コラム

スピーキングの練習方法　５選: スピーキングの練習方法について詳しく紹介します。<br><br>1つ目は、小さな子どもと話しをするです。<wbr>アメリカにいた時は小さな子どもと間違いを恐れずに話すことがで<wbr>きました。なので、これは有効な方法だと思います。しかし、<wbr>大概みなさん日本にいてネイティブの子どもとなんか話す機会は無<wbr>いと思います。その場合は、頭の中に別人格を作り、<wbr>子どもがママごとをするように会話をすると良いです。<br><br><br><br>2つ目は、1人でつぶやき続ける。<wbr>生活のあらゆる場面を描写してみてください。<wbr>以下のような感じでやります。<br><br>I slept late last night, watching the Olympic Games. So I woke up late in the morning at 10 o’clock. It is already hot. I am going to close the curtains to shut the bright sunlights off so that I can sleep again.<br><br>みたいな感じで、独り言ですね。<br><br>3つ目は、phonics 発音法を学ぶことです。<wbr>アメリカの子どもたちも小学低学年の頃は英語の音を一つ一つどう<wbr>やって発音するか練習します。<wbr>ノンネイティブの人が大人になってから英会話頑張りたい場合は、<wbr>絶対にした方が良いです。<br><br>4つ目は、シャドーイングです。<wbr>シャドーイングは文字起こしを見ないで聴こえた内容を直ぐに真似<wbr>をする事です。意味がわからない単語もあると思いますが、<wbr>あとでまた調べるなどしてください。シャドーイングをする事で、<wbr>ネイティブのリンキング、ドロップ、アクセント、<wbr>リズムを身につけることができます。<br><br>5つ目は、<wbr>ネイティブの恋人や友人を作り話すことですが留学などしない限り<wbr>そのような機会には恵まれないのでもし国内でそのような機会があ<wbr>る方は是非たくさん話しをしてください。I think that’s the fastest way to improve your speaking skills.<div></div><div><br></div>

