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2024年03月24日

2024年3月30日 プラクテイス

Title: March: Let’s describe and discuss each monthly topic!

Genre: Talk
Topic: March Topics.

Please make some groups having 4-5 members in each group.
At first, please choose your own topic from the following list or create your own idea that has something to do with March. No overlap over the topics in your group, please.

List of Topics
girl’s festival, peach, graduation ceremony,transfer/move,mochi with mugwort, spring equinox day, edible wild plant,white day, professional baseball, daphne,saxifrage,Tohoku earthquake and tsunami, dandelion, canola flower,St. Patrick’s Day, or Your Own Idea .

Part 1: Design and construction of your prompt speech for 5 min.
Part 2: Present your speech for 1 min.
Part 3: Share idea and opinion on the presented topic in the group for 10 min.
Repeat Part 2 and Part 3 after the first speaker in your group finishes the practice.

ESS-Staff
  

2024年03月01日

2024年3月23日 プラクテイス

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS members.

I’m writing to inform you of the practice on March 23.

Genre: Talk
Topics: “Oh yeah! Let’s go to London “

I’m going to divide into 3 or 4 groups.

1: I play a British tour guide. Please fill in the blanks.
2: Let me hear about your memories of trip .
This is my first practice. I’m looking forward to seeing you at the temple.

Cheers
Takae Ishii

2024年02月25日

2024年3月9日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members
Here is the announcement for the latter half of practice on March 9th, 2024. Everyone, please prepare for your own opinions.

Genre: Discussion
Topic: Seamless lifelong support system for pregnancy, education, job, health care, disabilities, and pension with no one left behind from the cradle to the grave.
Description

1) Make some groups so each group would consist of three members. If two members were left, Minamihashi would join the group. If there are only two members for two groups, I would ask the leader to be an additional member for group one. Be your timekeeper within your group for each of you. Choose one of the issues below for your group immediately. It is up to you.
2) Write and prepare your speech on the issues, significant points, advantages, and disadvantages, impression, within five minutes.
3) Decide your group's order to present your speech.
4) Present your speech, opinion, and impression on the issues. The other member in your group should confirm and ask questions on the speaker’s opinion and impression.
5)Take turns to present your speech in your group. Try the other issue if you have time.
Issues
A) What is health? When do you feel healthy, and how do you keep your health in good condition?
B) What do you think are the factors causing health gaps or inequalities in health?
C) What do you think of the social security system in Japan compared with the other countries?
D) What would you say if the young generation requested total government support for the whole cost of marriage, raising kids, and education? Do you think taxpayers should pay more? Or do you expect Japan to decrease its population from 120 million in 2023 to 80 million or 60 million?
E) What do you think of seamless lifelong support with my number system, no one left behind?
F) What do you think of supporting the elderly and people with disabilities? Do you think taxpayers should pay more for the elderly and disabled people?
G) What do you think of ban request of description on personal attributes in resume besides one’s skill necessary for applying job?
H) Do you think Japanese Government should prohibit compulsory retirement age and offer elderlies the choice to get pension, medical care, reskilling, reeducation, or keep working even after 65, 70, 75, 80, 85, or 90, if preferred?
I) What do you think of Japan's financial debt? Is MMT dependable for finance in Japan?
J) What would you say if PM Fumio Kishida asked you to present your opinion for 3 minutes?

O.Minamihashi

2024年02月15日

2024年3月2日 プラクティス

Announcement is 3/2 latter practice

Topic: English etymology test (語源テスト)

The test style is "Raise your hand".

For example : "ad" は 語源は"〜の方へ",  
例えばadopt "opt"は選ぶ, 〜の方を選ぶで "採用する"という意味

Therefore, English words consist of etymology(語源).

If you know etymology, you can understand English words.

今回は語源の日本語訳を当ててもらいます。


優秀者には、お菓子をプレゼントします。

ではお寺で! M. Yoshikawa

2024年02月10日

2024年2月24日 プラクティス

Genre : DIscussion
Title: February: Let’s describe and discuss each monthly topic!

Please make some groups having 4-5 members in each group.
At first, please choose your own topic from the following list or create your own idea that has something to do with February. No overlap over the topics in your group, please.

List of Topics
close of winter, Sapporo snow festival, snow igloo,Valentine’s day, Japanese plum, Japanese nightingale,water-drawing ceremony, national foundation day,Presidents’ Day (US), or Your Own Idea .
Part 1: Design and construction of your prompt speech for 5 min.
Part 2: Present your speech for 1 min.
Part 3: Share idea and opinion on the presented topic in the group for 10 min.
Repeat Part 2 and Part 3 after the first speaker in your group finishes the
practice.

ESS Staffs

2024年02月01日

2024年2月17日 プラクティス

Dear members
This is the information about the latter half of the practice on February 17th.

Genre: Brain Teasers (Quiz) & Letter Building

Form 3~4groups of four members(depending on the day’s number of participants)

For the brain teasers, find the answers to the problems by discussing them with other members.
(some old members might already know the answers because the Quiz in question contains ones that I used in the past. I count on their forgetfulness like mine.)
Use your brain muscles and enjoy laughing.

For the letter building, I will give you a sheet of paper with a direction, you will form as many words as you can within five minutes that start with the given letter.
Please avoid using the same prefix letters to score big points and you are not allowed to use dictionaries of any kind during the session.

The members of the winning group will get a little gift.
I hope you will enjoy this practice.

Kumiko Takesue

2024年01月20日

2024年2月10日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS member
This is the information about the latter practice on February 10.

1. Genre: Talk & Discussion
2. Title: Talking about the present situation
3. Description

[Step. 0]
I’m going to make several groups of 3 or 4 people.

[Step. 1] 1 minute to speak (about 30 min)
This is a 1 minute to speak. The first speaker is the youngest person in your group. The second speaker is the left side person of the first one. Please decide the timekeeper in your group. The first speaker choose one topic from the followings and speaks about the topic for one minute. Then the second person speaks about the same topic for one minute. After all member speaking, second person choose one word and continue the same process. You don’t need to think the topic seriously. Please keep speaking as much as you can for a minute.

Sport, Reading, Travel, Language, Music, Food, Art, Science, Temple & Shrine, Energy, Winter, Car, Japan, Personal Computer, Politics, Family

[Step. 2] Free conversation  (about 30 minutes)
Please introduce yourself and talk about your present situation quickly one by one.
You can continue talking and discussion. You can talk about any topics. If you don’t have any topics,
you can use my topics that is “How do you enjoy in winter?” “How do you enjoy in vacation or holiday?”


Hirokazu Sakai

2024年01月15日

2024年1月27日 プラクティス

Title: January: Let’s describe and discuss each monthly topic!

Please make some groups having 4-5 members in each group.
At first, please choose your own topic from the following list or create your own idea that has something to do with November. No overlap over the topics in your group, please.

List of Topics
new year’s card, hatsumoude, osechi-ryori, ozoni, karuta, Japanese zodiac, coming of age day, new year’s relolution, Great Hanshin earthquake, Great Noto quake, seven spring-herb rice porridge, Tokyo-Hakone intercollegiate long distance relay race, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, JAL accident in Haneda Airport, or Your Own Idea.

Part 1: Design and construction of your prompt speech for 5 min.
Part 2: Present your speech for 1 min.
Part 3: Share idea and opinion on the presented topic in the group for 10 min.
*Repeat Part 2 and Part 3 after the first speaker in your group finishes the practice.

ESS Staffs


2024年01月10日

2024年1月20日 プラクティス

Dear ESS members,

This is an announcement of the practice I will hold on Jan. 20.
Genre: music
Contents: We will be practicing some Japanese songs translated into English.

I will bring the lyrics cards and an ukulele.
First, I will sing to the ukulele on behalf of you. If you know the songs, please sing with me.
Then, we will have some discussion time. If you are not sure about the pronunciation, meanings and nuances of the lyrics, ask the other members. In addition, I will print some questions related to the songs. The group leader will summarize the discussion results.
Finally, everyone who want to sing with me will sing.

Regards,
Atsushi Kato

2023年12月23日

2024年1月13日 プラクティス

Hello.

This is an announcement for the second half of practice on 13 January 2024. This is the first practice of the year.

Title: What did you want to be and what do you want to become?
Genre: Group discussion

Form groups and discuss the following points:

- What did you want to be when you were 15 years old?
- What do you want to become?
- Based on the above, what do you want to do this year?

Have a Happy New Year!

Masa Yoshida

2023年12月18日

2023年12月23日 プラクティス

Title: December: Let’s describe and discuss each monthly topic!

Please make some groups having 4-5 members in each group.
At first, please choose your own topic from the following list or create your own idea that has something to do with December. No overlap over the topics in your group, please.

List of Topics

christmas, year-end gift, year-end cleaning, bonus, yuzu,pumpkin, year-end party, nabe, toshi-koshi-soba, winter solstice, red and white singing festival, poinsettia,Cyclamen, or Your Own Idea.

Part 1: Design and construction of your prompt speech for 5 min.
Part 2: Present your speech for 1 min.
Part 3: Share idea and opinion on the presented topic in the group for 10 min.
Repeat Part 2 and Part 3 after the first speaker in your group finishes the practice.

ESS Staffs
  

2023年12月01日

2023年12月16日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS member
This is the information about the practice on December 16.

(1) Genre: Talk
(2) Title: Fashion
(3) Description
[Step. 0]
I’m going to make several groups of 3 or 4 people.
[Step. 1]
Please talk freely about the following questions.
1. What is your favorite fashion?.
2. Why do you think fashion change?
3. Are you a dedicated follower of fashion?
4. What clothes flatter you?
5. What are the most fashionable clothes you now own?
6. How important is color to fashion?
7. What clothes would you feel uncomfortable wearing?
8. Have you ever bought any clothes that you regret buying?
9. What is the most ridiculous fashion you have ever seen?
10. What clothes that you used to wear would you never wear again?


Hiromi Yamada

2023年11月25日

2023年12月9日 プラクティス(ZOOM)

This is an announcement for the online Practice planned for the 9th of December, 2023.

Title : What is YOUR museum definition?

Time schedule
18:00-18:05 Introduction
I will briefly explain the structure of the Practice and introduce the ICOM Museum Definition (see below for the background information).

18:05-18:25 Group discussion
Participants will join a breakout room of 3-4 people and talk about their own museum experience(s).
Please choose a timekeeper in your group and give each person up to 5 minutes to talk, so that everyone can speak.

You can talk about any museum visit(s) that you remember for any reason.
Please tell others what the museum was about, where it was, when/why you went there, who you went there with, and how you remember your museum experience(s).

If you have extra time after everyone's presentation, please ask questions to each other.
18:25-18:35 Free talk
Based on your own and others' museum experiences, the participants will exchange thoughts on the main question - what is YOUR museum definition?

18:35-18:40 Short conclusion and administrative notices from the ESS staff members

-------------------------------------------------------------
Background - please read only if you are interested!

Do you know that there is such a thing as an international museum definition?
ICOM (the International Council of Museums), a global organisation of museums and museum professionals founded in 1946, has established and evolved an international museum definition in its history - here, let's name it the "ICOM Museum Definition".

The latest version of the ICOM Museum Definition was adopted last year, in 2022:

“A museum is a not-for-profit, permanent institution in the service of society that researches, collects, conserves, interprets and exhibits tangible and intangible heritage. Open to the public, accessible and inclusive, museums foster diversity and sustainability. They operate and communicate ethically, professionally and with the participation of communities, offering varied experiences for education, enjoyment, reflection and knowledge sharing.”
(https://icom.museum/en/resources/standards-guidelines/museum-definition/)
---

...as you can see, there are too many conceptual, theoretical, or practical ideas in this definition to be discussed at all within 40 minutes!
So, instead of discussing the ICOM Museum Definition itself, the Practice will focus on talking about what museums mean to you.

In the end, I believe that there can be as many museum definitions as individuals, and I genuinely wish to learn your own versions of museum definitions based on your own museum experiences.
Thank you very much once again for inviting me to host this online Practice, I am looking forward to seeing you online soon!

All the best, Minamo Akiyama

2023年11月15日

2023年12月2日 プラクティス

The announcement about the practice on Dec. 2nd.

For the first 30 minutes, let’s enjoy a word, guessing and party game called Taboo. The objective of the game Taboo is for a player to have their partners guess the word on the player’s card without using the word itself or five additional words listed on the card.

And the next 30 or 40 minutes, let’s practice one minute speeches. In our daily life, the ability to do that confidently and competently is highly important.

For both Taboo games and one minute speeches practice, I will prepared the two separated envelopes. One envelope contains the slips of paper which you use for the word guessing game and the other one contains the slips on which topics are written for one minute speeches. Never open them until I say OK.
Let’s enjoy it. M.Oishi

2023年11月10日

2023年11月25日 プラクティス

Title: November: Let’s describe and discuss each monthly topic!

Please make some groups having 4-5 members in each group.
At first, please choose your own topic from the following list or create your own idea that has something to do with November. No overlap over the topics in your group, please.

List of Topics
autumn leaves, kotatsu, frost, campfire, coat, shichigosan,labor thanksgiving day, pocky, beaujolais nouveau, camellia japonica, ginkgo nuts, leonids (shooting stars),Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday, Cyber Monday,or Your Own Idea.
Part 1: Design and construction of your prompt speech for 5 min.
Part 2: Present your speech for 1 min.
Part 3: Share idea and opinion on the presented topic in the group for 10 min.
*Repeat Part 2 and Part 3 after the first speaker in your group finishes the practice.

ESS-STaffs

2023年11月05日

2023年11月18日 プラクティス

Hello , everyone

  I have found a good material for our practice.

This time we would translate Haruki Murakami"s and Ogawa Yoko"s novels into Japanese.

I put these materials. ( attached materials were separated ) )

Takeo Kuchinaka

2023年11月01日

2023年11月11日 プラクティス(ZOOM)

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Hello, everyone.

This is the chairperson of the remote practice on November 11, Yuko Tanihara.
Please be careful that it will be held online.

Genre: Reading and discussion
Title: Imaginary trip around the world

At first, please make some groups to have 4 members in each group.
Next, please choose 1 country in each group.
Then, discuss with your group members according the guidance sheets.
If you finish talking about that country, please choose another country.

Notice:
I am sorry to bother you, but could you please download the attached in advance?
I would like to ask someone sharing the material in each group (in a breakout room).

Just FYI, I chose Australia, France, Italy, South Korea, and the United States the last time (August 20, 2022), so I chose China, New Zealand, Mexico, Denmark, Spain, Turkey, and South Africa this time.

I hope you will enjoy it! See you on Nov 11.

Best wishes,
Yuko Tanihara

2023年10月25日

2023年11月04日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,
Here is the announcement of the latter practice for November 4th.
Genre: Game; Synonym Karuta

Procedures:
1.Make 3 or 4 groups
2.Decide the first reader who reads aloud “yomi-fuda”.
3.When the reader reads a yomi-fuda, others try to first grab “tori-fuda”, choosing the one that has the same or similar meaning.
Sometimes yomi-fuda maybe in American English, tori-fuda is in British English, or the opposite.
4.First round is finished, the winner is supposed to tidy up the used cards and bring them up to me. I hand in other pack of cards.
5. Play 4 or 5 rounds.
I’d like you to take turns of reading the cards.

I made these cards a few years ago.
And I already had them checked by an American English teacher, but still some mistakes could be found. In that case, I’d like to apology for making you confused in advance.
I hope you can enjoy.
Thank you.
By Megumi Iwai(the name of the person in charge)

2023年10月22日

2023年10月28日 プラクティス 

Title: October: Let’s describe and discuss each monthly topic!

Please make some groups having 4-5 members in each group.
At first, please choose your own topic from the following list or create your own idea that has something to do with October. No overlap over the topics in your group, please.

List of Topics
sports, sports meetng, baseball, rugby, cosmos, chrysanthemum, reading books, E-books, art, museum and art gallery, photo, digital camera, sculpture, painting, autumn festival, appetite, food, Japanese food, Chinese food, cricket, travel, tourist spot, World Heritage site, matsutake, persimmon, or Your Own Idea.
Part 1: Design and construction of your prompt speech for 5 min.
Part 2: Present your speech for 1 min.
Part 3: Share idea and opinion on the presented topic in the group for 10 min.
Repeat Part 2 and Part 3 after the first speaker in your group finishes the practice.

Staffs

2023年10月10日

2023年10月21日 プラクティス 

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members.

The practice scheduled for Oct 21 is outlined below:

Genre : Threefold
Title : Quiz => 1min Instant Speech => Case Study

 Make some groups
1.   10min
2. < 1 min Instant Speech>:20min
Each member picks out a card for 1 min instant speech.
About 30 topic-cards are prepared.
3. : 20min + 10min Group Summary
Case Scenario:
Sunday Planning for Akira’s Family so that whole family can enjoy .
1. Father : Akira - Enjoys outdoor activities and nature
2. Mother : Motoko - Skilled in cooking and enjoys cooking together
3. Elder Sister : Megumi: - A sports enthusiast
4. Younger Brother : Osamu - Interested in various forms of art
Please plan activities for their Sunday, taking into account each member's hobbies and interests and show the summary to all.

Please enjoy busy programs !! I.Mashima

2023年10月01日

2023年10月14日 プラクティス 

以下10月14日の後半プラクティス内容の連絡をします。

念のために日本語でも書いておきます。タイトルは「I Have an Experience 」です。
指名された人は渡された紙に記載されている「経験」(アメリカに行ったことがある、など)が「ある」ものとして1~2分のスピーチをしてもらいます。
その経験が「ある」場合は、そのときの話/エピソードを述べてください(小さな点の記憶ちがいはOK)。
その経験が「ない」場合は、いかにもその経験が「ある」かのように話をつくってください。
その後聴衆から話の内容に関する質問を受けます(アメリカのどこの州に行った?など)。
聴衆は話と質疑を判断して、その話が「本当」か「うそ」かをジャッジします。
ジャッジミスの多かったスピーカーが勝利者で、可能ならばその方に賞品でも出せればとも考えています。

留意点
・スピーカーは与えられたタイトルのスピーチをしたくない場合(デリケートなタイトルで話したくないなど)、拒否することができます。
・「本当」の話の場合、マイナーな部分での変更があってもOKとします(7年前→10年前など)。
・「うそ」の話の場合、本題の部分が「うそ」であれば、周辺部の話が事実であってもかまいません(アメリカに行った話をカナダに行った話にすり替えて話すなど)。

時間があればこのあと「ペア・トーキング」でもできればと考えています。
またどうぞよろしくお願いします。

Date: Oct. 14th
Title: I Have an Experience. (+ Pair Talking?)
Description: The person nominated is required to tell a story with a topic written in a paper (e.g. I have an experience of going to the USA). If you have an experience of this title, you should speak the real story of it.
But if you have no such an experience, you should make a story as if that was a real experience. You are required to tell a story as if it was a real or true story.
The audience will judge you whether the story was true or lie. If you are a good speaker (= cheater), I’m planning to give you a present.
If the topic is rather sensitive and you don't want to speak about it, it's okay for you to skip the speech.
After this corner and if we have enough time I'd like you to be in Pair Talking.

Thank you. H. Hori

2023年09月20日

2023年10月7日 プラクティス 

Dear ESS Members

This is an announcement for the latter half of practice on Oct.7th.

Genre: Talk
Theme; About food、

Part1. Personal matters
/What was the most delicious or impressive food you have ever tasted in your l ife?
/What was your most weird or creepy food you have experienced so far?
/Do you have some food you decided never eat?
/What do you think about vegetarian or vegans?
/Do you select food to eat for your health?
/Tell us any of your episodes about food.

Part 2. Social issues
It is said that between 691 and 783 million people faced hunger as of 2022 in the word. In contrast, an estimated 13 percent of the world’s food is lost in the supply chain from post-harvest prior to retail; a further 17 percent of f ood is wasted in households, food services and in retail.
/What do you think about this situation?
/Do you do something personally against food loss?
/Climate change seems to be a great threat for agrifood produce.
/Current high prices of food in Japan.
/Whatever you want to talk about food.

Procedure
Make some groups.
Talk about the above comments in each group.
Share your talks with other groups.

I hope you enjoy talking. G.Kitaura

2023年09月10日

2023年9月30日 プラクティス 

Dear ESS Members

This is an announcement for the latter half of practice on Sep.30th.

Genre: Talk
Theme; Animation

Questions;
Q1.Please introduce your favorite animation.
Q2.Have you ever made "an anime pilgrimage"(聖地巡礼)?
Q3.Why do you think Japan became an animation superpower?

Q4.-Osamu Tezuka-
What kind of impact did he make on Japanese anime and manga?
Q5.-Miyazaki Hayao-
Reasons for Miyazaki's worldwide success.
Share your favorite Ghibli works.

[How to proceed]
✓ First of all, make several groups.
✓ And then one person in each group summarizes what was talked about in the group.

I appreciate your cooperation in advance, K.Miyazawa

2023年09月01日

2023年9月16日 プラクティス 

Title: September: Let’s describe and discuss each monthly topic!

Please make some groups having 4-5 members in each group.
At first, please choose your own topic from the following list or create your own idea that has something to do with September. No overlap over the topics in your group, please.

List of Topics
jugoya or tsukimi, cosmos, ohagi, autumnal equinox day, a visit to a grave, silver week, autumn festival, cricket, sumo, respect for the aged day, typhoon, japanese pear, persimmon, Labor Day, or Your Own Idea.
Part 1: Design and construction of your prompt speech for 5 min.
Part 2: Present your speech for 1 min.
Part 3: Share idea and opinion on the presented topic in the group for 10 min.
Repeat Part 2 and Part 3 after the first speaker in your group finishes the practice.


ESS-Staff

2023年9月9日 プラクティス 

Folks,

This is an announcement for the latter half of practice on September 9.

今回は簡単なテストを行います。内容は漢字を英語に変換、ラジオ英会話8月号の復習、冠詞、
TOEIC対策、ある人物のスピーチの聞き取り、と盛り澤山です。一時間で足りるかな?
何も準備は不要です。ペン(有れば赤も)をご持参ください。

Looking forward to seeing you folks

S.Okata


2023年08月17日

2023年9月2日 プラクティス 

Hi, all !
Here is a belated announcement for the latter half of practice on Sept. 2, 2023.

I had too many ideas and incentives for providing lengthy material to you, but I decided to introduce an opinion enlisted on Nikkei Asia on Aug. 13, 2023, 05:00 JST.

The article is titled “Japan Inc. should be flexible for all workers, not just seniors.”

I will distribute the full text of the article to the participants on Sept. 2.
But my opinion on this issue is to let the companies allow their staff to work until 75 and encourage the firms to provide opportunities for their workers to keep working until each worker wants to retire.

Genre: Discussion
Thema: Why not work until 75 years old ?

Procedure: Make some groups with 3 to 5 members.
Please read the article and let me know your opinion on whether you want to work until 75 or prefer to retire earlier, such as 65, 70, or even 40, with the latest idea of FIRE.
Later, please share your group opinion with one of the representatives from your group.

I hope you have a nice day and fruitful talks.
Take care.

Yours, Osamu MINAMIHASHI

2023年08月10日

2023年8月26日 プラクティス 

Title: August: Let’s describe and discuss each monthly topic!

Please make some groups having 4-5 members in each group.
At first, please choose your own topic from the following list or create your own idea that has something to do with August. No overlap over the topics in your group, please.
List of Topics

fireworks, yukata, send-off bonfires of five mountains,shaved ice, summer festival, summer vacation, sunflower,watermelon, barley tea, radio calisthenics, summer classes, or Your Own Idea.

Part 1: Design and construction of your prompt speech for 5 min.
Part 2: Present your speech for 1 min.
Part 3: Share idea and opinion on the presented topic in the group for 10 min.
Repeat Part 2 and Part 3 after the first speaker in your group finishes the practice.

ESS-STAFF

2023年08月01日

2023年8月19日 プラクティス 

Dear ESS members,

I sincerely apologize for my belated announcement of the contents and the relevant procedures for the practice on August 19th.

【Genre: Fun Quiz &Small discussion for Japanese Foods】
Make some groups.
a. < Fun Quiz >
Several piece of paper will be given for each group. A Japanese food is written in the paper. Pick up the paper and give hints to the other member so they can guess what the food is. Take turns.
b. < Small discussion >
In each group, please discuss your ideal breakfast. One member is requested to share the content of the discussion with everyone.

Have enjoy!
Natsuko Kado

2023年07月18日

2023年7月29日 プラクティス 

Title: July: Let’s describe and discuss each monthly topic!

Please make some groups having 4-5 members in each group.
At first, please choose your own topic from the following list or create your own idea that has something to do with July. No overlap over the topics in your group, please.


star festival, beachgoing, mountaingoing, Gion festival,nagashi somen, cicada, eel, camp, cormorant fishing,beer, fun, mosquito, suntan, pool, morning glory, BBQ,Independence Day, or Your Own Idea.

Part 1: Design and construction of your prompt speech for 5 min.
Part 2: Present your speech for 1 min.
Part 3: Share idea and opinion on the presented topic in the group for 10 min.
Repeat Part 2 and Part 3 after the first speaker in your group finishes the practice.

ESS-Staff

2023年07月10日

2023年7月22日 プラクティス 

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

This is Motoko Tabata, and I'm in charge of the latter half practice on July 22nd.
I'd like to send you the agenda of the practice and the procedure of that day.

☆Genre: Variety (Quizzes, listening and discussion)

☆Title: "AI(ChatGPT) and our future"

☆Procedures:
1 Make some groups.
2 Warm-up quizzes
I’ll give you some easy quizzes on science and technology.
3 Listen to the related news and fill in the blanks.
4 Exchange your comments in your groups.

☆Agenda
Nowadays IT technology is making rapid and constant progress.
And as many experts claim that AI including ChatGPT could be a game changer in our society.
What's waiting for our human beings' future, "gospel" or "inferno", "peace"or "chaos" ?
I've found some interesting news on the net, so let me share you the additional information and comment beforehand for your fruitful talk.
https://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/articles/-/1054276
https://www.kyoto-np.co.jp/articles/biz/1048439

Best wishes, Motoko Tabata

2023年07月01日

2023年7月15日 プラクティス 

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Here is an announcement of the practice planned on July 15 2023
Genre: Group Talk
Topic1: My favorite book(S)
Please bring your favorite book(s) and please explain its contents and why you like it. Any form of book is okay including novel, academic book, text book, photo album, art book, manga and so on. After explanation of book, please carry on a conversation like Q&A or impression.

Topic 2:Current affairs
Please choose one of topic from list below
1. EV(電気自動車の普及、買いたいか否か等)
2. Semiconductor war(半導体競争の行方等)
3. Price hike(近年の物価上昇、特に気になるアイテム等)
4. Shortage of goods(スーパー等で不足しているもの等)
5. Other

Procedures: I’m going to make several groups of 3 or 4 people and you can enjoy discussion on the topic!
When the time is up, this practice ends.

Thank you. By Hiroaki Ishizaki

2023年06月28日

2023年7月08日 プラクティス 

Dear ESS members,

Hello、 I am Naomi Tanahara.
This is the announcement of the practice on July 8th.

(1) Genre: Group Talk
(2) Title: “All about Japanese drinking culture" 
(3) Description:
1. Make several groups
2. Please discuss, " What exactly is 'nomikai' "
3. After discussion, talk about the following topics together.
4. Share your answers in your group.


1) What do you think of drinking parties with colleagues?
Are they just a thing of the past?
2) What other ways would you recommend to help people
in the office get along better?

I am looking forward to seeing you on that day!
And also seeing you at Summer drinking party!!!

Best regards,
Naomi Tanahara

2023年06月20日

2023年7月01日 プラクティス 

Dear ESS members,

Hello、 I am Akihiro Tabata from Ishikawa pref.
This is the announcement of the practice on July 1st.

(1) Genre: Group Talk
(2) Title: “Irritating things in your life (いらっとするもの)?”
日常のイラっとすることの“あるある”を挙げてフリートークしてもらいます。
普段のイライラを吐き出してすっきり(?)していただければと思います。気軽にお楽しみください。 
(3) Description:
1. Make several groups
2. I distribute reference material(questionnaire results about irritating things) .
3. Read the material and answer the following questions individually.
4. Share your answers in your group.


1) How often do you get irritated in your daily life?
2) What are you irritated with? Both big one and tiny ones will do.
 Refer to the following examples.
3) Share what you get irritated with lately.
4) Tell us how to deal with irritating feelings (stress relief method).
5) Tell us how to prevent being irritated if you have a good way.
6) Do you think irritated people are increasing in the world?

【Examples of irritating things】あるある~
On the train.
when you see bad manners on the train.
When you are shopping.
when you line up for a long time unexpectedly at a cash register.
when you pay 510 yen in cash and you don’t have a 10-yen coin.
when the manner of the staff of the convenience store is bad.
When the rest of the toilet paper is just a little.
When the small fiber in the mask touches the nose and you feel annoyed.
When you cannot find what you are looking for.
When you are driving,
Even if you let an oncoming car go first, a feeling of gratitude isn’t expressed.
When the remote controller of TV doesn’t work well.
When your PC or machine doesn’t work well and instruction manual is hard to understand.
When there are so many packing materials when you buy something on Amazon.
In your house, partners or family members' unpleasant habits.
In your workplace.
In ESS ??? lol

I am looking forward to seeing you on that day!

Best regards,
Akihiro Tabata

2023年06月14日

2023年6月24日 プラクティス (リモート)

Dear ESS members,

Hello, I am Yuji Tsukuda.
This is the announcement of the practice on June 24.

Genre: Game
Title: Yes/No Question Game
The procedure is as below. Please find the attachment for more information.
a) Make several groups. Each group has 3-4 people.
b) Choose a member as questioner in your group. The questioner decide a famous person/character to be guessed in the game.
c) Guess the famous person/character by asking Yes/No question to the questioner.
d) Change questioner after a questioner find the name decided by the questioner.

The practice is held on ZOOM.
I am looking forward to seeing you on the day!

Best regards,
Yuji Tsukuda

2023年06月07日

2023年6月17日 プラクティス

Title: June: Let’s describe and discuss each monthly topic!

Please make some groups having 4-5 members in each group.
At first, please choose your own topic from the following list or create your own idea that has something to do with June. No overlap over the topics in your group, please.

List of Topics
Rainy season, plum liquor, umbrella, minazuki, father’s day,snail, hydrangea, June bride, summer solstice, seasonal change of clothes, firefly, frog, or Your Own Idea.

Part 1: Design and construction of your prompt speech for 5 min.
Part 2: Present your speech for 1 min.
Part 3: Share idea and opinion on the presented topic in the group for 10 min.
Repeat Part 2 and Part 3 after the first speaker in your group finishes the practice.

ESS-Staffs


  

2023年06月01日

2023年6月10日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK members

This is the announcement of the latter half practice on June 10.
This is Seiichiro Iwai. I`m incharge of the practice.
I hope you will enjoy it.

Genre: Quiz & Talk
Title: Explore to the World Heritage
Description:
Stage 1:
I will give you eleven quizzes concerning with the World Heritage sites. Please raise your hand and answer the name and the location of the World Heritage sites. When you answer the questions, please come to the front and point out where it is located on the world map. You cannot use a smart phone or a tablet to check the answer.

Stage2:
We make several groups consisting of four members as usual.
We talk about the World Heritage as follows.

1. Have you ever been the World Heritage site? Which World Heritage site is your favorite?

2. Which World Heritage site do you want to visit?

3. Where do you recommend for the next candidate to be registered as a World Heritage site? Please explain the reason why you recommend it.

Thank you!! S.Iwai

2023年05月26日

2023年6月03日 プラクティス

Dear ESS members,
I'm in charge of the latter practice on June 3rd.
I'd like to send you the agenda of the day.

Genre: talk
Title: Are you a good Guide?

The number of foreign tourists coming to Japan (Inbound) for the first time in this three years is increasing.
According to the news, the tourists want to know more about Japanese culture and customs.
The interests of Inbound tourists are
for example,
①Japanese food ②Japanese shrine and temple ③Japanese anime and manga etc..

If the tourists asked you about those interests, would you be able to answer as a Japanese person?
Wouldn't it be great if we could be good advisers and guides for travelers?
Now discuss Inbound's questions and interests with members in your group!
Of course you can also bring pictures and materials for the reference.

☆Inbound's some Questions
①・I heard that convenience stores in Japan have very good foods. That's true?
・We are also interested in Japanese sake and whiskey. What kind of local sake in Kyoto is delicious? etc..

②・What is the difference between Shinto and Buddism? which is the major religion for Japanese people?
・Recently, I heard that many Japanese people collect goshuin at shrines and temples. Why? etc..

③・What do you think is the reason why Japanese anime is so popular in the world right now?
 ・What was the most moving Japanese manga you've ever read? etc..

I hope you will enjoy this practice.
Best regards,
R. Tanaka

2023年05月21日

2023年5月27日 プラクティス

Title: May: Let’s describe and discuss each monthly topic!

Please make some groups having 4-5 members in each group.
At first, please choose your own topic from the following list or create your own idea that has something to do with May. No overlap over the topics in your group, please.

List of Topics
children’s Day, carp streamers, kashiwa mochi, golden week,Aoi Festival, fresh green leaves, helmet, sweet-flag-batheighty-eight day from the beginning of spring, mother’s day,Skipjack tuna, may day, azalea, Cinco de Mayo, or Your Own Idea.
Part 1: Design and construction of your prompt speech for 5 min.
Part 2: Present your speech for 1 min.
Part 3: Share idea and opinion on the presented topic in the group for 10 min.
Repeat Part 2 and Part 3 after the first speaker in your group finishes the practice.

ESS Staffs
  

2023年05月10日

2023年5月20日 プラクティス

Firstly, we make some groups have 4-5 members each group as usual.
and assign the leader in each group.

【Genre: Mini Game and Talk】 The practice has two sections below.

Section 1【Mini Game : Quiz】 (10-15minutes)
1. There’s a paper-written quiz.
2. First, everyone please read a paper and answer the quizzes individually for about 5 minutes.
3. Next, each group leader shows the correct answer.
Please check and discuss the answer in each group.
4. Then a winner in each group, please raise your hand and show the number of correct answers. The person with the most correct answers is today's winner.
(In case of a tie, please play rock-paper-scissors to determine the winner.)

Section 2【Talk: About some short articles】 (30-40minutes )
1. Materials will be distributed.
2. Please select articles and read and talk about them in each group.

Lastly, we will summarize the group discussion for today’s talking and share it with everyone.
Could you each-group leader make a one-minute presentation about your story regarding the topics? (5 minutes)
I hope you’ll enjoy the practice.

By Yasuhiko Fujioka (the name of the person in charge)

2023年05月04日

2023年5月13日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Hello, everyone.
This is the chairperson of next weekend, May 13, Kazumasa Yasuda.
My apologies for my late announcement.

Genre: Discussion
Title: What is a Maiko in japan?

A maiko is a girl whose job is to provide entertainment for banquets through dance, musical accompaniment and conversation in Kyoto’s kagai (leisure district). Maiko are apprentices in the training stage of becoming geiko (geisha). A geisha or geiko is a woman who entertains guests at banquets by performing dances, songs, and music
Maiko in Kyoto is a rich cultural heritage that reflects the beauty and elegance of traditional Japan. The rigorous training, dedication, and discipline required to become a maiko is a testament to the importance of preserving traditional arts and customs in Japan.

At first, please make some groups to have 4-6 members in each group.
Then I will ask some questions about Maiko or Geiko by quiz style, after that please enjoy the discussion about this culture.

I hope you will enjoy it!   See you.

Best wishes,
Kazumasa Yasuda

2023年04月15日

2023年5月6日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,
Hello, everyone.

This is the chairperson of next weekend, May 6, Yuko Tanihara.
My apologies for my late announcement.

Genre: Translation and discussion
Title: Let's translate the filim music into English and talk about music.

At first, please make some groups to have 4-6 members in each group.

Part 1: translation of film music
I hope you know this song well, "a whole new world”.
I think there are many beautiful words and phrases in the lyrics of this song.
At first, please try to translate a part of lyrics of "a whole new world" into English alone.
Then, shall we share it with your group members?
Finally, let's listen this song.

Part 2: talk about music
I prepare some questions for the talk.
Shall we share your opinion with your group members?

I hope you will enjoy it! See you on Saturday.
Best wishes, Yuko Tanihara

2023年04月12日

2023年4月22日 プラクティス

My friends,

I'm happy to announce a practice for the second half activity on April 22. We will play the game of “TABOO WORDS”

・Category: English Game
・Feature: Building up Speaking and Listening
・Procedure & Explanation of the game: Refer to the steps from 1 to 12 below.

Guess word: Banana
TABOO WORDS: Fruit, Yellow, Monkey

1. You will be divided into two groups.
2. Pick one player from the group to be Clue-giver. The role of Clue-giver will alternate with each team's turn, so that everyone gets a chance.
3. If you're a Clue-giver, you must go sit with other team, so that they can keep an eye on you as you give the clues to your teammates.
4. The team that's not giving the clue puts one player in charge of the timer, and all other players in charge of the watchdogs for the “TABOO WORDS”.
5. Clue-giver takes a card from a deck and turn it over so that your teammates can't see the word you're looking at.
6. When you pick up the card, show that card to your opponent team members.
7. When the player in charge of the timer starts counting it down. Clue-giver starts giving the clues to describe the “Guess Word” for your teammates to guess what it is. Time limitation is three (3) minutes.
8. When describing the “Guess word,” you can use a single word or complete sentences to describe the “Guess Word”, but make sure you DON'T say the “TABOO WORDS” on the card.
9. If you say any of the “TABOO WORDS” during the description of the “Guess Word,” you lose the game.
10. Keep describing the “Guess word” until the time of three (3) minutes runs out.
11. You'll get one point if your teammate can correctly guess the “Guess Word” within three (3) minutes.
12. You lose the game when time runs out or when saying any of the “TABOO WORDS.”

I hope you will all enjoy the “TABOO WORDS” game.

Makoto NISHIMURA
in charge of the practice for April 22.


2023年04月10日

2023年4月29日 プラクティス

The practice on 4/29 was prepared by Staff members.

Title: Let’s describe and discuss each monthly topic!

Please make some groups having 4-5 members in each group.
At first, please choose your own topic from the following list or create your own idea that has something to do with April. No overlap over the topics in your group, please.
List of Topics
cherry-blossom viewing, entrance ceremony, April Fools’ Day,Sakura mochi, New employee, New fiscal year, dogwood,hay fever, wisteria, tulip, Easter Sunday, or Your Own Idea.

Part 1: Design and construction of your prompt speech for 5 min.
Part 2: Present your speech for 1 min.
Part 3: Share idea and opinion on the presented topic in the group for 10 min.
Repeat Part 2 and Part 3 after the first speaker in your group finishes the practice.

Prepared by STAFFs

2023年03月31日

2023年4月15日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,
Here is the announcement of the latter practice planned on April 15th.
Genre:Group Talk
Topic:1 What makes you feel relaxed? 2 How do you release your stress?
Procedures:
1.Make several groups.
2.Talk about either or both of the topics above by turns and ask questions.

I hope you can enjoy free taiking.
Thank you.
By Megumi Iwai(the name of the person in charge)

2023年03月25日

2023年4月8日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members

Here is an announcement of the practice planned on April 8,2023

Title: Three Good Things
Genre: Talk

The Three Good Things is a method of increasing happiness proposed by Dr. Seligman, an American psychologist.
The method is very simple: "Before you go to sleep, write down three good things that happened to you that day."

Let's increase our happiness!

Description
1.Make several groups.
2.Think of three good things that happened recently.
3.Share it with your group mates.

Details of the rules will be explained on that day.


Masako Yamashita

2023年03月18日

2023年4月1日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS colleagues:

Hi, there:

This is the second announcement of the 2’nd practice on April 1, for which I am in charge. The first announcement was sent to you a week ago, so, this is the reconfirmation. This is English Composition.

So, I think you need some preparation before the date.

Attached please find the copy of the material which is revised from the last one I sent last week.

“詩を英語で作って詠おう” 2023-4-1 Kyoto ESS.

L & G: Today’s practice is “Composition of Free-Style English Poem”.

I want you not be nervous but willing to join this exciting challenge. Your poem styles are free just like singing songs provided that two poetry concepts are considered: 1) thought, 2) rhythm.

PROCEDURE.
Make several groups consisting of 3 people. In the start, don’t hesitate to replace the example poem “Mujun and Kibou” for your own work.

1: Read the Japanese poem, shown below, titled “Mujun and Kibou”. This poem deals with two different but current issues, namely, a) COVID pandemic, b) Plastic Wastes. The poem tries to put them together under one common concept that is focused to the Egoism and Excessive Demands. (15 min).

2: Translate the Japanese poem into English as much as possible and as nice as possible within a limited time. You are inspired to talk and exchange tutorial Q & A in your group. (30 min).

3: If you find the Japanese text or phrases shown below are not your choice, you can replace or correct the words and phrases for your tastes or best ones. This is highly recommended.

4: Finally, in every group, sing or recite your poem with rhythms.(15min).

An example of the poem, wrote personally by the moderator, will be distributed on the day under a title“Contradiction and Hope in this Small World”. If necessary, you can use this unfinished work as your text for correction and modification.

Thank you and enjoy.

むじゆん と きぼう

私が求めてやまないもの、それは
平和と自由と愛、この三つだけ

私が避けたいと願うもの、それは
疎外と孤独、無関心と格差、独占と贅沢、略奪と戦争

きみがおんぶにだっこされてきたもの、それは
環境、エネルギー、技術とお医者さん、母親

きみがこれから背負わなければならないもの、それは
地球と科学、医学とひとの命、親と年金生活

きみがもっと怖れるべきもの、それは
戦争と命の軽視、過剰な欲望、地球環境の破壊、未知のウイルス、

多すぎるけれど欲張らなければ半分になる

きみはなにかに抱かれないと生きられないという
だったら私がきみを背負って抱きしめよう

きみを背負うために私は生きなければならないから
私が生きればきみを救えるから

コロナ禍まで私は三密*1が大切だと気づかなかった
コロナとプラスチックが似ていることも知らなかった
作り使って捨て散らかすと因果が返ってくることも

なにかが壊れ間違っている
それは私たちが未熟だから
金勘定に目がくらみ先のことを見ないから
間違っても直さずにあとまわしにするから
科学技術と楽な暮らしにおんぶしすぎるから

ウイルスは人より古く知恵がある
きっと君より知恵がある

プラスチックは君が作ったばかり
作って使って棄てまくる

マスクもプラスチック遮蔽板*2も産まれたばかり
ポイ捨てされる赤子のようにきみを見ているよ

作:オクタン

*1:三密とは密閉,密集,密接(Closed spaces, Crowded places, Close-contact settings)のこと.
*2:partition plate, dividing panel or curtain.

2023年03月16日

2023年3月25日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,
Here is an announcement of the latter half practice planned on March 25th.

【PARTⅠ】(17:40~18:10)
☆English Quizzes
Let’s enjoy English Quizzes.
Prizes will given for winners.

【PARTⅡ】(18:15~18:40)
☆General Meeting of Kyoto NHK ESS 2022
We 2022 staff will inform attendees the annual activity report and financial statements for 2022.

And the chairman will request the approval for these agenda.(financial documents & new staff members for 2023, etc.)

Motoko Tabata

2023年03月08日

2023年3月18日 プラクティス

Dear ESS members,

This is an announcement for the practice I will hold on Mar. 18.
Genre: Music
Title: Song practice
Contents: I will bring my ukulele and distribute lyrics cards for each of you.
We will make 3 or 4 groups.
First, I will sing to my ukulele on behalf of you.
Next, we will have some practice and discussion time. If you are not sure about the meanings and pronunciation, ask the other members. We also have some discussion topics.
Third, the group leader should summarize the discussion results.
Finally, all the members who want to sing with me will sing to my ukulele.

Regards,
Atsushi Kato

2023年03月05日

2023年3月11日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS members,

This is the announcement for the practice March 11th.
Sorry for the late announcement of the practice I will be in charge next week.

Genre:Group Discussion

Topics:Talk about your ideas and enjoy discussion based on a handout.

1. I want to make 4 groups.
So tell the number from 1 to 4 please.

2.I will provide you with materials.

3.Each sheet has some questions to discuss.
Please pick a few questions to discuss.

4.First, one may pick up a question from the sheet and do discussion in your group.

Next, the other member may pick up other theme from a sheet and continue discussion in your group.

Enjoy your fruitful discussion.

Thank you.

Hiromi Yamada

2023年02月27日

2023年3月4日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members
Here is the follow-up announcement for the latter half of practice on March 4th, 2023. Everyone, please prepare for your own opinions. I attached four PDF files to distribute certain materials for you to preview, except for E) and F).
Genre: Debate
Proposition:(See attached PDF files. A~Fのうちから各グループで大至急、選んでください。)
A) Is limited nuclear war a viable battlefield option? (核兵器の限定使用は戦争における現実的な選択肢か否か?)
B) Should the United States demand compensation from China for its alleged responsibility for the coronavirus pandemic? (米国はコロナ禍の責任を問うて中国に補償を要求すべきか否か?)
C)Is violence an effective tool for protests? (暴力は、抗議の有効な手段か否か?)
D)Should the trade in wildlife for human consumption be banned? (野生動物の商取引は禁止すべきか否か?)
E)Is the United States better to emigrate to than the UK? (米国は移住するなら英国より良い国か否か?)
F)Is cashless payment more convenient than cash? (キャッシュレス支払は現金払いより便利か否か?)
Please keep in mind that this debate is a practice with one type of game and has no substantial connection with your standpoint, merits, and demerits of you as an independent individual in your social life. Therefore, please do your best to win the game as one good way to enrich your experience to present better debate practice in our ESS activity.

Description
1) Make some groups so each group would consist of 3 members. If two members were left, Minamihashi would join the group. If there are only two members for two groups, I would ask the leader to be a special additional judge for group one. Be your timekeeper within your group for each of you. Choose the proposition for your group immediately. It’s up to you.
2) Write and prepare the proposition's significant points, advantages, and disadvantages, true or false, within 3 minutes.
3) In your group, decide your order to be Affirmative, Negative, and Judge. The Affirmative must sit right side of the Negative and the left side of the Judge.
4) If you are in the Affirmative, argue that the Affirmative is correct and has significant advantages and few disadvantages. If you are the Negative, say that the Affirmative is wrong and has fewer advantages and more significant disadvantages. If you are the Judge, compare the initial link of claims, advantages, and disadvantages of the Affirmative points, whether the Affirmative undoubtedly causes those points, and which is likely to be true or outweighs the other. Articulation and, grammar, logical persuasiveness would also be necessary when the comparison of probabilities, advantages, and disadvantages was difficult. However, the Judge should regard any argument in the rebuttal speech that neither side presented initially during the constructive speech as a "new argument" and not count for the decision.
5) Start the debate match in the following order. Each Judge should be the timekeeper for each group and announce each time's the beginning and the end. Take note on your flow sheet while listening to the other's speech.
Affirmative Constructive Speech 1 minute(肯定側立論1分)
Cross-Examination by the Negative 1 minute(否定側による肯定側への反対尋問1分)
Preparation Time 1 minute(準備時間1分)
Negative Constructive Speech 1 minute(否定側立論1分)
Cross-Examination by the Affirmative 1 minute(肯定側による否定側への反対尋問1分)
Preparation Time 1 minute(準備時間1分)
Affirmative Rebuttal Speech 1 minute(肯定側による反論1分)
 Cross-Examination by both sides 1 minute(双方による反対尋問1分)
  Preparation Time 1 minute(準備時間1分)
Negative Rebuttal Speech 1 minute(否定側による反論1分)
Decision & Reason by the Judge 3 minutes(ジャッジによる勝敗の判定及びその理由3分)
(Go through "step 5)" with 13 minutes.)(「ステップ5)」を13分でやって下さい。)
6) Turn the role clockwise in your group. (時計回りに肯定側、否定側、ジャッジの役割を変える)
7) Repeat the process of 6) with the different roles in your group for 13 minutes. (ステップ6)を前回と異なる役割で13分で繰り返す。
8) Turn the role clockwise in your group once more. (もう一度、時計周りに肯定側、否定側、ジャッジの役割を変える)
9) Repeat the process of 5) with the other role, you haven't played in your group for 13 minutes.
(「ステップ5)」の役割でまだやっていない残りの役割を13分でやる)。
10 Discuss the overall debate on the proposition. (ディベートの試合の感想を一言ずつ述べる)。
11) Decide the best debater in your group by voting. (自分のグループの多数決でベストディベーターを決める)。
12) Report briefly to all the members the result of the three debate matches and who won the best debater in your group.
Let's enjoy debating and have fun by taking three roles in the debate on the propositions.

なお、お時間のある方は、何が真実か、具体的にどういうAdvantage, Disadvantageがあり得るか、考えておかれるようお勧めします。頭の体操になります。ただ、プラクティスの時間が1時間、1試合13分と短いので、今回は、evidence(証拠資料)は使わないことにします。ディベートのスタイルには、この他にも様々なバリエーションがある事も覚えておいて下さい。詳しくは、参考文献などをご参照下さい。Amazonで入手可能です。

参考文献:
小西卓三・菅家知洋・Peter J. Collins, 『Let the Debate Begin! Effective Argumentation and Debate Techniques〔Teacher's Edition〕-―英語で学ぶ論理的説得術――』、東海大学出版会、2007
松本茂・鈴木健・青沼智、『英語ディベート 理論と実践』、玉川大学出版部、2009
この他に、入門書として、以下がお薦めです。
安井省侍郎(著)Debate Forum出版会監修、『初心者のためのディベートQ&A』、第4版、Debate Forum出版会発行、2004
西部直樹、『「議論力」が身につく技術』、あさ出版、2003
小西卓三・菅家知洋・Peter J. Collins, 『Let the Debate Begin! Effective Argumentation and Debate Techniques―英語で学ぶ論理的説得術――』、東海大学出版会、2007(学生向け)

専門書としては、以下などがあります。
ジョージ・W・シーゲルミューラー、ジャック・ケイ著、井上奈良彦監訳、『議論法 探求と弁論 第3版』、花書院、2006
The Editors of IDEA, 『The Debatabase Book: A Must-Have Guide for Successful Debate』, 6th ed., Introduction by Robert Trapp, International Debate Education Association, 2013.
Debbie Newman, Ben Woolgar (ed.), 『Pros and Cons: A Debater's Handbook』, 19th ed, Routledge, 2014.
Austin J. Freeley, David L. Steinberg, 『Argumentation and Debate: Critical Thinking for Reasoned Decision Making』, 13th ed., Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2014
植田一三、『英語の議論を極める本』、アスク出版、2021
CQ Press, 『GLOBAL ISSUES SELECTION FROM CQ RESEARCHERS 2022 EDITION』、SAGE Publication, 2022
笹島茂(他)、『CLIL 英語で学ぶ国際問題〔改訂版〕』、三修社、2022
Garry Pearson(et al.), 『Global Issues –An Introduction to Discussion Skills—身近な世界を英語で発信』、成美堂、2021
Brian J. English (ed.), 『Global Issues: Wealth and Poverty A language art textbook for English learners』, 2021

Osamu Minamihashi

2023年02月17日

2023年2月25日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Here is an announcement of the latter half practice planned on February 25th.

☆Title: Who/What am I?
☆Genre: Guessing game
☆Description
Make groups with 4~5 members in each.

Please pick one post-it and put on your forehead without looking at it.

Names of animals, vegetables, countries, famous persons, etc. are written on them. So you will need to ask questions to figure out what is written on your post-it.
Other members in your group can see the answer and will answer to your questions. Asking good questions can help you get to the answer as soon as possible.
Please try to guess what/who you are with minimum questions. Details of the rules will be explained on that day.

Have fun!

Motoko Tabata

2023年02月07日

2023年2月18日 プラクティス

Dear ESS members

I am always looking for a nice method of mproving my English skill.

Today, I introduce you one of the best seller English Book '瞬間英作文’

I will use this textbook.

  Example 

Quick translation :
    Beginners   私は学生です   現 → I am a studennt.
私は当時学生でした 過去 → As that time, I was a student.
私は看護師です 現 → I am a nurse.
私はJAZZ音楽が好きです 現 → I like jazz music.
                         → I am crazy about jazz music.

Others 私たちは京都に住んだことがある 過去
                   → I used to live in Kyoto.
私は京都に住10年で住み続けて10年です 現在完了進行形
                   → I have been living in Kyoto for ten years.

  ・First I divide our members into two groups (Beginners, Others)
  ・Each members finds your partoner in your group.
・Translation (日本語 → 英語)(英語 → 日本語)
 ・Each one has to have roles of Questioner and Responder.

Presenter T. Kuchinaka

2023年02月06日

2023年2月11日 プラクティス

 ”良く知っている京都の名所、寺院、観光地のどこか一つを英語で案内”
Guided tour in English of any one of Kyoto's famous sights, temples or sightseeings.

Y.Imai

2023年01月25日

2023年2月4日 プラクティス

Field: Lecture & Discussion

Topic: English as a means of communication. How it works and doesn’t.

Questions:

1 What makes English(es) different from English?
2 How does communication work when it comes to the communication between people with low and high context languages in English(es)?

プラクティス(土岐 泉)

2023年01月22日

2023年1月28日 プラクティス

This is the announcement for the practice on Jan 28, "Staff Presents Monthly Practice".

Genre: Discussion
Title: January: Let’s describe and discuss each monthly topic!
Please make some groups having 4-5 members in each group. At first, please choose your own topic from the following list or create your own idea that has something to do with November. No overlap over the topics in your group, please.

List of Topics

new year’s card, hatsumoude, osechi-ryori, ozoni, karuta, Japanese zodiac, coming of age day, new year’s relolution, Great Hanshin earthquake, seven spring-herb rice porridge, Tokyo-Hakone intercollegiate long distance relay race, Martin Luther King Jr. Day,or Your Own Idea.

Part 1: Design and construction of your prompt speech for 5 min.
Part 2: Present your speech for 1 min.
Part 3: Share idea and opinion on the presented topic in the group for 10 min.
*Repeat Part 2 and Part 3 after the first speaker in your group finishes the practice.

Best regards,
Yuko Tanihara

2023年01月08日

2023年1月21日 プラクティス

Date: Jan. 21st
Title: Trash and Garbage
Genre: Discussion
Description:
When you step into a railway station, recently you can recognize some of the things are missing. Do you know what they are? Clocks, Hanging ads. in train, and Trash Can. Moreover, on some of the station trash cans, they inform you not to throw in garbage and trash delivered from your family (cf. attached photo).

There were lots of episode behind this information. In Keihan Hirakata Station one day, a station staff was surprised that frying pan from a family was thrown into the trash can of the station.

In Kyoto City, in 2011 666 trash cans were set up, but in 2021 only 297 cans existed, which means many trash cans were removed in sightseeing spots (cf. news below).

https://www3.nhk.or.jp/kansai-news/20220606/2000061983.html

I hope you all to discuss this urgent city life matters with the agenda.
Thank you.
******************************
堀 薫夫(HORI Shigeo)
********************************

2023年01月04日

2023年1月14日 プラクティス

Hello.

This is a notice for the second half of the practice on January 14,
2023.

Title: Review of 2022 and Goals for 2023
Genre: Presentation

Description:

What was the year 2022 like for you? And what would you like to
achieve in 2023?

In this practice, I would like you to summarize briefly the following
points and present them orally.

- What was good and bad in 2022
- Goals for 2023

You will have a few minutes to give your oral presentation. A question
and answer session, if any, will follow.

Note that at the beginning of the practice you will be given a short
time to prepare your presentation.

Live long and prosper!

Masakazu YOSHIDA

こんにちは。

これは、2023年1月14日の後半プラクティスのお知らせです。

タイトル: 2022年の振り返りと2023年の目標ジャンル: プレゼンテーション

2022年は、あなたにとってどんな年でしたか?そして、2023年に実現したいこ
とは何でしょうか?

今回のプラクティスでは、次の点について簡単にまとめて、口頭で発表してい
ただきたいと思います。

- 2022年の良かったこと、悪かったこと
- 2023年の目標

それぞれ数分間の持ち時間で口頭発表をしていただきます。その後、質疑応答
を行います。

なお、プラクティスの冒頭で、プレゼンテーションを準備するための短い時間
をとります。

長寿と繁栄を!

吉田 正和

2022年12月29日

2022年12月24日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Here is an announcement of the latter half practice planned on December 24th.

Title: Recollection of 2022.

Genre: Talk
Description: In the last meeting in 2022, I'd like you all to look back what happened in 2022 for you.
The procedure is as follows;
1) Divide members into several groups.
2) You individually select top 3 (or 4) topics in 2022, and write them on a
paper.
3 Topic areas are prepared; Domestic, International, Personal.
4) Exchange the ideas within each group, and make group top 3 news (domestic
and international), and discuss the reasons why they are important.
5) Group leaders will present the conclusion of group consensus.
6) If you have spare time, you can discuss what will happen in 2023.

I hope many of you will attend to talk a lot and enjoy a lot.
Thank you.

Motoko Tabata

2022年12月08日

2022年12月17日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,
Here is an announcement of the latter half of practice planned on December 17th.

Genre : Listening and Talk

Title : Queen ElizabethⅡ

Queen Elizabeth Ⅱpassed away on September 8th. She was respected and loved by people in the UK.
I prepare her news reports and episodes .
Let's talk about the Queen!

Takako Suzuki

2022年12月01日

2022年12月10日 プラクティス

Hi all

How are you doing?
It is my turn to call the shots on Dec 10. The following is what I would like you folks
to do. Show us photos in your phones and tell the stories on them.

If you don’t have any photos in your phones, bring some photos,
draw pictures on papers, or whatever. You might want to say like the bellow.

“This is Mt. Shasta.
Naomi, my then-girlfriend, and I were supposed to have a terrific vacation there,
but instead, we had a terrible row over trifles and finally broke up.
I was going to ask her to marry me, though………………………………………”

I hope you all enjoy the practice.
Until then

Okata Seiyo


2022年11月21日

2022年12月3日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,
Here is an announcement of the latter half of practice planned on December 3.

Genre: Debate, talk battle

Procedures:
1) Make several groups of 4 or more people.
2) A person do timekeeping and judge (concurrent role). Other member decide which one you support.
3) Start debate, talk battle
Approximate time schedule is as follows, preparation 2 min, debate 7-10 min
4) A judge decide which side is a winner, more persuasive or more interesting.
5) In each topic please change timekeeper/judge.
When the time is up, this practice ends.

Topic:
1.E-book vs paper book (Which do you prefer)
2.Soy-source vs source(いわゆる普通のソース) (Which do you prefer)
3.Kinkaku-ji(金閣寺) vs Ginkaku-ji(銀閣寺) (Which do you prefer)
4.Red wine vs White wine (Which do you prefer)
5.Okonomiyaki (お好み焼き) vs Yakisoba(焼きそば) (Which do you prefer)
6.Ohanami(お花見) vs Momiji-gari(紅葉狩り) (Which do you prefer)
7.United states VS China (Which is stronger)
8.Summer Olympic game vs winter Olympic game (Which do you prefer)
9.Electric money vs cash (Which do you prefer)
10.Beef vs pork (Which do you prefer)

See you at the Shimogyo Iki Iki Shimin Center.

Thank you.

By Hiroaki Ishizaki

2022年11月19日

2022年11月26日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Here is an announcement of the practice planned on Nov. 26th.

Genre :Group Talk
Topic:   If I were….              

Procedures: Make several groups and enjoy conversations on the subjects you can enjoy sharing with your group mates.

The examples are “ if I were 20 years younger…”, If I were a king or a queen “, “ If I were a president of….”, If I were an artist “ , If I was born in Heian period..”,etc.

Note: During the practice, please take moderate social distance and enjoy talking!

Thank you.

By Kumiko Takesue

2022年11月09日

2022年11月19日 プラクティス

This is the announcement for the practice on November 19, "Staff Presents Monthly Practice".

Genre: Discussion

Title: November: Let’s describe and discuss each monthly topic!

Please make some groups having 4-5 members in each group.

At first, please choose your own topic from the following list or create your own idea that has something to do with November. No overlap over the topics in your group, please.

List of Topics

autumn leaves, kotatsu, frost, campfire, coat, shichigosan,labor thanksgiving day, pocky, beaujolais nouveau, camellia japonica, ginkgo nuts, leonids (shooting stars),Veterans Day, Thanksgiving Day, Black Friday, Cyber Monday,or Your Own Idea.

Part 1: Design and construction of your prompt speech for 5 min.

Part 2: Present your speech for 1 min.

Part 3: Share idea and opinion on the presented topic in the group for 10 min.

*Repeat Part 2 and Part 3 after the first speaker in your group finishes the practice.

Best regards,

Yuko Tanihara

2022年11月05日

2022年11月12日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,
Here is an announcement of the latter practice planned on November 12.
Genre: Group Talk
Topic: 4 seasons and this autumn
Procedures:
Step.0 I’m going to make several groups of 3 or 4 people.
Step.1 What is your favorite season among spring summer autumn and winter? And why?
Step.2 What do you enjoy doing in your favorite season?
Step.3 What is your unfavorite season? And why?
Step.4 It is said that autumn is suitable for sport, art, reading book, traveling and so on. What do you like doing the best in this autumn? And why?

Step.4-1 Let’s talk about sport freely.
Step.4-2 Let’s talk about art freely.
Step.4-3 Let’s talk about reading book freely.
Step.4-4 Let’s talk about traveling freely.

Thank you.

By Hirokazu Sakai

2022年10月19日

2022年11月5日 プラクティス

Hello, Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Happy to announce a later half of practice for our activity on November 5th.

(Genre) Game.

(Procedure) Divide us into two groups for playing the game.

(Theme) 20 Questions/Classical Guessing Game.

20 Questions is a classic guessing game that people have been enjoying for decades.
The basic premise is that one person chooses something (really anything) and gives
the category it belongs to (such as person, place or thing). Then, the other player is
allowed to ask up to 20 yes/no questions to try to determine what it is.

An incredibly important part of the 20 questions game is asking good questions that
can help you get to the answer as quickly as possible. Good questions will help you
narrow down the possible answers as much as possible. So, what are some good
questions to ask? Here are several effective questions you will think of.

Is this person alive?
Is this object something you find in a house?
Is this person American?
Is the object bigger than a watermelon?
Can I see this object in the room now?
Is this object expensive?
Is this person fictional?
Do many people visit this place?
Can I carry this object around in my pocket?
Is this person a woman?
Is this person over 30 years old?

I hope you’ll enjoy the game!

Makoto Nishimura

2022年10月29日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Here is an announcement of the practice planned on Octorber 29.

☆Genre: Variety (quizzes, listening and small talk)

☆Title:”Happy Halloween! “

☆Procedures:
1 Make 3~4 groups.
2 Warm-up quizzes
I’ll give you some quizzes about Halloween, so please try.
3 Listen to the CD and fill in the blanks.
4 Exchange your comments in your group on each question below.
〈Questions〉
    (1) Do you have any plan on Halloween night?
(holding a party, going for a drink with friends, doing cosplay, buying
Halloween Jumbo Lottery, going to get some candies, etc.)
    (2) Do you have any special (good or bad) memories on Halloween?
(3) Which event do you like best, Halloween, Chiristmas, Valentine’s day,
White day, Easter, New Year’s day or someone’s birthday?
(4) What do you think of the big Halloween celebration in Shibuya?
       (the biggest street party of the year that a crowd of hundreds of
thousands, dressed in some of the most spectacular and elaborate costumes,
gathering around Shibuya Crossing)

I hope you will enjoy it!


Motoko Tabata

2022年10月11日

2022年10月22日 プラクティス

The practice planned on Oct-22 is as follows.

Genre : Group Talk
Title : Inbound Tourism

Starting Oct-11, Japanese government removed regulations for inbound visitors, including unlimited number of visitors, short-stay visits without visa and accepting independent travels. Together with deregulations for inbound visitors, the government has started Domestic Travel Assistance programs.

On the other hand, we will be facing Over-Tourism such as insufficient hotel capacity and staffs, overcrowding, environmental damages, and safety & security, etc.

Question 1 : What are the pros and cons of inbound visitors.?

Question 2 : What should be improved for inbound visitors?

Question 3 : What is sustainable tourism ?


Make a few groups. Before closing the practice, each group shows a couple of interesting ideas to all.

I.Mashima

2022年10月05日

2022年10月15日 プラクティス

Dear ESS members,

I'm in charge of the latter practice on Oct 15th.
I'd like to send you the agenda of the day.

Genre: Game & Talk
Title: "Look at my Gesture"
procedures:
1. Devide the members into 4~5groups
2. Everyone pick up one card and show us the gesture
(The cards are about animals, sports, vehicles, occupations, actions...)
3.If time permits, each group talk about the gestures and make a story

Gestures and facial expressions are also part of language.
Let's use your whole body to speak!

Hope you enjoy the game.

Best wishes,
Ryuichi Tanaka

2022年09月21日

2022年10月8日 プラクティス

Hi, everyone.
I'm happy to present the announcement for the latter half of practice on Oct. 8th, 2022.

(Genre)Discussion

(Procedure) Make some groups which consist of 3-4 members in each group.

(Theme) What would you do if you were Prime Minister of Japan today?

Take a look on A) to F) and discuss on 1) to 8)
A) Russia waged war against Ukraine on Feb. 24th, 2022.
・ Putin’s miscalculation
・Unfruitful military operation
・Obsolete Russian weapons
・Severe economic sanctions from the West
・Zelensky‘s strategy: Ask for help via mass media and the West. Not to give up.
・1/6 of China's economy, with a 142 million population
・Real GDP (purchasing power parity)$3,875,690,000,000 (2020 est.) Real GDP per capita $26,500 (2020 est.)
B) China
・OBOR(One Belt One Road, 一帯一路)
・Xi Jinping‘s 3rd term likely
・Confrontation with the US
・Support, wait and see with Russia
・SCO(Shanghai Cooperation Organization,上海協力機構)
・Hongkong
・Taiwan
・Senkaku
・No.2 economy with a 1.4 billion population
・Real GDP (purchasing power parity)$23,009,780,000,000 (2020 est.) Real GDP per capita $16,400 (2020 est.)
C)Taiwan
・Biden “the US would defend Taiwan.”
・One China policy
・Semiconductor supplier
・Geopolitical position: near China and Senkaku
・Big as Kyushu with a 23 million population
・Real GDP (purchasing power parity)$1,143,277,000,000 (2019 est.) Real GDP per capita $24,502 (2018 est.)
D)North Korea(DPRK)
・Nuclear weapons and missile test
・Negate agreement with Japan
・Need for economic aid and money
・Refuse to return the abductees to Japan
・Sell weapons to Russia
・25 million population with Real GDP (purchasing power parity)of $40 billion (2015 est.)
E) the US
・Sanction against Russia
・Support Ukraine
・FRB‘s FOMC to raise FF(federal fund) for 0.75%
→tight interest policy to moderate inflation
・8% inflation: CPI 8.3% on Aug 2022
・Insufficient supply despite demand increase in post corona pandemic
・No.1 economy with a 333 million population
・Real GDP (purchasing power parity)$19,846,720,000,000 (2020 est.) Real GDP per capita $60,200 (2020 est.)
F) Japan
・Inflation: 3% on Aug 2022
・Yen depreciation
・Price hike for energy and food
・Birth rate: 1.3 babies for one woman
・Real GDP (purchasing power parity)$5,224,850,000,000 (2019 est.) Real GDP per capita $41,400 (2019 est.)

Discussion
1) What is your impression of Russia?

2) What is your image of the Ukraine war?

3) What is your image of China?

4) What is your image of Taiwan?

5) What is your image of North Korea?

6) What is your image of the US?

7) What is your image of Japan?

8) What would you do if you were Prime Minister of Japan today?


Thank you for your kind cooperation
Osamu Minamihashi

2022年09月18日

2022年10月1日 プラクティス

This is an announcement for the practice October 1st
By Masahiro Yamamoto
  (genre) presentation
(procedure) To make some groups which consist of 4-5 members in each group.
(theme) Protecting our environment
(1) Mom and her daughter are discussing.
Two volunteers, Mom and her daughter, will make a dialogue in front. (Twice about 7 minutes)
(2) To make some groups which consist of 4-5 members in each group. A chairman should be selected in each.
(3) Each group will proceed following the procedure in the handout.
(4) Listening about the presentation by a boy.

山本です。いつものように女性2人に(母と娘)英語による会話を始めてもらいます。 (原稿が見られます)その役をしてくださる方を募集をします。女性の方が望ましいのですが、男性でも一向にかまいません。希望者はお知らせください。

2022年09月15日

2022年9月24日 プラクティス

This is an announcement for the practice 24

(genre)  presentation
(procedure) make some groups、consisted of 4-5 members in each group.
(theme)
(1) (about 15 minutes)
Summarize what your last hot summer season was like. Was it different from the ordinary summer ?
① good points  ②bad points

(2) (about 50 minutes)
Beforehand, I will prepare about 30 pieces of current news broadcasted from NHK and other popular subjects relevant to our daily life during the last few months.
Please choose one topic you like among them and make a short presentation on it within 2 minutes. And if other members have any comments to add to the presenter’s one, express your own briefly. Finishing the first round, repeat the same procedure in the 2nd round , in the 3rd round, and so on .

Oishi

2022年09月13日

2022年9月17日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Hello, everyone.

This is the announcement for the practice on September 17 "Staff Presents Monthly Practice".
I am so sorry for my late announcement.

Title: September : Let’s describe and discuss each monthly topic!
Please make some groups having 4-5 members in each group.
At first, please choose your own topic from the following list or create your own idea that has something to do with September. No overlap over the topics in your group, please.

List of Topics
jugoya or tsukimi, cosmos, ohagi, autumnal equinox day, a visit to a grave, silver week, autumn festival, cricket, sumo, respect for the aged day, typhoon, japanese pear, persimmon, Labor Day, or Your Own Idea.

Part 1: Design and construction of your prompt speech for 5 min.
Part 2: Present your speech for 1 min.
Part 3: Share idea and opinion on the presented topic in the group for 10 min.
Repeat Part 2 and Part 3 after the first speaker in your group finishes the practice.

I hope you will enjoy it!

Best wishes,
Yuko Tanihara

2022年08月31日

2022年9月10日 プラクティス

Hello! Friends of NHK ESS Kyoto.

This is an announcement for the practice on Sep. 10.

Venue: the Temple
Genre: Discussion
Theme: What is your plan for this autumn?

Even though the pandemic continues at high level, people seems to be going out
side again. I believe you have been patient for many things including trips, v
isiting friends or may be, for a drinking party.
Now as the autumn has come, please tell us your plan for the season.

Hint for the topic
1.Travel
2.Hobby
3.Outdoor activity
4.Service for the family

(Procedure)
Make some groups of 4 or 5 people.
Talk about the tropic and choose someone who represent your group.
Present your discussion to the whole of us by each group.

I hope you will enjoy the practice.

Kitaura

2022年08月25日

2022年9月3日 プラクティス

Dear ESS members,

I sincerely apologize for my belated announcement of the contents
and the relevant procedures for the practice on September 3nrd.

【Genre: Light Debate】
The practice will be conducted as following procedures.

Procedures
1. Make some groups of 4 or 5 people each.
2. Discussion topics will be given. (Start with your favorite topic)
3. Decide your opinion about each topic.
4. One of the members should be Judge. (Change the Judge for each topic)
5. Start the discussion. No time limit.
6. Judge gives the winner card to the winner.

Discussion Topics
1. Bread is better for breakfast than Japanese food.
2. Soy Sauce is the best for fried eggs?
3. Cats are easier to keep than dogs.
4. The traditional way of wearing a kimono can be ignored.
5. Should ESS members try harder to retain young New Comers to keep the ESS alive.?
6. Will books eventually be replaced by electronic media?
7. Should cigarette advertisements be banned?
8. The pros and cons of teacher evaluation by students at high school.
9. Are you for or against English education in elementary schools?
10. Will the Internet harm interpersonal communication?

Have enjoy!
Natsuko Kado

2022年08月19日

2022年8月27日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members.

Here is an announcement of the practice planned for Aug 27th.

Venue: the Temple
Genre: Discussion
Theme: the former Unification Church

①Make some groups.
②Discuss these 5 points in your groups

Q1.Share what you know about the former "Unification Church".
Q2.Do you think the Japanese government should crack down on its
activity or even issue a dissolution order?
Q3.~If you say yes, then how do you think we should do it?
Q4.Is it difficult to draw the line between other new cults and the
former Unification Church aka FFWPU? (*Family Federation for World
Peace and Unification)
Q5.Why has FFWPU tied to the Liberal Democratic Party?-and do you
think the tie will last in the future (to what extent)?

③Lastly, please present a summary of the content in your group to the
whole of us.

Hope many of you will attend to talk a lot and enjoy a lot.

Thank you.
K. Miyazawa

2022年08月13日

2022年8月20日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Hello, everyone!

This is the chairperson of next weekend, August 20, Yuko Tanihara.
My apologies for my late announcement.

Genre: Quiz and discussion
Title: Imaginary trip around the world

At first, please make some groups to have 4 members in each group.
Next, please choose 1 country in each group.
Then, discuss with your group members according the guidance sheets.

I hope you will enjoy it! See you on Saturday (August 20).

Best wishes,
Yuko Tanihara

2022年07月31日

2022年8月6日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Hello, everyone.

This is the announcement for the practice on August 6 "Staff Presents Monthly Practice".

Genre: Discussion
Title: August: Let’s describe and discuss each monthly topic!
Please make some groups having 4-5 members in each group.
At first, please choose your own topic from the following list or create your own idea that has something to do with August. No overlap over the topics in your group, please.
List of Topics
fireworks, yukata, send-off bonfires of five mountains,shaved ice, summer festival, summer vacation, sunflower,watermelon, barley tea, radio calisthenics, summer classes, or Your Own Idea.
Part 1: Design and construction of your prompt speech for 5 min.
Part 2: Present your speech for 1 min.
Part 3: Share idea and opinion on the presented topic in the group for 10 min.
Repeat Part 2 and Part 3 after the first speaker in your group finishes the practice.

I hope you will enjoy it!

Best wishes,
2022 ESS Staff

2022年07月22日

2022年7月23日 プラクティス

Genre: riddles

First, please make some groups to have a f3or 4members in each group.

You don’t need to prepare anything in advance,
Please answer the riddle with humor in the discussion with your group members.
After you finish, you can discuss these questions and descriptions freely..
I hope you will enjoy this practice!

Best wishes,

Itsuko Hori

2022年07月08日

2022年7月16日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Genre: discussion
Title: What do you think of lowering the age of adulthood from 20 to 18?

Japanese government revised the Civil Code to lower the age of adulthood from 20 to 18.
The revised Civil Code came into effect on April 1,2022.
Under the revised Civil Code, 18 and 19 years old citizens have the right to vote.
Moreover, they can make consumer contracts without parental consent.
Juvenile Law was revised since the age of adulthood is enacted 18.
Under the revised Juvenile Law, 18 to 19 years olds who commit a crime should face harsher punishment as "specified juveniles."
On the other hand, under 20 is still prohibited from drinking alcohol, smoking and gambling.

1. What do you think of revising the Civil Code to lower the age of adulthood from 20 to 18?
Do you agree or disagree?

2. If you were a lawmaker, how would you revise the article to the age of adulthood?

3. What is the boundary between adult and child for you?

Procedures
1.Make some small groups from 4 to 5 members.

2 . Discuss about the topic.

3. I will hand out the paper listed the specific cases caused by lowering the age of adulthood from 20 to 18 to each group..
Please write ’’AGREE‘‘ or ‘‘DISAGREE``on each case as a group. The representative of the group will explain why your group
choose ``AGREE`` or ``DISAGREE`.`

I hope you will enjoy the practice.

Thanks!!

Seiichiro Iwai

2022年07月02日

2022年7月9日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Hello, everyone!

This is the chairperson of next weekend, July 9, Yuko Tanihara.
My apologies for my late announcement.

Genre: Translation and discussion
Title: Let's explain your favorite cooking in English and talk about delicious food/dish !

At first, please make some groups to have 4-6 members in each group.

Part 1: Preparation for your explanation how to cook your favorite cooking
Easy and tasty recipes are welcome.
Part 2: Explanation to your group members
Part 3: Talk about delicious food/dish

I hope you will enjoy it! See you on Saturday (July 9).

Best wishes,
Yuko Tanihara

2022年06月22日

2022年7月2日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Here is an announcement of the later half practice on July 2.
We are going to enjoy ”WHACK A WAKA”( 百人一首) in English.
I’m sure all of you know how to play the game,
Have fun!.

Motoko Tabata (the name of the person in charge)


2022年06月16日

2022年6月25日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Hello, everyone.

This is the announcement for the practice on June 25 "Staff Presents Monthly Practice".

Genre: Discussion

Title: June: Let’s describe and discuss each monthly topic!

Please make some groups to have 4-6 members in each group and move to the each place/room.

Part 1: Preparation for your presentation (5 min)
At first, please choose your own topic from the following list or your thought (no overlap in your group).

Lists:
Rainy season, plum liquor, umbrella, minazuki, father’s day,
snail, hydrangea, June bride, summer solstice,
seasonal change of clothes, firefly, frog

Then, please prepare for your 1 min presentation.

Part 2: Presentation and discussion (10 min for each)
Shall we share each presentation with your group members and discuss about it?
*If you finish early, please choose another topic and try again.

I hope you will enjoy it!

Best wishes,
Yuko Tanihara

2022年06月11日

2022年6月18日 プラクティス

Dear ESS members

Hello!
This is Osamu MINAMIHASHI, and I would like to inform my practice for the latter half of our ESS meeting on June 18th, 2022

Agenda: Discussion
Title: Make brief comments!
Procedure:

Make groups with three members.
If one or two members were left, please join GROUP 1 or 2.
Then, all the groups would have three or four members.
Next, I would like to distribute materials for all.

STAGE A) (17:40~18:00) Light-Hearted Topics
1)Choose your topic from "Part 1 Light-Hearted Topics", and make a two-minute speech.
2)The others are expected to comment briefly on the speech.
3)Repeat 1) to 2) in turn until 18:00.

STAGE B (18:00~18:40) Serious Topics
1)Choose your topics from "Part 2 Serious Topics", and make a two-minute speech.
2)The others are expected to comment briefly on the speech.
3)Repeat 1) to 2) in turn until 18:40.

I hope you all enjoy making brief comments on various topics on each other.

Best
Osamu MINAMIHASHI

2022年06月04日

2022年6月11日 プラクティス

Dear ESS members,

This is an announcement of the practice I will hold on Jun. 11.

(Genre and title)
Song practice.

(Contents)
I will bring my ukulele and distribute some lyrics cards to you. First, I will sing to my ukulele on behalf of you. Most of the songs are famous songs, so if you can, please sing with me. Some of the songs will be quiz songs, so if you can, please answer my quiz. Then, we will have some discussion time. Teach the other members about the meanings and pronunciations they don't know. Some questions related to the songs are printed on the lyrics cards. You don't have to answer all of them. Finally, we will check the answers and all of those who want to sing will sing with me.

Regards,
Atsushi Kato

2022年05月25日

2022年6月4日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,
Here is an announcement of the practice planned on June 4th.
Genre:Group Talk
Topic:How are you prepared for disasters?
Procedures: Let’s make several groups and enjoy discussion and free talking on the topic! I don’t hand out any papers, so please remember this topic.
Note: During the practice, please take moderate social distance and enjoy talking!
Thank you.
By Megumi Iwai (the name of the person in charge)

2022年05月22日

2022年5月28日 プラクティス

Dear ESS members,

I made a new test today.

The reason is clear and simple. I already sent the answer sheet by my mistake.

Next practice is that we talk and discuss about Haruki Murakami's novels.

To tell the truth , I prefer not Murakami's novels.

I really loved Kuniko Mukouda'S one.

By T,Kuchinaka

2022年05月13日

2022年5月21日 プラクティス

Dear members of Kyoto NHK ESS.
Here is the announcement for the practice on May 21th, 2022.

【Genre: Mini Game and Talk】
The practice has two sections below.

Section 1【Mini Game : Riddle】 (10minutes or less)
1. There’s no materials.
2. Owner reads and shows the question, please listen to it and think about the question.
3. If members flush the answer, please just raise your hand.
4. A member designated by owner can answer the question.
5. Finally, Owner shows the answer and go to the next question.

Section 2【Talk: About short articles】 (30-40minutes )
1. Make some groups. Each group has about 4 members.
And please assign the leader in each group.
2. Materials will be distributed.
3. Please select articles and read and talk about them in 25 minutes each group.

Lastly, we will summarize the group discussion for today’s talking and share it with everyone.
Could you, each-group leader make one minutes presentation about your story regarding the topics? (5 minutes)
I hope you’ll enjoy the practice.

By Yasuhiko Fujioka (the name of the person in charge)

2022年05月05日

2022年5月14日 プラクティス

Hello everyone.
This is Kazu Yasuda and I'd like to inform you the latter part of the corner of May 14th.

1. Date: May 14th, 2022.
2. Genre: Discussion
3. Title: Population decrease in Japan
4. Description:
① Presentation about population matter
② Dividing you into several groups
③ Discussion
・Tell your opinions about population decline in Japan and discuss it.
 ・What is your countermeasure agaist depopulation?

I hope you enjoy discussion on that day. Thank you.

2022年05月01日

2022年5月7日 プラクティス

Hello Dear ESS members.

This is Shigeo HORI, from Kashiba City and I'd like to inform you the latter part of the corner of May 7th.

1. Date: May 7th, 2022.
2. Genre: Speech.
3. Title: Varieties of Speeches
4. Description:
On March 23rd, we witnessed a Ukraine president Зеленський's speech in Japanese Diet. We felt the importance of good speech in a public arena.
On May 7th, I'd like to hold my corner for a varieties of speeches from the following order.

1. Presentation from HORI; What is the points of good speech.
2. Dividing you into several groups.
3. Speech 1 (Level 1) You can select the title of your speech from the list of the simple titles, and please make your speech within 1 minute.
4. Speech 2 (Level 2) You can make your speech in 1 minute, but this time impromptu speech.
5. Speech 3 (Level 3) Secret. A little difficult titles or something of 1 minute speech??

I hope you enjoy varieties of speeches on that day.

Thank you.

******************************
堀 薫夫(HORI Shigeo)
********************************

2022年04月20日

2022年4月30日 プラクティス

Dear ESS members,

I'm in charge of the latter practice on April. 30th.
I'd like to send you the agenda of the day.

Genre: talk
Title: "Your Pleasure"
Procedures:
1.Opening Comment and some Sign Languages Quiz (15mins)
2.Group Talking (40mins)


Needless to say, everyone(ESS) has great interest in English.
Anyway, how about other hobbies?
I know that many ESS friends are "a person with many interests"
As for me, learning sign languages is one of my pastime.
Though I'm still its beginner's level, I will be fun to know new signs.

What are your plans for this holiday(G.W)?
I would like you to talk about your hobby, pastime in a group.
It would be great to know each other's delights.
Please bring something to show your pleasures! (pictures, books...)

Best regards,
R. Tanaka

2022年04月14日

2022年4月23日 プラクティス

Hello, ESS members:

This is the announcement of the second half of the practice scheduled on April 23.

We will enjoy the English word games and riddles.

Genre: Games in English.
Grouping: A few groups that are composed of 4~5.
Preparation: You don’t need to prepare anything in advance, I will give you some sheets of paper in which riddles and words games are.
Please answer the riddles with humor and build letters in the discussion with your group members.
You are not allowed to use your dictionary in the games.
I hope you will enjoy this practice!

Kumiko Takesue

2022年04月10日

2022年4月16日 プラクティス

Hi, everyone:

This is the announcement, in advance, of the second practice that is scheduled on April 16 of this year. The details are as follow:

Title of the topic to talk about:    PEACE
Genre: Presentation and Discussion.
Grouping: A few groups that are composed of 4~5.
Preparation: You are welcome to make a brief summary of what you think of the topic “PEACE” in approximately 50~100 words or more. You are also welcome to make reference materials to assist your talk. But take it easy, this is not obligatory.

Our environment in close vicinity and in wide ranges are always full of problems. They are, for example, infectious diseases, food shortage, global climate change, social and racial discrimination, and wars. Despite them, we have been more or less overcoming the problems by hoping for possible happiness and peace, and eventually we are surviving.
Despite that, a few have taken advantage of the problem for their own profit and self-esteem such as Vladimir Putin, Elon Musk, Yusaku Maezawa, and etc. Oh! what a disgusting species!
Guys, let’s talk and discuss on such cross sections as:
1. What is the definition of PEACE? Is it more difficult than looking for HAPPINESS?
2. Do you think a kind of world PEACE can be attained someday?
3. If yes, then, by what means and in what extent?
Forbidden phrases: “PEACE is an illusion” or “PEACE is impossible”.

Oku, Akira
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Material for reference: “World peace is like a collective house built on a sliding hillside.”
(sorry, the drawing is not shown in this mail)

2022年04月09日

2022年4月9日 プラクティス

皆様

 4月9日後半プラクティスの内容は次のとおりです。

1.ジャンル:グループティスカッション

2.タイトル:ウクライナ紛争

3.内容:

 ①ウクライナ紛争の経緯と現状(資料参照)

 ②ウクライナ紛争の原因

 ③あなたがキーフ市民ならどうしますか?

  a.避難する

b.残留して身の安全を図る

c.レジスタンスとして戦う

d.あなたがウクライナ大統領ならどうしますか?

 ④ロシアのプーチン大統領をどう思いますか?

 ⑤ウクライナ紛争の決着はどうなるべきですか?

 ⑥グループごとにディスカッションの内容を発表

以上です。よろしくお願いいたします。

今井洋璽

2022年03月29日

2022年4月2日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS members

Please find below the practice details on April 2 at the temple.

Genre : Group Talk

Topic : A person you respect :

Introduce a person you respect and show us the reason why.

1. Team formation

2. 10 min for preparation ( use your smartphone )

3. Decide the order of speakers

4. Start Introducing a person you respect and explain why you respect him/her.

5. Q & A before moving to the next speaker

I respect Toru Matsumoto. He was an English educator and Ph.D. in English Education. He started NHK Radio English Conversation program from 1951 for 16 years. I respect him because he was a pioneer of English Conversation program in Japan and many ESS's were organized throughout Japan. My English study started with a 50 yen NHK radio text-book when I was in high school. Thereafter, I could make the best use of English conversation skills in an American company until retirement. Without meeting his English program, my life must have been very limited to domestic and local activities.

Person in charge ( I. Mashima )

2022年03月19日

2022年3月26日 プラクティス 

3 月26日のプラクティス

Hi,there.

Long time no see,everyone.
This is the announcement of the March 26th activity .

