Online English Tutoring

Please read this before studying each item!

Importance of vocabulary

To acquire vocabulary, it is important to learn it while actually using it. However, in Japan, there are few opportunities to come into contact with foreigners, and even if you learn English, there are few situations where you can use it. This is where “reading English” comes in handy.

However, finding English language materials that are appropriate for your level can be surprisingly difficult. Studies have shown that in order to understand an English text smoothly, you need to know at least 95% of the words in it. Conversely, if you know only 65% of the words in a sentence, the sentence will look like this:

The world's _____ problem is _____ due to human activities. Many _____ are facing _____ because of deforestation and _____ . The _____ of fossil fuels has also contributed to _____ change. Experts say that if we do not take _____ action, the situation will continue to _____ , leading to more _____ in the future. Governments and _____ organizations are trying to _____ solutions, but progress is still _____. It is important for everyone to _____ steps to _____ the environment for future _____ .

Thus, the words appear to be missing and can only be read with a dictionary. However, if you know 95% of the words, the sentence looks like this:

The world's climate problem is worsening due to human activities. Many species are facing _____ because of deforestation and pollution. The burning of fossil fuels has also contributed to climate change. Experts say that if we do not take immediate action, the situation will continue to _____, leading to more natural disasters in the future. Governments and environmental organizations are trying to _____ solutions, but progress is still slow. It is important for everyone to take steps to protect the environment for future _____.

Words in Blanks: extinction/deteriorate/implement/generations

At this level, you can read smoothly even if there are some unfamiliar words.

Key points to increase your vocabulary
Choose materials that are appropriate for your level, and start with words that make up only about 5% of your total vocabulary that you do not know. By doing so, you will be able to read English smoothly while increasing your vocabulary without difficulty.

Steps to Understanding English Grammar

The most effective way to learn English grammar is to deepen your understanding of it step by step. Below are the steps for understanding English grammar from beginner to advanced level. The content is designed with special attention to English for entrance examinations and university entrance examinations.

① Basic understanding (understanding sentence structure)
Understanding the basic structure of English sentences.
・Understanding of parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, etc.)
・Sentence elements (subject, verb, object, complement, modifier)
・Basic sentence patterns (SV/SVO/SVC/SVOO/SVOC)
・Use of “be” verbs and common verbs
・Tenses (present, past, future)
Comprehension check:
・What is the sentence pattern of “She is a teacher.”?
・What is the sentence pattern of “I gave him a book.“?

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② Mastering basic grammar (learning grammar rules)
Learn the grammatical rules for creating correct English sentences.
・Auxiliary verbs (can, will, must, etc.)
・Infinitives and verbal nouns
・Comparison (primary, comparative, superlative)
・Passive voice
・Conjunctions (and, but, because, if, etc.)
Comprehension check:
・What is the meaning and grammatical structure of “He must have gone there.”?
・Why is “I” of “She is taller than I.” not “me”?

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③ Understanding of applied grammar (application to reading and writing)
To be aware of English grammar and be able to use it in long reading comprehension and English composition.
・Relative verbs (who, which, that, whose, etc.)
・Subjunctive (If I were, If I had, would, etc.)
・Participle constructions
・Inverted and emphatic constructions
・Noun clauses, adverb clauses, adjective clauses
Comprehension check:
・What does “If I had studied harder, I would have passed.” mean?
・What does “talking” mean in “The man talking to Mary is my uncle.“?

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④ Strengthen practical and operational skills (question practice and actual use)
To make the skills usable without being conscious of grammatical knowledge.
Methods:
・Grammar exercises (4 choices, ordering, correcting incorrect sentences, etc.)
・Short compositions and instantaneous English compositions using English grammar
・Reading long sentences with grammar in mind
・Practice “choosing grammar on your own” in English composition

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⑤ Fixing and deepening (output and feedback)
To find and correct one’s weak points and consolidate knowledge.
Methods:
・Check grammar knowledge by solving mock exams and past exams.
・Read explanations and record your mistakes (make a grammar notebook)
・Teach/explain to others to consolidate knowledge

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💡 Advice:
✅ From ① to ②, repetition and memorization are important.
✅ From ③ onward, focus on contextual understanding and application.
✅ It is efficient to make a “review list” of grammar areas you have difficulty with.

