英会話スクール・英会話教室青森ドリームタウン校（青森県）のスクールブログ

Hello, everyone!!
みなさま、こんにちは(*’▽’)
英会話NOVA青森ドリームタウン校です

花粉の飛散がピークとなり花粉症の方にはつらい時期となりました
Germaine先生は最近目をかゆがったり、鼻が詰まったりと花粉症の症状が、、、
初めて花粉の時期を日本で過ごしておりますが、
早速日本の春に歓迎されたようです

そんなGermaine先生から今回はとってもかわいい家族をご紹介いただきました

Pets

Even though I’ve been enjoying my time in Japan, one thing I truly miss is having pets. Back home, I had two Tabi cats and a Chihuahua-mix dog: Kiren, Kairen, and Maxi. Kiren and Kairen were two cats I got as kittens when my mother’s previous cat gave birth to a litter, and I took two of them in. They were amazing and sweet animals, always loving to cuddle and play around the house. Kiren was more of the adventurous type, constantly wanting to go outside and explore for hours at a time. I always felt nervous about it, mainly because we had foxes in our neighborhood, and cars could hit them. But luckily, she always came back home safely.
Kairen, on the other hand, was more of the stay-at-home kind of cat. She never really wanted to go outside but would climb onto your chair or leg just to sit with you. Normally, I would let my cats sleep in the same room as me, but Kairen had a really bad habit of licking people—whether it was Kiren, my leg, or my face while I was trying to sleep. So, I had to kick them out of my room while I slept.
Maxi was my sister’s dog. We had her ever since I was in high school, and I believe she’s around 17 or 18 years old now. She was what I like to call “so ugly, she’s cute.” She shook often, had really big eyes, and an underbite that exposed most of her lower teeth. But she was the sweetest dog, and the whole family loved her.
I love having pets, and I plan on getting a bunch when I find a more stable place—cats, dogs, a snake, a spider, and even a terrarium for fish and other sea creatures. I can’t wait to get started and hope I’ll be able to do so within the next few years.

 

　　

日本でも新しい家族が増えるといいですね

ここで、NOVAのお得なキャンペーンのご案内です
３月、４月は大人の生徒様に『大人プレミアム紹介状』をお渡ししております
こちらの紹介状をお持ちいただいた方はお得にレッスンスタートの大チャンス！！！

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ご紹介された方もご紹介者もお得なキャンペーンです
ぜひこの機会にご家族、ご友人一緒にNOVAで英会話を習得しましょう(❁´◡`❁)

無料体験レッスン、スクール説明会でお待ちしております

Hello, everyone!!
みなさま、こんにちは(*’▽’)
英会話NOVA青森ドリームタウン校です

道路脇の雪が解けて日に日に春を感じる今日この頃
Germaine先生は故郷で楽しんでいたカヤックを懐かしんでおります

Kayaking in Georgia

One of my favorite activities back in Georgia was kayaking. Relaxing on a large lake and just enjoying the view and nature around me brought me a lot of joy. One of the lakes I mainly kayaked in was Lake Allatoona, located on Red Top Mountain. It was a large lake with lots of wildlife, and the beautiful natural views were breathtaking. Lake Allatoona also has many small paths you can kayak through. One of my favorite things to do was swim in the middle of the lake and try to touch the bottom. Sometimes I could find spots where I could touch, but even at my height, there were still places that were impossible for me to reach. Swimming in the lake can be dangerous, and there are usually a lot of fish and bugs, like catfish and water striders, on the surface. So, it’s recommended you be a strong swimmer and comfortable with bugs and fish being close to you. But being in the water on a hot day is really relaxing and worth it. If you ever get the chance, go to Lake Allatoona and try kayaking, or even rent a boat. Either way, you’ll be able to have fun and enjoy the lake to its fullest.

