silver lining

every cloud has a silver lining.

Wednesday, May 31, 2006

Time to buy i Pod?

There's no day without seeing the word "podcast" or "podcasting" on the net these days. This morning I found a site on which you can get daily English learning materials (You have to download itune 6 in order to get it). Hmm, it's time to buy i Pod?

Tuesday, May 30, 2006

Мари Йонэхара











Mari Yonehara, a Russian simultaneous interpreter and humorous essayst, died May 25. She was 56 years old.

I'm a fan of her essays which are full of humor. You can read some of her essays here.
http://www.alc.co.jp/eng/hontsu/soutsu/index.html

Here's her obituary on The Japan Times Online.
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20060530b3.html

Saturday, May 27, 2006

Sondern Sekiguchi

Tsugio Sekiguchi(1894-1958) is a German scholar who is called Sondern. Now I remember a professor ordered me to copy his German textbook "Hochschul-Grammatik der Deutschen Sprache" for a German grammar class. I quit the class before I finished it though...

I found one of his essays "Determination to master a language" on the net (of course in Japanese). If only I could make time to study many languages again.

語学をやる覚悟  関口存男

△本当に語学を物にしようと思ったら、或種の悲壮な決心を固めなくっちゃあ到底駄目ですね。まず友達と絶交する、その次にはかかアの横っ面を張り飛ばす、その次には書斎の扉に鍵を掛ける。書斎の無い人は、心の扉に鍵を掛ける。その方が徹底します。
△意地が汚くなくっては駄目です。欲張っていなければ駄目です。うんと功利的でなければ。ユダヤ人が金をためるように。なるべく執念深く、しつこく、うるさく、汚く、諦め悪く、非常識に、きちがいじみて、滅茶苦茶に、がつがつと、居候が飯を食うように――兎に角しつこく、しつこく、しつこく。
△あっさりした気持ちを持った亡国的日本人なら其の辺にいくらだって転がっています。併しそんなのは何人いたって仕様がない。ちっと『しつこい』のがいなければ。梃子でも動かないのが。諦めの悪いのが。往生際の悪いのが。がつがつした下品なのが。
△こういう事をいうと、頭っから反感を持つ人があるかも知れません。よろしい、反感をお持ちなさい、但し学問はおやめなさい。殊に語学は。(語学だけではないでしょう?)

Let me skip the latter half...

Links:
http://ja.wikipedia.org/wiki/関口存男
http://www.hosei.ac.jp/hosei/koho/zasshi/shosai/magazinehosei_9_text1.html
http://academy4.2ch.net/test/read.cgi/gogaku/1001251936/

Friday, May 26, 2006

The Ed Sullivan Show

The Ed Sullivan Show was an American television variety show (from 1948 to 1971) on which every type of entertainment appeared; opera singers, rock stars, songwriters, comedians, ballet dancers, etc.

It is especially known for airing breakthrough performances by Elvis Presley and The Beatles.

You can watch some of those programs at GYAO free!
http://www.gyao.jp/music/ed/

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Wanna make it my daily routine...

★NHK World Daily News
http://www.nhk.or.jp/daily/english/

★Kiku Nikkei (Japanese)
http://www.nikkei.co.jp./kiku/

★ALC Daily Special (Japanese)
http://www.alc.co.jp/daily/index.html

Saturday, May 20, 2006

Speech!










Every week I choose 7 words from John F. Kennedy's Inaugural Address for Intensive Input, and now I'm looking for a next speech.


★Jesus: Sermon on the Mount (King James' Version)

★Shakespeare: Friends Romans Countrymen (Julius Caesar)

★Abraham Lincoln: Gettysburg Address

★Wiston Churchill: Iron Curtain

★Martin Luther King, Jr.: "I Have a Dream"

★The Great Dictator: "Look up, Hannah"

★Sadako Ogata: Preventing Future Genocide and Protecting Refugees

★Steve Jobs: "Stay Hungry. Stay Foolish."

Gee, I don't know which I choose...

Friday, May 19, 2006

Proplanner

It seems that Planning Section has already introduced Proplanner, a software for process engineering and management, and looks like P2 is closely connected with Proplanner. Do I have to learn it also?

Thursday, May 18, 2006

TOEFL essay 1

I had my articles corrected by a native teacher as usual.
......................................................................................................

The best way for me to learn is by reading about things. This helps me understand more easily, and it is the most accessible means of learning. In addition, I can learn from those who have more knowledge and experience than I do.

