This is an English story time podcast, so that your kids can hear native English in a relaxed setting! I'll upload different short stories I read aloud for your children to enjoy hearing at home!

Storytime with Teacher Lauren

✕この店でせめて8000円ぐらいです。
これはおかしな文です。”せめて”は at least なので『at least 8000円ぐらい』
英語にすると、The products in this store cost at least 8,000 yen.でOKかな？と思いますが、まちがいです。
”せめて”は「お願い」や「～てほしい」「ルール」などの時に使います。
"At least" is used in situations expressing "request",  "desire,wish, hope" or “ rule”.


・お願い
A：今日は食べ物全部売り切れました。
B：え！？せめて小さいオニギリでもないですか...？

・～てほしい（そうなったらいいなぁ）
A：今日のバスケットボールの試合、全然スタートメンバーがいないな。
B：ああ、せめて山田がいたらいいんだけど... 

・ルール
A：800円持って行ったけど、何も食べられなかったよ。
B：あのレストランに行くんだったら、せめて1500円は持って行かないといけないよ。


事実（じじつ）の事で”せめて”は使えません。
"You can't use 'at least' for matters of fact."

✕この店はせめて1000円のものがあります。
〇この店は安い物で1000円の商品があります。
〇この店で一番安い商品は1000円ぐらいです。
〇この店の商品は最低（さいてい）でも1000円はします。


洋平先生　N3～N2クラスの生徒へ　(^^♪

せめて≒at least　

In this special Love Month episode of English Learners Boost, delve into the language of love, exploring how to infuse affection and warmth into everyday expressions. From endearing terms to gestures of kindness, discover practical ways to incorporate love into your language repertoire. Drawing inspiration from literature and poetry, this episode celebrates the universal language of love and invites listeners to embrace its power in their communication. Plus, don't miss the opportunity to book a personalized English lesson on italki and experience a unique teaching methodology firsthand. Tune in to elevate your English skills and celebrate the joy of language!

English Learner's Boost

Useful Love Phrases

You will know some exotic foods from Colombia:

1.Hormigas culonas

2. Mojojoy

3. Gelatina de pata

4. Sopa de ternero neonato

5. Cuy asado

6. Chigüiro o carpincho asado

7. Gurre, jerre-jerre, tatú, mulita, o armadillo

8. El friche

9. Lechona tolimense

10. Pepi­to­ria

Remember that I teach Spanish on italki, you can book a class for more information you can look at it on my profile :)

Colombia

Las 10 comidas más exóticas de Colombia

In this episode you will learn about the traditional food we eat in Colombia for christmas holidays, you will learn new vocabulary for food and ingredients.

Spanish with Jas

EP 18. TRADITIONAL COLOMBIAN FOOD FOR CHRISTMAS

Begin by explaining what cross-functional collaboration is. It involves working together across different departments or teams to achieve a common goal. Emphasize that it requires effective communication, flexibility, and an understanding of different perspectives and expertise.

Identify specific examples of cross functional projects or tasks where you’ve worked with people from different departments. 
Describe your role in these projects and the outcomes achieved by the cross-functional teams. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.

Cross-functional teams rely on communication. Discuss how you’ve effectively communicated with colleagues from diverse backgrounds.
Share instances when you actively sought input from others, listened to their perspectives, and built consensus. Highlight your adaptability in adjusting your communication style to suit different team members.

Address how you handle conflicts that arise during collaboration. Explain how you’ve resolved disagreements or differing opinions.
Showcase your ability to find common ground, mediate, and maintain positive relationships even when faced with conflicting priorities.

Cross-functional work environments can be dynamic. Discuss how you’ve adapted to changing circumstances or unexpected challenges.
Share examples of how you’ve adjusted your approach, learned new skills, or embraced different viewpoints to achieve common goals.

Demonstrate your ability to understand the organization’s overall objectives. Explain how your cross-functional work contributes to the company’s success.
Discuss how you’ve aligned your efforts with broader strategic goals and how you’ve helped bridge gaps between different functions.

