先日、即興スピーチのトピックで、この英語を使ってみるBasho は、英会話スクールと何がちがいますか？

という質問をしました。するとこんな回答があったのでシェアします

1.テキストブックやプリントがない

2. 何も見ないでいきなり応えるのがびっくりしたが楽しい

3.雰囲気が英会話スクールと全然違う

4.自分も色々話せるし、人の話を聞くのも面白かったり、ためになったり。

5.視野が広がる

6.質問に答える時、自分の気持ちや状況を話すことが多いので、他の場面でも役にたつ

7.日常の生活の中で、「あ、これ、今度話せるかも」と思うことが多くなった

8.ちょっとした出来事でも、その時の様子を頭の中で、簡単に英語化してみたりするようになった

9.話しやすく居心地がいい

10.ワークショップ後、せっかく文字起こしをしてもらうのだから、もっと復習するべきだなと思うのだけれど、なかなか実行に移せない。でも、それなりに、よく使う言い回しは、少しずつ、完全にではないが、口に出てくるようにはなった。

The other day, I asked a question during an impromptu speech session:

"What makes 'Eigo wo Tsukatte Miru Basho' different from an English conversation school?"

Here are some of the responses I received, which I'd like to share:

1. There are no textbooks or handouts.

2. I was surprised to have to respond spontaneously without looking at anything,

　 but it was fun!

3. The atmosphere is completely different from an English conversation school.

4. You get to talk about various topics, and listening to others’ stories is both interesting and insightful.

5. It broadens your perspective.

6. When answering questions, you often talk about your own feelings or situation, which can 　be useful in other scenarios as well.

7. In daily life, you start thinking, "Oh, I might be able to talk about this next time."

8. Even small events make you try to mentally translate what happened into simple English.

9. It's easy to talk, and the environment feels comfortable and welcoming.

10. After the workshop, I feel I should review more since the transcriptions are provided, but 　　it’s hard to actually put it into practice. However, I’ve started to be able to use common 　　expressions little by little, even if not perfectly.

ワークショップで複数の方がオススメしてくださったので、早速、ストリーミングプラットフォームで観ました。

泣けた、泣けた。

役所広司さんと菅田将暉さん、森七菜の演技が素晴らしい。

素晴らしい作品だわ。

Several people recommended it during the workshop, so I immediately watched it on a streaming platform.

I cried and cried.

The performances by Koji Yakusho, Masaki Suda, and Nana Mori were outstanding.

What an incredible work of art!

子どもが苦手だったはずの博士と5年生の恭平くんの関係が素敵

「真夏の方程式」読み終わった

解のない方程式もそれぞれの心に様々な想いを残す

いいミステリーだった

The relationship between the professor, who was supposed to dislike children, and Kyohei, a fifth grader, was truly heartwarming.

I've just finished reading *The Midsummer Equation*.

It was a great mystery.

***please share an interesting movie or drama you've watched recently. ***

Participant 1

Actually, I haven’t been to a movie theater recently. To put it simply, we can watch many movies on TV or through subscription services like Amazon Prime or Netflix.

I usually pay for these subscription services to watch movies online, but in many cases, I just watch movies on traditional TV programs, such as those on TV Tokyo.

TV Tokyo airs a lot of movies every afternoon from 1:40 to 3:00.　 The other day, I also watched *Top Gun*, starring Tom Cruise. Today, however, Nippon TV is showing *Top Gun: Maverick*.

Anyway, I think Tom Cruise is very cool. What’s more, I’m always amazed by his stunts in movies. He performs those difficult action scenes by himself, without a stunt double. That’s truly impressive.

And now he’s over 60 years old—that’s unbelievable!  

※I was surprised by this spontaneous answer. Why? Because someone else was talking about a similar topic just last Saturday.※

***Please share books or poems you'd like to read in autumn.***

Participant 2

I enjoy reading Japanese literature, but I haven't had the time to read recently because I've been so busy.

The reason I like classic literature is that it gives me a glimpse into how people in Japan used to think in the past.

