The blog of jumex - A Dubiously Digital Diglot

2006-01-30

Audioblog for 2006-01-30 "Only"

Listen to my audio recording of the blog entry "Only" on 2006-01-30.

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Only だけ

Journal for 2005-1-30 Mon..
Weather: Rainy   Plan: Kijima Ele.

I went and taught at Kijima Elementary today. I had a real good time there. The kids' high energy really pepped me up. I have to find a new job by August. The job I want the most is a Shimane Prefecture Elementary ALT position. In that job you teach English exclusively at elementary schools.

平成17年1月30日の日記
天気: 雨 行事: 来島小

今日は来島小学校に教え行きました。だから、とてもいい時間が過しました。小学生のエネルギーがたいていすごく高いので、僕のエネルギーも高くなります。8月まで新しい仕事を見つけなければならないので、一番欲しい仕事は島根県内小学校ALTの仕事です。その仕事は小学校だけで英語を教えます。

Today's Kanji
(今日の漢字)
Meaning (意味): day of the week

Chinese Reading (音読み):
Reading Romaji 
ヨウyou
Vocabulary (単語):
Word Reading Romaji Translation 
曜日ようびyoubiday of the week
火曜日かようびkayoubiTuesday
黒曜石こくようせきkokuyousekiobsidian


-- 
Trevor Lalish-Menagh
jumex@trevreport.org
 www.trevreport.org 
 011-81-854-76-3021 

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2006-01-26

Too bad 残念

Journal for 2005-1-26 Thu..
Weather: Sunny   Plan: Akagi JHS

Today was busy. I only had two classes, but I went to the high school to teach as well. I always like going to the high school and talking with students I used to teach. I also had a 9th grade elective English class, but we didn't use any materials I made. We only studied for the English Exam, eiken, that is coming up. That class was my favorite, but now it has become like all my other classes. It's too bad.

平成17年1月26日の日記
天気: 晴 行事: 赤来中

今日は忙しかったです。授業が2つだけあったけど、高校も教え行きました。高校に行くとき、過去で教えられた生徒と久しぶりに会うことがいつも楽しいです。3年生選択英語B授業もしたが、僕は作った教材を使わなかったです。英検練習だけをしました。そのクラスは僕の一番好きなクラスだったが、今からその授業は全部と同じになってしまった。残念。

Today's Kanji
(今日の漢字)
Meaning (意味): use, errand

Chinese Reading (音読み):
Reading Romaji 
ヨウyou
Japanese Reading (訓読み):
Reading Romaji 
もちいるmochiiru
Vocabulary (単語):
Word Reading Romaji Translation 
用いるもちいるmochiiruto use
用があるようがあるyou ga aruto have things to do
用意よういyouipreparation
用件ようけんyoukenbusiness
用具ようぐyougutools
利用りようriyouutilization
応用おうようouyouput to practical use
急用きゅうようkyuuyouurgent business


-- 
Trevor Lalish-Menagh
jumex@trevreport.org
 www.trevreport.org 
 011-81-854-76-3021 

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2006-01-25

Audioblog for 2006-01-25 "General meeting"

Listen to my audio recording of the blog entry "General meeting" on 2006-01-25.

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General meeting 総会

Journal for 2005-1-25 Wed..
Weather: Sunny   Plan: Akagi JHS

I didn't have a lot of free time today, but it was a really good day. We didn't teach anything special in class, but the class energy was higher that usual today. This year's final student counsil meeting was 5th period. The 9th grade leaders of each school activity had to give reports about their goings-on, the good and the bad, in front of the entire school. They also report on the annual budget. I think this is a really good idea. I don't recall doing anything like this in front of the entire school when I was a kid.

平成17年1月25日の日記
天気: 晴 行事: 赤来中

今日、たくさん暇がなかったが、とてもいい日でした。授業で特にないことを教えたけど、クラスのエネルギーはいつもより高かったです。5時間目、今年度の最後生徒総会をしました。3年生の色々な活動レーダーは今年度のいいポイントや悪いポイントを全校の前にレポートさせます。会計もレポートさせます。これはとてもいいアイデアと思います。子どものとき、そういう全校前で生徒会レポートをしなかったと覚えます。

