ETJ Blog

Hi John,

hello again. I’m very happy to see you podcasting again!

Keep on podcasting - we love it!

best regards

Jürgen

End July/Early August 2008
WE ARE UPGRADING TO A NEW WEB HOSTING SERVICE.
SORRY FOR ANY INCONVENIENCE!
-John

listen/download (mp3) | duration: 26:06 | file size: 21.00mb | podcast page

Hey, long time no hear! Sorry about that.
In this episode:

• Trip to India
• Tibetan struggle and Beijing Olympics
• Idioms: Don’t rain on my parade!
  On cloud nine.
• Quotations: Dalai Lama, Osho
• The new Offcue Show

listen/download (mp3) | duration: 34:00 | file size: 19.54mb | podcast page

Happy New Year!!

In this episode:

• Machine voice from vozme.com
• Language use: though, although, even though
• Idioms with ‘heart’: heart of gold, from the heart, broke my heart, heart set on something
• Interview with Tatsuto

Enjoy and learn!
-John

Dear John,

Can we use both “simple past” and  “present perfect”  if we talk about something in the past, but don’t say a time period? Please clarify my doubt.

listen/download (mp3) | duration: 44:50 | file size: 25.74mb | podcast page

I think you’ll like the interview with our music man, Martin!
In this episode:

• Autumn is a great time for … eating!
• Interview with Martin (Martin’s myspace page)
• Saying: Be careful what you wish for; you just might get it.
• Idioms: sit tight, doesn’t sit well (with someone)
• Quotations: about and by musicians
• Our frappr map and more!

Enjoy and learn!
–John

===== TRANSCRIPT: EPISODE 63 =====

Colored text is informational only and not included in the audio file.
Transcript may differ from actual audio recording.

AUDIO TRANSCRIPT START

[pre-intro]

Our music man is in the house. That’s right, Martin will join us in a minute and musically enlighten us. [squeak] Yep, even the laptop Buddha doll is excited about this one. Get comfortable, get excited. Pump up the volume, it’s time for the English Teacher John Show number 63.

[intro music]

INTRODUCTION & INDEX
Welcome everyone to The English Teacher John Show No. 63. Yay! Our show is for English learners of all abilities. We try to use clear and easy-to-understand English. Our podcast is recorded and produced right here in our low-tech — no, no, I mean high-tech studio in Matsumoto, Japan. My name is John Koons and I am an English teacher, podcaster, amateur video producer, part-time mountain biker, full-time thinker and computer enthusiast, among other things. Oh yeah, and I’m also your host of the English Teacher John Show.

Well, it’s still autumn here in Matsumoto. You know, it just keeps getting better and better here. The air is fresh and crisp, and my brain works a little better this time of year. You know what? I think it’s a good time of year for eating! Yeah, that’s right, eating! And, to tell you the truth, I just finished off some brown rice with tofu, daikon radish (which is very popular here), some Japanese miso soup, and I think there were a few vegetables in there too. Wow, that was tasty!

[SHOW INDEX]

Let’s see. In today’s show, we have 3 segments. First, our music man Martin talks about uh, let me see ….. umm … yeah, he’ll talk about music. (you knew that!)

Then, we’ll have a couple of idioms. And, finally, in our third segment, you’ll hear some famous and not-so-famous quotations.

Okay, let’s jump in with our interview …

Read the rest of this entry »

Dear John,

The music have been added with the podcast 26 is really good. I like the first one very much. Would you please leave some clue to search it at internet.

Yours faithfully

Sayid

India

listen/download (mp3) | duration: 42:20 | file size: 24.31mb | podcast page

Elmar is back, and he’s in the studio talking to us about modes of travel.

It’s trains, planes, buses and boats, and more in today’s show.

Enjoy and learn!
–John

===== TRANSCRIPT: EPISODE 62 =====

Colored text is informational only and not included in the audio file.
Transcript may differ from actual audio recording.

AUDIO TRANSCRIPT START

[pre-intro]

I was on a flight recently and the flight attendant asked me, “Would you like dinner?”
“What are my choices?” I asked.
“Yes or No,” she barked back.

Hey, we’re talking about modes of transport and travel. It’s planes, trains, buses and boats, and Elmar’s going to tell us all about it today. Please keep your seat belts fastened; there’s going to be some turbulence today on English Teacher John Show number 62.

[intro music]

= INTERVIEW START - ELMAR =

John Koons: We’ve got a special guest with us today. Back from the great northern lands is Elmar who has been with us before. Welcome to the show.

Elmar: Hello.

John: How’s everything? As I was saying, before we went on air there, your hair has grown a little bit. Have you been to the barber since I last saw you?

Elmar: I have been. It was actually even longer.

John: You’ve got a little bit of that wild look to you which, I think, is pretty good.

Elmar: More and more, I’m looking like a student again.

John: That’s right. You’re sinking deeper into academia.

Elmar: Yes.

John: You’re looking like that.

Elmar: Yes. Probably, you just forget about your appearance when you’re so much thinking of things and have nothing to do with the outer world.

Read the rest of this entry »

Dear John

In the audio lesson 16 you discuss “fair”, “quiet” and other adverbs. But not discuss “rather”. I hope you will give us some directions on “rather”.

Best Wishes.

Dear John,

Very sorry for not being a very active member of the site where information exchange is expected to be benificial to everyone, and is actually helpful to everyone. Thanks for the service being extended to everyone who looks for opportunity to learn, enrich and grow. It is interesting to interact but important to experience. Thus, I have a short story mentioned below as reference for life.

I do not whether I should say it is luck or not. I got the opportunity to learn Chinese Language but I missed the opportunity to learn Tibetan Language.  However, I do remember and do remind myself that I am a Tibetan. Today, I am much confused to decide where to move. It is very difficult to decide and a huge gap that I need to jump and make the best choice for my life.

Life is always wonderful to me, and I have always got the best opportunity in my life time. I was born in Tibet, I was brian washed, I came to India, I met good people, and got good opportunity, and so many good things I have got in my life, and I have people here and there to back me up. Still, I realized that it is very hard and difficult to realize oneself and to make a good decision for one’s life as human being works for many reasons.

I believe that there basic and fundamental reason for a person to make a good decision to start working for someone, somewhere for different age group. However, it is not realistic to focus on what you want after years though it is adviseable to make one’s career based on future interest. I am a person with lot of dreams, and I want to become a doctor to look after the pain, I want to become a big boss after I want to tell people that Tibetans are capable, and I want to become a researcher because I want to know so many things happening around, after all I need to prove that I am different from others, and It is important for each and everyone to realize oneself and the potentaility. But where actually is the landing career for ones happiness.

If there are some very good opportunities come to you at one time, and you were asked to make a choice. What would you do as it is to give one and take one, but how to decide the right one. Life is full of interest, and it is important to make a good decision and to make a good remark in life. Each and everyone has got his own aim to move up.

It is confusing and please make your decision and plan for career. (sorry for the conclusion where I am becoming more confused now)