I entered an English school three years ago. I don't need English skill for my job and I have been going to the school for fun.
Therefore, I hadn't studied hard at home.
Two years passed after that, I still stayed in the same grade when I entered.
I changed my mind to study harder. I aimed to raise the level by this summer. I started reading English books, writing this diary and watching DVDs. However, I still keep the same grade and I'll finish the school in two month.
There is a rumor about the school that they let the students raise the level when the deadline of their lesson tickets is coming. The staffs motivate us and expect the new contract.
I don't know if this is true. However, the teachers and staffs started to advice me about increasing my level.
I feel awkward.

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Emma / Jane Austen / Penguin Readers level 4 / 14,000words Total 803,648 / ★★★☆☆

Emma (Penguin Reading Lab, Level 4) (2000/02/16) Jane Austen、Annette Barnes 他 商品詳細を見る

The Upper House election will be held in 29th July.
I saw a candidate when I was waiting for a bus at a station . Her speech was only three things; her name, she was a woman and she was an independent.
I thought that her advantage was only an independent woman.
Oh, I could be a candidate.

CORRECTED
In my office, we sometimes hold parties, such as new year parties and farewell parties. However, some of my colleagues come in their cars, others don't like drinking. So, I always cut back on the amount I drink.
I went to a traditional Tohoku region restaurant with my friend. She likes drinking as much as me.
I usually don't talk much, but drinking made my feel happy. We talked and laughed a lot.


ORIGINAL
In my office, we sometimes hold parties, such as new year parties and farewell parties. However, some of them come with their cars, others don't like drinking. So, I always cut back on the amount I drink.
I went to a traditional Tohoku region's food restaurant with my friend. She likes drinking as much as me.
I drank white sake called Doburoku first time. It was really delicious.
I usually don't speak much, but drinking made my feel fun. We spoke and laughed a lot.

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after the quake / Haruki Murakami / 38,000words(33/3*33*131*0.8) Total 789,648 / ★★★★☆

After the Quake (Vintage) (2003/03/06) Haruki Murakami 商品詳細を見る

CORRECTED
A super market I frequent gives the customers stamp cards when we bring our own bags and refuse plastic bags. The clerk puts a stamp in the card. We can obtain a 100 yen discount when we accumulate 20 stamps. This is an effort to reduce waste.
A woman who looked in her middle 30's with her children paid at a register after me. She refused plastic bags and got a stamp.
She put her groceries on a bench and walked to another register. To my surprise, she asked the cashier, "I need ONE MORE plastic bag".
She told a lie for the stamp.
Her child looked to be about three years old. When she understands what her mother did, she will be ashamed of her mother.



ORIGINAL
A super market I usually use gives the customers stamp cards. When we bring our own bag and refuse plastic bags, they put a stamp on it. We can get 100yen discount when we have 20 stamps. This is effort to waste reduction.
A woman who seemed her middle 30's with her children paid at a register after me. She refused plastic bags and got a stamp.
She put her groceries on a worktop and walked to another register.
To my surprise, she asked the cashier, "I need ONE MORE plastic bag".
She told a lie for the stamp.
Her kid seemed about three years old. When she understand what her mother did, she will be ashamed for her mother

CORRECTED
I happened to seen TV programs and web articles about donations this week.
They were Sorious Samura's African report, about a baby shelter that is called "baby post" and an article "Donation is terrible hypocrisy".
In the article, he insisted that real donations should be made throughout one's life. Some people go to Africa and spend lots of money for a few weeks' volunteer work, and to take photos. He said it is hypocrisy. The person should have donated the travel costs too.
I once believed that everybody would be sad about unfortunate people. It's really difficult to devote all our life to them, but even a little money or a few weeks' volunteer work would help.
I can't be Mother Theresa. However, I can send bandages that would help her work.
I'm sorry to say, but the writer of the article should do something himself and not just attack others.


