My intensive English lesson will start soon.

As I wrote in the previous article, my English is in a crisis point now. This is no time to wait my English improvement with only studying on my own. I need intensive training. So I checked the Internet to find a good English school. Common school is not enough. There are ma---ny schools. Then I narrowed down a target to one school.

I went to the school to take a free lesson yesterday. Of course, I can't judge by just the free lesson. But I signed up the lesson, for believing in my inspiration I had when I chose the school in the Internet.

At first, I will take an "Eigo-duke" course using the Golden Week holiday period. "Eigo-duke" means waterlogged with English. After that, I will take business English lessons. I am planning that I focus the training content I must deliver in the lessons in May. During the lessons in June, I focus a preparation for my business trip to New York at the end of June.

I wonder if it goes well. It must go well. I pay much money for going to school and I threw away my policy of studying English all by myself without go to any school.

I can do.

My new life

While I haven't updated my blog, there was change in my life.

My new job started this month. My job has been training-related one for a long time and it wasn't changed. And I don't want to change it. In this time, type of training I conduct was changed. It is very technical so I need to acquire exclusive knowledge a lot. But it's OK. In a sense, it is my usual. Training professionals often face the situation they must conduct training they have never done.

But!! In this time, I must deliver training IN ENGLISH!! Can you believe that?

It was the biggest challenge in my life.

I'm always optimistic and think "I can work it out." But I wonder if I can in this time.

And I plan to move. New house, new job. My new life is starting.

The highest price ever paid as divorce settlement

A Russian oil billionaire Mr. Abramovich; who is known as an owner of English soccer team Chelsea, divorced and payment to his ex-wife was 6 billion pound!

People can't use up such a lot of money in their lives, no matter how luxury they enjoy lives.

Donate to poor people in the world!

Declaration of cherry blossoms' flowering

The agency declared that cherry blossoms had opened in Tokyo. Finally cherry blossoms season, it's very short though.

A weatherman said he was not sure whether it lasts till next weekend. It seems that mid of next week is at its peak.

Japan declares cherry blossoms' flowing every year, even issues forecasts of its times. I wonder if it is only Japan.

FRIEDENSDORF INTERNATIONAL

Today I watched a TV program about FRIEDENSDORF INTERNATIONAL (English name = PEACE VILLAGE INTERNATIONAL). I watched the TV programs that featured it many times since years ago. They help children in areas of war and crisis. I can't watch it without tears every time.

http://www.friedensdorf.de/index.php

I want to do activities to help poor children to go to school and I'm researching now what I can do. What I want to do is a bit different from activities of FRIEDENSDORF INTERNATIONAL but I decided to donate to them. I know donating them can't go to the root of the problem. The ultimate solution is that adults stop disputes. It's very simple but very difficult...

My English is lacking in uniformity Part 2

I couldn't have an English conversation so well today. My English level is really lacking in uniformity. It seems to be depends on my mood. And the mood is affected by my confidence in my English. And the confidence always varies depending on situation. For example, I'm very poor at catching English Indians speak. So when I talk with Indians, my confidence goes down. Or talking on the phone in English is my weakest things. So when I talk on the phone, my confidence goes down as well. And then, my English skill immediately goes lower so much that I can't have a good English conversation.

It's a vicious circle.

High-five

When I read another blog, I found the word "high-five". I didn't this word.

Following sentences were written in the blog.
He high-fived the coach. He high-fived the players...

Is high-five verb??

I checked a dictionary. Oh! it means "high touch". In Japan, we say "high touch" about "high-five". "Five" expresses fingers? I see.

According to the dictionary, "high touch" has another meaning in English, such as touching body like handshake and even sensitivity. Wow, those meanings are much different from Japanese "high touch".

My English is lacking in uniformity.

I talked with some foreigners in English today. I think the conversations went well. It seems that my English conversation varies in level from time to time. Why?? It is one of the big issues of my English conversation. My English study is still not enough.

Departure from my so-so life

I met my friend today. Long time no see!

He looked great and seemed to be enjoying his life enough. His job also goes well and he is expanding his business area. He is a talented person.

My current life is... hmm... so-so. It's not bad and not so good. If someone asks you "how is your life?", are you able to answer "it's great!"?

My debut on Korean food

I went to a health spa with my friend the other day. We went there at this time every year.

