Merry Christmas!

Today is Christmas so I ate a Christmas cake, sweets and chickens!! But I worked both today and yesterday.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!! I wish you the very best for the coming year!!

[35 words]

BR 2-18: Stories of Haunted Houses

I will review about “Stories of Haunted Houses”. It was an English book and fiction story. When I chose the story, it seemed that the story was a horror and terrible. But to tell the truth, it was not so dreadful and funny for me after I read it. That why was the ghost was kind and cowardice. So I had a sense of closeness to the character. However I really not want to live a haunted house.

My most impressive passage was a revenge scene of chapter one. The page was sixteen. There was a boy who name was Max. He always was teased by a twin. But he and a ghost revenged on them. The scene was pretty good. The twin reflected on their acts. And I thought Max could gain confidence and brave!!

[136 words]

Reference

(Punter Russell, STORIES OF HAUNTED HOUSES, 2005, P.16, Usborne Publishing)

BR 2-17: Cowboys

I read an English book which title was “Cowboys”. This story was a non-fiction. After I read the story, I learned many things about them, such as their costumes, hard works, sharp shooting. To take care of their cows was their main work. They usually rode horses. They had a lot of freedom, but always faced dangers.

There are many movies of cowboys. They are so cool. So it reminds me about “Toy story” which movie’s lending part was cow boy. This cowboy was toy, but he was active and great cowboy. I have ever watched the movies from series one to three. That was really good.

The most impressive passage for me was page 28 to 29, because they still exist now. And many things of cowboys changed. Today they use trucks, trailers! Some cowboys use helicopters!! I was surprised to know about it. I wish I could see the real cowboys.

[153 words]

Reference

( Clarke Catriona, COWBOYS, 2007, P.28, Usborne Publishing)

Essay 2-03a: My University Life

I will tell you about my university life. My university life is good. I think I live a full university life now. It makes me happy. And I want to spend good university life more.

I usually get up 7:00 a.m. and go to a college by bicycle and train. It takes about an hour. I am not good at rising early. So I am always careful not to oversleep. Next semester, I will not take the classes of first period when I make out my schedules of classes. Schedules of classes are convenience for students because we can chose the classes which we want to take.

I have twelve classes now. And I have two or three classes a day. My favorite classes are Korean and psychology. I am looking forward to taking the classes every week. I like a university better than a high school. The reason I had six or seven classes a day when I was a high school student. And I can learn specialized field like languages there. I really glad to learn many languages. I took Korean and German classes except English classes.

Kumamoto Gakuen University is beautiful and big because there are many institutions, such as a library, a student’s dining hall, a bakery, a book store. My favorite place is the library. It is a building with three floors plus two basement levels. When I have a time, I can use a computer, study something, read books and watching DVDs there. I use the library once three days. It is pretty good for me.

I have good friends and teachers now. It is the most important thing for me. They are so kind to me. I sometimes go out for dinner, hold a birthday party, go shopping and karaoke lounge after school with my friends. I traveled Korea with my two friends this year. I am going to travel Kyoto with them next year. On the other hands, I study with them before tests. They taught me the subjects. Thanks to them, I can enjoy spending my daily university life.

This year, my university life was full because I took some tests. First, I took examination in TOEIC last February. The score was not good so it made me sad. But, I am going to take it in this February too. This year I will really make an effort! Then I passed certificate examinations for English and secretary last summer. These grades were two. I was nervous when I took them. However I was glad to pass them. Next year, I will aim to pass an examination related to travel. It seem difficult to me. The exam will be held next September. I want to pass it so I am going to take the open lecture.

I am in my second year of the college now. I had good experiences after I became a college student. I still have two years before my graduation from university. I hope I will live a full university life more. I am looking forward to having good memory in the future.

[515 words]

Essay 2-02c: My Languages Learning Experiences

I will tell you about my languages learning experiences. Of course, my first language is Japanese. I learned German last year. I also learn English and Korean now. To study languages are good experience for me.

Japanese has three literatures hiragana, kanji and katakana. First of all, I started to study hiragana when we were elementary school student, and also we started to study katakana. It was easy to remember for me, but it is hard to write kanji even now, because there are many difficult them.

When I was the upper grades of elementary school, I started to study romaji. I was suffering to remember it. Then I started to study English alphabet. My piano teacher taught me both piano and English, because her sister got married with American. So my piano teacher could speak English.

When I was a junior high school student, I started to study English grammar. I couldn’t understand even simple sentences before I studied English, but I came to understand it little by little. I took private lessons in English and mathematics for about three years. Thanks to my cram school teacher, English became one of my favorite subjects.

When I was a high school student, I started to study classic. These days, we don’t use these languages in daily life. It was difficult for me so I didn’t like to study it. After I became a high school student, I could read English long sentences and I began to think about my course of study. I decided what to do after graduation. I wanted to work for a travel agency after graduation from a University. So I took the entrance examination foreign language department of KGU.

When I was a first-year university student, I studied German. I took the German classes twice a week. It was good for me. I was looking forward to studying it because I liked the teacher. The teacher was Mr. Yagi. If I have opportunity, I want to study it again. German is similar to English, so you may understand it easily. It would be good for you if you studied it!

I am studying both English and Korean now. These languages are my favorite languages. Before I started to study Korean, I couldn’t understand the Korean alphabet. Now, I sometimes don’t understand Korean alphabet, but I can read and write it. Moreover, I can do simple conversations. However it took time for me. This year, I went to both the U.S and Korea. While I was there, I noticed that I have to make efforts to study these languages more! I also realized the importance of to study my languages.

My best learning language experience was home stay in Minnesota. I stayed there about for a month. It was first time to go to the U.S so I was worried about my English skills before I got there. I couldn't speak well at that time so I have to study it more. I realized that the important thing was challenge myself to speak English even if I didn’t know what to say in English!!

MN was such a good place!! I learned many things there. And I could meet my host family, friends and teachers!! Today, I sometimes send E-mail to my host mother and brother. I’m going to send a Christmas card to my host family! I want to meet them again.

These were my precious languages learning experiences!! I was glad because I could gain knowledge. I want to study other languages too! And I want to find a way to make use of these languages in the future. So I have to study these languages hard more from now on.

[616 words]

Outline: University Life

Outline

University life

• My University life
  • good
    • nice friends
    • nice teachers
    • events
      • cultual festival
      • sports festival
  • comfortable
    • clean and big classrooms
    • students dinig hall
    • book store
    • bakery
    • convenience store
    • big library
      • magazhine, books
      • computers
• University life about 25 years from now
  • more comfortable
  • cheap school expenses
  • amazing facilities
• [67 words]

25 Years From Now

After 25 years from now, I think that people who go to University students will become comfortable and useful more. The reason is development of sciences and so on. It is difficult to imagine about future for me. My children may go to University in the future. And I want my children to experiences precious University life like me.

[59 words]

University Life

I will tell you about my University life. My University life is good and comfortable now. I have some reasons. First of all, I took some licensees this year. I am going to take another licensees next year! Next, my friends are so nice. I always am looking forward to chatting with my friends when I back home. Then, I can chose classes that I want to take. So I can learn my interest things.

[75 words]

A Christmas Card!

