How to study writing
Writing is perhaps the most difficult of the four skills to study. There are a number of activities we recommend to improve your writing.
1. Reading
See our How to study reading page. Reading is what gives us the examples that make us good writers.
2. Writing every day
Practice makes perfect. There are two tasks to focus on when you practice. The first task is content, and the second task is the mechanics of writing. Both are important. Practice both, but do so at separate times. First, write for content. Without content, why write? Second, after you have written the content, revise your writing with the mechanics of writing. If this section is confusing, read our page, Being a good writer: two hats.
3. Finding someone to share your writing with
It is probably hard for you to clearly examine your own writing. Try to find someone to help you. While a native speaker is best, good nonnative speakers are great too. You could always try to find people on the Web too.
4. Reading more
Reading is the heart of writing. Reading is what gives us the examples that make us good writers. Did we say that twice? We meant to. Reading is what gives us the examples that make us good writers. Read and you will become a better writer.
日本語の解説：
ここで挙げられている４つのポイントについて、何か気が付かれたでしょうか？ポイント１と４は、ほぼ同じ内容の繰り返しになっています。それほど、リーディングが英文ライティング力の向上に役立つのです。多くの英語の本や記事を読んで、ライティングの手本をたくさん学びとってください。そしてポイント２にあるように、最初は内容に集中して書き、その後で文章の表現、構成などを考慮して、推敲します。ポイント３で述べているように、英語を母国語とする人や英語を母国語としなくても優れた英語力をもった人に、ライティングについて助言や指導をしてもらいます。これにより英作文力をいっそう高めることができます。
2015年7月5日日曜日
2015年3月22日日曜日
英語力で大切なCulture(文化)
Culture(文化)は、日本人とネイティブスピーカーとの文化的相違を解説します。英会話力、英文法、英文ライティングに優れていても、文化的理解がないとスムースなコミュニケーションが取れないことがあります。
この記事では、英語ネイティブスピーカーとスムーズなコミュニケーションを取るための10の考えをまとめています。
Ten ideas for smooth communication with native English speakers in Japan
While our ten ideas also apply to communication with English speakers outside of Japan, they are not as important as they are with English speakers in Japan. This reason that these ten ideas are important is that English speakers in Japan seem to hear the same comments over and over. Imagine you went to America. Imagine everybody you met complimented you on how you well you use a knife and fork.
Think for a minute how you might feel.
Taking your feeling one step further, image yourself in another country. Imagine how you would feel if everybody you met asked if you knew any geishas.
As the last step, image how you would feel if many people talked about Pearl Harbor, how terrible it was, and how we must stop war.
At Aaron Teaches, we have talked with Japanese who have been to the United States. They tell us they were not asked the same questions over and over and over again. Unlike Japanese in the United States, native English speakers in Japan do have the same experiences over and over again. They learn to live with the same questions. However, our suggestions for you are ten ideas that could help to avoid the same kinds of foolish questions and comments.
1. Speaking machines
If you find native English speakers in Japan to talk in English with, don't tell them that you like to see them so you can practice your English. Don't make them feel that is their function for you. Tell them that you enjoy their company, that you like to do things with them, and that you had a good time with them.
We hope you enjoy both, but native English speakers can easily be offended or hurt when people they consider friends tell them that they missed speaking English with them. They can feel like English speaking machines. A better comment is, "I've missed you."
2. Getting information by giving information
Instead of asking if they have a boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, or wife, tell someone that you are married. People normally respond with information about themselves. Information exchanges are normally a process. If I tell you about some aspect of my life, I expect you to tell me about some aspect of your life. In contrast, interviews are one-sided relationships. You do not want to be an interviewer.
3. Bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Hiroshima and Nagasaki can be difficult to discuss. Americans are not quite sure what to say. True, the atomic bombs were terrible attacks that never should have happened. Most people would prefer that the bombs had never been dropped. Information about Hiroshima and Nagasaki is repeated over and over in many contexts, but Japan's attacks in Asia and the United States and Asia are almost ignored. Both the bombs and the attacks are conversations to avoid.
