What things do you need or NOT need when you go hiking? Also, a language lesson: accepting an apology and forgiving. Music by Martin Chenhall. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

Are you kidding??!! Language lesson: showing surprise. Music by Martin Chenhall and Dano at danosongs.com. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

An April snow walk, while cherry blossoms are in full bloom! And, Earth Day is April 22nd. Music by Martin Chenhall and Dano at danosongs.com. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

East vs. West - USA. An interview with my brother, David. Music by Martin Chenhall. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

A cosmic event - the solar eclipse. And, an interview with Charlie about his creation, Fukurochan. Music by Martin Chenhall and his band UMayC. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

A look at multicultural places and people, featuring an interview with Sean. Facts and trivia about Cyprus. Music by Martin Chenhall and Will Springmeyer. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

Music from Martin and his band U.May.C. Also, we have a discussion about vending machines in Japan. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

Today we're talking about birth and babies. An interview with new daddy Elmar, and borrowed words, words, words. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

Today we're talking about healing. We will hear about a friend's recent accident, and quotations. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

Let's look at some well-known advertising slogans. Also, an idiom - I don't buy it, and quotations, too. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

Long time no hear! Our India trip; the Tibetan struggle and Nagano torch relay; rainy idioms and quotations from the Dalai Lama and Osho. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

Happy New Year!! Machine voice from vozme.com; Using 'though', 'although', 'even though'; Idioms with 'heart': heart of gold, from the heart, broke my heart, heart set on something. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

Autumn is a good eating season! ETJ music man Martin talks about his music. Saying: Be careful what you wish for, you just may get it. Idioms: sit tight, doesn't sit well (with someone). More at englishteacherjohn.com.

Vibrant colors in the forest and we're rolling in the autumn leaves. We talk with Elmar about modes of transport -- planes, trains and buses. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

Recent lunar eclipse! An exciting and interesting interview with Jona; Quotations and some inspiration from Anthony Robbins. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

It's our 2-year birthday! News: election and politics in Japan; Taiko traditional Japanese drumming; Interview with Andrea; Idioms 'rock': rock the boat, on the rocks, rock bottom; M Scott Peck quotations; frappr map and more. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

The earth was shaking here in Japan! We talk about the Live Earth event on 07-07-07; a language segment: be used to something, get used to something; learn about a couple of IDIOMS -- short end of the stick, stick up for someone or something. PODnobbing looks at other English learning podcasts, and some quotations from Albert Einstein. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

Talking about a slow, personal and local weekend. Also, an INTERVIEW with Mike, and a few IDIOMS -- rise to the occasion, let off steam, picking up steam, full steam ahead, out of steam; some words about our frappr map. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

We are back from our African safari and I'm going to tell you about it. Also, we take a look at Martin's new music CD; Wikipedia Profile: The Serengeti; two English idioms: like a fish out of water, monkey business; PODnobbin segment with comments about two other English learning podcasts; and a look at some quotations. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

Charlie is nearly finished his one-year cycling tour of Japan. We talk to him from the road about his work with the peace movement. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

We talk with Richard and Diane, who have been living and teaching in Japan, but are soon moving to the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.). Our first show of 2007 is available in both video and audio. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

Happy holidays and Happy New Year 2007! You'll hear a movie review: 'A Waking Life'; Our new 'Wikipedia Profile' segment: Kwanzaa; Three new idioms: home away from home, (sitting) on top of the world, over the top; PODnobbing with a look at three podcasts; plus an extra special interview with Aileen. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

Part 3 (of 3) of our HOMEOPATHY discussion. Amu-san, an M.D., natural medicine and homeopathy practitioner, leads the discussion. Participants include physicians, researchers and others. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

Part 2 (of 3) of our HOMEOPATHY discussion. Amu-san, an M.D., natural medicine and homeopathy practitioner, leads the discussion. Participants include physicians, researchers and others. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

First winter snowflakes in Matsumoto and winter break is almost here! Today, I'll read a great English pronunciation poem, and then we'll learn about an idiom: LIVE UP TO (expectations). Also, you'll hear part 1 of a group discussion about HOMEOPATHY, a method of holistic and natural healing. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

John's poor test performance; News: George Carlin comedy, plastics are contaminating our oceans; Language: having something done; Discussion of Japanese stereotypes; more PODnobbin': a look at some recent English learning podcasts. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

ONE-HOUR of learning! What's News? Kidneys, press freedom, bad manners in the classroom, happy old people in Brazil. Tech Tip: Dictionary Tooltip for Firefox. Language: -ing and -ed participles (ex: The girls talking in the corner are very shy. All of the coats received yesterday were wet.) PODnobbin': a look at some recent English learning podcasts. Famous Quotations: youth! More at englishteacherjohn.com.