Fortunately or unfortunately, I don’t know.
This time is a 30-minute activity.

Read this text carefully because I don’t prepare any handouts.

As Omicron wave has started to subside , I hope “corona era”will come to an end.

This time we are going to focus on what lesson we learned from this 2 year- long corona pandemic.

Never had we dreamed of the COVID’s having an impact on our activities up until 2years ago .

Let’s look back on what happened and how we behaved .

By the way, several days ago , Matsumoto Michihiro , a legendary English teacher, passed away due to Covid 19. I was shocked to hear that.

T.Noguchi

2021年12月24日

2022年1月8日 プラクティス

Hi, there.

Here is the notification of the latter half activity on 2022-01-08.

Title: What is Your New Year's Resolution?
Genre: Presentation

Description:

What do you want to achieve in 2022? Maybe something big. Maybe
something small. Everything's fine!

Through this activity, every one of you will have an opportunity to
present your new year's resolution.

You have a few minutes (perhaps around three minutes) to go. And,
optionally, to make your presentation more attractive, you can bring
"things" with you. For example: photos, illustration boards, graphs,
books, musical instruments, you name it!

Please don't forget to prepare your manuscript (draft) in advance.
If you don't have one, it's perfectly OK. Improvise :-)

Cheers!

-- Masakazu YOSHIDA

2021年12月17日

2021年12月25日 プラクティス

To dear ESS members

Here is an announcement about the practice for December 25th.

Theme; "Your favorite temple, shrine, and Japanese garden in Kyoto”

①Make some groups
②First, decide who will present the summary.
③Talk about the following Q1~5.

Q1. Please introduce & describe your favorite temple in Kyoto
Q2. 〃 shrine
Q3. 〃 Japanese garden
https://www.neverendingvoyage.com/exploring-kyotos-2000-temples-shrines/

(If time allows )
Q4. Can you explain the difference between Buddhism and Shinto?
Q5. Can you tell the difference between some Buddhist sects?
(such as 臨済宗・曹洞宗・浄土真宗etc..)

④Summary sharing by a representative of each group.

Looking forward to hearing your favorite places.
Thanks
Miyazawa

2021年12月10日

2021年12月18日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Long long time no see!

Here is an announcement of the practice planned on Dec.18th.     

(1) Genre: Group Talk

(2) Title: “Do you like your personality (性格)?”

(3) Description:

1. Make several groups

2. I distribute reference material about the personality.

3. Read the material and answer the following questions individually.

4. Share your answers in your group.

5. Talk about your personality freely.

0) What kind of person are you? Describe your personality.

1) Do you like your personality? Why?

2) What kind of time do you think the present character is good enough?

3) What kind of time do you hate the present personality?

4) Is there any failure story or funny story about your personality?

5) If you were to compare your personality to one Kanji character, what would it be?

6) If you could be born again, would you want to be the person with a completely different personality?

7) Do you think you can change your personality?

8)What kind of person do you get along well with? (As a partner, as a friend)

9) Do you think that the blood type is associated with character?

 hope you will enjoy that.

楽天的optimistic 内向的introverted 外交的 extrovert 優柔不断 indecisive 優しい gentle マイペースdo things at one’s own pace (他人に)気を遣うmindful of others, be considerate for 面倒くさがりlazy 細かいことを気にする care about detailed things 素直な、従順なobedient, submissive温厚mild 心が広い tolerant, broad-minded 厳しいstrict 繊細 delicate いじわる mean 保守的conservative 進歩的な、自由なprogressive 積極的なaggressive, positive 愛想が良いamiable 綺麗好きcleanly 好奇心旺盛curious 礼儀正しいpolite, courteous 謙遜、控えめなhumble, reserved 気楽なeasygoing, happy-go-lucky 情け深い sentimental無神経 insensitive, inconsiderate 神経質nervous がさつ boisterous 几帳面な Methodical 勇敢brave, courageous 内気、恥ずかしがり屋shy 熱心 eager ,keen 面白い funny 人情あふれる humane 我慢強いpatient 無邪気innocent 愛情深いaffectionate ふざけている playful口数が多いtalkative 協力的cooperative 気前が良いgenerous けちstingy

Note: During the practice, please take moderate social distance and enjoy talking!

Thank you.


By Akihiro Tabata from Ishikawa pref.

2021年12月06日

2021年12月11日 プラクティス

Dear ESS members,

I sincerely apologize for my belated announcement of the contents
and the relevant procedures for the practice on December 11th at “Hitomachi-
kaikan”.

【Genre: Relax Presentation for Fun】
No groups will be needed. Let’s work on this all together.

【Procedures】
-A scratch paper will be distributed for each person.
-Please write down your diary on the paper.
There are three sections in the paper,
Today
Yesterday,
Last week .
-You should begin your diary with the above three words.
-I will collect your diary
-I will read aloud your diary so that every one guess WHO’S
DIARY IS.
-The person who wrote the diary stand up and tell us more.

Have enjoy!
Natsuko Kado

2021年11月28日

2021年12月4日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS members.

This is the announcement for the practice on Dec. 4th.
Genre: Group Talk
Topics: A. Hobby B. Christmas You can choose one of them, both or whatever you want to talk about.

Procedures: I’d like you to split up into 4 groups. So please call from No.1 to 4.

I’ll hand in sheets on which questions about these topics are written. You can enjoy talking based on these questions.

Note: During the practice, please take moderate social distance.

Enjoy your fruitful discussion. Thank you

 Hiromi Yamada

2021年11月19日

2021年11月27日 プラクティス

Hello everyone,

Here is an announcement of the later half practice on November 27. We are going to enjoy English game. “20 questions” is a classic guessing game that people have been enjoying for decades. The basic premise is that one person chooses something and gives the category it belongs to (such as person, place or thing). Then the other players are allowed to ask up to 20 Yes/No questions to try to determine what it is. I’m sure you’ll have a fun time.

Makoto Nishimura

2021年11月12日

2021年11月20日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Here is the announcement of the latter practice planned on Nov. 20th.

Genre: Group Talk

Topic: one minute- speaking

Procedures: Let's make several groups. I will give you several topics to talk about beforehand. Each person give one minute-talk about them.

Note: During the practice, please take moderate social distancing and enjoy talking !

Thank you.

By Masahiro Oishi (the name of the person in charge)

2021年11月04日

2021年11月13日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Hello everybody.
This is Shoichi Aoki ,and I’m in charge of the latter half corner on November 13th.

Title:How do you feel about investing?
Genre: Talk
Description:
Japanese economy is called “lost 30 years”.
I think there are several reasons!
One of them is that majority of the Japanese household financial assets are held in cash and deposits,while USA is about 10%,and EU is about 30%.
So I’d like you all to talk about this topic for so-called “Japan is back!!”.

The procedure is as follows;
1)After several introductions and quizzes ,making several groups.
2)Answer the following questions individually.
3)Share your answers in your group.
4)Group leaders will present the overview of group talk.

Questions
①Is investing gambling ?
Yes or No ,and comment
②What is the reason of that majority of the household financial assets are held in cash and deposits.
③What is the most important for the first step to invest

By Shoichi Aoki (the name of the person in charge)

2021年10月28日

2021年11月6日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Here is an announcement of the practice planned on the 6th November               .

Genre:Group Talk

Topic: Saying I love you                 

Procedures: Let’s make several groups and enjoy discussion and free talking on the topic!

Note: During the practice, please take moderate social distance and enjoy talking!

私のプレゼンでは毎回恒例のパーフォーマーを募集しております。

今回も募集したいと思います。

男子1名 女子1名 (できれば両名40歳以下の方が望ましいのですが。もし40歳を超えた方の場合ご相談ください。)

役としては、ただ2,3分の英語を大きな声で読んでいただくだけです。とても簡単です。

プレゼンに協力しようと思う人は私宛に返信してお知らせくださるでしょうか。

宜しくお願いします。

Thank you.

By Masahiro Yamamoto

 

2021年10月21日

10月30日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,
Here is the announcement of the practice planned on Oct. 30th.
Genre:Group Talk
Topic:When and how are you studying English?
Procedures: Let’s make several groups and enjoy discussion and free talking on the topic!
Note: During the practice, please take moderate social distance and enjoy talking!
Thank you.
By Megumi Iwai (the name of the person in charge)

2021年10月10日

10月23日プラクティス

Hello Dear ESS members.

This is Shigeo HORI, from Kashiba City and I'd like to inform you the latter part of the corner of October 23rd.
And this is the 3rd time information of this practice, because of the Coronavirus problems.

1. Date: October 23rd, 2021.
2. Genre: Discussion.
3. Title: Sports Club Mentality
4. Description:
Some of you have experiences in sports club activities in your school days. They say the relationships among them, especially between seniors and juniors, are informally and strictly coded,
what we call “Taiikukai-kei Mentality.”
This kind of mentality survived into the business world or elsewhere. But if this type of mentality spread into the company’s core identity, what will happen?

On Oct. 23rd, I’d like you all to discuss this kind of mentality not only in sport club or business world, but also in every sphere of our daily life.

5. Procedure
a. Presentation form Hori on this topic.
b. Make several groups.
c. Read the materials and discuss the topic.
d. The leader of each group will show us the results of the discussion.

Thank you.

******************************
堀 薫夫(HORI Shigeo)
********************************

2021年10月07日

10月16日プラクティス

ESS会員の皆様へ

  長い休息期間が明けて、やっとお寺で集うことができます。

  ESSの長い歴史の中でも、COVID-19問題は皆さんの間で

  長く辛い思い出として、時が過ぎれば思い出すことでしょう

 解禁となっても注意は必要です。油断大敵、マスク、手洗い

  アルコール消毒は心掛けたいです。コロナ禍以前は私も

  よく映画館に行ったものです。皆さんの思い出の映画スター

  ならびに印象に残る、忘れられない映画をプラクティスで語っていただきたいです。

 
Movies and Movie-stars

When I was young, I used to go movies very often.

One of my favorite movies is Otokowatsuraiyo. (Torasan/Actor: Atsumi Kiyoshi)

Torasan movies’ were interesting and warm hearted home dramas based on a downtown in Tokyo. A kind of eccentric man, Torasan often made troubles with his family or neighbors.

After that he usually left his hometown and traveled and stayed local towns far from his home.

His job was a street vender talking with customers friendly.

Everywhere he visited, he easily fell in love with beautiful young ladies, however he never said to them “I love you.”

We sometimes sympathize Torasan’s passion and behavior.

Film director, Mr. Yamada made 50 Torasan drama series so far.

When we say Atumi Kiyoshi, we remind Torasan movies.

I can not forget nationwide hit dramas, Torasan.

Discussion

Who is your favorite Japanese movie star?
Why you like him or her?
Which is your unforgettable or impressive movie?

by Takeo Kuchinaka

2021年07月26日

7月31日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Here is an announcement of the practice planned on Jul 31.

Genre :Group Talk

Topic: Olympic Games

Tokyo 2020 has started. Today, let’s talk about Olympic games.

Your favorite game. Why ? ..10min
Your favorite athlete. Why? ..10min
Your vision of “What future Olympic and IOC should be” ..10min
Your group summary ( only for topic 3. ) ..10min

Procedures: Let’s make several groups and enjoy free talking on the topic!

Note: During the practice, please take moderate social distance and enjoy talking!

Thank you.

By I. Mashima

2021年03月29日

2021年4月10日プラクティス

Hello Dear ESS members.

This is Shigeo HORI, from Kashiba City and I'd like to inform you the latter part of the corner of April 10th.

1. Date: April 10th, 2021.
2. Genre: Discussion.
3. Title: Sports Club Mentality
4. Description:
Some of you have experiences in sports club activities in your school days. They say the relationships among them, especially between seniors and juniors, are informally and strictly coded,
what we call “Taiikukai-kei Mentality.”
This kind of mentality survived into the business world or elsewhere. But if this type of mentality spread into the company’s core identity, what will happen?

On Apr. 10th, I’d like you all to discuss this kind of mentality not only in sport club or business world, but also in every sphere of our daily life.

5. Procedure
a. Presentation form Hori on this topic.
b. Make several groups.
c. Read the materials and discuss the topic.
d. The leader of each group will show us the results of the discussion.
Thank you.

******************************
堀 薫夫(HORI Shigeo)
********************************

2021年03月26日

2021年4月3日 プラクティス

Dear ESS members,


This is an announcement for Practice on April 3.

1 Genre: Talk
2 Description: 7 questions to talk about

Followings are 7 questions from the text book of Business Communication in Action (実践ビジネス英語).

In the book is an interview article for Mr. Sugita, the instructor of the lesson. 21 questions and 21 answers are there. Reading the article, I thought of that some questions are suitable to use for “Practice.”

The program is unfortunately going to end this month after 33-year of its history including 2 other programs,やさしいビジネス英語、ビジネス英会話 in total.

Here are questions for you to talk about.

1 Which is the best in the countries you have been?

2 What is the oldest memory (memories) in your younger days?

3 What kind of food do you like best?

4 What would you do with an extra hour if there were 25 hours in a day?

5 Tell us about three movies you love.

6 Are you a beer person, sake person, wine person or...?

7 Have you lost your wallet or purse? or Have you picked it up?

You don’t have to take up all the questions as they are just topics of conversation.

Thanks,

Hirano Fujio

2021年03月20日

2021年3月27日プラクティス

Dear ESS members,

Let me introduce the contents of the practice on March 27th.

【Genre: Talk】

【Topic: English】

1.If given the chance to learn English abroad, what country would you choose? Why?

2. If you were asked for advice about the most effective way to learn English, what would you say?

3. If you had to choose three fun ways to learn English, what would you choose?

4. What would the world be like if English was not a global language?

5.If you could make another language as popular as English, what language would you choose? Why?

As We have 総会 on that day, we have only 30min. (17:40-18:10)

Please enjoy the discussion about the topic.

Have enjoy!

Kazu Yasuda

2021年03月15日

2021年3月20日プラクティス

An announcement for the coming practice by Mr. Izumi
Toki on Saturday, March 20th, 2021 in the Hiromachi
Community Center
19:10
Story-telling entitled Momotaro, the Peach Boy, by Izumi
Toki starts.
19:15
A discussion with four-person each starts to clarify
“what Momotaroʼs story comes down to” or “what
Momotaroʼ message is”.
19:30
Each group clarifies “what Momotaroʼs message is”.
19:40
Mr. Toki gives you his interpretation of Momotaroʼs
message and how he comes down to it.
19:55
Open discussion with all participants chaired by Mr. Toki
20:10
The practice comes to an end.

2021年03月09日

2021年3月13日プラクティス

Dear ESS members,

Sorry for my belated announcement.
Let me introduce the contents and the relevant procedures for
the practice on March 13th.

【Genre: Talk】
【Topic: During the Covid-19 pandemic】
1. Make some groups.
2. 【Group Talk】
Have a discussion about the topic.
3. 【Give a speech in front of everyone.】
Could you (everyone) make one minute presentation
about your story regarding the topic?

Have enjoy!
Natsuko Morino

2021年02月27日

2021年3月6日プラクティス

1)Words Quiz; Can you guess the words by Oxford English-English Dictionay ?

2) Disussion ; Japanese female politiians ( Do you support them?)
On a TV program, a commentator said that Japan was an extra ordinary men advanced country.

For example, a large number of Japanese politicians are males. It is hard for females to be a candidate of politicians.

By the way, only J C P nominates lot of female candidates as elections’ tactics.

I remember some famous female politicians, 市川 房枝, 土井 たか子 , 田中 真紀子, 豊田 真由子

(この禿、違うだろ、違うだろ)、辻元清美(秘書給与猫糞)、稲田 明美(網タイツ元防衛大臣)、河合 案里

(夫と共に選挙違反で拘留中)、蓮舫(二重国籍)、山尾 志桜里(不倫問題)、杉田 水脈(問題発言)など

Are they reliable politicians? My answer is “absolutely NO!

Nowadays the number of municipal female bus drivers are increasing. The other hand, the number of male nurses we can easily find in big hospitals.   Time has changed rapidly since Heisei era.

When I was young, there were no facilities for males become nurses.

Today looking at Japanese private junior high or high school, the number of boys schools and girls schools are decreasing. I wonder why co-education system is better than others.

Discussions

1) In japan discrimination between men and women still exist or not.

2) Who is your respectable politicians? (例、安倍晋三、橋下 徹、辻元清美、田中真紀子、豊田真由子など)

(2は各自発表していただきます) 誰でもあなたの理想論で結構です。

3) Bus or taxi drivers are fittest for females or not.

4) Remember your young high schooldays and school member’s travel (修学旅行).

If your bus tour guides were males, what you should do. (イケメンとは限らない)

5) Coeducation schools are better than others?

2020年12月12日

2020年12月19日プラクティス

Canceled

2020年12月06日

2020年12月12日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS members.

This is an announcement for the practice on Dec. 12.
Genre: Group Discussion
Topics: Talk about your ideas and enjoy discussion based on material sheets.

1 I want to make 4 groups. So tell the number from 1 to 4 please.

2 I give you 2 kinds of materials.

A: Personal Questions
B: General Questions

3 First, one may pick up a theme from the sheet A and do discussion in your group
Next, other member may pick up other themes from sheet A and continue the discussion in your group.

4 After you finish the discussion about sheet A, then proceed to sheet B.
Pick up a theme by each member and repeat discussion like No3.

Enjoy your fruitful discussion. Thank you  Hiromi Yamada

2020年11月28日

2020年12月5日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS members.

This is an announcement for the practice on Dec. 5.
Genre: Presentation (Performance)
Topics: Please explain a foreign tourist how to take a public bath.

Public bath is one of Japanese culture. As this is quite unique custom, foreign tourists are often confused of taking it.

Today I hope you may instruct a foreign tourist the procedure and manners of public bath. And please guess the reaction

of a foreign tourist and perform it.

1 Make several groups with 4 or 6 members.

2 Make 2 pairs or 3 pairs in one group.

3 Content < I will prepare a material which shows 12 manners about public bath.>

In those pairs

A is a host or hostess of Japanese Ryokan.

B is a guest from abroad.

 A:Please tell Public bath procedure and manners to B based on my material. (No1 ~No12)

B:Please give some comments or ask questions with funny performance if possible. 

However agree with the instruction of B eventually please. (No1 ~No12)

Next : Please exchange the role for A and B.

4 Select two members(one pair) in your group and do the presentation

with funny performance. (18:20~18:40)

Enjoy it

K. Yasuda

2020年11月19日

2020年11月28日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS members.

This is an announcement for the practice on Nov. 28.
Genre: Group Talk
Topics: Talk about the entertainment, movies/ TV drama and other shows

1. Let’s talk about memories of movies.
・What was your most impressive or favorite movie to date?
・Do you remember the movie you watched on your first date?
・What kind of, or genre of movie do you like? Foreign or Japanese?
・Who are the most favorable actors or actresses for you.
・Please share your episode regarding movie, if you have.

2.TV drama and other entertainment
・What was your most impressive or favorite drama?
・What kind of entertainment do you like most? Drama, sports, comedy, music, v
ariety show or reality show?
・Please share your episode anything regarding entertainment.

I hope you enjoy talking.


Kitaura

2020年11月21日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS members.

Attached please find the practice planned on Nov. 21.

Genre : Group Talk

Topics:

Warming up practice ( an easy topic is to be given on the day )
Recurrent Education ( 再教育)

1) Assuming you have enough money and one-year refresh vacation,

what kind of education do you want to get and why ?

2) What are preventing you from the recurrent education ?

We will be talking in each group.

Expect your active joining !!

Isamu Mashima

2020年10月31日

2020年11月7日プラクティス

Dear NHK ESS members

Sorry for the late announcement of the practice I will be in charge next week, it will be held like this below.

Genre:English game

Topic:Letter building, Word construction, Brain teasers(riddles)

Directions

Letter building:You will form as many words as you can using the given letters in five minutes.

   Word construction:You will form as many words as you can using the letters in the list only once in five minutes

If time allows, I will give you some riddles which require some brain.

I hope you enjoy the practice.

Kumiko Takesue

2020年10月25日

2020年10月31日プラクティス

NHK-ESS-Kyoto.

Practice Part II on 2020-10-31 will be presented by Oku.

Genre: Group Discussion and Presentation

Topic: “ Thanks to COVID-19 (New Corona Virus) ”

Grouping: three persons for each team

Hi there! Ten months have passed from the time when the first infected patient of the New Corona Virus was reported in the country. Despite people’s and politicians’ optimistic prospect, the pandemic hasn’t ceased yet and, instead, additional waves of the infection seem to be spreading worldwide. Take care and keep guarding yourself, friends.

Looking out of personal spheres, global economy and medical planning and personal lives as well have to be changed revolutionarily if we learnt from this pandemic.

In the ESS activity, I think it is quite timely to discuss on this topic. But, the time allotted for us is limited and because there are a lot of negative features of this infection to talk about, I would like you discuss only on the positive and beneficial aspects of the pandemic such as follows:

1. What positive learning did you get from COVID-19 ?

2. What kind of changes did you make in your sense of value after the experience of this pandemic?

3. What do you think important to change in the world or in our personal lifestyles?

For example: hygiene management, housing, urban planning, transportation, travelling, energy consumption, plentiful diet, food supply management, education of whatever you designate, and so on as they come to you.

4. Do you think you have learnt how to live together with viruses and ecological sphere?

5. Do you think that shifting the paradigm of economy from capitalist-dominated to human-based one can help the problem to any extent?

6. Additionally, any positive view of the pandemic is welcome.

Prepare well, everyone, and see you in the end of month. Octane.

2020年10月17日

2020年10月24日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Here is an announcement of the practice planned on October 24.

Genre :Discussion

Title: Let’s look back Heisei era

Procedures:I prepare list of events, topics, accident, fashions and so on year by year in Heisei era.
Make several groups and talk about your impressive topic and have conversation in each group decade by decade.

Note: During the practice, please take moderate social distance and enjoy talking!

Thank you.

Ishizaki

2020年10月07日

2020年10月17日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

I am happy to announce a later half practice for October 17th.

Genre: Game in English for the practice of speaking, listening and trivial knowledge of Japan.

Title: Himitsu no Kenmin Show/Kunitori Monogatari

Procedure: As below.

I will prepare 47 cards which show names of prefectural and city governments of Japan.
One presenter from members comes up to a stage and draw one card from a stack of 47 cards.
The presenter tries to describe unique cultural features, special local products or B-class gourmet of that prefecture written on picked up card.
Other members will be an audience and listen carefully to presenter’s descriptions on the prefecture.
When the answer come up in mind, raise hand and answer. If your answer is correct, you can get that prefecture card.

This must be easy game. Let’s have fun together.

Makoto Nishimura

2020年10月02日

2020年10月10日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Here is an announcement of the practice planned on Octorber 10.

☆Genre :Variety (Quizzes, listening and discussion)

☆Title: Let’s Enjoy Art!

☆Procedures:
1 Make some groups.

2 Warm-up quizzes
I’ll give you some interesting quizzes on famous paintings so please try.

3 Listen to the CD and fill in the blanks.

4 Exchange your comments in your group on each question below.
〈Questions〉
    (1) What do you think after reading this article?
    (2) Which painting do you like best among them, “The Scream”, “American Gothic”, “The Hay Wain”, “Diana Bathing” and “The Kiss”?
And why?
(3) Are you interested in art and do you often go to the museum?
What does art mean to you?
Please introduce your favorite paintings that you have seen and exhibitions that you have been to.


I hope you will enjoy it!


Motoko Tabata

2020年09月23日

2020年10月3日プラクティス

Dear everybody in the NHK ESS

This is the announcement of the latter practice on October 3,2020.

Genre: Reading & Discussion
Title: Let`s read the articles from the Japan Times and discuss about it.
Description:
①  Make some groups consisting of 4 members for each group.
② Read the article from the Japan Times. Please complete reading it for 15 minutes.
③  I will give you some questions concerning with the article. Please answer them.
④ Exchange views in your group members about the issue of the article.

The issue on the article is as follows;
Naomi Osaka got the championship in the U.S. Open tennis tournament.
She wore the face masks printing the names of Black victims of violence
to the court.
Her action was praised as courageous deed to make people all over the world aware
the matters of racism and social inequality.
On the other hand, there are opinions against her action. Politics and personal creed should not be
expressed in the field of sports.
What do you think of this issue?

I hope you will have fruitful discussion.

Thanks,

Seiichiro Iwai

2020年09月21日

2020年9月26日プラクティス

Hi, there!

This is the announcement for the practice on September 26th.

Date: 2020-09-26(Sat)
Genre: Discussion
Title: The good influence of the Covid19

Description:

This time, we suffered various kind of losses by Covid 19. We are facing many disadvantages through Covid.19. However there might be some better influences with this disgusting epidemic. As we are tired of counting many disadvantages , why don't you think of good influence?

 For instance

A reduction of CO2 and other polluting emissions.
A reduction in crime and road accidents.
Less use of paper.
Others

Let’s enjoy the discussion!

See you soon. Kazumasa Yasuda

2020年09月08日

2020年9月12日プラクティス

Hi, everyone!

This is an announcement of the practice on September 12th.

Genre:Translate the Karuta Cards and Talk

1. I’ll hand out a list of “torifuda” to all the members present.

2. I’ll read "yomifuda"or cards for reading.

3. All the members will turn each into Japanese language and look for the "torifuda" which matches the reading card.

4. When they find it, they’ll raise their hand and answer.

5. Repeat 2→4

6. Several groups will be made.

7. I’ll give some questions to all.

8. Let's talk about them.

Takako Suzuki

2020年08月27日

2020年9月5日プラクティス

Hi, there!

This is the announcement for the practice on September 5th.

Date: 2020-09-05
Genre: Presentation
Title: Elevator Pitch - "If you start your own business..."

Description:

Do you know what an elevator pitch is?
Yes, right. It's a succinct (short) but persuasive sales pitch,
typically the ones aimed for executives (very busy people).

In this session, you're going to have a chance to sell your ideas
to others. I'm assuming they are business ideas here, but
they can be anything, e.g. your dream jobs or whatsoever!

It is advisable for you to come up with some ideas in advance
so you can focus on making your presentation better.

I hope you like this practice.

Cheers!

2020年08月25日

2020年8月29日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto-NHK-ESS members !

This is the information for the practice of next meeting
(Aug 29th)

Title : “The 2021(2020) Tokyo Olympics”

Contents : Discussion on The 2021(?) Tokyo Olympics

Let us enjoy discussion and free talking on the title!

Y. Imai

2020年08月17日

2020年8月22日プラクティス

Hi everyone. Here is the announcement of the latter practice on August 22nd.
I’d like to say in advance this practice is not so cheerful or exciting one since it doesn’t include any quizzes or chances to have conversations.
Thus, good English speakers might feel boring. In that case, sorry for that.

1. Activities: Listening, Reading, Performing
2. Event details:
① Listen to a script on a CD.
② Listen to it again reading the script on papers and fill in blanks in that.
③ Read aloud in turns one part by part. At some points I stop the reading and ask a person to summarize the story which happened until then.
④ I’d like some volunteers to perform the script.
That’s all. Though I haven’t prepared yet anything, I think I can make it.

Have a nice day and drink water as much as you can. Don’t work too much!

Megumi Iwai

2020年08月01日

2020年8月8日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto ESS members,

This is an announcement of the practice for the second half on August 8th.

Title : word-association game

Do you remember a good old NHK TV- show 「連想ゲーム」?
We will play the word-association game based on the TV-show.
A word has many meanings so they kindle your imaginations.

Let's enjoy the practice!

Ryuichi Tanaka

2020年07月19日

2020年8月1日プラクティス

Dear ESS members,

This is an announcement for the practice I will hold on:
Date: Aug. 1(Sat).
Genre: quiz
Title: ESS quiz party volume 3
Description:
I will give you a PowerPoint presentation about my quizzes and at the same time read the question aloud.
You will answer my question in words and gestures.
Some of the quizzes will be:
・Multiple choice quiz
・Kyoto ward quiz
・Anagram quiz
・Gor☆geous quiz
I hope you will enjoy my quizzes.

Regards,
Atsushi Kato

2020年07月14日

2020年7月25日プラクティス

Dear ESS members

Hello! I want to inform my practice here.

This is the announcement of the practice on July 25th, 2020.

(1) Genre: Watching YouTube videos with some comprehension questions.

(2) Title: Learning the English language

(3) Description: I'd like all of you to watch one YouTube video and answer several comprehension questions

If we have too much time left, I will present you one more YouTube video.

I expect all of you to listen carefully, catch the contents, and answer my comprehension questions on each video.

I would use my iPhone11 to present the YouTube videos on the Internet, and so forgive me if the videos are not so clear. For this time, I will try to test my projector on Saturday morning so that I can surely present the YouTube video smoothly.

◆Procedures:
1)Go to the 3rd floor

2)Please be seated on the chair with social distance.

3)Take note of your memo. I will not distribute any documents this time.

4)Watch the YouTube video on studying English, which I will present on the screen.

5)I would announce the comprehension questions after the video.

6)Watch the video once more so that you can catch the contents clearly,

7)Answer to my comprehension questions if possible.

8)I will replay each video footage if it is necessary.

9)I would present 2nd video and repeat the process if time allows.

Since distributing things is not good these days, I would not do that at the temple, but I would upload those links and questions on this Round Table after the meeting to confirm the contents by yourself.

I hope we can enjoy the session.

See you at the temple!

Yours,
Osamu MINAMIHASHI

2020年07月07日

2020年7月18日プラクティス

Dear ESS members,

This is an announcement for the practice I will hold on:
Date: Jul. 18 (Sat)
Genre: quiz
Title: ESS quiz party volume 2
Description:
I will give you a PowerPoint presentation about my quiz, and at the same time read the question aloud.
You will answer those questions in various ways.
Some of the questions will be
・Multiple choice quiz
・Kanji translation quiz
・Language guess quiz
・Turtle soup quiz
In order to prevent infection, the winner will be rewarded only by words.
I hope you will enjoy my quizzes.

Regards,
Atsushi Kato

2020年7月11日プラクティス

Dear ESS members

Hello! I want to inform my practice here.

This is the announcement of the practice on July 11th, 2020.

(1) Genre: Watching YouTube videos with some comprehension questions.

(2) Title: Gender equality and learning the English language

(3) Description: I’d like all of you to watch 2 YouTube videos and answer several comprehension questions

If we have too much time left, I will present you one more YouTube video.

I expect all of you to listen carefully, catch the contents, and answer my comprehension questions on each video.

I would use my iPhone11 to present the YouTube videos on the Internet, and so forgive me if the videos are not so clear.

◆Procedures:
1) Go to the 3rd floor

2) Please be seated on the chair with social distance.

3) Take note of your memo. I will not distribute any documents this time.

4) Watch the YouTube video on gender equality, which I will present on the screen.

5)Answer the comprehension questions after the video.

6)Watch another video on learning the English language and do the same thing as above.

7)I will replay each video footage if it is necessary.

8) I would present 3rd video and repeat the process if time allows.

Since distributing things is not good these days, I would not do that at the temple, but I would upload those links on this Round Table after the meeting to confirm the contents by yourself.

I hope we can enjoy the session.

See you at the temple!

Yours,
Osamu MINAMIHASHI

2020年06月25日

2020年7月4日プラクティス

Dear ESS members,

This is an announcement for the latter half practice held on Jul. 4.
I am going to give you some quizzes.
I regret to tell you, because of COVID-19, the communication will become more one-way than usual, and I can't give prizes to the winners.
I will give you a PowerPoint presentation and at the same time read the quiz aloud.
Some of the quizzes I will give you are:
・Multiple choice quiz
・British English quiz
・Rhyme and answer
・Who am I?
and so on.
I made a lot of questions, so I will keep giving you questions until the time is up.
I hope you will enjoy the quiz.

Regards,
Atsushi Kato

2020年02月15日

2月15日プラクティス

Hello everybody!

This is Osamu MINAMIHASHI, and I'm in charge of the latter half corner on February 15, 2020 at "Shimogyo Ikiiki".

Title: Pros and cons of Singularity: Would AI be our Friend or Foe?

Genre: Discussion.

Description: In this meeting, I'd like you all to get rough ideas on Singularity and whether AI would be our Friend or Foe.

The procedure is as follows;
1) Divide members into several groups.

2) Watch the YouTube video on TED with subtitles which I would present to you with my projector.

3) Read the paper distributed to each of you.

4) Discuss the following points:

A) What is Singularity?

B) What would happen if Singularity comes true?

C)Which do you think more likely: Would AI be our Friend or Foe?

D)Write 3 reasons for your impression and conclusion of the session.


5)Make your consensus among your group.

6)If we have enough time, report your group's impression and conclusion with 3 reasons to all the other groups.

I hope you can enjoy the discussion.

Thank you.

Osamu MINAMIHASHI

2020年02月08日

2月8日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS member
This is the information about the practice on February 8.

1. Genre: Talk & Discussion
2. Title: Talking about the present situation
3. Description

[Step. 0]
Make some groups and make pairs in each group. If you don’t have partner, please find a partner in other group. If there is no partner in all groups, I will become your partner.

[Step. 1] 1 minute to speak (5〜10min)
This is a 1 minute to speak. You talk about a topic for 1 minute. Your partner just listen. After your talking, exchange a role. I’m a timekeeper. I choose topics below.
Sport, Reading, Appetite or Food, Art, Autumn, Spring

[Step. 2] Free conversation (35〜45 minutes)
Please gather in each group.
Please introduce yourself quickly and talk about your present situation one by one.
You can continue talking and discussion. You can talk about any topics. If you don’t have any topics,
you can use my topics that is “How do you enjoy in autumn?” “How do you enjoy in national holiday?”

[Step. 3] Dialogue (10〜15 minutes)
I distribute a number card. One person having your same number is your partner.
Let’s talk freely each other.



Hirokazu Sakai

2020年02月01日

2月1日プラクティス

Hello every member of Kyoto-NHK-ESS !
Here are some information on the practice of Feb. 1st meeting.
The content of it is discussion.
The topic ; “ 2020 Tokyo Olympic ”

Some of us remember clearly “1964 Tokyo Olympic”.
But most of us don’t know nor well remember how Japan were exited at
“ 1964 Tokyo Olympic”. Perhaps, as it was held 56 years ago you may
forget it or you were not born.
Anyway we are very lucky because we can enjoy Olympic games in our
country directly.
Let’s enjoy discussion and talking on “2020 Tokyo Olympic” in each group.
Interesting quizzes and remarkable information may be provided.
Y. imai

2020年01月25日

1月25日プラクティス

Dear ESS members,
This is the information about the second half practice on January 25.
1 Genre: Talk
2 Description: Let’s talk what to do if your wishes come true.

Have you ever bought lottery tickets?
If so, have you won them?
Let’s your imagination run wild and talk about what you would spend for if you won the lottery.
You might tell episodes based on your true stories if there are some.
Hirano Fujio (Oh, by the way, do you know starting this year the government puts family names first when writing Japanese names in official documents in Roman script.)

2020年01月18日

1月18日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Hello everybody.
This is ShoIchi Aoki , and I'm in charge of the latter half corner on January 18th.


Title: Financial Literacy etc. for the 100−year life
Genre: Discussion.
Description:“The 100−year life” became a fashionable turn of phrase.And last year、the government(FSA)report provoked concern and criticism ,so−called “The life after retirement will need an extra 20 million yen beyond their public pension benefits.”report.
I'd like you all to discuss this topic.


The procedure is as follows;
1)After several quizzes for introduction、 making several groups.
2)Answer the following questions individually.
3)Share your answers in your group.
4)Discuss what we need for the 100−year life freely 、and choose 3 most important action.
5)Group leaders will present the conclusion of group consensus.

<Questions>
1)Concern or criticism,of which did you had a feeling ,after the release of government report、or other.
2)What is important action for the 100−year life for you、choose 3 from the options below、and comment.
①Investing
②Relearning
③Connecting with community
④Working
⑤Health
⑥Other


I hope you can enjoy the discussion.


Thank you.
Shoichi AOKI
(Certified Senior PrivateBanker by SAAJ)

2019年12月28日

12月28日プラクティス

Hello everybody.
This is Shigeo HORI, and I'm in charge of the latter half corner on December 28th.

Title: Recollection of 2019.
Genre: Discussion.
Description: In the last meeting in 2019, I'd like you all to look back what happened in 2019 for you.
The procedure is as follows;
1) Divide members into several groups.
2) You individually select top 3 (or 4) topics in 2019, and write them on a paper.
3 topic areas are prepared; Domestic, International, Personal (You need to write 9 titles altogether).
4) Exchange the ideas within each group, and make group top 3 news (domestic and international), and discuss the reasons why they are important.
5) Group leaders will present the conclusion of group consensus.
6) If you have spare time, you can discuss what will happen in 2020.

I hope you can enjoy the discussion.
Thank you.

Shigeo HORI (From Kashiba City) .

2019年12月21日

12月21日プラクティス

Hello.

I hope this text message finds you well.

I am in charge of the latter half activity on December 21.

Genre : talk

Title: Family and Longevity

I am looking forward to seeing you.

T.Noguchi

2019年12月14日

12月14日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Hello, here is the announcement for the practice on December 14th.

(1) Genre: Talk
(2) Title: Shopping
(3) Description:
1. Making some groups
2. Answer the following questions individually.
3. Share your answers in your group.
4. Talk about shopping freely.


0) Tell us what you bought today or yesterday.
1) How much do you usually spend a month?
2) What do you spend money on mainly?
3) What is the most expensive purchase this year?
4) Are you sensitive to the price of things?
When you do shopping, do you compare the price of another store?
When you do an expensive purchase, do you sometimes beat the price down?
Are you proud of that you lowered the price to others?(Kansai people often do.)
5) Do you like shopping?
6) Do you often use Internet shopping?
Ex.) Amazon, Rakuten,…
7) Which do you prefer, internet shopping or shopping at actual stores? Why?
8) After a consumption tax rose in 10%, did you change the way of paying?
Ex. using credit card or 〇〇pay
9) Have you ever used “Yahoo Auctions” or “mercari.”? How was that?
10)Tell us the interesting experience of the shopping in foreign countries?
11) Are there any failure story about Internet shopping?
12) Is there anything you are being careful of Internet shopping?

I hope you will enjoy that.

Tabata

2019年12月07日

12月7日プラクティス

Dear members of NHK ESS,
This is the announcement for the practice on December 7th, 2019.

【Genre: Mini Game and Talk】
The practice have two sections below.
Make some groups. (max 5 groups)
And decide the first owner in each group.

Section 1【Mini Game : Can you find a mistake?】(20minutes)
1. Materials(an envelope) will be distributed.
2. There are about 50 cards in the envelope.
A wrong text, tip(hint) and a right text are written in each card.
3. Owner gets one card from the envelope and read the wrong text part
(including mistake). Other members listen to it and answer
a right text and what’s wrong.
4. If members need hints, owner can read tips in the card.
5. Finally, Owner read an answer (right text) and changes owner to the next.

Section 2【Talk: About short articles】(30minutes)
1. Materials will be distributed.
2. You will receive materials including some short articles and questions
in English.
3. Please select an article and talk about 5 – 10 min. for one article
after reading it in each group.

Lastly, please summarize the group discussion for today’s section 1 and 2
and share it with everyone.(5 minutes)

I hope you’ll enjoy my practice.

Yasuhiko Fujioka

2019年11月30日

11月30日プラクティス

Dear members of NHK ESS,
This is the announcement for the practice on November 30th, 2019.

1. Genre: talk, expression
2. Title: Animations
3. Description
[ Step 1. (10 min) ]
Make some groups. Just listen to animation songs. I will choose songs whose title is different between Japanese and English, and then please feel free to answer or I’ll call on someone.
[ Step 2. (20 min) ]
In each group, please talk about your memory about animations.
[ Step 3. (30 min) ]
I’ll give you a piece of paper. It’s manga which has no phrases. Try to think the phrase while you pretend to be a cartoonist. After writing it down, share your own ideas in your group.

I hope you’ll enjoy my practice.

Shigemi Yoshida

2019年11月23日

11月23日プラクティス

Hi, dear members of NHK ESS!

This is the announcement for the practice on 23rd of this month.
1. Date: Nov. 23, 2019
2 .Genre: Discussion
3 .Title: Social problems
4 .Description
・Make some groups.
・Discuss the following 3 topics for 15min. each.
・Find a person who represents your group and share your talks.

(1) Relative poverty
It is said that half of colloquially called “single mother” and 26% of elder ly families live under this relative poverty.
(2) Refugee problem in Japan
There were 10,901 applicants seeking for refugee status in 2016 but only 28 pe ople were accepted.
(3)Unoccupied houses
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, 8.2 million houses are now empty houses, more than 10% of the whole houses.

As you see, these problems will not be solved anytime soon, maybe no answer. I hope you to prepare for the discussion beforehand and it will be productive o ne.

G.Kitaura


2019年11月16日

11月16日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS member

This is the announcement for the practice on November 16, 2019.

1. Genre: Talk & discussion
2. Title: Talking about the present situation
3. Description
[Step. 1]
Make some groups and make pairs in each group. If you don’t have any partner, find one in the other group. If there is no partner in all groups, staff will be your partner.

[Step.2] 1 minute to speak (15 minutes)17:40-17:55
These are1-minute speeches. Talk about one topic for 1 minute. Your partner just listens. After your talk, exchange the speaker. Staff would be a timekeeper. The topics are as follows.

English training camp by ESS, favorite food in autumn, coloring of leaves, New Year’s Greeting cards, global climate change, term exam, earthquake, dentist, catching cold, Christmas, Year-end greeting gift, physical exercise, preparation for winter, excessive tourism, consumption tax, cashless society, renewable energy, smartphone, what to do for day off, favorite class except English, about “REIWA”, living with or without ESS

[Step. 3] Free conversation (35 minutes) 17:55-18:30
Please gather in each group.
Please introduce yourself quickly and talk about your present situation one by one. You can continue your talks and discussion. You can talk about any topics. If you don’t have any topics, you can use our topics, such as “the Internet” or “dream in my life”.

[Step. 4] Dialogue (10 minutes) 18:30-18:40
Staff would distribute the number cards. A person with the same number would be your partner.

Talk freely with each other.

Please enjoy
Kyoto NHK ESS 2019 STAFF

2019年11月09日

11月9日プラクティス

This is the announcement about the practice on November 9.
genre : game and talk
title : taboo and current topics
description :
This is a game for a player to have their partners guess the word on a card, without using the itself or additional words listed down below. I will prepare 30 cards beforehand.
If we have any time left, let's discuss current topics. I will have a few materials ready for discussion.
Have a good time!

2019年10月26日

10月26日プラクティス

Origami within English

1. Making Origami “turtle” with one paper.
2. Making Origami “Kawasaki rose” with one paper.

I thought that Origami was the Japanese original art.

But it was wrong. Last year I came to know an Chinese young student ,Origami artist. He made me Origami so called

“Kawasaki Rose”. His excellent work impressed me so much.

Since then, I have loved making Origami so much.

You can enjoy yourself by making Origami.
Everything I will prepare for you.

  By Takeo Kuchinaka

2019年10月19日

10月19日プラクティス

My beloved members of Kyoto ESS,

It’s my pleasure to announce the practice for the second half of our activities on October 19th.

● Genre: Game
● Title: Chinese Whispers
● Description:
“Chinese Whispers” is an internationally popular game in which players form line, and the first player comes up with a message and whispers it to the ear of the second person in the line. The second player repeats the message to the third player, and so on. When the last player reached, they announce the message they heard to the entire group. The announced message by the last player should be compared with the original message. The team who could most correctly convey the message throughout the line will win the game.
● Procedures:
1. You will be divided into several groups to make teams.
2. The team will make a line for trying to convey the message correctly from the first player to the last one.
3. Whispering the message to the ear of the next person in the line ONLY ONE TIME.
4. The last player in each team is required to write down the message on a paper to show it to the entire group.

I will prepare funny phrases for you to whisper. Let’s enjoy the game together!

Best regards,

Makoto Nishimura

2019年10月12日

10月12日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS member
This is the information about the practice on October 12.

1. Genre: Talk & Discussion
2. Title: Talking about the present situation
3. Description

[Step. 0]
Make some groups and make pairs in each group. If you don’t have partner, please find a partner in other group. If there is no partner in all groups, I will become your partner.

[Step. 1] 1 minute to speak (5〜10min)
This is a 1 minute to speak. You talk about a topic for 1 minute. Your partner just listen. After your talking, exchange a role. I’m a timekeeper. I choose topics below.
Sport, Reading, Appetite or Food, Art, Autumn, Spring

[Step. 2] Free conversation (35〜45 minutes)
Please gather in each group.
Please introduce yourself quickly and talk about your present situation one by one.
You can continue talking and discussion. You can talk about any topics. If you don’t have any topics,
you can use my topics that is “How do you enjoy in autumn?” “How do you enjoy in national holiday?”

[Step. 3] Dialogue (10〜15 minutes)
I distribute a number card. One person having your same number is your partner.
Let’s talk freely each other.



Hirokazu Sakai

2019年10月05日

10月5日プラクティス

Hi! Every one
Here is the announcement of ESS Practice on 2019-10-05:
Date:10/5
■Genre:Talk
■Title:Kyoto sightseeing spot
■Procedures:
I will bring a tiny map of Kyoto City

1 Make some groups.

2 Warm-up task(quizzes )

3 Let's share your unique experience at memorable spots in Kyoto.
You can choose any spots even though the spot is not seen at the map.

I hope you enjoy it!
Regards: Kazu Yasuda

2019年09月28日

9月28日プラクティス

Dear ESS members

This is the announcement for the latter half of practice on Sep.28th.

Genre : Game

Title : Letter Building

Contents:

1. You will be devided into four groups.
.
2. I will give each group 5 sheets which have questions of letter building

3. You will build as many words as you can in five munites which contain or end with the letters on the paper .

4. I'll be the time keeper and each group will compete the number of words you wrote on the sheets.

5. Announcement of the winner group will be made.

Please be noted that you are not allowed to use any type of dictionary and do this work by discussing in the group.

I hope you 'll enjoy the game.


Kumiko Takesue

2019年09月21日

9月21日プラクティス

Hi, everyone!

This is an announcement for the practice I will hold on Sep. 21.

Genre: music
Title: Song practice
Contents:
We are going to sing songs whose lyrics are written both in Japanese and English.
I will bring three ukuleles, which I name Ayano, Chinatsu and Gensuke respectively. I will distribute the lyrics and dance illustrations (and perhaps a tablet PC for dance videos) so that you can sing and dance. Whether to sing or dance (or only join the discussion) is voluntary.
First, I will play the ukulele and sing on behalf of you. For two volunteers, I will hand you Ayano and Chinatsu. I will teach them an easy way to play the ukulele. I and the two volunteers will belong to group 0 and the others 1, 2, 3...
After I sing, we will have practice time. Those who know the meanings of the lyrics or how to dance should teach those who don't. We group 0 will visit you and play the ukulele if you need it in your practice.
Finally, group 0 will play the ukulele and others will sing and dance.
I hope you will enjoy singing and dancing.

Regards,
Atsushi Kato

2019年09月14日

9月14日プラクティス

Hi! everyone. This is the announcement of the practice scheduled on Sept-14.
Read the following and prepare for the day’s battle. Akira Oku (Octane)
- - - - - - - - - -

ESS Practice on 2019-9-14.

Plastics and Life Style to Live Together.

・Genre: Presentation and Discussion.
・Procedure: (1) Read the text first together with the materials to be handed out on the day.
(2) Answer to the QUESTION as follows…

1) How much do you know about the current plastic issues locally and globally? Pick up contemporary and current topics as many as possible.
2) Write at least one name of plastics (or polymers, e.g., polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate‥‥). Explain, if you know, its characteristic feature or nature that is useful in our life.
3) How much do you think you live on plastic materials in daily life?
4) Can you live and survive without plastic products?
Additionally,
5) How can you solve the plastic problems in your life regardless of their scale in small or big?
6) Can you facilitate and change your life-style to mitigate the problems? You should know that you are the stake holders of the problems.
7) How much do you know about the current plastic issues locally and globally? Pick up contemporary and current topics as many as possible.
8) Write at least one name of plastics (or polymers, e.g., polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, polycarbonate‥‥). Explain, if you know, its characteristic feature or nature that is useful in our life.
9) How much do you think you live on plastic materials in daily life?
10) Can you live and survive without plastic products?
Additionally,
11) How can you solve the plastic problems in your life regardless of their scale in small or big?
12) Can you facilitate and change your life-style to mitigate the problems? You should know that you are the stake holders of the problems.

REFERENCE MATERIALS shall be handed out on the day for your reference.

2019年09月07日

9月7日プラクティス

9月7日後半戦のプラクティスは反意語カルタです。

2019年08月31日

8月31日プラクティス

Hi, there!

Here is the announcement of ESS Practice on 2019-08-31:

Title: Talking About Yourself in One Minute
Genre: Talk

I suppose you really know yourself well, don't you think?
If that's the case, you have a lot to talk about already ;-)

In this practice session, I would like you to talk about yourself in ONE minute.
One-on-one, again and agin. It could be a great opportunity to speak with others too.

To make it easier for you, I'm going to give you a list of questions to start with.
So, please don't t worry too much.

I hope you like it.

Cheers!

Masakazu Yoshida (吉田 正和)

2019年08月24日

8月24日プラクティス

HI ALL

Sorry for the late announcement.

Here is an information about a following practice part I am planning on 24/Aug. Please check.

■Date:8/24
■Genre:Discussion and Game
■Tile:Funny your dream stories

■Description:
Let's share your unique dream stories you've ever had together!
(The meaning of this "dream" is that dream you see when sleeping)

★First part:QUIZ★ (10~15min)
As a warming up, I will ask you some questions related dream (or dreaming).
If you know the answer or If you for my questions,please answer and try to share your unique episode.

★Latter part:1minute speech BINGO!★ (30~40min)
1.Divide into 5 tables and assign a timekeeper.
2.Each table selects a BINGO board I made.
The board has many English words on its matrix. the words have something to do with dreaming.
(Although same words were printed, the arrangement of words are different on each board.) 3.Choosing one word from them, let's try to 1 minute speech using the word!
4.After finish your speech, you can circle the word and change to the next person.

Try to make BINGO lines as much as you can!
(1 minute speech would be desirable to be related with dreaming, but if it was hard, please speak freely.)


I hope you guys enjoy it!


Makoto Suzuki

2019年08月17日

8月17日プラクティス

Here is an announcement of the practice planned on August 17.

☆Genre :Talk

☆Title: Latest and hottest trend

☆Procedures:
1 Make some groups.
2 Warm-up task(quizzes and fashion check)
3 Let’s talk about latest and hottest trend on clothes & fashion, foods, music & movies, books & games.
I’ll prepare various funny and enjoyable topics, so please exchange your comments on each items.

I hope you will enjoy it!


Motoko Tabata

2019年08月10日

8月10日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto ESS members
This is the announcement for the practice on August 10,2019.
Title: Chicochan will scold you !?
Genre: Quiz
Descriptions:
Do you know the TV program ‘‘you are scolded by Chichochan(チコちゃんに叱られる!!)‘‘?
It is broadcasted by NHK in the morning on every Saturday. On the program, Chicochan (eternal 5 years old girl)
gives some quizzes to panelists concerning with matters that we overlook or take for granted without thinking the reason why as it is in the dairy life.
If panelists can`t answer quizzes, Chichochan scolded them ‘‘Don`t sleep through life!!(ボーっと生きてんじゃねーよ!!).

1. Make some groups (one group might be 4 to 5 members).
2. Chicochan gives a quiz which was broadcasted before. Please discuss what is the right answer and why you think so in each group.
One member from each group answers the quiz and explains why the group leads such a answer. Please don`t use internet.
Please lead the answer from your knowledge and imagination.
3. If the answer is right, Chicochan says, ‘’You don`t read the situation (つまんない奴だなー).‘‘
Chicochan gives another quiz to fill the blanks to complete the English word.
4. If the answer is wrong, Chicochan scolds ‘‘Don`t sleep through life!!
5. Chicochan prepares 8 questions. We continue the quizzes in the same routine. Please try to attend all members in the group.
    
Enjoy the practice!!
Makoto Kurusu

2019年08月03日

8月3日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Hello, everyone.
I'm sorry to be late for my announcement.

This is an announcement of the practice planned on August 3.

Genre :Quiz, Game

Title: Let's play sugoroku speech!

At first,please make some groups to have 4-6members in each group.

Part 1: (Warming up) English vocabulary quizzes (17:40-18:00)

This game is guessing the English word
from the definition of Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
One of your group member read out the definition on card.
Other members guess and answer the word.
Then, next person turn the card and read out the definition on card.
Other members guess and answer the word.
Please repeat this work by rotation.


Part 2: Sugoroku speech(18:00-18:40)
I'll prepare sugoroku sheet and question sheet for each group.
The rules are same as usual, and you should answer the question as same number on the square you stop.
When you answer it, please answer it with much more information such as episode, reason, etc.

I hope you will enjoy it! See you on Saturday.

Best regards,
Yuko Tanihara

2019年07月27日

7月27日プラクティス

Announcement for the latter half practice on July 27th, 2019
Hi, everyone!
This is an announcement for the latter half practice on July 27th, 2019.

Ever since from our origin as mankind, women share the very half of our population. Nowadays, however, they occupy only a small part of important roles in our society, or inferior position of the society, while also true that men do only a small part of house chores and burdens of raising kids. I would like to discuss these matters.

1) Genre: Talks & discussion!
2) Title: What can we do for the gender gap?
3) Description:
A) Make some groups with 3 to 4 members.

B)Within 10 minutes, read and share with your group members the material on Chizuko Ueno, on her speech to freshmen at the Univ. of Tokyo, and the other materials as much as you can.
C) Share the contents that you’ve read right now within your group in your own words.
D) What do you think about the productivity of both gender? Share opinions within your group.
E) Do you think Japan should make a radical reform of the country, like a quota system on minorities? Share your opinions!
F) Which would you choose from the following four options:
①More important roles for women to boost productivity
②More migrants from abroad to ease the labor shortage
③Less social security benefits to have sound finance
④Increase in minimum wage gradually to 1300 yen per hour to promote more productivity increase for management.

G) Try to facilitate mutual understanding and impromptu speech.
NOTICE: Please remain silent except on your own turns so that even shy members can speak out on their own turn.

H) Share your general impressions of your group, today’s topics and weekly practice of Kyoto NHK ESS.

Let’s maximize our communication!

Best wishes!

Osamu MINAMIHASHI

2019年07月06日

7月6日プラクティス

Hi, everyone!
This is an announcement of the practice on July 6th.

[Genre ] Talk

[Title ] Japanese Festivals

[Description ]

1. Make some groups.

2.All of members talk about some questions.

3.After talk,each guroup gives a brief presentation.

I hope you will enjoy the practice.


Takako Suzuki

2019年06月29日

6月29日プラクティス

Dear ESS members


This is​ an announcement of latter part of practice on June 29,2019

Title:How​ to explain in English

Program

Two binds of cards are given to your group, and please pick up 3-5 cards from a bind of cards (number of cards are depends on the number of people in your group). In each bind of card item (PART1) or people’s name (PART2) is written. Then take time for presentation. Use dictionary or smart phone or tablet to check what it is or how to explain to others as if you explain to foreign people who does not know it. After preparation, please explain about what it is on your card in English, if possible, add some episode, related topic or background and keep talking.


Time table

19:10-19:15​ Group making and distribute cards to each group

PART1 (item)

19:15-19:20 Choose cards which you explain in English and prepare for
​ presentation in your group

19:20-19:45 Explain your card to your group member and keep talking about the card or related topics.


PART2 (people’s name)

19:45-19:50 Choose cards which you explain in English and prepare for
​ presentation in your group

19:50-20:10 Explain your card to your group member and keep talking about the card or related topics.


See you soon

Hiroaki Ishizaki

2019年06月15日

6月15日プラクティス

This is the announcement of the practice on June 15th.

[Title] Guessing game

Make groups with 5 members in each.

Please place one post-it on your forehead. Do NOT look at it. You will need to ask questions to figure out what is written on the post-it.

You will need to ask questions to figure out what animal (fruit, country, job, etc.) you are.

Try to guess what/who you are.

The details of the game will be announced on the day.

Let's have fun!


Masako Yamashita

2019年06月08日

6月8日プラクティス

Hello ESS members
This is the announcement of the latter practice on June-8th.

Genre: Discussion
Title: “Survival of deserted island”
     If you can take one thing with you to a deserted island, what would you bring?

You will go to a deserted island in a Television program.
You have to stay there for a month.
TV station gives you some water and matches.
Besides them what would you bring?
You can choose one thing.
You draw a picture or write a word on the paper that you want to bring.
With your paper, give a presentation in one minute about the reason or how to spend in the island.


I hope you enjoy yourselves.

Junko Sugino

2019年06月01日

6月1日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto-NHK ESS members,

Good day! I am Yuji Tsukuda.
I am pleased to announce the practice on June 1.

Title:
Let’s share the beginning and the end of your experience

Genre: Talk

The procedure is as following.

1. Make some groups .
2. Read the article and answer questions.

3. Share the beginning and the end of your experience with your team members.

Although the attached material include an article, please don’t be nervous to read the article.

If it’s not easy, I and your team member will help you to understand.

The purpose of the practice is talk!

I chose the article as a sample of the topic.


I am looking forward to meeting you on the day.


Thank you

Yuji Tsukuda

2019年05月25日

5月25日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS members

This is the information about the practice on May 25.

Title: Psychology test
Genre: Game

I will prepare easy questions .

1. Make some groups .
2. Read the question and answer in your group .


I hope you will enjoy it !

Akiko Matsui

2019年05月18日

5月18日プラクティス

Announcement for the latter half practice on May 18th 2019
Hi, everyone!
This is an announcement for the latter half practice on May 18th, 2019.

Communication is a must for us, either for expressing ourselves or listening to the others’ stories.

So, I would like to introduce this practice to boost communication for all of us,even after this ESS meeting and even with your family members in Japanese.
1)Genre: Talks
2)Title: Communication through brief comments on 70 topics!
3)Description:

A) Make some groups with 3 to 4 members.

B) Have your own material with 2 pieces of paper, distributed to each of you.

C)Try to facilitate ①Mutual understanding and ②Impromptu speech.

D)Decide the first speaker in your group

E)Choose your topic one by one from 70 topics.

F)Make brief comments on the topic in turn clockwise.
NOTICE1: Please remain silent except on your own turns so that even shy members can speak out on their turn.

NOTICE2:Please comment briefly, with only 2 to 3 sentences for each topic to have a variety of subjects.

NOTICE3: You do not need to comment on whatever topics you hate. Just move to next topic in such case.
G)Share Impressions with your group members

H)Share your general impressions of your group, today’s topics and Kyoto NHK ESS weekly practice as a whole.

Let’s maximize our communication!

Best wishes!

OSAMU MINAMIHASHI

2019年05月04日

5月11日 プラクティス

Please find below the practice planned on May 11.

Genre: Talk & Discussion
Topics: Wise Spending after the Consumption Tax Hike to 10%

Starting Oct. 1 2019, the consumption tax will be raised to 10%( still questionable )
In order to minimize economic impacts, the government is planning Reduced Tax Rate ( 8% ) for foods and daily necessity goods. Also, so called Point Return System will be introduced for cashless consumers until June 30 2020 for 9 months.

In the practice, we will start with a Q&A session.
After Q&A’s, please focus your talks on some tips of wise spending after the tax raise and share them in your team including the Point Return System.
Also, please discuss any concerns about the reduced tax rate and Point Return System
If time permitted, extend the discussion on “How to increase the consumptions in Japan”.

Procedure

Make some groups
Q&A session …~15 min
Talk & discussion ~ 40 min
how to spend your money wisely
any concerns about the Reduced Tax Rate and Point Return System.
how to increase the consumptions in Japan

Hope you become a smart consumer after the group-talk !!

Isamu Mashima

2019年04月27日

5月4日プラクティス

Here is the announcement for the practice on May 4.

[Genre] Talk


[Title] One minute speech

1. Make groups with 3 members in each.


2. Each group has 20 topics written on pieces of paper in a holder.


3. The first speaker draws one piece from the holder and speaks about the topic for one minute.

Then the second person speaks about the same topic.

Next, the third person follows.


4. The second person draws a new piece after all members finish speaking about the first topic.

Then start the second round.


5. The third person continues the same process.

You don’t need to think the topic seriously but need to speak smoothly about what you think of.

Please keep speaking as much as you can for a minute.

ESS Staff

4月27日プラクティス

Here is an information about half of the practice on April 27

1, Genre English Discussion and quiz.

2,Theme Law

All people are equal under the law.

May,3 is the Constitution Day of Japan.
Let's talk about the law around the world from ancient to modern society.

Kenji Tsujl

2019年04月20日

4月20日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Here is an information about a later half of the practice on April 6.

1 Genre: English Discussion

2 Title: Racism or not?

3 Article
The United Kingdom's former Foreign Minister Boris Johnson has been accused of racism. He made a number of comments about women wearing the burka while writing in the British newspaper ‘The Telegraph’.

Mr Johnson said women who wear burkas "look like letter boxes". He also said: "If a female student turned up at school or at a university lecture looking like a bank robber," he would ask her to remove it so that he "could talk to her properly".

Johnson was writing an article about the recent full-face veil ban in Denmark. In the article, Mr Johnson said full-face veils should not be banned in the UK, but said women who wear a burka "look absolutely ridiculous".

The UK's Prime Minister Theresa May has asked Mr Johnson to apologize for his comments. She said: "I do think that we all have to be very careful about the language and terms we use, and some of the terms Boris used describing people's appearance obviously have offended." Another senior British politician has asked Mr Johnson to resign.

Many other politicians said Johnson's comments were Islamophobic and were a hate crime. They say he knew

his comments would offend many Muslims and others in the UK. Mr Johnson was London's mayor for eight years

and the UK Foreign Minister for two years and so had thousands of experiences interacting with Muslim people.


4) Discussion:

1.What do you think about Boris Johnson’s opinion?

2.Even in some of Japanese elementary schools, girls in the Muslim families learn in the classroom with these

clothes on. They usually wear pink headgears. If you were a school principal, would you allow them to wear these

clothes, all or some of the above? Or would you tell their parents not to allow them to wear any of the above.

3.If these girls were to enter a private elementary school, is the situation the same or different?

5) Presentation

In the end, one member in each group will talk about the opinions given by other members.

6) Assignment

Please read this article in advance and memorize the names of the headgears, because I’d like you to play some kind of game using these headears. I hope you’ll enjoy it.


Masahiro Yamamoto

2019年04月13日

4月13日プラクティス

Hello, ESS members,

This is the announcement of the latter half practice on April 13th.

Genre: Talk

Title : My favorite food

Some people say, Good food makes me happier than everything.
Eating something delicious is the greatest joy in my life...

What is "good food" to you?

What is the best food you've ever had in your life?
What is the worst food you've ever tasted in your life?

What a food that you're into these days?

Are you interested in food of other countries?
What foreign food do you want to try?

If you're a host family for foreign guests, What kind of food will you
cook at home for them?


☆ In this practice, let's talk about world's food culture as well.
Could you bring some pictures of world's food with your memory
if you had it.  ~ ☆

Hope you have a good time at there!

Ryuichi Tanaka

2019年04月06日

4月6日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Here is an information about a later half of the practice on April 6.

1. Genre: English Games

2. Title: Crossword, Body Letters and Your Choices

3. Details:

《Crossword》 We will be divided into three groups. The crossword question sheet is given to each group. The word level in the question will be the one at elementary school.
The groups will make competitions for the time speed to solve the question.


《Body Letters》 Your team will be assigned with some acronym, for example CIA. You will be challenged to make capital letters by using only your body to express
the “CIA” for your audience to guess the answer. “Central Intelligence Agency” is the right answer for this case.


《Your Choices》
Several topics of great interest will be prepared for you to make your choices. The members will be divided several groups according to the choices you make. You will be asked to explain the reasons for the choices by speaking for one minute.

Let`s enjoy the games!

Makoto Nishimura


2019年03月31日

🌸Kyoto NHK ESS レポートNo.9🌸

ESSメンバーのみなさま

いよいよ桜が咲き始めましたね、心もウキウキ、ドキドキ、3月の後半プラクティスのレポートです。


3月2日 スタッフ
「Talk & Discussion」
valentine day vs white day・・
岡崎動物園にいるトラの名前はOku.
知的で聡明な虎に違いない‼︎


3月9日 野口さん
「Let's look back on the Heisei」
平成の30年を振り返ってみました。
阪神淡路大震災(平成7年)、東日本大震災(平成23年)、やはり忘れてはいけませんね。
” ちびまる子ちゃんて私と同じ!”
とっても印象的な、昭和を顧みる平成談でした〜


3月16日 堀 (伊) さん
「To show respect Momofuku Ando」
長寿の秘訣を聞かれると、必ず”週2回のゴルフと毎日お昼に欠かさず食べるチキンラーメン” と安藤百福は答えていたそうだ!


3月23日 南橋さん
「How to overcome starvation and excessive wealth gap」
”助けを必要としてる人を救った結果” に関する短い動画を観た後でHuge Number of Materialsにもめげず、貧富の差について積極的な意見交換をしました!


3月30日 安田さん
「Unfinished Sentence」
あなたが今年、旅したいところは?
国外ではリトアニア。中世ヨーロッパをタイムスリップ!
国内では三大盆踊りのひとつ、秋田の西馬音内盆踊り。神秘的で哀愁を帯びた音色! 行きたい〜〜


今年度も、メンバー皆様が後半プラクティスの担当を受けていただき、改めてありがとうございました。


新年度4月もあと数時間で幕開けです。
平成から新元号へ、これからも新スタッフのみなさまと共に、楽しいお寺にしていきましょう。


Today is the first day of the rest of your life.
人はいつからも 新しくなれる


2018年度 スタッフ
田中 隆一


2019年03月30日

3月30日プラクティス

Good evening ladies and gentlemen!

This is the announcement for the latter half of ESS practice on March 30th, 2019.

1.Genre:Talk

2.Title: Unfinished Sentence

3.Description
Each may talk about the given titles which are written in cards with unfinished sentence.

4. Procedures.


1 Make 4 Groups with 15 cards in your group.
2 One picks up one card out of 15 cards and each group member may talk about the title in about 1 minute.
3 After all member finish talking about the title, next picks up another card out of 14 cards and follow the
same process.

*You can skip the card if you don't want to talk about the title.

*Even though we have limited time(17:40~18:10),please enjoy talking with same group members.

Thank you for your kind cooperation.

Regards:
Kazumasa Yasuda


2019年03月23日

3月23日プラクティス

This is the announcement for the latter half of ESS practice on March 23rd, 2019 at Hitomachi.

1.Genre:Talk&Discussion

2.Title:How to overcome starvation and excessive wealth gap

3.Description
Since I made a speech on inequality at the English Round Table in 2017, I think it is also a good idea to share and develop the contents with ESS members.

4. Procedures.

1) Watch the 3 minutes YouTube video on poverty and giving, which would be displayed on the screen twice.

2)Make some groups with 3 members each. If one member is left, join group 1. If another member is left, join group 2.

3)Read the material for this practice titled “How to overcome starvation and excessive wealth gap” and the others on “basic income.”

4)Discuss whether “Perfect equality” is possible to actualize in your life.

5) Discuss whether there is excessive inequality today.

6) Discuss your own idea to minimize excessive inequality.

7) Discuss whether "tax on capital" or "AI" or “basic income” or the other counter measures can be an effective means to rectify excessive inequality.

8)If there is enough time, make a brief report on your group discussion to the rest of the members.

Thank you for your kind cooperation.

Regards,

Osamu MINAMIHASHI

2019年03月16日

3月16日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS members,

This is the announcement about the latter half practice on March 16th.

1. Genre: Talk & Discussion

2. Title: To show respect Momofuku Ando who is from Taiwan and an

inventor of chicken ramen noodle. This year is 60th Anniversary for
the chicken noodle.
It is said that the noodle named 老麺 in China changed to say " Ramen" in Japan.

Divide into several groups.
1) In each group, share your information about favorite noodle , topping,
taste(salt, soy sauce, bonito soup, Miso soup, vegetable soup, tonkotsu, so on)
2) Share your favorite noodle shop information.
3) How do you feel about Momofuku Ando through NHK morning drama, the Profiler)
4) Have you visited Ikeda noodle museum? If so,How was your impression about ?
5) Free talk - about your favorite noodle in each group

See you on 16th.

Itsuko Hori

2019年03月09日

3月9日プラクティス

Hi, there.

As you know, the Heisei era is coming to an end.

Emperor Akihito is set to abdicate the throne on April 30, when the curtain will fall on the Heisei era.

Let's look back on the Heisei.

See you at the temple.

T.Noguchi

2019年03月02日

3月2日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS member

This is the information about the practice on March 2.

1. Genre: Talk & Discussion
2. Title: Talking about the present situation
3. Description

[Step. 0]
Make some groups and make pairs in each group. If you don’t have partner, please find a partner in other group. If there is no partner in all groups, I will become your partner.


[Step. 1] 1 minute to speak (5〜10min)
This is a 1 minute to speak. You talk about a topic for 1 minute. Your partner just listen. After your talking, exchange a speaker. I’m a timekeeper. I choose topics below.
Festival, Olympics, Entrance Examination, Graduation ceremony


[Step. 2] Free conversation (35〜45 minutes)
Please gather in each group.
Please introduce yourself quickly and talk about your present situation one by one.You can continue talking and discussion. You can talk about any topics. If you don’t have any topics,
you can use my topics that is “Valentine’s Day or White Day”


[Step. 3] Dialogue (10〜15 minutes)
I distribute a number card. One person having your same number is your partner.
Let’s talk freely each other.


Hirokazu Sakai

2019年02月28日

Kyoto NHK ESS レポートNo.8

ESSメンバーの皆さま

こんばんは。
長い冬を越え、ようやく来ましたね。暖かさを感じる春の香り。お変わりありませんか?
2月の後半プラクティスのレポートです。


2月2日 宮沢さん
「Haruki Murakami's literature」
大学の講義みたいでゾクゾクきました!
村上春樹の文学は、なぜ世界中の人々の心にささるのでしょうか・・


2月9日 岩井恵さん
”what's new?” ”what you have to do in this months” ”bucket list” ”what you want to eat” などなど話しましたね〜〜
わたしはかきフライが食べたいのっ!


2月16日 スタッフ
「Talk More」
SPORTS, POLITICS, HOBBY, LANGUAGE, EDUCATION・・
相手の3分スピーチを聴いたペアは、それを日本語で2分通訳します。みんな耳のサイズが3倍大でした‼︎


2月23日 平野さん
「Transfer acronym/ initialism to it's official name」
お寺で机を横並びに、みんなで学びます。
平野先生を前に知力を磨くなり!
ではこれは? 米国からちょっと離れて。 GPS, BYOB, WADA, TGIF !


明日からはや弥生ですね。
ポカポカ陽気が待っています。花粉症がツラいですが、お寺で会いましょうachoo!


2018年度 スタッフ

田中 隆一


2019年02月23日

2月23日プラクティス

Dear ESS members,
This is the information about the latter half practice on February 23rd.

1 Genre: Quiz
2 Description: Transfer acronym/initialism to its official name.

I am sure everyone knows "USA" means "the United States of America," in Japanese, アメリカ合衆国。How about "UAE" or "LOL?"

Reading or listening to American current news, you have come across some acronyms or initialisms. You know what some of them stand for, but for some others, you just partially remember their formal names. Let's try to figure out their official names in both English and Japanese. The answer of UAE is United Arab Emirates /アラブ首長国連邦 and LOL is Laugh(ing) out loud/大笑い

You find some questions easy, but there are difficult ones. So you might want to arrange your memories in advance to answer as many questions as you can because you won't be allowed to consult any dictionaries on that day.

Fujio Hirano

2019年02月16日

2月16日プラクティス

Dear ESS members,

This is the information about the latter half practice on February 16th.
1 Genre: Talk
2 Details


ESS Practice: Talk More

Section1 Procedure (This is an example of 20 participants.)

1. Make a group which consists of 4 members, so we can have 5 groups,
A, B, C, D and E.
2. Put the next 7 cards face down after shuffling cards – SPORTS,
POLITICS, HOBBY,
LANGUAGE, EDUCATION, SOCIAL ISSUE, ANY TOPIC- in the center of the table.
3. Every member in each group should have numbers,1, 2, 3 and 4.
4. No1 and No 2 make a pair and so do No 3 and No 4.
5. One member in each pair gets one card among the 7 cards and makes a
speech about it for 3
minutes.
6. Next, the other member in the pair follows suit.
7. Then break pairs and each member should in turn make the same
speech that he/she gave in
the previous pair. But this time he/she can get just 2 minutes, so
should speak much faster and
while he/she is speaking, the previous listener will translate the
speech into Japanese.
8. Next, break the groups and make new ones which consist of the same
number of members, 1, 2,
3, 4 and 5.
9. The members of the new groups make a two-minute talk in turn about
what they most
impressively listened to.


Section2 Procedure

1. No groups. All the members make pairs.
2. One writes the name of a person, a place, an object, an animal,
etc. on a post-it note.
3. He/she puts the post-it note on the back of the other’s back.
4. The other can ask the one up to 20 questions which require only yes
or no answers to notice what is written on the post-
it note.

5. When the other gives a correct answer, each will change the role.
We do this twice, but in the second time we take a tournament system.
One or the other who
can answer faster will go up to the next stage. A person who remains
last is a winner.


Masahiro Yamamoto

2019年02月09日

2月9日プラクティス

Dear ESS members,
This is the information about the latter half practice on February 9th.

1 Genre: Talk
2 Description

Make pairs in each group. If you don’t have a partner, I will become your partner.
And talk based on the theme I’ll show you and keep the conversation until I say ‘stop talking and change your partners’. It would be 10 to 15 minutes for one theme.
Don’t forget to introduce yourself before starting and say `thank you’ at the end.

Megumi Iwai

2019年02月02日

2月2日プラクティス

To all
In the practice on Feb 2nd, I'd like you to try some works of translation from Haruki Murakami's literature,using both original text and Jay Rubin's English version out of NHK radio program https://cgi2.nhk.or.jp/gogaku/english/yomu/ just like i did many years ago.
I will do it again with a different work whose original title is「四月のある晴れた朝に100パーセントの女の子に出会うことについて」

Date;Feb. 2nd
Venue;Hitomachi Kaikan
Time;19:10~20:00
Content: Dictation & Translation


Procedure:
1.make groups
2.fill in some blanks after listening to the Murakami's text of ”On Seeing the 100% Perfect Girl One Beautiful April Morning ”
3.translate some parts of it
4.share each translation (&corrections or impression etc..) in your group
5.choose the best one & present it in front of everyone.

thanks for your corporation in advance.

------------------------
This is off topic,but actually I was asked last year by previous staff Yuko san and already prepared another material using "the Second bakery attack" but when I think it twice,it was too strange story😂,so I chose one of the most enjoyable and universal novel & redid it. so please look forward to it unless you're a fan of Haruki. Miyazawa

2019年01月30日

☃Kyoto NHK ESS レポートNo.7☃

ESSメンバーの皆さま


毎日寒い日が続いてますが、体調崩されていませんか?
コタツに入って、ちょいと昨年にタイムトリップ! 12月, 1月の後半プラクティスレポートです。


12月1日 スタッフ
「Talk & Discussion」
向かいあって話すと、だんだん見えてきたあなたの世界。Bike vs Car, Science vs Literature ! う〜ん、深い〜〜


12月8日 スタッフ
「 20 Questions」
20の質問で相手の思いついた単語を当てられるか⁉︎ 少ない質問で当てたら高ポイントGet! 意外と難しかった〜


12月15日 室田さん
「Let's guide a foreign tourists to your favorite places」
時空を超越した、アナログでスローな空気。自分でも気づかない興味に出会う素晴らしい本屋「恵文社」 一乗寺のオススメです!


12月22日 スタッフ
「The best of something this year」
昨年一年をみんなで振り返ってみました。
みんなの前で喜怒哀楽、話すことでスッキリした顔、顔。さあ、今年こそ!


1月5日 スタッフ
「Talk and Discussion」
盛り上がったのは絵アプリ談義。SkyPhoneはSkypeやLINE電話より高音質!なんですね。驚いたネコにPC壊されました〜〜


1月12日 新年会


1月19日 スタッフ
「impromptu speech」
各テーブルに分かれて、原子力発電、政治、食物、音楽、言語などについて即興スピーチです。人それぞれ切り口が違うものですね〜 ゴマすりはbrown nose なんですね〜 むむむ!


1月26日 田畑誉子さん
「welcome to your egogram!」
エゴグラムを用いて、自分に内在する性格・価値観を把握しました。

その結果に基づいて、ストレス解消法、コミュニケーション改善法を考えました。
自分を知り、今後の生き方を考える上で、面白かったです。


さあ、寒い寒いといいながら、あっと言う間に2月を迎えようとしています。


「Make hay while the sun shines! 」
太陽が照っているうちに干し草をつくれ! 「善は急げ!」


みなさん、今後もお寺で有意義な時間を一緒につくりましょう!

2018年度スタッフ
田中 隆一

2019年01月26日

1月26日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members.

Hello, this is Motoko Tabata.
Let me introduce the contents of the practice scheduled on January 26th.

1. Genre: Variety
2. Title: “Welcome to your egogram!”
Egogram is a psychological test which serves as a self-awareness tool.
It’s like the mirror of your personality.
There is no “good” or “bad” for Egogram.
So please just relax and try to check your personality.
3. Description:
(1) Make 4~5 groups
(2)【self check】(17:40~18:00)

I will distribute a self-check sheet and give you 20minutes.
Please give spontaneous answers to the questions.
There are no “right” answers, so rather let your inner voice lead you.
Relay on your first impression and try to be honest with yourself.

3.【group talk】(18:00~18:40)

Please share your result in your group. And exchange your opinions in your group on each question below.

Ex. How was the result of your self-analysis about yourself?
What is the strength of your personality?
And what is your weak point?
What part of your personality do you want to change?

Let’s have fun!

2019年01月19日

1月19日プラクティス

Here is the announcement for the practice on January 19.

[Genre] impromptu speech(即興スピーチ)

[Subject] things what we use or see in our daily life, such asstationaries, household appliances, parts of a house and so on(ex: socks, ball-point-pen, microwave, bag, ceiling).

[How to]
① I want you to be divided into 4 or 5 groups as usual.
② I will hand out a pack of cards to each group.
③ In your group, put those cards upside down.
④Decide the persons, who would do first, and who would be a timekeeper.
⑤ The first one take one from those cards.
⑥ The timekeeper time 30 seconds and the first speaker constructs a rough story within 30 seconds.
⑦Then the timekeeper calls “ Start “ and he or she starts their speech.
Make sure to use simple expressions and short sentences to be understood by everyone,
If you feel difficulty, you can speech looking at the [Hints] .
⑧ The speech would finish within one minute to two minutes.
The speaker can stop talking when 1 minute passes, and can check the time when he or
she wants to finish .
⑨ When the time passes 2minutes and still the speech is continuing, the timekeeper must say , "finish "
⑩ The audience can ask questions to the speaker if they want to.

[Hints] You can talk about the history or your attachment for some specific one, or your opinion on general ones . Here are some hints to make your speech .

♦︎ What does that remind you of?
♦︎ How many those things do you have ?
♦︎ What kind of that is your favorite one ?
♦︎ Do you have some memories about that ?
♦︎ Do you have any opinion about that ?
♦︎ How long have you being using that ?
♦︎ Do you want to use that from now and then, and why ?
♦︎ Do you want to buy a new one, and why ?

   These are only hints . You don’t have to try to answer them. You can tell anything about that .
    I wish you can enjoy the speaker’s opinion , idea ,or memories about the thing .


ESS スタッフ

2019年01月05日

1月5日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS member
This is the information about the practice on January 5.


1. Genre: Talk & Discussion
2. Title: Talking about the present situation
3. Description


[Step. 0]
Make some groups and make pairs in each group. If you don’t have partner, please find a partner in other group. If there is no partner in all groups, I will become your partner.


[Step. 1] 1 minute to speak (5〜10min)
This is a 1 minute to speak. You talk about a topic for 1 minute. Your partner just listen. After your talking, exchange a speaker. I’m a timekeeper. I choose topics below.
National Holiday, Sunday, Personal Computer, Mobile phone


[Step. 2] Free conversation (35〜45 minutes)
Please gather in each group.
Please introduce yourself quickly and talk about your present situation one by one.
You can continue talking and discussion. You can talk about any topics. If you don’t have any topics,
you can use my topics that is “New Year’s Day or New Year’s Party”


[Step. 3] Dialogue (10〜15 minutes)
I distribute a number card. One person having your same number is your partner.
Let’s talk freely each other.


Hirokazu Sakai

2018年12月22日

12月22日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members.
This is an announcement of the practice on December 22.

Genre :Talk
Title :The best of something in this year

This will be the final practice in 2018.
Let's talk about the bests what you experienced in this year.

What is the best book you read in this year ?
What is the best music you listened to in this year ?
What is the best TV drama you watched in this year ?
What is the best place where you visited in this year ?
What is the best news for you in this year ?

I hope you will enjoy the practice .

Akiko Matsui

2018年12月15日

12月15日プラクティス

Hello ESS-members,

This is the announcement of the practice on Dec 15.
Genre: Taking and role playing
Title: Let’s guide a foreign tourist to your favorite places,

1. After making several groups, discuss your several favorite places such
as, shrines, temples, walking streets, shopping area, café, and
restraints in Kansai area (speaking overview, the reason why? your
memories regarding ones etc.)

2. After finishing all members talking, make a pair. One plays a role of
foreign tourist, the another becomes a guide so that each pair starts
virtual tour. The guide makes a short tour(2-3 hours + eating), which
should include a shrine or a temple, walking street, and place to
eat/drink. Finally, do not forget to recommend a great souvenir that
you like.

3. Finishing the first role-play, take turns.

4. If you have a time after the role-plays, discuss your feeling of the
recent trends of foreign tourists in Japan, in each group.

Enjoy!

Murota

2018年12月08日

12月8日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Here is an announcement of the later half practice that we will enjoy on December 8. We are supposed to gather at the Hitomachi-Koryu-Kan Kyoto at 18:00 on this day since the usual Otera will not be available for us to use.

1. Genre: English Game
2. Title: 20 Questions
3. Description:

We will be divided into two groups to have a competitive battle between the two with a guessing game in English. The guessing game in which people try to identify a person, place or thing in 20 questions or less. The person can be living (e.g. a current athlete or entertainer), deceased (e.g. a famous person in history), or fictitious (e.g. cartoon or movie character). The place can be anywhere in the world, including creative places. The thing can be an inanimate object, an animal, a food, etc. Basically anything can be chosen, but try to make the selected item something that can be reasonably guessed. It’s no fun to play a guessing game that is impossible to solve.

Hope to see many of you at Hitomachi-Koryu-Kan Kyoto at 18:00 on December 8.


Makoto Nishimura

2018年12月01日

12月1日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS member
This is the information about the practice on December 1.

1. Genre: Talk & Discussion
2. Title: Talking about the present situation
3. Description


[Step. 0]
Make some groups and make pairs in each group. If you don’t have partner, please find a partner in other group. If there is no partner in all groups, I will become your partner.


[Step. 1] 1 minute to speak (5〜10min)
This is a 1 minute to speak. You talk about a topic for 1 minute. Your partner just listen. After your talking, exchange a speaker. I’m a timekeeper. I choose topics below.
Bicycle, Car, Science, Literature


[Step. 2] Free conversation (35〜45 minutes)
Please gather in each group.
Please introduce yourself quickly and talk about your present situation one by one.
You can continue talking and discussion. You can talk about any topics. If you don’t have any topics,
you can use my topics that is “Christmas Eve or New Year Eve”


[Step. 3] Dialogue (10〜15 minutes)
I distribute a number card. One person having your same number is your partner.
Let’s talk freely each other.


Hirokazu Sakai

2018年11月30日

🍁Kyoto NHK ESS レポートNo.6🍁

ESSのみなさま

こんにちは。
10月、11月の後半プラクティスレポートです。
長くなりますが、思い出しながら読んでくださいね。


10月6日 富久田さん
「Domestic trip」
各都道府県にそれぞれの魅力が盛りだくさん。灘の男酒、伏見の女酒、今晩はどっちの気分?
おかえりなさい!矢内さん。


10月13日 スタッフ
「Talk & Discussion」
この時間はしっかり自分のこと、話せます。そして聴くことも。春夏秋冬、あなたの ”いとをかし” ことは・・


10月20日 岡さん
「News of receiving an award」
物理学、化学、生理学、医学、文学、平和及び経済学で過去にノーベル賞を受賞した日本人は26名。ESSメンバー皆と、偉大な先人たちを語り合いました。


10月27日 田中さん
「Get the inbound tourists」
海外からの観光客数ワースト4は島根、高知、福井、岩手だそうです。これら4県の観光課職員になりきって各テーブルからのプレゼン。「ようこそ 〜県!」


11月3日 スタッフ
「 Talk & Discussion」
健康で長生きするためには
① 運動や食事よりも ”読書”
② 子どもと暮らさず 、アクティブに ”一人暮らし” これホント⁈


11月10〜11日 ESS 合宿


11月17日 田畑 (夫) さん
「52 small changes for the Mind」
”他人との比較はむなしく満たされない気持ちを生むことが多い。周りに影響されることなく、自分が心から望むことを一番に考える” ですよね〜 、これ52の習慣のたった1つ!


11月24日 森さん
「Let's focus on lesser known places for tourism」
日本人の意外と知らない隠れた名所、数々あるんですね。へぇ〜、天空の城ラピュタはあそこから!・・
亀岡に歴史ある出雲大神宮。 出雲の祭祀の謎は奥深い・・


あっという間に今年もあとひと月ですね。
何かと忙しくなりますが、みなさんの英語学習は順調に進んでいますか。
" a jurney of a thousand miles begins with a single step "
「 千里の道も一歩から 」


またお寺で会いましょう!


2018年度 スタッフ一同

2018年11月24日

11月24日プラクティス

Dear ESS member,

Let me introduce the contents of the practice scheduled
for November 24th

Recently, we have seen the lesser known place became
the fastest growing destination for tourism, thanks to
the SNS. Let’s focus on such a place.

【Brief Explanation of Procedure】

17:40: Make some groups.

(Section 1)
Until 17:55: I will give you some quiz about a little-known but good
place in Japan.

(Section 2)
Until 18:25: Talk about a little-known place of your recommendation
in each group. There are no specific procedures or guidelines
that I need you to follow. Any place is fine either in Japan
or abroad. Famous sightseeing place can also be acceptable.

