Hiroshima University's English Podcast

もうすぐバレンタインデー（St.Valentine's Day）。女性が男性にチョコレートを贈るという風習も、3月14日のホワイトデーも、日本独特のものです。アメリカでは誰が何を贈るのでしょうか。また、この会話では男性が女性をデートに誘おうとしていますが、果たしてうまく誘えるのでしょうか・・・。 Download MP3 （13:45　7.8MB　初級～中級）*** Script *** M: So, Rumi … got any plans for Valentines day? W: No, not really. I think I'll end up studying for one of my classes. We have a test coming up soon. M: Really? Well … if you have time in-between studying, would you like to go out for dinner that night? W: What for? A date? M: Perhaps … you don't have to think of it like that if you don't want to…. W: I guess it'd be ok … . I wasn't planning on making chocolates or anything, though. M: That's fine! Where I come from, girls don't usually give things to guys on Valentines Day … usually it's the guys giving the girls stuff; like chocolate, stuffed animals, flowers…. W: Oh, really? In Japan it's always the girl giving chocolates to the guy. M: (quietly) Um, so what kind of flowers do you like…? W: What? M: Nothing. So what time can I pick

今回はアメリカ人に人気の高い、日本でもお馴染みの２つのマンガが登場します。どちらのヒーローがすぐれているか、それぞれのファンが言い争っている様子です。２人の主張に耳を傾けてみましょう。 Download MP3 (14:30　初級～中級)*** Script *** M: Superman. W: Batman. M: Superman! W: Batman! M: Come on now. How can you pick that powerless loser over the strongest man in the Universe? W: How can you pick such a boring emotionless person over the suave Dark Knight? M: Oh really? Well for one Superman is actually super. He didn't buy his powers. W: Well, what Batman lacks in Brawn he has in brain. Anyone can be born with superpowers. It takes a real man to make his own ones. M: Oh yea? Well Superman can fly. W: Batman has the Batwing Jet. M: He can run really fast. W: Why run when you can drive? M: Well, Superman has x-ray vision, ice breath, and many other abilities… W: That I'm sure Batman has, with his brain, figured out how to manipulate and use as a weapon. Face it: Batman is just a lot cooler than Superman. M: I know one thing that Batman doesn't have that Superman does. W: And what would

12日は成人の日（Coming-of-Age Day）でした。人生の最初の20年間は、子どもが思春期（adolescence）を経て大人になる、人生において最も劇的な変化の時期ですね。今回は、２人の若者がそれまでの20年間（two entire decades of life）を振り返り、人生の慌ただしさをしみじみと（？）感じるお話です。 Download MP3 (16:16　初級～中級)*** Script *** M: Man, we're getting old. W: What are you talking about? We're only 21. M: I know, but that's two entire decades of life. Can you comprehend that? W: I'm sure if I couldn't, I wouldn't be in college. M: You don't understand at all. W: Oh yeah, well please instill me with you're years of wisdom, old one. M: Cute. What I'm saying is that not too long ago we were in Kindergarten just learning how to color in the lines and nap during class. W: Well at least one skill is still useful in our old age. M: Then we started elementary school. We learned basic math and how to read and write. There was even recess. W: Yea, now basically everyday is recess until the day before tests, due dates, and so on. M: Then we went to middle school. Going through the changes of adolescence. Learning about cl

2009年もHiroshima University's English Podcastをどうかよろしくお願い申し上げます。 １月最初の週は「異文化ディスカッション」でお楽しみください。中国出身のRubyとアメリカ出身のTijanが「コンピュータ」について語ります。留学生はコンピュータをどのように使っているのでしょうか。 聞き手：Joe Lauer（広島大学外国語教育研究センター） Download MP3 (10:56　中級～上級)

