There are lots of ways to study a language. Sometimes I read Crayon Shinchan comics - the pictures help me understand, & they`re funny. When I saw these dogs at a highway service area, I was reminded (思い出させた) of a Crayon Shinchan story...
I guess their owner is an attention-seeker (目立ちたがりな人).
Vocabulary:
The word `remind` is very useful:
- If someone asks you to do something, but you`re busy, you can say: "Please remind me later/tomorrow/etc."
- If somebody says something that makes you remember something: "Oh! That reminds me - I got an email from... etc."
- If somebody mentions something that you want to forget: "Don`t drink too much at the halloween party - remember last year?" "Aah... don`t remind me!"
In the waterways near my house, there are heaps of (= lots of) American crayfish [ザリガニ]. Sometimes I catch them with my sons. If we spend long enough, we can catch loads of (= lots of) them, like in this photo. It`s tons of (= lots of) fun!
Japanese people don`t usually eat them, but Americans do, especially in the southern state of Louisiana. Have you ever eaten crayfish? I haven`t.
Another name for crayfish is crawfish, but in Australia we use the name `yabby`.
Vocabulary:
- `many`, ` a lot of` & `lots of` are standard English, but native English speakers also use casual terms like `heaps of`, `loads of`, `tons of`, `stacks of` & `piles of`.
Can you find the animal hiding in this photo? Look carefully...
The answer is in comments.
Vocabulary:
- find = 見つける found = 見つけた
- Lost & Found Office = 遺失物取り扱い所
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
During the Obon holidays I went camping by the sea in Fukui Prefecture for 3 days. I wanted to go swimming but the water was rough for 2 days. On the last day the conditions were good so I went swimming & snorkelling. The water was really clear, but I couldn`t see any big fish; too many people go spear-fishing near the campsite, so there are no big fish.
Fukui is a popular place to go scuba-diving. Have you ever been scuba-diving in Fukui? I like snorkelling but I`ve never been scuba-diving.
Grammar:
- go __ing > went __ing > been __ing OR gone __ing (been __ing is more common)
- Be careful: `go/went/been TO __ing` is WRONG
I went to the twice-a-month outdoor markets at Osu Kannon in Nagoya yesterday. I saw lots of interesting stuff (= things) for sale. I found a nice metal patrol car in a box.
I checked the wheels, & opened & closed the doors. It was okay.
I asked the vendor, "How much is this car?"
He said, "300 yen."
I thought, "Hmmm, a little expensive for a damaged old car..." but then I found a similar red one, so I asked, "How about 500 yen for two?" & he said OK.
Soon after, by chance (偶然 に) I found one in the same series at another stall (屋台店 ). I didn`t have to haggle (ねぎる) - it was only 100 yen.
In this photo, the doors are closed, but you can open & close them. My sons like cars like that. Me too.
Vocabulary:
- open: 開ける opened: 開けた open: 開いている
- close: 閉める closed: 閉めた closed: 閉めている
- Be careful; `close` is NOT an adjective 形容詞
- So: "Excuse me, Mr Shopkeeper. Are you open?" "Sorry, we`re closED"
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 )
Do you like turtles? I caught this baby one in a stream (= small river) near my house. My sons were excited. They like turtles but, to be honest, I don`t really like them.
Have you ever eaten turtle? There`s a soft-shelled turtle (スッポン) restaurant near the roundabout (= rotary) in front of Ichinomiya Station. I`ve been there a couple of times with friends but I don`t really like turtle dishes.
I don`t like turtles & I don`t like turtle either.
How about you?
Grammar:
- ...like turtles/chickens/kangaroos = 亀/鶏/カンガルー が好き
- ...like turtle/chicken/kangaroo = 亀肉/鶏肉/カンガルー肉 が好き
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