エッセイ書いてAIに添削させてみた: **Original:**<br><br>Now that Japanese fertility rate is at its lowest level, population is rapidly declining, leading to economic downsize. As the economic power falls, Japan’s international presence won’t be as prominent as before. However, Japanese should continue to take an active role in world affairs for the benefit of the country. To do so, Japanese government should strengthen English education as a national policy to ensure that students can acquire practical language skills so that they can be influential in the international community In the future.<br><br>In my arrogant opinion, Japanese people are unlike other Asian countries such as China and Korea, highly respected in the global community. It is because most Japanese people are polite, hospitable, and respectful to others as well as places they visit. For example, Japanese athletes never protest unfair judgments from referees in the international competitions, instead they refrain themselves from getting upset, sustain polite mannerisms, and never forget to respect opponents. On the other hand, when Chinese and Korean athletes cannot accept judgement, they protest so badly that they cry, yell and leave without shaking hands with opponents in a show of respect. Moreover, in restaurants, many foreigners are deeply impressed by waiters’ hospitality. They say how polite and kind they are. It is also famous that Japanese fans willingly clean up their surroundings in a soccer stadium after a match.<br><br>Japanese people are modest (not showy) in personality, yet their craftsmanships are very much professional and high in quality. Japan’s exported goods are highly appreciated. This humble and dedicated nature is a kind of virtue that they have long inherited from their ancestors over generations.<br><br>However, when looking at the world, this humble and modest characteristics of Japanese personality might give somewhat negative impressions on some foreigners. In the ever-competitive global realm, it is better to make one’s opinions known and approach people with own views. We need to understand that modesty is no longer a virtue outside of Japan. Instead, it could become an obstacle for us to achieve something great in overseas.<br><br>In essence, acquiring language skills is a key to improving our communication skills. Successful communication skills will enable us to better persuade and negotiate with others. It will even let us engage in leadership roles in international organizations. Developing global human resource is going to be decisive factors to enhance global competitiveness. Therefore, Japanese government must address the challenges to foster students who could be influential in the world by providing practical English education.<br><br>---<br><br>**Revised:**<br><br>Now that the Japanese fertility rate is at its lowest level, the population is rapidly declining, leading to economic downsizing. As economic power falls, Japan’s international presence won’t be as prominent as before. However, Japanese people should continue to take an active role in world affairs for the benefit of the country. To do so, the Japanese government should strengthen English education as a national policy to ensure that students can acquire practical language skills so they can be influential in the international community in the future.<br><br>In my opinion, Japanese people are, unlike those from other Asian countries such as China and Korea, highly respected in the global community. This is because most Japanese people are polite, hospitable, and respectful to others as well as to the places they visit. For example, Japanese athletes never protest unfair judgments from referees in international competitions. Instead, they refrain from getting upset, maintain polite mannerisms, and never forget to respect their opponents. On the other hand, when Chinese and Korean athletes cannot accept a judgment, they protest so badly that they cry, yell, and leave without shaking hands with their opponents in a show of respect. Moreover, in restaurants, many foreigners are deeply impressed by waiters’ hospitality, noting how polite and kind they are. It is also well-known that Japanese fans willingly clean up their surroundings in a soccer stadium after a match.