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My younger son has homework of reading aloud every day. When he was a first grader, his text book was very primitive-- large characters and only or mostly hiraganas. But he's a second grader now and his text book of Japanese language became much more advanced. See photo 1, which is his textbook. When he reads, either my wife or I check his reading and give scores—◎for good, ○ for OK, and △ for needing more practices--and signature.
Sometimes, if the new story is difficult for him, his reading on the first day may be awkward. But reading three times a day and five days a week improves his reading skill fairly quickly. I've been observing this since he was a first grader. And one day, I realized that I should do this myself--for my English practices. I silent-read English books, listen to English News and so on, and write emails at work. I do these nearly every day. But concerning practices of pronouncing English words, I've hardly done it so far.
So I decided to start with the very elementary one. Long time ago, I bought a book titled "Frog and Toad Are Friends" (see photo 2). I wanted my teacher or "mother" or "father" to do that. Because I can't have one already, I bought a CD in which reading voices are recorded.
Reading voice of the CD is very clear, relatively slow, and full of intonation. While I was "shadowing" after the reading voice one day, I realized I was using my mouth muscle and tongue differently from my speaking in Japanese. Tongue has a meaning of "language" among its many meanings. I felt that I understood the reason.
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When he was a first grader, his text book was very simple-- large characters and only or mostly hiraganas.
But he's a second grader now and his text book of Japanese language text book has become much more advanced.
And one day, I realized that I should do this myself--for my English practice. (no "s")
I silent-read English books, listen to English news and so on, and write emails at work.
But (in terms of)/ (as far as)/ (as for) concerning practices of pronouncing English words, I've hardly done it so far.
These are options that sound a little more natural and relaxed, more in keeping with the tone of your essay.
So I decided to start with the very elementary one. something easy.
A long time ago, I bought a book titled "Frog and Toad Are Friends" (see photo 2).
I wanted my teacher or "mother" or "father" to do that.
To do what? This sentence is unclear. Maybe you mean: "But I needed a "mother" or "father" to read it to me."
Because I can't have one already, Since that wasn't possible, I bought a CD recording of the book. in which reading voices are recorded.
Or: Since that wasn't possible, I bought the book on CD.
The reading voice on the CD is very clear, relatively slow, and full of intonation.
While I was "shadowing" after the reading voice one day, I realized I was using my mouth muscles and tongue differently from my speaking in Japanese. (or: differently than when I speak Japanese)
ところで、最近、英語の舌になりつつあるのか(希望的観測)、日本語の舌が変になってきました。なので、もう少し英語ができるようになったら、英語の優先順位を少し落として、日本語の優先順位を上げようかなと思ってます。私、日本語も発音が悪いと、かみさんとか、おふくろさんに怒られてます。ここでも音読が必要なようです。語彙も足りないんだよなぁ。
My younger son has homework of reading aloud every day. [Alternatives: "Part of my younger son's homework each/every day is to read texts/passages aloud." "My younger son has (some) reading aloud for homework every day."]
When he reads, either my wife or I check his reading and give a score—◎for good, ○ for OK, and △ for needing more practices--and a signature. [Alternative: "-- and sign our names."]
"Give a signature" is a bit odd-sounding. "Sign our names" is unfortunately a bit awkward in this case, too, since presumably only one of you signs his or her name.
"Practice" is usually used as a non-count noun.
Sometimes, if the new story is difficult for him, his reading on the first day may be awkward.
I would advise choosing one or the other of "sometimes" and "may be". The combination is not wrong, but it does sound a bit redundant. "May be" can be replaced by "is".
And one day, I realized that I should do this myself--for my English practices.
I don't see anything wrong with the pronoun "my" here.
I read English books silently, listen to English news and so on, and write emails at work.
Many people do use "email" as a count noun. Personally, I prefer to think of it as a non-count noun, corresponding to the non-count noun "mail", or to write "e-mail messages". I am in the minority concerning this, however-- the use of "email" as a count noun meaning either "e-mail message" or "e-mail address" as required seems to be standard usage.
But I haven't done much (so far) to practice pronouncing English words.
This is an alternative; your sentence sounds a bit more like a Japanese sentence than an English sentence. (English sentences rarely have topics.)
So I decided to start with a very elementary book/text. [Alternative: So I decided to start with something basic.]
I wanted my teacher or "mother" or "father" to read it aloud to me.
Because I didn't have one already, I bought a CD recording of the book.
While I was "shadowing" after the reading voice one day, I realized I was using the muscles of my mouth and tongue differently from when I speak in Japanese.
