Hi everyone! Thank you for tuning in to Time for English.

The rainy season has officially begun. According to the Meteorological Agency, it begun on June 5 in the Kanto region; three days earlier than average and two days later than it did last year.

So. June is the month of rain. And I'm going to give you a rain-related idiom today. Are you familiar with the expression "to take a rain check"? Actually, the phrase itself has nothing to do with rain. It's more about declining an invitation.

For example, your friend says, "Would you like to join me for dinner tonight?" Unfortunately you have other plans. Here you can say, "Umm… maybe not tonight. Can I take a rain check on that?" You can also say "I'll take a rain check on that." It means you can't accept the offer right there and then, but want to do so some other time.

Anyhow, it's an elegant way of saying no to an invitation. It's very useful. So let's practice together.

Please repeat after me:

I'll take a rain check.

Hi everyone! Thank you for tuning in to Time for English.

Last week you learned about interjections and how to use "Oops!"

Learning interjections is a lot of fun. And most of them are easy to use.

For example, "Ouch!" is an interjection to express pain. When someone steps on your foot, you can say "Ouch!" or "Ow!".

Now, what are you going to say, when you eat something delicious? You say "Yum-yum!" or "Yummy!" What about when you eat something not delicious? You say "Ugh" or "Yuk". And while you say "Wow!" to express pleasure, surprise or admiration, "Oh no" is uttered to indicate that you're disappointed.

The next time when you show something funny to your friend, instead of saying "It's funny, isn't it?," you may want to try "Funny, Huh?"

Try to learn to use these interjections naturally in a conversation, and your English would sound much more like English.

Now, why don't you try a quiz? I'll give you three options. Please listen carefully and choose the one that is TRUE. Ready?

When someone steps on your foot, you're likely to say:

1. Oops!

2. Ow!

3. Yuk!

Hi everyone! Thank you for tuning in to Time for English.

Have you ever heard someone say "oops"? Probably you have. Do you know what it means?

Grammatically, "oops" is an interjection. An interjection is a word or phrase you can use to express an emotion or feeling such as pain, surprise or disappointment. Oops, ouch, oh no, uh-huh, aha, ugh are all interjections.

"Oops" is used when you or someone else causes a minor accident or makes a small mistake.

For example, you got an ice cream in a waffle cone and dropped it on the floor. That's "Oops"! Your wife says, "Honey, did you pick up my laundry?" You didn't. "Oops! I forgot." Be careful. You don't want to use "oops" for a car accident.

Now, why don't you try a quiz? I'll give you three sentences. Please listen carefully and choose the one that is NOT true. Ready?

You're NOT expected to say "Oops!":

1. when you crashed your car.

2. if you're a doctor and operating on your patient.

3. when you made a typing error.

Hi everyone! Thank you for tuning in to Time for English.

Today, I'm going to talk about the word "hate". When you "hate" something, you dislike it intensely. Hate is a very powerful, strong verb. You may probably want to save the word for those things that you really dislike. And certainly, I wouldn't use it for people.

An exception is when you use the word in a sentence like "I hate to interrupt, but I need to talk to you right now". "I hate to interrupt" means "I don't want to interrupt". Likewise, I hate to admit it but I was wrong. I hate to say this but I think you're making a wrong decision. I hate to ask you this but would you give me a ride?

Now this is a useful expression to remember. So I'll continue to discuss this topic on Thursday on our website. So please make sure to come visit us.

For now, I'll give you a sentence to practice. Ready? Please repeat after me:

I hate to interrupt, but it's urgent.

Hi everyone! Thank you for tuning in to Time for English.

It's been a week since the Golden Week holidays were over. I guess things are finally getting back to normal for everyone.

During the holidays I had a family get-together. My mother, my sister and her daughter and myself. Just last month, my niece started going to high school. So we decided to celebrate her passing the exam and being accepted into the school she wanted to get into. We wanted to get together and say "Congratulations!"

Now, did you notice? I used the word "congratulations" in the plural. Not "congratulation", but "congratulations". Congratulations on your graduation. Congratulations on your engagement. Congratulations on your promotion, or congratulations on passing your exam.

It's a good word to remember. But when you use it, make sure to use it in the plural. Always.

