My Most Favorite Accent

In Canada, there are lots of immigrants and students who came from many different countries. Naturally, we can hear many different Englishs that have unique accents. I have heard French, Spanish, British, Scotish, Portuguese, Korean, German, and of course Japanese-English since I arrived here. In my case, Japanese-English is the easiest English to hear and understand, because I'm a Japanese.

This is my rating. (A low number shows that I can get a pronounciation easier.)
1. Japanese
2. British
3. Scotish
4. Korean
5. Spanish
6. German
7. Portuguese
8. French

I don't know why I can't get French-English well. But It's a big problem, isn't it? Montreal is a very big French city.. ;-(

Halloween party in my school

Anyway, my most favorite accent is a Scotish. There is a Scotish student in our residence. I like his pronounciation, because his intonation is very clear, the heave of his accent is unique, and he is a nice guy, I like him. :-)

Scotish guy with his pampkin

Today's Interesting Culture Differences (Big 3)

1) Driver's license in Mexico
Today, my teacher said "Do you know? In mexico, you don't need to pass a test for driver's license. If you want driver's license, you only pay money!!". When I heard that I was very surprised and striken, because Mexico city is very big and busy city that includes 17,800,000 people and loads of cars, morterbikes, etc... It's terrible, right? Do you want to drive in Mexico city?

2) 15 year-old Big Party (only for women) in Latin America
There are 5 Latin American in my class. According to them, 15 year-old birthday is a very important day for women because a girl becomes a lady in the particular day. Most of them take place a big birthday party called "Princess Party" for 15 year-old girl. In the day, a princess can eat anything she wants, dance with anybody she wants, etc.. It's a great custom. I could think "I'm very happy because I'm a female!", if I was born in Latin America.. :-)

3) Wisdom Teeth
In Japan, we call wisdom teeth "Oyashirazu = the teeth never known one's parents". It means that your parents had already died when your wisdome teeth came out. In ancient Japan, the life of human was very short, so they called wisdom teeth "Oyashirazu". Anyway, in Japan, a dentist recommends us removing our wisdom teeth. I don't know why, but I removed all of my wisdom teeth, and I think most of Japanese did too. In Canada, they never mind their wisdom teeth; besides they treasure their wisdom teeth (because these teeth are wisdoms?). It's very interesting, isn't it? Same kind of doctors recommend complete opposite things in two countries.

It is very interesting to find culture differences from mundane daily talkings. Don't you think so?

About studying

When I was in Japan, I hate to study anything.. especially, I hate English. Because when I was a high school student, I had to remember a lot of grammars, words and idioms to only pass a examination of univesity. That kind of study is very boring, do you know? All I have to do was to remember! I needed no theory and no technique, I needed just big memory to pack English into. So I got to hate English gradually.

But now, I'm studying English so hard with pleasure. Why? I don't know clearly.. but I realized the power of English and benefits of studying English. I think, these reasons had me coming to Canada to study. Puls, I came here by myself and my money, so I have to study hard for myself!

Anyway, It is very interesting and benefitical to study in a foreign country. Because I can soak in foreign culture and language. I never want to waste my experiences in Canada.

Halloween pampkins,
I don't know why people wear strange costumes?

By the way, today I met a Japanese girl who moved into Montreal from Vancouver recently. She can hardly speak English although she has lived in Canada for 9 months. I was very surprised and asked her about a reason. She said "There are lots of Japanese in Vancouver and my friends are all Japanese. so I can live in there without English". I think it depends on someone's personality but it's a big matter of Working Holiday Makers who come form Japan... It's OK if their purpose is only having fun, but I think it has no meaning because we can have lots of fun in Japan too. If you don't want to waste your time and money, you shall consider your plan before you come here...

My class has started

At last, my ESL class has started. In morning course, there were 4 Mexican, 1 Moroccan, 1 Korean, 1 Blazilian and 2 Japanese. The teacher was a very friendly and pleasant person, I could enjoy having conversations. These are my textbooks.

