Monday, June 30, 2008

● SaKuRanbo ●

Today, I will talk about "Sakuranbo", that is cherries.

My uncle, who is the younger brother of my father, had sent us cherries. He sand us various things, for example, mangos, "zouni", fishes, fresh prawns. This year was cherries. They are so lovely with read skin and packed in a box in order. Besides, they were ripen fully and looked so delicious. I liked them and ate a lot. They are really on season!

They smell so sweet, and they are different from American cherries, which are big and a little chewy. I like American cherries too. How about you? Which do you like Japanese sakuranbo or American cherries?


[109 words ― total 12181 words]

Sunday, June 29, 2008

What I think about Blogging

We have our own blog on the Internet, and we use it for the writing class. We post our essays, reviews, diaries almost every day. We need to do it 5 times a week, except for a book review. I have made efforts on it, and now I would like to refer to what about think about blogging.

I think it is helpful for us in order to keep writing regularly, but it is tough, because we are usually pushed for time. I am busy, so it is not easy to switched the computer on and think about what to write every day. However, I think everyone else is also busy, so I will do my best for blogging this year.

[121 words ― total 12072 words]

Friday, June 27, 2008

Vocabulary → Communication

In the Chinese lesson on this Wednesday, my teacher suggested me that I should memorise more various words of Chinese nouns. She said the vocabulary also influences greatly on the communication skills, and I think the vocabulary is very important in any other languages too.

She will give me new words every week, and I must try to memorise them as homework. The plan has started, and there are words about foods and drinks this week. For example, hot dogs, hamburgers, spaghetti, sandwiches, pizzas, salads, cakes, ice creams, coffee, tea, cola, beer, juice. This homework might get harder next week, but I will try!

[104 words ― total 11951 words]

Portfolio: THE CORPUS of SPRING SEMESTER!


Student ID: 07104
(last five digits of
your student no.)

Portfolio for Writing III,
Section 1a [or] 1c

(See: Note 1, below)
Until July 13th


0.0. Overview

Reviews, Posts, Words, and More


[embed your proto-portfolios here]

(See: Note 2, below.)

1.0. Essays

(See: Note 3, below[.])

1.1. Showcase
Short
titles
[+ links]
Dates
(yyyy.mm.dd)

W
C
L
P
M
Self-introduction
08.04.20
(250 words)

Writing 3 practice

2008.04.09
2
356
2
0
0
0
Movie review
08.05.04
(300 words)

MR1-1: How to built a good friendship

2008.05.03
4
718
0
0
3
0
University life
08.05.18
(350 words)

Essay: University Life

2008.05.17
6
546
10
0
0
0
Another review
08.06.01
(400 words)

Review 1-04 (Travel): Visit the land of Parisienne!

2008.06.01
5
450
5
0
4
0
Language learning history
08.06.15
(450 words)

Essay: To know others & To know myself !

2008.06.14
5
588
1
0
0
0
5th essay
(pending)
TBA


























Totals---
---
22265818070

Key:
¶: number of paragraphs five (5) or more sentences in length
W: number of words
C: number of comments
L: number of links
P: number of photos or other graphics
M: number of other media embedded

1.2. Best Essay

Selection and Assessment: Which of those essays do you feel is the best that you've written this semester, and why? Please remember that a complete answer is better than a short answer, and give at least two reasons to support your assessment.
  • I think my best essay is "Essay: University Life", because it includes my goals for my four years! No aims, no life. It is the same in university life, isn't it? I will not lose the reasons why I came here. Besides, this essay shows the points most definitely. It is also an encouragement for me!

2.0. Comments

Showcase
Titles of posts with links
Dates of comments (yyyy.mm.dd)
Numbers of words in comments
Qualities of comments**
2.1. Your first comment on your instructor's blog*

Best Reviews 1.1 (2008): Best [Post] Title (probably)

2008.06.04 26 words Easy to understand
2.2. Your best comment on a classmate's blog*
Currrrrrry and rice:9
2008.07.08
49 words
Cheerful and friendly
2.3. Best comment by a classmate on your blog*
SUMMER☆
2008.07.08
52 words
Friendly

2.4. Most comments on:

Essay: University Life 2008.05.21 294 words

Original and friendly

2.4.1. Any one of your essays*
Essay: University Life 2008.05.21294 wordsOriginal and friendly
2.4.1.1. When did you respond to those comments?
---
2008.05.21
---
---
2.4.1.2. How did you respond to those comments? --- --- 162 words

Quickly and in detail

2.4.2. Any of your other posts*

中文上課!

