Dear Class:
This is a special announcement. I would like to make an apology because my explanation of the writing assignment for this class was not clear. The follow should provide you with a clear understanding of the topics you should write on, should provide you with a clear understanding of when and where the writings are to be posted; and shoud provide you with a clear understanding of what you should do once your writing has been posted.
It is the responsibility of each to student to write the assignments and post them in our newsgroup, Eigohohoron. Each student should read and comment on other students writings within the newsgroups. The minimum length is 150 words for each topic. You should try to do your best. These writings assignments will count toward your final grade. If you are having difficulties, please see me. I can help you understand more clearly what the assignment is and what we are doing.)
(This topic is about interesting places have visited or want to visit. One of my favorite places is Kitakamakura. I especially like it in autumn. What is your favorite place to visit? Or what country would you like to visit someday and Why)
Places I would like to visit are the countries in Eastsouth Asia, such as Singapore, Vietnam, Thailand and so on. I've never been to this area. I want to see land and pople in this area. As you know, Japan is a member of Asia. But we are likely to turn our faces to Western countries. I want to communicate the poeple of Thailand. Another reason why I want to visit there is that many ALTs take a trip to this country during vacations. They often tell us many interesting thing about this country. And they say that prices are very cheap there. My dream is going to Thailand, eating delicious food, and swimming in the beautiful sea.
(This topic about your favorite movie. Almost everyone likes to watch movies. What is your favorite movie and why? Tell us about your favorite movie, or your favorite movie star.)
One of my favorite movies is "Easter Pareda". This is a musical
film produced in 1948 by Charles Walters. Featured actor and actress are
Dudy Garland, Fred Astaire. His parter left from him, Fred found Dudy in
a bar and offered to be his partner. Dudy at first didn't take it seriously,but
found him a famous dancer and accepted his proposal.The new couple which
didn't dance so well, gradually became popular and got great success. But
Dudy doubted that Fred had loved his ex-pertner, but the day of Easter
when one year has passed since they made their debut, she understands he
loves her.
I have watched this movies on TV some times. This movies told me the
charm of musical. Probably many of you will be surprised to see at the
scene where Astaire alone dances in slow motion. Behind him any other people
are dancing in an ordinary manner. The effect of SFX in the early time
of 1948!
One of my forgettable scenes is the last one in which they are parading
along the fifth avenue of New York singing the title song "Easter Parede".
(Pets are a lot of fun and nice to play with. But pets are also important for many reasons. What are some of the reasons why pets are important. And what is your favorite pet or animal? What rights should animals have? Should we be protecting animals as much as we can?) Pets are important for present-day family. As the number of children become less and less, parents take a good care of them so much. Children are accustomed to being taken care of, but aren' accustomed to taking care of somebody. So they can learn many things from pets. If they don't give them food, they can' t live. They raise pets carefully and affectionately, they will get love from them . And children can learn more important things from pets; That is about birth death. Nowadays as all of you know, poeple is born and die at a hospital. This means basic matter about human beings is deprived of children. Children can't easily understand the sorrowfulness and suffering of the poeple dying in front of us. But when thier loving pets die, they spontaneously bury them in the corner of thier yards. By doing so, they improve such kind of delicate feelings for living things.
(This topic allows you tell us about yourself. What kind of things do you like to do, like eat, what kind of friends do you have, what would you like do after university, and what would like to change about yourself if you could? These are some questions to help you with this topic.)
I am Yoshifumi Maeta. I'm very happy to join the class of Neal-sensei
with young students. I am an English teacher of Junior High School in Tottori
Prefecture. I will stay till the end of September to study English and
computer.
Before a J.H. teacher, I have worked as an elementary school teacher.
I learned the importance of computer, especially internet. I think students
will improve their abilities of English through Internet. They can write
real English sentences by using Internet. Unfortunately our school has
no system of Internet. But one or two years later we have a plan to buy
many machines. I will study hard here and make the most use of my knowledge
about Internet in our school then. One of my hobby is enjoying Kabuki.
I'm also happy to see Kabuki so often here in Tokyo. I will write my impressions
of Kabuki in my home page.
Please take a look at it.
(Learning to speak a foreign language is a very difficult task. But everyone has a different method of learning to speak. Please share your ideas on learning a foreign language, esp. English, and tell us what is the best way to learn.)
To speak English to native speakers is the best way to improve
the ability of speaking English. In our school ALT visits every Friday.
So Friday is the golden day for me. Of course we have to talk about lessons
sharing with her. After finishing talking about lessons, I discuss on many
interesting topics. It is very interesting and usuful time for me.
I have questions on many topics. So I ask her and she answers. Next
time she asks and I answer. In this point we enjoy communicating each other.
The basic problem is what you will want to know by communicating with
native speakers of English. If you don't have such desires, you don't need
to talk to forign poeple in English. If you want to know something from
native speakers, try to speak to them in English. You have a great abilities
of English. Try to communicate in English. "Practice makes perfect."
(There is no doubting the fact that computers play an important part in our life. How do you computers will be used in the future? Do you like computers? Do you think computers will make your life easier or more difficult?)
To tell the truth, I don't know about computers so well. So I am wondering why I am here in Tokai University to study computers. But it is the fact I come here to study the possibilities of computers, especially the internet. We can't escape from computers in our daily lives. For example, almost all teachers use computers (or wordproccessers) at school to make handouts or matherials. Now computers are the tools which we have to use in our life. We can't live without computers. The role of computers have been improved more and more. The uses of e-mail become convenient to us. E-mails have changed the way of communicating among people. But we shouldn't forget that computers are only convenient tools. We have to handle them well.
(Reading is enjoyable and rewarding. Tell us about what you like to read, how often you like read, where you read, your favorite story book character and anything else about reading.)
I love reading books. When I worked in elementary schools, I used to read Japanese books. I have read many Japanese novels. Especially I loved Natsume Soseki's works In those days my favoritewriter was Rumei Yoshimoto, a critic who is famous for a popular novelist, Banana Yoshimoto's father. I've been a fan for his critical works and poems. One of his critical works is "What is the beauty for the language. I think this work is the masterpiece,one of the best critical works in Japan. I started to read English books since I started to work an English teacher. At first I enjoyed the works of Sidney Sheldon. I have to express to him my deepest gratitude for being able to read English books. His stories were very interesting and easy to read. From then on, I have enjoyed reading English books. One of the novelists who I now love is Michael Crichton. Since former ALT told me his name, I have read his work, such as Congo, Jurassic Park, Rising Sun, Disclosure, The Terminal Man and so on. After reading his work, we can enjoy the movie made by his work. I will go to see the movie 'The Lost World.' I want to read many books.
Hello, Neal-sensei. I learned many usuful things from you and your class. Thank you very much.
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