Wednesday, April 30, 2008

Show 718 Wednesday 30 April


Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Golden Week Special #3


This is Kutchan station.
I thought this sign said Nyachiku for ages until I released it was written backwards.

This is a map inside the station of part of Hokkaido. We’re here.
And this is today’s question: What is your biggest travel disaster story?

As for my answer, it’s hard to choose my worst travel story because I seem to have been born with the useless traveler gene and I’ve had many, many travel disasters.

One of the most memorable was leaving Thailand to fly back to Japan. I didn’t want to miss my flight, so I arrived at the airport super early and checked in early and went straight to the gate. The gate wasn’t open and I was feeling a little bit sleepy and I ended up nodding off and when I woke up, the plane had gone.



music

show start
artist: BrunoXe
album: aprendiendo desde 2004
track: Mandrake
from: Jerez, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

other music
artist: zoop
album: music on hold
track: hold
from: Moscow, Russia
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Show 717 Tuesday 29 April


Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Golden Week Special #2

This is a flying tree.
This is a dancing tree.
This is a tree hugger.
This is rabbit.

And this is today’s question: If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be and why?

My answer: If I was a tree, I would be a palm tree. Then I could live on a tropical island and hang out at the beach all day.


music

show start
artist: BrunoXe
album: aprendiendo desde 2004
track: Mandrake
from: Jerez, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

other music
artist: zoop
album: music on hold
track: hold
from: Moscow, Russia
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Monday, April 28, 2008

Show 716 Monday 28 April


Watch today's video at YouTube or BlipTV.

Golden Week Special #1

Today is the first video of the Golden Week Special series. I’m going to ask you a question in each video. I’ll give you my answer in the video and you can give me your answer in the comments. Or a video response if you’re feeling especially motivated.

Today’s question is this: if you had a big cardboard box like this, would you put it on and walk down the street?

My answer: yes.

* What is Golden Week? Wikipedia has a page explaining what GW is here.



music

show start
artist: BrunoXe
album: aprendiendo desde 2004
track: Mandrake
from: Jerez, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

other music
artist: zoop
album: music on hold
track: hold
from: Moscow, Russia
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

#715 Marmite


Watch today's show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Sunday Kitchen #92 Marmite

Marmite was invented in England in 1902.
New Zealand Marmite was invented in 1919.
And Vegemite was invented in Australia in1923.

In New Zealand you can buy New Zealand Marmite, Vegemite and apparently, you can also buy British Marmite, which is called Our Mate, in New Zealand.

In Japan, I know you can buy Vegemite and British Marmite. But I’ve never seen New Zealand Marmite available, which is sad because New Zealand marmite is the greatest.

Recently my mum sent me a jar of marmite. As you can see on the label, Marmite is 80% yeast.

After opening the jar, the next step is to find something to put the marmite on. Bread is good choice. Or toast. Crackers are also good.

And the main thing to remember is, don’t spread too much on. Well you can, but it probably won’t taste very good.

Mmm Marmite. Yum.



music

show start
artist: BrunoXe
album: aprendiendo desde 2004
track: Mandrake
from: Jerez, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

other music
artist: zoop
album: music on hold
track: hold
from: Moscow, Russia
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Show 714 Saturday 26 April


Watch today's show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Massive fail.
This is so lame.
How is this even remotely funny?
This should be taken down.
Lame and gross.
You guys need a life.
THIS IS STUPID!
I gave this one ★
This video sucks.
That was disgusting and totally unnecessary.
This is so childish.
Wasn't that illegal and unsanitary?
That was just nasty, had no point whatsoever.
This is what corporate advertising has come to.
Ignorance.
Can’t believe this got featured.
That’s cruel.
This is not cool :(
Poor taste.
Why would I want these people at my house?
Is that legal? Throwing cockroaches on people? It shouldn't be.
That's pretty stupid, and YouTube shouldn't promote stuff like this.


music

show start
artist: BrunoXe
album: aprendiendo desde 2004
track: Mandrake
from: Jerez, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

other music
artist: Matthew Tyas
album: Music for the movies vol1
tracks: Grey Planet
from: Oloron Sainte-Marie, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Friday, April 25, 2008

Show 713 Friday 25 April


Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.

Today I recommend a song by the Sex Pistols.

The Sex Pistols are an English band that formed in London in 1975. And apparently they’re still active, although not with all the members that were around back in the day.
In 1979, one of the members, Sid Vicious, died when he was only 21.

The Sex Pistols’ first single was called Anarchy in the U.K. and it was released in 1976.

Wikipedia says this about the song: The song's lyrics espouse a nihilistic and violent concept of anarchy.

So, firstly, what is anarchy, or anarchism? Well, for starters, the symbol is an a inside a circle.

Anarchism is a political philosophy encompassing theories and attitudes which reject compulsory government (the state) and support its elimination, often due to a wider rejection of involuntary or permanent authority.

