Wednesday, January 21, 2015

BR 2-18:Time travel: The Dinosaurs (Brasch, Tate, 2007)



'Charlie was too, because he always went where Georgia went.' (Branch, Tate, p. 16) 

The story is about time travel of two kids. When they went inside the tree trunk and pushed a button, it happened. They arrived in a dangerous jungle and fled the space. The sentence above shows us that Georgia was a very generous girl compared with her brother, Charlie.
[48 words]

Reference
Brasch, Nicolas. Tate, Russell. (2007). Time Travel: The Dinosaurs. Melbourne, Australia: Thomson Nelson.

Tuesday, January 20, 2015

BR 2-17: Around the World in Eighty Days (Verne, 2008)


"The world is smaller." (Verne, p.4)

Phileas Fogg, a rich man, was thinking about travelling around the world in 80 days with a bet. At first, no one of his friends believed his idea but he realized with his companies. The sentence above is the expression compared with "the world is very big. The robber can hide anywhere." (p.4) It means that a bank robber can hide around the big world but now there are railways so the police can arrest easily.

After reading this book, I found that because of not only the development of vehicles but also Phileas's nice negotiating skill and kindness, he became successful. He is so tolerant that he took some people needed help to his trip. 
[116 words]
Reference
Verne, Jules. (2008). Around the World in Eighty Days. Oxford, England: Macmillan Publishers Limited.

Speaking 4: Comments for Sports Presentation

I attended Miri's presentation in the 3rd period on January 13 at the building No. 11. She talked about fencing. Her good point  is the introduction of famous fencing players. She showed me a Japanese player, Yuki Ota and I thought that was really appropriate for this presentation. On the other hand, she talked a little fast.

At the same time, I watched Seina's presentation. She talked about Roller Derby. Her presentation was well-organized and I think she researched the sport from a variety of angles. However, I was sometimes concerned about her grammar.

2 days later, I watched Akino's presentation in the afternoon at bakery. She talked about Squash. It was easy to read her slides because she divided some articles. However, she read her script so often.

Then I watched Yuka's presentation in the morning on January 19 at the library. She was talking about Decathlon. She showed me many kinds of rotation. On the other hand, there were a page which was consisted in only graphics.

Finally, Karin made a presentation for me in the 3rd period of yesterday at building No. 11. She introduced Lacrosse. I'd heard that sports but I didn't know well. She talked about it really specifically but the letters in her slide was too small.
[213 words]


BR 2-15: Diana ~Princess of Wales~ (Vicary, 1998)



"It's OK to touch people with AIDS," (Vicary, p.14) 

Diana Princess of Wales was one of the most famous and kind women in the world. She got married with Prince Charles but divorced. She helped many people in difficulties such as AIDS, lepers and deprivation. At that time, people were afraid to touch AIDS patients, so she said the sentence above and hugged  them. I like her snuggling against the heart of ordinary people.
[65  words]


Reference
Vicary, Tim. (1998). Diana  -Princess of Wales-. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.

BR 2-16: The Umbrella (Harris, 2005)


"Keep my red umbrella. I like this umbrella. It's a lucky umbrella. This is my lucky day!" (Harris, p. 16) 

The story is about providing a spark for the old umbrella to meet. Also, the unfoldment makes us think about their love. At first, Carla was very angry but she seemed she liked Paul as she knew him. Then she looked so happy. After reading this, I found that we couldn't  think about our destiny.
[55 words]

Reference
Harris, Clrare. (2005). The Umbrella. Oxford, England: Macmillan Publishers Limited.

Friday, January 16, 2015

BR 2-14: Scotland (Flinders, 1998)



'It is a country in a country.' (Flinders, p.1)

This book tells you all about Scotland. Scotland is a country, but it is a part of the United Kingdom and Northen Ireland. As for Japanese, the sentence above sounds really strange and unique. Although Scots are British, they have its own culture. They speak English but some words are different.

The book introduces the main cities such as Glasgow and Edinburgh, Scottish history, famous places, traditional clothes, Scottish food and drink. They have so unique culture that I'd like to visit someday.

[83 words]


Reference
Flinders, Steve. (1998). Scotland. Oxford, England: Oxford University Press.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

BR 2-13: Fixing Cars (Holt, Nickel, 2007)



"I guess playing around with cars can be useful after all." (Holt, Nickel, p.24)

This is the story of a girl who really likes fixing cars. In other word, a personality and one's talent is very important. At first, her parents judged her based on girls' stereotype such as girls should have learned to cook and clean however she wasn't into them. Then they found that her special qualification was also important after they were helped by their daughter. Her teacher, grandpa and her friend had already noticed her potential. 

After reading this, I thought that personality and potential were important and we should admire someone's ability. That's why her teacher called her fixing cars a gift. 
[103 words]

Reference
Holt, Sharon. Nichel, Adam. (2007). Fixing Cars. Melbourne, Australia: Thomson Nelson.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

BR 2-12:Lions! (Wallace-Mitchell, 2007)



"Do you think they are hunting us?" (Wallace-Mitchell, p. 5)

This is a thrill story that some kids are surrounded by threatening lions. A boy asked another the question above. As a result, no one was hunted and they thought they were too skinny for the lions. However, if I joined this trip in the grass, I couldn't help having a scare. It's too close for the kids.
[58 words]

Reference
Wallace-Mitchell, Jane. (2007). Lions! Melbourne, Australia: Thomson Nelson.



Thursday, January 8, 2015

BR 2-11: A Tale of Two Cities (Dickens, 2005)


mrwclass -period 135 fall 2013, mrwclass.wikispaces.com

"I am going to die. But Lucie and Charles are going to live. They will be happy. Now I am doing something good. Now at last, I can rest." (Dickens, p.62)


A Tale of Two Cities was written by one of the famous English author, Charles Dickens in 1859. In this story, people arrive in the two European capital cities; London and Paris. At that time, new citizens in Paris broke out the French Revolution and it seemed dangerous for English people. I thought that there are several key characters in this story such as Jarvis Lorry, Charle Darnay and Sydney Carton. In addition, I found that French citizens suddenly gaining forces are described as really bad people in a unilateral way. Now, let me explain these issues in detail.

First of all, I'm going to show you about the central characters in this story. The beginning of it is described as the commission for Javis Lorry that he has to bring a freed prison of France, Dr Manette back from Paris to London with the prison's daughter, Lucie Manette. It seemed to me as if the main character were Lorry at first. However, the idea was changed when I finished reading around chapter 5. Lorry disappears for a while.

Charles Darnay, who helps Lorry and Manette family, gradually involves with them and the story revolves around him. He gets married with Lucie while he is the French Aristocrat. Then, French citizens finally grow impatient for Ancien Regime, the political system that aristocrats have cruel power, and broke out the French Revolution. Even of Darnay didn't do anything bad for the citizens, his life is becoming sought. He is at last captured by Republicans. 

Nevertheless, one of the side character, Sydney Carton saves his friend's life and was executed vicariously. At first, he appeared as a man who was really similar to Darnay, but the ending is him. Although he was not always kind to others, he chose death for his friend and a woman he loved. 
[306 words]

Reference
Dickens, Charles. (2005). A Tale of Two Cities. Oxford, England: Macmillan Heinemann ELT.