Last Wednesday was the 4th of July.  While I'm disappointed in the current president, I am still proud to be an American. Today's movie clip is from "Born on the Fourth of July" (1989) , starring Tom Cruise.  It's a true story about a Vietnam War veteran.  Tom Cruise gives one of his best performances, and was nominated for a best actor academy award. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk5epHF844w I raised my rifle three times... and... shots... The body fell in the dunes  God, this is... this is very difficult for me to say. We don't have to hear this, Ron. But I think I was the one that killed your son. I was the one. I was the one. I was the one. What's done is done, sir. I can't ever forgive you... but maybe the Lord can. We understand, Ron. We understand the pain you've been going through. Let's pick up a few phrases. What's done is done. （終わったことは終わった。） The election is over, what's done is done. I took the test, what's done is done. This is a simple useful phrase.  We also say: No use crying over spilled milk. Next,  I can't ever forgive you... but maybe the Lord can. I can't ever remember all my nieces and nephews names, but maybe my wife can. I can't ever teach you enough English, but maybe these movies can. And finally, We understand the pain you've been going through. I think this phrase speaks for itself. If you have any good stories about this, please tell me this week.        

Today, I want to use a very new movie.  Have you seen Coco? It will tug at your heart-strings. A PIXAR/Disney movie, Coco came to Japan this year.  It's based on the Mexican Day of the Dead Celebration. (死者の日)  If you haven't seen it, prepare to cry. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgmgZmTMxms   Mama Coco, Your Papa... He wanted you to have this. Mama... wait... Remember me Though I have to say goodbye Remember me Don't let it make you cry For even if I'm far away - Look!  I hold you in my heart I sing a secret song to you Each night we are apart Remember me Though I have to travel far Remember me Each time you hear a sad guitar Know that I'm with you The only way that I can be Until you're in my arms again Remember Me Elena? What's wrong, mija? Nothing, Mama. Nothing at all. My Papa used to sing me that song. He loved you, Mama Coco. Your Papa loved you so much. I kept his letters. Poems he wrote me. And... Papa was a musician. When I was a little girl... He and Mama would sing such beautiful songs.   Today I will pick up two simple phrases from this dialogue. First, He wanted you to have this. Practice:  I wanted my friends to like me. Trump wanted everyone to vote for him. Everyone wanted Trump to disappear. Next, My Papa used to sing me that song. My children used to listen to me . . . My mother used to read me a book every night. My pants used to fit better??? I hope you can use these phrases this week in class.\     See you soon.      

  Thanks to your many requests, I am going to begin a new class for adults.　お陰様で新しいクラスを始めることになりました。 MJ Eikaiwa office（東通りクラス） Monday evening, 6:30~8:00. (weekly)　毎週月曜日 Capacity, 7 students.　定員7人 Tuition, ￥5,000/month　月謝￥5,000 Level, beginning~intermediate.　レベル初級～中級 Begins July 2nd. 　7月2日スタート    

Last week I did the movie "Great Expectations". Today, I have great expectations for peace on the Korean peninsula and throughout Asia.  Are my expectations justified?  Only time will tell. I don't trust Kim Jong-un for a second, and I have zero confidence in Trump's ability to see this through to the end.  Is it possible they will exceed my expectations? However, I will always remain hopeful.  I never expected East and West Germany to unite in 1990, but it happened. Never give up hope! Here's to peace in Korea!   Next week, back to the movies.          

