Shadowing Practice: Short Stuff: Cherry Blossoms | STUFF YOU SHOULD KNOW - Learn English Speaking with Video
Ders oluşturuluyor...
1
Hey and welcome to the short stuff. I'm Josh and there's Chuck and this is Short Stuff and we're going to take a little tour, a little trip around the world and do a little Washington DC. Going to do a little Japan. Um, and that's mostly it.
2
I think everyone knows what we're talking about then because we're talking about cherry blossoms and uh the the Japanese cherry tree um which is does not produce actual like edible cherries that we know and love. It does pro uh you know provide a little fruit berry for animals and such but it's not that kind of cherry tree. So just stop asking, right?
3
It's better.
4
Uh it is better. I mean, I like my cherries for sure, but uh if you've ever seen a cherry blossom tree in full bloom, it is it's such a sight to behold that Japan essentially created an entire cultural season around it with its own emotions and songs and all sorts of stuff. It is really moving. Um, if you're American or North American or you just like traveling to the United States and happen to be here in the spring and go to Washington DC, there's a good chance that you've seen the cherry blossoms on the Tidal Basin um, blooming. Um, and this is about the time they're going to start. I think in 2026, it's predicted the whole season's from March 20th to April 12th.
5
Yeah. But if you really want to make sure that you're there for the peak, they usually say like the last day, last couple days maybe in March is usually when they peak.
6
Yeah, for sure. Uh Brooklyn Botanical Garden, by the way, shout out to them. I know DC gets all the press here in the United States for cherry blossoms, but they do pretty good on their own. Uh that's where I've seen them, but in Japan is where the real show is. uh they've been uh cultivated there and uh really beloved since 8th century CE and they first started appearing in poetry and in books and in pictures and things like that. Um they have a word for the cherry blossom which is sakura. Uh they have quite a few words for this as it turns out because it's Japan. Um, and then their flower gazing when the time rolls around where they're in bloom is called hanami.
7
And it's sort of a mixed bag in Japan because it's definitely, you know, spring and new beginnings. They they start the new school year then. Uh, it's the start of their fiscal year. Uh, but it's also uh a little bittersweet because it also symbolizes like the ending of things, right?
8
Yeah. And the reason why is because cherry blossoms just stop all of a sudden at their peak.
9
They don't like grow and peak and then fade. They grow and peak and that's that. They just fall off and die. So there's this idea, this concept of something dying in its prime, which is in and of itself quite bittersweet. Now they have a a word for that. This kind of nostalgic bittersweet feeling um that's kind of associated with cherry blossoms is uh natsukashi um which means exactly what I just said.
10
Yeah, for sure. Um and I was sort of laughing on the inside there because they uh I got this from a lot of different sources, but this may have been someone House Stuff Works interviewed. Uh the last name is Malot.
11
And this guy was like, if you're watching a Japanese movie or TV show and it's some like awesome young person that is the central character and they're walking around and you see the the cherry trees blooming like that means they're going to die in this movie for sure.
12
Right. That was John Malot. He organizes the Sakura Matsuri Japanese Street Festival in DC every April.
13
Yeah. So, uh, that's the, I guess, the Japanese version of what we have in the United States, which is, uh, somebody coughs into a napkin and there's blood in it.
14
Oh, yeah. That's always a bad sign, isn't it?
15
Yeah. You're always gone.
16
Um, yeah. No, that never just becomes this thing that just happened and the movie moves on.
17
That would be a fun red herring to put in a movie, though.
18
Sure. I think that would be a mcguffin.
19
Oh god, the emails. This is the new uh, haiku.
20
Oh, I forgot about haiku. I wonder if somebody could write a haiku about what a mcguffin is or is not.
21
It's coming. You asked for it.
22
Um, so you said that there's other words for cherry blossoms in Japanese. One of them is oka, o h ka. And um, tying in to the idea of something dying young in its prime.
23
That's what Japanese kamicazi pilots were called in World War II, Oka.
24
And that's what their planes. They're essentially um human-driven missile planes were called Oka as well.
25
And um they had like cherry blossoms painted on the side of the plane.
26
That's right. Uh symbolism all over the place. So, let's take a break. Uh we've covered some of Japan and now we're going to talk about DC right after this.
27
Heat. Heat. Heat.
28
Oh, there we stuff you should know.
29
All right. So, we promised talk of Washington DC uh the most famous uh purveyor provider rather of cherry blossoms here in the United States. And it all started on March 28th, 1912 when the Washington Post ran a little story with the headline, Mrs. Taft plants a tree. And that is when uh Helen Nelly Taft, wife of William Howard Taft, the president, um planted a couple of cherry blossom trees that were gifts uh from Tokyo. But the story is a little more interesting than that, right?