So, I think anarchy is basically something about rejecting government and authority but not necessarily endorsing violence because there are many different ways of thinking that come under the label of anarchy.

But that song definitely seems to be supporting violence:

I am an antichrist
I am an anarchist
Don’t know what I want but
I know how to get it
I wanna destroy the passer-by cos I
I wanna be anarchy!



STICK NEWS

Kia Ora, this is Stick News. Yesterday a man in New Zealand was arrested because a check he wrote for a $10 pizza bounced 16 years ago.

In 1992, a guy called Richard ordered a Pizza in Wellington, New Zealand. The pizza cost $10 and he paid by cheque.
The cheque bounced and a warrant was issued for Richard’s arrest.
But Richard sometime after the cheque bounced, Richard moved to Australia and he didn’t know he was a wanted man.
According to the New Zealand Herald, on a recent trip back to New Zealand he “found himself behind bars after stepping in to calm a mate's run-in with police.”
The police checked his identification and discovered the outstanding arrest warrant and then took Richard to the District Court and told him about the $10 bounced cheque.
He pleaded guilty to using a cheque dishonestly.


And that was Stick News for Friday 24th of April.
Kia Ora
.




THE SNOW REPORT
in Hirafu

The mountain is still open because there’s still a bit of snow at the top. But this is what it’s like at the bottom. Green.

Word Of The Day

Today’s word is nihilism.

nihilism
n.
the rejection of all religious and moral principles, often in the belief that life is meaningless



friday joke

I found today's joke here.

Last night I had a dream that I was a muffler.
When I woke up I was exhausted.



conversations with sarah
#438 How long are they staying for?

Step 1: Repeat Jim’s lines.
Step 2: Read Jim’s lines and talk to Sarah.

Jim Do you have any plans for Golden Week?

Sarah Yeah, I have friends coming to stay.

Jim From New Zealand?

Sarah
No, from Aichi.

Jim
Cool. How long are they staying for?

Sarah Ah, for five days.



links

today's news
today's STICK NEWS pictures

music

show start
artist: BrunoXe
album: aprendiendo desde 2004
track: Mandrake
from: Jerez, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

the snow report start
artist: Olga Scotland
album: Scotland Yard
track: Absolute
from: Moscow, Russia
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

friday joke start
artist: AdHoc
album: Toutes directions
track: Sumbala
from: Annecy, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

WOD start
artist: DJ iPep's
album: Home Mix 2007
track: Game Toy
from: EVREUX, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

cws start
artist: San Sebastian
track: Happy Sad
artist site

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: Groovetracks
track: groovetracks ending
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: Antony Raijekov
album: Jazz U
track: Moment of Green 2005
from: Sofia, Bulgaria
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Show 712 Thursday 24 April


Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.

The video I recommend today is a video made by the New Zealand government that I found on YouTube. It’s called: Campaign Against Family Violence Ad.

I’m really impressed by this ad. Often government ads can be pretty cheesy or naff ... but this is really well done.

And I think it’s really powerful – although I know it’s more powerful for me as a New Zealander because all the people in it are New Zealanders speaking with a New Zealand accent – so it has more impact than if they were speaking with another accent, because they seem more like real people.

The ad does make me want to cry though when I watch it, because everything they’re saying, the reason they are saying it’s not OK is because that’s what people do. And I totally agree with the message too:

It’s not OK to say, “It only happens in certain parts of society”,
because it happens everywhere.
And it’s not OK to look the other way and say, “It’s not our problem”,
because it is our problem.



STICK NEWS

Kia Ora, this is Stick News. Today the New Zealand Herald reported that tourists in New Zealand have been attacked because of their accents.

A group of English and Danish tourists were attacked in central Christchurch, New Zealand.
A few days later an Irish tourist was assaulted.
Police say in both cases the attacks appear to have been sparked by people simply taking offence at their foreign accents.
A Tourism New Zealand spokesperson said the attacks on tourists were worrying and could damage the country's reputation.
She said despite this New Zealand is still seen as a safe place, which is sometimes a problem because people go to New Zealand and let their guard down.
And the Irish man who was attacked said New Zealand shouldn’t get a bad reputation for such incidents.
He said: "No matter where you go in the world, you are going to meet a few arseholes.”


And that was Stick News for Thursday 24th of April.
Kia Ora.




Word Of The Day

Today’s word is cheesy.
It’s an informal adjective which means: of low quality and without style.
It has a similar meaning to the words corny and tacky.



conversations with sarah
#437 More than in other countries?

Step 1: Repeat Tim’s lines.
Step 2: Read Tim’s lines and talk to Sarah.

Tim Is family violence a big problem in New Zealand?

Sarah Yeah.

Tim More than in other countries?

Sarah Oh, I don’t know, probably more than in some, less than others ... but anyway who cares where we are in the rankings, it doesn’t really matter. In any case, it’s a serious problem that we need to do what we can to stop.

Tim You think a TV ad saying, “It’s not OK” is effective?

Sarah Yeah, I do, definitely. I mean, that alone won’t stop all violence – but I think it definitely helps.