4. Telling people you are Japanese
Most people already know that you are Japanese. This is too obvious to mention. Saying I am Japanese is almost like saying I am breathing.
5. Commenting on how people use chopsticks
If people are not skilled at using chopsticks, being unskilled is inappropriate to mention. If they are skilled, using chopsticks is a pretty basic skill. Using chopsticks is no more or less difficult than using a fork and knife. Native speakers have heard comments on their level of skill with chopsticks many times.
6. Complimenting people on their Japanese
Everybody does this kind of complimenting, regardless of the language level for non-Japanese speaking Japanese.
7. Asking questions
Manners are manners. Just because you are speaking English does not give you the freedom to forget your manners. Think of the questions you would avoid asking people when you first meet them, and follow the same pattern when you meet with native speakers.
8. Taking time to start friendships and other relationships
Friendships and other relationships are a process. The process requires time. Friendship and other relationships are not the same as buying new shoes. Take one step at a time.
9. Avoiding generalizations
Sometimes it seems that people in Japan believe that everyone in Japan does everything exactly the same. Of course, that is not true. However, Japanese people seem to say that we Japanese do something this way. Perhaps people from the United States make the same statement. Both statements are generalizations, and both are inaccurate. People in the United States are not copies of each other, and people in Japan are not copies of each other. Much better to say is, "I usually do that this way."
10. Avoiding negative comments
Unless, they are Japanese-Americans, native English speakers do not have the same appearance as Japanese do. However, appearances are generally not appropriate topics of conversation. Avoid telling people that they are so tall or that their feet are so big. Avoid asking if they have found places to buy shoes or clothes.
この記事では、英語ネイティブスピーカーとスムーズなコミュニケーションを取るための10の考えをまとめています。
Ten ideas for smooth communication with native English speakers in Japan
While our ten ideas also apply to communication with English speakers outside of Japan, they are not as important as they are with English speakers in Japan. This reason that these ten ideas are important is that English speakers in Japan seem to hear the same comments over and over. Imagine you went to America. Imagine everybody you met complimented you on how you well you use a knife and fork.
Think for a minute how you might feel.
Taking your feeling one step further, image yourself in another country. Imagine how you would feel if everybody you met asked if you knew any geishas.
As the last step, image how you would feel if many people talked about Pearl Harbor, how terrible it was, and how we must stop war.
At Aaron Teaches, we have talked with Japanese who have been to the United States. They tell us they were not asked the same questions over and over and over again. Unlike Japanese in the United States, native English speakers in Japan do have the same experiences over and over again. They learn to live with the same questions. However, our suggestions for you are ten ideas that could help to avoid the same kinds of foolish questions and comments.
1. Speaking machines
If you find native English speakers in Japan to talk in English with, don't tell them that you like to see them so you can practice your English. Don't make them feel that is their function for you. Tell them that you enjoy their company, that you like to do things with them, and that you had a good time with them.
We hope you enjoy both, but native English speakers can easily be offended or hurt when people they consider friends tell them that they missed speaking English with them. They can feel like English speaking machines. A better comment is, "I've missed you."
2. Getting information by giving information
Instead of asking if they have a boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, or wife, tell someone that you are married. People normally respond with information about themselves. Information exchanges are normally a process. If I tell you about some aspect of my life, I expect you to tell me about some aspect of your life. In contrast, interviews are one-sided relationships. You do not want to be an interviewer.
3. Bombing Hiroshima and Nagasaki
Hiroshima and Nagasaki can be difficult to discuss. Americans are not quite sure what to say. True, the atomic bombs were terrible attacks that never should have happened. Most people would prefer that the bombs had never been dropped. Information about Hiroshima and Nagasaki is repeated over and over in many contexts, but Japan's attacks in Asia and the United States and Asia are almost ignored. Both the bombs and the attacks are conversations to avoid.
4. Telling people you are Japanese
Most people already know that you are Japanese. This is too obvious to mention. Saying I am Japanese is almost like saying I am breathing.
