2024/11/23(土)SMC

Word of the Day: SM Yoko Narisawa

"balance"

[ noun ]

1. 均衡、調和、（心の）落着き

* Due to a lack of balance, the ship turned over.

* We should strike a balance between our expenditure and income.

* It is said that this hot water brings a balance between body and mind.

* He recovered the balance of his mind.

2. はかり、天秤

* You can weigh your baggage in this balance.

3. 残り、残余

* I’d like to be paid the balance in change.

4. 残高、差引勘定

* What’s the balance of my account?

* I’d like to find out my bank balance

[ idioms ]

1. off balance ( = in a position where someone is likely to fall )

* A gust of wind threw her off balance and she fell.

2. on balance [ commonly used at the beginning of a sentence ]

( = after thinking about all the different facts or opinions )

* On balance, I believe he was a good president.

3. hang in the balance

( = you cannot yet know whether the result will be bad or good )

* The fate of the refugees continues to hang in the balance.

4. tip the balance ( = change a situation )

* His last comment tipped the balance in their favor.

5. catch someone off balance

( = surprise someone and make them confused )

* The question caught him off balance.

[ verb ]

1. be in a steady position

* She is trying to balance her work and home lives.

* He balanced himself on a log.

2. compare the advantages and disadvantages of something

* The Government must balance our liberty against the security of the nation.

[ idioms ]

1. balance the books

( = make certain that the amount of money spent is equal to the amount of money received )

* We had to take money from the savings account in order to balance the books.

2. balance out

( = if two or more things balance out, the final result is that they are equal in amount, importance, or

effect )

* Sometimes I look after the kids and sometimes John does --- it all balances out.

[ Sentence Correction ]

Find the error in the following sentences.

1. The balance on the scale tipped because the weight was distributed equally. [ equally → unequally ]

2. Yoga and meditation help improve your balance in cooking skills.

[ cooking skills → mind and body ]

3. To keep financial balance, you should spend more than you earn.

[ more → less ]

4. He balanced his life by spending all his time on work.

[ by spending all his time on work → by dividing his time between work and home ]

5. The company maintained financial balance by ignoring unnecessary expenses. [ ignoring → cutting ]

Lecture: SM Takahata

Fill in the blank. (The meanings of the words in parentheses are shown below.)= These questions are introduced in the past zoom meetings in 2022.)

(1) A: I know the sales department manager cheats on his travel expenses.

B: Are you going to *1(b ) the (w ) on his wrong-doing?

A: I don’t know, but I expect he will *2 stop at (n ) to hush it up.

*1: = to bring something that is wrong to the attention of an authority or the public [Ans. blow, whistle]

*2: = to be ready to do anything even if it is cruel, dishonest or illegal, to get what you want

[Ans. nothing]

(2) Mr. Sato *1 (t ) his weight around at work, but at home his wife is the one who *2calls the

(s ). Between ourselves, he is a so-called *3 (h ) husband.

*1: = to use your position of authority to tell people what to do in an unreasonable way [Ans. throws]

*2: = to be in a position of authority so that you can give orders and make decisions [Ans. shots]

*3: = a husband who is always told what to do by his wife, and is afraid to disagree with her (= His wife wears the pants.) [Ans. henlpecked]

(3) A: Going for a literary prize, I wrote this mystery novel as *1 my (s ) song, but it failed to catch public

fancy.

B: Well, *2 that’s the way the (c ) crumbles.

*1: = the last piece of work or performance of a poet, painter etc. [Ans. swan]

*2: = used when something unpleasant has happened to say that you must accept things that way they are, even though you don’t like it [Ans. cookie]

(4) My mother prefers to have everything planned when she goes on an overseas trip, but I prefer to *1 play it by (e ) and *2 go wherever my (f ) leads me.

*1: = to decide what to do according to the way a situation develops [Ans. ear]

*2: = to do things whenever you feel like it [Ans. fancy]

(5) Because of the economic shutdown, we’re getting deeper and deeper into debt. We can’t just *1 bury your (h ) in the (s ) and hope the problem will solve itself.

*1: = to ignore an unpleasant situation and hope it will stop if you don’t think about it [Ans. head, sand]

(6) A: Why do you keep wasting money on buying lottery tickets?

