Enough to make you cry

One of my favourite students quit suddenly this week. She has been with my school for years, only to be yanked out without being given the chance to say goodbye by an angry dad. Her older brother & sister also study at Luna, and have been teachers' favourites since their very first classes.

At Luna we try ever so hard to make sure friends stay together whenever possible, and that we avoid mixed-level classes. We know only too well the lack of free-time children have, especially once they start junior high school; scheduling becomes a massive jigsaw puzzle every April and often there are a few pieces missing. We are extremely lucky to have all of Yuki's experience at times like this, because we have to keep everybody happy AND find schedules that suit everybody.

Except this time, a dad we've never met (despite all the events we organise - parties, open weeks for parents, Bon Bon etc) suddenly calls out of the blue, and abuses Yuki to tears. Of course, students move on and develop other interests - that's part of growing up. But when a student has been making great progress, has lots of fun and has barely missed a class in 5 or more years...we know exactly how much the family is commited, and how much hard work the child has been doing. In turn, we 'ring fence' classes like this to make sure they continue, even when we're doing so at a loss. Some classes are just too good to let go. This was one such class.

I know this student will be missing her pals and her English class badly. I really miss her, and I have a really bad taste in my mouth as a result of her being punished just because we couldn't satisfy a parent's ego. We bend over backwards at Luna to accommodate - as I think 99.9% of our mums & dads appreciate. I am also sure nobody will think much of a person who makes our Yuki burst into tears.

Luna Kids - naturally brighter!

It's absolutely true - our children are better suited to handle the real world. Clearly, children who do not learn English at Luna are a pale imitation - almost two dimensional - and dwell only in the shadows! Even under bright lights at harmony Hall, the Luna advantage is obvious.

The Suzuki Institute's annual 10 Piano Concert in Matsumoto is further proof. Sayaka wore a stunning gold dress and performed her piece with cool maturity and skill. Is this the girl I first taught when she was barely able to stand up, way back when?! Takao & Yoshiaki all grown up in suits and spiffy haircuts - didn't they used to punch each other in the nuts & draw naughty pictures in their books?! And what about Yuki-chan - an English Rose by any definition in her fabulous red dress. Fingers flying over the keys so gracefully.

Now, I'll be the first to admit Suzuki Method has its limitations, and that I'm not a real fan. However, the evidence on display today was of prodigious musical talent and no notes. Literally. Suzuki's idealogy is to learn by ear; learning English is not dissimilar, but if you can't read & write then I think you're going to be snookered sooner or later, aren't you?

Anyway, massive applause to all of our young learners past & present who tickled the ivory today. As a non-musician I stood (at the back) in awe. Very well done!!!

Local YLE examiners get Co-ordinated

Saturday saw old & experienced oral examiners join the recently trained, fresh-faced newbies for a morning of memory-jogging, mental refreshment and hands-on practice. The new training materials met with praise, as did having the chance to see more varied candidates and attempt to meet Cambridge's assessment criteria. We also had a look at examples of less than appropriate examiner behaviour & dress, which generated in an interesting debate.

Thank you Jeff & Theron for beating the traffic out of Nagano this morning (the Olympic Torch relay was in town on its much protested journey to Beijing - it actually led the news while we were waiting for Tana's toddlers class to arrive, and we had to laugh at all the local coppers running in their workclothes and shoes...sore feet tomorrow we were sure!), and to Rico & Shizue for making a grey rainy morning cheerful & fun.

A holiday report in Canada

I　have　ａ　friend　who　is　staying　to　study　English　in　Canada　now．Her　name　is　Michiko．Ｉ went　to　Canada to　see　her last　November　with　my　two　friends，Yuka　and　Naomi．We　flew to　Canada with Air　Canada．　

We stayed　for　6 days，2 days　of　them　in　Vancouver，another　2 days　in　Banff，and　the　other　days　in　the　plane．We stayed　in　two　kinds　of　　hotels　in　Vancouver，and　Banff．Both　hotels　were　on the　main　streets．They　were　cheap　and　classical，but　very　clean　and　nice．　

The　first　day，We　arrived　at　Vancouver　in　the　afternoon．　Then　we　walked　around　the　downtown　of　Vancouver．We　took　ａ　lot　of　photos．

At　night，Michiko　came　to　our　hotel　after　working．　She　took　us　to　　ａ　very　good　restaurant．We　had　beer　and　wine　with　many　kinds　of　fatty　foods．The　second　day，we　walked　around　the　city，and　went　shopping．　We　love　shopping　anytime　anyway．I　bought some　very　beautiful　pierced　earrings　made　of　silver　and　amber　in　ａ　jewelry　shop．Naomi　and　Yuka bought　very　nice　rings．We　often　said　“We　sometime　have to reward　ourselves　better， don’t　we？”．We　had　a　good　time．

