2026/8/8(Sat.)*SMC*

Lecture

(1) Word Quiz: SM Takahata

Read the notes below and fill in the blank.

(1)  A: If you want to dress up but still stay comfortable, these shoes are highly recommended.

B: Do I need time to (  1　) them in?

A: Not at all. They’re comfortable right out of the (  2  ).

   1= to make new shoes or boots less stiff and more comfortable by wearing them

   2= immediately from very beginning

(2) A: No matter how hard I study, I can’t get into a top-flight university. I feel it in my (　1　).

B: Don’t throw in the (  2  ) yet. The entrance exam is still months

away. You can make it.”

1 = to be  that something is true, even though you have

no proof and cannot explain why you are certain

  2 = to give up or admit defeat

(3) Ken is short-tempered and self-centered, but his strengths more than make up for his weaknesses. Once you get to know him, you’ll realize he always (  1  ) through when it really (　2　).

1 = to do something that somebody needs or expects you to do in a difficult situation

2 = when it really matters

(4) A: When we asked for a volunteer to read children’s books, Miki stepped up to the (　1　).

B: Really? I didn’t know she (  2  ) it in her.

A: Yeah, and she did a wonderful job.

1 =to take action when something needs to be done, even though this is difficult

2 = to have a particular quality or ability

(5) A: What kind of pitch was that?

B: That’s his specialty — the slider.

A: No wonder. Yamamoto is head and (  1  ) above the rest.

B: Absolutely. He might even go the (　2　) today.”

1= much better than others

2  = to finish something you have started

(6) At first, Megumi didn’t like to date Shota because he dressed shabbily. But when she found out he had deep (　1　), she changed her attitude in the (  2  ) of an eye.

1= to have a lot of money or wealth

2 = extremely quickly

(7) A: I bought some cakes.

B: Wow, they look amazing. My mouth’s (  1  ) already.

A: There aren’t enough to go around, so it’s first come, first (　2　).

B: I’ll take this one!

1= I can’t wait to eat it.

2 = used to say that something will be given to the people who ask for it first, when there is not enough for everyone

(8) A: Nobu is on the fast track to promotion. How did he manage that? B: I think he’s just a (　1　)-of-the-mill employee.

A: Just between you and me. He has (  2  ) with board members.”

1 = not special or interesting in any way

2 = have connections with

Answer

(1) 1: break 2: box (2) 1: bones 2: towel (3) 1: comes 2: counts (4) 1: plate 2: had

(5) 1: shoulders 2: distance (6) 1: pockets 2: blink (7) 1: watering 2: served

(8) 1: run 2: pull

(2) Obama's Speech: SM Eda

Mr. Obama’s Speech; Never Give Up On Yourself

L1. I know sometimes you get that sense from TV that you can be rich and successful without any hard work.

L2. And your ticket to success is through rapping or basketball or being a reality TV star.

L3. Chances are you’re not gonna be any of those things.

L4. The truth is being successful is hard.

L5. You won’t love every subject you study.

L6. You won’t click with every teacher that you have.

L7. Not every homework assignment will seem completely relevant to your life right at this minute.

L8. And you won’t necessarily succeed in everything the first time you try.

L9. That’s okay.

L10. Some of the most successful people in the world are the ones who’ve had the most failures.

L11. J.K Rowlings who wrote Harry Potter, her first Harry Potter book was rejected 12 times before it was finally published.

L12. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team.

L13. He lost hundreds of games and missed thousands of shots during his career.

L14. But he once said, “I have failed over and over again in my life, and that’s why I succeeded.”

L15. These people succeeded because they understood that you can’t let your failures define you.

L16. You have to let your failures teach you.

L17. You have to let them show you what to do differently the next time.

L18. So if you get into trouble, that doesn't mean you’re a troublemaker.

L19. It means you need to try harder to act right.

L20. If you get a bad grade, that doesn't mean you’re stupid.

L21. It just means you need more time studying.

L22. No one’s born being good at all things, you become good at things through hard work.

L23. You’re not a varsity athlete the first time you play a new sport.

L24. You don’t hit every note the first time you sing a song, you’ve got to practice.

L25. The same principle applies to your school work.

L26. You might have to do a math problem a few times before you get it right.

L27. You might have to read something a few times before you understand it.

L28. You definitely have to do a few drafts of a paper before it’s good enough to hand in.

L29. Don’t be afraid to ask questions.