Close Listening & Extensive Listening

There are two ways to learn how to listen to English: “Close Listening” and “Extensive Listening”

① Close Listening
“Close Listening” means to listen to English over and over again while carefully understanding it.
※ In contrast, “Extensive Listening” means listening to a lot of English while grasping the general meaning.

🔹 Points of close listening
✔ It is more effective to listen to English that you can understand well even in a short time than to listen to English whose meaning you cannot understand for many hours!
✔ Use materials with scripts and explanations!
✔ Start with simple English at junior high school level!
✔ Repeat the lessons so often that you memorize every word!

🔹 Continue with close listening…
✅ The sounds you hear will match the actual English
✅ Get rid of Katakana English pronunciation
✅ Understand English sound changes (liaisons) by feel
For example…, 💬“Like it” is not ‘laik ˈɪt’ but ‘lai kit’! By listening to and discovering English over and over in this way, you will be able to hear English as “meaningful words.

🔹 Tips for Close Listening
✅Choose simple English conversations (skits) (ones you can listen to over and over!)
✅Don't “understand and be done”; listen further!
✅Pay attention to sound changes, words, grammar, intonation
✅Also use shadowing and dictation!

📌 Shadowing = practice imitating and pronouncing English sounds as you hear them
📌 Dictation = practice writing down the English you hear, word for word.

② Extensive Listening
“Extensive Listening” is the practice of grasping the general meaning of a passage, rather than listening to every word perfectly.
For example…
💬 “Oh, this is a travel story.”
💬 “It sounds like they are talking about work mostly.”

🔹 Points of Extensive Listening
✔ You don't have to listen to every word!
✔ It is important to grasp “what is being talked about”!
✔ Use a slightly higher level of English!

🔹 Steps for Extensive Listening
1️⃣ First listen once without a script
    (Check how much you can understand!)
2️⃣ Listen 3-5 times repeatedly
    (To get the details little by little)
3️⃣ Look at the script and check your answers
    (See which words you didn't catch!)
4️⃣ Listen again without the script
    (Check if you understand!)
5️⃣ Write down important words and phrases
    (Or write them down in a notebook or word sheet!)

🔹 Key Points for Extensive Listening
✅ Don't worry too much if you don't hear a sound you don't understand!
✅ Make it a priority to grasp “what is being said”!
✅ Review the sound sources you have learned by “listening passively”!

💡 Summary
📌 The basics of listening are “Close Listening” and “Extensive Listening”!
📌 Beginners start with “Close Listening”!
📌 When you can understand the sounds of English, move on to “Extensive Listening”!
📌 Review the material you have learned many times by “listening passively”!

Close Reading & Intensive Reading

It is important to use two different reading strategies to understand longer texts in English: Cose Reading and Extensive Reading. Both reading methods are necessary to improve effective reading skills, but each has different goals and approaches.

1. Close Reading
Close reading is a reading method that involves a thorough understanding of grammar, vocabulary, and structure while analyzing a text in detail. This is especially necessary when reading difficult texts or academic content.
“The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence has raised concerns about its potential impact on employment, ethics, and human decision-making. While AI can enhance efficiency, critics argue that it might replace human workers and lead to unforeseen consequences.”
Reading: 1) Vocabulary review: 1.
① Vocabulary Check
Check important words such as “advancement,” “concerns,” “potential impact,” “efficiency,” and “unforeseen consequences.
② Grammar / Structure Analysis
・The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence”
→ Subject
・”has raised concerns about…”
→ Verb + object
・While AI can enhance efficiency, critics argue that…”
→ Comprehend the relationship between adverbial clauses and main clauses
③ Comprehension of content:
The article states that advances in AI may have an impact on employment and ethics.

