In this podcast, Abe’s students present monologues that they have prepared and practiced for his lessons.

I’ve always dreamed of being able to communicate fluently in English, but it’s hard to improve and stay motivated due to my age, and lack of opportunities to use it.

Then I came across a podcast called “GoGo Abe Kaiwa”

Abe’s English is very easy to understand and Yoshi speaks in Japanese, so I can always understand what they are talking about, and most importantly, their conversations are very interesting. Therefore I found myself getting drawn into it more and more.

Then I had a good idea. I thought that if I became Abe’s student, I will have a chance to use English, and maybe one day I‘ll be able to communicate in English fluently.

After that I also joined Abe’s workshop and some of their events.

The first workshop I joined, I came alone and was very nervous.

However, starting with MinMin who started ELC and is always editing and uploading for us, and Etsuko and YumiMETAL who are so sweet and always encourage me, and Hituji and Alissa whom I finally met face to face at last year’s event, everyone is so warm and welcoming.

I’m really grateful that I’m retired and was able to become friends with such wonderful people.

I hope everyone who listens to ELC decides to come and join us! That means YOU!

Lastly I just want to give a special thanks to Abe.

I’m always slacking off and not improving much, but thank you for always teaching me patiently.

P.S.

Etsuko talks about “Gogo Abe Kaiwa” in episode 71.

Please listen to it!!!

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✨Join our club! If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.👉[email protected]

*Free Bird English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

This is our 100th episode! What a milestone! Congratulations to everyone that has contributed to this podcast! I hope you are all enjoying your English journey, and I'm so happy that you chose to be a part of this project.

Also, special thanks to Free Bird English for proofreading our writing and adding some spice and expressions. Let's continue to make learning English a journey that is fun and enjoyable!

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🗣Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us.

👉[email protected]

*Free Bird English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

I went to a concert headlined by CARCASS in Japan. It had been 10 years since I last attended their solo concert. Their performance was so tight and impressive that it was hard to believe they had aged 10 years! I watched this amazing show from the best spot. First, I was at the very edge behind the amplifier, so it was hard to see the stage. I said hello to a group of three women next to me. They told me some interesting stories about the history of the band. They had been devoted and passionate fans of the band for 30 years. Then one of them said to me, "I'm going to see their show in Tokyo tomorrow again, so you should come sit here in this prime spot!" Surprisingly, she gave me the place right in front of Bill, who is my favorite guitarist, so I was able to watch his graceful and vibrant performance up close. More luck followed... After the show, another metal friend of mine called me and said excitedly, "You must come here right now! I happned to spot the band members on the way to my hotel!!" By the time I arrived there Bill had already gone. Fortunately, he came back 15 minutes later with lots of drinks. He must have been to the convenience store. Anyway, I asked him for an autograph. He seemed happy to sign the CD of his brand-new album. Actually, I just started practicing playing his most famous song "Heartwork" on the guitar two months ago. So I really wanted to get some advice about it. Bill wrote the song and has been playing it as well. I mustered up the courage and said to him, "Bill, recently, I'm practicing playing Heartwork on the guitar... Would you tell me the tips of it... I mean what is the most important thing for playing that song?" Much to my delight, he taught me three tips and showed me the finger movements for the song in the air. At the end of the talk he said, "Oh, anyway, listen carefully to the original version with headphones. Yeah, give it a try!" I was thrilled that he was so courteous in expaining it to me, even though I am just one of their many fans. Thanks to everyone's kindness, this was the best concert trip ever !

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Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us. Keep Rocking and Stay Metal!

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*FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

My least favorite day of the year is my medical checkup.

About two months before that day comes, I tend to think about unpleasant things and feel uncomfortable. However, I know that it’s beneficial to stay healthy and recognize health problems early, so I reluctantly continue to do it every year.

For my check up this year. I had to get to the clinic by 7:50 AM without eating or drinking anything except water. It took me 40 minutes to get there, as I had to switch trains.

Upon checking in, I was told that I would have to make an appointment for a colonoscopy at a different hospital on a different day, and that the earliest I could have it would be 5 months from now. “Oh no!” I thought. If the anxiety over this most nerve-wracking test continues for the next 5 months, I might get sick!