2008.05.28
37 words
Lively
2.4.2.1. When did you respond to those comments?
---
2008.05.30
---
---
2.4.2.2. How did you respond to those comments?---
---
15 words
Friendly





----------
* Current semester comments on essays and other posts
** Please list the most important qualities of comments on each type of blog post. That is, explain what makes them good comments.

2.5. Recent comments display

Does your blog display recent comments from blog visitors in a prominent location, for example in a sidebar, header, or footer widget? Where or why not?
  • My blog displays recent comments at the top of the sidebar. It is because that recent comments are renewed most frequently. If they are on the top, it is easier to look at them.

2.6. Additional reflections on comments

  • If my classmate put a comment on my blog, it becomes an encouragement for me. I think comments are good.


3.0. Book Reviews

3.1. ShowcaseShort titles
with links
Dates (yyyy.mm.dd)WordsComments
Example:
Vampire Killer
2007.05.16
39
1
1-01

BK1-01: Newspaper boy

2008.04.05
104
0
1-02

BK1-02: Pocket Money

2008.04.22
168
0
1-03

BK1-03: The Broken Roof

2008.04.23
163
0
1-04

BK1-04: Don't Be Silly

2008.04.28
122
0
1-05

BK1-05: Dog in School

2008.05.04
175
0
1-06

BR1-06: Victorian Adventure

2008.05.14
114
0
1-07

BR1-07: The Outing!

2008.05.17
108
0
1-08

BR1-08: The New Baby

2008.06.06
113
0
1-09

BR1-09: The New House

2008.06.06
126
0
1-10

BK1-10: The Storm

2008.06.06
140
0
1-11

BR1-11: From Curry to Rice

2008.06.15
174
0
1-12

BR1-12: The Lost Key

2008.06.20
172
0

BR1-13: Save Floppy!

2008.06.26
130
0



































---
---
TOTALS:
1809
0
Note: Please calculate book review words and comments totals without the example (above).

3.2. Best Book Review

Selection and Assessment: Which of those book reviews do you feel is the best that you've written this semester, and why? Please remember that a complete answer is better than a short answer, and give at least two reasons to support your assessment.
  • I think my best book review is BR1-09: The New House. It is because I wrote about my own experience and my hope, not about the book.

4.0. Blog Layout, Labeling, Linking, & Media


Showcase
Yes
No
4.1. Does your blog have an archive?

4.1.1. Does the archive display the titles of posts?
4.1.2. Is the archive organized by month?
4.1.3. Is the archive at or near the top of the sidebar?

4.2. Does your blog have labels displayed in sidebar?
5.2.1. Do your labels include these required labels (typed accurately):---
---
  • "books" (plural) AND "reviews" (plural)

  • "essays" (plural) AND "portfolios" (plural, without "proto-")

  • "quickposts" (plural, with no space between quick and posts)

  • "links" (plural) AND "media" (plural)
  • "movies" (plural) AND "photos" (plural)

4.2.2. Does your sidebar display other labels?
  • How many other labels have you attached to three (3) or more posts?
    • _25_ other labels attached to three or more posts
---
---

---
---
4.3. Links & media---
---
4.3.1. Does your blog include pictures or other graphics?
  • Does your blog profile include a picture or graphic representation?

  • How many of your blog posts this semester include pictures or other graphics?
    • _18_ posts including pictures or other graphics
---
---
4.3.2. Does your blog include posts with multiple links?

