Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Writing I Spring 2014: Welcome!

Image by Charles J. Danoff
Hello everyone, welcome to the University of Tsukuba.
Today I am going to introduce you to this course. Please click the link to download the course outline.

This semester you will do five writing tasks, four paragraphs, and one essay. You will share your writing with your classmates, and the world, by posting them on our University of Tsukuba Academic Writing Blog. Please click the link to see some writing done by University of Tsukuba students in my previous classes.


In order to do academic writing, you need to know academic vocabulary. We will study the most useful academic English vocabulary using an online tool called Quizlet. Please click the link to download a document that tells you how to get started with Quizlet. Next, please click the link to join our class on Quizlet. Now please study the vocabulary for 5 minutes.
Finally, please leave a comment. Please introduce yourself to me and your classmates. Tell us about your hometown, your major and your favourite pastimes.
See you!

79 comments:

  1. Hello. My name is Natsumi Shiozawa. Today, I met you at first but you look so kind and your talking is very interested to me that I'm looking for your class from now!

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    1. Hi Natsumi, thank you for the kind words. I'm looking forward to a great class this semester. See next Wednesday.

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  2. My name is Chikako. I 'm interested in the phylosophy and the phycology.
    I came from Fukushima. My hobby is painting the picture.
    I'm twin and the another one lives in Nara.
    I'm not good at English but I make extra special efforts to catch up with the class.
    Nice to meet you!

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    1. Hi Chikako, I love art. I hope I have a chance to see some of your paintings some day. I don't paint, but sometimes I do digital art. Here's an example: https://flic.kr/p/5anNma

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  3. My name is Yui Kometani and I would like to introduce about myself briefly.
    I'm a sophomore student in International Studies. I was born in Yamaguchi and raised in Tokyo, Fukui, Yamaguchi, and America though my English skills are not good. My hobby is to ride my motor bike, eat, and ,sleep which makes me unable to make up to first period mostly.
    Since my English writing skill is soooo awful, I really want to take this class and also want to beat Kaichi in Quizlet who scores the most in all the game. lol I'm gonna do my best against the universty to be accepeted to audit this class.


    How long have you been in Japan? (Sorry for asking an ordinary boring question.)

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    1. Hi Yui, I'm delighted that you want to audit this class. I hope the university allows you to do so.
      I have lived in Japan since 22nd August 1997. I enjoy living here very much.

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  4. My name is Atori Hagiwara. I'm interested in art and Japanese culture and I often go to an art museum. Thank you for the first class today. It was interesting.

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    1. Hi Atori, I'm glad you enjoyed the class. I hope you will enjoy all the classes we have together this semester.

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  5. Horigane Wakana2:59 pm

    Hello.My name is Horigane Wakana.Nice to meet you.I`m from Aizuwakamatsu in Fukushimay .I want to study mass-media in Tsukuba university.My favorite pastime is to read books.

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    1. Hi Wakana, I like to read books too. My favourite writers are Haruki Murakami, Ryu Murakami, Alistair MacLeod, Roddy Doyle, and Peter Carey.

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  6. Anonymous3:00 pm

    My name is Takakura Shun.

    I'm 19 years old. I love eating(and drinking). My home town is Kusumachi, in Oita.
    I belong to comparative culture college. 2nd grade.

    I'm interested in central Asia, especially nomads. I want to study their history, culture, society, and historical roles.
    My dream(or life's goal) is knowing world and watching world in various perspectives.

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    1. Hi Shun, I like your dream very much. I like history and culture too.

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  7. Hello, I am Daigo Shibata.
    Of course I am student of Tsukuba University.
    I am a student of college of Humanity
    I study Linguistics. Especially I interested in Ancient Greek Language.
    I love listening to music. So I belong to Tsukuba Music Association.
    And I join some bands as a vocalist.
    I can play the bass guitar a little.
    Do you like music?
    If you like music, what kind of music do you like?

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Hi Daigo, I love music. You can see what kind of music I love here: http://www.last.fm/user/mickstout

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  8. Akari Tajima3:01 pm

    Hello,Michael!
    I'm Akari Tajima. I'm taking your course. My English is not good, but I want to try write academic writing. So please teach me way to write.

    I belong to comparing culture. And I study about media culture. It's interesting for me.