　　　

木々に囲まれた湖でのカヤック、とてもリラックスできそうですね(*’▽’)
そして、ひっくり返ったカヤックに乗ろうとするGernaine先生、必死です

春といえば、NOVAのテキストは４月から春テキストに切り替わります

“【英会話NOVA青森ドリームタウン校】テキストのご準備はお早めに” の続きを読む

Hello, everyone!!
みなさま、こんにちは(*’▽’)
英会話NOVA青森ドリームタウン校です

先日レッスンの合間にGermaine先生と話していた際に
聞いたことがない単語を話していたため聞き返したところ、
AAVE（アメリカに住むアフリカ系アメリカ人が話す現地の英語）だよ、
と教えてくれました

そのAAVEについて聞いたところ非常に興味深かったため
今回のブログでご紹介いただくことに致しました

AAVE Slang in America

Over the decades, AAVE (African American Vernacular English), Ebonics, or Black American English has become a popular way of speaking, especially through the use of rap, hip-hop, jazz, and blues. As people around the world become more familiar with rap and Black cultural music and art, they are also introduced to this way of speaking. AAVE originated from a mix of West African languages and the experiences of enslaved Africans in America who were not taught English. These enslaved people had to use their knowledge of their native languages to create words and phrases that helped them understand and use English while also preserving their cultural identity.

Over time, AAVE became something that many people, particularly in American pop culture, began to adopt. It’s often used to sound “cool” or to connect with Black culture. In this article, I will talk about some of the AAVE terms that have either become popular or are commonly used among Black Americans. Some of these words have even entered mainstream American speech.

Some words that have become popular and are used in everyday speech include:

Say Less – This phrase is used to indicate understanding or agreement, often meaning “I got it” or “No need to explain further.”

I’m Weak – This phrase is used when something is very funny or unbelievable, similar to saying “I can’t stop laughing.”

You Feel Me – This expression is used to check if someone understands or agrees with what you’re saying.

Fam – Short for “family,” but used to refer to close friends or people who are like family.

Cap/No Cap – “Cap” means a lie, while “No Cap” means no lie or truth. It’s often used to emphasize honesty.

Some less commonly used words include:

Itis – This refers to the tired or sleepy feeling you get after eating a large meal, especially common after Thanksgiving. Example: “After eating, I got the itis,” or “I got the itis after all that food.”

Good Good/Bad Bad – Repeating a word intensifies the meaning. Example: “Mom’s cooking was good good today,” or “O man, today is cold cold, ain’t it?”

Janky – Used to describe something that isn’t working properly, like a broken item or a situation that’s off. It can also refer to a person, though that’s less common. Example: “The TV’s acting janky,” or “The lights are a bit janky, but it works.”

Pronunciation differences also play a part in AAVE. For example, Black Americans often pronounce words like “the,” “this,” and “them” with a “D” sound: “De,” “Dis,” and “Dem.” Additionally, the “-ing” ending is often dropped, so “listening” becomes “listenin’.”

These are just a few examples of words and pronunciations that are commonly used in Black American speech and pop culture. If you want to try them out, make sure to do so respectfully, as this is cultural language with a deep history. It’s important to understand not only the language but also the music and culture behind it.

ちょっと長くなりましたが、Germaine先生が紹介してくれた単語はもちろん、
発音の違いを知っておくと英語を聞き取れる幅が広がってくること間違いなしです(*’▽’)

『Germaine先生の英語のシャワーをもっと浴びたい！』方は必見！
2月まで期間限定で販売しておりました【上達応援クーポン】が
好評につき3月末まで販売期間延長となりました

◎お得な10ポイント+NOVAスコア1回分◎
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※2月末までに2口ご購入された方でも追加で2口ご購入いただけます☆
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◇MY ROOMからWEB購入も可！
※WEB購入はメールアドレス登録がある18歳以上の生徒様のみ可。
※有効期限があるメインコースをお持ちの生徒様のみご購入可。

この上達応援クーポンで英語のシャワーを思う存分浴びましょう

これから英語を始めたい方も3月中にご入会いただければ
上達応援クーポンを使っていいスタートダッシュが切れます(^O^)／
ぜひ無料体験レッスン、スクール説明会にご参加くださいませ

