Niimi English Salon #146 (NIEA's English Lesson #6)

On December 6, we had the 146th Niimi English Salon(Niimi International Exchange Association’s 6th English lesson.

We learned English conversation when you are ill in a foreign country.

We would not like to have these kinds of conversation in a foreign country of course, but we had better practice just in case.

First, we practiced a model conversation at a drug store as follows:

Alan: I have a bad headache. Is there a drug store around here?
Kiyoshi: There is one near here. I’ll take you there.
Alan: Thanks.
(at the drug store)
Clerk: May I help you?
Alan: I have a bad headache. Do you have aspirin?
Clerk: Yes, we do? Do you think you have a fever?
Alan: I don’t think so.
Clerk: Here you are. This is 1,000 yen. Please take care.
Alan: Thank you.

I made this model conversation from my experience with Alan, who was my host father when I homestayed at his home in San Jose, California in my college days. He made several business trips to Japan, at some of which I joined him in weekends.

This kind of conversation took place when he had a headache in Kamakura.











Next we practiced conversation at a clinic/hospital.

I have been lucky enough not to have an opportunity to see a doctor when I travel overseas.

I have visited medical institutions many times with nursing students during the Niimi College study tours to Australia and the United States.

I also have accompanied my students to medical clinics when they were ill in some of the study tours.
Here is the model dialogue we practiced:
(at the reception)
Hospital Staff: Hello. How may I help you?
Hanako: I have a stomachache. I would like to see a doctor as soon as possible.
Hospital Staff: All right. Is this your first time to come to this hospital?
Hanako: Yes. This is my first visit.
Hospital Staff: May I see your insurance card?
Hanako: Here you are.
Hospital Staff: OK. Please fill in this form.
(at the doctor’s office)
Doctor: What is your problem?
Hanako: I have a stomachache.
Doctor: How long have you had this problem?
Hanako: It started yesterday.
Doctor: Did you eat anything bad?
Hanako: No, I don’t think so.
Doctor: OK. I’ll take your temperature.
Hanako: I think you have a cold. I will prescribe some medicine for you.
Doctor: Thank you, Doctor.








This was the last session of Niimi International Exchange Association’s English Lessons, so we had occasions to share the comments on the lessons.

Some of the attendants liked the model conversations so that they could practice conversation.

It took some time to make these model dialogues, but it was good to hear they liked the dialogues.

Also, they liked having conversation with the ALTs in English.

Using English in real or similar situations certainly motivates the learners.

Personally I enjoy teaching these English conversation lessons with the ALTs.

Teaching with the ALTs is compared to acting a skipper for Major League Baseball’s All Star Games having top players at hand.

So only thinking how and when I use these top players is enough, then the top players play very well.

I only wish I have these top players, I mean top ALTs at hand in my usual lectures at college!!

Anyway I do hope the participants enjoyed the lessons as well as the ALTs and myself.

クリスマスの岡山駅前

12月3日(土)、家族で岡山駅周辺のショッピング。

息子と僕は早めにショッピングを終え、岡山駅前でもしばし楽しみました。



まずは、鳥の観察。

駅前に行ったのは夕方だったのですが、鳥の大群が空中をとても速い速度で飛んでいました。

あんなに速いスピードで飛んでよくぶつからないなあというようなスピードです。

写真ではわかりづらいと思いますが、こんな感じです。







まるで魚の群れのような感じでした。

群れは一しきりぐるぐる飛んだあと、次々に駅前の木々の中に入っていきます。



その時の、歓喜のまたは興奮状態の鳴き声がすごかったです。

以前、新見市内でスズメが夕方木に集まる光景を見たことがありますが(スズメのお宿参照)、それ以来の凄さで、息子も僕もびっくりしました。

次はハトの観察です。


ハトが駅前の桃太郎像にとまっていて面白かったです。


犬、猿、キジに加えてハトたちも桃太郎の子分になって鬼退治に出かけるようでした。



ハトが猿の頭にとまっていたので、サルよりも上位の家来なのかもしれません。

駅の建物内に入ると、このような水槽があります。



これをよく見ると金魚と海の魚が一緒に泳いでいます。

好適環境水というもので、岡山理科大学の山本准教授が開発したものらしいのですが、この水の中では海水魚も淡水魚も一緒に住めるそうなのです。

これはすごい水ですね。

でも、もし海水魚と淡水魚が交配したらどのような魚になるのかな?なんて考えてしまいました。

この水槽は息子にも印象的だったようで、翌日、このような作品を紙で作っていました。


周りが暗くなってくるとクリスマスのイルミネーションもきれいに光っていました。








それでは、皆さん、楽しいクリスマスをお過ごしください。