    I'm from FUKUOKA. Have you ever gone to FUKUOKA? I like FUKUOKA very much, so I want you to go to FUKUOKA at least once.

    I like idol of Japanese girl. For example, Moring Musume'14, Momoiro Crover Z and juice=juice. Her song make me fun! I like listening her songs and wacthing her dances.

    My question for you is only one.
    Why do you grow a beard?

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Hi Akari, I grew a beard because I don't like to shave. As I get older I don't want to spend my time doing things that I don't like doing.

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  9. Hello! I'm Yuki Maruyama. I belong to College of Comparative Culture in the university of Tsukuba. My hometown is Tokyo. I study philosophy, literature and art in the university of Tsukuba. My favorite pastimes are reading books and comics, watching animation ,traveling, running and so on.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Hi Yuki, I like reading and travelling too. I have visited 30 countries.

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  10. Chiemi Aita3:01 pm

    Hello, my name is Chiemi. I'm studying culture, religion, and English literature at the Comparative Cultures. I’d like to be an English teacher in the future.
    I like to listen to English songs, and I love singing them. My latest favorite is “Let it go” by Idina Menzel. It is a song from the Disney movie, Frozen. I participated in a singing competition at the dorms festival last year.
    My cousin is half Canadian, and he lives in Toronto. Besides visiting him, I have been to Alberta, and had a sit-in at Crowsnest Consolidated Highschool for a week.
    I’m looking forward to study English at your class!

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    1. Hi Chiemi, my hometown is Toronto. I've never been to Alberta. I hope you'll tell me more about Alberta this semester.

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  11. Hello Michael!
    My name is Takehiro Nemoto.I'm 19 years old.My home town is Fukushima.My major is comparative culture.
    I belong to track and field circle and jogging club. I play javelin throw in track and field circle. I love javelin throw.
    My hobby is running. I joined Tsukuba marathon last year.
    My dream is becoming a fireman.
    Nice to meet you !

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Hi Takehiro, I think that it's very interesting that you are studying comparative history, but your dream is to be a firefighter. I wonder how the two are related. A university degree is not required to become a firefighter in Ontario, Canada http://www.recruitfirefighter.com/page0003.htm

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  12. narumi2013101163:03 pm

    Hello, my name is Narumi Yamamoto, your student from this semester. I am not good at write English, but I will do my best. Nice to meet you.
    First, I will introduce myself and my hometown. I am from Ishikawa prefecture where we have a lot of rainy days through a year and snowy days in winter. It is best prefecture if you want to enjoy bad weather in Japan. And In my hometown, we have many beautiful rivers (which guarded a castle from enemies in Edo period.) I love them, so I also really love almost every rivers in Japan!
    Then, I have a questions. How does like your hometown? Do you love there? I am happy if you send me reply :-)

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    1. Hi Narumi, my hometown is Toronto. I love Toronto. Here are some pictures of my hometown:https://flic.kr/s/aHsjocYft2

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    2. narumi yamamoto4:11 pm

      I checked URL and I was surprised at some beautifl pictures. Whole this town looks like an art ! Especially, sunfowers in the colorful car! Thank you for your reply.

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    3. Thank you for looking at my photos and thank you for the kind words about my hometown. I have been to Ishikawa. Here are some pictures I took in Ishikawa: https://flic.kr/s/aHsiRiH1dz

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  13. Kenta Komeichi3:03 pm

    My name is Kenta Komeichi. My major is comparative culture. My hobby is baseball.
    I'm in semi-hard baseball club of the University of Tsukuba. In semi-hard baseball club, we use semi-hard ball. Its surface is like softball, but its inside is like hardball. My position is outfielder. I want to be good outfielder like Ichiro, so I practice hard everyday.

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    1. Hello Kenta, I am interested in comparative culture. Actually, for me, living in Japan is studying comparative culture.

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  14. Rintaro3:03 pm

    Hello professor. My name is Rintaro Motomatsu. I am a sophomore in Tsukuba university. I'm from Tokyo. You know, Tokyo has too many people, cars and buildings. But my hometown, Bunkyo-ku, has calm atmosphere and I love my hometown so much. I like to learn Japanese history, so I will major in Japanese history and study Japanese myth. I like playing sports, especially basketball, so I often play basketball in Tsukuba basketball society. Thank you for reading!!

