› 毎日通える英会話教室‐English Garden の英会話ブログ【PR】
Week 6
2010年02月14日
Hi everyone!
Happy Valentine's Day and Happy New Year!
Did you buy any chocolates for anybody?
Here are the handouts for last week
Starter (handout)
Beginner (handout)
Intermediate (handout)
In all classes we talked about personality words. Here are some that many people didn't know:
stubborn（頑固）
My father is stubborn, he never listens to other people.
bright (明るくて頭がいい）
Your kid is very bright!
patient （忍耐強い、長い間待っても平気な人）
You should be more patient!
impatient (せっかち）
That driver is so impatient!
Starter class
In starter class we talked about the lesson as the Beginner class last week. (there is, there are). Please check last week's blog.
Beginner class
In beginner class we talked about used to (以前は)
If something has changed in your life, we can say:
"I used to be shy"
（以前は、恥ずかしがりゃだった）
"I used to have very short hair"
（以前は、髪とても短かった）
We also talked about "I would say"「〜とは言える」、「どっちらかって言うと」 to talk about something when you're not 100% sure.
"I would say my husband is really considerate."
どっちらかって言うと、私の旦那はとても思いやりがある。
Intermediate class
In intermediate we talked about using I would often (昔、〜をよくしたね）to talk about nostalgic (懐かしい) habits and memories.
"When I was young, I would often play video games at home alone"
(若いとき、よくお家で一人でゲーム遊んでいた）
"When I was a teenager, my friends would often make fun of me."
（十代の時、友達は私をよくからかっていた）
We also talked about using "He can be" 「なる時がある」 when we say bad things about people.
"My husband can be so selfish sometimes"
旦那さんはたまにとても我がままになる時がある。
Lastly, we talked about using not as ... as. It is a difficult grammar. Here are some examples
1. I don't get as many Valentine Day chocolates as before
2. I'm not as smart as Einstein
3. I don't go skating as often as before
What do they mean?
Happy Valentine's Day and Happy New Year!
Did you buy any chocolates for anybody?
Here are the handouts for last week
Starter (handout)
Beginner (handout)
Intermediate (handout)
In all classes we talked about personality words. Here are some that many people didn't know:
stubborn（頑固）
My father is stubborn, he never listens to other people.
bright (明るくて頭がいい）
Your kid is very bright!
patient （忍耐強い、長い間待っても平気な人）
You should be more patient!
impatient (せっかち）
That driver is so impatient!
Starter class
In starter class we talked about the lesson as the Beginner class last week. (there is, there are). Please check last week's blog.
Beginner class
In beginner class we talked about used to (以前は)
If something has changed in your life, we can say:
"I used to be shy"
（以前は、恥ずかしがりゃだった）
"I used to have very short hair"
（以前は、髪とても短かった）
We also talked about "I would say"「〜とは言える」、「どっちらかって言うと」 to talk about something when you're not 100% sure.
"I would say my husband is really considerate."
どっちらかって言うと、私の旦那はとても思いやりがある。
Intermediate class
In intermediate we talked about using I would often (昔、〜をよくしたね）to talk about nostalgic (懐かしい) habits and memories.
"When I was young, I would often play video games at home alone"
(若いとき、よくお家で一人でゲーム遊んでいた）
"When I was a teenager, my friends would often make fun of me."
（十代の時、友達は私をよくからかっていた）
We also talked about using "He can be" 「なる時がある」 when we say bad things about people.
"My husband can be so selfish sometimes"
旦那さんはたまにとても我がままになる時がある。
Lastly, we talked about using not as ... as. It is a difficult grammar. Here are some examples
1. I don't get as many Valentine Day chocolates as before
2. I'm not as smart as Einstein
3. I don't go skating as often as before
What do they mean?
Posted by English Garden at
11:51
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Week 5
2010年02月07日
Week 5
Starter Class
Who does housework?
Beginner Class
Which city do you like? (handout)
Intermediate Class
Can you predict the future? (handout)
In Starter class we talked about who does housework at home.
主語によって動詞の形が変わります！
I He/She
clean -> cleans
wash -> washes
do -> does
take -> takes
I never do any housework
My girlfriend does almost everything!
She washes the dishes.
She does the laundry.
She even takes out the garbage!
I just clean my room sometimes.
Who does housework at home? You can write that down in the comments, or show me in class.
In Beginner class we talked about your favorite city in Japan.
When you talk about places, especially cities, please use "there is" and "there are" for any feeling of いっぱいある(There are so many...)、たくさんある(There are many)、あまりない (There aren't so many)、全然ない (There aren't any ... at all).
Many people said Shintoshin is their kind of place.
There are many shops and izakayas, and there is a really cool club called "Hi No Tama".
We can find almost everything.
(There is Hi No Tama in Shinotshin -> 「There is」は世界に唯一しかない物に使えません)
A few people said Yomitan is their kind of place.
It's very peaceful and there are many beautiful places to see.
There aren't so many people.
The ocean is very beautiful.
Quite a few people said Yokohama is their kind of place.
There are many dating spots, and the harbor view is so beautiful.
It's a very multicultural city, and we can meet people from all over the world.
What is your favorite city?
Is there a city you don't like in Japan? Please write that down in the comments, or show me in class.
In Intermediate class we talked about the future and predicting the future.
With the future, we usually use will or be going to.
I'll do housework when I get married.
I'm not gonna do housework when I get married.
Is there a difference? There's a small difference but you shouldn't worry too much about it! I'm gonna usually expresses that something has already been decided before.
これから決めること= I will
もう既に決めたこと＝I'm gonna
Do you believe in fortune tellers? I don't really believe in fortune tellers, but I have visited a fortune teller twice just for fun. The first time, it was based on my palm. The second time, it was based on my aura. I thought what they said was pretty accurate. But I'm not going to visit them again, because it was way too expensive!
You can use "won't be able to" to express 出来なくなる.
Do you want to have kids? I'm on the fence when it comes to having kids. Many people say they'll bring me happiness, but I'll also lose my freedom. I won't be able to go out at night, I won't be able to eat out everyday, I won't be able to go snorkeling whenever I want! It's gonna be really difficult!
Starter Class
Who does housework?
Beginner Class
Which city do you like? (handout)
Intermediate Class
Can you predict the future? (handout)
In Starter class we talked about who does housework at home.
主語によって動詞の形が変わります！
I He/She
clean -> cleans
wash -> washes
do -> does
take -> takes
I never do any housework
My girlfriend does almost everything!
She washes the dishes.
She does the laundry.
She even takes out the garbage!
I just clean my room sometimes.
Who does housework at home? You can write that down in the comments, or show me in class.
In Beginner class we talked about your favorite city in Japan.
When you talk about places, especially cities, please use "there is" and "there are" for any feeling of いっぱいある(There are so many...)、たくさんある(There are many)、あまりない (There aren't so many)、全然ない (There aren't any ... at all).
Many people said Shintoshin is their kind of place.
There are many shops and izakayas, and there is a really cool club called "Hi No Tama".
