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Sleep

Sleep deprivation

Please follow the link above and read the article, then make a short presentation about it for class. Then think of some questions to ask your classmates about sleep in general.

Five Minute Presentation

For class, prepare two five minute presentations, one concerning your career and another about an interest that you have.

_______

Bonus Material One

大阪城と二条城の雰囲気と形は違うが、美しさは同じだと思う。これを英語では、

Their atmosphere and shape are different, but Osaka castle is as beautiful as Nijo Castle, と言います。

でも、「大阪城より姫路城の方が美しいです」と言いたい時、たいてい日本人は “Himeji Castle is more beautiful than Osaka Castle” と言います。これだと、英語では『雰囲気は姫路城はとても美しいですけど、大阪城はあまり美しくない』と言っている事になります。でも、もちろん大阪城にも美しさはありますので、”Osaka Castle isn't as beautiful as Himeji Castle” と原級比較の否定形を使った方が、ニュアンスは正確に伝わります。

例えば

Sashimi is as delicious as sushi.

Sushi is more delicious than natto.

Generally, British food isn't as delicious as Japanese food.

They are different, but the British Autumn is as beautiful as the Japanese Autumn.

The summer is more humid in Tokyo than in London.

Kyoto isn't as cold as Birmingham in the winter.

Bonus Material Two

Climate Change

Please watch the video and make a small presentation about it. Then think of five questions to ask your classmates about climate change. Finally, make a short presentation about your views about the action needed to fight climate change.

Practice makes Perfect

Please watch the video and make a presentation about it. Then make a second presentation about how you have practised something in the past, but it MUST NOT be about practising English.

Bonus Material 

 英語の冠詞はちょっと難しいけど、大切な事なので、勉強しましょう。今朝、珈琲館に行った。その珈琲館で美味しい朝御飯を食べた。英語で、

This morning I went to a coffee shop. I ate a delicious breakfast there.
通常の文法では「Coffeeshop」は数えられる名詞なので、最初「a/an」を使う。その後、「the」を使う。
生徒たちは僕の事をよく知っているので、みんな「ジョンは上島珈琲に行った」と推測すると思う。そういった場合「This morning I went to the coffee shop. I ate a delicious breakfast there」の方が文法的に良い。理由は、聞き手と話し手の間で、すでに店が特定されているからです。また、話し手である自分にとって大切な場合も、最初から「the」を使います。例えば、銀行、病院、駅とか郵便局。
I went to the bank
I need to go to the hospital
Every day, I go to the station.
I have to go to the post office

冠詞のミスをしても英語は通じますが、もしちゃんと使えれば、よりカッコいいので頑張ってください。

Keeping Languages Alive

1. How many Celtic languages have you heard of?  
2. Do you know any Celtic words or phrases?
3. Before watching this video, did you consider Celtic languages to be: alive and flourishing; gradually dying out or dead?
4. Do you think that speakers of Celtic languages use them as a first language or a second language?
5. Do you think that those speakers would be completely bi-lingual in English and their Celtic language or would one language be stronger?
6. Can technology help keep a language alive, by allowing it to evolve?
7. Is it natural for languages to die out or should they be saved? 

Bonus Material 

Reading English

At university, I studied educational psychology, but I am very sceptical about a lot of research, how much of that research ever makes a real difference in the classroom? In Britain, primary school starts at five years old and reading is the first priority.  My older brother and sister learned to read quickly, but I made no progress at all because the style of teaching had changed. My mother noticed this and she taught me to read. Without her help, I truly believe I would have been illiterate. But my writing skills lagged behind, luckily my history teacher (Graham Wigley) in secondary school, during his own time helped me improve. A large part of my work now is helping Japanese academics with their English writing and presentations, I could never have been able to do this without the help of my mother and history teacher, I am truly grateful to them. So literacy is a very important subject for me. Japanese people often tell me that reading English is difficult, but if you watch the video above, you can see that it can also be difficult for native English speakers.

For class:

• Watch the video.
• Make a short presentation about it.
• Think of five questions to ask me.
• Make a second presentation about how you think this way of teaching English reading could be useful or not useful for Japanese learners of English.

