This episode introduces three idioms that use the word bat. Listen to the examples to hear how to use them. Please send me a message if you would like a copy of the audio script

Idiom Corner

Going into hospital
• You go to your doctor feeling very unwell.
• She examines you, and arranges for you to see a consultant.
• You may have tests, X-rays•, or scans2 and the nurses may take blood samples
The consultant decides how to treat you.
• You may have an operation3 immediately if it is an emergency.
• The consultant explains the benefits and risks to you, the patient4.
• After the operation, nurses care for you while you recover.
• The operation is successful.
• When you are well enough, you can go home to recover completely.

English Mini Lessons

Hospital

One Minute Speaking Challenge: Gratefulness.

If you define gratefulness you'll see various definitions such as: 

A feeling of thankfulness and appreciation or

A recognition and enjoyment of the good qualities of something or 

Gratitude is generally viewed as a positive emotion associated with well-being, joy, and contentment.

You can choose your own version for it.

The point of this exercise is to let you loosen up (Become less tense or stiff) towards your achievements, successes, results and connect to your Spiritual Heart.

Listen to the recording and enjoy the moment!

In the moment for the moment,
Anatoly

“In the moment for the moment” suggests focusing entirely on the present, and not dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. It implies a state of mindful awareness and complete engagement with whatever is happening now.



One minute speaking challenge - Challenge yourself to speak English daily!

One Minute Speaking Challenge: Gratefulness.

Host: Welcome back to the podcast everyone. Now we’re moving on to the part of the show that we call ‘Explain yourself!’. This is where our guests talk about a topic and say what they think and why. Listeners, you can tell us who was the most convincing. So we’ve got Jake with us, Jake is from New York in the United States. Then we’ve got Andrew who’s from York in the UK.

Andrew: The original York before the Americans made a worse one.

Jake: No one knows where York is, or cares.

Host: Whoa! We’ve started already. Don’t worry, Jake, Andrew’s just trying to provoke you. This could be an interesting discussion! And today’s topic is Food and Drink. Which is better: American or British?

Jake: Well, this is going to be a short discussion. It’s American food and drink. It’s definitely the most well-known food around the world. What’s the next topic?

Andrew: Just because American food is the most well-known, which it is, it doesn’t mean it’s good. I think most of it is really unhealthy. Yes, he’s definitely an American male. Do all of you just sit watching games on TV that no other countries are interested in, drinking ice cold beer-flavored water and shouting (Mimics) ‘We’re the best at everything! USA!’

Jake: Oh you’re talking to me about beer? Good luck with tempting people to come to your barbecue on a hot day with a nice glass of warm beer. Not that you have barbecues because it’s always raining. You just sit inside with your warm beer and your fish and chips feeling sad.

Andrew: (laughs) I’m not going to apologize for enjoying beer that is slightly warmer than ice. There are things that are more important than how cold it is, you know? Like, oh I don't know - taste?

Host: Beer wars! Are we going to be able to resolve this difference at all, gentlemen?

Andrew: Obviously I’m a little more favorable toward British beer, but Jake has a point about the weather. It doesn’t actually rain all the time, but it’s not usually as hot as it gets in most places in the US. 

English Conversation/Dialogue

Discussion Opinions 

こんにちは。

今回は「どうして日本人はみんないっしょに」が好きなのかについて。

私が見つけた答えをお話します。みんなが思っていた答えと同じでしょうか。近いでしょうか。全然違うでしょうか。

やみくもに、「怖い」だけでは何も解決しません。

正しく 怖がる/こわがる とても大切です。

やみくもに：blindly



Nihongo_Hanaso（N3+）

No matter the odds of success or the scale of the challenge, your actions can make a difference. It’s better to light a candle than curse the darkness. Every little thing counts. Doing something to make a positive change is always better than nothing!

Short Stories with Rose 

The Story of the Grateful Starfishes 

Netflix now has 10 million subscribers in Japan, according to the streaming company.

It got to that number during the first half of 2024, so it may be even higher by now — and it's double the number of subscribers Netflix had in the country four years ago.

It's believed that new Japanese shows on the platform — including Tokyo Swindlers, The Queen of Villains and The Boyfriend — have helped the streaming service get more subscribers.

"Japan in particular is a country which wants to see a lot of its own content so we strongly feel the need to produce it," said Kaata Sakamoto, Netflix's vice president of content for Japan.

He added that the company wants to produce more content that will be popular with people in Japan, including more sports and comedy shows.

Subscribers around the world have also been enjoying Japanese content on the platform. It's the third-most-watched non-English-language content on Netflix, after Korean and Spanish. And Japanese anime shows and movies have been watched more than 1 billion times on Netflix in the last year.

Sakamoto said there are plans to make more anime for the platform, but he wants to find "stories that have never been told before."

Netflix first came to Japan in 2015. In 2023, it was the most popular streaming service in the country, with about 22% of the market share.

Around the world, Netflix has more than 280 million subscribers.

Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

Netflix Reaches 10 Million Subscribers in Japan

FLO TALKS 

Permanent success is not overnight

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1SSVZCfVOg9gBLMTVVKtITLILKj0PKp61/view?usp=drivesdk