英検１級２次試験（即興スピーチ）の対策のひとつとして、スピーチ原稿の作成があげられます。想定されるトピックに対し、自分の考えを簡潔にまとめ、文章に表現することはとても難しいですが、とても重要なことです。試験では即興で２分間スピーチをするわけですが、事前の準備がなければ、内容のある充実したスピーチをすることは不可能です。

私もこつこつスピーチ原稿を作成しました。試験前１ヶ月は毎日１トピックについてまとめるようにしていました。しかし、原稿の数はどんどん増えていったのですが、その内容が一体合格レベルにあるのかどうか不安になってきました。

その頃、私はインタビュー試験専門校（当時　英検１級２次試験専門予備校）「テソーラスハウス」へ通学しておりました。私は、日常生活の中はもちろん、英会話スクールにおいてもスピーチの機会などほとんどなかったため、スピーチ実践のとても良い訓練になりました。この学校の講師に、スピーチ原稿のチェックについて相談したところ、他の生徒からも同様の声があがっているので、「スピーチ添削」を正式に始める予定ですと教えていただきました。サービス開始後、早速申し込み、私の作成したスピーチ原稿の添削を受けました。スピーチの構成から、英文の言い回しまで、細かい指導をしていただき、以前の不安は解消されました。チェック後の原稿は、「スピーチのひな型（原型）」とし、そこから様々なトピックに応用していきました。

このコーナーでは、私の作成したオリジナルスピーチ原稿とネイティブ講師のコメント、添削結果１件をご紹介いたします。本件につきまして、「テソーラスハウス」殿のご好意により特別に掲載を許可いただきました。ありがとうございました。

１）青い部分は、タイトルと作成年月日です。
２）大文字のブロック体で書かれている部分は、ネイティブ講師のコメントと添削結果です。
３）>の後に書かれている部分は、私のオリジナルスピーチ原稿です。

なお、テソーラスハウス殿にておこなわれております「スピーチ添削」詳細につきましては、こちらを御参照ください。

　「スピーチ添削」（http://www.eiken-thhouse.com/）

Do the benefits outweigh the dangers of nuclear power plants?
    （1999.10.29.作成）

HIROSHI I THINK THAT YOUR SPEECH WAS EXCELLENT.MAINLY I HAVE MADE THE INFORMATION FLOW MORE FREELY WITH THE POINTS ARRANGED MORE LOGICALLY.  ALSO I OMITTED THE POINT ABOUT SPENDING MONEY ON SECURITY BECAUSE THIS SOUNDS TOO MUCH LIKE A PERFECT SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM THAT YOUWERE DISCUSSING. IF THE POINT IS RAISED AS A QUESTION THEN IT WOULD BE GOOD TO SAY THAT NO SECURITY IS EVER FULLY FAIL PROOF.

>Do you know how many nuclear power plants in Japan?  Now there are more than 60 in Japan.  About 40% of total electricity are coming from nuclear power plants.Japanese government are eager to increase that number. My answer to this question is No. Some may say that nuclear power plant is good because it can generate a lot of energy by consuming a little fuel.But I don't think so.  I have two reasons supporting this idea.

DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS EXIST IN JAPAN TODAY?  MORE THAN 60! ABOUT 30% OF OUR TOTAL ELECTRICITY IS GENERATED IN THESE NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS AND THE GOVERNMENT IS EAGER TO INCREASE THIS FIGURE.  ALTHOUGH SOME PEOPLE ARE OF THE OPINION THAT NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS ARE MORE EFFICIENT AND BETTER FOR THE ENVIRONMENT I STRONGLY FEEL THAT SUCH BENEFITS DEFINITELY DO NOT OUTWEIGH THE DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH NUCLEAR POWER.  TODAY I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT TWO REASONS WHY I THINK THIS.

>One reason is that serious accidents may happen in the future.  Last month there was a big accident in the Uranium processing factory in  Ibaraki Prefecture.The cause of this accident was a human error.  Humans are not perfect.We all sometimes make mistakes.  Even if we design nuclear fascility very carefully,we can't prevent  accidents.  Once an accident happens,it can cause a tremendous damage not only to people  but also environment.It will take hundreds of years to recover.  We shouldn't use so risky system.In stead of using nuclear power plant,we should use alternative energy system such as solar power or wind power.

ONE REASON IS THE POTENTIAL FOR SERIOUS ACCIDENTS.  LAST MONTH IN IBARAKI PREFECTURE THERE WAS A CRITICALITY INCIDENT IN THE JCO URANIUM PROCESSING FACTORY.  THE CAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WAS HUMAN ERROR.  THIS IS NORMAL BECAUSE HUMANS ARE NOT PERFECT, THEY ARE FALLIBLE AND THEY WILL SOMETIMES MAKE MISTAKES.  A PERFECTLY DESIGNED NUCLEAR FACILITY WILL STILL BE SUBJECT TOHUMAN.  SUCH MISTAKES CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF LIFE AS WELL AS ENVIRONMENTAL DAMAGE THAT MAY TAKE HUNDREDS OF YEARS TO REPAIR.  THE RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH NUCLEAR POWER ARE TOO HIGH AND INSTEAD WE SHOULD BE LOOKING TO OTHER NATURAL, ALTERNATIVE ENERGY SOURCES LIKE WIND, WATER AND SUN.

>The other reason is that it may become a target of terrorism.  What will happen if terrorists capture a nuclear power plant?  A nuclear power plant will become like a nuclear bomb.  If they explode that facility,people won't live there for more than hundreds  of years.  How about this?  North Korea may launch a bullistic missile to the nuclear power plant.  If this happens,it will cause a huge damage.We need a lot of money to tighten the security.  But instead of spending money on it,we should use this money on developing  another energy system.

ANOTHER REASON FOR AVOIDING NUCLEAR POWER IS THE RISK OF TERRORISM.  IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF TERRORISTS TOOK CONTROL OF A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT. POTENTIALLY THEY COULD TURN IT INTO SOMETHING LIKE A NUCLEAR BOMB.TERRORIST ACTIVITY COULD LEAVE VAST QUANTITIES OF LAND CONTAMINATED AND IMPOSSIBLE TO USE FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS. IMAGINE ALSO A SITUATION WHERE AN AGGRESSIVE COUNTRY LIKE NORTH KOREA LAUNCHED A BALLISTIC MISSILE INTO A NUCLEAR POWER PLANT.  INSTEAD OF HAVING TO WORRY FOR OURSELVES ABOUT SUCH THREATS THE GOVERNEMENT SHOULD SPEND MORE RESEARCH MONEY ON PERFECTING OTHER SAFER ENERGY SOURCES.

>In conclusion I'd like to say that benefits don't overweigh the danger because of these two reasons.

IN CONCLUSION FOR THESE TWO REASONS I STRONGLY BELIEVE THAT THE BENEFITS DO NOT OUTWEIGH THE DANGERS OF NUCLEAR POWER ENERGY.

2001年08月05日更新
2002年03月31日更新