Interview1

<Listening Point>
1.Why was Mr.Barakan reluctant to major in a subject other than languages at university?

Because most subjects required a lot of essays, which he didn’t like.

バラカンさんはなぜ、 大学で語学以外の科目を選考する気にならなかったのでしょうか？

2.What did Mr. Barakan have in mind when he decided not to become a musician?

He wanted to create a radio program where he could play music that really inspired him to listeners who didn’t know about it.

バラカンさんは、ミュージシャンにならないと決めた時、何を考えましたか？

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つまり慣れ親しんだ文化や言語を学ぶのではなく、より多くの言語を知りたいという探求心から、たまたま日本語を選んだのですね？

So instead of going into a culture and language you were familiar with, you happened to pick Japanese in your continued quest to learn more language? 

<Today's word>
人は自分が楽しいと思うことが得意だと、私は思います。
I think people generally are good at what they enjoyed.

<Word and Phrases>
気にならない:reluctant to
運良くーする:be lucky enough to
最初の頃は:the first time around
力のある人:competent 
漠然と考える:toy with
見切りをつける:discard
心のどこかで:in the back of one's mind
怠け心:laziness
襟好みする:selectively

******
Interview2
<Listening Point>
1.When did Mr. Barakan come to think that he needed a different title from disc jockey?

It was when he appeared on a TV show that wasn’t music related.

バラカンさんが、ディスクジョッキーとは別の肩書きが必要だと考えるようになったのはいつ頃ですか？

2.What kind of impression did Mr.Barakan get by listening to Charlie Gillette’s program?

Charlie’s choice of music was aesthetically appealing, and he also spoke in a natural, relaxing way.

チャーリー・ギレットの番組を聴いて、バラカンさんはどんな印象を持ちましたか？

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音楽番組に加え、ニュース関連番組のコメンテーターになるというのは大きな変化だったと思いますが、適応するのは大変でしたか？

It must have been a big change, becoming a commentator in a news-related show in additional to a music program, but was it a big adjustment?

<Today's word>
これがラジオでできるなら、これこそ自分がやりたいことです。

It this can be done on the radio, that's what I want to do.

<Word and Phrases>

ブロードキャスター:broadcaster
その後何が起こったかというと:what happened was that
自分を表現する:which express yourself
すでに亡くなっている: no longer with us 
に偶然出逢う: come across
美的感覚: aesthetically
雰囲気:ambience

＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊＊
Interview　３
<Listening Point>
1.What kind of generation aspect shapes people’s preferences for music?

In general, music we are exposed to during our youth continues to mean the most to us throughout our lives.

He believes the major component is rhythm.

世代におけるどのような要素が、人々の音楽の好みを決定づけるのでしょうか？

2.In Mr. Barakan’s view, what makes music from out youth comfortable to listen to?

He believes the major component is rhythm.

バラカンさんによると、若い頃の音楽が心地よく聴ける理由はなんでしょうか？

<Upgrade Questioning Skills >
耳に心地よい音楽は私たちが慣れ親しんだものと関係があることは理解できますが、
リズムがこれほど大きな要素である理由はなんでしょうか？
和音、音色、旋律など他の要素はどうでしょうか？

It makes sense that music pleasing to the ear has to do with what we are familiar with, but what makes rhythm such a large factor?
How about other factors, such as chords, tones, and melody?

<Today's word>
That opened my eyes to whole new area, area of music as well.
それが、全く新しい分野の音楽に目を向けるきっかけとなりました。

<Word and Phrases>
ジャンル :genre
世代的一面:generational aspect
に触れる:be exposed to 
を通じて:throughout
と一致する:coincide with
を知るようになる:become acquainted with 

Interview 4
<Listening Point>
1.What does Mr. Barakan think has changed significantly in broadcasting?

He thinks it’s the fact that it’s easier to interact with the audience.

バラカンさんは、放送において、どのような点が大きく変わったと思っていますか？

2.What does Mr. Barakan consider most important in broadcasting?

It’s the notion that one should never underestimate the intelligence of the audience.

バラカンさんが、放送で最も大切にしていることはなんですか？

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視聴者を過小評価しないことの重要性を強調されていましたが、
これまでの放送で、もっと視聴者を大切にしておけばよかったと思うことはありますか？

You highlight the importance of not underestimate your audience - is there anything in your broadcast so far where you feel you should have valued youe audience more? 

