News in Slow Japanese / The Podcast

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Learn Japanese through interesting and entertaining news stories. News in Slow Japanese is produced with lower intermediate to advanced students of Japanese in mind. If you are studying for the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test) N1, N2, or N3 this podcast should be very helpful. We bring yo…

Sakura: Study Japanese Listening with our Announcer from Japan


    • Jun 10, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 1m AVG DURATION
    • 135 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The News in Slow Japanese / The Podcast is an excellent resource for Japanese language learners. It offers a unique approach by presenting news stories at both slow and native speaking speeds, allowing listeners to practice their listening skills at their own pace. What sets this podcast apart is the inclusion of detailed show notes that break down all the translations and provide extra knowledge about the topics discussed. This combination of slow speed, native speed, and helpful show notes makes for a highly effective learning experience.

    The best aspect of this podcast is the ability to listen to the episodes at both slow speed and native speaking speed. This feature allows learners to immerse themselves in the natural flow of the language while also being able to carefully dissect and understand each word and sentence. The slow speed option is especially helpful for beginners or those who are still developing their listening skills. Additionally, the show notes provided for each episode offer a wealth of information, breaking down translations and providing additional context or cultural insights that enhance understanding.

    One possible downside of this podcast is that although it provides thorough show notes, it does not include transcripts directly within the episodes themselves. While transcripts are available on the website, some listeners may find it more convenient to have them directly accessible within the podcast app they use. However, this minor inconvenience is easily overcome by visiting the website where all transcripts can be found.

    In conclusion, The News in Slow Japanese / The Podcast is a highly valuable resource for anyone looking to improve their Japanese language skills. Its unique approach of offering news stories at different speeds allows learners to practice listening comprehension effectively. The inclusion of comprehensive show notes further aids understanding and provides valuable extra knowledge about each topic covered. While it would be convenient to have transcripts directly within the episodes, they are readily available on the website. Overall, this podcast is a fantastic tool for language learners seeking to enhance their Japanese proficiency.



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    Latest episodes from News in Slow Japanese / The Podcast

    SB022 – Fasting

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 10, 2024


    SB021 – Belly Fat

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2023 1:10


    This is something a lot of us have to deal with–putting on weight too easily. Listen to this week's contributor's frustration with belly fat and learn the vocabulary associated with this kind of problem.

    NISJ 388 – Fast Version

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2023 2:19


    This is the native speed version of Episode 388:

    NISJ 388 – The Mystery of the Japanese Ship Captain

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 24, 2023 4:15


    NISJ 387 – Onomatopoeia Part 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 12, 2023 1:27


    In Japanese, Onomatopoeia can be divided into a few categories; they are called giseigo (擬声語), giongo (擬音語), gitaigo (擬態語), giyougo (擬容語) and gijougo (擬情語). As we learned in the previous episode, they are used to describe sounds made by animals, humans…

    NISJ 386 – Onomatopoeia Part 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2023 1:36


    Onomatopoeia (オノマトペ) are words that represent sounds, and they are used in many languages to add more depth and texture to speech. However, Japanese onomatopoeia are unique in that they're used more frequently and in a wider variety of contexts than in other languages. For example, after mopping READ MORE Test your knowledge with the […]

    SB019 – My Club Seniors

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2023 1:40


    Japanese school clubs have a very rigid hierarchy. Seniors in the club can be very demanding to their juniors. Here is a report of one junior's experience. This episode also practices the causative form in Japanese.

    SB020 – Strict Parents

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2023 2:39


    How strict were your parents? This person had very strict parents. She was made to do all kinds of things as a child. This time we are practicing combining the causative and passive forms (to be made or forced to do something) which we seem to use more than in English or other languages I […]

    SB017 – Instant Ramen

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 27, 2023 1:35


    ima de wa, atte atarimae no insutanto rāmen. Jitsu wa Nihon hasshō da to iu koto wo…

    SB018 – A Terrible Day

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 26, 2023 1:19


    This episode will help you get some really useful practice with the passive forms of Japanese, which we tend to use more than in English.

    SB016 – Why is Chinese Zodiac in that order?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2023 1:13


    Do you know how the animals of the Chinese zodiac were chosen and put in that order? Listen to find out why it came to be so and why there is no cat.

    NISJ 385 – Fast Version

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 26, 2023 1:08


    This is the native speed version of Episode 385:

    NISJ 384 – Fast Version

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2023 0:59


    This is the native speed version of Episode 384:

    NISJ 384- vending-machines-Intermediate and Advanced Japanese Listening

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 25, 2023 1:20


    NISJ 384 – Fast Version

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2023 0:59


    This is the native speed version of Episode 384:

    NISJ 384 – Vending Machines

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 13, 2023 1:20


    SB015 – Two-Day Weekends

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 25, 2023 0:53


    Do you work too much? This contributor feels so. He thinks we Japanese work way too hard and need more time off. How is it in your country? Do you want more days off?