18:25: One member of each group make a short presentation.

Have enjoy!
Natsuko Mori

2018年11月17日

11月17日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members.

Hello, here is the announcement for the practice on November 17th.

I’m sorry for late annnouncement.

(1) Genre: Talk
(2) Title: “52 small changes for the Mind”
(3) Description:

1. Making some groups

2. I distribute the sheets which the list about “52 small customs” are written on.

3. Read the list and check on what you would like to try , or you have already done.

Ex. Keep diary , Laugh as often as possible, Thank for small things,
Spend money on experiences than things、Don’t compare with others ,
Don’t blame yourself ・・・・

4. Share the check list in your group and discuss.

5. If you have another unique custom or your routine or what you keep in mind to do,
tell other members in your group.

6. The presentative of each group will tell other group members
what you talked about in each group.
 Don’t be too serious and just enjoy it.

A. Tabata

Reference

“1週間に1つずつ。毎日の暮らしが輝く52の習慣” 著者:ブレット・ブルーメンソール

https://day.watamemo.com/post-12748/
https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/479931923X?_encoding=UTF8&isInIframe=0&n=465392&ref_=dp_proddesc_0&s=books&showDetailProductDesc=1#product-description_feature_div

“52 Small Changes for the Mind : Improve Memory * Minimize Stress * Increase Productivity * Boost Happiness” ”
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/24395606-52-small-changes-for-the-mind


2018年11月03日

11月3日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS member

This is the information about the practice on November 3.

1. Genre: Talk & Discussion

2. Title: Talking about the present situation

3. Description

[Step. 0]
Make some groups and make pairs in each group. If you don’t have partner, please find a partner in other group. If there is no partner in all groups, I will become your partner.


[Step. 1] 1 minute to speak (5〜10min)
This is a 1 minute to speak. You talk about a topic for 1 minute. Your partner just listen. After your talking, exchange a speaker. I’m a timekeeper. I choose topics below.
English, Japanese, Mountain, River


[Step. 2] Free conversation (35〜45 minutes)
Please gather in each group.
Please introduce yourself quickly and talk about your present situation one by one.
You can continue talking and discussion. You can talk about any topics. If you don’t have any topics,
you can use my topics that is “How to learn English?”


[Step. 3] Dialogue (10〜15 minutes)
I distribute a number card. One person having your same number is your partner.
Let’s talk freely each other.


Hirokazu Sakai

2018年10月27日

10月27日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

This is an announcement of the practice on Oct. 27th.

Genre : Presentation

Title : Get the inbound tourists

Many foreign tourists have visited Japan these days.
Most of the prefectures are enticing foreign tourists to visit there toward "40 million inbound in 2020".
A prefecture that had the most inbound in 2017 is,
1st Tokyo 2nd Osaka 3rd Chiba 4th Kyoto...
and the fewest inbound in 2017 is,
1st Shimane 2nd Kochi 3rd Fukui 4th Iwate....

At present, the 60% overseas tourists are repeater to Japan.
They are also looking for a new spot where they can experience with Japanese, flower arrangement,
farm work, Ninja and suchlike.
Each prefecture has considered what leads to the attraction of inbound tourists.

Please imagine that you are in Shimane, Kochi, Fukui or Iwate prefectual employees place.
Let's make an impressive presentation as a group in 3minutes !

So before the practice, I would recommend checking the sightseeing of them by the Web.

I hope that you will spend an exciting time there.
thank you,

Ryuich Tanaka

2018年10月20日

10月20日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

This is an annoucement of the practice in the latter half of ESS meeing on Oct. 20th.

1. Date: Oct. 20th

2. Genre: Talking

3. Title: News of receiving an award

It was the time when Nobel Prize news became the topic this year. As all of you already knows, a Japanese won the Nobel Prize in the field of physiology and medicine this year. It was Tasuku Honjo, a professor at Kyoto University who elucidated mechanism of the cancer outbreak and developed medicines controlling cancer outbreak. I was interested in Japanese Nobel prize winner in the past and gathered their informations in the table. Today, I would like to talk about them with you, and at the same time, I want to share with you your interesting prize you have received so far ( rare funny prize is better ) .

4. Description

1) Please make 4-5 groups

2) I will distribute a paper written about Japanese who received Novel Prize.

3) Please read it and fill the blank in the table with talking about Novel Prize in your group.

4) Next, as I will distribute another blank paper, please write down the prize you have received in  the past.

Ex: In my case, I have received the prize about "very healthy tooth" in my elementary school days and received the prize on the

"perfect attendance in my elementary and junior high school days "


5) Then, introduce and talk about your exciting prize in your group.

I hope you will enjoy the practice.

Masahiko Oka

2018年10月13日

10月13日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS member
This is the information about the practice on October 13.


1. Genre: Talk & Discussion
2. Title: Talking about the present situation
3. Description

[Step. 0]
Make some groups and make pairs in each group. If you don’t have partner, please find a partner in other group. If there is no partner in all groups, I will become your partner.

[Step. 1] 1 minute to speak (5〜10min)
This is a 1 minute to speak. You talk about a topic for 1 minute. Your partner just listen. After your talking, exchange a speaker. I’m a timekeeper. I choose topics below.
Autumn , Spring , Book , School

[Step. 2] Free conversation (35〜45 minutes)
Please gather in each group.
Please introduce yourself quickly and talk about your present situation one by one.
You can continue talking and discussion. You can talk about any topics. If you don’t have any topics,
you can use my topics that is “What is your hobby?”

[Step. 3] Dialogue (10〜15 minutes)
I distribute a number card. One person having your same number is your partner.
Let’s talk freely each other.

Hirokazu Sakai

2018年10月06日

10月6日プラクティス

information on October.sixth about the latter part practice.
Genre,talk
Theme,Domestic trip
At first all members will be divide in to some groups and talk about some prefecture.

2018年09月30日

🌾Kyoto NHK ESS レポートNo.5🌾

ESS の皆さま

9月の後半プラクティスレポートです。

9月1日 酒井さん
「Talk & Discussion」
知ってるつもりのESSのあのメンバー、まだまだ知らないあなたの季節、趣味・・ヘェ〜 じっくりペアで話し合いましょう!


9月8日 岩井盛一郎さん
「Present your opinions and discuss about the articles from the Japan times」
厳選された5大ニュース、1番人気は”観光公害” でした。目標とされる外国から日本への観光客数は、一年間に4000万人ですって! 地元の人と観光客が一緒にできることは⁇


9月15日 佃さん
「How do you survive without electricity」
災害時。<水、電気、ガス>がストップしたらどうやって生活する?
トイレ対策、お風呂対策...水ストップの対策 で 多く出た意見は、
「鴨川に行く!」でした。


9月22日 今井さん
「Current Digital Technical Terms」
”シンギュラリティー” って聞いたこと、あります? 人工知能(AI)が人間の能力を越える転換点って、2045年までには大変換⁉︎


9月29日 奥さん
「Letter from an ESS Leadership Candidate」
最近のアメリカの中間選挙、沖縄の知事選挙に乗っかって、やってみました「 ESSリーダー立候補演説」 ”リーダーにはならないけど私に投票してネ!” そんなお茶目な立候補者もいました!


さて、皆さま、来月はいよいよESS合宿がやってきます。秋の葉の彩りが深まるよう、皆さまと一緒に楽しみましょう!

2018年度 ESS スタッフ
田中 隆一

2018年09月22日

9月29日プラクティス

Hi! everyone.

This is the announcement of Second Practice on September 29, 2018, next
week.

Sorry for the lateness of this preannouncement but I hope you prepare well
for the next week.  Akira Oku.

 - - - - - - - - -

Election season is coming or has been passing, e.g., the midterm election in
the US, gubernatorial election in Okinawa, and the election for the
presidency of the LDP in Japan.

Like the citizen judge system in Japan, we the members of Kyoto NHK ESS will
or shall be asked inevitably sooner or later to take part in the staff board
as obligation. Therefore, why don’t we play a candidacy speech in
preparation for that chance?

Composition and Speech

- - - - - - - - -

Example: < Letter from an ESS Leadership Candidate >

Dear ESS Member,

I promise to be very brief, so please do not ignore this message.

My name is Zengyo-Inn Yeses and I am seeking your support and vote for
Leader of the Kyoto NHK ESS Society. I am honored to be a nominee and if
elected, I am determined to be a strong advocate for English learning,
communication and innovation. I believe that I am uniquely qualified to
represent our membership and to be effective in this position because of my
broad and diverse background that includes social, business, academic, and
human relation experience. For more information about my qualifications and
accomplishments, please check my
http://www.zengyoinn-yeses.org.

If elected, my main goal would be to educate ourselves in our discipline
about the significance of nationwide communication through English.

In conjunction with my many years of experience, my recent experience
uniquely prepared me to persuasively articulate the importance of English
communication for the prosperity of our personal life and the society. As a
voluntary group comprised of a variety of people with expertise and ability,
our ESS group has potentiality not only to solve member’s personal problems
but also to participate in social issues such as health-consciousness and
control of climate change.

Please allow me to work with you to accomplish these goals and to fulfill
our volunteer mind to make this world better.

I promised to be brief in the beginning, so let me end this message by
asking again for your support and for your advice. Together we can really
make a difference anywhere.

Sincerely yours,

Zengyo-Inn Yeses
Member of the Kyoto NHK ESS

(Mimicked from ACS newsletter)

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Procedure:

1. First of all, read the letter above as an example of candidacy letter
for the position of ESS leadership. (10 min)

2. Suppose you were to be nominated as a candidate for the leader (or
subleader) of the Kyoto ESS group.

3. Write to prepare your candidacy letter by help of group discussion. If
it takes time, you may just modify or change the phrases underlined in the
above example. (30 min)

4. Hope you play brave to give speech in front of all. (20 min)


Needless to say, I would highly recommend you to prepare the speech in
advance of the day. See you!


Appendix: For Recitation and Singing

Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair

Stephen Foster

I dream of Jeanie with the light brown hair,
Borne, like a vapor, on the summer air;
I see her tripping where the bright streams play,
Happy as the daisies that dance on her way.
Many were the wild notes her merry voice would pour,
Many were the blithe birds that warbled them o'er:
Oh! I dream of Jeanie with the light brown hair,
Floating, like a vapor, on the soft summer air.

I long for Jeanie with the daydawn smile,
Radiant in gladness, warm with winning guile;
I hear her melodies, like joys gone by,
Sighing round my heart o'er the fond hopes that die
Sighing like the night wind and sobbing like the rain
Wailing for the lost one that comes not again:
Oh! I long for Jeanie, and my heart bows low,
Never more to find her where the bright waters flow.

I sigh for Jeanie, but her light form strayed
Far from the fond hearts round her native glade;
Her smiles have vanished and her sweet songs flown,
Flitting like the dreams that have cheered us and gone.
Now the nodding wild flowers may wither on the shore
While her gentle fingers will cull them no more:
Oh! I sigh for Jeanie with the light brown hair,
Floating, like a vapor, on the soft summer air.


2018年09月13日

9月22日プラクティス

Informations on the latter part practice of Sep 22nd are as follows.

Genre : Explanation & Discussion
Title : Current Digital Technical Terms

Now, we are in the computerized days and we can not stop
admitting any fields of modern society is supported by computer.
In short, we can understand and recognize more deeply modern
society through knowing the Current Digital Thecnical Terms.
Let’s enjoy foretelling near future through understanding Current
Digital Thecnical Terms.
Y. Imai

2018年09月08日

9月15日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS members

I am Yuji Tsukuda.
I am glad to announce the practice on Sep 15.

Genre: Talk

Title: How do you survive without electricity.

Description :

1. Making some groups
2. Talk1:How do you live without electricity?
3. Talk2:How do you spend your free time without electricity?


The powerful typhoon Jebi and the big earthquake in Hokkaido cause the power cut.
I spent a few days without electricity, and the life was more terrible than I had imagined.
That’s why I choose this topic.

I am looking forward to seeing you on the day

Thank you

2018年09月07日

9月8日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto ESS members

This is the announcement of the practice on Sept 8 2018.

Genre: presentation & discussion
Title: Present your opinions and discuss about the articles from the Japan Times.
Description

Step1: Separate into several groups. Each group consists of 3 to 5 members.

Step2: I distribute papers containing the articles extracting from the Japan Times.

The articles cover five controversial issues. Please choose three topics out of five and
   decide the order to discuss as a group.

Step3: If your group decides the topic to discuss first, read the article concerning the topic
   ( 5 to 7 minutes).

Step4: Each member presents your opinion concerning with the article in the group
   (1 to 2 minutes).

Step5: Exchange the opinions in a group concerning with the article (10 to 15 minutes).

Step6: Follow the same order above concerning with other two topics your group chose.

The topics on the practice are as follows:

1 . The number of foreign tourists is boosting for recent several years. The foreign tourism has vast impact on Japanese economy. On the other hand, the serious problem has emerged something the media has calling “kanko kogai” “tourism pollution.”

2. Development of AI (artificial intelligence) is tremendous. It is predicted AI will totally
change our life from medical field to driving vehicles autonomously.

On the other hands, it is predicted that 50 percent of white-collar jobs will be replaced by the computers.

3. Tokyo Medical University deducted points from the entrance exam score of all female
applicants to keep the ratio of female students at the university at about 30 percent.
The unfairness against female applicants lies on avoiding a shortage of doctors at affiliated hospitals.
The medical college believed female doctors often resign or take long leave after getting married or getting pregnant.

4. Prime Minister Abe characterizes integrated resorts (IR) as key to his growth strategy. IR refers to casino resorts
Abe administration expects IR will be a key component to bring in more wealthy travelers to Japan and help boot economy
On the other hand, promotion of official casinos would encourage to make worse the problem of gambling addiction.

5. One of the news to move people around Japan is the discovery of a 2 year old boy who had been missing for three days in Yamaguchi Prefecture.
The volunteer Haruo Obata, 78, found the boy only in 30 minutes despite a search effort involving 380 police officers and rescuers as well as drones within thermal imaging cameras. Since media covered this news every day,
Mr. Obata becomes national hero and volunteerism has come into limelight

Thank you very much. I hope you enjoy the practice.

Seiichiro Iwai.

2018年09月01日

9月1日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS member
This is the information about the practice on September 1.

 1. Genre: Talk & Discussion
 2. Title: Talking about the present situation
 3. Description

[Step. 0]
Make some groups and make pairs in each group. If you don’t have partner, please find a partner in other group.
If there is no partner in all groups, I will become your partner.

[Step. 1] Break the Ice (5〜10min)
This is a 1 minute to speak. You talk about a topic for 1 minute. Your partner just listen. After your talking, exchange a speaker.
I’m a timekeeper. I choose topics below.
Summer Winter Sport Music

[Step. 2] Group Talk (35〜45 minutes)
Please gather in each group.
Please introduce yourself quickly and talk about your present situation one by one.
You can continue talking and discussion.

[Step. 3] One to one talk (10〜15 minutes)
I distribute a number card. One person having your same number is your partner.
Let’s talk freely each other.


Hirokazu Sakai

2018年08月31日

🌻Kyoto NHK ESS レポートNo.4🌻

今年の夏は酷暑、大雨、台風、何かと凄まじい日々でしたね。皆様お変わりありませんか。
7月、8月の後半プラクティスレポートです。


7月14日 西村さん
「Message without words」
アメリカのゼスチャークイズ、片手で現す ”I Love You” 覚えてますか⁉︎
みんなのゼスチャーゲーム、猫とライオンが名演技でした!


7月21日 サマーパーティー


7月28日 石崎さん
「 English Haiku/ Senryu 」
少ない単語で状況を的確に表現する日本語の俳句と同じですね。人生初めて、英語の俳句を創った〜 いい経験!


8月4日 辻さん
「 Let's talk about mysteries」
”2014年墜落したマレーシア航空機はいったいどこに消えたんでしょうか⁉︎ ”
”縄文時代、青森に造られたというストーンサークル!”
なんとも奇妙で不可思議な出来事、風景・・ 暑気払いにぴったりのプラクティスでした!


8月18日 北浦さん
「 About this Summer」
みなさん、楽しそうなお盆休みを過ごされたんですね〜 ”蕎麦にゴマ油⁉︎” ” タコ焼きにチーズ⁉︎” 本当に美味しいんですかあ〜〜


8月25日 田畑誉子さん
「 ”fake news”, ”post-truth”, and ”media literacy” 」
世界中で最近、なんでfake newsってよく聞くんでしょうか⁉︎ 情報の真実をとらえること、だんだん難しくなってきてますね。 とっても勉強になりました!


プラクティス担当の皆さま、それぞれに味のある楽しい時間をありがとうございました!
残暑もまだしばらく続きそうですが、お寺の涼しい風にのって、みなさんと一緒に英語を学んでいきましょう。

2018 Kyoto NHK ESS スタッフ一同

2018年08月14日

8月25日プラクティス

Dear ESS members
This is the announcement for the practice on Aug. 25th, 2018.

Genre: Discussion
Title: “fake news”, “post-truth” and “media literacy”
Description
1 Make 4~5 groups.
2 First every member read through all the materials by yourself. Then
exchange your opinions in your group on each question below.

(1)That man fanned a “lion scare” with false tweets after the Kumamoto earthquakes
was arrested three months later for allegedly obstructing
the zoo’s operations but avoid indictment. What are your thoughts on this issue?

(2) Did you know “Russiagate”? And do you think Russian government resorted to acts
   that would favor the Trump campaign in the 2016 U.S. presidential race?

(3) How would you define “fake news”? Please explain your answer.

(4) Do you often get your news from social media? Why ?Why not?

(5)Why do you think”fake news” spreads so quickly on social media?

(6)What news organizations do you consider to be trustworthy? Why?

(7) In your opinion ,what should be done to stop the spread of “fake news”? Please explain
your answer.

(8) Would you argue that “fake news” is damaging to democracy? Why? Why not?

3 Introduce your group summary to other groups (from around 18:30).

If you need more information, please take a look at the attached link.

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5ay192

https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x5atjqb

I hope you enjoy it!
M.Tabata

2018年08月06日

8月18日プラクティス

This is an announcement about the practice on August 18.
Genre: Discussion
Title: About this summer
Please talk with each other about what you enjoyed or felt in this summer. I suggest two topics below.

(Topic 1) Unusual heat
What did you do to avoid the heat?
How often did you use air conditioner?
Did you do some sports during this heat?
Please tell us whatever episodes relate to this summer.

(Topic 2) Your memories of this summer.
What is the most impressive thing or event during this summer?
Summer festival, family gathering, swimming pool, eating shaved ice (Kakigoori), whatever…

Let’s enjoy talking!

G.Kitaura

2018年08月01日

8月4日プラクティス

This is an announcement about practice on 8-4
Genre: talking
Title: let's talk about mysteries.
Please tell us about your strange
experience. for examples , you saw
UFO, UMA, Paranormal Phenomenon.
If you have no ideas,tell us legedary stories,or introduce mystery novels.
I hope many goosebumps stories.

Kenji Tsujl

2018年07月19日

7月28日プラクティス

Kyoto ESS Practice

This is an announcement of practice on July.28

Program:English Haiku /Senryu

Time table
17:40-18:00 Read below instruction of English Haiku
18:00-18:30 Make your Haiku (Senryu)
18:30-18:35 Present within your group and choose best three in your group
18:35-18:40 Present best three Haiku

See you soon
Hiroaki Ishizaki

以下はThe Japan times STより引用しました。
英語俳句の作り方
日本語の俳句にルールがあるように、英語俳句にもルールがあります。表現上注意すべき点、または工夫してほしい点について簡単に紹介します。

1. 文頭であっても大文字は用いず、文末にピリオドを打たない
固有名詞や I 以外は、すべて小文字で表記します。また、文末のピリオドは不要です。

2. 3行で書くこと
日本語俳句は1行で書きますが、英語俳句は3行で書きます。

3. 3行それぞれの音節は2-3-2くらいをめどにすること
日本語俳句は「5文字 7文字 5文字」の計17文字で作られますが、英語俳句ではそれぞれの行の音節の数は「2-3-2」くらいがよいとされます。ゆえに音節の少ない、短い単語を使用するのがよいでしょう。
(音節とは、母音または母音の前後に子音を伴う、音声のひとまとまりこと。辞書ではpen・cilのように、・や - で区切って示される)

4. 一句の中に切れ字を入れること
切れ字とは、日本語俳句に見られる、感動や詠嘆を表す「かな」や「けり」に相当するもので、英語俳句では行末に ――(ダッシュ)や : (コロン)を置いて感動の余韻を表します。

5. できるだけ "I" を使わない
英語俳句では何より客観的な描写がよしとされます。作者が作品の中に登場してしまうと、作品世界の広がりが限定的になってしまうからです。同様に、固有名詞も作品のイメージを限定してしまうため、使用を避けた方が無難です。

6. be 動詞、冠詞、前置詞は省略してよい。表現を簡潔にまとめることになり、作品が散文的になるのを防ぐことができます。

7. 時制は現在形を用いる
英語俳句では、「いま、目の前にある情景」を「一枚の写真で切り取った」ような表現を重視します。ゆえに動詞は未来や過去ではなく、現在形を使います。

8. 正確な文法に必ずしもこだわらなくてよい
5と関連しますが、いわゆる文法にこだわっていては、作品が散文的になってしまいます。文法よりも、名詞を中心にした明確なイメージを持つ1行1行を積み重ねていくことを考慮してください。

9. 季節感を盛り込む

 以上の要点をまとめれば、英語俳句を作る上では、 「文法にあまりこだわらず、いま、目の前にある情景を写真でとらえるように、それぞれが短い3行の英文で描写する」ことが大切です。

2018年07月05日

7月14日プラクティス

Here is an announcement of the practice on July 14.
Genre: Nonverbal Communications
Title: Message without words

Nonverbal communications, such as facial expressions, voice tone, gestures, appearance and posture are all essential aspects of our daily conversation for building the relationship among us. When we attempt to communicate with another person, we use both verbal and nonverbal communications. Nonverbal messages are “messages without words” or “silent messages.” We have conducted a variety of practices at Kyoto NHK ESS so far to try to make our ability better for verbal communications. This time I would like you to challenge for the improvement of our nonverbal communication skills.

17:40 – 18:00 Test of our knowledge on American gestures

The test paper with having several illustrations of American gesture will be distributed. You are requested to answer the meanings of these gestures.

18:00 – 18:40 Game “Message without words.”

You will be divided into groups. One representative from the group will play the game of the “Message without words” in order to convey a certain information to other members of the group. The performance of the representative is limited for only 3 minutes. If the group members can make a good guess on the information, they can get the point. A competition among the groups.

Makoto Nishimura

2018年07月01日

7月7日プラクティス

Informations latter part practice of July 7th are as follows.

Genre : Explanation & Discussion
Title : Current Digital Thechnical Terms

Now, we are in the computerized days as we can not stop
admitting any fields of modern society is suported by computer.
In short, we can understand and recognize more modern society
through knowing the Current Digital Thecnical Terms.
Let’s enjoy foretelling near future through understanding Current
Digital Thecnical Terms.
Y. Imai

2018年06月30日

🎋 Kyoto NHK ESSレポートNo.3 🎋

蒸し暑い日が続きますが、お変わりありませんか。
6月の活動内容を報告させていただきます。

<後半プラクティス>

6月2日 南橋さん
「定年退職制を禁止すべきか 否か」
おなじみ南橋氏によるディベート大会。
会社での経験をもとに、深い議論が繰り広げられました。


6月9日 岩井さん
「completing scripts (Rakugo stories)」
時そば、初天神、落語好きにはたまらない英語バージョン。みんな独創的なサゲを考えてました!


6月16日 武居さん
「Imperial / Royal Family Systems 」
何かと話題の英国王室、日本皇室 。
麗しきセレモニー から ゴシップネタ にいたるまであれこれ話し合いました。


6月23日 鈴木さん
「Japanese School Lunch」
みんなが持ってる給食の思い出。揚げパンおいしかった、のっぺい汁懐かしい〜・・あの男の子はいつも牛乳の一気飲みしてましたね。


6月30日 大石さん
「Try to solve the questions」
”人気マンガの初版部数は400万部だった”
”今回のワールドカップの優勝候補は〜”
なるほど、そこ、英語ではそう言うんですね〜!


ここ数日は経験にないくらいの大雨でしたね。みなさま、無事で元気に過ごされていますように。

2018 Kyoto NHK ESS スタッフ一同


2018年06月24日

6月30日プラクティス

Genre---- Speaking
Title ---- Right way to express yourself in English.
I will give you more than 20 sentence-examples and you pick up the right one from each sentence example. Have a good time.
Masahiro Oishi

2018年06月23日

6月23日プラクティス

Hi, everyone!
This is an announcement of the practice on June 23.

[Genre ] Talk

[Title ] Japanese School Lunch

Have you eaten school lunch?
Most Japanese people say,"Yes,of course !" When we were elementary school students,we ate school lunch together with our homeroom teacher and classmates.
Japanese school lunch doesn't mean just a meal,but also a part of education.
Please remember your school days and talk about school lunch you might miss.


Takako Suzuki

2018年06月16日

6月16日プラクティス

Dear ESS members !

This is an announcement of the practice on June 16.

Genre:Discussion
Theme:Royal family or Imperial family

The royal wedding of prince Harry and Meghan Markle was held last month and great many people around the world viewed the event broadcasted live.
Here in Japan, the Emperor’s first granddaughter announced to postpone the wedding of which her fiancé’s family problems drew people’s attention.

This may be a timely topic of our practice to talk about, but for the practice you can talk anything as long as it is about Royal family or Imperial family around the world, including Emperor’s abdication, princess Aiko’s not being able to become female Emperor( Empress?) despite of being a first child of crown prince, and so on.

I hope you enjoy this practice.

Kumiko Takesue


2018年06月09日

6月9日プラクティス

Hi, everyone.

Here is the announcement for the practice on the June 9th.

[Genre] completing scripts( These are for plays based on Rakugo stories, and to be performed by more than two people)

[How to] 1 I want you to be divided into 4 or 5 groups as usual.
2 Read through a script(5min.).
3 There are blanks in the last line. In your group, discuss what expression would fit (10min.). And then a representative announces the
answer as a group.
4 Listen to the play(5min.).
5 I’ll hand out another script. Repeat from 1 to 4 .

You don’t have to find the right answer. There could be some expressions.
And I don’t want you not to speak Japanese as possible as you can.
First of all, I hope you’ll enjoy the sense of humor.

Megumi Iwai

2018年06月02日

6月2日プラクティス

Dear ESS members
This is the announcement for the practice on June 2nd, 2018. Everyone, please prepare for your own opinions.
Genre: Debate
Proposition: Japan should prohibit mandatory retirement age system. (日本は定年退職制を禁止すべきである)
Please notice that this debate is nothing but a practice with one type of game, and not necessarily connected with your own standpoint, merits and demerits of you as an independent individual in your social life. Therefore, do your best to win the game as one good way to enrich your experience to present better debate practice in our ESS activity.
Description
1) Make some groups so that each group would consist of 3 members. If 2 members were left, MINAMIHASHI would join the group. If 1 member were left, I would ask the leader to be a special additional judge for 1 group. Be your timekeeper within your group for each of you.

2) Write and prepare major points, advantages and disadvantages of the proposition within 3 minutes, based on the assumption that the proposition would be adopted as actual nationwide policy in Japan.

3) In your group, decide your order to be Affirmative, Negative and Judge. The Affirmative must sit right side of the Negative and left side of the Judge.

4) If you are the Affirmative, argue that the Affirmative policy has great advantages and little disadvantages. If you are the Negative, argue that the Affirmative policy has fewer advantages and greater disadvantages. If you are the Judge, compare the initial link of advantages and disadvantages of the Affirmative policy, whether those points are certainly caused by the Affirmative policy or not and which would outweigh the other. Articulation and grammar, logical persuasiveness would be also important when a comparison of advantages and disadvantages were difficult. However, any argument in the rebuttal speech that was not presented during the constructive speech must be regarded as “new argument” which should not be counted for the decision.

5) Start debate match in the following order. Be the timekeeper for your group and announce the beginning and end of each time. Be sure to take note of your flow sheet while listening to other’s speech.
Affirmative Constructive Speech……………1 minute(肯定側立論1分)
Cross-Examination by the Negative……… 1 minute(否定側による肯定側への反対尋問1分)
Preparation Time………………‥……………1 minute(準備時間1分)
Negative Constructive Speech ………………1 minute(否定側立論1分)
Cross-Examination by the Affirmative……・1 minute(肯定側による否定側への反対尋問1分)
Preparation Time……‥………………………1 minute(準備時間1分)
Affirmative Rebuttal Speech…………………1 minute(肯定側による反論1分)
Cross-Examination by both sides……………1 minute(双方による反対尋問1分)
Preparation Time………………………………1 minute(準備時間1分)
Negative Rebuttal Speech・……………………1 minute(否定側による反論1分)
Decision & Reason by the Judge ……………3 minutes(ジャッジによる勝敗の判定及びその理由3分)
(Go through “step 5)” within 13 minutes.)(「ステップ5)」を13分でやって下さい。)

6) Turn the role clockwise in your group.(時計回りに肯定側、否定側、ジャッジの役割を変える)

7) Repeat the process of 5) with the different role in your group for 13 minutes.( 「ステップ5」を前回と異なる役割により13分で繰り返す。

8) Turn the role clockwise in your group once more.(もう一度、時計周りに肯定側、否定側、ジャッジの役割を変える)

9) Repeat the process of 5) with the other role that you haven’t played in your group for 13 minutes.
(「ステップ5)」の役割でまだやっていない残りの役割を13分でやる)。

10) Discuss overall debate on the proposition.(ディベートの試合の感想を一言ずつ述べる)。

11) Decide the best debater in your group by voting.(自分のグループの多数決でベストディベーターを決める)。

12) Report briefly to all the members the result of the 3 debate match and who won the best debater in your group.
Let’s enjoy debating and have fun with taking 3 roles of the debate on the propositions.
なお、お時間のある方は、具体的にどういうAdvantage, Disadvantageがあり得るか、考えて、書いておかれるようお勧めします。頭の体操になります。ただ、プラクティスの時間が55分、1試合13分と短いので、今回は、evidence(証拠資料)は使わないことにします。ディベートのスタイルには、この他にも様々なバリエーションがある事も覚えておいて下さい。
詳しくは、参考文献などをご参照下さい。Amazonで入手可能です。

参考文献:
小西卓三・菅家知洋・Peter J. Collins, 『Let the Debate Begin! Effective Argumentation and Debate Techniques〔Teacher’s Edition〕-―英語で学ぶ論理的説得術――』、東海大学出版会、2007
松本茂・鈴木健・青沼智、『英語ディベート 理論と実践』、玉川大学出版部、2009
この他に、入門書として、以下がお薦めです。
安井省侍郎(著)Debate Forum出版会監修、『初心者のためのディベートQ&A』、第4版、Debate Forum出版会発行、2004
西部直樹、『「議論力」が身につく技術』、あさ出版、2003
小西卓三・菅家知洋・Peter J. Collins, 『Let the Debate Begin! Effective Argumentation and Debate Techniques―英語で学ぶ論理的説得術――』、東海大学出版会、2007(学生向け)
武田顕司、『ネコと学ぶディベートの本 日本一やさしいディベートの教科書』、デザインエッグ株式会社、第3版、2017
武田顕司、『ネコと練習するディベートの本 日本一やさしいディベートの問題集』、デザインエッグ株式会社、2017
専門書としては、以下などがあります。
ジョージ・W・シーゲルミューラー、ジャック・ケイ著、井上奈良彦監訳、『議論法 探求と弁論 第3版』、花書院、2006
The Editors of IDEA, 『The Debatabase Book: A Must-Have Guide for Successful Debate』, 6th ed., Introduction by Robert Trapp, International Debate Education Association, 2013.
Debbie Newman, Ben Woolgar (ed.), 『Pros and Cons: A Debater's Handbook』, 19th ed, Routledge, 2014.
Austin J. Freeley, David L. Steinberg, 『Argumentation and Debate: Critical Thinking for Reasoned Decision Making』, 13th ed., Wadsworth Cengage Learning, 2014
(追記 Additional suggestion for better ideas, arguments and responses.)
・Imagine what would happen if the proposition were actually adopted as a national policy of Japan from the actual standpoint of yourself, your family, your friends, your job, your community, other individuals, other companies, other groups, other regions, Japan as a whole and the other countries.
・Imagine actual advantages and disadvantages, impacts, process, obstacles, root cause and effects from the viewpoint of your and others’ daily practice, economy, business, politics, human relations, social welfare, traditions, customs, social career, education, securities, mental health, physical health, moral, ethics and so on.
・Imagine what would be the actual impact of your arguments for yourselves, family, community, job, regions, Japan, and the world.
・Think about what kind of impact, link the argument would have from adoption of the proposition as a national policy of Japan and to what extent it would be significant, whether it be economic, social, medical, mental, physical, vocational, technological, legal, ethical, educational, cultural, regional, domestic or international.
・Imagine and clarify what would be for actual 5W1H after the adoption of the proposition; who, what, when, where, why and how.8W6H might also be good; Why, What, Where, When, Who, Whom, Which, Whose, How, How much, How many, How long, How far, How often
・Compare your own ideas and thoughts with the others'. If you feel your arguments are superior or inferior, clarify the reasons. If you do think that the others’ ideas are superior, don’t hesitate to imitate those so that your arguments would be improved.
I expect fruitful debate practice for June 2nd!
(ヒント)
・具体的に、個人レベルで、各家計で、企業として、産業界として、地域として、国全体として、国際的にみて、どのような結果が起こり得るか、それぞれ考えて見ると、頭の中でこの政策の採否の影響をイメージしやすいです。
・自他の議論の因果関係(リンク)や質的量的影響の大きさ(インパクト)を考えると、肯定・否定の議論の比較衡量がしやすいです。
・政策のメリット(advantage), デメリット(disadvantage)、インパクトの大小、実現可能性、波及経路、根本原因、政策実現への障害と抜け道の有無と程度、代替政策の有無・是非と定年退職制度禁止との両立の可否、コスパ等を考えて見て下さい。
・各分野別の影響の有無と程度を考えて見て下さい。具体的には、日常生活、経済全体、個別企業、政治、人間関係、社会保障、伝統,慣習、個々人の経歴、教育、治安、国の安全保障、心身の健康、モラル、倫理等。
・政策の採否の影響を5W1H(Who, What, When, Where, Why and How)で考えるのも、1つの方法です。8W6Hという人もいます。Why, What, Where, When, Who, Whom, Which, Whose, How, How much, How many, How long, How far, How often
・自他の議論を比べてみて下さい。その違いと違う理由、どちらがより説得力があるか、優れているか、考えて見て下さい。そして、本当に他の人の議論の方が優れていると思ったら、その優れている点を自分の主張にどんどん取り入れてみて下さい。上手い人を真似る事は上達への一つの良い方法です。具体的な議論の例は、可能ならば、例会当日にお配りします。長文失礼。

Osamu MINAMIHASHI(南橋 理)

2018年05月20日

☆Kyoto NHK ESS レポートNo.2☆

いよいよ梅雨入りしましたね。
みなさん、いかがお過ごしですか。
さて、先月の後半プラクティスの報告をさせていただきます。


5月5日 間嶋さん
「あなたのrecommendationは?」
東京の銘菓、淡路島の美術館、活版印刷の年賀状、子どもの頃からの夢、乗馬・・ みんなの前で「私が伝えたい”オススメ” 」を話してもらいました!


5月12日 安田さん
「 Mother's Day 」
母の日って、世界中でいろんな形で祝われてるんですね。みなさんの母の日の思い出を聴けて、ほのぼの気分をいただきました!


5月19日 吉田さん
「 Let's tweet in English」
”私がもらった最高の贈り物とは・・”
”私の人生を振り返って、一つだけ変えることができるならば・・ ”
大きな車座を作って一人一人にtwitter してもらいました。えっ〜〜それってマジですか⁉︎


5月26日 口中さん
「 結婚についての概念」
”あなたの可愛い娘さんが、アメリカ人男性と結婚したいと言いました。うーむ、 国際結婚・・ ”
どう思いますか。みなさんの意見、いろいろでしたねぇ。


各プラクティスを通して、みなさんのいろんな面を垣間見れましたね。担当者の方々、ありがとうございました。
6月も雨ニモ負ケズ、楽しく一緒に英語を学びましょう!


2018 Kyoto NHK ESS スタッフ一同

2018年05月13日

5月26日プラクティス

Practice 5.26

Title: Notions of marriage (結婚観について)

1)Divide our members into 4 or 5 groups.

2)Discussion

 〇The notion of marriage means only a young couples’ matter and never be his and her families’ matter. (agree or disagree)

  〇Americans’ notions of marriages look like couple’s long journey. 

That means “Not life-long events”.

〇If you would have a young daughter (or your sister) and she said to you “I want marry an American guy.”, will you accept her or not?

                            by Takeo Kuchinaka

2018年05月10日

5月19日プラクティス

Hello, there:

This is an announcement about Practice on 2018-05-19.

Genre: Speaking / Composition
Title: Let's Tweet in English

Have you ever used Twitter?

In this practice, you’ll have an opportunity to "tweet" to others.

My definition of a "tweet" here is a clear-cut short English paragraph
which consist of a few sentences (single sentence will be OK too).

I'd like to make it a rule that every tweet should have a single idea
to deliver. That's it. There is no other rules. Just relax and
tweet whatever you want!

Let’s have fun :-)

Cheers!

Masakazu Yoshida

2018年05月07日

5月12日プラクティス

This is an announcement about the Practice on 12 th May.

Genre : Speaking
Title : Mother’s Day

We have Mother’s Day on 13th May in Japan. Let’s talk about your memory of Mother’s Day.
Before that, I may prepare some tiny quiz about Mother’s Day.

1 Make several groups
2. Simple Quiz(17:45~18:00)
3. Talk about your memory or episode of Mother’s Day(18:00~18:40)

Just relax and freely talk about your memory.
(You also can tell your friends’ funny story about it.)

Let’s have fun
Kazumasa Yasuda

2018年05月05日

5月5日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members

This is an announcement of the practice planned on May-5th.

Genre : Public Speaking
Title : Let’s recommend something interesting to others.

< Description >
Wikipedia explains “Public Speaking is the process or act of performing a speech to a live audience.
It is structured with three general purposes : to inform, to persuade and to entertain.”
In this practice, you will be recommending anything interesting to others such as a book, a movie, a drama, a travel, a sport, a restaurant, an exhibit, a spot, etc.

< How to>
First, you have 5~10 minutes for preparation,
Then, make a big sitting circle with all attendants.
Coordinator will assign a speaker in turn and accept questions for the speech.
The speaker stands up and make a speech about his/her recommendation.
Time management will be done by the coordinator.

Note: You can bring in anything to show during your recommendation speech.

Hope you enjoy it !

Isamu Mashima

2018年04月25日

☘ Kyoto NHK ESS レポート No. 1 ☘

新緑の季節となりました。
皆様 いかがお過ごしでしょうか?
最近の活動内容 を 報告させていただきます。

<前半プラクティス>

♠︎初級班
教材:英会話ラジオ
今年度から講師も内容も一変しました!
ダイアログを繰り返し読み、丁寧に文法の語順 を 確認していきます。

♠︎中級班
教材:高校生からはじめる「現代英語」
最新のニュースを読み進め、現代英語の習得に励んでいます。
特に反訳トレーニング(日本語から英語へ訳す)は、英語の筋力アップに役立ちます!

♠︎上級班
教材:「実践ビジネス英語」
最新のトピックにふれながら、初めて目にする単語を学び
ところどころ脱線しつつも前のめりに白熱した discussion を enjoyしました。


<後半プラクティス>

♦︎4月7日 (福田さん) Title : Antonym Caruta
ESS新年度にピッタリのかるた対戦!
反対語は何だ⁉︎ 頭フル回転。

♦︎4月14日 (田畑さん) Title : " Who is honest” game
正直者は誰だ⁉︎ 周りのウソにくじけず、惑わされず・・

♦︎4月21日 (野口さん) Title : About Face
何かと頭の痛い 「北朝鮮問題」
「TIME」の記事をもとに白熱した議論が飛び交いました!

♦︎4月28日 (山本さん) Title: Lies a part of human nature
悪いイメージのある「嘘」。
テキストをもとに話していくうちに 不思議と「嘘」の概念が変わっていきます。

☘5月も皆様と楽しい時間を過ごしましょう!ご参加お待ちしております!

Kyoto NHK ESS スタッフ一同

2018年04月22日

4月28日プラクティス

This is an announcement about my practice on 2018-04-28.

Genre: Speaking / Reading
Title: Lies a part of human nature
Please read the following passage in advance.

Everyone lies. In fact, research shows that in the average ten-minute conversation, two acquaintances will lie several times. The reason? The mixed messages everyone receives as children might be one reason. Although we are told never to lie, we see our parents lie about Santa Claus or the death of a pet. Parents say "thank you" when receiving a gift, even when it's unwanted.
Psychologist Paul Ekman explains that we lie for many reasons. For example, we lie to stay out of trouble, to feel better about ourselves, to receive a reward, to protect someone, or to control information. Everything from an exaggeration to a small lie falls into one of these categories.
A New Year's resolution can also be considered a lie, because we generally don't plan to keep the promise. We have only deceived ourselves. Or how about when a friend or colleague asks, "How are you? That person doesn't want to hear that you're tired, overworked, or have other problems. We lie and say "I'm fine" because of social rules. Although lies are an important part of society, we can only catch a lie about fifty percent of the time. Some experts suggest that lies actually hold society together.

I want you to think about lies. What are lies? What are they like?

Masahiro Yamamoto


2018年04月14日

4月21日プラクティス

Hello.

I hope this text message finds you well.

Here is the announcement of the latter half activity on April 21.

Genre : discussion

Title : About Face

North Korean leader Kim John Un , last year, successfully , launched ICBMs and declared his country a nuclear state.

This year , however , he did an about-face on his declaration.

US President Donald Trump warned , last year , that North Korea would be met with " fire and fury like the world has never seen ".
And talking to Kim John Un is ' a waste of time'.

This year , however , he also did an about-face : he is planning to meet Kim.

We are talking about what will actually happen .

I hope you will enjoy it.

T. Noguchi

2018年04月07日

4月14日プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Hello, here is the announcement for the practice on April 14th.
(1) Genre: Game
(2) Title: “Who is a liar” game
(3) Description:

This is the game you try to guess who is telling a lie in the opposing team.
The process is as follows.

1. Make 3 or 4 member groups.

2. Prepare the quiz
  Each team chooses one topic.
Each member prepares to give a quiz about the topic your team chose.
Decide one person who tells a lie. The other people will tell truth.
Maybe it is easy for the liar to change slightly from the true story.
Funny or tricky quiz is desirable.

3.Each group (Group A) make pairs with another group (B group) . (A vs B, C vs. D・・・)

4.Start the Quiz. A group goes first.
 Each member of A group speaks about each story of the topics in order.
 (Only 1 person tells a lie).
 *Speaking time for each person is around 1 minute.
 *The person who tells a lie, try to deceive the other group.

5.Question time
 Each member of B group can ask only one question in order to find out who the liar is.
Members of A will answer the questions, but don’t tell too direct answer.

6.Answering time
 B group members guess who a liar is.

7.Tell the right answer (who told a lie).

8. Change turns. This time B group gives a quiz and A group answers it.

9.Repeat with other topics.

<TOPICS examples>

* How did you spend last weekend?
* The best present you have ever received?
* Mischief you had ever done (including in childhood.)
* Have you ever told a big or funny lie to someone? What was it like?
* Your (or your friend’s) strange experience you have ever had.
* Embarrassing story.
* Favorite food?
* Favorite TV program.
* The most strange food you have ever had? (ex. Worm, insects)
* No experience (ex. I have never been to ・・・)
* The most impressive place you have ever been to?
* The most famous person you’ve ever met?
* Important factor to learn English
*The dangers you have passed in your life.
*The things you are thinking a lot recently
*The techniques of saving money
*The plan of your next summer vacation
*Favorite movies
*Failure story
*Heroic episode(武勇伝)
*What if you have more money than one will ever use?
・・・You can make any other topics

I hope you will enjoy that.
Thank you for reading.

Akihiro Tabata

2018年04月05日

4月7日 プラクティス

4月7日のプラクティス担当の富久田です。複数の方からアンコールのお声をいただいて反意語カルタで遊びます。五組に分かれて五回行い点数を競います。よろしくお願いいたします。

2018年03月25日

3月31日 プラクティス

Hello evryone.

I'm going to distribute the information about practice held on March 31th.

We will discuss our experience and desire about visiting World Heritage Site(WHS) in the world.

Firstly we are devided into several groups as usual.
it's desirable that a group consists of 4
or 5 members.

In each group members tell their experience to visit WHS in turn, following below steps.

1 What is your best WHS inside Japan that you've visited?
Please tell this with your reasons.

2 What is your best WHS outside Japan that you've visited?
Please tell this with your reasons.

3 What is your WHS inside Japan that you want to visit the most in the future?
Please tell this with your reasons.

4 Want is your WHS outside Japan that you want to visit the most in the future?
Please tell this with your reasons.

If you have no experience to visit WHS, please tell something regarding to No 3, 4.

Finally if we have more time, we will have some quiz time I'm preparing.

See you on March 31th.

Best Regards,
Takehiko Sakai

2018年03月15日

3月24日

Here is the announcement for the practice on March 24th.

Genre : speech

Title : One minute speech No.4


More than three and a half years have passed since we did this practice.

I hope both experienced members and whom for the first time can enjoy a little taut moment.


The process is as follows.

1. Make 3-member groups.

2. Each group has 20 pieces of paper with a topic on each.

3. The person 1 turns over the paper on top and speaks anything about the topic for one minute.

Then the person 2 speaks about the same topic.

The person 3 follows.

4. After all members finish speaking about the first topic, the person 2 turns the next paper and starts speaking.

Repeat the same routine.

5. Next, the person 3 turns the next paper and repeat the same procedure.


You don't need to consider the topic seriously but speak swiftly about what hits your mind.

Keep emitting as many words as possible for one minute without consulting a dictionary.


Regards,

Fujio Hirao

2018年03月07日

3月17日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Hello, everyone.

This is an announcement of the practice planned on March 17th.

Following materials of practice are kindly prepared and provided by Ms. Miyazawa.
Unfortunately, she cannot attend, so Ms.Tabata will be a moderator on that day.

Here is the announcement from Ms. Miyazawa.
I hope you will enjoy it!

Regards,
Yuko Tanihara


I'm sending this to let you know the contents of the upcoming practice on March 17th.

[Genre: ]Discussion

[Theme: ] double topics about current sports issues
《 Sports and budget 》--25min,
1. Should Japan spend more budget to increase the number of Olympics medalists?
2. What should Japan do for its athletes to achieve better results?
http://time.com/5168048/norway -olympics-medals-winter-games- skiiing/

《 Sumo scandal 》--25min.
1. Who should be blamed most ?(e.g. Harumafuji,Takanohana,the Asso ciation,or anyone else)
2. What can JSA(Sumo Kyokai)do to reduce the series of violent incidents?
https://www.japantimes.co.jp/n ews/2017/11/19/national/crime- legal/sumo-scandal-deepens-con flicting-accounts-alleged-assa ult-emerge/#.Wpqw6B3FIy4

[Outline:]
1) Make some groups.
2) Read the material; 2 paras for each.
(*If majority of your group don't need the reading,just skip it and allot more time for talk.)
3) Discuss the agenda
4) Summarize the discussion by one member of each group.---5min.

Thanks for your cooperation in advance.

2018年03月04日

3月10日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,


Hello, everyone.
I'm sorry to be late for my announcement.

This is an announcement of the practice planned on March 10th.

Genre :Quiz, Game

Title: Let's play sugoroku speech!

At first,please make some groups to have 4-6members in each group.

Part 1: (Warming up) English vocabulary quizzes (17:40-17:55)

This game is guessing the English word
from the definition of Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary.
One of your group member read out the definition on card.
Other members guess and answer the word.
Then, next person turn the card and read out the definition on card.
Other members guess and answer the word.
Please repeat this work by rotation.


Part 2: Sugoroku speech(17:55-18:40)
I'll prepare sugoroku sheet and question sheet for each group.
The rules are same as usual, and you should answer the question as same number on the square you stop.

I hope you will enjoy it! See you on Saturday.

Best wishes,
Yuko Tanihara

2018年02月20日

3月3日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Here is an announcement of the practice we will enjoy on March 3.

Date: March 3, 2018
Genre: Listening Comprehension & Dictation
Title: A fill-in-the-blank questions of English song lyrics

Your outstanding abilities of listening comprehension will be challenged at the upcoming practice. Lyrics of several English songs will be prepared on a piece of papers, but it is half-baked. There are a number of blanks on the sheet. You will be requested to fill in the blanks by carefully listening to English songs.

Description of the practice:
1) 3 to 4 groups will be formed.
2) The sheet with incomplete English lyrics will be provided to the group.
3) The songs will be played only three times.
4) For the first time, just listen to it very carefully.
5) For the second time, take a dictation to fill in the blank parts of the lyrics without asking advice from other members in the group. You can use dictionary if it’s necessary.
6) Before listening to the third time, make a group consensus on the blanks of lyrics as a group solution.
7) For the third time, while listening to the song, check your group’s solution. Make corrections to perfect it if necessary.
8) The sheet of answers will be given to your group.
9) The group with the most correct answers will be praised.

To ensure fairness in the game, new and old English songs will be adopted.

Makoto Nishimura

2018年02月15日

2月24日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,


This is an annoucement of the practice in the latter half of ESS meeing on Feb.24th.

1. Date: Feb.24th

2. Genre: Talking

3. Title: Winter Olympic Games.

The 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics Games began on February 9 and it is now in full swing. Everyday, we can watch exciting wonderful games through TV. I was interested in Winter Olympic Games this time and checked the history that when and where it was held until now. And also I checked who won a medal among Japanese players. Then, I'd like to talk with you about Winter Olympics Games not only Pyeongchang Games this time but also other games in the past.

4. Description

1) Please make 4-5 groups

2) I will distribute a paper written about Winter Olympic Games.

3) Please read it and fill in the blanks.

4) Next, I will distribute another paper filled in the blanks

5) Then, introduce and talk about your exciting memories about games, scenes, players and so on in your group.

I hope you will be able to enjoy the practice.

Masahiko Oka

2018年02月07日

2月17日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Good evening!
I am Yuji Tsukuda. I would like to announce the practice on February 17th.

Genre: quiz & talk
Title: hot spring

The theme is “hot spring” which is one of the greatest culture of Japan.

Firstly, you try quizzes regarding hot spring for warming up.
After that you recommend your favorite “hot spring ” to your group members.

I am looking forward to seeing you on the day.

Thank you
Best regards,

Yuji Tsukuda

2018年02月03日

2月10日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members

I am sorry that the announcement is delayed.

This is the announcement of the practice on Feb 10th.

Genre: talk and discussion

Title: GRIT

Grit is the combination of passion and perseverance.

Passion is the consistency of goals held over long periods of time. It is NOT intensity or enthusiasm held for a brief moment. It is endurance.

Perseverance is the ability to overcome setbacks, put in hard work, and finish things you’ve started.

Grit predicts success, even when controlling for talent or IQ. That is, between two people of the same talent level, a grittier person will enjoy more success.

Life satisfaction and grit correlate strongly.

Procedure

・Make some groups.

1st stage (15-20minutes)

・I distribute memo pads.

・Start with the Grit Test.

・Please write as follows one by one.

· Have you been experiencing any activity for more than one year? What is it?

· Why were you able to continue the activity?

· How do you think to improve grid?

Etc...

2nd stage (35-40minutes)

・Share it to your group.

・Discuss how to improve grit.

・Other members advise the speaker.

Please repeat as above by rotation.

I hope you will enjoy the practice and it will contribute to improve your grit and satisfaction with life.

Thanks,

Sorry but I can't come to the Zngyoin today.

Yusuke Ueno

2018年01月24日

2月3日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto ESS Members,

Let me introduce the contents of the practice for Feb.3rd below.

[Genre] variety

[Title] “Let’s enjoy balloon art!”

[How to Do]

1 Make some groups according the number of participants.

2 Balloons are provided to each then I’ll explain the tips about balloon twisting.

3 I’ll demonstrate and teach you how to make a dog balloon that is very easy and simple one.

4 If you master a dog balloon twisting, for the next step, I’ll lecture some other animal balloons such as a swan and a giraffe.

5 And finally let’s try to make your original Dharma balloon, if we have enough time.

Please bring your scissors and oil-based maker pens if you have.
And if you want to have imagery rehearsal beforehand,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iFwxQ-qDcn8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FEzqoeJ1zx0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RDDk8OipL1I

I hope you enjoy it!


M.Tabata


2018年01月22日

1月27日 プラクティス

Dear ladies & gentlemen in Kyoto-ESS,

Firstly, let me apologize for my delay in posting the practice in this weekend.

Also, allow me to announce the contents as follows:


Introduction

New technology always changes our life. Imagine life before Electricity, Life before the Automobile, life before the Telephone, life before the Computer, and life before the Smartphone.,etc. in the coming table, in the coming practice, let’s discuss technology & your life.


Theme: How does new technology affect your life?

Date: 1/27/2018

Type: Talking/discussion.

Detail:

1) In the first half, discuss the following topics in each groups.

- Which technology/application have most influenced on your life in the past 20 years? eg.. Internet, PC, Smartphone, tablet, GPS, LED-light, electric assist bicycle, VR (virtual reality), some sort of new drug etc.

- How have they changed your life?

- The technology has changed your life better or not? Are there any side-effect?


2) In the second half, discuss the following topics.

- Which new technology/application are you interested? why? Any side-effect?

eg. AI, Gene-editing/designer baby, Cell therapy, Robot suit/powered exoskeleton, autonomous car/self driving car, wireless power supply, Quantum computer etc.


- Based on the new technology that you choose, imagine the society of future, by using of it.

Best.


K.Murota.

2018年01月11日

1月20日 プラクティス

Dear, ESS members


Happy new year!!

I wish your happiness and peaceful new year!!


How are you?

Sorry for long time no see.

I hope we can meet at new year party!

Today I would like to inform you about first practice in 2018.

During new year holiday, you must eat many delicious foods.

So let's share your recommended dish.


We can accept any menu in the world, of course Japanese dish also. But please explain how to prepare in English and what kind of integrant do you use, when did you eat ? what the meaning of food? any story of dish, etc.


Procedure of practice 20th Jan 2018

1, Let’s make 5-6members group.

2, Please introduce your recommended dish among group members with one paper.

(5min preparing time)

(15min sharing time)

→What is the name of dish?

→Why do you like? When do you eat?

→Which countries food?

→What are integrant?

→How to cook? etc

3, Please decide best of dish in group presenter.(5min preparing time)

4, Please present and share your recommendation dish with in 3min for other group members.

(15min sharing time)

5, Let’s decide most favorite dish in ESS.(5min)

6, Award to Best dish group…..


I'm looking forward to see you.


Thanks and best regards


HiromiSegawa

2017年12月16日

12月23日 プラクティス

Dear kyoto NHK-ESS members,
This is the anuouncement of the practice on December 23th.

Genre: Talk
Title: What is your favorite book?
Please intoroduce your favorite book.

Description:
1. Make 3 groups.
2. Each member gives a talk about
'' My favorite book''.
3. Other members can ask some questions
to the speaker.
Each of you have about 10 minutes
including Q&A.

I hope you will enjoy the practice . Thank you.

2017年12月05日

12月16日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto ESS members,


This is an announcement of practice on Dec 16.


Program

This is a consensus game, rule is very simple.

First of all, make several groups. And choose a presenter in your group.

Please read the sentence and put priority on items listed in the sentence. After you decide your opinion, discuss within your group and make your group’s opinion. Please try to make a unanimous opinion as possible as you can. One thing which to be keep in mind is when you decide your opinion, please think the reason/ground in English and try to explain at the discussion.


Time table

17:40-18:00 Read and make your own answer

18:00-18:30 Discuss and make consensus in your group

18:30-18:35 Present an answer of your group and the reason(why?).

18:35-18:40 Model answer

See you soon

Hiroaki Ishizaki

12月9日 プラクティス


Hi, everyone.

Here is the announcement for the practice on the December 9th.

[Genre] interpretation

[Subject] radio commercial

[How to] 1 I want you to be divided into 4 or 5 groups as usual.

2 I want each group to select a representative.

3 Representatives will get together and do “rock-paper-scissors” and decide the order to pull a sheet of Japanese radio commercial scenarios.

4 The first winner pick up one from those sheets which are placed up- side down. And the second , the third , and the rest do the same thing one by one.

5 The representatives show it to their members.

6 Each member interpret the scenario into English by oneself.

You don’t have to stick to the Japanese, you can also arrange the expression as you like, you can change the name of the company at your convenience.

7 Around at 6:00pm, read aloud and show what you wrote one by one, and select the best scenario among the group to make a presentation. Or you can mixture your works. And also select representatives to perform.

8 Around at 6:20pm, presentation starts from group No1.

(1)First, I will ask the roles of the representatives, and then perform your works in English..

(2)Second, perform the original Japanese scenario to make the listeners easier to understand .

(3)Third, perform your English scenario again.

9 Other groups make presentations as the same as above.

I hope you can enjoy the simple humor of those scenarios. And make sure to listen carefully as you listen to a radio.

Thank you,

Iwai Megumi

2017年11月29日

12月2日 プラクティス

Dear ESS members
This is Shigeo HORI in charge of December 2nd practice in Hitomachi

Title: On OSAKA
Genre: Discussion (with qiz)
Description: We'd like to discuss the various things about Osaka.
First I'd like to give you a small quiz on Osaka. Good answer person
may get a present.
Then we will divide in several groups and talk about Osaka.
The points are cultural difference between Kyoto and Osaka, inbound
tourism, etc.
I hope you to discuuss the matters of a big city neighboring to Kyoto.

Thank you.


ps. Sorry that my computer was damaged and can't send you some
sophisticated setences.

2017年11月23日

11月25日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto ESS Member,
Let me introduce the contents of the practice for November 25th below.
Step 1:
Make some groups. Some materials (paper slip) on the practice are
handed out.
Step 2:
Decide the order in each group.
Step 3:
First person picks up a paper slip in which a question about Japanese
culture or customs is written in.
Step 4:
First person asks the other members to answer the question
as if the first person doesn’t know the answer.
Step 5:
The next person takes turns.
Step 6:
One member summarize the conversation in each group and
give a presentation in front of everyone.


I hope you will enjoy the practice.
Have a nice day!
Natsuko

2017年11月14日

11月 18日 プラクティス

Hello, Ecc members,

I'm Tamaki Murase. Long time no see. How are you? ……I'm fine, thank you. Yes, this is the announcement of the practice on Nov. 18.

I thought about the idea of the practice, but I could'nt come up with a good idea. But one idea poped up on my mind when I was taking a shower last night. So, I decided to stick to that idea, which is 「Love Letter Reading」.

Genre: performance

How to do:
① make several groups.

②a sheet of paper is provided to each.

Write a short love letter. Imagine that you are in love with someone passionately. It may be easier to think of a particular person such as your favorite actor or singer or anime character or wife or boyfriend or whoever. The length of the letter is within 2 minutes when you read it.

③Read your letter emotionally in the group.(You are an actor or actress !)

④ Select the representatives(a male & a female) in each group.

⑤Make random pairs among the representatives.

⑥A pair stand face to face each other making a performance of love letter reading one by one. (You can change the words adopting the person in front of you.)

⑦The audience decides which reading is more passionate and touching.

⑧Finally, the audience select the best performer of love letter reading.


That'it.
I think it will be fun.

「世紀のラブレター」by Kumiko Kakehashi is a reference book.

See you then.

2017年11月08日

11月11日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto ESS members

This is an information of the practice to be held at the latter half of November 11th by Shimon Nakamuara.

This information might have been a little late for announcement because I was fearing that my practice might not overlap any practice held on the Camp on 4th and 5th to which I attended.

1) Make some groups according the number of participants.

2) Create your original and unique favorite motto in English (自己の座右の銘)for 15 minutes.

If you have such a noble mind-decision policy, it is superb. If you have not yet it , create it today.

It will surely bring you a successful and constructive life.

3) Make an impromptu speech by any topic shown in a separate paper (about 30) which I will hand out on that day. All topics are simple and easy to speak thereabout off-the-cuff.

It is recommended for any attendee to pick up 2 to 3 topics and make an impromptu speech for each topic in your group.

Any question for such a speech should be acceptable and you have to answer it.

Please continue it until the end of time.

I was very busy in this week after coming back from the Camp and could not prepare enough consideration to this obligation, 

but I hope you will enjoy this practice. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Shimon Nakamura

2017年10月31日

合宿(11/4〜11/5) プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS member,

This is summary of the announcement of practice in English Camp.


♪*:..:♪♪*:..:*♪*:..:♪♪*:..:*♪*:..:*♪*:..:♪♪*:..:*♪*:..:*♪*:..:♪
Genre: variety

1st stage: Democracy game
13:15-14:30 Practice①75分 Ms. Tanihara
Genre :Quiz, Translation and Play

Title: Let's answer the questions of science or social studies and play in English!
At first,
please make some groups to have 4-6members in each group.

Part 1: (Warming up) Questions of science or social studies (13:15-13:25)
At first,please read and try to answer these questions by yourself.
Then, shall we share these answers with your group members?

Part 2: English Theater
2-1. Preparation(13:25-14:10)
I'll give each Japanese famous story for each group.
At first, please translate Japanese into English.
Then, develop some unique story after this.
2-2. Presentation (14:10-14:30)
Please play and share the story of your group with all members.

I hope you will enjoy it! See you on next Saturday.

Best wishes,
Yuko Tanihara

♪*:..:♪♪*:..:*♪*:..:♪♪*:..:*♪*:..:*♪*:..:♪♪*:..:*♪*:..:*♪*:..:♪
Genre: variety

1st stage: Democracy game
Guess the most answers in each theme.
2nd stage: Pictionary
Guess the word from the picture.
3rd stage: Spelling Chain
Write many words connecting the last letter and the first letter.
4th stage: Mastermind  
  Guess the 4-letter word.

I’ll explain that in detail on that day.
I’ll hope you enjoy that.

Best wishes,
Akihiro Tabata


♪*:..:♪♪*:..:*♪*:..:♪♪*:..:*♪*:..:*♪*:..:♪♪*:..:*♪*:..:*♪*:..:♪
16:10-17:30 Practice③80分 Mr. Mashima
“Debate:”

Genre : Debate

Prepositions A : NHK should be privatized.

B : Schools should be " Coeducation " .

First of all, this debate is not very much formal one.

Affirmative and Negative debaters will exchange rebuttals after the opening
remarks by both team leaders.

The chairperson is responsible for steering the debate.

Procedures and time allocations.

1. Make Affirmative and Negative teams for the given preposition ( 2min
).
2. Team preparation time ( 5 min )
3. Each team leader gives affirmative and negative opening remarks
respectively ( 2min each ).
4. Exchange rebuttals ( less than 1 min each ) like
Aff.=>Neg.=>Aff.=>Neg.=> ( 28min )
5. Judgement ( 1min )

.

Please develop your perspective for the given prepositions.

Isamu Mashima

♪*:..:♪♪*:..:*♪*:..:♪♪*:..:*♪*:..:*♪*:..:♪♪*:..:*♪*:..:*♪*:..:♪
20:30-21:30 Practice④60分 Mr. Yoshida
Genre: Listing Comprehension

Title: What's going on there?

Perhaps listing skill is one of the hardest things to acquire for
none-native English speakers. Let's face the fact :)

This year, I'd like to you to watch some video clips, then answer
questions (what's happening). To make it interesting (or hard) for
you, I'm going to choose videos from collections of comedy and sci-fi
DVDs. Of course, they are for adults!

Since this Practice is the last of day one, let's kick back and enjoy
the ride!

Cheers!

Masakazu Yoshida

♪*:..:♪♪*:..:*♪*:..:♪♪*:..:*♪*:..:*♪*:..:♪♪*:..:*♪*:..:*♪*:..:♪
11月5日(日)
9:00-10:15 Practice⑤ 75分 Mr. Masayama
Genre: Quiz

Title: Riddle me a riddle, what’s this?

How to play:

① Make teams in which each one consists of four to five members.

② I’ll ask you riddles posed in order of low to high-rank.

③ Every team has a discussion time for two to four minutes to solve a
riddle according to its difficulty, and I’ll ask your team the solution in
turn when the discussion time is over.

④ Your team will be able to ask me for a hint by raising a hand during
the discussion time if it can’t find out a clue to solve, but in this case,
your team will get only half a point it can get without the hint even if it
hits the correct solution.

⑤ Each obtained point by your team will be added to your team score and,
I’m going to announce the total scores of each team at the end of the game.

I also hope all of the participants will enjoy the game and become
clear-headed through it. Sorry if the game makes your hangover even worse!
:) .

♪*:..:♪♪*:..:*♪*:..:♪♪*:..:*♪*:..:*♪*:..:♪♪*:..:*♪*:..:*♪*:..:♪
10:25-11:25 Practice⑥60分Mr. Minamihashi
ommunication is a must for us, either for expressing ourselves or
listening to the others’ stories. So, I planned this practice to boost
communication for all of us.
1)Date: Nov. 5th,
2017 ―10:25―11:25
2)Genre: Talks
3)Title: Communication
through brief comments on 140 topics!
4)Description:

10:25-10:30
A) Count 1 to 10 so that we would have some groups of 2 to 3 members.
B) Have your own material with 3 pieces of paper, which would be distributed
to all.
<PART 1> 10:30-10:50 Light-hearted topics
Decide the first speaker in your group, choose your topic one by one
from 70 topics in PART1, and make brief comments on the topic in turn clockwise
until 10:50.
NOTICE: Please remain silent
except on your own turns so that even shy members can speak out on their turn.
<PART 2> 10:50-11:20 Serious topics
From 10:50 to 11:20, choose your topic from PART2, which is on the
other side of the paper.
<Share Impressions
with your group members> 11:20-11:25
From 11:20 to 11:25, share your general impressions of your group,
topics and ESS English Training Camp 2017 as a whole.

Let’s
maximize our communication!

OSAMU MINAMIHASHI

2017年10月20日

10月 28日 プラクティス

Hi, everyone. This is Octane announcing the 2nd practice on October 28.

Are you ready to come on the day to earnestly enjoy and learn English and some of the United Nation’s activity? I promise you have an electrified experience within the 60 min of practice together with me.
Following you will see a part of the content in the practice on the day. I hope to see you at the temple.
できれば、前もって少しは準備して調べといてね、そしたら当日は楽しいし。

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

In 2015, seventeen SDGs goals are proposed by the UN as the obligation of all member nations to be achieved before 2030.
Purposes of the goals are briefly described in Sheet 1, but not in the right order to the original one. In the sheet they are arbitrarily numbered by alphabets A‾Q.
In Sheet 2, although incapable to show today in this RoundTable, to my regret, each of the seventeen goals has its own logo mark designed by the UN to symbolize specific activities.

PRACTICE:
Procedure 1. Read Sheet 1 to study 1) what are serious world problems, 2) what is the purpose of UN’s SDGs: first by each and then in the group.
Procedure 2. Take a deep look at Sheet 2 and connect each logo with one of the descriptions in Sheet 1 (group work). If needed in advance, you can find the logos by the internet.
Procedure 3. Presentation time for opinions and impressions for SDGs.

< Sheet 1 > Seventeen Goals of SDGs.

Goal A. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all
Goal B. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all
Goal C. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
Goal D. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss
Goal E. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages
Goal F. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable
Goal G. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development
Goal H. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture
Goal I. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all
Goal J. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels
Goal K. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development
Goal L. End poverty in all its forms everywhere
Goal M. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
Goal N. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls
Goal M. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all
Goal O. Reduce inequality within and among countries
Goal P. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts
Goal Q. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

< Sheet 2 > will be presented on the day


10月21日 プラクティス (予告 No2)

Hello, Dear Kyoto(NHK)ESS Members !
Some additional announcement and information for Oct.21 practice are as follows.

Genre : Discussion

The title of the practice is
“ Which head (minister etc.) of ministry in the new cabinet do you choose ? ”

After dividing members into several groups, each member can study about
jobs of the ministries of the cabinet reading reference papers. Each member should choose the minister in the cabinet(the group; suppose it as the cabinet) within 20 min.
After discussion for 20~30 minutes the prime minister of each group will
Announce policy of each minister in the group.

Expecting heated discussion, see you coming saterday.
Y. Imai
( Refer attached documents)

財務省
財務省
財務省の権力は省庁の中でトップクラス。というのも、各省庁の予算を決めているから。
仕事内容
• 健全な財政の確保
• 適正で公平な課税の実現
• 国庫の適正な管理
• 通貨に対する信頼の維持
• 外国為替の安定の確保  など。
平たく言うと、

• 予算の作成
• 税金の仕組みを考える。
o 税金を集めるのは財務省に属する国税庁。
o 脱税を取り締まるのは国税局査察部(いわゆる「マルサ」)
• お金を作る。
o 実際に作るのは、独立行政法人の印刷局と造幣局。

外務省
外務省ホームページ(日本語):トップページ
外務省は人員不足。
戦後、公務員の大リストラが必要になったとき、外交官出身の吉田茂総理が他省庁の反対を押し切るために率先して外務省の大リストラを行ったため、それが尾を引いているといわれている。
仕事内容
• 平和で安全な国際社会の維持に寄与
• 良好な国際環境の整備
• 調和ある対外関係を維持し、発展させる
• 国際社会での日本国と日本国民の利益の増進  など。
平たく言うと、

• 外国との交渉の窓口
• 海外の情報収集
• 大使館などの仕事
ポスト
• 大使
o 大国の大使は事務次官経験者から選ばれる。小国や発展途上国の大使は、嫌がる人が多く、他の省庁から派遣された人に任せることもある。
o アメリカ大使:外交官の最高のポスト。
法務省
法務省
仕事内容
• 法の番人として刑法、民法、商法などの重要な法律を管理
• 法務大臣の所管に検察庁があるので、各省庁が裁判のときに検事を貸す(レンタル検事)
• 法務省の事務次官は、最高検察庁長官になるためのポスト。法務省は検事の力が強いので、最高検察庁長官が頂点の存在。
• 法務大臣は、最高検察庁長官を通じて、検察の捜査に意見できる(指揮権)。
• 刑務所の運営。

厚生労働省
厚生労働省
仕事内容
• 国民生活の保障と向上
• 社会福祉、社会保障、公衆衛生の向上と増進
• 労働条件や労働者の働く環境を整えること
• 職業の確保
• 引き上げ者、戦傷病者、戦没者遺族、未帰還者留守家族などの援護と、旧陸海軍の残務の整理  など。
平たく言うと、

• 社会福祉と医療
文部科学省
文部科学省ホームページ
憲法で保障された教育(すべての国民は、法律の定めるところにより、その能力に応じて、ひとしく教育を受ける権利を有する)を国民に行う。
仕事内容
• 教育の振興
• 生涯学習で豊かな人間性の人材育成
• 学術、スポーツ、文化の振興
• 科学技術の振興
• 宗教関係の事務  など。
ちなみに、スポーツ振興くじtotoの胴元。

国土交通省
国土交通省
仕事内容
• 国土の開発と保全
• 社会資本の整備
• 交通政策
• 気象
• 海上の安全と治安の確保  など
無駄な公共事業が発生する仕組み
• 政治家は選挙で選ばれる
• 政治家の熱心の支援者は建設業者が多い
• 自分の選挙区に公共事業を国や地方自治体から持ってくる
• 次の選挙での当選につながる
農林水産省
農林水産省ホームページ
仕事内容
• 食の安定供給
• 農林水産業の発展
• 農山漁村と中山間地域などの新興
• 森林の管理
• 水産資源保存と管理 など
競馬の胴元は農林水産省。
食料自給率が低い理由
畜産で使う餌(飼料)の小麦や大麦の自給率が11%しかないから。
飼料を輸入してそれを肉や豚の餌にし、それを肉にして食べるから食料自給率が低い。

• 食料自給率が低いことの問題点
o 相手貿易国が不作だったときに、売ってもらえない可能性がある。
o 相手貿易国が戦争などに巻き込まれた場合、食料が輸入できなくなる
o 開発途上国の食費が、日本の食料輸入で上がる(日本が高い価格で海外の農産物を買うと、値段が上がり、開発途上国の貧しい人が食べ物を買えなくなる)。それにより、国際社会から非難を受ける可能性がある。

総務省
総務省
色々なことをやっているので、財務省と同じくらい権力があり、公務員志望者の人気が高い。
仕事内容
• 行政制度の管理
• 地方自治の実現
• 民主政治の確立(選挙)
• 自律的な地域社会の形成
• 国と地方公共団体などとの連絡役
• 情報通信政策
• テレビなどの電波事業の管理
• 郵政事業
• 消防
• 行政評価  など
防衛省
防衛省・自衛隊
仕事内容
• 日本の平和と独立を守る
• 国の安全を保つ
• 陸上自衛隊、海上自衛隊、航空自衛隊の管理
• 在日米軍の事務管理 など。
自衛隊の最高司令官は、内閣総理大臣。
自衛隊の組織
• 内閣総理大臣
• 防衛大臣
• 統合幕僚監部(総司令部)
• 自衛隊員

経済産業省
経済産業省のWEBサイト / Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
• 産業政策
• 貿易や中小企業対策
• 競輪とオートレース

環境省
環境省へようこそ!
• 環境問題に対応するための総合的な省庁。
• 地球温暖化対策など

2017年10月16日

10月21日 プラクティス

Hello, Dear Kyoto(NHK)ESS Members !
Some announcement and information for Oct.21 practice are as follows.

Genre : Discussion

The title of the practice is

“ Which head (minister etc.) of ministry in the new cabinet do you choose ? ”

Suppose you have enough political power , and under strong support by citizens, you can not run away from it.


内閣官房(*)
Cabinet Secretariat
http://www.cas.go.jp/
内閣府
Cabinet Office, Government of Japan
http://www.cao.go.jp/
 宮内庁
the Imperial Household Agency
http://www.kunaicho.go.jp/
 国家公安委員会(*)
National Public Safety Commission
http://www.npsc.go.jp/
  警察庁
the National Police Agency
http://www.npa.go.jp/
 防衛省(*)
Ministry of Defense
http://www.jda.go.jp/
 金融庁(T)
Financial Services Agency
http://www.fsa.go.jp/
総務省(*)
Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications
http://www.soumu.go.jp/
法務省(*)
Ministry of Justice
http://www.moj.go.jp/
外務省(*)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
http://www.mofa.go.jp/mofaj/
財務省(*)
Ministry of Finance
http://www.mof.go.jp/
文部科学省(*)
Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology
http://www.mext.go.jp/
厚生労働省(*)
Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare
http://www.mhlw.go.jp/
農林水産省(*)
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan
http://www.maff.go.jp/
経済産業省(*)
Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry
http://www.meti.go.jp/
国土交通省(*)
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport
http://www.mlit.go.jp/
環境省(*)

Ministry of the Environment
http://www.env.go.jp/


We will have 4~6 members in each group. It is recomendable a prime minister should
exist in each group. In the last announcement of each group, the prime minister shall
tell us the outline of the discussion.

Additional information will sent later.

2017年10月10日

10月14日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

This is the announcement of the upcoming Practice.

1. Date: Oct.14th.
2. Genre: Discussion
3. Title: Story of Mistakes (Failure) and lessons you learned
4. Description:

(1) Make some groups.

(2) Please talk about your story of mistake you made in the past and
what you learned from it within your group.

(3) Select one presenter in your group and share some of impressive stories with everybody.

I hope you enjoy it.

Thank you.

Y.Atsuta

2017年09月21日

9月30日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

This is the announcement of the Practice.
1. Date: Sep.30.
2. Genre: Discussion
3. Title: Suggestions to solve social problems
4. Description:
(1) Make some groups.
(2) Please talk about the following three social problems and make some proposals to solve them in the group. (15min. for each problem)
a. Plastic garbage
b. Food loss
c. Long hour work
(3) Present the suggestions of your group to other members. (15min.)
I hope you to study for the problems beforehand and have a lively discussion on the day.
Let’s talk a lot and enjoy the practice.
Thank you.

G.Kitaura

2017年09月19日

10月7日 プラクティス


親愛なるESSの皆様へ
Practice :Improve your English vocabulary by using Longman E-E dictionary
Title : Can you guess what it is. Use Longman Advanced Dictionary 
If you wish to improve your English skills, by using Longman E-E dictionary.
I have often used this dictionary after that I could memorize some expressions in it.

Divide our members into 6 groups
Each group member answer assigned question.
Considering time 20 minutes
Translate the English sentences into Japanese.
Guess the Answer. (nouns only)
I will prepare 30 questions to the members.

Ex) a small animal with four legs that is often kept as a pet or using for catching mice
訳)小さな動物で4本の脚をもちペットとして飼われ、
或いはネズミを捕るために飼われている。
Answer) cat (ねこ)
Questions are very easy ones, don’t hesitate to joining us.

TAKEO KUCHINAKA

2017年09月15日

9月23日 プラクティス

Dear kyoto ESS members

Let me announce the practice on september 23

GNERE : A ward association game

Description: I will prepare chinise
Character cards. then choose two cards, and conect both words.
As you know 'when a gust of wind blows, box maker makes a lot of money. ' It's called the butterfly effect! Please make your original composition.

I hope you enjoy the game.

Kenji Tsuji September 7

9月16日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

This is an announcement of the practice on September 16th.

Genre: Translation

Title: English neologisms and speeches

I’ll divide members into some groups.

1. Try to translate some new English words into Japanese

2. I've prepared six stirring speeches in English. Choose one of the speeches which was already translated into Japanese. Each member tries to translate it back into English again and share it in the group.

I hope you enjoy it.


Shiho Nakashima

2017年09月03日

9月9日 プラクティス

Hell everyone,
This is the practice announcement on Sep. 9th.

Genre : Presentation
Title : Research Project in this summer

Did you have a good time in this summer holiday?
When you were an elementary school student, didn't you do summer holiday- homework called
research project (自由研究)!?
Did you make a money box or insect collecting?

Anyway, we have a saying "Study Lifetime"
so could you tell everybody what you learnt,
what was interested for you in this summer?
This is kind of a presentation even if it is trivial things for your 「大人の自由研究」.
Please bring your money box or insect collecting if you need!

Let's enjoy listening their research project!

Ryuichi Tanaka

2017年08月27日

9月2日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS member

Hello everyone.
I'm sorry to be late for our announcement.

Genre: Discussion & Presentation
Title: Guide tour
Description
[Step. 1]
Make groups to be 4‾5 members in each group.

[Step. 2]
You are a tour guide. You have to guide rich American couple around Kansai area, and they don’t satisfied with famous tourist spot, like Fushimi inari, Kiyomizu Temple etc.
So please determine the Itinerary.

1 Write down three your recommended tourist attractions and reasons. (10 min)

2 Introduce your recommended tourist attractions to your group. (15 min)

3 Make two days Itinerary for American couple. One group one Itinerary (20 min)

4 Present your group's tour to the other group. (10 min)

We hope you will enjoy it! See you on Saturday.
Best wishes,

--

--------------------------------------------------------

Segawa Hiroshi

--------------------------------------------------------

2017年08月20日

8月26日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto ESS members

Let me announce the practice on Aug 26.

GENRE: translation

Title: Let`s make script from the movies!!

Description:

We will work to complete the blank scripts from two movies `` Roman
Holiday`` and ``Back to the Future.``

1. Make groups to be 4‾5 members in each group.

② I will hand out papers the script from one scene from ``Roman Holiday.``

③ Some dialogues between Princess Ann(Audrey Hepburn) and Joe
Bradley(Gregory Peck) are blank.

④ Please fill in the blanks to complete dialogues(20minutes).

(First, you try to fill in the blanks by yourself. Next, you discuss scripts
to fill in in the group.)

Japanese translation helps what sentences or words should be inserted.

⑤ I will hand out the complete script of ``Roman Holiday.``

⑥ Representatives from each group recite the script by turns in
front(10inutes).

Please play as you would be Audrey Hepburn or Gregory Peck.

⑦ We will do the same routine concerning with ``Back to the Future.``

I hope you enjoy the world of the movie !!

Seiichiro Iwai

2017年08月17日

8月19日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Hello, everyone.
I'm sorry to be late for our announcement.

Genre: Talk

Title: How about your summer vacation?

At first, please make some groups to have 4-6 members in each group.

Talk style:
Step 1.Person X provides a topic of conversation.
Step 2.Other member in same group asks each in turn on a given topic, and person X answers each question.
*Please change the person who provide a topic, then repeat steps 1 and 2.

Contents:
Part 1:This summer vacation (2017)
Did you visit somewhere?
How was the climate?Did you feel the changing climate, e.g. "tropical night" and "heat-filled day"?
Do you have any idea to enjoy hot summer days?

Part 2: Past summer vacation (memories)
How was your summer vacation in your school days?
Is there any impressive memories, e.g.grandma's house, summer session or fire-works?

Part 3: Future summer vacation (hope)
What would you like to do your summer vacation in future, e.g. travel abroad or summer resort?
How do you think the custom of summer vacation in abroad?

Let's share various memories or hope of summer vacation!
We hope you will enjoy it! See you on Saturday.

Best wishes,
ESS staffs of 2017

2017年07月25日

7月29日 プラクティス


1, discussion and description

2, I will give you a lot of topics such as sports ,seasons,food,family and so on.

3, discuss and describe each topics in your own way.

M.Ohishi

2017年07月15日

7月 22日 プラクティス

I hope this text message finds you well.

What we are going to do is :

Appreciate Literature

1) Japanese poems

2) English poems

T.Noguchi

2017年07月07日

7月15日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS member
This is the information about the practice on July 15.
.
Genre: Talk & Discussion
Title: School Days & Education
Description

These days I have some chances to meet my old friends. They remind me of my school days. You have some memories of school days, don’t you? You have some opinions about education, don’t you? Let’s talk and discuss about those.

[Step. 0]
Make some groups and make pairs in each group. If you don’t have partner, please find a partner in other group. If there is no partner in all groups, I will become your partner.

[Step. 1] (30〜40 minutes)
I will give you a topic to be related to school or education. Please ask a question about the topic each other for about 8 minutes. I’m a timekeeper. About 8 minutes later, I will request to change your partner and give you another topics again. Please start conversation again and repeat like this style.
I’ll choose topics below
Subjects (English Japanese Science Mathematics Art Favorite subject ・・・ )
Teacher(Male/Female teacher Kind teacher Strict teacher Charming teacher ・・・)
Examination(Entrance exam Regular exam Cheating ・・・)
Event(School trip School festival Sports festival Graduation ceremony ・・・)
Friend(Boy friend Girl friend Good friend Bad company ・・・)

[Step. 2] (20〜30 minutes)
Please gather in each group.
Please answer the following questions one by one and discuss about each opinion.
Q1. These days some companies introduce an internship program. Is it useful for students? Why/Why not?
Q2. The number of student studying abroad is decreasing. Should the Japanese students positively try to study abroad? Why/Why not?

Hirokazu Sakai

2017年07月03日

7月8日 プラクティス

The practice on July 8th is as follows;

2017.7.8 (Sat.)
Made by Matsumoto Ryuhei

Translation Training(J→E)

✓ Make five (A, B, C, D, E) groups.

[Part 1] 30min.(10min. for translation, and 20 min. for presentation of the 5 jobs)
✓ Each group translates some different Japanese sentences on the following five themes into English as a group work.
1)Buddhist images(如来、菩薩、明王)
2)martial arts(空手、剣道、柔道)
3)something to do with a shrine(破魔矢、手水舎、絵馬)
4)Kimono(振袖、紋付、浴衣)
5)Japanese architecture(合掌造り、寝殿造り、書院造り)

✓ Each group will show its translation work from 1) to 5).


[Part 2] 15min., when time allows
✓ Representatives from the five groups will move to the front, and pick up a piece of paper(only in Japanese) from ① to ⑤.

✓ They make an impromptu translation from Japanese into English in the numerical order.

✓ Evaluated by the other participants randomly.

✓ Repeat the above process three times at most.

From Matsumoto

2017年06月23日

7月1日 プラクティス

Dear mebers of the Kyoto ESS members.

I am Akira Hashimoto from the Kyoto ESS. I will be in charge of practice on next week, so I would like to make an announcement for what I am planning to do.

Since this is the first day of the summer season (month), I would like you to discuss about what do you want to do for this summer.

Date: 1st of July, 2017
Genre: Talk
Title: What do you want to achieve in this summer?

4:Description
At first, members will be divided to 5-6 groups depending on the number of attendant.
Then, people in the groups will share what they want to do during this summer (holidays).
What you are planning to do can be anything, from personal matters to the business/academical matters.
For example, where you want to make a visit, who you want to meet, what event you want to attend, etc.
Please feel free to exchange your thought.

Best regards,

Akira Hashimoto

2017年06月16日

6月24日 プラクティス

Hi, everyone.

Here is the announcement for the practice on the June 24th.

[Genre] impromptu speech(即興スピーチ)

[Subject] things what we use or see in our daily life, such as stationaries, household appliances, parts of a house and so on (ex: socks, ball-point-pen, microwave, bag, ceiling).

[How to] 1 I want you to be divided into 4 or 5 groups as usual.
    2 I will hand out a pack of cards to each group.
    3 In your group, put those cards upside down.
   4 Decide the persons, who would do first, and who would be a timekeeper.
   5 The first one take one from those cards.
    6 The timekeeper time 30 seconds and the first speaker constructs a rough story within 30 seconds .
.   7 Then the timekeeper calls “ Start “ and he or she starts their speech.
Make sure to use simple expressions and short sentences to be understood by everyone,
If you feel difficulty, you can speech looking at the [Hints] .
  8 The speech would finish within one minute to two minutes.
The speaker can stop talking when 1 minute passes, and can check the time when he or she wants to finish .
 9 When the time passes 2minutes and still the speech is continuing, the timekeeper must say , “ Finish”.
  10 The audience can ask questions to the speaker if they want to.
  11 When the first one finishes, do the same thing from the 5 in clockwise until 20:10.
  12 When you want to change these rules, you can do as you like.

[Hints] You can talk about the history or your attachment for some specific one, or your opinion on general ones . Here are some hints to make your speech .
1 What does that remind you of?
   2 How many those things do you have ?
   3 What kind of that is your favorite one ?
   4 Do you have some memories about that ?
   5 Do you have any opinion about that ?
   6 How long have you being using that ?
   7 Do you want to use that from now and then, and why ?
   8 Do you want to buy a new one, and why ?
These are only hints . You don’t have to try to answer them. You can tell anything about that . I wish you can enjoy the speaker’s opinion , idea ,or memories about the thing .

