I got a comment more than a year ago.

http://blog.eigotown.com/Akitsugu_Nogita/2006/08/post_58.html

英会話独学術：フォニックス～英語は発音より読み方を正しく！（メイン）

ブログランキング
☆☆

Thank you for visiting my blog.　When you first came here, please go to the INTRODUCTION（英語は発音より読み方・もくじ）
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How To Use Geeky Stuff

I've complained about phonetics stuff a lot, but there surely are some ways to improve pronunciation using these geeky things.

One day my prof had me record my Japanese vowels and we checked the sound frequencies. I hit exactly the right position that text book stories say, which means I pronounce Japanese well. I'm happy about that!

However, then I recorded English vowels, and the waveform of some vowels didn't exactly hit the right position, which means my English sounds non-native-like even though native speakers still hear the right phonemes. The waveform showed that my English vowels were influenced by my Japanese ones. That really helped.

Phonetics works to improve pronunciation!

The only problem is that you must not be adversed to this kind of stuff... ↓

英会話独学術：フォニックス～英語は発音より読み方を正しく！（メイン）

ブログランキング
☆☆

Thank you for visiting my blog.　When you first came here, please go to the INTRODUCTION（英語は発音より読み方・トップ）
－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－
お金をかけない英語の勉強方法
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Phonetics Could Be Better For Music Lessons

In Japan, to explain English pronunciation, often phoneticians use geeky stuff. But as I've said it doesn't effectively improve learners' pronunciation.

However, phonetics might be fun for musical people. In phonetics we often use the term "Hz", that stands for frequency and "db", that stands for loudness. Musicians also use these terms. Especially people with perfect pitch will be fascinated by "Hz".

In phonetics we use some simple instruments, such as a tuning fork and a foghorn. It must be fun for musical people!

I think phonetics is better for music lessons than for English lessons.

英会話独学術：フォニックス～英語は発音より読み方を正しく！（メイン）

ブログランキング
☆☆

Thank you for visiting my blog.　When you first came here, please go to the INTRODUCTION（英語は発音より読み方・トップ）
－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－
お金をかけない英語の勉強方法
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Allophones and Phonemes

One of the biggest problems for adult Japanese learners of English is that most Japanese teachers of English taught them only about allophones and not phonemes, and this multiplies the number of English phones. That's why most Japanese people feel like English has tons of slight differences. Even Japanese can have several allophonic vowels but it has only five phonemic vowels. That's crazy.

I think allophones are interesting but not very important. Phonemes are super important!!!

¡muy importante!

英会話独学術：フォニックス～英語は発音より読み方を正しく！（メイン）

ブログランキング
☆☆

Thank you for visiting my blog.　When you first came here, please go to the INTRODUCTION（英語は発音より読み方・トップ）
－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－
お金をかけない英語の勉強方法
－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－

One problem for the Japanese people is that English is just about the only foreign language we can hear in Japan. We don't have lots of chances to hear other languages. That's one reason why English sounds so strange to us and we feel like English pornunciation is way too difficult.

On the other hand, lots of immigrants live in Vancouver, so Vancouverites are lucky enough to hear many different languages.

If Japanese people had this chance in Japan, we would notice that the sound of English is not as strange as we think. Some Asian, African and European languages sound way more weird!!

For example, Cantonese has six different tones! It sounds cool, but I'm glad I don't need to learn it!!

英会話独学術：フォニックス～英語は発音より読み方を正しく！（メイン）

ブログランキング
☆☆

Thank you for visiting my blog.　When you first came here, please go to the INTRODUCTION（英語は発音より読み方・トップ）
－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－
お金をかけない英語の勉強方法
－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－
IPA works only for pronunciation geeks

I think that IPA sucks!
I mean, it's fascinating for pronunciation geeks, but I don't think it's a good idea to use it when teaching English to Japanese people.

Even though IPA is often used in English classes in Japan, I've never ever met any English students who can read it except for pronunciation geeks. It just causes headaches!

I hope that IPA will disappear from the English education system someday.

*"IPA" is this kind of stuff.

*"A pronunciation geek" is a person who talks in everyday conversation about how we move our mouth to make beautiful sounds.