30
Well, apparently the Washington Post journalist left in the middle of it.
31
Just a plants aid treat. So, it's not even a correct ineffective headline. But yes, that is just the the broadstroke.
32
That's the end result of decades of um organizing and campaigning by a woman named Eliza Skidmore. She uh was the first board member of sorry, the first woman board member of the National Geographic Society. She was very well traveled. She loved to go to Japan. And so, having traveled to Japan, she had been exposed to the cherry blossoms and was like, "These are the greatest things ever. We should get some of these back in Washington DC." And I'm sure that she thought this would be no problem whatsoever. Well, fast forward almost 30 years and she finally gets this thing done, but it's thanks to the intervention of two other people who just also happen to be men.
33
Yeah, for sure. Um, I I do love this quote, though. I want to read it because it just shows how enchanted she was. Uh PTOIC Park there on the river, they were reclaiming it at the time. And this was in 1885 and she wrote that basically like they had to plant something there in this space and she said they might as well plant the most beautiful thing in the world, the Japanese cherry tree.
34
Yeah, very sweet. But yeah, uh you mentioned a couple of dudes. Uh one guy was named David Fairchild. And it it's kind of cool when you look back at how all these convergent things kind of um take place to make something happen. Um I love stories like this, but this was a guy who was the uh he worked at the USDA, which is a new thing at the time for our Department of Agriculture is a job that I want. I don't know if they still have it, but he was a plant explorer.
35
So he would travel all over the world looking for uh plants that they could cultivate in the United States.
36
Uh they do not still have that.
37
Oh man, I can't imagine anything better.
38
They had it until like last year, I think.
39
Yeah, man. I wish he would have told me.
40
So, uh, David Fairchild um was like, "Hey, these actually can work in Washington DC." I think he um transplanted a few and showed that they could live. Skidmore found out about this. And she was like, "Okay, I'm going to try one last time. I'm going to get in touch with this new first lady, Nelly Taft, and I'm going to say, "Please, for the love of God, hear me out about these cherry trees. Everybody thinks it's a good idea. Please, let's start planting cherry trees in DC. She got a a reply two days later after she sent the letter and Nelly Taft said, "I have taken up the matter and impromised the trees and all of a sudden things just started looking up for Eliza Skibmore's idea." Yeah. I mean, after 25 years, can imagine how she felt. Uh, she got in touch with a guy named Dr. Takamini who was a a wealthy Japanese chemist and he had been beating the cherry tree drum for New York City for a while and she knew this. They were fellow enthusiasts.
41
So she said, "Hey, uh Mrs. Taff said like she's going to try to make this thing happen." He was like, "Well, I'm a wealthy Japanese chemist, so I can pull some strings. Uh why don't we make this like an official like state gift from Japan to the United States?" It's a great idea. So, Japan said, "Here are 2,000 cherry blossom trees. And also, here's a bunch of insects and disease in them." Yeah. Unfortunately, they're lousy with Japanese beetles and God knows what disease that cherry trees get.
42
Yeah. So, they had to burn them and Japan was like, "Did you have to like take a photograph and send it to us of all the cherry trees burning?" Yeah.
43
So, they sent them 3,000 more and those are the ones that included the two that Mrs. Teap planted. the next day after those that second shipment of 3,020 healthy trees arrived.
44
That's right. Uh I guess they hedged their bets and sent the extra thousand uh plus 20 which was kind of funny. Um they line the tidal basin there in DC uh PTOAC Park um kind of right there around was it the Jefferson Memorial I think?
45
Yes. Yeah. Uh it's gorgeous. If you've ever been there I know uh Yumi lived in DC, right?
46
Yes. She's been there plenty of time.
47
She was she's probably all over that, I bet.
48
Oh, all over. She would roll in them.
49
Yeah, park rangers would be like, "Please, you're not allowed to do that." She said, "I can't help myself, Sakura." Uh, so yeah, that's DC. Um, you know, Peak Bloom, you can, like Josh said earlier. Uh, you never know exactly when it's going to happen. So, it's kind of one of those things that can be heartbreaking if you, um, you know, have to book your ticket ahead of time and you have no flexibility in your schedule. There have been plenty of people that missed the cherry bloom in DC when they have gone just for that.
50
So, yeah, I know.
51
Uh it's it's super sad when that happens. So, maybe don't aim, this is my advice, maybe don't aim for peak bloom.
52
Just try and be there at some point during that that time frame.
53
And it is something to see. You're just surrounded by blooming cherry trees.