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    1. Hello Rintaro, I like Japanese history very much. My favourite person from Japanese history is Oda Nobunaga.

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  15. My name is Tanaka Hiroko. I am a student of Humanity. I desire to major Russian language.
    The shapes of Cyrillic character are very cute. And it is so fun that words are like incantations. But primary reason of my decide of major is Russian dishes are very delicious! My most favorite thing is eating! I desire to go to Russia and I eat more and more food. So I will major Russian language, and go to Russia. Of course, I want to study abroad.
    I want to ask you, Where are you from? And what food do you recommend there?

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    1. Hello Hiroko, I am from Canada. I recommend you try peameal bacon. It's very delicious.

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  16. Aoi Tsuyama3:03 pm

    Hello, my name is Aoi Tsuyama.

    I'm from Kyoto. Kyoto is Japanese ancient capital, so you'll feel interesting if you only walk around there.

    I love the cinema and Manga. Not hobby, but love. If you like them too, please recommend me some products!

    ReplyDelete
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    1. Hi Aoi, I like cinema very much too. I recommend the movies of Kitano Takeshi. My favourite is Dolls. MY favourite manga is Lupin III.

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  17. Hello! My name is Isojima Ryo(磯島諒). I belong to College of Humanities, School of Humanities and Culture and I am major in Philosophy. My hometown is Osaka. And I had lived in Hong-Kong in my childhood so my favorite food is Chinese food! My hobby is mainly to listen music(ex.The Beatles/The Beach Boys) and to watch movies(ex. Roman Holiday/Ben-Hur). Also, I like to play tennis. When I was a high school student, I belonged to the tennis club. Finally, I hope to improve my writing ability in this class.

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    1. Hello Ryo, thanks for telling me a little about yourself. I have been to Hong Kong twice. The food was great.

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  18. Hisako3:04 pm

    My name is Morito Hisako. I am a student of humanities. I will learn folklore in Tsukuba university. I am from Gumma. I have a young brother and I really like him.
    I have learned English since I was junior high school,but I am not good at it. So through this class, I want to be able to write long and correct documents in English as I like.
    I have a question to ask you. It is what should I care about when I write academic writing. I especially want to know form of academic writing.

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    1. Hello Hisako. Thanks for your question. I think you should study the academic word list on Quizlet, like we did last week in class. There is a special form for academic writing. You will learn it in this class.

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  19. Tanabe Asahi3:04 pm

    Hello, My name is Asahi Tanabe. I'll study in your class some months. I'm Jinbun course student and studying japanese history.

    I'm from Yokohama of Kanagawa prefecture .There is big Chinese town in Yokohama and food are so delicious.

    My hobby is watching movie. I like SF movie so I recentry watched ''2001: A Space Odessey" and "Inception". That's so interesting movie. I wantとwatch much more good SF movie.

    I'm joining the club that is named "ViCC". I often make movie as member of ViCC. The members in that club are so friendly so they are my good friends.

    Thanks for reading my comment. That's all.

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    1. Hello Asahi, thanks for your comment. I like 2001: a Space Odyssey too.

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  20. Hello. I'm Sekine Satomi. I specialize archaeology at the University of Tsukuba. I want to reveal life and the society of people of the prehistoric age from the analysis of the stone implement. My hobby is music. I love instrument. I play the piano and the acoustic guitar. I have played the piano since I was 5, and the guitar since I enroll the college, about 1 years ago.

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    1. Hi Satomi, archaeology is fascinating. I love history. I love music too. I hope I can hear you play some day.

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  21. I'm Takehiro Nemoto.My major is comparative culture. Nice to meet you!

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    1. Hello Takehiro. Nice to meet you too. Please tell us more about yourself.

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  22. Hanae3:04 pm

    Hello, I'm Hanae. I'm a member of college of Humanities, University of Tsukuba. I want to major applied linguistics in Japanese. I'm interested in language development. How can children get their own mother tongue within such short term?
    I'm from Hokkaido. In Hokkaido, There are many delicious foods such as fish, potato, milk, and so on. My hometown has very cool climate, so I'm not good at hot climate in Tsukuba.
    What is your favorite Japanese food?

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    1. Hi Hanae, I love the food in Hokkaido. My favourite in Ikura Donburi.

