Zoom英会話クラス(火)
Lesson Notes April 8, 2025 (TUESDAY ZOOM)
Words & Phrases
My granddaughter lost her first tooth.
Her first tooth fell out.
After my tooth fell out, I tried not to bite or chew on my right side.
I’ve never had a toothache in my entire life.
You must go to the dentist often for check-ups.
I went to Ueno yesterday to see cherry blossoms.
Maybe the museums are closed on Mondays. (NOT are closing)
“The museums are closing soon, so we need to hurry if we want to see the last exhibit.”
I saw people feeding the homeless. There was a long line.
We saw volunteers handing out (food / meals) to the homeless.
It was so nice seeing the cherry blossoms from the pedestrian bridge.
Flea market (noun); A market, usually held outdoors, where various vendors sell secondhand or inexpensive items, often antiques, clothing, or collectibles.
I found some vintage records at the flea market.
We spent the afternoon browsing the flea market for unique antiques.
The flea market is open every weekend in the park.
I am thinking of having my mother’s kimono altered to be a coat.
“Tanzaku are small paper strips where people write wishes or poems, and they hang them on trees during cherry blossom season.”
Have you memorized all the prefectures in Japan?
Can you name all the Japanese prefectures?
Civics (noun); The study of the rights and duties of citizens and the functioning of government and society.
We are studying civics in school to understand our rights and responsibilities as citizens.
The civics teacher explained how the government works and the importance of voting.
Civics lessons help students learn about laws, government, and how to be active in their communities.
Grammar
“Are closed” (passive) talks about a regular state (museums are always closed on Mondays).
“Are closing” (continuous) talks about an action happening or happening regularly, but it’s more about the process of closing.
Appropriate Language
Both “second-hand” and “used” are used for goods that have been previously owned and are being sold again.
Second-hand
“I found a second-hand jacket at the thrift store.”
“She bought a second-hand car that was in great condition.”
“The bookshop sells second-hand books at discounted prices.”
Used
“I got a used laptop from an online marketplace.”
“He sold me a used guitar, but it still works well.”
“They bought a used washing machine because it was cheaper than a new one.”
Alter means to change something, usually to improve it or make it fit better. For example, you can alter a dress to make it fit better or change the length of pants.
“I am thinking of altering my jeans because they are too long.”
“She altered the dress to make it fit perfectly.”
“They altered the plan to make it easier for everyone.”
Reform means to make changes to improve something, usually in a system or process. It’s not used for personal items like clothes.
“The government is working to reform the education system.”
“They want to reform the law to make it better.”
“The company is trying to reform its work policies.”
It’s perfectly fine for a Japanese student to use a Japanese word for certain things like
Food – Many Japanese food names are commonly used in English, like sushi, ramen, tempura, and teriyaki. If everyone understands these, there’s no need to translate.
Cultural terms – Words like kimono, samurai, or kawaii are part of global culture and often don’t need translation when the context is understood.
Traditional arts – Terms like karaoke, ikebana (flower arranging), bonsai, and origami (paper folding) are widely recognized in many countries and don’t need to be explained.
Note: Use a simple explanation if you’re talking to someone who might not know the word. If they’re familiar with the word, you can just use the Japanese term. This way, everyone can understand what you’re talking about!
