My first day in MN

In July25th, it was a special day for me. I arrived in Minnesota in the U.S. My host mother welcomed me warmly. She is single, so she lives with her dog, "Jenny". I remember that I was very nervous when I met her first. She picked up me at the airport, and we gathered with Yurika's host mother and Hiroyo's host mother. Then I found they are good friend each other. We ate tacos at the restaurant. I couldn't speak only a few words, but it was a first experience for me to eat real tacos. I remember it was yummy.

At night, we went to Minnehaha park to join welcome picnic. We did group presentation that we have prepared before we went to MN. I introduced studio ziburi animation with Aya, Momo, Saori. We used a picturecard show. I'm glad that many host families came to us and listened our speak. The next day, my jet lag started.....

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BR 2-12: The Nutcracker

"Something magical always happened when he was around."(Helbrough, 2004, p.6)

I chose this book because it was written about fantasy Christmas. A dancer was standing in front of sweets house. I like fantasy book, so I felt like reading this book.

On Christmas Eve, Clara experienced a special night. Her god father visits her house every year and gives her presents. However this year, he gave a special present for her. I don't know what he is and his message's mean. She slept in her bed and she experienced a big adventure.

After I read it, "Is this real or dream?", I thought. The Nutcracker helped Clara's adventure. He introduced various places. For example, ice castle, the land of sweets. I have read this book in my childhood, so this book remembered me many memories. Japanese version was good but also English version was worth reading. I want to experience like magical dream at Christmas night!


Reference: Helbrough, Emma. (2004). The Nutcracker. London: Usborne.

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BR 2-11: The barbecue

"Would you like to join us for a barbecue?" (Strong, 2001, p.30)

I chose this book because in front page of this book, every one dancing and they look so happy. Black and white people are laughing and adding colorful illustration.

Mrs.Cassandra became 40 years old when the day of barbecue. Her family and relatives came to the party. Her husband, Colin was cooking, so others were disgusted by the couple. After that, I was surprised the funny accident.

After I read it, I thought doing something with family is important. Even step mother and step dad, they enjoyed party. Recently, some Japanese family doesn't eat three meals together. Children stay their room a lot; doing play games, using computer, studying or something. Then they have eat meals in their room. It's terrible problem between families. Communicating with mother, father and relatives form better relationship for children.

Reference: Strong, Jeremy. (2001). The barbecue. London: Pearson Education.

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Draft essays 2-03a: Language learning histories

Why are you learning languages? I use langeages for communicate each other. Language makes our communication more smoothly. I have learned four languages since I was born. It took a lot of time to learn each languages. Then I'll introduce languages that I learned.

At first, I have learned English for over 10 years. When I was third year of elementary school, I didn't have English class. However I started to attend "ECC junior". It was very interesting private school. I imitated teacher's pronunciation and practiced it a lot. Every year, I joined the party with foreigners.I couldn't speak only a few English words, but it was just fun. I became fifth year of elementary school, English education earnestly started.

In junior high school, I have still attended its private school. However when I was a second-year student, I quitted for the entrance examination of high school. I entered new cram school, "Subaru", and studied. My English teacher was funny, so I liked to take her class. She taught how she studied English more efficientry. I couldn't study without English text books and words books that I made.

Next is in high school. I was belong to English corse, so I had about three English classes in a day. For example, Reading, Writing, Listening, Speaking and English seminar. My high school was belong to "SELHI" program, so sometimes other school's teachers visited our class. We had to do many speech in fron to of classmates. I couldn't express my feeling in my words, but I tried to speak many times. I did Group discussion, Persuasive speech, Constructive speech and so on. These speech were hard to practice but I could have a confidence to speak.

In KGU, I also learn Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. I wrote essays, read books and studied for TOEIC. I touched English or some languages every day. At the same time I learned French. It was difficult grammer, so I studied a lot before the exam. It pronunciation was different from English, so I used dictionary every time.

In addition, I learned Chinese in technical college. It was interesting to learn its pronuciation. I practiced easy conversation and self-introduction. I haven't studied Chinese before but I though Chinese was little similar to Japanese. And I took special Japanese training. I did voice exercises and tongue twister. I haven't paid attention my Japanese, so it improved my pronunciation better.

As you can see, I have learned many languages. Each languages have unique features, so I enjoyed learning them. It wasn't easy to master languages, but I'm sure most people toush other languages on TV, magazines or newspaper every day. Languages and people are convined together. I want to speak each languages well as well as Japanese!

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BR 2-10: More Macdonalds

"Later that same night the twins were woken by strange noises." (Strong, 2001, p.16)

First, I wonder this book's title means fast food shop. I love McDonald, so I wanted to read it! But actually, this "MacDonalds"didn't mean fast food shop. The mean is "Macdonalds family".

Mouse and Jojo's father came up with a new plan about building a new room. They were very happy and they talked which person can get the new bed room. They quarreled each other. The family have a humstar, called "Jumbo". When the house construction started, she wasn't calm. Her behavior was little strange and she ate meals a lot. What happened with her?

After I read it, I felt the warm family. First the twins quarreled about the new room. They thought only themsselves, but by Jumbo, they changed their minds. they could become to think other members of the family. Mother and father understood their feelings and they looked more happily. If you pay attention how change their feelings.

Reference: Strong, Jeremy. (2001). More Macdonalds. London: Pearson Education.

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How I have learned languages

I have learned languages by listening music and watching movies. For example, I have learned English over 10 years. In elementary school, I have learned it by watching a English TV program. It was better way to learn English for little students. In junior high school, I had some times Oral communication class. Native English teacher came to my class and taught us English pronunciation.  We also had a time to watch a English TV program. When my native English teacher came to my class, we felt fresh. New teacher, new language and new environment, so it was so fun. But I like to listen music foreign country, so I often listened to music and I payed attention to listen what the singer singing. Some times, I watched movies in movie theater or at home. It was difficult for me to follow the speed that people spoke.  But  I found these things were good way to approach real English in my high school days.

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BR 2-09: The Girl with Red Hair

"He laughs and walks away, but I can't stop looking at the screen." (Lindop, 2009, p.5)

This book's cover page was cute. A girl with red hair picked a pink shirts, and her eyes looked smile. That is why I felt like reading this book.

The main character is Mark who works in security in Mason's store. He falled in love a girl with red hair when she came there first. Her smile attracted him and she was beautiful. She came there with a child every Wednesday night. Is she married or single? He thought a lot. He loved her in any other girls. I cheered his love because he couldn't talked her so much, every time he just looking her.

If we fall in love someone, we have to talk he or she that have a courage. It may need a lot of efforts for us. But first, it's important for us to understand wach other. Step by step, we can approach someone who we love.If I have a time, I'd like to try to make it.

Reference: Lindop, Christine. (2009). The Girl with Red Hair. New York: Oxford bookworms.

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