今年、後半の学習計画（た、多分すると思われる、、、＜笑＞）！！

１、TOEICに向けての勉強。
２、CNN−EEを使ってのリスニング、ボキャブラリー強化。
３、毎日の英字新聞で、読解、ボキャブラリー強化。
４、少しづつ、英検１級の勉強。
　
スピーキング強化とアウトプットの場として、
１、週１回、ネイティブ講師がやっているワンコインフリートーキングクラス
２、月２回のEnglish circle


このような感じ、頑張てみたいと思います。ん〜〜〜〜、以前の掲げた目標とたいして変わってないな、、、（笑）
ただ、９月からチビの入園について、いくつか候補に挙げている園への見学等があるので、時間確保も頭に入れておかなければなりません、、、。（＾＾；）

すべてを毎日というには、無理が生じてくるかもしれませんが、

“塵も積もれば、、、”を常に忘れずにできる限りの量を続けていけたらと思っています。ｐ（＾＾）ｑ

Once a week, I join in " the care morning", which is "free talking time".

This morning, I visited there with my son in tow.
Though it was raining, there were 5 of us except for a teacher. We talked about some movies such as " The devil wears Prada.", " Holiday". And also I asked about yesterday's topic, " Baby Hatch", as I wanted to listen to other opinions. Yeah, there were interesting ones.

While we were talking, my son was playing with some toys. Then he said,....

" I want to do a wee-wee..."

Wow!!!! He could say it before doing for the first time!!!!!
Still now, I took him to a toilet for doing and he did ( a wee-wee and the number 2)
At last!!! he could say it!!!! Of course I should keep trying till he totally understands and can say it. (^^)b
Anyway, he could progress a biiiiiig step!!!

This morning, I visited an English circle member's to study and practice speaking in English. This time, there were 7 of us. One of them was a member's daughter, who is a 18-year-old girl. Living in NY for 5 years, she can speak English very well and had a lots of experiences. She's so pretty and meek.
She also went to South Africa as a delegate from Japan with an eye to learn about environment, different cultures and themselves on her summer holidays. ( There were 42 delegates from 12 countries.)
Her eyes were so bright, looking " future". So I was inspired.

If I were a teenager, I would study English more and more...lol lol lol

After the talk, we discussed " Baby Hatch". Not only Japan, other countries also have the issue.
For example, in Germany mothers who can't rear babies or give a birth go to a counter of counseling. The window's connected with some doctors, psychologists and some experts to care them. They support these mothers can go to school or work for rearing babies. Still, they understand that these mothers can't rear, the mothers
can give a birth as " anonymity-childbirth."
After the childbirth, they have time to consider whether rear or adoption over childcare for 2 months, so-called in " Mother-Child House".
Like this, we should also take steps immediately rather than discuss " Baby Hatch should be installed or not".
Both're indispensable for protect babies and save lives. So We also have to teach " the dignity of life", " moral education" to young people.
On top of them, granting subsidies single parent families and increasing experts, staffs and facilities.

Last but not least, the baby hatch is " temporary space for babies." Not " the space for abandoning".

Today it's my husband's 3×th birthday. So I'm planning like a small party.

Yesterday I went out to but some presents, one of which was " 焼酎サーバー". I could found it he'd wanted. It was Japanese design so, I guessed that it must be fit with our living room, which is like " Japanese or Asian atmosphere".

He took a day off today because he went to his office on Obon holidays. But last night he drank with co-workers and some clients, so this morning as I expected, he was a little hungover..(^^;)

Anyway, we're going to go somewhere after lunch to refresh and get pep!!

Today my husband had to attend some meeting, so I took him to the nearest station by car.
After then he called me....(by a public telephone)

" Did I leave my mobile phone in the car???"

Unfortunately, when he called me, I'd come back home. So I told it him.

" Ok, I guess, it may be in the car. So after the meeting, I'm going to call you again."

uh..........really???? I didn't notice that it was there...
So, I rang up for the whereabouts of the phone. But I couldn't hear the ringing anywhere. Several times I tried, however, didn't...

After his meeting, he called me ( by a public telephone) and then I picked him up, came home.
We searched every nook and cranny but we couldn't find it. So we guessed that it could be fallen at the station. Immediately, I called the station...