We can find almost everything.
(
A few people said Yomitan is their kind of place.
It's very peaceful and there are many beautiful places to see.
There aren't so many people.
The ocean is very beautiful.
Quite a few people said Yokohama is their kind of place.
There are many dating spots, and the harbor view is so beautiful.
It's a very multicultural city, and we can meet people from all over the world.
What is your favorite city?
Is there a city you don't like in Japan? Please write that down in the comments, or show me in class.
In Intermediate class we talked about the future and predicting the future.
With the future, we usually use will or be going to.
I'll do housework when I get married.
I'm not gonna do housework when I get married.
Is there a difference? There's a small difference but you shouldn't worry too much about it! I'm gonna usually expresses that something has already been decided before.
これから決めること= I will
もう既に決めたこと＝I'm gonna
Do you believe in fortune tellers? I don't really believe in fortune tellers, but I have visited a fortune teller twice just for fun. The first time, it was based on my palm. The second time, it was based on my aura. I thought what they said was pretty accurate. But I'm not going to visit them again, because it was way too expensive!
You can use "won't be able to" to express 出来なくなる.
Do you want to have kids? I'm on the fence when it comes to having kids. Many people say they'll bring me happiness, but I'll also lose my freedom. I won't be able to go out at night, I won't be able to eat out everyday, I won't be able to go snorkeling whenever I want! It's gonna be really difficult!
Posted by English Garden at
12:03
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Week 4
2010年01月31日
This week's topics were
free time routines (beginner handout)
movies (intermediate handout)
In beginner class we talked about free time activities and routines, and the questions you usually ask. Please be careful when you use he or she, the sentences changes a little.
1. Do you go to Karaoke?
1. Does he go to Karaoke?
I never go to Karaoke, but my sister goes to Karaoke almost every week.
2. What kind of music do you like?
2. What kind of music does she like?
I like UK Rock, but my wife doesn't like it. She likes Enka.
3. How often do you go to Karaoke?
3. How often does she go to karaoke?
I go to Karaoke maybe once every three years. My husband goes once a month.
For a writing exercise, please write about this: Does your wife/husband/boyfriend/girlfriend go to Karaoke? Or go drinking? Please tell me about his routines!
Other phrases we learned:
It depends (決まっていない、時と場合による）
It's a waste of money (お金のもったいない）
It's worth it （価値がある）
For intermediate class, we practiced two useful sentences:
Are there any movies that you would like to watch in the movie theatre?
Are there any movies that you have seen many times?
(関係代名詞：Are there any [good movies that you have seen recently])
Right now, there are a movie that I would like to watch in the movie theatre. The English name is "Where the wild things are" (怪獣たちのいるところ). It was directed by Spike Jonze, and it came out quite recently. This movie got very good reviews on the Internet. Unfortunately in Japan there is no subtitled version in theaters, only the dub version. I can't stand dubs (they sound so cheesy), so I will have to wait until the subtitled version comes out on DVD.
There a quite a few movies that I have seen many times. I'll talk about one of them.
It takes place in modern day Los Angeles, but it also takes place in the future sometimes.
Arnold Schwarznegger and Linda Hamilton are in the movie.
It's about a cyborg assassin who must protect a young boy from another cyborg assassin.
It came out a long time ago, maybe in 1991.
It was directed by James Cameron.
Do you know this movie?
Phrase of the week:
like you wouldn't believe (びっくりするぐらい）
I like this movie like you wouldn't believe.
I hate bad movies like you wouldn't believe.
THAT (そんなに）
Is it THAT good? (そんなにいいの？）
Yes, it's THAT good (そうだよ、そんなにいいよ！)
I don't like it THAT much. (そんなに好きじゃないよ！）
free time routines (beginner handout)
movies (intermediate handout)
In beginner class we talked about free time activities and routines, and the questions you usually ask. Please be careful when you use he or she, the sentences changes a little.
1. Do you go to Karaoke?
1. Does he go to Karaoke?
I never go to Karaoke, but my sister goes to Karaoke almost every week.
2. What kind of music do you like?
2. What kind of music does she like?
I like UK Rock, but my wife doesn't like it. She likes Enka.
3. How often do you go to Karaoke?
3. How often does she go to karaoke?
I go to Karaoke maybe once every three years. My husband goes once a month.
For a writing exercise, please write about this: Does your wife/husband/boyfriend/girlfriend go to Karaoke? Or go drinking? Please tell me about his routines!
Other phrases we learned:
It depends (決まっていない、時と場合による）
It's a waste of money (お金のもったいない）
It's worth it （価値がある）
For intermediate class, we practiced two useful sentences:
Are there any movies that you would like to watch in the movie theatre?
Are there any movies that you have seen many times?
(関係代名詞：Are there any [good movies that you have seen recently])
Right now, there are a movie that I would like to watch in the movie theatre. The English name is "Where the wild things are" (怪獣たちのいるところ). It was directed by Spike Jonze, and it came out quite recently. This movie got very good reviews on the Internet. Unfortunately in Japan there is no subtitled version in theaters, only the dub version. I can't stand dubs (they sound so cheesy), so I will have to wait until the subtitled version comes out on DVD.
There a quite a few movies that I have seen many times. I'll talk about one of them.
It takes place in modern day Los Angeles, but it also takes place in the future sometimes.
Arnold Schwarznegger and Linda Hamilton are in the movie.
It's about a cyborg assassin who must protect a young boy from another cyborg assassin.
It came out a long time ago, maybe in 1991.
It was directed by James Cameron.
Do you know this movie?
Phrase of the week:
like you wouldn't believe (びっくりするぐらい）
I like this movie like you wouldn't believe.
I hate bad movies like you wouldn't believe.
THAT (そんなに）
Is it THAT good? (そんなにいいの？）
Yes, it's THAT good (そうだよ、そんなにいいよ！)
I don't like it THAT much. (そんなに好きじゃないよ！）
Posted by English Garden at
12:05
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Routines and Requirements
2010年01月24日
Hi everyone!
In beginner class this week, we talked about your daily routines. Here is the handout.
What is your morning routine?
On weekdays, I usually get up between 8:30am and 9:30am. It depends on my work. If I have work at English Garden Shintoshin, I have to wake up earlier. If I have work at English Garden Oroku, I can wake up later.
It's very hard to wake up so early. I'm not a morning person!
After waking up, I eat breakfast and drink coffee. Usually, I eat natto with rice, but it depends. Sometimes I eat toast, eggs, and bacon. Sometimes, I eat yesterday's leftovers.
I usually leave home about 30 minutes before work. It takes me about 20 to 25 minutes to get to work. I've never been late!
What is your night routine?
I usually get home at around 11pm. After I get home, I always drink one can of beer and I eat a late night snack. Usually I eat udon, but it depends.
Midnight is Internet time. I usually surf the Internet for about one or two hours, and then I finally go to bed at 2am.
Writing exercise: Please write about your morning routine or night routine. You can write it in the comments section, or you can write it on paper and show me in class!