  • How many of your posts this semester include three (3) or more links?*
    • _0_ posts including three or more links (including this portfolio!)
---
---
4.3.3. Does your blog include other media?
  • How many of your blog posts this semester include other media?
    • _2_ posts including other media
---
---
  • What kind(-s) of media have you included in posts this semester? Please list them here:
    1. ... YouTube
    2. ... Slideshow
    3. ...

---

---

4.4. Overall presentation

What have you done to enhance the overall presentation of your blog? List and explain the three most important content, formatting, layout, or other presentation changes or enhancements that you have made on your blog this semester.
  1. ... Layout of the template: I changed it at the tuen of seasons and fitted it to each season.
  2. ... To be regular: I tried to post on my blog almost everyday.
  3. ... Informative content: I included my own opinions. For example, I wrote about my own experience and hopes in book reviews, not only the story plots.

5.0. Additional reflections on your blog writing

  • ... To write diaries every day was so hard for me. It is because I am busy and not used to writing every day. However, I think it was helpful for my English now. To think about the design of my blog is pleasant, but it is on the Internet. That point bothers us, because we need to protect the private information carefully.

6.0. Suggestions for your peers and successors

  • ... I think what is important is to try to post diaries and book reviews early in a semester. Short posts are also okay, if we keep trying to write on our blogs.

____________________
Notes:
  1. This portfolio template derives from the templates for Writing IIIc and Writing IVc portfolios (2007-08).
  2. Please use the same code in section 0.0 that you used to embed your proto-portfolios in the footer of your blog.
  3. The essays section (1.0. Essays, above) derives from Proto-Portfolio 2-02 (2008)

Thursday, June 26, 2008

BR1-13: Save Floppy!

I would like to introduce the book, "Save Floppy!" of Oxford Reading Tree. I chose it, because Floppy with the uneasy face on the book cover looks so cute.

Floppy is a dog, which Biff has, I think. I have a dog too, and I love dogs. I felt Biff was brave enough to save Floppy. Besides, she has the devotion to save him even there are some dangers. Good. I think I will do so too. This spirit is very important thing for all people, isn't it?

However, I do not think Floppy is clever dog, because dogs loves their master and try to get back to them. I hope that my dog tries so, but what is the best is that my dog is always with me.


[130 words ― total 11847 words]

Wednesday, June 25, 2008

Other's excellent blog!

Today, we looked at blogs of other classes. I also looked out other's blog, and find excellent blogs!

I chose the blog, whose name is "Sunlight", and her handle name is "SAKI". The "Sunlight" blog is very colorful and easy to realize what the points are. She does not use difficult words so much, so I could read without a dictionary. It is easy to read!

However, the first reason why I chose her blog is that she handle various topics on her post, not only about movies, books, diaries. One of her unique posts is here. I got interested in her "Sunlight"!  

Foot Bath - introduce a product

[104 words ― total 11717 words]

Monday, June 23, 2008

Experience Review: Japanese Teaching!

I had an experience to teach Japanese in a class. Of course, it was the first time for me. It had spend so many hours to prepare for the thirty minutes. I used cards with pictures or words, which are verbs in Japanese. Besides, I have to paste thin magnets on the back of each cards, so that I could put them on the blackboard. I also prepare the handouts for a reviews.

At first, I have to get students to review the conjugations of verbs, and I was to teach "―ています", which is the present progress form in Japanese. I think it is not easy even for Japanese people to conjugate verbs. In order to introduce the expression, I wrote letters and cut a paper.

I had practiced the thirty- minute class and made sure how to put cards on the blackboard and show them to students. One of my friends has accompanied and helped me. Thanks to the practice, I could manage to do the thirty-minute teaching.

Our teacher gave me some advice, and I felt that it became a good experience to me. I am not sure whether I will be a Japanese teacher, but I hope it will benefit me, when it is needed.

[208 words ― total 11613 words]

Sunday, June 22, 2008

〇 Homemade Sweets 〇



Today, I went swimming again and swam 1 kilometers. There were many kids and the parents. It must be because it had been raining today.



After I came home, my mother was making dinner. She and I made a sweets together. It is a combination of tapioca and two kinds of "shiratama-dango", which is one of Japanese sweet. One of the two kinds is plane, and the other is green. Besides, we add Japanese "anko" and fresh cream. It is a compromise between Japanese and Western tastes. It tasted so nice!


