Learn about various geographical features of Japan
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| INTRODUCTION |
| Yura:Hi everyone, I’m Yura. |
| Natsuko:And I’m Natsuko! |
| Yura:In this lesson you'll learn 5 essential words related to Geography &Nature. These are five common Japanese geographical features. Hand picked. |
| FIVE KEY VOCABULARY ITEMS |
| Yura:Natsuko, what’s our first word? |
| Natsuko:山 |
| Yura:mountain |
| Natsuko:(slow) 山 (regular) 山 |
| Yura:Listeners, please repeat: |
| Natsuko:山 |
| [pause - 5 sec.] |
| Yura: |
| Japan is a mountainous country. There are a lot of volcanoes too; thanks to these volcanoes, natural hot springs, or onsen, can be found across the country. - |
| Yura:Now, let's hear a sample sentence using this word. |
| Natsuko:(normal) 元旦のご来光を拝むために、山に登る人もいます。 |
| Yura:Some Japanese people go to the top of a mountain to see the sunrise on the 1st of January. |
| Natsuko:(slow) 元旦のご来光を拝むために、山に登る人もいます。 |
| Yura:Okay, what’s the next word? |
| Natsuko:海 |
| Yura:sea/ocean |
| Natsuko:(slow) 海 (regular) 海 |
| Yura:Listeners, please repeat: |
| Natsuko:海 |
| [pause - 5 sec.] |
| Yura: |
| Since Japan is an island nation, Japanese people have always lived with the sea. Because it is a mountainous island, beach space is rather limited, but people still enjoy spending time on the beach with friends and family. - |
| Yura:Now, let's hear a sample sentence using this word. |
| Natsuko:(normal) 夏には、子供たちは海で手持ちの花火で遊びます。 |
| Yura:In summer, children enjoy hand-held fireworks at the beach. |
| Natsuko:(slow) 夏には、子供たちは海で手持ちの花火で遊びます。 |
| Yura:Okay, what’s the next word? |
| Natsuko:島 |
| Yura:island |
| Natsuko:(slow) 島 (regular) 島 |
| Yura:Listeners, please repeat: |
| Natsuko:島 |
| [pause - 5 sec.] |
| Yura: |
| Japan consists of 6,852 islands. The northernmost is Etorofutō and the southernmost is Okinotorishima. - |
| Yura:Now, let's hear a sample sentence using this word. |
| Natsuko:(normal) 日本で一番大きい島は、本州です。 |
| Yura:The biggest island in Japan is the main island, called Honshū. |
| Natsuko:(slow) 日本で一番大きい島は、本州です。 |
| Yura:Okay, what’s the next word? |
| Natsuko:火山 |
| Yura:volcano |
| Natsuko:(slow) 火山 (regular) 火山 |
| Yura:Listeners, please repeat: |
| Natsuko:火山 |
| [pause - 5 sec.] |
| Yura: |
| Japan has 110 active volcanoes in total. The most recent eruption was in 1991, by Mount Unzen in Nagasaki. While Mount Unzen has ceased volcanic activity, Sakurajima in Kagoshima is very famous for its continuing volcanic activity. Sakurajima used to be an island, but an eruption in 1914 created a road that connected it to the mainland of Kagoshima. - |
| Yura:Now, let's hear a sample sentence using this word. |
| Natsuko:(normal) 桜島は、まだ、毎年小さい噴火を繰り返している火山です。 |
| Yura:Sakurajima is a volcano which still has many small-scale eruptions every year. |
| Natsuko:(slow) 桜島は、まだ、毎年小さい噴火を繰り返している火山です。 |
| Yura:Okay, what’s the last word? |
| Natsuko:川 |
| Yura:river |
| Natsuko:(slow) 川 (regular) 川 |
| Yura:Listeners, please repeat: |
| Natsuko:川 |
| [pause - 5 sec.] |
| Yura: |
| Japanese rivers are relatively narrow when compared to other world-famous rivers. Because of the mountainous geography and the north to south long island shape of the country, the length of Japanese rivers is also relatively short. - |
| Yura:Now, let's hear a sample sentence using this word. |
| Natsuko:(normal) 日本一長い川は、信濃川です。 |
| Yura:The longest river in Japan is Shinanogawa. |
| Natsuko:(slow) 日本一長い川は、信濃川です。 |
| QUIZ |
| Yura:Okay listeners, are you ready to be quizzed on the words you just learned? Natsuko will give you the Japanese – please say the English meaning out loud! Are you ready? |
| Natsuko:山 |
| [pause]Yura:mountain |
| Natsuko:海 |
| [pause]Yura:sea/ocean |
| Natsuko:島 |
| [pause]Yura:island |
| Natsuko:火山 |
| [pause]Yura:volcano |
| Natsuko:川 |
| [pause]Yura:river |
Outro |
|---|
| Yura:There you have it – five geographical features in Japan! Thanks everyone, see you next time! |
| Natsuko:またね！ |
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