Last week, I sent a Christmas card to my host family. I bought the card in Franc Franc. I liked it at first sight. I chose pink color envelope, because my host mother’s favorite color is pink! My host family and I are busy now, so I don’t exchange E-mails with them recently. So I hope they like it and the card arrive before this Christmas day. I knew that Christmas is important and special events for Americans when I stayed there. At that time they showed me some pictures of the day. It seemed happy. And they had a special room. The room is used only Christmas day. I heard from them that they decorated Christmas tree and put many presents in the room. Next week is Christmas day. So I decided to send Christmas cards for them!! But I am going to work this Christmas.

[147 words]

Tests

I am going to take tests this Thursday and Friday. These classes are listening and speaking! So I have to study for the tests from now on. I want to take a good score.

[34 words]

BR 2-16: The Magic Gifts

I am going to review about an English book which title is “The magic gifts”. I read the story today. This story was fiction. There was a rich man who had three sons. He had big money. His sons shared the money when he died. The youngest child, Chin had tender heart. So he gave poor people all his money. However he became poor by the behavior. His elder brothers walked out on him when he was in a fix.

A few days later he met a mysterious monk. The monk was carrying heavy bundle. At that time, he was tired but he helped the monk. The monk gave a reward for his good behavior. The gifts were magic straw mat, wooden spoon and pair of chopsticks. Thanks to these tools, he became rich again and lived happily. The most impressive page was 32, because the magic straw changed big castle! After I read the story, I was thought about my daily behaviors. I want to try good behavior in my daily life.

[173 words]

Reference
(Punter, Russell, The magic gifts, 2009, P.32, Usborne Publishing)

Today

Today I have a part time job. But it is raining all day today. So I am going to walk to my workplace in the rain. I wish the rain stopped!!

[31 words]

BR 2-15: Jack and the Beanstalk

Today, I read an English book which title was “Jack and the Beanstalk”. There was a boy who name is Jack. He lived with his mother. They were very poor. So he made a deal with an old man. And he sold his cow. He gave five dried beans. These beans were not ordinary beans. He planted seeds in the garden. Next day the plants reached to sky!!! He climbed the plants and arrived to a big house in the sky. A giant married couple lived in the house. The giant woman was very kind but the giant man was cruel. So he stole the man’s magic hen and magic harp at the risk of his life. Thanks to these magic tools, he became a rich.

The most impressive passage for me was scene of escape from the giant man. I was worried his adventure. His adventure was exciting and interesting. I want to experience like his adventure. And I relieved that he came had backed his home safely.

(169 words)

Reference
(Daynes, Katie, Jack and the Beanstalk, 2006, P.44, Usborne Publishing)

My Favorite Movie Star

I will tell you about my favorite movie star. My favorite movie star is Johnny Depp. I’m fan of him. I think that he is an actor known to the world. He is really cool and good actor. He appeared many good movies for example, “A Nightmare on Elm Street”, “Pirates of the Caribbean”, “Sweeney Todd”, “Alice in Wonderland”, “Public Enemies” and “The Imagination of Doctor Parnassus”. My most favorite his movie is Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. This movie was really beautiful and was loved by various generations. I am looking forward to watching his next movie. The title is “The Tourist”. This movie will be show next summer. The casts are great because the lending actress of the movie is Angelina Jolie!!

[124 words]

My Favorite Desserts

I will tell you about my favorite desserts. My favorite desserts are cakes. First of all, there are many kinds of cakes. My favorite types of cakes are a chocolate cake, a cheesecake and a gelatin cheesecake. I like cooking dinner but I seldom cooking desserts including cakes, because it is troublesome for me. So I usually buy a cake when I want to eat it. Next, we usually eat cakes at special events like Christmas, Birthday, a Wedding ceremony, Party and so on. So I think that cakes are special desserts for us. Previously I chose type of Christmas cake! This Christmas, I will eat a fresh cream cake with my family. And my birthday is January so I also will eat birthday cake this winter.

[127 words]

Last Wednesday★☆

After school, I went to Movie Theater with Kana last Wednesday in Hikarinomori. And we watched “Ghost”. It was remarked. That was moving. Casts of the movie were great. The lending actress was Nanako Matsushima. She was so beautiful and one of my favorite actress. The lending actor was Korean. He was also cool! I really recommend this movie!!

[59 words]

BR 2-14: Why the Sea is Salty

Today, I went to a library and I read an English book. The title was “Why the Sea is Salty”. When I was a child, I had a question “Why seas are salty”. So I chose the story, but it was fiction. That wasn’t a fact. However it was good story. Once upon time, there was the sea which wasn’t salty.

One day, a thief stole a magic millstone from a king. The millstone was special because it made whatever the king wanted. After he stole it, he ran away from the king by a boat. He was hungry when he was escaping. So he asked it to give him some bread. Then, he got bread, but the bread was tasteless. Next, he asked it to get him salt again. So he got salt and fished eating. Then, he slept because he was full. When he got up, he was really surprised. There were tall heap of salt on the boat. Finally, the boat sank and the salt dissolved into saltwater. I thought that a author of the story has unique imaginations!!

[182 words]

Reference

Rosie, D. (2009).Why the Sea is Salty. London: Usborne Publishing.

My Favorite Clothes

I will tell you about my favorite clothes. My favorite clothes are jeans. I have some reasons why I chose it. First of all, I can wear all seasons. I sometimes feel hot when I wear it in summer. But, it protects me from sunburn. And I feel warm when I wear it in winter. So I like jeans better than skirts. Next, I can be easy to move when I wear it. I usually wear jeans when I have a part time job. So I wear jeans at least once three days. Finally, there are many kinds of jeans. My most favorite a pair of jeans is skinny jeans which color is black. This maker is UNIQLO. I bought it about three or four month ago. It is really good.

[131 words]

BR 2-13: The Scaredy Cat

Today, I read an English book which title was “The SCAREDY Cat”. I chose the story because pictures of the book were funny. The story was about a cat which name was Stanley. He was scared by everything for example, a frog, an airplane, a train, a dog, big noises and a boy. One day, he went for a walk with his friends. They were also cat. Suddenly, they came across to a small mouse. At that time, he was scared even the small mouse. Other cats chased the mouse. They entered a house to catch it. So he followed them. Inside of the house was dark. Then, he bumped into someone in the room. It was a big man who is a burglar! The burglar fainted away. So he won the burglar. After the accident, he gained confidence and overcame many fearful things. He was so lucky. I thought that I want to make up for my weak points after I read the story.

[165 words]

Reference
Russell, P. (2008).The SCAREDY Cat. London: Usborne Publishing.

Good day♥

Today, I watched two movies. One is a Korean movie which title was “Welcome to Dongmakgol”. I watched it in a Korean class. This story was about the Korean War. That was SO moving. I cried a few scenes because of their death. I was thought many things. We must not repeat tragedy like the war.

After I finished classes, I went to theater with my friend near KGU. And I watched “Twilight”. Do you know the story? It was popular movie among young people. This story was love story!! But there were some action scene. I liked this story because it was exciting! It was good. I am looking forward to watching next series. I will also watch “Ghost” next Wednesday. Wednesday is ladies day! So women can watch movie 1,000yen in Cineplex Theater.

After I watched the movie, I went to Suizenji station. I met my friend on my way to home. She went to same high school and same class with me. She is good at playing tennis! Now, she goes to Kumamoto Kenritu University. I was glad to come across her.

[185 words]

BR 2-12: Stories of Santa

I read an English book which title was “Stories of Santa”. I wanted to read the story because I like Christmas!! And Christmas day will come just one month later! I think that most of people love the event. I knew efforts of Santa and his tiny elves by the story. I can hardly wait for the Christmas day after I read the story! When I was a child, my most favorite event was Christmas. I enjoyed eating cakes, decorating Christmas tree and I also liked Santa Claus.