I think every handmade food is the most delicious! I do not live alone and live with my parents, so my mother usually makes meals. I respect my friends who live alone. I think I should learn to cooking, especially to make meals! I want to challenge to make bagels next, but of course, I will try making meals.


[151 words ― total 11405 words]

Saturday, June 21, 2008

Cell Phones

I had the first cell phone when I graduated from the junior high school. At first, I was exciting and got interested in using it, so I spent much time with it. I was used by the cell phone!

The cell phone that I have now is the second one. I chose it, because it has international functions. When I stay in other countries, I can call or send an e-mail to someone in Japan. Actually, I visit and stay in Taiwan after I had it, and I could send an e-mail to my mother in Japan. I was excited and felt that other countries are near to Japan. I think that internationalization is great.

Cell phones are very convenient, but I think it is not natural that a person always or too often looks at the cell phone. I should not to depend on my cell phone. I want to use it only as a convenient means.

[160 words ― total 11254 words]

Friday, June 20, 2008

BR1-12: The Lost Key

There are various kinds of books in the library in our campus, but I especially like the series of Oxford Reading Tree. It is because the pictures are cute, and the stories are easy to read. Thanks to these points, I can keep reading them. Besides, they make me happy or cheerful. I do not want to read a leak story or sad one now.

By the way, this time I chose "The Lost Key" of Oxford Reading Tree. I got interested in it about the whereabouts of the lost key.

One day, Kipper lost a key, but I think he is honest and has sense of responsibility. It is because he told Biff and Chip that he had lost it and cried "It's all my fault". His brother and sister looked for it with him. They are good siblings, aren't they? I do not have any sibling, so I envy him.

I think many students read Oxford Reading Tree's books. If you not, I recommend you this series.

[172 words ― total 11094 words]

Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Newspaper Review: Too much leak news...

I will take a test about affairs of Japan and around the world in next reading class again. I have to read the newspapers for a week.

I have got used to reading them for seven days, but actually, I do not want to read them. It is because that most of news are net good, although there are some good news on the newspaper. There are... too many cases of murder, especially indiscriminate or domestic murder cases. So horrible and disgusting. To make matters worse, those are very cruel as people can not think of. The motives of those wrongdoers does not make sense at all.

I think all people in the world need a sure hope now.



[119 words ― total 10922 words]

Tuesday, June 17, 2008

Practice Japanese Teaching!

Next Friday, my turn has come around, and I am to try a practice lesson for thirty minutes.

I must be a transient teacher of Japanese! Yes, it is never easy. At first, I could not even imagine what my lesson will be like at all, so it was like a puzzle to me how to form my teaching plan. I spend so much time to prepare one lesson. I realized that how difficult it is (to teach and show new things to others clearly).

I am to teach "~ています", which is the present progress forms in English. To teach is so difficult, and I would not realise it without this experience. I am planning to use word cards and picture cards, and my teaching plan includes games and the practices of conjugations of verbs. I think I will get nervous at the time, but I am intend to practice and do my best.

I will report you about it. See you then!

[162 words ― total 10803 words]

Monday, June 16, 2008

Computers: Speed or Risk

Computers can process the huge amount of data, and we can listen to music or see pictures. Besides, we can use the Internet with it and get a large amount of information, and computers hold it. When we do businesslike tasks, write reports and send e-mails, computers are especially useful for us. I think typed reports give others a preferable impression, and typing is much faster than handwriting.

However, there are also weak points. The display of a computer makes our eyes tired. I wear contact lenses, so I am liable to feel "dry eyes". When there is something wrong or a computer virus with a computer, it will not work properly. We will feel so annoyed. When we use the Internet, there are a lot of dangers of leaks of private information and bad sites. Using computers is very convenient for us, but we must think of the various risks.

[152 words ― total 10641 words]

Sunday, June 15, 2008

BR1-11: From Curry to Rice

I read this weekend a book named "From Curry toRice~A Food Dictionary". It is too easy to read, I think. Of course, it is a story about various foods. It shows foods that start with the letters from C to R.