That's why, if I had the time, there are so many books I'd love to read.  

***Share your ideal autumn day.***

 Participant 3

My birthday is in October, during the autumn season, but my mother often used to say how hard it was to care for a baby in the winter. Since I was born in the fall, winter came almost right away. She said it was tough because babies are more prone to catching colds, and she had to be extra careful about keeping me warm and protecting me from the cold weather.

***Can you please share memories of autumn leaf viewing?***

Participant 1

I walked through the ginkgo-lined avenue at Jingu Gaien two or three years ago. I love the golden ginkgo trees. It’s fun to step on the fallen leaves and hear the rustling sound. I struck up a conversation with a foreigner walking a big dog. There were lots of food stalls, and we tried some international dishes. This morning, I noticed leaves in my neighborhood gradually turning yellow, and I’m looking forward to the beautiful scenery when the autumn leaves reach their full golden color.

***Please share an interesting movie or drama you've watched recently***

Participant 2

Recently, I watched the movie *The Father of the Galactic Railroad*. It was really interesting. Koji Yakusho played Kenji Miyazawa’s father. In the movie, Kenji is portrayed as a kind of "foolish son" character, almost like Tora-san from *It’s Tough Being a Man*. Kenji’s father wanted him to take over the family store, but Kenji refused. The story is about Kenji living freely. He was very close to his smart younger sister, but sadly, she passed away from tuberculosis in her twenties. Kenji was deeply saddened by her death and wrote *Night on the Galactic Railroad* in her memory. The passengers on the galactic railroad represent those who have passed away.

Kenji says, “If even one person is unhappy, I can’t be happy.” However, Kenji’s father couldn’t feel pleased about Kenji’s way of thinking.

***The appeal of hot spring trips.***

Participant 3

I love hot springs and often visit them. Among them, Kusatsu Onsen is my favorite. One reason is that Kusatsu’s water is highly acidic, which gives me a deep sense of satisfaction after bathing. The highly acidic water warms my body thoroughly, making it very relaxing. Historically, people with Hansen’s disease also used to bathe in these acidic waters.

In any case, the water at Kusatsu is fantastic. I even took my children there, and they loved it. Now, they also visit Kusatsu with their own families.  

 ***Please share an autumn tourist spot you'd like to visit.***

Participant 4:

I’m going to Hakone next week. I have two main goals: to try the Chinese food and the onsen beef stew bread from Watanabe Bakery. I’d love to enjoy the autumn leaves, and if the weather is good, that would make it even better!

revised transcript by AI

On Saturday, November 9th, we had a spontaneous boot camp session.

Here's a polished highlight of the day.

**Facilitator:**

Alright, M-san, your turn. If you could visit any hot spring in Japan right now, where would you go? Imagine it’s autumn.

**Participant 2:**

We usually go to hot springs around here, like Atami or Kitsuregawa in the Kanto area. But if I could go right now, I’d choose Hokkaido. I’d love to soak in a hot spring there, maybe in December or January, where I could even try skiing. It’s been 20-30 years since I last skied, but it’d be fun to try it in Hokkaido.

**Facilitator:**

That sounds amazing. And what about snowboarding? Have you ever tried it, M-san?

**Participant 2:**

No, I’ve never snowboarded. It seems a bit risky—I've heard of people getting injured, so I think I’ll stick with skiing.

**Facilitator:**

Totally understandable. Snowboarding has become more popular than skiing in recent years, though.

**Participant 2:**

Yes, I agree.

**Participant 4:**

It’s true—about 20-30 years ago, snowboarding was really big, but lately, it seems like skiing is making a comeback.

**Facilitator:**

Oh, really? I didn’t know that! Could it be because of the aging population? Maybe more experienced skiers are returning to the slopes.

**Participant 4:**

Yes, it’s possible. Skiers are coming back.

**Facilitator:**

Interesting. I know a few acquaintances who are licensed ski instructors and might return to resorts like Niseko. It’s nice to hear skiing is coming back.

**Participant 4:**

Yes, skiing has been making a comeback for about five years now.