Now, let's say it together, out loud. Please repeat after me.

Congratulations!

Hi everyone! Thank you for tuning in to Time for English.

A couple of weeks ago I talked about how to keep your house clean and suggested you should make a habit of putting things back where they belong after using them. Are you familiar with the word "habit"? A habit is something you do often and regularly, sometimes without even knowing that you are doing it.

Now, speaking of a habit, have you heard of 21-day rule? Some people believe it takes 21 days to form a simple habit. In other words, if you stick to something for three consecutive weeks, you're more likely to achieve your goals.

I can't tell whether it's a myth or fact. But kaori and I will be very happy if you make it a habit to come visit our website or facebook page every day. That in turn should help you make a habit of studying English every day.

Anyhow, let's learn this sentence for now. Would you like to repeat after me?

Make a habit of studying English every day.

Hi everyone! Thank you for tuning in to Time for English.

Many verbs in English are followed by an adverb or a preposition or both, and these two-part or three-part verbs are called "phrasal verbs". For example, last week and the week before, you learned the expressions "put it back" and "take it back". They're both phrasal verbs.

A phrasal verb generally has a meaning which is different from the original verb alone. You may need to try to guess the meaning from the context. Some are easy to guess, others not. For example, the verb "look" can be used with different adverbs and prepositions to form different phrasal verbs. Look up, look down, look around may be easier to deal with. What about "look after" or "look forward to"? If you fail to guess the meaning, then make sure to look it up in a dictionary. Remember learning phrasal verbs is an important part of learning English.

Well, I won't give you a quiz here. Instead, I'll post a link on our website to the British Council's webpage where you'll find additional information about phrasal verbs. You can try a quiz there too. In the meantime, be well and see you next time!

Hi everyone! Thank you for tuning in to Time for English.

Last week I discussed how to keep your house clean and you learned the expression "to put it back". Today you're going to learn another phrasal verb "to take it back".

So what does the phrase mean? How is it used?

Let's say, you said something awful to a friend. But you know what you said was wrong and unfair and that you shouldn't have said that. So you say to him "I'm sorry. I didn't really mean it. I take it back."

Well. To take it back is a good phrase to learn. That's for sure. But still we should be very careful with our words, especially when we're angry, because once you said something, it'll be out there forever. Once it's out, it's out like toothpaste. You can't put toothpaste back into the tube. Our words and opinions are much the same way.

Now, would you like to try a quiz? This is again a multiple choice question. You'll have three options and are expected to choose the one that is TRUE. Ready?

Your friend said something to you and you want him to take it back because what he said is:

1. insulting

2. amusing

3. flattering

Hi everyone! Thank you for tuning in to Time for English.

Are you good at keeping your house clean?

One of the best tips for being a good organizer is to put things back where they belong. If you take out your hair dryer, shoe-brush, kitchen scale or whatever, put it back in the same place when you're done.

Sounds pretty simple. But some people constantly fail to do so. They use things and often leave whatever they used on nearby surfaces, like on the table or nightstand or toilet lid or even on the floor. This is something you need to quit doing if you want to keep your room tidy and comfy.

Actually I'm pretty good at it. What's the secret? Well, you just do it. Taking things out must always be followed by putting them back. Just make a habit of it. Keep telling yourself "Put it back when you're done".

Would you like to try together? Please repeat after me:

Put it back when you're done.

Hi everyone! Thank you for tuning in to Time for English.

It's getting warmer every day. How are you? I'm pretty fine except that my nose's been itching badly. I have hay fever.

If you have hay fever, you are allergic to pollen. Pollen is a fine powder from trees and grasses. Throughout the spring months, I check pollen count every day, wear a surgical mask when I go out, make sure to have half a dozen nasal sprays in stock. Such a pain in the neck.

Now, people can be allergic to different things. There are food allergies, for example. You may be allergic to milk, eggs, wheat, soy, or shellfish. Actually, I'm allergic to shrimp.

Other than food, you may be allergic to metals, chemicals, sunlight or even cats.

Well, I hope you're not allergic to English and are ready to learn this expression "to be allergic to something".

Would you like to practice together? Please repeat after me:

I am (I'm) allergic to shellfish.