In intermediate class, we talked about jobs and qualifications. Here is the handout.
Everyone job has requirements. If you want to apply for a job, you need qualifications. For example, we talked about flight attendants. This job has very strict requirements.
1. You have to be over 160cm (165cm for international flights)
2. You can't have any scars or visible injuries on your face or legs
3. You have to be able to speak English well (for international flights)
4. You have to be under 26 years old.
5. You don't have to be pretty, but it helps!
(All requirements should be written with "have to" or "can't")
If you are over 160cm, under 26, don't have any visible injuries, and can speak English well, then you might be qualified for the job!
I asked you an interesting question:
What are your requirements for a husband or wife?
Here are some random requirements for husbands that I heard this week
1. He has to be able to cook
2. He has to listen when the wife speaks
3. He has to be able to separate combustible and non-combustible garbage
4. He has to have simliar interests
5. He has to be able to kill cockroaches.
6. He has to be able to survive by himself
Here are some requirements for wives that I heard this week.
1. She has to be able to cook
2. She has to be cute and kind.
3. She has to have the same sense of values.
Some interesting vocabulary we learned this week
count
doesn't count （考慮に値する）
"My husband has to be able to cook for himself"
"Why?"
"He has to be able to survive by himself"
"Well, he can go to McDonalds or Family Mart every day"
"That doesn't count (as surviving)"
"I think it counts!"
fits the bill (条件と会う）
"My husband has to be good-looking, smart, and funny"
"Oh, in that case you should check out our English teacher. He really fits the bill"
keep you company (あなたを付き合ってあげる）
"Wanna go to MOS Burger for lunch?"
"Sorry I'm not hungry, but I'll keep you company."
In beginner class this week, we talked about your daily routines. Here is the handout.
What is your morning routine?
On weekdays, I usually get up between 8:30am and 9:30am. It depends on my work. If I have work at English Garden Shintoshin, I have to wake up earlier. If I have work at English Garden Oroku, I can wake up later.
It's very hard to wake up so early. I'm not a morning person!
After waking up, I eat breakfast and drink coffee. Usually, I eat natto with rice, but it depends. Sometimes I eat toast, eggs, and bacon. Sometimes, I eat yesterday's leftovers.
I usually leave home about 30 minutes before work. It takes me about 20 to 25 minutes to get to work. I've never been late!
What is your night routine?
I usually get home at around 11pm. After I get home, I always drink one can of beer and I eat a late night snack. Usually I eat udon, but it depends.
Midnight is Internet time. I usually surf the Internet for about one or two hours, and then I finally go to bed at 2am.
Writing exercise: Please write about your morning routine or night routine. You can write it in the comments section, or you can write it on paper and show me in class!
In intermediate class, we talked about jobs and qualifications. Here is the handout.
Everyone job has requirements. If you want to apply for a job, you need qualifications. For example, we talked about flight attendants. This job has very strict requirements.
1. You have to be over 160cm (165cm for international flights)
2. You can't have any scars or visible injuries on your face or legs
3. You have to be able to speak English well (for international flights)
4. You have to be under 26 years old.
5. You don't have to be pretty, but it helps!
(All requirements should be written with "have to" or "can't")
If you are over 160cm, under 26, don't have any visible injuries, and can speak English well, then you might be qualified for the job!
I asked you an interesting question:
What are your requirements for a husband or wife?
Here are some random requirements for husbands that I heard this week
1. He has to be able to cook
2. He has to listen when the wife speaks
3. He has to be able to separate combustible and non-combustible garbage
4. He has to have simliar interests
5. He has to be able to kill cockroaches.
6. He has to be able to survive by himself
Here are some requirements for wives that I heard this week.
1. She has to be able to cook
2. She has to be cute and kind.
3. She has to have the same sense of values.
Some interesting vocabulary we learned this week
count
doesn't count （考慮に値する）
"My husband has to be able to cook for himself"
"Why?"
"He has to be able to survive by himself"
"Well, he can go to McDonalds or Family Mart every day"
"That doesn't count (as surviving)"
"I think it counts!"
fits the bill (条件と会う）
"My husband has to be good-looking, smart, and funny"
"Oh, in that case you should check out our English teacher. He really fits the bill"
keep you company (あなたを付き合ってあげる）
"Wanna go to MOS Burger for lunch?"
"Sorry I'm not hungry, but I'll keep you company."
Posted by English Garden at
12:12
│Comments(3)
FAST FOOD
2010年01月17日
Hi everyone!
It’s freezing isn’t it? I can’t wait until summer. I really want to go snorkeling again!
Last week’s topic was fast food. Here is the handout (INTERMEDIATE, BEGINNER)
Personally, I love MOS Burger the best. It’s a little expensive, but their food is really good. I especially like their clam chowder and cafe latte. The atmosphere at MOS Burger is really good. The tables are big and I can relax very easily.
McDonalds is just okay. It’s really cheap, but after I eat their food, my stomach feels a little heavy and I don’t feel satisfied. There are many people who love their french fries, but honestly speaking I almost never eat their french fries. I usually just order their ¥100 hamburger.
KFC is not bad, but I think it’s a little expensive. Their original recipe chicken tastes really good, but I think it doesn’t have enough meat. Their chicken also has too much oil, so it looks really unhealthy. Also, I can’t feel satisfied, even if I eat three pieces of chicken.
I almost never go to A&W. I think their food is quite expensive compared to other fast food restaurants. Their mozza burger is really delicious but it costs ¥400! They have free refills on root beer, but root beer isn’t really my cup of tea.
Fast Food Trivia
Did you know?
A&W is the oldest fast food restaurant. It was established in 1919.
MOS is actually an abbreviation. It stands for Mountain Ocean Sun.
JEF is also an abbreviation. It stands for Japan Excellent Foods.
The name McDonalds comes from its two founders, Dick and Mac McDonald.
People say KFC uses chickens with four or six legs.
A writing exercise:
In the comment section, please write: what is your favorite fast food restaurant, and why?
If you write something, I will definitely reply!
It’s freezing isn’t it? I can’t wait until summer. I really want to go snorkeling again!
Last week’s topic was fast food. Here is the handout (INTERMEDIATE, BEGINNER)
Personally, I love MOS Burger the best. It’s a little expensive, but their food is really good. I especially like their clam chowder and cafe latte. The atmosphere at MOS Burger is really good. The tables are big and I can relax very easily.
McDonalds is just okay. It’s really cheap, but after I eat their food, my stomach feels a little heavy and I don’t feel satisfied. There are many people who love their french fries, but honestly speaking I almost never eat their french fries. I usually just order their ¥100 hamburger.
KFC is not bad, but I think it’s a little expensive. Their original recipe chicken tastes really good, but I think it doesn’t have enough meat. Their chicken also has too much oil, so it looks really unhealthy. Also, I can’t feel satisfied, even if I eat three pieces of chicken.
