Discover the haiku, a poetic form that originated in Japan. Learn about the structure and hear an example from Matsuo Basho, who invented haiku in the 17th century! 

The Wandering and Wondering Writers Club

Haiku

One way to improve our language skills is by expressing our thoughts in the target language. For that reason, I have prepared an English conversation class “Express Yourself through A Conversation”. Please feel free to check that lesson here: https://www.italki.com/en/teacher/24647106/english
I have a lot of interesting topics to talk about. But of course, you are welcome to bring up your own topic.

In this episode, I want to show you one example of the discussion topic. It’s about my imaginary city, Subara City 素晴市 （スバラしsu ba ra shi）.   The name is derived from 素晴らしい（すばらしい）and 都市（とし）.   素晴らしい means “wonderful”, “magnificent”.    市 means “city” and when placed at the end of a word can be pronounced as “shi”し.   So here I name my imaginary city 素晴市（スバラしsu ba ra shi）or “Subara City”.  In this episode, I’m introducing English lessons, not Japanese. I just want to let you know how I made up the name.

The theme of the story is that you have just been elected to the council for Subara City. You have 6 billion Yen in your budget. What can you do? Listen through. Below here is a simple worksheet to give you more ideas.

Total budget: 6 billion Yen.

(1) Carbon Footprint
Main cause of pollution is old factories on the edge of the city. They have to be relocated.
Budget: ………………….. Yen

(2) Deprivation and Inequality
You need to establish projects to reduce the percentage of people living below the poverty line.
Budget: ………………….. Yen

(3) Congestion and Mobility
Although the ground in Subara City is considered not suitable for subway infrastructure, recent research has been investigating solutions to tackle the ground issue. This research needs funding.
Budget: ………………….. Yen

(4) Education and Qualifications
The number of grants for teachers to study abroad should be increased.
Budget: ………………….. Yen

(5) Language and Cultural Integration
More investment is needed to ensure that migrants coming to work in your city adapt and integrate into the society.
Budget: ………………….. Yen

Midori no Heya

Make a Difference in Subara City

皆さんは、生まれ変わったら何になりたいですか？
多くの人は人間と答えるでしょうか。
今回は、フミが生まれ変わったらなりたい生き物について話します。

What would you want to be if you could be born again?
Most people would answer «human»?
This time, Fumi talks about what would he want to be in the next life.

♤ キーワード 
・生まれ変わる（うまれかわる：be born again）
・深海（しんかい：deep sea） 
・生態（せいたい：ecology）
・今世（こんせ：this life）
・徳を積む（とくをつむ：accumulate good karma）

♧ 理解度チェッククイズ 
1. フミが生まれ変わったらなりたい生き物は？ 
2. それになりたい理由は？

♢ 前回のクイズの答え
1. 今年の立冬は何月何日？
→ 11月7日
2. アヤが冬の訪れを感じるのはどんなとき？ 
→ スーパーに鍋の素が並び始めたとき

BGM special thanks：MusMus

アヤさんとフミさんの日本語雑談（Aya and Fumi’s Japanese Chit-Chat）

Episode 18：生まれ変わったら？

Here are three comparative idioms that are commonly used in English:
1.	As busy as a bee: Meaning very busy or industrious.
Example: "During the holiday season, the shops are as busy as bees with shoppers."
2.	As light as a feather: Meaning very light in weight.
Example: "The package was as light as a feather, making it easy to carry."
3.	As clear as day: Meaning very clear and obvious.
Example: "Her explanation was as clear as day; everyone understood it easily."


Learn With Kimiya

Comparative Idioms 

CHISTES MEXICANOS

LA OPERACION.

1) Translate new words using a dictionary:

Bar del barrio –
Rebajas –
Estar de acuerdo –
Me apetece –
Preferir –
Salir de fiesta –
Tomar una copa –

2) Listen to the dialogue twice and answer the questions:

¿Qué planes tienen los chicos para este viernes?
¿A qué centro comercial quieren ir? ¿Por qué?
¿A dónde quieren ir después de las compras?
¿Por qué no van a ir a una discoteca?
Y tú, ¿Qué prefieres: ir a una discoteca o a un restaurante tranquilo?

3) Read the dialogue and find the answers to the questions that caused you difficulty: 

– ¿Qué haces este viernes? ¿Quieres ir de compras? Ya empiezan las rebajas…
– Termino el trabajo a las 7. Si quieres ir por la tarde, estoy de acuerdo.
– ¿A qué centro comercial vamos? ¿Al Parque Sur? Está cerca y las tiendas no son muy caras. Me gusta.
– A mí también. Además allí hay un cine. Podemos ver alguna película.
– La verdad es que no me apetece. El viernes por la noche prefiero salir de fiesta. ¿Vamos a alguna discoteca?
– Sabes que no me gustan las discotecas ni la música muy alta, además no sé bailar. ¿Por qué no tomamos una copa en algún bar de moda? Sabes, algo especial, no un típico bar de barrio.
– Me parece genial.

Método Tati

Plans for the weekend

日本(にほん)に住(す)んでいる外国人(がいこくじん)は何人(なんにん)？
How many foreigners live in Japan? 
일본에 살고 있는 외국인은 몇명?


NANAのにほんごpodcast 

3 minutes EASY JAPANESE #4 How many foreigners live in Japan? 日本(にほん)に住(す)んでいる外国人(がいこくじん)は何人(なんにん)？

Today's piece of vocabulary is to "get by". If you can get by with what you have, you can manage to live or do things in a satisfactory way. Not to have great success or do things particularly well, but simply to reach a level that you consider to be OK.