Anyway, after that the check-up began. I followed the directions and I made my way through each of the nightmarish rooms. First, the doctor listens to my heart with a stethoscope (this doesn't hurt, so it's OK), then they check my blood pressure, bone density, collect a urine sample, do a chest X-ray... , I especially hate having my blood drawn and the gynecological examination because those are quite painful! After each test, I have to return to a chair in the waiting area, and everyone has to wear these silly pajamas while we go through these tests. They are soooo lame.

The worst of all is the stomach camera.

I was in a terrible mood this morning when I first came to the building this clinic is in, but it was much nicer than any clinic I had been to for a health check before, and there was a big Christmas tree in front of the elevator, so my mood lightened up and I thought, "I'm lucky!" But when it’s time for that damn stomach camera, all those thoughts go out the window.

The doctor who did the gastroscopy was awful! He was the worst one I’ve ever had!!

It hurt, I was coughing and crying, and I didn't want to look, but they kept telling me to relax and look into the distance. The doctor was a stupid jerk that kept saying it's because I'm not “looking into the distance” that it hurts! What an asshole. The reason that I closed my eyes was that I really wanted to pass out!

Anyway, the doctor said that my stomach looked fine. I thought if I kept having these tests every year, my stomach would get sick from all the anxiety.

I had a few more tests, but I was feeling so dizzy after that I don't remember much. All the results will arrive by mail in about a month. I was told that I shouldn't drink alcohol the next day, but I celebrated by myself with a glass of red wine, hoping that everything is over…

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*FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

 I’m not a big movie person, but I have a few favorites I can watch over and over again. One of them is “Legally Blonde,” known as “Cutie Blonde” in Japan.

Recently, I found “Legally Blonde” on Amazon Prime and decided to watch it again for old time’s sake.

The story is about Elle Woods, a bubbly, fashion-forward sorority girl who transitions to law school after being dumped by her boyfriend. At first glance, it might seem like a typical comedy, but if you look deeper, it’s also a story about empowerment, resilience, and breaking stereotypes… And above all, Elle is so lovable!

Since then I’ve watched it two more times this week alone! Now that I’m so into the movie, I’ve started picking out phrases that are new to me. I always heard that watching movies can help with learning English, but I never thought it was my thing. Now I finally understand why people recommend it.

It’s about immersing yourself in the movie’s world and learning from the context. When you learn phrases from a movie, it’s easy to grasp the nuance. I practice these phrases by imitating how the characters say them, imagining myself in their shoes. This way, the phrases really sink in, and I have a vivid picture in my mind that is connected to them.

I wish I had started this earlier! However, it only works when I truly love the movie because I believe I need to watch it repeatedly to actually learn from it. So if I’m not passionate about the movie, I’m sure I would lose interest.

Watching “Legally Blonde” has been more than just a trip down memory lane. It’s reminded me of the joy a good story can bring and shown me a new, effective way to improve my English. The film’s messages of empowerment and perseverance resonate with me, and the lovable characters make learning enjoyable.

I’ll keep watching it until I get tired of it!——————————————————————

🗣Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us.

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*FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1

Monday, July 15th 2024

After a night in a hotel near the international airport, and then a seaplane and boat the next day, I finally made back to this small, cozy, and amazing island.  This trip might be the last time though, it's too far!

The restaurant served mainly Mexican food tonight, and I was looking for something spicy with beans, but I was too tired and ended up eating something else.  During the evening information session, about 20 guests were listening to the explanation in Italian, and only the two of us were listening to it in English.

Later on, the staff gave us a lecture in English and Italian while showing a video of the ocean at the bar. We couldn't understand anything, so we both ended up dozing off!

Tuesday, July 16th 

We immediately swam with sea turtles and sharks!  It was marvelous!!  I found a sea turtle and told my husband it was a big one, but he disagreed and said it was small...  “What a party pooper!  Let’s be positive!”  I thought to myself.  Every night from 9:30 pm various events are held at this resort.  Today there was a live show and a quiz. They play the first part of a song, and you have to guess what song it is.  There is a TV program in Japan that does a similar kind of thing, and I knew some of the songs because they were from famous movies or shows, but there were a lot of competitive guests, and they all shouted the right answer before the host pointed to them.  It sounds like this would be annoying but everyone was friendly and in a good mood so it was actually quite hilarious.

