Dictation Method （究極の英語力を伸ばす方法）

デクテーション(dictation)メソッドの実践

１．テープ教材を準備します。（ＣＤ、ＭＤよりテープのほうが良い）ネイティブスピーカーの自然な口調の音声が入っているものを用意する。その内容の原稿（テキスト）も忘れずに。内容 (contents)は、自分の実力に見合った物を選ぶ。もう一つ：その内容が自分にとって興味があるものを選ぶ事に注意。

２．次に、テキストを見ないで、そのテープを繰り返し聴いて、内容把握に努める。つまりネイティブスピーカーが何を言っているか聴き取る。普通は3回から5回ぐらい聴く。（それ以上は多くの場合時間の無駄です。もう少し内容の易しいものに替える。その場合は（１）のテキストの準備に戻る）

３．余裕のある人は、この段階で音読の練習　（例えば shadowing ）もして下さい。ヒアリングだけでなく英語のイノトネーション、リズムの習得に大いに役立つ。

４．さて、いよいよ dictationの始まりです。テープの内容の英文を、全て dictate（紙に書き取る、もしくはパソコンに打ち込む）する。文章の意味、文法事項にも気をつける。（注意:慣れないうちはなかなか大変だと思います。しかし練習をつめば必ず上手に出来るようになります。回数が増えれば増えるほど、やればやるほど、本物の（実際に使える）英語力が強化されていくのが実感出来るようになります。信じてください。）

５．さあ、貴方の答案が出来あがる。ここで初めて準備していたテキストを開け、自分の作った答案と比べる。君の現在の英語力に関する長所、及び短所が如実にその答案に出る。大事なことは学校の試験のように間違いにがっかりするより、正解が練習を通じて確実に増えていくことです。正解する部分が増えていくことを素直に喜び、それを励みに練習を続けてください。

最後に

しつこいようですが次の事にくれぐれも注意して下さい。テキストは現在の貴方の力に合ったものを選んでください。難しすぎるものは避け、興味の持てるテキストを選んでください。要は楽しめる contentsを選ぶ事です。楽しめなければ長続きはしません。長続きしない方法は言葉の習得方法としては最悪です。

私はこの方法で、リスニイングの力を伸ばし、英米のニュースも聞き取ることが出来るようになりました。

Good luck to you!

