皆さん
お疲れ様です :)
北家です。
クリスマスシーズンの到来ですね。アイルランドのゴールウェイやイギリスのロンドンではクリスマスマーケットがスタートしました。mulled wineを片手に出店を覗くと冬の到来を実感します。ヨーロッパが最も情緒的なのはこの季節ではないでしょうか。機会があれば是非ヨーロッパの「風情」を感じにいらして下さい :)
就学前英語教育について考える日々が続いています。私はケンブリッジ時代、現地の小学校で臨時教師もしていました。英語圏では一般的に幼稚園の最終年から小学校の1〜2年生までの3年間でPhonics (綴りと発音の関係性の学習)に取り組み、読み書きが可能になります。
イギリスでは、Phonicsは6段階に分かれています。
Phase 1は、
・身の回りの音
・楽器の音
・体で出す音
・リズム
・頭韻法 (同じ音の連続)
・声
・口頭での文字の合成と分解
の7つの観点から音に慣れさせる事からスタートです。(この段階ではまだ文字の学習は行いません。)
先ずはPhase 1 Phonics と検索してみましょう :)
それでは、本日もダイアローグと文法・発音ポイントに参ります。第十七弾です。(ご自由に教材としてお使い下さい。)
Dialogue between a Japanese tourist visiting the U.K. and a British Rail ticket sales representative
Daniel Rixon (DR):
Welcome to British Rail.
How can I assist you?
Minako Tsunoda (MT):
Good afternoon.
My husband Ichiro and I arrived in London this morning from Japan.
We will be in the U.K. for a fortnight and we want to travel around the country, including to Scotland and Wales, by train.
We understand British Rail has special rail passes which might suit us.
DR:
I think our Britrail Pass would be perfect for the two of you.
We offer passes of different durations, including 8-day and 15-day, and two classes, namely First Class and Standard Class.
MT:
This is our second visit to the U.K.
On the first occasion, we stayed mainly in London but, this time, we want to see as much of the U.K. as possible.
We’d like to move out of London tomorrow and only return to London in a fortnight’s time, on the day before we fly out of Heathrow back to Haneda Airport in Tokyo.
DR:
In that case, a 15-day pass would, I think, be best for the two of you.
MT:
I think so, too.
What is the price difference between First and Standard Class passes?
DR:
A 15-day First Class pass costs 550 pounds, while a Standard pass costs 385 pounds.
MT:
I’d like two First Class passes, please, valid from tomorrow.
DR:
Certainly, Tsunoda-san.
That will be 1,100 pounds, please.
Here are your tickets and general information, including maps, detailing where the passes can be used.
MT:
That will be very helpful, thank you.
Am I correct in understanding that Britrail passes can not be used on the undergrounds in London and other cities?
DR:
Yes, I’m afraid that is currently the case.
However, as the information I’ve just handed you shows, the passes can be used for all travel on the national railway system in the U.K.
MT:
That is a shame.
I understand we can with our Britrail passes book seats on the trains we use.
Is that correct?
DR:
Yes, you are right.
Our ticket offices around the country can help you with that.
MT:
Great.
We’d like to depart from London tomorrow morning for Edinburgh.
DR:
Our services from London to Edinburgh all depart from King’s Cross Station.
What time would you like to depart?
MT:
Somewhere around mid-morning.
DR:
The trains leave once every thirty minutes.
The 10 a.m. train arrives in Edinburgh at 2.30 p.m., the 10.30 a.m. train at 3.09 p.m., and the 11 a.m. train at 3.24 p.m.
MT:
That is very helpful, thanks.
Can I please have two seats on the 10.30 a.m. train?
文法ポイント:
自動詞を扱う際は直後の前置詞に注意が必要です。例えば、
to arrive は、
He arrived on time.
(on time はセットで使われます。)
Finally our dishes arrived on our table.
(tableの表面に現れたからです。)
He arrived at the station.
(stationという限定的な場所に辿り着いたからです。)
He arrived in London.
(Londonという立体空間に、入り込んだからです。)
他動詞を扱う場合は直後に目的語が来ますが、その後の前置詞に注意が必要です。例えば、
I am trying to reschedule the meeting to next Tuesday.
I have rescheduled the meeting for next Tuesday.
(toで方向性を、forで最終的な着地点を示しています。)
This train is bound for Shinjuku.
We are going to depart from London for Edinburgh.
(同様に、forで最終的な着地点を示しています。)
発音ポイント:
2音節語の発音を確認しましょう。音節境界「.」と強調記号「ˈ」を意識して下さい。強調記号がある方の音節を強く読みます。
/ˈmaʊn.tən/
/ˈwel.kəm/
/ˈdʒʌs.tɪs/
/ˈsʌm.wʌn/
/ˌθɜrˈti:n/
/ˈsev·ən/
参考になさって下さい :)
次回に続きます!
北家
