The Fabelmans and WF-1000XM4

On Thursday, March 16th, it was time for the weekly gacha in DOAXVV. The trend coordinate swimsuit of the day was the SSR 'Voltage Heart.' Luckily, I was able to get 'Voltage Heart' for Fiona and Nanami, my two Venus girls. I'm thrilled about this! This pair had previously obtained an SSR and leveled up during the festival, so there's no doubt they will win in the SSS finals.

Yesterday, on Wednesday the 15th, I went to see a movie at TOHO Cinema in Hibiya after finishing work. I didn't have the energy to write in my diary when I got home, as it was already past 11:30 pm. Today, I feel extremely tired, but I would feel bad if I didn't write in my diary.

So, the first topic of today is my impression of the movie 'the Fablemans'.

This movie is Steven Spielberg's autobiographical work, depicting his childhood to his sophomore year in college. Although I only had this information from the trailer, I was pretty sure it would be a promising work.

I wondered what 'the Fablemans' in the title meant, but it turns out to be the family name of the protagonist, Sam. Since it's an unfamiliar name for Japanese people, I didn't think it was a surname.

This name seems to be a Jewish family name, and in a scene where Sam introduces himself, it leads to a scene where he experiences Jewish discrimination.

I had no energy to write in my diary yesterday on Wednesday, March 15th, as I went to see a movie at TOHO Cinema in Hibiya after work. It was already past 11:30 pm by the time I got home, and today I feel really sleepy. However, I can't help but feel uneasy if I don't write in my diary.

Spring and Cherry Blossoms in Tokyo

 Today is Tuesday, March 14th.

Tokyo has been enjoying warm weather lately, but today's high is only 15 degrees Celsius, making it feel slightly chilly. We still can't completely put away our winter clothes, but it's already mid-March, and the temperature will continue to rise.

Perhaps the cherry blossoms will bloom in Tokyo tomorrow, on the 15th.

During this season, peach and plum trees also bloom. They both have pink petals, making it difficult to distinguish between them without knowledge.

However, cherry blossoms are by far the most popular in Japan.

Japanese people really love cherry blossoms. I wonder why.

Compared to peaches and plums, cherry blossoms bloom all at once, their blooming is very showy and vigorous, and their peak is very short-lived, with the flowers falling quickly.

There are many famous cherry blossom spots in Tokyo. It's easy to find places with beautiful cherry blossoms even if you don't go to a famous location.

There are probably cherry trees planted all over Japan.

The cherry blossom season is very short, lasting only about a week. However, its blooming is so spectacular that it must leave a strong impression on Japanese people.

There is a waka (Japanese poem) about cherry blossoms that I like.

「YONONAKANI TAETE SAKURANO NAKARISEBA HARUNOKOKOROWA NODOKEKARAMAZI」

"If it weren't for cherry blossoms enduring in this world, then a heart of spring would never be able to exist peacefully."

It's a waka included in the Kokin Wakashu (a Japanese poetry anthology), and it was written by Ariwara no Narihira.

When cherry blossoms bloom, people feel that spring has come, and they can't sit still.

When spring comes, I also feel restless and uneasy. Perhaps it's because of the cherry blossoms.

If cherry blossoms bloom, I want to go see them. My favorite place is around Roppongi Hills and Spanish Hill. The beautiful townscape and the cherry blossoms are integrated, making it very beautiful.

Now, onto the last topic for today.

The aquarium on my lunchtime walking route.

I was worried because I haven't seen any Yamato numa ebi (Japanese freshwater shrimp) recently, but I was able to find one today, moving around without any issues. I took a photo, so I wanted to share it.

A Touching Sports Drama Showcasing Tom Cruise's Acting Skills: 'Jerry Maguire'

https://soundcloud.com/grow-rich-think/a-touching-sports-drama?si=130ccb08a6434beeb47b16c69789bfd2&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Today is Sunday. When I woke up, the first thing I did was check the weather for today by looking at Weather News.

There is some interesting information about the cherry blossom forecast. It is said that cherry blossoms will bloom when the accumulated daily maximum temperature since February 1st exceeds 600 degrees. However, this information is limited to the Yasukuni Shrine in Tokyo and is based on empirical knowledge. It is said that it does not apply to other regions.

I write a blog every day as a diary. Initially, the purpose was for English composition, but now the purpose has shifted to writing itself.

I am always thinking about what to write, but I cannot write about everything that happens or everything I think about. When I sit down at my computer, I often end up writing about something completely different from what I had planned. Writing something is the same as not writing something else. If I don't write about something, most of it will disappear into the recesses of my memory. I want to try to make a memo of everything I can.

Now, for today's topic.

I reread a book I had read before to reconsider my writing style.

The book I reread was "20-sai no jibun ni ukesasetai bunsho kogi" (Lecture on writing I want to give to my 20-year-old self) by Fumitake Koga.

The theme of the book is to eliminate the frustration of being able to speak but not write, and it explains the technique of converting spoken language into written language. Writing is thinking. Writing is a very good habit that strengthens thinking skills. I hope that people will develop a habit of writing as early as possible. Recently, I have been thinking about what is necessary for a healthy democracy to function. I think that if each citizen learns to write, they can acquire correct thinking and information literacy, and be able to make the right choice of government, which is necessary for a healthy democracy.

Now, about my usual English learning.

Lately, I have been spending almost all my time on English learning and have no time to read Japanese books. However, even if I can speak English, it is still a habit that is indispensable for conveying information to read Japanese books.

