Lesson 17 - Giving Directions

Hello everyone!

Today we will learn to ask and give directions in person.  These days, everybody has a smartphone (and Google Maps, so maybe we think we do not need to ask people for directions.  But imagine you lost your smartphone, or your phone battery is dead, or you have a weak signal (弱い電波 yowai denpa).  In such cases, when Google or Siri are not available, we must ask for or give directions in person.

Warm Up!

Rissho students, please give your tutor directions from Haneda Airport to Rissho!

Imagine: Kurt, your MKD tutor, will visit us at Rissho.  Kurt will arrive at Haneda Airport.  Please give him directions to our campus.  He will take the 13:51 train from Haneda and he will arrive at Ōsaki Station at 14:15.  You will meet Kurt in front of Rissho University, Building 11 at 14:23.

Below is Kurt's travel itinerary (旅行予定 ryokō yotei) from Google Maps:

Step 1: Tell Kurt how to get from Haneda to Ōsaki Station by train.  

Note: Kurt will take the Keikyu Airport Line (and Main Line) to Shinagawa Station.  At Shinagawa Station, Kurt must transfer to the JR Yamanote Line.  Please give careful directions 😊

Step 2: Next, tell Kurt how to walk from JR Ōsaki Station (West Exit) to Rissho 

             University, Building 11.  Use the maps, photos, and information 

             below to give good directions to Kurt.  Good luck!

                                            👆JR Osaki Station, West Exit

                    👆Google Map

👆Rissho University, Building 11 (front entrance)

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To get today's lesson PDF, please click 👉 here.

 

Lesson 16 - Describing People

Hello everyone!

Welcome back to Online English!  This is our first lesson of the fall semester.  And of course it's a fun one.  Please take some time to welcome each other back.  

Also, let's try a new activity!  

In 5 sentences, please describe to your tutor your own appearance (容姿 yōshi) and personality (性格 seikaku) and when you're finished, your tutor describes his/her own appearance and personality in 5 sentences.

Directions: Look at the charts 1-5 below.  Use these to help describe your appearance and personality.  

1. Face Shape

1. I have an oblong shaped face.

2. Shape of Eyes

2. I have almond eyes.

3. Hair Type 

3. I have hair similar to 2B.   And my hair color is dark brown.

4. Body Type

4. My body type is endomorph.

1. Personality Type

5. My personalty is introverted.

Here is today's Lesson PDF... click 👉 HERE

Lesson 15 - In an Airport

Hello everyone!

Today is our last lesson of the spring semester 😢... but it’s a fun one!  Today’s lesson is titled, “In an Airport,” and it’s a useful lesson.  Everyone is dreaming of traveling overseas ✈, and when COVID-19 is over, we can all fly again!  YAY!!!  Let’s keep dreaming.  And let’s keep practicing English!  But today, your MKD tutors are gonna take you on a virtual trip.  Bon voyage!*

      * bon voyage is a loan word (外来語 gairaigo) from French, and it means "have a nice trip".    

       In English we also borrow the French word bon appetit ( 召し上がれ。meshiagare. ボンアペティ)  when serving a meal.

But before we start today’s lesson, we want you to practice asking and answering the following questions:

WARM-UP ACTIVITY - Travel Teamwork!

Directions: Find a partner.  Imagine you and your partner are traveling to the Philippines together 😃 Together, think of the 5 most important items you must bring to the Philippines.  Your partner (A さん) is asking you (B さん) if you remembered to bring various very important items.  Then B-san asks A-san, and so on.  The first question and answer is done for you.

useful expressions:

- Did you bring _____________? (__________  持ってきたか？ __________ motte kita ka?)

- Yes, I did. Here it is.   (はい、そうしました。 ここにあります。)

______________________________________________

1. PASSPORT

A-san to B-san: Did you bring your passport ?

B-san to A-san: Yes, I did.  Here it is.

______________________________________________

2.  SUNBLOCK (日焼け止め hiyakedome)

B-san to A-san: ________________________________?

A-san to B-san: ________________________________?

______________________________________________

3.  VOLTAGE CONVERTER (電圧変換器 den'atsu henkanki)

A-san to B-san: ________________________________?

B-san to A-san: ________________________________?

______________________________________________

4. MEDICATION (薬 kusuri)

B-san to A-san: ________________________________?

A-san to B-san: ________________________________?

______________________________________________

5. NOVEL (小説 shōsetsu, ノベル）

A-san to B-san: ________________________________?

B-san to A-san: ________________________________?

______________________________________________

B-san to A-san: Great!  I think we have everything.  Let's go to the Philippines!

A-san to B-san: Yes!  Bon voyage* to us!  🛫

_______________________________________________

Today's Lesson (In a Airport) click 👉 HERE

Lesson 14 - Ordering Food in a Restaurant

Hello everyone!  

Long time no see.  Hisashiburi.

Everyone loves food and drink, and when we travel the world, we enjoy eating out.  However, sometimes ordering a meal at a restaurant can be a bit tricky, especially in a foreign country.  Let’s practice today how to order food at a restaurant so that we can enjoy eating out when we travel.  The only downside to this lesson is that we will all get hungry 😂  Talking and thinking about food will surely stimulate our appetites! 😋

     eat out: to eat at a restaurant 

     a bit tricky: a little difficult 

     downside: negative thing    

     stimulate: increase, make us feel stronger about something

     appetite: our desire to eat

Eating out with friends is fun, but ordering the food you really want can be a bit tricky.

