• extensive reading ( effectiveness, how to introduce, volume)
• the defference between first language acquisition and second language acquisition
• how to motivate learners to use English
• the necessity of teaching appropriate pronunciation
• the influence that background information make when learners read articles
• the stractural difference between Japanese and English
• effectiveness of all English classes

7. Description about “Guide about Kyoto for Chinese visitors on my school trip”

This poem describes a moment when I was a second-year student in a high school. In that morning, I was in the Kobe station with my friends to leave for Kyoto. When we were waiting for the train, two Chinese came toward us and asked the way to get to the Kyoto station. That was also our destination, so we decided to go there with them. It was a chance for me to talk with foreigners in English practically, so I was excited. I tried to talk with them aggressively. At once, the train arrived at Kyoto station and the fun time finished.

8. Description about “Talking with school trip visitors from Taiwan”

This poem describes a moment when I was a first-year student in a high school. It was January, so it was very cold. It was snowy outside. Taiwanese visitors came to our high school for their school trip. First, I gave them a welcome speech, and then, we played with traditional Japanese tops, Coma, and I explained how to play with tops for them in English. It was difficult for me to explain the way of playing with tops, but it was also a great experience for me. It was so fun for me, and the Taiwanese enjoyed playing with tops, too.

9. Description about “Chatting with foreign friends”

This poem describes a moment when I was a second-year student in a high school. I tried to improve my English skills through talking with foreign friends for the entrance examination of Gunma University. I had three friends who live in the U.S. and Australia. They love Japanese cultures, for instance, Anime, J-POP, and traditional foods. I introduced these things for them in English. It was difficult to convey them what is in style in Japan at that time, but I could know many English expressions through the chats with them. For instance, they used many abbreviated expressions. When I knew the meanings, I was so happy.

10. Description about “Presentation with overseas students studying in Japan”

This poem describes a moment when I was a freshman in Gunma University. It was a humid day. As one of the activities of a lecture, language and society, we made presentations about Japanese culture for the overseas students studying in Japan.  Our group made a presentation about the history of Japanese toilets. When we gave a presentation, there are many native speakers in front of us, so I was very nervous. However, the presentation of our group succeeded. I could convey my words. I could have a confidence to use English. Finally, I was very happy. ;\lsdpriorit

1. Description about “Class at cram school”

This poem describes a moment when I was a third-year student in a junior high school.  I attended a cram school, and I studied English there.  That was a hot day in August.  Cicadas are singing a loud outside of the cram school.  In a summer course of the cram school, I took an English lesson.  That was not a typical class like instruction of grammar.  Our teacher came, and said, “Stand up!  Let’s sing songs together!”  We sang songs or made conversation with friends in English, so we could enjoy learning pronunciation.  All of us were smiling and the class was enjoyable.

2. Description about “Talking with cute ALT in lunch time break”

This poem describes a moment when I was a fifth-year student in an elementary school.  I was in my classroom with my classmates and we were gathered together to Michael, a cute ALT.  She was always cheerful and popular to the students.  She could speak Japanese a little bit, but we tried to talk with her in English.  We were like friends, and the time was fun. This is the first time for me to talk with native speaker in English. This moment I talk with a cute ALT is the reason why I like English now.

3. Description about “My first all English class at university”

This poem describes a moment when I was a fresh man of Gunma University. In that moment, I was in the Gunma University. I attended the English class, and the teacher came. The teacher was a native American. There is no Japanese teacher. Then, the class began. At first, I was anxious because I couldn’t have a confidence to understand what the teacher said. I read textbooks, and I could understand what the teacher said. I could have a confidence. And I thought that I want to learn English deeper and deeper. I was nervous, but the class was fun.

4. Description about “Drawing pictures with ALT”

This poem describes a moment when I was sixth-year student in an elementary school. I was in classroom, and we are talking about characters of Disney. I liked Pooh, and the ALT, Michael, liked Stitch. I also liked Stitch, so I was taught how to draw the characters of Disney by her. She was so good at drawing pictures, so everyone loved her drawings. It was cute, and drawing pictures was fun. Michael taught us how to draw pictures well in English, so it was difficult for us, but it was good for us to conversate with her in English.