In afternoon class, We told about JOBs. We guessed the helthiest jobs, most risky jobs and most stressful jobs. When I had a convesation with my classmate, I said "I have worked 16 hours par day". My teacher and classmate were very surprised and they said "I can't believe it.. you worked 16 hours par DAY??" Other Japanese and I answered "That is Japan". But that is in my case.. Let's talk about jobs!

I thought that there are many differences of just woking styles. I liked my job... But I don't know which is better having a busy job and living for a work or another.

Let's compare the two areas

Someone said "Montreal has the two areas, French area (North Montreal) and English area (South)". Today I tried to compare the two ares about the street, atomosphere, people etc..

At first I went to French area (because I live in French area, So it is very close to my residence). This area has lots of cute shops, French ads and French people. This is a picutre of "Avenue du Mont-Royal". Saturday afternoon, There were loads of people who were shopping, walking, dating..:-) and lots of cars and bikes. Japanese bike is very popular in Montreal!! Kawasaki, Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki.. I'm so happy. :-) I will take these pictures and show you next time.

Then I took a bus and Metro to go to English area. Flankly, I didn't understand what was different from French area. This is a picture of "Rue Wellington".There were many French ads and French people also.. Except, I noticed only one difference, it was a street sign.

This is a street sing of North Montreal, and This is a South one. Marks of them are different, can you see them?

One of my friends (he came from UK) said "Montreal is a very similar city to London". When I heard that, I satisfied myself that there were few differences between French area and English area. I think "Montreal is Montreal, there are scarecely differences in this city, but Montreal might have lots of differences compared with other cities in Canada.." I want to travel all over Canada, and find out about culture differences!

Walking walking and walking around

We finally got to see the blue sky! We had had rain for 2 weeks, and I missed sunshin so much. I love a sunny day, It makes me happy!!

Today I went to a bank to open an account. I'm not good at English yet. But a bank clerk was very gentle and he described an account politely, I understood it barely... ;-)
This is my Bank "Canada Trust". Canadian call this bank "TD", I don't know why they do that.

After that I explored Montreal all day. I walked, walked and walked with fall's sunshine. This is a picture of Montreal downtown, I think it is like a Wall Street in NYC. In addition, French people call downtown "Centre-Ville", did you know that?

I love old Montreal! There are beautiful and histrical buildings, churchs, houses.. as if I'm in Europe. Lots of tourists visit there everyday, of course Japanese tourists are included.

I found an interesting advertisement. It advertised a Star Wars DVD and French was used in it. Montreal is a very French city! You should study French before you come here. :-)

Finally!!

Today I had a placement test in my ELS. I have decided to go to an English Language School of YMCA. A written test was not difficult but an oral test was difficult for me yet.. The tester asked me some questions in English I tried to answer them very hard. She said I was a middle of middle class in their ELS. It seems that my English level is very ordinary now.. I have to study English so hard and improve it more and more!!

They are my textbooks which I brought from Japan.
Of course I am using MUJI notebooks.and They are my membership card of YMCA Montreal and my e-dictionary.My class will begin at Oct 24th. I am soooo excited!! :-)

Sightseeing

Today I went to a library to study but that was closed. why? Oh, today was Monday!! I forgot all about it.. So I went to Notre-Dame and Biosphere instead of studying English in a library.

Notre-Dame is a very famous basilica. My dictionary says "basilica: a large church or hall with a curved end and two rows of columns inside". I had to pay $4 for entrance fee.. and that was very beautiful and holy..sigh. I have no religion. But I was so impressed when I looked at these Sanctuary, altar, Chpels and so on..
Next I went to biosphere. Biosphere was a pavilion when wold Expo. '67 took place in Montreal. I can see that monument from a park in old Montreal. I thought "What is that? something fun?" when I saw that first time, but actually it was a only structure. Today was a cold (10℃) day so there were few people.. I felt sad a little bit.;-(

I came to Montreal from Japan to do working holiday.
Why did I choose Montreal?
Because, I heard that Montreal is very beautiful city!!

By for now, I will tell you How beautiful Montreal is..
and I will tell you How many differences are there between Japan and Canada..