I have been writing an English learning diary in Japanese in my Japanese blog but I haven't taken time for writing so far. Therefore, I decided to start to write the recode in English here.
The content is mainly what I've learned or did for improving my English skill in each week. I will keep on recoding until I pass the Cambridge English exam C1 Advanced.
2nd WEEK IN MARCH
Tokyo is currently under the state of emergency, which is kind of the lockdown, so I can't go out so much.
Having said that, I didn't study English so much due to my temporary busy work.
READING
I keep in mind to read English books or articles everyday.
I'm currently reading a book about poker. I've read it up to page 200 so far and the left is around 70 pages. Although I didn't read the book in this week, others, I read some news about the school in Australia where I went in 2016 and so forth.
I think I can understand what is generally written about news but in not detail, for example, when the difficult words or the phrases which don't exist as similar expressions in Japanese are used.
I thought that I know about most grammar but actually don't...
GRAMMAR/VOCABULARY
I learned about relative clauses.
I recognize the relative clauses in the reading session when they are used but I can't use them naturally, like in this blog. So I've just started to write English learning diary.
WRITING
As we know, I started this recoding blog! Good job!
LISTENING
I listen to Podcast in the mornings while I go for a morning walk. It's for roughly 30 mins. It's definitely good for improving my listening skill as well as my health.
One point, I should more concentrate on catching what the speakers are saying, not on walking.
SPEAKING/PRONUNCIATION
I also practice the pronunciation everyday. I've been keeping on doing it for 6 and half months so far and I recently get to used to how to make a sound a bit.
The next skill I'm getting is the sound reduction and linkage.
3rd WEEK IN MARCH
I thought a lot of thing about my study custom in this week. I study English every morning such as grammar and vocabulary for passing the Cambridge English Certification. However, I feel that my custom, I mean the way of studying English, is not efficient.
I study grammar and vocabulary for some reading parts in the exam. Some understanding of grammar and vocabulary is fundamental for understanding English itself, but I'm planning to pass the exam in around 5years. I spend too much time to study them. I need to study other English parts, like reading, listening and speaking parts.
What I want to say is that I focus grammar and vocabulary too much so I want to change my study custom a bit. I'm thinking about securing time for reading book and speaking especially.
Very difficult to manage own study style, isn't it?
READING
I've read a few pages in a poker book. As I said before, I'd like to read a book every day...
GRAMMAR/VOCABULARY
I learned the gender-neutral language. I put some examples the bellow.
- comedian, comic
- humankind, people, humanity
- ancestors, predecessors, fore bears
- flight attendants
- synthetic, artificial
It's very interesting. There are few words and expressions like these in Japanese as far as I know. Every word has connotation with both sex, I guess, or I just don't know my language.
Learning a language is sometimes Leaning the culture.
WRITING
it's good to have time to use English for writing because I know how much I can't make the sentences correctly and don't know expressions in English even though I know the meaning when I hear them.
LISTENING
Continuing to listening podcast every morning while walking.
SPEAKING/PRONUNCIATION
I'm struggling with making a throaty voice. I'm trying some methods but they don't seem to work so much.
4th WEEK IN MARCH
Finally this year is done one fourth.
Looking back this year, I threw my own house and started to live as a digital nomad with my partner. I got to use to living in this way but it's quite pain to find next place to stay every time. The next visit place hasn't decided yet. No home...
I'm staying at the centre of city in Tokyo due to my partner's job. That's why most of accommodation are too expensive for us. Moreover, the prices has been increased after the state of emergency in Tokyo has been over. This is also one of the reasons we can't afford to pay for most of them.
Anyway, how was my English study in this week?
READING
I read some articles which are relevant to my job, but not a book. It became easier to understand the English sentences. Good, good!
Although I haven't read a book in this week, I'm taking paid holidays next week for 2 days so I am reading a book. I'm sure... Maybe.haha. I want to go next book, really.
GRAMMAR/VOCABULARY
I didn't study grammar and vocabulary so much owing to the service release in my job. I'm also planning to change my studying style regarding grammar and vocabulary.
I learned how to distinguish to-infinitive and -ing form with verb.
Opinion verb such as hate, like, love, prefer can be used both to-infinitive and -ing but use to-infinitive when saying we do sth regularly.
to-infinitive -> regular doing sth.
-ing -> doing sth in general.
WRITING
It's 3rd time to write English learning article in this blog.
I'd like to try writing other topics I'm interested in, for example, digital nomad, IT engineer career, international relationship with partner, ... whatever.
LISTENING
I think the listening ability is getting better but it's quite difficult to measure my skill. It might be good to take an exam.
SPEAKING/PRONUNCIATION
I'm finding opportunities to speak English but it's not easy. I wish I have high social skill.haha
I might speak to someone contacting me via in LinkedIn next week. It should be great practice.
IN THE END...
If you are planning to emigrate abroad in the future or studying English for your future career or aim, whatever, contact me and let's study it together:)
Looking forward to hearing from you.
Thanks.
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