Let me give you some examples. The letter D is Doughnut. I sometimes make round doughnuts by myself, and I think the fresh ones are so good! E is Eggplant, and I love it. Eggplants are especially good as Tempura. F is Fig. It is called "ichi-zhiku" in Japanese, and I did not know how to say it in English. I will never this words! O gives olives. A tree of olives is in my garden, it is beautiful tree. As the last one, R is Rice. I think Japanese rice is the best and the most delicious in the world. When I come back to Japane after a travel, I especially feel so.

The valious foods also enrich our lives, don't you think so? You must agree with me!

[174 words ― total 10489 words]

Saturday, June 14, 2008

mew mew...

Mew mew... I could not believe my ears. I heard a cat mewing just behind my house.

It was a kitten, which was white and so small. Its tail was short and round. So cute! It hided under a box. I wanted it to come out, but it seemed to be afraid and did not move. I did not touch it, but I thought that its voice was so cute, and its appearance is also sweet.

It often mewed after that too, and I think that it is still just behind my house.

[93 words total 10315 words]

Essay: To know others & To know myself !

First of all, learning languages is very interesting! I know everyone think so too, don’t you? Of course, it never easy for me, but “No effort, no pleasure!” I often have to say it to myself! Anyway, our topic for this time is the language learning. I think the encounters, aims, incentives are especially important.

When, where and how I encounter a language is important, I feel. Now, I would like to talk about my first one. I began to learn the first foreign language when I was a junior high school student. Of course, it was English. Although native speakers sometimes came to my junior school, I was not interested in English. In the junior high school, I probably liked English, but I could not understand the grammar, especially be-verbs. For example, “I am swim.” is a sentence that I made in those days. That’s why I think the encounter of English and I was not so good. However, I had traveled abroad, so I thought English is a very important language, and I hoped that I will communicate people who live in countries where I will visit. In other words, I had an aim to learn it. Fortunately, I could understand English grammar at last in a high school class, and I got impressed and began to study harder. And! I am here. I am planning to stay other country for a month in summer in stead of studying abroad, so it becomes an incentive for me. I think it is also important to take tests, like TOEFL and TOEIC. The score is helpful to see whether we improve or lose our skill concretely.

Now, I am enjoying learning other languages. One of them is Chinese. I think that Chinese is the most close to me in my present circumstances. My friends also study Chinese. One of them has lived for five years in Taiwan, and she introduced me to Taiwanese friends and a Chinese teacher who lives here in Kumamoto. This is the encounter with Chinese. I have friends in Taiwan and sometimes write letters in Japanese and English and Chinese. Although some of them are good at speaking Japanese, my aim is to communicate with them in their mother tongue. I take a private lesson of Chinese every week, and it is very beneficial for me. These two points are incentives.

Besides, what I realized is the importance of learning Japanese. When we learn foreign languages, it gets us to see our own language in a different and objective view. Now I a little understand differences between Japanese and other languages and think of differences of thinking from them. It is also an interesting point. My Taiwanese friends are very eager in studying Japanese. It became an encounter for me to teach Japanese. This year, I take a course to learn how to teach Japanese to foreigners with my friend. I knew how difficult it is. However, I want to improve my teaching and teach my foreign friends. It is my aim, I think. Besides, I hope that this experience serve to live in other countries someday. This is an incentive for it.

As a conclusion, the encounters, aims and incentives are important to me. I am really glad that I could come to this foreign language department. Here are my friends trying to study languages together. I am encouraged by them and other friends to keep trying. I would like to continue learning in this university and after my graduation.

[588 words ― total 10222 words!]

Thursday, June 12, 2008

MR= Bowling for columbine =

Today, I would like to talk about movie which I had to see for a class. The teacher requires us to see movies and write reviews about each one.

The first of them was "Bowling for Columbine". It is a documentary film by Michael Moore about American society where guns flood out.

