Showing posts with label learning. Show all posts
Showing posts with label learning. Show all posts

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Book Review 2-14 “New Zealand”

I read “New Zealand”. I’m interested in New Zealand now, because I’m going to go there in next summer vacation. I’m going to stay at a host family’s house. I haven’t been to foreign country alone. I am filled with anxiety about the trip. So I’ll investigate the local culture, history and people. In this book, there are many informations about New Zealand. Today, I’ll gather them.


New Zealand is in the South Pacific Ocean. It is made up of two large islands. And New Zealand has a lot of water, clean air and good earth, and there are many farms. I especially interested in New Zealand’s hot water beach. New Zealand has a very large coastline, and it is hot water beach. The hot water up to 64 ℃ comes up out of the sand. We can make a hole and sit in the hot water while the cold sea comes in over legs. In the picture of this page, people make holes and lay in them. The sea is on back of the people. I think that the picture is strange.


After I read this book, I had interest in New Zealand stronger. There are many fairy stories of New Zealand in this book. I knew the history, culture and tradition of New Zealander through the fairy stories. I think that both the nature and city are nice. I want to go there early. So I must study English harder from now on.

Reference
Margaret, J. (2009). New Zealand. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

[260 words]

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Essay 2-03b “Students Now and Then”

Today, I’ll tell you about now university life and the life in 25 years from now. I’ll introduce my present life in Kumamoto Gakuen University in order to explain now university life at first. And, I imagine what university life would be like in 25 years from now. I will make a comparison between the two lives in terms of some same subjects. The subjects are about study and life mainly.


First, I will tell you about university life now. I study English in the university. I get up around 7 o’clock, and I go to university by motorcycle. Students mostly go to school by bicycle, motorcycle, foot, bus and train on weekdays. I go through hardships in the morning in winter because it is so cold. I think that I want to go to sleep for just five more minutes. Everyone may think the same in cold day. Rainy days are also heavy for us. I must put on a rain coat and rain boots in order to ride motorcycle. And I prepare a dried towel and a plastic bag. It’s so troublesome. Moreover, there are many traffic jams in rainy day. People will have difficultys in bad wether.


After I arrive at university, I come in a classroom. There are many classrooms in university. I must go the classroom which be appointed by office. People inexperienced in university life will have some trouble, for example freshmen. A teacher and many students are in classroom. The class that I especially want to introduce is my listening class and my reading class. In the listening class, teacher plays a cassette and a video. We listen to the English, and we answer questions. Teachers mostly use blackboard and whiteboard. In the reading class, we study how to read English-language paper. We study it with textbook and newspaper. If I find the points and my mistakes, I mark and write in points by color pens. I practice memorizing with handwriting.


In the time except classes, I spend time to on having a lunch and reading the library etc. In lunch time, some have a lunchbox which be brought from their homes, others have a lunch in cafeteria and bakery and buy a snack lunch in convenience store. I often go to the library. I read books and find books about subjects that I learn in classes. There are many books in library, but I sometimes have troubles with searching for books. And in the library of KGU, there aren’t many novels, despite there are many books. I want to read novels. I want to add to many genres books. I don’t want to add only books for study, but also books for entertainments. They say that young people do not read as many books as they did in the past. Books give many knowledges, educations and pleasures. I can especially feel the texture of thickness and weight from paper books. I think I can spend time well when I’m reading books.


In 25 years from now, university life will probably change significantly. The science and technology in the world will improve, and university life may be influenced with the evolution. I think that student will study on the Internet. Teachers make examinations with e-mail, and students answer with e-mail. Those all processes will be made in internet. Students have own PC or iPad with micro camera and microphone. Teachers and students talk each other with them. And students will chat with students all the world easily. Students will have to study English and other languages harder than now.


Students study in internet, so they need not to go to university every day. Their university life will greatly change. There are only a few buildings, because many classrooms don’t need any more. In the buildings, there are offices. Students study at home, so they won’t go through hardships in the morning in winter. But students may lose chances of exchanges, so they go to school once in a while for the sake of exchange with other students. I think clubs and circles become important activity.


Library will change too. I think that electronic books will become popular in the world, and library of university will come to have many electronic books. A download area is in the library and the library’s web site. Students download free from library’s PC in the library, or from web site at home. But on the other hands, they read paper books too. People notice the important of paper books with electronic books.