**Facilitator:**

My knowledge on this is definitely outdated! Thanks for the update.

**38:28 - Facilitator:**

Have you ever tried leaf-peeping?

**38:34 - P3:**

People go to many places to see beautiful autumn leaves, but since I live in Tsuchiura, close to Tsukuba, I can enjoy them nearby. Tsukuba has so many places with autumn leaves, even if they’re not major tourist destinations. In Japan, you don’t have to go far—autumn leaves are everywhere. Here in Tsukuba, we have a beautiful road called Higashi Odori, one of Japan’s “100 beautiful streets.” It’s lined with cherry blossoms in spring and gingko trees in autumn. Tsukuba has so many parks and beautiful roads. I recommend it if you’re nearby and have a car—it’s worth visiting!

**48:30 - Facilitator:**

Next question, I-san: what’s one important lesson that travel has taught you?

**49:10 - P1:**

Well, when we travel, my husband usually decides on all the places to visit. Recently, we planned a trip with his friends to Gunma, but at the last minute, he changed it to Nikko, so we couldn’t see everything we wanted. I realized I should start researching and suggesting places myself. Last time, we only saw a shrine and some tourist spots. I’ve learned that planning ahead is essential to make the most of our travels.

成瀬巡礼旅と怪我を挟んでちょっと時間がかかったけど、読み終わった。

最後、ドライアイの目がジンジンジワンとした。

とても読みやすい。あれこれ私の毎日はローラーコースターのようだけど、心が癒される。

どこにでもありそうな、老人の私でもこの物語の登場人物それぞれに感じるところがある。

池田さんの話し方は、成瀬を彷彿させる。　成瀬の方がスムースだけど。

先日見学した京都大学キャンパス、1時間にも満たない見学だったけど。皆、自分というものをしっかり持っていて、自立心を感じた。

作家の宮島さんも京大卒。　感性がユニークで、東大より京大の方が面白い人が多いと噂に聞いたのは本当なのかもしれないと思う。

婚活マエストロ、ごくありふれているようで、個性の描写が素晴らしい。面白かった。

次の作品が待ち遠しい。I finally finished reading *Konkatsu Maestro.* It took a bit of time, as I was in the middle of my Naruse pilgrimage trip and recovering from an injury. By the end, I could feel a touch of warmth in my dry eyes. The story was wonderfully easy to read. My days may be a bit of a roller coaster lately, but this book brought a sense of calm to my heart.

Even as an older reader, I found parts of this story that resonated with me. Ikeda’s way of speaking reminded me of Naruse—although Naruse is a bit smoother. Recently, I visited the Kyoto University campus, and although it was less than an hour-long campus tour, each student carried a strong sense of self and independence.

The author, Miyajima-san, is also a graduate of Kyoto University. With such a unique perspective, it made me think there might be truth to the rumor that Kyoto University produces more interesting individuals than Todai (Tokyo University).

*Konkatsu Maestro* may be set around everyday life, but its character portrayals are remarkable. I truly enjoyed it, and I’m already looking forward to Miyajima’s next work.

Recently, I visited the Kyoto University campus, and although it was less than an hour-long campus tour, each student carried a strong sense of self and independence. 

いつものようにGPTの力を借りて文章を自然な形に修正してもらってます。

Question:What is one important lesson travel has taught you?

The other day, I took a drive to Nikko with my daughter’s family, but my grandchild developed a high fever. We initially planned to stop in Utsunomiya for some gyoza, but since my grandchild was sleeping in the back seat, we ended up buying rice balls from a convenience store and eating them in the car.

After that, we headed toward our hotel, but check-in wasn’t until 3 pm. So, we visited Lake Chuzenji and viewed Kegon Falls, where my grandchild enjoyed the sights from a wheelchair. We then arrived at the hotel in Yumoto, near Lake Yunoko, at a Kamenoi Hotel location. However, something unexpected happened—my daughter said, “This isn’t the right hotel.” It turns out there are actually two Kamenoi Hotels in the Nikko area, and the other one was in Yunishigawa, known for its historical connections to the fallen Heike clan.