5. Commenting on how people use chopsticks
If people are not skilled at using chopsticks, being unskilled is inappropriate to mention. If they are skilled, using chopsticks is a pretty basic skill. Using chopsticks is no more or less difficult than using a fork and knife. Native speakers have heard comments on their level of skill with chopsticks many times.
6. Complimenting people on their Japanese
Everybody does this kind of complimenting, regardless of the language level for non-Japanese speaking Japanese.
7. Asking questions
Manners are manners. Just because you are speaking English does not give you the freedom to forget your manners. Think of the questions you would avoid asking people when you first meet them, and follow the same pattern when you meet with native speakers.
8. Taking time to start friendships and other relationships
Friendships and other relationships are a process. The process requires time. Friendship and other relationships are not the same as buying new shoes. Take one step at a time.
9. Avoiding generalizations
Sometimes it seems that people in Japan believe that everyone in Japan does everything exactly the same. Of course, that is not true. However, Japanese people seem to say that we Japanese do something this way. Perhaps people from the United States make the same statement. Both statements are generalizations, and both are inaccurate. People in the United States are not copies of each other, and people in Japan are not copies of each other. Much better to say is, "I usually do that this way."
10. Avoiding negative comments
Unless, they are Japanese-Americans, native English speakers do not have the same appearance as Japanese do. However, appearances are generally not appropriate topics of conversation. Avoid telling people that they are so tall or that their feet are so big. Avoid asking if they have found places to buy shoes or clothes.
2015年3月3日火曜日
英文法の学習と英語を学ぶことの違い
下記に英語を学ぶことの大切なポイントが書かれています。
When I was a student, I asked Japanese English teachers about three sentences.
1. I want him to repair my radio. [OK]
2. I want my radio repaired. [OK]
3. I want my radio to be repaired. [wrong]
They said Example 3 was wrong, but they could not explain how or why.
We were not sure how to reply. All three of the sentences could be correct, depending on the context. The first two sentences seem as if they would be more commonly used.
However, all three sentences feel rather abrupt. If I were to bring my radio to be repaired, I would express myself a little differently.
4. I would like my radio repaired.
Example 4 feels better. Examples 1, 2, and 3 sound harsh. In particular, Example 3 seems to imply that there was some trouble. Was the person refused service? Did the repair place say they could not do it? Or, more likely, did they fail to repair it? Or has the person been waiting a long time? We don't know.
We do know two things:
Sentences do not exist in a vacuum. They exist in context. The context is important. It gives meaning.
A number of students of English in Japan seem to enjoy grammar studies and to appreciate discussing grammar points. That is why we have so much grammar discussion at our site. Note, however, that most of it is in English. Therefore, while you are reading this page, you are learning more than just grammar. You are receiving our communication in English. We would be less excited if the explanation were taking place in Japanese. Then, the explanation might help your academic knowledge of English, but it would not help you get much better at English.
Think of playing the piano. Do you get better by listening to lectures or by practicing?
When I was a student, I asked Japanese English teachers about three sentences.
1. I want him to repair my radio. [OK]
2. I want my radio repaired. [OK]
3. I want my radio to be repaired. [wrong]
They said Example 3 was wrong, but they could not explain how or why.
We were not sure how to reply. All three of the sentences could be correct, depending on the context. The first two sentences seem as if they would be more commonly used.
However, all three sentences feel rather abrupt. If I were to bring my radio to be repaired, I would express myself a little differently.
4. I would like my radio repaired.
Example 4 feels better. Examples 1, 2, and 3 sound harsh. In particular, Example 3 seems to imply that there was some trouble. Was the person refused service? Did the repair place say they could not do it? Or, more likely, did they fail to repair it? Or has the person been waiting a long time? We don't know.
We do know two things:
Sentences do not exist in a vacuum. They exist in context. The context is important. It gives meaning.