1999年に日本に来た。その時、僕は新しい英語の教師。その上日本語が出来なかったので、「I had to sink or swim」！その表現の意味は、もし頑張らなかったら、失敗するだろ。時々、新しい教師は船のように沈んだが、たいてい新しい教師は泳げた。いろいろな状況にネイティブスピーカーは「sink or swim」を使う。例えば、試験を受ける、運転免許試験を受ける、会社に入るとか外国で英語を使う。1999年4月成田空港に 着いた。成田では元会社、NOVA英会話の広告が多かった。理由はたくさんの日本人は国に帰った時、英語の能力に失望したので、英会話学校に入りたい。その時NOVA英会話では「VOICE ROOM」があった。その部屋は教室じゃなくて、会話の部屋だった。教室は安全な部屋だけど、失敗する可能性があるので、生徒さんにとって 「VOICE ROOM」はちょっと怖かった。でも、もし「VOICEROOM」でよく失敗したら、英語が上手になった。もし外国に行って、英語を失敗したら、悲しい事は、日本で教室以外、英語をよく使えない。去年から、僕はいろいろな英語のイベントを作っている。今年も京都、神戸と名古屋でたくさんのイベントを作るつもり。今年の最初のイベントはインド料理のランチだが、人気があるので、完売した。二番目のイベントは17日8時から京都のMan in the Moon六角店である。もし興味があったら、連絡してください。

Christmas Traditions

Christmas traditions are different all around the world. Please follow the link to find out about some European Christmas traditions. Then, please make three presentations, two about Christmas traditions in Europe and one about a Japanese winter tradition.
Christmas Traditions

Bonus Material

最近、僕の好きなパン屋、「PAUL」で朝ごはんを食べた。今、クリスマスツリーがある。京都ではたくさんの美しいクリスマスツリーがあるが、この懐かしくて伝統てなクリスマスツリーが大好き。ヨーロッパではクリスマスツリーの文化は大切で、すごく歴史的。クリスマスよりクリスマスツリーの方が古い文化。最初にクリスマスツリーは冬至の特別で大切な物だった。僕はキリスト人じゃないので、冬至ツリーが大好き。
Recently, I ate breakfast at Paul, a bakery that I like. Now, there is a Christmas tree there. In Kyoto, there are a lot of beautiful Christmas trees, but I really like this nostalgic and traditional one. Christmas tree culture in Europe is important and very historical. In fact, Christmas tree culture is older than Christmas. At first, the Christmas tree was a special and important Winter Solstice object. I am not a Christian, so I like the Winter Solstice Tree.

 

 

Superstitions

Please watch the video and make a presentation about it. Then make a presentation about three Japanese superstitions.

Bonus Material

あまり健康的じゃないけど、時々チェリオを飲む。ボトルで「Since 1965」が書かれている。僕は「Since 1963」！ 日本人にとって「since と for」の文法は難しいと思う。「Since」の場合、特別な時間からの事、例えば、

I have lived in Japan since 1999.

1999年から、日本に住んでいる。

I have not drunk alcohol since November 1st.

11月１日から、お酒を飲んでいない。

「For」の場合、何かを数える。例えば、

I have lived in Japan for almost twenty years.

ほぼ20年、日本に住んでいる。

I haven’t drunk alcohol for 38 days.

38日間、お酒を飲んでいない。

What not to say

1. How do you rate this video by Gabby Wallace?
2. What did you learn from this video?
3. Do you think all native English speakers would agree with her?
4. From seeing this video, would you like to see more of her videos?
5. What do you like about her teaching style?
6. How would you like her to change her teaching style?
7. In your opinion, who is this video aimed at?

For class write a presentation about six things that you think non-native Japanese speakers should not say or do during a conversation in Japanese.

Bonus Material 

ほとんどの日本人はお寿司が好き。もし英語でその文を話したら、たいてい日本人は「Almost Japanese people like sushi〉と言うが、英語でその文は意味がない。ネイティブスピーカーは「Almost all Japanese people like sushi」と言う。もし「all」がなかったら、意味もない。

JR電車以外、ほとんどの日本の電車は定刻。

Except for JR trains, almost all Japanese trains are on time.

ほとんどの日本人は京都に行ったことがある。

Almost all Japanese people have been to Kyoto.