英会話独学術：フォニックス～英語は発音より読み方を正しく！（メイン）

◎　つづり・発音関係のブログ・サイト等の

紹介記事一覧表
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おすすめ関連ブログ・友人ブログ等のリンク

ＡｌｉｓｅｏＦｌｅｘ　オンライン英会話スクール　ＨＯＭＥ
毎日25分間のマンツーマンによる会話練習で、授業料は月額3000円のみ

英会話･東京新宿･ＮＣＣ綜合英語学院
真剣に学習する人のみの特訓。入門から通訳まで

英会話喫茶　LEAFCUP
東京、飯田橋にある英会話喫茶LEAFCUPのホームページです。　英会話喫茶LEAFCUPは国際交流としての憩いの場となっております。

英会話スクール　LEAFCUP
東京、飯田橋にある英会話スクールLEAFCUPのホームページです。　授業料格安の英会話学校。生徒様同士の交流にも力を入れております。

英語情報.Com
英語に関するあらゆる情報を提供する英語学習ポータルサイト

独学英会話
英会話独学術　GOSSIP エンタメ英語で越えるネイティブの壁

子ども英語のハシリ
日本で上達！英語・英会話・TOEIC・子ども英会話・英語子育て情報独学でも効果のあるリリアン式英語学習法

アフィリエイト情報
アフィリエイトで稼ぐ情報を紹介するアフィリエイトプログラム

みんなでつなごう相互リンクの輪
他の相互リンクサイトとは違います。登録サイト同士で簡単に相互リンクが貼れます。相互リンクであなたのサイトもアクセスアップ！簡単・登録無料！

－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－
Here are the addresses to my friends' blogs. I think these are interesting. You should check them out. Let me know what you think about them.

* Glen
He has visited Africa for research last year. You can learn about different cultures by reading his blog.
http://www.glenstravels.wordpress.com

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英会話独学術：フォニックス～英語は発音より読み方を正しく！（メイン）

Thank you for visiting my blog.　When you first came here, please go to the
INTRODUCTION・もくじ
あなたの英語は発音が悪いのではなく、読み方を間違えている
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このブログの目玉　→　一目瞭然！アメリカ英語の母音一覧表
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おすすめ関連ブログ・友人ブログ等のリンクはこちら。
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ブログランキング　応援よろしくお願いします。
☆☆

ありがとうございます。

Word Spirit #3 -- Vowels have more power --

Vowels have more power than consonants. They generally appear more frequently with Japanese words than English words.

The pronunciation of "shiawase" carries more excitement than the word "happiness."

Today's summary

instead of sonsonants.

ベストセラー。プラス思考に生きるための本。
僕のバイブルです。

15万人が受講した「スーパーエルマー」でTOEICリスニング満点！

【音声付】 ２２歳まで英語を話せなかったのにバイリンガル英会話講師になれた私の最短英会話上達法と留学成功の秘訣<

英会話独学術：フォニックス～発音より読み方を正しく！（メイン）

Thank you for visiting my blog.　When you first came here, please go to the
INTRODUCTION・もくじ
あなたの英語は発音が悪いのではなく、読み方を間違えている
－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－
このブログの目玉　→　一目瞭然！アメリカ英語の母音一覧表
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おすすめ関連ブログ・友人ブログ等のリンクはこちら。
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ブログランキング　応援よろしくお願いします。
☆☆

ありがとうございました。

--- Word Spirit #2 ---

Words that you say out loud or that you write down with your hand have spirits. On the other hand, typed words don't have energy.

If you want to thank someone, write a letter instead of an email, so that you will send positive energy.

Today's summary

Typed ones don't.

このベストセラー、浅見帆々子氏の「プラス思考」で運を良くする本たちは、
僕のバイブルであり、この記事を書くきっかけでもあります。

15万人が受講した「スーパーエルマー」でTOEICリスニング満点！

【音声付】 ２２歳まで英語を話せなかったのにバイリンガル英会話講師になれた私の最短英会話上達法と留学成功の秘訣

英会話独学術：フォニックス～発音より読み方を正しく！（メイン）

Thank you for visiting my blog.　When you first came here, please go to the
INTRODUCTION・もくじ
あなたの英語は発音が悪いのではなく、読み方を間違えている
－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－
このブログの目玉　→　一目瞭然！アメリカ英語の母音一覧表
－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－
おすすめ関連ブログ・友人ブログ等のリンクはこちら。
－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－－
ブログランキング　応援お願いします。
☆☆

ありがとうございました。

--- Word Spirit #1 ---

The term "kotodama" stands for "spirit of a word." In Japan, we say every word has a spirit; good words have positive energy and bad words have negative energy.

For example, even if you say "idiot" or "bullshit" as a joke, these words still bring you negative energy. Don't say bad words.

☆ Excercise

2. Say, "He/she is the nicest person I've ever met. I love him/her."

At the beginning, what you say and what you think may be totally different. However, by repeating good words, your anger will gradually go away.

Actually, this is what i need to excercise. I said this a couple days ago: I couldn't do anything today because of the fuckin... No, thanks to the nice man, I rested today. I'm really grateful to the sweet gentleman.

Actually, it sounded sarcastic. hahaha

Today's summary

even when in a bad mood.

