FOREVERGREEN: Evergreen Language School Podcast
by Russell Johnson
Hosted by Evergreen Language School in Yutenji, Tokyo, we talk about English and Japanese study tips, what's new at Evergreen, and other topics.On this podcast, I invite instructors, staff members, and students to talk about their interests, the school, studying English, Japanese, or any other language, and just about anything they want to talk about. We will also have 'mini' lessons to learn grammar, vocaulary, idioms and expressions, Kanji (Chinese writing style), and more.
Episodes
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Season 3 Episode 1: Hiking, Climbing, and Rollercoasters (Part 1 of a 2 Part Discussion)
Neil and Russ discuss Hiking in Kamakura and climbing Mt. Fuji. Then they discuss amusement park rides at Fuji Q Highland in Japan and Magic Mountain in California. Useful Phrases: "It could get colder than this." = It's not so cold. "You can see for miles." = You can see for miles. "Egging...
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S2E37: Phrase of the Week: 'Take it with a Grain of Salt'
Maurice and Russ discuss a mutual friend and the genius animator, Hayao Miyazaki. TAKE IT WITH A GRAIN OF SALT: Do not believe 'everthing' someone tells you because they like to stretch the truth. A: I think we may have a mutual friend. B: Really? Who? A: Yoshi. B: Yoshi who? A: Yoshi Otsuka. B:...
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S2E36: Useful Phrases: "THIS ISN'T MY FIRST RODEO"
Listen to Russ give safety advice to Maurice. Maurice deflects it by saying that he is not a novice. Listen to the different ways he says this. VOCABULARY: 1. This isn't my first rodeo: I have experience in this situation./ I am competent. 2. I've been around the block: I have a lotof experience…
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S2E35: "Hayakuchi Kotoba" TONGUE TWISTERS
Mako, Maurice, and Russ have fun trying to say Tongue-Twisters. Please joing along. 1. 'Pad kid poured curd pulled cod.' 2. 'Brisk brave brigadiers brandished broad bright blades, blunderbusses, and bludgeons—balancing them badly.' 3. 'If you must cross a course cross cow across a crowded cow...
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S2E34: 'It's Halloween' with Mako, Maurice, and Russ
What can I say? Halloween is just around the corner. I wish children in Japan went 'Trick or Treating'. It would be nice to open the door and look at all of the costumes while handing out candy. In this episode, Mako, Maurice, and I discuss Halloween memories like going to haunted houses, trick…
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S2E33: THE PHRASE OF THE WEEK 'To Let the Cat out of the Bag' w/Maurice
Listen to a short story about someone 'letting the cat out of the bag' and answer the questions below. Look at the new vocabulary first. The answers are at the bottom. NEW VOCABULARY a: duties: a responsibility (職務) b: confidential: intended to be kept secret (マル秘) c: to be fired/ to fire...
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S2E32: (PART 2): Marius and Russ Discuss Deep Space (Advanced English)
This second part of the conversation transitions to Marius' college town to space, space exploration, and sci-fi movies. 1. Space is Cool! Deep Space: 深宇宙 outer space (the physical universe beyond the earth's atmosphere) 2. Uchu Sen Kan Yamato (Star Blazers): a sci-fi Japanese animated television...
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S2E31: (PART 1) Marius and Russ~German University Towns and Buying Cigarettes as a Kid
Murius and I like to jump from topic to topic sometimes. He has an interesting point of view on many subjects. 1. Retaining New Vocabulary ito: intention 意図 2. The Weather Slush: partially melted snow or ice Bamburg: a town in Germany Heidelberg: a town in Germany 3. Marius and University 4....
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S2E30: "宇宙へ行こう!! - Let's go to Space!!"
Maurice, Mako, and Russ talk about going to space. They talk about their favorite planets and their astrological signs. モーリス、マコ、ラスの3人は、宇宙に行くことについて話しています。自分の好きな惑星や星座についても話しています。 PEOPLE DISCUSSED 1. Yusaku Maezawa: former CEO of ZOZO Town and billionaire 2. Jean-Michel Basquit: American Modern…
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S2E29: Mako, Maurice, and Russ Discuss 'Squid Game' (No Spoilers) and Childhood Games
What games did you play as a kid? I have fond memories of playing games with neighborhood kids even until after dark. I never got tired of playing these games. We also discuss reading scary books and Japanese Traffic Signals. NEW TERMS: 1. Binge Watch(ビンジ・ウォッチ): To watch multiple episodes in…
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Autumn Campaign ~ TOEIC Bridge Lessons!!