ほとんどない場合、「no」が要る。例えば。

納豆が好きなイギリス人はほとんどない。

Almost no British people like natto.

ほとんどのイギリス人が日本語を話せない。

Almost no British people speak Japanese.

もし英語で「ほとんど」を話したかったら、絶対「all」か「no」が要る。もし「Almost」だけを話したら、意味がほとんどない。

 

１月９日はレッスンがありませんが、もし6人から9人までランチのイベントに行きたかったら、僕はインド料理の店を予約する。イベントはレッスンじゃなくて、楽しい会話のチャンス。イベントの値段は1000円とランチ代。もし興味があったら、

早く連絡してください。

Music

1. How did the video make you feel?
2. What is happening in the video?
3. Why do you think it is happening?
4. Why do all cultures have music?
5. How important is music for you?
6. Is music good for our mental health?
7. Is music good for our physical health?
8. How important is music in education?
9. Can you imagine a life without music?
10. What is music?

 Bonus Material

カレーとライスはよく似合うね。たいてい日本人は英語で「curry and rice match」と言うが、ネイティブスピーカーは他の表現を使う。一番自然は「curry and rice go well together」。服も大丈夫、例えば「Your shirt and tie go well together」。本当に自然な英語の表現だが、カップルの場合、「They go well together」より「They are a good match」の方が自然。

This hotels name made me laugh. I think most British people would laugh. In British English "cross" sometimes means a little angry. It is usually a word adults say to children. For example: "If you do not stop being noisy, I will get cross".

________

もし興味があったら、私のビデオを見てください。

Are you a Vlogger?

Please watch the video and answer the questions

1. What is your impression of the video?
2. What was the most impressive part of the video for you?
3. What kind of YouTube videos do you watch?
4. Do you watch videos on YouTube in English or Japanese?
5.  Can vloggers (YouTubers) create social change?

Now, please make a presentation  for class, imagine you are going to become a vlogger:

1. What would be your theme?
2. What would three different videos be about?
3. Would you use Japanese or English?
4. What kind of people would be your audience?
5. Do you think that you would enjoy being a vlogger?

 If you would like, please make a video for class, it can have any theme.

Bonus Video

 

How important is grammar?

1. Why do languages have grammar?
2. What are the differences between prescriptive linguistics and descriptive linguistics? 
3. Is standard Japanese the true Japanese?
4. What are the disadvantages of striving for perfect English grammar?
5. What are the disadvantages of NOT striving for perfect English grammar?
6. What kind of Native English speaker do you want to talk with?
7. Can you tailor your English to speak to a variety of Native English speakers?
8. How should your English teacher empower you to be successful in communicating in English?
9. What are your experiences of communicating in Japanese with people from other countries?
10. Can you understand a Japanese person's background by the Japanese they use? 

私はイギリスのパブ、MAN IN THE MOON六角と一緒に新しいイベントを作っています。名前は「お喋りMEET UP」です。英語と日本語を話すイベントです。この楽しいイベントに来ませんか？

本当にいいチャンスです。

来てね！

Japanese Work Culture

Please watch this American news broadcast about Japanese work culture.

1. Is this good and true journalism?
2. Do you think this is unbiased reporting?
3. What would you change, add or remove from this broadcast?
4. What are your opinions about Japanese work culture?

Think about the questions above and prepare a presentation for class.

Bonus Material

英語ではいろいろな火のイディオムがある。例えば「Breathe Fire」、火を吐く！意味は非常に怒っている。イギリスの龍は怖くて火を吐くので、もし誰かが「breathe fire〉をしたら、その人は龍のように怒っている。例えば、

“My mother was very kind, but sometimes she could breathe fire”.

「Fire in the belly」、お腹の中に火がある。意味はとても強く決める。例えば、

“He has a fire in his belly to pass the examination”

“I have a fire in my belly”はちょっと変。もし自分の事を話したら、"I am determined to pass the examination".

「Light a fire under someone」、誰かの下に火をともす。意味は誰かに熱心にやる気を与える。例えば、

At first, I was lazy at university, but my girlfriend lit a fire under me, so I started to study hard.

Bonus Video

お喋りMEET UPを知っていますか？

Bilingualism

Please watch the video and make a presentation of your ideas about bilingualism.