(The article about going to the health spa last year.)
http://sandfriend.blogspot.com/2006/03/health-spa.html

Usually, we take a spa, get a massage and them talk drinking beers.
This year, my friend took me a Korean restaurant instead of drinking at the spa. She is a big fan of Korean actors and knows well about Korean-related things. Actually I'm not good at eating spicy foods. But I tried to eat. Yes, those were spicy but not so bad. Hmm, good. I even ate kimchi that was famous Korean spicy pickle. It's nice. Korean liquors were also good. ;-) I will try to eat other Korean food.

Incredible warm winter

Please excuse me for not writing so long.

We have had warm winter for many years. But this winter is incredible!! This winter is not winter?!?! And although it's in early March now, weather is as if spring has come! Last weekend, temperature was over 20 degrees C.

I welcome a warm winter but abnormal climate by global warming occurs worldwide. The earth is breaking rapidly.

If Gore was elected the U.S. president instead of Bush, America would have commit to countermeasures against global warming, not like current America that commit to Iraq.

Impression difference of languages

I wrote about the book "Tuesdays with Morrie" I was impressed veru much.

I finished reading and wasted little time in borrowing the Japanese version, and finished reading it for one day.

I thought I could understand the story more. But my impression was lower than when I read the English version. Why? I wonder because I read it already. Or translation damages something of the original?

But the end of the story, I was impressed much more than when I read the original.

Hmm... languages are very important. It seems that each language give us different atmosphere. Language is not just language. Language is one of the cultures.

Movie: The Shawshank Redemption

I had wanted to watch "the Sawshamk Redemption" and I did.

What the leading character did at last surprised me. I didn't expect it. It convinced me that it is based on Stephen King's novel.

The theme of this movie is "HOPE." I wonder what is my REAL hope.

Like doughnuts

I wrote about the Krispy Kreme Doughnuts landed to Japan December and always long line.
http://sandfriend.blogspot.com/2007/01/krispy-kreme-landing-to-japan.html

I happened to pass the shop this morning, about 7:10am. In spite of early morning 7:10am!! there had been a long line already. I can't believe! The shop sells such special doughnuts? Or Japanese are strange? I heard the Krispy Kreme has their secret special seasoning. But it's just Doughnuts, isn't it?

"My friend" vs. "a friend of mine"

I can't understand a difference between "my friend" and "a friend of mine" for a long time.
One textbook describes the difference as follows.

a friend of mine ==> refer to one of friends vaguely
my friend ==> refer to a specific friend

What? I can't understand.

I always use "my friend", I guess because it's simple and easy. But most native speakers (Americans) say "a friend of mine."
Should I use "a friend of mine"?

Woolly

I'm falling into a glooming mood these days.
I feel woolly.
There are many sighs.
And my life become irregular hours and lazy.
It's the worst situation.

I have to find a cue to get out of this situation.

What a job offer expresses

For example, you got a job offer after having interviews with a company. They have asked your current salary and desired figure, but the offer is lower than those. And although the position was manager, the offer is assistant manager position. What do you think?

I always think details of offers express 2 things.
- How they value my skills and experience.
- How they want me join to their company.

From those points of view, the company I mentioned above doesn't want you so much and their evaluation of you is low. At least I think it is not happy situation to work for such a company, even if I'm interested in the position very much.

What would you do if you are very interested in the position and an offer is like above?

Expanding my repertoire of cooking #3

"Nikujaga" is one of the most popular and famous Japanese home-style dishes. It's boiled beef and potato.

The other day, one TV program introduced a dish of Nikujaga arranged for Western style. Nikujaga boiled in tomato soup.

I got the recipe from the internet and tried to cook it. Hmm... I think something is missing. I wonder what it is. OK, I will add mirin next time.

*mirin
It is one of Japanese seasonings. According to a dictionary, it is sweet cooking rice wine.

My new cooking of past;
http://sandfriend.blogspot.com/2007/01/expanding-my-repertoire-of-cooking-2.html

"Tuesdays with Morrie"

I often hear that "extensive reading" is good for learning English. So I have started to read English book. My first English book is "Tuesday with Morrie". Many people and learning books recommend this book for English learner.

I haven't finished reading but I'm impressed! It's a very good book. Although I can't understand 100% because of English, I am sometimes nearly moved to tears. I will read the Japanese version!!

Childish conversation

I talked about my job with CEO today, of curse in English. His speaking is very fast (for me) so I couldn't understand well what he said. I often asked him to repeat questions, and I'm not sure that my answers matched his questions. Terrible. Our conversation looked like one between an adult and a child. It's difficult to speak in English about job... I'm depressed.