府中英会話サークル

An ancient Chinese calendar is still alive 二十四節気

An ancient Chinese calendar was divided into 24 seasons called “solar terms.” Some of these are still used in the current Japanese calendar. For example, “risshun” is the Beginning of Spring, and ”shunbun“ is the Vernal Equinox. It is ”taisetsu,“ or Heavy Snow yesterday. The next solar term is ”toji,“ or Winter Solstice. After the day, daytime hours gradually increase. I found out there are already tiny buds on the cherry tree branches in my garden. Amazingly earlier, natural things are preparing for the coming Spring. (Emily)

Tomato flavoured ramen トマト味のラーメン

Ramen broth flavors are usually soy, miso, or salty. However, I found out that there is tomato. When I was walking along the street where I seldom walk, I saw several people waiting in line. It was in front of a ramen shop serving tomato flavored ramen. I can imagine what tomato pasta is like, but I cannot do what tomato ramen is like. (Emily)

Hana chozu 花手水

When people visit a shrine, first of all, they go to the place of a purification fountain called "chozuya." They scoop water with a ladle and purify their hands and mouths with the water. However, since the pandemic spread, many shrines have prevented visitors from using their fountains as an infection prevention measure. According to a TV news report, some shrines decorate a fountain with flowers or float flowers on the water. Such a "chozuya" is called “hana chozu." (Emily)

Wild photographer of the year 2022

Junji Takasago, a wildlife photographer achieved the top award in the competition for Wild Photographer of the Year. It is one of the most prestigious awards in this field. This contest has been supported by the Natural History Museum, London since 1964. He took a photograph of the scene where several flamingoes were resting on the salt pans in Uyuni. It looks like a painting work rather than a photograph. (Emily)

[Free Talking] Japanese zodiac 十二支

We talked about our zodiac sign. The Japanese zodiac is divided into 12 groups. Each group is given an animal name based on the Chinese zodiac. The order of these animals begins with a rat and ends with a wild boar. According to the order, each animal becomes the symbol of each year. So, one cycle is twelve years, and the cycle repeats. Asking about the animal of a person's birth year is an indirect way to ask about his/her age. When a person turns 60 years old, the year becomes a special one, because the person has completed the cycle comprising the 12 animals five times. (Emily)

BigCamera 2023 calendar

I got a BicCamera's calendar for 2023 at the Yurakucho Store. It is a big sheet calendar on which a big map of Japan is depicted in the center. Also, several railway maps of the major districts are also in the lower left. A bunch of the printed ones were placed on the shelf near the entrance of the store. People who were probably on their way home were picking them up. This kind of scene makes me feel that the end of the year is approaching.(Emily)

府中英会話サークルの新しいホームページができました。ここから入ってください。

府中英会話サークル府中英会話サークルのウェブサイトです。Welcome to Fuchu English Speaking Circle. 会員募集と活動予定の情報提供のサイトです。fesc22.jimdofree.com

Year-end party 2022 organizer

I am organizing a year-end party for a group of my friends for the first time in three years. I confirmed the number of participants and reserved a restaurant. What I do next is to prepare a timetable for the party. (Emily)

How we can or can’t overcome this pandemic

I picked up the NHK program dealing with Yuval Noah Harari as Today's listening sessionHe is the author of the bestseller “Sapience” and had a discussion with the students at the international school Isac. I use this program not only today but also on the topic session of Apr.17.I think he is the brilliant philosopher and adviser for us to think about the world After Corona .It’s a good chance to think how we will spend after Corona and With Corona.https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/ondemand/video/5001319/?autoplayAfter this session, we exchanged our opinion where you want live? At the topicsession.

今日のトピックは、日本が開発したハヤブサ2と宇宙の話です。楽しかった。

Today’s topic is about the Japanese spacecraft Hatabusa 2.Asteroid samples collected by Japanese spacecraft leave scientist 'almost speechless' with joyhttps://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/hayabusa2-samples-1.5841751We exchaned our opinion on this bright news.

ワクチン開発

今日のリスニングでワクチン開発について、勉強しました。ファイザーとアストロぜネカのそれぞれが発表したワクチンの特徴です。At the listening session, I picked up the Covid-19 Vaccine. I used 2videos, 1 is the Pfizer BionTech one and ,the other is the Astro Zeneca one.https://www.bbc.com/japanese/video-55054421

Happy new year!

Happy new year!Our club has started today, but because under the state of emergency, we began the class at 18:00 till 20:00.For the time being we have to leave the facility by 20:00.During the topic session, we exchanged the bright side and good aspect of current groomy days. We need a humor in dark times. 😃😃😃

リブログ記事https://sites.google.com/site/fuchuenglishcircle

今年のワンデイトリップの様子です。

今回は池上線ぶらり旅で、池上本門寺と洗足池に行って来ました。

昨年の忘年会が懐かしいです。

昨年の忘年会です。今年は残念ながら中止でした。

府中英会話サークル　会員募集

お待たせしました。サークル活動再開しています。土曜日の夜6時からです。初めての方も直接おいで下さい。Please keep social distancing.3密を避けましょう！東京都府中市で活動する、英会話力向上と国際交流の推進を目指すメンバーが自主的に運営している学習サークルです。一緒に楽しく勉強しませんか。😀レベルは中級以上です。サークルfacebook府中　英会話　サークルのFacebookにご自由に参加してくださいね。日頃の活動の様子が分かります。問い合わせアドレス(広報担当)mailto:fesc201704@gmail.com当サークルについて原則として、毎月第 1 週～第 4 週の土曜日 午後 6 時～ 8 時 45 分但し、土曜日が祝日の場合は活動はありません。(第 5 週は活動なし)【活動場所】京王線・府中駅北口方向の府中市中央文化センターまたは教育センター等で活動しています。【学習内容】午後 6:00 ～ 6:30 フリー・トーキング🗣： 各人がその週にあったことなどを話します。午後 6:30 ～ 7:00 リスニング👂： 担当者が準備してきた、さまざまな英語教材で聞き取りの練習をします。内容をできるだけ正確に理解するために 2-3 回繰り返してよく聞きます。理解度をチェックするため、講師の先生から内容についていくつかの質問が出されます。午後 7:00 ～ 7:45 NHK ラジオ『実践ビジネス英語』の復習📚： ちょうど放送が終わった個所の復習をします。よく理解できなかった慣用句や表現について先生にどんどん質問してください。司会はメンバーが交替で行います。見学者の方には、このセッションの冒頭で簡単な自己紹介をお願いしています。午後 7:45 ～ 8:45 トピックス😀： テーマを決めてディスカッションしたり、スピーチやクイズをしたりします。4 ～ 5 人のグループに分かれてのグループ活動になることが多いので思い切って英語で自分の意見を言うチャンスです。最後に各グループで話しあった結果を発表したり、質疑応答をしたりします。【講師】いつも楽しく勉学熱心なクリス先生（男性、米国出身）と、いつも朗らか、経験豊富なローラ先生(女性、米国出身)です。