B: Because I hope to *1 (s ) it rich one day.

A: *2 Wake up and (s ) the (c ). Real life isn’t that easy.

*1: =to get rich quick, hit the jackpot [Ans. strike]

*2: = Wake up to this reality. [Ans. smell, coffee]

(7) I *1 sweated (b ) to help Takeshi find a decent job, but he tried to work a scam on us. I feel that he

*2 (b ) the hand that (f ) him.

*1: = to make a great effort [Ans. blood]

*2: = to act badly towards the person who is helping or has helped you [Ans. bit, fed]

(8) My husband is an *1(out y) person, while I love going around art museums. When it comes to leisure time, we are *2 on a different (wa ).

*1: = a person enjoying outdoor activities like camping and walking [Ans. outdoorsy]

*2: = having a different course or line of thought especially as related to mutual understanding

[Ans. wavelength]

Table Topic Speech

(1) Discuss the most memorable event in your life.

(2) Coffee tastes bitter, but we want it anyway.

(3) How to achieve your dreams.

(4) My favorite mode of transportation.

(5) My worst nightmare....

(6) My most profitable mistake

(7) Why I like my town

(8) Three things that scare me

Prepared Speech

(1) Rooter's Song of SMC: SM Koizumi

"The SMC Rooter's Song was composed on April 25, 2015. As we are going to hold a karaoke party to celebrate the continuation of our group, I would like to share this song with all members and invite everyone to sing it together in the karaoke room.

This time, I have added continuation lyrics as a second part. I hope this song will inspire our passion for loving English even more.

Let’s move forward to a new stage of SMC together!"

The SMC Rooter's Song

Here comes a time of English with great members

We smile and enjoy " So many men, so many taste"

Here comes a time of sharing great experiences

We shake hands, we go together brightly

SMC started on October 2013

after small encounter of N and Y

We're members of Speech Master Club

Any English lover is welcome here

Let's have a time of Speech Master Club

Let's have a special miracle course

SMC is here, SMC is on your side the zone of relaxing

SMC is now, SMC is on your side the zone of relaxing

Here comes a time of Karaoke with great members

We smile and enjoy " So many men, so many taste"

Here comes a time of sharing beautiful voices

We shake hands, we go together brightly

We've been walking together for more than ten years

English as well as Karaoke is our favorite

We're members of Speech Master Club

Any Karaoke lover is also welcome here

Let's have a time of Speech Master Club

Let's have a special miracle time

SMC is here, SMC is on your side the zone of relaxing

SMC is now, SMC is on your side the zone of relaxing

(2) Precious Time with My Son - My Love for Family Bonds: SM Kei Narisawa

As a fan of “Ichi manga,” I cherish stories about family relationships. Today, I’d like to share a few special moments from my son’s childhood.

His First Day of School

When my son was six, he walked to elementary school alone on his first day. Though the school was only a few hundred meters away, I secretly followed him, worried yet proud. He caught me once and complained but kept walking confidently with his big school bag. That image still warms my heart.

Video Arcades and His Creativity

On weekends, we often visited arcades where he loved coin games. Inspired, he built his own version at home using plywood, motors, and coins I exchanged at the bank. The result amazed not only me but also the neighborhood kids who came to play. His creativity was, and still is, remarkable.

Learning English Together

As an English teacher, I encouraged him to follow a beginner radio program. He complied at first but later expressed his disinterest. It taught me to let him follow his own passions instead of imposing mine.

(3) Concept Equal: SM Noro

I watched a YouTube video where Dr. Takeshi Yoro explained that only humans can use the abstract concept of equality. He said, "I can talk like this in front of many people because I realize that everyone in front of me is equal to me, and when a monkey stands here instead, he feels that he is in front of many different creatures, and his alertness increases to the extreme. He said, "Equality is the greatest characteristic of human consciousness. He explained, "Apples and oranges are different in appearance and taste, but they are the same fruit in our minds.

I asked ChatGPT if he agreed with this idea.

ChatGPT replied that animals, including monkeys, don't use the abstract concept of "equal" in the same way that humans do. However, animals can recognize similarities and differences in their environment that help them survive.

I can imagine that animals are constantly surrounded by different things in their lives. That is why animals are always nervous and lively. On the other hand, humans might think that they live surrounded by many equal things. This makes us feel safe, but we easily get used to everyday life.

