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Post by Admin on Dec 17, 2014 12:18:09 GMT 9
Please introduce yourself. Tell everyone a little about yourself.
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Post by Katherine on Dec 21, 2014 17:23:39 GMT 9
Hi. My name is Katharine. Nice to meet you all. I live in Kumamoto which is known for Kumamoto cathtle and " kumamon." I have so much good point to introduce about here. So at first, please visit to Kumamoto once. About me, I love to read, listen to music, dance, and travel. Also I'm addicted to vintage clothes and antique stuff since I studied abroad in America. I'm very looking forward to studying in Soka university with you guys. It will be so much fun and stimulus. Thank you.
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Post by Admin on Dec 22, 2014 10:38:23 GMT 9
Hi Katharine, Thank you for making your first post. You mentioned you studied abroad in America. Where did you go? What kind of music do you like? What kind of dance? I actually think Kumamon is a very cute character. What does everyone else think? Miyagi H
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Post by Katherine on Dec 31, 2014 1:06:22 GMT 9
I went to San Antonio , TX for 10 month. The area was kind of country side and the school I went was so so, but lots of thrift shop there ware! I like EXO, f(x), Tokyo Incidents, chat monchy, Yumi Matsutoya, and Hikaru Utada... But recently I'm interested in EXILE Tribe !! Actually I really like them:) I went to live viewing on 28,Dec. That was final stage of this year's tour and was soooooo exiting!!! They are not only cool but also cute ! Lol I do basic hip-hop. I had only took lesson for a year so I'm not really good at it..... However I really wanna start again because I still love it!!
Ps, Kumamon is very active person. I'm really proud of him. I have to be out going like him...
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Post by Admin on Dec 31, 2014 22:36:55 GMT 9
Hi Katherine,
Thank you for posting about your experiences and your interests. Have you ever heard Hikaru Utada speak English? San Antonio can get pretty hot during the summer. You have to tell us about the school you went to. 10 months is a long time. That's great! Do you keep in contact with the people you met there?
Sincerely,
Miyagi H
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Post by Katharine on Jan 10, 2015 0:02:44 GMT 9
I didn't know about Hikaru Utada's back ground well but I'm sure that she speaks good English. Because in her songs, there are a lot of English and her music is inspired by R&B.
The school was pretty small in the size and the student number because of private catholic school. There are Korean, Chinese, Japanese, Thailand, and a great number of Mexican. The exchange student program was conducted by my high school and my prefecture. Thus I don't have to be repeater but the school was already decided. I really really love my last host family! I don't contact with them frequently but I remind my host sister sometimes.
----Weekly report ------
Vocab I learned 36 words this week. Keep on studying.
Listening I'm hooked on TED talk this week. There are some interesting subjects. Especially, I liked "see invisible motion...." by Michael Rubinstein. I'm astonished that they catch music by recording video of bag of chips. And I moved by the idea of Mundano "pimp my... Trash cart." He changes homeless to hero who recycle street garbage by coloring them I liked his conversion of way of thinking. Also it's very interesting that they have English accent each person.
Writing I wrote 4 quick write this week. I couldn't do last night so I gonna do tomorrow morning. The number of words go back and forth depends on the subject. The range is about 120~200 word. I want to make it better in speed and in quality.
Reading I just got the book called "The Call of the Wild" today from amazon, so I didn't start to read yet. I'm very looking forward to reading this book. I want to know how this story changes.
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Post by Admin on Jan 10, 2015 10:49:08 GMT 9
Hi Katherine, Good job making your first weekly report. Here is a link of Hikaru Utada speaking English. www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUETJQEOPdYVocabulary - Please be sure to review those 36 words so you don't forget them. Listening - Do you think recycling street garbage can be done in Japan? Writing - Please finish your quick write for the week. Reading - Yes, please start reading as soon as possible. Thank you for posting and keep up the good work. Please read your classmates reports and comment on their progress. Sincerely, Miyagi H
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Post by Katharine on Jan 16, 2015 23:56:49 GMT 9
Thank you for the YouTube !! That is very very cool, wow!!!!!!!
I couldn't do the homework this week . I'm kinda busy, and unluckily I had been ill. I watched some of TED but I'm so sorry, I promise I do my home work twice next week. I'm so sorry about that. I try my best to never do it again
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Post by Admin on Jan 18, 2015 17:50:12 GMT 9
Hi Katharine, Are you ok? I hope you're feeling better now. Sometimes our bodies will not allow us to do what our minds want to do. Yes, please work on the self study material next week and please let us know how you do. Good luck!
Sincerely
Miyagi H
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Post by Katharine on Jan 23, 2015 21:46:44 GMT 9
Weekly report
Vocab I learned 34 words this week. I'm having a pre 1grade Eiken test on Sunday. I'm not sure that I can go or not, but I hope the vocabulary studying helps me to pass the test.
