English Learners Club(ELC)

We started sightseeing by taking the subway to the Vatican. The problem was, we didn’t have any coins or small bills, so we put a 50-euro bill which is about 9,000yen into the ticket machine. We didn’t really understand how to use it, and the moment my husband pressed the cancel button… the bill slot started flashing red, and the touchscreen completely froze. Of course, the money wasn’t returned e...

For our trip to Italy, we booked everything with our smartphones—just tapping away. Cheap flights, hotels, tickets to St. Peter’s Basilica, even the high-speed train from Rome to Salerno. Honestly, I felt like all you need for international travel these days is your passport, a credit card, and your phone… And I think that’s what led to me getting a little overconfident. I was thinking, “No proble...

We flew from Australia to New Zealand, then took a bus from Auckland airport to Sky city which was near our Airbnb. Google said it was a 10-minute walk on flat ground from the bus stop to the AirBnB. We felt like that was manageable, so we started walking with our heavy suitcases. Google lied!🤥 The city of Auckland is made up of steep hills except around the harbor. As elderly travelers, were  hu...

My husband and I got married 30 years ago, back when Japan’s economy was still strong. For our honeymoon, we chose a Caribbean resort in Jamaica. To be honest, we were torn between seeing the historic sites of Rome in Italy and just kicking back on the beach at an all-inclusive resort in Jamaica. My husband had already been to Paris and London when he was a student, and since Jamaica was much fart...

It’s surprising that six years have already passed since I started studying English again. I vividly remember my buried passion for English reemerging when I saw a YouTube video of a bilingual Japanese lady traveling around the world using English fluently and effortlessly. Before I knew it, I was drawn in, and studying English quickly became part of my daily life. In the first three years, I was...

Thanks for tuning in to the English Learners Club. You know, learning English isn't just about grammar and pronunciation—it's about the wonderful people we meet along the way! Today, I want to tell you a story about respect, family, and a very special person. All right then, let's dive in. Among the listeners of the 'GoGo Abe Kaiwa' podcast, there are many fascinating women. Today, I’d like to tal...

Last Christmas, my husband and I were in Sydney. We left the cold Japanese winter for Sydney in midsummer. It was late at night when we left the airport and the temperature was 28 degrees. We were excited about sightseeing the next day. First we headed to Sydney University where Harry Potter likely studied. Our hotel was close to Central Station, so we decided to take the train. Central Station it...

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the English Learners Club. I'm Etsuko, and today, I'll talk about a movie called "The Penguin Lessons." I saw "The Penguin Lessons" at a movie theater last week. Before seeing it, I had heard about it and read a short teaser for it, which went as follows: “Inspired by the true story of a disillusioned Englishman named Tom who went to work at a school in Argentina i...

A few weeks ago, I had an accident. It wasn’t serious, but one of my belongings fell over and hit a parked car. After I heard the thud and realized what had happened, it felt like time had stopped. I just stood there, not knowing what to say or do. Then I snapped back to reality and apologized profusely to the car’s owner, and we exchanged contact information. Even though I was able to remain calm...

My husband and I visited Bathala Island for the fourth consecutive time to the Maldives. We've been mesmerized by this cozy, small island, with wonderful staff, picturesque scenery, breathtaking views, and delicious food. I don't remember ever having any troubles there, but this time, there was a problem at the seaplane check-in counter. After weighing our suitcases and carry-on luggage, the staff...

There are three waste incinerators in my city. Two of them are used to heat swimming pools in the attached facility. Kotehasidai pool,which is closer to my house, is a large facility with a lazy river, a water slide, a jacuzzi, and an olympic pool. I went there with my grandson during his summer vacation, so it was extremely crowded.  You have to wear a swimming cap, and swimming rings are not per...

When I returned to the port of my island, I noticed a European woman glancing around, looking a bit lost. I gathered some courage and asked her in English," Do you want me to drive you somewhere?" She answered in Japanese , "Daijoubu desu," meaning " I'm fine." I was about to drive away, but I saw her carrying a huge suitcase, I couldn't help but worry. So I asked again, "You have a big suitcase,a...