今年最後の配信となる今回は、お正月（New Year's = New Year's Day）についての会話です。日本の年末年始の過ごし方は、英語でどのように表現できるのでしょうか。また、日本とアメリカでの年末年始の過ごし方には、どのような違いがあるのでしょうか。せわしい年の瀬のひとときを、ポッドキャストでどうぞごゆっくりお楽しみください。 Download MP3 (17:17　初級～中級) ※次回の配信は１月６日（火）の予定です。*** Script *** M: Judy, I'm so EXCITED that New Year's is coming! W: Really? What's so great about it? M: Well, first of all, we get off from school! And there are a lot of good programs on TV. W: Oh, Americans don't do much for New Year's. What kind of things do Japanese do? M: Well, first, a few days before New Year's, they send a lot of New Year's cards to friends and relatives. And they clean their houses, and prepare special New Year's food. W: They prepare the food a few days in advance? Doesn't it get bad? M: Well, it's almost always traditional food which doesn't spoil quickly. For example, boiled black beans, broiled fish, sliced vegetables, and seafood dressed in sweet vinegar. Then they put the food in small boxes which can be stacked on top of one another—this helps to pr

Merry Christmas to all our listeners! 今回は特別編として「やさしい英語会話」第１回で配信したChristmasのエピソードを再びお届けします。この季節にふさわしい話題をどうぞお楽しみください。 Download MP3 (14:29　初級～中級)*** Script *** M: Oh, hi Sachiko. How's it going? W: Oh, hi Tijan. I'm fine. We just got back from the mall. Wow, everything is so beautiful. The Christmas songs and all. And the houses in this neighborhood are decorated so nicely! M: Yeah. Did you see Santa at the store? W: I did. All the kids, one by one, were telling him what they wanted for Christmas. It was really cute! M: I bet it was! W: Do you have a few minutes, Tijan? Could you tell me a little bit about Christmas? M: Sure, I'd be glad to. Um, mainly families just get together. Family members and friends exchange gifts. Religious people go to church… It's a coincidence, Sachiko, but I was just reading this article about Christmas! Do you know about the history? W: A little. I know that Christmas celebrates Jesus' birthday. Has Christmas always been a big thing in America? M: Actually, no. It says

今回は路面電車（tram）に乗って、リスナーの皆様を広島の市内観光にご案内しましょう。ヒロシマを象徴する原爆ドーム（Atomic Bomb Dome）と平和公園（Peace Park）。ここにはいつも多くの観光客が訪れ、見る者に平和の大切さを訴え続けています。そのほかに、Joeのおすすめ観光スポットや、広島名物の「あの食べ物」の話題も登場します。 Download MP3 (19:48　初級～中級)*** Script *** W: Hi Mike! M: Hi Aya. Sorry, I'm a bit late. I got lost at the station ... I didn't know which train to take. W: That's OK. Glad you made it here. So where would you like to go? M: Um, I want to go to Peace Park, and see the atomic bomb dome. And, I want to do some shopping. Is the city center far from Peace Park? W: No, it's very near Peace Park. OK, let's get on the tram and go to Peace Park. (sound of the tram) M: It's my first time to get on a tram. We have trains back home, but we don't have these ... W: You can see the center of Hiroshima City on the way to Peace Park. Oh, we're getting off at this station. M: So, is that the atomic bomb dome? W: Yes. I think it's the symbol of Hiroshima. I didn't think about its meaning very much when I was small, but when I think about its

KimberlyとDanを迎えてのトークも今回が最終回となりました。今回は日本で学ぶ二人が、日本とアメリカの教育を比較します。 聞き手：Joe Lauer（広島大学外国語教育研究センター） ＊毎月第１週は「異文化ディスカッション」をお届けします。 Download MP3

