10/31/2011

Happy Halloween!

Today, I had a Halloween party at the pre-school I teach at. We had lots of fun! I took the kids trick-or-treating at a local grocery store, and they got some candy. After that, we went to the park and played tag and hide-and-seek.

今日英語を教えているの保育園でハロウィンパーティーをしました。楽しかった!近所の八百屋に子供つれて、皆はキャンディをもらいました。それから、公園にいて、鬼ごっこと隠れん坊を一緒に遊んだ。

Tag - 鬼ごっこ

Hide-and-seek - 隠れん坊

Trick-or-treating - 子供が近所の家に訪ねて、あいさつとして「trick-or-treat!」を言うって、キャンディがもらえます。


10/30/2011

今日のレッスン - I do Aikido

たまに日本人の友達と趣味のことを話す時に「John, do you play Aikido?」を聞かれています。でも、これは違います。合気道は武道ですから、playじゃなくて、doは正。または、practiceのほうがいいです。正しくは、「Do you do Aikido?」。他のスポーツはテニス、バスケットボール、野球とか「play」を使っていいです。

例文:

1. Do you do Judo?

2. Do you practice Kendo?

3. Do you do Karate?

4. I practice ju-jutsu

5. I do kyudo.

6. I play baseball.

7. Do you play basketball?

8. Do you play table-tennis?

9. Do you play soccer?

10. I can't play soccer!


10/29/2011

Let me know!

今日、レッスンの時にLet me know とTell meはどう違うの?を聞かれた。Let me knowは「知らせて」、「何かあったら、連絡下さい。」の感じるです。例えば、

1.When you arrive in Tokyo, please let me know.

東京に着いたら、連絡下さい。

2. If you are going to be late, please let me know.

もしかしたら遅くになったら、連絡下さい。


Tell meは教える、言うの感じてす。例えば、

1.Please tell me when will you arrive in Tokyo.

いつか東京に着くつもりか教えて下さい。

2.Tell me if you are going to be late.

もしかしたら遅くになったら、教えて下さい。


10/28/2011

Getting to know my students

Sometimes when I sit across the table from my students, it is very difficult for me to find the best way to help them. Usually I begin with some very basic conversation to find their level. From there, I can decide if they need to use a book, or if they can begin practicing regular conversation. Many people want to jump right into conversation, but it is difficult if they lack the basics. Sometimes it is also difficult to get into conversation with someone whom I have not shared one single experience other than sipping coffee together.


However, with time I can usually somehow manage to break through the walls that separate strangers and when that happens, then real conversation can begin. I enjoy the fact that I can learn many things from my students while at the same time teaching them English.


10/27/2011

今週のアップリ - Where's Mommy?

https://market.android.com/details?id=me.wheresmom


私の今週のアンドロイドのアップリはフラッシュカードゲームです。子供は言葉を聞きながら画面で12の絵から正の選んでみる。それに、自分のカードもカメラで使える。私は子供のレッスンの時にこのアップリを良く使って、子供が喜んで英語を勉強しています。

This week's recommended Andrord app is a flashcard game. While children listen to the word, they try to choose the correct one from 12 pictures on the screen. Also, you can make your own cards using your camera. I often use this app when I have lessons with children, and they are happy studying English.


10/26/2011

今日のフレーズ

君が僕の立場だととしたら、この場合どうする?

If you were in my place, what would you do?


English Ear Game - Winner

Congratulations to Sayaka! Sayaka cleared the first level in the English Ear game! Good job Sayaka! Good luck on level 2! さやかちゃんおめでとう!さやかはAndroidのアッ プリ の英語のゲームのレベル1をクリーアしまし た!よ くできた!レベル2も頑張って下さい!


