Mastering "This" and "That" with Your Kids
Hello, in kids classes we are learning demonstrative pronouns. Teaching kids "this" and "that" might seem simple, but it's a foundational step in building their spatial awareness and language skills and help us point out singular things based on how close or far they are.
"This" is for near, "That" is for far!
Imagine you're holding a shiny red apple. You'd say, "Look at this apple!" because it's right in your hand. Now, if your child spots a big, fluffy dog across the park, you'd say, "Wow, look at that dog!" because it's further away.
Simple Activities to Try at Home
The "Near or Far" Game:
Gather a few toys. Place one toy close to your child and say, "What's this?" Then move another toy across the room and ask, "What's that?" Encourage them to use the correct word.
Story Time Pointing:
As you read a book, point to objects on the page. "Look at this little bird." Then point to something further away in the illustration: "Can you see that big tree?"
Everyday Conversations:
Naturally incorporate "this" and "that" into your daily chats. "Pass me this spoon," or "Did you see that car go by?"
By making it a fun, interactive game, your child will quickly grasp the concept of "this" and "that" and start using them confidently in their own conversations!
- Michael.
皆さんこんにちは！よくわからない天気が続きますが、いかがお過ごしですか？？
今週でついに夏休みが終わりますね！長いようで短かった夏休みだったのではないでしょうか？
そして夏休みの間、いつものレッスンに加えてセミナーを受けてくれた皆さん、お疲れさまでした！！
皆さんが楽しく、有意義に夏休みを過ごされたことを祈っています(^^♪
さぁ！来週からいつもの生活に戻ります！来週から気を引き締めて頑張れるように、あと二日、ゆっくり休んでくださいね！
川口
楽しかった夏休みもあと少し！皆さんにとってどんな夏休みだったでしょうか？
今週のレッスンでお子様たちに聞いてみたところ、海やプールに行った子もいれば県外へ旅行に行った子もいました！
そして何より驚きだったのは、沢山のお子様たちがもうすでに学校の宿題を終わらせたと教えてくれたことです！
アミティーの宿題も毎回しっかり取り組んでくれているので、この調子でがんばっていきましょうね(*^-^*)
川口
アミティーはこども英会話専門校ですが、
6カ月の赤ちゃんからグランマ・グランパ世代まで
実は３世代ご一緒にお通いいただけます✨
パパ・ママ、グランパ・グランマが英語学習に取り組む姿は、
お子さまにとっても良い刺激に！
♬３世代ファミリーでのご入会も受付中♪
I'm late for a meeting! part 2
"I'm late for a meeting" before it begins often highlights a cascade effect.
Being late to leave for the meeting means you'll be late arriving, even if "on time" for the official start.
It implies a disruption to your preceding tasks or travel plans. Your lateness isn't about the meeting's commencement, but about the domino effect on your entire pre-meeting routine, causing a sense of urgency and being "behind schedule."
I hope this clarifies every thing.
- Michael.
この夏、アミティーでお友達と一緒に英会話をはじめよう！
お友達のご入会でスペシャル特典をご用意しております☆
I'm late for a meeting! Part 1
Recently a student (K) in the Interchange 1 discussion class asked an interesting question about the use of “I’m late for a meeting” in a conversation in which the speaker wasn’t actually late yet.
This seemingly illogical statement makes sense when you consider your internal clock.
"Late" here refers to being behind your personal schedule for arriving, preparing, or getting set up. Maybe the speaker planned to be there 10 minutes early, and now she’ll only be 2.
It’s not about the meeting’s official start, but your own anticipated timeline.
- Michael.
The Families Magic Trick (Version 2)
Another version of the same magic trick goes like this;
The Secret: The initial setup is slightly different but achieves the same separation of card ranks.
The Setup (Do this secretly beforehand):
Prepare four packets of four cards: Take the Ace, 2, 3, and 4 of each suit. Now, arrange these 16 cards into four face-down packets of four cards each, ensuring that each packet contains one card of each rank. For example:
Packet 1: Ace of Hearts, 2 of Diamonds, 3 of Clubs, 4 of Spades (order within the packet doesn't matter)
Packet 2: Ace of Diamonds, 2 of Clubs, 3 of Spades, 4 of Hearts
Packet 3: Ace of Clubs, 2 of Spades, 3 of Hearts, 4 of Diamonds
Packet 4: Ace of Spades, 2 of Hearts, 3 of Diamonds, 4 of Clubs
The key is that each packet has one Ace, one Two, one Three, and one Four.