Today's Kanji
(今日の漢字)
Meaning (意味): have

Chinese Reading (音読み):
Reading Romaji 
ユウyuu
u
Japanese Reading (訓読み):
Reading Romaji 
aru
Vocabulary (単語):
Word Reading Romaji Translation 
有るあるaruto have
有名ゆうめいyuumeifamous
有益ゆうえきyuuekibeneficial
有害ゆうがいyuugaiharmfulness
有利ゆうりyuuriprofitable
有力ゆうりょくyuuryokuinfluence
特有とくゆうtokuyuucharacteristic (of)
所有しょゆうshoyuuownership
固有こゆうkoyuuinherent


-- 
Trevor Lalish-Menagh
jumex@trevreport.org
 www.trevreport.org 
 011-81-854-76-3021 

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2006-01-24

Audioblog for 2006-01-24 "Conversation and Bored"

Listen to my audio recording of the blog entry "Conversation and Bored" on 2006-01-24.

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Bored 飽き飽き

Journal for 2005-1-24 Tue..
Weather: Sunny   Plan: Akagi JHS

The only class I had today was my favorite 9th grade elective English class. Today's theme was democracy. It was a little tough to understand, but I think that doing harder subjects are much more interesting than doing subjects that are too easy. The kids in that class are really smart, so I believe that allowing them to talk about things that make them really think is best. If they only do easy things everyday they will quickly get bored with their studies.

平成17年1月24日の日記
天気: 晴 行事: 赤来中

今日は好きな3年生選択英語B授業たけをしました。今日のテーマは民主主義でした。ちょっと分かりにくいだが、そういう難しいテーマは簡単すぎるテーマより面白いと思います。そのクラスの生徒はとても頭がいいなのでよく考えさせるテーマについて会話をするのほうがいいと感じています。毎日生徒は簡単なことだけをすれば、ダンダン飽き飽きしています。

Today's Kanji
(今日の漢字)
Meaning (意味): drug

Chinese Reading (音読み):
Reading Romaji 
ヤクyaku
Japanese Reading (訓読み):
Reading Romaji 
くすりkusuri
Vocabulary (単語):
Word Reading Romaji Translation 
くすりkusuridrug
薬草やくそうyakusoumedical plants
薬用やくようyakuyoumedical use
薬品やくひんyakuhinmedicine
薬局やっきょくyakkyokudrug store
麻薬まやくmayakunarcotics
爆薬ばくやくbakuyakuexplosive
毒薬どくやくdokuyakupoison
農薬のうやくnouyakuagricultural chemicals


-- 
Trevor Lalish-Menagh
jumex@trevreport.org
 www.trevreport.org 
 011-81-854-76-3021 

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2006-01-23

Conversation 会話

Journal for 2005-1-23 Mon..
Weather: Snowy   Plan: Akagi JHS

It was a little busy today. I had 4 classes. On top of that I suppose to do an English conversation class tonight. Twice a month I host a laid back English conversation class at my house, but, unfortunately, no one comes to it these days. And when people do come, there are only 1 or 2 people, so we never do much. Most times we sit around drinking coffee and chatting in English and Japanese for an hour. What can you do?

平成17年1月23日の日記
天気: 雪 行事: 赤来中

今日はちょっと忙しい日でした。4つの授業をしました。もう一つ、今晩、大人の英会話をするつもりです。月2回、自宅でとてもリラックスな英会話があります。残念だが、最近誰も来ないです。誰か来られるとき、1,2人だけ来るので、あまり活動をしないです。たいていの時間、コーヒーを飲みながら英語や日本語で話します。仕方ないな。

Today's Kanji
(今日の漢字)
Meaning (意味): night

Chinese Reading (音読み):
Reading Romaji 
ya
Japanese Reading (訓読み):
Reading Romaji 
yo
よるyoru
Vocabulary (単語):
Word Reading Romaji Translation 
よるyorunight
夜間やかんyakannighttime
夜警やけいyakeinight watchman
夜行列車やこうれっしゃyakouresshanight train
今夜こんやkon'yatonight
深夜しんやshin'yalate at night
日夜にちやnichiyaalways


-- 
Trevor Lalish-Menagh
jumex@trevreport.org
 www.trevreport.org 
 011-81-854-76-3021 

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2006-01-20

Audioblog for 2006-01-20 "Essay"

Listen to my audio recording of the blog entry "Essay" on 2006-01-20.