In　the　afternoon，we　went　for　ａ　walk　to　ａ　small　island　called　Granville　Island．We　heard　that　it　was　near downtown，but　it　took　over　ａn　hour．We　got　lost　 in　spite　of　having a map！ When　we　walked　all　over　the　same　place，ａ　man　asked　us “Can　I　help　you？”　The　man　taught　us　the　way　to　Granville　Island．As　he　spoke　slowly　and　kindly　with　our　map，we　could　understand　him．　When　we　arrived　at　Granville　Island，It　was　about　３o’clock．There　were　many　kinds　of　shops　such　as　clothes，foods，jewelry，beer．As　each　shop　had　ａ　pretty　exterior，the　whole　of　the　island　was　like　ａ　toy　town．　

We　had　lunch，and　enjoyed　shopping．I　bought　ａ　postcard　for　Jim．　　　

I　gave　myself　ａ　reward　again．　I　bought　ａ　pair　of　pretty　gloves．　On　our　way　from　there　to　downtown，　we　got　ａ　public　bus．We　were　anxious　to　get　the　bus　because maybe　we　couldn’t　understand　the　information　in　English　and　arrive in　ａn　unknown　place．But　we　tried．　As　ａ　result，　we　could arrive　without　problems．It　was　a　very　good　experience　for　us. That　night , we saw　Michiko　again，and　went　to　ａ　good　Korean　restaurant．

The　third　day，we　went　to　Vancouver　airport　to　arrive　at　Banff．As we had　checked　in　foreign　domestic　airlines　for　the　first　time，we　were　very　tense．

About　an hour and a half later，we landed at Calgary airport without incident．Then　we　went　to　Banff　by　bus．It　took　us　two hours　from　Calgary　to　Banff．We　arrived　at　the　hotel　in　Banff　at noon，then　went　around　the　town　of　Banff．It　was　ａ　beautiful　 small　town．We　enjoyed　taking　photos　and　shopping．I　bought　some　pretty　pins　for　my　family　and　friends，and　ａnother　postcard　for　Jim．

That　night，we　went　to　ａ　restaurant　and　had　steaks,　which　were　famous　Alberta　beef．They　were　very　good，but　expensive．Then　we　got　to the　hotel．We　enjoyed　talking over a few 　beers．The　fourth　day，we　went　to　Lake　Louise　by　bus．It　was　the　coldest day　of　the trip　in　Canada，maybe　–15℃ or lower．

We　saw　the Canadian　Rocky Mountains from　the　bus．We　wanted　to　climb，but　couldn’t　climb　because　of too much　snow．We　saw　some　rivers，lakes　and　wild animals　too．They　were　very　beautiful．We　returned　to　the　town，then　we　got　a　Gondola．Ｗe　saw　the　mountains　and　whole　town　of　Banff　from　the　top．At　night，we　went　to　ａ　Thai restaurant　for dinner．On the　last　day，we　got　up　early　in　the　morning，and　prepared　to　return　to　our　country．We　transferred at Vancouver airport, and went home．

We　had a great time．Canada had a very good view. Many people were very kind．We had a good time for studying English．When they　understood　my　broken　English，I　was　so　glad．We had some problems： we couldn’t see Michiko easily　in Vancouver, because　we were having a hard time getting through on the phone．We lost the way in Vancouver．It was so cold that we caught colds after getting home．　

Posted for Kaori

SuperTots author - Aleda Krause

Yes, another Sunday when the Luna team
is busy learning and working!

The occasion today was a co-hosted event featuring one of Japan's best known authors & teacher-trainers, Aleda Krause. The focus of Aleda's three-hour workshop today was on teaching young learners and even younger learners.

As the author of the "SuperTots" and "SuperKids" series of children's books, Aleda has the materials to back up the theory - both of which she generously shared with an appreciative audience of teachers from far & near. She presented her ideas about developing children's learning from listening to speaking, and on the problems & possibilities of teaching pre-teens. All very useful for us then, with the age group of students we see everyday in Luna!

You can look forward to Tana, Jon & Jim adding some new classroom activities to their armoury as a result! Everyone is invited to attend our next event, on May 25th, by the way, when we host Potato Pals author Patrick Jackson and master reader Kevin Churchley...details to be announced soon. Thank you Aleda, for coming to our school today!

Cherry Blossom Party

Mercifully the weather behaved itself and we could enjoy ourselves by the Susuki River once again. The drizzle did come later as forecast, but by then the lightweights had already gone home!

We had a really good turn out, as you can see from the photos, and were joined by the Yokoso Matsumoto group who got their BBQ going next to ours. A good deal of mingling meant that new friendships were made and old ones rekindled. Darryl, for example, met Mine again, whom he used to teach with many moons ago. Mark came along with his wife & son - we`d not met for the best part of a decade!

There was a definite feeling of "the next generation" to the BBQ/picnic - a positive baby-rash actually, showing that we, the expat community are doing our bit to reverse the demographic trend. It was great to see some of our friends' children for the first time, and for them to interact with each other. Others have shot up since we last saw them.