僕の人生のバイブルたち。超おすすめです。

15万人が受講した「スーパーエルマー」でTOEICリスニング満点！

【音声付】 ２２歳まで英語を話せなかったのにバイリンガル英会話講師になれた私の最短英会話上達法と留学成功の秘訣

英会話独学術：フォニックス～英語は発音より読み方を正しく！（メイン）

Religion #3
Christianity

Christians don't have the concepts of kharma or reincarnation. Their philosophy is that you can live with God forever in heaven after you die. All you need to do is believe in God. Everything God does is for your happiness even if it seems like you are suffering now. God will guide you to heaven as long as you follow him.

That's how Christians think.

英会話独学術：フォニックス～英語は発音より読み方を正しく！（メイン）

Religion #2
Buddism

These are some Japanese sayings.

* Hitowo norowaba ana hutatsu. --- If you curse someone, you'll not only hurt him, but also yourself.

* Nasakewa hitono tamenarazu. --- Helping someone is more beneficial to you than to the person you help.

* Ingaôhô --- What you do comes back to you.

All of these sayings express that your happiness is up to you. Each of these sayings express the concept of KHARMA.

To be continues.

英会話独学術：フォニックス～英語は発音より読み方を正しく！（メイン）

Religion

Most Japanese people don't belong to any religion, unlike people in other countries. I told this to a Hawaiian priest. I thought he might think Japanese people are weird, but this is what he said: it is healthier.
It is interesting.

To be continued.

英会話独学術：フォニックス～英語は発音より読み方を正しく！（メイン）

Thailand 2

A couple days ago, I watched a TV show about Thai prostitution. A 19-year-old girl was interveiwed by a Canadian reporter.

Many people look down on women engaged in this kind of job. I got a friend who earns money like this. I heard from the friend sex industry is very difficult to survive. Now I even respect them more.

The Thai girl had a difficult life. She was a foster child. When she was younger, there was an incident happened to her. The girl's mother put her hand in a boiling hot pot causing her finger to be amputated. She started to work at the age of 13.

She guided the reporter to lots of beautiful places. It was difficult to believe her difficult life when I saw her innocent look. After interviewing this Thai girl, one week later the reporter found out the girl was dead.

I had some bad experience, but I remembered there are many people who suffer from far more difficult time. That TV show cheered me up.

英会話独学術：フォニックス～英語は発音より読み方を正しく！（メイン）

Thailand 1

I've never gone to Thailand, but my image is this:

However, a couple of days ago I watched another aspect of Thailand on TV. It made me sad, but encouraged me at the same time.

To be continued.

英会話独学術：フォニックス～英語は発音より読み方を正しく！（メイン）

Sun Explosion

I have a skin problem, so I went to the doctor. The doctor told me, "Try sun exposure, it will make your skin better." Then, I was about to say, "I'll try sun explosion."
"Exposure" and "explosion" sound so similar even though their meanings are totally different. I think there are lots of confusing words.

Incidentally, there is a perfect place for sun exposure in Vancouver, which is Wreck Beach; a.k.a. Naked Beach. Many people are naked there even in this season. I can get sun tanned without hesitation.

英会話独学術：フォニックス～英語は発音より読み方を正しく！（メイン）

When we learn other languages, we often struggle with pronunciation. Foreign learners of Japanese seem to have difficulty with some Japanese sounds, like we do with L, R and TH in English. Japanese R, F, TS, N at the end of a syllable, long vowels, long consonants, and accent are difficult for many learners.

For us, Japanese pronunciation is very easy. But for non-Japanese people, it can be a problem. It is kind of fun to see others struggling with Japanese sounds. When English speaking people hear our pronunciation, I'd imagine they feel and think the same.

英会話独学術：フォニックス～英語は発音より読み方を正しく！（メイン）

I finally got a comment from a non-Japanese person. In my blog I'm writing about how I'm learning English pronunciation in Japanese while my English diaries are not always related to this topic.

However, this event made a huge difference in my mind. I better try to make non-Japanese readers enjoy my blog and the content of English parts should be more about pronunciation.

英会話独学術：フォニックス～英語は発音より読み方を正しく！（メイン）

Banana Problema

When I watched the French Open, I learned one Spanish word: “plátano” which means “banana.”

Do you know Rafael Nadal, the world no.2 tennis player from Spain? He is only the one who can beat the world no.1 tennis player from Switzerland, Roger Federer. Actually Nadal has beaten Federer 6 times and only lost twice, but he is still no.2 for some reasons.

During his match in the French Open in 2006, Nadal ate a banana, which caused a pain in his throat. So, he called a trainer and spoke Spanish. I got only one word, “plátano.” I didn’t know the meaning but I guessed it. Afterwards, I made sure of the meaning by asking my Colombian friend. Thanks to Nadal’s banana problem, I learned one Spanish word. What is good is I got the sound L, which doesn’t exist in the Japanese language. It is because of my studying English!!

Incidentally, Nadal beat Federer in the final.

