2017年3月12日日曜日

TOEIC公式問題集Vol.5をやってみた

オーストラリアに来てから週末のルーティーンは母校マッコーリー大学にあるジムに行ってトレーニングすることです💪


風邪や二日酔いなど、よっぽどのことがない限りは毎週欠かさず行っています🎵


日本ではみんな良く言えばスリム、悪く言えばひょろい男子が多いですが、こっちは男女共に体格が良い人が多いのでその影響であることは間違いありません😀


さて、今日はTOEICの問題を解いてみました。


こちらの大学在学時に受けたのが最後なので約3年ぶりでしょうか。


その時にどうせ受けるならある程度勉強してから受けようと思い、テスト1カ月前くらいから公式問題集のVol.5をわざわざネットで購入してやっていたのです📓


さすがに3年ぶりに開くと全然覚えていない(笑)リーディングの最後の方は難しくて時間かけたからか少し覚えていたが・・・。







上記の通り、リスニングは正解90とリーディングが89だったのですが、


公式問題集にあるスコアの目安はリスニング400-480にリーディングが380-465とかなり曖昧です(笑)


800点と900点では全然違いますよ!小生の様な海外留学者は恐らく高得点、たぶん900点以上でないとアピールは出来ない気がする💧なんせ未だに海外留学すれば英語ペラペラになれると信じている人達がいるので・・・。ペラペラをどの程度の基準にするかも人それぞれであるし、ペラペラになれたとしても、4-5年の海外生活ではまだまだUnfamiliarなボキャブラリーに遭遇することは良くあります。


おっと、話がそれましたね(笑)


点数の採点の仕方気になったので調べてみました👀


統計で説明!TOEICテスト配点の仕組みと換算表


これで採点してみるとたぶん960点くらいです。


少しホッとしました(笑)


でも本番環境では集中力も持たないし、もっと英語に揉まれます💨


2017年3月4日土曜日

英語力向上・維持のための英作文~To maintain English skills 8

シドニーはここ一週間雨続きです⛈

いつも週末に洗濯をするので明日晴れてくれないと困りますよ💧

まぁ、先月中旬の40度の熱帯夜が何日か続いた時よりは全然過ごしやすくていいですが😀

今日のIELTSは日本語でも書いてみました。と言っても、英語で書いた後直訳しただけなので不自然かも(笑)


Let's get started💪


You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
It is generally believed that the Internet is an excellent means of communication but some people suggest that it may not be the best place to find information.
Discuss both these views and give your own opinion.
Write at least 250 words.
Source: ielts-exam.net
While the internet in general is used widely as the best communication tool, some critics say that it is probably not the best place to gather information. In my opinion, the internet is the best tool at the moment, considering its efficiency and convenience.
There is no doubt when considering the internet as the best communication tool. It provides us lots of platforms which enable to communicate effectively with people around the world. For example, Facebook gives us opportunities finding people who have lots in common and connect them each other by just one click. It is widely used to keep in touch with family, friends and acquaintances in wide range of generations. Since it is officially recognized as the best communication tool, majority of businesses have its own email, homepage and Facebook page’s etc to attract and obtain public attention.
On the other hand, some critics believe that the internet may not be the best for obtaining information. I agree with this idea somehow as lots of information on the internet may not be true. However, my point is that we are smart enough to understand that some information on the internet is not true and therefore not reliable. We should not have idea that we can collect all information from the interne without evaluating whether they are reliable or credible. We have more chances finding lots of useful information on the internet than trying to be a professional journalist or interviewer.
To sum up, the internet is believed to be the best communication tool as well as the best information gathering platform. It enables us to connect with people in the world efficiently. At the same time there are no other better tools when it comes to gathering information.(291 words)

インターネットが最善のコミュニケーションツールとして利用される中、一部評論家は情報収集においては最善のツールではないと考えている。私の見解は、インターネットは今現在その効率性、利便性を考慮すると最善のツールであると考える。


コミュニケーションツールとして最善だと考えて間違いないだろう。インターネットは沢山の世界中の人々とのコミュニケーションを円滑にする為のプラットフォームを提供している。例えば、フェイスブックはただワンクリックするだけで共通項のある人々を繋げる機会を与えてくれる。広い年代で、家族、友達や知り合いとの連絡を取り合うツールとして使われている。最善のコミュニケーションツールとして確立されて以来、ビジネス業界でもメールを始め、ホームページやフェイスブック等がパブリックを魅了する為に利用されている。