長沢クラス

さんこんにちは。 大変もしわけあり ませんが私は熱がありインフルエンザ にかかってしまったみたいなので、今 日のクラスは出来ません。キャンセル をさせて下さい。 今日ハロウィンパーティーがある予定 でしたがすみません。 また来月宜しくお願いします。
Hello everyone. I'm very sorry but I have a fever, and it seems that I have gotten the flu, so I can't do the class today. Please let me cancel it.

Today we were supposed to have a Halloween party, and I'm really sorry.

I hope to see you again next month.

John


10/24/2011

I'm beat! 疲れた!

Today, I have 2 kids lessons, but I don't have any energy. I think when I see them, I will get my energy back. Kids always have so much energy. It's hard not to be happy when I'm around them.


今日の言葉…一定

一定 - fixed, constant, certain, given

例文:

1. 一定の時間に。

At a given time.

2. 地球は太陽の周囲を一定の軌道を描いて回る。

The earth travels in a fixed orbit around the sun.


10/23/2011

Price Down! No!

今日買い物にいた時にたくさんPrice down!と書いてあったサインをみました。でもこれは違います。実はPrice downは日本の英語です。正しくはSale!です。


10/21/2011

Donuts are half price!

The donuts at the Mister Donut shop in Kurihama are half price! There is a really long line of people waiting to buy donuts!


There is a long line!

人が並んでいる!


10/20/2011

What are you into?

何にはまってますか?I'm into Salsa and Tango dance. Tonight I'm going dancing! 今夜ダンスに行きます♪楽しみにしています!I'm really looking forward to it!


10/19/2011

Ghostbusters movie clip

Check it out! It's funny! 面白い!


Ghostbusters - lyrics

私のハロウィンの一つの好きな曲はGhostbustersです。聞きながら歌詞を読んで、楽しく英語を勉強しましょう!


10/18/2011

Help Wanted

Help Wanted!


Come put your friendly smile, enthusiasm and cheerfulness to use in customer service!


英語の勉強のため、翻訳してみましょう!


Halloween Costume

Yay! I finally found a Halloween costume at Donquixote. Can you tell what it is? It's a character that I'm sure all the kids will like. Do you have your costume ready?


10/15/2011

今日のフレーズ

いたずら- prank, trick, mischief


彼女は私の妹にいたずらをした。

She played a trick on my sister.


いたずら電話- prank call


10/14/2011

変な英語 Whaaaat?

「A basic concept is a popular drink bar from the establishment period that doesn't change and can be used by the self method.」が書いてあります。私の日本語みたいこの英語がへんでわかりにくい。

Self method and establishment period がわかりない。


多分正しくは…

「Our basic concept is having a restaurant with drink bar that everyone likes and can enjoy.」


今日のフレーズ

彼は1年中懸命に働く。

He works hard throughout the year.


10/13/2011

今日のフレーズ

英語が上達するように努力しなさい。

Try hard to improve your English .


10/12/2011

Halloween Costume

今年のHalloweenで私はどんなコスチュームを着るかな。去年はBatmanだった。皆子供は私のコスチュームが好きだった。一昨年はおばけだったが怖すぎた皆泣いちゃった。近所のおばさんにもしからさせた。

今年は私は何になるかな?子供の時に私はBatmanとSpidermanとSupermanだったがSpidermanは私の一番好きなコスチューム。安くて可愛いコスチュームを買いたい。


I`m wondering what kind of costume I will wear this year for Halloween.  Last year I was Batman.

The kids liked it. The year before last I was a ghost, but it was too scary and all the children cried. Even an old lady in the neighborhood scolded me!

I wonder what I will become this year!  When I was I child, I was Batman, Spiderman, and Superman, but I liked Spiderman the best!

I want to find a cheap and cute costume.


10/11/2011

今日の言葉

Skeleton = 骸骨/がいこつ


イディオムは

Skeleton in the closet

戸棚に骸骨がある

例文

She has a skeleton in the closet.