A number of students of English in Japan seem to enjoy grammar studies and to appreciate discussing grammar points. That is why we have so much grammar discussion at our site. Note, however, that most of it is in English. Therefore, while you are reading this page, you are learning more than just grammar. You are receiving our communication in English. We would be less excited if the explanation were taking place in Japanese. Then, the explanation might help your academic knowledge of English, but it would not help you get much better at English.
Think of playing the piano. Do you get better by listening to lectures or by practicing?
2015年2月15日日曜日
形容詞のように名詞を使う
the email from JaneとJane's email、どちらの表現が自然な英語だと思いますか。
Grammar: nouns as adjectives
One change you may want to make in your English is to use nouns as adjectives. Doing so has two benefits:
1) Your English would sound more natural.
2) Your sentences would be shorter.
Correct example 1: The invoice for April is attached.
Correct example 2: The April invoice is attached.
Both example 1 and example 2 are correct. However, example 2 sounds better.
Using nouns as adjectives shortens sentences, and shorter sentences are generally better than longer sentences.
Correct example 3: I read the email from Jane.
Correct example 4: I read Jane's email.
2015年1月18日日曜日
日本語の「まで」と英語の「until」について
下記の日本語をどんな英語に翻訳しますか。
「そのお店は月曜日まで閉まっています。」
おそらく、多くの日本人は The store will be closed until Monday. のようにuntilを使って翻訳するのではないでしょうか? 英検や日本の英語の試験ではOKかもしれませんが、ネイティブの世界では、誤りになります。
「そのお店は月曜日まで閉まっています。」
おそらく、多くの日本人は The store will be closed until Monday. のようにuntilを使って翻訳するのではないでしょうか? 英検や日本の英語の試験ではOKかもしれませんが、ネイティブの世界では、誤りになります。
Barking dogs, safe grammar, and until
When you were small, did you go for walks with your mother or father? Was there any place that you didn't want to go? Was there a house with a dog that barked or something else that scared you?
If there was, you may have selected another way to walk, avoiding the problem. In fancy teacher talk, this is called error avoidance. For example, if I know that the word 'まで' in Japanese can cause confusion when it is translated into 'until' in English, I can avoid it. This will help me to avoid any possible mistakes.
'まで' is used fairly widely in Japanese. Let's take a look at some English sentences that could have been translated from Japanese sentences that used 'まで.' At the same time, let's see how they could be better said in English.
I need it until Friday.
In English, I would probably say, "I need it by Friday."
The store will be closed until Monday. (This is the incorrect translation of the Japanese sentence in the example above.)
I would probably say, "The store will open on Tuesday."
Forgetting about Japanese, the store will be closed until Monday has a different meaning. It means that the store will open on Monday.
Be careful when you translate 'まで' into 'until.' 'まで' and 'until' are not always used in English the same way.
When you were small, did you go for walks with your mother or father? Was there any place that you didn't want to go? Was there a house with a dog that barked or something else that scared you?
If there was, you may have selected another way to walk, avoiding the problem. In fancy teacher talk, this is called error avoidance. For example, if I know that the word 'まで' in Japanese can cause confusion when it is translated into 'until' in English, I can avoid it. This will help me to avoid any possible mistakes.
'まで' is used fairly widely in Japanese. Let's take a look at some English sentences that could have been translated from Japanese sentences that used 'まで.' At the same time, let's see how they could be better said in English.
I need it until Friday.
In English, I would probably say, "I need it by Friday."
The store will be closed until Monday. (This is the incorrect translation of the Japanese sentence in the example above.)
I would probably say, "The store will open on Tuesday."
Forgetting about Japanese, the store will be closed until Monday has a different meaning. It means that the store will open on Monday.
Be careful when you translate 'まで' into 'until.' 'まで' and 'until' are not always used in English the same way.
