I had a day off today. This morning, I attended the English study club's meeting in this town, where we tried to read Roald Dahl's book "Matilda" individually. Each member tries to translate it into Japanese. Halfway through the class, we had a break. Suddenly, a member said to us that even though this kind of trial of reading books steadily must be important enough, we also need to make efforts to speak English actually to express what we are thinking in our minds, too. This comment caused a new interesting discussion among us.
I guess that this trial of reading such interesting books like "Matilda" must work for us to gain certain vocabulary enough (through this reading, I learned some British English words such as "Telly" which means Television), and also to understand other countries cultural backgrounds in detail. Therefore, it won't mean to be a waste of time. However, the person's comment also hit the truth to me. How can I enjoy actual conversation in English in real life? The discussion became very hot like this summer's atmosphere in Japan certainly.
After that meeting, I had lunch and went back to my group home. There, on the app clubhouse, I talked about this topic to the other people who were having an interesting conversation in English on their stage, They accepted this sudden question from me really warmly, and answered their opinions to me (and also, to the audience). To read books quietly and to speak with other people are not separated from each other (so, not to be compared to the other to be judged which is the first), but connected as interactive one. Yes, very splendid advice to me.
When I was young and relatively ignorant (in my 20s and 30s), I couldn't understand this simple truth about learning English, which means to me how important every day's steady effort can work very effectively (indeed, in that period I could have had a stubborn bias which was "feeling" must have been more important than "literal understanding"). Even though "Matilda" seems still very "tough" book to enjoy for me (but also, it seems so great masterpiece!), I believe this morning's reading activity has taught me one great lesson besides the novel's fruity, juicy content.