the History of "English and Me" for the past 50 years (1957 - 2008) A) 1957 - 1963 my first stage of learning English: Junior and Senior High School (I was so crazy about learning English.) a) School English b) radio programs c) speech contests d) Church Bible Class e) Speech of Indian Prime Minister B) 1963 - 1967 my second stage of learning English Sophia (Jochi) University (I learned English in English.) See my debate teacher Fr. Nissel and my debate colleagues a) Learning English in English b) Learning all subjects in English c) Eiken and Guide examinations d) ESS and debate contests e) My part time job for a car company f) STEP and GUIDE license C) 1967 - 1975 my third stage of learning English Working experiences in Tokyo (I was so excited and confident that I was able to communicate in English.) a) Dealing with foreign buyers b) Executive Recruitment business c) my fourth stage of learning English-Self Learning (1976 - 1997) D) 1976 - 1997 my fourth stage of learning English How I spent my 20 years learning English in Honjo (I was rather lonely and not so happy, but kept learning English and its culture.) a) my shocking realization that I was unable to listen well b) bilingual TV programs and starting to employ a dictation method c) Sesame Street, Little House on the Prairie, news, movies, documentaries d) Watching 'Tora-san' movies in English e) NHK BS f) Dynasty g) World News Tonight with Peter Jennings I started using the Internet and email in 1995, which has changed everything. Some of my unforgettable experiences a) Nomo and the word "Chemistry" in baseball and ESPN web-site b) Konishiki answered my email c) Princess Diana's funeral, her brother's speech and Washington Post d) Fun in exchanging email with American friends My method on how to use the Internet and Email a) Japanese homepages on Learning English b) Dave's web-site c) ABC News web-site d) a plan to build my own web-site (so far written in November, 1997) E) 1996 - until recent my fifth stage of learning English I started being active and exciting things keep happening to me. In 1976 I came back to Honjo, Akita from Tokyo. During the following 20 years living in Honjo, Akita, I felt rather lonely and unhappy (especially if I look back now) because there was almost nothing interesting to do except for learning English. If I learned English hard, I had almost nobody to talk to in Honjo, either. Don't misunderstand. I wasn't feeling entirely unhappy in those years, though. But still... To my great joy, however, something great happened that changed all that around 1995 or 1996. It was the beginning of my exciting, happy days! Now what is that something? I have to tell you three things. They are the Internet, MSU-A and JALT. I started 1) being on the net, 2) having contact with MSU-A and 3) getting involved in JALT and other activities. (The abive -- 1996 - until recent part was added in 2001) go to JALT page Akita JALT Monthly Meetings in the past monthly meetings in 2012 pictures of the meetings in 2012 monthly meetings in 2011 pictures of the meetings in 2011 monthly meetings in 2010 pictures of the meetings in 2010 monthly meetings in 2009 pictures of the meetings in 2009 monthly meetings in 2008 pictures of the meetings in 2008 monthly meetings in 2007 pictures of the meetings in 2007 monthly meetings in 2006 pictures of the meetings in 2006 monthly meetings in 2005 pictures of the meetings in 2005 monthly meetings in 2004 pictures of the meetings in 2004 monthly meetings in 2003 pictures of the meetings in 2003 monthly meetings in 2002 pictures of the meetings in 2002 ************************** Summer Seminar 2002 at MSU-A organized by Akita JALT for more information ************************** monthly meetings in 2001 pictures of the meetings in 2001 past meetings in 1998-2000 pictures of the meetings in 1998-2000

2. my speech
Introduction: MY MESSAGE TO JAPANESE TEACHERS

I am honored and very happy to see you, Japanese teachers of English in Akita on November 13, 1997 and talk to you. I will never forget this great chance. How thankful I am for this heaven sent opportunity.

I started learning English when I entered junior high 40 years ago. I worked hard at junior and senior high school. I did some extra work, too. My four years at Jochi helped me improve a great deal. I was a successful debater for a few years then. After my graduation, I worked in a foreign trading company. I dealt with foreign buyers. Then I worked as a personnel consultant at an executive search (=head hunting) firm for several years. I had to communicate with my clients, which were foreign establishments in Tokyo. I was rather confident in handling English.

After I had spent 12 years mainly in Tokyo, I came back to my native town, Honjo, 23 years ago. One day I realized that I couldn't hear English well. How shocking I was then! Not that my hearing ability had gone poorer all of a sudden, but I had not yet reached the sufficient level. I was determined to learn it better. I started with Sesame Street. I bought the text and recorded the program in a video tape, then into an audio-tape. I repeated listening to it again and again. In the meantime I tried the same thing with many dramas, news, movies, documentaries, various shows, etc. In those days I checked all bilingual programs in the newspaper and tried most of them.

About a dozen years ago luckily NHK started BS, which gives me many programs in English. About ten years ago an American soap opera, 'Dynasty' began. I never forget my amazement and joy when I understood the drama almost perfectly. I have been a regular viewer of Peter Jennings, World News Tonight. Three years ago Nomo started playing for the Dodgers. His games were televised in Japan. I have listened to American sportscasters in the game with great excitement.

I have loved learning English and its culture. It's a lot of fun to get to know new words, idioms and ideas. So my listening comprehension is rather good. Putting my thoughts into word is a little problem, speed-wise. So I keep writing email to improve my writing skills and speed. Reading is OK. When it comes to speaking, I have a big problem. I used to speak a lot better when I was younger. So maybe my next goal is to bush up speaking a little next year.

I wish all of you, teachers of English in Akita great success in teaching. And more importantly I really hope you will enjoy teaching English so that your students will learn how exciting it is to learn English and its culture.

