LETTER FROM HAPPY ENGLISH SCHOOL April. 18th, 2023

Hello, how are you? How was your spring vacation? Did you use English?

Even if you do not have any opportunities to use English in your daily life, I think you can at least read English. Therefore, I strongly encourage you to read English books, English newspapers or English websites.

If your level is beginners’, I recommend that you read picture books, folktales or fairy tales you know well in English hopefully with Japanese translations and explanations so that you can understand them more deeply. As you read on, you may come across the same words and same phrases, which will help you expand, retain and enrich your vocabulary. There are numerous words and phrases in English, so it is a good idea to learn as much vocabulary as possible by reading books. The main thing is that you should start with a thin book. You will have a sense of achievement after finishing reading a book, so you can get that sense more easily if the book is thin or short.

Junior high school students and high school students should read the articles that I usually give them. Hamish also gives some articles to his students. I always tell you that reading forms the foundations of developing English skills. You should familiarize yourself with English texts. The more you read, the more you get used to English passages, and you will be able to understand English without translating it into English all the time. You should eventually reach the stage where you understand English as it is without being lost in translation.

Adult students should read notices and warnings at public places and tourist destinations in English. Please get English brochures, instructions and manuals.

You can learn useful words and phrases by reading them. Try to read news articles and magazines. You can read whatever topics you are interested in. I hope everybody likes to read English and to acquire not only the language but also information and knowledge through it.

意義のある春休みを過ごせましたか。英語は使いましたか。日常的に英語を使う機会がほとんどない中、少なくとも英語を読むことはできると思います。ですから、英語の本や新聞、ウェブサイトを英語で読むことを強く奨励します。

初心者は、絵本・民話・おとぎ話などの日本語訳や説明のあるものを読むのはどうですか。中高生は毎週渡している中高生新聞の記事を読んだり、漫画を英語で読んだりするのもいいかもしれません。大人は様々な場所で英語の貼り紙や警告を目にしたり、英語の手引き書、案内書、パンフレットなどを入手して読んだりすることもできます。

本や新聞記事ばかりでなく興味のある雑誌もいいでしょう。英語の単語や表現を覚えるばかりでなく、英語を通して情報や知識も得ることが出来ます。