<br><br>Japanese people are modest in personality, yet their craftsmanship is highly professional and of high quality. Japan’s exported goods are highly appreciated. This humble and dedicated nature is a kind of virtue that they have long inherited from their ancestors over generations.<br><br>However, when looking at the world, these humble and modest characteristics of the Japanese personality might give somewhat negative impressions to some foreigners. In the ever-competitive global realm, it is better to make one’s opinions known and approach people with one's own views. We need to understand that modesty is no longer a virtue outside of Japan. Instead, it could become an obstacle for us to achieve something great overseas.<br><br>In essence, acquiring language skills is key to improving our communication skills. Successful communication skills will enable us to better persuade and negotiate with others. They will even let us engage in leadership roles in international organizations. Developing global human resources is going to be a decisive factor in enhancing global competitiveness. Therefore, the Japanese government must address the challenges of fostering students who can be influential in the world by providing practical English education.<br><br>---<br><br>**Specific Corrections and Improvements:**<br><br>1. "economic downsize" to "economic downsizing"<br>2. "However, Japanese should continue" to "However, Japanese people should continue"<br>3. "Japanese government" to "the Japanese government"<br>4. "in the international community In the future" to "in the international community in the future"<br>5. "In my arrogant opinion" to "In my opinion" (removing "arrogant" for a more neutral tone)<br>6. "polite mannerisms, and never forget to respect opponents" to "polite mannerisms, and never forget to respect their opponents"<br>7. "leave without shaking hands with opponents in a show of respect" to "leave without shaking hands with their opponents in a show of respect"<br>8. "craftsmanships are very much professional and high in quality" to "craftsmanship is highly professional and of high quality"<br>9. "humble and modest characteristics of Japanese personality" to "humble and modest characteristics of the Japanese personality"<br>10. "own views" to "one's own views"<br>11. "Developing global human resource is going to be decisive factors" to "Developing global human resources is going to be a decisive factor"<br>12. "Japanese government" to "the Japanese government"<br><br>### 和訳<br><br>現在、日本の出生率は過去最低を記録しており、<wbr>人口は急速に減少しています。その結果、経済規模は縮小し、<wbr>経済力が低下することで、<wbr>日本の国際的な存在感は以前ほど顕著ではなくなるでしょう。<wbr>しかし、日本人は自国の利益のために、<wbr>引き続き世界情勢に積極的に関与すべきです。そのためには、<wbr>日本政府が国策として英語教育を強化し、<wbr>学生が実践的な言語スキルを身につけることができるようにする必<wbr>要があります。これにより、<wbr>将来的に国際社会で影響力を持つことができるでしょう。<br><br>私の傲慢な意見では、<wbr>日本人は中国や韓国のような他のアジア諸国とは異なり、<wbr>世界的に高く評価されています。これは、<wbr>日本人の多くが礼儀正しく、親切で、<wbr>訪れる場所や人々に対して敬意を払うからです。例えば、<wbr>日本のアスリートは国際大会で審判の不公平な判定に抗議すること<wbr>はなく、代わりに怒りを抑え、礼儀正しい態度を維持し、<wbr>対戦相手への敬意を忘れません。一方で、<wbr>中国や韓国のアスリートは判定を受け入れられない場合、<wbr>激しく抗議し、泣いたり叫んだり、<wbr>相手と握手せずに立ち去ることがあります。また、<wbr>レストランでは、<wbr>多くの外国人がウェイターの親切さに深く感動しています。<wbr>彼らは礼儀正しく親切であると言います。また、<wbr>日本のサッカーファンが試合後に自分たちの周囲を進んで清掃する<wbr>ことも有名です。<br><br>日本人は控えめな性格ですが、<wbr>その職人技は非常にプロフェッショナルで高品質です。<wbr>日本の輸出品は高く評価されています。<wbr>この謙虚で献身的な性質は、<wbr>先祖から代々受け継がれてきた美徳です。<br><br>しかし、世界を見渡すと、日本人のこの謙虚で控えめな性格は、<wbr>外国人に対してやや否定的な印象を与えるかもしれません。<wbr>競争が激しいグローバルな世界では、自分の意見を明確にし、<wbr>自分の考えを持って人々に接することが重要です。日本国外では、<wbr>謙虚さはもはや美徳ではなく、<wbr>むしろ海外で何かを達成するための障害となり得ることを理解する<wbr>必要があります。<br><br>要するに、言語スキルを習得することは、<wbr>コミュニケーションスキルの向上に不可欠です。<wbr>成功したコミュニケーションスキルは、他人をより説得し、<wbr>交渉する能力を向上させます。それは、<wbr>国際機関でリーダーシップを発揮することさえ可能にします。<wbr>国際的な競争力を高めるためには、<wbr>グローバルな人材を育成することが決定的な要因となります。<wbr>したがって、日本政府は、<wbr>実践的な英語教育を提供することによって、<wbr>世界で影響力を持つことができる学生を育成するという課題に取り<wbr>組む必要があります。<br><br>### 評価<br><br>この意見書は、<wbr>日本の現在の課題とそれに対する提案を具体的に述べています。<wbr>以下の点で評価できます：<br><br>1. **問題の明確な提示**：<wbr>出生率の低下とそれによる経済力の低下という現実的な問題を明確<wbr>に提示しています。<br><br>2. **国際的な視点**：<wbr>日本が国際社会で影響力を持ち続けるための具体的な戦略（<wbr>英語教育の強化）を提案しています。<br><br>3. **文化的な考察**：日本人の美徳とされる謙虚さが、<wbr>グローバルな視点ではどのように捉えられるかを考察し、<wbr>文化的な自己反省を促しています。<br><br>4. **具体例の使用**：スポーツや接客の例を使って、<wbr>日本人の礼儀正しさや親切さを具体的に説明しています。<br><br>5. **提案の実用性**：英語教育を強化することが、<wbr>実際にどのように国際社会での影響力につながるかを論理的に述べ<wbr>ています。<br><br>ただし、意見の一部は他国との比較に基づいており、<wbr>文化的な敏感さを考慮する必要があるかもしれません。<wbr>全体として、提案は現実的であり、<wbr>実行可能な戦略を提示しています。<div></div><div><br></div>

