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Oral English 2: Lesson 8

5/29/2015

22 Comments

 
Hi everyone,

We had a busier lesson than usual, especially since we started our presentation preparation today.

Vocabulary Building:
When you learn a new word, you should write it down in your notebook (with its form and a sentence). For example, news words from speed discussion and your group discussions. From today's speed discussion, we had these new words:
  1. bullet train (noun) "I've never ridden the bullet train."
  2. smoker (noun) / non-smoker (noun) "I'm a non-smoker."
  3. second-hand smoke (noun) "Second-hand smoke can also cause cancer."
  4. proficiency tests (noun) "There are many types of English proficiency tests like Eiken, TOEFL and TOEIC."
  5. (do/practice) martial arts (verb) "Have you ever practiced a marial art?"
  6. tournament (noun) "There was a big sumo tournament on the weekend."

Discussions:
For our next discussions, remember these points:
  1. Pronunication practice. Remember to have a pronounciation practice with your new vocabulary before you start your discussion. You need to know how to say a word if you want to remember it. Have your group say each new word 4-5 times.
  2. Transitions. Remember to use transitions to connect the different parts of your discussion. You can use the expression: "Let's move onto my..." (e.g. Let's move on to my summary.)

Presentation Topics:
Before the end of our lesson, we through our presentation guidelines. For your presentation, your group has to choose a Japanese social problem and give two solutions for it.

In next week's class, we will learn how to make your presentations, such as presentation structure and expressions.

Homework:

1.  Blog Post #8
2. Choose presentation topic
  • Group leaders need to email me their presentation topic by Wednesday, June 3 by 6:00pm.
  • contact: ntakeda.aogaku@yahoo.com
  • Use formal email writing when you contact me. Please see the model in our Student Guide.

Blog Question #8:

What do you think about your hometown?
  • Give your opinion with a reason and two examples to support your reason. 
  • Use opinion giving expressions and expressions to give examples.

Example:
My hometown is Sault Ste. Marie. It's a small city in northern Ontario (Ontario is a province in Canada). In my opinion, my hometown is a great place to live because you can enjoy the outdoors all year around. For example, in the winter, you can go down-hill skiing or snowboarding on Searchmount, a mountain near my city. Also, in the summer, you can go hiking at Hiawatha Park, a big park in my city with many hiking trails, lakes and waterfalls.
  • Write 8-10 sentences.
  • Use capitalization, punctuation & spelling correctly.
  • Submit by Wednesday, June 3 by 6:00pm.
22 Comments
OE2-Kana.N
5/28/2015 09:39:42 pm

My hometown is Yokohama. In my opinion, I think that it is very good. It’s because, it’s very convenient city. For example, there are many convenience stores in the city. There is it almost every 15 meters near my house. Moreover, there is a shopping district front of the station. A lot of people go shopping there so it’s very crowded every day. Even if we don’t go out a far-off town, we can get whatever in there. For the reasons stated above, I think that my hometown is good because it’s very convenient.

Reply
OE2-Aya
5/29/2015 11:56:47 am

My hometown is Matdudo city in Chiba prefecture. This place is great for me. Because an atmosphere is good here. Also, this town is a countryside with a lot of green. So we can play various things. For example, we can take a walk slowly in the big park where green spreads through. The river flows and can relax there. And we can take communications with many people who take a walk, too. Also we can play a lot of sports. When I was an elementary school student, I played a tag, soccer and badminton.

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OE2-Yukiko
5/29/2015 05:33:42 pm

My home town is Kofu city in Yamanashi prefecture. Yamanashi borders the western part of Tokyo. Kofu is the seat of the prefectural government. It is all surrounded by mountains. Mt. Fuji, the world heritage of UNESCO is what we are the most proud of. We can enjoy clean water and air. The nature is wonderful. Yamanashi is a small prefecture. Its population is only about 860,000. The problem is the ratio of senior citizens are rapidly increasing. It is rather worse than other prefectures in Japan. I will return to Yamanashi after I graduate from Aoyama Gakuin University. I will become a kindergarten teacher and tell my students how beautiful our prefecture is. After they grow up I hope they will stay or return to Yamanashi like I will do.

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OE2-Tomomi
6/1/2015 12:33:24 am

My hometown is Higashimurayama.This town is adjacent to Saitama Prefecture.In my opinion, my hometown is a peaceful place for humans and anlmals because this town has much nature.For example, everyone is looking at the ducks in front of the station fountain every day.People of citizens from came the duck in 2009 has continued to protection movement.Also, there are mountains and forests.So there a lot of animals, which snake and insect.
It has became the stage of "TONARI NO TOTORO" that Hayao Miyazaki has worked. Similarly that movie, my hometown Higashimurayama is enveloped in green.

