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English for Wizard

You can be on the radio

By John Moore

世界中のラジオ局が検索できる radio-locator
Have you noticed that Americans tend to talk a lot? That's one reason why it's easier to learn English than Japanese - because Americans love to talk all the time with loud voices, whereas Japanese people tend to talk softly and say little.

Anyway, there is a thing called talk radio, in which all sorts of ordinary people call up a radio station and just talk - about anything and everything. Listening to talk radio is a great way to learn about American culture and improve your English comprehension, too.

And the Internet, of course, makes it all possible for us in Japan. Before the Internet came along, people traveling overseas could not listen to their hometown radio stations at all, since ordinary radio waves don't reach across the ocean. But today, through your computer and the Internet, you can hear hundreds of radio stations all around the world.

Try going to www.radio-locator.com, which is a very simple Web site that helps you find online radio stations. There's a blank in the form where you can "find Internet streaming radio." I suggest you choose "Talk" from the pull-down list there.

On the next page, I just randomly picked KNRC in Denver, Colorado, which happened to be airing a show called "America at Night," hosted by Ernie Brown. The theme for his show was "Cheesy Movies," and Mr. Brown chatted by phone for two or three minutes each with various ordinary Americans. It was not profound or particularly intelligent talk, but it was a spontaneous chat between real people like you and me.

On most talk radio stations, there are commercials now and then. These are also a good way to practice your English, because commercials are usually loud and repetitive: "Get 0-percent financing and NO money down! That's right: NO money down!"

Another great place to find interesting radio conversations is Talk America (www.talkamerica.com). First click on "Listen online" in the top-right part of the screen. You will see all the different radio hosts. You can read about them and listen to samples of their shows. Then click on "Programs," in the little menu across the top, to see a list of online programs.

One radio host, named Schmuley Boteach, was talking about America and he said, "This is the greatest country in the world - there are so many lunatics!" For me, that sums up both the good and bad aspects of talk radio.


Shukan ST: Sept. 26, 2003

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