今回の話題はスーパーマーケットでの買い物です。スーパーマーケットはその国の文化を知るのに絶好の場所です。ニュージーランドのスーパーマーケットを初めて訪れたNanaは、商品やお店の設備、さらにはお客さんの格好など、さまざまな発見をして驚いています。彼女はどのようなことに驚いているのでしょうか。 Download MP3 *** Script *** W: That was a great movie! But I wish I could understand more English. Did you like it, John? M: You bet! It was awesome. It's been only a week since you came here. You need more time to understand everything in English. Hey Nana, shall we go to the supermarket and get something to eat for dinner? W: OK. (At a supermarket) W: Wow, it's so different from a Japanese supermarket! So huge! M: Oh, is it your first time to come to a supermarket in New Zealand? W: Yes. Those apples are smaller than Japanese ones, and ... they have nashi here!? M: Yes we have nashi. I like nashi. They really taste good. I didn't know it was Japanese ... W: Hey, what is kumara? M: Kumara is a sweet potato. I'll cook it for you sometime. W: Thanks. What are we having tonight? M: Actually, I was hoping maybe you could cook some Japanese food fo

アメリカ旅行が今回のテーマです。アメリカへの旅行を計画中のMasaは、Rachelにアドバイスを求めます。広いアメリカには見どころがたくさんあります。会話の中ではどのような場所が紹介されているでしょうか。 Download MP3 *** Script *** B: Hey Rachel! G: Hey Masa! B: I was wondering if you could give me some advice? G: Sure, what do you need advice on? B: I'm thinking about planning a trip to the U.S. during summer vacation, but I'm not sure where I should go. Do you have any suggestions? G: Wow, a trip to the U.S.? Let's see, I think most foreigners who go to the U.S. to visit usually want to go to New York. There're a lot of historical monuments like the Statue of Liberty, also several state parks, Broadway musicals are very popular there, and for people who like sports there's the New York Yankees, or the NFL Giants. B: New York really sounds interesting! How about Hawaii? G: I've never been to Hawaii myself, but I've heard that the weather there is very nice. The temperature never gets too cold, and never too hot. Most people who go to Hawaii seem to spend most of their time on the be

今回は好きな音楽についての話です。会話ではある有名男性シンガーの名前が出てきます。彼の大ファンである女性（Ayu）が、それほどファンではないという男性に、彼の歌の魅力を語ります。会話では彼のどんな曲が紹介されていますか。そして男性は彼の歌を聴いてみようという気になるのでしょうか。 Download MP3 *** Script *** M: Hey, Ayu, what song are you listening to? W: I'm sorry? (taking off her ear phones) Oh, this? It's "Elegy" by Hirai Ken. M: Do you like Hirai Ken? W: You bet! I like him a lot! I'll even go to his concert at Hiroshima's Green Arena next Sunday. Do you like him? M: Sort of. It's not that I don't like him, it's just that I don't quite click with his songs. W: What? I think Hirai Ken's one of the best male singers in Japan right now. His voice is great, and his songs are really cool. Which Hirai Ken song have you heard before? M: Hmm, I think I've heard "Itsuka Hana.... something." W: Itsuka Hanareru Hi ga Kite mo. M: Yeah, that one was on Music Station last week. W: Oh, I missed that! And a song called Canvas is the ending song on the "Hachimitsu to Kuroba" dorama. M: Oh. All of his songs are ballad, and I'm not really into ball

毎月最初の週にお届けする「異文化ディスカッション」。第２回の今回のテーマは「家族」です。前回に続いて、DanとKimberlyが、それぞれの家族やアメリカ人の家族観について話します。 聞き手：Joe Lauer（広島大学外国語教育研究センター） Download MP3

10月末と言えば「ハロウィン」。今回はハロウィンにちなんだ幽霊屋敷（a haunted house）のお話です。舞台はアメリカ・ニューオーリンズ。とある一軒の屋敷に「売家」の札が出ていた。そこは19世紀に実在したマダム・ラローリー（Madam Lalaurie）の館だった！館の老人は、訪れた客人に、ここで起こった世にも恐ろしい事件のことを語り始めます・・・。 なお、今回諸事情により配信が遅れましたことをお詫びいたします。 次回の配信は11/4（火）頃の予定です。（←再度変更いたしました） Download MP3 *** Script *** Woman: It's a dark, quiet night in an old neighborhood in New Orleans, in the southern part of the United States. A 3-story, spooky-looking house has a "For Sale" sign outside. The sound of a sad dog barking can be heard in the distance. Bats fly through the air. A young couple knocks on the door. An old man wearing a dark coat opens the door. (Sound of creaking door.) Old Man: Yes? Woman: Hi, um, we heard this house is for sale? Old Man: It is. Come this way. (They step in. The creaking door closes behind them.) Old Man: Now, are you sure you want to buy this place? You know about Madam Lalaurie, don't you? Woman: Madam Lalaurie? Who is that? Old Man: Ha, ha, ha! You mean, who WAS that. Ah, I see that you have not heard? Let

