Reading and Writing Assignment

My Hometown, Akashi

 

Please read the following, answer the questions in English, and do the writing assignment.

Letters in purple are new grammar.  Letter in blue are previously learned grammar.

 


Above photo: Akashi Castle's Two Towers (National Important Cultural Assets)

 

Right photo: Himeji Castle had been built in 1610 by the then lord Ikeda Terumasa. It is also called Shirasagi-jo, the castle of white heron, because of the beautiful white appearance, and it has often been described in many literary works.

 

Please use “Reading Tutor” to get vocabulary glossary.  See Dictionary under the Course Menu.

Vocabulary (which the Reading Tutor does not pick up well):  お菓子　sweets/snacks、宇治茶 Tea band created in the city of Uji in Kyoto、食べに行く* To go in order to eat (Refer to the DBJG  “Ni5 Indicating purpose” for the usage. Conjunctive form of verb + Ni particle = indicating purpose.)、両親をつれて to take parents/ with parents、運転する to drive、歩行者 pedestrians、*

 

 

私の育った町は明石といいます。　ここには、明石城というお城があり、その周りは公園になっています。 ここは交通の便が良く、東へは大都市の神戸まで新快速という速い電車で20分ぐらいで、また、関西地方で一番大きい都市の大阪まで50分ぐらいです。　西へ行くと、姫路城のある古い町姫路市まで新快速電車で30分ぐらいで、原爆で有名な広島までは、新幹線で1時間半ぐらいです。　東へ行くと、京都までは、新幹線で1時間ぐらいかかり、のぞみという新幹線の中で一番速い電車に乗れば、大阪から東京までは2時間ぐらいで行けます。

 

新幹線の旅は快適で大好きです。　私は日本人ですが、グリーンカードを持っているのでJRのレールパスが買えます。　いつも、一週間のレールパスを買って使うと、一週間内に日本中どこでもJRを使って旅行ができます。　私は京都が好きで、よく行きますが、京都に行く途中に駅弁を買って食べたり新幹線の駅の売店でお土産を買ったりするのがいつも楽しみです。私がよく食べる駅弁は神戸牛弁当で、よく買って帰るお土産は、父が好きな「おたべ」というお菓子や母が好きな京都の宇治茶です。京都に行くと、必ず行く店は祇園にある喫茶店で、抹茶で作ったデザートが最高に美味しい店で、いつも人々が列に並んで順番を待っています。　私の両親も買い物をすることや美味しいものを食べに行くことが好きなんで、たまに、両親をつれて大阪や京都へ買い物にきます。

 

車での旅は、たまに父が運転して海や山へ出かけることがあります。　私も運転ができるんですが、日本の道は狭くてバイクや自転車や歩行者が多いんで、日本で運転するのは苦手です。　それにいつもアメリカで運転しているので、反対側を運転するのは少し怖いです。　日本では、車は左側を走ります。

 

Assignment 1.     Reading Activities:　Translate the above into English and write your answers to the following questions in Japanese.

  1. Where does the city, Akashi, is located in relation to big cities. Summarize the available transportation and how long it takes to get to each city.
  2. What do you find in Akashi?
  3. If you are a green card holder or a non-Japanese, what can be recommended to travel economically?  Describe the benefit of the item for traveling.
  4. Where and what does the writer enjoy to visit and do during a travel?
  5. What does the writer enjoy to do with her family?
  6. Why does the writer do not like to drive in Japan?

 

Assignment 2.     Writing Activities:

First, please get a form, which you need to turn in with your writing assignment.  Click here.

After reading the above, I hope you understand some aspect of life in Japan especially transportation system and proximity to big cities for average Japanese people who live in suburbs. Please write about your self introduction (including your name, age, academic year, major, hobby/interest/ or things you like to do; introduce your family members and their hobby/interest/ or things they like to do; and also what your family are (have been) doing (working? studying? etc.) with information about your hometown or a town of your residence. This writing may be published on a web site for Japanese peer to read about you. Please write in a way that your Japanese peer will have a good picture about you and your town of choice (meaning that you need to explain some of the aspects that average Japanese person need to be informed to understand what you are talking about).  You can include what types of transportations are available in the town; how long does it take to get to big cities such as capital of the state, Washington D.C., New York, Disneyland, etc.; what do you enjoy to do in places that you mention in your essay; et al.