昨年と同様、大津校の生徒さんは勿論ご家族やお友達、アンドリュー先生、エドワードの妹キアナ、広報担当ピーターなど約３０人程が集まりました。テーブルにズラッと並んだ美味しいお料理（ロー ストビーフや特製にぎり寿司、パンプキンスープにエビチリなどなど）を頂きながら、クラスメートと英語でおしゃべりを楽しんだり、新しい友達を作ったりと、パーティ会場全体 が幸せで和やかな雰囲気に包まれました。私達がいつもお世話になっている「パン工房HIRO（アルプラザ大津１階）」に焼いて頂いたスミス英会話大津校スペシャルクリスマスケーキも、皆さんに大好評でした。

毎年恒例のミニコンサートでは、私と母の演奏でクリスマスソング（ホワイトクリスマス、Jingle Bell、Silent Night）を皆さんと歌っただけでなく、エドワードもＧｒｅｅｎのキセキを英語で披露しました！母は、クリスマスパーティというよりは紅白歌合戦のようなノリで、天城越えをギターの弾き語りで大熱唱。そして、今年の特別即興ライブでは、生徒さんのご主人がフルートを吹いて下さり、その音色に合わせて生徒さん二人が色々なクリスマスソングを歌ってくれたりもしたんですよ！
Thank you for the wonderful flute and songs!!

Santa Clausによるプレゼント渡しも、このパーティの”お楽しみ”の一つ。皆さん一人ずつサンタからプレゼントを受け取り、一緒に写真をとりました。

前回、私は妊娠中でしたが、2011年は10ヶ月の息子もサンタの格好をして初めて参加することができました。このように、毎年生徒さんや家族に囲まれて楽しい時間を過ごせるなんて、私達は本当に幸せです。
Thank you very much for joining us, everyone! If you missed this party, please participate the next one It would be fun!
2012年のクリスマスパーティにも、是非参加してくださいね！

Ｃｈｉｈａｒｕ, スミス英会話大津校

My hometown, Nanaimo BC is famous for scuba diving because there are 3 artificial reefs and many easy access dive points.
Edward, Smith’s School of English Otsu Teacher

★今週の生徒さんの例文:

Nigata prefecture is famous for sake because good rice is harvested there.
Yoko, スミス英会話大津校の生徒

Kyoto is famous for beautiful sights because it7s full of old temples and shrines and Japanese gardens.
Yumiko, スミス英会話大津校の生徒

Shigaraki, Shiga prefecture is famous for Shigaraki ware because the soil is suitable to make pottery.
Ayumi, スミス英会話大津校の生徒

#1 Shiga prefecture is famous for Lake Biwa because it’s the biggest lake in Japan.
#2 Totoro is famous for his unique body shape and gentle eyes and the story is a great children’s story.
Hiroko, スミス英会話大津校の生徒

#1Robert B Parker is famous for his Spenser novels because they are not only exciting but also meaningful.
#2 My husband’s hometown, Nishiwaki is famous for it7s location in Japan because it7s on the crossing point of longitude 135 degrees east and latitude 40 degrees north.
Masako, スミス英会話大津校の生徒

Think you can make better examples? Write your examples, first name and school location on a piece of paper and give them to your Smith’s teacher, and we will post them here for all Smith’s students to read!

This summer, I (flew with a baby) for the first time but unfortunately I never want to (fly with a  baby) again because (it’s incredibly tiring and frustrating and a little embarassing).
Edward, Smith’s School of English Otsu Owner/Coach

★今週の生徒さんの例文:

Last summer, I climbed Mt Mikami [in Shiga Prefecture] for the first time but unfortunately I never want to go there again because it was too hard for me.
Hiroko, スミス英会話大津校の生徒

Twenty years ago, I boarded a hydrofoil craft for the first time but unfortunately I never want to take it again because I got terribly seasick.
Shigemi, スミス英会話大津校の生徒

Last month, I went on a trip around lake Biwa by bicycle for the first time but unfortunately I never want to do it again because it caused a great [deal of] pain to my body.
Shiori, スミス英会話大津校の生徒

Think you can make better examples? Write your examples, first name and school location on a piece of paper and give them to your Smith’s teacher, and we will post them here for all Smith’s students to read!