Back to the movies. As promised, today I will use a scene from Great Expectations.  Do you know this movie or book?  It is a classic book by Charles Dickens that has been made into at least ten movies. I will use the old 1946 movie which is thought to be the best of all of them.   Here is the opening scene.  It's a little scary, so be ready. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXyo68s-f1E&t=9s My father's family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Phillip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip. So I called myself Pip, and came to be called Pip. Keep still or I'll cut your throat. No, sir, no... Tell us your name. Quick. Pip. Pip, sir. Show us where you live. Point out the place. There, sir. There. - Now, where's your mother? - There, sir. No, sir. There, sir. Also Georgiana. That's my mother. Ah. Is that your father along with your mother? Yes, sir, him, too. Late of this parish. Ah. Who d'you live with? Supposing you're let to live which I ain't decided yet. With my sister, sir. Mrs. Joe Gargery, wife of Joe Gargery the blacksmith. Blacksmith, eh? Now look here, do you know what a file is? Yes, sir. - You know what wittles is? - Yes, sir. Food, sir. Then you get me a file and wittles or I'll have your heart and liver out. If you'll kindly let me keep upright, sir, perhaps I shouldn't be sick and perhaps I could attend more. Bring that file and them wittles to me here tomorrow morning, early. - Yes, sir. - Don't say a word of having seen me. - No, sir. - If you do, your heart and liver will be tore out and roasted and ate. There's a young man hid with me, and in comparison with him, I'm an angel! That young man has a secret way of getting at a boy, and at his liver. A boy may lock his door, may be warm in bed, but that young man will softly creep his way to him and tear him open! Say heaven strike you dead if you don't. Heaven strike me dead if I don't. Now you know what you've promised, young man. - Get off home. - Good night, sir. Sorry, the scene is a little dark, but it really is a very good movie. Do you have a nickname.  How did you get it?  The main character of the movie "Pip", explains how he got this name: My father's family name being Pirrip, and my Christian name Phillip, my infant tongue could make of both names nothing longer or more explicit than Pip. So I called myself Pip, and came to be called Pip.   Let's learn. When he was a baby, he could not say "Pirrip" or "Phillip", only "Pip". So I called myself Pip, and came to be called Pip. What do you call yourself? What do your friends call you? How about your family? How about your spouse (husband / wife)? Speaking of Great Expectations, I have great expectations for my Grandson, who came to Akita for the weekend.  We had a great time at Oga and Gao.  I hope he has a wonderful life.

Another break from movies today. I finally finished building my stone wall yesterday.  Here are the steps from start to finish: This was my first experience in building a wall.. I didn't expect it to turn out well, so I put it behind my house where most people will never see it. It turned out better than I expected, or, It exceeded my expectations. You can use this phrase when something goes better than planned, for example: The hotel was very cheap, but it exceeded my expectations. This year's sales have exceeded all expectations. I didn't have time to study, so my test results exceeded my expectations. I've seen many festivals in Japan, but only Akita's Kanto Festival exceeded my expectations. Unfortunately, President Trump's North Korean negotiations didn't exceed my expectations. I hope many things in your life will exceed your expectations! Next week, back to the movies, with a scene from "Great Expectations". (大いなる遺産） Today's song:  "Some Walls" Peter, Paul and Mary    

Today I'm going back to my English from movie scenes series.  One of the most requested movies from my students was Gone With the Wind.  The classic movie from 1939.  Starring Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh, it was nominated for 13 Academy Awards, and won 10.  It was the highest grossing movie up to that point in history. Personally, I'm not a big fan of the movie, but it does have some great scenes.  Here is the final scene, what English can we learn from this? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ5ICXMC4xY Oh, Rhett. Rhett! Rhett!  If you go, where shall I go? What shall I do? Frankly, my dear, I don't give a damn. Oh, I can't let him go! I can't! There must be some way to bring him back. I can't think about it now. I'll go crazy if I do! I'll think about it tomorrow.   But I must think about it. I must think about it. What is there to do? What is there that matters? Do you mean to tell me, Katie Scarlett O'Hara... ...that Tara doesn't mean anything to you? Why, land's the only thing that matters. It's the only thing that lasts. Something you love better than me, though you may not know it. Tara. It's this from which you get your strength. The red earth of Tara. (repeats in her head)  Tara. -Tara! -Tara! Tara! Home! I'll go home! And I'll think of some way to get him back. After all... ...tomorrow... ... is another day! Let's pick out three phrases today. There must be some way to bring him back. (彼を取り戻す方法が何かあるはず。） There must be some way to remember English! There must be some way to diet successfully. There must be some way to pay my bills.  Land's the only thing that matters. It's the only thing that lasts. (土地だけが意味があるもの。　土地だけが残る。） What is the only thing that matters to you? Family is the only thing that matters. Love is the only thing that matters. Money is the only thing that matters. (Actually, I think there are many things that matter.) What is the only thing that lasts? Knowledge is the only thing that lasts!  Get more.  I'll think of some way to get him back.　（彼を取り戻す方法を何か考える。） Finally, I'll think of some way to build my rock wall .(pictures next week). I'll think of some way to use these warabi. I'll think of some way to finish this post. My warabi harvest from Saturday morning: The foundation of my rock wall.  I hope to finish it this week . . . if it stops raining!