I almost never go to A&W. I think their food is quite expensive compared to other fast food restaurants. Their mozza burger is really delicious but it costs ¥400! They have free refills on root beer, but root beer isn’t really my cup of tea.
Fast Food Trivia
Did you know?
A&W is the oldest fast food restaurant. It was established in 1919.
MOS is actually an abbreviation. It stands for Mountain Ocean Sun.
JEF is also an abbreviation. It stands for Japan Excellent Foods.
The name McDonalds comes from its two founders, Dick and Mac McDonald.
People say KFC uses chickens with four or six legs.
A writing exercise:
In the comment section, please write: what is your favorite fast food restaurant, and why?
If you write something, I will definitely reply!
Posted by English Garden at
10:49
│Comments(2)
Happy New Year!
2010年01月10日
It’s 2010!
Handout for this week
Last week I asked you about your New Year’s Holidays. Many of you went to a shrine or temple. At a shrine, we can buy good luck charms, get a fortune slip, and pray for something. Personally, I love the atmosphere of shrines during New Year. Even though it's crowded, I always have a great time.
I also asked you about your New Year's resolutions. In North America we often make new New Year's resolutions. We want to change something in your life this year, or improve something. The most popular New Year's resolutions at English Garden were to lose weight and speak English more fluently. I also heard some very interesting resolutions…
1. I want to be able to spread my legs 180 degrees"
2. I want to be more proactive.
3. I want to be able to kick over my head.
Did you notice the phrase "I want to be able to"? This is a very good phrase for —出来るようになりたい.
Key words for this week's lessons
Beginner Class
less/more
This year, I want to eat out less.
This year, I want to study more.
quit
This year, I really want to quit smoking.
organized
She's a very organized person.
Her notebook is so organized!
Intermediate Class
be supposed to (but..)
Every year, you're supposed to give back last year's charm to the shrine, but I think that's very fishy.
Making "mochi" on New Year's Day is supposed to bring you good luck.
rip-off
Some people think good-luck charms are a rip-off, because you pay ¥1500 for a piece of plastic.
¥500 for a hot dog? That's a rip-off!
convince
"This medicine will cure all your headaches"
"Sorry, I'm not convinced"
I think Mr. Takata from Japanet is a very convincing person.
Handout for this week
Last week I asked you about your New Year’s Holidays. Many of you went to a shrine or temple. At a shrine, we can buy good luck charms, get a fortune slip, and pray for something. Personally, I love the atmosphere of shrines during New Year. Even though it's crowded, I always have a great time.
I also asked you about your New Year's resolutions. In North America we often make new New Year's resolutions. We want to change something in your life this year, or improve something. The most popular New Year's resolutions at English Garden were to lose weight and speak English more fluently. I also heard some very interesting resolutions…
1. I want to be able to spread my legs 180 degrees"
2. I want to be more proactive.
3. I want to be able to kick over my head.
Did you notice the phrase "I want to be able to"? This is a very good phrase for —出来るようになりたい.
Key words for this week's lessons
Beginner Class
less/more
This year, I want to eat out less.
This year, I want to study more.
quit
This year, I really want to quit smoking.
organized
She's a very organized person.
Her notebook is so organized!
Intermediate Class
be supposed to (but..)
Every year, you're supposed to give back last year's charm to the shrine, but I think that's very fishy.
Making "mochi" on New Year's Day is supposed to bring you good luck.
rip-off
Some people think good-luck charms are a rip-off, because you pay ¥1500 for a piece of plastic.
¥500 for a hot dog? That's a rip-off!
convince
"This medicine will cure all your headaches"
"Sorry, I'm not convinced"
I think Mr. Takata from Japanet is a very convincing person.
Posted by English Garden at
12:31
│Comments(0)
The Christmas Holidays
2009年12月28日
Hi everyone!
Well, before you know it, it’s the end of 2009! Time flew by so quickly again this year! For the last week, I've been a complete couch potato. I did nothing special except eat a lot of food, surf the Internet, and play video games. I even lost track of what day it is! But what can you do, this is my end of year routine.
The only thing I did was go to Southeast Botanical Gardens to see their Christmas Illuminations. However, I was very disappointed because they didn't have a light show this year. Instead of a light show, they had a night market, which was not as interesting. Also, they didn't put as many Christmas lights as last year. But I still had a very good time.
I also ate Kentucky Fried Chicken on Christmas Day, for no particular reason. I think I've been brainwashed!
Well, I hope everyone had a very nice Christmas! I'm really looking forward to New Year this year, because I love visiting shrines!
Well, before you know it, it’s the end of 2009! Time flew by so quickly again this year! For the last week, I've been a complete couch potato. I did nothing special except eat a lot of food, surf the Internet, and play video games. I even lost track of what day it is! But what can you do, this is my end of year routine.
The only thing I did was go to Southeast Botanical Gardens to see their Christmas Illuminations. However, I was very disappointed because they didn't have a light show this year. Instead of a light show, they had a night market, which was not as interesting. Also, they didn't put as many Christmas lights as last year. But I still had a very good time.
I also ate Kentucky Fried Chicken on Christmas Day, for no particular reason. I think I've been brainwashed!
Well, I hope everyone had a very nice Christmas! I'm really looking forward to New Year this year, because I love visiting shrines!
Posted by English Garden at
12:15
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Before you know it!
2009年12月13日
Hi everyone! Thank you for coming to the new school in Shintoshin last week!
This year has almost come to an end. Time flies so quickly, don’t you think? Before you know it, it will be 2010!
Let’s review what we learned this week.
1. surprising, surprisingly (意外)
It’s very surprising!
It’s not very surprising.
Surprisingly, I’ve never been to Mainland Japan before.
Even though the restaurant looks nice, the food is surprisingly bad.
McDonalds ice coffee is really cheap, but it’s surprisingly good.
It’s December, but it’s surprisingly hot today!
☆ not surprisingly (やっぱり)
Not surprisingly, some students always sit in the same seat every class.
2. have been, has been
I’ve been to Europe before.
Nobody has been to Turkey before.
(nobody’s)
Everybody has been to Mainland Japan before.
(everybody’s)
3. It’s in theaters, it’s playing at... (上映してます）
Have you seen the movie “Saw 6”?
It’s in theaters now!
Do you want to see the movie “Up”?
Sure, where is it playing?
I think it’s playing at Cinema Q.
4. subtitle, dub (字幕、吹き替え)
Do you want to go see the movie “Up”?
Which version, subtitle or dub?
Of course the subtitle version! I can’t stand dubs.
5. word of mouth (口コミ)
Many people hear about English Garden through word of mouth advertising.
6. before you know it (あっという間)
The movie was so good! Before I knew it, two hours had already passed!
Time flies so quickly! Before you know it, you’ll be married and have kids!
This year has almost come to an end. Time flies so quickly, don’t you think? Before you know it, it will be 2010!
Let’s review what we learned this week.
1. surprising, surprisingly (意外)
It’s very surprising!
It’s not very surprising.
Surprisingly, I’ve never been to Mainland Japan before.