Come study TOEIC Bridge at Evergreen Language School. 店の上、お申し込みいただくか、お電話（03.3723.4785）またはホームページ（www.evergreen.gr.jp）で詳細をご確認ください。
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S2E28: EAVESDROPPING PRACTICE~Changing Topics
Let's listen to a little more of this conversation. Try to answer the questions below. The answers are at the bottom. 1. The author thinks that people __________________ speak loudly in museums. a. should b. shouldn’t c. will d. didn’t 2. “We’re not studying for the SAT test.”-Why did Russ say...
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S2E27: EAVESDROPPING PRACTICE ~ A Piece of Art
Let's sharpen our listening skills once again as we listen to the two discuss a piece of art hanging on the wall in front of them as they sip their coffee. Listen carefully and answer the questions below. The answers are at the bottom. 1. “…later down the road…”probably means which of the...
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S2E26: FREESTYLE (Unscripted) Phrase of the Week ~ 'Let Your Hair Down'
I usually write out the Phase of the Week, but this week, I will shoot from the hip. This week's phrase: LET YOUR HAIR DOWN means to relax and not care what others think about you. NEW PHRASES: Break from the Norm: Do something you don't usually do. Shoot from the Hip: To do somethin without...
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S2E25: Ei San and Russ Discuss DAIKANYAMA, TOKYO
Ei San and I continue our talk as we discuss the town of Daikanyama, Tokyo. In all of these years, I have only been there two or three times. I have a lot of curiosity about this town. Ei San answers some of my questions.
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S2E24: Ei San and Russ Discuss Italy, Nagano, Izu, and Hakone
Ei San, one of our students at Evergreen Language School, and I sit down after her class and 'shoot the breeze' (チャット) about travel, art, and rice wine. Listen to how the topics lead from one to another quite naturally. Topic One: How to dress in ‘in-between’ Weather Topic Two: Taking a Pleasure...
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エヴァグリーンランゲージスクールの秋のビジネス英語キャンペーン: Autumn Business English Campaign at Evergreen Language School
ビジネス英語 秋のキャンペーン エヴァグリーンランゲージスクールでは、「ビジネス英語キャンペーン」を開催中です。 今から2021年12月21日まで、ビジネスクラスのレベルチェックと体験レッスンを無料で実施しています。また、登録料も無料です。 利用できるのは、「対面」クラスのグループレッスン、プライベートレッスン、セミプライベートレッスンです。 オンラインプライベートレッスンを受講すると、無料で１５分追加になりますので、50分レッスンが65分レッスンになります。 ビジネス英語には4つのレベルがあります。初級、初中級、中級、上級の4つのレベルがあります。 l...
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S2E23: Idiom: 'Pass it Down' (The Watch): A Short Conversation
To Pass Something Down means to give something to a younger person, usually someone within your family. To Pass Something Down: 年下の人に何かを与えること、通常は家族の誰かに You can pass down different things like the following: a family recipe (家族のレシピ) a piece of jewerly (宝石のような一品) a wedding dress (ウェディングドレス) a…
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S2E22 Magnitude 5.9 'What Were You Doing?' マグニチュード5.9 '何をしていたのですか？'
Listen to what one person was doing during the recent trimmer in Japan. 先日の日本の地震の際、ある人がしていたことを聞いてください。 Podcast: Welcome to Night Vale 'Faceless Old Woman'
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S2E21 Phrase of the Week: 'A Fish out of Water'
To feel like A FISH OUT OF WATER means to feel awkward or unhappy because you are in an unfamiliar situation. TRANSCRIPT a. How was your camping trip last week? b. Oh...the camping trip. a. Yea. How was it? b. Let’s just say that I was like A FISH OUT OF WATER. a. That bad, eh? How long had it…
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S2E20: 'Jit and Russ - Walk and Talk'
Jit and Russ take a walk around the streets of Yutenji after his (Jit's) Japanese lesson at Evergreen Language School. Listen in as they discuss coffee, architecture, Kanji, mountain climbing, and more. Jit と Russ は、エバーグリーンランゲージスクールでの彼（Jit's）の日本語レッスンの後、祐天寺の街を散歩しました。コーヒー、建築、漢字、山登りなどについて話しています。…
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S2E19: Phrase of the Week: 'Bite the Bullet'
To "bite the bullet" is to “accept the inevitable impending hardship and endure the resulting pain with fortitude”. The phrase was first recorded by Rudyard Kipling in his 1891 novel 'The Light that Failed.' to bite the...
