Chip's Adventure (Chiventures)

この会話は先生と中学性の３年生の英会話です。

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Ａさんが生徒、Ｂさんが先生

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A:What day is it today?
B:Today is the first day of the rest of your life.

A:I'm sorry. I meant to ask, "What is the date today?"
B: Oh, I see. Today is Friday, December 28th -- only three more days left in this year!

A:Got it. Thanks. So, how was your day today.
B: It got off to a great start. I took my dog, Dale, running with me this morning. I think we covered about four and a half kilometers within about 30 minutes. Our pace was a bit slow, but it's better than nothing.

A:Isn't your real name also Dale?
B: Yes, it is. But, I don't use that name with most Japanese. So, I gave her my name. She's very lucky!

A:What a touching story! It must be fun to have a "real" Chip and Dale running around the neighborhood.
B:That's right!

A:Well, it's time to head back. Hope you have a nice day, a nice weekend, and a very happy New Year's holiday.
B: Thanks! You, too!

Christmas and New Year's Holidays

この会話は先生と専門学校の２年生の英会話です。

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Ａさんが先生、Ｂさんが生徒

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A: How are you today?
B: I’m fine. > I’m doing pretty good.

A: How was your Christmas?
B: It was good. > It was pretty nice.

A: What did you get for Christmas this year?
B: I got a DVD box set [a DVD boxed set] from my mom.

A: What TV series or movie series was it?
B: It was a boxed set of the American TV series called “Bones.”

A: Did you get anything for your mom or dad?
B: No, I didn’t. But, I usually give my mom or dad something for their birthdays.

A: What are your plans for the New Year’s holidays?
B: I haven’t made any plans yet.

Notes:

1. 「pretty」は「可愛い」と言う意味ではなくて、「綺麗な」又「かなり」と言う意味です。
2a. 「get something for when」は「何かを貰う」の意味です。
2b. 「get something for someone」は「何かをあげる」の意味です。

Class Notes - Christmas and New Year's

この会話は先生と小学校５年生と中学校３年生の英会話です。

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Ａさんが先生、Ｂさんが妹、Ｃさんがお兄さん

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A: How was your Christmas?
B&C: It was great! / It was good. / It was nice. / It was so-so. / It wasn’t so good. / It was awful.
意味：最高! / 良かった / とても良かった / まぁまぁ / あんまり良くなかった / 最悪.

A: What did you do?
B: I made a layered sponge cake with whipped cream and strawberries.
C: I helped my sister with the cake by whipping up the cream.

A: Did you exchange Christmas gifts with anyone?
B: Well, I got some Christmas presents. I didn’t give anyone any presents this year.
C: No, I didn’t. In fact, I didn’t get any presents.

A: What did you get for Christmas? / What would you like for Christmas?
B: I got an iPod Nano.
C: I would like a new smartphone.

A: Are you looking forward to the New Year’s holidays?
B: Yes, I am. I want to enjoy some soba.
C: No, I’m not. I have to study very hard.

1223今年のケーキ posted by (C)koka

Strawberry Shortcake

Why is strawberry shortcake called a "shortcake"?

Some students thought that "shortcake" means a short, small piece of cake. Of course, many different kinds of cake are sold at Japanese bakeries as single pieces of cake. But we don't call all of those kinds of cakes "shortcake."

According to Barron's Food Lover's Companion (Food Lover's Companion. Copyright © 2001 by Barron's Educational Series, Inc.), a shortcake "is a large, sweet biscuit that is split in half, then filled and topped with sliced or chopped fruit (traditionally strawberries) and softly whipped cream."

Shortcake is called "shortcake" because it uses a "shortened dough" just like the dough used to make biscuits. Normal cake batter is like a liquid and is poured into a pan before baking. Shortcake dough is formed and cut before placing on a cookie sheet for baking.

What is "shortened dough"? First, there are two types of dough: shortened dough and long dough. Both types of dough use shortening, but the technique of mixing the shortening into the dough is different. Long dough is used for pie crusts. Short dough is used for biscuits and tarts.

Thus, the name of "shortcake" comes from the use of "short dough" or "shortened dough."

In Japan, I have never seen a real strawberry shortcake. The so-called strawberry shortcake sold all over Japan is really a layered sponge cake with strawberries and whipped cream.

So, if you have a chance to try real strawberry shortcake overseas, please give it a try! Until then, I hope you enjoy your sponge cake during the Christmas holidays here in Japan!

Christmas Dinner

What will you have for dinner on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? Where turkey is the traditional standard on Thanksgiving Day in the States, glazed ham is the traditional standard for Christmas dinner.

When I was a kid back in the States, I remember my mom serving honey glazed ham that had been roasted in the oven, carrot pineapple Jello salad with whipped cream, freshly baked rolls, deviled eggs, pickles, olives, and various cakes, pies, and/or Christmas cookies.

Some of the students have told me what they will have for Christmas dinner this year. The offerings are quite different from what I used to have back home.

"We will have sushi, fried chicken, and strawberry shortcake."

"My mom will serve roast chicken."

"We will have the same dinner as usual: rice, miso soup, pickled side dishes, and some small Salisbury steaks."

Of course, many students wanted to say "Christmas cake," which is a kind of 和製英語. There is no such cake called "Christmas cake" in the States as far as I know. We do have Christmas cookies, however.

So, if you want to refer to クリスマスケーキ in English, I would suggest you simply say, "strawberry shortcake."

Hyphen

Use hyphens for compound words:

例: a five-minute walk; a high-speed chase; the front-right seat; a never-seen-before magic trick; the blue-white train; a flow-type air micrometer; etc.

Use hyphens for numbers:

例: a thirty-three thousand dollar car; sixty-two billion dollars in tax cuts; eighty-four yen per dollar; two-tenths of a percentage point

Use hyphens with some prefixes:

例: anti-aging cream; extra-condensed; semi-independent; self-help therapy; half-baked idea

Note:

Be sure to check a dictionary for proper spelling. Some compound words have become single words. For example, the term "electronic mail" became "E-mail" with a hyphen. Then, "E-mail" became "e-mail" with a lowercase "E." Then, "e-mail" became "email" as one word.

References:

1. APS Style Manual (http://www.apsstylemanual.org/apsHouseStyle/punctuation/hyphens.htm)
2. The Mayfield Handbook of Technical & Scientific Writing at MIT (http://www.mit.edu/course/21/21.guide/hyphen.htm)
3. The Chicago Manual of Style, 15th Edition