_______________________________________________________________________

TODAY’S LESSON

And now for another fun-filled MKD lesson!  Rissho students, please enjoy today’s lesson and be sure to ask many questions.  Your tutor will be happy to answer your questions.  Please enjoy!  😋

Here is today lesson.  Please click 👉 HERE.

Extra Activity

Foodie Photo Gallery!  Spend some time with your tutor to discuss the foodie photos below.

     foodie: someone who loves food, a food otaku

1. 👆What is this restaurant?  

 

2. 👆Who is this mascot?

　

3. 👆Why is this guy smiling?  Where does he work?  Does Mos Burger make the perfect burger?

4. 👆Whose mascot is this?

 

5.  Sushi is expensive... but at Sushiro...

 

6. 👆Why are these people so happy?

7. 👆This is the Ice Giants menu!  (They have savory food, too)

     savory: food that is not sweet

8. Famous Filipino Food: 15 Must-Eat Dishes in the Philippines!

    Check out this website 👉 click HERE.

9. What are the “Must-Eat” dishes in Japan?  MKD tutors, please ask Rissho students!

Thank you!

😋

Lesson 13 - Prepositions

P  R  E  P  O  S  I  T  I  O  N  S

Hello everyone,

Summer 🌞 is finally here.  No more tsuyu, rainy season 🚫☔... YAY!!

It's hot, but that's OK.  Turn on your air conditioner or fan, stay 🆒, and enjoy today's lesson.

Today's lesson is about prepositions (前置詞 zenchishi). And this is a very important lesson because prepositions take practice. For many students of all levels, prepositions are difficult 😓 But!... the good news is your friendly MKD tutors 😁 will help you understand prepositions better.

First a Warm Up! It's so hot today, Kokusai Course students, you don't need a warm up. But let's do one anyway!

________________________

Activity: 😽 The Cat & The Pots

Directions: Look at the cute cat pictures above. There are 9 of them. Make simple sentences for each of the the 9 Cat & Pot pictures. Tell your sentences to your MKD tutor.  The first one is done for you below.

Example: "The cat is between the (two) pots."

Advanced: Can you think of any synonyms (同義語 dōgigo) for the prepositions above? See the example below.

Example: "The cat is in the middle of* the (two) pots."

* in the middle of~ (A & B) is synonymous with between

___________________________

Click 👉 HERE for today's lesson print (PDF).

Be sure to ask your MKD tutor many questions 😊

Have a great lesson!

Lesson 12 - Getting Sick

Good morning everyone!

Today we are going to talk about getting sick.  We are also going to talk about staying healthy.  Of course, everyone is trying to stay healthy in these Coronavirus days.  Everyone is wearing a mask!  That of course is the best way to NOT get sick.

But, traditionally, Japanese people have other ways of staying healthy.  

So let's talk about a famous 日本の民間療法 Nihon no minkan ryōhō or Japanese folk remedy.

Do you know what this 👇 is? 🍲

     This 👆is called okayu in Japanese.

Okayu (おかゆ）is boiled rice porridge.  It is a famous Japanese folk remedy made of rice, water, and some mild seasoning like kombu.  You can make it in your suihanki or rice cooker.  Once the porridge becomes the right thickness, you can add various toppings, like chopped negi (green onions), ginger, and sometimes yummy (😋) shiitake mushrooms, and umeboshi (pickled plum) are added for extra flavor.

Okayu is prepared for and eaten by family members who are fighting a cold or flu.  Okayu is easy to prepare, easy to eat, and easy to digest.  But it has lots of nutrients.  If you have a suihanki at home, check the settings.  You will find a "porridge," お粥 or おかゆ button, which will make cooking this Japanese home remedy quickly and easily!  

   Okayu is oh so good for you!

Odaijini!  Take care! 🍲

 _____________________________

Next...

Rissho students!  Please ask your MKD tutor to tell you about folk remedies in the Philippines.

Rissho student:  What's a famous folk remedy in the Philippines?

MKD tutor:  Well...

 ____________________

Now for today's lesson material.  Please click here.

Lesson 11- The Future

Hi,

Sorry, I had some computer problems.  I will just post this graphic I made.

What's the name of this manga?  Do you know?  What's is about?

Language note: 

The expression, "What are you doing tomorrow?" is standard English.  But did you know, there are many more synonymous (同義語) expressions for this expression?

These expressions below ALL mean the same thing.


Q  U  E  S  T  I  O  N  S                                               A  N  S  W  E  R  S


What're you gonna do tomorrow?                           I'm gonna do my homework all day.

What do you have going on tomorrow?                   I have 4 Zoom lessons.

What'da ya got goin' on tomorrow?                        Oh, I'm just hanging out at home.

What's up (with you) tomorrow?                             Oh, I'm gonna go shopping.


Note: These are all very casual expressions.  You can use them with friends, but they are not used in business English 😉

Here is our new lesson PDF.  Click here.

ENJOY TALKING ABOUT YOUR FUTURE!!