2007-11-01

Offer Condolences

Transcript of the IK class podcast:

This is Chip, and welcome to the anmi-eikaiwa kyoushitsu podcast dated October 30th, 2007.

Todays podcast is about expressing sorrow to a friend, a colleague, or a classmate.

One of our students asked me about using the phrase "I'm sorry" when someone has died. She told me about a coworker who was watching the hit series 24. In one scene, Jack Bauer said "I'm sorry--blah blah blah" in reference to the death of someone close to him.

Of course, there are many ways to express your condolences to someone who has just lost a loved one. In our class, we brainstormed and came up with a list of several ways to express condolences.

In the following examples, we arbitrarily chose the death of a father. If you use any of these phrases, just replace father with the relation of the person that passed away.

OK. Here is the list:
  • I was deeply saddened to hear the news about the sudden death of your father.
  • I was sad to hear the news of your father's passing.
  • My thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.
  • Please know that our love and concern are with you always.
  • You are continually in my thoughts and prayers.
  • I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.
  • I share in your grief and send my love.
  • I am sorry to hear about your father's death.
  • Please accept my condolences.
  • I offer my sincerest condolences.
  • Our hearts and prayers go out to you and your loved ones.
Most of these expressions are what we might use in a sympathy card. If you are expressing condolences in person, then you might want to simply say, "I am sorry to hear about your father's death."

Visit our blog for a complete transcript of this podcast. Go to http://anmienglishtools.blogspot.com

Or go to Google and type ANMI, that's a, n, m, i, English Tips and Tools. Our blog should be the first link you see. You can also visit our website at www.anmi-eikaiwa.com and click on the ANMI English Tools link.

OK. That's all for today. Thanks for listening!


References:

1. Condolences & Eulogies: Finding the Perfect Words (携帯リンク)
2. Book of Condolences (携帯リンク)
3. 葬儀・法要・お悔やみの挨拶と手紙―文例がすぐに見つかる、気持ちが言葉になる (携帯リンク)
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2007-10-30

Hispanics

Notes from the HN Class:

Vocabulary:
  • Hispanic: スペインの、〔スペイン語圏の〕ラテン・アメリカの
Example Sentence:
  • Hispanics are Latin-Americans and are mostly from Mexico. ヒスパニックとはラテン系アメリカ人のことで、米国内ではそのほとんどがメキシコ出身です。
Examples of using was and were:
  • I was cold.
  • He was cold.
  • She was cold.
  • It was cold.
  • You were cold.
  • They were cold.
Use "been to" instead of "gone to" for 行った事がある.
  • Have you ever gone to London?
Notes:
  • "Have you ever gone to～" means「あなたは～へ行った事がありますか？」
  • If you use "gone" the nuance is more like 「行ってそのまま帰って来ない事です。」
  • 正しく言うと "Have you ever been to ～"
Additional notes:

× I cannot sing and dance very well. = I can sing but not dance very well. I cannot sing but can dance very well.
◎ I cannot sing or dance very well.
◎ I can neither sing nor dance very well.
References:

1. CD-ビジネス技術 実用英語大辞典
2. 英辞郎第三版
3. CD-The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language
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Prison Break

Notes from the IY Class:

This is a copy of a dialog between Y. and Chip that we had before the start of class.

C: Did you have a nice weekend?
Y: Yes, I did.
C: Really?! What did you do?
Y: I watched all of season one of Prison Break on DVD.
C: Did you watch the DVDs with your sister or mom?
Y: I watched them with my mom.
C: I see. Was it expensive to rent all of those DVDs?
Y: No, it wasn't. I rented only volumes 1, 2, and 3, but the rest, I borrowed from one of my friends.
C: Oh. You're lucky to have such a friend!
Y: Yes, I think so, too.
アンミ英会話教室　Podcast
Listen to the dialog at this link.
Here are some vocabulary that came up in the I.Y. Class:
  • a line of mascara: マスカラ製品；～製品群
  • line of white furniture: 白い家具など商品群
Example sentences:
  1. I love the Bobbi Brown line of cosmetics.
  2. L'Oreal sells a line of mascara that is sold at Walmart.
  3. TOMY Co. sells a line of white furniture for the Licca brand dollhouse.
More vocabulary:
  • watchdog: 番犬
  • watchdog group; watchdog committee; ～ watchdog: 監視機関; 監視委員会; 広告監視機関; 監視団体
  • Amnesty International: アムネスティ・インターナショナル、国際アムネスティ◆政治犯救済や人権擁護のための国際委員会。1977年ノーベル平和賞受賞。
  • Human Rights Watch: ヒューマン・ライツ・ウオッチ、人権ウオッチ（人権監視機関）
Here are a few international watchdog groups:
  1. Amnesty International (English / Japanese)
  2. Human Rights Watch (English / Japanese)
    • Human Rights World Report 2007 (English)
  • whistle blower: 内部告発者、密告者
  • come to light: 明らかになる
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