It is true that reading demands one to pay close attention. If you don’t concentrate on what was written in the book, you won’t be able to learn anything. So, almost all people think that reading is demanding, and that it is more difficult to learn by reading. However, in my opinion, reading makes it easier to learn things. When reading a book, I can read at my own pace. To put it another way, I can always return to the points that I am not sure about. If you actually do something, or listen to people talk about things, you can’t afford the time to go back and rethink the matter again. Thus, reading helps me understand more easily.

Besides, reading is the most accessible way of learning. You can read books anywhere, anytime, for example, on the train, on the way to school, or in bed before falling asleep. If it is a pocket-book, it may be even more convenient. Furthermore, reading is an independent act. So it doesn’t disturb others. You don’t have to take the trouble to meet others. Just buy books at a bookstore, or borrow books from the library to read. Also you can get the hang of whatever you want to learn. In this way, reading is the most accessible means of learning.

Finally, I can learn from those who have more knowledge and experience through reading books. There are things that you simply can’t be experienced firsthand. That is to say, knowledge gained from books teaches you more than what you can learn otherwise. Sometimes knowledge obtained from books seems to be too abstract and hypothetical, but that encourages us to think more deeply by ourselves, and to form our own theoretical foundations. In the end, you can comprehend a matter better than by doing things for yourself or listening to others’ talk.

In conclusion, we all have our own learning styles. For me, it is clear that I learn best by reading about things. It is easier and more accessible for widening my knowledge, and knowledge acquired from books surely makes me progress on to a new level of knowledge.
......................................................................................................

This is for my writing correction class. I wrote it a year ago. This week I had no time to write an essay for Eiken.

TOPIC NUMBER: 116
People learn in different ways. Some people learn by doing things; other people learn by reading about things; others learn by listening to people talk about things. Which of these methods of learning is best for you? Use specific examples to support your choice.
......................................................................................................

The best way for me to learn is by reading about things. It helps me understand easier, and it is the most accessible means of learning. In addition, I can learn from those who have more knowledge and experience than I do by reading.

It is true that reading asks you to pay attention more closely. If you don’t concentrate on what was written in the book, you won’t be able to learn anything. So almost all people think that reading is demanding and it is more difficult to learn by reading. In my opinion, however, reading makes it easier to learn things. When reading a book, I can read at my own pace. To put it another way, I can always go back to the points that I am not too sure about. If you actually do something or listen to people talk about things, you can’t afford the time to go back and think about the matter again. Thus, reading helps me understand easier.

Besides, reading is the most accessible way of learning. You can read books anywhere and anytime, in the train, on the way to school, or in bed before falling asleep. If it is a pocketbook, it may be even more convenient. Furthermore, reading is an independent act of oneself, so it doesn’t disturb others. You don’t have to take the trouble to meet others. Just buy books at a bookstore or borrow books from the library and read. And you can get the hang of whatever you want to learn. In this way, reading is the most accessible means of learning.

Finally, I can learn from those who have more knowledge and experience through reading books. There are things that you can’t have firsthand experience on. That is to say, knowledge gained from books teaches you more than what you can learn from your own experience. Sometimes knowledge obtained from books seems to be too abstract and hypothetical, but that encourages us to think further by ourselves to form our own theoretical foundation. In the end, you can comprehend the matter better than doing things yourself or listening to others’ talk.

We all have our own learning styles. For me, it is clear that I learn best by reading about things. It is easier and more accessible to widen my knowledge, and knowledge acquired from books surely makes me move to the new phase of knowledge.

Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Into the Mire

As I suspected, I end up joining the project for P2 (and R3). This Thursday and Friday will be the first hurdle. I wonder I can find a way to get out of the swamp near future...

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Iris says...

"Education doesn't make you happy, and nor does freedom.
We don't become happy just because we're free, if we are,
or because we've been educated, if we have,
but because education may be the means...
by which we realize we are happy.
It opens our eyes, our ears...
tells us where delights are lurking...
convinces us that there is only one freedom...
of any importance whatsoever- that of the mind...
and gives us the assurance, the confidence,
to walk the path our mind- our educated mind- offers."

"Just try and keep working. I will.
Just keep working,
keep talking,
keep the words coming."

(from Iris)

Monday, May 15, 2006

Essay for My Goal 2










Statement of intent

I am applying to the Rotary Ambassadorial Scholarship to further my goals of working to promote the importance of liberal arts and to contribute to further world understanding and peace. To realize my goals, I would like to study Classics, and obtain Bachelor’s Degree in Classics in the future.

This career and academic objective is strongly supported by my interest in Greek and also has been heightened by recent developments in my country, Japan. Something very serious is happening here. My university (Tokyo Metropolitan University) will change to a new university from this April on the Governor of Tokyo’s authority. He does not recognize the value of literature, and the faculty of literature where I studied is destined to disappear. In Japan, university reform has been so widespread in recent years, and I think many other liberal arts courses in universities will be in the same boat.