The story reminded me of my host family. When I stayed Minnesota, my host family had a room which it used only Christmas day. And they taught me of importance of the event. I wanted to stay while this event. However, I will have part time job this Christmas.

[137 words]

Reference

Russell, P. (2006). Stories of Santa. London: Usborne Publishing.

BR 2-11: King Donkey Ears

I read an English book which title was “King Donkey Ears”. It was seems like interesting, so I chose the story. Do you know the story? It was a fairy tale and it was easy to read for us. There was a king who has a worry. The worry was serious problem for him. He had a donkey’s ear! He couldn’t tell everyone even his friends and servants about it. So the person who knew the secret, they were sent to a jail. But, one day the big secret was announced to every citizen. The king was so angry and shamed. However they didn’t mind about it. Moreover some people already had known his secret!! He gained confidence by the accident. I noticed a few points after I read the story. First, ourselves faults are our individuality! Next, I want to consult with someone about a trouble when I worry by something.

[151 words]

Reference

Lesley, S. (2009). King Donkey Ears. London: Usborne Publishing.

BR 2-10: Thumbelina

Today, I read an English book which title was “Thumbelina”. I chose it because the picture was pretty. I think that the story was known by many people. Thumbelina was born from beautiful red-gold flower. To my surprise, she was so small girl. She was as tall as thumb or she was smaller than it. It was origin of her name. Her bed’s material was a walnut shell. It was really pretty! One day, she met with misfortune. She was kidnapped by frog and big brown beetle. Thanks to fish, she could run away. Then she nursed an injured swallow. After nursing, it made a recovery and became fly! The swallow took with her to flower town. Finally she got married with a prince of the town. He was also small!! This story was interesting. I recommend the story. I realized importance of human kindness by the story. I want to help her or him when someone is in trouble.

[160 words]

Reference
Susanna, D. (2008). Thumbelina. London: Usborne Publishing.

My Favorite Slogan

I will tell you about my favorite slogan. My favorite slogan is “Keep smiling”, because smile makes us happy!! When I was a child, my mother always said “Keep smiling”. At that time, I couldn’t understand the power of smile. But as time passed, I could realize importance of it. One day, I was in very low sprits. But I could take heart from my friend’s and family’s smiling faces. I believe that smiles have great powers! So I want to keep smiling when I exchange greetings and I chat with someone. We can feel happy, healthy, goodly, cheerfully, interestingly, optimistically and refreshed by smiles! Do you know this proverb “Fortune favors cheerful homes”? This is also my favorite proverb.

[120 words]

My Favorite Shoes

I will tell you about my favorite shoes. I have many favorite shoes. My most favorite shoe is a pair of pumps especially. It is a light pink color and high-heeled shoes. I have some reasons. First, I can wear it all seasons. Second, I could be tall when I put on it. Next, the shoes become suit not only formal dress but also casual clothes. Then, it was easy to walk for me. On the other hand, I have some pairs of pumps shoes. But some shoes were hard to walk for me. I sometimes felt a pain in my foot when I wore these shoes. Finally, my favorite a pair of pumps was cheap price!! So I could buy it.

[122 words]

Foods Experiences in Minnesota

1. Introduction
I stayed Minnesota about for a month. And I searched about American foods there. I chose this theme because I was interested in American foods and sweets. Moreover, I like to eat and cook very much. I make dinner at least twice a week. So I was glad to experience it every day while I stayed there. Before I stay America, I heard from many people American foods are high in calories and big. I was looking forward to eating them but, I worried about whether it suits my taste or not. I noticed many things while stayed there. So I will tell you about my foods experiences in Minnesota.

2. Dinners in America
I realized great differences from Japanese foods. First of all, some Americans pray for God before they eat dinner, because of religion. And Americans usually eat meat dishes (chickens, steaks, meat loafs, beef stroganoffs, spareribs and so on). My host mother was a good cook. So her dinner was always good. I sometimes made dinner with her. She taught me how to make American dishes. Meat loaf was the best thing I ever learned in America. I had never eaten it before I came there. Meat dishes, potatoes and salads were main dinner of my host family. And I noticed that Americans don’t spend much time in cooking. I will tell you how to make common dinner. For example, they wrapped potatoes in aluminum and put in an oven. They baked potatoes and seasoned meat. The dinner was complete.

Typical foods in America are meat dishes, pizza, potatoes, tacos, hamburgers, corns, hot dogs, bread and spaghetti with meat sauce. Americans like to eat potatoes better than rice. And potato chips are not only snack but also real meal. Americans often use butter when they make dinner and eat something. My host mother used it at least once two days. When we ate crabs, she recommended me to spread butter on the crabs. It was delicious. I was surprised at the way to eat.

She asked me about my favorite foods. My favorite foods are sea foods. So I talked her about it. Sea foods are a little more expensive than Japan in Minnesota, because there is no sea. I ate sea foods about twice while I stayed there. All the members of my host family like to eat sushi. Sushi is one of the popular Japanese foods in America as well as in Japan. There are Japanese restaurants in Minnesota. I saw five or six times Japanese restaurants in Minnesota. My host families sometimes go there. Of course, Japanese foods are expensive in America. She said Americans expect that typical Japanese people all like to eat rice and fish. I really thought it is true.

On the other hand, Americans like to eat pizza. In Japan, people don’t eat pizza as often as in America. Some Japanese don’t like to eat cheese. But almost Americans love it and sure enough, American pizza is big and thick. If we ordered pizza, we could choose of the size, dough and topping. If we couldn’t eat it all, we would take out it. My favorite pizza is Pepperoni. It is a kind of pizza whose topping is pineapples. I ate it for the first time in the US. I liked it so much. It was good and I was surprised at the taste. Pepperoni is common pizza in America. Sadly, I couldn’t go to American fair but to my surprise, some street vendor’s stall sells fried pickles, fried chocolates and even fried cheese in a fair.

3. Sweets in America
I also ate American sweets too. Unexpected I realized that Americans don’t eat between meals much. And I noticed many points about sweets. First of all, some sweets are good but it is too sweet for Japanese. I have a sweet tooth, but there are so sweet sweets in America even I couldn’t eat. One day, my host mother gave donuts for me. It was covered with sugar and inside was fresh cream and chocolate souses. I couldn’t eat all, because it was too sweet for me. So I told to her about it. She could understand my opinion, the reason that she has a friend who isn’t American. When her friend made sweets while she refers to American recipe book, she cut down half of the sugar. It was suitable for her. I noticed the sense of sweet vary according to nations.

Next, there are large amount sweets in America. It was the most surprising thing for me. In Japan, we can’t see much, size of cakes and ice creams. There are vivid color cakes in America. I found blue, yellow, red and green cakes in there. It was so colorful and unique.

Then, I ate ice creams about four times in American ice creams shops. And ice creams and even cones were homemade of the shops. Of course, sizes of the ice creams were big. Moreover, there were many kinds of taste and I ate unique ice cream which taste was pistachio. In America, most of the shops were built by the roadside as own shops. In Japan, there are ice creams shops too, but most of the shops were part of shopping moll.

4. Conclusion
I was so glad to realize great different points through food life in the US, because if I had not stayed there I wouldn’t have known this information. Needless to say, American foods are high in carries, large amount food. Moreover, most of the Americans eat much food at night, so obesity rate rising in America. Lack of exercise because of car society is another occasion for the obesity. American cultures cause this problem, but some Americans make effort to raise the conscious about not to grow stout. In Japan, Western way of thinking is spreading including foods now. Japanese foods are low in calories, but we have to be careful of foods like American.

