One day Sewing Quilt Class (Oct. 5)

(I'm making comparison to improve my English.  I have been asking RJ tutors' for correction these days.  RJ tutors' sentences are shown black and my original sentences were blue italic.)

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Five years ago, I attended a patchwork class for 10 months. I enjoyed making patchworks, but I quit going to the class for several reasons.

(My original sentences)
I had an experience of being a student at a patch work class.  It was five years ago from now, and I took the lessons about ten months.  I enjoyed making patchworks, but I quit going to the class for several reasons.

* * * * * * * * * *

When I saw the poster in the city hall a month ago, I was interested in the one-day quilt class. Then, I made a phone call to the city hall to tell that I’m interested. The poster stated that students from 4th grade and up can participate.  I was told that the registration fee was 1,000 yen which included the textiles and the use of sewing machine.

(My original sentences)
When I saw the poster in a city hall one month ago, I was interested in the one day sewing kilt class, and I made a phone call to the city hall for participation.  The poster said participation could be accepted people who were more than 4th grade in the elementary school.  I was told that participating fee was 1,000 yen including lending a sewing machine and textiles for the lesson.

There were two classes, morning and afternoon, at 10:00 to 12:00 a.m. and 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. respectively.

(My original sentences)
There were two classes; one in the morning, 10:00 to 12:00 a.m., the other in the afternoon; 1:00 to 3:00 p.m.

* * * * * * * * * *

I chose to enroll in the morning class. I arrived at the city hall at 9:50 a.m. The teacher had already prepared my name plate and placed it on one of the desks with a sewing machine and a package of textiles. There were 3 other students. One student had a 30-year experience of making clothes. The other two were friends each other who I assume are almost the same level as myself in quilting.

(My original sentences)
I chose to enroll in the morning class.  I arrived at the city hall at 9:50 a.m.  The teacher had already prepared my name plate on one of their desks, with a sewing machine and a package of textiles.   There were another 3 students.  One student had a 30-year expertise of making clothes by profession.  The other two were friends who I assume almost the same level as myself. 

* * * * * * * * * *

I was excited to see the package of textiles because I liked the shades of pink.

(My original sentences)
I was excited to see the package of textiles because I liked the pink colors. 

* * * * * * * * * *

The picture shows the quilt that I made in the lesson.  It was a telephone cover that my teacher designed.

(My original sentences)
The picture is what I made in the lesson.  The teacher told us that she designed this for a cover of telephone to avoid dust.

There were 24 pieces but we only fused 20 pieces together.  The teacher told us to choose 20 pieces.

(My original sentences)
There were 24 pieces, and we use 20 pieces together.  The teacher told us to choose 20 pieces.

The Four Pieces of My Leftovers

 

 

The problem was that most of the things she was talking about was irrelevant to our lesson today.

Here are some. "I remember my grandfather who was far-sighted.  If he wanted to see something near, he would just flick his glasses.  He kept looking around for his glasses but had not realized it was just on his head.  Now, at 62, I experience the same thing. Ha ha ha!"

 

(My original sentences)

The trouble was the teacher was very talkative to unimportant things.

Here are some.  "I remember my grandfather.  My grandfather put his glasses on his forehead, and seek where his glasses were.  If he wanted to see something near, he didn't need the glasses, so he had put the glasses in forehead, and forgot having done that.  Now at my age, 62, I have been experiencing the same thing. Ha! Ha! Ha!"

 

* * * * * * * * * *

 

"I have been teaching every other Saturday at another city hall, you can come and see..."  Her words were directed to the student who had prior experience and showed interest in her lessons.  She didn't tell me important things at all, like how to use the sewing machine.

  

 (My original sentences)

"I have been teaching every other Saturday at another city hall, you can come and see..."  Most of the talk was spoken to the student who was expertise and showed interest in participating her lessons.  

She didn't tell me any important things .... how to use the sewing machine at all. 

