PS

For those of you who are checking the new book, please look at 'corrections to the first edition' on the menu on the home page. That is a list of the mistakes I have already found. If you find a mistake that is not on that list, please let me know.

Thanks.

•  David
• 2008年4月28日 13:21

Hi David,

No, I'm not enjoying Golden Week! When the family members on their holidays, mothers are busier than usual, so I prefer weekdays. Golden week.., one good thing for me is that I don't have to get up early in the morning.(笑)

You rode about 400 km?? Wow, it was a long ride. Was it cold? I thought that the weather was nice and perfect for riding a bike yesterday.
About the picture, I guess the man in the blue Yamaha Jacket is Masaki san, and he is the one who joined us on the topic 'Adventures', right?
Thanks for letting us see the picture, ..but where are you? I'd like to see a picture of you! Maybe next time?

I checked your home page and added it to my bookmark list;-) I have the blue book now, so I'm looking forward to getting the other one(Basic English Errors). I saw the picture of the red book, and I guess it is written in all English. Is the other version will be published by ALC written in Japanese? It might go on sale in the summer, I can't wait!
Your books are always useful for me, so the new one will definitely help me a lot. I often re-read your ‘英語と仲直りできる本’ when I'm not sure about something.

Speak to you soon,

Tomo

•  Tomo
• 2008年4月28日 14:55

Hi David,

400Kｍ ride? It was really a long ride,wasn't it? Thanks for sharing the beautiful photo(Lake Biwa) with your friends, and I remember Tonari san.
I visited your home page, and checked ' corrections to the first edition', and bookmarked your home page. I'm looking forward to this summer--your new book!!!
By the way, can I say one thing(my request) about your book, it's not about the mistake, though... If I could, I would say next time.

At the last entry, I asked a question related to Yumi's posting(on April 26th ). Would you mind giving some advice when you have a time?
Here is my question:
Your answer to Yumi's question was "What is the happiest moment of your life?" When I read Yumi's posting ,the expression" What is the happiest moment in your lifetime?" came to my mind. I know it's a little bit unnatural to use the word 'lifetime' here, and usually it means from birth to death', or used as an adjective like 'lifetime employment'. But I would like to know if it is possible or not.

Golden week? When children were small, there were a lot of plans, but now .. I'm planning to go to a concert with my husband, and before that ,tomorrow I'm going to have 3rd anniversary of my mother-in-law's death(actually one year behind) at my house, so it'll be a busy day! Tomo, I've finished spring-cleaning!! あ～すっきり！

Hi Kiyoko,
Welcome back!
There is a Kiyoko's comment at the last entry.

Bye for now,

Anne

•  Anne
• 2008年4月28日 23:48

Hi Q chan,
Your question sounds very interesting. As some people said, I always feel exactly the same whether I am speaking English or Japanese. But I may seem more considerate while speaking Japanese, because I speak Japanese much much better than English and I could choose my words carefully. And I always try to keep my voice lower when I speak English, because I don’t want people to think I’m childish and stupid (more than I really AM!).
Hi Anne,
As to your question on “life and lifetime”, I’m not sure the difference between them, but “lifetime”seems to me more wire to wire, (like “what do you want to achieve in your lifetime?”=while you’re alive ) while “life” seems halfway(like “what was the happiest moment in our life? =so far). What do you say?

•  Jasmin
• 2008年4月28日 23:49

Hi David,

As the same as most people, my Golden Week will start from coming Saturday. I envy you are having such a long holiday, though it sounds you are busy for the new books.

400km?! By bike?! It was a looong ride for one day. But it must be a good change for you. Thanks for the picture! As Tomo said, I also thought where you are.;-) It is Lake Biwa behind both Tonari san and Masaki san, isn't it?

I looked through the home page and it is very useful as well as the blue book. And it is good that we can listen both British pronunciations and American ones for all words in 40Weeks. I'm interested in the red one as well, but it is only for university students? A new book, will be published by ALC, is the similar to the red one? I'm very much looking forward to the new one! Your books are always useful for me, too. I totally agree with Tomo, as I also often re-read "英語と仲直りできる本". ;-)

Hi Everyone,

Belated, but as for "Do you change when you speak another language?"
My voice tone used to be higher when I spoke in English. It indicated that I felt more positive and direct, I guess. Now I think that I speak almost the same way and the same tone as well.

By for now,

Maki

•  Maki
• 2008年4月28日 23:51

Hi Jasmin,
We seems to post almost at the same time.
Thanks for your comment, and I understand the same way.

Good night,

Anne

•  Anne
• 2008年4月28日 23:56

Hi Anne,

'lifetime' would be a bit strange here for the reasons you mentioned.

Hi Maki,

Yes - the new ALC book will be similar to the red one. My version will be organized according to English key words so that native speakers who don't read Japanese will be able to find the point they want students to read about easily.

Actually, that's what I am working on now. There are a couple of explanations I am not sure about, so I will post those on the blog sometime soon. I hope you will tell me whether they are easy to understand or not.

Anyway, back to work...

•  David
• 2008年4月29日 11:52

Hi David,

Thanks for your response! You worked today all day long?! Harder you work, earlier the book will be published? ;-)

We all are happy to help you anytime.

