A Day Off

I was completely off today. My wife and son was out today so I could do anything I want. But I didn't do nothing special. 

I listened to the radio and reading all in English. I went to a curry shop for lunch and  went to a cafe. I organized my book shelves because I got a new book shelf. 

I just relaxed myself. 

にほんブログ村

TuneIn Radio

If you want to get a good English listening appreciation, I recommend TuneIn Radio for it. 

You can listen to more than 800,000 radio stations all over the world with the application for free. 

I've been listening to BBC, NPR and VOA via TuneIn Radio since 2012. 

Their news topics are world wide including the Middle East and Africa. Japanese media don't report from these areas so often. I can get lots of information related these areas from TuneIn Radio appreciation. 

At first, of course, I couldn't understand these programs, but gradually I was getting used to it. These unfamiliar words in the radio news became much familiar with reading the same topics in Japanese newspapers. You don't use dictionaries so often. 

There are countless number of conflicts around the world. It seems no safety area on the earth nowadays. You shouldn't miss the facts. 

Click to Vote! 日本ブログ村

JDH

I'll join a private online radio show called Jun's Diamonds Hour, JDH, tonight. The host is "Queen" Jun who is a passionate TOEIC lover. She is always studying English and encouraging other English learners. Maybe she doesn't sleep. If you don't follow her Twitter account, follow @Jun_toeic now. 
Click to Vote! 日本ブログ村

Short-wave Broadcasting

I listened VOA radio yesterday. An announcer told on a program that they ended their short-wave broadcasting service until the end of June. 

I've never listened any radio program with short-wave radio receiver. I remember that listening short-wave radio show used to be popular for some people many decades ago. My cousin would listen short-wave radio program whe he was young. He often sent some report to the radio stations and got some cards from the stations.

Time flies. We can listen countless radio program through the Internet now. Some people might miss the noisy radio sounds. 

I Forgot To Remember

I listened to the Diane Rehm show this morning. Today's guest wrote a book titled "I Forgot To Remember". 

When she was 22, she completely lost her memory due to a brain accident. At that time, she was merried and had two children. She did not remember her husband nor her children. She even did not remember how to speak not how to use spoon. She had to build her life again. 

I couldn't imagine how hard she and her family were. It's really incredible story.

Route 66

I listened to the radio this morning. The program was about the iconic US highway: Route 66. It was established in 1926 and ran from Chicago to Santa Monica, California. The life of Route 66 ended in 1985 after it was replaced by the new Interstate Highway System. 

The name "Route 66" was used in many ways like being featured in songs, TV shows, cigarettes and so on. You can even find it in the famous American novel The Grapes of Wrath. 

The road is now called "Historic Route 66" and is officially designated a National Scenic Byway. Someday I would go there and drive a big American car on the road.

Listening to the radio in English

I listen to English radio progrems every morning via TuneInRadio, usually BBC, NPR or VOA.
At first, I was not able to hear any of the words but I used to do that now. I enjoy some programs. My favorite program was the making of a nation by VOA. It was not only American history but olso democracy's history. I listened from the American Revolution to the Bush administration. It was so much fun and I learned a lot about the history of democracy. I used to look forward to listen to the program but it is over now.

The news thre is different from Japanese one. For example you can get lots of news about Middle East, Southern Asia, Europe and of course America. You can get what's going on all over the world.