The Da Vinci tapes

Tom Hanks : "How's the movie, Lenny?"

Leonard da Vinci : "Well, it's a bit of a bizarre story but good fun really. Who in the world invented this motion picture thing by the way. It would be a great entertainment for King François the First. Quite clever."

Audrey Tautou : "Did you really draw the figure of John of the Evangelist as Mary Magdalene? Did you create a V-shape for the representative of the chalice and of a woman's womb?"

Leonardo : "Well, well, well. What do you think? If I say 'No', all those rather interesting stories would be ruined completely, wouldn't they. Oh, you are the descendant, aren't you? Your grandpa was a clever man to use my 'Vitruvian Man' though it's a shocking scene, really."

Audrey : "Were you a member of the Priory of Sion, Leonardo?"

Leonardo : "It's pretty rude to ask one's religious beliefs. Didn't you learn at school, Miss?"

Audrey : "Oh yes, but this is important!"

Tom : "Leave him alone, Audrey. He is right. This is none of your business."

Audrey : "But…"

Leonard : "It's ok, young lady. I'm quite a scientific man, you know. I believe only what I see. So…"

Audrey : "Okay, I understand that. Thanks, anyway."

Leonardo : "That's quite all right. Well actually I'm delighted how you people appreciate my art work. You put my precious Lisa del Gioconda in a huge room with bulletproof glass surrounded. I worked on it using new ideas and I had never let her go even when I went to France."

Tom : "We love your paintings and everything, Lenny. You're the most famous and the most popular artist in the world."

Leonardo : "Besides Michelangelo?"

Audrey : "Oh, he is just different. I love your art work the most!"

Leonardo : "Good girl."

My hopes for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games

The 2020 Olympic Games are coming to Tokyo next July, and I have two hopes for the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

The first is to encourage people around the world to be more interested in Japan, as a lot of people don’t know much about our country. Some people may believe that ninja and/or samurai still live in Japan. Most of the countries can watch the events on TV. I hope that the Tokyo Olympic Games will be a chance for a lot of people to learn more about, and become interested in, Japan.

The second is to hold the Tokyo Olympic Games without terror attacks or acts of destruction. Unfortunately, I believe that the Olympic Games are very tempting target for the terrorists. In the Atlanta Olympic Games of 1996, a bomb was left in a park, with very big crowds, by an American man. The bomb was found by Richard Jewell, and a lot of people could escape, but the incident still the loss of two lives.

Most Japanese do not have enough crisis awareness with regard to terrorist etc., and still think the police can protect us. I’m not sure about this assumption. However, we should enjoy the Olympic Games with our eyes open to finish the Tokyo Olympic Games safely and to enjoy a wonderful Tokyo Olympic Games.

New Year holidays -After reading

Dear all.

I write about my family during New Year holidays.
I always go back to my hometown, Komagane city, to spend New Year holidays with my family.
Do you know Komagane city? Komagane city is in the southern part of Nagano.
It’s a city surrounded by mountains such as Mt. Komagatake.

 I clean my parent’s house when I go back because my family is working on New Year’s Eve.

Many Japanese clean houses on New Year’s Eve like me. It’s called ‘’Oosouzi’’ in japan.
When my mother and sister return to home, we cook Soba together, and we watch New Year’s Eve TV program while drinking alcohol.
I slept through this New Year’s Eve because I was tired from driving and cleaning.

We see the sunrise and we made a wish for this year in the morning of New Year’s day.

The Rising Sun from Komagatake is so beautiful.
We don’t visit a shrine every year because every temple and shrine is crowded.
We intend to relax at my home after seeing the sunrise.

Thank you for your reading.

Momoko

Chocolate - after reading

I've read "Chocolate" and I chose after reading #4.

Do you agree or disagree with these sentences? Why?
1. People in western contries eat too much chocolate now.
    ->I don't think so. I think chocolate is more popular in around the world now, of course Japan also.
2. It is fine for children to eat chocolate sometimes.
    ->It is not good for children to eat a lot of chocolate because they will get fat, but I think that they eat it a few pieces are OK.
3. Chocolate needs to be a lot more expensive. Then the workers on the plantations can get more money.
    ->I disagree this comments because if the chocolate will be more expecsive, it is difficult for people who  are not rich to buy it easily and it will become to reduce cacao demands. Finally the workers will lost their workplace.
4. People must stop selling chocolate that is not Fairtrade chocolate.
    -> I agree. We should know the workers in plantation are faced some problems. I think if people can understand what is the fairtrade (especially developed countries people) the world would be more peaceful.

