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Goal: Learn how to ask and answer questions about your region
地元の町を英語で紹介しましょう！
What are three things your hometown is known for?
Do you know how to talk about different topics relating to your area? In this very useful English lesson, you will learn how to:
1. Describe where you live, or where you are from
居住地や出身地について述説明する
2. Exchange information about local factors like the economy, population, and leisure
地域の情報 (経済や人口、レジャーについて) を交換する
3. Give a report on a region
ある地域に関しての報告をする
Listen to the dialogue audio first before reading the text.
Situation: Tadao Fujiwara of the textile firm World Wide Wear K.K., and Barb McLean, a visiting financial analyst from their Los Angeles office, are having a business lunch. They have just ordered their meals and have some time to chat before getting down to business.
繊維会社のワールド・ワイド・ウェアK.K.社の藤原忠夫とLA支社から出張中の経済アナリストのバーブ・マクリーンはビジネス・ランチをとっています。2人は注文を済ませたところで、ビジネスの話に移る前に軽く雑談をしています。
Show only English text || Show only Japanese text || Show both texts
Tadao: So Barb, I hear this is your first time to Tokyo. How do you like it so far?
バーブさん、東京は初めてだそうですね。今のところいかがですか。
Barb: It’s great. Everyone has been very friendly at your office. I’m also really looking forward to seeing the sights around Tokyo.
素晴らしいですね。職場の皆さんは親切ですし。東京周辺の観光も非常に楽しみにしています。
Tadao: Well, I’m from Tokyo, and I know the city like the back of my hand.
そうなんですか。私は東京出身なので、あちこちとても詳しいですよ。
Barb: Oh really? Where in Tokyo are you from exactly?
本当ですか？東京のどちらですか。
Tadao: I’m from Hachioji. It’s on the outskirts of Tokyo, but I have been living in the center of the city for the last 10 years.
八王子です。私の地元は東京の郊外なのですが、ここ10年は都心に住んでいます。
Barb: Right. What are some good places to visit around here?
そうなんですか。この辺りでお勧めの場所はどこですか。
Tadao: Well, there are so many things to see and do in Tokyo. I’d recommend going to Sensoji temple in Asakusa. Akihabara is famous for its electronic goods. And Tokyo Sky Tree has terrific views of the city.
そうですね、東京には見る場所もすることもたくさんあるんですよ。お勧めは浅草の浅草寺ですね。秋葉原は家電製品で有名ですし。スカイツリーからは素晴らしい街の景色が楽しめますよ。
Barb: That’s just the type of information I was looking for. Is Akihabara near here?
そういう情報を探していたんですよ。秋葉原はここから近いですか。
Tadao: Yes. It’s only about 20 minutes away by train. As for other shopping, you might want to go to Shibuya or Shinjuku.
はい、電車でたったの20分位ですよ。他の物を買うなら渋谷か新宿がいいかもしれません。
Barb: Thanks. That’s good to know. Actually, I am a little worried that it would be difficult to get around the city.
ありがとうございます。それは教えて頂いて助かりました。実は東京を見て回るのは難しいかなと心配していたのです。
Tadao: Don’t worry. There are usually English signs and maps at stations on the streets. And the well-organized train and subway system makes Tokyo very accessible, but transfers could be confusing.
ご安心ください。駅や通りにはたいてい英語の表示や地図がありますから。電車や地下鉄の路線がよく整備されているおかげで東京は非常に移動が楽なんです。ただ、乗り換えはややこしいんですが。
Barb: I will keep that in mind. Well, I suppose we should get down to business….
覚えておきます。ではそろそろ仕事の話に入りましょうか。
The 4 Steps of Shadowing
Shadowing is an excellent self-study technique. Follow these 4 steps when learning English at home and you'll really see improvements in your speaking skills!
Step 1 "Visual Listening"
Without looking at the text, simply listen to the dialogue and try to understand the situation; who's talking? what is their relationship? where are they? why are they talking?
This step helps your listening comprehension.
Step 2 "Full Speed Reading"
Practice reading the dialogue aloud but try to speak near native speed.
This step help you learn the key phrases.
Step 3 "Vocal-eye Shadowing"
Play the audio and read the dialogue aloud but speak just behind the speaker.
This step helps you speak near native speed as well as practice your pronunciation and intonation.