As I mentioned before, I first came across a Greek word, “mousike”, when I was a member of a chorus group which sang the chorus of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. I came across this word again when I participated in a Greek class at the university, where university reform is proceeding. In the class, I learned that “mousike” is the foundation of the Humanities. Through reading Greek first hand, I was convinced that studying Classics will be the key to success in the future of human beings. One may ask: How can we know where we are going, as a people and a planet, if we do not know where we have been?

And I also came to know that it is important to read original texts first hand because there is no way that any book on original texts can tell more than that. I think this attitude, to see with one’s own eyes and follow modestly the being or spirit that is superior to us, can lead to the Rotary ideal of “Service Above Self”.

I feel it is my duty to study what “mousike” tells us, to help people understand humanities, especially in Japan where people tend to forget the meaning of liberal arts which build up human nature. And I intend to pursue my duty by continuing to study and pursuing my future career. Fortunately, a teacher at a private English school encouraged me to apply to this program, and I have thus decided to further my academic goals by enrolling in the Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship program. If I hadn’t known about this program, I wouldn’t have made up my mind to start studying at a university again. Financial aid will make it possible for me to go to the university once more this time, and the Rotary Scholarship will be vitally important for continuing my studies.

University of Durham is the perfect place for me to gain the knowledge and skills I will need. Its excellent academic reputation, world-renowned faculty and outstanding academic facilities will allow me to learn Classics better than any other institution. Because University of Durham welcomes wide mix of students, I could have a great educational and social experience as an international student. In addition, it is known for accepting mature students with non-traditional qualifications, so I think the University of Durham is the best possible university for me. The Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarship program will also enable me to live not only in an academic ivory tower, but to exchange ideas and opinions with students from various ethnic and cultural backgrounds, as well as let me build a network at human relations.

It is inevitable for me to connect Classics with current affairs, which will, I’m sure, be valuable in the future. I want to be a classicist who is as much in touch with the modern as with the ancient world. And, in the process, help create a better world in which many people and nations will live in greater peace and harmony.

In closing, I assure you that my motivation and determination will allow me to successfully complete my course of studies, and I am confident that my education and experience will enable me to make a unique and positive contribution to the Rotary Scholarship program.

Sunday, May 14, 2006

Essay for My Goal










I'd like to put my essay which I wrote for Rotary Scholarship a year ago. How fast the time passes. I must not forget my ultimate goal. "Study Classics in U.K." Before that, I must try the scholarship again. Before that, I must graduate from a university in Japan and be able to state my original thought in style, at least in English. I must not hasitate to be called a dreamer. If you can dream it, you can do it. I still have a dream.
......................................................................................................

Autobiography

When I was a high school student, I was a member of chorus group which sang the chorus of Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony. This experience changed my life.

On the way to understanding Beethoven’s fraternal world view and seeking the best way to express myself, I learned a Greek word, “mousike”, in the course of singing. “Mousike” is the origin of the word “music”, and it was the general term of arts and knowledge. It sounded ideal and very positive to me because all ways of expression are embodied in this word. The experience of Beethoven and “mousike” led me to major in German Literature at Tokyo Metropolitan University where I became interested in Classics. I majored in German Literature, because the lyrics of the chorus were written in German, and I wanted to know their meaning.

When I was studying at the university, 9-11 was occurred and US attack on Afghanistan followed. I was upset by the chain of events and one question came to mind: “Is it worthwhile to study the Humanities in this situation?” I left the university before I had finished my studies due to other circumstances, and I was faced by the great academic challenge of finding meaning in the Classics.

Now I am certain that Classics cannot be unnecessary in times of war. It seems to be difficult to find a definite value in Classics, but they can provide us something important in the future. It is Classics that change the uproar of current affairs into background music. At the same time, this background music is necessary indeed. And it is also Classics that whisper like background music when the world is completely immersed in the most incomprehensible world affairs.

Although I majored in German Literature at the university and have worked for months in foreign-affiliated company, I have continued to have an interest in world issues. There are international managers or technicians from Italy, France, Spain, Korea and other countries in my factory. My manager is from Pakistan, so I have to speak English to communicate with him. Experience as desk worker has not only improved my English communication ability but also taught me how to get along well with the people whose cultural background is different from mine.

I believe that my personal, educational and business experiences have prepared me to succeed at scholarship, because I have learned the value of, among other things, patience, concentration and perseverance. I am certain that these qualities will serve me as a student not only in my studies but also in the Rotary activities.

