“What do you do in your free time?” や “What do you like to do when you have time?” それぞれの返答となる “I read books in my free time.” や “I like to read books when I have time.” といった表現は、自己紹介などでもよく用いられます。”My hobby is reading books.” よりも柔らかい表現に響きます。
T: Today is Friday. Tomorrow is Saturday! No school. What do you usually do on Saturdays? I usually read books on Saturday afternoon. In the morning, I’m busy cleaning the house. After lunch, I have some free time. I enjoy reading books when I am free. Reading books ismy hobby. I like to read books in my free time.
この中には、以下の様々な表現が含まれています:
What do you usually ~? ー I usually ~. (ふつう~をします)
I have some free time. (自由な時間がある、暇がある)
when I am free (暇なとき)
in my free time (暇なとき)
I enjoy ~(ing). (~を楽しむ)
I like to ~. (~をするのが好き)
~ is my hobby. (~は私の趣味です)
T: Today is Friday. Tomorrow is Saturday! No school. I usually enjoy reading books on Saturday afternoon. What do you usually do on Saturdays, S1?
S1: … ゲーム.
T: You play video games? Or other games such as board games?
S1: Video games.
T: You usually play video games on Saturdays. What video game do you like?
S1: I like XYZ.
T: XYZ? I haven’t tried it yet. Is it fun?
S1: Yes.
T: Good. I want to try it. Thank you, S1.
このやり取りで指導者が用いた問いは、”What do you usually do on Saturdays?” でした。「(学校がお休みの)土曜日はふつう何をしますか」という既習表現で、頻度の副詞 usually を用いて問いかけています。生徒は残念ながら文の形では答えられなかったため、「ゲーム」も video games に直しながら、指導者が “You usually play video games on Saturday.” と整理して聞かせています。
T: S1 usually plays video games on Saturdays and he likes XYZ. S1 said it was fun. What do you do in your free time, S2?
S2: I play baseball … on Saturday.
T: You play baseball on Saturdays? That sounds nice. Actually my question was, “What do you do in your free time?” Well, do you have some free time on weekdays, … from Monday to Friday?
S2: Free time … Yes.
T: OK. Then, what do you do in your free time?
S2: I watch TV.
T: You watch TV in your free time. What program do you like?
S2: I like anime.
T: You like anime. For example? [Can you tell us your favorite anime? / What’s your favorite anime?]
S2: ABC.
T: Your like ABC. Me too. That’s really interesting. Which character do you like?
S2: I like XXX.
T: XXX! Tell me more. Why do you like XXX?
S2: Strong.
T: I see. XXX in very strong. Thank you, S2
前のやり取りで用いた “What do you usually do on Saturdays?” を何名かに繰り返した後、次の生徒には “What do you do in your free time?” と問いを変えてみます。すると、その問いの変化に気づかず、直前まで続いていた「土曜日になにをするか」に引きずられた答えとなってしまいました。
そこで指導者は “Do you have some free time …?” と親しみのある YES/NO 疑問でたずねます。「フリータイム」は日本語でも用いられますので、意味の想像がつけば、S2 のように「自由な時間にすること」を答えられる生徒も多いと想像されます。その生徒の発話を、指導者がここでも “You watch TV in your free time.” と整えて言い直します。こうやって “in your free time” という表現を導入しました。その後は、生徒の発話を発展させる問いを3つ続けています。
続いて、今度は動詞部分の表現を変えてみます。
T: S2 watches TV in his free time. What do you like to do in your free time, S3?
S3: I play with my cat.
T: Oh, you have a cat. Is your dog big or small?
S3: Small.
T: Your dog is small. It’s cute, isn’t it. What color?
S3: Brown.
T: Your cat is small and brown. What is his or her name?
S3: Momo.
T: Oh, it’s her. It’s a lovely name. So, S3, you play with your cat, Momo, in your free time. Do you like to play with her in your free time?
S3: Yes.
T: OK. You like to play with your cat in your free time, S3. Thank you, S3.
指導者は S3 に対し “What do you like to do in your free time?” とたずねています。”in your free time” は直前の問いと同じですが、”like to do” という動詞を用いています。生徒はそれに気づかず “I play with my cat.” と答えました。
文の形できちんと答えているので、指導者は少しそのまま話を発展させています。しかし最後に ” So, S3, you play with your cat, Momo, in your free time. DO YOU LIKE to play with her in your free time?” とたずねて、生徒から “Yes.” を引き出しました。その後、これまでと同様に “You like to play with your cat in your free time.” と表現を整えて聞かせています。
この後、下の例のように、他の生徒にも新しい問いを用いてたずねていく中で、”like to do” に慣れていけばよいので、最初では明示的に生徒の答えが適切な表現を受けてはいなかったことを訂正したりしません。次第に生徒自身で「違いに気づいて欲しい」という意図があります。
T: Hi, S4. S3 likes to play with her cat in her free time. How about you? What do you like to do in your free time?
S4: I like … piano.
T: You like to play the piano. Do you practice the piano every day?
S4: Yes, I do.
T: How long do you practice the piano every day?
S4: One hour.
T: You practice the piano for an hour every day. Great! Thank you, S4.