「中古の品物を買う」が今回のテーマ。Yokoは冷蔵庫（fridge）が故障したので買い替えようと考えますが、新品は高くて手が出せません。そこでMikeは中古の冷蔵庫はどうかとアドバイスします。Yokoは中古の家電についてどのように考えているのでしょうか、そして結局どうすることに決めたのでしょうか。 Download MP3 *** Script *** M: Hey, Yoko! What's up? W: Hey, Mike. I'm OK. Nothing new. Boy, it sure is hot outside, isn't it? M: Yeah. It must be a hundred out there. So, what are you reading? (Looking at the title of a catalog) Home Electric Appliances? W: Yeah. I'm thinking of buying a new fridge. But you know, they're really expensive. M: Let me see......wow, yeah, they are!... What kind of a budget do you have? W: About three to five thousand yen? M: What? You kidding? You're not buying a CD, you know. You're buying a fridge! W: Yeah, I know. But I have no money now. What should I do? I'm really in big trouble because my fridge is broken and it's boiling out there, Uhh. I can't buy any raw fish. And I can't have ice cream after a bath. And, and there's nothing like a cold beer after my bath!! Ohhhh, I need a fridge!! M: Okay, O-kay, Yoko! Calm

今回から毎月第１週は「異文化ディスカッション」をお届けします。この番組は、毎回広島大学に学ぶ留学生をゲストに招き、東広島での学生生活や、身近な話題について英語で話してもらう、等身大のトーク番組です。 第１回のテーマは「映画」。アメリカ出身のDanとKimberlyが、好きな映画や苦手な映画について話します。聞き手はJoeです。 Download MP3 （使用言語：ナレーション以外はすべて英語、レベル：中級～上級）

「ニュージーランドとホームステイ」が今回のテーマです。みなさんがこの国に抱くイメージは、人口をはるかに凌ぐ羊の群れでしょうか、それともラグビーのオールブラックスでしょうか。そのニュージーランド出身で、日本でホームステイしている学生と、ニュージーランドでホームステイ経験のある日本人学生が、ホームシックやコミュニケーション、食文化などについて会話をします。 Download MP3 *** Script *** M: Hi. I'm Jack, from New Zealand, and I'm studying Japanese here. Could I ask your name? W: Hi. I'm Yumi. You're from New Zealand? ! I went there as an exchange student! M: Oh, really? How long were you there? W: For about a year. M: And where did you stay? W: I stayed in Auckland. Where about in New Zealand are you from? M: Auckland! Nice. I'm from Wellington. Have you been there? W: Yes! I like the city. There were some nice old buildings, and I remember the government building...uh what was the name of it? M: You mean Bee-Hive? W: That's it! It was different. M: Did you do a homestay? W: Yes. I stayed with a middle-aged couple. They took me to Wellington. They had never had a student stay with them but they were really nice. M: Didn't you have a problem, like feeling homesick? W: Ye

