上級英語を勉強しましょう。

Saturday, 21 July 2018

Sunday, 15 July 2018

Good Conversation

Please read the questions below and check any words you do not know in a dictionary, then watch the video and after answer the questions.

Why do you think teenagers, these days, prefer texting to face to face conversations?
In conversation why is "not multitasking" and "being in the moment" important?
What does Celeste Headlee mean by "pontificate" and why does she feel it is bad?
Why are open-ended questions better for conversation and how could closed questions be a problem?
What does she mean by "go with the flow"?
Is it important to say "I don't know", if you don't know?
Celeste Headlee advises not to equate, what does she mean by this?
Why is repeating condescending in conversation?
How can giving too many details be counter-productive?
For Celeste Headlee, why is listening, her most important point?
Why is "to be brief" important?

Below are four quotes from the video, choose one and use it as the title for a three-minute talk to give in class.

"Everyone you ever meet knows something you do not know". (Bill Nye)
"If your mouth is open, you are not learning". (Buddha paraphrase)
"A good conversation is like a mini skirt, short enough to retain interest, but long enough to cover the subject". (Celeste Headlee's sister)
Be prepared to be amazed". (Celeste Headlee)

Finally, think of three specific questions to ask me about how you can improve your conversation in English.

Saturday, 7 July 2018

Please watch the above video and prepare a talk about it for class. You need to explain: the main concepts of the video; what surprised you about the video and your opinions about the video.

Now watch the video below showing the recent weather in Kyoto and think of some questions to ask me about it. Do you think these were natural weather conditions or caused by climate change? Make a short talk about your opinions.

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英語ではしご酒に行きませんか？イギリスのパブ文化「PUB CRAWL」=はしご酒は人気があります。京都ではたくさんのイギリス風のパブがあります。だからイギリスのようなはしご酒が出来ます。もしネイティブスピーカーと一緒にはしご酒を楽しんだら、英語を話すチャンスがたくさんあります。その上８人だけそのイベントに参加が出来ます。3つのパブに行くので、違う雰囲気が楽しめます。歩くときも楽しい会話が出来ます。７月21日(土曜日)７時～3つの有名な京都のパブに行きます。イベントの値段は2000円+パブで自分のドリンクを買ってください。もし興味があったら、連絡してください。

Saturday, 30 June 2018

Stories

How do you feel about this video?
What is a single story and why is it dangerous?
How do you imagine the continent of Africa?

Prepare a story for class about an aspect of Japan, that you believe is not known in other parts of the world.

Please watch the video and then think of some questions to ask me about it. After that please think of a place that has a bad reputation for something, that to a certain degree is true, but the place also has some good aspects. Prepare a talk for the class about the good and bad aspects of that place.

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Saturday, 23 June 2018

Strange Experiences

Please watch the above video and think of some questions to ask me about it. Then choose a title from below and prepare a talk for class:

A strange experience for me was...
A mysterious experience for me was...
An interesting experience for me was...
A thought-provoking experience for me was...

Then prepare a second talk comparing the eighteen-year-old you and the present day you, to give in class.

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Friday, 15 June 2018

What makes you different?

Please watch the video and answer the questions

How did this video make you feel?
What makes you different?
What makes you feel special?

Some useful English expressions from the video

To put on a brave face: During a time when you are sad, scared, unwell or unconfident you try to do your best at something.
You never know what the future holds: This phrase is used when we want to emphasise that the future can not be predicted.
That is when it hit me: Suddenly you understand somethings true meaning, that you had not realised at first.

Video grammar lesson: Even though... even if...