Advantages of close reading:
✔ Enhanced grammar and vocabulary
✔ Accurate comprehension
✔ Improved reading comprehension of difficult texts

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2. Extensive Reading
Extensive reading is a reading method in which a large amount of text is read without using a dictionary as much as possible to get a general understanding of the overall meaning of the text. The goal is to read quickly while grasping the flow and theme of the story.
“John loved traveling. Ever since he was a child, he had dreamed of exploring new places and experiencing different cultures. As soon as he graduated from college, he packed his bags and set off on a journey around the world.”
How to read:
① Get the whole story:
We learn that John has dreamed of traveling since he was a child and started traveling the world after graduating from college.
② Don’t worry about the small words:
Even if you don’t understand the meaning of “exploring” or “set off,” it is OK as long as you understand that “John started traveling” from the context. Do not skip over words at random.
③ No dictionary: Read the text as you guess the meaning of the whole sentence.
Read while guessing the meaning of the entire sentence.

Supplement: Predicting the content of sentences
Keeping abreast of the latest themes in English literature and having knowledge in a variety of fields makes it easier to predict the content of a text.

Advantages of Extensive Reading:
✔ Improved reading speed
✔ Natural increase in vocabulary
✔ Familiarization with English texts

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How to distinguish between Close Reading and Extensive Reading
Close reading: to understand accurately and learn grammar and vocabulary
　　　 (when reading difficult texts)
Extensive Reading: Grasp the overall meaning and improve your speed-reading ability
(when enjoying stories and news articles)

Summary:
Developing a solid foundation through close reading and improving reading speed through extensive reading are the keys to improving comprehension of long English texts.

Speed Reading Techniques

In order to read and understand long English texts efficiently and correctly, it is important to use the appropriate reading techniques. In this article, we will explain the following four techniques and present examples and solutions for each.
1. Phrase reading
2. Scanning
3. Skimming
4. Paragraph reading

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1. Phrase Reading
Phrase Reading is a technique of reading a text not word by word, but phrase by phrase.
“The development of renewable energy sources / has become a global priority / due to concerns about climate change.”
Separations:
① Instead of reading one word at a time, separate each word into clusters of meaning.
・The development of renewable energy sources （再生可能エネルギーの開発）
・has become a global priority.（世界的な優先事項となっている）
・Due to concerns about climate change（気候変動への懸念のため）
② The meaning of each phrase will make it easier to grasp the meaning of the whole sentence.

Advantages of Phrase Reading:
✔ Improved reading speed
✔ Better understanding of sentence structure
✔ Natural flow of sentences

Supplement: Necessity of Speed Reading and Phrase Reading Practice
●Necessity of Speed Reading
There are two main reasons why speed reading is necessary.
① To obtain more information in a shorter time
② To obtain more accurate information
At first glance, ① “to read quickly” and ② “to read accurately” seem to be contradictory. However, just because you read slowly does not mean that you can understand accurately. Rather than following words one by one, it is easier to read in “word chunk” to accurately grasp the overall meaning.
<Following words one by one>
Climate 　change 　has 　become 　a 　serious 　global 　issue, 　affecting 　millions 　of 　people 　and 　causing 　extreme 　weather 　conditions 　such 　as hurricanes, 　droughts, 　and 　heatwaves. 　Many 　scientists 　believe 　that 　human 　activities, 　including 　the 　burning 　of 　fossil 　fuels 　and deforestation, 　are 　the 　main 　causes 　of 　this 　problem. 　Governments around 　the 　world 　have 　started 　to 　take 　action 　by 　implementing policies 　to 　reduce 　carbon 　emissions 　and 　promote 　renewable 　energy sources 　such 　as 　wind 　and 　solar 　power. 　However, 　individuals 　also need 　to 　contribute 　by 　using 　less 　plastic, 　conserving 　energy, 　and supporting 　eco-friendly 　products. 　If 　we 　work 　together, 　we 　can 　slow down 　global 　warming 　and 　protect 　our 　planet 　for 　future 　generations.
<Read in”word chunk”>
Climate change has become a serious global issue, // affecting millions of people / and causing extreme weather conditions / such as hurricanes, droughts, and heatwaves. // Many scientists believe // that human activities, / including the burning of fossil fuels / and deforestation, / are the main causes of this problem. // Governments / around the world / have started to take action / by implementing policies / to reduce carbon emissions / and promote renewable energy sources / such as wind and solar power. // However, / individuals also need to contribute / by using less plastic, / conserving energy, / and supporting eco-friendly products. // If we work together, // we can slow down global warming / and protect our planet / for future generations.