Thanks for all of your email. In this podcast, we read some of your email -- and they are filled with great comments, suggestions and questions. It is even better to write your comments on our MY ENGLISH BLOG. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

We made it to the big 5-0! ETJ Show no. 50! A quickie on the recent U.S. elections; Two news stories: seafood and the oceans, Zune mp3 player; Language: comparisons; The sooner the better. The younger you are, the easier it is to learn a language. More famous quotations - change and transformation. A poem that you might like. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

A late Happy Halloween! Are you afraid of the dark? spiders? your English teacher? Today we are talking about PHOBIAS. And, we will also hear some FAMOUS QUOTATIONS -- words to contemplate for sure. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

Long time no see/hear!! Hisashiburi ne??!! Yes, it's been a long time since our last podcast lesson. I was on vacation in September and have been busy with the beginning of the new school semester but ... podcasts will continue soon. For a change, I'm thinking of producing some shorter podcasts. Stay tuned for more information, and check our podcast page and blog for new podcasts, at englishteacherjohn.com.

Today we rode our bikes to the top of a hill overlooking Matsumoto. We ate lunch and had a nice chat with Angus and Charlie. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

Charlie has a lot to tell about completing HALF of his 10,000 km Japan cycling adventure. Hiromi joins me for this interesting interview and chat. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

It's the one-year anniversary of the English Teacher John Show! Also, we'll learn about O-bon, an important Japanese holiday in August. There's way too much suffering going on around the world and the Middle East conflict is especially on many people's minds these days. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

An extended interview with Hiromi and her unique Japanese perspective. Our discussion includes many different topics. Listen to her advanced level of English, and I think you'll be motivated to improve your speaking skills. The video of this show is coming soon. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

Problem with ETJ Show 44!!! There was an FTP error and the initial mp3 audio file was SHORTENED! Please download English Teacher John Show 44 AGAIN to make sure you have the full-length file. It should be 28:20 in duration. Sorry about that!

Hey, the summer heat is here! Let's learn about all of the uses of WOULD. We also have two idioms today: TURN OVER A NEW LEAF, and A BITTER PILL TO SWALLOW. And let's not forget about PRACTICE TIME! You can also hear about a recent fishing trip and windsurfing adventure, too. More at englishteacherjohn.com.

Hot jobs! We talk about jobs, careers, professions that are H-O-T hot! Want to be a Forensic Accountant, Data Miner or a Photogrammetrists? Listen and learn from this discussion of jobs that are in demand, now and in the future.

A live skypecast conversation with English learners and teachers from Brazil, Italy, India, Germany, Greece, Japan, the U.S., Korea, England, Australia and Malaysia. We talk about World Cup Soccer, ourselves and our lives. More live shows coming so get ready to practice your English, online and live with other English learners.

World Cup Soccer! We have two language segments in today's lesson: a. Using the present tense in time clauses (When I finish this job, I'll call you.) b. Receiving compliments. We also have two idioms: getting the hang of something, keeping someone company. And Practice Time!

Hey, get out of that RUT!! Try something new and fresh. Get out of your routine. Go somewhere you've never been. Learn something new. Find ways to feel enthusiasm, motivation and inspiration. Every month. Every week. Every day! Get out of that rut!(Transcripts on our blog at: englishteacherjohn.com/myenglishblog/)

Part 2 of our very first EXPRESSIONIST LIVE show! A live skypecast conversation with English learners from Japan, Spain, Italy, Ecuador, the U.S., Germany, China and Tibet. We talk about our hobbies and hometowns, our use of the internet, our lives and more. More live shows coming so get ready to practice your English, online and live with other English learners.

The Past Perfect Tense. Wow it's difficult! We'll learn about using the past perfect tense when we tell a story, especially a story that's not in chronological order. We have three idioms to learn today: run into someone, catch up with someone, and make/made it, as in, show up or attend. More at englishteacherjohn.com

Part 1 of our very first EXPRESSIONIST LIVE show! A live skypecast conversation with English learners from Japan, Spain, Italy, Ecuador, the U.S., Germany, China and Tibet. We introduce ourselves and talk a little about our lives. More live shows coming so get ready to practice your English, online and live with other English learners.

Charlie updates us from the road: We spoke with Charlie by phone and he told us about the first leg of his journey - Mt. Fuji, in the tent, meeting his mother. (Don't forget to see our "Charlie Interviews" on our video page.)

An update about 'NetPals English.' It has not gotten off to a good start, so I'm going to think about it for a while longer and possibly RE-LAUNCH it in the future. Please write your comments on our blog!

Meet Fred! We play a little game called 'Finish the Sentence.' Today, you'll learn how to thank someone for helping you with something: Thanks a lot. I really appreciate it. Thanks for helping me with my homework. Also, learn about the saying, 'No pain, no gain' and idioms: Give it your best shot. I'll give it a shot. More at englishteacherjohn.com

Transcripts for Che and Charlie interview videos are now available on our blog. Read, listen, watch and learn!

A discussion of the 'new web' or WEB 2.0. Hey, we all can be publishers! A talk about websites and a new thinking where we can all CONTRIBUTE and share our comments, opinions, photos, videos, ideas and more. (Transcripts on our blog at: englishteacherjohn.com/myenglishblog/)

Charlie interview - Part 2: More on Charlie's one year cycling adventure around Japan. He tells us about the impact of this long journey on his relationship. This is the AUDIO file (mp3) of that interview. TRANSCRIPT and VIDEO are available on our website.

