Today’s episode is “冬の家族物語 (fuyu no kazoku monogatari)《Winter Family Tale》.

I created a story about spending time with family in Japan during December and January.

This episode is JLPT-N5 level.

I created a quiz on this episode.

After listening, please take the quiz!

Please use this audio for listening and shadowing practices.

☆Words

電気毛布（でんきもうふ）：electric blanket

雪合戦（ゆきがっせん）：snowball fight

雪（ゆき）だるま：snowman

お腹（なか）が空（す）く：hungry

温（あたた）かい：warm

かぼちゃ：pumpkin

準備（じゅんび）：preparation

飾（かざ）る：decorate

サンタさん：Santa Claus

人形（にんぎょう）：doll

楽（たの）しみにする：look forward to

イチゴ：strawberry

冬休（ふゆやす）み：winter vacation

温泉（おんせん）：hot spring

卓球（たっきゅう）：table tennis

神社（じんじゃ）：shrine

☆Script for this episode

https://meg-smile.com/47-winter-family-tale-n5-level/

☆Quiz for this episode

https://www.italki.com/quiz/set/17990?utm_source=copylink_share&utm_medium=share_content&utm_campaign=share_quiz

※Need to register (free)  with italki.

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☆Would you like to take my class?

I’d love to help you start your Japanese learning journey!

Book a trial lesson directly through my website:

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☆Music

BGMer：http://bgmer.net

Today’s Theme is “１年間（ねんかん）の挑戦（ちょうせん）！勉強（べんきょう）を続（つづ）けてわかったこと”.

This episode is JLPT-N3 level.

Please use this audio for listening and shadowing practices.

☆Words☆

挑戦（ちょうせん）：challenge

法律（ほうりつ）：law

駅弁（えきべん）：Ekiben《Train station boxed lunch》

景色（けしき）：view

モチベーション：motivation

資格試験（しかくしけん）：qualification exam

ただ：only, just

☆Script for this episode

https://meg-smile.com/46-studymethod-n3-level/

☆If you haven’t used italki, click the link below.

https://promos.italki.com/learnanylanguage-en/?ref=meg-smile&utm_source=meg-smile&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=kol&hl=en

(This is the italki page. You can receive $10 USD italki Credits in your Student Wallet within 48 hours after you make your first purchase.)

☆Would you like to take my class?

I’d love to help you start your Japanese learning journey!

Book a trial lesson directly through my website:

https://meg-smile.com/lesson/

（If it’s your first time, please book a trial lesson to get started.）

音楽：BGMer http://bgmer.net

Today’s Theme is “新（あたら）しい習慣（しゅうかん）《New habits》”.

This episode is JLPT-N4 level.

I created a quiz on this episode.

After listening, please take the quiz!

Please use this audio for listening and shadowing practices.

☆Words

習慣（しゅうかん）： habit

太陽（たいよう）：sun

新鮮（しんせん）な：fresh

空気（くうき）：air

環境（かんきょう）：environment

心（こころ）を落（お）ち着（つ）かせる：calm down

☆Script for this episode

https://meg-smile.com/45-new-habits-n4/

☆If you haven’t used italki, click the link below.

https://promos.italki.com/learnanylanguage-en/?ref=meg-smile&utm_source=meg-smile&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=kol&hl=en

(This is the italki page. You can receive $10 USD italki Credits in your Student Wallet within 48 hours after you make your first purchase.)

☆Would you like to take my class?

I’d love to help you start your Japanese learning journey!

Book a trial lesson directly through my website:

https://meg-smile.com/lesson/

（If it’s your first time, please book a trial lesson to get started.）

Today’s episode is “たけしの夏 (Takeshi no natsu)《Takeshi's Summer》.

This episode is JLPT-N5 level.

I created a quiz on this episode.

After listening, please take the quiz!

Please use this audio for listening and shadowing practices.