I use an app called "ELSA" every day to practice pronunciation, but I am very bad at pronouncing "usually" and "occasions." I always receive an "NG" rating. It is written in Katakana as "ju," but the actual pronunciation seems to be different. Maybe I will get an "OK" rating if I stick my lips out and vocalize from the back of my throat.

And finally, the last topic.

Yesterday, I went for a walk in Hibiya, so today I decided to watch a movie at home. The movie I watched today was "Jerry Maguire," starring Tom Cruise, with Renée Zellweger and Cuba Gooding Jr. co-starring. Although it was a movie from 1997, I didn't feel any sense of datedness, except for the fact that they used feature phones instead of smartphones.

The movie was very immersive, and I was moved to tears during the final scene.

The story depicts the journey of Jerry Maguire, a talented sports agent (Tom Cruise), who becomes disillusioned with his job, gets fired, and then starts his own company with the help of a struggling football player and an accountant named Dorothy. The movie portrays many themes, such as the business side of sports and a romantic relationship with a single mother, with a comedic touch, but it is ultimately a serious, humanistic drama.

The movie is 2 hours and 18 minutes long. I felt a little bored in the middle, but overall, it was an immersive and satisfying work.

Since watching "Maverick" at the movie theater, this was my third Tom Cruise movie on video. The other two were "Knight and Day" (co-starring Cameron Diaz) and "Jack Reacher" (co-starring Rosamund Pike). I am surprised that all the Tom Cruise movies I have seen so far are good, without any failures. He is truly a fantastic actor.

Tokyo Mid Town Hibiya

https://www.tumblr.com/destiny-venus/711536486968852480/metropolis?source=share

On Saturday, March 11th, I went for a walk to Tokyo Midtown in Hibiya. This facility is one of the largest commercial complexes in Tokyo, including the TOHO Cinema, and has a luxurious interior design, with even the toilets being more luxurious than my room. All the shops located inside the complex have a sense of luxury, and the visitors also have a sophisticated and refined style.

From the rooftop of the facility, you can see the view of Hibiya Park. It is one of my favorite areas, and this was my third visit. The previous two times I went on weekdays, and there were not many people, but on Saturdays, many people came to enjoy their day off.

Near Tokyo Midtown is Hibiya Chanter, which has probably been around for over 30 years. I visited it many times when it first opened, but I hardly remember which shops were located there. So, I decided to take a look at Hibiya Chanter after many decades. Compared to Tokyo Midtown, it has a more relaxed atmosphere, and the visitors are relatively older. Compared to Shinjuku and Shibuya, it has a very comfortable adult atmosphere.

I first learned that the stage of the popular anime "SPY×FAMILY" was being performed in Hibiya Chanter by seeing a poster with the logo inside the store. The posters are made for each actor and are displayed throughout the store. Many people stop in front of the posters to take pictures, and I did the same. In addition, the handprints of big stars such as Toshiro Mifune and Hibari Misora, who appeared in Toho movies, were on display as reliefs, which was very interesting.

Hibiya is located on the commuting route, so you can easily visit it without spending transportation costs if you use a commuting pass. Moreover, you can walk to Ginza and the Imperial Palace from Hibiya, and there are many tourist spots. Furthermore, if you get off at Otemachi, just one station away, you can access Tokyo Station, right in the center of Tokyo. It's a shame not to go out on holidays since you already have a commuting pass.

Until now, I have spent many holidays at home, but I have come to feel that I want to explore Tokyo more actively. As I live in a globally renowned city like Tokyo, it is a waste to stay at home. It takes only about 30 minutes one way from my home to Hibiya. Also, there is a very splendid movie theater, so I will probably use it more often in the future.

Tokyo is such a huge city, isn't it?

3.11 East Japan Earthquake

https://www.tumblr.com/destiny-venus/711449594258702336/metropolis-httpsexodus1114blogspotcom?source=share

Today is Saturday, so it's a day off. I would like to start my day by writing a blog. Writing is the easiest creative activity, and I think it's a very important skill for expressing yourself. I hope that writing a blog will improve my writing skills.

Today, March 11, is the anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. This year is the 12th anniversary. In the early morning of this day, earthquakes struck Hokkaido and Kanto one after the other. The "Weather News" program on YouTube reported the news. The program usually features a beautiful weather forecaster who speaks to viewers in a soft and friendly tone, but during the news flash, tension is high and she immediately urges viewers to ensure their safety. 

The contrast between the usual weather program and the tension during the news flash is palpable. Fortunately, there was no damage caused by the earthquake. Although the Japanese are accustomed to earthquakes, as Japan is an earthquake-prone country, extra caution is needed on this special day. Even earthquakes that would normally go unnoticed may have served as a reminder to raise disaster preparedness awareness among the Japanese people.

According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), there were 1500 earthquakes with a magnitude of 6.0 or greater worldwide between 2010 and 2020. Of these, 31 occurred in Japan, which would indicate that Japan has experienced relatively few large earthquakes when looking only at the number of occurrences.

However, when considering the frequency of large earthquakes of magnitude 6.0 or greater, Japan can be considered to have a relatively average amount of seismic activity on a global scale. This information is provided by ChatGPT.

Recently there have also been major earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, and Japan is known to be prone to disasters such as typhoons, giving the impression that Japan experiences a lot of disasters. The saying "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure" was born from the experience of Japanese people living in a disaster-prone country, and I think it is a very useful phrase.

Since today is Saturday, I am in a relaxed mood. I am an indoor person, so even on weekends, my main activities outside the house are shopping and walking. Occasionally I go to the movies. Today, however, I plan to take the train and go to Hibiya, where there is a movie theater.

