Essay 2-03a: My enjoyable school life

Now, I go to the Kumamoto Gakuen University. There are kind friends and teachers. Moreover, facilities are so good. I enjoy my university life. I'll tell you about my school life.

I'll tell you about classes. I mainly learn English and take about 17 classes a week in this semester. Compulsory subjects are 5, including 4 skills of English and international history. Elective subjects are 9, including Japanese history, Chinese, politics and so on. In the future, I want to be an English teacher, so I take a teacher-training course. I take 3 classes of this course, English teaching methods, the study of special activities and the principles of education. I like a class of English teaching methods the best. At this class, we learn how to teach English for junior high school students. We all had to do a micro-teaching. I gave a lesson of listening. I was nervous. Classes of teacher-training course are hard. However I’ll do my best for my dream. I want to develop my skills of English, so I’ll study hard!

Now, I'll tell you about favorite places. I have two favorite places at KGU. They are library and bakery. On Monday, I have only 2 classes, so I can talk with friends at the bakery or can do my home works a lot at the library. Recently, when I have time, I often study at library. There are a lot of books and facility of the library of KGU is substantial! My favorite space is on second floor. There, I can relax very much. However we can’t drink much water, I am always thirsty at the library. I hope that there are some spaces that we can drink. Every day, I like bread of KGU Bakery and I buy bread for lunch at bakery. I always buy a sweet roll containing cream and a bagel. I decide what I buy, so I can finish buying bread quickly. My friends laugh at this situation. I like the bakery that has cozy ambience.

At KGU, I belong to a volunteer circle, Aozora-katsudotai. Now, there are 81 members, freshmen and sophomores, in our circle. Until the Takuma Festival, there are over 100 people in our circle because there are juniors, too. We have a meeting every Wednesday. We have some volunteer activities in a month, for example, we help orphanages to hold festivals and we take care of children while their mothers are cooking, talking and so on. There is a volunteer activity in December. I can't wait it! We have other activities. On Wednesday, I often go to the park and play sports, eat out, drive and see beautiful view with members of my circle and so on. A group plan activities such as this. There are a few groups in our circle. As I said, there is a group that plan activities except volunteer activities. This group has 5 members. They think enjoyable activities for us. A group is one that is in charge of liaison with facilities we do volunteer activities. I'm a leader of this group, so I’m busy a little. The last one is a group that is in charge of accounts.

This is my university life. I like my university very much. Every day, I enjoy my school life with my friends and teachers. However, there is only a lack. It is…love! I want to be in love with someone at the university like dramas.

574 words

Essay 2-02a: My 4 languages

Learning languages is learning culture of its countries. How many languages have you learned? I have learned 4 languages by now. I like to learn languages very much. Now, I tell you about languages I have learned.

First, I have learned Japanese for 20 years. I like Japanese because there are some expressions for one meaning. Since I was little, I like to learn Kanji. When I was a primary schoolchild, I did exercises in Kanji a lot. Recently, I think that I begin to study for a certificate examination for Kanji. I am bad at studying Keigo, but I have to do. I’ll become a working member of society and need to use Keigo.

Second, I have learned English for 8 years. Since I was a junior high school student, I began to study English. When I was a junior high/ high school student, I like English the best. That is why I studied English hard. I would like to be an English teacher, so I study English at KGU. I am bad at listening to English. To improve my ability in listening English, I listen to English music. About three weeks ago, Mr. Tomei taught us English Central, a site we can watch videos and practice our English. I enjoy doing it. Moreover, I study for TOEIC. I have taken TOEIC only two times. In December, I will take TOEIC, so I would like to get a good score.

Third, I take Chinese classes and French class. When I choose classes, I couldn’t decide whether to take Chinese or Korean easily. My father works in China and I was interested in China, so I chose the Chinese class. I began to take private lessons in Chinese from about 2 months ago. My father recommended me to go there. There, I am taught by Chinese. I take French class on Wednesday. Last year, I took French class as the second foreign language. Both of them are so hard for me. Pronunciation of them is so difficult. In addition to that, Chinese has the four tones. Even if pronunciation is collect, you take a mistake in the four tones and it is different in meaning.