It’s Not OK – New Zealand Family Violence Ad 2007 - Transcript

It’s not OK to say, “She was asking for it.”
It’s not OK to be cruel to your boy, just because it never did me any harm,
or scream abuse at your children, just because you’re unhappy.
It’s not OK to control your family with threats,
to bully them,
to intimidate them,
or ever think that you can demand their love and respect.
It’s not OK to punch a whole in the wall to show your wife who’s boss
or force her to have sex.
It’s not OK to teach your kids that violence is the way to get what you want.
It’s not OK to make them feel worthless, just because you’re having a bad day.
It’s not OK to destroy their confidence with hurtful words
or make them feel scared in their own home.
It’s not OK to blame the drink,
or use your culture as an excuse for what you know is wrong.
It’s not OK that in this country the police respond to a family violence incident every seven and a half minutes.
That every year an average of 14 New Zealand woman
six men
and ten children
are killed by a member of their own family.
It’s not OK to say, “It only happens in certain parts of society”,
because it happens everywhere.
And it’s not OK to look the other way and say, “It’s not our problem”,
because it is our problem.
And it’s not OK, ever.
But it is OK to ask for help.



links

today's news
today's STICK NEWS pictures

music

show start
artist: BrunoXe
album: aprendiendo desde 2004
track: Mandrake
from: Jerez, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

WOD start
artist: DJ iPep's
album: Home Mix 2007
track: Game Toy
from: EVREUX, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

cws start
artist: San Sebastian
track: Happy Sad
artist site

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: Groovetracks
track: groovetracks ending
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: Antony Raijekov
album: Jazz U
track: Moment of Green 2005
from: Sofia, Bulgaria
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Show 711 Wednesday 23 April


Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.

Thank you so much to the people who have become members so far. You guys are awesome and I really appreciate your support.
If you don’t know what I’m talking about, check out these shows: 585, 695.

Remember if you become a member during April, I’ll send you a set of Stick News pictures ... and if you do that, then make sure you go have a look here first and you’ll see which pictures are gone.

So, on to today’s mistake. Today I want to talk about a common mistake, that is using a instead of the and vice versa.

So, when do you use a and when do you use the? Well that is a difficult question. It really depends on the situation. In my favourite grammar book, there are about seven chapters just on a and the ... so you should buy a book and do lots of exercises ...

But anyway, today I’m going to give you two scenarios and if you’re lucky I might give you some more next week.

Situation 1.
When you’re telling a story use a when you introduce something for the first time. And then when you mention it from the second time onwards, use the. So you can think of a as a kind of introducing word and the as a word that’s short for “the thing that you know what I’m talking about because I already introduced it”.
For example: Yesterday I was walking to the station when I saw a man and a woman sitting on a bench. And the man was shouting at the woman and she was crying. And then suddenly the man got up and ran away and the woman started laughing.

So as you can see, when I introduced those people in the story, I used a and then when I talked about the same people again, I used the.

Situation 2.
When you’re talking about a particular thing, use the. And when it’s not a particular thing, use a.

For example:
Did you buy a bike?
Did you buy the bike?


What’s the difference?
Well, in the second sentence, you’re talking about a particular bike, like, the bike that we saw in the shop window yesterday, or the bike that we were talking about on the phone.



STICK NEWS

Kia Ora, in Stick News today, a nineteen-year-old American woman has been officially recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the World's Youngest Professor.

Alia was born in 1989 in New York City, New York.
She started reading when she was eight months old.
And by the time she was 14 she had a university degree.
She then went to graduate school in Philadelphia.
She’s now working on her PHD. According to her website, she’s done “groundbreaking work towards developing nanotube-based cellular probes for use in medical research”.
Recently she’s been teaching at a university in New Orleans.
In May she starts her job as a professor at a university in
South Korea.
And the
Guinness Book of World Records has named her the World's Youngest Professor.

And that was Stick News for Wednesday 23rd of April.
Kia Ora.




Word Of The Day
Today’s word is prodigy. This is a word that is used to describe the girl in today’s news.

prodigy
n. a person, especially a young one, with exceptional abilities



conversations with sarah
#436 What do you mean?

Step 1: Repeat Kim’s lines.
Step 2: Read Kim’s lines and talk to Sarah.

Kim It’s really hard to tell when to use a and the.

Sarah Yeah, it is. Don’t stress about it too much though.

Kim What do you mean?

Sarah I mean, don’t worry about it too much.

Kim It’s important though, isn’t it?

Sarah Yeah, it’s good to try and get it right. But communication is usually the most important thing, and if you make a mistake with a and the it usually doesn’t affect the meaning.


music

show start
artist: BrunoXe
album: aprendiendo desde 2004
track: Mandrake
from: Jerez, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

WOD start
artist: DJ iPep's
album: Home Mix 2007
track: Game Toy
from: EVREUX, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

cws start
artist: San Sebastian
track: Happy Sad
artist site

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: Groovetracks
track: groovetracks ending
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: Antony Raijekov
album: Jazz U
track: Moment of Green 2005
from: Sofia, Bulgaria
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

Show 710 Tuesday 22 April


Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.