After checking, my daughter’s husband found out that Yunishigawa was 78 kilometers away from Yumoto, meaning it would take us about 2–3 hours by car through mountain roads. The drive was completely dark, with no other cars around, but fortunately, we safely arrived at the Yunishigawa Kamenoi Hotel around 6 pm. My daughter didn’t know about Yunishigawa, and she had just searched online for an affordable hotel in Nikko, never expecting there would be two hotels with the same name in the same area.

Although we were surprised, we were glad to have arrived safely.

The next morning, I was relieved to see that my grandchild was feeling much better, and we went to Edo Wonderland in Nikko. Since my grandchild is a fan of ninjas, he absolutely loved it there. Watching him enjoy himself made me happy, and in the end, it turned out to be a wonderful trip, even with the surprises.

The takeaway from this trip is that when choosing a hotel, it’s worth double-checking if there are multiple hotels with the same name in the area.

いつものように、ワークショップ中の会話のトランスクリプトをChat GPTに直してもらいました。

** Facilitator**

I'd like to share my journey to retrace Akari Naruse's footsteps. This is Kyoto University, where I had an exciting exploration. Every student walking around campus looked so intelligent.

Here’s the paddlewheel of the Michigan boat. I also went to *Unagi no Naruse*. My husband happened to find it by chance. We enjoyed the Michigan Cruise as well, and the paddlewheel was enormous—it was really impressive!

Alright, let’s get started. Here’s the first question for Participant 1.

**: Facilitator**

My first question for you is:

What is one important lesson that travel has taught you?

** Participant 1**

I’ve heard that the Nazca Lines are gradually fading. It made me realize just how essential it is for us to protect the world’s heritage so it can be preserved for the next generation—and for all future generations.

Question **Describe a moment when you felt truly relaxed.**

Participant 2

I love hot springs, and I feel so refreshed whenever I visit one—especially open-air baths. I’d really love to soak in an outdoor bath while enjoying the autumn leaves. Tomorrow, we’re heading to Takaragawa Onsen in northern Gunma Prefecture. I think the hotel owner keeps a bear there. When I called the hotel, they told me it’s the perfect season to visit, so I’m really looking forward to it.

Question **If you could give advice to your younger self, what would it be?**

Participant 3

Looking back on my life, I realize that life largely depends on whether you make a choice or let things just happen.

I feel very fortunate and grateful for my parents and the family environment I was born into, even though I didn’t choose them. However, I was too careless in choosing my high school, and I ended up getting married more out of circumstance than choice. For these two things, I sometimes think I could have listened to my parents' advice a bit more.

So, my advice to my younger self would be to carefully consider your choices, including the guidance your parents offer.

11月3日から5日まで、「成瀬は天下をとりに行く」の聖地巡礼の旅に行ってきました！心が踊る、とっても楽しい旅でした。

巡礼した聖地のハイライトはこちら！

**1日目**

まずは、大津観光大使のもう1人、篠原かれんさんと成瀬が「作戦会議」を開いたロイヤルホスト島の関店。おいしいご飯と、次の目的地を熱く語り合いました！

次に立ち寄ったのは、大津のOh me テラスとフレンドマート。物語の中で成瀬が店員としてバイトしていた場所でもあり、感慨深く見学しました。その後、西武大津店の跡地に建てられた「レイクフロント大津におの浜シエリアシティ大津」も巡りました。このマンションもまた、成瀬の聖地として外せないスポットです。さらに、におの浜を歩きながら、物語の雰囲気に浸りました。