    SB014 – The Colors of the Rainbow

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2023 0:57


    How many colors do you think a rainbow has? You would be surprised to know that the way you answer this question might depend on where you come from. This week's contributor talks about how we see the world in colors.

    SB012 – Successor Fish

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2023 1:24


    Click the title below to access text and more!

    NISJ 383 – Fast Version

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2023 1:24


    This is the native speed version of Episode 383:

    NISJ 383- Differences between Japan and Overseas-Differences in Elementary Schools-Intermediate and Advanced Japanese Listening

    Play Episode Listen Later May 13, 2023 2:26


    SB011 – Crutches

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2023 1:03


    If you have ever used crutches before you know what a drag they can be. This contributor talks about just that. 松葉杖 (まつばづえ)

    NISJ 382 – Fast Version

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2023 1:38


    This is the native speed version of Episode 382:

    NISJ 382-Differences between Japan and Other Countries – Fashion (Clothing)-Intermediate and Advanced Japanese Listening

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 31, 2023 2:38


    SB010 – Pet Peeves

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2023 1:05


    This week's contributor discusses a few of the things that irritate her. What's your pet peeve? Let me know in the comments section. あなたの苦手なものは何ですか?

    SB009 – Extraterrestrial Life

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 25, 2023 1:26


    NISJ 381 – Fast Version

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2023 1:30


    This is the native speed version of Episode 381:

    NISJ 381-Kyo-train’Garaku’-Intermediate and Advanced Japanese Listening

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 3, 2023 2:50


    SB008 – Kantō to Kansai no Chigai (Kotoba-hen)

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 27, 2023 2:00


    関東と関西の違い(言葉編) Kantō to Kansai no Chigai (Kotoba-hen) Differences between Kanto and Kansai (Language Version) 日本には様々な方言があります。 Nihon ni wa samazama na hōgen ga arimasu. There are various dialects in Japan. Read more

    SB007 – Club Activities in the Past

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2022 1:06


    Saikin, kōkō ya chūgakkō no bu katsudō ga ippanteki ni kanari amaku natte iru…

    SB006 – Sayings

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2022 1:48


    Kotowaza koko de wa, eigo to nihongo de hotondo onaji yō na kotowaza o ikutsu ka shōkai shimasu. Access transcripts at: newsinslowjapanese.com

    NISJ 380 – Fast Version

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2022 1:08


    This is the native speed version of Episode 380:

    NISJ 380 – A Convenience Store with Bar-Intermediate and Advanced Japanese Listening

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2022 1:46


    SB005 Differences between Kanto and Kansai: Lifestyle Edition

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2022 1:43


    関東で生活をしてみて、関西との生活習慣の違いに驚くことがあります。まず、エスカレーターに乗る時、関東では…

    SB004 The Worst Boss

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2022 0:55


    皆さんは上司とうまくいっていますか?最近は、今の上司と大きな問題は…

    SB003 Differences between Kanto and Kansai

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 25, 2022 1:12


    Kantō to Kansai de wa, kotoba dakedenaku, tabemono no mitame ya ajitsuke ga chigau koto ga…

    NISJ 379 – Fast Version

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2022 1:27


    This is the native speed version of Episode 379:

    NISJ 379-The Worst Tasting Cider in Japan-Intermediate and Advanced Japanese Listening

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 22, 2022 2:31


    SB002 Exercise

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 17, 2022 1:03


    Watashi wa nan-nen mo mae kara undō o shite imasu. Ima wa saikuringu ni hamatte imasuga, izen wa yoku jogingu o shite…

    SB001 Masks

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2022 1:03


    As you know, I am a very big proponent of the shadowing method as an effective way to practice a foreign language. That's why I am putting together my new project, which I am calling the Shadowing Bank. I want to bring you a variety of talks from many different native Japanese speakers. Each talk […]

    NISJ-378-Hakken Anime

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2022 2:11


    NISJ 378 – Fast Version

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2022 1:06


    This is the native speed version of Episode 378:

    NISJ-377-Dutch Woman Becomes Assistant Proprietress of an Inn

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2022 1:56


    NISJ 377 – Fast Version

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2022 1:09


    This is the native speed version of Episode 377:

    NISJ 195- A House That Floats on the Sea-Intermediate and Advanced Japanese Listening

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2022 1:56


    NISJ 376 – Fast Version

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2022 1:08


    This is the native speed version of Episode 376:

    NISJ 376- Fake Food-Intermediate and Advanced Japanese Listening

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2022 2:13


    NISJ 375 – Fast Version

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2022 1:11


    This is the native speed version of Episode 375:

    NISJ 375-Valentine’s Day & White Day-Intermediate and Advanced Japanese Listening

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2022 2:32


    NISJ 374 – Fast Version

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2022 1:12


    This is the native speed version of Episode 374:

    NISJ NISJ-374-Movie: The Last Ten Years-Intermediate and Advanced Japanese Listening

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2022 2:06


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