2015年1月17日土曜日
英文法の学習はあまり役に立ちません
英語でのコミュニケーション能力の向上には、学問的な英文法の学習はあまり役に立ちません。伝えたい内容を正しく伝達する手段として文法をとらえ、英文法
学習に取り組むことをお勧めします。日本人が何年も英文法を学習するにもかかわらず、なかなか英語を身につけることができないのは、伝えるべき考えや意味
を軽視した文法学習を続けてきたためではないでしょうか？リーディング、ヒアリング、ライティング、スピーキングのどの英語活動を行うにも英文法知識は必
須です。しかし、英文法知識の習得は、これらの英語学習活動、特に多くのリーディングとヒアリング活動を通して、自然に習得していくのが理想だと考えま
す。
Try not to.
Yes, we repeat, try not to.
Grammar is everywhere. When we read, we use grammar. When we speak, we use grammar. When we write, we use grammar. When we listen, we use grammar.
Without grammar, you could not understand or communicate.
Grammar does not exist by itself. Grammar is used to understand and communicate meaning. That is, we use grammar when there is context.
Definition of context: Context is ideas and meaning and thoughts and feelings and commands and suggestions and orders and greetings. Context is what happens before and after we say or do something. Context is the circumstances that create the setting that we are using. Context is communication. Without context, we lose much of what is happening.
Most Japanese have studied grammar for years and years and years. However, the many years of grammar study do not help much in using English. This is because studying grammar does not usually include context. Grammar study alone is a purely academic study, not especially helpful to successful English communications.
Think of driving a car. You would not need to understand how a battery works. You do not need to inspect the belts and hoses because you probably will not be replacing them yourself. A mechanic would do such work for you. You just need to have an owner's manual, so you will know when to take your car to a mechanic. Plus, you would not take a course in combustion mechanics to understand the engine so that you could drive. You just need to know how to be a safe, responsible driver.
Let's get back to grammar. Like driving your car, you just need to know how to use English. You need to know where the dictionary is just like you need to know where your car manual is. You need to know where to go for help just like you need to know where to find a mechanic to work on your car when something is wrong. You need to be able to use your English just like you need to know how to drive your car.
Nonetheless, we do not recommend that you completely stop studying grammar. Indeed, we even provide some grammar work here on our site. However, you will notice that all of our grammar work at the Aaron Teaches site happens within a context. If you study grammar, you need to study grammar that takes an approach based on ideas and meaning.
Your grammar will improve through ideas and meaning. If you listen and read enough, you will internalize correct grammar. Your grammar will get better. This is the best way to improve your grammar. Read and listen.
Try not to.
Yes, we repeat, try not to.
Grammar is everywhere. When we read, we use grammar. When we speak, we use grammar. When we write, we use grammar. When we listen, we use grammar.
Without grammar, you could not understand or communicate.
Grammar does not exist by itself. Grammar is used to understand and communicate meaning. That is, we use grammar when there is context.
Definition of context: Context is ideas and meaning and thoughts and feelings and commands and suggestions and orders and greetings. Context is what happens before and after we say or do something. Context is the circumstances that create the setting that we are using. Context is communication. Without context, we lose much of what is happening.
Most Japanese have studied grammar for years and years and years. However, the many years of grammar study do not help much in using English. This is because studying grammar does not usually include context. Grammar study alone is a purely academic study, not especially helpful to successful English communications.
Think of driving a car. You would not need to understand how a battery works. You do not need to inspect the belts and hoses because you probably will not be replacing them yourself. A mechanic would do such work for you. You just need to have an owner's manual, so you will know when to take your car to a mechanic. Plus, you would not take a course in combustion mechanics to understand the engine so that you could drive. You just need to know how to be a safe, responsible driver.
Let's get back to grammar. Like driving your car, you just need to know how to use English. You need to know where the dictionary is just like you need to know where your car manual is. You need to know where to go for help just like you need to know where to find a mechanic to work on your car when something is wrong. You need to be able to use your English just like you need to know how to drive your car.
Nonetheless, we do not recommend that you completely stop studying grammar. Indeed, we even provide some grammar work here on our site. However, you will notice that all of our grammar work at the Aaron Teaches site happens within a context. If you study grammar, you need to study grammar that takes an approach based on ideas and meaning.