Hello, everyone!!
みなさま、こんにちは(*’▽’)
英会話NOVA青森ドリームタウン校です

前回のブログで昭和大仏にお出かけしたGermaine先生
今回はどこでどんな発見があったのでしょうか、、、

Seikan Ship Memorial Museum

During my day off, I went not only to see the Showa Daibutsu Buddha and the winter marvels the area had to offer, but I also visited the Seikan Ship Memorial Museum with my friend. Truthfully, I had never even noticed that there was a ship behind A-FACTORY. I never really took the time to go back there and check it out, but I was pleasantly surprised when I did. One thing I noticed was how small the ship was on the inside. I found myself ducking under most of the doors to avoid bumping my head. Even the hallways were a bit too narrow, and I had to turn sideways at times to let people pass.
Despite that, exploring the ship was really cool and interesting. They had figures of Japanese people from that time, depicting their daily life, the things they would sell, and their work. There was also a figure that kind of scared me — its head was turned almost 180 degrees, which shocked me when I entered the room. They also showed a movie about the ship and the citizens during that time, but since my Japanese wasn’t very good and my friend didn’t speak it, we didn’t stay to watch.
Seeing the trains they fitted inside the ship was interesting, and exploring the engine rooms and the main control room, where they managed sailing and communication, was really cool too. I recommend people check it out, but if you’re 6’2″ or taller, please be careful, as it’s not very height-friendly.

　　

今回は青函連絡船メモリアルシップ八甲田丸でした
頭をぶつけないように気をつけながら見て回ったとは、
さすが高身長のGermaine先生ですね

さて、3月もNOVAでは英語を始めるみなさまを全力で応援致します！！

【春のBIGキャンペーン】
ご入会で嬉しい特典が盛りだくさん！

★大人コース★
特典①通常22,000円(税込)の入会金が無料！！！
特典②テキスト1冊プレゼント！！！

★KIDS（こども英会話）コース★
特典①通常11,000円(税込)の入会金が無料！！！
特典②NOVAオリジナルレッスンバッグプレゼント！！！
特典③テキスト１冊プレゼント！！！

この春NOVAでお得に英語学習をスタートしましょう

体験レッスン、スクール説明会のお申込みは随時受付しております(^O^)／
4月からのKIDS枠はレベルによって空きが少なくなってきております！
「うちの子英語やってみないかな？」という軽いお気持ちでも大丈夫です！！
ぜひ一度お早めに体験レッスン、スクール説明会にご参加くださいませ

Hello, everyone!!
みなさま、こんにちは(*’▽’)
英会話NOVA青森ドリームタウン校です

NOVA青森ドリームタウン校では先日KIDSイベントが開催されました
『英語で動物ゲーム』では英語が初めてのお子様も
元気にアクティビティにご参加くださいました

今後もNOVAではKIDSイベントを開催して参ります！
「英語できるかな？」とご心配なお子様にこそ
お気軽にご参加いただけるイベントとなります
次回のイベントにはぜひご参加くださいませ(*’▽’)

さて、今回のGermaine先生のお話は、、、

Vising Showa Daibutsu Buddha

Last Tuesday, I went to visit the Giant Buddha statue in Kuwabara. My friends and I checked it out while he was visiting Aomori for the week. Despite the heavy and never-ending snow, it made the scenery and atmosphere magical and incredibly beautiful. I was a bit jealous that the workers got to see something like that every year. We visited the prayer hall, which almost gave my toes frostbite, it was so cold, and we took pictures of the Kiyotaki Falls, as well as most of the shrines and statues there. The Showa Great Buddha was huge and really cool to take pictures of. We did wish the building in front of it could be moved to a different location, though, because it made it a bit difficult to get a full picture of just the statue and appreciate the size difference between it and the people. But either way, it was still amazing and fun. Before we left, we rang the bell twice, which was loud and fun to hear. Seeing all of this in the snow silently fall as the bell hummed was amazing to hear, and I would definitely recommend others to check the place out during the fall or winter seasons to truly enjoy the atmosphere of the area.

雪が降り積もる中、お気に入りの場所を見つけたようですね
みなさまもぜひGermaine先生がお勧めの今の時期に行ってみてください

どこか冬の間に行くべき青森市内のお勧めスポットがございましたら
ぜひレッスンや体験レッスンの際にGermaine先生に教えてほしいです

体験レッスンのお申込みはこちらから↓↓↓

Hello, everyone!!
みなさま、こんにちは(*’▽’)
英会話NOVA青森ドリームタウン校です

気付けば2月も半ばを過ぎました
天気予報で『この冬最後の寒波』となるのもそろそろですね
待ち遠しい春ではありますが、
Germaine先生にとっては名残惜しい雪となりそうです

Beautiful Mountain Views

“In Georgia, we have lots of amazing mountains that we can admire. But unlike Aomori’s mountains, they are not as large and expansive. Most cities and homes are built right into the mountains themselves. My old home was on Red Top Mountain. Some of the most well-known mountains in Georgia are Stone Mountain, which is a giant mountain with carvings of old republic leaders on it, and Blood Mountain, which is the highest mountain in Georgia. It’s called Blood Mountain because of a war that took place between the Cherokee and Creek Native American tribes. As for the mountains in Aomori, they look like a long wall that protects the land from the outside world, and for me, it was the first time I saw a mountain range like that. During the winter seasons, the snow gives the mountains a lovely and tranquil view that helps me relax when I look at them. Whenever I get the chance to be on top of a tall building, I tend to find myself staring at the mountains and admiring the view. If you ever get the chance, be sure to find a high place and just look at the Aomori mountain wall. I’m sure it will take your breath away.”