During I'm reading I wanna eat chocolate!! I was surprised that chocolate has been eaten or drinked since three thousand years ago. I'd like to try their chocolate drink. I think that is quite different taste between current chocolate. The ancient people and present people love chocolate. The chocolate has a power to attract people and some people become be addicted to chocolate! Oh, I found chocolate in my hands!!!!!
Next month, the girl have to buy or make a chocolate to present boys in order to show their love. I disagree this culture since I cannot make sweets. Anyway enjoy eat chocolate :)

Posted for Miyuki

England - after reading

The Romans lived here for 400 years or more.
The Vikings came from Denmark and Norway.
Some of the stones at Stonehenge come from 217Km away in the Preseli mountains in Wales. Others come from 20 or 30 Km away.
In 1066, William of Normandy - the famous William the conqueror- invaded England, bringing French-speaking people to the country.

Take a ferry boat across the Mersey for good views of the waterfront.
You must try fish and chips because it is a traditional food.
Half a million young people go clubbing in England because they enjoy it.
Take long walks across Dorset's high cliffs or along its empty beaches.

Posted for Reiko

Animals in Danger - after reading

I read "Animals in Danger" and I chose after reading #3.

1. Stop the pollution of reivers and the sea.
2. Do not wear clothes made from wild animals.
3. Do not buy medicine made from sild animals.
4. Leave some fish in the sea for dolphins and sharks.
5. Do not buy a wild parrot to have in your home.
6. Ask politicians to make more natonal parks.
7. Give money to animal charities.
8. Walk or go by bicycle, not by car.
9. Eat less meat.
10. Visit good zoo and learn about animals.

I think that the people need to change our living habit to live with wild animals.

Posted for Miyuki

Marco Polo and the Silk Road

No5. Choose a famous traveller or explorer that you are interested in.

A explorer I am interested in is 鄭和(Zhèng Hé). He was a general of China in 15th century. He was a great captain of a convoy and traveled to a lot of place. Officially he is supposed to have traveled up to west coast of southern Africa, but recently a British man published a theory that he discovered America continent and traveled around the world, in 1421, about seventy years earlier than Columbus's.

He is not famous and his achievements are not appreciated properly in history, but he was one of greatest explorer.

Rainforests

After reading:

The Manager

Shoprite Supermarket

Dear sir

When I was in your supermarket this month I found animal fur for sale. This fur is jaguar in it. This is bad for the rainforest,because people come to the forests and kill jaguars for their beautiful black and gold fur. I would like to ask you to stop selling this fur. If a lot of people do this, it will save some of the rainforest animal.

Your faithfully,

Naoya

Avid readers and bloggers from one of my business classes, deserve a pat on the back for their hard work and imaginative use of this extensive reading opportunity. As you can see we have mostly used CUP Graded Readers this time around, supplementing our catalogue with some OUP Factfiles (the new edition ones are excellent). Students have generally really liked the titles; this group has produced a posting each on six titles over the last twenty weeks. Well done lads, proud of you!

My second group has produced fewer postings overall, but the quality of those generated has been high...and there has been a flurry of last minute postings in the last couple of days. Thank you for your hard work in and out of class; look forward to seeing/teacing you again soon.

I think we will have to choose a new series of readers, and maybe go up a level?

Jim

Recycling

I learnt the volume of rubbish, and recycling of countries in the world in this book. And, I was able to know problems of rubbish.

Rubbish at home is divided in my country. However, I wasn't thinking of the meaning. I think that it is also important to do myself though making law by the government is also important. I use things a long time. And, I don't throw away things. I hope for a beautiful environment of earth without problem of rubbish in the future.

After Reading Question 3: "Add two more things you think will be true in the year, and say why you think this."

1 .　I think all things will recycle. All countries won't use landfill site of rubbish.
2.　A lot of wastes thrown away will be removed. And, the earth will return to beautiful environment.

*There are my hopes. To be true, all people should be doing.

eiji