☆Words

小学生（しょうがくせい）《shoogakusee》：elementary school student

夏休（なつやす）み《natsuyasumi》：summer vacation

～が 見（み）える／見（み）えない《～ga mieru / mienai》：be seen / can not be seen

庭（にわ）《niwa》：garden, yard

地震（じしん）《jishin》：earthquake

穴（あな）《ana》：hole

怖（こわ）い《kowai》：scary

暗（くら）い《kurai》：dark

突然（とつぜん）《totsuzen》：suddenly

明（あか）るくなる《akarukunaru》：become brighter

～に 落（お）ちる《～ni ochiru》：fall

目（め）を 開（あ）ける／閉（と）じる《me o akeru / tojiru》：open one's eyes / close one's eyes

妖精（ようせい）《yoosee》：fairy

魔法（まほう） の 世界（せかい）《mahoo no sekai》：The Magic World

星（ほし）《hoshi》：star

花火（はなび） 《hanabi》：fireworks

空（そら）《sora》：sky

☆Script for this episode

https://meg-smile.com/44-short-story-takeshis-summer-n5/

☆Quiz for this episode

https://www.italki.com/quiz/set/14761?utm_source=copylink_share&utm_medium=share_content&utm_campaign=share_quiz

※Need to register (free)  with italki.

☆If you haven’t used italki, click the link below.

https://promos.italki.com/learnanylanguage-en/?ref=meg-smile&utm_source=meg-smile&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=kol&hl=en

(This is the italki page. You can receive $10 USD italki Credits in your Student Wallet within 48 hours after you make your first purchase.)

☆Would you like to take my class?

I’d love to help you start your Japanese learning journey!

Book a trial lesson directly through my website:

https://meg-smile.com/lesson/

（If it’s your first time, please book a trial lesson to get started.）

I’ll introduce Japanese culture in easy Japanese.

Today’s Theme is “お盆（ぼん）《Bon festival》”.

This episode is JLPT-N3 level.

I created a quiz on this episode.

After listening, please take the quiz!

Please use this audio for listening and shadowing practices.

☆Words☆

お盆（ぼん）：Bon festival

Obon is one of the Buddhist events. In Buddhism, it is believed that the spirits of family ancestors come back to this world during the Obon period between July and August, and a series of events take place to commemorate them.

Obon is regarded as one of the most important family occasions of the year in Japan.

Although Obon is not an official holiday, many offices are temporarily closed for business during this period. 

盆踊（ぼんおど）り：Bon Festival dance

Bon Odori is a traditional Japanese dance that is generally performed at events or festivals during Obon holidays.

Participants wear yukata, a casual traditional Kimono-style garment, and dance to traditional music while circling around a stage to honor the spirits of ancestors.

移動（いどう）する：move

仏教（ぶっきょう）：Buddhism

先祖（せんぞ）：ancestor

もてなす：treat / welcome

仏壇（ぶつだん）：Buddhist altar

迎（むか）え火（び）：welcoming fire

“迎え火” is a sacred fire that is often burned on August 13th in front of each household to guide the spirits of their ancestors back home.

提灯（ちょうちん）：chochin lantern

送（おく）り火（び）：seeing off fire

"送り火"is lit on the last day of Obon, which is generally August 16th to send the ancestors back to their world.

五山送り火（ござんのおくりび）：

The Send-off Bonfires of Five Mountains (Gozan no Okuribi) refers to the annual bonfires lit at various 5 locations including Nyoigatake (Mt. Nyoi known as Mt. Daimonji) on August 16 in Kyoto City.

阿波踊（あわおど）り：

“阿波踊り” is the largest and the most famous bon festival dance in Japan, attracting more than 1 million visitors from August 12 to 15 every year. “阿波” is the old name of Tokushima Prefecture, and “踊り” means dance. 

Every night, groups of dancers dressed in yukata, or light cotton kimono, dance around in the town to the theme song called “Yoshikono” accompanied by three stringed shamisen, flutes, drums and bells.

☆Script for this episode

https://meg-smile.com/43-bon-festival-n3-level/

☆Quiz for this episode

https://www.italki.com/quiz/set/14133?utm_source=copylink_share&utm_medium=share_content&utm_campaign=share_quiz

※Need to register (free)  with italki.

☆If you haven’t used italki, click the link below.

https://promos.italki.com/learnanylanguage-en/?ref=meg-smile&utm_source=meg-smile&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=kol&hl=en

(This is the italki page. You can receive $10 USD italki Credits in your Student Wallet within 48 hours after you make your first purchase.)

☆Would you like to take my class?

I’d love to help you start your Japanese learning journey!