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  23. Hiroki konawa3:04 pm

    My name is Hiroki Konawa.I like Japanese culture for example soba,tenpura,japanese anime. Do you like Japanese culture? If you like japan, I am happy. I will study writing in this class but I am not good at listening English. So,I often don't know or misunderstand what you say. I want you to speak English slowly.

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    1. Hello Hiroki, I will try to speak slowly. Sometimes I get excited and I can't help but speak fast. At those times, please ask me to repeat what I said slowly.

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  24. Mami Kudo3:05 pm

    My name is Mami Kudo. I am from Morioka city in Iwate prefecture. I am nineteen years old and I am a second grade student in university of tsukuba. I am belong to comparative culture and I study comparative literature. My hobby is reading books and playing the clarinet. I like many kind of novels very much because these are make me fun. I want to read more books. And everyday I practice playing the clarinet very hard. It is difficult for me to praying the clarinet well.

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    1. Hi Mami, I like reading novels too. I like Haruki Murakami's novels very much.

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  25. I am Takahashi Kana. I am 20 years old, because my birthday is April 19th!
    I belong to a cheering party and play the clarinet. I continue to practice the clarinet from a junior high school student. I enjoy playing it.
    I think to major in classic literature in Japan. Classic literature in Japan is very interesting. Especially, I am interested in Waka. Waka is a short poetry in the Heian Era. We can know thoughts of old people from Waka.
    I'm not good at English but I make efforts.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Kana, I like Benny Goodman. He was a jazz clarinetist. I recommend you listen to his music.

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  26. My name is Yuki Kubota. I came from Tokushima pref. Tokushima is a boring place you know. If you don't know, I'm sorry. I like philosophy. I really like to study it. I don't like German. I really don't want to study it. So, I didn't study German much last year and I got a "D" grade. I have to study German this year and I have a duty to get at least C rank. I have a question and I hope you to answer. Why in hell does this university have a German class?

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    Replies
    1. Hi Yuki, some of the most important philosophers were German. Perhaps that's why yo are required to learn German.

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  27. Anonymous3:06 pm

    Hello,My name is Hiroe.
    I am from Fukushima.
    I am majoring in history in the college of humanities. I like Japanese history and want to be a researcher of Japanese history.
    I'm little poor in English but I would like to do my best.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Hiroe, I like Japanese history too.

      Delete
  28. Chiaki Kominato3:06 pm

    Hello. My name is Chiaki Kominato. I am nineteen. I am from Iwaki city in Fukushima prefecture. Iwaki city is famous for "Fra Girl", japanese film.
    I like reading books and drawing picture. So, I like to go to library and museum.
    My major in Tsukuba University is comparative culture. I am interested in western classic and myth in the world,especially greek myth. And I am interested in western art,too. I like works of Alfons Mucha. I study English,German and Latin as foreign language now. It is too hard for me to study three foreign languages,but I'd like to study hard and use them well.

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    1. Hi Chiaki, wow! You are studying three foreign languages. Great! Studying Latin will help you with academic English because many academic English words were borrowed from Latin, "academic" for example.

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  29. Miharu Oyama3:18 pm

    My name is Miharu Oyama.
    I am a student of college of Comparative culture and going to study literature.
    What did you study when you were college student?
    I came from Saitama prefecture. Saitama is often said there is no interesting thing. Though there are many famous remains, festivals and professional sports teams.
    My hobby is playing musical instruments.I belong to Guitar Mandolin Club. I usually play the mandolin but sometimes I play mandola. Mandola resembles to mandolin, except the size and tone. Mandola is larger than mandolin so it sounds lower than mandolin.Since I have some chances to show performance to many people in April and May, I am busy now to practice musics.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Miharu,
      I like the mandolin. I hope i can hear you play some day.

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  30. 石橋知佳3:19 pm

    My name is Tomoka Ishibashi. I'm from Wakayama. My major is comparative culture.
    My hometown Wakayama is famous for fruits. For example, oranges, plums, peaches. But, I don't like fruits much.
    I have an elder sister. She is a student at Tsukuba University too.
    I moved in January of this year. I live with her now.
    I'm going to try more various things than last year. I want to read more books.
    Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Tomoka, I lived with my brother at university too!

