大学付属の語学学校について

最近丁寧な日本語の文章を書いていないので、正しい日本語の使い回しを忘れつつあります。そこで、今回は全面日本語で記述する事にしました。

現在私はモントリオールにあるコンコルディア大学の短期集中英語教室に通っています。全行程が10週間、ちなみに料金は26万円と少しお高めです。（が、クラスメートの話によると、トロントやバンクーバーは2倍ぐらいするそうです）授業は朝9時から午後3時までで、午前の部と午後の部に別れています。

この学校を選ぶ前に、授業の内容が「学術的」だと聞いていたので、語彙や題材が学術的なことを期待していました。しかし正直に言うと、日本で言う所の「大学受験対策」に近い印象を受けます。教師達は大学で授業中に何をすれば良いか（英語の論文の読み方、レポートの書き方等）を重点的に教え、学生達も「大学に行くためにTOEFL等で良い点が取れればそれで良い」と言った風の若者（10代〜20代前半）が多いように感じます。

題材は科学、心理学、歴史、ビジネスなど多方面に渡り、興味深いです。また、教師達も熱心でレベルが高い事も確かです。その点では満足しています。ただ、大学の受験対策と言った感が強い点から見ると、少し嫌気がさすのも事実です。その手の勉強はかつてウンザリするほどやりましたし、また、今の私には必要がないと感じるからです。今の学校は英語圏の大学生と同じテクニックを身につけると言う点ではとても有益なのですが、現在趣味で英語を勉強している私は、その「技巧的な所」に少し拒否反応を示してしまいます。良い学校選びは中々難しいと感じました。

また学生の5割がアジア人（中国人、韓国人、日本人）で、その他はアラビア語圏の人が多いです。アジア人と居ると確かに安心感はあるのですが、西洋の文化圏にまで来て、似た様な文化圏の人とばかり一緒に居るのはとてもつまらないなと最近感じます。また、若い彼らは両親に援助をしてもらっている人が大半で、中国人は中国人同士、韓国人は韓国人同士、同じ国の友達ばかり作っている印象を受けます。彼らがお金と時間の大切さに気付くのは、多分私ぐらいの年になってからでしょう。

と、まあ、私の学校はこんな雰囲気です。「これから海外で英語を勉強しよう」と考えている人に、今回の投稿が参考になれば幸いです。

I supposed that if I write my blog in Japanese, it'll take less time than in English. But it's not true! Oh, It's very difficult to write Japanese! I can imagine it's so tough for non-Japanese people to learn Japanese.. ;-(

健闘を祈る

Self-Confidence

Japanese people are very modest. They don't think that they're special.

Other Asian are not like Japanese. They're proud of their abilities and they have their self-confidence. I'm just wondering why Japanese are different from other Asian? Because of our educational system? or our culture?

Actually, Japanese usually said "出る杭は打たれる" in the past. Why do we like "the same"? I don't know what is a reason.

I didn't study a modern Japanese history, so I don't know about Japanese people before WW2. In this era, what did they learn in their school? Did they respect their self-confidence? I don't know.

But I think that Japan experienced a big change after WW2. This big change made us different from before. Japan lost post war and I guess Japanese regretted their educational system and changed it. I found another sarcasm in Mr. Children's song again. "We regretted that we used to invade Korea and China. We suffered a serious defeat. After that, we've fallen into step and we've lost our sense of value. It makes us "the same". It's so sarcastic!"

Now, we have to think about ourselves and differences between other countries. We have to open our eyes and prepare for being globalization. We have to realize everyone is special and admit that differences are important.

Japanese modesty is beautiful. Japanese should be confident of their-selves and modest.

Memoirs of a Geisha

Finally I saw this movie.