[996 words]

Essay 2-02b: My Languages Learning Experiences

I will tell you about my languages learning experiences. Of course, my first learning language is Japanese. Japanese has three literatures. It is “Hiragana”, “Kanji” and “Katakana”. First of all, I started to study “Hiragana” when we were elementary school student, and also we started to study “Katakana”. It was easy to remember for me, but it is hard to write “Kanji” even now, because there are many difficult them.

When I was the upper grades of elementary school, I learned “Romaji”. I was suffering from to remember it. Then, I started to study about English alphabet. My piano teacher taught me both piano and English, because my piano teacher could speak English and her sister got married with American. So I was longing for the teacher very much.

When I was a junior high school student, I started to study English grammar. I couldn’t understand even simple sentences before I study English. But I became understand it little by little. I took private lessons in English and mathematics about for three years. Thanks to my cram school teacher, English was one of my favorite subjects.

When I was a high school student, I started to learn “Kobun” and “Kanbun”. But present day, we don’t use these languages in daily life. Moreover it was so difficult for me so I didn’t like to study their languages. I became a high school student, I could read English long sentences and I began to think about my course. I decided to do after graduation. I want to work for travel agency after graduation from a University. So I took foreign language department entrance examination of KGU.

When I was a first-year university student, I studied German. It was good for me. I was looking forward to studying it because I liked the teacher. The teacher was Mr. Yagi. I took the German classes twice a week. If I have opportunity to learn it, I want to study again. German is similar to English, so you may understand it easily. It would be good for you if you study it!

I am studying both English and Korean now. These languages are one of my favorite languages. Before I started to study Korean, I couldn’t understand Korean alphabet. Now, I sometimes don’t understand Korean alphabet, but I can read and write it. Moreover, I can say simple conversations. However it took time for me! This year, I went to both America and Korea. At that time, I noticed that I have to make efforts to study these languages more! I also realized that the importance to study languages.

Next, my best learning language experience was home stay in Minnesota. I stayed there about for a month. It was first time to go to America so I was worried about my English skills before I stayed there. And I couldn't speak well at that time so I have to study it more. I realized that the important thing was challenge to speak English if I didn’t know what to say in English!!

Finally, MN was so good place!! I learned many things there. And I could meet my host family, friends and teachers!! Today, I sometimes send E-mail to my host mother and brother. I’m going to send a Christmas card to my host family! I want to meet them again. This is my precious languages learning experiences!!

[563 words]

My Favorite Music

I have many favorite music and singers. My favorite singers are “Namie Amuro”, “JUJU”, “Ikimonogakari”, and “Syota Shimizu”. They are cool and have wide appeals. So I liked their music. I went Syota Simizu’s concert in KGU last October. I was looking forward to meeting him long days ago. I became like him further after I went the concert. He is same generation with me. He sang to him own piano accompaniment in the concert. The song name was “Hanamizuki”. The song is one of my favorite songs, so that was moving. Finally, I am not good at singing, but I sometimes go karaoke lounge with my family and friends. Last week, I went there twice! Listening and singing songs made me refresh. I also can get rid of my stress. So I like music!

[135 words]

BR 2-09: Stories of Fairytale Castles

I chose and read an English book which title was “Stories of Fairytale Castles”. This story was a fiction. There were three chapters in the book. Chapter 1 was “The invisible castle”. Chapter 2 was “The haunted castle”. Chapter 3 was “The castle contest”. We can enjoy reading three stories! My favorite chapter was one, because it was a story with a happy ending.

When I read the story, it reminds me of a Disney story. The name of the story was “Beauty and The Beast”. It was similar to stories of Fairytale Castles. There were some common points. First, a magician cast a spell on people who lived the castles. In stories of fairytale castles, the magician changed person into stones. In story of beauty and the beast, a witch changed person into furniture. Then, the other common point is a beautiful woman got married with prince. So I liked this story!

[153 words]

Reference
Anna, L. (2007). Stories of Fairytale Castles. London: Usborne Publishing.

My Favorite Car

I will tell you about my favorite car. I don’t have my car, but I have a driver license. So I sometimes use my mother’s car when I go to my workplace and shopping. My mother’s car is silver color and small. I like it so much, because small car is easy to drive for me. My father’s car is white color and so big. I also like it. But I can’t drive the car, because it is too big for me. I took the license a year and a half ago. However I am not used to drive. So I really want to become a good driver. I want to get my car someday. I have to save much money for my car.

[124 words]

BR 2-08: The Fish that Talked

I read an English book which title was “The Fish that Talked”. This is a fiction story. I chose this book because the picture was beautiful. This story was about repayment of a kindness. One day, a boy helped a little fish. He brought up the fish. To my surprise, the fish could talk to him and it became very big day by day. So he let it go back to a sea.

A few days later, his town was washed away by the flood. At that time, the big fish helped many inhabitants including the boy. After I read the story, it made me heart-warming. So it was really good. I was realized that mutual help was important thing in our life. I want to become kind and considerate person!

[131 words]

Reference

Rosie, . (2008). Stories of Snowmen. London: Usborne Publishing.

My Favorite Dish

I will tell you about my favorite dish. My favorite dish is “Nabe”. It is hot pot cooked at the table in English. I will explain why I like to eat it. First of all, we usually eat the dish in winter. I could become warm my body and relax after I ate it. I was looking forward to eating it every year until winter was come. Next, I don’t spend much time when I cook it. So it is easy to cook for me. Then, there are many kinds of the dish. For example, kimchi nabe, mizutaki and motu nabe etc. My favorite kind is kimchi nabe because I love spicy foods. Finally, I cooked and ate it yesterday too!! We can share nabe with many people and at that time, we can enjoy eating and chatting. I thought that it was the best reason why I chose it.

[150 words]

BR 2-07: Baba Yaga the Flying Witch

Today, I read an English book which title was “Baba Yaga the Flying Witch” because it seems like funny. But this story was about strange and terrible witch. She would have eaten a little girl for a lunch if the girl ran away from her magic hut. So this witch scared for me and she didn’t give up easily. I have ever read some witches stories for example, Harry Potter, Kiki’s Delivery Serves and Howl’s etc. These stories are really good too. Baba Yaga was strange witch because she rode her big pot and then ran after the girl by using her pot, her wooden broom and wooden spoons! That was exciting so my most favorite scene. As the girl was came back her home safely, I felt quite relieved!

[130 words]

Reference
Lesley, S. (2008). Baba Yaga the Flying Witch. London: Usborne Publishing.

BR 2-06: Stories of Snowmen

I read an English book which title was “Stories of Snowmen”. I chose this book because winter is coming!! When I was a child, I played in the snow and made snowmen some times. I think that most of people had experience such as these children’s play. It was one of my pleasure outdoor games in winter. Kumamoto has not so much snow. So I was really glad when I had snow. This story was similar to my favorite picture book because both stories moved snowmen! They played active parts so much. It reminds me of Christmas after I read this book. It made me heart-warming! I want you to read this book. I think that you will like it. I heard this winter will be cold, so I want to make snowmen.

[133 words]

Reference
Lesley, S. (2007). Stories of Snowmen. London: Usborne Publishing.