スミス英会話大津校の生徒、Toshiko　さんのハワイ旅行記パート３です。彼女自身が英語で書いてくれました。素晴らしいですよね！Please enjoy!
パート１はこちら
パート２はこちら

Hawaii Travel 4th to 9th July, 2010

July 7th, 2010 (Fourth Day)

That day, I went to play golf from early morning. It took about 30 minutes by bus.

The course name was Waikele Golf Course. I was favoured with fine weather on that day too. I got used to Hawaiian courses, so I had a better score. I returned to the hotel and ate lunch.

After lunch, I decided to go to Waikele Premium Outlet Mall with my friend. Waikele Outlet Park was near Waikele Golf Course so I was surprised. We caught a taxi in front of the hotel, and arrived at Waikele at 4pm. We promised the Taxi driver to meet in front of the Outlet Park at 7pm. And we started shopping separately.

The bags, shoes, dresses, were all low price and charming. But my favourite shop was a golf shop, because the IZOD wear set was about 50 dollars. The set was a cap, a polo shirt, a skirt and sox. The cap and skirt’s prints are lemon yellow check. Lemon yellow is my favourite color. Time passed in an instant, I went to the promised place.

We were tired so we ate Japanese food. We went to “Japanese restaurant Chibaken” near the Hilton which we heard about from a local person. The restaurant had a lot of Japanese foods and the recommended food was “Tekkadon” because Hawaiian tuna is fresh and very delicious and the price was reasonable.

July 8th, 2010 (Fifth & Final day)

I took out my baggage from my hotel room in the early morning. I was getting ready to go home. During the trip, I could enjoy nostalgic things and new things. The length of my stay was short so my schedule was very tight with sightseeing, shopping and playing golf. I had physical strength but I was suffering from sore feet a little.

If I go to Hawaii in the future, I want to stay a long time. I want to rent a sea side condominium and I want to relax and I want to go to play golf and go shopping occasionally.

Until the dream comes true, I want to do my best at my work again.

Toshiko

スミス英会話大津校の生徒、Toshiko　さんのハワイ旅行記パート２です。彼女自身が英語で書いてくれました。素晴らしいですよね！Please enjoy!

パート１はこちら

Hawaii Travel 4th to 9th July, 2010

July 5th, 2010 (Second Day)

That day, I went to golf from early morning. Hawaii has a lot of golf courses. I went to a golf course that is called New Ewa Beach Golf Club which took about 30 minutes by bus. Hawaiian golf differs from Japanese in some respects. There isn’t a caddy so golf play is your own responsibility; we don’t take a rest half-way so we must play through all 18 holes. Also, there are lovely cottages near the golf course. People drink their morning coffee in terraces close by us.

While playing, I saw fallen bougainvillea flowers and coconuts on the lawn. The blue sky and green earth was beautiful as far as the eye could see so I felt good. The round of golf was finished in the morning and I went back to the hotel by 1:30pm.

I took a bus and lightly ate a sandwich in my hotel room. After a short rest, I decided to go to Alamoana shopping center with my friend. We left the hotel at 3:30 pm and got on a free trolley bus because we got some tickets from the tour company. The bus didn’t have windows so it was open and fun. We arrived at Alamoana shopping center. The shopping center has many brand shops. When we were tired from window shopping we drank some fresh juice as we took a rest in the food court.

We stepped over to the large scale Wal-Mart which was full of people and had a really vast market. I didn’t have much power and time for wandering around at that time. After walking around a bit, we decided to return to the hotel.

We were hungry so we went to a Japanese restaurant in the hotel. Foods quality and taste was so-so but when we ate it, we could take a deep breath.

July 6th, 2010 (Third Day)

That day, we took part in the party in the evening so we took an optional tour which went around Oahu Island until afternoon. The tour’s name was “Circle Island Tour”.

First, we went to the foot of Diamond Head by bus and looked at it. On the way, we rode through a high class area, and looked out at the Japanese public figure’s villa. Next, we looked out at Hanauma bay from the bus. Unfortunately, that day was cleaning day for the sea so we couldn’t go near the bay. But actually the surface was clear and many tropical fish were swimming there and we could touch them with our bare hands.

After that, we went to a Macadamia nut garden, Hawaiian soap factory and Doles Pineapple Garden. We were taught things of interest there. We enjoyed free samples and bought souvenirs, and the Pineapple ice-cream cones were great.