Regards
Megumi Iwai

2017年06月07日

6月17日 プラクティス

Dear ESS members

This is the announcement of the practice on June17th.
The title is Word Construction and Letter Building.

The practice will be carried out as follows.

You will be divided into some groups as usual according to the number of participants on the day.
You will compete with other groups by forming as many words as possible using given letters within 5minuits for each sheet and those words created will be counted after the game.

While you are discussing within the group, use only English and you can use your dictionary for word construction but not for letter building.

I hope you enjoy the game.

Kumiko Takesue

2017年06月04日

6月10日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Hi, everyone!
This is the chairperson of practice on June 10, Motoko Tabata.
I'm so happy to announce the practice for the second half activity on June 10.
Here is the contents of my practice.

1  Date: June 10, 2017
2  Genre: Discussion
3  Title: ”女子力”?”男子力”?
4  Description:
  Recently I often hear such expression like “女子力高い”
What is ”女子力“?
Cooking ability? kindness? thoughtfulness・・・?
Then how about “男子力“?
I’d like you to discuss”女子力”,”男子力” and gender equality in this practice.

  ☆ Make 5~6 groups.
☆First every member read through all the materials by yourself. 
And please write down 3 items of your image on “女子力”and ”男子力”and share your lists with your group members.
☆ Exchange your opinions in your group on each question below.

(1)What do you think of ”女子力”? Good meaning or bad meaning?
Have you ever heard of”男子力”?
And which type do you belong to a ”女子力高い” person , a ”男子力高い” person, or none of them?
(Just self judgement is enough. So please don’t take it seriously.)
And what are ”女子力低い”behavior and ”男子力低い”behavior for you?

(2) Do you agree or disagree so-called “lady’s day(レディースデー)”? And why?
And do you think the sham tears(女の涙) privilege of women?
Are women-only passenger cars acceptable to you?
It’s fair or unfair?

(3) According to the Global Gender Gap Report 2016, Japan slid to 111th ranking in the World Economic Forum gender equality rankings.
What do you think about this?

☆Introduce your group summary to the groups (from around 18:30).

Let’s have fun!!
M. Tabata

2017年05月30日

6月3日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

It is my pleasure to announce the practice for the second half activity on June 3.

1. Date: June 3, 2017
2. Genre: English Game
3. Title: 20 Questions

Description;

20 Questions is a classic game that has been played since the 19th century. To play 20 Questions, one person thinks of an object and others playing can ask 20 questions in an effort to guess what it is. This can be a great game as a vocabulary expansion game for language learner.


I hope that a lot of members will be joining this game of fun.


Makoto Nishimura

2017年05月18日

5月27日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members .

This is the announcement of the practice on May 27th .

1 Date : May 27th . 2017

2 Genre: Role play

3 Title : Let's play Kamisibai ( Picture-story show)


Description

1. Make some groups .

2. Decide your part in the story .

3. Translate your part into English .

4. Practice the Kamisibai in your group.

5. Let's play and show the Kamisibai to all .


I hope you will enjoy it !


Akiko Matsui

2017年05月15日

5月20日 プラクティス

Hello Kyoto NHK ESS members,

This is the announcement of the practice on May 20th.

Genre: Talk

Title: Bucket list (a list of things you want to do before you die)

You may have many things to desperately do after you retire from work
or before breathe your last breath.
Let’s list them and share your unique ideas.
It is OK to put things you eager to do them again on the list.

Ex. Swimming with dolphins
Writing your life story
Seeing the northern lights

You might want to take time to ponder what you want to do in advance.
Thanks,

Fujio Hirano

2017年05月10日

5月13日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto ESS members,

Sorry to be late announcement.

I'm in charge of latter half practice on this Saturday.


1 Date: 13th May. 2017

2 Genre : Talk

3 Title: How was your experience in this holidays?

4 Description:

During the long holidays, some members might have relaxed in your hometown,
or travel, or utilized for this holiday for study, or read some books
or enjoyed some movies or some amusement park, and so on.

If you couldn't do for some reasons,
It is OK to tell your future plan for next holidays.

First, we will divide several group.
Let's talk your experience and exchange some information with your
group members.

If you have some photos or leaflet if you visited some places, please
show us some.

please enjoy to exchange information with your members.

See you on Saturday.

Regards,

Itsuko Hori

2017年04月27日

5月6日 プラクティス

1. Date: Saturday, May 6th, 2017
2. Genre: Presentation and Talking about
3. Title: What does Global English look like?
4. Description:
Global English can be defined as one of English(s) which enables native and non-native English speakers to come across beyond;
① Cultural;
② Linguistic, and
③ Phonetic differences
such as English which has been spoken in UN, EU, ASEAN, Kyoto NHK ESS and you name it.
Following the definition above, We’re supposed to think about focusing on;
① The reason why the Global English has got prevalent;
② The advantage that the Global English has brought us, and
③ The kernel that the Global English as a means of communication represents.

Hope to see you soooooon with a biiiiiiig curiosity there and then.


Making the best and most imaginative city for the world

土岐 泉

2017年04月24日

4月29日 プラクティス

Dear ESS Members

Please find below the practice planned on April 29th..

It is a twofold one, Game and Case Study.
The detailed descriptions will be shown at the temple. No pre-study is required.
Why don’t you start your GW by joining ESS on 29th !! 

Date : April 29th
Genre-1 : Game ( Time : 5:40 ~ 6:00 )
Genre-2 : Case Study ( Time 6:00 ~ 6:40 )
Title for the Game : Word Association
Title for the Case Study : Akkie’s Case ( Fiction )
   
Descriptions :

Make some groups for the Game and Case-Study.

< Game>
Someone in a group starts with a single word xxxx.. Then, the next person follows in turn with the specific phrase “ That reminds me of yyyy because ……. ”
“ That reminds me of zzzz because …….…. “ …. this continues…
( note : xxxx and yyyy , also yyyy and zzzz are associated words ).

< Case Study >
This is a group study. You will read Akkie’s Case and discuss how to answer to her questions. Then, summarize the study for your team presentation.

Hope you enjoy it !! Isamu Mashima

2017年04月13日

4月22日 プラクティス

Hello, Kyoto NHK ESS members! It’s already April 2017, when my term as the Treasurer for ESS has already ended.

Then, why am I writing another announcement to this Round Table? Of course, this is an announcement for the practice on April 22nd, 2017.

1) Date: April 22nd, 2017

2) Genre: Game

3) Title:Persuade to be “Great Communicator!!”

4) Description:
A) Choose 3 or more statements from 49 statements attached to this documents.

B) Within 20 minutes until 18:00, write whether you agree or disagree with these statements you have just chosen and also write one to three or more specific reasons and examples to support each of your opinions.

C) Choose your partner.

D) Share one of your opinions, that is, whether you agree or disagree with the one specific statement you choose and try to persuade your challenger to support your opinion.

E) The challenger would tell whether he or she agrees or disagrees with your opinion based on one or more specific reasons.

F) If the challenger agrees with your opinion, you get one point.

G) Switch the role and repeat D) to G).

H) Choose another partner to continue the game.

I) A person who could persuade the most people will get most points and will be the winner, and the title “Great Communicator” will be given.

※Of course, you can modify your opinions or imitate others opinions afterwards flexibly to win the game if you really think those opinions are persuasive.

Attached documents would be available as your source of options for 49 statements. 

Choose three or more statements and write one or more reasons for each of your choices.

Let’s have fun!

OSAMU MINAMIHASHI

PS: I really do agree that 49 statements are too much, but you can also use them for your future practice on English. Good luck!

☆Statement No. (   )

I agree/disagree with the statement No. ( ), for following reason(s).

Reason (1)


Reason (2)


Reason (3)


Reason( )


Therefore, I agree/disagree with the statement No. (   )


☆Statement No. (   )

I agree/disagree with the statement No. ( ), for following reason(s).

Reason (1)


Reason (2)


Reason (3)


Reason( )


Therefore, I agree/disagree with the statement No. (   )

☆Statement No. (   )

I agree/disagree with the statement No. ( ), for following reason(s).

Reason (1)


Reason (2)


Reason (3)


Reason( )


Therefore, I agree/disagree with the statement No. (   )

Agree or Disagree(同意するか否?)
Do you agree or disagree with the following statement? Use specific reasons and/or examples to support your answer.

1) People are never satisfied with what they have; they always want something more or something different.(物欲に際限はない。)

2) People should read only those books that are about real events, real people, and established facts. (フィクションよりノンフィクションを読むべきである。)

3) It is more important for students to study history and literature than it is for them to study science and mathematics. (理系よりも文系の科目を学ぶ方が重要である。)

4) All students should be required to study art and music in secondary school. (中等教育では美術と音楽は必修であるべきである。)

5) There is nothing that young people can teach older people. (若者が年長者に教える事の出来ることはない。)

6) Reading fiction (such as novels and short stories) is more enjoyable than watching movies. (読書は映画など動画鑑賞より楽しめる。)

7) Some young children spend a great amount of their time practicing sports. .(子供はスポーツの練習に多くの時間を費やすべきである。)

8) Only people who earn a lot of money are successful. (沢山のお金を稼ぐ人だけが人生の成功者である。)

9) A person’s childhood years (the time from birth to twelve years of age) are the most important years of a person’s life. (生まれてから12歳までの子供時代が人生で最も大事な時期である。)

10) Children should be required to help with household tasks as soon as they are able to do so. (子供が家事・家計を助けられるようになったら、直ちにそうすべきである。)

11) Playing a game is fun only when you win. (ゲームは勝った時しか楽しくない。)

12) High schools should allow students to study the courses that students want to study. (高校は生徒が学びたい科目を好きに学べるようすべきである。)

13) Decisions that people make quickly are always wrong. (人々が急いで下した決断はいつも誤った判断である。)

14) People behave differently when they wear different clothes. Do you agree that different clothes influence the way people behave? (人はその時々に着ている服によって違ったふるまい方をする。)

15) Parents are the best teachers. (子供の両親は常に最良の教師である。)

16) Schools should ask students to evaluate their teachers. (教育機関は学生に教師を評価させるべきである。)

17) “When people succeed, it is because of hard work. Luck has nothing to do with success.” (成功は努力の賜物であって、運不運は成功とは無関係である。)

18) Universities should give the same amount of money to their students’ sports activities as they give to their university libraries. (大学は付属の図書館の予算と同等の額の予算を、学生のスポーツ活動に与えるべきである。)

19) It is better for children to grow up in the countryside than in a big city. (子供は大都市よりも田舎で育てるのが良い。)

20) People should sometimes do things that they do not enjoy doing. (人はイヤな事でもやってしまうべき時がある。)

21) Television, newspapers, magazines, and other media pay too much attention to the personal lives of famous people such as public figures and celebrities. (テレビ、新聞、雑誌その他のメディアは公職にある人物やセレブなど有名人の私生活に注目しすぎている。)

22) Businesses should hire employees for their entire lives. (企業は終身雇用制を採用すべきである。)

23) Attending a live performance (for example, a play, concert, or sporting event) is more enjoyable than watching the same event on television. (演奏会やコンサート、スポーツなどのイベント参加は同じイベントをテレビの前で鑑賞するより、もっと楽しめる。)

24) Progress is always good.(進歩は常に良い事である。)

25) Learning about the past has no value for those of us living in the present.(過去について学ぶことは現在を生きている我々には無価値である。)

26) With the help of technology, students nowadays can learn more information and learn it more quickly. (技術の進歩によって、現代の学生は、過去の学生よりもより多くの情報を、より迅速に学ぶ事が出来る。)

27) The expression “Never, never give up” means to keep trying and never stop working for your goals. (「決して諦めるな」という表現は、「努力を続けろ、目標を目指して努力する事をやめるな」、という意味である。)

28) Face-to-face communication is better than other types of communication, such as letters, email, or telephone calls. (直接、顔を見ながら会話する事は、他の手段、例えば手紙や電子メール、電話などよりも、良いコミュニケ―ション方法である。)

29) The most important aspect of a job is the money a person earns. (仕事で一番大切なのは、人がいくらお金を稼げるかである。)

30) One should never judge a person by external appearances. (人を外見で判断してはいけない。)

31) A person should never make an important decision alone. (人は重要な決断を決して1人で下すべきではない。)

32) Games are as important for adults as they are for children. (ゲームは子供にとってと同様に大人にも重要である。)

33) Parents or other adult relatives should make important decisions for their older (15 to 18 year-old) teenage children. (両親や親戚の大人は、15歳から18歳の10代後半の子どもに代わって重要な決断を下すべきである。)

34) Most experiences in our lives that seemed difficult at the time become valuable lessons for the future. (人生で苦労した経験のほとんどは、以後の人生で貴重な教訓を与えてくれる。)

35) Classmates are a more important influence than parents on a child’s success in school. (学業で良い結果を出すためには、同級生の影響の方が、両親よりも重要である。)

36) The best way to travel is in a group led by a tour guide. (旅行にはツアーガイドに連れられたグループで旅行するのが最良の方法である。)

37) Children should begin learning a foreign language as soon as they start school. (子供は学校に通い始めると同時に外国語学習を始めるべきある。)

38) Boys and girls should attend separate schools. (男子と女子は別々の学校で教育を受けるべきである。)

39) Technology has made the world a better place to live. (技術の進歩で世界はより住みやすい場所となった。)

40) Advertising can tell you a lot about a country. (広告は、一つの国について、多くの事を教えてくれる。)

41) Modern technology is creating a single world culture. (現代の技術は、単一の世界の文化を創り出しつつある。)

42) Telephones and email have made communication between people less personal. (電話と電子メールは、人々のコミュニケーションをより個人的ではないものにした。)

43) Dancing plays an important role in a culture. (ダンスは、1つの文化において重要な役割を担っている。)

44) Teachers should be paid according to how much their students learn. (教師は、教えている生徒がどれだけ学んだかに比例して報酬を与えられるべきである。)

45) It is better to be a member of a group than to be the leader of a group. (一つのグループの指導者になるより、一人のメンバーでいる方が良い。)

46) Playing games teaches us about life.(数々のゲームをする事は我々に人生について学ばせてくれる。)

47) Watching television is bad for children. (テレビを見る事は子供たちにとって良い事ではない。)

48) A zoo has no useful purpose. (動物園は何ら実利的な目的を持ったものではない。)

49) Borrowing money from a friend can harm or damage the friendship. (友人から借金をする事は、その友人との友情を傷つけ、損なう事がある。)

2017年04月09日

4月15日 プラクティス

Hi, everyone!

This is the announcement of the practice on April 15th.

[Genre ] One minute speech

[Theme] Things that you want to do.this spring,

[Description]
In this session, you `ve going to give a very short presentation.
It`s shorter than 1 min.
The theme is "Things that you want to do this spring."
You have 15 minutes to prepare for the presentation.
After 17:50, the presentations will start.

I hope you will enjoy it.

Takako Suzuki

2017年04月04日

4月8日 プラクティス

Dear ESS members,

Hope everyone has been doing well in perfectly sunny spring days.
Sorry for the delay in announcement about next practice on 8th April.

Let me explain what activity we will do in that day.
This time what we are going to do is very very simple.

I'd just like you to talk about yourself with a partner.

First we will be divided into 6 groups.
Then please make a pair with a person next to you
and talk with his/her on the topic which I show.
After we have finished the last topic, please someone in your group voluntarily share with us what you talked.

The main theme I'd like you to talk is "Love", what you love to do, what you feel great excitement, happiness, fun, and passion for.

Let's train our English muscle just by talk, talk and talk!
Looking forward to seeing all of you this Saturday.

久しぶりの参加ですみません、
どうぞよろしくお願いします!
Thank you very much in advance and best regards,
Chiaki Namba

2017年03月26日

4月1日 プラクティス

Hello, Kyoto ESS members !

It's still chilly in the morning and at night, but we certainly feel spring just around the corner, right?

Tamaki Murase is announcing the practice on April 1st at Hitomachi.

As you know, April 1st is the day you can lie openly as “April Fool”, so I'd like to take this opportunity for us to tell lies as much as we want ! and train ourselves to distinguish truths from untruths.

(I know Mr. Kurusu presented a lair game the other day. Sorry for the duplication of the subject.)

Genre: game

Description:

➀ 
Think of both true stories and fake stories.
Fake stories have to sound like true ones, and vice versa.
Prepare at least 3 of them in 20 minutes.


Make a couple.


Tell one of your stories to the challenger who judges whether it is true or not.


If the challenger could tell it correctly, you would lose.


Swich the role.


Make another couple to continue the game.


The person who could deceive the most people will be the winner, to whom the title “Great Liar”
will be given ‼

Since the word “post truth” is becoming to widely spread recently, we way come across the sceans where we have to stop and think what the truth is. Could this game contribute to our preparation for the untruthful society coming up ???

Let's enjoy !!!

Tamaki Murase

2017年03月23日

3月25日 プラクティス

Hello everyone in Kyoto ESS!
Title: What is your opinion

In this practice we should make 5 or 6 groups.
Then I'm going to provide 3 questions.
Each member can choose one of these questions that you prefer.
And describe your idea regarding the question that you select.
We will have 20 minutes to prepare your answer.
After 20 minutes each member tells the answer to the others in each
group.
It should be desirable that your answer is over 100 words.
If we have enough time finally, please decide a presenter that you
recognize the best and the presenter would show the idea as a group
representative.

Question 1
Space exploration is much too expensive and the money should be spent on
more important things.
What is your opinion?

Question 2
The internet has transformed the way of our communication style and
information is shared and consumed, but it has also created problems
that did not exist before.

What are the most serious problems associated with the internet and
I'd like to announce the next practice on 25th March.


what solutions can you suggest?

Question 3
The free movement of goods across national borders has long been
controversial issues.
Some people argued that it is necessary for economic growth, while
others claim that it damages local industries.

Consider both views and give your opinion.

That's all, thanks

T. Sakai

2017年03月12日

3月18日 プラクティス

Dear ESS members,

It's been for a while since I last participated in the weekly activities of the Kyoto NHK ESS Club...I am worried that most of you have already forgotten my face. Could you forgive me for my recent lazy attitude?

Today, I am texting to you as the Practicing planner on March 18th.
Because I am heading to Washington, D.C. in a couple of days and return to Kyoto just a few days before the Practice day, please let me give you a brief announcement now even though it seems too early.

Date: 18th March
Genre: creative thinking and presentation
Title: Intercultural Events Planner
Description:
1. Make groups as usual
2. Imagine you are working at a university as a planner of intercultural events for local students and international students. Your task is making unique opportunities for students to find friendship beyond nationalities and various cultural backgrounds. (Ex. Monday's lunch break chat event, special hiking event on Sunday) You have about 20 minutes to plan an event and make a poster.
3. Show the poster to your group members and make a short presentation about the event. Then, select the best plan in your group.
4. Share

Furthermore, I'd love to talk about what I will have learned and experienced in the United States.
Thank you very much as always and I am looking forward to seeing you.

Minamo Akiyama

(Btw, my 20th birthday is 9th March. It means finally I will join the ESS club activity as an adult!! The first day I joined you was just a week before my 17th birthday…How fast three years has gone!!!!)

2017年03月06日

3月11日 プラクティス

Dear our ESS members!
Youji Imai

Here are the advanced informations on Practice of March 11th.

As they said, last year was very remarkable to Japan because of ex-President Mr.Obama’s visit to Hiroshima and Prime Minister Abe’s visit to Pearl Harbor. It goes without saying that Pearl Harbor was the symbol of the Pacific War’s start, Hiroshima was it’s end. In other word, the Pacific War was started by Japan’s surprise attack then it was finished with Japan’s Unconditional Surrender.
Last year was the year of the end of the big historical span named “ After World War Ⅱ“.
Shouldn’t we recognize correctly fruits and losses brought by perfect defeat in the Pacific War?
Why don’t we confirm what we lost and gained as Japanese with the World War Ⅱ ?

The practice on March 11th will be a sort of group study.

We will make 5 or 6 groups, a reporter will be appointed in the beginning.
The reporter shall ask questions and summarize his members answers.
Lists of questions are to provided in advance.
After restudy and discussion on the list, each reporter announces it’s
summary to other groups.

Even though there must be hard and delicate titles and questions, don’t be hesitant nor passive in discussions, I hope.
An important hint is , without doubt, the Japan Constitution is one of main issues.
Thank you.

2017年02月28日

3月4日 プラクティス

Hello ESS members.

This is Shigeo HORI, from Kashiba City and I'd like to inform you the latter part of March 4th.

1. Date: March 4th, 2017.
2. Genre: Discussion.
3. Title: Male Affluent Society
4. Description:
Today in Japan, unmarried men outnumber unmarried women.
Between the age of 20 to 50, the number of unmarried males is larger than females by 300 million.
What we call male affluent society or male surplus society (Otoko Amari Shakai) is one facet of contemporary Japan.
I hope you discuss this matte from the following procedure;

a. Presentation form Hori, with several data and issues on this topic.
Some materials are written in Japanese though.
Some kind of quiz will be included.
b. Make several groups.
c. Read the materials and discuss the topic.
d. The leader of each group will show us the results of the discussion.

And one more, personal attack to some members is prohibited and don't ask private matters too much.
You don's have to speak your personal or private matters if you don't want to speak the matter.
This is just a social topic.

I hope all of you discuss this urgent social problem and see today's society from a little different angle.
Thank you.

Shigeo Hori

2月25日 プラクティス

Genre: Recitation of a Poem and Discussion
Title: “Youth” by Samuel Ullman
Procedure:

1) Read two materials A and B (15 min)
2) Recite one of them, which you prefer, to fascinate the audience (3 min for each)
3) Explain the reason why you prefer it for the other (2 min for each)
4) Talk and discuss on the ideal image of your “Youth” (20 min)

“Youth” (A) by Samuel Ullman, original script.

Youth is not a time of life; it is a state of mind; it is not a matter of rosy cheeks, red lips and supple knees; it is a matter of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions; it is the freshness of the deep springs of life.
Youth means a temperamental predominance of courage over timidity of the appetite, for adventure over the love of ease. This often exists in a man of sixty more than a boy of twenty. Nobody grows old merely by a number of years. We grow old by deserting our ideals.

Years may wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. Worry, fear, self-distrust bows the heart and turns the spirit back to dust.
Whether sixty or sixteen, there is in every human being's heart the lure of wonder, the unfailing child-like appetite of what's next, and the joy of the game of living. In the center of your heart and my heart there is a wireless station; so long as it receives messages of beauty, hope, cheer, courage and power from men and from the Infinite, so long are you young.
When the aerials are down, and your spirit is covered with snows of cynicism and the ice of pessimism, then you are grown old, even at twenty, but as long as your aerials are up, to catch the waves of optimism, there is hope you may die young at eighty.


“Youth” (B) by Samuel Ullman, the Reader's Digest version
Youth is not a time of life ― it is a state of mind; it is a temper of the will, a quality of the imagination, a vigor of the emotions, a predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over love of ease.
Nobody grows old by merely living a number of years; people grow old only by deserting their ideals. Years wrinkle the skin, but to give up enthusiasm wrinkles the soul. Worry, doubt, self-distrust, fear and despair ― these are the long, long years that bow the head and turn the growing spirit back to dust.
Whether seventy or sixteen, there is in every being's heart the love of wonder, the sweet amazement at the stars and the star-like things and thoughts, the undaunted challenge of events, the unfailing childlike appetite for what next, and the joy and the game of life.
You are as young as your faith, as old as your doubt; as young as your self-confidence, as old as your fear, as young as your hope, as old as your despair. So long as your heart receives messages of beauty, cheer, courage, grandeur and power from the earth, from man and from the Infinite, so long you are young.
When the wires are all down and all the central place of your heart is covered with the snows of pessimism and the ice of cynicism, then you are grown old indeed and may God have mercy on your
soul.
Given to Doug MacArthur years ago by John W. Lewis. This is based on a poem written by the late Samuel Ullman of Birmingham, Ala.

Akira Oku

2017年02月13日

2月18日 プラクティス

Dear ESS members, welcome to our party(TEIAI group.)
This is the letter of invitation to the Hell or the Heaven on Feb.18th,2017.

Genre:Game
Title:Liar game
Procedure:
Please image,you all are in the casino on the ship( Espowar Ship :ESS.)
① No groups.
② I will hand out the token paper to each.
token paper:代用貨幣.ここではperica.
③ A:challenger B:Receipient
A has to find out B and propose to challenge to B.
B cannot refuse it.
④ Bet.(No limit.)
⑤ A writes T orU on the back of token paper.
T:True story U:Untrue story
⑥ A talks about T story or U story in English.
⑦ B hits on Lor U.
⑧ The winner can get the bet.
⑨ Change.

This is the simple game.
The winner will go to the Heaven and get the big hands.
The loser will drop to the Hell and have the penalty.
Please enjoy.

Ref.:Commik book 「Kaiji」


Thanks. Makoto Kurusu

2017年02月06日

2月11日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto ESS members,

I am pleased to inform you on the upcoming practice as follows:

1.Date: 11th Feb. 2017
2.Genre: talking and discussion
3.Title: Optimistic characters and Life
--- Candide, Bakabon and other people ---

Attached is the material for this session. Please go through if you have a chance.
I hope it will help for your better discussion; Since this material is based on fictional settings, it could be a bit tricky.

4.Description
a)Please make 5-6 groups and select a presenter in each of your group.
b)Read each materials and then discuss. Feel free to make stories as foolish as possible. There is no right answer indeed.
c)In the last 10min, or so, share your opinions with us.

See you then. Have a nice week!

Kaori Ishikawa

2017年01月29日

2月4日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members

Please be informed of the practice held on Feb. 4th at Hitomachi.

1. Date: Feb.4th, 2017
2. Genre: Talking
3. Title: Advice Column

An advice column is traditionally presented in a newspaper, though it can be delivered through internet now.
A reader writes to adviser with a problem in the form of question and adviser provides answer.
It is interesting to know universal problems and good to learn evryday English, too.
I will provide some of example of Advice column for you to talk on them

4. Description
a)Please make 5-6 groups and select a leader/presenter in your group.
b)Read materials
c)Pick up columns that interest you and exchange thoughts if you were adviser.
d)In the last 10min,or so, show us some of your answer or tell us how you felt about them.

For your ref., I took material from the following column
http://www.uexpress.com/dearabby/topics
and will post the material as soon as it is ready.

Yoshitsugu atsuta

2017年01月22日

1月28日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

I am Yuji Tsukuda who is in charge of January 28th practice.
I am sorry for my late announcement.

1.Date:
January 28th

2.Genre:
Game

3.Title:
Negotiation between a student and a teacher regarding mid-terms paper grade

4.Discription

(Outline)
A student wrote a mid-terms paper with his heart and soul.
However the grade of the paper was C-.
The student and his teacher discuss the grade of the paper.
The student doesn't know the background why the teacher gave C-.
The teacher also doesn't know why the student poured his much energy into the paper.

(Procedure)
1. Dividing you into 5,6tables as usual

2. In each tables, you are allocated to student team or teacher team

3. I hand out each teams each information sheets
(Student teams only receive student information sheet. Teacher teams receive only teacher information sheet.)

4. In each teams, making strategies.
(The student purpose is to get as high grade as possible. The teacher's purpose is to give fair grade)

5. Starting negotiation with the opposite team in you table.

6. After finishing the negotiation, exchanging each team's information and, if possible, presenting the result of the negotiation.

I hope you enjoy my practice.

Thank you for reading.
Best regards,

Yuji Tsukuda

2017年01月18日

1月21日 プラクティス

1/21 lesson information
Kenji Tsuji  
1)Date  21.January 2017
2)Genre discussion
3)Theme The speeches of President Donald Trump 
A) What do you expect from Donald Trump as president in your Japanese position?
B) What do you expect to America or the rest of the world?
C) What are your thoughts on how the new presidency will play out in the next four years?
D) Do you think the first 100 days will go smoothly?
E) Will we be seeing a new Donald Trump?
F)How is he different from all the past presidents?
4)Please make 5 or 6 groups
And please discuss the theme

2016年12月29日

2017 1月7日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members

I’d like to share with you the practice to be discussed on Jan.7th, 2017 as follows:

1. Date: Jan.7th, 2017
2. Genre: Talking
3. Title: Events during new year season

As you know, various traditional events shown below are held in Japan at the beginning of new year from the end of previous year. Then, please choose several events, and talk about them in your group including the memories of your past day and your childhood.

1) General house cleaning (大掃除)
2) Year-crossing noodles(年越しそば)
3) Mochi pounding(餅つき)
4) Year-end party(忘年会)
5) New Year’s Eve bells(除夜の鐘)
6) Worship of the first sunrise of a new year(初日の出参拝)
7) First shrine or temple visit of the New Year(初詣)
8) Written oracles(おみくじ)
9) Lucky charm(お守り)
10) New Year’s card (年賀状)
11) New Year’s gift(お年玉)
12) New Year dishes(おせち料理)
13) First dream of the New Year(初夢)
14) Soup with rice cakes and vegetables(雑煮)
15) Seven-herb rice porridge(七草粥)

4. Description
Please make 5-6 groups and select a leader/presenter in your group.
Then, choose several events, and talk about them in your group from the following point of view, for example.

a) What were you involved in ?
b) When and where were you involved in that event ?
c) Whom did you enjoy the events with ?
d) What was the most impressive or funniest point of the event ?, etc.

After the group talking, please show us the funniest story of your event by a presenter.

Rough time schedule:
Material reading/understanding:5min
Talking within the group:40min
Introduction of funnist story of your group: 10min ( about 2 min from each group )

This is the first ESS meeting of new year and I expect a lot of funny story from all of you. Let's enjoy the practice.

Masahiko Oka

2016年12月15日

12月24日 プラクティス

Dear kyoto ESS members
This is an announce of the practice of Dec,24th.

[Gera] Discussion
[Title] 1. What are the most significant events of 2016 ?
2. What are the most memorable yours episord of 2016?
[Description] Make some group (6people)and dvide group into 2 teams
Let's talk about some events or yours episord for 45 minute
Choose a presenter in your group ,and make a 3 minute
presentation. [For reference]
Major World Events→Britain's Ext from the EU,Zika Virrus
spread across US, Summer Olympics in Rio De Janeiro Brazil,
34killed 151 wounden in Brussels Terror Attacks,
Panama Documents,Donald Trump Elected as US President,…et
Maior Japan Events→The kumamoto earthquake that occured in April,
The Hiroshima Carp's first pennant in 25 years,The SMAP
break-up,Niigata culls 540,000 chickens over bird flu,…et

I hope you will enjoy the practice.
Thank you,

Best Regards,
Masako Mori

2016年12月10日

12月17日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto ESS members

This is the announcement of practice to be held on Dec. 17th at the
Hito-Machi by Shimon Nakamura.

Genre: Make an impromptu speech in English

Have you improved your English ability in this year? Most companies in
Japan encourage their employees to boost their English power in business so
as to negotiate with their clients smoothly in English. English, although it
is no more than a tool to communicate, will be most effective in business
use.

Rouse up to break out of your shell and speak actively English, especially
applicable for new comers and fresh members.
Do not hesitate. English speaking here is not a privilege of old pushing
faces.

I will prepare about 30 topics or more which are all familiar to you.
For instance;
1) What is the most important thing (only one) except your life?
2) What plan do you have to live for your next ten years?
3) Death from over-work
4) Community chest
5) Advice to young person for marriage

The prepared sheet will be handed out to you at the site.

Time schedule: (Making some groups depending on the participant's number)

17:40-18:30 Every one is required to pick up two topics at least in your
group.

18:30-18:40 Presentation of topics discussed in your group by a new comer or
fresh member, preferable.

Hoping you to have an active time, I am.
Shimon Nakamura

2016年12月06日

12月10日 プラクティス

Dear members of Kyoto NHK ESS

I’d like to inform you about the practice on Dec. 10, as follows;
1. Date: Dec.10, 2016
2. Genre: Discussion
3. Title: Social problems
Suppose you are a civil servant or a legislator in a city, please make suggestions to solve the following problems.
(1) How to prevent traffic accidents by elderly people?
(2) How to encourage bachelor boys and girls to marry?
(3) How to increase birthrate in your community?

4. Description
Make 6 groups. Discuss these issues in the group and make a few proposals to solve the problems.
Choose someone as a presenter for your group and let he/her present your proposals on one of the problems to the audience.

Time schedule:
Discussion: 10 min. for each problem. → 30min.
Choose a presenter and the problem you should present: 5 min.
Presentation: 3 min. each → 18min.

All these problems are common in every local government now and also very serious and critical, especially in the remote communities.
I hope you could work out concrete, feasible and unique proposals and enjoy the practice.

Giichi Kitaura

2016年11月28日

12月3日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto ESS members,

Let me introduce the contents of the upcoming practice on December 3rd.

[Genre: ] Discussion
[Theme: ] 2 short articles, see below
1. Happiness Increases with Age, Study Says 
2. Japanese Schools to Adopt Computer Programming Education

[Outline:]
Program summary
Make several groups. And choose MC and/or presenter in your group. There are 2 topics below. Please read and discuss within your group. Each topics includes discussion points. After the discussion, a presenter summarize and introduce discussion of your group within 3 minutes.

Time table
17:40-18:30
Reading and discussion
18:30-18:40
Presentation

 I hope you have enjoyable time. 
See you at the temple.

H Ishizaki

2016年11月20日

11月26日 プラクティス

[Genre: ] Talking / Discussion
[Theme: ] Oh! Trump wins.

After making some groups, let's talk about the following topics.

a) Did the result surprise you, or, not? Did you predict Trump's victory? Did you believe Clinton's win? Why, or, why not?

b) Why did not votes to Clinton grow? Why could Trump get support from the majority in the U.S?

c) Many mass media seemed to miss the forecast. Why?

d) Do you know mass media or critics, who successfully predict the election's result?

e) Do you support Trump, or Clinton? Why?

f) Do you think that the relationship between the U.S and Japan is expected to be largely changed with Trump's administration? Why, or, why not?
(e.g. National security, economy including TPP, power balance of Asia, etc.)

g) Is the birth of Trump administration good news or bad news for Japan?

h) Do you think Trump can do his pledges? (I will offer the list of his pledges in the practice).

After finishing the discussion, a representative of each group is expected to make a short presentation for all members, within the last fifteen minutes.

I hope all of you can enjoy


Murota.

2016年11月16日

11月19日 プラクティス

Dear ESS members,

This is Masayama writing.
I’m writing this to inform you of the second half practice scheduled on Nov. 19th.

Genre: game
Title: “Find the word”
Purpose: Vocabulary building & composition ability training

1. Preparation for the game
All of you will be divided into two teams. Each team has to make a waiting list to decide one’s turn in order to provide a quiz for their other team members. Each presenter of the quiz will have only one minute to get a correct answer from their team members.

2. Outline of the game:
We are trying to play a kind of word association game like the 連想ゲーム. I prepared three large envelopes in which have 120 cards of word classified into three levels according to the degrees of difficulty to acquire. On each card it has a word in English, core definitions of the word in Japanese and a score you will get when the correct answer is responded. All the scores and definitions were are brought in the cards from the Weblio English-Japanese Dictionary.

In order to kick off the game, if you are the first presenter of the quiz, you will have to come up on stage: in the front of the learning room; to pick up a card in a the large envelope you chose, then you have to explain the word in other English words to your team members as in an easy way as possible so that they can give you a correct answer soon. I hope you will explain it in a sentence or sentences form as perfect as you can. For example, this is an adjective which means “domestic”, but it is sometimes used for describing not beautiful person, because most many people hesitate to say this “ugly” to one’s face, The answer is “homely”.

As I wrote earlier, each envelope has a different level of word cards. So if you choose the envelope labeled “Easy”, it will be easy for you to get a correct answer from your teammate, but you would get only 1 to 5 points even if the quiz was correctly answered. On the other hand, if you choose the envelope labeled “difficult”, you might get 11 points or over. The choice is yours! If you want your team to win on the competition, I recommend you to choose the envelope labeled “difficult” as many times as possible. Every member of the teams will be given a chance to present the quiz at fewest. I’m looking forward to seeing the competition to be a close match!!

I hope you will be engrossed in this game. See you soon!

K. Masayama

2016年11月09日

11月12日 プラクティス

Dear ESS members,

Today’s practice is  “ How to improve our Japanese style school days’ English.”
I’ve got a book written by Mr. David Sein. He said that Japanese school English is quite uncommon. Those expressions are hardly used their daily conversations.
We should consider our school days’ English and correct them.
Eg; “ What time is it now? ” (今は何どきでござるか) ジョン万次郎時代の英語
1) I divide us with 6 groups.
2) Each group select a chairperson.
3) Talk about the contents of the paper.
4) Correct our Japanese school days’ style expressions.

By Takeo Kuchinaka

2016年10月30日

11月5日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto ESS members,

Let me introduce the contents of the upcoming practice on November 5th.

[Genre: ]Talking & Making a Story


[Outline:]


Make some groups.
-Talking for the first half
About the following topic, please imagine and talk about it in the group.
a) If you put on costume at Halloween party, what character would you like to be?
b) If you were a woman/man, what kind of job would you like to
take?


-Making a story for the second half
1) Three words areb given for each groups.
2) In the group, the first person begins to make one sentence using one word
choosing from the three words.
3) Second person adds one sentence to the first person's sentence
using one word as well.
4) Please try to relate to the sentence before.
5) One member from each group summarize the story.



I hope you will enjoy the practice!!


Natsuko Mori

2016年10月26日

10月29日 プラクテイス

Hello Kyoto NHK ESS members,

This is the announcement of the practice on October 29th.

Genre: Vocabulary Building

Title: Word Quiz part 2

There are many words that you believe them English.
But some of them might not be real ones.
I hope this quiz help you reconfirm your vocabulary.

Thanks,
Fujio Hirano

2016年10月16日

10月23日 合宿プラクテイス

Practice -5

Genre :  Debate
Title :  Two propositions are given.

Proposition-A: Are you For or Against Pokemon-GO ?
Proposition-B: Are you For or Against accepting immigrants in Japan ?
Facilitator :  Mr. Mashima


This debate will be an informal and a simple one.
Affirmative team and negative team will exchange rebuttals each other.
The chairperson will lead the debate so that everyone will join it.

Procedure :

1. Make Affirmative and Negative team for the given proposition.
2. The leader of each team will give an opening remark.
3. Continue Affirmative speaks and Negative speaks.
4. Judgment of the debate

Please develop your perspective in advance considering advantages / disadvantages of the given propositions.


Practice -6
Genre : Game & Team Building
Title : Quiz & Talk
Facilitator : Mr. & Ms. Segawa

Step 1 :   Make Groups of 5~6members

Step 2 : Quiz of around the world ( 10 min )

Step 3 : Sharing knowledge of elder society
of the world ( 20 min )

Step 4 : Games of prevention of dementia ( 10 min )

Step 5 : Cognicise ( Cognition & Exercise ) with memorizing English vocabulary ( 20 min )

10月22日 合宿プラクティス

Practice -1

Genre   : Quiz
Title    : Quiz!Quiz ! Quiz !
Facilitator : Mr. Noguchi


Stage1 : Listening Quiz

Stage2 : Pictionary

Stage3 : What s/he writes

Stage4: Pakkun Eiken

Bonus Stage:?


Practice -2
Genre : Case Study
Title : An International Marriage
Facilitator : Mr. Yamamoto

Hanako is a 22-year-old Japanese student who is spending her senior year at an American university in Los Angeles. She has met a special man named Mohammed. Read her diary and find out: What is she trying to decide?
Dear Diary,
Tonight Mohammed asked me to marry him! I knew he would. I love him so much. It is hard to believe that we have known each other for only eight months.
But as much as I love him, I don't know what to do. My parents would be angry with me for marrying a man from India. They want me to marry only a Japanese man. My mother has told me that good Japanese marry only Japanese.
And that's not all. There are so many other problems. I mean, where would we live? I think it would be very hard for me to live in India. Would I fit in to Indian society? I don't speak any Indian language. I would have a difficult time finding a job. And I don't want to be just a housewife!
I don't think Mohammed would fit in to Japanese society, either. He doesn't speak Japanese. He sounds so funny when he tries to say a single Japanese word! It would be impossible for him to find a job in Japan. Besides, he doesn't even like Japanese food!
Maybe we could stay in the United States. Both of us will finish our studies in May. I wonder if we could get work visas here. That might be difficult. But even if we could stay here, I don't know if I want to live away from Japan. I would miss my family and friends and everything.
And what about our children? Children of mixed marriages might have a difficult time. Would they be Japanese or Indian? What? It is all so confusing.
The more I write to you, dear diary, the more problems I see. I know that marriage is difficult. More and more marriages end in divorce. And I think that international marriages are even more difficult!

Give your opinions.
(1)What are some of the advantages of an international marriage?
(2)What are some of the problems of an international marriage?
What is the best choice for them? Choose one and give the reasons.
□ They shouldn't make a decision about marriage right now. They should visit each other's country. There is a lot of time to think about what to do.
□ She should marry Mohammed and live in the U.S. That's fair for both Mohammed and her. Both of them could visit their home countries sometimes.
□ She should marry Mohammed and try living in India. It could be a really good experience for her.
□ Hanako should break up with Mohammed. There are too many problems to continue the relationship.
□ She should marry Mohammed and live in Japan. More and more foreign people are living in Japan, so Mohammed will be accepted.

Introduce a trouble you have now. If you don’t like to or have any, it’s all right to make up a story. Write the trouble in the square below in English, cut it off and put it in the center of the desk. After all the papers are collected, deliver each to each member at random. When one gets one’s own, then exchange it with the one which another member has. After all the members get one, each member will in turn read the passage and give the solution in English. If time permits, one from each group is supposed to introduce the trouble and solution.

Practice -3

Genre : Variety
Title : Fun ! Fun! Fun !
Facilitator : Ms. Tabata

  I prepared various games, brain twister riddles, mental exercises, cartoons, cross word puzzles and so on.
All you need is your intuition, knowledge, sense of humor,
flexible mind, guess-guess work….
And the most important one is the teamwork in your group.

Firstly, please make some groups.

( About 30 min )
  Let’s enjoy some quizzes!
I’ll write down various quizzes on the white board.
You can talk with your group members.
Please guess the answer.

( About 50 min )
Let’s enjoy cartoons!
(E.g.) I will give you a scene of a cartoon to each member in your group.
Please try to explain the scene without showing it to other members in your group.
And after that, guess the order of these scenes and make up the whole story.
  (E.g.) I will give you another cartoon which have no lines to your group.
Please corporate to create the funny story.

<おまけAdditional session> ( About 10 min )
Let’s enjoy cross word puzzles.


Practice -4

Genre : Listening comprehension
Title : The Joy of Listening (part II)
Facilitator : Mr. Yoshida


Description:

For some, this session may be easy; all you do is just listening to audio-books (not as a whole, of course), and answering questions on what you have just listened.

I probably pick two or three from the followings:

- “Surely You’re Joking, Mr Feynman!”
(Chap. 17: Testing Bloodhounds) by Richard Feynman
- “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” (Introduction) by Douglas Adams
- “On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft”(Forwards) by Stephen King
- “The Snowy Day” by Ezra Jack Keats

Not worried too much. Kick back and enjoy the ride!

I hope you will find this interesting.

2016年10月04日

10月15日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

This is an announcement of the practice on October 15th.

Genre: Talk

Title: Health

Make some groups as usual.

Talk about your experiences or opinions related to health or disease .

These are sample questions .

1 Do you usually take a medical examination every year ?
(Under the Industrial Safety and Health Act, employers must make a chance to take a medical examination every year for their employees.)

2 What disease are you afraid of most ?

3 Have you ever been hospitalized ? In that case, for what disease or injury and how long were you hospitalized ?

4 To keep in shape , do you do anything special ?

Let’s learn some technical terms and try to use them , and enjoy conversation !

Megumi Iwai

2016年10月02日

10月8日 プラクティス

Dear ESS members

Hello! This is K.Yasuda, and would like to inform my practice here.

This is the announcement of the practice on October 8th.


(1) Genre: Presentation
(2) Title: Guide
(3) Description: I’d like all of you to guide a tourist practically in Japan

Here is a nice gentleman from UK. He said,” I want to visit Japan. It is first time for me to visit Japan.
I want to see several world heritages in Japan this time.”

I expect all of you to guide him some beautiful places in Japan.
He has 10 days in Japan and he would like to enjoy Japanese nice scenery ,food, culture, and so on.

◆Procedures:
1) Make 4~6 groups as usual.

2) Please decide the area your group will guide him around.(within 10 minutes)

3) Please discuss how you will explain him about the good points in your area in each group.(around 30 minutes)

4) Finally please guide him practically by turns. Each group has around 3 to 5 minutes.(From 6:20~)

*You can choose one or two or several members to explain your favorite area.
*Practical guide order is to be decided by the guy from UK.
*Candidate places are below. You can also choose other area in Japan.

A Kyoto(temples shrines and so on….)
B Hiroshima(Itsukushima,PeaceMemorial……)
C Himeji Castle(Hyougo)
D Hokkaidou(Shiretoko…)
E Gifu(Takayama,Shirakawakyou….)
F Yakushima(Kagoshima)
G Nara(horyu-ji, other monuments)
H Nikkou(Tochigi)
I Mount Fuji(Shizuoka,Yamanashi)
J Okinawa(Gusuku sites and others)

I hope you enjoy it.
See you soon!

*Sorry but I can't come to the OTERA on 1st Oct.

Kazu Yasuda

2016年09月28日

10月1日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Hello everyone,

This is the practice announcement on Oct. 1st.2016

Genre: Game & Talk

Title : house-egg (Game) & I have something to tell you (Talk)


First, you are going to play some word's games.
Play simple word's games with your group members.
The victory or defeat is determined by time limit!
(20minutes)

As for the latter half, you are going to tell your group members.
Tell your incidents, events, what happened these days.
I suppose that you have been having various emotions in your daily life.
You can choose one emotion among KI-DO-AI-RAKU feelings.
So let's start with “I have something to tell you.”
(40minutes)

Hope you will have fun!
Thank you,
Ryuichi Tanaka

2016年09月19日

9月24日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

This is an announcement of the practice on September 24th.

Genre: Talk
Title: Stress Management

Make some groups as usual.
First I would like you to listen to a CD .
Think about the ways you currently manage your stress and how to cope with it in your life.
I’ve prepared some questions.
Focus on what makes you feel relaxed and in control.
I hope you enjoy it.

Shiho Nakashima

2016年09月10日

9月17日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Hello, everyone.
This is the chairperson of practice on Sep. 17, Yuko Tanihara.
I'm sorry to be absent from ESS activities these days.

Here is the contents of my practice.

Genre: Talk, Discussion and Drawing

Title: Let's try to do Design Thinking!


At first, please make some groups to have even-numberd members (e.g.4,6,8,・・・)in each group.

Warming up part(About 25 min);

1)Please make pairs.
2)Ask what frightens your partner(2 min for each).
3)Draw the horrible monster what frightens your partner(3 min).
4)Explain how horrible and your intentions(3 min for each).
5)Partner give some comments on the monster(1 min for each).

6)Improve your drawing on another sheet by reflecting comment of your partner(more horrible)(3 min).
7)Explain how horrible and your intentions(3 min for each).
8)Partner give some comments on the monster(1 min for each).

Main part(About 25-30 min);
I will give you a question for each group.

Shall we discuss and find solutions using Mind Mapping with your group members?

I hope you will enjoy and feel how exciting and useful tool Design Thinking is!

See you on next Saturday.

Best regards,
Yuko Tanihara

2016年09月07日

9月10日 プラクティス

Dear KYOTO NHK ESS members

This is the announcement of the practice on Sep 10th.

Genre: Talk
Title: Your favorite music

Music is always around us. Everybody has favorite songs and musicians.
Everybody has unforgettable songs, which make you remind of your youthful days.
In this practice, we share favorite songs and musicians.
Let`s introduce your unforgettable songs, and talk about stories how these songs are special to you.

Procedures:
1) Make some groups as usual.

2) Talk about your favorite songs and musicians.
What songs do you listen when you inspire yourself?
What songs do you listen when you relax?
What songs do you listen when you are depressed?

3) Talk about your unforgettable songs.
What scenes do you remember in your life when you listen to certain songs?
Do you have songs which affect you in the turning point of your life?

4) Please introduce your favorite songs and musicians in each group.

*Please bring your favorite records,CDs and related goods if they are available.

I hope you will share music and scenes of your life through music beyond generations.

Thank you!!

Seiichiro Iwai

2016年08月27日

9月3日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members

This is the announcement of the practice on Sep 3rd.

Genre: talk and discussion
Title: Thinking about happiness

Procedure
・Make some groups.

1st stage (10-15minutes)
・I distribute memo pads.
・Please write as follows one by one.
・What is important for your happiness?
・What is the happiest story that you have ever had in your life thus far?
・When your well-being assumes one hundred a best score, how many points do you give it?
Etc...

2nd stage (40-45minutes)
・Share it to your group.
・Discuss how to become happier.
・Other members advise the speaker.
Please repeat as above by rotation.

I hope you will enjoy the practice and it will help you to become happier.

Thanks,
Yusuke Ueno

2016年08月21日

8月27日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto ESS actors and actresses,

I would like you to take on the challenge of a English Drama for the upcoming practice on August 27.

Genre: English Drama

Practice Points: Put your feeling, emotion and passion into words and phrases with facial expression and body actions.

Attached with this e-mail is a script of “The Battle Between the Monkey and the Crab” that we are going to perform.
However the script is composed with 9 acts, we will play only the first 4 acts because of a time limitation of the practice.
In those 4 acts, there are 5 roles, Narrator, Monkey, Mother Crab, Kid Crab A and Kid Crab B. So I want to make several
groups to be consisted with 5 members basically for each. If the group is happened to be made with more than 5 members,
6th or 7th member can switch a role with other member during the play.

Most of the time will be consumed for having a rehearsal, but I would like to pick up one group at random and
ask them to play for us at the end of the practice.

Nishimura

2016年08月18日

8月20日 プラクテイス

Dear ESS members

This is the announcement of the practice on August 20th.

◆Genre: Group talk

◆Topic: What gives you spark joy(tokimeki)?

Do you have something to make you happy?
If you are a stylish person, you will be happy and excited just to wear
your favorite clothes.

Let's talk about what is tokimeki items for you and why they give you spark joy.
Bring your tokimeki items if you can!

◆Procedures:
1) make some groups as usual.
2) discuss in each group
3) please show us your own tokimeki items at least one person in each group.

I hope you will enjoy it.
See you soon!

Kaori Tsujii

2016年07月24日

7月30日 プラクティス

Dear ESS members

This is an announcement of the practice scheduled on July 30th.

Coordinator: R. Matsumoto
Genre: Discussion
Title: Analysis of social trends
Descriptions: We will read some impressive topics in the former half of this year. Thereafter, the team leader will summarize the talks in each table.

[How to proceed]
✓ First of all, make several groups to recall some impressive events in the first half of this year.
✓ And then leaders in each group will summarize the most impressive topic for less than five minutes in the end.

[Materials]
Nikkei hit ranking for first half of 2016 defined by thrift(質素・倹約)

With Abenomics sputtering and hopes for an escape from deflation dim, Japanese consumers are back to counting pennies this year. The Nikkei Marketing Journal's ranking of popular products for the first half of 2016 underscores this preference for bargain-hunting.
The table is split into east and west divisions. Taking the yokozuna slot in the east was "cheaponomics" -- a return to thrift as consumers reversed course from a boom in premium products spurred by Abenomics. Fast Retailing's price hikes on its Uniqlo casualwear were a bust while rivals boasting low prices drew more buyers. Restaurants added cheap offerings to their menus. Four years after discontinuing pork bowls, Yoshinoya Holdings brought them back in April, pricing them 50 yen (46 cents) lower than beef bowls. It sold 10 million pork bowls in just two months -- half the annual sales target.
The Shinjuku Expressway Bus Terminal -- Busta Shinjuku for short -- ranked second in the division, taking the ozeki title. The new hub at Shinjuku Station consolidated 19 once-scattered bus stops and taxi stands in one place -- a godsend for frugal travelers going by highway bus rather than pricier planes or shinkansen bullet trains.
Next in the east division, snagging the sekiwake ranking, is minpaku, or renting rooms to travelers. Some 1.3 million guests booked accommodations through the American home-rental website Airbnb last year. Usage was up 280% on May 1 from a year earlier.
Topping the west division is demand created by negative interest rates. Consumers have found upsides to this unconventional monetary policy. Total new mortgage applications at eight major banks jumped 15% on the year to around 127,000 for the February-April period as rates fell. About 73,000 people refinanced mortgages, a 2.6-fold increase.
The west ozeki title went to Ise-Shima and Hiroshima. The recent Group of Seven summit in the Ise-Shima area spotlighted such attractions as the Ise Shrine. Foreign lodgers in Mie Prefecture will likely swell fivefold from the 2014 figure to 900,000, by some estimates. Hiroshima saw the sharpest rise in hotel reservations during last month's Golden Week holiday, according to Rakuten Travel. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the designation of the Hiroshima Peace Memorial and Itsukushima Shrine as UNESCO World Heritage sites. The city also got a significant boost from a recent trip by U.S. President Barack Obama.
The west sekiwake title was taken by artificial intelligence, which has made great strides of late. A system developed by Google defeated a grandmaster of the ancient board game Go in March.
The komusubi slots in both divisions reflect an accelerating shift in leisure spending away from physical products in favor of unusual experiences that people can gush over on social media. The Hokkaido Shinkansen bullet train line, which began service in March, and the Genbi Shinkansen, a train on the Joetsu Shinkansen line that displays modern art, were grouped together as "northern bullet trains" in the east division.
The Kyoto Railway Museum, which exhibits 53 railway vehicles, including one of the largest steam locomotives operated by the old Japanese National Railways, saw 111,500 visitors during Golden Week.
Lower in the ranking are doya-kaden -- high-end devices that owners like to brag about. Even financially troubled Sharp has come out with such popular items as an air purifier that can catch mosquitoes and an automatic cooker that requires no water.
(6月16日 日経英語版より入手)

R. Matsumoto

2016年07月15日

7月23日 プラクティス

Hi there!

This is a notice of the practice session on July 23, 2016.

Genre: Listening comprehension
Title: Joy of Listening (part I)

Description:

For some, this session may be very easy; all you will do is just
listening to some audio-books (not as a whole, of course) and answering
questions on what you have listened.

I will choose an audio-book or two from books for kids. So not worry
too much. Kick back and enjoy the ride!

I hope you will find this interesting.

Cheers!

Masakazu Yoshida

2016年07月12日

7月16日 プラクティス

Hello Kyoto NHK ESS members,

This is the announcement of the practice on July 16th.

Genre: Vocabulary Building

Title: Word Quize

I give you a rather unique test that will surely enrich your vocabulary.
The scales will fall from your eyes after this.

Thanks,
Fujio Hirano

2016年07月06日

7月9日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

This is the announcement of the practice on July 9th

Genre: Discussion

Title: Election for House of Councilors 2016 Special

Description:
The next day of this practice(July 10th) is the Voting day of the Election
for the House of Councilors (参議院選).

In this practice I'd like you to discuss various current topics & election.

I am preparing the information about the commitments of each party.

Choose the interesting issues and discuss freely.

The members who are very interested in politics will be expected to help the ones who are not familiar with politics to understand the commitments and decide to which parties one should vote.

I’ll try to make discussion easier and not too serious.

See you!

Akihiro Tabata

2016年06月25日

7月2日 プラクティス

This is the information about the practice on July 2.
1. Date July 2, 2016
2. Genre Discussion
3. Title Significant news and events during the past 6 months for you
4. Description The first half of the year 2016 has already passed. Time flies.
I will ask each member to pick up 3 pieces of breaking current news
and one unforgettable personal event from the month of January to June.
I will prepare briefly past major events of the world for reference.

Masahiro Ohishi

2016年06月12日

6月25日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS members
This is the information about the practice on June 25


Title: What do you do in this situation ?

Genre: Game

I will prepare easy questions .

1. Make some groups .
2. Read the question and answer in your group .


Matsui Akiko

2016年06月07日

6月18日 プラクティス

Hello.

I hope this text message finds you well.

Here is the announcement of June18 "Practice "(the latter half activity).

Title: Steve Jobs

Genre: Reading and Talk

Read the text of the Commencement address by Steve Jobs, the late CEO of Apple Computer.

Then, talk about "What do you think?" " How did you feel?"

Thank you.

T.Noguchi

2016年06月02日

6月11日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS member
This is the information about the practice on June 11.

1. Genre: Talk & Discussion
2. Title: Japan’s weak points
3. Description

Japan has some weak points. What do you think Japan’s weak points are? There are a lot of different opinions.
Let’s talk and discuss about that.

[Step. 0]
Make some groups and make pairs in each group. If you don’t have partner, please find a partner in other group.
If there is no partner in all groups, I will become your partner.

[Step. 1]
I will give you a topic to be related to Japan’s weak points. Please ask a question about the topic each other for about
8 minutes. I’m a timekeeper. About 8 minutes later, I will request to change your partner and give you another topics again.
Please start conversation again and repeat like this style for about 30 minutes. Please obey the following rules.
1. At first, one person asks one question.
2. The other person answer and explain his/her answer and ask one question.
3. You must not dominate conversation by your only talking.
Step.1 is a warming –up. Therefor you don’t need to stick Japan’s weak points in your conversation. You can freely talk about topics.

I’ll choose topics below
Food or Food self-sufficiency (Japan’s is about 40%)
Energy or Natural energy or Fossil fuel or Nuclear power or Energy self-sufficiency (Japan’s is about 4%)
Natural disaster or Earthquake or Tsunami or Typhoon or Volcanic eruption
Declining birthrate or Aging society or Depopulation in local area or Overpopulation in urban area
Language barrier or Unique language(Japanese) or Japan surrounded by sea

Example. Topic : Food
A “Do you know that Japanese food is intangible cultural heritage?”
B “Yes. I think Japanese food is healthy. Nutrient balance is very good. I like it very
much. How about you?”
A “I also like it especially Sushi by using fresh fish. But my foreign friends cannot eat
raw fish. Can you eat raw fish?”
B “I can. But, I like spicy food. Have you ever eaten original Indian curry?”
A “I have eaten it while staying in Malaysia. So hot! I got drenched with sweat.
I recommend Japanese curry, which is tasty. Have you eaten it?”
B “Yes, I have. But it’s not spicy. Japanese curry is for children. ・・・・

[Step. 2]
Please gather in each group.

[Step. 2-A]
All member give a speech about Japan’s weak points for about 1 minutes. Please choose one of them and tell the reason of choice.
And tell a method of strengthening it in your opinion. That is not discussion, it’s a kind of short speech. If it’s difficult for you
to choose and talk about Japan’s weak points, you can choose your family’s weak point or your weak point.

Example. I choose language barrier.
Japan is surrounded by sea and ancient Japan was isolated. Japanese language developed in isolation. That is why it’s difficult for many foreign people to learn Japanese.
Some good engineers and students want to learn Japanese high technology, but they cannot help giving up their intention due to the language barrier. Therefore excellent persons pass over Japan for other countries, usually US or European countries.
We should not require foreign people to speak Japanese even in Japan. I want to welcome foreign people, especially engineers, scientists and scholars. They bring knowledge, creativity and stimulation that cause the growth of Japan.
I think that many Japanese should be able to speak English in order to welcome foreign people. Lectures in some universities should be held in English.・・・・・・

[Step. 2-B]
After giving a speech one by one, let’s start a discussion on the basis of each member’s speech.


Sakai Hirokazu

2016年05月24日

6月4日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto ESS members,
This is an announcement of the practice on June 4.

(1) Genre: Presentation
(2) Title: Show and Tell about Your Hobby
(3) Description:
What do you do in your free time except for learning English?
Show and tell about what you are interested in to the members.
If your hobby is photography, take some pictures you have taken.
If you took up handcrafting, take a piece you have completed.
Any object can be used if you have interesting information to present with it.
For example, a concert ticket, a book, and a recipe you cooked,
Whatever they are, you must have been particular about them.

Something unique would be preferable.

Please be sure to bring some objects to show. Maybe Photos on your phone will do.


Takada Kumiko

2016年05月23日

5月28日 プラクティス

Hello to the member of Kyoto NHK ESS.
This is an announcement of practice on May 28th, 2016.
I would like you to have a little chat about issues among the education system in Japan, from kindergarten to University.

Title:
Date: May 28th, 2016
Genre: Discussion
Presenter: Akira Hashimoto

Procedure:
1: Make 6 groups as usual
2: Presenter will read out the topics and give you some tips about each of them.
3: Choose one of the following topics about Japanese education, and discuss within the group. Handout will be given to each group.
4: In the end, summarize and present what you have discussed to the rest of the class.

Here are the topics:

1: One of the criteria for “highly ranked world university” includes a lot of international student/stuff/faculty within the University. Having said that, do you think Japanese university should be aiming at “highly ranked world university”? (In other words, should we participate more and more foreign people to live in Japan?)

2: There is high demand among young couples to increase the number of kindergartens available for new pupil. On the other hand, some people just don't want to have another new kindergarten in their backyard. In this contradictory situation, what would be the most suitable solution?

3: Some immigrant with religious background (e.g. Muslims) have strict rule to obey in their everyday life, such as prohibition of eating pork, girls wearing Hijab (scarf for Muslim women), etc. In some areas of Japan, there are increasing numbers of their children who are attending to Japanese public school. Should we, as the Japanese, accept Muslim’s tradition within the Japanese public school, or should we just say to them, “when in Rome, do as Romans do”?

Hope you enjoy the practice.

Akira Hashimoto

2016年05月18日

5月21日 プラクティス

ESSの皆様

5月21日のプラクティス案内をさせていただきます。

 Genre: Grammar & Vocabulary
 Title: Quizzes of Grammar & Vocabulary

80題程の英文法や語彙に関しての問題を考えていただきます。
程度は中程度です。

山本

2016年05月09日

5月14日 プラクティス

Dear ESS members:

Sorry for the late announcement. This is Kumiko Takesue who is in charge of coming practice on May 14th.
The practice will be as follows.

Genre: Talking
Title: Decision Making

Make some groups consist of 4members and talk about the given topics.



Decision Making

Activity 1 | Vocabulary and Expressions

• resolution -‐‑‒ a firm decision to do or not to do something
• inevitable -‐‑‒ certain to happen; what you cannot prevent
• psychological -‐‑‒ related to the mental state of a person
• inescapable -‐‑‒ unavoidable
• toss -‐‑‒ throw something lightly or casually
• instinct -‐‑‒ natural tendency for people to act based on the knowledge and abilities that they were born with; a feeling that makes you do something or believe that something is true
Advanced ⅼ Article Discussion Lesson 08
Copyright © since 1998 DMM All Rights Reserved.

Activity 2 | Article
Decision Making
Each of us has our own stories to tell. Life is like a roller coaster, at times it goes up and at times it goes down, this means life rotates in different directions both advantageous and disadvantageous. But of course we can always choose how our life will turn out to be by making decisions.
Decision making is reaching a conclusion, judgment, or resolution after thinking about what is the best thing to do. We all inevitably have to make decisions at times. It is a constant psychological exercise that we inescapably do every single day. When we find it difficult to decide we seek for advice from another individual. There are times when we don’t know what to do but still do not feel the need of help, we toss a coin or just choose whichever. But most of the time we trust our instincts and decide all by ourselves. However, regardless of the effort put into decision making, we need to accept that some decisions will not always be the right and best choices. Some people often make decisions while experiencing strong emotions and therefore such decisions most of the time result in failure.
No one will ever be able to make the best decision all the time because all of us make mistakes.
To avoid choosing wrong we need to dissect problems into simpler forms and create solutions for them, weighing the risk involved, considering pros and cons, choosing advice from people who have more experience on the matter, and lastly come up with the best decision accordingly.

Activity 3 | Question and Answer
Directions: Answer these questions about the article.
1. According to the essay, what does decision making mean?
2. What does the phrase “Life is like a roller coaster” mean?
3. What are the things we need to do to avoid wrong decisions?

Activity 4 | Summary
Directions: Make a summary of this article, focusing on the main topic.
Copyright © since 1998 DMM All Rights Reserved.

Activity 5 | Thoughts
Directions: Exchanging thoughts about this article.
.
Activity 6 | Free Conversation
Directions: Answer these questions related to the topic of the article. Have a free conversation about it.
1. Do you trust yourself or other people more when it comes to decision making?
2. In your opinion do you make more of advantageous or disadvantageous decisions?
3. Is there any decision that you regret making?
4. Does it take you long to decide what to buy when you are shopping?
5. How important is decision making to you?

K.Takesue

2016年05月01日

5月7日 プラクティス

Dear all: This is Akira Oku.
The announcement of practice on May 7 is as follows.
Genre: Composition.
Title: Frugality and Health.
Remark: In-advance preparation is recommended. You are encouraged to prepare a draft of answers to the activity appearing in the following announcement.
・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・ ・
Kyoto NHK ESS: Practice Manager A. Oku: 2016.5.7
Frugality and Health

Genre: Composition for fostering the value of life
Game procedures:
1. Make 5 or 6 groups.
2. Read sections (A), (B) and (C) shown below. Choose either combination (A) + (B) or (B) + (C), write the answer to facilitate group discussion.
3. Present the typical answer(s) in the group to (A) + (B) or (B) + (C).

Section (A). Poverty or Frugality
Do you like these Danish-style proverbs?
1) Possessing less are not but wanting more are the poor.
2) Those who demand less are blessed whereas demand more are damned.
How to play today with (A). By mimicking them, create your proverbs on a similar theme and discuss. (15 min)

Section (B). Manifesto of the Frugality Party(by H. Shingu)
A spectre is haunting in the World, the spectre of consumerism. All the powers of the World, all the countries on earth, have entered into a holy alliance to exercise the doctrine of this spectre, to buy more, to waste more.
Where is the country which has not been enticed to the consumerism? Where is the voice of keeping the world wide traditional way of frugal life that has not been silenced under the branding reproach as hindrance to the social progress.
Two things result from this fact:
1. Frugality is the only way for the human being to survive continuously on this planet earth. This simple fact is understood by every people world over at least deep in mind.
2. Frugality must openly, in the face of the whole world, be talked, published and appealed through every available method, for its necessity, its consequences and the reason why it has been in the past, it is now and it will be forever, the principal philosophy of happy life. Now is high time to have the spectre of consumerism be contained and ostracized from the world.
To this end, following Manifesto of the Frugality Party has here been written, in the Japanese and English languages, to be publicized.

節約党宣言 (和訳)
妖怪が世界を牛耳っている . 消費主義の妖怪が。世界中の国々が同盟を結んだように、この妖怪の行動規範すなわち消費活性化を一致団結して押し進めている。現在、消費を奨励しない国が世界のどこにあるだろうか?太古から世界のどの場所でも続いて来た伝統的な倹約の社会を守ろうという声は必ず、文明の進歩を妨げるという一言で、時代遅れ、の烙印が押さるのである。
二つの事があきらかである。
1. 節約主義は、それ以外に人類の存続を守る方法がないことを、心の中ではすべての世界の人々から認められている。
2. 節約主義は、過去も、現在も、そして未来においても、常に世界で第一の生活哲学である。いまこそ堂々と、この心の奥の声を、なにはばかることなく広く主張し、出版し、あらゆる情報手段を用いて、これが再び世界の常識になるように、節約党宣言を発表すべき時である。消費主義の妖怪は即刻とらえて世界中の社会から放逐せねばならない.
この目的のために、節約党宣言が日本語と英語とでここに起草された。

How to play today with (B).  (35 min)
After reading the above manifesto, select one political party out of four candidates shown below. Make a draft of its manifesto of declaration in less than 150 words. Work time = 25 min, group discussion = 10 min.
Party Names:
1. Party of Uncovering False Environment-Benignancy.
2. Defense Party of Gyoza-no-Ohshou.
3. Farewell Manifesto to Automotive Society.
4. Manifesto of An-Hour-A-Day Smartphone Party.

Section (C). More Apples a Day! (from TIME)
The great cholesterol controversy that has waged incessantly for the past decade was beginning to wane last week. As the American Heart Association held its scientific sessions in St. Louis, even onetime skeptics were prepared to concede that abnormal quantities of fatty material in the blood should be regarded as one of the major factors in producing heart-artery disease. Thirty-two papers were presented on the subject; the evidence seemed overwhelming. Said Minneapolis Physiologist Ancel Keys: "No one can say that the maintenance of a low level of blood cholesterol will positively prevent development of artery disease. We don't know that this is the answer in whole or even in large part. But it's like a person with hypertension; we can assume he'd run less risk if his blood pressure were lower."

One piece of evidence was offered by Keys himself. Intrigued by the fact that Italians enjoy a far lower rate of coronary disease than Americans, Keys decided to find out why. Last week he suggested a possible answer: the Italian diet. Noting that Italians eat more leafy vegetables and fruits than Americans, Keys reasoned that some ingredient in these foods restricted the level of cholesterol and other fatty materials in the blood.

The Key ingredient turned out to be pectin, a carbohydrate well known to many U.S. housewives: it is the substance that makes jelly jell. Keys found that taking 15 grams of pectin daily for three weeks lowered blood cholesterol levels by an average of ten milligrams—"a modest but significant amount." For Americans who want to keep the doctor away, Keys added a familiar note: his 15-gram daily dose corresponds roughly to the amount of pectin found in two ripe apples.

How to play today with (C).  Write the diagnosis or prescription as the answer to the questions 1 and 2. (15 min).
Question 1. Three apples a day keep --- what?
Question 2. More than four apples a day keep --- what?
Have a ball!

2016年04月15日

4月30日 プラクティス

Dear KYOTO NHK ESS members

This is Osamu MINAMIHASHI from Kyoto City.
I would like to inform you all about the latter practice on April 30th, 2016

Date: April 30th at Hitomachi from 16:30
Genre: Impromptu speech
Title: “What" Questions
Description and procedure
1. Make 8 to 12 groups or more so that each group has 3 members.
If one member were left, I would ask him/her to be the 4th member of the last group.
If two members were left, I would ask them to add me as the 3rd member of the group.
2. Read the following example and answer so that you would get some ideas on how to answer the following questions
3. Two persons shall answer to the questions below as you like within 30 seconds to 2 minute each.
4. The other one shall choose next question. He/she and another member shall start, in turn, expressing one’s own answer.
5. Your impromptu speech shall follow the order as below.
A) State your conclusion briefly
B) Explain your conclusion with 2 or 3 reasons.
C) Repeat your conclusion in somehow different expressions.
5. Your group may choose any of these questions below as you like.
6. Make speech on these questions as many as you can until 18:30.
7.From 18:30, youngest member of each group shall introduce most notable speech to all the members within 30 seconds.
Example:What do you think is the best way to stay healthy?
Answer:
A)Best way to stay healthy is eating moderately or exercise regularly, or both.
B)The reasons are as follows
1) There are many ways to remain healthy. Different people pursue many of them. They may take large amounts of vitamins or tonics. Some blindly believe in some diet or other.
2) These method may be commercially appealing but not medically tested.
3) Nonetheless, good health starts with weight control.
C)Therefore, despite of either vitamins or tonics or various diet, good health is achieved greatly through eating moderately or exercising regularly, or both.

Words:
・pursue : try to attain or accomplish (sth)
• tonic:(sth) that improves (sb)’s health, strength, or confidence
• blindly:without thinking or paying attention to what one does
• diet:regulated selection of foods, as for medical reasons or cosmetic weight loss
・commercially:considering whether a business or product is making a profit
• appealing:attractive or interesting
• nonetheless:despite what has been said
• give up on (sth):admit failure and stop trying
•command of (sth):knowledge of (sth), esp. a language, or ability to use (sth)
•prenuptial agreement:agreement made by a man and woman before they marry about how they will divide their money and property if they get divorced

Other “What” Questions:
1. What do you usually have for breakfast?
2. What do you usually have for lunch?
3. What is your favorite snack?
4. What do you want to be in the future?
5. What do you want your kids to be in the future?
6. What do you think about giving up on English?
7. What do you think are the advantages of having a good command of English?
8. What do you do to improve your English?
9. What do you think about prenuptial agreements?
10. What made your parents get married?
11. What makes you feel happy?
12. What do you do to make your parents happy?
13. What do you usually do if you have a cold?
14. What makes you feel sad?
15. What do you do to make your friends happy?
16. What can you do to help the poor?
17. What do you think about buying lottery tickets?
18. What is your favorite season?
19. What do you think about women smoking and drinking?
20. What is the best movie you've ever seen?
21. What is your favorite food?
22. What is the most important thing for you to do this year?
23. What are you going to be doing at 10:00 pm tomorrow?
24. What do you think is the most important thing in life?
25. What are your future plans?

Notice: My intention is to enable each member to express one’s own idea briefly, logically and persuasively with impromptu speech.

I hope all of you would enjoy this tough, interesting and exciting practice thoroughly, of course, at last, from the bottom of your heart!

Sincerely yours,
Osamu MINAMIHASHI

2016年04月07日

4月23日 プラクティス

Dear members:

It's my pleasure to inform you all of what I'm supposed to talk about on Saturday, April 23, 2016 as follows.

1. Realm: Presentation and discussion
2. Title: Singaore's challenge

3. Procudures:
a. All participants are devided into 3 classes, such as advanced, intermediate and beginner based on ones's own judgement.
b. One group in each class is recommended to consist of 6 persons at most. We may have more or less 7 groups.
c. Each group is requested to choose one chiar person and one rapporteur.
d. A presentation about Singapore is given by Izumi toki.
e. Questions and answers are admitted after and during the presentation.
f. One specific issue is made clear, about which all participants talk in each group.
g. Two or three sum-ups by rapporteurs are made public.

4. Chair-person: Izumi Toki, Master of International Relations/ Urban Policy Making
5. Reference: See the attached

Hope to see you all soooooooon with a big smile.

Best regards.
Izumi Toki

4月16日 プラクティス

Dear all,

On behalf of Uchidate san, let me introduce the practice on April 16th.

The material of the practice is attached.

Date: April 16

Genre: Read & Talk

Facilitator: Atsuta & Uchidate

Procedure:
1) As usual, be divided into 5 or 6 groups

2) Each member of group read one paragraph aloud and put it into Japanese by turn.

3) After going through one article, talk and discuss on the article within your group.
Questions:
-What did you think of the article and its topic?
-Is there anything else you can add to the topic? Anything is OK.

4) If you have time, move on to another articles whichever you like.

5) Finally, one of each group introduce summery of your groups talk to all.

Thank you,

Y. Atsuta

2016年04月02日

4月9日 プラクティス

Dear all,

This is an announcement of practice on April 9.

There are many cases to persuade someone not only in business situation but in daily life. In this practice, I would like you to experience developing and presenting persuasive ideas using a role play scenario. This is the first time for me to facilitate practice, but I hope everyone will enjoy it.

Date: April 9
Genre: Role play
Theme: Persuading someone (maybe in business situation)
Facilitator: Masako Kushimoto
Procedure:
1. Making groups;
Firstly make 5 or 6 groups, and then divide each group into 2 teams (let's say A and B).
2. Thinking time;
Discuss in teams and generate ideas to persuade another team of the same group based on a scenario I will distribute.
3. Role play;
Firstly A team will tell their idea to B team and B team will just listen and check how persuasive the idea is. After that, B team will tell their idea to A team and A team will listen and check.
Lastly, I would like to shortly ask how persuasive ideas are.

Thank you,
Masako Kushimoto
iPodから送信

2016年03月24日

4月2日 プラクティス

Hello ESS Members,
The cherry blossom season has begun. You may go cherry blossom viewing. But please come and join the ESS, too.

This is the announcement of practice on April 2, 2016.
I hope all of you will enjoy talking on the common topic.
Title: Meals
Date: April 2, 2016
Genre: Discussion
Facilitator: Keiko Yamaizumi
Procedure
Make some groups. A handout will be distributed to each participant.
1. Reading the script.
2. Thinking. (The script and the questions could be hints to think.)
3. Discussion.

Lastly, summarize and announce the notable speech of each group.


Sincerely,
K. Yamaizumi

2016年03月23日

3月26日 プラクティス

Hello there, ladies and gentlemen ! (^.^)/
This is the announcement for the latter session on Mar. 26th.

Presenter: Inoue Motomi

(1) Genre: Translation

(2) Title: “Lucky items (Engimono) 2”

(3) Description:
1. Make some groups.

2. I will hand out material of some Japanese lucky items.

3. Translate it in your group.
Maybe you should translate it in turns, but if you have another
good idea, it is OK to do in your way.

4. Present a part of your translation before all.

I hope you all enjoy the session.

Cheers !

★☆Motomi☆★

2016年03月08日

3月19日 プラクティス

Hello everybody.

This is Shigeo HORI from Kashiba City.

I'd like to inform you all about the practice of March 19th.
Date: March 19th at Hitomachi, from 18:00.
Genre: Discussion (with a short time presentation)
Title: Who is a good leader?
Description and Procedure:
1. First I'd like to introduce some leadership theories in the field of social psychology and business management.
2. Make 5 or 6 groups.
3. Discuss the topic of leadership according to AGENDA.
I hope you do not attack personally in this discussion.
(Examples of the contents of AGENDA)
a. Who do you think is a good leader (socially)? For example, Obama, Shokatsu Koumei, etc.
b. Why do you think that person is a good leader?
c. What is the important points for being a good leader? In the fields of business management, politician, sports team, ESS, etc.
d. Difference between good leader's points between business/political leader and ESS leader?
4. Announce your group's good idea of leadership to all members.
I hope to experience a good and interesting discussion.

Thank you.

3月12日 プラクティス

Hello everyone!

This is the announcement of practice on March 12, 2016.
I wish all of you would think about the future of Japan.
Title: The depopulation of Japanese and the aging problem in our society
Date: March 12, 2016
Genre: Discussion
Facilitator: Hideyuki Tanaka
Note: I am worried about the declining population in Japan.
This time we will discuss and focus on the aging problem in our country, which is unavoidable.
Procedure
1. Make some groups.
2. Express and discuss each members’ own opinion in your group.
The first subject: What do you think about the aging problem in Japan?
The second subject: What is your plan to cope up with the aging problem in Japan?
3. Summarize and announce the notable opinion of your own group
I hope that we would feel glad to have been born Japanese.

2016年02月25日

3月5日 プラクティス

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。

2016年02月21日

2月27日 プラクティス

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

2016年02月13日

2月20日 プラクティス

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

2016年02月06日

2月13日 プラクティス

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

2016年01月30日

2月6日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto ESS members

This is the announcement of practice on Feb. 6th.

Date: Feb. 6th
Genre: Discussion
Title:
1. What personality or occupation did you want to get in your early days?
2. What do you want now to be in the future?
3. With how much income are you satisfied qua the present status?

They seem to be severe themes to talk about. But take it easy. In the beginning of the year, Dai-Ichi Seimei (第一生命) insurance company annually announces the result of their survey (census) on " What do you want to be in the future?” Typical top 10 answers are as follow.
[boys]
1. Football player
2. Baseball player
3. Policeman, Detective
4. Mate, Chauffeur
5. Carpenter
6. Doctor (Physician)
7. Food store owner
8. Scholar, Doctor
9. Space-pilot, Fireman
10. Piano-teacher

〔girls〕
1. Food store owner(食べ物屋)
2. Kindergarten teacher
3. Nurse
4. Doctor (Physician)
5. Teacher
6. Singer, Entertainer, Talent
7. Fancier, Pet-shop owner, Animal trainer
8. Designer
9. Store owner
10. Pianist

Contents : As usual, make 5 or 6 groups.
After discussing each title, each group leader reports content of discussions.

Expecting vivid discussion and talking. See you next Saturday evening.

Regards,
Y.Imai

2016年01月27日

1月30日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto ESS members
This is an announcement for Practice on 30th, Jan. 2016

Genre: Game
Title: Scrabble(A kind of crossword game)

Steps:
1. Make 4 members’ groups.
(I’ll hand out each group a set of the crossword game which has a grid-printed paper and alphabet letter tiles.)

2. Turn all the letter tiles face down at the side of the grid-printed paper and each member draws 7 pieces of the letter tiles at random and turn the letter tiles face up in front of each

3. Determine the first player in a group in any way. After the first player, play passes to the left. Thus, each player’s turn comes around clockwise.

4. The first player combines two or more of his/her letter tiles to form a word and place them at the center of the grid-printed paper explaining his/her word in other words, Of course, in English. After that, the player counts his/her points on the letter tiles and writes it down on another paper to record.

5.Any dictionaries or materials are available in the Practice. You can also ask questions to other players in a group such as “ Is this a word?”, “Is this a correct spelling?”, but do not ask a whole word. If you can’t find any word to place, you will be able to say “Pass” and get 0 point. I hope the whole Practice shall be managed by communications in English!

6 Two pieces of no letter tile are included in each set of the alphabet letter tiles. You can use them as any letter tiles when you get one of them or both, but you will get no point when you place it on the grid-printed paper as neither point is printed on the tile.

7 A player complete a turn by drawing as many new letter tiles as played, thus always has to keep seven letter tiles in front.

8. The next player repeats the same operation above, but has to place his/her word to touch another letter tile already placed on the grid-printed paper. All letters played in a turn must be placed in one row across or down.

9. When all the letter tiles are used up, the game will be over. Sum up points you’ve got in your plays. A winner will be the highest point earner in a group!

I hope you will enjoy this game!

K. Masayama

2016年01月16日

1月23日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto ESS members

This is an announcement for the practice on January 23, 2016
Genre: Study and Talk
Title: Tumor(Cancer/Neoplasm)
Steps:
1 .Make several groups as usual (One group consists of 5 members).
2. First of all, I would like to explain about cancer.
3. Please talk about the following themes.
①If you have been diagnosed with cancer, do you hope the notification? Why?
②If your family have been diagnosed with cancer, do you hope the notification for your family? Why?
③If you have been diagnosed with terminal cancer, do you hope for further treatments? Why?
④If you don`t hope ③, do you hope the palliative care and hospice? Why?
4. Comprehension test
A little difficult but please enjoy my practice.

See you again at the temple!

                       Makoto Kurusu

2015年12月24日

1月16日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members
This is an announcement of the practice on 16 January.
Date: 16 January 2016
Genre: Translation (Japanese to English)
Title: How to translate Japanese to English
We divide our members into 5 or 6 groups.

When we translate a difficult Japanese sentence to English one,
we sometimes recognize the cultural difference between the West and Japan.
Anyhow I prepare 9 sentences.

e.g., 優柔不断な男 ⇒ 決断力のない男 (やさしい日本語に置き換える)
 ⇒ a man who cannot make a decision by himself.

あなたのその帽子は暖かいですか? ⇒ その帽子はあなたを暖めますか?
 ⇒ Does your cap keep you warm ?  (主語が私ではなく帽子)

By Takeo Kuchinaka (the third oldest carrier member of ESS)

2015年12月19日

12月26日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS friends,
This is an announcement of the practice on December 26th.
Date: December 26, 2015
Genre: Discussion
Title: Talk about the events you have experienced in 2015
Description:
Since this is the last practice in the year, please tell us your happy or unfortunate moments you have experienced this year.
I will prepare some questions so that you can recall the events easily.
Procedure:
・Make small groups of 5 or 6.
・Talk your stories by answering to each question.
・Choose someone in your group as a presenter.
・Presenters should summarize the talking in your group and present it to others.
I hope you will enjoy talking.
G.Kitaura

2015年12月09日

12月19日 プラクティス

Hi, ESS everyone

This is the announcement of practice to be held on December 19th by Shimon Nakamura
Date: December 19, 2015
Genre: Speech
Title: Make an impromptu speech in English
Description: Dec. 19th will be the penultimate meeting in this year. At any time in ESS, we are requested to make an impromptu speech in English or it is important for us to begin an off-the-cuff English talk. At this time I’m listing as many easy subjects as 100 or more for you to start to speak in no time. The subject will be, for instance, Tokyo Sky Tree, Year-end jumbo lottery, Windows 10, Emperor, garbage selection and the like. I will hand out several sheets of papers showing all the subjects. Let us make a vivid talk. Hoping that you will have a really enjoyable practice at the last meeting but one, I am.
Shimon Nakamura (中村 史門)

2015年12月01日

12月12日 プラクティス

Announcement of the practice on Dec.12th

Genre: game
Title: card game [Karuta]
Make 5 groups.
Detail is secret until the game.

Hisako Fukuda

2015年11月28日

12月5日 プラクティス

Hi, there!

This is the announcement of the practice on Dec 5th.

Genre: Game
Title: Daily phrases game
Description:
1. Make three groups.
2. Form three lines.
3. I call a daily phrase in Japanese,
4. You, three persons in the front, are asked to write it on the white board in English.
(Time limit: From 30 seconds to 1 minute)

5. The judge (I will choose someone) checks the answers.
6. The winner will get a prize!! !
I hope you will enjoy this practice.

Takako Suzuki

2015年11月21日

11月28日 プラクティス

Dear ESS members

Hello! It’s my honor to plan the Practice on Nov. 28th.
I’m supposed to share my experience in Canada, aren’t I?
Actually, studying in Canada as a high school student was absolutely great experience for me.
Wish I could tell you everything what I learned, found, felt, and tried in Canada!!!
Unfortunately, however, it may take me more than 2 weeks to tell you all.
So, I’d like to focus on my experience of Canadian high school English class.
The grade12 English class, like analyzing Shakespeare was totally difficult for me to join.
(You are not going to do Shakespeare, simply because I can't!!!!)
I’ve picked up a class from Dec. 7th 2014.
It was a quite interesting class for me.
Hopefully it’s gonna be an interesting practice for you as well!

Date: Nov. 28th
Genre: Reading and discussion (or Canadian high school class!)
Title: ELA30a (English Language Arts 30a) class experience
1. Make several groups as usual and I’ll give you an article.
2. In the article, “The 99 reasons why it’s better to be Canadian", you will find 99 reasons why it’s better to be Canadian than to be American. You'll have about 10-15 minutes to read through it, choose 25 favorite quotes and write reasons for 5 of them.
3. Share your opinions. Which one was your favorites and why? What did you think about the article? Do you think Canadian is better than Americans? Any opinions are welcomed!
4. Maybe there will be not much time left, but I’ll talk a little bit about my experience in Canada. Ask me whatever!! I’ll be more than happy to share my experience.

I’m really excited! Thank you so much :)

Sincerely,
Minamo

2015年11月14日

11月21日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

This is the announcement of the practice on Nov.21

☆Genre: Talk

☆Title: Okayu(Rice porridge)

☆Description:
I guess that everybody has tasted "Okayu" many times in your past life.
   Since "Okayu" has good digestion and it's able to make the body warm, we often eat it at the time when we suffered from diseases like a cold. And a lot of people eat "Okayu" as breakfast in the morning and also it is sometimes served for breakfast at hotel restaurants.
   "Okayu" is said to be often eaten in China, Korea, Vietnam, each Southeastern Asian country including Singapore as well as Japan. In this practice, I would like to talk about "Okayu" with the members.