As you can see, I imagined and compared between university life now and 25 years from now. I think that the present life and the life in 25 years from now will very different, because life in 25 years ago and present life are very difference. I imagined all people will come to use computer devices and internet anytime, and student’s life will be influence with them. I want to go to university in 25 years from now. I want to go to the library. I think that library will change significantly too. But nobody knows what the future in the world will be. Perhaps progress of technology may exceed my hope. I’ m not a student in 25 years from now, so I want to see my children’s university life if I have children.

[886 words]

Monday, December 20, 2010

Essay 2-03a “Students Now and Then”

Today, I’ll tell you about now university life and the life in 25 years from now. I’ll introduce my present life in Kumamoto Gakuen University in order to explain now university life at first. And, I imagine what university life would be like in 25 years from now. I will make a comparison between the two lives in terms of some same subjects. The subjects are about study and life mainly.


First, I will tell you about university life now. I study English in the university. I get up around 7 o’clock, and I go to university by motorcycle. Students mostly go to school by bicycle, motorcycle, foot, bus and train on weekdays. I go through hardships in the morning in winter because it is so cold. I think that I want to go to sleep for just five more minutes. Everyone may think the same in cold day.


After I arrive at university, I come in a classroom. There are many classrooms in university. I must go the classroom which be appointed by office. People inexperienced in university life will have some trouble, for example freshmen. A teacher and many students are in classroom. The class that I especially want to introduce is my listening class and my reading class. In the listening class, teacher plays a cassette and a video. We listen to the English, and we answer questions. Teachers mostly use blackboard and whiteboard. In the reading class, we study how to read English-language paper. We study it with textbook and newspaper. If I find the points and my mistakes, I mark and write in points by color pens. I practice memorizing with handwriting.


In the time except classes, I spend time to on having a lunch and reading the library etc. In lunch time, some have a lunchbox which be brought from their homes, others have a lunch in cafeteria and bakery and buy a snack lunch in convenience store. I often go to the library. I read books and find books about subjects that I learn in classes. There are many books in library, but I sometimes have troubles with searching for books. And in the library of KGU, there aren’t many novels, despite there are many books. I want to read novels. I want to add to many genres books.


In 25 years from now, university life will probably change significantly. The science and technology in the world will improve, and university life may be influenced with the evolution. I think that student will study on the Internet. Teachers make examinations with e-mail, and students answer with e-mail. Those all processes will be made in internet. Students have own PC or iPad with micro camera and microphone. Teachers and students talk each other with them. And students will chat with students all the world easily. Students will have to study English and other languages harder than now.


Students study in internet, so they need not to go to university every day. Their university life will greatly change. There are only a few buildings, because many classrooms don’t need any more. In the buildings, there are offices. Students study at home, so they won’t go through hardships in the morning in winter. They go to school once in a while for the sake of exchange with other students.


Library will change too. I think that electronic books will become popular in the world, and library of university will come to have many electronic books. A download area is in the library and the library’s web site. Students download free from library’s PC in the library, or from web site at home. But on the other hands, they read paper books too. People notice the important of paper books with electronic books.


As you can see, I imagined and compared between university life now and 25 years from now. I think that the present life and the life in 25 years from now will very different, because life in 25 years ago and present life are very difference. I imagined all people will come to use computer devices and internet anytime, and student’s life will be influence with them. But nobody knows what the future in the world will be. Perhaps progress of technology may exceed my hope. I’ m not a student in 25 years from now, so I want to see my children’s university life if I have children.
[741 words]

Monday, December 13, 2010

News Quiz 2

I made some quizzes, because I am learning about way to reading newspapers in Reading Class. I made these quizzes after I read newspaper "THE NIKKEI WEEKLY". I quoted this news from THE NIKKEI WEEKLY on November.

Q1. Which country’s royal prince got engaged the other day?
A1. United Kingdom’s royal prince

Q2. What are new mobile devices that fuse mobile phone and portable computer?
A2. Smart phone

Q3. Who is the democratic leader in Burmese?
A3. Aung San Suu Kyi

Q4. What international conference was held in this month in Yokohama?
A4. APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation)

Q5. What is the Japanese space probe that took out substances of an asteroid?
A5. Hayabusa

Q6. Which country received emergency financing by IMF?
A6. Ireland

Q7. What power is the epoch-making new scooter of Yamaha moved by?
A7. Erectricity

Q8. What are banks of gigantic organization? For example, Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group, Inc and Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.
A8. Mega bank

Q9. Who is present chief cabinet secretary in Japan?
A9. Yoshito Sengoku

Q10. What is system that employee can be paid time and money off work for children’s care and welfare?
A10. Parental leave

As you can see, I tried to choose news from various subjects. Reading newspaper is difficult for me, so English-language paper is more difficult. I learned English-language paper this year from spring. I knew that there are some rules in news paper, and I can read a little now. Reading class is going to finish soon in January, but I want to read English-language paper voluntarily from now on.

