2025/2/8(土)*SMC*

Word of the Day: SM Kei Narisawa

" improve/improvement"

 improve (vt)         improve on

[Verb]

Transitive (with an object):

She is taking a course to improve her public speaking skills.

Intransitive 1(without an object):

His health has improved significantly after the surgery.

Intransitive 2

① "Improve on" (to make something better than before or better than a previous attempt)

She hopes to improve on her performance in the next competition.

The new model improves on the previous version by offering better battery life.

② "Improve in" (to become better in a specific area or skill)

She has greatly improved in her ability to communicate effectively.

The students have improved in their test scores since last semester.

③ "Improve by" (to indicate the degree or method of improvement)

The economy has improved by 5% this year.

His running speed has improved by nearly two seconds.

[noun]          

improvement on

The movie is a great improvement on the last one.

This year’s model is a significant improvement on the previous design.

His second novel was an improvement on his first.

The new policy is an improvement on the old system.

Her latest painting is a real improvement on her earlier work.

<quiz>

①お菓子をあげると彼女の機嫌は治った。

②彼のスピーチ原稿は、チャットを使って大いに改善された。

① Giving her some sweets improved her mood.

② His speech draft was greatly improved by using Chat.

または There was a great improvement in his speech draft thanks to Chat.

Lecture: SM Noro

Idioms and Proverbs

1) A cat has n…… lives. = Cats are regilient and often survive dangeraous situations. (nine)

2) A wise man changes his m……, a fool never. = Intelligent and wise people are open to new ideas, willing to learn, and capable of changing their opinions. (mind)

3) Absence makes the h…… grow fonder. = Being apart from someone or something for a while makes you appreciate and love them even more. (hair)

4) Better untaught than ill t……. = It is better to have no knowledge at all than to learn something incorrectly or receive bad instruction. = (taught)

5) When the cat is away, the mice will p….. = When authority or supervision is absent, people tend to misbehave, relax, or break the rules. (play)

6) He who laughs last, laughs l….. = The person who has the final success or victory enjoys it the most, even if others laughed at him earlier. (long)

7) Love me l….., love me long. = A steady, moderate love that lasts is better than an intense, passionate love that fades quickly. (little)

8) M…… never come singly. = Bad luck or unfortunate events often happen in groups rather than one at a time. (mifortune)

9) Take something with a p…… of salt. = To not take something too seriously or to be skeptical about what you hear. (pinch)

10) The face is no index to the h...….... = A person's outward appearance does not always reflect their true thoughts, feelings, or character. (heart)

11) An applea day keeps the d...….. away. = Eating healthy food, particularly apples, helps maintain good health and prevent illness, reducing the need for medical visits. (doctor)

12) Bad n..….. travels fast. = Negative information, such as scandals, accidents, or unfortunate events, spreads quickly, often faster than good news. (news)

13) Honesty is the best p…….... = Being truthful is always the best approach in life, as it leads to trust, respect, and long-term benefits. (policy)

14) The pen is m….. than the sword. = Ideas, writing, and communication have more power and influence than violence or force. (mighthier)

15) A storm in a t…….. = Problem or issue that is blown out of proportion and treated as if it were much more serious than it really is. (teacup)

16) One man's meat is another man's p……. = What is good or enjoyable for one person may be unpleasant or harmful for another. (poison)

17) Leave no s…... unturned. = To make every possible effort to achieve something or to search thotoughly for something. (stone)

18) N……… knows no law. = In extreme situations, people may break rules or laws because survival or urgent needs take priority over legal or moral considerations. (necessity)

19) No one is rich enough to do without his n………. = No matter how wealthy or powerful a person, they still need the help, support, and cooperation of others. (neighbors)

20) He that cannot o……, cannot command. = To be a good leader, one must first learn how to follow orders and respect authority. (obey)

21) C…... killed the cat. = Being too curious can lead to trouble, danger, or negative consequences. (Curiosity)

22) Take a l…. out of somebody's book. = To imitate or follow someone's example, especially in a positive way. (leaf)

23) No sun without the s…….. = In life, happiness and success always come with difficulties or challenges. (shadow)

24) Two is company, three is n……, = A group of two people can enjoy each other's company, but adding a third person may create awkwardness or make someone feel left out. ((none)

25) Wise men p…….., fools determine. = Intelligent and thoutful people suggest ideas or plans, but decisions are often made by those who lack wisdom. (propose)

Table Topic Speech

1) What do you do over and over again that you hate doing?

2) A historical event that interests me

3) What's something you don't like to do that you are still really good at?

4) If you could live forever, would you want to? Why?

5) My favorite entertainer ever

6) What have you done that you are not proud of?

7) Whose life have you had the greatest impact on?

Prepared Speech

1) Ito hot spring: SM Ishimura

This week, my wife and I had the pleasure of visiting the beautiful Itoh hot springs for one-night, two- day trip. Our journey began at Sagamihara station, where we traveled via Yokohama on the Odoriko  limited express train.  The same scenic route brought us back home, leaving us with cherished memories of an unforgettable experience.

Abundant hot spring waters; One of the most remarkable features of Itoh hot spring is its abundant hot spring waters. The area is home to numerous onsens, each offering a unique and relaxing experience. The mineral-rich waters are renowned for their therapeutic properties, helping to soothe the both body and mind.

 As we soaked in the warm, comforting waters, we felt our warries and stresses melt away, replaced by a sense of tranquility and rejuvenation.