In the United States, the number of victims in cases with guns reaches 11127. In Canada, which is next to USA, there also many guns, but the number is 165, which is much less than that of USA. Besides, there are other differences. Canadian people do not lock their doors. Michael Moore can not believe it, because he is from USA. Although there is a lot of factors thought of, he especially analyses that mass medias make American people fear others. Their reports and news exaggerate when black people commit a crime or gun affairs happen. As a result, American people get afraid of the black and others and fear living in American society, which has a lot of immigrants.

I did not know that pins of bowling are used in a training of American armies, and the reason is that the shape is similar to that of humans. It is very terrible, isn't it? The criminals of the case at Columbine high school are said to have played bowling just before they acted. However, I do not think that bowling is a factor of the crime. It is a popular sport in the world, and most of people do not think a pin is a person. I shudder to think many cases of guns happen. I felt the seriousness of this problem.

[276 words ― total 9634 words]

Wednesday, June 11, 2008

Test Review: TOEIC challenge!

For studies of languages, it is very important to know how my skill improve or drop. I think that taking a test is a good way in that I know it. I took the TOEIC test again. This time was the second time for me, and it was on last Saturday.

When I had taken it last time, I could not follow the speed of speaking in the listening section. I could not also finish the all of the papers in a limited time. I remember that I just marked A, B or C on my answer sheet with just my hunch. There was no time for thinking. I got very nervous in the last ten minutes, because I was in a terrible hurry!

After the first experience, I took a course during the spring vacation, and studied for TOEIC. The teacher got us to try a practice examination in the last class. My skill had improved, and the score was higher than my first try on the TOEIC test by 90 score! I wanted to take a real TOEIC soon, but TOEIC was not planned.

And!!! At last, I have challenged TOEIC on last Saturday! I am a little worried about it, because Some months have already passed since I studied hard in the spring vacation.

Fortunately, however, it was a good challenging, I think. During the test, I could keep concentrating my attention on it. Thanks to the concentration, I could follow the speaking speed in the listening section, and read questions for next conversation on ahead in each time. In the reading section, I am a little in a hurry in the middle of the time, but I could make it! I had a few minutes to check the miss of marking.

Of course, I do not know what my score will be like this time, but I am satisfied that I could make it in time. I will know the result of it two weeks ago. Now I am looking forward to seeing it.

[338 words ― total 9358 words]

Rainy season ☂

I am sorry that I have not post so much on CHK Diary. From today, I intend to start making an effort to do so again! There are so many stories are piling up, which I wanted to share with you. So please listen and look!

Now, it is a rainy season. In Japan, a rainy season comes in this time every year. Japanese people call it "Tsu-yu", and it also has another name "bai-u". The word, "bai" means Japanese apricots or plums. "Tsu-yu" is a rain which pours in the season of plums.

I think that Japanese naming for a rains are really aesthetic. There are so many naming for rains, like "sami-dare", "shi-gure", "aki-same", "namida-ame", "hi-same", and so on. These names come from each seasons and conditions which the rains pour. Japanese heart is really preferable, don't you think so?

[151 words ― total 9020 words]

Monday, June 9, 2008

~LAPUTA: The Castle in the Sky~

I like the movie, "LAPUTA: The Castle in the Sky" since my early childhood. I like it now too, and so my parents do. I bet that you have seen it too. As the important feature of it, I think that there are many great lines or speeches, and this point makes it interesting.

I like the heroes. Sheeta is a so brave and thoughtful girl. At last, she saves the world from a plot of a bad man, Musca. Besides, as to another hero, Pazu is a very obedient boy, and he always makes a studious effort when he faces to every difficulty. I think that these two characters are a good assorted pair. Its story is so touching and moving. I do not lose interest in it. I intend to see it again!

[135 words ― total 8869 words]

Friday, June 6, 2008

BK1-10: The Storm

The last book of this time is "The Storm". The children had made a tree house on a tree. It was so nice house, and they had a party in it. They drunk orange juice and had big sandwiches. There were snacks and some fruits, and they looked so happy. What a nice party!

However, a storm came, and the tree house was broken. It was very gusty day, so people said "What a storm!", "What a wind!", "What a mess!". Do you imagine how terrible it was? Howewver, the children went to school on such a terrible day!