Highlight instances when you’ve collaborated with colleagues from various departments. Describe how you’ve leveraged their expertise to enhance outcomes.
Discuss your role in bringing teams together and fostering a collaborative culture.

The Global Professional Podcast

Answer Job Interview Questions about Cross Functional Teams - Episode 47 

In this Chillchat episode, Karen and Baiwei chatted about useful expressions about allergies as well as common allergies and their symptoms.

Chillchat (Learn Chinese and Chill)

Ahhh...achoo! Allergies... 过敏！

Some people will spend lots of money to keep themselves feeling younger for longer.

But researchers believe there are actually plenty of cheap — and easy — ways to help keep our minds healthier as we get older.

And a new study has found that eating fish may be linked to a lower risk of cognitive decline.

An international team of researchers looked at 35 previous studies on the effects of eating fish on cognitive function.

They found that those who ate the most fish had a lower likelihood of cognitive decline compared to those who ate the least.

Cognitive decline — or impairment — refers to the difficulty that older adults have with thinking, learning, remembering, decision-making and concentrating.

But it's not just normal aging: the term is used to describe a situation where a person's brain functions have changed more than is usually expected as we get older.

It can happen suddenly or over time. And with more people living longer than ever before, experts think we will see more cases of cognitive decline, as well as more cases of conditions like dementia and Alzheimer's disease.

The study found that the risk of cognitive impairment decreased the more fish people ate, starting from about 50 grams per day.

However, the same pattern was not observed with dementia and Alzheimer's disease. The study authors said that more research would be required to look into the effects of fish on these conditions.

In some parts of the world, fish are a very important part of the diet. But many people in countries like the UK and the US don't eat enough fish, experts say.

Fish contain a range of vitamins and minerals, as well as omega-3 fatty acids, which have been linked to brain and heart health.

However, some experts are worried that our polluted rivers, lakes and oceans are making fish less safe to eat.

Practice Listening, Reading & Comprehension

Eating Fish Linked to Healthier Mind in Old Age

私は給食（きゅうしょく）が大好きでした。でも、きらいなものもありました。今日は、給食のきらいな食べ物についてお話します。
I love Kyushoku, school lunch, but I didn't like some of them. Today I'm talking about some food I don't like among Kyushoku.
***************************************************
『おいしい給食　その３』
給食は、日本の小学校、中学校で　出されるお昼ご飯のことです。

私は子どものころから　食べることが好きで、学校の給食も大好きでした。
好きな給食のメニューは、ミートスパゲッティ、カレーライス、鶏肉の甘辛煮、きな粉パン、など　たくさんありました。
そんな私でも、苦手なものが　ありました。
それは、パンにつけるマーガリンです。学校のマーガリンは　家で使っているバターにくらべると、おいしくありませんでした。

私が子供のころは、食べ物の好き嫌いや　食事を残すことは　いけないことでした。
もちろん、給食を残すことも許されませんでした。配られたものは、自分で全部たべなければなりませんでした。
ある日、私は苦手なマーガリンを食べずに、箱に戻しました。
運悪く、それが担任の女の先生に見つかってしまいました。
その先生は「食べなさい」と言って私にマーガリンを渡しました。もうパンもないのに、マーガリンだけ食べさせられました。
本当にまずくて、いやでした。
それで、次からは　食べていないことがばれないように、クラスの半分くらいが、マーガリンの紙を捨てたところに、こっそり入れるようにしました。

きらいなメニューといえば、給食のチーズがきらいな年配の男の先生が担任だったことがありました。　先生は私がチーズが好きなことを知っていました。
それで、チーズがある日は、「おい、チーズいるか？」といつも私に聞きました。
そして、私が「はい」というと、先生とクラスのチーズが嫌いな子から一斉にチーズが手渡されました。　いつも　チーズを5－6個食べていたと思います。　チーズがいっぱいあるのが嬉しくて、食べきれないときは持って帰るぐらいでした。

大人になって給食を食べる機会はもうありませんが、また機会があれば給食を食べてみたいと思っています。
これで「おいしい給食」のエピソードは終わりです。また、何か思い出したらお話しますね。