Che interview - Part 2: Che talks more about Tokyo, Japan and his 10 years of travel around the world. This is the AUDIO file (mp3) of that interview. TRANSCRIPT and VIDEO are available on our website.

We've made it to show number 40! Agreeing/disagreeing with statements: Me too, so do I, I am too, me neither; Idioms: It'll do. (It's enough to get the job done); It has nothing to do with me. It has something to do with her new job. Practice time!

It's a question and answer show, and we'll answer your questions about English grammar, idioms, slang or whatever. This is our first 'Question and Answer' show and we answer listener questions about: get/getting, perfect continuous tenses and more. Our idiom is: get it, got it.

Send us your English QUESTIONS for our new ASK JOHN Question and Answer show. Send them now!

Che interview - Part 1: Che has traveled the globe for 10 years and talks to us about the time he spent in Tokyo, Japan. This is the AUDIO file (mp3) of that interview. TRANSCRIPT and VIDEO are available on our website.

Health and fresh foods. Are all these processed foods good for us? For good health, let's eat more fresh fruits and vegetables(Transcripts on our blog at: englishteacherjohn.com/myenglishblog/)

Part 2 of our week-long cleansing fast (no food!) in Koh Samui, Thailand. This is a collection of self-recordings I did during the fast. Can you hear me getting weaker and weaker??? And then, healthier and healthier ...

We're back from vacation! Asking someone to pass on a message: Could you please tell Susan that ... Please ask her to bring ... Also, an interview with Dharamsala, India's famous family.

We are in Koh Samui, Thailand and ... we are HUNGRY!! Tomoko and I are beginning our 7-1/2 day cleansing fast. It means about eight days without any solid food! I talk about the details of this healthy experience.

We are in Dharamsala, north India and it's great to be back! I lived in this Indian-Tibetan village for about seven years and now I'm visiting. In today's show, we interview two of my Tibetan friends.

Our very first AdventurePod English podcast! Charlie's going on a cycling adventure and so we interviewed him for our very first video podcast. This is the AUDIO file (mp3) of that interview. TRANSCRIPT and VIDEO are available on our website.

Talking about having something done: 'I had those two rooms painted.' Two idioms: 1. what makes him tick? 2. down in the dumps. Other stuff: check out our very first VIDEO PODCAST! We're going to India and Thailand in March. Thanks for your email and frappr map pins.

Japan hits Olympic gold! Our new AdventurePod English (APE), with an intro about Charlie's upcoming cycling adventure. Also, a little about next month's trip to India and Thailand. (Transcripts on the blog at: englishteacherjohn.com/myenglishblog/)

Snowshoeing! Today's language segment: SUPPOSED TO. We also talk about a proverb: two heads are better than one. And some idioms today too: a piece of cake, no sweat, no way!! As always, we have plenty of 'practice time.'

Wow, has email changed our world???!!! A quick comment about email, and then we'll hear an email exchange between Matt and Maria. (transcripts on the blog at: englishteacherjohn.com/myenglishblog/)

Love and partners - it's Valentine's Day! Oh no .. what should I do? I could ... Also today, we have the Kaori-Hiromi interview part 2, and an idiom: take someone for granted, take something for granted.

Inspiration and creativity. Talking about the wonderful documentary film, 'March of the Penguins.' Isn't it great that these kinds of projects can inspire us and create positive feelings and change in the world? Create and inspire! (transcripts on the blog at: englishteacherjohn.com/myenglishblog/)

Misunderstandings and mixups: We had a little misunderstanding. Idioms: don't blow it, he blew it, she messed up; I aced it, I nailed it. An interview with Hiroshi. Email from listeners, our frappr map.

Our new 'What's Up?' Podcast for English learners!! John talks briefly about a topic of interest (we hope!) The English is at a natural pace, and will include idioms and slang. Transcripts are available on the MY ENGLISH BLOG at englishteacherjohn.com. Enjoy!

Greetings from the hilltop overlooking our city. Today's language lesson: using adjectives with actions ('to' infinitive) Examples: I'm sorry to hear ... She was surprised to get ... We also have some idioms in today's podcast: 'head, heading, head off, heading out' -- to mean 'going.' And finally ... an interview with Elmar.

Greetings, email and our 'frappr' map;'Slopecasting' from the slopes and chairlift in Hakuba, Japan; Using the 'past -ing' tense ('Yesterday afternoon I was reading a book in the park.)

We have some strange weather here in Matsumoto. It's TOO WARM for our annual ICE SCULPTURE FESTIVAL, one of my favorites! There are more New Year's resolutions on the show today, and an interesting interview with two English learners. You're going to like this one!

Today, we learn about a Japanese festival called Ameichi. We also discuss Tricky English 1: using possessives. Let's learn two proverbs: 'Absence makes the heart grow fonder' and 'Out of sight, out of mind.' Hey, send me your mp3 audio files of your New Year's resolutions!

Happy New Year 2006! We'll hear some New Year's resolutions and learn a little about making New Year's resolutions. Also, a challenge for you to make an audio file and send it to us.