At last, we went to Moanarua Garden. The tree in the garden is in a Japanese Hitachi commercial. It’s a monkey pot, rain tree. The half day tour was economical because we got to go to some recommended spots in a short time and could eat lunch. The price was about 90 dollars.

We returned to the hotel. After a rest, we changed our clothes, and then went to the party. This party was the Hawaiian tour’s main event. The 450 members had a get together at the banquet hall on the hotel roof. The dinner at the party was served buffet style. There was Hawaiian food, Japanese food and other food. We saw a Hawaiian dance show, drew numbers for prizes and had a nice time.

ハワイ旅行記パート１はこちら
ハワイ旅行記パート３はこちら

今回、私たちの生徒、Toshikoさんのハワイ旅行記を皆さんにも読んでもらいたいなと思います。この旅行記は、彼女自身が英語で書いてくれました。彼女がスミス英会話大津校に通い始めて以来、メキメキと英会話力を伸ばし、その上達振りには本当に関心します。この旅行記にも、彼女が日々頑張っている成果がよく現れていて、私たちも誇らしい気持ちでいっぱいです。
彼女は、以前にも香港旅行記を書いてくれました。その記事は→こちら。

Hawaii Travel 4th to 9th July, 2010

July 4th, 2010 (First Day)

Every year I look forward to taking part in the travel which is sponsored by our franchise business connection and to traveling with my friend Miyako.

This year’s tour was Hawaii. Our tour had 450 members. The 450 people were divided into two groups. Our group left on July 4^th. The other group left on the next day.

We arrived at Honolulu airport in Oahu at 9am July 4^th. The time difference from Japan is minus 15 hours so we returned to the previous day. It was a long day.

The hotel’s check in time was 3pm, and until then, we went sightseeing in the city. We got on the tour bus. First, we went to Nuuanu Pali Look Out. It’s a familiar sightseeing spot in Oahu. The wind was surprisingly strong. We looked over a vast landscape

Next, we went to the Punch Bowl Hills. It is an American National Memorial Park.

I’ve been there many times, but this time we didn’t get off the bus. We visited there from the bus. Soldiers who died in the Second World War, The Korean War and The Vietnam War are laid to rest there.

I saw colonel Onizuka’s grave. He was of Japanese descent but was born in Hawaii. In 1986, he was killed in the space shuttle Challenger’s disaster. People always put flowers there.

Next, we had lunch in a Chinese restaurant within the city. We received our travel rules as we ate Chinese lunch. Also I didn’t forget a souvenir for Edward at Smith’s School in Otsu. It is an English menu. After lunch, we finally got to check in at last.

Our hotel’s name was Hilton Hawaiian Village which has 3 towers, a tropical garden, and there are Flamingos, a lot of pools, restaurants, duty-free shops and an outdoor stage among the buildings. It was a large-scale hotel with a Hawaiian atmosphere. We rested until evening, and then we went out of the hotel.

That day was Independence Day so a fireworks display was held in the hotel.

We walked to the central point of Calacaua Street. It took about 20 minutes and then we arrived at Royal Hawaiian shopping center. After shopping, we went to an Italian restaurant that is a famous restaurant in Japanese magazines. We had to wait 20 minutes, before we went in. The Restaurant’s name was “Cheese Cake Factory”. After dinner, we ate cheese cake that was very delicious and large.

ハワイ旅行記２はこちら

Compared with my sister, I am not THAT good at Math.

このThatの使い方が不思議だという気持ち、良く分かります！私も、初めて使った時は”こんな風に使えばいいのかな？？”とどきどきしました。

実は、THATには色々な意味が隠されています。一般的には、代名詞として使うことが多く、形容詞用法（That pen is mine.）と独立用法(That is a pen.)があります。皆さんも、英会話で使う時は、代名詞として使っていることが多いのではないでしょうか。

しかし、今回私が使ったTHATは、副詞です。副詞というのは名詞以外のもの（動詞、形容詞、他の副詞など）を修飾して、意味を詳しく表すことができます。

今回のTHATが表す意味は、「それほど、そんなに」。
前に示された具体的な数量とか程度を指し、比べることができます。この副詞のTHATの場合、形容詞や副詞を修飾します。
例文では、私の妹の数学能力の高さをTHATで指し、私の能力と比べています。

