An afternoon in Ueno Park (Part 2)

Tadashi Ishida

(This is the second in a series of articles in which Mr. Tadashi Ishida, an English teacher at a community center in Taito Ward in Tokyo, describes a unique language learning opportunity that he experienced with his class. After having done considerable research and preparation, the learners toured Ueno Park with a foreign visitor, Mrs. Fitzwater, explaining to her the highlights of the park and answering her questions. After the tour, the learners wrote their own combination text and guidebook based on this experience.)

It was interesting to see both the student and the visitor express their feelings and exchange information in English. This was communication in a real situation, not a lesson in the classroom. Through such activities, students can better develop their communication skills.

教科書を使って生徒に対話式の英会話を教えている時によく受ける質問は、「もし相手の外国人がこのように言わないときはどうするのですか？」というものです。特に外国人とあまり交流がない中高年世代にこのような質問が多いのです。ここに書かれているような外国人との対話を通じて、英語による実際のコミュニケイションはこのようなものだということを生徒は実感できたと思います。

Miss Suzuki began her explanation about the history of Shinobazu Pond:

S: Shinobazu Pond is a remnant of the sea in primitive ages. Shinobazu Pond has three parts. The Lotus pond in the south, the Boat pond in the west, and the Zoo on the water to the north. Just after the war, the pond was turned into rice fields when we didn’t have enough food to eat.

Mrs. Fitzwater asked a question about the pond:

F: How big is the pond?
S: The pond measures about 2 km. in circumference.

Looking at the boats, Miss Suzuki then asked Mrs. Fitzwater a question:

S: Do boys and girls ride in boats in America?
F: Yes. And walk in the park, like we’re doing? Ah yes, they do that in America, too.

Mrs. Fitzwater saw birds on the water near the zoo and asked another question*

F: Does the Zoo on the water just have birds? All kinds of birds?
S: No, they don’t have birds. The birds are just flying over the zoo. Every winter, about 5,000 wild ducks migrate into this pond from northern lands like Siberia. The migratory ducks stay in this pond from September to April of the next year. They return north afterwards. Common cormorants, great egrets and other birds can be seen in this pond all year round.
F: We have something similar in Texas. They come to the rice fields in the winter from Canada.

Next, Miss Suzuki talked about lotus blossoms:

S: As Shinobazu Pond is famous for lotuses, it has been crowded with holidaymakers since the middle of the Edo Era. The lotus comes out in summer. The contrast of the white and red of the lotus blossoms and the green of lotus leaves with the pond is lovely.
F: That’s what the lotus blossom looks like! Is the lotus just pretty? It is good to eat?
S: No, it isn’t, although the Chinese sometimes use it for cooking. Are there lotus blossoms in America?
F: Do we have lotus? No, we have something we call water lilies, but they have a different kind of blossom and different kind of leaves.

After that, Miss Suzuki talked about the summer evening party:

S: The summer evening party is held from July to August, when many people go to the park to enjoy the evening cool. It is said that even ten million people can enjoy the evening cool in this place. People enjoy Bon-dancing. We have many lanterns around the pond. It is very beautiful at night.
F: I can imagine the sight quite easily.
S: People wear a summer kimono and enjoy the cool of the evening here.
F: How often do you wear a kimono?
S: I wear a kimono only on special occasions like New Year’s Day, wedding ceremonies and parties.
F: Why?
S: It is hard to move about freely and I feel uncomfortable in a tight obi.

(The tour of Ueno Park will continue in the next issue of TYS)

Ueno