I don't go to the movies, but the Hibiya movie theater is also a very impressive commercial facility. Especially the view from the roof is wonderful. I usually read English books on the train. There's nothing else to do on the train, so I can concentrate better than when I read at home.

I have time to read books at home on vacation, but surprisingly, my concentration doesn't last long. Since I have a commuter pass, I'm thinking of going out and studying at the same time. It's also a good way to refresh my mood and spend my vacation.

If possible, I'd like to buy some delicious sweets and enjoy a cafe-like atmosphere at home.

The effective English learning methods.

https://www.tumblr.com/destiny-venus/711405928475508736/dead-or-alive-xtreme-venus-vacation-doaxvv?source=share

The temperature in Tokyo today was 21 degrees Celsius, and although it's chilly in the morning and evening, the weather has become spring-like during the day. There are pink flowers blooming near my office that look like cherry blossoms, but upon closer inspection, they seem to be different. Judging from the texture of the tree, they are probably plum trees. This morning's Weather News explained how to tell the difference between cherry blossoms, plum blossoms and peach blossoms. They bloom at the same time with pink petals, so they look similar, but apparently they can be distinguished by the shape of the petals.

Reference article

I feel that there has been a change in me since I started journaling. I have become more aware of my own actions and have begun to pay attention to what is happening around me. Also, my insight has increased and different ideas come to my mind. I feel more positive and proactive than before.

So I asked ChatGPT about the purpose of journaling.

The purpose of journaling varies from person to person, but in general, the reasons are as follows

Organize thoughts: Writing a journal allows you to organize your thoughts and feelings. By writing, you can objectively look at your inner self and understand your way of thinking and behaving.

Memorization: By recording daily events and memories, you can recall them more vividly. Also, by reading them later, you can review your growth and what you have learned from past mistakes.

Enhance creativity: Journaling can enhance your creativity and self-expression. By putting your thoughts into words, you can improve your sensitivity and expressiveness.

Stress relief: If you have daily stress, journaling can help you relieve it. By expressing your feelings and thoughts, you can reduce the burden on your mind.

As mentioned above, there are many benefits to journaling.

If there are so many good things, I think it would be great if we could teach diary writing in compulsory education.

Now let's get into the main topic of today: my English learning has been stagnant lately. To give myself a boost, I pretended to be a third-party and gave myself a lecture on English learning.

The importance of expressing emotions when speaking English

It is said that it is important to express emotions when speaking English. Today, I would like to share with you something I realized during my speaking practice. First, imagine a fictitious person and imagine yourself talking to him or her in English. By practicing this method, you can naturally focus on your pronunciation and make an effort to speak clearly. In addition, the good thing about this method is that you can feel the feeling of being there. By feeling this feeling, it can be more deeply engraved in your memory. I think this method is a very practical way of learning.

The Need to Practice Speaking and Listening, Not Just Grammar

Understanding grammar is very important for learning a second language, but simply reading grammar books or doing exercises will not make you able to speak English. Therefore, it is important to include speaking and listening practice along with grammar study. However, understanding grammar is the very foundation, and it is extremely helpful to memorize phrases and create English sentences, which makes it easier to understand the structure of English. It is important to continue learning English grammar every day, even if it is just a little bit within your reach.

The Importance of Quality and Continuous Learning in English Language Learning

In English language learning, it is an important fact that the quality of studying is more important than the length of studying time, which applies to all kinds of learning. I believe that studying without concentration is a waste of time. Therefore, it is important to focus on effective English learning and to keep on learning. Although the time it takes to become proficient in English may vary, if you continue to make the effort, there will certainly come a time when you will be able to speak English.

The importance of self-learning before relying on paid services

There are many expensive English learning services available on the Internet. While they may be very attractive to people who want to speak English, it is not necessary to use these paid materials until you have acquired the minimum necessary English skills. First, you need to develop the minimum necessary English skills through your own efforts. If you know how to learn, you can use useful self-study applications and content, whether paid or free. In addition, there are many excellent books that explain how to study, so choose the method that works best for you.

If there's something you don't understand, you can search for it on the Internet, and there are also AIs like ChatGPT that can answer your questions at any time. You won't be frowned upon for asking the same thing over and over again. You can ask questions until you understand without hesitation. Therefore, I don't think it's necessary to spend money on many paid English conversation services that have been offered so far.

The importance of professional one-on-one lessons

However, not all services are unnecessary. If you decide to use a service, you should choose professional private lessons. A representative service is online English conversation. The usefulness of private lessons is common to all hobbies, such as learning to play a musical instrument or driving a car.

In this article, I have delved into a specific topic with thorough explanations. I hope you have all gained valuable new insights. In addition, I have addressed pertinent challenges and provided effective solutions to help you make informed decisions. Finally, I hope you have found this article to be a helpful resource. Rest assured, I am committed to providing more informative content in the future.

The update has arrived!

 https://www.tumblr.com/the-queen-of-the-night-aria/711318371980984320/dead-or-alive-xtreme-venus-vacation-doaxvv?source=share

Thursday, March 9th. The highest temperature in Tokyo was 21 degrees, and the weather was so mild that people could go out without wearing a jacket during the day.

Today, Thursday, is an exciting day for all DOAXVV players because there is an update every Thursday. I am curious about what the trend coordination gacha for this week's update will be.

This week's trend coordination gacha is posted on this link.

Usually, I spin the gacha without thinking, but this time I looked at the information released by the official to feature in my blog. However, it is quite complicated, and I can't understand it well. Roughly speaking, it seems that the appearance probability of SSR is only a maximum of 3.3%.

However, even though I don't spend any money, I can get an SSR almost every week. Of course, some weeks I don't get any, but I feel a little suspicious about whether this probability is true.