それからJR膳所駅に寄りましたが、残念なことに、「成瀬」と「光る君へ」のラッピング電車には遭遇できず…次回のお楽しみに。

そして、「ときめきっこタイム」でおなじみの、ときめき小学校とときめき坂も訪れ、パトロール（？）もしっかり完了！笑

**2日目**

この日は豪華なミシガンクルーズ（90分）に参加。巨大な外輪を見て、まるで映画のワンシーンにいるような気分でした！滋賀県立膳所高校も巡り、成瀬の青春の舞台を実感。

**3日目**

いよいよ成瀬が通った京都大学へ！実は、ラコリーナ近江八幡にも行こうとしたのですが、ナビに振り回されてしまい、途中で京都に方向転換することに。

しかし、京都大学の正門前で事件発生！バス停でスカートが足に絡まり、なんと派手に転んでしまいました…！夫があちこち駆け回って手当てをしてくれ、伊勢丹でお茶をしてようやく落ち着きを取り戻し、新幹線に乗って帰路へ。

それにしても、京都大学正門で転ぶとは…。きっと、私が18歳で全力で勉強しても、京都大学には「滑る」運命だったのかもしれませんね！

**"Naruse wa Tenka o Torini Iku" Pilgrimage Highlights:**

- **Day 1:**

- Started at Royal Host in Shimanoseki, where Naruse and Karen Shinohara, another tourism ambassador, held their "strategy meeting."

- Visited Oh me Terrace and Friend Mart, where Naruse worked part-time in the story.

- Explored the "Lakefront Otsu Nionohama Cieria City Otsu" condominium on the former site of Seibu Otsu, a must-see spot for fans.

- Walked around Nionohama and stopped by JR Zeze Station, but unfortunately missed the Naruse and Hikaru-kun train wraps.

- Checked out Tokimeki Elementary School and Tokimeki Hill, scenes from "Tokimekikko Time."

- **Day 2:**

- Enjoyed a 90-minute Michigan Cruise, awed by the ship's massive paddle wheel.

- Stopped by Zeze High School, another memorable location in Naruse's story.

- **Day 3:**

- Visited Kyoto University, where Naruse attended in the story.

- Attempted to visit La Collina Omihachiman but got redirected and returned to Kyoto.

- An unexpected fall at the Kyoto University Seimon-mae (Main Gate) bus stop; grateful for husband’s help, we had tea at Isetan before heading home.

This Week's Workshop Schedule

- **Friday, 8th** - 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM: Spontaneous Speech

- **Saturday, 9th** - 7:30 PM to 8:30 PM: Spontaneous Speech Boot Camp

If you are interested, please contact me. 

昨日のワークショップはいつもとスタイルを少し変えました。

Participant 1にはstorytellingをしていただき、Participant 2には、旅のお話をしていただきました。

こちらは、実際のトランスクリプトをChat GPTに修正してもらったものです。

**Participant 1**

She was late to school for two reasons. The first is that she studied hard last night and overslept this morning, which caused her to be late. The second reason is that she’s been very busy attending cram schools and has been quite tired recently. I’m worried that she might be feeling overwhelmed.

**Facilitator**

I’m looking forward to hearing your story. So, what was the best part of your trip?

**Participant 2**

We were blessed with great weather, and the trip to Machu Picchu was wonderful.

It was cold in the morning, so I wore a down jacket, but it got hot during the day, and I spent it in short sleeves.

Our tour group was small, with just three women around the same age. Including the tour guide, there were only four of us, which made it very flexible and convenient.

A tour that left Japan three days before ours had about 20 people.

We had a local guide with us. He was a fun and upbeat guy.

The two women in my group have been friends since their university days and have been traveling together for 40 years.

The guide showed us all the best photo spots, so we took lots of pictures. Here’s one of them. The steps look so characteristic of Machu Picchu, don’t they? Each has a different angle.

And this is a picture of the Temple of the Condor.

The Temple of the Condor is made by stacking artificial stones on top of natural rock, and it’s called that because it looks like a condor with its wings spread.

In the front, there’s a large flat stone shaped like the condor’s head and beak.

It’s said that the temple helped deliver the souls of the deceased to the gods.

I was deeply moved.

**Participant 1**

How big is Machu Picchu?

**Participant 2**

It’s 325.9 square kilometers, about 107 times the size of Tokyo Dome.

The Machu Picchu ruins were a city where the emperor and his retainers lived, so there’s the emperor’s house, temples, grain warehouses, and other buildings, all surrounded by terraced fields that were used for farming and offerings to the gods.