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Essay エッセイ

Journal for 2005-1-20 Fri..
Weather: Sunny   Plan: Akagi JHS

I wrote a practice essay for the Foreign Service Written Exam today in my free time. In the test you have 50 minutes to handwrite a essay on a given topic, so I took the 50 minutes of 1st period and went to a quiet room and wrote. The topics for the essays are hard, so 50 minutes isn't much time to write. I barely finished in time. If you have time, please read the essay and comment on it.

平成17年1月20日の日記
天気: 晴 行事: 赤来中

今日のフリータイムでアメリカ合衆国外交官試験練習のためにエッセイを書きました。試験で50分手でエッセイを書かなければならないので、1時間目の50分で静かな部屋で手でエッセイを書きました。試験エッセイのテーマが難しいので50分はちょっと少ないだが、ギリギリ終わりました。よろしければ、読んでください

Today's Kanji
(今日の漢字)
Meaning (意味): field

Chinese Reading (音読み):
Reading Romaji 
ya
Japanese Reading (訓読み):
Reading Romaji 
no
Vocabulary (単語):
Word Reading Romaji Translation 
nofield
野球やきゅうyakyuubaseball
野外やがいyagaioutskirts
野生やせいyaseiwild
野心やしんyashinambition
野蛮やばんyabansavage
荒野こうやkouyawasteland
粗野そやsoyarustic
視野しやshiyaoutlook


-- 
Trevor Lalish-Menagh
jumex@trevreport.org
 www.trevreport.org 
 011-81-854-76-3021 

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2006-01-19

Audioblog for 2006-01-19 "Tomo-chan"

Listen to my audio recording of the blog entry "Tomo-chan" on 2006-01-19.

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Tomo-chan ともちゃん

Journal for 2005-1-19 Thu..
Weather: Sunny   Plan: Akagi JHS

We had the first 9th grade elective English class today. As you know if you read or listen to my blog, this is my favorite class to teach. This term there are four kids in the class, 2 boys, 2 girls, 3 kids that have taken the elective class before, and one newcomer. The new girl is very fun. She reminds me of Tomo-chan from Azumanga Daioh!

平成17年1月19日の日記
天気: 晴 行事: 赤来中

今日、今学期の初めての3年生選択英語B授業をしました。僕の日記を読めば、そのクラスは一番好きなのが知っています。今学期のは4人生徒がいます。2人女子、2人男子、3人前でその選択授業を取った、1人新しい子。新しいメンバーはとっても面白い子ですよ。彼女はあずまんが大王のともちゃんタイプのパーソナリティがあります!

Today's Kanji
(今日の漢字)
Meaning (意味): question

Chinese Reading (音読み):
Reading Romaji 
モンmon
Japanese Reading (訓読み):
Reading Romaji 
tou
toi
とんton
Vocabulary (単語):
Word Reading Romaji Translation 
問うとうtouto inquire
問いといtoiquery
問屋とんやton'yawholesale store
問題もんだいmondaiproblem
問答もんどうmondoudialogue
問診もんしんmonshinmedical interview
疑問ぎもんgimonquestion
質問しつもんshitsumonenquiry
訪問ほうもんhoumonvisit
学問がくもんgakumonscholarship
慰問いもんimonsympathy call


-- 
Trevor Lalish-Menagh
jumex@trevreport.org
 www.trevreport.org 
 011-81-854-76-3021 

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2006-01-18

Audioblog for 2006-01-18 "Not yet"

Listen to my audio recording of the blog entry "Not yet" on 2006-01-18.

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Not yet まだまだ

Journal for 2005-1-18 Wed..
Weather: Sunny   Plan: Akagi JHS

The 9th graders are taking their entrance exam for Iinan High School today and the 7th and 8th graders are taking tests, so I sat at my desk all day and studied for the Foreign Service Written Exam. After finishing reading The Economist, I took a practice exam in the study guide. I got 81% in the Job Knowledge section and 77% in the English Expression section, so that gives me a 79% over all. I'm still not there yet.