Yes, BINGO!!!!

A staff answered that they received a phone. My husband explained the figure, color, private information such as a display image.
It matched up to his one.
The staff said that a businessman who lives in Nagoya found it and took there.
Thanks to him the phone went back to my husband without flaw. If he hadn't picked it up, it would be broken or something problem...He and I really appreciated his kindness.

Has your husband ever taken paternity leave? And have you?

Some of companies in Japan have new policies to rear kids, inspire them to have more kids.
The birth-rate's been declining in Japan and it's one of strong anxieties for our future.

According to the article, an certain company has a new policy, which gives some money to employees when they have a baby. Another company offers to pay for fertility treatment. Not only money but another one also has a nursery in the company, some company admit their employees working at each home one day a week.

As a mom who has a 2-year-old boy, I'm so intrigued in it. Cuz, often I feel it that I want my husband to take paternity leave.
(Especially, when our son was 0〜1 year...) In fact, I asked him several times if you could take or not. Of course, I knew that there was no possibility.(^^;)

I really think it that just some " big companies" admit, encourage... Most ones're not willing to carry out even if they understood that it's a important thing. On top of that, most employees also balk at going for it.
I hope that the situation's changing step by step...(^^)b

Last Thu, the talking class was not held because of " Obon holiday". So, in 2 weeks we attended there.

There were 5 of us today and we talked about each Obon holiday, the final game of high school baseball.

Talking of the final game, yesterday my husband rushed back home around 11p.m to watch some sports news. He was so excited ( of course, me too) without taking off his clothes. lol lol lol
And then he surfed sports programs..(^^;)
Yeah, as a person who lives in Kyushu it was the pride of Kyushu-jin. v(^^)v

ちょっと、愚痴らせてください、、、、


TOEIC、part7、、、、、『長っ、、、、気の遠くなるような長さ、、、、、』

解いていくうちに、『はあ、、、、果てしない、、、、』と集中力が途絶え、それに合したように雷雨が、、、、。
次第に、激しく空に轟く雷に気を取られ、『おお〜、すごいなあ、、、（何度も近くに落ち）ズドドドドッ〜って響いてるぅ、、、』

そう、そして、、、、、

『うんっ、今日はこのくらいにしておこう、、、そうしよう！−−；』


わたしの怠け、めんどくさがりな性格が出てきちゃいました、、、（苦笑）
よく受験者のみなさん、解いてらっしゃいますなあ、、、、しかも時間内ってところがまたストレスですね、、、（−−；）やっぱり、速読力ですかね、、、。

今回、アルクから出ている問題集を解いたんですが、（多少内容も難しめに構成しているとは書かれていますが）、なんだか、十分に練習、勉強して来年以降に受けるべきかも、、、、、と弱気になっております、、、

One of interesting articles in the current issue of CNN-EE.

" Bamboo Ceiling"

A numbers of Asian-American often clash with American culture, value.

According to the article, Even if they were highly educated, it's so hard to get some high positions such as CEO, a manager, etc. One of reasons is " Asian Value", for instance, if you want to success or get a high position in America, you should approach to their bosses. But, they tend not to do so, including Japanese.
You know, if in Japan or Asian countries we did like that or too unique, too articulate, we could be smashed. Moreover, " the reticent" , which is one of Asian cultures, is regarded as " the virtue, especially in Japan.

Indeed, I've heard of that some American or European tend to have a bias against Asian people. (Unfortunately, I've not worked international circumstance, so I've never experienced....)

So, to break the glass ceiling, we should try to do their skills with keeping our values if you want to go forward as a business people abroad.