Discussion
(1)The words "3分粥"、"5分粥"、"7分粥" "全粥" are well known. Please discuss the source and the content of those words.
(2)It is said that there is difference in the cooking style between "Okayu" of Kanto and "Okayu" of Kansai in Japan. Please discuss its difference.
(3)There are many kinds of "Okayu" in the world like "Cha-gayu" and "Imo-gayu". The name of the "Okayu" derives from a kind of ingredient to put. Please tell us the name of "Okayu" in the world that you know, and introduce the content in detail.
(4)What is your most impressive "Okayu" you have eaten in the past (tasty one or tasteless one). Please introduce it to us. And when and where did you eat it?
(5)It is said that recently we can easily buy canned and other forms of instant "Okayu". How often and why do you eat "Okayu” for health?

Please enjoy the practice.

Masahiko Oka

2015年11月04日

11月14日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Hello, everyone.
This is the announcement of the practice on Nov. 14.

☆Genre: Talk

☆Title: Happiness is…

☆Descriptions:
1. Make 5~6 groups.

2. First every member tries to answer "happiness check" and share your result with your group members.

Then we’ll have a talk about your ideas "what happiness means to you?"

Examples of questions
(1) What's your happiest event lately?
(2) What's your most surprising (or upsetting) experience recently?
(3) Do you have any disgusting happenings these days?
(4) According to the survey World Happiness Report 2015, which country is the happiest for you to live in?
(5) Let us know what happiness means to you.
(6) You can discuss any topics on happiness.
I hope you will enjoy it!

Best regards,
Motoko Tabata

2015年10月30日

11月7日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members

This is the announcement of the practice on Nov 7th.
Genre: talk and discussion
Title: Learning plan for English
Procedure
・Make some groups.
1st stage (10-15minutes)
・I distribute memo pads.
・Please write as follows one by one.
・Why do you learn English?
・What is your goal to learn English?
・What do you do to attain your goal?
・Are there any tasks that you must resolve?
Etc...

2nd stage (40-45minutes)
・Share it to your group.
・Discuss how to attain the goal.
・Other members advise the speaker.
Please repeat as above by rotation.
I hope you will enjoy the practice and it will contribute to attain your goal.

Thanks,
Yusuke Ueno

2015年10月20日

11月1日 プラクティス⑤~⑥

Hello ESS members,

This is the announcement of the fifth practice of our English training camp.
It will be on the second day, November 1st.

We are going to play a game called "charade". It is a word guessing game by originally acting out a word or phrase. But we will make it verbally this time.

《 procedure》
① Players sit on a chair making a half circle.

② One player selected as a guesser stands in front of the others.

③ Coordinator holds a slip of paper , unseen from the guesser, on which a word or phrase is written.

④ The other players give hints to the guesser to be successfully able to guess the word or phrase.

Time limit will be set.
When the time comes, whether the guess is right or not, the next guesser will be designated.
Coordinator will record the each answering time.

The fastest and the most unsuccessful guesser will be commended !!!

Tamaki Murase


Hello, ESS members,

This is the announcement of the last practice of our English training camp, on the second day, November 1st.
Genre: Talk
Title: Our lives in 2025 (future)

Forget about your age, and let's imagine what the world will be like in about 10 years’ time?
Here are some examples of topics.
1. Robotics
- What kind of Robot do you expect to live with or wish to have in future?
- Do you welcome Translator robot? (This makes English leaning unnecessary)
- Could Artificial Intelligence be a threat to us?
2. Automobile
- Automatic Driving will be common? (Do you personally like it?)
- Clean energy cars like EV and Fuel-Cell Vehicle will prevail?
3. Energy
- Will Gas station be replaced by Hydrogen station?
- What kind of Energy source will be common? Or you want to use in future?
- Will nuclear energy be a thing of the past?
4. Smart phone
- How will smart phone in the future look like?
5. World
- Which country will be prosperous?
6. Aging society/Medical advance
- What kind of medical progress can be expected?
- Can we foresee expanded life expectancy and more active seniors?
7. Business
- What kind of business will grow in future?
8. In general
- Can we live in the happier world? Or not?
9. What’s more??
- Anything you want to talk
Atsuta


10月31日 プラクティス④

This is the announcement of the fourth practice of English Camp.(before special practice !)

Genre : game

Title : Who are you ?

1. I deal papers with imaginary character's name.
(Animation-character , Monster, etc.)

2. One member introduces oneself as the character . (But don't say character's name.)

3. Other members guess the name of the character .

Let's enjoy Halloween night !

                   Matsui Akiko

10月31日 プラクティス①~③

Practice① for Oct 31st

Hi.

Here is an announcement on the very first activity of ESS camping.
Genre : variety
1st stage: Adjective , Adjective , Adjective !

2nd stage: Quiz Competition

3rd stage: Quiz Competition

4th stage: Quiz Competition

T.Noguchi


Practice② for Oct 31st
Hi, there!

This is the announcement of my practice session on October 31st, 2015.
To be precise, it's going to be the second practice on the day one of
Kyoto ESS English Camp.

Genre: Discussion
Title: Good Thinker's Toolkit

Everyone carves to be a good thinker, doesn't she? It's not only
vital to success in any fields, but also it helps to win good friends
who may have a good influence on us.

But it's easier said than done. You need practice.

In this session, we're going to discuss things which interest us by
utilizing "Good Thinker's Toolkit". It is said that, at elementally
schools in the US, they teach children how to think effectively. [1]

This "Good Thinker's Toolkit" is actually a set of templates and
guidelines you are encouraged to stick when you're discussing.
The following is the contents of the toolkit:

- What do you mean by...
- True? Is it factual? How do we find out?
- Reasons; support your opinion
- Examples; Evidence; to support a claim
- Counter-examples; check the truth of a broad statement
- Assumptions - make them known when they underlie discussion
- Inferences: "If ... then"; Implications

Here is the approximate session timetable:

(1) Make discussion groups. (five minutes)

(2) Write topic cards and throw them into "`I wonder ...' bottle".
(Ten minutes)

(3) Pick a topic from the bottle and discuss until the time is up.

That's all for now.
See you soon.

Cheers!

Masakazu Yoshida
----
Reference:

[1] Island Life - 小学校ではこうやって議論のやり方を教える...
http://blog.practical-scheme.net/shiro/20150925-thinkers-toolkit


Practice③ for Oct 31st
Dear Kyoto ESS members:
This is the announcement for the practice on Oct. 31st 2015 at our English training camp.
Presenter: Osamu Minamihashi
Date: Oct. 31st, 2015、16:10~17:30 (80 minutes)
Genre: Debate
Title: Should Japan adopt English as the second official language?
Description and Time table on Oct 31st.
16:10 1) Make some groups so that each group has 3 members. If 1 member were left, I would ask the leader to be a special additional judge. If 2 members were left, Minamihashi would join the group. In any case, Minamihashi would be a time keeper.
16:15 2) Please confirm within each group that this is a kind of game for English practice that would not directly have any impact on our real world. And then, fold each 3 pieces of A3 paper 3 times so that there would be 8 parts.
16:16 3) Read the material Minamihashi distributes.
4) Discuss and write your major points of possible speech as the Affirmative, the Negative and the Judge.
The Affirmative must argue it is advantageous for Japan to adopt English as the second official language.
The Negative must argue it is disadvantageous for Japan to adopt such policy.
The judge is expected to decide the winner of the match for some persuasive reasons.
5) Decide the order to be the Affirmative, the Negative and the Judge so that your group consists of 3 little groups.
Present all ADs and DAs during AC and NC.
Be careful so that each member would take 3 different roles in turn.
6) Prepare your flow sheets to take note during the 3 debate matches.
16:30 7) Let each speaker start his speech in the following order and time frame. (20分で1試合)
1st Round
16:30 Affirmative Constructive Speech(2minutes, 肯定側立論2分)(AC)
16:32 Cross-Examination by the Negative(2minutes, 否定側から肯定側へ反対尋問2分)(Cross-X N⇒A)
16:34 Negative Constructive Speech(2 minutes, 否定側立論2分)(NC)
16:36 Cross-Examination by the Affirmative(2minutes, 肯定側から否定側へ反対尋問2分)(Cross-X A⇒N)
16:38 Affirmative Rebuttal Speech(2 minutes, 肯定側による反論2分)(AR)
16:40 Cross-Examination by both sides(2 minutes, 双方による反対尋問2分)(Cross-X A⇔N)
16:42 Negative Rebuttal Speech(2 minutes, 否定側による反論2分)(NR)
16:44 Decision & Reason by the Judge(4 minutes, ジャッジによる勝敗の判定とその理由、4分)(Decision)
16:48 Turn the role clockwise in your group and prepare for 2nd Round.
8) 2nd Round
16:50 AC
16:52 Cross-X N⇒A
16:54 NC
16:56 Cross-X A⇒N
16:58 AR
17:00 Cross-X A⇔N
17:02 NR
17:04 Decision by the Judge
17:08 Turn the role clockwise in your group once more and prepare for 3rd round.
9) 3rd Round
17:10 AC
17:12 Cross-X N⇒A
17:14 NC
17:16 Cross-X A⇒N
17:18 AR
17:20 Cross-X A⇔N
17:22 NR
17:24 Decision by the Judge
17:28 Comments from Minamihashi
17:30 End of the debate practice
Let’s enjoy debate!

2015年10月16日

10月24日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto ESS members
This is the announcement of a practice on Oct 24.

Genre:Group talk
Title:Discussion on current news
Program summary:
Make several groups. There are 2 short news topics.
Each topics includes discussion points. Number of discussion topic(s) 1 or 2 is up to your group.
Please enjoy talking!

1)Kyoto is the world’s best city to travel to, a survey by Time Inc. revealed

2)EU Continues to Receive Increasing Number of Refugees

See you at the temple
Regards
Ishizaki

2015年10月08日

10月17日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto ESS members
This is the announcement of the practice on Oct 17.

Genre: Group talk
Title: What is important to you?

(1) Make some groups.
(2) Talk about what is important to you in your group.

I hope you will enjoy this practice.

Best regards
Satoko Okubo

2015年10月02日

10月10日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

This is an announcement of the practice on October 10th.

1. Let’s play the word association game.
First member says one word, for example “June.” Next member says a sentence “That reminds me of rain because we have a lot of rain in June." The reason can be very personal.
The word leads to another word that should be connected in some way.
It continues on until someone can’t make a connection anymore.

2. I prepare some pictures. You can bring some pictures by yourself.
Choose one picture and describe what you see in the picture one by one.
I hope you will enjoy it.

Shiho Nakashima

2015年09月24日

10月3日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Hello, everyone.
This is the chairperson of practice on Oct. 3, Yuko Tanihara.

Here is the contents of my practice.

Genre: Vocabulary quizzes with discussion

Title: Let's talk about beauty of nature and taste of Japan in English!

At first, please make some groups to have 4-6 members in each group.

Warming up part;
I picked up some words of seasonal ingredients.
At first, please try to answer these questions by yourself.
Then, shall we share these answers with your group members?

Main part;
This game is guessing the English word of explanation of seasonal events/tastes.
One of your group members reads out first question.
Other members answer the word of first question.
Then, next person reads out second question and others answer the question.
Please repeat this work by rotation.

This practice will be good chance to know how to explain Japanese culture, especially foods.

I hope you will enjoy it! See you on Saturday.

Best regards,
Yuko Tanihara

2015年09月19日

9月26日 プラクティス

Dear ESS members,

This is the announcement of the practice on 26th.
Genre: Talk
Title : Autumn Holidays (Silver Week)
People say autumn is the season for reading books and enjoying sports in Japan.....
1, How do you spend good days in autumn season? 「 ~の秋 」 for you
2, In these consecutive holidays (Silver Week),
     What did you do?
     Where did you go? etc...
Let's talk about it with your group members with making an impression card !
Enjoy your nice autumn days!

Thank you,
Ryuichi Tanaka

2015年09月08日

9月19日 プラクティス

Dear ESS members

This is the announcement of the practice on 19th.

The genre is "talk to explain"

The theme is “Describing very Japanese thing”

1. Make 5 groups and talk about the words written in Japanese which are unique to Japan or common in Japan.
If you feel the task is too much, you can choose five of them.

2. Then write them down to describe or explain those words on the back of the paper.
You need not explain them in detail but they should be enough to make foreigners get the images.

3. After completed, one member of the group presents them in front of other groups.

Each group will be given different themes, and sometime later I will distribute model explanations except to the group which has to present them, so that you will see the group in charge could do a good job.

Enjoy!

Kumiko Takesue

2015年09月05日

9月12日 プラクティス

Dear ladies & gentlemen of Kyoto ESS

For the practice on September 12, I am preparing for the following exercise.

Title: Something in Common

Agenda:
1. Divide into small groups
2. Introduce yourself briefly in the group
3. Find anything in common with your group members!
4. Share your universal points to the whole participants

If you have any questions, please contact me without any hesitation.


Best Regards,
Yuko Kotera

2015年08月22日

9月5日 プラクティス

Hi, there!

This is the announcement of the practice on September 5th, 2015.

Genre: Talk
Title: Talk based on five-line essay method

Have you heard of five-line essays[1]?
Five-line essays are an easy way to say something persuasively.
Literally they consist of five sentences.
Let me show you an example:

1: I believe five-line essays are good for your English.
2: First of all, they give you a basic template of how to think in English.
3: It also makes you sound more logical and understandable.
4: The format is very simple so that anyone can learn in no time.
5: So what are you waiting for? Let's practice five-line essays!

As you can see, in the first sentence,
you just state what you want to say, the conclusion.
Then, in the following three sentences (2 to 4), you will give
evidence, examples, or anything that support your claim.
The last line is a repetition of the first sentence;
you can simply restate the conclusion or rephrase it as you like.

That's all for now.

See you soon.

Cheers!

Masakazu Yoshida

----
Reference:

[1] Aono, Chutatsu. 'The Harvard-Style 5-Line Essay Method', 2015.

8月29日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members
This is the announcement of the practice on Aug 29.

Genre: Group talk & 言葉 当て Game

Group talk
(1) Make some groups of 5 or 6 people.
(2) Each group is divided into two or three people.
(3)Talk about [What's new] or [How's your summer vacation] .

言葉 当て Game
I'll prepare some cards for each group.

I hope you will enjoy this practice.
森 ipad

2015年07月20日

8月22日 プラクティス

Dear, everyone.

Today’s topic is the pet problems in an apartment house.
Do you have dogs or cats? Do you love them so much?

Title: Pet problems (We divide our members into 6 groups)
Nowadays some elderly people keep dogs or cats. I think they are very pretty animals for their owners. But they sometimes make many troubles with their neighbors.

For example
① When they feel loneliness, they bark in daytimes or nights.
② Big size dogs sometimes threaten young kids.
③ In an apartment condominium, some owners keep their dogs or cats.(illegally)
④ Some owners leave dog’s oops outside of their rooms.
⑤ Some of the residents detests cats and dogs.
⑥ An very old man keeps a large-size young dog, even though his physical condition is serious by his age. After his death, nobody would be able to keep it.

When I had been in an apartment house, we argued about the pet problems at the residents’ meeting. Keeping dogs and cats were prohibited there.

Even now, estimated more than 30% of the residents keep dogs or cats illegally.
Some residents annoyed that a large number of the residents keep them.
Under such situations, nobody can say that keeping pets are illegal, but I said that.

Discussions
1.Do you have any good ideas about the apartment-condominium pet problems?
2.Pets lovers cannot easily release their lovely pets. Even though, if you were living in a volcanic island like Miyake-jima or Kuchinoerabu-jima., you would have to leave your pets.

Ending (3 minutes each)
3. Representative of each group talk about your lovely memories with your pets.

By Takeo Kuchinaka

8月8日 プラクティス

Hello, ESS members
The atmospheric pressure is unpredictable again today.
I'm sending this email to inform all members to confirm appointed practice mainly..
Appointed date: Aug. 8th, 2015
Genre: Economy
Titles : Japan Economy, quo vadis? 日本経済いずこに
subheading: Beyond pros and/or vis-a-vis adopting the American Standard
アメリカンスタンダードを取り入れるかについて賛否を超えて
                following procedures ; see below please...
1.Make some groups 5 or 6 members . (It might depend on numbers of participants.)
2.I'm going to distribute pieces of my writings on economic issues I drew up to each team.
3.Decide a leader out of each group.
4.Read and make a discussion on contents, proposals, and 2 questions on distributed handouts.
5.Chosen leaders of each group answer 2 questions.(on distributed handouts)

What-if some newcomers who have a different verbal operational capability show up?
All things considered, I would be supposed to prepare 日本語解説と日本語説明
to facilitate understanding in regard with them, with preparing for the worst.
 Anyway, let me post on our ESS round table by text messages for further details to be on safe side around Aug. 1st.before fixed date 8th.
                         I really appreciate it.
                         Masaya Fujiki.
プラクティス当日諸般の事情を考慮して、日本語表記の説明文と日本語での説明を加えます。


******************************************************************************
Hello, to registered ESS members
RECONFIRMATION
I'm sending this email to inform all members to reconfirm appointed practice on..,
Appointed date: Aug. 8th, 2015
Genre: Economy
Titles : Japan's Economy, quo vadis? 日本経済,いずこに
Subheading : Beyond pros and/or cons vis-a-vis adopting the American Standard アメリカンスタンダードを取り入れるかについての賛否を超えて
as noticed beforehand,
            Let me perform it following procedures 1-5;
See below please..,
1.Make some groups 5 or 6 members . (It might depend on the numbers of participants.)
2.I'm going to distribute sheets of my writings on economic issues I drew up to each team.
3.Decide a leader out of each group.
4.Read writings and then make a discussion about contents, proposals, and 2 questions on distributed handouts (accompanied by several sheets of Japanese translation &c ).
5 Chosen leaders by each group answer 2 questions.(on distributed handouts)
I'd like to put the following way;
See also,
What if some newcomers who cannot afford the latest information might show up. I’m afraid they might meet unexpected circumstances.
Therefore, all things considered, I would be supposed to prepare 日本語解説と日本語説明 to facilitate understanding of contents in consideration of them (newcomers).     プラクティス当日諸般の事情を考慮して、日本語表記の説明文と日本語での説明を加えます。
I'm giving the finishing touches to writings indicated above right now.
It's been an abnormal climatic weather. Let's be careful of heat stroke.
That'll be all.
I appreciate it a lot.
Masaya Fujiki.

8月1日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members
This is the announcement of the practice on Aug 1.
Genre: Discussion and creative work
Title: ``Let`s make your own words``
Procedure:
・Make some groups (3 to 5 people for each group)
1st stage (20-30 minutes):
・I distribute the paper listed sayings spoken by famous people.
Please discuss about those sayings in your group.
・How do those sayings connected with their careers and the historical backgrounds in which they lived?
・What messages did they want to convey through those sayings?
・Are you sympathetic or unsympathetic to those sayings ?
2nd stage (30-40 minutes)
・Please write your own remarks within three sentences like the sayings spoken by famous people.
Any genre is OK. Remarks shall be based on your creed, your wish, and slogan such as advertisement
(Example ``NO MUSIC, NO LIFE`` slogan by Tower Records).
・Please introduce your remark to other members in your group.
・If you have extra time, please go on to write another remark.
I hope you will enjoy the practice.
Thanks,
Seiichiro Iwai

2015年07月11日

7月18日 プラクティス

Hello, everyone.

I hope this text message finds you well.

This is the announcement about the activity on July 18.

Title: Movie Subtitle

Genre : Talk and Translation

I have a few experiences of getting involved in the translation of movie subtitles.

The passages I will prepare for the latter half activity are about Toda Natsuko. She is one of the most famous subtitle translators in Japan.

And then, I would like you to try some movie translations.

Thank you.

T.Noguchi

2015年06月21日

7月11日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto-ESS members

This is the announcement for the practice on July 11th.

Genre: Creation

Title: Let’s make a story and fill in the blank phrases in comic strip.

Methods:

① Make several groups so that each group has six members.

② Each of group members chooses the comic sheets
(from first to fourth frame).

③ Make a story and fill in the blank phrases
(in ten minutes).

④ Each member presents his/her story( three minutes for each).

⑤ Once the process is finished, shuffle the comic sheets and repeat.

⑥ Finally, let’s draw your original comic.

Sorry, my practice looks like Murase-san’s a little by accident.

As I have made the comic sheets, I cannot change the practice contents. I ask your pardon.

I am looking forward to enjoying my practice with you.

Makoto Kurusu

7月4日 プラクティス

Hi, everyone,

I believe all of you are doing well.
Let me announce the practice on July 4.

Genre: Talk
Title:Self-review on the first half year in 2015.
It has been half a year since you made New Year's resolution at the beginning of this year. Have you gone smoothly along with your resolution?

Let's try to self-review your activities on the first half year in 2015, recalling your New Year's resolution.

Steps of the practice
1. After making several groups with even numbers of members, you are going to pair with partners.

2. One tells another your New Year’s resolution and self-review of the first half year. One also tell whether he/she can keep his/her resolution or not, and, how to go through on the next half year. After finishing one's talk, change the role of the pair.

3. Each of a pair presents his /her partner's talking to the group members.

I hope you can enjoy.

Regards,
K. Murota.

2015年06月19日

6月27日 プラクティス

This is the announcement for the practice on June 27th.

Hello, ESS members

It has been rainy and humid....
Why don't we refresh ourselves by using the different part of our brain?

Genre: game
Title: make a story

〈 procedure 〉
1. Make some groups of 5 or 6 people.

2. Picture cards, distributed to each group. Shuffle the cards, and put them turned back.

3. The first participant picks a card, then start making a two-minute story containing the word on the card.

4. The second picks another card to continue making a story followed by the previous one.
The rest follow in the same way.

The entire story must be a narrative making a kind of sense.

5. Each group presents it's own story to everyone.

Let's have fun to make a funny and touching(if possible !)story with our full imagination.

Tamaki Murase

2015年06月11日

6月20日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS member

This is the information about the practice on June 20.

1. Genre: Talk & Discussion
2. Title: Jobs of the Kyoto NHK-ESS staff
3. Description
Have you ever been in charge of staff in Kyoto NHK-ESS? Do you want to try it? Let’s talk and discuss about that.
[Step. 0]
Make some groups which consist of previous leader, previous staffs and unexperienced people.
[Step. 1]
I will give one sheet to each table. Please write down your name on the suitable line.
[Step.2]
Please introduce your job briefly when you were staff.
Question for unexperienced persons: Which role will you choose if you are in charge of staff? Why?
Question for present staffs: Which role will you choose if you are in charge of staff again? Why?
[Step.3]
Please talk about impressive events and good memories when you were staff.
Questions for unexperienced persons and present staffs: What is the best talking for you? Why?
[Step.4]
Some staffs became burnout syndrome(燃え尽き症候群). They had been so active. How do you prevent this situation? Please discuss about that.
[Step.5]
What method does the new-comer retention rate increase? Please discuss about the method to increase the retention rate.

2015年06月06日

6月13日 プラクティス

Military intervention against ISLI, Israel - Gaza Conflict and Syrian Civil War… Wars are happening right now! Africa, which occupies only 15% of the world population, is starving. Every one child out of nine loses their lives before getting 5 years old in sub-Saharan area. Perspective on realizing summit conference between two political leaders of Japan and Korea has been in a fog due to uncompromising issues on recognition of history and territorial opinion about Take-Shima or Dokudo. We are surrounded with full of sadness, danger, fear, hunger and risks.

June 13 practice encourages us to discuss a big item. “Can all the people on earth live in peace sometime in future?”

1. Make a few groups for discussion.
2. Choose one person from group members as chairman for the discussion.
3. Exchange variety of opinion on the agenda.
4. Conclude “YES” or “NO” consensus to the question of “Can all the people live in peace sometime in future?”
5. The chairman from each group shares the group consensus with other Kyoto ESS members.

I hope to see all the members participating in the discussion actively at the practice on June 13.

Makoto Nishimura

2015年05月30日

6月6日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS member

This is the announcement about the practice on June 6th.

Genre: talking
Title: praise other members
Description:
1. Make 5 to 6 groups.
2. Each group is divided into two or three people.
3. Ask many questions as possible each other to find out her or his charm points or good points that should be praised. (10minutes)
4. In the group, praise your buddy in front of other members one by one. (30minutes)

・・・・・<><><><><>岩井 恵<><><><><>・・・・・

5月30日 プラクティス

This is the announcement of the practice on May 30th.

Nowadays Origami is known in foreign countries as the plastic art.
Let's study how to fold Origami so that you can show it to foreigners.

Genre: game

Title: Origami

1. Make some groups.

2. Separate A team and B team in each group.

3. I will distribute the explanation for how to fold Origami (in English).

4. Translate and try folding Origami in each team.

5. A team teaches B team how to fold Origami of A. (Don't show the explanation.)

6. B team teaches a team how to fold Origami of B.

Let's enjoy Origami!

Akiko Matsui

2015年05月16日

5月23日 プラクティス

Hello 京都NHK ESS members.

This is an announcement for the practice on May 23rd.
Genre:Talk
Title:Compare, pick and explain

In our daily life, we face a lot of situations we have to choose any one from among options.
From casual ones like which TV program to watch, what to have for lunch or where to go for お花見 to serious ones like which university to go, what career to choose or whether to quit the job or not.

I’d like you to choose either of the two topics and explain why you take that one for two minutes.

No more than or no less than two minute.

You don’t need to think the topic seriously but try to talk smoothly about what you think of.

Please keep talking as much as you can for two minutes.

I expect you will be tired but hope you would enjoy this practice.

Thanks,
Fujio Hirano

2015年05月10日

5月16日 プラクティス(追加)

Good morning, everyone,

This is an announcement about a second half session on 16th, May.

In the session Mr. Raleigh Gosney is going to give you an English lesson reading you some stories and asking you many questions about the stories. For example, he will ask you questions as follows.

“What did he reply to her?” “Why was she so sad?” “Why is this story funny?”

I hope you enjoy his lesson.

Kisei Masayama

5月16日 プラクティス

Hello! Everyone,

This is a preliminary announcement about a second half session on 16th, May.
I’m going to invite Mr. Raleigh Gosney to our second half session again to give you his English lesson on the day upon approval of our staffs.

Although I exactly know it is our common practice that the sessions are managed by ourselves which means “no teacher” in the sessions, I think it a good exercise to have a native English teacher in the session at times because we can learn correct English grammar, pronunciation, syntax and idioms from him. I hope you enjoy his lesson, it gives you a good motivation to keep on your English learning and it helps you brush up your English skills. Please don’t hesitate to give him back your answers immediately when you are asked. His lesson will be carried out in an interactive way.

No lesson fee and preparation are required, just to be sure.

Kisei Masayama

2015年05月02日

5月9日 プラクティス

This is an announcement of the practice planned on 5/09.

Genre : Group Talk
Title : GW ( Golden Week )

Your GW holidays will be over on 5/10. I guess many of you, especially active people, enjoyed your holidays by leisure-traveling, attending events, eating family dinners, reading books, watching movies, visiting theaters, etc.

Let’s share in the team how you spent your GW holidays.

Interesting stories, failure stories, getting in troubles or any good/bad experiences are welcome.


Make some groups (less than 10)

Each member talks about his/her GW holidays in rotation
.
Q&A’s are always welcome during a talk.

Please enjoy talking and listening to the interesting stories.

Isamu Mashima

2015年04月24日

5月2日 プラクティス

Announcement of the practice on May 2nd
Genre: game
Title: The Shiritori in English
Procedure:
1. Make 3 or 4 groups according to the number of participants.
2. Let’s say some word and the spelling by turn in Shiritori style.
3. I'll explain the details before start the practice.
Hisako Fukuda

2015年04月18日

4月25日 プラクティス

Dear ESS members,

Let me inform you of the latter half of the practice on April 25th below.

Time: 17:40-18:45
Genre: debate
Title: family matters
Procedure:
Make 6 or 7 groups according to the number of the participants.
Start debate from any topic. Make sure to decide your position, pros or cons for topic a. and b.
Summarize the debate and make presentation at the end of the practice.
Topic:
The pros and cons of separate surnames for married couples.
The pros and cons of arranged marriage.
Causes and effects of increasing divorce rates.

Sorry for the debate again (third time around this month), but I hope you will enjoy it.
See you soon!

Natsuko M.

2015年04月17日

4月18日 プラクティス(改訂後)

Hi! everyone:

I have revised the text for tomorrow’s practice as follows. I would like you read this in advance and prepare to talk about cooking mysteries which you surely enjoy.

Octane (Akira Oku)
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

2015-4-18, Kyoto NHK ESS Practice prepared by Octane
Kitchen Chemistry, (partial revision of ACS materials)

Hello, everyone. Welcome to the practice program on April 18.
Do you like cooking? Sure you do, so, we shall look at some chemical transformations that take place when you cook. Cooking is essentially a chemical process, and the change in chemical properties in the materials changes the physical nature of them.

Today’s procedure.
(1) Read as many sessions A through D as possible (15 min). Recommended is that you finish reading the following recipes for sweet potatoes, meringue, boiled eggs and French fries before that day so that you can save reading time.
(2) Figure out the chemistry involved in the cooking procedure (10 min).
(3) Just imagine you are a skilled chef and prepare answers to the question below.

Questions: (Answer at least two questions to the people in your group.)
1. Regardless you like it or not, you are supposed to cook sweet potatoes by any mean such as boiling, whipping, baking or the combination. Read session A and explain the chemical change that occurs during the cooking of your choice.

2. If you are nuts about shortcake, you sure love its sweet and foamy cream. Read session B first, then, explain what you understand about the chemistry or else how to make a fancy meringue cream on top of the cake.

3. Which do you like fried eggs, boiled eggs or scrambled eggs? Actually I love scrambled, but today, just imagine you prefer boiled eggs. Read session C and explain how you can cook the best boiled eggs based on what you have learnt about the chemistry involved there.

4. Did you ever challenge cooking brown French fries like McDonald’s? To find out the mystery of McDonald’s, read first session D. Then, explain to your colleagues orally how you can make McDonald’s French fries or alike by extending your chemical knowledge you have just learnt.

Session A. Sweet sweet potatoes

I love sweet potatoes baked, boiled (not really, for reasons to be seen), and even whipped and seasoned. My most liked method to cook them is just to scrub them with a nylon net scrubber, wrap them in foil, and bake them. Sounds simple, right? It is not.

Sweet potatoes store energy as starch in the tuber, and as it cooks some of that starch is converted to sugar by enzymes. The problem is that the enzymes that convert the starch to sugar are extremely sensitive to temperature extremes. This enzyme starts becoming active at about 135 degrees F (57 ºC), and is destroyed at around 170 degrees F (77 ºC, temperature conversion: C = (F – 32) x 5/9).

This has serious cooking implications. "Regular" potatoes are usually baked at around 205 ºC, or boiled at 100 ºC at sea level, and we unfortunately have copied that technique for sweet potatoes. Since very little starch is converted to sugar when cooking regular ones, fast cooking is fine. Not so with a sweet potato, but that makes the preparation take longer. Here is what to do.

To bake them, put them in an oven preheated to as low as your oven will allow. My oven has 77 ºC as its lowest temperature. I say preheated because during the preheat process, local temperatures can rise well above the dialed in setting. Scrub and wrap in foil your sweet potato and place it in the 77 ºC oven, or as low as it will go, and keep it there for an hour, give or take, depending on how thick it is, and then ramp the temperature up to 205 ºC until it is soft. I know that I said that the enzyme is denatured at 77 ºC, but because heat transfer is so slow with the dry heat of an oven, it takes a LONG time for any part of it to reach that temperature.

If you are "boiling" them, do not. Do not even simmer them. You need a kitchen thermometer to do this well. Take a pan of water, whatever size you need depending on the amount that you are cooking, and bring the water temperature to 65 ºC. Then add your sweet potatoes and hold the temperature there for half an hour. Since water transfers heat much more efficiently than does the air, half an hour is enough. I prefer to cook mine in their jackets to prevent loss of sugar into the cooking water, but you can peel and slice them first if you prefer. It is a matter of taste. For peeled and sliced ones, 15 minutes will do. Then crank the heat up to a simmer (a rolling boil is just too hot), and simmer until tender. Thus you will have as sweet as a sweet potato as can be had, UNLESS you make the mistake of storing them in the refrigerator.

Session B. Copper and Meringue

This one is factually correct. It turns out that copper ions interact with the protein in egg whites to make an easier to fluff mixture. It turns out that the proteins in egg white, aka albumin, is rife with sulfur bridges that tend to keep them integrated, rather than making a nice foam. Copper "caps" those disulfide bonds, thus breaking them, making the molecules a bit smaller and more amenable for air incorporation. This is not really a big deal now with power mixers, but if you use a whisk makes a difference.

My personal experience indicates that it really does not matter if you use a power mixer, even a cheap hand held one. The action of those to incorporate air overcomes the slow process of ion migration. If you insist on using a hand whisk, you will probably find a difference. With that said, I would add the following. Copper bowls are EXPENSIVE and hard to maintain. Instead of a $100 copper bowl dedicated to making only egg foam, I would invest $10 in a hand held mixer that I could use with my stainless steel bowls instead.

Session C. Green Boiled Eggs

That is the first problem. Eggs in the shell should NEVER be boiled! The simmer stage is quite enough, and they should be finished steeping in the hot water until the proper amount of time elapses. I will not be so presumptive to know how you like your eggs cooked, but from soft cooked to hard cooked the method is the same, only the time in the hot water is different.

You have to understand some basic biology here. Remember that an egg is the spaceship that an embryonic bird occupies, and it has to supply EVERYTHING, except air (eggs are porous, so oxygen can infiltrate, but commercial ones are usually treated to plug the pores so that they keep fresh longer), that the little bird to come needs. That means proteins, and lots of them. It also means water, and iron to form new red blood corpuscles.

Just as in the last piece, many of those proteins contain sulfur. When overcooked, boiled eggs denature proteins and release hydrogen sulfide, a toxic gas that smells like rot. Rotten eggs are full of it, but hardly anyone sees them anymore. It turns out that the white of the egg has lots of sulfur in it, and the yolk has lots of iron. When iron and sulfur react, harmless but unattractive iron(II) sulfide forms, at the interface of the iron rich yolk and the sulfur rich albumen. To prevent this, do as I said about simmering and holding time, then immediately when the time elapses pour off the cooking water and flood the vessel with cold tap water. Keep the tap water running, slowly, until you cannot tell much difference betwixt the incoming and outgoing temperature, then cut it off, pour out some of the water in the vessel, and add ice. Since I have been following this procedure, I have never had a green yolk nor a tough egg.

Session D. Brown French Fries

Baking prepared French fries give you nothing like a good French fry. To make a good fry, you have to use fresh potatoes. The russets seem to make better ones than red potatoes do, and that has to do with the nature of the molecular structure of the starch in them.

To make good French fries, take your potatoes and slice them into whatever thickness that you prefer. Be sure and slice them into a bowl of heavily salted water to keep them from going brown, and also to draw some water from them. Then put them aside for a while. If you like to peel them, that is fine. If you prefer to keep on the peels, just scrub them well.

Take your deep fryer or skillet, and heat up some oil or fat. Beef tallow is by far the best frying oil for potatoes. It also gives a flavor like nothing else. McDonald's used it for a long time, but has been forced to use other fats these days. Soy oil or canola are OK, and some folks rave about peanut oil.

Heat up enough oil to cover the potatoes. NEVER crowd them in whatever cooker that you use. As the oil heats, dry off the potatoes (a salad spinner works well, but clean kitchen towels are fine, and can be reused). Once your oil is at about 182 ºC, add some of the potatoes, and cook until they are just light brown. Take them out and put more in until all of them are ready.

Now, and this the McDonalds trick, refrigerate the partially cooked ones until they are quite cold. You can freeze them if you want. Now, take these cold and aged partially cooked fries and put them into fat at around 190 ºC, and cook until they look brown. Drain them on newspaper on a flat pan covered with clean paper towels or, cheaper, opened napkins. Before they cool, salt them with regular iodized salt that you have ground in a mortar and pestle.

The chemistry is not really understood, but my thought is that very fresh oil does not contain catalytic agents that accelerate the browning reactions. This has not been studied very much, but from empirical evidence it is known that oil that has been used a time or two previously makes more nicely browned French fries. It also tends to keep burnt remnants that have broken off the potatoes, and thus makes new ones sort of bitter. Here is the resolution.

Use a coffee filter and a strainer, and pour the still hot oil into the filter. Let it stand overnight and after one or two frying events you will have oil that will brown the French fries properly. As it gets bad, replace it with new oil (keeping at least 25% of the old) and almost as by magic you will always get tasty, well browned French fries.

2015年04月11日

4月18日 プラクティス

Hi! Everyone, this is the announcement of the practice scheduled on April 18, next week.

Genre: Presentation and talk
Title: Kitchen Chemistry
Requisite: Preparation in advance is required by reading the text attached here.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

2015-4-18, Kyoto NHK ESS Practice prepared by Octane
Kitchen Chemistry (cited/modified from ACS Webinar)

Hello, everyone. Welcome to the practice program tonight.
Do you like cooking? Sure you do, so, we shall look at some of the chemistry that occurs when you cook. Cooking is essentially a chemical process, and the change in chemical properties in the materials changes the physical nature of them. We shall talk a bit about biology as well, because of the possibility of food poisoning and other biologically mediated afflictions.
Today’s procedure:
(1) Read as many sessions A through D as possible (15 min). Recommended is that you read the text in advance so that you can save the time on that day.
(2) Understand the chemistry involved in the cooking procedure (10 min).
(3) Imagine you are a good chef. Explain your recipe to make the best answer to the questions below (35 min).

Questions.
1. Regardless you like it or not like, did you ever cook sweet potatoes in any mean such as baked sweet potatoes? Read session A and explain chemical changes that occur when you cook it.

2. If you are nuts about short cakes, you sure love their creamy foams. Read session B and explain what you understand now about the chemistry how to make a fancy meringue cream on top of cakes.

3. Which do you like fried eggs, boiled eggs or scrambled eggs? Suppose you prefer boiled eggs. Read session C and talk about how you can cook the best boiled eggs based on what you have learnt about the chemistry involved there.

4. Did you ever challenge cooking brown French fries like McDonald’s? Read session D to find it is now an easy way to get the goal. Write a recipe how to cook McDonalds French fries based on your just studied chemical knowledge.

Session A. Sweet sweet potatoes

Sweet potatoes are one of my favorite vegetables. I love them baked, boiled (not really, for reasons to be seen), and even whipped and seasoned. My most liked method to cook them is just to scrub them with a nylon net scrubber, wrap them in foil, and bake them. Sounds simple, right? It is not.

Sweet potatoes are actually morning glories with an edible tuber. Most of the energy is stored as starch in the tuber, and as it cooks some of that starch is converted to sugar by enzymes. The problem is that the enzymes that convert the starch to sugar are extremely sensitive to temperature extremes, being almost inactive at room temperature and completely denatured. This enzyme starts becoming active at about 135 degrees F (57 ºC), and is destroyed at around 170 degrees F (77 ºC, temperature conversion: C = (F – 32) x 5/9).

This has serious cooking implications. ℃"Regular" potatoes are usually baked at around 400 degrees F (205 ºC), or boiled at 212 degrees F (100 ºC at sea level), and we unfortunately have copied that technique for sweet potatoes. Since very little starch is converted to sugar when cooking regular ones, fast cooking is fine. Not so with a sweet potato, but that makes the preparation take longer. Here is what to do.

To bake them, put them in an oven preheated to as low as your oven will allow. My oven has 170 degrees F as its lowest temperature. I say preheated because during the preheat process, local temperatures can rise well above the dialed in setting. Scrub and wrap in foil your sweet potato and place it in the 170 degree F oven, or as low as it will go, and keep it there for an hour, give or take, depending on how thick it is, and then ramp the temperature up to 400 degrees F until it is soft. I know that I said that the enzyme is denatured at 170 degrees F, but because heat transfer is so slow with the dry heat of an oven, it takes a LONG time for any part of it to reach that temperature.

If you are "boiling" them, do not. Do not even simmer them. You need a kitchen thermometer to do this well. Take a pan of water, whatever size you need depending on the amount that you are cooking, and bring the water temperature to 150 degrees F. Then add your sweet potatoes and hold the temperature there for half an hour. Since water transfers heat much more efficiently than does the air, half an hour is enough. I prefer to cook mine in their jackets to prevent loss of sugar into the cooking water, but you can peel and slice them first if you prefer. It is a matter of taste. For peeled and sliced ones, 15 minutes will do. Then crank the heat up to a simmer (a rolling boil is just too hot), and simmer until tender. Thus you will have as sweet as a sweet potato as can be had, UNLESS you make the mistake of storing them in the refrigerator.

Session B. Copper and Meringue

This one is factually correct. It turns out that copper ions interact with the protein in egg whites to make an easier to fluff mixture. It turns out that the proteins in egg white, aka albumin, is rife with sulfur bridges that tend to keep them integrated, rather than making a nice foam. Copper "caps" those disulfide bonds, thus breaking them, making the molecules a bit smaller and more amenable for air incorporation. This is not really a big deal now with power mixers, but if you use a whisk makes a difference.

My personal experience indicates that it really does not matter if you use a power mixer, even a cheap hand held one. The action of those to incorporate air overcomes the slow process of ion migration. If you insist on using a hand whisk, you will probably find a difference. With that said, I would add the following. Copper bowls are EXPENSIVE and hard to maintain. Instead of a $50 to $100 copper bowl, dedicated to making only egg white foam, I would invest $10 in a hand held mixer that I could use with my glass and stainless steel bowls instead.

Session C. Green Boiled Eggs

That is the first problem. Eggs in the shell should NEVER be boiled! The simmer stage is quite enough, and they should be finished steeping in the hot water until the proper amount of time elapses. I will not be so presumptive to know how you like your eggs cooked, but from soft cooked to hard cooked the method is the same, only the time in the hot water is different.

You have to understand some basic biology here. Remember that an egg is the spaceship that an embryonic bird occupies, and it has to supply EVERYTHING, except air (eggs are porous, so oxygen can infiltrate, but commercial ones are usually treated to plug the pores so that they keep fresh longer), that the little bird to come needs. That means proteins, and lots of them. It also means water, and iron to form new red blood corpuscles.

Just as in the last piece, many of those proteins contain sulfur. When overcooked, boiled eggs denature proteins and release hydrogen sulfide, a toxic gas that smells like rot. Rotten eggs are full of it, but hardly anyone sees them anymore. It turns out that the white of the egg has lots of sulfur in it, and the yolk has lots of iron. When iron and sulfur react, harmless but unattractive iron(II) sulfide forms, at the interface of the iron rich yolk and the sulfur rich albumen. To prevent this, do as I said about simmering and holding time, then immediately when the time elapses pour off the cooking water and flood the vessel with cold tap water. Keep the tap water running, slowly, until you cannot tell much difference betwixt the incoming and outgoing temperature, then cut it off, pour out some of the water in the vessel, and add ice. Since I have been following this procedure, I have never had a green yolk nor a tough egg.

Session D. Brown French Fries

First of all, baking prepared French fries give you nothing like a good French fry. To make a good fry, you have to use fresh potatoes. The russets seem to make better ones than red potatoes do, and that has to do with the nature of the molecular structure of the starch in them.

To make good French fries, take your potatoes and slice them into whatever thickness that you prefer. Be sure and slice them into a bowl of heavily salted water to keep them from going brown, and also to draw some water from them. Then put them aside for a while. If you like to peel them, that is fine. If you prefer to keep on the peels, just scrub them well.

Take your deep fryer or skillet, and heat up some oil or fat. Beef tallow is by far the best frying oil for potatoes, but it is sort of hard to find now. It also gives a flavor like nothing else. McDonald's used it for a long time, but has been forced to use other fats these days. Soy oil or canola are OK, and some folks rave about peanut oil.

Heat up enough oil to cover the potatoes. NEVER crowd them in whatever cooker that you use. As the oil heats, dry off the potatoes (a salad spinner works well, but clean kitchen towels are fine, and can be reused). Once your oil is at about 360 degrees F, add some of the potatoes, and cook until they are just light brown. Take them out and put more in until all of them are ready.

Now, and this the McDonalds trick, refrigerate the partially cooked ones until they are quite cold. You can freeze them if you want. Now, take these cold and aged partially cooked fries and put them into fat at around 375 degrees F, and cook until they look brown. Use a slotted spoon and drain them on newspaper on a flat pan covered with clean paper towels or, cheaper, opened napkins. Before they cool, salt them with regular iodized salt that you have ground in a mortar and pestle (or take the packs of very fine salt that McDonalds uses).

The chemistry is not really understood, but my thought is that very fresh oil does not contain catalytic agents that accelerate the browning reactions. This has not been studied very much, but from empirical evidence it is known that oil that has been used a time or two previously makes more nicely browned French fries. It also tends to keep burnt remnants that have broken off the potatoes, and thus makes new ones sort of bitter. Here is the resolution.

Buy a cheap pack of coffee filters and a strainer large enough to hold them, and pour the still hot oil into the filter. Let it stand overnight, and after one or two frying events you will have oil that will brown the French fries properly. As it gets bad, replace it with new oil (keeping at least 25% of the old) and almost as by magic you will always get tasty, well browned French fries. =Period=

2015年04月06日

4月11日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members

This is the announcement for the latter activity on April 11th 2015.

Presenter: Osamu Minamihashi

Date: April 11th, 2015
Genre: Debate
Title: Japan should provide some assistance to redress overpopulation in developing world, instead of expensive programs such as space development.
(日本は費用のかかる宇宙開発などの代わりに、途上国の人口問題を是正するために、何か援助をすべきである。)
Description:
Make some groups so that each group has 3 members. I would ask the leader to be special additional judge if 1 member were left. If 2 members were left, Minamihashi would join the group.
Please confirm within each group that this is a kind of game for English practice that would not directly have any impact on our real world.
Read the material Minamihashi would distribute.
Discuss and write your major points of possible speech as the Affirmative, the Negative and the Judge
The Affirmative must argue it is advantageous to provide the assistance, while the Negative must advocate it is disadvantageous to provide the assistance. The judge is expected to decide the winner of the match for some persuasive reason.
Decide the order to be the Affirmative, the Negative and the Judge so that your group consists of 3 little groups. Be careful so that each member can take 3 different roles in turn.
Prepare your flow sheets to take note during the 3 debate matches.
Let the each speaker start his/her speech in the following order and time frame. (13分間でこの項目を1通りやって下さい。)
Affirmative Constructive Speech( 1 minute, 肯定側立論1分)
Cross-Examination by the Negative(1 minute, 否定側から肯定側への反対尋問1分)
Preparation time (1 minute 準備時間1分)
Negative Constructive Speech(1 minute, 否定側立論1分)
Cross-Examination by the Affirmative(1 minutes, 肯定川から否定側への反対尋問1分)
Preparation time(1 minute, 準備時間1分)
Affirmative Rebuttal Speech(1 minute, 肯定側による反論1分)
Cross-Examination by the both sides(1 minute, 双方による反対尋問1分)
Preparation time(1minute, 準備時間1分)
Negative Rebuttal Speech(1 minute, 否定側による反論1分)
Decision & Reason by the Judge(3 minutes, ジャッジによる勝敗の判定とその理由、3分)
8.Turn the role clockwise in your group.
9.Repeat the process 7. with the different role in your group with 13minute
10.Turn the role clockwise in your group once more.
11.Repeat the process 7. with the other role that you have not played in your group with 13 minutes
12.Discuss overall debate on the proposition within your group.

Let’s enjoy debate!

南橋 理(左京郵便局)

2015年04月02日

4月4日 プラクティス

NHK-ESSのみなさんへ
                     今井

 4月4日のプラクティスについてお知らせします。

 Debating Contest( 簡易版 )をします。

[ テーマ ] 
 
 ”同性結婚を認めるべきか?”

 ここで言う ”同性結婚”の定義は以下の通り。

   法律上(戸籍などの身分登録上)の成人の同性カップル
   が男女の夫婦と同様の性的な親密さを基礎として、継続
   して社会的及び経済的にパートナシップを築き、それを
   維持することである。
   国や自治体等が同性結婚を認めるということは、同性の
   カップルの結婚届けを受理して、男女の夫婦と同じく、
   社会的・法的な保障・保護・権利(財産相続権など)を
   認めることである。

[ 参考事項 ]

 1.今日(3月31日)、渋谷区の区議会で ”同性カップルに
   対して証明証を発行する条例 ”が可決された。
   ( 同性カップルの届けは今月(3月)上旬にすでに渋谷区
   役所で受理されている。)
    この証明証は同性カップルを ”結婚に相当する関係 ”
   と認める証明証である。

 2.日本の民法では 男女間の結婚の規定しか無く、同性同士の
   婚姻を想定していないので、同性カップルの婚姻届を通常は
   受理しない。前項:1は 我が国で初のケースである。

 3.同性結婚の問題点;
   ・同性結婚が増えれば 子孫繁栄による人類の継続と発展に
    反することになる。これは ”種の存続 ”を危うくする。
   ・道徳的、倫理的規範を乱さないか?
   ・LGBTで総称される同性愛者を Spoil して、精神的な
    健全性を損なう可能性が大きい。
   ・同性愛者を増加させることになり重大な社会問題を引き起
    こさないか?

 4.関連用語
   L:Lesbian 女性同士の同性愛
   G:Gay     男性同士の同性愛
   B:Bisexual  両性愛者(LまたはGであり且つ異性愛)
   T:Transgender 性転換症、性同一性障害者
   
Homosexuality 同性愛
same-sex mariage  同性愛
Gay mariage    同性愛結婚
Gender Identity Disorder 性同一性障害
 
[ 進め方 ]

  ・Chairman, Judge を指名
  ・4グループまたは6グループを編成
  ・各グループを Afirmative または Negative に指定
  ・各グループで Debating 準備打ち合わせ(議論)
  ・Afirmative グループと Negative グループのペアで
   Debating する。
  ・Judege の講評を聞く
  ・Judge と Chairman で勝者判定をする。
  ・Chairman の総評を聞く

  その他の詳細と関連資料は当日に説明または配布。

Debating は一種のゲームなので、勝敗の結果や細部の delicate な
部分にあまり拘らずに Fair で Heated な Discussion を楽しみ
ましょう。

2015年03月24日

3月28日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members

This is the announcement of the practice on March 28th.

Date:March 28th, 2015
Genre:”Time” Reading and Discussion
In this practice I’d like you to read some articles from TIME magazine, and
talk about one article you get interested in with others. Each article is
too long to read through in a short time, so I’ll pick up several
paragraphs from each one.

Description:
1. Read articles.
2. Choose one article you want to talk about with others.
3. Make groups based on the chosen articles.
4. Have discussion in the group.

I hope you enjoy this practice and get a lot more interested in TIME
magazine’s articles.

Kiyoshi Tamura

2015年03月14日

3月21日 プラクティス

To all
In the next practice, I'd like you to try some works of translation out of both Haruki Murakami's original text and Jay Rubin's English version published in the wold,using material from this NHK radio program https://cgi2.nhk.or.jp/gogaku/english/yomu/
Hope you will be able to get as many idiomatic expressions out of the work as possible.
 
Date;March 21st
Time;17:40-18:45
Content: Translate literature
Procedure:
1.make groups
2.dictate Murakami's text ”Tony Takitani”
3.translate some parts of it
4.share each translation (&corrections or impression etc..) in your group
5.choose the best one of the group & present it in front of all of us
6.listen to some model answers by the NHK radio program.

thanks for your corporation in advance.
Miyazawa

2015年03月09日

3月14日 プラクティス予告

Greetings to all Kyoto NHK ESS members,

I am Akira Hashimoto who is in charge for practice at 14th of March, 2015.
This e-mail describes how the practice will be held. This is about my
recent personal interest.

Genre: Discussion
Title: Difficulty of keeping “Male line” emperor (男系天皇) in Japan.

Instructions are as follows:
1: Make 6 groups as usual
2: Handout will be distributed to give background knowledge
3: Discuss different opinions
4: Select one member to introduce some opinions from your group to
rest of the groups.

I know this is kind of tricky as well as very political matter. I hope
the practice will be held nice and peacefully.

Best regards,

Akira Hashimoto

2015年03月01日

3月7日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Hello, everyone.
This is Motoko Tabata and let me inform you my practice on March 7th.

★ Genre: Discussion

★ Title: THE LOWERING THE LEGAL AGE OF ADULTHOOD FROM 20 TO 18 IN JAPAN

The voting age for national elections will be lowered to from 20 to
18 starting with the next Upper House election in summer 2016.
And also they are still considering to revise the Civil Code and
Juvenile Act.
This trend will affect the age at which people can legally drink
alcohol or smoke and so on.
Nowadays most countries set the age of majority at 18.
We know all adults have both rights(freedom) and responsibility.
“Do you think it's too young in Japan?”
Let's discuss “Should Japan lower the age of adulthood 20 to 18 ?”.

 
★ Procedures:
1. Make 5~6 groups.
2. Exchange your comments in your group on the questions below.
3. Introduce what your group discussed to other groups (from around
18:25).
 
Questions:
(1) Do you agree to grant the people aged 18 and 19 the right to vote at
national/local elections and referenda?
And why?

(2) Do you agree to grant full legal capacity to make commercial/civil
contracts including marriage (without parental consents)?
And why?

(3) Do you agree to limiting the application of the Juvenile Act to
juveniles under 18?
And why?

 (4) What do you think on other related legal subjects such as lowering
the smoking/ drinking age?

(5) Talk freely about related topics (ex. car driver’s license, playing
pachinko, late-night work, R-18(restricted)) .

       
I hope you will enjoy it !
See you on next Saturday!

M. Tabata

2015年02月23日

2月28日 プラクティス


Announcement of practice on Feb.28

1. Genre Reading and discussion
2. Title "Advice column"

1) Divide the whole members into 6 goups
2) Reading (15 minutes )
3) Group discussion about the settlements of troubles
( 40minutes )
4) Each group presents the summary of the group discussion
( 10minutes )

Various kinds of advice columns in American newspapers are very interesting and useful for us Japanese, because they tell us what kind of problems American society has, and we can learn their way of thinking, their culture and habits. Of course we can learn how to express ourselves in English.
Here, I’ll carry six American’s daily troubles from the Asahi Weekly. They are adapted and simplified. More detailed ones will be delivered at the next session.

Please try to shoot troubles beforehand by yourself.

1 How to protect our garden from mischievous children who live in our neighborhood.

They walk through our flower gardens and climb on our newly planted trees.

2 A couple in our social circle blow their noses at the dinner table every time they sit down. How can I stop their habits.

3 My son has got married recently. The couple’s eating habits are atrocious. His wife cooks nothing but high fat and sugar food. I want to help them. How can I develop better eating habits for them? How should I advise her?

4 Is it OK to plug your cellphone into an outlet at a restaurant, grocery, department store, etc.?

By MR.Oishi

2015年02月13日

2月21日 プラクティス


I am a sento-lover.
Even now I love sento very much. Without sentos ,I cannot live.
Sento history begins in the 6th century. It was the time Buddhisum arrived in Japan.
Some early temples had baths for the cleaning of Buddhist statues, or for the monks themselves to use. A few centuries later temples began to allow the public to use their baths. Bathing became popular among common people. At the end of 12th century bathing facilities began to open as private business. This was the beginning of sento.
Sento became popular during the Edo era. (1603-1868) Building of the private baths was prohibited as a measure to prevent fires in the city of Edo.
Many senntos were built. Sentos remained popular after the Edo Era. Many families continued to use sentos until around the 40th year of Syowa .(1965~1974)

Title: I am a sentou-lover.

Discussions
1) How often do you go to sento?
2) Talking about the episode about sento.
3) Nowadays a large number of sentos closed, and I remember those happy days in Syowa era. Sentou-owners are usually old. Should we protect our culture, sentos?
4) Do you know Hunaoka Onsen? (船岡温泉、八雲食堂:2000円民宿+居酒屋)


Procedures:
1) make some groups as usual.
2) discuss in each group
3) please make a presentation about interesting story
by representatives of your group.

BY Takeo (Staff)

2015年02月10日

2月14日 プラクティス

Dear ESS members

This is the announcement of the practice on St.Valentine's Day.

Even if we are not Christian, so many people enjoy Valentine,
Halloween and Christmas as seasonal events in Japan.
On the other hand, we like to go temples and shrines not only
for praying to God but also for sightseeing. Don't you think it is
strange that various religion is adopted in Japan?

Let's talk about religion in your daily life!


◆Genre: Discussion

◆Topic: Religion in your daily life

examples of subject
・Do you believe in any religion?
・Do you have any religious custom?
・Have you experienced religion except Buddhism and the Shinto?
・Do you have any religious custom or event that you want to try?
And why?
・What kind of action or thinking makes you realize that you are a Buddhist or something?
・What do you think about religious taboo?

◆Procedures:
1) make some groups as usual.
2) discuss in each group
3) please make a presentation about interesting story
by representatives of your group.

The instructions as follows.
※Please DO NOT criticize a member of the other religion in your group.
※Please DO NOT persuade a member to get religion.

I hope you will enjoy it.
See you!

Kaori Tsujii

2015年02月04日

2月7日

Hello there, ladies and gentlemen! (^.^)/
This is the announcement for the latter activity on Feb. 7th.

Presenter: Inoue Motomi

(1) Genre: Ttanslation

(2) Title: “Lucky items (Engimono)”
(3) Description:

1. Make some groups.

2. I will hand out material of Japanese lucky items.

3. Translate it in your group.
Maybe you should translate it in turns, but if you have another
good idea, it is OK to do in your way.

4. Present a part of your translation before all.

I hope you all enjoy the practice.

Cheers! (^^)/

2015年01月31日

1月31日 プラクティス

Dear ESS members,

Let me inform you of the practice on Jan.31th.

Genre: debate
Title : Logical argument
1. Make some groups.
2. The debate topics, which can be seen below, are distributed to each group.
3. Decide your position (pros cons, or which you prefer?)
4. Start the argument from topic a.
*Why you choose the position. What is the advantage/disadvantage and so on.
5. And then, go to next topics.
*If you want to focus on one topic, no need to go to next one.

(topic)
a. Which you choose for your pet? Cats or dogs?
b. Which is better for junior high-school children? School uniforms, or plain clothes.
c. Which you prefer for newspaper? A paper material, or an electronic version.
d. Should a big budget be used for space exploitation while severe famine is still continued?
e. Now that 70 years has past since the end of world war II. Is it high time to reconsider the permanent
membership of U.N. Security Council?

I hope you will enjoy the practice.
Sincerely yours,
Natsuko Mori

2015年01月13日

1月17日 プラクティス

“Practice " on Jan. 17th
Happy New Year!

May this year be happy and fruitful .

Here's the announcement about the Jan. 17th activity.(Yes! 'Activity ' is the appropriate word.)

Genre: talk

Title: New Year's Resolutions

T.Noguchi

2014年12月22日

12月27日 プラクティス

Dear members,
At the end of this year , you have a lot of stress with your daily life.
Please say something that you cannnot say in your houses or companies.
After that you can see a happy new year life.

Genere: Discussion
Title; We should get angry at the matters around us in 2014.

We divide our members into five or six groups.
Each group has different topic.
Please discuss about these topics below.

Prime minister Abe and L.D.P.(野党は無いに等しい)
Well-known TV entertainers and also politicians. (猪木,ヤワラ, 橋本聖子,橋下)
Chisako Kakei’s sequential murder case (どうしたらこんなおばさんの悪事を未然に防げたか?)
U.S. army bases in Okinawa. (要るの要らないの、どっち?)
 How to increase the birth rate of Japan? (究極の選択、どうする?)
Sumo wreslers should be Japaneses. Expel foreign Sumo wrestlers.(外人に国技はおかしい)
Shall we need the English classes at primary schools ? (小学校で学んだら、中学はもっと高度になるはず)

presented by Kuchinaka. (the third old-carrier member in tradition)

担当者  口中 武夫さん

2014年12月13日

12月20日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Hello, everyone.
Let me inform you my practice on Dec.20th.

Genre: Talk
Title: Synchronicity (Between former Presidents Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy)

For a half century, Americans have marveled at the incredible list of similarities and coincidences between former Presidents Abraham Lincoln and John F. Kennedy. While the majority of this impressive and eerie list has been circulating for years, including the dirty joke at the end, fans of the two Presidents continue to add more incredible items.
I hope you will enjoy talking about those coincidence based on the list of each similar item.


Description:

1. Exchange your comments in your group on each item which shows [ Similarities and Coincidence] between both presidents.

2.You may have your own story which is similar to that story.
Tell us your original interesting experience.

3. One representative may tell us below please

� How do you think about those similarities between them? Is it mere coincidence?
� Tell us your experience.


I hope you will enjoy it!
                            See You Soon    Yasuda

2014年12月02日

12月13日 プラクティス予定 

Here is an outline of the practice we will be enjoying in the afternoon on December 13th, Saturday.

.ANX Genre: Fun Talk in English regarding Hypothetical Question

NX Title: Want to be Adam or Eve?

NX Introduction:

According to the Bible, God shaped Adam, the first man on the earth, from dust and places him in the Garden of Eden where he is to have sovereignty over the plants and animals. Then God places a tree in the garden which he prohibits Adam from eating. Eve, the first woman, is created from one of Adam.FN"s ribs to be AdamN"s companion. Since then, the world has been constituted with two species, man and woman.

Here is the hypothetical question to trigger our fun talks in English conversation.

“If you are given a special privilege to reincarnate three times, do you want to be a man or woman at your third existence?”

.ANX Procedures:

I. Divide us into a few groups.

II. Quiz for wakening up our brain cells. (10 min.)

III. Individual preparation for sharing your own opinions on “Want to be Adam or Eve?” (10 min.)

1. The reasons why wanting to be born again as a man

2. The reasons why NOT wanting to be born again as a woman

3. The reasons why wanting to be born again a woman

4. The reasons why NOT wanting to be born again as a man

IV. Animated conversation with your group members. (25 min.)

V. Introduction of the discussion by your group representative. (15 min.)

Best regards,

Makoto Nishimura
担当 西村 誠さん(英語スピーチはまさにプロ顔負け)

2014年11月22日

12月6日 プラクティス予定

1. Genre: Talk & Discuss

2. Title: Looking back on 2014

3. Introduction:

The December, the last month of this year has already started.

How was the year 2014 for you?

Look back your 2014 and enjoy having a talk with other members!

4. Procedures:

(1) Divide the whole members into five or six groups.

(2) Tell what you did most in 2014 about following questions to other members in the group.

Choose some questions freely and talk in the group freely.

What surprised you most?

What pleased you most?

What made you laugh most?

What made you angry most?

What made you sad most?

What embarrassed you most?

What did you tried hard most?

What did you accomplished most?

What excited you most?

What did you start?

What was the worst failure?

What was the biggest event (personally)?

What made you crazy about?

What scared you most?

What is the best movie or book for you?

What would you try next year, even though you couldn’t do this year?


(3) One person representing each group tells other groups what you talked about.

Thank you.
Akihiro Tabata

担当 田畑 昭弘さん(合宿のカメラマン)

2014年11月21日

11月29日 プラクティス予定

Dear ESS members,

This is an outline for the practice on Nov. 29
1. Genre: Reading and Discussion

2. Title:” The World’s Oldest First Grader”
One reading material entitled “The World’s Oldest First Grader”
shall be given to all the participants.
3. Procedures:
Part1: Reading (20 minutes)
(1) Let’s divide the whole members into five or six groups.
(2) Let’s read a passage while listening to the model reading of CD.
(3) Let’s try a shadowing of the same passage
(4) One person representing each group reads one paragraph aloud.

Part2: Group discussion based on the reading (40 minutes)
(1) Discussion questions (25 minutes)
㈰ What do you think about the life of Maruge, the world’s oldest first grader?
㈪ What do you think each of these sayings means? Are there similar sayings in Japanese?

a. You’re never too old to learn.
b. You can’t teach an old dog new tricks.
㈫ Which one do you agree with the most? (generally)
㈬ Which one do you agree with the most? (if you focus on English learning)

(2) One person representing each group presents the summary of the group discussion
to the whole members.
(15 minutes)

Thank you.
Hirofumi Kukimoto   
担当 柊元さん(アメリカ在住歴有 武道十数段の強者)

2014年11月18日

11月22日 プラクティス予定

1. Genre :Talk


2. Title :Time Management


3. Description :


How do you spend your time each day? How do you manage your time?


I'll prepare some questions about time management.


Let's talk about them in your group.


I hope you'll enjoy this practice.


Thanks,


Takako Suzuki


担当  鈴木 貴子さん

2014年11月15日

11且15日 プラクティス予告

Genre: talk and discuss
Title : What's Japanese 「~道 (do) 」 


Part1 Let's talk about  「~道」 with your group members. ( 20 mins )


Have you ever heard 武道(budo) or 武士道(bushido) ?
Why many foreigners have interests in 武道, such like 空手、剣道、合気道、and
茶道、華道、書道、as well ......

Why 武道 (柔道or剣道or相撲) has started as a compulsory subject for junior high schoolboy students.

Have you ever experienced 「~道」or Do you have any 「~道」 which you want to try in the future?

In Japan, there are also many life styles called 「~道」
for example, 野球道、ゴルフ道、ラーメン道、パチンコ道、麻雀道・・・・
  Why many Japanese like this way to say !
What's the difference beteen "baseball" and 「野球道」 ?・・・・


Part2 Let's make up sentences what's your 「~道」 ! and tell group members what you wrote down.
Can you imagine what you want to tell foreigners about  「~道 」・・・   ( 35 mins )


I hope you will have interesting time in the Practice!
See you on Saturday.

Thank you,
Ryuichi Tanaka

2014年11月02日

11月08日 プラクティス予定

Dear ESS members
This is an announcement of the Nov.8 practice.

Genre: Talk & Discuss

Title: O-MO-TE-NA-SHI

Introduction:
One of big attraction for forein visitors to Japan is its hospitality, O-MO-TE-NA-SHI .
Now, suppose you are to host a couple from North America and have to entertain them for one whole day.
I want you to make one day attractive plan mainly in Kyoto or suburbs.

They had been in Kyoto before and know major famous places, like Golden pavilion and Kiyomizu temple.
So, try to make unique and a little surprising plan.

Procedure:
1. Make 5 or 6 groups
2. At first, each of you make your own plan and think how it attract them. (10min.)
3. Exchange your plan within the group and discuss which one is attractive and interesting. (20min)
4. In the mean time, choose one person as leader and presenter.
5. Create the one best plan as the group. It can be combination of each plan. And write it down on piece of paper (5min.)
6. Leaders present the Itinerary and explain to all how it is attractive. (20min.)
7. Closing (5min)

Note:
Your Itinerary may contain a couple of place to go, things to do, what to eat and what you recommend to buy for souvenir, if possible.

< Some key words >
IZAKAYA, Yakiniku, Yakitort, Ramen, Washoku
100yen shop, Convenience store, Nishiki-ichiba
Sake brewing
Dressing in kimono
Manga Musiam
Hot spa, Public bath
Zen tera, Temple lodging,
Love hotel, capsule hotel

Just for your reference:

*Things to do in Kyoto from ‘Trip adviser’:
The follows are some of popular thing to do by ‘Trip adviser’ 
1. Fushimi Inari
2. GEAR-Art Complex 1928
3. Samurai Kenbu Kyoto
4. Monkey Park Iwatayama
http://www.tripadvisor.ie/Attractions-g298564-Activities-Kyoto_Kyoto_Prefecture_Kinki.html

*Is Japan cool? –All Nippon Air
https://www.ana-cooljapan.com/contents/traditions/
https://www.ana-cooljapan.com/contents/shopping/
https://www.ana-cooljapan.com/contents/discover/
*Japan talk
http://www.japan-talk.com/jt/new/kyoto
*Time out
http://www.timeout.jp/en/kyoto

Thank you

Yoshitsugu Atsuta

2014年10月05日

11月2日 合宿でのプラクティス

10時から  松井さん

This is an announcement of the first program for the camp on November 2.

Genre: Talk

Title: Dream


Description

1. Make 6 groups.

2.Talk about your dream in your group.
The dream is not future dream but seen at night.
(for example: dream of last night.
: worst or best dream you had. etc)

3.Choose the most impact dream in your group and announce it.


Let's talk to cure for drowsiness!

Akiko Matsui

11時15分から 宮沢さん

TITLE :dictating cooking English & speech of your recommended recipe.

In the first half of the practice, we have a dictation session,using DVD of Jamie Oliver who is one of the most famous chef in the world. http://www.jamieoliver.com/videos/
I'd like you to dictate some parts and pick up useful words & phrases in all over the footage.
And then in the second half, you'll be divided into some small groups and introduce your favorite cooking recipes and as usual, choose one best recipe to make a presentation to all.

So would you please PREPARE one script of your recipe beforehand?
Here is a culinary glossary found on the internet, just for your reference.
http://www.sweetnet.com/cook.htm
please use it for your writing if you need.

Sorry for this belated announcement.
Looking forward to your nice recipes!
Miyazawa

11月1日 合宿のプラクティス

13時から  谷原さん
Genre: Reading and Writing with discussion
Title: Let's answer the questions of science or social studies and write E-mail in English!

At first, please make some groups to have 4-6 members in each group.

Part 1: (Warming up) Questions of science or social studies
I picked up some questions of science of social studies from 'Test Yourself Against an American Kid'.
At first,please read and try to answer these questions by yourself.
Then, shall we share these answers with your group members?

Part 2: E-mail in English

I'll show you some cases for E-mail.

Please choose one case by each member of the group.
At first, please write the E-mail in English by yourself.
Then, share and discuss these E-mail in your group.

I hope you will enjoy it! See you on Saturday.

Best wishes,
Yuko Tanihara

14時30分から 南橋さん

1. Date: Nov. 1st, 2014
2 .Genre: Self-introduction and discussion on health.
3 .Title: Do you think “health first” is right?
4 .Description:
Make 6 groups
Decide and write your group name. Our group name is 〔 〕
Fill in the blanks of list of members
Write your own definition and rough idea of health.
“Health is・・・・・

Let me distribute today’s material for each of you.
Introduce yourself with your comments on health.
Look at the charts and materials delivered.
Read the following sentences.
World Health Organization (WHO) provides the definition on health as follows.
“Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
「健康とは、病気でないとか、弱っていないということではなく、肉体的にも、精神的にも、そして社会的にも、すべてが満たされた状態にあることをいいます。」(日本WHO協会訳)
With this definition, WHO tackles problems not only of medical field but also of broad affairs to assure peoples’ healthy, safe and secured living.
Discuss following sentences. Do you agree, or disagree?
“You don’t appreciate good health until you lose it.” “Good health is a lifetime treasure.”
“No one can deny any person’s right to live.” “Health is better than wealth.”


Read the following lines and express your own opinion on option you would like to choose:
①Take care of your health for 20 years by
・watching TV programs on health,
・reading books on health,
・taking some physical exercise,
・preparing and taking healthy meal.
・Although these take about 3 hours a day, namely 2.5 years during 20 years in total, these result in 2 years of longer life, in other words, spend 2.5 years for 2 years of longer life during your precious 20 years’ of remaining life
Or
②Spend your precious 20 years for whatever you like and feel happy without spending 3 hours per day, namely without 2.5 years, for keeping health, and die 2 years earlier than the person above
Or
③Any other options you would like to present and hope to choose


Decide your group conclusion with at least 3 reasons. (Ex. live longer for children, partner and lifework, OR, any interruption of lifeworks means nothing to be gained, and so ……)
Group〔       〕`s conclusion on health is
Reason 1
Reason 2
Reason 3

With last 10 minutes, announce with your own way loudly and briefly the conclusion and its 3 reasons of your group to all the members. Take notes on other groups’ conclusion and their 3 reasons. This is also a practice of speaking and listening.
Group 1〔       〕`s conclusion on health is
I hope you would deliberate on your health and enjoy the practice with other members! J
参考:名郷 直樹、『健康第一は間違っている』、筑摩書房、2014(特に、p.238)、NHKの「クローズアップ現代」2014年10月15日放映、「“百寿者” 知られざる世界 ~幸せな長生きのすすめ~」
Thanks
Osamu Minamihashi (Sakyo Post Office) E-mail: ccl52920@yahoo.co.jp
PS: I would welcome orders for purchasing New Year’s Card from Oct 30th, 2014~Jan. 9th, 2015. Just ask me for detail. 年賀はがき注文受け付け中!(左京郵便局 南橋 理)


16時から    間嶋さん  ディベート
This notice is to introduce the debate program on Nov 1.
This debate will be semi-formal.


1st debate : Time 16:30 - 17:15 Team-1 vs. Team-2
2nd debate : Time 17:15 - 18:00 Team-3 vs. Team 4.

Propositions : To be announced on the day. No preparation is needed.

Proposition A : Beginners Level
Proposition B : Intermediate Level

I would like to make 4 teams based on your choice or chairperson's coordination.
Hope you enjoy it !!

Isamu Mashima


18時30分から    吉田さん

Please note that the practice is allocated after the dinner of ESS
English Camp 2014.

Genre: Listening
Title: Listening to Fun Stuff

Since everybody feels tired a little bit after the dinner, those
practices (especially before drinking parties) should be easy ones.
And this one is no exception :-)

The practice consists of two parts.

Firstly, you are asked to listen to audio and tell what it says.
The material will be picked up from TV shows, songs and audio books.

In the latter part, you will be listening to the introductions of
various good old TV shows. All you need to do is guess the names of
TV shows, and share what you know about them.

Let's have fun!

Cheers!

Masakazu YOSHIDA

2014年09月30日

10月25日 プラクティスの予定

Genre: Writing
Title: Introduction to the TOEFL test


Guideline
The TOEFL test is the most widely respected English-language test in the world.
In this practice, an Integrated Task in the Writing section will be prepared.
This task includes reading, listening and writing, which means total English skills are required to solve.

Procedure
1. Receive papers on which Directions and a sample question are written.
2. Read Directions to understand how you answer the question (about 5 minutes).
3. Read a passage about an academic topic written on the distributed paper (3 minutes).
4. Listen to a lecture about the same topic (about 5minues).
5. Write a response to a question.

Schedule
18:40 Opening & Grouping (6 persons/group)
18:45 Instruction
18:50 Start of TOEFL Writing trial
19:20 Finish of the trial and distribution answer examples
19:35 Closing

I hope this practice will stimulate people who want to take TOEFL or to go study abroad.

Best regards,

Hiroshi Fukumoto

担当 福本さん

10月18日 プラクティス予定

Dear ESS members:

This is an announcement of the practice on October 18th.

Genre:Talk
Title :What would you do?

Here is the process.

1. Make some groups.
2. I will give you some questions.
3. The first speaker chooses one question and speaks about it.
4. Then the other members speak about the same question one by one.
5. The second person chooses a new question after all members finish speaking about the first question.

Then start the second round and continue the same way.

I expect you will enjoy this practice.

Thanks,

Shiho Nakashima

担当 中島 志保さん

10月11日 プラクティス予定

This is an announcement about the practice.
1. Date : 11th October,2014
2. Genre : Game
3. Title : KARUTA game that is wrote good words with cat.
4. Description :

1) Making 6 groups.

2) You play KARUTA game.
This KARUTA is read card(yomi-fuda) is English, Picture card(tori-fuda)
is japanese.

3) When finish the KARUTA game,Please discuss about card's word,
or talk about your motto or aphorism in your group.

Thanks :)

Enokki担当 榎園さん

2014年09月05日

10月4日 のプラクティス

This is the announcement about the practice on October 4th.
I am in charge of practice for the first time in ten years.
I am a little nervous but let`s enjoy it.


Genre: Small talk
Title: Current news topics

Description:
1. Make 6 groups.
2. I hand out cards on which recent news key words written.
3. Decide the order to draw a card.
4. First parson who draw a card talks about the news for 2minites.
5. Talk together about it for 5minites .
6. Second parson draw a card and talks in like wise.
7. Repeat from 4 to 6 until 18:25.
8. Select the best news of your group and announce it


Looking forward to seeing you at the temple.


N.Morimoto


担当 森本 直樹さん

9月27日 プラクティス

Let me introduce the practice planned on 9/27/2014.

Genre: Talk
Title : My favorite proverb, motto or phrase

The practice is talking and discussion on your favorite proverb, motto or phrase. May be you have met many and some of them mightrelax you, encourage you, smile you, heal you, assist you and so on. Please teach your favorite proverbs, mottoes or phrases which are/were useful in the situation below with some experiences or background information if possible. Please keep in your mind, these are not limited to popular one or words of celebrities. Your original and unique mottoes or phrases are welcomed!

1) When you want to relax.
2) When you need courage.
3) When you have to decide something
4) When you are in a trouble
5) When you want to make your dream come true


Looking forward to seeing you at the temple


H.Ishizaki

担当 石崎 宏明さん

2014年09月01日

9月20日 プラクティス

This is the announcement about the practice on September 20th.
Genre: composition
Title: love letter to a famous person

Description:
1. Make 6 groups.
2. I hand out cards on which names of famous people are written.
3. Play rock-paper-scissors (janken) and decide the order to choose a card to write a letter.
4. Choose a card you want to write a love letter.
5. Write a love letter. (10min.)
6. Read aloud your love letters to other members.
7. Repeat from 3 to 6 until 18:20 .
8. Select the best letter of your group and announce it

・・・・・<><><><><>Megumi Iwai<><><><><>・・・・・
megumukimura1968@yahoo.co.jp
担当 岩井 恵 さん

9月13日 プラクティス

This is an announcement of the practice on 13th September.

Genre: Role playing game

Title: Let’s play doctors and patients!

I guess any of you has experience playing doctor once or twice in your childhood.

But was it in English? This time, I’d like you to play it in English in more practical situations.

I’ll attach some materials to this email in advance that explain how to complain your symptoms

to your doctor and the names of diseases.

I hope this practice will help you see a doctor when necessary over the sea.

Description:

17:40-18:00

1 Make 4 to 6 groups. (Each group has even numbered members)

2 Make pairs in a group.

3 One plays a doctor and another plays a patient in a pair.

4 Change your partner when you finish your roles, both of a doctor and patient. 

18:30-18:40 

5 Give a presentation to all the members which was the most interesting or funniest dialog in your group.

I hope all of you enjoy this practice.

Masayama Kisei
担当 昌山さん

2014年08月25日

9月6日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS members,
This is an announcement of the practice on September 6.

Genre: Talk
Title: My ways to learn English

All of you must have your own means in learning English.
What do you do to maintain and improve your ability in listening , speaking,reading,writing in English?

Please share your original,unique,remarkable and recommendable ones with other members.

Description:
1 Make 6 groups
2 Each member gives a talk about "My ways to learn English".
3 Other members can ask some questions to the speaker.
Each of you have about 7minutes including Q&A.

I hope all of you enjoy and learn from this practice.

thanks,
Takada Kumiko

担当者 高田さん

2014年07月29日

8月30日 プラクティス予定

This is the announcement of the practice on Aug 30
Genre: Making A Story
Contents
1. Divide into 5 or 6 groups. Each group has 5 or 6 members.
2. Practitioner gives you some start sentence
3. The first role of each group has to choose one start sentence and
improvise and add on one sentence.
4. The second to the fourth role of each group add on one sentence.
5. The fifth role of each group conclude the whole story.
6. Next game start from the second role person of each group.
Same thing to do the first role person conclude the sentence.
(continue until the time permit )
I will give you some start sentence just before practice.
I hope you to make drastic, happy, comical or romantic stories.

Hosako Hukuda


担当者 富久田さん

2014年07月19日

8月23日  サマーパーティ

 会話練習 プラクティスもありません。

 お酒を飲んで騒いで お互いの友情を育みましょう

場所は 四条烏丸 地下鉄降りてすぐの KOKONビル地階 老香港酒家 

 

8月16日 プラクティス

Discussion
Theme: What is your suitable job?
1. Divide 6 groups
2. Discuss about your jobs.
Independents (自営独立)
Company employees (会社員)
Civil servants (公務員)

Q1: What kind of job in the future you wanted to be at age 13 to15 ?

Look back your life and you probably engaged some jobs.
Q2: Are those jobs suitable for you?

Q3: What kind of jobs did you do as a part time job?

Q4: Did you try to get other job?

Presented by T,Kuchinaka
担当 口中

8月9日 プラクティス

Hi , there!

Here's the details of the 'Practice'.

We are going to have 'bibliobattle'.

Each of you have to bring your favorite book relating to English .

O.K.?

Then,

1) Divide into 5 or 6 groups.

2) Take turns introducing other members to your favorite book.

3) Decide one person who makes a 3-minute presentation. S/he cannot use ' power point' or 'slides'.

4) Take a vote.

I hope you will be a strong bibliobattler.

Let's not forget to bring your recommendable book.

T.Noguchi

担当 野口 忠彦 会長さん

8月2日 プラクティス

Hello! Dear  KYOTO ESS Members

This is the announcement for members about the practice on August 2.

Genre:Entertainment
Title: Ogiri(Shouten)

Contents
1. Please make some gropes as usual and choose the emcee(chairman).
2. The emcee have to decide the theme (Odai)and other members have to
think over the funny and witty answers on Odai for ten minutes.
3. The emcee please leads other members and other members announces
the answers by Ogiri style in front of other groups by turns(Time limit
of one group is about ten minutes ).
4. The person taken the most cushions will be presented the good
prize(True?).


Ex.
1.(Theme)Something for Naoki Hanzawa never to say
(Answer)If whoever hits you on the cheek,offer him the other for peace.
2.(Theme)The unpleasant World Cup game
(Answer)The game that there are many supporters for the beaten team.

I expect many interesting and witty answers and hope you will have
pleasant time.
See you again on the Otera!

Makoto Kurusu

担当 久留主さん

2014年07月04日

7月26日 プラクティス

Dear ESS members,

This is the announcement for the practice on July 26.

Genre: Presentation

Title: Let`s make your own story with key words.

Process:

1. Make 6 groups.

2. I distribute a bundle of cards for each table. One word is written on each card.
One member distributes five cards for each member in the group. So, each member gets five key words.

3. Each member makes his or her own story with key words in five minutes and makes a presentation in the group.
Any topic is OK if these key words are contained in the story. The length of the story is up to each.
One to two minutes presentation would be adequate for one story.

4. After all members in a group make a presentation, another member collects the cards, shuttles them and distributes fives cards for each.
The procedure is the same above

5. Please go on the same process as long as time is allowed

Please try to make your own story with originality and the sense of humor!!

Best Regards,
Seiichiro Iwai

担当 岩井 誠一郎さん

2014年07月02日

7月19日のプラクティス

This is an announcement of practice on July 19.
Genre: Discussion

Title: Where do you want to live?

Questions;

1. What country do want most to live other than Japan?

2. What country do you want most to visit for a tour or a short stay other than Japan?

This may be the questions that you often asked to others or are asked from others. However, this time, I'd like you to make your answers into one group answer and with at least 5 reasons. OK? The answer may not include Japan. Some conditions may be added to your answers. And finally, I want you to recommend the place to other members in the room just as a tourist guide.

Talk about the place you like maybe with your good memories on its scenery, good welcome of people or whatever even its history, political situation. I hope you will enjoy the practice.

G.Kitaura

担当 北浦さん

7月12日のプラクティス

Genre:Speech
Title:One minute speech No.3

This is my third time to carry out this type of practice.

Let’s train your reflex power in a talk.

Here is the process.

1. Make groups with 3 members in each.

2. Each group has 20 topics written on pieces of paper in a holder.

3. The first speaker draws one piece from the holder and speaks about the topic for one minute.

Then the second person speaks about the same topic.

Next, the third person follows.

4. The second person draws a new piece after all members finish speaking about the first topic.

Then start the second round.

5. The third person continues the same process.

You don’t need to think the topic seriously but need to speak smoothly about what you think of.

Please keep speaking as much as you can for a minute.

I expect you will be tired but hope you would enjoy this practice.

担当 平野さん

2014年06月30日

7月5日 プラクティス

Genre: Talk & Discussion

Title: Globalization

Description

[Step. 0]

Make some groups and make pairs in each group. If you don’t have partner, please find a partner in other group. If there is no partner in all groups, I will become your partner.

[Step. 1]

I will give you a topic. Please ask a question about the topic each other for about 5 or 8 minutes. I’m a timekeeper. About 5 or 8 minutes later, I will request to change your partner and give you another topics again. Please start conversation again and repeat like this style for about 30 minutes. Please obey the following rules.

At first, one person asks one question.

The other person answer and explain his/her answer and ask his/her question.

You must not dominate conversation by your only talking.

I’ll choose topics below

International business language or English

Travel

Japan or Japanese

Transportation or Air plane

Communication technology or Cellular phone

Olympic or World Exposition (EXPO)

Race or Language

8. Knowledge or Science or Technology(Engineering)

Ex. Topic : English

A “Did you like English lesson when you were in junior high or high school?”

B “No, I didn’t. Because Japanese education emphasize reading writing and grammar.

They were boring for me. How about you? Did you like English lesson?

A “Of course, I liked it very much. Because my English teacher was a young female

teacher. She was cute and clever. She spoke English so fluently like native speaker

and taught English very well. Do you use English in your business? ”

B “Yes, I sometimes have to read a thesis or paper written in English. And I have some chances to discuss technology with foreign engineers. Have you travel foreign countries in your business?”

A ・・・・・

[Step. 2]

Please gather in each group. There are some effects of globalization on the environment, culture, the economy and human well-being and so on. Choose one category and talk about effect of globalization under your choosing category. I hope that you explain both positive and negative effects. You can choose the sample categories below. But you don’t need to stick to the samples.

Environment Culture Economy Human well-being Education Religion

Science Sport Art Music Literature etc.

Ex.

I choose economy.

Positive effect: More companies are now able to sell their products in foreign countries.

Negative effect: Weak industry in each country is beaten by foreign country.


I hope you enjoy.

Hirokazu Sakai

担当 酒井さん

2014年06月21日

6月28日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members.

Let me introduce the practice planned on 6/28/2014.

Genre: talk
Title : Let’s enjoy “warp” ( time-travel ) !!
( Note : “warp” means traveling in the time-machine. )

Do you remember a movie called “ Back to the Future “ , “Terumae Romae” or TV drama “ Jin” ?
In this practice, you will warp in the future or warp back into the past in the time-machine.
Theoretically, you can’t warp back in the past. But in this practice, you can warp back with a couple of conditions.
1. Grandfather paradox is not allowed ( you can’t change you who you are today )
2. You can’t bring anything with you. Just meet and talk. If possible you can do anything to change the history.