L30. Don’t be afraid to ask for help when you need it, I do that every day.

L31. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness, it’s a sign of strength.

L32. Because it shows you have the courage to admit when you don’t know something.

L33. And that then allows you to learn something new.

L34. So find an adult you trust, a parent, a grandparent or a teacher, a coach, or a counselor, and ask them to help you stay on track to meet your goals.

L35. And even when you’re struggling, even when you’re discouraged, and you feel like other people have given up on you, don’t ever give up on yourself.

Notes: 名詞、動詞、形容詞、副詞は強く発音し、

助動詞、前置詞、冠詞、関係代名詞、代名詞、接続詞は弱く発音する。だから動詞のhaveが'veにならず、助動詞のhaveは'veになることが多い。関係代名詞も無くても分かる時は特に弱く発音され、省略されたりする。接続詞や前置詞も弱く発音され、

go to/and seeなどはgo seeのように省略されたりする。ndやntは次が子音や弱い母音なら、nの発音だけになることがある。kind ofは前置詞で弱い発音でvの発音も母音が続かないと弱くカイナという発音になる。centerはセナーなる。28行目のhand inはinが副詞で強い発音なので、ハンディンと発音し、ハニンとはならない。

Table Topic Speech

(1) What do you want more of in your life?

(2) What does it mean to be human?

(3) What are three moral rules you will never break?

(4) Who do you think stands between you and hapiness?

(5) In one word, how do you describe your childhood?

(6) What is the biggest change you have made in your life in the last year?

(7) What has fear or failure stopped you from doing?

Prepared Speech

(1)  Scrumptious Peaches: SM Kei Narisawa

I believe Japanese peaches have been improved through selective breeding, just like tomatoes and strawberries.

I lived in the United States for quite some time. During that time, I bought peaches many times. However, they tasted rather bland and were not very memorable. Their flavor wasn't rich enough to leave a lasting impression.

My wife, on the other hand, had a completely different experience. When she was a child, her mother would often visit her close friend living near her home. She had a peach orchard, so my wife could eat as many peaches as she wanted. She enjoyed her heart's content every summer. So we have very different memories of peaches.

As it turns out, there is a reason for this difference. According to ChatGPT, Japanese farmers have spent many years improving peaches through selective breeding, while Western peaches have been developed with different priorities, such as durability for transportation and storage. As a result, Japanese peaches are known for their sweetness and juicy texture. It seems that their efforts finally bear fruit.

Two weeks ago, my wife and I, along with our daughter and her friend went peach picking. Considering the price of peaches, you need to eat at least five peaches to get your money's worth. My daughter, however, ate like a bird and finished only two peaches. So I had to make up for them and ate eight peaches. In the end, we just about got our money's worth!

There was another memorable thing about that trip. There were a lot of Chinese tourists at the peach farm. Some of them didn't seem very considerate of other visitors. For example, they didn't seem willing to let other people get off the bus first. I was surprised by the difference in behavior.

Later, I wondered why so many Chinese tourists visit peach farms in Japan. I found that China produces about 1.5 billion tons of peaches each year, whereas Japan produces only 10 to 15 million tons. Even so, many visitors still come all the way to Japan to eat Japanese peaches. Perhaps one reason is that many people think Japanese peaches taste much better.

So we'd better be careful that Japanese peaches don't end up being stolen, just like strawberries have been.

If you feel the same way I do, you're a peach!

(2) The Amazing Brain – Our Most Valuable Partner: SM Ishimura

Today, I'd like to talk about something that all of us have, but we often take for granted—our brain.

Our brain weighs only about 1.4 kilograms, or about three pounds. It is only about 2% of our body weight, but it uses around 20% of our body's energy. That's a very hungry organ!

The brain is like the CEO of a company. It controls everything we do. It helps us think, remember, speak, walk, laugh, and even dream while we are sleeping.

Sometimes I joke that my brain is like an old computer. It works well, but occasionally it needs a little more time to open a file! I walk into a room and suddenly ask myself, "Why did I come here?" Then, a few minutes later, my brain finally says, "Oh, yes! I came to get my glasses."

Have you ever had the same experience?

But here is the good news. Scientists tell us that our brains can continue to learn throughout our lives. Age is not the end of learning. In fact, learning new things creates new connections between brain cells.