Back in show #619 we did a conversation from a movie called The Client. And we’re going to do another one today.

Today’s scene is the part after the kid, Mark, gets taken to the police station and has to spend a night in the police cells.
On his way there, there’s a bit of a struggle and a policeman’s wallet falls on the floor and Mark picks up one of the credit cards.
Then in the cell, he gets his revenge on the police officers – because they were being mean to him – and he calls up a pizza company orders 30 big pizzas on the credit card.

So, I think it’s a pretty funny scene and it’s useful for practicing how to order something over the phone.



STICK NEWS

Kia Ora, in Stick News today, the Colorado Party was defeated in the presidential election in Paraguay after 61 years in power.

The Colorado Party is a political party in Paraguay which was founded in 1887.
Wikipedia says from 1947 until 1962, the Colorado Party ruled Paraguay as a one-party state when all other political parties were illegal.
Two days ago, for the first time in 61 years, the Colorado Party lost the presidential elections.
For the first time ever the Colorado Party’s candidate was a female. She lost to a Roman Catholic bishop.


And that was Stick News for Tuesday 22nd of April.
Kia Ora.




Word Of The Day

Today’s word is precinct.
I’d never heard this word before, but it was in the conversation so I had to look it up.


(N.Amer.)
A district of a city or town as defined for policing or electoral purposes.



conversations with sarah
#435 How would you like to pay for this order?


Step 1: Repeat the pizza shop woman's lines.
Step 2: Read the pizza shop woman's (staff) lines and talk to Mark.

On my DVD, this scene is chapter 26, time: 1 hour 8 min 20 seconds.

Staff Brother’s Pizza.

Mark Ah, yes, I would like to order twenty of your largest Supremes.

Staff OK, and where’s that going, honey?

Mark Ah, I’m ordering for Detective Nassar, North Precinct.

Staff OK, and how would you like to pay for this order?

Mark Well, with my credit card.

Staff Number, please.

Mark
The number is 4000 0306 1954 0010.

Staff OK, hold on. That’ll be two hundred and forty eight dollars and ten cents.

Mark Fine. Cheaper than the last time.

Staff Oh, well!

Mark Thank you.



links

today's news
today's STICK NEWS pictures

Fernando Lugo's YouTube channel
Fernando Lugo - official site

music

show start
artist: BrunoXe
album: aprendiendo desde 2004
track: Mandrake
from: Jerez, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

WOD start
artist: DJ iPep's
album: Home Mix 2007
track: Game Toy
from: EVREUX, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

cws start
artist: San Sebastian
track: Happy Sad
artist site

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: Groovetracks
track: groovetracks ending
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: Antony Raijekov
album: Jazz U
track: Moment of Green 2005
from: Sofia, Bulgaria
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Monday, April 21, 2008

Show 709 Monday 21 April


Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.

Today’s guest is Scott. He’s from Sydney, Australia and back in Australia he used to be a surf lifesaver.
He first came to Japan 14 years ago on a working holiday and he travelled around the country and then spent about a year and a half in Sapporo, teaching English. Then in 1997, he moved to Niskeo and started an adventure sports company called Scott Adventure Sports or SAS. He started the company by himself and it has now grown to employing around 40 people in summer. And he also now owns a Nepalese restaurant.
He said when he first arrived in Japan he only knew about five words of Japanese and I asked him what it was like travelling around Japan without knowing much Japanese.

I found that to communicate I had to write things down. But I hitchhiked actually all the way from Osaka to Sapporo. It took five, four days I think it was. But that was difficult because, when the driver was driving, he couldn’t read. So, there wasn’t much communication going on. Well there was, but it wasn’t really working, if you know what I mean.



STICK NEWS

Kia Ora, in Stick News today, a thief in Germany was caught after he stole a coin collection and then deposited the coins at the bank where the owner worked.

A 36-year-old man in Germany stole a rare collection of coins worth 50,000 euros. Three days later he took the coins to a bank.
Soon after the deposit, a bank worker handling the coins recognized them as the same coins that had been stolen from his house.
Police found the suspect and arrested him.


And that was Stick News for Monday 21st of April.
Kia Ora.




conversations with sarah
#434 How did you learn Japanese?


Step 1: Repeat Sarah’s lines.
Step 2: Read Sarah’s lines and talk to Scott.

Sarah How did you learn Japanese?

Scott Ah, how did I learn? I actually learnt myself, most of, most of it, I just learnt ... um, with vocabulary, picking up words. Like, what I found was ... at the beginning the most important words was when, where, why, how and all those question words. Cause then you could ask questions and get answers. And numbers. That’s how I started off.

Sarah So after teaching English in Sapporo, you decided to start a rafting business?