My Favorite Class

I will tell you about my favorite class. My most favorite class is Korean. I take the classes on every Wednesday. The classes are so good for me. So I have never absent and I am never late the class. I always sit down the first seat from the front when I take the class. I have been to Korea once before I took the class. When I visited there, I really couldn’t understand Korean. At that time, I decided to study it. Thanks to Korean teacher, I could read Korean alphabet now. The teacher is Mr. Paku. He is kind and speaks fluent Japanese. He started to study Japanese when he was 27 years old. I am looking forward to taking the class every weeks.

[126 words]

My Favorite Drink

I will tell you about my favorite drink. My favorite drink is Lipton’s tea. I also recommend the teas. I have some reasons. First of all, there are many kinds of tea. For example, we can drink milk, lemon, and apple, green apple, orange, peach and grape tea. Next, we can buy them low price and most of convenience stores, supermarkets and grocery stores sell Lipton’s tea. So it is easy to get it for us. Then, the tastes are so good. I sometimes want to drink these teas so much. My most favorite tea is milk tea. It is a standard article. Today, I drank it too! I think that Japanese people like to drink both hot and cold teas.

[121 words]

Essay 2-02a: My Languages Learning Experiences

I will tell you about my languages learning experiences. Of course, my first learning language is Japanese. Japanese has three literatures. It is “Hiragana”, “Kanji” and “Katakana”. First of all, I started to study “Hiragana” when we were elementary school student, and also we started to study “Katakana”. It was easy to remember for me, but it is hard to write “Kanji” even now, because there are many difficult them.

When I was the upper grades of elementary school, I learned “Romaji”. I was suffering from to remember it. Then, I started to study about English alphabet. My piano teacher taught me both piano and English, because my piano teacher could speak English and her sister got married with American. So I was longing for the teacher very much.

When I was a junior high school student, I started to study English grammar. I couldn’t understand even simple sentences before I study English. But I became understand it little by little. I took private lessons in English and mathematics about for three years. Thanks to my cram school teacher, English was one of my favorite subjects.

When I was a high school student, I started to learn “Kobun” and “Kanbun”. But present day, we don’t use these languages in daily life. Moreover it was so difficult for me so I didn’t like to study their languages. I became a high school student, I could read English long sentences and I began to think about my course. I decided to do after graduation. I want to work for travel agency after graduation from a University. So I took foreign language department entrance examination of KGU.

When I was a first-year university student, I studied German. It was good for me. I was looking forward to studying it because I liked the teacher. I am studying both English and Korean now. Before I started to study Korean, I couldn’t understand Korean alphabet. Now, I sometimes don’t understand Korean alphabet, but I can read and write it. Moreover, I can say simple conversations. However it took time for me! This year, I went to both America and Korea. At that time, I noticed that I have to make efforts to study these languages more! I also realized that the importance to study languages.

Finally, my best learning language experience was home stay in Minnesota. I could meet my host family and friends and teacher!! If I didn’t study English, I wouldn’t meet these nice people. It was first time to go to America, so I was worried about my English skills. But, I realized that the important thing is challenge to speak English if I don’t know what to say in English!! This is my precious languages learning experiences!!

[456 words]

Outline: My Language Learning Experience

My language learning experience

Elementary school student

Japanese

Hiragana

Katakana

Kanji

Romaji

English

Alphabet

Junior high school student

English

Grammer

Basic words

Japanese

High school student

English

Grammer

Reading

Writing

Japanese

Kobun

Kanbun

University student

English

Grammer

Reading

Writing

Listening

Speaking

Korean

Hangul alphabet

Grammer

Korean conversations

German

German alphabet

Grammer

[51 words]

My Language Learning Experiences

Here is my beautiful mind map. It shows my language learning experiences elementary school to University.

[67 words]

My Language Learning Experiences

I have many experiences to learn other languages. I am learning English, Korean and German. I’m glad to learn languages. I will tell you some reasons. First of all, I could meet friends, teacher and my host family!! This is the best experience of my life. Before I learn languages, of course I couldn’t talk and communicate with foreigner. It is hard to study language for me. But when I could understand the languages, it makes me happy. When I visited to Korea last February, I couldn’t read Korean literatures, but I could read it now.

[100 words]

My favorite junior high memories

I will tell you about my favorite junior high memories. I have many favorite memories. When I was junior high school student, I belonged to volleyball club. So I was usually busy and the practices were hard. But my favorite memories are family trip. I traveled to Hokkaido with my father, mother and brother. We went to skiing with my father’s friends. It was first time for me. Moreover we ate sea foods and ramen in butter. It was so good. And we went to snow festival in Sapporo. That was exciting.

When I was junior and high school student my father lived in Tokyo because of his job. So in order to meet my father, I went to Tokyo with my mother and sister and brother. We went to Tokyo Disney Land and did the sights of Tokyo and Yokohama while I stayed my father’s house. We also met my relatives in Yokohama. These experiences were one of my precious memories.

[162 words]

BR 2-05: The Reluctant Dragon

I went to a library and I found a book. The book’s title was “The Reluctant Dragon”. I chose the book because the picture was so nice. Moreover I liked the dragon’s color. So I read it. I will tell you good point of the book. First of all, this story has a happy ending. But people misunderstood about the dragon. They thought that he was dangerous dragon. To tell the truth, he was kind and quiet. So one day, a dragon killer visited the town. I was worried about the dragon while I was reading this story. Finally, they realized that he is good dragon. The scene made me happy. Next, the characters in this story are cute!! I like shepherd’s son especially. I want to meet such as nice dragon.

[132 words]

Reference

Grahame, K. (2009). The Reluctant Dragon. London: Usborne Publishing.

Tooth brush

I will introduce my favorite tooth brushes. It is so cute and unique aren’t you?? I found it in supermarket near my house. It cost only 150 yen!! I liked it, but I don’t use now.

[36 words]

BR2-04: The Genie in the Bottle

I went to a library and I chose an English book which title was “The Genie in the bottle” because, the book cover was funny and little strange. As soon as I saw the book, I liked it. So I read the book today. That was interesting, but it was short story for me. My most favorite scene was fisherman caught the bottle in a sea. Sadly, Genie was so bad.

Do you know “Aladdin”? He was a main character of the famous Indian and Iranian old story. It was one of Arabian Nights. I think that most of the people have known the story. So I already have known the story, but I didn’t know much and I have never read the story. It was easy to read and it made me funny, so I recommend the story.

[139 words]

My favorite color

Today, I will tell you about my favorite colors. I have two favorite colors. First, one of my favorite colors is blue, because the colors remind me of beautiful sea, lakes, river and sky. So it is the most favorite color for me. Moreover I thought that blue is cool and I could feel refreshed when I saw the color. I also like dark blue and light blue. Furthermore, it seems that I could concentrate and become composed while I wore blue clothes. Next, the other my favorite color is yellow. The color made me cheerful and happy. So I like the color and my cell phone color is yellow too. I think that the color has appeal. It reminds me of sun and flowers.

[125 words]

Octorber 10th

I will tell you about yesterday. Yesterday, I got up 11a.m. so I could sleep many hours. After I had brunch, I changed to a different set of clothing. It was hard to me little a bit because it took two hours!! Then, I cleaned my room. After that, my father and I washed my dog in my yard because, yesterday was good weather. I like to wash my dog but my dog doesn’t like it.