I am proud of having got high grades in German, French and American Literature. I also did well in foreign languages. I believe these achievements will serve me as a student in Classics and as a visitor to different countries. Although I have been away from the academic field for two years and have worked at the firm, the deeper my interest in Classics becomes and the stronger my desire to improve my understanding grows. I have kept my interest in studying alive and I have continued to develop my English abilities. Fortunately, my efforts have resulted in TOEFL score which more than satisfies the scholarship’s minimum requirement.

Classics is Pan-European subject, so there are many papers and reference books that are translated from French, German, and Italian into English. But there is much material that has not been translated. Considering this, I believe my language skills combined with my understanding of European literature will be useful in my studies and in my future career. I understand that I must acquire more basic knowledge of Classics before starting, since my undergraduate major differs. However, I will start to prepare as much as possible by studying myself.

My ultimate career objective is to be a teacher at a school. And there, I would like to help to promote the importance of liberal arts by using my knowledge of Classics and languages which I will acquire at the assigned institution. Also, I would like to translate Classics and publish books on ancient Greek and Roman culture. I want to work to contribute to the Humanities and to further world understanding and peace.

Saturday, May 13, 2006

Parliamentary Debate

As I was looking for some interesting topics for my dramatic debate class at ESUJ site, I got interested in Parliamentary Debate. Now I realized that the University Debating Competition I saw last year was one of Parliamentary Debate! No wonder there were guests from U.K. and the debating style was really new to me.

It seems that Parliamentary Debate is much different from Academic Debate. I don't know even Academic Debate, though. And I could expect that Dramatic Debate I'm going to do through the project work is also different from both of them. The syllabus says that through the project work we are supposed to do a persuasive speech in the end with the art of T.I.E. (Theatre in education) which is used in D.I.E. (Drama in education).

Anyway, they are all debate! I think it is important to listen the other side's debating, make objections on the spot, and above all, attract the audience to make them understand my opinion. It means I need an improvising skill and a sense of humor! And I have to get interested in wide range of things (current affairs, philosophy, ethics and so on) in order to make a speech in style with any topic.

Links (Japanese):
Japan Parliamentary Debate Union
Nouchi Parliamentary Debate Site
Parliamentary Debate (from Falcons Library)
What is Parliamentary Debate? (from ICU Debating Society)

Monday, May 08, 2006

Notice

I have only one month by the day of the Eiken test.
It would be a waste of time to spend time on this blog.
And I need more input than output now.
So I want to stop writing everyday for a while.
Perhaps I upload some essays to make them corrected.
Bye for now!

Sunday, May 07, 2006

Kuroki Bunko

Today is the last day of the exbition "Edo no oto" (Sound in Edo) - the world of music and drama in Kuroki bunko" at Komaba Art Museum of Tokyo University.

Kuroki collected so many materials on modern Japanese music and drama which you can watch on the web.

I planed to visit there, but I missed the chance. Today was supposed to be my last day of the Golden Week holidays, but I have to work!

Saturday, May 06, 2006

Witty remarks 10










*Our self image and our habits tend to go together. Change one and you will automatically change the other. (Maxwell Maltz)

*Most people don't plan to fail; they fail to plan. (John L. Beckley)

*Parody is just originality in a secondhand suit. (Eugenio Montale)

*History is a cyclic poem written by Time upon the memories of man. (Percy Bysshe Shelley)

*A learned man is an idler who kills time with study. (George Bernard Shaw)

*Yesterday is not ours to recover, but tomorrow is ours to win or lose. (Lyndon B. Johnson)

*Politics is not the art of the possible. It consists in choosing between the disastrous and the unpalatable. (John Kenneth Galbraith)

*In politics if you want anything said, ask a man. If you want anything done, ask a woman. (Margaret Thatcher)

*A man is not finished when he's defeated; he's finished when he quits. (Richard Nixon)

*Nobody can be exactly like me. Sometimes even I have trouble doing it. (Tallulah Bankhead)

*The biggest disease today is not leprosy or tuberculosis, but rather the feeling of being not wanted. (Mother Teresa)

*The hardness of the butter is in direct proportion to the softness of the roll. (Murphy's law)

Friday, May 05, 2006

Truthiness










The American Dialect Society chose the word "truthiness" as the word of the year 2005.

Truthiness refers to the quality of preferring concepts or facts one wishes to be true, rather than concepts or facts known to be true as "I don't trust books. They're all fact, no heart." Other meanings of the word seems to date as far back as 1824.