●How to Practice Speed Reading
Phrase reading is a method of reading with an awareness of “chunks of words. The following rules will help you read effectively.
① Separate before the conjunction
In the case of English sentences with “conjunction + SV…, S’V’~”, separate them before the second S’.
② Separate after a long subject
When a subject is immediately followed by a long modifying part, separate the main part and the predicate verb at large.
③ Separate before a preposition
Create a “word catapult” of “preposition + object
④ Create a “word catapult” of “verb + object
When a verb appears, make a “verb + object” catagory as soon as possible.
⑤ Separate before infinitives, participles, and related words
Make katamari with the phrase or clause in mind. (An infinitive is a noun phrase, adjective phrase, or adverb phrase; a participle postmodifier is an adjective phrase; participle constructions are adverb clauses; and relational verbs are adjective clauses.)
⑥ Finding idiomatic expressions and phrases quickly
Learning idiomatic expressions and idioms in parallel with vocabulary is a prerequisite.
If you put the above into practice, you will be able to read the following.

Climate change has become a serious global issue,

/ affecting millions of people / and causing extreme
(Participle Construction)　　　
weather conditions / such as hurricanes, droughts,
　　　 　　　　　　　(Idiom:such as)
and heatwaves. // Many scientists believe // that
　　　　　　　　　　　　　 　(conjunction:that)
human activities,/ including the burning
　　　　　　 　(Preposition+O)
/ of fossil fuels / and deforestation,/ are the main
(Preposition+O)
causes / of this problem. // Governments /
(Preposition+O)
around the world / have started to take action /
(Preposition+O) (Idiom:start to) (Idiom:take action)
by implementing policies / to reduce carbon
(Prepositoin+O) (Infinitive:to V)
emissions / and promote renewable energy
　　　 (V+O)
sources / such as wind and solar power.
　　　　 (Idiom:such as) 　　　　　　　　
// However, // individuals also need to contribute
(Discourse Marker)
/ by using less plastic, conserving energy, and
(Preposition+O) Idiom(A, B, and C)
supporting eco-friendly products. // If we work
　　　　　 (Conjunction: If)
together, // we can slow down global warming
(Idiom:slow down)
/ and protect our planet / for future generations.
(V+O) (Preposition+O)

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2. Scanning
Scanning is a technique for quickly locating specific information (numbers, names, keywords). In long-answer questions on exams, it is useful when looking for answers to questions.
“The Great Wall of China stretches over 13,000 miles and was originally built to protect Chinese states from invasions.”
Question:
How long is the Great Wall of China?
Solution:
① Focus on “miles” and “numbers” to find information on “length”.
② We found the number 13,000 miles.
③ Read the surrounding area and confirm that it is a description of “The Great Wall of China”.
Answer: 13,000 miles

Advantages of Scanning:
✔ Find specific information quickly
✔ Quickly find specific information
✔ Save examination time

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3. Skimming
Skimming is a technique of skimming to quickly grasp the gist or subject matter of an entire text. The goal is not to read the details, but to understand the general content.
“The internet has transformed communication. people can now connect instantly through emails, social media, and messaging apps. while this has increased convenience, some experts warn about the negative effects, such as decreased face-to-face interactions.”
Question:
What is the main idea of the passage?
Solution:
① Read the first sentence → “The internet has transformed communication.
② Read the first and last sentences of each paragraph in order to grasp what is being said about the advantages and disadvantages of the Internet.
③ Summarize the main theme → “The internet has transformed communication.”
Answer: The internet has transformed communication.

Advantages of skimming:
✔ Quickly grasp the general meaning of a text
✔ Useful when reading long sentences for the first time in exams

Supplement: Using the First Sentence of a Paragraph
In order to efficiently understand long sentences, reading the first and last sentences of each paragraph allows you to quickly grasp the overall gist of the text. However, this method is not always effective, so it is important to use it according to the situation.

