The Introduction of SSS in English

Hello everyone! This is Mariko@SSS

I made an introduction of SSS in English.
I heard some English speaking teachers had already visited this web site and more English people might come this web site while Prof Sakai is in UK.

I will show it here though this introduction is still simple and not the perfect version because I would like to get them to understand us well.
I can make it more precisely a little by little.
When you find some mistakes Please let me know.

I hope this English version of SSS is going to be shown on the web page soon when 'In English’ has been clicked.

Best Regards
Mariko

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SSS Extensive Reading Method (This is still a temporary name.)
by Mariko KAWATE April 18th /2003

SSS Extensive Reading Method is a new way to learn English as a Second Language.

Almost all Japanese feel they cannot use English as a tool for communication. Nor can they read books or write a letter or a report in English, though they have studied English 4-6 hours a week for at least 6 years in junior high and senior high schools.

This is due to the teaching method of English at school. The emphasis on intensive reading where we are forced to learn new words with a dictionary and memorize them and to understand the structure of difficult sentences. Most students study English to get high scores in examinations. And teachers are supposed to teach them in the traditional way.
Few people had questioned the way we study English at school because it was traditional and has been used in Japan for many years. And they only find their ‘English’ was no use only when they happen to need to use English for work or further study.

Prof. Sakai who is the chairman of SSS Extensive Reading Club has been researching for a new method to improve of Teaching of English as a Foreign Language for many years. And he found that they need more input of natural English. He has shown that when students read many easy books with pleasure the amount of input becomes extremely large.

Then SSS was created to support Prof Sakai and to spread SSS Extensive Reading Method all over the world to help many people who feel it difficult to learn English as a second language.

The main activity of SSS is
To run the website
To show how to do the extensive reading
To make a book list for SSS Extensive Reading
And to show how to teach English with extensive reading

1.To run the website
The most noteworthy are the eight bulletin boards where anyone can write what he/she thinks of a book he/she has read and discuss problems on reading books. Many people are now actively participating to exchange their views and ideas.

2.To show how to do the extensive reading includes
Which books to read at start and afterward.
How to chose books to read.
How fast they need to read.
How fast they go up to the next level.
How many words there are in each of the books shown on the book list.
How the scenario goes, how good the books are and how the reviewers like it.

3. To show how to do the extensive reading
There are over 2800 books introduced on the web with reviews. They include Graded Readers and paper backs published for children.
The level of the books is from for beginner to for advanced English learner as a second language. The members of SSS English Reading Club evaluated all the books on the book list and has given the rating from 0.0 to 9.0.

4. To show how to teach English with extensive reading
Most of the English teachers have taught students in a traditional way and they do not know how to guide them and get them to experience the pleasure while reading English books.


The aim of SSS Extensive Reading Method is to read one million words with three simple rules.
1. No dictionaries while reading.
2. Skip over difficult words and phrases.
3. Quit reading when the book is heavy going.

No one could not realize these rules necessary when he reads the books because they were too simple and natural. Thinking of the way we read the books in mother tongue, even small children read the books with this way.
These rules are very important and difficult to keep them in mind when reading the books because people does not imagine that reading with these rules can make them improve English. They believe that they just need hard work to learn English.

Many people had already started SSS Extensive Reading and enjoy reading books. Most of them have read more than one million words in a year. They are now realizing this method is the best way to improve their English. To their surprise, SSS Extensive Reading Method also lead to people to feel comfortable and understand it well when listening English. It is thought that they could understand the words in the order they listen.

The principle of our method is given in the book
"Toward One Million Words and Beyond " by SAKAI Kunihide.

Hello,Mariko-san,and minasan!
Thank you for signing at the time of Mr.Sakai's lecture meeting!
That book will be my Bible.
It's great,if the people in the world know SSS by Web page.
(Sorry, some awkward sentences.)
See you,Happy Reading.

Hello, Merry-Bell-san. This is Mariko.