The DOAXVV event fest is based on the difficulty that assumes that one of the pair wears the trend coordination SSR swimsuit, so it becomes difficult to win in the finals as you progress to SS rank and SSS rank.

The SSR trend coordination swimsuit has a high-excitement effect that boosts various Venus parameters, so it is essential to have an SSR to win the event fest. In other words, if you cannot get the trend coordination early, you will lose your fighting spirit before the fight.

With only a 3.3% chance, I think it might be impossible to get an SSR every week as I spin the gacha. The first time, I lost. The second time, I lost.

By the way, the production when the SSR is confirmed is completely different from the normal effect, so you can judge whether it is a miss or not immediately.

And the third time. The confirmation production of the SSR flowed on the screen. Elise is the Venus of the equipment award.

I feel surprised and happy. It's a moment when I feel super lucky, although it's short.

Elise is a Venus I just got two weeks ago, and she is participating in two consecutive event fests, and her current level is 42, so she is an excellent fighting force. By the way, among the many Venuses, I think Elise is the coolest character.

The operator who releases precious SSR every week without spending any money is surprisingly generous. If I succeed in changing jobs and have some financial leeway, I want to pay them back by spending some money.

Well, there is one day left for work this week. I'm already writing this diary with a weekend feel. I usually just go back and forth between my company and home, so I'm thinking of getting off somewhere and wandering around Tokyo.

I want to go to Toho Cinema in Hibiya tomorrow and look at Hibiya Park at night from the rooftop of the building. The rooftop of the building where the cinema is located is free to enter, and there is a lovely cafe. I can't wait until tomorrow...

Cherry blossoms: The season of samurai flowers has arrived

https://www.tumblr.com/the-queen-of-the-night-aria/711224086906503168/dead-or-alive-xtreme-venus-vacation-5th?source=share

 The daytime temperature in Tokyo has been above 20°C (68°F) every day, and it is already early March, signaling the arrival of spring. During my daily lunchtime walk, I was surprised to find early-blooming cherry trees. Although they were far from full bloom, it was an exciting moment for me to see the arrival of spring.

In ancient times, Japanese samurai strove to make their short lives bloom as beautifully as flowers. They are said to have discussed bushido under the cherry blossoms as they began to bloom, just as the "cherry blossom front" was moving north. There is also an anecdote that the samurai always planted a cherry tree so that they could see the beautiful blossoms before going into battle.

The care with which the samurai treated cherry trees has been carried over into modern Japan. In the spring, many people go to parks and streets to admire the beautiful blossoms of cherry trees. The event called "Hanami," or cherry blossom viewing, held in conjunction with the blooming of the cherry blossoms, has become one of the most popular spring events in Japan. Through cherry blossoms, people can share beautiful moments and enrich their lives, just as the samurai aimed to do.

There is an aquarium that I always stop at when I go for a walk. Amidst the colorful tropical fish swimming around, my attention is always drawn to a tiny and inconspicuous shrimp called the Yamato numaebi. Today, when I looked in the tank, I couldn't find the little shrimp. I was worried that they might have died or something. However, looking at the tank is still comforting.

Lately I have been eating expired rolling stock (canned food) for lunch. I stockpile food in case of disasters, but it is difficult to keep track of expiration dates. Therefore, I think it is a good idea to constantly repeat consumption and replenishment to avoid wasting food.

Lately I have been going to bed late, so last night I took sleeping pills. Thanks to them, I fell asleep quickly. However, I overslept for an hour in the morning and again for 11 minutes during my midday nap. I have suffered from insomnia for many years and have been hospitalized for sleep apnea. The results confirmed that CPAP treatment was not necessary. However, the exact cause remains unknown.

Daily events, even trivial ones, provide an opportunity to reflect on one's life. This is the beauty of keeping a diary. Today, too, I made a small discovery, and it was an invaluable day for me.

DOAXVV: Would you like to enjoy the beach with venus?

Soft Engine

https://www.tumblr.com/the-queen-of-the-night-aria/711150475929632768/dead-or-alive-xtreme-venus-vacation-doaxvv?source=share

 I want to talk about my favorite game "DEAD OR ALIVE Xtreme Venus Vacation" today. It has been over a year since I started playing this game, and my total playtime is 939.1 hours. According to the official website, DOAXVV has been in service for 5 years.

DOA (Dead or Alive), the original title of DOAXVV, was initially released as an arcade fighting game exclusively for arcades. The first DOA was an arcade game that ran on the same SEGA Model2 platform as Virtua Fighter2, and the control system was an arranged version of VF2's 3-button system. The G (Guard) button of VF2 was changed to H (Hold), and the guard was arranged to be done when the lever was operated in the opposite direction, as in traditional 2D fighting games.

In addition, bold 3D effects are used for damage and portrayal through the Danger Zone, as well as for expressing the busts of female characters that appear in the game, making it a groundbreaking and highly advanced game system.

The porting to home 32-bit game consoles at the time was excellent in reproducing the original arcade game, demonstrating Tecmo's high development power sufficiently.

In "DOA," all playable characters are female and are called "Venus." Currently, 30 playable Venus have appeared, and new Venus are planned to be added regularly. The basic gameplay is to organize a pair of Venus and play beach volleyball, and the limited elements that players can intervene in are because an automatic battle system by AI is adopted. When you win at beach volleyball, you can get useful items or raise the Venus's level.

However, the charm of this game is not the beach volleyball itself, but the ability to admire the Venus in swimsuits. Using the photo mode, you can save various attractive images, and by seeing a variety of images uploaded on Twitter, you are driven by the urge to try it yourself. I had no interest in uploading images to SNS, but I want to improve my photography skills to enjoy the game more.