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  31. Hisho Yamazaki(山﨑 飛翔)3:29 pm

    I’m Hisho Yamazaki, a second year student of College of Comparative Culture.
    I have interests in Japanese and European culture, and think to specialize Folklore-Studies in the third year and the after.
    I also have big interest in U.K. in, and I’m planning to join the summer English programme in University of Oxford.
    So , I’m anxious to learn about English.

    Then I want to ask you an question.
    I heard that, both of English and French are commonly used in Canada. In really, how many Canadian can speak both languages?

    I’ll be glad if you give me an reply.

    Sorry for my

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hello Hisho,
      English and French are the official languages of Canada, but only about 17% of Canadians speak both languages. French is the majority first language in the province of Quebec. There are also many native French speakers in New Brunswick and northern Ontario.

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  32. Hello, Mr.Stout. I am Sachika Deno. I'm studying history of religions in this university.
    When I tell it my friends, they sometimes say "You're strange that you want to study about religions." But, I don't mind such words because I really like to know about myths and religions, and I believe that we need to learn our own or other's religion to understand each other more. Thank you for reading.

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    Replies
    1. Hello Sachika. You are not strange at all. I think religions are interesting too.

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  33. Anonymous3:48 pm

    My name is Toru. I'm a student of college of comparative culture. I study contemporary western philosophy and the thought of Martin Heidegger mainly. And I'm interested in architecture and social psychology. I'm rock drummer too. I'm a member of the TSUKUBA MUSIC ASSOCIATION. I love progressive rock especially DREAM THEATER and YES. By the way, I dont't have any confidence in my english. Speaking and hearing english are very hard for me but I like reading and writing somewhat. I want to learn the good skills of reading and writing english in this class.

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    Replies
    1. Hello Toru, I love progressive rock too. Yes is one of my favourite bands.

      Delete
  34. Takumi Ojima4:46 pm

    Hello, my name is Takumi Ojima, please call me Oji. I failed to send my comment, so I try to send my comment again. My major is humanity. I learn linguistics, and I am interested in sociolinguistics. I have to write a graduation thesis in English, but I am not good at writing English. I want to make a good sentences in English. I was a member of the soccer club when I was in junior high school and high school. Now, I join a volleyball circle because I want to start a new sport, and I like volleyball. These days I was very happy because many freshmen joined my circle.

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    1. Hello Oji, I am interested in socialinguistics too, especially pragmatics.

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  35. I'm morine. I lived in Hiroshima before enter this university. I like there because there are many beautiful river, museum, castle and so on. And there are two world heritages. And there are so many good taste foods such as okonomiyaki and momijimanju that I like there very much.If you a chance, please come there. Thank you.

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    1. Hello Morine. i have been to Hiroshima. I stayed for one week, and i ate at Okonomiyakimura every day.

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  36. I'm sorry for the delay in submitting, but I attended the class.

    ReplyDelete
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    1. No problem. Please try to submit your assignments on time from now on.

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  37. Ayumi Ikarashi5:51 pm

    Hello! My name is Ayumi Ikarashi.My hometown Agano in Niigata-ken is country side. there is alot of green. My father and my mother are ceramists. They creates tea cups,dolls,and so on.I love my hometown and my family (especially my dogs and cats!).
    My major is anthropology. I have big interest in cultures. My dream is to travel around the world. But I've never been abroad. So I will go to Turkey in this summer vacation. I am enjoying planning the travel now !
    Thank you.

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    Replies
    1. Hi Ayumi, I'm glad you are planning to visit Turkey. It's a wonderful country. I have friends there. I hope you will meet them.

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  38. Anonymous9:51 pm

    Hello. I'm kensuke Horie.I belong to the college of the humanities and specialize linguistics, but I'm not good at English. My hometown is Fukui, where located in the middle of Japan. I wonder if you know it. Foods in Fukui are so delicious, especially famous for "Echizen crab". My hobby is runnning, so I run twice week.
    Finally, I apologize for delay in submitting.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Kensuke. I haven't been to Fukui yet, but I want to go there some day. I'll be sure to try Echizen crab.

      Delete
  39. Yusuke Fujita10:01 pm

    I'm sorry for the delay in submitting. Hello. I 'm Yusuke Fujita. My hometown Kanuma is very beautiful city. Kanuma is surrounded by the nature such as woods, rivers and mountains. I' m interested in and major in the Japanese history. So, I want to be a historical teacher and teach students that history is interesting. Thank you.

    ReplyDelete