After I washed my dog, I went to DVD shop. I lent a DVD and four CDs. The DVD was “Shounenn Merikenn Sakku”. And CDs are “EXILE”, “Namie Amuro”, “Aashi” and “Ikimonogakari”. I wanted to lend Shota Shimizu’s CD the most, but I couldn’t. As soon as I came back, I watched the DVD. It was the story which is rock band. And the lending actress was “Aoi Miyazaki”. She is really cute!!

After I watched it, I worked for 4 hours. My boss gave a cheese cake and daigakuimo to me. It was so good. He sometimes gives something to me. So I have good boss. I have part time job today too!! So I have to finish my homework now.

[198 words]

Octorber 9th

Today, I will tell you about last Saturday. Last Saturday, I was free, so I did some housework. First, I washed my clothes. Second, I cleaned a bathroom. Third, I made dinner. I cooked a bowl of rice topped with chicken and eggs. I also make dinner three times in a week, because my mother is busy and she usually came back home 7 p.m. because of her work. Moreover I like to cook dinner.

After I did housework, I went to a beauty salon shop to cut my hair near my house. I went to there after a long time. So I was nerves little a bit. But I was happy to meet my beautician. He gets married and has two children. He is so cool, kind and has good skills. I began to go the beauty salon shop when I was 15 years old. I liked my new hair style, but I didn’t change it much.

After I came back home, I took my dog for a walk about for 30 minute. It was getting dark so I returned to my house. Then, my family came back too. After we had dinner, I went to “Mizuakari” with my family. The event was hold in Kumamoto castle in October 9th and 10th. We could enjoy watching illumination and eating at a street vendor’s stall. Mizuakari was so beautiful because fifty thousand and four thousand candles’ light were set. Do you know the event?? Have you ever been to there?? There were many people in the event. I ate two flavor ice creams!! It was mango and Tiramisu. I liked it so much. I could spent good holiday!!

[278 words]

Essay 2-01b: My Favorite Places

My favorite place is my house and I especially like my room, because it makes me relax. I live in Uto city near Uto station with my family. I go to Kumamoto Gakuen University by train. There are many rice fields near my house. As soon as I backed my house, I usually go to my room. So I will tell you about it.

I have own and about six-mat room. It is a Western- style room. I have using my room since I was 10 years old. When I am in the room, I also sleep on a bed (take a nap), read books (comics, magazines) and watch TV or DVD. I just lie about at my room doing nothing on Saturday and Sunday. It is the happiest time for me. I don’t study in my room. I almost study in my living room, because I can’t use a computer in my room. I want my computer so much.

My room is a small but it is very comfortable for me. I clean my room once in two weeks. My mother and older sister sometimes clean my room. So I have good family. First, I have two chests of drawers. I love clothes, so there are many clothes in my room. I think that it is different point other rooms. The two chests of drawers are blown color. One is big and I have using it since I was elementary school student. The other is new and small. I have small bookcase. My albums are at the upper left corner of the cabinet. My dictionaries are upper right compartment. My comics are bottom right compartment. My component stereo is on top of the bookcase.

Second, I will tell about my bed. It is brown color too. My parents bought the same design two beds when I was about 8 years old. I am 19 years old. So I and my sister have using the beds more than 10 years. My alarm clock and two stuffed animals are on the bed and next to my pillow. The stuffed animals are shark and dog. I bought the stuffed toy shark in aquarium in Minnesota. It name is Sharky and I like it so much. The other is a plute which is a character of Disney. It is a big and my favorite stuffed animal.

Third, I have a table. It is next to the bed and many things are on it for example, magazines, text books, and cosmetics. There are two windows in my room. I have checked and pale pink color curtains. I changed carpet recently; it is a pale green color now. But, I have used blown color carpet the other day. There is a TV middle of my room. This TV is out of order little a bit because it is old. And I want to get a lamp, because I don’t have lamp now.

Finally I live in a house with family now, but if I live alone, I would like to live simple room. I want to buy black sofa and bed when I start to live alone. And I also want to get white furniture and blue curtains too. It is my dream!! I want to live alone at once. But If I began to live alone, I would miss my family soon. So now, I don't need to live alone for me.

[564 words]

My favorite flowers

I have many favorite flowers because they are beautiful. First, one of my favorite flowers is a “Hibiscus”. I could become full of vitality when I watched it. And it reminds me of summer. The flowers also come out in Okinawa. I have never been there, but my sister visited many times because her friend lives in Okinawa. So she took pictures of the flowers when she went to there. She gave me the picture. I was so happy because, the back ground of the pictures was beautiful sea!! That’s why it is my favorite pictures. Moreover my mother likes to grow flowers, so hibiscus was in bloom last summer in my front yard.

Next, the other of my favorite flower is a “Sunflower”. I can’t see it very often. But if I watched it, I could warm. I think that the flower looks like sun and the king of flowers!!
Finally my most favorite flower is a “Cactus”, because I grow it now. It is easy to grow!!
When I became 17 years old, my mother gave it as a birthday present for me. It is a shaped like a heart. I like it so much.
I think that flowers have power of appeals!!!

[205 words]

BR2-03: Polar Bear

I read English book today. The title was “Polar bear”. I chose it because, I love animal. When I go to a zoo, I usually watch polar bear. It was so cute. There is one zoo in Kumamoto. We can watch one polar bear there. And the name is “Mickey”. I watched him many times, but I didn’t know much about characteristics of the animal before I read the books. The book told me many things, so I could know about them.
Polar bears have black tongues and black skins!! It is the most surprising things for me. I can’t believe it.

But the book made me grave, because the number of them is falling. Nowadays, temperature is rising. It is called “global warming”. Most of them live the North Pole, but the ices are melting little by little. So it is hard to get foods for them. Moreover hunters go polar bear hunting. Some people eat their meat and to get the fur.
I thought that we have to save them and it is an international problem.

[178 words]

Yesterday!!

I tell you about my holiday. I went to an optician’s shop in Uto with my father. I got new glasses because dropped in my eyesight. It was first time to get glasses for me!! I had my eyesight tested. And I chose blown glasses. It took about 30 minutes to choose it. There were many nice glasses in the shop so it was hard to choose it for me.

After that I went to “Youme Town” with my mother and sister. My sister bought a ring and my mother bought shoes. I bought pierced earrings and Hello Kitty’s mechanical pencil. I liked it so much.
When we were sitting a bench, I came across to my friend, her baby and her mother. I talked her after long time. To my surprise, she got married and she gave birth to a baby last July 29th!! The baby is a girl. When I saw her, she was sleeping but she was SO cute!!!! We have known each other since we were children. When we were elementary school students, we were same classes for six years. When we were the third year of junior high school students, we were same class too. She came to my house many times. I can’t count the number because she used to visit my house like every day when we were child. So she is a best friend for me!! It seemed that she was happy. I am so jealous. And I want to get married and give birth to a baby someday!

After we came back home, I ate Kentucky Fried Chicken with my family. It was so good!!
I ate KFC when I stayed Minnesota but I like Japanese KFC better than American.
Next I watched movie with my sister and brother. The name was “252”. Have you ever watched it?? The film was moving and exciting. Hideaki Ito played the lending role in the film. He is my favorite actor because he is cool. He also played the lending role in film of “Umizaru”. The film was showing now. I want to watch it at a theater.
Yesterday, I could spend nice Saturday!
I have to go to my work place now. I’ll stick it out!!

[373 words]

Essay 2-01a: My Favorite Places

My favorite place is my house and I especially like my room, because it makes me relax. I live in Uto city near Uto station with my family. I go to Kumamoto Gakuen University by train. There are many rice fields near my house. As soon as I backed my house, I usually go to my room. So I will tell you about it.