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OE2-Kana.K
6/1/2015 01:11:30 am

My hometown is Yokohama city. I live in residential area. It take ten minute by train to go to center of Yokohama.
Yokohama is one of the most popular tourist sites in Japan. My favorite spot in Yokohama is Yamasita Park. I can sit the bench and gaze at Yokohama port. On weekend, there are many people taking a walk.
If you are hungry, you can go to Chainatown afoot to eat something. If you want to buy clothes, furniture and miscellaneous goods, you should go to Motomachi. There is just so much else good points in Yokohama.
I love Yokohama city!

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OE2-Maki
6/1/2015 12:11:52 pm

My hometown is Tama-city in Tokyo. I think my town has two points. First, a river and some parks near by my house. I used to get some creatures in the river. For example, crayfishes, frogs and so on. And I also enjoyed playing in the park too. I think much nature is good environment for growing up children. Second,my town has Sanrio Puroland. Sanrio characters are very famous for foreigner. I sometimes foreigner there. That are all of my hometown characteristics.

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OE2=Marina
6/1/2015 12:26:17 pm

My hometouwn is Kozu in Osaka. I like my hometown. Because I think that it is great place to live. There is near majour cities. These cities is Namba and Shinsaibashi. If I walk about ten minutes I can arrive Namba. There are signboard of Glico, Parks and Takashimaya.Terfore if I walk about ten minutes I can arrive Shinsaibashi. There is Shinsaibashi mall. And if I get on a train for one station I can arrive at Tennouji. And if I get on a train for ten minutes I can arrive at Osaka. So I think that my hometown is convenient city !!!

Reply
OE2-Ayano
6/1/2015 03:52:47 pm

My hometown is Fujino in Kanagawa prefecture.I spent until last year in there.I love my hometown,and I have three reasons.
First,my hometown is surrounded by mountain and it is blessed with nature.I feel relaxed in forest ,so I like to live in nature and the countryside.
Second,my hometown is art town.Many works of art is exhibited,and many artists live in my town.
Third,I have many friends in my town.Since I was 2 years old,I lived in this town,and I have a lot of memories.

Reply
OE2-Masaki link
6/1/2015 04:22:55 pm

My hometown which is called Matsudo city is good city for me.First reason is that the city has useful traffic access.One of useful subways lines is Chiyoda line which runs between Ayase and Yoyogi-uehara.So,I can go to Aoyama gakuin univesity without changing trains.Other useful train's line is Musashino line.Although it is short distance,I can go to many places such as Tokyo station,Saitama prefecture and Disney land.Second reason is there is very dericious chinese noodle restaurant in my hometown.The review of Gurunavi on it is 3.2 points in other cities.However,Matsudo is 4.0 points.I suggested to you that if you visited my hometown,you go to chinese noodle restaurant which is in Matsudo city.

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OE2-Atsuko
6/1/2015 04:25:57 pm

My hometown is Yokohama.It is called the second capital city.My opinion is Yokohama is comfortable, historic and cool city.I recommend Minatomirai and Chinese Town in Yokohama.You can see beautiful view and eat delicious food.Yokohama is famous International Harbor City.I like to see beautiful view at Minatomirai.I'm proud of my hometown.

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OE2-Yuka.K
6/1/2015 07:08:21 pm

My hometown is Tsukuba city in Ibaraki prefecture. In my opinion, I think it is very good place to live because my hometown is comfortable for me. I have two reasons. First, it has a lot of nature. Ibaraki prefecture is so countryside that it has many parks, rice fields and so on. And my home is also surrounded nature. Thanks to it, I can relax when I feel tired and have worries. Second, my hometown has many shopping malls. Whenever I want to buy something, I can buy it. I think it is very convenient.

Reply
OE2-Yosito
6/2/2015 12:19:54 am

My hometown is Soka. My hometown is not generally known because there are not places which my friends know. That's not always true. There are famous historical places. For example, my hometown has a place of scenic beauty. My hometown also has special products. One example is a rice cracker. In my opinion, it is the best snack. I want my friends to know my hometown.

Reply
OE2-Jo
6/2/2015 11:06:34 am

My home town is Kawasaki city in Kanagawa prefecture. I think it is very good to live for me, because it is very convenient. For example, there are many shops. If I want something, I can buy them in a neighborhood. Moreover, it is near Tokyo. I can go to Tokyo within one hour. So I like my home town very much. If I have a family, I want to live in Kawasaki with my family.

Reply
OE2-Kaori
6/2/2015 11:44:19 am

My hometown is Yokosuka city. Yokosuka is relatively big city in Kanagawa prefecture. In my opinion, I think Yokosuka is very good place because we are easy to visit many great tourist sites. There are no tourist sites in Yokosuka but there are a lot of places to visit around Yokosuka city. For example, we can go to Hakone on a day trip. Hakone is a famous place known nationwide and the Hakone Ekiden Relay is held every year in Hakone. Also we can go to Kamakura in less than an hour, too. Kamakura is also famous and a lot of foreign tourists visit there. I think we can spend a relaxing time. Then we will enjoy both the sea and mountain because Yokosuka is surrounded by both of them.

