Friends with Wings

2025年6月23日月曜日

Pre-TOEFL Writing Is watching TV a useful or enjoyable way of spending time? - revised -

Writing Topic　課題

Some people think watching television is enjoyable and educational, while others think it is a complete waste of time to watch television. Do you think watching TV is a useful or enjoyable way of spending time? Use specific details and examples in your answer.　テレビを観るのは楽しいし教育的だと思う人もいれば完全に時間の無駄だと思う人もいます。テレビを観ることは有益あるいは楽しい時間の過ごし方だと思いますか？答えには具体的な詳細や例を使って下さい。

☆Let’s think　考えてみよう

1. What are useful and enjoyable ways of spending time? What do you usually do when you have some free time and try not to waste it? Do you read, listen to music, watch a movie, work out, go for a walk, do something creative such as painting or writing poems, or chill out with your family or friends?

有益で楽しい時間の過ごし方とは何でしょうか？自由時間があり無駄にしたくない時、あなたは通常何をしますか？読書や音楽鑑賞、映画鑑賞、運動、散歩をしますか？絵を描くとか詩を書くといった創造的なことをしますか？家族や友人とゆっくりしますか？

2. Is watching TV as worth spending your precious time on as the activities you named above?

テレビを観ることは上であなたが挙げたような活動と同じくらいあなたの貴重な時間を費やす価値がありますか？

Note（メモ）: This statement has the article “a” before the expression “useful or enjoyable way of spending time”, so it means that although it is not “the” best, watching TV is as useful or enjoyable as activities that are considered good. 　この意見は「有益あるいは楽しい時間の使い方」という表現の前に冠詞の”a”があるので、テレビを見ることは「一番よい」訳ではないが、良いと考えられている活動と同じぐらい有益あるいは楽しいという意味になる。

☆Ideas and Expressions　アイディアと表現

Watching television is useful.　テレビを観ることは有益だ。

1. Watching big events on television, especially with family or friends, is enjoyable.

特に家族や友達と一緒にテレビで大きなイベントを観るのは楽しい。

2. TV-watching is useful for spending time with others because it is inclusive.

テレビ鑑賞は、誰でも仲間に入れるので人と時間を過ごす役に立つ。

3. Popular TV programs or ads provide conversation pieces, which are good icebreakers.

人気のあるテレビ番組やコマーシャルは話の種になり、打ち解けるのに良い。

4. TV shows show the norm, culture, language, or trend of the society in which they are made.

テレビのショーは製作された社会の規範や文化、言語或いは流行を示す。

5. Some special programs such as live broadcasts of sporting events and documentaries or educational programs like foreign language programs are hardly available elsewhere.

スポーツイベントの生放送やドキュメンタリーのような特別番組や外国語番組のような教育番組は他ではめったに利用できない。

6. One good thing about TV watching is that it allows you to learn things that you did not intend to.

テレビ鑑賞で良いことの一つは学ぼうと思っていなかったことを学ぶのを可能にするということだ。

7. As long as you keep an eye on how you use it, TV can be an inexpensive, handy tool for fun or relaxation. In moderation, watching television is a useful and enjoyable activity for free time and poses no problem just as alcoholic drinks and gambling helps you enjoy life unless you get indulged in them too much.

使い方に気を付けている限り、テレビは楽しみやリラックスのための手ごろで手近な道具だ。あまりにも耽溺しすぎない限りお酒や賭け事が人生を楽しむ役に立つのと同様に、節度を持てばテレビ鑑賞は自由時間のための有益で楽しい活動であり何も問題ない。

TV watching is a waste of time.　テレビ鑑賞は時間の無駄だ。

1. TV is addictive. It wastes away your time while you sit in front of the screen.

テレビは中毒性がある。画面の前に座っている間に時間を浪費する。

2. It is a passive activity. You just sit and watch, while you should be doing something more important.

受動的な活動だ。より大切なことをしているべき時に座って観るだけだ。

3. Most of the time spent watching TV is spent watching TV advertisements, most of which are aimed to make you want needless goods or follow fashion trends obsessively.　テレビの観ている間の時間のほとんどは広告を見て費やされ、そのほとんどは不要なものを買いたいと思わせたり取りつかれたように流行を追わせたりする狙いがある。

