English Recordings

I was born in Arizona, in the city of Phoenix. I was thirteen in 1975 and I remember my party very well. Our house wasn't very big, so my party was in a hall. It wasn't a very nice place and there wasn't much to eat. Only about twenty people were there - and there weren't any boys. So the party was a bit boring.

Jack, 15

I love music. It has become an essential part of my life ever since I started playing the drums at the age of IO. I have a band and we have already given some concerts. It's rewarding when you listen to people singing the songs you’ve made. Music is in fact a universal language. Although I listen to all types of music, I mostly play rock. My favourite bands are Red Hot Chili Peppers and Muse. I can't imagine my life without music because it gives me the energy to face daily problems. Apart from music, I'm also keen on sports. I have already practised karate and tennis, but nowadays I'm into football. As for benefits, I feel active and fit. I also like watching football, which I believe is an emotional experience to be shared.

Alice, 16

All my free time is spent on a part-time job. I think that having a part-time job helps you become aware of the importance of money and you will spend it more carefully. You don’t need to ask your parents for money all the time, so you feel more independent. You also get a lot of working experience. In my case, I work in a shop, so I meet many people and I can develop my communication skills. I hope in the future these skills will help me get a better job, preferably in my area, which is marketing and advertising. When I do have some extra time, I simply lie on the sofa and watch some TV. I must admit that my favourite programmes are films and soap operas.

Jim liked to make friends among the office's guys and make a play for new girls at office. He seemed not to try to make a difference. How did he make out in his job? Very well. Jim never made do with little and was really a best friend to everyone. Nobody could make fun of him and try to make him a fall guy. It'd be difficult to argue with Jim as well as it'd be easy to make up with him because he was always able to make up for any upset or misunderstanding.

1 Let [a]brotherly love continue.
2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have received Angels into their houses unawares.
3 Remember them that are in bonds, as though ye were bound with them: and them that are in affliction, as [b]if ye were also afflicted in the body.
4 [c]Marriage is honorable among all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
5 [d]Let your conversation be without covetousness, and be content with those things that ye have, for [e]he hath said,
6 I will not fail thee, neither forsake thee:
7 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is mine helper, neither will I fear what [f]man can do unto me.
8 [g]Remember them which have the oversight of you, which have declared unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering what hath been the end of their conversation. [h]Jesus Christ yesterday, and today, the same also is forever.
9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines: [i]for it is a good thing that the heart be stablished with grace, and not with [j]meats, which have not profited them that have been [k]occupied therein.
10 [l]We have an [m]altar, whereof they have no authority to eat, which [n]serve in the Tabernacle.
11 For the bodies of those beasts whose blood is brought into the holy place by the high Priest for sin, are burnt without the camp.
12 Therefore even Jesus, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
13 [o]Let us go forth to him therefore out of the camp, bearing his reproach.
14 For here have we no continuing city: but we seek one to come.
15 [p]Let us therefore by him offer the sacrifice of praise always to God, that is, the fruit of the lips, which confess his Name.
16 To do good, and to distribute forget not: for with such sacrifices God is pleased.
17 [q]Obey them that have the oversight of you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give accounts, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
18 [r]Pray for us, for we are assured that we have a good conscience in all things, desiring to live honestly.
19 And I desire you somewhat the more earnestly, that ye so do, that I may be restored to you more quickly.
20 The God of peace that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting Covenant,
21 Make you [s]perfect in all good works, to do his will, [t]working in you that which is pleasant in his sight through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise forever and ever, Amen.
22 I beseech you also, brethren, suffer the words of exhortation: for I have written unto you in few words.
23 Know that our brother Timothy is delivered, with whom (if he come shortly) I will see you.
24 Salute all them that have the oversight of you, and all the Saints. They of Italy salute you.
25 Grace be with you all, Amen.
¶ Written to the Hebrews from Italy, and sent by Timothy.

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you make the Most High your dwelling-- even the LORD, who is my refuge--
10 then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation."

-----<“Hey jude” (Korean baby's song)>-May 14th 2010 -- What do you think?　This is so cute! I guess Korean is probably not easy for him either. .~` ^^/ But I think we should give him a big hand of applause。 I really like the song too.

I found an interesting article that lists things exisiting in Japan that people from other countries think are unnecessary.

One of the things is "Katakana"! I agree! The system originated from a need to transcribe words for foreign languages. However, there is often a difference between the original word and the Japanese loan word that is written in katakana.

A person in the article says that Japanese people are discouraged from learning foreign languages because of "katakana." There are certainly some Japanese people who believe that all of those katakana-words are English and they mistakenly think that they already know lots of English words.

Although they think that they are speaking English when they pronounce the words the way they are written in katakana, sadly, most of the time their words sound like cryptic words.

To be honest, I hate katakana words because they don't work at all when I speak English with native speakers. The worst thing is that it's difficult for me to get rid of the wrong pronunciation that I've been exposed to and already memorized by using katakana words ever since I was little. The wrong memory of the incorrect pronunciation really messes up my English pronunciation.

There are some words we often use:　リフォーム　(reform) for the meaning of renovation, ナイーブ（naive) for sensitive, シール（seal) for stickers, マンション(mansion) for condominium or apartment and so on.

I can tell that an astonishing number of Japanese people have received wrong knowledge about English words by katakana words, and also they haven't realized it yet. That's a shame.

I live in the city of Hangzhou, China which during the summer can reach 45C in some areas. That doesn't sound very extreme compared to some deserts. But what makes Hangzhou different is that it is extremely humid year round. The extreme humidity combined with the desert like heat makes this a hellishly hot place to be in the summer. Oddly enough neighbouring Shanghai, only one hour away by car, does not get nearly as hot or humid as Hangzhou does. I've never experienced heat anywhere else that even comes close to Hangzhou. Hangzhou is also known for "hot rain" which is exactly what it sounds like. An experience very similar to being in a hot shower everywhere you go. Alex, Hangzhou, China

I live in Tthenaago, an isolated First Nations village in the far north of Canada. In the heart of winter temperatures can plunge to -45C or colder, and last year I was "fortunate" enough to experience a night with a windchill factor of -56C. A temperature of -40C and below holds a special place in the heart of us northerners. The world starts to change when temperatures dip that low, weird clouds appear in the sky, sounds take on baffling intensity, and a profound stillness settles over everything. David, Tthenaago, Canada

I was with the British army in Iraq and Kuwait in 2003 the temperature most days during the summer was 54C, it was just amazing, but you do get used to it after a while. In Kuwait we had a sandstorm that lasted three days. The sweat used to make your clothes stiff with salt. You had to drink litres of water a day - all bottled and delivered by truck. Glen Towler, Wellington, New Zealand