Red Top Mountain

Aomori’s mountains

残雪の山々に癒されるGermaine先生でした

さてさて、NOVAが自信を持ってオススメする『英検®チャンネル』
2025年度第１期講座の受付開始となりました！

そもそも、NOVAの『英検®チャンネル』って何？
↓↓↓
英検®に完全特化したライブ配信による英検講座

●英検®5級～2級に対応！

●英検®試験日程に合わせて15週間で完結！
（一次試験、二次試験に合わせて１講座Part１~３でカリキュラム構成）

●日本人講師が担当（一部プログラムでは外国人講師が担当）！

●問題解説、実践演習、英作文、単語、面接で全方位対策！

料金などもっと詳しく知りたい方は
英検®チャンネル公式サイトにてご確認いただけます(*’▽’)

英検は大学受験、高校受験で有利になることも
NOVA青森ドリームタウン校では小学生のうちに
3級合格するお子様も多くいらっしゃいます
英検が初めてのお子様でも安心して受験日を迎えられる【英検®チャンネル】
ぜひご検討くださいませ

直接説明を聞いてみたい！という方はお気軽に
スクールまでお問い合わせくださいませ

Hello, everyone!!
みなさま、こんにちは(*’▽’)
英会話NOVA青森ドリームタウン校です

先週のブログではアメリカのバレンタインデーについて
Germaine先生に教えてもらいました

日本にいると２月のイベントといえば
バレンタインデー以外思い浮かばない方も多いと思います。
が、アメリカでは“Black History Month”という大事な月とのこと
そのBlack History MonthについてGermaine先生に聞いてみました

Black History Month

February in America is not just a month of love and compassion shared between family, friends, and couples. It is also a significant time for Black Americans and people worldwide to celebrate Black History Month. This month honors the history and ancestors of Black Americans, recognizing their contributions and struggles. It’s a time for learning, appreciation, and reflection on the challenges and achievements that Black Americans have made over the years in music, food, art, and literature.
We also celebrate the remarkable people who made these accomplishments possible, national figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Malcolm X, Frederick Douglass, Rosa Parks, Ida B. Wells, Harriet Tubman, and Sojourner Truth. February is a time of remembrance, teaching the younger generation through visits to museums, historical locations, and celebrations like parades.
Black History Month is an important occasion not only for Americans but for anyone who loves music, dance, and the pursuit of knowledge.

ちなみにイギリスではBlack History Monthが10月にあるそうです
国によって違いがありとても興味深いですね

　　

この春NOVAでは中学生向けの新コースが誕生！！！

【中学英語専科】

↓↓NOVA中学英語専科の特徴↓↓

その場限りの英語力ではなく
将来的に必要な英語力をバランスよく習得できます

ここでは書ききれない魅力が詰まった新コースです
詳しく知りたい方はぜひ無料体験レッスン、スクール説明会にご参加くださいませ
体験レッスンのお申込みはこちら↓↓↓

Hello, everyone!!
みなさま、こんにちは(*’▽’)
英会話NOVA青森ドリームタウン校です

来週はバレンタインデーですね
日本とアメリカのバレンタインデーの違いについて
Germaine先生に教えてもらいました

Valentine’s Day In America

Valentine’s Day in Japan is a day where couples, crushes, friends, or even random people you just know, give each other chocolate. It’s a way to show love, appreciation, (Honmei Choco) or simply to say thank you for being kind and a friend (Giri-Choco). It’s a fun and exciting day for people who will wait until March 14th to find out if it was one-sided love or mutual love. But in America, it’s a bit different. On February 14th in Japan, girls give out the chocolate first, then wait until March 14th to receive it back from the guy. But in America, we give all our chocolate on the 14th. Usually, guys will either get chocolate or do some form of celebration, like making a reservation at a restaurant, to show they care about the person they’re with. It’s not usually a day to start new relationships, but rather to strengthen the relationships you already have. It’s also common to give chocolate to loved ones, like family and friends. Even I would give my mom, brother, sister, and some of my closest friends “love you chocolates.” For people I’m in a relationship with, I usually take them out for dinner and enjoy the day together. Since we don’t have a White Day, we make the most of February 14th.