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S2E18 - Eavesdropping in Autumn
We sit down again for another eavesdropping session. Try to answer the questions below. The background music is a little loud, so listen carefully. The answers are at the bottom. 1. Which one is true? a. She doesn’t eat brown rice at restaurants. b. She eats brown rice at home. c. She doesn’t eat...
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S2E17 －Eavesdropping Again! 'Noisy Cafe Listening Practice'
1. Let's try to listen in on another co,nversation. The cafe is especially loud today with the clatter of dishes, the cleaning of machines, and music, but it is possible to EAVESDROP on this pair. 1. "He gets better with age." - What does this mean? a. He is better when he is older. b. He was...
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S2E16: Neil and Russ, Birds and Photography
It has been over a month since Neil and I have sat down for a chat. It was great catching up with him. We discussed our favorite past imes, or hobbies. The bird on the cover is the 'rose-winged parakeet' that Neil talks about. If you listen closely, you can hear it, too.
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S2E15 PHRASE OF THE WEEK: 'Back to Square One'
BACK TO SQUARE ONE This means ‘back to where you started...and that you have made no progress’. You will need to start ALL over again. Perhaps, this time, with a different plan, a more successful one. Let’s listen to two short conversations to see how this phrase can be used. USEFUL VOCABULARY a....
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S2E14 PART2 Jit and I Sit and Talk (AUTUMN THEME)
This is the final part of the conversation between Jit and Russ. Try to answer the listening comprehension questions below. The answers are posted at bottom. 1. Jit went to Yokohama this month to eat Abura Soba. a. True b. False 2. Russell has never had Abura Soba. a. True b. False c. Not…
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S2E13 ~ PART ONE Jit and I Jump from Topic to Topic (AUTUMN THEME)
I, once again, sit down and chat with Jit after his lesson. Jit is one of our students studying Japanese here at Evergreen Evergreen Language School. Jit teaches me a lot about life in his country of Nepal and how he adapts to life here in Japan. I enjoy listening to his perspective on topics…
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S2E12 More Eavesdropping (with Questions)
Let's get ready to eavesdrop!! Listen to this conversation in a bustling coffee shop and see if you can answer the questions below. 1. What is the topic of this conversation? a. How to hire new models b. The height of models c. The thinness of models d. The salary of models 2. According to the...
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S2E11 Another Moment with Marius Part 2 - Talking with Strangers
Marius and I finish our conversation this week discussing talking to strangeres in Japan.
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AUTUMN CAMPAIGN: Autumn Campaign 'JLPT' Lessons
エヴァグリーンランゲージスクールで日本語能力試験の勉強をしてみませんか？ 10週間コース 登録料無料 9月25日（土）スタート Come study for the JLPT test at Evergreen Language School! 10-Week Course No Registration Fee! Starts Saturday September 25th
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S2E10 Another Moment with Marius - The Guitar Man Part 1
Marius, one of our students studying Japanese here at Evergreen Language School, and I sit down and discuss playing guitar, trying to be quiet around the house, learning Japanese through reading articles, and learning and remembering Kanji. 'The Guitar Man' by Bread - 1972 This is part 1 out of 2.
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S2E9 Phrase of the Week ~ "Bite Your Tongue!"
This week's new phrase is 'Bite Your Tongue.' Let's listen to two examples of it in two separate conversations. USEFUL PHRASES: 1. "Don't get me started...": Used to shorten a conversation or avoid a topic. Example: a. What did you think about Junko's new boyfirend? b. Don't get me started. a....
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S2E8: Phrase of the Week ~ "I've Got Bigger Fish to Fry."
BIGGER FISH TO FRY: to not be interested in something because you have more important, interesting, or profitable things to do. I didn't pursue it in detail because I'm afraid I had other fish to fry at the time. *take credit for (something): to allow people to believe that one did something that...
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S2E7: 'CURRENT EVENTS' 時事問題~ Food Waste
Here at Evergreen Language School, we specialize in teaching conversational English and Japanese, reading, writing, listening, test preparation, business, KIDS English and so on. One of the other things we love to do is discuss CURRENT EVENTS 時事問題. We do this in classes and in our Saturday...
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S2E6: "Let's Go Shopping!!!" - Pt.1 (with NARRATION)
I love going shopping in Japan. Follow the NARRATION below as you listen. 1. So, the Kosui nashi is just a category of pear. It has no particular meaning. 2. So, the Kodowari nashi just means ‘more special’. The word ‘kodowari’ can be used for many different things. It just means that, for...
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S2E5: "Let's do some more EAVESDROPPING!!!"
