[Easy English Blog] Blooming plum blossom tree

/ italkyoutalk

Last year, a student gave me a weeping plum blossom tree. It is called “shidare ume” in Japanese. When I received it, it was in full bloom, with beautiful deep pink blossoms. The blossoms lasted around two weeks, and then leaves grew.

I had never looked after a tree before, so I looked on the Internet for ways to take care of it. I found a site which said that I had to cut the branches, soon after the blossoms disappear, so I did that. The site also said I should use fertilizer. I did that too. And I waited. I watered it in summer, and brought it inside when typhoons came. In winter it became buried under the snow, but seemed to be OK, so I left it outside.

For a year I wondered, “Will it blossom? Have I done everything right?” Then, a few weeks ago, small pink buds started to appear. Then one blossom opened, and then others started to open! I must have done something right! The only problem I have is that the branches didn’t grow longer. Maybe I cut them too short. Anyway, here it is! My weeping plum blossom tree!

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Great minds…

/ italkyoutalk

Can you complete this famous English proverb?

Great minds…

a) think quickly

b) think slowly

c) think alike

d) think together

The answer is below! ↓

Answer: c) Great minds think alike.

Here is an example conversation.

Oliver (answering the telephone): Hi Harry, that’s strange. I was just about to call you!

Harry: Great minds think alike! 

We use it when two people do the same thing, think the same thing, or have the same opinion.

No room to swing a cat

/ italkyoutalk

Do you know the English phrase “no room to swing a cat“? Read the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Libby: How is your new apartment?

Nathan: It’s nice, but there’s no room to swing a cat.

Libby: I guess a bigger place would have been more expensive though, huh?

Does it mean:

a) you want to swing a cat

b) there is no room for the cat

c) a space is small or cramped

d) a space is just the right size

The answer is below! ↓

Answer: c) a space is small or cramped

Can’t think straight

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Do you know the English phrase “can’t think straight“? Look at the conversation below. Can you guess the meaning?

Bill: How is work?

Kevin: So busy. I have so much to do I can’t think straight.

Does it mean

a) be busy

b) be unable to think clearly

c) be unable to think in a straight line

d) be tired

The answer is below! ↓

Answer: b) be unable to think clearly

Grab a bite to eat

/ italkyoutalk

Do you know the English phrase “grab a bite to eat“? Look at the conversation. Can you guess the meaning?

Andrew: What time will the meeting finish?

Gill: 5pm. We have to leave as soon as it has finished, so we should grab a bite to eat now. We won’t have time later.

Does it mean

a) have a small meal or snack quickly

b) bite something

c) eat a large meal quickly

d) find something which is easy to eat

The answer is below　↓

 

Answer: a) have a small meal or snack quickly

[Easy English Blog] Reading in a Foreign Language

/ italkyoutalk

 

We started writing and publishing graded readers to help English learners improve their English. We believe reading is an essential part of language learning. It is also good for maintaining one’s ability and level. So, we like to practice what we preach! (Practice what you preach = Do the thing which you advise other people to do).

One of my favourite Japanese writers is Seicho Matsumoto. I have decided to spend 2018 reading as many of his books as I can in Japanese. So far, this year I have read two of his books – Ten to Sen and Tensai Ga no Onna. A few years ago I read Suna no Utsuwa, and enjoyed it very much. Now I’m choosing the next of his books to read.

Seichō_Matsumoto_(1955,_46_years_old)

I like Seicho Matsumoto’s books because I enjoy reading mysteries and detective stories. But I also like the darkness in his books. His books give an insight into society in a realistic way. He combines mystery with social realism. Also, I think his way of writing is easy to understand. There is a lot of repetition in his books, which makes them easy to follow.

Many of his books have been translated into English. Why not try one of his books in English? Or, if you are studying Japanese, why not try one of his books in Japanese? I’m sure you will enjoy it!