There is one more point I want to touch on about this game. That is, this game is a gacha game that includes a payment element. Even if you don't pay, you can get SSR items, so this game is quite tolerant. However, I want to get Venus's exclusive limited-release items that are sold only on each Venus's birthday. However, the minimum unit for payment in this game is set very high at 10,000 yen. The desired item is not guaranteed to be obtained even if you pay 10,000 yen because a very low drop rate is set for the special prize items.

Therefore, I have never paid for anything in this game. However, I think that even players who do not pay can still enjoy this game sufficiently. However, since there are limits to what non-paying players can do, I feel it's important to not be too greedy and just enjoy the game.

Let's Grow

March 6th. The current time is 23:44.

After thinking about whether to write about growth, which I wrote about at work today, or DOAXVV, which I play all the time, I decided to write about growth.

I'll write about DOAXVV tomorrow.

Yesterday, I went back and read a blog post I wrote eight years ago and noticed that there was not much difference between it and my current writing. 

It is true that I had not written recently, so perhaps I had not grown.

I also looked back at my own growth.

My introverted personality hasn't changed at all since childhood, and my most destructive relationships, which are my greatest weakness, are still the same.

I believe we are born to grow. However, when I look back at my past, I don't feel that I have grown at all.

I want to live my life so that I can feel growth every day, so that I will not regret it in the future.

It is not too late.

March 5

Shanti refreshing in nature with her hair blowing in the wind.

It is cloudy and rainy in Tokyo on Sunday, March 5. I wanted to do laundry, but because the weather is bad, I decided to dry it inside. Today is already March 5th.

Yesterday it was warm enough not to wear a jacket. Moreover, the temperature is expected to reach nearly 20℃ from the second half of this week. It's time to change your clothes for the season.

As the temperature rises, the amount of pollen increases, making it a tough season for people with hay fever. Hay fever is a common allergy symptom that often causes itchy eyes, sneezing, and runny nose. Applying petroleum jelly to the inside of the nose is said to relieve symptoms.

I haven't been able to do "extensive reading" to improve my reading comprehension because I've been spending time on speaking and writing for the past two days. Today I plan to prioritize extensive reading.

When I want to know the weather, I usually watch a special weather forecast channel called "Weather News" on YouTube. To get a wide range of information, I'll listen to the radio today.

The advantage of listening to the radio is that you can hear news and information without looking or reading, which makes it convenient to do other tasks. In addition, radio programs include a variety of topics such as entertainment and music, which makes listening more enjoyable.

Sometimes I want to go to a fancy coffee shop, but it's too expensive for me because a cup of coffee costs 500 yen. So I want to think of ways to enjoy coffee at home instead of going to a coffee shop.

3月5日、日曜日、東京は曇りで雨である。洗濯する予定であったが、天気が悪いため、室内で干すことに決めた。今日はもう3月5日である。

英語がわかるという感覚

私は英語を話せるようになりたい。去年から英語学習を継続しているが、未だに話すことが出来ずに悩んでいる。

どうしたら英語が話せるようになるのだろうか？

毎日、試行錯誤を繰り返しながら、色々と考えたが私が得た結論は次のとおりだ。

「英語がわかるという感覚を養う」

どうこうことか？

英語を読んだり聴いたりしたときに、大きく「わかる」という感覚が得られるかどうかが重要だ。細かな点は気にしなくてもよい。

これはよく言われている「英語脳」を獲得するということと同義だろう。

では、具体的にどのような学習方法で「英語脳」を獲得できるのか。

理屈だけを言えばとても単純なことだ。

それは英語の本を読んだり、ラジオを聴いたりするなど、英語のコンテツに沢山接することである。

ただし利用するコンテンツには少し条件がある。

第一の条件は自分のレベルにあっていること。言うまでもなく、自分の実力を超えるコンテンツは理解できない。理解できないコンテンツで「わかる」感覚を得ることは出来ないのだから意味がない。

自分のレベルに相応しいコンテンツを見つけ出すことがとても重要だ。しかし実はこれが難しいのだ。

注意したいのはよくあるドラマや映画を利用すること。この方法は初心者には向かない。

何故なら映像コンテンツは英語諸学者にとっては難易度が高いものが多い傾向が高いからだ。

第二の条件は興味のあるコンテンツを選ぶこと。
興味がないもので学習するのは苦痛である。あえて「学習」という表現を使っているが、英語を取得したければ興味のあることを英語で学ぶんだほうがよい。何故ならそのほうが没頭できるし継続もしやすいからだ。

例えば、ハリーポッターが大好き人は、母国語でハリーポッターを読んですでに理解できているので、英語でハリーポッターの原書を読んでも、大きく意味は捉えられる。このようなケースでは「わかる」という感覚を、とても得やすいはずである。

以上のことについてChatGPTにも質問をしてみたら、とても納得の行く回答が得られたので情報を共有したい。

ChatGPT: 英語を読んだり聴いたりしたときに「わかる」という感覚を養うためには、以下のような効果的な学習方法があります。

多読（たどく）

多読とは、たくさんの英語の文章を読むことで、英語のリズムや文法、表現を自然に身につける方法です。初めは文法のルールや単語の意味を辞書で調べながら読むことが多いかもしれませんが、繰り返し読むことで徐々に理解が深まり、自然な英語のリズムや表現が身につくようになります。

