11/22/09 Meeting Party!!

Hi, guys!! How did you spend you time today?? As for me, I had a party with Nozomi, Tomoka and ESS members of Shizuoka University. Thank you so much for coming everybody.

You never know how Shizuoka University members are nice!! They are friendly, smart and nice speakers. Some of them came from another countries!! Eddie's hometown is Malaysia and Ms. Grace and Ms. Chen came from China:) Their English was also great!!

We introduced ourselves first. Next, we made pairs and exchange some information with him or her. After that, all of us share it to understand each other. All pairs did such a good job, I think. I enjoyed listen to them and introduce my pair.

Here are what we did today...

1. Guessing game (Nozomi team vs Tomoka team)

2. Thinking and writing ideas game (Same as former)

As a result...Nozomi team won 2 times!!! I was a loser:( OMG!lol but it's ok. We shared such a great time and I'm thankful to all members both SUAC students and Shizuoka University students.

Dear Naoki, Takashi, Taro, Kenji, Eddie, Chen, Grace, Namato, Kobe, Tomoka and Nozomi
Again, thank you for coming, shareing a wonderful time, speaking nicely, enjoying with your big smiles and trying your best. Let's meet up and have some fun soon:D I hope all of you will have a great weekend.

Sincerely, Mariko

11/18/09 Guessing Part.2

[Participation]→Kasumi, Yasuko, Yuri, Satsuki, Riho, Nozomi, Tomoka, Rina, Tomomi, Saki, Maya and Mariko

Did you like the other type of guessing game?? You must use your brain and think a lot. Some of you already knew that you should try to not only tell what you think but also understand others. In the activity, you had to ask many questions to your gruop member. Like that, you need to gather much information if you do not get it. Do not hesitate to ask a question if we do the same next time:) Let's think about what communication is.

Well, here is a funny sentence. You may like it:]
空気の読めない人は相手に迷惑をかける。
→"It makes trouble others who cannot realize atmosphere."

have a good weekend, beautiful girls!!
Sincerely, Mariko

"As You Like It" Pancake 11/12/09

Ingredients(Batter for 6 servings; Fillings for 1 serving)
〈For making batter〉
・2 and 2/3 oz hakurikiko flour
・7/8 oz Chinese yam
・3 and 1/3 oz stock (dried bonito)
〈Fillings〉
・1 egg
・2 thin slices pork belly
・3 and 1/2 oz cabbage
・ao-negi onion
・Bits of deep-fried tempura batter
・Beni-shoga red pickled ginger
・Dried bonito flakes
・Green laver
・Okonomi sauce (Thick Japanese-style Worceter sauce)
・Mayonnaise
・Vegetable oil

1. Rinse the cabbage and ao-negi onion in cold water, and cut the formar into julienne strips, and the latter using the edge cut technique. Peel the Chinese yam, and grate. Chop the beni-shoga [A]. Cut one of the pork belly slices into 1/16-inch wide pieces.
2. Place the flour, stock and grated Chinese yam in a bowl, and mix well to make batter.
3. Add the cabbage, ao-negi onion, beni-shoga, pork, bits of deep-fried tempura batter and egg to the bowl, and mix well.
4. Heat the hot plate to 400゜F, and add some vegetable oil. Pour the batter mixture prepared in 3. above onto the plate, place the other slice of pork on top of it and sprinkle on the dried bonito flakes. Heat about 3 minutes.
5. Turn the pancake [B], and heat about 5 min. Reverse again, and heat for about 5 min. Reverse again, and heat for about 3 min. Reverse again.
6. Spread the okonomi sauce all over the surface facing up. Put on some mayonnaise, and sprinkle on the green laver.

Did you get it? Here are my questions for you:)
1. What are "the formar" and "the latter"?
2. What is Chinese yam in Japanese?
3. Choose one word for the [A].
a. nicely
b. finely
c. slowly
4. Do you remember the word for [B]?
5. Tell me how to say キムチ in English.