彼女は戸棚に骸骨がある。


10/10/2011

今週のアプリ

今週のアプリは子供のようです。Sing! Sing!と言います。このアプリでは沢山英語の歌と踊りの映像が見えます。有料ですが、子供は英語をしながら、いっぱい楽しめるのでいいアプリと思います!Androidのアプリです。

This week's app is for children.It is called Sing! Sing! . This app has many English songs and dances which you can watch on video.

Even though it is a paid app, children can have so much fun learning English with it, so I think it is great!

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.edubox.android.sstogetherallpkg


10/08/2011

Thriller Lyrics

Lyrics=歌詞


Halloween Words

今月はHalloweenです。この下のリンクはHalloweenの言葉のpdfです。ダウンロードしったら、その言葉習えます。頑張って下さい!

This month is Halloween. The link below is a pdf file with Halloween words. If you download it, you can learn them. Good luck!


halloween1.pdf (application/pdf Object)

10/07/2011

English Ear Game - Level 2 Winner

Congratulations to Ms. Y! Ms. Y cleared the second level in the English Ear game! Good job Ms. Y! Good luck on level 3!


Yさんおめでとう!YさはAndroidのアッ プ リの英語のゲームのレベル2をクリーアしまし た!よくできた!レベル3も頑張って下さい!


English Ear game - Winner!

Congratulations to Ruka! Ruka cleared the first level in the English Ear game! Good job Ruka! Good luck on level 2!


るかちゃんおめでとう!るかはAndroidのアッ プリの英語のゲームのレベル1をクリーアしまし た!よくできた!レベル2も頑張って下さい!


間違えた!

BOO BOO! 違う!

正しくは:My first home.


10/04/2011

翻訳

Those who do not accept responsibility for the problem cannot even begin to have a clue to the solution.


10月の長沢ちび子クラス

今月の長沢クラスは26日の12時です。ミニハロウィンパーティーをするので皆コスチュームで来て下さい!宜しく!

This month's Nagasawa Class will be on the 26th at 12pm. Since there will be a mini Halloween party, please come wearing your costume! See you there!


It's a happy day!

今日保育園でちび子に英語を教えました。もちろんいつも火曜日に楽しい!今日子供に「お名前はなんですか?」の英語を教えました。英語でWhat's your name?ですがしぜんなはつおんでWhatcha name?になります。皆子供がよく出来ました!Good job!


Today, I taught English to little kids at a pre-school.Of course, Tuesdays are always fun! Today, I taught them how to say "onamae ha nan desu ka"in English. In English, it means "What's your name", but when it is pronounced naturally, it becomes "Whatcha name?". All the kids did great today! Good job!


10/03/2011

English Ear Game

Congratulations to Yuya! Yuya cleared the first level in the English Ear game! Good job Yuya! Good luck on level 2!


ゆうやくんおめでとう!ゆうやはAndroidのアップリの英語のゲームのレベル1をクリーアしました!よくできた!レベル2も頑張って下さい!


間違えた!

Smoking on the street is prohibited in this area.


英語頑張って下さい!


10/02/2011

Eddie Murphy Transcript

Here is a transcript of the Eddie Murphy clip I posted earlier. If you have trouble understanding, try following along with this as you listen.


これは先の映画の翻訳。難しいから、これを読みながら聞いて下さい。


McDonaldsTranscript.doc - Powered by Google Docs


10/01/2011

Advanced English - Eddie Murphy

This clip is for advanced English speakers. If you can laugh, then your English and understanding of American culture must be pretty good!


9/30/2011

English Ear Game Challenge

Listening is very important in English. You should practice your listening skills everyday. If you can clear a level in this game, I will give you a 500 yen discount on your next lesson. Good luck!


