初中級者用話題集
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英会話
・My stories about getting into the English language
英語が好きになったきっかけや色々なエピソード

・Your Approaches to Language Acquisition
言語習得への考え方

・How to learn English effectively
効率的な英語学習法

・Improvements in your TOEIC score
TOEICの点数アップ

・The use of English is now required at work
ビジネスで使うことが必要になった

・Wish to be able to talk about current events in English
時事問題を話せるようになりたい

旅行
・Your favorite season, places to go in summer places to go in winter
好きな季節、夏行きたい場所、冬行きたい場所

・Recommended sightseeing spots
おすすめの観光地

・What are the must-have items when traveling?
旅のマストアイテム

・What are your great memories of the trip?
旅行の素晴らしかった思い出

・Surprising customs in countries other than Japan
日本以外の国で意外だった習慣

・Are you a fan of flying or riding on trains when traveling?
旅行の交通手段は電車派・飛行機派？

休暇
・How did you spend your last holidays?
休日をどのように過ごしたか？

・Does taking a vacation help to relieve your stress?
休暇を取ることで、ストレスの解消になりますか？

趣味
・What I am into now, or what I was crazy about when I was a student?
今ハマっているもの、学生時代夢中になったもの

・About your favorite music and bands
好きな音楽、バンドについて

・Are you an outdoor person or an indoor person?
インドア派 アウトドア派

生活
・Changes in life before and after the Corona disaster, and prospects after the end of the disaster
コロナ禍前後の生活の変化、終息後の展望

・Experiences in helping others
人を助けた経験談

・The Current State of Work-Life Balance in Japan
ワークライフバランスについて

・How to make your day enjoyable
毎日の生活を楽しむ方法

文化
・Introduction of my hometown
地元の紹介

・Introducing differences from other countries and reactions of foreigners
民族性や文化の違いなど

・What makes Japanese Culture Unique?
外国に紹介したい日本の作品

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー

My stories about getting into the English language
英語が好きになったきっかけや色々なエピソード
Article: Reasons Why Learning English Is the Best Decision You Ever Made
Reasons
1) Can find more job opportunities
2) Can become better educated
3) Can easily travel anywhere in the world
4) Can learn about foreign culture
5) Can improve your understanding of science

Questions:
1) What are the key reasons for you to learn English?
2) Can you find better jobs if you have a high English proficiency?
3) What type of English skills are you trying to acquire?
4) What sort of learning methods do you use?

Your Approaches to Language Acquisition
言語習得への考え方
Article: 7 Ways to Quickly Improve Your English Language Skills
Methods
1) Watch movies in English (洋画を見て理解する）
2) Immerse yourself in English language news (英文記事に熱中する）
3) Start a vocabulary book of useful words (単語帳を持ち歩く）
4) Have conversations in English (ネイテイブとの会話の機会）
5) Practice, practice, practice (習慣化する）
6) Curiosity doesn’t always kill the cat （好奇心を持つ事は自分のためになる）
7) Don’t forget to have fun while you learn(楽しむ事も忘れずに）

Questions:
1) Do you try to watch movies in English?
2) What problems do you have to comprehend the movie?
3) What do you do in your daily life to make English learning your habit?
4) How many times a week do you speak English?
5) What sort of learning methods do you apply?

How to learn English effectively
効率的な英語学習法
Article: How to learn English effectively
Basic Methods
1) Set a goal
2) Find a routine
3) Make mistakes
4) Connect with the culture

Questions:
1) Do you work with a professional consultant to meet the goal? PCE can provide it.
2) How do you find a routine (習慣化）?
3) Have you challenged yourself to participate in English lessons like PCE?
4) Can you find a native English speaker as your conversation partner?

Improvements in your TOEIC score
TOEICの点数アップ
Article: TOEIC Score: What You Need To Know?
Tips
1) Having a deep insight into the format of the Toeic test is a key to gain a high mark.（試験問題の構成と問題の出され方を理解する）
2) Draw up plans and work out how much time you will spend on studying.（試験対策の計画を作る）
3) Test yourself to know your current English level and identify your strengths and weaknesses. (模試を行い自分の強みと弱点を見付ける）
4) Immerse yourself in English by several ways like reading English books, watching films and listening to music.（英文の本を読む、英語で映画を見る、英語の歌を聞く）
5) Learning new words in collocations or topics.（単語の勉強）
6) Learning online is a convenient and flexible way to prepare for the exam.（オンラインコースで学習）

Questions:
1) Do you have any goals in terms of TOEIC score?
2) What actions are you taking to meet your score expectation?
3) What area of the TOEIC test do you think is the most difficult one?
4) Does your company require any TOEIC score for promotion?

The use of English is now required at work
ビジネスで使うことが必要になった
Article: Business English: What are the essential skills to boost your career?
Questions:
1) Why do you need business English for?
2) Do you have chances to use English at work?
3) Do you communicate with foreign workers?
4) What is your future expectation in terms of business English proficiencies?

Wish to be able to talk about current events in English
時事問題を話せるようになりたい
Article:How To Discuss Current Events In English
Tips
1) Start reading more news in your native language
母国語(日本語)のニュースをもっと読み始める

2) Find the same news story in English
同じニュースを英語で検索する

3) Write down your thoughts
自分の考えを書き出す

Questions:
1) Do you consider pre-reading tasks for the materials important?
2) How do you increase your listening skills?
3) What do you want to use the skill after you have acquired it?

Your favorite season, places to go in summer places to go in winter
好きな季節、夏行きたい場所、冬行きたい場所
Questions:
1) What seasons do you like the best and explain why?
2) Your recommended places to go in summer?
3) Your recommended places to go in winter?
4) Can you tell us your next trip plan?