The Performance:
Introduce the Packets: Show the four face-down packets to your audience. Explain that each packet contains a special mix of cards.
The Explanation: Tell your audience that you will deal one card from the top of each packet into a new row of four cards. You will do this four times.
The Dealing (First Round): Take the top card from each of the four packets and deal them face up in a row from left to right.
The Dealing (Second, Third, and Fourth Rounds): Repeat the process. Take the next top card from each of the original four packets and deal them face up below the first row. Do this two more times until you have four rows of four cards.
The Reveal: Point to each of the four columns you have created. Explain that magically, each column now contains all four cards of one rank (all the Aces in one column, all the Twos in another, and so on).
Why it Works:
Because each of your initial packets contained one of each rank, dealing one card at a time from each packet into the rows ensures that each column will receive one card of each rank over the four rounds of dealing.
ESL Language Focus (Similar to the original, but with slightly different vocabulary):
Vocabulary: packet, row, column, mix, top, deal.
Instructions: "I have four packets of cards." "I will deal one card from each packet." "Look at the rows and then the columns."
Sentence Structures: "Each packet has four cards." "I am dealing the top card." "The columns now show the families."
Best wishes,
Michael.
The Families Magic Trick (Version 1)
Recently some teachers asked me about a magic trick I sometimes do with students.
1 The Secret: This trick relies on a clever setup and a bit of misdirection. You secretly arrange the cards in a specific order before you begin.
The Setup (Do this secretly before showing the trick):
Choose four "families" of cards: For simplicity, use the Ace, 2, 3, and 4 of each of the four suits (Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs, Spades). This gives you a total of 16 cards.
Arrange the top eight cards: Take one card from each family (e.g., Ace of Hearts, Ace of Diamonds, Ace of Clubs, Ace of Spades). Place these on top of the deck in any order. Then, take a second card from each family (e.g., 2 of Hearts, 2 of Diamonds, 2 of Clubs, 2 of Spades) and place these on top of the first four. So, the top eight cards will have one of each rank (Ace, 2) from each suit.
The remaining eight cards: The order of the remaining eight cards (the 3s and 4s of each suit) doesn't matter for the trick. Just place them below the top eight.
2 The Performance:
Introduce the "Families": Show the 16 cards to your audience and explain that you have four "families" – the Aces, the Twos, the Threes, and the Fours. Briefly show one of each rank to illustrate.
The Deal: Explain that you are going to deal the cards into four piles, and each pile will magically end up containing one complete family.
The First Round of Dealing: Deal the cards face down, one at a time, going around in a circle to create four piles. Deal through all 16 cards.
The Collection: Pick up the piles one at a time. Crucially, when you pick up each pile, place it on top of the pile you picked up before it. Do not shuffle or change the order of the cards within each pile. This action maintains the secret arrangement.
The Second Deal: Explain that you're going to deal the cards again in the same way. Deal the 16 cards face down into four new piles, going around in a circle.
The Reveal: Turn over the top card of each of the four piles. To everyone's surprise, each pile will now have all four cards of one rank (e.g., the first pile will have all the Aces, the second all the Twos, and so on)!
3 Why it Works:
The initial arrangement ensures that when you deal the cards the first time, and then stack the piles on top of each other, the cards of the same rank become separated by exactly three other cards. The second deal then brings those separated cards together into individual piles.
ESL Language Focus:
Vocabulary: family, Ace, Two, Three, Four, Hearts, Diamonds, Clubs, Spades, pile, deal, top, bottom, reveal, magic.
Instructions: "Watch carefully." "I am dealing the cards." "Pick up this pile." "Place it on top." "Now, let's reveal the magic!"
Sequencing words: "First, I arrange the cards. Then, I deal them into four piles. Next, I pick up the piles... Finally, I reveal the families!"
Describing actions: "I am shuffling the imaginary cards." (Even though you're not actually shuffling during the performance). "The cards are going into different piles."
Best wishes,
Michael.
皆さんこんにちは！蒸し暑い日が続きますが、いかがお過ごしですか？？
アミティーも明日から約1週間、お盆休みに入ります！
次回のレッスンで、お休み中何をして過ごしていたか、詳しく教えてくださいね！
そして夏休みが始まってから、英検対策のレッスンを沢山させていただいているのですが、
短期間でありながら、成長をものすごく感じています！
一人で問題を解けなかった子が、ヒントを頼りに解けるようになっていたり、日本語で意味を言えるようになっていたりと、
出来ることがだんだんと増えてきました！
この調子で、これからも頑張っていきましょう！(^O^)／
川口