Scott Yes, correct. Because I used ... I came to Niseko every weekend from Sapporo. And I actually wanted to live in Niseko. I didn’t want to have to keep going back after every weekend. And the only way was to start a business.

Sarah Has Niseko changed much over the years?

Scott In the last five years, it had a dramatic change because of the dramatic increase in non-Japanese coming, especially from Australia, but more recently from Hong Kong, Singapore and other places in Asia.

Sarah Is that good for your business?

Scott I think it’s good for every business really. Um, they need to ... their main ... they concentrate ... most of them come, like over 90% come in wintertime, but we would like more of them to come in summer, especially because it’s cool compared to the rest of Asia. So I think it’s just a matter of time before Niseko gets popular in summer. I heard, someone said the prediction was about three years and I think they’re probably right. Before it starts getting a lot busier in ... with the non-Japanese market.

Sarah Are there any problems associated with a lot more foreigners coming?

Scott Yeah, ah, the challenges that I think the village faces is ... um, biggest one is the fact that people leave Australia or Hong Kong and they actually enter an environment that’s not much similar to where they came from. Because there’s not that many Japanese. Japanese have been forced out of the market because of the cost of the accommodation that, that non-Japanese are prepared to pay is a lot higher than what Japanese are. So ... that’s, that’s something that we need to ... keep more Japanese here as well I think.
And also the space in the village in Hirafu is getting tight for snow. There’s nowhere to put the snow and there’s not many place for parking. So, there’s a few challenges.

Sarah Do you think many people are attracted to Niseko because of the international atmosphere?

Scott Yeah, I think, I think they could, ah, come to Niskeo in wintertime and feel like they’ve gone overseas. Especially if they want to practice their English in wintertime. Especially January and February, most of the restaurants and bars. Um, most of them are non-Japanese speaking people.

Sarah Have you heard of people coming to Niseko to practice their English?

Scott Not specifically, but I’m sure it happens. I would if I was a young Japanese wanting to learn English and have a ski/snowboard holiday. Yeah, definitely.

Sarah Why do you have so many Nepalese staff?

Scott Nepal has not only the biggest mountains in the world but the biggest and most challenging rivers. So they are our expert, highly skilled rafting guides. And um, they have seen lots of dangers and made many difficult rescues in their rivers, much more difficult than our rivers here in Niskeo, so therefore, they’re used to rescuing people in a difficult situation. And that’s what I need. And that’s what, that makes SAS safety level very high. Extremely high.

Sarah How do the staff at SAS communicate?

Scott Basically the main language is Japanese, but um, obviously for newer arrivals from countries, from non-Japanese ... you know that can’t speak Japanese, then we need to translate for them. But, um, it works well, you know, but there’s two cultures mixed together, sometimes they don’t mix all that well. But we always find a way for everybody, everybody to be happy.

Sarah Why did you decide to open a restaurant?

Scott The Nepalese gave me dinner a few times at the beginning and I thought the food tasted so good and the Nepalese can’t raft guide in winter, so I thought, well, we’ll start a restaurant. And they’re happy, because they get work all year round and the customers are happy because they get authentic Nepalese food. Yeah.

Sarah What would you say to someone thinking of starting a business in Niseko?

Scott I would say, um, make sure that you’ve got a good business plan. Make sure that you understand the market. Make sure that you’re not paying too much ... you know, that you can afford the rent. And, um, and I encourage anybody to be entrepreneurial, to start a business, so I mean, if you think you can. And never think that you’re not going to succeed. You always have to think you’re going to succeed and you will, if you work hard at it and the idea is good idea from the start. Yeah, so, go for it.



links

today's news

today's STICK NEWS pictures

music

show start
artist: BrunoXe
album: aprendiendo desde 2004
track: Mandrake
from: Jerez, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

cws start
artist: San Sebastian
track: Happy Sad
artist site

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: Groovetracks
track: groovetracks ending
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: zoop
album: music on hold
track: spiral
from: Moscow, Russia
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

#708 Pina Colada 2.0


Watch today's show at YouTube or BlipTV.


Sunday Kitchen #91 Pina Colada 2.0

The other day we bought a fridge. Our wonderful new fridge comes complete with a freezer on top, which means ... I can freeze stuff, like pineapple.

So, it must be time for a pina colada.
Frozen pineapple.
Coconut cream.
Bacardi.
Blend and pour.
Mmmm.



music

show start
artist: BrunoXe
album: aprendiendo desde 2004
track: Mandrake
from: Jerez, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

other music
artist: askeladd
album: askeladd opus 0
tracks: atmo, violon violent
from: bordeaux, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Show 707 Saturday 19 April


Watch today's show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Guess the movie quote.