Reply
OE2-Rikako
6/2/2015 12:57:30 pm

My hometown is Mito city in Ibaraki prefecture. Mito city is the capital of Ibaraki prefecture and famous for natto, Mito Koumon and Kairakuen park and so on. In my opinion, my hometown is an attractive place because it is blessed with nature and has historical context. First, for example, we can see many beautiful ume blossoms in Kairakuen park in spring. In addition, my hometown has lake Senba and around there, we can see a variety of cherry blossoms in spring, fireworks in summer and red leaves in fall. Both are alive with tourists and places of rest and relaxation for people of a prefecture. Second, for example, there is a close connection between my hometown and the Tokugawa Shogunate family. Mito city was included three major branches of the Tokugawa family. So, there are many historic buildings in my hometown and my high school is built in the place where the castle once stood. I want a lot of people to visit my hometown.

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OE2-Fumiya
6/2/2015 03:45:22 pm

My hometown is Machida. It is a small city. You may think my hometown is not good because of small. However, in my opinion, my home town is marvelous. I have some reasons. First, my hometown has a lot of parks. Having a lot of parks also means that there is green, which is very good. Second, surely my hometown is felled with green. However, there are stores at the same time, which is perfect.

Reply
OE2-Honoka
6/2/2015 04:16:28 pm

My hometown is Chikushino city in Fukuoka prefecture. I like my hometown. There is much nature in my hometown. The attending school road of my elementary school was a straight road and there was the rice field on both sides. I enjoyed jumping into a Geranium nepalense field with a friend. There is also a slightly big shopping mall. It's convenient for us. On the other hand, it was hard to go to the high school because it was far from the city. However, I think that it is a very good place to live.

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OE2-Kohei.Y
6/2/2015 04:17:09 pm

My hometown is Fujisawa, Kanagawa. it is a seaside town near Kamakura. In my opinion, my hometown is people-friendly and comfortable to live in. Also, this town is very safe. There are very few crimes in a year. Moreover, There are a lot of sightseeing area
, for example Enoshima(a great island). Thus, my hometown, Fujisawa is a great place to live. I highly recommend that everyone come to the place.

Reply
OE-Mao
6/2/2015 04:40:29 pm

My hometown, Yamaguchi, is a wonderful place for visiting regardless of age or sex. First, you can see beautiful nature. There are many animals, small waterfalls, hot spring spots, but there is no amusement and noted product as Tokyo. In Tokyo, you can see the night view, while in Yamaguchi, it is even difficult to find a lamplight. But, thanks to darkness, you can notice stars are twinkling all over the sky. I prefer starlight in Yamaguchi to night view in Tokyo! Secondly, the foods oh Yamaguchi are very good. Puffer fish is well-known special product, but I want to introduce Kawarasoba. It is little sweet and all people of my prefecture love it. Thirdly, the character of the people of Yamaguchi prefecture is warm. When we pass each other, we surely exchange greetings. Moreover, we try to help each other all the time!

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OE-2 Naoko
6/2/2015 06:42:43 pm

My hometown is Totsuka. In my opinion, Tosuka is a pleasent place to live. Because this city in itself is the country, but is close to Yokohama. To be concrete, It takes about ten minutes to get on the train from Totsuka station to Yokohama station. Yokohama is big and famous city. When I want to meet friends and will do something, I go to there; for example,we can sing a karaoke, go bowling, go shopping, go restaurant, stop at coffee shop and so on. However this city is so noisy. In addition, the air in this area is polluted. That matter may be left out of consideration in Totsuka. In short, There has an advantage both a city and the countryside. So I like Totsuka better than Yokohama. Now, I moved to Tokyo with my family, but I want to go Totsuka in the near future.

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OE2-Shusei
6/2/2015 06:44:53 pm

My hometown, Kawagoe, is a great place for visiting. In my opinion, Kawagoe offers a wonderful opportunity for enjoying to go sightseeing and to eat. For example, my home town is called “Koedo". Because shrine and temple and the ruins of a castle and so on can be found in many part of this town. Especially, Hikawa shrine is one of famous shrine. In summer, projection mapping (twinkle light is reflected in the river) is performed there. It is so beautiful. Also, Japanese sweets is famous and delicious in my home town. Particularly, dried wheat gluten snack (Japanese means Fugashi) is Longest in Japan. Many tourists buy it for gift. Besides the other many traditional snacks are selled.

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OE2-Kohei-f
6/3/2015 01:43:55 am

I'm very sorry. I'm late.
My hometown is Yokohama.I think it is very beautiful city.
There are some reasons. First, it is very convenient. If you want something, you can get anything there! second, the view is wonderful especially, in the night. a number of lights bright. I often go there by bike, I always surprised.
Third, the system of throwing out the garbage.it is separated many kinds. that is why Yokohama is keeping clean city. Therefore, I like the city very much.

Reply



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