Book a trial lesson directly through my website:

https://meg-smile.com/lesson/

（If it’s your first time, please book a trial lesson to get started.）

Today’s Theme is “うなぎの日（ひ）？《Eel Day?》”.

This episode is JLPT-N4 level.

I created a quiz on this episode.

After listening, please take the quiz!

Please use this audio for listening and shadowing practices.

☆Words☆

うなぎ：eel

土用（どよう）："土用（どよう）" strictly refers to the 18 days before the first days of spring, summer, fall, and winter (on the lunar calendar). Today, however, "土用（どよう）" generally refers only to the 18 days before the first day of fall.

丑（うし）の日（ひ）：The day called "丑（うし）の日（ひ）", which is translated literally as the day of the Ox, can be seen in the calendar that follows the twelve signs of the Chinese zodiac. The twelve signs were introduced to Japan from ancient China. The twelve signs were allocated one by one to the days on the calendar. "丑（うし）の日（ひ）" is the day to which the second sign of the twelve signs is allocated. 

立春（りっしゅん）：the first day of spring

立夏（りっか）：the first day of summer

立秋（りっしゅう）：the first day of fall

立冬（りっとう）：the first day of winter

つまり：in other words

干支（えと）：the twelve zodiac signs in Chinese astrology

梅干（うめぼ）し：pickled plums

ウリ：a gourd

☆Script for this episode

https://meg-smile.com/42-eel-day-n4/

☆Quiz for this episode

https://www.italki.com/quiz/set/13917?utm_source=copylink_share&utm_medium=share_content&utm_campaign=share_quiz

※Need to register (free)  with italki.

☆If you haven’t used italki, click the link below.

https://promos.italki.com/learnanylanguage-en/?ref=meg-smile&utm_source=meg-smile&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=kol&hl=en

(This is the italki page. You can receive $10 USD italki Credits in your Student Wallet within 48 hours after you make your first purchase.)

☆Would you like to take my class?

I’d love to help you start your Japanese learning journey!

Book a trial lesson directly through my website:

https://meg-smile.com/lesson/

（If it’s your first time, please book a trial lesson to get started.）

Today’s episode is “トイレの女の子（toire no on’nanoko）”《A girl in the restroom》.

This story is based on urban legends from various parts of Japan, and a little scary story.

This episode is JLPT-N5 level.

I created a quiz on this episode.

After listening, please take the quiz!

Please use this audio for listening and shadowing practices.

☆Words☆

教室（きょうしつ）：classroom

思（おも）い出（だ）す：remember

聞（き）こえる：be heard

やっぱり：after all

急（いそ）いで：hurry

怖（こわ）い：scary

心配（しんぱい）：worry

手（て）を洗（あら）う：wash one's hands

☆Conjugation of verbs☆ 

・te-form：（ています／てください／てから）

・nai-form

・plain-form

☆Script for this episode

https://meg-smile.com/41-short-story-a-girl-in-the-restroom/

☆Quiz for this episode

https://www.italki.com/quiz/set/13773?utm_source=copylink_share&utm_medium=share_content&utm_campaign=share_quiz

※Need to register (free)  with italki.

☆If you haven’t used italki, click the link below.

https://promos.italki.com/learnanylanguage-en/?ref=meg-smile&utm_source=meg-smile&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=kol&hl=en

(This is the italki page. You can receive $10 USD italki Credits in your Student Wallet within 48 hours after you make your first purchase.)

☆Would you like to take my class?

みなさん、ひさしぶりです。

この半年間、私はずっとがんばっていることがあります。

今日は、そのことを話します。

Hi everyone, long time no see!

There is something I’ve been working hard on for the past six months.

Today, I’d like to talk about it.

This episode is JLPT-N3 level.

Please use this audio for listening and shadowing practices.

☆Words☆

日本語能力試験（にほんごのうりょくしけん）：Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT)

法律（ほうりつ）：law

繰り返し（くりかえし）：repeat

☆Script for this episode

https://meg-smile.com/40-ganbatteiru-n3-level/

☆If you haven’t used italki, click the link below.

https://promos.italki.com/learnanylanguage-en/?ref=meg-smile&utm_source=meg-smile&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=kol&hl=en

(This is the italki page. You can receive $10 USD italki Credits in your Student Wallet within 48 hours after you make your first purchase.)

☆Would you like to take my class?

I’d love to help you start your Japanese learning journey!

