How do you live?

I have found significant numbers of Japanese authors' books in several independent bookshops in London and some other cities in Britain. Only Haruki Murakami's books had been seen, but not the other Japanese authors' before the COVID-19 pandemic. Because I don't have knowledge of contemporary Japanese novels and authors, I could recognise classics novels such as The Devil's Flute Murders of Seishi Yokomizo and The Setting Sun of Osamu Dazai. I was surprised when I found 'How Do You Live?' of Genzaburo Yoshino. It was a philosophical fiction for children and it hadn't been known until recent. I wasn't impressed when I read it after I became an adult. I just wondered why this book became such popular in modern times. It was a few days ago that I was aware of a film which was influenced by the book had been screened lately.
I have been thinking why I have to learn English. I have practical reasons of it. However, I realised that the reasons haven't drove me to learn English harder. I have come to the conclusion that the motives should be linked with my lifestyle or way of living. I should identify genuine motives to learn English and therefore how I live.

Word: 208

international contributions

I respect individuals who voluntarily support people in difficult situation anywhere in the world. They have steely will and make extraordinary efforts. I don't have enough motivation and energy to take risk of undertaking challenging tasks. I just respect them. From the view or financial support, I don't have extra money to donate charities or parties which I don't know. I have heard many rumour of frauds regarding international donation. I always think the way to help people in difficult situation, but I still cannot find the solutions.
I have started support a small group of teenagers who grew up in problem families in my country since several years ago. They were abused by their own parents or relatives and not able to go to school or even eat enough. I was surprised to hear juveniles don't get enough support from our government. I was introduced a small organisation which own a facility which take care of young people who escaped from their family. The organisation is purely managed by donation due to insufficient government system.
I think knowing is the first step to support people. Trust is key to support people if I cannot take care of people by myself. Taking care of abused people requires special knowledge and training. It is not easy to support people directly. (219)

時間切れ。一個だけ使った難しめの単語は綴りがわからず調べてしまった。

先日取り上げた記事の「アフリカ」から永井陽右を思い出して書いてみた。チャレンジするところは真似したい。
英語も上手じゃない無知な若者、という弱点を強みにした、と言っていたかなと記憶していますが、「英語も上手じゃないし、もう若者じゃないけど」という弱点を強みにできるか。。。

Living in the countryside

My friend and I visited the boundary between the Scottish lowlands and highlands this summer. It seemed to me that staying in a small village in summer or the certain period of the year must be enjoyable. But the life might be boring if we live there through a whole year or the rest of my life. There were no pubs or shops. And even probably no Uber or convenient delivery services.
We visited a bookshop in a small village. I found a lot of secondhand books of philosophy, history, art and music and hundreds of classical music CDs. I assumed that someone who became old or died in the village left the books and the CDs. I imagined that the life in the countryside could be like the ex-owner of the books and CDs. The person took years to read all books and listen to the all CDs. I thought that reading, listening and thinking are the life in the countryside.
'Work From Home' made many people move from city to countryside. I know several people who bought houses by the sea. Some of them moved to countryside completely and the others keep hoses in a city. My ideal life is having more than one residences and live in a city weekdays and live in a rural area weekends and holiday.

222語。とりあえず今回は分量の確認。gooブログだと文字数が表示されるので語数は別途カウントしないといけない。（C1 Adcanced のPart1, Part2共220–260 words）
とにかく何も見ないで、時間をかけないで、書いてみた。
で、難しめの単語は一切使えず。必須の接続語は無し。おそらく前置詞とか文法とかたくさん間違っているはず。（綴りはgooブログに自動修正されてしまった。）

で、FCEの要件すら満たしていない状態を認識する。10年前の「昔のブログ」のレベルから進歩無し。
最初はここから。ここからちょっとずつ改善していく。

Writingの練習を始めることにしました

試験の構成は後ほど整理する予定ですが。とりあえず、壁打ち的な独り言は英語で書くことにしました。
独り言なので、4つの採点ポイントのうちOrganisationとLanguageにフォーカスします。

C1 Advanced: Text is a well-organised, coherent whole, using a variety of cohesive devices and organisational patterns with flexibility.

Cambridge English examiners consider these points when marking a piece of work:
Content
Communicative Achievement
Organisation
Language

Subscales 3
Organisation
text is well organised and coherent, using a variety of cohesive devices and organisational patterns to generally good effect.

Language
Uses a range of vocabulary, including less common lexis, appropriately. Uses a range of simple and complex grammatical forms with control and flexibility. Occasional errors may be present but do not impede communication.

参照：
https://www.cambridgeenglish.org/exams-and-tests/advanced/exam-format/
https://assets.cambridgeenglish.org/schools/CER_6647_V1d_JUL20_Teacher-Guide-for-Writing-C1_Advanced.pdf