Thank you for coming, Nozomi, Tomoka, Saki, Mina, Miki and Yasuko!! I hope you can get all answers. See you again:]

Mariko

ESS meeting party on 11/22

hi, guys!! How are you?
I'd like to have a party with you and some ESS members in Shizuoka University at Hamamatsu campus. The date is Sunday, November 22nd as I let you know before. We are going to have the party from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. If you can make it, just send me an email or let me know when we meet. Let's have some fun with them!! This will be our first time to get together!! Also, I'd like to get your idea which will be nice to do it on that day. hope you can join us:]

see you tomorrow~
Mariko

☆2009.11.05 Pictures speaking☆

Hi, everyone!! Thank you for coming again!!

How was the speaking with some pictures? It helped you a lot for speaking easily and fluently. I could see each of you remember your own memories and stories from the pictures. About ...

Childfood and her naked brother on her birthday,
An ex-coworker who retired because of her marriage,
Yellow, a stray cat who do not eat fish but do cat food,
Koto club and school festival with crying memories,
Kariyazaki san and a pianist with flower arrrangement,
Okinawa and Tomoka's favorite ice cream with Satoukibi flavor,
Home stay life in Australia and some koala's voice which is rare,
Kai chan wearing an awsome Japanese kimono and cute smile.

That was very good time to share your wonderful memories.
Well, here is something.

"Watch your step."
"Handle with care."
"The line is not clear/ busy."
"Do you know any good places to visit?"
"Please tell me a place of interest."
"The taxi is available."
"He is weired."

If you cannot remember this meaning, just ask me again:)
well, let's call it a day~!!

MARIKO

Thanks for trying to speak a lot!!

Saki, Nozomi (1st year), Tomoka, Tomomi, Maya, Kasumi, Nozomi (3rd year), and Yasuko, thanks for coming today!! Did you get something sweet??

Anyway, I wanted you to speak a lot this time. So I prepared many questions for you. How did you feel? Did you enjoy or was it difficult to answer? Actually, I also thought speaking English fruently is not easy. We need study more and more!! BUT!!!! Thank you for trying to answer by using your own words. If you keep the reason why you study English in your mind, your English skill will be better.

Well, here is something which you guys missed in lunch time. Take a look at this~:)

１．チャック　　　　　　　a zipper
２．チョッキ a vest
３．ジャンパー a jacket
４．ハンドル a steering wheel
５．フリーダイヤル toll-free
６．シルバーシート priority sheating
７．シーズンオフ off season
８．ツーショット a picture of a (male and female) couple
９．色鉛筆 colored pencil
１０．パンク a flat tire/tyre

I guess you can see some words in your life like "priority sheating". If you find a interesting word, please let us know!! One more!! Please feel free to use this blog. Write something as Satuki. I really enjoyed her diary. Did you think it is pretty, didn't you??

Anyway, I hope everybody enjoy English more!! It is a special, wonderful and beautiful language which connect people all over the world!

Have a great weekend, everyone:D:D:D

Speech contest and visiting ESS of Shizuoka University in Hamamatsu

hi, everyone. this is Mariko.

As I told you, the ESS leader of Shizuoka University postponed the speech contest for 3 months. Frankly, I asked him to do it because some of our members had thought about the entry for the contest but they found that they will be able to make it. Each of them has their reasons so it cannot be helped. Don't worry!!

But if you are interested in this speech contest, please let me know. Even if you did not tell me before. We had much time. It is a good oppurtunity, don't you think so? We rarely have such contest in this university, and what's more, there is no chance to meet other friends who belong to ESS in other school.

Well, I'm thinking...I want to visit Shizuoka University in next month. You want to come with me? If you do, just tell me or send me a message.

See ya~

Curry restaurant "Cashmir"

Hi, this is Satsuki Sone.

I am freshman. this is first time to write this blog. I want to talk about last Friday. After school, I went to Kashmir with my friend. Kashmir is curry of India restaurant. There were every kind of curry. We tried to eat three curry. My favorite curry was Mix Seafood Curry. We ate nan bread, too. It was so big and delicious!! I satisfy to eat them all and my stomach bloated. I recommend this place as good curry restaurant . If you want to eat them, I teach you this place.