Symbolism

1. Please watch the video below. Then make a short talk about the symbolism of Ying and Yang. Also, include what you have learnt about Taoism and your opinions.
2. Now take a look at the picture above. It has many elements: a flowing river; a pathway along the river; a bridge spanning the river; tall trees standing near the river; a large cloud floating in the sky and tall buildings in the distance. Choose one of these elements and create a talk about its symbolism for you. 

Bonus Video

広告

英語のィベントを作っています。レストランで晩御飯を食べながら、英語で楽しい会話をします。最初は25日インド料理の店に行きます。値段は二千円と自分の食べ物と飲み物の料金です。五人だけがイベントに参加できますので、もし興味があったら、早く連絡してくれませんか。

残り二席❗❗もし行きたかったら、

早く連絡してください。

Crying to release stress

Please read the article below from The Japan Times and prepare a presentation about it, with your own ideas. Also, think of some questions to ask in class.

 

Stressed? Many Japanese schools and companies are encouraging people to cry to boost mental health

An increasing number of schools and companies in Japan are encouraging their students and employees to cry as a way of relieving stress and improving mental health.
Tears of sadness and happiness are believed to reduce stress, as the act of crying relaxes autonomic nerves by stimulating parasympathetic nerve activity, according to experts.
“Crying is an act of self-defence against accumulating stresses,” says Junko Umihara, professor at Nippon Medical School.
For 5½ years, former high school teacher Hidefumi Yoshida, 43, who calls himself a “Namida sensei” (“tears teacher”), has organized activities and lectured at schools and companies across the country to help people discover the benefits of crying.
He came to recognize those benefits after one of his former students stopped showing up for consultations after the pupil had opened up and shed tears.
“The act of crying is more effective than laughing or sleeping in reducing stress,” Yoshida says.
Working with Hideho Arita, professor emeritus at the Faculty of Medicine at Toho University, and others, Yoshida launched activities in 2014 to raise people’s awareness about the health benefits of crying.
In 2015, Japan introduced a mandatory stress-check program for companies with 50 or more employees and other entities.
Since then, Yoshida has received a flood of requests from companies and schools to give lectures. In the past couple of years, he has visited hundreds of venues for lectures and other activities.
According to Yoshida, it’s important to create opportunities to cry by watching tear-jerking movies, listening to emotive music or reading inspiring books. “If you cry once a week, you can live a stress-free life.”
On Sept. 7, Yoshida gave a lecture at private Osaka High School in the Kansai metropolis, with 79 second-grade students taking part. After watching a tear-jerker, they wrote and read out essays in order to induce tears.
“I think I should hold nothing back when I cry,” student Ryohei Tsuda, 17, said after the event.
“It is good to cry to reduce stress,” Naito Sugimoto, 17, said.

Bonus Video

広告

Are you contagious?

1. Why do we look at someone's hands the first time we meet them?
2. Why do you think Ted talks with more hand gestures are more popular? 
3. Do you think our feelings are contagious?
4. Which two micro-expressions did she talk about?
5. What are some good conversation starters?
6. What does "that begs the question mean"?
7. What does "frenemy" mean?

For class please prepare a short presentation, it can be about any subject. But you cannot read out notes and you have to use lots of hand gestures.

Bonus Video

 

新しい英語のィベントを作っています。毎月レストランで晩御飯を食べながら、英語で楽しい会話をします。最初は25日インド料理の店に行きます。値段は二千円と自分の食べ物と飲み物の料金です。五人だけがイベントに参加できますので、もし興味があったら、早く連絡してくれませんか。

Positive Talk

1. What is your impression of this seventeen-year old's talk?
2. How could she improve it?
3. Is she special or could any seventeen-year-old student create a Tedx talk?
4. When is the best age to start giving talks?
5. In your own words, explain her message.

 If you were going to give a Tedx talk, what would it be about? Create a talk about that subject for class, it should be about ten minutes long.

Bonus Video

 

Dreams

1. Choose three of the reasons that we dream, from the video, and make a presentation for class.
2. Describe a dream that you have had, it can be a recent dream or a past one.
3. "Dream" can also mean a hope for the future, so prepare a presentation about your dream for the future. 

Bonus Video