Step 4 "Full Shadowing"
Play the audio and shadow the dialogue aloud and speak just behind the speaker. In this step, don't read the dialogue but just focus on the audio.
This step help you verbalize thoughts which improves your ability to think in English.
If you regularly study English in this way, you'll be speaking more fluently and smoothly in no time!
City center - Suburbs - Outskirts
Where do you work or live?
Here are some commonly used terms:
City center - the central part of the city
"My office is in Marunouchi which is in the city center."
Suburbs - an outlying district of a city, especially a residential one.
"I live in Suginami ward which is a suburb in the western part of Tokyo."
Outskirts - the outer parts of a town or city.
"I’m from Hachioji. It’s on the outskirts of Tokyo"
Commuter Town - a residential area located outside a main city. Many of it's residents travel into the main city for work.
"I used to live in Tsuchiura which is a commuter town about 90 minutes from Tokyo"
If you sometimes have to host foreign visitors to Japan, it’s a good idea to learn how to explain about Japanese customs and points of interest such as popular sightseeing places, food, souvenirs and so on. Here are a few great examples:
(お花見) Hanami means “cherry blossom viewing”
In early spring, many Japanese people enjoy having cherry blossom viewing parties.
(紅葉) Kouyou means “autumn/fall colors” or “autumn/fall leaves”
In autumn, the kouyou in Japan is very beautiful and lots of people enjoy taking day trips to the countryside to see them.
(たこ焼き) Takoyaki means “octopus dumpling”
Takoyaki is an octopus dumpling. At festivals and popular sightseeing places, you can often see food stalls selling this tasty savory snack.
(お御輿) Omikoshi means “portable shrine”
At Shinto festivals such as “Sanja Matsuri”, you can see festival goers parading very big omikoshi.
Why not learn how to explain some Japanese places and things you’re interested in? You’re foreign guests would love to hear about them!
Breakfast Meetings and Power Lunches
Nearly every world culture has customs for getting together outside of the workplace, such as at dinners, sporting events, and other social activities. These occasions are a good chance for businesspeople to get to know each other better.
Besides the standard business dinner, each region has its own preferred “out-of-office meeting” style. In California, a very early morning business breakfast is popular among executives, while in Manhattan, deals are often negotiated during “power lunches”. In Baltimore, clients may invite you out for baseball and crab cakes. Westerners mix business with pleasure not only to make for a more relaxed relationship but also to multi-task, and get more out of their day.
In Japan, breakfast meetings are not part of the corporate culture. Business negotiations happen in a formal meeting at the company’s office. A lunch or dinner may happen before or after negotiations, but meals are not consumed during them. It reflects the Japanese custom of respecting order and discipline.
Now double check your understanding by reading the Japanese translation:
ブレックファスト・ミーティングとパワー・ランチ
世界中のほとんどの文化では、夕食やスポーツイベント、社交行事などの職場以外でも人が集まる慣習があります。このような場はビジネス・ピープルにとってお互いをよく知る良い機会です。
一般的なビジネス・ディナーの他に地域ごとに好ましいとされる’オフィス外ミーティング’があります。カリフォルニアでは早朝のブレックファスト・ミーティングは管理職の間では一般的であり、一方マンハッタンではパワー・ランチ(ランチ・ミーティング)で契約に関する交渉が行われたりします。ボルティモアでは取引先が野球観戦やクラブ・ケーキ(カニ料理の一種)の食事に招待してくれる場合もあります。欧米人は気さくな関係性を保つためだけでなく、時間を有効に活用し複数のことを同時にこなすためにビジネスと娯楽をひとつにします。
日本では、ブレックファスト・ミーティングは一般的な企業の慣習ではありません。仕事上の交渉は、社内の正式な会議の場で行われます。昼食や夕食は交渉の前後に行われ、打ち合わせ中に食事をとることはありません。これは規律と物事の順序を重んじる日本の価値観を反映しています。
| 地域についての質問をする/説明する | Asking about and Describing a Region |
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| 地元について話し合う |
Discussing Local Factors |
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Here's some useful vocabulary to describe places:
peaceful - free from disturbance; tranquil; quiet
stunning - extremely impressive or attractive.
lively / vibrant - full of life and energy
crowded - a space full of people
accessible - a place able to be reached or entered
exciting - causing great enthusiasm
thriving - prosperous and growing
run down - worn-out, shabby, or dilapidated
We'll be adding a review quiz in the near future.
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