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My English conversation skill
About 1 month has passed since I moved here from Japan for work. 1 year ago, there was a possibility that I moved here so that I joined an English conversation school online. I've been taking lessons there almost every day, and I'm still keeping it up. (The cost for that school is not so expensive, about $80 per month. Just so you know.) When I left Japan, I was able to feel that my English conversation skill had greatly improved, but of course it was still not very good.
Very recently, I have realized that my English has been further improved. The speed of its improvement would be the same as or greater than if I spent 1 year in Japan. However, sometimes I still can't keep up when conversing with fast (or: fast-speaking) native English speakers. In addition to that, I feel that I need to learn more meanings of words which are especially used by (educated) s of native English speaking adults (simply, a bit they use difficult words for me). So, I have recently started to study about that using some textbooks.
I can say that without a doubt I am enjoying the life here! I enjoy life here/ My life is really satisfying. I'm loving life here!0 votedMay 13, 20141- 授業でプレゼンテーション 日本語の授業でプレゼンテーションがあります! 本当に緊張しています。 プレゼンテーションのセリフは下記にあります。 アドバイス、または修正が必要なら、ぜひ教えてください! 今日は神社について話してさせていただきます。 神社というのは 簡単にいうは、日本の宗教の神道(しんとう)の祭祀施設(さいししせつ)です。 神社が祀っている(まつっている)神様というのは自然と人と動物のことです。 神社とお寺の違い お寺と神社は似ていると思っている人が多いと思いますが、実は違うところがたくさんあります。 お寺は仏教(ぶっきょう)です。仏教は中国などから、神道は日本の宗教です。 基本の違い: 神社 鳥居(とりい)があります。 てみずやをします。てみずや花の地浮ことは後で説明します。 『なんとか』神社、または神宮は名前についています。例えば、明治神宮、青島神社など。 神様を祀ります。 お寺 鳥居はありません。 てみずやは必要ないです。 寺(じ)または寺(てら)は名前についています。例えば、清水寺など。 仏様(ほとけさま)を祀ります。 一人の友達から聞きましたが、「神道は生きている人間のためです。仏教は死亡の人のためです。ほとんどの人は神道で生まれ、クリスト教か神道で結婚、死ぬときは仏教です。」と言いました。 これは人によるかもしれませんが、そい言う思っている人がおおい間違いません。 現在の神社・行事 最近、日本人が宗教はあまり信じていません。しかし、神社の行事は伝統的なイベントなので、日本人はよく神社に行って参ります。 マナーについて 神社に行くときには参拝(さんぱい)といいます。宗教敵ではなくても、マナーとルールをしっかり守っていきましょう。 ルールがたくさんありますので、今回は神社に入る前の二つについてしか話しません。 とりい:とりいは人間の世界と神様がいるを分けるものです。とりいをくぐると、神域(しんいき)のところに入ります。 鳥居の真ん中は神様の通りなので、右左側に通ります。 てみずや:神社のメインエリアを入る前に、てみずやをします。てみずやは、手を洗う事だけではなく、身を清めるためです。 てみずやの仕方をもっと細かくに説明をします。(ビデオスタート) 最初、ひしゃく(ひしゃく)を右手に持ちます。 水を汲み(くみ)、左手を洗います。 つぎ、水を組、左手を洗います。 最後に、水を汲み左手に水を移して口をすすぎます。 ひしゃくを縦長に持って、戻します。 ちなみにもう一度左手を洗う事はだめです。 最後に 皆さん、ここまで聞いていただき、ありがとうございます。 神社についての質問がありますか。
May 13, 201471 What can I say at first-food restaurants?
I might have to ask this in the Q&A section. But, please correct the followings. Also, please give me comments if possible.
The followings examples are just for natural conversation usage, not for perfect grammars.
So, I can't learn them through textbooks.
I'd like to know what native English speakers say at first-food restaurants like McDonald's.
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(Just after "How may I help you?" by a sales clerk) Excuse me (Too polite?, simply Hello or Hi? of course, saying nothing would be a choice).You can say "Hi", or maybe just "Yes" as a lead in to your order.
"Yes, I'd like xxx to go, please."
Can (May) I get XXX? For here.
Can I get XXX for here?
[Is "a" needed in front of XXX in the case for a countable food?]Yes, "a" is need in front of countable food.
"I'd like a burger and a small fries." (Note that saying "a small fries" isn't technically grammatically correct, but it's widely used and no one will correct you. It's basically a short form of "a small box/pack/set of fries."
You don't even have to say "for here", you can wait for them to ask "to go or for here?" or "take away?" and answer accordingly. I usually forget, so they always have to ask me. (Whoops!)
May I have XXX with the (its?) meal?
May I have the meal of XXX?
May I have XXX? Its (the?) meal.
[Q: What should I say when I want a meal together? Salesclerks will ask about that later, but I want to say it in advance]Do you mean when you want to specify the contents? Like: "I'd like the Big Mac meal with a coke, and large fries." That should be fine in that case.
From your comment: If you ask for a Big Mac, but want to have a meal/set, they will usually ask "Anything else?" or "As a set?" and then ou can say "Oh sorry, the XXX meal/set."
Could I have XXX? I'll have (it?) here [instead of "for here"].
[Q: Is "Could I" too polite at first-food restaurants?]I don't think "Could I" is too polite, but mayber superfluous. If you're ordering a normal menu item, you can say "I'll have...." "I'd like...." and then if you want to follow up with a specific request "Could I have it to go?" or "Could I have it with extra barbeque sauce?" then you can use it.
"I'll have it here" is fine.
I'll have XXX.
I'd like XXX.
XXX, please. [Q: Too casual?]All of the above are great! :D
Please give me XXX.This one I'd probably not use, it's a little bit demanding. Using the "give me" makes it become more ofa direct order. "XXXX, please" is better.
ANYTHING ELSE?A lot of the fast food/restaurant stuff is about practice -- recognizing what information they need. Comparing with Japan, where they always use set phrases (that are really long!) it can often change in US, depending on where you go. I'm sure you'll be fine though!
Thank you.Enjoy! (Don't eat too much fast food now, though! haha)
0 votedMay 11, 20141