Your grammar will improve through ideas and meaning. If you listen and read enough, you will internalize correct grammar. Your grammar will get better. This is the best way to improve your grammar. Read and listen.
2015年1月16日金曜日
英文ライティング
英文ライティング力を高めるには、文章を書くことと英語で文章を書くことの二つが必要です。書く分量を増やすには、毎日リストを作るとよいでしょう。リス
トを作る習慣ができれば、必然的にリストに加える項目も増えていきます。たとえば、一日に行うライティングのリストを作ってみれば、自分のライティング量
を知ることができます。この量を増やしていきましょう。二番目に、英語で書く文章の量を増やします。今度は英語でリストを作ります。英語でリストを作れ
ば、英語で物事を整理して考える訓練ができるとともに、英語の力を伸ばすこともできます。毎日いろいろなリストを作る習慣をつけてみませんか？
To improve your English writing, you need to write, and you need to write in English. If you take a minute to think about all the different kinds of writing you do in a typical week, you may realize that much of the writing you do has nothing to do with sentences or punctuation or paragraphs.
Suppose you start by making a list of all the different kinds of writing that you did today.
Here is the first part of my list:
1. a short piece on getting started
2. a list of questions to ask the technician at the Apple store
3. an errand list
4. a list of books to get at the library
5. an email to a friend about where to meet
6. an email to a friend about going to a concert
7. an email to a chorus asking if they are looking for new members
Maybe your list is shorter than mine. The length of your list is not important. If you get into the habit of making lists every day, the number of items in your list will get longer. The purpose of making your writing list was to get you to realize how much writing you now do and to help you to increase the amount of writing you do in the future.
The next step in getting organized is to see how many of the lists you could do in English. For me, making lists is a brief daily task. Sometimes, I make a list at night for the next day. Other times, I make a list early in the morning to get my day organized. Plus, a list helps to prioritize my goals and to make sure I remember everything.
Suppose I made my list of things to do today in English. Here's my list:
1. Buy a pair of black pants with pockets
2. Return my books to the library and get two new ones
3. Pick up my package at the post office and buy some international stamps
4. Make a dentist appointment
5. Finish editing the piece on the TH sound
6. Practice my song for tonight's chorus
7. Buy a Hawaiian music CD to find a new song to work on
8. Call the software technician to ask about iChat
Making lists is part of getting organized, and making lists has additional benefits. Making a list to help you get organized in English will help your English.
To improve your English writing, you need to write, and you need to write in English. If you take a minute to think about all the different kinds of writing you do in a typical week, you may realize that much of the writing you do has nothing to do with sentences or punctuation or paragraphs.
Suppose you start by making a list of all the different kinds of writing that you did today.
Here is the first part of my list:
1. a short piece on getting started
2. a list of questions to ask the technician at the Apple store
3. an errand list
4. a list of books to get at the library
5. an email to a friend about where to meet
6. an email to a friend about going to a concert
7. an email to a chorus asking if they are looking for new members
Maybe your list is shorter than mine. The length of your list is not important. If you get into the habit of making lists every day, the number of items in your list will get longer. The purpose of making your writing list was to get you to realize how much writing you now do and to help you to increase the amount of writing you do in the future.
The next step in getting organized is to see how many of the lists you could do in English. For me, making lists is a brief daily task. Sometimes, I make a list at night for the next day. Other times, I make a list early in the morning to get my day organized. Plus, a list helps to prioritize my goals and to make sure I remember everything.
Suppose I made my list of things to do today in English. Here's my list:
1. Buy a pair of black pants with pockets
2. Return my books to the library and get two new ones
3. Pick up my package at the post office and buy some international stamps
4. Make a dentist appointment
5. Finish editing the piece on the TH sound
6. Practice my song for tonight's chorus
7. Buy a Hawaiian music CD to find a new song to work on
8. Call the software technician to ask about iChat
Making lists is part of getting organized, and making lists has additional benefits. Making a list to help you get organized in English will help your English.
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