Even though the restaurant looks nice, the food is surprisingly bad.
McDonalds ice coffee is really cheap, but it’s surprisingly good.
It’s December, but it’s surprisingly hot today!
☆ not surprisingly (やっぱり)
Not surprisingly, some students always sit in the same seat every class.
2. have been, has been
I’ve been to Europe before.
Nobody has been to Turkey before.
(nobody’s)
Everybody has been to Mainland Japan before.
(everybody’s)
3. It’s in theaters, it’s playing at... (上映してます）
Have you seen the movie “Saw 6”?
It’s in theaters now!
Do you want to see the movie “Up”?
Sure, where is it playing?
I think it’s playing at Cinema Q.
4. subtitle, dub (字幕、吹き替え)
Do you want to go see the movie “Up”?
Which version, subtitle or dub?
Of course the subtitle version! I can’t stand dubs.
5. word of mouth (口コミ)
Many people hear about English Garden through word of mouth advertising.
6. before you know it (あっという間)
The movie was so good! Before I knew it, two hours had already passed!
Time flies so quickly! Before you know it, you’ll be married and have kids!
Posted by English Garden at
11:48
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You must be kidding!
2009年12月06日
Hi everyone!
I caught a cold recently, so I’ve had a running nose for the last four days! Hopefully I’ll be fully recovered by tomorrow.
This week will be open school at the new English Garden in Shintoshin.
So if you’re a student at English Garden in Oroku, you can come check it out for free!
It’s still a work in progress, so please don’t expect too much. There are still a few problems we have to work out.
Last week:
How long have you been …?
Here is the handout.
These were a typical conversation:
Pattern #1
a - How long have you been married?
b - For about 15 years.
a - Wow, that’s a long time. Aren’t you tired of married life?
b - Sometimes. But overall I can’t complain.
Pattern #2
a - How long have you been a housewife?
b - For over 10 years
a - Wow, that’s a long time. Aren’t you tired of being a housewife?
b - Sometimes. Being a housewife isn’t that bad though.
overall - 全体的に
being a housewife - 主婦であること
These two sentences are different!
I like housewives. (only men say this)
I like being a housewife. (housewives say this)
Here are some good examples:
I enjoy being alone.
I’m used to being alone.
I can’t get tired of being a teacher.
must
We used must to make guesses at things. For example:
I worked 12 hours day.
Wow, you must be tired!
I got a promotion at work!
Wow, you must be so happy!
I got into a big accident the other day!
You must be kidding!
I haven’t talked to my parents for one year.
They must miss you so much!
I have to take care of three kids and a childish husband everyday.
It must be tough!
This mosquito keeps hanging around me.
It must like you very much!
I caught a cold recently, so I’ve had a running nose for the last four days! Hopefully I’ll be fully recovered by tomorrow.
This week will be open school at the new English Garden in Shintoshin.
So if you’re a student at English Garden in Oroku, you can come check it out for free!
It’s still a work in progress, so please don’t expect too much. There are still a few problems we have to work out.
Last week:
How long have you been …?
Here is the handout.
These were a typical conversation:
Pattern #1
a - How long have you been married?
b - For about 15 years.
a - Wow, that’s a long time. Aren’t you tired of married life?
b - Sometimes. But overall I can’t complain.
Pattern #2
a - How long have you been a housewife?
b - For over 10 years
a - Wow, that’s a long time. Aren’t you tired of being a housewife?
b - Sometimes. Being a housewife isn’t that bad though.
overall - 全体的に
being a housewife - 主婦であること
These two sentences are different!
I like housewives. (only men say this)
I like being a housewife. (housewives say this)
Here are some good examples:
I enjoy being alone.
I’m used to being alone.
I can’t get tired of being a teacher.
must
We used must to make guesses at things. For example:
I worked 12 hours day.
Wow, you must be tired!
I got a promotion at work!
Wow, you must be so happy!
I got into a big accident the other day!
You must be kidding!
I haven’t talked to my parents for one year.
They must miss you so much!
I have to take care of three kids and a childish husband everyday.
It must be tough!
This mosquito keeps hanging around me.
It must like you very much!
Posted by English Garden at
23:38
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Routines
2009年11月28日
Hi everyone!
In beginner class we talked about morning routines (朝のいつもの手順). What is your morning routine?
First, I go to the washroom and brush my teeth.
Then, I make a cup of Blue Mountain Coffee
After that, I play on the computer while drinking coffee.
Finally, I get changed and leave home.
Right after (直後)
Right after I wake up, I brush my teeth.
Right before (直前)
Right before leaving home, I get dressed.
Some tricky vocabulary:
着替え - get dressed / get changed (change my clothes)
メイクをする - put on makeup (make up)
えさをあげる - feed my cat (give my cat food)
Some interesting things I learned about your morning routines:
In intermediate class we talked about change.
I think the way people think about change is very interesting. Some people are very conservative and try to avoid any kind of change. Some people actually like change because it makes their life more exciting. They don’t like routine life, because it’s too boring and stale.
Some vocabulary we learned this week:
stale
unwind
wind up
handle
deal with
In beginner class we talked about morning routines (朝のいつもの手順). What is your morning routine?
First, I go to the washroom and brush my teeth.
Then, I make a cup of Blue Mountain Coffee
After that, I play on the computer while drinking coffee.
Finally, I get changed and leave home.
Right after (直後)
Right after I wake up, I brush my teeth.
Right before (直前)
Right before leaving home, I get dressed.
Some tricky vocabulary:
着替え - get dressed / get changed (change my clothes)
メイクをする - put on makeup (make up)
えさをあげる - feed my cat (give my cat food)
Some interesting things I learned about your morning routines:
- Most Japanese people brush their teeth after eating breakfast.
- Many people drink coffee in the morning because it helps them wake up
- Some people wash their hair in the sink.
- High school students usually check their cell phone first thing in the morning
In intermediate class we talked about change.
- Are you satisfied with life the way it is now?
- Or do you feel something is missing?
- Would you like to change something about your life?
I think the way people think about change is very interesting. Some people are very conservative and try to avoid any kind of change. Some people actually like change because it makes their life more exciting. They don’t like routine life, because it’s too boring and stale.
Some vocabulary we learned this week:
stale
unwind
wind up
handle
deal with
Posted by English Garden at
14:52
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English Garden Shintoshin!
2009年11月23日
Hi everyone!
As you might know, the new English Garden in Shintoshin will be opening next week starting from Monday November 30th.
There will be drastic changes to the schedule and it will take a while before things settle down. For now, I will be teaching at Shinotshin on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and at Oroku on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There will no longer be a Saturday class. If I could, I would have kept things the way they are now, but sometimes change is inevitable! hope everything will turn out well. If there are any questions or concerns please don't hesitate to contact Kinjo-san by e-mail or phone!
Last week in beginner class we talked about the word "way". Here is the handout.
1. しかた（あなたの）
I really like the way you think!
君の考え方が好き！
2.しかた（一般の）
That's a strange way of driving!