August 29th

I went to firework in Abekawa.
It was my firest time that I went to Abekawa.
First, we got a train for Sizuoka from Hamamatu.
Next, we got a bus to near the Abekawa bridge.
There were many peopel that was surprised us.
We bought some foods, and we waited to begin.
At last, firework started. That were very big and coloful.
We were moved by beauty of the fireworkes.
I took a lot of pictures.I enjoyed summer vacation then.
I thougth I want to go to here again.

On 31st August

This is Mariko.
You know, half summer vacation has already passed!! Time goes by so quickly!! Please let me know how you are:)

Yesterday, I met some friends who went to Findlay and American friends who came from the university. We had a good time. Long time no talk and we hadn't seen each other so we found that how each ouf us have been so far. The atmosphere of the Japanese bar was pretty good. The name is Jyu-emon. Have you ever been there?? I recommend the bar because some of my friends also liked it. There are cozy rooms and food was delicious. The bar is located near the Shidax in Yuraku town. By the way, what is your favorite Japanese bar? Let me know if you are adult. Don't go out to drink if you are under 20, ok??lol

One more thing, I work at TULLY'S COFFEE. There are a lot of tasty beverages!! Now "Royal Milktea swirkle" is the seasonal drink of the shop. I had it yesterday and that was soooooooo nice!! I love it:) Swirkle is frozen drink and it is mixed with royal milktea ice cream. yam, yam, yam:D:D:D Why don't you get and try it?

Ok, I'll quit here~see you again:)

Wednesday, August 26th

Hi, all members. How are you?? This is Mariko, ofcourse~. I never know how you are!! Write something and tell me what are you doing everyday:)

As for me, I finished to go driving school and tomorrow I'll go to West driving licence center. Hopefully, I'm going to get a drivers licence there. What else...oh!! I went to dental office this afternoon and the doctor put my teeth off!!!!!!!!!! It was Oyashirazu. It took a little bit long time than I thought but it's okay now.

By the way, do you use paper dictionary lately?? Well, I don't do it actually...lol However, I checked some words with this today. How can I say...it was pretty good because you can see and check many words at the same time. You know, if you use an electric dictionary, you just see one words and the meaning. But how about a paper one?? When you try to find a word and even you already found it, you still can see a lot of words on the same page. Do you think it's good, don' you?? I recommend that you use and enjoy a paper dictionary. (Try to use English-English. It is better than English-Japanese one:D)

Well, it's getting chilly outside thesedays. Take care and don't catch a cold.

How are you, guys??

Hello, all members!! How is your summer vacation?
This is Mariko.

On July 24th, do you know what day is the day??


...It was my Birthday!! I'm 22 years old now:) Well, I had eaten a lot of food on 23th and 24th. I supposed to make my stomach explode!!!!! uuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!!lol Do not eat too mach if you have your birthday soon;)

I want you to put something which you want to write here. Anything is ok!! Tell me how is your life, your trouble and problem, your happy and lovely story, and so on. Other memebers are also going to glad to know that. Don't be nervous and hesitate. Nobody will get angry with you. At least, I cannot wait to see your diary or something:D:D:D

Take care, everybody!!

07/22/09 The last meeting

Hi, this is Mariko.

How was the activity which we had done today?? Both of the groups made a funny story, I think. Did you notice that both of us had some same words in it? like "humburger" I think it's not necesary for FISHING...lol

Anyway, who is available??lol Let me know if you get a boyfriend or a girlfriend in this summer vacation!!

more expressions...
1. I'll pay for you. / I'll buy for you.
（Do you remember how to say 'yakiniku' in English??
How do you say when you pay it for your friends?）
2. I'm sore all over.
3. He is out of shape.
4. Give me another. / Give me some more. / Another round.

Japanese famous food...
How do you say...
１．はまぐりのお吸い物
２．関東風雑煮
３．五目炊き込みご飯
４．カツ丼
５．お茶漬け
Check the answers with your friends!!


