Thursday, January 13, 2011
Blog moving to Ameba
Please access this blog at http://ameblo.jp/my-english-life/
Thank you!
English Boy.
Friday, January 07, 2011
Expressions: Damn it's cold!
Warning, some content is not suitable for young readers.
'It is cold.'
'It is very cold.'
'It is very, very cold.'
These are useful expressions and should be learned by all students. But if you listen to native English we often use other words to mean 'very' or 'very, very'. These words make an idea stronger.
Here are some native ways to make ideas stronger, they are in groups, because some of these words are 'soft' and some are 'rude'.
Warning, some content is not suitable for young readers.
Cute / not offensive:
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Culture: Spring cleaning
Rubber gloves...usually kept under the kitchen sink! |
In Japan, people clean their homes and workplaces at the end of the year.
They wash away the dust and energy of the past year.
It is a way to prepare for the new year.
The end of year clean is a Japanese tradition.
We also have an annual cleaning event.
Annual = Every year / Once a year
Our annual cleaning is called 'spring cleaning'.
Our annual clean out is traditionally during the first warm days of the new year.
The first warm days are in spring.
Spring is the season of sunshine and warmth.
Spring cleaning is popular in cold places.
These days 'spring cleaning' is not always in spring.
Any type of 'big cleaning' is called 'spring cleaning' now.
We can do our spring cleaning at any time of the year.
Example 1:
A. Why are you taking all those things out of the cupboard?
B. I am doing my spring cleaning.
A. Can I give you a hand? = Can I help you?
B. Sure, grab some gloves from the kitchen, under the sink.
Example 2:
A. Can you come home from work early tomorrow?
B. I wish I could, but we are re-organising the office.
A. Really? Why?
B. It's quiet at the moment, so the boss decided it was a good time to do some spring cleaning.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Culture: Boxing Day
A Boxing Day tradition in Australia. |
The day after Christmas is 'Boxing Day'.
Boxing day is celebrated in Australia, the U.K., Canada and many other countries.
Boxing day is sometimes celebrated in the U.S.A.
Christmas day is a family day.
Christmas eve is not celebrated in Christian countries.
Children go to sleep early on Christmas eve.
Children wake up early on Christmas day to open their presents.
There is a famous yacht race from Sydney to Hobart, it begins on 'Boxing Day'.
For most Australians Boxing day is a day for relaxing and going to the beach.
Friday, December 24, 2010
Culture: Have you been a good boy?
Do you deserve a present? Photo by Rob. |
Child: Mum, is it true that Santa only gives presents to good people?
Mum: Yes honey, that's true. Why do you ask?
Child: (Looking very sad) Well...no reason.
Mum: Are you sure? You don't sound very sure to me.
Child: Um...well...you see...
Mum: Yes?
Child: Stealing is bad right?
Mum: Oh yes, stealing is VERY bad!
Child: But, it's OK sometimes right?
Mum: No honey, stealing is never good!
(Child starts crying)
Mum: What is it honey? Why are you so upset?
Child: Because daddy said you stole his heart! And that means you're bad and that you won't get any Christmas presents from Santa Claus!
Mum: Oh honey! Daddy didn't mean it that way! He means that he loves me!
She stole my heart. = I love her.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Culture: 'Tis the season to be jolly!
Merry Christmas from Prana English! |
Jolly = Merry = Happy
Santa is jolly. = Santa is a happy guy. (always / usually)
Guy = Man
Merry Christmas = Happy Christmas / Please have a good Christmas.
In Christian countries this time of the year is our biggest holiday.
Most businesses close from Christmas until the first week of January and life is quiet.
In Australia we have a hot, summer Christmas.
We often have a barbecue on Christmas Day.
Many people go to church and pray.
Most Australians go to the beach on Boxing Day (December 26th)
We do not celebrate the 24th of December.
December the 25th is similar to January the 1st for Japanese.
We do not eat fried chicken!
We do not eat sponge cake!
Santa brings presents for good kids.
Santa brings coal for naughty kids.