変な運転の仕方ですね！
3. 邪魔
You're in my way!
君邪魔だ！
Get out of my way!
どいて！
4.わざわざ
Why would you go out of your way to peel grapes?
なぜわざわざ葡萄の皮をむくの？
5.途中
I'm on my way home now.
今帰る途中。
6.ある意味
In a way, you're the best
7.そのまま
I like you just the way you are.
そのままの君が好き。
I kept it just the way it is.
そのままにケープした。
In intermediate class we talked about meeting people and whether you enjoyed meeting people or not. Here is the handout. We talked about the grammar for "first time" which is sometimes very difficult! You can look at the following examples.
It's my first time coming here.
ここ来るのは初めて。
It's the first time I've heard that.
初めてきったよ！
Do you remember the first time we met?
初めて会った時のこと覚えてる？
The first time we met I thought you were a student.
初めて会った時、生徒だと思った
We also looked at the words, "superficial" （上辺）, "process"（過程）, and "first thing in the morning" （朝一）. Please check the handout for details!
As you might know, the new English Garden in Shintoshin will be opening next week starting from Monday November 30th.
There will be drastic changes to the schedule and it will take a while before things settle down. For now, I will be teaching at Shinotshin on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, and at Oroku on Tuesdays and Thursdays. There will no longer be a Saturday class. If I could, I would have kept things the way they are now, but sometimes change is inevitable! hope everything will turn out well. If there are any questions or concerns please don't hesitate to contact Kinjo-san by e-mail or phone!
Last week in beginner class we talked about the word "way". Here is the handout.
1. しかた（あなたの）
I really like the way you think!
君の考え方が好き！
2.しかた（一般の）
That's a strange way of driving!
変な運転の仕方ですね！
3. 邪魔
You're in my way!
君邪魔だ！
Get out of my way!
どいて！
4.わざわざ
Why would you go out of your way to peel grapes?
なぜわざわざ葡萄の皮をむくの？
5.途中
I'm on my way home now.
今帰る途中。
6.ある意味
In a way, you're the best
7.そのまま
I like you just the way you are.
そのままの君が好き。
I kept it just the way it is.
そのままにケープした。
In intermediate class we talked about meeting people and whether you enjoyed meeting people or not. Here is the handout. We talked about the grammar for "first time" which is sometimes very difficult! You can look at the following examples.
It's my first time coming here.
ここ来るのは初めて。
It's the first time I've heard that.
初めてきったよ！
Do you remember the first time we met?
初めて会った時のこと覚えてる？
The first time we met I thought you were a student.
初めて会った時、生徒だと思った
We also looked at the words, "superficial" （上辺）, "process"（過程）, and "first thing in the morning" （朝一）. Please check the handout for details!
Posted by English Garden at
01:54
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It's fun to study English!
2009年11月16日
Hi everyone! Did you have a good weekend?
In beginner class last week we practiced this conversation:
A - Why don't we go shopping this weekend?
B - Again? Let's do something else!
A - What's so bad about shopping?
B - It's a waste of time (to go shopping).
1. Why don't we + V
何々をしませんか？
2. What's so bad about 何々?
何々のどこが悪い？
3. It's a waste of time to go shopping.
[何々」をするのが「何々」
買い物をするのが楽しい
It's fun to go shopping.
"What's so bad about Karaoke?"
"It's embarrassing to sing in front of other people."
"What's so good about Karaoke?"
"It's fun to sing with friends."
In Intermediate class we learned some adverbs of frequency, such as
hardly ever (rarely, seldom)
occasionally (sometimes)
almost always
almost never
We also covered a very difficult point in English, and that's the word fun (楽しい).
The word fun is almost never used on people. Sentences like "He's fun" or "I'm fun", or "He looks fun" are really strange. We almost always say "It's fun!", or "It's fun to..." or "Doing something is fun".
When you want to say 私楽しいよ or 私楽しかった!, please use "I'm having fun" or "I had fun". When you want to say 彼楽しそう、 please say "It looks like he's having fun".
So the rule is:
People have fun.
But something is fun.
We talked about watching movies alone in a movie theatre. I almost never go to a movie theatre alone, but some people told me that they almost always go to a movie theatre alone. I was really surprised! They said it's fun to go alone, because they can concentrate on the movie. It sounds like they really enjoy going to the movies alone!
Here is the handout for last week's intermediate class.
Posted by English Garden at
14:12
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I like you just the way you are
2009年11月09日
Last week we talked about the pattern
the way S + V
which means あなたの何々の仕方
for example:
the way you smile
the way you laugh
the way you look at me
the way you think
For example, we can say things like:
I really like the way you smile.
The way you laugh is really strange.
I can't understand the way you think.
I like you just the way you are.
Also, there is a second way of using "way" (^_^)
way of ____ing
For example, there are many ways of cooking eggs.
Sunny side up 目玉焼き
Scrambled いり卵
Boiled ゆで卵
Poached 落とし卵.
People also have different ways of eating eggs. For example, when I eat sunny side up eggs, I always eat the egg white first, and leave the yolk until the end. I always eat the yolk in one bite. Other people like to crush the yolk first. I think that's a very strange way of eating sunny side up eggs.
By the way when I eat instant ramen I always put a poached egg inside. I was surprised that many people in Japan don't eat the same way as I do. They like to put other things inside such as onions, dried seaweed, and cabbage. I think those are strange ways of eating instant ramen!
Posted by English Garden at
16:54
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It's a hassle!
2009年11月09日
Hi everyone!
1. It's a hassle 面倒くさい
2. It's a waste of time 時間のもったいいない
3. It's fun / relaxing 楽しい、リラックスできる
In last week's beginner class I taught you three simple phrases.
1. It's a hassle 面倒くさい
2. It's a waste of time 時間のもったいいない
3. It's fun / relaxing 楽しい、リラックスできる
普通は"it"と使うけど、例えば「料理するのは面倒くさい」って言いたいなら、こういう感じ
Cooking is a hassle.
どんなことも、動詞に-ingをつけたらOK!
Talking is a hassle 話すのは面倒くさい
Talking to my husband is a hassle. 旦那さんと話すのは面倒くさい
Talking to my teacher is fun. 先生と話すのは楽しい。
Example:
A - Do you like cooking?
B - Kind of.
A - What do you mean?
A - Cooking is fun, but thinking about the menu is a hassle.
誘い方:
Why don't we... 何々しませんか？
A - Why don't we go for a drive?
B - No thank you.
A - Why not?
B - Going for a drive is a waste of time!
他の誘い方
How about going for a drive? ドライブはどう？
Let's go for a drive! ドライブしましょう！
Wanna go for a drive? ドライブしたい？
Posted by English Garden at
16:36
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Parties 2
2009年11月02日
Last week we talked about parties.
First, you know we had a halloween party two weeks ago.
Many people didn't come. So I asked you why!
Beginner - Why didn't you ...