<Today's word>
視聴者に対して正直であるように、常に気をつけています。

I always want to make absolutely sure that I'm being honest with my audience.

<Word and Phrases>

輝かしいキャリア: illustrious career 
適応させる: adapt 
ニーズに応える:meet the need to 
明らかに: obviously
それ以外では: Other than that
反応する:react to 
瞬時に: instantaneous
敏感な：sesitive
心地よくてくつろいだ雰囲気:
cozy and relaxed atmosphere 
イライラする: annoying 
過小評価する：underestimate

Interview5
<Listening Point>
1.What does Mr.Barakan think was the trigger that brought new international viewers to the program “Japanology Plus “?

He thinks the trigger was growing interest in Japan throughout manga and anime and widespread use of the internet.

2.What did the young people Mr.Barakan met on the street tell him?

They told him that they were learning Japanese, their teachers at school showed them the program, and they all liked it very much.

バラカンさんが通りで出会った若者たちは、バラカンさんになんと言いましたか？

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世界の若者が漫画やアニメを通して日本について知りたいと思うのはとても良いことだと思いますが、アニメに対する興味というのは若い世代に限定されていると思いますか？

I think it's great that young people around the world want to know about Japan through manga and anime, but do you think that interest in anime is limited to the younger generation?

<Today's word>
そう言ってもらえると、とてもうれしいものですよね。
So that was, you know, obviously very pleasant to have that said to you.

<Word and Phrases>

きっかけ: trigger
に触れる: touch on
ネットを使う: go on the internet
偶然に: by chance
ファン/支持者: following
もう一度見る、二度見する: do a  double take

Interview6
<Listening Point>
1.How did electrical appliances change around 1980?

They changed color from either red and white to gray.

１９８０年頃、電化製品はどのように変わりましたか？

2.Why does Mr. Barakan think the Japanese mentality hasn’t changed much over time?

He thinks that’s partly because the education system hasn’t changed.

バラカンさんは、なぜ日本人のメンタリティは昔からあまり変わってないと考えているのでしょうか？

<Upgrade Questioning Skills >
戦後、日常生活のさまざまな場面が欧米の影響を受けてきたと思いますが、それでも日本人のメンタリティはあまり変わってないということでしょうか？

In the postwar period, I think many aspects of everyday life have been influenced by the West, but are you saying that the Japanese mentality hasn't changed much despite that? 

<Today's word>
日本は、アジアでおそらく最も民主的な国ですが、多くの点で今なお非常に保守的であると思います。

I do find Japan is still, despite being probably the most democratic Asian country, still very conservative in a lot of ways. 

<Word and Phrases>

少しずつ: gradually
美意識: aesthetic
伝説的な: iconic
良い意味でも悪い意味でも: for better and for worse
国際的な: cosmopolitan
飛躍的に: exponentially
日本人の気質:Japanese mentality
民主的:democratic
保守的:conservative

Interview７
<Listening Point>
1.Why did Mr. Barakan find it easier to improve his Japanese, compared to others?

Because he retained all of the kanji he learned at university before coming to Japan.

バラカンさんは、なぜ他の人に比べて日本語が上達し易かったのでしょうか？

2.What does Mr. Barakan recommend to thoes who are serious about learning English?

He recommends that they should live in an English-speaking environment for at least six months.

バラカンさんが、真剣に英語を学んでいる人に勧めていることはなんですか？

<Upgrade Questioning Skills >
外国語を使いこなすには、母語から切り離された国で生活するのが理想的だということは理解できます。
しかし、日本にいながら英語を話す環境に身を置くことで英語をマスターすることはできませんか？

I understand that, to be proficient in a foreign language, it’s ideal to live in a country where you are cut off from your native language.
But is it not possible to master English by putting yourself in an English-speaking environment while in Japan?

<Today's word>
To become fluent verbally, you have to be in the country, I think.

流暢に話せるようになるには、その国に身を置かなければならない、と思います。

<Word and Phrases>
磨きをかける:hone
維持する:retain
流暢に話す:fluent verbally
ごく稀に:few and far between
どっぷり浸かる:immersion

*****Format**

Interview
<Listening Point>
1.

2.

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<Today's word>

<Word and Phrases>