Recommended sightseeing spots
おすすめの観光地
Questions:
1) Do you prefer oversea trips or domestic ones?
2) Where do you recommend going considering covid 19?
3) What do you want to do at that sightseeing spot?

What are the must-have items when traveling?
旅のマストアイテム
Questions:
1) What do you especially care for your belongings for travel?
2) What are your must-have items for the trip?
3) Is there any care you apply to protect yourself from Covid cases?

What are your great memories of the trip?
旅行の素晴らしかった思い出
Questions:
1) Were there any good experiences when visiting the sites you chose?
2) Have you had some good encounters (出会い) in your past trips?

Surprising customs in countries other than Japan
日本以外の国で意外だった習慣
Questions:
What did you happen to see in foreign countries that something is so different from what we do in Japan?

Are you a fan of flying or riding on trains when traveling?
旅行の交通手段は電車派・飛行機派？
Questions:
1) Are you an airplane person or a train person?
2) For domestic trips do you prefer airplanes to trains?
3) If you prefer the train, what are the reasons?

How did you spend your last holidays?
休日をどのように過ごしたか？
Questions:
1) How did you spend your last holidays?
2) Was it indoor or outdoor activities? Please explain the details.
3) Did you take any pictures?
4) How do you use the picture you have taken? e.g. Post it on the SNS?

Does taking a vacation help to relieve your stress?
休暇を取ることで、ストレスの解消になりますか？
Questions:
Does taking a vacation help to relieve your stress?

What I am into now, or what I was crazy about when I was a student?
今ハマっているもの、学生時代夢中になったもの
Questions:
What are you into now, or what you were crazy about when you were a student?

About your favorite music and bands
好きな音楽、バンドについて
Questions:
Please explain your favorite music or bands?

Are you an outdoor person or an indoor person?
インドア派 アウトドア派
Questions:
Are you an outdoor person or an indoor person?

Changes in life before and after the Corona disaster, and prospects after the end of the disaster
コロナ禍前後の生活の変化、終息後の展望
Questions:
1) Do you rather stay home and not go to the crowd?
2) How do you spend a day during the COVID time?
3) What changes will occur to your daily life after COVID?
4) What would you really want to do if COVID dismissed?

Experiences in helping others
人を助けた経験談
Questions:
1) Do you have any experiences in helping people?
2) What did you actually do for your case when you support someone in trouble?

The Current State of Work-Life Balance in Japan
ワークライフバランスについて
Article: The Current State of Work-Life Balance in Japan
Current Status
1) Total hours of work for Japanese is 1.4 times more than Germany and other western countries.
2) Japanese employee does around 25 hours of overtime work per month.
3) Japanese workers only take around half of their paid leave (有給）
- This is one of the negative aspects of Japanese group-oriented thinking.
- They feel like you can’t just take time off for yourself when everyone else is busy.
4) The Working Reform Law (働き方改革関連法) was enacted and that covers topics like reduction of overtime work, the flex time system, and equal pay for equal work came into full effect in April 2019.
5) Japan is slowly moving towards a new system called job-based employment” (ジョブ型雇用).

Questions:
1) Does your company require you to do overtime work?
2) Can you take paid leave easily?
3) What are your thoughts on raising a child and working at the same time?
4) What sort of support do you need if you are doing 3)?

How to make your day enjoyable
毎日の生活を楽しむ方法
Questions:
1) Are there any ways to enjoy your commuting time?
e.g. Read some favorite books on the train. Stop by a cafe and have your own breakfast, etc.,
2) Do you try to commit yourself to doing one good thing per day? And explain what.
3) Do you buy little sweets to take back home for yourself or for your family?

Introduction of my hometown
地元の紹介
Questions:
Please introduce your hometown?

Introducing differences from other countries and reactions of foreigners
民族性や文化の違いなど
Article: Introducing differences from other countries and reactions of foreigners
Examples: 7 Unique cultures seen by foreigners
1) The coming-of-age ceremony (成人式) is held all over the country.
2) Decorate expensive dolls for the Doll's Festival (ひな祭り）
3) Valentine's Day gives men chocolate (バレンタインデーに女性がに男性チョコを上げる）
4) Make a crane an auspicious bird (鶴を縁起の良い鳥としている）
5) The entrance ceremony will be held in April（入学、入社式は4月）
6) Make a noise and eat（音を出して食べる）
7) Eating and drinking establishments provide free water and hand towels (レストランで必ず水とお手拭きが出る）
8) The people of the same ethnic group speak the same language (同地方の出身者は方言を話す)

Questions:
1) Do you take these unique cultures for granted?
2) Which culture catches you the most surprising and state the reason?
3) Can you explain why the difference exists?
4) Can you tell us more if you know about Japanese unique culture?

What makes Japanese Culture Unique?
外国に紹介したい日本の作品
What makes Japanese Culture Unique?
The Food
Japanese food is undoubtedly one of the most unique cuisines in the world. There is a lot more to it than just sushi, sashimi, and sake.

The Language
The Japanese language is very, very different from other languages. Politeness is a very big part of Japanese culture, and this can be shown in the language.（敬語）

Architecture
Japan has been able to design modern buildings while still keeping alive the basic principles of ancient Japanese design.

Samurai Culture
It has actually played a very big role in shaping Japan. To some extent, the discipline that was so important in samurai can still be seen today.

Anime and Manga
This incredible Japanese art form is one of the things that has gained the attention of people all around the world.

Questions:
1) What culture do you want to introduce to outside Japan?
2) Which Japanese culture do you like and actually do it yourself?
3) Can you explain your most favorite Japanese culture?
4) Can you tell us what elements of Japan created such a unique culture?