Let’s return to the first episode of Eavesdropping and listen to a little more of the conversation. In this episode, there is still background noise. Listen to how the background noise becomes part of the conversation. Also, listen for digression, which means ‘getting off topic.’ This happens…
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S2E4: PHRASE OF THE WEEK: 'Reinventing the Wheel'
PHRASE OF THE WEEK: Reinventing the Wheel To reinvent the wheel means to do something again, or try to improve something that is already perfected and cannot be improved. I love this idiom. I remember my old boss, Tom Davis, using this term with me when I was trying to recreate teaching material...
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S2E3: 'Inside the Vault' with Marius
Let's reach inside the vault and listen to a short conversation between Marius and Russell that was recorded almost a month ago. We discuss hats, the Olympics, the heat, and summer fashion. I say 'the vault' because important things are kept inside vaults. In this situation, I am referring to old...
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S2E2: Conversation Ins and Outs: Repetition
Emphasis on the importance of intonation, pause, pitch, and REPETITION. NARRATION You will hear 2 short conversations about the same topic. The first conversation is longer and features short sentences and questions. Listen for how repetition, pause, pitch, and intonation are used. The second...
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Season 2 Episode 1: EAVESDROPPING 'Two Guys on a Train Talking about ANIME'
1.speaking off ______________ : used to introduce a remark about a topic recently alluded to. 2. to pick up: to buy something 3: to fit one's standards: to be good enough for someone - Some people have high standards with certain things like movies, food, or art. 4. calcified:hardened - In this...
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Episode No38b 'EAVESDROPPING': Upper-Intermediate Listening Practice and ANSWERS
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 1. She bought a radio. True or False? Curry Queen: “My ‘Curry Queen’ story was taped again on the radio.” 2. This was her first time sending a message to the station. True or False? Curry Queen: “My ‘Curry Queen’ story was taped again on the radio.” Russell: “You sent a...
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Episode No41: "Phones are People, Too?"
Do you know what time it is? Do you wear a watch? Do you use your phone as a watch? Is time important to you? Does anybody really know what time it is? Just a short conversation about watches and phones ... with a silly ending.
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Episode No40 Maurice and Russ Discuss Eavesdropping and Donuts
Just a short, sometimes silly, conversation that started off on the topic of 'eavesdropping' and turned into something else.
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Episode No39: Daily Routines and Rhinos with Jitendra
I love how this conversation gets OFF topic then back ON topic again the ENDS then BEGINS again. It is a very natural and organic conversation. I hope you enjoy it. Topic #1: Jit's Japanese Lesson This Morning at Evergreen Topic #2: Daily Routines Topic #3: Running Away from Rhinos Topic #4…
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Take Online Lessons at Evergreen Language School
EVERGREEN英語学院/日本語学校 email: [email protected] phone#: 03.3713.4958 webpage: www.evergreen.gr.jp We offer flexible online lessons to meet your needs. Contact us today!
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Learn Business English at Evergreen Language School
祐天寺校ーYUTENJIー TEL 03-3713-4958 自由が丘校ーJIYUGAOKAー TEL:03-3723-4785 email: [email protected]
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Episode No38a 'EAVESDROPPING': Upper-Intermediate Listening Practice
Upper-Intermediate LISTENING PRACTICE: Have you ever eavesdropped on someone? What is eavesdropping? Eavesdropping is when you secretly listen to a conversation. Japanese say “盗聴:とうちょう” Tōchō. When learning a second language, this is a useful activity to help you with your listening skills. I do...
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Episode No37: 'Insomnia' 不眠症
What happens when Insomnia sets in on a hot, summer night? Grammar: The simple present tense is primarily used to tell this story. NEW VOCABULARY Insomnia: inability to sleep - fuminsho(不眠症) Cacophony: a harsh mixture of sounds - sōon (騒音) TRANSCRIPT It’s 4:02am, and I have been lying hear awake...
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Episode No36 Introducing, 'Jitendra'
Jitendra 'Jit' is one of our newer students here at Evergreen Language School studying Japanese. He and I sat down for a few minutes to talk about his origins and what he does here in Japan. I really enjoyed this talk and learned a lot from him.
About this show
Hosted by Evergreen Language School in Yutenji, Tokyo, we talk about English and Japanese study tips, what's new at Evergreen, and other topics.On this podcast, I invite instructors, staff members, and students to talk about their interests, the school, studying English, Japanese, or any other language, and just about anything they want to talk about. We will also have 'mini' lessons to learn grammar, vocaulary, idioms and expressions, Kanji (Chinese writing style), and more.
Hosted by
Russell Johnson
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