The presents go under the Christmas tree.
We often eat turkey and pudding on the 25th.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Season: It's time to rug up against the cold!
Winter is here and it is time to keep warm!
Stay warm this winter by wearing heavy, warm clothes. (rug up)
Rug up. = Wear warm clothes
I love winter because it is a good chance to rug up!
Rugging up is a good way to save money on heating bills!
Make sure you rug up before you go outside in the cold!
Extra point: On cold evenings it is great to snuggle into bed!
My duvet is very warm, I like to snuggle it against my face on cold nights!
Snuggle is similar to 'cuddle'.
寒くなってきましたね。冬の到来です。暖かくして過ごす季節が来ました。
沢山重ね着出来る冬は、大好きです。それに、着こむだけなんて、経済的だしね!
Snuggleって、とっても気持ちよさそうなニュアンスが伝わってきますね。
Conversation:
A. Why is this room so hot?
A stove is for cooking.
In Japanese English a stove is a heater, for staying warm.
和製英語に注意!
風が冷たくなる冬、スカーフに手袋、重ね着をして暖かく過ごして下さいね。
Sunday, December 05, 2010
Culture: Japanese love autumn leaves!
Heirinji by Rob. |
The autumn leaves are beautiful!
深まる秋。秋のうつろいと共に変化する葉。紅葉は日本の四季の美しさの一つです。
さて、そんな美しい紅葉をどんな風に表現しますか? 「美しい」と一言でいっても、英語には様々な表現があるのです。
The autumn leaves are ....
...beautiful!
...wonderful!
...spectacular!
...lovely!
...gorgeous!
...breathtaking!― 息(breath)を取る(take)するほど美しい。まさに”息をのむほどの”美しさ!
...a sight to behold!―目を見張るほどに! 美しい。んーうっとり。
葉のうつろいによって、英語表現も変化していきます。
The leaves are changing colour. (They are changing day by day, now.)
まずは葉が色づき始めた頃。日に日に、葉の色が変わってきています。
The leaves have changed colour. (They have finished changing, and are good to see.)
そして完全に色づいた頃。赤や黄色の見事な紅葉です。
The leaves have fallen. (It is too late!)
最後には、葉が落ちます。植物達は葉を落とし、来春に向け冬ごもり。本格的な冬の到来です!
I love looking at the autumn leaves!
Many Japanese people go to temples or to the countryside to look at the autumn leaves.
The leaves change colour every year in autumn and then fall to the ground.
Note: In British English we say 'autumn' and we spell colour with a 'u'. In American English they say 'fall' and spell color without a 'u'.
イギリス英語では、秋は”autumn"。カラーのスペルもuを付けて、colourとなります。アメリカ英語だと、秋は”fall"で、カラーのスペルにuを付けづに、colorとなります。何か違いがあるのでしょうか?次の会話をのぞいてみましょう。
Conversation:
A: Have you seen the autumn leaves yet?
B: No I have not, not yet. But I plan to drive to Gunma on the weekend to see them.
A: That sounds wonderful, will you go to an onsen?
B: What's that?
A: It's a Japanese hot spring bath. It is a very popular thing to do in the fall. How about in your country?
B: We enjoy looking at autumn leaves back home too, but we do not make a big event of it.
A: You don't say 'fall'?
B: Well, no, I don't because I was brought up in the U.K. 'fall' is an American English word.
A: I see! Which is better to use?
B: I cannot say which is better! It is your choice! I prefer 'autumn' because it is the way I was taught when I was a child, it sounds more natural to me.
A: I see! Thank you! I learned something new!
なるほど。特にどちらが良い悪いはないようですね。自分が使いやすい方をつかってみましょう。ここ数日、ぐっと寒くなってきました。街の木々も葉を落とし始め、晩秋です。美しい日本の秋を、色んな表現を使って表してみてはいかがでしょう!
Monday, November 22, 2010
Food: Not too spicy thanks!