Please talk about the following situations in your team ( ~ 6:20 )
1. What year in the future do you want to warp ? Why?
2. What do you see in the future? ( as much detail as possible )
3. What year/age/era do you want to warp back in the past? Why?
4. Who did you meet and what did you talk ?
5. What did you do to change the history? Then, what could be the new history you have changed?
( please continue as time permitted )

At the end of the talk, please pick out a couple of warp stories 1) In the past 2) In the future in your team and
introduce them to all. ( 6:20-6:40 )

Enjoy warp with your imaginative power !!

Isamu Mashima

担当 間嶋さん 

2014年05月18日

6月21日 プラクティス

Genre: Talk
Title: Mysterious Matters

“Do you believe in the existence of the spiritual world?”
”Have you ever seen a ghost?”
There are lots of mysteries in our world.
I would like you to talk about something horror, psychic, paranormal around
us.

Description:
1. Make several groups.
2. Exchange your comments in your group on each question below.

Questions
(1)Are you interested in fortunetelling, horoscope, the sixth sense,
intuition etc.?
Do you carry any lucky charms with you now and do they work for you?
Are you often concerned about superstitions(験を担ぐ)and the jinx?

(2) Have you ever visited the power spots or the mystery spots?
Have you experienced any psychic, paranormal phenomena?
Ex)kanasibari(金縛り)、dejavu(デジャブ)、musinosirase(虫の知らせ)

(3)Have you ever seen a ghost or a psychic photo?
Do you believe in the existence of the Sprit and spiritual world?


(4)Talk freely about scary stories, unbelievable experience and horror
movies(books).

I hope you will enjoy it!

Motoko Tabata


担当 田畑さんご夫妻

6月14日 プラクティス

This is Shigeo HORI, and I'm happy to inform you my Corner on June 14th.
Genre: A Sort of Discussion
Title: Golden Section
Description: "Golden Section(黄金分割)" is one of the qualities many people feel that the ratio of the two is very beautiful. This ratio was and is used for beautification.
In this practice, I would like you to discuss this topic from our daily lives.

I have used this type of practice many years ago, but I'd like to change the items this time.

Thank you.

・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・


担当者 堀 薫夫さん

6月7日 プラクティス

This week"s topic is "health".

(1) Give the definition of this word, "health". Answer this question by

just one sentence.

(2) Give three conditions to keep the "health" and also give the reasons

to each condition.

(3) If some of you do something to keep your "health", please tell us.

(4) Share your group's opinions about above three questions with all

members.

I've talked with many patients who have various diseases in my work.

Surprisingly, some patients seemes to be so energetic or positive while

they are under heavy stage of each disease. On the other hand, young people,

who don't have any problem physically, face mental problem.


What is health? Please give your opinion.

Thank you very much.


Miyako Kusaka


担当者 日下さん

2014年5月31日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Hello, everyone.
This is the chairperson of this weekend, Yuko Tanihara.
I'm sorry to be late for my announcement.

Genre: Translation and discussion

Title: Let's translate telephone conversation and J-Pop music into English!

At first, please make some groups to have 4-6 members in each group.

Part 1: Telephone conversation
I picked up general telephone conversations.
At first,please try to translate these sentences into English alone.
Then, shall we share these answers with your group members?

Part 2: J-Pop music
Please fill in the blank to complete the English lyric of J-Pop music.
Finally, let's sing a song together in English.

I hope you will enjoy it! See you on Saturday.

Best wishes,
Yuko Tanihara

担当者 谷原さん

2014年05月17日

5月24日 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto ESS members

I am so happy to have a chance of planning a Practice. It is difficult for me to give you an exciting time, however, I want to do my best.

Date: 2014.5.24

Genre: Listening game

Title: My favorite songs

Description: I would like to introduce my favorite songs. (I don’t want to tell you the title of them until the Practice day to enjoy listening game.) I hope that you will enjoy the game.

1. Make some groups as usual.

2. I will give you question sheets and answer sheets.

3. The question sheets give you part of the lyrics which contain blanks. The answer sheets show full lyrics of songs.

  ※Do not see the answer part.

4. I would like to tell you the reason why I like the song and some episode of the song. After my short introduction, you listen to a part of the lyric and fill in the blanks of the answer sheet.

5. Check your answer by seeing the answer sheet.

6. Again, listen to the song. Please check your answer and enjoy listening to the song.

7. Repeat 1-6 for the other songs.


担当 若さあふれる17歳高校生 秋山みなもさん

2014年05月07日

5月17日 プラクティス

Dear ESS Members:

Hi, everyone! This is Akira Oku.
I’m very sorry for this slow announcement, but I haven’t forgotten my duty of working on the practice of this week.
Please open the document attached and read to prepare for it in advance, I hope.
Genre: Discussion and Talk
Title: Discussion on the phrases quoted from famous scientists.
Language: English only

For the people who can’t open the attachment, same document is pasted below.

Prepared for the ESS Practice on 2014.5.17 by A. Oku

Discussion on the phrases quoted from famous scientists.

Many distinguished scientists, politicians and novelists are also great philosophers. They have left to us a lot of interesting, impressive, instructive and sometimes puzzling phrases. Their sayings are usually short and deeply sighted so that people often quote their words for intellectual stimulation.

In the following, more than several sayings quoted from those people are listed. The phrases may not be well-known but suggestive ones. Today’s practice shall flow as follows.
1. I would like you to read these sayings quickly and carefully (10 min). Hopefully, you are encouraged to read them in advance before this Saturday.
2. Pick up one phrase which you like most and explain, in any word, what the person wants to tell you in his/her message (< 3 min).
3. After finishing your presentation, start the group discussion on that quoted phrase from different points of view, I hope (< 7 min).
4. Analogous presentation-discussion shall be repeated by each of the group members on different phrases (total time: (3 + 7) x 4 person < 40 min).

Repeat this process till the end. You sure will be a highly sophisticated person and make your own witty “quote -- unquote”. Enjoy!
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

1. "But still try, for who knows what is possible." by Michael Faraday

2. "Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood." by Marie Sklowska Curie

3. "The secret of all inventors is to consider nothing impossible." by?

4. "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that do not work." by Justus Freiherr von Liebig

5. "Science is facts. Just as houses are made of stones, so is science made of facts. But a pile of stones is not a house and a collection of facts is not necessarily science." by Jules Henri Poincaré

6. "A foolish faith in authority is the worst enemy of truth." by Albert Einstein

7. "I was taught that the way of progress was neither swift nor easy." by Marie Curie

8. “Pursue your lofty dream with eternal optimism.” by Eiichi Negishi

9. "10% of what I say is true. You have to worry about the other 90%." by William G. Fateley

10. "Let us learn to dream, gentlemen, and then perhaps we shall learn the truth." by August Kekule

11. "The great tragedy of science, the slaying of a beautiful theory by an ugly fact." by Thomas Henry Huxley

12. "Scientists are explorers. Philosophers are tourists." by?

13. "The true scientist never loses the faculty of amazement. It is the essence of his being." by Hans Selye

14. "Science is a wonderful thing, if one does not have to earn one's living at it." by Albert Einstein

15. "I am often amazed at how much more capability and enthusiasm for science there is among elementary school youngsters than among college students." by?

16. “The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!' (I found it!) but 'That's funny ...." by Issac Asimov

17. "Facts are the air of scientists. Without them you can never fly." by Linus Pauling

18. "Nothing in life is to be feared, it is only to be understood. Now is the time to understand more, so that we may fear less." by Julius Sumner Miller

19. “People who never have any time on their hands are those who do the least." by Georg Christoph Lichtenberg, German scientist

20. “The noblest pleasure is the joy of understanding." by Leonardo da Vinci, Italian artist, scientist and writer

21. “Inspiration exists, but it has to find us working." by Pablo Picasso, Spanish artist

22. “I have loved the stars too fondly to be fearful of the night." by Galileo Galilei, Italian astronomer, philosopher and physicist

23. “The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time." by Bertrand Russell, British philosopher, mathematician and historian

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
担当 奥 彬さん

2014年05月05日

5月10日 プラクティスの内容

Game : CROSS WORDS PUZZLE

We prepared 4 differnt types of CROSS WORDS PUZZLES
Enjoyable, interesting and instructive games

Hello, everyone
Please prepare your own dictionaries.

担当 武居さん

2014年04月29日

2014年5月3日 プラクティスの内容

Date:May 3rd, 2014
Genre:Talk and Grammar
Title:Your favorite person in your junior high school days
(Who did you really like when you were a junior high school student?)

Description:
1. Make 5~6 groups depending on the number of the participants.
2. Tell other members who you really liked as a junior high school
student (or a teenager) and give a brief explanation about the person;
your favorite singer/actor/TV personality/teacher/friend/family
member, etc.
3. Other members ask questions about the person.
4. Each member should have a chance to tell their junior high school
days favorite person.
5. Have good conversations in the group.

In this practice, I’d like you to pay attention to one thing about
English grammar: the tense (verb form). You are supposed to talk about
something in the past; your junior high school days, so basically the
past tense of verbs should be used.

I hope this practice is enjoyable and meaningful.
Kiyoshi.T

担当 田村 潔さん

2014年04月12日

2014-04ー26 プラクティス

Genre : debate
 2themes : “The Japanese government should abolish the death penalty."

"The Japanese government should decommission all nuclear power plants."

Description :
*Make small groups . Each group has 3 persons.
Everyone prepare for your own opinions.

担当  南橋さん

 

2014-04-19 プラクティス

Genre : debate
3themes : “We should accept the death penalty or not.”
“Japaese elementary schools should accept Englisah language education from 1st grade. ”
“We need Nuclear Power Plants or not. ”

Description :
*Make small groups . Each group has 3 persons.
Everyone prepare for your own opinions.


担当 南橋さん

2014年04月05日

2014‐04‐12 プラクティス予告

Genre : discussion (or creation)
Title : “create a story”
Description :
*Make a group as usual.
1. about a central character ; age, gender, occupation, hobby. special skill, family members, and other features・・・
2. about his or her family members
3. about some important persons ; one of his or her friends, co-worker, boss, lover, witch, killer, etc.
4. genre and outline of the story ; mystery, horror, fantasy, old tale, love story, etc.
*discuss 1 – 4 in the group
5. each group member make an episode
6. join episodes together
7. finally, one person of each group presents the finished story briefly.


I hope you enjoy creating stories by yourself

Emi Hibino

2014年03月31日

2014‐04‐05 プラクティス予告

Hi ESS members,

I hereby announce the practice which will be held on 5th of April.

Genre:
Talk
Title:
Technology innovation
Summary:
The electronic devices around us, such as mobile, PC, TV, gaming console etc, have changed so dramatically in past few decades.
In this practice, I want you to decide your favorite device (no matter how modern or outdated the device is) in your group and introduce us a little bit.
The group will be departed to 6 as usual.

Best regards,
Akira Hashimoto

2014年03月25日

2014-03-29 プラクティス予告

Dear ESS members.

This is the announcemento for the practice on March 29 2014.

Genre:Discussion

Title:Deliberation and Discussion

1,Make some groups.
2,Diside a leader of your group.
3,Deliberate and Discuss some questions.

I hope you have happy time.

Thank you.
Chikako Morita

2014年03月19日

2014-03-22 プラクティス予告

Dear ESS members.

This is the announcement for the practice on March 22nd.

Genre : Game: Role playing game
Title : Press conference

I offer you to hold press coference on different topics.
For example, New product release, Scandal and Explanation for a faulty product .

How to do?

1. Make 4 groups and select your roles Jornalist or interviewer
2. Makes questions to interviewer and witty answers to Jornalist.
3. Hold the press conference.
4. Summary


1. You are about to interview a top politician/company and are keen to expose he/she as being inadequate for the job they do.
2. This is your big chance to enhance your reputation and further your career. Please write down whole of conversation between a Journalist and interviewer.


1. One day after you gave a speech on the importance of parents to teach their children morals your son was convicted for selling drugs.
2. When you were younger you were a supporter of pro-choice.
3. In a debate on the future of race relations in the US you said, 'We need to forget about the past and move forward.'


1. You talk about the importance and good standard of state schools
but both your children attend private schools.
2. On a visit to a school in a depressed area in Alabama you were
quoted as saying 'I've never met so many ill-mannered children; they should be placed in a juvenille detention center.'


1. You talk about the need for people to stop smoking due to healthcare costs but smoke yourself.
2. When asked about the ever increasing waiting list for medicare patients needing operations, you were quoted as saying, 'Well, it's not my fault that people keep getting sick!'

メディケア(英: Medicare)は、高齢者および障害者向け公的医療保険制度です。


1. Your company sold a blonde hair dye that turns your hair blue
2. Over 100 customers complained and want to refund.
3. If you refund all of them, it will cost 1000,000 yen at least.
4. Explain the product and its defect.

*I use “Lesson Plan - Press Conference By Lindsey Newhall” on All about for reference.http://esl.about.com/od/conversationlessonplans/a/press_conf.htm


I hope this geme will be fun and usefull to practice speaking, listening and dictation skills.

Thank you,
Yoko Iida

2014年03月12日

2014-03-15 プラクティス予告

Dear ESS member.
I introduce May 15 practice.

(1) Genre :Game
(2) Title:Taboo character
(3) Process

(a)I indicate taboo character. 1 character at once. Taboo character start from “z”.If we can, we play game to “a”.
(b)You dictation my present English sentence. And you guess either used taboo character or not.
(c) I say correct answer and I hand out script.
(d) I present English sentence one more time. And you check it.
(e)When 5 minute before finish, I ask to you answered many pieces correctly.

I hope you'll enjoy this practice.

Masakazu Nakatani.

2014年03月07日

2014-03-08 プラクティス予告

Hi All,

This is an announcement about the practice on March 8th, 2014.

1. Date (March 8th)
2. Genre (Discussion)
3. Title (Let's talk about the universe in a scientific way)
4. Description

You might have once asked the following questions. How the universe was born? What is the fate of it? How large is it? It is difficult to give clear answers to these question, but we can study the universe in a scientific way and the recent research has given a lot of knowledge on the universe.

In this practice, I would like you to talk about the universe in a group and to feel the atmosphere of the study of the universe. I will give you problems about the universe which are interesting and solvable even for non-experts. Please solve the problems through the discussion in your group!
(I will try to make the practice as easy as possible.)

This is how the practice goes.
***********************************
1) Making 4-5 people groups
2) A problem to solve is given.
3) Discussing in a group to solve the problem
4) Sharing each group's solution among all
5) Repeating 2) to 4)
***********************************

I hope you enjoy this practice.

All the best.
Kazuyuki Sugimura

2014年02月26日

2014-03-01 プラクティス予告

Dear ESS members.

This is the announcement for the practice on March 1.

Genre : Discussion
Title : Spring has come !

I prepare some questions .

1. Make some groups.
2. Talk about them in your group.

Q1 By seeing what , you feel that spring has come?
Q2 By eating what, you feel that spring has come?
Q3 What scent or smell makes you feel that spring has come?
Q4 What sound or noise makes you feel that spring has come?
Q5 By touching what , you feel that spring has come?

Let's talk about your sense and enjoy it .

Akiko matsui

2014年02月18日

2014-02-22 プラクティス予告

Hi! Everyone!
This is the announcement about the practice on February 22.

(1) Genre : Talk

(2) Title : Personal Space

(3) Description:

Personal space is the area space that closely surround our bodies. It is space that we often like to keep to ourselves.

I'll prepare some questions about personal space.

Let's talk about them in your group.

I hope you'll enjoy this practice.

Thank you.

2014年02月12日

2014-02-15プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto ESS member

This is an announcement of practice on Feb.15
Title is "Your hero or heroine"
Genre: talk

You have met, known, seen, watched, thought, felt or listened about many people.
There were many people who had good effect on your life. Let's talk about your hero or heroine.

For example
Your family or relative: Father, Mother, Grand-father/mother, brother/sister etc
Work place: Boss, president
Anime/TV: Ultra-man, Kamen-rider, Sarry-chan, Akakage, Anpan-man, Doraemon
Movie: Stive Maceen, James deen, Harison ford,
Athlete: Nagashima, O, Honda,
Historical person: Ieyasu, Nobunaga, Hideyoshi
Politician: Shigeru yoshida, Lincorn, Mandela,
Other:

Part 1
Please name your hero or heroine at each life stage and tell why do you or did you think so.

1-1: Hero or heroine when you were a child
1-2: Hero or heroine when you were a high school/university student
1-3: Hero or heroine now

And more.......

Ishizaki

2014年02月06日

2014-02-08プラクティス予告

Practice
Junle:Talk
Title:What a coincidence!

“All the members in the group are the same in something or have something in common.
That is the definition of a coincidence here in this activity.”

【Example】
All the members were born in December.
All the members have no brother or sister.
All the members have been to the USA.
All the members have a relative over 100 years old.
No member was born in Kyoto.
All the members have been to Disneyland in Tokyo.

The more coincidences the group has and the rarer the coincidences are, the better.
Later a judge (judges) will decide how many points each group can get.

Example of scores (A full score is 5)):

Coincidence Score
All the members have a relative over 100 years old. 5
All the members were born in December. 4
No member was born in Kyoto. 3
All the members have been to Disneyland. 2
All the members have been to the USA. 1
No member likes spiders. 0
All the members like beefsteak. 0

By Masahiro Yamamoto

2014年01月31日

2014-02-01プラクティス予告


Hi everyone!

This is the announcement about the practice on Feb 1, 2014.

Genre: Game

Title: What is this word

Description:

I ll give you some cards. You explain to group members about the word in the card.However you can not use the word in your explain. Group members think about the word from your hints. The person say the answer first get 1point. And then the person get most many point is winner!!

I hope you enjoy this game

Mayumi Onishi

2014年01月20日

2014-01-25プラクティス予告

Hi there!

This is the announcement about the practice on January 25, 2015.


Genre: Talk

Title: Making wish lists

Description:

This is a group talk. In this practice, you are going to make wish
lists, and talk about them.

What do you have in your list? Why do you wish to have or do them?

The budgets will be ranging from 10,000 JPY to 100,000,000 JPY.


I hope you enjoy a virtual shopping :)


Cheers!
--
M.Yoshida

2014年01月14日

2014-01-18 プラクティス予告

Happy New Year!

May this year be happy and fruitful .

Here's the announcement about the Jan. 18th activity.(Yes! 'Activity ' is the appropriate word.)

Genre: talk

Title: New Year's Resolutions

T.Noguchi

2013年12月26日

2013-12-28 プラクティス予告

Dear ESS member,

This is the an announcement of the practice of Dec.28.

Genre: Discussion
Title: Good-bye 2013

All the practice is required to be relateed to the passing year 2013.
Roughly, all the discussion is to be divided into the following twoparts.

A. The events you have personally experienced in 2013
(events, the overall impression about 2013 etc)

B. The events you haven`t directly experienced
(news, social atmosphere, overall trend, your own interpretation about 2013 etc)

Theme A. Choose one from the following 4 themes

1. Grade yourself in 2013 on the basis of 100 and explain to others how you evaluated your achievement.

2.The most valuable event yoiu have encountered in 2013.
(an forgettable event, person, book , etc)

3. Your original method you`ve come up with this year, so as to make your life more meaningful.

4. Your original habit you`ve intentionally formed or the one that have lasted this year.

Theme B;

1. Events or trend that you haven`t been directly involved in.
(Japanese news, world news, how you interpret the overall trend 2013 etc)

It is more desirable to discribe them putting an emphasis on the viewpoint how it has much
significance to you.

2.最近の社会に関して、どうも理解できないこと。
「なんか変だな」と思うこと。

Thanks
Best  Regards

Yamamoto Keiichi


2013年12月20日

2013-12-21 プラクティス予告

Dear ESS members,
This is an announcement of the practice of Dec. 21th.
Genre: Talk
Title : Talk about Christmas!! 
The Christmas is coming soon.
I will prepare some questions about Christmas.
Let's talk about it in your group.
I'll make some groups.
Hope you will enjoy it! Thank you,
Best Regards,
Satoko Ohkubo

2013年12月12日

2013-12-14-プラクティス予告

Dear ESS members,

This is an announcement of the practice of Dec. 14th.


Genre: Game and Talk

Title : Association Game (連想ゲーム) 

Do you know the TV program called "連想ゲーム” ? 
NHK used to broadcast the program in my childfood.
We will enjoy by imitating the program using English !

Description : 1, make 6 teams
2, decide a captain in your team
captain will be a Key-person who is going to give "association words"
to your team members
3, play games with your opponent team and decide which team to be
the winner
4, after the game, separate 6 groups and talk using the Answer-cards
5, if the time permits, a presenter of each groups give a presentation
about a Topic in 1-minute to everybody

Hope you will enjoy it! Thank you,

Ryuichi Tanaka

2013年11月28日

2013-11-30-プラクティス予告

Hi, everyone of Kyoto NHK ESS club

I once forwarded this information last night but it was through attachment and accordingly
I fear that someone cann't open it.
Hee is the second nonattached information with the same contents.
Thanks.

This is to announce the practice of November 30th to be held by Simon Nakamura
Discussion about
Marriage, including International Marriage before and after

1) Some lessons
a) Get correct usage of “to marry” and  “to get married to”
b) Learn the proverbs

妻を娶らば 才たけて、身目美わしく、情けあり ==Translate into English
結婚は人生の墓場だ ==Translate into English
Marry in haste and repent at leisure ==Translate into Japanese
2) Raise 3 basic points for you to decide to marry

3) How do you think about “Same-sex marriage”
Can you accept the world-wide prevailing trend of Same-sex marriage?
Is the same-sex marriage acceptable in Japan ?
If not, what factors do you think ?

4)Can you accept straightly the decision which the supreme court decided on the inheritance rights of illegitimate children ?

5)Can you accept Hague Convention on the Civil Aspect of International Child Abduction ?

The practice may be a little long but I hope you will enjoy the matters in relation with marriage.
Unless otherwise, divide the themes to 2 or 3 occasions.
Simon Nakamura

2013年11月20日

2013-11-23 プラクティス予告

Hello 京都NHK ESS members.
I am glad to announce the contents for the practice on Nov 23.

Genre:Speech
Title:Challenge “One minute speech No.2”

This practice has come for the first time in a year.
At real talks, you need to response swiftly to keep a conversation going, having no time to
translate what you are thinking about in Japanese into English.
Let’s train your output power in a talk.

Here is the process.
1. Make groups with 3 or 4 members in each group.
2. Each group has 20 topics listed on a sheet of paper.
3. The first speaker chooses one topic from the list and speaks anything about it for one minute.
Then the second person speaks about the same topic.
Next, the third person follows.
4. After all members finish speaking about the first topic, the second person picks a new topic
and starts the second round until all members finish speaking.
5. The third person continues the same process.

Do not think the matter seriously but speak promptly anything you think of.
Please keep talking as much as you can for a minute.

I expect you will be good kind of tired on your brain after this practice.

Thanks,

2013年11月07日

2013-11-16 プラクティス予告

Dear
Kyoto NHK-ESS member,

This
is the announcement of the practice on November 16th.
Genre:
talk
Title: Happening while traveling,
Description:
1. Make 5-6 groups.
2. Please share the happening story
of your journey. A happy accident, lucky accident, anything is OK.
3. You can discuss the possible
solution(s) for the accident, if any.
4. Each representative announces the
summary of the group talk at the end.

Enjoy!

Nastuko
Morino

2013-11-09 プラクティス予告

Dear all,

I'm sorry I'm late in announcing the next practice theme.
This is my first time so I couldn't decide it until now...

++++++
Date: 9 Oct. 2013
Genre: Discussion
Title: The best place to be (re)born

Description:
A birthplace determines too many things in our lives but nobody can choose it.
If we couldn't be born in countries like Japan, it might be difficult to access foods, jobs and information.
However, I believe you don't think anywhere is good to be born in Japan; some people like big cities and others prefer countryside.
And there are disparities (格差) and discriminations (差別) , even in Japan.

Please exchange opinions for following two questions in a group,

- Where do you want to be reborn?
- Where is the best birthplace for your children?

You can choose any places in the universe as long as you have clear reasons.

In the last 10 minutes, I'd like representatives to share COMMON ideas in a group and some interesting points in a discussion.

++++++

I hope you will enjoy it ;)

Best regards,
---
Atsuo Inoue

2013年10月18日

2013-10-26 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members

This is the announcement of the practice on October 26th.

Date:October26th, 2013
Genre:Talk
Title:Cooking&Foods
Description:
1. Make 5~6 groups.
2. Exchange your opinions in your group on each question below.
  3. Presentation time


(Q1) Do you cook regularly? And how often do you cook?
    Are you good at cooking?
    What dish do you cook best?
Please introduce the recipe for your specialty.

(Q2) What do you like to eat? And what’s your favorite food?
     And what’s the food which you don’t like? And why?

(Q3)Is there anything that you keep in mind when you go shopping to the
supermarket?
   Ex. Choose goods at bargain prices
Research fliers before go shopping
Choose domestic products

(Q4)Do you do care about food additive(food coloring, food preservative
etc.)?
What do you think of genetically modified crops?

(Q5)You can discuss any topic on Cooking&foods.

see you!!
Motoko TABATA

2013年10月17日

2013-10-19 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members

This is the announcement of the practice on October 19th.

Date:October 19th, 2013
Genre:Game
Title:NG Word Game

Description:
This is a game between two people or groups.
Both sides recieve a card which their NG words are written on.
They cannot know their own NG words.
Then, they start conversation freely.
If one side says one of its own NG words, the side loses and the other side wins.

See you in the next week!
Hiroshi Fukumoto

2013年10月10日

2013-10-12 プラクティス予告

This is an announcement for the practice on Octo.12

1.Genre: Presentation/drawing a picture

2. Topic : Let's drawing a room of dream

Please drawing and decorate your dream room freely
If you like a big animal or monster place it in the room
Then present the drawing of your ideal room!

Procedure:

1.Make 5 or 6 people groups.

2.Please draw a room packed with what you like in the paper that was distributed. You have 10-minutes to draw.

3. Show your drawing room and tell about it in your group one by one.

4 Choose the person who painted the best room in the group
Please select a representative.
.
5. The Chosen representative announces the room at the end.

I hope you all enjoy this practice.

sae morishima

2013年09月27日

2013-10-05 プラクティス予告

Hello! NHK ESS members,

This is an announcement for the practice on Oct. 5.

1. Genre: Discussion

2. Topic: Topics will be announced at the temple.

Description
1. Please make 6 groups as usual.
2. I will prepare three questions for you to discuss.
The questions will be disclosed one by one in about every 20 minutes so that you can focus on one question at a time.
The questions will be difficult, easy and moderate one respectively.
For each question, discuss it and try to draw a conclusion in your group.
3. When you finished the third question, choose someone in your group for a presentation.
4. The presenter will present the conclusion or anything you have discussed in the group.

I hope you will enjoy the practice.

G.Kitaura

2013年09月26日

2013-09-28 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members
The information of the practice on Semptember 28th
Genre Free Talk
Title The Olympic Games
Description Make some groups 4…5members

Please discuss about memory of The Olympic Games
Do you remember ?
1964 October 10…24th Tokyo / Miyake(Weightlifting)Tuburaya(Marathon Race)Nakaya(Judo)Kasai…(Volleyball)Endo…(Gy mnastics 体操)
1972 February 2…13th Sapporo / Kasaya,Kanaya(Ski Jump 70m)Jannet Lynn(Figure Skating)
1998 February 7…22th Nagano / Satoya(FreeStyle)Shimizu(Speed Skate)Nisitani(Short Trac Funaki(Ski Jump)

1968 Mexico 1972 Munich 1976Montreal 1980 Moscow 1984 Los Angeles 1988 Seoul 1992 Barcelona 1996 Atlanta 2000 Sydney 2004 Athena 2008 Beijing 2012 London……

2012 July 25th…August 12th London / Uchimura(Gy mnastics)Murata(Boxing The Midleweight Division)Yonemitu(Wrestling 66kg Division)Yoshida(Wrestling 55kg Division)Kitajima…(Swimming Race100×4 Medley)Sawa…(Football) Bolt(100mRace) Fukuhara(Table Tennis)Ohta(Fencing)Murofusi(The Hammer Throw) ……etc.


Let's talk about memory and enjoy it. Thank you.


Masako Mori

2013年09月18日

2013-09-21 プラクティス予告

Dear,Kyoto NHK ESS members

This is the announcement of the practice on September 21th.

Genre : Card Game
Title : 1.My grandmother went to market
2.Who am I?

Description

Members use 5 category's card(animal,fish,fruit,vegitable,etc)
for these 2games.

My grandmother went to market 19:00-19:30
1.Make 5 or 6 people groups.
2.Put card on the table
3.1st player pick the top card,and if the card is 'Apple',
the player says
'My grandmother went to market and she bought apple.'
4.2nd player pick the next card,and if the card is 'Grape',
the player says
'My grandmother went to market and she bought apple and grape.'
5.If the player forgets the word or mistakes the turn,the person is disqualified
goes out from a game.
6.The winner gets 1point per 1game.
7.Final winner is the person who takes most points.

Who am I? 19:30 - 20:00
1.Make 5 or 6 people groups.
2.Assign 1 member as timekeeper
3.Put card on the table
4.1st player pick the top card without checking and held up it to the head.
and try to confirm through the questions to the other members.
5.Other members can answer only ' Yes' or 'No'.
6..Time limit is 3minutes.
(example)
Card is 'monkey'...
- Am I alive?
- Am I human?
- Am I living in sea?
7.The player is winner if confirm within the time limit,and get 1point.
8.Final winner is the person who takes most points.

I wish all of you enjoy.


T.Kawakami

2013年09月12日

2013-09-14 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members

This is the announcement of the practice on September 14th.

Genre:group talk
Topic:your recommendations in your hometown.


As for the coming season,it is good for sightseeing. Do you have a
favorite place to sight in your town? When your friends come from
other countries or prefectures, what do you recommend to them? Please
tell us about good places and good things in your hometown.

examples of subject are below.
1)where do you want them to visit for sightseeing?
2)what do you want them to eat or drink?
3)which crafts or products do you recommend for souvenir?
4)which event do you enjoy?
5)what kind of trial experience do you want to do?

I hope you enjoy it!

Kaori Tsujii

2013年08月31日

2013-09-07 プラクティス予告

Good evening, everyone!

This is an announcement of the practice on Sep, 7.

1. Genre : Debate

2. Topic : "Japan is comfortable place to live for foreign people or not ?"

Description;

17:30 - 18:00

1. Make 5 or 6 people groups.
2. Each group is more divided into two groups, pro and con camps.
3. Exchange your views and opinions on this topic with the menbers of each pro and con group
for about 10 minutes.
4. Debate the pros and cons of the topic for 15 minutes.

18:00 - 18:20

Express your conclusion in each group at the end of the practice.

I'm pleased that you will enjoy this practice.
Thank you!

Best wishes,

Kuniko Furukawa

2013年08月28日

2013-08-31 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto ESS members,

This is the announcement about the practice on 31st August.

1 Genre: Discussion
2 Title : Mt. Fuji
3 Description:
Divide into several groups and discuss some question about Mt. Fuji.
If you have some good impressions about Mt. Fuji, please share your opinions in your groups during the discussion.
I would like you to give your short presentation in each groups in the end of the practice.

See you on Saturday.

Best wishes,

Itsuko Hori

2013年08月07日

2013-08-17 プラクティス予告

Dear ESS members.
Hi! I'm Enokki!
This is an announcement of practice on the 17th of August .

① Genre
Game.

② Title
Find the different point of picture.

③ Description
1. Make some groups,and make 2 team in group.
2. Each other team get the picture that has some different points.
Each member don't show the picture to another team.
3. Team member ask about picture to another team,and another team answer.
This action take several times by turn. And find the different point of picture.
4. When you finish that found the all different points, discuss how we find different point more quickly,
how we play this game more enjoy or anything else...
5. Group member hands up to me. I pass the new question.

I hope you enjoy this practice :-)

Best regards
Yuki ENOKIZONO.

2013年08月01日

2013-08-10 プラクティス予告

This is the announcement of Practice on the 10th of August.

Genre: Mindset
Title: Old habits“dye”hard.

I assume there have been some habits which you recognize as good or bad.
You must have gotten some of them to make practice perfect or vanish, and
others in vain.
In this Practice, I would like you to review your trial-and-error
experiences that led you to conquer yourself, handling ones.
And I wish you wrote down the ones you want to keep or banish.

1. Make some groups.
2. Write down your current and old habits.
3. Talk about how they are created, and maintained or banished.
4. And discuss your ideal ones you are tackling unless you hesitate to.
5. In the last fifteen minutes, one member of each group is recommended to
show us your own struggling story, which is concerning ones for what you
are now as honestly and accurately as possible.

Viewpoints, such as below.---which may help you think.
How well you are developed, or how well your excuses are developed.
Others’ habits that encourage or discourage you.
Do you find the food for thought from others’ experiences?

Do relax to think about your habits, but I do not mean to say “have it
your own way.” (i.e. at the risk of belabouring the obvious, I suggest
that you listen warmheartedly.)

Best regards,
Yamaguchi Takeshi

2013-08-03 プラクティス予告

Hi! I'd like to inform you of the topic for the practice on 3rd Aug here.

Genre; Discussion
Theme; about “herbivorous boys ”(草食系男子 in Japanese)
Questions;
Q1. Have you met or dated this type of boy?
Q2. Do you personally prefer herbivorous or carnivorous 肉食系 boys (girls)?
Q3. Do you think this phenomenon is really happening? / If yes, Why?
Q4. Social impact of growing number of herbivorous boys (negative/positive, solutions)
Q5. (If time allows….) Please discuss about another related buzz words; such as ” carnivorous woman” or “Bento danshi” (the boys who pack a lunch to save money),or Ryori danshi" etc…

Procedure;
1. 17:30~divided into some groups
2. 17:40~discuss about Q1 to Q5 (about 10min per Question)
3. 18:20~each group selects a presenter & announces the summary to all.

The end of last year, I had a chance to chat with a guy in his 20’s and learned he and his friends never had a big obsession to spend with girl friend on Christmas eve, and some of them have a home party with friends instead.
I thought that's decent & reasonable compared to the older "Bubble" generation spent more flamboyant Christmas time manipulated by media, though the word “herbivore boys” is often link to negative aspect like a declining birthrate or etc…
So the buzz word "herbivore boys”seems to have pros and cons which is a key to speak as much English in the heated discussion as possible.
That’s the reason I chose this topic.

These English article& video are for your reference to pick up some words and phrases
http://carnalnation.com/content/13442/4/herbivorous-boys-latest-japanese-metrosexuality

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DztZNZgv2L0
and to share the basic information in Japanese   
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/%E8%8D%89%E9%A3%9F%E7%B3%BB

Please check out at least the difinition of "Sousyokukei Danshi" in Japanese beforehand, because it's so hard to start off any discussion without it.

Your lively discussion would be appreciated.
Best Wishes,

Miyazawa

2013年07月24日

2013-07-27 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto ESS members.

This is an announcement of the practice on July 27th.

Genre:Talk
Title:The memories of summer vacation

Let's talk our memories of summer vacation!

Description
1,Make some groups.
2,Please talk about your memories of summer vacation.

(1)What was the most enjoy memory for you?
(2)What was the most impressive memory for you?
(3)What was the worst memory for you?

For example,the beach,pool,grandparents house,camping,trip,the homework,firework,etc...anything is ok!

I hope you enjoy my practice.Thank you.

Risa takayama.

2013年07月17日

2013-07-20 プラクティス予告

Dear ESS members;

This is the announcement of the practice on July 20th
Gene; Discussion
Title; Election for the House of Councilors 2013 Special

Description:
The next day of this practice(July 21th) is the Voting day of the Election for the House of Councilors (参議院選).
In this practice I'd like you to discuss the election issues freely.

Parts of the subjects for the discussion are as below;

Do you support the policies of Democratic Party of Japan and other parties?
Which issues are you interested in most?

Economics (Abenomics)
Re-operation of the nuclear power plants &energy issues
Revision of the constitution
Diplomacy&national security
TPP
Others

I am preparing a large amount of information about the commitments of each party
and English translations of important words for your help .

Hoping everyone enjoy it !

Akihiro Tabata

2013年07月10日

2013-07-13 プラクティス予告

Dear ESS members,

This is the announcement about the practice on 13th July.

Genre: Talk & discussion
Title: Let's translate the salaried workers' Senryuu into English !

1. Divide yourselves into several groups as usual.
2. Translate the latest top 10 titles of salaried workers' Senryuu into English by yourselves, first.(for 30 min),
which were published by Daiichi mutual life insurance Co.
3. Discuss about your works to make each of them better in your group, and chose only the best work for the presentation.
4. Repeat the operation above from the 2nd to the 10th title.(for 20 min) 5. Make presentation of the best works in your group..(for 10 min)

The latest top 10 titles are bellow.

1いい夫婦 今じゃどうでも いい夫婦
2電話口 「何様ですか?」と 聞く新人
3「辞めてやる!」 会社にいいね!と 返される
4風呂にいた ムカデ叩けば ツケマツゲ
5ダルビッシュ 一球だけで 我が月給
6スッピンで プールに入り 子が迷子
7人生に カーナビあれば 楽なのに
8すぐキレる 妻よ見習え LED
9ワイルドな 妻を持つ俺 女々しくて
10何かをね 忘れたことは 覚えてる

There are several examples which were already translated into English, which are called Senglish now.
I'll show you them bellow.

君がやれ 俺が 報告しとくから
You finish this work
I'll be too busy making
Our progress report

地球より 家庭に欲しい 温暖化
Rather than the globe
My family could use some
Overall warming

プロポーズ あの日にかえって ことわりたい
My proposal day
I'd seek a cancellation
If I could go back

『ゴハンよ』と 呼ばれていけば タマだった
"O.K., I'm coming."
I answer the dinner call
But it's for Tabby

It seems to me there are some tips to translate them better.
I'll tell you them at the beginning of the session.
I hope you enjoy the translation & discussion.

Kisei Masayama

2013年06月28日

2013-07-06 プラクティス予告

Dear ESS members
This is the announcement for the practice on July 6th.
Genre: Speech
Title: How to make a good speech in English
Discription:
The speech contest will be done maybe in this Autum Camp.
For some preparation, I try to promote
some speech practice this time.

Even though I searched many about the theme how to make a good speech,
I could not find best key points for it. But, I think those points are important for us
to deliver good speech.


1 Choose atractive topic which can get the attention of the audience. 
2 Inform clealy with four category of ( introduction, development, climax, coclusion)
3 Main points should be within 2.
4 Consider using a touch of humor in your speech or put your own story somewhere in the presentation.


1 Be energetic in delivery with big voice in good posture.
2 Use eye contact with some gesture
3 Please be aware of intonation and speed. If you want to deliver strongly, you tell the portion loudly or slowly or repeat it. Or you can use some picture or sample.
4 Don't use Japanse(e-to,nandakke-,etc). Don't read memo.

So, with reference of those points, please make your own speech
before you attend this day's practice(6July) as much as possible.

Title is free. Duration time is approximately 2 min.

Steps:
17:40 -17:45 Make groups of 5 ~7 people.
17:45 -17:55 1 Check your prepared speech again or
2 Make your own speech soon
(For those who did not prepare the speech)

17:55-18:20 In your group, practice your speech one by one.

And select representative speech in your group.
             
18:20-18:40 Demonstration of representative speech 2min*6(=12)<20min.
Hope all of you may enjoy this practice.

Regards Kazumasa Yasuda

2013年06月25日

2013-06-29 プラクティス予告

Dear ESS members,

This is the announcement about the practice on 29th June.

Genere: Talk
Title: Let's translate Hailk into English !

Do you know "The old mere! A frog jumping in The sound of water" or "The ancient pond A frog leaps in The sound of the water." ?
Both of them are one of famous Haiku written by Matsuo Basho. First one was translated by Masaoka Shiki. The other one was by Donald Keene.

Please translate Haiku created by great writers !
I hope to see great works.

P.S. Please bring a 筆ペン if you have.

Fuji Masako

2013年06月19日

2013-06-22 プラクティス予告

Dear ESS members

This is an announcement for the practice on June 22nd.
Genre: Discussion
Title: The memories of your part-time job

We will discuss our part-time job experience.
Through some of job, we could make a lot of friends,and you could also find a life partner in the workplace. Maybe some people had a precious experience which affected your way of living.
I will give you several subjects for discussion:

(1) What was the most impressive part -time job for you?
(2) What was the most surprising happening in your job?
(3) what was the most profitable experience in your job?
(4) What was the worst experience in your job?

Let's talk about your memories and enjoy it.

Best regards Keiko Onoe

2013年06月11日

2013-06-15 プラクティス予告

Hello, there, ladies and gentlemen,

This is an announcement for the practice on July 15th.

Genre: Discussion (Group work)
Title: The Cruiser Story

Steps:
1. Make groups of 5 ~ 7 people.
2. Read the story you are given and rank the characters from 1 (best) to 5 (worst).
3. In your group, create a ranking that best represents the opinions of all the members of your group.
As you do so, discuss your reasons for giving a particular person a high or a low ranking.
4. Present your group's rank and some points of deciding it before all.

I hope you all enjoy it,

Cheers !

Motomi

2013年06月02日

2013-06-08 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto ESS members
This is the announcement about the practice on June 8.

(1) Genre : Talk
(2) Title : The average middle-aged Japanese men and women

Can you guess? Who is he?
*1. He works about forty hours a week!
*2. He does about thirty minutes of exercise a week.
*3. He has about eight good friends.
*4. He thinks he is a good driver!
*5. He weighs about eighty-two kg!
*6. He has one point eight children.
*7. He can cook about four kinds of meal.
*8. He owns about three TVs.
*9. He is married.
*10. He has twenty-two pairs of socks.
The answer is → He is the average middle-aged UK men.
Let’s image the average middle-aged (age from 40 to 59 age) Japanese men and women like these. (*1~*10)
And talk about them.

(3) Description
1. Make some groups. (17:35~17:45)
2. All of members think about the topic.
3. And write down ten ideas (for example, office hours, holiday, appearance, hobby, belongings and so on) of the average middle-aged Japanese men and women on the A4 sheet. (17:45~18:05)
4. Talk about them and choose the best ten ideas in your group.
After that, write them down on a large sheet. (18:05~18:30)
5. Each group gives a brief presentation. (18:30~18:40)


I hope you’ll enjoy this practice.
Thank you.

2013年05月22日

2013-06-01 プラクティス予告

Dear ESS members;

This is the announcement of the practice on June 1st
Gene; Discussion
Title; A turning point

I would like to discuss about 'a turning point' in our life.
Our life is often affected by a small thing, for example by usual talk with friends,
suggestion from parents or teachers, an impressive word you found in a book, etc.

I set several subjects for the discussion as below;

(1) What was the most impressive book, song, or TV program in your life. How did it change your mind?
(2) Who was the most influential person (including historical person) on your life?
(3) What was the most significant event in your life, enabling you to see things in a way you hadn't ?

Hoping everyone enjoy it !

Best wishes,

Munenori Numata

2013-05-25 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

This is an announcement of the practice on May 25th.

Genre: Talk
Title: Communication among neighbors

Everyone has neighbors, and where there are neighbors, there can be problems.
Do you have some memories of your neighborhood?
Share your stories in your groups.
I hope you can enjoy it.

Shiho Nakashima

2013年05月10日

2013-05-18 プラクティス予告

Dear kyoto ESS members.

This is the announcement about the practice on May 18.

1.Date:5/18(sat)
2.Genre:Game
3.Title:Become a funny illustrator and reporter!
4.Description

We are going to do a game. The game title is "mysterious animal TV".

We'll become an illustrator, draw illustrations of a mysterious funny animal character!Then, we 'll become an reporter, we report the animal which we've draw. The game process is as follows.

1.)Make a group consist of 4-7 members.
2.)one of the members pick a card of "illust theme"."illust theme" card is written the information of mysterious animal. Ex. Building monster
3.)Then all the members draw illustrations of the animal according to the theme by using blank sheet.Enjoy using your imagination!
4.)All the member finish to draw the animal, then turn the sheet back and someone collect the sheet.Then shuffle the sheets and hand out each of the members.
5.)one of the members pick a card of "report theme"."report theme" card is written the information of how to report the mysterious animal. Ex.Suddenly shown up in large quantities!
6.)Then in turn, the group member report the animal according to the "report theme"(alloted time: 40 second per person).Enjoy reporting the animal funnily and amusingly!
7.)Lastly, we vote the best iilustrator and reporter!No.1 illustrator and reporter get 2 point.No.2 illustrator and reporter get 1 point.
8.)Enjoy playing this game as much as time allows. Then time is over, someone who get the most point is the winner!

Imagination and playful mind is important. Have fun!

2013年05月04日

2013-05-11 プラクティス予告

This is the announcement about the practice on May 11th.
Genre: Discussion
Title:  My own rule

We talk about our own rules.
For example; When you get up, what do you do at first?  Who takes bath at first in your family?  Do you leave the toilet seat up or down? And why?

Discription:
1. Make some groups.
2. Talk about one`s own rules one by one in each group. Please don`t forget explaining the reasons.
3. Choose and announce the most interesting rule in each group. (18:20-18:40)

Megumi Iwai

2013年04月28日

2013-05-04 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

This is the announcement of the practice on May 4.

(1)Genre: Talk

(2)Title: The most impressive, shocking, happy, sad or important thing for you
recently. Your trip, news, accident, event, movie or book - anything is
OK!!

(3)Description
Step 0: Make some groups.

Step 1: Decide a time keeper and divide the time for each member in the group.
The time is variable depending on the number of the members in the group.

Step 2: Each group decides the speaker. The speaker talks about one`s topic in
two or three minutes. After that, other members ask the speaker some
questions, and the speaker answers for them. Every member must be the
speaker one by one. We enjoy group discussion!!

 Step 3: In the last ten minutes, all attendance announces just the title of one`s
topic.

Thanks,
Hisako Fukuda

2013年04月23日

2013-4-27 プラクティス予告

This is the announcement about the practice on April 27.

Dear KYOTO ESS members.
Genre: Quiz
Title : [ Guess who I am ]

we are going to do simple quiz. (I wonder somebody has done this game before but this must be good practice.)
Bring an English-English dictionary if you have one of those.

How to play the game
step1 : make a group consists of 4 or 5 members.
step2 : Choose one player(a person who prepares questions). The player decides an answer(Who you are or what you are).EX: animal , stationery , fruit whatever. It is not necessary to be human’s name. The answer must be unknown to the others.
step3 : The others ask questions one by one to the player. (Do not ask a name which the player is pretending to be!)
step4 : Everyone asked a question then, check your answer. If nobody hit the correct answer, return to step3.(The player can give a small hint then. Such as, “I’m a kind of animal.” “I live in the ocean.”)

Take turns to play the player.

(EX)
Person A “How large are you? Player “You can hold me in your hands”
Person B “What color are you?” Player “My skin is generally red, but some of us are green. Inside of me is white.”
Person C “Are you cubic?” Player “No, I’m spherical.”
Person D “Can I eat you?” Player “yes you can. So, who do you think I am?”
Person A “Are you an APPLE?” Player “yes I am!”

This is very basic training. Let’s give it the shot!!

K.Imada

2013年04月17日

2013-4-20 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS member

This is the announcement about the practice on April20.

Genre:Groupwork

Title: Poster message

Description:
 There are many posters in Japanese and you always watch in commuting, shopping,
and many situations. 

 They have strong message which is few words.
 So, in this practice, we consider about posters message.

M.Takai

2013年04月05日

2013-4-13 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS member

This is the announcement about the practice on April13.

Genre:Discussion

Title: Love

We discuss about love; ``What is love? Do you believe love makes us change the world?``

Description:

1.Make some groups.

2.We discuss about love in the group based on below questions.(17:40-18:20)

(1)We have many kinds of love; love for men and women, love for family and love

for friends, and love for mankind. When do you feel `love` in your daily life?

Please talk about love based on your experience.

(2) We enjoy love from your surrounding; family, friends and so on in the daily

life. On the other hand, lots of people suffer from poverty, discrimination

and abuse in the wprld. Many people die in the poverty, sacrificed one`s life

for the war and commit suicide. Is it possible to save those people by the power

of love? Conversely, it is just ideal, it is impossible for us to save them.

What do you think of it?

(3) Religion is rooted deeply in our society. Love is the important creed for each

religion. One of the important doctrine for Buddhism is forgiveness and mercy.

Shinran(親鸞)taught even if you are evil, belief in Buddha leads you to

salvation. The center creed of Christianity is love to neighborhood. This is

unconditional love. Even though you give love to others, you would not expect

giving back it. If we act based on religious belief, we would achieve no

war, no hatred, no crime and no discrimination. But, we have not accomplished

yet so far. Do think our deed being loyal to the religious belief can solve

those problems?

3. We discuss about love as a whole. (18:20-18:40)

Especially, we discuss upper two propositions; The first one is `is it possible

for us to save people in the all over the world by the power of love?` The another

one is ` Does being loyal to the creed of religion lead people to salvation from poverty

and suffering in the world?`

Seiichiro Iwai

2013年03月29日

2013-04-06 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto NHK-ESS member
This is the information about the practice on April 6.

(1) Genre: Discussion

(2) Title: Interview with historical persons

(3) Description:

This practice is how to ask your original questions, unique questions and funny request for historical persons. I guess you studied history and you are interested in history. You know a lot of historical persons. Do you want to meet them? Who would you like to meet if you could meet them? Would you like to ask any questions? Would you like to request them to make their performance?

[Step. 0]

Please make some groups.

[Step. 1]

Who is your favorite historical person? Please introduce your favorite historical person. A historical person is defined as a real dead person. Other member can ask any questions about this introduction.

**************************************************************************************************

Ex.

I introduce 西本幸雄.

He was a manager of professional baseball teams,毎日,阪急 and 近鉄. He won pennant race 8 times in Pacific League. Bu he has never won in Japanese series. Therefore he was sometimes called a tragedy general. But I don’t think so. His accomplishment was so great. He took over a weak team and trained players and made the strong teams. And he developed famous player, for example 山田, one of the best underhand pitchers, 福本, stolen base champion in Japan. And he made an impressive match scene, for example 近鉄 vs 広島, which is well known as 江夏の21球. ・・・・・

Q. I knew that his performance as manager was so great.

How was his performance as a player?

・・・・・・・ **************************************************************************************************

[Step. 2]

If you could meet a historical person and ask a question, who would you like to ask? What question would you like to ask? What answer would you expect? If the others of your group can imagine an answer, please discuss the answer. At first please introduce your choosing person briefly

**************************************************************************************************

Ex.

I would like to meet Isaac Newton.

He was a scientist, born in UK. Almost all know him. His accomplishment was so great, for example he discovered the law of gravitation and made classical mechanics, ・・・

My question is following.

“ I heard that you had discovered gravity and the law of gravitation by watching a falling apple. Didn’t you discover gravity by watching cherry blossoms falling in the wind? Why not? ”

I imagine his answer as following.

” Falling cherry blossoms is so beautiful. I forget everything during watching the scene. But I have few chances to watch them because there are not so many cherry blossoms in UK compared to Japan. If I had watched them many times, I might have gotten interested in drag, lift, turbulence, viscosity about air. And I might have made the more accomplishment to be related to fluid dynamics.・・・“

**************************************************************************************************

[Step. 3]

If you could meet a historical person and request them to make their performance, who would you like to meet? What performance would you like to request? What performance would you expect? If the others of your group can imagine a performance, please discuss the performance. At first please introduce your choosing person briefly.

**************************************************************************************************

Ex.

I would like to meet 坂本竜馬.

Almost all Japanese know him. He was born in土佐. He established 海援隊 which was a trading company and a political organization. He contributed to the return of political power to the Emperor by the Tokugawa shogunate. But he was assassinated at 31 years old. He couldn’t see Meiji Restoration. ・・・

My request is following.

“I would like to request you to implement an energy policy in present Japan.”

I imagine his performance as following.

“I will stop nuclear power plant in 5 years. I encourage nuclear engineering how to treat with nuclear waste and how to decommission reactors. I insist that there are a lot of natural phenomenon in Japan. And Japan has been making progress in technology. I emphasize development of alternative energy by using natural phenomenon, such as wind power, tide power, solar power, geothermal power and so on. I keep our beautiful country・・・”
**************************************************************************************************


Sakai Hirokazu

2013年03月23日

2013-3-30 プラクティス予告

Date: March 30, 2013.

Genre: Talk, Discussion and Presentation.

Title: Let’s discuss our ESS for reviewing this year's activities and proposing ideas and personal opinions for the next year. Preparation in advance is recommended.

Procedure:

(1) Make 4 - 5 groups.

(2) <17:40-18:20> Discuss our ESS on such topics as:

1. How many people, you think, can be accepted at a time in the temple?

2. What do you think about the present informing system in the ESS?

3. What is your impression on the member’s etiquette and cooperation in the temple?

4. Are you content with the present textbooks and the class scale?

5. Do you think the present ESS policy is acceptable of encouraging members speak English as much as possible during the class hour?

6. Do you have any new idea of unprecedented types of practice?

7. any others.

(3) <18:20-30>

Summarize the reviews and proposals in each group.

Write the summary in a reporting form and submit it. It will be of great help for the new ESS staffs.

(4) <18:30-40>

Select two opinion(s) or/and proposal(s) and give a speech to all.

(coordinator: Oku, Akira)

2013年03月16日

2013-3-23 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto ESS members,
This is the information of the practice on March 23, 2013.

Genre: “ Talk ”

Title: “ Impressive phrase ”

Do you have an impressive phrase that have been said to someone recently?
I've been said to someone.

“ Make a lot of failure.
Make a lot of shame.
It is important to challenge without fear.”

I was glad to hear that.

So please tell members about your impressive phrase.
I hope you enjoy my practice!!


☆ Keiko Nakata ☆

2013年03月08日

2013-3-16 プラクティス予告

Dear ESS members,

Genre: Discussion
Title : Stress Management

Description:
1. Make 5~6 groups.
2. First every member do a simple self stress check and share your result
with your group members.
Then we'll have a talk about your own way of stress coping in your group.



(Q1) Do you feel stress in your daily life?
and what kind of stress is it?
(Q2) How do you manage your stress?
and what do you do for a change?
(sport? drinkig with close friends? singing karaoke? shoping? eating?
travel?)
(Q3) How do you d spend your leisure time?
(Q4) You can discuss any topcic on stress,leisure, relax and self care.

I hope you enjoy my practice.

M.Tabata

2013年03月04日

2013-3-09 プラクティス予告

Genre Talk
Title : Complete the sayings

Description

Do you know the TV program [世界は言葉でできている] ?
It is a kind of game.
I chose some sayings of one great person.
But there are some blanks.
You try to fill in the those blanks.
Please make your original sayings !

Example :

Hunger is the best [ ].
(Hunger is the best spice. by Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra)

example answer : sauce, agony, feeling, etc.

1. Make some groups.
2. Fill in the blanks by your self.
3. Present your answers and discuss them in each groups.
4. Each group present the best saying .

I hope you enjoy the practice .

Akiko Matsui

2013年02月25日

2013-3-02 プラクティス予告

Date: March 2, 2013
Genre : Talk
Title : Heisei
Presenter : Y.Sugihara
Description:

Heisei goes into the 25th year, stretching a quarter of a century. Now Heisei has such a long history that you may not remember - may not be born - when Showa closed and Heisei began.

In Heisei,
the bubble economy peaked in its 1st year, just to burst soon. Restructuring (ri-su-to-ra) has become a daily life. A hard time for job seekers, employment "ice age", continues. The Internet and mobile phone practically debuted, resulting in Galapagos Japan. Two killer earthquakes struck Kobe and Tohoku. And yet. The minimalist mindset of Zen may have inspired Steve Jobs to design iPhone. "Mottainai" spirit has been promoted by a Nobel Peace Prize Winner. Sushi goes truly global. Amid these pains and gains, Kyoto NHK ESS turned 50.

In practice, you are encouraged to talk your Heisei, which events or phenomenon in Heisei impress you, what you like about Heisei society, at which places you feel Heisei in Kansai, and so on.

Procedure is as usual, participants divided into small groups to talk, finishing off with each group's presentation to other groups.

Salud!

2013年02月15日

2013-2-23 プラクティス予告

Hello, everyone.

I hope this text message finds you well.

Here is the announcement of the Feb. 23. activity.

Genre and Title-Debate

Description-

The topics are secret.

You don't have to make any preparations for them.


It's still freezing in the middle of February .

Don't worry.

We're going to have ‘heated’ debates.

Thank you.

T.Noguchi

2013年02月06日

2013-02-16 プラクティス予告

Dear ESS members

It is my pleasure to have this opportunity with you. In the session we will enjoy Haiku in English. At first I will explain basic rules or concept of Haiku and show you some example of Haiku. But take it easy, because our session is not formal one, and just enjoy it. If possible please think about some moment/situation which you want to express in Haiku in advance.

Schedule and procedure

17:30-18:20
1. Make 5-6 groups
2. Members in each groups create Haiku in English and present it within the group
3. At the presentation of Haiku in English, please explain about some background information, your feeling, your memory and so on.
4. Have conversation on these topics. And repeat this one by one in each groups.

18:20-18:30
5. Please chose best Haiku in your group.
6. Representative person present your Haiku and some background information to attendants.

See you soon!

H.Ishizaki

2013年02月03日

2013-02-09 プラクティス予告

To ESS members
It's my pleasure to inform you of the theme for the meeting on 9th of Feb, as follows,

Genre: Discussion & short speech presentation
Theme; Sports
Point to discuss;
Q1. What is the most impressive sports scene you’ve ever seen?(speech style 1-3min per each)
Q2. Who/ What is your favorite athlete/sports?
Q3. Can sports encourage the national vitality? (if yes, how?)
Q4. Should Japan spend more tax money to achieve better results on the sports field?
Q5. Are you for or against the hosting 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games?
(if time allows….)
Q6. Do you think the way media cover sports is fair and well-balanced?
(NOTICE !) If you can, please prepare your speech note only about Q1 beforehand.

Procedure;
1. divided into some groups
2. every member is required to give a speech about Q1 in about 1 to 3 minutes.
(and each group is supposed to vote the best presenter to announce to all in the last part of practice.)
3. discuss about Q2 to Q5 (Q6)
4. presentation by selected one in front of all.

Thanks for your cooperation in advance.
Best wishes, K.Miyazawa 

2013年01月27日

2013-02-02 プラクティス予告

Hi All,
This is an announcement of the practice on Feb 2.

1. Genre : Translation(Japanese to English) and Free talk
2. Title : Future problems about our aged society
3. Description :

Divide members to 6 groups
Each group willl try to translate 9 Japanese sentences to English (15min)
After that each group will discuss those of our future problems .

1.65歳以上の高齢者が3千万人を突破した。
  Aged over 65 exceed more than ...
2 . 全国平均が45.1%なのに東京圏は77%である。(高齢化率が)
  The average ratio of Japan is 45.1 while Tokyo’s 77%
3. 高齢化率4割程度の自治体がずらりと並ぶ。
  There are many local governments..... population of aged people
4.都心から遠く離れてマイホームを求めたのである。
  Far from the Tokyo metropolitan area ..... their own homes
5. 団塊ジュニア以後の世代は、親の時代とは違って 未婚 晩婚が進んだ。
  The generations after Dankai Jr. period ..... the unmarried or late married
6. 大三次ベビーブームは起こらなかった。
  The third baby booming .......
7. ますます若い世代にとって魅力のない街となる悪循環だ
  The youth ..... fades out her appeals ...... vicious spiral
8. 修繕もできず、老朽化した住宅に住み続けざるを得ないといった高齢者も増えるだろう
  Without renewal...... have to settle down the old residents
9. やがて東京郊外にゴーストタウンが出現するであろう。
  On the next stage ...... the outskirts of Tokyo would appear

T. Kuchinaka

2013年01月21日

2013-01-26 プラクティス予告

Hi All,

This is an announcement for the practice of Jan 25.

Genre: Role playing
Title: Your recommendation

Purpose of this practice is to speak a lot of English in virtual daily conversation.

Suppose you have a lunch with a person from abroad who has started to live in Japan, and he/she asks your recommendation about something(food, sightseeing spot, etc.).
It's a good chance to speak English!

Description:

1. Make 3 or 4 people groups.
2. Choose one person who plays a role of a person from abroad.
3. Choose a topic of recommendation(I distribute a sheet with examples
beforehand)
4. Start conversation with a question by the "foreign person" about recommendation.
5. After 5-10 minutes of conversation, choose different person as a "foreign person" and go back to 3.

If you are "foreign person", please pretend to know very little about Japan and ask many things.

I would like you to enjoy this practice.

Best wishes,

Kazuyuki Sugimura

2013年01月09日

2013-01-19 プラクティス予告

The information of the practice on January 19, 2013

Genre;
“Free Talk”
Title;
“Let’s develop your potential!!”.
Procedure,
1. All the members are divided into several groups.
2. Every member is required to draw some unique and funny invention. (20min.)
3. Each group is supposed to choose the best work of all the inventions in the group. (20min.)
4. Someone in the group will draw neatly in the thick paper.
5. Another should explain about that work.

M. Yamamoto

2012年12月27日

2013-01-05 プラクティス予告

Hello! beloved Kyoto-ESS members,

I hope that you will enjoy not only new-year holidays but also the first practice in 2013.
I cannot serve real dinner, however, I would like to present the rich feeling of great restraint aboard.

Genre;
role-playing game regarding communications between a waiter and guests in restaurant abroad.

The title;
”Welcome to Chinese restaurant in San Francisco”.

The game proceeded is the following,

1. After dividing all members into six sub-groups, I will give you a certain Chinese restaurant’s menu. Please look at the menu. If you have unknown words, do not hesitate to look at a dictionary.

2. Please decide your favorite dishes.
NOTE; you should choose AT LEAST one dish form each category in the menu.

3. Make a pair in the sub-group. Let’s role-play! One will be a waiter and another will be guest.
NOTE; A waiter has to recommend his favorites and a guest will be expected to ask the reasons of the waiter’s recommendation.

4. In each sub-group, discuss and decide the best order sets in the menu. Then the rep of each sub-group will make a presentation to all ESS members.

Be my guest!

K.Murota

2012年12月18日

2012-12-22 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto ESS members,

Please be advised that the last ESS practice of 2012 will be held on December 22. For the special day, Mr. Keiichi Yamamoto well-prepares the practice and I would like to send out the announcement on behalf of him as follows. For those who are able to open the attached PDF file, more details are available with it since Yamamoto-san submitted as his original handwriting papers with a graphic on. I recommend you to refer it in advance for your further understanding.

Hope the entire participants can end this year with lots of wonderful memories and smiles through Yamamoto-san's practice which can be called one of "the annual events" of ESS.

Best Regards,
Kotera

--------------------------------

2012年12月22日の課題
山本圭一

2012年に関して(過去数年に関していても良い)、大きく下記の2つに分けます。
A: 自分自身が直接経験したこと
B: 直接には関係していないこと(世界・日本の出来事)

【分類A】
まずこの1年間のあなた自身(自分の成果など)を100点満点で評価してください。
70点以上を合格とします。
1. その評価を自分に与えた理由を説明してください。
2. 来年(2013年)評価を限りなく100点に近づけるにはどうすれば良いと思いますか。
3. この1年間で自分自身にとって最も価値のあったことや、感銘をうけたことを話してください。
以上、上記1~3の事柄を適当にMixさせて話してください。

【分類B】
自分自身が直接には関係していないこと(日本・世界の出来事)に関し、自分自身にとって意味を持つ出来事を取り上げ、どういう点において自分自身にとって重要かを踏まえて話してください。

2012年12月14日

2012-12-15 プラクティス予告

ESS PRACTICE on December 15, Saturday

Practice owner : Y. Kotera
Genre : Free Talking
Title : Election and Japan's future
Descriptions: Group discussion on Japan's future through the 2012 Lower House election.

2012年12月04日

2012-12-8 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto ESS members

This is Masayma, writing. an announcement for the practice on Dec 8th.

Genre; Planning (discussion) & Presentation
Title: Let’s make the BCPs (Business Continuity Plans)

First of all, divide all of you into 6 groups as usual.


You are working for a manufacturing company.
You are all executives.There are going to be some serious situations
by which your company/factory may be damaged.
Now you are in need of updating the BCPs against the serious situations.
I’ll give you some fictitious and serious situations below which you have
to handle them well when they occur.
And I’ll also show you an example of the BCPs against a serious situation.
Please, make the BCPs more than 4 plans in each case.
I expect a representative in each group makes a presentation of the BCPs
only on a case in the last 15 minutes. The case # of your group presentation
will follow the number of your group.
Please, make the BCPs with the same case # as the number of your group
at first.


Case #X : Bird-flu
The situation: Bird-flu is spreading in some part of Japan.
Only 5% of workers are reporting to take time off from their work.
So far, there has only been a slight decrease of 3% in production.
What can you do to avoid a big damage?

The BCPs :
①To give out facemasks to all employees to prevent infection
②To provide free vaccines to all employees and their families.
③To purchase thermometer sensors to check health conditions of workers.
④・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・.
⑤・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・・.


Case #1 : Cyber attack
The situation: Cyber attacks have been spreading all places in Japan.
This is a new threat! The data in your company/factory might be attacked.
The analysis in your company/factory has determined that a cyber attack
is a serious risk . What can you do to avoid a big damage?

The BCPs : ①②③④⑤and more plans if possible.

Case #2 : Typhoon
The situation: A typhoon of the lowest pressure in this year is
approaching your company/factory.
The electricity supply might be down and there is no prospect for
restoration.
The emergency power (electricity) supply system has not been installed
in your company/factory yet.
Your communication network might be cut off and the data system
might be down. What can you do to avoid a big damage?

The BCPs : ①②③④⑤and more plans if possible.

Case #3 : Strike
The situation: There is probably going to be a big strike in your
company/factory in a week . Workers are possibly demanding a 20% pay raise.
They may be also demanding hiring more workers to reduce their overtime
work. Please, don’t make a lot of concession to workers.
What can you do to avoid a big damage?

The BCPs : ①②③④⑤and more plans if possible.

Case #4 : Earthquake
The situation: The Meteorological Agency reported yesterday
that there was a possibility of an earthquake stronger than M7 in a
week in the region where your company/factory was located.
The emergency power (electricity) supply system has been already installed
in your company/factory. Are there any measures to meet the situation?
What can you do to avoid a big damage?

The BCPs : ①②③④⑤and more plans if possible.

Case #5 : Flood
The situation: The Meteorological Agency reported yesterday
that it was going to be heavy rain on the day after tomorrow,
which should bring us about 100mm of precipitation an hour.
Your company/factory is located near by a big river.
Please, think about not only the continuous operation,
but also commuting of employees and other problems.
What can you do to avoid a big damage?

The BCPs : ①②③④⑤and more plans if possible.

Case #6 : Supply shortage
The situation: your company/factory is making some devices to attach
them into” i-phone 5”.
You need a lot of rare metals. And you are importing them from China.
But they are recently reducing the export of their products.
What can you do to avoid a big damage?

The BCPs : ①②③④⑤and more plans if possible.

I hope you'll make preparations enough for the practice and enjoy the
discussion making the plans.
Please, don’t forget your group presentation after the discussion.
Thank you for reading!

2012年11月20日

2012-12-1 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto ESS members,Hello, this is an announcement for the practice on December 1th.
Genre : Discussion
Title:ACHES&PAINS
Description:Make some groups as usual.
Each group has a sheet of paper.
Please talk about“ACHES&PAINS”
For example,A sore throat,A cough,Dizzy

I hope you'll enjoy this practice.

Tokunaga

2012年11月18日

2012-11-24 プラクティス予告

Hello 京都NHK ESS members.
I am glad to announce the contents for the practice on Nov 24.

Genre:Speech
Title:Challenge “One minute speech”

Let’s train your output power in a talk.
You need a quick response to keep a conversation going at a real situation, having no time to translate what you are thinking in Japanese into English.

Here is the process.
1. Each group has 20 topics listed on a sheet of paper.
2. Choose one topic from the list and the first member speaks anything relating to it
for one minute.
3. Then the second person speaks about the same topic.
4. After all members finish speaking, choose a next topic and take the second round.
5. Repeat the same procedure.

Do not think the matter seriously but speak promptly anything you come up with.
Please keep talking as much as you can for a minute.

I am sure many members feel one minute short, but it is long for some.
So, a timekeeper is placed in each group to share time equally.
Topics are familiar words for everyone such as Apple, Bike, China, Dog, Exam, etc.
But I am sorry to say that there will be other entries on the very day.
I expect you will be good kind of tired on your brain after this practice.

Thanks,
Fujio Hirano

2012年11月13日

2012-11-17 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto ESS members,
This is an announcement of practice November 17th.

Genre; Discussion
Title: New Year's Greetings

Description:
I will give you 2 stages.

[First stage]
I prepare some topics about New Year's greetings.
For example,
・What is your best way to do new year's greeting.
Traditional post card? Or E-Mail? Or no special message?
・Do you like to get the New Year's card with a family photograph?

[Second stage]
Let's talk about your groups’ best way of New Year's Card for 2013.
Real message card with big snake's picture? New Year’s message by Facebook?
Please decide best way by each group, and make a presentation at the end of the practice.

I hope you'll enjoy this practice.
See you soon!

Mutsumi (Kimura)Naito

2012年11月07日

2012-11-10 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto ESS members,

Good evening.

This is an announcement of practice Nov.10th.

Genre: Discussion

Title: About Japan and our history

Description:
I will give you several questions about Japan and history.
And I would like you to divide some groups to discuss about it in each other.

Best regards,

Itsuko Hori

2012年10月28日

2012-11-03,04  合宿 プラクティス予告

<11/03>

Dear Kyoto ESS members.
Hello, I'm Yuuho MASUDA.
This is an announcement for the practice in a training camp on Nov.3rd.

1. Genre: The four skills
① listening
② understanding & imaging
③ translation
④ reading aloud & story-telling

2. Title:
"Let's play KARUTA and enjoy it together !"

3. Description
Make some groups as usual.

Card-playing party
(KARUTA-TORI )

After that,
Let's read aloud & tell that story!
(STORY-TELLING)

Y. Masuda
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Kyoto ESS members

I’m Shimon Nakamura (中村史門), Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto.

Genre: Discussion (speaking and replying to questions)
Title: Speak your own experiences in school days
Description:

This is an easy and small but important practice for speaking English just before 31 participants in the camp without looking at any English written slip.
Make your speech by your own words so as to make them understand what you said
You know best what experiences you had in school days and will be able to speak memories freely.
No preparation is needed except some memo in Japanese.
If you feel reluctant to do so before all participants,
you may do so in the separated group.
Please enjoy participant’s surprised talks
Thank you.

S. Nakamura

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Kyoto ESS members,

Hello, I'm Takanori Hayashi.
This is an announcement for the practice on November 3rd&4th(Camp).

Genre : Discussion and Presentation
Title: Japan-US cultural comparison
Description:

-1 Make some groups
-2 Pick up the differences between Japan and US from the several points of view
-3 Categorize for each item in Culture, Custom, View, Philosophy, Rule, Life Style and so on
-4 Explanation and discussion for these items in each group
-5 Presentation as selected item by presenter in each group in order to share the most interesting item.

I'd like to ask you to prepare for collecting the differences between Japan and America from the several point of view.
These differences may consist of several categories which are experienced by your own or information which you've had in the past.
Please share and explanation among us for each difference in order to understand mutual nations.

-2, -3,-4
The style of Picking up, categorizing and discussion in each group is free,
For example:
- Brainstorming (Open discussion)
- Analysis meeting
- KJ method
- Mind Map
- Lightning talk which has been introduced by Yoshida san,20th.October.
(Yoshida san, Thank you for your interesting introduction as effective presentation style.) and so on.

Thank you

T. Hayashi

======================================================================

<11/04>


Dear Kyoto ESS members.

Hello,this is an announcement for the practice in a training camp on Nov.3rd /4th .

Genre:Talk and presentation
Title:(Have a break!) Boast of your birth prefecture (home town)
Description:

Please choose one theme in the next themes (I will show some themes in that day)and boast about it in your birth pre.(home town)one by one.(However except Kyoto.If you are born in Kyoto,please boast it in your parents or relatives or friends ….
Except Kyoto everything is O.K.Foreign stste of course (O.K.)
Make some groups as usual.You are allowed five minutes for your speech.Question time is also.
Finally please choose the best interesting boast in your group and someone present it in front of us in two minutes group by group.Enjoy your talking.
Thanks.

M.Kurusu

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hello everyone. I'm Isamu Mashima.

Here is my practice planned for 2012 ESS Lodging-Together in Nov.

Genre : Debate Match
Introduction :

Debate is to argue about the given proposition taking either Yes or No position.
You are requested to articulate your remarks as much logically as possible.

Propositions :
1. Japan should host Tokyo Olympic in 2020.
Yes (Affirmative)
No (Negative)
2. Japan should improve Food Self-Sufficiency Ratio(自給率)
Yes (Affirmative)
No (Negative)

We will make two teams, the affirmative and negative, against each proposition.
I will announce team members and a leader just before we start the game.
A single debate duration will be 30min and total practice time will be 70min.
Until then, please prepare yourself !! See you soon.

I.Mashima

2012年10月21日

2012-10-27 プラクティス予告

Janre: Presentation and Talk
Title: Your goals

Time flies indeed! Looking at a calendar, we only have less than 3 months before closing the year 2012
Have you set clear landmarks, or specific plans for year 2013 yet?
In this lesson up coming on 13th October, we are going to discuss on individual goals for the second half of the fiscal year.
Let’s have a brainstorming and share what we are going to achieve in the following 6 months.

Questions:
What would you like to achieve by the end of March 2013?
1.
Vision: “ “
Goal: ” “
Action plan “ “
2.
Vision: “ “
Goal: ” “
Action plan “ “
3.
Vision: “ “
Goal: ” “
Action plan “ “
4. *Please be more creative and set your own subject.

Vision: “ “
Goal: ” “
Action plan “ “

Thank you for your cooperations in advance.

Cheers,
Ayumi Shimoda

2012年10月15日

2012-10-20 プラクティス予告

Hi there

I'm happy to make an announcement about Practice on October 20, 2012.


Genre: Presentation and Talk
Title: "Lightning Talks"

Description:

In this session, I want you to give very short presentations. Some people (in Japanese ITC community) call it "Lightning Talks".

You're going to be split into groups, and present your ideas in turn.
Don't forget this is a "Lightning Talks" so that the time slot given for each of you will be, say, less than three minutes.

There should be creative ways to present ideas in a very short time. No worry! If you aren't familiar with the format, just stick to this orthodox one:

1. State your core idea in a single sentence.

2. Give three reasons, or examples to support your idea.

3. Repeat your idea, and conclude your presentation.

You might find it interesting to talk about what presented. Great!
Please go ahead.

Note: You can present whatever you want. If you have nothing to talk at all, I'll give you some hints.


Cheers!

Yoshida

2012-10-13 プラクティス予告

Dear all,

As Shimoda-san who was originally planning to lead Practice for this week has just informed to Round Table, her turn was shifted to October 27 due to her emergency task to be handled this weekend. Since she decided to absent from ESS this week, I am more than happy to be incharge of tomorrow’s Practice instead of her.
Please find the details of my Practice giving on October 13 as follows:

Genre: Talk
Title: Self-Introduction with positive impact

“Self-Introduction” is considered one of the most important presentations in our daily life. What we have to make sure first of all in this situation is: giving an impression to the encounter person that “I am an open-minded and easy to talk to.”
Since “apology” can be considered as a good manner in Japanese culture, some Japanese people express their sorriness about the lack of their English ability. However; it doesn’t matter in the English speaking countries. Moreover, this kind of excuse may be taken as your weakness, no-confidence, or something like negative images.
In order to give positive impact about ourselves, some preparation in advance will help us a lot. And also, please don’t forget that the open-posture can be very beneficial approach; such as with moderate eye-contacts and smile, not with crossing your arms in front your chest or keeping looking down.
Why don’t we find out the best way of the self-introduction today, and know more about the other members!

1. Separate into groups
2. Filling up “Self-introduction Preparation Sheet” and preparing for your turn
3. Exchanging self-introductions each other in your group

If you have any questions, please feel free to clarify with me at Otera tomorrow.
I appreciate your kindly cooperation in advance.

Best Regards,
Kotera

2012年09月30日

2012-10-06 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto ESS members,

Hello, this is an announcement for the practice on October 6th.
1. Genre : Discussion
2. Title: Choices and discussion
3. Description:
You have two choices, choose one on each question and discuss it in your group. Please talk about backgrounds, related experiences, stories or whatever, regarding your choice.

The questions are;
1. If you could reborn, you will be
A. Male B. Female

2. Which of the invention of “DORAEMON” would you like to have?
A. Dokodemo Door B. Take Copter

3. If only one thing you can have, you will have......
A. Personal computer B. TV

4. Which character would you like to be?
A. A person who is disliked by everyone but smart. B. A person who is liked by everyone but stupid.

5. Which way will you choose to marry?
A. Arranged marriage B. Love marriage

Make some groups as usual.
Choose someone in the group and report your talking for about 2min.
The questions are all familiar one, so please enjoy your talking.

G. Kitaura

2012年09月24日

2012-09-29 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto ESS members,

Hello, I’m Yoshio Miwa. I’m very sorry for the late notice, as I had to manage Daigo English Share House and attend TED Kyoto Conference at Kyoto University last Sunday.

This is the announcement for the practice on September 29th
Do you know what the Japanese English Communication level is in the world and in Asia?
Surprisingly, we are so lower level; lower than China, Korea and we are almost the same as North Korea. I’m really afraid that we hardly survive as a leading nation in the world from now on. Please consider the following:

1. Genre: presentation
2. Title: How to teach English Communication Skills to Japanese people, especially young students, to improving our position?
3. Mission: suppose you are asked by the president of English School to teach such a subject and establish a new course for improving our English skills. Then, how do you make a unique and interesting plan, for motivating, encouraging and providing goals. Let’s discuss and come up with some solutions for better teaching!
If your presentation is acceptable, your bonus will be raised.
4. Description:
1) make some groups
2) talk about the causes, reasons for poor communication skills.
3) think of some better solutions for improvement.
4) choose one person from the group, and report on the discussion.

I really hope you’ll enjoy this practice with me.
Thanks,

2012年09月21日

2012-09-22 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto ESS members,

This is the announcement for the practice on September 29th

Do you know what the Japanese English Communication level is in the world and in Asia?

Surprisingly, we are so lower level; lower than China, Korea and we are almost the same as North Korea. I’m really afraid that we hardly survive as a leading nation in the world from now on. Please consider the following:

1. Genre: presentation

2. Title: How to teach English Communication Skills to Japanese people, especially young students, to improving our position?

3. Mission: suppose you are asked by the president of English School to teach such a subject and establish a new course for improving our English skills. Then, how do you make a unique and interesting plan, for motivating, encouraging and providing goals. Let’s discuss and come up with some solutions for better teaching!

If your presentation is acceptable, your bonus will be raised.

4. Description:

1) make some groups

2) talk about the causes, reasons for poor communication skills.

3) think of some better solutions for improvement.

4) choose one person from the group, and report on the discussion.

I really hope you’ll enjoy this practice with me.

Thanks, Yoshio Miwa

2012年09月11日

2012-09-22 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto ESS members,

Hello, this is the announcement of the practice on September 22th.

1. Genre; Presentation

2. Title; Autumn is the season for ○○.

3. Description;


It is autumn!
In Japanese culture, you know, autumn is the season for the arts, sports, appetite and reading.

Now, speak about your grand plan enjoying all of the arts, sports, appetite and reading.
It is okay to have already done.


Arts … Painting, picture, music, poem, play, and so on. Do you go to any exhibition? Do you make any art by yourself?

Sports … Do you watch any sports on TV Do you go to a stadium? Do you take part in sports?

Appetite … Matsutake mushroom, saury, marron, sweet potato, and so on. Where do you eat these? Do you make dishes?

Reading … How many books do you read? What genres the books are?


[Steps]

1. Make some groups.

2. Receive a handout, and think about your grand plan for this autumn.

3. Speak about your plan by turns in your group.


I hope you will enjoy this practice and this autumn.

Emi Hibino

2012-09-15 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto Ess members;

Hello, this is an announcement of the practice on September 15.

(1) Genre: Presentation

(2) Title: Show and Tell about Your Summer

(3) Description:

Think of your summer Just past.

Did you go on a trip? Did you stay home or lazed around the house?

Whatever you did, you must have had some different precious experiences.

Bring some objects that will give you a lead to talk about your summer experiences.

Show them and tell about your experiences in your group.

Please be sure to bring some objects to show. Photos on your phone will do.

1. Make some groups.

2. Show the object you bring and tell about it in your group.(within 5 minutes a parson)

3. Each member can ask a question after the presentation.

Any object can be used if you have interesting information to present with it.

For example,

Photograph, a map, a ticket, a souvenir, and any keepsakes ---- you brought back from your trip

Photograph, a book, a craftwork, and a recipe card you cooked ---- you enjoyed at home

Have a good time showing and telling, and your listeners will enjoy it too.

Takada Kumiko

2012年09月09日

2012-09-15 プクティス予告

Dear Kyoto Ess members;
Hello, this is an announcement of the practice on September 15.
(1) Genre: Presentation
(2) Title: Show and Tell about Your Summer
(3) Description:
Think of your summer Just past.
Did you go on a trip? Did you stay home or lazed around the house?
Whatever you did, you must have had some different precious experiences.
Bring some objects that will give you a lead to talk about your summer experiences.
Show them and tell about your experiences in your group.

Please be sure to bring some objects to show. Photos on your phone will do.

1. Make some groups.
2. Show the object you bring and tell about it in your group.(within 5 minutes a parson)
3. Each member can ask a question after the presentation.

Any object can be used if you have interesting information to present with it.
For example,
Photograph, a map, a ticket, a souvenir, and any keepsakes ---- you brought back from your trip
Photograph, a book, a craftwork, and a recipe card you cooked ---- you enjoyed at home

Have a good time showing and telling, and your listeners will enjoy it too.
Takada Kumiko

2012年09月02日

2012-09-08 プクティス予告

Dear Kyoto ESS members,

This is the announcement of the practice on September 8th.
1 Genre:Talk
2 Title ; Five questions
3 Description;
the questions are

1 If you could get 100 million yen, how would you use it?

2 If you are going to study the third language, what language will you choose and why?

3 Of all the incidents that have happened in your life, what made you the happiest?

4 What was your biggest trouble in your life?

5 Which foreign country would you like to travel to and why?

Make groups of 4 or 5 members and discuss the questions listed above.
20 minutes later, we stop the discussion
&n! bsp; and each group reports what they discussed.
Choose one reporter in your group and report your discussion for 2 minutes.

I hope all of you enjoy this practice.

Kazue Hashizume

2012年08月24日

2012-09-01 プクティス予告

ESS members,

Good evening!!
This is an announcement of practice Sep 1th.

Genre: translation&talk

Title: Let's translate quote of famous people &make your quote!!

Description:
I like reading quote of famous people.
It sometimes gives me happiness and makes me strong.
In the next practice , I would like to translate quotes and make your own one. If we have time please share it
in your group.
I hope you'll enjoy this practice.
Thank you!!

Best regards,
Satoko Ohkubo

2012-08-25 プクティス予告

ear Kyoto NHK ESS members.

This is an announcement of the practice on August 25th.

Genre:Talk
Title:Let's use proverbs!
Description:

How many proverbs do you know in English?

Proverbs are humorous expressions.
Many of English proverbs comes from Shakespeare, Bible, Aesop's Fables, the words of great persons.

Let's use proverbs in your conversation!

①Make some groups.
②I hand out the paper which has the example of proverbs.
③Please read it.
④Talk two themes to your member using proverbs as much as you can.

Theme1☆The happening in this summer.
Theme2♪The things you want to achieve this year.

I'm happy if you find a new expression in proverbs.

Thank you.

Kaori Namazugoshi

2012年08月08日

2012-08-18 プラクティス

Title:HOW TO MASTER ENGLISHF FAST

-the Speed Program for Learning English(SPLE)-

Contents:
Speech skills- become confident in speaking English fast.
Grammar- become a fluent English speaker fast.

Speak English without thinking about English grammar.
English culture-become like an English native speaker fast:

Difference between English and Japanese culture.

Lecturer:MATTHEW SITCOW

2012-08-11 プラクティス

Hello ESS members,

This is an announcement of Practice Aug.11th.

Genre: Talk and Discussion
Topic : "Olympic"

As you know, The London Olympic 2012 has been attracted many people's attention
all over the world. First half in this practice, we are going to talk about past Olympic
games and Later half, going to talk about future Olympic.

Key words and questions as follows,

1. In the past Olympic games, do you have any unforgettable memories (sports,
athletes......)

2. The Tokyo Olympic was the first olympic game that was held in Asian countries
in 1964.
At present, Three cities (Madrid in Spain, Istanbul in Turkey, and Tokyo in Japan)
are standing for the Olympic 2020. Do you have a concern for the Olympic in
Tokyo 2020 ? or not ? the reason why? ....... Let's talk about it !

Thank you, Ryuichi Tanaka

2012年07月29日

2012-08-04 プラクティス

Hello.

I will offer you a Japanese card game, called “The Hundred Poems by One Hundred Poets.”

This is an English version translated by Clay MacCauley in 1917.

I pick up 25 poems from it.

Originally, presenter’s cards have upper parts (5-7-5) and players’ cards have under parts (7-7). But in this game, whole part (5-7-5-7-7) is printed on each card.

Have fun!

Seiichiro Saito

Genre: Game

Title : The Hundred poems by One Hundred Poets

Description: This game follows these ways.

(1)Read cards and recognize their positions on the table. (10min.)

(2)A presenter reads one card.

(3)Players catch correct one.

(4)The role of presenter is changed each time in turn.

(5)One chance is suspended when you make a mistake.(otetsuki)

Please discuss these topics if you have extra time,

(1)Which poem or which expression impressed you?

(2)Do you have your favorite poet in literature or songwriter in music?

2012年07月21日

2012-07-28 プラクティス

Dear Kyoto ESS members,

Hi friends! My name is Fumiyoshi Takeda. For your information,

I will show you below contents of the practice on July 28.

I am looking forward to seeing you in that day.

Take it easy!

Fumi

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Genre: Talk and design

Title: Planning for housing

Description:

First of all, please form groups of six people.

Setting of the scene is that you are going to build a house.

But you have no idea yet. So plan the house.

I am showing you the way to plan as follows.

1) First, please talk and set up the family structure in your group.