以前から、宣言（？）しているように今秋、冬〜来年にかけて約１０年ぶりにTOEICに挑戦してみようかなあと考えています。
１０年前に１度しか受けたことがない私にとって、このテストは未知なる世界です、、、。
でも、先延ばしにしていても結果は出てこないですし、、、、ね、、、（笑）

と、いうことでその１回受ける前に購入していた問題集が奥〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜から出てきました（笑）当時、学生で英検２級が受かった後、この本を手に取ったことは覚えています。“６００点突破の鍵”と名をうっています。（ういういすぃ〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜〜っ）
もちろん、今の内容とは違いますし内容も６００点相応の内容になっています。ですが、TOIECに慣れたい為、早速解いてみました。


今の形式のほうが、、、、、難しいのね、、、（＾＾；）


今のほうが、より難易度が高くなってる〜〜〜と感じました、、（い、今さら、、？？？−−；）
その時は確か、６００前半のスコアだったと記憶しています。今回はそれ以上は取りたいなあ、、、（笑）


今度受けるのは、『場慣れと内容把握』の為なんですが、主婦にとってお安くない受験料分は取りたいのよっ（−−）ｂ　という、ハングリー精神は決して忘れず（笑）何かいい参考書、問題集を探しに行こうと思っています。

This morning, when my son got up, he said....

" Where is ○○○(his cousin's name. She's the same age as him.)??"

He seemed to want to play with her and to be interested in. However, she and her family's gone back home. So I told him about it...But he said...

" Where is ○○○??"....(^^;) Oh... He seemed not to understand what I meant...hahaha...

Anyway, we decided to visit husband's parents' again because they wanted to meet him, of course, and he also wanted to go there.
We had lunch and chatted for a while. During the time, he was looking for her...and said ....

" ○○○ isn't here...isn't here..." (^^)


Oh....you must have fallen head over heels love with her...??

I'd been tied up with some things for "Obon". So I could only read some English newspapers, surfed the Internet or did chores with listening CNN. ( I could have time to learn, touch English at husband's parents' more than I expected.) But, you know, I didn't " STUDY" such as learning new vocabs, checking new phrases and so on. Especially, to improve my listening ability...

After we went back home, I couldn't pep me up at all on the grounds of fatigue. Just read some English news papers, checked new vocabs...On the contrary, I've been vexing with myself, this circumstance...(^^;)
Fortunately, today my son wanted to go to my parents' to meet my older brother, who often plays with him, so I decided to entrust him to my parents.( My husband has to work.) They were willing to do because just met him before this Obon. Moreover it was only " one day".
Yeah, I'm so grateful to them and this situation.
So, I'm going to learn to my heart's content for rewarding them and this situation.

Today was father-in-law's birthday. So my son and I visited again!!
As he likes Japanese sweets, I'd bought some sweets, which was famous in my town.

In the morning, we arrived there and had lunch with them( sisters-in-law's families and parents) After that, we relaxed, chatted. My son, of course, enjoyed playing with their kinds.

In the evening, we went out to have dinner. Father-in-law said " I don't want to age any more...But this time, I'm so happy and the happiest man in the world. Thanx a lot, everyone!!!"
He seemed to really happy and smiled extremely.

At last I could watch it!!! Yes, " The Holiday". When I went to a rental shop, all of the DVDs've rented...So, I've been waiting and waiting...

In the morning, I did some stuffs and then immediately I went there again. Fortunately, there were a few!!! But some people were looking at the DVD, so I took it in a hurry. lol lol lol
On top of this, my son was interested in some heroic dramas. ( He loves the sorts of TV.) So, I also rented the drama. He seemed to make believe on our way...(^^)

Well, after he took a nap I started to watch it. Of course in English and English subtitles.
Some of the lines were so fast for me, but I could jot down or read them, so I could understand what they said, meant.
I think it was relatively not hard to listen, understand...I felt.

How do you feel about?

Early in the morning, we went out in order to go to Nagasaki as I said yesterday. Though I was afraid if I could get up early or not, I could do...( Cuz, last night we had dinner like a small party. Drunk, ate, chatted etc...)

Around 11 a.m. we arrived at Nagasaki and visited the family grave and relatives'. As my husband'll have to go back this night due to work tomorrow, today just my family and father-in-law visited there.
There were a few children, so my son played with them, especially, boys. He followed them all the time..lol lol)
We talked about the last uncle or ancestors and so forth. After 3:30 p.m. we left and went to a certain ryokan due to meet sisters-n-law's families and mother-in-law. We had a nice dinner there.
Past 7 p.m. my family left there. Although we planed to go back by expressway, unfortunately, we couldn't find the nearest one..(^^;) After all, we ended up in going by public roads...(^^;) However, the time was obon, so there weren't traffic jams. Just about 2 hours and half we could go back home.

