Do you know the English expression “to put (something) away?” Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?
Harriet: Susie, the living room is a mess! Put your toys away!
Susie: OK, mum. I’ll put them away now.
Does it mean:
a) throw away
b) put something in a different room
c) tidy up
d) make a mess
The answer is below!↓
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Answer: c) tidy up
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I don’t have a TV. I haven’t had a TV for around 10 years. I don’t miss it. When I had a TV, I would leave it on while I did other things. The house was always noisy. When I got rid of my TV, my house became quiet. After work, instead of watching TV, I read books, or listen to music. I feel much more relaxed than before.
People ask me, “But what about the news? How do you keep up-to-date with what’s happening in the world?”
I tell them that I get my news from the Internet. If I want to watch news programmes, I can watch them live on YouTube. Many channels have a live stream. I can also read newspapers online. I have never been interested in watching dramas or other TV shows, so I don’t miss the TV.
I don’t think I will ever buy another TV. I am quite happy with my books, music and Internet!
Heather @ I Talk You Talk Press
Do you know the English expression “to stick it out“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?
Yuri: I heard you don’t like your new job. Why don’t you quit?
Cindy: Because it will be difficult to find a new one. I’ll just have to stick it out for a while longer until I can find something else.
Does it mean:
a) stick something outside
b) endure something
c) hate something
d) look for something
The answer is below!↓
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Answer: b) endure something
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I’ve been feeling sleepy lately. I think it is because of the change of seasons. Although, I spent most of spring feeling sleepy because the weather was warm, then I spent most of summer feeling sleepy because it was so humid, and now I feel sleepy in autumn because the temperature has dropped to a comfortable level. Maybe I am just a sleepy person!
I sleep well at night. I ususally sleep for 8 hours. Even so, by around 2:00pm, I start to feel sleepy, and it is difficult for me to focus on my work. I drink coffee or have a nap (nap = short sleep). I also eat chocolate. This gives me energy. But I know, too much sugar is not good. Maybe I need to exercise more. Maybe that will give me more energy.
For some reason, I feel especially sleepy on Tuesdays. I think most people feel sleepy on Mondays, but I feel energetic and motivated on Mondays. Maybe I feel sleepy on Tuesdays because I use so much energy on Mondays. I don’t know. I’m feeling a little sleepy now. Time for a nap. zzzzz
Do you know the English expression “to take in the sights“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?
Barbara: So what are you going to do in Paris?
Ella: I’m going to take in the sights. There are so many places I want to see!
Does it mean:
a) go sightseeing
b) go inside famous buildings
c) take something somewhere
d) take photographs
The answer is below!↓
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Answer: a) go sightseeing
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I’ve been thinking about my goals for next year. One of them is to read more books. In particular, I would like to read more Japanese books.
Although I read Japanese every day in my job, and I read Japanese newspapers, I think I should read more. Especially fiction. I have only read three Japanese novels this year. When I read novels, I forget that I am reading, and I enter the world of the book. So when I read in Japanese, I don’t feel like I am studying. I am just absorbing the langauge and the language patterns as I participate in the fictional world.
I usually read books by Matsumoto Seicho, but next year, I’d like to try some different authors. I would like to read something by Naoya Shiga. I would also like to read more books by Yukio Mishima. I have only read two or three of his books, and I enjoyed them (although they were a little difficult). I think I should also read some contemporary novelists too.
Maybe I will start going to the library again. I haven’t been there for many years. It will be cheaper than the book shop!
I wonder, how many books can I read next year? I guess that will depend on how busy I am with work. But I will try to read one in English, then one in Japanese, then one in English, then one in Japanese… I wonder if I can do it?
Do you know the English expression “to get out of (doing something)“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?
Joyce: How did you get out of cleaning the office yesterday?
Gary: I told the boss I had a bad back and couldn’t do anything physical.
Does it mean:
a) avoid (doing something)
b) stop (doing something)
c) try not to (do something)
d) tell someone to (do something)
The answer is below!↓
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Answer: a) avoid (doing something)
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I don’t think studying a language while driving is a good idea. I am learning Russian, but I don’t have so much time to study every day. So, I decided to use my driving time to study. I have started listening to the CDs from my textbook while I am driving.
Usually, I listen to English music CDs or Japanese radio while I am driving. I understand both languages, so it doesn’t cause any problems.
However…when I listen to my Russian CDs, I start thinking things like:
“What did she just say?”
“Is that how you pronounce XXX? I’ve been pronouncing it wrong.”
“I didn’t catch that. I must listen to it again.”
“Ah! That conversation was the one on page 10 of my texbook!”
“Oh! That sounds different from what I expected!”
And so on….
This is not good. It takes my attention away from the road. I think I will stop studying while driving, for everyone’s safety!
Do you know the English expression “to count on (someone)“? Read the coversation below. Can you guess the meaning?
Tracey: I need someone to help me with my taxes.
Robert: Ask Tim. He’s good at that. You can count on him.
Does it mean:
a) count something for someone
b) count something on someone
c) depend on someone
d) ask someone
The answer is below!↓
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Answer: c) depend on someone
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It’s already October. This year has flown by (= passed very quickly). In January and February we had very heavy snow. I remember that clearly. Every day I had to dig my car out from under the snow. Then, in March, I went to Tokyo. That doesn’t seem like it was seven months ago. It seems like it was only two or three months ago. Maybe that’s because I have been very busy this year. Time seems to pass more quickly when we are busy.
The summer didn’t pass quickly though. We had a very hot summer, and it seemed to last forever! I thought it would never end! August was a particularly long month. But of course, it passed, and now it is October, and the days are much cooler.
It will soon be Christmas. Then, the end of the year. And then a new year will begin. As I get older, I feel like time is speeding up. Christmas and New Year seem to come around very quickly. At the end of every year, I make a plan of all the goals I want to achieve in the next year. I am going to start thinking about my goals for 2019. I am going to start now, because the end of year will come around quickly. I want to be ready!
I Talk You Talk Press EXTRA 
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