Learn Japanese with Noriko

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Japanese Summary
今回は、のりこさんが2026年最初の旅行としてスペインのアリカンテへ行く前の準備と、実際に旅行した後の感想について話しています。
出発の4日前ということで、荷造りの様子を紹介しました。夫婦で大きなスーツケースを一つだけ持って行く予定で、その理由は家族や友人へのプレゼントやお土産をたくさん準備したからです。また、10年以上使っているお気に入りの無印のバックパックについても紹介しました。収納が多く便利で、今でも大切に使っています。
旅行にはお気に入りのTシャツや本を持って行く予定で、とても楽しみにしている様子が伝わってきます。
後半では、実際に訪れたアリカンテについて紹介しています。アリカンテはスペイン南東部の地中海沿岸にある人気のリゾート地で、美しいビーチや新鮮なシーフードが有名です。特にイカ墨のパエリアやティント・デ・ベラーノがお気に入りだったそうです。
また、アルテアやビジャホヨサといった近郊の町も訪れ、美しい景色やチョコレートで有名な町の魅力を楽しみました。家族と過ごした充実した1週間の旅行について語っています。
In this episode, Noriko shares both the preparation and highlights of her first trip of 2026, a one-week family vacation to Alicante, Spain.
She begins by describing her packing process four days before departure. To keep things simple, she and her husband decided to travel with just one large suitcase, although they had already filled part of it with gifts and souvenirs for family members and friends they planned to meet during the trip. Noriko also introduces her favorite backpack, a Muji bag she bought in Japan about ten years ago and has continued using ever since because of its practical design and storage space.
She talks about choosing clothes, preparing gifts for her niece and nephew, and selecting three books to bring along for the journey. Her excitement about the upcoming trip is clear throughout the discussion.
In the second half of the episode, Noriko reflects on her time in Alicante. She describes the city as a beautiful Mediterranean resort destination known for its beaches, seafood, and sunny climate. She especially enjoyed swimming in the sea, eating seafood paella and squid-ink paella, and drinking tinto de verano.
She also recommends day trips to Altea and Villajoyosa, two charming coastal towns with unique architecture, beautiful scenery, and local culture. Overall, the episode offers a personal and engaging travel experience while introducing listeners to the attractions of Alicante and the surrounding region.

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この会話では、のりこさんとやすよさんが「褒めること」と「褒められること」という、意外に複雑なテーマについて話しています。最初に、日本語スピーキングチャレンジでの気づきとして、多くの学習者が褒められると恥ずかしい、または気まずいと感じることが紹介されます。また、褒め言葉に対して、説明を加えたり、自分の成果を小さく見せたりする人もいることが語られます。
二人は、どんな褒め言葉なら素直に受け取れるのか、またどんな褒め方がプレッシャーになるのかを考えます。服や見た目についての自然な一言は、裏の期待がないため受け取りやすい一方で、成績やパフォーマンスに関する褒め言葉は、評価されている感覚や「次も頑張らなければ」という圧力につながることがあります。
さらに、教育、子育て、コーチング、日本語学習における現代的なフィードバックのあり方にも話が広がります。結果だけでなく、努力や成長、その人自身の経験を認めることの大切さが語られます。タップダンスの発表会やピエロのワークショップの話を通して、本当に心に残る褒め言葉は、成功を評価するものではなく、その人らしさや努力を見てくれる言葉なのだと伝わってきます。
 In this conversation, Noriko and Yasuyo explore the surprisingly complex topic of giving and receiving compliments. The discussion begins with observations from a Japanese speaking challenge, where many learners shared that being praised often makes them feel embarrassed or uncomfortable. Some people instinctively downplay compliments by giving explanations or dismissing their achievements.
The hosts reflect on when compliments feel genuine and when they can create pressure. They discuss how simple comments about appearance or personal style are often easier to accept because they do not contain hidden expectations. In contrast, praise connected to grades, performance, or achievement may unintentionally make someone feel evaluated or pressured to maintain results.
They also examine modern approaches to education, parenting, coaching, and language learning. Rather than focusing only on outcomes, they highlight the importance of recognizing effort, growth, and individual experiences. Personal stories from tap dancing, performance experiences, and creative workshops illustrate how meaningful feedback often comes from being truly seen and understood.
The episode ultimately suggests that effective praise is less about judging success and more about acknowledging a person’s unique journey, effort, and authentic self.

あかね先生：日本語オノマトペの本『生活で使える日本語オノマトペ』
八木詠美『空芯手帳』
綿矢りさ『グレタ・ニンプ』
嶋津輝『カフェーの帰り道』
夏目漱石『こころ』
朝井リョウ『そして誰もゆとらなくなった』
楊双子『台湾漫遊鉄道のふたり』(Taiwan Travelogue )
In this episode of BookTalk, Noriko and Yuko reconnect after a break and discuss several memorable books they have recently read. The conversation begins with a book about Japanese onomatopoeia, which Yuko highly recommends for both Japanese learners and teachers because it makes a difficult topic approachable and enjoyable.
They then move on to Kūshin Techō, a novel about a woman who tells a lie about being pregnant after becoming frustrated with how she is treated at work. The discussion explores why readers may sympathize with the character and how the story raises interesting questions about honesty, social expectations, and personal survival.
A major part of the episode focuses on Cafe no Kaerimichi, a novel set from the Taishō era into the postwar period. Both hosts praise its portrayal of women who pursue freedom and independence despite social limitations. The historical setting, fashion, work culture, and everyday life of women from that era make the novel especially engaging.
They also talk about Asai Ryō’s essay collection Soshite Daremo Yutoranakunatta, highlighting its humorous stories of personal mistakes and social awkwardness.
Finally, they discuss Taiwan Manyū Tetsudō no Futari, a Taiwanese novel that combines friendship, food, history, and reflections on the complex relationship between colonizer and colonized. The book leaves a strong impression and inspires curiosity about Taiwan and its history.

