Two Events This Month

ウィットロック慶子-san is president of PTL英会話&TOEIC, a language school located in 三鷹, Tokyo. I've been there twice, and the place is filled with a sense of hospitality and a liberal atmosphere. I respect her as someone who makes that kind of space possible. This month, she is organizing two events for those interested in the TOEIC.

One is a lecture by ウィットロック-san herself, to be held on April 26, Sunday, entitled 「祝☆満点取得記念☆ウィットロック慶子☆私の知っているＴＯＥＩＣテクニック全て教えます」.

Two of my friends, Masaya and Morite2, will participate in the other event on April 29, which is a national holiday. Masaya, who among other things teaches at エッセンスイングリッシュスクール, will give a talk on 「TOEICのための語彙力アップ学習法」. There will also be a book signing opportunity for his latest work, 『新TOEIC R TEST 出る順で学ぶボキャブラリー990』. What's more, you can shake hands with the author. I'm not sure if shaking hands with a 41-year-old man could be considered a benefit, but I never doubt the talk will be enlightening as he always is.

Morite2, who studies linguistics at the University of Tokyo, will lecture on 『上級者のためのTOEIC攻略講座 —出題者の意図を知る—』. This topic I'm truly interested in. I can answer most TOEIC questions with certainty. But I sometimes wonder why the ETS asks those questions. What's intended when "suggest" and "propose" appear as answer choices in the same Part 5 question, for example? This is a personal interest, but I think reflecting on the intentions behind TOEIC questions may actually help better prepare for the test. Unfortunately, I've got a prior engagement that day, so I can't make it, but I hope to have an exciting discussion with the linguist sometime in the future.

If you are interested, see more details below:
http://keiko-whitolock.cocolog-nifty.com/blog/2009/03/post-3f7f-1.html
http://toeicjuken.seesaa.net/article/115892186.html
http://toeicblog.blog22.fc2.com/blog-entry-616.html

These events are not free, but the proceeds will go to an organization for dropout kids. Personally, I don't support that particular organization in the slightest, but as a former dropout myself I am glad there are people who care.