That is one reason why I enjoy studying English. Every new word is like giving my brain a little exercise. Sometimes my brain says, "Please stop! That's enough vocabulary for today!" But I tell it, "No! We are going to English Club this Saturday!"

Besides learning languages, there are many ways to keep our brains healthy.

First, keep moving. Walking every day increases blood flow to the brain.

Second, keep learning. Read books, solve puzzles, play games, or learn a new hobby.

Third, talk with other people. Good conversations are wonderful exercise for the brain.

Fourth, sleep well. Our brain is very busy while we sleep. It organizes memories and prepares us for the next day.

And finally, laugh often. Laughter reduces stress and is good medicine for both the brain and the heart.

I am over eighty years old, but I still believe my brain can grow stronger. Maybe it is not as fast as it was when I was twenty, but it is still working every day—and I want to help it stay healthy for as long as possible.

So, let's be kind to our brains. Feed them with healthy food, challenge them with new ideas, give them enough sleep, and don't forget to smile.

Our brain is our best friend. It has been with us since the day we were born, and it will stay with us for the rest of our lives.

So let's take good care of it.

(3) Swallowtails: SM Kaneko

Introduction

Today, I'd like to talk about swallowtail butterflies.

The point of my speech is very simple: I like watching swallowtails.

I don't know very much about butterflies, and I'm not an expert on them. But I often see swallowtails around my garden, and every time I see one, I feel happy.

I'd like to tell you three reasons why I enjoy seeing them.

First: The way they fly

First, I like the way butterflies fly, especially swallowtails.

Their flight is quite different from that of other insects. They don't simply fly straight from one place to another. They seem to flutter, turn, rise, and fall as they move through the air.

To me, their flight seems to express joy. Of course, I don't know whether a butterfly can actually feel joy. But when I watch one flying happily from flower to flower, I feel happy, too.

Just compare butterflies with other insects—or with birds. Birds usually fly in a much more controlled and efficient way. Butterflies seem to have a completely different style of flying.

I think there is something special and beautiful about it.

Second: My garden and Karasu-zanshou

Second, I don't know the names of most of the plants in my garden.

One day, I found a weed-like plant with thorns. My first thought was, "I should remove this."

But before removing it, I checked it with Google Lens.

To my surprise, I learned that the plant was Karasu-zanshou, or Japanese prickly ash. And I found something even more interesting: it is a good food plant for swallowtail caterpillars.

So, instead of removing it, I decided to preserve it.

A few weeks later, something interesting happened. I saw a swallowtail flying around the leaves of the plant. I also found a caterpillar near the plant.

I don't know for sure whether the butterfly had laid an egg there. But I thought, "Maybe this plant is helping me attract swallowtails to my garden."

So now I have a new reason to keep this rather thorny plant.

Growing Karasu-zanshou increases my chances of seeing swallowtails.

Third: A caterpillar on the road

Third, sometimes we see swallowtail caterpillars on the street.

I don't like seeing them there because they can easily be crushed by a car, a bicycle, or someone's foot.

One day, while I was riding my bicycle, I noticed a swallowtail caterpillar on the road.

I passed it at first. But then I thought, "That caterpillar is in danger."

So I turned my bicycle around, went back, and carefully moved the caterpillar to a safer place—a grassy area where people don't usually walk.

I didn't know what would happen to it after that.

Several days later, I happened to see a swallowtail flying happily around the same area.

Of course, I have no way of knowing whether it was the adult form of the caterpillar I had moved.

But I liked to think that perhaps it was.

And that thought made me happy.

Conclusion

Finally, I'd like to connect this with something I talked about in my last lecture.

In that lecture, I introduced some zoological terms, including larva, chrysalis, and metamorphosis.

Butterflies are a wonderful example of metamorphosis.

They begin their lives as larvae, or caterpillars. Then they become chrysalises, and finally they emerge as beautiful adult butterflies.

In other words, they change their form dramatically during their lives—from a rather unattractive caterpillar into a beautiful butterfly.

I think that is quite dramatic.

And when I see a swallowtail flying around my garden, I sometimes think about the whole process—from a tiny egg, to a caterpillar, to a chrysalis, and finally to a beautiful butterfly flying freely through the air.

To me, it is not only dramatic. It is a wonder of nature.

Thank you.

(4) Flower: SM Yoko Narisawa

The vinca flowers SM Kaneko gave me are blooming profusely in the planter at the entrance of my house now. Their colorful petals make me smile every day. Throughout the four seasons, we can enjoy many kinds of flowers, such as cherry blossoms in spring, hydrangeas in early summer, and sunflowers in summer.