定期テストで好成績: 高校一年の最初の定期テストで好成績を収められました。おめでとうございます！もう少しで学年順位が一桁でした。引き続き毎日コツコツ頑張ってくださいね。

The Importance of Mental Health: The importance on mental health awareness<br><br>It is important to be aware of your mental health. The detrimental consequences of mental health will affect your body and mind. Some people suffer from sleeplessness, appetite loss, rapid weight decline, and so on. Additionally, it also affects one’s mental state. For example, some people suffer from anxiety, depression, and fears triggered by hallucinations, where individuals see or hear things that are not real.<br><br>These symptoms don’t just suddenly appear; they are often the result of prolonged exposure to extreme stress. When stress level reaches a tipping point, like water overflowing from a cup, various symptoms start to emerge.<br><br>It is said that those who are serious about their commitments tend to develop mental disorders more easily. In Japan, a lot of people experience stress from adjusting to new environment in school or the workplace. For some, making friends and coping with new relationships are challenging. They may also feel overwhelming stress from academic demands. Excessive expectations from parents can be another significant stress factor for children.<br><br>To conclude, it is critical to be aware of mental health because it can greatly damage our overall well-being. If you find yourself often feeling depressed, anxious, or sleepless, it’s important to seek help from a psychiatrist. You will need a substantial amount of time to retrieve yourself. You may need to take a break from school or work for a period of time. Ensure you get enough sleep, avoid using a smartphone before going to bed because your brain needs rest, and consider medication if recommended by a health professional. Lastly, don’t rush to recover from your mental illness. Take your time to heal yourself with a careful plan before resuming your regular routine.

英語を書くためにすべき事: 今回は英語を書くためにすべき事をお伝えします。<div><br></div><div>スピーキングでも言えることですがまずはたくさんインプットしましょう。まず第一に、英語を読んで構文や言い回しを学びます。<wbr>教科書やオンラインの英字新聞を読み自分が知らない表現を抽出し<wbr>ます。私はオンラインの英字新聞を読むようにしています。<wbr>それによってアイデアのヒントを得たり、<wbr>今の社会問題や世の中の課題をエッセイに落とし込む事ができます<wbr>。</div><div><div><div><br>次に、新しく知った単語やイディオムを自分なりに書いてみます。<wbr>この際にChatGPTのようなAIに実際に例文を数パターン作<wbr>ってもらうことは有効です。<wbr>その上で自分の文章を作ると効率良く書けるでしょう。<wbr>英字新聞を読むと似たような表現が何度も出てきます。それでは実際にやってみましょう。<br><br>例えば、政府は少子高齢化の問題に取り組んでいます。<wbr>みたいな文はThe government is addressing the low birth rate and aging population problem. Address（取り組む）がよく出てきます。<br><br>また、問題解決のためのあらゆる措置を講じる必要がある。<wbr>みたいな文章もよく見ます。It is necessary to take any measures to resolve the problem. Take measures 措置を講じる、という意味になります。<br><br>Pose threats to the society のpose は脅威、危険などをもたらす、引き起こす、<wbr>という意味があります。<br><br>例えば、While the proper dose of medicine can reduce symptoms, an overdose can pose serious health problems.<br><br>適切な薬の量は症状を軽減することができますが、<wbr>過剰摂取は深刻な健康問題を引き起こす可能性があります。<br><br>このような表現をたくさん読むことで調べながら自分で書いて身に<wbr>つけるのです。それではみなさんも挑戦してみてくださいね。</div></div></div>

死刑は廃止すべきか？: Should the death penalty be banned in Japan?<br><br>Criminals who committed vicious crimes must pay the ultimate price for their actions. However, the death penalty should not be an option since there are ethical, emotional and legal issues involved in the execution process.<br><br>To begin with, execution in each case is usually conducted by several prison officers. Each executioner is assigned to press an individual button. No one knows which button is linked to process the execution command. The problem is that actual people are taking a life away. This is no different from an act of murder isn’t it? Thus, there lies an ethical problem in the death penalty.<br><br>In addition, officers who are assigned to take part in this operation suffer greatly from an inexpressible sense of guilt, posing emotional as well as psychological concerns about the death penalty.<br><br>Lastly, there is a risk of wrongful convictions in criminal cases where a suspect utterly denies his or her criminal activities. After the death penalty is declared in the Supreme Court, it is likely that the verdict will remain unchanged. What if a suspect was innocent, and that he was actually coerced into confessing a false statement by investigators?<br><br>Considering the ethical dilemmas, emotional toll on executioners, and the risk of wrongful convictions, the death penalty should be banned in Japan. Life imprisonment offers a viable alternative that aligns with the principles of justice and humanity, allowing for both punishment and the possibility of redemption.