反対に、一部批評家達は情報収集においては最善ではないという。確かに、沢山の誤情報が出回っているという点では賛同出来る。しかしながら、私が言いたいのは、我々はそこには誤情報があり、信頼出来るか否かを見極めることは可能であるという点だ。ネットの情報を信頼性があるか否かを見極めず利用するようなことは持ってはいけない考えだ。インターネットは、プロのジャーナリストやインタビュアーになろうとせずとも、より多くの便利な情報を与えているのだ。


結論、インターネットはコミュニケーションまたは情報収集としても最善のツールであると考えられる。世界中の人々を円滑に繋いでいるし、実際他に情報収集で優れているツールなどないだろう。

2017年2月23日木曜日

英語力向上・維持のための英作文~To maintain English skills 7

今日のIELTSライティングは昨今の就職・転職市場について☝

最近は経験が重要視されているが、それでは将来、資格・学歴等は必要なくなるか否か💥

たまに転職サイトSeekとか覗くことはあるが、海外では特に経験の方が重要視されている気がする。特に経理の仕事は最低でも1年~3年の経験が応募条件として提示されている。

では学歴はどうだ?特になし。

なんてこたぁない💧もちろん仕事のタイプやカテゴリーにもよるが経理・会計・財務関連になるとやはりAccounting/Finance の学士がマストってとこが多いようだな。

Anyway, let's get started!!

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
In today's job market it is far more important to have practical skills than theoretical knowledge. In the future, job applicants may not need any formal qualifications.
To what extent do you agree or disagree?

Write at least 250 words.


Current job market requires candidates with more paractical skills rather than qualificaions and thus, the qualifications will be no longer needed in the future. In my opinion, practical skills are more important but qualification will never be needless.

During job hunting, many candidates notice that most of employers are seeking a candidate with at least a certain period of working experience in a similar position. It is needless to say that it is because they can save time and money spending on a new employee for training. Even university graduates are required working experience and therefore they are actively seeking internship opportunities while studying. Only minority of employers accept those who have no practical experience, believing that candidates are worth enough to spend time and money for training. Likewise, they accept because a job position may be unique or differentiated to other jobs so that less number of candidates is willing to apply for the position.However, it does not mean that qualifications are not needed. All job seekers, at first, do not have any practical experience. They are hired because they have knowledge or skills acquired during school education. For example, in finance or accounting industry, one of degrees or qualifications; namely, finance, accounting, economics and business, is required for applicants. Besides, it is statistically proved that employees working in a management position are likely to have a certain degree of qualification and vice versa. Thus, if applying for a management position in any department, it most likely requires both experience and qualifications.

In conclusion, practical skills are highly regarded in recent job market but it does not mean that qualifications are not demanded. Candidates will be successful if he or she does have both experience and qualifications and that is what most employers are looking for. (298 words)

2017年2月21日火曜日

英語力向上・維持のための英作文~To maintain English skills 6

今日のIELTSライティングトピックは、肥満が問題になっている国でのジャンクフード税または砂糖税の導入について☝

そういえばここオーストラリアでもニュースでSugar taxについて最近良く耳にしていたのでけっこう書きやすかった♪

しかしながら、まともなことを書こうとするとある程度リサーチしないと全く議論にならないのでちと調べてしまいました(笑)

レストランとかでソフトドリンク頼むとだいたい$3もしてたのにSugar taxが導入されたら$3.28になるんですね😖

Anyway, let's get started!!

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the following topic.
In some countries an increasing number of people are suffering from health problems as a result of eating too much fast food. It is therefore necessary for governments to impose a higher tax on this kind of food.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this opinion?
You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence.
You should write at least 250 words.
A significant number of people have health issues because of their favourite fast food. Thus, governments need to impose a higher tax on a particular type of food. I am in favour of the fast food or sugar tax, believing that it will save a huge amount of health care costs.

In some western countries, a substantial number of people have health issues such as obese, heart disease and high blood pressure. One of factors causing the health problem is their eating habit. Many of these obese patients like eating fast food and drinking sugary drinks. In fact, the young in Australia, particularly aged between 10 and 20 are reported that their daily sugar intake exceeds WHO recommendations.