1. They’re coming for you Neo, and I don’t know what they’re going to do.
2. No, I mean mine. Oh, that’s just funny, you heard me wrong. Nah, I’m sightseeing.
3. Nothing’s coming to my mind.
4. No, I was just going to have some iced tea and split the atom, but that can wait.
5. I can do anything I want to baby, I ain’t lost.
6. B. Good.
7. Yeah, well you just pissing everybody off today, huh?
8. After, after!
9. Because I think that you are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.
10. Phil Spector, girl group stuff, like, “He’s a rebel”.


music

show start
artist: BrunoXe
album: aprendiendo desde 2004
track: Mandrake
from: Jerez, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Show 706 Friday 18 April


Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.

Today I’m going to talk about a song which I found on Jamendo.
I really like that site – that’s where I get most of my music from for The Daily English Show. I know there are a lot of other places you can also find music. But I don’t really have much time to look for it and it’s really easy to find stuff on Jamendo.

I usually use instrumental music, but I was looking for something else the other day for some reason and I came across some music by a guy called Steven Dunston from Seattle in the United States. And I like his music and I think it would be great to listen to for studying English.

I chose a song called California to introduce today. It’s a nice song and the lyrics are quite simple. If you’re teaching a class of relative beginners, I think this would be a good one to use.

And of course the great thing is, it’s freely available on the internet – and of course if you like the music and you want to support the artist you can make a donation too.

So this is the start of the song.

Oh no, I’m late for work again
The sky is the colour of concrete
Wouldn’t you know
It would have to be raining
Oh no, the streets are full of strangers
Clutching their soggy umbrellas
And none of them offer to share their protection
It’s gotta be this town dragging me down
Wish that I could be in California


The trees are always green in California
And the streets are always clean in California
And the people look so happy
Cause they wake up every day in California



STICK NEWS

Kia Ora, in Stick News today, a new company in Germany is selling clothes designed and produced by prison inmates.

A company in Germany has just opened its first store in Berlin. The company name means inmate in English and many of the products in the store were either designed or manufactured in prisons.
One of the founders of the company said part of the proceeds from sales go to organizations that support prisoners' rights like Amnesty International.


And that was Stick News for Friday the 18th of April.
Kia Ora



Word Of The Day

Today's word is soggy.
Wet and soft, usually in a way that is unpleasant.
But not always, remember some people like soggy Weet-Bix. How about you? Do you like soggy Weet-Bix? I don’t really mind them either way, but I’m probably more of a non-soggy than a soggy person.



THE SNOW REPORT
in Kutchan

The last time it snowed was on Saturday the 12th of April, but it was only a tiny bit of snow and it was gone by the next day.
There is still snow in Kutchan though. It’s sitting around town in piles, melting.



friday joke

I found today's joke here. (I rewrote it a bit).

A newspaper photographer was assigned to take pictures of a huge forest fire. He was advised that a small plane would be waiting to fly him over the fire.
The photographer arrived at the airstrip about an hour before sunset. Sure enough, a small plane was waiting. He jumped in with his equipment and shouted, "Let's go!"
The tense man sitting in the pilot's seat swung the plane into the wind and soon they were in the air, though flying erratically.
"Fly over the north side of the fire," said the photographer, "And make several low passes." "Why?" asked the nervous pilot.
"Ah ... because I'm going to take pictures!" said the photographer. "I'm a photographer, and photographers take pictures!"
"You mean you're not the flight instructor?!"



conversations with sarah
#433 Have you been to California?

Step 1: Repeat Dave’s lines.
Step 2: Read Dave’s lines and talk to Sarah.

Dave Have you been to California?

Sarah No, I’ve never been to the United States.

Dave
Oh really?

Sarah Yeah, how about you?

Dave Yeah, I spent 6 months in California.

Sarah
Really, when?

Dave About 10 years ago.

Sarah How was it?

Dave It was great.





California
By Steven Dunston


Oh no, I’m late for work again
The sky is the colour of concrete
Wouldn’t you know
It would have to be raining
Oh no, the streets are full of strangers
Clutching their soggy umbrellas
And none of them offer to share their protection
It’s gotta be this town dragging me down
Wish that I could be in California

The trees are always green in California
And the streets are always clean in California
And the people look so happy
Cause they wake up every day in California

Oh no, you’ve got that face again
The one that says I failed you
And as usual I’m clueless about it
Oh no, I do not have the strength
To field your foolish questions
Sometimes I wonder why we’re still together
But it’s gotta be this town dragging me down
Wish that I could be in California

The trees are always green in California
And the streets are always clean in California
And the people look so happy
Cause they wake up every day in California

The sky is always blue in California
We could start brand new in California
Where everyone is happy
Maybe we’d be happy too
In California

Baby I’m not imagining things
With my own eyes, I’ve seen it on the screen
And if the camera lies
I want it to lie about me
In California

The trees are always green in California
And the streets are always clean in California
And the people look so happy
Cause they wake up every day in California

The sky is always blue in California
Baby we could start brand new
In California
Where everyone is happy
Maybe we’d be happy too
In California



links

today's news
today's STICK NEWS photos

Haeftling (Prison clothes company)

opposites

music

show start
artist: BrunoXe
album: aprendiendo desde 2004
track: Mandrake
from: Jerez, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

WOD start
artist: DJ iPep's
album: Home Mix 2007
track: Game Toy
from: EVREUX, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

the snow report start
artist: Olga Scotland
album: Scotland Yard
track: Absolute
from: Moscow, Russia
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

friday joke start
artist: AdHoc
album: Toutes directions
track: Sumbala
from: Annecy, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

cws start
artist: San Sebastian
track: Happy Sad
artist site

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: Groovetracks
track: groovetracks ending
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: zoop
album: music on hold
track: spiral
from: Moscow, Russia
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

Show 705 Thursday 17 April


Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.