Highlights of the day included Phil's son trying to get a noise out of a didgeridoo; the Vietnamese lads mine-sweeping remorselessly; Tana chatting up all the single Shindai boys; Milton bringing a carpet; Jim & Rupert explaining the hardships of fatherhood to a rather deaf audience. And I must mention 'little' Yuki, who I've not seen for about 8 years - she lives in Nagano now after a couple of years in Singapore. Now a mature, charming & very-well spoken HS girl - another reminder, if I needed one this weekend, of the aging process!

Thank you to everyone who came, who took a turn burning stuff on the barbie, contributed food & drink & charcoal. A lovely afternoon - so let's do it again soon?!

Feeling old

Today I was invited to a beautiful young woman's wedding. She's a nurse, and she has two super cute sisters as well. What could be better?!

The problem is I have known Anna more than half her life - I started teaching her in 1993, when she was twelve. She got married to a very lucky chap (Ryosuke) on her 26th birthday today. She arrived at the hotel for the reception in a breath-taking white kimono - and made me feel great as she bounced over to me to say 'hello' & let me give her a proud kiss on the cheek. Her mum & dad both came over too, and we did the bowing thing; I taught all three of their daughters and coached Anna through high school in their front room. They're really nice people.

Of course, I didn't recognise Rina (who used to be 7) nor Maria (who I used to throw around!), both wearing amazing kimonos themselves & in their early twenties too. I did recognise Anna's nursing friends Miho & Yoshimi however, who studied with me before they went to study in Samoa, and they managed to help me survive the feast with translations.

I guess I'm going to have to get used to seeing kids I used to teach getting married? Don't think I'll be able to stop feeling chuffed to bits though, when favourites like Anna blossom and become friends I can talk to. Oh yes, and she looked great in her blue dress too...once again I couldn't think of the right things to say in Japanese, and walked home thinking I should start to learn someday.

Hilarious

I've been teaching this pair of clowns since New Year, and I have to admit we might not be learning at maximum speed...mostly because the girls invariably evaporate into gales of laughter. Doesn't seem to matter what we're trying to do (irregular past tenses, pronunciation of 'ed in past tense verbs, reading a reader) there will be something happen that is just too much to keep a straight face.

So I'm really enjoying the class, as you can see. School can be tiring & club activities overwhelmingly demanding...so English needs to be a bit of fun as well as very useful. Miku & Maho brighten up my week every Thursday evening very nicely. Here you can see us trying to play whirl-a-vowel, matching long vowel sounds. Naturally, the 'hive' looked like something else: result = paralysing laughter! I can't remember who won the game, but my ribs hurt and an hour flew by. With a bit of luck, dipthongs 'went in' as well.

Thank you girls - look forward to seeing you every week!

Working on Sunday - again!

I am very grateful to our dedicated band of Young Learners (YLE) Oral Examiners who gave up their precious time on Sunday to make sure they can continue to examine for us in the coming year.

The quality control aspects of Cambridge ESOL's exams makes sure that all candidates worldwide get the same, fair chance as any other. Our part in this delivery of quality is to train, and then "co-ordinate", examiners. Just because you do the training does not mean you can examine; we all have to prove annually that we can give the speaking tests properly, as well as assess to Cambridge's standards.

It is also a vital opportunity for me to meet the people who are doing the hard work on our behalf. Three years ago we 'inherited' this responsibility but had no idea who we were dealing with. Now, gradually, I am getting to know our examiners and can feel a lot more confident about our boast that YLE is the best exam around...our examiners really are very good, and very nice people to boot.

Some examiners travelled miles and miles to attend Co-ordination at King's Road school (thank you again Trevor!). From Nikko & Matsumoto to the north, Toyota to the west, Kamakura to the south, and Saitama to the east(ish). No matter how for you came, thank you. Now let's find some new schools to examine at?!

Postcard from The Great Wall, China

Dear Jim,

I'm in Beijing now. I went to school.I met lots of my friends. I was worried if I could speak
English well, but I was happy I could speak English well.

See you soon. from Toshiya

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Cherry Blosson party - join us!

Upcoming presentation

On April 20th we will be hosting the following event, in association with Shinshu JALT & Longman.

Teaching pre-teens: Problems and possibilities & From listening to speaking by Aleda Krause. First, even the most confident teachers can be challenged by 11- to 12-year olds. Do you experience difficulties generating energy, managing classes with mixed levels, or bringing out shy students? Author of SuperKids and SuperTots, Aleda Krause will share some secrets for success with this activity-based presentation. Second, she will present active, participatory listening tasks to explain and demonstrate the five steps from listening to speaking in an EFL session right from the first lesson. Come prepared with clean ears and lots of energy! Sun 20 April 14:00-16:45; Luna International; free for all.

Please email Jim if you want to reserve a seat.