Talk to you later,

Maki

•  Maki
• 2008年4月29日 22:21

Hi David,

Thank you for answering my question.
How was your day? Did you find a time for jogging?
As Maki said, we all are happy to help you anytime.
By the way, recently I keep your book(Learning English Vocabulary) at hand, and when I come across a new word or sometimes even it's not a new word, I check it on the list, and make my own word list. While studying , I felt if there were the Alphabetical index as for word list '2001~3000', it would be convenient to check. It means to repeat the same content again, and might be useless, so soryy, it's just my impression. Anyway, it's exciting to know what I didn't know.
* I listened to your recording!

See you soon,

Anne

•  Anne
• 2008年4月29日 23:26

Hi David,

I visited your home page. I have the blue book, and it is good for me, so I'm looking forward to the new book. I read the book up to unit 5. It takes much time for me to read English, so it might take months to read it all. Actually, at first, I thought that I couldn't read it because this book was written in English. Before I got this book, I was guessing the book was written in Japanese like your book "英語と仲直りできる本", so when I got it, I was shocked a bit. But now, I'm glad that it is written in English because I think it is good for learner of English to thinking in English.

See you soon,

Amica

•  Amica
• 2008年4月30日 00:20

Hi David,

How's your work? Is it going well? If there is anything we can do for you, please let us know anytime.

I've been thinking about what I'm going to ask you, and I've got a question.
It's about the expression ‘ドキドキする’ in English. If it means 緊張してドキドキする, I would say ‘I'm nervous.’, but if it means 楽しみだけど、ちょっとドキドキする like the night before your first date, what would you say? I checked some dictionaries, and I found an interesting expression. It's ‘I've got butterflies in my stomach.’ 'Get/have butterflies in one's stomach', it's very interesting!(Why butterflies?)
Speaking of the expression 'dokidokisuru', In Japanese language, we have a lot of those kinds of expressions like ‘ドキドキする’, ‘ハラハラする’, ‘グルグルまわす’, ‘涙がポロポロ’, and etc.., but you don't have so many those kinds of expressions in English, do you?

Anyway, my questions are:

1. What would you say when you feel ‘楽しみだけど、ちょっとドキドキする’.
2. Do you(or English speakers) often use this expression ‘get/have butterflies in one's stomach’?
3. What do you think of these kind of expressions like ‘ドキドキ’, ‘ハラハラ’, and etc.(I think they are useful, but it's very difficult to translate them into English!)

See you soon,

Tomo

PS Anne, spring-cleaning お疲れさま～＾＾

•  Tomo
• 2008年4月30日 18:26

Hi everyone,
It's sunny and a bit hot around here, and how about your area?
Tomo, your question is interesting, so can I give it a try?
As you said, there are a lot of repeated sounds in Japanese such as 'ふらふら、ぎりぎり、ぺらぺら、（のどが）からから．．．．,and each expression is very convenient to express our feeling precisely , and vividly, isn't it? So I think when we translate Japanese into English, we are required to catch the meaning of the sentence.(Your question No.3)
No.1: I would express as follows
Tomorrow, I'm going to give a concert, so I'm
a bit excited and nervous.(明日コンサートを開くことになってるの、だから楽しみだけど少しドキドキしているわ。）

No.2　It's informal expression. I don't know how people use it, but among the meaning of 'butterfly', '（緊張、不安な期待による）怖気、気後れ’　is included.

By for now,

Anne

•  Anne
• 2008年4月30日 22:43

PS ．ドキドキする、文章：
The thought of meeting him tomorrow set my heart pounding.(明日彼に会うと思うと胸がドキドキした。）
Where did I forget such a feeling, it's about .....years ago..nostalgic past.

Anne

•  Anne
• 2008年4月30日 22:58

Hi Tomo,
Your question is interesting for me, too. As Anne said, they are very convenient to express our feeling, but it's not easy to translate them into English.
About No.1. the same expression as Anne sprung to mind. "Exciting and a bit nervous" "My heart pounding or beating" なんだかちょっと表しきれない気がしますが。。。
No.2: I've read that expression in a book, but I haven't heard it when I talked to my friends from US and UK.

By for now,

Maki

•  Maki
• 2008年5月 1日 00:10

Hi David,

Golden Week? It's like a everyday Golden Week for me, since my husband retired. However, I'm still busy, so so.
I don't have any learning classes until next Friday. Then I was going to go out any unknown places by train without aimless, firstly.
However, my body power has declined, I don't want to realize it. So I changed my mind from Golden Week. I'm going on 70.
First, it is a recovering more powerful of my body. In trial, I walked about 22 kilometers with a big walking group yesterday. It was a flat river course.

I look forward your new book that is going on sale in the summer.Thank you for sharing nice picture.
Did you ride about 400 kilometer one day?

I visited your new web page. BTB Press is your new publishing company? (not really)
You want to make your own books? I see. I have a Basic Course in Learning English Vocabulary. This book will sell well, I believe.
Anyway, I tried many click and saw a little bit, but it was so difficult for me to read through the writen in English sentence.