リスニング

英語を聴くことも、英語の理解力を高める上で重要です。英語のニュースやポッドキャスト、映画やドラマなど、興味のあるコンテンツを聴いて、リズムや発音、単語や表現を覚えることができます。最初は字幕をつけたり、繰り返し聴いたりして、徐々に聞き取りの難易度を上げていくとよいでしょう。

口頭練習

英語を話すことも、英語力を向上させる上で大切です。まずは自分がよく使う表現や質問文などを練習して、英語でコミュニケーションを取ることを意識してみましょう。また、スピーキング練習アプリやオンラインの会話サイトを利用することで、リアルな英語の会話を練習することもできます。

語彙力の向上

英語を読んだり聴いたりする上で、語彙力は非常に重要です。単語帳を活用したり、語彙力アプリを利用することで、英単語やフレーズを覚えることができます。また、英語のニュースや記事を読んで、頻出単語や表現を覚えることも効果的です。

文法の理解

英語の文法を理解することは、英語力を高める上で欠かせません。文法のルールを理解し、英文を分析することで、英語の表現力が向上します。また、文法書やオンラインの英語学習サイトなど

37 years ago Top Gun

According to the forecast, it will be sunny then cloudy on Saturday, March 4.

The maximum temperature in Tokyo will be 17 degrees Celsius.

Although the temperature fluctuates a lot depending on the day, it is gradually getting warmer.

You can also feel the spring-like atmosphere. Cherry blossoms are said to bloom in Tokyo in mid-March.

Spring is also the season for enrollment and employment, and it makes you feel restless.

I prefer winter to spring because I like the feeling of reluctance to get out of a cold room in the morning.

Well, enough about the weather. The topic of today's conversation is Top Gun.

Yesterday I watched the 1986 movie "Top Gun" on Amazon Video.

It is surprising that a sequel is being produced 37 years later, starring the same actor, Tom Cruise.

In the first half of the original story, the protagonist, Maverick, takes bold actions full of confidence, but the second half portrays his struggles after losing his best friend in an accident.

The finale has a great climax with a fighter plane battle between the F-14 and the Mig.

It is a very impressive work, but the process of the protagonist rising from his struggles and reaching the final fighter battle feels inadequate.

On the other hand, the new Maverick has credibility and successfully portrays a fighter battle that is suitable for entertainment.

I think Tom Cruise is one of the greatest actors, and if he became president, he could be the greatest president in U.S. history.

Top Gun: Maverick

March 3rd, Friday.

Today, March 3rd, is "Hinamatsuri" or "Doll Festival" in Japan. Hinamatsuri is one of the traditional events in Japan, and families with girls decorate their houses with "hina dolls" (also known as "Ohina-sama"), which are male and female pair dolls shaped like the emperor and empress.

It is said that the custom of displaying "hina dolls" dates back to the Edo period, although it is believed to have originated from the customs of the Japanese nobility. To confirm my knowledge and memory about the origin of "hina dolls", I asked ChatGPT.

Since there is no clear explanation for the historical origin of decorating with hina dolls at Hinamatsuri, there are several theories. Below are some representative theories.

One theory is that it originated from "Joshi no Sekku" or "Girls' Day," which was celebrated among aristocrats during the Heian period. According to this theory, aristocrats in the Heian period decorated peach trees or flowers and ate peaches on March 3 as a good luck charm to pray for the health and longevity of their children. It is said that this custom spread among the common people and eventually evolved into the display of Hina dolls.

Another theory is related to the development of culture during the Edo period. During this period, the warrior class, including the shogun's family, began to celebrate Hinamatsuri on March 3. At that time, it became fashionable to make Hina dolls, and it is said that the display of Hina dolls also became popular.

A third theory is that the custom of displaying Hina dolls spread among the common people in the middle of the Edo period. In the middle of the Edo period, hina dolls became popular among the common people and established themselves as a representative decoration for Hinamatsuri. According to this theory, the custom of displaying Hina dolls originated among the common people.

In modern Japan, it is common to eat diamond-shaped rice cakes called "hishimochi" or "chirashi sushi" (scattered sushi) and drink sweet rice wine called "amazake" to celebrate Hinamatsuri.

I plan to buy some amazake and celebrate Hinamatsuri today.

Yesterday I watched "Top Gun: Maverick" at a movie theater in Ikebukuro. This movie is a blockbuster starring Tom Cruise, and the previous movie was released 37 years ago in 1986. This movie was released on May 27 last year and is still being shown as of March 3, 2023, making it a super long-running movie.

I usually only watch animated movies, but I also watch live-action movies when they are big productions.

My impression of the movie I saw can be summed up in one word: overwhelming and amazing. The story, the direction, the aerial action and the visuals were all fantastic. I was completely immersed in the world of the movie. It was a dynamic movie that reminded me of Tom Cruise's Mission: Impossible series he starred in. It was a very exciting movie that I can still enjoy even after watching it.

Actually, I haven't seen the previous installment. It's just too old. However, I intend to watch it now.

The latest installment in the Mission: Impossible series is scheduled to be released in 2023. I would like to see it in the theater.

March 2

Thursday, March 2.The second day of a 5-day consecutive holiday. I think a diary is something to be written at the end of the day. The purpose is to reflect and record the events of the day. In my case, however, I often write in the morning. This is because the purpose of my journal writing is to learn English, so I emphasize what I want to write about or how I'm feeling at the time. Also, I'm usually too tired to write at night.

Writing is very enjoyable. I often spend the whole day thinking, "What am I going to write today? But sometimes when I actually try to write, I can't think of anything. The readers of this blog are only me. But if I'm going to write, I want it to be something meaningful.