These are experiences of learning languages. I would like to master Japanese, English and Chinese and be a trilingual woman. Moreover, I’ll go to the English-speaking world and China and want to get along with people there. I’ll do my best. Please tell me how to learn languages if you have.

416 words

Essay 1-02a: ROSE

What kind of do you like? I like rose the best. There are so many species, colors and shapes. We can see beautiful rose, cute one, big one and small one. Rose is loved by many people. It smells so good. I want you to know about rose more and I will tell you about rose.

The first appearance of rose is "Epic of Gilgamesh". Since then, rose have been loved by a lot of people in the world. Cleopatra is one of the people who love rose. From about 1920, rose spread in Japan. After World War Ⅱ, in 1948, a rose exhibition was held in Tokyo. Some names of rose take their origin from big names, for example, Elizabeth Ⅱ, Jeanne d'Arc and so on... There are many colors, red, pink and orange, but I like red rose. The code for rose vary according to the colors. For example, the codes for red rose are passion, love beauty, while the codes for white rose are respect, purity and simplicity. It sounds fun.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rose

http://www.rose-style.com/hanakotoba.htm

In recent years, a lot of products of rose are developed, for example, sweets, cosmetics and so on... I have some goods of rose, face lotion, body cream and perfume. They smell so sweet. When I use them, I feel so happy. There are some favorite stores which sell products of rose. They are Baker's Street and House of Rose. At Baker's Street, there are daily necessities which is printed rose. At House of Rose, cosmetics of rose are sold. The two stores are so lovely. Please go there.

Rose festivals are held at each in Japan. I haven't experienced it yet. Bulgaria is a country that is famous for rose and the rose festival is also held in Bulgaria. I want to go there. Rose is related to anniversary. In Korea, there is the day called "Rose Day". It is May 14th and same as my birthday. Men and women who passed Valentine Day, White Day and Black Day and the two become couple. The couple present a bunch of rose each other and have a date at Rose Day. At Father's Day, we give rose for our fathers. The origin is a woman who proposed Father's Day.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Father

I really like rose! This time I think that I can tell you about rose a little. In fact, I would like to tell you more informations. I'll collect more things that are related to rose. By the way, You can relax with rose and please do it.

(421 words)

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Essay 1-01a

Dear host family,

Hello. My name is Chihiro. I am going to stay with you for 6 weeks this summer. I am 19 years old. Now, I go to university and study English in order to be a English teacher, so I would like to develop my skills in English and know foreign culture, life style and other things. That is why I decided to stay with you. First of all, I introduce myself. My hobby is playing the guitar, listening to music and singing songs. Shall we sing songs together? Then, I'll play the guitar. I have three part-time jobs. I work at the shop of ladies' wear, so I'm so interested in fashion. Other jobs are a private teacher and a model. I teach mathematics to a girl in high school which I graduated from. It is hard for me to teach mathematics. Moreover I belong to a model agency and take lessons twice a month. The lessons are so exciting! I have no likes and dislikes in food. I like hamburger steaks the best. I'm looking forward to having dinner with you. There are a few questions. I made a list of what I will bring to your home. Are there any other things that I have to bring? I worry about number of clothes. How many clothes should i bring to your home? I heard that the temperature in your country is very low in Summer. How much does the temperature go down? Next, do you have any pets? I am allergic to animals, so I am anxious about that. When I touch animals, a rash break out over my whole body and I sneeze a lot. Finally, may I ask a favor of you? I want to know information of all the members in your family before I meet you, for example, “How many members are there in your family?” “What does your family look like?” etc... Could you introduce yourselves in a reply to my letter? Next, I want you to eat Japanese food, so please give me a chance to cook Japanese food for you if I can. To be frank with you, I am so nervous because I haven't ever been to a foreign country. Please teach me a lot of things and help me when I am in trouble. I am looking forward to meeting you. See you.

Sincerely,
Chihiro

(399 words)