It seems that when they conducted DNA testing, they didn’t find a single person who appeared to be a family member.

Traces of various types of plants have been discovered in the terraced fields located at the farthest part of the Machu Picchu ruins. Even coca trees, which only grow in lowland areas, were cultivated there. It is strongly believed that this area was a place where plant breeding was attempted—in other words, it served as an agricultural testing ground.

Participant 1

Thank you so much.

19:51:Facilitator

What did Tom find in the park yesterday?

**Participant 1**

Thank you so much.

**19:51: Facilitator**

What did Tom find in the park yesterday?

**20:13: Participant 1**

In the park, there were some boys playing soccer, but Tom noticed the cats and dogs and thought about how much pets have changed compared to the past.

Pets didn’t live very long back then, but now they do. And nowadays, you see dogs wearing clothes when they go for walks, but when we were kids, we never saw that.

Come to think of it, pet names used to be something like Tama or Pochi, but now they have more modern-sounding names.

Tom felt that times have really changed.

**22:49: Facilitator**

These days, pet owners carry bottles to wash away their pet’s urine. People didn’t do that in the past, did they?

Yes. Okay.

What was the most impressive geoglyph you saw at Nazca?

**23:38: Participant 2**

Wait a minute. Please take a look at this.

This is a map they gave us when we took the helicopter ride.

The helicopter tilted so that everyone could get a view of each geoglyph, and even though I took motion sickness medicine, I started feeling queasy toward the end.

But the geoglyphs （地上絵）were incredible.

Unfortunately, it seems the images are gradually fading due to various factors.

The hummingbird is the most famous and measures 97 meters in length, but there are also images of a monkey, a whale, a condor, a spider, plants, and even an astronaut.

**26:21: Participant 1**

I have a question.

I heard that the Japanese built an observation tower there.

**27:43: Participant 2**

That’s right. Near the Pan-American Highway, a Japanese company called Mirador (which means "observation tower") established an observation point.

From the new observation tower, you can see parts of the geoglyphs, such as the "tree," "hands," and "lizard."

However, it’s limited, so you can’t see everything.

**30:01: Facilitator**

So next, did Lily and her friends have a picnic last weekend?

**30:41: Participant 1**

In my mind, picnics are more of a spring activity. So, no, Lily and her friends didn’t go on a picnic; they went walking in the forest.

In Japan, where we have four seasons, this time of year is perfect for enjoying the sound of fallen leaves underfoot and the beautiful autumn colors.

Autumn foliage varies a bit by country—Canada also has spectacular fall colors. In Japan, Kyoto is especially famous for it, right?

In any case, Lily and her friends took a walk in the forest.

33:28: Facilitator

Do you have any other pictures of your trip?

33:55:Participant 1

How long have you stayed in Machu Picchu？

34:26:Participant 2

I stayed for two days.

Actually, it's an eight-day trip, but since four days are spent on travel, the actual time for the trip itself is only four days.

40:18: Participant1

It was a intriguing story. Thank you so much.

41:44:Facilitator

Why did James forget to bring his homework?

42:22: Participant 1

He has a strong interest in NASA, enjoyed learning about space, has a good memory and did his homework related to space.

But I got so absorbed in the vastness of the universe that I ended up forgetting small things, like my homework.

44:07: Facilitator

It was a great story.

Thank you so much for your storytelling.

45:06: Facilitator

It looks like you have more photos you can share. Can you show us?

45:19:Participant 2

Sure thing.

**51:12: Facilitator**

How did the mother feel when she lost her keys?

**51:33: Participant 1**

It wasn’t Emma, but I ended up recalling my own bitter experience with keys.

I once dropped my keys into the gap between two drain covers in front of my house.

I couldn’t reach them with my hands or fingers, and even chopsticks weren’t long enough.

As I stood there at a loss, a young couple came by, and the husband kindly lifted the drain cover for me.

I was so grateful.

Participant 2

I had such a wonderful trip that now I’m filled with excitement, wondering where in South America I should go next.