Storybook

https://gemini.google.com/share/d98f1ee7a758

Check Noriko's website

https://www.japanesewithnoriko.com/

1) Discussion and Reflection Questions

1. Why do you think Ken tried to keep working even though he wasn’t feeling well?
2. Do you think Sato’s words made Ken stop and think about his health?
3. Why do you think Ken felt a little relieved after deciding to take time off and rest?
4. Even when work is busy, what kind of mindset do you think is necessary to prioritize your health?
5. In the long run, how do you think “pushing yourself to keep working” and “taking proper time to rest” affect your work differently?
6. In your country or workplace, is it easy to take time off when you’re not feeling well? Why or why not?
7. What do you think we can learn from Ken’s experience about balancing health and work?

2) vocabulary list

• 先日 / せんじつ / the other day, recently
• 風邪をひく / かぜをひく / to catch a cold
• 熱が出る / ねつがでる / to develop a fever
• 喉 / のど / throat
• 体中 / からだじゅう / throughout the body
• 主人公 / しゅじんこう / main character
• 会社員 / かいしゃいん / company employee
• 涼しい / すずしい / cool, refreshing
• 大切 / たいせつ / important
• 昼休み / ひるやすみ / lunch break
• 薬 / くすり / medicine
• 具合 / ぐあい / condition, state of health
• それどころか / それどころか / on the contrary, far from that
• だんだん / だんだん / gradually
• 画面 / がめん / screen
• 顔色 / かおいろ / complexion, facial color
• 頑張る / がんばる / to do one's best
• 集中する / しゅうちゅうする / to concentrate
• 結局 / けっきょく / in the end, eventually
• 状態 / じょうたい / condition, state
• 結果 / けっか / result
• 気づく / きづく / to notice, realize
• 携帯電話 / けいたいでんわ / mobile phone
• 手に取る / てにとる / to pick up, take in one's hand
• 連絡する / れんらくする / to contact
• 目を閉じる / めをとじる / to close one's eyes
• 穏やか / おだやか / calm, peaceful
• 二日後 / ふつかご / two days later
• 無理をする / むりをする / to overdo it, push oneself
• 届ける / とどける / to deliver

Storybook

https://gemini.google.com/share/3d98bee4baf8

Check Noriko's website

https://www.japanesewithnoriko.com/

Grammar points

～のに：Although / Even though

Use ～のに when the result is different from what you expected. It often expresses surprise, disappointment, or dissatisfaction.

• 毎日（まいにち）勉強（べんきょう）しているのに、漢字（かんじ）を覚（おぼ）えられません。
  Even though I study every day, I can’t remember kanji.

• 薬（くすり）を飲（の）んだのに、まだ頭（あたま）が痛（いた）いです。
  Although I took some medicine, I still have a headache.

• このレストランは高（たか）いのに、いつも混（こ）んでいます。
  Even though this restaurant is expensive, it is always crowded.

Questions

1. Ken had to work even though it was his day off. What do you think is important for maintaining a good balance between work and personal time?
2. Ken realised, “Work is important, but having time to rest like this is important too.” What do you think are the benefits of making time to rest when you have a busy life?
3. If you regularly have to work on your days off, how do you think it might affect your daily life and your mood?
4. What does your ideal day off look like? How is it different from a typical workday?

Storybook

https://share.gemini.google/TMwBAGhp0DEC

Questions

1. Emma is going on her first onsen trip. What surprised or impressed her during the experience? How do you think her feelings changed throughout the trip?
2. At an onsen, it is considered good etiquette not to use your smartphone and to wash your body before entering the bath. What role do you think these rules play in making the experience comfortable and enjoyable for everyone?
3. At a ryokan, you can experience many aspects of traditional Japanese culture, such as yukata, tatami, tea, and onsen. What do you think makes staying at a ryokan appealing to visitors from other countries?
4. When you feel tired from everyday life, what helps you relax your mind and body in the same way that an onsen might?

Grammar points

1. ～てもいい：Permission / It is OK to...

Use ～てもいい to say that someone is allowed to do something.

• 浴衣（ゆかた）でレストランに行（い）ってもいいです。
  You can go to the restaurant wearing a yukata.

• 温泉（おんせん）の中（なか）で話（はな）してもいいです。
  It is OK to talk in the hot spring.

• このタオルを使（つか）ってもいいです。
  You can use this towel.

Use ～なくてもいい to say that someone does not need to do something.

• タオルは持（も）って行（い）かなくてもいいです。
  You do not need to bring a towel.

• 浴衣（ゆかた）を着（き）なくてもいいです。
  You do not have to wear a yukata.

• 予約（よやく）しなくてもいいです。
  You do not need to make a reservation.

Use ～たほうがいい to give positive advice and ～ないほうがいい to advise someone not to do something.

• 体（からだ）を洗（あら）ってから入（はい）ったほうがいいです。
  You should wash your body before entering.

• 水（みず）を飲（の）んだほうがいいです。
  You should drink some water.

• 長（なが）い時間（じかん）、温泉（おんせん）に入（はい）らないほうがいいです。
  You shouldn’t stay in the hot spring for a long time.