Writing I wrote 8 essays in this week. My goal of this week was 10, so I couldn't make it. I still have big range of the number of words. 121words to 240 words. The highest number is two times of the lowest. I need the time to think about the contents. But I don't know it is ok or not. And I can write only easy sentence due the time limit. Should I write right after I see the topic ?
Listening I watched "Creative problem-solving in the face of extreme limits" by Navi Radjou on TED. The was one of the most interesting speech. He said more things in less resource. He made me think what is innovation and technology, and how should we spread and make use of them.
Reading I read "Introduction" and "A Note on the Text" of "The Call of the Wild." His biography and writing style ware difficult to understand for me. The English was also hard. What I understood is Jack London is good at expressing violence, ruthless and wild animal. I want to read the Japanese version to realize the book well.
From this week to next week, I'm staying in my grandparents house due to my father's business trip to China. I'm helping their Gobo agriculture. And also I'm really grad that somo wrestler Hakuhou won the 33rd championship, the biggest number in the history. He broke the great record.
Sincerely
Katharine
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Post by Malcolm on Jan 25, 2015 3:03:47 GMT 9
Hi, Katherine!
I'm one of the FILA English teachers.
Good luck on the test! I'm sure that all your studying will help.
34 new words! A good way to remember them is to use them when writing and speaking. Try using the new words that you learn each week when you write posts on this board. Maybe you have heard the phrase, "Use it or lose it." Using the words regularly will help you to remember them and keep them in your long-term memory. Then you can say with certainty that you have learned them.
Eight Quick Writes per week may be too much...no more than one each day (5-7 per week is enough). It is natural for there to be variety in the number of words; some topics are easier than others to write about. Actually, you should think about the topic for one minute after you read it and before you start writing. Writing easy, simple sentences is exactly what you should be doing in Quick Writes. You shouldn't worry about grammar or complex sentences at this point; you should just write as quickly as possible. Quick Writes are more about quantity rather than quality. We will work with quality in writing class.
I thought his talk was quite interesting too. I think people today have the impression that only experts and specialists who have huge budgets can solve problems, make innovations, and invent things. I think that we all need to develop a DIY (Do-It-Yourself) mindset. If we see a problem, we should use what we know and what we have to try to solve the problem creatively. I love the statement he said, "Frugal innovation is low tech." What innovations can you make in your life?
Jack London is a wonderful writer. I read several of his books when I was younger and last year I read his book "White Fang" again. I think one of the reasons he was good at expressing violence and ruthlessness was because the world was still quite wild, violent and ruthless at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries. He based many of his stories on the experiences he had. As you read the story, look at the interactions between the animals and people. He emphasizes that how humans treat animals is how animals treat humans. All things are interconnected. Enjoy!
I grew up working on a farm with my parents and grandparents. I am envious that you will be helping your grandparents this week. Get your hands dirty. It is good for your body and soul.
I don't watch sumo anymore...not since Chiyonofuji retired. He was awesome, but Hakuhou beat his record.
Keep up the great work.
Malcolm
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Post by Katharine on Feb 7, 2015 23:08:18 GMT 9
I'm very sorry to be delay for the report.
Vocab I learned 52 words.
Writing I did four writing ipthis week. I could write 230 to 268 words. I'm happy that I had improved.
Reading I'm reading "BATARD" in this book. I want to know the meaning go the title.
Listening I listend " go ahead, make a new words" by Erin MckKean. It was very intereipsting. Japan has a record of the new word of the year. I think it's very interesting that people makes new word immediately, like a comedian. It's culture.
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Post by malcolm on Feb 9, 2015 0:02:43 GMT 9
Hi Katharine!
Vocabulary: Fifty-two words! Are you using your new words? As you learn the words, remember to also look at the different forms of the words. You can practice with your friends at school. You can have a 15 minute English chat time and everyone can practice speaking in English. It doesn't have to be perfect. Even native speakers don't speak English perfectly or know all the right words. The important thing is to try to actively use the English you have learned. What is the most interesting word you studied this week?
Writing: Good job with the writing. Keep it up! Which topic were you able to write the most about?
Reading: Could you tell more about the book and the story? Who is the author?
Listening: There are many new words every year. What are some of the new Japanese words and what do they mean in English?
Be consistent! Do some of each of these activities each day. Set specific goals for each day!
Go, go go!
Malcolm
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Post by Katherine on Feb 28, 2015 0:00:08 GMT 9
I'm sorry for the blank
Vocab I learned 25 words this week. I'm not good st using new words,
Reading Batâd is written by Lack London. I couldn't read ahead this week.
Writing I wrote about 160 words in one essay.
Listening I watched "How to go to apace, without having to go to space" by Anglo Vermeulen. I think foreigner is very creative. What they think, or how they think, is different from lapanese one. I alway get surprised their boldness. Because I never gonna reach the idea.
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Post by Admin on Mar 5, 2015 11:59:27 GMT 9
Great job!
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