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Idiom of the Week: Lead With
"If you want to collect all the hearts, you should lead with a high-numbered heart." "When making a speech, you should lead with a joke." "Lead with" comes from card games, where the first person to play a card must decide which card to play first, or lead with. We...
Word of the Week: Otherwise
"You have to clean your room. Otherwise, you won't be able to find anything." "You had better mow the lawn. Otherwise you won't get your allowance this week." "If the book is ripped, written on, or otherwise damaged, you'll have to pay for it." "Otherwise" is commonly...
Picture of the Week: Monkeys
2016 is the Year of the Monkey! What is your Chinese zodiac? Do you believe it has any effect on your personality? 2016年は申年です！あなたの干支は何ですか？干支が性格に影響すると思いますか？
Phrase of the Week: On the Whole
"The lines were long, but the kids loved the theme park. On the whole we had a great time." "There were a few awkward sentences but on the whole the book is very well written." "On the whole" is used to make a generalization about something. When you look at just the...
TOEIC Practice Question of the Week
"As we can no longer use that vendor, we are _____ other options." Fill in the blank. A. implored B. search C. exploring D. sought 「その行商会社はもう使えないので他の可能性を調査しております。」 「調査する」という意味の単語が抜けていますが、形だけで正解が分かります。「We...
Trivia of the Week: Ape
This year is the Year of the Monkey. When you imagine a monkey, do you picture a chimpanzee? Chimpanzees, gorillas, orangutans and others are actually apes, not monkeys. Apes are larger and never have tails....
Idiom of the Week: A Word to the Wise
"A word to the wise, my friend: come back next week and these will be on sale." A "word to the wise" is a piece of advice or useful information. The speaker is saying that if you're smart, you will act on this information. 「賢い人に一言教えてやろう。来週また来ればこれがセールになってるよ。」 Word to...
Word of the Week: Flexible
"We don't know what time he'll get here, so we have to be flexible with our schedule." Something that is flexible can bend. If you are open to making changes in something, you are being flexible. If a plant is not flexible, it could break rather than bend in a strong...
入会金無料！New Year キャンペーン実施中！
1月7日～2月14日までNew Yearキャンペーン実施中です！ 入会金 通常大人・高校生10,000円、中学生・キッズ8,000円ですがキャンペーン中にご入会の方は無料となります！ 2016年、この機会に英会話をはじめてみませんか？ 少人数制なのでキャンペーン中の無料体験レッスンは混み合います。お早めのご予約を勧めいたします。 表示価格は税別価格です。...
Phrase of the Week: I Changed My Mind
"I thought you weren't coming to this party." "I wasn't, but I changed my mind." "At first Dad didn't want to get a dog, but now he's changed his mind." When your opinion changes or you change a decision you made, we say you change your mind. You can also change...
TOEIC Practice Question of the Week
“I’m afraid you can’t use this coupon; it has inspired.” Find the mistake. A. afraid B. coupon C. it has D. inspired 「このクーポンは期限が過ぎているのでご利用いただけません。」...
Trivia of the Week: Snow Angel
To make a snow angel, lie down in the snow with your arms and legs stretched out. Then move your arms up and down and your legs side to side, pushing the snow out of the way. The shapes your arms leave in the snow are the snow angel’s wings, and your legs create the...
年末年始お休みのお知らせ
年末年始お休みのお知らせ 12月23日（水）～1月6日（水）の間はレッスン並びに受付業務はお休みです。 ブログもお休みとさせていただきます。それでは良いお年をお迎え下さい。
Word of the Week: Improvise
"I got up on stage and realized I'd brought my science notes instead of my speech. I had to improvise a new speech on the spot!" To improvise is to make do without any preparations. When we haven't prepared, weren't able to prepare, or the situation has changed and...
Picture of the Week: Snowball
The dog won't be able to fetch this ball—it's a snowball! Have you ever had a snowball fight? 犬はこのボールで「とってこい」はできないでしょう。雪玉ですから！あなたは雪合戦をしたことはありますか？
Phrase of the Week: Make Sure
"Can you make sure the dog's water dish is full before you go to bed?" "Make sure you write your name on your homework, or I won't know whose it is!" To make sure of something is to check that it is done. To make sure you do something is to do it yourself, without...
TOEIC Practice Question of the Week
"You shouldn't take any major action without ________ the consequences." Fill in the blank. A. considering B. to consider C. conside D. consisting 「その行為の結果を考えずに大きな行為をとるべきではありません。」 「～せずに」は「without...
Trivia of the Week: Plenty of Fish in the Sea
"I know it's upsetting when you break up with your girlfriend, but don't worry too much. There are plenty of fish in the sea." We say that there are plenty of fish in the sea to remind people that there are a lot of people in the world. There are so many people that...
Idiom of the Week: Sing For My Supper
"Can you finish mowing the lawn before lunch, please?" "I guess I have to sing for my supper." Those who don't work shouldn't eat! In this idiom the work is singing. 「昼ご飯の前に庭の草刈りをしてくれる？」 「ごはんは歌って稼がないとね」...
Word of the Week: Leftovers
"We cooked so much food for Thanksgiving, we've been eating leftovers ever since." When food is left over from a meal, you can eat it later as "leftovers". Although most things are better freshly made, there are many foods that are equally delicious when reheated....
