Avebury Stone Circle

Before class please watch the video and answer the questions.

 

1. Before seeing this video had you heard of Avebury?
2. What kind of place do you think Avebury is?
3. How did the video make you feel?

 

Avebury is a 3000 year old pre-historic stone circle. It is the biggest in England. It is not as famous as Stonehenge, but many people prefer it's atmosphere.  It is not known who built it or how it was built, but it was obviously of great importance to the people who did build it.  But it was definitely Pagan (pre-Christian).  Up until the 12 century,  there were still openly Pagan beliefs in England, but they were then violently crushed by the Christian church. Avebury was strongly connected with Paganism, so the church started to give the stones names connected to the Christian devil, to demonise the circle. For example the "Devils Chair".  Many people believe that  Pagan beliefs have been secretly passed down from generation to generation since then.  From around the the 1950s gradually interest in Paganism has started to grow again and for many Neo-Pagans, Avebury is an important site.

 

• After reading Avebury's history, would you like to visit?
• Do you know an ancient site in Japan?
• Do you know a historical site in Japan, that has a wonderful atmosphere?
• British Paganism was destroyed by the foreign Christian religion. Why in Japan can Shintoism and Buddhism live together in harmony?
• What kind of beliefs, crafts or myths have been passed down from generation to generation in Japan?

エィブゥリーは3000年前の歴史以前のストーンサークルです。イギリスの一番大きなストーンサークルです。ストーンヘンジの方が有名ですが、たくさんの人はエィブゥリーの雰囲気の方が好きです。使った人たちと作り方が分かりません。もちろん、その人たちの場合、エィブゥリーはとても大切でした。でも、絶対ペイガンでした（キリスト教の前の宗教）。12世紀までペイガン人は隠さずに信念の事をしましたが、キリスト教は乱暴にペイガンの事を鎮圧しました。エィブゥリーとペイガンは大切な関係がありますので、キリスト教はエィブゥリーの石にキリスト教の悪魔の関係がある名前を命名しエィブゥリーを悪魔化しました。例えば、悪魔のいすです。たくさんの人はペイガンの信念は静かに代々引き続いています。50年代からもう一度ペイガンの事は段々人気がでてきました。新ペイガンの場合、エィブゥリーは大切な場所です。

私の生徒さんのためにそのブログを作りました。いろいろな場所でグループディスカッションの英語のレッスンを教えています。もし京都で新しいグループを作りたかったら、連絡してください。John Rowan 

Americans eating British Food

Both Japanese and American people often stereotype British food as being tasteless and boring. Before class watch the video of some Americans eating British food and answer the questions. Also if there are any words or phrases you do not understand, write them down and bring them to class.

1. Before watching the video, what was your image of British food?
2. Before eating, what were the American interviewee's views about British food?
3. Which of the British foods looked most interesting to you?
4. Which food was the most popular?
5. Which was the least popular?
6. How did the American interviewee's views of British food change?
7. Has your view of British food changed?

Recently, Japanese food has started to become popular in Britain; this has not always been the case. Before coming to Japan, almost seventeen years ago, my biggest worry was the food.  But I soon found that a lot of Japanese food is wonderful. Still some British people stereotype Japanese food as being only raw fish.  If you were going to make a similar video to this, introducing Japanese foods to British people, what foods would you choose? Before class make a list of five Japanese foods, with reasons why you think British people would like them.

私の生徒さんのためにそのブログを作りました。いろいろな場所でグループディスカッションの英語のレッスンを教えています。もし京都で新しいグループを作りたかったら、連絡してください。John Rowan

Valentine's Day

Saint Valentine

Valentine's Day in Europe is completely different from Japan. In 1958 the Isetan department store introduced Valentines Day into Japan. But in Europe Valentine's Day has a long history. Valentine was a Christian saint.  According to the Christian myth, Valentine was alive during the time of the Roman Empire. At that time the Roman Empire was pagan and for Christians it was a dangerous time. At that time Christians could not marry, but Valentine performed wedding ceremonies for Christians.  This made the Roman emperor angry, so he killed Valentine. Therefore, Valentine's Day has meaning for Christians, but in Britain Christianity is gradually disappearing. But Valentine's day is still very popular, but has no connection to religion. On this day couples exchange gifts, but not just chocolate: flowers, rings, clothes and more.  Sometimes single people send Valentines cards anonymously to someone they like. But these days many people, often say Valentines Day is just a commercialised day.

 

1. Did you know the history of Valentines Day?
2. Did the history surprise you?
3. Why do you think couples exchange presents on Valentines Day?
4. Why in Japan do only women give chocolate to men on Valentines Day?
5. Why do you think that single people send Valentine's cards anonymously?
6. When and why was White Day created in Japan?
7. Are there any rules for White Day?

Before class think about what would be the perfect romantic day for you and prepare to tell the class about it.

 

 

ヨーロッパのバレンタインデーと日本のバレンタインデーは全然違えます。1958年ISETAN百貨店はバレンタインを日本へ伝えました。でもヨーロッパではバレンタインデーの歴史はとても長いです。バレンタインはキリスト教の聖者です。キリスト教の神話によると、ローマ帝国の時代にバレンタインは生きました。その時ローマ帝国は異教徒の帝国でした。キリスト人の場合い、危ない時代でした。その時、キリスト人は結婚してはいけませんでした。でも、バレンタインはキリストのカップルのために、結婚式を行いました。ローマ皇帝は非常に怒ったので、バレンタインを殺しました。だから、キリスト人の場合、バレンタインデーは意味がありますが、　イギリスではキリスト教は段々なくなっています。でも、バレンタインデーはまだとても人気がありますが、宗教は関係がありません。恋人とか夫婦は贈り物を取り交わします。チョコだけじゃない、花、指輪とか服です。時々、独身は匿名で好きな人にバレンタインデーカードを送ります。最近、たくさんの人はよく「バレンタインデーはお金を儲ける日だけになりました」と言っています。

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

私の生徒さんのためにそのブログを作りました。いろいろな場所でグループディスカッションの英語のレッスンを教えています。もし京都で新しいグループを作りたかったら、連絡してください。John Rowan

The Pub



 

Before class please watch the video and answer the questions.

1. Have you been to a British pub?
2. What are pubs for?
3. Why was it safer to drink beer than water in the past?
4. How old is the Crown?
5. For the village how important is the Crown?
6. How are rural pubs and city pubs different?
7. What is a problem in the UK?
8. What is turning point?
9. What is turning point doing?

Think about a place in Kyoto that you like to go with your friends to chat and relax.  Prepare to tell the class about it.

Think about a social problem in Japan and prepare to tell the class about it.



Man in the Moon pub in Kyoto.
 

私の生徒さんのためにそのブログを作りました。いろいろな場所でグループディスカッションの英語のレッスンを教えています。もし京都で新しいグループを作りたかったら、連絡してください。John Rowan