The 22nd of April is Earth Day. You might have heard of it – it started in 1970.

I was looking at some Earth Day videos on YouTube and I saw one which was a guy asking people what they were going to do on Earth Day.

So I thought I would make a video and say what I was going to do.

First I had to think of something to do. Because I wanted to do something that I don’t normally do ... because I normally try and live in a fairly environmentally friendly way anyway.

So, this is what I’m going to do ... instead of having a bath at home, I’m going to go to an onsen or a public bath, because that’ll save some energy. And I’m going to walk there of course. It’s not that far, it’ll only take about an hour. And I’m also going to go to bed early so I can save power by not using lights.

And that’s all I can think of so far. Sorry, it’s not that interesting. But if you have any better suggestions for something to do on Earth Day ... please tell me.



STICK NEWS

Kia Ora, in Stick News today, Harry Potter star Emma Watson turned 18 yesterday. For her birthday she got 10.5 million pounds.

Emma Watson was born on the 15th of April 1990 in Paris.
Emma’s parents are English and when she was five she moved back to England.
In 1999 she was cast as Hermione in the film adaption of the book Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone.
The film was released in 2001.
Emma has now starred in five Harry Potter movies and will also be in the last two.
She has made more than 10 million pounds acting in the films. Yesterday was her 18th birthday and she now has access to her fortune.


And that was Stick News for Thursday the 17th of April.
Kia Ora




Word of The Day

Today’s word is parvenu.
This is the first time someone has suggested a word too, thank you.

I’d never heard of this word before.
It means: a person from a low social or economic position who has suddenly become rich or powerful.
And it says: formal, disapproving.

So, do you remember that woman on Titanic who had recently become rich and the other rich snobby people kind of looked down on her? Maybe this is the kind of word that they would use about her.



conversations with sarah
#432 Do you recycle?

Step 1: Repeat Matt’s lines.
Step 2: Read Matt’s lines and talk to Sarah.

Matt What do you normally do for the earth?

Sarah Mmm, well if I buy something I normally take my own bag to the shop. And I try to avoid buying stuff which has a lot of packaging.

Matt Do you recycle?

Sarah Yeah. Well, you have to in Japan. There’s like a million different categories you have to sort everything into. It’s good.

Matt Does everyone do it?

Sarah Yeah, pretty much. I guess some people put it out without following the instructions properly, but I think most people do it.

Matt How often do they pick up the rubbish?

Sarah Almost every day.

Matt Really?

Sarah
Yeah, it’s something different every day.

Matt What’s tomorrow?

Sarah Tomorrow is nama gomi, which is like food scraps. That’s twice a week, every Monday and Friday.



links
today's STICK NEWS pictures

music

show start
artist: BrunoXe
album: aprendiendo desde 2004
track: Mandrake
from: Jerez, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

WOD start
artist: DJ iPep's
album: Home Mix 2007
track: Game Toy
from: EVREUX, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

cws start
artist: San Sebastian
track: Happy Sad
artist site

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: Groovetracks
track: groovetracks ending
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: zoop
album: music on hold
track: spiral
from: Moscow, Russia
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Show 704 Wednesday 16 April


Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.

Today’s mistake is this: a ten-years-old girl.
That should be: a ten-year-old girl. No s.

Compare these two sentences: She is ten years old.
And: A ten-year-old girl won the race.

So, why is there an s here and no s here?

Well, I was trying to think of a way to explain this clearly but I couldn’t think of a way to explain it well and I couldn’t find anything online. So I thought I would ask you to explain it. If you can think of a good way to explain this, please leave a comment.



STICK NEWS

Kia Ora, in Stick News today, for the first time in 28 years (more than) one in ten people in Japan live in Tokyo.

Yesterday the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry released population figures for prefectures in Japan.
They estimate that on the first of October 2007 there were 12,758,000 people living in Tokyo. This was a .78% increase from a year earlier and for the first time since 1979, made up 10% of Japan’s total population.


And that was Stick News for Wednesday the 16th of April.
Kia Ora



Word Of The Day

Today’s word is bitter. Barack Obama was criticized for using the word bitter. So I thought we could check out what it means.

Bitter is an adjective with several meanings. Food can be bitter, weather conditions can be bitter, and arguments can be bitter ... but Barack Obama was talking about people being bitter.

Feeling angry and unhappy because you feel that you have been treated unfairly.

