Our friends in Oahu have sent me pictures.
Thank you, Alfredo and Masami san!! They are good photographers! Below is photographed by Alfredo. ノースカロライナにおられる主人のお母さまが、このブログを読んでくださり、 「とても素敵、(英語)読みやすいわよ」とメールくださった。 いつも励まし、誉めてくださるお母さんに感謝だ。 私の日本の母がガンの闘病中も、毎晩ご本人の祖先のポーランドの祖先に祈ってくださっていた。 今も感謝の思いでいっぱいだ。 当時、高校2年生だった私、英語熱に火をつけてくれたのは、NHKのラジオ番組「英会話」だった。 現在も続いていると思うが、当時から、非常に優れた番組だったと思う。 その後、受験、実用英語にも、とても役に立った。 初めて耳にした日から、これを毎日ほぼ欠かさず聞き続けた。15分間のプログラム。1年ほどたった頃だったろうか。効果が出始めた。 1週間ごとに、あるテーマをもとにした「スキット」がある。これをテープに録音し、蓄積していった。このテープを何度も繰り返し聞いていた。 このスキットで覚えたフレーズが、その後、実生活でも役に立っている。 「英語をしゃべれるようになりたい!どう勉強したらいいですか?」と聞かれることが多い。 うまくできた英語テキストなど、テープに録音して聞き続けること。これは効果が大きい。 言語は耳から入って、身についていく。 アメリカで、小さな子供たちもみな英語でペラペラしゃべっている。(当たり前だが) お父さん、お母さんの英語を聴き、テレビの英語など毎日聞いているからだ。 (続く) ある休日、ダーリンと。 Dream Big!
“Set a high goal. Dream big! Keep working and making efforts diligently by holding the dream and vision in your mind“. I was taught this and have always kept that in my mind. As I become older, I came to realize what a significant teaching this it. I am aware now that this really makes a big difference in our life. From my childhood, World Peace has been always my wish. The wish has been always at the bottom of my heart. I feel I have been guided to work and contribute to realize that. When I was 17 years old, I literally “fell in love” with English. One evening, I had a chance to listen to a live English conversation program on the radio. It was NHK program, and it was very well made. The night I listened to it, something woke up inside of me. Before that, I do not recall I was really studying seriously. I was always a student of “overnight cramming” at the previous night of exams. However, from the night I encountered the rhythmical live English conversation, something woke up in me. I stared to study hard. I decided to challenge one of the top level college for English Language in Japan. The first-stage exam was already competitive, and only 1 out of 6 students would be accepted by the college. I could not make it. That maybe was really a first challenge in my life, and my first fall as well. When I was refused to enter there, a small fire might have lit inside me. Later in my life, I came to realize my characteristics “of hating to lose”, but it might have been already happening that time. My close friend said to me. “Yumi chan, I do not want you to regret by not trying”. I made up my mind. This second-stage exam was much more competitive, and only 1 out of 11 students would be accepted. I did my best. On the announcement day, my number was on the board!! The moment I heard this good news on the phone at home, I saw a bright light shining into my room. I still remember the beautiful scene. It was a beginning of everything. Later I heard that the college hit the national top of “deviation score” this year. This marked the beginning of my long journey with English. No way at that time for me to know I would later marry with an American man and move to the United States. Now I have officially acquired a permanent residency in the US. I will establish here and develop my work here. Now, my life long target is to become a native speaker. Good that dreams are always big! 「目標は、大きくもつこと。そして、その目標に向かって、コツコツ努力すること。」
ということを教えていただき、心掛けている。そしてこの教えの重大さ、これで人生が大きく変わる、ということを、年を重ねるほど、さらに強く実感している。 私は幼い頃から、世界平和への思いが強くあった。心の深いところから湧き上がってくる願いだった。17歳のとき、英語に「惚れた」。生きた英会話に触れた時だった。 それまで、試験の前日しか勉強しなかった私。目覚めたかのように、猛勉強をし始めた。 そして、英語学トップクラスのカレッジに挑戦。 1次試験は6倍ほどだが、落ちた。 人生初めての挑戦、そして挫折・・・ 「由美ちゃん、やらない後悔だけはしてほしくない・・・」という親友の言葉に、決心した。 2次試験に挑戦することを決心。 この2次試験は、さらに厳しく11倍だった。 見事、合格!! この年、当短大は全国で偏差値トップだった、と聞いた 合格の知らせを自宅の電話で聞いた時、目の前に光がサーっと射してきた。 その光射す映像を、今も覚えている。 これが、私の長い英語修行の始まりとなる。 当時はまさか、将来アメリカに移住することになるとはつゆ知らず・・・ アメリカ人と結婚、晴れてアメリカの永住権を正式に取得。 アメリカで住み、ここを拠点に仕事をしていく私にとって、今の目標は、 「ネイティブスピーカーにどこまでも近づくこと。「ネイティブスピーカーになること」 同時に、日本語も錆びつかせず、絶えず磨きつつ。 (続く) I have been trying to catch up with what is going on in the American politics and also in the world.
That is a MUST for my work as an interpreter for politics and international relations. Especially I have been watching news about Presidential elections on various media outlet. I hear people often say, “Historically, we have never seen like this before”. Some political analysts said the other day, “In the past, we have never seen this kind of presidential election cycle where people hate the candidates of the other side so much like this time.” It seems that everything seems to be unpredicted and things have not fit the same old pattern. At first, I tried to eagerly keep watching the presidential debate, especially the one by the Republican Party. However, as candidates became fierce and tried to beat up each other, I could not stand any more. The discussion got really lack of class. I was wondering how people all over US and all over the world were feeling by watching all those things. I am sure many parents of American families tried to shut out the TV program from small children. To refresh myself, I jumped out of the house for my break. Then, Tobby jumped out from bush or under our neighbor’s house. The neighbor family really liked Tobby catching mice. As long as Tobby is watching their house, they do not have to be bothered by a mouse running around the house. They praised Tobby saying, “He catches really big ones! Tobby does a good job!” I think Tobby was proud of it. My husband often said he is a cat who want to “show off”, and I totally agreed. Tobby brings his accomplishments to his owner, who is very generous and feeds him well. He also gets a compliment, “Good job!” One day, I was so busy on my work and was tired. Tobby came to me and asked for petting as usual. I started to pet him, but decided to tease him this time. I said to him in English (because he is an American cat) “Hwoooooo, I am so busy. So much to do. Tobby, are you working too? Are you hunting mice? LoL LoL LoL “ Tobby was staring at my eyes. Next morning, I went outside as usual and stepped down on the small stairs in front of the house. Then, at my feet, I saw a dead mouse lying down!!! It was a gift by Tobby. That was the first time for Tobby to bring it to show me. Since the morning, I became more careful what to tell him. I have never been offered his gift since then. |
Author
An Interpreter for JCU Archives
April 2021
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