54
It's gorgeous. But you can also, I mean, if you can't make it to DC or you made it and you missed your mark, um, you can plant a cherry tree. They're really beautiful. I would recommend the autumnal because it not only blooms in the spring, it blooms in the autumn, too.
55
Do you have one?
56
No, I planted plenty of them, but I do not. We have a weeping cherry. Oh, it only blooms once a year.
57
Is that why it's sad?
58
Yeah. Said I wish I was like an autumn now.
59
Oh, man. Uh, I have not. Oh, man. Have I seen the DC?
60
I don't know if I've actually seen the DC bloom. I feel like I did one time visiting my sister years ago, but I also think I would have known it because there's so many more trees than even the ones in Brooklyn.
61
Yeah. Yeah. I've not seen the DC ones unless I just don't remember them. But we were in Japan around this time, but a little before it. That was great. So, there were some sporadic blooming. But the thing I do remember is that the Starbucks there had a Sakura um like coffee latte.
62
Oh, really?
63
And they just made up a taste because obviously cherry blossoms don't have a taste, but it's one of the best tasting lattes I've ever had in my life.
64
And of course it was right.
65
Can you recall a note?
66
Um an E flat.
67
You wise, you got anything else?
68
Uh no, just you know, it's not just DC in Japan. And these things grow in temperate climates all over the world and they're certainly planted a lot for, you know, tourism and uh the wow factor.
69
So you can you can see them all over the place. So just uh if DC and Japan are off the map for you, um you can probably find some nearby.
70
Sure. Uh I think that's it for short stuff, right?
71
Yeah, that means we're out.
72
Stuff you should know is a production of iHeart Radio. For more podcasts, iHeart Radio, visit the iHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.
📺 Aynı Kanal
✨ Video Öner
![[N5 - N4 - N3] Japanese listening | Cherry blossom viewing in Japan](https://img.youtube.com/vi/tYGK1zkyS_Q/mqdefault.jpg)
B12
26 cümleler
[N5 - N4 - N3] Japanese listening | Cherry blossom viewing in Japan
Travel EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B21
309 cümleler
my seattle guide | EVERYTHING you should EAT + DO in seattle
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B11
57 cümleler
What You Didn't Know About Easter Until Now | English Conversation
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B11
34 cümleler
When Tourists Are Asian
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B163 cümleler
A fun video we made in Ecuador in 2022 (in English)
Travel EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B29
50 cümleler
What's the deal with the food in Japan?
Travel EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B11
187 cümleler
TOKYO VLOG 🍡🍵exploring Japan, matcha, vintage shopping, good eats & more!!
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B13
30 cümleler
track 4
Travel EnglishTeensDaily Conversation
B23
62 cümleler
Japan Travel Guide: Best Things To Do in Japan 2026 4K
Travel EnglishTeensUniversity Students
B11
127 cümleler
A slow spring weekend in the Swedish archipelago
American AccentTravel EnglishDaily ConversationUniversity Students
B21
123 cümleler
Like
Travel EnglishDaily Conversation
B228
67 cümleler
🌸 3 Days in Shizuoka: Mt. Fuji Views, Sakura Spots & Local Fish Market | Japan Spring Travel Vlog
Travel EnglishTeensUniversity Students
Bu dersin kelimeleri ve konuşma notları
Bu C1 seviyesindeki konuşma dersi “Short Stuff: Cherry Blossoms” videosuna dayanıyor. En çok tekrarlanan kelimeler: cherry, tree, blossom, Japan, Japanese. Bu videoda gölgeleme çalışması için 72 cümle ve 2305 kelime var. Konuşma bölümü 12:49 sürüyor. Konuşmacı hızlı konuşuyor, dakikada yaklaşık 180 kelime; bu yüzden birbirine bağlanan ve zayıflayan sesler duyacaksınız. Kelimelerin yalnızca %81’i İngilizcede en sık kullanılan 3.000 kelime arasında, bu yüzden kelime dağarcığı zorlayıcı. 72 cümlenin 13 tanesi soru; soru tonlaması ve kısa cevaplar için iyi bir alıştırma.