Anyways, I was so sick and tired.....(--;) Tomorrow, I'm going to rest as much as I can...

We've stayed at husband's parents' to spend " obon". Two families've also visited there. ( An older sister-in-law's family and a young sister-in-law's one.) They live far from here, so I'm so glad to meet them, especially, their kids. My son, of course, enjoyed playing with them. As they care for my son, I can relax without his interrupting. hehehe(^^)b

Tomorrow, we're going to Nagasaki in order to visit the grave. Moreover this summer falls on "the first Obon of my husband's uncle" to us.

I've studied for TOEIC, however, I've not get the ropes yet...(^^;) Yesterday, I tried part 7, 6. These were not hard, moreover I prefer them to part 5 because these're like " some puzzles".
The answers're surely somewhere in each question, as if I decoded them.

Well, that said, I'm worried listening part as I said before many times...(^^;) To allay over, I've started " shadowing" with CNN-EE. Of course, by getting used to doing, I'm going to try the warming up section and the basic one.
Fortunately, as I tried, I found out the interesting. To tell the truth, I'd avoided it due to my reluctance...(^^;)...It's no doubt said that " Don't be prejudiced."
Thanx to it and NHK news with bilingual, I've felt gradually that listening and shadowing're not hard.

Anyways, are there any suggestions to improve???? Anything's welcomed!!! lol lol

Yeah, I've decided to get my hair cut and dyed...Including the reasons I said yesterday, to refresh I made an appointment and went out.
I entrusted my son to my parents not to interrupt their work and I guessed he wouldn't be able to wait for a few hours.

This time, the hair style was " bob style". After long time I took a choice it because I'd caught a glimpse of a certain woman, who was a native and so stylish, on TV. Her hair style was bob, (according to magazine for ladies or some fashion TV programs, bob style's been in fashion.) and the style was my favorite...I've done similar style before, so I decided to try again. Of course, " on the basis of the style" I got it cut suitably.(^^)b

Though I expected it would cost more than \10,000, fortunately, as the beauty shop's been renewed and they've offered a special price for the time being, this time it just costed about \9,000.(^^)v
I was so satisfied!!!

Though it's just before " Obon", I joined in "the cafe morning", which we can chat in English over coffee, tea. At all costs, I try to join there because it's just the place that I can talk with a native speaker.
As I expected, there were only 3 of us today.(^^) But we could enjoy chatting very much. We talked about reminiscences of our youth. Two of them've experienced WW2, so they talked about the time, the unstable society. I felt deep emotion...


Well, I'm thinking over if I'll have my hair cut and dyed or not... uh.....It usually costs more than \10,000...But next week we're going to go to Nagasaki for visiting relatives and the grave.
I think it's not broblem without cutting, dying, however, in my mind, I feel it that I should neaten up...

Okey!!!! Contingent on tomorrow's my feelings!!!! lol lol lol

This morning, I went out in order to teach English for beginners. This time, the leaner came there with her kids in tow. An older brother is 4 years old and a younger sister is 2 years. ( She's the same age as my son is.)
I was afraid that my son might get peevish or begin squabbling, far from it, he enjoyed playing with them without problems.
You know, the boy's apt to follow older, especially, same sex. He seemed so happy and to spend wonderful time. To my surprise, he(my son) could say " Please....Here you are..." several times.(^^) What a nice boy he is!!!! lol lol (←a indulgent mother. lol lol lol)
Thanx them, my son could precious experience to improve hisself, the ways to interact with others.(^^) Many thanx, indeed!! wonderful kids and the mom!!!

You know, it's in the middle of summer vacation. Younger sister-in-law, her kids and Older sister-in-law's kids have stayed at (husband's) parents'.
So, today my son and I visited there. Of course my husband couldn't do due to his work.
My son likes, oops! " loves" them very much.(^^) So, he was so excited before we went out.