2) Then, choose a location to build the house in your group.

3) Next, determine a style such as material (e.g. wood, reinforced concrete and steel), number of stories etc. in the building in your group.

4) Then, write the name of room that you need in the building to a Post-it, referring figures of sample.

5) Then, put the Post-it on the paper considering a layout of rooms.

6) Finally, consider the shape of the building and draw a bird’s-eye view

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

2012年07月12日

2012-07-14 プクティス予告

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

I'm Mie Iwasaki. I'm sorry for late notice.

This is an announcement of the practice on July 14.
As you know,ESS means "English Speaking Society",
so I plan this practice,in order to enjoy speaking English,
and know each other's more and more.

1. Genre:Talk.
2. Title : Try to make a killer question

3. Description:

(1) Make some groups.

(2) Within group member,make pair and decide playing a role,
one is questioner,and the other is respondents.
Then,let's begin talking freely by using various question!
(each pair have about 5-10min,when time is up,Please do
the same thing by changing pair.)

(3) After you're talking with all group members,
please discuss about what question is most fascinating you.


I hope you'll enjoy this practice.

Mie Iwasaki

2012年06月29日

2012-07-07 プクティス予告

Hello, everybody.

I'm Junko Nakano. This is an announcement of the practice on July 7(7.7!).

1. Genre Game
2. Title Enjoy English Games!
3. Description This is a team competition. You will play 2 kinds of English games.

1:Describe a word in English and other members guess what the word is.
2:Listen to a description of a word from an English-English dictionary, and guess the word.

I hope everyone will enjoy speaking, listening to English to play games.
This will be fun. Please don't miss it!(^^)

Junko Nakano♪

2012-06-30 プクティス予告

Dear Kyoto Ess members;

Hello, this is an announcement of the practice on June 30.

(1) Genre: Writing & Presentation

(2) Title : Welcome to Japan ! We are Travel agent!

(3) Description:

Do you like travels? Summer holiday is coming soon. Many foreigners are looking forward to travelling in Japan. 8 travellers want to enjoy in Japan.

They are planning to visit Kyoto and also other prefectures. They are waiting your advice. Please check their desires and make a week travel plans for them.

1. Make some groups.

2. Choose one person from 8 travellers.

3. Make a week travel plan for her or him.

4. Let’s make a presentation in your group.

Ihope that you will enjoy this practice.

From T.Suzuki

2012年06月17日

2012-06-23 プクティス予告

Announcement of the practice on June 23rd.

Presenter:Kumiko Takesue

1)Genre:Talk
2)Title:Let’s talk about our ESS
3)Description: We'll be divided into small groups with 4~5 people and talk
about our ESS which will celebrate 50th anniversary this year.
We can talk anything as far as it is on the subject of our ESS
Examples:Old members tell to new members how the ESS was like in the
past. Compare the past and present.
New members tell the impression on the first day. Has it changed now ?
IF so, how?
If you are in charge of next practice, what and how will you do it?
Who's or what kind of practice did you enjoyed?
We will have summer party next month, do you have any event plan with
which everyone can enjoy?
If you take a responsibility of ESS staff next year, which role are
you interested in ?

Let's enjoy our talk !

2012年06月14日

2012-06-16 プクティス予告

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

This is an announcement of the practice on June 16th.

Genre: writing & talk
Title: personal letter
Description

(1) make some groups

(2) write a letter
1. to: ex.) acquaintance lives overseas, english teacher,
family, friend and so on

2. letter: write things you would like to communicate
ex.) failure story, amusing story and so on

3. situation: explain the situation so that members in your
group can understand

(3) make a presentation in your group and talk
(start by 6:10 at the latest)


No doubt you write an e-mail instead of a letter and
you don't have much time every day.
So this is just a practice. I hope you enjoy it.


Best regards,

Kobayashi

2012年06月07日

2012-06-09 プクティス予告

Genre : Book

Title: Book Review

Description:

1. Make some groups

2. Before you begin the main topic, let's talk or discuss
how to learn English with books, shall we?
---about what or how you have been using books,
what or how to use them, and so on.

If the time allows, demonstrate its each how-to later.
(You may prepare 3.act below, if you like.)

3. Summarize and review the book or some, like to English natives,
and talk about the subjects such as below.
・Have you read the book in Japanese or English , or both?
・Your encounter with it.
・Your experience in it.
・Your wishful book waiting for you in the future.
・Related books you met and can imagine with it.
・Comments



As they say, you can't judge a book by its cover!

Takeshi Yamaguchi

2012年05月29日

2012-06-02 プクティス予告

Hello there, ladies and gentlemen! (^.^)/
This is an announcement of the practice on June 2nd.

Presentater: Inoue Motomi

(1) Genre: Translation
(2) Title: “A Japanese folk belief”

(3) Description:

1. Make some groups.

2. I will hand out material of a Japanese folk belief.
I think we all should know about the belief. And you will know the reason why
 on the day. :)

3. Translate it in your group.
Maybe you should translate it in turns, but if you have another good idea, it
is OK to do in your way.

4. Present a part of your translation before all.

I hope you all enjoy the practice.

Cheers! (^^)/

2012年05月25日

2012-05-26 プクティス予告

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members.

Hello, this is an announcement of the practice on May 26th.

(1) Genre: Game
(2) Title: “Who is a liar” game

(3) Description:


Do you happen to know the old NHK TV program『ゲーム ホントにホント!』

or『クイズ 日本人の質問』.

This practice is arranged version of these programs. Try to be a “good liar”!!

You can say 「Hai! Kore Honto!」.

<Reference HP>

http://www.nhk.or.jp/archives-blog/2009/03/post_48.html

http://www.nhk.or.jp/archives-blog/2010/02/post_103.html

【Procedure】                   

1.Make teams

(1)Make teams of 3 or 4 people.   

(2)Each 3 team sit around one table.

   ①②③ team sit around one table, ④⑤⑥team sit around one table,・・

  But each team sits little away from each other so that each team can talk separately

For convenience of explanation, we call ①④⑦⑩ A-team, ②⑤⑧⑪B-team,③⑥⑨⑫C-team.

 ①,②,③ team compete with each other later.

2. Prepare to give a quiz in team.

(1) Each team chooses one topic.

(2) Each member in team prepares your own answer to give a quiz about the topic.

*Within about 3 minutes for (1) and (2).

(3) Decide one person who tells a lie. The other people will tell the truth.

Maybe it is easy for the liar to change slightly from the true story.

Funny or surprising quiz is desirable.

(4) If the number of member is different for each team in the group,

   you can adjust the number (one person skip some stage to keep the number for fairness).

3.Start the Quiz. A team goes first.

Each member of A team speaks about each story of the topics in order.

(Only 1 person tells a lie).

*Speaking time for each person is within about 30 seconds (not 1 sentence).

*The person who tells a lie, try to play well!!

4.Question time

B team can ask 2 questions in order to find out who is the liar. Next, so can C team.

Members of A will answer the questions, but don’t tell too direct answer.

5.Answering time

Each member of B team & C team guess who is a liar.

You can talk with each other in your team.

But each member writes the name of the person who you think is the liar on the paper respectively.

All members open the papers at the same time.

6.Tell the right answer (who told a lie ).

B and C team can get the score equivalent to the number of members who can get right answer.

7. Change turns. This time B team gives a quiz and C&A team answers it.

Next C team gives a quiz and A&B team answers it.

8. Above is the 1st stage.

Continue the 2nd,3rd,・・・stage, changing topics, as long as time permits.

*Do not stick to the rule too much. You can change the rule. Just enjoy that!

9.The team who get the highest score is the winner.

10. The winner team in your group will choose the funniest or most surprising quiz and introduce that

to the other group members. Other group members guess who is the liar.

(Last 15minutes)

<TOPICS examples>

* How did you spend last weekend?

* Mischief you had ever done (including in childhood.)

* Have you ever told a big or funny lie to someone? What was it like?

* Your (or your friend’s) strange experience you have ever had.

* Embarrassing story (ex. I have ever ・・・)

* Favorite TV program.

* The best present you have ever received.

* The most strange food you have ever had. (e.g. worm, insects, animals・・・)

* No experience (e.g. I have never ・・・)

* The most impressive place you have ever been to.

* The most famous person you’ve ever met. (e.g. I have met Tom Cruise in N.Y when・・・)

*The dangers you have passed in your life.

*The things you are thinking a lot recently

*Favorite movies

*The license or grade you have (e.g. 5th grade in karate)

*Special skill, specialty (e.g. imitation of someone, moving your ears, inspiration,

playing instruments)

*Your property (possession) (e.g. very expensive drawing, very valuable treasure.)

*Failure story

*Heroic episode(武勇伝)

*What if you have more money than one will ever use?
・・・You can make any other topics. Funny or surprising topics are desirable.

Akihiro Tabata

2012年05月09日

2012-05-19 プクティス予告

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members.

Hello, this is an announcement of the practice on May 19th.

(1) Genre: Talk & Presentation
(2) Title: “Imagine the world in the 22nd century” (2101-2200)
(3) Description:

Now we live in the 21st century.
In this practice, let’s imagine the future world in 100 years from now.

What will our lives be like in the 22nd century?
How will computers be improved?
Will “Space tourism” be available for anyone?
How about Kyoto NHK ESS.......? ;)
Let’s anticipate the future together, talking EASILY! ;p

The procedure is as follows.

0. Make some groups.

1. I will hand out one big paper and A4 sheets, which have variety of headers as below.

Sheet1: Fashion
Sheet2: Environment
Sheet3: Medical advance
Sheet4: Books
Sheet5: Communication technology
:
SheetX: xxxx

2. Choose the one you’re interested in, and anticipate the future about the headline.
After talking about that, write down the future prediction on the paper.

3. Attach the sheet on a big paper.

4. Repeat the step 2 and 3.

5. After completing the work in each group,

A representative make a brief presentation about the group work in front of other groups.

That's all.

To supplement the explanation about procedure 2-4,
I’ve created one example of this group work.

The example can be downloaded via the following link. ( Please access by PC )
https://docs.google.com/document/d/18nnDQgWZtQPJNi-ChrTjwVC7UUmGAluW89LF1nDS69Y/edit

I hope everyone will enjoy this practice.
Thank you for reading.

Mai Nishimura

2012-05-12 プクティス予告

5.12 Practice By Takeo Kuchnaka

Genre: Discussion and Quizzes
Title: Translation Japanese into English

I will divide our members into 6 groups

Each group has 20 questions assignment

Do translate Japanese into English.

If you cannot get some words, just listen to the CD.

We can enjoy ourselves through this game.

2012年05月04日

2012-05-05 プクティス予告

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members
Good morning everyone.I'm nakatani.

I introduce of practice for May 5 .

Genre:talk
Title:What do you have continuing thing?

Description:Spring come. Many people think to do new thing. If it continue,life is fulfilling.
Do you have continuing thing?
English training is natural. To other thing are less weight,sports,cooking,,,,,.
On the contrary, are there some which have stopped some on the way?
What kind of thing is kept in mind for continuing?

Divide into small groups, and talk about continuing thing.

Let's enjoy talking.

2012年04月18日

2012-04-28 プクティス予告

Dear, Kyoto NHK ESS member;

This is the announcement of the practice on April 28.

(1) Genre: Quiz and Presentation

(2) Title: Guess whose words and speeches

(3) Description:
Famous people left uncountable words and speeches. Some of them have been inherited to next generations.
Most of them imply creed or the way of thought of speakers.
In this practice, we guess which words or speeches were spoken by whom is either historical famous person or celebrity.

Here is procedure;

1. Make six groups

2. I hand out the paper containing twelve quotations from words and speeches spoken by celebrity in the world.
And, I also hand out list of names of well known people in any genre from entertainment to politics.
Please discuss which words or speeches were spoken by whom are listed in the paper.

3. After fifteen minutes pass after we start discussion, I also hand out another two sheets of papers listed words or speeches.
Words and speeches in these two papers were also spoken by same people whose words and speeches are listed in the first paper.
I number each word and speech on these three papers to be compatible.
The first one is the most difficult to guess whose words or speeches from the name list.
The second one is comparably easier to guess than the first one. The last one is the easiest to guess than former ones.

4. Around 18:05, I hand out another paper which only two answers are written among twelve quotations for each group.
The number of words or speeches and the names of persons who spoke the words or speech are written in this sheet.
Each group has different answers, because I listed different two speakers from twelve quotations for each group.
Members of each group explain about him or her on this sheet to members in other groups.
And, members in other groups answer who is he or she as well as the number of words or speeches.
We have twelve quotations, so that we can do two times rotation for each group.

For example;
Group1 ` He is an American.`
Another member says, `He is a musician and dancer.`
Another member says `He died a few years ago.`
Another member says `He is called the king of pop.`
Another member say `One of his million seller records is thriller.`
Someone in another group answer, `This is the number 6th word, and these words should have been spoken by Michael Jackson.`

I hope you enjoy this practice and feel useful one.

Thanks,
Seiichiro Iwai

2012年04月10日

2012-04-21 プクティス予告

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS member:

This is the information about the practice on April 21st.

(1) Genre: Discussion

(2) Title: Achievement & New Idea

(3) Description:

This practice is how to express your original ideas, your new ideas, your imaginary function.

But you don’t need to seriously think.

Anyway there are a lot of excellent devices, appliances and equipments around us. And also

great art, sports, concept, knowledge and so on. People have made great achievements.

You can choose your favorite achievement. And you can also hope the additional functions

and new achievement. Let’s introduce and discuss those matters.

The procedures is as follows

1. Make some groups.

2. Introduce your favorite achievement and explain the benefits or something.

You can choose the sample achievements below. But you don’t need to stick to the samples.

Automobile Internet Telephone Electric light Airplane Air-conditioner Dish washer

Recorder Bicycle Radio Baseball Football Basketball Tennis Sumou Museum  

Theater Photo Painting Hospital Medicine Organ transplant Rakugo Orchestra

Novel Poem Haiku ・・・  etc

Ex. I choose an air-conditioner because it can provide the comfortable atmosphere. We can enjoy

doing something inside even in broiling summer. But this is the most consumption of electricity

in summer among the home electric appliances. Recently using the air conditioner is sometimes

criticized in terms of saving electricity. Therefore many engineers have been making an effort

to develop the high efficiency ・・・・・.

3. If you want to append other function to your favorite achievement, what is it? Why?

Ex. I hope that an electric generator of a windmill is appended to an outer unit of air-conditioner

in order to save electricity. And we can also get electricity when it is windy. But I don’t know

how to equip the windmill or how to switch the fan to the windmill. It’s a kind of dream・・・・・.

4. After discussion of the achievements and the other functions in your group, which do you think is

the most interesting? why?

5. What kind of new achievement do you want or imagine for future? Why?

Ex. I want an oral automatic translation device which is light and can be easily carried.

I have some chances to discuss with foreign colleagues. But some ones can’t speak English or

Japanese well. If we had this device, we could communicate・・・.

6. After discussion of the new achievements in your group, which do you think is the most impressive? why?

Hirokazu Sakai

2012-04-14 プクティス予告

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Good evening, everyone.
This is the chairperson of April 14, Yuko Tanihara.
I hope you will enjoy following materials.

Genre: English composition

Title: Let's exercise English composition!

At first, please make some groups to have 5-7 members in each group.

Warming up: English vocabulary quizzes
This game is guessing the English word for daily use.
One of your group members reads out first question and answers the question.

Other members can help him/her answer the word.

Then, next person reads out second question and answers the question.

Please repeat this work by rotation.

Main: English composition (Short sentences)

At first, please write down your own answer of first question.

Then, present your answer of first question in your group.

Next, please discuss and choose the best answer of first question in your group.

If you can share the representative answer of first question, let’s move on to second question.

Finally, please show the representative answer in each group from 18:15.

If you finish, please let me know. I have optional programs.

See you on this and next Saturday.

Best regards,
Yuko Tanihara

2012年04月05日

2012-04-07 プクティス予告

Dear Kyoto ESS members,

This is Aotani.
I am announcing you the practice on April 7.

『 What kinds of hobbies do you have? 』

The cherry blossom season has come, many people have taken up a new hobby.
This week’s practice, please introduce your hobby to ESS members.
An ongoing one, old one or interesting one…any hobby is ok!

Divide into small groups, and talk about each other’s hobby.
Before ending this practice, choice one hobby in your group
and introduce it in front of everyone for about 1 minute.
At the end of the speech, please tell us whose one it is.

I am look forward to hearing your hobby.

Aotani

2012年03月25日

2012-03-31 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members:

Hello, this is an announcement of the practice on March 31st.

(1) Genre: Summarization & Presentation
(2) Title: “Let's share your favorite movies”
(3) Description:

The purpose of this practice is to make an attractive introduction of your favorite movie in the form of "4-frame cartoon". Let's try to introduce your favorite movie effectively so that you can inspire other members to watch the movie!
The procedure is as follows.

1. Make some groups.
2. I will hand out A4 paper on which a 4-frame format is written. And then please summarize your favorite movie's outline using pictures & comments in 4-frame format.
3. When all members finish writing, let's introduce your favorite movie to other members with additional explanation in each group.
That's all.

I think.. it would be difficult to summarize a movie outline within limited time, therefore, please plan how you summarize & introduce your favorite movie in advance.
I hope everyone enjoys this practice.
(※ If you don't like drawing pictures, you don't necessarily need to be bound by this form. Any form is OK as long as you can introduce your favorite movie effectively! )
Thank you for reading.

Mai Nishimura

2012年03月18日

2012-03-24 プラクティス予告

Dear ESS members,
This is a notice of the practice on Mar 24.

Genre; Talk
Title; Your life purpose

Description
1 Make some groups.
2.Talk about your life purpose
3.During the practice, i pick up one oracle card to each one. Please write down the message from the card, then compare the messege and your life purpose. Do you understand the meaning?
Do you know about the oracle card?
The Oracle card has been used as the sacred tool which brought "oracle" to solve a problem and predict future than the ancient times.
It shows you important messages to teach something and give an opportunity to find new to you.

I hope you enjoy the practice.


See you on Mar 24!

Yuko Nakano

2012年03月12日

2012-03-17 プラクティス予告

( Tentatively announced for Mr. S. Uchidate )

Genre : Translation practice
Overview : Written translation quizes prepared by Mr. Uchidate.
Details. : Unknown


2012年03月06日

2012-03-10 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto ESS members,

This is Hayashi.
I am announcing you the practice on March 10th.

Genre : Discussion and Presentation
Title : Let's redefine and discuss your goals and objectives
based upon a certain rule which is called “S.M.A.R.T”.
Background :
It has passed 2 months this year early.
And we are going to enter into the new school term or fiscal year on next month.
So we’d like to talk about each member's Goal in your group, if you can share with another member.
In this practice, you can redefine Goals and Objectives according to the following or original categories
and then check and modify according to the methodology which is called the rule of “S.M.A.R.T.”

SMART has been used to set objectives, for example for project management, employee performance management and personal development.
I think it is possible for us to apply this for the following private objectives.

Categories Example
Life / Life Style/
Health /Diet/ Jogging
Hobby /achievement level
Job /Career Up
Love /to Get Married
Home /
Money /Saving/ Investment
Human relations /
Happiness /(regarding the previous Octan’s theme)
Environment /
Self –development /To obtain Certification
Others・・・・・

1.Making some groups ,
2 Set leader (presenter) for each group
3 Set the objective based on this abbreviation
4 Talk about several objectives in each group
5 Pick up one masterpiece for each group
Unique objective is very efficient for presentation
6 Brush up this mastership as group
7 Make a presentation on master piece

S : Specific
M : Measurable
A : Attainable
R : Relevant
T : Time-bound

Please prepare for your Objective as follows in advance.
Thank you.

Your objectives:

S Specific:
Reason

M Measurable:
Reason

A Attainable:
Reason

R Relevant:
Reason

T Time bound:
Reason

**********************************************************************************************************************************************
The following the detailed explanation.
Please check the following explanation if possible.

Terms behind the letters
There is no clear consensus about what the five or seven keywords mean, or even what they are in any given situation.
Typically accepted values are:

Letter Major Term Minor Terms
S Specific Significant, Stretching, Simple
M Measurable Meaningful, Motivational, Manageable
A Attainable Appropriate, Achievable, Agreed, Assignable, Actionable, Ambitious, Aligned, Aspirational, Acceptable, Action-focused
R Relevant Results-oriented, Realistic, Resourced, Resonant
T Time-bound Timely, Time-oriented, Time framed, Timed, Time-based, Time boxed, Time-Specific, Timetabled, Time limited, Traceable, Tangible
E Evaluate Ethical, Excitable, Enjoyable, Engaging, Ecological
R Reevaluate Rewarded, Reassess, Revisit, Recordable, Rewarding, Reaching

Specific
The first term stresses the need for a specific goal over and against a more general one.
This means the goal is clear and unambiguous; without vagaries and platitudes.
To make goals specific, they must tell a team exactly what is expected, why is it important, who’s involved, where is it going to happen and which attributes are important.
A specific goal will usually answer the five "W" questions:
What: What do I want to accomplish?
Why: Specific reasons, purpose or benefits of accomplishing the goal.
Who: Who is involved?
Where: Identify a location.
Which: Identify requirements and constraints.

Measurable
The second term stresses the need for concrete criteria for measuring progress toward the attainment of the goal.
The thought behind this is that if a goal is not measurable, it is not possible to know whether a team is making progress toward successful completion.
Measuring progress is supposed to help a team stay on track, reach its target dates, and experience the exhilaration of achievement that spurs it on to continued effort required to reach the ultimate goal.
A measurable goal will usually answer questions such as:
How much?
How many?
How will I know when it is accomplished?

Attainable
The third term stresses the importance of goals that are realistic and attainable.
While an attainable goal may stretch a team in order to achieve it, the goal is not extreme.
That is, the goals are neither out of reach nor below standard performance, as these may be considered meaningless.
When you identify goals that are most important to you, you begin to figure out ways you can make them come true.
You develop the attitudes, abilities, skills, and financial capacity to reach them.
The theory states that an attainable goal may cause goal-setters to identify previously overlooked opportunities to bring themselves closer to the achievement of their goals.
An attainable goal will usually answer the question:
How: How can the goal be accomplished?

Relevant
The fourth term stresses the importance of choosing goals that matter. A Bank Manager's goal to "Make 50 peanut butter and jelly sandwiches by 2:00pm."
may be Specific, Measurable, Attainable, and Time-Bound, but lacks Relevance.
Many times you will need support to accomplish a goal: resources, a champion voice, someone to knock down obstacles.
Goals that are relevant to your boss, your team, your organization will receive that needed support.
Relevant goals (when met) drive the team, department, and organization forward.
A goal that supports or is in alignment with other goals would be considered a relevant goal.
A relevant goal can answer yes to these questions:
Does this seem worthwhile?
Is this the right time?
Does this match our other efforts/needs?
Are you the right person?

Time-bound
The fifth term stresses the importance of grounding goals within a time frame, giving them a target date.
A commitment to a deadline helps a team focus their efforts on completion of the goal on or before the due date.
This part of the S.M.A.R.T. goal criteria is intended to prevent goals from being overtaken by the day-to-day crises that invariably arise in an organization.
A time-bound goal is intended to establish a sense of urgency.
A time-bound goal will usually answer the question:
When?
What can I do 6 months from now?
What can I do 6 weeks from now?
What can I do today?

2012年02月27日

2012-03-03 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members:
this is the information about the practice on Mar.3 2012.

--------------------------------------------------
person in charge : A. Nakanishi

genre : consultation to get the right answers

title : quizzes about famous places in Kyoto

description : make some groups

each group is composed of five (or six) people.

you'll get the questions about Kyoto which look like
conundrums or ciphers at first

please consult with your group members and reach
to the right answers

guidebooks will help you, but please refrain to connect
to the Internet during this practice

thank you

2012年02月19日

2012-02-25 プラクティス予告

Hi, everyone in ESS

This is Kisei Masayama.

This is information about the practice on Feb 25th; resending after adding another rule in 8th Additional rules in ESS.

Genre : Game
Title : Let's play “Scrabble”.

Description:
1. Making groups & pairs

Make some groups of 8 people and 4 pairs in each group, and then you will
have 4 pairs of player team in each group.

2. Setup

We are now playing cross word board games named Scrabble.

We have a gameboard, a scoring tally & 100 alphabet letter tiles including
2 blank tiles in each group.

The letters (tiles) have different values scoring on their faces.

First, turn all letters facedown at the side of the board and scramble
them.

Then draw 7 letters and place them face up in a row in front of your team.

Determine the first player team.

3. How to play (Let's start fun games with some rules )

The first player team combines two or more of their letters to form a
word, and places it on the board to read either across or down with one
letter on the center ★square.

Diagonal words are not permitted.

A player team completes a turn by counting and announcing the score for
the turn.

The player team then draws as many new letters as played, thus always
keeping 7 letters in their team.

Play passes to the left. The second player team, and then each player team
in turn, adds one or more letters to those already played to form new
words. All letters played in a turn must be placed in one row across or down
the board, to form one complete word. If, at the same time, your team
touches other letters in adjacent rows, your team must form complete words,
crossword fashion, with all such letters.(*1)

New words may be formed by:

a. Adding one or more letters to a word or letters already on the board

b. Placing a word at right angles to a word already on the board.

The new word must use one of the letters already on the board or must
add a letter to it.

c. Placing a complete word parallel to a word already played, so that
adjacent letters also form complete words.

d. Using dictionaries are permitted. All words labeled as a part of
speech (including those listed of foreign origin, and as archaic, obsolete,
colloquial, slang, etc.) are permitted with the exception of the following:
words always capitalized, abbreviations, prefixes and suffixes standing
alone, words requiring a hyphen or an apostrophe.

e. If your team can't form a word, your team will be able to declare
“Pass”.

4. Scoring

Keep a tally of team's score, entering it after each turn.

The score value of a blank is 0 point, but your team can use it as an any
letters.

Your team also gets 0 point in case of declaring "Pass".

Your team gets a double or triple score of the letter

when your team has placed a letter on a double or triple letter score
square.

Your team gets a double or triple score of the word

when your team has placed a word on a double or triple word score square.

Your team gets full points for all words formed or modified on its turn in
case of (*1).

5. How to win

The team with the highest final score wins the game.

In case of a tie, the team with the highest score after deducting inlayed
letters wins.

6. Additional rules in ESS

We have only 70 or 80 minutes to play. So we will finish the games on
time even if your group does not use all of letters up. And count your final
team scores.

Each team has only 3 minutes to form a word in each turn. If your team
can’t form a word in 3 minutes, your team will have to declare “Pass”.

  One of your team has to explain the meaning of the word, your team
has just placed on, only once in other words in English in each turn.

7. Recommendation

Book dictionaries are much more useful and convenient than electronic
devices to find new words.

I hope all of you enjoy the games and expand your vocabulary.

Thank you for reading!

2012年02月12日

2012-02-18 プラクティス予告

Dear NHK ESS members,

This is a notice of the practice on Feb 18.

1. Person in charge; K Murota.
2. Genre; Discussion and role playing.
3. Title; Welcome to an restaurant abroad!

4. Backgroud;
When you go on an overseers trip, you probably enjoy fine food and drink in local restaurants.
In this practice, your will be restaurant's guests or restaurant's servers abroad.
Please read ENGLISH MENU and order or recommend your favorite & delicious dishes and drinks.

5. Process.
1) Preparation for roleplaying.
Sorted groups will be provided a menu that I will prepare.
Then please choose and write each of your favorite foods and drinks on a paper.
Then, each of you will talk your favorite to the group members
( Please tell "WHY?").
After the talking, discuss how to order or recommend group's dishes & drinks' set.
And, each group chooses the representative who will participate in the next roleplaying.

2) Roleplaying
Two groups will be one pair of roleplaying. One group will play restaurant's guest's group. Another one will play restaurant's server.

The guest's representative will order your group's dishes & drinks to an restaurant's server choosen from anther one. The server will also recommend dishes & drink based on his group's discussion .
During the order, the guest has to ask "What is Restaurant Recommendation of dishes & drink".

Through the communication between the representative and the server, you can change initial order set
,in accordance with the server's recommendation.


Note1;
I will hand out two kinds of menus. Both are real famous overseas restaurant's ones, chinese and steak house restaurant.
Note2;
Please keep in mind that typical dishes in abroad restaurants are very large size for Japanese.
So, sometimes it would be better to share one plate. And, In order to fully enjoy wines, you have to order
by bottle, not glass based order.

I hope that this practice will make your abroad trip to all the more enjoyable!


Enjoy dinner!

K.Murota

2012年02月06日

2012-02-11 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto ESS members,

This is Kotera who is going to be in charge of Practice on February 11.
Please refer to this announcement for joining and having fun with us!

Genre: Game

Title: Word Guessing

Descriptions: After breaking up into some groups, a sheet of a copy will be handed out to each of attendees. You will see listed words and phrases on the paper, and explain one in your team without saying the particular words/phrases. I would like to ask other team members to guess the words/phrases with getting clues form the presenter. After getting a correct answer, it is the next person’s tern to be a presenter.

A score sheet will be also prepared for each group and mark the score in your team.

The team which got the highest point within the limited time is the winner!!

There is no penalty of incorrect answers or mistakes, so try to talk a lot in your team. Aim higher points as you can!

Hope all of you enjoy with it. I am looking forward to seeing you on February 11th then.

Have a good Sunday evening!

Best Regards,

Y. Kotera

2012年01月29日

2012-02-04 プラクティス予告

Hello, everyone, this is Octane (Oku Akira).

I am announcing here to you the practice (80 min) on February 04 at Hitomachi City Center.
Genre: Talk and Discuss.
Title: Let's think about "Happiness" and summarize the discussion.
Description: See below.

Please prepare for the practice in advance. This is the requisite to enjoy.

Let’s think about “Happiness” for now and future

Though being full of zeal and dream, many of us at Kyoto ESS, particularly those between the age 20s and 30s are worrying about the future more than old generations did once. One of the reasons is that, nowadays, the future is not so promising as it once used to be some decades ago. In those days, economy was boiling, job opportunities were like apple cropping and people were looking only onward but not back traces left behind.
In these days, on the other hand, job offering market is shrinking less unless you aggressively open the door to jobs or plow out new markets. Yes, you can do it with zeal, skills, wisdom and, of course, English muscles built up at our ESS.
Don’t complain to this too much globalized world. Instead, let’s take a look at the ways we have left behind and find solutions and encouragement. When you look back thoughtfully, you will find more chances than ever to change the society. You should know that the civilization we have developed is distorted and biased too much for monetary economy, technology and easy lifestyles. We didn’t think what the real happiness for us and the posterity is. We could solve the problem by thinking what happiness and satisfaction are.

Today, let’s discuss about happiness and satisfaction to make our life bright. You are encouraged to build up insights into the future from various wide angles of happiness, e.g., mentality, health, social welfare, peace, economy, culture, technology, environment, energy and resources.

Roadmap for the day’s practice.

Step 01. Make four groups. Each group will be provided with (1) large white paper for poster presentation, (2) felt pens, (3) post-it labels of three different colors, blue, yellow and pink.
Step 02. First, assign the discussion leader of the group. Second, discuss for a short minutes to make the group’s timetable for preparation, discussion and writing for poster presentation. (10 min)

Step 1. Start first, before group discussion, to imagine what is your concept or dream of happiness on both personal and public bases. Use the backside of instruction sheet for draft writing. Then, concisely summarize your image(s) of happiness in two short phrases and write them on two blue post-it labels. The labels shall be posted within the one-third space at the top of poster. (15 min)
Step 2. Start group discussion on the happiness posted there. Then, summarize the results of discussion into several categories and write them on yellow labels using short phrases. The labels shall be posted within the second one-third of the poster space (20 min).
Step 3. In the final step, discuss on plausible problems lying in the way of realizng the happiness. Show ideas how to solve the problems. Finally, summarize both the problems and solutions and write them on pink labels. The labels shall be posted at the bottom of poster (20 min).
Step 4. Presentation: In the last, all posters must be presented with brief explanation (4 min x 4 groups = 16 min). The presentation will be graded by hand raising.

Other examples of how to prepare the poster
Example A. Cascade model. 1) Write key title(s) on the top of cascade. 2) Post blue labels (Step 1) under the title as the start of discussion stream. 3) Post yellow labels (Step 2) on the second stream and the pink ones (Step 3) in the bottom basin of the stream. 4) Draw the streams as a connected flow of logics.
Example B. Tree model. 1) Draw a big tree growing on the ground like a bibliographic or family tree. 2) Put key title(s) in the main trunk, make the tree grow by adding branches one by one along the line of discussion. 3) On the first two branches that are stretched from the main trunk to the right and left, place blue labels (Step 1) like leaves. 4) On the second two branches do so with yellow labels (Step 2). 5) Finally, on top of the tree, show problems and solutions with pink labels (Step 3) so that they look like fruits.

Points of Discussion
1. Are you happy now? If yes, why are you?
2. What is your definition of happiness and unhappiness? Can you draw a line between happiness and unhappiness?
3. Think about selfish and other people’s happiness. Can you divide these two?
When you think of own happiness, can you do so for others and the posterity?
4. How can you measure and describe the level of happiness?
5. Can you mitigate or escape from unhappiness?
6 Can you change unhappiness to happiness?
7. Does happiness depend on the consumption of energy, resources and money?
8. Does happiness depend on science and technology? If yes, then, how much does it?
9. Pick up some dark sides of science and technology. Show how to minimize them.

That's all.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear all: This is Octane the presentor of the practice on Feb 04.

To enjoy the practice "Think what is happiness" next week, following are some reference materials to think about happiness. I hope you would read this in advance.

1. Harmony with Nature: Statement by the Triglav Circle
http://www.uncsd2012.org/rio20/index.php?page=view&type=510&nr=636&menu=20
This paper constitutes the Triglav Circle’s input to the compilation document for the Zero draft of Rio +20. The Triglav Circle is a registered NGO, having special consultative status with ECOSOC. For website see http://www.triglavcircleonline.org
Sustainable Development, Non-Consumerism and Happiness

Since the disaster caused by the earthquake and tsunami in Tohoku area, including the near catastrophic accidents in four nuclear furnaces in Fukushima on March 11 2011, Japan has been facing a difficult decision about which of two paths to take for its nation’s future. One is to continue the present course of consumerism based on fossil and atomic energy, and the other is the frugal social life based mainly on renewable energy sources which in essence depend on solar energy.

These alternatives are just like the paths described in Rachel Carson's "Silent Spring." One is the continuation of the present path, which appears easier than the other; the un-trodden way of harmony with nature appears to be much more difficult. If we should decide to take the harder way, we should examine not only the perspective that it will guide us to a happier society but also what kind of measures should be taken to persuade people to follow it. Failure in the case of environmental change, because of over indulgence in consumerism can wipe humanity from this planet. We should not take a chance by betting on the easy life, since the magnitude of loss is infinitely large. Elise Boulding wrote "Frugality is one of the most beautiful and joyful words in the English language, and yet one that we are culturally cut off from understanding and enjoying. The consumption society has made us feel that happiness lies in having things, and has failed to teach us the happiness of not having things."
The fundamental importance of a frugal lifestyle in which harmony with nature is the prerequisite for a sustainable society has been expressed by many Asian historical figures. For example:

Ando Shoeki an 18th century Japanese physician and thinker wrote about the importance of harmony with nature in a startling book "Shizen Shin-eido (自然真営道The true way of life to live in accordance with nature)(3)". The book contains a story about four meetings held by, animals chaired by a monkey, birds chaired by an eagle, insects chaired by a beetle and fishes chaired by a whale. The conclusion of all four meetings coincided with the same statement that: Among all creatures the manner in which humans live is by far the most out of sync with nature. Only people, among all creatures, use money and many of them enjoy life without individual productive labor (agriculture). People make their own "laws" for the benefit of their own profit, most of which are against the law of nature. In short they concluded that the most harmful creature in the world of living things is without doubt people who live in a manner out of harmony with nature.

A similar way of looking at our way of life was written by a Chinese thinker Wang Chong as early as in 1st century in a book "Lunheng (Balanced Consideration)(4). In which is a sentence stating: We call locust a harmful insect because it devours crops we produce. However, if a locust can talk, it will say that crops are not for people only. Heaven gives crops for every creature so that humankind is a harmful 'insect' for locusts.
Since the industrial revolution, people have consistently preferred “development” to the more natural and environmentally sound old fashioned way of life. It must be emphasized that a sustainable economy is an ethical imperative.
If we should decide to take the harder way, we should examine not only the perspective that it will guide us to a happier society but also what kind of measures should be taken to persuade people to follow it.
Hideo Shingu, Ph.D
Member of the Triglav Circle
Representative, Kyoto Energy and Environment Research Association
http://www.enekan.jp/


2. Happiness is
- - (quotes from Charles M. Schulz ”Happiness is a Sad Song”)

・waking up, looking at the clock and finding that you still have two hours left to sleep.
・a side dish of French-fries. ・a new sweatshirt on a cold Saturday morning.
・winning an argument with your sister. ・having something to look forward to.
・the best seat at the parade. ・a big muscle.
・a sad song. ・loving your enemies.
・being tickled under the chin. ・coming home from the hospital.
・hearing the pediatrician say “no, I guess she won’t have to have a shot”.
・a stack of old comic books. ・catching snow flakes on your tong.
・licking the bowl. ・walking hand in hand.
・a warm puppy. ・being too sick to go to school, but not too sick to watch TV.
・letting him win even though you know you could slaughter him.
・walking in the rain together. ・buying somebody a present with your own money.
・the love.

3. Happiness is not a heritage from our ancestors, it is a debt from our future generations.


2012年01月23日

2012-01-28 プラクティス予告

Hi ! This is Enokki!
I announce about practice on Jan 28th.

① Genre
Game.

② Title
Find the different point of picture.

③ Description
1_Make some groups,and divide group into 2 teams.
2_Each other team get some pictures of almost same.This picture has some different points.
This picture won't be shown to another team.
3_Team member asks about picture to another team member, and another team answers.
This action takes several times by turn and find the different point of picture.

Thank you,

2012年01月13日

2012-01-21 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members

This is an anouncement of the practice on January 21st.

Genre : Talk and Game

Title : Party Games

Description

1.Make some groups.

2.Do you have some interesting games which are suitable for a group of people to play? Share them with us.
These games could be from TV programs, or the parties you have attended....
I will prepare some game examples as reference.
Describe the game by explaining the rule to the group.

3.Pick a game from what are discussed or the examples I prepare, let's play!


I hope everyone will enjoy it. See you then!

Best Regards,
Jia

2011年12月29日

2012-01-07 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members

This is an anouncement of the practice on January-7th.

Genre : Talk

Title : Wishes for this year

Description

1.Make some groups.

2.Announce your wishes for this year.

3.Discuss ways to achieve the goal.

*What do you have to do ?

*What do you recomend goods to help reach the goal?
(tool. textbook. TVprogram .etc.........)


Please enjoy the practice.


Akiko.Matsui



2011年12月19日

2011-12-24 プラクティス予告

Kyoto NHK-ESSの皆さん

<2011年 この一年を振り帰ろう> ・・・(年末恒例の最長寿番組)

2011年に関して・・

  A : 自分自身 直接経験したこと

      この一年間のあなた自身(成果、達成度)を100点満点で評価してください。
      また、その評価を自分に与えた理由を説明してください。
      そして、限りなく100点に近づける方法は? 
      (他) 有意義だった出来事、印象に残った本、人物、映画、など・・

  B : 直接には関係していないこと ( 世界、日本での出来事 )

      今年の出来事を一つ挙げて、それはどういう点において自分に重要だったと思えるか。
      または、この一年をどう解釈するか。

年末でご多忙だとは思いますが、多数の参加をお待ちしています。

< Let's Look Back Your 2011 >

  A : Your own experience in 2011
      How do you evaluate your 2011? Your achievements ?
      What impressed you most? ( Books, Movie, Person, etc. )

B : Not directly related to yourself but pick out one significant event,affair in Japan or in the world.. 
     Why is it important to you・・what is the reason ・・  

Hope you enjoy it

K. Yamamoto
  

2011年12月11日

2011-12-17 プラクティス予告

Hi,there.
Here’s the announcement of Dec.17.

The Title is Guess What Secret.

It doesn't fall into any genre,sorry.What we’re gonna do is write your secret and guess others’.

Allow yourself to let the cat out of the bag, spill the beans.

You don't have to carry anything but a pen.

Oh,let’s not forget to bring
your own secret.

Thank you.

Tadahiko Noguchi

2011年12月04日

2011-12-10 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members:
this is the information about the practice on Dec. 10 2011
at the "people, town, meeting hall"

--------------------------------------------------
person in charge : A. Nakanishi

genre : consultation to get the right answers

title : quizzes about famous places in Kyoto

description : make some groups

each group is composed of five (or six) people.

you'll get the questions about Kyoto which look like
conundrums or ciphers at first

please consult with your group members and reach
to the right answers

guidebooks will help you, but please refrain to connect
to the Internet during this practice

thank you
----------------------------------------------------------

2011年11月27日

2011-12-03 プラクティス予告

Hello,everyone!!
This is a notice of the practice on December 3rd.

Genre: Talk&Writing
Title: Looking back your own 2011 year.

Before long, we will meet 2012 year.
How do you spend this year?
In this practice , we look back 2011year
by making mind map.

*mindmap official site : http://www.mindmap.or.jp/about/
I beg a favor of you, could you bring some color pen(at least 1~3 )

Description:

1,Make few groups.
2,I hand out a resume.
 3,Making mini mindmap(5min)
(write down 10 key words about 2011)
4,Selecting priority key words from mini mind map.
(up to 5) ,and Making your orijinal mind map (20~25min)
5,Talk about your 2011 year and 2012plan if you have already.

I hope you will enjoy this practice.Best wishes.

Mie Iwasaki

2011年11月21日

2011-11-26 プラクティス予告

Hi, Kyoto NHK ESS members.
Here is notice of the topic for the practice on November 26

Genre : Talk
Title : Dietary Habit

As the proverb says, YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT.
If you eat well, you will be well, but if you eat badly you will feel bad.
Dietary habit is literally FOOD FOR THOUGHT!

Do you have healthy dietary habits?
If your answer is yes, please share your eating habits with members in your group.
If your answer is no, what prevents you from them?

Let’s talk about your daily eating life.
If you have any points to keep in your mind or care about any special foods in your everyday meals so as to stay healthy, please exchange your ideas.

Followings are some tips to proceed with your conversation, but you don’t need to stick them.

1 What do you usually/regularly eat for breakfast, why do you have them and where?
Are there any points or comments in your breakfast?

2 What do you usually/regularly eat for lunch, why do you have them and where?
Are there any points or comments in your lunch?

3 What do you usually/regularly eat for dinner, why do you have them and where?
Are there any points or comments in your dinner?

4 Do you have special food items or ingredients in your meal that you consider
efficient for your health?

5 How often do you eat out and what are your important aspects when you choose a restaurant?
A taste, a price, an atmosphere, a location or anything else? Please prioritize them.

If it is possible, please write down some related words about what you eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner during this week.

Hope you will enjoy talking and get some hints to improve your eating habits after this practice.

Thanks
Fujio Hirano

2011年11月07日

2011-11-19 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

This is an announcement of the practice on November 19th.

Genre: Talk
Title: What’s your Dream Home?

What is the most important for you, housing, food, or clothing? What’s it like where you live and have lived? Let’s choose our priorities of a place to live. I’ve prepared some questions. You can think about your ideal house.

I hope you can enjoy it.

Shiho Nakashima

2011年10月30日

2011-11-05 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members

This is an announce of the practice on November 5th.

Genre:Talk
Title:Describe How to ....
Description

1 Make few groups.
2 Please teach us how to ....
For example,please describe how to make fried eggs.
First,take out the eggsfrom the fridge.
Then,crack the eggs into a bowl....
How to make okonomiyaki,How to kill a cocKroach,everything OK.

I hope you will enjoy this practice.

From Tokunaga

2011年10月24日

2011-10-29 プラクティス予告

Dear ESS members,


Good day.
I would like to share the following topic on this next ESS practice, Oct 29th.


1. Genre: Discussion, Performing, Presentation
2. Title: Advertisement
3. Description: Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience (viewers, readers or listeners) to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering. In this practice, we are going the share what advertisement your have seen or heard before. After discussing, we are going to make an advertisement in each group and present to others.


Hope we will have a nice talk and time :-)


rgds,
Hajime Sugiuchi

2011年10月16日

2011-10-22 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members

I am writing to inform you about my practice on 22nd of October.

Genre : Game
Title : Let’s speak a lot and help each other.
Description :
Make some groups.
I am going to give a sentence in each group.
Choose a writer in your group who only can not look at the sentence that I give you
so the others need to describe a word in the sentence one by one to the writer.
But you can NOT tell exactly the word.
And then the writer have to write it down on a paper making the sentence completely.
However, this is a kind of competition!!
We need to work together and make the sentence faster than the other groups!!

I look forward to doing this opportunity and hope you enjoy it.

Best regards
Ai Tahara

2011年10月13日

2011-10-15 プラクティス予告

①Genre 【talk】

②Title 【Gourmet in Kyoto】

③Description

Do you like a delicious food?
Kyoto is a sightseeing spot, and there are many shops full of performances.
Please introduce a restaurant or shop to be absolutely recommended each other.

1) Name of restaurant
2) Place / Map
3) Recommended point


Thank you very much!
Yurika Hashimoto

2011年10月05日

2011-10-08 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

This is an announcement of the practice on October 8 .

Genre:Talk
Title:Hobbies
Description:
1 Make some groups.
2 Share your hobbies and talk about them.
What was your childhood hobby?
What is your hobby now?
Where is fun?
What do you want to try as a new hobby?
etc

Let's talk about various episodes about your hobbies.
Practice and enjoy a free talk with ESS members.

Thank you.

K. Hotokezaka

2011年09月27日

2011-10-01 プラクティス予告

Hello!

This is to announce the practice on October 1.

Genre: Game (ROLE PLAY)

Descriptiom:

1,Make a few groups.
2,I hand out a famous picture book to each group.

(~18:00)
Think about a skit.
3,Decide your roles.
Think if you play all the story or a part of it.
And make your lines.

(~18:30)
4,Finally, play the role.
Others guess what the story is.

I hope you will enjoy this practice.
Best wishes.

Chikako Morita

2011年09月18日

2011-09-24 プラクティス予告

Genre : Talk
Title : How to promote an artist to signalize her
Description :

Could you please project marketing strategy for me?
I've been painting for 10 years and have a dream to be successful in an art market.
I have had some solo show as well as a lot of group shows in NY and Tokyo so far.
Some people including teachers in an art school in NY told me that I am supposed to be a successful artist though, I don't know how to make it yet so I would like you all to help me.

Please divide the members into a few groups and talk about
1) How do you make a pitch of me?
2) How should I make changes to develop my potential to be successful?
3) How do you feel my art work simply?

After discussion, please give me your good idea!

Please review my website in advance:)
http://sanaeyoshikawa.jp/

Best Regards,

Sanae Yoshikawa

2011年09月11日

2011-09-17 プラクティス予告

�genre talk
�title   sightseeing of Kyoto

� description
Have you ever shown around foreigners here in Kyoto?
Let`s suppose you take them to Golden Pavilion ,
Kiyomizu Temple and Ryouanji Temple.
How do you explain in English?

Please divide the members into a few groups and talk about
1) when the architecture or garden was built?
2) by who that was built?
3) its characteristic and so on.

After that ,there`s something to be added to that explanation,
let`s talk about it.
Please study beforehand briefly about Golden Pavilion,
Ryouanji Temple and Kiyomizu Temple.
Thank you.

Mr. Ohishi


2011年09月06日

2011-09-10 プラクティス予告

Dear All,

This is an announcement of the practice on 10th of Sept.

Genre:Talk
Title:TRAVEL

Description: I will provide 10 questions to you about travel.
Please enjoy this practice.

Thank you.

N.Yauchi

2011年08月29日

2011-09-03 プラクティス予告 ( 中止 )

�Genre
Discussion

� Title
Smart Cells ( iPS cells )

� Description
Let's talk about smart cells

Cut your finger and skin will heal : the brain may hold the potential to grow new cells,etc., etc..
Other interresting topics related to iPS ( induced Pluripotent Stem ) cells.

Note: a few materials related to iPS cells will be provided for the discussion.

Ms. Tokunaga

2011年08月21日

2011-08-27 プラクティス予告

こんにちは。高井です。
8/27(土)のプラクティスの予告を行います。

Genre: disccussion and games

Title: Translated by computer

Description:

Computer technology has been evolving. Of course translator is also.
We can understand several sentences written in foreign languages even you don’t know immediately.
Maybe some members use it when they send e-mail for foreign friends.
But translation of long sentences, it sometimes comfuses us what it mea

2011年08月14日

2011-08-20 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

This is an announcement of the practice on August 20.

Genre:
The four skills ――― listening, understanding, imaging & reading aloud.
Title:
Let's play KARUTA and enjoy it together!

Description:
Playing KARUTA(card)together.
After that, ………(secret)……。

 Please relax and I hope you will enjoy this practice together!

★先ずは、蝉の声を聞きながら、静かなお寺の和室で…。

★機会があれば、蛍の飛び交う、イエイエ、蛍光灯の明るい『ひと・まち交流館』でも、またいつか…。

 Thank you.

  From Yuuho(Ufo) MASUDA♪

2011年08月07日

2011-08-13 プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

This is an announcement of the practice on August 13th.

Genre: Talk

Theme: Shopping

What's your most memorable shopping in recent times?
Have you ever negotiated discounts? What results?
Do you like internet shopping? If yes, what did you buy? If no, why don't you use internet for shopping? etc.

Let's talk about various episodes of your shopping.
Practice and enjoy a free talk with ESS members.


Tomoko Kajita

2011年07月31日

2011-08-06 プラクティス予告

Hello, there!

This is an announcement of the ESS practice on August 6, 2011.
I hope you like it :-)

Cheers!

-- Masakazu Yoshida

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Genre: Group discussion

Title: Judgement and Choice Baiases

Description:

Life is a matter of choices. It always seems hard for me to make a good descision. Let's think about judgement and choice baiases through group discussion.

First, you will be asked to cope with problems from Gilboa's book [1]:
Read the problems carefully and write down your decisions if you were under those circumstances.

Then, let's discuss about your choices and share your insights:
Explain the reasons why you made your decisions and compare with others. Are there any differences or tendencies (biases)?

I hope this practice might be food for thought.
Thanks for reading.

References:

1. Itzhak Gilboa, "Making Better Decisions: Dennison Theory in
Practice," Wiley-Blackwell 2011.

2. Itzhak Gilboa, "Rational Choice," MIT Press 2011.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

2011年07月23日

2011-07-30プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members

This is an announcement of the practice on July 30th.

The theme of practice is 'THE WORLD HERITAGE".


1. Please read the "CONVENTION CONCERNING THE PROTECTION OF THE WORLD HERITAGE AND NATURAL HERITAGE"
and talk about this treaty. This is official document therefore is something stiff and formal.
But please try to go through it.( I will distribute it at the temple)

2. What is your most favorite world heritage site which you did not visit?
Please explain the name of the site and the reason to the other member of your group.

3. Please explain the world heritage site which you have visited.
Please try to explain how wonderful/beautiful/impressive the world heritage site is/are.
If possible add some background information or personal travel experiences to it.

4. Is there something which you want to add to the world/local heritage site or Intangible Cultural Heritage(無形遺産)?
Please recommend something which you recognize to be precious to the world/local area/specific group/yourself and why you think so.


Please enjoy talking on the topic.
See you at the temple.

Hiroaki Ishizaki

2011年07月10日

2011-07-16プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members

This is an announcement of the practice on July 16th.

Genre: Talk

Title: Let's talk about your recommendation

Description:
1. Make some groups.
2. I will prepare a dozen topics for each group.
  Here are the examples of topics.
  ・Something to help stay cool.
  ・Good way to know the latest news
  ・Emotional movie
  ・How to increase your money
  ・Good way to make friends with a nice guy
3. Each member of the groups, in turn, chooses an interested topic.
  And let's talks about each member’s recommendations about the topic.

I hope you will enjoy this practice.
Thank you.

Mutsumi Kimura

2011年07月06日

2011-07-09プラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

This is an announcement of the practice on July 9th.

Presenter: Kumiko Takada

Genre: Talk

Title: Let's talk about Animal Rights.

1. Killing Animals

When is Okay to kill an animal? When is not okay?
Tell the other members what you think and give a reason why.
ex. I think it's okay to kill an animal when it's causing a problem because......
it's not okay to kill an animal to get its meat because......

Would you kill an animal? In what situation?
What animals have you killed before?


2. Animal Rights

What rights should animals have?
ex. People must never use animals for scientific testing.
People must make sure their pets stay healthy.

Let's talk about Animal Rights

I hope you all enjoy the practice.

Thanks,
Kumiko Takada

2011年06月23日

2011-07-02プラクティス予告

Dear All,

This is an announcement of the practice on July 2.

Do you have a dream which you really hope to realize?
Have you achieved your childhood dream?
In this practice, I want you to talk about your dreams.

Genre:Talk
Title:Dreams
Description:1 Share your childhood dreams with other members.
2 Talk about your dreams you have now and think what you should do to realize them
3 Tell your dream briefly in front of all the other members.

Please come and enjoy the practice.
Thank you.

Junko Nakano

2011年06月19日

2011-06-25のプラクティス予告

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,
This is an announcement of the practice on June 25nd
① Genre : English Game
② Title: Bingo
③ Description: (Himitsu)
If I let you know about the details of the Bingo Game, it’ll be less interesting, so I want it to be a himitsu-no-akkochan.
Please relax and enjoy it, using as much English as possible, I hope.
From Yamamoto Masahiro

2011年06月12日

2011-06-18のプラクティス予告

Dear KYOTO NHK ESS members,
This is an announcement of practice on June 18.
I am sorry, I will absent 6/11. So I would like you to announce the contents of 6/18's practice tomorrow.


TITLE: WALDEN
GENRE: READING, WRITING, DISCUSSION and SPEECH.

The outline of the practice is as follow:

1. INTRODUCTION
The book “Walden” was written by Henry David Thoreau and published in 1854. He had lived alone in a house he built on the shores of Walden Pond, and earned his living by himself for two years and two months. While and after he lived in Walden, he thought about civilized modern society, what is necessary for life, what we live for and so on. In today’s practice, we will read articles and then, discuss our lives.

2. READ BELOW ARTICLE
What is necessary for life [H.D.Thoreau, Walden, IBC Publishing, pp.15-24] Just for a moment, let us look at all the trouble and worry in our lives, and see how much we should really be troubled or worried. What I meant by “necessary for life” is this: all the things that people gained by the labor of their own hands, people have considered from the first, or people long used, they are absolutely necessary. For most animals, food is the only thing they need. As for human, what is necessary for life may be divided up into four things. Food, clothing, shelter and fuel. It is only after we have gotten these four that we are ready to think about problems of life with any freedom or hope of success. Fire was probably discovered by accident, and at first it was a luxury. But now we cannot live without it. Even dogs and cats copy their master and sit by the fire. In some countries, summer is nearly a perfect time of a year, seen from human point of view. Fuel is unnecessary except to cook. The sun provides fire that is needed, and some kind fruit is “cooked” by its ray. A variety of food is ready at hand, and clothing and shelter, for the most part, are not needed.

3. THINK ABOUT OUR LIVES
(1) Write the inconvenience of modern society.
(2) Write down necessary goods in modern society except for food, clothing, shelter and fuel.
(3) If you went to Japan of 19th century, what would you bring? Why?

4. DISCUSSION
Select the best thing to bring to 19th century in your group.

5. SPEECH
Give a speech to other groups about the best thing and its reason.

(*) If you find a wrong or poor expression, let me know it.

I hope that we all can enjoy the practice.

Tadahiro, UESUGI

2011年06月05日

2011-06-11のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Ms Inoue

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,

  Hello there, ladies and gentlemen♪
  This is an anouncement of the practice on June 11th.

Genre: Talk
Title: Let's talk about fortune telling!

Do you believe in fortune telling?
Do you watch "Today's Horoscope Count down Hyper" on every weekday morning?
Do you like character judgement by blood types?
Do you know what animal you are in the Animal fortune telling?
Do you have a book of the Six-star fortune telling written by HOSOGI Kazuko?
Do you know that the Four-pillar Suimei is called "the Royal road" of fortune telling?
Do you have the "KY line" on your palm?
Have you ever visited a fortune teller? What did she or he tell you about your future? Did it realize?

Let's talk about fortune telling!

I hope you all enjoy the practice.

2011年05月29日

2011-06-04のプラクティス予告

Dear ESS members,

This is an announcement of the practice on Jun 4.
The outline of the practice is as follows.

Genre:Talk
Title:Interview by kindergarten child

Description:
1. Make some groups
2. 1person - Answerer,Others - Interviewer of kindergarten child
3. Answerer to disclose 1 topic to others for Q & A
4. Interviewer to ask question based on child thinking/horizon
For example;
1 ) Answerer Mr.Yamada disclose 'Osama bin Laden's assassination by
United States ' as a topic for Q & A
2 ) Interviewer ask question
-Why did US kill him?
-Why many Terrorists are attacking US?
-Why many Terrorists are from Islamite?
-How can they be friends? etc
5. Remarks
Answerer must answer the essence simply so that child can understand.
This means that Answerer is required to have the deep knowledge and
understanding about the topic.
So,pls disclose the topic which you are so familier or strong.
You will find what you are understanding or not yet even if you have
100% confidence about it right now.

I am happy if you find something to improve yourself.

Kawakami

2011年05月21日

2011-05-28のプラクティス予告

Dear  Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Hello, everyone!!
This is an announcement of next
practice.

Gerne: Talk
Title: Talk about Social Networks

Social networks, such as facebook or mixi, are now getting more and more attention.

I would like you to feel the air of social networks first.
And after that, please talk about them.

In this practice:

1. Fill in an introduction page of facebook and talk about it in group.
Example of topics:
favorite words, respective person, favorite book and so on

2. Talk about social networks.
Example of topics:
Why do you use or not use social networks?

Why are they so growing now?
Are they dangerous or not?
etc...

I'm happy if you have fun.

Best regards,
Kazuyuki Sugimura

2011年05月14日

2011-05-21のプラクティス予告

Presenter : Ms. Nakata

Dear Kyoto ESS Members

Hi,everyone.
This is an announcement of next practice.

Genre : Imagine
Title: Let's make a story.

In this practice, we will make a story every group.
And please tell us the story.

I hope you will enjoy it!!

See you soon.
Keiko Nakata

2011年05月08日

2011-05-14のプラクティス予告

Presenter : Mr. Tamura

Dear ESS members,

This is an announcement of the next practice on May 14.
The outline of the practice is as follows.

Genre: Talk
Title: Talk about your questions or troubles about learning English
Description:
1 Make some groups
2 Write one of the questions or troubles you have about learning English on paper.
For example:
Can “just listening to English CDs” make it possible to speak English fluently?
I want to improve my English vocabulary. What is the effective way to develop it?
3 Show the paper and explain the trouble or question more in detail to other members. After listening to the explanation, talk about it in the group. If anybody has good advice or solutions, don’t hesitate to tell them. Then go on to the next member’s trouble or question.

I hope you can get good advice or solutions through the practice.

Tamura

2011年05月03日

2011-05-07のプラクティス予告

Presenter : Mr. Tanaka

Genre : talk

Title : Let's talk about "Golden Week " of this year !


How are you spending time in this G.W ? having good time??
Please tell us what you did, where you went in the week.

It would be helpful if you bring some pictures that you took in G.W.
Hope you will enjoy talking with your group members.


Ryuichi Tanaka

2011年04月25日

2011-04-30のプラクティス予告

Presenter : Mr. Yasuda

Dear  Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Hello, everyone!!
This is an announcement of next practice.

Gerne: Talk
Title: Let's talk about the fashion!!

In this practice, we will talk about the fashion.

For Example,
1 What makes the fashin change?
2 Influence of the Tokyo Girls Collection
3 others

I hope you will enjoy it

*By the way, on 30th Apr. we will gather at a fashionable temple which is much different
from normal temples. Hope to see you at the fashionable place with fashionable talk.

Regards,
Kazu Yasuda

2011年04月17日

2011-04-23のプラクティス予告

Presenter : Mr. Hori

Dear Kyoto NHK members,

This is Shigeo HORI, living in Kashiba City.
I'd like to announce you the details of practice on April 23.

Genre: Discussion.

Title: Reckless Oldsters

Description:
According to White Paper on Crime in 2010, old people's crimes are increasing rapidly. And we see some old people claiming and asserting and shouting
at a library, coffee shops, hospital and so on. A male write, Tomomi Fujiwara named this type of oldsters as "Boso Roujin." Until recently, people believed that
old people were modest, calm, and non assertive at the public places. They are believed to be protected by social welfare system. But recently we witness some
reckless old timers at the public spaces. Fujiwara commented the reason behind these is accelerating social and technological change (cell phone, Internet, etc.),
and old people are hard to catch up with this trend compared to youngsters.

On 23rd, I'd like you to discuss this social matter and find the good way to lead your later life in this electric media society.
ps. Please Do NOT discuss the matters in this ESS.

Thank you.

2011年04月10日

2011-04-16のプラクティス予告

Dear  Kyoto NHK ESS members,

Hello, everyone!!
This is an announcement of next practice.

Gerne: Talk
Title: Let's talk about your favorite!!

In this practice, we will talk about your favorite things. For Example, favorite sports, music and so on.
If you have your favorite photo please bring it .
I hope you will enjoy it (^0^)

Best regards,
Satoko Ohkubo

2011年03月27日

2011-04-09のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Mr. Oku
Dear ESS members:

My name is A.O., and my nickname is Aou Ping. How are you doing?
As I have pre-announced at today's class room, it's my pleasure to take charge of the next practice on April 2.
The outline of the practice is as follows.

Genre: English Composition (Japanese-to-English translation).

I'd recommend that you prepare for this in advance because it may be a bit tough to complete Japanese-to-English translation in a limited time. To prepare, the entire body of practice is presented here on the Round Table. Please enjoy.

English Composition

Process:
(1) Make a group consisting of three people.

(2) One person must choose one topic from four Japanese passages printed below. Roughly, passages 1 and 2 are for advanced, 3 and 4 for introductory people.

(3) Allotted time for writing English translation is 25 min.

(4) Exchange the answer sheets in the group at random and start proofreading: Don’t hesitate to correct other person’s writing. No correction no advance. Use a dictionary and color pens. [20 min]

(4’) After finishing correction and modification, focus your primary attention to the usage of articles “a”, “an”, and “the” (see the attached reference material “Using Articles”). (not attached to Round Table announcement). Then go to other corrections.

(5) Return the corrected sheets to writers, who read it orally and explain how and why the writing is corrected. Discuss any possible subject but only in English [25 min].

1.科学技術者の心

私たち人間は、地球が何を考えているのかわからないまま、この小さな球体の上で生かされている。なのに、この有限の世界でとめどなく欲望を拡大し続け、それが限界を越えたことに気付いていない。すでに地球は無言のシッペ返しを始めたが、将来世代はそれに対して諦めと恨み言しか言えないのである。だから我々は、地球の財産を食い逃げせずに、金銭的・物質的・エネルギー的な欲望に溺れぬように身を正し、子孫への負債を軽くしなければならない。

ところが、新しい科学技術が次々と現れて経済の歯車に組み込まれると、人々は、それなしには幸せになれないと思い込む「取り残され恐怖症候群」に罹り、地球を蝕んでゆく。これが資本主義経済社会の特徴なのだ。だから科学技術者には、人の心の弱さを知って冷静に未来を見通し、科学技術と経済のバランスを考える責任がある。そして清貧の心と地球への感謝を社会に根付かせるのだ。

2.坂の上の雲は暗い

この社会は、ブレーキの壊れた満員バスを坂の上へ押し上げているようなものです。登り坂の向こうは下り坂、でも乗客は修理を後回しにして峠の上へ運転手をせきたてている。そんなに急いでどうするの、見てごらん、峠は雨雲に覆われて暗いのです。

私たちの経済中心社会は、限りのない欲望を乗せ、資本主義経済と科学技術というスーパー燃料を積んで坂道を上がる欠陥バスなのです。権威ある指導者たちはこれを発展だと言ってますがね。

亡くなった俳優の北林谷栄さんを偲んで、東北地方の民話が新聞に引用されていました。「ばあさまが山に捨てられることになり、せがれに背負われ深い山にのぼったそうな。ばあさまをおいて帰りかけたせがれは下りる道を見失う。仕方なく捨てたばかりの母親のもとに戻りたずねた“どうすべえか”。ばあさまは言ったそうな。“おめえの背中にぶっつわりながら道々枯れ枝をおっくじき道しるべにしてきたから、それを頼りにけえれや”」と。私たちにはこの姿が望まれているのかも。

3.3月12日の天声人語から

テレビ画面を正視することができなかった。瓦礫と海水の混じり合った津波が濁流のように家を、畑を、道路を呑み込んでいく。走っている車に波がのしかかる。ああ、だれか乗っているのだ、お父さん?お母さん?兄さん姉さん?だれかにつながる、かけがえのない命が呑まれてゆく。

マグニチュード9の猛烈な揺れ、被害はどれほど広がるのか。震源から遠い東京でも震度5強で揺れた。黒煙を上げるビルが職場の窓から間近に見え、いまも大地は不気味に揺れ続けている。

日本列島はプレートのぶつかり合う上に乗る。その危うさを物理学者の寺田寅彦は「国土全体が吊り橋の上にかかっているようなもの」とたとえた。その吊り橋の鋼索が切れた。

夜が明ければさらなる被害が確かめられよう。生命、財産、故郷の町並み、失われたものの大きさに打ちのめされる人たちとの絆を失うまい。こんなときに繋ぐための手が、私たちの心にはある。

4.ポルトガル

1543年、ポルトガル人は初めて鹿児島県の種子島を訪れました。いわゆる「鉄砲伝来」です。このポルトガル人が最初に日本を訪れたヨーロッパ人であり、徳川幕府による鎖国政策の前まで。日本人にとりポルトガル人が最も身近なヨーロッパ人でした。当時のポルトガル語は現在の英語のように最も身近な外国語で、パン、シャボン、カッパなど、当時のポルトガル伝来の外来語が、現代日本語にもたくさん残っています。

ポルトガルを旅行した日本人のほとんどが、ポルトガル語に好意的な反応を示します。歴史的に見ても日本との関連が深く、親近感を持てることも理由の一つでしょう。また、食文化が似通っていることもありそうです。ポルトガルのパンは日本の菓子パンのような、皮の薄いパンが多い。因みにお隣のスペインに行くとフランスパンのような表面が固いパンが中心になる。そのコントラストに驚かされます。料理もイワシの塩焼きなど日本人が普段食べている料理とそっくりなものに、よくお目にかかります。加えて、ここに住む人々の穏やかさが、日本人旅行者に安心感や、親しみを感じさせるのかもしれません。

以上

2011年03月23日

2011-03-26のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Mr. Nakamura

Dear Kyoto NHK ESS members,
Hello, everyone

I am Shimon Nakamura, living in Nakagyou ward, and have an honor to present you a practice on March 26th.
This is the second time for me to do so.

Genre: Vocabulary building and listening comprehension practices.
First of all, please, perking up your ears, listen to NHK radio world news for about 10 minutes.
It is my every day's task to listen the NHK radio world news, for which I am keen to overcome.

Next, vocabulary building 30 words and listening comprehension practice of news topics, tape (a).
I will ask you the meanings of the words and the contents of the news story.

and as tape (b), I will further introduce 30 words and another news story.
You are requesed to memorize the meanings while listening.

I hope this will be useful and help improve your ability further more.

Sincerely yours,
Shimon Nakamura(中村 史門)

2011年03月10日

2011-03-12のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Ms. Tanihara

Genre: Game

Title: Let's build up your vocabulary!

At first, please make some groups to have 4-6members in each group.

Part 1: English vocabulary quizzes
This game is guessing the English word from the definition of Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

Part 2: English riddle .
Please answer English riddle using active imagination.

Part 3: Liberal culture questions in English.
Let’s try to answer questions of liberal culture, such as
social studies, science, and English in English.

I hope you will enjoy it! See you on Saturday.

Best wishes,

2011年03月07日

2011-03-19のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Mr. Inoue

Title: News

Genre: Conversation 

Description :
The news contents of the conversation.
Sports , World affairs, Japan News,Culture etc


Best regards,

2011年03月04日

2011-03-05のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Mr. Sugiuchi

Dear Kyoto ESS members,

March is a very busy period in Japan. -Exams, school graduation,
transfers, paper work has to be finalized, reports, and many more
stuff.
Now, I am also the one who is suffering :-( However, and then, in
April, comes the cherry blossom season.
In this season, people gather under the sakura and have fun, drinking,
eatting, hosting a barbeque, talking until late in the evening.
On the other hand, it is also period that you have a new start,
entering school, staring a new fiscal year, starting new job, starting
a new hobby.

In the next practice, I would like to focus on "SPRING".
I will prepare several topics related and you could share it with your
group members.


Best regards,

2011年02月25日

2011-02-26のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Mr. Yauchi

目的は”話し方、パブリックスピーキング、コミュニケーション力全般の上達”
と銘打って、2分間スピーチを行います。

すすめ方として まず6人程度のグループを作っていただきます。
まず役割として、進行役、タイムキーパー役を決めてください。
こちらより用意したスピーチ用のお題を進行役の方は進行役ご自身を含め
皆さんにお題を無作為に配ってください。 (ここまで5分で終えてください。)

お題を各自確認し、皆さんの前で発表する2分間スピーチの原稿を練って
ください。(約15分で終えてください)

<コメントの作成>
その後グループ内で、一人ずつ2分間スピーチを行ってもらいます。
スピーチを聞く側の人は、紙をお渡ししますので、以下の2点について
コメントを記入して、スピーチされた方に渡してください。
① スピーチでよかった点(美点凝視でお願いします。)
② 改善点(改善すればさらにスピーチが良くなる部分)

このアドバイスが、客観的に自分のスピーチを評価できます。

<すすめ方>

進行役は 発表順を決める。
 ↓
 各自スピーチを行う。 
 (2分きっちりで終わるようにタイムキーパーの方は
 タイムマネジメントをしっかりとお願いします。)
 
 ↓

 聴衆役の方は、スピーチについてのコメント用紙を記入
 スピーチを行った方に渡す。

 ↓
 
 スピーチを行った方が感じた印象を皆さんに伝える。

 上記のサイクルを約6~8分で行ってください。

ポイントとして、2分間のスピーチ時間の中に、起承転結をしっかりと
入れ込むこと。また”落ち”も入れて見てください。

英語の上手い、下手ではなく、コミュニケーションの「ツール」として
英語を使い、雰囲気に臆せず自分の意見を堂々と発表してください。

それではお寺でお会いしましょう。

2011年02月12日

2011-02-19のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Ms. Kimura
Genre: Discussion
Title : Social issues

Description:
I will prepare some materials about some social issues.
I want to you make some groups, and discuss about these topics.
Please pay attention to other member’s opinion and express your opinion.

I hope you enjoy this practice and broaden your idea.

2011年02月10日

2011-02-12のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Ms. Inoue
Genre: Translation
Theme: 七福神

I will inform you all the practice on Feb. 12th.
Its topic is "the seven lucky dieties".


I am afraid to say that I guess most of you cannot name all of the4 seven lucky dieties.
I would like you to know, not only their names, but also who they are.
I will give you their introduction in Japanese, so please translate it into English.
We will make four or five groups to translate together. Please feel free to speak in
Japanese while talking together to translate. I think it is better to do this, especially for
beginners.
At the end of the practice, please present your translation of the sentences I choose
for each group.

2011年02月04日

2011-02-05のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Ms. Morita

Genre: Game

Title: "Words relay game and Imitating game"


Description:

Make some teams.
Introduce yourself to your group members.

= First 30 minutes === Words relay game.
1,Form lines by team.
2,The first person of a line is supposed to read and memorize a sentence on a sheet. 
3,Tell the sentence to the next person and relay it to the end of the line.
4,The last person will write the sentence on paper and read it out. 
5,The faster you'll do correctly, the more points you'll get.  

= Second 30 minutes === Imitating game.
1,For 5 minutes, think of what you're going to imitate in English.
2,In turn,imitate someone/something, and other members will guess it.
(PASS is allowed only 3 times)

For example your mother,your father,your teacher,your group member, BAKABON's father,Martin Luther King,Jr. and so on...

When you were a child, your friends mimicked your mother, your father and so on.
Now you mimic your close parson.
So you can do impressions of someone/something.
If someone mimic his/her mother, it's OK just to answer "YOUR MOTHER".

I hope you all enjoy this practice.

2011年01月26日

2011-01-29のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Mr. Tabata

ESS members,
Many of you may know “Justice”which is one of the most popular courses
by Prof. Michael Sandel in Harvard University.
The course is well known as ハーバード白熱教室. in Japan.
In this practice, I would like you to discuss “Justice”

Genre: Discussion
Title : Justice - What’s the right thing to do? -
(ハーバード白熱教室 without Sandel)
Description:
1. Make about 6 groups.
2. Read the handout and express your opinion for some questions concerning
about “Justice”


(Q1) Suppose you are driving the car at a speed of 100km an hour and find
the brake is broken and 5 people are on the road in front of you.
There is not enough time for you to stop. If you keep straight,
you will hit and kill them, but if you swerve left into side way, you will
collide with a worker and kill him (only one person).
What would you do? Is it always permissible to harm a smaller number in
order to prevent harm to a large number? What’s the right thing to do?

(Q2) An ordinary teacher can gain about 4 million yen a year.
Baseball player Ichiro can gain about 1.5 billion yen a year.
Obama, President of the US, can gain 36 million yen a year.
Thus, Obama earns about 10 times as much money as an ordinary teacher.
Ichiro earns about 42 times as much money as Obama, about 400 times as much
money as an ordinary teacher.
Is it the fair redistribution? Should Ichiro be given 42 times as much money
as Obama?

3. Share with your group members.
I will give you a sheet with some hints of the practice. 

The content of it is very difficult, but I’ll try to prepare hard so that
you can discuss easiily

Just feel the old philosophers’ idea and enjoy sophisticated discussion!.

If you preview the following HP, the discussion will be easier.

http://www.nhk.or.jp/harvard/archive.html
http://www.nhk.or.jp/harvard/index.html
http://www.justiceharvard.org/index.php?option=com_sectionex&view=category&id=8&Itemid=46
http://www.visualecture.com/wordpress/?page_id=3139 ←重いです。

2011年01月19日

2011-01-22のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Ms. Takesue

Genre: Talk

Title: Share your childhood memories.

Description:

1. Make some groups of 4-6members.

2. I will give you a sheet with some hints of the practice and a blank one to write down. 

Hints:

What type of child you were, active or quiet? Tomboy or bully?

How many siblings did you have and where did you stand in them?

How did your parents treat you? Let you alone or meddle with you?

What were your favorite TV programs or books and did they have influence on you? How?

Where did you spend time for fun and what kind of play did you enjoy most?

Tell us about your friends you played with most in those days.

Tell us about your memorable events.

Were you an athletically gifted child or had rather slow reflexes?

Did you keep pets? What were they and tell us about them.

Did you have any lessons(music,art,swimming,etc)? What were they? Did you like or enjoy them?

Other than above, tell us whatever childhood stories you could remember.

I hope you enjoy this practice and this will help you understand more of you each other.

2011年01月10日

2011-01-08のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Mr. Sugiuchi
Genre: Talk
Title: New Year's Resolution

Description:
Make groups consist of 4 to 6 people as usual.
Share your new year's resolutions with your group members.
If you remember your year 2010's resolutions, please introduce as well.

2010年12月20日

2010-12-25のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Mr. Yamamoto

Let's look back on the year 2010.

The situation around us is pushing up tensions, which we haven't experienced in the past few decades.
Economic crisis have already swept all over the world, and now East Asian region is going to be confronted with a serious security crisis.

Now, how do you summarize the recent situation around you ?
Today's practice is a kind of an annual event fur the last time of the year, which has somehow continued since a long time ago.

Pick up a couple of memorable events that have happened to you this year and also impressive news fur this year.

Themes for today,
1.How have you spent this year ?
Unforgettable events to you, your personal experiences in 2010.
2.How do you summarize the year 2010 ?
World affairs, recent social phenomena etc.

Enjoy talking about the last practice for the year for the benefit of better coming year 2011.

Kamsa hamnida(Thank you)

2010年12月12日

2010-12-18のプラクティス予告

Presenter: K.Nonaka
Genre:Translation & Talk
Title:Jewish quotes

Percentage of Jewish population to the world's population is small, but many business successful persons and Novel Prize winners are made up of Jewish.
Let’s learn their wisdom from Jewish quotes!

First, I will introduce some Jewish quotes in Japanese. Please translate these quotes into English. This is not an examination, so it is OK to teach each other in your group. It would be great to exchange opinions on how to translate. When your group finishes translating, let me know. I will give you English translation.

Second, please talk about how you think these quotes. Also, if you have favorite quotes, it would be great to introduce those.

Regards

2010年12月05日

2010-12-11のプラクティス予告

Presenter : Ryuichi Tanaka

Genre: Talk and Presentation

Title : Where do you recommend in Japan?

If you had guests or friends from overseas, where would you recommend in Japan for them? Your friends have a couple of free days in Japan and they want to go to your most recommendable place....

Discription :
Groups of four or five members.
1, Each member writes the draft
2, Present your plan in the group
3, Choose the best of group and prepare
"One-minute commercial" for that
4, The commercial time for each groups

Before the practice, please decide on a place where you will recommend and gather some information of that ( when, access, what's interesting....) It would be helpful if you could bring some pictures etc. The place is not necessarily famous.

Hope you will enjoy this practice!

2010年12月03日

2010-12-04のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Mr.Sugiuchi

Hours of sunlight has gradually become fewer and I guess not only me
but many people are having hard time getting up in the morning.
Yes, winter has arrived and 2011 is around the corner. Am i only the
one who feels that the last New Year day was just couple weeks ago?
In the next practice, I would like to discuss New Year day since I
thought it would be interesting to share your customs with other
members. For instance, ozoni is almost different in each family and i
always found interesting to when I hear about it.
The practice would be as bellow.

Genre: Free Talk
Title: New Year
Description:
1. Make 6 groups.
2.Read the hand-out and recall how you normally spend on new year day.
If you don't have any idea, may be the following keywords might help
you.(15min)
-TV program(NHK Kohaku)
-Toshikoshi-soba
-Family gathering
-Osechi(special selection of dishes during the New Year celebration )
-Ozoni(How is your Ozoni in your home? Red-miso? White-miso?)
-Moshi
-Bell ringing(Buddhist temples all over Japan ring their bells a 108
times to symbolize the 108 human sins)
-Postcards
-Hatsumode
-Otoshidama(How did you spend it?)
-Special custom in your home town
-Games(Kite flying, Sugoroku, fukuwarai, top(koma))
-Hatsumode
3. Share with your group members.

Hope you could have a nice talk with your group members and have a new
idea to spend this coming New Year.

Best regards,

2010年11月21日

2010-11-27のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Ms. Iwasaki
Genre: Presentation&Listen

Title: Introduce your favorite song

Description

1. I'd like to make some groups of 4-6members

2. I will give you a prepared sheet, and please write down 2points.(10min)

①Your favorite song and singer's name
②The reason or your own story&memory why you select this song.

*Please select only the song written by English, except instrumental
 and other language songs.

3, Firstly, make his/her speech,and after finished speech,listen his/her
favorite song by using mobile music player.(each person have10min)


*このプラクティスで、言葉だけでなく、その場で音楽も聞いて英語を楽しみ
 たいと考えております。ご自身で、持ち運んでも苦にならないmusic playerを
 おもちのかたは、選ばれた曲を入れてご持参の事前準備のご協力お願いします。
 おもちでない方は、You Tubeの中にあればそれを利用してと考えてますので、
 事前にその曲があるかをYou Tubeで見ておいて下さい。
 当日、参加予定でiphoneをおもちのかたは当日You Tubeを閲覧するときに
 ご協力いただければ大変助かります。(今のところ2台です)
 よろしくお願いいたします。
 
4, Talk about this topic in your group freely,and I will collect entered sheets.

I hope you'll enjyoy this practice!

2010年11月18日

2010-11-20のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Mr. Inoue
Title: World Statistics

Genre: Conversation 

Description :
Population,mountain,Various Genre.
What do you think of look World Statistics ?

2010年10月15日

2010-10-30のプラクティス予告

1. Make some groups of 6 members.

2. Give you some photos of famous movies
and paper written Japanese translation.

3. Re-translate it into English
and talk about its movies.


Best Regards, Yamaguchi.

2010年10月13日

2010-10-16のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Ms. Nakahira

Genre:Presentation and Talk
Theme:Home

1. I'd like to make some group of 5-6 members.
2. I hand out the document of "Suo Oshima of Setouchi Island".
3. Please think and introduce your opinion for "Shimaokoshi".
4. Please introduce "Your Home".Home is Town, Spiritual, Music, and other.

I appreciated it if you have a good time.
Best regards,

2010年10月05日

2010-10-09のプラクティス予告

Presenter: H.Ishizaki


How do you explain Japan to foreign people


1. You are to be divided into several groups, each groups will have around 5 or 6 members

2. I prepared several topics on Japan which are likely to be asked by foreign people.
Topics include question and sample answer both in Japanese and English for your assistance.
Please choose topic within your group who choose which.

3. Please read the question and sample answer which you chose.
Take time and think your answer with modifing or adding your personal knowledge and/or
experiences on it. Then make a small presentation in front of other members in your group.
Please try to expand the topic and you will enjoy the conversation afterward.

4. Members other than personator ask question on it as if you are a foreign people. And presenter answer it.

5. After the presentation and Q&A, please relax and have casual conversation within your group regarding the topic.

6. Please repeat step 1 through 5.

I hope you will enjoy the conversation

Thank you and regards

2010年09月29日

2010-10-02のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Simon Nakamura

Genre: Listening activities

Title: News English
Description: Listening of vocabularies and some paragraphs of news English
written by Americans.
First of all (A), listen 30 piece words and some paragraphs of news English.
Participants should write down the meanings in Japanese, respectively.
Speaking of each piece word is so fast that you have no enough time to write
down exactly.
The A task is easy and you will get full marks.
Secondary (B), listen 30 words and 2 news English (at the normal speed and
slow speed),and
write down the meanings in Japanese, each.

I have many current news English, such as brain-dead donor, Pink-Panthur
criminal gang, mosque near the Ground zero
and whaling and anti-whaling countries, but I would like to present familiar
subjects in (A) and (B) at this time.
I will appoint you to get your answer.
I hope you will enjoy them.

2010年09月20日

2010-09-25のプラクティス予告

presenter: Mr. Hori

テーマ:ウミガメのスープ
ジャンル:クイズ形式の話し合い
形式:(知っておられる方も意多いでしょうが)、「20の扉」のように回答者は、出題者に対して「はい」「いいえ」「関係ありません」の3つの形式でできる質問をします。これを繰り返して正解に導くようにしていきます。正解のためには有効な質問を出すことが大事となります。出題者はローテーションで変わり、他の人たちが回答者となります。
例題:レストランでウミガメのスープを注文した男は、それを一口食べたあとで自殺をしてしまった。なぜ?
ということでよろしくお願いいたします。

2010年09月15日

2010-9-18のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Ms. Fuji

Genre:workshop

Title:
What is your dream?

Description:
I introduce the art project that is called Dream Seed Project.
It will be held on 4th December 2010 at Banpaku park in Osaka.
10,000 twinkling dream seed float down on the ground from a balloon.
In this practice, I would like you to make one of dream seed.
1.I will give you dream seed materials.
2.Please assemble the kit.
3.Talking about your dream in your group.
4.Please write your dream!

On 4th December 2010, Your Dream Seed will float down and
someone catch your dream seed.

I hope you will enjoy it !

2010年08月30日

2010-9-4のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Mr. Mashima
Extraordinary hot wearther is still covering the whole Japan area.
Hope you are managing your health without major problems.

Here is an overview of the next practice.
In net, it is an extended trial of those practices in recent two weeks.
This time, we try to make a short speech on a given topic in front of the group members.
Speech is not just a Chat or Introduction, but a little bit formal way of making presentation.
Sample topics will be provided for your reference. From simple topics to a little bit complicated ones.
In addition, we rotate the roles in the team...Speaker, Questioner, Time Keeper and Supporter.
It is easy practice for everybody. Please join us on 9/04 and enjoy it !!

Take care !!

2010-8-28のプラクティス予告

Presenter: 山村さん

Genre:
Presentation and talk

Title:
Introduce your hometown

Description:
In this practice, you will introduce your hometown to the other group member,
and then talk about it in each group.

2010年08月23日

2010-8-21のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Ms. Kimura
Genre: Talk a lot
Title: Talk! Talk! Talk!

Description:
We make two groups, make pairs from each group and talk a few minutes.
You can introduce yourself to know each other,
or you can talk about your favorite things or recent experiences.
I'll prepare paper about some topics.
We change pairs one by one.
So far as time permits, we can talk with more members in English.

I hope you'll speak a lot in English, and enjoy knowing each other.
Thank you.

2010-8-14のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Mr. Yoshida
Genre: Presentation and Discussion (Group Work)
Title: "The Back of the Napkin"

The proverb says that "seeing is believing." I am convinced that using
simple pictures is an effective way to share your ideas with other
people.

In this practice I would like you to explore presentations which
utilizes simple pictures. Firstly, pick an idea and state it in a
simple sentence. The simpler is the idea, the better -- because this
is just a practice. Then, you are suppose to expand your idea in a few
-- three to five -- pictures in which the idea is explained
best. After that, you're going to give them a go.

There should be some questions or challenges from others. Please feel
free to discuss them in your group.

I hope you like the practice.

2010-8-7のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Ms. Tanihara

Genre:Dictation and Talk

Title: Let's enjoy fairy tale!

At first, please make some groups to have 5-6members in each group.

Part 1: Dictation
Listen to the following synopsis of two story and fill in the blanks.
"A fox Called Gon"
"Miracle on New Year's Eve"

Part 2: Talk
Have you ever have a question or come upon another story when you read fairy tale? Shall we share and discuss those questions? Here, I show some examples. At first, please discuss these questions. Next, please find questions or another story about fairy tale and discuss it in your group.

I hope you will enjoy it! See you on Saturday.

2010-7-31のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Ms. Fuji
Genre:Talk

Title:Fearful Story

This summer is too hot.
Let's talk about fearful story at your hometown.

1.Make some groups to have 5-6members in each group.
2.I will give you some papers written about Japanese classical horror story.
3. Talk about the papers or your fearful experience in your group.
4.Choose the most fearful story in your group and introduce it to other groups.