4. TV can make you narrow-minded or brainwashed, not aware of what is really going on in the world, because it is sponsored by corporations and the government, which can manipulate the content.　テレビは企業や政府がスポンサーで内容を操作する可能性があるので、本当は世界で何が起こっているのかに気づかず近視眼的になったり洗脳されたりする。

5. Television is not a good information source anymore. The information provided by most of the TV programs is superficial. Also, TV news is not really new as the information on the Internet is updated by the minute although it might be more trustworthy.　もはや良い情報源ではない。テレビが提供する情報は表面的だ。また、テレビのニュースは分刻みで更新されるインターネットのニュースほど新しくない。

☆Sample Essay Structure　構成例

【Thesis = Outline】In moderation, watching TV is useful and enjoyable.

【Good Point 1】Watching big events on a large screen at home is enjoyable.

【Good Point 2】 TV-watching is useful for spending time with others because it is inclusive.

【Counterargument-treatment】Although most programs might be good for nothing, some are good, or educational. Also, it is true that TV is addictive and you could waste your time, but if you can control yourself, TV poses no problem just as alcohol and gambling helps you enjoy life unless you indulge yourself in them too much.

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】TV can provide a good time if used wisely.

【主張＝概略】節度を保てばテレビを見ることは有益で楽しい。

【利点 1】家で大型スクリーンで大きな催しを観るのは楽しい。

【利点 2】誰でも仲間に入れるので他人と過ごすのにテレビは役立つ。

【反論処理】ほとんどの番組は何の役にも立たないかもしれないが良い番組や教育的な番組もある。また、テレビは中毒性があり時間を無駄にするかもしれないが、丁度アルコールや賭け事が浸りすぎない限り人生を楽しむ助けとなるように、自制できれば問題ない。

【結論＝まとめ】賢く使えばテレビは良い時を提供する可能性がある。

Your Sample Essay Structure

【Main Idea = Outline】（主張=概略）

【Reason 1】（要点１）

【Reason 2】（要点２）

【Counterargument-treatment】（反論処理）

【Conclusion = Wrap-up】（段落の結論=まとめ）

☆Sample Paragraph Development　段落展開例

Sample 1　例１

【Main Idea】 TV-watching is useful for spending time with others because it is inclusive.

【Supporting Details】You can usually share the content of TV with anyone. You can spend an evening with your family or friends watching programs intended for most people. TV is especially useful when you spend time with someone you don’t know very much about. You do not have to worry about likes and dislikes of the stranger once you have chosen a popular program such as a news program, a music show, or a sports program. You just watch it together, and then you can laugh together or find a conversation piece from the content of the program, say, the latest costume of a popular singer or a succor game result.

【Conclusion】 TV is a good medium for bonding.

【主張】テレビ鑑賞は誰でも仲間に入れるので人と時間を過ごす役に立つ。

【詳細】通常は誰とでもテレビの内容を共有できる。大半の人のための番組を家族や友達と観て夜を過ごすことができる。特にあまり知らない人と過ごす時に役立つ。ニュース番組や音楽番組或いはスポーツ番組のような人気番組を一度選んでしまえばその知らない人の好き嫌いを心配しなくてよい。ただ一緒に見てそれから一緒に笑ったり、例えば人気歌手の最新の衣装やサッカーの試合結果といった番組内容から会話の種をみつけたりすることができる。

【結論】テレビは絆作りのための良い媒体だ。

Sample 2　例２

【Main Idea】TV is addictive.

【Supporting Details】For many people, the act of watching TV itself is the objective. Many automatically turn on TV when they have some free time and keep it on, without selecting programs. Even when they select a program, in a few minutes, they get hypnotized and keep staring at the screen for hours without remembering the content. Conscious use can avoid such behavior but the problem is that TV makes us believe doing something productive and feel good when in fact we could be doing something more memorable such as listening to a good piece of music or talking with someone.

【Conclusion】 TV-watching is detrimental to our lives.