英語を勉強する人にはリスニングが大事です。毎日聴解力のため、練習したほうがいいです。もしこのゲームのレベルがクリアできれば、次のレッスンを500円の割引を上げます。頑張って下さい!


https://market.android.com/details?id=me.eigofun.eigomimi


このリンクはAndroidの用ですがiphoneでもあります。


読書の練習

'God bless you' causes classroom ruckus


たまに私の大人な英会話の生徒に読書の練習のために記事を上げます。この記事を読みながら知らない言葉とフレーズを書いて後で勉強して下さい。


Sometimes, I give an article to my adult English students for reading practice. While you read this article, please write down any words and phrases which you don't know and study them later.


9/28/2011

長沢クラス

今日のクラスは楽しかった!皆来てくれてありがとうございました!今日の新しい言葉はlaugh,cry,clap,dance. 来月ハロウィンパーティーにしますから、また今度宜しくお願いします♪

Today's class in Nagasawa was so much fun! Thank-you eveyone for coming. Today's new words are laugh, cry, clap, and dance. Next month, we will have a Halloween party, so don't miss out on the fun!


9/09/2011

English ear game

https://market.android.com/details?id=me.eigofun.eigomimi


スマホで英語勉強しましょう!このゲームはiphoneもandroidもできる!Rの言葉とLの言葉聞き分けできますか?2つの言葉が似てるのに意味が全然違う。勉強頑張って下さい!You can do it!


Let's use our smartphone to study english! This game is available on both iphone and Android! Can you tell the difference between R words and L words? Two words may sound alike, but their meanings can be completely different! Give it a shot! You can do it!


9/06/2011

9月の長沢クラス

先月の長沢クラスを楽しかった。部屋が大きいから英語を習いながら、沢山踊ったり、走ったり、子供たちが嬉しいだと思いました。今度9月のレッスンは28日に12時半から1時ぐらいです。皆さんまた是非来て下さい!

7/25/2011

Old News

長沢クラス
posted Jul 22, 2011 1:35 PM by John Matsushima

この間台風のためレッスンが無かった残念です。今回のクラスは8月31日の水曜日に12時半からです。よろしくお願いします。


長沢クラス7月20日キャンセル
posted Jul 19, 2011 3:45 PM by John Matsushima

もしわけありませんが台風のため、明日のレッスンをキャンセルになります。来月のレッスンについて、すぐ連絡します。

Mr. John's Class In 長沢 - 7月
posted Jul 3, 2011 4:36 PM by John Matsushima

長沢の子供のグループクラスは7月20日です。クラス時間は13時半から14時まで。宜しくお願いします。

Mr. John's Class in Nagasawa
posted Jun 22, 2011 2:02 AM by John Matsushima

京急長沢で新子供のクラスを作りました。3歳ー5歳の子供のようです。

横須賀市役所 こども育成部・はぐくみかん北下浦みんなの家・青少年の家 Japan, 〒239-0842 神奈川県横須賀市長沢2丁目6−40 +81 46-847-3906 ‎   Click here for map.

クラスは毎月1回です。今月は水曜日6月22日です。 レッスン時間は30分位、レッスン料は一人500円です。 宜しくお願いいたします。

10/03/2010

Free Shake!

The other night I went to Mosburger. I like Mosburger because of their shakes.  Ususally, everytime I go to Mosburger, I get a strawberry shake.  So anyway, I was drinking my milkshake, and suddenly I noticed there was a crack in the glass!  I thought I should take it back to get another one, but I already drank half of it!  But since drinking from a cracked glass could be dangerous, I decided to take it back. The clerk apologized and I got another milkshake free!  So from now on, anytime I go to Mosburger I check to see if my glass is cracked - after I drink half of my milkshake!

9/15/2010

Back to School !

Trapper Keeper
September marks the end of summer, and the beginning of fall.  In the U.S.A., the school year starts in September.  When I think back to my younger days, I remember the excitement of starting a new school year.   Since public schools in the states don't make students wear uniforms, the shopping malls are crowded at this time, as everyone is out buying new clothes for school.   In addition to that, many stores are filled with students buying supplies for school.  I remember when I was in middle school, everyone had a Trapper Keeper.  A Trapper Keeper was like a super notebook; it was thick and could hold many smaller notebooks, folders, pencils, and other supplies inside. Instead of students having to carry around all their notes and homework with many folders and papers separately, one could keep them all together in a Trapper Keeper!  I think mine was just filled with drawings, doodles, and notes to my girlfriend.

