Using Pictures to Increase Vocabulary

Vocabulary is very important when studying a foreign language, but it is a challenge to remember so many new words. Photographs are a good way re-learn words or learn new ones. For example if you make a list of the nouns (名詞) in a  picture: some words you easily remember; some you need to re-learn and others are new. For me, in the picture above the Japanese nouns I easily remembered were 犬 and 耳, but I had forgotten the Japanese word for tail, so I needed to re-learn しっぽ. As for garden hose, I had no idea, so I needed to learn 水まきホーズ. This can be repeated with adjectives (形容詞), again 可愛い and 楽しい were easy, cute and fun. But I did not know silky fur, so I found 絹のような毛.  It can be repeated with verbs (動詞), I knew 走る, to run. But I had forgotten 飛ぶ, to fly.

Before next class, find a picture and make lists of the nouns, adjectives and verbs. Then write a story for class about the picture, it can be real or fiction, but try to use some of the words from your lists, in the story.

What is best for breakfast

In this weeks class, we are going to have three discussions; two chosen by the class and one chosen by me.

1. Eating bread for breakfast: I was a little surprised that the class chose this topic! Over the years I have heard many Japanese people say "I eat bread for breakfast", but I have never heard a British person say it. If they do eat bread, most often they would say "I eat toast for breakfast" or sometimes "I eat bread and butter for breakfast"; to me just "bread" sounds a little sad.

2. Men's cosmetics and perfume:

3: Should English teachers who come to Japan study Japanese?

I have heard that English teachers who go to work in Taiwan have to register for and take Chinese classes. Do think there should be a similar law in Japan?

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Debate

In this weeks class we are not going to have discussions, instead, we are going to have debates. So before class think of some subjects that you would like to debate. But please remember you may have to debate for or against the topics, so think about the good points and the bad points.