[265 words]

Sunday, December 12, 2010

News Quiz 1

I made some quizzes, because I am learning about way to reading newspapers in Reading Class. I made these quizzes after I read newspaper "Daily Yomiuri". I quoted this news from Daily Yomiuri on October.

Q1. Where did China send 3 ships to observe on October 14?
A1. Senkaku Islands

Q2. What is official name of “COP10”?
A2. The 10th meeting of the Conference of the Parties.

Q3. Where did anti-Chinese hold a demonstration?
A3. In the front of the Chinese embassy in Tokyo

Q4. Which airport internationalized and became bigger?
A4. Haneda Airport

Q5. What awards did Mr. Negishi and Mr. Suzuki receive?
A5. Nobel Prize in chemistry

Q6. What use was banned in Tokyo, Osaka and Fukuoka while riding bikes?
A6. The use of ear or headphone

Q7. Where the city did the mayor collect 460 thousands signatures about dissolution in?
A7. Nagoya city

Q8. What disease do medical specialists urge to be vaccinated as a precautionary measure in this season?
A8. Influenza

Q9. Where will Mitsubishi product small cars from 2012 in?
A9. Thailand

Q10. What major consumer credit firm decided to file for bankruptcy protection on last month?
A10. Takefuji

[194 words]

Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Essay 2-02b: Encounter with Languages

I think that learning language is difficult, especially foreign languages. Foreign languages differ widely from mother tongue in spoken language and written language. But mother tongue is also difficult. I think that speaking and writing decency is lifelong learning. Now, I will introduce my language learning experience. I have studied Japanese, Spanish and English.


First, I’ll tell you about my Japanese learning experience. Japanese is my mother tongue. I have heard Japanese since I was a baby. So I can speak and write it. Before I went to an elementary school, I learned “hiragana” and “katakana” from my mother. I liked reading picture books in my childhood. I have an elder sister. I wanted to read correctly like my sister, so I memorized with all my might. I like to watch “hiragana”. Hiragana has many curves. And I think that the shapes are so unique. In elementary school, I learned “kanji” at the first time. The impressive thing is the writing order of “kanji”. I learned from my teacher that we can write beautifully if we write the correct order of kanji. And I often read aloud. I read to parents every day, and my parents paint a graph of reading every day. I was happy in that time.


In junior high school, I learned Japanese classics at the first time. And, we recited them in my school. Recitation is difficult for me. But I owe it to the recitation that I remember famous phrases of Japanese classic. In high school, I study them deeply. I read many writing for examination. So I disliked reading at that time. But now, I enjoy Japanese. I like reading books very much. Once I begin to read, I can’t stop. So I often bring books into bathroom. When I read a book in a bathtub, I am so happy. Japanese is profound. I think my favorite kanguage is Japanese.


Second, I’ll tell you about my Spanish learning. I studied Spanish last year. I chose it as a second foreign language in university. I was interested in studying Spanish, because I liked Brazilian music. Brazilian music is sung in Portuguese. I knew Portuguese is alike Spanish. My favorite point of Spanish is the pronunciation. Spanish is difficult, but when I listen to the speaking and singing, I feel comfort. I have known Brazilian music since I was a junior high school student. I have a favorite Brazilian musician. He is Antônio Carlos Jobim and Caetano Veloso.


I think that Spanish has unique rhythms and sounds. I cannot take Spanish class this year due to other classes, but I want to study deeper and speak well, so I’m going to take Spanish class next year, and I want to go to Spain and Portugal someday.


Third, I’ll tell you about my English learning. I began to study English from a junior high school student. At first, I studied Alphabets. I found my then English note the other day. It seems easy, but I studied hard at that time. In high school, I studied for an examination. I memorized hardly many words. And I practiced reading English sentences speedy. I enjoyed studying with favorite textbooks. After I entered Kumamoto Gakuen University, I enjoy studying English more. It is because I can study English freely in University. I made this blog, and I write about many events. I can write officially home works and privately events in this blog. So I can enjoy in freely mind.