I hope you will become cool !

2010-7-24のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Mr. Saito
Genre: Presentation & Discussion

Title: Workshop for entrepreneurship

Setting:

You are an entrepreneur escaping from a company. For the purpose of winning funds, you must present your scheme to foreign investors.

(あなたは脱サラ起業家です。資金調達のため、外国人投資家に事業計画をプレゼンしなければなりません)

① You are attached to one group.

② You present your business plan to your group members.

③ Choose the most attractive or interesting plan in your group.

④ Discuss the chosen plan and try to improve it in your group. Can’t you find any additional ideas to it?

⑤ Present the improved plan to other members.

夢、空想、一攫千金、社会貢献などなど、百人百様のプランが出てきて、楽しい一時を過ごして頂けたら幸いです。

なお、今回使用するワークシートを当メールに添付しております。プリントアウトして当日お持ち頂けるとありがたいです。

それでは、当日よろしくお願いいたします。

2010年08月22日

2010-7-10のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Mr. Tabata
Genre: Discussion
Title: Let's go voting!
-Upper House Election 2010 Special-
Description:
Th next day of this practice(July 11th) is the Voting day of the upper house election
(参議院選).
In this practice I'd like you to discuss all about the election & political issues.

I am going to prepare the information about the manifesto of each parties and election.
Choose the interesting issues and discuss freely.

The members who are very interested in politics will be expected to help the ones
who are not familiar with politics to understand the manfesto and decide to which parties will vote.

I hope you will enjoy this practice.

2010-7-3のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Mr. Fukumoto
Genre: Discussion & Game

Title: How Much Would You Pay?

Description:
This activity is designed to improve your listening and speaking skills. This activity has two
stages. In the first stage, you read descriptions and answer the questions about your sense of value.
Then, you show your answer to other members of your group, and share sense of value of all members.
The information would be a key in the next stage. In the second stage, you read descriptions and
answer the questions as you have answered in the previous stage. Then, you estimate the third (or
second, forth,
…, etc.) largest price in your group based on the standard of value of group members, which you may
get in the previous stage. You find the third largest price in your group by opening the price of all
members. You obtain your score as the gap of your price and the third largest price. The score is
added question by question. Finally, if you get the minimum total score in your group, you are the
winner in your group.

2010-6-26のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Mr. Oku

Let’s learn current English from the newspapers.

How often do you read English newspapers? I imagine you would do so occasionally when you need English training or feel hungry of them. Indeed, everyday, a lot of current, idiomatic, and up-to-date words and phrases are printed in the reports of world-wide and domestic news.

Today’s practice is composed of four steps:

(1) Read colloquial English phrases and words that are excerpted from newspapers (10 min).

(2) Write creatively more than a few English sentenses of your own by using the words and phrases printed in italicized letters (20 min).

(3) Present them and talk on them in each group (20 min).

(4) In the last 10 min, select 2 or 3 interesting products and show them to us all.

Let’s start and enjoy!

2010-6-19のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Mr. Aiki
Discussion

Title: Visit Indonesia or Philippines
We are going to have two guests.
One is from Indonesia, the other from Philippines.
They will give us quick presentations to encourage our
dialogue.

2010-6-12のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Ms. Okubo
Gerne:translation&play

I'll prepare speech of Takarazuka.
First, I want you to image training of Takarazuka.
Then, taranslate it and decide the role and play it in your group.
I hope you'll enjoy it.

2010-6-5のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Ms. Nakata
Genre:Quiz

I prepare some world history & geography quiz.
I hope you'll enjoy it.

2010-5-28のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Mr. Toda
Genre: Talk
Title: Humor and laughter

We will read an article on humor and laughter and
discuss this topic.

2010-5-15のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Mr. Hori
Genre: Discussion
Title: Debate type discussion? What’s that?
Description:
In this practice I’d like you to discuss several issues. Unlike a usual discussion, this “debate type” discussion requires you to follow the opinions given to you in the paper that I will hand out before the practice time. That means no matter what opinions you actually have, your arguments should be based on the opinions writtten in that paper. Your main task is to come up with good reasons for supporting those opinions and convince other participants to agree with you.
Firstly, every member in the group tells the opinions given to them in that paper and presents the reasons that they think can support those opinions. Then the members start a free discussion.
Remember, you have to stick to the opinions given to you in that paper during the discussion.
I hope you can enjoy this practice.

Issues:
1. English: Teaching English in English
2. Pets: Dogs or Cats
3. Entertainment: Sanma or Shinsuke
4. Sports: Women on the sumo ring (dohyo)
5. Environment: 24-hour convenience stores

2010-5-8のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Inoue

Genre: Talk
Title: World map talk

Description:

Use the world map talk.
Would you tell me how to visited to the country ?
Where would you like to go country ?
Culture , Economy , Food ,etc.
Free talk.

2010-5-1のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Mr. Inoue

Genre: Talk

Title: News about two years ago winter

Description:

I'll give you some newspaper about two years ago, on december 2007.
Select one article which you are interested in or remember.
And explain to other members in your group about three minutes.
Other members take a comment, what article he talk about, in turn.
Change a person to explain the article.
Let's enjoy.

2010-4-24のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Mr. Watanabe
Genre: Talk
Title: Technology

Recently, a lot of electrical goods such as TVs, telephones, audio
players and personal computers have made amazing progress.
I will prepare some material on them and let's talk about their
progressive technology.

2010-4-3のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Mr.Noguchi
Genre: Talk

Title: 桜の森の満開の下/Under The Bautiful Cherry blossoms

新しい会場、鞍馬口のお寺での、第1回目の、柿落としとなる、プラクティスを担当させていただくことになりました。

桜とお花見についてのトークをさせていただきます。
なお、タイトルの「桜の森の~」は、坂口安吾の小説からとったものです。

2010年03月13日

2010-3-13のプラクティス内容

Presenter:Mr.Yasuda

Genre: Talk

Title:
  Let's talk about Vancouver Olympic

Description:
 Vancouver Olympic was ended. But there are something I don't
 understand well. Please discuss Vancouver Olympic based on
 some questions already prepared.

 I hope you will enjoy this practice!

           

2010年03月04日

2010-3-6のプラクティス予告

Presenter:Ms.Kimura

Genre: Talk

Title: Let's explain Japanese customs

Description:
There are many customs proper to Japan, for example, bow (ojigi).
I prepare paper written about some typical Japanese unique customes.
Make some groups and talk about how to explain the reason of those customs
and talk about more customs you hit on.

I hope you will enjoy this practice!


2009年12月31日

2010-2-27のプラクティス予告

Presenter:Mr.Kimura

1. Genre: Talk
2. Title: Let's talk sweet and bitter memories in your school days
3. Description:
Let’s talk sweet and bitter memories in your school days.
We must have sweet and bitter memories in our school days.
Let's share the experiences with us. Here are rules below

①Everyone should be a speaker in turns.
②Listeners can ask questions to the speaker.
③When your group finishes first turn, let’s go to second turn.
④Then, repeat the steps from ① to ③.

Sweet and bitter memories have now turned into good memories.
So let’s share those good experiences together.

2010-2-20のプラクティス予告

Presenter:Mr.Kitamura

1. Genre: Drawing

2. Title: Let's draw the ゆるキャラ

3. Description:
I will give you pictures of many ゆるキャラ.
Please explain them to other members in your group. and
then other members draw them from your information.
Your skill of drawing is gonna be tested.

2010-2-13のプラクティス予告

Presenter:Mr.Kuchinaka

2010-2-6のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Ms. Kajita

Genre: Talk

Title: The Olympic Winter Games

Description:

The Olympic Winter Games are around the corner.
Let's talk about your favorite sports and remarkable
athletes. You may be able to find new pleasures of the
Olympic Games.

2010-1-30 のプラクティス予告

Presenter:Mr.Kajita

1. Genre: Game

2. Title: Puzzles

3. Description: Let’s do crossword puzzles.

I am preparing some puzzles selected from various fields.
You would be better off bringing a dictionary.

2010-1-23のプラクティス予告

Presenter:Ms.Iwasaki

Genre: Talk and simple work

Title:My favorite

Description

In this practice, I would like you to talk about your favorite and
rediscovery your good point(=charm point).

1. Make some groups
2, Please think about your three favorites(about10min)
3.Each member makes his/her speech about 3-5min,and other member
find three good point of speaker.For example,expression,gently voice,
fluently speech,gesture etc anything OK! Please express it concretely.)
I prepare blank sheet,please write down three good point.
4.After all members speech,exchange the sheet that filled in you charm point!
5,Talk about freely.

I hope you will enjoy this practice!


2009年12月11日

12-12のプラクティス予告

Presenter:Ms.Matsumura

Genre: Training

Title: Interpretation

Description:
In this practice, I would like you to act like an interpreter.
Your partner prepare a Japanese passage with 4 or 5 sentences and you
change the each sentence to English soon after you hear Japanese.
You are not allowed to use a dictionary for the first time. Please try it anyway!

Second, you take some time to arrange the same passage with your dictionary
after that and try the same again (You cannot take notes).  
Your second time would be much better than the first.
I hope you will enjoy it.

Best regards,Chie Matsumura

2009年11月20日

11-28のプラクティス予告

Presenter:Hirano

Genre: Talk

Title: Trouble in Travel

Description:
There are a lot of trouble while you are travelling.
Your flight delays and you can't make the connecting flight.
You miss the train, lost baggage, over charged or served
what you don't order at the restaurant,lost your way and
finally locked out from your hotel room.It seems to be endless.
This makes me believed that "travel" can be a synonym of "trouble".
Let talk about the trouble you have experienced and how did you
deal with itin a group of 4 to 5.

2009年11月04日

11-14プラクティスの予告

Presenter: Yumi Nakahira

Genre: talk

Title: Introduce your ambition or saga

Description:
As you know, Ryoma Sakamoto is famous historical figure.
15th November is day of his birth and death.I want to talk about him
and introduce your ambition or saga.

1. Make some groups.

2. Read a prepared paper about Ryoma Sakamoto history.

3. Talk about him, your feeling and something.

4. Introduce your ambition or saga to own group members.
(If you can not talk about ambition or saga, any genre is allowed.)

5. Choose most interesting story from each group and introduce it
other groups.(19:15-19:20)

 I will be happy to you have a good time. Yumi Nakahira

2009年10月27日

2009-10-31のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Yohei Kuranuki.

Genre: Reading&Discussion

Title: World Heritage

Description:
1)Please make some small groups(5-6 people each group).
2)I will give different articles to each of group members.
Each articles are written about different world heritage spot. Please read your article.
3)Now it's time to share your information with other members.

Please tell what you read to other members.
Please add if you have extra information about it.
When all members of the group finish introducing the articles,
please continue talking. The topic is about world heritage. ALL THE BEST!

2009-10-31のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Yohei Kuranuki.

Genre: Reading&Discussion

Title: World Heritage

Description:
1)Please make some small groups(5-6 people each group).
2)I will give different articles to each of group members.
Each articles are written about different world heritage spot. Please read your article.
3)Now it's time to share your information with other members.

Please tell what you read to other members.
Please add if you have extra information about it.
When all members of the group finish introducing the articles,
please continue talking. The topic is about world heritage. ALL THE BEST!

2009年10月15日

2009-10-17のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Masako Fuji.
Genre: Talk
Title:My Landscape

Description
Hopefully, you are prepared with one picture (see below), and ready to start.
.Travel photo
・Daily photo
・Clipping of magazine
・Choice ↓this sight
http://www.flickr.com/groups/japanese/

1. Make some groups to have 5 - 6 members in each group.
2.Speech about the picture in your group.
3. Please talk about that of all the members.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone.

2009年10月01日

2009-10-10のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Ms.Morita.

I like strange , mysterious happenings.
I thought this practice.

① Genre: Talk

② Title:Strange happenings

③ Description
1. Make some groups to have 5 - 6 members in each group.
2. Share each member's experiences in your group.
3. Please tell your group's some strange happenings in front of all the members.

I'm looking forward to seeing everyone.


2009-10-3のプラクティス予告

Presenter:Mr.Sugiuchi

Genre:Presentation/Free Talk

Purpose:The practice's main purpose is to enrich your vocabulary.
There are words you often use in Japanese, but you don't know them in English.In this practice you are going to present your topic and your partner's topic.Presenting your topic to other members, I am sure you will encounter those words.Hopefully, you will get to know new words and phrases through this practice.

Practice:Practice consists of two section.
Section 1:
1. Make a group of 4 - 6 people.
2. Each person choose his/her own topic.
3. Prepare to present the topic to other Group members.
Try to use new words and phrases.
4. Present the topic and new words/phrases to other group members. -

Section 2:
1. Make a pair within the group.
2. Choose a topic.
3. Explain your topic to your partner.
4. Present your partner's topic to other group members in English.
In other words, you are going to listen your partner's topic and
next introduce it to other members.

Topic:You could pick any topic you want to talk.
If you have difficulties to choose a topic,
please refer the themes from bellow.

Hobby (私の趣味)- Specialty(私の得意なこと)- Boast(私の自慢)- Chuckle (最近クスと笑った出来事)- Saga (or other person's ) saga. (私(知人でも可)の武勇伝)- Skill(私の一芸)- Trivia(私の知ってる豆知識)- Scenery(私の知ってる絶景ポイント)- The best ○○○ I've ever ○○○(今まで最高の○○)
*Other topics are also highly welcomed

Please prepare at least one topic for your presentation.

2009年09月18日

9-26のプラクティス予告

Presenter:Haruka Hasaba.
Topic:
What Happens Next?

Practice:
I will read a book halfway.
And then you will imagine what happens next.
Your story are not needed to be as same as the book.
Your creation may be beyond the original story!

Process:
1. Make some groups to have 5 - 6 members in each group.
2. I will read a picture book halfway.
3. Imagine what happens next by yourself.
4. Share each member's story in your group and make up one story!
Please imagine how the story goes and ends.

*Tips for creating one story
Choose one of the exciting stories and expand it.
Pull some fantastic parts from everyone and make them into one story.
Write down the story as you can read it.
If the story has some lines like a real picture book, it will be better!

5. Please tell your group's story in front of all the members.
6. Finally the original story will be shown!

I hope you will enjoy this practice!


9-19のプラクティス予告

Presenter: Junko Nakano

Genre: Game Dedcription:

Game1. Describe things in English and make your team members guess and answer quickly.

Game2. Listen to my descriptions and guess the English words which are from the dictionary.

Describing skill, listening skill and teamwork will be required.I hope you all enjoy this practice.

2009年09月02日

2009-9-12のプラクティス予告

Presenter:Mr.Enokizono

Genre:Talk

Title:Introduce in Kyoto .

Description:

1.discuss about the favorite place or recommend place in Kyoto.

2. Planning a day trip to Kyoto for the foreigner.

2009-9-5のプラクティス予告

Presenter:Ms.Nakashima

Genre:Talk

Title: Circus and Advertisements

Description:
1.First, listen to a report about a circus for about 4 minuites.
Please talk about circus movies and your image of the circus.

2.I will give you a story regarding a circus advertisement.
Read it and guess what happend after that.

3.Discuss the following question.
Do ads and commercials influence you?
Give reasons and examples to support your answer.

4.Let's talk about a TV commercial you like or dislike.



2009年08月25日

2009-8-29のプラクティス予告

Presenter:Mr.Yamamura

1. Genre: Work and presentation

2. Title: Introduce your partner

3. Description:
In this practice, you will introduce not yourself,
but your partner in a group.
First, you will have a mutual interview with your partner,
and then introduce your partner to the other group member
according to your interview.

2009年08月11日

2009-8-22のプラクティス予告

Presenter:Mr.Noguchi
Genre: disucussion

This time, I'd like you to have Discussions And the title of the practice is
: Is your learning on the right track?

It would be useful from time to time to look back in the past
learning and get some constructive feedback for future.
Also, It should be useful to share tips among group to make
the participation in the ESS more valuable.

Part A (~7:00)
Make presentations in turn on the following topics and then
discuss and share tips among your group.

・What was your utmost motivation to join the ESS in the first place?

・Have your English skills improved from the time you joined this circle? 
And how?(If you are a newcomer, what do you want to achieve?)

・Is there any skill (i.e., reading, listening speaking and writing skills etc.) 
that you think you should put more effort into?

・Are you spending time for study in addition to working on your NHK text?

Part B (~7:30)
Have a talk on any of the following topics.

・Role of grammar in speaking English

・Relationship between true command of English and the results of
 various proficiency tests for English

・Indispensable value of being abroad in acquiring a foreign language:
Can't we learn a language exclusively within our own country?

・How to build vocabulary


Part C

Make brief comment for all the participants on what you found
most impressive or interesting or valuable in the discussion.
I hope precious informaion or advice will be given by as many
memberas possible and everyone enjoy the talk.

2009-8-15のプラクティス予告

Presenter:Mr.Hori
Genre: disucussion
Theme: Golden Section(Golden Division, Golden Ratio)

2009年07月25日

2009-08-08のプラクティス予告

Presenter:Mr.Fukumoto

Genre: Game
Title: Describe and Draw the Situations Description

This activity is designed to improve logically speaking and listening skills.
A person accuratelyexplains the situation on a picture to the other group
members. The other members draw the situationonly by listening to the explanation.
Then, they compare their drawing to each other and check theoriginal picture.

2009-08-01のプラクティス予告

Presenter :Mr.Yauchi
Genre : Quiz and Talk
Title : The climate change + Environmental Problems.
Description :
1.Make some groups.
2.Quiz about the climate change. Test your knowledge!
3.Talk about the following topics in your group freely.
1) What impact does global warming have on us?
2) We can find many actions that we can do to improve a global environment.
3) There are various environmental problems. Let's discuss what we can do about it.


2009年06月25日

2009-07-25のプラクティス予告

Presenter:Ms.Kimura.
Genre: Talk
Title:
What's your favorite?

Description:
You are going to make a short speech about your favorite things to your group members.
For example: favorite books, game, music, other hobbies, place to go, and so on.

Procedure:
1. Divide the members into several groups.
2. Write down what you are going to talk.(about 10 minutes)
3. One of your group members makes his/her speech.
4. Talk about the topic in your group freely.
5. Step 2 and
step 3 will be repeated.

I hope you will enjoy this practice!


2009-07-11のプラクティス予告

Presenter:Ms.Ohkubo

Gerne: Talk&translation

Description:
I would like you to make English haiku and introduce it in your groups.
So, if you have time, please think topics you want to write.
Also, I want you to try haiku translation from Japanese to English.
I hope you enjoy it.Thank you.

2009-07-04のプラクティス予告

Presenter:Mr.Saito

Genre: Talk and listening
Title: 233th anniversary of U.S. Independence

Description:
In the U.S., the 4th of July is a national holiday to celebrate Independence in 1776.

[Section1] You will listen to material including American culture, history and geography. Please answer multiple choice questions.

[Section2] Let’s talk about the subjects below.
1. What comes to mind when you think about America? Please tell the reason.
2. Which place do you want to visit in U.S.? Why there?
3. Do you have your favorite American? On which point do you like or respect him or her?
You don’t need any preparation for this workshop.

But it may be helpful for you to check the names and places of the American states.

See you!

2009年04月20日

2009-06-27のプラクティス予告

Presenter:Mr.Tabata.

Genre: Talk

Title:The story of ○○

Description: Does anyone know TV Program “人志松本の○○な話 (The story of ○○)”?

I would like you to try to make the story of ○○ in English .
In other words, I would like to make the speech about some
themes in your group. It might be difficult a little, so I would
like you to prepare to make interesting stories before you come if possible.
I attach the URL of this program below, so refer to it.

Procedure on June 27th.

1. Divide the members into several groups.
2. Choose 2 themes you would like to tell or listen to, in your group.
3. Make your own stories (1 minute speech) about the following themes.
Unique or surprising or interesting stories are desirable as much as you can.  
Both your experience and information from others are OK.

4. Make a speech in your group (1 min. speech, 2min free talk about the topic.).
Choose the most interesting story about the theme in your group.
Repeat same procedure with the other theme.

5. Introduce the most interesting story to other groups.
Themes Choices
(1)The stories of your very favorite things (好きなものの話)
Explain why and how much you like it.

Ex. person, celebrityin history, hobbies, games sports, songs,
shops, animals, foods, any things
(2) The stories of the things you cannot forgive or irritating things
(ゆるせない話、納得いかない話)  
Criticize the any customs or happenings or anything in the worlds
or tell the irritating things or situation. 

Ex. 1 「承る」という漢字一文字で「うけたまわる」と5文字読ませるのは無理がある
2 視力の数字は小数で小さな数なのがわかりにくい。もっと大きい整数だとわかりやすい。
3 せみの成虫は寿命が短くかわいそうという教育があるがあれだけ大声で鳴いたら
当たり前。ペース配分が大事。
    4 急いでいるときに狭い通路で歩くのが遅い人が2人並んで抜かせないと。
    5 家電ショップで「ポイント還元で実質○○円」の表記が許せない

(3)The stories when you ate the best dishes in you life(ヨダレが出る話)
   Explain when and where you ate it and how nice it was.

(4)Useful Stories (ためになる話) Explain any good information for other members.

http://blogs.dion.ne.jp/mmbon/archives/8288996.html#comments
http://blogs.dion.ne.jp/mmbon/archives/7881246.html
http://www.fujitv.co.jp/b_hp/marumaru/index.html
人志松本の○○な話 broadcasted on Tuesday 23:00~23:30 8ch.

2009-06-20のプラクティス予告

Presenter:staff

Genre: Talk

Title: What s new? 

Description: You are going to make a short speech to your group members.      You can choose any topic you want to talk about.     
For example---news in your daily life                  
your favorite book,music,dish,etc.                   your family,friend,coworker,etc.                   your hobby,dream,job,etc.  

Procedure:  1.Make some groups.    
          2.Write down what you are going to talk.(about 10min.)    
3.One of your group members makes his/her speech.    
4.Talk about the topic in your group freely.    
5.Step 2 and step 3 will be repeated.

Ⅰ hope you can enjoy this practice!

2009-06-13のプラクティス予告

Presenter:Mr.Kimura.

Genre: Debate(or more than discussion)
Title: Let's have a debate Description:

We would like to have debate with 4 people. So today,
one group will have 4(5) people.And then within the group
please do make A team and B team, each of which has two people.
I will give you topics and please discuss them and please get
the result which is better or more important.

I expect you to discuss and debate one topic for more than ten minutes.
And please make decisions within the group.
Discussion and debate is different, but I hope you will have a kind of debates.

The topics are below:

1, Dog or Cat
2, Smoking or Non-smoking
3, Meat or Vegetable
4, Communism or Capitalism
5, Fast or Slow life
6, Car or Train

Additional topics
1, Process or Result4, Hot or Cold3, Email or Letter 2, Emotional or Rational
A group should support the former position,
B group should support the latter position, even if your real is not A or B.
The purpose of this practice is below:・Training to think about the appropriate
reasons.Showing your opinions to the others.
Practice to become to be more open-minded (Japanese is regarded as a shy people by westerners.)
Through the debate or discussion, getting to know each other more.
Training abilities to persuade others.
If your real will is different, please regard it as, for example, your boss’s request

2009-06-06のプラクティス予告

Presenter:Mr.Oku.

Genre:disucuss&talk

I would like you to participate in talking on such subjects as shown below.
For example,

1) What is the purpose of your life?
2) What is your criterion of “quality of life”?
3) What is your criterion of “happiness”?
4) What do you think is the “happiness” of our offspring?
5) What is your favorite “life-style”?
6) What part of your life-styles, you think, is environmentally unconscious?
Can you improve it or not? If not, why?
7) How can you survive serious climate change, resource depletion,
prevalence of pandemic and etc. when they become real?
8) You may choose other topics similar to the above, if you think it better.

< How to Talk>
(1) Read the above description to understand the purpose of today’s practice.
Hopefully, you are prepared with materials (see below), and ready to start.
(2) Make groups each consisting of four (4) people.
(3) If you are not prepared with a material, choose one topic out of those shown above and take about 5 min to prepare how to present your talk and idea (5 min for this step, if necessary).
(4) One person is allotted 5-10 min for the presentation talk. You are recommended to use reference material(s) or its abstract as a text of your talk.
(5) Present and talk, discuss and comment, with full of ideas and wit to inspire interactive group communication (within 15 min for steps 4 through 5).
(6) Repeat steps 4 and 5 for each person.


・In advance to the day of class, it is highly recommended that everyone reads this practice announcement and prepare reference material(s).

・Prepare four (4) copies of the material (A4, 1-2 page(s)).
The material can be a passage from books, weekly magazines,
textbooks, or your original.
・Regardless of being a skilled or unskilled member, the material
preparation is recommended though it’s not a requisite for joining the practice.

I hope you take this easy and enjoy!

☆参考資料を準備される方への参考書籍などの例を少しだけ記してみました。
買う必要はありませんが、図書館などで調べて、面白そうなページがあれば
コピーするやりかたがあります。それ以外にも雑誌などに結構あると思いますが。

<キーワード「ライフスタイルと環境」なら>
・「正義で地球は救えない」、池田 清彦・養老 孟司【著】、 新潮社 (2008/10/25)
・「エコロジーという洗脳―地球温暖化サギ・エコ利権を暴く12の真論 」、 副島 隆彦    
 SNS副島国家戦略研究所【著】、成甲書房 (2008/10/30)
・「環境問題はなぜウソがまかり通るのか〈3〉」、武田 邦彦【著】 洋泉社 (2008/10/17)
・「人類が消えた世界」、 原書名:THE WORLD WITHOUT US(Weisman,Alan)、 ワイズマン,アラン【著】〈Weisman,Alan〉 鬼澤 忍【訳】、 早川書房 (2008/05/15 )
・「もったいない」、 ワンガリ・マータイ【著】 マガジンハウス刊 (2005出版)
・「プランB 2.0、エコ・エコノミーをめざして」、 レスター・ブラウン【著】、ワールドウオッチ出版 (2006)
・「明日の環境と人間」、 川合真一郎・山本義和【著】、 化学同人 (1998)
・「ライフスタイルと環境」 (単行本)、  日本家政学会【編】、 朝倉書店 (1997) ・「バイオマス―誤解と希望 (シリーズ・地球と人間の環境を考える) 」(単行本) 、 奥 彬 【著】、日本評論社 (2005) などなど。

2009-05-30のプラクティス予告

Presenter:Mr.Kitamura.

Genre: Talk

Title: Address Power

Description:
Recently, I found a unique website "Address Power".

 http://www.ichiten.com/

This website can measure and quantify
convinience of your town.
So let's talk about your hometown.

1.How many points do you think your hometown gets?

2.Plese introduce good points of your hometown to
other members of your group, and persuade them
to feel like living in your hometown within 7 minutes.

3.Let's talk about the best town you want to live.

At the end of this practice, please announce
the most recommendable town in your group
to other ESS members.

2009-05-23のプラクティスの予告

Presenter:Ms.Ishizaki.

Genre: debate.

You are divided into several groups.
Within each groups, members who sit on same side
of the table considered to have same opinion,
like agree or disagree, as to today's topics.
First please choose today's two topics and 3 judges
for each topics, judges should be changed at each topics.
Then please start debate within each groups. Please enjoy it!

Time table

18:30-18:40
Make groups and then choose two topics and judges
of each topics (3 person for each topics) within each groups.

18:40-19:10
Discussion on topic 1 and judgment

19:10-19:40
Discussion on topic 2 and judgment

Topics

1. Do you agree with "Saibanin" system.

2. Do you agree with the policy to allow casino in Japan

3. Do you agree with "Kyufu-kin"

4. Do you agree with \1000 free use of highway on weekend.

5. Something you want to discuss, If any

2009-05-16のプラクティスの予告

Presenter:Mr.Nakanishi.

Genre: Group work on finding English words

Title: “CROSSWORD” of the fifty botanical words

Description: I've made the original crossword again.
 This one contains fifty botanical words.
 Basically, you need a lot of knowledge
        about the botanical field to fill the whole
        blank spaces. But don't worry, you've
been already equipped with an excellent
electronic dictionary which contains many
large books and also encyclopedias.
Please use the whole functions of your dictionary.
Those who reach to the perfect answers will
get a small giftas a token of my gratitude.
Don' t forget the electronic dictionary and the sense of humor.

2009-05-09のプラクティス予告

Presenter:Ms.Oka.

Title: Appreciation of Poetry

Description:

1.Each member recites an English poem, twice.

2.Members discuss the poem within the group.
(Regarding to the title, theme, opinion, , , , )

3.The same person recites the original Japanese poem.
With same procedure, members appreciate poems
as much as possible.

2009年04月03日

2009-04-04のプラクティスの予告

Mr.Nakamura presents,

Genre: Read & Talk Title: Newspaper articles in this month

Description:
1) First, you will be divided into several groups.
I'llgive each group some English newspaper articles.

2) Each person read one article. Then summarize them
infront of your group member.

3) After every group member finish summaizing,
talk aboutthem freely.

4) Finally, choose the most impressive article of
yourgroup, and make a briefpresentation in front of
everyone.

That's all. Thank you.

2009年02月01日

2009-3-28のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Uchidate

Genre: Talk

Title: Where to go after this conversation class? Let's
have an outdoor barbecue party for this    Golden Week!

Description:
A. Let's go to other restaurants or cafeterias than“Manzou”after
 our English conversation class.The map below sho
ws where these restaurants or cafeterias are.
They are within 10 minutes’walk from
here,serve at reasonable price and open until 1
0 or 11:30 p.m.Please talk each other where to
go.I’ll ask the leader of each group to te
ll me tonight’s plan.(The map is distri
buted to each person,not shown here.)
B. Let’s have an outdoor barbecue party fo
r this Golden Week.Talk about how, when
and
where to do it.The time for this Golden
 Week is from May 3(Sunday) to May 6(Wedn
esday).
Please write down on the back of this
paper what you have talked about and h
and it to me.

2009-3-21のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms. Kimura

Genre: Talk

Title: Your Birthday

Description:
I will hand some topics associated with a birthday.
Please talk of your episodes and give your opinions.

2009-3-14のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms. Tanihara

Genre: Quiz and Talk

Title: Let’s introduce our Japanese culture and tradition in English!

Description:
In this practice, at first, I would like you to guess what
he/she explains about! One of your group members picks up
a card, and explains about it. Other members guess the
suitable words (culture, traditional event, tool, habitat,
etc.)
For the next, shall we try to introduce our Japanese
culture or tradition? Please choose one theme as you
like. If you have no idea, please pick up from the
following topics (described in handouts).

2009-3-7のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms. Morita

Title: Like Who's who

2009-2-28のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms. Ichihashi

Genre: Discussion
(choose one person as a chairperson)

Description:
The entrance examination war (or hell),,,(jyuken senso 受験戦争)
I will hand a paper with some questions
Let us hear your Jyuken story ,

2009-2-21のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Makino

Genre: Game

Title: Finding out differences

Description:
一つのグループのなかで二手に分かれてもらい、それぞれに絵の描かれた紙をわたします。
その二つの絵には微妙な間違いがあり、相手方の絵を見ずに
(例えば、Dose the guy put on a cap? など相手にきくなどして)その間違いを探してもらいます。
なんか難しそうですが、あくまでゲームなんで適当に楽しんでもらえたらいいと思います。

2009-2-14のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms. Matsumura

Genre: Talk

Title:"World st.Valentine's day"

Description: Read passages about st.valentine's day customs in foreign
counries & share your opinions with your group members.
Also please enjoy telling about your own memories and episodes related
to the day.

2009年01月12日

2009-2-7のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms. Senda

Genre: Game

Title: Guess at the name of country

Description:
I will give some pieces of paper to each group.
A name of country and some hint are written on the card.
Please explain about the country to your members.
Other member guess at the name of country.
Then,change the role.

I'll hope you'll enjoy it.

2009-1-31のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Kajita

Genre: Discussion

Title: Current Affairs

Description:
I will prepare the topics regarding the current affairs of the various fields. (Science, Technology, Politics, Economy, Society, Environment, Entertainment, etc.)

2009-1-24のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms. Miyagawa

Genre: Discussion

Title: Does Alien really exist?

2009-1-10のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms. Miyagawa

Genre: Discussion

Title: New Year's Resolution

2008年12月25日

2008-12-27のプラクティスの予告

Presenter:Mr. Yamamoto

Title: the ten beggest news in 2008

2008年12月17日

2008-12-20のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Matsuura

Genre: Examination

Title: Word Examination

Description:
There are a lot of words we want to know.
I have prepared word exam , I hope everybody will enjoy my
practice.

2008年11月26日

2008-12-6のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Hirano

Genre: Speech and talk

Title: Hobbies

Description:
I'm sure everyone has(had) one or two(or more) things which you are(were) crazy about and devote(d) yourself to. Many are very common, but there may be some unique tastes for the others. Please tell us one or two hobbies and share its(their) interest(s) and charm with the other members. Then, please pick up the most incredible/rare one in each group and introduce it to the rest. Let's find out unbelievable hobbies.

2008年10月30日

2008-11-29のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms. Hori

Genre: Read and talk

Title: Food for Luck:New Year's Rituals

Description: A few days later, the calendar is becoming December!!
In each country, There is a different rituals about New Year's food for luck.
As we eat noodles on New Year's Eve, other country's people eat
something for luck. I would like you to read the article about Food for luck: New Year's Rituals (selected from Herald Tribune) and exchange your opinion
each other in your group.

2008-11-22のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Kimura

Genre: Discussion and a little bit Writing

Tittle: Traveling Abroad

Description:
<Answering Time (~6:50)>
 配られた回答シートにできるだけ具体的、かつ簡潔にご自身の答えをお書きください。
なお、質問は全部で6個あります。以下に質問を掲載します。
プラクティスまでに時間がございましたら、頭の中で考えて頂ければ幸いです。
 Please write your own answers as concrete and critical as possible on your sheet.
There are 6 questions, which are the following.
I hope you will think of these questions in your mind when you have time.

Q1, What are the benefits of traveling abroad?
Q2, Why do you travel abroad? Or why don’t you travel abroad?
Q3, If you have been abroad twice or more times, which country(city) is the best? And why?
If one time, why did you choose the country(city)?
If never, which country(city) do you want to go the best? And why?
Q4, Why don’t younger generation(21~30 year-old) travel abroad? Please guess the reason.
Q5, What do you think of the airplanes as a transportation system? What do you want to request from the airline companies to have good flights?
Q6, Please write any comment about traveling abroad.


グループ内でお一人ずつ回答に基づいて意見発表を行ってください。お一人の持ち時間はおよそ5分です。
  Please announce your own ideas and answers one by one in the group. At this time, please only to listen to the presenter. Please get the main ideas your speaker gives you.

<Discussion with Reading Time (7:20~end)>
 グループ内で回答用紙を回しながら、それぞれの質問についてディスカッションしてください。
なお、配られた回答用紙によりグループ内の人の意見がどのようなものかを確かめてください。
 Please discuss ideas and any comment in your group with passing your answer sheet to the group members. I expect you to read the sheets carefully to get more details and promote the discussion. Any comment will be OK to have a wonderful time.

2008-11-15のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Yamamoto

Genre: Discussion

詳細は後ほどお知らせします。

2008-11-1のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Fukumoto

Genre: Game

Title: Word Association

Description:
I will prepare a sheet with some blanks.
I want you to fill each blank with an word which you come up with
and associate the relation between the two words.
Then, I ask you to explain your way of thinking of your association in your group.

2008年09月25日

2008-10-25のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms. Miyagawa

Genre: Talk

Title: What's new

2008-10-18のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Hori

Genre: Talk.

Title: Osaka Rule.

Description:
From the people of Kanto and also from the people of Kyoto or Kobe, Osaka is supposed to be a unique prefecture, where the residents are acting uniquely. Moreover there are some very strong rules which are admitted only in Osaka, but the residents believe they are universal. For example, in a academic conference presentaters from Osaka present their reports in Osaka-ben. Today I'd like you to know some of the rules of this sort and have a talk on this "World".

2008-10-11のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms. Miyagawa

Genre: Talk

Title: Advice Column

Description:
Eight people are having problems and asking for advice.
I want you to give counsel to them.

2008-10-4のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Noguchi

Title: Introductin of your favorite book

2008年08月21日

2008-9-27のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms. Hirose

Genre: Game

Title: Riddle

Description:
Ⅰ'll prepare some examples of English riddles.
First,practice with the riddles.
Then,make your original riddles,and choose the best riddle in your group.
At the end of this practice,tell it to us.

2008-9-20のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Nagai

Genre: Game

Title: Odd One Out

Description:
This is to guess which one of four items does not belong & why it doesn't belong. Pick the item that is not like the others.
Example:
(1) red (2) green (3) hard (4) yellow
The correct answer is (3) because it’s not color.

I want all of you to be create your own quizzes. Come up with five questions, or maybe more. Don’t worry if you are not prepared on the day. (You can make them during the game.)

Describe the reason in English. The right answer is up to you being a quiz-maker. To choose the right item, players guess the reason you have in mind. Only, the reason should be understood with common knowledge, regardless of age and sex.
You can make your quizzes easy or difficult. It’s your call.

If no one can answer your question, try to give some clues before the answer so that they can think and enjoy more.

2008-9-13のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Oku

Genre: Discussion and Debate

Title: Colors and Mind

Description:
When you are happy or unhappy, excited or depressed, in love with someone or broken hearted, thinking of your future or reminiscing the past, etc., your heart or mental condition is often referred to a color. Similarly, when you see a specific color, it would remind you of your memories which you have experienced and been keeping in the bottom of remembrance box.

Regardless of the language difference, and more or less depending on the religion, education and culture, people in the world tend to express by colors their mental and internal condition, intellectual situation and social status. The ways they use colors to express those are diversified, e.g., by wearing, piece of cloth or ribbon, flags, and literatures. Also a variety of colors are symbolically used for ornaments, wrapping ribbons and, more romantically, to show your affection and passion to the beloved one.

In today’s practice, you shall talk and discuss about the color to express and describe a specific mental condition or physical state. Several questions are shown below. Try as many as possible.

2008-9-6のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Aiki

Genre : Presentation

Title : News Topics

2008年07月31日

2008-8-30のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Nonaka

Genre : Talk

Title : Jewish Proverbs

Description:
Jewish Proverbs are full of implication and wit.
I'll pick up some Jewish Proverbs.
Let'talk about your impression and interpretation.

2008-8-23のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Tanaka

Genre : Talk

Title : Summer vacation

Description:

Please talk about your summer vacation.
You may talk about all topics of summer vercation,not this year.

Firstly you write topics of summer vercation by Finland Method.
After that, please talk about your summer vacation.
I will explain Finland Method in the temple.

2008-8-16のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Watanabe

Genre : Talk

Title : Memories of a travel in the world!

Description:

Part 1) Recall and check your memories
First, recall your memories of a travel in the world.
If you have no experience of travel abroad, a domestic trip is no
problem.
Next, Please check its place, date , itinerary, and conveyance on a
base map.
And then, answer some questions about the travel.

Part 2) Talk about memories
Please talk about your memories of the travel with the members of your
group , and make them feel like traveling there.

2008-8-9のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms. Matsumura

Genre : Game&Talk

Title : Proberbs and their lessons

Description:
Part 1) Card Matching Game
There are three kinds of cards; Japanese proberbs, English proberbs, and their lessons in common.
Think with your group members and match three kinds of cards to make one set.

Part 2) Talk about your original lessons
Please talk about lessons or techniques, wisdom for life you learned from your daily life.

2008-8-2のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms. Ohkubo

Title:

Genre: Quiz

Description:
In this practice,I want you to find what they are after you read
English sentences.
Then,I will give you answer cards,so, explain word without looking papers
and other people say the answers.
I hope you will enjoy it.

2008年05月18日

2008-7-26のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Kajita

Genre: Talk

Title: The Olympic Games

Description:

The Beijing Olympic Games are around the corner.

Let's talk about your favorite sports and remarkable
athletes. You may be
able to find new pleasures of the Olympic Games.

2008-7-12のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms. Nakano

Genre : Game

Title : Enjoy Word Games

Description:As usual I'm planning to do some games on that day.
You can enjoy playing some kinds of word games and competing
with other teams.
All games are about easy English words.

I hope lots of members come and enjoy this practice.

2008-7-5のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Saito

Genre: Discussion

Title: Discussion with newspaper articles

Description: You know, newspapers provide us many kinds of topics.

I will pick up some articles for your discussions.

Let's talk about our lifestyles, current topics and
others!

2008-6-28のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Noguchi (M)

Genre: Game

Title: Enjoy simple games.

Description: I'd like you to enjoy some simple games.
I have prepared two games.

Game A: Who Am I?
On your back, the name of some famous person will be attached
and every other member except you can see who you are. So you
must know who you are by asking some simple questions to the
other members.

Game B: Which is False?
First, make two statements or sentences about you. One should
be TRUE statement and the other should be FALSE. You should
pretend as if both were true. The other members are to find
which statement is FALSE by asking questions.

2008-6-21のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Fukumoto

Genre: Quiz

Title: Word Explanation & Prediction Quiz

Description:
In this practice, you are possible to be both a questioner and an answerer in your group.
A questioner hits upon an English WORD, and gives some explanation and hints about the WORD.
The other members in the group guess and answer the WORD which the questioner means.
You can find this kind of quizzes on "Eigo de Shabera Night", a TV program of NHK broadcasting.
In this program, Pakkun gives questions and the guests answer the questions.
This will be good practice for both questioners and answerers.
In particular, I expect that you can train your explanation ability.
Therefore, I reccomend you not to use dictionaries
when you give explanation or hints as possible as you can.

2008-6-14のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Kondo

Genre: Quiz and discussion

Title: Acronym

Description:
I will prepare some quiz and articles about english acronym.
Let's discuss recent japanese and answer the quiz.
I hope you will have fun time.

2008-6-7のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms.Miyagawa

Genre: Talk

Title: trouble shooting

Description:

I prepare some articles“lifestyle columns” from USA's
website.
These columns are written about troubles which American
people have.
Let's talk about their troubles and find differences or
common points.

2008年04月04日

2008-5-31のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms.Miyagawa

Genre: Talk

Title: Let's talk about “The Rules”

Description:

The Rules: Time-Tested Secrets for Capturing the Heart of
Mr. Right is a best-selling 1995 book co-authored by Ellen
Fein and Sherrie Schneider.
The book's basic theme is that, in order to attract and
marry the man of her dreams, a woman should play hard to
get. The authors promise happy relationships and happy
marriages to the readers who follow their 35 specific
rules. A woman who follows "the rules" is called a Rules
Girl. The underlying philosophy is that women should not
aggressively pursue men, but ought to get the men to
pursue them.
We pick up some these rules and discusse about it.

1) Make some groups.
2) Please discussion about “The Rules” and exchange
views with your members as you like.

2008-5-24のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Tabata
Genre: Talk
Title: The latest News

Description:
What topics are you interested in lately?

For this practice, I am going to prepare lots of topics regarding sports,
arts, lifestile,politics,

economics and social issues. Let's exchange opinions on those articles.
freely with each other.

2008-5-17のプラクティスの予告

Presenter:Mr. Nakanishi

Genre : Cross word puzzle

Title : try to find fifty-five words with your partners

Description:
I've made the original cross word puzzle again.
It contains fifty-five words of the certain area.
Last time, I made the cross word puzzle contained
forty-one botanical words. But it seemed to be a little
bit easy for you.
So, this time, I increased the words to fifty-five.
The categories of the words are a"fish"and a"bird".
Please prepare for the practice, and don't forget your
dictionaries and the sense of humor.

2008-5-10のプラクティスの予告

Presenter:Ms.Miyagawa

Genre: Speaking

Title: Let's explain the recipe.

Description:


1)Make some groups.

2)I will give 20 pieces of paper(small cards) to each
group.
A name of dish is written on the card.
*Please don't see the cards and keep turn the card over.

3)First person pick the card and check the word(the dish)
on the card.
*Please don't tell the word to other member.

4)Explain the recipe(how to cook),to your members.


5)Other member imagine the dish, guess the dish right .
*Please listen the explain to the end.

6)Please change the role.


Even if, you don't know how to cook or you don't like
cooking, please imagine and do your best.

2008-5-3のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms. Tanihara

Genre: Talk

Title: Let’s pick up heart-warming wedding songs and make
English version of famous J-POP music!

Description:
In this practice, at first, I would like to ask you to
recommend me heart-warming wedding songs. Because, in the
personal matter, my friend was recently married and I will
do the management of music and make slide films showing in
the wedding party. So, please tell us the song with the
situation when the song is used (e.g. the bride and
bridegroom' entrance, cake cutting, etc).
For the next, shall we try to translate famous J-POP music
into English with your group members? From nowadays,
there are many Japanese famous songs covered by foreign
artists (Sukiyaki song, Shimauta, Yuming song, Flowers
bloom - Boys II Men etc).
Please choose one song among the lyrics I showed in the
handouts.

2008年03月06日

2008-4-26のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Yasuda

Genre: Drama

Title: Princess Diana

Practice descriptions:
Please make a drama by your own creativity.
Perform a drama filled with laughter and tears.

As we don't have enough time, I decided the
title this time. You may follow the real story or
you can also make an imaginary story. It is
entirely up to you.

I hope all of you will enjoy acting like
an actor/actress happily.

2008-4-19のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Sugihara

Genre: talk/debate

Title: Northern Ireland

Practice descriptions:
Official name of "Igirisu", where English language was
born, is "the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern
Ireland." You may wonder why Northern Ireland has to be
attached to "Great Britain" to form the United Kingdom. Or
you may not wonder..

Northern Ireland, with land area almost same as Fukushima
prefecture and population slightly larger than Kyoto city,
is known for UNESCO world heritage of Giant's Causeway,
the world first legal whiskey distillery of Bushmills, and
the birthplace of the cruiser ship "Titanic." Or is it
Irish Republican Army (IRA) and the conflict known as "the
Troubles" that you imagine?

In practice, I give you the brief introduction of the
region, and you talk on the topics about this English
speaking region. Northern Ireland is bigger than its
actual size of land area and population in its presence in
English speaking world. So you English language lovers,
it's good for you to talk something about Northern
Ireland. No prior knowledge about Northern Ireland is
required.

slainte!(cheers in Gaelic language)

2008-4-12のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Higashiyama

Genre: speaking

Title: Psychological test

Practice descriptions:
First, make five to six groups. Second, work on a psychological test I will provide you with. Third, analyze your own result. Fourth, take up each group member's result and talk about it within your group. The main subject of the talk is how the result reflects your own self- image or your group member's character.  Thank you.

2008-4-5のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Yamamura

Genre: Work and presentation

Title: Introduce your partner

Description:
In this practice, you will introduce not yourself,
but your partner in a group.

First, you will have a mutual interview with your partner,
and then introduce your partner to the other group member
according to your interview.

2008年02月20日

2008-3-29のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Takai

Genre: talk

Title: photo memories in this fiscal year

Description:
How was your this fiscal year ?
Maybe every members had funny, angry, love, or something episodes.
Then you might take photos.
The last practice in this fiscal year is talking about this fiscal year's episode.
Please talk about episodes with your photos for other members.

Attention !!
Don't forget to bring some your photos !!(3 or 4 pieces)
If you don't have photos,
it's OK to bring degital camera or post card or something which has picture.

2008-3-22のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Matsuura

Genre: Talk

Title: trouble shooting

Description:
Let us shoot the troubles we have.
I hope we will have a good time.

2008-3-15のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Zaitsu

Genre: Debate

Title: Should we go study abroad ?

Description:
(1)Stand Point in Each Side

Side A : Japanese students should enter overseas colleges or universities.
Side B : Japanese students should enter Japanese colleges or universities.

(2)Rules
・Comment round; Make out your opinion along your stand point.
・Question round; In your turn to ask, attack to the foe members by all
members in your side.
In your turn to answer, defend your stand point by all menbers in your side.
・There are some strategy time in the game.
・At last of the game, summarize your claim as the last opinion in each group.

2008-3-8のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms. Hori

Genre : Talk

Title : An introduction your hometown

Description:
In each group, please introduce your hometown
( your hometown's history, famous area, famous food, annual event,
annual festival, recent news, and so on.)

Please imagine your friend is from abroad who wants know
information about your hometown.

Let's enjoy and exchange information with your group members.


Hope to see you again soon.

2008-3-1のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Hiwatashi

Genre: Discussion

Title: Be a good chairperson

Description:
The aim of this practice is getting used to be a chair and to know how it works.
In this practice, all of you will be a chair who control a discussion
and also be a member of discussions while others will acting as chairs.

I will give you 10 min. while you will be a chair.
You will choose a topic to be discussed and lead a certain conclusion please.

I hope you enjoy the practice.

With wishes,

2008年01月27日

2008-2-23のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms. Matsumura

Genre: Talk

Title: Astrology - Describe your character

Description:

Catching a recent spiritual boom,
in this practice you will have a group talk about people's characters based on astrology.
I prepare some adjectives to describe the characteristics of each sign in astrology.
Check your and your group member's signs and talk about it.
You may be able to know the hidden characters in you or your group members!!!

I hope you will enjoy it.

2008-2-16のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms. Asano

Genre: Game

Title: Superstitions

Description:
You will play superstitions game in your group.
Although the superstitions in the game are from American or Europe,
you will find some of them are similar to Japan.
After you play, talk about superstitions. Which ones do you believe in?
Do you know other superstitions?

I hope that you’ll have fun with the game.

2008-2-9のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Nakanishi

Genre : Cross word puzzle

Title : try to find forty words with your partners

Description:
I've made the original cross word puzzle.
It contains forty words of certain area.
What kind of area?
It will be informed at the previous week.

2008-2-2のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms. Miyamae

Genre: Game

Title: Let's play with "Synonyms"

Description:
How many synonyms can you think of?
Synonyms are words that have the same, or almost the same meaning.
I am going to prepare few synonyms and you need to remember them.
Cards will be given to each group, so let's play shinkei-suijyaku.

2008年01月07日

2008-1-26のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Oku

Genre: Composition.

Title: Current English excerpted from the Asahi Shinbun

Description:
The class is divided to several groups composed of four people.
Current English expressions and words (about 20 examples) are
excerpted from the Asahi Shinbun "Tips on English" column,
and printed materials are distributed.
Taking in the example expression and key words,
compose your original writing hopefully full of humors and jokes.
Then, in the group, discuss and select one writing for each example expression,
shape them up, and finally present some of them orally in front of the class.
This is the working process of the day.

An example: "live from paycheck to paycheck" ”Many families live from paycheck to paycheck,
juggling rent or a mortgage payment.” (To live from hand to mouth).

I hope you enjoy this practice.

2008-1-19のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms. Oka

Genre :Translation

Title :An introduction to Time Reading Club

Description :
You're supposed to read one of the articles in
Time magazine and translate it into Japanese,paragraph by paragraph.
Everyone can help each other.
And you can exchange opinions about the article if you like.
Hope to see you soon at the temple.

2008-1-12のプラクティスの予告

On this day we hold New Years Party .
So our circle isn't held at temple.

2008-1-5のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms. Nakano

Genre: Discussion

Title: New Years Resolution

Description:
In this practice, you consider your new years resolution.
Please discuss including whether you achieve last years resolution.

Finally, you present it in front of members.

2007年11月24日

2007-12-29のプラクティスの予告

This day our ESS circle is not held.

2007-12-22のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Kazita

Genre: Discussion

Title: Recent News

Description:
In this practice, I will divide all participants into 4 or 5 groups.

I will prepare the major topics around the world.
Please exchange opinions freely with each other.
The discussion time for each topic will be 20 minutes.
Group members will be changed after finishing one topic
so that you can speak with a lot of people.

I am looking forward to hearing your interesting opinions!

2007-12-15のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Iwagami

Genre: discussion

Title: Trouble shooting 3

Description:
In this time, we solve the truble shooting.

2007-12-8のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Kuranuki

Genre: Reading&Discussion

Title: School Lunch of other countries

Description:
・Please make some small groups(4 people).

1)Please start talking with some casual topics
about School Lunch following the discussion sheet.

2)I will give 4 different pieces of article to one group.
Each of the article is written about the School Lunch
in the different country.
Please take one of them and read it.

3)Discussion again.Following the discussion sheet,
Please share your information with other members,
so you can get the information of School Lunch
of four different countries.

2007-12-1のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: 

Genre: Discussion

Title: What's new ?

Description:
In this practice, let's talk about experimence or something
which occured resently.


2007年10月20日

2007-11-24のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms. Hirose

Genre: Talk & Quize

Title: Let's enjoy "senryu"

Description:
In this practice,Ⅰ'd like you to talk about “senryu".

① One member selects a senryu on the list Ⅰ'll prepare for you,
and asks the meaning to the other members of your group.

② Then the member chooses another senryu and explains the meaning
for the other members to guess the senryu.
He/She 'll give you some hints to get the right answer.

③ The next member follows the same procedure.

Ⅰ think senryu is a good example of Japanese humour.
Please enjoy it!

See you at the temple.

2007-11-18のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: 

Genre: Game

Title: SUGOROKU

Description:
Today we can't prepare for practice.
Because last week we were busy to prepare the ESS BOOT CAMP
So today's practice is SUGOROKU which is traditional of ESS.

2007-11-10のプラクティスの予告

ESS boot camp is hold.

so It isn't hold in the temple.

2007-11-3のプラクティスの予告

There is not our circle in this day.

2007年09月29日

2007-10-27のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms. Nakamura

Genre: Easy work &Discussion

Title: "Using your hands for talking and knowing yourself and others"

Description:
In this practice, you wil be divided into some groups.
Then,
(1)You'll draw(just copy) your hand into a paper.( Easy! )
(2)I 'll show you 5 Questions. And fill each fingers with your answers for questions on your paper.
After this work, you'll discuss about it.

I learned this practcice when I was a college student.
My teacher taught me that it was a Philppine social work training for knowing themselves.

I hope you'll enjoy the practice. I'm really looking forward to seeing you all soon.

Thank you very much.

2007-10-20のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms. Okubo

Genre: game

Title: Crossword

Description:
Hello!!
This is a notice of practice for Oct 20th.
The title is crossword.
When you finish it, you can find a word.
Then, discuss about it in the group.
I hope you will enjoy it!
See you☆

2007-10-13のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Hori

Genre: Quiz Type Discussion

Title: Love, Like and Cherish

Description:
On Oct. 13th, I'd like to present a small talking/discussion corner.
In that time, I'd like you to discuss the things you like very much from two angles.

1. Names of several things or something are written in a sheet.
I'd like you to select the one you like best and comment the reasons
(why you like it best).
If the comment is very reasonable, please give him/her a big clap.
2. I hope you to write down many things you like, genre by genre,
and tell the reasons.

I guess if you think about the things you like and forget the things
you don't like, you feel happy and will be optimistic.

Thank You.

2007-10-6のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms. Tanihara

Genre: Listening and translation into English with discussion

Title: Let’s translate the fairy tale “For a pair of gloves” into English!

Description:
In this practice, I have chosen a Japanese fairy tale “For a pair of gloves”
written by Mr. Nannkitchi Niimi as a material.
I think this story is familiar to us.
At first, I would like you to try listening to the synopsis and filling in the blanks.
For the next, please try to translate this story into English
and prepare for the several questions cooperating with your group members.

2007年08月24日

2007-9-29のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Ishizaki

Genre:game

Title: "preference game"

Description:

The rule is quite simple, that is there are some category
and some item which belong to each category.
Attendants select one item and explain the reason why you like/select it,
and have discussion about it.
I hope you will enjoy talking on it.
See you at Yosenji-temple.

2007-9-22のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Noguchi

Genre:Listening Comprehension

Title:Enjoy and make out what they sing

Description:

As many of you know, this is the kind of practice which
uses some western songs in CD and you are supposed to make
out what they are saying or singing.
So, please fill out some blanks in printed lyrics!

In preparing this practice, I tried to select songs that
would be suitable for this practice's purpose. I hope I
succeeded at it and also you enjoy it.

2007-9-15のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Aiki

Genre:Game

Title: Game Pros and Cons

Description:
With a given statement, one group supports it and the other
group declines it. A judge makes a decision on who wins.
You have to work together in your group to persuade the
judge how plausible your arguments are.

2007-9-8のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Yoshida

Genre: Talk

Title: The Ten Questions

Description:

In this practice, I would like you to try "The Ten Questions," and let's talk.
The questionnaire is taken from "Inside the Actors Studio,"
the Emmy-nominated, long-running TV series, hosted by James Lipton.

2007-9-1のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Yamakawa

Genre: Quiz & Discussion

Title: Success Quiz

Discription:
Are you looking for money, power and fame? Are you planning to be successful in
life?
In this practice, you are divided into 5 groups.Then you answer 8 success
quizzes.
You give them scores and check your result.That your result shows your attitude
of
success and happiness. And then let's discuss the reason why do you think so .

Have a good time in this practice. See you.

2007年07月28日

2007-8-25のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Takai

Genre: discussion

Title: contents of spam mail

Description:

About 30 of spam mail are sent to ESS staff mailbox in one day.
So in this practice, I'll bring you contents of spam mail written in English.
And please discuss about them.

Of course, contents we use at the practice don't include the sexual ones.

2007-8-18のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Mori

Genre: game with discussion

Title: consensus game

Description:

The practice of this week is a kind of consensus game.
The same practice has ever been implemented twice in the past by other members,
and both were very successful.

Process

1. Read one short story and summarize your opinion in 10 -15 min.
(The story is very famous and used often in consensus game.)

2. Introduce your opinion in your group, and summarize your group opinion through discussion.

3. Introduce your group opinion to others (from 19:30).

I hope you can enjoy this practice.

2007-8-11のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms. Kim

Genre: Talk

Title: Let’s prepare for a vacation.

Description:
According to the latest news, the number of Japanese traveling outside and inside Japan is going to increase this summer. In this practice, we will talk about traveling on vacation.
The main topics are:
Talk about the news mentioned above which I will show you at the practice.
How would you prepare for the vacation?
What would you pack in your bag?
Give some tips on traveling in every particular place.

2007-8-4のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Noguchi

Genre:English Composition Test and Lecture

Title: Grammer Competition

Description:
Who is the most the grammerest in Kyoto ESS ?
Mr Noguchi give us the grammer test to select the grammerest.
After finishing the test he give us the lecture of grammer using whiteboard.

written by Takai

2007年06月21日

2007-7-28のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Hiwatashi

Announcement for the practice on 28 July
Dear Kyoto-ESS members:

Good afternoon, Ladies and gentlemen. I'm Kazuaki Hiwatashi, a presenter of
next practice (28 July) after the next. Please see the following
announcement.

Genre: Presentation

Title: Getting used to give a short presentation!

Description:
In this practice, you will practice two parts of the presentation, giving a
speech and join a Q&A session. I want all of you to give a short
presentation (sometimes called フラッシュプレゼンテーション, a presentation
given within two minutes) in your group and ask something to a presenter. I
hope it will be a good practice and also be a practice to be a good
questioner.

Regards,

2007-7-21のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Tsuji

Genre: Talk

Title: What-if scenario

Description:
Let’s talk about what-if scenario. Sometimes, it makes you more exciting and so much fun. Also it is easy to talk. “If you could go back to the past, what would you do?” “If the world suddenly changed to male-only world or female-only world, what would you do?” something like that. However, in this practice, please make sure to explain the reason why you asked such kind of what-if scenario. Also respondents will answer and explain the reason as well.
I hope you’ll enjoy the practice.

2007-7-14のプラクティスの予告

This day is hold ESS summer party.
So there isn't group activity in ours temple.

2007-7-7のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Yoshimura

1 Title : What’s new?
2 Procedure
Write down whatever you have in mind in fifteen minutes.
After that, read aloud what you wrote in front of other group members.
The other group members may ask questions.
Each group members shall read aloud one by one.
After completing one session, then write down another topics.
3 Example topics
*What’s new?
*What’s is your dream?
*Describe the recipe of your favorite dish
*What makes you happy?
*Summarize the story of your favorite book
*Make a fairly story.
*Describe your job

2007年04月15日

2007-6-30のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms. Senda

Genre: game

Title: situation game etc.

Description:
Do you knou lateral thinkinng or it can be called situation game?
It' a game play with a few people.
One person give a problem(I'll prepare 3 problem), other member ask questions.
But a person who gives problem only can say "Yes" or " No".
Ask good question, please get answer fast.

And I'll prepare another some game.I hope you'll enjoy it.

2007-6-23のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Yamamura

1.Genre

discussion

2.Title

Think about global warming

3.Description

In this practice, I want you to learn and think about global warming.
I'll prepare some materials which conain basic facts of global warming.
It's not going to be difficult one. I hope you'll enjoy this practice.

2007-6-16のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms. Usami

1. Genre: discussion

2. Tile : pros and cons

3. Description:
Find a partner and discuss certain subjects presented.
10 minute is allowed for each subject.
one should be for, the other should be against those subjects.
a partner shall be changed each time.

2007-6-9のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Iwagami

詳細は別途お知らせします。

2007-6-2のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Yasuda

① Genre

Reading and discussion with answering some questions

② Title

a The value of learning a second language

b Ways of thinking

③ Description

I will prepare some texts about language and culture.
Read them and discuss those topics among respective group members.

Enjoy reading these texts(actually it is one of the university
entrance exams) and discuss with filling out some questions.

Come to the meeting and learn English together.

See you at Yosenji.

2007年02月12日

2007-5-26のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms. Miyagawa

genre:talk

title:Can you talk about KYOTO in english??

discliption:

In this practice, you will get into a conducter and
introduce KYOTO or your hometown( history, sightseeing
spot, your favorite place etc...) to your group members.
I'm going to prepare some materials which can help your
discussion.

2007-5-19のプラクティスの予告

Presenter:Mr. Tabata

Genre: Talk

Title: Superstition and jinx

Description:

There are so many superstitions (beliefs that events are influenced by specific behaviors, without having a causal relationship ) like “ Don’t cut your nail at night ”or “Don’t whistle at night ”. Do you believe them?

In this practice, we are going to talk about superstition and jinx. Iwill prepare several examples of them and would like you to tell your own jinx or lucky charms (omajinai).

I hope you will enjoy the practice.

2007-5-12のプラクティスの予告

Presenter:Mr. Fujino

Genre : Discussion
Title : How do you stay healthy ?

Description :
The first age-group of Dankai Generation starts on retirement under the age limit in this year.

They will have to continue to live for twenty years after that to be eighty years old
that they have the span of average life in case of men.

So are you also gonna do particularly something to live to be eighty years old one by one
because of you and your family ?

Please would you have a hot discussion about this theme each other on the spot of Practice ?

So let's practise and give advice each other
and take an opportunity to spend your happy life from this minute on.

Please take part in a discussion as many as possible.

Thank you.

2007-5-5のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Matsuura

Genre:Listening

Description:
Let us listen to the songs by the Beatles.
I will pick up unpopular but excellent tunes.
I hope everyone can enjoy it!

2007-4-28のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. morino

Genre: Composition exercises

Title: American Jokes

Description:
Do you like jokes? Why American jokes are not so funny for Japanese?
Some American jokes are difficult to understand as their punch lines
are different from those of Japanese jokes.
In this practice, you will read a variety of American jokes, discuss
what's funny about them with your group members and try to compose
American jokes and afterwards present them.

2007-4-21のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Ms. Oka

Easy Bingo Game

BINGO game sheets are usually filled with numbers. And numbers are read out, then you check the numbers.
But this time, instead of numbers, you are supposed to fill in the blanks with words on the BINGO sheet. And we, one by one, are to explain the meaning of the word and let other members guess the word. If you have the same word on your sheet, you can circle the word. We proceed the game this way and try to make BINGO lines as much as possible. I hope everyone can enjoy it!

2007-4-14のプラクティスの予告

Genre:Translating and discussion

Title:Translating and discussing news stories

Presenter: Mr. Higashiyama

Description
First you are devivded into several groups. Each group are given cards with different news stories written in Japanese. You are not allowed to read them at this point. You have to keep them face down. And then you take turn to pick up one card at a time ,read and put it into English or paraphrase it After confirming that other group members fully understand the news story, there is a discussion on it. I hope you are expected to work on as many news stories as possible. Thank you.

2007-4-7のプラクティスの予告

Genre: Game

Title: "Let's make the map"

Presenter: Mr. Takai

Discription:
4 people say about their lives in this town. So you make the town map with using their talking.

This game is that you make the map from some hints(map's information) with team menbers.
Some hints are written in some papers but you have only one paper.
Inportant is "Don't show your hints to team menbers. (Sharing hints is the way to talk only)"

2007-3-31のプラクティスの予告

Genre: Speaking

Title: "Instant English Composition and discussion"

Presenter: Ms. Mizuno

Description:

Topics to be discussed
1.Medical treatments
2.Work
3.Education
4.Charity
5.Food-related issues
6.The impact of Technology

We are going to practice instant English composition using Main Language phrases. You can discuss things related to the pictures attached on three sheets of paper. However, you don't have to stick to them.

I hope you will find this activity enjoyable and learn English fruitfully.

2007-3-24のプラクティスの予告

Genre: Talk

Title: “Pearls of Wisdom about our Daily Lives”

Presenter: Mr. Kajita

Description:

In this practice, I am going to take up useful tricks (“Urawaza” or “Hiketsu”) in our daily lives. I will prepare the “List” of topics relating to our daily lives and the “Cards” showing the example of the trick corresponding to each topic.

This practice will be conducted as follows.

1) I will divide all the participants into 4 or 5 groups.

2) In each group, one of the group members will distribute the same number of the Cards to the other members.

3) Choose a topic from the List and guess the trick with group members. You can't check the example on the Cards at this time.

4) After the guess, one of the members who has the Card corresponding to the topic explains the example of trick to the other members in English. (The examples are written in Japanese.)

5) If you have comments on the example, you can state it freely.

6) The above steps from 3) to 5) will be repeated.

2007-3-17のプラクティスの予告

Genre: Vocabulary Game

Title: Play with Acronyms.

Presenter: Mr. Oku

Description:
Our surrounding is flooded with numerous acronyms, namely, a chain of alphabetic characters as the abbreviation of names and long words such as NHK-ESS. Indeed, they provide conventional tools for easy writing and communication among average people. On the other hand, for some people who do not know the original meaning, acronyms are nothing but strange signs and jargons, sounding nonsense and discriminative.
If so, instead of keeping away from them, let’s play on acronyms with your wits and tickling jokes and give them different meanings.
As a consequence of this game, I hope that we will become more careful and thoughtful when we use kind of cryptographic words as acronyms, slang and IT terms among the public.
  
Processes in the Group Session (four people each):
1) Lists of known acronyms are shown below with original meanings. They are classified into four categories. You may add some new ones to the list if you want (3 min only in the beginning). Now, you start from any category.

2) In each category, everyone must choose a favorite acronym and work individually to give a new meaning on it with wits and jokes. If necessary, prepositions, conjunctions and the least number of noun or verb can be used (8 min).

3) After 8 min, show your work-out pieces to the group, discuss and correct to refine them (7 min).

4) Proceed to the second category and so on (15 min x 4 categories = 60 min).

5) After 60 min, select 3 unique answers of the group out of four categories (5 min).

Process in the General Class Session:
6) Presentation of the group’s best answers with explanation, if necessary (3 min x 5 groups = 15 min).

Acronyms and Original Names examples of jokes
Examples:
IAL Icelandic AirLine I am always late (known)
NATO North Atlantic Treaty Organization No action talk only (known)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
Group 1. CompanyNames
JAL Japan AirLine; ANA All Nippon Airways; JAS Japan Air System;
UA United Airline; NW Northwest Airline; AA American Airline;
TWA Trans World Airline; LH Lufthanza; BA British Airways;
EMS Express Mail Service;
SONY; TBS; TOYOTA; VW; GE; GM; JR; JT; JRA;
NTT; KDDI; MAC; NOVA (not nova);

Group 2. Government Organizations
PKO Peace-Keeping Operation; ISAF International Security Allied Force;
UNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees;
UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization;
WTO World Trade Organization; ISO International Organization for Standardization;
FBI Federal Bureau of Inspection; CIA Central Intelligence Agency;
NSF National Science Foundation; NASA National Aeronautics and Space Administration;

Group 3. Social System, Institution, Science and Technology
JIS Japanese Industrial Standards; NPO Non-Profit Organization;
NGO Non-Governmental Organization; NHK Nippon Hoso Kyokai;
ESS English Speaking Society; GPS Global Positioning System;
LSI Large-Scale Integrated circuit; NMR Nuclear Magnetic Resonance;
TOPIX Tokyo Stock Price Index; UCLA; SUNY; MIT; IIT; ICU; TITECH, KIT, RITZ, etc.

Group 4. Health, Life, Environment
SARS Serious Aspiration Retardant Symptom
AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
LSD lysergic acid diethylamide; EPA eicosa-pentaenoic acid;
DHA docosa-hexaenoic acid; NIH National Institutes of Health;
WHO World health Organization; MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging;
PET Positive Electron Tomography; LDK Living Dining-Kitchen;
DV Domestic Violence;
IPCC Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change;
UNEP United Nations Environment Program; EPA Environmental Protection Agency
WMO World Meteorological Organization; GSC Green Sustainable Chemistry;
LCA Life Cycle Assessment

Group’s Selected Answers:
1)

2)

3)

4)

2007-3-10のプラクティスの予告

Genre: Game

Title: Team Game Competition

Presenter: Ms. Nakano

Discription:
I'm planing to hold a team game competition. I'd like to give 3 kinds of games below. All the games are easy to play.
1:Shiritoti
2:Quick gessing game
3:Crossword puzzle
You have to make good teams and compete with other teams.
Please come to OTERA and enjoy playing games in Englsh!

2007年01月30日

2007-3-3のプラクティスの予告

Genre: English Composition

Title: English Composition Test

Presenter: Mr. T. Noguchi

Description:
I will prepare English Composition Tests. In this practice, please check your own English skills with other members.

2007年01月08日

2007-2-24のプラクティスの予告

Genre: Quize Game

Title: Read Riddles part-3

Presenter: Mr. Nakanishi

Description:
I'll prepare a lot of English word quizzes again. After reading each hint, find out the proper word. Use your dictionary and inspiration efficiently. But I'm afraid, several hints may be a little bit tricky. Especially this time I'll take “Oyaji-gags” in the hint.

Please mayonnaise---oops, sorry, catchup on me.

2007-2-17のプラクティスの予告

1. Genre: Game

2. Title: Cross Word Puzzle

3. Presenter: Mr. T. Mori

4. Description:

In this practice, we will enjoy a cross-word puzzle again.

But the rules are different from the practice which was held on January 20. The answers of the puzzle are Japanese words, and hints written in Japanese are distributed to each member in your group. Your hints are different from other members in your group. You have to guess the answer, and give hints in English each other in your group. Please come to the Temple and enjoy the game!

2006年12月24日

2007-2-10のプラクティスの予告

Genre: Listening & Discussion

Title: “Did you buy US beef?”

Presenter: Mr. Y. Takahashi

Description: 
As you know, BSE problem made Japan ban the import of US beef, but lifted the ban last summer. As the allowed amount of import seems small yet, it will be a rare case that you will find US beef in a supermarket. Tonight, I'd like to discuss BSE problem.

First of all, let's listen to VOA news on this problem. This was broadcasted about 2 years ago, but it is useful to understand US opinion. If it is too difficult to catch, I'll give you some hints.

Second, I'll give you a copy of a latest book, published last Dec. Please read it and find points of this problem.

Then, please discuss it as follows;
1. If you find or try US beef after the lift of the ban, please explain it.
2. Do you think US beef is safe? Why?
3. When you buy beef, do you care country or place where it was made?
4. Do you think Japanese will accept US beef again? WHY? How about you yourself?
5. Do you think Japan has stringent restrictions on beef imports as US says?
WHY?

Last, please choose one representative for each group and explain your discussion on any points.(19:40~)

2006年12月14日

2007-2-3のプラクティスの予告

Genre: Talk

Title: "The art of the museum"

Presenter: Mr. Zaitsu

Description:
At first, I will show the famous art picture of Vatican museum in Italy. After seeing the picture, you will pretend a conductor of museum. In your group, you will talk about the picture's historical story.
Let's talk and fan!!

2006年12月03日

2007-1-27のプラクティスの予告

Genre : Debate

Title : Web2.0

Presenter : Mr. Sugihara

Discription :
Have you ever written or commented on blog? Have you ever written book reviews on Amazon online store? Are you a member of social network service (SNS) such as mixi in Japan and MySpace in the U.S and socially-networking? Have you ever downloaded "free software" developed by unknowns?

Unknown masses are doing these things and they are changing the world dramatically. And somebody called this stage of World Wide Web (Web) as "Web2.0." YOU the individuals may take over the role of selected few such as star journalists or hierarchically structured software and contents companies. World is flattened with no regard to hierarchies, grass-roots and bottom-up creativeness surpassing those of professionals. Democracy has finally come, savvy? Or is "Web2.0" just a marketing word or an illusion?

In practice, nothing technical is a point, but talk on the social phenomenon that this so called "Web2.0" brings about.

2007-1-20のプラクティスの予告

Genre: Quize

Title: Crossword puzzle

Presenter: Ms. Oka

Discription:
Crossword puzzle Again!

I assume everybody knows how to solve the crossword puzzle. The key to the completion is cooperation.

Let's enjoy it! Don't forget to bring your dictionary.

2007-1-13のプラクティスの予告

Genre: Discussion

Title: What would you do when you were troubled over something?

Presenter: Mr. Yoshimura

Description:
Sometimes we are at a loss for not being able to make a proper judgment. Tonight we discuss what we will do when we are in trouble over something with reference to sample topics.

Firstly, choose a topic in the reference papers.

Secondly, read aloud each paragraph one by one alternately. Then confirm that all group members grasp the meaning of the content of the topic.

Thirdly, each individual shall express his or her opinions. Repeat the same procedures with the other topic.

Finally, after closing the discussion session at around 7:40, one of representative of each group shall make a brief introduction about the content of the discussion concerning one of topics in front of all members.

Title of Sample topics
● I am in love with my husbands best friend
● Anxious About Dealing with Bully Boss Again
● Boyfriend Not Nice to My Dog
● Cannot Deal With Girlfriend's Child
● Family Doesn't Approve of Mixed Race Relationship
● He Keeps Photos of Ex Who Died
● Start a Family at a Young Age?
● She Doesn't Care About Hygeine and Appearance

2007-1-6のプラクティスの予告

Genre:Talk

Title:"New Year's Resolution "

Presenter:Staff

2006年11月03日

2006-12-23のプラクティスの予告

Genre:Talk

Title:"This year's big news "

Description:
This practice would be the last one of this year. So, let's look back on this year and talk about this year's big news in the various fields (including private topics) !

Wishing you a Merry Christmas and the best of all possible New Years !!

2006-12-16のプラクティスの予告

Genre:Talk

Title:Making Stories

Presenter:Ms. Kanai

Description:
In this practice, we will use some comic stories. The last comments of the comics are blanks. So, please make the last comments and funny stories by yourself.

I hope you will enjoy the practice.

2006-12-9のプラクティスはお休みです。

12月9日は、毎年恒例のクリスマスパーティーを予定しておりますので、お寺での活動はお休みとさせて頂きます。

2006-12-2のプラクティスの予告

Genre:Quiz

Title:Guess What

Presenter:Mr. Noguchi

Description:
I prepared many words or phrases in Japanese.
Explain a word or phrase to the other members in English and let them guess what you are talking about. Never say the very word or phrase itself! The other members should answer the Japanese word or phrase. Let's talk a lot in English !

2006-11-25のプラクティスの予告

Genre: Discussion

Title: Job Satisfaction

Presenter: Ms. Kishida

Description:
What motivate you to work harder? People have to work for a life. Are you working by making what into a priority every day?
In this practice, I would like you to discuss what your “Job Satisfaction” is. If you are students, consider of your priority in your life. I hope you will enjoy this activity.

2006年09月21日

2006-11-18のプラクティスの予告

Genre: Discussion

Presenter: Mr. Noguchi

内容は当日発表します。

2006年09月18日

2006-11-11のプラクティスの予告

Genre: Discussion

Title: "Troubleshooter"

Presenter: Mr. Iwakami

Description:
As you may know, "troubleshooter" is one of the columns of newspaper "Daily Yomiuri". In that columns, the writers have some kind of troubles and ask for the advice. I will prepare several short columns and would like you to discuss what you think of their "troubles" and give them good advice.

I hope you will have fun talking.


2006-11-4のプラクティスの予告

Genre: Talk

Title: Grammer

Presenter: Mr. Matsushita

Description:
Are you interested in English grammar? In this practice, we
make 5 or 6 teams and answer the questions I will provide
you with, talking about English grammar and usage as we
do so. I hope you enjoy the game.

2006年09月13日

2006-10-28のプラクティスの予告

Genre: Discussion and Game

Title: Gender Bias

Presenter: Ms. Asano

Description;
What do you think about househusbands?
Hove you ever seen a woman driving a bus?
Do you think only wives should do housework and take care of her/husband's parents?

Subconsciously, we have a gender bias.
How gender-neutral should we be?
It's kind of difficult problem, however, please don't be serious.
Let's enjoy to think about gender bias by talking and playing game.


2006-10-21の予定

10月21日は合宿のため、お寺でのプラクティスはお休みとさせていただきます。

2006-10-14のプラクティスの予告

Genre: Discussion

Title: Why we are not good at English?

Presenter: Mr. Yasuda

Description:
Why we Japanese are not good at English even though we've learned it for a long time? We are learning English now. I often think something below while learning languages. I want to know how our ESS members think about that. I am looking forward to hearing your opinion about these items. Let's discuss these items which are related to English learning.

1) Why Japanese are not good at English compared with people in other countries?
And, please tell us the reason why do you think so?
2) What is the most effective way to improve your English? And, why?
3) Which language do you want to learn after English? and why do you think so?

Please tell us the result of your group discussion after the team discussion is over.

2006-10-7のプラクティスの予告

Genre: Discussion

Title: Drinking and Driving

Presenter: Mr. Hori

Description:
Recently we can see lots of articles on drunken drivers and accidents, like a case in Fukuoka.
I would like you to discuus the topics of, 1) Drinking Habit, 2) Driving Habit, 3) The Relationship between these Two, 4) Strengthening the Penalties for the Drunken Drivers, etc. I hope enjoy the simple discussion.
Thank you.

2006年08月29日

2006-9-30のプラクティスの予告

Genre: Listening & Discussion

Title: News English!

Presenter: Ms. Takahashi

Description:
Listen to news, and try a dictation quiz, followed by the debate over the topic. We will have two sessions; protection of wild animals and business in Asia. The following are statements for each topic. You will join in either pro-team (those who support the statement) or con-team (those who oppose the statement), and discuss why you are for/against the statement with your team mates. Convince your opponent to change their opinion.

(a) Hunting should be permitted in order to control the population of the grizzly bear.
(b) India is better place to invest than China.

2006-9-23のプラクティスの予告

Genre: Listening

Title: Movie
  
Presenter: Ms. Hori

Description:

I would like to show you movie. This story is so popular among kids in UK. The author has already published many volumes about this story. I would like to show you the volume 2. Guess what? Maybe some of you know.... Please enjoy watching and listening.

See you soon.

2006-9-16のプラクティスの予告

Genre: Speaking

Title: "Instant English Composition"
  
Presenter: Mr Yoshida

Description:

I would like you to practice "Instant English Composition." Because
this "Instant English Composition" can be the first step toward "Think
in English." (If you want to speak English fluently, you probably need
to be able to "Think in English" all the time.)

*Note: The point is how quickly you respond in English. You do not
have to care too much about correctness of your answers.

# 「まちがったっていいじゃないか,ESSだもの」 -- みつを

2006-9-9のプラクティスの予告

Genre: Game

Title: Let's play "Renso-Game" in English!

Presenter: Ms. Nakano

Description:

Remember the NHK's game show, "Renso-Game"?
Why not play it in English and have fun?
The rules are simple.
One gives a hint at a time. The others guess the word (question).
I've prepared lots of questions for the game.
Come enjoy it together!

2006年07月18日

2006-9-2のプラクティスの予告

Genre: Discussion

Title: "After retirement time"

Presenter: Ms. Saijo

Description:

What do you think about good after retirement time? Please talk your dream or near future with your members.

2006年07月10日

2006-8-26のプラクティスのお知らせ

Genre: Talk

Title: "Introduction of Japanese culture and customs"

Presenter: Mr. Okino

Description:

Japanese culture is quite different from that of Europe and America. Have you ever been confused when foreign people asked you about Japanese culture? In this practice, we make pairs and introduce Japanese culture each other.

2006-8-19のプラクティスの予告

Title: "Dictionary"

Presenter: Mr. Matsuura

Description: Re-definition of the words.

2006年07月02日

2006-8-12のプラクティスの予告

Genre: Talk

Title: "Sugoroku Talk"

Presenter: ESS Staff

Description:
Let's have an enjoyable time by talking about various topics!!

2006-8-5のプラクティスの予告

Genre:Quiz

Title:Guess What

Presenter:Mr. Noguchi

Description:
I prepared many words or phrases in Japanese.
Explain a word or phrase to the other members in English and let them guess what you are talking about. Never say the very word or phrase itself! The other members should answer the Japanese word or phrase. Let's talk a lot in English !

2006-7-29のプラクティスの予告

Genre: Practice

Title:
1.Listening Comprehension
2.Drill

Presenter: Mr. Shimizu

Description:
What is "real" English!!
Real means What "They say and write".

2006-7-22のプラクティス

7月22日はサマーパーティーのため、お寺でのプラクティスはお休みとさせていただきます。

2006年06月18日

2006-7-15のプラクティスの予告

Genre: Talk

Title: "Sugoroku Talk"

Presenter: ESS Staff

Description:
Let's have an enjoyable time by talking about various topics!!

2006年06月12日

2006-7-8のプラクティスの予告

Presenter: Mr. Aiki

詳細は別途お知らせします。

2006年06月04日

2006-7-1のプラクティスの予告

Genre: Discussion

Title: “The Recent News”

Presenter: Mr. Kajita

Description:
For this practice, I am going to prepare the world news articles regarding politics, economics and social issues. Let's exchange opinions on those articles.

2006-6-24のプラクティスの予告

Genre: Composition

Title: “HAIKU”

Presenter: Mr. Ishizaki

Description:
The topic of June 24's practice is "HAIKU." At first you may read basic explanation on HAIKU.
Then please make your HAIKU, and present it within your group. At that time you had better present not only HAIKU but also some background information or your feeling or why you feel so and so on.

See you in Yosenji Temple.

2006-6-17のプラクティスの予告

Genre: Talk

Title: “Let's enjoy 2006 FIFA World Cup”

Presenter: Mr. Tabata

Description:
The football World Cup Finals will start in Germany on June 9 this year. I'll prepare some information about World Cup and football games, so let's enjoy talking about them. We will review the Japan's 1st game with Australia on June 12 and forecast the other games . If you get information about football games by news or HP(*1) etc before that day, you will enjoy the practice more.

(*1) ex.. http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/jp/

2006年06月03日

2006-6-10のプラクティスの予告

Genre:Discussion

Title:“World Environment Day”

Presenter:Mr. Goto

Description:Jun 5 “World Environment Day”
Kyoto city attract the public attention as a international tourist town.
How do you think about environment problem?
I will be interested to know what happens in the future.

1.How to dump a home garbage?
a. remains of a meal
b. waste oil
c. fluorescent lamp , battery
d. steel , alminum , plastics and glass
2.The amount of energy consumed
3.An animal threatened with extinction

2006年05月23日

2006-06-03のプラクティスの予告

Genre: Listening and Talk

Title: Hollywood Interviews

Presenter: Ms Kanai

Description:
Please listen to interviews of Hollywood stars. The stars are Keanu Reaves from The Matrix, Arnold Schwarzenegger from The Terminator, and Julia Roberts from Pretty Woman. After listening to interviews twice, please check your understanding of contents. Then talk about the actor or actress.

I hope you will enjoy the interviews.

2006-05-27のプラクティスの予告

Practice on May 27, 2006

Genre: Discussion

Title: “Cell-phone” and “View of life”

Presenter: Mr. Noguchi

Description:
In this practice, let’s talk about two topics. The first topic is about “Cell-phone” (merit and demerit). And second topic is about “View of life”.

2006年05月12日

2006-05-20のプラクティスの予告

Practice on May 20, 2006

Genre: Discussion

Title: Computers and our life

Presenter: Mr. Yamamura

Description:
How computers have changed our life ?Computers made our life very convenient, but they also caused some problems.
In this practice, I want you to discuss both positive and negative effect of computer technology.
I'm going to prepare some materials which can help your discussion.

2006年05月06日

2006-05-13のプラクティスの予告

Practice on May 13, 2006

Genre: Puzzle

Title: A Hugae Crossword Puzzle

Presenter: Ms. Oka

Description:
Hi! Are you enjoying the holidays?
I'm going to bring up a huge crossword puzzle on May 13.
It's really hard for me to solve it alone, but it's gonna be
easier and happier when we work together.
I hope you'll enjoy it. See you soon.

2006年04月27日

2006-05-06のプラクティスの予告

Practice on May 6, 2006

Genre: Discussion & Presentation

Title: "The Stories behind the Scenes"

Presenter: Ms. Kato

Description:
In this practice, you will be divided into max. 5 groups. Each group gets 2 pictures: 1 Japanese picture, and 1 Western (European) picture.

Each picture represents a story (e.g.) Momotaro.Please discuss the stories in the group. At 19:30, each group is asked to present the stories. If you would like to prepare for this practice, ask your kids to read YOU some picture books, or dig into your oshiire and find your text books from school :-)

2006年04月20日

2006-04-29のプラクティスの予告

Practice on April 29, 2006
--------------------------

Genre: Discussion

Title: English Jokes

Presenter: Ms. Edaki

Description:
Do you like jokes? Do you think you can make English native speakers laugh with your jokes? Some English jokes are difficult to understand as their punch lines are different from those of Japanese jokes.

In this practice, you will read a variety of English jokes, discuss what's funny about them with your group members and find out what English jokes are.

Hope you will find this activity enjoyable and learn English sense of humor.

2006年04月19日

2006-04-22のプラクティスの予告

Practice on April 22, 2006
--------------------------

Genre: Talk

Title: What's new?

Presenter: Staff

Description:
You are going to talk to your group members. You can come up with any topic(s) that sounds interesting to you. You are supposed to develop your topic(s) in the talk.

In the later part of the session, you are going to give a very short speech, say 30 seconds each. Every one of you has an equal opportunity to speak English in front of the people. Of course, You can use a note if you are not confident about your memory :-)

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