MY COLLEGE DAYS: learning English in English at Sophia (Jochi) University

When I graduated from high school in Akita, I entered Sophia's English language course. When we were freshmen and sophomores, all the teachers taught us all subjects in English. Most of the teachers were American Catholic Fathers, who belonged to the Jesuit group. One of them is Father Nissel, with whom I still keep in touch, taught us English reading. We had his class everyday.

He used a thick textbook printed in America. We, students, had to read a few pages at home for preparation of the next day's class. Until high school we usually read a sentence and translate it into Japanese and then moves to the next sentence. Sometimes a Japanese English teacher corrects student's translated Japanese to the better one. But at Nissel's class, we didn't translate each sentence into Japanese.

I passed the test of "Eiken" & Guide license

I took a test of "Eiken" or STEP (the first grade) and passed it. I also passed the Guide Test or "Tsuyaku-Annaigyo-shiken". These licenses were acquired when I was a sophomore at Sophia Univ. in 1964.

my memory about President Kennedy's Inaugural Address

I like J.F. Kennedy and his speeches. Especially his inaugural address, which has inspired many around the world. When I was a sophomore at Sophia (Jochi), he was assassinated in Texas. One of my ESS seniors was a great fan of him. He called all the members of the club together and asked us to pray for him for a minute. He also recommended us to memorize his inaugural address, which many of us did. Actually it is a very difficult speech, but we managed to learn it by heart. It's a good memory.

my memory of working for Isuzu as an interpreter

I worked for Isuzu car company as an interpreter in 1966. They welcomed American engineers from American Ford in order to learn about how to make a car. I worked a whole summer when I was a junior student. I was supposed to be a qualified translator because I had passed the guide test to work as an interpreter. (Extremely low level compared to the current level!)

Anyway while the American engineers talked about a very technical thing, I didn't understand it in many cases. (We were making an actual sized clay model car. It seemed to be the first experience for Isuzu workers.) But almost all the workers, who knew very little about ABC, somehow understood them. At least one of them understood what a American engineer had meant about a particular technical thing before the others.

Then if his idea sounds reasonable or in accordance with what they were doing, the others agree. They don't listen to me as a translator. I remember feeling ashamed of myself. But nobody cared. Everybody was very generous. Nobody accused me of my unprofessional shortcomings.

The Japanese workers were very hard working people and looked very happy, proud in spite of their low salaries because they were engaged in something important. After the work the American engineers and I sometimes went to Yokohama to enjoy a gorgeous dinner. I had never thought Japan would catch up with American counterparts so quickly in making a good car. Good old days for me!

my DEBATE experience at Sophia

1965 TIDL Tournament was held at Sophia and the proposition was "Resolved that People's Republic of China should be admitted to the United Nations." The final match was against Waseda and we took a negative side, winning the tournament. In 1966 we launched the All Japan Sophia Invitational Debating Tournament. Many college debaters representing each university from all over Japan participated in the tournament. It's one of my best memories that I was on the winning team.

After I came back to Honjo in 1974 -- my shock and joy

23 years ago while I was watching Sesame Street one day, I noticed that I couldn't follow their English. The same happened with the Little House on the Prairie. I was shocked and started to improve my listening. I used a dictation method to do that. After several years' exercise, I was glad that I had improved myself in hearing English. When I saw 'Dynasty' an American soap opera almost a decade ago, I was able to follow almost every word that each character in the drama. All the characters spoke standard educated English. I have never forgot my amazement or a sense of achievement then.

