2025/10/11(Sat.)*SMC*

Lecture: SM Kei Narisawa

[vocabulary]                    6min                                         

voracious      indiscriminate      eminent       steeped       replete 

* The youngster who reads voraciously, though indiscriminately, does not necessarily gain in 

wisdom over the teenager who is more selective in his reading choices. A young man who has 

read the life story of every eminent athlete of the twentieth century, or a coed who has steeped

 herself in every socialprotest novel she can get her hands on, may very well be learning all there 

is to know in a very limited area. But books are replete with so many wonders that it is often 

discouraging to see bright young people limit their own experiences. 

1.voracious     -----d                 a). of high reputation, outstanding

2.indiscriminate  -----c                b) completely filled or supplied with

3.eminent       -----a                c) choosing at random without careful selection

4.steep          -----e               d) desiring or consuming great quantities 

5, replete        -----b               e) soaked, drenched, saturated. 

                                                      *taken from 1100 words you need to know

[idioms]                                                                 5min

Cindy: I’m breaking my neck at two jobs so I don’t fall behind in my bills.

Gilda: Maybe you better face up to the fact that you can’t enjoy life to the hilt.

Cindy: I’ll go over my budget again. Don’t fly off the handle if my check bounces.

Gilda: I’m sure it will clear but if you want, I’ll give you some money to tide you over.

*Rewrite the phrases in italics, using the proper idiomatic expressions you have just learned. 

1. I hope that check goes through. (clears)

2. It’s too bad he got angry. (flew off the handle)

3. I’m spending too much money on groceries. I better examine my shopping list. (go over)

4. Sometimes, you need money to help you in bad times. (tide you over)

5. He is losing his hair but he doesn’t want to accept this unpleasant fact. (face up to)  

6. Bob didn’t have enough money in his checking account. His check came back. (bounced)

7. He has used his credit cards to the limit. (to the hilt)

8. She has company coming for dinner and she’s working very hard. (breaking her neck)

9. I can’t work as fast as my co-workers. I can’t keep up with their pace. (I fall behind)

                                                                          Idiomatic American English

 [useful expressions hard to understand]                                           7min 

1.“But it is suspicious if your wife has suddenly disappeared,” I say. “Not if she left of her own accord 

after getting into a heated argument with her husband.”

Not= It is not suspicious

2. If they got a better offer somewhere, they’d do me the courtesy of telling me, ya know?

Do me the courtesy of...= They’d have the decency to tell me.

　                       They’d at (least) tell me if they got a better offer.

3, The guy we’re going to have run the computer part of this should be here any time.

What is the subject of this sentence? = The guy we’re going to have run the computer part of this

4, I ran him through the tricks we were going to do and made sure he understood everything. 

(rf. I will walk you through the agenda)

Walk you through/run you through has another meaning than just take you through. What is it?= explain

                                          The house across the lakeより

Table Topic Speech

(1) What would best describes the way you've spent the last month of your life?

(2) What do you imagine yourself doing ten years from now?

(3) Is it better to have loved and lost or to have never loved at all?

(4) If you could choose one book as a mandatory read for all high school students, which book would you choose?

(5) What is the difference between innocence and ignorance?

(6) Would you rather lose all of your old memories or never be able to make new ones?

Prepared Speech

(1) Dave Roberts found a closer: SM Eda

(2) Answer from ChatGPT: SM Noro

The other day, I asked ChatGPT as a try out saying “I am now 64 years old and work for a company as a contract employee. What theme should I choose for spending all day today?” And I received the following response.

A Day with a Theme: At the age of sixty-four, life feels like a collection of days that deserve to be lived with intention. Each morning, you can choose a theme, like opening a small window that changes the air of the day.

Health and Body

One theme could be health. You might focus on breathing deeply, standing with good posture, or taking an extra walk. Even a small movement can remind you that your body is still your reliable partner.

Learning and Curiosity

Another theme could be learning. You could try to remember one new English phrase, or summarize the headline news in your own words. Curiosity keeps the mind young, no matter the number of years.

Creativity and Hobbies

A third theme is creativity. You could write a single line in your diary, take a photograph of today’s sky, or listen again to the music you loved in your youth. These moments give color to ordinary hours.

Connection with Others

Or, the theme could be connection. You might send a short message to a friend, or simply bow and smile at a stranger. These small gestures weave invisible threads between people.

Mind and Time

Finally, you could choose a theme of slowing down. Doing just one task with care, or pausing in the evening to look up at the sky. Such pauses remind you that time is not only for doing, but also for being.

What a good advice. I was really impressed with ChatGPT’s proposal.