Countries with obese problems have already imposed a higher tax on this type of food and shown positive effects. For example in Mexico, the government imposed a sugar tax in 2014 and later the sales of sugary drinks dropped substantially. Besides, Britain is following this trend and imposing a higher tax in 2018. Many advocates recommend to governments saying that imposing a higher tax in this type of food is effective and it will save billions of dollars for health care costs for the patients.


To sum up, many people have health issues due to their eating habits, addicting to fast food and sugary drinks. Governments should impose a higher tax on fast food and sugary drinks as this method has been proved as very effective in some countries. This will bring positive consequences on governments and consumers, saving health care costs and making them much healthier.
(265 words)

2017年2月19日日曜日

英語力向上・維持のための英作文~To maintain English skills 5

今日のIELTSライティングはvaccine予防接種を法律で義務化するか否かというトピックです。

グレーな感じで義務化する分には良いでしょうが、受けないと罰則を課せられるというんではまずあり得ないでしょうね。

ではいってみよー💪

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Present a written argument or case to an educated reader with no specialist knowledge of the following topic.
Many childhood diseases can now be prevented through the use of vaccines.
Should parents be made by law to immunise their children against common diseases or should individuals have the right to choose not to immunise their children?
You should use your own ideas, knowledge and experience and support your arguments with examples and relevant evidence.
You should write at least 250 words.

The immunisation of children will generally reduce the risk of catching various types of diseases but it does not mean that parents should be required by law to use vaccines for their children.
The use of vaccines is effective for majority of children or even adults. However, we should consider some minorities are not able to use vaccines due to their health conditions. For example, some babies born prematurely or those born with heart, lung and kidney diseases should not be taken any vaccines. Therefore, it is not reasonable to require parents by law to use vaccines.
Some countries provide vaccines to children for free. In such case, there is no one left behind even if they are in serious financial difficulties. On the other hand, vaccinations may not be free or even expensive in other nations. If vaccinations are required by law, there will be a huge financial burden on many parents.
Making the law to restrict parents to immune children is non sense as we originally have our own immune system. Especially in most developed nations, there is not much risk of exposing to a serious infection such as ebola or zika viruses.
To conclude, the use of vaccines is generally effective for majority and majority of us may be in favour of use of vaccines for children. It reduces a risk of exposing to a serious disease and helps thousands of lives in many countries. In spite of that, some children should not be allowed to use vaccines because of their health conditions. Meanwhile, it is uncertain whether they are provided vaccines for free and if it has costs it is necessary to consider the minority who cannot afford to pay for the vaccines.
(287words)

途中まで余り字数がいかなかったので最後の結論部分で稼いでしまった(笑)

2017年2月18日土曜日

英語力向上・維持のための英作文~To maintain English skills 4

海外生活といえばシェアハウス☝

小生はこれまで色々な人種の方との共同生活を経験していますが、今までで一番大変理解に苦しんだのはインド人です💦

あまり細かい事は言いたくありませんが、彼らは世界一自己中心的な民族だそうです👳

特定の民族に対し否定的な意見を正直に述べる中国メディアも

Indians as self-centered, self-righteous, lacking morals and blindly following the West.

自己中心的、独善的でありモラルに欠け欧米に付和雷同するインド人。

と述べていますね(笑)

では今日も一発💪

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The tables below give information about sales of Fairtrade*-labelled tea and pineapples in 2010 and 2015 in five European countries.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
Sales of Fairtrade-labelled tea and pineapples (2010 & 2015)
Tea
2010
(millions of euros)
2015
(millions of euros)
France
2.5
21
Austria
4
8
Germany
2.8
3
Netherlands
2
2.7
Norway
1.8
2

Pieapples
2010
(millions of euros)
2015
(millions of euros)
Austria
16
48
France
2
6.5
Netherlands
1.6
5
Norway
2.8
2
Germany
3
1.9
*Fairtrade: a category of products for which farmers from developing countries have been paid an officially agreed fair price.
The tables show sales trends for Fairtrade-labelled tea and pineapples in five European nations in the period between 2010 and 2015.

The first table highlight an increase in sales of Fairtrade-labelled tea in France, rising from 2.5 millions to 21 millions while other four nations had a slight increase with maximum 4 millions of increase from 4 millions in Austria and others only reached about 3 millions of euros.
The second table provides some significant improvement in sales of Pieapples in the period. One is in Austria, the sales tripled from 16 millions of euros. Other is in France, it more than tripled from 2 millions of euros. However, Norway and Germany had a decrease in sales to 2.8 to 2 and 3 to 1.9 millions respectively.