I have own and about six-mat room. It is a Western- style room. I have using my room since I was 10 years old. When I am in the room, I also sleep on a bed (take a nap), read books (comics, magazines) and watch TV or DVD. I just lie about at my room doing nothing on Saturday and Sunday. It is the happiest time for me. I don’t study in my room. I almost study in my living room, because I can’t use a computer in my room. I want my computer so much.

My room is a small but it is very comfortable for me. I clean my room once in two weeks. My mother and older sister sometimes clean my room. So I have good family. First, I have two chests of drawers. I love clothes, so there are many clothes in my room. I think that it is different point other rooms. The two chests of drawers are blown color. One is big and I have using it since I was elementary school student. The other is new and small. Moreover I have small bookcase. My albums are at the upper left corner of the cabinet. My dictionaries are upper right compartment. My comics are bottom right compartment. My component stereo is on top of the bookcase.

Second, I will tell about my bed. It is brown color too. My parents bought the same design two beds when I was about 8 years. I and my sister have using the beds more than 10 years. My alarm clock and two stuffed animals are on the bed and next to my pillow. The stuffed animals are shark and dog. I bought the stuffed toy shark in aquarium in Minnesota. It name is Sharky and I like it so much. The other is a plute which is a character of Disney. It is a big and my favorite stuffed animal.

Third, I have a table. It is next to the bed and many things are on it for example, magazines, text books, and cosmetics. There are two windows in my room. I have checked and pale pink color curtains. I changed carpet recently; it is a pale green color now. But, I have used blown color carpet the other day. There is a TV middle of my room. This TV is out of order little a bit because it is old. And I want to get a lamp, because I don’t have lamp now.

A jigsaw puzzle of Disney was hanged on the wall. It is a 500 pieces of puzzle. My pass time is to play jigsaw puzzles. So I have many them.
I live in a house with family now, but if I live alone, I would like to live simple room. My favorite colors are white, black and blue. So I want to buy black sofa and bed someday. And I want to get white furniture and blue curtains too. It is my dream!!

[561 words]

BR2-02: Tigger Comes to the Forest

I read Tigger comes to the Forest today. I went to a library and I chose this book because, it seemed interesting. This book is kind of Disney. Do you know Winnie the Pooh? I think most of the people know him. He is a character of Disney. I love this character so much. He is really cute and one of my favorite character. So I enjoyed reading the book to the end.

My favorite scene was Winnie the Pooh met to Tigger for the first time. I liked his reaction. It made me happy. Tigger is a tiger. So Tigger hate honey then they went out to find food for Tigger. When I was a child, I used to read picture books of Winnie the Pooh. I looked back on it with nostalgia. When I read English books, it took me many times. So I want to read them early more.

[151 words]

My favorite TV show

I will tell you about my favorite TV programs. I love to watch TV. When I am free, I usually watching it. So my pass the time is to watch TV. I have many favorite TV programs especially I love to watch American dramas. My most favorite American drama is HEROES. Do you know it?? It is kind of SF and action drama and it was a great hit in America. It has season 4 now. The story is people save the world who have supernatural powers. The powers are unbelievable, for example, immortal, fly, and herculean strength etc. It was exciting so much. And it is broadcasted at 1:00 a.m. every Thursday now. Of course, I watched it every week. I recommend it!!

[124 words]

BR2-01: Cinderella

I read Cinderella because it is famous and popular story. And I love Disney. Of course, I knew this story, but I haven’t read this story in English. So I decided to read it. I think that every girls and women love this story. This story is little different from Disney’s story. Cinderella’s truth name is “Ella”. But her stepmother and her half-sisters always treated her as if a slave. She always wore dirty clothes. She got cover with dust and cinder all over. So her name’s origin is “cinder”. I didn’t know the origin. She was poor, but she got married with prince finally. My favorite scene is a dance; because Cinderella and prince meet the place. The story made me happy. I want to read other fairy tales.

[130 words]

My favorite vacation memory

Now, I will tell you about my favorite vacation memory. I went to Minnesota last July. I stayed there about for a month. Thanks to my host family and teachers, I experienced many things. The most interested thing was swimming in lakes. Minnesota has 10,000 lakes. I couldn't believe that when I heard it. Moreover I rode Motorboat. It was first time in my life and that was so exciting!! I was glad to meet nice Americans and I could make friends. I ate and made American foods. My favorite American foods are chicken, rice crispy bars and meat loaf. My host mother teach me how to make them. If I can I want to meet her again.

[120 words]

My favorite season

Today, I will tell you about my favorite season. My favorite season is winter, because my weak point is heat. It is very hard to spend nothing an air conditioner in summer for me. Next, winter has many events. I love Winter Vacation, Christmas, New Year’s Day and my birthday. Winter had come; I was really looking forward to coming Santa Claus when I was a child. And I can meet to my relative in every New Year. At that time, I enjoyed talking to them so much. And I like to eat “Osechi”. Do you like to eat it?? It is a traditional Japanese dish. Next, my birthday is January 31. I cerebrate my birthday and I can give my birthday presents from my family and friends, so I like winter.

[132 words]

My favorite travel

Today, I will tell you about my favorite travel. My best travel was Korea; because, it was first time to traveled abroad for me. I went to there for four days with Chikako and Ryoko last February. It was so nice trip. I saw traditional Korean buildings, Soul tower and many things. I love spicy foods, so I liked Korean foods. I had Yakiniku, Chizimi and Bibinba. And we bought clothes, shoes, cosmetics, foods and many Korean goods. These goods are so cheap and cute. My favorite shops are “Etude House” and “Forever 21”. Etude house is a cosmetics shop. Forever 21 is a clothes shop. It is famous, low priced and fashionable shop. I want to travel to Korea again.

[121 words]

My favorite club

Today, I will tell you about my favorite club. I don’t belong to a club and a circle now. But, I belonged to volleyball club for six years when I was high and junior school student. So it was my favorite club and the best club for me. I practiced it every day and the practice was hard for me. Moreover we run 5 kilometers twice a week when we were a high school student. But my club member was so nice. Thanks to them, I could overcome the hard practice. And they are interesting and cheerful, so I like them very much. They are close friends even now. Half a year, we go to somewhere. I appreciate to them!!

[120 words]

My favorite sports to watch

My favorite sports to watch are baseball and volleyball. When I was junior and high school student, I belonged to volleyball club. So my best sport is volleyball. I like both watch and play it. I also like baseball and I like to catch and go to batting center. But, I am not good at playing baseball. So I like to watch it better than play it. I think that professional baseball player is really cool. When I stay Minnesota, My host mother’s son and his girl friend showed me Twins stadium. It was big and beautiful. The Twins is a professional baseball team and Minnesota is a home of it. I wanted to see it long days ago and I was looking forward to visit it. So that was exciting!!!

[131 words]

Rikkyo University students

During I stayed MN, I made friends. They are Rikkyo University students. They also stayed there about 3 weeks. Every Monday to Friday, we went to Bethel University. So usual days, my host mother drive me near a caribou coffee shop. After that, Jeff (our driver) picked us up. We rode a van about 1 hour every day. All the students are Rikkyo except Rie, Chika and I. So I made friends of Rikkyo. Their names are Yurika, Narumi, Yuko and Motoi. They major in college is various. Their major is not English, but their English skills are high. I was so surprised at it. Yurika’s main study is social welfare. Motoi’s main study is law. I talked them about many things, for example, dialect, each University, Kumamoto and Tokyo. I want to meet them someday!!!