We went to an certain athletic play ground in Saga pref. My car is a 8-passenger, so I drove there.
Yeah, it was intense heat, but all kids were absorbed in playing.
I also enjoyed playing, however, I found out that I'd lost the car key somewhere!!! I could guess where I'd lost, but I couldn't find...So I and sister-in-law went back to the top of the hill, where there were some big slopes or some kinds of athletic tools.
Fortunately, she found it!!!! (*^^*) Oh!!! What a big relief!!!
We were there for 3, 4 hours and then dropped at a mall to have meal.

I and my son went back home around 8:30, gave him a bath, prepared for turning in and so on....Yeah..... I was so sick and tired...(^^;) But more than it, I was so satisfied because of looking kids' happy faces, including my son's.


As I expected, my son fell asleep immediately after taking a bath. So I could have my own time!!!! Cuz, my husband's not came back home from work yet.(^^)v
Yep, I'm going to read some English news papers and surf the internet to improve my English ability.

Yesterday I stayed my parents' to meet some old friends and to entrust my son. It's so-called " a small reunion party".
There were about 10 of us and almost all of the attendants were mothers or fathers. Moreover some of them were changed their appearances, so I couldn't perceive thier faces and names...(^^;)

The party started around 7 p.m at a stylish japanese restaurant.
You know, we couldn't stop chatting on top of this could go back to our students ages.(^^)b
We'd been talking and talking as much as I couldn't notice time.
When we wrapped up, it passed 2 a.m!!!! w(@0@)w

As we're not able to meet frequently, it was so worth doing and precious thing to us.

Last Wed my husband came home at nearly midnight from work and said,...

H> " Hey, listen. I got an another bonus!!!!"

I>" Oh, really?? it's so cool!!! But why did you get???"

H>" We could achieved substantially our sales target. So, the company gave us, especially, our depertment."

I>" The sound's great!!!! Congratulations!!! But, the bonus is yours. Neither summer bonus nor winter one. You should keep it as your pocket money. I shouldn't spend it...Because, as you worked very hard and then you achieved. Moreover it's not salary. Right?"

H>" No problem, why not buy some clothes or something? Whatever you want, oh, and you could pass a test. So, buy something for your effort. Go ahead."

I> " Thank you so much.(^^) Well, I should some of money'll be deposited and of course you should have some for pocket money. The rest I'll buy something or.....uh...I should consider.lol lol It's never decayed. "


Thanx to him, I could go shopping this morning. (^^) I dropped at a shop where I used to work. The shop has accesories, bags, watches and miscellaneous. (Recently it's renewed) As I haven't visited there since then, I went there.
I was there with my son, so I couldn't stay for a long time. But I could meet ex-coworkers and a manager.
Fortunately, I could find a wonderful ring. As I've been looking for some ring, especially, wanted a gold one which was much for a marriage ring. Yes, I got it!!! It's a pink-gold ring with some diamonds.

But,.....in hindsight...the price was equivalent to an electronic dictionary...lol lol lol haha....hahahahaha.....(^^;) I should have bought the later..??? Might be....lol lol

Anyways, darling, thank you very very much!!!

As usual I joined the cafe morning with my son in tow. Since I got the result of test I've been learning for next step by trial and error. But I don't know the ways're efficient or not. What I perceived is keeping at it.
This morning was my refreshment and encourgement time.
I wasn't satisfied with today's my speaking, however, I could encourage in learning for a next object.

Thesedays, I listen to NHK news by bilingual. That's a good way to improve my linstening ability. Cuz, Several native speakers who are from England, America and so on speak so I can practice listening each diarect. Moreover these contents're not hard to catch up, I think. Of course I can't catch every news owing to I have to do house chores, care for my son and so forth. But to get used to listening to English news it's suitable for me.

Yesterday, I set up the new PC and installed some gadgets for the present. I want to do more stuffs, however, so far I don't make good use of it.(I mean the soft which is " Windows vista".)lol lol As I'm not versed in it as I said yesterday, still less.

Though I said like that, it's so intriguing. Yeah?
The soft and PC I would use were in quite out of fashion, so I had to wait some time for its starting, couldn't listen to voice or sound because I've left loudspeakers away at my parents'...(^^;)
But now, I can listen to sound, voice evrything such as CNN's video reports etc. Of course, I checked these sites and put on my favorite category.