Peter Jennings, ABC News and me

I have seen and listened to an American TV news program, "World News Tonight with Peter Jennings", which is now being broadcast at 9:30 to 9:50 a.m. from Monday to Friday on NHK BS. I have enjoyed it for the past 10 years, literally almost everyday. It helps me not only improve my listening skills, learn new words, but understand what's going on in USA and elsewhere from the American point of view.

my experience of watching "Tora-san" movie in English

I once saw a movie of "Tora-san" totally dubbed in English. I was totally disappointed. I was not able to enjoy Tora-san's character and others. It failed to tell me about the pathos and humor in the movie. I felt like that I was watching a totally different story. Tora-san's movies should be appreciated in Japanese.

how to watch (listen to) Peter Jennings News and making my transcript

I record the Peter Jennings news program on a video tape. In the afternoon or evening I play it. I can repeat any part of it whenever I have difficulty. Now once every week I pick up a piece (2 or 3 minutes in length), which, I think, my students may find interesting. I record the part into an audio tape. Then I transcribe it or make a transcript out of it. I usually spend one hour or so in competing it. I used to spend a few hours for the short piece. I copy my transcript and use it as a teaching material for my students.

"CHASE" dictation for my students

I have used 中級コース "the Chase" written by Sidney Sheldon for my students. Every week I give a tape containing Orson Well's narration (two pages of the textbook or about 2 minutes.) But I never give them the text for the narration. Each student is given a home-assignment of dictating it. I give some words or idioms in the text as clues to help them. I decrease the clues gradually. The following week, they can see the text and compare it with whatever they have done for themselves. I think 'the Chase' is good for high school students level because the narrator reads very slowly for Japanese learners.

Princess Diana's funeral and my dictation exercise

Here is how I keep learning English without spending money. Many people saw the funeral of Princess Diana recently. First I recorded the ABC broadcast of the funeral in a videotape. I liked Diana's brother's speech, which lasted about 7 minutes. Second I recorded his words in an audio cassette tape from the video tape. Third I got the full text of his speech from the internet. This time I used Washington Post. Now don't see the text until the very last. Now everything is ready for you.

Then comes your exercise time, one of the best ways to improve English and your hearing. You listen to the tape very carefully and try writing down what you have heard. Every word, every phrase, every sentence you write down! You can repeat the tape again and again as long as you like. You use all the grammatical knowledge to make each sentence go right. You can use any dictionaries you want in the process. But remember you can't see the correct text until the very end.

Now you have finished all your work of writing down his speech. You may have spent a few hours or more doing the work for just the 7 minute long speech. But it's a worthwhile effort. All your English ability is shown there. Compare your transcript with the text. The success of this training depends on the choice of a good material. It must be proper. The topic must be most interesting to you and in accordance with your ability.

what I do when I can't understand

I have seen or heard lots of movies and news and others. That's how I have learned or enjoyed learning English from them. What do I do when I come across a part which is difficult for me to comprehend? I do one of the following. I repeat the part again, if I am confident in figuring it out on the second trial. Or I may choose to listen to the Japanese translation and then come back and listen to the part in original English again. When either doesn't seem to work for me, I simply let it go, just watching the pictures. Usually I still enjoy them.

why I prefer American commentators in baseball

I like to listen to American commentators or sportscasters. For example when I watch Nomo pitching on NHK BS, I enjoy listening to American casters through the sub channel. It's good for me to improve my hearing ability while learning more about American major baseball. My most favorite is Vin Scully of the LA Dodgers network. They are very professional people.

It's very interesting to compare their way of commenting a game and the Japanese counterparts. Both are very different. I wish some should open a homepage about differences between American and Japanese broadcasting baseball or sports. It would be exciting to learn about those differences. Besides it will be a good comparative study of both cultures.

I myself have noticed several differences. One big one is that Japanese try to comment and/or predict too often what, they feel, will happen to a particular player; whether a pitcher is in good conditions that day, how long he will last, whether a batter will be likely to hit against the opponent's pitcher or unlikely, etc.

When I listen to Americans counterparts, they rarely do that. And when they do that, they usually hit the jackpot. Too loud comments or predictions of Japanese commentators seem to spoil our excitement. We also hear many irresponsible comments or predictions, but they don't apologize often. Americans are more accountable for their words also in sports broadcasting.

Konishiki replied to my mail

I have been a fan of sumo wrestler, Konishiki. I sent him email to him on September 6 in 1997. And he responded to me. His reply impress me a lot.