平成17年1月18日の日記
天気: 晴 行事: 赤来中

3年生は飯南高校で入学試験を取って、1,2年生は学力テストを取っているから、一日中机でアメリカ合衆国外交官試験について勉強できます。エコノミストを読み終わる後で、学習参考の練習試験を取りました。仕事知識部分で81%があったと英語表現部分で77%があったので、全部で79%ができました。まだまだですよね。

Today's Kanji
(今日の漢字)
Meaning (意味): gate

Chinese Reading (音読み):
Reading Romaji 
モンmon
Japanese Reading (訓読み):
Reading Romaji 
かどkado
Vocabulary (単語):
Word Reading Romaji Translation 
かどkadogate
門を閉めるもんをしめるmon o shimeruclose the gate
門限もんげんmongenclosing time
門戸もんこmonkodoor
門下生もんかせいmonkaseipupil
専門せんもんsenmonspecialty
部門ぶもんbumoncategory
名門めいもんmeimonnoble family


-- 
Trevor Lalish-Menagh
jumex@trevreport.org
 www.trevreport.org 
 011-81-854-76-3021 

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2006-01-17

Audioblog for 2006-01-17 "Economist"

Listen to my audio recording of the blog entry "Economist" on 2006-01-17.

Also check out this month's Trev Report MP3!
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Economist エコノミスト

Journal for 2005-1-17 Tue..
Weather: Sunny   Plan: Akagi JHS

Today was pretty quiet around here so I spent most of my time reading The Economist online, which I recently subscribed to. I read it because it is full of world news and is a good resource for studying for the U.S. Foreign Service Written Exam. I still have a little time, since the test is on Apr. 8, but of course I am concerned about it. I still have to start practicing essay writing, though!

平成17年1月17日の日記
天気: 晴 行事: 赤来中

今日は静かな日だったので、ほとんどの日インターネットで最近購読している雑誌のエコノミストを読みました。エコノミストは毎週世界ニュースがいっぱいあるから、アメリカ合衆国外交官試験のために勉強することで雑誌を読みます。今年の試験は4月8日なので、もう時間があるが、もちろん不安ですよ。まだエッセイを書く練習も始まらなくちゃ!

Today's Kanji
(今日の漢字)
Meaning (意味): bright, clear

Chinese Reading (音読み):
Reading Romaji 
メイmei
ミョウmyou
Japanese Reading (訓読み):
Reading Romaji 
かりakari
あかるいakarui
あかるむakarumu
あからむakaramu
あきらかakiraka
けるakeru
aku
くるakuru
かすakasu
Vocabulary (単語):
Word Reading Romaji Translation 
明かりあかりakarilamplight
明るいあかるいakaruibright
明るむあかるむakarumuto brighten
明らむあからむakaramuto become luminous at dawn (esp. the sky)
明らかあきらかakirakaobvious
明けるあけるakeruto become daylight
明くあくakuto dawn
明くるあくるakurunext
明かすあかすakasuto reveal
明暗めいあんmeianlight and darkness
明白めいはくmeihakuovert
明言めいげんmeigenstatement
説明せつめいsetsumeiexplanation
証明しょうめいshoumeiproof
鮮明せんめいsenmeivivid
失明しつめいshitsumeiloss of eyesight


-- 
Trevor Lalish-Menagh
jumex@trevreport.org
 www.trevreport.org 
 011-81-854-76-3021 

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2006-01-16

Audioblog for 2006-01-16 "Dual Income"

Listen to my audio recording of the blog entry "Dual Income" on 2006-01-16.

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Dual Income 共働き

Journal for 2005-1-16 Mon..
Weather: Cloudy   Plan: Akagi JHS

This was a good Monday. Signe and I have been waking up together since the 10th because she has a full-time job now. Ever since before we were married our work schedules have never been in sync, so it is really nice to get up together and go to bed together finally. I really dig the DINK lifestyle!

平成17年1月16日の日記
天気: 雲 行事: 赤来中

今日はいい月曜日でした。10日からシグニーは普通な仕事で働いているので、毎朝一緒に起きます。結婚したときから今までずっとシグニーと僕の仕事の働き時間はいつもバラバラだったから、ついに一緒に起きることや一緒に寝ることが本当に素晴らしいです。この子どもがいなくて共働き生活を過ごしたいです!

Today's Kanji
(今日の漢字)
Meaning (意味): people

Chinese Reading (音読み):
Reading Romaji 
ミンmin
Japanese Reading (訓読み):
Reading Romaji 
たみtami
Vocabulary (単語):
Word Reading Romaji Translation 
たみtamipeople
民間みんかんminkanprivate
民俗・民族みんぞくminzokurace
民謡みんようmin'youfolk song
民芸みんげいmingeifolk art
移民いみんiminimmigration
国民こくみんkokumincitizen
庶民しょみんshominmasses


-- 
Trevor Lalish-Menagh
jumex@trevreport.org
 www.trevreport.org 
 011-81-854-76-3021 

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2006-01-13

Audioblog for 2006-01-13 "Elementary Schools and Management"

Listen to my audio recording of the blog entry "Elementary Schools and Management" on 2006-01-13.