And I have four classes this year. They are Writing, Reading, Speaking and Listening. I like Writing and Reading. I especially like writing class the best. I like writing my diaries and essays in my blog, and I am poor at Speaking and Listening. In Japanese, I’m poor to speaking and listening. For example, I dislike speeches and memorizing after listening. On the other hand, I usually like reading books and writing compositions and essays. I think I have awareness of weak points about speaking and listening in all languages. I want to stop the awareness. If I stop the awareness, I can study English actively. English is so difficult for me. I cannot speak English well. I want to study English hard.


And I also want to challenge new language. I want to study Italian. It is because I like classical music and arts. The origin of classical music and arts is in Italian. So I study it.


I already explained my language learning. I have been studying Japanese for 20 years, and studied English for 9 years. Setting Spanish aside, I have been studying for long time in my life. In spite of that fact, I'm not good at Japanese and English. For example, I cannot speak Japanese honorific words and fluent English. I think afresh that learning language is difficult and lifelong learning. I want to have many interesting things, and I study in my whole life.


[819 words]

Monday, October 25, 2010

Essay 2-02a: Encounter with Languages

I think that learning language is difficult, especially foreignlanguages are difficult. Foreign languages differ widely from mother tongue in spoken language and written language. But mother tongue is also difficult. I think that speaking and writing decency is lifelong learning. Now, I will introduce my language learning experience. I have ever studied Japanese, Spanish and English.


First, I’ll tell you about my Japanese learning experience. Japanese is my mother tongue. I have heard Japanese since I was a baby. So I can speak and write it. Before I went to an elementary school, I learned “hiragana” and “katakana” from my mother. I liked reading picture books in my childhood. I have an elder sister. I wanted to read correctly like my sister, so I memorized with all my might. In elementary school, I learned “kanji” at the first time. The impressive thing is the writing order of “kanji”. I learned from my teacher that we can write beautifully if we write the correct order of kanji. And I often read aloud. I read to parents every day, and my parents paint a graph of reading every day. I was happy in that time. In junior high school, I learned Japanese classics at the first time. And, we recited them in my school. Recitation is difficult for me. But I owe it to the recitation that I remember famous phrases of Japanese classic. In high school, I study them deeply. I read many writing for examination. So I dislike reading at that time. But now, I enjoy Japanese. I like reading books very much. Once I begin to read, I can’t stop. So I often bring books into bathroom. When I read a book in bath tub, I feel happiness.


Second, I’ll tell you about my Spanish learning. I studied Spanish last year. I chose it as a second foreign language in university. I was interested in studying Spanish, because I liked Brazilian music. Brazilian music is sung in Portuguese. I knew Portuguese is alike Spanish. My favorite point of Spanish is the pronunciation. When I listen to the speaking and singing, I feel comfortable. I think that Spanish has unique rhythms and sounds. I cannot take Spanish class this year due to other classes. But I want to study deeper, so I’m going to take Spanish class next year.


Third, I’ll tell you about my English learning. I began to study English from a junior high school student. At first, I studied Alphabets. I found my then English note the other day. It seems easy, but I studied hard at that time. In high school, I studied for an examination. I memorized hardly many words. And I practiced reading English sentences speedy. I enjoyed studying with favorite text books. After I entered Kumamoto Gakuen University, I enjoy studying English more. It is because I can study English freely in University. I made this blog, and I write about many events. I can write officially home works and privately events in this blog. So I can enjoy in freely mind. And I have four classes this year. They are Writing, Reading, Speaking and Listening. I like Writing and Reading. And I am poor at Speaking and Listening. In Japanese, I’m poor to speaking and listening. For example, I dislike speeches and memorizing after hearing. On the other hand, I usually like reading books and writing compositions and essays. I think I have awareness of weak point about speaking and listening in all language. I want to stop the awareness. If I stop the awareness, I can study English activelier.


I already explain my language learning. I have been studying Japanese for 20 years and studied English for 9 years. Setting Spanish aside, I have been studying for long time in my life. In spite of that fact, I'm not good at Japanese and English. For example, I cannot speak Japanese honorific words and fluent English. I think afresh that learning language is difficult, and it is lifelong learning.

[682 words]

Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Out line post: language learning experience











Mind map: language learning experience

Quickpost: language learning experience

I have ever studied Japanese, English, Italian and Spanish. I like especially to study Spanish. I studied Spanish last year. My favorite point of Spanish is the pronunciation. Spanish pronunciation is easy for me. And the sound is so good. I like Brazilian music. The music is sung in Pol

[50 words]