 Flowers help us feel the seasons. However, sometimes flowers get confused -- winter flowers bloom in summer, summer flowers bloom in winter. That’s exactly what’s happening to my cyclamen right now. Cyclamens are supposed to be Christmas flowers. Last year, my friend gave me a pot of cyclamen for my birthday. Two months later, it drooped, the leaves withered, and honestly, it looked ready to give up on life. But I  kept watering it faithfully. To my surprise, it suddenly decided to bloom again -- in the middle of this midsummer heat! I hear that my friend’s cyclamen is also blooming now. How lucky we are to see cyclamens bloom twice a year!

 Speaking of flowers, roses are often cited as the symbol of beauty. They are used as gifts on many occasions. As for me, a long time ago, before marriage, my husband gave me a bouquet of red roses for my birthday. I remember feeling very happy. But that was the first and last time. Apparently, he believes roses are best given once in a lifetime. Roses are very beautiful, but as the old saying goes, every rose has its thorn. It means even the most beautiful or perfect things have their flaws -- in other words, nothing is perfect. So it is important to accept our weaknesses in any situation.

 By the way, what is your favorite flower? I like lilies of the valley. Their language of flowers is “ the return of happiness ”. They produce pretty little white blossoms and are very delicate. I like their sweetness and purity. But believe it or not, they contain toxic components in both the flowers and the roots. So we have to be careful not to touch them with bare hands. This is another example of how beautiful things can have thorns. Beautiful things can be dangerous -- just like roses.

 Lastly, I’d like to share a sunflower episode. When my son was a junior high school student, the assignment in his art class was to express the midsummer heat in a picture. Speaking of summer flowers, sunflowers immediately come to mind. As you know, sunflowers always turn their faces toward the sun. He drew a sunflower in the center of the paper, the sun in the upper right corner, and an electric fan to the left of the sunflower. It was very hot outside. The blazing sun was beating down on the sun flower. Even the sunflower decided to face the electric fan, instead of the sun. He expressed the summer heat perfectly through his drawing. When I saw his drawing, I burst out laughing.

 There are so many beautiful flowers around us. Why don’t you stop and smell the roses? -- just watch out for the thorns.

(5) Different ways to say “我慢する”: SM Noro 

When you hear the Japanese phrase “我慢する”, the word "endure" might be the first to come to mind. However, it is important to note that "endure" is primarily used to describe withstanding pain or hardship over a long period. Consequently, using it in everyday conversation can sometimes feel unnatural or sound overly dramatic.

While “我慢する” is frequently used in casual Japanese conversation, English requires different expressions depending on the specific situation.

Here are four useful expressions to consider:

1.       Put up with = Used for troublesome people or situations

2.       Stand = Used in the negative to express that something is emotionally "unbearable"

3.       Do without = Used when giving up something or managing without it

4.       Make do with = Used when scraping by or managing with a substitute

(1)  When we think about the translation of “コーヒーを我慢した。”,

-> I endured no coffee today. (It sounds too serious.)

-> I did without coffee today. (Good expression)

When using "endure," pay attention to the object of the verb. Examples of such objects include pain, poverty, illness, war, and hardship. Naturally, "endure" is used in reference to negative circumstances. On the other hand, while Japanese often focuses on the act of "enduring" itself, English tends to focus on the situation at hand.

Now, here are a few questions for you. Try translating the following sentences into English.

(2)  彼の文句にはもう我慢できない。

(3)  私たちはエアコン無しで夏を過ごした。

(4)  古いパソコンで何とか仕事をした。

(5)  私は長い会議には耐えられない。

Besides, I want to pick up the other adjective word, “patient”.

We usually say, “Be patient”. But the adjective word, “patient” does not mean “to endure” or “to put up with.”  It means being calm and willing to wait without getting upset. Being patient is about waiting calmly. Endure is about suffering through pain or hardship. So, if someone says,”もう少し我慢してください” and means “Please wait a little longer,” the natural English is: Please be patient. —not Please endure.

Ans.

(2) I cannot put up with his complaints anymore.

(3) We did without air-conditioner during the summer.

(4) I made do with an old personal computer.

(5) I can’t stand long meetings.

Meeting Schedule

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

(Coordinator: SM Kaneko)