I am going to start posting questions at the bottom of my blog.  If you would like to practice your English, please write your answer in the comment section below.

Today's question:  What comes to mind when you think of September?

9/07/2010

It's Labor Day!

Today is a holiday in the United States called "Labor Day". Even though the meaning of Labor Day is to celebrate the hard work of workers and their families, I think that many don't think about it's meaning, and just see it as an opportunity to get off from work.  It is held on the first Monday in September.  Since it is on a Monday, many can enjoy a long three-day weekend. In English, the way to say "三連休” is "3 day weekend". I remember as a child, it was a time for my family and friends to gather together and have a BBQ. But I also remember it being a kind of sad holiday, because it made me realize that the summer was over, and it was time to go back to school.  It is the last holiday before school starts, and it also marks the beginning of football season.  The NFL usually holds its first game on the first Thursday after Labor Day.  When school starts, there is the excitement of football season in the air.

7/11/2010

I'm MELTING !!! July 10, 2010

Do you know how to say 蒸し暑い in English?  Humid, muggy, terrible!

Wow, these days it is really starting to get hot! I think I'm starting to melt! But, you know what they say...it's not the heat, it's the humidty!
Many people often ask me what the weather is like in my country.  When I tell them that I am from Florida, they tend to think that it is always warm because they imagine lots of sunshine, oranges, palm trees, but that is not the case.  Florida is a very large state, and the temperature varies from the northern part of the state to the southern part of the state. Near Miami, the temperature is warm year-round, but since my hometown is in the northern part of Florida, it does get a little cold. July is the hottest month, with temperatures averaging about 33 degrees celsius, and January is the coldest month when it gets down to about 6 degrees celsius. It is also very humid, much like Japan.  However, I think Americans like to be cooler and always set their air-conditioner to a lower temperature than in Japan.  I remember whenever I would go to the movie theater in the summer, I would have to take a jacket because it was so cold!  No COOL BIZ in America! For me, I like the way the air-conditioners are set in Japan because I think it is easier for my body to get used to, and it is more comfortable. I don't like the cold. I don't like it in the winter, and I don't like it in the summer either!  So please help save the environment and don't make it so cold inside! I know it's hot, but it is supposed to be hot; it is the summer!
  Today's phrase of the day is "Crank up the AC".  It means to turn lower the temperature and increase the power from weak to strong. Crank up means to increase, or turn up.  It can also be used different ways such as "Crank up the music", or in the winter, "Crank up the heat".  There are a couple of different ways to say air-conditioner in English; usually AC, or air, but we never, ever say AIR-CONE.
  So, that's all of my blog for today.  Thanks for checking it out and let me know if there's anything you want me to talk about, or if you have any questions about English.  Be cool; catch ya later gaters!

4/20/2010

April 19, 2010

Is it just me?  It seems like it is much colder this year than it was last year at this time.  On top of that, it seems like the rain will never end!  I don't know about you, but I have had enough of the coldness of winter, and I can't wait for the warm spring air to come!  To me, when I think about spring, I think of Easter, cleaning, and flowers.  In my country, when Spring comes, people like to open their windows and do a major cleaning in their homes.  We call it "spring cleaning".    It is a good feeling to let in the fresh, cool air and get out all the dust and dirt that has accumulated over the winter.  Many people think of doing heavy cleaning in the spring, but of course, it can be done anytime. So, whenever someone does a lot of cleaning in their home or office, even though it may be July, or December, people sometimes still say it is "Spring Cleaning".  As soon as this rain stops, and it warms up a bit, it will be time for me to do mine!