Kevin`s School Days

Can you guess which one I am?

The Guests of Chris & Erika`s Wedding

Here is another shot of the wedding.

Chris & Erika`s Wedding

One of our former teachers and a good friend got married to
a lovely Japanese lady.

Chris and Erika Congratulations!

It was a very nice wedding and Chris`s sense of humour showed through!

文法によくある１０の間違い

文法によくある１０の間違い


10 common Grammar mistakes

文法によくある１０の間違い

これらは、文法によくある１０の間違いです。今後はきちんとこれらを理解し、
よりよい印象を与えられるようにしましょう。
（http:www.thestranger.com/2002-09-26/ex9.htmlより要約、簡素化）

1) It's vs Its
It'sは、'it is'を意味しています。（it's cold, のように）
時に、'it has'(It has come to thisのように）を意味することもあります。
逆に、'Its' は、その所有物であることを指します。
（The bear wiped its paw on the rabbit　のように）

2) アポストロフィー
アポストロフィーは、複数形を構成することはなく、所有格を構成します。
（例えば、'Fred's' は、Fredの所有しているものを指します。'Freds'は、Fredという名前の人がいっぱいいることです）

3) He does that well vs Trump's hair looks good
実際、単純に考えて見ましょう。'well'は動詞を説明している副詞です。
（you throw, run, or hit well のように）
ですが、your mom is a good person の 'good' は形容詞で、名詞を説明している単語です。

4) Literally
本当に起こっている行動、活動について説明をしていない場合、'literally' は使わないこと。
その場合、なぜそれを使うのか？起こっていることを言うだけでいいのです。


5) Me and I
'That's between my girlfriend and me' が正解です。
ここにはシンプルなトリックがあります。文章から相手（my girlfriend) を取ります。
'that's between I' と言いませんか？
なお、逆の作用もあります。'My dad and me went to the game' は間違いです。
'Me went to the game' とは言いませんよね。

6) You're vs Your
とても重要です！　'You're ' は　'You are'　の意味です。('you are sexy' のように）
'Your' はあなたの所有しているものの意味です。('Your friend is sexy' のように）
'Your welcome' は間違いです。

7) They're, There, Their
'They're' は 'They are' の意味です。（'They are old enough to know how to spell' のように）
'There' は'there' を意味しています。('Over there', or 'There, there...', or 'There you go' のように）
'Their' はそれらに属しているという意味です。('Their grammar is an embarrassment' のように）

8) Who and Whom
'who'= he/she, 'whom'=him/her というルールがあります。
質問の答えが、その手がかりを教えてくれます。
'Who is that?' 'He is that.'
'With whom did you go to the show?'　I went to the show with her.（私は彼女とショーを見に行った）



9) 分離不定詞
分離不定詞＋副詞（'to boldly go' のように）はある程度受け入れられており、時には適していることもあります。
これに関しては、それほど悩む必要はありません。

10) 文章の最後につく前置詞
専門的にいうと、文章の最後に前置詞をおくことはとんどしないでしょう。
ですが、このルールにかなり気を配り、いらいらしていた人物が１人います。
'What did you come up with?' は、'Up with what did you come?' よりも分かりやすいですからね。

Sean Nelson 書

Translated by Ayako Sugai

Tal Ben Shahar on Educating our Children

"He (the student) is constantly reminded by his parents
and teachers that the purpose of going to school is to get good
grades so that he can secure his future. He is not told that he
should be happy in school or that learning can be--and ought to be
--fun."

--Tal Ben Shahar, Ph.D

How to Improve your English

Pictured: A Penguin graded reader, reading graded readers is a
fantastic and fun way to improve your English.

By Kevin Burns


Make the decision to do it! As Nike says: "Just Do it!"

Use your will to study, even when you don`t want to. Even when you don`t feel
motivated that day.

Watch Movies


Watching old black and white movies is probably best as they don`t use much slang,
and they don`t have things blowing up every two seconds! The actors also speak
clearly.

Another idea is to watch a movie that you know. But this time, watch it in English.
If you watched it in Japanese before, now set the DVD to English, with
English subtitles. Or if you are more confident, just listen to the English (with no
Subtitles). This well help your listening.

Don`t translate as you listen. Do your best to think in English. You can do it!
You don`t need to understand everything. Try to get the just of the meaning.

As your listening ability improves, select movies that you really want to watch,
and enjoy them in English. Don`t use the Japanese subtitles.

If you have trouble understanding British accents. Then choose British movies for the
next few months.

Really any TV program you would like to watch will improve your English. Soap
operas are also good as the acting is very exaggerated and the English is easier.

Some of my students watch Prision Break, Lost or 24 because they love those kinds of shows.
But again, don`t watch them in Japanese. Watch them in English only!

Read Books

In children`s books, the vocabulary and grammar is easier, plus it is a fun change from normal study.
children`s books too can give you valuable insight to the culture of the country
and what parents think their children should learn about morals and values.
kind of a mini-lesson in culture.

Some of my students read Harry Potter and other books in English. You can also
borrow easy books in English from the library. These are called graded readers.
They are published by companies like Cambridge and Oxford University Press.
You should choose books where you know 95% or more of the vocabulary.

You should read for enjoyment. If the book is too difficult and you have to
constantly look up new words in the dictionary, you will probably give up.

These books usually come in six levels. Choose a very easy level for yourself,
then gradually choose more difficult books as your English improves.

One day you will be able to read any book in English and enjoy it!



Get a Job!

Find a job where English is spoken. Japan is changing very quickly, with more
and more non-Japanese living here. As well, the Japanese Ministry of Tourism
is trying to increase the number of tourists coming to Japan.

Areas where non-Japanese live like Shin Okubo, Roppongi, Hiro in Tokyo require
English speakers. There are areas throughout Japan (even in Hokkaido) where
many non-Japanese live. Live and work amongst them, and improve your English!

The major tourist spots of Japan require people who can speak English.
waiters, sales staff, hotel staff, bar staff, tour companies all require English speakers.
Why not make some money and practice English for free?

You will quickly learn the English necessary for your job. Then you can
even do small talk with customers. Non-Japanese love small talk.
With the internet it has become easier for Japanese to meet people from abroad online.
Of course you have to be careful. But corresponding by Email can be another
great way to improve your English skills.

Japanese tend to worry about making mistakes. DON`T!

Mistakes are necessary for improvement. Think about when you were a baby.
You had to fall many times before you could learn to walk.

Valuable Phrases:

How do you say this in English? (Point to object)

How do you say tori in English? Bird

Once more please.

Sorry could you repeat that please?

Could you speak more slowly please?

Finally

Enjoy the process. Learning English should be fun, keep it that way by making it your hobby.
You will improve over the years, and the world will open to you.

Henry Adams said...

"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his
influence stops."