前回は少しシリアスな話題でしたが、今回はがらりと一転して軽い話題をお届けしましょう。 "Picking up girls"と言えば、日本語では死語となった「ナンパ」や「ガールハント」のイメージでしょうか。バーで出会った女性を一生懸命に口説こうとする男。でもそのあまりにクサいセリフ(corny lines)の連発には思わず苦笑させられます。 Download MP3 *** Script *** Scene: In a bar, with loud music in the background M: Hi, do you come here often? W: No, it's my first time. M: (Off to the side) Boy, this broad is a real beauty! I wonder if I can get to first base with her! M: Um, I like your earrings. W: Thanks. W: (Off to the side) Hmm… what's this guy after? It looks like he's trying to pick me up or something. He's pretty good-looking, but… M: Can I get you a drink? I'm Steve. W: Hi, I'm Reiko. Um, I'm still OK with the one I have, thanks. M: Reiko, you look like an angel. Welcome to Earth. W: Ha. M: Am I dead, Angel? 'Cause this must be heaven. W: I see. M: Did it hurt? W: Did what hurt? M: When you fell down here from heaven. W: Ha, ha. W: (Off to the side) Boy, this guy is out of this world! Where does he come up with these corny lines? M: Re

今回は中国の一人っ子政策(One-child policy)について、中国人の留学生とアメリカ人が話し合います。この政策は1979年から始まり、一人以上の子どもを持つと法律で罰金が科せられるとのことです。その背景には中国の人口の多さがあるのですが、実際の人口はどのくらいでしょうか。 Download MP3 *** Script *** M: Hi, Ruby. How's it going? W: Oh, hi, George. I'm fine, but I'm a little busy with another essay. M: Another one? W: Yep. M: It's like, every time I see you, you're busy writing an essay! You're such a good student... I'd rather die than have to write that much. W: I know, but I have to practice my English writing skills since I'm taking the TOEFL in the fall. You're so lucky that you were born speaking English - you don't have to take all these hard English exams like the TOEFL or GRE. M: Haha, yeah. Sorry about that. So, what's the topic this time? W: We're supposed to come to a conclusion based on this diagram, and then write some ideas we have about it. M: Let me see. Oh, the fertility rate... hmm... Wow, are you kidding? China's fertility rate is only 0.8? Wouldn't that mean women are having less than 1 child in their life

今回は「母の日のプレゼント選び」についてのダイアローグです。日本と同じくアメリカでも、カーネーションなどのお花が定番の贈り物のようです。この会話で二人は、それぞれのお母さんに何をしてあげるつもりでしょうか。 Download MP3 *** Script *** Scene: At a shop. M: Hi, Misa! What are you doing here? W: Oh, hi Bob! How's it going? I'm looking for a present for my mom. M: Is it her birthday present? W: No, it's for Mother's Day. Have you already got a present for your mom? M: Uh no. In fact, I've never given a present to her on Mother's Day... W: Really? Never? But it's a good opportunity to thank her. Why don't you do something different this year? M: Yeah...but I don't know what to give...what are you going to give? W: Well, I haven't decided yet, but I'm thinking of a nice plate, a mug cup, or maybe a CD. M: Hmm...What did you give her last year? W: Last year, I gave her a carnation. I think flowers would be good. Most people are happy to receive flowers as a gift even though they don't last for a long time...Your mom likes flowers, right? M: Yeah, she likes them but...she's got hay fever. W: Oh, that

今回はアメリカ西海岸の大都市「ロサンゼルス」の話題です。ちょっとこわいイメージを持っている人も多いかもしれませんが、実際は活気にあふれ、娯楽と見どころがいっぱいの楽しい街のようですね。 Download MP3 *** Script *** W: Hey George, I hear you went to Los Angeles. Weren't you scared? M: Scared? What do you mean? W: You know. Everyone there has a gun! M: Oh, I don't think so. Actually, L.A. was great, Tomoko. I really liked going to the different ethnic areas. For example, the Chinatown, the Vietnamese neighborhoods, and the Mexican and the Brazilian areas. The restaurants and the people were really nice. W: But I heard there are really poor areas. And, have you ever seen the movie Speed -- where the bus is shooting down the streets with a bomb in it, and if they go under 50 miles an hour the bus will blow up?! M: Tomoko, that's only in the movies! I don't think you could ever see a bus shooting down the street with a bomb in it even if you looked and looked to see such a thing! W: So, what was so good about Los Angeles? M: Besides the nice people, one day I went on a tour of Hollywood studi