Midnight see you,

Kiyoko

•  Kiyoko
• 2008年5月 1日 01:21

Hi Anne and Maki,
Thank you for your help!
"I'm excited but/and a bit nervous" and "My heart is pounding/beating", yes, I came up with the same ideas first, but I don't know why, I have a feeling that it sounds a bit negative when I hear 'nervous'(It's just my image of the word, though.), and 'excited' sounds like 'I can't wait!' or 'I'm really looking forward to that!' to me. 'My heart pounding', I have used this expression several times, ..hmm, I don't know how to put it, sometimes it expresses exact my feelings and other times it doesn't. When I hear 'pound', somehow I imagine a ball is bouncing.(笑) I was wondering if there is another good expression when you feel ‘楽しみだけど、ちょっと怖い’ or ‘来て欲しいけど、来て欲しくない’. Something like ときめき?
Anne, I didn't know that No. 2 expression was informal, and Maki, you haven't heard it when you talked with your friends from US and UK? Thanks for your information!

David, when you have time, would you give me your answer please?

See you soon,

Tomo

•  Tomo
• 2008年5月 1日 10:03

Hi all,

Wow, it's Golden Week holiday, is it? Lucky you! I'm at work and don't really have time to go through all comments up there but just wanted to say quick hi.

Have a great GW!!

•  Michelle
• 2008年5月 1日 11:41

Hi Tomo,

I am just checking the explanation of how to talk about fireworks in my new book, and I have finally figured out how to answer your question about different kinds of fireworks. If you are talking about the kind of fireworks you would hold in your hands, I think we would just say 'light fireworks'. If you are talking about the kind that explode, we would say 'set off'.

We lit fireworks on the beach last night.

Thank you for pointing out that problem with my explanation.

As for your other questions, you are right that 'nervous' has a slightly negative nuance. I think the most natural expressions would be 'I'm really excited about...' or 'I'm really looking forward to...'

The expression 'to have butterflies in your stomach' is quite common as well. I think we say butterflies because your stomach feels 不安定, as if butterflies are flying around in it. 'My heart is pounding' is quite natural too, but it would only be used in very extreme cases.

Hope that answers your question.

•  David
• 2008年5月 1日 15:02

Hi David,

Thank you for the explanation! Yes, that answered my question. I'm glad to find that my image of 'nervous' is right. Is the expression 'to have butterflies in your stomach' quite common? OK, I'll try to use it when I have a chance(It's a really interesting expression!), and I'll use 'My heart is pounding' when it's in very extreme cases.

About different kinds of fireworks, 'light fireworks', now I understand. This 'light' is a verb, isn't it? I've never used it as a verb. Thank you too!

Tomo

•  Tomo
• 2008年5月 1日 17:20

Hi everyone,

David, thank you for the explanation. I didn't know the expression 'to have butterflies in your stomach' is quite common. I'll try to use it next time!
Tomo, thanks for interesting question, actually I'm still wondering about the feeling'ドキドキ'.　I understand the negative nuance of ' nervous' , so it's up to each person's feeling toward 'ドキドキ’. As for me, a kind of negative feeling is sometimes in it. If it is the'ワクワク’, it is completely positive meaning(feeling). So 'ときめき’is absolutely positive feeling. What do you think? (考えすぎかしら.....)
Is 'fireworks' from Tomo's challenge in last year?

Hi Kiyoko,
You went hiking, and walked 22km? That's amazing!

See you soon,

Anne

•  Anne
• 2008年5月 1日 22:52

Hi Anne,

As for the question ‘ドキドキ’, you are right that it depends on how you are feeling. When I feel ドキドキ, sometimes I'm nervous and worried about something, other times I'm excited and looking forward to something. Like you said, ときめき is positive feeling, but sometimes I'm afraid of something when I feel ときめき. For example, 好きな人がいて、話したいけど、でも話しかけるのが怖いとか、目が合ったら嬉しいんだけど、でも見られたら恥ずかしいとか、もっと一緒にいたいけど、ドキドキし過ぎてもう限界・・！とか。(すっごく懐かしい話ですが･･(笑))

About the question 'fireworks', I asked a few months ago when I was helping him check something else.

Have a nice day!

Tomo

PS I'm having a nice relaxing time now;-)

•  Tomo
• 2008年5月 2日 09:35

Hi Everyone,
How is your Golden Week? My Golden Week started from yesterday. The weather has been fine recently in my city. I like sunny weather, but I have a bit an allergy to ultraviolet rays. If I stay outdoors for a long time on a clear day without protection against UV light, I will suffer from eczema. During spring and summer, I have to protect from UV. When I drive, I put on gloves, and when I go outdoors, I put on a cap or put up a parasol. So I have fair skin even in the summer. The other day, I went to a hospital because I suffered from eczema on a neck. The doctor said "This is 日光湿疹. Try not to exposure to strong sunlight.". The summer is near, so that's impossible!

Hi Tomo,
今日は英語を書く気分になれました＾＾

Amica

•  Amica
• 2008年5月 2日 12:04

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•  qhgl asyiupw
• 2008年7月19日 23:40