 

* * * * * * * * * *

 

I have a sewing machine which I bought 20 years ago.  However, it needs repairs.  It has a very simple mechanism. If I push its pedal hard, the sewing machine moves fast.  If I push on its pedal lightly, the sewing machine moves slowly.

 

(My original sentences)

I have a sewing machine myself.  I bought it 20 years ago, and it needs to be repaired now. 

If I push its pedal hard, my sewing machine moves fast.  If I want it to move slow, I should put the pedal in a light touch.   This is the way we handle the sewing machine which was bought 20 years ago, and I still took it for granted.

 

 

* * * * * * * * * *

(One additional sentence)

I thought that the sewing machine we used for the class worked the same way.

 

(My original sentence, but there is no correction needed.)

At 11:40 a.m., the teacher finally asked me, "why are you sewing so slowly?"  

 

* * * * * * * * * *

 

I shouted "I have beeeeeen pushing at its pedal as much as I can, and this is the maximum speed this sewing machine can get!"

 

(My original sentence)

I shouted "I have been pushing its pedal very strong, and this is the maximum speed, this sewing machine can work!"

 

* * * * * * * * * *

 

"No, your machine has a lever."  She finally came and showed me.   "If you slide the lever to right side, like this way, the machine works faster."

 

 (My original sentences)

"No, your machine has a lever."  She finally came and showed me.   "If you slide the lever to right side like this way, the machine works faster."

 

(My original sentences with no correction needed.)

I finished making it at 12:40.  That was 20 minutes before the afternoon lesson began.

 

 * * * * * * * * * *

 

If she said this at the beginning of the class, I didn't have to experience such a hard time.  I was irritated by the sewing machine.

 

(My original sentences) 

If she said this at the beginning of the class, I didn't have to experience the hard time.  I had been irritated by the slow work of the sewing machine.

 

* * * * * * * * * *

 

It was pity that the other three students had to wait for me to finish, and the teacher had only 20 minutes before another class began.  I was wondering how she managed to eat her lunch in 20 minutes.

 

(My original sentences)

 It was pity that the other three students had been waiting me for finishing, and the teacher had only 20 minutes for another class began.  How she managed to eat her lunch I was wondering.  

 

* * * * * * * * * *

 

I had a terrible time during the lesson, she should have started her lesson 30-minute earlier to have her self-introduction and explained how to use the sewing machines. 

 

(My original sentence) 

I had a terrible time during the lesson, she should have started her lesson 30-minute earlier to have her self-introduction and explained how to use the sewing machines.  

Sept. 18

I’m studying an English grammar book.  I did some questions in the textbook yesterday.  I’m not sure if one of the answers printed is a typo or something.  May I ask you a question?

The question in the textbook was "Write questions using “What do you think …. ?"  

21.5. 7.  The future is uncertain.   (What do you think) ( will happen.) 

My answer:  The future is uncertain.  What do you think IT will happen.
The correct answer on the textbook.  What do you think will happen.

I have a question: the word “IT” can be omitted in this sentence?

RJ tutor's answer:  We don't need to put IT here.  Here are another examples:

 
What do you think is the best place to visit?
What do you think about the world?
What do you think about before you sleep?
What do you think is the cutest animal?

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(For our lesson on Saturday, Sept. 20, would you please help me below ?)

Exercise 17.11

I'm surprised you weren't told that the road was dangerous.  You should have been warned about it.

My opinion is that when we use the verb "warn" in the sentence,
it should be "you should have warned," instead of
"you should have been warned, "   <---　Why is the passive voice?

According to my dictionary (Wisdom English - Japanese Dictionary), there is an example:

I warned my parents I would be coming home late.  <---　Here's not the passive voice.


After RJ's tutors explanation, I understood the situation.  I mistook the sentence.  I, the subject, was not the passenger.  You were the passenger who came across the dangerous road.  The police or someone must have warned you before crossing the road. 


Unit 26.3.4.  Could (do() and Could have (done)

A:  How was your test?  Was it hard?
B: It wasn't so bad.  It could have been worse.  <--- Please translate it into another expression?)