(3) Renovation of Our House: SM Yoko Narisawa

 It’s been 37 years since we built our house, and it has started to deteriorate in various places. The floor creaks here and there, and it may give way in the near future. Seeing this, my daughter suggested we renovate the floor. She has a friend whose father is a carpenter, and he happens to live near our house. We soon asked him to come and check the floor. He advised us to renovate it immediately, so my family decided to go ahead with the work.

 The renovation started on the 29^th of last month and isn’t finished. It hasn’t been a simple task. In the living room and kitchen, there are a sideboard, a TV set, a cupboard, a fridge, a sofa, a dining table and many other items. I packed all the dishes and knickknacks into about 20 cardboard boxes before the renovation and put everything back in the cupboard, the sideboard and other places afterward.

 On the other hand, this renovation was a great opportunity to declutter. There were many unused wine glasses, coffee cups, and various kinds of glassware in the sideboard. What’s more, I only used a few of the dishes in the cupboard. As they were still usable, I didn’t want to throw them away --- but I knew I would never use them again. So I decided to get rid of unnecessary things.

 In addition to the dishes, there were many movie videotapes such as Roman Holiday in the sideboard. Since video decks are no longer available, I can’t play them. I decided to throw them away. I was surprised at how much stuff had been left unused. This was a good opportunity to tidy up the house.

 As the renovation progressed, the floor was redone and looked nice, but the dirt on the wallpaper became particularly noticeable. The renovation couldn’t be limited to just the floor. I immediately asked for the wallpaper to be replaced. After the floor and wallpaper were beautifully renovated, I wanted to replace the sink as well. In the end, we decided to get a new sink. It hasn’t installed yet, but I’m looking forward to it.

 Through this renovation, I made many discoveries. Not only did I find things to throw away, but I also found things that could be reused.

 I feel like I’ve cleared away 37 years of dust with this renovation.

(4) The Wisdom of Buddha: A Path to Inner Peace: SM Ishimura

Good morning everyone, and thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak today.

Today, I’d like to talk about a figure who has inspired millions of people around the world for over 2,500 years—Buddha. Not just a religious icon, Buddha represents a way of thinking, a path to peace, and a deep understanding of human nature.

🌱 Who Was Buddha?

Buddha, originally named Siddhartha Gautama, was born in India as a prince. He lived in luxury, but he was troubled by the suffering he saw outside the palace—old age, sickness, and death. So, he left his royal life and began a spiritual journey to find the truth about life and suffering.

After years of meditation and reflection, he reached enlightenment under a Bodhi tree. From that moment, he became known as “Buddha,” which means the awakened one.

🕊️ What Did Buddha Teach?

Buddha didn’t teach people to worship him. Instead, he taught a way of life—a path to reduce suffering and find inner peace. His teachings are called the Four Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path.

The Four Noble Truths are:

1.           Life includes suffering.

2.           Suffering comes from desire and attachment.

3.           We can overcome suffering.

4.           There is a path to end suffering.

The Eightfold Path includes right speech, right action, right mindfulness, and other practices that help us live wisely and compassionately.

🪷 Why Is Buddha Still Important Today?

Even in our modern world, Buddha’s teachings are deeply relevant. We live in a time of stress, competition, and constant change. Buddha reminds us to slow down, to observe our thoughts, and to treat others with kindness.

His message is simple but powerful: Peace begins within.

🌸 A Personal Reflection

For me, Buddha’s teachings are not just ancient ideas. They are part of daily life. When I feel anxious or impatient, I try to breathe deeply and remember his wisdom:

This quote helps me return to the here and now, where peace is always waiting.

🙏 Conclusion

In closing, Buddha’s life and teachings offer us a timeless gift—a way to understand ourselves and live with compassion. Whether we follow Buddhism or not, we can all learn from his gentle wisdom.

Thank you for listening. I hope this speech brings a little peace to your heart today.

(5) Timer Counts: SM Kaneko

I talked about two types of cooking timers: one analogue and one digital.I usually use an analogue timer when cooking, because its sound is louder than the digital one — and since my hearing has become a little weaker with age, that helps me notice it.Actually, I don’t cook very often, so I only use timers for cooking occasionally.

Recently, however, I found another good use for my digital timer: to avoid a sedentary, sitting-based lifestyle. I set the timer for 30 minutes, and every time it rings, I stand up and do at least one stretch and one squat. I think that’s better than doing nothing!

And now, I’m using a timer again — this time to measure my speech. For a speaker, finishing within the time limit is very important.

So, yes — the timer really counts in more ways than one.Thank you very much!

Meeting Schedule

In-person: 9:30 AM on Oct. 25 at Oyama Community Center (cooking practice room)

(Coordinator: SM Eda)