Yesterday in Tokyo, it was warm enough that I didn't need a jacket. It was really nice weather. I regret not doing laundry. Today also seems to be a warm day. However, there is a possibility of sudden rain.

I plan to watch a movie in Ikebukuro today starting at 17:55. Yesterday was a discount day for movies. Today is the discount day for app members of the theater I belong to. I'm going to see "Top Gun: Maverick" today. I'm sure I'll be able to watch the movie in a relaxed atmosphere.

I don't watch TV, but I often watch videos on the Internet. I have a favorite video on YouTube that I always watch.

ASMR is an abbreviation for something, but I can't remember what it is in Japanese because it's hard.

I often get a tingling sensation. It is so pleasurable that it produces a feeling of rapture and ecstasy.

A good substance must be released in my brain. I can relax and maybe my concentration increases. Of all the ASMR videos out there, this is the best for me.

That's all for this morning.

Three Wishes

The first of every month is Movie Day. I requested a day off on March 1st because I was aiming for that day. If I'm going to watch a movie anyway, I want to relax while watching it during the day.

I looked for different movies, but I didn't find any that I particularly wanted to see. However, a biographical movie by Spielberg will be released on March 3.

After considering various options, I decided to watch "The Arabian Nights: The Wishes of the Three Genies”.

My favorite movie theater is TOHO Cinemas Hibiya. As far as I know, it's the best movie theater in Japan. Everything is great there anyway.

The movie starts at 11:50 on Wednesday, a weekday. I thought there would be enough seats, but it was almost full. Is this movie a hit?

The genie in the movie can grant three wishes. The reason three is the number of wishes is because it is a sacred number. I see. But the protagonist doesn't try to get three wishes, and that's the story.

What I felt here was what I would wish for. Do I want money, health, or world peace? If such happiness came to me, I thought I would seriously organize and understand my wishes beforehand.

After watching the movie, I wanted to have coffee in a nice cafe. There are many nice cafes, but I am reluctant to go alone. Besides, it costs money, and if I eat sweets, I might gain weight... In the end, I gave up on the cafe and went home with a feeling of regret.

I want to be the kind of person who can enjoy a graceful time in a nice cafe without feeling shy, especially since I am in Tokyo. Should I make this one of my three wishes?

It's March from today.

It's March from today. 

Time really flies, doesn't it? 

What do you call the phenomenon where time seems to go faster as you age? 

I have a 5-day consecutive holiday from today. 

March 5th is my father's anniversary of passing, so I usually go back to my hometown in Hokkaido every year. 

However, my mother is currently hospitalized, so I plan to spend my time relaxing at home instead of going back this year.

I have plans to go to the cinema today and tomorrow, but I don't have any special plans for the other days.

I intend to study English carefully at home and not waste this valuable time.

The health benefits of apples

I love chocolate and coffee.

I always write about those two in my journal, but there are other things I like too.

Apples.

I didn't like them when I was a kid, but I grew to like them as an adult.

I used to eat them every day. They say an apple a day keeps the doctor away.

But lately the price has been high, so I haven't bought them for almost a year.

A useful podcast for learning English is the BBC's "6 minute English".

In the latest episode they talk about apples and how they are a super food.

EPISODE 230223 / 23 FEB 2023

They are not only delicious but also healthy.

Unfortunately, they are expensive.

To eat apples every day, I have to adjust my food budget.

I buy drip coffee at the grocery store every day, but I decided to give it up for apples. Coffee can be consumed at home.

I have also stopped buying sweet snacks. I think I can still eat an apple a day without changing my food budget.

I wish apples were cheaper.

音声

【VOA】Japan, Other G7 Leaders Step Up Russia Sanctions

 Title: G7 Leaders Impose New Sanctions on Russia
https://www.voanews.com/a/japan-other-g7-leaders-step-up-russia-sanctions/6978819.html

Script:(by GhatGPT)

The Group of Seven, or G7, leaders have imposed new sanctions on Russia over its ongoing conflict with Ukraine. The sanctions target individuals and entities involved in the annexation of Crimea and the destabilization of Ukraine. The G7 leaders also expressed concern over Russia's actions in the Black Sea and human rights violations in the country. Russia has criticized the new sanctions and warned of retaliatory measures. This move marks a significant escalation in tensions between Russia and the West.

タイトル G7首脳がロシアに新たな制裁を発動

Script:

G7（主要7カ国首脳会議）は、ウクライナとの紛争が続くロシアに対し、新たな制裁を課した。この制裁は、クリミアの併合とウクライナの不安定化に関与した個人と団体を対象としている。また、G7首脳は、ロシアの黒海での行動や同国での人権侵害に懸念を表明した。ロシアは新たな制裁を批判し、報復措置を警告している。この動きは、ロシアと西側諸国の緊張を著しくエスカレートさせるものである。

ChatGPTが作成した憲法9条改正が必要な理由。

 何故、憲法9条の改正が日本の安全保障にとって必要なのかなどの問題についてChatGPTに解説をしてもらいました。


Q１:日本国憲法9条を改正し自衛隊を軍隊として法律に定義し、防衛力を高めるべき理由を3つあげて、それぞれの根拠について詳細に説明しなさい。

A1：日本国憲法9条を改正し、自衛隊を軍隊として法律に定義することについて、以下に3つの理由とその根拠を示します。

外部の安全保障環境が変化していること

現代の安全保障環境は、国際情勢の変化によりますます厳しくなっています。特に、アジア太平洋地域では、北朝鮮の核・ミサイル開発や、中国の軍事的な拡大が進んでいるため、日本も自衛のための防衛力を強化する必要があります。自衛隊が軍隊として法律に定義され、防衛力が強化されることで、このような安全保障環境に対応できるようになります。

