2021/10/9(土)SMC
An in-person SMC meeting was held after 2 months of suspension. We really felt the importance and pleasure of face-to-face communication. SM Takahata and SM Kaneko served as a coordinator and lecturer respectively.
In the opening talk, President told us repetition is the key to mastering proper pronunciation of foreign languages and shadowing practice is one of the most effective way to improve our English pronunciation.
Lecture
<Climate Change>
For the text of the lecture, SM Kaneko chose an article from The Mainichi, which dealt with Syukuro Manabe, who won a share in this year's Nobel Prize in physics. His main achievement would be concerning global warming or climate change, which are now topics of everyday conversation, although he says he "never dreamed that global warming would become such a big problem."
He asked the participants several questions about parts which I found had some difficulty to understand. We exchanged ideas which were sometimes different. However, such discussion was really fun! I recognized the enjoyability of our circle again!
Table Topic Speech
The speech titles are;
- What makes you angry? Why?
- Do you think crying is a sign of weakness or strength?
- How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are?
- Is it possible to lie without saying a word?
Prepared speech
(1) New undertakings (SM K. Narisawa)
He has two new undertakings. They both started at the very beginning of this year. One is brisk walking and the other watching U-tube. Both of them are beginning to bear fruit. But we've got to know things take long to take shape. Now that almost 10 months have passed since he tackled his undertakings. He feels like a new man.
(2) On-line tour (SM. Yo. Narisawa)
On-line tour seems to be rising in popularity now. We can enjoy on-line tour for about 90 minutes at a cost of about 4000 yen. The other day, she watched a TV program about on-line tour. This program introduced some countries such as India, Kenya and so on. Tour guides in those countries explained famous spots of their own in Japanese. Especially she was interested in the tour guide in Kenya. She spoke Japanese very fluently. And what's more, she had a sense of humor. She made her burst into laughter by saying that when she counts rhinos, she says, " 1さい、2さい、3さい..." and when there are a lot of rhinos, she says, "うるさい".
We can enjoy traveling around the world staying at home. It's amazing, isn't it?
(3) Ig Novel Prize is not ignorable (SM Noro)
Compared to the Nobel Prize, the Ig Nobel Prize is probably less well known. And it is bestowed to "honor achievements that first make people laugh, and then make them think". Wikipedia says: "The Ig Nobel Prize is a satirical prize awarded annually since 1991 to celebrate ten unusual or trivial achievements in scientific research." And "The name of the award is a pun on the Nobel Prize, which it parodies, and on the word ignoble (not noble)." But, he wants to say, "Ig Nobel Prize is not ignorable." If you are interested in the prizes, please visit the website for checking 2021 recipients.
(4) What Do You Drink？(SM Yu. Narisawa)
Suddenly he found himself eager to drink Bourbon whiskey like he did in his twenties.
Four Roses, a Bourbon brand, had a natural taste. Eating peanuts every day keeps a doctor away, he's heard. So he likes drinking Four Roses, listening to the jazz of his favorite sax player, eating peanuts.
How about you? What do you drink?
Meeting Schedule
Zoom: Oct. 11, Oct. 18, Oct. 25
In-person: Oct. 23, 9:30 a.m to 12:00 at Oyama Community Center
Coordinator: SM Kaneko, Lecturer: SM K. Narisawa