〉Thank you for signing at the time of Mr.Sakai's lecture meeting!
I was very glad to see you at the meeting.
Signing!
I was so embarrassed.

〉That book will be my Bible.
Thank you for saying that.
Actually our books are given nicknames,
'Toward One Million Words and Beyond' by Prof. Sakai is called The Old,
and 'Let's Read English Books for One Million Words' by us is The New like The Bible.
I sometimes imagine Mr. Sakai as The Christ.
It's true in a sense. But when the thought comes to my mind I always laugh.

〉It's great, if the people in the world know SSS by Web page.
Yes. I think so too.
I would like many people who have troubles to learn English to know this method.

Happy Reading.

Hi,Ms.Mariko and everybody

At first, Mariko-san,
Thank you so much for making the introduction of SSS in English.
I appreciate a lot. (hug,hug！)

I think that the SSS Extensive Reading Method is not only for Japanese,
but also everybody who learns English as a Second Language.
I hope it will expand to all over the world.

Unlearning, Happy reading!

Hi, Mariko-san!

It's great that many foreign english-study-people (or english teacher)
know about the SSS method and learn english more pleasant and easy way.

I have read this introduction and thought "it's perfect" at first, but
today I read it again and found a little uncomfortable feeling. I don't
know a lot of words and grammar, so i can't tell if it's correct. Just feeling.

〉He has shown that when students read many easy books with pleasure the amount of input becomes extremely large.

I think the word 'input' is unnatural here. But I'm sorry that I cannot
find out another word I can feel "That's it!"
Absorb?....I know it's not a noun and I don't know if we can use
absorbing. Hmmmm....it's easier said than done.

〉To their surprise, SSS Extensive Reading Method also lead to people to feel comfortable and understand it well when listening English.

Yes! Yes! Yes! It was surprise to found that I understood many fraise
of the song from the movie 'CHICAGO' So I could sing main fraise
loudly on the way to home. It's so fun! Oh, don't ask that...another
fraise? Sorry to say, I have remember words but melody.

By the way, I feel a bit strange about this sentence. But I'm afraid
I can't explain why.
I have read more than 2,000,000 words, and that changed my English
very much. I can feel the words or sentence and also know the words
are comfortable or not. It's a very foggy way, though.

I'll happy to read Introduction Version 2. But please don't get your
new KONDARA!

Hello, Ally-san!

Thank you for your reply.
I was very glad to have a message and comments about the Introduction of SSS from you.
Very nice of you.

〉It's great that many foreign English-study-people (or English teacher)
〉know about the SSS method and learn English more pleasant and easy way.

Thank you.
Did you find the phrase I wrote, 'to spread SSS method all over the world'
Please do not laugh. Of course I laughed when I wrote it.

〉I have read this introduction and thought "it's perfect" at first, but
〉today I read it again and found a little uncomfortable feeling. I don't
〉know a lot of words and grammar, so I can't tell if it's correct. Just feeling.

〉〉He has shown that when students read many easy books with pleasure the amount of input becomes extremely large.

〉I think the word 'input' is unnatural here. But I'm sorry that I cannot
〉find out another word I can feel "That's it!"
〉Absorb?....I know it's not a noun and I don't know if we can use
〉absorbing. Hmmmm....it's easier said than done.

Yes I understand it.
Thank you for pointing out.
It should be 'absorption'.
But there is a input hypothesis that Dr Krashen advocates about extensive reading.
I think the brains absorb English, when we input English to our brains with reading English books.
I will think about more appropriate word for this part.

〉〉To their surprise, SSS Extensive Reading Method also lead to people to feel comfortable and understand it well when listening English.

〉Yes! Yes! Yes! It was surprise to found that I understood many fraise
〉of the song from the movie 'CHICAGO' So I could sing main fraise
〉loudly on the way to home. It's so fun! Oh, don't ask that...another
〉fraise? Sorry to say, I have remember words but melody.