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1) 問いかけ・振り返りの質問
子どもの頃に思い描いていた将来の夢は、現在の自分の価値観や生き方にどのような影響を与えていると思いますか。

「何になるかより、何をやるかの方が大事だ」という考え方について、あなたはどのように感じますか。

人の職業観は家庭環境や育った社会からどの程度影響を受けると思いますか。

子どもの頃に憧れていた職業と、実際に選んだ進路が異なる場合、その変化にはどのような意味があると考えますか。

夢を周囲に話すことには、どのようなメリットとデメリットがあるでしょうか。

「大きなことを100個言って一つ叶えばいい」という考え方は、挑戦する姿勢にどのような影響を与えると思いますか。

将来の夢を持つことと、自分に合った生き方を見つけることは、どのような関係があると考えますか。

In this episode, Noriko talks about childhood dreams and future career aspirations. She introduces the results of a Japanese survey that asked elementary school boys and girls what jobs they want when they grow up. Surprisingly, “company employee” ranked very highly for both boys and girls, alongside more traditional dream jobs such as YouTuber, professional baseball player, kindergarten teacher, and pastry chef.
Noriko reflects on how children’s career aspirations may be influenced by their parents, environment, and everyday experiences. She then invites listeners to think about their own childhood dreams and share them in the comments.
Looking back on her own life, Noriko explains that her dream changed many times. At different stages, she wanted to become a piano teacher, an elementary school teacher, a writer, and even a flight attendant after being inspired by a television drama. She also reads an essay she wrote at age fifteen about her future dreams. Many of the hopes she expressed then—traveling abroad, meeting people from different countries, and finding a suitable profession—have become reality through her work as a Japanese teacher.
Finally, she shares inspiring quotes from Naruse, a favorite fictional character, encouraging listeners to focus on actions, embrace challenges, and keep moving forward with confidence.

やすよさんのインスタグラム
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「旅モード」と「日常モード」の違いは、本当に場所によって決まると思いますか。

建築や空間のデザインが、人の感情や考え方に与える影響についてどう思いますか。

「世界があなたの庭」という考え方から、どのような生き方を想像しますか。

旅行中に仕事を続けるスタイルには、どんなメリットやデメリットがあると思いますか。

歴史や芸術を事前に学んでから旅行することは、体験をどのように変えると思いますか。

In this episode, Yasuyo returns as a guest to talk about her busy April and her recent trip through Central Europe. She visited Vienna in Austria, Budapest in Hungary, and also took a day trip to Bratislava in Slovakia. Although the trip lasted only about ten days, it felt unique because she mixed travel with online teaching. Sometimes she would go to an opera or museum and then teach a lesson shortly afterward, creating a strange feeling where travel and daily life blended together.
A major highlight of the trip was architecture. Yasuyo was especially inspired by the work of Austrian architect Otto Wagner in Vienna and by the “House of Music” designed by Japanese architect Sou Fujimoto in Budapest. She describes how certain spaces gave her emotional energy and made her reflect on ideas like freedom, perspective, and how “the world can become your garden.”
The conversation also explores the meaning of travel itself. Yasuyo talks about how continuing her normal routines abroad—such as working, going to concerts, or even using saunas—made her question what really separates “travel mode” from “daily life.” The episode becomes a thoughtful discussion about mindset, borders, culture, history, and the joy of seeing the world with curiosity.
久しぶり（ひさしぶり）- after a long time

落ち着く（おちつく）- to calm down

録音（ろくおん）- recording

日帰り（ひがえり）- day trip

首都（しゅと）- capital city

感覚（かんかく）- sensation, feeling

歴史（れきし）- history

都（みやこ）- capital

実験的（じっけんてき）- experimental

体力的（たいりょくてき）- physically

深夜（しんや）- late at night

寝不足（ねぶそく）- lack of sleep

憧れる（あこがれる）- to admire

建築家（けんちくか）- architect

郵便局（ゆうびんきょく）- post office

豪華（ごうか）- luxurious

地下鉄（ちかてつ）- subway

溶け合う（とけあう）- to blend together

文化施設（ぶんかしせつ）- cultural facility

緩やか（ゆるやか）- gentle, gradual

景色（けしき）- scenery

意識（いしき）- awareness

引き寄せられる（ひきよせられる）- to be attracted

温泉（おんせん）- hot spring

哲学的（てつがくてき）- philosophical

日常（にちじょう）- everyday life

配慮（はいりょ）- consideration

移動（いどう）- movement, travel

雰囲気（ふんいき）- atmosphere

賑やか（にぎやか）- lively