Wednesday, July 17th 

Early morning is the best time for snorkeling!  We woke up early, ate breakfast, relaxed for a little while, and then headed straight to the ocean!  Oh, how happy I am!  I was able to find a spotted eagle ray which is my favorite marine animal!!

We were feeling a bit tired from being out in the sun all day, so instead of going to the bar after dinner, we went back to our room to relax for the evening.

Thursday, July 18th

After dinner, there was supposed to be a dance show performed by the staff on the beach, but it started raining, so they changed it to a karaoke night at the bar.  Nobody likes rain when they are on vacation, but because it is the rainy season the island isn't very busy, which is nice.  It’s always better to look on the bright side!

Friday, July 19th 

I had a lot of fun singing karaoke last night.  The Italian guests seemed to always be out talking on the beach and at the pool, and playing music in front of the cottages, and to be honest, I thought they were a little bit noisy.  Buuuuuut because they were so outgoing and high-energy the atmosphere when I sang karaoke was fantastic.  Since this morning, they were all greeting me with a big smile and saying "ciao", which made me really happy.

Among them, there was a beautiful couple with lovely smiles.  Today there was a Maldives-themed event, and the dress code was Red (Rosso), and when I said to the wife of this couple, "That's a nice red scarf”, her husband said, "Thank you, and I came here with a sunburnt RED FACE on for today!”.  This joke made us laugh, and my husband and I became fast friends with this couple.

Saturday, July 20

I completely forgot my earlier thoughts about this being too far and my last visit. I've fallen so in love with this island that I even asked the manager, "Which season do you think is better for us next year, dry or rainy?"  Two staff members even remembered us from before. How sweet!  

Sunday, July 21

I learned the phrase "tutto bene" from my new Italian friends, which means "いー感じ" in Japanese, "All right" in English, and "Rangaru" in Maldivian Dhivehi. The disco night where we danced on the sand carpet tonight was absolutely "tutto bene."

—————————————————————— 🗣Do you study English? Join our club! And why not read your monologue. If you are interested, please feel free to contact us.

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Last month, I rode the Hokuriku Shinkansen for the first time. I was visiting my mom in Fukui, and for the first time, I could take the Hokuriku Shinkansen directly there. The Hokuriku Shinkansen has been operating since 2015, but initially, it only connected Tokyo and Kanazawa, leaving my hometown, Fukui, out of reach. However, this March, the line was extended to include Fukui, making my journey much more convenient. 

 When I was in elementary school, I remember my dad telling me that someday, a Shinkansen would come to Fukui. I waited and waited, and after 30 years, it's finally here. Accessing the Shinkansen from my hometown in Fukui was quite a hassle, requiring several transfers, which caused the journey to take almost five hours in total. Now, I can travel directly from Tokyo Station to Fukui, which not only reduces the number of transfers, but also shortens the travel time to a little over four hours. Having fewer transfers makes the journey much less stressful. 

Once I arrived in Fukui, I was greeted by many dinosaur statues because Fukui is famous for dinosaurs. The city has one of the world's top dinosaur museums, which I'm very proud of. I enjoyed seeing the large dinosaur fossils displayed at Fukui Station, and the moving Tyrannosaurus monument was really cool. I also noticed many new and fancy cafes and shops near the station, an area that used to be quite desolate. It was heartening to see my hometown rejuvenating and filled with positive energy. 

I'm looking forward to visiting Fukui more often now that it's so much easier to get there. Additionally, there are discounted tickets available until next spring, making it even more appealing to travelers. Although I'm not sure if I'll be able to visit Fukui within the year, I'm certain I'll go back next May, as that is my annual tradition. My first experience on the Hokuriku Shinkansen was wonderful, and I was happy to see my mom, brother, friends, nephews, and niece.

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*FREEBIRD English: https://www.55freebird.com/blank-1