にほんごのたね Nihongo no Tane with Yumi

What's the hardest part about having a conversation in a foreign language? Yumi believes it is 「雑談」 zatsudan (small talk; chit-chat) and I think she's right. Listen as she talks about this difficult but everyday situation and how to improve your abilities.

Listen to the podcast and then take the quiz on the episode's webpage:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-43

雑談 small talk; chit chat

For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/

Take a quiz on this episode here:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-43

If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:

https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-43-m

--

Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.

www.MakotoPlus.com

Middle C is the first thing piano students in the US learn. But in Japan, it is different—at least it was when Yumi was a little girl.

Listen to the podcast and then take the quiz on the episode's webpage:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-42

ピアノのABC  The ABCs of the Piano

For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/

Take a quiz on this episode here:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-42

If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:

https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-42-m

--

Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.

www.MakotoPlus.com

"Are!" That thing. You know… that "are." Do you ever have trouble remembering a word or name? Listen as Yumi explains one method that has helped her improve her memory and reduced the number of "are" in conversation.

Listen to the podcast and then take the quiz on the episode's webpage:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-41

ピアノとあれ！  Piano and "are!"

For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/

Take a quiz on this episode here:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-41

If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:

https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-41-m

--

Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.

www.MakotoPlus.com

There's one thing that Yumi always does before starting a project, studying, or doing work. That is cleaning. She needs to have a clean desk to get a proper start. How about you?

Listen to the podcast and then take the quiz on the episode's webpage:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-40

その前に掃除 Before that, clean up!

For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/

Take a quiz on this episode here:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-40

If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:

https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-40-m

--

Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.

www.MakotoPlus.com

Don't give up! That's Yumi's message for us today. Recently, her electric well suddenly stopped working. That meant no water for the house which means no toilets, washing clothes, or drinking water. Just when they were about to call the well specialists, she decided to try one more thing…

Listen to the podcast and then take the quiz on the episode's webpage:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-39

あきらめないで Don't give up!

For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/

Take a quiz on this episode here:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-39

If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:

https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-39-m

--

Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.

www.MakotoPlus.com

Recently, Yumi heard a friend sing a song in Spanish. What's this? She immediately recognized it as a song she learned while in school in Japan. Listen as Yumi explains why Japanese songs are so beautiful.

Listen to the podcast and then take the quiz on the episode's webpage:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-38

追憶 Reminiscence

For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/

Take a quiz on this episode here:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-38

If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:

https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-38-m

--

Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.

www.MakotoPlus.com

Last week, Yumi let us know she recently started practicing piano again. She really enjoys it. Now. But when she was younger, she didn't practice much because it wasn't enjoyable to her. Listen as Yumi gives a few words of advice about how to learn to like something you don't currently like.

Listen to the podcast and then take the quiz on the episode's webpage:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-37

嫌いなものを好きになる Learning to Like what You Don't Like

For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/

Take a quiz on this episode here:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-37

If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:

https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-37-m

--

Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.

www.MakotoPlus.com

Last week, Yumi let us know she recently started practicing piano again. Maybe she has practiced too much. Listen as she talks about her hand hurting.

Listen to the podcast and then take the quiz on the episode's webpage:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-36

手が痛い My hand hurts

For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/

Take a quiz on this episode here:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-36

If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:

https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-36-m

--

Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.

www.MakotoPlus.com

Can you play the piano? Listen as Yumi explains why Japanese people tend to say they can't when they really can.

Listen to the podcast and then take the quiz on the episode's webpage:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-35

ピアノ Piano

For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/

Take a quiz on this episode here:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-35

If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:

https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-35-m

--

Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.

www.MakotoPlus.com

Recently, Yumi's son had his wisdom teeth removed. Learn what "wisdom teeth" is called in Japanese and why. The reason might surprise you.

Listen to the podcast and then take the quiz on the episode's webpage:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-34

親知らず Wisdom Teeth

For upper beginners to intermediates. Listen to the short podcast and then answer the comprehension questions on the website: https://thejapanesepage.com/nihongonotane-index/

Take a quiz on this episode here:

https://thejapanesepage.com/podcast-nihongonotane-34

If you are a Makoto+ member, you can find the transcript, English translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF for printing:

https://MakotoPlus.com/podcast-nihongonotane-34-m

--

Become a Makoto+ member and get show notes with a complete transcript, translation, key vocabulary, and a downloadable PDF.

www.MakotoPlus.com