Why didn't you come to the party? なぜパーティーに来なかったの？
I really wanted to come, but I had other plans. とても来たかったけど、他の予定がありました。
Here are some other common excuses:
I had work. 仕事あった。
I was busy. 忙しかった。
I was tied up with something. 忙しかった。
I had to go to a wedding. 結婚式に行かないといけなかった。
(I had to ...) 何々しないといけなかった
Intermediate - would have + p.p.
In intermediate we covered a more advanced way to express this feeling:
仕事がなかったら来たのに。
Why didn't you come to the party?
Sorry, I had work, but I really wanted to come! If I didn't have work, I would have come to the party.
This grammar is very difficult but important to master. It tells people how you really felt about the party. Here are some examples to look at:
A - If I didn't have other plans, I would've come!
B - Even if I didn't have other plans, I wouldn't have come!
Another question.
First, you know we had a halloween party two weeks ago.
Many people didn't come. So I asked you why!
Beginner - Why didn't you ...
Why didn't you come to the party? なぜパーティーに来なかったの？
I really wanted to come, but I had other plans. とても来たかったけど、他の予定がありました。
Here are some other common excuses:
I had work. 仕事あった。
I was busy. 忙しかった。
I was tied up with something. 忙しかった。
I had to go to a wedding. 結婚式に行かないといけなかった。
(I had to ...) 何々しないといけなかった
We also covered should have (すれば良かった), shouldn't have (しなければよかった) and I'm glad (してよかった).
Examples:
The party was so fun! You should've come!
パーティー超楽しかったよ！あなたも来れば良かったのに。
You're the teacher right? You shouldn't have left early!
あんた先生だろう？早く帰るべきじゃなかったよ！
The party was so fun! I'm really glad I came!
パーティー超楽しかったよ！来てよかった！
I don't like parties. I'm glad I didn't go.
パーティー好きじゃない。行かなくてよかった。
Intermediate - would have + p.p.
In intermediate we covered a more advanced way to express this feeling:
仕事がなかったら来たのに。
Why didn't you come to the party?
Sorry, I had work, but I really wanted to come! If I didn't have work, I would have come to the party.
This grammar is very difficult but important to master. It tells people how you really felt about the party. Here are some examples to look at:
If Mr. J came to the party, then I would've come.
If I didn't have to wear a costume, then I would've come.
For example, there are two people, A and B. Who really wanted to come to the party?
A - If I didn't have other plans, I would've come!
B - Even if I didn't have other plans, I wouldn't have come!
Another question.
A - I wore a costume.
B - I would've worn a costume
Which person, A or B, actually came to the party?
How would you say the following (about the party):
私のクラスの友達来たら、私も来ただろう。
Finally we covered some interesting vocabulary about party behavior. Some good phrases
You can't be serious!
That's no biggie!
put someone down
flirt with someone
never pays their share
butts into the conversation
Posted by English Garden at
10:05
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Halloween party
2009年10月27日
Last Saturday, we had the Halloween Party!
I tried to persuade many students to come. Even though many students said they wouldn't come, it turns out that quite a few people showed up! Also, quite a few students wore a costume. Some of them were unbelievable and unforgettable.
I know it's unfair that I didn't wear a costume, but it's just not my cup of tea. I tried wearing a skirt for about five minutes but it felt really weird and creepy!
I heard there was a second party, a third party, and even a fourth party! I really admire people who have the energy and stamina to go to so many parties in one night.
Please give your thanks to Hayley, Tom, and Youko for planning and preparing such a nice party! I didn't help with anything.
. And of course I want to thank all students for coming!
I tried to persuade many students to come. Even though many students said they wouldn't come, it turns out that quite a few people showed up! Also, quite a few students wore a costume. Some of them were unbelievable and unforgettable.
I know it's unfair that I didn't wear a costume, but it's just not my cup of tea. I tried wearing a skirt for about five minutes but it felt really weird and creepy!
I heard there was a second party, a third party, and even a fourth party! I really admire people who have the energy and stamina to go to so many parties in one night.
Please give your thanks to Hayley, Tom, and Youko for planning and preparing such a nice party! I didn't help with anything.
. And of course I want to thank all students for coming! Posted by English Garden at
01:38
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Want, make, and let
2009年10月27日
Last week in both Beginner and Intermediate class we talked about your parents using the verbs want, make and let.
Here is the handout
want somebody to do something
My mother wants me to buy an Audi for her.
(An Audi is a luxury European car)
make somebody do something
My parents made me go to Kumon when I was a child.
I absolutely hated Kumon.
let somebody do something
My parents didn't let me quit piano.
But now I feel thankful that they didn't let me quit.
There are many useful phrases that start with "let" in English. For example,
let me know
let me see
let me think about it
let me through
let me down
In intermediate class we also covered the word "persuade".
persuade someone to do something 説得
My mother persuaded me to study university in Toronto.
I tried to persuade people to come to the Halloween party.
On Saturday we also talked about Kumon. My parents made me go to Kumon when I was a child. But some people think Kumon is just mindless repetition. We often call these drills. Are drills really useful for a child's education?
I have mixed feelings about Kumon. On one hand, I think drills are very useful for particular activities like sports and math. One other hand I also think drills are sometimes pointless especially for language. I never learned Japanese through drills, but I admit that it might work for other people.
Here is the handout
want somebody to do something
My mother wants me to buy an Audi for her.
(An Audi is a luxury European car)
make somebody do something
My parents made me go to Kumon when I was a child.
I absolutely hated Kumon.
let somebody do something
My parents didn't let me quit piano.
But now I feel thankful that they didn't let me quit.
There are many useful phrases that start with "let" in English. For example,
let me know
let me see
let me think about it
let me through
let me down
In intermediate class we also covered the word "persuade".
persuade someone to do something 説得
My mother persuaded me to study university in Toronto.
I tried to persuade people to come to the Halloween party.
On Saturday we also talked about Kumon. My parents made me go to Kumon when I was a child. But some people think Kumon is just mindless repetition. We often call these drills. Are drills really useful for a child's education?
I have mixed feelings about Kumon. On one hand, I think drills are very useful for particular activities like sports and math. One other hand I also think drills are sometimes pointless especially for language. I never learned Japanese through drills, but I admit that it might work for other people.
Posted by English Garden at
01:21
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Girl next door
2009年10月20日
On Saturday's night class, we talked about the phrase "girl next door"
Please check the SPACEALC's entry for "girl next door" (this is one of the best online dictionaries, in my opinion)
This is a phrase that men sometimes use when they talk about girls. We use it to describe a girl's personality and appearance, like
"She's the girl next door type"
There is no easy Japanese translation for this, but generally speaking a "girl next door type" is a girl that is cute,charming, pure, and innocent. It has a very positive meaning, because it means that you feel very close or familiar to that girl. It feels as if you grew up next to her house, and it feels as if you have known her all your life.
Today in class a student pointed out that the "girl next door type" is different for every person. This is probably true! So if I say someone is a "girl next door type", it's possible that other people don't think so.