  Itoh hot spring is not only famous for its onsens but also for its breathtaking beautiful scenery surrounded by mountains and facing the ocean, Itoh offers stunning views.

 Rich seafood; The area is famous for its fresh seafood, including golden eye snapper, Ise lobster, and abalone.

   In conclusion, our trip to Itoh hot spring was a delightful escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life. It will cherish for years to come. I encourage all of you to visit and discover the magic of Itoh hot spring for yourselves.

2) Stamp Rally: SM Koizumi

Currently, the Seijo-Gakuenmae district of the Odakyu Line is hosting an exciting "Stamp Rally." Original stamps are placed at stations from Shimokitazawa to Izumi-Tamagawa, and by collecting them, the first 4,000 participants can receive a special prize. There is a stamp booklet with 13 circular spaces—10 for station stamps and 3 for stamps featuring Odakyu's mascot, "Mokoron." The event runs for over two months, from January 27 to March 30.

 I have a commuter pass from Shin-Yurigaoka to Shinjuku, which includes the Seijo-Gakuenmae area. I decided to get stamps as soon as possible.  I was lucky to notice the stamp rally while heading to dance practice—on January 27, the very first day of the event! And the next day, on January 28, I successfully collected all 13 stamps.

 It’s rare for things to go so smoothly. I took my completed stamp sheet to the office at Seijo-Gakuenmae Station, and received a token for the capsule machine. I inserted the token, turned the dial three times—clank, clank, clank—and a round ball dropped out. Splitting it open, I found a can badge featuring the Odakyu 2000 series train. I’m not sure what I’ll do with it, but it makes me happy nonetheless.

 Let me introduce some of the station stamps:

Shimokitazawa Station – The gateway to a cultural town, known for vintage clothing and theater.

Umegaoka Station – Celebrates the plum blossoms of Hanegi Park, bustling with the Ume Festival.

Gotokuji Station – Famous for Gotokuji Temple, filled with beckoning cat statues(招き猫).

Soshigaya-Okura Station – A shopping district surrounding the station, known as the "Ultraman Town." An Ultraman statue stands at the station, and the area is filled with character displays.

Kitami Station – Features the train depot. The rooftop of the depot is a huge park with greenery.

Izumi-Tamagawa Station – Known for the Tamagawa River. The Tamagawa Fireworks Festival is beautiful.

 If you ever visit a station with a stamp, why not take a moment to add it to your booklet?

3) Passion: SM Kaneko

Under this title, I would like to talk about two things.

  First, I find participating in SMC to be a very healthy activity for me. Physically, I get to ride my bicycle here and take the stairs in a meaningful way. Mentally, using English is great brain training. Most importantly, this circle gives me the opportunity to communicate with wonderful people like you! I don’t consider myself a very sociable person, but I still sometimes feel the need for warm connections like these.

  Second, passion is important. In fact, I have been involved with this circle almost from the beginning—I even lent my name to help register it for municipal activities. However, I wasn’t an active member at the time. A few months later, when I attended a meeting and heard our President speak about delivering speeches with passion, I was deeply moved. After that, although I had some periods of absence, I came to enjoy this circle very much. And now, I feel that the same passion burns in the hearts of all our members.

  That’s my story with SMC. Thank you for reading.

4) Thief: SM Yoko Narisawa

In Japanese, we call a thief “ 泥棒 ”. Do you know why? According to one explanation, thieves used to smear mud on their faces in order to disguise themselves while committing crimes. They would also carry a stick, just in case.

 Speaking of thieves, let me share two real-life stories that could happen to anyone.

 1. A series of burglaries occurred in a certain neighborhood, and people were terrified. They hoped the case would be solved quickly. As expected, the culprit was soon arrested. However, their relief was short-lived. One of the residents discovered that the thief was the father of his daughter’s friend. He was shocked. Interestingly, the thief never broke into the house of his daughter’s friend. Perhaps even thieves have their own sense of morality.

 2. One day, a 10-year-old boy was playing with a friend at his house. They were in the room he shared with his 17-year-old brother. On the elder brother’s desk sat a piggy bank filled with his pocket money. After the friend left, the elder brother noticed that the money was missing. There was no proof, but judging from the situation, the elder brother was convinced that his younger brother’s friend had stolen it. However, without clear evidence, the elder brother couldn’t accuse him directly. Instead, the elder brother came up with a clever plan. He placed a note inside his piggy bank that read, “I know who you are. Stop stealing.”. After that, the younger brother’s friend never visited their house again.

 A similar thing happened to my son. When he was in elementary school, a classmate visited his room shortly after New Year’s. My son received lots of money as New Year’s gifts. After his friend left, my son realized that a 10,000-yen bill was missing from his piggy bank. However, the matter eventually faded away without any clear resolution.

 It is very difficult to accuse someone of stealing without clear evidence.

 Always be cautious to avoid getting involved in trouble.

5) Times have changed: SM M.G

Under many circumstances I felt that times have changed. For example, thinking about differences between villains concept now and past, not having mobile phone and having it, before and after Donald Trump Presidency.

6) Spring is on the way: SM Eda

Meeting Schedule

In-person: 9:30 AM on Feb. 22 at Oyama Community Center (small conference room)

(Coordinator: SM Kaneko, Word of the Day: SM Ishimura, Lecturer: SM M.G)

Zoom: 7:30 PM on Feb. 10 and 17