To sum up, all five countries experienced an increase in sales for Fairtrade-labelled tea. Notwithstanding, two nations; namely, Norway and Germany had negative changes for Pieapples.
(150 words)

2017年2月12日日曜日

英語力向上・維持のための英作文~To maintain English skills 3

今日はあまり時間がないので即席でIELTSのライティングのパート2。

早速いってみましょ。

You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Modern communications mean that it’s no longer necessary to write letters.
To what extent do you agree or disagree with this statement?
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Source: Ielts-exam.net

As technological advance has eased our way of communication traditional way of communication is less and less demanded by majority of public. I strongly agree with this statement.

In the past fifty years, technology has developed significantly and it diversified way of communication. Dating back to 1980s a major tool for communication was a letter and a telephone. After the old era, we have obtained a mobile phone, email and SNS (Social Networking Service). While the old tools were supported for many years before the technological advance, it had lots of cons such as length of time and inconvenience. Modern communication tools solved all these disadvantages that the old tools had. We no longer need to wait for receiving a response for your inquiry and it is much more convenient. Therefore, in many cases people do not write a letter because they save time and do more tasks. In fact, in most business situations, email is more acceptable than writing a letter. Only in some situations a letter is more regarded for example when signing on contract or in other legal matters. We also still write a letter in a special occasion such as invitation for wedding or important meetings. But in general it is no longer required to write a letter.

In conclusion, I strongly agree that due to a diversification of way of communication, majority no longer needs to write letters. Instead, we have more convenient tools including email, a mobile phone and SNS. Although there is a special occasion that we may write a letter but currently the modern communication tools are more widely used.
(268 words)

2017年1月28日土曜日

英語力向上・維持のための英作文~To maintain English skills 2

今日は IELTS (International English Language Testing System) のアカデミック Part 2 の問題をトピックとして使ってみる。

IELTS の Part2 問題では様々な分野での時事問題について質問され、それに対しての自分の意見を論理的に述べるという形式になっている。
もちろん英語力(文法、語彙)を試されるのだが、知識や経験を自分の言葉で伝える文章作成能力も重要だと思う。
なんせ、あまり興味の無い、または熟知していない問題が結構な割合で出題されるから。

以下のように(笑)
You should spend about 40 minutes on this task.
Write about the following topic:
Some people choose to eat no meat or fish. They believe that this is not only better for their own health but also benefits the world as a whole.
Discuss this view and give your own opinion.
Give reasons for your answer and include any relevant examples from your own knowledge or experience.
Write at least 250 words.
Some vegetarians or people who do not eat meat or fish insist that this practice is done not only for their own health but also for the world itself. I partially agree with the idea because it does not kill animals or nor producing water, gas and energy to feed animals in the land.

Many believe that eating vegetables rather than red meat or fish is healthy. However, it may not be completely true because a human body needs different types of nutrition to maintain, grow and reproduce themselves. In fact, a current popular diet is the balanced diet, which is not a traditional way or intense diet. In this way, people do not focus on eating a certain food but more variety of food, considering what actually a human body needs, such as protein, carbohydrate, fat, sugar, salt and fibre, to be healthy. Thus, one of the reasons why they eat vegetables, is for their own health, is not convincible for me personally.

When considering the environment and ethics, it is probably better to eat crops or vegetables rather than meat. For the environment, if a number of animals including endangered species such as whale are continuously hunted it will impact substantially on the eco system and our future generations will face the negative consequences. Meanwhile farming and feeding animals requires them to cut trees and use substantial quantity of water, which costs a lot. Likewise, killing animals may not be ethically acceptable.


To sum up, critics saying that they eat all except for meat or fish in order to protect the environment are quite reasonable while those who do the same practice but for their own health are not. 
(281 words)

ベジタリアンや肉、魚を食べない人たちはその行いの理由として個人の健康のためだけでなく、世界のためであると主張している。私はその考えに半ば賛成である。何故なら動物を殺さずに済むだろうし、水やガスなどエネルギーも食用の動物を育てるのに使わなくて済むからだ。