weblioで語彙力判断テスト: 今日は、weblioというオンライン英語辞書（アプリ版もあります）のご紹介をします。実際は高校生なんかは学校で電子辞書を買わされているようですがスマホを辞書として使用出来るので大変便利です。<div><div><br></div><div>このweblioの機能の中に、語彙力テストというのがあります。ゲーム感覚で遊べてスコアがでたり、英検の単語クイズや共通テスト向け、TOEICスコア別の単語クイズなどができます。また間違った単語も表示されますので、メモを取って次回間違えないようにすれば語彙力がどんどんあがること間違いなしです。また音声ガイドもあり発音チェックもできます。</div><div><br></div><div>weblioのオンライン、アプリ版英語辞書いろんな機能が付いているので是非試してみてくださいね。</div> </div>

ICTの教育におけるメリットとデメリットについて: <div>Benefits and drawbacks of Information Communication Technology (ICT) in education</div><div><br></div>A survey conducted by Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology in Japan has revealed that there is insignificant difference indicated in the performance of academic aptitude scores for students who are learning with Information Communication Technology (ICT) from those of students who do not use ICT. However, those who scored higher while utilizing ICT exhibited a remarkable development in active learning and self-directed-problem-solving.<br><br>There are numerous study apps which are available for students to study. YouTube offers educational contents that they can easily watch and learn. Some social media platforms, such as LINE, provide online communities called OpenChat where students can receive free tutoring. Additionally, thanks to artificial intelligence （AI）, students can learn almost any subjects by simply inquiring information they want. Thus, ICT has expanded the possibilities for students who are eager to delve into the area of their interests. <div><br></div><div>While students are getting adept at learning with ICT, teachers and parents have to keep up with new technologies and keep their eyes on children while they use a smartphone or tablet in order to ensure that they are using the technology in an appropriate way.<br><br></div><div>Although ICT provides practical learning experiences, it also has drawbacks as well. For example, ICT may mislead students to incorrect information. Learning through free online tutoring may lead them to unexpected encounters with adults who approach them with malicious intentions. Overuse of social media is highly harmful for children, causing them to be unable to take adequate sleep. Moreover, unexpected exposure to unsolicited content or online advertisements could also be perilous for children. Online interaction with strangers is causing cyber bullying, which deteriorates children’s mental health.<br><br>Therefore, when allowing kids to use a PC smartphone, or tablet, appropriate parents’ supervision is required. They may want to keep track of the time their children spend on digital devices. They may also want to filter out unsolicited information from browsers. Teaching children to strike a balance between the time they spend studying online and offline is crucial. Last but not least, it is essential for parents to spend quality time with children. Allowing them to be immersed in online activities might lead them to close-minded and deprive them of conversations with their parents.<br><br>In conclusion, ICT is great and useful technology for education, providing children with innovative learning experiences and even improve their academic performances. However, parental control under the appropriate supervision is necessary. As information technology advances, the role of adults is going to be a key for children’s success in education. </div>

YouTubeで役立つ文法学習チャンネル: <div>今回は、YouTubeで高校英文法が学べるチャンネルを紹介したいと思います。どれも、短い時間で勉強できますから毎日コツコツ勉強するのをお勧めします。</div><div><br></div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@Emita1231">えみたの英文法 - YouTube</a> <div><br></div><div>日本在住のアメリカ人で中学３年生（現在は高校1年生）の「えみた」と中学、高校の英文法を学習していくチャンネルです。英文法が得意な人も苦手な人もみんなで楽しく英文法を学習、復習していきましょう。</div><div><br></div><div>お父さんの早期退職を目指して！お父さんはとにかく教員辞めたい！自分は部屋にエアコンほしい！チャンネル登録１００００人でお父さんは教員辞めます。自分はエアコン買ってもらいます。チャンネル登録をぜひお願いします。 <br></div><div><br></div><div><a href="https://www.youtube.com/@mukimo233">Mukimo - YouTube</a> <br></div><div><br></div><div>大学入試英文法ノック、英検穴埋め問題を多数掲載されています。</div>

