What's New at Kyoto NHK ESS?

Dear ESS members:
I kindly notify the ESS members of the following subjects:
1. Date: Saturday, 13 February at the ESS;
2. Genre: Sharing what we've learned;
3. Title: Getting new words at one's fingertips; and
4. Description: See below.
The practice entitled "Getting new words at one's fingertips" is constituted by:
1. To sum up what we’ve learned in each group by talking one on one for ten minutes.
Each male attendee is kindly asked to choose each female partner to have “one on one talk” within the respective groups, and so does each female attendee. Ten minutes are given for summing-up;
2. To list up at least 10 new words by yourself respectively including amazing words, idiomatic expressions and you name on your each textbook for ten minutes;
3. To write some scripts by making use of the listed words.
Each attendee is kindly requested to make some scripts by using the ten listed words for ten minutes;
4. To choose a partner and express own script each other for ten minutes; and
5. To choose a partner and sum up what each attendee has learned with a partner for ten minutes.
The chair is supposed to be taken by Izumi.
That concludes a practice entitled "Getting new words at one's fingertips".
Regards
Izumi Toki

Dear ESS members

Here is summary of the last practice on Feb. 20th.
We used talk material Minamihashi san happen to have. (Thank you Minamihashi san)

Each group discussed on various subjects shown in the material and introduced one of the most
interesting one to all.

Group1:
Question: Women are ready to do anything to look beautiful ?
Answer: Basically agreed. But, do not commit crime even if you can do anything.

Group2:
Q: Some people treat their pets better than they treat their neighbors.
A: It is common. But we do not know pets like to wear pants or do special hear cut.

Group3:
Q: We do not have to learn foreign languages thanks to translation machines that will be avilable in a decade.
A: Yes, it could be useful for simple message but what about emotion ? We still need face to face communication.

Group4:
Q: He sees someone drowning. What should he do ?
A: Do not dare to help her. He will be drowned together. Better to throw a swimming ring.

Group5:
Q: His daughter wants to move in with her boyfriend. What should he do?
A: Why not grab him !

Generally, it turn out to be a pleasant practice.
Thank you for your cooperation

Atsuta

Hello everyone!

This is Takehiko Sakai.
I'm called Take-chan in Kyoto ESS to distinguish me from another Sakai-san called Great Sakai-san.
Now I would like to inform you about the practice on February 27, 2016 in Kyoto ESS.

Date: February 27, 2016
Genre: Learning Korean language
Title: Let's Hangul

The topic of this practice is to introduce how to use Hangul character　(Korean alphabet).
So let's learn how to write and read Hangul character. We would write our own name in Hangul character after this practice.
I have to tell you how to write and read it with my English explanation.
I think it's an experimental practice and big challenge for me but I would try.

Hangul character was established by Sejong the Great（世宗王 1418-1450） in Korea.
It consists of 21 vowels(母音) and 19 consonants(子音) and it's expressed by the combination of these vowels and consonants.
Please see the attached file.

So I'm trying to apply Hangul character into Japanese syllabary (The 50-character kata-kana syllabary) for us to learn them easier.
I'm going to show the basic vowels and consonants according to this kata-kana syllabary for you to write your own name.

Procedure
1. Make 5 or 6 groups.

2. I show the basic combination of the vowels and the consonants according to kata-kana syllabary like あ to お，か to こ and so on.
In this case I think it's enough to use about 12 vowels and 15 consonants.

3. I tell you basic rule of Hangul using my name "Sakai Takehiko" for example.
Some consonant characters　(か行, た行 etc.)　are pronounced in different way depending on whether they are at the beginning of the sentence or not.
I mean some pronunciation is changing such as か -> が, た -> だ, ち -> ぢ, ぱ -> ば.

4. You are expected to write your own name in Hangul following my explanation.
If you have something that you don't know or understand well, please feel free to ask me.

5. In each group each person should show the name written in Hangul to other people.

6. At the end of the practice one of the person in each group should show everyone how you wrote your name in Hangul.
In addition please say how you feel about learning Hangul.

７.　If we have more time I would tell you basic Korean phrases and try to translate them into Japanese meaning.

I expect you to widen your view.
See you on next Saturday evening!

Best Regards
Sakai
https://d.docs.live.net/9021160707901d25/Documents/Basic%20of%20Hangul.docx

Hello everyone!

This is the announcement of practice on March 5, 2016.
I wish all of you will enjoy the practice.

Title: WE ARE INVENTORS!
Date: March 5, 2016
Genre: Problem solution
Facilitator: Akiko Yoshioka

Note: To bring your own scissors is highly appreciated.
*****
Blue-LED, iPS cells, smart phones, pharmaceutical preparations, etc. etc.

There are a lots of great inventions in the world.
Actually not only exceptional genius but also we can invent something useful.
Let's enjoy creating an invention!
*****
+ Phase I: What is the problem?

I will suggest a simple situation to you.

[Group discussion]
What is the problem of the situation?
Identify the problem.

+ Phase II: How do you solve the problem?

[Work]
Draw your ideas to solve the problem.
Write the key points of your ideas in English.

[Group discussion]
Brainstorm possible solutions.

+ Phase III: What is your invention?

[Cooperative handicraft]
Let's realize your idea!
Build a model or prototype in teams.
Refine the design.
Share the inventions.

To bring your own scissors is highly appreciated.

*****
I am really looking forward to seeing your inventions!
Thank you very much for giving me this precious opportunity.

Cheers!
Akiko Yoshioka
追伸
先月入会したばかりで右も左もわかりませんが、精一杯準備しますので、皆さんに楽しんでいただけたら嬉しいです。お手柔らかにお願い致します。