Monday, June 25th  “Listening Skill”

A student of mine told me something that made me feel happy.  She said that she kept listening to Simple English program on NHK and now she can understand most of what’s said.  She made an important point about how she practiced it.  She said that listening to it carelessly will not improve your English skill.  You have to listen to it carefully.  I feel she’s completely right.  Basically, improving by「聞き流し」is a big lie.  There’s no way you can get better by listening in that way.   

There are three reasons why English learners have trouble with listening.

1.  You don’t understand all words. 

It’s obvious but if you don’t understand the words, you’ll never understand what is being said.  Therefore, it’s important to look up words you don’t understand.  In other words, you’ll need to have the text of the recording and study it. 

2. You don’t know how it sounds. 

If you are used to pronouncing the word differently from the way it should be pronounced, you might not be able to hear the words.  It’s important to say the words like the recording.  Students should read along with the recording and get used to pronouncing the words correctly. 

3. You can’t understand it fast enough.

You might understand all words but if you can’t understand the meaning quickly enough, you’ll end up not understanding it. Again, the best practice is to read out loud with the recording.  

The conclusion is reading out loud with the recording is the best way to improve your listening skill.  I know it’s a lot of work but I’m sure it’ll be worth it. Keep it up!

carelessly 「適当に」

There’s no way… 「ありえない、」

obvious 「明らかに」

read along 「〜と一緒に読む」

read out loud 「音読する」

Wednesday, June 27th   “Thai Food”

I love all kinds of food.  I recently went to a Thai restaurant near my school.  It’s called Chojyamachi Packuchi (長者町パクチー).  Thai restaurants can be expensive sometimes but this restaurant is rather cheap.  I went with several people this time so I was able to order a lot of kinds of food.  My favorite Thai food is green curry.  The reason why is that it’s made from coconut.   Coconut has such a unique flavor.  I don’t know why there aren’t more coconut flavored food.  They should make coconut flavored pasta, or coconut flavored soup, or coconut flavored toothpaste will be cool.  I’m sure there are coconut fans like me out there in the world.  They will all buy coconut flavored toothpaste.  Brushing our teeth will be so much fun!!

Anyway, here are some pictures of the Thai food.  I forgot to take a picture of Green Curry!  I was too busy eating it!!

rather 「結構」

several 「5~7」

The reason why 「その理由は」

toothpaste 「歯磨き粉」

Friday, June 29th   “Bathing Suit”

It’s getting hot enough to go swimming.  This summer I’ll probably go swimming to keep fit.  There are two types of swimming.  One is for fun with your friends.  You go to places like Nagashima or the nearby beach.  The other is for keeping fit.  For that one, you go to the local city swimming pool.  I checked out the city pool website and I found out that there were a lot of rules.  For example, you need to wear a swimming cap.  I did not have one so I had to go to Amazon to get one.  Since the cap and bottom should match I bought one that includes a cap, goggles, and a bathing suit.  I think I’ll look ridiculous with them on but there’s nothing I could do about that. 

In Japan, I feel you have to have a particular outfit for each situation.  For example, when people go jogging, everyone has a nice jogging outfit.  When people go hiking, they have nice hiking outfit.  Going swimming at a local swimming pool is no different.  You have to look a particular way.  I guess I won’t be able to go to the local pool in my bikinis.   👙

bathing suit 「水着」

ridiculous 「馬鹿馬鹿しい」

there’s nothing I could do 「しょうがない」

particular outfit 「特定の目的の為の服装」