On the noseという表現: <div dir="auto">「on the nose」は英語の表現で、「正確に」や「ちょうど」<wbr>という意味があります。exactという単語と同じですね。鼻の上にという意味では使われていません。何かがまさにその通りであることや、<wbr>予定通りに正確に行われることを表します。たとえば、時間、<wbr>重さ、数量などがぴったり一致する場合に使います。それでは例文を見てみましょう。</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><div dir="auto">1. The meeting started at 9 a.m. on the nose.</div><div dir="auto">- 会議は9時ちょうどに始まりました。</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"> 2. His guess was right on the nose; the package weighed exactly 5 kilograms.</div><div dir="auto"> - 彼の予想は的中し、荷物はちょうど5キログラムでした。 </div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"> 3. She completed the puzzle in 30 minutes on the nose.</div><div dir="auto">- 彼女はちょうど30分でパズルを完成させました。</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto">4. The recipe says to bake the cake for 45 minutes on the nose.</div><div dir="auto">- レシピにはケーキを45分間ちょうど焼くと書かれています</div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"><br></div><div dir="auto"> 5. The weather forecast was on the nose; it started raining exactly at noon.</div><div dir="auto"> - 天気予報はぴったり的中し、正午にちょうど雨が降り始めました。</div></div>

仕事の話: 今回は仕事の話でもします。私は現役の介護士でもあるんですが、<wbr>仕事柄他職種連携と言ってさまざまな専門分野の職種が協力してお<wbr>年寄りの福祉のために働いています。<wbr>私は生活に関わること全般のお世話をする役割を担っています。<wbr>看護師は、医療的ケアを提供します。薬の管理や傷の治療、採血、<wbr>点滴、胃ろうと言って胃に直接栄養を流したりします。<wbr>提携先の病院があり、<wbr>医師が定期的に診察に来て薬の内容の検討をしたり、<wbr>入院の可否を決めて病院に受け入れたりしてくれます。<wbr>ケアマネージャーは利用者の家族とのやりとり、病院、<wbr>役所などとの折衝、調整を行います。<wbr>他にもたくさんの人が関わって福祉の仕事が成り立っています。<br><br>これは、<wbr>チームで行われる働きですから誰が偉くて誰が下とかいうわけでは<wbr>ありません。でも、指示を出す人がいます。医師から看護師へ、<wbr>看護師から介護士へと言った感じに。問題になるのが、<wbr>時々医療面で指示を出す人たちが偉そうに振る舞う事なんです。<wbr>これは完全に間違いなんですが介護の世界ではありがちです。<wbr>他の職種でもあるかもしれません。<wbr>取引先の会社が下請けの会社に横柄な態度をとるようなことがあり<wbr>ます。<wbr>上司が部下にきつい言い方でけなしたりすることがあります。<wbr>これ、やられる方は非常に腹立たしいです。私は介護士ですから、<wbr>看護側から言われたらその指示に職務上従う義務があります。<wbr>でも、偉そうに、皮肉を込めて言われたら頭にきます。<br><br>ですから、その看護師には謙虚であって欲しいです。<wbr>なんでそんなに偉そうなのかは知りませんが、<wbr>高く伸びた鼻は一度でも二度でも折られなければなりません。<wbr>人と一緒に働くのであれば、謙虚な心を持ってないと駄目です。<wbr>嫌われますから。一緒にやりたくないって思われますからね。<wbr>どんなに賢くて、技術があろうが、<wbr>高慢な人は組織の中では嫌われるんです。もしかしたら、<wbr>そういう人は他人を見下すのが日常的になり過ぎて自分が高慢であ<wbr>る事にも気づかないでいるかもしれません。<wbr>むしろ私たちの欠点ばかりに目が行っており、<wbr>私たちに不満がある状態の可能性すらあります。<wbr>そういう人間は外面だけは取り繕っており、<wbr>上司や外部の人間には愛想よく振る舞う傾向があります。<br><br>中学生、<wbr>高校生がもしこのコラムを読んだら気に留めておいてください。<wbr>謙虚でへりくだった心で感謝の気持ちを忘れずに誠実に仕事をする<wbr>人になってください。世界から愛される日本人はそういう人です。<wbr>そして、<wbr>高ぶっていろいろ勘違いした大人にはならないように気をつけてく<wbr>ださい。以上、仕事の話でした。