Hello, everyone. Welcome back to the English Learners Club. I'm Etsuko, and today, I'll talk about “a very special week." As I was thinking about what to write for my homework, one of my old friends sent me a message. We decided to catch up at her favorite Italian restaurant. Next, my online teacher, who lives overseas, said she wanted to join our weekly English chat. And finally, a friend who is...

What would you do if you suddenly saw your favorite celebrity in public? The other day, when I was at a flea market at Oi Racecourse, Yamauchi from the famous Japanese comedy duo Kamaitachi appeared out of nowhere! I couldn’t believe my eyes. It was just him and another guy who was holding a camera. I instantly realized they were filming for their YouTube channel, which I always watch. My heart wa...

Hello everyone! Welcome to the ELC. We are studying English, and although we have a long way to go, we are continuing to have fun and enjoy studying! Including working on this podcast. I'm Etsuko, and today I'd like to talk about my favorite colors. My favorite color is green. When you hear the word green, what comes to mind? Traffic lights? Plants? Maybe turtles? I do indeed love turtles, but the...

We visited Bathala during the dry season for the first time, and the island was surrounded by crystal-clear water. It was breathtaking! We spent most of our days snorkeling with sea turtles, sharks, spotted eagle rays, and colorful fish. The resort staff were dedicated to protecting the marine life, which we were happy about. My husband and I love snorkeling and staying on small Maldivian islands....

One day I answered my phone and the first thing I heard was the sound of a siren. Needless to say, I was quite upset and worried. Just as I feared, my mother said frantically, "Your dad collapsed! We are heading to the hospital in an ambulance!", so I rushed to the hospital as well. The doctor who treated him explained that he had suffered a heart attack, and they had to revive him with electric s...

Around the end of the year, there are a lot of videos and podcasts that rank the shows and movies that were released in that calendar year. I am not a big fan of anime movies, but my favorite TV producer recommended "Look Back," so I watched it on Prime Video. This story was originally a “one-shot” manga by Tatsuki Fujimoto, a popular manga artist known for "Chainsaw Man” that was m...

Lately, I've been reading a book titled "The Five People You Meet in Heaven." The story begins at the end with the protagonist's death. This intriguing opening made me eager to learn more about the protagonist and kept me turning the pages. As I read, it reminded me of a viral story from a few years ago called 100日後に死ぬワニ, which translates to "a crocodile that dies in 100 days." It first app...

I took a 3-day trip to Hokkaido in September. I’ve been there many times, but it was my first time going to the Touyako area. Also, it has been a while since I had travelled because of the covid-19 pandemic. I was so excited for the trip, but I was so busy that I had little time to make a precise plan. So, I used AI to make a travel plan. The plan that AI made was a little bit off in some ways, so...

In this podcast, Abe’s students present monologues that they have prepared and practiced for his lessons. I’ve always dreamed of being able to communicate fluently in English, but it’s hard to improve and stay motivated due to my age, and lack of opportunities to use it. Then I came across a podcast called “GoGo Abe Kaiwa” Abe’s English is very easy to understand and Yoshi speaks in Japanese, so I...

This is our 100th episode! What a milestone! Congratulations to everyone that has contributed to this podcast! I hope you are all enjoying your English journey, and I'm so happy that you chose to be a part of this project. Also, special thanks to Free Bird English for proofreading our writing and adding some spice and expressions. Let's continue to make learning English a journey that is fun and e...

I went to a concert headlined by CARCASS in Japan. It had been 10 years since I last attended their solo concert. Their performance was so tight and impressive that it was hard to believe they had aged 10 years! I watched this amazing show from the best spot. First, I was at the very edge behind the amplifier, so it was hard to see the stage. I said hello to a group of three women next to me. They...

My least favorite day of the year is my medical checkup. About two months before that day comes, I tend to think about unpleasant things and feel uncomfortable. However, I know that it’s beneficial to stay healthy and recognize health problems early, so I reluctantly continue to do it every year. For my check up this year. I had to get to the clinic by 7:50 AM without eating or drinking anything e...

 I’m not a big movie person, but I have a few favorites I can watch over and over again. One of them is “Legally Blonde,” known as “Cutie Blonde” in Japan. Recently, I found “Legally Blonde” on Amazon Prime and decided to watch it again for old time’s sake. The story is about Elle Woods, a bubbly, fashion-forward sorority girl who transitions to law school after being dumped by her boyfriend. At f...