Because of Covid-19*, we haven`t received postcards for a while. However, I made a display frame for the ones we already have. I made it because** I want students to feel motivated to study English, in preparation for the time when we can all travel abroad again. I hope it`s soon.
Because** they are hanging, you can turn them easily to read the messages on the back. Please check them out!
Grammar:
* 'Because of ' + 名詞,
** 'Because' + 文章
I bought this figure of Gomora ゴモラ for my coll... I mean* my son`s collection. Of course I checked that it was made in Japan, not China. What does 'Gomora' mean**? Well, the Bible (聖書) mentions a city called Gomorrah. It was full of evil people, so God destroyed it. So I guess ゴモラ is a suitable name for an enemy of Ultraman, right?
Vocabulary:
- * "A...I mean B" = "A...じゃなくって...B" (間違ったことを言って、(言い直しをしたい時に) 正しい言葉に言い換える時に役立つ言い回し）
- ** 意味
I have a lot of old fishing floats. I put the nicest ones in a display case in my classroom*, but I still had a lot left over (残り). So I made another display case. Actually, I didn`t find one of the floats in this case. I made it myself, from a champagne cork. Can you find it?
* https://en.bloguru.com/otto/361390/a-few-new-floats
Pronunciation:
- Champagne シャンパン is pronounced シャンぺーン in English (it sounds like campaign キャンペーン)
I made two Christmas wreaths. Wanna buy one? The one on the left is ¥1500. The big one is ¥2000. I have another one at home, but it`s not for sale.
By the way, I used the seedpods that I found at Lake Biwa ( https://jp.bloguru.com/otto/387792/a-bagful-of-what ) in the big wreath. Can you see them?
Grammar
the + 形容詞 + one
the + one + 前置詞
The limes on my lime tree were turning yellow, so before I left* for work today, I harvested them. As you can see in the photo on the left**, I got a trayful. I didn`t pick all of them, though. I left*** a few small ones on the tree - maybe they will grow a little more. I took the photo on the right a few weeks ago - fortunately this guy wasn`t in the tree today.
Vocabulary:
- * leave (= 出る) --> left [過去形]
- **left = 左
- *** leave (残す) --> left [過去形]
Last week I went camping in Fukui. I arrived in Wakasa-Wada around midday, set up my tent, then went beachcombing. My main target was fishing floats. As you can see, I managed to (= tried & could) find several, so I was satisfied. I was also pleased with the weather - mainly sunny, with some clouds. Another good point was that the campsite was almost empty - in Japan, people mainly camp in summer only.
Grammar:
- Be careful: 'main' is 形容詞, 'mainly' is 副詞, so 'My main purpose...' OK, but 'The mainly reason...' WRONG
I found this 4WD (Four-Wheel-Drive) toy car in a second-hand shop. I had an idea, so I bought it (it was only 50yen). At home, I drilled holes in the black plastic spotlights, inserted (入れる) small lights, & connected (繋ぐ) them to a watch battery inside the body. Now my 4WD has working spotlights! Unfortunately they only stay on for about 3 seconds, then die. That`s a bit disappointing. But I enjoyed showing & explaining it to my kids, & also to my wife while she pretended (ふりをした) to be asleep.
Pronunciation
- Writing '4WD' is okay, but when speaking, it is always pronounced "Four Wheel Drive" (not 'four double-u dee'). Similarly, 'BBQ' is often written, but always pronounced "BARbeque" (not 'beebeeque')
My 2nd son used to be into (= interested in) the Japanese superhero Ultraman, so we bought him a book & some figures. Nowadays most Ultraman figures are made in China, but they used to be made in Japan. Little by little, I started to enjoy looking for made-in-Japan Ultraman figures in thrift stores. When I buy a new one, I give it to my son to I.D. (= identify 指す) in his Ultraman book & play with it, then I display it with the others.
Vocabulary:
- Overseas, at bars or nightclubs, staff may ask you for “I.D. please” before you can enter or buy alcohol. In this case, I.D. = passport, driver`s license etc. that shows your age.
- ブログルメンバーの方は下記のページからログインをお願いいたします。
ログイン
- まだブログルのメンバーでない方は下記のページから登録をお願いいたします。
新規ユーザー登録へ
mokomoko 
PSPINC JP 
bokushi 
ウチクラ ケンイチ 
田仲なお美 
エメラルド 
yukio 
KUMA 
内倉憲一 
birdy