Casino

The Japanese government has legalized casinos, but except for horse racing and boat racing, gambling has been banned for a long time. Mr Abe thinks casinos are good for the economy, but is that true? Maybe a lot of foreign gamblers will come to Japan, but Singapore and Korea are strong competitors. Also they have a lot of experience. Three big American casino companies want to build casinos in Japan, but I think the profits will go to America. Therefore I think Japanese companies would be better. Above this I think the atmosphere is important, so I think casinos with a special Japanese feel should be made .

 日本の政府はカジノを公認しましたが、競馬と競艇以外、長い時日本では賭博がダメでした。あべ総理大臣は経済のために、カジノはいい物と言いましたが、それは本当のことかな？多分たくさんの外国のギャンブラーは日本に来ますが、シンガポールとか韓国は強い競争相手。その上シンガポールと韓国のカジノは長い経験があります。三つアメリカのカジノ会社は日本でカジノを作りたいけど、収益はアメリカに行くと思います。だから、日本の会社の方がいいと思います。その上、雰囲気は大切なので、特別な日本っぽいカジノを作った方がいいと思います。

Before class prepare a short talk about your opinions about casinos in Japan.

What is it advertising?

Before class watch the video and answer the questions.

1.  What is this advertisement for?
2.  How does it make you feel?
3.  Did you enjoy it. Why or why not?

For homework write the story of this advertisement.

Pubs in Kyoto

Before class please read below and answer the questions.

I came to Kyoto in the Autumn of 1999. At that time there were two British pubs in Kyoto. The Pig and Whistle, and The Hub. Because it was cheap many young English teachers often went to The Hub, but I think The Pig and Whistle was better. Among English teachers in their thirties The Pig and Whistle was a popular pub. This year it has it's thirtieth anniversary. In 2000 at Kiyamachi-Oike The Hill of Tara opened. It was a very beautiful and authentic pub. For a very long time it was my favorite pub. About six years ago the ownership changed and the name also changed. It's name now is Dublin. In the past this pub's food was good, but in my opinion, now among all the pubs in Kyoto it has the most delicious food. I recommend the blue cheese pizza.  But about five years ago near to Karasuma-Matsubara The Man in the Moon opened.　This is now my favorite pub.  There are four Man in the Moons in Kyoto, but I only like this one. It has a really authentic atmosphere. The staff at Dublin are more polite, but the staff at The Man in the Moon are friendlier. Therefor I like both of these pubs. I often go to The Man in the Moon, but if I want really delicious food I go to Dublin.

1. Which pub was popular with young English teachers in 1999?
2. What is the Pig and Whistle celebrating this year?
3. For a long time which was John's favorite pub. 
4. What is similar between Dublin and The Man in the Moon?
5. Which is John's favorite pub now?
6. Which pub does John recommend for food?

私は1999年の秋に京都に来た、その時京都では二つイギリスのパブがあった。The Pig and Whistle と The Hub。安いパブなので、若い英語の教師はよくThe Hubに行った。でもThe Pig and Whistleの方がよかったと思う。三十代の英語の教師の中で人気なパブだった。今月はそのパブの30年記念がある。2000年木屋町御池でThe Hill of Taraが開店した。本当に美しくて正真正銘のパブ。長い間その店は私の一番好きなパブだった。六年前ぐらいそのパブの持ち主が変わった。名前も変わった、今の名前はDublin。昔その店の料理は美味しかったが、私の意見では今の料理は京都のパブの中で一番美味しい。ブルーチーズピザがおすすめ。でも五年前ぐらい烏丸松原の近くでThe Man in the Moonが開店した。現在そのパブは私の一番好きなパブ。京都では四つThe Man in the Moonがあるが、その店だけが好き。本当に本物の雰囲気がある。Dublinのスタッフの方が丁寧だが、The Man in the Moonのスタッフの方が優しい。だから、その二つのパブが好き。The Man in the Moonによく行くが、もし本当に美味しい料理が欲しかったら、Dublinに行く。

Before class write a two minute talk comparing two similar places, for example restaurants, bars, cafes. 

 私の友達が外国人と英語を話したい日本人のために英会話バーを作りました。名前はPotluck。毎週三回開く。木土日の午後6時から8時まで。スナックと１ドリンクで1000円。もし興味があったら、行ってね。西洞院通高辻通の一本西の西東中筋道通下る。Google MapでPotluckを見つけてね。

I have been....