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Management 経営

Journal for 2005-1-13 Fri..
Weather: Rainy   Plan: Akagi JHS

I registered for the US Foreign Service Written Exam yesterday, so I am taking it for sure now. I am a little nervous, but I'll do my best. I had to chose a career track when I registered, so I chose the management track. I have thought a lot about it and I think management is the track for me. I really like planning large events and the such, so it seems like a lot of fun. Even if I don't get in this year I will make it in one day for sure!

平成17年1月13日の日記
天気: 雨 行事: 赤来中

昨日、今年のアメリカ合衆国外交官試験に登録したから、必ず取ります。ちょっと緊張するが頑張ります。登録するとき、キャリアトラックを選ばなければならないので、経営トラックを選びました。このことはずっと考えていました。大きいイベントを計画することなど大好きなので、経営の仕事は一番面白そうです。今年のができなくても、ぜひある日入ります!

Today's Kanji
(今日の漢字)
Meaning (意味): taste

Chinese Reading (音読み):
Reading Romaji 
mi
Japanese Reading (訓読み):
Reading Romaji 
あじaji
あじわうajiwau
Vocabulary (単語):
Word Reading Romaji Translation 
あじajitaste
味わうあじわうajiwauto taste
味覚みかくmikakusense of taste
酸味さんみsanmisourness
風味ふうみfuumiflavor
珍味ちんみchinmidelicacy
吟味ぎんみginmitesting
興味きょうみkyoumiinterest
趣味しゅみshumihobby
意味いみimimeaning


-- 
Trevor Lalish-Menagh
jumex@trevreport.org
 www.trevreport.org 
 011-81-854-76-3021 

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Elementary School 小学校

Journal for 2005-1-12 Thu..
Weather: Sunny   Plan: Akana Ele.

I love going to elementary schools. Just seeing all the little kids big grins and bright eyes makes me feel great. When I started as an ALT 2 years ago I was very nervous about teaching in elementary schools, but it turns out that making friends with kids is a lot easier than making friends with adults, so I have grown to like my days at the elementary schools. In fact I want to work solely at elementary schools for my next job!

平成17年1月12日の日記
天気: 晴 行事: 赤名小

今日はいつも楽しい小学校へ行く日でした。僕は小学生の笑顔を見るのがとても幸せになるために小学校で教えるときが大好きです。2年以上前でこのALT仕事を始まったとき、小学校で教えるのが一番恐そう仕事の部分と思いました。ですが、子どもと友達になる感じは大人などより簡単なので、ダンダン小学校に行くのが好きになりました。次の仕事は小学校だけで働きたいです!

Today's Kanji
(今日の漢字)
Meaning (意味): younger sister

Chinese Reading (音読み):
Reading Romaji 
マイmai
Japanese Reading (訓読み):
Reading Romaji 
いもうとimouto
Vocabulary (単語):
Word Reading Romaji Translation 
いもうとimoutoyounger sister
姉妹しまいshimaisisters
弟妹ていまいteimaiyounger brother and sister
義妹ぎまいgimaiyounger sister in law


-- 
Trevor Lalish-Menagh
jumex@trevreport.org
 www.trevreport.org 
 011-81-854-76-3021 

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2006-01-11

Audioblog for 2006-01-11 "Forget"

Listen to my audio recording of the blog entry "Forget" on 2006-01-11.

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Forget 忘れる

Journal for 2005-1-11 Wed..
Weather: Sunny Plan: Akagi JHS

Today was an average day. I corrected the winter vacation tests for the 7th graders. It seems that over the 2 week vacation a lot of the students forgot the things they learned in the 2nd term. But then again, that happens with everybody. Nobody wants to study during a vacation. I only studied a little for my foreign service written exam over the break. I only have 3 more months to study.