My opinion:  I think the exam was easy and I did it great??

Another sentence.

We had a really good vacation.  It couldn't have been better.

My opinion: I fully satisfied with the vacation?? 

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A RJ tutor gave me good examples for showing "could have been worse / better."
 
Yeah, it could have been worse if I didn't take lessons at RareJob ... because I don't have a lot of time to practice in a regular English school.

Yeah, but it could have been better if I took lessons at a regular English school ... because right now I can only study online at RareJob.

A bus trip to Mt. Hotaka & Kamikochi (Aug. 26 to 27)

We have been stressing out the hot temperature these days.  Sometimes it gets as much as human temperature, 37 or 38 degrees.

So, my husband and I decided to participate in a two-day tour of visiting Mt. Hotaka and Kamikochi area on Auguest 26 - 27.

We planned to take a local bus to Himeji station at 6:41 a.m., so we wake up one hour earlier.  I made two cups of coffeee, and it made us awake.  I took care of my petbirds for food and water and do other things and we left our place.

We took the local bus as planned, and all the tour participants from Himeji station got together at Himeji station, and we met a male driver and a female tour attendant.

The bus went to Kakogawa station and because there were more passengers roded on our bus there.  Then, the attendant asked the passengers if somebody needed for a toilet break.   My husband was concerned about it, but he didn't get off.

Now a total of 46 passengers headed to the next step to the on the bus.

August 22

I'm studying an English grammar book.  One unit of the book takes 30 minutes to study.  I am trying to study one or two units every day.  Here are the mistakes I made.  Please discuss. 

Unit 1 - Present Continuous (I am doing)

Complete the sentences using the verbs (get or begin)  Each verb can be used once only.

Question 1.4.3 The situation is already bad and it (get or begin) worse.

My anwer: The situation is already bad and it is beginning worse.   (correct answer: is getting)

RJ tutor's opinion: getting (you have to look at the development in the process)
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Question 1.4.5. The weather (get or begin) to improve.  The rain has stopped, and  the wind isn't as strong.

My anwer: The weather is getting to improve.  (correct answer: is beginning)

RJ tutor's opinion: beginning (you have to at the change in the process)


Unit 2 - Simple Present  (I do) 

Put the verb into the correct form.

Question 2.2.8 David isn't very good shape.  He (not exercise).

My anwer: David isn't very good shape.  He does not do any exercise.

Correct answer: He doesn't exercise.

My mistake: 2.5.4 I apologize what I did.  It won't happen again.

Correct answer:  I apologize for what I did. 

RJ tutor's advice: 
apologize to someone (or indirect object)  / apologize for something that happened


He apologized to his wife and children for losing his temper.
I want to apologize (to you) for what I said. I didn't mean it, and I'm sorry if it hurt your feelings.
We apologize for the mistake and promise that it won't happen again.
She doesn't apologize for her lifestyle. [=she does not believe that her lifestyle is wrong]

Unit 5 - Simple Past (I did)

My mistake:  5.1.5  She started to work at 8:45. 
Correct Answer:  She started work at 8:45.  (the word "work" is noun here.)

My mistake: 5.1.7  She finished her work (or the work) at 5:00. 
Correct Answer: She finished work at 5:00.

My opinion: the word can be used as uncountable noun.

Unit 6 - Past Continuous (I was doing)

My mistake
6.3.1 I saw Sue in town yesterday.  (the word "town" can be used as uncountable noun.)
But she didn't look at me.  She looked the other way. 

Correct answer: She was looking the other way.

RJ tutor's opinion
town [nouncount]:  the business and shopping center of a town
We're heading to town later on.

uptown: the upper part of a city or town : the part of a city or town that is away from the central part — usually singular
We can shop a lot in the downtown area. 

My mistake
6.3.2.  I met Tom and Jane at the airport a few years ago.  They went to Boston and I went to Montreal.  We talked while we were waiting for our flights.