Bu videodaki önemli kelimeler
Videodaki en ileri düzey 15 kelime, telaffuzu ve anlamıyla:
| Kelime | Telaffuz | Anlam |
|---|---|---|
| blossom fiil | /ˈblɑ.səm/ | çiçek açmak, çiçeklenmek |
| bittersweet sıfat | /ˈbɪtɚˌswit/ | mayhoş, buruk |
| haiku isim | /haɪˈku/ | haiku |
| latte isim | /ˈlɑ.teɪ/ | latte |
| chemist isim | /ˈkɛmɪst/ | kimyacı |
| headline isim | /ˈhɛd.laɪn/ | başlık, manşet |
| basin isim | /ˈbeɪsɪn/ | tekne, leğen |
| enchant fiil | /ɪnˈt͡ʃænt/ | büyülemek |
| herring isim | /ˈhɛɹɪŋ/ | ringa |
| napkin isim | /ˈnæpˌkɪn/ | peçete |
| nostalgic sıfat | nostaljik | |
| reclaim fiil | /ɹɪˈkleɪm/ | geri almak |
| sporadic sıfat | /spəˈɹæd.ɪk/ | ara sıra, tek tük |
| symbolism isim | /ˈsɪmbəˌlɪzəm/ | sembolizm, simgecilik |
| temperate sıfat | /ˈtɛmpəɹət/ | perhizkâr |
Tekrar etmeye değer cümleler
Videodan, günlük konuşmada yeniden kullanabileceğiniz kısa ve tam cümleler:
- That's always a bad sign, isn't it?
- She was she's probably all over that, I bet.
- You're just surrounded by blooming cherry trees.
Bu videodaki dil bilgisi
Konuşmacının en çok kullandığı yapılar, videodaki sözcüklerin aynısıyla:
| Yapı | Videoda |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + fiilin üçüncü hâli — geçmişte olan ama şimdi de önemli olan bir eylem | you've ever seen · I've seen · we've covered |
| Edilgen yapı be + fiilin üçüncü hâli — kimin yaptığı değil, ne olduğu önemli | is called · were called · had been exposed |
| İlgi cümlecikleri who / which + cümle — bir kişi ya da şey hakkında ek bilgi | blossom which is · prime, which is · States, which is |
Dikkat edilecek telaffuzlar
Konuşmacı don't, they're, I'm gibi kısaltılmış biçimleri 46 kez kullanıyor. Bunları duyduğunuz gibi kısa söyleyin.
- “sh” ve “zh” sesleri: shipment /ˈʃɪpmənt/, shout /ʃaʊt/
- Uzun kelimeler — vurguyu doğru yere koyun: enthusiast /ɪnˈθuːziˌæst/, symbolism /ˈsɪmbəˌlɪzəm/, ineffective /ˌɪn.ɪˈfɛk.tɪv/, whatsoever /ˌ(h)wʌtsoʊˈɛvɚ/, flexibility /ˌflɛksɪˈbɪlɪti/
Türkçe konuşanların zorlandığı sesler:
- /w/ — dudaklar yuvarlak, /v/ değil: bittersweet /ˈbɪtɚˌswit/, whatsoever /ˌ(h)wʌtsoʊˈɛvɚ/
- Kelime başındaki ünsüz kümesi — araya ünlü eklemeyin: blossom /ˈblɑ.səm/, bloom /blum/, blooming /ˈbluː.mɪŋ/, sporadic /spəˈɹæd.ɪk/, transplant /tɹænzˈplænt/
- /æ/ — “e”den daha açık: sakura /ˈsækʊɹə/, enchant /ɪnˈt͡ʃænt/, enthusiast /ɪnˈθuːziˌæst/, napkin /ˈnæpˌkɪn/, sporadic /spəˈɹæd.ɪk/
Bu videoyla nasıl çalışılır
- Videonun tamamını konuşmadan bir kez dinleyin ve bilmediğiniz kelimeleri not edin.
- 0,75× hızla başlayın, cümle cümle tekrar edin ve kolaylaşınca normal hıza dönün.
- Kendinizi kaydedin ve orijinaliyle karşılaştırın; blossom, bittersweet, haiku gibi kelimelere özellikle dikkat edin.
Gölgeleme Tekniği Nedir?
Gölgeleme, başlangıçta profesyonel tercüman eğitimi için geliştirilen ve çok dilli Dr. Alexander Arguelles tarafından popüler hale getirilen, bilim destekli bir dil öğrenme tekniğidir. Yöntem basit ama güçlüdür: ana dili İngilizce olan bir sesi dinler ve hemen yüksek sesle tekrar edersiniz — konuşmacıyı 1-2 saniye gecikmeyle takip eden bir gölge gibi. Pasif dinleme veya dilbilgisi alıştırmalarının aksine, gölgeleme beyninizi ve ağız kaslarınızı gerçek konuşma kalıplarını eşzamanlı olarak işlemeye ve yeniden üretmeye zorlar. Araştırmalar, telaffuz doğruluğu, tonlama, ritim, bağlı konuşma, dinleme anlama ve konuşma akıcılığını önemli ölçüde geliştirdiğini göstermektedir — bu da onu IELTS Konuşma hazırlığı ve gerçek dünya İngilizce iletişimi için en etkili yöntemlerden biri yapar.