For example: She is very bitter about losing her job.



conversations with
sarah

#431 Do you like bitter food?

Step 1: Repeat Jun’s lines.
Step 2: Read Jun’s lines and talk to Sarah.

Jun What kind of food is bitter?

Sarah Um, coffee.

Jun What else?

Sarah Mmm, what else ... beer. Unsweetened chocolate.

Jun Do you like bitter food?

Sarah Yip. I like bitter chocolate. I like 99% chocolate, actually.

Jun What do you mean?

Sarah I mean it’s 99% cocoa.

Jun Wow. What’s the other 1 percent?

Sarah Mmm, I don’t know ... something to hold it together I guess.



note

more than one in ten people - I meant to say "one in ten people" ... then again, I guess it is slightly more than one in ten

links

today's news
today's STICK NEWS pictures

music

show start
artist: BrunoXe
album: aprendiendo desde 2004
track: Mandrake
from: Jerez, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

WOD start
artist: DJ iPep's
album: Home Mix 2007
track: Game Toy
from: EVREUX, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

cws start
artist: San Sebastian
track: Happy Sad
artist site

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: Groovetracks
track: groovetracks ending
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: zoop
album: music on hold
track: spiral
from: Moscow, Russia
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Show 703 Tuesday 15 April


Watch today’s show at YouTube or BlipTV.

Hi, I’m Sarah, welcome to The Daily English Show.

True Romance is one of my favourite movies. It came out in 1993 and it was directed by Tony Scott, and written by Quentin Tarantino.

I think it’s funny and romantic and exciting. And it has a lot of actors in it that I like. The main actors are Christian Slater and Patricia Arquette.

There are so many awesome scenes in it, like the one where they’re in the car and the bag breaks and there’s powder all over him ... but I chose one that I thought could be very useful for English study.

The two main characters are sitting in a restaurant after seeing a movie and they’ve just met and they’re getting to know each other and the guy says: Tell me about yourself.
Then she says: What do you want to know?
And he says: Well, for starters, what do you do? Where are you from? What's your favorite colour? Who's your favorite movie star? What kind of music do you like? What are your turn-ons? Your turn-offs? I guess the big question is, do you have a fella?
And then she says: OK, again ask me again, one by one.



STICK NEWS

Kia Ora, this is Stick News. Microsoft is planning to stop selling Windows XP in June. But some XP users are not happy and more than 100,000 people have signed an online petition to save XP.

Windows XP is a line of operating systems that was released in 2001.
The name XP stands for eXPerience.
A newer version of Windows called Windows Vista was released in 2006.
Now Microsoft wants to stop selling Windows XP and the XP fans aren’t happy.
One fan has started a petition but the company has declined to meet with him.
The Associated Press reported that Microsoft said they were aware of the petition, and "will continue to be guided by feedback we hear from partners and customers about what makes sense based on their needs."


And that was Stick News for Tuesday the 15th of April.
Kia Ora




Word Of The Day

Today’s word is fella. Fella is spelt like this: fella or like this: feller and it means man or boyfriend.



conversations with sarah
#430 What do you do?

Watch this conversation here from :18

Step 1: Repeat Clarence’s lines.
Step 2: Read Clarence’s lines and talk to Alabama.

Clarence What do you do?

Alabama I don't remember.

Clarence Where are you from?

Alabama I don’t know.

Clarence What's your favorite colour?

Alabama I don’t know. Black?

Clarence Who’s your favorite movie star?

Alabama Burt Reynolds.

Clarence You want a bite of my pie?

Alabama Yes, I would. A little one.

Clarence It’s good. You like it?

Alabama Mmm.

Clarence What kind of music do you like?

Alabama Phil Spector. Girl group stuff, like, He's a Rebel.

Clarence What are your turn-ons?

Alabama Mickey Rourke, somebody who can appreciate the finer things in life, like sugar, Elvis's voice, kung fu, pie.

Clarence Turn-offs?

Alabama Turn-offs? Persians.

Clarence Do you, ah, have a fella?

Alabama Ask me that one a little bit later.



links

today's news
today's STICK NEWS pictures

music

show start
artist: BrunoXe
album: aprendiendo desde 2004
track: Mandrake
from: Jerez, Spain
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

WOD start
artist: DJ iPep's
album: Home Mix 2007
track: Game Toy
from: EVREUX, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

cws start
artist: San Sebastian
track: Happy Sad
artist site

qa start
artist: ioeo
album: Groovetracks
tracks: groovetracks ending
from: Saint Raphael, France
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

qa bgm
artist: JCL
album: Journeys Thru Samsara
track: A Slow Walk
from: Watford, United Kingdom
album at Jamendo
artist at Jamendo
artist site

Did you notice a mistake in this script? Please leave us a comment and tell us! We really appreciate people pointing out our mistakes.Thank you.

Have you translated this script - or part of it - into your language for English practice and published it on your blog? Please leave a comment and a link so other people can read your translation. Thank you.