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The LLL SIG Newsletter

Volume 5, Issue 1 [May, 2009]
 

An afternoon in Ueno Park (Part 7)
Tadashi Ishida

This is the seventh in a series of articles in which Tadashi Ishida, an English teacher at a community center in Taito Ward in Tokyo, describes a language-learning activity that he conducted with his class. After 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.

Mr.Tomatsu, one of the learners, is quite familiar with art. He discussed the National Western Art Museum with Mrs. Fitzwater.

Tomatsu: This is the National Western Art Museum. It was established in 1959.
Fitzwater: Does this museum have any special collections?
Tomatsu: The collection in this museum is called the "Matsukata Collection" because it was originally owned by the late Matsukata Kojiro.

戸松さんは美術に精通しています。彼は国立西洋美術館を論じます。

戸：こちらは国立西洋美術館です。1959年に建てられました。
フ：この美術館は特別なコレクションがありますか？
戸：この美術館のコレクションは、故松方幸次郎氏が所蔵していたもので、松方コレクションと呼ばれています。

　

Fitzwater: Please tell me about him.
Tomatsu: Mr. Matsukata was a very rich man. He went to Europe after the First World War and bought a great deal of art and sculpture. After the Second World War, his collection of art and sculpture was opened to the public. Now, about 400 pieces of art are shown to the public in this museum.
Fitzwater: I see. What kind of works feature in his collection?
Tomatsu: The main part of the collection is the impressionist works of Cezanne, Degas, Monet and Renoir. Many Japanese people seem to like impressionist painting. In addition, there is one of the most famous sculptures by Rodin, "The Thinker".

　

フ：彼について話してください。
戸：松方氏は非常に金持ちでした。彼は、第一次世界大戦後ヨーロッパに行き、たくさんの美術品と彫刻を買い占めました。第二次世界大戦後、彼の美術品と彫刻のコレクションは一般に公開されました。今は約４００点の美術品がこの美術館で公開されています。
フ：なるほど。彼のコレクションの特徴は何ですか？
戸：コレクションの主なものは、セザンヌ、ドガ、モネ、ルノワールの印象派の作品です。多くの日本人が印象派の絵画が好きなようです。それに加えて、ロダンのもっとも有名な彫刻の「考える人」もあります。

　

Fitzwater: You seem to know much about art. Are you a student of art?
Tomatsu: Yes, I used to be. I studied oil painting in senior high school.
Fitzwater: Very good. What kind of things do you paint?
Tomatsu: I paint pictures of athletes and my family.

　

フ：美術について詳しいみたいですね。あなたは美術の学生ですか？
戸：はい、以前はそうでした。高校で油絵を勉強しました。
フ：大変結構です。どのような絵を描きましたか？
戸：運動選手や家族の絵を描きました。

　
Please see the next newsletter for part 8.