[136 words]

My favorite animal

My favorite animal is a dog. Because, I have a big dog!! It is a golden retriever. She is 9 years old, so she is old. But I sometimes take her with a walk and I feed my dog every day. Her name is lime. My younger brother named her. When I was a child, I wanted to have a big dog for a long time. I always asked my parents to get a dog, but I was said from my parents “you are too child to have a pet”. After a few years is passed. When I became 10 years old, my parents came back home with my dog suddenly. I was so glad to meet my dog. I can’t forget the day. I want her to live a long life.

[132 words]

dream catcher of Ojibwa

Do you know dream catcher?? It looks like a spider’s web and many people believe that if we hang it, we haven’t a nightmare. Because, bad dream get caught by dream catcher. I believe it too. When I visited Indian museum with my host mother and Rie, I bought dream catcher. There is Indian shop next to Indian museum. Many goods are sold and the goods are made by real Indians. So it is too expensive for me, and they are my treasures!! The blue-green dream catcher is made by Indian of Ojibwa. Ojibwa is a member of a Native American people. Many of them live in the United States of Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota and in Ontario in Canada.

[120 words]

Horseback riding

August 20th, we experienced horseback riding in Wisconsin. It was my first time to ride a horse. I was nerves and felt fear, but I am beginning to understand the knack of horseback riding. Gradually, I become a pleasure. I rode a white horse about 30 minutes. His name is Cheyenne. He is so smart, but he always eats hay. I want to ride a horse again someday!! After I ride a horse, I became to ride like it!!

After we rode a horse, we went to outlet moll. Yuka, Maiko and I went to ice creem shop. I had raspberry ice creem. It is littel expensive, but big and delicious♥

[111 words]

Moll of America

Today, I will tell you about Moll of America. I went to there with other students in August 19th. I was so excited it, because, I love shopping. There are four floors and it is the biggest shopping moll of all America. It is too called “MOA”, “MoA” and “Mega moll”. It was built in 1992 near Minneapolis international airport. There are 540 shops at least and if people shopping all shops, it will take 24 hours or more hours. It has chapels, school, church, aquarium, amusement park and eight theaters!!!
The number of customers in the past years is forty million!!! It is the most customer of the world. There is 4 another shopping mall next to MOA!!
The number of the worker is ten hundred thousand and two thousand.
I went to many shops, and my favorite shops are “Forever 21”, “H&M”. These clothes are cute and cheap. These shops are famous and popular among young women. I bought three T-shirts, white cardigan, black dress and tunic. We are running while we move next shop, so my legs muscle was pain next day.

After Rie and I said goodbye other students, I went to aquarium with Rie and Rie’s host parents. It is underground of Moll of America. I was so glad to go to there, because I wanted to go to there before long days ago. I saw sharks, jelly fish, sea turtle, sea dragon and other beautiful fishes. I liked sea turtle, because I saw it first time. It is SO big and I moved it.
After we went to aquarium, I bought doll. And the name is “sharky”. It is main character of the aquarium. It is so cute!!
After that we had crepe and shopping about 3 hours. We bought many souvenirs in Minnesota. I went to there only 1 day, but I enjoyed all day long.

Rie’s host parents drove me home. They were kind to me. I appreciate to them!! Thank you!

[330 words]

Camp~!!!

Last Monday and Tuesday (September 6 and 7th) I went to shichijyo with Asaki, Satoko, Mizuho, Sayaka, Kurumi, Ryoko and Chika. We arrange to meet them in front of the PALCO at 11 a.m.
I was looking forward to go to camp with them SO much!!

First, we took a “prikura”. To my surprise, present purikura machine is very progress. Because, we can gave false eyelashes!!!

Next, we had MacDonald and talked about many things. I thought that they had good summer vacation!!! I talked them about my stay in Minnesota.

Then, we went to Daie, because we have to get some foods. We bought some snacks, chocolate cookies, green tea, juices and some vegetables. And we had crepe!! It was so good!!
We rode a bus about 1 hour and we arrived at shichijyo. Our cottage is big so we liked it.
After a short time, we went to hot spring in shichijyo. We took a bath between about 1 and 2.
After that we had curry rice. It was so delicious. After our dinner, we did tramp karuta and uno. We enjoyed them. We talked many hours until the sun raised. I slept about two hours, but some friends sat up all night.
In morning, we went to “Ashiyu” It made me relax!! Next day was bad rain, but I had good memories and I am happy my spend time here.

[233 words]

I ♥ Minnesota

I stayed Minnesota about for a month. It was my first time to come to America. I was so worried about my English skills before I come to Minnesota. But thanks to my host mother; Kristy, I always enjoyed my time spend here. She was so kind to me!! And her smiles always made me happy♪
I noticed the many difference things every day. The best shocking thing is mosquitoes were blown color!!!!

There are many famous spot in Minnesota and I went to many nice places. I visited to Mississippi River, History center, Indian museum, Lake Superior, History farm, Minneapolis State Capital, church, St. Paul cathedral, Aquarium, Valley fair(an amusement park), Twins stadium, a kindergarten, a home for the aged, Lower office(46 floors), Right house, Mall of America(It is the biggest shopping mall of all America) and out let stores.

I will teach you about Minnesota. The capital of MN is Saint Paul. The state bird is Loon. The state flower is pink and white lady’s slipper. The fish is walleye and tree is Norway pine.
Do you know Charles M. Schulz?? He is an author of Snoopy’s and he is from MN!! So I saw the statue of snoopy in MN airport and the central of town. I love Snoopy very much, so I was glad to go to there!!! And I bought snoopy goods, T-shirts, key ring, picture♥

When I first came here, I noticed the many and big roads. In Japan, when we drive a car, we can’t use cell phones. And when we ride a motorcycle, we must wear a helmet. It is provided by law. But in Minnesota, these acts are not illegal. I sometimes saw people was using cell phones and no helmet while ride a car and motorcycle. I was so surprised it.
Second, I noticed the streets are lined with neat rows of stores and houses. American houses are big and beautiful. As soon as I saw my host’s house, I liked it. My room was SO pretty, because the wall of my room color was lavender and wall of my bath room color was light blue. Moreover I could see a lake from my room. Sometimes, many children played there. My favorite place is Red wing. It was very beautiful town. Next, I couldn’t believe when I heard that there are 10,000 lakes in here. Because, Kumamoto does not have so many lakes. I swam there three times. I didn’t swim in recent years, so I was glad. And Rie’s host parents; Marv and Verna gave me a lift in their motorboat in Fish Lake. That was exciting! Many Minnesotans have a own motor boat!

Kristy’s son; Joseph and his girl friend; Jenessa showed me about Minneapolis. I saw the best night view of Minnesota. I had never seen such a beautiful scene!! They were kind to me, because, I couldn’t understand English conversation, they put it in simpler terms and they said again and again until I could understand it.

Kristy is good at cooking, so her dinner was always good. She taught me how to make American foods. For example, we made beef stroganoff, rice crispy bars, choc chip cookies and spaghetti with meat sauce. I think that her meat loaf is the best thing I ever learned in America. I had never eaten such a good food before I came here.
I thank them from bottom of my heart for their kindness!! I am so glad to meet many nice Americans. It is the best thing for me. I had good experience in my life. I want to talk many people about my precious memories. Thank you for you has done for me!!!

[618 words]