Pre-TOEFL writing, Some people choose friends who are different from themselves. Others choose friends who are similar to themselves. Compare the advantages of having friends who are different from you with the advantages of having friends who are similar to you. Which kind of friend do you prefer for yourself? Why? - rewrite -

Lesson 18  Writing Topic

Some people choose friends who are different from themselves. Others choose friends who are similar to themselves. Compare the advantages of having friends who are different from you with the advantages of having friends who are similar to you. Which kind of friend do you prefer for yourself? Why?

☆Let’s Think

If you have never made friends who are different from yourself, perhaps thinking of making friends with a person from a foreign country or working in a group for a project would help imagine what it is like.

自分自身と異なるタイプの人と友達になった経験がない場合、外国出身の人との交友や集団行動から連想してみよう。

☆Hints for Points

◍Advantages of having friends who are different from you 自分とは違うタイプの人と友達になることの利点

They widen your views, take you to places you usually do not go to, make you learn the fact that there are many kinds of people in this world, help you start new things, help you learn how to socialize, and make you patient.

視野を広げてくれ、普段行かないところに連れて行ってくれ、いろいろな人がいることを教えてくれ、新しいことを始めさせてくれ、人付き合いの仕方を学ぶのを助けてくれ、忍耐強くしてくれる。

Sample description  説明の例

By socializing with people who are different from you, you can grow as a person more than by socializing with people similar to you. People who are similar to you are like your family, so you learn little about social skills. However, when you try to make friends with and get along with people who have little in common with you, you have to use your mind. Trying to understand their behaviors that are unfamiliar to you or attempting to communicate your ideas to them will make you a person who is easy to be with.

似た人と付き合うよりも人として成長できる （似ている人は家族同様なので社交術はあまり学べないが、共通点が少ない人と友達になりうまくやってゆこうとすると頭を使わなくてはならない。不慣れな行動の理由を理解しようとしたり、自分の考えを伝えようとしたりすることによって付き合いやすい人になることができる）

◍Advantages of having friends who are similar to you  自分を同じタイプの人と友達になることの利点

They make you feel relaxed because they need little explanation to understand you, are easy to hang around with as they share a lot with you, and will stand by you when you are in trouble more readily than those who are different from you.

理解するのに説明がほとんど不要で、共通点が多いため一緒にいるのが楽で、困った時に味方してくれやすいのでリラックスできる。

Sample description  説明の例

Having congenial friends makes your life full of good times because you can do many things enjoyably together with them. You can go out with them and have an exciting and yet relaxing time together, you can exchange information about your mutual hobbies, and you can keep talking about almost anything forever. This kind of friends can often be your life-time friends because you feel comfortable to spend time with them and over time both of you will develop attachment to each other.

一緒に楽しくたくさんのことをできるので、気の合う友達がいると人生が楽しい時でいっぱいになる。（一緒に外出しワクワクすると同時にくつろいだ時間を過ごしたり、共通の趣味の情報交換をしたりほとんど何でも永久に話し続けられる。このような友達は、一緒に過ごすと居心地がよくやがてお互いに愛情がわくので、一生の友達になる可能性がある）

◍My choice and the reasons 自分の選択とその理由

I prefer to have friends who are different from me rather than to have friends who are similar to me,  違う人

  because I am interested in many different people  様々な人に興味があるから

  since it is good to have as many friends as possible.  友達はできるだけ多いのが良いので

to learn about people and society  人と社会について学ぶために

I prefer having friends who are similar to me to having friends who are different from me, 似た人

  because I prefer deep relationships to shallow relationships. 浅い付き合いより深い付き合いを好むから

  as I want friends with whom I can keep in touch even after we grow up  成長後も付き合える友が欲しくて

  for my hobby limits my choice of friends  というのは趣味により友達の選択肢が限定されるから

☆Your Sample Body Structure Notes

【Advantages of having friends who are different from you】

e. g.

【Advantages of having friends who are similar to you】

e. g.

【My choice and the reason】