これからも、スミス英会話の英会話無料レッスンを活用して、色々な表現を学んでくださいね！

スミス英会話大津校　Chiharu

今年も、私やエドワード先生はもちろん、参加して下さった生徒さんやご家族、お友達の皆さんもユニークなコスチュームに身を包み、ハロウィーンの装飾で飾られた教室 に集まりました。一人一人、会場のドアを開けて ‘Trick-or-Treat!’と英語で挨拶をすると、もれなくお菓子の入った”goody bag”がもらえます！
美味しいピザやお菓子を食べた後には、昨年とても好評だったJack-O-Lantern作りに挑戦しました。昨年も参加して下さった生徒さんたちは、慣れた手つきで作業を進めます。初めて挑戦する皆さんは、エドワード先生から作り方を習い、一人一つずつ慎重に作っていきます。今年も、生徒さんから頂いた大きなカボチャや、黄色の小さいカボチャを使いました。完成品はこちら→

今回は、私のカナダ人の友達アンジーがカナダから遊びに来ていたので、このパーティにも参加してくれました。参加者の皆さんとおしゃべりしたり一緒にお菓子を食べたりしてとても楽しかったと喜んでいました。

毎年、スミス英会話大津校でこのJack-O-Lantern作りに挑戦する度に、私が中学生の時に初めてホームステイ先で作ったlanternのことを思い出します。（このホームステイに関する記事はこちら。）その時は、英会話が全く出来ず、カボチャの中身をくり貫いたり、Jack-O-Lanternの顔を書いたりするときも、ホストファミリーの英語での説明がよく分からず、見よう見まねでやっていたのを覚えています。一生忘れることのない楽しい思い出です。

エドワード先生の国カナダでは、毎年町中の人々がJack-O-Lanternを作り、家の前や窓に飾ったりします。今年も、実際にJack-O-Lanternを作ることができ、楽しい文化交流になったのではないかなと思います。

参加して下さった皆さん、来年もユニークで面白いパーティにしたいと思いますので、また参加してくださいね。今年参加出来なかった皆さん、日本では珍しいハロウィーンを、英語を使いながら体験するチャンスです！来年は是非一緒に楽しみましょう！

スミス英会話大津校 Ｃｈｉｈａｒｕ

この場所で結婚式を挙げようと思ったのは、その自由な結婚式スタイルに惹かれただけでなく、エドワードの故郷カナダの西海岸に良く似ていたからでした。レストランを囲む木々の緑や川のせせらぎなど、本当に懐かしい気分にさせてくれるのです。また、この施設のログコテージは、なんとカナダ人が建てたものだそうです。結婚式には、エドワードのご両親や妹、従姉妹もカナダから遥々来てくれたのですが、会場の暖かい雰囲気にすぐ寛いで頂けました。
田んぼや比良山脈など日本独特の田舎風景と北米の雰囲気漂うおしゃれなオーベルジュとの調和が楽しめる「メソン」が、私達は大好きです。

スミス英会話大津校で日々英会話を教えながら日本で生活する中、ふとカナダを懐かしく思う日々は少なくありません。そんな私達にとって、カナダという故郷と日本という故郷の両方を同時に感じ、リラックスして過ごせる場所があるというのは、本当に幸せなことだと思います。

スミス英会話大津校　Chiharu

私が中学校で英語を学び始めた頃、英語の先生から電子辞書ではなく普通の辞典を使うことを薦められました。めんどくさいなぁと思いながらも、普通の辞典を使って勉強したのですが、今思えば、調べたい言葉だけでなく、それ以外の単語も目に留まり例文も沢山掲載されているので大変勉強になりました。初めのうちは、英和辞典(English-Japanese Dictionary)を使い、次に学習者用の英英辞典（Learner’s English-English Dictionary）を使い、次第に一般の英英辞典(English-English Dictionary)を使うようになりました。英文法をしっかり理解し多くの単語を覚えるためには、やはり一般の本型の辞典が使いやすいですしお薦めです。

私が電子辞書を使い始めたのは、英会話学校に行くようになった頃からでした。会話の途中で素早く調べられる辞書が欲しいと思い電子辞書を使い始めたのですが、それ以来私は電子辞書が手放せません。あの頃は、日本語を知らない先生や他の生徒さんとの会話スピードを落とさずに授業時間を目いっぱい活用するのに、電子辞書が大変役立ちました。
To tell you the truth…………漢字が苦手な私にとって、手紙を書く時などにも重宝しています（笑）！

スミス英会話大津校　Chiharu