Bean curry taken by Rob....and eaten by Rob....but not made by Rob...in case you were wondering... |
A native conversation about having lunch:
私たちが、普段何気なく話す日常会話。教科書に載っているような文体で話しませんよね。英語も同じ。テキストに載っている、センテンスそのままでは、堅苦しく感じる事も。
例えば、『私は、お腹が少し空きました。』
うん。ちょっと固いですね。
「小腹空いたなぁ」とカジュアルに表現したい時は、
『I'm a little peckish』
a little hungryなどとも言えますが、このPeckishを使うと、何かちょとつまみたい気分、といったニュアンスを上手く表現出来ます。Peckishは、鳥がくちばしで、食べ物をつまんでいるイメージです。
では、ネイティブの人達の日常会話をのぞいてみましょう。
Tom: Hey Rob, I'm feeling hungry, how about you? (I am hungry, are you hungry Rob?)
Rob: I'm a little peckish I guess. (Yes, a little.)
Tom: Do you wanna grab a quick curry? (Do you want to eat some curry?)
Rob: Yeah sure, know any decent places? (That is a good idea. Do you know a curry shop?)
Tom: There's an Indian joint not far from here, I go there all the time. (Yes, there is an Indian curry shop near here, I often go there.)
Rob: Sounds good! (Let's go!)
At the Indian restaurant:
Staff: What can I get for you? (Can I take your order?)
Tom: I'd like the lunch set with Saag Paneer and naan thanks. (I want the set lunch with spinach curry with cheese and naan bread thank you.)
Rob: I'll get a lunch set with naan too, but can I get the vegetable curry? (Can I have a lunch set too, with vegetable curry?)
Staff: OK, two lunch sets coming right up. (OK, your food will be cooked soon.) How hot do you want it? (How spicy do you want your curry?)
Rob: A little hotter than medium thanks, but not too spicy! (Level 3 from 5 please. More than 'average' but not REALLY hot!)
Tom: Same for me thanks. (Me too!)
普段テキストで慣れているセンテンスと少し違いましたね。
これが、生きた英語。
使える表現が沢山出てきました。
Do you wanna grab a quick curry?
このgrabここでは、「軽く食べる」といった意味で使われています。使い方としては、他にも
、
・I’m gonna grab my jacket! 「ちょっとジャケット取ってくるね!(急いで取ってくる感じです)」
・Why don't we grab a coffee or something? 「コーヒーか何かでも、軽く飲まない?」
・Let's grab a taxi 「タクシーつかまえよう!」
手に入れるっていう意味での「get 」や「take」に、少し素早さや、軽さを加えた意味のこの単語。
カジュアルな表現で、ネイティブがよく使うので、バッチリ覚えて、使ってみましょう!
What can I get for you? ウエイターがよく使います。『何をお持ちしましょう?』
How hot do you want it?
この場合のhotはspicyと同じ意味で使われています。hotには温度の暑さ を表現したり、辛さを表す時にも使われますよ。
他にもネイティブがよく使う表現が沢山ありましたね。是非覚えて使ってみて下さい!
Tom Fryer teaching at PranaKids |
Rob climbing in Hokkaido |
Monday, November 15, 2010
Word Watch: Sur / Sub / Semi
Sur=超過
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
Food: I like cake with coffee!
Taken and drunk by Rob. |
Personally I like coffee made in a 'plunger', also called a 'press'. I call this 'French pressed' coffee. The flavour from pressed coffee is rich and full, but not too bitter. I highly recommend it to anybody who likes a mild, yet full flavoured coffee! You must always grind your own beans, and do not use water that is hotter than 90 degrees Celsius!
煎れたての珈琲が一番!
brewed coffeeは、インスタントコーヒーとは、違うコーヒー豆の良い香りが漂ってきそうです。コーヒー以外にも、日本茶や紅茶にも使えます。焙煎し、挽き立てのコーヒーは格別ですよね。あのアロマの香りが部屋中に漂って。 んーん、コーヒーが飲みたくなってきました。温度にもこだわりが、90℃のお湯で煎れます。これより熱すぎると、豆を焦がしてしまい、苦味がでますし、これより低い温度では、豆本来の香りがひき立ちません。それから、豆を挽く時も、粗すぎず、細か過ぎないようにね。
Coffee goes well with cake.
