15th January 2008

【About Talking about Japan】
I think my speaking knowledge was decreasing　after I came back to Japan from New Zealand, but thanks to ‘’talking about Japan’’ my speaking knowledge is increasing again. I could notice what was wrong of my English speaking.

【About Writing class】I think writing class was very good studying for me. Because I could learn both English and computer. I　didn’t expect Tezukayama to teach me how to use computer. I’m not still good at computer, but I could be better than before I take this class.

【About English listening 】
We had chance to listen to real pronunciation　from native English speakers.

1st January 2008

I was gonna spend New Year’s Eve with Ryo. We were gonna count down to New Year. We were waiting for count down as watching TV. And eating buckwheat noodles. Japanese people eat buckwheat noodles on New Year’s Eve. There are some reasons. One reason is people wish for long life. Because noodles are long. After I felt full I fall a sleep. I expected Ryo to wake me up before countdown. But he didn’t.

a) Hogmanay is the name for New Year in which country?

Britain

b) In which city is the New Year's Day parade held?

Can you find a photo of this year's parade?London

c) Whose birthday is on January 3rd, and what famous book did he write?

JRR Tolkien Lord of the Rings

d) Whose birthday is on January 5th?

Why is this person's birthday in a British calendar?Guru Gobind Singh This day marks the birth of the tenth and final Sikh prophet-teacher in 1666 C.E.

e) Whose birthday is today (January 8th)?

What is he famous for?Elvis Presley　singer

f) What is Al Hijra and why is it on a British calendar?

The Islamic New Year begins on the day Prophet Muhammad left Mecca to travel to Medina in 622 CE. He protected some British people.

g) Who reached the South Pole in 1912 on January 17th?

Robert Scott

h) Whose birthday is on January 18th?

What famous book did he write?AA Milne　　Winnie the Pooh

i) Who died on January ２4th, 1965?

What is he famous for (write ONE thing).Sir Winston Churchill　He was a prime minister of England.

j) What do you think about this calendar?

I don’t　know any person on this calendar. So I was not interested in this.