AND!! Here are some intersting expressions.
1. Hand-rolled Sushi 「手巻き寿司」
2. Sushi Roll　　　　　　「巻き寿司」
3. Sushi Pockets　　　「いなりずし」

Well, this time was the last meeting for us. I'm sorry for some memebers because I did not tell all of you about it. We won't have the meeting next week so that you can concentrate your final of some classes. So we'll have the next one in October. I'll send you an email soon, so please let me know when you have a question or something to tell me. I hope everybody is going to have a wonderfull summer vacation!! ...but finishing your report is first!

Take care guys:)

p.s. I'm still raising a few members who wants to give a speech at Shizuoka University in fall.

hi, everyone!! This is Mariko.
It's soooooooooooo hot thesedays, isn't it?? Not going to be die, ok??lol

By the way, how was the today's activity??
1. Endings and Beginnigs
2. Who am I?
3. Expressions

Did you have fun? I hope you enjoyed them, and I recommend you reviewing what you learned in that day. That's easy to remember them steadily.

Did you get these meanings??
1. Do you have the time?
2. What do you go by at your office?
3. I didn't realize your father-in-low lives with you.
4. I'm planning to drive down south with my wife.
5. I've always wanted to go skydiving.
(I wrote "I'm always・・・" on white boad today.
That was wrong. "I've always・・・" is correct!)

If you have any questions, let me know any time.
Don't forget to bring your name card next week!!
See you soon:D

CALM DIGGING

Hi, everyone!!

Yumika, Nozomi, International Culture' freshmans, The Sheehans, Ms. Sugiura and I went to Bentenjima. The weather was nice and we had a good time to each other. You know, it's so taugh to get a lot of clams!!lol Did you cook some food with them tonight? I didn't yet so maybe tomorrow morning, I'm gonna eat miso soup with it.

Thanks again for a wonderful time and I was glad to make a new friends!!!!! Let's keep in touch:)

ESS 2009 Clam Digging Outing Saturday June 13

Hello ESS members,

It is good to see you in the meetings working hard and enjoying English. Thank you for your support of the club. We are planning an outing for ESS members. The information is listed below.

When: Saturday June 13, 2009. Meet at 12:00PM

Where: Bentenjima. Meet at the beach.

What: Lunch and clam digging (lunch from 12:00-1:00PM, clam digging after that)

Cost: Bring your own food. To take the boat out to clam digging, it costs 1,200 yen.

For more information, check out this link:

http://sago.livedoor.biz/archives/51174833.html

Advice: You will be digging in the the mud so please bring a change of clothes and a towel. Wear shoes that you are not afraid to get dirty.

Bring something to dig the clams with: a scoop, small shovel. You can also bring a small bucket.

Let me know if you have any questions. We hope to see you there.

Mark

The First Meeting of the First Semester

Hello~this is Mariko.
How are you? Thank you for coming today, everybody. As you know, we seem to have some new members from this semester!! Excited!!

Here is what we did today.
[ Self introduction ]
[ Partner's introduction ]

I thought the second activity was nice! You had to find what kind of parson your partner is. 5 members had introduced their partner so we knew some member's favorite food and actor. What about yours? (I mean your partner.) We didn't have much time to talk and listen to all of our speech. So, please feel free to write about it on your comment. Tell us about your partner here. But!! If you want to write about other things, that's is also okay. (For example it is good to write about today's impression, feeling, and remark etc...) Please practice to use English a lot:)

oh, and please remember and use this sentence.
''Let's call it a day.''

ok, see you next week!

The first meeting of 2009：January 14th

★A HAPPY NEW YEAR★

Hello! This is Ayaka Kato.

Today was the first meeting of 2009 and we did a speaking activity that I planed.

I had been looking forward to today's meeting!!

We practiced speaking by using cards.

We are devided into 2 groups and talked about the topics written on the cards,

for example,,,

"What would you like to achieve this year?" and

"Pick up 1 favorite person and tell why you like him or her."

All members could give their short speech very well^^

Good job　and Thank you for coming Today★★