I saw NHK program last night by Takeshi Suzuki , 9/6/97

Dear Konishiki-zeki,
I am 52 year old Japanese male living in Akita. I teach English a small number of students at home. When I was a kid here, no TV age, I used to look forward to seeing Sumo wrestlers coming to my town. My favorite was Tochinishiki. I also liked rikishis of big size like any other kids. I have been your fan for many years. In fact I have admired you. Only I had not known you have your homepage. Now you are a Japanese, but I have high respect for those who are struggling in a world of different cultures. Like Nomo in baseball. I wonder if you have your email address? I am sure you have been sending a very positive message to many kids all over the world. Takeshi Suzuki

This is his reply:
Takeshi san in Akita by Koni chan in Tokyo, 9/7/97

Thank you very much. I try to help kids when I have time. Japan has a big problem with the young kids nowadays, and it seems like the Japanese government are not serious about this problem which is very sad. The people can save these kids.

my letter to Yamada-san's homepage

Congratulations on your successful opening of your web site! I read all that you have written there so far. I wonder if you could imagine how amazed or even astonished I was being kept while reading your ideas or experiences in learning English? Because what you have done so far to improve your English is much similar or almost the same as mine…..

You may be surprised to hear the following. You have used "American Spoken English" and find it a good learning material. I did, too. I read many English books and newspapers, too. I totally agree that we can improve our English without staying or studying abroad. Your philosophy on learning English without spending much money is mine, too. Japanese people spend so much money in learning basic English for so little fruit. I imagine such a stupidity is taking place only in Japan.

Your method to improve hearing, which is to try listening to a tape and dictating its contents and we shouldn't look at the text until the very end, is exactly what I have been doing for the past two decades. In my case I applied this technique with English news, documentaries, movies, and other programs by TV broadcasting. So in many cases I don't have the text in the first place…..You emphasize on learning the background culture behind a particular news, which is very important and I totally agree with you……

So you see how surprised I was to read your web site. Nobody has ever taught me about the methods. I don't think nobody has taught you, either. But we have been doing practically the same thing. This explains I was able to read your writings very quickly and smoothly. I hardly stopped to question in any part of your pages. I understood you well and so far as I noticed, there was practically no line or no word, which could be misleading or exaggerating (It happens so often) to readers. Well I think you did a very fine work. You are being very sincere, straightforward and truthful all over the pages…… Thank you for listening.
Takeshi Suzuki (July 22, 1997)

Let me add the following to let you all know that I am quite satisfied with my life and learning English as well as being active and busy. (This was added in November, 2001)

In 1976 I came back to Honjo, Akita from Tokyo. During the following 20 years living in Honjo, Akita, I felt rather lonely and unhappy (especially if I look back now) as I wrote in the above speech because there was almost nothing interesting to do except for learning English. If I learned English hard, I had almost nobody to talk to in Honjo, either. Don't misunderstand. I wasn't feeling entirely unhappy in those years, though. But still ...

To my great joy, however, something happened that changed all that around 1966 or 1967. It was the beginning of my exciting, happy days! Now what is that something? I have to tell you three things. They are the Internet, MSU-A and JALT. I started being 1) on the net, 2) getting to have contact with MSU-A and 3) getting involved in JALT and others.

Takeshi Suzuki (November 13, 2001)

Yes. I never knew about Hideo either until I saw him in the All Star game in 1995. He took my heart away with his windup pitching style. Then I heard he was pitching at Shea Stadium in 1995,and had to go see him in person. Ever since then I knew there was chemistry seeing Hideo. I have not followed baseball in a while, since 1969 after the N.Y. Mets won the World Series. They traded off a lot of players and my heart grew away from it. Hideo had brought my heart back to the game. He has a special chemistry with people. I saw it with my own eyes. He makes young children feel wonderful and you can see and feel the love and smiles all around when they see Hideo. My husband said he would write you too and describe how his feelings are on chemistry. Send me your address and I will mail you some common cards that I have extra on Hideo. That would be my pleasure. My husbands name is Bernie. The Best to you and Family,
(Vicki)

(The above was written in 1997.)

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