I have been taking pictures all my life, it is something I have always done. I have been playing the guitar on and off since my university days. This means sometimes there are breaks when I do not play the guitar. I have ridden a motorbike off and on. This sentence means the gaps when I don't ride a motorbike are much longer than the times when I do ride.

Choose a title from below and prepare a two minute talk for next lesson.

1. I have________all my life.
2. I have________on and off since_____
3. I have________off and on. 

 私の友達が外国人と英語を話したい日本人のために英会話バーを作りました。名前はPotluck。毎週三回開く。木土日の午後6時から8時まで。スナックと１ドリンクで1000円。もし興味があったら、行ってね。西洞院通高辻通の一本西の西東中筋道通下る。Google MapでPotluckを見つけてね。

 

Potluck

23日は休みです。次のレッスンは30日です。

私の友達が外国人と英語を話したい日本人のために英会話バーを作りました。名前はPotluck。毎週三回開く。木土日の午後6時から8時まで。スナックと１ドリンクで1000円。もし興味があったら、行ってね。西洞院通高辻通の一本西の西東中筋道通下る。Google MapでPotluckを見つけてね。

Election

Last Wednesday the American people elected Mr Trump to be the next president of the United States of America. Please choose a beginning line from below and prepare a two minute talk for class.

1. Trump will be good for America because...
2. Trump will be bad for America because...
3. Trump being the American president is good for Japan because...
4. Trump being the American president is bad for Japan because...
5. I do not care about Trump, so I am going to talk about something else.

What a waste.

 

How Shinpukan used to be.

This year Kyoto's Shinpukan closed.  Above that, except for the facade, the building was demolished. I really liked Shinpukan, there were a variety of restaurants, especially I often went to the Indian restaurant. There were many events at Shinpukan and the atmosphere was always good. I heard that a hotel was going to be built there. In my opinion, for people living in Kyoto, Shinpukan is more important than a hotel. But yesterday, while I was strolling by Shinpukan, I saw a surprising thing. Shinpukan has become a car park. What a waste!  


今年、京都の新風館が閉まった。その上ファサード以外、そのビルを取り壊した。僕は新風館が大好きだった。いろいろないいレストランがあった。特にそのビルのインド料理の店によく行った。新風館ではたくさんのイベントがあった。いつもいい雰囲気があった。その場所で新しいホテルを作ると聞いた。僕の意見では、京都に住んでいる人のためにホテルより新風館の方が大切だった。でも昨日新風館の近くで散歩しながら、驚くべき物を見た。新風館は駐車場になった。本当にもったいない！

Before class think about something that you think was wasted and write about it. Be ready to talk about it and answer questions in class.

Famous for...

Please watch the video above, then choose one of the titles below and write a short essay between 120 and 150 words.


________________is famous for__________________________
________________is well known for_____________________
________________is notorious for_______________________

Notoriousの意味は悪名の高いです。

The Autumn

 

亀岡2015年

This morning I went to Kameoka . The Autumn has started, so many tree's leaves are changing color. They are not maple leaves, but still they are really beautiful. In both Britain and Japan, the Autumn is my favorite season, so I  have really become energetic. Usually in the Autumn I take a lot of photos, but this year I do not want to take any. I do not know the reason, but I think this year experience is more important than photography. In 1999 I first saw the maple leaves in Kyoto, there were amazingly beautiful. At that time Kyoto was very popular, but recently I think Kyoto has become too popular. There are a lot of new hotels and there are too many tourists, so when I have the time, I plan to run away from Kyoto. This year I plan to often go to beautiful quiet Kameoka.

今朝亀岡に行った。秋が始まったので、たくさんの木の葉っぱの色も変っている。もみじじゃないけど本当に綺麗だ。イギリスも日本も秋は私の一番好きな季節なので、本当に元気になった。たいてい秋の時，たくさん写真を撮るが、今年、写真を撮りたくない。理由が分からないけど、今年写真より経験の方が大切だと思う。1999年京都のもみじを初めて見た。非常に美しかった。その時京都は大人気だったが、最近人気過ぎになったと思う。たくさんの新しいホテルがある。観光者が多過ぎなので、時間があったら、京都を逃げるつもり。この秋よく綺麗で静かな亀岡に行くつもりだ。

Before class please write a small essay entitled "The Autumn". You can write anything about the Autumn. It should be between 120 and 150 words long. Please write carefully and make a copy for me to check.