〉By the way, I feel a bit strange about this sentence. But I'm afraid
〉I can't explain why.
〉I have read more than 2,000,000 words, and that changed my English
〉very much. I can feel the words or sentence and also know the words
〉are comfortable or not. It's a very foggy way, though.

Yes. I understand your feeling.
And I meant the phrase that you can understand easily when you listen Englishbetter than before after you read many words, I mean, many books.
It might be insufficient to explain it.

〉I'll happy to read Introduction Version 2. But please don't get your
〉new KONDARA!

I have already got KONDARA (heavy lord) abour this , but I love my heart occupied with something.
Then I can forget something bad and sad.

Anyway I found a big mistake in the script by myself, too.
I have to rewrite it again soon.

Thank you Ally again, I hope you'll give me another advice and feeling about it.

Hi, Mariko-san.

Sorry to be late to respond you.

It' a pity that I didn't meet you at off-line meeting.
But eventually I saw you on the web page which Maria-san shows us
the picture of SSS presentation at Sanseido.
Originally I imagined you look like Natsume Masako,
because You are so familiar with Kondara.
You don't but you are very handsome, Not compliment!

I read the instroduction of SSS and of course.
Fantastic! Nice challange!

My comments are below and I am happy if these are helpful for you.

〉SSS Extensive Reading Method is a new way to learn English as a Second Language.

〉Almost all Japanese feel they cannot use English as a tool for communication. Nor can they read books or write a letter or a report in English, though they have studied English 4-6 hours a week for at least 6 years in junior high and senior high schools.
〉
〉This is due to the teaching method of English at school. The emphasis on intensive reading where we are forced to learn new words with a dictionary and memorize them and to understand the structure of difficult sentences. Most students study English to get high scores in examinations. And teachers are supposed to teach them in the traditional way.
〉Few people had questioned the way we study English at school because it was traditional and has been used in Japan for many years. And they only find their ‘English’ was no use only when they happen to need to use English for work or further study.

I thought, the new way and traditional way to learn English is not clearly defined.
So people who read this wards first will be confused.

In my opinion though,
Japan's compulsory English education system does not seem to aim at developing the English ability
as a communication tool but tool to passing the examinations.
The traditional way's goal is to pass the examinations.
but new new way's goal is to get the ability to communicate in English as a tool.
Japan's English education system is not on the side of students but teachers.
The Content in class is based on grammer and consisit of very few words,
for example The body text of textbook in 1st grade of junior high school consists of only about
1000 words. Of course, Many fundamentals of English grammer is written on it. but if you read
the textbook you can read it within 10 minutes.
So the system of English education is very covenient for the teachers.
Even baby speaks their language over 10 minutes in a day.
How can Japanese can develop English ability as a communication tools.
So, More more words input is need for Englsih learners.

(I am feeling hopeless!!!! during my writing above)

〉Prof. Sakai who is the chairman of SSS Extensive Reading Club has been researching for a new method to improve of Teaching of English as a Foreign Language for many years. And he found that they need more input of natural English. He has shown that when students read many easy books with pleasure the amount of input becomes extremely large.

〉Then SSS was created to support Prof Sakai and to spread SSS Extensive Reading Method all over the world to help many people who feel it difficult to learn English as a second language.

In above sentens, word SSS is an organizaiton, for example organization of SSS or a group of SSS is clear.

〉The main activity of SSS is
〉To run the website
〉To show how to do the extensive reading
〉To make a book list for SSS Extensive Reading
〉And to show how to teach English with extensive reading

Last sentens, for whom will you teach? or what kind of teacher will you do?

〉1.To run the website
〉The most noteworthy are the eight bulletin boards where anyone can write what he/she thinks of a book he/she has read and discuss problems on reading books. Many people are now actively participating to exchange their views and ideas.

Last sentenses, Below is more natunal, I thought.
Many people are now actively exchanging thier views and ideas on the board.

I want to add this sentense.
People who do SSS Extensive Reading Method were highly motivated and energized by the community on this website
whenever they feel tired and reluctant to read.