5. Description about “Guide my high school for a visiting instructor”

This poem describes a moment when I was a second-year student in a high school. For a lecture of our future course, a teacher came to our high school from one of the universities in Gunma. He was American, and I guided my high school for him. My high school was complicated, so it was like a maze. It was difficult to guide him, but it was great experience for me. I talked about the importance of learning English, and some interesting expressions of English. That was difficult theme for me, but I can partly understand what he said. Because of his words, I decided to take the entrance exam for English Major.

6. Description about “Studying hard for the entrance exam”

This poem describes a moment when I was a third-year student in a high school. For the entrance exam of Gunma University, I studied hard every day. I went to the study room in my high school, then I went to Prefectural Library, and I kept up studying after I went home. Even in lunch break time, I studied something. It was so hard and I often thought that I could not stand any more, but I never gave up and kept up studying. Finally, I could pass the entrance exam. I learned the importance of making an effort.

All of us have studied English so far.  Almost all people have the experiences of learning English.  However, I think that the number of people who have used English to communicate with someone else.  That is difficult in Japan, but that is important.  The theme of this book is to convey my feelings and experiences about using English.  My 10 poems are about my actual experiences of using English.  These poems are about when I am junior high, high school student, and freshman of university.  These significant memories about using English is one of the factors why I became to like English.  This is why I choose these 10 memories.

1. Guide my high school for a visiting instructor

Upstairs, then downstairs

Walk around high school

With visiting instructor

Turn left, then turn right

Walk around high school

With talking in English

It’s shining outside

We’re laughing out loud

2. Chatting with foreign friends

Looking at my smart phone

Staring at the screen

“What’s the words on this screen?”

I gaze, but I’m mazed

“C U L8R”

Is this cipher? or metaphor?

Can’t text anything

Feeling dizzy

3. Playing with school trip visitors from Taiwan

Cold day

Whitening outside

Brightning inside

Playing with Taiwaneses

With Japanese traditional tops

Spinning, swaying

Looking at the tops with no words

Tops stop spinning

Looking at each other with no words

Play it again again and again

4 Presentation with overseas students studying in Japan

Make plan

Make drafts

Practice, practice, practice and

Make presentation

Native speakers in front of me

Nervous, but they react to me

No tremble

I can convey my words!

Puffing out my chest

Presenting out loud

・Drawing pictures with ALT

In the lunch break

With a lot of friends

Drawing picture with Michael

She was good at sketch

My favorite character was Stitch

She taught how to draw it

I became able to draw just a bit

Explanation was all English

Difficult, but good experience

・ Studying hard for entrance exam

From hot summer day,

To cold winter day,

Through the year study hard

I sometimes broke my heart

Wake up, and study English

Eat lunch, and study English

Take a bath, and study English

Before go to bed, study English

Tired, boring, but never gave up

Teacher, friend, gave me thumbs-up

It was hard, but also heartful

・Guide about Kyoto for Chinese visitors on my school trip

Morning, hustle and bustle of the Kobe Station

Talking with friends about plans

Someone is coming toward us

” How can we get to the Kyoto Station?”

That was also our destination

Suprised, and actually excited

Chance to talk in English

Take train, talk about trip

Fun, fun, fun to talk in English

Arrive at the Station

The time has finnished

Time fried like an arrow

・Talking with cute ALT in lunch time break

The chime rang.

The time has come.

Have lunch with friends and Michael.

Have fun with them.

She loves Japanese culture.

Always talked Japanese character.

We are smiling.

The sun is shining.

・Class at cram school.

A hot night in summer.

Room is full of light color

Cicadas sing outside.

We sing a song in English.

Harmony is beatiful.

Class is cheerful.

Just fun, just enjoyable

English is interesting!

・My first all English class at university.

It was spring, but hot day

Outside was dark, it was cloudy

Humid, muggy, I was sweat

” Can I understand what teacher says?”

