背景知識
| パート | 時間 | 内容 |
|---|---|---|
| Part 1 | 4〜5分 | 身近なトピックについての Q&A |
| Part 2 | 3〜4分 | Cue Card（準備1分 + スピーチ1〜2分） |
| Part 3 | 4〜5分 | 抽象的な議論 |
Part 1 — Q&A
Absolutely, yes. I'd say my smartphone is one of the first things I reach for in the morning. I use it for everything from checking my work emails and calendar to navigating public transport. To be honest, I sometimes worry that I'm a bit too reliant on it, but it's become so integrated into my routine that going without it for even a day would be quite disruptive.
Mainly for messaging — I use Slack for work and LINE for friends and family. I also use it to read tech articles during my commute. So it's a mix of professional and personal use.
That's a really interesting question. I think, to a certain extent, yes. Many people — myself included — struggle to do basic things like read a map without their devices. On the other hand, I don't think reliance on tools is inherently a bad thing. The concern today is more about our attention being constantly pulled away by notifications and social media.
Not really, actually. I grew up when smartphones weren't as common, so I spent a lot more time outdoors and reading physical books. Looking back, I think that balance was quite healthy. It's interesting to see how different children's experiences are today.
Part 2 — Cue Card
Describe a piece of technology you use every day.
- what it is
- how you use it
- why you use it every day
- and explain how your life would be different without it.
The piece of technology I rely on most in my daily life is definitely my laptop, and more specifically, the development environment I use for coding — Visual Studio Code. I use it every single day at work. As a software engineer, it's where I spend the vast majority of my working hours — writing code, debugging problems, reviewing pull requests, and reading documentation. I've customised it with extensions and keyboard shortcuts, so it's become almost an extension of my own thinking process. The reason I use it every day is simply that my work requires it. But beyond that, I genuinely enjoy using it. As for how my life would be different without it — honestly, it would be difficult to imagine. I'd lose not just my productivity, but also the muscle memory and habits I've built up over years. So overall, while it's just a piece of software, it's become genuinely indispensable.
Part 3 — 抽象的な議論
Technology has fundamentally transformed work in a number of ways. The most obvious change is that remote work is now viable for millions of people. Before cloud computing and video conferencing tools existed, most knowledge work had to happen in an office. Now, I can collaborate with colleagues in different countries from my home. However, there's a downside — the expectation to always be reachable has blurred the line between work and personal time.
To a certain extent, I think that's a fair observation. Young people have grown up with smartphones, so it's natural they rely on them heavily. For instance, many struggle to navigate without GPS. That said, I don't think dependence is entirely negative — it's a sign that technology is genuinely useful. The concern is when it replaces basic skills or face-to-face interaction.
I think AI will have the biggest impact. Many routine tasks — scheduling, basic writing, data analysis — are already being automated. This could free people up to focus on more creative and interpersonal work. But it also means people need to continuously adapt their skills. The challenge is whether education systems can keep up with the pace of change.
有用表現
よくある日本人のミス
| ミス | 正しい表現 |
|---|---|
| "Yes." だけで終わる | 必ず理由・例を1文追加 |
| 冠詞の省略（"I have iPhone"） | "I have an iPhone." |
| "very very important" の繰り返し | crucial / indispensable / fundamental |
自己評価
次回予告：Day 019 — Listening（Museum Audio Guide）