Coffee beans should be ground soon after they are roasted.
The full flavour of coffee is released if the water temperature is about 90 degrees.
Hot water will burn the coffee and make it bitter.
Cold water will not release the flavour.
The beans must be ground to the right consistency, not too coarse, but not too fine!
・Add some sugar./ Put in somu sugar. 砂糖を加える。
Friday, November 05, 2010
Culture: Wagashi are the bomb!
Kamome no Tamago - Special Edition Photos by Rob. |
The bomb!=最高!超スゲェ!
ビジネスには使えませんが、物にも人にも、食べ物や出来事にも使える、とってもユニヴァーサルな褒め言葉。友達同士で使ってみてはいかが?
ただ、発音に注意して下さいね。 最後の’b’は発音しないで「ジィボーム」
He is the bomb! = He is great / the best.爆発的にすごい!ってことで、人に使って、一番すごい人!
They're the bomb!
She is the bomb!
She is a bomshell! = She is hot!
She is hot! = She is sexy!
She blows my mind!
Blow up. = Explode.
I love Kamome no Tamago! Photos by Rob. |
Wagashi are really wonderful! Since coming to Japan, I have fallen in love with wagashi! Taking photos of wagashi is one of my many hobbies. I enjoy learning about Japanese culture through wagashi! I love that people can share their experience of travel with their friends and loved ones, by bringing home a wagashi souvenir! Wagashi are the bomb! Thank you all for giving me such wonderful treats! I love Japan!
By the way, can you explain the difference between 'wagashi' and 'yougashi'? How about 'dagashi'?
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Culture: Halloween
Photo and cardboard skeleton by Rob. |
Before Christianity came to Europe people believed that a door opened between the spirit world and our world at this time of year, and that bad spirits came and destroyed our precious crops. To stop this from happening the people decided to look scary, so the spirits would go back to their world. Christians believe in one God, so they did not like this idea, and tried unsuccessfully to stop it several times.
Yes, this is Rob! |
Monday, October 25, 2010
Word Watch: Mono / Uni = 1
UNI = 1
MULTI = Many
MONO がつくと1つという意味合いが含まれます。
多くの人がモノトーン'monotone' の意味を一色だけ使っていることだと思っている場合が多いのですがもともとの意味は色の事ではないのです。
Monochrome Rob by full colour Rob. |
Rob is in monochrome.
I love old black and white films.
Films shot in monochrome are very romantic. (In this sentence 'monochrome' = 'Monochromatic film')
Monotone = A sound that has only 1 pitch.
UNI もまた一つという意味があるものが多いです。なのでUnicyclesは一輪車という意味。とっても上手に乗れる人いますよね。この間池袋で中国からやってきた雑技団の人たちがものすごい高い一輪車に乗っていました。
I have never tried to ride a unicycle.
Riding a unicycle looks very difficult.
I like my bicycle. (bi = 2)
By bicycle is a mamachari!
She used to ride a monocycle (= a unicycle) when she was a child.
I saw a professional unicyclist in Ikebukuro a few years ago.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Word Watch: Multi...
Gotta love the old multi-tool!
Gotta love... = I really like...
'The old' is an expression we use to mean 'my familiar object'
Multi-cultural = Many cultures together
Australia is a multi-cultural country.
Is being multi-cultural the way of the future?
Multi-purpose = Many purposes
My multi-tool is a multi-purpose tool!
Multi-task = To do many tasks at one time
Multi-tasking is dangerous!
People who can multi-task are useful.
Multi-tasking is the reason people do bad work!
People should not multi-task, they should focus on one thing at a time.
My friend is multi-lingual, he can speak English, Japanese, French and Chinese!
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Health: Vaccination 予防接種
Trust me...I'm a doctor... |