The typhoons often come to and sweep the area that I live in, but students do not go to school whild a typhoon blows this area. It is expected that more typhoons will come this year too, so be careful, everyone!

[140 words ― total 8734 words]

BR1-09: The New House

I read "The New House", too. A move is a very tough job, isn't it? The family of Biff, Chip and Kipper have moved to a new house. However, the move was so hard that everyone said "What a job!".

I have moved three times, and I remember that those jobs were hard. Of course, it is hard to pack many things in boxes before a move, but it is so hard to unpack those boxes and clear up all things in a new house after the move.

I think it is also good thing to live in the town where we am used to live and in our beloved old house. Of course, I am looking forward to going somewhere in the near future.

[126 words ― total 8594 words]

BR1-08: The New Baby

I would like to introduce the book, "The New Baby" today.

Jo was expecting a baby, and the good news was told many people. Everyone said, "What a good news!". They thought about presents for Joe and her new baby, and the presents were the old buggy, old cot, old toy rabbit, which they had used before. Those things were a bit scruffy, but they did it up. At last Jo had a baby. This baby was a girl, but it made no difference to her, I think.

I have no younger brother or sister, but I can imagine the happiness when a new baby is born. It must be a wonderful moment.

[113 words ― total 8468 words]

Wednesday, June 4, 2008

Class review: Learining from other's essays!

Today, I had a writing class in the morning. We had written an essay and post it on each blog by last Sunday, and we read the essays of other students each other today. We nominated other's essays for "Best Title", "Most Easiest to Read", "Most informative and Opinionated", "Most Interesting or Unusual" and "Most visually Appealing" in the class.

I learned many things from the essays of other students, because the topics which each student chose are so various. Besides, the way of writing and the structures are quite different.

I feel the truth of the saying that "So many men, so many minds". The number of people there is as same as the number of points which each one thinks is interesting. That is also interesting, isn't it?


[132 words ― total 8355 words]

Sunday, June 1, 2008

Review 1-04 (Travel): Visit the land of Parisienne!










In this time, I would like to share the story of my travel with you. The most recent travel was to France in 2007. I think that I could understand a little why Japanese people long for Paris. Let me introduce three main points of this travel. The first of them is architectures, the second is scenery of streets, and the last is foods.

Needless to say, European countries have many heritages and they venerate those old architectures. There are also a lot of heritages in France. For example, France is very famous for Versailles Palace, Eiffel Tower, and the triumphal arch. There are also various are museums and galleries, and I visited three of them, Louvre Museum, Musée d'Orsay and Musee de l'Orangerie. I could see Venus de Miro, Victoire de Samothrace and Leonard de Vinci's Monna Lisa in Louvre. These are so famous arts, but I had not thought I could really see them! There are arts of Claude Monet, Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne and Pablo Picasso in Orangerie. Arts of these artists can be seen in calendars. However, the architectures of museums are very impressive! Musée d'Orsay was an old station, and Louvre and Orangerie were Palaces before. I felt the dignity, which is not in recent cities in Japan. The most impressive architecture for me was Opéra national de Paris! It was really magnificent, and I got excited! There was its own mood, which is only there.

The second point is the scenery of streets, and I think this point fascinates Japanese. I found a florist’s on a street. I can not find a good expression, but it is stylish, isn't it? Even ceilings of the department stores are artistic! I think many Japanese people have a good image to Paris, which is stylish, fashionable, sophisticated, and so on, so these scenery of streets must please them and fit the image of Paris and France.

The last point is about foods. The meals of expensive restaurants may be delicious, but budget foods of small shops are very nice. I bought breads and sandwiches at the bakery named “PAUL” at the corner of the street many times. Besides, I would like to introduce macarrons as the specialty of France. They are very cute sweets, so your friends must be delighted with the souvenirs.

I really love to travel, and enjoyed this travel to France too. It was because I could visit the old architectures and streets. I think that to taste local foods is also the enjoyment of traveling. I hope that I will go abroad again someday! Please share the story of your travel with me!


[450 words ― total 8223 words]