Kids toys can be pretty expensive. For Christmas, my son wanted a `Kamen Rider` belt, but it costs 10,000 yen - too much! However you don`t need to spend a lot of money on toys - all you need is some wood, paint, basic tools, a good idea, & some time. I had all these things recently, so I made this small wooden puzzle.
Did you make a present for anyone for Christmas?
Grammar:
- You need to... = ...しないといけません
- You don`t need to... = ...しなくてもいい
- You need... = ...ひつよう
- You don`t need... = ...いらないい
- All you need is... (love) = ...(愛)...だけあればいい
I`ve got a lot of old wood at home. I got a lot of it from the beach. This week I used some of it to make a set of small wooden boxes. I got the design for the numbers from the internet.
What will I put in them? Maybe coins; I`ve got a lot of low-value coins that I can`t be bothered (can`t be bothered = 面倒臭い) using in shops.
Grammar:
- I got... = ...を 在りついた
- I`ve got... = ...が あります
- Be careful: In spoken English, they often sound the same
In the first week of November, I will join other foreigners (外国人) for the 29th FAE. The first time I joined this exhibition was about 12 years ago. I entered it about 4 times, but I haven`t entered it for several years. I`m looking forward to joining again.
If you want to go, it`s on the fourth floor of Nagoya International Centre. You can walk there from Nagoya Station. If you want to meet me - and other artists - I`ll be there on the 9th, in the afternoon.
For more information:
http://www.nic-nagoya.or.jp/en/e/archives/7646
Vocabulary:
- first/second/third/fourth floor = 1階, 2階 , 3階, 4階
- first/second/third/fourth time = 初めて/最初, 2回目, 3回目, 4回目
- first/second/third/fourth of November = 11月の 1日 2日 3日 4日
- once, twice, three times, four times... = 1回 2回 3回
Thank you everybody who came to Teragoya on Saturday night to see my & my father`s artwork. I was happy to meet some old students who I hadn`t seen for a while. I tried to talk to everybody, but if I didn`t talk to you, I apologise.
Did you see the picture of the cat & kettle in the exhibition? A few years ago I went to Tokoname & took a photo of that scene in a shop. On Monday this week I went to Tokoname again. Using a map of the area, I managed to find that same shop. Inside, I gave my print to the shop owner. She was very happy. I saw the same cat was still in the shop. I felt happy too.
Grammar:
- a photo of ____
- a picture of ____
- a map of ____
Gifu Teragoya School will host an exhibition of my woodblock prints on Setember 6. If you`re free, please come!
For more information, go to: http://jp.bloguru.com/teragoya-gifu
A couple of weeks ago I made a blue & brown tenugui cloth featuring American cars & motifs for my first son. Now I`ve made a second one featuring British cars & motifs, for my second son.
First I did some red car silhouettes, then I showed my son a few spraycans & told him, "Choose another colour." He chose pink. I think it was a good choice - the result looks good.
Vocabulary:
- `choose` [チュウズ] is verb (動詞), `chose` [チョウズ] is past verb (過去形動詞), `choice` [チョイス] is noun (名詞)
- Be careful - `choice` [チョイス] is not a verb!
I made this 手ぬぐい cloth with my son.
First we found pictures of American `muscle` cars online & printed them.
Next we traced their outlines onto paper with a pencil.
Then we made stencils, put the stencils on the cloth & sprayed them with spray-paint.
After that my son drew steering wheel (ハンドル) & Route 66 designs with a permanent marker.
Finally I stamped it with a rubber stamp & red ink, & my son signed it `American.`
I`m worried about washing it. I hope the colours don`t run.
Grammar:
When using a tool to do something, we can say "...with [tool]" e.g.
- He unlocked my bedroom door with his bicycle key.
- Wipe the screen with a wet cloth.
- `Hit me with your rhythm stick`. (Song name: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=54hszkiCKi0 )
My son asked me to make a wooden truck for him. Usually when I make a toy for him, I get him to help me a little. This time I got him to hammer in a couple of nails & spray-paint the wheels black. When the truck was finished, I told him to play with it carefully, so it doesn`t break. But actually, it seems quite strong. I hope he enjoys playing with it.
Grammar:
- ask/tell/get + だれか + to 動詞 = 頼む
- `order/instruct + だれか + to 動詞` are also possible, but not common in spoken English
A kind friend gave me tickets to an art exhibition (展示会) at Matsuzakaya Department store in Nagoya. I went to look at it before work today. I didn`t want to be late for work, so I was kind of hurrying. However the paintings were very relaxing to look at, & gradually (だんだん) I became relaxed & slowed down. Actually, it was necessary to slow down anyway, because there were so many old people there.
By the way (ところで), I didn`t take this photo. I got it from the internet. Usually you can`t take photos in museums, so I didn`t.
Grammar:
- The paintings were relaxing/boring/exciting/amazing etc.
- I felt relaxed/bored/excited/amazed etc.
Imaginary Friend: What`s that? You gonna make something?
Me: Yeh - wanna know what?
I: Yeh, I wanna know.
Me: I thought you`d wanna know
I: ...
Me: ...
I: So tell me what you`re gonna make!!!
Me: Sorry - you gotta wait a couple of weeks.
I: I don`t wanna wait - tell me now!
Me: Sorry, first I wanna let students guess what I`m gonna make.
I: So they gotta write their ideas in comments?
Me: That`s right. Then in 2 weeks I`m gonna tell them the answer.
I: Sounds fun!
Grammar:
We don`t usually write 'gonna', 'gotta' & 'wanna', but we often use them in spoken English.
- gonna + [verb動詞] = going to
- gotta + [verb動詞] = have got to / have to / must
- wanna +[verb動詞] = want to
UPDATE:
The answer is in comments. Well done Andrew, who guessed correctly!
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