英会話独学術：フォニックス～英語は発音より読み方を正しく！（メイン）

I am hungry. Feed me.

At my school festival, I sang a song called "I am hungry." This song was composed by my musical Canadian friend. The lyrics are only, "I am hungry. Feed me." There are both an English part and a Japanese part. The Japanese lyrics are simply translated from the same meaning: "Hara hetta. Meshi kure."

For this festival, I added nine more language parts--eleven languages in total: English, Japanese, German, Spanish, French, Korean, Arabic, Italian, Thai, Mandarin, and Croatian. Unlike Japan, there are many foreigners and bilinguals in Vancouver, so I asked native speakers for the translations and the proper pronunciation.

I noticed some languages are not so difficult to pronounce for Japanese people. On the other hand, I find it difficult, especially French, Korean, and Thai. Actually I'm not sure if natives can understand my pronunciation. (I have some Korean friends so hopefully my Korean pronunciation is not that bad.)

What is good is I could compare many language sounds and could hear the traits of each. Very interesting!

英会話独学術：フォニックス～英語は発音より読み方を正しく！（メイン）

Nowadays, Japanese people really like Korean stuff. We are fans of Korean TV programs, actors, singers, and Korean food is also very popular among us. As well, Korea is very popular for travelling because for some people in Japan, Korea is closer than some areas of Japan. Korean people are very kind and friendly. They also like Japanese cartoons or songs. Korea and Japan are good friends.

Do you really think so? I used to, but now I HATE Korea!!

One day I had a fight with one of my best Korean friends. We even yelled at each other! I was really upset, so now I hate all the Korean stuff! Unfortunately, in Vancouver we very often see Korean characters and hear people speak Korean, which reminds me of the fight! So today I'll childishly complain about Korean people.

As I wrote in my blog, Japanese people don't know any rules of English pronunciation. On the other hand, Koreans are so diligent that they understand the structure of English pronunciation! So their pronunciation is supposed to be way more correct than ours. Nevertheless, according to Canadians, the Japanese accent is not very difficult to understand even though we totally ignore the English rules. Meanwhile, Canadians find it difficult to understand Koreans English who faithfully follow the rules. It's ironic, eh? It is because there are a lot of similar sounds in English and Japanese, whereas Korean sounds are very different.

We don't have to practice the difference between "voiced" and "voiceless" such as "G" and "K". But it seems Koreans have to. They seem to have problems in "W", "Z", "TS", and the difference between "F" and "P", which are easy for us. Moreover, they still have the same problems as us, "L", "R" and "TH"! They have far more consonant problems than we do! What is worse, unlike us, they seem to correctly understand the English vowels, but they still struggle with the vowels, especially short A and short U. They sometimes tease us that we add an extra vowel after the final consonant like "Goodo Morningu", instead of "Good morning." But what is weird, some Koreans do exactly the same.

As for vocabulary, we borrowed tons of English words, so we can take advantage of Koreans. I've heard the Korean grammar is similar to that of Japanese. It means they probably have the same grammatical problems in English.

To sum up, Koreans and the Japanese share the same problems. At the same time, Koreans have more problems which the Japanese don't have. Therefore, we don't need to be scared of their diligence because they simply need more effort...hopefully...

Actually I like Korean people.

英会話独学術：フォニックス～英語は発音より読み方を正しく！（メイン）

今日は、スペイン語でブログを書きます。笑
内容が情けないので、訳はあえて書きません。

Me gusta el Español porque me gustan los Mejicanos y los Colombianos. Algunas veces, les escribo correos en Español a mis amigos Mejicanos. Por otro lado, ¡Odio el idioma Koreano! Me gusta una chica Koreana pero yo no le gusto a ella. Ella me lastimó terríblemente. Estoy muy triste y ahora odio todo lo que tenga que ver con Korea. ¡Las Koreanas son terribles!

英会話独学術：フォニックス～英語は発音より読み方を正しく！（メイン）

Finally, I receicved a coule of comments. It made me happy. One of them was written in English even though the person making the comment was Japanese. Worried, I thought, "In this case, should I give a comment back in English? Oyoyoy. This GUY must know how uncomfortable it is for people to write in their second language except for bilingual people!" I reluctantly replied to HIM in English.

The very next day, I played tennis. Every Sunday morning I regulerly play tennis, as i wrote in my profile. That day, a couple of Japanese women were looking for tennis partners, so we played together. This was the first time we met. After tennis, we hung out for a while. Surprisingly, one of the women turned out to be the person who commented on my blog in English! I thought the person was a guy but the person was actually a woman.

I really felt like the world was small. It's a small world.

英会話独学術：フォニックス～英語は発音より読み方を正しく！（メイン）

I am always writing about phonics, the relationship between spelling and the sound, so I was worried the readers might get bored. A friend of mine suggested that I write about different topics once in a while as a break.

SPOTRS