Please check the SPACEALC's entry for "girl next door" (this is one of the best online dictionaries, in my opinion)
This is a phrase that men sometimes use when they talk about girls. We use it to describe a girl's personality and appearance, like
"She's the girl next door type"
There is no easy Japanese translation for this, but generally speaking a "girl next door type" is a girl that is cute,charming, pure, and innocent. It has a very positive meaning, because it means that you feel very close or familiar to that girl. It feels as if you grew up next to her house, and it feels as if you have known her all your life.
Today in class a student pointed out that the "girl next door type" is different for every person. This is probably true! So if I say someone is a "girl next door type", it's possible that other people don't think so.
Posted by English Garden at
01:16
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Work
2009年10月20日
Hi everybody!
Here are the handouts:
Work (Beginner)
Work (Intermediate)
In beginner class we combined the following expressions to talk about work in the past:
When I was…
「何々」の時に
I used to…
昔に「何々」をした。
When I was in high school, I used to work at MOS Burger.
When I was in university, I used to be a waitress.
In intermediate class we introduced the phrase "I can't imagine".
Usually we use this phrase like this:
I can't imagine that.
（想像できない！）
I can't imagine being a farmer.
（「自分が」農家になるなんて想像できない）
I can't imagine her being a farmer.
（彼女が農家になるなんて想像できない）
Last week, we talked about work, especially part-time work.
Please remember when you say "work", don't confuse it with "walk".
"Work" sounds like "werk"
"Walk" sounds like "wok"
It is very difficult to master the pronunciation!
Did you know that in Canada having a part-time job isn't as common as it is in Japan? My family and the people around me regarded part-time jobs as something that low-class people did. So I never had a part-time job, but now I kind of regret it, because I think you can learn many interesting things by doing such kinds of work. When I was in university, all I did was study, study, study!
Here are the handouts:
Work (Beginner)
Work (Intermediate)
In beginner class we combined the following expressions to talk about work in the past:
When I was…
「何々」の時に
I used to…
昔に「何々」をした。
When I was in high school, I used to work at MOS Burger.
When I was in university, I used to be a waitress.
In intermediate class we introduced the phrase "I can't imagine".
Usually we use this phrase like this:
I can't imagine that.
（想像できない！）
I can't imagine being a farmer.
（「自分が」農家になるなんて想像できない）
I can't imagine her being a farmer.
（彼女が農家になるなんて想像できない）
Last week, we talked about work, especially part-time work.
Please remember when you say "work", don't confuse it with "walk".
"Work" sounds like "werk"
"Walk" sounds like "wok"
It is very difficult to master the pronunciation!
Did you know that in Canada having a part-time job isn't as common as it is in Japan? My family and the people around me regarded part-time jobs as something that low-class people did. So I never had a part-time job, but now I kind of regret it, because I think you can learn many interesting things by doing such kinds of work. When I was in university, all I did was study, study, study!
Posted by English Garden at
01:06
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I was born and raised in Toronto!
2009年10月12日
How was your long weekend?
Last week, we talked about where you were born and where you grew up.
I was born in Toronto
I grew up in Toronto.
I was born and raised in Toronto
I've been living in Okinawa for more than three years now. To tell the truth, I don't miss Toronto so much. I miss the food a little, and I miss snow a little, but I can live without either one.
Actually, I already miss summer very much! This weekend I went snorkeling three days in a row, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Even though it was very fun, the water was unbearably cold! I had to wear a wetsuit, which is kind of uncomfortable for me. On Monday I went to Cape Maeda, and I was more or less okay. Maybe I got used to the cold.
In the future I would like to settle down somewhere in Haebaru. Haebaru is similar to Tomishiro, except the tax isn't so high. It's more or a less a rural area. My impression of Haebaru is something like this:
However one person said their impression of Haebaru is pachinkos. I thought he was joking, but come to think of it, that's kind of true. What's your impression of Haebaru?
BEGINNER CLASS
rural
urban
downtown
suburbs
miss: Do you miss your hometown?
だいたい
more or less
I'm more or less an Okinawa person.
Haebaru is more or less a rural area.
ある／いる
"there is"
"there are"
There are no Tsutayas or Kanehides on Yonaguni Island.
There are quite a few homeless people in the Nishi-Nariku suburb of Osaka.
昔、「 」した
I used to…
I used to play video games everyday in Toronto.
「 」がないとだめ。
I can't live without...
I can't live without coffee!
そう言われてみると
Now that you mention it...
Come to think of it...
INTERMEDIATE CLASS
私のイメージは
My impression of _______ is (that):
My impression of Tokyo is that it's a crowded city
気持ちが複雑
I have mixed feelings about…
I have mixed feelings about Toronto. On one hand, I grew up there, on the other hand, I was very lonely every day!
落ち着く
settle down
Please settle down, everybody!
I want to settle down in Okinawa in the future.
It's about time to settle down.
衰える
deteriorate
Many buildings in Okinawa City are deteriorating.
If you don't practice everyday, your skills will deteriorate.
Last week, we talked about where you were born and where you grew up.
I was born in Toronto
I grew up in Toronto.
I was born and raised in Toronto
I've been living in Okinawa for more than three years now. To tell the truth, I don't miss Toronto so much. I miss the food a little, and I miss snow a little, but I can live without either one.
Actually, I already miss summer very much! This weekend I went snorkeling three days in a row, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday. Even though it was very fun, the water was unbearably cold! I had to wear a wetsuit, which is kind of uncomfortable for me. On Monday I went to Cape Maeda, and I was more or less okay. Maybe I got used to the cold.
In the future I would like to settle down somewhere in Haebaru. Haebaru is similar to Tomishiro, except the tax isn't so high. It's more or a less a rural area. My impression of Haebaru is something like this:
However one person said their impression of Haebaru is pachinkos. I thought he was joking, but come to think of it, that's kind of true. What's your impression of Haebaru?
BEGINNER CLASS
rural
urban
downtown
suburbs
miss: Do you miss your hometown?
だいたい
more or less
I'm more or less an Okinawa person.
Haebaru is more or less a rural area.
ある／いる
"there is"
"there are"
There are no Tsutayas or Kanehides on Yonaguni Island.
There are quite a few homeless people in the Nishi-Nariku suburb of Osaka.
昔、「 」した
I used to…
I used to play video games everyday in Toronto.
「 」がないとだめ。
I can't live without...
I can't live without coffee!
そう言われてみると
Now that you mention it...
Come to think of it...
INTERMEDIATE CLASS
私のイメージは
My impression of _______ is (that):
My impression of Tokyo is that it's a crowded city
気持ちが複雑
I have mixed feelings about…
I have mixed feelings about Toronto. On one hand, I grew up there, on the other hand, I was very lonely every day!
落ち着く
settle down
Please settle down, everybody!
I want to settle down in Okinawa in the future.
It's about time to settle down.
衰える
deteriorate
Many buildings in Okinawa City are deteriorating.
If you don't practice everyday, your skills will deteriorate.
Posted by English Garden at
21:01
│Comments(2)
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