ETJ Blog

download/listen (mp3) | duration: 45:45 | file size: 21.03mb | podcast page

Snowflakes are falling here in Matsumoto, and our winter break is approaching. Here’s the show index:

• Segment 1 (start 3:57): ‘Dearest Creature’ ENGLISH PRONUNCIATION poem. It’s a loooooooooooooooonngg one! You’ll like this poem which illustrates the inconsistencies (and headaches!) with English spelling and pronunciation.
• Segment 2: An Idiom (start 14:23): live up to – fulfill; meet (expectations)
  Many people told us he was the best, but I don’t think he lived up to it.

• Segment 3: HOMEOPATHY discussion (Part 1 of 3; start 16:37): a discussion of the alternative, holistic healing method called homeopathy. Our expert guest is Amu-san, an M.D. who now solely focuses on homeopathy treatment. (The second part of this discussion will be available soon here on our website.)
  Link to part 2.
  

Enjoy and learn!
John

** Transcript may differ from audio. **

===== BEGIN SHOW 53 TRANSCRIPT (partial) =====
SECTION 1 – ‘Dearest Creature’ – English Pronunciation Poem

DEAREST CREATURE

Dearest creature in creation,
Study English pronunciation.
I will teach you in my verse
Sounds like corpse, corps, horse, and worse.
I will keep you, Suzy, busy,
Make your head with heat grow dizzy.
Tear in eye, your dress will tear.
So shall I! Oh hear my prayer.
Pray console your loving poet,
Make my coat look new, dear sew it.

Just compare heart, beard, and heard,
Dies and diet, lord and word,
Sword and sward, retain and Britain.
(Mind the latter, how it’s written.)
Now I surely will not plague you

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download/listen (mp3) | duration: 60:15 | file size: 27.66mb | podcast page

Yes, that’s right … it’s a ONE-HOUR show!! Here’s what you’ll hear and learn about in our newest episode:

• Segment 1: What’s News? Elmar, a German language teacher, joins us for stories about kidneys, press freedom, bad manners in the classroom, and happy old people in Brazil.
• Tech Tip: Dictionary Tooltip for Firefox.
• Segment 2: Language: -ing and -ed participles
  The girls talking in the corner are very shy.
  All of the coats received yesterday were wet.
• Segment 3: PODnobbin’: a look at some recent English learning podcasts.
• Segment 4: Famous Quotations: youth!

Enjoy and learn!
John

***** Transcript may differ a little from the show audio. *****

===== TRANSCRIPT – English Teacher John Show 51 =====

[Begin SEGMENT 1 – What’s News? Segment]
05:17 into audio file

John Koons: Alright well, with us today, we’ve got Elmar. Elmar is a German language teacher at Shinshu University and one of my good friends here. Welcome to the show Elmar!

Elmar: Thanks. No problem. Nice to be here.

John Koons: Yeah! Good! Well you know, the English teacher John Show, we’ve started some new, a new segment. It’s a new segment so we’re just…this is an English…we use this for English learners around the world. So as you know, we speak slowly and clearly. Elmar’s first lang-…Elmar, what is your first language?

Elmar: My first language is German.

John Koons: Uhm, and how about English? Is it a second or a third language?

Elmar: Definitely second language.

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download/listen (mp3) | duration: 28:05 | file size: 12.94mb

Hey, it’s a new style of podcast!

Thanks for all of your email. In this podcast, we read some of your email — and they are filled with great comments, suggestions and questions. It’s even better to write your comments H-E-R-E on the MY ENGLISH BLOG!!

download mp3 (duration: 29:40 | file size: 13.66mb)

50 – 50 – 50 – 5-0 yes – yes – yes!! We FINALLY made it to the big 5-0. Get ready for burning, yearning and learning … it’s the English Teacher John Show number 50. Oh who’s that …? Is that you David?? Do you want to say something …??
[David’s intro]

[intro music]
INTRODUCTION – U.S. election

Hola. Oi, Tashi delek. Ciao. Konnichiwa. Guten tag. Asalaam alekum. Ni hao. Namaste.

Good afternoon everyone. My name is John Koons and I am your host for the English Teacher John Show and our other podcasts, which are produced here in our classroom, studio and sushi parlor in Matsumoto, Japan.

I think you all know that I like talking about current events – especially political and social issues, and health and travel and the environment … ah well, I guess I like talking about a lot of things!