Honestly, I like this movie and it's very beautiful. But I didn't understand why a director used Chinese actresses as Geisha. Actually there're some famous Japanese actors and actresses in this movie such as Ken Watanabe (also known as he played in Last Samurai with Tom Cruise!), Koji Yakusho (I was very impressed his English was so good!), Kaori Momoi (She is one of my favorite actresses in Japan), Yuki Kudou. Japanese actresses are not enough beautiful to play Geisha? They don't speak English fluently? I don't know why Japanese actresses weren't used as Geisha?

Ziyi Zhang was beautiful, cute, and she behaved very Japanese in this movie. She was very modest, lovely and patient as Japanese women used to be; they're changing nowadays. :D And I'm glad that she played Geisha in this movie. But I didn't think she was Japanese even if she behaved very Japanese, I don't know exactly why I feel that. I think her face and her shape are not Japanese, she's complete Chinese. Other Chinese actresses; ex: Li Gong, Michelle Yeoh; I thought they're similar to Japanese and I didn't feel strange for them but Ziyi... :-(

In this movie, sometimes I noticed some differences from real Japan but I think it's created very good; because it remained me Japan very much. Now I'm missing Kimono, Temple, Garden, Building and beautiful our culture that I'm forgetting these days. When I go back to Japan, I want to learn Japanese culture. I think it's very important for us to protect our culture.

After the movie, I went to a cafe with my friend. She told me "You look like Sayuri". Thank you my friend, I love you. :-))

I think my face is very Asian.

Cat and I

In my house, my roommate has a cat, her name is Missy. She has light brown hair, a short tail, and I think she is very cute cat. But these days she's feeling bad and annoying my roommate. My roommate said "she's a little sick and angry, that's why she disobeys me." Actually my roommate left Montreal for 1 month without cat. Plus my room used to be Missy's room. She used to stay my room before I moved here. My roommate assumes Missy feels some stress; because of loneliness and losing her place.

I've heard that cat is a very individual animal and they have their territories clearly, and my mom told me old Japanese used to say that dogs follow their family but cats follow their family's house. I had no doubt it before, but looking at Missy, I'm changing my mind. I think cat has a similar feeling to human, if they're left a lot they feel bad, in the other hand, if they're loved a lot they feel happy. When I realize it, I'm liking cat more.

Yesterday, I slept with Missy in my bed. I think she likes people very much and she has a delicate heart. I like her. I'm very happy that she feels comfortable with me.

Her back

Difference of Spam Mail

I usually use the Gmail for my web mailer. I think it's very useful and functional, I like Gmail. It also has a hi-functional spam filter, I've never seen spam mails in my inbox on Gmail. Sometimes, I check spam mails with out of my curiosity. Roughly speaking, spam mails in my mailbox have 2 kinds; it's from Japan or the other countries. I noticed 2 kinds of spam mails have a interesting difference. What is that?

Most of spams from Japan are from dating site, :D it's for only guys and the funniest point is that. They say "A rich girl is looking for guys to have a casual relationship (it means "she doesn't want boyfriends, she just wants sex friends!"), and you're chosen by her! Plus she wants to pay for you to thank you! Congratulations!!!" I received that kind of spams everyday. :D I think it's ridiculous, funny and Japanese society is a little sick. I'm worried about our future..

On the other hand, most of spams from other countries are ads of software and viagra (legal(?) drugs). :D I think they're healthier than Japanese spams; it's only my case, so I don't know what kind of spams you receive.

Anyway, I learned that there's culture difference even if it's ridiculous spam mail. I think it's funny and interesting.


*Japanese Spam* Don't click links! Merci!!

お疲れ様です！
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How to Learn English

Today while I was listening to the radio, they broadcast "What is the best way to study English". In that program, there's an English teacher who is from California. She told us, if you want to improve your English more, I recommend you to try to do these ways. I always recommend these to my students.

1. Listen to the radio
2. Listen to English music
3. Read children's books
4. Talk with native speakers as much as you can

No. 1 I missed to hear a reason, but No. 2 she said, lyrics have a lot of idiom and you can learn pronunciation without stress, because songs make you happy, don't they? No. 3 children's books have a simple grammar and lot of pictures, so you can increase your vocabulary easily. And No. 4 Talking is the best way to progress your English, of course.