【主張】テレビは中毒性がある。

【詳細】多くの人にとってテレビを見ること自体が目的である。暇があると自動的にテレビをつけ番組を選ばないでつけっぱなしにする人が多い。番組を選んだ時でさえ、数分以内で催眠状態になり何時間も画面を凝視し続け内容を覚えていない。意識的な使用によってその様な行動は避けられるが、例えば良い音楽を一曲聴くとか誰かと話すという様なもっと記憶に残ることができるのにテレビは何か生産的な事をしていると信じ込ませ気分良くさせてしまうところが問題だ。

【結論】テレビ視聴は人生に有害だ。

Pre-TOEFL Writing Is watching TV a useful or enjoyable way of spending time?

テレビを観るのは楽しいし教育的だと思う人もいれば完全に時間の無駄だと思う人もいます。テレビを観ることは有益あるいは楽しい時間の過ごし方だと思いますか？答えには具体的な詳細や例を使って下さい。

☆Let’s think　考えてみよう

2. Is watching TV as worth spending your precious time on as the activities you named above?

テレビを観ることは上であなたが挙げたような活動と同じくらいあなたの貴重な時間を費やす価値がありますか？

☆Ideas and Expressions　アイディアと表現

Watching television is useful.　テレビを観ることは有益だ。

1. Watching big events on television, especially with family or friends, is enjoyable.

特に家族や友達と一緒にテレビで大きなイベントを観るのは楽しい。

2. TV-watching is useful for spending time with others because it is inclusive.

テレビ鑑賞は、誰でも仲間に入れるので人と時間を過ごす役に立つ。

3. Popular TV programs or ads provide conversation pieces, which are good icebreakers.

人気のあるテレビ番組やコマーシャルは話のタネになり、打ち解けるのに良い。

4. TV shows show the norm, culture, language, or trend of the society in which they are made.

テレビのショーは製作された社会の規範や文化、言語或いは流行を示す。

5. Some special programs such as live broadcasts of sporting events and documentaries or educational programs like foreign language programs are hardly available elsewhere.

スポーツイベントの生放送やドキュメンタリーのような特別番組や外国語番組のような教育番組は他ではめったに利用できない。

6. One good thing about TV watching is that it allows you to learn things that you did not intend to.

テレビ鑑賞で良いことの一つは学ぼうと思っていなかったことを学ぶのを可能にするということだ。

TV watching is a waste of time.　テレビ鑑賞は時間の無駄だ。

1. TV is addictive. It wastes away your time while you sit in front of the screen.

テレビは中毒性がある。画面の前に座っている間に時間を浪費する。

2. It is a passive activity. You just sit and watch, while you should be doing something more important.

受動的な活動だ。より大切なことをしているべき時に座って観るだけだ。

5. Television is not a good information source anymore. The quality and quantity of information of most TV programs are inferior to those of other media. It is also neither new nor authentic. The information on the Internet is updated by the minute. Mainstream media like big TV stations and newspapers often provide wrong information about important issues in politics and economy. Although information on the Internet is also often wrong, there are independent media doing outstanding jobs.　テレビはもはや良い情報源ではない。大半のテレビ番組の情報の質と量は他のメディアの情報の質と量に劣る。また、新しくもないし真正でもない。インターネットの情報は分単位で更新される。大手テレビ局や新聞のような主要メディアは政治・経済の重要な問題で間違った情報を提供する。ネットの情報もよく間違っているが素晴らしい仕事をする独立メディアがある。

☆Paragraph Development Samples

【Main Idea】 TV-watching is useful for spending time with others because it is inclusive.

【Conclusion】 TV is a good medium for bonding.

【主張】テレビ鑑賞は誰でも仲間に入れるので人と時間を過ごす役に立つ。

【まとめ】。テレビは絆作りのための良い媒体だ。

2025年6月16日月曜日

Writing for an Academic Discussion Facility or faculty in university? - revised -

Should universities allocate more funds toward enhancing their physical infrastructure rather than recruiting exceptional faculty? (education)

☆Let’s Think

1. Why do people go to university?

2. For what purpose does the university exist?

3. What is physical infrastructure of a university?

4. What does exceptional faculty mean?

Notes:

- In general, people go to university to learn what they are really interested in. They are also interested to equip themselves with knowledge and skills to lead a better life in terms of their work and private life.