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4. Paragraph Reading
Paragraph Reading is a technique in which you read a paragraph at a time, grasping the main points of each paragraph. Paragraph reading is effective when you focus on the topic sentences in a paragraph.
“Renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, are becoming increasingly important. Governments worldwide are investing in these technologies to combat climate Governments worldwide are investing in these technologies to combat climate change.”
Subjects:
① Find the topic sentence → First sentence “Renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, are becoming increasingly important.”
② Check for more information → The benefits of renewable energy and government investment are discussed.
③ Summarize the main points of the entire paragraph → “The importance and benefits of renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, are becoming increasingly important.”
Answer: The importance and benefits of renewable energy.

Benefits of Paragraph Reading:
✔ Organize and understand the text by paragraphs
✔ Easier to understand the structure of longer sentences

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Summary: Use of different techniques
1. Phrase Reading: Reading in chunks (smooth reading of entire long sentences)
2. Scanning: Looking for specific information (when finding numbers, names, data)
3. Skimming: Grasping the main idea of a text (when reading a long text for the first time) 
4. Paragraph Reading: Organizing the main points of each paragraph (when understanding the structure of a long document)
By using these four techniques, you can improve the speed and accuracy of your English long-text reading comprehension.

Speaking Learning Steps

In speaking, as in listening, it is important to “understand English as it is.

When to hear English
Ideally, when you hear English, you should be able to image it as it is. For example, “He is a good tennis player.” When you hear this statement, you can understand it in two ways

① Through Japanese (for beginners)
Hear English ⇒ Understand in Japanese ⇒ Imagine the situation

⇒ ⇒

② How to image directly (ideal form)
Hear English ⇒ Imagine the situation

⇒

The goal is for beginners to be able to use method①, but eventually to be able to understand English using method②.

When to speak English
There are also two ways to speak English

① Speak directly in English (ideal)
Imagine him playing tennis ⇒ Translate the image directly into English

⇒

② Think in Japanese and then convert it to English (for beginners)
Imagine the situation ⇒ Think in Japanese ⇒ Convert it into English

⇒ ⇒

To learn to speak English smoothly, it is important to move from stage ② to ①. To do so, Instant Englsih Composition is effective.

Instant English Composition
Instantaneous English composition is training to immediately change Japanese sentences into English and say them out loud. By continuing this practice, you will be able to speak English smoothly. It is especially useful for English composition for high school and university entrance exams, as well as for preparing for the English Proficiency Test and TOEIC SW (Speaking and Writing) exam.

Tips for Instantaneous English Composition
As a beginner, you tend to convert Japanese into English one word at a time.
✖Bad examples
1. 彼は → he
2. 〜です → is
3. 上手な → good
4. テニスをする人 → a tennis player
This way, it takes a long time to speak.

〇Good examples
1. Imagin "He is a good tennis player ”.
2. Render into English “He is a good tennis player.”
In other words, the “image → English” flow is also important when speaking English.

Develop the habit of “Japanese → Image → English"
When practicing instantaneous English composition, it is important not to use Japanese as a mere translation tool.
Instead of translating the Japanese one word at a time, be aware of the need to translate images into English.
For example:
1. When you see the sentence “He is a good tennis player,” imagine him playing tennis
2. Express that image in English → “He is a good tennis player.”

If you are conscious of speaking while “picturing” English in this way, you will be able to speak English without using Japanese.

Why Instantaneous English Composition is Effective
If you continue this training, you will be able to respond to a variety of situations.
By imagining various situations and translating them into English, you will be able to broaden your range of expression.

Summary
✅ Get into the habit of understanding English with “images”.
✅ In instantaneous English composition, do not translate one word at a time, but use the whole image in English.
✅ Once you acquire the flow of “Japanese → Image → English,” you will be able to speak English without using Japanese.
The above will enable you to speak English without Japanese.

Even beginners can learn to speak English smoothly by continuing to practice instantaneous English composition little by little every day!