Book a trial lesson directly through my website:

https://meg-smile.com/lesson/

（If it’s your first time, please book a trial lesson to get started.）

I’ll introduce Japanese culture in easy Japanese.

Today’s Theme is “七五三の歴史《The history of Shichi-go-san》”.

This episode is JLPT-N3 level.

I created a quiz on this episode.

After listening, please take the quiz!

Please use this audio for listening and shadowing practices.

☆Words☆

七五三（しちごさん）：Shichi-go-san is an annual Japanese festival to celebrate the growth of children. It takes place on or around November 15. The festival is for boys aged three and five, and girls aged three and seven. That’s why it is called shichi-go-san (seven-five-three).

お祝（いわ）い：celebration

成長（せいちょう）：growth

中旬（ちゅうじゅん）：middle of a month

江戸時代（えどじだい）：Edo period (1603-1868 CE)

剃（そ）る：shave

袴（はかま）：man's formal divided skirt

帯（おび）：belt (e.g. of a kimono)

千歳飴（ちとせあめ）：longevity candy, long red-and-white stick candy

On shichi-go-san, children eat long red-and-white stick candy, called chitose ame. Chitose means “one thousand years.” It symbolizes health and longevity.

☆Script for this episode

https://meg-smile.com/39-shichi-go-san-n3-level/

☆Quiz for this episode

https://www.italki.com/quiz/set/8878?utm_source=copylink_share&utm_medium=share_content&utm_campaign=share_quiz

※Need to register (free)  with italki.

☆If you haven’t used italki, click the link below.

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(This is the italki page. You can receive $10 USD italki Credits in your Student Wallet within 48 hours after you make your first purchase.)

☆Would you like to take my class?

I’d love to help you start your Japanese learning journey!

Book a trial lesson directly through my website:

https://meg-smile.com/lesson/

（If it’s your first time, please book a trial lesson to get started.）

Today’s Theme is “紅葉（こうよう）《Autumn colors》”.

This episode is JLPT-N4 level.

I created a quiz on this episode.

After listening, please take the quiz!

Please use this audio for listening and shadowing practices.

☆Words☆

紅葉狩り（もみじがり / momijigari）：This is a yearly event for many Japanese people in Autumn. The word “Momiji” in Momiji-gari means Autumn colours, and “gari” means hunting. Japanese people go out to parks and mountains where they can see lots of trees in their Autumn colors – yellows, oranges and reds, and simply enjoy the beautiful change of seasons from Summer to Autumn.

お花見（おはなみ / ohanami）：Ohanami is a traditional Japanese custom in spring. At a cherry blossom viewing party, people get together under cherry blossom trees and enjoy eating and drinking.

嵐山（あらしやま / arashiyama）：Arashiyama is an area in the western part of Kyoto City. The mountain named Arashiyama at an altitude of 382 meters in the western part of Kyoto City, the surrounding mountains, and the foot of the mountain are generally called Arashiyama. At the foot of Arashiyama, there are many historical temples, shrines, and historic sites, making it a famous tourist destination.

上旬（じょうじゅん / jōjun）：at the beginning of the month

中旬（ちゅうじゅん / chūjun）：in the middle of the month

下旬（げじゅん / gejyun）：at the end of the month

日光（にっこう / nikkō）：Nikko is a town located in Tochigi Prefecture. Tochigi prefecture is an inland prefecture located in the northern part of the Kanto region. Nikko has many old-style buildings, and it is registered as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage.

新幹線（しんかんせん / shinkansen）：bullet train

☆Script for this episode
https://meg-smile.com/38-autumn-colors-n4-level/

☆Quiz for this episode

https://www.italki.com/quiz/set/8472?utm_source=copylink_share&utm_medium=share_content&utm_campaign=share_quiz

※Need to register (free)  with italki.

☆If you haven’t used italki, click the link below.

https://promos.italki.com/learnanylanguage-en/?ref=meg-smile&utm_source=meg-smile&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=kol&hl=en

(This is the italki page. You can receive $10 USD italki Credits in your Student Wallet within 48 hours after you make your first purchase.)

☆Would you like to take my class?

I’d love to help you start your Japanese learning journey!

Book a trial lesson directly through my website:

https://meg-smile.com/lesson/

（If it’s your first time, please book a trial lesson to get started.）