well and having a wonderful day. Today’s topic is longevity, this is something I only really took seriously and investigated since the pandemic.
Since the pandemic, most of us, myself included have realised how important our health is and have started taking a proactive approach to our health. The average lifespan has been extended dramatically since the environmental improvements in the 1990s due to advances in medicine that have nearly eliminated certain deadly infectious diseases. The good news is that although longevity is mostly influenced by genetics, studies show that genetics count for 30% of longevity the rest is determined by your lifestyle, behaviours, attitudes, environment, and luck. 


Matcha & Meditation

Longevity

PHIL: What time is that soccer game on? I thought it started 
at noon.
JACK: We must have had the wrong time. Oh, well … soccer’s not my 
favorite sport anyway. I much prefer basketball.
PHIL: Oh, really? I thought your favorite sport was tennis! I’m a big
fan of basketball, too.
JACK: How about a game sometime?
PHIL: Sure thing! Why don’t we go shoot some hoops now since the 
soccer game isn’t on?
JACK: Excellent idea. Let’s go.



LANGUAGE NOTES
• What time is that soccer game on? means “When does the soccer game start?” 
“What time” plus something plus “on” is a common expression used to ask about the 
start time of a TV show or a movie.
• I much prefer basketball here means “I like basketball a lot more than soccer.” Notice 
how “much” is stressed to show that the speaker really likes basketball.
• Oh, really? Notice the rising intonation on “really.” This shows that the speaker is 
surprised. He thought that Jack liked tennis the best.
• I’m a big fan of basketball is a way of saying “I like basketball very much” (“to be a 
fan of” is a casual expression used to describe something you really like).
• How about a game here means “Let’s play a basketball game.”
• Sure thing! This is a casual expression used to mean “OK.”
• Shoot some hoops means to play an informal game of basketball. This is a casual 
expression used between friends

English Conversation practice (30-day challenge)

Day 23: Favorite sport

Have to, don’t have to, and can’t
Use have to for general obligations and to show that something is necessary.
I have to work shifts.
You have to come on time.

Use don’t have to to show that something isn’t necessary.
You don’t have to wear a suit.

Use can’t to show that something is not allowed or isn’t a good idea.
You can’t lie in a job interview. 

Also use have to for strong recommendations. 
You have to do your research. 

Everyday English with Teacher Alyse

Have to, don’t have to, and can’t

Laura's English Podcast

Introduction

Listen and repeat then sing along.
The cub can hum in the tub. 

Follow me for more phonics.
https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/13365914

Phonics Short Vowels

Phonics Short ub um 

Short story 「あめだま」
I read a story written by Nankichi Niimi.
He is a Japanese author of children's literature.
Although his life was only 29 years, he left us with many stories to tell.
This story is JLPT-N4 level.

I created this episode quiz.
Please listen and then try the quiz!
☆Quiz for this episode
https://www.italki.com/quiz/set-result?id=3697

Please use it for listening and shadowing practices.

☆Script for this episode
The scripts (URL) are listed in the overview section of the channel.

Simple Japanese Listening with Meg（めぐ）Smile

#3 Short story あめだま storytelling //N4 Level

Piensa un momento en la entrada de un baño público para mujeres; ahora dinos qué ves. ¿Por qué normalmente hay filas en los baños para las mujeres? Conversemos un poco sobre esta problemática, muchas veces normalizada. ¿Cómo más de la mitad de la población está siendo ignorada en investigación y diseño? En el siguiente google docs encontrarán el artículo del podcast así como vocabulario y verbos desconocidos: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11xzSVUt20ScCG2hKju2r8CALVS2Mtje6J5p0hl7tdNg/edit#heading=h.oo660ljy3s1e 