〉2.To show how to do the extensive reading includes

Here, "the extensive reading" means "SSS Extensive Rading Method"
You had better use clear defined word.

〉Which books to read at start and afterward.
〉How to chose books to read.
〉How fast they need to read.
〉How fast they go up to the next level.
〉How many words there are in each of the books shown on the book list.
〉How the scenario goes, how good the books are and how the reviewers like it.

〉3. To show how to do the extensive reading

Same as above comment.

〉There are over 2800 books introduced on the web with reviews. They include Graded Readers and paper backs published for children.

Maybe "introduction" is stead of "introduced2.

〉The level of the books is from for beginner to for advanced English learner as a second language. The members of SSS English Reading Club evaluated all the books on the book list and has given the rating from 0.0 to 9.0.

〉4. To show how to teach English with extensive reading
〉Most of the English teachers have taught students in a traditional way and they do not know how to guide them and get them to experience the pleasure while reading English books.
〉
〉
〉The aim of SSS Extensive Reading Method is to read one million words with three simple rules.

"The aim at" is natural, I thought.

〉1. No dictionaries while reading.
〉2. Skip over difficult words and phrases.
〉3. Quit reading when the book is heavy going.

---------------------

If my comments is helpful, I am happy.
but if some my expression makes you bad, I am sorry.

Expression.

1)You had better define terms as a definition :
SSS Extensive Readuing Method
SSS (Organizaion or group)
Dr Sakai(founder)
SSS websete
SSS community on BBC
ets

2)First goal of SSS(1M words) had better be wrote more.
because you can explain why website is important

--------------------

Bye.

Hello! Genkotsu-san, This is Mariko.

How nice to see you again.

〉Sorry to be late to respond you.
No, No, No problem.

〉It' a pity that I didn't meet you at off-line meeting.

I was, too.
I was sorry I did not come to the off-line party, either and I missed not meeting you.

〉But eventually I saw you on the web page which Maria-san shows us
〉the picture of SSS presentation at Sanseido.

Oh! you did?

〉Originally I imagined you look like Natsume Masako,
〉because You are so familiar with Kondara.

Oh, my...I am not so good looking like her. She is charming and I love her.
I wonder Kondara has any relation to NATSUME Masako.

〉You don't but you are very handsome, Not compliment!

Do you think so about me? Amm...Thank you.
It's OK if it is a compliment, and a...
Your word made me so happy.
And It's is a very nice to me someone think something about me.
Because grown-ups don't have a chance to be said such a fantastic thing, do they?

When I met you I could surely find good thing about you.

And I thank you very much for reading that incomplete introduction and making comments about it.
and these comments are very helpful and make me think about it deeply.
It's too late at night now and I will think it again and make responds to your comments tomorrow.

bye.

Hi, Genkotsu-san.

How are you doing?
I have left this introduction of SSS in English undone for this few weeks.
I have gone through your opinion and I really appreciate your help.

I thought you spent much time for me on giving me such good suggestions.
There are some who told me the mistake of English but no one who told me what I need to write and to explain more precisely except you.

It might take more time for me to complete it. I will keep thinking about it and writing.
Thank you again.

Bye for now.
Mariko

Hi, Mariko-san

I spent a week vacation and enjoyed it (without reading).

I am happy that my opinion helped you.

Step by step, SSS spleads in the world as well as in Japan.
Maybe near future people all over the world will attend this chat room.

Wooo, I can't wait.

Bye.

I really agree with Genkotsu san's opinion.

And I think Three rules are not sufficient.
We should add two more rules.

1. Read from the very low level.
(At least, we should start from Penguin Easystarts Level,
if the circumstance allows us, we should start
from ORT Stage 1.)

2. No dictionaries while reading.

3. Skip over difficult words and phrases.
We can enjoy reading from what we can
understand without dictionary.

4. Quit reading when the book is heavy going.

5. No excercise, No quota,
We only read from joy.

I think the 1st and 5th rule are also important and
we must emphasize on them.

Good night, Genkotsu-san, Mariko-san