ORIGINAL
I incidentally watched and read TV programs and web articles about donation this week.
Sorious Samura's African reports, a baby shelter that is called "baby post" and an article "Donation is terrible hypocrisy".
In the article, he insisted that real donation should be devoted one's every life. Someone go to Africa and spend much money for a few weeks' volunteer work, and take photos. He said it is hypocrisy. The person should have donate the travel fee.

I had believed that everybody would be sad about unfortunate people. It's really difficult to devote all our life for them, but even little money or a few weeks' volunteer work would help.
I can't be Mother Theresa. However, I can send bandage and it would help for her work.
I'm sorry to say, but the writer of the article should do something not accuse someone.

This is this week's news.
"The number of mobile phone users in the world in 2007 is projected to exceed 3.25 billion, about half of the global population."

Really? I was very surprised.
You've read a story, "If the World Were a Village of 100 People", haven't you?
In this story, "80 would live in substandard housing. 70 would be unable to read. 50 would suffer from malnutrition."

Less than 20% could have enough money for mobile phones. Some of them would have two mobile phones, several people would have more. Even so, I feel this news's number may be exaggeration.


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Master of the game / Sidney Sheldon / ISBN : 978-0-446-35545-2 / 152,000words (32/3*36*495*0.8) TOTAL 751,648 / ★★★★★

Master of the Game (1988/09) Sidney Sheldon 商品詳細を見る

I sometimes hesitate in English lessons. It's not only caused by my English skill. I sometimes can't come up with any answer even in Japanese.
By the way, I took a lesson with two more students. The teacher asked us, "Who do you think successful people in Japan?".
Two of them said it's Ichiro. He was who I wanted to say... So, I said it's Nagashima who was the baseball hero in the old days.
The teacher grinned and said, "Every student's answer is baseball players or soccer players".
I regretted to say so.
Now, I think that I should have said it was Hitori Saito, the president of Marukan company.
He is well-known as an optimistic millionaire.

CORRECTED
I have been studying English at Nova for years. I enjoy it, so these day's news about the school made me sad.
I bought 150 lesson tickets valid for three years. I had to pay the 150 tickets fee all together.
A staff recommend me to buy more tickets so that I could get more discount.
It sounded nice, but I didn't buy more than 150 because I thought that I might not take every lesson.

Some weeks ago, the government ordered Nova to suspend business for six months. I understand that Nova need to change their business style. However, I didn't think students who sued the company were innocent.
They made the decision by themselves.
Someone accused the company of being lack repayment. It seems strange in my eyes.
Imagine, you buy 300 lessons. Even you know the deadline, you are glad of the big discount. You make your decision.
One day, you realize you can't take every lesson. Then you want 150 lessons' pay back. The staff give money, but the money is less than you expected. You forget about the discount and want the half you paid.

My lessons' deadline is coming in two months. I like this school. My favorite about it is their variety. I could take lessons from different teachers and with different students.
I can't find any school better than Nova.
Anyway, how can the company run the business without new contract? I think I won't make new contract.
I dislike people who didn't take their responsibility and sued Nova.

ORIGINAL
I have been studying English at Nova for years. I enjoy it, so these day's news about the school made me sad.
I bought 150 lesson tickets valid for three years. I had to pay the 150 tickets fee all together.
A staff recommend me buy more tickets that I could get more discount.
It sounded nice, but I didn't buy them more than 150. Because I thought that I might not take every lesson.

Some weeks ago, government ordered Nova to suspend business for six months. I understand that Nova need to change their business style. However, I didn't think students who sued to the company were innocent.
They made the decision by them self.
Someone accused the company of being lack repayment. It seems strange in my eyes.
Imagine, you buy 300 lessons. Even you know the deadline, you are glad the big discount. You make your decision.
One day, you realize you can't take every lesson. Then you want 150 lessons' pay back. The staff give money, but the money is less than you expected. You forget about the discount and want the half you paid.

My lessons' deadline is coming in two month. I like this school. My favorite about it is their variousness. I could take lessons from different teachers and with different students.
I can't find any school better than Nova.
Anyway, how can the company run the business without new contract?
I think I won't make new contract.
I dislike people who didn't take their responsibility and sued to Nova.