"Tongue" has the meaning of "language" among its many meanings. [Alternative: 'The word "tongue" has...' 'One of the many meanings of the word "tongue" is "language".']
You are talking about one specific meaning of the word "tongue", so the definite article "the" is needed.
非常に興味深く拝読させていただきました。
「あ~、なるほどなあ!」と思いながら読ませていただきました。
私は児童養護施設で、子どもたちの宿題も見るのですが、まさにその音読(かえる君ですよね、笑)をいつも聞きます。
最初は子どもたちは、上手に読めないのですが、毎日音読することで、すごい勢いでスキルアップしていきますよね。音読の大切さとあくなき反復練習の大切さを感じます。
確かに反復練習は効果がありますね。問題は、というか、まあ子供だからしょうがないのですが、好きじゃないとやらないことで、音読も算数も親がついてないとやらないんです。遊戯王のカードとかは、好きなもんだから、自発的に、しかも、繰り返し数の多い反復練習をしてるもんで、それこそ物凄いスピードで進化しちゃってます。
に笑ってしまいました。
日本語を喋るときと、英語を喋るときとで声の高さが違いますよね。^^
舌の動きもそうですけど、英語の場合、より喉の奥に響かせるような発音になるようです。
会話もそうですけど、音読って大事ですよね〜
私も修行中です。独り言も良いですよ。( *^艸^)
それにしても子供の習得能力はすごいですね〜。^^
音読なのですが、最近、聞きとりの力が伸びてないような気がして、どこかで、自分で発音できない音は聞きとれないというようなコメントを見て、音読をしようかと思って始めてみました。
BTW は、受けましたか?良かったです。foot と書いた後で、この写真だと、toesかなとか悩みましたが、まあ良いかと思って、そのまま投稿しちゃいました。
光村の教科書、懐かしいです〜。
私は下記サイトで音読の練習をしているのですが、なかなか合格点がもらえません--;
録音した自分の発音にがっかりします。。
http://ja.englishcentral.com/
それはそうと。。
私もyossyさん同様、"BTW, my foot"にクスリとしてしまいました^^;
男の方の足ではないみたいに綺麗ですね。
足の指は綺麗でしょうかね?どうもありがとうございます。良く、この机の上に物を置いて写真をとって、Lang-8の記事にしてるのですが、カメラを構えて机の上をとると、足が入っちゃって。過去には何度か、それで撮り直したのですが、今回は時間がなくなっちゃったので、そのまま注釈(?)入れてアップしてしまいました(汗)。
はい、English Centralは、前に日記でも紹介しました。
父親の背中を見て育つと言いますから、きっとShiroさんの勉強する姿を見て息子さんも一生懸命勉強しているのでしょうね。素敵な親子ですね^^
と思ったら。。
他の方へのコメントが目につきました(むむっ)。
「新任の女性の先生なんです!」って、お父さんメチャクチャ嬉しそうじゃないですか!
Shiroさんのお茶面な一面、と言うべきでしょうかね^^;
サインが凝ってますね^^。
Frog and Toad は、かえるくんとがまくん で国語の教科書にのっていたような・・・。
お父さんが音読しているのを聞いて、いつのまにか英語の話も覚えてしまったりするんじゃないですか?・・・ あぁ(ため息)、うちはもう手遅れですが、子供さんといっしょにいろいろimproveできますね!
ところで、大体、エントリーを書くときは、アルクのインターネット辞書と、ロングマンのインターネット辞書を引き引き書いてるんですが、この間長男が英作文をやってる時に、いちいち聞くので面倒になって、アルクで自分で調べなさいとか言ったら、この間みたら、ちゃっかり私のipadでアルクの辞書使って英作文やってました。うちらなんかとは時代が違いますね。問題見たら、イタリアと日本の文化・生活習慣が違うことを調べて、それを英作文せよ、みたいな問題でした。中2なのに難しいことやってます(汗)。
既に身長は抜かれてしまいましたが、英語力だけは抜かれるわけにはいかん。というわけで必死です(マジです)。
PS 私の国語の教科書には、かえるくんとがまくんは出てなかったと思います。yunosさん若いですね!
新任の女の先生、とうちゃん頑張っているの気づいてくれてますか?^^
うちの中3の息子の担任も若い女の先生でしかも教科は英語。去年も若い女の英語の先生だったんですけど、また別の先生です。それがまたべっぴんさんで^^。
その先生のおかげで英語やる気になったらいいんですけど。
>中2なのに難しいことやってます
う~ん、レベルが高そう。先生もかなり優秀なんでしょうね。
わたしも、英語だけは頑張ります! 必死になって!