国内の安全保障環境が変化していること

国内の安全保障環境も変化しています。例えば、自然災害による被害や、テロの脅威が存在しています。これらの問題に対応するためには、自衛隊の能力強化が必要です。軍隊として法律に定義され、防衛力が強化されることで、これらの問題に対応する能力を高めることができます。

同盟国との協力体制の強化が必要であること

日本は、アメリカ合衆国と安全保障条約を結んでおり、その上で、自衛隊の存在が許されています。しかし、日本が同盟国として責任を果たすためには、自衛隊の防衛力を強化する必要があります。自衛隊が軍隊として法律に定義され、防衛力が強化されることで、同盟国との協力体制をより強固にし、安全保障に対する責任を果たすことができます。

以上のように、自衛隊を軍隊として法律に定義し、防衛力を高めることは、現代の安全保障環境や国内外の脅威に対処するために必要であり、同盟国との協力体制を強化することもできます。

Q2:自衛隊が軍隊として承認されていない状態で軍事力を保持していることは危険なことであるとの立場に立って、その理由を3点あげ、それぞれについて詳細に説明をしなさい。

A2:自衛隊が軍隊として承認されていない状態で軍事力を保持していることについては、次のようなリスクが存在します。

民主的な統制が不十分である

自衛隊が軍隊として法律に明確に定義されていないため、軍事力の行使や拡大が民主的なプロセスに基づかず、不透明な形で行われる可能性があります。軍事力が民主的な統制の下にあることは、国家の安全保障政策を決定する政治家や国民の意思決定によってコントロールされることを意味しています。

国際社会との信頼関係が損なわれる

自衛隊が軍隊として承認されていないことは、国際社会との信頼関係を損なう可能性があります。国際法に基づき、国家は他国に対して軍事力を行使することができる唯一の場合は、自己防衛に必要な場合に限られます。自衛隊が軍隊として承認されていない場合、日本が他国に対して軍事力を行使する可能性があることが国際社会に認識され、信頼関係を損なうことになるでしょう。

自衛隊員の憲法的な権利が制限される

自衛隊員は、現在の憲法下での自衛隊の立場により、憲法的な権利が制限されています。例えば、言論の自由や労働組合の権利が制限され、民間人とは異なる待遇を受けることになっています。自衛隊が軍隊として法律に明確に定義され、自衛隊員が軍人としての権利と義務を持つことで、自衛隊員の憲法的な権利が改善される可能性があります。


Q3:現在、議論されているLBGT法案について。この法案が成立すると日本の伝統的な家族制度が崩壊するとの立場から反対する理由を3点あげ、それぞれの理由について解説しなさい。

A3:LGBT法案が成立すると日本の伝統的な家族制度が崩壊するとの立場から反対する理由を3点あげ、それぞれの理由について解説します。

LGBT法案に反対する立場からの意見を述べます。

伝統的な家族制度に与える悪影響

LGBT法案の成立により、同性婚が合法化されることになります。しかし、これは伝統的な家族制度に与える悪影響を引き起こす可能性があります。家族とは、父親と母親によって構成され、子供を育てることが本来の目的です。同性婚の合法化は、父親と母親という伝統的な家族の価値観を変えることになるため、伝統的な家族制度に悪影響を与えると考えられます。

社会に与える悪影響

LGBT法案の成立により、同性愛者が権利を持つことになります。しかし、同性愛者に特別な権利を与えることは、社会に悪影響を与える可能性があります。例えば、同性愛者が差別を受けた場合、その差別を受けた理由が同性愛者であることを主張することができ、不当な取り扱いを受けたという主張を行うことができます。これは、社会の秩序を乱すことになるため、社会に悪影響を与える可能性があります。

性行為の正当化

LGBT法案の成立により、同性愛者の性的指向が合法的であることが認められます。しかし、同性愛者の性的指向を正当化することは、社会に悪影響を与える可能性があります。例えば、同性愛者の性的行為を肯定することは、異性愛者の性的行為も同様に正当化することを意味するため、性的倫理観が低下する可能性があります。これは、社会にとって深刻な問題であるため、LGBT法案の成立には慎重に検討する必要があると言えます。


Q4:日本の放送事業は免許制であり、報道姿勢については特定の立場に変更することなく対立する意見がある場合には双方の意見を対等に報道するよう電波法で定められています。しかし日本のTV局は沖縄の反米活動運動の報道にあるように、非常に偏向した報道を繰り返しているとの意見があります。このようなTV局の姿勢を矯正するために、電波オークションを導入するべき理由を3点あげて解説しなさい。

A4:日本のTV局が偏向報道を繰り返していることは問題視されており、その解決策の一つとして電波オークションを導入することが提案されています。その理由を以下に示します。

競争原理に基づく報道の促進

電波オークションを導入することによって、TV局間の競争が促進され、偏向報道が減少する可能性があります。オークションで使用権を得た局は、視聴者から支持される報道を行うことで競争優位性を獲得できるため、偏向報道が少なくなる可能性があります。

メディアの多様化

電波オークションは、新しい放送事業者の参入を促進することができます。これによって、メディアの多様性が増し、偏向報道の問題を解決することができる可能性があります。

受信料の有効活用

受信料は、TV局が公正な報道を行うための財源となっています。しかし、偏向報道が問題となっている現状では、受信料の有効活用が困難です。電波オークションを導入することによって、公正な報道を行うTV局が優遇されるようになるため、受信料の有効活用が可能になると考えられます。

以上のように、電波オークションの導入によって偏向報道の問題が解決され、公正な報道が行われる可能性があります。