Nervous, uneasy, I was sweat

Teacher came, the class began

It was fun

Full of smile

The sun broke through the clouds

It was hot, shiny day

Revise Point

・I added more emotional expression.

・Make sentences shorter and more rhythmical.

・Talking with cute ALT in lunch time break

The chime rang.

The time has come.

Have lunch with friends and Michael.

Have fun with them.

Michael loves Japanese culture.

Always talk about Japanese character.

We are smiling.

The sun is shining.

・Class at cram school.

A hot night in summer.

The room is full of light color.

Cicadas sing outside.

We sing a song in English.

Harmony is beatiful.

Class is cheerful.

・My first all English class at university.

It was spring, but hot day

Outside was dark, it was cloudy

Humid, muggy, I was sweat

” Can I understand what teacher says?”

Nervous, uneasy, I was sweat

Teacher came, the class began

It was fun

Full of smile

The sun broke through the clouds

It was hot, shiny day

1. Taking with cute ALT in lunch time break

I was in an elementary school. I had lunch with my friends and a cute ALT, Michael. She was good at speaking Japanese, so we could communicate each other. Michael loved Japanese caluture, so we were always talking about some hot things in Japan in English. Everyone loved her. We were laughing, and spending nice time.

2. Class at cram school

When I was in junior high school, I used to go to a cram school. The English class of the cram school was so fun and I could enjoy studying English. I was always talking with the teacher and friends in English in the class, that was great experience for studying English.

3. Drawing pictures with ALT

Michael was good at drawing pictures, so we were drawing pictures in almost all of the lunch break time. Michael tought us how to draw good picture. Because of her lecture, we could be good at drawing pictures.

4. Guide my high school for a visiting instructor

When I was the second grade of high school, my high school had a lecture made by some visiting instructors. I took a class which was set for the people who want to study English in university because I was interested in English. The visiting instructor was doreingner, and I was said ” Please guide the instructor,” so I guided my high school in English.

5. Studying hard for entrance exam

I aimed to pass the entrance exam of Gunma University, so I studied so hard. Everyday I went to the library or learning space of high school to study. I have not ever studied as hard as I did then. Surely it was so hard, however, it was a good experience for me.

6. My first all English class at university

In the Gunma University, I took all English class for the first time in my life. That was difficult and partly I could not understand what the teacher said, but it was fresh and so fun. After that, because of all English classes, I could improve my English skill.

7. Guide about Kyoto for Chinese visitors on my school trip

When I was the second grade of high school, I went to a school trip. In the school trip, when I was in the Kobe station, I was asked how to get to the Kyoto station by Chinense visitors. Luckily, I was also going to the Kyoto station, so I said “I am also going to Kyoto station. Why do not you go together?” And then, I talked with them and reccomended some good sightseeing spots.

8. Chatting with foreign friends

When I was high school student, I chatted with foreign friends to improve my English skill. I often taked about music, movie, sports, and so on. I could know what is in style in his/her country, and how to text. That was fun, and my English skill was surely improved.

9. Talking with school trip visitors from Taiwan

When I was the first grade of high school, school trip visitors from Taiwan came to my high school. I talked with some of them and took some pictures. Then, in my class, we played Japanese traditional games like menko, koma, ohaziki, and so on. We spoke in English as far as possible, and try to communicate with them.

10. Presentation with overseas students studying in Japan

When I was a fresh man of Gunma University, I made some presentation with overseas students. My group made a presentation about Japanese toilet. Made all of materials in English and talked in English. There were many overseas students, so I was very nervous, but of course it was fun and good experience for me.

1. Talking with cute ALT in lunch time break
2. Class at cram school
3. Drawing pictures with ALT
4. Guide my high school for a visiting instructor
5. Studying hard for entrance exam
6. My first all English class at university
7. Guide about Kyoto for Chinese visitors on my school trip
8. Chatting with foreign friends
9. Talking with school trip visitors from Taiwan
10. Presentation with overseas students studying in Japan