Correct answer:  They were going to Boston and I was going to Montreal.

Unit 7 Present Perfect (I have done)

7.1.5 What's the most beautiful place have you ever visited?

Correct answer:  What's the most beautiful place you have ever visited?

7.3.2 I read a newspaper yesterday, but I haven't read it today.

Correct answer:  I haven't read one today.

7.4.3.  Have you ridden a horse before?
           Have you been on a horse before?

My question:  Please check the follows:

I rode on a bus yesterday. 
I rode on a taxi yesterday.
I rode on a airplane yesterday.

Are the preposition "on" in the sentences correctly used?

My mistake: 7.4.4.  Maria is in Los Angeles.  Have you been to Los Angeles before, Maria? 

Correct answer: Have you been in Los Angeles before, Maria. 

Clothes-pin Cat

(I wrote this entry for improving my English skills.  I asked a RareJob tutor to edit them to natural English.  For comparison, RJ's sentences are shown black and my original ones are shown blue.)

When I saw the pictures below from a magazine, I was very interested in making them.
I wanted to make them, but the magazine didn't include instruction on how to make them

(My original sentences)
When I saw the pictures below from a magazine, I was very interested in making them.
I wanted to make them, but the magazine didn't show their patterns.

Left: cat / right: dog

 

Left: rabbit / right: horse

I think the bigger clothes-pin in my house is exactly the same size as the ONE ON THE magazine.

(My original sentence)
I think the bigger clothes-pin in my house is exactly the same size as the magazine. 

 

I am not good at making patterns, but I tried drawing the pattern as best as I could.

 

(My original sentence)

I am not good at making patterns, but I drew the pattern.

I used one piece of my husband's very old socks to make it.  The fabric of socks stretches well.

(My original sentence)

I cut the patterns, and sewed them by hand. 

The most difficult part is when I sewed more than half,
and I had to put the pin inside and stuff it with cotton.

(My original sentence)
The most difficult part is when I sewed more than half,
I put the pin inside and stuffed cotton.

I finished them two hours later.

 

Although, I probably have to make its face (eyes, nose, mouth and whiskers.)

 

(My original sentence)

Still, I probably have to make its face (eyes, nose, mouth and whiskers.)

   

 

 

The magazine showed that it can be used to connect curtains.

 

(My original sentence)

The magazine showed that it can be used as it connects curtains right and left side.

 

I think my first cat is a bit fatty, so I want to trim a little bit from each side of my second pattern.

(My original sentence)
I think my first cat is a bit fatty.  So, I want to cut the pattern each side before making my second. 

 

(Additional part)

 

After writing this entry, I made another one on Monday afternoon: a pink rabbit.  

This one is slimmer than the cat.

 

(My original sentences)

After writing this entry, I made another one, a pink rabbit Monday afternoon.  

This one is slimmer than the cat. 

 

 

June 16

Nice to meet you!  Today, I would like to have a free conversation lesson with you.

 

First of all, please call me, either Kay-san, or Kay, or Kayoko (my real name) san. 

 

I got a score of 835 in TOEIC test two years ago, but if you speak too fast, sometimes I cannot follow you.  So I would like to be pleased if you speak slowly in our lesson.  Thank you!

 

Here is my self introduction.  Since I started talking RJ lessons last August, many tutors call me Kay-san or Kay. 

 

I'm a 48-year-old housewife, married at 40 and without children.   I live in a countryside in western part of Japan. 

 

I went to the US when I was 23 years old, and studied one year in an American college.  I used to work as a clerk for import and export businesses in Tokyo for more than 20 years.  I arranged English documents such as invoice, packing list, etc.  I even arranged some documents to declear our businesses dealings to some countries' embassies in Tokyo.  I enjoyed working as an office clerk.

 

When I was 40, I got married to a man who lives in a countryside here, and I found that there is no job vacancies for related businesses in a countryside here.   