According to Dr. Takeshi Yoro, the media continues to transmit the idea of equal things and misleads us. If you are surprised by Trump's stunning victory in the U.S. presidential election, it is because the media has led you to believe that American voters are all equal and react to the election in the same way.

(4) Flowers: SM Kaneko

Today, I spoke about flowers. The main point of my speech is that, as I grow older, I’ve become increasingly interested in them.

One reason for this new interest might be that, as a retired person, I now have plenty of free time and sometimes find myself wondering how to spend it. Another reason is the small garden my late father left behind, which is home to both woody and herbaceous flowers. Recently, I’ve found myself more fascinated by herbaceous flowers than woody ones, and there are some reasons for this.

Four years ago, I bought some marigold seeds, which bloomed beautifully. Ever since then, the marigolds have produced seeds at the end of each season, and now the garden is full of them. However, due to this summer’s intense heat, the marigolds didn’t bloom well during the season. Surprisingly, they are in full bloom now.

Last year, I also acquired a pot of Madagascar periwinkle, which turned out to be quite hardy. They produced seeds as well, and compared to the marigolds, they are much more resilient to hot weather. This year, I added orange periwinkles to the white ones. Both varieties bloomed abundantly and are now producing seeds.

Growing flowers from seeds brings me immense joy. Even though the summer heat can be challenging, I hope to enjoy these flowers again next year. I’m already planning to add other colors—pink, red, and more—to enhance the garden’s beauty.

Finally, I must add that the flowers at SMC are as stunning as natural ones. That’s one of the reasons I enjoy coming here! Thank you so much!

(5) The Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage: SM Ishimura

Today, I am honored to share with you the fascinating journey of the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage, a spiritual path deeply rooted in Japanese culture and history.

The Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage, also known as "Shikoku Henro," is a revered pilgrimage route that encompasses 88 Buddhist temples across the island of Shikoku, Japan. This pilgrimage is dedicated to the revered Buddhist monk Kukai, also known as Kobo Daishi, who is believed to have established many of these temples during the early Heian period.

The pilgrimage spans approximately 1,200 kilometers and traverses the four prefectures of Shikoku: Tokushima, Kochi, Ehime, and Kagawa. Pilgrims, known as "henro," often undertake this journey on foot, but it can also be completed by bicycle, car, or public transportation. The traditional attire for pilgrims includes a white vest, sedge hat, and a walking staff, symbolizing their spiritual quest.

The 88 temples, each with its unique history and significance, offer pilgrims a chance to reflect, meditate, and seek enlightenment. Pilgrims visit these temples in a specific order, starting at Ryozenji Temple in Tokushima and concluding at Okubo-ji Temple in Kagawa. Along the way, they collect stamps in a special book called "nokyocho," a cherished memento of their spiritual journey.

The Shikoku pilgrimage is not just a physical journey, but a profound spiritual experience. It allows pilgrims to connect with the teachings of Kobo Daishi, seek solace, and find a deeper understanding of themselves and the world around them. Many pilgrims report experiencing a sense of inner peace, transformation, and a renewed sense of purpose upon completing the journey.

In recent years, the Shikoku 88 Temple Pilgrimage has gained international recognition, attracting pilgrims from around the world. This timeless tradition continues to inspire countless individuals, offering a unique opportunity to experience Japan's rich cultural heritage and the enduring spiritual legacy of Kobo Daishi.

Thank you for allowing me to share this remarkable journey with you. May the spirit of the Shikoku pilgrimage inspire us all to seek our own paths of enlightenment and inner peace.

(6) Mistakes: SM M.G

Although doctor X doesn't make mistakes, I make mistakes. There were mistakes in my speech at SMC club.

Since today is the labor thanksgiving day, I asked ChatGPT to make a funny story regarding November23. ..Shared the story.( and in coincidence the story connected to mistakes)

Meeting Schedule

In-person: 9:30 AM on Jan. 11, 2025 at Seishin Community Center (small conference room)

(Coordinator: SM Yoko Narisawa, Word of the Day: SM Noro, Lecturer: SM Eda]

Zoom: 7:30 PM on Nov. 25, Dec. 2, 9 and 16