平成17年1月11日の日記
天気: 晴 行事: 赤来中

今日は普通な日でした。1年生の冬休みテストをチェックしました。冬休みの2週間でたくさん生徒は2学期で習ったことを忘れたと見えます。まあ、そのことはどこでもと同じかなあ。休み時間で誰も勉強することがあまりやりたくないと思います。僕も冬休みで外交官試験について少しだけで勉強しました。今から3ヶ月だけ勉強時間がある。

Today's Kanji
(今日の漢字)
Meaning (意味): direction, way

Chinese Reading (音読み):
Reading Romaji
ホウhou
Japanese Reading (訓読み):
Reading Romaji
かたkata
Vocabulary (単語):
Word Reading Romaji Translation
かたkataperson
方角ほうがくhougakudirection
方法ほうほうhouhoulaw
方針ほうしんhoushinobjective
方言ほうげんhougendialect
一方いっぽうippouon the other hand
地方ちほうchihouregion
行方ゆくえyukueone's whereabouts


--
Trevor Lalish-Menagh
jumex@trevreport.org
www.trevreport.org
011-81-854-76-3021

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2006-01-10

Audioblog for 2006-01-10 "Poem"

Listen to my audio recording of the blog entry "Poem" on 2006-01-10.

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Poem 詩

Journal for 2005-1-10 Tue..
Weather: Sunny   Plan: Akagi JHS

Today was interesting. Ms. Mishima showed me a poem a 7th grader made. I then translated the poem into English for her. I think that translating poetry is more difficult than ordinary text because you don't just translate the words, you have to translate the feelings of the poet as well. I was assigned to design this the award certificate for this week's Iinan Town Junior High School English Test today. It was really fun to do.

平成17年1月10日の日記
天気: 晴 行事: 赤来中

今日は面白かったです。三島先生は一年生は作った詩を見せました。そして、彼女の詩を英語で翻訳しました。言葉だけではなくて、詩人の感じも訳さなくちゃなので、普段のテクストより訳しにくいと思います。今週の飯南町内中学校英語試験のために証書をデザインしました。楽しかった日ですよ。

Today's Kanji
(今日の漢字)
Meaning (意味): walk

Chinese Reading (音読み):
Reading Romaji 
ho
bu
fu
Japanese Reading (訓読み):
Reading Romaji 
あるaruku
あゆayumu
Vocabulary (単語):
Word Reading Romaji Translation 
歩くあるくarukuto walk
歩むあゆむayumuto go on foot
歩行ほこうhokouwalk
歩道ほどうhodousidewalk
散歩さんぽsanpostroll
徒歩とほtohowalking
進歩しんぽshinpoprogress
初歩しょほshohorudiments
五十歩百歩ごじっぽひゃっぽgojippo hyapposix of one and half a dozen of the other


-- 
Trevor Lalish-Menagh
jumex@trevreport.org
 www.trevreport.org 
 011-81-854-76-3021 

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2006-01-09

Audioblog for 2006-01-09 "Focus"

Listen to my audio recording of the blog entry "Focus" on 2006-01-09.

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Focus フォーカス

Journal for 2005-1-9 Mon..
Weather: Sunny   Plan: Akagi JHS

Today was the first day of the third term at the junior high school. It went the same as any other first day here. We cleaned the school, had an opening ceremony, and ate a special lunch. We had sushi. Even though there was sea urchin sushi in it, I really liked having sushi for lunch. I don't really like sea urchin, but when it is fresh and in sushi I can tolerate it. I spent the rest of the time working hard to read and study the news. I have to be very focused this year!

平成17年1月9日の日記
天気: 晴 行事: 赤来中

今日は中学校3学期初めての日でした。いつもと同じ初めての日でした。大掃除をしたり、始業式をしたり、特別な昼食を食べたりしました。すしを食べました。うにがあっても、とてもおいしかったです。うにがちょっと好きじゃないが、すしで生うにが食べられます。残り時間で一生懸命にニュースなどを読み勉強していました。今年も大フォーカスは必要があります!

Today's Kanji
(今日の漢字)
便
Meaning (意味): convenient, post

Chinese Reading (音読み):
Reading Romaji 
ベンben
ビンbin
Japanese Reading (訓読み):
Reading Romaji 
たよtayori
Vocabulary (単語):
Word Reading Romaji Translation 
便りたよりtayorinews
便利べんりbenriconvenient
便宜べんぎbengiadvantange
便法べんぽうbenpoushortcut
便所べんじょbenjotoilet
簡便かんべんkanbenhandy
排便はいべんhaibendefecation


-- 
Trevor Lalish-Menagh
jumex@trevreport.org
 www.trevreport.org 
 011-81-854-76-3021 

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the Trev Report 2006-01-09

Hello and welcome once again to your monthly Trev Report wherein you will find the general goings-on of Trevor R. Lalish-Menagh in the last month or so. Come in and enjoy!

