FREE CONVERSATION（２８０）

What sports do you enjoy doing the most?

When I was a junior high school student, I played soft tennis, using soft rubber balls instead of hard yellow balls.
Now, I don't play anything that's worthy of sports but I like walking
and I'm aiming to complete a 4-hour walking next year which I couldn't this year for various reasons.

TODAY'S EXPRESSIONS （１６５）

接写で、接近して　：in close-up
俯瞰して、遠くから見て　：in long-shot
屈辱的な　：humiliating
苦痛が残るような　：traumatic
社会文化的な要因　：socio-cultural factors

Three Sentences （２７７）

Three example sentences of my own composition

　　　　　　　　～を問題視し過ぎる　：make too big a deal of ～

① The teacher always makes too big a deal of students' mistakes.

② I'm afraid that he might make too big a deal of such a mild joke.

③ Don't tell me you are going to make too big a deal of this.

FREE CONVERSATION（２７９）

Do you prefer Windows to Mac?

Well, I cannot compare the two because I have never used a Mac product.
I have been using Windows for about 30 years
because my first personal computer was loaded with Windows.
But, honestly, I think there will be no difference between them.
I mean, either is fine, because I only use basic functions after all.

TODAY'S EXPRESSIONS （１６４）

５年生　：a fifth-grader
高校３年生　：a third-year high school student
まちがって、誤って　：falsely
映画製作　：film-making
女性専用車両　：women-only train cars

Today's Writing （３８４）

Encounters are flowers in life.
The bond between friends who can believe in each other is a treasure.

Three Sentences （２７６）

Three example sentences of my own composition

　　　　　　　　～してもいいですか　：Are we allowed to do

① Are we allowed to swin in this river?

② Are we allowed to bring a cell phone to school?

③ Are we allowed to take part in the concert?

FREE CONVERSATION（２７８）

When you were a child, were you ever afraid to go to school or did you ever refuse to go to school?

Well, I refused to go to kindergarten for one year.
I well remember the reason.
One day when I was in a 4-year-old children's class,
everything I got as my school lunch was only one-eighth of tomato
while the other classmates enjoyed bread, milk, salad and other side dishes.
I really got angry and went back home on foot without telling anyone.
Since then, I had been a school-refuser.
But actually, one year later, I returned to the same kindergarten as part of preparation for my elementary school life.

TODAY'S EXPRESSIONS （１６３）

リスクの低い～　：low-risk ～
混血の人々　：mixed-race people
右側通行　：right-hand traffic
耐震性のある家　：an earthquake-proof house
あいまいな　：vague

Today's Writing （３８３）

The passion which lasts in your forties, fifties, sixties, seventies, and eigties is genuin.