On Sunday, everybody was looking forward to "The 3rd Tennis Event in English".
What a shame! Because of the heavy rain on Saturday night, the court was so wet that we couldn't use it.
About eight fifteen in the morning, the person in charge called me. I tried to get in touch with the participants. However, most of them had already left home, and were heading for the tennis court. Brian waited for everybody there and asked to come here.
Of course, we had a back-up plan, just in case. The tennis event changed to a group lesson. The students enjoyed "Team Jeopardy" and "Quiddler". "Quiddler" is a very interesting card game. With those games, the students realize the importance of spelling. Even though we couldn't play tennis, we enjoyed the lesson in the air-conditioned classroom. It might have been better, after all, on such a hot day like Sunday.
The 4th Tennis Lesson in English will be held in September. Why don't you join the tennis event and improve your tennis and English?
*英語ミニ知識:よくある質問で「過去完了をどういう時に使いますか?」というものがあります。今回の記事で良い例ができました。係りの方がテニスコートが使えない、と電話してきてくれたのですが、時すでに遅し。ほとんどの方はすでに家を出て、コートに向かっていました。私が連絡しようとした時点より前に生徒さんたちは出発していました。こういう時間差が明らかにある時に過去完了を使います。“Most of them had already left home”*
Guam English Camp
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Hata 2010/7/29(木)21:05:21 20100729210339 削除
Hi everyone, how have you been?
It has been extremely hot these days. I have to water flowers every morning and evening. Even still, they look exhausted. Not only plants but also people are exhausted with this heat.
Anyway, I would like to write about our stay in Guam.
From the 15th of July to the 18th, my students, Louise, and I went to Guam. It was one of our school activities to improve their English. There, we showed the students how to communicate with local people, how to take a bus, and how to check in at the airport.
In short, they studied very practical English. All of them improved their English ability and to my great pleasure, they have come to love English!
Also we enjoyed sightseeing, eating delicious food, and walking at the beach. I would like to show you the other activities on my next article.
*英語ミニ知識:猛暑でぐったりの毎日ですね。“hot”よりも“sweltering(うだるように暑い)”がピッタリの熱帯夜が続きます(汗)。Every night is sweltering.*
古代蓮・・・菩提寺にて
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Hata 2010/7/22(木)18:42:59 20100722184115 削除
On Sunday morning, I went to my family temple.
I was very fascinated by so many lotuses in the pond. The temple is famous for the lotuses and I know the lotuses are in full bloom in July. But I completely forgot about it.
They are surprisingly beautiful. I didn't have a digital camera with me but I took pictures with my cellphone. If you are interested in these loteses, please let me know. I will show you the place where I saw them.
*英語ミニ知識:「菩提寺→a family temple」日本語の方が趣がありますね。ブライアン先生に蓮の写真を見せて「lotus と water lily でどちらだと思いますか?」と聞きましたら“I don't know much about the names of flowers and furniture.”という答えが返ってきました。花の英単語は私の方が豊富かもしれませんね^^
*英語ミニ知識:「島津先生の絵は、私にアンダルシアへの旅を思い出させました→Mr. Shimazu's pictures reminded me of my trip to Andalucia.」
最近nativeの読者が増えましたので、改めて付け加えます 「画像をクリックすると拡大写真がご覧になれます→Click the photo to enlarge.」*
The 2nd tennis in English
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Hata 2010/6/23(水)22:03:12 20100623220144 削除
Hi everyone, how have you been?
These days, my students and Brian seem to have caught the tennis bug! On Monday, five students, Brian and I played tennis again. Fortunately it was a beautiful day and we enjoyed playing tennis for 2 hours. Everybody said “Playing tennis is a lot of fun!”
We decided to play tennis, of course in English, every month. “The 3rd tennis in English”will be held in Ainashinsui Park on July 25th. Why don't you join this tennis event and improve your English and tennis ability? I am looking forward to seeing you at the tennis court!
*英語ミニ知識:日本語でボールを集める時に、よく「ボールアップしてください」と言います。考えてみればおかしなジャパニーズイングリッシュですよね。→Please pick up the balls. また、惜しくもボールがラインから出てしまった時に、よく「ジャストです」と言いますが、これもおかしな表現です。→Almost/Very close 今回 この表現を生徒さんにお教えしましたら“almost”が大流行のtennis in Englishでした^^*
*英語ミニ知識:「ハワイ島はビッグアイランドとも呼ばれ、ハワイの島の中で一番大きく、アメリカ最大の島でもあります→The Island of Hawai'i is also called "The Big Island". It is larger than all of the other Hawaiian islands and is the largest island in the United States.」*
*英語ミニ知識:何回かここで書いていますが「リフォーム」はJapanese Englishです。私の知り合いのnativeは、たいてい「have renovation」を使っています。「As I am having renovation, I have to stay home all day long.→リフォームをしているので、一日中家にいなくてはならないの」*
Tennis in English
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Hata 2010/5/16(日)19:19:30 20100516191734 削除
Hi everyone,
How did you spend this beautiful Sunday?
As for us, we had a tennis event! Eight people including Brian and I gathered at a tennis court in Sayama. We enjoyed playing tennis for two hours.
Actually, I was looking for a native teacher who could play tennis. Finally I found Brian can play tennis! We all enjoyed ourselves today. I made up my mind to hold this tennis event again in the near future.
Thanks those who participated in today's event. Especially special thanks to Mr. Y who made a reservation of the tennis court at the eleventh hour.
*英語ミニ知識:“at the eleventh hour→きわどい時に” 今回は会社のテニスコートを予約してくださった生徒さんが直前にキャンセルとなり、Yさんにお願いして急遽コートをとっていただきました。昨夜英検準1級の問題集に出ていた表現がぴったりだったので使ってみました*