- Purposes of universities are mainly two: research and education.

- Physical infrastructure of a university includes those not only for studies but also for students such as shuttle bus services, cafeteria. dormitories, and gyms.

- Exceptional faculty is a group of professors who have made breakthroughs in research and development.

☆Hints for Points

Physical infrastructure

1. The grade of the facilities determines the research results in some areas while physical infrastructure and the faculty are interdependent in institutional performance.

2. Most students do not care if their professors are not the best as long as they are good enough to teach them. Rather, they prefer to have the best environment for their college life.

3. These days, universities as a business need to invest in enrollment, and university ranking is determined by various factors. College-bound students who are purely interested in the subject they are going to major in and choose a university with renowned professors in the field of their interest are minorities. A larger percentage of them want to pursue a quality life rather than academic success and are more concerned with the facilities related to their college life than the professors. They may choose the universities by the appearances of the buildings, easy access, and safety. Individual interests may also affect the decisions. For example, students who are to live away from home might take good dormitory facilities into consideration. Students who enjoy sports would check out good sporting facilities.

Exceptional faculty

1. If prioritizing physical infrastructure than exceptional faculty is based on the idea that university is a business and thus its purpose is to make profits, I cannot agree with it because in my understanding university exists to promote and protect studies. Spending more money on facilities than on hiring good professors for profits is putting the cart before the horse.

2. The main purpose of a university is research and education. Profits should be the last of its priority. Although reality may put pressure on allocating more of its budget to other factors than hiring high-quality professors, if it gives in, it is not really entitled to be called higher education. Instead of trying to increase its capital by attracting many applicants, a university should support its academic activities with distinguished professors. University officers focused on short-term profits should reaffirm their responsibility in protecting freedom of university, and governments must subsidize universities so that they don’t have to pursue immediate financial outcome.

3. Good research and teaching cannot be done without a good brain that can manage the infrastructure. Although university should provide a good environment so that professors can do research without worrying about funding, good facilities cannot be utilized without good researchers. For example, abundant information that sophisticated machines can provide is useless without a person who knows how to use machines and how to interpret the information.

4. Remarkable professors will contribute to fundamental researches and practical appliances, contributing to the development of society. They protect, improve, and increase the knowledge of the community.

5. Outstanding professors are not only top-level researchers but also very good teachers, who are skilled and inspiring mentors. They instill students with inquiry, critical thinking, and high moral. They are some of the best, or at least most interesting, minds students meet in their whole lives: human beings with extraordinary brains and often unforgettable personalities. It is professors that raise the next generation of researchers and well-educated citizens that support important studies.

☆Sample Answer for Ideas and Expressions

【Thesis】I’d like to be a devil’s advocate and insist on the importance of spending money on the physical infrastructure of university rather than on the faculty. All professors are above a certain academic level as they have acquired at least one doctor’s degree, while not all facilities are above a standard.

【Supporting Details】Physical facilities deteriorate through use and become outdated over time. Especially in science studies, facilities for experiments, observations, and data analysis are crucial. Some universities even have a set of equipment that is one of the few existing in the world. Such facilities are expensive and cost much to maintain. The humanities also need good facilities for various purposes. History departments need to preserve old documents and artifacts, which require intensive cares like temperature control and mold prevention. Language departments need audio machines for aural training. After all, all university departments need a large and latest computing and data storage system.

【Counterargument-treatment】It is true that distinguished professors are extremely inspiring and utilize the facilities to the full. However, all professors are good enough to teach students and use the facilities. Star professors, on the other hand, seldom teach undergraduates. Moreover, breakthroughs depend on good luck rather than genius when professors in the same field are collaborating to pursue the same goal these days. Great discoveries and inventions occur when systematic shared work is conducted. It would be great if your university makes a discovery of the century, but the success is attributed to all universities that have cooperated for the breakthrough rather than your university alone.

【Conclusion】Therefore, state-of-the-art facilities are always in demand and their installation should be in priority rather than having outstandingly good professors no matter how attractive it is. (283 words)