多くの人が肉より野菜の食生活を健康だと信じているだろう。しかしながら、それは必ずしも正解ではないだろう。人体は健康を維持、成長、再生のために多種の栄養を必要であるからだ。事実、現在 balanced diet という従来の激しいダイエットとは異なるダイエットが人気だ。この方法では、特定の食物、食品に限定して節制することはせず、必要な栄養素、例えばタンパク質、炭水化物、脂質、塩、砂糖、食物繊維をバランス良くことに焦点を当てている。それゆえ、健康のために肉、魚を食べないという考えは説得力に欠けると思う。

環境と道徳の面で言えば、肉より作物や野菜を摂る方が良いのではないか。絶滅危機種を含む動物などを狩り続ければいずれは生態系に影響を与え、次の世代へ付けが回ってくる。同じく、酪農、農場を営むにあたり伐採や多量の水などのエネルギーが消費される。また、動物を狩るということは道徳面でも受け入れることは難しいだろう。

要約すると、環境保護のために肉、魚以外だけ食するという考えは合理的ではあるが、健康のためというのは合理的ではない。



もしIELTSでこのトピックが当たったら6.0も取れないだろうな(-_-;)

くわばらくわばらw


2017年1月26日木曜日

英語力向上・維持のための英作文~To maintain English skills

英語力の向上、維持は日本に住んでいると難しいですよね。それは海外在住者にとっても例外ではありません。何故ならば日常生活で使う英語はその人の生活スタイルや職業によって限られているからです。もちろん常日頃から意識をして様々な職種の方々と接する機会を作り、人脈を築いている方は例外ですが・・・。

Inputはテレビやインターネットを通じて幅広いトピックで使われる英語を学ぶことは簡単ですがOutputとなると機会なかなか無いでしょう。

ということで今日から英語力向上、維持のため英作文にトライします。
トピックは主にIELTS (International English Language Testing System)で出題される質問を使っていきます。英語圏の大学留学を経験された方、またはこれから留学を考えているという方には避けては通れない入学条件で必須である英語能力の証明に使われる試験です。私も過去に受け、何とか条件である6.5をパスすることが出来ました。

You should spend about 20 minutes on this task.
The graph below shows the pollution levels in London between 1600 and 2000.

Summarise the information by selecting and reporting the main features, and make comparisons where relevant.
Write at least 150 words.
Source: (IELTS-Exam.net)
This bar graph shows the change in the pollution levels in London in a period between 1600 and 2000. Sulphur dioxide and Smoke are specifically depicted with similar trend, increasing at first till 1900 and decreasing in the last 100 years.

The pollution levels of Sulphur dioxide in London changed rapidly from 1600 to 1725, rising from just below 10 micrograms per cubic metre (mic/cm) to over 750 mic/cm. The trend continued till 1850 and peaked at approximately 900 mic/cm. The change in the pollution levels of Smoke had a quite similar trend in the same period, though the levels were much smaller than the Sulphur dioxide. In fact, the Sulphur dioxide reached the highest at about 900 mic/cm while the Smoke peaked at just below 450 mic/cm in 1850.
Both declined significantly after 1900 until 2000 and at the end they were recorded at the lowest in the history.
To sum up, the pollution levels in London increased from 1600 to 1850, which may be caused by the industrial revolution. However, as the quality of life went stable after 1900 the pollution levels continued to decline till the end of 1900s.
(192 words)

棒線グラフは1600年から2000年のロンドンでの大気汚染の変化を表している。二酸化硫黄と煙について言及され、共に最初は増加、最後の100年においては減少傾向と同様の変化が見られる。

ロンドンでの二酸化硫黄の汚染レベルは1600年から1725年にかけて特に変化が見られ、10ミクロ立方メーターから750 mic/cm超まで増加している。この傾向は1850年まで続き、900 mic/cmでピークを観測した。煙の汚染レベルも同様の傾向が見られるが、二酸化硫黄と比較すると非常に少ない。実際、二酸化硫黄が最高で900 mic/cmを記録しているのに対し、煙は450 mic/cmが最高である。

要約すると、ロンドンでの汚染レベルは1600年から1850年まで増加が見られるがその原因は恐らく産業革命によるものだろう。しかしながら、1900年以降生活環境が改善するにつれ、汚染レベルも減少したようだ。



やはり、久しぶりに書いてみると時間がかかりますね。テストでは20分以内に書かないとpart2 を書く時間がなくなるため、上の文章の様にはいかないでしょう(汗)

このようなトピックについて書くことは日本語でも全く無いためかなり不自然な気がしますが勘弁してください(笑)