今年はチョコレートの値段が上がっているため
『義理チョコはあげない』という人が増えているとか
アメリカンスタイルでバレンタインデーを楽しむのもいいですね

1月に引き続き、2月もNOVAでは英語を頑張るみなさまを
全力でサポート致します

【上達応援キャンペーン】

実施期間：2025年2月1日(土)～2月28日(金)

《大人》
入会金0円→通常22,000円(税込)の入会金が無料！！！
さらに、NOVAうさぎサーモランチボックスまたはテキストプレゼント

《KIDS》
入会金0円→通常11,000円(税込)の入会金が無料！！！
さらに、NOVAオリジナルレッスンバッグプレゼント

KIDSはさらにスーパー乗換制度
現在他社にお通いの方はお乗り換えで
テキスト１冊プレゼント

新年度が始まる前の今の時期、たくさんのお問合せをいただいております
体験レッスンの枠には限りがございます。
ご希望の際はお早めにお問い合わせくださいませ(^^)/

以前のブログでご案内致しましたKIDSイベントは
残席わずかとなりました！
ご参加ご希望の方はお早めにスクールまでお電話ください
NOVA青森ドリームタウン校：017-762-5640

Hello, everyone!!
みなさま、こんにちは(*’▽’)
英会話NOVA青森ドリームタウン校です

あっという間に１月も終わりを迎えようとしていますね
このままあっという間に2月も過ぎて、
早く春が来てほしいですね

春といえば『新学期』(´▽｀*)♪
進級、進学、と新生活で慌ただしくなる新学期に
新たな習い事を始めようかな、というのは
お子様にとっては、心身ともに疲れやすく、
環境に馴染むまでに時間がかかることも、、、

というわけで、新学期が始まる前の今の時期に
習い事を始めるのは実はベストなタイミングです！
2月、3月のうちに始めておくと4月にはもう慣れているので
不安なく楽しく続けていくことができます

1月に入り、2月スタートご希望での
体験レッスンのお問い合わせが増えております！
ご案内できるレッスン枠には限りがございますので、
少しでもご興味がございましたら
ぜひお早めにお問い合わせくださいませ

体験レッスンはちょっと不安だな、、、というお子様は
前回のブログでもご紹介致しましたKIDSイベントに
ご参加くださいませ(*’▽’)
英語を使ったゲームで楽しく英語に触れることができます

最後に、今回も散歩好きのGermaine先生から素敵な写真が届きました

Favorite Photos in Aomori

As stated in my previous post, I tend to enjoy walking around places and taking pictures of sceneries and lovely views I find here in Aomori, and I want to talk about some of my favorite pictures I’ve taken during my walks. I have a lot of photos that are my favorites, but for now I’ll only talk about my top two favorite photos. I won’t be able to give the names of the areas I’ve been to since I don’t really know the locations names myself, but I will try to give a good explanation of the areas.

For my first picture, I took this one back in October, when I got my new phone. I went on a walk a bit up north past the Sunroad Mall; it took me about an hour before I found this place, but it was a lovely house overgrown with vines. Seeing them slowly changing from green, orange, and red was breathtaking for me. I’ve always been a person that loves fall leaves, and one of my dreams was to purchase a house like this so I could enjoy these changes in color every year. This has turned into a photo for my dream home and passion for the fall season.

The second photo is of my train ride from Aomori to Hirosaki. I was coming to Hirosaki to check out the sakura lights at Hirosaki Castle, and during the quiet ride, I was able to get a clear and lovely view of the fields and towns blanketed in a white bed of snow. It was a sight I could only see a little bit during my train rides, but only with difficulty because of the crowded trains. Being able to get this picture put me in a relaxing mood and frame of mind. I’ve always seen videos and pictures of other people being able to get a view like this, and I was extremely happy to have one myself. Because of that, this became my second favorite picture I’ve taken so far. I can’t wait to see and take more in the future.

　

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