Trev's Love Life
----------------
Signe just got a new full-time job! It turns out that the Assistant Language Teacher in a town very close to ours had a trauma in the family and had to leave her post early. This left her schools in a bad situation and Signe has a friend in that town's board of education that put in a good word for her. They interviewed her and she was a perfect fit! She quit her old jobs at the cram school two hours away in Hamada and the nearby high school and will be teaching at two junior high schools that are about a half an hour from here. The salary is the same as a JET participant's so we will be able to make a lot of headway on our debts and loans. She won't have to travel so far as well, which is an added relief. To celebrate we both got mobile phones, if you want our numbers or phone email addresses email me.

Trev's Work
-----------
Work is going fine. Teaching junior high school and elementary school kids is more fun that I ever imagined it would be. At the end of the second term we had a year-end party in Hiroshima. It was a real good time. I usually dislike company parties, but I had a really good time at this one. I really like the staff at the junior high school. They are good people to hang out with.

Trev's Winter Vacation
----------------------
I spent most of the winter break relaxing at my house doing nothing much. For Christmas Signe and I went to a party being held in a town nearby for little kids that are part of a local English conversation school. I always like playing with kids, so I had a great time. We had some friends over for a few days and we just hung out watched movies and played games. Signe and I also went down to Hiroshima a couple times, which is rare for us, but it was necessary since she had to change her visa from a dependant (spouse) visa to a full working visa. So from this point on she can work in Japan as an instructor for the next three years before she has to renew her visa. After we got her visa we spent an entire day wondering around downtown Hiroshima having a good time. The snow has been crazy up here. In early December there was a huge snowstorm that dumped a lot of snow on us, a rarity this early in the season, so we spent a lot of time shoveling snow as well. On an up note, the sledding is great. Last weekend we went sledding up in the mountains with some friends and has a real fun time. All in all it was a good albeit uneventful vacation.

Trev's Computers
----------------
My computers continue to chug along. We recently bought an iPod for the car and for Christmas Signe's parents got us some gift cards for Apple's online music store, iTunes. It has been fun listening and buying new music from the US. Our favorite science fiction shows have started up again, so we will once again be using our computer to watch US TV, for better or for worse.

Trev's Studies
--------------
I am still trying to beef up my knowledge of all things worldly for the upcoming April Foreign Service Written Exam in Osaka. I am starting to get nervous about it, but al I can do is to continue to keep abreast of the news, study US law and history and try my best to improve my essay writing skills. Which is something I am seriously lacking right now. I recently subscribed to The Economist, which looks like it will be helpful for slightly more in-depth world news coverage.
As for my Japanese study I haven't been doing much. I didn't write on my Japanese journal over the break, so I might have become a bit rusty, but now that I am back at work I will get back in the habit of writing in it and posting it online, as well as practicing at least one new kanji (Chinese character) a day. I'll do my best!

Trev's One Point Japanese Lesson
--------------------------------
So you want to learn Japanese? That is great! Last month we reviewed the polite form of verbs. Let's now tackle the short-form or dictionary-from of Japanese verbs. There are three types ru-verbs, u-verbs, and irregular verbs. Today let's talk about ru-verbs.

ru-verbs are called such because they all end in 'ru.' Some examples are tabe-ru (to eat), mi-ru (to see), and ki-ru (to wear).

To turn a ru-verb into the polite form that we previously learned all we have to do is replace the 'ru' with 'masu.' For example, tabe-ru becomes tabe-masu.

Conjugation of ru-verbs are pretty easy, too. The rule is you just replace the 'ru' as follows. Past tense ru becomes ta, present negative tense ru becomes nai, and past negative tense ru becomes nakatta. Here is an example:
Present positive: tabe-ru
Present negative: tabe-nai
Past positive: tabe-ta
Past negative: tabe-nakatta
Try conjugating mi-ru and ki-ru yourself.

Keep up you studies. Japanese can be a fun a rewarding language to learn!

That's it for this time. If you have time, drop me a line. I always like hearing from you. Until next time, take care.

Yours,
trv

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