Well, as an American we had a big event this week: the 2006 midterm elections in the U.S. In my view, the last few years have not been good ones for the decision makers and the DECISION-MAKING PROCESS in the United States government. Hey, I don’t think it’s been very good for the PEOPLE either; the ones who have to suffer the consequences of poor policy decisions.

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download mp3 (duration: 19:05 | file size: 8.82mb)

Hey long time, no see. Long time, no hear!

Yes, it’s been a long time, but that doesn’t mean we all haven’t been doing some interesting and cool stuff. I don’t know if it’s interesting or cool, but right now it IS the English Teacher John Show number 49. Hey, it’s trick or treat, and I’m going to trick you into thinking that this show is a real treat.

[intro music]

INTRODUCTION – HALLOWEEN!

Hello everyone. My name is John Koons and I am your host for the English Teacher John Show and our other podcasts, which are produced here in our classroom and studio in Matsumoto, Japan.

Hey, HAPPY HALLOWEEN – about five days too late!!! Yes Halloween was this past week and it’s a pretty fun day and night for kids in the countries that celebrate Halloween. According to Wikipedia, you can find Halloween festivities in many Western countries, especially the United States, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Puerto Rico (part of the U.S.), and with increasing popularity in Australia and New Zealand. Here in Japan, there aren’t many Halloween activites going on but most people know about it. For me and my English students, I do some Halloween vocabulary and worksheets with our kids classes, and I like to play a Halloween song in my university and adult classes. This year I’ve been playing one of my favorites, which is called the “Monster Mash.”

In our show today, we’ll talk about PHOBIAS! These are the things that many or most people are not afraid of, but, for some reason, they really scare us. Are you afraid of heights, spiders, the dark … it’s a bit irrational but some of us, maybe even many of us suffer from these phobias.
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Namasthe john sir and namasthe to all, i don’t know how to explain, words are not enough to explain about his site. I proud to being here and sharing these words.

Thanks to john sir.   and i just say one thing   

 

         KEEP IT UP.

Hi english teacher John and to all,

I’m from Spain. Some weeks ago i was looking in internet for english lessons and I foud this great

source of resources, whow!, the podcasts are fantastic, i usually download it

some of their and i listen in my car while i’m commuting. Thanks for your lessons english teacher, i’m sure that i’m learn a lot of while i’m enjoy listen you.

Regards.

Emilio

Hello Mr. John,
This is sishir, from southern part of india. bangalore to be exact. i’m pursuing my  Masters in VLSI system design and i’m recently got a job. so, i’m studying and working as well. i had come to know about your website when i started serching in google the other day. First i downloaded few of your pod casts. The 40 series. i was pretty much impressed with the way how you handled the teaching classes. i’m here to improve my english speaking skills and writing skills along with my vocabulary. i’m sure i’m gonna enjoy this learning activity. i’ll be looking forward for your reply
Thanks for taking time to go through the post Mr.John. have a good time.

Regards,

Sishir

listen to/download this blog post (mp3; duration: 2:39, file size: 1.31mb)

Hello everyone,

Hisashiburi ne??!!

That’s what we say in Japanese when we haven’t seen someone in a long time. In English we say, “long time no see.”

Well, yes, this is English Teacher John here in Matsumoto, Japan, and I want to say thanks for your emails. I was on vacation in September (Thailand and the U.S.) and our second semester of classes began in early October, so … that’s basically the reason that you haven’t seen any new video or audio here at englishteacherjohn.com. SORRY ABOUT THAT!!!

Tomoko and I are doing well — we did an overnight hike up one of our local mountains (2,857m. Mt. Jonen) just last weekend — and now it’s almost time to GET BACK TO PODCASTING!!

I hope that all of you are doing well and improving your English, and I really hope you had a good summer season. Hey, now it’s AUTUMN and it’s MY FAVORITE SEASON here in Matsumoto .. yeah!!

As far as podcasting, I think I’m going to produce some short audio messages or lessons — and maybe video, too — in the next few weeks. I’m not exactly sure of the duration or the style, but I think that doing something a little differently could be beneficial for both you and me.

Well, that’s it for now. I have two more classes today so I gotta go! Please check back soon. You’ll find our newest content in our RSS feed, or on our blog or podcast page. Okay, more to come shortly. Stay tuned …

Take care my friends,
John

HI!

I would like to know if the skypecats is continuing or canceled. I need to improve my oral and writing skills and that will be a must.
If someone is interested to chat me and help me, my name in skype is jguerra18.

Skype me. We can learn a lot through eachother.

Thanks

PS: Sorry for the replication.