[Word of the Year]
*truthiness
the quality of stating concepts or facts one wishes or believes to be true, rather than concepts or facts known to be true.
*Katrina
all Katorina-related words.
*podcast
a digital feed containing audio or video files for downloading to a portable MP3 player. From the brand name MP3 player iPod + broadcast.
*intelligent design
*refugee
*Cruiselex
*Heck of a job
*brown-out
*disaster
*industrial complex

Thursday, May 04, 2006

East and West

Today I listened to the English radio program "Eikaiwa Jyokyu" by Ken Toyama which has already started from this April. I've been so busy and had no time to listen the program that I recorded to MD up to now.

I really enjoyed the riddle "Why did the chicken cross the road?" at Humor Day and "Buttons and Bows" by Dinah Shore at Song of the Month (you can hear the sample here).

According to the footnotes of the song, the lyrics "East is east and west is west" is a quotation from the famous epic "The Ballad of the East and West" by Rudyard Kipling.

Speaking of "East and West"... That's it! "Westöstlich" by Morgenstern. Down memory lane!
....................................................................................................

Als er dies v. Korf erzählt,
fühlt sich dieser leicht gequält;

denn für ihn ist Selbstverstehung,
dass man mit der Erdumdrehung

schlafen müsse, mit den Pfosten
seines Körpers strikt nach Osten.

Und so scherzt er kaustisch-köstlich:
Nein, mein Diwan bleibt - westöstlich!
....................................................................................................

I want to look for my translation a long time ago... Yes, this one.

それを聞いたコルフさん
何だかちょっとぎこちない

だってそんなの当たり前
地球の自転に沿うように
自分の体をきっちりと
東へ向けて眠ること

そして彼は辛辣で
愉快な冗談言いました

いいや僕の長椅子は
ゲーテの詩集が言うように
西から東へ向かってる
....................................................................................................

I want to find an English version.

Now when he told Von Korf about
his bed the latter was put out.

"It's plain," said he, "one ought to station
oneself along the Earth's rotation.

It's obvious, to me at least,
one sleeps best pointing firmly east.

It pains me, but I think it best
that my divan should stay east-west!"
.......................................................................................................

I tend to spend too much here when I have time. I should go to bed soon.

Wednesday, May 03, 2006

Holidays at home













I had my articles corrected by a native teacher. I felt ashamed of my bad English...
.....................................................................................................

I have no plans during the Golden Week holidays.
It's a good chance for me to do what I have been procrastinating so far.

Today, I decided to take the First Grade of the Eiken in June. I hope this encourages me to study English harder. The First Grade test requires me to have original thoughts on current affairs in the essay writing section and at the interview, so it's also good for my dramatic debate class. It might be tough, but I have another chance in the fall. Anyway I will give it a try.

I have to utilize my blog here somehow. Perhaps I should upload my essays here and make corrections. Wow, that would be great!
.....................................................................................................

I have no plan during the Golden Week holidays.
It's good chance for me to deal with what I have procrastinated so far.

Today I decided to take First Grade of Eiken in June. I hope this encourage me to study English harder. First Grade test demands me to have my original thoughts on current affairs at the essay writing and the interview, so it's also good for the dramatic debate class. It might be tough for me, but I have another chance in fall. Anyway I will try.

I must make use of the weblog here somehow. How about uploading essays here and take corrections? Wow, it must be great!

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

To Be Or Not To Be

I forgot to watch the DVD "To Be Or Not To BE" which I borrowed from my friend months ago. I thought I should return it to her soon, so I watched it today. Actually I tried to watch it once, but I stopped in the middle because I was too tired to watch it through on that day.

"To Be Or Not To Be is a masterpiece of the screwball comedy film by a sophisticated comedy master, Ernst Lubitsch. It is about a troupe of actors in Nazi-occupied Warsaw who use their abilities at disguise and acting to fool the occupying troops."

I really enjoyed it, but I'd rather like "It Happened One Night", talking of screwball comedy. And speaking of Nazi-related movies, I wanna watch "Producers. Actually, I haven't checked it yet.

Monday, May 01, 2006

Sitcom










[situation comedy]
a funny television programme in which the same characters appear in different situations each week (LONGMAN)
a regular programme on television that shows the same characters in different amusing situations (OXFOAD)

The term sitcom was coined in 1951 according to the hit of "I Love Lucy". Hmm, I wanna check that someday. Oh, I've got an idea. If I can pass the Eiken test, I'd like to buy the complete seasons of Full House!

Links:
Sitcoms Online
The British Sitcom Guide
Britain's Best Sitcom (BBC)
Sitcom: What It Is, How It Works
So You Wanna Be a Sitcom Writer