 

So, I took a license as caregiver trainee in 2011 because there are more elderies in all areas in Japan, and caregiving businesses are generally often short staffed.  It is easy to be employed as a caregiving businesses, I think. 

 

Nowadays, I visit elderly's houses once or twice a week to ask about their health and ask what they want me to do such as cleaning the house, or cooking meals. 

 

It is only a part-time job because I cannot work full time.  Being a caregiver, it takes me a lot of physical labor.  As I am close to 50 years old, I feel symptoms of menopausal disorder. Sometimes I need 2 hours of sleep in the afternoon.  I asked about some of my friends in the same generation, they said that they are experiencing uncomfortable condition like mine.  They are trying to relax  as much as they can.  

 

I take care of my house because my husband is a typical Japanese husband who isn't good at any housekeeping chores. 

 

So I decided to relax at home and polish my English skills.    

 

For me, studying English is something more than just called as a hobby. 

 

One RJ tutor said that I have to study harder such as reading English newspapers, watch Holloywood movies a lot.  Maybe she wrote this from her kindness, but I was discouraged by her feedback.  I am a middle aged woman living in a countryside, I don't have any special job opportunity to work any English-related.  I study English through the Breaking News English website for 2 hours on weekdays, and I think that's enough.  I feel cleaning our house is more important because it leads to us more comfortable.

 

 

We love visiting flower gardens. 

My husband is 61 years old.

My cockatiel's nice name is Pearl chan.  6 years old.

I have two budgerigars.  They are smaller than love birds.



I love knitting and sewing. 

This picture was taken in a park last winter.

 

 

June 3

I would like to use the latest entry of Breaking News English article for today's lesson.

Children can learn to eat vegetables
http://www.breakingnewsenglish.com/1406/140602-vegetables.htmltr

I read the article yesterday, and I think I understood the content, so I would like to try to discuss
something related to the article.

Japanese young mothers who have kids at kindergarten prepare "Kyara (or chara) ben" every morning.  Kyara here means anime charactors such as Doraemon, Kitty chan, and Pokemon, etc) and bento means lunch box.

Please take look at the link below so that you can find out what "kyara ben" looks like:

http://www.bing.com/images/search?q=%e3%82%ad%e3%83%a3%e3%83%a9%e5%bc%81&qpvt=%e3%82%ad%e3%83%a3%e3%83%a9%e5%bc%81&FORM=IGRE

I heard that school children eat lunch at home in the Philippines.  They go back to their home between morning classes and afternoon classes. 

When I went to elementary school, I used to live in a house where it is as far as 30 minutes away from school.   The lunch break was only one hour long, so all of the children eat lunch at school.  I guess that there were half of the school children lived in a place like me; they take half an hour to go to school.

I don't know whether THE school provideS lunch for students or THE parents prepare lunch for their kids.
Young mothers have pride on their techniques on how they present kyara ben in spite of  their busy hour in the morning

I think when I was at school 30 years ago, my mother never made any of chara-ben because it was not popular then.    But I am still thankful to my mother because she passed me lunch box every morning when I left our house to school. 

When it comes to chara-ben, more technique is needed to make them.  But they want to include vegetables in their chara-ben, so that their kids eat vegetables. 

-----

We don't have kids, so I haven't made any chara-ben so far.  But my husband and I ate much volume of vegetables when we visited Kobe on May 31st.  The picture below is the dinner.  We became full.

The place we visited is called Kobe Happy Village.  The Kobe city operates the village.  Private owners run their restrunts in this huge village.   We thought it nice because they buy vegetables from the native farmers.    The fresh vegetables are delivered to the restaurants, and the chefs cook them.

We were able to choose six different dishes except miso soup, rice.  We chose main dish as fish.  They also had a salad bar. 

   My dishes

My husband's dishes

In general, rice contains high calories, so we should avoid eating much rice if we like to maintain proper weight.   We usually eat two portions of rice bowl every meal.

But at that time, we ate only small portion of rice, we became full with vegetables.