I've been in Montreal just 3 month, I feel my English is improving these days. It's strange and fun. When I was in Japan, I'd never expected that I could speak in English. I'm very impressed a human brain, now I believe this sentence "You'll be getting used to it". I'm very proud of my brain's flexibility, thank you my parents. I'm proud of your way to raise children. :-)

Go abroad! Find something interesting!!

Japanese Sarcasm

Today when I studied in library, I was listening to Japanese pop music. I think it's a first time to listen to Japanese music here.. Do I miss Japan?
Anyway, I listened to a song sung by Mr. Children; that is a very famous pop singers' group in Japan. I guess they sang this song about 10 years ago, it'd be right after the bubble economy burst in Japan. When I listened to this song 10 years ago, I enjoyed it as just a song, but now I found very interesting sarcasm in this song. :-)

I tried to translate a part of this song to English, is it sophisticated?
♪
In a complicated and intricate society
Work hard in a gigantic organization, Japanese salary men!
You compete with rivals by your education, intelligence and business card
You support our future of Japan, thanks
And you , you're having an instant food as a dinner in your office alone, today too?
But you never be recompensed for your efforts
♪

I think this lyric expresses our business life with reality. Japanese are not special people, they only like to work hard and I guess they have a strange philosophy; "working a lot is a good job"; poor Japanese workers! I guess, our development and economic power were produced by our incessant efforts and self-sacrifices, you know.

Lately, do you know this song? Guess what! :D

Thinking about New York City

Happy New Year, everyone! Did you have a good time in new year's day?
I went to NYC to visit my friend. But I didn't go to special tourist spots even if I visited Manhattan! I didn't go to the empire state building, Central park, the statue of liberty.. Oh, I only went to Times Square but not new year's eve. I'm crazy? Yes, I think so.

NY in holiday season is very crowded, there're lots of tourist. I remembered Tokyo when I was there. It's supposed be as much as people in Shibuya plus Akihabara. If I lived in NY, I'd leave there in this season, probably. The second day in NY, I tried to go to MoMA but I gave up going there. Because when I arrived at in front of MoMA I saw a big, no HUGE line to enter it. I guess I have to wait at least 30 min to only enter MoMA! It's similar to Tokyo..

NY is not a clean city! ;-)

The same day, I went to a Japanese restaurant in East Village. It was a very nice place, every dishes are delicious and they served good rice. I like there, but it reminded me about Japan too much! Because there're Japanese menu, Japanese waiters, very Japanese atmosphere.. There're Japanese style counter seats also. I thought that if I lived in NY I'd forget to live in foreign country. After dinner, I went to a Japanese super market. I was surprised that there're lots of Japanese products and Japanese cashiers spoke only Japanese! Customers were not only Japanese, but they didn't care about it... I think it's rude.
If you want to study English seriously and you're planning to go to only language school, I never recommend to go to NY. It's going to be waste your time and money.

Sushi in NY

Another Japanese restaurant in East Village

Anyway I like NY, I don't know why I do. When I was in Japan I didn't like Tokyo, because Tokyo is too big for me and I felt Japanese don't prefer different things. For example when I went to Tokyo, I thought that I have to wear fashionable clothes, because I thought that people in Tokyo are cold for different style people.. I'm not sure if it's true or not but I just felt so when I was in Japan. But in NY, differences are common, everybody is different. People don't care about other people. Sometimes it's very confy for me, because I feel that I can do anything on my own responsibility.

I like Brooklyn bridge,
Because I think it's one of the most historical architectures in United States.

I like small city and big city, both. I know both of them have advantages and disadvantages. If I had a chance, I'd like to live in NYC. (not Tokyo! :D)

Welcome to Manhattan!